Match 38: By: Thomas Singleton

The Nakamoto Tower was the largest skyscraper in the Shibuya district. Unlike in America, where there were antitrust laws, Japan was a free-for-all. To the Japanese, business is war, and the Nakamoto Corporation was one of the best. Unlike the rest of the world, the Nakamoto Corporation considered Godzilla and others like him to be an opportunity. Whenever these titans rampaged through a Japanese settlement, the Nakamoto Corporation arrived to clean up the mess and reap the benefits. In return, they quickly became one of the wealthiest companies of the 21st century. To symbolize their rising success, they fashioned one of the greatest skyscrapers ever constructed. Its design was state of the art. Like most skyscrapers in Japan, it was built to survive many natural disasters. The company’s chairman, Mr. Nakamoto, once boasted it was strong enough to support a kaiju without faltering. Many laughed. But few laughed when one monster decided to put his claim to the test.

King Kong sat atop the Nakamoto Tower, surveying the sprawling city. Dark skies clung to the heavens. Yet the city was alit with luminescent lights. Kong squinted, blinded by its shimmering beauty. Hundreds of feet below, thousands of people flooded the streets, searching for shelter. Some were trampled by the stricken mob, while others were abandoned by their loved ones. Kong observed them with disgust. Be it on an island or in a metropolis, humans were savages. Save one. Kong snorted, preferring not to think about her. Though primitive in nature, Kong understood the concept of love. That’s what he felt when she came into his life. That’s what happened when beauty loved the beast. But she’s gone now.

She left him alone in this cruel world.

In the distance, an explosion shook the region. Kong watched the ball of fire rise into the night sky before turning into a dark plume. Out of the smoke, a giant emerged. Its tail flailed behind it, flattening buildings. On its back, three rows of spines jutted outward. Kong gritted his teeth, recognizing the leviathan stomping toward him. Multicolored lights bathed the behemoth, contracting with its black flesh. Godzilla shrieked as he destroyed several power generators. Kong looked on as all the lights around Godzilla went out. Darkness masked Godzilla as he stalked closer, the steady pace of his footsteps sounding like thunder. It must’ve been a terrifying experience for the people on the streets. One moment, there’s enough light to show you the way. The next, it is pitch black, and the earth is shaking in the wake of a giant. King Kong stood upright, pounding his chest in defiance. Godzilla stopped, curling his upper lip. In the past, kaiju avoided Godzilla at all cost. Some were brave. Few survived to see another day. So why is this giant ape mocking him? Does it wish to die? Godzilla stomped closer, eager to grant King Kong’s wish.

There was a glow in the sky. At first it was as faint as a distant star. But it soon became brighter. Godzilla stopped. Both Godzilla and Kong stared at the flying object. The object stopped above the ground, spinning like a flying saucer. Blue-whitish light streaked out of its side. It stopped spinning. Before falling to the ground, the streaks of light were replaced by thick geysers of smoke. Gamera reared its head out of its shell. His arms and legs stretched out seconds later. Gamera’s landfall rattled several blocks. Recognition flared in Godzilla’s eyes. It’s been over a year since Godzilla last fought him. That fight ended in a draw. Since then, Godzilla has searched the world for Gamera, slewing all that got in his way. At last he will have his vengeance. King Kong glared at Gamera. Unlike Godzilla, Kong never encountered this ‘Guardian of the Universe’ before. It didn’t stop Kong from hating him. The giant ape perceived all kaiju as a threat. Kong roared at the giant reptiles, daring them to make the first move.

Gamera didn’t move. He came here believing the planet was in peril. Instead of finding flocks of Gyaos, he found something else. Gamera knew neither Godzilla nor King Kong posed a threat to the planet. That meant Gamera came here under a false pretense. Before questioning his judgment, Gamera looked down at the frightened people. So that’s why he came. It’s because of the people! Gamera growled in frustration. Once upon a time, he shared a strong bond with humanity by connecting with a young girl. Her spirit gave him the strength to win and save another day. In time, the connection weakened him. To protect the planet, Gamera severed all ties to Man. This allowed him to fight to his fullest. So then why did he come to protect them now? Fighting Godzilla is no easy task. He nearly died the last time. Then there was the ape. Even if Gamera risked his life for these people, the resulting battle would still devastate the city. Many lives will be lost whether he protects them or not. But Gamera would soon realize he had no choice.

