Raising My Trash Ability into a Broken SSS+ Rank Skill Chapter 739 The Court

Vritra and his companions were suddenly transported to an all-encompassing black void. Before they could utter a word, a scroll materialized before them.

"What is this now?" Yennefer questioned, hoping the ordeal was finally over.

As Vritra reached out to grasp it, the scroll unfurled by itself, revealing colossal characters legible to all present.

[You have all been summoned to the Court of Higher Beings!!]

[Your trial commences in one hour. Prepare yourselves!]

[Should you fail to secure legal counsel within the allotted time, the court will appoint a representative for you!]

[No disrespect towards the judge will be tolerated. Exercise caution, for a single misstep could cost you more than merely your lives!]

[We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience…]

"What the hell is this? Didn't we win the game? What's going on?" Vritra exclaimed, having anticipated a return to the planet Zoratian.

"Divine, wasn't the condition for resolving this issue simply winning the game? What is happening now?"

There was only one individual who could possibly possess the answers they sought.

"Well, this outcome is somewhat expected. Certain mortals, merely NPCs in the grand scheme according to the gods, have emerged victorious. This represents a significant oversight on their part," Divine explained, then added thoughtfully.

"For the moment, focus on presenting your own defense. Avoid accepting any advocate provided by the court. Begin by detailing how your planet was attacked, and that should suffice."

"Sigh, you'd best hope nothing goes awry." Vritra felt an intensified urge to confront Divine, though he had yet to lay eyes on the person.

"I suppose we have an hour of free time. What did he say?" Vanessa inquired, a hint of concern in her voice.

"…" With another sigh, Vritra recounted Divine's counsel.

It offered little in the way of concrete assistance.

"Don't we require some form of evidence or witnesses?" Diana asked, having had no direct interaction with the gods herself.

However, she was fully cognizant of the gods' cunning nature, knowing they were neither to be trusted nor underestimated.

"There's nothing we can do about it now. Let's proceed there and see how events unfold. The gods might have already foreseen this possibility and disposed of any incriminating evidence," Vritra shrugged.

At this juncture, none of them could access their former strengths.

Their powers as demigods, along with the accumulated cultivation, seemed entirely dormant.

Victory in this trial meant the safety of the Zoratian planet, a significant boost to their own power, and the punishment of the gods.

Conversely, defeat would signify the obliteration of both themselves and their home world.

Here they stood, at a distinct disadvantage, facing adversaries who possessed superior information and were undoubtedly well-prepared.

"It seems they aren't summoning me..." Asmodeus remarked at that precise moment.

As a player, his victory was hardly surprising. Not only was he exempt from attending the court, but he was also slated to receive his prize shortly after the case's conclusion.

Asmodeus had received entirely different communications compared to the others, yet he had grown fond of this group.

Consequently, even winning did not bring him immense joy; instead, his thoughts were consumed by worry for his companions.

"Oh, that's right, I nearly forgot about you," Vritra said, his gaze shifting towards Asmodeus.

"And now we have our witness."

"H- Huh? Me? But I don't know anything..." Asmodeus stammered, bewildered.

"You possess no knowledge regarding the plot to sabotage the Zoratian planet and halt further competition?" Vritra inquired, his brow furrowed. He couldn't fathom this individual being entirely useless, could he?

"I- I don't... The others were engaged in some dubious activities, but I keep to myself and don't associate with their dealings. Therefore, I am unaware," Asmodeus replied timidly.

"Very well, it's acceptable. Simply fabricate the story then," Vritra stated and proceeded to outline the entire narrative.

"Understood, sir! I will give it my best effort!" he declared with newfound conviction.

Their conversation flowed easily, and the hour passed exceptionally quickly. Shortly thereafter, another scroll appeared before them.

[Prepare yourselves. You will be teleported to the Higher Beings' court within the next minute.]

[Remember, every mistake you make will bring you closer to defeat.]

Vritra glanced at the others, who responded with nods.

Just as the designated time neared its end, a question materialized before them.

[Would you like to obtain an advocate from the court?]

"No," Vritra responded unequivocally.

[Very well. Then, make your preparations.]

Moments later, a blinding light enveloped the eleven individuals, causing them to vanish.

In the subsequent instant, they found themselves seated on simple wooden chairs within a vast courtroom.

The eleven occupied the front row's seats, while over a hundred additional chairs were positioned behind them, occupied by beings of diverse races.

The scene bore a striking resemblance to a human court, the sole distinction being the conspicuous absence of any humans.

Adjacent to and in front of the judge's elevated seat stood several figures cloaked entirely in white, their faces completely obscured.

