Chapter 28: The Final Verdict

As Ace stumbles back, he’s unable to wrap his head around why Blue punched him. Bringing a hand to his face, he demands, "Blue, what the hell was that about?!"

Blue heaves in and out as his eyes narrow, "Why would I ever… shake the hand of a murderer?"

"What–” Ace grimaces. “What do you mean? Don't you remember? We… we fought together to save Grace!"

"It's as Delta said. You murdered Flora and Grace and then attempted to kill me, and you almost got away with it."

"What is wrong with you, Blue? You must've hit your head, that’s why you have such a bad headache. Don't you remember what we went through?! The rescue attempt, the boulder trap, the fight we had??"

"If all those terrible things happened, how is it that you don't have a scratch on you? The only new thing is that scar on your arm…"

Gritting his teeth, Ace stepped back and looked down at the scar on his right arm.

How did I get this? More importantly, though, how do I get out of this??

Before Ace has the chance to work out a strategy, Blue pushes on, "As you were trying to kill me… I landed a strike with my sword on your torso. Mind showing us all what I'm talking about?

Remembering this attack, Ace lifts the bottom of my shirt and reveals a small line resembling a scar. Staring at it, Ace wonders.

How did it heal so quickly? What is going on? I– I need to calm down. This trial isn’t over yet. I need to make Blue remember. If I don’t, I’m screwed.

"Here it is, Blue's exactly right,” says Ace. “In our fight, we made a plan and-"

Blue interrupts, "Why don't you just own up to what you've done? You're not fooling anybody any longer."

Walking back to his tent, Blue brushes past Ace’s shoulder.

"Blue, I don't understand..." says Ace.

Without turning back to face him, Blue shouts, "Just admit it! Own up to what you've done, Ace!"

Scowling, Ace stares at Blue.

That’s it. I can’t waste any more time being civil. I’ll beat the memory out of him if that’s what it takes!

Quickly grabbing the collar of Blue's shirt before Forest and Falcon can react, Ace pulls Blue away from his tent. As he spins him around so they’re looking at each other eye to eye, Ace grasps Blue’s collar again and lifts him off the ground.

"Maybe this will get your shitty memory working! Blue, we were together the whole damn time! We worked out a plan! We swore we wouldn't betray one another! Why are you lying about this?!" demands Ace, as Forest and Falcon are unsure whether to step in.

Struggling to breathe, Blue stutters, "You coward.. put me down. All I'm looking at… is the face of a murderer. Just look at them. Look at their faces right now. They're finally seeing the real you."

Shifting his gaze to the jury, Ace realizes his grave mistake. Disgust, horror, fury, and many more negative reactions were plastered on each face of the jury.

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Unable to control himself any longer, Ace starts chuckling, rage building from the unfairness of the trial. A wave of iris energy radiates from Ace, and the campfire explodes, blazing to a much greater size and strength. Stunned, Forest and Falcon slowly back off as a ring of fire is made, entrapping Ace and Blue at its center. Ace's eyes begin to glow, his hair bursts into flames, and tattoos envelop his face, neck, and body.

Delta smirks at the sight she had seen before, "Heh, I told you so."

Faith frightfully encapsulates the horrifying sight that stands before everybody.

Ace… you damn fool. You were just about to be declared not guilty, and you do this?

Disoriented, Blue's eyes expand, adrenaline circulating through his body at lightning speed.

"I can't believe you made me go this far…"

As Ace utters those haunting words, he snaps his fingers, and the ring of fire gradually dies down, leaving behind a circle of black soot where the flames once were.

So he can control them. Damn it. Ace, if only circumstances were different…

Falcon and Forest turn to one another and silently nod, agreeing that they must perform their duties. They gather behind Ace and begin their assault, trying to catch Ace off guard.

"Take one more step,” states Ace, not moving a muscle. “And you'll regret it. I don't want to hurt anyone, but if you try to stop me… I won't hesitate to take you down."

Interjecting herself again, Delta shouts at Ace, "You're a monster!"

Ace fixes his attention on the jury, his appearance and body still glowing vibrantly.

"If you see me as a monster now, so be it. But don't let that overshadow the fact that I am still me. I am Ace. And with these powers, I can protect all of you. With a real devil out there, I'm a monster worth keeping."

My eyebrows narrowly raise as my mind continues evaluating the state of affairs.

Shifting his focus from the jury to Delta, Ace starts walking. Delta falls off her stump, violently flailing her arms in the dirt as she pushes herself away.

"Stay away! Stay the hell away from me!!"

As she frantically crawls backward, her hand grazes the sword she had dropped earlier. She promptly grasps its handle and holds it up in self-defense. After taking a couple more steps, Ace now stands just a few feet away from Delta.

The sword trembling in her hands, Delta says, "What are you waiting for?"

Her eyes narrowing, Delta thrusts the sword out, and it stops just a few inches below Ace's chin.

"Although accidental, I killed Grace. She was your friend, and you killing me would be justice… wouldn't it?" says Ace.

"Shut up! You have no right to say her name! Get away from me, you bastard!"

No longer in shock, Delta commits to a lethal swing, and Ace leans back to dodge. Delta quickly readjusts and attempts to slash at Ace's legs. Ace jumps, tiny flares sprouting off the ground as he unintentionally boosts himself much higher and farther than he's ever been able to. Ace lands about ten feet away from Delta.

"I'm truly sorry for what happened."

Reeling the sword back as if it were a spear, Delta hurls it directly at Ace. Ace snaps his fingers, and a firewall quickly bursts up in front of him, causing the sword to cleanly split in two. With both halves flying past Ace's head, Delta exhibits a look of defeat.

"I saw what I saw. And now everybody knows exactly what I’m talking about," says Delta, her consciousness not allowing her to give in.

Focusing on the jury again, Ace first notices their reactions, which have escalated from being disturbed to absolutely terrified.

They’re terrified…

Of me…

As guilt hung over his conscience, Ace’s breathing grew erratic as he made a pathetic attempt at staying composed. And then, as if it were destiny, we met each other’s gazes, and Ace conceptualized that my expression had finally adjusted from the straight face I’d held throughout the entirety of the trial.

Wearing a frown, I ask one single question.

"Code... is Ace guilty or not guilty?"

"Guilty," replies Code, his tone agitated and overcome by distress.

As Ace hung his head in shame and regret, his body returned to normal.

"So that's that…" I say, standing up.

Desperate, Ace meets my gaze again and begs, "Scar, don't do this! You can trust me! You know you can! You're the judge! Can't the judge overrule their vote?! Scar! Overrule it! Please! Overrule it for me!"

"Ace, the jury has decided by majority vote that you are found guilty of murdering Grace. As the judge, I agree with the jury's vote. Tomorrow, you will be exiled."