Shattering Humanity-Chapter 371: An Encounter With A 2nd Generation
"Men enter this world with life and leave this world with death.
Those who work hard for living and longevity are comprised of one-third of the people.
Those who are leading their life towards death are comprised of another one-third.
Those who live with indulgence in passion and desires shall harm their life and invite death.
This is comprised of the final one-third of the people.
Why is this so?
It is because men are over-concerned with pleasures of life and hence exhaust themselves with hard work of desires of greed.
The wise one who knows how to nourish life with the Nature Tao.
When he travels, will not encounter fierce animals such as wild buffalos and tigers.
When he is engaged in the battlefield, will not be harmed by the weapons.
The horns of the wild buffalos are powerless against him.
The claws of the tigers are useless against him.
The weapons are of no avail towards him.
Why is this so?
It is because the wise one follows the great Tao and cultivates himself accordingly.
Hence, a man of Tao will not perish." -Tao Te Ching Chapter 50
_______________________
*BOOOOOM!*
Katsu’s Voice: "Every single one of them..."
*drip*
Katsu’s Voice: "... I’m going to kill every single one of them..."
*SLASH!*
Katsu’s Voice: "Every-"
Scared Man’s Voice: "Y-You’re nothing but a coward!"
Katsu’s Voice: "...
...Huh?"
Scared Man’s Voice: "Y-You aren’t a man!
All you are, is an angry little boy with immense power!
But you could never use that power to protect, could you?!
You probably couldn’t save a life, even if it meant saving your own!
Ah-all you do is live to destro-!"
*CRUNCH!*
Katsu’s Voice: "Your pretentious insults are nothing but the reflection of your own self insecurities as a dying loser.
Now that she’s gone, there’s nobody left to hold me back!"
*KABOOOOOOOOM!*
Katsu’s Voice: "Everyone loves a ’Me vs. The World’ story...until it’s an actual war against God!
hehehaha....hehaHaHa..HAHAHAHAHHHAHAHHAAHAHAH!
...hehe
...hehehe
...he..."
Shelly’s Voice: "...Katsu...You did it... It’s all gone...You won...
You can rest..."
Katsu’s Voice: "No...Not yet...
I haven’t won, until you are here by my side...
But next time, I will have you here with me..."
*SLICE!*
...
[Outer Sanpaku]
Shenron 2: "Shenron 2 here. I can confirm, the successful strike of both units 33 and 34 on their target.
The structure has been compromised and any hideouts inside are under rubble."
Control 2: "That’s a copy, Shenron 2. No point wasting another cruise missile when we have limited supplies anyway.
Bring Unit 36 back with you and we can recycle it for another mission."
Shenron: "10-4."
However, as soon as the piloted drone turns around, within it’s sights is the surprising shot of pissed off Shelly gliding in on her flying sword of flames.
Shenron 2: "What the fu-"
In the air, over Sanpaku, in one quick and fluid attack, Madame Fryer leaves Shelly’s feet. Using her soaring momentum, the brave Valkyrie descendant grips her sentient weapon and front flips, cutting the possible threat in half.
The human grip releases Madame Fryer and the trusty, slicing sidekick returns back in place to help Shelly glide away from the explosion they are leaving behind in their Seiõr powered ærial assault and combat.
Shelly: "Let’s look out for any more of those dangerous, explosive drones Madame Fryer!"
The two allies zip around Outer Sanpaku, as their own version of Takamagahara’s Air Force.
Back in the cockpit, the speechless pilot clocking double time looks at the static screen to the drone he was just in control of.
Shenron 2: "I-I don’t believe it!
Was that a girl?
And was she flying on flames?"
The non-magical mortal human tries to find any logic behind what he just witnessed...but there’s nothing.
Shenron 2: "First the entire county under New Dodge gets cut off from the rest of the island, then 33 high tech, military cruise missiles get destroyed before reaching their targets, and now...
Is there some type of magic on this island?"
Interrupting his thought process is the voice of an air traffic controller in the helmet.
Control 1: "This is Control 1! I thought we had just went over-!"
Shenron 2: "I’m sorry to interrupt Control 1, but is Madame Sheriff there!
I think I witnessed something she’s going to want to know about!"
Control 1: "Um, I’m sorry Shenron 2, but after your conversation, Madame Sheriff retired for the night. She entrusted us to note everything on your voyage home and she’ll read it in the morning.
But I assure you, we have already received your video and photo feed.
C2 and I, we are just as baffled as you are."
Inside the tunnel heading to Inner Sanpaku, Daisuki is checking on everyone.
Daisuki: "Is everybody okay?!
I’ll make us a portal while we’re covered."
Both Laban and Daisuki pop off their IceEyes to their 2nd Stage. Mina has a dark blue/purple aura while Laban has her smokey aura.
