My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 906 - 907: New Companion

Entering the Evil Forest marked a return Damon hadn't experienced in ages. As an Aether Academy student, proximity to this sinister domain was constant, yet he'd steered clear of its core depths, praying he'd never have to venture there.

Unfortunately, destiny ignored such wishes for the days to come.

His previous visit here had nearly ended with him torn apart by an Evil Forest Wendigo, which later transformed into an attractive young woman, but that's beside the point. The real takeaway was how perilous the location truly was.

Wait, actually, that wasn't quite accurate. On that prior trip, Damon had been searching for an Evil Forest Wendigo without success, ending up snaring a squirrel as a substitute.

Back then, he'd retreated swiftly, but this time around, escape didn't seem likely.

Preparations were complete, and the group now plunged into the Evil Forest.

They quickly crossed the nearby stream where Damon had once discovered a piece of Ashcroft’s shadow and awakened the system.

Upon entering the shadowy canopy of the woods, the ground shifted to a blackened hue. The lead scouts halted and readied their arms.

"Who goes there? Show yourself."

Damon raised his gaze with a weary exhale. Did she truly believe they wouldn't detect her presence? This entire squad was assembled specifically for the task at hand. Seras's forces included veterans versed in the Evil Forest, and Damon's grandfather had only permitted those with proven expertise and survival instincts to join the ranks, so everyone understood the terrain and its perils.

One knight edged nearer to shield Damon, though in truth, it made little difference. Should real peril arise, he'd sense it immediately.

Moreover, he recognized the intruder.

A dark-haired young woman emerged, gripping a bone sword. Perched on her shoulders sat a squirrel and a raven, both radiating the aura of fourth-class advancement.

The woman was none other than Wendy, formerly the Evil Forest Wendigo before her human form took hold.

Regarding the squirrel and raven, they'd evolved noticeably. The raven now sported a third eye and an extra leg. The additional eye concealed itself on its brow, visible only when revealed, while the new limb could retract at will.

The squirrel had simply gained incredible speed, far beyond what Damon could match. Both creatures could expand to several meters in size if needed, but this pair had grown accustomed to freeloading from Damon.

"What do you want, Wendy?" Damon inquired, his face etched with boredom.

She folded her arms, adopting a grave look.

"All men are dogs, but you must be a dog’s dog. You really think you can have your way with me and just leave?"

Damon sensed the weight of every stare landing on him.

"Huh? What? I was the victim. You... Fine, fine. What do you want?"

He genuinely had been the one wronged. She'd appeared in his quarters during an inopportune moment, and though he hadn't fought back much, she'd initiated such encounters multiple times that week. Overwhelmed, he'd finally surrendered.

She pursed her lips in a pout.

"I want to come."

Damon scoffed, his features twisted in contempt.

"No. Get out of here. You’re in the way."

She shot him another fierce glare.

"I want to come."

"And I said no." Damon shook his head deliberately.

"I know this forest more than you. I lived here, so let me come."

"Still no." Damon flicked his hand in dismissal. Allowing her along would only lead to her nagging him about fathering a child. He already regretted that evening's events deeply. It had been a singular lapse, one he preferred to forget.

He'd even deceived her into silence about it.

She sulked, her cheeks flushing with fury.

"Fine, don’t take me. I’ll just go tell Lilith what ha—"

"Welcome aboard, Wendy. I couldn’t go on this mission without you," Damon interrupted her as the whispers from the group swelled.

"The vice commander is truly a man amongst men."

"To think he has the audacity to go sleeping around when he has another woman."

One soldier cast a look toward Renata, who was silently fixing them with a stare.

"He already has that beautiful adjunct, now he wants to add another woman. As expected of a noble. Philandering with such finesse."

Damon longed to weep, yet he forced composure.

He turned toward Seras Blade.

"Erm, Seras. I mean, commander. This young lady is a specialist when it comes to the Evil Forest and has spent years here. I would like to bring her on as my special advisor on matters related to the Evil Forest."

