My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 952 - 953: Only Rats Flee

Damon gazed at the light mist hovering over the far-off ocean, his face showing a composed and aloof demeanor.

Or maybe it was better to describe it as him being deeply scarred by the sea's horrors.

These shadowy waves concealed too many secrets.

However, right now, the ocean wasn't shadowy anymore. The accursed abyss had transformed into vast azure depths extending infinitely under the heavens.

They were nearing the coasts of the Demon Continent.

The vessel bore evident wounds from combat. Splintered wood and hastily mended sails displayed the clear marks of strife. Due to this, they altered their initial strategy.

Rather than venturing further into perilous seas, they had veered just beyond the supposed location of the Graveyard of Gods.

It carried danger.

Demons from the land might spot them anytime.

Yet it beat plunging into those doomed waters.

Damon massaged his brow.

Shortly after obliterating the Eye of Morticai, they clashed with the Bloody Mary. The confrontation wasn't overly challenging.

Regrettably, Damon got drenched in its gore.

The memory still made him tremble.

Still, a positive outcome emerged from it.

He acquired a fresh skill.

A subtle panel materialized in front of him.

---

HP: 24995/24995]

[Mana: 55,567/55,567]

[Strength: 31124]

[Agility: 23157]

[Speed: 33985]

[Endurance: 34210]

[Class: Black Death]

[Shadow: 1900]

[Shadow Hunger Levels: 0%]

[Shadow Level: 19]

[Condition: Shadow Is Full]

[Attributes: Umbral, Domination Fragment]

[Skills:]

[5x] [Remorseless] [Shadow Perception] [Water Celebration] [Sacrifice] [Shadow Control] [Parkour] [Shadow Armor] [Beholder’s Gaze] [Dead Eye] [Spirit Affinity] [Ashborn] [Omen Of Dread] [Dealer’s Hand] [Bloodletting] [Shadow Movement] [Shadow] [Faceless] [Danger Sense] [Shadow Storage] [Wave Walk] [Shadow Clone] [Blitz] [Flash Step] [Air Walk] [Appraisal] [Iron Bones] [Astral Projection] [Accel] [Terror Engine] [Vengeance] [Soul Tongue] [Eyes of Veracity] [Shadow Stride] [Soul Conduit] [Heart of Shadow] [Demon Dominate] [Shadow Seizer]

[Mastery:]

[Etiquette Lv3] [Swordsmanship Lv7] [Survival Lv10] [Persuasion Lv2] [Deception Lv3] [Bartering Lv2] [Theft Lv3] [Archery Lv5] [Trap Lv5] [Alchemy Lv1] [Dagger Arts Lv5] [Cooking Lv4] [Basic Magic Lv5] [Mana Control Lv7] [Magic Gatling Lv5] [Pain Resistance Lv6] [Mental Contamination Resistance Lv5] [Disintegration Resistance Lv3] [Sniper Lv5] [Rune Magic Lv3] [Insanity Lv4] [Fate Manipulation Resistance Lv2] [Ravenous LvMax] [Poison Resistance Lv6] [Elemental Resistance Lv3] [Petrification Resistance Lv5] [Magic Resistance Lv5] [Curse Resistance Lv2] [Pressure Resistance Lv2] [Corruption Resistance Lv5] [Aura Farming Lv4] [Charisma Lv9] [Tyranny Lv3] [Ragebaiting Lv9] [Shadow Manipulation Lv2] [pheromone resistance lv3] [Sailing lv3]

[Items:]

[Pale Crown Armor] [Broken Bonds] [Deep Quiver] [Silver Blades] [Staff of Carnage] [Sword of Nicolas] [Furnace of Frost] [Helm of Balero] [womb of healing] [Book Of Shadows] [Charms] [Potions] [Miscellaneous Items]

[Quest:]

[Path to Conflict]

---

Pheromone Resistance joined the expanding array of resistances in Damon’s arsenal.

He truly pondered whether to take pride in it.

The voyage afterward remained anything but serene.

Initially, the ship traversed the Narrow Sea.

Next came the Fog Sea.

That's when the true ordeal started.

The mist possessed life of its own.

It slithered over the deck as if possessing awareness. Beings formed purely from vapor hid within, hauling off any sailor reckless or unfortunate enough to stray too distant from the group.

A number of crew members disappeared in that manner.

And that scarcely scratched the surface of the terror.

Upon breaking free from the Fog Sea, a Cloud Dragon assaulted them.

The skirmish almost annihilated the vessel.

Though the beast was merely at the Fifth Class of advancement, it almost eradicated them entirely before vanishing into the clouds.

That clash brought a vital truth back to Damon.

Dragons instilled sheer fear.

By now, he genuinely questioned why Deathless appeared so fixated on unleashing dragons upon him.

Damon rested against the vessel's rail and released a weary chuckle.

“I’m still alive. Hahaha...”

Surviving that merited a toast.

