My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 867 - 868: Falling Out

Damon reached out and seized her arm, attempting to halt her departure.

"What the hell was that?"

Lilith didn't bother to turn around. A sharp pain throbbed behind her eyes, causing her to exhale a weary breath while pressing her fingertips against her temple.

"What."

Damon’s brow furrowed, his grip tightening just enough to signal his growing irritation.

"Do not play dumb with me. Spilling the secret of the elixir to everyone... and the fact that you even knew its name."

That specific detail was news to him. His knowledge had been limited to the existence of a cure for his sister, hidden deep within the heart of the Black Tower.

Lilith spun around violently, shaking off his hand as if it were a nuisance.

"And what about it? Do you honestly believe a few extra competitors makes it impossible to obtain?"

Damon scrutinized her features. Her exhaustion was palpable, and the facade of her confidence seemed to be fraying at the edges. Despite his frustration, his tone softened.

"Hey. Are you doing all right?"

Her jaw tightened, the muscles twitching as she pressed her lips into a thin line.

"Am I doing all right? That is a question I should be directed at you."

The sudden outburst startled him. She took a slow, measured breath, fighting to regain her composure.

"Great. I am doing just great."

It was a transparent lie.

Damon manifested a chair from his shadow storage and placed it beside them.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

She dismissed the offer with a shake of her head.

"I am fine. Leave it be."

He frowned deeper.

"What is your problem?"

Heat flared in her chest as she inhaled sharply once more.

"I am fine. I just need a moment to collect myself," she replied with a freezing coldness.

Damon’s gaze shifted to the flower nestled in her hair. Driven by a lingering sense of dread, he finally decided to act. He activated his appraisal skill.

The ability to appraise truly was an invaluable tool.

"So," he murmured, "how many times did you do it?"

Her gaze wavered. She bit her lip nervously.

"You appraised the flower, didn’t you?"

He offered no denial.

"Based on how furious you look, I am guessing our previous attempts didn't end well for us."

A hollow, bitter laugh escaped her throat.

"No. Everything went perfectly. But do you want to know what the real issue was?"

She lifted her hand, pointing her finger directly at his chest.

"You. You were the problem. The first attempt was a complete catastrophe. The second was hardly better. The third showed promise, and the fourth was nearly flawless. But in every single timeline..."

Her finger began to shake.

"You were the issue."

Damon crossed his arms, his expression darkening.

"My plans were solid enough. One cannot account for every single variable in war."

"Hah," she let out a cynical laugh.

"The arrogance is astounding. You still fail to see it. You are the reason we remain imprisoned in this hellhole."

She balled her hands into fists, her nails biting into her skin.

"I do not understand it. Help me understand it."

Her voice cracked, leaking both anguish and confusion. Damon remained silent, merely watching as she began to unravel before him.

She glared at him through gritted teeth.

"I do not understand this obsession you have with killing yourself. Why? Why do you treat death as something glorious? Dying isn't an act of defiance. It is the exit of a coward. It is the living who are left needing closure. You simply vanish in the middle of a sentence. Hopes, dreams, ambitions... all gone."

Her strength failed her, and she collapsed to her knees.

When she spoke again, her voice had shifted.

It was flat, icy, and controlled, yet she didn't stop.

"Do you know what is more painful than watching you die? Realizing that no matter what I say, it will never be enough to stop you."

"I will never be enough."

She slowly raised her head to meet his eyes.

"And for that, I will never forgive you for breaking our promise."

Damon stayed quiet. He looked away, unable to endure her stare.

A thousand things rushed to his mind, but they all condensed into a single word.

"Sorry."

A soft, mocking sound came from her.

"Haha."

She pulled herself up to stand.

"Fine. Do whatever you want. But mark my words. The gauntlet has been dropped. This time, I will not be the loser. You are going to live, whether you like it or not. You will not escape this hell. I swear it by the forgotten name of the unknown god."

As the oath was finalized, the stigmata on her back erupted with a dim, menacing glow.

Damon slowly turned his head. He had no desire to look at her—not like this. He didn't want to see a Lilith who had become his adversary.

Their bond had always been rooted in mutual trust and understanding. Whether he played the hero or the villain, she had always stood by his side.

Now, she was standing directly in his path.

"We all must make choices in this life," he whispered. "I made mine. I only wished you would have respected it."

She stared him down, her eyes burning with pure rage.

"I cannot. Not when your choice is so fundamentally wrong."

He finally turned to face her fully, a deep sense of isolation washing over him.

"Yes," he conceded internally. He felt profoundly alone.

"You will not win, Lilith. It is impossible to play a game where your opponent has already decided the conclusion."

He folded his arms over his chest.

"Is that why you exposed the elixir? If I fall, I would leave it in your hands. I know that even if you despised me, you would still carry out my final wishes."

He made a slight gesture with his hand.

"I have no use for the elixir. It is worthless to a corpse. My only goal is to ensure it reaches you."

She gave him a freezing smile.

"I will not take it."

He let out a soft chuckle, his gaze toward her becoming almost affectionate.

"You will. You won't allow Luna to perish. You love that girl just as much as I do."

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur.

"Doesn't this feel like the old days? Back when we played cat and mouse with one another. The rules haven't changed, and neither will the result. My life is on the line once more."

Leaning in, he pressed a light kiss against her cheek.

"Anyway. Good night. We have a grueling day ahead of us. I will be counting down the moments until my end."

His tone was relaxed now, almost cheerful, as if speaking the truth had unburdened his soul.

Lilith bit her lip so hard she could taste the copper of her own blood.

"I truly did not wish to do this to you, Damon," she said softly.

"But you have left me with no other choice."