Evolving My Undead Legion In A Game-Like World

Chapter 824: Another Kidnapping?

This ideological divide created tension that had existed for centuries.

But the academies were not alone.

Other entities also stood within that loose opposition.

Supernatural Houses, for example.

This could not be helped.

Because whenever power gathered, hierarchy inevitably followed.

And no powerful entity liked being beneath another if they had the strength to stand equal instead.

The Federation, as a whole, possessed the largest concentrated number of high-rank superpowers in Aurora.

That fact was undisputed.

But power did not exist in isolation.

Scattered across Aurora were numerous independent power blocs. Each smaller than the Federation individually, but collectively they were far from negligible.

If all those parties were ever forced into alignment, even the Federation would need to tread carefully.

Michael’s steps halted the instant his name rang across the military post.

His pupils contracted slightly as he turned his head upward.

High above the military compound, where the sky stretched clear and vast beyond the layered defensive arrays, a figure stood suspended in the air.

Caelum.

He was simply there, looking down.

Looking directly at him.

That gaze locked onto Michael with absolute certainty, as if distance meant nothing at all.

Michael’s instincts screamed.

Without hesitation, his state shifted.

Wisdom transformation surged through him instantly.

Michael was just about to move.

Then he realized he could not.

His body did not respond.

He was completely immobile.

Every muscle fiber remained locked in place as if being forcibly held down by some invisible hands.

Michael’s eyes sharpened as he thought of his next move.

Teleportation.

His mind reached for the void through Wisdom’s long-distance teleportation skill.

However, he reached and felt nothing.

Michael pushed harder, trying to force the skill to activate through sheer will.

Still nothing.

Only then did he notice the truth.

The environment around him had been locked down completely.

This was the might of a Rank Four being at fully realized strength.

Michael’s gaze flickered sideways.

Only then did he realize he was not the only one frozen.

Students stood mid-step.

A soldier remained half-turned.

A piece of cloth caught in the air from someone’s movement remained suspended unnaturally.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

The entire military post had fallen into absolute stillness.

Soon, another presence appeared.

Then an old man stepped into view in midair.

He wore a Federation military uniform, neat and heavy with rank markings. His hair was white, cut short. His posture was straight. His eyes were sharp.

And the moment he arrived, his voice carried across the immobilized compound.

"What do you want, old man?"

The words were blunt. They carried irritation, but also familiarity.

Then, like a chain snapping all at once, everyone below regained control of their bodies, and the military post released the same collective reaction in silence. No one could hide the relief that flashed through their eyes.

Everyone except Michael.

Michael did not relax.

He already understood who Caelum was here for.

Him. And he did not even know why yet.

And since the newcomer was also Federation, Michael did not believe the two would end up on a bad note because of him.

His suspicion proved right almost immediately.

Caelum’s gaze shifted slightly, then focused on the old man in uniform. He did not raise his voice, but space itself seemed to carry something between them. After a brief exchange, the old man’s expression changed.

Without wasting time, he turned his gaze downward.

His eyes locked onto Michael with eerie precision.

"Michael Norman, step forward."

The sentence landed like a weight.

Michael’s heartbeat spiked.

He was just about to speak, but the moment he tried, he realized something was wrong.

He could not speak.

Michael’s instincts screamed again.

Move.

Run.

Teleport.

Anything.

But before his body could follow the command, the ground beneath his boots stopped feeling like ground.

Michael’s feet began to lift.

The crowd below parted without meaning to.

People leaned back instinctively.

A few students stared, eyes wide, their confusion written plainly on their faces as they wondered what this particular student had done. Others immediately recognized Michael, the spirit of gossip already flickering in their eyes.

Michael’s body continued rising when he heard another familiar voice.

He immediately recognized who it was, and though she was far weaker than the two in the sky, she provided far more reassurance to Michael.

It was Instructor Sera.

Michael had somewhat of a history with her, as she was the one who supervised his ranking battle with Rynne and also the one the academy had sent to escort the students to one of Hell’s gates, their current location.

"Can I ask why a student of my academy is being taken away, Sirs?" she asked.

Sera’s voice was steady when it left her lips.

But only she knew how tightly her nerves were wound beneath that calm exterior.

Standing before her were two Rank Four superpowers.

And she was only Rank Three.

The gap between them was not just numerical.

Sera knew this better than anyone.

Her instincts were screaming at her to remain silent and step back.

To let the Federation handle whatever business they had with the youth.

But she did not move.

Her confident facade held.

This was an academy matter, and Michael was not just any student.

He was the first ranked newcomer of his year.

A position that had not been achieved lightly.

Even more telling was who stood second.

Rynne.

The personal disciple of the Assistant Dean herself. A Rank Five Awakener whose existence bordered on the threshold of godhood.

For Michael to surpass her, even by evaluation metrics alone, spoke volumes about his potential.

If she allowed the Federation to take him without even asking for an explanation, then she would be failing her duty as an Instructor.

Failing the academy that had entrusted these students to her supervision.

Failing Michael himself.

Her heartbeat thudded heavily against her ribs, but her expression did not change.

She met the gaze of the old man in uniform directly.

Respectfully.

But without lowering her head.

"Can I ask why a student of my academy is being taken away, Sirs?"