My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Chapter 401 - 402: Money Making Mechanic

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

There were monsters here, of course—Damon hadnʼt sensed any yet, but he wasnʼt 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, youʼd 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 Ittorathʼs minions that had somehow survived daybreak.

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

It wasnʼt 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 donʼt know about you guys, but Iʼm 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 cityʼs core functions werenʼt sealed, youʼd be amazed… Lysithara has the most advanced facilities in the world.”

Damon sneered, wringing out a bloodstained rag heʼd used to clean his hair.

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

Valarie paused at that, then sighed dramatically.

”Thatʼs 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 Damonʼs defense.

”Donʼt act like you all came up with that yourselves. Didnʼt the visitors help you out with that?”

Valarieʼs 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 heʼd scavenged from Lysithara—for cold, hard cash.

Xander didnʼt 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 systemʼs 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.

[Description:]

Better not do anything erotic under these sheets.

[Effect:]

Itʼs a blanket

---

Damon stared.

A completely flat expression.

ʼAm I getting sex ed from a god?ʼ

Iʼm definitely doing something erotic if I get the chance.

He didnʼt even have a girlfriend, but—

ʼI wonder if Lilith woul—ʼ

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.

”Iʼm gonna be rich… I should start a business. Yes. A business.”

”Hmmm really… can you hire me then?”

The voice was soft, teasing. Damonʼs heart nearly jumped out of his chest.

He snapped his head around—

Sylvia stood beside him, smiling.