"Can we talk about this at a different time?" Alex said. "I have things to do."

"Ah... I see. Then I will contact you," the woman handed Alex a card. "I'm Lorena, the leader of the Snowmoon party."

"Snowmoon? I don't recall seeing you during the mansion incident."

"I wasn't part of the team that rushed in. I had to secure the perimeter first using my undead," Lorena explained.

"I see."

"See you next time," Lorena said before walking away.

"Aren't you popular," Milly commented.

"I'm not fond of it," Alex stated. "Too much attention isn't always a good thing. Especially when I'm not confident about my strength yet."

Milly nodded in understanding. They continued their way to the credit shop, hoping no more inconveniences would show up.

When they arrived, Alex noticed the large variety of items on display. Video games, popular books, food, and many more items.

"How can I help you?" the guy on the counter greeted them as they approached.

Alex leaned toward Milly. "How do I check how many credits I have? If I even have any?"

"You may check by tapping your hunter-issued bracelet and phone here," the guy at the counter gestured to a device at the counter.

Alex tapped his bracelet on the device and saw he had three hundred credits.

"This is like an arcade," he muttered.

He glanced at the items on the counter and saw a PlayStation priced at fifty credits.

"If you're thinking that prices are low, you have to remember that you gained those credits after risking your life," the guy at the counter stated.

"Good point. Do you know how this credit system works?"

"The organization heavily considers the mental state of the demon hunters. That's why, other than their salaries, the credit system was created to give them a sense of accomplishment. You can buy almost anything here at the credit shop."

"A house?" the guy nodded. "A car?" the guy nodded again. "What about a vacation?"

"Certainly possible," the man replied.

"Then we're basically getting two forms of salary."

"Yes."

"Why don't people tell me all this at the start?" Alex muttered.

"What do you plan on buying?"

"How much for a house?" Alex asked.

"That depends on the location and the state of the property, but the lowest should go for around five hundred credits," the guy answered.

Alex nodded. "I need more credits."

Milly turned to him in confusion. "Why do you want to buy a house?"

Alex shrugged. "Real estate is a good investment."

"Okay... can I see your book catalog?" Milly asked.

------

Alex sat across from Milly while Simon was on a video call. "After hearing everything. I believe I need to give you a brief rundown about demon hunter families and core progression."

"Let's hear it," Alex sighed.

"For starters, the person that gave you that white core is Lucius Gray."

"He sounds important," Alex commented.

"He is," Simon confirmed. "He's the head of the Gray family, one of the strongest demon hunter families."

"Did he think I was relative? I don't recall mentioning my name," Alex mentioned.

"You didn't need to. Anyone as powerful as him would have a skill to check a person's information. And it's unlikely for him to consider you a relative."

"Why did he give me a core then?"

"I don't know either," Simon stated. "Anyways, the Gray family is one of the three families that stand at the top. They have a lot of high-rank demonic lairs under control all around the world."

"Alright, don't piss them off," Alex nodded. "Got it."

"The next thing we need to discuss is core progression," Simon stated. "I'm not sure what tier your cores are at, but after a certain level, you'll need to designate one of your cores as your primary core."

"How will that affect me?"

"When and what skills you get are random, but it's never a skill you can't use at your level. However, it's a different story for your primary core."

"You can get powerful skills from your primary core since it considers your growth," Milly spoke. "This is very important when you have a lot of cores."

"Back then, you only had one core, so it designated your necromancy core as your primary core, but it's different now," Simon said. "Do you want to be a necromancer?"

Alex looked thoughtful for a moment. Considering his options, he didn't really have a reason to change his primary core. From what Simon mentioned, he would still get skills from his other cores.

"I'll stay a necromancer," Alex answered. "I like being a one-man army."

Simon nodded. "I'll gather as much information about necromancers. You should focus on your current task."

"Getting supplies," Alex nodded.

"And staying alive," Simon added. "You're going in a high-tier demonic lair. They may have cleared out most of the demonic monsters in there, but not all of them. They don't care about your lives."

"I'm going to need a vacation after this."

------

"Thanks for meeting me," Lorena shook Alexander's hand as he arrived at the meeting room Lorena reserved.

Lorena observed the man as he sat down. He had short black hair that was slightly a mess and black eyes. His skin was slightly tanned, and a few scars were visible. In terms of clothes, he wore a red dress shirt and black slacks.

She didn’t expect him to dress formally, but it was a nice gesture.

"You guys technically saved me. It would be rude to refuse you."

Lorena nodded. "Why didn't you attend the necromancer gathering?"

"The what?" Alexander answered in confusion.

"I believe I sent one of my party members to invite you. Her name was Sam."

"The gloomy girl?" Lorena nodded. "She just told me about a gathering. Nothing else, so I just ignore her."

