S.C.E.N.T.E.D Thoughts was the first Desire Main Sequence Corrupted to find use in combat. Judgement and Civilizations were the only Corrupted she had under her belt outside of the Corrupted Personas. It was a shame that she barely had enough to weigh her options in combat.

Usually, the One Thousand Eyed Bird would automatically manifest as the Second State.

This time, however, she was able to wear a new Corrupted. On top of this, she reached deep into the recesses of her subconscious. The hand moved through her thoughts like a hand jostling a cookie jar.

Eventually, she plucked a Corrupted Persona she believed would benefit her the most against Jury. There was a brief sharp pain in the back of her skull. A flash of white burned her eyes simultaneously as she lurched forward to stop herself from suddenly collapsing.

Nav. I'm not manifesting anything. What's wrong?

< With the way Corrupted Personas and Corrupted in general work, there is a high likelihood that it will be unstable. Your current form is incompatible with your Corrupted Personas >

There was no rule saying that one couldn't wear an incompatible Corrupted Persona. Although, how long they would last was an entirely different story.

While she was confident in her mental fortitude, she knew just as well how quickly she could lose control of herself. She had fought hard enough to gain control over her mind. She could not afford to fight another mental war.

It was regrettable, but she had no other choice than to avoid wearing a Corrupted Persona.

Strands of light flaked from her skin. Her eyes emitted a golden radiance that formed a pair of halos inches away from her face. As human as Frost was, the air she exuded was nothing short of a deity. Cut her hair short, and she would be a splitting image of the first person known to wield Absolution: 'Her'.

Her manifestation of S.C.E.N.T.E.D Thoughts was complete, and with it came its Corrupted Skills.

S.C.E.N.T.E.D Thoughts | ACTIVE: Dream Commence

< A day spent listening to you was a window into a world we never knew >

< EFFECT: Create magical beings born from desire. Up to a maximum of 10 may simultaneously exist >

< COST: 3,000 MP per Unscented Dream >

S.C.E.N.T.E.D Thoughts | ACTIVE: Pollinate Thoughts

< A handful of dreams, scattered into the wind to let the flowers of the world flourish >

< EFFECT: Create magical props born from desire. Up to a maximum of 10 may simultaneously exist >

< COST: 1,000 MP per prop >

S.C.E.N.T.E.D Thoughts | PASSIVE: Fable Hearth

< We relish the warmth of the words you spoke from your cold heart >

< EFFECT: Light-bearing entities eligible for Light transfer gain the Pollinated by Dreamdust Condition >

S.C.E.N.T.E.D Thoughts | PASSIVE: Beezed to Meet You!

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< The bumbling bee tended to the flower every day. Did it know that its petals had borne teeth, and that its nectar had become poison? >

< EFFECT: Increase maximum Light capacity by 50% >

At first glance these Corrupted Skills were as useless as the One Thousand Eyed Bird's in this situation. This was far from the case. Frost instantly recognized how powerful increasing her maximum Light capacity was. Furthermore, since she was unable to use her Progenitor Arts, she now had a method to alter her surroundings.

Not only that–

"[Pollinated by Dreamdust]. Heh. I was wondering how I was gonna keep recharging Light!" Cer's laugh came from a brilliant explosion of colors.

–But Cer possessed passive Light regeneration so long as she was within Frost's presence.

It triggered automatically. Tiny motes of light fluttered around Cer. When a Skill requiring Light was used, several of these motes were absorbed into her body, and were then replaced shortly afterwards.

The two appeared in the center of the Floor of Judgement. Cer brought an azure claw to Jury's dark-coated blade. Frost prepared to look away, anticipating a clash. But Cer knew better than to constantly clash with an enemy.

After all, she was well versed in combat.

"INSECT! WORM BORN FROM THE CARCASS OF THE CONDEMNED! HOW DARE YOU CHALLENGE AN ANGEL!? ME!? ME!?"