In a rush, the Head Hancho looks at one of the walls inside the tunnel while Laban focuses on the information her symbiote eye is showing her.
Laban DaeMon: "Hehe, well I’ll be damned..."
Itsuka: "What is so funny about almost having a missle kill every one of us!?
Was it one of your sisters?!"
Sol: "So those were goddamn missiles!?
When did the mountains get that kind of weaponry?!"
There is a hint of excitement in the ex-Don’s voice.
Laban DaeMon: "Nahh. Nahh, it wasn’t anyone we’ve met yet, and my sisters have a Heitstrenging pact, to not interfere with the plans of another once someone has challenged Skalmönd.
Which is why Herfjötur was upset with Sanngriðr earlier today."
Itsuka: "Okay we get it, just tell us who it was!"
Laban DaeMon: "It was the Vinland Military and their 2nd Generation Leader!"
The reveal of their new enemy makes everyone slack jawed.
Saku looks around and scans the area while Daisuki is setting up a portal to safety.
Saku: "Wait, where are Katsu and Shelly?!"
[Outer Sanpaku]
In the dense, downtown landscape, Shelly is gliding above the rooftops to all the buildings around Takamagahara Territory.
The blonde’s head is on a swivel, looking for both airborne attacks, or smoke from fires caused by unseen attacks.
Shelly: "We’re lucky most residents who aren’t within Inner Sanpaku, are in Saku’s ’Demon District’, Madame Fryer."
She reaches the Western border of the downtown city, and does a slow turn around to scan to night skies.
Shelly: "I don’t think that was Sister Mountain technology either.
Could that have been one of Laban’s sisters?
But why would a DæMon resort to using military missiles and drones to attack...unless..."
Slowly approaching the rooftop to a one floored veterinary building, Shelly hops off her sword and stares off at the smoke from the collapsed tower in the distance.
She tries putting all her photographic memories together in order to find an answer.
Suddenly, the young woman who remembers every moment of her life recalls the information Laban was giving out at dinner.
[FLASHBACK]
Laban DaeMon: "We saw you making out with the 2nd Generation, kid.
So Sakiii, do you wanna come bathe with m-?"
Cutting her question off is her two division mates.
Saku and Itsuka: "2nd Generation?!"
Shelly squints at the claim while Katsu smirks at the name drop.
...
Itsuka: "Laban, what the Hell are you talking about?!
2nd Generation DæMon?
What are those?"
Saku: "Are they all like you and your sisters?"
Shelly’s fists clench underneath the table, thinking about the possibility of even more enemies to fight.
Shelly(thinking): *More DæMons?
Does that mean even more people coming after me because of my lineage?*
As if answer the mental question, Laban picks her ear with her pinky while answering.
Laban DaeMon: "Nahh, they are pretty much just the descendants of a few Valkyrie and Völva babies Skalmönd’s final SeiõrSpell had saved.
If anything, the 2nd Generations have no vendetta against their birth covers like my sisters directly born during the initial DæMon birthing time period."
[END FLASHBACK]
On top of the building, Shelly’s bright blue eyes widen from remembering about the existence of 2nd Generations.
Shelly: "Wait!
Earlier, Laban was talking about another generation of DæMons, not associated with her sisters.
Could it have been-?!"
As if by instincts, Shelly’s SeiõrSense feels a presence.
Her body spins around...
[Outer Sanpaku]
Katsu is sprinting as fast as he can through the empty city, on the quiet night. His sneakers smack the pavement with every quick step.
The highly athletic young man starts to parkour with the low light visibility. Hopping over cars and gaps.
He runs into a very tight alleyway. The space between the two brick building is so narrow, he is able to climb up using the two structures to brace himself.
Once at the top, the Yang Vessel doesn’t take a moment to rest.
Katsu: "Have to get there..."
He activates his all white SoulSeiõrShield and cracks the cement under his feet as he leaps from rooftop to rooftop.
Katsu: "... She’s an actual threat..."
He lands with a roll to continue his momentum and right back into his desperate sprint.
Katsu: "...I have to get there..."
As soon as he leaps from the building he’s on, in the visible moonlight, there are two figures one clearly Shelly, on the same rooftop.
Katsu: "...Before she catches Shelly slipping!"
On top of the building, Shelly’s bright blue eyes widen from remembering about the existence of 2nd Generations.
Shelly: "Wait!
Earlier, Laban was talking about another generation of DæMons, not associated with her sisters.
Could it have been-?!"
As if by instincts, Shelly’s SeiõrSense feels a presence.
Her body spins around...
On the same rooftop, a silhouetted figure wearing a cowboy hat trench coat flapping in the wind, faces the Valkyrie descendant.
