Shattering Humanity-Chapter 416: The Circumstances Of War: "Sorry It Had To Go This Way"

Chapter 416: The Circumstances Of War: "Sorry It Had To Go This Way"

"Therefore are my loins filled with anguish; pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman in travail: I am pained so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot see.

My heart fluttereth, horror hath affrighted me; the twilight that I desired hath been turned into trembling unto me.

They prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink: rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield. For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman; let him declare what he seeth: and when he seeth a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of asses, a troop of camels, he shall hearken diligently with much heed." -Isaiah 21:3-7

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[Kami Island North Shore]

Standing at the bow of her watercraft, Jesse James is directing her fleet through the communications of the vessel and it’s Captain.

Captain: "So, Ms. Sheriff, with all due respect, what do you suppose our strategy of approach should be to breach the island?"

He stares at the 10 clones of Shelly still standing on top of the rushing water wall. The unacknowledged man can’t see Persephone’s SharedSoulSeiõrShield covering them. Each one posing the same way, waiting for the enemy ships to make the move first.

Captain: "This type of defense force and projection of power is clearly out of the military’s expertise...."

The First-Mate looks ashamed after his superior admits to the one thing he was attempting to avoid saying.

Captain: "...And that person whose copies are up there...

Are my old eyes deceiving me, or was that young girl hoverboard riding on a flaming sword?"

Taking a moment to think about her next decision, the 2nd Generation DæMon looks down at the water.

Jesse James: "Captain and First Officer, may I ask that you keep what I am about to expose to you two, one thousand percent confidential?

Even if you do not believe me."

The well respected Captain closes the door to his wheelhouse, giving him, Jesse James, and his First-Mate the privacy to like the Sheriff requested.

The older man looks over at his second in command.

The young man rolls his eyes and shrugs his shoulders.

First-Mate: "Sure.

If it will make any sense of what the Hell just happened, I’ll swear silence. On my oath as a Vinland Marine."

The Captain gives a soft, relieved smile and then looks at the flapping trench coat of the statue like Sheriff.

Captain: "I solemnly swear that I will both believe and confine whatever secrets you entrust me with, Ms. Sheriff. You have my word, not only as the Captain of Vinland’s 1st Apocalypse Emergency Response Unit, but also as the husband, father, and grandfather that I can still call myself. Thanks to your actions, Ms. Sheriff."

The 2nd Generation DæMon closes her eyes.

[Sister Mountains]

Vegetius is walking by himself, at the base of the western most Sister Mountains, Mount Decima. He has a military combat knife in his hand, his SoulSeiõrShield is active, and both his blue eyes dart left to right as he scans his surroundings.

Spotting a wooden sign post, Vegetius creeps over to the landmark.

"’Decima Mountain’

This way to safety! ^

To any and all survivors, continue walking in a straight line up the mountain from this point.

You will come across an elevator to enter this mountain, and you will be brought to safety from those monsters.

You’re almost there!

Please Note: Elevators are only operational between the hours of 10 A.M. and 6 P.M."

Vegetius scoffs at the final note to the otherwise optimistic sign.

Vegetius(thinking): *How do they expect normal people, who have been away from a collective society, and have no sense of time, to know if it’s before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m.?

Very negligent for a sanctuary."

He takes a glance up the mountain, and the pillars and stone canopy above the elevator can be seen.

He remembers the direction the DæMon had told him to go. The situational soldier contemplates whether or not to attempt entering the hidden sanctuary via elevator.

Ultimately, he turns around and heads in the direction of Roronora Lake.

He spots an opening to a heavily traveled trail through the trees close by.

As he makes his way to the pathway...

Man’s Voice: "Hey, Sir!

Hold it right there!"

Vegetius turns around and unbeknownst to him, a low ranked HFF soldier has seen the large, military geared soldier with his knife brandished.

The unfortunate soldier, with no eye symbiote, or apparent knowledge of Seiõr, unsheathes his single SunSword.

HFF Soldier: "That combat uniform isn’t from here.

Wh--what are you doing, snooping around?

Uncover your face and give me your name!"

Hiding in the shadows of the forest Vegetius was about to entire, MamMon is silently watching the impactful scene unfold.

MamMon DæMon(chuckles): "The Sister Mountains have been put under high surveillance and maximum security ever since your leader and her ships appeared.

What is your ’play’, twice over soldier?

If you don’t do something..."

The soldier on patrol grabs his walkie talkie and shouts towards his colleagues.

HFF Soldier: "I have a suspicion individual at the western base of- gah!"

For the unsuspecting man informing the rest of security about his appearance, Vegetius has moved too fast and with sophisticated grace, the outmatched HFF guard is unable to prep his SunSword in time to protect his neck.

