Moxxie stepped forward, his usually meek demeanor replaced by a rare fire of conviction. He adjusted his tie and cleared his throat, his voice trembling slightly but filled with determination. "I can confirm, without a shadow of a doubt, that Crimson deserved everything he got and more."

The murmurs in the courtroom grew louder, but Moxxie pressed on. "My father was a horrible, horrible person. He wasn't just a criminal—he was a monster. He used people, broke them, and then tossed them aside without a second thought. Spawn may have been excessive in some eyes, but I know one thing for certain—if my father had lived, he would've continued to ruin lives. He couldn't be allowed to live."

Charlie placed a reassuring hand on Moxxie's shoulder, her support giving him the strength to finish. "Spawn did what had to be done. I know that better than anyone because I lived under Crimson's shadow my whole life."

Before the angels could interject, Loona stepped forward. Her arms were crossed, her usual aloof expression replaced by a rare seriousness. "I want to add something to that."

The Exorcists turned their gazes toward her, and she didn't flinch. "When we first encountered Spawn, he could've very easily killed all of us. Me, Blitzo, Moxxie, Millie—we were literally sent to take him out, and let's just say we failed. Miserably."

Blitzo grumbled something under his breath, but Loona ignored him, her focus unwavering. "But instead of wiping us out like he easily could have, he showed us mercy. That doesn't sound like someone who's mindlessly violent to me. It sounds like someone who knows exactly when to show restraint."

Lucifer gave Loona a small, approving nod, though he didn't speak. The courtroom grew quiet as Sera turned her gaze to Spawn, her expression unreadable.

Sera called for the next witness, her tone as impartial as ever. "Step forward."

Vaggie's hologram adjusted itself, and she stood straight, smoothing out her skirt before she began. Her expression was calm but resolute, her gaze focused on Sera. "When Spawn—Al—first arrived at the Hazbin Hotel, I'll admit, I was... skeptical. To put it lightly, I thought he was going to be nothing but trouble."

Her voice softened, but the conviction in her tone grew stronger. "But as I got to know him, I realized just how wrong I was. Beneath that hardened, gruff exterior is a man who has endured more pain, loss, and betrayal than most of us could even begin to comprehend."

She paused, glancing at Spawn, whose expression remained stoic, though his eyes briefly met hers. "He doesn't talk about it, but you can see it in everything he does. He carries the weight of his past with him, and yet, he still chooses to fight for what's right. For the people he cares about. For people who can't fight for themselves."

A murmur rippled through the courtroom as Vaggie continued. "Al doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve. He's not the kind of person who's going to tell you how much he cares. But I've seen it. I've seen the way he protects the people at the hotel. How he's willing to sacrifice himself over and over again to keep them safe. And actions speak louder than words. He might not say it, but he cares more than most people I've ever met."

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Spawn has a strength that goes beyond physical power. It's a strength of character. He's not perfect—he's far from it—but he's trying. And I think that deserves to be acknowledged."

As Vaggie's hologram shifted back into place, she glanced at Charlie, who gave her a small, supportive smile. Vaggie crossed her arms, standing firm as the trial continued.

Sera called upon the next witness, "Angel Dust, step forward."

Angel's hologram adjusted, his usual playful smirk replaced with an uncharacteristically serious expression. He adjusted himself, his four arms resting awkwardly at his sides. "Alright, Your Holiness or whatever... guess it's my turn."

He cleared his throat, glancing at Charlie and Vaggie before fixing his gaze on Sera. "So, I'm Angel Dust, in case anyone didn't know. And yeah, I'm the sinner you guys spied on when Charlie came to Heaven for help with her redemption thing. Ring any bells?"

A wave of murmurs rippled through the courtroom, and a faint twitch appeared on Sera's face, though she kept her composure. Lute's gaze narrowed, her lips curling into a subtle grin as if something had just clicked for her.

Angel ignored the murmurs, pressing on. "I wasn't exactly thrilled when Charlie brought Spawn to the hotel. I mean, he's big, scary, and let's be real, not exactly a ray of sunshine." He chuckled dryly. "But then... I saw what he did for me. What he did for all of us."

Angel's voice softened, his usual bravado slipping away. "Valentino had his claws in me for years. He owned me. I thought I'd never get out. But Spawn... he didn't just save me. He tore Val's wings off and made sure I'd never have to deal with him again. He gave me my freedom. Something I never thought I'd have."

