The Zombie System.

Leon's system interface flickers to life:

[Mana Restored: 100/100]

[Hostile Entities Detected – Estimated Count: 10]

Ten. Not the one or two goblins mentioned in the qualifications briefing.

The heavy footsteps reverberate louder as it gets closer to their junction, shadow shifts at the tunnel mouths. Leon system is correct as ten creatures emerges from the tunnel mouth - goblins - different from the illustrated guides. These are lean and feral, their green skin mottled with dark fungal growths. Barbed spears gleams with venomous coating.

Elise presses against the timber, eyes wide. "There are too many."

Leon steps forward and raises his hand.

Come out."

Blue wisps spirals up from his shadow, coalesces into familiar bone and spectral energy. His Mage Zombie materializes—skeletal frame wrapped in dark smoke, eye sockets blazes with cold fire.

Elise flinches. "You summoned that thing?"

"Just stay behind me. Support if I fall."

The lead goblin screams and charges, and bone shiv raises overhead. Behind it, the pack breaks formation, moving in erratic zigzags designed to confuse human targets.

Leon sidesteps the charging creature and sends a mental command. His zombie responds instantly, firing concentrated manna bolt. The projectile moves like liquid lightning, drills straight through the goblin's temple.

The creature folds mid-stride, brain matter sprays across the stone.

[XP +7 | Death Essence +3]

Two more goblins flanks from opposite sides. Leon spins low, drawing his combat knife. The rusty blade catches one goblin's hamstring, severing the tendon. It topples forward with a shriek.

His zombie tracks the second flanker, firing another bolt that cracks ribs and explodes the fungal sacs growing on its chest. Green-black spores erupts in a toxic cloud.

[XP +5 | Death Essence +2]

[XP +6 | Death Essence +3]

A jagged spear grazes Leon's forearm. The wound burns immediately—poison threads through his bloodstream like liquid fire—black veins spreads from the cut.

Elise rushes forward, palm glowing with dull green light. Not the flashy golden radiance of higher-rank healers, but focused and deliberate. She presses against his skin, and the corruption retreats.

"I can't stop everything," she mutters, "but I can keep you upright."

The remaining goblins circles like wolves. Seven still left, moving with pack coordination that suggests intelligence beyond their classification.

Leon gives his zombie new orders. The skeleton begins alternating fire patterns—left hand, right hand, targeting different creatures to prevent coordinated rushes.

Two goblins drops to consecutive shots—one through the eye, one through the gut. Dark blood pools on the tunnel floor.

[XP +6 | Death Essence +2]

[XP +5 | Death Essence +2]

Leon lunges forward while his zombie provides covering fire. His blade punches into another goblin's stomach, twisting to maximize damage. The creature claws at his shoulders before going limp.

[XP +8 | Death Essence +4]

Elise moves between them like a dancer, applying salves and healing pulses to new cuts as they appear. Her technique is unrefined but effective—keeping Leon mobile while his zombie eliminates threats.

The last three goblins charges in desperation. Leon fires his crossbow blindly, missing badly. One goblin leaps through the air, spear aimed at his throat.

His zombie intercepts mid-flight. Bone fingers wraps around the creature's neck, channeling a point-blank manna burst through its chest cavity. Ribs cracks, green-black gore splatters the walls.

[XP +6 | Death Essence +3]

The final two goblins hesitates, suddenly aware they are outmatched. They turne to flee.

Leon sprints forward, catching one at the tunnel entrance. His knife severes its spine at the base of the skull. It drops twitching.

His zombie finishes the last with a ricocheting manna bolt that bounces off the stone wall into the creature's neck. The goblin spin once and collapses.

[XP +5 | Death Essence +2]

[XP +7 | Death Essence +3]

Leon stands among the corpses, breathing hard. Sweat mixed with blood on his torn clothing. The tunnel reeks of death and fungal spores.

Elise completes the final healing wave, mending torn muscles in his side. Her hands trembling, but her touch remains steady.

"They would've left us for dead," she said softly.

Leon checks his interface:

[Zombie Level: 3 | Evolution Progress: 44%]

[Leon Graves – XP: 48/100 | Stat Points Available: 2]

His zombie has gained two levels from the battle. Whatever growth system governs his summons, it responds well to combat experience.

Elise wipes green blood from her hands. "How is that thing so smart? Necromancy texts say undead are mindless."

"My class isn't exactly standard necromancy."

"What do you mean?"

Before Leon can explain, another thunderous roar erupts from the tunnel ahead. The sound hitx like a physical force, shaking loose stones from the ceiling. Ancient support beams creaked ominously.

Elise backs against the wall. "That's not a goblin."

Heavy footsteps approaches—too large, too deliberate for anything mentioned in their qualification briefing yet again. Something massive is moving through the mine shafts, heading directly for their position.

Leon raised his crossbow and mutters, "No. It isn't."