The real Jury was also inside of her.

She was trying to stop herself from hurting Frost. It finally made sense as to why she was holding back. What terrified her was the fact that even with 200 levels shaved off, this Jury was still a monster.

And she still did not know how many levels she had.

"… You're… Elysia?"

"On the contrary, I am Jury as Jury can be. I just live with no regrets. I do what Jury and loser Elysia couldn't. Take control. They were kind in a world where there is nothing but good…"

She held out her right hand to the side.

"… And evil."

And then her right, which emitted a faint, black glow.

"You understand, don't you? How regrets can linger and weigh us down. It took its toll on Elysia. It's going to take its toll on me too~ Always having to look into people's pasts… Aaaah. Isn't it tiring? That we have to carry the weight of their trauma? In an ideal world there would be no such thing as trauma, because evil could never exist~!"

"… Is that… What you really believe in?"

"Civilizations are flawed because of Sins. If my mantle declares it, then, I execute. It is as simple as that."

Frost vehemently disagreed. She silently acknowledged that even she had aspects of her beliefs that saw no other way than to eliminate. The Impuritas for instance. But at the same time, that was usually reserved for those who she believed were incapable of changing.

A monster, but still one who wanted to do everything she could to remain human.

Her hair grew longer. The ends of her hair turned to an ashen color. The blood that dripped from her lips suddenly spawned pale monoliths that pulsed with bloody symbols.

< The Will of the Amalgam Has Reached the First State >

< Manifesting the Listening Bird as the First State >

"We've both seen what that leads to. Grandis should have taught you what kind of world people would have to live in. In that flawed world, no one will be safe from persecution. One lie will be enough to condemn thousands."

Frost had witnessed it firsthand.

The Listening Bird she manifested was also conceived by the persecutors and the persecuted of Puritas. The Orders that purged countless for a sin they never committed. The apple that was eaten by the garden became nothing more than an excuse to expand one's power.

The Jury before her was no different.

< Borrowing the Active and Passive Skills of the Listening Bird >

< ACTIVE: Dismissed Confession >

< The silence was evidence of their guilt. Their mouths moved but they could never speak >

< EFFECT: Deal 2,000 damage to a chosen target. Target will be afflicted with 50 Stacks of Confession >

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

< COST: 1,500 MP >

< PASSIVE: Unlying Tablet >

< Our deeds were prewritten in blood by the almighty King >

< EFFECT: Your spilled blood summons the Unlying Tablets to your aid >

< COST: Nil. Automatically created through spilled blood >

"No cost too great for good to prevail. You showed me that, my dear Crowned. Frost. I know you nearly better than I know myself. I know what you are. As am I. It's in our nature. To believe otherwise makes us weak. The me from before, that Jury you love, cried because she lost a few Moons. How laughable. Look what it has done! We have stronger Healers! We have an assembly line of Moons waiting to replace the Moons of the old!"

Her utter revulsion of Jury's beliefs also led her to manifest the First State as Judgement.

< UNIQUE | ACTIVE: Sinless Repent >

< Therefore, we must expose our inner selves for the world to see >

< EFFECT: Transform the most silent into a Confessor >

< COST: 10,000 MP after first use. The first use is free >

They were not Skills that could aid her. [Dismissed Confession] was weak, and she did not have any Offensive Skills to take advantage of the [Unlying Tablets]. [Sinless Repent] would also not work on Jury.

The fractured halo above Frost's head grew larger. Both hands became encased in a haze of gold as she straightened her back, determined to bring Jury to her senses. Absolution could only be used to strengthen one's natural powers.

Therefore, it could not be used to reinforce her body.

"Round two already? What gave you that confidence?" Jury hummed playfully as she sat the halo atop her head and plucked a thread of bright-white light. "Rising up the Emotional States? A Glimmer like me has no need, because what I use is very different from that golden light."

Jury suddenly pounced forward. Then, she teleported behind Frost and attempted to swipe her away again with her tail. A loud crack broke out, and she wore a satisfied expression as her eyes moved to the side.

She expected to watch Frost's body soar across the air.

* * *

But Frost did not move.

"Jury doesn't fight people too often. When she does, she usually ends it before it gets out of hand. She's never had an endurance test with a humanoid before."

The abnormally calm voice came from beneath her.

Jury swallowed. The grin she wore dissolved in an instant.

She glanced down, only now realizing that her swipe had been intercepted by Frost's fist.

"… Impossible. You caught it? You speed is–!?"

Frost did not wait for her to finish.

Jury was suddenly thrown to the side, only for her to fly back in Frost's direction. Her tail had been snagged. Her legs kicked but she could not move since she was in the air. Instead, a pale feather appeared in front of her, protecting her from Frost's fist.

She threw herself backwards, creating space as she stared at Frost with silent fury.

"… What was that? You followed movements so suddenly. I doubt that was the doing of [Non-Euclidian Interpretation]. Tell me Frost. How did you do it? A human like you should not be capable of moving so quickly."

"Why don't you answer me first. That Skill you used looked like Arbitration. I should've figured it out since you take after the Pale Star Arbiter. So, was that Arbitration or Absolution?"

"… Heh… heheheh… If you already have an inkling of an idea, then why ask? So tell me Frost. Frooooost, honey – how did you do it?"

"Instinct." Frost's nonchalant answer caused Jury's jaw to twitch, revealing a set of razor-sharp teeth.

"Instinct? Did you learn how to talk like that machine?"

"I'm sure you'll figure it out. Instinct does play a large part in it. I'm definitely not fast enough. You can tell yourself."

"Then how–!?"

It was impossible.

Nothing should have allowed Frost to move so quickly. And as she struggled to wrack her mind on the possibilities she may have missed, Frost suddenly appeared in front of her and struck her tail.

"Tch!? That is not speed!"

"Of course not. My body would not be able to handle this speed."

Frost grabbed her tail unexpectedly. A fumble, she thought, and she used this opportunity to slam a fist into Frost's chest. She was not fast enough to block it, and it sent her flying and clasping at her chest as she choked out blood.

A sinister smile then formed on Frost's face. The damage alone should have been enough to disable her temporarily, but Frost grinned as though she was expecting this.

Realizing that something was wrong, Jury glanced down at her tail only to find a large laceration running from the bulbous tip down to its base.

She has been targeting my tail. Her attacks should not be able to penetrate my skin. Tier 2 Absolution may be capable… Jury, you want this body back that badly, that you'll weaken me to allow such pittance to injure me?

"You severely underestimated Frost."

Then, I'll do what you never could. Kill her. If I can't have her in mind, then I'll have her in body.

"… What…? Stop… Stop – STOP!"

The only reason she couldn't kill Frost was because of her mental war with the inner Jury. Without her, this would not have been dragged out. She would not have been humiliated by a mere human.

Human… Far from it. She is a New World Angel… An Angel… She must be saved. I must save her. It's for her own good. As for this damage… she held it. She must have regained several Skills.

There was only one Skill that fit the criteria.

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