Author: Joshua Strittmatter

Late October; 2027
Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park

Four tires raced along the otherwise quiet roads from Silver Gate, past the signature sign that marked the beginning of Yellowstone National Park. The destination was the great Lamar Valley, the peak of the park’s ancient majesty—and home to just about all of its charismatic megafauna. Small snowflakes were beginning to patter the window of the car from the overcast sky, hinting at the ethereal day that was ahead.

Hazel eyes gazed out with controlled excitement while simultaneously keeping careful watch on the road, desperate to see any of the park’s other animal residents on the way to the driver’s point of arrival.

A bison kill had been made.

When the thick walls of trees finally began to give way to the first sight of grassland, that elation which coursed through Claudia’s veins only heightened. It was one thing to read about a wolf pack making a bison kill in a book, or watching it on a documentary on television. It was quite another to see the aftermath of such a hunt with one’s own eyes, right before you with no screen to separate you from it across the veil of time.

She would’ve preferred to witness such a hunt, for what a glorious and powerful sight to behold it must be; nevertheless, Claudia was always one to settle for second best. Nature was Nature no matter how one sliced it. Wildlife was wildlife, and wildlife alone in all its forms was enough to satisfy her—particularly if wolves of all things were involved. Merely seeing a single wolf was something unrivalingly special, let alone an entire pack…

…to say nothing of a pack feeding on the rewards of a successful hunt.

The first sight of wildlife to greet her was a small herd of the very aforementioned bovines, grazing as usual on the outskirts of where the valley began. Whether they were calmed and settled after the hunt, or were a completely different herd altogether, Claudia knew not. While it was no question she loved the bison as much as all other inhabitants of the park…it was also no contest that she had her favorites.

And right now, in the wee hours of the morning, said favorites awaited her.

Past the grazing herd she drove, dead-set on finding the sight of the kill.

Before long she was past Soda Butte, and the true expanses of the Lamar Valley began. Still Claudia kept her eyes peeled for any creatures that may have been out in the distance, or at the side of the road; little bonuses to add to the encounter she currently sought. She knew from experience that out here, in this valley, there was no guarantee that something wouldn’t pop up in the most unexpected places. She had seen grizzlies right next to the right side of the road foraging for vegetation; she had seen coyotes hunting on either side, and not always far away. Let alone the red foxes that she saw in this area all the time.

Out here, in this park where hunting was not allowed and human contact limited, anything could happen.

And at any time, no less.

Today in particular, it was a few lone bison and some pronghorn that greeted her eyes on the drive to her destination. And while they were the most common sight in the valley, they were a pleasant one nonetheless.

Perfect to keep her elated mind occupied before she eventually spotted a gathering of people, standing on the side of the road; overlooking where the Soda Butte and Chalcedony Creeks merged. All bore cameras, binoculars, or telescopes, and stood out of their vehicles despite the frigid temperatures and incoming snow.

It told Claudia of all she needed to know.

She had arrived at her objective.

Swift with excitement yet with care marked by years of experience, she slowed down and drove into a suitable parking space. With a crackle of tires against partially-snowed gravel, her car came to a halt on the side of the road, bringing her journey to an end. Her winter coat, hat and gloves already donned, Claudia hardly wasted a second in seizing her binoculars and unbuckling her seatbelt, exiting her vehicle before even ten seconds had passed.

It did not take her long to find what she so ecstatically sought.

Across the water, just a good thirty meters from the base of where the creek began, the carcass lay. It was even fresher than Claudia thought it would be, having likely been brought down when there was morning light over the mountains surrounding the valley. And upon it, digging into the hard-earned meal in a frenzy, were eleven gorgeous gray wolves.

They looked ruffed and no worse for wear, a testament to the effort they must have expended to bring down this particular kill. Bison kills, while far from impossible, were not the most common of events to happen; bison were large and powerful prey animals, and even the sick or injured amongst them presented a fearsome adversary to even a pack of wolves. A single good kick from just an elk—wolves’ most common prey—could be fatal to the strongest wolf, let alone a subadult bison. Even if this was an individual that had been in less-than-optimal condition, it was clear just looking at the feasting canids that the bovine had made them work for this prize.

Claudia took only a second to mentally sigh that she had missed such an incredible hunt, then let the joy of watching the aftermath wash it all away.

There was barely any chatter amongst the other tourists, and it suited Claudia just fine. And while the bitter morning cold bit at her face, it was but a minor inconvenience as she watched the wolves feed on their meal. It was never not the most fascinating sight to watch these animals interact with one another. Wolf social dynamics were not what pop culture so often made them out to be; there was no ‘alpha’ or ‘beta’, and no ‘omegas’ to respond to or follow their whims. Like the social insect ‘hive mind’ or sharks being vicious maneaters, the ‘Alpha Wolf’ was amongst the biggest animal myths humankind had ever perpetuated, and it never failed to make Claudia roll her eyes.

Much like social insects, wolves were family-driven animals. The so-called ‘alpha’ and ‘beta’ wolves were actually just the mother and father, and the rest of the pack were their offspring. The entire family worked together to hunt, to defend one another from threats, and pitched in to raise the next litter of pups when they came around. Some older siblings would stick around in the pack and watch over their new, infant brothers and sisters while mother and father were out hunting. Every in-fight broken up by the ‘alpha wolf’ was in fact just mom or dad breaking up a sibling squabble between two of their children.

It astounded Claudia that such a fascinating and complex animal had garnered such a centuries-long reputation as a dark, vile man-eating demon that haunted the woods at night with the intent of seizing anyone who strayed; or in more modern times, as the animal equivalent of a street gang looking for trouble.

Neither of which were to be seen here.

It didn’t take long for Claudia to figure out which ones were mom and dad as she watched them through her binoculars; based both on their difference in size, and behavior from the other wolves present. She could even recognize them from the information sheets she had read detailing the many packs in the park, and the number of park rangers she had talked with just the same. Sure enough, at one point two subadults snapped at one another in a clear scuffle—which was quickly cut short when the mother wolf stepped in, lightly barking and snapping at her bickering children, ending the squabble as quickly as it began.

A full forty-five minutes passed as Claudia watched them; during which the first hints of true snow started to make themselves known, but the woman would not budge. A little frozen sky water was no deterrent to her. If anything, the gradually-growing number of snowflakes only served to make the scene look even more magical.

More ethereal.

More perfect.

Making what was already a rather rare and unique sight amidst one of the most beautiful backdrops the eye could ever see, look like something out of a painting by an artist of the most professional sort. Something deep and spiritual, borderline mythical, even; as if the very world itself was demonstrating the interconnection of all that existed.

It was amongst the most soulful sights on the planet, and Claudia was lucky enough to bear witness to it…

In the distance, where the grasslands ended and the tree-decorated mountains began, Claudia spied movement. Something was emerging from the depths of the forest, and was mere seconds away from stepping out into full view—but something was off. Even currently obscured from detail, whatever it was looked to be huge, far larger than any animal in Yellowstone should be…

Even with the hint present, Claudia was still completely unprepared for what she saw next.

Murmurs turned to shocked gasps from the tourists around her as the shape emerged from the treeline—and left Claudia herself speechless. Of all the creatures she expected to see in the park, the one that had just crossed into her line of sight was anything but.

It was a dinosaur.

A gigantic theropod dinosaur, at least twelve meters long; bearing a massive, heavy body with a low skull and a quite prominent chin. Light blue scales coated most of its giant frame, with a series of much darker gray-blue stripes lining its top. A reddish-orange stripe ran from its snout to the end of its neck, its chest bearing small arms tipped with three-fingered claws. Its closed mouth exposed no teeth, instead covered by reptilian lips like a snake or lizard.

Thanks to her son who was absolutely obsessed with dinosaurs, she recognized the silhouette of the animal, and thus couldn’t think of it as anything other than a Giganotosaurus.

The wolves didn’t seem to notice it at first, continuing to feed upon the carcass as normal—but despite the great distance and the dinosaur’s walking gait, the giant reptile was ominously closing the gap.

Headed right in the direction of the feeding canids.

With the exception of birds, Yellowstone hadn’t seen the presence of dinosaurs in years. Claudia thought they were all either dead or dying, supposedly because they were unsuited to the modern climate; different weather, different oxygen levels, different plants, different animals. From what she was aware, the few species that still remained were said to be making a living around the tropical landmasses and islands near the equator, while the rest of InGen’s creations had since succumbed to the differences of the modern world.

Yet, already Claudia was starting to second-guess that notion as she watched the animal in her sights.

The theropod before her was not starving, seeming to be nice and healthy, and was clearly not affected by the cold in any way. He just lumbered smoothly and unhindered through the growing snowfall, as if the cold was but a minor irritation to him at worst.

But that was not the only difference which struck her.

The animal before her looked almost nothing like the dinosaurs that had been released on the mainland in 2018, or created at the BioSyn Sanctuary in Italy. The creatures engineered at Jurassic World looked so much more…monstrous. Draconic. Crocodilian, even. Slim and borderline emaciated ‘shrinkwrapped’ bodies, pronated wrists, uneven snaggle teeth, bland shades of near-colorless gray; some even bearing crocodilian scutes and spikes which she had heard many a dinosaur enthusiast point out was severely incorrect.

Not the animal before her.

The Giganotosaurus that currently strode across the grasslands of the Lamar Valley, looked nothing like the spiky, T. rex-killing, dragon-like beast promoted in the 2021 BioSyn propaganda videos.

The saurian she observed was thick and heavy, its wrists inverted sideways instead of pronated forwards. No simple coat of gray donned this majestic beast, instead brimming with a far more natural and distinctive branch of color. There were no crocodilian scutes or draconic back spikes; just pebbly scales and—Claudia realized as she looked closer—the barest hint of a slight feathery fuzz to go with it.

Now that she actually saw this creature, Claudia realized just how stark the difference actually was. The beast she saw in the BioSyn videos always felt strangely off (even before her son went into a frenzy of just how much he claimed was wrong with it)…but this theropod. This magnificent giant lumbering before her eyes, was no crocodilian dragon.

This creature actually looked and felt like a real animal.

…and with it, questions began to pop like prairie dogs into Claudia’s mind.

Where had this animal come from? Who engineered it? Had they engineered it to complete genetic perfection, and that was why it looked the way it did…?

…or had it been engineered to begin with?

Her thoughts were temporarily put in the waiting room as, after a good four or so minutes, the Giganotosaurus began to near the feasting wolves. It was then when the wild dogs finally caught wind that something was off, and looked in his direction. Ears went back defensively, tails began to drift towards the legs, and powerful furry bodies tensed with dreaded anticipation.

Wolf packs had been known to drive off grizzly bears when strong and motivated enough, and such a task was far from easy even then—but this was different. From the moment the newcomer had started heading towards the pack, Claudia knew full and well what the outcome was going to be. A large bear was one thing, but wolves had never seen a dinosaur before; let alone one that was also, according to her son, one of the biggest land carnivores the world had ever seen.

They were not going to win this carcass. They had better hoped they had eaten enough, because now this much larger megapredator had his eyes on their meal—and there was no hope of driving him off.

Before long, the Giganotosaurus was only a good thirty or so meters away from the pack, and Claudia could see him more clearly than ever through her binoculars. If anything, he was drawing so close that she didn’t necessarily have to use her binoculars to begin with. Small, but focused light blue eyes gazed an intimidating stare at the motionless pack, like a giant hawk sizing up a potential obstacle…

…and just kept trudging in a slightly separate direction, walking right past the carcass while the wolves remained perfectly still.

And over to the water’s edge, much closer to the observing humans than ever.

Claudia felt a chill not born of the weather wash through her veins at what she was seeing, at the realization of how close the dinosaur was to where she stood. Dangerous wildlife was the name of the game in Yellowstone, but this was stretching it to a whole different level. An eight-plus ton, twelve meter-long megapredator was standing at the river’s edge. Kneeling down to take a drink from the frigid water, at a distance small enough that she now didn’t need a scope of any kind to see him clearly.

An animal that could decide the hairless apes watching him were worth the effort chasing at any given moment. An animal that was large and strong enough to flip even the largest truck like a toy if he wanted to.

Perhaps had he been one of the products of Jurassic World, or amongst the creations of BioSyn Genetics, he would have. Many of the carnivores from either side had been rather unnaturally hyperaggressive, with few if any exceptions.

Yet he didn’t.

The Giganotosaurus simply bent low and opened his great maw, scooping his lower jaw into the cold water and bending back to gulp it down. As if the humans and canines watching him hardly mattered, the carcharodonotosaurid took great drink after drink at complete leisure; residual water pouring down his huge jaws with every rise of his head from the river.

If anything, it made Claudia feel even more strangely nervous. That knowledge that for all she knew, the only reason she and the people around her were even still standing, was because this giant predator simply didn’t consider them worth the time or effort. Like mice staring at a drinking tiger, little morsels who were only alive because this far larger, grander animal allowed it.

It was terrifying, exhilarating, and humbling all at the same time…

Abruptly, the Giganotosaurus stopped.

A chill went down Claudia’s spine at the sudden change. The giant predator had suddenly frozen still, water dripping down his scaly chin while he stared up—but not at the humans on the road. His gigantic body had gone stiff, with his head postured upwards in a stance of visible alert. Looking not at, but past the observing humans.

Something else had seized this animal’s attention—

Someone in the crowd cried out in palpable horror, followed in rapid succession with frightened gasps much like it. Claudia, nearly forgetting the danger the Giganotosaurus presented, whirled around. And her eyes nearly bulged from their sockets at what greeted them, unable to be concealed even by the snowfall.

Another dinosaur was trudging down the hill, on the other side of the road.

And Claudia knew what it was without even needing an expert to tell her.

Strong legs carried a bulky, robust body clad in muted yellow scales and dark gray stripes. Two fingers twitched at the end of small, but iconic arms. Small, yet visible flecks of meat dotted the dried blood that stained his teeth and snout, implying he had eaten somewhat recently. Golden eyes like an eagle’s peered from its huge, deep skull; switching between the crowd of fur-less primates on the road…and the giant predator across the river.

It was a Tyrannosaurus rex.

As carefully as she possibly could, Claudia moved straight back into her car. As if in accommodation, the crowd around her scattered as the tyrant neared the road; some to the dubious safety of their respective vehicles, while others merely to get as far away from him as possible—with no knowledge of how quickly he could walk them down and snatch them if he was hungry enough.

But he did no such thing.

Aside from a few glances and a warning hiss or two, the King of Cretaceous Montana passed them by without a second thought.

Giving Claudia the perfect opportunity to pull out her phone, switch to camera, set to the highest quality, and begin to record the scene before her.

The resemblance to the tyrannosaurs InGen had bred was more than close—yet still, Claudia noticed that there were subtle differences, ones that only made her wonder more. This rex’s wrists were somewhere in-between pronated and inverted; his teeth not quite protruding as visibly as the original Tyrannosaur created at Jurassic Park, half-covered by a lipped layer of jaw scales. The flesh of his neck and tail was considerably thicker than those of his Nublar and Sorna relatives. And by far the most visible difference of all: he was much, much bulkier and chunkier than his InGen cousins.

And despite his gigantically robust stature, he hardly even made the ground more than vibrate as he walked.

Yet again, the same questions from earlier were rearing their heads in Claudia’s mind. Where this animal had come from, why it looked the way it did…but she had no time to ponder over any of them.

The Tyrannosaurus was headed straight for the Giganotosaurus, and his gait indicated anything but friendly intent.

Down the hill, right up to the edge and straight into the water, the tyrant lumbered. Raising to his full height, the carcharodontosaurid boomed a low, thunderous rumble, causing the tyrannosaur to cease in his tracks. At the sound, the wolf pack finally decided the risk wasn’t worth it and fled, quickly headed deeper into the valley.

The allosauroid held rigid, uttering yet another growling rumble which the tyrannosaur responded with one of his own. One that was even louder, deeper.

It was then that Claudia really saw the size difference between the two animals—and it caught her by surprise. BioSyn had always promoted Giganotosaurus carolinii as larger, more ferocious than Tyrannosaurus; the “biggest carnivore the world had ever seen” as the advertisements used to say. Yet, the more she looked at the animals before her, the more Claudia got confused. These dinosaurs were noticeably bulkier, heavier and more ‘natural’-looking than their InGen or BioSyn counterparts…but unlike what BioSyn had promoted so heavily in their product placements, the difference in size was the exact opposite.

In a most awe-inspiring twist, the Tyrannosaurus rex was noticeably the larger, more massive animal.

And the difference only became more apparent when he resumed trotting through the rather-shallow water, and stepped up onto the other side of the river; much to the loud hissing fit of the giant southern lizard.

The tension that settled upon the valley was twice as cold as the temperature of the air. It felt like a knot that had suddenly spun within Claudia’s spine, and it only grew slowly tighter as the two prehistoric predators sized each other up. When the tyrannosaur nosed too close, the Giganotosaurus spat thunderously, earning a defensive snarl in reply. Even from a considerable distance, both sounds were loud; both nearly making Claudia jump right out of her skin. Quite possibly the loudest sounds Wyoming itself had ever heard in 66 million years—and it wasn’t going to get any quieter.

Both animals continued to gape their jaws at one another, now only standing mere feet apart. Hissing cacophonously at one another, again and again, growing louder each time. The onlookers could feel the dreadful sounds vibrating through their bodies, inducing a fear that was even worse than the sheer volume that menaced their eardrums.

It reminded Claudia of how modern large carnivores faced off, such as tigers, crocodiles or bears; how the two combatants involved would spend a large majority of time standing in one another’s faces, jaws agape, growling or hissing repeatedly until one of them finally either backed off or engaged directly. Rarely did even the mightiest predators simply charge into a battle, like was so often portrayed in pop culture; a reckless behavior that many of Jurassic World’s dinosaurs had been strangely known for.

