Strongest Necromancer System Chapter 1: Jason Marc

"Jason! Once you've finished dumping the garbage, come assist me with the next customer's request! They're ordering a burger along with fries!"

A booming voice resounded across the modest eatery while a lady balanced two hefty platters of burgers, weaving past tables to deliver them to the patrons who had placed the orders. The lady seemed to be in her mid-forties, yet she glided with the elegance of someone far younger, and her smile was so radiant that it could light up anyone's face in return.

She went by the name Mira Marc, a devoted single mom who owned the Marc Diner. Her boy, Jason Marc, lent a hand in the diner whenever school didn't keep him busy, and right now, he was dealing with a bunch of rowdy lads stirring up trouble inside.

Those youngsters were filming TikTok clips and creating noisy disturbances that annoyed the other guests, so Jason stepped in right away to reason with them. But when the lads ignored him, Jason escorted them out for a firmer kind of discussion.

The diner's entrance bell chimed, prompting Mira to glance over and spot Jason re-entering. Jason, a seventeen-year-old with raven-black hair and piercing eyes, stood tall at over six feet, looming above nearly everyone nearby! His expression remained stoic as he wiped his hands on his apron and gave his mom a nod en route to the kitchen.

"You mentioned fries and a burger?"

Jason inquired with interest, and Mira grinned upon noticing some grime on his face. She approached and gently rubbed it away with her thumb. Then, she peered through the diner's glass door at the boys scampering off down the road in a hurry.

With a weary exhale, Mira commented.

"I trust you didn't rough them up too severely. You realize the youth nowadays lack real toughness; they skip the gym entirely."

Mira affectionately tapped her son's expansive chest, and Jason let out a light laugh at his mom's witty remark.

Jason hadn't roughed up the boys excessively. Outside, he simply instructed them to scram and stay away, and when one lashed out at him for the perceived slight, he delivered a sharp slap that left the kid's ears buzzing momentarily. Should anyone inquire, Jason would claim it as self-defense since the kid struck first.

That sufficed to guarantee they wouldn't dare return. Jason was aware the boys were his seniors in age, but his imposing build rendered it irrelevant. Their childish behavior earned them childish treatment from him.

"Relax, mum. I merely chatted with them. They apologized and vowed not to repeat it."

Jason flashed an innocent grin, and his mother chuckled while patting his cheek. She was well aware he wasn't being entirely honest. No chance those boys would depart peacefully without resistance, but she felt relieved to have her son around for support in tough spots.

"Just like your father—oh."

Mira clapped a hand over her mouth upon seeing Jason's expression darken at the mention of his dad. Jason let out a sigh, raked fingers through his hair, and pivoted toward the kitchen.

"Jason, hold on—"

"You said fries and a burger, correct? Takeout?"

Jason interrupted his mother abruptly before she could continue; he had zero interest in discussing his father, especially after all the ordeal he caused.

Mira wiped her hands on her apron with a fatigued sigh and nodded. She yearned to discuss Jason's father more freely, but she understood it pained him deeply.

Jason's father had been absent for most of his son's years. Over a decade back, Jason's father abruptly disappeared from their world one fateful day. All he left behind was the diner and a brief note urging them not to search for him.

Mira had been utterly heartbroken by his abandonment, but it struck Jason even harder given his tender age then. From early on, Jason shouldered the responsibilities of a man, and Mira could only observe helplessly as her boy hastened to grow up way too soon.

Now, only Mira, Jason, and his younger sister Maya remained from what was once a family of five, and they strained every effort to keep things together amid the harsh national crisis of that era.

Mira couldn't recall the last time Jason requested anything from her. He managed independently, forwarding earnings from additional gigs to cover home costs and Maya's education. On days free from those jobs, he'd show up post-school to aid her at the diner.

Business stayed sparse in their unassuming little spot, yet Jason's presence lightened her load immensely, and she forever appreciated his contributions.

She only hoped he'd open up about his feelings more. It tore at her heart to witness him suppressing everything and bearing the world's burdens alone.

"Mum, order ready."

From the counter, Jason announced as he set down the burger and fries, and Mira approached with a warm smile to collect it for the customer. Jason returned the smile and exhaled while eyeing the passersby on the street. Another sluggish day, and it seemed they'd barely hit thirty patrons by closing.

'I may have to pick up extra work.'

Jason tsked in frustration at the thought. Life was challenging enough already.

[Breaking news today: Fresh reports indicate yet another Red Gate has materialized in downtown Los Angeles, prompting a full city lockdown. The portal emerged at 12:21 pm and tragically took fifteen civilian lives before evacuation commenced. Updates confirm the C-ranked Black Falcon guild, commanded by B-rank Superhuman Red Lightning, has mobilized to the site. Ferrow Wheeler reports live from the scene as events develop—]

"Yet another one so soon? Weren't there two just last week? What's going on with this world?"

Mira remarked wearily, eyes fixed on the TV news footage. The broadcast displayed an aerial shot of the urban chaos, dominated by a massive red gate vortex churning menacingly on the primary thoroughfare. Police barriers and army tanks encircled it, blocking access, while an eerie energy visibly tugged at nearby objects, compelling anything too close to plunge inside.

This marked a Red Gate, among the bizarre occurrences that surfaced globally a decade prior.

A mere ten years earlier, the world transformed dramatically. Multicolored gates started appearing across cities everywhere, drawing people in via their peculiar pull. Curiosity abounded about their origins, but comprehension eluded everyone. Authorities isolated the gates to prevent accidental entries.

That approach proved disastrous! After a set period with no entrants, the gates triggered a Burst.

They erupted violently, unleashing fantasy-like beasts that swarmed the urban areas.

Enormous lizards, goblins, kobolds, hounds! They assaulted the guarding troops and officers in droves, overwhelming the law enforcement with their vast numbers! The defenders fell swiftly, allowing the creatures to wreak havoc, slaughtering countless in their frenzy.

Yet, just as they threatened to conquer the metropolis, a band of empowered individuals emerged—humans blessed with special Gifts.

These folks boasted amplified power, agility, resilience, and diverse magical prowess to combat the invaders.

Dubbed Superhumans, they became humanity's celebrated saviors.

The Superhumans repelled the horde with ease, slaying the majority and herding survivors back through the gate. Then, they ventured inside to eradicate the remaining threats.

According to the media accounts from that historic day, the Superhumans battled relentlessly until confronting the Gate's chief Boss, a beast vastly superior to its minions. Only after vanquishing it could they emerge and seal the portal.

The quintet of Superhumans in that inaugural Raid earned the title: The Five Rulers, revered now as the pinnacle of Superhuman might, each at the helm of their own S-Rank Guild.