The Broken Halo

Simon felt a little bit of pain when Unholy Regeneration healed the cut on his body, but it was something he could ignore.

”Unholy Regeneration huh. My two lives are completely different. In my past life, I had Hyper Regeneration. Now, I have Unholy Regeneration.”

Simon’s lips curled up into a slight smile, then he slowly got to his feet.

”Well, that’s the past. Right now, I need to focus on the present, get my revenge, reach the peak of power, and... live.”

He released a soft sigh as he stood to his full height, then he dusted his hands.

”And yeah, now I need a defensive skill.”

Simon looked around once again to make sure that there was no danger.

”By the way, Lilith.”

[Don’t tell me you have another question?]

Simon rolled his eyes.

”It’s just one, and it’s about the Fleshwood.”

[Speak.]

Simon shook his head slightly at her tone, but he said nothing.

”Is it only Daemons that can consume a Fleshwood’s heart resin? Can demons also consume a Fleshwood’s heart resin?”

[Depends on the Fleshwood.]

Simon frowned in confusion.

”What do you mean?”

[Sigh.]

[Assuming the heat resin that was in your possession was from the Mother Fleshwood, you would have died if you consumed it because only a true Daemon can consume it.]

Simon became even more confused hearing Lilith’s words.

”You’ve made me even more confused, Lilith. I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

[Sigh.]

Lilith let out another frustrated sigh.

[The Mother Fleshwood was born from the corpses of Daemons. Her heart resin was meant for Daemons, not these garbage demons.]

Simon ignored the contempt in Lilith’s voice and focused on the meaning of her words.

He looked at his hands.

”So that means the Fleshwood Lucien was born from the corpses of demons, and it’s the reason why I was able to consume it since I’m not yet a full Daemon.”

[Yes and no.]

Simon’s lips could not help but twitch.

”Yes and no?”

[All Fleshwoods are born from the Mother Fleshwood, but because of how long it has been since the time of the Mother Fleshwood, this Fleshwood’s ’blood’ or ’resin’ has been diluted. Just like the situation between Daemons and Demons.]

[Also, the main reason why you’re able to consume that heart resin is because the Fleshwood had to feed on the corpses of demons and demonic beasts, not the Daemons of old.]

Simon nodded slightly in understanding.

”I see. Makes more sense then.”

Simon closed his eyes, then he released a deep sigh.

”I guess it’s time to go back.”

Lucien might have been wondering how Simon was going to leave the frozen expanse, but it was a very simple answer.

The Grave Mark.

Every Grave Mark had an inbuilt SOS system which would alert the clan when it was activated.

However, activating it does not guarantee that one would receive help since it depended on if there were available Shadow Blades or Veil Masters to help.

A clan member could also be punished severely if they carelessly activated their SOS since they were risking the exposure of their fellow clan members and it could also be a waste of time and resources for the clan and the SOS responder.

Though there was the slight issue of a clan member not receiving a response after using the SOS system, Simon was not bothered in the slightest.

Though many members of the clan and the academy hated him and wanted to kill him, in a situation like this where he was outside the clan and could die... Simon was very certain that the Grave Lords would not want him to die outside the clan.

He could die inside the clan, but dying outside the clan meant that they would not be able to retrieve his body and any other secrets he had on him.

So... when Simon activated the SOS system of his Grave Mark, he was not worried about not receiving help.

He just had to be patient for his help to arrive.

”I should probably wear my mask.”

Simon removed the earring that changed his face and aura, then he wore his Broken Smile mask.

He thought of changing, but the cuts and blood stains on it would serve as proof that he was involved in a dangerous battle.

”Let me also stretch my legs a little bit and move around. I should at least check out this place before help comes.”

”Hopefully they don’t take too long.”

Simon shook his head slightly, then he looked around before choosing to walk to his right.

He just picked another random direction, and he kept on walking.

There were cracks all over the frozen sea because of his battle with First Blade, and some pieces of ice were floating and drifting on the sea.

Simon calmly stepped and crossed every crack or floating ice he encountered.

He continued walking for nearly one hour but he still encountered nothing.

”Hmm. Where in the world is this place? There’s nothing here but snow, ice, and glaciers.”

”I can’t even see a cave or perceive any signs of life.”

Simon shook his head slightly, then he wondered if he should keep on moving or if he should just stay in one spot and wait for help.

”I just hope those bastards did not bring me to a place where even the SOS of the Grave Mark cannot reach the clan.”

”That would be going too far.”

A second after Simon said these words, he suddenly perceived a presence.

And this presence was coming from his shadow.

His gaze sharpened, and his hands glowed with his demonic energy as he waited for the intruder to arrive.

Inside his shadow, a head wearing a hoodie slowly rose, and Simon’s expression became solemn when he perceived that the demon rising from his shadow was a Supreme Greater Demon.

And...

’A Velari.’

Simon narrowed his eyes at the Velari who was now completely out of his shadow.

Even though it was a Velari that arrived, he was still cautious and wary.

The Velari looked at Simon, then they tilted their head and looked around.

”Are you alone?”

’A female?’ Simon’s eyes flickered, then he nodded.

”Yes.”

The Velari paused for a moment, then she shifted her gaze back to Simon.

”What of your teammates?”

”They’re all dead.” Simon said with an indifferent tone.

The Velari remained silent once again, then she looked around, hoping to find something.

”Where are their corpses?”

”It’s a long story. I think it’ll be better for me to make a report to the right authorities.”

The Velari was silent once again, then she nodded.

”Alright.”

She held Simon’s shoulder, causing Simon to glance at her hand.

”Let’s go. You’ll also have to make a report on how you arrived in this forsaken land.”

Simon said nothing, and in the next second, they both sank into their shadows and vanished from the desolate frozen expanse.