Verdict

Hoax.

One of the most influential figures in all of Nyxia, a name etched into history as the greatest champion the Games of Champions had ever seen.

His legend was built upon an unparalleled record of eleven victories, a feat that secured him recognition as the second greatest fighter to ever exist in Nyxia. Across the world, his name carried weight, nearly as revered as the Queen's, given how deeply the Games of Champions resonated within the demon race.

During his prime, Hoax was unstoppable. Yet, to the world's surprise, he made a decision that no one saw coming: He retired. He stepped away from the arena, choosing instead to dedicate himself to raising a family. But Hoax was not the kind of man to simply let go of his ambitions. If he could no longer fight, then he would ensure that his legacy endured through his bloodline. His goal was clear: to mold one of his children into a warrior greater than himself, someone who would one day surpass his own legend and perhaps even beyond that.

But as the years passed, his vision began to fade. His children, Jhin and Xhin, had once shown interest in following his path, but that desire waned with time. Eventually, they abandoned the dream entirely when they were offered one of the highest honors a Nyxian could receive: an invitation to serve directly under Nekro, the Guardian god of Under World. Only a handful in all of demon existence were ever granted such a privilege, and as tradition dictated, they left their family behind to live at the Facility, dedicating themselves wholly to their god's service.

To the rest of Nyxia, their appointment was a far greater honor than any championship title. But for Hoax, it was a failure. His lifelong ambition had not been fulfilled. He had not created the greatest fighter Nyxia had ever seen.

Hoax entered the courtroom beside his wife, Syx. His presence alone commanded attention, his importance unquestionable, especially considering that it was his own daughter standing trial. Yet, despite the weight of the situation, he wore a smile.

As Hoax strode deeper into the room, he made his way directly toward Klaus, Jhin, and Ash, with his wife and a group of escorts following in his wake. His eyes, however, remained locked on one person: his son, Jhin.

"Greetings, Father," Jhin muttered, his expression already clouded with frustration.

Hoax halted before him, staring down at his son with a piercing gaze. A brief silence passed before he finally spoke.

"Jhin." His voice was very deep and unwavering. "It seems time has made you forget to rise when addressing me."

The words were laced with authority, a demand disguised as an observation. Yet Jhin didn't move. He remained seated, his expression unreadable, showing no intention of giving his father the response he sought.

For a moment, the tension was thick. Then, suddenly, Hoax chuckled.

"A jest, my son," he said, though his tone was sharp. "It has been far too long, yet it seems your time beside Lord Nekro has made you lose your sense of humor."

Jhin remained unmoved. If anything, his silence only reinforced his disinterest in the exchange.

Klaus, watching from the side, said nothing. He didn't need to, considering the interaction spoke volumes.

Shifting his focus, Hoax's gaze then landed on Ash. The demigod sat still, his posture relaxed, but he never once looked in Hoax's direction. His eyes remained forward, detached from the moment.

"My Prince," Hoax greeted smoothly. "I am glad to see you well and as strong as ever."

"That so?" Ash replied, barely reacting. He rested his head against his knuckle, his tone indifferent.

Another pause followed before Hoax continued. "My offer to coach you into becoming the next champion still stands," he said with a self-assured smile. "I can make you a legend as well."

"Of what value is that to me?" Ash retorted before he finally turned his attention towards Hoax, his silver eyes fixed upon the demon as he continued. "Or rather... of what value is that to him?"

Ash wasn't fooled by the Hoax's intentions, aware that Hoax wasn't speaking to him. He knew the demon had no interest in him but rather in his demonic half, Drake.

Hoax, however, remained unfazed. "Regardless of who I am addressing," he mused, "I would still be honored to create the next true champion. Instead of that buffoon, Hex, who somehow remains undefeated."

Ash exhaled and turned his gaze away from Hoax upon hearing his words, his interest in the conversation clearly nonexistent. "We're not interested," he replied, accounting for both he and his counterpart.

But Hoax only chuckled, a knowing smirk curling at his lips. "Well… there is still time for you to think about it," he added, though his words went unanswered.

Finally, Hoax's gaze fell upon Klaus, the last of the three.

The moment their eyes met, Klaus immediately sensed the shift in Hoax's demeanor. The easygoing smile was gone, replaced by something colder and hostile.

"And this must be the boy," Hoax sneered, his voice dripping with disdain, "The human who cost my daughter everything."

