[i]Without warning, Monokoma popped up in front of everybody. "Welcome, welcome, one and all! I'm so glad to see you all, safe, sound... and on time, too! I couldn't be more proud as your counselor. It really brings a tear to my eye..." Monokuma shared with all of his campers, wiping some moisture off of his black dot. "Ah, but this isn't the time to get sentimental... You're probably wondering something like- 'There's no way the class trial is gonna be held in a place this!' right? Puhuhu... Please stand back, campers." Fire. When Monokuma finished speaking, the bonfire lit up its flames- flames that seemed to reach the heavens themselves. The forest didn't catch the blazing fury, luckily, but the scorching heat could nevertheless be felt by those standing around- even when they were the furthest from the raging inferno. The ground was shaking as something heavy, something incredibly large was coming up. The quakes got weaker at the same time the flames calmed, with the latter coiling around that certain something that almost finished rising up from the floor. The flames circled around it, danced without a care in the world. Then, as sudden as it began, the inferno scattered to the wind. Some of the campers felt a light shock wave hit them, fluttering their clothes. A large cross-wired box stood in front of them, like a cage they'd use to lower dangerous animals into an underground combat arena. "How's that for a show?! Well now campers, this elevator will take all of you to the courtroom. Those who don't come will be punished accordingly, of course. Well, I'll see you there then... Puhuhu!" With those words, Monokuma vanished again, and the mechanisms of the elevator started to creak. Its large and imposing door slid open with a heavy amount of noise, welcoming its combatants. It sure looked sturdy enough. Everyone stole brief glances from one another, some chatter erupted soon after. Doubts crept across everyone's minds, some shared it in the open. In the end, however, one by one, the sheep entered their pen. The prisoner's cage shut behind them when the last one stepped inside, and the mechanisms to carry [url=https://i.imgur.com/JubtODx.png]the lot[/url] down spun to life not long after. The atmosphere was palpable. Everyone on edge. Nobody dared talk to each-other. Maybe it was a sign of respect- or of fear. Suspicion over belief, or the other way around. No matter the case, one among them was a murderer. The corpse of Naomi was still fresh on everyone's minds. It weighed on them as the elevator sunk lower and lower and lower. To impossible depths- those that felt akin to being lowered into hell itself. Even then, the ride felt like it lasted much longer than the eternal punishment that would await one there. The next time the doors would open, it would reveal a courtroom. Fitted with 16 seats, each marked, one a portrait, nothing was left to the imagination. Torches lined the walls, walls which fashioned themselves to look like a mix of limestone and marble. Attached to them was a tribune, albeit an empty one, the fashion that of an old Roman amphitheatre. Monokuma fancied himself the emperor's seat, towering over his subjects. Everyone walked out the elevator, one by one one. [url=https://i.imgur.com/oWvAM2j.png]And then each student took their stand.[/url][/i] [center][b]Chapter 1: Once Again We Start the Game of Despair Deadly Life - End[/b][/center][i] [center][h2][b]CLASS TRIAL IN SESSION - [color=#FF171B]ALL RISE![/color][/b][/h2][/center][hr][/i][hr] [center][i]-Monokuma's opening statement-[/i][/center] "Ahem! Let's begin with a basic explanation of the class trial. In the class trial, you will each present your arguments for who you think the culprit is, and then vote for 'whoddunit.' If you vote correctly, only the blackened will be punished. But if you pick the [i]wrong[/i] person... I'll punish everyone [b][i]besides[/i][/b] the blackened, and that person will be able to return home from camp! Don't even think about not voting at the end! I'd hate having to punish one of you guys! Now then campers, let's get this exciting, heart-pounding trial started!"