Shattering Humanity-Chapter 437: Capitulation & Peace

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.’ -Ephesians 6:10-17

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[Sanpaku]

Inside the all white padded room, most of the captured Vinland soldiers have eaten their plates of food.

Escorted by one of Shelly’s clones Daisuki’s wives, all three wearing different color dresses, walk through the PoW group. The orange haired wife in a green holds open a garbage bag while following the blonde haired wife in red collecting the trash. Finally, the black haired woman in a yellow dress hands every one of the handcuffed men and women a can of alcohol.

Shelly’s six clones have sheathed their SunSwords, and the overall vibe in the holding room indicates that some sort of civil progress has been made.

However, three of the captured crew membersbin the back still have sour looks on their faces.

One of them secretly hides their plastic fork in their pocket before the trash collection group reaches him.

At the center table, both Daisuki and the captured Captain have three empty beers in front of them.

Daisuki: "You see Captain Whistler, a Thucydides’s Trap refers to the natural, inevitable discombobulation that occurs when a rising power threatens to displace a ruling power. The resulting structural stress makes a violent clash the rule, not the exception.

Using fear and anger to instigate others to disavow peace has been exploited since the dawn of man, and unfortunately is still being done today. As proof of you all being here.

Even in these times when there is a common enemy."

The captured Captain from mainland Vinland is visibly more relaxed and less sweaty. He no longer has handcuffs on like his crew and rubs his chin in thought.

After taking a long sip from his current can of alcohol, the man who believed his captors were in favor of a hateful regime, looks across the table.

With all the paper plates collected and empty cups discarded the three women wearing red, green, and yellow respectively tight long dresses give the Head Hancho a kiss on the cheek. The Shelly clone standing behind her Senpai rolls their eyes.

The wife wearing green gives her husband a pack of cigarettes and a book of matches before kissing his cheek and joining the other two.

The leader of Sanpaku waves the women goodbye and thanks them for the food before they shut the door behind them.

Daisuki opens the pack and strikes a match.

Captain Whistler: "If you don’t mind me asking Mina-"

Quietly interrupting him, Mina holds out the lit cig as another kind offering and the military man kindly accepts, taking a drag from it.

Captain Whistler: "If you don’t mind me asking, how many civilians do you personally have under your distinct care on this island?"

His mouth opens to answer but Daisuki then takes a moment to think about the question. The stalling to answer only makes the still skeptical three soldiers in the back more suspicious towards the man’s words.

After thinking about it, Daisuki answers.

Daisuki: "Well in the sense of hospitality, not including my close crew of 17, there are around 50 men, 45 women, and 25 or so elderly that depend on my decision making and protecting during this apocalypse.

If you want the answer I want to believe, it is everybody and anybody I can help on this island.

It isn’t a substantial amount, but these people would be trapped in those mountains.

A majority of the surviving population on this island after this apocalypse began had made it to either the Sister Mountains in the South, or Roronora City to the West."

Captain Whistler: "Trapped?

It has been heard from our Intel that there are more people living in the city at the base of the mountains than inside them now. That is why we didn’t attack closer to there."

The clone of the incredibly talented fighter standing behind Daisuki tries to help piece the information together for their case.

Shelly’s Clone: "You all know of the aliens that have attaching themselves to human eyes, and then giving them abilities, right?"

The military man nods at the young woman.

Captain Whistler: "We had heard of an experimental group the Sheriff had been constructing. I have never seen a human with one of those eyes myself until those two subordinates of yours somehow popped up on my destroyer along with all you copies."

Both Daisuki and Shelly silently chuckle together in their minds at the thought of Saku and Laban being labeled subordinates.

Shelly Clone: "Well those aliens actually create a symbiotic relationship when paired with a human optical nerve."

Captain Whistler: "Symbiotic? 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

How so?"

Shelly Clone: "From as far as we know, when the eye alien’s original violent crystal ice host dies, it too will perish if it doesn’t find a new host to absorb Seiõr from."

Captain Whistler: "You’ve mentioned Seiõr earlier. That’s the arcane ’magical’ energy only certain people can see, correct?"

Both Daisuki and Shelly’s clone nod and shrug in unison.

Daisuki: "I guess you could say observable energy and magic are ambiguous in this new age.

The point she was trying to make is, Seiõr has been utilized by the Southern faction in a way that makes the invading aliens more like pests."

Captain Whistler: "So you are not at good terms with the other armed force from those mountains?"

Both the Shelly clone and Head Hancho nod again.

Daisuki: "The three previous leaders of the Sister Mountains didn’t appreciate me taking food, supplies, or being a bit hesitant towards bring new people into a sanctuary that probably wouldn’t let them leave. So they eventually put a bounty on not only my head..."

He gets up and places a hand on the head of the blushing Shelly clone.

Daisuki: "But also on the kids I’ve entrusted the future of greatness in."

Captain Whistler: "They put bounties on children?

Who the-?"

He stops himself, remembering the received transmission and message from his own leading Sheriff, claiming to place a bounty on the same blonde haired blue eyed young woman who was standing on top of the wall of water greeting the invading soldiers.

Daisuki then walks towards the other captives and takes out the small master key for each of their handcuffs.

Before doing so he gestures to each one if they would like a cigarette.

If they do, he lights one in his mouth and gives it to them before taking off their handcuffs.

Daisuki: "You see, the newest leaders to those mountains have been taken over by an incredibly powerful individual, one who has the same abilities as your leader, and is much more dangerous."

One by one he takes the set of restraints off the men and women.

The sweating soldier who stole the plastic utensil has it hidden and waits his turn at the end of the line.

Daisuki: "Not to mention her advisor/co leader has a grudge on me and wants to see me suffer like all those families involved with my past mistake. Me being given a shorter sentence due to the apocalypse only made him angrier."

The plotting soldier with the plastic fork is next he grabs the fork and a bead of sweat drips from his cheek.

Daisuki: "But I’ve taken this new opportunity on life to not only save people from those violent aliens, but also help the young generation learn how to be better people, and hopefully how to forgive."

He gets to the scolding soldier with the "weapon" and the Squad 40 leader holds up the pack of cigarettes.

Daisuki: "Want one, Pal?"

The shallow breathing man nods once. Daisuki lights the cigarette and with his pinky out he holds it up to give to the man, but out of nowhere the still cuffed man lunges forward and bites the tip and Daisuki’s pinky finger off. With the fork in his hands he jabs upward for Daisuki’s soft spot on his chin but his motion is stopped by one of Shelly’s clones, punched in the face, and immediately jumped on by both the Shelly clones, as well as his fellow captives.

Attacking Captive: "You’re all cowards!

We fight until we die!

The Sheriff is God and she will punish all of you fucking cowards for your capitulation!"

Holding his new injury, blood leaking on the padding the baffled Captain is appalled by the actions of his soldier and helps tend to the hospitable man.

Captain: "Here take this table cloth!"

He give it to Daisuki before looking over at his beat up rebel.

Captain: "Soldier, you are here by under military arrest for conspiracy against treasons of peace."