Verdict!

The grand chamber of the Opera Epiclese erupted into chaos at the announcement of Ophis, the Ouroboros Dragon, as the next witness.

Gasps, murmurs, and even a few audible exclamations of disbelief rippled through the audience. The very mention of her name sent a palpable wave of tension across the room.

"How did he get her to come." Sirzechs said, an expression of shock on his face. As one of the Four Great Satans, he knew better than anyone just how powerful and influential Ophis was.

She could be called a force of nature, powerful enough to entirely warp the political environment around her. Which was why when she 'joined' the Khaos Brigade, they became much more confident in their terrorist actions.

Meanwhile, Zaorama's confident smirk had vanished entirely, immediately replaced by a mask of poorly concealed panic. His eyes widened, and he turned sharply toward Belial, who looked equally unsettled.

Even the most seasoned members of the audience, including high-ranking devils, yokai, and celestial beings, appeared unnerved. That was just how influential Ophis' very name was, no-one could deny the Ouroboros Dragon's power.

"Ophis? Here?" Rias murmured, her voice barely audible as she leaned toward Sona, while murmurs of anticipation buzzed through the onlookers as they looked towards the doors and other entrances, eager to see her appear.

Neuvillette remained a pillar of composure, his silver-blue gaze sweeping the chamber to ensure order was restored. "Silence," he commanded with the authority of a storm. The room obeyed instantly.

~CREAK~

The massive doors of the Opera Epiclese creaked open once more, and the room fell into an expectant hush. Footsteps, soft and deliberate, echoed as Ophis, the Ouroboros Dragon, descended the grand staircase.

Clad in her signature black gothic dress, her expression was as impassive as ever, her pale, delicate features betraying no emotion. She exuded an aura of calm so profound it bordered on the unnerving.

The primordial dragon, embodiment of infinity, had arrived to speak.

Ophis reached the platform, her petite frame dwarfed by the grandeur of the court. She stood in silence, her enigmatic gaze fixed ahead as if she were wholly unaffected by the tension in the room.

Neuvillette inclined his head toward her, his tone even. "Ophis, thank you for appearing before this court to provide your testimony. Do you swear to speak only the truth?"

Ophis tilted her head slightly, her voice soft and detached but carrying a surprising weight, "Yes."

Neuvillette gestured toward the prosecutors, "You may proceed."

The lead prosecutor, clearly caught off guard by Ophis's unexpected appearance but recovering quickly, stepped forward. His voice was steady, though he tread carefully.

"Ophis, you were a figurehead of the Khaos Brigade, at least before Chief Ludex's return. Were you during your time there aware of Zaorama Nebiros's activities during the nekomata incident?"

Ophis blinked slowly, her tone almost bored, "Yes."

Immediately, whispers exploded throughout the room once more, and everyone could immediately see Zaorama was on a sinking ship, and Belial was right there sinking alongside him.

The prosecutor patiently waited until the chatter died down before he pressed on with his questioning, his words deliberate, "Did Zaorama Nebiros have any involvement in the original experiments on Kuroka and the nekomata clan?"

Ophis nodded, "He played a part. He flaunted to the others."

The audience shifted uneasily as they looked towards Zaorama, whose facial expression at this point had completely devolved into worry and desperation as he listened to the prosecutor's questioning.

The prosecutor continued, "Can you clarify what role Zaorama Nebiros played in these events?"

Ophis's answer was blunt and chilling, "He funded the experiments. He wanted a Super Devil."

Gasps echoed through the chamber. Yasaka's composure finally cracked, her hands curling into fists as her golden aura flared slightly. Another of the prosecutors had to hold her, stopping her emotions from running riot as she learned what happened.

The prosecutor leaned forward, his voice firm, "And after the initial nekomata incident, what did Zaorama Nebiros do?"

Ophis's answer was short but damning, "He fled to the Khaos Brigade."

The audience erupted again, whispers and murmurs filling the air as Zaorama's face turned pale. Even Belial, usually unshakable, looked as though he had been slapped right across the face.

Neuvillette gestured for silence once more, his voice cutting through the noise like thunder, "Order."

The prosecutor resumed, his tone more intense now. "To clarify, Ophis, you are saying Zaorama Nebiros sought refuge with the Khaos Brigade after the nekomata incident?"

"Yes," Ophis replied without hesitation, "He was an ally"

"And regarding the massacre of the nekomata clan?" the prosecutor pressed, his voice heavy with anticipation.

Ophis's gaze turned to Zaorama, her expression unreadable. Her next words struck the courtroom like lightning. "He proposed the massacre and was involved in its execution."

The chamber exploded into chaos. Yasaka rose to her feet, her golden aura blazing as a mixture of grief and fury emanated from her. Cries of outrage and shock filled the air.

The Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale shifted dramatically, its scales now heavily favoring the prosecutors.

Zaorama staggered backward, his composure shattered. "Lies!" he bellowed, his voice cracking, "She's lying! This is a farce! That...THAT'S NOT HER."

Neuvillette's piercing gaze silenced Zaorama's outburst. The power of Hydro flowed through the room, creating a seal on Zaorama's mouth that stopped him from speaking, "Zaorama Nebiros, you will remain silent until you are called to speak."

The prosecutor, his confidence bolstered, turned back to Neuvillette, "Honorable Ludex, Ophis's testimony, combined with the evidence presented, conclusively proves Zaorama Nebiros's guilt."

