Author's Note - I really hate doing this, but for this chapter it's necessary to put this up here.

Yes, I know I expressed how religion is gonna be the central theme of this fanfiction, but midway through there's a LONG summary and analysis of the Biblical book of Job, a book that questions morality and divine justice. For context: when I began that summary, the word count was just 7k, and when I finished, it was at 15k, so over half this chapter (which now happens to be the longest I've ever written, yeesh) is literally the Book of Job retold. Believe me when I say that this book is one of my most favorite in the Bible.

So, unless you're really interested in knowing what the book is about, feel free to just skip ahead, there's a bunch of boldface text so once that ends that's where you can sort of get where you can pick up. You're missing out on a lot, but I'm not in charge of you, you have the power to choose and I'll respect that. If you read it, though, I'll really appreciate advice and criticism, I'm aware I may have misinterpreted here or there, but I've been writing this close to midnight so I'm a bit tired, so feel free to point stuff out in the reviews.

ANOTHER NOTE: The word "she-asses" is quoted during the portion about Job. To make ABSOLUTELY CLEAR: IT REFERS TO THE DONKEY, NOT THE SWEAR WORD USUALLY SAID THESE DAYS. There was different terminology back then, so I must clarify in case some guy pops up in the reviews and complains about that.

That's all, I'm yapping here too much, hopefully the chapter's a fun read... *cough*

Nishizumi Residence - the day after the Semifinals

What initially had started off as a civil discussion had turned into a shouting match between mother and daughter. Maho had started off the early morning meeting by politely expressing her feelings to Shiho, something she knew was against her conscience and her role as the heiress to the Nishizumi Style, but at this point, nearly everything was against her, so she didn't care anymore. She told her mother of how Miho's departure had made things significantly harder thanks to the absence of her much-needed abilities, how Erika was not making things better thanks to her diehard loyalty to the Nishizumi doctrine, causing some arguments between Commander and Vice-Commander over Miho, and, most importantly, how she could not allow herself, in her good conscience, to be the one to ruin Miho's life again. If she were to lead Kuromorimine to victory over Ooarai in a few days, the school would be gone, Miho's friendships would be gone, Miho's chances in a new life would be gone, and most importantly, Miho's being a part of the family would be gone.

"Please listen, Okaa-san! I cannot allow, in my good conscience, myself to do this to my sister! You know I love her very much, and-"

"Maho, are you saying that you are not going to fight?"

"I... just don't want this to be on my record, that I was the reason Miho is no longer going to be happy, that she is no longer a part of this family anymore. I don't want to be the reason that happens to Miho."

The thought of being the reason she would no longer have a sister was something Maho was refusing to entertain, and she wanted Shiho to know that. She knew that fact would stay with her for the rest of her life, plaguing her every day with the condemnation, "It's your fault your beloved sister is gone." That vision Maho received all those nights ago, of Erika and others kicking Miho about as if she were a soccer ball, her friends unable to help, and Shiho landing the death blow with the disinheriting, it had come back, again and again, despite Maho's best attempts to quell it. It never stopped coming, and it drove her closer to the breaking point. She needed an outlet soon, and this was her best option, forasmuch she wanted to communicate with Miho, Shiho had recently begun to regularly monitor Maho's activity on her devices for the sake of "focus on Sensha-do" or something along those lines, even though Maho knew the intention was to prepare her for the disownment that was to come, by her own hand, no less. Again, that thought of guilt was coming back.

"Maho. You are my eldest daughter. You are the one who is to succeed me when I eventually pass on into the next life. You are the one who will carry on my legacy and continue to preserve the Style as it has been passed down through the generations. You are the one whom everyone in this sacred art will look to, and to hear you say all of this, is an insult."

"I stand by what I say, Okaa-san, and I-"

"So, will you make the same mistake Miho made? Will you prioritize one over many? Will you focus on the smaller picture rather than the big picture? Will you allow yourself to stop in favor of something insignificant? Have you forgotten all that I have taught you? All those things you have learned, have you erased them from memory? Despite my efforts?"

"I... I-"

"Maho, please recite to me the Nishizumi Creed."

"Uhh... umm.."

"Well?"

"H... H-Hit the target... when you fire-"

"Do not pause or stutter. Be authoritative! Be confident!"

"Let your defenses be of iron, and advance in perfect order... That is the way of Nishizumi Style."

"You have allowed yourself to weaken your defenses. You have allowed self to come before family. You're making the advance fall out of order. You are missing the targets that I have given you. Is this your way of the Nishizumi Style?"

Shiho was unrelenting on her stances and rebuttals to Maho. All that her mother had strictly raised her in, all the teachings, countless lessons, disciplinary actions, memorizations, doctrines, books, words, all that Shiho would utilize as much as she could to defend not only herself, but the integrity of the family. To her, Miho was a heretic, anathema, some sort of terminal disease that was trying to destroy the family from within and cause its destruction. To her, Miho had betrayed the ideals of the Nishizumi Style, prioritizing the smaller prize over the greater prize, caring more for some doomed, foolish schoolgirls rather than what would've been the greatest moment in the school's entire history, throwing it away and ruining everything. She was the reason she had gotten herself into her current situation. She didn't care about the school, she only cared about friends, about those close to her that weren't in the family. Kuromorimine, for ten years, had fought, sweat, and toiled for this monumental victory, yet it all fell apart because Miho just had to abandon her flag tank and show weakness. It was dishonorable.