He glanced at Spawn, who remained stoic, his piercing gaze fixed on the courtroom floor. "He didn't have to do it. Hell, I don't even know why he did it. But he did. And yeah, maybe he's rough around the edges, and maybe his methods are... intense, but he's got a good heart. Even if he doesn't wanna admit it."

Angel's tone turned firm, a rare moment of vulnerability shining through. "I don't know what you guys are planning to do, but I owe him. We all do. And if you ask me, Heaven could use someone like him."

Lute's grin widened at the mention of Valentino, her sharp eyes glinting with something resembling satisfaction. As Angel returned to his place among the holograms, she leaned slightly toward Sera, though she said nothing for now.

"Thank you for your testimony, Angel Dust," Sera said, her voice calm and measured. "You may step back."

Angel nodded, retreating to his spot and crossing his arms. As he stood there, he noticed the slight smirk on Lute's face and felt a pang of unease. Something about her demeanor didn't sit right with him.

Charlie took a deep breath as Sera called her forward. Her hologram adjusted, showing her standing tall and poised, though her expression carried the weight of everything she had to say. She glanced at Spawn briefly, offering him a small, reassuring smile before she began.

"As many of you may remember, I'm Charlie Morningstar," she said, her voice clear but full of emotion. "And I've had the honor of knowing Al Simmons—Spawn—since he came to the Hazbin Hotel. From the moment he arrived, I could tell he was someone special, even if he didn't believe it himself."

Her hands clasped in front of her as she spoke, her tone growing more heartfelt with every word. "Al isn't just an amazing person; he's a testament to what it means to make progress, to grow, and to change. He's been through things no one should ever have to endure, but he's come out of it not as someone bitter or cruel, but as someone who wants to protect those who can't protect themselves."

Charlie's gaze swept the courtroom, landing on Sera and then the other angels present. "He's saved lives in Hell—actual lives. He's given people hope when they had none. He's stood against corruption and cruelty, even when it wasn't his fight to begin with. And he's done it all because, deep down, he knows what's right."

Sera raised a hand, her expression calm but firm. "Princess Charlotte, I remind you that this trial is about Spawn, not your hotel project."

Charlie stiffened slightly but kept her composure. "With all due respect, perhaps it should be about the hotel," she countered. Her voice was soft but carried an unshakable determination. "Because Al's growth—his progress—didn't happen in isolation. It happened because he was given a chance. Because he had a place where he could feel safe enough to start healing. And that's what the hotel is all about: giving people a chance to show they're more than their worst mistakes."

A murmur rippled through the courtroom. Emily, sitting beside Sera, shot Charlie a supportive look, but Sera quickly shut it down with a sharp glance, silencing the young seraphim.

Charlie pressed on, undeterred. "Al is proof that redemption is possible. That change is possible. And I believe, with everything in me, that he deserves the same chance he's given so many others."

Her voice trembled slightly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, but her conviction remained strong. "If Heaven truly values justice and fairness, then I ask you to see Al for who he really is: not a threat, not a monster, but a man who's done everything in his power to make the world a better place, even when it cost him everything."

She stepped back, her chest rising and falling with the effort it took to keep her emotions in check. Lucifer, standing beside her hologram, placed a hand on her shoulder in silent support.

Sera's gaze lingered on Charlie for a moment, her expression unreadable, before she turned to the court. "Thank you for your testimony, Princess Charlotte. You may step back."

Charlie nodded and returned to her spot, her heart pounding in her chest. Despite Sera's interruptions, she felt she'd said what needed to be said. And as she caught Spawn's gaze once more, she silently hoped her words had made even the smallest impact.

Lucifer stepped forward, his presence commanding the courtroom's attention as if the weight of his testimony would tip the scales entirely. His hologram glowed brighter than the others, a reflection of his celestial origins.

He clasped his hands behind his back and scanned the room, his crimson eyes locking with Sera's as he began to speak. "As you all know, I am Lucifer Morningstar, ruler of Hell and, more importantly, someone who has watched Spawn closely since he arrived in my domain." His voice was smooth yet firm.

"Let's not mince words," he continued, pacing slightly. "Spawn is excessive. He's brutal. He doesn't play by anyone's rules but his own. And, at first glance, that may seem problematic." He paused, letting the murmurs of the angels settle before his voice turned sharper. "But let me remind everyone here that Hell itself is a realm built on chaos and suffering. And despite that, Spawn has done more to bring balance to it than any demon or angel ever has."

