Chapter 70: Trial of the Siege Hydra

The Major was not happy, not happy at all. He might have been able to avoid all of this if Tom had been here, but the kid was unavailable for some reason. So he had to do it himself. When Sergent Thorn had dragged him to a crime scene, he had been expecting something mundane. He was not expecting six corpses, more paste than human, and Abaddon covered head to toe in blood, looking sheepish.

The kid claimed he had been making his way to talk to Tom when Chad and his fellows had accosted him. Adams knew the kids; he didn't like them. But that's where the story got strange. Abaddon claimed he had tried to push past them when they attacked him, and he had defended himself. When the Major asked Abaddon if he was injured, the kid shook his head, claiming he had already regenerated.

That fucking terrified him. He had seen how hard the trolls had been to kill, and recently, he had seen how tough Hydras were in that holodeck thing Tom had. The idea that this kid could rip people limb from limb, get shot and stabbed and be up and barely be fully healed in ten minutes was fucking terrifying to him. He was actually starting to be thankful for the goblins. If they hadn't been here, what would have happened if someone had tried to kick Tom's people out of the school? The Major decided he didn't want to find out the answer to that question.

Fortunately for him, Thorn had already quarantined the area and stowed Abaddon in the alchemy room. Normally, putting a suspected criminal in a room with everything he needed to make explosives was a bad idea, but Thorn pointed out that the kid had ripped six people apart with his bare hands, and he seemed calmer in that room than any other.

She had even managed to find a couple of detectives with skills and classes related to their jobs to investigate the situation. It wasn't perfect, though. Most of them—the sergeant included—had neglected their [Detective] classes to focus on classes that were more immediately useful.

Ironically, Thorn was still the best [Detective] they had, as she had put eight levels into that class and twelve into her [Marksman] class. The next best candidate, an officer named Smith, only had ten levels in [Detective], but he had focused on his interrogation skills, whereas Thorn had focused more on forensics.

Fortunately, they didn't need to wait for Tom to resurrect the victims. Chester had hit level twenty in his class and had unlocked his own resurrection skill.

Level 20 Capstone: [Cycle of Rebirth] - Mythic

[Cycle of Rebirth]: This skill grants the user the ability to resurrect one individual per day, with an additional charge gained per skill level, up to a maximum of 100 charges. Each charge replenishes after 24 hours. If the skill holder dies while charges remain, they are automatically resurrected with all resources fully restored.

Warning: Cycle of Rebirth can only be used on the same individual once per day. Attempts to resurrect someone who has already been revived by this skill in the last 24 hours will fail.

It was nowhere near as good as what Tom could do, but every other resurrection skill they had found had steep costs that made it unusable. Originally, Chester had already gotten the skill to level nine before the incident. Unfortunately, he had only gotten that morning and had used the skill six times, so they could only resurrect three people.

Smith had done his best to interview the four subjects. Abaddon, Kevin, Chad and one other kid he didn't know. The man pushed the kids hard. The other three had kept demanding to see their parents. Meanwhile, Abaddon had asked for Tom and then patiently waited, just staring off into the distance.

In the meantime, the Major pushed the people crowding around the hallway back before confiscating any footage of the crime. However, he had no doubt some people had already uploaded their videos to YouTube.

The Major met up with both Smith and Thorn while Chester was keeping the crowds back.

"Alright, so what do you two think?" The Major asked.

"My skills system and otherwise tell me the lizard kid is telling the truth. The other two kids lied through their teeth the entire time I talked to them, and the fourth boy admitted that they were the ones who started this." Smith began. "Not that that's worth anything anymore. If he has some skill that lets him lie his ass off, I might not be able to tell."

"I don't think any of them have any skills related to lying. At least my [Discerning Eye] skill says he doesn't have that skill, but that just pushes the envelope to me. If he has a skill that hides stuff in his status, we wouldn't know," Adams admitted.

He was starting to understand how investigations would happen now, the back-and-forth of obfuscation and detection skills.

"Sir, if I may, I don't know about the other boys, but I don't think Abaddon has either of those skills," Sergeant Thorn said.

"What makes you say that?" Smith asked.

"We know that your class determines what kind of skills you get. Abaddon's class is [Giantslayer]."

"Pretty sure Jack in Jack in the Beanstalk lied his ass off through that entire story." Smith pointed out.

"True, but we also know you only get skill points when you get a title at the first level of a class, every other level and the last level of a class. Now I think I can confirm he has at least nine of the skills on his status because we've seen them in action. The only one I can't confirm is [Endless Brawler] because that one is purely internal."

"That's interesting," Smith muttered. If you're right, then we can take my interview with him at face value."

