The Broken Halo

Korran’s gaze swept across Simon, Sonya, Akaza, the tall earth affinity demon, and the nervous wood affinity demoness.

”Record their names properly. After the combat test, send the list to the higher office.”

”Yes.”

Unbeknownst to everybody... Simon, Sonya, Akaza, the tall earth affinity demon, and the nervous wood affinity demoness... were going to be specially chosen and protected regardless of their performance in the remaining two tests.

S grades were too rare, and they were going to be needed for the invasion.

If they were weak, Velmora would train them... under their terms and conditions of course.

The test continued for almost another hour.

After Simon’s result, the highest affinity that appeared was only high B grade. It belonged to a demoness with metal affinity. The metal pillar had glowed brightly enough to draw a few gazes, but that was all.

No more A grade.

No more S grade.

By the time the last demon finished testing, many Archfiends looked tired despite doing almost nothing. Some were disappointed. Some were satisfied. Some looked relieved that the affinity test was finally over.

The last result was intermediate C grade wind affinity.

The official recorded it, then turned toward Korran.

Korran walked forward, and the compound became quiet.

”The elemental affinity test has ended.”

His voice spread across the compound clearly.

”Some of you received good results. Some of you received poor results. Some of you discovered that the opinion you had of yourself was too generous.”

A few demons lowered their heads, and Korran’s lips curled up slightly.

”But affinity does not decide everything.”

His gaze became colder.

”It decides where you are useful. It does not decide whether you are useful.”

The Archfiends became silent.

Korran turned around and lowered his hand.

The thirteen pillars slowly sank back into the ground.

A few seconds later, the compound trembled again.

This time, a black stone platform began rising from beneath the floor. It was wide, flat, and covered in marks that looked like old impact scars.

Some marks were shallow. Some were deep. A few looked like they had been made by claws, fists, blades, and heavy weapons.

At the center of each platform was a dark crystal that was thrice the height of a truck.

Korran pointed toward the dark crystal.

”The second test is simple.”

He paused, allowing the Archfiends to look at the crystal.

”Strength.”

Sonya could not help but curl her lips slightly.

Akaza cracked his knuckles softly.

Simon looked at the dark crystal with calm eyes.

The next test had begun.

Korran looked at the Archfiends and continued.

”This dark crystal is called an Impact Crystal. It is used to measure the force behind a strike.”

He raised one finger.

”You will strike it twice.”

A few demons narrowed their eyes slightly in confusion.

Wasn’t this a strength test?

Why was there a need for them to strike it twice?

Korran spoke without caring about their reactions.

”The first strike will be done with your body alone. No demonic energy. No chaos. No weapons. You can use your fist, palm, elbow, knee, claws, horns, tail, or any part of your body you trust.”

His gaze swept across the Archfiends.

”The first strike will show us your raw physical strength.”

He raised a second finger.

”The second strike will be done with demonic energy reinforcement. You are allowed to reinforce your body with demonic energy, but you are still not allowed to use your chaos, weapons, or external techniques.”

Some demons began to understand.

Korran lowered his hand.

”The second strike will show us how much your demonic energy increases your physical power.”

He turned toward the dark crystal.

”When the crystal is struck, it will produce rings of light. The number of rings will determine the level of force behind your attack.”

The officials standing close to the platform carrying the dark crystal quickly moved to the side, allowing everybody to see the crystal clearly.

Korran pointed at it.

”One ring means Minor Archfiend physical strength.”

”Two rings means Prime Archfiend physical strength.”

”Three rings means Superior Archfiend physical strength.”

”Four rings means Supreme Archfiend physical strength.”

”Five rings means Half-Step Greater Demon physical strength.”

”Six rings means Minor Greater Demon physical strength.”

”And seven rings means Prime Greater Demon physical strength.”

The compound became noisy for a moment.

The focus of many was on the meaning of seven rings of light.

Prime Greater Demon physical strength.

Just hearing those words made some Archfiends feel pressure.

They were Archfiends. Even if some of them were Supreme Archfiends, the gap between an Archfiend and a Greater Demon was not something that could be casually ignored.

Simon looked at the crystal with slightly raised brows.

He was rather surprised that the crystal was able to measure up to the physical strength of a Prime Greater Demon.

And he was also a little bit surprised by the fact that Velmora seemed to be prepared for a situation where an Archfiend was able to possess a physical strength comparable to that of a Prime Greater Demon.

Though Simon doubted that there would be such a demon.

Even he could not produce a physical strength that was on par with a Prime Greater Demon.

And he had the help of Devour.

If the demons around Simon should know of Simon’s thoughts, they would not know how to react.

Why?

Because Simon was only a Minor Archfiend and he already possessed the physical strength of a Minor Greater Demon.

Although Velmora City was preparing for an eventuality where an Archfiend would possess a Prime Greater Demon strength because it has occurred in the past before, they were expecting a Supreme Archfiend to possess such strength.

Not a Prime Greater Demon

And definitely not a Minor Greater Demon.

If the contenders knew Simon’s thoughts, they might actually just decide to gang up on him and beat the shit out of him.

Fortunately for every single demon present, Simon was still injured so he could not bring forth all his strength.

In fact, the momentum he gained after the reveal of his affinity grade would most likely reduce after the strength test.

’Let’s see how it goes.’

Simon’s eyes flashed with a cold glint.