The First Battle: Zombies Are Different

The First Encounter –

The dungeon corridors twisted ahead of them, narrowing into a passage barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side. The flickering torchlight made it difficult to tell if the shadows ahead were moving or if it was just a trick of the dim glow.

Leon's boots pressed silently against the damp stone floor as he trailed slightly behind Elise and Garet. His Zombie Mage followed closely, its tattered cloak barely making a sound as it glided forward.

Then—a noise.

A scraping sound against the stone. Faint, but unmistakable.

Garet stopped abruptly. His knuckles whitened around the grip of his sword.

"You hear that?" he whispered.

Elise didn't respond, but Leon saw her shift slightly, raising her staff just a little higher.

Then, from the darkness ahead—movement.

Yellow eyes blinked in the shadows. Small, hunched figures crept forward, their jagged weapons clutched in clawed hands.

Goblins.

Three of them emerged into the weak torchlight—grinning, drooling, their sharp teeth catching the glow.

Garet's eyes narrowed. "Finally."

Without waiting for an order, he rushed forward, raising his sword.

"We got this! Just stick to healing, Elise!"

Leon tensed.

He saw the problem immediately.

There were more goblins. Hiding. Waiting.

Just as Garet lunged toward the nearest enemy, dark figures in the side passages sprang out.

An ambush.

Leon opened his mouth to warn him—

Too late.

The Zombie Mage Takes Action

Before Garet's blade could even make contact, a streak of blue light flashed past him.

A Mana Bolt.

The glowing projectile slammed into the goblin's chest, knocking it backward with a sharp screech.

Garet skidded to a stop, eyes wide in shock.

"Wait… what?!"

Leon stood further back, his hand still raised. Or rather—his Zombie Mage's hand.

The undead had attacked first.

Not hesitated. Not waited for a command.

It had acted on its own.

Elise blinked, stunned. "Did that… actually move before us?"

Leon said nothing. He had just realized the same thing.

This wasn't normal.

Most necromancer summons needed direct orders for every movement. They were mindless. Slow.

But his zombie had reacted instantly—as if it were an actual fighter.

And now the goblins were angry.

The Goblins Fight Back

Recovering quickly, the goblins snarled and rushed forward.

One of them lunged at Leon's zombie, its rusted blade slashing deep into its arm.

Leon flinched instinctively, expecting his summon to stagger.

But instead—

A System Notification flickered in his vision.

[Zombie Mage has taken damage. Initiating passive regeneration…]

[Zombie Mage HP Restored: +10%]

The wound closed.

Leon's breath hitched.

His summon had self-repairing abilities.

Unlike normal undead, which couldn't heal themselves, his zombies had passive regeneration.

The goblin hesitated, confused as it saw the wound vanish before its eyes.

Leon's mind raced.

This is my advantage.

He pointed. "Fire again!"

His Zombie Mage raised its clawed fingers, another glowing bolt forming in its palm.

The goblin barely had time to react before—

Boom.

The second Mana Bolt struck its head, sending it crashing to the ground, unmoving.

The fight had barely started, but Leon had already realized something important.

Garet and Elise Are Stunned

Garet and Elise stared in disbelief.

Garet took a step back, sword still raised. "Wait, zombies can do that?"

Elise's brows furrowed. "That's… not how necromancy works."

Leon didn't respond. He was too focused.

Because another notification had appeared.

[Zombie Mage has gained experience.]

[Progress to Level 2: 40%]

His summon was leveling up.

His undead army could grow stronger.

He clenched his fists.

If this is how it works…

Then he wasn't weak.

He was just getting started.

The First Victory

The battle continued, but the flow had already shifted.

Leon didn't fight like a normal necromancer.

Instead of staying back, he used his zombie as a ranged attacker, commanding it like a tactical fighter.

While Garet slashed at one goblin, Leon's summon launched another Mana Bolt, striking down another enemy before it could flank them.

By the time the dust settled, the goblins lay motionless on the dungeon floor.

The fight was over.

A final System Notification appeared.

[Zombie Mage has gained experience.]

[Progress to Level 2: 80%]

Leon exhaled, a slow grin forming on his face.

His System wasn't a curse.

It was far more powerful than anyone realized.

And soon—

The world would see it too.