Evolving My Undead Legion In A Game-Like World

Michael thought seriously.

From what he could see, the current danger level of the city was not something beyond his ability anymore. If he were alone, with no burden and no family to protect, he would not even hesitate to stay. The only reason he had wanted to leave immediately was because Aunt Mia and Lily were here. He could not put them in danger. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

But he also knew something else.

If he did absolutely nothing now, there was a good chance he would regret it later. Maybe not forever. But long enough to matter.

His jaw tightened.

A moment later Michael was back on the ground with two other figures beside him. Spartan and Ghost.

Spartan was looking at the ring his master had just placed in his hand.

Michael spoke without wasting time. "What I want you to do is simple." Both undead focused on him. "Stay far from the city. But not too far. Find a safe distance."

His gaze settled on Spartan’s hand. "And protect that ring at all costs."

The ring was not ordinary. It was the Epic-grade storage ring he had obtained from his advancement mission, and right now it contained his family and Jester.

Spartan closed his fingers slightly, acknowledging the weight of the responsibility without needing to say anything.

Michael watched him for a moment, then nodded faintly. After a brief pause he summoned his coffin again, and a ripple of space appeared beside him.

A small figure blinked into existence, then out again, then back once more.

"Mas... ter...!"

Wisdom appeared, vanished, reappeared upside down, then corrected itself, its voice uneven but unmistakably cheerful.

Michael gestured toward Spartan and Ghost. "Teleport them somewhere safe. Not too far from here."

Wisdom tilted slightly. "Sa... fe... but... near..."

"Yes," Michael said. "If you encounter anything you cannot handle, do not fight. Just keep teleporting."

Wisdom’s body shimmered as it processed the instruction. "...Run... run... keep... go..."

"Exactly."

Spartan stepped forward without hesitation. Ghost followed. Neither questioned the order.

As Wisdom’s space flickered around them, Michael spoke one last time. "Do not let anything happen to that ring."

Spartan nodded once.

Then they were gone.

The space around Michael fell quiet again, with only the distant sound of chaos remaining. He stood there alone for a second. Then he turned back toward the city.

Using the same method as before, this time with considerably more proficiency, Michael entered the city again.

Far away from him, deep within the formation chamber, the atmosphere had already turned tense.

The three who had been sent out earlier had not returned. At first no one spoke of it. Then one voice broke the silence.

"...They’re late."

One of the individuals frowned slightly. "Could be the Federation holding them back."

Another nodded faintly. "Possible."

But the man at the center said nothing. His eyes remained fixed on the formation. Then his expression shifted, just as it had a short while ago. His pupils contracted.

Once could be dismissed. Twice could not.

A cold thought formed and he trembled slightly. Someone that was not one of them could enter and leave the barrier at will.

He ran through possibilities quickly. A King rank? No. Even among King rank individuals, very few should be capable of doing anything to this barrier. And even if it were one, that would mean someone extraordinarily powerful had entered the city.

His fingers tightened. A worse thought followed.

Emperor class.

The words did not leave his mouth, but the possibility settled heavily in his mind. If that was true, none of them here could handle it. Not even together.

Fear surfaced briefly before his expression hardened.

"Prepare the special communication."

His voice cut through the chamber sharply. Everyone froze.

"...What?"

One of them looked at him. "For what—"

"I said prepare it."

There was no room for questioning this time. Several figures immediately began making preparations.

A street not far from one of the larger ground cracks had once been crowded with ordinary life. Now it was chaos.

People ran in every direction, their footsteps uneven and their breathing ragged. Some shouted warnings. Others screamed names. Many said nothing at all, driven forward by pure instinct.

Among them was a family.

The father ran in front with one hand gripping his son tightly. The boy could barely keep up, his legs stumbling as he tried to match the pace. Behind them the mother followed, her breathing already labored, one arm pressed against her side as she pushed herself forward.

"Don’t stop!" the father shouted without looking back.

"I’m trying!" the boy cried, his voice breaking.

A roar sounded behind them. The father risked a glance back and his face drained of color.

"Faster!"

The crowd surged. Someone struck him from the side. Another pushed past. The pressure increased as more people poured into the same street, all trying to force themselves through the same narrow path.

Then it happened. A man shoved past harder than the rest and the father lost his footing. His grip on his son slipped.

The boy stumbled and fell.

"Dad!"

The crowd did not stop. Feet struck the ground around the boy, some barely missing him, others not even registering his presence. The mother screamed and pushed forward trying to reach him, but someone slammed into her from the side and sent her crashing against the wall.

"Wait! Stop!"

No one listened. No one slowed. Because behind them the monsters were already there.

The first creature leapt into the street, its body twisted and elongated, its limbs dragging unnaturally across the ground as it moved. Its mouth opened far too wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth as it let out a shriek that cut clean through the chaos.

The father forced his way back, ignoring the bodies slamming into him. "My son!"

He reached the boy just as the child tried to push himself upright. But it was already too late.

A shadow fell over them both.

The creature had arrived. Its head tilted slightly as if curious. Then it lunged.

The father turned instinctively and pulled his son into his chest, shielding him with his own body. The mother screamed.

And in that moment a strange sudden silence followed.