My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Ascending the spiral tower had been surprisingly easy… at least for now.

There were monsters here, of course—Damon hadn’t sensed any yet, but he wasn’t naïve.

This place reeked of danger.

A massive void spiraled in the center of the structure, chaotic time rifts swirling around it like broken glass caught in a storm. Each rift shimmered with unstable energy—if you fell into one, you might never come back the same.

Valarie had casually dismissed the risk.

Apparently, the worst case scenario was a time displacement of seven to ten years. If you were unlucky enough to fall in, you’d get spat out at the bottom.

That… was the real problem.

The lowest level of the spiral tower was a living nightmare. A crumbled graveyard of the city, soaked in the blood of centuries lost and forgotten.

Countless monsters roamed down there, locked in endless combat—fighting each other, fighting each corrupted, and sometimes fighting remnants of Ittorath’s minions that had somehow survived daybreak.

Damon felt a chill crawl up his spine just thinking about it.

It wasn’t the corruption that terrified him—it was the land itself. Everything about that place tried to kill you.

If you fell you would face corruption.

Becoming one corroded by rot.

A cesspool of ruin and hatred, where strong and weak battled until even time gave up.

Matia clutched her shoulder at the mention of corruption, her voice brittle.

“I would rather die…”

Damon gave her a wry smile.

“I would rather not end up there at all…”

Leona lifted her hand toward the crackling firelight, her lips parting in a playful smile.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m glad we can finally have some light and heat at night.”

Sylvia looked up, her eyes reflecting the vast emptiness of the shattered sky above them—framed by the jagged husk of the tower.

“The spires and towers can have light, remember…”

Xander bit into some roasted meat, chasing it down with a steaming cup of water.

He groaned with contentment.

“Beats being cold… I can stand the dark, but the cold gets to me—especially in armor.”

Valarie smirked from where she lay sprawled on a thick fur coat Sylvia had stitched together from some unfortunate beast.

The disembodied pair of lips laying nearby seemed to have something to say as always.

“No need to be impressed, you bumpkins. If the city’s core functions weren’t sealed, you’d be amazed… Lysithara has the most advanced facilities in the world.”

Damon sneered, wringing out a bloodstained rag he’d used to clean his hair.

“Yeah, maybe like a gazillion years ago. I’ll have you know, Valtheron—our home country—has railways in the city.”

Valarie paused at that, then sighed dramatically.

“That’s not a big deal. You do realize the first rail was developed here in Lysithara, right? Airships too—although their assembly was done on the Sky Continent.

In fact, we were developing automaton carriages… Yes, kids, you heard it here first—no horses or magic beasts pulling your carriage.”

Sylvia scoffed, tossing a twig into the fire as she came to Damon’s defense.

“Don’t act like you all came up with that yourselves. Didn’t the visitors help you out with that?”

Valarie’s lips twisted into a pout, biting into themselves with exaggerated betrayal.

“So much for girl power. She betrayed me… for a man. Teenagers.”

That broke the group into laughter.

Banter flew. Insults and teases were exchanged like daggers dulled by affection. Despite the gloom looming around them, they refused to let it settle in.

They spoke of the future. What they would do after they left this cursed city.

Damon, predictably, was planning to sell everything he’d scavenged from Lysithara—for cold, hard cash.

Xander didn’t miss the opportunity to jab at him.

He teased Damon for his shameless love of wealth, and Damon, as always, bore it with a grin.

Eventually, they began to settle down for the night.

Damon took first watch.

Seated alone, the crackling fire casting dancing shadows across his face, he pulled up the system’s interface. A new tab had appeared.

[Potions]

Curious, Damon tapped it open.

[Basic Healing Potion] x3

[Mirror Water Potion] x1

He smirked and continued to scroll. A few items had been filed under Miscellaneous.

[Blanket] x1

[Pure Water] x2

Damon deadpanned, but a part of him was undeniably eager. He selected the first entry.

—

[Basic Healing Potion]

[Type:] Consumable – Healing

[Description:]

A simple red liquid stored in a dull glass vial. It lacks scent, taste, or warmth — yet it binds torn flesh and calms burning nerves as if remembering what the body should be.

No one remembers who first created it, only that it works.

For now.

[Effect:]

Gradually restores a moderate amount of health. Leaves behind a faint warmth in the chest. Overuse may dull the potion’s effect.

—

Damon reached into the shadows, retrieving one of the vials.

He blinked.

‘Dull glass vial, my ass…’

The container was elegant, shaped like it belonged in a noble’s collection—definitely expensive-looking.

‘Someone better tell the unknown god what dull means.’

He wondered if the vials alone could fetch a price. No, better yet—what if he could sell the potions and the vials? That was easy money.

He popped the top and drank. The liquid tasted like… nothing. Cool, like spring water.

Then, just as the system described, he felt the warmth bloom in his chest. Wounds began to knit together slowly. His smile widened.

“Heheeh I can’t wait to get back… this is a nice money-making mechanic… I’ll be rich.”

And if this was the basic version…

‘Advanced… Great… maybe even Legendary? Could I even get a cure for Luna?’

The thought was a ray of hope.

‘Like that’s going to happen…’

Still, he was eager as he clicked on the next entry. One he didn’t recognize.

[Mirror Water Potion]

[Type:] Consumable

[Description:]

A vial of fluid so clear, it reflects more than just your face. Those who drink it see time — of others, of themselves, of something deeper beneath the surface.

Be careful not to look too long.

[Effect:]

Grants limited precognition for a few seconds in combat. Slight foresight of enemy moves. After use, leaves the user disoriented for a short duration.

—

Damon couldn’t help the wild grin stretching across his face.

“Rich. I’ll be rich…”

Combat potions like these? Rare. Expensive. Priceless.

“Hehehe… what more can I get?”

But then he paused.

If his system could give him anything, didn’t that also mean it could give him cursed items?

‘Yeah… that’s a possibility.’

He took a deep breath, muttering a quiet prayer to whatever god might be listening. No cursed loot, please.

He was careful not to pray to the goddess, god forbid she killed him again.

Next up was Miscellaneous.

—

[Blanket]

[Type:] Misc

[Description:]

Better not do anything erotic under these sheets.

[Effect:]

It’s a blanket

—

Damon stared.

A completely flat expression.

‘Am I getting sex ed from a god?’

I’m definitely doing something erotic if I get the chance.

He didn’t even have a girlfriend, but—

‘I wonder if Lilith woul—’

He stopped himself there, sighing. He moved to the next item.

—

[Pure Water]

[Type:] Consumable

[Description:]

Fresh drinking water is better than gold.

[Effect:]

A very refreshing drink.

—

He reached into the shadows again and pulled out a plastic bottle labeled Pure Water with a sticker that read:

Licensed and Patented. Better than anything a certain goddess has.

His expression turned to stone.

Was the system mocking him… or the goddess?

He took a sip—

His eyes widened.

It was incredible. Cold, crisp, clean. He finished the whole bottle in one go.

“Damn… that was some good water…”

He licked his lips.

“I’m gonna be rich… I should start a business. Yes. A business.”

“Hmmm really… can you hire me then?”

The voice was soft, teasing. Damon’s heart nearly jumped out of his chest.

He snapped his head around—

Sylvia stood beside him, smiling.