Chapter 137: Two Legendary Undead

Upon returning to the Central Academy, Lando remained indifferent to the aftermath of the events at the Necropolis, content to immerse himself in his daily routine.

Even the instructors announced a temporary suspension of classes. Most students in the Awakening Class were from backgrounds of immense wealth or prestige; in the past, the Academy rarely concerned itself with minor injuries among students, nor did it offer explanations. After all, the Academy was tasked with molding powerhouses, not coddling "good little children" who possessed nothing but strength. The parents of the students generally acquiesced to this, as such detachment was considered normal in a society where the strong ruled.

This time, however, was different. With nearly half the Awakening Class suffering casualties, the elites of the Imperial Court could not help but suspect that the situation was a result of the Central Academy’s negligence. The Academy had no choice but to swallow this bitter pill in silence. It took a series of promised concessions to finally appease the restless nobles.

A full week passed before Lando received notification that classes would resume. When he arrived, he noted that the number of students missing was far higher than half; whether they had withdrawn permanently or simply had not yet returned remained unclear. Originally, there was to be a post-trip exhibition where students would showcase their gains and compare achievements, but given the circumstances, the instructors assumed everyone had returned empty-handed and canceled the event. Lando, consequently, lost his chance to show off.

That evening, as Lando left the library, he frowned and looked back. He had spent several days waiting there, yet failed to "casually encounter" Lorel. He began planning to pay a visit to her residence the following day, using the excuse of checking on her recovery to discuss the introduction to the Prince.

Back in his dormitory, Lando entered his Soul Space. He had already sealed the Seed of the Demon God within layers of protection inside his magical tower; such an item was too dangerous to be left exposed, and it was best to keep it carefully hidden for now.

Floating in the sky of the Soul Space were two spheres of crimson light, each containing a vague, shifting shadow. Lando had been using the energy he collected that day to empower his undead minions, mimicking the Necromother Queen’s method of gestating the Seed of the Demon God. After days of effort, the process was reaching its conclusion.

Suddenly, the aura of the two undead beings within the crimson spheres surged, rapidly breaking through the peak of the ninth level and entering a brand-new realm: the legendary level.

The moment the undead creatures contracted to his Soul Space achieved legendary status, Lando felt an inexplicable change ripple through his domain. While he did not yet fully comprehend what this transformation signified, he clearly sensed that it was immensely beneficial to the Soul Space.

The two newly ascended legendary undead consumed the remaining crimson energy and revealed their true forms.

One wore a crown of bone and ornate armor, wielding a massive halberd-axe. Standing three meters tall, it radiated the aura of a formidable hegemon. Unlike the thin, fragile skeletons of lesser undead, its body was composed of thick, densely packed bones, forming a powerful, sturdy frame. It was a rare Skeleton King. Lando had chosen to elevate it because it had already been at the ninth-level peak when discovered, requiring the least amount of energy to push over the threshold. As a rare mutated variant, its power far exceeded that of other undead at the same level.

The other was enveloped in rolling black mist, resembling a dark robe, with only cold, chilling eyes visible in the skull—the Lich Lando had contracted. It was fair to say that the Lich’s advancement to the legendary level was entirely due to the energy saved by the Skeleton King. As a rare, intelligent spellcasting undead, it was only natural that Lando prioritized its evolution.

The Skeleton Beast that had followed Lando since the beginning crept toward him, looking at the Skeleton King and the Lich with immense envy and grievance. Lando kicked the beast, scolding it for its lack of ambition: "Do you have any idea how pathetic you are? Even if I gave you the energy, you'd just explode from the strain!"

Seeing the beast look even more aggrieved, Lando’s heart softened. One develops feelings for a cat or dog, let alone a loyal subordinate that had followed him since he first arrived in this world. His tone eased: "Fine, focus on strengthening your foundation. Once you have the potential for legend, I will help you advance."

It was strange; while the legendary level felt like an unreachable goal for Lando himself, the words flowed from his mouth with natural, effortless ease, as if cultivating a legendary subordinate were as simple as pouring a drink. The Skeleton Beast, possessing only rudimentary intelligence, seemed to grasp its master’s intent and immediately began fawning over him in excitement, only to be pushed away by a dismissive Lando.

By now, the Skeleton King and the Lich had adapted to their newfound power and turned their gazes toward Lando. Lando stood in silence, watching them coldly. After a brief standoff, the Lich bowed respectfully, signaling its submission.

The Skeleton King, however, seemed to have other ideas, remaining rooted to the spot. Lando’s patience quickly evaporated. He reached out and gestured; without even needing to invoke the power of the contract, a crushing force compelled the Skeleton King to bow. Before it could even struggle, an even greater pressure descended, forcing its entire body to the ground. Sensing the overwhelming strength bearing down on it, the Skeleton King pragmatically emitted a mental wave of submission. Lando stared at it coldly for a moment longer before withdrawing his power.

This was a new ability the Soul Space had gained after his minions reached the legendary level: while within the Soul Space, Lando could wield the power of any legendary undead he had contracted. No matter how powerful the Skeleton King became, as long as it did not exceed the capacity of the Soul Space, it could never oppose him there. This ability would only improve as he contracted more legendary undead—it was truly a useful tool.

Returning to his senses, he saw the Skeleton King and the Lich looking at him with awe, which greatly satisfied Lando. He resumed the [Nourish the Dead (Purple)] ability to supply them with energy. Sensing the changes in their bodies, the two undead grew even more reverent.

Lando nodded to himself. The "carrot and stick" approach was simple, but effective—especially with undead who, despite gaining human-like intelligence, remained naive and easily swayed.

Possessing two legendary-level undead significantly bolstered Lando’s strength. With the Lich, he could finally dispatch missions independently, giving him newfound confidence in his upcoming plans.