capeandcowl | 44th Insane Speech // Voice

I have been thinking about monsters.

The question of what humanity there may be found in monsters has already been asked and discussed many times. Do they have a soul, are they capable of love, and other romantic notions. [The Major can be heard scoffing] My interest is focused on the other side of the coin: what depths a human being may sink to before they receive the label ‘monster.’

One hears it thrown about of course: ‘you monster! You fiend! You mad demon!” [Laughter] Such vicious rhetoric! But do the people who say that really mean someone is devoid of all humanity? That they lack the things which truly make a genuine human?

A claim like that carries great implications, you know. A brief look at the history of humanity shows that a great many of us have done things which might prompt some to cry ‘monster!’ Would it follow then, that a significant portion of humans on this Earth have never been human at all? Whatever would that mean for the concept of ‘human?’

These questions are of keen interest to me. And part of that interest is what you think on the matter.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Keeps everything vague since this isn't his story to tell]

Well you know...if a human kills 1,000 demons they turn into a demon.

[that was safe! everyone knew that]

You mean to say that the most prolific destroyers of monsters will eventually become monsters themselves! Hahahhaa, what an interesting system. Nietzsche would be most amused, I am sure.

I...I guess.

Umm, who would be amused? It's not really funny...

Haha, a very intelligent man from my country once said that those who fight monsters run the risk of becoming monsters themselves. He meant to imply that the horror and violence of fighting evil threatened to corrupt the purest heart to evil. Yet in your world, the process sounds like it's quite literal! How intriguing.

I don't quite get what you said...but it sounded like you said Ha...a person who did that would be evil. And that's not true!

He's..they're not.

Then what does it mean to become a demon? What change takes place after the thousandth monster is slain?

Well you know...demons are powerful than humans. Stronger and stuff like that. And they've got pointy ears, fangs and claws.

Don't ya have any in your world?

Are there any in my world? Hahahahhaa, absolutely, yes! And they are much as you describe: strength, fangs, claws, unbelievable power and immortality. A monster, a demon is a creature capable of living forever and tearing other living beings apart like paper. But there's more than that.

These beings, these creatures of darkness, are completely lacking in soul and conscience. They are driven by an irresistable urge to destroy. They will butcher innocents without conscience. They will feed on blood, gorge themselves on other life. Even the immortal soul of their victim, they will corrupt or steal.

In accepting such power and becoming a demon, one forfeits all humanity! That is what I mean by 'monster.'

That's not true!

[Pauses as the major's words sink in and he struggles with them. Hadn't he just a few weeks before coming here done exactly that when his limiter had come off? But he wasn't like that now and he wasn't going to be ever again!]

I'm...It's not always like that!

What's this now? Oh, I am sorry! Have I touched a bit of a nerve?

[Spoilers he's not sorry]

No...

You know, I once saw a man become a demon. He was a holy man dedicated to all that was good in the world. And when he received immortality, he gained his power and his teeth and his claws. And with that power, he butchered an entire village. He fed on every single one of its people, people who had trusted him to guide and comfort them. He transformed all of them into his soulless army, a rotting horde of undead. They were all like puppets under his command, existing only to kill and kill.

[that affects him on so many levels...and he hasn't even met Hazel yet!]

[Another stricken pause as he turns all of that over. Holy man = Sanzo...how many demons had he killed by now? Had to be a lot. He couldn't even bear to think of it]

s...SHUT UP! That won't happen.

Demons don't have to be like that.

[translation: I don't have to be like that]

The only possible alternative I have seen is for the monster to become enslaved to a powerful human, to be wielded as a weapon. That is the only thing that can restrain the bloodlust of a demon: dominance by a human being with a strong will.

[If this were video you'd see his hand automatically reach for his demon power limiter...placed there by Sanzo, the human with the strongest will he's ever met.]

That's not right...

[now he knows you're completely wrong because that's not what Sanzo is like. The fear in his voice is replaced by pure snark]

If he needs someone else to fight for him then he's a pretty pathetic guy. Someone with strong will should be able to take care of themselves.

[Laughter] What a silly creature you are. Even the strongest-willed human cannot rip enemies into tiny pieces like even the weakest monster can. The strength of the human will is in its ability to choose. That is the strength a human master gives to a monster who would otherwise be nothing but an aimless beast.

I didn't get everything you said, but if ya ever tried to tell Sanzo he was weaker than all the demons we fight everyday he'd kick your ass!

44th Insane Speech // Voice

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