The Broken Halo

Marek allowed the final words of his speech to settle over the assembly ground.

The recruits were no longer whispering.

Some stared toward the distant rift with greed in their eyes. Others appeared more cautious after learning what was truly at stake. Yet beneath their different reactions was the same growing impatience.

They had listened long enough, and Marek could sense this.

”I have spoken for long enough,” he said.

His pale-orange eyes moved across the ordered rows one final time.

”You now know why you are crossing. Whether you care about the future of the Demon Realm or only the rewards waiting for you makes no difference to me.”

He turned slightly toward the three Vice Commanders.

”It is time for battle.”

BOOOONG!

Another campaign bell rang.

This time, the sound came from the direction of the rift.

The formations around the assembly ground immediately brightened. Officers began calling unit numbers, while the rune masters and healers behind the platform moved toward their assigned groups.

Korran stepped forward.

”Assault Cores, assemble with your units! The first crossing force moves in ten minutes!”

The ordered rows broke apart.

Demons moved in different directions, searching for the numbers and insignias belonging to their assigned groups. Armour struck armour. Weapons were checked one final time, while officers shouted at recruits who were either moving too slowly or standing in the wrong section.

Simon did not move immediately.

Marek’s explanation had left him thinking about the reasons he stated as to why demons invaded earth.

The surrounding noise gradually became distant, then a small fist struck his side.

Bam

Simon looked down.

Sonya stood beside him with her pale eyes turned in his direction.

”Little kitty, are you planning to invade Earth from inside your head?”

Akaza glanced at Simon.

”You seemed to have stopped listening after Marek mentioned World Vitality.”

Simon’s expression returned to normal.

”I heard everything.”

”Then start walking,” Sonya said. ”This Honourable refuses to miss the first battle because you suddenly decided to become a philosopher.”

Simon looked toward the section where their unit was gathering.

Two familiar demons were already waiting there.

The first was Virella.

She was the nervous demoness who had displayed a Low S-grade Wood affinity during the recruitment tests. She possessed a Superior Infernal Heart, making her a Superior Archfiend.

Despite the strength hidden inside her, Virella looked as uncomfortable as she had during the tests.

Her fingers were clasped together near her waist, and her shoulders became slightly tense whenever an officer shouted nearby.

However, Simon knew her timid appearance was misleading.

During a spar, Virella had defeated a Supreme Archfiend who used a sword. She had used wooden shields, roots, and precise traps to slowly take control of the battlefield until her opponent had no choice but to surrender.

The demon standing beside her was called Rellis.

He was also a Superior Archfiend.

His skin was pale blue-grey, with thin dark scales covering the sides of his neck and forearms. Short aqua blur hair rested close to his head, while his deep-blue eyes possessed round pupils. Small fin-like ridges rested where an ordinary demon’s ears would have been, and faint lines resembling gills could be seen beneath his jaw.

Rellis possessed a High A-grade Water affinity.

Black Horn had placed Virella and Rellis in the same Assault Core as Simon, Sonya, and Akaza for a simple reason.

Simon, Sonya, and Akaza were all extremely powerful attackers.

They could break through an enemy line, overwhelm strong opponents, and survive close combat against demons above their heart ranks.

But Black Horn did not want an Assault Core made entirely of demons who solved every problem by charging into it.

Virella gave the team restraint, protection, and control over the battlefield. Her roots could bind enemies, create walls, cover exposed positions, and block narrow routes.

Rellis provided flexible defence and ranged support. His water could weaken fire attacks, create barriers, obscure vision, and turn Sonya’s earth into mud capable of slowing enemies. It could also strengthen and spread Virella’s wooden constructs.

Together, the five formed a more complete unit.

Black Horn had required them to train together repeatedly throughout the previous month.

They had practised entering unfamiliar locations, protecting rune masters, holding narrow passages, retreating in formation, and fighting while one or two members pretended to be injured.

Because of those exercises, none of them were strangers anymore.

Rellis watched the trio approach.

”You took your time.”

”Little kitty was lost in his thoughts,” Sonya replied.

Rellis looked at Simon.

”Well, that is less dangerous than you becoming lost during a battle.”

”I don’t get lost,” Simon said with slightly raised brows.

Sonya raised a hand.

”He got lost in the cracked lands.”

Simon looked at her.

”That was different.”

Akaza ignored them and focused on Virella.

”You look nervous.”

Virella’s fingers tightened.

”We are about to enter another world with the first assault force. I think being nervous is reasonable.”

”That’s true,” Akaza replied.

Virella blinked.

She had expected him to tell her to calm down or stop showing weakness.

Sonya walked closer and lightly struck Virella’s lower back.

Bam!

Virella stumbled forward with wide eyes.

”You’ll be fine,” Sonya said. ”If a human gets close to you, this Honourable will punch them.”

Rellis released a quiet sigh.

”That is not reassuring.”

”It should be.”

”During our fourth training exercise, you abandoned your assigned position to chase one of our opponents for like two hundred meters.”

”Because he was irritating.”

Virella spoke before she could stop herself.

”It was actually four hundred meters.”

Sonya slowly turned toward her, and Virella’s face changed.

”I-I only meant that the distance was slightly farther than he said.”

A faint smile touched Rellis’s lips.

”You are becoming braver.”

”This Honourable supports courage...” Sonya paused and smiled mischievously. ”...But don’t be so courageous when it comes to me.”

Virella relaxed slightly at Sonya’s first words, but her next words made her freeze.

An officer nearby raised a black metal tablet.

”Assault Core Seventeen!”

The five demons turned toward him.

Their number glowed across the tablet beside the insignia of the unit responsible for protecting the first group of rift rune masters.

Rellis adjusted the light armour covering his shoulders.

”So it begins.”

Akaza rolled his shoulders once.

Sonya clenched her fists, and an eager smile appeared on her face.

Virella took a slow breath.

And Simon studied the four demons who would enter Earth beside him.

They possessed strength, useful affinities, and more than a month of training together. But none of that guaranteed survival.

The humans would know the rift had opened. They would have formations, soldiers, demon slayers, and plans of their own waiting on the other side.

Simon began walking toward their unit.

”Let’s go.”

The others followed.

”We are among the first demons entering Earth,” Simon continued. ”The battle is going to be extremely dangerous.”