Evolving My Undead Legion In A Game-Like World

"Does this mean anyone, even non-awakeners, could enter the Origin Battlefield?"

It was a terrifying thought. One that Michael wanted to instinctively disbelieve, but couldn't help thinking about more deeply the moment it took root. However, the only way he could confirm or debunk it was to claim the treasure.

A lot had been explained, and though the words were easy enough to understand, grasping what they actually meant and signified required something more. The thought remained in Michael's mind for several seconds.

He looked up at the towering pillar.

"How do I claim you?"

The Universal Cornerstone remained silent. No panel appeared. No voice answered.

Michael waited several seconds before his gaze moved toward its dark stone surface. The most direct method was usually the correct one. He slowly raised his right hand and placed his palm against the pillar.

The stone was warm. Strangely warm. It almost felt alive.

Michael hesitated briefly before circulating his mana. A thin stream of energy flowed from his palm and entered the Universal Cornerstone.

For the first second, nothing happened.

Then the pillar reacted.

THUMP!

The runes covering its surface lit up simultaneously. Michael's expression changed. Before he could withdraw his hand, a tremendous suction force erupted from within the pillar.

His mana began pouring into it and the Universal Cornerstone swallowed his energy like a bottomless abyss.

Michael's eyes widened.

"What the…"

His mana reserves rapidly decreased. The speed of the consumption was enough to make any ordinary Rank Three awakener panic. However, Michael's energy reserves had long exceeded what should have been possible for his rank.

Even then, Michael remained prepared to forcefully sever the connection if the drain approached a dangerous level.

Fortunately, it never did. The suction weakened after consuming slightly less than half of his available mana.

Michael exhaled slowly.

"That was expensive."

THUUUUM!

The pillar pulsed. A wave of invisible energy spread from the platform.

The change began with the mana in the air.

The already dense energy within the Level 3 Region suddenly increased.

Mana surged from beneath the platform and spread in every direction like an invisible tide.

The concentration rapidly doubled and continued rising.

Michael's emerald eyes widened slightly.

However, that wasn't the most astonishing change.

The destroyed region began repairing itself.

RUMBLE!

Far below the floating platform, shattered earth moved. Countless pieces of stone rose from the abyss. Mountains that had been reduced to rubble reassembled themselves.

Cracks sealed and enormous craters were filled with earth.

Burning forests vanished beneath waves of multicolored light before healthy vegetation grew in their place.

Ancient trees erupted from the ground one after another, reaching hundreds of meters into the sky within seconds.

Even the sections of land permanently altered by the previous battle began returning to their original state.

Michael stared in silent shock.

This isn't something a Level 100 mage could even accomplish. As expected of a legendary-grade item.

The restoration didn't merely return the region to how it had been before the battle. It improved it.

Putting aside the denser mana, the region contained even greater vitality than before.

Within minutes, the Level 3 Region looked as though no battle had ever occurred. It looked even better than when Michael had first entered it.

"…Legendary."

The Universal Cornerstone pulsed again. Several translucent panels appeared before him.

[Universal Cornerstone successfully activated]

[Ownership recognition in progress]

[Michael Norman has been recognized as the provisional master of 'unnamed' Level 3 Territory] [Territory Authority Established]

[Current Territory Level: 1]

[Current Territory Condition: Normal]

[Current Territory Owner: Michael Norman]

Michael's gaze sharpened at the word provisional. Another panel appeared immediately.

[Ownership Rules]

[The Universal Cornerstone is bound to the owner's living essence]

[If the owner dies, ownership will be terminated]

[Upon termination of ownership, the territory will return to an Unclaimed state] [The Key to the Universal Cornerstone will reform after a designated period] Michael rubbed his chin.

"So the territory can't be inherited automatically."

At least not at its current level. The next notifications continued.

[Territorial Authority is strongest within the boundaries of the claimed domain] [Certain functions of the Universal Cornerstone cannot be activated outside the main territory] [Territory development will unlock additional remote authority]

[Universal Trade Hub is currently locked]

[Requirement: Complete initial territory registration]

[Origin Checkpoint has been unlocked] [Regional Perception has been unlocked] [Basic Entry Management has been unlocked]

[Basic Territorial Restoration has been unlocked]

Michael's eyes moved rapidly across every line. Some notifications confirmed things he had already guessed. Others he only understood now.

All together, the functions made this place an almost perfect base within the Origin Battlefield, and if what he suspected was true, its significance might extend beyond the battlefield itself.

A final panel slowly formed.

[An official name is required to complete territory registration]

[Please name your domain]

Michael paused. His gaze moved away from the panel and swept across the restored region.

Ancient mountains surrounded the distant horizon and dense forests stretched beneath him.

The Universal Cornerstone towered at the center of everything, silently releasing waves of energy.

Michael's expression gradually became thoughtful.

"A name…"

The Level 3 Region had originally carried a name, but after he claimed it, it had reverted to unnamed. That made sense, given that naming it was required to complete registration.

It didn't take long for Michael to find a suitable one.

Thanks to a certain undead, when it came to naming a territory, only one name came to mind.

"The Eternal Crown."

The name left his lips without hesitation. It was the same name carried by the empire under his control within the Land of Origin.

The Eternal Crown Empire.

Although his authority over that empire had developed in rather unexpected fashion, it remained the first true force he could call his own outside his undead legion.

Now, standing before what might become another territory in a place as significant as the Origin Battlefield, the same name felt strangely appropriate.

Michael didn't know what this territory would eventually become, but if the Universal Cornerstone truly possessed all the functions previously revealed, then its future influence might spread far beyond this Level 3 Region.