Chapter 371 - 372: Calm Veil

A week had passed, and Damon was completely normal. There was no significant change—he and Sylvia spoke to each other like nothing had happened.

He had ordered the party to thin out the monsters in the water, hunting them relentlessly until the water around them was stained red with blood.

His expression hadn't shifted much; he still wore the same neutral face, sometimes even cracking jokes.

Other than that, they did a few things.

Valarie taught them rune magic whenever she was awake—when she wasn't, she was stuffed into Damon's pouch like luggage.

They trained and honed their skills with sparring matches—mostly Damon and Evangeline.

Evangeline taught him everything she could, and he absorbed her family's sword techniques like a sponge.

He even created a technique that was the complete opposite of hers. Or rather, it mirrored her radiant blade style, but with a different attribute—Shadow.

For her radiant blade, he created Dark Blade, which delivered nearly the same effect, albeit shrouded in shadow magic.

She couldn't deny it—she was jealous. He was a freakish prodigy with the sword.

She fought him every day, pushing herself harder just to keep up.

Today was no different.

Evangeline felt her Radiant Sword clash against a blade of shadows. She shifted back, swinging her sword in a wide arc.

Damon stepped forward, lifting his weapon in a rising slash—a wave of shadows flew toward the high ceiling of the wrecked dome above them.

A deafening bang echoed—but the ceiling held firm, no real damage done.

Evangeline smiled—his blade had lost its dark edge since he'd unleashed it into the slash.

"Got you..."

She lunged forward, thrusting straight for him.

Damon moved with a thin smile.

"I saw that coming." Her blade skidded off the flat side of his sword.

She immediately followed with a sharp jab—Damon blocked, their faces just inches apart.

"That's time, guys… it's a tie," Sylvia's voice called out from the side, where the others had been watching.

Damon and Evangeline looked like they wanted to keep going, but they both knew better. If they fought for real, they risked sinking the tiny island of wreckage beneath their feet.

He exhaled slowly, lowering his blade. "Thanks for the lesson... I got stronger. My technique's getting sharper."

Evangeline shook her head, gripping her sword tighter. "I got stronger too. You're really a freak with the sword..."

Damon scratched the back of his head awkwardly and walked over to the others.

Matia handed him a bowl shaped from ice, filled with water.

"Thanks, Matia."

She gave a small nod, standing silently behind him.

Damon drank slowly while the others chatted. Then, without a word, he wandered a fair distance away.

He stopped in front of a small raft fitted with a makeshift sail.

Beside it was a large, rune-reinforced box—inscribed with symbols Valarie had taught them to carve.

His fist clenched.

"Your plan will work... don't worry..."

He turned and found Sylvia beside him.

She gave a slow nod as he sighed.

"We can't be certain now, can we..."

He glanced sideways at her.

"How are you holding up? I mean… with the constant dark spirit attacks."

Sylvia smiled faintly. This week hadn't exactly been easy. They'd been under constant siege by dark spirits. The longer they stayed in this place, the more frequently the spirits appeared.

Worse—the monsters in the water were growing restless. Sooner or later, they'd launch a full assault and sink the island of wreckage they were clinging to.

"I should say the same to you... They target you just as much as me..." Her words drew a slight smile from him.

He also had spirit affinity—though in his case, it came from a skill.

The battles were getting fiercer each night. It wouldn't be long before this floating ruin was swallowed whole by the flooded ruins.

"I've mapped out the layers over the week with my skill... but things can change. I've divined the outcome... if we stay, this island will sink..."

Her words made him nod grimly.

"We did our best with what we had."

His eyes drifted toward the stretched monster skin near the box.

His water-based skills would play a huge part in the escape.

Speaking of skills... he had a new one.

Fighting and devouring had sharpened him. He had poured most of his earned points into various stats. Most importantly, he'd kept his Shadow Energy full—especially since gaining his newest mastery.

He opened his system panel.

[HP: 695/695]

[Mana: 4,499/4,499]

[Strength: 1034]

[Agility: 957]

[Speed: 1485]

[Endurance: 910]

[Class: Death Dealer]

[Shadow: 1000]

[Shadow Hunger Levels: 0%]

[Shadow Level: 10]

[Condition: Shadow Is Full]

[Attributes: Umbra]

[Skills:]

[ 5x] [Remorseless] [Shadow Perception] [Water Celebration] [Sacrifice] [Shadow Control] [Parkour] [Shadow Armor] [Beholder's Gaze] [Dead Eye] [Spirit Affinity] [Ashborn] [Omen Of Dread] [Dealer's Hand] [Bloodletting] [Shadow Movement] [Shadow] [Faceless] [Danger Sense] [Wave Walk]

[Mastery:]

[Etiquette Lv3] [Swordsmanship Lv3] [Survival Lv4 ] [Persuasion Lv2] [Deception Lv3] [Bartering Lv2] [Theft Lv3] [Archery Lv2] [Trap Lv3] [Alchemy Lv1] [Dagger Arts Lv2] [Cooking Lv2] [Basic Magic Lv2] [Mana Control lv2] [Magic Gatling Lv1] [Pain Resistance Lv3] [Mental Contamination resistance lv2] [Disintegration resistance Lv1] [Sniper Lv1] [Rune Magic Lv1] [Insanity Lv1]

[Locked]

He was level 10 now. His stats had spiked after countless battles. He'd slain dozens of monsters. Unfortunately, he didn't gain many new skills—it seemed the system favored mastery, or maybe he was just unlucky.

Still, he was far stronger now. Some of his stats had skyrocketed.

His mana pool, though... was lower than ever. He needed to find something with an immense mana reserve to devour—magic crystals or high-grade mana cores. Regular ones weren't cutting it anymore.

And worst of all—he had to keep his Shadow Energy full.

Especially after unlocking that new mastery.

"...Insanity."

How is 'Insanity' even something I can learn or use...

He didn't know how to weaponize insanity. Frankly, he didn't want to find out.

That's why he'd been sacrificing so much mana to keep his shadow well-fed.

As long as the shadow was fed—his sanity stayed intact.

He touched his forehead, frowning. He also had a hunch that the crown on his armor—the one made of ashen metal—was helping stabilize his mind.

If that thing grew any further… he'd be in serious trouble.

He just knew it.