Shattering Humanity-Chapter 307: The Objective (But Sweet) Apple Of Time & Truth

Chapter 307: The Objective (But Sweet) Apple Of Time & Truth

"The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him.

Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.

That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.

Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.

Therefore, I will punish him and then release him."

But the whole crowd shouted, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

Wanting to release Him, Pilate appealed to them again.

But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"

For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him."

But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.

So Pilate decided to grant their demand.

He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will." -Luke 23:13-25

________________________

Blinded by complete white light, the sounds of hundreds of people maniacally laughing and cheering not in unison but in a chilling, mob-like manner.

Man’s Voice: "It’s them!

It’s the man and woman God has told us to execute!"

Katsu’s Voice: "No stop!

I had my reasons!

Shelly’s already badly hurt, please!

Please, just leave us alone!"

There are sounds of scuffling and grunting for a while.

2nd Man’s Voice: "Too bad for you kid, God has blessed all of us here!

Your powers are useless against us now!"

Katsu’s Voice: "I’m sorry!

No, don’t touch Shell-!

Kwaaklkkkk!"

The sounds of clothes ripping and evil snickering can be heard with the gruesome audio of multiple knives slashing through flesh.

3rd Man’s Voice: "Ohhhh yea, she’s still warm and too weak. The bitch can’t fight back like she was before!

My life was ruined because of these two.

I’m gunna make sure I...get...out all...my...revennnnnnnge!"

...

...

Katsu’s Voice: "I’m going to make sure all of you pay someday...

Each and ev-e-ry one of you will die by my- by our hands...

Revel in your win now, put our heads on stakes above fires, and cheer for what you believe is today’s success...

I’m done trying to be the good guy with those abilities...

Every single time...

How many times have I gotten this alien eye?

How many times have I gotten ’blessed’?

How many times have I unknowingly rewatched my parents deaths?

How many times has Shelly gotten traumatized?

How many times have I seen her with that look in her eyes?

How many times have all these ’friends’ turned on me?

How many times has He been the one to lead them towards betrayal?

How many times have I trusted Him?

How many times has Shelly been the victim to His and my disputes?

How many times have I died now?

How many times has Shelly died now?

How many times do I have to keep reliving this Hell?"

A dark, ominous cackling echoes throughout the total whiteness. It’s coming from the familiar voice that instigated Katsu while he was unconscious after falling from True Bloom Arena.

Ominous Voice: *kekekeke*

"As many times as it takes for you to finally crack, I guess.

Damn, and the two of you lovebirds really got far that time too.

On that, ’pacifist run’. *Kekekekeke*

You humans truly love to believe that oppression is the seed to hate...

*kekekeekek*

...But for life to truly ’live’, that life must first overcome the oppression and struggles of the universe.

Go ahead, tell me I’m wrong!

Even YOU... sitting there, enjoying the absorption of happiness and pains from not only this universe, but every universe you willfully consume.

Isn’t objectivity exactly what makes ’the corrupting truth’ as sweet as it is?

*kekekeke*

Since all life must eventually end, existence is all for nothing... except for the enjoyment of consuming.

Wouldn’t the ’apple of time’ be the exact fruit to avoid consuming if one want to avoid the truth?

*Kekekekkekekek*"

Katsu’s Voice: "I need to see her smile again.

I can’t...

*sob*

After all those happy memories with her...

*sob*

I can’t...

*sob*

I can’t let our last memory together be of us losing, and her eyes like...that."

The heartbreaking sobbing of a defeated man now echoes into the vast nothingness.

...

Ominous Voice: *kekekeke* "This kid here just can’t give up a chance at that cute, fresh, tight, tight-"

Katsu’s Voice: "Run it back!"

There is a moment of silence in the whiteout before the dark being slithers an answer back.

Ominous Voice: *kekekekeke*

"Well no shit.

Did you really think, after all you’ve gone through, and all that you now know, that there was any other choice left for you?

*kekekekekekekek*

What kind of man would you be if you gave up, based on that last pitiful attempt?

I’ll tell ya, the ’pussy ass bitch’ kind.

*kekekekekek*

Hahahahahahaahoohhohohohoho!

That’s exactly why you will always be the Yang Vessel, ’K’."

Katsu’s Voice: "SHUT THE FUCK UP!

I SAID RUN THAT SHIT BACK SO I CAN SAVE HER!"

...

