The Zombie System.

Chapter 26: System Market, Upgrade, and New RaidLeon enters his room and closes the door behind him with deliberate care. The familiar space feels smaller now, cramped by possibilities that didn't exist just hours ago. He settles onto his narrow bed and opens his system interface.

A blue light flickers in his peripheral vision, but something is different this time. A new tab pulses with soft golden energy beside the familiar options. Market glows with enticing promise, its icon shaped like crossed swords over a treasure chest.

Leon's heart races. The system mentioned market access as a reward, but seeing it active feels like stepping into a realm of absolute power. He reaches out and taps the glowing tab, anticipation coursing through him.

───────[SYSTEM MARKET]──────────

Welcome to the Dimensional Trading Hub Currency: Dungeon Tokens, Rare Materials Categories: Weapons, Armor, Scrolls, Upgrades, Artifacts All items are soul-bound upon purchase No refunds or exchanges

The interface transforms into a floating catalog of astonishing variety. Weapons blaze with inner fire, armor is crafted from materials that don't exist in this dimension, and spell scrolls contain magic beyond conventional classification.

Leon scrolls through pages of equipment that make Hunter Association gear look like children's toys. Each item displays detailed statistics … damage ratings, durability scores, special properties, and compatibility requirements.

This isn't just shopping; it's access to power that can reshape his future. He focuses on his search parameters, muttering, "What do I need most?" as he reflects on recent battles. Raw firepower saved him against the ARES hunters, but his basic manna gun already shows its limitations.

He types "manna gun" into the search function. Dozens of options appear, ranging from basic models to legendary artifacts. Leon sorts the results by price, watching the numbers shift as the system reorganizes the list.

At the bottom of the list, one entry catches his attention.

───────[VOIDREAPER MK-III]─────────

Type: Semi-Automatic Mana Gun Damage: 85-110 per shot Rate of Fire: 180 rounds per minute Reload Speed: 2.3 seconds Durability: 950/950 Special: Dark Mana Compatible, Piercing Rounds Price: 5 Dungeon Tokens

Leon stares at the specifications, his heart racing. His current weapon deals a mere 40 damage per shot, with a rate of fire that barely exceeds 60 rounds per minute. This new option represents a complete upgrade in both firepower and functionality.

The price matches his token count exactly, five tokens earned from his solo dungeon clear.

He compares the Void-reaper's stats to the weapons available through Hunter Association suppliers. Nothing even comes close. The Association's best manna guns top out around 55 damage and suffer from reliability issues that plague most government equipment.

This system market offers gear that defies conventional magic theory. Leon briefly wonders about the source of such power but quickly dismisses the thought. Power is power, regardless of its origin.

With a surge of determination, Leon taps the purchase button.

───────[PURCHASE CONFIRMED]───────

Void-reaper MK-III has been added to inventory Dungeon Tokens: 5 → 0 Item will materialize upon claiming

A new icon appears in Leon's inventory. He selects it and watches as the weapon materializes in his hands.

The Void-reaper feels perfect. Its weight is balanced, and the ergonomic grip is clearly designed for extended combat. The smooth action promises reliability even under extreme conditions.

As Leon channels Dark Manna into the weapon for the first time, energy surges through the carved channels in the barrel, igniting runes that pulse with an otherworldly light. The gun warm in his grip, power settling into its frame like a sleeping predator.

The sensation is intoxicating—raw force waiting to be unleashed. Leon can feel the weapon's potential resonating with his enhanced abilities.

For the next twenty minutes, he familiarizes himself with the Void-reaper's functions: safety mechanisms, reload procedures, and an aiming system that responds to his intentions with eerie precision.

This weapon will transform his combat effectiveness.

Leon secures it in his upgraded holster and leaves his room. His mother's door stands open, warm light spilling into the hallway. She sits reading by her bedside lamp.

"Leon?" she says, looking up. "You're home early."

"Productive day," he replies, pulling a leather pouch from his belt. "Things are about to get easier for us."

He counts out five hundred gold coins onto her bedside table. Her eyes widen as the pile grows, more money than she's seen in years.

"Leon, where did you …"

"Legitimate hunter work. I ranked up to E-Class today." He shows her his new badge. "Better assignments mean better pay."

Her expression cycles through shock, relief, and pride in a heartbeat. She reaches out, fingertips grazing the coins like they might vanish.

"Is this real?"

"Real as it gets. No more rationing medicine. No more choosing between rent and food." Leon sits beside her. "I promised I'd take care of you. That starts now."

Tears stream down her face as she pulls him into a fierce hug. Leon holds her gently, feeling the weight of responsibility and the thrill of possibility at war in his chest.

"My brave boy," she whispers. "Your father would be so proud."

He stays until she's asleep, then returns to his room. Pulling out his communication tab, a semi-invisible hunters specialized tab used for contacting for emergency support or check missions given to them on the first day of awakening, his anger and disappearance on that day caused him to not have his till today, he sends a message to Elise:

'Ranked up to E today. Ready for that raid we discussed? Found a good D-rank dungeon if you're interested'. 

