My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger Chapter 935 - 936: Bone Ridge

The core objective of locating the Pillar of Conflict remained completely unaltered. If possible, Damon felt an even stronger urge to track it down now, yet he possessed zero knowledge on its discovery method or appearance, merely certain that he needed to pursue it.

Because of this, Damon felt confident that the unknown god himself lacked awareness of the Pillar of Conflict's exact spot in this realm, knowing solely that it resided somewhere here.

The realm consisted of nine continents. Were he in the shoes of the goddess of doom, which landmass would he choose to conceal it upon?

Among every continent, just one bore the name of war continent, yet Damon suspected the goddess of doom wouldn't opt for such blatant concealment, thus eliminating Soltheon, his current home. Following that came the doom continent, alternatively termed the demon continent, Centros, situated right at the world's core.

This land housed the demon race and served as the origin of all things. Still, with the demons inhabiting it for ages, Damon figured the unknown god had surely examined it thoroughly already.

The wild continent sprang to next in his thoughts. As Leona's origin point, it featured mostly beastkin residents amid thick jungles. Lothria, positioned in the southern reaches, contained numerous ancient ruins while its jungles stayed largely unexplored. Such an area would make an ideal spot for hiding.

Nevertheless, Damon dismissed it from consideration.

That left the Verdant Continent, inhabited by elves, as the prime candidate, but upon reflecting on the elves' arrogant demeanor, he crossed off Iorvas.

He clicked his tongue as Lilith reclined in her seat. In a silky tone, she remarked,

"Iorvas is known for its mystical forests and ancient elven cities, though other races also live within its dense forests and plains. The elves are dominant in terms of leadership, but the continent is home to many nature based races who share a common reverence for the natural world and the Goddess. I don’t see them being warlike, so it’s less likely than the wild continent."

Damon nodded deliberately, removing it from his mental map.

"Guessing blindly like this serves no purpose. We possess reasons to question each option, but if forced to choose, I'd wager it's in Soltheon or perhaps Vuldren." His statement carried hesitation.

Lilith rapped gently on the stone table. The chamber boasted enormous statues depicting odd humanoid figures. This expansive room featured a towering ceiling and an atmosphere reminiscent of a tomb for the deceased. That might indeed be its true nature. After all, the site was named the Tomb of Lesser Gods.

Their position neared the heart of this concealed tomb.

"What if she truly did choose an obvious spot? We lack any real insight into the goddess beyond those questionable ancient writings penned by forgotten scribes who wove in their biases to sway the naive followers who accept such texts as absolute truth."

"Hmm, essentially, we ought to leave all possibilities on the table," Damon replied casually.

Lilith grinned. She appreciated his quick alignment with her view.

"Very well, that leads us to the issue of the unknown god." Damon settled into a stone seat facing her.

"And what about the unknown..." Lilith inquired, her eyebrows knitting together.

"How shall we handle him?" Damon posed deliberately.

"That comes across more as a declaration than an inquiry. You've got a plan brewing, haven't you..." Lilith responded. Of that, she felt certain.

Damon offered a composed smile, gesturing with his hand.

"Oh, indeed, yes, I certainly do..."

"So, what's the plan..." Lilith pressed.

He held her gaze briefly, his face serene.

She blinked, recalling the stigmata of the unknown god marked on her back.

"Hmm, that's a fair point of worry. No need to share if you prefer not to."

Damon gave a faint shake of his head.

"No, it's okay. I operate assuming the unknown god anticipates my upcoming moves, and that's alright. It changes nothing if he does. Yet for the moment, I'd also like to proceed as if he remains in the dark."

Lilith cocked her head a bit.

"So, you're saying even if he knows, it doesn't matter, but you'd rather he stays unaware, correct?"

"Correct." Damon confirmed unhurriedly.

"The goddess once dominated here, only to be outmaneuvered by the unknown god. If that befell her, why couldn't the same happen to him... consider it, what truly drew the unknown god to this place..."

Lilith pondered briefly before replying steadily,

"It was Lazarak employing his Lake of Tears."

Damon grinned gradually.

"Precisely. That Lake of Tears proved revolutionary since it evaded the goddess to reach outside forces. Its precise mechanism eludes me. Lazarak never deployed it during my acquaintance with him, or at least not to my knowledge. Outside the nightmare, though, he did utilize it, sparking the entire chain of events."

Lilith grasped his reasoning, yet one crucial query lingered.

"Sure, that's logical, but what do you plan to do with the Lake of Tears, and where exactly is it? You haven't a clue."

Damon let out a gradual chuckle.

"It's located right within this tomb. I'm certain because I understand Lazarak. Among all possible hiding spots for the Lake of Tears, he'd stash it here."

Damon paused briefly, reminiscing about the hopeful deity incapable of ending lives.

"I know it's present. He'd safeguard it in the burial chamber."

Lilith exhaled deeply, drawing in a long breath.

"Oh, how vexing. The burial chamber lies beyond our reach due to the beast guarding its entrance. We can't simply summon aid to eliminate it either."

In the preceding months, they had advanced considerably in mastering the Tomb of Lazarak. Having journeyed and battled through it for some time, Lilith couldn't resist noting its dungeon-like essence.

The fiercest breakthroughs stemmed from raids by the orcs pledging fealty to Damon, alongside the human knights they had vanquished.

Yet progress stalled until Maw arrived with his swarm of shadow drones, seizing chamber upon chamber. Now, only the ultimate chamber remained—the burial chamber.

The gate's protector had reached the sixth class advancement, rendering it impossible to pass or defeat.

Damon suspected the contents within posed an even graver threat.

"Who do you plan to summon using the Lake of Tears once you access it?"

Damon shook his head faintly.

"No notion yet. I'll handle that when the time comes, but likely the goddess. You know, counter fire with fire..."

Lilith offered no response. She cast a glance his way.

"What's the status of your primary form in the Bone Hallows?"

Damon scowled, clutching his forehead.

"Nothing positive."

---

He slipped into a fissure amid two bones. A damp, adhesive ooze smeared his features, but Damon paid no mind to the repulsive goo reeking of decay.

His eyes locked onto the grayish heavens overhead as he held perfectly still. An immense silhouette glided through the skies, the ground quaking with every beat of its wings.

Damon longed to swear, but whispers warned that even his oaths could alert this dragon.

Naturally, it was a dragon—Rexagon himself.

Rexagon persisted in his pursuit of Damon even now. The shame burned vividly in his core.

However, Rexagon refrained from descending upon this forsaken terrain. He hovered aloft. It wasn't unwillingness; it was inability. Each attempt triggered the ancient bones to rise against him.

Damon bided his time until the danger passed. Once Rexagon's form faded beyond the horizon, he released a breath of ease.

Then he emerged cautiously, his visage marred by the odor of death. He wasn't alone. From bone crevices and lurking shadows, expedition members surfaced gradually.

Seras tumbled from beneath a heap of human-scale bones.

"That dragon's tenacity is unmatched," she grumbled, shooting Damon a mild glare.

Damon felt too exhausted to mind. Evidently, certain zones in the Bone Hallows forbade slumber. Dozing there meant eternal sleep.

They had discovered this through bitter experience, and since such areas defied detection, they chose total wakefulness.

"How much longer until we hit the sea?"

Seras raised her palm to her visage, as if measuring the span.

"Hmm, I'd estimate we're not far off. We merely need to surmount that bone ridge, though here we must traverse within it to evade Rexagon."

Damon's spirits sank at her words.

"Let me venture a guess—something lurks inside those bones."

Seras curved her lips into a gradual smile.

"Your speculation matches my own uncertainty."