SYSTEM ASCENSION

The students had been told that Black Empire had many rules, and that these strict rules are the reasons for the peace.

Most of them had ignored the words. Apparently, rules exist, but bend towards the rich and influential. Or at least, that’s what they thought until they reached the hall.

”Children are not permitted inside,” one of the guards was announcing.

All the children were led away by maidens, holding several sticks of candles. Some played harps and flute for the children.

The Salvador empire students walked in, just like every other visitor. It was a circular hall.

Rows of seats filled the chamber. The walls were decorated with the symbols of Black Empire, and at the far end stood a raised platform.

The leading family occupied a side of the seats, and as usual, Joran was missing. Ume bit on her fingers, her nervousness spiking.

The students looked around.

”Who are they executing?”

”I don’t know.”

”Why are there so many guards?”

Nobody had an answer. Then—

BOOM.

A drum sounded. Every conversation died instantly.

BOOM.

Another drum.

The students sat straighter.

Then came another, and another.

A deep, rhythmic drumroll filled the hall. From all directions of the hall, there were approximately seventy women. They drummed the same thing, moving in perfect formation, dressed in formal Black Empire attire.

The students stared.

”What is this?” Bora whispered, subconsciously clenching on Tyler’s arm. He just stared at the scene.

Claude looked around, and spotted Elias and Jordan, sitting beside their father and Sienna.

Elias was still blindfolded.

”I don’t feel too good about this.” Tiana who was sitting beside him muttered.

Quil and Coco sat together.

Fayera and Davon.

Rolarza sat with Mimi.

Anya and Lane.

Kael sat alone among the rest of the students.

Mona had surprisingly returned to his baby form and was sitting on Jordan’s head, pulling his hair.

Then the doors at the back of the hall opened. A man was escorted inside. His hands were bound behind him, chains wrapped around his wrists and ankles. Two guards walked on either side of him while another followed behind.

The atmosphere changed completely.

The students finally understood. This wasn’t a ceremony. It was an execution.

The man was brought before the platform and forced to kneel.

Quil’s eyes narrowed. ”He’s really the one.”

”Why execute him for selling a blueprint?” Coco muttered.

Quil folded his arms against his chest. ”He sold confidential information to outsiders, and because of that, killing innocent people had been made easy.”

”But isn’t the black empire using it to kill people too?”

”You didn’t notice it yesterday?” He glanced at her.

”Noticed what?”

”When Elias discharged that projection yesterday, we weren’t the only one amazed. The veil students were amazed too.”

”So it’s not a common thing?”

”There must be some special force, maybe secret guardians or something, that uses it. The room Elias used was the only room that contained the guns. Some people should never have set their eyes on them. That man ruined it.”

An executioner stepped forward, holding a document. His voice echoed through the hall.

”By authority of the Black Empire, the verdict shall now be read.”

The room remained completely silent.

”The accused has been found guilty of selling confidential military blueprints belonging to the Empire.”

A murmur nearly escaped the crowd, but it died immediately beneath the guards’ stern gazes.

The executioner continued.

”The information was subsequently used by a criminal organisation, resulting in massive loss of life.”

He lowered the document slightly.

”The court has therefore issued its final sentence. Death.”

A suffocating silence descended. They exchanged glances.

The executioner folded the document. ”The sentence shall be carried out immediately.”

The drums began again.

The students stared toward the platform.

For the first time since arriving in Black Empire, none of them were excited about the tour anymore.

Two guards stepped forward. The prisoner looked toward them as they took hold of his chains.

”Move.”

He tried to resist, but one of them jagged him in the gut, so hard he spat blood. His footsteps echoed across the stone floor as they led him toward the guillotine standing at the center of the platform.

The students watched in silence.

They had never seen anything like it.

The massive blade rested above the wooden frame, held in place as the executioner prepared the mechanism.

The prisoner was brought to the platform.

One guard removed the chains from his ankles while the other guided him toward the device.

He hesitated for the briefest moment, trying to move back, but they forced him into position.

The executioner approached.

”Your sentence was lawfully given,” he announced. ”Your sentence shall now be carried out.”

The prisoner closed his eyes, forcing in his trembling lips.

The executioner stepped back. One of the guards moved to the mechanism. He pulled the liver.

The blade went up, glimmered above his bowed head.

He broke into a panicked scream.

”Wait! I’m sorry! It wasn’t intentional!”

He looked up at the woman who only had emotions on her face.

”Mother! Help me!”

All eyes turned towards his mother. She had disappointment and pain in her expression. She forced herself to watch.

The guillotine blade was lowered to the man’s head. The blade came running, giving a perfect cut, mid-scream spilling his blood to the hungry earth. Many tear up at the harsh, severed sight, his head thudding feet away from the guillotine.

Then almost immediately, silence returned to the hall.

The executioner stepped forward and looked toward the officials. ”The sentence has been carried out.”

The guards immediately began clearing the platform.

The students remained seated.

For several seconds, none of them could even look at one another. They had come to Black Empire as visitors.

Now they understood why children had originally been forbidden from entering the hall.

Anya buried her face in Lane’s chest.

Tiana and Claude’s eyes remained on the scene.

Rolarza and Mimi looked away.

Bora was shivering in Tyler’s arm.

Quil watched the scene with a bored expression. Coco was forced to inquire.

”These types of scenes freak humans out. Doesn’t it unnerve you?”

”Maybe because I stopped being human a long time ago.” He muttered.

The hall had barely settled after the first execution when the drums began again.

The students looked toward the entrance.

Another prisoner was being escorted inside. But this time, several of them recognized him immediately.

”Wait...”

One of the students slowly stood halfway from his seat.

”Isn’t that—”

”Lord Joran.”