"We had that victory and your sister threw it away. Wake up, Maho, see what you've lost, what WE've lost!"

"All I've lost is the best thing to ever be in my life!"

"Don't tell me you miss Miho. Good riddance she's gone and you'll be the one to wipe that stain off our family name!"

"I refuse to do such a thing, even though she may have dishonored YOU, at least she's still the sister I know and love!"

"I can't believe what I'm hearing from you, Maho. I thought you were better than this."

So, here they were. The humane versus the ardent idealogue, one consumed by love and compassion for a dear sister and true life, the other emboldened by decades of doctrine and teaching passed down to her. Neither side was willing to back down, both convicted in their respective beliefs. It was a neverending duel of words and phrases, verbal blows being exchanged, blocked, and parried. For Maho, it was from the heart, for Shiho, it was from memory. It was only a matter of time before one side was going to break. Even as the clock passed the time for the start of classes, still the argument continued. The voices continued to rise in volume, higher and higher, initially all was going on while they were both seated, but soon both were standing, then getting closer to each other's faces. Maho was belting out as much as she could, letting out all her feelings, letting Shiho know what she felt, letting her know how badly she had been living ever since Miho left, how guilty she would be if she were to fight this upcoming battle, and how hurt she was by all of this, by all that she was being forced to go through. She wanted Shiho to know, and she knew she knew.

"Okaa-san! Look at what you're putting me through! I'm suffering, because of your ideology!"

"Then you are weak! You cave easily to pressure! You allow yourself to be overcome by all these insignificant factors! You should be ashamed of yourself, Maho!"

"If that is so, I am not ashamed! I am glad I am standing up for my sister! She did the right thing, and even you know it!"

"Do not come at me with your falsehood! She puts herself and her closest friends over the school! Over me! Over this family! That should be enough to tell you she shouldn't be a part of this family!"

"But she saved three of five! It ended up costing us the match, but she saved what was more important, that being human lives!"

"What we have sacrificed in our battles and practice is worth MUCH more than human lives! Many of your classmates' grades had suffered as a result of that tournament!"

"I don't care anymore, and I regret that I didn't jump in to help as well, so that the both of us could've saved all five!"

"Do not speak such heresy to me, Maho! Those lives shouldn't have gotten in the way of victory, one shouldn't stop advancing-"

"WHAT KIND OF A... A THINKING SYSTEM IS THIS, THEN?! ARE YOU SAYING THAT-"

"DO NOT RAISE YOUR VOICE TO ME AS SUCH, YOUNG LADY! YOU ARE SPEAKING TO YOUR MOTHER, NOT YOUR SUBORDINATE!"

"-THAT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT LIFE? YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT THE WELL-BEING OF OTHERS? YOU-"

"MAHO, THAT IS ENOUGH FROM YOU!"

"-YOU DON'T CARE EVEN IF I DIE, AS LONG AS THE SCHOOL IS VICTORIOUS?! YOU DON'T-"

"ENOUGH!"

Reclining her right arm, Shiho threw it with all her might at Maho, who was too passionate in her screams to react in time. The stiffened palm made contact, with a force so powerful it knocked Maho straight unto the floor, sweeping her completely off her feet and throwing her to the ground with a great crash, the sound loud enough to be heard throughout the entire city. Kikuyo, who had earlier been alerted to the commotion, and seeing how heated things had grown, rushed to Maho's side to comfort her. Contrary to the gradual buildup of the arguing, the screaming and shouting were brought to an abrupt halt, replaced with complete silence, save for Maho's groaning at her throbbing pain and deep breathing from Shiho. Maho's cheek was flushed completely red, a mark manifesting itself as time passed. Shiho never shifted her gaze away from Maho, not seeming to acknowledge the presence of Kikuyo, who had just bore witness to something so contrary to the personalities of these family members. It was only to Maho's eyes that Shiho's eyes were locked onto, and Maho's eyes appeared to stare straight back, equaling the same enmity in Shiho's eyes.

Maho, in reality, could barely see, the effects of the strike now taking its toll on her, the left cheek now starting to swell. Her brain had been shaken, and that eerie, gloomy feeling that could only be felt after being struck and following a shock was settling into her. This was a surreal experience, as she had never been slapped, at least by her mother, in her whole life. Throughout her eighteen years of life, Maho followed her mother's teachings to the letter, obeying every order, doing her best to ensure that what was required from and expected of her would not be lacking. She had done well in pleasing Shiho in everything she did, and always succeeded in meeting expectations and never disappointing, and with Miho by her side, it was easy going for the both of them. The two always made Shiho proud, and they were proud of it themselves. So much so was this way of living that the thought of striking her daughters was something Shiho abhorred, but that all changed after the 62nd Tournament. After the drama of the Finals and Miho's departure for Ooarai, Maho's eyes had really been opened, leaving the darkness of her careless doctrines and stepping out into the sunshine of reality. But now, it was different.

Now, here she was, experiencing the first slap in her whole life, and a powerful one at that. However, instead of feeling emnity and anger at her mother, Maho felt a strange sense of dominion, a sense of having been brought under authority. And for the first time in a long time, she was scared, alongside her shock. This hadn't happened before, and if this was how badly it felt to be hit like that, Maho didn't want to experience something like that a second time. As much as she wanted to speak up again, thoughts of another, more powerful slap incoming were starting to infest Maho's mind, discouraging her from making such a stance in front of her mother again. That slap had given her a good lesson in loyalty, and it seemed to stick with her. Those thoughts were bombarding Maho's mind, of punishment for disloyalty and disobedience, how rebellion was not to garner excellent results, and how this was her repayment of how her mother had raised her, how she had cared for her, nursed her, and educated her throughout her life. She was unable to speak, simply lying against Kikuyo as her face grew more swollen, the room remaining eerily silent.

