On the live feed, Nagou, still sporting his whimsical golden lion socks, continued his professional commentary.
"...Currently, the leading vote-getter is Valcas Uhl. It seems the audience is eager to see this elven sinner face redemption."
He adjusted his tone, launching into a brief biography. "Let me introduce you to Mr. Uhl's life story. Born in 1542 at the Emerald Dragon Orphanage, a name many of you might not recognize. However, you may know its modern successor, the Emerald Garden Orphanage, the only dual-prestige orphanage in Kaiman City today."
"For three centuries, Emerald Dragon catered exclusively to elves, admitting no other species. However, following the 1600 enactment of the Racial Equality Orphanage Act, it merged with several others to form the multi-racial Emerald Garden. Since then, it has produced numerous outstanding citizens, boasting a 21% mage development rate. If not for his crimes, Mr. Uhl would undoubtedly be a source of pride for Emerald Garden."
Ash listened, though the phrase "dual-prestige orphanage" left him puzzled. Whatever it meant, it seemed more significant than academic credentials in this world.
In a society where all children were raised collectively, private parenting was outright illegal. Orphanages served as de facto families, and their prestige was akin to nobility.
Ash suspected orphanages had a "selection process." In a world dominated by miraculous mages, it wouldn't be far-fetched to screen infants for innate potential, ensuring only the best entered the most prestigious orphanages.
A superior environment paired with exceptional "baby resources" would create a snowball effect. From birth, these children would pull ahead, widening the gap at every stage of life.
If Ash were an ordinary citizen here, he might feel crushed by the sheer, insurmountable inequality.
As Nagou continued extolling Valcas' illustrious background, Ash noticed the elf's vote count surge by over 10,000.
The realization struck Ash like lightning: This is why Valcas is winning the audience's favor.
"After completing his foundational education, Mr. Uhl attended Atherson Secondary School and later Kaiman City University, earning eleven Silver Degrees in disciplines including Swordsmanship, Artistry, Acoustics, and Earth Magic over thirty years. He was subsequently hired as a professor of biology at Kaiman City University and served as an academic advisor for the Forest Biotech Corporation."
"In 1645, Mr. Uhl was nominated for a Kaiman City council seat but narrowly lost by three votes. One can't help but wonder—if he had been elected, would he have stayed on the righteous path? Or would his ambitions have led him to commit even greater atrocities?"
"In summary, Mr. Uhl was a citizen of exceptional standing, blessed with privilege, education, and societal contributions. Tragically, his lust for power clouded his judgment, leading to unforgivable crimes..."
Nagou's voice turned upbeat.
"Only one minute remains in the voting phase! If you haven't voted, do so now!"
"Every vote earns you redemption points, redeemable for rewards with participating brands. The latest addition to the program is Aether Jewelry, where 30 points can get you a discount voucher!"
"Save up your points for the Blood Moon Lottery during the New Year festivities! Remember, your vote represents justice, your contribution to redemption under the Blood Moon's gaze."
"Thirty seconds left... and—Whoa!"
Nagou gasped as a titanic executioner rose from the ground. Standing seven meters tall, it bore three heads and eight arms, each wielding a different weapon. Its faces displayed pity, rage, and calm, while its body was encased in azure Purgation Flames, forming a blazing suit of armor.
"It's over!" Nagou exclaimed. "Valcas Uhl has received 384,321 votes—over 50% of Kaiman City's electorate! The voting phase ends early, advancing directly to the execution phase!"
"This marks the 23rd time in Kaiman City's history that voting concluded prematurely. Ladies and gentlemen, standing before you is a legendary executioner—a rarity summoned only when one individual garners over half the votes!"
"Behold the Titan Executioner! Representing the Blood Moon's supreme justice, it is the nemesis of evil, the purifier of sin, and the embodiment of righteous wrath. A living nightmare forged by the will of the people!"
CLANG!
When the Titan Executioner opened its six eyes, the sound reverberated like grinding steel.