As soon as Klaus heard Hoax's words, his eyes widened in shock before quickly turning into rage. Klaus stood up almost immediately, his anger intensifying as he focused his gaze on the demon.

"Excuse you?" Klaus remarked, his voice burning as the other demons around turned towards the encounter.

Hoax remained composed, though his gaze never softened. If anything, Klaus' reaction only seemed to heighten his irritation.

"Honey?" Syx's voice suddenly cut through the moment, calm but pointed. "Not in front of the Prince and Queen."

Hoax's eyes flickered briefly toward the rest of the room as he witnessed the small crowd watching them. Slowly, his posture eased, and his smile returned.

Smoothly, he turned to the gathered onlookers and bowed his head. "Apologies, ladies and gentlemen," he said with practiced charm. "Everything is fine."

After only a few moments following Hoax's words, the doors opened once again, and a woman entered the room. Her presence, accompanied by her appearance, made it clear that she was the judge of the case. 

Klaus, however, barely acknowledged her arrival. His eyes remained locked onto Hoax, his anger still burning beneath the surface despite the demon's ever-present smile. 

As the judge made her way to the stand, Hoax turned slightly toward his wife as they moved toward their seats. "You would think someone acclaimed to be a demigod would be more... behaved," he murmured, his expression returning to its previous, irritated state as they walked. 

Klaus still couldn't look away. Hoax's words echoed in his mind, stirring something raw. It hadn't even been a full interaction, yet a deep hatred had already settled within him. 

A light tap on his arm pulled him from his thoughts. "Klaus Walker," Jhin called softly from beside him. "The meeting is about to begin." 

Klaus took a slow breath, forcing himself to relax as he finally sat down, his anger ebbing little by little. 

"Apologies for my father," Jhin muttered. "As you can probably tell, his perspective on anything outside of fellow demons is... less than ideal. Just ignore his attempts to provoke you."

Klaus remained silent, unwilling to dwell on it any longer, as the judge approached the front of the room. 

As she took her position, Shynx stood, prompting the small audience to rise as well. Realizing it was custom, Klaus followed suit, standing alongside them. 

The room remained silent as the judge stepped forward and bowed deeply before Shynx. 

"Your Majesty," she began, her voice carrying across the chamber. "May I have permission to proceed with this meeting?" 

"You may," Shynx responded. 

At her approval, the judge bowed lower before making her way to the stand. 

Raising a hand, she began to recite an oath. "I swear to speak only the truth. I swear that all verdicts and decisions reached are determined solely in the pursuit of justice, free from any possible bias. I swear that no external influences have played a role in this process, ensuring that every conclusion has been made to the best of my and the board's capabilities and knowledge. I swear this on the honor of Her Majesty, the Queen, and the memory of all the other Queens prior." 

Klaus listened carefully, but something in the wording caught his attention. "Other Queens?" he asked under his breath. 

"All the others who ruled before Her Majesty," Jhin whispered in response. 

"But why tribute only the Queens?" he asked in confusion. "What about the previous Kings?" 

"Kings?" Jhin asked. He glanced at Klaus, momentarily puzzled, before realization dawned on him. 

"Well, we have never had a King in Nyxia," he stated, his tone direct. "I assume this is different for humans, but for us, on average, females possess greater intellectual capabilities and stronger mental fortitude, while males are physically superior and adept. That's why most champions in the Games are male, but most rulers across the world are female." 

Klaus hadn't expected Jhin's words. He wasn't sure if it was a genetic reality or simply a cultural foundation, but either way, it was vastly different from what he knew of humanity. 

Still, he pushed the thought aside as the judge concluded her vow and finally took her seat, signaling the true start of the meeting. 

The judge began by establishing the key points of the trial, ensuring that all present were aligned on the matter at hand. "Xhin," she announced, "daughter of Hoax and Syx, has been charged with multiple offenses, including the threat of an entire species for the sake of her own personal goals and ideals." 

She continued listing the charges leveled against Xhin, explaining that both human and demon laws had been taken into account in an attempt to reach a fair and unbiased verdict. 

"We understand that humanity also has a rightful stake in this matter," the judge acknowledged. "However, since travel between worlds is strictly forbidden, with the only demons permitted such a privilege being those who serve as assistants to a Guardian god, there was no feasible way to include human representatives in this trial. As such, we have thoroughly analyzed general human legal principles and incorporated them into our considerations." 

The reasoning was sound. It was only fair that humans had a say in the trial, given that they were the victims in this case. However, the laws of world travel made direct involvement impossible. 

