The Broken Halo

Chapter 1058 - 1057: A Different Entrance

Simon exhaled deeply, then clenched his fists.

The improvement in his physical strength was modest, but it was only part of what he had gained. Ice and Space now answered him with an ease he hadn’t known before. Both affinities had reached peak S grade.

His Darkness affinity was still extremely weak, but he could develop it.

The fifth star held True Dragon’s Scales, while the Abyssal Soul Fortress remained stable within his sea of consciousness. One could currently protect only a forearm. The other needed more work before he would trust it against a powerful mental attack.

Still, his defences were considerably better than before.

He always focused on attack, and now it felt good and safer to focus on defense for once.

He put the grey book away.

Only the Myriad Venom Heartroot remained unused. That could wait until he was ready to work on the Poison Empress’s creation.

”It’s time to leave.”

Vhal-Sar. The capital city of the Daegrins.

He had already spent enough time preparing for a mission whose actual requirements he still didn’t understand.

Simon left the cultivation chamber and followed the passage toward the parlour.

Voices reached him before he entered.

Sonya occupied one of the couches, with Ammor nearby. Akaza sat opposite them, his blood-red hair falling around his face.

He only had two arms.

Apparently, he had learned to withdraw the other four into his body. That would make wearing ordinary clothes less troublesome.

Virella looked up as Simon approached.

Beside the table, Enigma turned toward him as well.

Simon stopped.

”My house is getting rather crowded.”

”Get used to it, little kitty,” Sonya said. ”This place would be terribly dull with only you in it.”

”I’m beginning to think I’d enjoy that.”

”This Honourable doubts it.”

Simon shook his head and sighed.

He looked at Enigma.

”And you? Don’t you have duties elsewhere? Or are you actually using us to avoid them?”

Enigma coughed.

”I came to speak with you. Sonya told me you’re leaving on a mission.”

He paused.

”One given to you directly by the Sovereign.”

Simon turned toward Sonya with raised brows.

She shrugged.

”What? He brought us here, and he’s been helping us. I thought he should know.”

”I was planning to tell him before leaving.”

”Then this Honourable saved you the trouble.”

Enigma leaned forward slightly.

”So it’s true?”

Sonya folded her arms and harrumphed.

”This Honourable doesn’t lie.”

He ignored her.

”A mission from the Sovereign himself,” Enigma murmured. ”And if you pass, you could become his sixth disciple?”

Simon nodded slightly.

”That’s what I’ve been told.”

Enigma stared at him with an incredulous expression.

”That would be the biggest news in The Abyss. Do you understand what that position means? In certain matters, your authority would exceed even the elders’.”

Simon raised a brow.

Virella moved a cushion aside, making room for him in the only empty place left. He sat beside her.

”Are his disciples really that special? Even the elders seem to hold the Sovereign in extraordinary regard. Why is he respected so much?”

Enigma’s expression became solemn.

”Be careful how you ask that outside this room.”

Simon looked at him with slightly raised brows.

”Many members won’t take kindly to anything they consider disrespect toward the Sovereign.”

An amused look crossed Simon’s face.

He raised both hands.

”The man might become my master. I’m not about to start insulting him.”

”That’s for the best.”

Enigma settled back.

”His disciples are exceptionally talented individuals. But they don’t all remain here. Sometimes they’re outside in the Demon Realm, attending to their own affairs.”

”You never mentioned them when you explained the hierarchy.”

”Because meeting one isn’t something most members can expect. They’re much like the Sovereign in that regard. Difficult to find, and even harder to know.”

Simon listened.

”The next Sovereign will also be chosen from among his disciples,” Enigma continued. ”When the time comes, he’ll name his heir himself.”

Simon hummed softly.

That explained quite a bit.

The position didn’t merely provide a powerful teacher. It placed someone among the possible future rulers of The Abyss.

”What are the five like?”

Enigma shook his head.

”I’ve seen them from afar and spoken briefly with some of them. That’s hardly enough to tell you what they’re truly like. Anything more would mostly be rumours.”

Simon waved a hand.

”Then leave it. I’ll find out when I need to.”

Enigma nodded, though his expression remained serious.

”Just remember what I said. To many members, the Sovereign is no different from their god. Openly disrespecting him could make you an enemy of The Abyss.”

His gaze shifted toward the others before settling on Sonya.

”That includes jokes. Very few people will find them funny.”