A blue-whitish beam lanced into his shoulder. Gamera shrieked as his flesh was torn by the destructive energies. Godzilla glowered at the injured tortoise, snarling in contempt. As he cried out into the night, Gamera wavered but did not fall. Before Godzilla could strike once more, King Kong pounced onto Godzilla, drilling him into the ground. Smoke and debris obscured the two dueling giants. Regaining his composure, Gamera’s dark eyes pierced the thick smoke, and watched as Kong battered Godzilla with his bone crushing fists. Godzilla’s painful cries could be heard for miles. In desperation, Godzilla reared up, biting Kong’s abdomen. Kong’s rage heightened. He slammed his fists into Godzilla’s face. Atomic energy imbued Godzilla’s dorsal spines with an eerie glow. Kong was no fool. He knew the glowing spines heralded Godzilla’s primary weapon. Kong jumped back right as Godzilla’s atomic beam shot out into the night. Its heat singed the hairs on Kong’s body, a testament of its power. Kong backed away, formulating a new plan of attack to take Godzilla down. But out of the corner of his eye, he saw Gamera standing behind him. Without hesitation, Kong charged Gamera. Gamera waited until the last second to swat Kong’s face, sending him crashing into a skyscraper. For the time being, Kong was out of the fight.

Godzilla started to rise. Gamera concentrated on his irradiated foe. Maybe in some other life, Godzilla could’ve been his greatest ally. Both have saved the world from vile monstrosities on many occasions. It was unfortunate neither could coexist. It was why Gamera regretted his next action. Fire crackled in Gamera’s gaping maw. An enraged Godzilla stood erect. As he faced Gamera, he could do nothing else but brace himself. Gamera discharged three fireballs. The first crashed into Godzilla’s chest, nearly toppling the atomic saurian. It left a steaming crater of flesh. The second hit the same place. Godzilla roared as fire engulfed his being. Against all odds, he remained standing. The third, however, brought him down. Burnt skin dangled off Godzilla’s fried chest. Godzilla lay sprawled on a street corner, groaning. Gamera wanted to fire another salvo. He lacked the energy to do so. Godzilla’s wounds started to heal. So did his strength. Once more, Godzilla started to rise. It seemed no level of punishment could keep him down. When Godzilla’s dorsal spines flashed, he immediately fired his atomic ray. Gamera felt it blaze into his chest plates. It was a pain Gamera remembered all to well. Unable to resist, Gamera lost his footing, and slammed his bulk into the street. Mounds of asphalt and dirt shot up, casting a thick cloud of dust over the fallen custodian. Godzilla wasted no time by closing in on Gamera, dorsal spines flashing. Godzilla blasted Gamera, caring little if his opponent was down and helpless. Gamera writhed as his high pitched wails screeched Godzilla’s ears.

Kong’s eyes slit open. He couldn’t see anything. His hands moved up, clenching whatever was impairing his vision. Quickly, Kong rose to his feet, finding a piece of a rooftop in his hands. It must’ve come from the skyscraper he crashed into. It’s then Kong felt the sweltering heat. The giant ape growled. It was that damned reptile again, Godzilla. To beat him, he’d need to somehow neutralize its atomic fire. To buy some time, Kong blindsided Godzilla by tossing the rooftop into his face. Godzilla stopped firing. He growled, jaws wide. Kong pounded his chest, challenging Godzilla like before. He was anticipating another atomic discharge. But Godzilla surprised him by charging instead. Kong felt the earth shake beneath him. Buildings wobbled as Godzilla closed in, claws outstretched. Gritting his teeth, King Kong ran to meet the reptile head on.

Two powerful monsters clashed in the heart of Shibuya.