"Still," the judge continued, "this situation was particularly complex, as the events that transpired were entirely unprecedented. Another crucial factor we had to assess was Xhin's intent, particularly through the lens of human structures. While the charges themselves suggest an act of clear malice, extensive cognitive and psychological evaluations have revealed no signs of the murderous intent that was initially assumed to be present."

Klaus' eyes snapped up, disbelief flashing across his face at the judge's statement. He struggled to comprehend how such an outrageous claim could be spoken with such composure.

"According to the results of all tests and scans," the judge continued, "while Xhin did harbor deep resentment toward humanity, particularly a stronger hatred for an individual named Avalon Smith, she shockingly displayed no murderous intent. Instead, her actions stemmed from emotional turmoil, a distorted perception of justice in which she believed she was rectifying a wrong imposed by the gods regarding the monster race."

Klaus couldn't believe what he was hearing. He found it absurd that Xhin's plan, one that she had called the Human Extinction Life Project, was something the judge was claiming to have been initiated without intent to kill.

He remembered Jhin mentioning during his last visit that demons had not harbored murderous intent for eons, but that explanation did nothing to change his mind. He could recall the moment vividly, the monsters Xhin had sent to Avalon and his mother. He knew she had meant to kill them.

A heavy weight settled in his chest as the direction of the trial became clearer. He had assumed this would be an obvious verdict, but now he wasn't so sure anymore. Regardless, he forced himself to wait, to not jump to conclusions before the final ruling was given.

The judge flipped through a small file before speaking again. "Despite the complexity of this case and the difficulties of applying human laws, especially given the societal variances across their world, every path still led to the same conclusion: That the board still holds Xhin accountable for the loss of life and the motive to create conflict based on her statements. Furthermore, she will be severely punished for violating the sacred oaths she swore upon becoming Lord Nekro's assistant."

The tension in the room grew as the judge turned to the final page in her file. Silence filled the space as every individual present awaited the moment they had gathered for.

Clearing her throat, the judge began the final announcement. "After two and a half months of assessment," she stated, "and considering the unprecedented nature of this case, the verdict that has been reached is as follows: Xhin will face a life sentence with no possibility of bail. She will be held under constant restraint and surveillance for thirty years. Following this period, she will be transferred to a psychiatric facility, where her brain will be studied for the remainder of her life. During this time, she will have access to a designated space and limited interaction with immediate family members only."

Jhin's expression softened as his eyes filled with tears. The weight of his twin sister's fate settled heavily upon him. He would likely never see her again, at least not as the person he once knew. It hurt more than he was willing to admit, but deep down, he knew this was necessary.

However, as he turned to his side, he was met with a completely different reaction. Klaus' expression was nothing short of furious.

"You're kidding, right?" Klaus said sharply, rising from his seat, his dissatisfaction palpable.

The judge hesitated before responding. "Uhh... I assure you, Klaus Walker, this is the conclusion we reached after thorough deliberation."

Klaus' voice was laced with pure anger. "So you're telling me that the person responsible for the deaths of countless lives on Earth still gets to draw breath? And for many more years at that?"

"Please try to understand our perspective," the judge urged. "This is an incredibly rare case, and there was no textbook verdict to follow. We had to establish one. While taking her life would certainly be a form of justice for the deceased, we ultimately determined it was not the wisest course of action. Additionally, considering she was not the direct murderer, as the monster race are living, sentient entities, the situation became even more complex."

Klaus clenched his fists. "And that is supposed to justify letting her live?" he questioned.

The judge faltered. "W-Well... a minor factor behind our decision was the true motive we uncovered behind Xhin's actions," she revealed. "Rather than being driven by spite or rage... her actions were fueled by love. Love for you, Klaus Walker."

Klaus' entire body tensed. His anger flared even higher, his eyes darkening with fury.

"Don't you dare try to feed me that bullshit," he spat, his voice low but brimming with rage.

From the side, Hoax exhaled in clear irritation. "Of course the human has no sense of decency," he muttered.

Klaus slowly turned toward the demon, his anger reaching its boiling point. "What did you just say?"

"You ruined my daughter," Hoax stated, his voice filled with venom. "Everything she did was because of you. And yet, you stand here unsatisfied, condemning her to imprisonment while you walk free, unpunished."

"Unpunished?" Klaus retorted, his voice sharp and laced with incredulity. "You have the audacity to blame me for your daughter's crimes? When you were the one who raised her to think with such primitive beliefs?"

