The Broken Halo

”Akaza.”

The compound became quiet again, but it was not the same silence that appeared when Sonya was called.

When Sonya stepped forward, many demons had doubted her because of her small body. Even after seeing her peak S grade earth affinity, some of them still found it difficult to connect such a small demoness with overwhelming physical strength.

But Akaza was different.

His body did not look exaggerated, but it was clear that he was built for battle. His shoulders were broad, his arms were firm, and the black tattoos on his body made many demons remember what he was.

A Martial Demon.

A demon with no elemental affinity, yet nobody dared to look down on him.

Akaza walked toward the Impact Crystal with the same calm expression he always had. His steps were steady, and his eyes were fixed on the crystal. He did not look at the crowd, and he did not look at Korran Veyl.

It was as if the gazes on him did not exist.

Some demons unconsciously moved aside as he passed.

Ammor watched him with a dark expression. After what Sonya had done, he did not want another demon from their group to produce a ridiculous result. Unfortunately, the feeling in his chest told him that Akaza would not be simple.

The official also looked more serious than before.

After Sonya’s result, he no longer dared to judge anyone from the group based on appearance.

Akaza stopped in front of the Impact Crystal.

”First strike. No demonic energy,” the official said.

Akaza nodded once.

He did not stretch his arms or crack his knuckles. He did not twist his neck, gather momentum, or make any unnecessary movement.

He simply stood there.

For a brief moment, some demons frowned.

His stance looked too ordinary.

But Simon’s eyes moved slightly.

Akaza’s body was relaxed, but it was not loose. His feet were planted properly, his waist was stable, and his shoulders carried no useless tension. It was the kind of posture that did not look impressive to fools, but to those who understood martial combat, it was clean.

Very clean.

Akaza raised his right fist.

Then he punched.

BANG!

The sound was sharp and heavy.

The Impact Crystal trembled, and crimson light burst from within it.

One ring appeared.

Then the second.

Then the third.

Then the fourth.

A heartbeat later, the fifth ring appeared and remained stable.

The compound became silent.

The fifth ring.

Half-Step Greater Demon physical strength.

Raw physical strength.

Without demonic energy.

Another one.

The official stared at the five crimson rings for a few seconds before announcing the result with a sharp inhale of disbelief.

”Half-Step Greater Demon physical strength.”

The moment his voice sounded, the compound became noisy.

Some demons looked at Sonya, then at Akaza, then at Simon. Their expressions had become difficult to describe.

One monster could be called rare.

Two monsters standing beside each other was already frightening.

But three?

Even if Simon had not taken the strength test yet, nobody could look at him like an ordinary demon anymore.

He had high S grade wind affinity, and he was walking with two demons who had both produced results that should not appear casually among Archfiends.

The officials beside Korran Veyl exchanged glances again.

One of them silently tightened his grip around the brush in his hand. It was obvious that he had not expected the strength test to produce something this troublesome after the affinity test had already shaken the compound.

Korran Veyl did not speak.

His gaze remained on Akaza.

A Martial Demon with Half-Step Greater Demon raw physical strength was not impossible, but it was still rare. More importantly, Akaza looked too calm after producing the result.

There was no pride.

No excitement.

No relief.

That calmness meant that he had either expected the result, or he did not consider it worth reacting to.

Neither answer was comforting.

Ammor’s expression became uglier.

His two strikes had almost formed the fifth ring, but it had failed. Sonya had formed it without struggle, and now Akaza had done the same. The pride he had managed to recover earlier was slowly being crushed again.

He clenched his fists, but he said nothing.

There was nothing he could say or do.

The official waited for the noise to reduce before speaking again.

”Second strike. Demonic energy reinforcement.”

Akaza pulled back his fist.

This time, the black tattoos on his arm reacted.

A faint dark light moved through the markings like ink flowing beneath his skin. It did not flare outward like most demonic energy reinforcement. It sank into his muscles quietly, making his presence heavier without making his aura wild.

The platform beneath his feet did not crack, but the air around him seemed to tighten.

Simon watched silently.

Akaza was not using his gravity ability.

He was not using a technique that would count as a trick, and he was not using chaos. This was only his body, his demonic energy, and his control over both.

Even so, Simon could tell that the strike would not be weak.

Akaza punched again.

BOOM!

The Impact Crystal shook harder than before.

Crimson light surged from within it.

One ring.

Two rings.

Three rings.

Four rings.

Five rings.

The fifth ring formed instantly and remained stable.

Then the sixth ring flickered.

The moment it appeared, the noise in the compound vanished.

Minor Greater Demon physical strength.

The eyes of all demons flickered with varying emotions but the same thought.

Could Akaza achieve something none of them had been able to achieve?

The sixth ring brightened violently, dimmed, then brightened again. It looked like it was trying to form, but something was missing.

A few demons held their breaths.

The officials leaned forward slightly.

Even Korran’s eyes narrowed.

But after struggling for a few seconds, the sixth ring faded.

Only five crimson rings remained.

The official stared at the crystal, then at Akaza. This time, he recovered faster than when Sonya had taken the test, but the disbelief in his eyes was still obvious.

”Half-Step Greater Demon physical strength.”