A colossal throne for the trial's judge dominated the room, with two elevated platforms flanking it for each contending party.

Yasmine and her companions directed their gaze across the chamber, observing ten indistinct figures seated on simple wooden chairs.

These were the gods.

"..." Vritra studied them for a prolonged moment. Identifying them as the opposing side in this impending trial proved to be no difficult task.

"Yo gods, how's it hanging?" Vritra projected his voice, fully cognizant of their present inability to act against him.

"..." All ten deities regarded him with a peculiar expression. Though they had been taken aback earlier, their composure had since been fully restored.

"Are you from the planet Zoratian?" one of the gods inquired. However, to Vritra, they all appeared identical. He was incapable of discerning their individual forms.

"Yes, we are," Vritra confirmed with a nod.

"And Divine is backing you?" another god asked, a palpable tension resonating in his tone.

"Divine? The one who perished ages ago? Certainly not. It is one among you who has offered assistance. Did you not believe your camaraderie amongst yourselves was entirely sound?" Vritra remarked, a hint of cynicism in his voice.

"Evidently, one of you harbors a desire to eliminate the others. He even ensured our victory in this trial."

The gods found his words entirely unbelievable, yet the sheer conviction in his voice, coupled with the unfolding events, sowed a seed of uncertainty.

They still suspected Divine's involvement but a sliver of doubt had now entered their minds.

"Silence! All of you, you may rise from your seats. The judge has arrived!!" a commanding voice, deep and resonant, boomed from an individual clad in dark attire.

Every soul within the courtroom ascended to their feet, including the gods and Vritra's contingent.

Despite his earlier displays of confidence, Vritra harbored a degree of apprehension regarding this trial, lacking any intelligence or established support.

Their sole recourse for victory lay in the possibility that Divine had orchestrated preparations beforehand.

Otherwise, confronting the gods, who had meticulously planned their strategy and possessed an unknown number of contingencies, would be an insurmountable challenge.

A profound silence permeated the entire court. Following a few agonizing seconds charged with anticipation, the judge finally made their way towards the opulent throne.

All eyes were drawn to the approaching judge. However, most averted their gaze downward moments later, overcome by a sense of awe and perhaps fear; after all, it was a being of immense power.

Even the gods refrained from any impetuous actions at that moment, bowing in unison as if in subservience to their superiors.

The women within Vritra's group exchanged glances of mild surprise, yet nothing could compare to the astonishment Vritra himself experienced.

The elegantly composed judge took their seat after a subtle gesture indicating they could all be seated. Their eyes, however, immediately sought out Vritra.

For a fleeting instant, a smile graced their lips before a serious demeanor returned, as if they were unfamiliar with anyone present.

'E- Evelyn? What is she doing here? She's the judge!!' Vritra exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief.

Standing prominently before everyone was none other than the captivating Evelyn, whom Vritra had encountered on two prior occasions.

On both those encounters, she had exhibited a rather assertive attitude towards him.

'So, she's aligned with us. Unless she deliberately misled me, which I highly doubt, doesn't that mean we've already secured victory?' Vritra pondered.

'Divine, is she truly on our side?' he asked, seeking absolute confirmation.

"She is," Divine's reply came instantaneously.

Vritra then shifted his gaze towards the ten gods who had recently resumed their seats. They exuded an air of pronounced confidence and arrogance.

Merely from their bearing and subtle movements,

Vritra could sense their gazes, as if they already considered themselves the victors.

"The court hearing shall now commence!" one of the cloaked figures in black announced.

He added, "The legal representatives for both parties are requested to present their respective cases."

The man in black was undertaking this duty after a considerable interval, as such significant cases were infrequent occurrences.

He proceeded with extreme caution, determined to avoid any missteps and meticulously recalling the precise dialogues he was meant to utter.

Representing the gods' side, a being approximately three feet in height, possessing an octopus-like facial structure, and adorned in an eccentric, multi-colored garment, stood up.

He moved away from his seat, casting an arrogant look towards Vritra's party, awaiting the appearance of their legal counsel.

"Greetings, esteemed attendees. I am PetoPhil, the globally renowned and unparalleled advocate. My undertaking of this case today guarantees a predetermined outcome." PetoPhil declared with unwavering self-assurance.

A murmur rippled through the assembly seated in the three hundred chairs, as they began to exchange hushed words amongst themselves.

'Seems like this fellow is quite well-known...' Vritra mused, catching snippets of their conversation, before rising to his feet.

After drawing a deep breath, Vritra stood. His gaze initially settled upon Evelyn, who remained seated with an impassive expression.

Yet, he could distinctly perceive her intense scrutiny.

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