Shattering Humanity-Chapter 443: Takamagahara Vs. Vegetius Round One: A Worthy Attempt
"He who walks with strides cannot travel far.
He who is self-opinioned shall not be enlightened.
He who is prejudiced shall not be recognized.
He who brags about himself shall not receive credit.
He who is arrogant shall not make improvements.
In view of Tao, people who are self-centered are like the surplus food and redundant actions in everyday life.
All things disgust them.
Therefore a person of Tao will not conduct himself in such manner." -Tao Te Ching Chapter 24
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[Southern Demon District]
A military boot stomps down the main freeway road that leads into Takamagahara’s suburban setting, the Demon District.
Having spent the last 3 and a half hours trecking across Kami Island from the southern cliff, the invading soldier, Vegetius continues his solo side mission given to him by MamMon DæMon.
Vegetius(thinking): *That sniper who was using his scope to peek on me was definitely not that well trained in combat.
The distance between us when I first spotted him wasn’t that difficult of a shot.*
The still young but warfront knowledgeable soldier pushes a disappointed sigh through his lower facemask.
Vegetius(thinking): *Not to mention, any respectable or professional sniper unit would use tactical binoculars that won’t give away their position."
Locked in for the possible conflict, the lone wolf is prepared to prove himself worthy for his believed Messiah. Vegetius looks straight ahead and mentally reenforces his confident.
Vegetius(thinking): *As an insurgent group, these guys are no serious threat.*
The young man’s eyes fixate on something and then he immediately activates his surprisingly bright blueish/yellow SoulSeiõrShield that surrounds his entire body, as well as his back strapped rifle, and the sheathed, stolen SunSword which is attached to his hip.
A low, and quickly growing whistle cuts through the air. A 7.62mm sniper round ricochets off the magic protected, broad shoulder to the abnormal sized high schooler.
With hot lead no longer a threat, the well trained soldier with mutual acknowledgement between him and Seiõr deactivates his misty personal armor.
Knowing he has now been physically engaged by the enemy, Vegetius looks in the direction the shot came from.
Underneath the shining, late afternoon sun, about 500 yards up the deserted freeway, at the edge of the town line, a flash of light disappears through the glass windows to one of the only abandoned cars at the district’s
Vegetius shakes his head in dejection then confidently, without either weapons being drawn, continues to make his way up the partially damaged road towards the cluster of town buildings and the moving shooter.
With wide open dark blue eyes, looking at all possible spots for a hostile to hide, the mentally collected Vegetius makes 250 yards of progress before once again reactivating his life saving SoulSeiõr on the first sound wave of a fired rifle.
The bullet hits the surreptitious target’s directly in the chest.
With the previous examples of Shelly’s clones being knocked back by the overall force of artillery fire on the water, the trusted lone wolf proves his pure upper body strength after being hit in the sternum, he doesn’t move an inch.
Instead, the tip of the bullet spins against his military vest like a horizontal top until the cooled metal eventually loses enough momentum to drop into his gloved hand.
Now stopped in his tracks, Vegetius looks up from his catch and tries to locate where his attacker shot from.
Letting out an annoyed chuckle through his facemask, the survivalist warrior remembers a quote that coincides with the situation.
Vegetius(thinking): *’If they’re biting you, you know you’ve gottem.’*
Reaching, not for his gun nor his heated blade, but for one of his 3 different tactical grenades.
Vegetius(thinking): *This selfish anarchist must think he’s playing a video game..."
The overgrown teenager uses his huge hand to not only unclip the non-lethal tactical weaponry but pull the activator pin while it is still at the hip.
Vegetius(thinking): *...In real warfare, if you’re going to go on the offensive, not every punch you throw can be a knockout.*
He begins to wind up his throw but to both Vegetius and Dom’s surprise...
*BLOOP!*
Sol’s Voice: "Hey dumbass, are you still alive?!
Keep your walkie talkie on low volume so they can’t spot you!"
*BLOOP!*
Knowing exactly where the stalking shooter is taking cover, quickly redirecting his throw, the well equipped tactical fighter long tosses his concussion grenade towards the tree line on his right.
Vegetius(thinking); *He might be a bit faster than I expected!
And...*
Where did this small source of energy come from*
Seeing something thrown in his direction makes Dom jump roll out of his hiding spot. The Gunner of Izanami with a single, but heavier version of AIG only takes ear ringing damage from the contained, discombobulating concussion grenade. As he takes cover behind another, less wide tree trunk.
The ousted marksman now has his IceEye active at 2nd Stage releasing a panicked, purple aura.
Alone and now spotted by an enemy who clearly out classes him, Dom’s heart races trying to think of a quick plan out of the mess he’s made.
Dom(whispers):"Fuck!
Fuck!
Fuck!
What am I doing!?
How did I end up in this situation? 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎
I knew I should have just accepted I’m the weakest link and waited for the others to bail me out.
Why do I always have to mess shit up for myself!?"
However, the unclicking of a buckle and the falling of metal hitting asphalt takes the sweating self loather by surprise. Very slowly and carefully, Dom peeks around the tree trunk he’s using for coverage.