For over a minute, the scene remained the same as both parties collected themselves, the storm coming to a close as the clouds drifted away to enact punishment in another place, content with their destruction. In Maho, it seemed that all of her passion had been forced out of her by the slap, and for Shiho, all of her energy had been exerted into that slap, leaving both tired. After a while, Kikuyo broke the tense silence by quietly stating the time, hoping that her little verbal intrusion wouldn't redirect Shiho's anger towards her. Fortunately, it didn't. Instead, Shiho appeared to revert back to her normal stoic, composed, cold self, with all sense of anger and passion replaced by the usual indifferent tone she had always used in public, to the point you could barely tell she had just been in the most heated argument of her whole life. Checking her watch, Shiho visually confirmed Kikuyo's report, and after taking another long gaze at Maho, who was starting to recover from the shock and stand back up, still clutching her throbbing, swollen cheek, she gave her simple instructions.

"Prepare for school, you're already late. I hope you've learned your lesson here."

"Y... Yes... Okaa-san..."

"Should anyone question what happened to your face... well... put it off as an accident. Make of that what you will."

"Yes, Okaa-san."

"Practices will be doubled from now on until the Finals, from lunchtime to the end of classes. You will be given more schoolwork in consequence, but I trust that the Nishizumi Style will not fail you."

"It... won't, Okaa-san."

"Good. Now go, I do not wish to speak of this matter again. Good day."

As Maho clutched her swollen cheek as she headed for the first day of classes, she pondered on the events of that morning, never giving any thought to what she would tell Erika or Koume or any other curious students. She had stood up for what she thought was right, and yet it had resulted in this. Where the day before she had determination to stand up for what she believed in, here she was starting to express regret and shame, and a conviction to stay true to her mother's principles no matter what, unless she wanted to experience that again, and if it was worse, maybe even cause damage to her head. It was a hard lesson, and Maho had learned well from it. It would seem that she wouldn't be going against her mother's wishes anytime soon.

Ooarai Girls' Academy

"Four more days..."

"I don't want to think about it, I wanna keep doing these dinners."

"Miho, are you sure we can win this?"

"As confident as we are right now, how can we be sure that we can even stand a chance?"

"Look, Anzu-san, Momo-san, Yuzu-san... we've made it this far. We've defied convention in our battles, we've fought our way out of impossible situations, I'm sure we can win."

"But this is Kuromorimine, and worse, your very own sister is leading them! And I know you're mom's probably pissed with you, so we're in for a harder fight than against Pravda."

"And even with our new additions, we'll still be heavily outnumbered. It's going to be an eight-on-twenty, and we're the underdogs, again."

"Cursed be these Federation guidelines! Make an amendment, or something, this is unfair!"

"Relax, Momo-chan... Miho-san is still in control, so we won't have to worry..."

"Now, I'm not trying to sound defeatist here, but what do you think will happen in the event we lose, other than our school shutting down?"

"Well, I don't really know. Maybe I'll just go to Continuation, I've become good friends with Jouko-san-"

"No, Miho! Don't you realize? We've come this far, we've got a bunch of supporters, I don't think we'll be going down so easily!"

"Prez... you're right! Our supporters! We have a lot of them, don't we?"

"Indeed, look at this!"

Yuzu activated the laptop, and after navigating to the website she desired, pulled up several pictures and videos that had originated from all across Japan. Ooarai's symbol was all over, people dressed in the colors of Ooarai, some even wore their Sensha-do outfit or school uniform, some were even crazy enough to wear anglerfish costumes, much to Anzu's amusement, and those crowds were big. There were, of course, the counter-rallies of the Kuromorimine supporters, or those who just didn't want this upstart school to break the status quo. It was clear, however, that even if Ooarai lost the match, they wouldn't really be closing given how much opposition there would be to such a move. The only thing they had to hope for in the event of an Ooarai defeat was that the pressure would be enough to make Renta change his mind and allow Ooarai to keep on going, though it would be much better to have to avoid that drama by taking home the championship flag.

"Well, win-win situation, in that case! Hopefully..."

"I hope so, too, Momo. I say we keep this a secret between us, the team is pretty motivated to win after our revelation, and if we give them these facts they're likely to ease up, which is what we don't want at this time. We need that drive to push us to win. Say, 'drive,' heh, get it?"

As Anzu munched on another dried potato while the others groaned, Miho's phone suddenly gave a short vibration. Checking to see what it was about, she saw that Jouko had left her a voicemail.

"E-excuse me, I have to go back to my room."

"No worries! You're fine to leave."

Withdrawing to her room, Miho closed the door and played the voicemail, listening as she sat on her bed.

"Good evening, Miho. Sorry I couldn't inform you earlier, our departure was a bit rushed.

We've left Continuation for a few days as we've been summoned to fight in an exhibition match against Alice Shimada, yes, THE Alice Shimada, in a one-on-one, in front of the ENTIRE UNIVERSITY. I know, this may sound like I'm crazy, but literally, I've been invited for this!

We originally were going to depart on the day of the match, but given the crew and I wanted to leave earlier, for varying reasons, we did, and we've been allowed to stay in one of the University's dormitory rooms. Everyone, including myself, loves it, we could stay here forever, but I digress.

