Evolving My Undead Legion In A Game-Like World

Chapter 898: Yet Another One

Being a monster felt different.

Then again, being a monster was a first for Michael entirely.

Seeing himself in this form left him stunned, unable to react immediately to the chaos around him or the disorientation within. He stood there processing it in silence for a full second before another thought surfaced.

"Why do I look different from Lucky?"

The form was the same in structure, but the appearance was not. Michael’s wolf form was noticeably larger and carried a more oppressive presence than Lucky’s original.

He hadn’t finished processing that when the world outside caught up with him.

"Monster! There’s a monster in the academy grounds!"

Screams erupted from somewhere beyond the ruins of the manor. Michael recognized immediately what was happening and spoke quickly.

"Wait, I’m not—"

He hadn’t even finished the sentence when the protective dome surrounding the manor dissolved. An enraged voice followed immediately.

"Foul beast! What is your business here?!"

Whoever it was had no intention of waiting for an answer. The attack came right behind the words.

Instinctively Michael brought the wings behind his back to shield himself. The movement alone sent a massive gust of wind tearing through the surrounding area, destroying what remained of the manor further and forcing nearby students to brace against the force of it.

Clang.

A loud metallic sound rang out as a fire-based attack landed against the scaled surface of his wings. The person who sent it was already preparing a second one.

Panic hit Michael faster than he expected.

"Stop, stop!"

As he said it he hurriedly shifted back into his human form.

His panic was understandable. He had recognized who attacked him the moment the strike landed. It was one of the five Rank 4 powerhouses who had escorted him during the tribulation. The same elder who had explained the tribulation process to him in the first place.

The moment the attack was blocked and Michael’s voice rang out, her expression changed instantly.

Shock.

She descended rapidly from the air, the pressure around her dispersing just as quickly as it had gathered.

"What happened?" she demanded, her sharp gaze sweeping across the destroyed manor before locking onto Michael. Then, after a brief pause, her lips curved slightly. "...A second later and I might have killed you."

Michael felt a chill run down his spine.

Even knowing she was likely joking, he didn’t doubt for a second that she could.

"...You weren’t trying to kill me," he said carefully.

The elder snorted. "Of course not." Her gaze shifted briefly to the space where the massive wolf had stood, then back to him. "A creature like that appearing in the center of the academy grounds? In the territory of one of our most promising students?" Her eyes narrowed slightly. "I intended to capture it for questioning."

A pause followed.

Then her expression turned strange. "...I just didn’t expect the monster to be you."

Michael let out a slow breath. That explained it. From the outside there was no way anyone would assume that what had appeared, that massive winged wolf, was him. Even now the memory felt unreal.

He flexed his fingers slightly, confirming he was back in control. "...It was a skill. A transformation type. I just obtained it."

That part, at least, was entirely true.

The elder studied him for a moment longer, her gaze sharp, as if trying to peel back layers he hadn’t revealed. Then slowly the pressure around her faded completely.

"...You should be more careful." Her tone wasn’t harsh but there was weight behind it. "This is an academy, not a battlefield. If another one of us had reacted faster..."

She didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t need to.

Michael understood perfectly. He could feel several other gazes leaving his body one by one. All four of them familiar.

"...Yes Ma’am."

Silence settled briefly between them. Then the elder glanced once more at the destroyed manor, the cracked ground, and the lingering energy still hanging in the air before her gaze returned to him, sharper now.

"So," she said slowly, "since you claim you only just obtained that skill, I assume you only just woke up?"

As she spoke Michael felt it. A gaze sweeping across him from head to toe, subtle but invasive.

Then her eyes widened. "...Level 65?"

The words slipped out before she could stop them. Genuine astonishment crossed her face. "What kind of mission did you complete to raise your level this much?"

Just as quickly she paused. Something clicked. Her expression shifted as memory of Michael’s tribulation surfaced.

Three days ago. A phenomenon meant for those ascending to Rank 4 had descended upon a Rank 2. Even now the memory of it was enough to make her uneasy.

The elder exhaled softly. "...I suppose it’s not surprising a monster like you would produce results like this."

Michael said nothing. He wasn’t sure if that was praise or something else entirely.

Then her eyes narrowed slightly again. "Still..." She studied him with renewed interest. "Death’s Heir. Wasn’t your class Necromancer?"

Michael paused, considering how to answer.

However before he could think of something, the elder raised a hand lightly, "Don’t bother. That was my mistake. I overstepped."

A small pause followed before she continued, almost thoughtfully. "When you were unconscious, Arven told us a few things about you. Apparently..." Her lips curved faintly. "Before your advancement, you were already capable of fighting late-stage Rank 3 beings." Her gaze deepened. "And now you’re just a step away from that stage yourself."

She tilted her head slightly. "So tell me. How strong are you now?"

Michael scratched his cheek lightly, his expression turning a bit awkward. "...I don’t know."

The elder stared at him for a moment. Then she nodded. "...I’m not surprised." Her gaze shifted around them, taking in the collapsed manor, the cracked ground, the lingering pressure still hanging in the air. "If you had any idea what you were capable of, this wouldn’t have happened."

Michael followed her gaze briefly, then exhaled. "...Yeah."

A fair assessment.

He hesitated a moment, then glanced around again. "...About the manor."

The elder followed his gaze casually, as if only just remembering the destruction around them. "Oh, that?" She waved a hand lightly. "Don’t worry about it."

Michael’s shoulders loosened immediately. A breath he hadn’t realized he was holding slipped out. "...That’s good."

Then the elder continued. "If you clear a dimensional crack filled with Rank 3 creatures, say five times, you should be able to cover the reconstruction costs."

Michael froze. "...Five?"

"Give or take. Depending on how efficient you are."

Michael stared at her. For a brief moment he wasn’t sure if she was joking. But looking at her expression, she wasn’t.

"...You said not to worry about it."

"I didn’t say it would be free."

[Debt +1]

For a moment Michael couldn’t help but wonder how this kept happening to him.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

It was then Michael also recalled another important detail.

He was completely naked.