Evolving My Undead Legion In A Game-Like World

Chapter 821: Michael Norman

Arven was not willing to let that happen. After all, the other party was from the Federation, an organization that had always antagonized the academies.

Also, if before he did not particularly care about Michael, now he did. Michael had become interesting.

Arven sighed softly, as if mildly inconvenienced, and then moved as well.

Neither of them, not Caelum and not Arven, believed Michael had left the Fifteenth Floor.

Michael had just awakened his Law seed.

He should not have the refinement to shift space to such an absurd degree.

So the conclusion both men reached was simple.

Michael had just moved beyond their immediate sensing range.

Either way, he was still on the Fifteenth Floor.

Somewhere.

Caelum’s anger kept building as he searched.

He expanded his perception again and again.

"Where’s this brat?"

And as both Rank Four superpowers searched the Fifteenth Floor with different methods and different intentions, neither realized the truth.

Michael was truly no longer within their hunting ground at all.

Back at the Federation Station, Michael’s pupils contracted slightly.

They were looking for him.

For a breath, he remained still, hidden in plain sight.

Even if someone glanced his way, their attention slid off him.

But inside Michael’s mind, thoughts began moving quickly.

Why would Federation soldiers in Hell be searching for him?

A first year student.

It made no sense.

Then an image rose uninvited.

An old looking man with a cold gaze.

Caelum.

Michael’s eyes narrowed slightly.

It had to be him.

Director Arven was dangerous in his own way, but Arven did not feel like the kind of person who could casually mobilize Federation soldiers. Even if Arven had influence, the Federation was not the academy. It was a giant that moved by hierarchy and command.

Caelum fit that structure.

Looking at how he also did not seem to mind knocking a junior unconscious, Caelum was the kind of man who would probably not mind using soldiers to corner a student.

Michael’s jaw tightened faintly.

Of course, it was also possible this was not only Caelum’s decision.

It could be the wish of two Rank Four superpowers.

Michael slowly exhaled.

The conversation in front of him continued but he paid no more mind to it now.

Michael’s gaze flicked toward the direction the soldiers had gone.

Their formation was tight.

Michael did not like repeating experiences.

Right now, all this only strengthened the one conclusion Michael had already reached the moment he arrived back on the First Floor.

He needed to leave Hell as soon as possible.

If Caelum was truly involved, then time was not on Michael’s side.

He needed to leave Hell.

Before Caelum’s hand reached him again.

"Just what do they want from me?"

Michael could not help but have the thought again when a more terrifying one came.

"Is it because of my secrets? Did I expose myself?"

At this point Michael started to look a bit uneasy.

If he knew all this was because one party saw him as a holy child and wanted control over him, and another was simply trying to be annoying to that same party, his expression would surely have been colorful.

Somewhere deeper within the ruined Federation Station, beyond the scattered student groups and broken defensive rings, a temporary command post had been established inside what used to be the station’s administrative hall.

The structure itself had partially collapsed, one side of the roof caved in, allowing the blue sky of Hell to loom overhead. Yet the interior had been cleared enough for operation.

A group of Federation soldiers approached from the outer corridors, their boots crunching over fractured stone and debris as they entered.

They stopped before a man standing beside a tactical projection array.

He wore heavier armor than the rest, the insignia on his shoulder marked with command authority. His presence was steady, disciplined, and far more oppressive than the soldiers under him.

One of the reporting soldiers stepped forward and saluted.

"Sir."

The superior did not turn immediately. His eyes remained on the floating terrain projection of the First Floor ruins, multiple scanning markers blinking across it.

"Report," he said calmly.

The soldier straightened slightly.

"We’ve completed another sweep across the outer sector," he said. "No sign of the target."

The superior finally looked at him.

"And the inner settlement?"

"Already searched twice, sir. Nothing."

A brief silence followed.

The superior gave a small nod.

"Understood."

He did not look surprised.

"Any other problems?" he asked.

The reporting soldier hesitated slightly before answering.

"Yes, sir."

The superior’s gaze sharpened a fraction.

"Speak."

"It’s the academies on the other side," the soldier said. "They’ve begun pressing again. They’re demanding the portals be reopened immediately so their students can return."

The superior’s expression did not change, but the air around him cooled slightly.

"They’re calling this an unnecessary detainment," the soldier continued. "Some of the academy representatives are saying we’re overstepping jurisdiction by locking down evacuation."

Another soldier beside him added,

"They’re also asking why the search is focused on a single student when there were casualties and injuries that should take priority."

The superior turned fully now, folding his arms behind his back.

"Sir?"

"Nothing," he said, dismissing the concern with a small motion of his hand.

He looked back at the projection array, gaze resting on the portal zone at the center of the ruined station.

"The academies are free to apply pressure," he said calmly. "But until we receive direct clearance from General Caelum, the portals remain closed."

"Yes, sir."

"And if they escalate complaints?"

"We defer them to Federation High Command," the superior replied without hesitation. "This operation is under military jurisdiction until concluded."

The soldiers saluted again.

"Understood, sir."

They turned and left to continue the search.

The superior remained where he was, eyes lingering on the blinking search markers across the ruined station.

"A student worth locking down Hell for..." he muttered under his breath.

Then his gaze drifted faintly upward, as though imagining something beyond the battlefield.

"Just what exactly are you, Michael Norman?"

However, only a few minutes passed before the same group of soldiers returned again.

"Sir!" one of them called out sharply.

The superior turned this time, already sensing the shift in their tone.

"What happened?" he asked.

The reporting soldier saluted quickly before speaking.

"We’ve been ordered to open access to the portal, sir."