Evolving My Undead Legion In A Game-Like World

Chapter 1286: Entering The Zeroth Layer [4]

Michael could not help but take a deeper look at Rina. He was shocked by how unusual her Class was.

A maid can be this powerful?

Based on the effect of Rina’s Class ability, Michael could see this was some sort of retainer-type Class, built around forming a bond with an individual and growing through that connection.

It reminded him of the Shadow Slave Class he had once encountered.

Back then, he had been given the opportunity to choose it, but ultimately rejected it for something more suitable to his own path.

The Shadow Class had also revolved around serving a "Master."

Both Classes seemed to sacrifice a degree of independence in exchange for explosive potential or growth through attachment to someone stronger.

As for which of the two was superior, Michael had no idea.

He had never possessed the Shadow Slave Class himself, and he had only just discovered what Maid could do.

Rina lifted her eyes after finishing the description of the skill. Her gaze settled on Michael.

Michael sensed her gaze on him. For a moment, he felt a strong urge to have her activate Serve right then and see exactly what five percent of his abilities looked like when transferred to an unranked Awakener.

The temptation was considerable.

Michael’s current strength was far beyond what someone at Rina’s level should have any business touching.

Even five percent sounded dangerous.

Of course, the skill itself clearly accounted for that.

The borrowed abilities were restricted by Rank, while borrowed attributes were limited by what the user’s body could adapt to.

That meant Rina would not suddenly obtain five percent of Michael’s full strength and explode from the strain.

The Class had safeguards.

Still, Michael found the ability fascinating.

Bond could clearly be used very well.

Or very badly.

The right Master could completely transform the future of the Maid.

A powerful Master with exceptional Classes, rare abilities, high attributes, and a strong growth path could effectively drag the Maid upward with them.

Even a fraction of such a person’s abilities could be enough to make an otherwise ordinary Awakener terrifying among people of the same Rank.

But the reverse was also true.

Bonding with the wrong person could cripple the Class’s potential.

A weak Master meant weak abilities to borrow.

A poorly developed Master meant poor foundations.

And choosing Permanent Bond made that decision far more serious.

The Temporary Bond was relatively forgiving.

It granted fewer benefits, but Rina could presumably use it to test compatibility and understand what kind of abilities a person could provide without committing herself.

Permanent Bond was different.

The benefit increased from five percent to ten percent, and while there should be other benefits, the restriction attached to it was heavy.

For example, the Maid had to remain below the Master’s Rank, a condition alone that could determine Rina’s entire future.

If she permanently bonded with someone who stopped progressing at Rank Two, then unless the Class possessed some hidden method of breaking or replacing the bond, Rina herself might never be able to advance beyond Rank One.

Used correctly, the Class could become absurdly powerful.

Used incorrectly, it could become a cage.

Michael’s gaze lingered on Rina.

In the end, Michael decided against having Rina activate Serve.

The temptation was still there.

He wanted to see what five percent of his abilities would look like when filtered through the limits of her current Rank.

But curiosity was not enough to justify the risk.

For one, this was hardly the right location.

Even if the skill’s restrictions prevented Rina from accessing anything truly dangerous, Michael had no idea what form the borrowed abilities might take.

More importantly, he was concerned about the Origin Will.

Rina had not yet entered the Origin Battlefield.

That meant whatever information used to determine her placement had not yet been fully tested.

Normally, an unranked Awakener would be sent to the Zeroth Layer.

But Michael himself was proof that exceptions existed.

If the Origin Will judged more than just Rank and took combat strength into account under certain abnormal conditions, allowing Rina to borrow from him before her first entry might be a terrible idea.

Michael did not know exactly what five percent of his abilities meant in practice, but he had some rough guesses.

If Rina temporarily borrowed five percent from him without restrictions, there was a serious chance her effective combat ability would jump far beyond what an unranked Awakener should possess.

Perhaps she would not truly reach Rank Three.

But Michael doubted she would be very far from that range.

And that possibility alone was enough to make him cautious.

If the Origin Will recorded that temporary state as part of her strength and then decided she belonged in a higher layer, the consequences could be fatal.

Especially if Serve had a limited duration.

At that point, she would be nothing more than an unranked sixteen-year-old trapped in a battlefield meant for far stronger Awakeners.

That was not a risk Michael was willing to take just to satisfy his curiosity.

So he left the skill alone.

For now, knowing what it could theoretically do was enough. It was also an act of goodwill toward the girl. Once he settled the native Awakeners’ first month in the Origin Battlefield and gained more experience and information about the place, he would be bolder with his actions.

For now, he had to be careful, as the lives of many were in his hands.

Michael finally placed the pen down and looked at Rina again.

For now, there was nothing more he needed from her.

"You can leave now."

Rina straightened at once.

Michael continued.

"Have one of the soldiers outside take you to where the others are staying. When I need you again, I’ll have someone call for you."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Rina nodded quickly. She placed one hand over her chest and gave a respectful salute.

Then, after another brief bow, she turned and made her way toward the door.

Her movements were still slightly tense, but compared to when she had first entered the office, she was noticeably calmer.

A Silver Guard waiting outside noticed her at once.

Rina stepped out, and the guard moved to escort her away from the administrative building toward the temporary residential area where the other confirmed Awakeners had been gathered.

Like this, another three days passed.