SYSTEM ASCENSION

The words spread through the group.

Joran Zaela.

The man who had accompanied them to Black Empire. The man who had been with them during the visit. The man they had assumed was simply another important guest.

His hands were bound in chains.

His expression was twisted into anger as the guards escorted him toward the platform.

He looked around till his eyes landed on the person who had captured him.

Jordan smirked.

”Damn you!” He began to struggle. ”Damn you! Freak!”

Then—

”FATHER!”

Ume shot to her feet. Her face had gone completely pale. She rushed forward, but two guards immediately intercepted her.

”Let me go!” She struggled against their grip. ”That’s my father!”

The guards didn’t even budge.

”UME!” Joran shouted.

She looked toward him.

”Dad!”

”Stay there!”

”But they’re—!”

”STAY THERE!”

Her eyes filled with panic as the guards held her back.

The executioner stepped forward, and the hall fell silent. He unfolded another document.

”Joran Zaela. Your verdict has been formally issued.”

The executioner began reading.

”This sentence has been signed by the former League Master of the Sound League and approved by the Emperor of the Salvador Empire.”

A murmur passed through the hall.

”By order of the aforementioned authorities, Lord Joran Zaela is to undergo execution within the territory of Black Empire.”

The students stared.

”That’s a lie!” Jordan barked. ”Your actions will spark a war! You’ll not go unattended!”

He glanced at Richard.

”You’re making a mistake.”

The man didn’t even blink.

The executioner continued. ”His crimes are as follows. Lord Joran Zaela kidnapped the heir of Black Empire, along with twenty other citizens of the Empire, which includes the first queen, her maidens, crown prince maidens and mercenaries of the black empire.”

The students’ expressions changed.

”He did what?”

”They are talking about Elias right?”

”So that’s why Elias was in Salvador empire.”

The executioner continued.

”Of those twenty abducted individuals, nineteen were killed, and the heir of Black Empire was kept captive for experimental purposes for six years.”

Several students exchanged stunned looks.

”That’s not true!” Joran yelled. ”I did not do it!”

The murmuring was rising.

He turned around.

”Your highness!”

All eyes turned to Tyler. The prince just folded his hand and shook his head.

”No...” he glanced at the leading family.

”Law is law Joran.” Lady Hinger shrugged.

”I knew he was up to no good.” Lady Anny scoffed.

The rest just stared.

”I didn’t do it! They are framing me—”

”Proof,” the executioner raised his hand, showing a sealing stone. ”We have proof.”

Joran’s face paled. He recognised it. He glanced at Elias but the latter wasn’t wearing it.

The man handed the stone to another guard. The guard took the stone and walked to a veiled female.

She took two steps forward, and collected it, cradling it with her soft palm. The stone shimmered and glowed, then vital energy burst out of it, overwhelming the hall.

The vital energy clogged the hall and shimmered into balls of memories.

All mouths dropped.

The lab. The experiments. How the people were discarded. The rough handle of the first prince. The ordeal he endured. Jordan and Ume’s faces were bright in the evidence.

All were silent and a few who had been pitying the girl, clenched their fists, eyes sharpening into rage.

The executioner lowered the document.

”There is a second charge.”

The hall went quiet again.

Joran remained still in cold sweat.

The executioner continued.

”Joran Zaela has also been found partly responsible for the death of a sworn brother of Black Empire. Razeal Ringoff.”

The reaction was instantaneous.

The crowd erupted.

”What?!”

”Zeal!”

”YOU—!”

The drumming resumed violently.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Rowen’s eyes widened.

People rose from their seats, shouting toward the platform. Some began throwing whatever they could reach toward Joran. Papers, cups, and other objects flew across the hall.

Ume’s face went pale.

”STOP!”

Her voice disappeared beneath the roar of the crowd. Suddenly a chair came flying, knocking her several feet and crashing into the chairs.

The executioner continued reading over the chaos.

”Through his actions and involvement in the events surrounding Razeal Ringoff’s death, Lord Joran Zaela has been determined to bear partial responsibility for the loss of one of Black Empire’s sworn brothers.”

Another object flew toward the platform. The drumming grew louder.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The students stared in complete shock.

Someone tossed a knife with a terrifying precision and it sank into Joran’s neck.

His hand trembled as he grabbed it and pulled it out. The wound instantly closed.

Bad idea.

The hall went silent.

He looked around. The executioner and guards were already moving away.

Rowen stood up.

”Zeal’s ability?”

Jordan turned. ”No...it’s...”

”That’s his ability.” Another one yelled.

The executioner stayed on the platform. ”He’ll be sentenced to—”

For the first time, the man grinned. ”Trodding.”

”...”

”Trodding?” Tiana raised a brow.

”Oh boy.” Quil stood up. He grabbed Coco’s hand, pulling her to her feet. ”Everybody get back! GET BACK!”

As soon as the student scrambled to move, the hall exploded. All the visitors were suddenly dashing off to the stage, where Joran was glancing around confusingly.

The first person who got to him, conjured a chain, wrapping it around his neck and throwing its edges to the rest. Many over grabbed the chain and spread out. They began to pull in different directions.

Joran tried to use his ability to defend himself, but several swords were slicing his limbs, piece by piece.

Many punched him. Kicked him. Tore his clothes. They pulled him across the hall, while the drumming continued. Hacked him into pieces, only for him to regenerate again. That made them do it again and again and again and again and again and again...

The leading family stared in shock.

The students watched in horror.

A few of them throwed up, while some fainted from the sheer shock of it.

Ume was soon pulled into the ridicule. They pulled her and gagged her, stripped off her ornaments and tied her to a six-legged beast. Then they set fire on its horn and have it run.

The hall was chaotic.

Even in all of this, the royal family remained seated, watching the ordeal without a flinch.

The Salvador empire residents soon realised something very important.

Getting on the black empire nerve was a massive death sentence.