The Broken Halo

[The weight of the Shadow Plane.]

Simon’s expression became thoughtful, then he had an inkling as to what Lilith meant by the weight of the Shadow Plane

[Because shadow is one of the unique elements?]

[Exactly.] Lilith said. [The Chaos Shadow Plane is not like the basic elemental planes. Its weight is not light. A true Shadow Walker carries a portion of that weight in their existence.]

[When they appear in the physical world, they are bringing part of the Shadow Plane with them.]

[That is why shadows around them react.]

Simon’s eyes flashed slightly as he recalled the scene in Blackwind Valley.

When Sunless took steps toward him, the world seemed to shake.

He thought this was normal considering the fact that Sunless was a Demon King, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized that such a thing was strange.

At that moment, Sunless was still an Archfiend, not a Demon King. And the world should not have been so easily affected by a single step of hers.

But that was not all... the shadows shook too.

And then, the shadows began moving toward her.

At that time, he had felt that something was wrong, but he did not fully understand what he was seeing.

Now, he understood a little.

[That was what I saw before you took over my body.] Simon said. [The shadows around us were moving toward her.]

[Yes.] Lilith replied. [When a powerful Shadow Walker stops suppressing themselves, the shadows around them respond. Some tremble. Some move toward them. Some become heavier. Some become unstable.]

[The physical world does not like holding such beings fully. Their presence bends the behavior of shadows because they are like walking openings to the Shadow Plane.]

Simon’s brows furrowed.

[Walking openings?]

[Again, a crude explanation.] Lilith said. [But yes. At a high level, standing near a Shadow Walker is like standing close to a crack that leads to the Shadow Plane.]

[The stronger the Shadow Walker, the larger the crack.]

[The more unstable the Shadow Walker, the more dangerous the crack becomes.]

[And Sunless was injured, furious, and unstable.]

Simon closed his eyes.

That explained a lot.

It explained why her Chaos Manifestation had such a terrifying effect on every shadow in Blackwind Valley. It also explained why the shadows of demons and beasts had been dragged toward her and why they became living statues once their shadows were taken.

Her ability was not simply a powerful shadow technique.

It was the authority of a Demon King who had become deeply connected to the Chaos Shadow Plane.

Simon remained silent for some time, then he asked.

[What would happen if a Shadow Walker stayed in the physical world for too long without suppressing themselves or without something helping them?]

Lilith hummed softly.

[It depends on their level.]

[Some would slowly lose their sense of self. Some would become more shadow than flesh. Some would be forcefully dragged deeper into the Shadow Plane. Some would become strange creatures that are neither living nor dead.]

[Some would become monsters.]

[And the talented ones?] Simon asked.

[They would find methods to remain in the physical world.] Lilith said. [Vessels. Anchors. Seals. Special bodies. Suppression techniques. Places connected to the Shadow Plane.]

[Sunless clearly had such a method.]

Simon knew what Lilith was referring to.

The withered tree.

After thinking for some seconds, Simon decided to ask something else that had been on his mind since the battle.

[Lilith.]

[What?]

[What was that power you used against True Night?]

Lilith did not respond immediately, and Simon continued.

[When he blocked your attack, you called him weak, and then his dagger flew out of his hand and his arm exploded.]

[Also, there was a moment during your battle with Sunless where you drew her toward you. It looked like telekinesis, but it didn’t feel like you used my mental energy or your mental energy.]

[What was that?]

Lilith was silent for a few seconds.

Then she spoke.

[True Dragon’s Authority.]

Simon’s eyes narrowed slightly.

[True Dragon’s Authority?]

[Yes.]

[Is it a technique?]

[No.] Lilith replied calmly. [It is not a technique, and it is not a spell. It is also not a simple ability.]

[Then what is it?] Simon asked with a raised brow.

[Authority.] Lilith said simply.

Simon stared blankly for a moment.

[That explains absolutely nothing.]

Lilith chuckled softly.

[To you, maybe.]

Simon did not speak and waited for her to continue.

[True Dragons are not merely powerful because of their bodies, their scales, their bloodline, or their breath.]

[Those are things lesser dragons and average dragons would brag about.]

[True Dragons possess authority.]

[Their existence naturally exerts pressure on the world, and through that pressure, they can command certain things.]

[Force. Weight. Direction. Distance. Space. Motion. The flow of energy. The body of those beneath them.]

Simon’s eyes slowly widened.

[That sounds absurd.]

[It is.] Lilith replied. [That is why it is called authority.]

[When I destroyed True Night’s arm, I did not use a sword art. I only applied a fraction of True Dragon’s Authority through my arm and the Chaos Blade.]

[His body tried to resist, but the command had already entered him.]

[Break.]

[So his arm broke.]

Simon’s pupils constricted slightly.

[Break?]

[Yes.] Lilith said indifferently. [His demonic energy, muscles, bones, and blood all tried to resist. But his level of existence was too low compared to mine, so his arm exploded.]

Simon remained silent for a while.

Then he asked.

[And Sunless?]

[Pull.]

Simon’s expression became strange.

[Pull?]

[Yes.] Lilith said. [I commanded the distance and force between us to change, so she was dragged toward me.]

Simon was stunned.

He had thought it was something similar to telekinesis.

He had thought Lilith used a hidden force, or perhaps an invisible dragon technique, or maybe an ability related to her fallen angel side.

But the answer was much more direct and terrifying.

Break.

Pull.

Those were commands, and the world obeyed.

Simon felt a strange emotion rise in his chest.

Excitement.

Greed.

Wariness.

And desire.

He wanted that power.

He truly wanted it.

If he possessed such power, how many situations could he solve with a single word or thought?

But he suppressed the desire almost immediately.

Power like that would not be easy to obtain.

And more importantly, he doubted Lilith would hand it to him.

Or could hand it to him.