Michael checked Fade’s old skill, now upgraded to Intermediate Mastery.
—
[{Shadow Cloak} (Intermediate Mastery) – Proficiency: 0.0%]
The Shadow Mantis shrouds itself in darkness, blending seamlessly into its surroundings.
At Intermediate Mastery, the skill now functions in moderate lighting conditions, not just low-light environments.
—
Michael’s eyes gleamed.
The description of the skill didn’t look that different from before, but the change was actually significant.
At Basic Mastery, Shadow Cloak had been limited to low-light areas, making it strong at night but much weaker in well-lit spaces. Now, at Intermediate, Fade could remain hidden even in moderate lighting, vastly increasing its stealth capabilities.
If that was the case, then its effectiveness in complete darkness had also grown even stronger.
Michael nodded in satisfaction.
With Phantom Step for short bursts of invulnerability and Shadow Cloak for stealth, Fade had turned into a true nightmare .
And this was just Rank 1.
Michael exhaled and turned back toward his undead.
“Fade,” he called.
The mantis clicked its bladed limbs together in acknowledgment.
“Activate Shadow Cloak.”
Immediately, a thin veil of darkness spread across its form, swallowing it in a shifting, shadowy aura.
Michael narrowed his eyes.
Even standing just a few feet away, he could barely see it. The mantis’ outline shimmered, blending so perfectly with the night that only the faintest distortion betrayed its presence.
Then, slowly, it moved.
Michael instinctively tensed, tracking the distortion.
Even with his enhanced perception, it was somewhat difficult to keep up. If he hadn’t been expecting it, he might’ve lost sight of it entirely.
“Good,” he muttered, impressed.
Several thoughts ran through Michael’s head, and he couldn’t help but recall the discussion he had with his Aunt before coming to the Land of Origin.
With his level—or rather, with how little time he had spent as a supernatural—the highest thing he knew was that big cities usually had either more cracks or higher-tier cracks, one of the two.
As for how exactly things worked inside a city, Michael wasn’t sure.
“Perhaps I should have checked the forum for information on the cracks in the cities Aunt Mia mentioned.”
He considered it for a moment before shaking his head.
Cracks were important, but what he wanted more was for his family to live a better life.
Big cities would surely have cracks—but more importantly, they would also have larger Super Association branches. And bigger branches indirectly meant access to higher-quality supernaturals.
That was enough for Michael.
Of course there was also a very high chance Michael could be wrong.
At the end of the day, big cities would have cracks. The real question was what kind of cracks they had and, more importantly, how much experience he could get from them.
Levels mattered since higher-level cracks provided stronger monsters, which meant more experience points—but if given a choice, Michael hoped the city had more cracks rather than just a single higher-tier crack.
Getting entry into a high-tier crack would be difficult, but more cracks meant easier overall access.
What Michael truly wanted wasn’t just easier entry into cracks but more opportunities—not just for himself, but for his undead as well.
They all needed to level up.
“Fortunately, I have the Land of Origin too.”
This was why Michael didn’t feel too concerned about what kind of cracks he could enter in the real world.
For some reason, he had a strong feeling that the Land of Origin would soon provide him with more than what the real world currently could.
If it was monsters, the Land of Origin had them.
If it was stronger monsters, they certainly had them too.
Sometimes, Michael couldn’t help but think about Everlong Forest.
Where was that monster getting so many bodies to control?
Obviously, from the forest.
And wasn’t that exactly what he was looking for?
Unfortunately, thinking about it was all he could do for now.
Several random thoughts flashed through Michael’s mind as he turned to the last undead he had evolved.
Purple…
Michael checked its race.
[Undead Phantom Swallowtail – Rank 1]
A One-Star Rare Rank creature.
“Another phantom?”
Michael’s eyes narrowed slightly before he let out a small breath, relaxing.
“Whatever. It doesn’t matter what race it is at this stage.”
For a moment, he had been taken aback by the familiar naming—Undead Phantom Swallowtail Moth.
It felt like a race.
Just like the Undead Phantom Mantis.
Michael took a closer look at its appearance.
The Undead Phantom Swallowtail was stunning in an eerie way. Its wings, now spanning 1.5 meters (4’11”), were layered with dark, iridescent blues and purples, resembling fragmented, shadowy glass.
Its sleek, elongated body had a shadowy, almost ethereal quality, giving it an unnatural grace. The faint skeletal plating on its abdomen reinforced its undead nature, while its sharp, flickering antennae moved randomly.
Michael’s attention shifted to its skills.
As a Rare-ranked undead, Purple had received more than just an upgrade in power—its abilities had transformed as well.
He checked its newly acquired skill first.
[{Dusk Piercer} (Basic Mastery) Proficiency: 1.5%]
The Undead Phantom Swallowtail gathers dark energy at the tips of its antennae before launching a concentrated, needle-thin beam of shadow.
Michael’s eyes gleamed.
“An attack skill…”
To Michael, Purple had been more of a support-type undead.
But now?
Michael read through the skill description again, a slow grin forming on his face.
“Purple,” Michael called.
The moth’s iridescent wings fluttered in response, sending a ripple of dark energy through the air.
“Use Dusk Piercer.”
The moment he gave the command, a faint glow gathered at the tips of its antennae. Then, in an instant, a thin, jet-black beam shot forward.
Michael followed its trajectory—straight and silent, barely even noticeable in the dim light.
It hit a nearby rock, and while it didn’t cause an explosion, a pinpoint hole was left in the stone
Michael couldn’t help but be increasingly pleased with his experience tonight.
Not only did he get four more Rank 1 undead, but their evolution had also pleased him.
Of course, there was also the fact that more of his undead were now in the Netherworld.
With a good mood, he turned to check the old skills of Purple.