Meanwhile, as Frost led the group through the second Act, waves of a second battle rippled through the maze. A blur indistinguishable from the distortions of heat trailed behind to figures who were locked in combat. It was impossible for an ordinary onlooker to notice that a battle was even occurring. To them, it was easier to believe that an invisible storm raged through the maze. However, this was obviously far from the truth. “Frost said I have to stay behind and deal with you. I thought a couple of hits would put you down~ Such a shame~” Jury brandished her bare forearm and parried the scythe’s blade. Despite her skin having no anomalous properties, and was still soft to touch, a metallic sound rang out. Motes of dark and white light erupted from the contact. It threw both her and Death back by several meters. But she was already back on the offensive. Her tail thwacked the ground, leaving behind a crater as she pressed on the advantage. “Aren’t you too durable? I think about the Memento Mori when I picture a manifestation of Death. Is that what you are?” I need to stop talking and focus! But my body isn’t listening to me! Jury’s inner voice was separate from the Jury who spoke outwardly with her lips. This did not mean she had no control over her body. In fact, Jury was in complete control. However, her body moved before she could think, resulting in a severe disconnect between her inner psyche and outward personality. It was no exaggeration to say that she was driven by instinct and impulses alone. Additionally, she could sense an undercurrent of an indecipherable emotion coursing through her veins. Jury knew her body inside and out. Even with the Qliphoth Corrosion of her left hand, she was acutely aware of her body composition, chemical reactions, her body clock, muscularity… there wasn’t a single part that went under her radar. But her body was different. Indeed, from an outsider’s perspective, the only difference was the halo and her irregular strength. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚•𝙣𝙚𝙩 “It would have been wise of you to leave the Healers out of the swipe~ Now you have to deal with me~!” Jury winked and stuck out her tongue before delivering a mighty blow against Death’s scythe. Haaaaah. I’m going to start sounding like Frost with how much I’ve been sighing lately. Jury… Get a hold of yourself! Stop targeting the scythe and strike Death directly already! A wall collapsed behind Death upon the eerily silent impact. Each clash they made created a vacuum where sound could not travel. The sound that came a second after was the result of space collapsing into a singular point, resulting in an explosion of superheated particles. “But I don’t have the grounds yet~” Her outward persona hummed, stars suddenly shining in her eyes. “Death… is it a good thing or a bad thing? Aaaaah. Hard to tell, because isn’t Death used to punish evil? As an Angel, Death is an ally~!” … What are you talking about? “You don’t have to lie! It’s easier to think in black and white! If they’re Impuritas, then do what Frost does! Or better yet–!” Her tail flicked against an incoming scythe, opening Death for a follow-up strike. Jury took it, but she did not strike Death directly. Her left hand – which oozed with white light – passed through Death’s body. A tear in space formed, bisecting the figure horizontally before space imploded, throwing it into another wall. “–We do it ourselves! Frost shouldn’t be fighting! Half of our problems can be solved by simple logic. If it’s bad, then we kill it! An Angel is always correct!” Absolution? That can’t be? I thought it couldn’t be used here? Jury did not know what Skill was used, or if it was a Skill or an Ability at all. The attack was indeed close to Absolution, but there was one key element she did not observe nor sense. I wasn’t emotionally turbulent or channeling my emotions to use it. Was that really Absolution…? The halo didn’t react either. Wait… Jury – Me! Don’t attack now! I can’t see through the rubble–! “Awww! You think too much! Thinking about this and that!” Her body flew forward in an instant. To Jury, she teleported through time and space. The movement alone caused the debris to clear, and she raised a single finger to block the incoming scythe. “Isn’t it tiring always weighing what’s the right thing to do, and what’s the wrong thing to do… You’re starting to sound like Frost. But even Frost knows that sometimes–!” Her tail uppercut Death. Then, it flung behind her and smacked Death back down. The floor shattered, and nearby walls began falling like dominoes. Death immediately moved back onto his feet and delivered another graceful swing. “–It can’t be helped!” The damage your causing is going to reach the others! What about the Acoyltes in the maze too!? “See what I mean!? You’re so distracted by them that you don’t realize that they’re enemies!” Jury’s blows were far