"And the other kids?" The Major asked.

Thorn shrugged. "We can't know for certain."

"What about the witness?"

"According to the people I've talked to, Chad has had a bad attitude. Before the system, Tom and his friends were nerds, and Chad was their bully. Lots of witnesses to the fight, but no one saw how the fight started."

"Circumstantial at best, which brings us back to the forensics." the Major said.

"We got lucky. The videos helped me eliminate most of the blood spatter except one. It looks like Abaddon's blood spilled first."

"How can you tell?" Adams asked.

"Abaddon's blood is apparently very toxic, which makes its coloration distinct from the other boy's blood. And it's the only bloodstain that was there before the video started filming."

"That's not definitive; you can take a punch without bleeding on the floor," Smith warned.

"The kid broke bones and pulped their bodies like overripe tomatoes. So yeah, pretty sure he didn't throw the first punch."

"Until the kids' dad calls unreasonable self-defence," Smith pointed out.

"Wait a minute, who's dad?" Adam asked.

"Councilman Lewis Brindly, father of one of our victims, Kevin Brindly. I promise you that even if his kid was the one who attacked, he will push for the big guy to be charged with unreasonable self-defence. The fact that we brought his kid back doesn't change that." Smith pointed out.

That brought Adams to his biggest concern. What the hell was Tom and Brindly going to do? Legally speaking, Birndly was his boss. But he was worried about what would happen if Tom decided to fight back. Actually, that was the wrong question. Adams would be surprised if Abaddon and Tom would just let Birndly arrest Abaddon. And he had just gotten a rather painful close-up image of what would happen if they tried to subdue the kid.

So, how was this going to play out? Unfortunately, he was going to get his answer very quickly.

When the doors to the cauldron swung open, Mr. Brindly stormed in, flanked by his son, his son's friend, and a sharp-dressed man whose appearance screamed lawyer. Behind them trailed a handful of armed men, their expressions a mixture of apathy and distaste. Adams immediately disliked them.

"Mr. Adams!" Brindly's voice was a thunderclap in the confined space. "I want that... *creature* arrested immediately! My son has been attacked, brutalized, and killed by that monster!" His face was a storm of righteous fury.

Adams sighed, his face a mask of calm professionalism. "Mr. Brindly, I understand your concern. We're conducting a thorough investigation—"

"Concern?" Brindly interrupted, his lawyer stepping forward with a smooth motion.

"Major Adams," the lawyer began in that paper-dry tone all lawyers seemed to have. "The evidence is overwhelming. The assailant was found at the scene, drenched in blood. The grotesque nature of their … deaths and the severity of the injuries inflicted speaks to the unreasonable force, regardless of any supposed provocation. I strongly suggest you place him under arrest immediately to avoid further complications for your department."

Smith opened his mouth, but Thorn cut him off with a sharp gesture, stepping forward to stand beside Adams. "With respect, sir, we have evidence to suggest your son and his companions initiated the confrontation."

"My son was beaten to within an inch of his life!" Brindly's voice rose another octave, his face flushing red.

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Technically, he was beaten to death, but Adams wasn't going to correct him. Instead, he held up his hand to try to forestall the brewing argument.

"Mr. Brindly, this situation is far from black and white. We have multiple witnesses and evidence to review. No one is being arrested until the investigation is complete."

Brindly's lawyer adjusted his tie. "Major, if you don't act, I'll have no choice but to escalate this to the Council. The legal precedent for arrest in cases of unreasonable self-defence is clear—"

"What precedent would that be?" a voice interrupted them from behind

Adams turned to find Hanze striding into the hallway, his eyes gleaming with barely concealed amusement. Behind him came Skippy, and Luke had joined him. All of them were armed and looked ready for a fight, though for the moment, they were simply observing.

"Attacked by six individuals with the intent to kill, stabbed multiple times. I have to say I am eager to hear how you're going to spin an unreasonable force charge."

Brindly stiffened, his lawyer visibly paling. Kevin shrank further behind his father, clutching his arm.

"I'm sorry, Major, but I am here as Abaddon's legal counsel," Hanze said firmly, his sharp gaze landing on the other lawyer. "We'll cooperate fully with the investigation, but until there's conclusive evidence proving otherwise, my client is innocent. I have been informed that any attempt to circumvent the proper legal process will be met with … severe legal consequences."

Skippy grinned as he palmed his sword. "Among other things."

The lawyer bristled, but Hanze ignored him, addressing Adams directly. "We need to resolve this properly. I suggest all parties step back, let the investigation conclude, and then we can have a proper trial."

