My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Damon was firm in his decision. He did not want to get involved in a campaign that did not seem like it would end anytime soon. If invading Lysithara was truly doable then his ancestors would have done it a long time ago.

Even if you did not go through the Duhu Mountains and instead took the safer Second Gates, Ashergon who lived there would simply fly toward your army and turn it to ash for approaching his domain.

The dragon considered every land around Lysithara his territory.

And even if you somehow got past that, what about the swarms of monsters and corrupted abominations in and around the Whispering Forest. They would destroy any army before the main battle even began.

The city of Lysithara was surrounded by the Whispering Forest and the forest itself had different regions teeming with strange and eldritch horrors.

It would take years and Damon was not even sure he would return alive.

He could not be that wasteful with his life.

His life was not even the main worry. Damon was certain he could endure most things. What truly worried him was his time.

What would become of his daughter. What if the campaign lasted decades. Would his daughter even recognize him anymore.

Damon still remembered the visage of his parents leaving for the battlefield.

His daughter would not grow up without him if he could help it.

The whole chamber turned toward Damon, who sat with one hand resting against his chin.

“Did I stutter. I said no.”

The speaker was a military officer but he was not high enough in status to openly speak against Damon, a count, grandson of the Grand Duke, a hero, and a powerful warrior in his own right. So his gaze subconsciously drifted toward the Emperor, who sighed softly.

The Emperor turned to Damon and took a deep breath. His authority was measured and calm. He knew threats or force would not change Damon’s mind.

“This is the strategy decided by military command. However we are here to tweak the finer details, so if you have an input or wish to change your assignment then we are open to consider it.”

Damon glanced at the projection floating in front of him. He had been assigned command over three entire divisions. Several battalions and thousands of soldiers.

“Your Majesty, thank you for allowing me to speak.” His gaze turned toward the dimly lit chamber where the large central projection acted as the only true source of light. “However I am not refusing my assignment.”

His voice became colder.

“I am refusing to join the campaign at all.”

The moment Damon said that a wave of gasps spread through the chamber.

These were the goddess races and Doom was a goddess of war. For one born from her races to reject the battlefield itself was only a few steps away from religious blasphemy.

“You’ve finally shown your true colors as a coward then.”

The familiar cold voice of the Elf King echoed from the seating area of the Verdant Continent.

“Not at all. I fear nothing. I fear no one. If I was a coward I believe it would be easier to conform to whatever you all want than go against it.”

Damon’s tone was smooth as if he was not bothered at all.

Of course he was not.

He was Damon Grey.

“I see you are still egotistical and arrogant as always,” Kadelas said.

“No, not at all. I’ve mellowed out. If I was any younger I would be far more spirited. These days I prefer to under react.”

He was not lying.

Damon was calmer these days. The thin smile on his face was gentler and warmer unlike the Damon Kadelas remembered.

He felt warmer.

That was because Damon was warmer, or at least he was trying to be. He wanted his daughter to grow up with a positive image of him, so he had learned how to smile without seeming sinister.

“Is that so. Was sending a great dragon to the Moonglades also part of you mellowing out.”

Kadelas’ words made Damon’s eyes twitch slightly. He had not expected the Elf King to openly speak about it here in front of everyone.

Did he not care for his pride anymore?

“Whatever do you mean, Your Majesty. A great dragon?”

The chamber instantly filled with whispers and muttering.

“The incident when Rexagon attacked the glades.”

“I heard many people died.”

“They say their hidden elders even showed up to force the dragon back along with the Elf King.”

“That is a bold accusation on my nephew, Elf King.”

Cassian stood up slowly, his aura erupting outward and lighting up the room with brilliant golden light.

“Do you deem me a fool or untruthful, Golden Death.”

Kadelas rose to his feet as well. A deep aura seeped into the world itself, blending with the laws around them. Pale moonlight flooded the chamber and clashed against Cassian’s golden radiance.

Damon closed one eye slightly because of how blinding it was.

“Enough.”

The Emperor spoke and time itself seemed to tremble before both lights retreated.

“Kadelas is making a grand accusation. However he has long since presented his case and evidence as well. Though House Brightwater has argued it is inadmissible, I am somewhat inclined to agree.”

The Emperor kept his tone neutral as he attempted to put out the fire before it spread further.

Damon obviously did it, but politically he still has plausible deniability

“I refuse to accept letting him go without punishment,” Kadelas said coldly.

’At least let him receive something, even if it is symbolic.’ He thought in his mind

“Damon has done nothing wrong. How can you blame a dragon attack, a natural disaster, on him. He is a child and I will protect him.”

Cassian’s voice carried the weight of someone fully prepared for battle.

Someone sighed slowly from the section belonging to the Magic Continent.

“Duke Brightwater, calm yourself. I’m sure we can work something out. Right now Rexagon is not the problem. It is Ashergon who flies over the battlefield.”

The man who spoke was old. In fact, it was someone Damon knew well.

The headmaster of the Magic Academy.

He glanced at the Emperor before shifting his gaze toward Damon.

“I have a feeling you have no desire to join the campaign.”

Damon shook his head.

“I don’t. However I still intend to contribute logistics, supplies, military strategy, and everything I can. Furthermore I will officially join the battle should the army reach Lysithara. After all, I wish to kill Morticai.”

“A vague promise at best and supplies aren’t what we need. We need victory and a rallying point to boost morale. That is why you were hand picked.”

The words came from someone Damon did not expect.

Leona’s father, the Roaring Gale.

And he was still as calm as Damon remembered. He was like the silence before a storm.

Then the man glanced directly at Damon.

“I have a proposition. If you can make a massive contribution then we can waive years off the battlefield campaign.”

Damon narrowed his eyes slightly.

He already had a bad feeling.

Sure enough, the moment the contribution points flashed onto the projection, even Damon’s expression stiffened slightly.

The amount was completely absurd.