Chapter 1555: Section 1556: Hope of Dawn Chapter 1555: Section 1556: Hope of Dawn After silencing Xueli, amidst her ugly expression, the Black Classic raised the balance scale high in its hand.
A strange energy emanated from the scale.
On the left pan of the scale, a phantom shadow of a cage appeared, and on the right pan, a thick-covered book materialized–it was Serum's Dark Prison Codex.
At this moment, the pages of the Dark Prison Codex were flipping rapidly, with rows of Prison Codex rules and punishment laws leaping out from the book as if they had come to life, floating mid-air.
Each row of laws had the words “guilty,” “judgment,” and “heresy” written on them.
These laws, resembling notes on a score, were initially floating around the Dark Prison Codex. But when the Black Classic uttered the word “sentence,” the laws, as if lined up in a queue, drifted toward the cage on the left pan, then fused into the cage, making it transition from a phantom shadow to reality.
At the same time, the dark mist that pervaded the entire arena began to roil as well. It was as if countless hands stretched out from dark waters, attempting to drag Xueli into the depths of darkness.
Faced with the current situation, she was utterly powerless and could only escape the range of the dark mist by flying or leaping out of the arena. Flying would put her at a disadvantage without the support of solid ground against the immense Black Classic; leaping out would be tantamount to admitting defeat.
Xueli did not want to concede defeat, but she genuinely lacked the strength to break free.
After struggling with the dark mist for a long time, she was ultimately enveloped by the swirling dark fog.
When Xueli opened her eyes again, she found herself within the cage on the left pan of the scale.
The Black Classic spoke again: “Prison Codex punishment, heretic judgment!”
With those words, the Black Classic's long sword hung over Xueli's head, seemingly announcing the signal for the sentence.
The floating laws accelerated, ceaselessly entering the cage that imprisoned Xueli.
With each row of laws that entered, Xueli's complexion grew a shade paler.
At the judge's seat, Sabo's expression flashed with admiration as he said to Angel, “I'm starting to understand why you said this match would be exciting.”
“In the Black Classic, I feel the power of order, perhaps due to the judiciary? And order is the lifeblood of rules. Though still unformed, one can already see its boundless potential.”
Heresy judgment, God of the Prison Codex. Rudimentary Domain of Law, power of rules.
Each element added to the excitement of the match. From the bulging eyes of the audience and their tense expressions of holding their breath, worried about affecting the viewing experience, one could tell that this match had completely overturned their previous stereotypes.
Perhaps it was not the most exciting match in the current Star Competition, but it would undoubtedly become a hot topic for a time.
Whether it was Xueli's strength, comparable to a seed of potential, or Serum's immense Book Spirit which overturned everyone's perception, both provided excellent talking points.
Sabo looked back at the match. Xueli was now thoroughly locked in the cage, with punishment edicts turning her face pale and blood seeping from the corners of her mouth, looking extremely miserable.
Sabo sighed, “It seems that your little friend is indeed about to turn the tables.”
“That's not necessarily the case,” Angel now held a different opinion.
Curious, Sabo looked over, “Why? Do you think Xueli still has a chance of victory?”
Angel was silent for a moment: “Serum has a hidden card up his sleeve; does Xueli not have one? I've always felt a hidden power within Xueli.”
He had mentioned to Serum the day before that by using the God of the Prison Codex move, there might be a chance of victory, but that was just a possibility. The prerequisite was that Xueli had not used her hidden power.
Angel looked towards the distant cage where Xueli was held.
Though she was undergoing the prison's punishment, she did not admit defeat; instead, biting her lips, she muttered relentlessly.
Since Xueli had been chanting from the beginning of the match, her behavior seemed quite normal. However, Angel noticed that each time Xueli chanted, a hidden force within her surged as if colliding with a shackle.
Would the situation change if this power broke free?
Not long after Angel's words, the outcome everyone assumed was settled once again shifted dramatically.
Time rewound a few minutes earlier.
In the cage, Xueli was barely keeping herself standing, her grit was all that she had.
The edicts emerging from the Dark Prison Codex, though merely entering the cage without physically harming Xueli, were a mental torment for her, even more distressing than bodily harm.
A stern voice echoed in her ears, passing judgment on her life.
It was as if someone had opened her Memory Box; every event she felt guilty about from her birth appeared before her as images. These were accompanied by solemn, just whispers, making Xueli feel as though she was standing naked in a courtroom, subject to public scrutiny, with every flaw and defect becoming the origin of her sins.
The Goddess of Justice, from her lofty position, looked down upon her and, with the sword of justice, punished her past.
Her scars, chronic illnesses, and private matters she did not wish to be known became tools for the other party to condemn her. Even though Xueli was well aware this was the opponent's trickery, when her most concealed matters were exposed, she couldn't help but feel devastated.
Especially when the image of a man flashed before her eyes, she almost couldn't stand any longer.
The solemn whisper of justice and authority continued in her ears: “He is the person you love most and also the one you fear most, but why are you avoiding him? Is it because you feel you have wronged him?”
“With your own faith, you have destroyed someone who loved you, and the belief you adhered to is flawed in its very essence. You killed his loved ones, an act of grave sin, guilty, deserving punishment!”
Xili vehemently shook her head: “No, I was helping him… Shut up, just shut up!”
However, no matter how much Xili screamed, the voice that judged her kept echoing in her mind. Like a curse that imprisoned her thoughts, it coldly mocked and relentlessly jeered at her.
Under the relentless assault, Xili eventually curled up in the cage, holding her head.
She tore open old scars and faced her past directly.
The more frightened she was, the more shackled she became; the more she couldn't bear to look back, the more abject she felt.
At this moment, Xili confronted her unworthy past, as pitiful as dust settled in the depths of a decayed swamp.
Seeing her in this state, everyone thought that Serum had won.
But sometimes, the more one is pushed to the edge, the clearer one can see oneself.