The Broken Halo

As Simon stared at the twelve pillars, he noticed something on the pillars.

Each pair was divided into seven thick sections from bottom to top. These seven sections represented the affinity grades.

F grade. E grade. D grade. C grade. B grade. A grade. S grade.

Each section also had four thin rune lines carved around it, and they represented the sub-affinity grades.

Low.

Intermediate.

High.

Peak.

As Simon was looking at the pillars, Korran Veyl spoke and explained what the pillars were and how they worked.

The method of testing their elemental affinity was simple.

A demon would place his or her hand on the central pillar and circulate his or her demonic energy into the pillar.

The central pillar would then absorb the demonic energy and send it toward the twelve elemental pillars.

Whichever pillar reacted would show the demon’s affinity.

The height of the light would show the grade.

And the number of thin rune lines that lit up within that section would show the sub-grade.

If the fire pillar lit up only at the first section and one thin rune line glowed, then the demon had low F grade fire affinity.

If the wind pillar lit up to the fifth section and three thin rune lines glowed, then the demon had high B grade wind affinity.

If more than one pillar reacted, then it meant the demon had more than one affinity.

However, the brighter pillar would usually be the demon’s main affinity.

A few demons looked at the pillars with excitement.

A few looked nervous.

After all, even though strength was important, affinity also mattered.

A demon with a high grade affinity would find it easier to control that element. Their chaos would be smoother, stronger, and more flexible.

Meanwhile, a demon with a low grade affinity might still use an element, but it would be clumsy, weak, and difficult to improve.

Another reason why the demons were worried is because their elemental affinities and grades can determine what roles Velmora City would give them.

While everybody had their own thoughts, Simon’s thoughts were completely different.

A test on their elemental affinity was something he did not expect, and it made him frown a little bit.

The reason was simple.

He had far too many affinities.

Wind, Space, Fire, Ice, and Shadow.

A demon with two affinities was rare and regarded as a rare talent. An example was Sonya who had an earth and metal affinity.

Finding a demon with three affinities was even rarer but not impossible.

However, finding a demon with more than three affinities was nearly impossible.

Simon could recall what the researcher told him when he wanted to check his shadow affinity.

’Three affinities is usually the limit for the vast majority of demons because of the weight of the elemental planes.’

’There would be an uproar in the Darkness Kingdom or maybe even the Demon Realm if I was found to possess five affinities.’

Simon looked at the pillars calmly, and his eyes observed everything on the pillars.

’I wonder how these pillars truly function. There are truly numerous ways of testing one’s elemental affinity and grade.’

’... Can I deceive it?’

Just as Simon had this thought, an official stepped forward and spoke loudly.

”When your name is called, place your hand on the central pillar and circulate your demonic energy normally. Do not force it.”

The official looked down at the beast-skin list in his hand and called out the first name.

”Harvek.”

A bulky demon walked forward with a confident expression. He placed his hand on the central pillar, closed his eyes, and circulated his demonic energy.

The black central pillar lit up faintly.

A second later, the earth pillar reacted.

A dull brown light rose to the fourth section, and one thin rune line lit up.

The official glanced at it.

”Low C grade earth affinity.”

Harvek’s confident expression stiffened a little, but he said nothing and stepped back.

Another demon was called.

Then another.

Then another.

The test continued.

Most of the results were not impressive.

F grade.

E grade.

D grade.

Low C grade.

Intermediate C grade.

A few demons had high C grade affinities, and only after more than thirty demons had been tested did a demon finally get a B grade affinity.

It was a female demon with pale blue skin and long black hair.

When she placed her hand on the central pillar, the water pillar lit up to the fifth section, and two thin rune lines glowed.

”Intermediate B grade water affinity.”

A few demons looked at her with envy.

The female demon’s lips curled slightly, and she returned to her position with a proud expression.

Simon watched calmly.

There were a little over three hundred Archfiends in the compound. If only one B grade affinity had appeared after more than thirty demons, then it was clear that B grade affinity was already quite rare in this place.

As for A grade and S grade, they would be even rarer.

Or so Simon thought.

The testing continued.

Fire.

Wind.

Earth.

Metal.

Ice.

Water.

Wood.

Lightning.

These were the affinities that were constantly shown.

Most demons had only one affinity. A few had two, but in those cases, the second affinity was usually much weaker than the first. There were a few who had no affinity, and they received gazes of disdain.

Nobody had space.

Nobody had time.

Nobody had darkness.

Nobody had shadow.

And this was not surprising.

Those four affinities were extremely rare, especially space and time.

Even darkness and shadow were not things ordinary demons would casually possess. Even in the Shadowgrave Clan, not every member had shadow affinity.

After almost an hour, the first A grade affinity appeared.

A red-skinned demon placed his hand on the central pillar, and the fire pillar erupted with a bright red light that rose to the sixth section. Three thin rune lines lit up.

”High A grade fire affinity.”

The compound became noisy for a moment.

The red-skinned demon stepped back with a wide smile.

Not long after, another A grade appeared.

This time, it was ice.

”Intermediate A grade ice affinity.”

The demon who received it was calm, but the demons around him could not remain calm.

Then, after several more ordinary results, a third A grade appeared.

”Low A grade water affinity.”

The Archfiends became even more restless.

Korran Veyl watched everything with an indifferent expression, but the officials recording the results clearly became more attentive.

After all, A grade affinities were valuable.

Besides, they didn’t expect to see three demons with A grade affinities. They had already planned for a scenario where the highest grade was a B grade.

But to their surprise, the first S grade appeared.

A tall and heavily built demon placed his hand on the central pillar, and the earth pillar released a deep brown light that climbed all the way to the seventh section.

Two thin rune lines glowed.

”Low S grade earth affinity.”