My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 961 - 962: Bestowal

Damon experienced a mild jolt of surprise from the unexpected surge in his Seed of Depravity.

Subduing merely a handful of trolls was the last thing he thought would provoke such a reaction.

Under normal circumstances, the seed expanded solely through two sources.

Souls.

And a heart brimming with resentment.

These elements nourished it.

Lately, Damon found himself with far less cause for resentment. The intense loathing and fury that once fueled his curses against the world had diminished.

If anything, a sense of tranquility had settled over him.

He had come to terms with certain realities.

Including facets of his own being.

Self-loathing had lessened considerably.

Consequently, the Seed of Depravity had become far more subdued.

This seed had originated from Ashcroft.

Damon occasionally pondered the depth of resentment Ashcroft must have harbored to form such a thing.

Its might could shake the heavens.

Yet Damon had no plans to wield it without caution.

He sought to prevent demonization.

More crucially, he aimed to steer clear of the fierce clash between that force and the divine spark residing in him.

Though Damon might endure pain with ease...

He was no masochist.

Damon gradually shut his eyes.

The meadow's breeze gently swept through the white locks of his hair.

The goblins had fallen completely quiet long ago, observing in awe as he overpowered the trolls.

He gestured casually with his hand.

"You may rise."

The trolls paused uncertainly.

Lingering fear gripped them tightly.

Their leader furtively eyed the remains of the troll that had lunged at Damon. The form lay shredded, without any opportunity for regeneration.

Damon anticipated spotting resentment in the troll leader’s gaze.

But instead...

A peculiar glint of joy shimmered there.

Damon’s brow furrowed.

Why did he appear so gleeful?

The troll gradually lifted his head.

Damon gazed up at the massive figure.

"Why are you grinning like a fool?" he demanded in a frosty tone.

"Me happy, lord," the troll replied in coarse Common.

Damon arched a brow.

What reason could he have for joy?

One of his kin had just perished.

And their entire group had been conquered.

Gabo and the goblin leader, his father, abruptly dashed ahead.

They collapsed to their knees in front of Damon, foreheads pressing into the soil as clouds of dust billowed up.

"Great lord, please accept our humble tribe as well."

Damon blinked in astonishment.

Confusion deepened for him now.

What in the world was happening?

Renata edged nearer silently and bent toward him.

"Er... I think they believe you’re a demon warlord," she murmured softly.

Damon stiffened briefly.

Then his eyes expanded just a touch.

Based on his knowledge, demonkin frequently assembled forces by conquering beasts like these. Individuals who subdued dim-witted monsters went by the name tamers.

However, those who commanded clever monsters not through spells but sheer power...

They earned titles like warlords or lords.

Such demonkin stood the best shot at rising to demon lord candidacy.

And should they endure sufficiently...

They might even ascend to Demon Lord status.

In the interim, warlords clashed over lands. Each victory over fellow warlords and each demon enlisted bolstered their standing.

"Oh... I see," Damon mused inwardly.

That said, binding creatures such as trolls or goblins hardly counted as noteworthy.

The true test lay in subduing lesser demons and elite demon breeds.

Balrogs.

Goristros.

Armanites.

Along with various other fearsome demon kinds.

Even controlling lesser demons proved immensely challenging.

Attempting to master the rest bordered on self-destruction.

Most warlords commanded no more than one or two of those at best. A single balrog perhaps, or an armanite in another case. Such beings served as invaluable aces.

Demon Lords themselves kept only scarce numbers of these demons.

Their peril and defiance made control a nightmare.

No demon lord could govern demons without effort.

Save for one exception.

Ashcroft.

And presently...

Damon.

Demon Dominate proved an overwhelmingly potent skill against demons.

"This continent is basically heaven for me," Damon reflected.

As Damon pondered silently, the goblins and trolls awaited his response with bated breath.

At last, he flicked his hand.

"Fine."

"You all work for me now."

The goblins prostrated themselves even lower right away, as the trolls bowed their heads in obedience.

Damon lifted his hand with nonchalance once more.

Black flames erupted suddenly.

The bodies were engulfed by Ashborn’s scorching might, reduced to ashes in mere moments.

While the flames feasted on the fallen troll’s remains, Damon caught a familiar chime he hadn’t heard for some time.

[You have acquired skill: Bestowal]

Damon curved his lips into a subtle smile.

Ages had passed since the system last bestowed a fresh skill upon him.

And to imagine...

It came from merely incinerating a troll’s corpse.

Damon promptly accessed the system interface to inspect the newfound skill.

[Bestowal]

[Description]

The Unknown possessed endless skills and endless spells.

Knowledge from boundless realms filled his vast collection.

From this vastness, he granted gifts to those he deemed worthy.

Take heed.

Not every gift appears as it truly is. Certain gifts surpass curses in their harm.

Thus unfolds the essence of the deity lurking in the Abyss—

eternally mourning his own contradictory essence.

[Effect]

Your skills remain limited in number, alas.

This ability lets you elevate the latent power of your subordinates, potentially spiking the odds of them unlocking a secondary skill—challenging the world’s rigid rules.

Yet rebellion exacts a toll.

A cost you might not have settled as yet.

[Type]

Active

[Cooldown]

0 seconds

Damon fixed his gaze on the display.

His initial new skill after so long...

And it involved distributing power.

Exclusive to his followers.

That gave him cause to hesitate.

Bestowal...

Could this be the method the Unknown God employed to award him skills via the system?

Through granting them?

Furthermore, the persistent dire caution that shadowed all ties to the Unknown God lingered.

His gifts might swiftly twist into curses.

Truth be told, Damon felt no shock at this point.

He had acclimated to it.

The system stood as the supreme gift he’d ever gained.

And simultaneously...

It burdened his very being most heavily.

Nevertheless, Damon turned his attention deliberately to the goblin leader and troll leader.

He extended his hand.

"Kneel," he ordered.

"Receive my boon."

His tone carried a chilling edge, as though echoing from the abyss depths.

The troll swiftly sank to one knee.

The goblin leader complied without delay.

A soft luminescence emanated from Damon’s raised hand aimed at them.

Suddenly, an odd sensation washed over him.

Something departed from within him.

Merely a tiny portion, as he offered only that much.

Yet he sensed it distinctly.

A subtle weariness brushed his soul.

Demonic energy seeped from his form and streamed into the bowed figures.

Tremors seized the troll first.

Then the goblin leader.

Damon’s eyes flared wide in surprise.