Part 99: The Zodiac Trial Ends...?

[BGM: See No Evil]


With a game plan, everybody split up and input their moves. We came back and watched the display on the screen track our progress. We then began discussing how we'd split up to look for the Trinkets. I was listening to the group, when I heard something.

I'm thinking about checking out the training room. I saw it beforehand, and I think there might be a Trinket there.

A training room? By the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I think he's got it!

A Trinket's definitely hidden there. A shame I'm already accounted for in another group.

Believe me, it's no shame at all. I don't want you to come with me. And would you quit snapping your fingers like that? You don't possess the rhythm for it to be cool.

Uh, actually, could I join you Horse?



I don't know why, but when I heard about the training room, something clicked in my brain. I felt... that it was definitely the right choice to make. So I decided to go with Horse. Sheep also tagged along, and sure enough, we were able to find something! It turned out to be a Major Trinket that didn't seem particularly useful. After that, we reconvened in the cafeteria at the end of the round.

We discussed where else to look, and when Bunny and Monkey discussed searching the third floor, I got a similar good feeling about it. So I ended up exploring a forum with Dog and Bunny, and eventually found a Major Trinket that could act like a Minor Trinket. Score! However, at the end of the third round we were presented with more of a problem.

The Jade Emperor came on the screen and introduced a bullshit new rule that affected the person with the Accomplished personality as well as the one with the Weak personality. It set them up to have motives completely incompatible with the group. For a while, everyone was panicking, thinking that at least two people would have to die! However, I realized that if we combined the two Major Trinkets that I had previously found, we'd be able to save those affected by the twist! After proposing this idea to the group, everybody rejoiced, sure that I had solved Brian's puzzle. I'm not going to lie, hearing all that praise made me feel pretty good. But there were more important issues to attend to. We couldn't feel safe until we were out of the building. Ox and Sheep admitted to having the aforementioned personalities, and using the Trinkets we were able to save them. With that matter settled, we could once again focus on searching for Minor Trinkets.

It took some doing, but before long we had collected 11! Combining that with my ability, we'd be able to escape in two rounds! The first round of using the Trinkets, things went off without a hitch.

[BGM: That Pesky Rodent]


However, as I entered a room to input my actions the second time, the speakers kicked on.

Well, are you happy Mouse? Happy that you were all able to band together, to finish things without any casualties?

I imagine you aren't.

You think so little of me. Mouse, you must understand, this too was an outcome I intended to be possible. Granted, I didn't think it likely. Still, it was always on the table.

If you all were truly innocent of heart, you wouldn't be easily swayed by my words. You'd be calm, rational, work as a group, and evade the traps set for you.

The Jade Emperor talked a big game, but his annoyed tapping on a nearby table belied his anger.

And we did just that. Doesn't that prove you wrong – prove that you going through all this trouble was for nothing?

...Perhaps.



However, I wonder how many times you would've had to fail before you could get a success like this.

Had to fail? The hell does that mean?

Had this outcome been the result of a cosmic dice roll, I was just wondering how many times God would have to roll those dice to see something like this. I imagine... quite a few times. I imagine, more often than not, your sin would doom you.

Sounds like a lot of bullshit coming from a sore loser. I don't know how little you think of us, but I know for sure that no matter how many times you'd put us through this, we'd always band together.

If you say so.

You can only act smug for so long, Brian. Soon enough, we're gonna be out of this place, and then you're going to jail for a long time.

Indeed. I imagine the police won't look too favorably on all of this.



My only regret is that I won't be able to land a punch on your face myself.

You know, if you really want to, I'll let you.

What do you mean?

Outside the school, there's a football field. There's a small building right beside the fence surrounding that field. I've been using that as my base of operations. So if you want to come find me – to get justice yourself – that's where I'll be.

And you're telling me this because...

Think of it as a reward for a perfect victory. You can punch me in your father's absence. Although, I doubt he'd say this was the correct form of justice. Still... it'd be a shame if you never got a chance to take vengeance for yourself before the police arrive.

Being able to see this asshole face to face... Like before, something felt right about this suggestion.

[BGM: Silence]


You know what? I think I'll do just that. I'm gonna knock you flat on your ass when this is all over.

I look forward to it.

And just like that, the speaker went dead. Feeling oddly good about the encounter, I exited the room. Soon after that, I saw Dragon angrily dragging Snake down the hallway. As I wondered what that might be about, I noticed Dog also following after them. But before I could think too much about that, Bunny called out.

[BGM: Friendly Bunny]


Everybody, everybody, gather around here right now! Let's all get together now!

