Evolving My Undead Legion In A Game-Like World

Chapter 1075: Special Treasure

After three months, Michael had grown considerably more powerful than he had been during the battle against the Black Serpent Empire.

For one, all twenty of his engravings, granted by his class, were now filled with either his most powerful undead or his most unique.

Since they just happened to be the most powerful undead he possessed, when his engravings were in their passive state, Michael was at his absolute strongest.

A few months ago he could barely handle an opponent in their level eighties. Now the current Michael was confident that if he were to face Shojo again, as long as the other party didn't use their domain, he could desperately exchange a few moves before having to flee.

This was why Michael hadn't been particularly surprised by the Origin Battlefield forcing him into a higher layer.

If the Origin Will was operating it directly, then it surely knew Michael possessed more than one undead close to the peak of Rank Four, along with thousands of others at Rank Four.

It was no wonder it had stated that Michael had surpassed its "extreme threshold," showing that even though the Origin Battlefield had made preparations for anomalies, it still couldn't contain him.

This was also why Michael didn't feel too bad about it. He was almost certain there would be a few other unfortunate souls in the same situation.

After all, compared to him, there were bound to be centuries-old awakeners scattered across the universe. Only the heavens knew how many tricks they'd accumulated over that time.

None of that mattered now, however.

Even with Michael's prowess, within the range his senses could stretch, there were hundreds of blazing presences rushing toward him. Among them were three moving fastest, radiating the brightest light.

One had to understand that each of these presences burned brighter than even his highest-level undead.

Michael's pupils contracted.

"…Shit."

Without another thought, he kicked off the ground.

BOOM!

The mountain beneath his feet exploded as his figure shot into the sky like a cannonball. His target wasn't the approaching presences, but the brilliant purple object descending directly toward him.

"If that's really my compensation, no one else is taking it."

The purple light seemed almost alive. It descended at incredible speed, leaving a long violet trail across the night sky. Michael reached it in only a few breaths. Without hesitation, he stretched out his hand.

The instant his fingers touched it, the purple radiance condensed. The light vanished, and a single object appeared in his palm. It resembled neither a weapon nor any artifact he recognized.

It was…

"…A candle?"

No. Looking more carefully, it resembled a stick of incense carved from translucent violet crystal. Golden patterns flowed through its surface like liquid stars. A rich fragrance escaped from it despite not being lit.

Without wasting another second, Michael activated Detect. A panel immediately appeared.

Heavenly Enlightenment Incense

Grade: Epic ★★★

Description: A supreme treasure born naturally within regions blessed by the Origin Will.

Once ignited, the incense releases Heavenly Enlightenment Mist.

Depending on the quantity burned and the intensity of the flame, the user's comprehension may increase by up to ten times.

Duration and effectiveness depend upon the amount consumed.

Michael's breathing stopped. His heartbeat accelerated.

"Ten…"

"…times?"

His grip tightened around the incense. His expression instantly shifted from surprise to excitement.

"No…"

"This is exactly what I need!"

His heart pounded violently. Someone else might simply value this treasure. Michael, on the other hand, needed it desperately.

His greatest obstacle now was no longer resources, but comprehension, thanks to his advancement requirement demanding that he develop his own Domain before reaching Rank Four.

A Domain. A power that, under normal circumstances, only genuine Rank Four existences possessed. Even with all his advantages, Michael still wasn't confident. Five years was the limit the Origin Will had given him.

"…If I can get more…"

Michael's eyes shone, but just as quickly, his smile slowly faded.

"…Hmm?"

He instinctively attempted to place the incense into his storage space. Nothing happened. The treasure remained firmly in his hand.

Michael frowned and tried again. This time he attempted to use the Mausoleum of Endless Dominion. The legendary spatial treasure immediately responded. Yet the incense still refused to enter.

"…Rejected?"

Michael narrowed his eyes. A faint invisible resistance surrounded the incense. It wasn't refusing absolutely. It was resisting. And more strangely, Michael could clearly feel that the resistance was weakening. Very slowly.

His eyes drifted toward the faint purple glow still lingering around the incense.

"…The light."

The brighter the purple radiance, the stronger the rejection. As the light gradually dimmed, the resistance weakened accordingly.

Michael's expression immediately darkened.

"…So that's how it is."

This wasn't a reward he could casually hide away. At least, not yet. As long as the incense continued shining, it couldn't be stored. Which also meant it was effectively broadcasting its own location.

Michael slowly lifted his head. Hundreds of blazing presences were still rushing toward him.

"…Origin Will."

Michael couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

"You really don't know how to give gifts normally."

A treasure capable of increasing comprehension by up to tenfold. A Three-Star Epic treasure. Something countless Rank Four experts would undoubtedly kill for.

Of course, he wasn't entirely certain this was his compensation, since the panel from before hadn't updated to confirm that a reward had been delivered, and still remained in its previous state.

If that was the case, then the Origin Will hadn't targeted him specifically. This was simply how such objects worked.

Suddenly, Michael felt he understood a little more about the Origin Battlefield.

"…This thing is a hot potato."

He tightened his grip around the Heavenly Enlightenment Incense.

"Looks like my welcome to the Fourth Layer is going to be far more exciting than I hoped."

Without hesitation, Michael immediately chose a direction with fewer presences and weaker signatures and started running.

Ohh, was he expected to stand his ground and fight?

Setting aside the three brightest presences, which radiated power even stronger than his High Drake undead, there were at least a hundred others at Shojo's level.

Yes, he had two thousand Rank Four undead, but a wise man was one who could retreat to fight another day.

Unfortunately for Michael, it seemed easier to stand still than to run away.