Chapter 486: Agreeing To Take The Higher Ground

"They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting.

They crush your people, Lord; they oppress your inheritance.

They slay the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.

They say, ’The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob takes no notice.’

Take notice, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise?

Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?

Does he who formed the eye not see?

Does he who disciplines nations not punish?

Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?

The Lord knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile." -Psalms 94:4-11

_

{Outer Sanpaku}

Outside of the concrete entrance, the soaking wet survivors of the flooding traffic tunnel try to gather themselves together.

After the whole late afternoon debacle has subsided, and only two crew members of the Vinland Navy are unconscious but breathing as they are being carried in the backs of comrades.

The young man who courageously risked his life to save the people he doesn’t know is laying on his back, eyes closed. His blue haired head rests in Scylia’s cradling arms as she softly tries to shake him awake.

Scylia: "Charybdis!

Char, please wake up!"

Carefully she puts the little brother’s head down and places an ear to his chest, listening for a heartbeat.

It takes a moment before...

*buh-bup*

...

*buh-bup*

...

*buh-bup*

Taking a breath of relief, tears and snowflakes leave Scylia’s eyes as she lays on top of him, burying her face in his chest.

Scylia: "You idiot.

After making me feel guilty for being reckless earlier, you immediately went and put your own life in danger.

You freaking dummy."

Char: "Sor-rry."

Regaining consciousness from the distress in his sister’s voice, the savior coughs out an apology.

Scylia flinches and notices Char’s eyes are barely open, and he’s smirking.

Char: "It’s a little hard to breath with you on my chest, Sis."

Scylia ignores his comment and embraces him.

The present members of Takamagahara watch the emotional, wholesome scene with smiles, except Laban.

She looks down, sucks her teeth, and the DaeMon woman is more concerned about the water damage to her new shoes.

Laban DaeMon: "Gahddammit!

I just got these freaking kicks today and they’re already ruined!

I can never have anything nice."

Annoyed by her insensitivity, both Shelly and Itsuka shoot angry glances at the loud reprobate of their group.

Taking their attention away from the ex-Don’s footwear is the shouting from one of the men still bound by cuffs.

Willems: "What did I tell you?!

They are toying and testing us like we’re guinea pigs!"

Listening to the man who tortured him earlier in the day, Katsu bites his tongue while staring down the accuser with his Above Sanpaku glance.

Willems: "We outnumber them and can overpower them if you release me!

Hurry and give the order, Captain!"

Being the outspoken, and with less of a respect filter, Sol shouts back in defense of her team.

Sol: "What are you talking about?!

One of our own guys just almost died to save everyone of you!"

Luckily the man he is trying to convince doesn’t bite the bait, but one of his unsure crewmen creeps towards the restrained Marine.

Captain Whistler: "At ease, Officer!"

The booming command stops the lower ranking soldier in his tracks.

Captain Whistler: "Everything that young lady said is enough to convince me this chaotic incident wasn’t out of evil intentions. I don’t know how they did it, but we are all alive."

The bald headed Navy Captain turns to the leader of his ’captors’ and the two lock human eyes.

Captain Whistler: "I completely respect the leadership of anyone who has guided these brave and selfless kids."

With the pressure of having to convince their PoWs of no evil intentions lifted, Daisuki gives an uneasy chuckle and scratches his scalp under wet dreadlocks.

Daisuki: "I can’t take all the credit.

They already had their heads on straight before meeting me. I’m just here to make sure none of them manage to lessen the bolts, haha.

With circumstances the way they are, I know I can’t properly apologize for the danger I accidentally put you and your crew in.

So please accept your sovereignty as repayment."

Surprised by the granted freedom towards their war enemies, Shelly steps up and tries to refute her Mentor’s verdict.

Shelly: "Sensei?!

That jackass shouting nonsense is a crazy asshole who tortured Katsu to the brink of death! You can’t just let him walk free!"

She throws a pissed off glare towards the demoted soldier, as he is giving her an equally apoplectic attitude back.

Shelly: "Especially if what Laban says is true. If there really is no place for them to return to, they’ll have to stay here on Kami Island with us!"

Captain Whistler: "Wait, what do you mean?

What happened on the mainland?!"

