Shattering Humanity-Chapter 413: "...That Same Pain..."

"The children of Israel were fruitful and swarmed and increased and became very very strong, and the land became filled with them.

A new king arose over Egypt, who did not know about Joseph.

He said to his people, "Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more numerous and stronger than we are.

Get ready, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they increase, and a war befall us, and they join our enemies and wage war against us and depart from the land."

So they appointed over them tax collectors to afflict them with their burdens, and they built store cities for Pharaoh, namely Pithom and Raamses.

But as much as they would afflict them, so did they multiply and so did they gain strength, and they were disgusted because of the children of Israel.

So the Egyptians enslaved the children of Israel with back breaking labor." -Shemot 6-13

_________________________

The smirk of satisfaction fades from MamMon’s face after a while of not getting an answer, until...

Vegetius: "Fuhgg...You..."

A smile clear from the indents behind his soft cloth facemask, Vegetius looks up and gets to a knee.

Raising a hand up to his face, he grips the cloth. Breathing the fresh, clean air as he reveals his lower face.

Vegetius: "No matter how much you flaunt your powers in front of someone like me...

Or front run against someone as weak as myself...

It just provides me with confidence knowing, when you finally get confronted by my Goddess, I trust she’ll know how to overcome what I’m unable to comprehend, and you will lose."

The smile slowly returns to the DæMon’s face and she unsuccessfully tries to hide it behind her hand.

MamMon DæMon(thinking): *So you did send your most valuable soldier, little cousin.*

She watches the unmasked, 6’1"(~2m) tall and 200lb(91kg) 16 year old get back on his feet.

His combat boots kicking the rubble to the rocky surface he’s standing on.

Vegetius: "I know this might sound bizarre coming from me, since we’re supposed to be enemies and all, but I actually want to thank you, Ma’am.

For some reason, I’ve been avoiding this feeling. I can sense the same reasoning from this experience with you, as when I train daily with my prophetess."

Raising an eyebrow, MamMon is slightly surprised from the gratitude being vocalized by the man who hadn’t yet tried to communicate before this moment.

MamMon DæMon: "I am a talent scout, young man. If I notice value in your life, I see it more beneficial for myself to beat others into submission with tough love, than waste that talent, killing the reluctant.

Truthfully, I am not the one who you should be cautious of."

Vegetius’ eyes narrow in suspicion to the words of this witch.

Vegetius: "Didn’t you claim to be the strongest on this island?

Which is it?

Are you really the Top Dog?"

He waits for a response, but to his chagrin the after image of MamMon DæMon vanishes and before he can try to process what he saw, a flying kick lands perfectly on the wide open temple of the soldier.

The force from the kick cracks the man’s skull and Vegetius goes skipping across the Mindscape terrain. Finally having his momentum stopped by creating a crater in the side of a small cliff side.

Walking through the dust, MamMon struts slowly towards the head damaged man trying to get his blurry vision straightened out.

MamMon DæMon: "Don’t get it confused, my maximum strength and experience are enough to accomplish any goal, but any true warrior must be aware that the universal ’plot’ happens from time to time.

Just like your own ’Goddess’, I have lived a confused, anguish, and question filled existence.

Like...

Why am I alive in this universe that clearly dictates I shouldn’t belong, based solely on my conception?

Why do I have abilities and strengths that can only be explained as an otherwise ’fictional’ magic source?

Who chose me to be the strongest of my immediate peers, and now that I’m forced to outlive all those I once found solidarity in, do I really want to continue at all?"

The comparison to upbringings and out loud questioning awkwardly flies over the injured and dazed Vegetius. Holding his head as he slides out of the small vertical crater, his legs staggering upon landing.

Vegetius: "Wh-

Happ-"

From his reaction, MamMon realizes her mind straying away from the original train of thought and releases a hearty belly laugh.

With nobody else, other than the half aware "teenage" soldier there to hear it, the Scandinavian witch gets a good 10 seconds of pure, unfiltered, uninterrupted bliss from her own thoughts of empathy.

After she regains her composure and wipes the laughing tears from the corners of her eyes, the DæMon with her SanguineSoulSeiõrShield still active looks at the barely recovered, seriously injured Vegetius.

In the open space background behind him, a meteor shower is redirected and pulled in by a star’s gravitational force.

MamMon DæMon: "Hm, you’re still alive?Well congratulations, young man.

You have successfully passed my first test.

Be proud.

In all honesty I thought you would crack with no integrity left, but that Sheriff of your’s has you hooked for good.

But now that you’ve gotten up from 25% of my total power, I guess you’re worthy enough to wander the rest of my island."

Half his sight unavailable due to a swollen left eye. A bleeding cut also over the left side of his face.