I'm leaving you this voicemail just to let you know that I can't do studies tonight, but since we've been doing these so frequently for the past few weeks, and seeing that you've been getting more comprehensive and active with me during the studies, I trust you can do some self-studying every night until I get back. If you need anything, don't be shy to call me or leave a voicemail so I can offer some assistance. Don't forget what you've studied, and good luck in the Finals, I know it's pretty stressful getting ready for it, but I'll re-iterate, don't forget what you've studied with me. Most importantly, stay faithful with God, with Him, nothing is impossible.

So, I'd better get going. Chiyo-san's invited the crew and I to a private dinner with her and Alice. Hopefully your studies go well, I'll hope to communicate again tomorrow. God's blessings on you, Miho-san!"

Miho was stunned at the news. Jouko had been invited to an exhibition match against Alice? This was the rarest of opportunities for Sensha-do participants, an honor that was reserved for the greatest in the sport, and even at the University, those who received this honor were few and far between, it almost never happened! For context, All-Stars University boasted a grand total of over 12,000 students living within its massive campus, yet the chances of one crew out of that many being selected for a one-on-one with Alice, and even rarer, with Chiyo, was rare; sometimes, it took years for a crew to prove themselves to qualify for the one-on-one, and the vast majority of those who had been selected for the honor were students of the University, and from that demographic it was mostly those who were close to graduating that got that honor. The Nishizumi family never had this feature, meaning that the Shimadas were the highest honor one could receive, even higher than winning a championship for ten years straight. While there was no prize for winning as it was just an exhibition match, but even so this was a very prestigious honor.

Then, she considered her own situation. Where Jouko was receiving the highest honor a regular girl could ever dream of, she was about to fight the match that would make or break her future. Where Jouko was fighting a regular, no-stakes, very esteemed and prestigious match, Miho was fighting a battle that had the highest stakes she could ever imagine. She began to consider it rather unfair at how much better Jouko's situation was compared to her, and thoughts of jealousy began to be sown into her mind, thoughts that she tried to repress, but never could fully repress, and it was reasonable. Why was it that Jouko got something very good, while she was on the verge of losing something important to her? Feeling frustrated at her circumstances compared to her theological mentor's, Miho decided to just talk to Jouko to make her feelings clear, and explain how bad things were for her and why she was feeling jealous and all that. Dialing the number onto her keypad, Miho pressed it to her ear and waited for the reply. If there was none, she might as well just leave a voicemail and wait for a reply. Fortunately for her, she got a reply.

"Miho-san? Didn't expect you, what's the deal?"

"Jouko-san, I... want to ask why you get good things and I get bad."

"What do you mean?"

"You get to fight this match of high honor and prestige, I'm going to fight a very difficult battle to save my school from closure."

"Oh... well... sorry if I... you know..."

"It's fine, I just need to know why these things are happening to us, I do feel a bit jealous right now."

"Well, I'm a bit preoccupied at the moment, getting ready for bed, but I'll just leave you with an answer that might just help."

"Does it involve the Bible?"

"Right on target, start reading the Book of Job, just the first two chapters; that's all I'll say."

"Will we study more of that book?"

"Of course! It's a very good book, I'm telling you, but just stick with the first two chapters for now, though feel free to read the whole thing if you like!"

"Okay, thanks, Jouko-san."

"Anytime, Miho-san, goodnight!"

"Goodnight..."

As Miho set down the phone, she picked up her Bible and began to read the book of Job as Jouko wished.

The book was about a man named Job, who lived in a distant land named Uz, which was located either in Aram or Edom, somewhere in the Middle East. Job was described as an extremely wealthy, prosperous man who fathered ten children - seven sons and three daughters, and was a man who "feared God, and eschewed evil", as the Bible put it, being devout as he offered burnt offerings according to the amount of them, as he considered the possibility that they had sinned, cursing God in their hearts. His plentiful possessions included seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred female donkeys. So vast was Job's wealth and possessions that the Bible said of him, "This man was the greatest of all men of the east."

In Heaven, the "sons of God", angelic beings, were presenting themselves before God when the Satan emerged from them and challenged Job's piety, saying Job was only so because he was being given all of this wealth and prosperity. Therefore, the Satan proposes to test this assumption: God will allow the Satan to revoke all of Job's wealth and possessions to see whether he was truly faithful unto Him, or whether the Satan's assumption was correct, and Job was only faithful due to his prosperity; for if the latter possibility came to pass, then Job would curse God for his afflictions. God agrees to allow Satan to rain affliction on Job, but only if Job remained untouched, that is, no physical harm was done to him. And Satan did exactly that, and he was thorough with his punishments.

Job's children were away dining at the eldest's house when the messengers began to arrive bearing the horrible news. First, Sabean raiders killed the servants tending to the oxen and donkeys and took them all away, the messenger being the only one to escape the slaughter. The next messenger, also a sole survivor, reported how fire rained down from above and burned up the sheep and the servants tending to them. After that, three bands of Chaldeans attacked, killing the servants tending to the camels, which were taken away, and like the others, he was the only one who escaped. Just like that, all of Job's wealth was gone, but the worst was yet to come, for as the third messenger was finishing his report, a fourth came. The words that escaped his mouth were, by far, the hardest blow to Job, incomparable to the rest of the reports.

"Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee."

