My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Chapter 992: Chapter 994: Them All

Damon stood at the edge of his tower, hands resting lightly on the cold stone railing as he watched the city below convulse in battle. A strange nostalgia stirred in his chest.

He was powerful now. Truly powerful.

Yet still not powerful enough.

He mattered... but not enough to change the world.

When he had been weak, a great dragon had been a calamity. Now, at his fourth class advancement, a great dragon was still a calamity.

A loose, stray blast of magic veered toward the tower. The defensive runes flared to life with a sharp hum and swallowed the attack without a ripple.

Blood dyed the streets. Corpses of monsters carpeted the ground.

Damon watched with a languid expression.

”Aren’t you being too arrogant?” Renata asked, her hands resting on the railing as she looked down at the chaos.

Damon turned his head slightly toward her. A cold wind drifted down from the mountains, carrying with it the scent of ash, blood, and the distant carrion stench of the battlefield on the horizon.

”I am,” he said calmly. ”Because I know I’d win. Would it not be hypocritical to deny arrogance when my victory is inevitable?”

”Pride comes before a fall,” she replied, glancing over the edge at the dizzying drop. ”And with how high we are, I’m not looking forward to the impact.”

Damon sighed and crossed his arms.

Pride? What pride?

She of all people knew he was not proud. That was not him.

He was arrogance.

”I pride myself on having no pride,” he said with a small smile as he turned to her.

”Still, I understand where you’re coming from. I’m not being reckless... even though I tend to be when I get overly confident and a tad too arrogant beyond my britches.”

”Nice to know you’re still self-conscious,” Wendy muttered from where she sat on the railing, her legs swinging idly hundreds of meters above the ground.

Damon merely smiled at her words.

”Funny enough, I always am. There’s nothing more insufferable than a piece of shit who doesn’t know he’s deplorable. I’ve learned to stay conscious of my shame and I accept it. No need to bash me.”

Wendy turned to glance at him, her hair dancing wildly in the wind.

”I wasn’t bashing you. I was just making sure you don’t do something stupid and get yourself killed.”

Damon’s lips curled into a soft smile.

Was she worried about him?

Her face reddened slightly when she noticed his look.

”I... I am not worried about you. I just don’t want you to die, is all.”

He chuckled under his breath.

”I didn’t say you were.”

Damon pushed himself off the railing and walked slowly toward the open balcony, the wind tugging at his coat.

”I’m aware it’s madness to try and take them all at once. Surely they would unite against me if I don’t conform to the traditional way of doing this... but so what? When have I ever conformed? Especially when I know I can win.”

Renata sighed and rubbed her temples.

”Can you dominate that many demons?”

Damon shook his head.

”Not sure. But I want to use this as an opportunity to comprehend my domain. I want a battle with everything on the line... without anything that would give away my true identity.”

Lana had been standing quietly to the side throughout the conversation. She shifted uneasily, fingers tightening around the hem of her sleeve before she finally spoke.

”Erm... my lord, that would be holding back on using your shadow attribute...”

Damon shook his head.

”No. I’m going to use it. Just... an application of it. The part that allows me to be more subtle.”

She bit her lip, her eyes darting uncertainly between the others.

Damon glanced at her and sighed.

”Spit it out.”

Lana nodded nervously.

”I... I’m still not used to the knowledge that you are a demon. Still, I worry how this may affect your family. If this gets revealed then... House Brightwater would suffer backlash...”

Damon felt his heart sink.

He hadn’t cared about this before. His primary worry had always been his sister. He never wanted her to know of his fall from grace.

His fall into depravity.

But now...

His grandfather. His uncle. His aunt. Eva.

Having family... this was his mortal attachment. The quiet worry at the back of his mind.

His grandfather who would do anything for him. His uncle who was cold but supportive, lecturing Damon to the point of nagging. His aunt who was so sweet, always taking his side. House Brightwater had truly spoiled him and Luna.

For a moment, Damon remembered what it felt like to be an orphan.

”No one will find out,” he muttered.

Even though he knew no secret could be kept forever. Even though a god had already foretold the revelation of his lies.

Lana was about to speak again when a heavy gust of heat swept across the balcony.

Gotrog flew up the side of the tower and landed with a heavy thud, bowing his large head as faint flames leaked from his wings.

”My lord,” he greeted.

He gestured downward.

”The first batch of enemy heads have been delivered. We have also selected some outstanding fighters for your army.”

He paused, then glanced up at Damon.

”However, the other tower lords are dissatisfied with the chaos of these past few days. They are demanding an explanation... or they will be forced to take action against you.”

Damon went silent.

His face tightened. His mood darkened.

Then slowly, a smile bloomed across his face — cold and filled with killing intent.

”They want an explanation? Are they worthy of one?” he said softly.

”Go and tell them this...”

”By sundown tomorrow, I want them to come before me and prostrate themselves before my rule.”

Gotrog’s eyes widened.

But Damon wasn’t finished.

”Declare that to the whole city. If they can’t face me, then they are unworthy of ruling.”

Gotrog clenched his fist. These demons were hot-blooded, arrogant prodigies. None of them would let this slide. If they refused to respond, their followers would lose morale.

”My lord... you are great, but we are vastly outnumbered...”

Damon nodded.

He already knew that.

”And they are outmatched.”

This might be a clue to his domain.

If Ashcroft were the one here, would he back away? Would he be moved by such odds?

”If I fight them one by one, I’ll win too easily. I want a challenge.”

Gotrog bowed once more and took off to spread the word.

Renata looked at Damon carefully.

”Are you sure about this?”

Damon turned his gaze back to the horizon, eyes calm, distant.

”Yes.

I am.”