Godzilla slashed Kong’s face with his claws. Blood trickled out of the claw marks. Kong ignored the pain by punching Godzilla’s mouth, rupturing a few teeth. In retaliation, Godzilla leaned over, smashing his head into Kong’s. Dazed, Kong lowered his guard. Godzilla lunged forward, eager to use his heavier mass to bring the ape down. But Kong had other plans. Kong duck low enough for Godzilla to move onto his shoulders. Then the ape showcased his incredible strength by lifting Godzilla up and chucking him over a few city blocks. When Godzilla made landfall, the impact made buildings crumble. King Kong pounded his fists in triumph. But it wasn’t over yet. Like before, Godzilla started to rise. Kong noticed his dorsal spines were glowing. The ape ran over, closing Godzilla’s jaws with his bare hands. Godzilla tried breaking free. Kong wouldn’t allow it. Godzilla felt the energy building up in his throat. He thrashed, knowing he couldn’t stop the buildup. Sharp claws slashed Kong’s hide. Warm blood seeped out of the wounds. Kong groaned yet kept a firm grip on Godzilla’s jaws. It looked as if Godzilla was about to be wiped out by the very power that gave him life. To avert this, Godzilla needed to redirect his energy.

Godzilla’s skin radiated an azure hued glow. Light streaked out of his pores. In a flash, a shockwave of heat exploded in all directions. Buildings within a one mile radius were wiped out. Godzilla stood alone on a street of molten slag. Ahead, his feral eyes found Kong buried in rubble. The putrid smell of scorched flesh assailed Godzilla’s nostrils. Caring little of Kong’s fate, Godzilla moved to dispatch Gamera. Unbeknownst to the lumbering giant, a Man stood in his path. Godzilla paid him no heed. He stomped forward, oblivious to the Man’s presence. Suddenly, columns of light enveloped his tiny figure. Taken aback, Godzilla stopped. As the light grew larger, so did the Man. Before long, Godzilla was standing face-to-face with Ultraman! Cold, primal eyes fixated onto their glowing enemy’s. Ultraman clenched his fists. At this point a confrontation was unavoidable. Ultraman knew Godzilla’s history all to well. Since his arrival, he had learned of Godzilla’s origins, how he plagued humanity. Countless lives have been lost. Cities have been devastated. In times of great peril, the King of the Monsters stunned the world by saving it from a greater threat. Ultraman didn’t care. A few good deeds cannot redeem a life of mayhem.

Ultraman punched Godzilla’s face. He then moved closer, delivering a chop to Godzilla’s neck. Godzilla fought to retain his balance. Ultraman used his faster reflexes to deliver multiple punches. Godzilla growled in annoyance, yet tried as he might, he could not land a single blow on his humanoid attacker. Atomic energy enriched Godzilla’s dorsal spines. Ultraman had only seconds to react. Godzilla spat his radioactive fire, demolishing a chain of restaurants. Having avoided thermonuclear pain, Ultraman jumped behind the atomic dragon and threw a spinning disc of energy into his torso. Godzilla stumbled forward, shattering windows with his painful shrieks. Smoke sizzled off his torso where burnt flesh dangled. Ultraman moved in to capitalize on Godzilla’s impending defeat. Godzilla heard his footsteps as he ran closer. He swished the air with his tail, striking Ultraman in his ribcage. Ultraman lessened the blow by catching it. It didn’t stop him from sliding across the street, ripping up the pavement with his feet. Godzilla stood there, trying to wrestle his tail free from Ultraman’s clutches. Both tried overcoming the other, neither noticing Gamera standing in front of Godzilla, his mouth churning fire. A single fireball singed the air, grazing Godzilla’s shoulder. It was not enough to make it explode. It kept going, until it struck Ultraman’s chest. An explosion consumed Ultraman, blinding Godzilla and Gamera’s eyes. Wounded, Ultraman lied in charred rubble. No longer distracted, Godzilla focused on the creature that merited his wrath.

