20. Understanding Things

20. Understanding Things The quaking of the forest was not caused by a stampede. Instead, a more sinister foe appeared from the guarding line of trees in the distance. It was the One Thousand Eyed Bird, and it had come to judge the newly formed Accused. Frost’s heart sunk when she saw it in its entire completeness. The black ball of feathers, and the elusive one thousand eyes was a sight to equally fear as it was to behold. Her blood froze all over as she vividly remembered being at the cusp of death because of this thing. But she was not the same weak person anymore. All this did was fuel the flames in her heart. “JURY! DO IT NOW!” Frost was in no position to back away now. They were so close to freeing the Hanged Jury. Additionally, their AGI far outclassed the One Thousand Eyed Bird, so they had a good chance of escaping if things went south. Also, they were not the ones being targeted for judgement this time. < Decision of One Thousand Juries Pending > The Hanged Jury’s eyes glowed with a mysterious light, as did all one thousand eyes of the forest. Frost's companion launched herself into the air like a missile and with one slash – the branch around the Hanged Jury’s throat was severed. The body fizzled away into a blinding light, as if its soul had been released from its miserable existence. Frost’s eyes instantly seared with a burning pain. A part of those fleeting particles flew directly into her body as she turned to run while cupping her eyes in agony. < Decision of Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine Juries Pending > She was blind. None of her visual senses registered no matter how many times she tried to ‘see’. She felt Jury’s hand take a hold of hers as she dragged her straight towards the safety of the tree lines, all the while Frost screamed out at the top of her lungs. The pain was different. It was not like the pain of being stabbed, cut, skewered, or ripped. It could only be described as a pain that endlessly reverberated within her soul. It began at the eyes and spread like wildfire to every region of her body. She didn’t know what was going on. Did she receive some sort of negative stack? A condition? Frost’s mind was nearly reduced to mush as she dug her nails deeply into her skin, trying to overpower the immense pain until it suddenly subsided, like it never existed at all. < Stats from the Hanged Jury Gained > < Unique Ability Gained > < ABILITY : Their Innocence > < See what all cannot > Nothing but exasperated breaths left her lips. She could see again. More clearly this time. Frost slowly approached the carcass of the creature. It made little sense to her as to why it died so suddenly. She could only imagine it was some sort of effect caused by the One Thousand Eyed Bird. Though she noticed something peculiar upon crouching over its lifeless form. “... There are probably another nine hundred and ninety-nine of these left. The number went down after I somehow consumed the Hanged Jury. The 300 damage doesn’t seem like a coincidence either.” Frost stated as she began to feast on her latest prey. “A thousand of these attacks perfectly matches with the bird’s HP.” It felt strange eating these creatures all of a sudden. She couldn’t exactly point out why, but it became disturbing in an entirely different sense than the bloody, gruesome nature. As she and Jury shared the meal together, Frost spoke again in between mouthfuls. “System. This whole thing feels like a fever dream. I’ve probably said that a thousand times over. But it’s starting to make some sense. There was prejudice. An unfair judgement. I guess you were right about the criminals. It’s strange that this place which was known for executions would have ‘innocents’ being wrongfully judged. It’s like... how do I put it?” She struggled to put the pieces together. Her mind had deteriorated from all this madness, so thinking about these complex things became a struggle for her. “Like a twisted retelling of this forest’s past. Perhaps the truth of it.” The System pieced it together for her. The sound of munching could be heard as a long silence settled in. Jury happily munched on the creature as Frost stared down at the blood in her hands. “... I want to ask one more time, System. What the hell are the Corrupted?” She finally asked. “I unfortunately do not know. I believe the Beholders may have a better understanding amongst themselves, but you may be the closest to anyone ever truly unraveling their origins.” “You say that like I can actually back you up. I have no clue at all either. But...” She had a thought suspended in her mind. “But?” Frost sighed right as she received her latest ability. < Stats from the Righteousness Gained > < Unique Ability Gained > < ABILITY : Our Justice > < See what the heart sees > < TEMPORARY EFFECT : Enact Judgement. Temporary effect depreciates after judgement is enacted > “I want to believe that the Corrupted here harbor a piece of the people that this whole tale of the Black Forest is about.”