Sonya stared at him then rolled her eyes.

”This Honourable has heard you. You people really don’t joke about him.”

”No. We don’t.”

Simon leaned back.

”Then explain it to me. Why treat him like a god?”

”The position has always commanded that reverence. Every Sovereign inherits it, though the respect they keep depends on how they lead.”

Enigma glanced around the room.

”This one brought us peace, stability, and growth. The Abyss was approaching destruction before he took control. Without him, there might not be an Abyss left for you to join.”

The room grew quieter.

”Many also believe he’s stronger than any of the Sovereigns who came before him.”

Simon looked at him with renewed interest.

He had no idea how powerful those earlier rulers had been. But considering what he knew of Daemons in the distant past, that was no small claim.

Whether it was true or simply admiration, he couldn’t tell yet.

”I can see why you’re all so protective of him.”

”There’s more, but that’s enough for now. Treat him with respect, even when he isn’t present.”

”Alright. You’ve made your point.”

Simon lowered his hands to his knees.

Sonya had become unusually quiet.

She was looking at him rather than Enigma now. When he met her gaze, she glanced away.

He watched her for another moment.

”What is it?”

She turned back.

”What?”

”There’s something you want to ask me.”

Sonya’s eyes narrowed.

”Have you learned to read minds?”

His lips twitched.

”If I had, I might finally understand what goes through yours before you open your mouth.”

”You could never comprehend the thoughts of this Honourable.”

”Then explain this one.”

Her smile faded.

For a moment, she said nothing.

”It’s about Ormon.”

Simon waited.

”I’m worried about that old perverted fool.”

He had expected as much. His possible discipleship under the Sovereign had come up often enough, and Sonya had already put off accepting Black Mountain’s offer because of their master.

”Are you worried I’ve forgotten him? That I’m taking another master and leaving him behind?”

Sonya looked down briefly.

Then she nodded.

”Yes.”

Simon shook his head.

”I haven’t forgotten him. Becoming someone else’s disciple won’t change what Ormon did for us.”

Her shoulders eased.

”We’re not strong enough to go to him safely yet,” he continued. ”Any of us. That includes me.”

”I know,” Sonya said quietly.

”Then don’t think just because we’re waiting for him that we’re abandoning him.”

She met his gaze and nodded.

The tension in her face had eased, though she still looked troubled.

Enigma had been listening with growing curiosity.

”How powerful is your master?”

”A Half-Step Demon Lord,” Simon replied.

Enigma blinked.

”That weak?”

His gaze moved between Simon and Sonya.

”Unless... is he a Daemon?”

”No. He’s a demon.”

Enigma remained silent.

An ordinary demon who hadn’t even become a Demon Lord?

Then why did Blackmoon believe they were too weak to reach him?

And after everything these two had gained, what could such a master still teach them?

He looked at Sonya’s expression and decided not to ask.

Their problem evidently involved something he knew nothing about.

Enigma reached into his spatial ring.

”I brought something for you.”

A thin, dark-blue book appeared in his hand.

Simon accepted it.

”What’s this?”

”Information on the Daegrins and Vhal-Sar. Sonya mentioned where your mission would take you.”

Simon glanced at her but she looked perfectly unrepentant.

”I gathered what I could access with my authority,” Enigma continued. ”I can’t guarantee that everything is accurate. Some accounts may be outdated, and not every source agrees with the others.”

Simon opened the cover.

Several pages carried additional notes along their margins.

”But it should still help,” Enigma said.

Simon looked up.

He had intended to ask about the journey. He hadn’t expected Enigma to prepare something before he even approached him.

”Thank you. This will be useful.”

Enigma nodded.

Then he stood.

”We’ve talked enough. Are you ready to leave?”

Simon closed the book and stored it.

His gaze moved around the room.

Akaza sat with his arms folded, watching him. Virella straightened slightly. Ammor looked toward the doorway, then back at Simon.

Sonya met his eyes.

He held her gaze for a moment before nodding.

”I am.”

”Then I’ll take you to the exit.”

Simon rose from the couch.

”Are we going back through the volcano?”

Enigma chuckled.

”We could use that entrance, but it’s far from the Daegrins’ capital. There’s another one better suited to your destination.”

”Another volcano?”

”No.”

Enigma’s smile widened.

”This entrance should be more interesting.”

Simon gave him a suspicious look.