The Zombie System.

"Well, that could have gone worse."

Elise’s forced smile doesn’t reach her eyes as they emerge from the dungeon’s shimmering exit portal. Her joke falls flat in the afternoon air. Nobody laughs.

Sarah walks beside them in complete silence, staff clutched tight against her chest. Her knuckles are white where they grip the wooden shaft. Every few steps, she glances over her shoulder at the dungeon entrance like something might follow them out.

Leon holds his side where the Night Hag’s claws tore through leather and flesh. The venom has mostly cleared his system, but phantom pain still shoots through his ribs with each breath. Black veins spider across his skin beneath torn fabric.

Behind them, Jake carries Tommy’s body in his arms. The young mage’s head lolls with each step, eyes staring at nothing. Jake’s face is carved from stone, but tears track silently down his cheeks.

The dungeon checkpoint sits fifty meters from the portal. Two Association officials wait behind reinforced barriers, clipboards and monitoring equipment spread across metal tables.

The older official’s eyebrows rise when he sees them approaching. "Six entered. Five returning." His gaze settles on Tommy’s still form. "Casualty?"

"Mental attack," Leon says. His voice comes out hoarse from the hag’s psychic assault. "Something called a Night Hag. Not listed in the C-rank bestiary."

The officials exchange glances. The younger one, barely out of academy training, scribbles notes with shaking hands. "Night Hag? Are you certain?"

Elise steps forward, professional demeanor overriding her exhaustion. "Seven feet tall. Black skin. Psychic abilities that induced fatal nightmares. It killed Tommy before we could break him free."

"We’ll need a full report," the older official says. He gestures to his partner, who approaches Jake with gentle hands. "We’ll take care of your friend. Association morgue will handle the arrangements."