Hearing the news that their home having been possibly erased, the Navy crew gives nervous peeks at one another, then all of them look at their Captain for guidance.

Laban steps up to deliver more details on the events leading up to now. Not only the opposing faction, but her own group as well.

Laban DaeMon: "Well to make a long story short, while we were here fighting, a 1 on 1 between two freaks of nature happened on Nantucket..."

She looks over at one of the culprits she is speaking of, Shelly, and tries to choose her words carefully as to not unintentionally create animosity between the two sides.

Laban DaeMon: "...the amount of energy accidentally released by them had more destructive force than any human designed explosion, wiping out 99% of the island stage, and creating an apocalyptic sized tsunami strong enough to wash away both Martha’s Vineyard. As well as drowning 4 out of the 6 New England states in almost 40 feet of water."

The Vinland medic puts her hands over her mouth and uncontrollable tears of fear run down her face.

In the stunned silence the only response from this disastrous news is skepticism from the ex-Vinland Marine.

Willems: "They’re bullshitting us!

How would they know that if they weren’t the ones who blew it up?!

Don’t believe anything they say!"

Everyone looks at the man shouting his doubts towards the (reasonably unbelievable) information given to them from the delinquent DaeMon with face tattoos.

The nonchalant DaeMon responds to the criticism by spitting a loogie on the ground.

Laban DaeMon: "Okay, whatever.

But just so you know, my eye ability allows me to know everything that physically happens in this universe.

So you can deny everything all you want ’war-fried-boot’. It’s not like this flooding tunnel hasn’t been enough proof, since the only other exit is on the mainland."

Willems: "It would be easy to damage the tunnel enough to trap and drown us! That’s why the Sheriff decided to avoid marching here through the tunnel, because she knew you terrorists would be willing to flood it!"

Shelly’s irritation levels boil over from this immoral man’s rebuttals and refusals.

She is about to take a step towards him, but is over taken by Katsu.

The young man known as the positivity generator of his friends raises a hand towards Daisuki.

Katsu: "Big Bro, can I get those handcuff keys?"

Shelly: "Wh-?

Katsu!"

Without any hesitation or doubt in his mentee’s decision, the Head Hancho tosses over the single key.

Ruining the moment, the QB is unable to cleanly catch it, and the single key falls to the concrete.

Katsu: "Dang it."

Knowing the true selfish ideology of his squad mate, Saku glares at the rivaling captain.

Xaaydagaay shoves herself onto the skeptical Yin Vessel and nuzzles into him.

Quickly joining the embrace is Friend.

Saku smiles at his helpful companions, petting them both on the head.

Saku: "Good job saving Charybdis, Xaay.

That was amazing.

And thank you for the assist at the end there, buddy."

Friend: "*Ruff!*"

Xaaydagaay: "*Eeiiik!*"

After picking up the key, Katsu turns and walks towards his previous torturer.

Shelly is clearly nervous for her purpose’s safety, and she stays alert.

Katsu: "Don’t worry, Shell..."

The reliable young man redirects his course to the Navy Captain, and hands over the unlocking utensil to the trusted Vinland seaman.

Katsu: "... It’s just in case these guys decide to forgive that man for his emotionally blinding mistakes too.

I know tensions have been high all day. There are reasons we can’t trust one another.

But we gotta remember, as humans, those aliens and Leviathan are our common enemies."

Turning to walk back towards his friends, the future knowing Yang Vessel stares down his contemporary force.

Their Anjell Eyes lock in on each other, allowing Katsu’s passive Communication ability to relay his thoughts to the narrow eyed Yin Vessel.

Katsu(telepathy): *...And once all the threats to our endless happiness have been defeated, Shelly will be strong enough to slay that useless dragon, as well as all of Saku’s future desperate fools.*

Saku(thinking): *’Useless’?" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Captain Whistler examines the silver key in his palm. The subliminal implication from Katsu’s ’too’, is understood as there is no negativity from the 18 year old who was abused by a representative under the Vinland military umbrella.

Breaking the silence are the echoes of rushing water heard getting closer towards their own exit of the tunnel.

Daisuki: "We should quickly move to elevated ground before this new city pond fills up.

Then we can negotiate our next course of action."

Captain Whistler nods in agreement.