"Primitive?" Hoax snapped, rising to his feet. "You, a half-human, dare to call my daughter's beliefs primitive?"

"Gentlemen, please," the judge interrupted, raising a hand in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. "I understand how sensitive this topic is, but I ask that you both try to understand where this..."

"Oh, I understand it perfectly," Hoax cut in, turning toward the judge as a taunting smirk grew onto his face. "It's this... child who refuses to accept the reality that my daughter gets to live while his precious deceased lover does not."

As Hoax's words concluded, silence began to fill the room. Klaus' eyes widened even further, yet they were almost devoid of expression, hollow in their shock. Then, before anyone could react, before a single word could be spoken, Klaus had seized Hoax by the throat with his left hand, his gaze locked coldly onto the demon.

He had traversed the distance between them in a fraction of a second using his Burst Speed, lifting the demon off his feet with ease despite Hoax being a few inches taller than him.

"What... did you... just say?" Klaus asked, his voice lower than it had ever been, his tone chillingly flat.

Suddenly, light particles began to gather around Klaus as he kept Hoax suspended in the air, wrapping his body in a dim glow, slightly similar to when he had fought Xhin during the crisis, but not as bright.

Klaus' grip was tight, and the demon could barely breathe. Yet, even as the air was squeezed from his lungs, Hoax managed to smirk. "Typical... primitive... human," he rasped between strained breaths.

The room remained still, but uncertain murmurs began to rise from the onlookers. Some demons shifted in their seats, torn between concern and hesitation. Syx, seated beside them, wanted desperately to stop Klaus from harming her husband further. However, there was a certain force that warned every fiber of her being not to intervene. Because of this, she remained frozen in place, paralyzed by an unshakable fear.

Others in the room also stirred, some demons rising slightly from their seats, uncertain of what to do. But as the tension thickened, as seconds stretched unbearably long, a voice cut through the stillness.

"Klaus."

Ash's voice, despite its soft tone, cut through the noise like a blade, reaching through the growing hostility. "Relax."

The moment the final word left his lips, an even greater force washed over the room, enveloping everything in an unseen pressure. Klaus couldn't explain what he was feeling, but as time progressed, the raw, burning rage inside him suddenly began to ease. Eventually, the Photonic Aura surrounding him flickered before it gradually dissipated. Slowly, he loosened his grip and lowered Hoax back onto the ground.

The silence that followed was absolute. All of it, the suffocating presence, the tension that had nearly reached a breaking point, had been dispelled by two simple words from Ash. Finally, the demigod rose from his seat, his movements deliberate as he began walking toward Klaus.

Klaus knew his reaction had been reckless, that his actions had been far from ideal. But still, he felt no remorse for what he had done. He also couldn't ignore the strange feeling creeping over him, the unsettling weight in his chest as Ash slowly approached him.

Yet, as Ash drew nearer, he didn't stop in front of Klaus. Instead, he walked past him, coming to a halt before Hoax, who still bore a faint smile.

"Apologies for the scene, my Prince," Hoax said, mockery lacing his words. "It seems our guest is..."

"Hoax."

Ash's voice was sharper this time, cutting through the air with undeniable authority.

Hoax's smirk vanished in an instant. His body stiffened, his knees weakening as an invisible force bore down on him. The weight of Ash's gaze alone sent a shudder through him, stripping him of any remaining confidence.

"Speak that way again," Ash continued, his tone unwavering, "and I swear to you... that you will join your daughter in solitude."

Hoax had no response. He had no clever remark or smug retort left. "I... understand, my Prince," he finally managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper.

Without another word, Ash turned away, walking back across the room, his attention now shifting toward Shynx. Reaching her, he stopped before his mother, then lowered himself onto one knee, bowing his head.

"Forgive the intrusion, Mother," Ash said, his eyes closed. "I take full responsibility for allowing such an inconvenience to occur."

"Do not worry, my dear," Shynx replied gently, placing a warm hand on his shoulder, causing him to rise. "I am not offended by their passion. I understand where they are coming from."

Shynx then rose to her feet and turned to Klaus, her expression softening. As she approached him, the room remained still. Then, to the shock of every single demon present, she bowed her head before him.

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Even Klaus himself was stunned. The Queen of Nyxia, the most revered mortal in Under World, was bowing her head to him. Everyone present was stunned, with the sole exception being Ash, his expression as neutral as ever.

