The Broken Halo

Chapter 1008 - 1007: Structure & Blessing Of The Abyss

The passage widened beyond the guest rooms, opening onto a gallery above a spacious hall. Dark pillars supported the upper floors, and narrow windows admitted the glow of the falling fire.

Enigma turned toward a broad staircase.

Simon followed, passing doorways of different heights. One nearly reached the ceiling. Another barely came above his waist.

”How is your clan organised?” he asked.

”You haven’t joined, and you’re already interested in who gives the orders?”

”I’d rather know before someone starts giving them to me.”

”Fair enough.”

They began descending.

”At the top is the Abyss Sovereign. The elders answer to him, as do the rest of us.”

Enigma’s amusement faded. There was respect in his voice, but also an admiration that made Simon study him more closely.

”How strong is he?”

”I don’t know his full strength. Few people do. But I know he could kill the God of War without much difficulty.”

”In his true body?”

”Yes. The Sovereign is far stronger than the gods of Earth.”

Simon slowed for half a step.

Lilith had described what Veyra could have done to that god. But Veyra was dead. This being was alive and leading the organisation Simon was considering joining.

”Below him is the Council of Elders,” Enigma continued. ”There are twelve members. Five Grand Elders and seven Ancestral Elders.”

”What separates the two?”

”The Grand Elders hold greater authority and have reached a higher realm. All five are beyond gods like the God of War. The Ancestral Elders are comparable to those gods.”

Simon looked at him.

Five elders are beyond gods like the god of war. And seven are comparable to them?

He was glad his dealings with The Abyss back in Shadowgrave hadn’t made him their enemy.

”Are the five simply older?”

”They are ancient, but age alone won’t get you their position. They’ve protected The Abyss and preserved inheritances that would otherwise have disappeared. Their contributions are enormous.”

Hearing Enigma’s words, Simon could not help but wonder what had allowed those five to advance beyond the others. He had a possible explanation, but nothing to confirm it.

”If the Abyss Sovereign and the Council of Elders are so powerful, why do they remain hidden here? Why don’t they go out?”

”Leaving this dimension is dangerous for them. There are restrictions on how they can act outside, even within the Demon Realm.”

Simon remembered the violet eyes of The One above Velmora.

He would need to learn more about those restrictions before deciding how much protection The Abyss could actually offer.

”The Ancestral Elders oversee our records, bloodline inheritances, and much of the clan’s administration,” Enigma said. ”Both groups sit on the council, but the Grand Elders have the final say unless the Sovereign intervenes.”

They reached the lower hall.

A broad-shouldered figure with folded wings stepped aside. Its companion bowed to Enigma, then glanced at Simon’s horns before lowering its eyes.

”And beneath the council?” Simon asked.

”The Four Abyss Lords. I’m the Fourth.”

”The fourth?”

”I was appointed recently. I’m the youngest and weakest of the four.”

Enigma smiled faintly at his expression.

”The other three are Demon Kings. I’m the only Demon Lord.”

”Can they fight gods?”

”Yes and no. They can fight exceptionally powerful Demi-Gods. A true god is another matter, but maybe the First and Second can kill a weak god.”

He glanced at Simon.

”I have confidence in myself, but I wouldn’t volunteer to face the God of War in his true body.”

”What are you responsible for?”

”External affairs, recruitment, and missions outside The Abyss. The First Lord commands our fighting forces and oversees defence. The Second handles internal security, investigations, and discipline. The Third manages the treasury and cultivation resources.”

”And you get sent outside.”

”I get to leave when they’re still arguing over supplies.”

Simon chuckled.

They turned into a quieter corridor. Thin inscriptions ran along the walls, disappearing beneath the frames of closed doors.

”Becoming a Lord must come with considerable rewards,” Simon said.

”It does. Though there’s another honour I’m more interested in.”

Simon looked at him.

”The Abyss Chosen.”

”Another rank?”

”A special status. A member of the Abyss can be chosen without giving up their duties. They receive privileges and instruction that aren’t available to the rest of us.”

Enigma paused before adding, ”And the Blessing of the Abyss.”

Simon’s interest sharpened.

”A blessing?”

”Only a few receive it. Those who do become far more powerful than they were before. Fighting someone at the same cultivation stage often becomes much easier for them.”

”Because their bloodlines improve?”

”Not necessarily. They gain abilities that have little to do with their race or affinities.”

”Such as?”

”I knew a Daemon who could barely endure a stronger opponent’s pressure. After receiving the blessing, he made three opponents at his own rank kneel during a spar.”

”Through his aura?”

”That was what I thought. But I was standing nearby. His pressure reached me too, and it wasn’t enough to explain what happened.”

Simon kept walking.

”He changed in other ways,” Enigma continued. ”He used to laugh when someone insulted him. Afterward, even being addressed carelessly could offend him.”

”Did the blessing cause that?”

