Read Novel Full Chapter 1165: Buying Time [1]
Chapter 1165: Buying Time [1]
The moment Michael stepped through the portal, the atmosphere around him changed completely.
The air became cool and still. His feet landed softly upon damp grass.
Before him stretched a vast lake whose waters reflected the strange heavens overhead.
Unlike Aurora's blue skies, the Mausoleum sky was currently dark, painted with flowing streams of emerald and violet light that drifted across the heavens.
Occasionally, streaks of pale blue shimmered among them before fading into the darkness once more.
The colorful lights danced silently across the lake's surface, making the water appear almost otherworldly.
Michael stood quietly by the shore, letting the wind brush past him, calming his nerves.
A few seconds later, he slowly looked across the lake.
On the opposite bank, a lone structure stood beneath the strange sky. It resembled a modest manor one might find in a medieval era.
Constructed primarily from dark gray stone, its walls were thick and reinforced, giving it the appearance of a small fortified residence rather than a luxurious mansion.
The roof was covered with deep slate tiles that glistened faintly beneath the emerald sky. Warm golden light spilled gently from several narrow windows.
A sturdy wooden entrance stood at the front, protected by a simple stone staircase leading up to it. Low defensive walls enclosed a small courtyard where several lanterns emitted a calm blue glow.
The building wasn't large, possessing only two floors. Enough space to comfortably house a small number of people without feeling cramped.
There was nothing extravagant about it. No towering spires or elaborate decorations. Yet everything had been built with practicality in mind. Solid. Reliable. Comfortable.
Exactly the sort of place one could live in for months without complaint.
Michael's gaze softened slightly.
This was another achievement from the past several months. With such a vast world as the Mausoleum of Endless Dominion had to offer, he hadn't simply filled it with undead.
Aside from increasing the number of wild life forms this place contained, he had also constructed several facilities throughout its landscape, each one carefully positioned across different regions.
This lakeside residence happened to be one of the few structures intended primarily for living.
Michael's figure blurred. The distance of several hundred meters disappeared almost instantly. The next moment, he appeared on the opposite shore.
He walked forward at an unhurried pace. The stone path leading to the residence had been neatly laid, winding gently through patches of dark green grass and clusters of strange flowers whose pale blue petals glowed faintly beneath the night sky.
Several ancient trees surrounded the manor, their silver-gray bark reflecting the emerald light above while their dark leaves rustled softly despite the absence of any breeze.
The only sounds came from the gentle lapping of the lake against its rocky shore and the occasional distant cries of birds and frogs.
Outside of this, there was only silence. A silence that felt strangely comforting.
Michael climbed the short flight of stone steps leading to the entrance.
As he reached the heavy oak doors reinforced with black iron bands, he unconsciously relaxed further upon catching a faint sweet fragrance drifting from within.
He raised his hand.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Several hurried footsteps sounded from the other side. A moment later, a click, and the heavy wooden door slowly swung inward.
Standing there was Lily. Her long hair had been casually tied back, and she wore simple, comfortable clothes she had brought from Aurora.
The warm light from inside the house illuminated her smiling face. Behind her stood Jester, maintaining his perfectly upright posture as always.
The two of them looked as though they had been waiting.
The moment Lily saw Michael, her smile widened.
"You're back already." She stepped aside to let him enter. "I thought you'd be gone much longer."
Michael paused for a brief second.
Only now did it truly register. He had entered the Mausoleum less than two hours after bringing Aunt Mia and Lily here. Outside, within those two hours, a Demigod had attacked.
An entire city had nearly been destroyed. He had fought a battle that shook hundreds of miles, claimed his first Demigod corpse, and obtained a Rank Five undead material. All before two hours had even passed.
In this supernatural world he had come to, anything could change in a matter of seconds.
Michael couldn't help smiling bitterly.
"So much happened, and it hasn't even been half a day."
He muttered quietly.
Lily tilted her head.
"Hm?"
Michael gently shook his head.
"Nothing."
He stepped inside. The warmth immediately embraced him.
Unlike the stone exterior, the interior had been carefully designed to feel welcoming. It was an unusual combination of two completely different eras.
The thick stone walls, exposed wooden beams supporting the ceiling, iron chandeliers, and broad fireplace all retained the atmosphere of an old medieval residence.
At the same time, modern comforts had been seamlessly incorporated throughout.
Soft fabric sofas surrounded a low wooden coffee table in the center of the living room. Large bookshelves occupied one wall, already holding dozens of books Michael had gradually collected over the months.
Warm crystal lamps provided steady lighting without producing smoke or soot. The dining area featured sturdy wooden furniture crafted with modern proportions, making it far more comfortable than traditional medieval designs.
Beyond it, an open kitchen contained both ordinary cookware and several modern appliances powered by battery electricity Michael had brought from Aurora.
Even the flooring reflected both styles. Smooth wooden planks covered most of the house, while darker stone tiles reinforced the areas around the fireplace and entrance.
Simple woven rugs softened the atmosphere further.
Michael slowly looked around.
Much of this place hadn't been built by him alone. His undead had done most of the physical work.
Jester had supervised almost every stage of construction, somehow displaying remarkable talent for architecture and organization despite being an undead.
The result was neither fully modern nor completely medieval.
"…It's nice to be back."
Jester offered his own greeting.
"Welcome back."
Those two simple words made the manor feel even warmer.
However, for Michael, the day had only truly begun. He had so many things to accomplish and so little time to accomplish them in.