Chapter 544: Superior

A hurricane-force gale tore through the space, hurling Michael backward as though his weight meant nothing.

His feet left the ground, ribs vibrating from the impact, the air itself biting into his flesh like blades.

Michael twisted mid-flight, bracing, but another gust followed immediately, sharper, faster. Invisible blades raked across his body.

Pain flared hot as thin red lines appeared on his arms, shoulders, and chest.

Michael back struck the ground with bone-shaking force, skidding him across fractured stone. The air tore free from his lungs in a ragged gasp, blood flecking his lips.

Michael’s eyes widened.

What the hell?!

He pushed himself to his knees, blood already trickling down his forearm. His constitution absorbed the damage, knitting flesh even as fresh cuts opened beneath the relentless storm. Gale hovered above, wings spread wide, eyes blazing like a sovereign predator. The mana pouring from him filled the dimension with suffocating pressure, every beat of his wings birthing another scything gust.

It looked like he was truly going full force but....

Michael gritted his teeth, chest heaving, his body screaming in protest under the invisible assault. His earlier confidence flickered, tempered by the harsh truth of experience.

The next gust hit, slamming him sideways, skin splitting along his ribs. Blood spattered the ground in crimson arcs.

"Okay, stop!"

Michael’s voice cracked through the storm like a whip. Not everyone enjoyed being tossed around like a rag doll, after all.

Gale halted mid-air instantly, wings folding tight as he descended. He landed lightly, then dropped into a bow, his voice low and strained.

"Sorry... master..."

Michael let out a bitter smile, wiping the blood from his lip with the back of his hand. "It’s fine," he said, then narrowed his eyes. "Tell me—did you use your law just now?"

Laws.

Michael recognized them as the greatest shift that came with advancement to Rank 3. From his earlier exchange, he had confirmed that Rank 3 creatures were physically superior, but raw strength was merely a side effect. The true difference—the true leap—was the awakening of a law. That was where their real power lay.

The fact that he hadn’t been able to do a thing against Gale’s sudden ferocity confirmed it.

But what Michael didn’t expect was the look of confusion that flickered across Gale’s face.

"No," the griffin said.

Michael froze. His eyes narrowed, shock plain on his features. "No? What do you mean no?"

Gale’s expression tightened, brow furrowing as though he was forcing words into a shape that didn’t quite fit. Through their bond, Michael could feel the difficulty—the undead wanted to explain, but the concept slipped through him like water through open fingers.

Michael’s heart gave a hard thump.

With hesitation, his voice low, he pressed, "Can you use your law?"

A pause stretched, heavy. Then Gale’s golden eyes sharpened, and certainty settled in his tone.

"Yes."

Michael inhaled once, steadying himself. "Then use it."

The words had barely left his mouth before his instincts screamed. A chilling prickle swept down his spine, every hair on his body rising.

All around him, transparent waves—like ripples across an unseen pond—spread outward from Gale, silent, almost invisible.

At first, they did nothing. The ground didn’t crack. The air didn’t howl.

But Michael’s body reacted.

Thin, searing lines appeared across his arms, his shoulders, his chest. Fresh wounds opening as though carved by blades he couldn’t see. Blood welled and slid down his skin in crimson streaks.

His breath caught. His heart hammered once.

"Stop!" Michael barked, his voice sharper, harsher this time.

Instantly, the ripples vanished. The world stilled. Gale lowered his head, the aura dimming as quickly as it had come.

Michael stood frozen for a moment, blood dripping from his fingertips, his body trembling from realization.

So this... this is law.

Michael hurriedly pulled up Gale’s law description.

A translucent panel flickered into view before his eyes.

[Law of Severing Wind (Seed)]

Wind sharp enough to carve through space itself. This law generates cutting force that ignores physical boundaries and defenses.

Connected to the Law of Destruction.

Michael’s gaze lingered on the words.

The corner of his lip twitched. "Severing wind..." he muttered under his breath. "No wonder."

Michael seemed to grasp something about laws, but its true nature remained distant, like a star behind clouds.

"One thing’s for sure... laws are powerful," Michael muttered. "What I don’t know is if all laws are equal... or if some are inherently stronger than others. And if they are ranked, then where does Gale’s law fall?"

Regardless, it was definitely strong.

At this point, Michael could confidently say that in terms of raw physical strength, he could probably match early-stage Rank 3 creatures.

But when it came to laws, Rank 3s held the clear advantage.

Especially now—facing Gale, who had just revealed his law—it was obvious.

Michael hadn’t gone all out yet; he hadn’t used any skills or tapped deeply into his mana reserves. But even so, he couldn’t ignore the disparity in presence.

He wasn’t strong enough to overlook all Rank 3 creatures. Not yet. But when it came to Rank 2... Michael’s confidence remained unshaken.

Curious about the nature of laws, he turned his gaze to the four undead floating in the air.

It was only now he realized that at Rank 3 monsters gained the natural ability to fly.

Whether this made naturally flying monsters comparatively weaker... he didn’t know.

Michael’s attention shifted back to Beginning, and he gave a short mental command.

"Come down."

The air rippled as the human-like undead descended. Beginning’s form was muscular—chiselled like a statue of a war god.

Michael didn’t need the panel to remember Beginning’s law. It had been quite unique to forget.

[Law of Brutal Rebirth (Seed)]

Born from agony and forged in survival, this law transforms pain into power. Severe wounds trigger powerful regenerative bursts—the closer to death, the stronger the rebirth.

Connected to the Law of Life

---

Law of Life.

This was what Beginning’s law could be said to fall under.

Gale’s law was connected to the Law of Destruction, and though Michael still didn’t understand the full nature of laws, from what he had seen, the connection seemed quite fitting.

Calling Beginning over was due to the injuries he had on his body. With his mind on the topic of laws, Michael couldn’t help but remember Beginning’s own.

Speaking of his injuries, they were already healing — showing the impressive physical recovery of High Humans. Though, it seemed slower than it should have been, making Michael wonder if it had something to do with Gale’s law.