But what Claudia looked upon right now, was far more terrifying.

It was not the notion of primordial viciousness that scared her so. Rather, it was the suspense of the moment; the gradual, bloodcurdling buildup to the explosive leap into combat. The deep breath before the plunge, the calm beginning to roil and churn to burst into the furious storm. The unpredictability of how long it would take before one of the two giants finally struck—and further still, which one.

The dinosaurs’ booming hisses grew ever louder, and with it the boiling suspense climbed for the stratosphere. Every little twitch, every jaw movement, every slight jerk of one reptilian head or the other could be it.

The moment.

The moment one false snap or head twitch was too close for the recipient’s liking, and the tension exploded as one of the titans finally lost it…

Even trying her best to stay firm, to detect the very second when it all went downhill, Claudia could’ve never hoped to stay in her skin when the moment arrived:

The Giganotosaurus snapped his head to the side and smacked his snout into the tyrannosaur’s jaw.

The taut atmosphere detonated.

Hisses exploding into a chorus of angry roars, the two giants clashed. Multi-ton bodies crashed into one another, wide-open jaws collided and Claudia’s soul all but leaped from her body as a battle erupted on the spot. Two saurian skulls jerked and thrashed as the two megatheropods tried with all their ferocity to get the first good bite in, temporarily stuck biting uncoordinatedly at one another’s jaws. Slamming their upper bodies together, the dueling titans reared up like the retro-dinosaurs of old and pushed and shoved for supremacy; their uproarious bellows and snarls echoing for miles on end across the expanses of Lamar Valley. Dirt and rock flew from their frantic footsteps, the ground thudding from their sheer weight impacting the earth.

Claudia had seen very few animal conflicts with her own two eyes, but the few she had seen in of themselves were mighty sights to behold. She had seen wolves get into mild disagreements. She had seen two tiger brothers go at it in a zoo once. She had even seen two male Kodiak bears clash over a dead whale in Alaska. Each and every one was a humbling reminder of how much more powerful animals physically were than even the biggest, strongest human being; a reminder of what they could do to a person, and how easily as such.

But even the grandest of those clashes compared little to this.

What Claudia watched right now was a true clash of the titans. A leftover, primordial echo of a bygone age. A resurrected ghost of a time when reptilian giants stalked the earth. Ruled it with a powerful, iron fist. In a land where large mammals had reigned for thousands of years, all bearers of fur and hair now held back at fearful standby as the Age of Reptiles echoed back from the tunnels of the past.

The two titans thrust down amidst their frenzied jaw-fencing, slamming their upper halves against the ground with a loud CRACKLE of rocks. After a full minute of their furious deadlock, the Tyrannosaurus finally broke off when he reared and smacked his upper body atop that of his opponent. The Giganotosaurus snapped and bellowed angrily before pushing up, briefly shoving the bulkier theropod off—only for the titans to crash back together and enter yet another violent shoving contest.

Twin towers of reptilian flesh and muscle, they swung and shoved with gargantuan might, like giant komodo dragons with the grace of great eagles. It was during this shoving contest, however, that one of the huge archosaurs finally landed a true blow: seizing an opening, the Tyrannosaurus clamped his powerful jaws upon his rival’s snout.

Thick, banana-sized teeth like railroad spikes pierced skin and thin muscle. Holes were bored in the very bone with an audible CRACK that physically hurt Claudia to listen to, and the carcharodontosaurid boomed a thunderous hiss of pain. Blood ran in thin rivers down his upper jaw, his hisses heightening in volume as the tyrant king bit a second time and shook his head with a vicious intensity. Bloody grooves began to rip through the skin and muscle of the allosauroid’s upper jaw, and he hissed and thrashed frantically in a valiant effort to break free.

Despite suffering no bodily harm herself, Claudia felt genuine pain as she watched the brutal spectacle; the very sight of the defending theropod being bitten in the face so violently sending tides of hurt coursing through her body.

It only got worse when, with one hard yank and a particularly loud bellow, the Giganotosaurus finally tore himself free.

Skin ripped further. Blood squirted into the frigid snow-filled air. Scars were carved all the way into the bone. A gaping, bloody groove was torn into a notch between two of his teeth as the allosauroid at last broke away from his attacker’s toothy grip. What happened next, took many of the other tourists aback, but Claudia was hardly surprised at all.

Turning swiftly about face, the Giganotosaurus wasted none of the precious seconds before him and walked away as fast as his legs could carry him.

The risk of far more serious injury just wasn’t worth it.

It was only expected for any predator—or any animal, for that matter—that ever existed on Earth. Fights to the finish weren’t completely rare, per se—but they didn’t happen anywhere near as often as people often made them out to. Even the mightiest predators did their best to avoid injury, and when a battle broke out, often it ended when one combatant simply decided it wasn’t worth the risk and backed off. Whether it was intraspecific or interspecific combat, it was more common for the chances of a fight ending with one animal backing down to be higher.

As it was before her, when the Giganotosaurus stampeded quickly back the way he came. And behind him, with his small arms spread as comically wide as he could, the Tyrannosaurus roared.

It was the loudest, mightiest sound that had ever fed Claudia’s ears; an awesome, terrifying, primordial cry from another world that tore through the air and shook the hills of Lamar with a lordly vigor, befitting the aptly-called ‘King of the Dinosaurs.’ From multiple directions in different distances, several flocks of birds took flight in terror as the sound reverberated through the valley, even as far out as the forests on the other side.

Flapping his little arms and shaking his head with a low rumble, the tyrannosaur fell silent, pacified as he watched his enemy beat his hasty retreat. Taking a moment to stare after his fleeing rival, the triumphant tyrant wasted little time marking his turf for all to smell—and see—when he urinated on the ground he stood upon; a sight that made the other onlookers blanch, but Claudia just watched with astonished silence. Just more normal animal behavior, nothing more.

Something most people weren’t ready to see.

Quietly, the Tyrannosaurus turned about face and lumbered back to the edge of the water, taking his opponent’s earlier place as he began to drink. Still paying mercifully no mind to the human beings that observed him on the other side, letting them continue gazing upon his mighty form only because he allowed it.

Much as a great part of her wanted to stay, however, to keep watching the once-in-a-lifetime spectacle…Claudia felt that perhaps it was time to get back on the road.

To take her leave, before that merciful sentiment changed…

*****

Five hours later…

If silence could be loud.

That was the level of quiet that blanketed the normally cozy interior of Claudia’s rented cabin, nestled in the forested outskirts of Silver Gate. Even though there was no sound other than her own footsteps when she moved about, the ambient silence almost seemed to roar into her ears louder than the tyrannosaur ever did. Even though she was back in the relative safety of her rental, even though she had locked all doors and windows in the house, still the shock of what she had seen refused to leave her.

The internet had already gone berserk over the incident.

Claudia was far from the only one to record footage of the battle; other videos taken by her fellow tourists were now dominating the internet and the news alike.

To put it simply, the event was everywhere. In the blink of an eye, it almost felt as if time had turned back to the days of the San Diego Incident; something Claudia had not witnessed herself, but had definitely seen on the news and experienced the public aftermath it left in its wake. She still remembered in vivid detail the media shockwaves the attack had inflicted, sometimes to the point it still felt like only yesterday.

Only now, it felt like she was there again. Article after article, news station after news station, everything was now focused on what she had witnessed in the autumn cold of Lamar Valley. Internet forums were now flooded with anxious discussions, or just basic expressions of shock and excitement at the unexpected clash.

For the first time in a long while, dinosaurs made up the number-one news story of the world.

It made Claudia question if no one really cared about these animals anymore, if public interest in them had actually waned.

One moment they were supposedly falling back into extinction minus around the tropics of the Equator…and the next, they were suddenly sighted doing relatively fine in a place least expected, and right back to being all the news as if nothing had changed.

It almost seemed like all the past craze that used to surround the animals was returning…

…not unlike the animals themselves.

Claudia had never stopped dwelling on the elephant in the room since she had left the scene. Contemplating why those dinosaurs looked so different from their InGen counterparts, and why they appeared somewhere allegedly unsuited for them. And she couldn’t help but ponder a train of thought that, surprisingly, others on the internet were already sharing.

What if dinosaurs weren’t dying off like the public believed?

What if the animals she saw were newer clones, engineered with few to no genetic defects? No DNA of other animals, no filling in any gaps of the sequence; just the animals’ entire DNA strands as their species had been in life.

Dinosaurs as they had really been, millions of years ago.

But amidst her dwelling upon this theory, Claudia had arrived at the foothills of another—one that unnerved her even more.

What if only the dinosaurs from Nublar or BioSyn were truly perishing…while others were slowly taking their place?

What if dinosaurs on the mainland weren’t toppling into extinction…but gradually returning in force?

Perhaps the animals from Jurassic World had been engineered too specifically to be theme-park attractions, confined to the lifestyle that had been provided to them on the island during its heyday; the animals from BioSyn Sanctuary having been engineered in a similar fashion. Spread out into far more diverse and unfamiliar territory, a majority of them had been unable to adapt to climates they hadn’t been created to withstand, and as such were falling away…

…but those individuals or populations that had made a living in unfamiliar lands, were reproducing offspring with naturally selected traits more suited for survival. Traits far more akin to their original ancestors from the Mesozoic. Gradually working the amphibian DNA and other genetic alterations out of their systems, generation by generation.

Slowly devolving back into their species’ original forms.

Perhaps some of those populations had already been genetically different from the dinosaurs of Jurassic World; possibly, even, originating as far back as the original Jurassic Park. Perhaps that was what had allowed them to adapt and survive while the newer Nublar clones failed.

There was even the possibility that both theories were true. That the most adaptable older clones were propagating and “devolving” in a sense…while at the same time, some newer dinosaurs had been cloned more recently by persons unknown; either to complete perfection, or close enough that it was only a matter of time before they too established populations that walked down the same successful road.

In the paleontological field, dinosaurs weren’t known for being restricted to one type of biome or climate. The tropics were not the only habitat known to house their mighty clade. On the contrary, dinosaurs were famously known for being the most successful clade of animals the earth had ever seen. They had adapted to and thrived in every climate, every habitat, on every continent for more than one hundred sixty million years. Even as the climates and continents had changed, they had just kept adapting. Kept surviving. Kept ruling unchallenged as the planet’s dominant terrestrial vertebrates.

And now, it seemed…they were beginning to reclaim that adaptability which had carried them forward for so long.

Claudia couldn’t help but shake her head. All these years later, and still the words of a particular chaotician were proving right as always. Through the narrowest of advantages, through the newest of territories, the same phenomenon was repeating itself once more. Expanding new territories and crashing barriers with no hope of containment.

Nearly three and a half decades later, and still life was finding a way.

*****

Late afternoon…

The sight of movement flickered through the patio window, just enough in the corner of Claudia’s eye to seize her attention.

With the swiftness of a frightened pronghorn leaping to avoid danger, Claudia bolted from the dinner table. Straight to the window she flew, blood that was relaxed but a second ago now already running like a river in its prime. It had been but a faint blur, mostly obscured by the outside patio itself; yet it had been great enough to spur her into action. As she moved, a part of her snapped at herself for what she was about to do. It could be dangerous, opening the door and stepping outside. True, it could’ve been a passing fox or coyote, or even a bear or wolf just crossing by; but at the same time, after what she had seen today…it easily might not’ve been.

It also could’ve been something much less tolerant of a person like her. Something that, for all she knew, could far more easily clear a patio than a wolf or bear…

Still, the need to know, the need to see whatever it was, overwhelmed that little side of her in the end.

Before a person could finish a breath, open the glass door flew and Claudia stepped right onto the patio—and stopped cold as ice even quicker.

At the very edge of where the trees started, there it was. It was between four and five feet tall, its sleek body a cedar brown with lighter hindquarters and darker stripes running down the top of its body and tail. Orange scales painted its snout, while a bright vivid blue hued behind its eyes, and a rosy crimson crowned its pointed brows. Fiery, avian eyes gazed right back at her from a head adorned with pointed quills.

No thanks to her son—and the knowledge of animals housed at both Jurassic Park and World—she knew exactly what animal it was. And yet in the brief, fleeting moment she saw it, she noticed there was something different about it. Something she heard had been found before in the fossil record, but herself had never seen in its kind.

It was covered in feathers.

One second it was there, staring right at her, inverted wrists tucked tense and anxious at its sides.

And the next it had whipped from the yard, carried so fast on its sickle-clawed feet it was hard to see. Darted away like a blur of motion, just like that, without even so much as a single sound.

And vanished into the woods like a ghost, as if it had never been there to begin with.

Author: Cody Taylor | Banner: Cody Taylor

Not every revolt was meant to be. It was a hard pill to swallow when its efforts came crashing down upon one’s head, when the world gave its favour to the dominators, when the grand lie that revolution was built on comes undone. What was the point? Was it ever worth it? Was fighting against plain truth worth it? Then, realisation. It’s a fast, brutal thing, but no more cruel than the falsehood that had led the path there. In a way, realization was a form of bliss.

Ryuko Matoi just one month ago had learned that her revolt was meaningless. The thing she was fighting against, the alien Life Fibers that threatened to subsume humanity, were the very fabric of her being. Beating in the grasp of her enemy was Ryuko’s heart, radiating with the inhuman sparkle of Life Fibers. It was undeniable proof. Something created to usher in the new world order, and raised to eradicate her own extraterrestrial kind. Then the girl learnt the fascist custodian of human subjugation to Life Fibers, her ultimate foe, the one she was raised to thwart and destroy, was her own mother. 

Her mind broke, the righteous anger that had carried her to heights unimaginable boiled over and decayed, replaced by unadulterated, confused rage. And why wouldn’t she be consumed by such fury? Ryuko had learned she was a monster. A freak, forever destined to be a weapon, forever something to be feared and talked about in sordid whispers. Unable to ever be seen as a human ever again. She couldn’t, so no one else must either. 

Never before had the eyes of evil looked upon a lost soul so poised to be corrupted.

In her anger, Ryuko spurned her staunch allies and dear friends, whose words of encouragement and caution fell on deaf ears, simply wishing to find an outlet to beat to a pulp and slice to bits. Watching with their callous eyes, the serpents knew they had found their opportunity. So, when the objects of Ryuko’s wrath appeared to her as apparitions of fabric, the girl didn’t waste a second in cursing them and riding off towards their doom, for her ire was ceaseless.

Of course, it had all been a trap laid by the wicked mother and her lackeys. Falling for the bait and ensnared by the miraculous light of submission, the teenage Life Fiber hybrid was enlightened by the knowledge of her true, created purpose. Brainwashed and fed twisted visions, Ryuko’s rebellion died, she no longer resisted, seeking refuge and pleasure in the arms of those who picked her up at her lowest. Stripped of dignity and meaning, the child was rescued from the storm by the one she had foolishly labelled her enemy.

The mother of light and her pink-clad dragon embraced the prodigal daughter… returned at last. Suiting her up in Revocs’ Sunday Best and sending her on her way, the phantom rulers of the world awaited eagerly to hear confirmation of success. The world must be rid of insolent pigs who do not bow to the tyranny of clothing!

***

In and amongst the jagged steel wasteland of the Naked Sol’s ruined deck, the clash of two warriors strained the warship’s foundations, bending plates and beams with the shockwave of every blow. With every traded strike gusts of force lifted hailstorms of debris that flew in all directions, scattering more and more of the seam ripper-shaped ship, leaving the two combatants in a pit of their own making. 

Bystanders looked on in tense awe, for that was the only cause of action now that wouldn’t end in their demise. They were watching two of the strongest beings on the planet go head-to-head — getting between that would be akin to a tree shredded between typhoons on both sides. Yet, they would soon have no other choice, it was do or die. The short and easygoing Mako, the colourful but loyal Elite Four, the militaristic and sure Nudist guerillas Aikuro Mikisugi and Tsumugu, all understood just what precarious of a position they now found themselves in.

What they were up against was no mere Goku uniform user, no mere COVER that could be deactivated with an Emergency Rescue Suction Device. The enemy of humanity that had come to smite freedom’s last hope was Ryuko Matoi. The supposed saviour of man. Having struck from the heavens as a meteor of cerulean energy, the hybrid donned the angular, vicious white-and-blue Kamui Junketsu, whose immense power when amplified by her own created a nigh-unstoppable killer. 

Not only was her mind distorted by her mother’s cruel machinations, but her physical appearance too was changed by evil’s influence. The sky-blue eyes that once held kindness beneath the snark were swallowed whole by a fittingly foul temper, painted above with blood-red eyeshadow. Blue highlights in her fluffed-up hair erased the red ones of old, save for a few strands above her face, symbols of her transformation into a tool of dominance, a slave to the powers of her fiendish handlers, and metallic white horns poking through her hair, perfectly suiting her new position in the world — the devil in white.

The teen was stronger than ever before, faster than ever before, and the powers of the Life Fibers served her with more control than ever before, and it felt amazing! Armed with the scarlet Scissor Blade, a sword as powerful as someone of her caliber deserves, no one stood a chance against the limitless might of Lady Ryuko! Not even the illustrious Lady Satsuki Kiryuin, Honnōji  Academy’s student council President and Junketsu’s old bearer. 

Even with Ryuko’s partner Kamui Senketsu as an answer to the girl’s newfound power, the older sister was utterly outclassed in the contest of strength. It wasn’t even close. Satsuki was disarmed, beaten and broken, humiliated in a way only someone with their family’s level of power could replicate. The glorious Lady exhausted her bag of tricks, that was no longer an option, so her gambit she’d formulated with the help of Mako Mankanshoku was the only shot left, but chances were slim, especially with murderous Matoi no-longer willing to play their little game.

