The Last Incubus with The Vice and Valor System

The guild hall was bathed in the soft light of midday, the hum of conversation filling the air.

As Leon stepped inside, he couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and calm. This was just the beginning, and the path ahead was shrouded in uncertainty—yet his resolve remained unshaken.

His eyes scanned the board until they landed on a fresh notice: "Dungeon Raid – Seeking Participants." It mentioned a recently discovered dungeon in the outskirts of the village, filled with nature-affinity beasts.

His system had already hinted at the potential rewards inside, which piqued his interest.

Leon made his way into the guild hall, pushing past the heavy doors. Inside, the atmosphere was just as lively.

Merchants gathered around tables covered with maps, goods, and contracts, while adventurers and mercenaries sat in groups, discussing plans and strategies.

The scent of tea and freshly baked bread wafted through the air from a small vendor tucked away in the corner. Leon's gaze shifted toward the back of the hall, where a large counter stood with several attendants processing requests and inquiries.

He approached the counter, where a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a thick ledger in front of him stood ready to assist. The man's clothes, while simple, had a refined look that marked him as someone of importance in the guild.

Leon stepped forward, clearing his throat. "I'm here to apply for the dungeon raid."

The attendant looked up from his ledger, sizing Leon up. "Another one, eh? We've had a lot of interest in that dungeon lately. Dangerous place, from what I hear. The merchants have extended their stay just for this raid. But before I proceed, I need to know a few things."

Leon nodded, keeping his expression calm.

"First," the attendant began, "what's your cultivation level? We're only accepting those at the Qi Refining realm and above."

Leon responded confidently, "I'm at the peak of the Qi Refining realm."

The attendant raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Peak, huh? That'll certainly qualify you, but you'll still need to go through the process. The merchants sponsoring this raid are taking things very seriously. They've hired top-tier protection to make sure things go smoothly."

Leon's eyes narrowed slightly. "Protection? Who's leading the mercenary group?"

The attendant glanced around the noisy hall before leaning in slightly. "The Deathbringer Mercenary Squad. They're the top mercenaries in the region. Ruthless, efficient, and expensive. Only the wealthiest merchants can afford their services."

Leon frowned at the mention of the Deathbringer Mercenary Squad. His mind raced as he thought about their leader and the complicated history he had with him. The son of Lord Deathbringer had been after Amelia for quite some time, and their previous encounter had been tense.

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The only reason the young master whom he doesn't know his name and his father, Lord Deathbringer hadn't attacked him was because Seraphina had been with him.

Ever since then, he hadn't veiwed the both of them in a good light, if the chance provided itself it's likely that Leon wouldn't hesitate to kill the two of them.

But in the middle of a delicate mission such as this one, the young master and his father would prove to be troublesome and would make things harder for Leon.

"Deathbringer, huh?" Leon muttered under his breath as he tried to suppress the killing intent surging within him.

'Seems like this raid just got a lot more complicated.'

The attendant didn't catch Leon's killing intent but continued with the application process. "You'll need to register as a lone fighter. The merchants aren't allowing anyone to enter the dungeon without being part of the official raid group. So, if you're serious about this, you'll need to sign up with us. We'll assign you a group, and you'll be briefed by the mercenary squad before the raid begins."

Leon nodded, realizing he had no other choice if he wanted to access the dungeon. "Fine. What do I need to do?"

The attendant pulled out a smaller ledger, flipping it open to an empty page. "I'll need your name, cultivation level, and any special skills you possess. Then you'll need to meet with the representative of the Deathbringer Mercenary Squad for the final approval."

Leon provided his details of course, he didn't give them exactly what they wanted, with a few words everything moved smoothly and after a few moments, the attendant nodded and handed him a small token. "Take this to the back room. That's where the Deathbringer representative is conducting interviews. They'll determine if you're fit for the raid."

Leon took the token and made his way toward the back of the guild hall. As he walked, he overheard murmurs from a group of villagers seated at a nearby table.

"The dungeon's beasts have already broken through some of the trees near the portal," one man whispered, his voice tense. "If those merchants weren't interested, who knows how long it'd be before they completely broke out. This village would be razed to the ground."

Another villager gulped, beads of sweat forming on his brow. "We're lucky the merchants are taking care of it. Otherwise, we'd be in real trouble."

Leon's sharp eyes caught a merchant badge on one of the men. He must have been the one spreading the word about the dungeon.

The villagers seemed to hang onto every word he said, realizing just how close they had been to disaster. For a moment, their previous complaints about the merchants staying in the village seemed foolish. Now, they saw the merchants as wise sages, their presence a blessing in disguise.

Leon couldn't help but shake his head as he continued walking. He understood the gravity of the situation, but his focus was on the dungeon and the dangers that awaited him there. He reached the door to the back room and knocked twice before entering.

Inside, the atmosphere was different—darker, more tense. Seated behind a small desk was a large, muscular man with a scar running down his face. His eyes were cold and calculating, and the emblem of the Deathbringer Mercenary Squad was emblazoned on his chest. This was the representative.

Leon stepped forward, presenting his token. The man looked up, his gaze sharp. "You're here to join the raid?"

Leon nodded. "That's right."

The mercenary leaned back in his chair, scrutinizing Leon. "You're at the peak of the Qi Refining realm, huh? Not bad. But this raid isn't for the faint of heart. We're expecting resistance, and you'll be required to follow our orders. Are you prepared for that?"

Leon met the man's gaze without flinching. "I'm prepared."

The mercenary studied him for another moment before nodding. "Very well. You're in. Report to the staging area tomorrow morning. We'll brief everyone before we head out."

Leon nodded, turning to leave. But as he reached the door, the mercenary's voice stopped him. "One more thing. Don't do anything reckless. We're in charge here, and we won't tolerate any troublemakers."

Leon paused for a moment before replying, his tone calm. "I don't plan on causing any trouble."

With that, he left the room, his mind already focused on the raid.

The dungeon awaited, and with the Deathbringer Mercenary Squad involved, things were bound to get interesting. But no matter what, Leon was determined to claim the rewards that awaited him inside.

After Leon stepped out of the merchant guild, his mind already focused on the upcoming dungeon raid. The sun was now fully overhead, casting a warm light over Silverveil Village, but Leon's thoughts were far from the peaceful atmosphere.

As he walked down the bustling streets, a familiar cold sensation washed over him, the telltale sign that his system had something to say.

Before Leon could react, a voice echoed in his mind, clear and arousing. To his surprise, it was actually the feminine voice he had been yearning to hear for a while now.

[Leon, although the system can provide you with opportunities to raise your cultivation smoothly, it cannot help you stabilize your strength or your realm of cultivation. And I must say, you are sorely lacking in that aspect.]

Leon's eyes narrowed slightly, but he continued walking. He knew the system was right. He had focused too much on gaining power quickly and neglected the crucial step of stabilizing his cultivation. In a world where one's strength was everything, being unstable in cultivation could lead to dire consequences, especially in the heat of battle.

But it also couldn't be helped, Leon was totally clueless about stuffs like that...

The feminine voice continued, [With the system's assistance, your mana paths have already been formed long ago. But your current strength will remain fragile if you do not take the time to circulate your mana properly, stabilize your realm, and raise your strength gradually. Failure to do so will leave you vulnerable.]