A colossal arc of white energy cleaved through multiple pillars. The debris stirred by the attack alone threatened Frost, and she swiftly used [Pollinate Thoughts] to create a prop-wall. White silhouette first appeared before it was overcome by a dark shadow. Then, the shadow dispersed to reveal a physical prop.

It was weak, and it did little to stop the debris. Frost clenched her teeth, watching as a hole smaller than a nail was punctured right next to her head. They could only be erected temporarily as she found. They were swallowed into the ground only seconds after being summoned.

"I bite, spit and chew whatever I feel like. Birds aren't an exception! How about you quit complaining to the air like you have an audience and you start fighting! Cause right now–!"

Jury's speed was already imperceptible. Yet, amid the blasts and shockwaves of vibrant colors, one color dominated them all. It didn't take long for Cer to notice how drawn-out Jury's attacks were. For instance, her swings were far too animated, which left her briefly open for a counterattack.

Cer exploited this window of opportunity, no doubt rewarding her with Critical Strikes.

A golden radiance not unlike Frost's eyes assailed the colors of black and white as blue electric trailed behind. If Frost had to describe the scene, it would be like watching two comets fighting amongst a white void.

"–You're just prey! What's a bird to a wolf!? Tell the real Jury I said thanks for shaving off 200 levels from you! It's always the ones with a lot of fur that don't have much meat on them!"

"With a mouth like yours I struggle to believe that you only lost your jaw! You and I are closer than you think! Recall the justice you enacted in Grandis. Recall how it felt to liberate–!"

"Nah. I'm not proud of what I did in Grandis. Never have been. You're gonna tell me the human child I left to watch their brother burn deserved it? This prejudice shit is the easiest way to excuse hatred. Cause in your eyes, you're thinking it's judgement. A dumbass bird like you is only good at kicking up mud. You're infected with Qliphoth too! Remind me which Angel also used Qliphoth!?"

"Uriel's motives aren't that bad."

"For you. Hey, Jury. I'm knocking you around, and I still haven't figured out if you got anything up there. The whole judgement thing you Angels have going on only really makes sense when you don't think about it!"

It was another Cer masterclass in provoking her target. Jury froze in the middle of the air and drew her limbs inwards into a fetal position. A second blade emerged from her right wrist, coated with the same maggot-infected liquid.

Cer's attacks were suddenly ineffective. The golden-blue lights bounced off an outer shell as pale portals dotted around her. They poured with an infinitely dark liquid that absorbed the light. Several of the portals turned black.

< [AA] [Causality – Divine Retribution] [AA] >

< The beginning starts with the end >

< EFFECT: Indiscriminate. Fire holy barbs in all directions. Cannot be damaged while using this >

"CER!" Frost called out at the top of her lungs, moments before Nav relayed it to Cer.

Cer, for a moment, stopped in the air and gave Frost an imperceivable nod. They had no other option but to wait for the incoming attack. They put distance between themselves and Jury as a high-pitched thrum reverberated throughout the Floor of Judgement.

"She won't stop screaming inside of my head. How long does she plan to keep me contained? This coward within… It must be exhumed!"

"And you must have your wings clipped before you dare fly again!"

A single feather dropped from her tail. It dissolved once it touched the ground. Exactly three waves rippled from where it had dissolved. The floor transformed into a clear liquid, and Frost was plunged ankle-deep into the newly formed lake.

She slogged through and erected white pillars and Unlying Tablets to break line of sight. Cer had long disappeared, her trail of light followed by countless strings. The strings wrapped Jury, but they could not come close because of the barrier surrounding her.

No one, not even Frost or Nav, pondered why Cer didn't come to Frost's rescue in this moment.

There was a reason for this of course.

And as soon as white and black lanced fired from Jury's, riddling the Floor of Judgement with her fury, Frost allowed herself to be struck exactly once. Her shoulder nearly came off. A piece of bone was left exposed, and yet, Frost's face did not warp with despair.

Her eyes swelled and watered instead. Though it made no difference, one could find an imperceivable glimmer of mischief flash in her eyes.

"Tremble and suffer in the wake of absolute judgement!"

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