My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 857 - 858: The Woman Who Suffered

Damon eventually returned to the chamber that had once served as a briefing room where Xander and Emilia addressed their officer-level mercenaries.

He struggled to process his own emotions regarding the situation.

He wondered if Xander’s desperation for an heir stemmed from a belief that it would force Damon to be more committed to their revenge and the assassination of Amon.

Or was there a possibility that his feelings for Emilia Highgon were actually sincere?

Their discussion in the conference room had lasted several hours, ending in an agreement to pool their resources to locate others from their original world. It was a task that proved surprisingly manageable.

According to Xander, Abellona of Valtheron had already succeeded in rounding up most of the students and adventurers from their home world.

Among all the displaced outsiders, she commanded the largest following.

It stood to reason that being the princess of the era’s most dominant empire gave her an edge, especially since she was a decorated military officer with numerous achievements.

Abellona of Destruction.

With a heavy sigh, Damon sipped his hot tea while watching the cold desert night settle in. The landscape was a place of extremes; a scorching furnace by day and a freezing void by night.

It was strange how a world that felt like a burning hell under the sun transformed into such a frigid, dark realm once the light faded.

Yet, these pitch-black nights offered a view of the most brilliant stars Damon had ever witnessed.

The sound of light footsteps behind him announced Xander’s arrival on the balcony.

A long silence stretched between them before Xander finally sighed and broke the quiet.

"I’ve never known poverty in my life. I never truly understood the meaning of starvation... until I arrived in this place."

Damon looked down toward the city streets.

"Yeah... I assumed as much. Hunger is a brutal weapon, and for some reason, the lesser god ruling this city has perfected its application."

Xander took a deep breath, crossing his arms over his chest.

"He certainly has. This place... this glimpse into the past... makes me realize that while our world has its flaws, at least it is ruled by us goddess races. This ancient dream has taught me only one truth..."

His gaze grew icy.

"The gods are cruel."

He clenched his fist tight.

"To think there are so many of them... possessing such overwhelming power. In the end—" his voice dropped to a soft murmur, "—I can't help but wonder how they all met their demise."

Damon stared up at the stars, his face reflecting a bleak sense of loss or perhaps deep-seated anguish.

"Empires crumble. Why should gods be any different? Nothing is eternal. Time is a cage, and everyone trapped within its boundaries will eventually hit their limit as long as it persists. The old gods were defeated by the true gods, becoming nothing more than ripples in the long river of time."

Xander let out a soft, dry chuckle.

"And what of the true gods then?"

Damon remained silent as the image of the Unknown God flickered in his mind. If an end existed for beings that were supposed to be infinite, that entity would be the one to bring it.

"Even their sun is destined to set... even if it eventually rises once more."

Damon looked down at the ring on his finger.

"So, about Emilia Highgon... what was the real reason she agreed to marry you?"

Xander let out a disdainful scoff.

"True love."

"Don’t give me that bullshit," Damon shot back coldly.

Xander sighed, the ghost of a smile vanishing from his lips.

"Emilia Highgon is the granddaughter of Grand Duke Hightower."

Damon’s brow furrowed. He had heard whispers and hearsay, though few people were brave enough to speak of it openly.

"Right, it’s coming back to me. The Hightowers... they occupy the fourth seat of the four dukedoms. Word has it the current patriarch is actually Emilia’s father, though I thought it was just a rumor."

Xander shook his head slowly in denial.

"It isn’t a rumor. He is her father. And her mother is the daughter of the Highgon family."

Damon crossed his arms. This sounded like the typical, messy drama found within noble circles.

"Based on what I’ve gathered... Emilia is Lord Hightower’s illegitimate child. Her mother, the successor of the vassal House Highgon, became pregnant with Lord Hightower’s child during the very week of his wedding to another noblewoman. Her grandfather refused her entry into the main family because of her bastard status, forcing her to take her mother’s surname. Is that the gist of it?"

Xander narrowed his eyes at him.

That was Damon Grey for you. He always had the facts lined up. The bastard was just as well-informed as he remembered.

"Yes. You’ve got it right."

Damon smirked.

"Good. I enjoy being right. Currently, the Hightowers have a legitimate female heir—her younger half-sister. But Emilia Highgon is a woman of ambition. She wants her birthright: the Hightower seat and the massive influence that comes with governing a significant portion of the Valtheron Empire."

He made a small, dismissive gesture.

"And to achieve that... she requires you, the successor of another Grand Duke."

He began to clap his hands slowly and mockingly.

"Wow. Just wow. What a remarkable woman. I think she’s growing on me. She’ll obviously use all your connections—your bond with Evangeline, who is also a Grand Duke’s heir; Sylvia, the elven princess; Leona, daughter of the mighty Roaring Gale; and even me. I have ties to Lilith Astranova of another Grand Ducal house and, apparently, a questionable history with the Valtheron princess..."

Xander closed his eyes as Damon dissected the situation with such casual playfulness, framing it as if Emilia were merely exploiting Xander’s social circle for her personal gain.

But then Damon’s smile shifted into something demonic, his voice dropping to a low pitch that sounded like it had crawled out of a dark abyss.

"But she’s actually the one being played, isn’t she?"

Xander felt his heart sink when Damon’s eyes locked onto his.

"She has no clue... that you’re the one gaining the most from this, do you?"

Damon turned his gaze back to the horizon, shaking his head.

"Emilia Highgon was essentially discarded by her father. She was an unwanted child, and those are the kinds of wounds that time can never truly heal. To her, abandoning a child must be the ultimate betrayal."

He turned back to Xander with a predatory grin.

"So tell me, Xander..."

His voice faded to a chilling whisper.

"How is she going to feel when she delivers your firstborn, only for you to hand the child over to me? It will destroy her."

He leaned in closer, invading Xander's space.

"And a part of me genuinely wants to watch your life burn to the ground because you’re so obsessed with chasing a shadow without a face."

Xander’s hands began to shake uncontrollably.

"My resolve is absolute," he stated stiffly. "You will keep your part of our deal—a genuine opportunity to kill Amon."

Damon’s smile widened.

"Of course. A fair chance."