Shattering Humanity-Chapter 313: A Takamagahara Instant Classic: Katsu’s At Bat

Chapter 313: A Takamagahara Instant Classic: Katsu’s At Bat

"Can one unite the body and the spirit as one and embrace the "Oneness" without departing from the great Tao?

Can one achieve harmony with such gentleness by holding on to the true spirit within as if the innocence of an infant?

Can one free oneself from worldly knowledge and cleanse one’s mind, so that no faults shall be made?

Can a ruler love his people by governing with the natural Way without personal intention?

Can the mystic gate to all life essence be opened or closed without the virtue of the mysterious nature?

Can one gain the insight of nature and become a wise person without the effort of action?

The mysterious nature creates and nurtures all things without the desire to possess them.

It performs with all efforts without claiming for credit.

It flourishes all beings without the intention to take control of.

Such is the ’Mystic Te’ or ’Mystic Virtue’." -Tao Te Ching Chapter 10

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[Roronora Lake, Present Day]

As SeiõrSnow continues to fall, birds fly through the air above the destroyed city that was just recently turned into a blood red lake.

A flake of the magical snow falls into the lake and three Humvees pull up to the past border to the city and now edge of the lake.

From under one of the Humvees, only the legs of the people inside are seen, all of them wearing dark military cargo pants.

Man’s Voice: "I thought you said there was a city we could hide out here and be protected, Buzz!

What kinda joke is this?!

Those guys are still on our ass!"

There’s no answer as an AR-15 drops from someone’s hands and the person’s feet drag in disbelief.

The legs stop and the person falls to their knees, arms to their side.

Another pair of legs covered in military cargo quickly runs towards the shuffling to kneeling pair.

Woman’s Voice: "Buzz! Buzz!

We have to go! Now!

Is there anywhere else, any sancturies left in this county we can go towards for safety?"

No audible answer is given, only one of the arms lifts up, pointing in a direction.

2nd Man’s Voice: "Ight, so that’s Southeast.

Damn.

Those crazy mothah fuckahs in those armored trucks have been on our asses for a few days now.

How can they keep finding us after we keep losing them so many times?"

1st Man’s Voice: "It’s probably one of them ’Symb-eye-ote’ powers and this is what they wanted.

For us to head to a sanctuary so they could find and loot it too."

Woman’s Voice: "Come on Buzz."

In the distance, honks fade in a long with multiple men hootin’ and hollerin’.

Shots are fired and one of the bullets hits off one of the Humvees.

1st Man’s Voice: "GODDAMIT!

They found us!

Let’s go we have to lose them again before we head towards the next sanctuary!"

More shots go off as the person on their knees gets up and with their supportive friend they get into their own armored vehicles.

They all take off.

Not too far behind, a group of long bearded men in a couple of red armored trucks follow the tracks.

They are all still yipping, hootin’, and hollerin’ as a smug battle cry towards their hunt.

[Faithful Friends Firehouse Field]

At the mound, Itsuka winds-up and delivers the next pitch.

Again, Zoram responds with a decent swing but once more the ball makes a *knock* as it ricochets to her right and rolls to the dugout right at Katsu.

The baseball stops at his feet, he picks it up and looks over at Saku with a smile.

The young man who is a "five star quarterback", with a D1 center field playing father, looks at Itsuka and almost with no effort at all, slides the ball perfectly through the air. It flies towards the side of Itsuka’s head, which she catches.

Even Shelly and Saku are both amazed at the way the ball never arced, only a straight line from his hand to the glove.

Katsu claps to try and support his teammate behind on the count.

Katsu: "0-2!

Come on Ms. Zoram!"

Saku takes his spot behind home plate and flashes his glove at Itsuka.

The long legged woman shows off her flexibility and throws another speeding pitch at the glove.

For the third straight time, Zoram’s bat make a *knock* of contact but this time it lands a few feet in front of her and rolls.

Katsu: "GO!"

Both Zoram and Princess Rebekah perk up and run to their base.

Zoram begins running as fast as she can towards first.

Saku shoots up from his spot and chases the ball down sliding on one knee to grab it.

From one knee, the skilled catcher tosses the ball right at TayTay’s gut.