Her reply comes within minutes:

'About time you caught up. Yes, I'm ready. Tomorrow morning? Don't expect me to carry you through the hard parts'.

Leon grins. Her confidence is infectious.

'Tomorrow it is. Let's meet at Crimson Gate Dungeon at dawn. Try to keep up'.

'We'll see who keeps up with whom, necromancer'.

Just as he is about to drop his tab, a message comes in, ARES guild news. Something important he has follow up on.

The disappearance of the ARES squad dominates discussion threads. Speculation runs wild—accidents, rival guilds, sabotage. But most focus on one thing: four top-tier hunters, vanished without a trace.

One news thread catches his eye: "Official Statement from Tobias Virell."

Leon clicks.

Tobias stands behind a podium in the ARES Guild's main hall, his expression stone-carved. Rich tapestries frame him, symbols of a guild built on domination.

"My brother Marsen and his team entered Serpent's Den for routine reconnaissance. They have not returned." His voice is ice. "Someone is responsible. I will find that person."

Tobias face is zoomed in on and his face expression changes before continuing.

"Whoever killed my family will pay. Their loved ones will pay. Their associates will pay. The ARES Guild does not forgive. We do not forget. Justice will be absolute."

Leon closes the tab and tucks it into his pocket. Tobias can rant all he wants. Marsen is dead, and no vow will change that. But the scrutiny to come?

That will be very real.

Morning breaks gray and heavy with the scent of rain. Leon gears up in silence, checking every strap and buckle. A reinforced coat. Upgraded boots. Voidreaper at his side.

He opens his system one last time and reviews his capabilities. Ready or not, the next level begins at dawn.

───────[LEON GRAVES]──────────

Level: 11 Health: 220/220 Manna: 380/380 Available Stat Points: 75 Equipment: Void-reaper MK-III, Shadow Carapace Fragment Active Zombies: 3/3

The stat points are not yet allocated, but Leon prefers to distribute them later—after he gets a taste of what this D-rank dungeon throws at him.

He steps out of his building just as the city stirs. Vendors open their shopfronts, steam rises from breakfast stalls, and factory workers hurry through the morning mist toward distant smokestacks. On the surface, everything appears normal.

But Leon notices the shift almost immediately.

There are more Hunter Association patrols, some in full gear. Security checkpoints dot areas that rarely see even a single officer. Wanted posters flutter from bulletin boards, some freshly pinned and already drawing curious or cautious stares. The ARES Guild's influence hangs in the air—subtle but unmistakable.

At a news-stand, he pauses to listen as two vendors whisper beneath their breath.

"Ten thousand gold," one murmurs, eyes scanning the crowd.

"For information, not proof," the other says. "They're desperate. ARES never posts bounties like that unless they're bleeding."

Leon moves on, hood low, keeping his pace casual.

The Crimson Gate Dungeon sits near the city's northeastern edge—a yawning mouth in the cliffs, ringed by a temporary base of stone and wood. Once a natural cave, it was adapted by the Association for mid-tier hunter training, but its hazards remain real. D-rank means danger. It's where hunters are broken or tempered.

Elise waits by the registration post, her new staff gleaming with embedded manna channels. Her robes shimmer faintly with layered enchantments. Clearly, she has invested well in her last few jobs.

She glances up and smirks. "You actually showed. I was half expecting another 'I need more time to train' excuse."

Leon returns the look, raising an eyebrow. "I'm here, aren't I? Besides, I've got new gear too."

Her eyes flick to the Void-reaper at his hip and linger for half a second. Professional curiosity, nothing more.

"Looks expensive. Shoots straight?"

"Let's find out," he says, his pulse steady now.

A small group of hunters gathers at the registration booth. Pairing is common at this level—dungeons of this caliber are rarely cleared alone. A stocky warrior in worn plate armor approaches, eyes scanning their gear.

"We need a mage and utility. Are you two interested?"

"Depends on the split," Elise replies without missing a beat.

"Equal share to everyone pulling their weight," the man says. "We don't babysit. We don't carry."

Leon assesses the rest of the team. A rogue adjusts a bandolier of throwing knives, her stance loose but precise. An archer stands quietly nearby, her compound bow humming with bound manna.

Veterans. Efficient. Not amateurs looking to get lucky.

"We're in," Leon says, meeting the team leader's gaze with calm certainty.

As they register, conversations buzz all around them:

"...They're checking every F and E-Rank..."

"...Tobias Virell's posted rewards all across the outer districts..."

"...Some say the entire team was ambushed. Wiped without even a distress signal..."

Wanted posters line the outer wall beside the gate. Leon spots Marsen Virell's face front and center. The posted reward is no bluff … 10,000 gold for confirmed Intel, dead or alive. The knot in his stomach tightens, but his expression remains still.

He turns away before Elise can notice.

Their party leader motions them toward the dungeon entrance, his expression grim.

"Crimson Gate doesn't pull punches. Neither does the ARES Guild. Stay sharp, and don't make assumptions in there. D-rank isn't forgiving—and neither are politics."

Leon steps through the shimmering veil of dungeon energy, the Void-reaper warming slightly against his side.

Time to test just how far E-Rank can go.