My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 990 - 992: Ghour

Renata cast a glance his way while gazing down at the sprawling city, her fingers lightly placed on the stone railing as the breeze toyed with her hair.

Her face betrayed no strong emotions, just a serene and steady expression.

"Aren't you treating this too casually? Remember, some of these foes have reached fifth class advancement... or their followers have."

Damon nodded deliberately, eyes locked on the distant city from the tower's brink.

"Yes, I get it," he replied. "But what's the use worrying? Demons will fall to me no matter what."

Renata hesitated for a moment.

Right.

He possessed Demon Dominate. He could simply seize control of the demons.

"That skill feels ridiculously unfair," she remarked, pivoting a bit toward him. "It seems boundless."

Damon faced her without grinning, his gaze unwavering.

"Is that your view? Actually, it has a real limit. And a requirement." He lifted a finger to tap his temple. "I can't overpower the mind of someone whose will far surpasses mine."

His hand rose to touch the crown atop his head.

"And it surely causes mental fatigue... even if it's been minor until now."

Renata folded her arms across her chest.

"So what then? The more they fight back, the weaker it gets?"

Damon gave a light shrug.

"I suppose so. Once they're under my command, I can order demons to do nearly anything... but I suspect I'd lose hold if I pushed them against their deepest desires."

Her eyes narrowed, puzzle lingering.

He let out a sigh and eased back against the railing.

"Imagine this: I dominate a demonkin mother of three and command her to slaughter her kids as agonizingly slow as possible. That kind of resistance could shatter my grip."

Renata stared at him for a prolonged moment.

"I see now. Never knew Demon Dominate had that flaw. From my side, it was like being pinned down, violated... and then made to enjoy it."

Damon flinched and clutched his temple right away.

"Hey, don't phrase it like that. I'd rather you describe it as an immense, commanding will overtaking your senses."

"That's exactly what I meant," she murmured flatly.

Damon sighed again, eyeing the stunning woman next to him.

"Alright. If it bothers you that much, I swear I won't use Demon Dominate on you anymore."

Renata's eyes widened suddenly. She blinked, then murmured,

"Wait... seriously?"

Damon shot her a look and nodded firmly.

Her face lit up with a radiant smile.

Damon averted his gaze from her, returning his attention to the city below.

"Anyway, I favor winning loyalty through persuasion or trickery over mere domination."

Renata appeared cheerful now. She moved nearer to him.

"That was Ashcroft's style," she noted. "He's gone now... though it wouldn't be amusing if he returned..."

A cold shiver raced along Damon's back at her words.

He feared no one. Perhaps the Unknown God slightly.

Yet Ashcroft had embodied raw, unstoppable fury that Damon hoped to never face again.

His eyes fell to the faint mark on his arm from the lich Amadeus.

"I ensured his death was final," Damon murmured softly. "He won't return."

Renata grinned at his assurance.

"Deathless might take offense to that."

Damon let out an uneasy chuckle at her quip.

His skill Deathless kept him breathing when death seemed certain and snatched life when he craved it most. It might even revive Ashcroft, defying fate.

"That's impossible," he declared. "When I slay someone... they remain dead."

********

Below, Gotrog's fiery eyes scanned the assembled crowd. He lingered on Zanat Zagan, offspring of Demon Lord Zagan, then Gabo the goblin, and at last the massive war troll chieftain.

Upon arrival, Gotrog's first act was armoring the unequipped with sturdy gear. Scrap metal yielded to plated steel, flimsy leather to toughened hides, crude bone weapons to hammered blades.

Next, he reshaped their ranks, smoothly integrating most of Zanat's forces into a sharper formation.

Gotrog grinned surveying the throng of beasts and demons gathered this day.

Such was demon nature. Or most races, truly.

They trailed the strongest leader.

And here, no tower loomed larger than his master's.

In battle, one always picked victors.

His gaze sharpened.

In ten days, it would conclude.

Or so he'd eavesdropped Damon telling Renata.

"My lord aims to wrap it up in ten days..."

An outrageous notion.

Wars couldn't end in ten days.

Far too many adversaries.

Typically, lords now schemed alliances and betrayals. Soon factions would form, probing foes warily, culling the frail. At last, a lords' council, bolstering the Demon Continent's war host with Demon Lords' aid.

Gotrog eyed the chaotic mob ahead, varied demon breeds mingled. Mighty. Feeble. Shrewd. Savage.

His lord envisioned no grinding siege.

It was a banishment.

A crushing purge leaving survivors no option but submission.

Utter madness.

Yet demons bowed to one force alone.

Utter supremacy.

Gotrog advanced. Flames trickled from his jaws as vast wings expanded. Heat intensified with each flap. His whip lashed the air with a booming crack resounding through the yard.

His voice boomed cold and authoritative.

"Those seeking true power, listen well."

Smoke billowed from his nose.

"My lord reigns supreme and claims this city. Loyal demons, perform this deed."

The horde stilled.

Even the fidgety froze.

"In three days, deliver ten heads from rival lords' underlings. Stronger kills earn higher rank."

His eyes blazed fiercer.

"Naturally... fail to hold your trophies, and mightier, slyer foes may claim yours."

Murmurs rippled outward.

Then Gotrog bared fangs in a fierce growl.

"Hate it? Storm the tower and face my lord yourself."

His whip snapped once more.

"No one blocks you."

A hulking ghour lumbered forth, armored bulk creaking with each stride.

"I'll gauge this waiting lord's worth."

Irritation flared in Gotrog, fire flickering at his lips, yet he held back.

Let the idiot attempt it.

Ghours ranked no mere fiends. Ogre height, minotaur bulk, this one pulsed with fifth-rank aura. Its bravado held merit.

Straight to the tower it strode.

Entrance goblins offered no fight, guiding it silently to the rising platform piercing the tower's core in stone and glowing runes.

Ascending it went.

Higher.

Ever higher.

To the pinnacle.

From ground level, necks strained upward.

They witnessed the ghour emerge onto the balcony beside Damon and Renata, city sprawling beneath.

The ghour bellowed and charged.

Its strike halted abruptly.

Blood rained down like an abrupt storm.

Then, tumbling from the tower's lofty summit, the ghour's headless corpse plummeted into the yard with a gruesome splat, head tumbling over stone.

Most shocking...

Damon hadn't even spun around.

To witnesses, the ghour seemed stalled in mid-rush.

In that instant, a shadowy streak flashed.

The head simply detached.

Icy quiet engulfed the yard.

Gotrog pivoted to the masses, his enormous form radiating scorching heat, fire seeping from skin fissures. Wings flared, shadowing scores of demons.

"Who else," he growled deeply and menacingly, "craves a suicidal charge?"

Silence reigned.

The tower entrance resembled less a gateway, more a yawning predator's jaws hungering for prey.

Then—

The hush shattered.

Roars exploded.

The horde bellowed cheers. Blades flashed high. Fangs gleamed in feral smirks.

What demon spurned such a leader?

The Demon Continent thrived on one law.

Power ruled absolute.

Here, strength dictated all, hierarchy forged in dominance.

The earth quaked as demons and monsters surged into the city, dashing to slaughter rival lords' servants.

Gotrog observed their dispersal, gaze thoughtful.

None truly followed Damon yet.

Not quite.

But with stray foes depleted, wouldn't they unify?

Wouldn't frail towers fall next?

He peered up at the distant balcony.

'Clever... a ploy to purge weak lords. The cunning might seize one alive.'

Such moves hastened the chaos.

His mouth twisted gradually.

"How ruthless."