In an instant, he got the attention of the crowd. Before I knew it, people off on their own or even in separate classrooms were standing in a group in the cafeteria. Everyone was gathered except for Dragon, Snake, and Dog.

Alright, alright, we hear you. Lemme guess, you wanna make a big ol' heroic speech about how we did it, and we worked together.

That's not exac–

Well guess what, fucko, you don't get to make that speech – I do.

Now I know some of you might be wondering if I have the credentials to handle such a task.

I assure you, we are not.

Well, turns out I've made such a speech in a number of my films.

A number of films I shall now completely list off in order of release date, accompanied with a brief summary of the flick as well as a quote from both the coolest and dumbest review of said film. To begin–



I think everyone is willing to cede the floor to you on this one.

Why thank you, Monkey! I'm glad I've inspired so much faith in you. Gosh, to think I wouldn't even need to list my bona fides, well, it brings a te–

Just get on with it!!

Wow, even Sheep was beginning to heckle.

Get on with what?

The speech!!

The speech? Right here, right now?

You wanted to give it, didn't you? You stole the job from Bunny!

I wasn't even going to make a speech.



Alright, alright, if you insist Pig.

Gosh, and I didn't even prepare anything.

So, uh, I guess I'll freestyle.

Right, okay. Here we go. Speech time.

*ahem*

…

…

The plight of black people in A–

Round 9 has ended.

Oh thank god.

[BGM: Silence]


Now, let us see how the race has progressed.

The Rat has hitched a SNEAKY RIDE on Ox.

The Ox has used a minor trinket. The Ox has moved to the finish line. Thanks to the SNEAKY RIDE, The Rat also moves to the finish line.

The Tiger has used a minor trinket. The Tiger has moved to the finish line.

The Bunny has used a minor trinket. The Bunny has moved to the finish line.

The Dragon has used a minor trinket. The Dragon has moved to the finish line.

The Snake has used a minor trinket. The Snake has moved to the finish line.

The Horse has used a minor trinket. The Horse has moved to the finish line.

The Sheep has used a minor trinket. The Sheep has moved to the finish line.

The Monkey has used a minor trinket. The Monkey has moved to the finish line.

The Rooster has used a minor trinket. The Rooster has moved to the finish line.

The Dog has used a minor trinket. The Dog has moved to the finish line.

The Pig has used a minor trinket. The Pig has moved to the finish line.



The finish line has been crossed. The winners are Mouse, Ox, Tiger, Bunny, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Congratulations! Anyone who has not won has lost. Prepare for execution.

Those ending lines hardly seemed apt. After all, we had all made it through just fine. I heard the click of my necklace coming undone.

That's...

We did it!

Yeah! We did it!

As people began to remove their necklaces, a sense of achievement and celebration spread through the group. The feeling was infectious. After all, we were home free! Once that thing got off your neck, there was no imminent danger! The sheer weight these necklaces had may have been lost on us. Not the physical weight, but the weight of knowing that at any moment, you may just die. The scene in front of me was a very comforting one. A pleasant one.

[BGM: The Undying]


But one I couldn't indulge in. Because I remembered I had already made other arrangements. And I didn't want to keep a certain someone waiting. Before someone could notice, I slipped away from the group. I made my way to the entrance of the school. Or, rather, the exit. I grabbed the doorknob and pulled. I expected that it would be locked. However, to my surprise, I was able to open the door quite easily. I suppose the collars on our neck were the real deterrent to leaving the building.

As I walked outside, I could once again feel the sun on my skin. I could breathe fresh air. I was free. I could run straight back home. That's what I'd normally be thinking. However, none of those thoughts crossed my mind. Instead, I had a single goal in mind. Now... where did Brian say he was? I looked around, and soon enough, I saw the small building by the football field he was referring to. I strode towards it, confidently.

There was some part of me, some bit in the back of my mind, which questioned why I felt so sure that this was a good idea. But that part wasn't louder than the part driving me forwards to punch a brat in the face. As I gripped the doorknob, I felt confident. So I began to open the door. However, as I pulled, I felt some weird resistance. Huh? My eyes darted downwards. Was... that a wire in the door crack?

However, right as I noticed that detail...

*bzzzt!!!*



I felt a deep shock to my back. Before I could even open the door more than a crack, I collapsed to the ground. Wh... what was this? As my vision began to fade, I looked up, trying to see who my attacker was. I expected to see Brian, smirking, gloating that he had lured me into his trap. But instead, I found myself staring at an entirely separate face.

An unexpected face.

What... are you doing... here?

That's all I could get out before passing out.

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