Comedically, the ball goes deep into the gut of the eating first baseman without him knowing.

Saku: "Out!"

Like a vertical trampoline or stomach powered pitching machine, the ball shoots out from TayTay’s belly and back towards Itsuka with some force.

Itsuka: "Hm...not conventional...but convenient..I guess."

At third base, before the princess can even touch the bag, she is scooped up under her arms and spun around by her third base playing Mama.

Princess Rebekah: "Hahah, Mamaaaa!

Stop it hahaha!"

Laban DaeMon: "The play is over any way. You’re always safe to me aha!"

Zoram, halfway down the first base line looks discouraged but Katsu runs up to her with a smile.

Katsu: "Good job Ms. Zoram!"

He points towards 3rd base and during the time out.

Zoram sees Laban has picked up the giggling princess and they are spinning around while congratulating her daughter.

Katsu: "Now all I have to do is get a base hit and we’ll be up 2-0!"

Zoram smiles realizing her sacrificial bunt could possibly mean her child’s happiness and success.

She looks back at Katsu with tears in her yellow human eye and Eyelien.

Zoram: "Thank you, Yang Vessel..."

Katsu(chuckles): "Hehaa!

You can call me ’Katsu’."

The beautiful deep tanned skinned Völva kisses his forehead before heading back to the dugout.

Shelly in the background blushes with her arms crossed.

Sitting next to her, Drakania is fidgeting.

Drakania: "D-Do you love Katsu, Shelly?"

Shelly quickly turns towards one of the newer members who joined less than a month ago.

Shelly: "Wh-Why would you-?!"

Drakania: "I understand..."

Shelly: "Wait... Drakania you’re not in love with your own brother...are you?"

The purple haired older glows bright red and sweats.

Drakania: "Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-Wh-Whaaaaat!??!?!!

No!"

She takes a moment to calm down from the misunderstanding and looks out at her younger brother as he kicks the dirt to the side while standing at short stop.

Drakania: "No, I don’t have the eros love for my brother like you have with Katsu, but I am guilty of storge mania for my little brother..."

Shelly: "...’Storge Mania’?"

[FLASHBACK]

Madame Fryer: "I am just as puzzled about your comrade’s SoulSeiõrShield as you are, blooming Skalmönd.

However, your soul is the same radiance as your lovable Valkyrie grandmother.

I can only assume it is that way, because you are the tree she was hoping to sprout, when she had Lil Læviatian help cast her final SeiõrSpell.

It’s proof your soul has perfectly honed the 8 forms of love, just like her."

Shelly tilts her head in confusion.

Shelly: "...’8 forms of love’?"

Madame Fryer nods and looks back at the reading old man.

Madame Fryer: "Eros.

Philia.

Storge.

Ludus.

Mania

Pragma.

Agape.

And finally, Philautia.

It’s clear, just from being attached to your hip for the past 30 days and nights, you my dear, have a heart that not only holds enough space, but contains all of those distinct styles of compassion."

[END FLASHBACK]

Drakania nods her head.

Drakania: "There’s more than just one type of love in this world..."

The two young women watch as Katsu walks up to the plate while they continue their talk.

Drakania: "...Just from watching the two of you, and after being adopted into your division, I can tell you two are a different type of close, compared to me and Jormy."

Saku: "Strike one!"

Katsu has swung on and missed the first pitch.

Katsu: "Holy cow Big Sis!

That’s some freaking heat!"

Saku diagonally side eyes his rival while crouched, throwing the ball back to the complemented pitcher.

Itsuka: "Th-Thanks, Katsu..."

Back in the dugout...

Drakania: "But in the end, it doesn’t really matter which form you allow yourself to takeon ..."

Saku: "Strike two!"

Katsu missing his second swing looks over at his dugout, and right at Shelly.

He smiles brightly and nods with confidence over towards her.

Drakania: "...As long as it’s any of those forms of love, because there are plenty more forms of hate to easily have."

*CRACK!*

The ball flies off of Katsu’s swung bat, towards left field over the heads of the chasing Xaaydagaay and Friend, finally landing behind the yellow fence, and out of sight.

After the deep talk between the older adopted sister and the older biological sister, Shelly watches the base trotting smile glowing Katsu, with a twinkle in her eye.