Shattering Humanity-Chapter 323: An Arcade Date
"In warfare, there is a saying of such strategy:
I would rather take a defensive position than to make an initial offensive move.
I would rather withdraw a foot than to march forward one inch.
Such is called to advance without advancement;
To defeat without arm force;
To fight as if there were no enemy;
To carry weapons as if there were no weapons and thus no need for the use of weapons.
There is no greater disaster than to underestimate the enemy.
To do so may cost one to lose his valuable life.
Therefore, when two armies engage in a battle,
The party that feels the sorrow of killing shall win." -Tao Te Ching Chapter 69
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MamMon DæMon: "It seems, one of my strongest soldiers is triggered by fear."
Everyone from Squad 1 quickly turns their heads.
Tristan: "What does that mean?!
Is Stephanie capable of accidentally killing people who scare her now?!"
Behind him, guilty looking Stephanie fights back tears while her purpose shouts for her sake.
MamMon DæMon: "Perhaps that could happen, if she wasn’t careful enough.
It all depends on whether or not she can contain all the Seiõr that has accepted her.
As of now, Seiõr itself is acting as a defense mechanism for our Sanguine Savior.
Like an overprotective, but enraged pitbull without a collar, whatever is causing our poor Stephanie fear, is the direct target.
Unless the target can too, hold as much Seiõr as she can, their minds will quite literally ’explode’."
Tristan looks at Stephanie and grabs her hand.
MamMon DæMon: "Until Stephanie can put a leash on that beast within her, Seiõr will continue to defend her, whether she wants it to or not."
The DæMon chuckles at her own realization.
MamMon DæMon: " Why, it’s almost like what Skalmönd is to the Yang Vessel, but his leash on her is unbreakable."
...
[Erebus City Arcade]
Indicative of the rebuild to the entire city, the same empty arcade that was abandoned when Squad 40 and Itsuka entered, the same building Katsu had accidentally obtained his lefty IceEye in, has been remodeled and fixed up into a working video games hang out.
There is now electricity running throughout all the games in the one floor building.
The arcade cabinets flash bright lights, the pre-recorded voices challenge passerbys, and play chip-tunes.
The Erinyes company and their three new guests are alone within the active arcade.
Bethany is once again tagging along with the smoker’s crew, trying to coerce smoking Icythis and Isfet while the two play a shooting game together.
The luscious, drooling woman is staring at both of the player’s jiggling chests as they move their arms to aim at the targets on screen.
With a moment to look away, Isfet notices the lit fag between her gaming partner’s teeth as she is locked in on shooting.
Isfet: "Are you sure it’s okay to smoke in here?
We just had to deal with the clothing store, I think it’ll be a harder time-"
Icythis: "The owner said it’s cool.
Watch out, you only got one hit left."
Isfet smiles and returns to the game.
Bethany can’t help but lovingly infatuate over the budding friendship.
Bethany(thinking): *Oh my God!
Oh my God!
Oh my God!
They are so God damn cute!
I need to see them kiss!*
Game Voice: "New-New-Newwww High Score!
Congratulations!" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
The video game ends and the two satisfied women place the toy guns back in their metal holsters.
Icythis: "You got a quick shot on ya!
Nice job!"
Isfet: "Thanks...you too."
Icythis hands the cigarette to her friend and it is accepted.
Unfortunately, the good moment is ruined by Bethany.
Bethany: "Jeez, you two share those things so much, it’s kinda like you two have kissed by now, huh?"
Isfet turns bright red from the lewd logic and Ichythis raises an eyebrow in total confusion.
Icythis: "What?"
Bethany: "Ohhh nothing.
It’s just, by now, I don’t see why it would be a big deal if you two simply touched lips."
There is an awkward silence for a moment before...
*WHAM*
Tristan(mumbling): "Can never just go out and be normal.
Always have to try and sexualize everyone’s good times.
Slutting around."
The Squad 1 student captain drags the unconscious Bethany by the foot, away from the two wome as she mumbles...
Bethany: "The seeds have been laid cah-pap-pin..."