"That thing should be jailed until trial," Brindley stated.

"Like hell, he will be!" Skippy said.

"He has already proven to be dangerous. You said it yourself: he killed six people. Placing him in lockup until a trial is concluded is a reasonable course of action, wouldn't you say, Major?" the lawyer pointed out.

The tension in the room thickened, Brindly's lawyer stepping forward, his voice edged with a mix of frustration and authority. "Major Adams, this isn't a negotiation. The Council has the authority to demand the immediate detainment of individuals who pose a threat to public safety."

"If you think I'm going to let you look up, my friend, You've got another thing coming," Skippy warned.

Abaddon stood up then, moving over towards Skippy.

"I love you too, best buddy," Abaddon said.

"Does this really look like the place to talk about that?" Skippy asked.

"Abaddon is working to make the city safer; imprisoning him would only increase the risk to civilians," Hanze protested.

But Brindly's armed men exchanged wary glances, their hands inching toward their weapons despite Hanzes words. At the same time, Abaddon positioned himself in front of Hanze while Skippy and Luke moved a bit more subtly, drawing their swords as they readied for a fight. The air seemed to hum with the tension of an imminent clash.

Luke looked nervous, but he didn't back down. Neither did Brindlys armed guard.

The lawyer looked as though he might faint, glancing nervously at Brindley, who glowered at the display but didn't issue a direct command.

"Major Adams, this is outrageous!" Brindly roared, his fury boiling over. "You're letting these... thugs dictate the terms?"

Adams moved between the groups, raising both hands. "Enough! Everybody stand down!" He glared at Brindley. "Councilman, this isn't helping anyone. Take your men and leave now before someone does something stupid."

Brindley scoffed. "Leave? This is my son's attacker we're talking about!"

Adams stepped closer to Brindly, dropping his voice so only the councilman could hear. "I have seen Abaddon fight. He shrugs off bullets like they are BBs. If you push this any further, your people are going to die. I don't care how much power you think you have; this situation is about to spiral out of control."

Brindly's face twisted with fury, but before either man could speak again, the air in the hallway shifted. It grew heavier and oppressive. A sense of dread washed over everyone present like a weight. The din of shouting voices and the mounting chaos were replaced by an oppressive silence that seemed to press on his ears. He tried to speak but couldn't hear his own words. And there was Tom, striding into the room with a smile that sent shivers down his spine. He was wearing white armour made out of paper for some reason.

Tom's eyes swept the room, taking in the armed mob, his people, and the quarantine door behind Adams. Adams tried to say something, but no sound came out of his mouth.

"In case you haven't figured it out yet, I cast a silence spell on everyone in the room," Tom said casually. "Now, everyone, please put your guns down, and we can talk about this like adults."

Brindley men turned their guns towards Tom, raising their weapons to their shoulders, ready to fire.

"Seriously?" Tom rolled his eyes, and then he snapped his fingers.

The next moment, every single one of Brindley's men, Chad and Kevin included, were jerked off their feet as their weapons were ripped out of their hands and stuck to the ceiling like they had just been magnetized.

Two of the guards rushed Tom.

"Power Word: Death," Tom said, and both men dropped to the ground dead.

A niggling of fear seemed to worm itself into the Major's mind at the sight as he unconsciously took a step back.

"Now, where was I? That's right, talking like adults." Tom clapped his hand twice, and suddenly, Adams could speak again. Now that you can all speak again, would someone mind telling me why I have yet another mess to deal with?"

"This… *monster* attacked my son and seven others!" Brindly spat, his voice shaking with rage and maybe a bit of fear. "I demand justice!"

Tom cocked his head. "Your son?"

"Kevin Brindly," the man growled.

"Oh, you mean the creepy pervert?" Tom asked, raising an eyebrow.

Brindly recoiled as though struck, a flicker of panic crossing his face before he regained his composure.

"That is slander!" he barked.

"Then sue me," Tom replied flatly, waving the comment away like an annoying fly. "Now, Abaddon, give me a quick recap, would you kindly."

Abaddon took a deep breath as if he were steadying himself before he recounted what had happened. The ambush in the halls, the bullying, how he tried to leave and how they had attacked with lethal force, to which he responded in kind."

"Well, there you go," Tom said, turning back to the Major.

"You're kidding me. Of course, he's lying to save his own skin." Mr.Brindley demanded

Tom rolled his eyes before pointing first to Sergent Thorn, then to Detective Smith and then finally to himself.

