72nd Adversary: Tension Rises

"Zzzzzz…."

The place was silent except for the sound of snoring. Everyone looked at Miko in shock, to find that he was actually sleeping.

"Pfft!"

Ecko almost burst out laughing, but she held it in the end.

"Is he actually sleeping?"

"In this situation?"

"That can't be, right? I mean look at the state his body is in. Can someone really sleep in such a condition?"

Those in the courthouse started to talk among themselves. Most of them couldn't believe that Miko was sleeping. No matter how they thought about it, him being asleep now was impossible.

"Warden, could it be Miko is experiencing a side effect from being forced to sleep for so long?"

Rouge asked.

"I'm afraid that can't be the case. The spell used was only to prevent him from being awake, however, he is still aware of his surroundings and situation. It's better to think that he was put into an induced coma."

Warden quickly explained.

"Then, how do you explain this situation?"

"....."

The warden looked at Miko before looking back at Rouge.

"I believe that he's either really asleep of his own choice, or he's faking it."

"Faking it?"

"Is he trying to avoid the trial by acting like he's asleep?"

"Screw you!"

"Wake up, you bastard!"

Those on the Flameheart side started to shout in a fit of rage.

"Order! Order in the court!"

Darwin slapped his hand on the panel causing his clan to calm down.

"Faking it in this situation is an insult to everyone gathered here. If he's really faking it, it will only make things worse for him."

Alexus said.

"There's no need to worry about that."

Krow, who was sitting by himself over at the Saevus clan section spoke.

"That's because he's not faking it. Miko is really asleep."

He looked at Miko with an amused expression.

"How do you know that?"

A Flameheart member asked.

"How do we know that you're not on his side?"

"Hahahaha!"

Krow immediately burst out laughing like he heard the funniest joke.

"What's so funny?!"

"Your stupidity."

"You!"

"Sit down!"

The Flameheart member, who wanted to approach Krow, was stopped by Maria.

"But Grand Elder!"

"Quiet. What he said is the truth."

She looked over at Miko, who had his head down.

"He's indeed asleep."

She then looked at her fellow clan members.

"Or do you doubt my words because I'm his aunt?"

"No! We would never!"

The Flameheart members answered with an energetic voice.

"Heh."

Kimiko gave a small smile when she saw how Maria handled her clan members.

"I guess she isn't that bad of a daughter-in-law after all."

"I also believe Miko is truly asleep. However, that raises the issue of him being unable to defend himself. I guess it would be best to wake him."

Rouge said.

"No. Leave him."

Leon stepped out and said.

"Why?"

"Because he's probably exhausted from what he endured during his imprisonment. I want you to at least allow him to rest."

"Then who will defend him?"

"I will."

Momo stepped out.

"I was there with Miko during most of the crimes he was accused of were committed. As such, I should be able to serve as a witness on his behalf."

"Objection. She is close to the defendant. How will we know if she's speaking the truth?"

An elder from the Flameheart clan stood up and said.

"Then use mental magic to stimulate my mind and make me unable to lie."

"?!"

Momo's words caused a lot of eyes to peel open.

"Do you know what you're suggesting? If we do that, there's a high chance of you receiving irreversible brain damage."

Alexus warned her.

"I don't mind."

"Denied. No one is going to poke around in Momo's brain. That is not up for discussion."

Nero spoke up.

"Then, we'll take Momo's testimony at face value."

Darwin said.

"Then Momo, tell us what really happened with the Nebulous situation?"

Rouge asked.

"Miko was targeted by Nebulous after he took in three people, who were deeply linked to him. I was called back that day by the presiding elders to allow the assault to happen."

"Then, are you saying that members of our clan were working with Darius?"

Momo nodded.

"I believe so. You all know, I mean knew, Elder Hector. He clearly blocked my path when Miko was taken away to fight Nebulous. He also tried to kill me."

"By the way, I already punished Hector."

Nova lifted his hand and proudly declared.

"Question. Was this before Miko slaughtered countless citizens?"

Darwin asked.

"Miko merely defended himself. Everything was orchestrated by Darius Flameheart."

"Don't go push all the blame on the dead!"

"That's right! The Young Master was manipulated by your clan!"

Members of the Flameheart clan once again protested.

"Order!"

They were once again silenced by Darwin.

"Then Momo, this is my next question. To your knowledge, have Miko ever expressed intentions of destroying this city and its people?"

"…..Yes."

The courtroom went into an uproar. Momo had no choice but to speak the truth in front of this panel. If she told one lie her worth as a witness was no more.

"I see. Then can you say with complete confidence that Miko didn't provoke Darius into battle as much as Darius provoked him?"

"...No. Miko indeed wanted to fight against Nebulous."

"Then, doesn't that mean he didn't care about the consequences of his actions and only did as he pleased regardless?"

"Yes."

"He's a fiend!"

"Kill the brat!"

"He's a danger to this empire!"

This time not only the Flamehearts, but even those who didn't like Miko in his own clan also spoke up.

"Wait! Miko and Darius both were just being manipulated!"

"Oh?"

Momo's words silenced the crowd. There were those who had an idea of who she was referring to. In fact, almost everyone in the courtroom had at least heard a rumor regarding this topic, they just found it surprising that Momo actually mentioned it out loud. Many people started to glance over at the Saevus section. To their surprise, Krow had a small smile on his face.

"You said that someone was manipulating both parties….Can you say who it was?"