”Perhaps. Others have become more violent or possessive. The changes aren’t the same for everyone, and most don’t discuss them openly.”

A small frown formed on Simon’s face.

Those descriptions sounded familiar.

”What exactly do they receive?”

”I don’t know. I’ve only seen the results, not the process.”

”Have you asked?”

”Yes. Apparently, I’ll learn when I’m ready.”

Enigma sounded less pleased about that answer.

Simon recalled the chair he had moved during their conversation after the battle. Enigma had noticed that he hadn’t used the Wind Element, but had been unable to identify what he had done.

He eventually came to the conclusion that Enigma didn’t know about the Seeds of Sin.

Whatever fragments he might have learned, nobody had explained what those powers actually were.

Simon had a contemplative expression after thinking about it.

’Well, it’s not so surprising because if he’s told about the Seeds of Sin, he might die. Most likely, very few members of the Abyss know about the seeds of sin.’

Lilith hadn’t told him about the seeds before he began forming one. This was knowledge that could get someone killed, and he wasn’t going to explain it in a corridor merely to satisfy his curiosity.

”Some believe the blessing comes directly from the Sovereign,” Enigma said.

Simon looked at him with raised brows.

”Did anybody see him grant the blessings to say this?”

”No. That’s what people say. Only those involved know whether it’s true.”

Simon considered the four seeds in his heart.

’Could that be what they call them?’

There was a problem with that idea if the Abyss Sovereign had actually given these blessings to the daemons referred to as The Abyss Chosen.

His seeds had formed through his own actions. Nobody had handed them to him as a reward.

Then he remembered Lilith’s choice of words during the tribulation.

A natural Seed of Sin.

He had been too occupied with surviving to question that distinction.

[Lilith. Can there be artificial Seeds of Sin?]

[Hmm... Yes. I guess you can call it artificial.]

His curiosity immediately grew.

Before he could ask more, Enigma continued.

”Talent matters when they choose someone, but so do service and contributions. You can’t simply become strong and demand the blessing.”

Simon returned his attention to him.

He would speak with Lilith later. He was curious about these artificial seeds of sin.

He still didn’t know what the Sovereign gave those Daemons, or whether he gave them anything at all.

”And you hope to be chosen?”

”Of course. I’ve seen what it can do.”

There was no joking in Enigma’s voice now.

”Does receiving it make someone an elder?”

”No. The Chosen aren’t all at the same cultivation stage. Some still have a long way to go before they could be considered.”

Simon nodded.

The title described something they had received, not a position from which they commanded the entire clan.

It also explained how someone like Enigma could hold considerable authority while still being denied certain knowledge.

They passed another staircase, this one rising behind a pair of dark pillars.

”Below the Lords are the Abyss Wardens,” Enigma resumed. ”They command military units, guard important locations, and enforce orders within their assigned districts. Some serve under me on outside missions.”

”They are chosen for their strength and experience?”

”And leadership. Being difficult to kill doesn’t mean you can keep a group alive.”

Simon could think of several people from his first life who proved that.

”After them come the Core Members. Our most talented and accomplished members. They receive excellent resources and instruction, but they’re expected to justify the investment.”

”They’re expected to become future Wardens and Lords?”

”Some. Others might become elders. A few prefer cultivating to commanding anyone.”

Enigma glanced at him.

”I was a Core Member before becoming the Fourth Lord.”

”You weren’t a Warden?”

”No. You don’t need to hold every position first. Warden is an appointment. A Core Member can be considered for other duties when they’re capable.”

Simon understood.

The ranks offered opportunities without forcing every promising Daemon through the same work.

”What would it take to become a Core Member?”

”Ability, accomplishments, and the elders’ approval. Keeping the position requires contributions. We won’t keep providing our best resources to someone who gives nothing back.”

Simon nodded.

He was getting more and more interested with the structure of the Abyss.

”And the Inner Members?”

”They’ve proved themselves through their service and assignments. They have access to better techniques and facilities than newcomers, but less than Core Members.”

”Can they earn promotion through missions?”

”Yes. Some members develop slowly. Others prove more useful than we expected. They aren’t denied advancement because they failed to impress someone on their first day.”

”So bloodline alone doesn’t decide it.”

”No. We have different Daemon races here. A good bloodline helps, but it won’t do your work for you.”

Simon considered the people they had passed. He had recognised little about their races, but Enigma’s explanation gave him a better idea of how they lived together.

There were still plenty of things he hadn’t been told.

The five Grand Elders. The Chosen. Whatever lay behind the promise of a blessing.

He was much more interested in meeting the council now.

Enigma adjusted his direction at the next turn.

”At the bottom are the Outer Members. New recruits and those who haven’t earned promotion. They receive basic instruction, accommodation, and resources according to their assignments and contributions. Access to our more valuable inheritances is restricted.”

He glanced at Simon with a faint smile.

”And that is the last rank. Try not to demand a seat on the council before they’ve even let you join.”