My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Valarie’s surprise was warranted. She had given him a tip to improve his spell, but she didn’t really think he would get it right on the first try…

The pair of lips that was technically all that remained of her body was slightly taken aback; however, she quickly regained her composure. She was an elder in Lysithara—she had seen many geniuses in her lifetime. Why should one surprise her, even now in death?

Damon smiled thinly. The mastery mechanic was proving to be more powerful than he expected; its benefits were now tangible.

‘I need to add more spells to my arsenal.’

With his new magic bullets forming a gatling, he could no longer focus on suppressing the sound of the shots—but it didn’t matter. He was tearing down skeletons like wheat before a scythe.

[You have slain undead]

[You have slain undead]

…

The system chimes continued as his mana slowly drained. Roof tiles shattered. He didn’t focus on precise aim—even with his Dead Eye skill giving him laser-point precision.

However, the more he slew, the more the skeletons began to appear… from buildings, from dark alleys…

And just as Valarie had predicted, they began to get overwhelmed. It was inevitable—an enemy with vast numbers and no will of its own. A single-minded desire to end the living.

They could smash and crush as much as they wanted… Eventually, they would lose in a battle of attrition. Simply put—the dead do not tire. Neither do they fear.

Leona was the first to get swamped. She was in the center of a horde of skeletons… hacking and slashing away, lightning sparking from her greatsword. A shame skeletons were poor conductors of electricity.

They disregarded the fear of being electrocuted that a living entity might have had and swarmed her—covering her from head to toe in a heap of bones before she could teleport away.

Leona roared, unleashing a cloud of destruction. Bones were flung in all directions as she appeared from under the heap, lightning arcing through her armor in glowing white tendrils.

She retreated several steps, moving closer to Xander—who was surrounded by skeletons, holding them off with makeshift barricades of gravity magic.

She stood behind him.

“Hey, act as a meat shield… you can take abuse, right?”

She wasn’t wrong. He was the most durable of the party, able to take far more damage and walk away the least hurt. His armor bulked his already monstrous defense like a living titan.

Xander punched a skeleton’s chest clean off.

His face hidden under his helm, he muttered,

“You could’ve asked nicely. I swear, if that mongrel Damon gets everyone to call me meatshield, I’ll bury him alive…”

Despite his grumbling, he shielded Leona with his body as she began charging mana for a massive storm.

“Don’t waste your mana…”

Damon’s voice rang from the rooftop where he stood, picking off skeletons with his magic gatling.

Magic bullets sprayed from his fingertips like a stream of death.

Leona bit her lip but obeyed. He turned his gaze to Matia

Matia weaved between skeletons. Even amid such a massive swarm, not one laid a finger on her. She moved with lethal grace, switching her Ascendant weapon between various forms.

It wasn’t a surprise. Her skill was literally called Lethal Grace. She carried herself with a deadly finesse. Even in heavy armor, she remained fluid and untouchable, avoiding every incoming strike.

Damon surveyed the battlefield, biting his lip. He considered using Shadow Sense—but the memory of that mental backlash was still fresh. He had to be careful. He had no idea what lurked in Lysithara’s shadows.

Especially with the lingering presence of the Visitors… who might’ve been the reason their world had fallen.

The pair of lips that belonged to Valarie pressed together before she spoke.

“Hmmm. This tactic seems familiar…”

Damon glanced over. “What are you on about?”

The lips pressed again—delicate, beautiful even in death.

“I’m saying I remember who has such an ability… If I’m not wrong, this should be the skill Grave Call. A knight in Lysithara had a class skill that allowed it. It was his second class skill… he apparently found the skill scroll in a dungeon.”

Damon narrowed his eyes. Class advancement didn’t always give top-tier skills. One only got four skills—given. The rest were empty skill slots, to be filled by scrolls or experience…. The first class was always certain to get a skill but the others were randomized.

However only four skills could be given…. The rest were not.

If Valarie knew this person, who they used to be… then he certainly hoped it wasn’t a Rank 3 monster. Otherwise, they’d need to run for their lives.

Suddenly, Damon sensed a tingle on his skin. His Danger Sense skill picked up a threat. He turned sharply, eyes locking on a distant broken building—one of the high towers. An archer stood by a window…

The creature was undead… but still had remnants of flesh. Emaciated, sunken eyes, clad in a helmet and wielding an enchanted bow and arrows.

Damon didn’t hesitate—he fired a magic bullet in that direction. But it couldn’t reach. Its range dissipated before impact.

Valarie’s lips opened in mild surprise. “Well… things aren’t looking good for you. That’s a sniper. Take cover.”

Before she could finish, an arrow streaked toward Damon. He instinctively drew his sword to block it.

“Dodge, fool!”

Valarie’s voice cut in sharply, and Damon obeyed—ducking low as the arrow exploded overhead, shaking the rooftop.

The sniper knocked another arrow—this time, aiming for Sylvia.

“Arrows that take long to fire are supercharged. Dodge those. And he’s using runic magic.”

Damon bit his lip, eyes flicking toward Sylvia. “Please tell me you’re done…”

She looked back at him. “Twenty seconds left if I want a clue without paying a heavy price… Buy me more time.”

Damon groaned, raising his sword. “This woman will be the death of me…”

He stepped in front of Sylvia, bracing himself for the next shot.

“Who the hell even invented these damn arrows…?”

Valarie coughed lightly. “Ahem. Sorry about that… it—it was me.”

Damon seriously considered tossing the pair of lips into the swarm of undead.

He had to hold off enemies from both sides, protect Sylvia, and deal with a lunatic dead sniper.

She smiled.

“You shouldn’t worry… This is a learning opportunity. It’s not every day someone gets the legendary Valarie Sunwarden as a teacher. Might as well teach you a rune or two…”

He pulled out his bow, aiming carefully.

“Even your ego is legendary…”