With regret shadowing over his sad, and remorseful blue eyes, Vegetius slashes through the opposing soldier with the cold steel of the standard issue military knife.

Blood splatters over the walkie talkie before the dying man’s horrific blood gurgling, final moments of his life and the other soldiers are trying to get in contact with their slain comrade.

Walkie Talkie: "This is Squad 17!

Which mountain’s western base!?

This is Squad 22!

What does the suspicious individual look like?

This is Squad 37!

We’re to the West base of Morta!"

Still spectating the bloody drama, MamMon DæMon enjoys watching her ’playcalling’ working perfectly.

MamMon DæMon: "Well I’ll say for certain, I didn’t expect him to actually take that man’s life. I guess under the circumstances of war, it’s kill or be killed at any moment.

Hmph, that is what she used to say?"

Back at the murder scene, the remorseful killer has already taken the dead soldier’s Anti-Iceman gear. He then walks over and picks up the device while the opposition is flooding the comms channel, trying to get as much info as they can.

Once there is a moment of silence, Vegetius takes the opportunity to anonymously report for the man he killed.

Pressing the call button, the device beeps and he puts it up to his face covering.

Vegetius: "Western base, of...’Decima’...

I’m sorry it had to go this way..."

He drops the walkie talkie to the SeiõrSnow dusted grass. Before another HFF soldier’s voice can come through, a large military combat boot, covered in SoulSeiõrShield, stomps down and smashes it.

[Sanpaku]

Down the street from where Saku and Laban had their dramatic scene, on top of an old two story gym building, there is Scylia, Charybdis, Persephone, and smiling Abby the Tank. Her cannon pointing towards the ocean wall being held up by the struggling, and wincing Char.

His 2nd Stage right IceEye is releasing a purple and blue, scared aura.

Persephone has her gorgeous rainbow SoulSeiõrShield active. Her hand resting on the shoulder of the heavily concentrating and sweat dripping Gunner.

Their combination is similar to the night before when the two love birds created a humongous wave together, to defeat one of Jesse James’ lackies.

The young author, with an immensely gifted SeiõrSupply, is giving Charybdis support with her powerful SoulSeiõr. Helping him hold up the massive amount of water in the visible distance.

Even with her assist however, keeping up the liquid barrier for the entire mile wide shore is taking a lot out of the poor lover boy.

The Big Sis to the water barrier maker, Scylia, also has her alien symbiote active to it’s 2nd Stage, a worried blue aura.

She is keeping her own 6 clones of Shelly manifested, while Persephone also transmits her abundance of SoulSeiõr to the clones she had previously touched.

The beautiful, caring big sister looks at her little brother, toughening out his current task in front of the two women he wants to impress more than anything.

Scylia: "You’re doing great, Char.

After this is over, I’ll give you a SeiõrSuppliment, and you can take a nap in my lap.

How’s that sound?"

The young man who is interested in being with Persephone, not his older sister, blushes.

Char: "What the Hell are you talking about, Sis?

Last time I did that was before Uncle Mina took us in."

Weirdly, the feeling of his sister’s love embarrassing him not only takes his mind off of the pain of struggling, but it gives Char a different type of emotional boost that Persephone’s SoulSeiõr couldn’t match.

Persephone smiles at the amusingly awkward exchange between the siblings.

From the entrance hatch on top of Abby’s head, Jormungand pops his head out and hops out of the cramped crew compartment inside the war machine.

Jormungand: "What do you mean?

Drakania sleeps sitting up so I can use her lap as my pillow every night."

Scylia: "Ooof course you two do..."

Ignoring the remark, excited Jormy looks back down into the tank. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Jormungand: "So you’re gunna use the turret that I just loaded, right Mr. Daisuki?"

Inside the military tank, the Head Hancho of Takamagahara is sitting in the Gunner seat.

On the small thermal camera, there are complicated crosshairs with distances and a laser measuring system actively displaying the distance between the cannon and whatever it is aiming at.

With switches, levers, control sticks, and other functions only a trained soldier could decipher, the only trained soldier of Takamagahara is making sure everything is ready for their next phase.

Daisuki: "That’s right, Bud!

I hope you wrote something on it in permanent marker like I told you!"

Jormungand looks happy to make his leader proud, but also upset at the same time.

Jormungand: "I did.

I wrote ’Sorry it had to go this way’..."

Upon hearing that, Daisuki slows down what he is doing and seems to come to a depressing realization.

Daisuki(thinking): *While I was getting caught up in the formalities and prepping for this war, I had forgot...

We are going to be hurting other humans, while in the middle of an apocalypse already...

I told Jormungand to write a cocky message on the mortar, like we did when I served... But instead, that genuinely kindhearted young man wrote an apology...*