"I am deeply sorry that the verdict was not what you had anticipated," Shynx began, her voice sincere. "I know you wished for a different outcome, to seek justice for those who lost their lives. If I had the power to change it, I would, for I, too, am shocked by the ruling. But I ask you, as the Queen of Nyxia and as a mother to a fellow demigod like yourself..." She took a steady breath. "Please, find it within yourself to accept this result, even if only by the smallest margin."

Klaus remained silent. Shynx was pleading with him, something he had never expected. He had witnessed how others treated her, the unwavering respect she commanded. And yet, here she was, lowering herself before him. It made him falter a bit.

"Please, raise your head, Queen Shynx," Klaus finally said, his voice calm. "You don't need to do this for me to understand."

Shynx lifted her head, watching him in silence.

Klaus sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'll admit..." he began, "I'm still not content with this verdict. And I doubt I ever will be, knowing that she still draws breath."

After a pause, he continued. "But..." His jaw tightened slightly. "I also can't say with certainty that I would have felt any different even if she didn't."

Klaus felt conflicted. He knew there would never be a solution that could truly satisfy him, not as long as Avalon remained dead, along with the millions of others who had been taken from their loved ones. No verdict, no ruling could bring them back. But after witnessing what had just transpired from both Ash and the Queen, he understood that, for now, there was nothing more he could do but accept it, at least for the time being. 

"I will try my best to find peace with it," Klaus finally said. "But I can't say how long that will take." 

Shynx remained silent for a moment before speaking again. "Still, I am sorry you had to experience such dissatisfaction," she said. 

With that, the meeting gradually returned to order. Everyone took their seats once more as the judge made the final announcements, officially bringing the case to a close. Afterward, the judge stood and bowed, marking the end of the proceedings. The Queen and her escorts soon followed, rising to depart and return home. 

Klaus remained seated for a while, his thoughts still clouded with frustration. He tried to ease them, but it wasn't easy. 

Hoax and Syx also stood to leave. Though Hoax had remained silent for the rest of the meeting, Ash's words still echoed in his mind. Even so, it didn't stop him from casting a venomous glare in Klaus' direction before finally departing with his wife and their escorts. 

Before leaving himself, Klaus bid his farewell to the Queen, then turned his attention to Jhin, who was still seated beside him. Jhin's expression was heavy with sorrow, his pain clear to see. And Klaus understood why. Xhin had been his twin sister, the person who had been by his side for as long as he could remember. Losing her, hearing her fate so definitively sealed, must have been devastating. 

Klaus felt a twinge of guilt. He had spoken such harsh words about Xhin, and though he meant every one of them, he still felt bad for saying them in front of Jhin, who was already suffering enough. 

After a brief silence, Jhin finally stirred, as though pulling himself back to reality. "S-Sorry for my absence, Klaus Walker," he muttered. "It's just..." 

"It's fine," Klaus interrupted. "You don't have to explain anything. I get it." 

Jhin's eyes welled with tears, but he quickly wiped them away. "Let's head back to Lord Nekro," he said. 

"Sure," Klaus replied. 

"I'll go as well," a voice suddenly said from the side. 

Turning toward the speaker, Klaus noticed Ash still standing near the door. Unlike his mother, he had not yet left for home. He remained where he was, leaning casually against the doorframe on his side, watching Klaus and Jhin with his usual unreadable expression. 

Without another word, the three of them departed together, heading toward the chamber where they typically met with the Guardian god. Upon entering, they found Nekro seated in silence upon his throne at the far end of the room. 

Jhin and Ash immediately dropped to one knee, bowing their heads in a display of respect. 

"Good day, Father," Ash said quietly. 

"How are you, Ash?" Nekro asked, briefly extending his hand to signal for them to rise. 

"The same as always," Ash replied as he stood, his curt response unsurprising to anyone. 

Nekro then turned his attention to Klaus, who remained silent. "I can tell that the verdict was not what you had hoped for," he observed. 

"Yeah," Klaus admitted. "But it's fine. I guess I'll learn to live with it somehow." 

Nekro was silent for a moment, as if in thought, before speaking again. "Well," he said, "if it would bring you even the slightest bit of solace, would you like to see her one last time before returning to Main World?" 

Klaus' expression shifted, his eyes widening slightly as he processed what Nekro was saying. "You don't mean..." he murmured, trailing off as he sought confirmation. 

"The person this was all about," Nekro affirmed. "Xhin."