Shattering Humanity-Chapter 352: "I Don’t Think He’s Mad, I Think He’s..."

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation."

Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me." -Philippians 2:14-18

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[FLASHBACK]

Nephilim: "We’re going to be heading to enemy territory, I want you two on your best behavior and if you’re lucky, I’ll let you fight one of their guys. Remember, we are supposed to be doing this for MamMon and her plans. If we want to learn more about Seiõr, we need to make her happy. But as of right now, you two are over the line and a bad representation of Erebus as a whole. I’ve been trying to cooperate with you two. Given you real beds and warm food. What more do I need to make you see, I’m just trying to help you guys?"

Nephilim takes his foot off the two delinquents.

Maniae looks disappointed in himself and Aria grits his teeth. They both look up to see a scarred hand for both of them.

The black haired, calm boy takes a hand once again but Arai smacks the helpful hand away, getting up himself.

The blonde angrily marches towards the helicopter, leaving Nephilim and Maniae alone, watching him.

Nephilim: "I truly do appreciate your cooperation, young Maniae but you shouldn’t let others speak for you all the time. If he drags you into something irrational, don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself. Not only yourself, but it’s also him you’d be saving from bad situations.

I understand he’s only had himself until he met you, but this is a different world from the one that had rejected him before the Icemen. We’ve all experienced the feeling of pain from sudden loss, loneliness, or both.I hope I can rely on you to convince him to trust me for a bit. I promise, I know how fun fighting is too. It gets anger out, it’s relieving stress while also humbling. It teaches those who believe they’re in Heaven, fall back down."

Maniae watches his friend storm off and the young man’s expression gets extremely sad.

Maniae: "If you want my honest opinion, Nephilim Sr, I think Arai does trust you but I’m sure he’s more skeptical of his own feelings than if your dedication to us is legit. He’s never had a respectable older figure, I used to have my older brother, but Arai, he went from foster home to foster home. He was bullied and ran away until that day we posted up in that school for 3 years. I think it’s because he feels like he can’t relate to you since he grew up in a rough environment."

Nephilim watches Arai get in the helicopter cabin. From the view, Tristan is still laying out on the floor.

Nephilim: "...’Grew up in a bad environment’, huh?"

The General let out a hearty laugh and pats Maniae hard on the back, pushing him forward

Nephilim: "Well, time to start your first mission. Just know, I’m proud of you and Arai for how far you two have progressed these past few weeks..."

[END FLASHBACK]

Nephilim: "I shall see you all tomorrow. Bright and early."

He strolls down his walkway to his front door while the five housemates continue down the sidewalk.

Nephilim opens up his home to the smells of tomato sauce and garlic bread.

The house has been cleaned up, and it is quiet inside.

Nephilim: "Sorry I’m late everyone!

Let’s eat!"

Silpheed’s head pokes from the kitchen door frame and they run to the front door.

Nephilim: "Ah, Silpheed, it smells phenomen-"

Silpheed falls to hands and knees, pressing their forehead against the floor, hard.

Silpheed: "Mm- zrry-, Nef-ah-um Zr!"

Confused, Nephilim looks up to see Maniae standing on the stairs with a regretful look on his face.

Almost as if knowing what happened while he was gone, Nephilim relaxed expression turn to a disappointed frown.

Nephilim: "Where is he?"

...

Arai is sitting on his bed, within his and Maniae’s half a mess of a room.

There are still wrappers and clothes all over the floor and on their furniture.

The young man pulls on the double linked gand cuffs keeping him tethered to his bed post. There is a clincking of the intertwined metal restraints as he tugs the one around his wrist.

Arai: "So bogus."

Nephilim: "I agree, young Arai."

The entrapped young man spins his head around and sees his current caretaker standing at the doorway with his arms crossed and sad eyes

Arai sucks his teeth and turns his head away, pointing his nose to the ceiling.

Arai: "What took you so long to get back?"

The man with one red left eye walks over with a key in his hand.

It isn’t until he hears the first unlock to one of the sets of handcuffs, when Arai turns in astonishment to see he has been released.

Arai: "What are you doing?

Didn’t the others tell you what I did?

Why are you releasing me?"

Nephilim stand back upright and walks to the door with his two sets of cuffs.

Stopping and turning before leaving, the General looks at his responsibility.

Nephilim: "Meet me in the backyard in 3 minutes."

With all that being the only thing said, the man walks away from the room, shutting the door behind him.

[Three Minutes Later]

Standing alone in the backyard to the quiet area, Nephilim and Arai stand face to face, about 5 yards away from each other.

Watching from a window on the second floor are Maniae, Eden, and Silpheed.

Eden: "Y-You don’t think M-Mr. Neph-Neph-Nephilim is angry, d-do you?"

Silpheed shakes their head followed by Mania giving his opinion.

Maniae: "I don’t think he’s mad, I think he’s..."

Back outside, Nephilim looks down on his smaller opponent.

The blonde haired young man gives the taller black haired man a disgusted look.

Arai: "What?

Did you have a bad day at work, and now you’ve come home to beat me for trying to run away?"

Nephilim shakes his head and puts his fits up. There is a hint of sadness detected in his voice

Nephilim: "This is a fight for your individual freedom.

Since Maniae isn’t participating, this is a battle solely for your own sake."

Arai’s Blue pools of eyes narrow at the suspicious act but puts his fists up anyway.

Arai: "Fine by me.

You’ve already brainwashed him and made him useless anyway."

Unable to hear the two outside Silpheed’s red eye fills with tears.

Nephilim(thinking): *Huh, sounds too familiar.*

Closing his eyes, Nephilim takes a deep breath through his nose and once he’s finished exhaling, and opens only his left red eye

Arai charges for the man and throws a right jab...that connects with the face of his opponent.

Nephilim however, doesn’t seem fazed by the damage.

Surprised by the made contact, Arai continues throwing punches that land. On after another.

Even though every punch and thrown kick makes damaging contact with his body, Nephilim’s feet and hands don’t move a single inch.

Eden: "Y-You don’t think M-Mr. Neph-Neph-Nephilim is angry, d-do you?"

Silpheed shakes their head followed by Mania giving his opinion.

Maniae: "I don’t think he’s mad, I think he’s..."

The barrage of attacks starts out fast but eventually begins to slow down. Not only is the cause Arai getting tired, but also because the young man is starting to figure out what is going on with this "fight".

Maniae: "... Disappointed."

The punches and kicks stop and the beaten bruised man falls to a knee. He pretends to be out of breath and looks up at the "winner" with only his left eye.

Nephilim: "You win...

You are free to go, young Arai."

Arai’s fists clenches even tighter and he throws an angry right that goes undefended, connecting with the kneeling man’s face.

Arai: "You didn’t even try!"

He throws another fist.

Arai: "This wasn’t..."

And another.

Arai: "....How it was ..."

And another but this time, with tears in his blue pools.

Arai: ".... Supposed to go!"

He throws one last furious haymaker that connects right smack dab on Nephilim’s forehead, but that sturdy soldier of a man stays on one knee.

Watching from the window, Eden has her hands over her mouth while the other two watch the scene in pure admiration.

With his fists bruised and scrapped, Arai heads back into the house without another word to the man he just released his anger out on.

The young blonde grumbles to himself as he stomps his way up the staircase. The emotionally distressed and confused "winner" slams the door to his and Maniae’s room. The sounds of muffled crying, frustrated screams are the only sounds that come from the room all night.