My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

The domain of one in the Seventh Class Advancement was vastly more powerful than that of someone in the Sixth Class Advancement.

Howling winds tore through the city and the distant mountains as the world itself was reshaped by a coldness far greater than anything the continent naturally produced.

Anyone caught within this cataclysm would instantly become ice.

A vast white realm had been created by the wrath of the Frost God.

Lord Faldren now stood upon the palm of a colossal giant forged entirely from divine ice, its body so impossibly massive that its head stretched high into the heavens where Matia could see it pressing against the world’s barrier itself.

It stared down at her.

Cold.

Ancient.

Merciless.

Her own domain was different.

Within Matia’s domain there was no god held in reverence.

No divine authority.

No higher existence worshipped above all else.

All she possessed was frost.

Cold.

Ruin.

Here everything froze.

Even doubt itself.

The soul of anyone unfortunate enough to enter this place would gradually freeze alongside their body.

And far beyond the edge of her domain, unnoticed beneath layers of frost and eternal ice...

Shadows slept.

Her domain was both cold and tyrannical.

Lord Faldren looked down at his daughter and laughed.

”Girl... is this all you have to offer?”

The palm of the giant moved.

It descended toward her with apocalyptic force.

The pressure alone shattered the mountains below.

But then—

The frost surrounding Matia twisted violently.

Snowflakes sharpened.

Each flake transformed into countless microscopic swords that surged upward in a white torrent and shredded through the descending hand of the Frost God.

The giant’s palm exploded apart.

Matia spread her wings.

Then shot forward.

She became a streak of white light cutting through the storm as she flew directly toward the palm where her father stood waiting.

Her sword descended with everything she had.

The slash traveled for miles.

The earth split open beneath them as a massive crevice carved itself across the frozen kingdom.

But Lord Faldren moved.

Without hesitation he forged a blade of divine frost and met her strike head on.

Steel collided.

Corrosive ice spread from Matia’s blade, hissing violently as it attempted to consume his weapon and force him backward.

A deafening explosion rang out.

The surrounding mountains trembled.

The earth convulsed violently.

Far below, those within the city were already fleeing for their lives.

Matia touched her chest.

Instantly another Matia stepped out from her body.

A perfect duplicate.

Without pause the second Matia drew forth a bow of frozen crystal, pulling back the string before unleashing a storm of arrows.

The volley descended like divine punishment.

The ground itself was shredded into powder beneath the relentless barrage.

Then suddenly—

It felt warm.

The warmth caught her attention immediately.

Matia lowered her gaze.

Blood.

Dark crimson blood was soaking through the shattered armor around her stomach, staining the pale frost beneath her feet.

She stared at it quietly.

She had not even seen the attack.

Her father stood in the Seventh Class.

She remained in the Sixth.

The gap was still absolute.

She had been completely outclassed.

Outmatched.

She did not even know when he had wounded her.

His speed far surpassed hers.

She herself could already move faster than sound.

Yet somehow...

He had struck her without her senses even registering the movement.

The answer was obvious.

Lord Faldren had already touched the boundary of light itself.

That was the difference.

Those who entered the Seventh Class Advancement had touched laws that made them partial gods.

The physical laws of the world no longer governed them completely.

Gravity.

Speed.

Matter.

Distance.

Reality itself became more suggestion than rule.

Even Matia in the Sixth Class had already broken countless natural laws.

The world simply pretended it was normal.

She inhaled deeply.

Then slowly raised one hand.

”It’s your domain... isn’t it.”

Her voice barely rose above the screaming winds.

”Your domain is built here. This is your territory.”

She narrowed her eyes.

”You are stronger here. Your mana recovers faster. Your body regenerates. And as long as I use ice, frost, or anything connected to winter...”

She stared directly at him.

”I will always be at a disadvantage.”

Lord Faldren smiled coldly.

”Now that you understand...”

His voice echoed across the frozen world.

”Are you going to beg for your life?”

Matia slowly shook her head.

”No.”

She tightened her grip on her sword.

”Not at all, father.”

Her glowing eyes narrowed beneath the storm.

”I simply pity you.”

A pause.

”When you die...”

She tilted her head slightly.

”I’ll make sure a woman takes over.”

His eyes sharpened dangerously.

”And how exactly will you accomplish that?”

He spread his arms.

”The ice and snow here know only me.”

Matia stared at him.

Then quietly answered.

”Then what about the shadows?”

The moment those words left her lips—

Every shadow within the frozen world moved.

Lord Faldren only knew Matia.

His daughter.

The Fairy of Frost.

He did not know the Dark Fairy.

He did not know the Ruined Fairy.

This was not merely a creature of winter.

Matia was a being born from frost and shadow alike.

She simply preferred using frost.

But shadows had always been part of her.

Always.

The frozen ground darkened.

The sleeping shadows hidden beneath layers of eternal ice began rising upward after lying dormant for countless years.

They surged toward her like a living ocean.

Her form darkened instantly.

Blackness fused itself over her shattered armor.

Tendrils of living darkness rose around her body twisting violently in the frozen winds.

She had become something deeper.

Something ruinous.

Something unnatural.

Before Lord Faldren could even comprehend what was happening—

A shadow pierced straight through his chest.

The attack erupted from behind him.

Silent.

Instant.

Invisible.

He had not seen it.

Because he had not expected it.

His eyes widened.

Slowly he looked downward.

Blood.

Warm blood spilled across his chest, staining the white frost beneath his feet.

For the first time—

Shock crossed his face.

”You cowardly girl.”

His expression twisted violently.

Ice surged immediately toward the wound, sealing the hole through brute regeneration.

Then slowly...

He raised one hand.

The world trembled.

No.

It screamed.

The frozen earth beneath them began collapsing inward as if reality itself was being crushed beneath his fury.

And suddenly...

The winter became even colder.