My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 855 - 856: Gravity

Locating Xander was a simple task. He was residing in an actual tower, living a life of luxury as the commander of a mercenary outfit. That bastard was truly thriving.

Damon wasn't particularly thrilled about reuniting with Xander, but he went regardless. He found himself in a tight spot with Wendy's constant nagging, and he simply needed an excuse to get out of that house.

Furthermore, the sooner he assembled his team, the better his chances. Perhaps he could even track down Sylvia.

To be perfectly honest, things were going to be significantly more difficult without Sylvia Moonveil at his side.

Had she been the first person he located, her abilities would have been instrumental in finding the rest of the group. A seer’s insight would have been a massive advantage.

Then there was Renata Malcrist. Her skill set was also quite valuable, but his thoughts primarily drifted toward the Valtheron princess, Abellona. Her royal lineage would make it easy to unite everyone under one banner.

He exhaled a long, heavy breath.

Lilith Astranova remained missing as well. Although he wasn't exactly making a scene, he was genuinely shocked that she hadn't managed to find him yet.

’Could she be in some kind of trouble?’ he wondered, a flicker of anxiety crossing his mind.

No, that was impossible. She was surely fine; after all, this was Lilith Astranova he was thinking about.

Besides, he couldn't pass away in peace without first ensuring she had the cure for his sister.

As that thought surfaced, the world seemed to grind to a halt, and a torrent of chaotic memories suddenly flooded his consciousness.

He gripped his head, a wave of vertigo washing over him.

"Well, that was bizarre," he whispered. He felt an intense sense of deja vu, as if he had stood in this very spot before, accompanied by Sylvia and Lilith while they exchanged murderous looks.

’Was all that just a figment of my imagination?’

He gazed up at the tower and the massive walls encircling it. This district of the city was incredibly prestigious, which was typical of Xander. The man certainly knew how to enjoy the high life.

Damon clenched his jaw in frustration.

"So, while I was rotting away in a cell, he’s been living like royalty."

He felt a strong urge to knock that guy down a peg or two.

’At least I’m taking his firstborn,’ he thought, consumed by a petty, green-eyed envy.

Accompanied by his small group of three women, Damon walked toward the gate. They were all stunning in their own right.

Evangeline was a breathtaking sight, her golden eyes matching her flowing blonde hair. She was truly a marvel.

Leona’s beastkin ears twitched above her dark hair. With her golden eyes and a mischievous grin, she projected a warm and approachable beauty.

Finally, there was Wendy. With her dark tresses, a blade carved from bone, and bronzed skin, her exposed midriff hinted at a fierce, untamed nature.

The guards stationed outside immediately tensed up.

"Stop right there." They crossed their polearms to block the path.

"This is the Iron Guild. State your business here."

Damon swept a gaze over them. They had reached the second-class advancement, yet Xander had them working as mere door guards.

"Iron Guild... what a pathetic name," Damon remarked with an arrogant smirk.

Evangeline let out a weary sigh. She could tell he was actively looking for a confrontation.

"Damon, don't do this. Just stop."

He pulled a face of pure revulsion.

"What? Am I not allowed to have a perspective now? This is nothing but an authoritarian display of tyranny, trying to intimidate a common citizen with threats of force. I refuse to tolerate such blatant injustice!"

The knights exchanged looks and sighed. Surprisingly, they maintained their composure.

"Sir, we are simply asking for your purpose here."

Damon blinked. They weren't taking the bait. How was he supposed to cause trouble for Xander Ravenscroft if his subordinates were so polite and well-behaved?

"You have the nerve to ask about my business? My business is my own concern!" he shrieked with the entitlement of a madman, his voice echoing through the air.

Evangeline shook her head, feeling exhausted. He was clearly just trying to irritate Xander. She considered intervening, but after noticing that Leona and Wendy were staying out of it, she reconsidered.

"Fine, I’m staying out of this. Let this idiot do as he pleases."

The guards’ brows furrowed.

"Sir, we apologize if we’ve caused offense, but this is a standard security inquiry."

"Oh, a standard inquiry? Do you have no idea who I am? Don't you see my face? Go fetch your leader this instant. He clearly hasn't taught you to respect my greatness."

The two sentries were reaching their breaking point. If this man hadn't appeared strong enough to actually be a threat, they would have forcibly removed him by now.

"And just who are you supposed to be, sir?"

Damon gasped, feigning a massive amount of outrage. His complexion turned a deep shade of red.

"You—you dare to mock me? You dare to try and belittle me? Fine then, have it your way."

He reached into his shadow storage and retrieved a specific talisman.

It was known as the [Voice of the Silent].

This particular charm had one function: it was incredibly loud. It was a tool Damon never thought he’d actually use, but he didn't care. If it meant humiliating Xander Ravenscroft, it was worth it. How dare that man act so superior? How dare he establish a guild before Damon did?

