The Broken Halo

Chapter 1029 - 1028: The Sovereign’s Test

Simon stared at Grand Elder Dread Crown for a moment.

He had expected another reward, or perhaps a condition attached to the bloodline evolution method. Becoming the Abyss Sovereign’s disciple had not been among his guesses.

His thoughts returned to what Night Widow had just told him.

Authority comparable to the elders. Access to the Primordial Treasury.

Those alone were considerable benefits, but the opportunity to learn from the Sovereign interested him just as much. There were things about his body and powers that he was still discovering. Guidance from someone who ruled an organisation of Daemons could save him a great deal of trouble.

And there would be resources.

He doubted the Sovereign would take a disciple only to leave him searching for every material he needed.

The protection was worth considering too. Severin had already been forced to withdraw by Grand Elder Dread Crown. How much more reluctant would House Voss be to act against a disciple of the Abyss Sovereign?

Simon almost smiled.

Then he considered what being taught by someone that powerful might involve.

A master would naturally want to understand his disciple’s abilities. Examining his body or guiding the circulation of his energy might be part of that teaching.

What would happen if the Sovereign noticed something Simon couldn’t explain?

Lilith. His blessing. The things hidden within his mind.

He didn’t know enough about the Sovereign to judge what the man might discover, or how he would react.

There might also be obligations Simon would find troublesome. He could accept instruction and reasonable responsibilities, but he wasn’t about to promise unquestioning obedience to someone he had never met.

Still, those were matters to clarify. They weren’t reasons to dismiss the opportunity.

”The Abyss Sovereign wants to take me as his disciple?” Simon asked. ”I wasn’t expecting that.”

”Do not misunderstand,” Grand Elder Dread Crown replied. ”The position has not been given to you. Nor has it been offered to you yet.”

Simon looked at him with a confused expression.

”I don’t understand.”

”The Sovereign has recognised your talent. He has assigned a mission to you. Your success, and your performance while carrying it out, will determine whether he accepts you as his sixth disciple.”

Simon’s brows drew together.

A mission?

So this was what Night Widow had meant when she said there might be another disciple soon.

”What I am giving you now is the opportunity to be considered,” Dread Crown continued. ”You will still have to prove yourself.”

Simon lowered his gaze briefly.

He couldn’t say the requirement was unreasonable. The Sovereign had only five disciples. It made sense that he would want more than an impressive battle before accepting a sixth.

But what sort of mission had he chosen?

One that tested Simon’s strength would be manageable, provided the enemy wasn’t absurdly powerful. Something involving his secrets would require more thought.

He looked up, about to speak.

”You may also refuse,” Dread Crown said.

Simon paused.

”This mission is not compulsory. You are free to reject it. But doing so means giving up this opportunity to become the Sovereign’s sixth disciple.”

”I see.”

The crease between Simon’s brows eased.

He had been wondering whether this was about to become his first order as a member of The Abyss. A mission he had to complete whether he wanted the discipleship or not.

Being allowed to refuse made a difference.

He wasn’t opposed to earning the position. He simply wanted to know what he would be doing before agreeing.

”So the mission is also a test.”

”Yes.”

”And completing it isn’t the only thing that matters. He’ll be judging how I complete it.”

”Correct.”

Simon nodded slowly.

That left quite a few possibilities. He had seen people complete assignments while causing enough trouble to make their success almost worthless. Others had returned with more than anyone had asked of them.

Which qualities the Sovereign intended to judge, Simon could not tell.

Night Widow had already said that nobody knew his criteria.

”What is the mission?”

”You will receive the details tomorrow.”

”Tomorrow?”

”Yes.”

Simon waited, but the Grand Elder offered nothing more.

He would have preferred to hear everything now. There wasn’t much he could decide with only the promise of details the following day.

But asking again was unlikely to change the answer.

”Alright. No problem, then.”

He would listen tomorrow and decide after he understood what was required.

For now, he still had three items waiting in the Myriad Vault. There was no need to become so occupied with a possible reward that he forgot the one already granted to him.

Grand Elder Dread Crown allowed him a moment before speaking again.

”Now that we have settled that, there is something else we would like to discuss.”

Simon raised a brow.

”What is it?”

He had a few guesses.

They had watched him fight Joren and endure Severin’s attacks. His regeneration alone could have provided enough questions for another meeting. There was also the bloodline evolution method and the daemon who had given it to him.

He hoped they didn’t intend to revisit every unanswered question before allowing him to leave.

Grand Elder Night Widow lowered her hand from her cheek.

Beside her, Golden Tyrant’s gaze remained fixed on Simon.

”Your fourth Seed of Sin,” Dread Crown said. ”It is Gluttony, isn’t it?”

Simon paused for a moment before nodding.

”It is.”

There was little reason to deny that much.

He had used its power before them. They might not understand everything he had done, but pretending they had seen nothing would only make the conversation more difficult.

Grand Elder Golden Tyrant glanced toward Dread Crown. Neither spoke for a few moments.

Simon kept his hands relaxed at his sides.

He had expected them to ask about the seed’s abilities next. Perhaps they would want him to explain what had happened to Joren’s corpse, or how he had dealt with the cursed energy inside it.

He was already considering how much he could say without inviting worse questions.

Then Dread Crown spoke.

”Have you ever heard of the Devourers?”

Simon furrowed his brows.

He looked slightly to the side, allowing a moment to pass as though he were searching his memory.

’So they had noticed.’ Simon thought.

He had known that using Devour in front of the elders might attract this kind of attention. Their knowledge of ancient Daemons was far greater than that of the spectators outside.

But recognising an ability was not the same as knowing how he had obtained it.

And Simon had no intention of helping them close that gap.

Admitting that he knew about the Devourers would lead to questions about where he had heard of them, who had told him, and what connection he had to them.

He would rather hear what the elders knew first.

His eyes returned to Dread Crown.

”No,” he said, shaking his head. ”I haven’t heard of them before.”

The Grand Elder studied him.

Simon maintained his puzzled expression. He didn’t add an explanation or rush to ask a question of his own.

Dread Crown rested one hand on the arm of his seat.

”Then how do you possess the power of the Devourers?”