My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 1036 - 1038: Because I Am Damon Grey
Previously on My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger...
Damon's gaze fell upon the sum of contribution points. The sheer amount was staggering, a sum that even a Seventh Class cultivator would toil on the front lines for a decade to amass. Or, more directly, require the demise of one such enemy. In reality, to reach that tally, seven of them would need to fall.
This was the unspoken command, a clear message to all present: even a prodigious talent like Damon Grey was not exempt from the trials ahead. The implication was starkly delivered without a single explicit word.
Every element within this grand hall was steeped in politics; every phrase uttered carried a hidden, deeper meaning.
Kadelas let out a scoff, a sound barely audible, yet Sylvia's piercing glare immediately ensnared him. He hastily cleared his throat, though a subtle smirk still played on his lips. The prospect of seeing Damon in a predicament was an opportunity he would never forfeit.
This was the very individual who had plagued his thoughts, causing him countless sleepless nights. He could almost feel his own hair thinning from the stress.
"I can see you comprehend the gravity of your situation. Should you wish to bypass years of service on a brutal battlefield, an alternative path to earning those contribution points exists. It won't demand a steep price. Merely, slay a great dragon."
His words were laced with unmistakable mockery. Damon, however, remained unperturbed.
"And what exactly do you propose as an offer? The hand of your daughter in marriage?" Damon inquired with a calm demeanor.
The elf king, already relishing the unfolding exchange, settled deeper into his throne, a look of amusement gracing his features.
"Should you succeed in this monumental task, aside from absolving you of years on the battlefield, I shall bestow my daughter's hand upon you. Naturally, this is contingent upon your success," he stated, the emphasis clear.
It was an utterly unattainable condition. Damon stood merely below the Sixth Class cultivation, but such a detail was irrelevant. Even a formidable group comprised of Seventh Class experts would falter against Ashergon.
And a single Seventh Class expert possessed the power to obliterate an entire continent.
Ashergon, by contrast, could dispatch them with the ease of swatting flies.
This creature was recognized as the mightiest dragon in existence. The sole entity documented to have once defeated it was Ashcroft, infamously known as the Demon of Domination.
Barring that ancient demon lord, who else possessed the might to compel Ashergon into retreat?
Damon's gaze swept across the assembled council members.
"Does everyone present here today bear witness to the elf king's solemn declaration?"
The Grand Duke had maintained a stoic silence throughout. His eyes briefly flickered towards Evangeline, who stood beside Damon. She responded with a slight, almost imperceptible shrug. Over the years, she had learned not to fret over Damon's actions. If anything, she suspected he had foreseen this very outcome and was thoroughly prepared.
This foresight was precisely why she had remained silent.
Indeed, none of Damon's companions uttered a word in his defense.
He simply did not require their advocacy.
The emperor's eyes narrowed, a flicker of suspicion crossing his face.
"What exactly are you implying by that statement?"
Damon slowly shook his head.
"I acknowledge that I cannot defeat Ashergon. Does anyone present believe they possess the capability? Perhaps in the distant future, I might achieve such a feat. No, I harbor no doubt that within a span of several years, or perhaps decades, I will be capable of vanquishing it."
"If you recognize your limitations, then take your seat and cease this preposterous posturing. All I perceive are baseless excuses," the elf king interjected, a thin, condescending smile gracing his features.
Damon, however, paid him no heed.
"However, while defeating Ashergon is beyond my current reach, I can accomplish something far more significant. I can forcibly remove it from the battlefield."
The hushed murmurs that had filled the chamber ceased abruptly.
Leon, renowned as the Roaring Gale, offered a faint smile and directed his gaze towards Kadelas.
"I shall bear witness. If you manage to achieve this, your contribution will indeed be deemed sufficient. And it appears the elf king has also pledged his daughter's hand should you succeed."
"I harbor doubts that it will prove quite so straightforward," remarked the Headmaster of Aether Academy, his voice thoughtful. "However, the future undeniably belongs to the younger generation."
From the Voyage Continent, a mermaid leaned forward, her voice resonating through the grand chamber like water flowing through a vast cavern.
"Ashergon represents a devastating force, responsible for the ruin of countless cities and entire nations. It is a plague upon all sentient beings. Have you, young one, ever personally witnessed the full extent of its horrific power? This is not a mere game you are playing."
Damon inclined his head slightly, his gaze steady.
"I have indeed borne witness to Ashergon's fearsome might. Its fangs resemble colossal spears. Its immense body dwarfs even the grandest mountains. Wyverns swarm around it like insignificant moths drawn to a destructive flame, yet to Ashergon, they are less than flies. It conjures an inferno from the sky, and when the fiery conflagration subsides, only desolate ashes and the lingering stench of death remain."
His voice remained remarkably steady, devoid of any tremor.
"I have also witnessed the terrifying presence of Rexagon. The repulsive, carrion stench that perpetually emanates from its form. The earth itself trembles with each guttural breath it takes. A torrent of molten fury erupts from its cavernous jaws."
A profound silence descended upon the chamber, absolute and complete.
"And I have laid eyes upon Aethergon. A colossal storm, stretching across the heavens, vast beyond measure, like clouds lost from sight. The formless sovereign of raging tempests. Its mere passage overhead heralds doom, and it imbues the very sea with crackling white lightning."
Damon then raised his head, his eyes now radiating an unshakeable clarity.
"Yes. I have personally witnessed their terrifying majesty. Their awe-inspiring power. And in that witnessing, I perceived that they are, in truth, insignificant in my presence. If you harbor any disbelief, then observe as I capture the great dragon. A feat that no mortal has ever accomplished before."
An unnerving silence enveloped the war council, thick and palpable.
"And what precisely leads you to believe you will achieve such a monumental success?" the emperor inquired, his voice laced with skepticism.
Damon’s lengthy locks stirred, though no breeze could be felt in the chamber.
"Is it not abundantly obvious?" he replied, his voice resonating with absolute conviction. "It is because I am Damon Grey."
A peculiar and heavy quiet settled over the assembled individuals.
Here stood a young man, barely having reached the apex of Fifth Class cultivation, boldly proclaiming his intent to capture the most formidable dragon in existence. The sheer audacity of such a claim should have been met with derision.
Not a single soul dared to scoff. Perhaps it stemmed from the sheer force of his self-assurance, or perhaps it was the unshakeable conviction in his voice, as if he alone commanded destiny itself. His uncle observed him, a word seemingly caught in his throat, yet he refrained from speaking. He knew that resolute glint in Damon's eyes all too well; it was a familiar trait running through their lineage. It was the gaze of one utterly immutable, destined never to waver. The very embodiment of the unyielding pride that forged House Brightwater's reputation. With a weary sigh, he ruffled his hair. His sister had indeed borne a child destined to stir up considerable trouble. He found himself unexpectedly thankful for his own daughters. The emperor folded his arms, his expression unreadable. "Very well, then we shall put this matter to a vote." Kadelas was the swiftest to lend his support. Damon's demise would undoubtedly bring a measure of tranquility to his own existence. Thus, the verdict was rendered.