Gamera fell forward, digging his claws into the broken terrain. Smoke blew down his arms and legs as they were sucked up into his shell. Godzilla lowered his head, unsure of Gamera’s motives. Geysers of smoke propelled Gamera upwards. In a flash, streaks of azure energy erupted forth, replacing the smoke. Gamera spun rapidly in midair, blowing cars and trees away. At last Godzilla understood what Gamera planned. He experienced in firsthand in their last battle. Having no way of evading it, Godzilla growled. Gamera spun forward in a burst of speed that belied his size. Ultraman regained consciousness right as Gamera hurtled his spinning shape into Godzilla’s skull. The collision sounded like a thunderclap. Godzilla crashed into a luxurious hotel, out cold. Gamera landed next to him, roaring in victory. Behind the victorious guardian, Ultraman showed no mercy. He crossed his wrists, forming a t-shape. His vertical hand unleashed an energy blast that cut into the back of Gamera’s head. Gamera jolted forward, burying his face into a skyscraper. Ultraman watched the creature warily, amazed it could still stand. When Gamera didn’t budge, Ultraman moved closer. Smoke steamed out of Gamera’s charred head. But getting closer was not a wise move. Gamera spun around, slashing Ultraman with his wrist blade. Ultraman stumbled but retained his equilibrium. There was no time to waste. Ultraman lunged at Gamera, avoiding the tortoise’s claws and wrist blades. Ultraman battered Gamera’s face. Gamera leaned down, clamping Ultraman’s shoulder with his tusks. Ultraman shouted in pain. Lacking the strength to break free, Ultraman manipulated his molecules by teleporting through dimensions.

He reassembled in another district. Gamera gazed at him, lacking the facial expressions to convey his surprise. Ultraman didn’t want to eliminate him. He knew of Gamera’s heroic actions, his war against Gyaos, the Shadow of Evil. In a way, it brought relief to Ultraman. There are others like him. There are other champions willing to throw away their lives for the greater good. So then why was Gamera here? It must’ve been a misunderstanding. They shouldn’t be fighting. They should be working together. Gamera felt differently. He’d sustained nasty wounds. If he died here, the Gyaos would swarm the planet. At this point, there’s no such thing as peace between monsters and galactic warriors.

A barrage of fireballs erupted forth. Ultraman rolled out of the way as each of them made impact. Explosions blossomed where apartments once stood. Maelstroms of fire reduced everything it touched to ash. Ultraman couldn’t believe his eyes. He was wrong about Gamera! This was no champion. This was an abomination! On Ultraman’s chest, his glossy pearl started to blink. He was running out of energy. He’d need to finish this fast. Ultraman fired energy out of his hands. Gamera dodged it by shooting up into the sky. Ultraman took off after him. In a matter of seconds, both soared through dark clouds. Gamera left thick layers of smoke in his wake as he gained momentum. Ultraman increased his speed, wanting nothing more then to tear out Gamera’s heart. Soon those dark clouds were beneath them. All that lay ahead of them were twinkling stars and an empty void. Swirls of heat enveloped both.

Neither was affected.

Fireballs escaped Gamera’s maw, closing in fast on Ultraman’s position. Ultraman evaded them with ease. As he increased his flight speed, sonic booms reverberated off his speeding figure. He flew at Gamera, unleashing cutting energy discs out of his hands. They dug into Gamera, ripping his flesh. Fountains of green blood spurted out of his wounds. Gamera blasted to meet Ultraman head on. Above the very planet they have fought to protect, these two defenders clashed in a fight to the death. Gamera bashed Ultraman’s face in. Ultraman buried his fingers into Gamera’s eyes. Gamera gashed Ultraman with his tusks and then slashed his chest with his wrist blade. Ultraman gathered solar energy into the palm of his hand. He redirected it into Gamera’s chest, rupturing his chest plates. Though both were bloodied and beaten, neither yielded. Ultraman basked in the solar light, recharging his energy. Gamera used the heat of the ozone layer to recharge his. As Ultraman moved to strike Gamera’s throat, Gamera rammed his full weight into him. Ultraman lost control over the gravitational forces and started falling back to earth. When he regained control, he spotted Gamera flying to meet him at supersonic speeds. Fire pulsated in Gamera’s gaping maw. Ultraman channeled all the energy he had to his hands. Then without incident, he flew to meet the Guardian of the Universe.

