My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

When she heard that voice she felt an enormous pressure on her chest, along with it a most primordial type of emotion, the oldest type of emotion.

Fear. She felt dread that made her pride and ego mean nothing.

She felt a hand squeeze onto her own. It was warm, and standing in front of her… she couldn't help but feel like she had seen the light in the abyss.

Damon felt it too, dread so deep he felt his legs about to give out just from standing in front of him. He felt like he was all alone, forced to meet that horrible gaze.

Even so.

Even so, he still forced down his fear. He had faced this dread before.

He had felt it when he saw the Keeper of False Truths, but this wasn't the greatest fear he had felt. This was nothing. This at least could be defined as fear.

This was nothing compared to when Sylvia had been possessed by the Unknown God's journey book and started writing that cursed poem with her fingers and blood.

That was fear beyond comprehension. If he survived that, then how could this be enough to shut him up?

"You… who the hell are you and why should I care?"

In front of Damon was a goblin that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. He just stood there under the shade of the trees that had survived the battle with the lesser demons.

There was an aura of control and charisma around him as if he was born to rule.

"Who am I… do I even need to state it? That woman with you seems to know… why don't you ask her?"

Damon glanced at Abellona, who was squeezing his hand so tight he could feel his bones strain. Maybe she had forgotten, but she was in the third class, and he was just in the second class.

Though, he did have the Iron Bone skill.

That was no reason to crush his bones… he bit his lips, his musings serving only as a minor distraction from the cruel reality.

"So what… you don't know your own name?"

The goblin took a step forward, walking into the sun. He didn't have a shadow, so he made for a strange image with the sun directly above him.

"Kneel before Ashcroft…"

He raised his hand, bringing it down. Damon felt the curvature in space shrink and twist as gravity was altered by force and pressed down on the both of them.

Damon's legs trembled as he forced himself to stand. His bones shattered, blood flooding from his legs, but his eyes remained fixed on Ashcroft. Abellona was smashed into the ground until a large crater formed.

She clawed at the earth, growling through blood, refusing to kneel—until Ashcroft simply tilted his fingers, and she was smashed flat like an insect

Ashcroft smiled watching them.

She had been running on fumes to begin with. The barrier had done a number on her. She groaned and went still.

"I'm impressed she held out so long… with those wounds…"

He walked toward Damon. With the small green legs of a goblin, he kicked him forward, smashing his ribs and causing him to cough up blood as he was sent flying into the body of the lesser demon he had stabbed with the silver blades earlier.

It was still barely alive, but… it would succumb soon.

Damon coughed blood, forcing himself to stand up, his leg bones crushed and his body dizzy from blood loss.

Ashcroft stayed where he was with a domineering expression, his eyes looking at Damon with casual indifference.

"Hmmm… you can still stand. Good. I like that. Your will is strong."

He kicked Damon's Dealer's Hand back to him, his face calm.

"I just returned… I'm in need of good minions to do my bidding. You will do."

He glanced at Abellona.

"Kill that woman and kneel before me."

Damon took a deep breath, chuckling lightly. He heard the sounds of low breaths — he was unsure if it was him struggling to breathe or the lesser demon behind him.

Slowly he raised his fingers to this manifestation of despair.

"I have a better idea… why don't you kneel before me instead…"

His broken sword flew into his hands as he stared down Ashcroft, the Demon Lord of Domination.

"I'm planning to take over the world. Why don't you serve me, little goblin?"

Ashcroft's eyes narrowed with deep coldness. Then he smiled.

"Ahhh… defiant. I like that. Makes you more worthwhile when I break you."

He raised his hand wide.

Damon was barely conscious. That was just one attack, just Ashcroft treating him casually, and he was half-dead. His HP was almost depleted.

A smile couldn't help but form on his lips.

Ashcroft was momentarily confused.

"Why… are you smiling?"

Damon smiled wider, the taste of blood on his lips.

"I can die here… I can possibly die here… that's why…"

Ashcroft shook his head.

"Die? No, you will not… because you are mine."

He raised his hand at Damon. With a few steps, he closed the distance.

"Mind Dominate…"

He would enslave his mind and make him his minion.

However, Damon's eyes remained clear. The pale crown made him immune to mental domination. He swung his sword down, stabbing toward Ashcroft. The demon lord casually caught the blade with his fingers, blocking it.

"Not bad… but not good enough…"

Ashcroft raised his hand to strike Damon, but his face creased.

"Wha… what is…" He looked down at the ground, right at Damon's feet.

His eyes widened.

"Is… that my shadow? You… what… how did you obtain my shadow… give it back!"

He reached for Damon's throat, grabbing him.

"Arghhh…" Damon couldn't breathe. He felt his neck getting crushed by Ashcroft.

It was at this moment the lesser demon behind him finally gave out and died.

With its death Damon heard a low chime.

[You have slain a lesser demon]

[You have leveled up]

[You have gained 160 attribute points]

[You have unlocked a new mechanic]

[Quest mechanic]

[Do you wish to proceed]

[Y/N]

Damon didn't know what it held, but he knew this was his chance against Ashcroft.

"Yes."