My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 905 - 906: Through A Place Of Hardship

The primary goal remained straightforward: selecting the individuals set to accompany Damon.

No one could surpass Damon's rank, and he had permission to select a hundred troops to form his personal unit.

Following careful consideration, Damon assembled a well-rounded team from fourteen groups, totaling ninety-eight members, plus two additional healers to round it out.

Damon ensured each group maintained balance, featuring tanks, archers, mages, healers, and scouts, with roughly two healers or two mages per party on average.

This formed Damon's entire team.

Once selected, all members were at the third class level, save for the group leaders, who had advanced to the fourth class.

Even though the mission brimmed with peril, his grandfather assigned him fourteen officers at the fourth class advancement.

Yet this failed to ease Damon's sense of security in the slightest.

He said goodbye to his grandfather and sister, teased Evangeline about gaining favoritism through family ties upon learning she'd join their grandfather's forces, and then stepped through a teleportation portal to the academy.

He hadn't realized such access was permitted. He was aware the academy possessed its own private teleportation gate, yet he never imagined they'd open it for general use.

Upon reflection, he understood this stemmed from the wartime emergency, though the bigger puzzle lingered:

"Why am I supposed to meet Seras Blade at the academy."

Wouldn't they normally endure a grueling journey across the continent by ship before reaching the demon continent?

Upon reaching the academy, they ventured along a wooded trail that appeared to lead straight toward the Evil Forest.

There, he discovered a full military encampment positioned right beside the barrier enclosing the Evil Forest.

An adjutant stood ready to greet him and promptly guided him into a nearby tent.

Inside, Seras donned a light green tunic that clung to her figure. Her hair was tied back in a bun, with a few stray locks falling free, as she gestured toward a map spread across the table.

Beside her stood the elderly headmaster, accompanied by Damon's instructor, Kael.

And that completed the gathering.

His arrival drew immediate attention.

"You're late," Seras remarked, eyes fixed downward without glancing his way.

"I'm not late; you're simply ahead of schedule," Damon responded with steady composure.

Seras lifted her gaze, then let out a soft laugh.

"We're operating under military hierarchy, and by imperial decree, you're my vice commander, so I hold authority over you."

Damon let out a sigh, giving his head a gentle shake.

"Alright, understood."

She furrowed her brow at his casual disregard for protocol.

"Address me as commander from now on."

Damon inclined his head and approached the table.

He offered nods of respect to the headmaster and Kael.

"What's the plan, then? How do we slip a thousand men into the demon continent without detection?"

Damon indicated the map with a gesture.

"Heading out via the capital means traversing the Golden Road to the coast. Word of our presence and purpose would spread through countless kingdoms."

He shifted his finger to the riskier areas on the chart.

"Venturing into unmapped territories might preserve our secrecy, but we'd likely encounter wandering adventurers across various zones, and charting those paths without the Golden Roads could drag on for months. Even opting for shortcuts would expose us, particularly as we breach multiple nations' borders unlawfully with our forces."

Damon outlined numerous reasons their operation might collapse right from the outset.

Beyond the overland challenges lay the trials of seafaring passage.

Seras smirked and allowed him to continue.

Even if they overcame every obstacle so far, they'd remain easy targets once inside demon lands.

Seras folded her arms.

"I'm pleased you've pieced this together, but nobody mentioned using any of those routes. We anticipated these issues ages ago, and after extensive deliberation, we devised a more secure path—well, not entirely safe, but superior nonetheless."

A foreboding chill gripped Damon about his current position and the reason for their academy visit.

His face turned ashen, hand trembling slightly.

"Damn it all, you plan to drag us through the Evil Forest."

Seras crossed her arms tightly across her chest.

It stood as the sole method to maintain utmost discretion, yet it ranked among the deadliest choices. The Evil Forest stretched across the entire continent, weaving through various countries and extending even to the ocean's edge.

The scheme involved traversing this infamous deathtrap, beyond its core, clear to the far side.

This forsaken realm rivaled the horrors of the Whispering Forest in dread. Merely contemplating it sent shivers racing up Damon's spine.

Yet again, a harrowing ordeal awaited him prior to the mission's true commencement.

"Can I head back home now?"

"No, you cannot," Seras interrupted sharply.

Where had that reckless bravado of his vanished? This version clashed with the man she'd known previously.

Damon faced the headmaster.

"I suspect you won't be joining our expedition."

He shook his head in affirmation.

"Correct, I'll remain stationed here. That said, Kael will accompany you as overseer, along with one additional student."

Damon grimaced in revulsion.

"Another student? You're permitting yet one more pupil to tag along on this venture."

The headmaster ran a hand over his beard.

"Truth be told, she stepped forward after reviewing the documents we shared with you, making it your doing in a way."

The headmaster glanced upward.

"Oh, she's arrived already."

Damon sensed her unmistakable presence without turning, detecting her through his shadow sense.

He peered at the violet-haired girl via his shadow awareness and rolled his eyes in exasperation.

Renata. Naturally, she'd leap at the chance to visit the demon continent, being a demon herself.

"Hold on, what about Lilith? She's not tagging along," he inquired.

Renata shook her head.

"Nope. This time, it's only you and me. But rest easy—I'll look after you properly."

Damon exhaled deeply, eyeing the assembled group.

"When do we set out?"

Seras shot him a look.

"Immediately. We depart right now."