My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Chapter 357 - 358: A Place Beneath

The pain racked his body. His head felt heavy. His skin was damp with a sticky sensation—he couldnʼt tell if it was blood or water.

He didnʼt know if he was underwater or on solid ground.

His Water Celebration skill did promise he couldnʼt drown.

Slowly, he opened his eyes. His vision adjusted to the surroundings. It felt like hammers were smashing against his skull, again and again.

The place was unfamiliar. It was dark—or wasnʼt it? He couldnʼt be sure, since he could see just as well in darkness. Still, the depth of the shadows confirmed it—this place was dark.

The darkness here was both heavy and oppressive. The kind that made people unease.

His eyes drifted upward. A high ceiling stretched above, lined with runes carved into the stone.

He groaned, forcing himself to sit up—

Something smashed into his body. Arms wrapped tightly around him with a soft, muffled sound.

It was warm. Soft. A little damp.

White hair brushed against his cheek—familiar white hair.

Her scent was unmistakable. It wasnʼt the scent of gardenia like Lilith had, but it still held a beautiful fragrance.

This was Sylvia.

”Ahh… Sylvia…”

”Youʼre okay… youʼre okay…” Her voice was calm—or at least, she tried to sound calm. But it was low, a whisper, as if she feared that any loud noise might invite danger.

He raised a shaky hand to touch her. She was still wet from before. His memories returned in broken flashes—the entire party dragged into the monster-infested depths, all to escape the Keeper of False Truths.

He turned his head.

The others were there, all watching him with anxious expressions.

Leona held his hand. A single tear clung to the corner of her eye.

Her lips quivered, but she didnʼt say anything. Or rather, she couldnʼt—she was forcing back the flood of emotion. She covered her mouth to muffle the sound.

He glanced around at their surroundings. It was still dark. They appeared to be underground.

At the center, Evangeline gave off a soft glow—her armor shining with her magic.

She wore it in the Awakened Shell form, more like a guarded tunic than proper armor. It was light, only covering the essentials.

The place looked like a small island of wreckage, jagged remains of walls and buildings scattered around them. Damon could make out the things that had been dragged here, now stuck in the rubble.

The air was damp, filled with the scent of moss and water.

Xander looked at him, visibly relieved to see him conscious.

Matiaʼs face was hidden behind her helm. She was growing more stalwart with each day, but from the way she clenched her fists, he could tell—she was either relieved… or deeply worried.

Sylvia slowly let him go, her grey eyes sweeping over his body.

”Are you feeling better? I… I didnʼt know what exactly to heal, so I just… I did everything I could. Iʼm sorry if it wasnʼt enough…”

Her voice was soft. But come to think of it, he wasnʼt bleeding. Just sore.

He nodded and tried to stand, legs still sluggish. They felt like lead.

He stumbled—and fell forward.

His face landed squarely on Sylviaʼs chest plate.

”Sorry…” he muttered, flustered.

Sylvia said nothing. She just held him, her expression filled with worry. And why wouldnʼt she be? He had just faceplanted into her chest.

She hoped the metal didnʼt hurt him.

He shook his head.

Once back on his feet, he scanned the area again. His eyes were already accustomed to darkness, but Evangelineʼs light still lit the area.

Only then did he notice it—faint traces of blood.

He ignored it. It mustʼve been from his previous injuries.

The ceiling above didnʼt just have runes. There were murals—faint, shattered ones. Part of them led off into the darkness, far beyond Evangelineʼs reach.

Wherever they were, it was unknown. Submerged, maybe even forgotten.

He sighed. Swimming out would be such a pain.

Still… it seemed he was the only one who had been unconscious.

”Where… are we, exactly…” he muttered, to no one in particular.

Sylvia bit her lip, hesitating.

But it was Evangeline who answered, releasing several floating spheres of light into the gloom.

”Weʼre in some unknown underground part of the city… Most of it is flooded… and we donʼt know the way out.”

Damon sighed. With his luck, he hadnʼt expected anything good to come from jumping into the green waters without a plan.

But at the time, it had been a desperate choice.

The Keeper of False Truths… he was that much of a monster.

A horror so vile, even other monsters fled from him.

That was the only option left—to escape into the unknown.

At least… the Keeper didnʼt follow them.

Speaking of the Keeper—

”Valarie…”

His hand shot to his waist. He felt for the pouch—relief hit when he pulled out the small velvet container.

Inside it, a pair of delicate, feminine lips. Valarie Sunwardenʼs lips—the only part of her that remained after the rot… and her death.

They were still. Unmoving.

”Valarie…” he whispered again, gently.

She offered no response.

The others stared at him.

”What—” Sylvia quickly placed a hand over his mouth, whispering urgently.

”Donʼt talk too loudly… we might attract something.”

Xander seemed tense, backing away. His spear pointed at the dark waters.

Damon narrowed his eyes, gently removing Sylviaʼs soft hand from his mouth. The elf girlʼs exquisite face never left his.

”Whatʼs going on…” he asked, the dread crawling back into his chest.

Matia, who had been silent all this while, finally spoke.

”Youʼve been out for two days… itʼs good to have you back. But…”

Xanderʼs gaze shifted to the still waters, his spear at the ready, balanced on uneven wreckage.

”Weʼre trapped. And weʼre surrounded by monsters…”

Damon looked toward the water. It was dark. Calm. Nothing moved. Not even a ripple.

He didnʼt trust it.

He closed his eyes and extended his Shadow Perception, letting his senses spread into the gloom beneath the surface.

What he saw made his face pale.