My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 906 - 907: New Companion

Entering the Evil Forest hadn't happened for Damon in quite some time. Being a pupil at Aether Academy kept him near this sinister area, yet he'd always avoided its deeper parts, wishing to stay clear forever.

Unfortunately, fate ignored such desires.

During his previous visit, an Evil Forest Wendigo nearly tore him apart, only to transform into a lovely girl afterward, though that's beside the point. The real takeaway was how perilous the spot truly was.

Wait, that wasn't quite right. On that earlier trip, he'd been tracking an Evil Forest Wendigo without success, ending up snaring a squirrel.

He'd fled promptly back then, but this time around, escape didn't seem likely.

Preparations were complete, and the group was venturing forth into the Evil Forest.

They quickly crossed the nearby stream where Damon once discovered a piece of Ashcroft’s shadow, awakening the system.

Upon arriving at the forest's shadowy canopy, the ground shifted to ebony hues. The lead scouts halted, drawing their arms.

"Who goes there? Show yourself."

Damon raised his gaze with a weary exhale. Did she truly believe they couldn't detect her? This squad was tailored precisely for the task. Seras commanded veterans versed in the Evil Forest, and Damon's grandfather had selected only those with proven expertise in such terrains for the chance to join, ensuring everyone understood the dangers and survival tactics.

A knight edged nearer to shield Damon, though in truth, it made little difference. Should real peril arise, he'd sense it immediately.

Moreover, he recognized the intruder.

A dark-haired young lady emerged, gripping a bone sword. Perched on her shoulders sat a squirrel and a raven, both radiating the presence of fourth-class advancement.

This was Wendy, of course—the former Evil Forest Wendigo now in human form.

The squirrel and raven had transformed notably. The raven sprouted an extra eye and limb. Its additional eye concealed itself on the forehead, visible only when revealed, while the extra leg could retract similarly.

The squirrel gained incredible speed now, evading Damon's grasp effortlessly. Both could expand to several meters in size at will, yet this rascal preferred freeloading from Damon.

"What do you want, Wendy?" Damon inquired, his face etched with boredom.

She folded her arms, adopting a grave look.

"All men are dogs, but you must be a dog's dog. You really think you can have your way with me and just leave?"

Damon sensed the weight of stares from the entire group landing on him.

"Huh? What? I was the victim. You... Fine, fine. What do you want?"

Indeed, he had been the one wronged. She'd barged into his quarters at the worst moment, and though he hadn't fought it off, she'd initiated such encounters multiple times that week. Overwhelmed, he'd surrendered.

She pursed her lips.

"I want to come."

Damon scoffed, his features twisted in scorn.

"No. Get out of here. You're in the way."

She shot him another fierce glare.

"I want to come."

"And I said no." Damon shook his head deliberately.

"I know this forest better than you do. I lived here, so let me come."

"Still no." Damon flicked his hand in dismissal. Allowing her along would only lead to endless demands for him to father her child. He already regretted that fateful evening deeply. It was a singular lapse, one he preferred to forget.

He'd even deceived her into silence about it.

She sulked, cheeks flushing with fury.

"Fine, don't take me. I'll just go tell Lilith what ha—"

"Welcome aboard, Wendy. I couldn't go on this mission without you," Damon interrupted her, noting the rising whispers from the ranks behind.

"The vice commander is truly a man amongst men."

"To think he has the audacity to go sleeping around when he has another woman."

One soldier peeked at Renata, who fixed a silent, icy stare on the pair.

"He already has that beautiful adjunct; now he wants to add another woman. As expected of a noble. Philandering with such finesse."

Damon longed to weep, yet he forced composure.

He shot a look at Seras Blade.

"Erm, Seras—I mean, commander. This young lady is a specialist in the Evil Forest, having dwelled here for years. I'd like to include her as my special advisor on all Evil Forest matters."

Seras rolled her eyes. This wasn't the initial instance of a trooper seeking to drag a female companion; nor would it be the final.

"All men are scum," she grumbled.

"I really don't care about your private life as long as it doesn't affect the mission. Having more people die is fine by me."

Damon inclined his head, then faced the expedition team.

"I know all your names and faces. If I hear rumors... Well, I'm sure you've heard of Jarvis before."

The group fell quiet, then pledged oaths to the goddess of their unwavering secrecy.

Jarvis inspired sheer dread. As an assassin donning a thousand faces, his loyalty to Damon's grandfather ran so deep that he'd eliminate anyone on Damon's word.

"Good. I'm glad we're on the same page."

Seras gestured onward.

The expedition pressed deeper into the woods. As Damon's boot touched the ominous dark earth, a chilling aura enveloped him. Hostility permeated every element, be it beast or plant.

Seras addressed the team.

"We have entered the Evil Forest. From this point forward, even I can't guarantee your lives. However, we have experts here who are familiar with the forest and its monsters. It will be wisest to keep them alive. Scouts, advance, but stay within a set distance where we can help you."

She issued a rapid series of commands.

Damon eyed the forest's gloomy vault, then directed his pair of pets to probe ahead.

The raven and squirrel hesitated, yielding only under his sharp stare before departing.

Their goal prior to pushing further was securing a handful of nocturnal stags for riding. The logic was straightforward: these beasts offered superior speed and terrain savvy, ideal for hauling gear as mounts.

This justified Seras's inclusion of tamer-class individuals.

Still, Damon suspected she intended brief use of them. The forest's core posed far greater threats, after all.

"She wants us to save our strength before we reach the inner forest. Damnit, that's not a good sign. What the hell is in that place?"

No matter the peril, Damon sensed discovery lay ahead.

Soon, the tamers got word from scouts and mobilized.

Roughly half an hour passed before they came back leading multiple nocturnal stags. Damon recalled his last encounter with one of these shadowy beasts—it had charged to trample him underfoot. Now, it served merely as transport.

By day's end, each member had claimed a stag.

Thus, they journeyed on, aiming to secure a suitable campsite before dusk fell.

Wendy refused her own stag, opting to ride with Damon, insisting she knew an ideal spot. Positioned at the expedition's vanguard, she and Damon led the way.

At this stage, the Evil Forest remained manageable for the group. First-rank monsters appeared sporadically, yet none ventured an assault.

A woodland glade appeared shortly, perfectly timed as sunset loomed. Within the trees, shadows deepened even more.

Seras commanded the team to establish camp and gear up for the dawn march. Resting now made sense, given the heightened perils to come.

Damon's squad moved to erect his shelter, but he halted them. No need for that.

From his shadow storage, he retrieved a tent.

Naturally, this was Abellona’s tent.

"You guys rest up."

The unit leader acknowledged and proceeded to pitch their shelters.

Damon entered the enchanted tent and slumped onto the couch.

Exhaustion weighed on him, chiefly in his mind rather than body.

Renata and Wendy entered his tent alongside him. Though aware it would fuel gossip, Damon dismissed the concern.

Renata slipped into a chamber, emerging after about thirty minutes with wet locks.

She donned casual sleep attire.

Damon spared her a quick look before averting his eyes.

"You do realize this isn't a vacation, right?"

Wendy rose and headed for a wash as well.

Renata eyed her with a playful grin.

"I know, but it feels like one. The Evil Forest isn't as dangerous as I thought."

Damon moved swiftly to hush her, accidentally toppling her to the floor, landing atop in the process.

"Don't jinx us."

Midway through his words, the tent entrance parted, revealing Seras observing him hold Renata pinned.

She let out a sigh.

"Every day you stoop lower than I thought."

Damon assessed the awkward stance.

"I... This... It's not what you think."