My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 849 - 850: Branded Elite Layer

She wondered if this implied his danger level was on par with a being capable of shattering the world's foundations.

The mere suggestion caused a tightening sensation in her chest.

Naturally, she squeezed every bit of intel she could from him, persisting with her interrogation until her throat was raw and his replies became clipped.

Eventually, she gave up and reclined on the mat beside him, her gaze fixed on the shadowed ceiling above.

"So... what happens now?" she murmured, her mind clouded with uncertainty.

While Damon was less affected by the biting desert winds than she was, he could feel his mana reserves slowly trickling away. A faint pang of hunger gnawed at his gut, spurred on by the relentless aridness of the environment.

"Next, we locate the others," he declared. "I despise the idea as much as anyone, but survival dictates that we must cooperate."

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"You mean working with demons."

"If that is what it requires," Damon answered with half-closed eyes, "then so be it."

Evangeline bit her lip nervously.

Was their predicament truly that dire?

She was well aware of Damon’s hatred for demons. He loathed them with a passion, slaughtering them without hesitation whenever they crossed his path. Yet here he was, openly contemplating an alliance with them.

This was the man who had once preferred the dangers of the Whispering Forest over the prospect of being taken by a demon legion. It had been a shrewd move, as that same legion was later incinerated by the draconic breath of the great dragon Ashergon.

Just the memory of it made her skin crawl.

"Will they even agree to that," she questioned, "especially after you took down the Unknown Ruler... Amon."

Damon’s expression flickered momentarily.

True, Evangeline remained unaware that he was Amon, but her logic was sound. The demons would certainly be wary of allying with him. However, in a practical sense, they would have little choice. Damon possessed the strength to topple the demon most believed to be Ashcroft.

Evangeline mentally weighed the advantages and disadvantages, but they were ultimately stuck in a stalemate.

Eventually, Damon rose to prepare a modest meal.

Calling the spread "modest" was an understatement.

No less than seventeen aromatic, steaming dishes were produced, and the pair ate until their hunger was thoroughly satiated.

Once Evangeline drifted off into a steady sleep, Damon rose silently and slipped into the adjoining room.

He retrieved a specific file that Lazarak had crafted for him in the past.

Without a moment's pause, he pressed the tool against his forehead, where a small demon horn had begun to sprout. Ignoring the sharp pain, he ruthlessly began to file the growth down. His jaw remained locked and his hands shook slightly, but he did not falter.

After finishing the task, he stowed the file back into his shadow storage and returned to rest.

The secret of what was growing from his head was something he could share with no one.

......

By the following morning, Damon and Evangeline were making their way toward the city's more prestigious district.

This was the middle tier, the domain of the branded elite. This sector partially merged with the high bastions where the wardens resided.

Damon felt a sting of annoyance as they surrendered mana cores to secure their entry.

Evangeline was dressed in a simple white sundress that fell below her knees, designed to allow her to move freely should a fight break out. Damon opted for a dark black tunic, his sword displayed prominently at his hip to signal his status as a warrior.

To an outside observer, they appeared to be just another prosperous couple living in the district.

Damon scanned the area, his head tilted slightly.

This level of the city exceeded his expectations. There was no segregation here; the branded citizens and those in chains lived side by side. The residences were spacious, well-maintained, and aesthetically pleasing. The streets were neatly paved, and not a single beggar could be spotted.

Evangeline’s face remained stoic.

"I’ve been trying to get in here for a while," she remarked. "But I could never quite save enough."

The required sum she referred to was seven hundred rank three mana cores.

"That seems unlikely," Damon countered. "Couldn’t you have just hunted outside the desert?"

She gave a slow nod.

"I did. But every time I entered the city with the cores, I ended up giving them to those who looked like they were on the verge of death from mana depletion. I never have the full amount by the time I reach this gate. It’s a recurring problem."

Damon stared at her, unimpressed.

She had to be joking.

Her only obstacle was her own charity.

He stopped walking for a moment.

"Wait... this isn't because of what I told you before, is it?"

She looked at him, startled.

"What? Did you say something?"

Damon shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips.

He had once criticized her for ignoring the suffering of the poor she passed by. It appeared that his words had made a much deeper impact than he had intended.

He let out a sigh.

"You’re such an idiot."

She gave him a playful nudge with her elbow.

"Well, it’s lucky for me that I have you to cover my expenses, right?" She offered a mischievous grin and leaned in, whispering, "What’s the point of family otherwise?"

Damon let out a dry laugh.

"So our blood connection is just an excuse to fleece me? Just so you know, I’m charging eighty percent interest."

She rolled her eyes at him.

"Perfect. I’ll just apply the ’taking care of me is your job’ discount. In fact, how about I pay you... absolutely nothing."

He winced.

He had brought this on himself by choosing to reveal their kinship.

"I’ve only been part of this family for a few hours and I’m already regretting the decision."

"If you’re looking for an exit, too bad," she said with mock sweetness. "You’re stuck with me until death."

"This is starting to sound like a cult," Damon joked, reaching out to gently tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

She looked up, her golden eyes locking onto his as a soft smile touched her lips.

"Ptuiii!" Someone nearby spat on the ground. "Get a room, for god's sake!"

A man stomped past them, his face twisted with a mixture of disgust and envy at the sight of the young pair.

"Always these damn couples flaunting it everywhere."

Evangeline’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson.

"We... we aren’t a couple!" she tried to shout after him, but her voice trailed off as Damon erupted into laughter.

She gritted her teeth in frustration.

"Come on," she said curtly. "Let’s move. We still need to find our friends."