Lucifer gestured toward Spawn. "This man has torn down corruption. He's stood against entities like Satan and Mammon—sins who thought they were untouchable. He didn't do it for power, nor did he do it out of malice. He did it because it was the right thing to do. How many, even in this room, can claim the same?"

Sera's face remained stoic, but Lucifer could see the faint flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. He pressed on. "Heaven claims to value justice and fairness. Yet you've summoned Spawn here, a soul already damned to the worst place in existence, to stand trial for doing what you yourselves claim to stand for: protecting the innocent and holding the wicked accountable."

He stopped pacing and faced Sera directly, his gaze unyielding. "Spawn is already in Hell. He's already been subjected to what is supposed to be the worst punishment imaginable. So, I ask you, what crime could he have possibly committed to warrant Heaven taking him from the very place designed to punish the worst of humanity?"

The courtroom was silent, the weight of Lucifer's words hanging heavily in the air.

Lucifer folded his hands in front of him, his tone softening slightly but losing none of its power. "Spawn is not perfect. None of us are, even if you all deny it. But if Heaven truly values what it claims, then it must acknowledge that Spawn's actions—however extreme—have always been for the greater good. And in doing so, he's proven himself worthy of something far greater than judgment."

He stepped back, his hologram dimming slightly as he finished. "That is all I have to say."

Sera's gaze lingered on Lucifer, her expression unreadable. For a moment, the courtroom seemed to hold its collective breath, waiting to see how the high seraphim would respond.

Lute stepped forward, her demeanor sharper and more resolute than before. She cast a glance around the courtroom before turning her gaze to Sera, addressing the assembly with measured precision.

"There is indeed a reason Spawn is here," she began, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "One that makes him not only a threat to Hell's hierarchy but also a genuine risk to Heaven itself."

She gestured toward Spawn, her eyes narrowing. "Since his arrival in Hell, there have been... irregularities. Periodic bursts of divine energy that have been detected across multiple rings. Energy that should be impossible for anyone residing in Hell to produce."

The courtroom erupted in murmurs, the angels visibly unsettled by this revelation. Spawn remained seated, his expression unreadable, though a flicker of understanding crossed his eyes.

Lute pressed on, her voice gaining momentum. "Even Lucifer, a fallen angel and former archangel, is now entirely infernal. Whatever remnants of divinity he once held were stripped from him the moment he fell. Yet here we are, with a mortal soul producing energy that not even Heaven's finest can fully understand."

Sera raised a hand, silencing the murmurs. Her gaze fixed on Lute. "You are certain of this?"

Lute nodded firmly. "We've traced the signatures. They originate from Spawn himself. And while these bursts are infrequent, they are significant enough to disrupt the natural order of both Heaven and Hell."

Emily, seated beside Sera, looked conflicted, her hands gripping the edge of her seat. She glanced at Spawn, who remained calm, though the faintest tension flickered across his features.

Lute turned to face Spawn directly. "This is not just about your actions in Hell. It's about what you are. Something in you defies the very laws that govern the realms. And that is why you are here."

Lucifer stepped forward, his hologram flaring slightly as his presence filled the courtroom. "And what exactly do you intend to do about it?" he asked, his tone deceptively light but carrying an undercurrent of warning.

Lute didn't flinch. "That is for this court to decide."

Spawn finally broke his silence, his voice low but firm. "If you're so worried about what I am, then why didn't you ask me directly instead of dragging me here?"

Lute smirked. "Because actions speak louder than words, Hellspawn. And your very existence is an anomaly that we cannot afford to ignore."

The room fell silent again, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air. All eyes turned to Sera, who leaned forward, her expression contemplative.

Lute strode forward, her presence dominating the courtroom. Her sharp gaze fixed on the projection of Angel Dust, then shifted to Spawn himself.

"Let's address the testimony regarding Angel Dust," Lute began, her voice crisp and authoritative. "It was stated that Spawn not only defeated Valentino but also nullified the contract binding Angel's soul to him. While I personally take no stance on the morality of soul contracts, there is a fact we cannot ignore: Angel Dust sold his soul. By the very laws of nature and the balance of realms, only Valentino himself—or a higher power—could have released him from that contract."

She gestured toward Spawn, her expression cold. "And yet, somehow, you managed to do it. A mortal soul. A being who, by all accounts, should have no access to the power needed to override such a binding."

The murmurs in the courtroom grew louder, the angels exchanging uneasy glances.

