My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Chapter 941: Chapter 942: Holyman

Damon stood on the ship deck with Seras as they exchanged greetings with the ship’s captain. The man wore a calm expression, hands folded neatly behind his back, sea wind tugging at the edges of his coat.

Seras nodded once. The man lowered his head with a reverent look, almost bowing from the waist.

“It’s a pleasure to meet the legendary hero Seras Blade.”

He glanced at Damon, eyes steady for a breath, then suddenly fell to his knees. The impact thudded against the wooden deck.

“Please give me your holy blessing, your Excellency.”

Damon was a bit taken aback. His brows lifted, lips parting slightly, until he remembered he was actually a religious figure.

He didn’t know what this was, but he was loving it.

Slowly, he stepped forward. He placed a hand on the captain’s head, fingers spreading with deliberate weight, adopting a solemn expression as though carved from marble.

“You are blessed, my son. The goddess is watching us…”

The captain closed his eyes in prayer, shoulders trembling faintly.

Seras rolled her eyes, folding her arms tightly across her chest. The world was truly a sick place. A man like Damon was holy.

“Every day we stray further from god,” she muttered under her breath at the sight.

Damon looked at the ship and the people on it. Each of the sailors was waiting to get Damon’s blessing, some already removing hats, others kneeling before he even called them.

Seras sneered in disgust. She knew those who traveled the seas were more superstitious than most. Even so, taking blessings from Damon. What had the world come to?

One by one they came to Damon. He touched their head, fingers pressing firmly, muttering something under his lips before extending his hand for them to kiss the ring.

There wasn’t a ring last time she checked.

Yet now there were five gleaming rings on his fingers, even his thumb was not spared. Gold, silver, black iron, each set with a different stone that caught the dying sunlight.

“You are blessed.”

Seras sighed, shaking her head at this farce.

The captain took off his hat, clutching it to his chest before asking in a slow voice.

“Your holiness, what is the fate of our ship on this voyage to the demon continent?”

That was a no brainer. Of course it was going to be dangerous. They were traveling through several danger zones, and to avoid anyone spotting them they would be avoiding the normal sea routes and trade routes.

Damon placed his hand upwards, palm open to the sky as if weighing invisible stars.

“Let me divine our fate.”

He tapped his fingers a few times as if calculating the heavenly way. Seras narrowed her eyes. She didn’t know him to have a divination based ability, so she was sure this was bullshit.

Damon frowned, his face getting darker and darker. He drew his brows together, jaw tightening, then slowly shook his head.

“Terrible things. Terrible things will happen. I see terrible storms.”

The captain’s face paled. A sailor dropped the rope he was holding.

“Your holiness, how do we avoid this?”

Damon paused. How do we avoid this?

He didn’t know. He was talking out of his ass. Of course he didn’t know the future. He had been devouring enemies left and right, but he didn’t get a new skill since he left the war games. It was like the unknown god had a grudge against him.

And he was saying all this because he knew his Deathless skill would send horrible trials his way.

He lowered his hand slowly, eyes half lidded.

“The way… the way is simple. We must push forward and persevere. The goddess is with us and will test our faith.”

He raised his hand toward the crew, fingers spreading dramatically.

“Let us pray…”

Everyone closed their eyes as Damon began, voice deep and theatrical.

“Mother lady in heaven, I worship you. I exalt your name…”

Seras’ eyes twitched. The ship floated freely without anyone guiding it because Damon wanted to show off. The wheel stood unattended, creaking softly as the current nudged them.

After a few minutes of obvious waste of time, he concluded the prayer with a flourish.

“I cover us all with the blood of our enemies.”

Yeah, and her sword could do the same.

The captain hurriedly gave Damon his cabin, bowing repeatedly, and provided unnecessarily special treatment. Apparently religious men were more valued than war heroes who actually protect lives.

Seras got a slightly bigger cabin than the others. Some even shared a cabin. Renata shared one with Wendy.

And so their voyage began, with none the wiser of anything aloof.

On the ship, a young knight sat along the side of the deck down below, boots dangling close to the black waters. He absentmindedly traced circles along the railing.

Something moved beneath him.

A shape broke the surface just enough to poke its head up and look at the ship. Two pale eyes blinked once before it sank back into the water without a ripple.

In the evening, after a long nap, Damon came out as the ship moved up and down the black water, navigating past bones that jutted from the sea like the ribs of a fallen god.

He saw Seras on the deck looking at the horizon, hair fluttering behind her.

“You know, if there was a ship, why didn’t we just sneak through the usual route instead of the evil forest?”

She crossed her arms, shifting her weight to one leg.

“I thought I explained this already. Why are you still complaining? I told you there are spies everywhere. Do you think there aren’t information networks that keep an eye on every illegal route? This was the safest option.”

Damon looked at the deep black water as the fresh sea breeze hit him, pushing his hair back.

“Hah, you’re right. I guess it’s not so bad. I can always add overcame the evil forest as part of my resume.”

She smiled, shaking her head slightly.

“You are a very amusing person.”

There was a bright radiance seeing her smile, making Damon temporarily dazed. His eyes locked on her without him realizing.

“And you’re very pretty when you smile. You should do that more.”

Seras brushed her hair away, revealing her exquisite neck, a soft smile tugging at her lips.

“You’ve really taken to the habit of talking to me casually. Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?”

Damon glanced at her. She had a passive aura that made people uncomfortable, a pressure that coiled around the chest.

He didn’t even feel it.

If anything, the more untouchable she acted, the more he provoked her.

“No, not really. You don’t scare me one bit. I think you’re cute when you’re angry.”

Seras touched her face slowly, fingers tracing her cheek as if confirming it existed.

“I’m cute… that’s a first. I’ve never been called that. Even my own father told me I was unsightly and that was alright because I was a blade. I’m not supposed to be liked or beautiful.”