Vegetius: "...’First test’?

What the Hell do you mean?

You said if I-"

Interrupting him, the fast and nimble woman puts a hand over the losing fighter’s mouth and pushes him back into the small cliff side he fall from.

His head hits the stone and the only blue eye available goes blurry once again and the ringing overcomes everything until MamMon’s voice fades in.

Her cold blooded stare only a few centimeters from his face.

MamMon DæMon: "I said, ’If you managed to push me off that ledge or force me to retake any more ground than what was under my toes, I would submit to your leadership and release your bubble friend’."

Grabbing his wrist, MamMon brings his hand up slowly. Vegetius’ SoulSeiõrShield flickers and the surrounding area becomes mildly distorted.

MamMon DæMon: "And from where I’m standing..."

She deactivates her SanguineSoulSeiõrShield first, completely changing the surrounding scenery back to the Southern ledge of Kami Island.

It’s as if the physical bodies of MamMon DæMon and Vegetius hadn’t moved anymore in their duration within the Mindscape after their initial connection.

As proof, Vegetius’ facemask is still over the male soldier’s nose and mouth, like he hadn’t taken it off at all. The damage to his face and eye is also gone.

The urbane woman with the strength of over 100 men uses her left hand to pull in the off guard fighter.

As if he were weightless, the blonde DæMon has the half conscious man held over the edge by his wrist, dangling him above the sure death waters.

MamMon DæMon: "... You’ll never win at this game, Boy.

So I might as well give you a few more trials, ’Hercules’.

Because you got nothing better to do while your ’Goddess’ fights Skalmönd."

[Tomodachi Beach Shores]

Both the women’s eyes widen and without warning Shelly deflects a bullet with her Seax.

She looks over her raised arm at the wheelhouse door, where the Captain of the ship has fired his personal weapon, not the equally surprised 2nd in command.

Captain: "Get away from my ship, you demon."

Shelly lowers her arm slowly, and the sound of weapons being cocked all around her echoes over the water.

Multiple barrels from multiple types of weapons, and from the gunships are pointing directly at the air floating female.

Unintimidated by the threat Shelly looks left to right and then back down at her main enemy, the scowling Sheriff.

Jesse James: "You have our answer.

Now’s the chance to surrender, or you can go say your goodbyes to your friends.

The choice is yours."

She waves off the guns and artillery, making the barrels turn away.

Keeping her Above Sanpaku stare on her lower elevated enemy, Shelly hears her allies communicating through Katsu’s ability.

Katsu(telepathy): *Get out of there, Shelly!

It’s a waste of time trying to get them to stop all this.*

Daisuki(telepathy): *He’s right, Sweetheart. Each side has been involved because of unfortunate circumstances, but the pride of millions is on the line for them.

From their perspective, if they run from the ’terrorists’ here, where is their any safety for them to return to?*

The First-Mate, who was skeptical of the trust he should have in the Sheriff, is amazed by the sudden response and trust exemplified by the rest of their military brothers and sisters.

The young man stares at the back of his unelected leader.

First-Mate(thinking): *Am I the last one to still doubt her?*

He turns to his Captain, the only one aiming his pistol in defense of his watercraft and crew.

First-Mate(thinking): *You really do know how to make quick and secretly helpful decisions, Old Man.*

He then looks around at all the soldiers on boats who were unsure of all the dangerous magic happening around them, to suddenly retaining their soldiers will.

First-Mate(thinking): *The Sheriff was on the verge of losing the confidence from a majority of our troops, but that one shot from you of all people, made everyone remember our mission.*

Finally, Saku’s voice is heard coming through Shelly’s mind. He is clearly struggling, but the Yin Vessel is fighting through the pain and exhaustion to help his side succeed.

Saku(telepathy): *I’m going...to try this ability combo for the first time...while keeping my four clones... active.*

Laban DaeMon(telepathy): *Don’t push yourself anymore than you have, Saki!

You’ve only had one day of rest!*

Knowing she has the chance to get the final word, Shelly stares down Jesse James while slightly bobbing mid air.

Shelly: "I really wish we could’ve been friends.

We could’ve helped each other."

Jesse James: "I am seen as the linchpin to the safety for millions of lives.

If I’m to truly succeed in my destiny, I have the responsibility of being ’the help’ you’re referencing."

Just like the depression she felt in her inability to save Icythis, Shelly’s disappointment in herself shows.

Saku(telepathy): *Nye-omnipotence...plus Instant Transmission...*

Shelly: "I understand the feeling of being the only one to get a job done, but I once had that same pain in my eyes as you.

I did have that pain, until I got the help I needed from the closest people to me."

*POP*

Shelly and Madame Fryer pop out of existence, leaving the Sheriff to think about her final line.