Supreme Warlock System : From Zero to Ultimate With My Wives-Chapter 157: Scapegoat

Warlock Ch 157. Scapegoat

Aria's gaze hardened, her hands gripping the edge of the table in front of her. "You think we're hiding? You think we haven't fought to maintain balance? You've seen the sacrifices we've made. But you—" She gestured toward him, her voice rising slightly. "You decided to take it all into your own hands, as if you're above the rest of us. As if the rules don't apply to you."

"The rules are what got us here in the first place," Damian retorted, his voice sharp. "The demon king was a threat you weren't willing to face. I was. And now, because of me, he's gone."

"And replaced by you," another tribunal member interjected, his voice dripping with disdain. "A self-proclaimed demon king with the power to destroy us all. Tell me, Kaelan—what makes you different from the monster you defeated?"

"I'm here," Damian replied, his tone cold. "Standing in front of you, answering your questions. I didn't hide. I didn't run. That's what makes me different."

The murmurs in the room swelled again, a mix of fear, anger, and uncertainty rippling through the crowd. Damian stood tall, refusing to flinch under their scrutiny. He could feel their judgment, their hatred, but he wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing him falter.

"Enough," Aria said, her voice cutting through the noise. The room fell silent once more as she straightened in her seat, her gaze locked onto Damian's. "You've made your position clear. But your words don't erase the damage you've done."

Damian's lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes never leaving hers. "I never expected them to."

Aria's jaw tightened, her gaze searching his as if trying to find some trace of the man she once knew. "Then you leave us no choice," she said, her voice heavy with finality. "The tribunal will deliberate. Until then, you are to be detained and your powers suppressed."

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The words hit like a blow, but Damian didn't flinch. He nodded once, his expression unreadable. "Do what you need to."

Guards stepped forward, their hands glowing with the faint shimmer of suppression spells. Their eyes trained on him as if he were a caged beast ready to pounce. The energy in the room shifted, growing heavier with anticipation as the tribunal members watched from their elevated seats.

Damian stood perfectly still. He felt the hum of their magic as they approached, the suppression spells swirling with intent, ready to lock down his power.

One of the guards, a tall elf with sharp features, reached out first. His fingers brushed against Damian's arm, the suppression spell flaring to life in a bright burst of blue. For a moment, the air seemed to crackle with energy, the spell wrapping around Damian like chains.

But then, without warning, the spell shattered.

The blue light flickered, then burst apart in a shockwave that sent the elf guard flying backward. He hit the ground hard, skidding across the polished floor as gasps echoed through the courtroom. The other guards froze, their eyes widening in disbelief.

Damian tilted his head, a slow, deliberate smirk spreading across his lips. "What's the matter?" he drawled, his tone dripping with mockery. "You can't even manage a basic suppression spell? I thought you were professionals."

The room fell into stunned silence. The remaining guards exchanged uneasy glances, their confidence clearly shaken. But they pressed forward, their hands glowing brighter as they cast stronger suppression spells, layering them one over another in an attempt to overwhelm him.

Damian didn't move. He didn't lift a finger. He didn't need to.

The spells hit him in unison, their magic shimmering and sparking as they tried to take hold. But every time, the result was the same. The spells fractured and broke, their energy rebounding in bursts that sent the guards staggering back.

One by one, the guards fell. Some were thrown across the room by the force of the broken spells; others simply collapsed, their energy drained from the futile effort. Damian stood in the center of the chaos, his smirk growing wider, more dangerous.

"Is that all you've got?" he said, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "I expected more from the so-called elite."

The tribunal members stirred, their expressions a mix of shock and anger. Aria was the first to rise, her hand gripping the edge of the table as she glared down at him. "Enough," she said sharply, her voice carrying the weight of authority. "Guards, fall back."

"But, Lady Aria—" one of the guards began, his voice trembling.

"I said fall back," Aria repeated, her tone leaving no room for argument.

The remaining guards hesitated, then retreated, their expressions pale and shaken. Damian watched them go, his smirk never faltering. He could feel the eyes of the entire courtroom on him.

Aria stepped forward, her gaze locked onto his. "You think this is a game, Kaelan? You think this display of power proves anything?"

"It proves plenty," Damian said, his voice calm but laced with an edge of amusement. "It proves that none of you can stop me."

Her jaw tightened, her hands glowing faintly as she summoned her own magic. "You underestimate us."

"I don't underestimate anything," Damian replied, his smirk fading into a cold, calculating expression. "I'm simply stating the obvious. You're all afraid. Afraid of what I've become. Afraid that you can't control me."

At that, the other tribunal members stood, their magic flaring to life in a dazzling array of colors and energies. They cast a suppression spell, their combined power creating a storm of magic that surged toward Damian with a force that made the walls of the courtroom tremble.

The spells hit him, their energy swirling and twisting around him. For a moment, it seemed as though they might succeed. The air crackled with the intensity of their magic, the light blinding as the spells tightened around him.

And then, just as suddenly, they shattered.

The energy exploded outward, a shockwave rippling through the room that knocked the tribunal members back into their seats. The gathered mages and senators cried out, shielding themselves from the blast as Damian remained standing in the center, untouched.