Darwin asked with hastened breath. His heart was beating fast as if he was anticipating to hear Momo call the name. He already knew what was going on, but if he heard it from another Dragna member, he didn't know how he would react.

"...…"

Momo was quiet. She was now regretting what she had just blurted out. She realized people were waiting for this. They were waiting to hear someone at the center of the Dragna clan say it with their own mouth. They want them to admit it. Once they did, there was no going back. The dams holding back the chaos would burst and all hell would break loose.

"....."

Momo stood there while feeling the intense stares of the people around her. She didn't know if it was her imagination or not, but she felt like she could hear the sounds of people grasping their weapons. She could also hear the racing hearts of everyone around her.

(It's like I'm holding the reins of a mad beast or something.)

She thought to herself.

"Momo."

Someone called out to her. She looked up and saw Nero looking down at her.

"It's okay. Just say who is it."

She looked at him for a while. She didn't know why, but she no longer felt the same pressure she felt moments ago. She now felt at ease. She opened her mouth to speak, and then-

"I wasn't manipulated by anyone."

"?!"

A new voice answered before Momo. Everyone turned to the source of the voice. They looked at the frail body that was still nailed to the wall.

"I don't know what you people are talking about. I wasn't manipulated by anyone to do anything."

Miko's head was no longer lowered and one of his eyes could be seen behind his long wild hair.

"Miko….."

"He's awake."

All of the Flamehearts started to stare hatefully at him.

"Miko, you're awake."

Kimiko spoke to him.

"Hm? Oh, Nana! You're here too? I haven't seen you in quite some time."

"You seem…energetic."

"Why wouldn't I be? Today is a glorious day."

People could see the corners of Miko's mouth lift to form a smile.

"Today is the beginning of my era after all."

"Your era?"

"Today is the day you die, Brat!"

His words angered the Flameheart clan.

"Die? Me? Hahahahahaha!"

Miko laughed so hard, his frail body looked like it was going to break from him moving about.

"You people must be stupider than I thought."

"What was that?!"

"Are you picking a fight with us?!"

The Flameheart members shouted.

"Picking a fight with you? No, no, no. You've got it wrong. I'm not picking a fight with just you."

He smirked.

"I'm picking a fight with all of you."

He started looking around.

"Flameheart, Dragna, Saevus, and everyone else. I'm picking a fight with all of you. I consider all who stand in my way enemies to destroyed….without exception."

"Do you see the situation you're in?!"

"You're limbs are bounded! Your strength is sealed off! And you're nothing but skins and bones! Yet you're picking a fight with all of us?!"

"So what?"

Miko's blue eyes gleamed behind his hair.

"My limbs are bounds, so what? My strength is sealed off, so what? I'm nothing but skin and bones, so fucking what?!"

His voice reverberated in the courtroom clearly. It was hard to associate it with the frail figure in front of them.

"Listen up, you old bags of bones! As long as I continue to breathe, I will continue to dominate! I will not bow or surrender to anyone! Remember that well!"

Miko's declaration carried an unknown power and confidence that made everyone in the courtroom look at him differently. Some were pleased, some were surprised, some were angry, and some were a bit frightened.

"Miko."

Rouge spoke to him.

"This is still a trial. Your outbursts will only work against you."

"Trial? The trial isn't over yet? What have you people been doing? Talking to reach the word count for the chapter? The author will get tired you know and just kill you all off."

"Author? Who's the author?"

"Who? Me, of course. This is my story and I'm writing it."

Rouge looked at his cocky and incomprehensible behavior and couldn't help but be reminded of a young Nero.

(No, this is a bit different.)

"Miko."

This time Nero spoke to him.

"I'm sure you're aware of all the crimes you're being tried for. How do you plea?"

There was a huge smile on Nero's face. Miko put on a smile identical to his and spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Guilty."

"?!"

His response shocked everyone.

"I did slaughter those people, I did plunge this city into hell, and I did kill Darius Flameheart. And you know what? I don't regret doing none of them."

"You little monster!"

Jeffery stood up and drew his saber from his waist.

"Sit the fuck down, old man!"

Leon stepped forward and shouted. Behind him, Kirika had already drawn her sword and was eyeing everyone. The Flamehearts all stood up and armed their weapons, the Dragna members did the same.

"Order! Order!"

Rouge shouted, but neither side looked like they were listening.

"Just let it go."

At the opposite end of the panel, Andreas stood up and loaded a rifle that suddenly appeared in front of him.

"This trial was a waste of time. In the end, it was going to end up like this."

"Don't get too hasty, Andreas."

Miko suddenly said.

"This isn't your time. This is my era."

He grinned.

"Listen up, you bastards! My name is Miko! I will take on all of your hatred and hostility and crush it with a smile! Why you ask?"

He chuckled like a madman.

"Because I'm the man who will surpass the gods and win in the end!"

"?!"

This time Krow, who calmly watched everything, sprung to his feet with a shocked expression. An old memory of himself saying those same words flashed before his eyes. He found himself with a big grin on his smile.

"I see. So you're another obstacle in my path, Miko!"

"That's big talk for someone who's about to be killed."

Luka stood up. When Miko saw her he paused for a bit, before grinning again.

"Oh really? Then do you wanna have a little wager?"

"Wager?"

"You all can join in too!"

He shouted at everyone, and then looked at the entrance.

"The wager is whether or not you'll all watch me walk out that door unharmed, with none of you being able to do anything stop me."