Blushing Isfet hands back the cigarette without either of the two looking at each other.
Icythis: "What the Hell was that all about?"
She puts the cigarette back in her mouth. Secretly, Isfet licks her lips before perking up as Icythis points at another game in the building while taking two tokens out of her pocket.
Icythis: "Let’s go play that one next."
She rushes ahead while Isfet blushes, admiring the new red and pink haired ally and smiles as she follows.
Tristan drags his knocked out squad member back to a booth that Stephanie is waiting in.
The family man drops unconscious Bethany’s foot while she is comedically swirly eyed and mumbling gibberish to herself.
Tristan slides down the booth seat until his leg presses up against Stephanie’s.
The young woman accused of uncontrollably murdering three trucks full of men is still in deep, guilty thought about what just happened outside.
There is a moment before Tristan grabs her hand resting on the table and his thumb rubs her hand.
Tristan: "Hey, listen.
Everything is going to be fine, alright?"
She doesn’t answer.
Tristan: "Those were bad men who were trying to kill us and hurt you. Nobody blames you for being scared, and nobody blames you for not having full control over these powers yet.
Everything will be okay."
Stephanie: "That’s not what I’m worried about anymore Tritty.
Madame MamMon said these powers could possibly hurt anyone who scared me.
What happens if one of the girls accidentally startles me and I end up...I end up..."
She starts to hyperventilate behind the loud sounds of games around them.
Tristan grabs her hand tightly and tries his best to calm her down.
Tristan: "Stephanie!
Stephanie!
Relax!"
Stephanie: "I can’t Tristan...
Why- why can’t I relax Tristan?"
Tristan embraces her and snaps the worried woman out of her funk.
Her eyes fill up with tear as soon as the love of her life whispers to her.
Tristan(whispers): "Because I’ll stop you, and you’re powers.
I’ll never let you hurt those little girls.
I swear on it as both your husband and as their protector."
Stephanie can only choke up at the claim and grabs the back of his shirt in a hug as she cries into his shoulder.
Her distraught frustration can only heard by the one she loves underneath the *BINGS*, robotic voices, and ringing from all of the arcade cabinets.
At the other side of the arcade, MamMon and Nephilim are sitting at a table with the three military garbed visitors.
There is 75% of a pizza already eaten and the smallest one of them all, Buzz takes the last 25% of the pie, folds it up and stuffs it down her gullet.
Both MamMon and Nephilim watch on in both disgust and fascination at the smaller woman being the glutton of the group.
Nephilim looks over at the two others who showed up with Buzz.
Nephilim: "So you’re saying you were forced to work for those for the past few years, Lieutenant...excuse my memory..."
Wilson: "Wilson.
You can refer to me as just Wilson.
The lieutenant title is no longer necessary.
And yes, almost 19 months ago those men, along with a whole band of them arrived in the Shinwa County. The county South of this one.
It wasn’t until Buzz and Nomad here saved my buddies and my ass, that we were able to break free."
A mug slams to the table and an intoxicated Buzz can barely keep her head up.
Buzz: "But I failed...
I failed, and I suck...
*hiccup* and not only that, *hiccup* I come to find out Don Laban has punked out *hiccup* and sided with the bastards who turned Roronora City into a lake of blood..."
Her larger friend, Nomad, rubs her pal’s back in an attempt to comfort her.
Nomad: "Oh come on, Buzz Ball!
Remember what Willy said before we initiated the prison break?
’Some of us will die, but that’s for the price of life’."
The man Wilson looks annoyed. Gripping the handle of his mug tightly, a vein pops out from his temple, and he talks through gritted teeth
Wilson: "I thought I asked you to refrain from calling me that, ’Gnome’."
Nomad: "Whatchu call me!?"
A barrier of Seiõr appears between the two arguing refugees and they turn to see MamMon with her hand out, covered in the same crystal purple Seiõr.
MamMon DæMon: "I think there has been enough conflict for today, don’t you both agree?
It’s probably best if we all decompress here for now and try figure out more about one another if we are going to try and cooperate.
Agreed?"
