My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 824 - 825: Third Party

The gesture had been so nonchalant, as if the distance were merely a few paces, yet the sandy mounds they were targeting sat no less than seventeen kilometers away.

Seventeen kilometers.

That was the grueling trek required to reach the destination indicated by the shadow.

Lyn lacked the mental energy to dwell on the sheer impossibility of a living shadow that could move and act independently of its master.

The fusion of science and magic behind such a feat was nothing short of madness. Furthermore, he couldn't help but wonder how Damon’s physical form interacted with light in the absence of a shadow.

By definition, a shadow is formed when an object obstructs light. Without one, Damon presented a bizarre spectacle under the glaring sun.

Lyn had seen it with his own eyes: the moment the original shadow detached, Damon simply ceased to cast any silhouette at all.

But—

’Why didn't a replacement shadow appear once the first one departed?’ he mused, his analytical instincts momentarily taking over.

Damon was physically present, so logically, a shadow should exist.

’Does light fail to register his presence, or is his very existence anchored to that shadow?’ These wandering thoughts served as a psychological shield, preventing his mind from buckling under the stress of the unknown threats they were about to face.

Feeling the intense heat of the sun against his skin, Lyn shook his head.

Now was not the moment to dissect Damon’s mysteries. His focus needed to be squarely on the upcoming battle.

Even with the protective armor of absolute darkness shielding his frame, the desert heat remained oppressive.

"Sithara, stay close. We’re nearing the target," he whispered, loud enough to reach his sister.

She gave a silent nod, keeping her aura tightly suppressed. The shadow leading them slowed its pace before gesturing toward the ridge of a nearby dune.

They reached the summit.

Lyn dropped to the sand instantly, signaling for Sithara to do the same. She obeyed, the searing heat of the grains stinging her arms as they crawled forward in unison.

Carefully, they peeked over the edge.

Lurking in the shade below was a creature partially submerged in the sand. Its hide was a dusty brown, providing near-perfect camouflage, with sharp spikes jutting from its back.

It was a massive, shaggy beast, which defied the logic of the desert climate. It should have been lean and hairless to survive the heat, but it was thick with fur.

A lengthy tail, reminiscent of a scorpion’s stinger, curled behind it, while its arms possessed an unsettlingly human anatomy. Its face resembled jagged, compressed stone, split by a dark maw where insect-like mandibles served as teeth.

Lyn narrowed his eyes, meticulously studying the creature's physiology.

"What kind of monster is that?" Sithara breathed, unfamiliar with the beast.

The world was teeming with countless monsters, with new species emerging daily. Most were cataloged based on where they lived and how often they appeared.

This creature was likely a local inhabitant, but Lyn and Sithara were outsiders. They were not from this world.

Nonetheless.

"It’s a sand spitter," Lyn answered, drawing from fragments of rumors and hearsay he had gathered.

The information wasn't entirely certain, but the description matched perfectly.

"What’s our plan of attack?" she asked in a low voice.

Lyn looked over at Damon’s shadow, which appeared to be observing them with a wide, almost derisive grin.

"It’s a first-class threat. Given our current defensive abilities, we can take it down if we play it safe."

She shifted her weight, the rising heat from the sand baking her face.

"We can't forget how fragile we are. A rank one monster is capable of tearing us apart. Their power isn't tied to their size, and it likely possesses hidden abilities."

Lyn shut his eyes for a second before opening them to watch the sand spitter lounging in the heat.

"We also can't afford to wait. Every moment we spend here, our mana depletes faster."

Sithara bit her lip, her chest tightening with apprehension.

Those who hadn't reached the first-class rank weren't supposed to engage first-class monsters. Usually, survival required a full party, and even then, success wasn't certain.

At least, that was the common knowledge.

Had she known that Damon had killed a war troll in single combat before he even awakened, she would have questioned everything she knew.

But then, he was a different breed of monster entirely.

"Let’s watch it first. We should find its weak points and strike in a day or two," Sithara suggested softly.

"No," Lyn countered quietly. "We devise the plan and strike before our window closes. Our time and resources are too limited."

He looked at her, his hands reddened by the scorching earth while the hot wind blew sand against his face.

"The longer we hesitate, the more mana we lose. The less mana we have, the weaker we become. And the weaker we are, the faster we die."

His logic was undeniable.

In a normal scenario, scouting would be the wise choice.

But not in this place.

Time was their enemy.

"I’m still not convinced," Sithara whispered.

Damon and Lazarak were too far away to intervene. That was assuming Damon would even bother to help.

Lyn set his jaw.

"We can't be a burden. We have to move forward."

She paused, then let out a breath.

"Fine. Let’s get a third opinion."

They both turned with grim expressions, focusing their attention on the shadow crouching nearby.

"Mr. Shadow," Sithara whispered. "Should we strike now or keep watching?"

The shadow went still.

This was the shadow of Damon Grey. Damon was known for being patient and strategic, yet he was also—

No. That wasn't it.

The shadow gave a dismissive wave of its hand.

The gesture spoke volumes without a single sound.

"You brats are actually scared of that pathetic thing?"

The siblings traded glances, knowing they had interpreted the message the same way.

The shadow puffed out its chest, acting arrogant despite its lack of a physical body.

The command was clear.

"Attack."

Lyn gave a satisfied smirk.

Sithara sighed, her face showing her resignation.

"Alright. We attack. But we need a plan that doesn't result in our deaths. I wanted more time, but the vote is in, and the logic is... sound. I'm in."

With their decision made, the two huddled lower in the sand, beginning to coordinate their strike under the punishing desert sun.