Seras rolled her eyes. This wasn't the initial instance of a trooper seeking to include a female companion, nor would it be the final.

"All men are scum," she grumbled.

"I really don’t care about your private life as long as it doesn’t affect the mission. Having more people die is fine by me."

Damon inclined his head, then addressed the expedition team.

"I know all your names and faces. If I hear rumors... Well, I’m sure you’ve heard of Jarvis before."

The group fell quiet before vowing to the goddess they'd guard the secret.

Jarvis instilled such dread. As an assassin donning a thousand faces, his devotion to Damon's grandfather ran so deep that he'd eliminate anyone at Damon's request.

"Good. I’m glad we’re on the same page."

Seras gestured onward.

The expedition pressed deeper into the woods. The instant Damon's foot touched the familiar dark earth, a chilling vibe enveloped him. Hostility permeated every element, be it beast or plant.

Seras faced the expedition members.

"We have entered the Evil Forest. From this point forward, even I can’t guarantee your lives. However, we have experts here who are familiar with the forest and its monsters. It will be wisest to keep them alive. Scouts, advance, but stay within a set distance where we can help you."

She issued a barrage of commands.

Damon eyed the forest's gloomy canopy, then directed his two companions to scout forward.

The raven and squirrel hesitated, but a sharp look from him sent them off.

Before pushing ahead, their goal was to secure a handful of nocturnal stags for riding. The logic was straightforward: these beasts offered superior speed and terrain knowledge, ideal for transporting gear as mounts.

This justified Seras's inclusion of tamer-class individuals.

Still, Damon suspected she intended only brief use of them. The forest's heart posed greater threats, after all.

"She wants us to save our strength before we reach the inner forest. Damnit, that is not a good sign. What the hell is in that place?"

Whatever lurked there, an intuition told him discovery was inevitable.

Soon enough, the tamers got word from the scouts and started their efforts.

Roughly thirty minutes passed before they came back leading multiple nocturnal stags. Damon recalled his last encounter with one of these shadowy beasts—it had nearly trampled him underfoot. Now, it served merely as transportation.

By midday's end, each member had claimed a stag.

Thus, they journeyed on, aiming to locate a suitable campsite prior to nightfall.

Wendy refused her own stag, opting to ride with Damon, insisting she knew an ideal spot. She and Damon led the expedition's vanguard.

At this stage, the Evil Forest remained manageable for the group. First-rank monsters appeared sporadically, but none mustered the courage to strike.

They shortly discovered a woodland glade, perfectly timed as the sun neared the horizon. Within the trees, dusk arrived even sooner.

Seras commanded the expedition to establish camp and gear up for the dawn march. Resting now was optimal, given the heightened perils ahead.

Damon's subordinates moved to erect his shelter, but he halted them. Such luxury wasn't necessary.

He delved into his shadow storage and retrieved a tent.

This was, naturally, Abellona’s tent.

"You guys rest up."

The unit leader acknowledged and proceeded to pitch their own shelters.

Damon entered the enchanted tent and slumped onto the couch.

Exhaustion weighed on him, more from the mind than the body.

Renata and Wendy entered his tent as well. Though Damon anticipated fresh gossip, he dismissed the concern.

Renata slipped into a side chamber, emerging after about thirty minutes with wet hair.

She donned casual sleep attire.

Damon spared her a quick look before averting his eyes.

"You do realize this isn’t a vacation, right?"

Wendy rose and headed for a bath herself.

Renata shot her an amused grin.

"I know, but it feels like one. The Evil Forest isn’t as dangerous as I thought."

Damon hastened to hush her, but in the motion, he accidentally toppled her to the floor, landing atop her.

"Don’t jinx us."

Before the words fully escaped, the tent flap parted, revealing Seras observing him in his awkward hold over Renata.

She let out a sigh.

"Every day you stoop lower than I thought."

Damon regarded the awkward scene.

"I... This... It’s not what you think."