The Broken Halo

The additional thirty-seven thousand two hundred (37,200) low grade hell stones disappeared into the counting formation.

Seven thousand two hundred (7,200) was for cutting the six shells, while thirty thousand (30,000) was for the private room.

After the payment was confirmed, Yara led Simon into one of the rooms along the wall of the third floor.

The room was larger than Simon expected. A black stone table stood at the center, and a circular Resonance Cutting Array had been carved into its surface. Thin silver lines extended from the table to the walls, where several recording crystals were embedded.

There were also two chairs and a smaller table for whatever was found inside the shells.

Yara placed the black receipt token into a slot beside the door. A few moments later, workers brought the abyss shells into the room one after another and placed them near the cutting table.

The abyss shell that was taken from the Dreadfall Sea was brought in last.

The moment it entered, the black star containing UnholyRegeneration trembled again.

Simon glanced at it, then looked away before anybody could notice anything strange.

"I’ll bring one of our best cutters," Yara said. "Please wait here."

She left the room and returned several minutes later with a demon following behind her.

The demon looked old, but not weak or close to death. His dark bronze skin had several wrinkles around his eyes and mouth, while the hair at his temples had turned grey. He wore a plain dark robe with rolled sleeves, revealing thin arms covered in numerous silver scars.

His fingers drew Simon’s attention.

They were long, steady, and stained faintly black at the tips.

"This is Master Orvek," Yara introduced. "He has worked as a cutter for seventy-six years and is one of the most experienced cutters assigned to the third floor."

Orvek gave Simon a small nod.

Yara then looked at the cutter.

"This is Blackmoon. Lord Korran personally granted him access to the third floor and authorised his discount for today’s purchases."

Orvek’s eyes flickered.

"The Iron Examiner?"

Yara nodded.

The casual expression on Orvek’s face disappeared. He looked at Simon properly this time, then glanced at the six abyss shells.

"I’ll handle them carefully."

Simon nodded slightly.

"Leave the shell from the Dreadfall Sea for last. Open the other five first."

Orvek understood immediately.

Simon wanted to see his skill before allowing him to touch the most expensive shell.

The cutter did not take offence. It was not the first time a wealthy customer had tested him before trusting him with something valuable.

"Which one first?"

Simon pointed at the palm-sized shell with pale blue spots.

Orvek placed it in the center of the table, then touched one of the runes on the cutting array.

Hum!

The silver lines lit up, and faint vibrations passed through the shell.

Orvek tapped its surface with a thin black rod and listened. He turned it twice, studied the direction of the lines on its surface, then placed the rod aside.

Two nearly invisible metal threads formed between his fingers.

He lowered them slowly.

The threads did not cut straight through the shell. They shaved away a layer so thin that it fell like dust onto the table.

Simon watched without saying anything.

Orvek’s movements were patient and precise. Whenever the resistance changed, even slightly, he stopped and sent another vibration through the shell before continuing.

The shell became smaller layer by layer.

After several minutes, the final section opened.

Inside was a shrivelled insect-like creature no longer than Simon’s thumb. Its body had turned grey, and the faint demonic energy it once possessed had completely disappeared.

Orvek examined it briefly then he shook his head slightly.

"A dead reef parasite. Worthless."

Yara recorded the result while the cutting array swept the shell dust into a narrow groove beside the table.

Meanwhile, Simon showed no disappointment.

He had not expected anything from it in the first place.

The crooked skull-shaped shell was next.

This one was harder than the first, so Orvek soaked it in a dark solution for several minutes before placing it inside the Resonance Cutting Array.

He studied it again and began peeling away the softened outer layers.

The shape slowly disappeared, revealing that the resemblance to a skull had truly meant nothing.

When the shell finally opened, a black lump rested inside.

Yara leaned closer.

Orvek touched it with the black rod, and the lump crumbled into powder.

He shook his head once again in disappointment.

"Rotten beast marrow," he said. "It lost whatever value it had centuries ago."

Two shells.

Two pieces of trash.

Simon could now understand why so many demons lost everything through rock gambling. Even on the third floor, where the shells had rare origins and terrifying prices, nothing guaranteed that the contents had survived.

However, he had also seen enough of Orvek’s work.

The demon was skilled.

He never forced the metal threads through resistance, and he examined every change before continuing. If the Dreadfall shell contained something fragile, Orvek was less likely to damage it than Simon would be if he simply used the Chaos Blade.

"The next one," Simon said with a calm tone and expression.

Orvek nodded, then he picked up the round shell covered in bronze-coloured lines.

Unlike the first two, this shell gave off a faint metallic smell when it was placed inside the array.

The Resonance Cutting Array hummed, but its vibrations returned unevenly.

Orvek frowned.

He rotated the shell and tested it again but he still got the same result.

"Several layers overlap inside this one."

"Is that bad?" Simon asked.

"Not necessarily. It only means I have to cut it from more than one direction."

The metal threads appeared between his fingers again.

This time, Orvek worked even more slowly. He removed a section from the top, turned the shell, then peeled away part of its side. The bronze lines dimmed as the outer layers disappeared.

Halfway through the process, the sound of the threads changed.

Chiiiii

Orvek stopped instantly.

Yara’s eyes moved toward the shell.

"Something changed."

Orvek nodded and sent another series of vibrations through it. He studied the response for several seconds, then replaced the thin threads with one slightly thicker metal line.

The shell was cut along its weakest point.

Crack

A narrow opening appeared.

A warm silver light escaped through it, followed by a breeze of demonic energy.

Yara’s expression changed.

Orvek looked at Simon, and for the first time since he entered the room, a faint smile appeared on his face.

"This one definitely contains something valuable."