At this, Job finally broke, having lost everything - his wealth and children, but not in the way you would expect. Tearing his garments and shaving his head, Job fell to the ground, and instead of cursing and hurling insults and accusations at God like you would usually expect, he worshipped Him.

"Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

But that wasn't the end. Again, the sons of God presented themselves and again the Satan appeared, and this time, he wanted to make sure Job would curse God. He wishes to finish off Job by inflicting on him a painful physical punishment, saying that this would be what would make Job break and curse God, proving that Job wasn't as devout as God originally thought. Once again, God acquiesces to the Satan's challenge, as long as Job's life would be spared, and the Satan departs to do his grim work. Unleashing his terrible punishment, Satan imparts on Job many terrible, painful boils that cover him from head to toe. Grabbing a potsherd, a shard of ceramic material, he painfully scraped off his boils, and sat in ashes. His wife chastised him, questioning how he maintained his integrity in the face of all this, and that it was better if Job just cursed God and died.

Job, however, remained faithful.

"Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?"

Later, Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite would join him in solidarity, to comfort and mourn with him. For seven days and seven nights, none of them spoke a single word, as they saw how grieved Job was. With that, the stage was set for the great dialogues between Job and his three friends that would comprise the Book of Job.

Miho finished reading the final words of the second chapter, feeling very moved. Despite all of his afflictions and sufferings, Job never cursed God. He never laid the blame on God for what was happening to him, never insulted Him, never expressed anger and rage, remaining faithful and pious. He never asked why this was happening to him, and although his grief was great, not the slightest offense he committed. Miho wondered why Job was like this, why when everything was against him, he never broke his faith in God. Why was this? That reply, too, puzzled Miho. It seemed that Job was willingly accepting everything that was happening to him, and that was something a normal person wouldn't do. She had to get more answers once again, but she knew that Jouko was likely already asleep, meaning she would have to wait until the next morning to get those answers she wanted.

At first, Miho decided to simply call it day and set down the Bible, intending to just get ready for bed and go to sleep to prepare for the next day, and get those questions of hers answered, but all of those questions were still burning in her mind. As she was brushing her teeth, her mind beckoned her to continue on with the book, to see if it would answer her questions about it, and those questions about herself and her situation, and soon enough, curiosity had gotten the better of her. After dressing in her nightwear, Miho walked back to her desk and reopened the Bible back to the Book of Job, and continued past chapter 2, beginning chapter 3, where the dialogues between Job and his three friends would first begin with the lamentations of Job, who, although not cursing God, instead cursed the day when he was born and expressed how he longed for death, but it never came, which led to the rebuttals of his friends, who accused him of sinning.

For the rest of the night, even past midnight, Miho read the Book of Job, pondering every verse she read in the remaining chapters of the book. She read Job's lamentations for his suffering, of his three friends' reasons for his suffering, and Job's ardent defenses against their accusations, going so far as to attack his friends, referring to them as "miserable comforters". She read how Job moved away from his pious attitude at the beginning of the book to doing what the Satan wanted him to do when he first inflicted his punishments on Job. Job, facing intense pressure and distress from these circumstances he was now in, began to attack God, accusing Him of what was happening to him, launching verbal attacks against Him, berating Him for his unjust suffering and misery. If you were to compare this Job with the Job from the beginning of the book, one could say that they were two different persons, and that was what Miho thought when she realized it.

In his scathing accusations and attacks Job said that that God was suffocating him, that He would not leave him alone "till I swallow down my own spittle." Another accusation that God was not forgiving him for his sin, that He was not pardoning him for his transgressions, but instead placing a mark on him, as if He were targeting him specifically, to make himself a burden against himself, purposefully doing all of this for the sake of punishment, that He was wrathful and angry against him, counting him as His adversary and destructive to his body, in Job's words, "He breaketh me with breach upon breach, He runneth upon me like a giant." But Job wasn't finished with his accusations here; he attacked God's governorship of the universe, pointing out something that was very familiar to Miho's questions before she called Jouko. Job was saying that so much evil was going on in the world: stealing, murder, poverty, desperation, thirst, hunger, yet God seemingly didn't pay any attention to those who prayed for deliverance.

Following this, there was a poem, a "hymn of wisdom," and why it was not able to be accessed. A great burst of metaphor and parable comprised what immediately followed the dialogues. The question for the hymn of wisdom was centered around where wisdom was to be found.

"Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it. Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone. He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death. The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men. As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire. The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold. There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen: The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots. He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing. He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.

But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me. It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air. Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof. For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven; To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure. When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder: Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."

After this hymn to wisdom, Job again attacked God, beginning by detailing his prosperity before all these afflictions had been brought upon him, how respected and admired he was, how just of a man and honorable of a figure he had been, and wishing that he were still as he had been before.

Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!

The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down. I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

Now, he detailed how far he had fallen in the eyes of society. Where there had been respect, there was disregard. Where there was admiration, there was ignorance. Where he had been prosperous, he now was no better than the poorest beggar in the city.

But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished? For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste. Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat. They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;) To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks. Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together. They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.

And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword. They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face. Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me. Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction. They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper. They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me. Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.

With his comparisons between the past and the present completed, Job now lamented his own physical suffering, and again continued his assaults on God.

And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me. My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest. By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat. He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes. I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not. Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me. Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest my substance. For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living. Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction. Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?

When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness. My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me. 28 I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation. I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat. My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.

Finally, Job argued for his innocence, pointing out his purity and his guiltlessness from any possible sins he may have committed throughout his lifetime, and beckoned God to answer him.

