My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger - Chapter 846

Capítulo 846: Chapter 847: Collateral Damage

Damon landed on a roof, the force of his impact shattering tiles and wooden supports alike, the structure screaming under his weight as it finally gave way. The roof collapsed inward, dragging both him and Evangeline straight down into the house below.

They crashed through the ceiling in a cloud of splintered wood and stone. Dust and rubble covered them completely as the floor buckled beneath their fall. Damon rolled as he hit, absorbing the impact through instinct alone.

He shook the debris off his shoulders, pushed himself up through the settling dust, and immediately reached for Evangeline, gripping her hand firmly.

Without hesitation, he dragged her forward and vaulted through the wide window at the far end of the room, glass exploding outward as they plunged from the top floor into the alley below.

They landed with a dull, bone-jarring thud.

Damon didn’t pause. He pushed forward, boots scraping stone as he pulled Evangeline with him, running deeper into the alley as debris continued to rain down behind them.

She wrenched her hand back, stumbling a step.

“Why are we running, we can take them.”

Damon twisted around mid-stride, staring at her like she’d lost all sense, his eyes sharp and incredulous.

“Huh, take them? Maybe you forgot, Eva… I just saved your ass.”

She bit her lip hard, frustration and doubt flickering across her face.

“You could have killed him.”

Damon shrugged, his expression flat even as he scanned their surroundings.

“Yes… and then what?”

He closed his eyes briefly as a faint buzzing vibration rolled through the air, low and constant, felt more than heard. His jaw tightened.

They were coming.

“Did you plan your escape?”

Evangeline looked away, her shoulders stiffening beneath her armor.

“I… was going to wing it…”

Damon drew in a slow, controlled breath, forcing calm into his chest before exhaling.

“Okay. Just stay close and try to keep up.”

The moment the words left his mouth, the alley ahead and every building lining it was split apart by an invisible blade. Stone and steel were cleaved as if made of paper. Tall buildings caved inward, collapsing with thunderous roars as screams echoed and a wall of dust surged into the air.

Damon ran straight toward the collapsing buildings.

He leapt into a falling window frame as the structure tilted, grabbing onto shattered stone as pillars and support beams crashed down around him. Chunks of masonry tore past his body.

Damon didn’t hesitate he knew this was the best path. Visibility was destroyed, chaos absolute. No one would consciously chase prey into falling buildings.

Evangeline followed, dust and rubble slamming against her armor as she twisted and ducked through collapsing gaps, narrowly avoiding beams that shattered just behind her.

Damon jumped onto a fractured ledge and burst through another wall, stone exploding outward just as another massive slash of wind ripped the building apart behind them. Entire sections tore free as crowds screamed below, people scattering as buildings fell around them.

He slid down broken stone and debris, landing hard before vaulting into another alley as knights shouted behind them, arrows and magic screaming through the air.

Evangeline turned mid-run, launching a ball of magic that detonated among the pursuing knights. She winced as she jumped forward, barely clearing the crushed corpse of a child pinned beneath rubble. Her jaw clenched, her expression grim beneath her helm.

Damon didn’t stop.

He didn’t slow.

He didn’t let himself feel anything.

He had no reason to feel guilt, he was not the one killing them.

His gaze lifted toward the sky, locking onto the warden floating above, parasol held loosely in one hand.

The warden glared down at him, face twisted with fury, then screamed.

“I can see you. Surrender, and I will give you a merciful death.”

The hatred and humiliation in his voice were unmistakable. Damon merely glared back, then raised his hand and waved mockingly.

The gesture snapped something in the man.

The warden’s eyes twisted as he thrust his hand downward. Pillars of wind erupted from the streets. Tornadoes formed as buildings were ripped from their foundations, homes, labor camps, everything in their path lifted screaming into the air.

Damon grabbed Evangeline’s hand as she slowed, reaching toward a woman buried beneath rubble.

He yanked her back violently.

“Come on, we have to keep moving. If you stay there she’ll get caught in the attack.”

The wind expanded outward, then compressed.

The woman’s body exploded with the rubble, blood spraying across Evangeline’s faceplate.

Her eyes went cold.

The warden’s arrogant voice echoed through the destruction.

“Die you insects.”

“These people have no regard even for the love of their own people.” she muttered.

Damon knew how she felt. But it had been her choice to come here without a plan. She hadn’t killed them, but she could still be said to be the cause.

