Chapter 120
Title: The Sentence
The chamber of judgment stood like a tomb carved from ice and iron—its towering walls etched with the divine laws of S.U.H.A, and above all, the seal of Sovereign Order hung like a noose.
Five chairs faced the center, mounted on a raised platform that cast long shadows onto the trial floor. The five Sovereign Ministers sat in solemn silence—Ivar, Gary, Makekis, Tenzy, and Alfred—their robes flowing like ocean tides, faces grim, unmoved.
Sakamoto, shackled in heavy steel bindings laced with Shen suppressing glyphs, stood in the center of the room, head bowed.
The atmosphere was thick. Judging. Suffocating.
Tenzy Speaks
Minister Tenzy, voice like the scraping of ancient gears, leaned forward.
"**Sakamoto… You stand accused of the destruction of an India, the unleashing of catastrophic Shen waves, and the provocation of a chain of Emperor Trever . Tell us—why? What drove you to this? Were you working with… The Ten?"
The court crowd erupted in anger.
Cries of "Murderer!" and "Monster!" echoed. A woman sobbed uncontrollably.
One India woman, grief etched into her face, stood up mid-chaos.
"You took them from me! Four and seven—my babies! They were just kids! You monster!"
She broke into uncontrollable tears.
Sakamoto slowly raised his head, his eyes calm. Then… he smiled.
A slow, teeth-bearing grin, almost mocking, but empty.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
His voice was low, hollow.
The Ministers Turn
Minister Gary turned to Makekis, scoffing.
"No remorse. Look at him. Not a flicker of guilt."
Minister Ivar glared at Sakamoto, his voice echoing with wrath.
"People like you—who toy with power as if it's a game—belong in the deepest hole humanity has carved. You will spend your days in Alcatraz, among the condemned—where even time forgets to look."
Minister Alfred now spoke, his tone ice.
"Sakamoto… before judgment is passed, do you have anything to say to prove your innocence?"
Meanwhile – Seoul Interrogation Room
The live broadcast blared on the screen.
Mujin stood behind the glass, fists clenched.
"Dammit, boy… speak up. Don't just take this."
But back in the chamber…
Sakamoto simply repeated,
"I have no idea what any of you are talking about."
A hush of disbelief passed through the court.
Makekis, Tenzy, and Ivar pressed down red buttons on their panel—one after another.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The sentence was confirmed.
"Majority vote has passed." Minister Ivar declared.
"Sakamoto—condemned to life in Alcatraz."
The crowd erupted. Applause from some. Tears from others.
The Final Words
Two armored guards approached. Chains clanked as they seized Sakamoto and began escorting him out of the room.
As he passed the grieving mother, she stepped forward again, sobbing.
He paused.
"I'm sorry for your loss… but sometimes… things happen that we can't control."
She glared at him—and spat in his face.
The room gasped.
Sakamoto stood still, the spit trailing down his cheek. Then… he smiled again. Softly.
And walked away.
Back in Seoul – Mujin's Decision
"Enough," Mujin growled. "Dogoro… do it."
The Chief of Police nodded gravely.
He turned to Rokky, still cuffed in the interrogation chair.
"You've had your chance. Now we'll pull the truth from your bones."
He reached for a remote on the table, and clicked.
Whirrrrr.
From the ceiling, mechanical arms descended—long, cold appendages of steel ending in needled nodes. They whined softly before piercing into Rokky's skull, sliding through the scalp with surgical cruelty.
Rokky screamed, thrashing.
"NO—NO! STOP! I'LL TALK—I'LL—"
But it was too late.
Mujin turned to Dogoro.
"Will it work?"
"According to S.U.H.A scientists, yes. The tech was developed to force a shapeshifter's body to revert into their last mimicked form. If we're lucky…" Dogoro looked toward the convulsing body.
"…it'll be Sakamoto."
Mujin exhaled.
"It better be."
Unknown Location – Council of the Ten
In a dark stone chamber lit by hanging lanterns, the core of The Ten gathered around a massive round table engraved with ancient runes.
Circe, healer and sensor, sat with arms crossed. Her eyes narrowed.
"We lost too much during the Seoul raid. What exactly is the plan now?" she asked, her voice biting.
Across the table, Papa Tunde adjusted his crimson gloves.
Huey, calm and calculating, chuckled lightly.
"A plan? Of course I have a plan. And it's already in motion."
He turned toward the calm figure at the far end—Draven, bathed in a faint glow of residual Shen energy.
"How's your progress?"
Draven's expression was cold.
"I've absorbed only 50% of the Shen stored in the coffin. According to Circe, it's not enough. I'll need more to access the Land of the Forsaken."
Huey smirked.
"We'll get you more. But first, I've received word—"
He leaned forward, tapping the table.
"The last hybrid has been condemned to Alcatraz."
Circe's eyes widened.
"Sakamoto…?"
Huey nodded.
"Exactly. And that's perfect. I already planned to raid the prison. Now it's essential, not just for him but…"
Draven raised an eyebrow.
"Why raid a prison?"
Huey rose, voice rising in intensity.
"Because that prison holds S-ranked individuals, and beyond. Not criminals. Rebels. Misfits. People who refused to bend to S.U.H.A's vision. They weren't evil. Just free."
His hand slammed the table.
"This is what Lord Arcade always fought against. This fear of power. This systemic need to crush the strong so the weak can sleep soundly at night."
He gestured outward, eyes ablaze.
"So we'll give them a choice—join us, or die. And I'll be the one to reach Sakamoto first. Not to kill him—" he grinned.
"—but to offer him a path out. Or… into darkness, hence I cannot get the hybrid out of him anyways he's no good to me"
Draven stood.
"Then I'll come with you."
Huey held a hand up.
"No. You need to rest. Let your body adjust to the Shen. You haven't fully awakened the eyes yet."
Draven clenched his fist… but nodded.
Circe stood slowly.
"So it begins, then. A storm at the gates of Alcatraz."
Huey smiled.
"Exactly. We're going to break history."
End of Chapter 121
Next: "The Hybrid in Chains"