The Broken Halo

Simon had no idea what the two demons were doing.

The gestures might have meant something. The faint black traces could belong to Black Banner, or they could be ordinary signals used by their cores. It was also possible that he was forcing meaning onto two movements simply because he expected hidden spies to reveal themselves.

Simon did not dismiss the possibility that they were actually spies however, so he kept on watching and observing.

His Sky Eyes remained fixed on the demon within Ammor’s core. The stranger had already withdrawn his fingers from the damaged human formation marker and returned to the fighting as though nothing had happened.

Several kilometres away, the second demon did the same.

Neither looked toward the other, and neither acted nervous.

Simon slightly raised a brow when he saw this.

A vibration suddenly touched Simon’s chest, and he lowered his gaze.

His replaced dark metal War Tag fixed to his clothing had grown warm. Crimson runes moved across its surface before forming a horned symbol and two lines of writing.

[FIRST-CROSSING COMMAND]

[COMMANDER MAREK]

Simon placed two fingers against the tag.

The sound of the battlefield dimmed around him as a deep, controlled voice emerged from the metal.

"Assault Core Seventeen, verify your status."

Simon recognised Commander Marek immediately. The Minor Demon Lord commanded Black Horn’s Velmora branch and currently directed the first crossing from the Demon Realm.

"All five combatants are alive," Simon replied.

His vision moved through Ironcrest.

Sonya stood in a ruined artillery passage with several dead humans around her. Akaza had reached the lower courtyard and was leaning briefly against a wall while blood continued drying across his injuries. Virella and Rellis were clearing the final western corridor together.

Simon then found the Runemasters.

"Akaza is injured but remains combat-capable. Sonya, Virella, and Rellis are unharmed. Captain Veyran, Osra, Drevik, and Namis are alive."

He watched their shadows moving around the four sides of the tower.

"Ironcrest’s commander and command staff are dead. Their weapon, Sunshear has been destroyed. Most of the remaining defenders have been killed or driven out. The Runemasters have reached the four formation pillars and are preparing to place the Chaos Bellows."

A brief silence followed.

"Ironcrest is the first watchtower taken," Marek said. "Well done."

The praise lasted no longer than a breath.

"Your next order is to assist Assault Core Nine."

Simon frowned, then his Sky Eyes returned to Ammor.

"Assault Core Nine?"

"Ammor’s core," Marek replied. "Three point four kilometres northwest of Ironcrest. They are advancing toward Frostveil Watchtower through the split ridge beneath its second defensive terrace."

A crimson point appeared on Simon’s War Tag. Thin lines unfolded around it, creating a rough map in the thin air in front of Simon of the basin and marking the position Marek described.

Human reinforcements were descending toward Ammor’s road. Two C-ranks had joined the defenders, and an artifact cannon continued breaking apart every wall Ammor raised.

"Their advance has stalled," Marek continued. "They need assistance before the humans close the ridge completely."

Simon’s eyes narrowed.

"Assisting another core was not my mission."

Marek did not react to Simon’s cold tone.

"It is now."

Simon looked down at Ironcrest’s damaged walls.

"We took this tower. The Runemasters have not completed their work, and humans are still gathering around the summit. Who protects Ironcrest if my core leaves?"

"You are not required to take your entire core."

"That does not answer my question."

Marek remained silent for a moment.

"Once the four Chaos Bellows are secured to the formation pillars, Veyran’s team will connect them and turn the local formation inward. Ironcrest will be protected by the pillars and the first layer of the Chaos array. A reserve defence unit is also moving toward the tower."

Simon watched a group of demons fighting their way toward Ironcrest from below.

The answer was sensible, but he still did not like it.

"I have already accomplished my mission," Simon said. "I have no desire to risk my life for demons who failed to accomplish theirs."

The War Tag became colder against his chest, reflecting the coldness of the commander on the other end of it.

When Marek spoke again, his voice carried the weight of a commander.

"You accepted a Black Horn War Oath."

Simon’s eyes narrowed.

"The oath does not bind me to every request made by Black Horn. Its terms are limited to the first raid."

"Correct."

"It covers orders connected to surviving the first crossing, destroying the human preparations around the rift, protecting the first raid, securing a foothold, and retreating to the Demon Realm. It does not turn me into a rescuer for every incompetent core."

"This is not a rescue order."

Marek’s answer came without hesitation.

"Ammor’s team carries four of the forty-eight Chaos Bellows required for the large-scale array. If their Runemasters die or their cases are destroyed, the suppression on our forces will remain stronger across that section of the basin. The humans will retain Frostveil, and the northern side of the first foothold will remain exposed."

The crimson symbol on Simon’s War Tag flashed once.

"Your oath covers protecting the first raid and securing the foothold. So does the oath accepted by Sonya and Akaza. I am issuing a direct order connected to both."

Simon said nothing.

Marek continued calmly.

"You may dislike the order. That is irrelevant. If you refuse it without a valid reason, the Black Horn Oath Tablet will recognise the refusal as a violation of the oath taken."

A faint pressure touched the demonic pathways nearest Simon’s Demon Heart.

It was not punishment. At least, not yet.

The oath had merely recognised the order and reminded him that it was listening.

Simon clicked his tongue inwardly.

He had dictated the terms himself. There was no hidden wording for him to exploit. Helping another Runemaster team establish its section of the array clearly fell within protecting the raid and securing the first foothold.

Still, there was one useful detail.

The core Marek had ordered him to help was the same core containing one of the two suspicious demons.

"What happens to Ironcrest if the Bellows fail to protect it?" Simon asked.

"They will not be its only protection," Marek replied. "The reserve unit will hold the tower. Your Runemasters will remain. Once the local array forms, the remaining autonomous human defences will either be disabled or turned away from our forces."

"And if the human army sends an expert capable of retaking it?"

"Then first-crossing command will respond. Ironcrest is no longer your concern once Veyran confirms that the Chaos Bellows are active."

Below Simon, the sound of breaking stone travelled through the tower.

Sonya emerged onto an eastern platform. Akaza followed from another passage, while Virella and Rellis entered the courtyard beneath him.

They had finished clearing Ironcrest.

Marek’s voice sounded through the War Tag one final time.

"Go alone, take one companion, or take every available member of Assault Core Seventeen. How you carry out the order is your decision."

His tone hardened.

"But Ammor’s Runemasters must reach their assigned position."

The crimson writing vanished, and the call ended.

Simon stared at the silent War Tag, then clicked his tongue in annoyance and with a slight shake of his head.

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