And then the heavens trembled.

Small crowds of spectators gathered to catch a glimpse of the fallen kaiju. Dust covered their bodies. Dry blood masked their scars. Their faces were frozen in a state of shock. Not a soul among them could recall the lives they once had. Underneath mounds of rubble, Kong’s burnt arm stuck out. Not far, Godzilla lay sprawled on a wrecked intersection. Shibuya was one of the most popular Japanese attractions. Hundreds of thousands of Japanese and tourists alike came here every year. But all that will change. Buildings were in rubble. Seas of fire gobbled up entire city blocks. Thousands of bodies clogged ruptured streets. Many more were lost beneath piles of wreckage. For the past hour, these people have gone to great lengths to escape these giants. That was no longer the case. One by one they crawled out of their shelters. One by one they gathered to see these creatures with their own eyes. Why? Nobody knew. Perhaps it was to show courage. Perhaps it was a way of honoring the dead. Whatever the reason, these people have experienced hell firsthand. They’ve seen and experienced atrocities committed by their fellow man. So perhaps these people have come to see the very creatures responsible for opening their eyes and helping them face their inner monster.

A bright glow lit up the night sky.

All heads looked up. The light reflected off their wary eyes. Some must’ve thought it was divine intervention. But as the light faded, two bodies plummeted back to earth. It didn’t take long for the crowds to return to their shelters. Everyone knew what was going to happen next.

Ultraman landed in the center of a plaza. He sunk beneath the pavement as if it were water. The impact created tremors that could be detected in as faraway as Australia. Buildings such as the Shibuya 109 toppled, unable to withstand the earth shattering impact. Seconds later, the Nakamoto Tower broke Gamera’s fall. It was like watching a soda can be crushed by an elephant. The Nakamoto Tower and everything else around it lay in shambles. Areas that had not been affected by the monsters were now in ruin. The vibrations lasted for thirty seconds. At that time Godzilla’s eyes slit open. King Kong’s fingers moved. Atomic energy slithered up Godzilla’s spine, reawakening him. It took a full minute for the leviathan to rise. His nostrils sniffed the air, catching the scent of his fallen adversaries. Then with his binocular vision, he spotted them miles away, unconscious. With a rumbling roar, Godzilla waded to the closest one: Gamera.

In an impact crater, where the Nakamoto Tower was once situated, Gamera shuffled. He reached out to the outer edges, finding the strength to rise. Green blood oozed out of his ghastly wounds. The gashes would take days, maybe weeks to heal. But the pain vanished when Gamera gaped at a familiar figure trudging in his direction. Gamera groaned in disarray. Of all the kaiju in the cosmos, Godzilla was the last Gamera wanted to fight. Regardless, Gamera gathered the courage needed to rise and face his infamous foe. Godzilla stomped closer, crushing the twisted building remains at his feet. His dorsal spines crackled. Bright blue-whitish light flashed in his maw. Gamera was quicker on the draw. Fireballs plunged into Godzilla’s chest, enveloping him in flames. Losing his balance, Godzilla crashed into a pile of rubble. Gamera fired another salvo, blanketing Godzilla in an inferno. Amid the hissing flames, Gamera saw Godzilla’s jagged spines glow. Thermonuclear energy raced out of the inferno. It acted like a sledgehammer, one made of heat and sheer brute force. Gamera was pushed back into the impact crater, landing on his back. Inside the inferno, Godzilla’s dark silhouette appeared, looking as if the devil himself was walking out of the pits of Hell. Smoke hissed off Godzilla’s black hide. His feral eyes found Gamera lying in the crater. Godzilla did nothing. He glared at his opponent with newfound respect.

This was not enough to save him.

