My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 901 - 902: Page

As Damon approached the academy's entrance, a foreboding sensation washed over him, yet even three days following the school's reopening, no incidents unfolded. Silence reigned from all sides, leaving him convinced the veteran High Templar had simply been toying with him.

Damon began to ease up. Drawing in a steady breath, he lounged on a wide picnic blanket beside Leona.

The beast-kin girl appeared utterly carefree. She devoured a hefty pastry with relish.

He shook his head. Her nonchalance was excessive.

"Hey, should you really be eating? We’re supposed to be overseeing the entrance exam for the new students..."

Evangeline materialized in a burst of light, her features twisted in fury at their leisurely picnic.

Damon shot her a disinterested look.

"Who is this chick... she kinda looks familiar..."

Leona, mid-bite into a creamy pastry as she set aside her spoon, remarked,

"We don’t have money. Go away."

Evangeline's cheeks flushed with rage.

"I’m not a beggar..."

They exchanged glances.

"Hide the food... I heard people like these are like demon raccoons, always stealing food."

Evangeline strode toward them and seized both their ears.

"Listen up, you two. We have to make sure this exam goes perfectly. Our grades are on the line, and I’ll have you know, Mister Number One on the rankings, we’re second-years now, and I may reclaim my top spot..."

Damon drew Evangeline close into his embrace to halt her ear-tugging. He swept her hair back, cradling her face.

"Eva... that’s never gonna happen. The people here love me..."

"No... no they don’t. Everyone hates you," Leona muttered amid her chewing.

"Shut up, Leona. Nobody asked you, and whose side are you on..."

Evangeline shoved away from his torso, shaking her head vigorously.

"Be that as it may, we are still on a job. If anything happens and we lose the designated number of first-years, our grades will be halved..."

Damon shook his head.

"Don’t worry, I got this. I’ve been watching this new crop of first-years take the exam, and besides, they aren’t our academy’s students until they pass..."

Evangeline nodded, aware he wasn't treating the matter with gravity.

"Iris is taking the exam..."

He nodded deliberately.

"I know. She’s strong enough to beat all those bums. I trained her myself... I have nothing to worry about..."

Evangeline nodded before unleashing the revelation.

"Luna is taking the exam too..."

Damon stiffened. He had been on the verge of sipping his beverage. He eyed Evangeline.

"You jest..."

"No, I’m not. She’s here..."

Damon's hands shook at the mere thought of his sister enduring hardship. He delved into his shadow storage for the charm.

In a secluded section of the academy, a compact forest landscape had been fashioned. Spanning multiple kilometers, it served to select incoming students. Low-tier green goblins and minor beasts lurked within, posing dangers. The setup was regulated, yet fatalities loomed as a risk, with the academy permitting them to identify top talents. Naturally, if one's lineage held immense sway, intervention would occur, though on record, all stood equal.

This justified deploying Damon and other elite pupils to rescue the elite and influential.

He desired to resent the system, yet he currently ranked among the elite and influential.

His voice resounded across the testing grounds.

"Testing, testing... everyone please stop what you’re doing..."

Assisted by his charm, his voice boomed throughout the testing area.

All activity halted... combatants against foes or creatures froze in place.

"Hey you, the one surrounded by five green goblins. Are you deaf? I said stop, or do you want me to disqualify you?"

The youth battling the goblins bore wounds and held the weaker position. This demand was unfair. Perhaps aid could be offered, yet he remained an observer, and amid the chaos, Luna evaded his sight.

"As expected of Aether Academy, everyone here is a powerhouse."

"Are you deaf, boy? Yes, you—the one bleeding to death..."

The command reverberated.

Frustration surged in Damon, prompting him to snatch several spoons and forks, and from kilometers away, he slew every goblin.

The youth halted upon witnessing the goblins' demise. Note that he was deep in the woods while Damon picnicked remotely, yet the strikes landed precisely.

To compound the shock, his fourth-class aura then enveloped the whole forest.

Forcing cessation upon all in the woods, including beasts. The pressure choked breath from everyone. Shadows stirred as if awakening.

