The Broken Halo

[What exactly is it? And can I learn it?]

For a moment, there was no response.

Then Lilith laughed.

She laughed so suddenly that Simon’s brows furrowed. Her laughter was not loud, but it carried amusement, disbelief, and mockery.

[You? Learn my Fallen Dragon Art?]

Simon narrowed his eyes.

[Is there a problem?]

[Yes.] Lilith replied instantly. [Several problems.]

Simon said nothing and waited.

Lilith’s voice became less amused and more indifferent.

[First of all, you would need to become a Demon King at the very least before you can even survive learning one of the most basic techniques of my Fallen Dragon Art.]

Simon frowned.

[A Demon King just to learn a basic technique?]

What sort of technique required one to be a Demi-God before it could be learned?

[Yes.]

Simon was silent for a few seconds.

Then he asked.

[And the second problem?]

[The art was created for me.] Lilith replied. [My father and mother created it specifically for my existence.]

Simon’s eyes flickered.

Hell’s Sword Daemon and a True Dragon.

An art created by those two beings specifically for Lilith.

No wonder it was terrifying.

[It is not a normal art.] Lilith continued. [It carries principles from my father’s sword path and my mother’s True Dragon lineage.]

[Fallen power.]

[Dragon authority.]

[Sword intent.]

[Flames.]

[Chains.]

[And several things you are not qualified to understand.]

Simon’s lips twitched.

[You enjoy saying that.]

[I enjoy the truth.]

Simon did not respond.

Lilith continued.

[The Fallen Dragon Art was not created for demons. It was not even created for ordinary Daemons.]

[It was created for me, a hybrid of a Fallen Angel and a True Dragon.]

[For you to learn even a fraction of it, you would need a True Dragon’s body and bloodline at the very least.]

Simon’s eyes flashed.

[Then if I obtain the blood essence of a True Dragon...]

[No.] Lilith replied before he could finish.

Simon paused.

[You didn’t even allow me to finish.]

[I know what you were going to say.] Lilith said coldly. [And the answer is no.]

Simon remained silent.

Lilith’s voice became sharper.

[Do not think that consuming a drop of True Dragon blood would make you qualified to learn my art.]

[True Dragons are not ordinary beasts whose bloodline you can casually steal and digest.]

[Their blood carries will.]

[Their flesh carries authority.]

[Their bones carry memory.]

[And their souls carry pride that can crush weaker beings into nothing.]

[If you try to devour a True Dragon carelessly, the best result is that you die quickly.]

Simon’s expression became solemn.

[And the worst?]

Lilith chuckled.

[You live.]

Simon slowly raised a brow.

[You make it sound worse than dying.]

[It is.]

The room became silent for some seconds.

Simon stared at the ceiling, but his thoughts were moving quickly.

Devour.

True Dragon blood.

Daemon bloodline.

Seven Stars Blessing.

Fleshwoods.

There were so many things in his mind, and his eyes became slightly dazed.

Could he one day obtain dragon power?

Could he one day gain the qualification to use a fraction of Lilith’s Fallen Dragon Art?

He did not know, but he would be lying if he said he was not interested.

Lilith seemed to know what he was thinking, and her next words came like cold water poured over his thoughts.

[Lastly, I have no intention of teaching you.]

Simon blinked.

[What?]

[I said I have no intention of teaching you my Fallen Dragon Art.]

Simon’s brows furrowed.

[Why?]

[Because it is mine.]

[That’s not a good reason.]

[It is a perfect reason.]

Simon was speechless for a moment.

Lilith continued.

[Even if you somehow became a Demon King, even if you somehow obtained a True Dragon’s body or bloodline, even if you somehow became qualified to learn a fraction of it, I still have no plans to teach it to you.]

Simon stared blankly.

Then he released a soft sigh.

[You’re petty.]

[And you’re a shameless liar.]

[I only asked if you could teach me one of your techniques.]

[You asked for something that even ancient Daemons would kneel and beg to glimpse.]

Simon closed his eyes.

[You could have just said no.]

[I did.]

[You added subtle insults.]

[They were necessary.]

Simon did not know whether to laugh or sigh.

Eventually, he chose neither.

His body was tired, his mind was tired, and his soul was still strained. But despite his condition, the conversation had awakened something in him.

A desire.

A hunger.

Not just for Lilith’s art.

But for the realm where such things were possible.

True Dragon’s Authority.

Fallen Dragon Art.

Shadow Walkers.

The Chaos Shadow Plane.

The Herald corpse he had still not seen with his own eyes.

The truth behind fallen angels.

The gods.

The Daemons.

The Heralds.

The world was far larger than he knew.

And for the first time since arriving in Vashar City, Simon did not think only about healing or survival.

He thought about the peak.

The true peak.

Not the false peak he had touched in his past life.

But the one that existed beyond the things he once called gods.

Lilith’s voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

[Do not get lost in ambition, little demon. It can crush you if you’re not careful]

Simon opened his eyes slightly.

[You can sense that?]

[I don’t need to sense it. You are easy to read sometimes.]

Simon’s lips curled up faintly.

[Am I?]

[When it comes to greed for power, yes.]

Simon did not deny it.

After everything he had learned, denying it would be pointless.

He wanted power.

He wanted enough power to never be betrayed and crushed again.

He wanted enough power to look at beings like Sunless and not need to run.

He wanted enough power to uncover the truths about Daemons, gods, and the past.

And he wanted enough power to stand before those beings Lilith refused to speak about without his soul shattering from the weight of their existence.

[One last question.] Simon said.

[What?]

[What about the withered tree? What is it?]

[I can’t give you answer yet. I’ll need to go to the space beneath it to be certain if it is what I think it is.]

Simon slowly exhaled, and he decided not to ask anymore question. He was beginning to get tired.

[Then I need to heal first.]

[That is the smartest thing you’ve thought in the last few minutes.] Lilith replied.

Simon ignored her.

He shifted his attention to his body.

Devour was still absorbing demonic energy from the surroundings. UnholyRegeneration was still using that demonic energy to repair him. His damaged pathways were still fragile, but the worst tears had begun to close.

It would take time.

Too much time.

But he was alive.

And for now, being alive was enough.

Simon closed his eyes and allowed his breathing to slow. However, just before he fully focused on healing, one last thought crossed his mind.

’True Dragon’s Authority.’

’Fallen Dragon Art.’

’Basic attacks.’

His lips twitched slightly.

’I truly was a frog at the bottom of the well.’

Then, with a calm but heavy mind, Simon sank deeper into his own body and began guiding Unholy Regeneration once again.