Saiyan stowaways on the Ark

"What exactly did you show it... what did you show that old snake?"

Perhaps out of curiosity, or perhaps simply wanting to know what kind of sight would drive a monster that manipulates one's mind and consciousness to despair, Talulah tentatively asked, only to be met with a look from Tomat that she didn't want to acknowledge.

"Something that makes it feel that everything it does is meaningless."

Thomas replied briefly.

In the realm of the mind, the dust has settled.

An evil god who corrupted people's minds, manipulated them into doing absurd things, and caused widespread suffering, has disappeared.

The original master of the spiritual world also reclaimed his true thoughts and consciousness.

But that doesn't mean the matter ends there.

The sins of the black serpent will never be settled with its demise.

But the other person who stands here still has to pay an equal price for what happened.

Whether she can pay for it or not is another matter.

"Even though my consciousness has been in a hazy, dreamlike state all along, I have come to know your strength. Do you intend to stand in for her and deliver the judgment for me?"

"Pay the price for the consequences of your arrogance and naivety, and pay the price for thinking that all of this is just a dream and not resisting his control."

When discussing her sins, even with the black snake as a reason to lessen her guilt, Talulah still showed no intention of escaping the topic.

But Tomat still had no interest in catering to Talulah's desire for liberation.

"I'm neither a judge nor have I ever wronged you, so why should I judge you? Go find whoever you owe. Since you're not afraid of being judged, then be prepared to go find the person you owe. Until then, just be a sinner waiting for redemption."

Tomat's words plunged Amiya into another set of thoughts.

It's not just about how to bring Talulah, this irredeemable sinner, to justice in this chaotic land.

This also includes opinions on Tomat.

Because the topic of "sin" is being discussed, Amiya is also unable to determine whether Tomat's actions can be considered sin.

Leaving aside the thousands of soldiers who instantly turned to ashes on the Longmen battlefield, as "enemies," they were inherently capable of being eliminated, so there's no need to dwell on it too much.

But the events in Chernobyl, with their significant casualties resulting from Tomat's individual actions, are difficult to quantify.

However, for some reason, Amiya felt a little uncomfortable about the fact that "Tomat" was called a sinner.

Unlike Talulah, who is a sinner and difficult to judge because of the more complex reasons, the current situation in Terra makes it difficult to provide her with a reasonable place for trial.

Amiya, on the other hand, felt that "Tara was simply incapable of judging him."

Even if he is indeed a sinner.

"What awaits me? Imprisonment? Condemnation? Punishment?"

Tomat's refusal and Amiya's silence prompted Talulah to speak again.

But this time, Amiya suddenly grabbed her hand and continued:

"What awaits you first are those who care about you and want to see you."

Talulah looked down in slight surprise as her hand was grabbed, looking at the girl from Katus who was much younger and shorter than her.

The warmth emanating from Amiya's palm was a comfort Talulah hadn't felt in a long time, having been trapped in that icy inferno.

"We will provide you with a safe place to wait for your trial. There are no political motives or ulterior motives."

"As the daughter of an Ursus noble, a blood relative of the Lungmen ruler, and of Victoria's lost royal lineage, people have countless reasons to fight for you. But their reasons will never be to put you to trial, because for them, using you is far more valuable than judging you."

Amiya stopped thinking about Tomat, because everything seemed so far away.

But at the very least, we should do our best to accomplish what we can in front of us.

Talulah's identity can be that of "Terra's sinner." She exists within the framework of Terra and can at least be judged within it.

------

Differences from the original work

In the original work, after defeating Talulah, Rhodes Island took her in for self-preservation. After infiltrating the core city and learning too much, Rhodes Island had countless reasons to be silenced by Lungmen or Ursus. As a neutral third-party force, Rhodes Island would not receive any help if it were destroyed. Therefore, it needed Talulah as a valuable bargaining chip to protect itself.

In this way, anyone who wants to attack Rhodes Island will be suspected of "intending to kidnap Talulah" and will be stopped by other forces.

The situation is slightly different here. Detaining Talulah was Amiya's personal decision, and Rhodes Island is no longer afraid of being targeted by others. In other words, this trial of Talulah is truly conducted without any ulterior motives.

[Main Text] Chernobog, Amidst the Ruins: Chapter Thirty-Five: Roaring Light

To outsiders, it appeared that Tomat and Amiya simply closed their eyes after approaching the dragon, and then, after a short while, opened their eyes again as if they had changed their expressions.

They were unsure of exactly how much time had passed during their perceived physical experience.

However, people could still tell from their expressions that they must have made some discoveries on this trip.

But in the next instant, everyone's attention was drawn to something else—and then panic filled their hearts.

It wasn't just Tomat and Amiya who returned.

The battered dragon also opened its eyes and gradually rose, its body swaying.

Despite being riddled with wounds, its movements still caused a cataclysmic tremor.

Dark red blood gushed from the wound, and the bent limbs supported it as it stood up again.

"Emergency situation! All personnel, please be on alert!!!"

