The Broken Halo

Simon glanced at the door which had cracks on it.

Even though the captain said that he and the First Hazard Officer should hold on for a minute, more than a minute had gone by but they were still outside and the door was still standing.

Simon had a few guesses as to why this was the case.

’Either Ossik is delaying them for some reason. The door is stronger than they expected which is not surprising since they’re just Half-Step Greater Demons, or something else is at play.’

Simon decided to shift the conversation to something else that has been on his mind for some time now.

"I know that Ossik who is outside reports to the Sleeping Commander."

The Nethri Demon’s expression changed slightly beneath his mask.

"You know about that?"

"I know a lot of things."

Simon shrugged, then he took a step forward.

"If the Sleeping Commander knows that the Eastern Hand intends to betray the Old Banner, why are you still alive?"

For the first time, the amusement completely left the Fifth Needle’s face. The question confirmed that Simon had read the letter, especially the crimson section of the letter.

"That fool was never worthy of being a Warden of a cell."

The Fifth Needle cursed the dead Eastern Warden underneath his breath, but Simon didn’t care about this since time was currently a luxury.

"You have not answered me."

A deep crack appeared across the main door.

The Fifth Needle glanced toward it, then he looked back at Simon. His eyes flashed with an amused and indifferent light.

Simon narrowed his eyes, and the broken black rings in his pupils flashed with a dark glow.

A second later, the Nethri demon shook his head and scoffed softly.

"I shouldn’t tell you, but you’re going to die soon anyway, so it doesn’t matter."

The demon shrugged nonchalantly.

"The Sleeping Commander suspects the Eastern Hand is hiding something, but he does not know everything."

Simon frowned.

"He knows enough to place Ossik inside Black Horn."

The Fifth Needle chuckled softly at Simon’s words.

"And we knew enough to place bait for Ossik."

He paused for a moment, then he continued.

"This is not a war yet. Both sides are still searching for the other’s throat."

"Why not kill the Eastern Hand and end the danger?" Simon asked with a frown.

The Fifth Needle looked at Simon from up to down.

"Why don’t you ask the Sleeping Commander then?"

The answer came with a hint of mockery.

Simon’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t care about his words of mockery.

"So, I’m guessing that the Sleeping Commander is not Damar."

The Fifth Needle tilted his head slightly.

"He’s not."

"Who is he?"

The Fifth Needle smiled, but his eyes were cold.

"I believe you’ve already received enough information from me."

Simon however, did not care about his words. He asked another question.

"Who is the White Crown?"

The Fifth Needle laughed.

"You are arrogant for a mere Minor Archfiend who is about to die."

Simon’s lips curled into a smile.

"I thought you were entertaining yourself."

"I was."

The Nethri Demon pushed away from the treatment frame.

"But we are out of time. Conversation is over."

The main door shook again.

Bang

Dust fell from its frame, and one of the thick cracks finally reached the floor.

The Fifth Needle’s poison vents opened completely.

Black-green mist rushed from the narrow openings beside his neck and spread through the chamber. The poisonous gas that already filled the room became several times denser.

The assassin watched him with open contempt and disdain as Simon calmly looked around.

"That garment might be the reason for your confidence since it protects you from the air..."

Three black needles slipped between his fingers.

"... But it will not protect you from me."

He moved.

His body disappeared from beside the treatment frame and appeared before Simon.

The first needle went toward Simon’s left eye, but Simon tilted his head and avoided it.

The second struck his chest but failed to penetrate the thick garment.

Simon raised one hand, and a compressed current of wind slammed toward the assassin’s face.

The Fifth Needle twisted away.

His movements were much faster than those of a normal Half-Step Greater Demon.

Simon stepped forward using the Broken Rhythm Art. His fist seemed to move toward the assassin’s throat, slowed for the briefest moment, then changed direction toward his ribs.

The Fifth Needle reacted early because of the difference in heart ranks.

Yet his elbow still met Simon’s wrist.

BAM!

The impact forced Simon back.

"Impressive. You’re strong for your rank. A normal Minor Archfiend would have had their wrists broken," the assassin said.

His tone contained surprise, but not concern.

"Unfortunately, strength is not enough."

Simon sensed something cold touch the side of his neck.

A thin black needle was connected to the first needle he had avoided.

The assassin pulled one finger.

The needle changed direction behind Simon, and before he could react...

Puchi!

It pierced the gap beneath the Hazard mask and entered his neck.

Simon’s body stiffened.

The Fifth Needle appeared in front of him and drove his palm into Simon’s chest.

BANG!

Simon flew backward and crashed beside the eastern grate.

Black veins spread from the wound in his neck. They travelled beneath his jaw, across his face, and disappeared into his chest.

He tried to rise.

His arm trembled and collapsed beneath him.

The Nethri Demon approached slowly.

"The Voice wanted you alive."

He crouched and placed two fingers against Simon’s neck.

"But the door is about to fall, and I cannot carry you out."

Simon’s sky-blue eyes stared at him through the mask, and the light in his eyes were dimming.

The Fifth Needle removed another black needle.

"This poison will stop your heart. I’m curious to know how the Iron Examiner would react when he sees you in this chamber."

He chuckled, then he drove the needle through Simon’s garment and into his chest.

The poison entered his Demon Heart.

Simon’s body jerked once.

Then again.

The Fifth Needle kept two fingers against his neck, feeling the pulse weaken beneath them.

One beat.

Two.

Then nothing.

Simon’s eyes slowly lost their light and he died.

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