Shattering Humanity-Chapter 378: Inspiration Confliction
"When you ˹O Prophet˺ are ˹campaigning˺ with them and you lead them in prayer, let one group of them pray with you—while armed. When they prostrate themselves, let the other group stand guard behind them. Then the group that has not yet prayed will then join you in prayer—and let them be vigilant and armed. The disbelievers would wish to see you neglect your weapons and belongings, so they could launch a sweeping assault on you. But there is no blame if you lay aside your weapons when overcome by heavy rain or illness—but take precaution. Indeed, Allah has prepared a humiliating punishment for the disbelievers.
When the prayers are over, remember Allah—whether you are standing, sitting, or lying down. But when you are secure, establish regular prayers. Indeed, performing prayers is a duty on the believers at the appointed times.
Do not falter in pursuit of the enemy—if you are suffering, they too are suffering. But you can hope to receive from Allah what they can never hope for. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise." -Surah An-Nisa 4:102-104
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Katsu: "...But because of the few stories like that one, the tales with deeper meaning, complicated situations that allow the audience to relate with their own world perspectives, and an ending that kindles my ambition to change this universe we’re in right now."
Little Shelly isn’t prepared for the large declaration. She is paralyzed with uncertainty. Unsure of how to speak or respond to the 12 year old boy’s unprecedented precociousness.
Katsu: "I don’t want to create problems in alternate version of our world, or ambivalently intervene, like a faceless God with his characters.
I want to fix this reality.
I want to fix our world directly, Shelly.
I want...us to be happy."
The young man with large aspirations finally turns around with a big happy, heart warming grin.
Katsu: "That is, I want to accomplish this goal together, with you Shelly, HaHa!"
The memory ends and shuts down like a television set.
...
Shelly’s blue eyes glaze over with tears of embarrassment, completely forgetting her role as not only Katsu’s crutch right then in the moment, but also his crutch within their time together growing up.
Shelly: "Kat-tsu..."
She stares at the remaining human ocular sensor her adopted brother has, as he smiles only a few inches from her face, left arm around her.
Katsu: "Back then, my hope in you, soon became a wish."
Shelly: "Kat-...N-no...d-don’t..."
Katsu: "That wish, became a prayer."
Shelly’s legs get weak, but she maintains her composure and stiffens her upper lip. Turning her pretty face, into a distorted, runny nosed, rosey eyelid, attempt to hide her emotions.
Katsu: "And as long as I keep that prayer, it will always become the source of your courage and our power.
We will always give it our all... together..."
Everybody’s heart around the two, flutters in the purely wholesome moment, other than Saku and Laban’s.
Saku & Laban DaeMon: "So freaking corny..."
Katsu takes Shelly’s hand.
Katsu: "...Even if we die trying."
The gorgeous Valkyrie descendant smiles with trickling tears and nods a few more droplets out of her blue ocular pools.
Shelly: "Mhm!"
After accepting the tactical loss to his secretly selfish contemporary force, Saku takes a deep inhale as he looks up at the moon. Takamagahara’s representation of the orbiting celestial body keeps his gaze upwards.
Saku(thinking): *You are one utterly conniving son of a bitch, Katsu...*
He looks back over at the two fated lovers. Madame Fryer finally takes her relieve back inside the all golden sheath magically attached to Shelly’s hip.
Battle damaged Katsu manages to stand on his own without his physical and emotional crutch.
Saku(thinking): "You know, I actually do believe you love Shelly more than anything or anyone.
Clearly enough to destroy the world in order to save her from your own self destructive paranoia...but what you’re doing right now... it... it isn’t love Katsu.
What you are doing it’s...manipulation.*
Without looking at his rivaling contemporary force, Katsu responds as he is watching Shelly form a relaxed smile, with Itsuka and Scylia giving her a SeiõrSuppliment.
The lightly scratched and bruised woman consumes the compacted healing Seiõr, and her small injures start filling with lime green Seiõr.
Katsu(telepathy): *For someone who was just inner monologuing, claiming to understand how unconditional love can affect and change a man, you still fall to comprehend the truth, Dumbass.
Truth is, the act of falling in love is manipulation, you utterly stupid son of a bitch...*
Saku’s eyes move towards Itsuka, then Laban, and finally Xaaydagaay.
