Evolving My Undead Legion In A Game-Like World

Chapter 1117: Awareness And Correction [2]

The battle had not lasted particularly long. Yet Michael had already lost slightly more than twenty Rank Four undead.

It hurt, but it wasn't enough to visibly affect him or significantly strain his soul. In comparison, the wolves had suffered far greater losses, and their casualties were continuing to rise rapidly.

Michael's eyes narrowed.

"Was I really this strong already?"

He genuinely began reconsidering his recent decisions.

Naturally, Michael knew he possessed many powerful undead. Beginning. Lily. Wisdom. Jester. Lucky. Prince. Spartan. The Undead High Drake. Several others.

These were all existences Michael considered genuinely exceptional. But perhaps because these undead constantly occupied his attention, he had unconsciously overlooked the rest of his legion.

Michael possessed slightly more than three hundred Epic Grade undead. Many of these were survivors of Michael's expedition into Hell.

This meant that most of their growth had come almost entirely from Michael's evolutions, which had only raised them to Three-Star Extraordinary Grade before they entered Rank Four.

This was different from the corpses Michael had obtained from the academy.

Although the creatures themselves might not have been particularly powerful while alive, the academy specifically only stored corpses with good foundations, which had ultimately served as materials for Michael to fill his contract slots. Because these creatures had already been well developed while alive, the effects of Michael's evolution were far more pronounced on them.

It was reminiscent of when Michael had first begun understanding his talent. Back then, he had noticed that undead with higher levels before evolving usually progressed further in terms of levels after evolution as well.

A better foundation naturally produced better results.

Of course, another reason they progressed so well was Michael's blood. As Michael grew stronger, his blood itself gradually became an increasingly extraordinary evolutionary material.

When used during evolution, it further strengthened his undead and improved their foundations. Because of this, even among undead of the same grade and star level, Michael's undead were considerably stronger, and their prowess could be compared to creatures a full star above them within the same grade.

Of course, no matter how powerful the foundation, there was always a ceiling. This was why Michael still only had close to two thousand Rank Four undead and not four thousand.

The other Rank Three undead were all Three-Star Extraordinary Grade creatures, and Michael could not afford to evolve all of them at once, choosing to continue saving up instead.

In any case, more than three hundred Epic Grade creatures was a terrifying quantity. Unfortunately, their levels weren't particularly impressive. The problem remained the same. Their foundations were insufficient for more rapid growth.

Beginning and Lily were both technically Three-Star Extraordinary creatures before their current developments. Yet could ordinary Three-Star Extraordinary monsters truly be compared to them? Obviously not.

Michael had invested an absurd amount of resources into both, and together with what they had taken without permission, their foundations had been repeatedly strengthened.

Most importantly, both possessed powerful Laws that gave them paths of further progression. Even before reaching Epic Grade, both had already possessed foundations capable of competing with creatures of that level.

The same applied to Wisdom, Jester, and several others. They were anomalies.

Michael's three hundred Epic Grade undead weren't like that. Most had reached their current grade through Infinite Evolution. But evolution couldn't magically create thousands of years of accumulation, nor could it provide the rare opportunities and resources that beings like Beginning had continuously received.

Wisdom was perhaps the clearest example. Its foundation was excellent.

Among Michael's undead, Wisdom had been one of the most carefully developed. Yet after evolving into Rank Four several months ago, it had only reached Level 80. Level 80.

That was merely the beginning stages of Rank Four. If Wisdom, with all its accumulated foundation, had only progressed that far, what could Michael expect from ordinary Epic Grade undead that relied almost entirely on evolution?

Many were still in the low eighties. Some had barely passed Level 80. A few remained just above the threshold of Rank Four.

The stronger one becomes, the harder progressing gets.

Fortunately, evolution remained the fastest shortcut Michael possessed. Though it couldn't replace accumulation completely, it could violently raise an undead's potential and foundation, allowing future progress that would otherwise be impossible.

Michael's gaze settled on one section of the battlefield. An

Epic Grade undead resembling a six-legged black lion was surrounded by three wolves. Its level was only 82.

The lowest wolf attacking it was Level 87. The highest was Level 91. By level alone, the difference was obvious. Yet the black lion wasn't losing. It was being pushed hard, certainly, but only almost.

Michael stared at all this in contemplation.

"…Right."

He had truly been paying too much attention to levels recently and had forgotten his own foundation.

"…I've really been too cautious. Do I need to start fighting more boldly?"

Of course, his caution against Level 100 awakeners was still entirely justified.

Varek alone had demonstrated how troublesome an experienced peak Rank Four could be.

The angel and phoenix had been no different.

Monsters were different. Most fought with what they possessed naturally. What Michael saw was usually what he got. Their hidden methods were limited.

That drastically reduced the uncertainty.

Michael's lips slowly curled upward.

"Perhaps I should separate the two in my mind."

He had been treating Rank Four monsters and Rank Four awakeners with almost the same degree of caution.

That was the mistake.

An experienced Level 90 awakener could potentially be more troublesome than a Level 100 monster. Not necessarily stronger. But far more dangerous to underestimate.

The battlefield beneath Michael suddenly shook.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

A massive explosion swallowed several wolves. When the smoke cleared, an Epic Grade undead stood at the center. Its entire body resembled a tree made from black metal. Countless branches extended from its back. Several wolves had been impaled.

Michael blinked.

"…When did I get that one?"

He genuinely couldn't remember. There were too many undead now. That was perhaps another reason he had underestimated his legion.

Once the number reached thousands, individual achievements became difficult to track. His main undead remained memorable because Michael constantly interacted with them.