Overhead, seabirds wheeled idly through the air.

That signaled just one possibility.

Land approached.

Throughout this extended journey, Damon had absorbed considerable knowledge.

Among his latest masteries stood Sailing. It taught him to steer a vessel, direct a team, and render tough choices amid the waves.

Should future plans sour, he might join a naval force.

Damon shut his eyes briefly, allowing the ocean gust to envelop him.

The breeze bore a remote noise.

A delicate tune.

A melody.

It wafted over the waves like a murmur.

Damon’s eyes flew open at once.

A melody?

He scanned the barren sea.

From whence did it originate?

Damon knew it wasn't a hallucination.

The tune gliding over the sea was genuine.

It was enchanting.

The harmony drifted on the breeze like a soothing current, cozy and alluring. It enveloped the thoughts like a nostalgic recollection of safety. Briefly, Damon sensed his frame easing, his mind turning sluggish and foggy as the sound tugged at a profound core inside him.

Then a gruff tone shattered the enchantment.

“Aye. If that ain’t the voice of sirens.”

Damon looked over his shoulder.

The captain lingered behind him at the helm, arms folded while he peered at the far-off shore.

“Beautiful voices,” the veteran mariner went on with a wry laugh. “They drag a man into the depths all the same.”

He hawked a glob into the ocean.

“Looks like we’ve truly made it to the shores of the Demon Continent.”

Damon shifted his attention ahead once more.

The enormous terrain bulked in front, shadowy peaks thrusting upward from the edge of the land.

And there, dotted along the rough stones where the surf pounded the bluffs, shapes perched amid the boulders.

Females clad in billowing pale robes.

They perched on the stones with legs swinging over the surf, their tones blending in an eerie unison.

Damon observed their motions, yet despite his sharpened vision, he couldn't discern their features clearly from afar.

The expedition group neared one of the most brutal stretches of shoreline.

Ragged bluffs.

Perilous stones.

Currents too hazardous for typical vessels to near.

Precisely the reason they selected this path.

Invaders usually had to hit the sands. Armies required those spots to keep provisions flowing. Vessels and flying craft hauled gear, troops, and siege tools for prolonged strikes on the Demon Continent.

The demons understood well.

Thus, their fleet defended those sands with ferocity.

This path sidestepped it entirely.

Here the bluffs rose sheer and merciless.

No force would dare disembark in such a spot.

But that feature rendered it ideal.

They merely needed to forsake the vessel, scale the heights, and enter the land from an unforeseen direction.

And if the peril wasn't already intense enough, the cursed sirens extended their greeting.

Seras approached the captain's side, her mantle fluttering in the briny gust.

“Your job here is done,” she stated evenly. “You can either come with us and sink the ship... or turn around and risk being captured by the demon navy.”

The captain sealed his eyes momentarily.

Then he grinned.

Nearby, the expedition members busied themselves in readiness. Armor got fastened, blades inspected, and bags strapped firm as they geared up for solid ground.

The seasoned seafarer placed a palm on the vessel's rail.

“This ship belonged to my grandfather,” he murmured softly. “Then it passed to my father. And now it’s mine.”

He surveyed the deck with affectionate glances.

“She’s old... but she always gets the job done.”

He let out a mild laugh.

“When a ship sinks, the rats flee. But the captain sinks with her.”

The captain pivoted and offered a courteous bow to Seras.

Then to Damon.

“It was my honor to contribute to the Goddess Race like this.”

Seras merely inclined her head.

Her eyes flicked momentarily to Damon.

This operation stayed covert.

The temple dared not let their role surface.

Thus, once the group left...

All left aboard would perish.

The vessel would plunge to the depths.

Hence Seras provided the captain an escape.

Damon sealed his eyes as crewmen started descending the tiny craft to ferry the group to the craggy coast.

Prior to departing, he halted near the captain.

“You know what will happen, don’t you?” Damon inquired softly.

The captain beamed without pause.

“Then I’ll be a martyr of war.”

He adjusted his jacket and eyed the remote bluffs.

“When you tell my story, tell the world we were killed by demons.”

His smile broadened.

“But make sure you tell them we gave those bastards one hell of a fight.”

Damon lifted his arm in salute.

The captain mirrored it with pride.

This individual commanded Damon’s admiration.

He grasped precisely what loomed ahead.

Death awaited him here, not from foes but from comrades.

Nevertheless, he embraced it sans protest.

Damon had long failed to grasp faith's fervor.

Clearly, the goddess held no concern.

In days gone by, such insight would have ignited fury within him.

Presently, he just grinned.

There lay the issue.

Folks persisted in awaiting divine intervention to mend their realm.

Yet reality never unfolded that way.

This realm belonged to mortals.

If it turned infernal, humanity bore the blame.

And should it ever turn heavenly...

Only human will could forge it thus.

Damon climbed the cord ladder and descended into the boat awaiting below.