Evolving My Undead Legion In A Game-Like World

Chapter 1259: Top 11

Disbelief gave way to concentration on Michael’s face. If the copy could do it, then he could too.

The logic was already clear. Decay a body part, letting it cross the threshold into dead tissue, then use Corpse Explosion. Simple. At least in theory.

Michael looked down at his left hand.

”This is going to hurt.”

He placed his right palm over his forearm and forcefully infused it with dark energy while actively limiting his regeneration. His skin darkened and his muscle withered as sensation in the arm began disappearing.

”...Huh.”

He had expected a bit of pain. Instead, the pain weakened the further the decay progressed. That made sense. The tissue was dying. By the time his forearm had fully crossed that line, he could barely feel it at all.

The discomfort came more from knowing it was his own arm than from the dead flesh itself.

Michael stared at it for half a second. Then he activated Corpse Explosion at the approaching copy.

BOOM!

The forearm detonated. Michael’s entire body jerked from the force as a shockwave tore outward, blasting water away beneath him.

Michael staggered but didn’t scream. Though the proximity of the explosion brought him pain, it wasn’t above his pain threshold.

Michael stared at the stump as regeneration began right away.

”Oh.”

Surprise flickered across his face.

”That’s much better than I thought.”

The hand reformed. Michael flexed it as his gaze returned to the fight. The reflected Michael had already begun moving again.

This time Michael didn’t retreat. He decayed part of his leg and used Corpse Explosion.

BOOM!

The blast launched him sideways. Michael nearly lost control and spun through the air.

”Too much.”

He landed hard, recovered, then laughed.

The copy appeared in front of him. Michael detonated part of his shoulder.

BOOM!

The force twisted his body away from the incoming strike, causing the attack to miss.

Michael’s grin widened. The two Michaels moved again. This time, both were using it.

BOOM!

One exploded a leg and shot forward.

BOOM!

The other detonated an arm to twist around a strike.

BOOM!

Another burst changed direction in midair.

Their bodies became weapons in the most literal sense. Every few seconds, flesh died, exploded, regenerated, and was sacrificed again just as quickly. Michael could hardly believe this was how his own skill could be used.

The reflected Michael rushed him. Michael detonated part of his thigh and accelerated forward instead of away.

Michael caught the copy’s wrist, and the copy caught his. Both understood at once what the other intended as they stared at each other from point-blank range, their expressions becoming almost identical as every limb darkened.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The explosion swallowed both Michaels completely. For a moment, there was nothing but light, pressure, and violently displaced black water. The blast was far larger than any of their previous exchanges, and the resulting shockwave tore outward across the battlefield, forcing several distant undead to pause or stagger.

When the light finally faded, two mutilated bodies could be seen lying far apart on the surface of the water. Neither moved. Michael’s torso was badly damaged, and the copy wasn’t in any better condition.

For several seconds, the battlefield remained strangely still around them compared to the chaos raging elsewhere.

A moment later, Michael’s lips curled upward. He smiled.

”I won.”

And he had.

Truthfully, the outcome had already been decided long before this final exchange. The moment Michael used Echoed Bestowal on the Undead High Drake and Bone Dragon, the balance had broken. From that moment onward, the two enhanced undead had begun tearing through their counterparts.

By the time Michael and his copy had reached the stage of blowing apart their own limbs, the battle around them was effectively over.

Right now, only one enemy remained.

The reflected Michael.

Michael’s regeneration began working as bone extended from his shoulders and hips. Within moments, Michael’s body was whole again. He sat upright slowly. Across from him, the reflected Michael still hadn’t regenerated.

Michael looked at it for a moment. Perhaps the Gatekeeper had already recognized that the battle was over.

Michael turned his head to his undead. Beginning stood not far away. The giant was still enormous, his body covered in damage but his aura remaining monstrous.

Michael pointed toward the fallen copy.

”End it.”

Beginning moved without hesitation. Each step shook the black water. The reflected Michael finally twitched, but there was no time left.

Beginning raised one massive foot. For a moment, the shadow of it completely swallowed the copy. Then it came down.

BOOOOOOM!

The black ocean exploded upward. The reflected Michael disappeared beneath the impact.

Before Michael could admonish Beginning for the lack of respect shown toward its master, a blue panel appeared in front of him.

[Top 50 Gatekeeper Trial Completed.]

The panel remained for only a moment before more lines appeared beneath it.

[Evaluation Complete.]

[Your demonstrated combat strength has exceeded the theoretical combat strength calculated for Awakeners ranked between 11 and 50.]

[Your performance cannot be accurately represented by the average combat standards of this ranking interval.]

[Final Placement Assigned.]

[Fourth Layer Battlefield Ranking: 11]

For several seconds, Michael simply stared at the number before he slowly exhaled.

”That’s a huge jump.”

Michael’s lips slowly curved upward as he continued reading the messages that appeared on the panel before him.

[Excellent Performance Detected.]

[Special Reward Granted.]

[Ranking Challenge Quota Refunded: +1]

Michael laughed.

”Again?”

His final challenge had been returned to him once more. At this point, the Origin Battlefield almost seemed determined to keep him climbing.

Michael opened the ranking interface. It had changed again.

[11. Michael Norman]

Michael’s eyes slowly moved upward.

[10....]

Then higher. Nine. Eight. Seven. All the way to one.

Curiosity sharpened behind his eyes. However, this time Michael didn’t challenge anyone again.

Michael slowly closed the ranking panel. Physically, he could probably force another battle if he really wanted to, but he was mentally drained. Too much had happened in too short a period. He needed to rest. The Top 10 could wait.

More importantly, Rank 11 had already accomplished what he originally came here to do. He wanted people to see him, not just know his name from some universal announcement. He wanted them to understand that the person behind that name wasn’t easy prey.

Rank 11 already did that.

* * *

A/N: Starting from today, though the update times might be irregular, I’ll be updating four to five Chapters a day. I plead with the readers to please show support in any way they can. Voting in particular is very motivating, as it gives the author something to look forward to. So please cast those golden tickets, and thank you for the continued support!