The Guard Bureau, which had been gathered here, immediately dispersed their troops and prepared for both attack and defense. On the other side, the Patriots' Shield Guards, upon seeing just a few of his gestures, immediately formed a solid defensive line to cover the retreat of Rhodes Island's personnel, while simultaneously assembling their formation with the operators capable of long-range attacks.

"Tomat! Amiya! You're back? What happened over there? How did it wake up?"

As the doctor jogged up to the two who were leisurely leaving the dragon's side and asked them questions eagerly, the others also gathered around.

"Have you seen my sister? How is she? Is she still acting like she's delirious like before?"

Chen inquired about his sister from the two of them, while Rosemary and Frostnova exchanged brief greetings with Amiya and Tomat, respectively.

However, Tomat clearly felt a piercing gaze coming from behind him when Frostnova greeted him.

The scene was still quite chaotic. Those who were prepared for battle were nervously watching the behemoth, while non-combat personnel who needed to retreat were all retreating.

For a moment, no one noticed the small group of Tomat and his companions, who were also far away from the dragon.

It was during this unnoticed moment that Tomat and Amiya whispered a few words to the people in front of them.

Perhaps their story was too difficult to understand, because they all showed expressions of surprise mixed with confusion. Even Rosemary, who rarely made any expression, tilted her head to one side to show her doubt.

"I'll explain in detail later; just follow what I say."

"Okay, I trust you guys. Just don't cause any major problems."

Thomas didn't explain in detail, but the doctor chose to trust him.

After the Doctor led the others to retreat quickly, and for some reason ordered the combat-capable operators to retreat—Amiya turned around and faced the pitch-black dragon with her small body.

At this moment, the dragon's body seemed to undergo some changes.

Black mist began to emanate from its body, completely enveloping it in an impenetrable darkness.

Those who didn't know what the fog was began to retreat.

Froststar came to Patriot's side, jumped up, sat on his shoulder, and whispered a few words in Patriot's ear. Patriot then led his guerrillas to distance themselves.

Amiya was swallowed by the black mist, but none of the Doctor and the other operators, who were worried, took the initiative to step forward.

Because, apart from the Guard Bureau personnel who retreated due to the black mist, everyone else had the message that Tomat and Amiya had previously conveyed to them—"Do not interfere with Amiya and Talulah's battle."

In the mental world, Amiya assured Talulah that she would not be exploited any longer and would await a proper trial. Until then, she could choose to stay on Rhodes Island.

But that's easier said than done.

Even disregarding the Ursus forces, who may have been lurking in the shadows without sending anyone, the Lungmen rescue team was largely targeting Talulah.

Although maintaining her dragon form would prevent her from being exposed, when Talulah explained in the mental world that she had been transformed by the strange healing device in the sarcophagus, Amiya somehow learned that "a severely injured dragon will gradually return to its previous form."

Amiya has some understanding of the sarcophagus, because she was the one who led the rescue team from the sarcophagus to the Doctor.

In other words, Talulah will soon revert to her well-known face in front of everyone.

In order to fulfill that promise, Amiya must demonstrate enough persuasiveness to convince those present that Talulah would be taken into custody by Rhodes Island.

The strategy discussed in the spiritual world, which Talulah herself agreed to, was "a battle."

Defeat her in front of everyone.

This proves that Amiya—or rather, Rhodes Island—is capable of keeping a close watch on her.

This was Amiya's arbitrary decision, an arbitrary decision made in the name of so-called "justice".

But arbitrary decisions come at a price, and it's not just the lack of understanding from the Doctor and many operators without explanation.

This also includes the risk of being isolated and helpless.

Because Tomat also stated that he would not help Amiya gain persuasiveness by demonstrating his strength to defeat Talulah based on Amiya's personal decisions—this was outside of Tomat's obligations.

Amiya's decision needs to be proven by her own strength, and this battle is not a simple back-and-forth drama, but a "duel" that fully demonstrates her strength.

"Defeat Talulah one-on-one before the people from Lungmen get involved in the battle. If you can do that, and if Lungmen or some other faction is still not satisfied and wants to take her away themselves, then I will take care of them for you."

Tomat also made his own assurances to Amiya.

After all, even if we do that, others may not necessarily accept the outcome, so we can just leave it to him to handle.

Of course, this is all on the premise that Amiya can do it.

The black mist surrounding Amiya was a substance released by Talulah as she gradually disintegrated from her dragon form back into her original body.

Although it won't harm your body, there is still immense pressure involved.

With her resolute voice, she cut through the whistling air around her:

"It takes enough power to impose 'injustice' on others in order to have the right to force them to accept one's own injustice."

"And the same goes for upholding 'fairness,' which requires even greater strength."

The jet-black rings covered with blue stripes on Amiya's ten fingers emitted a powerful light that tore through the darkness.

"Just like you once did, using your immense power to prove you had the ability to lead the infected to inflict the injustices you suffered on others..."

“Talulah, I will stand here and testify to you, to Mr. Thomas, and to everyone here, that I, and Rhodes Island, have the same power to uphold justice!!!”