Spawn remained silent, his expression unreadable, but his fists clenched tightly behind his back.

Lute pressed on, her voice rising with accusation. "This brings us to the question no one here seems willing to ask: how did you do it? What power did you wield to break those bonds? Because it wasn't infernal, and it certainly wasn't something natural to mortals."

She began pacing, her wings flicking with agitation. "Divine energy has been detected emanating from you, Hellspawn. A mortal soul should not have access to it, not without intervention from forces far beyond their station. So I ask you now..."

Lute turned sharply, pointing an accusing finger at Spawn. "What deal did you make? What force far darker than even Hell itself did you bargain with? Because the only explanation is that this divine energy was stolen. Stolen from Heaven itself."

The courtroom erupted into chaos, angels murmuring, some horrified, others intrigued.

Charlie stepped forward, her projection shimmering as she spoke. "That's ridiculous! Al didn't make any kind of deal. If you'd seen his past like we have, you'd know that everything he's done has been his choice, his fight!"

Lute smirked, her eyes narrowing on Charlie. "And you expect us to take the word of a princess of Hell?"

Charlie's jaw tightened, but before she could respond, Lucifer raised a hand to silence her. His gaze locked onto Lute, cold and calculating. "You seem awfully certain of your assumptions, Exorcist. But unless you have actual evidence of Spawn making a deal with some nefarious force, you're grasping at straws. Not to mention, that is a more damning accusation againat yourselves than it ks against Spawn."

Sera, who had been watching silently, raised a hand to calm the room. Her voice cut through the noise like a blade. "Enough. These accusations are serious, but speculation is not proof. If Spawn has indeed stolen divine energy or made a deal with something beyond our understanding, it will come to light during this trial. For now, we proceed."

Lute's lips pressed into a thin line, but she stepped back, her wings twitching with frustration. Spawn remained silent, his gaze unwavering, though his mind churned with thoughts of how to handle the growing storm around him.

The courtroom fell into a heavy silence as Sera fixed her piercing gaze on Spawn. "Do you deny it?" she asked, her voice calm but with an edge that demanded absolute truth. "Do you deny that you, a sinner, are using divine energy?"

All eyes turned to Spawn. For a moment, he remained silent, his expression unreadable. The angels watched with baited breath, while Charlie, Vaggie, and the others in the projection tensed, clearly concerned about what his answer might mean.

Finally, Spawn spoke, his voice steady and firm. "No," he said simply. "I don't deny it."

Gasps rippled through the courtroom, and the murmurs started again, louder this time. Angels exchanged alarmed glances, and some looked outright horrified.

Emily, standing off to the side, stepped forward. "I highly doubt Spawn would make any kind of deal," she interjected, her voice clear and confident. "From everything I've seen and heard, he's not someone who trusts easily. He prefers to spend his time alone, relying on himself. I've spoken to him, and nothing about him suggests he would willingly align himself with anything dark—or anyone."

The room quieted slightly, Emily's words carrying weight among the angels present.

But Sera raised a hand, her gaze narrowing as she addressed Emily. "Your observations are noted, Emily, but this is not about Spawn's personality or preferences. Regardless of how he obtained the divine energy, the fact remains that a sinner wields it. That alone is a violation of the natural order."

She turned her attention back to Spawn. "You admit it, then. Divine energy flows within you, despite your soul belonging to Hell. This is unprecedented, dangerous, and unacceptable."

Spawn met her gaze without flinching. "I never asked for it," he said. "I never wanted it. But it's there, and I've used it to survive and protect people who couldn't protect themselves only when i absolutely needed to. If that's a problem, then so be it."

Charlie's hologram stepped forward, her voice desperate but resolute. "You can't punish someone just for having something they never asked for! Al didn't steal divine energy or use it for evil. He's done nothing but good with it, even in the worst circumstances."

Sera's expression didn't change. "That is not the point, Princess. This is about the balance of realms, about the sanctity of Heaven's gifts. A mortal soul cannot wield divine energy without consequences. It is an affront to everything Heaven stands for."

Lucifer, calm but dangerous, spoke next. "Careful with your words, Sera. Heaven's sanctity has been tarnished plenty on its own over the millennia. Don't act as if Spawn is the first disruption to your so-called balance."

The tension in the room was palpable, the lines between allies and enemies growing blurrier by the moment.

