My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 895 - 896: Calm Days Wither

The entrance swung wide, admitting a young woman with flowing violet locks. Spotting the pair, her expression twisted into a scowl.

"You two dismissed me earlier only to... indulge in your own pleasures..."

A faint blush crept over Lilith's features as she rose from Damon's thigh.

"W-we... we were merely conversing..."

"Right, that's believable..."

"Ahem." Damon coughed to clear his voice.

"Renata, got any updates to share?"

With a weary exhale, she massaged her forehead. It was hard to tell if it stemmed from pain or a touch of envy.

"I took care of distributing the invitations like you asked, and we're now bringing in recruits for the backup group. We've got to mask our money flows too, though I've handled that temporarily. Shadow drone output has ramped up, yet it's nowhere near as fast as during your nightmare stint."

Renata pressed on with her briefing as Damon absorbed it all in silence. In time, he let out a heavy breath.

Beyond the primary group known as Lazarak, Damon had deployed Amon, his shadow duplicate, to establish a hidden faction in the dark. But such groups demanded supplies, and supplies created tracks. This made Renata utterly vital. Her skills kept operations smooth from the shadows, essentially directing Lazarak's core.

The front-facing entity served as backer for their militant outfit, or as Lilith liked to term it, their liberation force.

Their core mission centered on dismantling the Temple. Though a drawn-out endeavor, it let them maneuver free from close watch.

Meanwhile, they funneled funds to the Temple as well. Nobody would peg Lazarak as foes of the goddess when they posed as her backers.

Lilith navigated the realm of politics, wrangling nobles and pulling strings.

Renata oversaw the bureaucratic side and oversight.

Damon, meanwhile, commanded the group's combat power.

"Hmm. That's a real hassle," he grumbled.

Renata folded her arms and perched on the edge of his workspace.

"The conflicts with demons are underway, though no strikes have hit yet. The leaders up top are hashing out strategies ahead. Right now, the realm's just gearing up for battle."

Damon gave a nod. His elder had noted the goddess's kin plotting a preemptive strike before demon overlords stirred.

"Indeed. And the Ashcroft shards? Any developments?"

Renata fished a file from her satchel.

"The Temple's playing it safe. They're scooping up every shard they spot in Soltheon and locking them down. The bulk probably sit in the Holy Empire."

Next, she withdrew a fresh sheet.

"Word is, the demon lands snatched a bunch of shards in the prior demon clash, back when mighty dragon Ashergon razed a city in the Holy Empire. Once on demon soil, numerous bound shards escaped and dispersed. Just a handful ended up at the Snake Temple."

Damon linked his arms. Since the goddess felled Ashcroft in Soltheon, it followed that plenty of shards hailed from there. Over ages, the Temple had hunted, contained, and eradicated them with imperial aid. Most got vaulted in the Holy Empire, but thieves had pilfered many.

"So the strongest shards lurk on the demon continent. Whatever the Temple holds now must be scarcer and less potent."

Renata dipped her head in agreement.

"Getting this intel wasn't simple. The Temple's hushed up the demons' hold on shards since that last war, keeping it under wraps. Now, what's my prize for delivering this?"

She inched closer, her features mere breaths from his.

Damon averted his gaze. A stunning, alluring beauty so near wrecked his composure, and Lilith's deadly stare only worsened it.

"Thanks a lot, Renata," he replied tonelessly.

Renata grinned, grazing his nose with hers before murmuring, "How dull."

Damon melted into shadows and reformed on the couch.

"In any case, this pushes me toward the demon continent to claim Ashcroft shards. That could bolster my domination traits and maybe push me to advance. But for the moment, mastering domain creation takes priority."

Renata slid from the desk to settle opposite him.

"This conflict will turn the demon continent deadlier than ever."

Damon shook his head.

"Not convinced. All our ideas about the demon realm might be twisted tales. They paint the whole place as a total kill zone."

Renata inclined her head.

"Fine. I'll set things up for your duplicate to head out. You're lined up for the Holy Empire trip too, to claim honors for toppling Amon. Meaning, yourself, in those war games."

A cocky grin spread across Damon's face.

"At last, those fools are handing me hero status after all the rubbish."

Lilith beamed, sweeping her hair aside.

"How's it hit you, seeing your boyhood wish come true? You're an official hero now."

Damon stroked his jaw.

"Hmm. How's it feel? Give me a sec. Like I've duped everyone. Even so, Damon Grey, the fabled hero, rolls off the tongue nicely."

Renata chuckled.

"Imagine crowning a demon as hero. And not some random one, but heir to the Demon Lord of Domination. The world's lost its mind."

Damon couldn't argue. Madness had gripped the world. By now, his demon shift was only halfway. The divine spark from Lazarak had eased its pace.

Its true effects, though, stayed unknown.

Appraisal failed on it, and no tomes he recalled spoke of anything akin.

He scowled and turned to Renata.

"What of Ittorath? Updates?"

Renata's look grew grave. She denied with a shake.

"Nothing. Hunting a being beyond transcendence proves tougher than thought. Seems he's hunkered down for now."

Lilith nibbled her lower lip.

"Unless I'm wrong, his scheme involves unleashing his true form in Lysithara."

Damon affirmed with a nod.

"Tougher than it sounds. Lysithara's tainted folk would block it outright. Their grudge against those nightmares burns strong even today."

Renata snorted.

"Meaning he'll seek another path."

"Exactly," Damon whispered. "On that, I'm dead sure."