Platitudes, lectures and attempts to sway the heart were repulsed with a kick that could shatter mountains as Ryuko’s white high-heeled boot plunged into her sister’s gut, flicking the long-haired warrior away, who painfully rolled to a stop amongst droplets of her blood in the crushed concrete.

Leering down at her struggling opponent with a jeer, the piercing red eyes of Junketsu joined Ryuko’s own as she mocked the one who tried to thwart the onslaught. “Awww, what’s the matter? You don’t look so high and mighty now, do ya? We can’t have that.” Kneeling down, the devil in white snatched the angel in black by the hair and lifted her up, smirking wider with every wince and groan. “Lemme help ya get back on your feet!” 

Ryuko dropped Satsuki, only to catch her by the chin with the other hand, squeezing with five digits clenched tightly around her jaw. The girl was lifted even higher now, drawing a chuckle from the heel’s fangs. “Feelin’ better now? Do ya? Huh, Lady Satsuki? Hell, your feet ain’t even touchin’ the ground. You’re just a sad little princess standin’ on a sand castle, and I’m a big ass wave that’s gonna wash it all away.”

Just as Senketsu was about to spill his heart all teary-eyed to his life-partner, and just as both sisters’ friends leapt into action, something as inconspicuous as a warning light on a monitor went off, noticed only by Hōka Inumuta, the blue-haired tech-wiz of the Elite Four. As he sat on the Naked Sol’s bridge attending to the family feud, a blip labelled with a question-mark flashed on the radar.

“Hold it,” he urged his allies with a snivelly tone, whose heads turned on a swivel back to him in unison, “we’ve got another bogie headed towards us. I can’t identify who or what it is, but it’s… it’s coming from directly above us?”

By the grace of nothing other than chance, a lone extra-terrestrial spacecraft hovered above the Earth. Before today, the occupant of the craft had never heard of the planet, let alone set eyes upon it. He was a nomad, roaming from place to place without much connection to anywhere. Such was it that today, he happened to stumble upon one very troubled planet. Perhaps it was the universe shining its favour brightly on Earth, or conversely, for what was now falling to Earth bore strength and wrath that could not be contained, it would spell doom for everybody.

A ball of flame, hurtling towards Earth faster than the speed of sound, burned across the sky, screaming and roaring as it got brighter and brighter, attracting all eyes upon its blazing heat until it smashed onto the deck with even greater force that Ryuko had, knocking the ship’s bow down towards the water before it thrashed back in the opposite direction. It was a miracle the Naked Sol even survived. All of the loose debris flew like bullets, forcing most to take cover. Both Matoi and Kiryuin held their ground as best they could, feeling the shockwave blow their hack back and whip their naked flesh.

When the winds stopped and the dust settled, in the middle of a second crater, stood a very peculiar sight. Mako, Gamagori, Sanageyama, Jakuzure, Inumuta, Aikuro and Tsumugu popped their heads up like gerbils, eying down the oddity from a very safe and very long distance. The sisters, just moments ago locked in a war of annihilation, stood side-by-side and shared a confused, side-eyed glance. Wounded and tired, Satsuki gripped tight onto her arm with a grimace, but Ryuko put a hand on her hip and the giant half-scissors over her shoulder, tilting her head in perplexity. Milky yellow eyes with powerfully dark pupils dilated in her direction. 

“Who the hell are you supposed to be?” the white swordswoman snarled. 

There on the crumpled deck stood the impossible — an enormous beast of white fur with a shaggy mane that danced in the oceanic breeze, hosting a ponytail and four braids that decorated it. He had the face of a lion, mean and predatory, with one lower incisor peaking through his closed lips. The animal-man puffed from his flared nostrils, purring into a low growl as he surveyed the scene he interrupted. His ears twitched and primed, hearing all the lowly chatter of concern in his regard.

Over his herculean form rode form-fitting black leggings and sleeves, a plated vest chipped and scratched by centuries of conflict, clawed gloves the colour of blood, all accentuated by gold in his boots and faulds. It was a frightening sight to a world unfamiliar with the vastness of the cosmos and all the secrets it held. The intentions of the newcomer however were decisively less secretive, as the feline reached over its back and slipped into its grip a golden mace.

Then, without prompt, the white lion spoke. “Far too long have I roamed the stars without blood to satisfy my unending rage.” The alien’s voice was as deep and powerful as one would expect of an apex hunter like him, but his tone was considered and lofty, like something from another age. “My search has led me to this planet, Earth. My ship detected a swell of power in an enormity I have not seen for many years, and that promising allure has filled me with a great hope.” Taking note of the many primates that gazed at his terrible might, the cosmic warrior bore a toothy grin. 

“I take it that most of you are combatants. So I must ask — which one of you is a worthy challenge for Battle Beast?”

Battle Beast. Scourge of the Twin Galaxies. A hero to some, a criminal and villain to most. A dornian warrior granted power worthy of demigods, surpassing every foe he had ever faced in his extremely long life. His power was a great blessing, but it was also a great curse, as his bloodlust only grew alongside his insurmountable strength. He had lost anything that once made him Thokk. The ability to live a normal life, or even stay in one place too long, was all gone. If left to linger or ruminate, his fury would be the end of everything. His new life was dedicated to reaching the curse’s natural end-point. His death by a superior opponent — and he would forever search for that superior.

It was an apt name, Battle Beast. Not one of the humans before him dared make a sound, largely struck by wonder and terror at seeing a seven-foot-two bipedal lion fall from the sky and demand a fight. All except one, who guffawed and clutched her belly in a fit of laughter. Thokk’s attention fell squarely on the girl in white and blue, who wiped a tear from her eye.

“Ha ha ha! Oh, man! You serious? Battle Beast? That’s your name?” Ryuko wheezed, but it didn’t bother the big cat all too much, instead focusing on gauging whether this lippy one was the being who anchored his intrigue to this planet. Straightening herself, the Kamui-user answered directly. “That’s a good one, furball, I think I like you already! Now that I’ve gotcha attention, yeah, I’m probably the one ya came for. None of these assholes stand a chance against me, not even combined!”

Battle Beast wrung his fingers around his mace excitedly. “Oh? Is that so?”

Smirking and shrugging her shoulders with pride, Ryuko gestured all around her, to the destruction, to the battered and bested foes. “You betcha. All this? That was me, and it was really damn easy, too. I’mma hard-ass gangster, stone cold. I was just about to kill everyone up in here, but looks like I got a new toy to play with.” A little, cutesy voice in her head reminded her of the mission. Massacre the nudists, exterminate the knockoff, punish Satsuki for her betrayal. But there was a fire in her blood, ablaze with a calling that told her to indulge her passion and power. Junketsu’s power was too good to waste on a gang of twerps. 

“Sounds marvellous. Tell me then, whom do I have the pleasure of doing battle with?”

“The name’s Ryuko Matoi, kitty.” Swinging her Scissor Blade and pointing its end towards the feline warrior, the dropout-turned-villain threw her mother’s wishes to the wind. Mother dearest wouldn’t mind a little detour. They were destined to win, after all, might as well have the time of her life. “And if you’re lookin’ for a fight, I’m right here, cuz I got a lotta energy in me that’s just waitin’ to burst!” 

To say that Battle Beast was satisfied with the answer would be a colossal understatement. “Perfect.” he exulted with glee, already feeling his muscles pump full of adrenaline. “I thought you were the strongest, and now I see it clear as crystal. You live for the thrill of the fight, like me, so I will gladly grant your wish.” With his body entering into a state of pure frenzy, Thokk roared his warrior’s promise. “May one of us die gloriously today, and may the victor feast upon his entrails!”

Ryuko scoffed and rolled her eyes as she leant into her stance, as even her dialed-up jerkiness found the feliform to be over-dramatic. “Yeah, whatever ya say, pussy cat. It’s your funeral. Let’s fuckin’ do this!”

“WAAAAIT!!!” a shrill plea echoed over the deck of the Naked Sol, rattling down from the open-air bridge. Balancing atop the wheel’s pedestal was Mako, whose lack of self-preservation and basic situational awareness was astounding to all who saw her act of defiance. “You can’t fight Altercation Animal, Ryuko! I won’t let you! You’re just not feeling yourself right now, you changed your hairstyle, you changed your everything-style, and it’s like you’re a completely different person! But you’re not! You’re my friend! Don’t make a mistake that you’ll regret in a couple minutes, and by that I mean don’t fight him! He looks so big and mean and tough, like he could pick you up and snap you in half like a twig, Ryuko! And he’ll eat you! I won’t forgive myself if I let you get hurt because you’re my best friend and I need you to be safe! How are you and Senketsu meant to make up if you get eaten by that tiger-man!? Tell me Ryuko! TELL ME!!!”

It just went on, and on, and on. “My patience grows thin with that insect’s prattling.” the dornian grumbled, never before having a battle interrupted before it began by such nonsense. “Tell your friend to cease making such maddening noises, before I leap up there and devour her.”

The Life Fiber hybrid puckered her lips off to the side. Oh, he was crazy crazy. “I’m with ya there, BB, she’s really startin’ to piss me off.” Ryuko’s sapphire gaze snapped to Mako, the intensity and disdain in it actually forcing the bobcut-donning girl to trip and fall backwards off her perch. “So quit it, pipsqueak! Before I drag ya down here and tear your mouth off! And I ain’t your friend, so get over it.”

Mako’s big eyes bubbled with tears as her lips trembled, reaching out over the edge of the bridge towards a girl that wanted nothing to do with her. “R-Ryuko… I… I… I thought we were friends.” How callously the once-hero of the rebellion against Revocs could reject her loved ones didn’t fail to astonish anyone watching. Gamagori, the muscle of Honnōji ’s Elite Four and disciplinary enforcer, came to the no-star’s comfort.

“There, there. You were very brave for trying, Mankanshoku.” he spoke with manly grit as he gently patted Mako’s back with his enormous hand. It was his job to protect the students of the Academy, even if here it was just reassurance. “Believe this, Mankanshoku. Matoi can hold her own, even if she’s turned on us. This is the girl who put belt to all of our behinds, and even competed with the great Lady Satsuki! If anybody can defeat this ‘Battle Beast’, it’s her.”

Words like that were enough to inspire a one-eighty degree flip in the girl’s bobcut-guarded brain, who now stood again on the pedestal, beating her chest and waving her arms to cheer. “You go, Ryuko! We can work out your mean-streak later, just whoop this kitty-cat’s ass! WOOO!!! GO RYUKO!!!”

Senketsu, having retreated with Satsuki and been changed out of, clung tightly with his sleeves to the edge of the bridge platform. His single eye pulsated with genuine worry for the ruffian. The living cloth had to see Ryuko lose her way, try to kill him and everyone on the ship, and now she was going to fight that thing? He knew none of what the creature was capable of, but its appearance did not ring well with the Kamui’s heart.

“Don’t die, Ryuko. Please.”

Both fighters squared their stances, holding their weapons-of-choice out before them, fixing the foe behind it. Locking sapphire eyes with yellow ones, the hybrid and the dornian shared a promise that would be written by the ruins they left in their wake and the flesh they would carve from the other’s body.

“I’m gonna enjoy every second of this.” Ryuko’s grin widened as her crazy eyes looked as if they were nearly about to pop, pupils constricted wildly. Battle Beast offered a smile of his own, the hoarse rumble of a lion’s roar rolling from his tongue.

“Truer words…”

Then, they went off like two white blurs, hurtling towards their enemy as fast as they could, weapons wound far behind them only to be swung forward with everything they had. Taking Thokk’s build as an indicator, Ryuko expected to be the faster of the two, moving to slash across the lion’s chest before it even had the chance to react. But the beast could easily match her in speed with his mace screaming through the air, colliding with the Scissor Blade and sparking hot.

The impact rang out for miles, blowing away nearly all the debris from the last fight and holding the waves at bay. Just from this first blow alone, Ryuko realised that Battle Beast’s physical strength outmatched even hers, as the crimson sword went askew as it vibrated in her grasp, whilst the golden mace was already being prepared to go forth again. The Life Fiber huntress jumped in the nick of time, ignoring the ground beneath her getting shattered by the alien bludgeon to redirect her momentum into a flurry of kicks to rattle the furry creature’s snout.

One, two, three flicks of the high-heel struck Thokk’s jaw and nose, managing to knock his eyes away just long enough so he wouldn’t see the Scissor Blade lunge in for another strike, this time landing right across the alien’s chest. Being rocked back and losing his footing was a good sign for Battle Beast. The girl could in fact move him, something not many recent kills could claim. A thin but deep line was carved across his chestplates, only boosting his eagerness to explore Ryuko’s abilities.

When the miscreant and her multicoloured hair came flying in again, the ultimate warrior was ready — latching his vice-like clawed grip around her puny hands, he pulled her into the floor by his side, twisting as he followed her with the mace raised high above his head, already coming down by the time the devil in white knew what was happening. When the mace crashed against Ryuko’s skull, blood splattered everywhere, shooting across the cracked ground and all over Battle Beast’s weapon.

Though the crowd squealed, the hero of Dorn found no displeasure or disgust in it. He loved to see it, especially considering he only repeated the motion once he saw Ryuko glare at him not with fear but anger. It hurt like a bitch having parts of her cranium be torn loose and having all that copious blood and brain matter be flung all over the place, but a glorified toy wasn’t going to be the death of her. In fact, it only fueled her!

A fourth mace-strike was blocked by the much smaller fighter’s weapon, and by utilising her powers of flight, she rotated her body downwards, pushed away from the ground and delivered a hearty two-footed strike to Battle Beast’s chin, sending him crashing a distance away. The delinquent caught herself in the reflection of her sword — a sizable chunk of her head around her temple was gone.

“Not bad, BB, not bad at all.” She got goosebumps all over her body, the thrill was exhilarating. Being able to exist perfectly fine with such injuries was something she’d never get used to, but it was awesome! The hole in her head didn’t take long to be patched up, as the pink sparkle of Life Fibers stitched it back good as new. Throwing the sword over her shoulders and casually resting her arms on it, Ryuko raised an eyebrow and playfully asked, “How am I doing?”

Bounding from the crater he formed with his back, the cosmic lion ripped up into the sky with his mace, falling down towards Ryuko with a roar. “I only hope this is the beginning of your power!” Battle Beast swung with all his might and nearly broke the ship in two with the strike, quaking every inch of metal that went into its construction, though his intended target managed to side-step. Channeling unnatural power into her next move, the human-Life Fiber hybrid swung with the Scissor Blade once more, only this time not intending to slice the enemy.

This time, the sheer force of the Scissor Blade’s motion would be her ally. Battle Beast was struck with a monstrous invisible energy and was pushed backwards, his boots digging up the floor he stood on. Again Ryuko went, this time trying to throw the bloodthirsty scourge off his feet by aiming at his head. The savage withstood it, though after a couple of seconds, clouds behind and high above the target were rent in two when the swing’s force breached the heavens. A third time did not pan out well.

When Ryuko made the mistake of falling within an arm’s reach, Battle Beast grabbed the fatal fashionista’s head and held her still for his mace, bringing it upon her femur. It didn’t even try to hold together and splintered all throughout her thigh, blood-red bone piercing up and out into open air. The ruffian grunted in agony as she was strongarmed down by the lion’s boot. Not eager to face another round of blunt-force trauma, Matoi watched and waited for the exact right moment to pounce and counter. She needed to get rid of that mace, and Battle Beast’s penchant for savouring the fight was going to cost him.

Her eyes flashed with anticipation, for she found her opening. Right when the lion-man’s grip was loosest on his mace, when his finger-contact with its handle was at its least, she made her move, and swung the ruby-red half-scissors with the same technique as before. Just as predicted, the metal mace flew right from Battle Beast’s claws, soaring way off into the distance, no more than a glimmering sparkle falling towards the horizon.

Thokk’s face contorted with confusion at first, then with delight. Impressive. Very impressive. The girl was quick with her wits. He liked that in an opponent. “Well done!”

All of the crumpled pieces of femur were sucked back into the right place, and when ready to stand, Ryuko hopped up to the panther’s eye-level, “I know!”, and smashed her head into his nose. Battle Beast reeled from the headbutt for a second before wiping underneath his moist nostril with his glove. His fingertip was stained with blood. Not hers, which she apparently had in spades, but his own.

“Most impressive.” he said, licking his muzzle. Without his mace, the humanoid carnivore had no reason to hold himself back with a more orderly form of combat. In place of forged weapons, he would rely on those nature gave him — his claws, his teeth, the brute strength he was feared universe-wide for. Lowering to all fours, Battle Beast sprang forward with an agape maw, aiming to catch the regenerator’s head and crack it open. Perhaps the blood that shone like stars would have a unique taste.

“Shit!” she yelped, barely ducking in time and letting the goliath zoom overhead and tear away even more of the Naked Sol’s deck to prevent slipping off the front. “Oh alright! We’re goin’ like animals? I can be an animal, just watch me!” Taking flight with a step-off, Ryuko rocketed towards the recovered Battle Beast and collided mid air. She landed a punch to the face, then another to the gut before her sword screeched across Battle Beast’s peeling chest armour. When she flew, it was enough to create a small gap in speed, but it was enough to land three hits before the space creature could.