Charlie stepped forward, her holographic projection shimmering as she raised her voice. "It shouldn't matter how he obtained the energy," she said passionately, looking directly at Sera. "The only thing that should matter is how he used it. Al has done nothing but protect the vulnerable and bring justice to those who've done wrong. Isn't that what Heaven is supposed to stand for?"

Sera's expression remained unyielding. "That is not how rules and laws work, Princess Charlotte," she said coolly. "Justice must be blind and deaf. Rules and laws are the foundation of order, and they must apply equally to all, regardless of intention or circumstance. Anything less would be chaos."

The courtroom fell silent, and for a moment, nothing happened. Then, from Spawn's direction, a low, dark laugh echoed through the room.

The sound was chilling, unnerving even the most steadfast angels. It wasn't loud, but it carried a weight that made everyone in the room freeze. It was a laugh devoid of humor, filled instead with bitter contempt.

Spawn slowly rose to his feet, his chains rattling as he turned his gaze toward Sera. "Justice," he said, his voice dripping with scorn. "You want to talk about justice?" He took a step forward, the chains around his wrists burning against his necroplasmic flesh, but he ignored the pain.

"You have no room to preach about justice," Spawn continued, his tone sharp and cutting. "Not when you're destroying mortal souls in your so-called exterminations. Not when you threatened Hellborn—souls who are already damned—just to get me here. And now, you want to sit there, on your high pedestal, and act as if you're the beacon of righteousness?"

Sera's eyes narrowed, but she said nothing, letting him speak.

"You don't care about justice," Spawn spat. "You care about control. About keeping your hands clean while you let others do your dirty work. You're no better than the demons you claim to be above. At least they don't hide what they are behind pretty words and shining lights."

The courtroom was deathly quiet, every angel and holographic figure stunned by the sheer venom in his voice. Even Lucifer, who had seen countless beings challenge Heaven before, seemed intrigued by the raw emotion Spawn was displaying.

"You think I'm the problem?" Spawn continued, his voice lowering but no less intense. "You think I'm a threat because I have power you can't control? You're afraid of me, not because of what I've done, but because I don't fit into your neat little system. Admit it."

The silence was suffocating, and Sera's expression remained stoic, though there was a flicker of something—discomfort, perhaps—in her gaze.

Charlie, still shaken by Spawn's words but emboldened by his conviction, stepped forward again. "Al is right," she said, her voice trembling slightly but gaining strength. "Heaven isn't perfect. None of us are. But if you punish him for something he didn't ask for, something he's only used to protect others, then what does that say about you?"

Sera's gaze was piercing as she leaned forward slightly from her high seat, her expression unreadable. "You seem to be a very opinionated man, Spawn," she said, her voice smooth but with an edge of challenge. "You hold your views in high regard. You question our system, our rules, our justice. If you're so certain of your perspective, then tell me this—what is your standard? What makes you qualified to stand here and judge us? If you are so sure of your views, surely you can give us an example of how things should be."

The courtroom fell silent once more as all eyes turned to Spawn. His chains rattled as he shifted slightly, but his gaze remained steady. He didn't flinch, didn't falter under the weight of her words or the eyes of every angel in the room. Instead, he took a step forward, his voice calm but filled with conviction.

"It's not complicated," Spawn said, his tone cutting through the tension like a blade. "The only thing that truly matters—whether you're mortal, angel, or demon—is the reason you wield power. Not the power itself, not the laws, not the systems you create to justify it. What you use it for, what drives you to act—that's what matters. Because at the end of the day, no one's going to remember how many rules you followed or how many laws you upheld."

He paused, letting his words sink in before delivering the final blow. "They'll remember one thing: how you loved. That's it. That's the only thing worth anything in the end."

The room seemed to hold its breath. Even Sera, unshakable as she was, appeared taken aback by the simplicity of his answer. It wasn't lofty or grandiose. It wasn't wrapped in rhetoric or veiled in ambiguity. It was a truth so simple, so raw, that no one in the courtroom could argue against it.

Charlie's hologram stood straighter, her eyes shining with emotion as she looked at Spawn. Vaggie glanced at her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, while even Lucifer's smirk softened into something more contemplative.

Emily, sitting beside Sera, looked down at her hands, her expression conflicted. She whispered something under her breath, but it was too quiet for anyone else to hear.

For a moment, the courtroom was silent, filled only with the unspoken weight of Spawn's words. Then Sera, her expression unreadable, leaned back in her seat. "A noble sentiment," she said quietly, though her tone carried no mockery.

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