My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 826 - 827: Ontological

Damon flickered into the heart of the settling dust cloud, his silhouette cutting through the abrasive sand that scraped against his armor. He peered through the haze, his vision locking onto the forms of the two siblings lying unconscious on the ground.

They were clinging to one another with a desperate grip, their arms entwined as if terrified of being parted even in sleep; though their breathing was shallow, it remained constant.

He immediately knelt by their side to perform a thorough check, his hands hovering over their chests and limbs to assess their condition.

Their bodies were already in the process of mending.

His attention shifted to several empty glass vials discarded on the sand nearby.

"They accounted for the damage to their bodies and took the healing potions beforehand."

This had been Lyn’s tactical choice, made moments before Sithara triggered the blast.

Standing a short distance away, Lazarak stared at the mangled, lifeless remains of the sand spitter. Its fur had been completely incinerated, leaving behind a blackened husk; the beast had been unable to endure the violent pressure and had been ripped apart by the force.

"A dust expulsion..." Lazarak murmured, his eyes lowering slightly in contemplation.

"That was a stroke of genius. They used the suspended dust and still air to ignite an expulsion with the sand spitter at the center."

Exhaling a slow breath, Damon walked toward the carcass of their fallen foe. He halted beside the creature, reached down, and shoved his hand into its abdomen, ripping out the monster core with brutal strength. As he pulled it free, a mixture of blood and ash stained the sand.

He looked back at the two children.

"They did it."

Lazarak gave a slow, thoughtful nod.

"A successful awakening. They made it seem easy. Some people go their entire lives without ever achieving such a feat."

Damon folded his arms across his chest.

"Talent plays a large role. And they have it in spades."

He turned his head slightly, his eyes scanning the distant horizon.

"Let’s go. That expulsion was loud, and we don’t know what heard the noise."

Lazarak signaled with a raised hand. Dark energy rose from the earth, gently enveloping the siblings before hoisting them up and placing them onto the back of the lesser demon.

With a single nod, Damon turned toward the east and broke into a sprint. A sharp sonic boom thundered behind him as he disappeared, leaving only a fading afterimage in his wake. Lazarak followed atop the demon, while Matia lingered for a brief second to survey the area before rushing after them.

Blistering winds lashed against them as they traversed the massive dunes, their swift passage leaving footprints that were rapidly erased by the shifting desert sands.

Several hours passed as they covered a vast distance across the unforgiving landscape. As they pushed further, the heat intensified, the air became increasingly parched, and every step drained more of their mana.

The two siblings began to wake, first Sithara, followed shortly by Lyn.

Damon glanced up at the sky. As twilight approached, he decided it would be more prudent to set up camp and resume their journey during the daylight hours.

Although he possessed the ability to see in the dark, he knew that the most lethal predators were nocturnal.

He identified a spot where the surrounding dunes provided natural concealment and signaled the group to stop.

Once night had fully descended, the oppressive daytime heat vanished, replaced by a freezing, dry gale. The temperature plummeted with bone-chilling intensity, and Damon felt his exhaustion grow noticeably heavier.

His mana was being siphoned away slightly faster than usual, but his mana pool was so immense that the loss was negligible.

They had succeeded. They had attained the first class, and they had done so on their very first attempt.

Damon decided that a feast was necessary to celebrate.

He pulled various ingredients from his shadow storage and arranged them. The sight of the abundance made his mind wander to Leona. Was she still alive? If so, had she found anything to eat? He hoped she wasn't suffering from hunger.

He shook his head to clear the thoughts and focused on cooking the meal.

....

The aroma of something savory was what eventually woke her.

Sithara’s stomach let out a soft growl as she regained consciousness.

Her head felt light as she slowly sat up, her eyes fluttering open a moment later. A warm glow filled her vision, emanating from the chandeliers hanging above.

She was back in the familiar tent—the same one that had previously amazed her, constructed from magic that she still couldn't comprehend.

She looked over at her brother, who was stirring slightly in his sleep.

Her hands felt stiff, yet at the same time, they felt imbued with a new strength.

She turned her gaze forward.

The figure sitting before her was the same young man. He had long black hair and deep, dark eyes, and his aura was currently restrained. He was dressed in light fabric reinforced with soft armor over his vitals, but the most remarkable feature was the crown above his head.

It hovered like a halo, granting him a regal air. Beyond that, it felt as though he reigned over the very space around him, with shadows appearing deeper and more oppressive in his presence.

Despite this, Sithara found her attention drawn to his eyes.

They looked weary. Tired.

He was observing her.

Now that her awakening was complete, her fear of him had vanished.

Now she truly understood.

He was terrifying.

It was like looking at a monstrous beast in human skin, possessing a mana pool so vast that she couldn't even fathom its boundaries.

"Hungry?" he asked in a low voice. It sounded cold, yet a small hint of concern managed to peek through.

Sithara didn't try to hide it. She gave a slow nod.

He nodded back and began settting out several plates and utensils, serving an assortment of dishes. Some she recognized, while others were entirely foreign, but every single one looked appetizing.

She looked toward her brother, who remained asleep.

She realized that the toddler-like god Lazarak was absent, as was the stunning lady knight. It was only the two of them.

"Lazarak is outside doing goddess knows what, or maybe she doesn’t," Damon remarked calmly.

"As for Matia, she’s watching the perimeter with Ghost."

Sithara nodded, not bothering to ask how he knew. For all she knew, he was capable of reading her mind.

"Eat," Damon whispered as he took a seat across from her. "There’s more than enough for your brother too."

Sithara gave him a brief look before taking a small bite of the food.

The instant the flavors hit her tongue, her expression transformed.

Damon saw the change immediately; it reminded him of Leona.

Within seconds, she reached for another dish, this time a cake layered in cream.

"Hmm wo... mmm, so delicious," she mumbled, unable to stop eating even while her mouth was full.

The sight made her resemble a little chipmunk.

Damon let out a quiet chuckle, suppressing his laughter. He picked up a napkin and gently dabbed the cream off her face.

She paused for a second, then offered a smile and went back to eating. She no longer seemed to find him intimidating.

Raising her head, she looked at him once more.

Then she asked with a bit of hesitation,

"Mister... um... you cook really well... how old are you?"

Damon raised an eyebrow.