My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 819 - 820: Are You A King

Two days had passed since their joint journey began, and the surrounding flora grew increasingly sparse with every mile. The sun intensified, beating down ruthlessly as the earth beneath them transformed into loose, shifting sand.

The atmosphere turned arid; every inhalation pulled dust into their throats and lungs, leaving a gritty coating behind.

Damon glanced back at the two children, who were drenched in perspiration. Their faces had turned a deep crimson, skin flushed and tacky from the oppressive heat, their features twisted in a mask of exhaustion as they struggled to maintain the pace set by Damon and Lazarak.

This was despite the fact that they were actually riding atop the lesser demon.

"Do you want to stop and rest?"

Lyn was panting heavily, his shoulders rising and falling rhythmically as he gripped the demon’s leathery hide.

"Yes, please." His entire frame was wracked with soreness, his muscles screaming in protest. He had lost all sensation in his limbs and his back throbbed painfully; he found himself cursing the fact that sunset was still hours away. Even when night fell, he wasn’t entirely certain they would actually halt.

"Well, that’s too bad. We still have to travel a few hundred kilometers. We’ll rest at nightfall." A slight smirk played on Damon’s lips, making him look as though he wasn't currently subjecting them to torture.

Lazarak let out a sigh, shaking his head as he drifted lazily through the air beside the group.

"How about an hour’s rest before we continue. We can’t have our guide dying from exhaustion."

Damon gave a nonchalant shrug.

"Sure, whatever. Though I thought you’d stand up for yourself."

Sithara bit her lip, refusing to meet Damon’s eyes.

"No. You’re scary."

Damon twitched his lips in response to her bluntness.

"Go ahead and hurt my feelings some more, why don’t you."

In truth, his intent wasn't to run them ragged. Constant movement was simply a matter of safety. He only permitted breaks when it became an absolute necessity.

He squinted toward the horizon, his gaze sharpening.

"We seem to be approaching a desert region. Let’s rest at the edge of the river and set out at dawn. Does that work for you guys."

The siblings exchanged a look, their eyes heavy with fatigue and their faces masked in a mixture of dust and sweat.

"You get an ice bath and a cool tent too."

Sithara looked toward her brother.

"I suppose we can power through."

They pressed onward. The terrain grew scalding underfoot, and fine dust kicked up with every movement, adhering to their clothes and skin.

With a thought, Damon commanded his armor to shift, transitioning into a lighter, more breathable version. The heavy plating melted away, replaced by thinner metals and soft fabrics designed to withstand the blistering heat.

Lyn and Sithara watched this transformation with rapt attention, their eyes glued to the shifting armor as if missing a single second would be a tragedy.

Three hours later, massive dunes appeared in the distance. The landscape ahead dissolved into endless waves of gold and brown, with heat haze shimmering across the vista.

Damon looked back at the duo.

"We can rest here till dawn."

The moment the lesser demon halted, Lyn tumbled off, hitting the ground with a soft thud. He began crawling feebly toward the meager shade provided by a towering cactus.

Sithara dismounted with more care, though she collapsed right next to her brother, sitting heavily as she tried to regain her breath.

Lazarak shook his head, looking at them with pity.

"You do realize you worked them too far. They are slightly close to a class awakening, but they are still unawakened. And they are children."

Damon shut his eyes for a brief moment before reaching into his shadow storage to retrieve two small glass vials.

These were recovery potions, and in truth, his supply was limited.

"Here. Drink these." He tossed the vials onto the sand before the siblings.

The two looked at each other and then at the medicine. They picked them up slowly, studying the containers with genuine curiosity.

"Interesting compound combination. It must use agents that keep the efficacy high while minimizing side effects." Lyn offered a theory based solely on visual inspection.

Sithara nodded in agreement as she carefully uncorked the refined vial, watching the liquid inside glow softly.

"This scent smells like white moringa and some ingredients I don’t quite know. I would love to—"

"Shut up and drink it already." Damon interrupted them bluntly.

After an awkward glance, they quickly swallowed the liquid. A wave of warmth surged through them; their aching muscles softened and their exhaustion evaporated as mana replenished their reserves.

It felt like a total physical restoration.

"Amazing." They whispered in unison.

Ignoring their awe, Damon raised his hand and pulled Abellona’s magical tent from his shadow storage. Following that, he summoned Matia from the darkness.

As she manifested, the scorching desert air was suddenly pierced by a freezing wintry chill.

The clash of temperatures created a surprisingly moderate environment—neither too hot nor too cold.

The children scrambled to their feet at her sudden arrival, their eyes locked onto the armored woman who emerged trailing frost and shadows.

"Relax. That’s Matia. She’s that wretch’s knight." Lazarak commented, lounging lazily on the ground.

Sithara nodded slowly, mesmerized by the armored figure who carried winter in her wake.

"She’s beautiful." She whispered.

A faint smile touched Damon's face at the compliment, even though Matia’s features remained hidden behind her helm.

Matia offered no reaction.

Damon pointed toward the entrance of the structure.

"Come on in."

The siblings followed him inside, expecting the interior to match the tent's modest external dimensions.

They were completely mistaken.

The inside was cavernous, possessing the grandeur of a palace. Glowing chandeliers hung from above, illuminating plush sofas, ornate drapes, thick carpets, and decorative weaponry. A throne-like chair sat at the center, positioned near a fireplace that was seamlessly integrated into the lavish decor.

Lazarak scanned the room, impressed by the craftsmanship but visibly irritated by another realization.

"You had this tent the whole time, and we’ve been sleeping under the open sky."

Damon cleared his throat awkwardly.

Lazarak’s fists tightened.

"We got bitten by bugs, had to make smoky fires, and the ground was really hard."

"Ahem. You didn’t ask, and I didn’t bother." Damon replied, looking away.

Lazarak glared, the veins in his neck bulging with frustration.

"You did this to anger me, didn’t you. I know you did. I can see you holding back a smug smile. You suffered just so you could anger me."

Damon turned his attention to the stunned children.

"Are you guys hungry? Let’s eat."

He produced smoked meats and various non-alcoholic beverages.

"Let’s eat before dinner."

They gathered together; Damon and Lazarak took their seats while Matia stood guard near the entrance. Outside, Ghost remained on high alert as a sentry.

Lyn and Sithara ate with hesitation, frequently stealing glances at Damon. Sithara nudged her brother, who quickly nudged her back.

Damon sighed audibly.

"What is it now?"

Lyn bit his lip, forcing Sithara to be the one to speak.

She looked up at Damon’s head, where his crown rested like a shimmering halo.

"I... we were just curious." Her gaze remained fixed on the artifact.

"Are you a king?"