My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Chapter 906: Chapter 907: New Companion

Stepping into the Evil Forest was something Damon had not done in a while. As a student of Aether Academy, he was always close to this evil place, but he had never gone to its inner region, and he had hoped he never would.

Alas, life did not care what the future held.

The last time he was here, he was almost mauled to death by an Evil Forest Wendigo, which eventually turned into a pretty girl, but that’s not the lesson here. The lesson was that it was not a good place to be.

Actually, no, that wasn’t it either. The last time he had come here, he had been hunting an Evil Forest Wendigo but never found one, so he caught a squirrel instead.

He had quickly left, but now it seemed that wasn’t going to be the case.

All arrangements had been made, and they were setting out into the Evil Forest.

They soon passed the small river not far from where Damon had found a fragment of Ashcroft’s shadow and gained the system.

When they reached the dark shade of the forest, the soil turned black. The scouts in front stopped and armed their weapons.

”Who goes there. Show yourself.”

Damon lifted his head with a sigh. Did she really think they wouldn’t sense her. This whole unit was specially designed for this mission. Seras had experts with experience in the Evil Forest in her army, and Damon’s grandfather only allowed people with such skills and knowledge to even show up for selection, so they knew this place and how to survive it.

One of the knights moved closer to protect Damon, but honestly, it didn’t really matter. If he was in actual danger, he’d know it.

Besides, he knew who it was.

A young woman with dark hair stepped out, holding a bone sword. She had a squirrel and a raven on her shoulder. Each of them had the aura of the fourth class advancement.

The woman was naturally Wendy. She had been the Evil Forest Wendigo before she turned human.

As for the squirrel and raven, they had undergone some changes. The raven had grown a third eye and a third leg. Its eyes were hidden on its forehead, so it was hard to see unless it opened them, and the new leg could also be hidden.

The squirrel was just faster now. Far faster than Damon could catch. They could both grow several meters if they wanted to, but this wretch had gotten used to living off Damon.

”What do you want, Wendy,” Damon asked with a bored expression.

She crossed her arms with a serious expression.

”All men are dogs, but you must be a dog’s dog. You really think you can have your way with me and just leave.”

Damon felt everyone’s gaze fall on him.

”Huh, what. I was the victim. You. Fine, fine. What do you want.”

He really was the victim. She had shown up in his room at a very bad time, and well, he didn’t really resist. More than that, she had pulled that off several times that week. He had reached his limit and gave in.

She pouted her lips.

”I want to come.”

Damon sneered, his face smeared with disdain.

”No. Get out of here. You’re in the way.”

She glared at him again.

”I want to come.”

”And I said no.” Damon shook his head slowly.

”I know this forest more than you. I lived here, so let me come.”

”Still no.” Damon waved his hand dismissively. If he let her come, she’d keep pestering him to have a child with her. He was already feeling bad about what happened that night. It was a one time thing, and he did not want to think about it.

He had even tricked her into keeping it a secret.

She pouted, her face turning red with anger.

”Fine, don’t take me. I’ll just go tell Lilith what ha—”

”Welcome aboard, Wendy. I couldn’t go on this mission without you,” Damon cut her off as he heard the muttering behind him grow louder.

”The vice commander is truly a man amongst men.”

”To think he has the audacity to go sleeping around when he has another woman.”

One of them glanced at Renata, who was quietly glaring at them both.

”He already has that beautiful adjunct, now he wants to add another woman. As expected of a noble. Philandering with such finesse.”

Damon really wanted to cry, but he had to keep his cool.

He glanced at Seras Blade.

”Erm, Seras. I mean, commander. This young lady is a specialist when it comes to the Evil Forest and has spent years here. I would like to bring her on as my special advisor on matters related to the Evil Forest.”

Seras rolled her eyes. This wasn’t the first time a soldier wanted to bring a woman along, and it wouldn’t be the last.

”All men are scum,” she muttered.

”I really don’t care about your private life as long as it doesn’t affect the mission. Having more people die is fine by me.”

Damon nodded, then turned to the expedition unit.

”I know all your names and faces. If I hear rumors. Well, I’m sure you’ve heard of Jarvis before.”

Everyone went silent before they started swearing to the goddess that they’d keep the secret.

Jarvis was that terrifying. He was, after all, an assassin with a thousand faces and was loyal enough to Damon’s grandfather that he would kill anyone if Damon asked.

”Good. I’m glad we’re on the same page.”

Seras waved her hand.

The expedition unit began to advance into the forest. The moment Damon stepped onto the familiar black soil, he felt an eerie atmosphere surround him. Everything here was hostile, from the fauna to the flora.

Seras turned to the expedition unit.

”We have entered the Evil Forest. From this point forward, even I can’t guarantee your lives. However, we have experts here who are familiar with the forest and its monsters. It will be wisest to keep them alive. Scouts, advance, but stay within a set distance where we can help you.”

She gave out a flurry of orders.

Damon glanced at the forest’s dark dome, then ordered his two pets to scout ahead.

The raven and squirrel were reluctant, but after a cold glare, they left.

The objective before they advanced was to find a few nocturnal stags to act as mounts. The reason for this was simple. These creatures were faster and had a better understanding of the terrain. They could be used as mounts to carry supplies.

That explained why Seras brought people with the tamer class.

However, Damon imagined she didn’t really plan to use them for long. After all, the inner forest was more dangerous.

”She wants us to save our strength before we reach the inner forest. Damnit, that is not a good sign. What the hell is in that place.”

Whatever it was, he had a feeling he would find out.

It wasn’t long before the tamers received messages from the scouts and began to move.

About half an hour later, they returned with several nocturnal stags. The last time Damon had seen one of these dark creatures, it had been trying to crush him with its hooves. Now, it was just a mount.

After half a day, they had all gotten a stag for themselves.

And so they set out with the intention of finding a good campsite before it got dark.

Wendy didn’t want to mount a stag, so she shared one with Damon, claiming she knew a good campsite. She and Damon were at the front of the expedition.

The Evil Forest at this point was still within the realm of what they could handle. Monsters of the first rank were spotted here and there, but none of them dared to attack.

They soon found a clearing in the woods, just in time, because the sun was not far from setting. In the forest, it looked even darker.

Seras ordered the expedition to set camp there and prepare to march tomorrow. It was the best time to rest, because the next stretch would be even more dangerous.

Damon’s men began to arrange his tent, but Damon stopped them. He didn’t need that.

He reached into his shadow storage and pulled out a tent.

This was, of course, Abellona’s tent.

”You guys rest up.”

The leader of the units nodded and began setting up their own tents.

Damon walked into the magical tent and collapsed on the sofa.

He was exhausted, more mentally than physically.

Renata and Wendy joined him in his tent. Even though Damon knew it would stir up more rumors, he didn’t really care.

Renata walked into one of the rooms, and after about half an hour she came back with damp hair.

She was wearing light nightwear.

Damon glanced at her, then looked away.

”You do realize this isn’t a vacation, right.”

Wendy stood up and went to take a bath too.

Renata glanced at her with a teasing smile.

”I know, but it feels like one. The Evil Forest isn’t as dangerous as I thought.”

Damon quickly tried to stop her, but ended up pushing her down onto the ground, ending up on top of her.

”Don’t jinx us.”

Before he could finish his sentence, the tent’s flap opened, and Seras was standing there, looking at him pinning Renata down.

She sighed.

”Every day you stoop lower than I thought.”

Damon looked at the compromising position.

”I. This. It’s not what you think.”