Suddenly his eyes widen and the symbiote’s aura color switches from a scared purple to a teal.
In an incredible sign of not only confidence, but also trust, the face covered Vinland soldier has shed both his semi-auto rifle and stolen SunSword.
The puzzled peeker hides his head back behind his cover and the easily distracted Gunner immediately forgets his own criticisms, now trying to figure out why the man who is his enemy has unarmed himself.
After self doubting his most recent reckless decisions, Dom doesn’t take much time to ponder his next move before the face of the group clown turns serious and the aura released from his attached eye alien turns grey, like smoke.
Back in the open, the weaponless Vegetius is about 50 yards away from the tree his opponent is behind.
Eyes locked on the enemy’s location, the younger but much larger man contemplates his own questionable decisions in his head.
Vegetius(thinking): *What the Hell am I doing?
If those aliens ambush us I’ll have nothing to defend myself.
Why am I giving this guy a fair chance?
If he can only use firearms to attack I should just keep my protection magic active, walk up to him and easily apprehend him.*
Stopping him in mid-thought Vegetius raises an eyebrow out of slight disbelief.
Dom slowly comes out from behind the bark with his hands up, his rifle gripped in his right hand, and active 2nd Stage IceEye staring down the invading soldier.
Vegetius(thinking): *He is a terrorist and traitor to Vinland, but..*
Casually and without breaking eye contact, Dom tosses his firearm to the grass.
Vegetius(thinking): *...but he is also a human.*
With one hand, keeping the other up, the representative of Takamagahara unclips his own clunky version of the AIG that drops to his feet.
Dom: "I know it’s pointless to apologize for firing at you, since you would be dead if you didn’t have a SoulSeiõrShield..."
Vegetius(thinking): *So he knows and can see the energy I released to protect myself?
I’m sure it’s only because of that alien eye of his I presume. That aura it’s letting out must be what I’m barely sensing.*
Dom: "...But morally, I did it to defend the innocent within this town who are being protected and kept away from our fighting."
Feeling a bit relived after giving his fellow human the benefit of the doubt, the outline to Vegetius’ half smile can be seen in his lower face cover.
Without a word in response the large Vinland soldier puts his fists up awaiting a response. Not needing an explanation to understand the island invader’s body language, Dom smirks and begins walking towards Vegetius.
Continuing his monologue while closing their distance.
Dom: "But honestly, I think my body made on its own not only to protect those people, but also prove myself as useful to my friends and leaders."
Being able to fully sympathize with the approaching defender’s words, Vegetius tightens his fist.
Dom: "You wouldn’t know this, but I’m not the most...’respected’ of my peers.
...Or the most reliable.
...Or the strongest."
With Dom figuratively showing his hand by down playing his strength, but also giving away the general area of the civilians he’s supposedly protecting, Vegetius gets visibly and comedically annoyed at the repeated incompetence during warfare.
Dom stops a few steps away from the irritated, squared up fighter. The activated symbiote focuses on the new possible threat towards the human host providing it with emotional energy.
Dom: "But there’s one thing I can provide them with..."
After a single chest pound over his heart, and holds it there as he finishes his attempt to talk himself up.
Dom: "...If there anything from my sparring matches with Shelly and Katsu’s constant faith in his friends has taught me..."
Once again, due to the relatable wording, the defending warrior’s declaration of inspiration makes the silently pissed off invading soldier relax his fists.
Dom: "...My commitment to the cause can’t be changed, and I’ll prove to the world that even Takamagahara’s ’weakest link’ is a force to be reckoned with!"
Smirking Dom holds his own fist up and squares his body towards the military opponent. Vegetius silently agrees to the more civil confrontation between battling soldiers and the two respectable young men slowly creep closer towards one another.
The two calculating fighters circle their ground like boxers as they carefully await an opening.
Dom: "Alright, Old Man.
I’ll make you regret thinking your honor and pride are stronger than mine! You’re about to have your ass beat by a kid under 20!
Haha!"
Having no idea the much larger ’Old Man’ he is about to throw fists with is actually the younger one, Dom takes a step but doesn’t complete his pre punching motion due to an echoing voice in the distance.
Sol: "Hey dumbass, are you dead yet?!"
The prideful Gunner of Izanami witnesses Sol and TayTay, about 200 yards away, emerging from the outskirts of their district. The hard nosed contrarion of Takamagahara is riding the shoulders of her trusty, slightly sweaty steed.
After rushing at a faster pace than TayTay is normally use to, the largest member of the independent liberation group is breathing heavily and slowly collapses to his stomach. With the way the huge man carefully falls, Sol is able to stand from her shoulder sitting position.
The caring and supportive "Mama" softly smiles at her hardworking ally and pats his head before stepping away.
After a quick scan the young woman with eyes resembling the sun spot her comrade and also the enemy he has engaged with.
With his symbiote ocular sensor Dom sees his unhealthy teammate and quickly remembers his situation, but doesn’t notice the incoming perfect haymaker from Vegetius about to knock him out.
