Evolving My Undead Legion In A Game-Like World

Chapter 843: Entering the Ruin [3]

Outside the assembly tent, Group One gathered.

Michael stood before the four assigned to him.

Arianne was already beside him, calm and composed atop her Flame Lion. The other three nobles stood a short distance away, watching him with varying degrees of curiosity.

Michael did not waste time.

"My name is Sir Mic," he said evenly.

There was no arrogance in his tone and no attempt at dominance. Just simple clarity.

"I assume you all have some idea of my abilities already, so I will not take your time repeating what you likely know."

A few subtle glances were exchanged.

Of course they knew.

Everyone here knew.

"However," Michael continued, "I would like a basic understanding of what each of you can do. The situation within the ruin is unknown to us. Coordination will increase our chances of survival and overall strength as a team."

His gaze swept across them calmly.

"If we understand each other’s strengths, we can better use them once inside."

There was no refusal and no one objected.

The first to step forward was Arianne.

"I am Arianne Evermoon," she said formally. "A beast tamer."

Several of the others rolled their eyes subtly.

Who did not know that?

The daughter of Duke Evermoon. The most visible participant in this expedition. Was the Flame Lion beneath her not already enough information?

Still, formalities were formalities.

She gave a brief nod and stepped back.

The next introduced himself as Lucien Harrowmont, a dual element mage specializing in wind and lightning manipulation.

After him came Cedric Vale, a sword cultivator who specialized in close range burst combat and defensive techniques.

The last stepped forward with a faint smile.

"Alaric Golden," he said smoothly. "From the Golden family. I am a fire mage."

Michael’s eyes flickered slightly.

Golden family.

The name was familiar.

"I am also the elder brother of Seria Golden."

There it was.

Michael did not react outwardly, but internally he understood immediately.

He had a good impression of Seria. Perhaps it was because, although she clearly carried the pride of a noble, she had been different from most nobles he had encountered.

And now her elder brother stood before him.

Why did he introduce himself like that?

The reason was obvious.

Alaric had used the connection the moment he spoke, an attempt at proximity. Perhaps even favor.

Michael met his gaze calmly.

"I see," he replied simply.

Alaric’s smile widened just slightly.

The message had been delivered.

Whether it would matter inside the ruin was another matter entirely.

Michael looked over the four of them once more.

Aside from himself and Arianne, who were clearly the youngest in the group, the other three were noticeably older.

Lucien, Cedric, and Alaric all carried the bearing of individuals who had trained for many years. Their physiques, their auras, even the faint lines of maturity at the corners of their eyes suggested they were approaching the upper limit of the ruin’s age restriction.

Twenty seven.

Twenty eight.

Perhaps even twenty nine.

This was understandable.

Power was not easily grasped. Even among nobles, advancement required time, resources, and relentless effort. The three assigned to him were talented in their own right. Otherwise, they would never have been selected for this expedition.

But compared to Michael, their strength was lacking.

He could sense it clearly.

The density of their mana.

The stability of their foundations.

They were strong by the standards of their generation.

They were weak by his.

If he were honest, he did not need a team.

None of them could truly assist him if he decided to move seriously inside the ruin. If danger beyond their level appeared, they would only slow him down.

But there was also no need to be overly proactive.

This was still a sanctioned expedition.

Eyes were everywhere.

If a team had been formed, then for now, it would function as a team.

At least on the surface.

Michael’s expression remained calm as he nodded once.

"Good," he said. "We maintain formation once inside."

There was a subtle shift in the air as Michael gave a slight show of authority.

They all understood that, regardless of age, he was the strongest among them, so no one argued.

Around the encampment, the other factions were preparing as well.

Soon, the space around the portal was cleared completely.

A wide ring formed around the shimmering gate, leaving only the selected groups from each faction standing within the boundary.

Michael’s group moved with the Lionheart representatives, taking their assigned position among the organized lines.

From where he stood, he could see the other banners.

Some groups had more mages. Others had heavy fighters. A few had strange, unfamiliar beasts resting near their feet, their eyes fixed on the portal.

Then the air shifted.

A figure stepped forward near the portal’s edge.

A strongman.

His presence was on the same level as Princess Priscilla.

The murmurs around the portal faded without anyone needing to shout.

The man’s gaze swept across the assembled groups.

His voice followed, deep and steady.

"It is time."

"Entry begins now. The first to enter will be the Black Serpent Empire. All other factions will follow in the agreed order. Do not crowd the gate. Do not waste time. Once inside, you move. If you do not want your group to be separated upon entry, make sure there is some form of contact between you as you enter at once."

A ripple passed through the imperial side.

Michael watched quietly as Prince Rui stepped forward.

Nine people followed behind him.

A clean, disciplined formation.

Rui and his attendant were the youngest among them, but only now did Michael truly pay attention to the group surrounding him.

Including the attendant who had been watching him earlier, the other eight were all Rank Two.

Every single one.

Michael’s eyes narrowed slightly.

So that was their spearhead.

No wonder the Empire acted like it owned the sky.

Compared to the scattered strength of the smaller kingdoms, Rui’s group looked like a blade.

Not just sharp.

Well forged.

They were probably the strongest group gathered here, if one ignored individual strength alone.

The strongman raised his hand once, and the portal’s unstable glow steadied for a brief moment, as if responding to his will.

"Please enter."