My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Chapter 289 - 290: Toss Her Into The Fire

Evangeline slowly opened her eyes, finding herself sprawled across the cold stone floor… The warm heat of the hearth spread through the room, but her wrist throbbed with a dull, cold pain—something biting into her flesh.

Groggily, she raised her head… her skull pounding with pain. She looked down—her wrist was shackled in a cold black cuff, a chain rattling from it, anchoring her down.

Her eyes flared. She yanked on the chain with all her might, pouring her first-class advancement strength into the pull.

The metal rang out with a sharp clang, but it didnʼt break. The chain shimmered faintly—runes etched across its length, glowing in response.

”Donʼt try to escape… you wonʼt.”

Her heart sank. She raised her head toward the voice—and her face went pale.

”Da… Damon… why? What did she do to you…?”

Damon turned his head, expression blank. The Beldam stood beside the furnace, her hideous silhouette framed by flickering firelight. She stirred a bubbling pot of green sludge.

”Hehe… Double, double, toil and trouble… fire burn and cauldron bubble! Hehejejej…”

Her laughter echoed like cracked bones in a tomb. Damon barely glanced at her before speaking, loud enough for her to hear.

”Mother opened my eyes to the truth.”

He looked around at the others—still unconscious.

”They should hear this too… Motherʼs almost ready.”

Evangelineʼs face contorted in fear. She yanked at the chains, each pull creating a thunderous clatter.

”Damn it, Damon! Come to your senses! Sheʼs going to eat us—please, wake up!”

Her voice rang through the chamber—and though it may have fallen deaf on Damonʼs ears, the others began to stir.

Leonaʼs eyes snapped open, sweat beading down her forehead.

Xander coughed, tugging at his own shackles. Matiaʼs wings fluttered—but she couldnʼt fly. She couldnʼt even feel her magic. Her mana had been sealed.

Sylvia sat quietly, staring at Damon with glassy eyes.

”I… Iʼm sorry, everyone… Iʼm sorry, Damon… My plan wasnʼt good enough… I couldnʼt anticipate everything… I couldnʼt be more patient or cunning…”

Tears streamed down her cheeks. ”Iʼm so useless… even with limitless knowledge in my hands… Iʼm still so weak…”

Damon looked at her, eyes empty.

”Shut up. Your tears will ruin Motherʼs soup.”

Xander growled, biting his lip, glaring hard at Damon.

”Shut up. Since when did you become so pathetic? The Damon Grey I know is too damn insane to bow to anyone.”

Damonʼs eyes flared. He raised a leg and kicked Xander hard in the chest. Xander flew backward, yanked to a halt by his chain.

”Shut up. Donʼt act like you know me… you donʼt.”

Leona bit her lip.

”I do know you.”

Damon raised his hand—but hesitated.

The Beldam walked over, waxy skin sagging in grotesque folds. Her fingers—long, hideous, and slick—gently stroked Damonʼs head from behind.

”Good, my child… the preparations are almost done… hehe… Now then… which one should I eat first?”

Her mouth twisted open in a crooked smile—maggots writhing between her yellow teeth. Damon stood beside her, a serene smile on his face.

”Whichever one you want, Mother.”

The Beldamʼs grin widened. Malice oozed from every inch of her.

”In that case… why donʼt we pick which one will be roasted alive first?”

She cracked her neck—emitting a horrid stench that made them all gag.

She raised a small vial of flickering fire.

”Hehe… This little thing contains flame from the dragon Ashergon… Good thing I gathered some while he rampaged recently…”

Sylviaʼs eyes widened—recognizing it instantly. Ashergonʼs flame… The same inferno that had reduced an entire region to ashes.

That explained why she hadnʼt been home when theyʼd first come.

The Beldam sauntered over to Evangeline. Her hand slowly crept toward Evangelineʼs chest—groping without shame.

Evangeline snarled and smacked her hand away. ”Donʼt touch me, you filthy creature—!”

The Beldamʼs face twisted in rage. She raised her hand to strike—

But Damon moved first. He slapped Evangeline across the face—then followed up with a hard kick to her gut.

”How dare you strike Mother.”

The Beldam let out a satisfied purr. ”Hehejeje… Good boy…”

She turned her attention elsewhere. ”That oneʼs quite fatty… but not good enough…”

Leonaʼs jaw clenched, sparks of lightning flashing in her eyes despite the mana-suppressing shackles.

”What have you done to him…” she spat. ”Doesnʼt matter. When I break out of these… Iʼll kill you.”

The Beldam leaned close, drooling spittle onto Leonaʼs face. She turned next to Sylvia, who simply stared at her, unflinching.

”Yes… this one will do just fine.”

She turned toward Damon and snapped her fingers like he was a dog.

”Bring that one to the furnace. Sheʼll be the first.”

Damon smiled. ”Of course, Mother. She would be honored to be of use to you.”

She walked away.

The Beldam stood by the cold furnace. She uncorked the vial. A spark of dragonfire slipped out—landing on a massive pile of magical wood. The flames exploded instantly, licking the walls of the iron furnace.

She chanted, raising her arms to the fire. ”Bring her here… hehe…”

Damon pulled Sylviaʼs chain. Evangeline tried to stop him, biting at his ankle—but he kicked her head away with no hesitation.

”Donʼt interfere.”

He grabbed Sylvia by the hair, dragging her across the floor.

”No—let me go! Damon, please—donʼt do this!”

She struggled, kicked, fought… His face twisted with anger. He slammed his fist into her gut.

”Shut up. Itʼll be over soon.”

He kept pulling—her nails scraped the floor, leaving bloody trails behind. Her screams tore the air. The others pleaded, begged—Xander roared curses, Leona watched in silence, Matia trembled with resentment.

Evangeline screamed until her voice broke.

But Damon didnʼt stop.

Sylvia struggled, crying, bleeding—her breath ragged.

The Beldam didnʼt even turn around. Damon dragged Sylvia right to the edge of the furnace.

”Throw her in,” she commanded.

”Sure,” Damon said casually—and then, with all his strength, he kicked beldam forward.

Her body jerked caught completely off guard, and her eyes widened as she was sent flying into her inferno.

”You talk too much.”

Before the Beldam could even react—Sylviaʼs bloodied hands slammed the vault door shut. The furnace roared.

The dragon flame surged violently—engulfing the room.

And the Beldam screamed—her shrieks high-pitched and inhuman—as the flames consumed her.

The others could only stare in shocked silence.

Damon turned to Sylvia—who immediately threw herself into his arms.

”I was so scared… I almost thought your plan wouldnʼt work…”

”Iʼm glad you did,” he whispered, holding her close.

Damon finally let himself relax the tension slowly leaving his body. He held Sylvia tight. She felt warm and alive. He wanted to keep it that way.

A soft system chime echoed in his mind.

[You have slain: Beldam of the Whispering Forest]

[You have leveled up]

[You have gained +80 Attribute Points]

[You have awakened the Skill: Shadow]