But when Thokk hit, he hit hard . A pounding of his gloved fist against Ryuko’s head shook her world, somehow even more powerful than the mace with superior leverage and momentum. With how all-encompassing the pain throbbing in her skull was, Junketsu’s host hadn’t even realised she’d been sent tumbling right at the base of the bridge, the wall having a nasty spiderweb crack surrounding her imprint. The teen wasn’t even awarded a second of peace to hop out of the rubble before Battle Beast met her there, puncturing her shoulder with his claws on his way to pull her out and throw her in the other direction.

Battle Beast dove after the staggered humanoid and got her entirety under his weight. His boots pinned her lower legs, crushing her bones, whilst his upper body was curled over hers. Clasping her thin neck with his left hand, the dornian super-warrior balled his right and threw punch after punch, breaking Ryuko’s nose with the first and caving her face in with the second. Like this, the servant of evil could only stare in mind-splitting pain through the collapsed flesh of her face, choking on her own gore. It drenched the gladiator’s outfit in delectable blood.

Junketsu itself stepped in with a fiendish hiss, not to save her life, but because the semi-sentient cloth of the new world order didn’t share its wearer’s penchant for wasting time. The two shoulder spikes its eyes were mounted on jetted forth from Ryuko’s body, slamming into Battle Beast like missiles with detonative force and wrenching the stronger fighter off. With a window for a further offensive, Junketsu retracted back onto the evildoer’s shoulders just in time for her head to pop into shape. With a wily yowl and a bounce, the white-and-blue fist of Revocs thrusted her knee into the alien’s jaw, then leant forward to pummel his cheek with a nasty right hook.

The punch spun Thokk’s head and elicited a small spray of blood specks, but the latent power behind it continued past the herculean lion and blew a chunk out of the side of the bridge tower, putting it on a lean and obliging the battle’s observers to be more wary of their footing and hold onto something, lest they fall. The way his face came back to her was sober, unaffected by Matoi’s strikes.

“Judging by your dainty build, child, one would expect you to be but a mere nuisance, not worthy of my time.” The comment goaded Ryuko to rush in for a blade-strike, only for Battle Beast to backhand with a clenched fist and send her packing. “How you have proved that wrong!” The swordswoman twisted through the air and crashed against the ground hard and fast, kicking up a veil of dust in her wake. Annoyed, she snapped upright and spat a chunk of concrete from her mouth.

“Ptui! Cheap moves like that ain’t shit!” Seeing the lion make his way like a wild beast over towards her gave the girl all the focus she needed to get back into the fight. He swiped at her, but a dodge allowed Ryuko to command Junketsu to turn itself into a weapon, just as she once saw Satsuki do. The pointed-edges of the Kamui’s ‘face’ made for perfect stabbing-weapons, and the left-shoulder’s edge extended out and speared right into the side of the fighting feline. He let out a drawn-back howl, relishing in that more of his own blood was being spilled that day.  

The second swipe managed to snag the relatively tiny waist of the genetic anomaly, and she was easily yanked free from impaling the newcomer. He dug the claw on each and every digit in, swirling them around and flexing them to shred more of his opponent’s flesh. Ryuko grimaced and grit her teeth, coughing up a shot of blood, bleeding hatred in her eyes for the burly and brutal beast that now held her off the ground with both hands. Riddled by foreign intrusions, the girl was much slower to bring the Scissor Blade upon her foe, and it was promptly caught by the teeth and spat away. The excitement in his eyes went dull, though his dream was not dead. It only needed to be nudged out, ripped out if it must.

“Where is your enjoyment, child? Stop holding back! I know your power is not at its limits! Do not prove yourself a liar! Show me! SHOW ME ALL OF IT!” Battle Beast grinned as he shuffled his fingers about, preparing to tear Ryuko in half by the stomach. The pain was excruciating, feeling every string of flesh, every organ begin to separate. An ocean of blood poured from the girl’s mid-section, and soon after, glittery entrails.

Only a stupid person would be foolish enough to claim victory so easily, she thought. The ever-so-great Lady Satsuki and her cronies couldn’t do it, and neither would this furry punk from space.

“I’LL SHOW YOU, YA BIG WHITE BITCH!” Matoi’s rage manifested physically and blew back Battle Beast’s paws. The dornian couldn’t help but grin like the Cheshire Cat. Without even thinking the teenager lunged onto the white lion, wrapping her deceptively powerful arms around his neck and swinging around to his back, putting the beast in a chokehold that even he in all of his might could not help but yield to. Forcing him to the floor, Ryuko’s teeth ground against one another as she grappled with the strength of the notorious intergalactic killer. Even yet she soldiered on, her building fury matching the beast’s own with a literal fire – an aura that in tandem with the raw strength of the two warriors, imperiled the very platform they fought on.

“YA HAPPY NOW!?” the Life Fiber hybrid growled into his twitchy ear, trying to bury his head deeper as she did so. “I AIN’T GONNA HOLD BACK ANYMORE! YOU WANT THIS! YOU WANT MY POWER!? WELL HERE, TAKE IT!!” Ryuko got so into the fight she flashed her own little fangs and bit down on the feline’s shoulder, trying to rip his hide like a berserker. Her crested wrath applied too much pressure for the deck of the Naked Sol to handle, and it gave way for the immense power, crumbling into dust and causing both fighters to fall into the inside of the ship.

“Grrk! Yes! Yes!” Battle Beast gargled out as he threw himself every which way, trying to get rid of the weaponless but feisty swordswoman clamping his windpipe shut. The movements put massive dents in the hull, shattering machinery and tossing hapless workers as if they were toys. Sewing Club president Iori was nearly killed in the tussle as the white-haired juggernaut crashed through a wall, putting all of his anti-Revocs research into disarray.

The commotion of it all had Ryuko lose control, and in a moment of frenetic carnage, Battle Beast wrestled free, craned his head up and slammed his fangs down into the girl’s head. His upper jaw lodged itself deep into the back of the skull, painful enough, but the lower jaw found a far softer target. One large incisor bore deep through the child’s gooey eyeball, and she screamed. The scourge flailed his head in an attempt to shred his enemy into bits, his insatiable love of the game hitting a new peak as a fountain of blood spurted out with extreme pressure.

Thokk knew he’d found the jackpot on Earth. This girl, this Ryuko Matoi, was everything he’d searched for across the stars. She wasn’t dead, not nearly, not even after such terrible disfigurement and injury. He thrashed about, tearing open the front of her throat again and again as it regenerated, and yet she still lived and fought like a maniac to free herself. Her kicks were bruising the skin beneath his fur, and her flight-amplified leverage of strength made her his equal in terms of controlling the fight. He was pleased.

Panicked, Ryuko powered on her flight, pant-legs igniting with streams of blue fire in a bid to get free, but in the mouth of the beast, it only served to flip both over. Now on his back, the savage barbarian clawed the girl’s stomach open, cherishing every cry of pain. In a rabid spasm she laid haymaker after haymaker into each side of the dornian’s head, but Battle Beast’s jaw only tightened, turning more bone to dust and more meat to mush. 

Still with her head inside the lion’s jaws, her options of escape narrowed by the second, settling upon one she’d live to remember the agony of. With all of her muscle and willpower, Ryuko tore away from her opponent, gnawing through all the torment and suffering of having every strand of skin, muscle and bone separate between her head and body. Having no head would do for now. Feeling and hearing the delicious pop of flesh splitting and the squirt of torrential blood, Battle Beast’s pupils expanded, full of curiosity for the headless body leaping away from him.

Never had he seen that before. The respite in aggression greatly aided Ryuko, for the sheer uniqueness of the situation awarded her words of commendation from the centuries-old champion. Spitting her head out into his palm, the two made eye contact, and Thokk chuckled. “Now I am truly enthralled, Matoi. You live, and your two parts remain working in unison. Would you tell me how?”

“That’s one of the perks of being a creature made of Life Fibers. You needa cut through every thread of ‘em — something you can’t do, ya deranged idiot!” Battle Beast inspected the stump of the head, palming away the decapitated body that attempted to free its cranium with an overhead blow. There was a small, negligible string that had the signature glisten. He probed it with his claw, unable to cut it. The beast’s hunger suggested simply swallowing the skull, but he would never deign to do that.

Looking down at the smug face of Ryuko, the leonine alien simply shrugged and tossed the head back into the hands of the body. “I’m not one to disadvantage my foes. Keeping your parts away from one another to stop your healing would be dishonorable. I shall find another way to end your life.”

Taking her head and placing it on right, the devil in white rolled her neck, feeling the Life Fiber stitches work their magic. Good as new. “You’re kind for a dead man, y’know!” she complimented, cracking her knuckles and finding her stance.

“That’s the spirit!” Battle Beast cheered, his voice perfectly content. Ending the break with a rush towards the other, both fighters slammed shoulder against shoulder, forcing a contest of raw strength and nothing more, and in that arena, none could beat Battle Beast. The impact’s shockwave tore apart more nearby machinery before the dornian pummeled Ryuko through a wall or two, the metal plating wrapping around her form. Payback came swiftly when the Kamui-user kicked off the wall she smashed into, flipping around mid-air to crash both boots of hers against the dornian’s head.

Something was building up inside the girl, a burning feeling that caused her to lurch over. She’d felt it all throughout the fight, but it was only spilling over now. Letting out a guttural roar, Ryuko was enveloped in a dazzling but ravenous blue light. It was Junketsu overflowing with energy, and transforming it with her boundless fury, the high-school deviant mustered a monstrous uppercut, launching Thokk into the sky and swallowing him in an eruption of light. Her and Junketsu formed a scintillating pillar that followed her clench fist upwards. The azure ray nearly totalled the warship, but it seemed to ushered in a moment of calm, as the dornian warrior sedately and silently fell to the wayside, crashing amongst upturned concrete.

He raised his head and shook his mane free of dust, met with the sight of Ryuko descending from the sky, half of her face covered in her own blood. Her eye was beginning to regrow, and wild rage tempered by her half-lovable jerk personality painted everything about her. As the devil in white plucked the Scissor Blade from the ground, she powered up once more, sapphire light beaming about her. 

“Quite the show we’ve put on, eh?” Both warriors regarded the tattered ship, slowed to a crawl, smoke and falling pieces making up most of it. They also noticed there were still plenty of eyes regarding them, hiding behind broken panels so as to not garner any ire or ill thought. “Baah, these losers ain’t goin’ nowhere. Let’s blow this joint, BB, cuz I ain’t done with ya!” And like a thunderbolt of olympian wrath, the blue meteor raced away, slamming into Battle Beast and taking him away with it.

Leaving a very stunned crowd to wonder what next?

“I don’t even need my eyes to tell me what just happened was bad. Really bad.” Sanageyama sighed, his senses having been violently assailed by the combat. Wearing the same skimpy black-strapped Nudist-getup as the rest of the freedom fighters, the blindfolded head of athletics turned gazelessly to his allies, also struck by concern.

Taking charge as usual, Satsuki furrowed her bushy brow and sought to find answers. “Inumuta, were you able to get anything out of that animal?” she asked sternly, stashing both parts of her sword Bakuzan into her belt, wincing as she did so. The on-ship doctor, Mako’s cheerful and loose dad, immediately began attending to her. For how goofy Mister Mankanshoku was and how dodgy his methods were, he was a decent professional and bandaged Honnōji  Academy’s student President up in no-time.

“Of course.” the computer guy spoke, proud of his ability to still maintain his usefulness, unlike his three other Elite friends. His monitor flashed up with a pixelated silhouette of the dornian lion, fringed on either side by nibbles of information. “Just with what quick scans I could complete, ‘Battle Beast’ seems to be Matoi’s total physical superior. Stronger, more resilient, and just as fast. The most interesting part? There isn’t a trace of Life Fibers. We’re looking at a creature naturally strong enough to contend with a Life Fiber-infused being.”

The writing on the wall wasn’t pretty. Aikuro and Tsumugu’s sharpened faces dulled in hopelessness, knowing any of their Dōtonbori Robos and anti-Life Fiber needle weapons would be useless against the monster. For the first time in a long while, the Nudist guerilla leaders knew they were beat.

Jakuzure, the short-stack head of the non-athletic clubs, was itching to give her two cents. “I say we leave her, let her fight that psycho. It’s only fair given how she’s treated Lady Satsuki, never mind the rest of us.” 

“But she’ll die.” Aikuro warned, but the little pink-haired maestro only hardened her heart.

“We don’t have much of a choice, ya exhibitionist. If we go after them, either he’s gonna kill us to satisfy his bloodlust, or she will. Not to mention we’ll get this sad excuse for a boat sunk. It’s her or us, and I choose us.” The heir of the Kiryuin family considered her old friend’s points. The risk was undeniable.

“Well, what if Battle Beast defeats Matoi?” Sanageyama stroked his chin as he spoke. “Revocs lose a key asset, giving us time to retreat and recuperate — we cut our losses here and come back more prepared.”

Tsumugu frowned in resigned agreement, twirling a toothpick in his mouth. “Agreed. I never trusted that girl, especially given the truth about her. Maybe things are better this way.”

Even under the pressure of certain death, Gamagori’s big heart hidden behind that wall of toned muscle managed to shine through, disregarding his compatriots’ cold attitudes. “I can’t in good conscience agree. Matoi is the best chance we have at winning this war, and abandoning her means abandoning a chance at striking Revocs where they’ll feel it. Besides, it wouldn’t be the right thing to do.”

“I feel right and wrong is rather irrelevant in this case, Gamagori.” Inumuta snidely insisted, pushing his blue frames up his nose. “Matoi tried to kill us not moments ago, and Battle Beast’s stated intentions are not inherently malevolent. We do not know what interfering would mean to him.”

“You would rather a student — a person who we swore to be responsible for — perish than even try to save her!? Get a hold of yourself!” 

Sanageyama joined Inumuta and Jakuzure’s side in the debate; three against one in the Elite Four. “D’ya got a death wish or somethin’!? That monster would shred us to bits without breakin’ a sweat! I’m all about overthrowing Revocs, you know that, but I’m not gonna throw my life away chasing a fight that’s not  ours!”

“Yeah,” the smallest Elite snarked, “punchy-puss gave us the perfect opportunity to haul ass and get our shit together! We can’t lose that, ya big ogre!” Gamagori bowed his head in docility. Even Aikuro, the man with the most faith in Ryuko, began to taste doubt. Maybe things were better this way, leaving her behind. It broke his heart to know that the girl he placed the fate of the world on would die as a sacrifice, merely to deprive the enemy of a tool, to buy time. How heartless life could be.

But from the corner of his eye, the Nudist leader noticed the most stalwart vanguard of freedom march towards the fray, holding in her chest the will to speak her mind and the mind of another who could speak his own. Despite having the reputation of the slacker, the look in her eyes was as resolute as anyone else. With Senketsu trailing her feet, Mako Mankanshoku meant business.

“HEEEEYY!!!” she hollered, putting all eyes on her. Sucking in all the air that she could and psyching herself up in front of all the cool, powerful warriors, the no-star student let loose another signature rant of hers. “How can any of you guys just leave her like this!? Life’s been so hard on her, you guys have all seen how hard she’s fought just to avenge her weird dad! Then she learned that her mom’s all evil and she’s part alien, imagine how freaked out she is! It’s got her all confused, and believe me, feeling confused isn’t a fun time! Ryuko’s been in this fight since the day she arrived, which is like, a VERY long time!! Where were YOU guys when she was putting her life on the line every day!? Oh, I remember! You were all playing pretend and being bullies! Every day you sat in your ivory tower doing nothing except pushing her down for whatever reason! It was probably not a very good one.” Mako’s words were not received kindly by some, with Jakuzure crossing her arms and spitting venom.

“Watch your mouth, slacker. We were-”

“NO, YOU SHUT UP FOR JUST ONE MINUTE!!!” the ‘slacker’ screamed, finger furiously pointed at the shorty. “WHAT RIGHT DO ANY OF YOU HAVE TO ABANDON RYUKO!? SHE’S FOUGHT HARDER THAN ANY OF US, AND SHE’S OUR ONLY SHOT AT DEFEATING THE BADDIES, ALRIGHT!? RIGHT NOW SOME MEAN LION FROM OUTER SPACE IS KNOCKING HER BLOCK OFF, AND IF WE DO NOTHING, SHE’LL DIE! SO HELP ME GOD, IF WE DON’T GO AFTER HER RIGHT NOW, I’M GONNA- HURK!”

Mako’s face was a deep strawberry shade and her eyes bugged, the girl lurching over and coughing. “Mankanshoku, are you alright!?” Gamagori fretted, only for the no-star to raise her hand and gesture that she was. A short moment later and she was back up, panting heavily — the screaming took a lot out of her. Any fury in her eyes was drained, leaving only her sincerest plea.

“Please… just ‘cause she turned bad, don’t leave her to die… The real Ryuko’s in there, and… she’s a person too. She’s your sister, Lady Satsuki, and she’s my best friend… and Senketsu’s best friend. He needs her, more than anyone else, and she needs him. Together, their friendship makes them invincible, and there’s no way we’ll lose. So I don’t care what it takes, but I’m saving Ryuko, even if I gotta fight Tussle Tiger or whatever his name is myself.”

“Mako…” Senketsu’s single eye bubbled with tears, wrapping his sleeves around her leg. “… thank you, that was beautiful.” Though he could not be heard, Mako’s intuition brought her eyes down to his level. She smiled, picking the Kamui up off the floor and holding him like a plush doll, defensive and sticking by her stance to the fullest.

Between the shared glances of embarrassment and silence of the Elite Four and Nudists, the most radiant voice of all made an irrevocable declaration. “We’re saving Ryuko.” Every eye on board, even those of Iori and the grunts beneath the wreck, fastened tightly on Satsuki. All of a sudden the ones who’d disagreed felt swirls in their stomachs and crumpled their lips in shame. “Mankanshoku is right. I lied to her and made her life hell because I thought it would tune her power, and prove her a worthy asset to help bring down Ragyo. I only ever viewed her as a tool to be controlled, and never considered that I was using the same methods as Ragyo. For that, I am a fool, and it would be fairer to have me die in Ryuko’s place than to abandon her.”