"[Pierce the Veil], [Eyes of Truth], [Augurs Eye], [Thirst for Knowledge] and [Vision of Akashic Records]. There are three people in this room with skills to detect lies; you're the only one here with a skill, which is called [Pokeface], to hide lies, and you can only hide your lies from Sergent Thorn as [Eyes of Truth] will bypass that skill and my skills won't even notice that low level of obfuscation."

"That's a lie." Brindly spluttered, fear clear in his voice.

"You are free to show us your Status, Mr.Brindley," Tom offered.

Brindley's lawyer spoke up then. "How are we supposed to confirm any of this? We haven't even spoken to the boy's side of the story."

Tom smiled like a cat who had caught a mouse, causing their hackles to rise.

"That is a wonderful idea. How about it, Chad? Kevin, you want to tell us your side of the story. Don't worry; I'll fact-check." Tom said as lighting arced across his hand.

Chad sneered, but the lawyer smacked him before he could say anything.

"Actually, I can see why you might not believe me, so we can substitute Mr. Smith here to fact-check you. Or, if you want to give me five minutes, I know of three individuals in this school who can pick up the [Dreamweaver] skill. With that, we can just pluck the memories out of their heads and take a proper look at them. How about that?" Tom offered.

"This is hardly fair!" The lawyer protested.

"It's not fair, you have no rights, and this isn't a trial," Tom said.

The oppressive feeling suddenly intensified, crashing down on all of them like an avalanche. Brindly, his lawyer and his guards were forced to the ground. Kevin and Chad handled it a little better, but only a little, as they were forced to their hands and knees. Adams and his people weren't directly affected, but even they felt like they had just put on five hundred pounds as their knees buckled.

"What the fuck!! Get this off of me!!" Chad screamed.

The pressure increased even more, forcing the two bullies to the ground as blood started to leak out of the other's orifices. The acrid smell of piss filled the room as some of the men lost control of there bladders.

"You morons decided to start a fight in my home with my friend, and then you retards have the gaul to come in here with guns and start demanding justice?! Honestly, I'm amazed; I didn't think you had the balls to throw your weight around in a world where people can set you on fire … with their minds!!! But clearly, I was mistaken. Normally, I would just kill you all, mount your corpses on pikes and leave them at the settlement's boundaries as a warning to the next pack of idiots I have to deal with." He didn't shout; he didn't need to. The fury in his voice seemed to resonate with the pressure that was threatening to crush them with every word.

"But," Tom began, letting the pressure off. "We have a goblin invasion to deal with. And I need every single one of you idiots to help. So here is what is going to happen, Mr. Brindly. You are going to take your men, and you are going to help us with the goblins. But after that, we are done, your spawn, and all of your people will be banned from Hopkins, and you will not come back until Abaddon here forgives you or your guild is no more."

"But," Mr Brindly tried to say something around the blood leaking out of his mouth, but Tom cut him off.

"You have attacked my people, lied about it and then threatened us. You and your guild will be offered no food or succour here. You are Outcasts." Tom said each and every word reverberating through their skull as a notification popped up

DING!!!

Alert

As a member of the Awoken Myths guild, you have received a notification.

The Surrey Leadership Alliance Guild or (SLA) has done a grave insult to the Awoken Myths Guild. Please click here for more details 🔻

For these actions, they have been labelled outcasts. Outcasts are not welcome in your settlement and should be turned away from all hospitality and services. Anyone found breaking these rules may be punished. Please reference local laws for more details.

All SLA members have received the Outcast title unless they leave the guild. Any new members will receive the title.

Outcast

Outcast is a title given to those deemed untrustworthy and kept away from polite society, much like a wild animal.

Brindly bristled. "You can't—"

"I can, and I did," Tom interrupted. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper that carried across the room. "The next time you decide to pick a fight with my guild, I won't be nearly merciful. You so much as look at my people the wrong way again, and you won't need to worry about getting your body to a healer for resurrection."

"FUCKING FREAK" Chad tried to rise to his feet, but an increase in pressure slammed him to the ground causing him to vomit blood.

Finally, Tom stepped back, his tone softening slightly as he gestured toward the bodies. "Take your friends and leave."

The guards didn't need to be told twice. They just got up and all but ran out of the room carrying their dead with them.

Brindly hesitated, his face a mixture of fury and fear, but he finally turned on his heel and stormed out, Chad, Kevin and the Lawyer scrambling after him.

As the room began to clear, Adams let out a slow breath. Tom's gaze flicked to him, the intensity still burning behind his eyes.

"Major," Tom said, his tone cool but pointed. Could you and your friends do me a favour and deal with the people outside? I'll be out shortly. I just want to talk to my friends for a bit."

Adams nodded as he turned and led his people out. As he considered just how powerful that kid really was.