Evangeline knew that too.

He glanced around at the devastation, the screams, the bodies.

‘He’s done enough damage. Time for me to get out of here.’

“Eva, do they know your face?”

She shook her head, helm still hiding her features.

“No. I’m not stupid.”

He nodded once.

“Good.”

Turning his head, Damon raised his hand and poured what little mana he had left into his spell.

Swords, black as shadow, appeared in the air.

They screamed forward toward the warden at terrifying speed, sonic booms ripping through the sky in their wake.

The warden raised his hand and formed a wind barrier with a third-class skill. The swords detonated on impact, explosions ripping through the air, shattering visibility and blasting him backward several meters.

When he regained control and looked again—

They were gone.

His gaze constricted coldly. The district lay in ruins, people fleeing in every direction. His men on the ground saw nothing.

He would have tracked them easily—

If they had brands.

With a furious scream, he hurled compressed spheres of wind into the streets, homes lifting and crashing down chaotically.

Damon’s dark hair whipped violently in the storm. He thought they had been discovered but he didn’t look up. Acting like a terrified civilian, he fell with Evangeline in his arms.

They rolled deliberately, then stayed still for several minutes as if stunned by the destruction. Damon pressed her down, shielding her as her armor shifted, its awakened shell dimming and disguising itself beneath torn brown fabric he had picked up along the way.

She glared up at him.

“How long are you going to stay on top of me?”

Damon sneered quietly.

“I’m the one who feels violated.”

Sensing the coast was clear, he pulled her up and merged them into a stream of fleeing people, all flowing toward a direction that seemed safe.

Damon spread his shadow perception, frowning as he sensed the cause of the delay.

A blockade.

Chained Knights stood ahead, checking brands. Anyone even slightly suspicious was cut down where they stood.

He pulled Evangeline close, arm draped protectively over her shoulders, playing the part of a frightened couple.

“Do you have a brand?” he asked quietly.

She shook her head.

“I’d never get that abhorrent thing on my person.”

The moment she whispered it, Damon reached into his shadow storage and pulled out a branding seal. Her eyes widened.

“You… you stole a branding seal.”

Damon smiled coldly.

“Not quite.”

He pulled her wrist closer and pressed the seal down, dark light flickering briefly.

“This is a Damon original. I just need you to show them this.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“You falsified a brand. What have you been up to all this time?”

Damon leaned closer, whispering.

“Nothing much. Just imprisoned in Eidolon.”

Her eyes widened—

He pinched her arm sharply.

Silence.

They were surrounded by sweating, terrified people as they approached the checkpoint. Those with chains were waved through. Those without—

Blood soaked the ground.

“Names and brands.”

Before Damon could speak, Evangeline stepped forward.

“Angel. And this is my husband, Damon.”

She raised her wrist, her voice trembling just enough.

Damon’s eyes flickered. He remained silent.

The chained knight sensed something off and released a pulse of aura. Evangeline reacted a fraction too slow, Damon yanked her back, forcing them both to stumble and cower.

The knights laughed loudly.

“Hahaha…”

Damon pulled her forward to keep moving—

“Wait. A minute.”

Damon froze.

If they were discovered, he’d have to kill them all and that would bring the warden back.

The knight turned.

“If you’re really husband and wife… prove it.”

Damon narrowed his eyes.

‘Prove it… how?’

Evangeline didn’t hesitate. She turned and kissed him.

Damon froze for a heartbeat, then kissed her back.

The knight frowned, suspicion draining from his gaze.

“Tsk.”

He waved them through.

Evangeline exhaled shakily as Damon pulled her along, her face faintly red. Damon’s face remained calm, unreadable.

Soon they left the chaos behind.

They passed through a narrow road. Damon released her hand and pushed open a tavern door. He walked straight to the bar and met the tavern keeper’s gaze.

“Ahhh, it’s such a hot day today.”

The keeper set a cup down, but Damon flipped it upside down.

“I’ll have something hot now… and something cool for later.”

The keeper lowered his jug.

“Welcome, patron,” he whispered, sliding a key across the counter.

Damon took it and stood. Evangeline followed, still trying to process everything.

They slipped through the back door.

Minutes later, they entered an ordinary residence.

Damon slammed the door shut.

Evangeline turned and threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.

“I’m so happy you’re alive.”

Damon wrapped his arms around her, holding her firmly.

“Yeah… me too…”