Neuvillette nodded, his expression unreadable. His voice carried the weight of an entire race's hope as he spoke, "Hargrove Belial, it is my duty to remind you that intentionally lying in the court of law can hold a very severe sentence, do you have anything to say for yourself, or your client?"

Neuvillette's words boomed across the room, and caused everyone to look over towards the defendants, but Belial just stood rooted, expression of shock and despair plastered across his face as he knew for sure, his life was over.

"If there are no objections, then as the Chief Justice of the Fatui, I shall once again repeat the full sequence of events."

Neuvillette rose from his seat as the courtroom was thick with tension, eerily silent as everyone listened to him.

 "The House of Nebiros, a pillar of the devil nobility, sought to regain prominence in a world that had left many of the Old Satan Faction's allies weakened. With the overthrow of the original Four Great Satans, the kin and allies of these figures were desperate to reclaim their lost power. Among these efforts was the ambitious goal of creating an artificial Super Devil."

Neuvillette paused, his gaze turning toward Yasaka, "It was during this time that the parents of two young Nekoshou, named Kuroka and Shirone, passed away. The researchers took this opportunity to claim Kuroka and Shirone as their 'servants,' a thinly veiled guise for their true purpose: to use them in their experiments."

Yasaka's golden eyes blazed with fury, though she remained seated. The mention of Kuroka and Shirone brought fresh waves of pain to her expression.

"The elder sister, Kuroka, displayed extraordinary potential," Neuvillette continued, "Her strength and abilities made her a prime candidate for their experiments. However, when Kuroka discovered that the researchers intended to experiment on her younger sister, Shirone, she acted out of desperation and love. She murdered her master, fled the Nebiros household, and became one of the most infamous Stray Devils in history."

He allowed the words to hang in the air for a moment before continuing. Many persons in the audience, especially Devils, were completely shocked by the truth that came to light in the courtroom, staring daggers at Zaorama.

"Kuroka's escape brought unwanted attention to the Nebiros family's research. The experiments were deemed a failure, and the Nebiros family found itself on the brink of scandal. Zaorama Nebiros, head of the family and architect of the research, chose to abandon the project rather than face the consequences of his actions."

Neuvillette's piercing gaze now fixed on Zaorama, whose panic was visible even as the seal of silence kept him from speaking. "But Zaorama Nebiros did not simply abandon his research. He sought refuge with the Khaos Brigade as a way to continue his experiments, using their resources to further his twisted goals."

The audience buzzed with whispers, but a single gesture from Neuvillette restored silence.

"During this time," Neuvillette went on, "the nekomata clan, still reeling from the loss of Kuroka and Shirone's father and the subsequent disgrace, sought answers. Their efforts to uncover the truth made them a threat to Zaorama and his new allies in the Khaos Brigade. Zaorama proposed a solution: the massacre of the nekomata clan."

Gasps filled the chamber,

"The massacre was carried out with precision and brutality," Neuvillette said, his voice heavy with sorrow. "They then sought to shift the blame onto the Khaos Brigade itself, fabricating evidence to paint the terrorist organization as the sole perpetrators. With the assistance of Hargrove Belial, Zaorama constructed a narrative that absolved him of all guilt."

Neuvillette turned his attention to Belial, who stood frozen, his earlier confidence shattered. "But lies, no matter how carefully constructed, cannot withstand the light of truth. The testimony of Ophis, the Ouroboros Dragon, has laid bare the reality of Zaorama Nebiros's actions. The evidence presented before this court confirms his guilt beyond a shadow of a doubt."

The Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale glowed, its scales tipping decisively against Zaorama and Belial. Neuvillette's gaze swept the chamber once more, his voice firm and unwavering. 

"The actions of Zaorama Nebiros and his accomplices have caused untold suffering and loss. They have violated the principles of justice, honor, and humanity. The time has come for them to answer for their crimes."

"This case at least, can be handed over to the Oratrice to make the final decision."

All eyes turned toward the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, its golden gears whirring softly as the delicate yet powerful machine began its final deliberation.

The ethereal glow of the Oratrice intensified, pulsating as if it were alive. Streams of intricate, magical symbols began to weave through the air around it, a visual representation of its decision-making process.

After what felt like an eternity, the Oratrice ceased its movements. Its glow brightened one final time before ejecting a golden scroll from its center, the edges of the parchment shimmering faintly with arcane energy. The scroll floated toward Neuvillette, coming to rest gently in his outstretched hand.

Neuvillette rose to his full height, his silver-blue eyes scanning the scroll. The air around him seemed to hum with power, his presence commanding and unyielding as he turned to address the courtroom.

"Zaorama Nebiros," he began, his voice clear and resolute, carrying the weight of finality. "The Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale has rendered its judgment."

The chamber held its collective breath as Neuvillette unfurled the scroll. The glowing letters shimmered into view, their message plain for all to see.

"Zaorama Nebiros," Neuvillette intoned, his voice echoing throughout the hall, "you are hereby found guilty of crimes against humanity, including unlawful experimentation, conspiracy, and the massacre of the nekomata clan. These actions, driven by greed and ambition, have wrought immeasurable suffering and violated the natural order."

Zaorama's knees buckled, and he sank into his chair, his face a mask of despair.

Neuvillette continued, his tone unrelenting. "The verdict, as decreed by the Oratrice, is guilty...to be punished with the death sentence."