Dominating The Exile - Chapter 23: Duel of Damnation

In a romance novel called “The Secret Lovers of the Academy” the male lead would often torment his fiancée–but wait, why did she cross into this world to become his fiancée, the villainess, instead of the heroine?

The Venerable Xiang Yu, an eccentric villainous half-blood demon King was infamous in both the demon and human realm for being a cold-blooded ruthless devil that could kill with no remorse.Demons and humans feared him, cultivators wanted him as a trophy and the immortals saw him as a thorn in their side.The only reason he didn't get smote by the Heavenly King's searing lightning of divine wrath that could kill all mortals and immortals was because he kept the deadliest demons in check maintaining peace between the two realms.Despite his reputation, he had a small cult following in the human realm. They took him as their deity for his selfless acts of benevolence.Such rare selfless acts led him to rescue the fallen immortal Han Xin. But his benevolence became his downfall. Condemned to death, he faced an impossible choice: serve the Heavenly King or die with no marked grave.Xiang Yu: Hahaha... death isn't so bad after all.Heavenly King: You...Han Xin: Wife, you can't escape even in death. At least when you are alive you have a chance to run.Xiang Yu: QAQ...

[Your shadow is alive.][Feed your shadow, devour souls, level up, gain skills, complete quests, and grow stronger.][Do you wish to view your current stats?]In the magical world of Aetherus, Damon Grey is the weakest student at Aether Academy, relentlessly bullied and ridiculed for his lack of power and defiant personality. Yet, he endures the torment, clinging to his scholarship—the only thing providing him with the funds to keep his sick sister alive.After a brutal attack leaves him near death, Damon encounters a dark viscous entity in the forest that fuses with his shadow, awakening the Living Shadow System. This strange power grants him unimaginable abilities but comes with a grim cost—a relentless hunger for souls and flesh to feed his shadow.Now, with his shadow alive and insatiable, Damon faces a terrible choice: feed it to grow stronger or starve it and die with it.In a world ruled by ruthless nobles, deadly monsters, and power-hungry demons, Damon must decide if his newfound power is a curse or the only way to survive. With the Living Shadow System, his fate is clear: devour or be devoured.

I don’t need companions. I don’t do party play. But… the game forces party play?