"Ahem, ahem... thank you..."

He held silent briefly as all, beasts included, compelled to heed his words.

"Now then, I’m sure it’s your first time participating in this exam. Personally, I came into the academy without taking this exam..."

Though puzzled by his words, all attended. His strength surpassed numerous instructors they would encounter.

"Let me make one thing clear to everyone. There is a cute white-haired girl here with grey eyes and an adorable little face. That sweet angel is a blessing on this world and my little sister. If any one of you touches a hair on her head..."

In a forest nook, two girls faced encirclement by beasts and rivals in a brutal melee.

Abruptly, the creatures and challengers fixated on one girl and gradually retreated.

She possessed white hair and grey eyes, having demolished adversaries moments prior, yet now all withdrew, save the pink-haired peer beside her.

"Well, let’s just say Aether Academy allows bullying... if you want to keep living peacefully, or even in this world, you’d treat my little sister like a goddess and stay out of her way. That includes you monsters too. I know you can understand me—I made sure of that..."

"What the hell are you doing, you bastard..." a female voice resounded similarly.

"Eva, what are you doing? Give that back... I have to make sure no one bullies Luna..."

"Shut up, Damon. You’re causing trouble again. I swear, we had one job... one job..."

Their voices carried until dissipating, though Damon issued a final dire warning.

"Mess with my Luna and you’re dead... dead, I tell you..."

The ensuing scene proved remarkable. Encounters with Luna by pupils or beasts sparked no desire for confrontation.

A pupil clashed fiercely with a beast, sparks of metal and spells flying. Then Luna appeared. Spotting her, the goblin wailed, discarded its arms, and bolted in terror.

Confusion gripped the pupil until he pivoted to behold Luna.

"White hair, grey eyes..." He hesitated, retreating.

"Miss... are you Luna..."

She bowed her head slightly. That sufficed. He plunged into the bushes and escaped desperately.

Luna's cheeks burned. Tears welled in her eyes.

"Wait, please... fight me..."

Her expression turned endearingly pitiful as she pleaded for battle.

Iris rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Desperation looks bad on you... just let it go and cruise through the exam..."

Thus Luna sailed through to pass the exam.

........

Damon positioned himself in a hall, confronting the academy's council, headmaster included, his flowing beard unchanged in his memory.

"First of all... I can explain. It’s not what you think. I was not breaking any rules... I was just acting like a good upperclassman. It was for their own good. Imagine if they bullied my sister... I would have m—I mean... ahem... I did nothing wrong..."

The headmaster exhaled wearily, shaking his head.

"Enough of that. It is of no consequence."

Damon breathed easier. They overlooked it.

Hold on—if so, why summon him? What issue demanded assembly of the academy's elite?

"The demon wars have officially begun, although at the moment no skirmishes or battles have happened between the two sides. For many years we have been the principal aggressors. It is unheard of for demons to declare war on us first..."

"And we ended up losing most of them. We never won, technically speaking. We invaded and they sent us retreating always, and when they did declare war last time they almost won. That was during Ashcroft’s reincarnation," Damon stated evenly, despite the reluctance to acknowledge it.

The headmaster inclined his head gradually.

"Yes... that is unfortunate but correct. Now they have declared war again, and we cannot be caught off guard. To that end..."

He halted.

"Have you heard of the page program?"

Damon nodded.

"Yeah. It’s a course taken by academy students. You go under a figure of renown to gain real-life experience, and it acts as your academy credit. Gather enough and you can graduate..."

"Yes," the headmaster confirmed with a nod.

"We’ve decided to put most of you in second to final year in the program, and after talking with all authorities involved, we’ve decided someone of your talents would be placed in a vital position."

Damon dismissed it with a wave.

"No worries. I would cruise with my grandfather’s army... better to stay with family."

The headmaster shook his head.

"Actually, that won’t do... we are sending you to join Seras Blade on a special mission."

Damon's instincts for peril ignited abruptly.

"Em... where?"

The headmaster averted his gaze faintly.

"In the demon continent."