Atomic energy enriched Godzilla’s dorsal spines. Gamera howled, vowing to survive no matter what. This planet still needed him, whether humanity wanted him or not. Godzilla reared back, preparing to expel his signature weapon. Pallid streaks hooked into Godzilla, warping the gravity around him. Helpless, Godzilla floated upward. Behind him, Ultraman stepped into the firelight. Ultraman knew he had to act fast before the gravity was restored. Ultraman cuffed his wrists like before, firing destructive energies out of his vertical hand. It punctured Godzilla’s backside, incinerating flesh, muscle and fluid alike. In midair, Godzilla writhed. Ultraman kept pouring the energy into the atomic dragon. At first the pain remained in one place. Then it moved through out his body. A fireball shot out of the impact crater. Ultraman jumped up and hovered right as the fireball annihilated the ground under him. A second seared into his sternum, blasting him out of the sky. As he fell, Ultraman struck Gamera with an energy blast. It wasn’t enough to bring him down. With gravity restored, Godzilla dropped, and landed on his feet. Gamera mustered the strength needed to walk up and blindside Godzilla with a jab. Snarling, Godzilla responded in kind. Both monsters slammed their bulk into the other, kicking up debris. Both slashed and tore chunks of flesh out with their claws and teeth. Even with newfound respect for his adversary, Godzilla showed no mercy. Green blood stained his teeth as he buried them into Gamera’s shoulder. Gamera retaliated by thrusting his wrist blade deep into Godzilla’s stomach. Ultraman jumped up, preparing to join the bloodbath. He hesitated. He had seen many horrors in his life. But none of them compared to the gruesome sight unfolding before him.

Ultraman joined the fray by wedging between the two reptiles. With his energy discs, he slashed their bellies open. At the same time, Ultraman punched Godzilla’s face and kicked Gamera’s chest. All that did was make them angrier. Gamera’s jaws parted, heralding blistering flames. Godzilla spewed atomic fire, shooting Ultraman down. Ultraman, however, managed to slit Gamera’s throat with an energy disc. Fire belched out of his split throat. Godzilla slammed into the wounded Gamera, toppling him over. Ultraman ran over and at point blank shot his energy blasts into Godzilla’s wounded stomach. Godzilla’s painful shrieks were drowned out by thermonuclear fire. It washed over Ultraman, obscuring him from the world. When it faded, Ultraman was still standing with smoke sizzling off his blackened armor. Gamera swatted Godzilla’s mouth, breaking his lower jaw. Before Godzilla hit the ground, Ultraman pounced onto Gamera, punching him with all the strength he could muster. Ultraman wrapped his arms around Gamera’s throat, squeezing the life out of him.

Gamera struggled to escape. Ultraman squeezed harder. As Gamera gasped blood out of his ripped neck, Ultraman wondered if the custodian felt any regret for all the lives he’d taken this night. All around them, conflagrations consumed most of the city. Gamera peered into the flames, hearing thousands screaming, seeing their charred corpses rot in rubble. Did Gamera feel regret? Yes. But there’s nothing he could do to prevent it. He was at war. And in war, people died. This is why he severed all ties to humanity. For the greater good, Gamera sacrificed his emotions. For the greater good, he sacrificed his humanity and tarnished his soul. With a mighty bellow, Gamera chucked Ultraman off. Godzilla’s lower jaw snapped back into place. He stood up, challenging his foes with a commanding roar. Ultraman got up. He couldn’t believe Godzilla and Gamera were still standing. Indeed, they were the mightiest monsters he had ever seen.

Underneath rubble, another stirred.

Thunder shook the heavens. Lightning bolts singed the air, cutting a swath into the slumbering Kong’s arm. It didn’t burn his flesh. It strengthened it. Kong emerged out of the rubble. His weary eyes gaped at the rumbling sky. Another lightning bolt came down, striking his chest. The electricity surged through his veins, augmenting his strength. Another struck, then another. Again and again, lightning marked Kong as its conduit. From their shelters, people watched in awe as the lord of Skull Island regained his strength. They were lost for words. What were the chances of an electrical storm forming above the one creature that drew strength from it? Kong had been left for dead. Under the unlikeliest circumstances, he’s returned. Primal eyes surveyed the burning city. Upon seeing the dueling distant shapes of Godzilla, Gamera, and Ultraman, King Kong moved to rejoin the battle, electricity flaring in his eyes.