from graceful when compared to Death. If anything, her attacks were animalistic and were driven by a primal urge. Furthermore, the way she fought made her appear like a predator playing with her meal. In contrast, Death’s attacks were feather-light, yet the damage he dealt was devastating. Jury could not imagine taking a single hit from that scythe. It was designed to kill in a single stroke; to reap the lives of the living and pass them into the next world. As she thought about this, she noticed a hand, and various bodies sticking out from the rubble. Those bodies belonged to Acolytes, and civilian Actors that had been brough into the Audition. Among them were also the bodies of Anids, and the Denizens of Corrupted. Death changed his target to these nearly deceased bodies but was quickly intercepted by Jury. “Nope~ I won’t let an evil enemy kill people on my watch!” You’ve already killed them. “It wasn’t me who killed them, actually! The rubble fell onto them~ If they were good, then they wouldn’t have died. And so what if they died.” She bared her razor-sharp teeth. “They’re members of Act X. Corrupted are the bane of people’s existence. Anids kidnap and breed! Our poor Frost had to learn this forbidden knowledge! Tsk tsk. Peace can’t thrive when so many agents of evil exist~” Jury giggled and relentlessly pursued Death after striking him through another wall. Her laughter reverberated throughout the maze, and they were the last thing many of the fallen Acolytes heard before succumbing to their wounds. Suddenly, Death began pacing towards an unseen target. Their speeds were similar, which made it impossible for Jury to close the gap. She flung herself from wall to wall with powerful legs. The hallways they passed through were hollowed out entirely, and stalactites overhead rained down. What’s amplifying my strength so much? I’m not using Beholder or Corrupted Skills. Is this the effect of the Audition? A future me? What is this place trying to show me? “Me, have you ever been good at weaving your thoughts together?” Jury’s fists clenched. An unexpected radiance of pale-white light formed in her left hand before she sliced the air. Suddenly, Jury was right behind Death, and she swatted him out of the air with a hefty tail swipe. There was no Skill that allowed Jury to cut through space. This Skill was, undoubtedly, a form of [Warp]. “You’ll spiral! Emotions and thoughts are a detriment when an Angel must uphold good and punish evil with extreme righteousness!” You’re wrong. I’ve never once thought like that! Jury let out a roar that was half a childish laugh, and the other mocking. The outward personality of hers knew who was truly in control. And to prove it, she taunted her inner psyche, whilst actively holding back against Death for a purpose Jury could not fathom. “Don’t think too hard. It’s simpler than you make it out to be~” The maze became unstable. The walls that were meant to separate the maze from other sections of the Audition were taken down, revealing plains, forests, and valleys brimming with life and death. An army of Act X Acolytes and Insectids bearing one half of an enormous scissor hunted down the Denizens of the Corrupted. Those same Corrupted hunted down fiercely-looking Anids bearing especially matte-white armor. Rows of Octanids – the eight-legged warrior variant – had barbs coiled around their legs like ivy. The number of these barbs determined how many legs an Anid had. These radiant variants were called Anointed Anids, boasting significant strength depending on how many barbs they possessed. These ones had anywhere from 38 to 288 legs. As one would expect, they were larger due to this. The same Anids hunted down Acolytes alike, many trapped in the furry embrace of the Septanid (7 armed), and others integrated into the bloodstream of the Octanids. “Fascinating! Denizens, an Atelier, and the Anids fighting for the sake of their masters! Do you think they know what they’re fighting for?” Aren’t the Anids on Act X’s side? “It’s a play~ They’re recreating a scene~ For what purpose? The more you ask, the more I realize that you don’t have much to call your own, despite you being so, so close to…” Jury giggled. Her eyes moved to the light above, carrying a sudden surge of infinite malice. “’Jury’ is a repugnant name~ An Angel, who can only do good, is a better name for an Angel as righteous as us!” Despite Act X being an enemy of theirs, the inner Jury felt awful that she could not help them from the tragedy unfolding before her. Whilst death was not the end here, the lasting psychological damage would never leave the Actors who had to endure the trials of the Audition. Furthermore, her act of keeping Death at bay meant that it could not intervene can end their misery. It choked her up and caused her heart to violently wrench. She wanted to vomit, but her body shoved it back down and giggled at her turmoil.