Simon Abkarian

Biography

Authority and the Unknown Demon Hunter

As a celebrated French hero and an influential member of the Grand Natural Society, Simon treats institutional position as leverage. When BM refuses to bring the unidentified demon hunter to the Society, Simon belittles him as a spokesperson and demands an address instead. He then sends increasingly peremptory letters by spirit beast, convinced that an unaffiliated individual must eventually yield to the combined weight of the Society, the SWB, and the Association. The final rejection exposes the weakness in that assumption, although his secretary shields him from the full extent of the rebuff. (Chapters 93, 99–100)

Defeat at the Gallian Arena

Simon later becomes Yeorum's recurring benchmark, defeating her in nine public and private duels while dismissing her techniques and lack of output. When her amplified strength finally forces him backward, he attributes the reversal to an Association-supplied weapon and calls off the match rather than accept that her power has changed. A rematch with restricted sparring weapons removes that explanation: Yeorum defeats him decisively, and Simon responds with a public congratulatory message that praises the Association while avoiding direct praise of his opponent, preserving what remains of his prestige. (Chapters 336–338)

Appearance and personality

Simon has an elegant moustache and initially carries a bored, leisurely expression. His manner combines a veteran's confidence with a politician's instinct for status: ambitious even in his forties, he expects deference, reacts badly to rejection, and readily turns an unfavorable outcome into a public-relations exercise. His condescension toward Yeorum also shows that his confidence can harden into refusal to reassess an opponent until contrary evidence becomes unavoidable. (Chapters 93, 99, 337–338)

Powers and abilities

Simon is a World Rank 29 superhuman and a veteran of the Great War who defended Gallia through repeated fissure outbreaks. In combat he channels blue mana and unspecified supernatural power through a two-handed greatsword. His experience lets him overwhelm the less-developed Yeorum in repeated bouts, and his strikes are powerful enough that even a later duel fought through weapons limiting both combatants to twenty percent remains fast enough to cross dozens of metres and violent enough to shake the surrounding air and dimension. (Chapters 93, 336–338)

His main limitation is not a stated cost but the ceiling exposed by Yeorum's output amplification. Once her sword can carry substantially more mana, Simon is forced into continuous defense and cannot hold his ground even with a Level 2 greatsword. He initially mistakes that difference for an artifact advantage; when both fighters change to restricted sparring weapons, Yeorum's explosive acceleration and amplified strike still defeat him. The exact nature of Simon's supernatural ability is not explained. (Chapters 337–338)

Relationships

• Yeorum: Simon repeatedly defeats and lectures her, becoming a target she is determined to surpass. Their relationship reverses when her increased output produces an unequivocal rematch victory.
• BM: Simon discounts BM's warning about the demon hunter and needles him during the Society meeting, revealing a clash between Simon's hierarchical assumptions and BM's caution.
• Jean-Luc Wenger: Simon's elderly secretary counsels restraint and worries that his master's rudeness will create lasting consequences, but Simon rejects the warning.

Items

• Two-handed greatsword: Simon channels mana and his supernatural ability through a greatsword. The weapon used in his first on-page duel with Yeorum is identified as a strong Level 2 artifact, but wielding it does not let him withstand her amplified pressure indefinitely.
• Crow: A spirit beast used to carry Simon's summons. Its return with a rejected letter provokes him into sending a more demanding message.