How dare he live in opulence while Damon was penniless?

’It’s just not right... that golden boy gets everything.’

He pressed the charm to his lips and roared.

"Xander Ravenscroft! Get your pathetic self out here right now! Crawl if you have to!"

Damon had vastly underestimated the potency of the talisman. The sound waves reverberated through every street and alleyway of the city. His unmistakable voice was broadcast to everyone.

Renata heard the shout, and a wide smile lit up her face.

"My lord... you’ve finally arrived."

Inside a crimson chamber lined with various weapons, Abellona let out a dismissive snort.

"It seems that scoundrel has finally made his appearance."

It was a relief to know he was finally in the city.

In a different district, Kashi the demon necromancer was busy tending to his undead servants. His hair stood on end the moment that voice hit his ears.

He recognized that terrifying voice only too well.

"Damon Grey..."

Atop a structure overlooking the obsidian tower, two women stood watching. One was an elf with snowy hair and a face of exquisite beauty. Beside her was a human woman with fiery red hair and piercing emerald eyes. A flower was tucked into her hair, showing two vibrant petals while the rest were shriveled.

Sylvia the elf let out a soft smile.

"Damon is here. Did he make such a flamboyant entrance in the previous timeline?"

Lilith shook her head, her gaze icy.

"No. I was by his side then, so I kept him level-headed enough to avoid a scene. Besides, he was too busy dealing with the two of us back then."

Sylvia looked down at a tome hovering in the air before her, her expression darkening.

"Time is a luxury we don't have. We must secure that elixir immediately."

Lilith stared at the tower, her brow furrowed.

"That’s easier said than done. Not while Seraph Null is keeping tabs on us."

Sylvia nodded, a faint, knowing smile appearing.

"Under normal circumstances, yes. But he’s going to be far too occupied trying to handle Damon."

Having lived through this before, Lilith understood Seraph Null’s strategy.

"He’s trying to funnel all opposition into a single location. He wants every rebel in one spot so he can wipe them all out in one fell swoop. That’s his ultimate plan, which is why he’s letting Damon’s followers do as they please for now."

Sylvia’s beautiful features twisted into a more sinister grin.

"And if we manage to seize the Elixir of Pseudo Immortality, we rewrite the entire future. The resulting butterfly effect will be something to behold."

Lilith took a deep breath, her expression grim.

"I wouldn't get your hopes up. Our mission is to prevent a suicidal fool from killing himself, and my past attempts have proven that Damon is a much more capable combatant than I am. I can't restrain him through strength."

Sylvia smirked, tilting her head playfully.

"And you couldn't restrain him with love either, heheheh."

She chuckled, mocking Lilith’s previous failures rather than Damon’s fate.

"Let’s move. We have a tower to conquer," Lilith stated coldly.

"It would be a tragedy if we failed," Sylvia added.

.......

Meanwhile, at the entrance of the Iron Guild, Damon stood awkwardly before the guards following his outburst. The magic of the talisman made the source of the sound difficult to track, but Xander had clearly heard his name and knew exactly where to go.

Damon looked at the guards sheepishly.

"Ahem... so, can we maybe talk this out?"

The guards had reached their limit.

"Arrest them all."

Evangeline’s face darkened.

"Them? What did we do? You just want him!"

Before the frustrated guards could make a move, a man in heavy plate armor came rushing out, flanked by a squad of knights and a woman Damon recognized.

Upon spotting Damon, the man’s helmet dissolved, revealing a broad, joyous grin.

"Hahaha! Damon! You’re still kicking!"

He surged forward to wrap Damon in a powerful bear hug.

Damon’s face twisted in sheer annoyance as he was nearly crushed in the embrace.

"Xander Ravenscroft..." To think, these were his first words to a comrade he hadn't seen for months, especially in a dangerous land where death lurked around every corner.

"You really have the nerve to flaunt your wealth in front of your elder. I see the gear, Xander. I know you’re loaded..."

Xander looked down at his high-tier Ascendant equipment—the Armor of the Bound Colossus.

"But... this is just what I wear every day..."

It was the truth. This was Xander’s standard attire.

Regardless, Damon was determined to find a reason to complain.

"Are you throwing your riches in my face because I’m destitute?"

He was clearly fishing for a fight, but Xander was well-acquainted with his antics.

Xander looked toward Evangeline, pleading for help.

"A little help here?"

She sighed and stepped forward, grabbing Damon by the hands.

"You aren't destitute. Stop being difficult. Why must you try to humiliate me every time we go somewhere?"

Damon shot a glare at Xander.

"You coward. Hiding behind a woman's skirts."

Xander simply ignored the comment and smiled at Leona.

"I’ve missed you all. Come inside, let’s catch up."

As he was led away, Damon realized with a sense of dread that Xander had developed a complete immunity to his provocations.