My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Chapter 984: Chapter 986: Call Him Back

On the deck of a massive ship shifting through the waves, a young lady with golden hair stood in armor made of illuminating light.

The wind pulled at her hair and cloak, yet she stood firm, hands resting lightly on the railing as her sharp golden eyes reflected the restless sea below.

The ship she stood on was one of the largest on the waters. It made the waves seem distant, its structure like a small city floating across the ocean. Around it were many smaller ships, each a behemoth in its own right, yet as far as the eye could see they were simply escorts, each carrying soldiers and the flags of her family.

This was the naval force of House Brightwater.

Far ahead on the horizon, where the ships bearing her house crest ended, a different class of vessels was already engaged. They blasted magic and artillery toward the demon continent without pause.

Magical blasts filled the air in rainbow streaks, tearing across the sky as ship after ship fired toward the mountains past the beach.

She narrowed her eyes slightly, watching the bombardment in silence.

She could see the newer and more advanced automata deployed for support. Combat models launched from the decks, flying forward before exploding upon reaching enemy territory.

These models were designed by Lazarak, the guild Damon had started with Lilith Astranova, and financially he was making a lot of zeni from it.

Her fingers tightened slightly on the railing.

She felt it again.

That faint irritation.

Almost envy.

Every piece of magical technology being used right now was somehow linked to Lazarak in one way or another. The name was shortened because the full version was far too long, though she remembered it clearly.

Logistics, Arcana, Zenith Applications and Research of Aetherus Kinetics.

Damon had been annoyingly original with that name.

“How did he even think of that?”

Of course, it was meant to honor a forgotten god of darkness who had been his friend.

Evangeline exhaled slowly and placed a hand on her chest.

She was worried about him.

She hated his guts.

But she loved him.

Because that was what family was.

She bit her lip, gaze drifting toward the distant demon continent.

If he knew that, he would laugh at her.

“That bastard,” she muttered under her breath.

Her eyes lingered there, unable to pull away.

He was behind enemy lines, on a secret mission.

“Why didn’t they send me too.”

“Are you worried about Damon again.”

The calm voice of her grandfather came from behind her.

Evangeline flinched and turned sharply. She had not sensed him at all. She could not have. He was in the seventh class. If he did not want to be sensed, no one would sense him.

Her reaction was more from embarrassment than surprise.

“I… I… Grandfather, what are you doing here.”

The Grand Duke shook his head, folding his hands behind his back.

“You’ve been staring at the demon continent with that longing look ever since we got here. If you miss him, just say so,” he said coolly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“What. No. I don’t. I can’t stand him. We always fight. You know that,” she denied vigorously.

The Grand Duke shook his head slightly as he watched her grow flustered.

“I see then. I was wrong,” he said with a small wink at his granddaughter.

“Dead wrong,” she snapped back.

He smiled just as she turned to leave in a hurry.

“Oh, I see. So you don’t want to hear any update on him then,” he added casually as the communication orb at his side began to flash.

Evangeline froze mid-step.

She slowly turned back to him, a faint light flashing in her golden eyes.

“I… I… yes, please,” she whispered, looking away from him.

He laughed softly and stepped closer, patting her head lightly.

“You really need to be more honest with yourself.”

“I am being honest,” she mumbled.

“And it’s not like I’m worried about him or anything. It would just be bad if something happened to him,” she added, still refusing to meet his gaze.

The Grand Duke took out his communication crystal and was about to answer.

“He’s with Seras Blade. He should be fine.”

Then he raised a hand slightly, signaling for her to be quiet. This was a secure and highly confidential military line reserved only for the highest level. It would not do for Evangeline to overhear.

He paused for a brief moment.

Then ignored that thought completely.

This was his granddaughter wanting to check on his grandson.

Screw protocol.

He was the protocol.

This was a shared line between high-ranking rulers, excluding the temple.

The calm, steady voice of Seras Blade came through the crystal.

“I have a report updating you on the circumstances of our arrival on the demon continent, and I believe this is worth reporting as the decision is sensitive and would be best decided by the council.”

Hearing this, Evangeline felt a bad feeling settle in her stomach. What kind of decision would make Seras say she could not decide alone. She was Seras Blade after all.

“We are currently in the information gathering phase of the Snake Temple operation, and I may have dispatched a specialized unit to go to nearby settlements disguised as demon kin to obtain information and update our long outdated knowledge of the demon continent. My reasoning was that a lot can change over the years.”

The Grand Duke and the others connected to the line listened quietly.

“The team who volunteered was Damon Grey.”

Evangeline’s hand trembled slightly.

That was not a good sign.

Who let Damon go anywhere alone.

He was reckless.

And when Damon was reckless, bad things happened.

Seras paused briefly, then continued in a calm voice.

“I can assure you he is alive. It’s just that he somehow managed to infiltrate the demon city of Trace.”

Evangeline looked up at her grandfather and saw his expression go pale.

Was that bad?

Then another voice echoed through the crystal.

Kadelas.

“Huh. That wretch actually threw himself into the dragon’s den.”

Seras was not done.

“Actually, he is now one of the lords competing for rule of Trace and part of the vanguard of its defending force.”

“This is strategic for us,” the voice of the Emperor echoed through the line.

“Call my grandson back,” the Grand Duke said decisively.