Ouch!
Sol grabbed his head and his eyes fluttered open. The world before him was a blur, just like his memories.
"Where… no… what…" Sol's voice trailed off into silence as the memories began coming back one after the other.
He felt like a fragmented soul being pieced back together, each piece bringing its own memories and lessons. By the time the process was over, Sol was as cold as ice, staring at the ceiling while reminiscing on his final moments in the tower.
His chat with Shi Ming about everything ranging from the Devil Origin to the Tower of Heaven.
The final stage, where he and hundreds of other successful ascendants stood before a glowing tree that tasked them with killing God, before blasting them back here with a ray of light.
"Well, that was a wild ride."
Sol's cold face broke into a silly, childish smile. Somehow, he survived the trials and became an ascendant, achieving his goal after taking a very risky gamble.
"Father, mother… you will not get justice for your murder."
Sol giggled, revealing a twisted expression that would make anyone flinch.
But then he froze and took a deep breath. There was no rotten odor, as he expected.
"Strange."
Sol tried to move, only to feel his hands and legs restricted by cold steel. He raised his hands and realized they were already in handcuffs. He suspected the same for his legs.
Didn't I pass out around the staircase, so why…
Sol's thoughts cut off as his eyes widened.
He looked to the side and noticed he was lying between the spots where his parents were murdered. The blood had dried and stained the floor black, their figures marked out with chalk.
Without hesitation, Sol sat up mechanically and looked over his shoulder toward the entrance door, only to see several uniformed men pointing their guns at him.
Military.
Police.
Special Police.
Sol knew them all by the color of their uniforms. However, the person that caught his attention was a blonde woman dressed in a silver furry trench coat, wearing a pair of sunglasses. Even though she was indoors, she held an umbrella over her head while staring down at Sol, who was seated on the bare floor.
Then came the flashes from all sides.
Of course, these people were prepared for his return. It was general knowledge that the trial took approximately three months. They must have found the body, deduced what happened, and moved him while he was unconscious.
They could have taken him into custody directly without the need for this public humiliation.
Sol knew better than anyone that this would have been the case if this woman was not involved. As a mystic enthusiast and a Ji Wei fan, he kept tabs on all ascendants on Earth 5580, so how could he not know who this woman was?
Linda Luthor, wielder of the Inquisitor Origin Core. A stuck-up patriot who had sworn to erase crime, witchcraft, and every form of evil on the planet.
She was here playing holy judge while her fellow ascendants were out there fighting for the planet's survival.
If it were before the trial, Sol would have felt so embarrassed he would have been overwhelmed by anger. However, the matured him didn't attach any value or sentiment to his current situation. He simply mentally took note of every face taking part in his humiliation.
"Aurelius Sol, you are under arrest for the brutal murder of Mr. and Mrs. Aurelius, and for illegal involvement in black magic and witchcraft. You have the right to remain silent. Everything you say or do will be used against you in a court of law."
Linda recited those lines with the practiced ease of someone who had done it a thousand times.
Under the pressure of flashing lights, several gun muzzles pointed in his direction, and the presence of a veteran ascendant looking to make an example out of him, Sol maintained his amused expression.
They watched as he struggled to rise to his feet, but nobody tried to stop him.
Once he stood up, he acted as if they didn't exist and casually hopped over to the window at the other edge of the living room. The same window he had called out to the heavens from at his most desperate moment.
Thinking of how much pressure he had been under back then, this charade felt like nothing more than a low-budget rip-off of that moment.
Some armed men tried to approach and apprehend him, but Linda gestured at them to retreat with a single hand sign.
"What? Don't tell me you believed your crime would be overlooked because of your new status?"
She asked, her eyes narrowing beneath the shades as she saw the smirk on Sol's face. He shrugged off her words and casually nodded, shamelessly.
"Yes… yes, I know it will be overlooked. That's why I did it."
Sol chuckled as he sat on the window frame.
Gasps spread across the reporters and cameramen gathered around as they all took a step back in horror at Sol's reaction and response to his crimes.
Linda's frown deepened and her fists clenched tightly, but she didn't outright refute his words. In fact, she knew he was right. That was why she went through the trouble of making this case public, so they wouldn't be able to sweep it under the rug.
Hearing and seeing Sol's response to the entire situation, she was certain she had made the wrong choice. A monster like this was not worthy to join the ranks of ascendants, humanity's protectors.
"You silly fool, don't underestimate yourself. With me on the case, I would like to see how you walk away scot-free!"
Linda snapped back, only for Sol to burst into hysterical laughter.
At first, everyone was merely spooked. Then a strong wind blew into the room, and the light bulbs began flashing. Gasps spread as they noticed the burning dark green glow in Sol's eyes as he stared at them in amusement.
"As long as you are involved?"
Sol scoffed as black fumes diffused from his body, spreading to all corners of the living room, greedily stealing the surrounding light as it moved.
Panic set in. Guns trembled in the hands of uniformed men who quickly formed a circle, fearing a spiritual attack they might never see coming. Only Linda remained calm, staring directly into Sol's eyes.
"Believe me when I say this, woman. No one will pick a washed-up ascendant who peaked as a spirit police officer over the man destined to kill God."
As he spoke, U'tha's gigantic head emerged from the darkness behind him, its burning emerald eyes etching Linda's image into its memory before shifting its attention to Sol.
"W-what is that?"
Several cameramen and reporters bolted out of the room in terror. Others were paralyzed with fear, some wetting themselves, while a few collapsed on the spot, losing consciousness.
The uniformed men shook in their boots, cowardly retreating behind Linda, who watched with a deep frown.
A guardian spirit had invaded the veil and entered the mortal realm, just for this kid.
She couldn't help but recall the ritual circles and link them to U'tha's presence. So this was the spirit that took the boy's offering and became his spirit partner.
While she was lost in thought and her men cowered in fear, Sol and U'tha treated them like air.
"You succeeded…"
"And our arrangement?" Sol asked casually.
"It stands."
U'tha slowly nodded before shifting its attention back to Linda Luthor.
"Do you require my aid to escape this situation?" U'tha hissed, the glow in its eyes intensifying.
Sol smiled and screamed, "Awwwwwwnnnn," as he patted its nose.
"Nah! Her and her people can't do shit. They'll hold me for a while, so come look for me when I'm out."
Sol ignored everyone else and chatted away as if they were the only ones in the room.
U'tha slowly nodded, giving Sol a deep look before comparing him to the humans standing behind him. Fear was etched into every face, Linda included.
In its eyes, even though Sol was the one in chains, he was the predator — and everyone else was his prey.
"Very well."
With that, U'tha retreated from the mortal world, slipping back through the veil and into the spirit realm.
In mere seconds, the darkness faded. The flashing bulbs stabilized. The oppressive air lifted, and natural light poured in, filling the home with warmth.
"Alright, let's get going."
Sol said with a grin. Linda simply nodded.
Reluctantly, the uniformed men approached, grabbing him by the arms and dragging him away. To their surprise, Sol offered no resistance and kept blurting out whatever came to mind, like a child unaware of his mistake.
"Ooh, and get me something to eat. I killed Dad and Mum on an empty stomach."
"And some wine too, yeah? Can I get some wine?"
"Ooh, and some clothes as well. Preferably Hanfus — black and green, like my spirit patron. Yeah. Matching colors would be really cool…"
"Don't give me that look. Have you ever rocked a Hanfu before? You know nothing about luxury!"