My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Something ancient is awakening.

Yeah, that was never a good sign. Damon closed his eyes. He was really starting to hate how his life was going.

Was someone out there setting his life to the highest difficulty setting on purpose? Seriously, at this point, he should've been dead and buried with a lawn growing over his grave.

Yet here he was. Living.

Deathless was really working overtime to make sure he didn't die.

'Death must really love all the business I bring it.'

Still, whatever was in that direction, he was going to have to see it for himself. His village was in that direction.

He had to go back there for two reasons.

The first was Dealer's Hand—he wasn't using his first-class skill at all, and its absence was the reason why.

The second reason was... well, because he wanted to wipe out the village and bury the hatchet.

Ahh, forgiveness. Truly beautiful. Especially when there was no one left to hate.

However, he wondered how the village had changed.

A small part of his mind whispered all the reasons why he shouldn't go back.

'If you look for the worst in people, that's all you'll ever see.'

Damon sighed. Even after death, Carmen Vale's words still haunted him more than the ghost of the man ever did.

As the first person to show Damon genuine kindness, Carmen had carved a deep mark in his psyche.

Iron glanced at Damon, feeling as though he needed to explain more.

"The shamans claim something half-forgotten is waking up. We had to leave or face its wrath…"

"And your shamans didn't say what it was?"

Iron shook his head.

Damon groaned. Was he still going to head that way?

He'd hate for something ancient to beat him to his own village.

Then there was the problem of the orcs. He could just point them in a direction that would get them killed, but... he figured they could be useful. How exactly? That part was still a work in progress.

"Where were you planning to go?"

Iron nodded solemnly.

"Iron heard demons recruit orcs for war. Iron thought to find demon…"

Damon sneered.

"So you thought you could make it to the demon continent."

He smiled coldly.

"But you were smart enough to realize going through the uncharted zones with a group this large would get you killed. So you decided to use the golden roads—even if it risked getting the Empire's attention."

Iron nodded. That had been the plan. It was the only alternative better than braving uncharted lands and ending up in a death zone, or crossing some ancient horror. But now, Iron had decided to bet on Damon. Maybe he could help them.

Damon had to admit: the orc was clever. Or at least had good intuition. Because he actually could help them. And more importantly, he had uses for their kind and birth-capable manpower.

"I'll accept you all under one condition, secrecy. You'll sign an Oath Scroll. And for the sake of those who don't speak Orcish, you'll act like we came to a reluctant agreement."

Damon stated a few terms. It was basically slavery, but Iron didn't mind.

He also made them agree to fix the caravans carriages, reinforce the carriages and wagons, and provide food and rations.

Iron nodded, then asked, "Will Chief guarantee orc safety… and let orc stay on your land as slaves?"

Damon raised his head. Chief?

Ah. He saw the misunderstanding now. The crown must've made the orcs think he was a noble with actual territory.

"I can give you a place to stay that's relatively safe. With food. But you may have to fight for it."

Iron found that quite appealing. Damon gave the orc a pitying look. This wasn't some open grassland. In fact, it was a tomb.

Damon raised his hand.

"You can get to work and discuss it with your people. I'll talk with mine and contact someone who'll arrange your accommodations."

Iron nodded, smiling happily.

Damon felt really bad about this.

Then he suddenly remembered the knights heading this way—ready to loot the orcs.

He wouldn't be needing them anymore. The orcs worked for him now.

"Right. Some two hundred knights are heading this way to loot you. You can do whatever you want with them, but don't kill the adventurer with them.."

Iron nodded, clapping his chest.

"Iron shall capture them all alive."

Damon's lips twitched.

These orcs were really eager to please… His Charisma stat must really be working overtime. Come to think of it, it had grown when the orcs bowed to him.

He walked up to Unnoticed Singularity and the crowd of humans, donning his armor once more.

He cleared his throat, putting on his most heroic and wise voice.

"I have vanquished the orcs. They will honor the terms we've discussed and shall allow us safe passage—and give us some of their supplies."

The people erupted in cheers, surrounding Damon in excitement.

He couldn't wait to get out of the crowd.

He looked among the hundreds of civilians, keeping his eyes on Linga. He'd talk to him later.

He signaled Unnoticed Singularity to help him escape the mob.

On the ground, Aleph sneered, watching the crowd swarm around Damon like he was some divine being.

"That bastard's farming aura now. Only just learned about it…"

Twilight smiled, watching the scene.

"Ahh, they grow up so fast. Now that he's learned aura farming, let's teach him rage baiting…"

Saint held his head in his hand. His friends were trying to corrupt someone who was already morally bankrupt.

It was like teaching the devil new tricks.

Unnoticed Singularity stepped between Damon and the crowd, making an excuse that Damon needed rest.

Damon was grateful for the help. He wasn't quite sure how to play hero. He was more used to playing the villain.

"Hahaha… I did not expect that," the almost always expressionless Singularity laughed.

He glanced at Damon.

"What are you going to do with hundreds of orcs?"

Damon bit his lip.

"I didn't know you spoke Orcish."

Singularity shook his head.

"I don't. Ilukras does. Don't worry, your secret's safe with us."

Damon shrugged, giving a thin smile.

"Great. I don't have to kill you guys."

Dred, who had followed with the rest of the party acting as Damon's supposed bodyguards, fluttered down.

"That's a joke, right? He's joking, right?"

Aleph weakly raised his hand from Wimpy's back, where he was being carried like a sack of potatoes.

"Never trust an orphan…"

Wimpy smacked him, taking full advantage of his helplessness.

Damon smiled. These guys really reminded him of his party.

He took out his pager.

"I have to make a call."

Dred chuckled mockingly.

"Bro really wants to act like he has a girlfriend. It's all right, friend…"

Damon tilted his head.

"Hm? I am contacting a girl. And she is my friend… you know, the kind that kisses you."

Dred's wings turned green. His legs wobbled.

Damon walked away with a smile, paging Lilith Astranova.

Her cold voice echoed out through the device.

"You only call when you need something. What do you want now?"