A gigantic creature rested across the mountain peak. Its body stretched well over two hundred meters, crimson scales overlapping like forged plates of metal beneath the dim sky of the Mausoleum.
Even while lying motionless, an overwhelming aura radiated from it, causing the surrounding air to bee still under its mere presence.
Yet there was something unsettling about the scene. Despite possessing such terrifying pressure, the enormous creature gave off no sensation of life whatsoever. There wasn't even the slightest fluctuation of vitality.
Of course, that was only natural. It was Michael's undead. His Undead High Drake. After exhausting itself through Echoed Bestowal, it had reverted to its original form to recover within the Mausoleum.
Echoed Bestowal itself possessed remarkably few side effects pared to abilities of similar caliber. That was one of the reasons Michael regarded it so highly.
However, few did not mean none. Whether it was the caster or the recipient, using Echoed Bestowal imposed a considerable burden.
Even undead, who normally ignored concepts such as fatigue and exhaustion, required time to recover after invoking the ability.
Michael quietly observed the enormous corpse-like creature. pared to before the skill had been revoked, the aura leaking from its body was far less chaotic.
"…It's stabilized."
Not pletely, as it wasn't in a state ready for another peak battle, but enough to be usable. There was no longer any reason to leave it outside.
In fact, back in Aurora Michael could have returned it to its engraved state, but that would have required him to revoke his skill in front of everyone, revealing that his false dragon had essentially been running on borrowed power.
Michael slowly raised his right hand.
"Return."
The mand had barely left his lips before the High Drake's colossal body dissolved into countless streams of grey ash.
The process happened astonishingly quickly for a body so large.
The endless river of ash rapidly pressed, being thinner and thinner before rushing toward Michael.
The torrent circled around him several times before finally sinking beneath the skin of his left shoulder.
A new engraving slowly appeared.
Michael instinctively rolled his shoulder, adjusting to the added weight.
"…Much better."
The engraving state remained one of his class greatest conveniences. Not only did it allow him to carry his strongest undead without exposing them, it also significantly increased his base power.
Unfortunately, the added weight was a constant nuisance. Without careful control, even to an outside observer, carrying him would be akin to a strong person hauling two full sacks of rice without respite.
Michael took a deep breath to calm his nerves, municating with the Mausoleum at the same time as he called out a panel detailing the treasure's features.
[Item]: Mausoleum of Endless Dominion
[Grade]: Legendary ★
Bound to Michael Norman
[Description]: A legendary treasure born from a strange fusion. It contains a vast self-sustaining inner world.
[Effect 1]: Eternal Dominion Contains a massive internal world capable of sustaining life, death, and spiritual existence simultaneously.
The domain possesses mountains, rivers, forests, plains, and naturally regenerating mana. The owner may freely shape terrain, climate, and environmental conditions within certain limits.
Undead residing inside receive accelerated growth, recovery, and prehension speed. Living creatures may also inhabit the domain without restriction.
[Effect 2]: Nether Gate The owner may open a gateway connecting the domain to the Netherworld. The gate can be used to travel, summon undead, or establish temporary links between both realms.
Summoned undead may be up to one rank above the owner's rank. Duration and energy consumption depend on the strength of the summoned entity.
[Effect 3]: Dominion Pulse The treasure may release a spatial shockwave. The pulse disrupts formations, barriers, domains, spatial structures, and weaker treasures while inflicting spiritual damage upon living targets. Power scales with the amount of energy supplied.
[Effect 4]: Tomb of Rebirth If the owner is killed, their soul will be anchored within the Mausoleum. After a period of recovery, the owner may resurrect within the Netherworld.
Each resurrection permanently consumes a portion of the treasure's accumulated origin energy.
Currently, the treasure can perform this function twice before being dormant for one hundred years.
[Effect 5]: World Seed (Sealed)
The internal domain possesses the potential to evolve into a true independent world. Growth requires vast quantities of origin energy. Current Progress: 0.01% Michael quietly read through the familiar panel.
Although he had already examined it countless times, he still found himself letting out a quiet sigh.
"…"
No matter how many times he looked at it, the feeling never truly disappeared. A Legendary Grade treasure really was in a class of its own.
Whether it was the enormous internal world, the ability to freely travel to the Netherworld, the terrifying Dominion Pulse, or even the unbelievable resurrection ability, every single effect could cause countless Rank Fives to fight to the death.
To think he could obtain a treasure of this level with just one million Evolution Points.
Of course, it was only because he had taken over a vast force and absorbed decades of accumulated resources that he could afford it in the first place.
Only a little over a year ago, Michael would have considered even ten thousand Evolution Points an unimaginable fortune.
At present, he controlled roughly four thousand undead capable of continuously gathering Evolution Points for him.
Without participating in any major battles or obtaining extraordinary opportunities, he estimated it would take approximately nine months to accumulate one million Evolution Points.
Nine months. For one or two Legendary Grade treasures every year.
Unfortunately, the Mausoleum wouldn't be evolving anytime soon. Not because he couldn't gather the Evolution Points, but because the evolution system itself had changed after reaching the Legendary Grade.
Unlike the previous grades, where a single evolution could directly advance from One Star to Three Stars, Legendary worked differently.
Every single star required an independent evolution, with each costing five times the previous amount. At least, he hoped it was five times and not something worse.
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