Lorena sighed. "That sounds like something she would do. I'm sorry about that."

"It's fine," Alexander replied. "I've met worse people."

That statement was slightly off, but he seemed to really not care about Sam's actions.

"Well, that gathering was for necromancers like us to build connections," Lorena explained. "Believe it or not, being a necromancer is the hardest role to fulfill."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Really?"

"For starters, getting some undead is quite the challenge," Lorena mentioned. "We can't use humans like the demons after all."

Alexander nodded in understanding. "How do you get skeletons then?"

"For skeletons, I just let my lich create them," Lorena answered. "They can create skeletons using their demonic energy, so a sacrifice isn't needed."

"I guess... I kind of do the same," Alexander spoke.

"Do you know about undead scrolls and undead reconstruction?" Lorena asked.

Alexander shook his head, which was a surprise to Lorena since she had seen reports of him summoning undead that weren't just skeletons.

"May I ask how you summon your undead?"

"I have skeleton summoning skill, another skill that I can't discuss."

"I understand," Lorena rubbed her chin in thought. "Then you do not have any personal undead."

"No? That just sounds wrong..."

"It certainly does," Lorena agreed. "But personal undead are just monsters or demons that you used these on," Lorena placed an undead scroll on the table.

"This is?"

"An undead scroll," Lorena answered. "If you use this on a demon you've killed, you can turn them into an undead that serves you."

"What happens if they get destroyed?"

"Then you won't be able to resummon them again until they recover."

"... like Pokemon?"

Lorena suppressed a laugh. "You could say that. You could also trade them with other necromancers after all."

"So... goth Pokemon?"

"Your perspective is quite unique," Lorena commented. "You can have that," Lorena pointed to the scroll. "If you use it on a normal monster, it would turn into a skeleton. When you use it on an undead demon, it would bind it as is."

Alexander nodded. "Thank you. Do you want something in return?"

"Pardon?" Lorena raised an eyebrow.

"I don't believe in free goodwill."

Lorena could see the seriousness in his eyes. She was aware that this man wasn't from any demon hunter family, so she could only imagine what kind of past he had.

"I suppose you would be more suspicious if I didn't ask anything in return."

"I find it hard to believe you made an effort to meet me just to talk and give me information."

Lorena just shrugged. "You would have learned of all that on your own. As for meeting you, I just really wanted to see you for myself. If you want to repay me, you can give me priority trade on a fire-based undead."

"Fire-based undead? Like a flaming skeleton?"

Lorena shrugged. "If you find one."

"Alright," Alexander nodded.

"It was a pleasure meeting you," Lorena smiled.

"Likewise."

------

For the next two days, Alex did nothing but train. District Seven had a better training facility than District Three. There was more equipment, and fewer people were using it.

"Do they not have recruits?" Alex muttered as he finished training for the day.

"Only Districts one to five get recruits since they're closer to the academy," Milly mentioned. "Other districts focus on the demonic lairs."

Alex nodded. "Anyways, what time does the dungeon open?"

"You mean the demonic lair?"

"Yes..."

"Three hours," Milly answered. "So that you know, the demonic lair is both a forest and a mine."

"What do I need to get?"

"Here," Milly gave Alex a list.

"Lime? Silica? I'm sorry, but I don't know what these are," Alex looked at the list in confusion.

"Just get everything you can and store them in these," Milly gave him a small chest.

Alex opened it and found ten of the storage bracelets. "Oh... I think I get it. These things can store and identify the materials."

"I didn't really think of that," Milly stated. "I only rented those to store the materials you gather."

Alex shrugged. "Let me just shower, and then I'll be off."

Milly smiled. "Be careful and thank you."

------

"Stay close! We don't know what could still be lurking in here," Zeke yelled as his team entered the demonic lair.

The first sector of the demonic lair was a forest. Zeke's team stayed close to each other and watched their surroundings. A few demonic beasts attacked them, but they easily dealt with them and continued deeper into the demonic lair.

"We have some activity nearby," their scout informed them.

"What is it?" Zeke replied through his earpiece.

"Skeletons," the scout answered.

"What?" Zeke responded in confusion.

Based on the report he received, the demonic lair's theme was beasts. The monsters inside were corrupted wolves, bears, and other apex predators.

"What the hell are they doing here?"

"They're cutting trees," the scout stated.

"What?"

"The skeletons are cutting down trees."

------

"This is a lot easier than I expected," Alex commented as his skeletons did the work.

The twenty skeletons he summoned using "Skeleton call" were mining, while the skeletons summoned by his lich were cutting down trees. Once they gathered a big enough pile, Alex would store them in the storage bracelets and use the sorting function to separate the materials he needed from the ones he didn't.

