The Broken Halo

Although Simon had a strong feeling that he would not be able to obtain True Dragon’s Authority from Lilith or through Lilith, that did not stop him from asking more questions about True Dragon’s Authority.

[Can all True Dragons do what you did to True Night?] Simon asked.

[To different degrees, yes.] Lilith replied. [But their authority differs depending on their bloodline, realm, soul, comprehension, talents, and nature.]

[Some True Dragons command flames.]

[Some command storms.]

[Some command mountains.]

[Some command blood.]

[Some command space.]

[Some command things even you are not qualified to hear about.]

Simon ignored the last part and focused on something else.

[What about you?]

Lilith became silent.

Then she replied.

[First of all, you’re not worthy to know what my authority is. Besides, my authority is incomplete at the moment. I am weakened, and I am also in soul form.]

[Not only that, I was using your body. A very weak body.]

Simon’s lips twitched.

[You don’t need to keep emphasizing that.]

[I do.] Lilith said calmly. [Because your body is pitiful.]

Simon closed his eyes, and he could not help but wonder what word or words Lilith would use if she were to possess a demon like Akaza or Sunless who were not even Daemons.

[Continue.] Simon said after a few seconds.

[Because your body could not handle my power, I only used a fraction of my True Dragon’s Authority. A very tiny fraction.]

Simon frowned.

[How tiny?]

[Tiny enough that calling it True Dragon’s Authority feels embarrassing.]

Simon did not know what to say.

The power that exploded True Night’s arm and dragged Sunless had been a tiny fraction.

A very tiny fraction.

And Lilith was embarrassed to call it True Dragon’s Authority.

One must not forget that True Night was not weak. He was a Half-Step Demon King, and he was not a weak Half-Step Demon King.

If Simon were to face True Night in his past life when he had not yet become a Demi-God, Simon would have to take True Night very seriously. However, Lilith had exploded his arm with a tiny fraction of her power?

It was absolutely shocking and terrifying.

Simon stared at the ceiling, and for the first time in a while, he felt like a true frog at the bottom of the well.

No.

Not even a frog.

A tadpole.

He had been proud of his experience as a Demi-God in his past life. He had believed that although this world was vast and full of secrets, his previous life experience would give him an overwhelming advantage.

And it did. It definitely did,

But every time Lilith spoke about higher level powers, he felt like his past life had merely been him playing inside a small pond while believing he had seen the ocean.

A soft sigh escaped his lips.

Then he remembered something.

[Hold on.]

[What?]

Simon’s eyes narrowed.

[What about all the other attacks you used? The sword slashes, the arcs of dark golden light, the attack that split the mountain, the attacks that cut Sunless and destroyed her shadow weapons...]

Lilith’s response came casually.

[Basic attacks.]

Simon froze.

For a few seconds, he did not understand what she said.

Or perhaps he understood, but his mind refused to accept it.

[What?]

[Basic attacks.] Lilith repeated.

Simon was silent.

The room was silent.

Even the faint noises coming from downstairs seemed to vanish from Simon’s perception.

[What do you mean by basic attacks?] Simon asked slowly.

Lilith sounded slightly amused.

[Exactly what the words mean.]

[The sword slashes were basic attacks. The arcs of dark golden light were simply me channeling my power through the Chaos Blade and swinging it. There was no complicated sword art behind most of them.]

Simon’s eyes widened slightly.

[You split a mountain.]

[Basic attack.]

[You cut apart hundreds and thousands of shadow weapons made by a Demon King who is also a Shadow Walker.]

[Basic attack.]

[You almost cut Sunless apart several times.]

[Basic attack.]

[You killed Black Midnight.]

[Basic attack.]

[You fought a Superior Demon King using mostly basic attacks?]

Lilith paused for a second.

[Yes.]

Simon was stunned and shaken to the core.

He had thought Lilith was using profound sword techniques. He thought that every movement of hers was some sort of ancient sword art, or at the very least, a refined technique from the era of Daemons.

He had been watching carefully from his Sea of Consciousness, trying to comprehend her swordsmanship and the principles behind her attacks.

He had been trying to see if there were things he could learn.

And now, Lilith was telling him that most of what she did was just basic attacks?

If he felt like this, then how would Sunless feel?

Simon suddenly had the urge to laugh, but the laugh did not come out.

His body hurt too much for that.

[You’re joking.] Simon said.

[I’m not.]

[You have to be joking.]

[I’m not.]

Simon was silent, then his lips twitched.

[If those were basic attacks, then what do you consider a proper sword technique?]

Lilith was silent for a few seconds, then she spoke with a calm voice.

[Something that would have turned your body into dust the moment I activated it.]

Simon instantly became silent.

His expression became extremely strange.

That was not an answer he expected, but after everything he had seen, he could not say she was exaggerating.

If Lilith’s basic attacks could do all that damage to Blackwind Valley, then what would happen if she used a true sword art?

No.

What would happen if she used a sword art with her own body?

Her true body.

Her true power.

Her personal weapons.

Simon felt his heart beat slightly faster, and his eyes flashed with a light that was difficult to describe.

This was power.

True power.

Not the kind of power that made one feared in a small clan or city.

Not the kind of power that made one a genius among First Years.

Not even the kind of power that made one a Demon King.

This was the type of power that stood above the vast world and looked down on beings that others worshipped.

This was the kind of power Simon wanted.

Lilith seemed to perceive a portion of his thoughts, and she chuckled softly.

[Don’t look so excited. You’re too weak.]

Simon’s expression instantly became flat.

[You truly know how to ruin a moment.]

[I’m only stating facts.]

Simon ignored her words and asked another question.

[Your Fallen Dragon Art... Chains Of The Heavenless Pyre.]

Lilith became silent.

Simon continued.

[What exactly is it? And can I learn it?]