Simon thought deeply about this second trial which could turn out to be far more dangerous than he and many other candidates expected.
’Unless I’m overthinking it and underestimating those kids. One or two or more might have the ability to battle a Prime Dread Beast.’
Simon then recalled the demonic energy he sensed at the peak of the valley when he was cleaning himself in the pond in front of his house.
’No. The demonic energy I sensed at the peak of the valley does not belong to an Archfiend but something more terrifying than that.’
’It’s comparable to the demonic energy a Greater Demon would possess.’
Simon’s expression became slightly solemn, then he looked at the barrier.
’Somebody is entering.’
’No.’
’Lots of people are entering the barrier.’
Simon recalled the Odrasil and the demons following him, and just as he expected, it was the Odrasil and his group members.
The Odrasil’s gaze and the gaze of all the members instantly landed on Simon, and he could see the confusion, disbelief, shock, and denial on the faces of some.
Simon did not need to ask, he knew why they had such expressions.
After meeting the female Veilmaster, they all realized why Simon asked for the location of the withered tree.
It was because he had successfully passed the first trial before anybody else.
Those like the Odrasil who had no idea who Simon was, believed that he was just a Minor Lesser Demon.
They all had questions about Simon and especially why he was allowed to partake in the trials when he was so weak, but who were they to question the Shadowgrave Clan?
All they knew was that Simon was most definitely the weakest demon in terms of his heart rank.
Which was why the shock they received was immense when they learned that Simon was the first person to pass the first trial.
Meanwhile, for those who knew that Simon was the last person to cross the narrow stone bridges of the valley, they were even in more shock and disbelief.
The group leader of six refused to believe that Simon had passed the first trial without cheating in some way.
But after they were threatened by the Veilmasters and shown the corpse of a candidate who was a Fiend, they had no choice but to keep quiet.
Simon could guess all their thoughts and their reactions after realizing what he had done, but did he care?
Absolutely not.
He shifted his gaze from the Odrasil to the remaining members of the group. He calmly observed them, but this time around, he did it with more scrutiny since he knew that he would most likely have to battle one, two, or the entire group for the second trial.
Meanwhile, amongst the group of thirty, the group leader of six gritted his teeth and took steps to approach Simon.
However, the Odrasil stopped him.
"Why are you stopping me? I have to ask him how he cheated in the first trial." The leader gritted his teeth in disgust and anger, and the Odrasil shook his head.
"It’ll be wise not to do that."
The leader scoffed and yanked his arm out of the Odrasil’s hand.
"Do not advise me, freak."
The Odrasil gestured at some members of the group who were about to draw out their weapons and kill the arrogant demon.
His gesture stopped them, but one could see the reverence and worship that was in their eyes.
The leader looked at the enslaved demons with disdain in his eyes, then he scoffed and was about to take a step forward in order to approach Simon.
But the Veilmaster suddenly spoke.
"Listen to the Odrasil would you? No fighting or confrontation is allowed in this peace... Do you understand me?"
The leader’s expression changed multiple times, then he closed his eyes and bowed at the Veilmaster.
"Yes, I do."
The Veilmaster nodded. "Good." He then gestured at the group of thirty. "Now come. Let me explain what the next trial would be like."
The Veilmaster glanced at Simon, but he saw Simon closing his eyes while sitting in a meditative position.
’He’s always calm and never shaken. He’d make a good assassin. Let’s see if he survives and passes the trial.’
The Veilmaster looked away, then he began to tell the group what he already told Simon.
Meanwhile, Simon was circulating his demonic energy and refining his chaos flame at the same time.
After realizing that a Prime Dread Beast is going to be part of the trial, he decided to take every opportunity to refine his chaos force.
And this time around, he did not restrict his body from passively absorbing the demonic energy in the air.
Although he had not gotten the bloodline of the Devourers, his body had changed after getting the skill through his Seven Stars Blessing.
His body passively absorbed the demonic energy in the air, and the higher his proficiency of Devour, the greater the passive ability of his body to absorb the world’s demonic energy.
’I have refine my chaos flame to 19%. I need seven more percent to become a Prime Lesser Demon.’
Simon became lost as he was entirely focused on refining his chaos force, but after some time, a bang resounded in his ears, and he was forced to open his eyes.
"Please! Please! Please! I have a condensed shadow essence! I have it! Please let me in!"
"Please let me in too! I was ambushed by those bastards! They took my condensed shadow essence! I should be in there!"
"Please! I can’t go back to my family as a failure! I would be disowned!"
"This is not fair! I worked so hard to get to this point! I’ve not even gotten the chance to show my skills! How does this trial relate to assassins?!"
"Yeah! How?!"
Five candidates stood outside the barrier and hit it with desperate expressions. In their hands was a condensed shadow essence.
Simon looked up at the sky, and he saw that the sky was getting dark.
’Was I that engrossed in meditation?’
He frowned slightly, then he looked at the Veilmaster who indifferently looked at the shouting kids.
"Seven hundred and eighty six (786) of you passed the first trial instead of nine hundred (900). Not bad. Better than some years."
The Veilmaster said for every candidate in the barrier to hear, and Simon looked around.
"If I were you, I’d leave this place as quickly as possible and go back home before it gets dark."
The five candidates cursed loudly, but when they looked up and saw the black moon releasing its light on the valley, they became pale and quickly ran away.