Satsuki’s grace and nobility spared her Elites any responsibility and complicity in the treatment of Ryuko, but in their hearts they knew her words of remorse applied to each and every one of them. No one on the Naked Sol — with the exception of Senketsu — had any right to simply leave her. 

“I understand that you are all afraid, and truthfully, I am too. That beast is unlike anything we have ever seen, Ragyo and her forces seem untouchable, but hear me now. Neither she nor any of us will perish today. It has taken me a long time to understand, but I realise it now.” Walking over to Mako and the black Kamui, Satsuki took one deep gaze into Senketsu’s eye and marvelled at it. “We’re not cut from the same cloth, and it’s the differences between people and the bonds we share that make us invincible. Ryuko and Senketsu have proven that. If we want to protect this beautiful world, we cannot do it without them!”

From behind Satsuki a luminous light of mysterious origin shone like the sun, giving the sage girl a divine quality that matched her commanding presence. The first stone couldn’t be cast, and every person who out of fear sought to leave Ryuko in the hands of the enemy joined with their Lady. Even Aikuro and Tsumugu, who were moved through no loyalty to the Kiryuin but by her words alone.

The Elite Four fell to one knee, for their revered sovereign’s words would be done. “M’lady!” they all vowed together, before whipping up into formation, shoulder-to-shoulder and hands behind backs. Every second passed was a second wasted, there was no time to spend sitting around, and that became quickly understood.

“What’s the plan, Lady Satsuki?” Jakuzure as the most ardent protestor made an effort to let her childhood friend and leader know she was fully on-board. To answer, Satsuki thought for a moment, narrowing her eyes as she calculated and contemplated. When it hit her, a sanguine smile crossed her face.

“Iori!”

“Yes, Lady Satsuki?” the blonde tailor called from below.

“You and the Sewing Club are to repair the ship while we sail. You have my permission to scrounge whatever Life Fibers we have from decommissioned COVERs into a new Goku uniform for yourself to expedite the process.”

“We won’t let you down. Sewing Club, get to work!” Iori and his lackeys disappeared into the maze of broken panels, moving them around like scuttling ants as the suit-maker laid the finishing touches on his three-star Tailor’s Regalia.

“Inumuta, stay aboard and monitor the situation. I place my faith in you to warn us if Revocs takes any action.”

“With pleasure.” the brains of the operation replied, plopping down in his battle station and readying all systems.

“Gamagori, Sanageyama, Jakuzure, you’ll be with me. We’ll follow Ryuko and Battle Beast, and if necessary, hold them off with our own strength and Emergency Rescue Suction Devices. Mr Mikisugi and Tsumugu, I ask that you join us as well. Your DTRs might be our best bet at contending with them for a short while.”

While the Elites nodded without pause, Aikuro was taken aback. “Oh, uh, of course. Mister?” he whispered as an aside. Obviously, the plan was solid and he was eager to help, but there was a common theme to be noticed. “Excuse me, Satsuki, but you keep saying ‘hold off’ and ‘contend’. We won’t be able to do that against either for long, so what’s the winning play?” Again, all eyes went to Satsuki. The rebellion’s figurehead put her hand on the shoulder of Mako, whose heart skipped a beat and jaw dropped wide open.

“Mankanshoku and Senketsu are the key to victory. With Ryuko weakened from her battle, Mankanshoku will force her to put on Senkenstu, hopefully undoing the damage Junketsu has caused and ejecting it. Thus our mission is to ensure that Battle Beast is pacified long enough to ensure that girl is able to get Ryuko to put that Kamui on. Are we clear?”

“M’lady!”

“Oh, ya hear that, Senketsu?” Mako cheered. “We’re gonna save Ryuko, us! Can ya believe it?” 

“I pray we can, Mako. Ryuko, hold on, we’re coming!”

As the rapidly-repairing ship set off back towards Honnō Town, and everyone prepared for their duties, Sanageyama approached the plan’s creator. When she looked back, she could see the concern through his blindfold. “Forgive me for asking, Lady Satsuki, but how long can we expect to safely engage Battle Beast? He’s just… so much stronger than anything we’ve ever faced. I think he could even beat Ragyo.”

Satsuki’s eyes widened, heart pounding with a smile. Of course, how hadn’t she thought of that?

***

A terrified attendant shuffled over to the radiant star in her helicopter seat, holding a telephone on a platter as it rang. The tall woman was dressed entirely in white, snowy as the hair on her head that swept out like the wings of an angel, and its underside shone with every colour of the rainbow. Ragyo Kiryuin in all her malevolent glory snatched it, folding one leg over the other as her motherly, self-important voice fractured with annoyance. Her sycophants better have a good reason for this.

“What, is it, Nui?” the queen of Revocs Corporation snarled. On the other end of the phone, the pink lolita-obsessed Grand Couturier nervously laughed as she collected herself, allowing her master to see past the perpetually-smug and aloof mask she wore.

“Oh, it’s nothing serious, Lady Ragyo. Y’know, things are swell here at Honnōji , everyone’s fine.” Nui twirled her phone’s cord around her finger, cringing, trying to delicately dance around the issue. “There’s just been a teency-weency update… that I thought you should know about.”

What now? Ragyo thought, pinching the bridge of her nose and shutting her eyes. Nui Harime was good at a lot of things — hiding fear was evidently not one of them. For something to have one of the most powerful beings on Earth — a successful Life-Fiber hybrid — frightful was truly odd. Nui wasn’t scared of anything or anyone, not even Ryuko or Satsuki.

The evil mother glanced up to meet a small crowd of her nosy staff, awaiting to hear the news. She just shooed them away, regarding them with a look that could kill. “Well then? Are you going to spit it out?”

“Well… it’s, uhh… you see…”

A third voice joined the call, pressing the speaker button on Nui’s phone. “What the Grand Couturier means to say is that it’s about your daughter, Lady Ragyo.” She was Rei Hououmaru, Ragyo’s personal secretary. From the day the Kiryuin rescued her from her home embroiled in civil war, the young African woman has held the utmost loyalty to Revocs and the great mission. She too found Nui’s reluctance irritating. “There has been an unforeseeable development.”

“Tell me, Hououmaru, what’s Ryuko’s status?” Ragyo’s voice crackled out of the speaker. With a look of guilty retreat, Nui deferred all further conversation to the secretary. Hououmaru scowled through her shiny emerald shades at the Grand Couturier before continuing. 

“She’s currently engaged and headed back towards Honnōji Academy, fighting an extra-terrestrial life form. I’m sending pictures through now.” A TV screen in Ragyo’s helicopter flashed to life, displaying the gruesome images of the mythic duel. Matoi and Junketsu appeared to be fighting valiantly against what could only be described as a lion-man. Both traded good hits, but it was clear even in stills that Thokk had the upper-hand through most of it. For a good while Ragyo sat in silence, involuntarily removing the phone from her ear as she tried to figure out just what was happening.

Something so effortlessly matching an enraged Ryuko, who was donning an even stronger configuration of Junketsu? It just couldn’t be. It repulsed the devilish woman, and flushed her corrupted alien heart full with dread.

“Does it possess any Life Fibers?”

Hououmaru took a second to answer, entranced by a deeply hidden fear in her gut upon studying the pictures. “No. Not at all. That beast just won’t stop, Lady Ragyo.” That made the three of them.

“Nui, Hououmaru, remain at the Academy and prepare it for my arrival. The plan is being altered. I won’t have that mongrel vermin throw away everything I’ve worked for. If we must wait before beginning the final act with the Primordial Life Fiber, so be it, time is something we can afford once we rid ourselves of the threat.”

“Certainly, Lady Ragyo.” Hououmaru bowed even to the commanding voice of her boss, a physical presence of its own.

“What about little Ryuko?” Nui asked, perfectly unassuming and innocent-sounding as ever. “Aren’t you worried she’ll die?”

Ragyo’s in-turn returned to its usual cruel frigidity. “My daughter’s purpose is as flexible as I deem it. The nudists and dear Satsuki mean nothing to me anymore. Ryuko must slaughter the beast, and if she cannot, she will be a worthy sacrifice to slow its advance.”

***

Flying over the salty sea with the ferocity to wrench hundred-foot curtains of spray from its surface on either side, the Kamui-fighter glared down madly at her foe, who did just the same. Ryuko was fast and strong enough to keep the much larger Battle Beast completely aloft as she flew with no difficulty, both a boon to her and the lion. It meant she wasn’t going to be dragged down to the unforgiving ocean’s depths, but also that every second a jaw snapped at her, capable of removing her face if it found its mark.

Not like she’d let it, of course. With the Scissor Blade forming a barrier between the two fighters, Ryuko soared forth, waiting for the imposing island-city to appear over the horizon. Her azure eyes scanned impatiently, half-heartedly, a distraction from the combat at-hand which clawed desperately to change course. The dornian could not reach her face, but his grip was unmoving around the hilt of her sword, and no amount of yanking on her part could free it.

Over water like this, Battle Beast knew he could not afford to let go. Swimming was no easy feat for a feline weighing nearly eight-hundred pounds, after all. At the same, it also meant the alien gladiator couldn’t try and pull the airborne demon into the floor, and that greatly dispirited him. The tempestuous power exerted by her flight enraptured his body in close proximity to it, and the tingle that ran beneath his fur was the most infuriating sensation a madman like him could be teased with.

Widening his jaws and shutting them within a blink, Thokk’s mouth full of daggers locked around the Scissor Blade’s middle, blunt side against the edges of his maw. Attempting to turn the earthling’s flight against herself, he twisted with his neck and tremendous shoulders, flipping Ryuko beneath him, and now able to apply his curse-given strength, ploughed her skinny form into the water with a bellowing cackle of relish.

The hypersonic impact was like a bomb-blast, throwing up millions of gallons of water as sparkling white foam, separated in every direction by a deep blue comet that fizzed and crackled with the ebbing emotions of its originator. Still speeding and scorching the air and sea as she went, Ryuko could barely see the rapacious grin of Battle Beast between the vengeful torrent of water trying to tear her skin open and the nearly blinding aura she emitted. As if things couldn’t get more irritating, now that the big cat was drenched by the seaspray, his stench invading the teenager’s nostrils was about the closest she’s felt to death all day.

One at a time, his gigantic paws left their metal perch and clutched around the pencil-thin throat of his enemy. The lion warrior pressed his thumbs into Ryuko’s submentum, beguiling himself with the thought of slicing from there down to her jugular, just to quench his thirst, only relenting when he realised such self-indulgence might get him stranded offshore. It was all foreplay to Battle Beast, she knew that, that’s why he wasn’t going for any fatal blows.

He was waiting for the real treat to come, and by God, Ryuko would give that to the beast in spades.

Curling inwards and jutting her legs up into Thokk’s sternum, the wild lion careened up and away from Ryuko, his claws leaving deep wounds on either side of her neck as they left. The kick busted apart the chipped black armoured plates on his chest, showering the swordswoman in obsidian shards. Slowing only narrowly, the teenage menace zipped up into the air and drew the scarlet half-scissors behind her, wearing a caricaturish and zany look of thrill. Arcing it across her chest, Matoi’s blade knocked Battle Beast down as swiftly as he rose. It happened all so fast that she couldn’t even register if he was still enjoying it. In any case, the agony becoming a numb, background feeling let her enjoy the battle nearly as much as the furry fanatic did.

Just above the thrashing snowy creature, in the distance stood the towering spiral silhouette of Honnō Town. Her eyes perked with delight, the light and energy in them renewing. The scuffle over the sea was a novelty, sure, but brawling on solid ground was just so much better.

With a twirl of her sword she kicked off the air with a boom, squeezing Battle Beast’s waist in a near instant bear-hug. She charged forward with a one-track mind, every inch of her power infusing her speed and refusal to let go. “You’re in for a world of pain, tabby tough-shit!” Ryuko growled with her chest, hearty and promising. “Call yourself a scourge and all that bullcrap all ya want, but here, on my planet, I’m the battle beast!”

“Ha ha!” the fittingly-named monster howled. Wrestling around her iron-grip gave him a glimpse of imminent collision, and bouncing his intense amber eyes between the city and the human Life Fiber, Battle Beast embraced such a threat. “So we shall see!”

The thunderous roar of impact boomed out for miles, as furious as a meteorite from deep space.

Smashing into the island city faster than any jet could fly, Revocs’ headhunter and the universe’s blight flattened the immediate vicinity, the shockwave blowing apart everything else within hundreds of feet. Wood and stone shacks were eviscerated, the metal sheets they used for roofs torn to shreds. The railway that spiralled upward to the island’s peak was cut in two, and the cable car that hung desolately overhead shook violently, coming undone and flinging the cars helter-skelter. Nothing on the deserted rock could ignore it, for its vibrations fractured the rock underneath the city, prompting landslides on the other sides.

Ryuko stood over the animal, splayed amongst crumpled ruins, still sizzling with the cosmic aura of Junketsu. His red undershirt was riddled with holes, and much of his protective armour was no more. Cocky and thinking she was the better of the two, the girl with rose-painted eyes slipped her arm through the Scissor Blade’s handle, holding it around her shoulder, before kneeling down and going in to try once more to break the creature’s skull. Battle Beasts fiery eyes opened in preemption.

Lurching out of the hole his body made, Thokk snatched the balled fist with practiced ease. He yanked her in, a now gloveless fist finding its mark against her mandible. Stunned and without part of her lower jaw, Ryuko couldn’t find time to scream in retaliation before a second punch landed in her gut, doubling her over. A blood-filled wheeze escaped her mouth. Again, Battle Beast latched his hand over her face, laughing as he stood up to full height. Hit with the biological urge to vomit as her stomach and intestines were pulverised, Ryuko dug her teeth into the deadly beast’s palm and began to gnash. 

Finding it little more than a light annoyance, the white-furred killer ripped the violent bird off of him, curiously pursing his lips as the hair on the palm of his hand was plucked out by her fangs. Ejecting the hair and all riled up for another go, Matoi launched forth with her Scissor Blade, intending to create distance between them. There was something she wanted to try, since any attempts beforehand hadn’t proved effective. Perceiving the sharp hunk of steel careen towards his head, Battle Beast weaved out of the way, falling for the white devil’s feign. It had been an illusion created by her speed — the sword was actually below him, taking him off his feet and with all of the earthling’s strength, hurled the intergalactic criminal further up the mountain settlement.

His body skipped and skidded to a halt, leaving a trail of splintered wooden planks and a trench in the ground. Down some two-hundred feet, Ryuko got into stance and extended her sword’s crescent-shaped handle into a two-handed configuration. Decapitation Mode. Narrowing her gaze, some semblance of calculation and seriousness returned to her eyes. “Try this on for size.” Battle Beast braced himself the moment his attention fell on her, for the white and blue blur was immediately in front of him, slashing across his body with a splitting red light.

Ryuko halted not far behind him, Scissor-Blade extended out in front of her, folding back to its normal form. When she turned to check the damage, Battle Beast still stood, staggering to his feet with a throaty groan. “Now that just pisses me off. It usually works, BB. I get you’re tougher than- oh…” But when the alien lion faced her, her ramble stopped in its tracks. There was a clear slit across his abdomen. A slit where she could see the pink, wormy intestines try fruitlessly to bulge out and escape. Ryuko smirked. “Heh. Ain’t too shabby after all.”

This pain, could it be? The cat looked down with unsteady breaths, his eyes confirmed it. His skin had finally been pierced. Years of searching and the day had finally come! Might his invincibility be at its end? “Ha ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha!” The rarity of the occasion left the victim of the mutilation utterly elated, and when as totally happy as he was, there was no way Battle Beast would ever waste something so precious. His eyes flashed red, locked in on his fluffy-haired foe, and his voice was inflected with cold relief. “Finally.” he muttered before letting loose a feral roar, rushing towards Ryuko on all fours.

The shock of the relentlessness froze Ryuko in place. “What!? What are you-” she shrieked as his knuckles broke her face. An instinctual counter was parried by his toned forearm and caught in his grasp before another strike hit her chest, sending ultra-sharp shards of ribs into her lungs. Unable to breathe and in nauseating agony, the high-schooler’s mid-section was knocked side to side by two more punches before Battle Beast snapped the arm in his paw and lifted her high above his head with the other one, slamming her concave skull through several walls before planting her on the floor.

To even the playing field, the scarlet half-scissors were wrested from its wielder’s hands, the force of which broke all of her fingers, and tossed way into the air. Shit, she thought, wincing though the horrendous pain. Battle Beast grinned now that it was simply girl against beast. Pinned to the ground, a get-back was formulated in eyes full of anger and flooded red with her own ichor, Ryuko and her indomitable will persisting through an unrelenting flow of punches and stomps to her skull. 

With finesse she pulled herself up by latching her legs around Thokk’s tree-trunk sized arm, heaving with all her might to bring his neck closer before opting to choke him. The juggernaut grimaced as her popliteal fossae tightened around his throat — the beatdown he’d given her almost made him forget how strong she was.

“Are you insane!?” Ryuko howled, pulling and stretching his arm to its limit. He deduced she must have been concerned about his lack of concern, the fact that despite his guts wanting to spill out, his thrill only spiked to new heights. 

“I am as perfectly sound of mind as ever! This is what I live for!”