Its three mouths inhaled deeply, their exhalations creating gale-force winds. The azure flames cloaking its body roared outward, igniting the eight steel wires, transforming them into fiery blue bridges to the central platform.
The overwhelming aura of annihilation and despair sent the remaining inmates cowering at the platform's edges, their fear palpable.
Ash took one look at Valcas and instinctively took a step back.
"Scram," Valcas said coldly, his grip tightening on his sword hilt. "Don't get in my way."
Every fiber of Ash's being screamed at him to run. Valcas and the Titan Executioner were powerhouses—his presence wouldn't make a difference.
But as he glanced down, he noticed something: Valcas' trembling hands.
After a moment, Valcas turned to Ash and sneered. "Pathetic. You're trembling so much you can't even run?"
Ash clutched his own sword, hands shaking so violently that the blade blurred. His teeth chattered as he stammered, "In school, I noticed some classmates who were always alone. No one played with them during breaks, no one partnered with them for projects, no one invited them to sit together on trips... So I made it a point to talk to them, to hang out, to be their partner."
"Virtue signaling," Valcas interrupted with a derisive laugh. "You didn't help them out of kindness. You wanted to feel superior, to bask in the praise of onlookers, to fulfill your need to dominate by pretending to be their savior. You're no better than a slave master—only your chains are called 'friendship.'"
"You're right," Ash admitted with a self-deprecating smile. "I wasn't some saint. I grew up and stopped keeping in touch with most of them. But years later, one of them told me he was grateful. He said if I hadn't been there, he might've stayed isolated forever. Now he's got a girlfriend, they're getting married, and he wants me to be his best man."
Valcas arched an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. "Marriage? Best man?"
"Anyway," Ash said, his voice steadier now, "maybe I'm just feeding my own ego, but let me stay here a bit longer. I'll leave when it gets close."
"Idiotic. Illogical. Pointless. Are you trying to play the 'hero' for the audience, hoping to build a reputation for your next trial?"
Ash's lips quirked into a lopsided grin. "Thanks for the idea. Guess I'll stay until the last second. Don't try to stop me."
Valcas snorted, focusing his attention back on the Titan Executioner.
"Do whatever you want."
Ash tried to smile but was interrupted by a thunderous BOOM.
The Titan Executioner advanced, its colossal steps shaking the ground. Each weapon it wielded shimmered with the glow of four-winged spirits, their sheer presence bending space and distorting time.
Nagou's voice echoed, somehow clear despite the chaos.
"The Titan Executioner is unlike any other," he announced. "It doesn't whip offenders into conscience like the Flayer, nor does it wash away sins with blood like the Blade. It doesn't use nightmares like the Spirit Reaper."
"No, it bestows redemption with unparalleled might. Regardless of gender, strength, or status, it gives every soul the respect of a full effort. It forges eternity in the Blood Moon's name."
Ash looked up to see Valcas already in position, sword drawn, his two wings glowing with resplendent light as his dual-winged spirit danced along the blade.
"Will Valcas Uhl defy fate and create a miracle?" Nagou boomed.
"Or will he kneel before justice, repentant?"
BOOM!
Another quake. This time, fiery red chains shot from the ground, wrenching Ash to his knees.
"What the—!" Ash struggled, but the chains seemed fused with his joints, searing his nerves with every attempt to rise.
"The First Miracle: Earth's Judgment!" Nagou declared. "The Titan's footsteps are the march of justice, answered by the earth itself!"
As Valcas severed his own chains with a swift slash, Ash noticed blades of wind slicing through the air toward Valcas.
Valcas whirled into a dazzling elven sword dance, parrying the invisible assault.
"Why's he getting hit, but I'm not?" Ash wondered aloud.
"The Second Miracle: Sky's Admonition!" Nagou explained. "For those too stubborn to kneel, the heavens will deliver their warnings!"
Ash looked up. The Titan Executioner was only a few steps from the platform. Its towering form, its overwhelming presence, left Ash's mind spinning.
Run, his instincts screamed.
Run?
Ash glanced at the chains binding him and blinked.
Oh no.