I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high? Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity? Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity. If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands; Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out. If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door; Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her. For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges. For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb? If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;) If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate: Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone. For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; If I rejoice because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much; If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above. If I rejoice at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul. If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied. The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.

If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom: Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door? Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book. Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me. I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him. If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain; If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life: Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley.

With these lamentations of Job finished, and the three friends unable to answer since Job was righteous in his own eyes, a new character enters the scene: Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite. He had listened in to this entire exchange, the monologues and rebuttals from both sides, and he was angry. He was angry and wrathful at both sides of the argument. He was angry at Job because he justified himself instead of justifying God, an act of selfishness, and against the three friends, because they were unable to find any answer to Job's monologue, yet still had the gall to condemn Job. Although he was younger than the four, which was the reason he allowed Job to finish his remarks, Elihu, seeing that the three friends were not responding, was so angry that he decided to step in and give his own opinion to hopefully knock some sense into these older people, and what a message Elihu had for them.

Elihu first set his verbal sights on the three friends by pointing out how they were unable to convince Job that they were right and he was wrong, or even give any answer to his words, since it would make them admit that it was God who inflicted the punishment on Job, instead of Job himself through sinning.

I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.

Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion. Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say. Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words: Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.

Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches. They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking. When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;) I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion. For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me. Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles. I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.

Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.

With his criticisms of the three friends dealt with, Elihu now turned to Job, and his criticisms were much longer in comparison to that of the three friends.

Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words. Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up. Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay. Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.

Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth: He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak. If thou hast anything to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee. If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.

Elihu next comes to the defense of God, affirming His justice and righteousness.

Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good. For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression. What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. 9or he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

Therefore hearken unto me ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world? If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust. If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands. In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand. For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead. Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed. He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways: So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest. Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me. Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men. For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

Elihu returned to Job and his friends, arguing against Job's notion that he was sinless and that God wasn't answering him out of malicious intent.

Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's? For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin? I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.

Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou. If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.

By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty. But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night; Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.

Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him. But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity: Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

Turning back to his defense of God, Elihu pointed out many of God's attributes.

Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf. I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.

But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place. Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth. He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth. After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places. Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north. By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge? How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind? Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass? Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. Shall it be told him that I speak? If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

The book brings the words of Elihu to a sudden halt as chapter 37 segues into chapter 38. A great whirlwind suddenly forms, and speaking through its stormy gale is none other than God Himself, granting Job's request for answers and directly addressing him just as he wished. In his response, God unleashed a series of questions about all of Creation, questions that He knew that Job were unable to answer.

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all. Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof? Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?

Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are? Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?

Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?

Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth? They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows. Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.

Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing. Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?

Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him? Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?

Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich? Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust, And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not her's: her labour is in vain without fear; Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding. What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.

Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible. He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place. From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off. Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.

Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Job, utterly humbled, and left unable to answer all the questions God had fired at him, could only respond with reverence, humility, awe, and humiliation, expressing his inability to respond.

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

God continued on, challenging Job further, and speaking of two mighty, unrestrainable beasts, Behemoth and Leviathan, whom God was able to restrain, unlike mankind.

Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty. Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him. Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret. Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron. He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him. Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play. He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens. The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about. Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth. He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.

Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee? Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants? Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?

Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more. Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me? Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.

Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle? Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about. His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal. One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered. By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth. In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him. The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved. His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.

When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves. The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon. He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble. Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear. Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire. He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary. Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.

As God finishes, Job has been utterly subdued. He has now discovered the almighty power of God, and his own weakness is revealed to him. He had been so quick to accuse God of wrongdoing, that he was righteous and that God was treating him unjustly, yet in reality, he knew little, woefully little, literally nothing compared to what God knew. Recognizing his grave errors, Job retracted his statements, and repented.

I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

With that, God turned His wrath on the three friends, commanding they offer a burnt sacrifice as Job prayed for them, prayers God would accept; otherwise, they would be dealt with, for like Job, they had spoken wrongly of God. This they did, and God accepted their repentances.

Following these events, the book ends on a rather high note as it tells how God turns Job's life around once again and restores not just all he had before, but twice as much as he had before. This time, he now has fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand female donkeys. His children were restored as they had been, seven sons and three daughters, the latter of which are actually named - Jemima, Kezia, and Kerenhappuch, who ended up being the most fair women of all the land, and it is further mentioned that Job gave inheritance to all his children.

With all this, Job lived to the age of 140, seeing four generations before his passing, "being old, and full of days."

Thus ended the Book of Job.

As Miho finished, a strange sense of emptiness entered her. She was struggling to figure out everything in the book, and you couldn't blame her. The book was a book of the philosophy of morals, of good and evil, why evil was permitted. Although it didn't answer Job's questions about why there was evil in the world or why God allowed sufferings to be heaped upon him, it did point out the foolishness of having assumptions, and coming up with conclusions without knowing everything. It also further established God's divine power, which, compared with Job's, was infinitely larger.

Miho, in the immediate aftermath of finishing the book, however, was exhausted. Not only was it so long to read, almost three hours, she had also spent much time thinking over the verses, trying to comprehend herself some of the meanings she found, with varying difficulty. Checking her clock, she was startled to find out it was almost four in the morning, WAY past her bedtime. She needed all the rest she could get, so she immediately rushed to get her eyes shut as fast as possible to get what remaining sleeping time she had left. Quickly placing the Bible on her nightstand, Miho rushed to her bed, said a quick prayer, pulled the covers over her, turned off her lamp, and drifted off to sleep, falling into dreamland within minutes.

