My Living Shadow System Devours To Make Me Stronger

Too generic. Not enough aura. Not nearly mysterious enough. Among many reasons.

The Unknown Order.

Yes.

That had style.

He might actually steal that.

Abellona watched him carefully now.

Searching his expression.

"Yes."

Her voice softened slightly.

"They are real."

There was something almost vulnerable in the way she looked at him.

As though she needed him to believe her.

As though, somewhere beneath the princess and politician and strategist.

She was hoping the Empire’s greatest hero would tell her everything would be fine.

Damon met her gaze.

And for the briefest moment.

The architect behind the very organization she feared most almost smiled.

"Looks like I missed a lot these past two years. There’s a mysterious figure in the temple, and now a new force called the Unknown Order. Huh. I see."

He smiled faintly, then casually rested his hands on Abellona’s thighs as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Good luck, princess. I wish you the very best. May the goddess of doom be with you."

Abellona immediately smacked his hands away, her eyes sharp despite the faint exhaustion beneath them. After what had happened the night before, she had already decided he at least owed her some level of restraint.

"Actually, I need you. No, you will be joining me. It is a hidden mission to root them out," she said coldly.

Damon shook his head slowly, leaning back against the seat.

"Yeah, not gonna happen. I’m off the field after I took out the dragon Ashergon. Hard pass."

She sighed, pushing her dark hair back behind her ear with controlled irritation.

"This is an order from the higher ups."

"Well, screw the higher ups. I already did my part. Now I just want to spend my days with my daughter."

Abellona studied him for a moment. She already knew that tone. Damon Grey did not move for authority. Not even for the highest authority in the Empire.

She exhaled, sounding almost tired.

"Fine. Don’t."

Then, without warning, she shifted closer, rose from her seat, and settled herself directly onto his lap. Her hands cupped his face and she kissed him softly, deliberate and brief.

"This little thing we have going on... we can keep it. No one would be suspicious."

Damon blinked, momentarily dazed. Then a slow smile returned to his face.

"Well, I see..."

In a single motion, he pushed her back down into the seat with one hand, steady and unbothered.

"Hard pass. Did you think you could convince me with your tits, princess? Yeah, no."

Abellona was a beautiful woman, and she had never been turned down so bluntly in her life. For a brief moment, anger flickered across her expression, followed by something closer to disbelief, as if her mind struggled to accept what had just been said.

Then she remembered exactly who she was dealing with.

She gritted her teeth.

"How much?"

Damon had been about to respond when he paused, nostrils flaring slightly as if catching a scent only he could recognize. The smell of money.

He straightened a little, expression instantly shifting.

"Princess... please. Do I look like the kind of man who can be bought with money? Do you think I, Damon Grey, am greedy for material things?"

He placed a hand over his chest in wounded dignity.

"I am a loyal citizen of the Empire. I want the Antique Heaven Spear the Imperial Family has guarded for the past six thousand years."

Abellona nearly coughed up blood.

"You cannot just demand a royal family heirloom. Even I have only seen it twice in my life."

Damon placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Well then, I must be on my way."

She bit her lip, thinking quickly, then nodded.

"Wait. I cannot decide something like that. I will have to speak to my imperial father."

Damon smiled slowly, lifting her chin slightly with two fingers.

"While you are at it, line up my five billion zeni."

Abellona’s eyes narrowed.

"You slept with me and you still want five billion zeni?"

Damon pointed at her like he was delivering justice itself.

"You are lucky I am not reporting you for violating me."

Abellona looked like she might actually explode.

She was the one bruised, exhausted, and mentally ruined, and yet somehow he had repositioned himself as the victim.

"Deplorable," she muttered.

Then, deciding she would not let him control the situation any longer, she smiled sweetly.

"Well, that is fine. Come to think of it, you are expected in the Holy City. I was supposed to pass the message to you, but I forgot... with your tongue in my mouth and all."

She rested a finger thoughtfully against her chin.

"I would tell you what it is about, but clearly our relationship means nothing to you."

"Wait—"

Before Damon could finish, the carriage door suddenly opened.

He was kicked out at high speed into a quiet alleyway, tumbling through the air before landing smoothly on his feet.

The carriage sped off without hesitation.

Damon straightened his coat, watching it disappear.

"...At least give me a lift home," he muttered.

He stood in the quiet alleyway. For a moment he lingered there, expression faintly exasperated, as if trying to decide whether he had just been used or simply outplayed by the princess.

From the looks of it, there was no real choice in the matter. More problems were already stacking up.

The temple came first. Which meant he might eventually come face to face with Aetherus.

A faint tension settled behind his eyes.

"It would be troublesome if he found out about my divine spark."

His voice was low, almost thoughtful, as if he were weighing the consequences rather than fearing them outright.

Then there was the spear.

The Imperial relic he had just casually demanded as if it were a trinket instead of a national treasure. The Heaven Spear.

His gaze sharpened slightly at the thought.

It wasn’t greed. Not entirely. Damon had uses for it. Very specific uses.

"Morticai... your days are numbered."