Vol. 1 Chapter 2: The Ghoul

**Chapter 2: The Ghoul**

**[Stage Mission Received: Find Combustibles.]**

**[Mission Description: The campfire not only provides warmth on a snowy night but also deters hidden dangers. However, the combustibles are running low. If you don't find more, the fire will go out by midnight, and danger will follow.]**

**[Mission Requirement: Find enough combustibles. The more you gather, the safer you'll be later...]**

**[Mission Hint: While it's not fully dark yet, hurry and search. But beware of... things.]**

**[Mission Reward: You're struggling to survive. Do you still expect a reward?]**

Lu Li smirked at the task. If he had thick winter clothes, venturing out wouldn't be a problem. However, he was wearing a short-sleeved shirt under a stage costume. Despite his exceptional control over his body, he wouldn't last long in the freezing outdoors.

Looking at the dwindling firewood, Lu Li stood up and said to the old man, "There's not much wood left. The fire might go out tonight. I'll go gather some more firewood."

"Young man, your clothes are too thin for this weather," the old man replied hesitantly. "It's nearly dark. Going out now isn't wise. Let's make do for the night and search for wood tomorrow."

"I'm strong and can manage, but you, sir, might not survive the night without the fire," Lu Li countered, noting the old man's patched but not particularly warm clothes. "I promise to return before it's completely dark. Think of it as repaying you for the clothes."

Without waiting for a response, Lu Li pushed open the temple's door. The icy wind and snow hit him immediately. He shivered but set his sights on a small hill behind the temple. Exhaling a breath of white mist, he began his trek. As he trudged through the thick snow, the cold seeped into his bones, but he pressed on.

The hillside was filled with dead trees and dry bushes. Gathering wood wasn't difficult, but the mission hint warned of possible dangers beyond the environment—perhaps dangerous creatures or monsters.

Lu Li searched the snow for fallen branches. These needed drying before they could burn, so he tore his short-sleeved shirt into strips, laid them on the ground, and placed the branches on top. The sky darkened quickly, leaving him little time. Binding the branches with the cloth strips, he hefted the bundle onto his back. The cold wood pressed against his back uncomfortably, but he couldn't afford to complain. He kept his senses alert for any signs of danger.

As darkness fell, visibility in the snowy night decreased. Despite the mission's warning, no danger had appeared yet, but Lu Li remained vigilant. The game had the power to transport him from a summer day to a winter night instantly, so its warnings couldn't be ignored.

The weight of the snow-laden wood slowed him down, but his enhanced physical condition helped. The game's assessment had given him a decent score—1.23 compared to the average human's 1, with an unknown 0.1 factor indicating some special trait. Lu Li controlled his body to maximize efficiency, though he hadn't trained explicitly before, finding the idea too tedious despite his previously mundane life.

Suddenly, Lu Li stopped. His ears twitched as he detected a sound, and he forced his muscles into high gear. Bursting into a sprint, he left deep prints in the snow. Human muscles could theoretically produce up to 25 tons of force if all fibers fired simultaneously, though this would typically cause severe injuries like muscle tears or fractures. Lu Li managed to harness this power without harming himself.

Behind him, a creature pursued—a humanoid with dark veins visible through its skin, a mouth full of sharp teeth, and remnants of flesh and blood. It wore a tattered burlap outfit. The monster moved quickly, using both its hands and feet, leaving long trails in the snow. Though it was faster than Lu Li, his head start kept him safe for the moment.

The temple's firelight appeared in the distance. Hearing the monster closing in, Lu Li's mind raced. He reached the temple door, the creature accelerating in response.

At the door, Lu Li turned, dropped the wood, and smiled at the approaching monster. As it came into view, a new prompt appeared in the corner of his vision:

**[Monster Detected, Updating Data...]**

**[Ghoul]**

**[Physical Assessment: 2.01; Life Energy Derivation: 1.3 (average human value 1/0.1)]**

**[Soul Assessment: 0.5; Spiritual Energy Derivation: 0.12 (average human value 1/0.1)]**

**[Category: Corporeal Infection]**

**[Origin: Once human, but upon death, the body was improperly disposed of, becoming infected and transforming into a monster with a deep hatred for the living.]**

**[Special Ability: State Fixation: Its body is fixed in this monstrous form. Any damage will heal over time.]**

**[Weakness: Given the instance, even your toes can guess—it's fire! And other positive energies or purification abilities.]**

**[Monster Evaluation: Strictly speaking, its special ability is a glitch. Without its numerous weaknesses, it wouldn't be a mere minion.]**

Understanding the creature's weaknesses, Lu Li prepared to face the ghoul, relying on his wits and the fire to survive the night.