My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 1044 - 1046: Sight In The Sky

Damon's bewilderment was profound; this was not the outcome he had envisioned. He had anticipated Ashergon, clinging to his ancient pride, would charge at him in a fury upon seeing his long-standing adversary.

An epic confrontation was expected, though in truth, it would have been Damon desperately fleeing, striving to evade the dragon's fiery breath, and through a cunning maneuver and sheer fortune, he would have finally achieved his goal. His saga would echo through eternity, and he would emerge from the fray a celebrated hero.

Years later, he envisioned himself gazing at the unhealed burn marks, regaling his teenage daughter with tales of his grand adventures as she, already familiar with the story countless times, rolled her eyes. Such was the script he had imagined.

But reality diverged.

Ashergon did not elect to engage.

The instant he felt the intrusion of Mind Dominate upon his consciousness, he turned and fled. He was unwilling to remain and confront that fiend again.

Were he capable of screaming, he would have, but he clung to the remnants of his draconic dignity.

The wounds and trauma from over a hundred thousand years surged back instantly.

He recalled his former lair on the Demon Continent, meticulously crafted over years. It had been superlative, exceeding all expectations. Its elevation was perfectly suited for surveying the insignificant creatures below as he unleashed torrents of flame from the heavens.

His tranquil existence had been shattered.

He had committed no offense; he was a peaceful dragon, occupied with his own affairs. While he occasionally incinerated a town or city, it was infrequent. The inhabitants invariably rebuilt swiftly, repopulating the areas. No one seemed to mind; indeed, they appeared to welcome it.

Periodically, they would dispatch a company of warriors to his domain, bearing lavish gifts and engaging him in minor skirmishes to display their prowess.

Naturally, it would have been impolite not to immolate them and claim their offerings.

He always obliged, ensuring no one survived.

Ah, those were indeed the golden days.

Until one fateful day, a solitary being ascended his formidable mountain. Their name was inconsequential; many had come before.

Yet, he remembered this one.

"I am Ashcroft, the Demon Lord of Domination."

Ashergon could never forget the events that followed.

First came his draconic hubris.

Then, the agony.

Then, the chilling realization that Ashcroft was virtually invincible, not because he sought to slay him, but because he wasn't even attempting to do so from the outset.

His objective was to subjugate Ashergon into becoming his mount.

It had commenced precisely in this manner. Ashcroft persistently employed Mind Dominate, eroding his mental defenses bit by bit.

Ultimately, Ashergon barely managed to escape. He remained in hiding for years, emerging only upon discovering that Ashcroft had perished.

'It was a ruse. That fiend feigned death to lure me out.'

'Deceit. Utter deceit.'

These thoughts occupied him as he fled, unwilling to cast even a glance back in Damon's direction.

His sole aim was to reach his lair, secure his hoard, and depart. The last encounter with Ashcroft had resulted in the complete pillaging of his possessions, leaving him impoverished for many years. It was only after relieving Rexagon the Carrion King of his treasures that he managed to recover some wealth. Of course, his continuous activities of burning cities and acquiring loot over the years had replenished his riches considerably.

"What are you doing? Pursue him," Ashcroft commanded within Damon's mind.

Damon was uncertain if he could match Ashergon's swiftness. Even utilizing his wings was unfeasible given the large number of onlookers.

Thus, with a wave of his hand, he conjured several intricate runes at his feet. These runes were the fruits of Mugu's research, though incomplete due to Mugu's limited understanding of runic magic.

However, for Damon, drawing upon knowledge from the future, he effortlessly filled the gaps and achieved mastery.

The runes ignited.

They propelled him skyward.

Damon surged forward like a dark projectile, leaving sonic booms in his wake.

"Halt, Ashergon! Do not flee from me!" he bellowed aloud.

"My retirement hinges upon you. Cease your flight!"

Upon hearing this, Ashergon instantly tripled his speed, a single terrifying thought eclipsing all else.

'He no longer seeks to make me his mount. He intends to devour me.'

"Begone, vile fiend! Away from me! Away!"

And so, Damon gave chase to Ashergon, who was already vanishing over the distant horizon towards the mountains, while Damon, considerably slower, steadily lost ground.

The world below bore witness to this astonishing spectacle.

Indeed, it was nothing short of madness.

How could a mere human pursue a dragon of colossal proportions, with the dragon itself being the one in flight?

Surely, a single swipe of its claws or a breath of fire would suffice to end the human.

Far below, Evangeline, accompanied by the streak of lightning that was Leona, plunged into the forest in pursuit of Damon. They followed Damon, who in turn pursued the colossal dragon.

Evangeline harbored deep concern, aware that Damon was reveling in the thrill of the chase, and the moment Ashergon halted and turned, he would easily annihilate Damon.

Damon vanished into the horizon, leaving behind a tableau of stunned soldiers and seventh-class advancement warriors, battered and bleeding from their encounter with Ashergon. One of them fumbled for a communication magical device, his fingers trembling as he initiated a call to the main command base.

The youthful-looking commander of the seventh class dabbed at the blood trickling from his lip. Uncertain how to convey the unbelievable events without sounding utterly delusional, he took a deep breath and cleared his throat.

He then spoke, his voice ringing with a mixture of disbelief and awe.

"This is Zarin Falgan reporting to Central. This may be difficult to credit, but Ashergon has just turned tail and fled upon the appearance of Damon Grey. As we speak, the dragon is retreating to its lair with Damon in hot pursuit."

He allowed a brief silence to hang in the air before adding,

"That concludes my report."

His gaze fell upon his hand, then swept across the ash-strewn battlefield, a profound weariness settling upon him.

"Haaaa. I have grown old."