Continuation school carrier - hours earlier

"Come on, Jouko-san, let me go as well! I wanna see you fight!"

"Sorry, Linder, but it's only reserved for us four and the University students. Outside of those, nobody else can attend."

"But, what will I do while you're gone?"

"Just keep doing what you've been doing. Study the Bible well, pray as much as you can, morning, noon, and night, make sure to keep your spiritual life active, just keep a close relationship with God, of course. In addition to that, keep up the practice, and try to get creative while you're at it. You'll be fine."

"O...okay. I'll pray about it, don't worry."

"Awesome, I'll see you in a while?"

"Yeah, I will! Good luck!"

"Heh, don't mention it-"

"Lofstrom, don't ruin the moment!"

"Aw, c'mon, at least let me-"

"Quit it, you two, we've got a match to fight! See ya, Lindy!"

With the Sturmi and all its needed supplies loaded into the Federation-owned transport helicopter, the Sturmi crew boarded the helicopter early in the morning, some time before sunrise. It was supposed to be the day of the match the crew were supposed to leave, but the others wanted to go earlier, albeit for differing reasons. Hannes wanted to see the place, hearing much about it and growing very interested. Lofstrom wanted to try her hand in arm wrestling some of the students there and hauling some heavy shells just for the fun of it, Frisell wanted to talk to the students to help Jouko get some ideas, maybe even talk to Alice and even Chiyo along the way, and lastly, Jouko, although hesitant at first, saw the potential in such a visit, and it didn't take a genius to know what those intentions of hers were.

The sun was just starting to rise as the helicopter lifted off from Continuation's rather small airfield. From the window, the carrier appeared to shrink in size until it was only a tiny dot amidst a vast expanse of blue. Soon, it disappeared into the horizon. Another hour passed as the helicopter made its way to the Shimada Residence in Kyoto, with the crew deciding to pass the time by singing some hymns and other songs both in English and Finnish, much to the amusement of some of the crew. When they weren't singing, they were thinking of what it was going to be like in the most prestigious institution in Sensha-do, boasting a team that had beaten professional adults as of recently, and what their commander, a new adolescent at 13, was widely considered by enthusiasts as the greatest commander, both team and tank, alive, was like.

Soon enough, the mainland was in sight, and another hour passed before the arrival at the residence. Fortunately, no incidents had occurred during the flight, and even more so, given Lofstrom hated flying due to her fear of crashes. Looking out the left window, Jouko could see a light-brown-haired lady, wearing a black beret and an older-style red dress, wearing black gloves and carrying a fan, and accompanied by a girl who wore what Jouko presumed to be the All-Stars uniform, waiting just outside to greet them at the pad, alongside a rather large group of All-Stars students, likely eager to see who these eminent visitors, summoned out of the blue, were. Frisell was quick to explain who the two waiting outside were, and Jouko quickly started up a last-minute conversation on their greeters.

"So, I know about the adult battle, but just how good is she?"

"Very, very, very good. Not to brag, but just about as good as us, maybe even better."

"Yeesh. Now you've said that you've got me worried."

"Hannes, 'tis just an exhibition, not much more than that."

"Lofstrom, we're going to fight this out in front of the most legendary youngsters this sport boasts! This is MUCH more than an exhibition!"

"Don't get too worried, Hanny, we're not here for nothing."

The helicopter doors opened, and amidst a gust of wind, Jouko and crew stepped out with the help of some University personnel. After landing on the pad, Jouko looked down to make sure her feet were firm on the ground, before looking up. Immediately a sense of fear and nervousness overtook Jouko as the gravity of the situation weighed down on her. She was standing in front of one of the two faces of Sensha-do, revered by literally every practitioner on the planet, and right next to her was the one who defeated a superior foe just weeks ago. Yet, she looked so innocent, like a normal child, and she appeared very shy, as shy as Jouko was at that moment. She was clutching some beat-up bear plushie very tightly, and sticking close to her mother. Jouko deduced that it was because she was much taller than she was, she was even taller than her mother.

"Jouk, what are you doing, shake!"

Slowly but steadily, Jouko extended her hand, appearing very serious. The lady extended in return, and the two grasped hands. There was silence during the shake, but after seeing Jouko's mouth was silent, Chiyo decided to begin the conversation, hoping to make her visitors feel more at ease.

"Now, let's relax a bit. I'm Chiyo Shimada, and this is my daughter, Alice."

"N...N-Nice to meet you..."

"An equal pleasure, I expected you'd be here much later. But, it is what it is. Alice, mind greeting our visitor as well?"

Alice very shyly extended her own hand, further burying her face into the doll she was carrying. Jouko shook her hand as well, but quickly let go as Alice began to tug on it. The rest of the crew took their turns, some nervous, some more confident.

Once all was said and done, Chiyo directed the entourage to the private car that would transport them to their residences at the University. It was the first time the crew had been to Kyoto, so Chiyo decided to act as a little tour guide along the way, to give her visitors some education about the city, as well as to pass the time and ensure nobody got bored, inserting some of her usual wit and humor into her sentences to prevent boredom and to keep her listeners active and attentive, all while Alice stared out the window, trying to see the landmarks of the city, as well as a glimpse of some images of Boko or a Boko store. She spoke about Kyoto's status and history as the previous capital of Japan before it was moved to Tokyo, of how the powerful Shoguns took their seats here, of how it had been one of, if not, the primary focus of the Sengoku period. Many of the most famous figures in Japanese history had taken their seats in this city, from Nobunaga to Hideyoshi to the many Tokugawa, the latter's rule effectively unchallenged until the Boshin War that toppled the Shogun's authority and paved the way for Japanese imperial ambitions and modernization, with the country reopened to world trade and access.