To fry and shake himself free, he swung his arm up, but it only took his attacker with it, giving her face time to be stitched back together. Once her twisted and deformed fingers reformed, Ryuko leaned forward into a sitting position and laid into the carnivore’s snout wet with her own blood, getting four belts in that reeled the cosmic peril back through an abandoned grocery, making a pungent mess of all the expired food and shelves.

Splattering fruits and vegetables in the dark, the hybrid slipped away as fast as she could, narrowly missing the monster at her heels, who struggled to land a blow with his mountainous body being held at bay by the slippery floor and cluttered mess. Finding a bag of flour, Ryuko pitched it at Battle Beast and sniggered when the warrior’s head was blasted by a cloud of white powder. It got in his black and yellow eyes, vexing him and blinding him long enough for Matoi to draft another way to get back on the offensive.

Standing upright, the beast of battle scanned his surroundings, first having to blink out that dastardly powder, then having to adjust his eyes to the darkness. Sawdust danced in tandem with his powerful exhales, negligible thumps of items slipping from shelves, all distractions from the fight at hand. He focused his senses, penetrating the dark with his refined hearing to find his runaway opponent.

“Have you lost your stomach for battle? Run out of the supposed energy you spoke of? You disappoint me, Matoi. Was all that talk-” the arthurian lion’s ear twitched, picking up the slightest disturbance in the air, his cheeks rising as he finished his sentence, “for nought?” Then there was a horrendous clanging, she must be trying to escape his wrath! He wouldn’t allow it!

Charging through aisle after aisle, bringing down anything that remained standing after the break-in, Battle Beast tracked the sound to its origin, finding nothing but a deconstructed industrial shelf. A little trick provided by the supply room out back, a trick Thokk only realised when a flying fist struck the back of his head with atomic force.

Ryuko fiercely shot the feliform off of her knuckles faster than the speed of sound, annihilating the building around them with the shockwave. Dorn’s champion was hit so hard that he tumbled up the mountain, forcibly tearing skywards as the spiralling city left him nowhere else to go. Eager as ever, Junketsu’s pant-legs erupted with blue light to follow, allowing Ryuko to follow up with whatever she liked.

For the first time of the fight, the Life Fiber hybrid was truly in control. With her handsome new look she swooned Lady Luck, it seemed, as the punch seemed to knock the wind out of Battle Beast. She was there behind him instantly, putting another wallop into his back and knocking him higher and faster without a care in the world for anything else on that God-forsaken rock. Again she caught up, appearing above the champion and slamming both her fists down onto his skull like a hammer, momentarily halting his ascent before materialising in a flash at his mid-section to put another colossal belt into his gut.

Like a missile of hardened muscle and indestructible bone, the fight-hungry feline made a ruinous indentation in Honnō Town’s upper side, where in place of the poverty-stricken shacks, it was the taller and wealthier buildings that crumbled around him. Ryuko found him where he laid and stood on his chest, heel to his throat and one of her hands clenched tight around one of his white plaits.

“Looks like we’re nearly at the top,” Ryuko remarked somewhat wistfully, “that’s where I used to go to school. Bad times, lemme tell ya. At least now it’ll be where mom starts to rid this planet of lowlives and scumbags. That’s my destiny too, being this super-Life Fiber. Kickass stuff.” she stopped for a moment as Battle Beast opened his eyes groggily. “Guess that’s where ya tossed my Scissor Blade, huh? Gotta go get that.”

Suddenly his claws were around her waist, drawing trickles of blood each as Battle Beast made a point to trap her there. “You cannot retrieve your weapon if you are dead!” He pulled her in with gusto, wanting to trap Ryuko in his maw, but instead was rewarded with a brutal volley of skull-bashing. Caring not that freeing herself sliced open her naked sides in several places, the villainous eleventh-grader kicked Thokk’s grizzly snout over and over, and he replied in kind, booting her into the sky. He leapt up, actually managing to grab her ankle and throw her down into the ground just as she had done to him. 

And so the cycle went on. Unmatched in fury, the two beings were living bombs, and their war against the other was the coming of irreconcilable destruction to anything and everything in their path. Battle Beast and Ryuko zigzagged up and down the island, fighting amongst showers of rubble and lifeless streets, turning empty cars and houses into weapons. Punching. Kicking. Choking. Throwing. Eye-gouging. It was a ceaseless storm of violence. Bloody and earth-shattering, two bolts of flesh challenging the other for dominance without end.

The greatest warrior of the cosmos fought with a smile never once wavering. He had turned fights like this into his daily routine, but today was a special treat, giving him emotional richness he could barely recall. He cherished every moment, spending every second tossing up whether this punk girl would be the one he would call in his final moments worthy and then thank. 

In spite of the unending agony she was subjected to, Ragyo’s daughter was having fun too. The adrenaline and the rush of it all numbed the pain after a while and it seemed like the new norm, from which, her mere existence free of pain in turn was like bliss. Winning this fight was bliss. But there was also no illusion, no smokescreen from reality. She had something to fight for. She had something to lose. Being indulgent here could cost her life, and there’s no telling what that would mean for the designs of her mother. It’d been fun, but everything good must come to an end. Ryuko recognised that Battle Beast needed to die.

Taking the wound steel cable that used to hoist cars up the mountain slope, the devil in white dashed by her enemy, circling around him until the entirety of his thick neck was caught in the snare of the cable thrice over. The beast gagged, reaching up to rip the metal rope in twain, but he was yanked to the ground, forced to bend the knee to Ryuko’s whim at the leisure of a taut cable. She wouldn’t be able to keep him there for more than a second, but it bought her time to figure out what to do before Battle Beast broke free and resumed his attack.

She found what she was looking for, right as the cable snapped and let the ferocious animal free. Ryuko zipped away in flight, and having missed her by a hair, the feared killer lunged into empty air, hounding her down like a predator transfixed on the dismemberment of his prey. Both fighters knew Matoi’s speed was her crutch, but to the one who fought for something greater than herself, there was no shame in it.

As Battle Beast gave chase, she dug her hands into the side of the mountain as she flew, tearing it open and unveiling long pathways and contraptions that had remained in storage for months now. They saw the light of day this time not to humiliate her, but now to be her saviour. Her game? She remembered this place was a dystopian nightmare. Concrete stretches of road ploughed into the alien and took him down, continuously pinning him as Ryuko pulled on more of it.

Their removal seemed to activate just what Ryuko had hoped. Around the city, deadly crimson traps of all varieties sprung up, and making haste like never before, she zoomed around and uprooted them — spiked ferris wheels, spiked teacup rides, rotary sawblade installations, and about a thousand other machines with sharp edges. She piled them on faster than Battle Beast could smash through the miles and miles of road, and seeing him distracted, the girl buzzed away to retrieve the cherry on top.

Thokk squeezed through them all and climbed to the top of the pile, glaring with white-hot rage as Ryuko camped in the sky, happy as can be. “Your tendency to run strains my temper, Matoi! Where is your honour!? Get down here and fight me!” All of the traps the herculean lion stood on were brimming with unused, pent-up power, so volatile and dangerous that one wrong bump could set them off and blow the island to smithereens. It was like a kitten standing atop a castle of phosphorus, and the wild-eyed renegade wasn’t above hurting strays.

“Nah.” Ryuko mocked, finding solace in the fact that the people who used to live here were total psychopaths. Hoisting an RPG over her shoulder, the Kamui-wearing swordswoman aimed down the sight and pulled the trigger, basking in the bewildered look on Battle Beast’s face. “Kiss my ass, bitch!”

A thin white trail of smoke fanned out behind the screeching warhead, then, with a flash of blinding light and earsplitting sound, a ball of superheated energy expanded outwards at the speed of light, swallowing Battle Beast, jarring the entire island and racing towards Ryuko. Not keen to be caught in the flames, the deviant powered away through the air with such speed it left a streak of cerulean after-glow in her wake. When she turned back, there was nothing but cataclysmic swells of red and yellow fire, surging out from the epicenter like rolling waves and incinerating all in its path. 

The clouds continued to rise higher and higher towards the academic fortress, scorching the air with their ever-hungering reach. The searing orange glow reflected in Ryuko’s heartless and sadistic eyes, and her lips curled to form an unhinged grin. She cackled like a maniac, clutching her belly with both hands as her body creased at the hips. What a spectacularly unglorified end for the guy who prided himself on his prowess in combat. Not much one could do being swamped by an explosion that size.

After a moment she shrugged and sighed. “Woulda liked to turn his fuzzy-ass into a coat, or somethin’.” Flying so high above the fire, Ryuko found herself able to look down upon Honnōji  Academy, its perfect and totalitarian white walls and towers a welcome sight after an encounter with such an abomination against the universe’s order. Even from there the speckless sheen of her ruby sword was unable to escape her sight. “You won’t be missed, fleabag.”

Speeding down, relaxed and spent of her anger, she leaned back to land on her feet, slowing to a gentle and breezy float. With a prideful heart thumping in her chest, the girl beholden to her Kamui remained none-the-wiser to the fact that her foe did not perish. Far from it. No measly explosion would ever send the raging beast to tartarus, nor would he ever accept a fate short of glorious death in true combat. Just as the rabble-rouser said before, cheap moves weren’t anything.

Leaping towards the heavens, Battle Beast followed on the hunt, a swirl of flame spiralling up behind him as he exited the fireball. The explosion incinerated most of the rest of his crumbling attire, with only his pants and armoured faulds remaining intact. His trapper’s eyes spotted Ryuko immediately, and having nearly breached the sparse clouds above, he came to a stop before plummeting down, balled fists raised above his head. 

Parting the sky with his fury, the gladiatorial apex brought the shadow of death down upon Honnōji with his unimaginable frame. A shadow first brushed off to be a cloud, but one that rapidly shrank and pin-pointed onto the princess of evil, who twisted her neck in irritation to see why the sun refused to shine on her. That pompous conceit was obliterated in the final millisecond. She saw the falling shape, his fangs that shone, his eyes that glowed with an inconceivably mad desire. 

Ryuko did not say a word. Her mouth creased pitifully, and her eyes flashed wide open, stricken with absolute terror. 

Upon impact, the two plunged deep into the rocky floor of the Academy’s courtyard. The island wailed a deep bellow, shuddering and cracking apart in an instant, and spines of rock jutted out like gnarly teeth like flower petals around the wound. From every and even the most negligible splinter that split rock, geysers of dirt burst out like fountains of the Earth’s blood, and the man-made covering of residence buckled off of its foundations and slipped off into the sea.

The pressure rebounded upwards, flinging masses of earth high into the air. Every structure that was a symbol of someone’s slavery to the island’s cruel empress crumbled to dust. The comet of flesh drilled deeper, leaving millions upon millions of tons of rock unable to keep form. Its sides were rid of their core for support, and its top was pulverised in the instant that Battle Beast took Ryuko down through the island with him. The once mighty, captivating, debaucherous and depraved isle trembled at its very core. Rock screeched and cried in agony, killing itself under its own weight. 

Honnōji Academy itself, the crown jewel of the wretched project, was no more either. The shockwave of impact slicing right through its marble walls like an invisible blade, bringing every banner and flagpole toppling down. The grand fortress withstood the force only marginally better, meeting its end when the very ground it was built atop fell out from underneath it and swallowed it whole.

After ten excruciating seconds, Honnō Town collapsed in its entirety, ejecting plumes of dust out over the water. Any sense of grandeur was thoroughly broken beyond repair. The crucible of Revocs’ triumph had been destroyed — it was nothing more than a heap of macerated rock and debris in the middle of Tokyo Bay. A deserved twist of fate for the center of evil, and a terrible sign for its agent in the field of battle. It could not be any clearer to any who witnessed the destruction.

The universe had brought its most trusted bringer of death to Earth, and there was nothing the oppressor could do to stop him.

In the center of all the carnage and devastation was the very cause. Being pushed through the island by force meant being splattered against rock over and over again. Ryuko screamed when her spine was severed in several places by unruly and jagged blades, only for the bestial agent of doom to claw her throat open and swipe her jaw off its hinges. He was like an unstoppable freight train piling down on her, continuing to drive and make a torn and shot ballistics dummy out of her.

When the collapse came to an end and the falling debris settled, the daughter of the tyrant’s arm was trapped in the jaws of Battle Beast, yanked to the point of puny flesh strings being all that connected her upper arm to her shoulder. It would surely come off with a juicy rip, he hoped. With veins popping in his bulging forearms and biceps, he strangled the bantam menace, digging his clawed thumb into her eye and swirling, laughing hysterically as spurts of ichor sprayed his muzzle. Heaving with all her strength, she tried to muscle her out from beneath him as she’d done before, grasping his arms and booting his stomach, all to no avail.

She let loose with a flurry of punches, her free arm ramming itself in quick-succession against Battle Beast’s skull trying to get the feline to let go. All it managed was to give the unbeaten champion a new object to break, snaring her twig of an arm underneath his own and shifting his weight to snap it effortlessly. 

Thrashing his head up, Battle Beast successfully removed the child’s arm and spat it out, taking his non-gouging fist and using it to bash her skull to a pulp. On her back, pinned by her enemy’s massive frame and covered in her own glimmering blood, Ryuko was overtaken by fear. Not only was that because only now she truly understood just what kind of beast the dornian lion was, but because of the pure and unchained euphoria that shone like little stars in his eyes. She’d taken it as a game and thought he felt the same. This was his life. There was no beating that, ever. 

Her ached wails pierced the air when the bloody claw dragged from her eye, when Battle Beast stood up for a quick reprieve, running his gore-painted hands through his mane. Junketsu activated its flight capabilities to preserve its own life, only for the intergalactic rogue to react quick enough and catch the hybrid’s leg mid-flight, whipping his arm over his head and slamming her behind him. He studied her for a short time while her body regenerated, angered as her body shook and curled slightly at his movement. 

“Get up.” Battle Beast growled with poorly hidden annoyance, stomping on her head before lifting the nuisance by the hair. Part of her scalp was peeling off, not helped by the cat’s iron grip. Sweet, sweet blood trickled down her face like tears. “I’m not done with you.” Dropping her onto his flying knuckles, Ryuko folded around his fist, her spine pushing through her back and splitting it open, though it was kept in tight place by Junketsu’s impermeable seal.

Tumbling away, the one cocky miscreant skidded to a stop, shakily holding herself up by the forearms. Her vision went blurry, blood retched up from her gullet, the pain of every attack and subsequent regeneration stopped feeling numb and circled back to the worst, unimaginable pang rattling all over and throughout her body. This couldn’t be happening, it couldn’t be. Just who did this-

Ryuko’s train of thought was derailed by the gut-wrenching lion’s roar, snapping her head to see Thokk bounding over on all fours to deliver a nasty upper cut, launching her upwards. Then, catching her heel he brought her down just as fast into his knee, feeling her flat ape-face break against it and slide off with a trail of sticky red goo connecting from his fur to her nose. Frowning, his claws dug into her stomach, picking her up with one hand and tossed her into one of the many mounds of crumpled rock, blowing it away with her body and replacing it with another tiny crater, Ryuko sprawled out in its center.

He plodded over, nostrils flaring as they expelled but a small portion of his boundless rage, looking down on the girl with pity. “What’s wrong?” he taunted, plowing his foot down on her cranium again. “Are you scared, child? Or are you just weak?” What Battle Beast saw was a far cry from the self-touting picture of confidence and snark he met some half-hour before. She looked pale, her jaw tight and clattering in time with her shaking limbs. “Is your life not worth more than this? Will you not fight to save your own life and end mine?”

Call it panic, call it existential dread, but when Ryuko gazed up into the flaming eyes of the beast, she saw the apocalypse. The end of everything that she, in her brainwashed state, cared for. Her mother’s empire crumbling to dust and blowing away. Everyone involved in bringing about her dream being torn limb from limb, herself not least of all. The extinction of Life Fibers on Earth. He hadn’t figured out how to put them down, but what other end could there be? He was stronger, faster, nigh-invulnerable and any injuries he did sustain only fuelled his resolve. 

There was no stopping the Battle Beast. And realising that struck Matoi with a fear magnitudes greater than anything of this world ever could. Not even her mother, the wicked white queen of light.

“You have given me all that I crave for in this life, do not rob me of it now. Honour yourself and fight for your life, because if you do not, I will kill you. I am not stopping until one of us is dead!” 

The centuries-old warrior had gotten it right on both counts. She was scared and weak. Her blood was being siphoned away at an extreme pace for far too long, the blood that her white and blue Kamui needed in order to override and grant Ryuko its power. Junketsu cared not for its wearer’s wellbeing, guzzling down more and more of her plasma until it sapped the eleventh-grader of much of her strength. She wasn’t loved by Junketsu, she wasn’t understood by it. The rag didn’t even work with her. Her old Kamui did all of that, and it maddened her to realise it.

Laying it all out as flatly as possible rewired what was crossed. Ryuko Matoi was about to be killed by an intergalactic lion-man because she’d been a massive idiot and refused help.

This demon she wore, her mother’s demon — it sentenced her to death! Everything had been a lie. She had thrown away her only friends for a lie, nearly killed them, because she let her bitch mom and that wacko Nui get into her head. Her thick skull and even thicker anger now meant that she was never going to see Senketsu or Mako again, and she would die knowing they’d remember her as a monster. Her fear had come to pass on the path she took to avoid it. What an idiot.

It made her furious, boiling her blood and pumping her muscles with a limited, but new lease of strength. Mustering it up in a balled fist of fury, Ryuko lurched forward and threw it with everything she had, wanting nothing more than to hit something as hard as she could. “YA AIN’T KILLIN’ SHIT!” The punch connected with Battle Beast’s cheek, knocking his head to the side and blowing his loch back with a gale-force wind. He stopped for a second, licking the inside of his mouth before spitting up a tiny drop of blood. He turned back to her, ears drooping.

