The Broken Halo

”A wounded tiger is still a tiger.”

Merath’s expression became darker than charcoal when she heard Simon’s words.

’This Blackmoon... Who, no, what is he?’

’Why doesn’t he just die? He’s severely injured, but he’s still able to fight back... He’s a monster even amongst Daemons.’

Merath’s eyes slowly flickered with the light of realization.

’Wait... He’s not even a true Daemon yet. He’s still a Half-Daemon. And he’s a hybrid on top of that.’

’How powerful would he be if he becomes a true Daemon?... That’s a terrifying thought.’

The light in Merath’s eyes continued flickering from hatred to wariness to uncertainty to unwillingness to coldness then anger.

The forest became silent once again as Simon, Sonya, and Akaza stared at Merath in silence.

The river continued flowing in the distance, completely unaware of the killing intent that filled the clearing.

Merath looked at Simon, then she looked at Sonya and Akaza.

Sonya was standing in front of Simon despite her injuries.

Akaza had forced himself to his feet again after crashing into a tree, and his fists were tightly clenched, the space around them warping due to the increased gravity Akaza placed on his fists.

His body was swaying slightly, but his eyes were sharp and ready to fight.

Both of them were injured.

Both of them were tired.

Both of them were weaker than her.

But they were standing protectively in front of Simon.

Merath then looked at her missing arm with a deep frown.

Simon, Sonya, and Akaza were not the only ones that were injured and tired. One must not forget that she too was injured and tired.

Simon had cut off both of her ears and her right arm.

Her race had the ability to heal one’s injuries depending on how talented the individual was.

However, their healing ability was nothing compared to that of Fleshwoods.

The reason why she was able to hear everything even after Simon cut off her ears is because she regrew them.

Regrowing her ears took a lot of blood and demonic energy, but she regrew her ears regardless.

Regrowing her arm however, would take so much of her blood and demonic energy, and because of how dangerous their environment was in the Shadowgrave Clan and the Blackwind Valley, she couldn’t afford to expend that much blood and demonic energy.

If she wanted to regrow her arm, she would need to drink the blood of other demons or demonic beasts.

Or...

’Unless Blackmoon gives me back my arm. If I have my arm, I can reattach it with ease.’

Unfortunately for Merath, Simon had no plans on giving back her arm.

If he did, he might as well give her his head along with it.

Merath’s expression became colder the more she thought about everything.

”You will regret this.”

Her gaze shifted to Simon.

”From the first time I met you, I’ve never meant you harm, but you’ve threatened, beaten, wounded, and even killed my partner.”

”I can never forgive you for everything you’ve done and most especially, for killing Jorra.”

”The Abyss would also not forgive you. We’ll come for your head.”

Simon’s lips curled up slightly, but he said nothing. He just kept on staring at Merath silently.

Inwardly, he wondered if the Abyss which was an organization of Daemons, would want to kill him who was an immensely talented Half-Daemon.

Simon believed that they would either want to recruit him or they would want to have control over him and make him a slave of the Abyss.

But would Simon allow such a thing to happen?

Absolutely not.

Being the slave of the Shadowgrave Clan was more than enough slavery for him. He couldn’t imagine being the slave of another organization.

Merath’s bloody aura slowly withdrew into her body.

”Keep hiding behind them for now, Blackmoon.”

Her eyes flashed with hatred.

”The next time we meet, I’ll tear that smile of yours from your face. I’ll slowly rip out the skin of your face, then I’ll feed your eyes to the birds after making you watch as I break everything you care about.”

She took a step backward.

Sonya immediately moved as though she wanted to attack.

Akaza also took a step forward.

But Simon spoke.

”Don’t do anything. Let her go.”

Sonya froze, and Akaza frowned.

”What?” Akaza looked at Simon.

Simon kept his gaze on Merath.

”Like I said, let her go.”

Sonya’s expression changed slightly.

”Little kitty, she is dangerous and a threat.”

”I know.” Simon said calmly.

Akaza clenched his fists while still staring at Merath with a cold gaze.

”Then why are we letting her leave?”

Simon closed his eyes for a brief moment.

The answer was simple.

Because his body hurt like hell.

Because his mind was exhausted.

Because his soul needed to recover.

Because they had just escaped a Demon King, and they were in no condition to fight a desperate Daemon.

And because if they pushed Merath, he was certain that either Akaza or Sonya would die... Maybe even the three of them since Merath might have a trump card she does not want to use.

She’s from the Abyss after all.

Who knows what powerful artifacts she has hidden in her spatial ring.

Simon opened his eyes.

”Because it’s not worth it.” He said calmly and simply.

Sonya’s expression became solemn, and Akaza’s frown deepened. But neither of them said a word.

There was no need for Simon to explain because they too knew how the battle might end up.

They didn’t just feel comfortable letting such a powerful and dangerous threat to leave right in front of their faces.

Meanwhile, Merath stared at Simon for a few seconds. Then she laughed softly.

It was not a happy laugh or a laugh of mockery.

It was a laugh filled with hatred and unwillingness.

”At least you know.”

She looked at Simon one last time.

”Don’t die before I find you.”

A second later, her bloody aura surged around her body.

Then she turned and vanished into the trees.