Ominous Voice: "I don’t think you realize your position, shit stain.

You died, so for now I’m in control here.

I’m the one with freedom to control anyone I can.

I can make the sweetest of frustrated people become a mass murderer on a whim, or the trusted leader of a powerful country into a maniacal dictator.

And just for your little outburst, I’ll let humanity survive happily for another 50,000 years this time around.

Passing down in their banks of knowledge and information, the tale of how the two roots of evil were slain.

All thanks to the salvation and blessings from one Yin Vessel.

*kekekekeekeke*

Unknowning to those fools, evil can never be slain, as long as they desire happiness and purpose.

To slay all the evil amongst you humans, means to slay humanity as a whole.

*kekekekekekekek*"

Katsu’s Voice: "FFFAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

...

...

...

Why...?

Why do I put myself through all of this?

What am I supposed to cling on to, for hope that all this suffering will pay off someday?"

...

Within the dark void of emptiness Shelly’s sweet voice fades in.

Shelly: "Kaa...

Katsuuuu...

Hey, Katsu! This is where you wanted to go, right?"

From his PoV, Katsu’s right human eye flutters open, and his left cheek is resting on the nape of someone’s soft, warm, porcelain skin.

Katsu: "Sh-Shelly?

Are you safe?"

[Tomodachi Town Fire Station; Faithful Friends Field]

Katsu lifts his head and realizes where he is, piggybacked while a confused Shelly easily carries him away from one of Daisuki’s large doorway sized portals.

Shelly: "Uh, of course I’m okay Katsu, hehe."

She blushes with a bright smile on her stunning face, in her slight own realization.

Shelly: "D-Did you possibly have a bad dream where I got hurt in it?"

Tired Katsu softly nods and nuzzles his face back into the sweet smelling shoulder of his adopted sister.

Shelly(thinking): *Don’t worry Katsu, only time itself will be able to take me away from you.*

Sanpaku’s cafeteria can be seen on the other side of the doorway sized portal they entered from.

Saku, Friend, and Xaaydagaay walk easily through following the two Izanagi Captains.

The Yin Vessel is side eyeing and grimacing at the otherwise adorable display.

Saku: "He’s such a freaking child, I swear.

Right you two?"

Friend: "Rrrrurrurrufff!"

Xaaydagaay: "*Ee-iieek*

*whiiuuuuuu* *click* *click*"

Next is Itsuka who fast travels from the dining area to the Fire Station in the next town over.

Itsuka(thinking): *Shelly really is luck-...*

Stopping herself, remembering Shelly’s entire backstory, knows that isn’t the proper adjective to describe her foster sister. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Itsuka (thinking): *...She really is special.

I wish Saku would let me carry him like that, but..."

She looks over at Xaaydagaay still attempting to get another lick of Saku’s face.

Itsuka’s beautiful pierced bottom lip quivers.

Laban DaeMon: "Oh Sakiiiii!"

Making the Izanami vice-captain forget all of her self pity, Laban comes charging out from the portal, straight for the 19 year old she views as her ’one true God’.

The ex-Don of Roronora City bows down in front of Saku with her back turned to him as well.

Laban DaeMon: "Come one Saki, go ahead and hop on!

I know you’re just trying to hide your jealousy of the Yang Vessel and Skalmönd’s relationship."

Itsuka(thinking): *Is that true?

Is Saku really jealous of Katsu and Shelly’s relationship?

If so, what about it is he jealous about?

Is it the fact she is able to carry him around and be dependable...

Or does Saku have feelings for...?*

With her blushing, Itsuka shakes the overthunk thought out of her head just in time to hear Laban’s attempt to close the deal.

Laban DaeMon: "So in that case, I’ll let you ride me annnnd in whichever context you want, Sakiii!"

Saku raises an eyebrow and ignores the less than appropriate invitation as he walks passed the Scandinavian woman on one knee.

Zoram and Princess Rebekah are the next to cross over from the lunch room.

Itsuka notices and smirks while she struts by the still kneeling love rival.

Itsuka: "Have some damn self respect.

Your daughter is watching you."

Laban DaeMon: "Hey, I’m trying to give her a little brother or sister!

True love has no shame, Amazonian."

Itsuka: "No shame, huh?

Is that the excuse you and your sisters are making since it’s so easy for Saku to manipulate and play you all like any of you actually have a shot?"

Hearing their back and forth, Saku takes a deep sigh of annoyance.