Shattering Humanity-Chapter 353: "Everyone Learned A Lesson Today."

"This is a discharge from all obligations, by Allah and His Messenger, to the polytheists you believers have entered into treaties with: "You polytheists may travel freely through the land for four months, but know that you will have no escape from Allah, and that Allah will disgrace the disbelievers."

A declaration from Allah and His Messenger is made to all people on the day of the greater pilgrimage that Allah and His Messenger are free of the polytheists. So if you pagans repent, it will be better for you. But if you turn away, then know that you will have no escape from Allah. And give good news O Prophet to the disbelievers of a painful punishment.

As for the polytheists who have honoured every term of their treaty with you and have not supported an enemy against you, honour your treaty with them until the end of its term. Surely Allah loves those who are mindful of Him." -Surah At-Tawbah1:-4

__________________

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.

I cannot save what you can already handle."

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.

Back outside, the three spectators slide open the backdoor and run towards the slightly battle damaged General.

Opening his right IceEye, the symbiote refocuses on the world around it and the host gets back up to his feet.

He smiles seeing the small group coming to check on him.

Maniae: "Mr. Nephilim!

Why...why did you let Arai win?

Why didn’t you fight back?

After all this time.

After we both lost to you, while fighting together."

Nephilim looks the young man directly in his eyes while wiping a bit of blood from the corner of his mouth with a rag given to him by Silpheed.

Nephilim: "Because, you see young Maniae, your best friend is still a fickle, but an even more prideful child.

If he knows he didn’t earn what he’s been fighting for, he’ll be less inclined to accept his given victory."

Silpheed blushes from behind their face covering and takes back the bloodied rag.

Their single exposed red eye widens and Silph sprints for the backdoor.

Confused Eden trots in behind, leaving the two men left outside.

The educator/mentor puts an arm around Maniae while walking back inside for dinner.

Nephilim: "Silpheed told me you had chased after him and stopped your friend from abandoning this life.

I’m proud of you for saving him from himself, young Maniae, but the handcuffs..."

Maniae: "I didn’t know if he would try to escape again!"

Nephilim: "And I understand that concern on your end young Maniae, but when you two talked alone, did he claim something along the lines of, ’I have brainwashed you’?"

Maniae thinks back to their discussion...

[FLASHBACK]

Arai: "So...

One month and these people have brain washed you to the point you think this..."

He raises up the cuffed hand as high as it can reach, making the cuffs scratch his wooden bed frame.

Arai: "...is acceptable.

To literally take away someone’s freedom, only for wanting freedom.

You’ve changed Maniae."

[END FLASHBACK]

The pair make it back to the house but before re-entering, Nephilim faces Maniae one more time, both hands on the influential young man’s shoulders.

Nephilim: "I don’t believe he will try again, but if he does, and you beat him, don’t chain him or imprison him.

Deal."

Maniae reluctantly nods and gets his hair tussled by his superior.

Nephilim chuckles and the man whose is the main threat to Takamagahara’s happiness, smiles while pointing his thumb in the direct back inside the house.

Nephilim: "Alright then, time to eat.

Whatever Silph made smells amazing!"

...

The insatiable woman switches to clinging on Ichythis’ strong and sturdy body. The smoker turns her head to puff out smoke, while easily keeping stride with the nuisance hanging on her.

Bethany: "So, after we get back home, we should probably settle in while Steph makes dinner.

So I was thinking, to save waterrrr, mayyyyybe all three of us should shower together."

Isfet glows a slightly brighter pink, but at this point Icythis is unfazed.

Icythis: "Sure."

All three of Bethany and Isfet’s eyes widen in surprise to the nonchalant response to the perverse suggestion.

Bethany: "Wait...really."

The unintimidated woman doubles down and EyeEngages with the blushing, caught off guard, young lady.

Icythis: "Yea, my back is hard to reach because my shoulders are so broad.

You can get your kicks while helping me out, I guess."

Bethany starts to babble nonsense while imagining the lewd and majestic vision of the strong womanly figure,sitting in a steamy bathroom only being covered by a towel.

...

Jamie & Pauline: "TRITTY!"

The two jump on their beloved "brother", taking him to the ground.

Icythis and Isfet make their way down the hall Peyton and Jay had fought in. They both stop and stare, puzzled by the small hole left in the wallfrom the two men’s short misunderstanding.

Icythis: "Waaas that there this morning?"

Bethany comedically zooms down the hallway passed the confused visitors.

Bethany: "Just give me 5 minutes!"

After slamming the door to her room, both Icythis and Isfet looks at each other and shrug their shoulders towards each other in absolute confusion.

Icythis: "Did you transmit those clothes we managed to save before the sprinklers soaked them?"

Isfet nods with a smile and points to the room she has awoken in the night before.

Isfet: "Mhm, they’re in there next room if you want to grab them."

With a cig in her lips Icythis nods and the two new friends walk in the room and close the door behind them.

Meanwhile, Stephanie makes her way to the kitchen and turns into the doorway to see Peyton and Petra, both with aprons on, cooking together with Timothea waiting impatiently in the corner.

Stephanie: "What is all this?"

The responsible quadruplet turns and her face glows with a smile.

Petra: "Stephhyyyy!"

Peyton finishes putting a few chopped carrots in a large pot and turns to face his hostess.

Peyton: "Well, truth is, Jay and I had an awkward first encounter.

While he went to the shopping district to find supplies to fix our damage, I figured I’d start an appetizer so you didn’t have to rush dinner."

Stephanie smiles while embracing her two present little sisters.

Stephanie: "Thank you, Mr. Peyton.

You’re too kind."

Petra looks up while keeping her tiny grip on the older sister’s pant leg.

Their matching lime green eyes connect, but the little girl has tears in her’s while trying to defend her new uncle’s.

Petra: "Please don’t get mad at them, Stephy!

Uncle Jay just thought Uncle Peyton was a weirdo trying to break in, and take us, but it was just a mistake!

Please don’t lock them out, they’re nice and Uncle Peyton let me help him cook!"

Stephanie’s eyebrow raises and Tristan comes in to explain with a chuckle.

Tristan: "So Jay went to get some wall repair?"

Peyton rubs the back of his head while he nervously laughs off the question.

Peyton: "hehe, yea. I’m really sorry about that.

I tried to explain myself but, as you can tell, I’m not that well of a de-escalation negotiator."

Tristan puts his arm around his wife to be while playfully waving the guilty response away.

Tristan: "Haha, don’t worry about it.

I think we all learned a valuable lesson or two today."

Stephanie: "Teehaha!

I guess you can say that."