"I wonder why such technology isn't commercially available," Alex muttered as he stored another pile of lumber into the bracelet and then dumped the leaves.

But just when he thought things were going smoothly, a group arrived.

"This demonic lair is still under private ownership," a man with brown hair stepped to the front of the group. "Who are you?"

"Alexander Gray. I was granted access here by Lucius Gray," Alex answered, using the line Simon made him rehearse in preparation for this demonic lair.

"A Gray?" the man didn't look happy to hear that.

"Anything else?" Alex asked.

"We can't start a conflict with the Gray family while we haven't achieved what we came here to do," someone from the group whispered to the man.

The man scoffed before walking away.

Alex just raised an eyebrow. It wasn't his first time encountering people like that. They all had one thing in common. They always try something.

"Keep an eye on them," he ordered his werewolf.

"Why not dispose of them?" the lich asked.

"It could cause problems. I don't think murdering humans is allowed in this job," Alex replied. "Anyways, do you know anything about this?" Alex showed the lich the scroll Lorena gave him.

"This is a poor imitation of our necromancy," the lich answered.

"Are you saying you could use this magic without this scroll?"

"At my current state. I cannot," the lich shook its flaming skull. "My abilities are tied to you, master. The only abilities I retained are my ability to create skeletons and my curse of binding and detonation."

"Any recommendation on how to use this?"

"The best for this is to gather material to use on a more powerful undead."

"Explain."

"The essence of necromancy is bringing forth a superior life," the lich stated. "We achieve that by taking the best from others."

"Go on."

"You may use several different undead and fuse them into a singular being. You can give a death knight wings by fusing it with a skeleton wyvern."

"Can I fuse you with anything?" Alex asked.

"Me specifically, it is not possible. I am linked to your core master," the lich answered. "I am not specified as a member of your legion."

"Legion?"

"Undead army."

Alex nodded in understanding. "I need to make time to study about these things."

"If I get another lich?"

"I would recommend fusing them with any undead immune to physical damage. A wraith would be good."

"You're like my cheat code," Alex smirked.

"And you are a competent master."

"Seriously?"

"You are not easily killed."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

------

"I wonder if this enough," Alex muttered as he looked over all the bracelets.

He did his best to sort them by material. Five had nothing but logs, while the rest had different variations of ores and minerals on the list.

"Master, a corrupted beast is approaching," the lich informed him.

"What is it?"

"A wolf," the lich answered.

Alex rubbed his chin in thought. "If you had the materials, could you replicate this scroll?"

"Certainly, master," the lich nodded. "Unlike the other liches in a legion, I have retained the knowledge of my craft," the lich boasted.

"Let's figure that out later," Alex said as the wolf leaped out of the bushes.

His death knight intercepted the wolf, and the lich followed up by binding the wolf's limbs.

"Finish it off," Alex ordered.

The death knight plunged its sword into the wolf's back, ending its life. Alex stepped forward and activated the scroll. A purple magic circle appeared beneath the wolf's corpse. Alex watched the horrific sight of the wolf's fur, skin, and meat shedding off the bones.

Once that was over, the skeleton wolf stood up. It approached Alex and replicated what seemed to be a bow.

"Now what?" Alex turned to his lich.

"Open the domain of your legion, master."

"How?"

"It would feel like opening your core like a box, master," the lich instructed.

"Alright," Alex did his best to picture himself opening his core like a gate.

To his surprise, he could actually feel his core opening. But what surprised him even more was that he felt something already inside it.

The gate opened, and an armored human was summoned. The man was covered head to toe in obsidian black armor. Their helmet resembled a wolf and a gray fur mantel rested on their shoulders and flowed down to a shredded black cape.

"You look..." Alex didn't get to finish as he fell to his knees.

It felt like he was suffocating. It seemed everything that wanted him dead in the demonic lair noticed his moment of weakness began popping up. Corrupted beasts growled as they stepped out of the forest. Over to a cliffside, they saw the previous group of demon hunters could be seen.

"Just fucking great," Alex grumbled as he clutched his chest in pain.

When Alex thought he was in for a tough fight, the armored undead turned towards the corrupted beasts. It raised its clawed gauntlets and swiped, creating five slashes that tore through the forest and shredded everything in its path.

Alex didn't get the opportunity to react as he felt the drain getting worse.

"Recall the undead, master," the lich instructed him. "Your vitality is being drained in order to restrain it."

"Easier said than done," Alex grumbled.

The armored undead turned towards the demon hunters observing in the distance. Silver energy began swirling around its clawed gauntlets, then it unleashed an even more powerful version of the previous attack.

"Get us out of here!" the leader of the group yelled.

One person in the group took out a scroll and activated it, teleporting all of them away.

"I hope this doesn't turn into a problem," Alex muttered as the armored undead vanished.