Ultraman throttled Godzilla. Godzilla buried his claws into his arm and back, forcing Ultraman to release him. Gamera charged, ramming into Godzilla at full speed. For support, Godzilla buried his feet ankle deep into the ground. Gamera whacked Godzilla’s face. As Godzilla groaned, Ultraman fired an energy disc into Gamera’s arm, rupturing flesh and bone. Godzilla lunged at the custodian, battering him back. At that time neither attacked. Both stared, acknowledging the injuries inflicted on the other. Both were bleeding profusely. Even Godzilla’s regenerative cells couldn’t heal fast enough. Suddenly, the ground quaked. As it stopped, Ultraman flew past them, crashing into a pile of wreckage. Something incredibly strong just threw him. Godzilla shifted his gaze, shocked to see King Kong standing next to him. Before Godzilla could strike, Kong gave Godzilla a quick uppercut. Godzilla faltered in his stance. With his vision impaired, Godzilla’s eyes rolled back. But it wasn’t just the physical trauma that harmed him. It was more than that. There was a stinging sensation. Seconds before passing out, Godzilla saw Kong grapple with Gamera. Electricity slithered out of the ape’s fingertips, electrocuting Gamera. Kong didn’t look back when Godzilla fell. No, his eyes never left Gamera. Gamera tried swatting Kong. To his surprise, Kong caught Gamera’s wrist. With newfound strength, Kong squeezed with all his might, breaking bone. Gamera couldn’t fight back. Every time he touched the ape, he was zapped. Every time Kong touched him, it was worse. If only Gamera could discharge a fireball. But with his neck still damaged, he’d die in the process. Kong saw defeat in Gamera’s eyes. He saw it long before Gamera knew it. To commemorate his impending victory, Kong grabbed one of Gamera’s tusks, and ripped it out. He held it up above his head and with both hands Kong drove it into Gamera’s skull.

Gamera didn’t fall, not at first. He stared at the smoldering city, mesmerized. There was so much devastation. When Gamera started questioning his actions, he felt the very thing he had long suppressed: his humanity. There was sadness in his fading eyes. So many lives were lost in a battle he could’ve avoided. Should he survive this night, he’ll return to defending Mankind, even if it’s from himself. Gamera closed his eyes, envisioning a world that didn’t need him, a world that didn’t need guardians, a world with no shadows.

King Kong spotted Ultraman rising to his knees. This was unacceptable. Kong sprinted over, seizing the back of Ultraman’s head. Ultraman felt the electricity flow into his body. It sapped him of his solar strength. The pearl on his chest once again flashed. He wasn’t going to last much longer. Kong lifted Ultraman up and slammed him head first into the rubble. Weakly, Ultraman grabbed Kong’s hand, fighting in vain to free himself. With both hands, Kong grabbed Ultraman’s throat, lifted him in the air, and smashed him into the wreckage. Having sustained too much damage, Ultraman had no other options. Bright lights erupted out of Ultraman’s pearl, blinding Kong. When the light faded, Ultraman was no more, having reverted to his human host. Kong looked at the tiny human. He snorted in contempt. He reached down, wanting to crush the human. Before Kong’s humongous hand could reach him, Godzilla’s chaotic roar screeched the air.