The mention of the Tokugawa, however, caused Jouko to cringe. They had all read and heard of how the Tokugawa had persecuted the Christians in Japan, who had emerged from the Nanban trade with the Portuguese, torturing and killing hundreds, perhaps up to thousands of converts, forcing the survivors into caves to stand a chance of survival, or recant their beliefs by stepping on a fumi-e, an image of Christ and the Virgin Mary. The persecutors' methods ranged from crucifixion to "Ana-tsurushi", a torture method where the victim was placed hanging from the feet into a hole filled with excrement at the bottom, with the victim's forehead being cut to allow the head's blood pressure to decrease, the victim staying as such until he or she either recanted or died. Every time Jouko read or heard about these persecutions, it sickened her, yet one couldn't help but admire the courage and devotion of those killed, but she also lamented those who had "broke". Many converted Christians had submitted to the authority of the Shogun, stepping on the fumi-e and thereby apostatizing, saving their lives, but recanting their Christianity. This would continue until the Meiji Restoration and the reopening of the country to the rest of the world after centuries of isolationism.

Now, Christianity was legal, no persecution, at least from the government, would be taking place anytime soon, but it was woefully small, comprising less than 2% of the demographic's religious affiliations. Japan was dominated by the Shinto and Buddhist religions, some practitioners of said religions practicing both at the same time, with the rest being other tiny religious groups, which included Christianity. The rest were irreligious or atheist, and that comprised the majority, around three-fifths of the population, making Japan one of the most irreligious countries on the planet. The ground seemed ripe for a sowing and harvest, there so many souls to win, so many lives that were at stake, and they did not know it, remaining oblivious as they went on with their daily lives, as if they were asleep and needed to be woken up. Many efforts had been made and were being made, but it was clear that more workers were needed to bring the harvest home. Christianity was not growing, and if it was, it wasn't growing fast enough. Jouko may not be the one to change everything, but at least she would join the workers in gathering as much wheat as possible before the day drew to a close and the workers would stop working, finished with their tasks.

Those thoughts of harvest, however, had barely entered Jouko's mind when the sight of the gigantic All-Stars University campus began to appear in the distance. It was unlike anything she had ever seen. It wasn't a school carrier, but it could very well be one. It seemed so big it could even be it's own prefacture, buildings and dormitories as far as the eye could see. In the center stood three flagpoles flying the flags of Japan, the Federation, and All-Stars' own. It was more isolated from society, though its students were allowed to leave the campus, if they had permission, to buy goods, eat at restaurants if they didn't like the cafeteria food, something that never happened, or to visit family if there was a great emergency. Otherwise, you wouldn't find a student that wasn't inside the campus, as discipline was very much a major staple of the University as much as Sensha-do was to the Headmistress, that being Chiyo. Jouko was still thinking about the Japanese persecutions by the time the entourage had arrived at the University, and as she continued her thoughts, the other crew members were discussing and gawking over the university.

"...and, it seems we have finally arrived."

"Wowee! Massive place!"

"Eh, Continuation's bigger."

"So, Chiyo-san, will we be touring the University as well?"

"Yes, and as a matter of fact, this will be your residence until your departure."

"Wait, we're staying at the University itself?!"

"No way, I heard their dorms are the best dorms in Japan!"

"Oh, I can't wait! How about you, Jouko?"

Jouko's mind was diverted from her thoughts regarding the persecutions as she laid eyes in front of the University for the first time in her life, and instantly was awed to utter submission. It was teeming with dozens, maybe hundreds of students, all gathered at the fences to see their visitors. The others who had waited at the residence took buses back, and as the honored guests exited the car, many shouted greetings and salutations to them, giving them enthusiastic welcomes as they made their way across the open pathway leading to the main administration building. All around them, cameras flashed, both from students and press alike who wanted to get their memo from this visitation, knowing how big of an event this was.

Jouko and the others kept looking ahead, covering their eyes from the massive and excessive amounts flashing lights. The noises and sounds that accompanied this blindness were utterly deafening, rendering each of them unable to hear what Chiyo or any of them were saying at that moment, and only the loud Hannes was audible, and even then it was barely possible to hear her. It was only after passing through several buildings and arriving at the dormitory for four that they could get a moment of respite from the otherwise chaotic environment around them. After a few minutes, the crowds outside gradually dissipated, allowing the crew to really get some rest from the day and get started at getting comfortable in their new room, though they knew their troubles here were far from over.

Author's note: If you actually read through that Job analysis, you can notice that I say that Job attacks God, accuses Him, etc.; I know this sounds like a cheap excuse, and it is, but when you consider the context of Miho's current journey to Christianity so far in the story, you can consider the analysis from her own perspective. It is incorrect, I know, but it can show that Miho is trying to "help herself" with studying the Bible. She is new, not that matured, and not good at it yet, but with the proper "nourishment" and guidance she'll be able to be her own theologian, coming up with what should be right and not contrary to Scripture, all that stuff. Hopefully you'll understand, and this can give a new perspective to the story, as I am unfortunately too lazy to rewrite over 8k words. I know, I suck.

That's all, thanks for reading and Panzer Vor.