Evolving My Undead Legion In A Game-Like World

Chapter 773: The Void

Back at the elven realm, Michael did not deny the old man.

What the old man did not know was that Michael was already capable of remaining within the void thanks to his Mortal God Physique. He simply could not enter it directly yet.

With his current level of law completeness, Michael could already begin learning how to step into the void and make use of certain spatial abilities. However, he had only just comprehended his law and had only recently awakened. He still needed time to properly understand and stabilize it before attempting anything reckless that could easily get him killed.

Caelum studied the sky for a moment longer before speaking again.

"Do you know how many layers the void has?" he asked suddenly.

Michael did not look away from the shifting colors overhead.

"Yes," he replied calmly. "Three."

"The first layer is the surface level," Michael said. "It is separated from the material realm, but it still exists within it. A boundary layer. Close enough that actions there can still influence reality."

He lifted his gaze slightly.

"That is where my undead are fighting now."

Caelum’s eyes narrowed with interest.

"The second layer," Michael continued, "is where one truly steps outside the material realm but has not yet entered the void itself. It is a transitional space. You are no longer bound by physical laws, but you are not completely free of them either."

The old woman spoke. "And the third?"

Michael’s voice lowered slightly.

"The true void," he said. "Where one is completely outside the material realm. A place where distance loses meaning. Where one can travel across the universe itself."

Caelum gave a short nod.

"Good," he said. "You are learned."

Michael showed little reaction to the praise.

The old woman’s lips curved faintly in mild approval.

"It seems education in your realm is standard," she said calmly. "At least when it comes to basic theory."

Caelum’s head turned sharply toward her.

"Standard?" he repeated, the word carrying a hint of offense. "If the children of your realm can learn this as standard knowledge, then why can’t my own?"

The old woman did not respond.

She did not even glance at him. She merely adjusted the fall of her sleeve, as if the conversation had ended the moment it began.

Caelum clicked his tongue softly under his breath.

Then, as if recalling something important, his gaze returned to the sky and the strange colors layered across it.

"Since you understand the three layers," he said, "let me ask you this. Do you know that the first layer can be manipulated by others?"

Michael’s head snapped toward him.

"What?" he asked, genuinely startled.

The idea struck him as wrong.

The surface layer was close to the material realm, yes, but it was still the void. A place where laws were distorted, where ordinary influence should not reach so easily.

"How?" Michael asked, brows drawing together. "The surface layer is separated. It should not be that easy to interfere with."

Caelum watched him for a moment, as if weighing his reaction.

Then he nodded slowly.

"Seeing as you had to ask me to confirm where your undead were fighting," Caelum said, "it means there is a problem with communication."

Michael stiffened slightly.

Caelum continued calmly, as if stating something obvious.

"And that is understandable," he added. "Because you are standing inside a place where the surface layer is controlled."

Michael’s eyes widened.

"Controlled?" he repeated.

His gaze swept across the academy again.

It felt different now.

Caelum’s lips curved faintly.

"Do not worry. It is simply advanced application. It can be used to prevent interference, to protect, or to provide additional space."

Michael swallowed.

The sky above no longer felt like a distant phenomenon.

It felt like a ceiling.

The old woman’s expression did not change, but her eyes gleamed faintly, as if she was pleased that the information had been spoken aloud. She had wanted him to know.

As for Caelum making it sound simple, she believed the young man was intelligent enough to understand that nothing about this was truly simple. If he misunderstood it now, that was not a bad thing. When the truth was eventually revealed to him, he would come to admire her race even more.

For a race who tried so hard to present themselves as benevolent and refined, elves could be remarkably vain.

Michael looked at her, then back to Caelum.

"So my undead," he said slowly. "If they are fighting near this place, the signal could be distorted because it is not allowed."

Caelum nodded once.

"More accurately," he said, "it is not permitted."

"I could explain it to you," he added.

Then he shook his head.

"But it will be faster to show you."

Michael’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"Show me?"

Caelum stepped closer.

Before Michael could react, the old man placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Do not resist," Caelum said, echoing the old woman’s earlier words.

Michael felt space twist.

The academy, the terraces, the sky, all of it vanished in an instant.

The next moment, Michael’s feet touched solid ground again.

For a brief instant, his vision blurred, then everything snapped into focus.

The first thing he noticed was the sky.

It was no longer filled with shifting colors.

It was grey.

Not the natural grey of clouds, but a flat, heavy grey, like ash spread endlessly across the world. It pressed down on everything, dulling the horizon and draining depth from the distance.

Michael looked around.

Trees rose nearby, but they were grey as well. Their trunks, branches, and leaves all looked washed out, as if color had been stripped away. The grass beneath his feet was no different, pale and lifeless, bending softly in a wind that carried no scent.

Michael’s brow furrowed.

"This is..."

He stopped.

Because it was not only the landscape.

Elves were everywhere.

They stood in clusters across the grey field, some on the ground, others hovering above in the air, their robes and armor muted by the strange light. Their attention was fixed upward, faces tilted toward the sky as if watching a ceremony.

Michael followed their gaze.

And his eyes narrowed.

Above them, two figures were fighting.