Twisted, charred buildings surrounded the two titans. One lived in a time when giants stalked the planet, long before Mankind existed. The other lived in a place where Mankind was as untamable as beasts, a place where he was king. These two living relics were the last of their kind. This night in the kingdom of Man, one shall stand and one shall fall. Godzilla’s dorsal spines flashed. Radioactive fire bathed King Kong. Its blistering heat incinerated the hairs on Kong’s burnt flesh. Kong used that pain to fuel his rage. His thundering roar made Godzilla pause, giving Kong the perfect chance to strike. Kong slammed his electrically charged fists into the atomic saurian, flaying his dark hide. Godzilla buried his claws into Kong’s shoulder. All it did was let more electricity into his veins. In contempt, Godzilla roared, clawing Kong regardless of the pain. Kong observed Godzilla’s wounds, seeing a bone protruding out, exposed. It must’ve happened earlier, when Godzilla fought Gamera and Ultraman. Not even Godzilla could heal a horrible wound in such a small amount of time. Thinking fast, Kong grabbed the bone, and ripped it out. Godzilla dropped to one knee, stricken. He felt no pain. There was only shock. Kong dropped the bone, not caring if it was one of Godzilla’s ribs or something else. He then shoved his hand deep into Godzilla’s open wound, frying the reptile’s organs and marrow. With all his strength, Godzilla stood up on his hind legs, clamping his jaws around Kong’s throat. Kong pulled harder, tugging intestines out of Godzilla’s belly. Godzilla bit harder, crushing Kong’s windpipe. With his other fist, Kong punched Godzilla in the temple as hard as he could. It was enough to make Godzilla relinquish Kong’s throat. Kong backed off, dropping Godzilla’s scalded entrails.

Thermonuclear light consumed King Kong.

Even in the face of temperatures hotter than the Sun, Kong did not die. When Godzilla’s flames ceased, a horrible stench assailed his nostrils. It made him nauseous. He’s smelled its scent many times, yet it’s never been this disgusting. Standing in a smoldering cloud, Kong glared with seething hatred. Godzilla didn’t recognize him. The burns had made King Kong unrecognizable. Kong was once a magnificent creature of sheer brute force. Now, he looked more like a charred skeleton. His face was more bone than flesh. Yet still, he breathed in the rotten air, refusing to die. Godzilla waited, anticipating a retaliation of some kind. He had exhausted most of his strength fighting Gamera and Ultraman. Against an augmented Kong, the odds did not favor him. Godzilla struggled to stay awake. He had lost too much blood. His injuries were grave. If his atomic fire couldn’t defeat the ape, what else could he do? It’s then Kong lunged at him. To Godzilla, the ape moved like a blur. In a second, Kong had him down, pummeling him without any signs of stopping. Godzilla lashed back, clawing Kong’s charred face. It was all for naught. King Kong shoved Godzilla’s head deep beneath the earth and never let go. His arms served as a bridge for the electricity to travel across. Godzilla roared helplessly, as the electricity fried his face. It found its way to his brain. Godzilla’s superb eyesight became distorted, seeing bright flashes. And then his eyes boiled.

Onlookers couldn’t believe their eyes. Godzilla, the mightiest monster Mankind ever knew, was losing.

Godzilla’s arms dropped. He could no longer fight back. In surprise, Kong’s bloodshot eyes widened. He couldn’t close them for his eyelids had been burned. Smoke obscured Godzilla’s still shape. When Kong touched him, he felt a faint pulse. It’d seem the rumors about Godzilla were not unfounded. Perhaps the saurian couldn’t be killed. Kong reached down, wanting to put an end to that rumor. It’s then he felt his newfound power fade. Fatigued, Kong left Godzilla in a graveyard of rubble. The King of the Monsters was beaten. But like Ultraman and Gamera, he was still amongst the living. It’s not known how long he’ll rest. Perhaps he’ll rise within the next hour, the next day, maybe even the next week. For a creature whose origins predated humanity’s own, time mattered little. It didn’t matter how long it’d take for him to rise again. It was inevitable. But when he does rise and rise he shall, the world will tremble.

Kong stumbled. Every second pushed him to the brink. Around flames, dark plumes, and mountains of rubble, Kong dropped to his knees. He knew he was breathing his last breaths. Groups of survivors crowded around him, showing no fear. There was an unexplainable bond between them and the dying giant. All of them underwent what King Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World, felt: the loss of a loved one. Kong blindly reached forward. At first, he saw only blackness, death’s infinite womb. Then there was a light. Stepping out of the light, shimmering with incomprehensible beauty, was his beloved. She stared at him, marveling at him and what he’s become. To her, there were no burns, no battle scars. She saw only the champion within. In his final seconds, King Kong knew the peace he has sought for so long.

At last, beauty and the beast were together again.

Winner King Kong