My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 939 - 940: A Small Chat

The atmosphere reeked of impurity, weighed down by the deathly odor it had borne through innumerable years. It gripped the lungs tightly, coated the tongue. Still, hidden under that decay, a subtle ocean fragrance lingered. The waves gleamed in darkness under a faint skyline, the soft illumination from the waters merging into a delicate mist that slunk over the surface like a living entity.

Crack.

Damon's boot pressed onto fragile bone.

Skeletons dotted the shoreline. Some retained bits of armor marked with familiar emblems. Others carried artifacts from bygone times. Corroded swords, broken rods, fractured talismans. Bodies from various epochs rested side by side in quiet harmony, bound together in demise.

This marked the ultimate fate awaiting every existence.

Eventually, he too would reduce to pale bones whitening under a lifeless heaven.

Arms and baubles were strewn all around. Plenty could fetch a hefty price, despite their damage. Old metal retained worth. Magical ornaments still murmured with latent energy.

However, nobody stooped to claim any.

The guideline was straightforward. Avoid taking from the woods, lest the woods pursue you.

And these skeletons... these remnants... they might carry curses.

Wiser to let the deceased rest undisturbed.

Damon raised his eyes to the skyline, attuned to the leisurely cadence of the surf. The noise felt nearly soothing.

Steps drew near.

He looked aside. Seras positioned herself next to him, her locks swaying in the breeze, shadowy tresses grazing her face as she gazed at the ocean.

"The sea... it's so calm," Damon murmured, as though raising his voice might break the spell.

"Yes," Seras answered softly, yet her gaze stayed keen. "It appears so from the security of the shore. I wouldn't feel such joy viewing it from a vessel. The ocean holds great peril. Monstrous entities. Abominations thriving without light dwell under those swells."

Her statement hit like icy liquid.

Damon breathed out gradually, dropping his chin.

"You could have allowed me this instant. Just this brief instant of tranquility before everything turns to chaos. But no... you relish my suffering."

Seras shot him a blank stare and crossed her arms.

"Quite the opposite, I just preserved your existence. Picture gazing at that sea and deeming it lovely or peaceful. It's ebony."

Damon blinked and peered once more.

The liquid was indeed ebony. Not navy. Not profound violet. Ebony. It devoured illumination.

"Hmm," he grumbled. "That's a fair observation. It's meant to be blue, isn't it? I've never encountered one prior."

Seras inclined her head slightly.

"It is meant to be. But even azure seas shift to ebony in specific areas. At least it's not crimson."

She halted, then stated plainly, "In our realm exist numerous seas. The Fog Sea. The Blood Sea. The Bone Sea. The Sea of the Dead. The Lost Sea—"

"Why are you abruptly reciting all the most dreadful locations in being?" Damon queried, his voice leveling as he rubbed a hand over his features.

"I was emphasizing a point."

"When does our vessel arrive?" he interjected. "You don't anticipate us swimming across that, do you?"

Seras' mouth tightened.

"Not at all. I despise the ocean."

Damon faced her, truly astonished.

"You despise it?"

"Yes," she affirmed promptly. "And by the conclusion of our short journey, you will as well."

He lacked words for that.

Rather, he stepped a short distance and perched on a cranium as large as a rock, its empty orbits aimed at the sea as though even in passing it observed the distant line. He propped his elbows on his thighs and fixed his sight on the shadowy depths while the sun started descending.

He drew in a profound breath.

Salt, decay, and a gentle mist.

Quiet.

He permitted himself to savor it.

The stillness didn't endure.

Gentle steps neared once more.

Damon refrained from turning this time.

"What do you seek?" he grumbled. "Whatever it might be, the response is no."

Wendy settled onto the cranium next to him, maintaining a deliberate gap between them.

"I haven't uttered a word yet," she responded evenly. "And I seek nothing."

They remained hushed. The marine aroma blended with the primordial decay aroma of the shore. Breeze pulled at her fair tresses. His cloak fluttered with every draft.

Eventually, she voiced.

"Why didn't you abandon me when that Morticai addressed us?"

Her tone was softer than typical. Nearly hesitant.

Damon hesitated. Then he reclined on his palms and angled his head a bit.

"Why would I abandon you?"

Wendy glanced at the osseous blade laid over her knees. Her digits clenched its handle.

"I'm your foe... aren't I? I attempted to slay you once."

Damon released a subdued exhale.

"You attempted to slay me thrice," he amended. "Twice in the Evil Forest. Once in the War Games. And so?"

His words drifted on the wind, detached.

She gulped.

"Then why did you rescue me?"

Her hold eased a touch.

"If I perished... nobody would know what transpired that night. I mean..."

Damon regarded the skyline anew.

"I believe that's common knowledge now. Moreover, what's past is past. No reason to fret over minor matters."

It had been his decision.

No one compelled him.

"Never mind," he appended, gesturing casually. He avoided recalling that recollection.

"Sorry," Wendy uttered.

"For what?"

"For compelling you," she whispered. "I'll cease."

Damon at last shifted his gaze to her, examining her face intently.

"And what of your objective?" he inquired. "Isn't your whole fixation on bearing offspring?"

She fixed her eyes on the ebony sea ahead.

"It's been three hundred and twenty years since my birth," she declared deliberately. "Much of that duration I spent in solitude. Scant memories merited retention. The foremost one... involved desiring to eliminate you."

A subtle, joyless grin curved her mouth.

"It's rather tragic. The paramount accomplishment in my existence was attempting to eliminate you."

Damon arched an eyebrow, taken aback by her vocal inflection.

"What about your offspring?"