Surprisingly, she wasn’t dismayed by the lack of effect and readied another strike. Worked for him. Remembering a fight with a mustachio’d humanoid some years ago, Battle Beast straightened his hand and chopped to parry. Unlike his imperialistic friend, he did not possess the physiology required for a clean cut, and instead his paw practically smashed her arm at the elbow. Pushing past the pain, Ryuko simply gritted her teeth and furrowed her brow.

“Ah, has something changed?” Matoi stood up, chin lifted and regarding Battle Beast irately.

“Yeah,” she huffed as her pulverised arm reformed, shimmers running up its form, “ya wouldn’t understand, but I’ve been a huge dumbass… and a jerk. Those guys on the boat, they’re my friends and I betrayed them for nothin’. I was so caught up in bein’ angry that I fell for my mom’s bullshit and became someone I’m not. That chick you were fightin’, that’s not me, I don’t want that to be me. She’s the only reason we’re here now.”

Narrowing his eyes, Battle Beast scowled, nettled by this pause in combat. “You waste both of our time — my mercy is not so easily earned.” 

“I ain’t tryna beg for my life, BB. I get what you’re all about, I respect it, do what ya gotta do. Shit, man,” she chuckled, “I’m probably gonna die. If that’s how things go, fine by me. Hell, I probably deserve it.” Ryuko’s face shaped with resolve, tightening her gloved fists. “But lemme belt ya one. Right now, you’re about the only thing that stands between me and makin’ things right, cuz I got the whole world on my shoulders and I made some stupid-ass decisions that hurt people I give a damn about. If I die, those people and everybody else on Earth are gonna get swallowed by some… fucked up alien fabric, and there’ll be nobody else to blame but me. So if ya think I won’t fight tooth and fuckin’ nail to somehow beat you… you’re bouta’ get one gnarly surprise, kitten.”

Taking one big step towards the imposing cat, she looked up into his eyes in utter defiance, raising one of her fists and holding it out as if her intent were written on her digits. It was hard for Battle Beast not to be taken aback. What foe would be repeatedly torn apart, experience an existential crisis, and then come crawling back for more? It was a pleasant surprise, considering just how up-and-down this fight had taken his mood. If this girl had ever displayed clear certainty, it was now.

Battle Beast didn’t quite smile, but he gave a look of acknowledgement that Ryuko could feel gracious about. It was a look of honour and respect, from one warrior to another. “You will certainly be my most memorable adversary. For that, I will honour you to the best of my ability. I understand you are best with your sword.” Diverting his attention to the mound of rubble closest to him, one sweeping blow of his hulking arm blew it all away, revealing Matoi’s weapon sturdy and wedged into the earth beneath.

Without even thinking, the beast of white fur strode over and plucked it from the ground, before slowly walking back and calmly handing it back to Ryuko, blade up and hilt towards her. Cautious, she steadily wrapped her hands around it, and only after it was fully in her grasp did Battle Beast take a step back. “Thanks…” she murmured, eyes trained on his fiery gold orbs.

It was only now that the seasoned killer put a toothy grin across his snout, outstretching his arms with exhilaration, giving one chesty roar of a declaration. “This is more like it! Now we can conclude our battle! I simply cannot withhold my eagerness, I yearn to end your life! Even better than that, I yearn for the chance that you end mine! You have already proven yourself capable of harming me, oh how you only must finish what you have started! How glorious that would be! OH, YES! I CANNOT WAIT ANY LONGER!”

In the final moments of peace, Ryuko made a bargain with the despicable Kamui she donned. Both understood that despite their grievances, now that Ragyo’s illusions had been beaten out of the kid, the only chance they had at survival was fighting on as they had been before. If Junketsu was destroyed by that rampaging animal, it would never again be worn by its true partner, Satsuki. It had no voice like Senketsu had, but Junketsu understood and agreed with a hiss, sharpening its two big eyes on the target.

Facing certain death, Ryuko harnessed every last drop of power in her body and from Junketsu’s reserves, refining it to ready her strength and enforce her desire to live, to fight for something bigger than herself, to fight for her friends and the ones she loved. Swinging her blade down, the reborn hero smirked. “Arright, pussy. Let’s dance.” 

Like thundercracks both fighters ripped forward with dust clouds the size of houses behind them, crashing in the middle with a sonic boom before one side completely overtook the other. Battle Beast was still uncontested in a game of raw strength, shoulder-checking his enemy before planting his knuckles in her face, knocking her half-way across the former island city. Gooey red blood already began to flow out of her nose and breaks in her skin, but not dissuaded in the slightest, Ryuko raised her Scissor Blade and swung it back, foreseeing his next attack.

As the lion came flying in with a wide palm to slash her belly open, the Life Fiber human countered with an upwards strike of her blade. The physical blow and its unnatural force worked in unison and jerked Battle Beast’s arm out of the way, knocking him off balance and giving the tired Ryuko enough time to spin around in the air and plant both of her boots’ heels into the monster’s wet nose. Puffing out a stubborn breath, she got a small boost of confidence. She was still in it, but she wouldn’t win like this.

Even faster than the speed he was sent away, the beast of Dorn came back for seconds. He was like nature itself, striking in a blinding flash like lightning with the power of the greatest floods. One kick scarcely missed turning the teenager’s lower half into a fleshy bag of broken bones, and the backhand that followed nicked her in the side, blowing out a hunk of her waist and ragdolling her into a pile. Even when she was able to shore up her defenses in time and block a strike, it was as if the force of a bomb rattled up through her arms and threatened to shear flesh from her dislocated bones.

With Junketsu powering on its flight in a burst, Ryuko became a gleaming mass of light for only a short distance, virtually flashing fifty feet away from underneath the pillar-like legs of her opponent. It was too exhausting to go further, her lungs were straining beyond anything she’d ever felt before. Junketsu’s consumption of her blood was reaching dangerous levels, and she wasn’t making any headway. When Battle Beast turned to face her, his shiny innards being teased from the window on his stomach glistened under the sun’s rays. That would have to be her gambit.

Just like any time before, the Scourge of the Twin Galaxies bounded in with wild and untamed rage, leaping up into the air and blotting out the sun, coming down with a fist that shattered many a world before Earth. Leaping out of the way just in time, Ryuko watched from safety as Battle Beast ploughed his fist into the ground, tossing every remnant of Honnō Town into the air. As if time itself slowed to a snail’s pace, the union of human and alien twirled her blade up in an arc as hard as her rapidly-depleting energy would permit. Thokk perceived the motion just as well as Ryuko could, realizing what was about to happen.

The force of the attack commanded his body to follow the movement of the Scissor Blade, and with the swiftness and perfection of a master swordswoman, Ryuko spun her weapon back into prime position and thrusted into the gut of Battle Beast. Blood, the undefeated’s blood, ran down her sword, making its way onto her hands and arms. The old feline groaned as she pushed it further inside, giving the creature a taste of his own medicine by swirling it around his belly, hoping its edges were mincing his intestines. It made a continuous wet squelching, and let out an utterly revolting smell.

It was a cathartic action, full of vengeance. After everything he’d put her through, it was just, she reasoned. More than that, this was what he wanted. Battle Beast laughed between involuntary releases of pained groans, his near-divine glare not faltering for the grievous injury. Vision blurring and eyelids starting to fall and snap open again, Ryuko put one of her hands on her foe’s pectoral, scrunching his fur for grip as she took off into the sky, blue light chasing after her. A cone of brown dust blew in their wake, sending rocks and broken metal everywhere.

Travelling directly upwards and with very little vision, Battle Beast certainly made it no easy task for the kid. His weight and passive use of force, even when flapping limply due to air resistance, pressed down on the hybrid like a mountain had fallen on her and threatened to stall her advance. But Ryuko did not stop, not even as his digits blindly penetrated her back and clawed into her ribcage. She knew what she had to do. It was the only way.

Calling upon every last dash of its otherworldly power, Junketsu lifted its partner higher and higher, whose body wracked with the intolerable pain of extreme exhaustion carried her gigantic opponent up by the blade through his stomach. Breaking the sound barrier with a sonorous boom, Ryuko cried and crowed as she split wispy cirrus clouds, and the coldness of the upper atmosphere began chewing her bare skin. The savage’s fur protection couldn’t save him from the deathly greeting of the cold, and noticing this, his widening eyes contracted with alarm as sky blue became much deeper and richer. Soon, it would fall to blackness, dark as night.

Oxygen was too precious to waste on words. Any last exchange would be by the fury in their eyes, tearing away their bodies and granting a look right into the soul. Battle Beast’s vacant lacerating was traded for truly vicious rives through the dainty body, pulling out her ribs and making a fleshy mess of her back that dangled by Life Fiber threads. His eyes were just as they had always been, full of sadism and twisted passion. Ryuko had hers blaze with cerulean fire, using the pain to keep conscious, giving her the do-or-die motivation to take the beast’s life and decimate the innards of his impassable body.

Numbness crawled up Ryuko, starting from her legs as Junketsu puttered out of energy. Oh god, she wept internally. It had taken too much blood. Taken further up only by momentum, Ryuko’s fingers bound tight to the feline’s chest fell away, prompting her to anchor her body around her Scissor Blade, locking her arms around it by the guard. Eventually her other hand gave out too. Not willing to give into paralysis, the jerk with a heart of gold continued to push with her shoulders, driving the sword deeper.

Battle Beast was stunned. If it were wise to speak, there was nothing that could roll off his tongue. The only thing that crossed his mind was the question he had asked for so many centuries up until today. Was this the worthy opponent? He felt the answer squirm amongst his intestines. Driven to her limits and given something to fight for, she could achieve all this when no one else had ever come close. She slowed now, but the expert killer felt the sickening absence of gravity tug at his heels.

Darkness crept in on every side, washing over both like a blanket. Was this death’s embrace? Gazing out behind the monstrous carnivore, Matoi saw only the infinite expanse of space and its dazzling beauty. It was a pretty damn good view… if only it hadn’t taken throwing her life away to appreciate it. Behind the deathly pale face of the earthling, Thokk saw the emerald pastures and azure seas. It looked peaceful down there. It was a life he envied. Both thought they had just seen their last sight. Both accepted whatever came next.

Grasp slipping from the scarlet sword, Ryuko drifted peacefully, eyes semi-closed and staring with a dull near-lifeless. Battle Beast too kept his eyes open, anticipating that his journey would take him elsewhere, only to awaken in a completely different place. But the silent frost that would normally overtake him never came. He sat at the edge of the space, right on the fine line that relieved him of gravity but protected him from the vacuum’s frigid cruelty.

He still drew breath — a blank expression crossed his muzzle. Did his opponent? The shiny pink tendrils that connected every facet of her body retreated into her open back, sewing her shredded parts back into place. The living costume she wore, its draconic eyes still bounced around, no doubt mortified. that the space lion shared its status as alive. Ryuko Matoi still lived. The fight was not over.

First it was a little awkward, paddling through the sky to get within arm’s reach of the blue, black and red-haired girl. Once in distance, the big cat wound his fist back, only for his enemy to strike first. It was Junketsu, endangering Ryuko’s life to act on its own by throwing her arms into an awkward punch. With only trifling power to draw on and no mastery of the human form, it had virtually no effect on Battle Beast, though it gave him plenty of reason to hit back with strength a million-fold.

Punching the adrift child in the head, the leonine savage beat Junketsu into submission, feeling every break in her skull through its fibrous being. The hit would have plummeted Ryuko right down to Earth if not for the barbarian’s lightspeed reactions. Battle Beast snagged her arm, pulled her in close by the chin and lowered his center of mass, joining her escaping the edge of space, falling in a curled up bundle. Burning through the sky with a shield of fire enveloping them, the most fantastic fighters the planet had ever seen descended, the one not of this world throttling the native, and half-dead, Kamui-wearing diva.

Back down to the ravaged Honno Town they fell, hammering the ground in an orbital strike. Their impact discharged ripples of force through the ground, creating snaking tears that split the island into an archipelago. The hungry waves that lapped the shores were blasted away in every direction before swelling back in again, settling on a new calm.

The white goliath pushed himself off the ground, finding his feet tingled by the warmth of a bloody puddle. He beared his fangs modestly to run his tongue over them and lap up the iron-rich plasma, tenderly guarding his open intestines with a paw. Without a change in expression, he ripped the sword out of his guts and squeezed the wound shut. It would heal in time. The veins that raged across his colossal, furious form settled down, and the almost trance-like gaze in his eyes returned to the closest thing he could experience to normal. His rugged and matted white maw curled with curiosity, and he stepped back to admire his work.

In a crater born of her own body, Ryuko laid completely still — blood staining her bluish hair and the once-pristine white fabric of an equally pacified Junketsu, rolling off her ghost-white face. Hitting the ground at that chaotic speed and being sandwiched between the bare rock and the overwhelming mass that was Battle Beast did a number on her. Every bone was pulverised at once, plunging thousands of tiny shards into her flesh, and her organs were torn and shot. The hero was splayed out on her back, the only sign of movement being the bubbling of blood in the rear of her mouth, pushed up by an attempt to breathe.

Still, Ryuko was just alive enough to retain a shred of her hearing and vision. It was enough to recognise the truth. She was never going to win. It was an impossibility from the very beginning. The great cosmic adversary could withstand nearly any attack, and what was able to break through his hide didn’t faze him in the slightest. He remained as he always was — unbeaten across all of space’s vast expanse, forever dreaded by those who claimed strength. It was a rule proven by the countless destitute. 

There was no beating the invincible Battle Beast.

The one formerly known as Thokk sighed, for he too realised this to be the case. He had hoped this girl would bring about a different outcome. She had promised so much in words and in deeds, but alas, it was not meant to be. Ryuko Matoi was just to be another name in a list of many, broken under the might of the dornian’s curse and forgotten by her killer, remembered only as being part of that nameless horde.

“Stronger than most.” he snarled, twirling the comparatively dainty crimson Scissor Blade in his big hands. The feline took a liking to it, he witnessed what it was capable of. Might take some getting used to, but it’d be mastered in no-time. He’ll keep it. Raising it over his head with the blade’s tip pointed down, Battle Beast intended to skewer the hybrid’s exhausted heart, knowing that her regenerative powers could no longer save her. All good things must come to an end. “But not strong enough.”

Right as the scarlet sword was brought down, a massive mechanical fist slammed against the dornian’s cheek. The gap in durability was enormous, and the hand crumpled and ejected splinters of metal, but it was enough to cease the action that would have killed Ryuko. The other hand, backed up by ridiculous muscles of machinery and two men in plank position, grabbed the lion by the throat and heaved with everything it had in an attempt to move him. 

In the DTR’s ‘seats’, Aikuro and Tsumugu grimaced and ran hot with sweat. Their bowels shifted irritably when the beast’s golden eyes swallowed them up, his jaw lowering ever so slightly, like the attack was an insult. “A little help, guys!” the blue-haired nudist scowled, failing to even press Battle Beast an inch.

From on high, three more assailants strafed with puny attempts to knock him down, doing nothing more than attaining his attention. Gamagori, Sanageyama, and Jakuzure fanned out in front of him, standing between the maniac and his victim, holding their large suction canisters as weapons. Seeing the state he left Matoi in made them sick, they couldn’t even tell if she was alive or not. But it bolstered their resolve.

The machines powered on, and in an instant, the blood-stained fur of the creature was sucked towards the Elites before Gamagori’s device snagged Battle Beast’s unresisting arm, with those belonging to the green and pink-themed teens latching on further up like a vacuum. The Emergency Rescue Suction Devices had no business trying to restrain a creature of such magnitude, but he let it happen. It was no different to flies picking his hide clean of enemy gore. “The insects from the ship, I presume. You unworthy waste my time.”

To test them, Thokk flexed a single finger, wrenching his claw inside the device’s inner mechanics. He pulled ever so slightly, and the enormous blonde, almost the same size as him, was lifted off his feet and strained to hold his ground. Fear of the almighty seized Gamagori like the plague, and a low purr got the man to let go of the Rescue Device and fall back. Discarding the first metal canister and the Scissor Blade, Battle Beast just as easily peeled Sanageyama and Jakuzure and their own weapons off like leeches, holding the two earthlings in his palms like dornian kittens.

Then he felt two sharp edges glance off of his back and a hairless body wrap itself around his neck. The remnants of Bakuzan failed to penetrate the wild menace’s hide, but Satsuki did not fret, only seeking to distract the beast. With the strength inherent in her family lineage, she leaned back and managed to somewhat stagger Battle Beast, forcing him to cede a few steps. What was a novelty to the alien was the golden opportunity to the gang of humans.

“Mankanshoku! Now’s your chance, deliver Senketsu to Ryuko!” Satsuki commanded at the top of her lungs, holding onto dear life as the snowy gladiator tried half-heartedly to  remove her. Jogging onto the scene with the sentient sailor’s uniform in her arms, the ever-so-tiny Mako scanned between the array of moving legs to find a path to her best friend. Seeing a limp hand poke out of a crater, she dashed off as fast as her small legs could carry her.

“DON’T WORRY, RYUKO! WE’RE COMING!” Traversing the chaos with surprisingly little care and abundant ease, the no-star wonder slid under friends and foe alike, ducking her head as fists flew and bodies soon after, making all sorts of benign but deeply unnecessary comments as she did so. Watching what looked to be thoughtless and slight swings of the tree-trunk arms fling about Lady Satsuki, the Elite Four and the Ultimate DTR inspired a lot of awe in her. “Gee, Senketsu, I hope Satsuki’s idea works. This guy’s nuts!”

