Lex Mortis's Domain Expansion, Court of Convection, creates a courtroom where he acts as prosecutor and his shikigami, Lady Justice, presides over a trial to strip opponents of their cursed techniques or execute them. Unlike typical domains, it's non-lethal initially, focusing on a "rock-paper-scissors" style mini-game (Deny, Confess, Silence) to fill a bar, leading to a verdict and potential confiscation of cursed energy or a one-hit kill with an executioner's sword if found guilty and the bar fills.
Ethan stood on the opposite side of the cursed spirit in this mockery of a courtroom.
"Any and all acts of violence are prohibited here. For both of us." The cursed spirit began. It seems one of the conditions for this domain to start is that the prosecutor must explain the details/rules of this domain personally to the defendant.
Ethan had tried summoning his shikigami as soon as the domain took hold, but the act of summoning itself is considered "violence" by Lady Justice.
The cursed spirit itself seems to be a weaker special grade. Though something feels off.
The cursed spirit deployed its domain as soon as he was in its range.
It had used barrier techniques to conceal itself until the very last moment.
This attack was premeditated… a trap?
Even if it confiscated his technique, he can simply kill it via cursed energy reinforcement.
Wait, it's not working alone, is it?
Other special grades?
"Please begin, Lady Justice." Ethan added, fascinated by who could be the mastermind behind this trap.
"Ethan Park is under suspicion of murder of 15 individuals, across three different planes on September 11, 2001." Lady Justice spoke next, her voice coarse yet elegant in a strange way.
"Ah? Ah…" Is Lady Justice biased? Well, that's mildly troubling.
If the judge itself is biased, no matter what defense he puts up by saying he killed those terrorists to save thousands of lives,
He would still be found guilty.
"Lady Justice knows everything about the individual inside of this domain, but that information isn't shared with me… judgement will be decided based upon our claims." The cursed spirit continued explaining the rules of the domain all the while smiling from ear to ear, if they could be called ears.
And does Lady Justice truly know everything about him?… will that include his previous life? Ethan had so many questions.
"With this 'evidence' as the single exception. The evidence regarding your case was submitted by Lady Justice herself." An envelope appeared in its hand, covered by cursed energy.
"This will not necessarily confirm the suspicion placed upon you, and I won't tell you what it says. Moreover, you must make your case, clear the suspicion, and win an acquittal of 'innocence' from Lady Justice."
In the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, Domain Expansion was a more common technique among sorcerers in the past because their domains were less complex;
They typically did not possess an instant-kill function. Instead, they were designed as a means to set advantageous conditions for a fight and force the opponent to obey specific rules. THAT was the standard for domains of the past.
Early domains primarily enforced the rules of the embedded cursed technique, giving the user a significant advantage but not an immediate, lethal win. Like that of Ryomen Sukuna or Gojo Satoru. Because these domains lacked the complex, high-difficulty "sure-kill" factor, they were simpler to manifest and master.
In eras like the Heian period, there were many powerful sorcerers and cursed spirits, leading to frequent battles. Domains were an essential part of the "meta-game," and having one—even a non-lethal one—was necessary for survival.
Over time, sorcerers shifted their focus to developing "sure-kill" domains that could end a fight immediately. As this became the standard goal for a Domain Expansion, the overall number of users decreased significantly because such domains are much harder to create and perfect. A 0.2 seconds exposure to Infinite Void by Gojo Satoru was able to paralyze disaster-class curses for 299 seconds.
"There's only one chance to make a statement. And that applies to both of us as well. Once you're done, I'll also have just one opportunity to make a rebuttal with this evidence in consideration, and lastly Lady Justice will pass a judgement based upon
the California Penal Code."
If Ethan remembered correctly, the death penalty was legal and allowed in the state of California in 2008, with 673 inmates on death row, the largest in the nation.
"Let me guess… you get an instant death sword the moment I am found guilty." Ethan spoke sarcastically, but his tone had an underlying edge.
If someone has set him up, then there will be other special grades waiting as soon as this domain closes. And if this cursed spirit obtained the executioner's sword and passes it along to a stronger special grade, even a wound on the body mass or his head would mean instant death, regardless of his RCT.
"Unfortunately, I'm not the one responsible for answering that question. But as per the rules, I will tell you this. You have 3 options.
'Silence' 'Confession' and 'Denial,' and false statements are included in the option of 'Denial.'"
"Isn't lying on the stand perjury or something?"
Ethan knew about perjury as he had attended his jury duty in his previous life, and the main witness had knowingly lied about the crime.
Perjury in California (Penal Code 118 PC) is a felony involving willfully and knowingly making a false, material statement under oath in court, depositions, or signed declarations. Convictions can result in two, three, or four years in state prison, up to $10,000 in fines, and felony probation.
Now normally, while stating rules of the domain, one shouldn't be able to lie, but Ethan won't leave that up to chance.
The cursed spirit simply widened its smile and clarified.
"If everyone told the truth, I wouldn't be born. Now make your excuse, Human. Lady Justice isn't very patient."
Alright, Ethan did actually kill those terrorists. And they were legally innocent until proven guilty, even though they were planning to crash their respective planes.
In California, as in all U.S. jurisdictions, it is illegal for a private citizen to intentionally kill another person, including a terrorist suspect, outside of legally recognized justifications such as self-defense. The law emphasizes arresting and prosecuting suspects through the criminal justice system, even for serious terrorism charges.
If Ethan wanted to proclaim his innocence, he won't be able to avoid lying.
The content of that evidence was key to this façade of a trial.
Ethan thought back to his options:
Option A: If the evidence is a "dud" and it can't prove that he actually murdered those terrorists, then he can either remain silent or simply deny the claim.
Option B: If the evidence proved that he killed those terrorists, should he wager on getting a lighter sentence by making a confession? Does Lady Justice even pass varying degrees of sentencing!?
Ethan decided to go with option C and turned to Lady Justice.
"I killed those terrorists, but it was to save innocent lives on the plane. So I am innocent."
The cursed spirit spoke up next. "I see. Then it's my turn." He opened the envelope containing the evidence and read it once,
and then added, "This is a picture taken on the day of the incident from the security cameras in the cockpits of all three planes.
It shows Ethan Park murdering at least six people in cold blood from behind. These actions are willful, deliberate, and premeditated. A first-degree murder, under California Penal Code Section 187."
"Pass the judgement, Lady Justice. The defense rests." Ethan had to focus on the upcoming battle with multiple special-grade cursed spirits, and any excuses he made now would have been pointless anyway.
Lady Justice passed the judgement as expected: Guilty and Death Penalty.
The cursed spirit has obtained the executioner's sword, and Ethan's cursed technique has been temporarily confiscated by Lady Justice.
And it will remain confiscated until the cursed spirit is conscious.
Lex Mortis's Executioner's Sword is a special-grade, high-lethality weapon summoned through his Domain Expansion, Court of Convection, when a "Death Penalty" verdict is reached by Lady Justice. It is a transformed version of his gavel that kills any target instantly upon cutting them, as it targets the soul directly.
And as soon as the domain collapsed around Ethan, he felt it.
The loss of his technique… and the presence of at least three more special grades, at least as strong as the octopus cursed spirit—maybe stronger.
Now here he stands, as four special-grade cursed spirits jump him without any technique. He had to get past the three and kill the law-cursed spirit first… with simple cursed energy and martial arts.
But would he lose ?
Nah...He would win.
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