My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Chapter 1003: Chapter 1005: Nexus Gate

”Shut up and don’t try to boss me around. I’m only going because I want to.”

Damon said it out loud as he ran, almost defensively, as if Ashcroft could somehow feel the difference between obedience and choice. He needed to say it. If he didn’t, Ashcroft would start speaking to him like a subordinate instead of a rival.

”Left..” Ashcroft said calmly.

Damon’s boots scraped violently across the stone floor as he skidded to a halt, sparks biting from the friction. He twisted his body with all his momentum and swung left so sharply his shoulder nearly clipped the wall. While still moving, he reached for the artifact and undid its effect mid-stride.

His body shifted.

Long dark hair lashed behind him like a torn banner in a storm. He forced the demon wings to fold inward painfully until they vanished beneath his skin, and with a strained breath he willed the horns to recede back into his skull before anyone could see him like this.

”Naive... why hide something that would eventually be known.” Ashcroft’s voice echoed through his mind, amused.

”Shut up,” Damon barked inwardly, jaw tight.

”Do not fear demonization. Do not be ashamed of it either. That shame, that resistance, will only feed it. With your personality, it is a certainty you will fall into the abyss.”

Damon ignored him and kept running.

Priestesses in beautifully crafted armor rushed past him in the opposite direction, weapons drawn, their expressions hardened as they moved to intercept the intruders. Damon weaved through them carefully, lowering his presence, avoiding eye contact, making sure none of them felt threatened enough to attack him on instinct.

”You’re here,” Ashcroft said. ”The first Nexus.”

Damon slowed to a stop.

He frowned.

There was nothing here.

Just a wall of plain stone.

He opened his mouth to speak, but his eyes flickered.

His vision sharpened unnaturally.

Ever since he devoured Ashcroft’s demon eye, the world no longer appeared as a single surface. He could now see distortions in space, faint seams hidden within reality itself.

He saw through the wall.

And far beyond it.

Damon stepped forward and passed through the stone as if it were mist.

He emerged into a massive chamber.

A long flight of stairs led upward, and at the top stood a towering arch. It looked incredibly similar to the teleportation gates found in the capital city of Valtheron and other major cities.

But this one felt different.

Older.

Ancient.

The center of the arch was sealed with black stone that shimmered faintly with shifting runes. It wasn’t something you could simply walk through. The runes pulsed slowly like a living thing breathing in the dark.

Damon slowed his pace as he climbed the stairs, eyes tracing every inch of it.

”What is this..” he muttered quietly as he stepped forward.

”If you’re hoping I’ll tell you, keep dreaming,” Ashcroft’s arrogant voice echoed.

Damon sneered slightly.

”So you don’t know then. Well, no surprise.”

Ashcroft paused.

”I see what you’re doing. I won’t fall for it. However... this is also crucial to my continued existence.”

Damon continued climbing, steps measured and cautious.

”These are Nexus Gates. There are only a few of them in the world. They were built mostly by that madman Mugu. Their purpose was to allow interrealm travel. The first one was made in Lysithara for the purpose of summoning the Outsiders.”

Ashcroft’s voice remained cold and composed, but Damon could feel the weight behind the words.

”It failed. The goddess had apparently sealed the world at that time, so this method of travel was not valid. But that was fine. The Unknown God didn’t need it to work. He only wanted to solidify his control.”

The distant tremors of battle faintly vibrated through the chamber walls.

”What other purpose could they have...” Damon whispered, feeling a strangely familiar aura radiating from the structure.

”These things are able to protect a territory... among other uses.”

Ashcroft went quiet for a moment.

”Have you ever played a game of protect the flag?”

Damon blinked, eyes still on the Nexus.

”No. Did you make it up?”

Ashcroft sighed deeply.

”Ahh, you are such a simpleton bumpkin. The idea is simple. One side protects a flag. The other tries to take it. Except here, instead of children, it is gods and demons. True beings.”

Damon listened silently.

”When a follower of a god marks one of these, that god gains influence over the surrounding territory. Until a follower of another god takes it over. That is how the Unknown God expanded his influence in Lysithara. It also allowed them to create the crystal tower used to summon the Outsiders. Other continents imitated it. That is how teleportation gates were eventually formed.”

Damon’s gaze never left the Nexus.

”After Mugu left the Path of Kings, he created more of these. With them, he marked this entire continent in the name of the Unknown God and turned many of his followers into demons. That is why, aside from demon kin who were originally residents, you also have demons descended from the abyss here.”

Images of balrogs and ghorus flashed through Damon’s mind.

”Yes, them. And during my time as ruler of this continent, these gates were also used in the creation of lesser demons. A design choice the Unknown God was very impressed by... before we had a falling out.”

Damon slowed slightly.

Ashcroft knew far more than he pretended to.

”So if I destroy this, I weaken the Unknown God’s influence on the continent?” Damon asked.

”No. That won’t matter now. Too many people already have faith in him. And besides, Paimon can easily restore it. However...” Ashcroft’s tone shifted faintly with amusement, ”if a follower of the goddess were to touch it and mark it, that would irritate him greatly.”

Damon exhaled through his nose.

”So what do I do? Just smash it?”

He stayed cautious. Ashcroft was still a demon.

”Yes. Destroy it. Then head to the others. There should be three.”

Damon stepped forward, magic gathering heavily into his palms.

Just as he was about to touch the Nexus, his danger sense exploded violently in his mind.

Something sliced through the air beside him so fast it displaced the air with a shriek.

He twisted away on instinct.

”Ohhh right,” Ashcroft added casually. ”I forgot to mention. These things usually have a guardian.”

Damon’s jaw tightened.

”Son of a bitch.”

”I should probably mention they are in the Sixth Class at least,” Ashcroft added.

The stone floor in front of the Nexus began to crack.

Something underneath it was rising.

Damon gritted his teeth.

”I hate you.”