Chapter 35 More Evolution Points
Thanks to his previous experiences in using {Undead Revival}, Michael finally understood the importance of agility for a Necromancer.
He had always wondered why agility received the second-highest increase whenever he leveled up.
At first glance, it seemed counterintuitive for a class focused on magic and intelligence.
However, his casting experience shed light on the matter.
Higher agility meant better flexibility and faster movement speed, both of which played a crucial role in spellcasting.
For a Necromancer, agility wasn't about physical speed but casting speed.
If one's movements during spellcasting were too slow, it could lead to critical issues, such as spell failure or vulnerability to enemy attacks.
Of course Michael also liked as agility was also a prioritised stat for Necromancers.
At least he could run away fast at the first glance of danger.
Though Michael's improved agility didn't significantly increase the success rate of {Undead Revival}, it did enhance his casting process, which may or may not have contributed to Michael's success in creating his second undead.
Despite his curiosity about whether having undead affected the rate at which he gained Evolution Points, Michael didn't pause to investigate.
With only one corpse remaining, he decided to try creating another undead in one go.
This time, luck was on his side, and he succeeded in reviving the third undead on his first attempt.
[Undead Forest Wolf Lv. 7]
[Rank: Common★★]
[Undead Forest Wolf Lv. 5]
[Rank: Common★★]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Out of the three corpses he had brought from the association, Michael was fortunate enough to create an undead from each one.
Happy with the growing number of his undead, Michael eagerly turned to his talent to check the rate at which he earned Evolution Points daily.
To his delight, he saw it had increased to four.
"So having undead really does give me more points?!"
The discovery filled him with excitement but also sparked a train of thought.
While it was good news that his Evolution Points were increasing, it was a bit frustrating not knowing why.
Michael speculated that this phenomenon might have something to do with the contract—or rather, the soul link—between him and his undead.
Talents didn't rely on mana; they typically used soul energy. Yet, unlike other talents that actively drew soul energy when used, Michael felt nothing, even when evolving Lucky.
This led him to a theory.
Perhaps his talent wasn't an active type but a passive one.
Instead of actively consuming soul energy, it passively absorbed it, accumulating until it reached a threshold and formed an "Evolution Point."
If his theory was correct, then it made sense why having more undead increased his Evolution Points.
Maybe his talent treated the soul link between him and his undead as an extension of his own soul and drew energy from them as well.
After all, the undead created by {Undead Revival} had their own souls, which sustained their existence.
While undead creatures weren't truly alive, this magically artificial soul acted as their life and energy reserve.
Michael wasn't currently concerned about the energy reserves of his undead.
His focus was on the connection between their souls and the increase in his Evolution Points.
"If that's the case," Michael concluded, "then the plan is simple. I need to level up to unlock more contract slots and fill them with undead. That should increase my Evolution Points even further."
Unlike other Necromancers who had to carefully consider how they filled their contract slots—since canceling a contract caused backlash—Michael didn't share this concern.
While others worried about the potential of their undead, it wasn't an issue for him.
If a creature's potential was too low, he could simply evolve it.
Michael's cautious nature made him even prefer weaker creatures if they came from the real world for safety reasons.
After all, in the real world, one only had a single life.
Some might see his caution as cowardice, but that wasn't entirely true.
If he were a true coward, he wouldn't have had the guts to confront the acid slime after being mutilated by its attack and enduring excruciating pain.
Most people would have given up in his situation or lacked the willpower to survive such an ordeal.
While it was true that being in the Land of Origin gave him more guts, it didn't diminish the fact that many other Awakeners wouldn't have lasted in his shoes.
After reflecting on his talent, Michael concluded that whether or not more undead truly increased the rate of Evolution points, it was undeniably good news for him.
If his speculation was correct, filling his remaining seven contract slots would allow him to gain 11 Evolution points every 24 hours—enough to evolve two three-star common undead into rare rank each day.
Reaching the Demigod rank for all his undead was a distant goal, but achieving rare rank for them seemed well within reach.
Rare rank undead would also begin at Rank 1, ensuring they wouldn't be too weak, even initially.
The more Michael thought about it, the more he craved additional undeads.
Though cautious by nature, even the most risk-averse person would be tempted by the promise of greater power, and Michael was no exception.
What was a little risk compared to the potential for more strength?
However, despite his growing eagerness to explore the Dimensional Cracks he had previously avoided, Michael knew there were still a few matters to address in the Land of Origin first.
One, starting with evolving another undead.
Currently back to square one with only a single Evolution point, Michael decided to absorb the two Spirit Crystals he had left.
The first gave him two points, and the second added three more.
Combined with the one Evolution point he already had, he now had six.
Just enough to evolve another undead to rare rank.
[Talent: Infinite Evolution]
Evolution Points: 6
Evolvable:
Undead Verdant Wolf Lv. 11 (Insufficient evolution points, Can't be evolved)
Undead Forest Wolf Lv. 7 (Sufficient evolution points, Can be evolved)
Undead Forest Wolf Lv. 5 (Sufficient evolution points, Can be evolved)