The Broken Halo

Chapter 1028 - 1027: The Sixth Disicple

Simon stood before the black doors of the Council Hall, with Enigma beside him.

”I’ll leave you here,” Enigma said.

Simon turned toward him.

”You’re not coming in?”

”The elders requested for you, not me. I only came to show you the way and make sure you didn’t get lost.”

A small smile appeared on Simon’s face.

”I wouldn’t have gotten lost.”

”Sure, sure.” Enigma waved a hand. ”You’re not the first person to say that. Some of them were quite convincing, right up until someone had to go looking for them.”

”Then I’ll have to be the one who surprises you.”

”I’ve had enough surprises from you today.”

Simon laughed softly.

Enigma stepped away from the doors.

”We’ll see each other later. There are still a few things I’d like to talk to you about.”

”I’ll look for you when I’m done.”

”Provided you remember the way back.”

Enigma left before Simon could respond.

Simon watched him disappear around a bend, then faced the entrance.

The doors opened inward.

Beyond them, the twelve elders had returned to their seats around the circular hall. Light from the hanging lamp fell across the pale floor, revealing the thin black lines beneath Simon’s feet as he walked toward the centre.

The five higher seats faced him from the opposite side.

He stopped, and the doors closed behind him.

”Congratulations on your victory, Blackmoon.”

Grand Elder Night Widow was the first to speak.

”And on becoming a member of The Abyss. Your arrival has certainly given everyone something to talk about.”

Simon inclined his head toward her.

”Thank you, Grand Elder Night Widow. I hope my next visit to the arena will be less eventful.”

Her eyes curved with the smile hidden behind her veil.

”That may depend on whether you manage to keep your mouth shut.”

”I can’t promise that.”

A quiet laugh escaped her.

Simon looked from her to the other elders.

”Now, about the bloodline evolution method. I know that’s one of the reasons you called me here.”

His gaze settled on the higher seats.

”What have you decided to offer in exchange for it?”

Grand Elder Golden Tyrant chuckled.

”I can see the greed and desire in your eyes. You’re not even trying to hide them.”

”Would hiding them improve the reward?”

”No.”

”Then I don’t see the point.”

The amusement remained on her face as she rested her hand on the arm of her seat.

”We have discussed the matter. For now, you will be granted entry to the Myriad Vault, our second-ranked treasury. You may choose three items from within it.”

Simon’s attention sharpened.

Three items from a treasury belonging to The Abyss.

Considering the organisation’s history and the strength of those before him, there should be quite a few things worth taking.

But another part of her answer interested him.

”Second-ranked?”

Grand Elder Golden Tyrant watched him without speaking.

”What’s the first-ranked treasury called?” he asked. ”And why can’t I enter that one?”

”You haven’t even seen the Myriad Vault, and you’re already dissatisfied?”

”I’d rather know what I’m missing before deciding whether to be satisfied.”

She shook her head, though she didn’t seem offended.

”Our highest treasury is the Primordial Treasury. Even we are granted limited entry. It isn’t somewhere an elder can walk into whenever they feel like taking something.”

Simon glanced at the others.

None appeared inclined to contradict her.

”To gain entry through your contributions, you would have to accomplish something extraordinary for The Abyss,” she continued. ”Far beyond completing a few difficult missions or killing a powerful enemy.”

”Is there another way to enter?”

”You would need to either be the Abyss Sovereign or you’ll need a status comparable to ours. That would give you the right to enter at least once.”

A faint frown appeared on Simon’s face.

”A status comparable to yours?”

”Yes.”

”What about the Blessed? Is their status equivalent to that of the elders?”

”No,” Ancestral Elder White Death replied.

She regarded him steadily from her seat.

”Only the very best among the Blessed hold a status somewhat comparable to ours. The title alone does not place someone on equal footing with this council.”

Simon considered her answer.

He had no intention of becoming a Blessed. That hadn’t changed because someone had mentioned a treasury.

But he wanted to understand what Golden Tyrant meant.

In the hierarchy Enigma had explained, the elders occupied the highest positions beneath the Abyss Sovereign. There was also the mysterious Guardian Court, but Simon knew too little about its members to place them properly.

The Blessed were below the elders.

So which position was she referring to?

”Then how does someone gain a status comparable to yours without becoming an elder?”

Grand Elder Night Widow adjusted the edge of her sleeve.

”There is another position within The Abyss. Someone holding it can possess authority comparable to ours, and in certain matters, even greater.”

Simon looked toward her.

”The position of a disciple of the Abyss Sovereign.”

His eyes widened slightly.

Of course.

He had been considering the positions Enigma had described without thinking about the Sovereign’s personal disciples.

”Enigma didn’t tell me about them,” he muttered.

”Perhaps because it is something many members don’t even dare to dream of,” Grand Elder Night Widow replied. ”Nobody knows the Sovereign’s criteria for choosing a disciple. You cannot simply decide to pursue the position and expect to obtain it by meeting a set of requirements.”

Simon could understand that.

A position gained through the personal approval of someone that powerful was different from one earned through ordinary advancement.

”How many disciples does he have?”

”Currently, five.”

She paused.

”Although there may be a sixth very soon.”

Simon’s brows rose.

”What do you mean?”

”You’ll know eventually.”

He studied her, but the smile behind her veil offered him little to work with.

The other elders didn’t seem surprised by her words.

Before he could question her further, Grand Elder Dread Crown spoke.

”The three items are not necessarily the entirety of your reward.”

Simon turned toward him.

”The Myriad Vault will be opened to you because we have verified that you possess a bloodline evolution method and have successfully used it,” the Grand Elder continued. ”That much has already been established.”

His tone grew more deliberate.

”But we have not examined the method itself.”

Simon listened.

”We must analyse it before we can judge its full value. Its requirements, its limitations, and how useful it will be to The Abyss. Only then can we determine what the appropriate reward should be.”

”So the three items are an initial payment?”

”Yes. If the method deserves more, you will receive more. If those three selections are sufficient compensation, then the exchange will be complete.”

Simon glanced toward Grand Elder Golden Tyrant.

She gave a small nod.

The offer was better than he had expected.

They were granting him access before they had even finished assessing what he would give them. He had expected a longer argument, perhaps several attempts to convince him that whatever they offered was already too generous.

Instead, they were leaving room to increase the payment themselves.

A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes.

”You’re being rather generous,” he said. ”And fair. More than I expected.”

Grand Elder Dread Crown lifted his chin slightly.

”Do you think The Abyss needs to enrich itself by cheating a Greater Demon?”

Simon held his gaze.

”Whatever your method is worth, we can afford to pay for it. I will not have this council haggle away its dignity to save a few treasures.”

There was no need for him to raise his voice.

He spoke with the certainty of someone who considered the matter beneath argument.

Simon felt the urge to smile.

That was an attitude he could appreciate, especially when he was the one receiving the treasures.

”I look forward to seeing what’s in the Myriad Vault, then.”

”You will,” Grand Elder Dread Crown said. ”But we have another matter to discuss.”

Simon’s attention returned fully to him.

Across the hall, Grand Elder Night Widow rested her cheek against her hand.

The Grand Elder continued.

”Blackmoon, you have the opportunity to become a disciple of the Abyss Sovereign.”

He paused briefly.

”His sixth disciple.”