Evolving My Undead Legion In A Game-Like World

Chapter 1122: Universal Cornerstone [1]

The instant the fragment touched his palm, a strange warmth spread across his fingers.

The other three fragments suddenly trembled, and all three shot toward him.

Before he or his undead could react, the fragments came to a halt right in front of him.

"Wait."

Michael calmed his undead and continued observing the strange phenomenon.

The three fragments hovered around the first, then slowly drew toward one another as multicolored light flooded the surroundings.

Michael instinctively tightened his grip around the first fragment, but the object slipped through his fingers like liquid.

"What?"

It floated upward, and the four pieces collided.

There was no explosion or violent reaction.

They simply merged.

Michael watched without blinking; the process lasted only several seconds.

When the light finally faded, a single object floated before him.

It was spherical.

No larger than a human head.

Its surface resembled translucent crystal, but countless colors flowed within it like rivers of light.

Michael's expression became serious.

"...Interesting."

He extended one hand.

The merged object slowly descended into his palm.

It was almost weightless.

Michael immediately activated Detect, and a panel appeared.

[Key to the Universal Cornerstone] [Grade: Legendary]

There was no description, only the name of the item and its grade. Though its use could already be guessed from the name, the moment the panel appeared, Michael's gaze fixated entirely on the grade. His hands, holding the treasure, trembled slightly.

Compared to his expectation that anything he got from this nest would at most be a three-star Epic Grade, this was a Legendary Grade item!

Then again, it made sense.

To reach this level, one not only had to get through nearly a thousand Rank Four creatures, but they also had to deal with peak Rank Four Epic Grade monsters.

Michael unconsciously tightened his fingers around the strange sphere before hurriedly loosening them again.

"Legendary..."

Michael's gaze immediately shifted toward the ancient tower.

Or pillar.

After seeing the entire surrounding land destroyed while the structure remained completely untouched, Michael knew the answer was obviously there.

"If this is a Key, then it could only be for one thing."

Michael looked down at the colorful sphere, then at the tower, and his body moved.

WHOOSH!

He crossed the enormous abyss in an instant.

The remnants of the previous energy storm still filled the surroundings, but they were of no harm to Michael.

Within seconds, Michael landed on the circular platform.

Tap.

His feet touched ancient stone.

After a brief hesitation, Michael started walking toward the pillar, only to be forced to a stop as a transparent surface appeared directly before him.

Holding the treasure in one hand, Michael's eyes lit up with curiosity, and he sent a punch at the barrier.

BOOOOOOM!

Unfortunately, the platform remained silent, and the barrier didn't even shake.

Michael slowly lowered his fist.

"Of course."

Michael wasn't surprised.

After everything that had happened, it would have been stranger if he could simply walk into the tower.

Michael looked down at the colorful sphere in his hand, then back at the barrier.

"Key," he repeated, looking around the platform for anything that resembled a keyhole for the sphere in his hands.

Michael took another step closer to the barrier, and the sphere trembled.

This time, the colors flowing inside it accelerated.

Michael's eyes brightened.

"So I was right."

He moved the sphere closer, and the barrier immediately reacted.

BZZZZZZZT!

Countless ripples spread across its surface, and the sphere disappeared completely into the barrier.

The runes covering the ancient structure lit up simultaneously.

Michael's eyes widened.

THUMP!

The entire Origin Battlefield seemed to shake, but the vibration was coming from beneath the pillar.

The barrier before Michael changed.

Color appeared at its center.

A tiny point at first.

Then it expanded, as countless colors spread across the transparent barrier like veins.

Michael slowly stepped backward. His emerald eyes remained fixed on the pillar.

The colorful lines continued spreading, and within seconds, the entire barrier had transformed.

Then...

KACHA!

A crack appeared, then another, and another, until...

The transparent barrier began shattering.

THUUUUUUUUM!!!

A loud sound came from the pillar.

Michael's long hair flew backward, and his robes snapped violently.

The violent force spreading from the pillar gradually weakened.

Michael remained where he stood, his emerald eyes fixed on the ancient structure.

The transparent barrier was gone.

Nothing now separated him from the pillar.

After waiting several seconds and sensing no immediate danger, Michael stepped forward. Beginning and the Undead High Drake followed closely behind him, while the remaining undead surrounded the platform, prepared to react at the slightest change.

The closer Michael moved, the more imposing the structure became.

From a distance, it had resembled an ancient tower, but with no windows or any other entrances.

"Detect."

A translucent panel appeared.

[Universal Cornerstone]

[Level: 1]

[Grade: Legendary]

[Status: Unclaimed]

[Description: A foundational structure created and maintained by the Origin Will. A Universal Cornerstone serves as a territorial anchor, checkpoint, trade hub, and point of expansion across connected realms.] Michael's expression changed.

The panel continued expanding.

[Primary Effect: Regional Dominion]

[Upon claiming the Universal Cornerstone, the owner will gain authority over the surrounding Level 3 Region] [The Level 3 Region will be recognized as the owner's territory within the Origin Battlefield] [The owner may perceive major disturbances occurring within the territory] [The owner may influence entry permissions, establish restricted zones, and activate available territorial defenses] Michael stared at the lines in shock.

"The entire region?"

[Primary Effect: Origin Checkpoint]

[The Universal Cornerstone may serve as a fixed checkpoint within the Origin Battlefield] [The owner may designate this location as a return point] [Future entries into the Origin Battlefield may begin from this checkpoint, provided the required conditions are satisfied] [Using this cornerstone, one may take partial control of the other cornerstones in lower layers and gain even more functions] [Primary Effect: Sub-Territory Creation]

[The Universal Cornerstone may establish subsidiary territorial anchors within connected worlds, including the Land of Origin. Through the cornerstone, any permitted intelligent lifeform may enter the origin battlefield] Michael's breathing slowed.

"Anywhere in the universe? Including the Land of Origin?"

Does this mean anyone, even non-awakeners, could enter the Origin Battlefield?