Katsu(telepathy): "Everything... Every moment between Shelly and I, before these damn aliens and this damn Anjell Eye, it was all completely genuine.
So I’m certain, especially with the knowledge I have now, my feelings for her aren’t just of guilt or pity, for not saving her all those other times.
I’ve always wanted to make this world her utopia.*
Saku(telepathy): *So what you’re saying is, everything you’re doing now, it isn’t genuine? So you are fully aware of your manipulative personality!*
Over his shoulder, Katsu’s Anjell Eye stares daggers into Saku’s soul. The intense stare makes Saku swallow his spit. Surprising the Yin Vessel however, in his head, Katsu’s telepathic voice isn’t at a low grunge, and hate isn’t felt coming from his hypothetical tongue.
Katsu(telepathy): *Saku, you’ve wanted me to be real with you, ever since we woke up that morning we were ’blessed’...*
Saku accidentally shows a bit of excitement on his face, which Laban sees. The quick, unexplainable body language, raising the ex-Don’s suspicion and she looks over towards Katsu with his back turned.
Saku(telepathy): *Yes! Finally!
That’s all I’ve been asking for!
Will you actually talk to me now?
What took you so l-*
With their thoughts intertwined, softly smiling Katsu interrupts as he turns around and slowly approaches Saku.
With a few yards between them, and nothing else, time seems to stop once again as soon as the two Vessel’s for the universe’s contemporary forces EyeEngage with their special optical symbiotes.
Everyone, including the spying Laban is frozen in place along with the rest of the world.
Katsu(telepathy): *Your side piece is getting annoying... and don’t get your hopes up, jackass!*
Saku’s eyes narrow.
Katsu(telepathy): *Let me ask you just one thing...Saku.*
Smiling Katsu stops only two steps away from the scowling Saku. Keeping their eye contact at a maximum.
Katsu(telepathy): *Almost every great story ever written, within the concept of ’fiction’...
The creation of entirely new universes, were originally inspired by the emotional spark set off by an entirely different universe, created by an entirely different conscious being. Formulating and evolving into more thought provoking, spiritually impactful stories...*
Saku(telepathy): *What nerd shit are you talking about now!?*
...
Katsu(telepathy): *Even if the most highly prestigious critic denounces a person’s hard work...
If working towards the end of their own personally perfected story, made those writer’s lives worth something for the time being...
And if real effort and love are put into anything...*
Katsu’s mental voice returns to it’s evil and sinister tone. The wholesome smile transforms into a toothed grin of madness. The Above Sanpaku stare, nose pointing up, and bloodlust in both eyes.
Katsu(telepathy): *...Then there’s no way the universe and the story I’m creating right now, can be terrible, selfish, or evil, right Saku!?
I’m going to be in complete control to every outcome of this universe...
...
Hey...remember yesterday when I told you, ’I think I know what a universe actually is’?
Doesn’t it all make sense to you yet?
You and I Saku, we aren’t actually different p-...*
Stopping Katsu from rambling on any further, a splitting headache shoots through his skull and the over-talkative Yang Vessel, falls to his knees as soon as the two Anjell eyes disengage.
Holding both sides of his agonizing head, Katsu’s face turns more pink and he begins sweating while grunting in pain.
Katsu: "Ahhh....Shell...lly...help...meeee!"
Taking the opportunity to be the one looking down on his rivaling captain, Saku responds to the question.
Saku(telepathy): *You know what? Yea, I guess you’re right Katsu...*
With the headache quickly subsiding, Katsu props himself up on a knee and eventually back to his feet slowly.
Saku(telepathy): *But even before books and shows, humans would witness the power of the universe’s natural forces, the stars, and contribute those outstanding phenomenon to highly advanced versions of themselves.
Yea, everyone needs a little inspiration to make their life and the lives of others better, but that doesn’t mean you can take away the opportunity for others to be inspired, Katsu!*
With Katsu no longer showing signs of discomfort, time slowly begins to flow back to normal and the two finish their round of telepathic debating with a closing statement from the both of them mentally talking over the other.
Katsu(telepathy): *Oh yea?...*
Saku(telepathy): *Stopping you...*
Katsu(telepathy): *...Try and stop me.*
Saku(telepathy): *...Is my inspiration!*