Senketsu couldn’t reply. Every thread that made him shuddered at the sight of his bloodied partner, and fearing the worst had come to pass was like being ripped apart, string by string. It was a fear that peaked when Mako grinded to a stop, standing above the Life Fiber hybrid’s motionless body. The loudmouth with the tawny bobcut pursed her lips. “Wow… she’s messed up. And y’know what, Senketsu? I told her not to be an idiot and chase that lion guy! I told her this would happen, I TOLD HER! It’s ‘bout time somebody actually listens to me because I got brains. I’m like Nostradamus with my predictions!” 

The faintest heartbeat in Ryuko’s chest reached the ears of the one being completely in tune with her. Senketsu’s eye perked up. “Ryuko’s alive!” he exclaimed, letting his worries fly away in the wind. The Kamui nodded, thanking his carrier for her work before hopping down onto his human partner’s chest. Senketsu felt her weakness, every break healed and every drop of blood sapped from her body. Wincing, he expected Junketsu to resist his approach, but the Kiryuin family heirloom was just as much of a victim as Matoi. 

“Here goes.” Unsure of what else he could do besides get Ryuko to wear him, Senketsu got to work, slipping beneath the unconscious white Kamui. 

Battle Beast was going easy on this band of earthlings. If he deemed it, he would have splattered each and every one of their puny bodies against the rocks like old produce. It was clear that none of these beings carried even a fraction of the white swordswoman’s power. Not half-naked and without their Goku uniforms. The girl with the bushy eyebrows and long hair was the most impressive of the lot, but even she was simply a bug, and her fate would be decided by the scourge’s whims alone. His mercy was rapidly running thin, and his amusement with them was no more.

In a white blur faster than eyes could track, the demigod’s arm rammed into the DTR’s leg and broke steel as easily as glass. The mech fell flat onto both of its pilots’ faces. “Today is not a good day! You mock me with this pitiful display after such an immense, poisonous disappointment!” Batting away the pink conductor and the ivy swordsman with the bruised disciplinary chair and their esteemed Lady in hand, he raised them up by the face and bemoaned his otherworldly and cursed frustrations. “I shall feel no pleasure in the spilling of your blood. Again I say, today is not a good day!”

“HOLD IT RIGHT THERE, PUSSY CAT!” A shrill voice screeched down from below, prompting Battle Beast to lower his head and inspect the noise. It was that girl from the boat who wasn’t aware of how aggravating her babbling was.

“You — have you forgotten my promise?” the alien legend boomed back, narrowing his milky yellow stare. He dropped Satsuki and Gamagori like playthings before taking a big step towards Mako, imposing his size over her. “After my chagrin here today, I could certainly use a light meal.” But the ignoramus did not back down. Instead, she raised her hands over her head, and from out of nowhere, the world dimmed and a light source shone down on her.

Hallelujah!

Then, she started dancing in an eccentric show of charades as her mouth ran wild. “Now what’dya think you’re doing, mister!? You think you can just turn Ryuko into a squished tomato and get away with it!? No siree, and I’m gonna make you pay! I’m a good fighter too, y’know! I beat Ryuko up once, it was crazy! I have this super badass costume with a lil blade’a grass I chew, it’s awesome! Don’t let my size fool you, I’m one mean chick, dammit! And y’know what!? Even if I spare you from my super-duper powerfulness, you’re not ever gonna win, because we humans stick together! There’s bigger problems out there in the world than your stupidity, and that’s what we’re fighting for! So get it through your thick skull, dammit! You get in our way, you get in the way of the whole world, or worst of all, you hurt Ryuko any more, and we’ll kick your teeth in!!”

Unusually, the legendary fighter was stumped. At a loss for words. “Excuse me?”

“Yeah, I mean it!” Mako bravely assured, crossing her arms as the day’s lighting reverted back to normal as mysteriously as it had changed. 

“We all do.” Satsuki joined her side, black all around her eye and grazes all over her skin. The Nudists were next, needle-guns confidently trained on the extraterrestrial, and after them, the three Elites, all bloodied and bruised to varying degrees but still ready to give it their all. “Battle Beast, this world is in mortal danger from the clutches of evil itself, and as long as our hearts beat, we won’t ever give in. Our resistance is not a ‘waste of time’, it is the lifeblood that will ensure the survival of mankind. Ryuko was the greatest of us, even if we could not see it. We owe it to her to continue the fight, even if you, an interloper, stand in our path.”

Thokk growled, about to respond with a chesty rebuke, but the entire newly-formed archipelago stilled. Pink starlight burst out from behind them, shimmering loudly and capturing every eye. In the centre of it all was the hero of the day, rejuvenated with her blade in hand, full of her old fire. Navy hair highlights turned scarlet and her face was rid of that tacky eyeshadow. Best of all? Back in black.

“Good to know ya owe me one, sis.” Ryuko Matoi, the real Ryuko, was back in action with her old pal Senketsu! Every face was stricken with a priceless smile of restored hope, none more so than Battle Beast. Mako wasted no time in bolting towards her bestie, leaping up and wrapping around her torso. There weren’t any venomous thoughts of self-doubt twisting the knife anymore. Feeling the touch of her true bond reminded her of who she really was — not a monster, not a freak, just some punk who wants to stick it to the woman, and that made her as human as anyone else. There was a lot to apologise for now that she’d gotten a hold of herself, but that would come in time. “Now, BB, we oughta talk this out. Ya wanna just gimme a minute?” The hybrid’s grip tensed around the hilt of her sword. She could feel her Kamui’s fear roll up through her body, but in her mind she assured him it would be okay.

The great beast’s careful silence ended after a short while of consideration. “You have earned my respect, and thus my patience, Matoi. If talking is your wish, I shall oblige.” His curled fists relaxed and he pressed his lips together, gesturing with an upturned palm at his newest obsession and adversary.

With the light gone green, Ryuko began. “Mako and Satsuki told ya better than I could. Surely you get it now, right? This ain’t about you or me, it’s about everybody else on Earth. If you fight and kill us, nobody’s gonna stop every person from being swallowed by Life Fibers. We’re trying to stop that and make sure this world has a future, but we can’t do that if ya turn us into paste. And to tell ya the truth, I don’t wanna fight you anymore, man. Yeah, it was fun when I was all crazy and shit, but it hurt like hell and I don’t wanna go through that just for somebody’s kicks. You shouldn’t wanna fight me anymore, either. You won and I lost. There’s no more challenge to be explored. I’m not the chick who’s gonna take you out, dude. Isn’t that your whole bit?”

“But you have entered a new form,” the arthurian legend interjected, “and seeing it fully restore your health, it leads me to think it may be more powerful. You’re more relaxed, in-tune, the power of you and your fabric is much purer, I can smell it. Am I wrong to assume such things?”

Ryuko exhaled and dimly chuckled. “Senketsu and I could probably put up a better fight — by this much.” She brought her index finger down towards her thumb, leaving barely any air between them, but air nonetheless. It wasn’t a good prospect for the dornian. “It’s not worth it, you’re chasin’ a fantasy if ya think anything’ll change. I’m tired, BB. I’m so tired, we all are. I just wanna end this dictatorial bullshit and go home with my friends. For once we’re tryin’ to do somethin’ right. Please don’t take that away from us. That’s all I’ll ever ask of you.”

As much as it saddened the lion, reason dictated the hybrid was right. Her power could be pushed further and further beyond all of its limits, but even then, the power of the Life Fibers was still eclipsed far and away by the curse’s unholy vice on Battle Beast and the endless carnage it wrought. What happened here today, the bloodshed, the bodacity of the fight that he craved and never could get enough of… it would simply have to do.

“I have learned to expect disappointment, and while you have been closer to bringing about my much-wanted demise than most, the result remains the same. My temper is only slightly foul. By all accounts, you fought well, Matoi. Your gifts certainly make you a tricky opponent that not many would overcome. I… enjoyed our battle.” Looking to the empty skies above, the proven victor envisioned the continuation of his mission elsewhere. Without any more words for the pack of humans and the hybrid, he turned to leave. “This planet bears no more challenges to conquer.”

But before he could signal to his ship and walk through the teleportation device, another enigmatic ray of light appeared, hitting his back with the clack of a high-heel, followed by an eloquent voice of ambition that spoke of more. “What if I told you that there was someone powerful enough to satisfy your tastes?” The illustrious Lady Satsuki raised an eyebrow, confidently smiling as Battle Beast’s ear twitched and his movements paused. “Her name is Ragyo Kiryuin, the woman threatening all life on Earth and the tyrant we are dedicated to overthrowing. She is also Ryuko and I’s mother.”

Intriguing. Very intriguing, indeed. “How powerful is this Ragyo Kiryuin?” he muttered, excitement rolling off his tongue.

“Powerful enough to defeat Matoi in but a fraction of the time it took you, along with the rest of us in our Life Fiber enhancements at the same time. She is the apex of human-Life Fiber hybrids, and thus far, has proven unbeatable. Battle Beast, your sense of honour is deeply admirable, no matter how foreign it is to us, so I urge you to consider helping us. With your strength and tenacity, we might stand a chance at defeating her, and if not, you will be given the glorious death you so desire. If you were to join us, your service would be invaluable and you would be hailed over the entire planet as a hero. Not to mention, there would be no shortage of blood to spill. Will you join us on this crusade?”

Battle Beast didn’t have to think about it. He wasn’t beloved on his homeworld of Dorn for simply being an unquenchable killer. He was the hero of his people, the great liberator and unifier. Beneath his indestructible layering of wrath and bloodlust, the leonine alien had a very particular disdain for tyranny and those who lauded their strength over the meek. There was a heart in his cold chest. Of course, the prospect of finding his mythical ‘worthy opponent’ may have had some sway in the decision.

His maw opened with a curl and unleashed a roar of elation. “Until this Ragyo Kiryuin meets a violent end, or I do at her hand, you have my service. I look forward to eating her heart!”

Ryuko slung her Scissor Blade over her shoulder and cracked her knuckles. “You ain’t gonna be alone out there, BB. I wanna piece of her bitch-ass too.” When the rugged gladiator heard that, he pleasantly guffawed.

“I require no assistance. But, I will gladly call you my ally for the duration of this conflict.”

Not long after, the sound of shifting feet could be heard, followed by something decisively less pleasant. The aggravating ditzy voice of an uninvited presence skipped over the shattered rocks, ushering in a skinny, blonde-haired girl clad in pink, umbrella in one hand and violet Scissor Blade in the other. Another woman with purple locs wrapped her arms around the Grand Couturier’s neck, resting on the arm that clasped the blade.

“No, silly! Nothing could have survived that, not even poor— Oh shit, erm, deary me!” Nui bleated, eyes nearly popping from her skull seeing that mangy interference stand side-by-side with the resistance fighters. “I-I must have made a wrong turn, cya, cuties!”

“Don’t be so easily shaken, Nui. What is there to be afraid of? A company of rejects, and their new, stray friend.” The heavenly radiance from hell shone down from her helicopter, blinding like the sun. “My daughters, what a shame it is to see you go down such a destructive path. Let it be known I gave both of you a chance. Tsk. Ungrateful children.”

Regarding their mother with unruly contempt, the sisters stood as one united front with their friends and army aboard the Naked Sol behind them. Ryuko spat on the ground to consecrate their bond. “Bite us, ya dumb bitch.”

To their rebellion, Ragyo waved her hand without a care. It was the newcomer who snared her interest. With him in play, there was no telling what damage could be done to her schemes. And from studying him, he certainly made himself out to be a total character. “Now, you do not belong here, mongrel. I understand that you treat your life as a game, but there are very real consequences to the game I play. You defy the laws of nature by defying me. Choose to continue interfering on my planet and I will see to it that you will face a most excruciating death.”

Battle Beast just grinned, ready to start all over again.

“I will take my chances.”

Winner: Battle Beast

Author: Michael Zamar

[Continued from Match 473] (more…)

Author: Elli Flowers | Banner: Elli Flowers & Andrew Sudomerski

Beneath the streets, in a secret facility, there lived a man whose cold heart had the worst of ability. (more…)

Author: Joshua Strittmatter

They were a dwindling race, young yet already few and ever-declining. (more…)

Author: Marianne Ng | Banner: Marianne Ng

DRAGON BALL CROSSFIRE: MATCH 2 (more…)

Author: Harley Jameson

(more…)

NOBODY EXPECTS A K.W.C. APRIL FOOLS PRANK A SECOND YEAR IN A ROW! (more…)

Author: Andrew Sudomerski | Banner: Vincent Rodger

[Continued from Match 100] (more…)

Author: Andrew Sudomerski | Banner: Vincent Rodger

[Continued from Match 100] (more…)

Author Declan Coughlin | Banner: Santiago Fontalvo

The village of Kitakami River was under attack. The people ran and hid as thieves riding on horseback came and torched their homes and killed their loved ones, swift arrows marking their graves. The marauders showed no mercy as they slaughtered men, women, and children. In just a short hour, nearly the entire population of the once peaceful village had been wiped out.

A young woman was led by two of the thieves, her struggling growing less and less as the men refused to let her go. Eventually, they reached their location: a cross, not unlike those of biblical times, planted firmly in the dirt, overlooking the river. The woman was dropped to the ground, and she breathed in relief as she believed she had been freed, only to greet reality once more as she was tied to the giant cross. With chains restraining her hands and legs, the woman desperately tried pulling on her confines, only to receive nothing but a tight feeling as her limbs began locking up from exhaustion. She begged and pleaded to be freed, only for the two men to laugh at her.

“You should be happy, not afraid. You have the privilege of being the first of many sacrifices to our ruler.”

Before the woman could question what the man had said, the ground began to rumble, as if an earthquake was happening right below her. The earth began to split open, creating a gaping hole which lashed out with fire towards the surface, the flames beginning to spread to the forest, turning it into a raging inferno. It was as if the gates of Hell themselves had been opened. It wasn’t a shock then, when a devil not seen for millenia made itself known.

A giant hand emerged from the crevice, slamming into the ground with enough force to nearly topple the woman’s crucifixion. As a second hand rose from the crater, the entire body of the entity began to rise. Its body was pure molten rock, resembling the material the Earth was made from rather than a creature living on it. Its eyes, or where they would be, ironically resembled the same crude structure that the woman was tied to. Two bony protrusions sat above his back, looking like a mix of serrated claws and wings. But worse of all was the demon’s smile. Its unnatural grin reeked of pure malice and hatred, as the golem looked upon its sacrifice.

Kumasogami’s smile only widened as it looked down at her, listening as the remaining villagers were slaughtered in the distance. It lived for this carnage, as it was the thing that gave it life and power. Power was achieved from fear, and fear conquers all, something the demon knew all too well. Suddenly, the wicked beast heard a voice from below. It was one of the men that had summoned them. The man raised his hands to the sky as he reveled in the sight of the god-like being.

“Oh great and mighty Kumasogami, we have called you to bring destruction upon these putrid tribes, who have sinned by not praying in your name! Cleanse these parasites from the Earth, so that you may spread your murderous intentions to the world, and turn it into a living…”

Kumasogami, getting a little tired of the man’s ramblings, slammed a fist down onto the miniscule human. A burst of wind indicated the force of power sent through the ground, turning him into little more than ash.

Said actions, however, had their side effects, as the woman’s constraints had loosened enough as her prison fell to the Earth. The young girl, along with the partner of the man who Kumasogami had killed, both sprinted as fast as they could, neither even focusing on the other’s hatred as the two desperately began to run. If Kumasogami’s grin could spread anymore, its jaw would have probably broken.

Dropping its hands to its sides, they began to morph into weapons. One hand became a bow, the other a set of arrows. He placed one of the arrows into the bow before pulling back and firing. The projectile immediately hit the two running humans, instantly crushing them and sending an explosion of dirt and rock into the sky as the fires the demon had created only intensified. The remaining survivors of the village slaughter and even the demon’s own followers were shocked by the malice that the creature had shown. The demon turned his eyes towards the frightened masses, getting ready to send another arrow in their direction before hearing something behind him.

The false angel turned towards the river, which was bubbling and thrashing, almost as if something was attempting to free itself from the water’s shackles. The villagers seeing this, began chanting and praying their defenders name, for they had a God of their own.

“Baradagi! Baradagi!”

Before the demon could question their intentions, the water suddenly erupted upwards as a reptilian form flew out of the water and landed opposite of Kumasogami. The beast’s light brown hide contrasted its dark eyes, which pierced the abomination’s heart. Its back was adorned with long, sharp spikes which went the entire length of the monsters back all the way to the head. Its claws flexed as the creature’s jaw opened and let loose a guttural roar, which carried as much volume as the devil’s own piercing cry.

The God Baradagi, Varan the Unbelievable, was infuriated.

Kumasogami took a few steps back, surprised by the appearance of this reptilian. He stopped himself when he realized that he was going backwards. Was he actually showing hesitation in attacking? He roared in rage at his opposition. Likewise, Varan snarled at his molten foe. He sensed the demon and his followers slaughtering his people and tainting his land. As lowly as he regarded his followers, they still worshiped him as a god. While Varan’s origins were anything but godlike, he would make sure his followers’ faith was not in vain.

The two combatants, as different as they could be, charged.

The titans sprinted towards each other, trees being thrown aside as if they were toys and craters the size of whales being left by their gigantic feet. The two collided, each trying to overpower the other. Kumasogami, getting sick of the stalemate, sent a fist into his foe’s side, sending him staggering back. Varan cried out in pain and surprise. The demon’s fist burned, as if he was made of the same fire that defiled his home. He couldn’t think about it for long as Kumasogami threw another punch, smacking him in the head and sending him down to the ground. Before the reptile could attempt to recover, the demon began stomping on his chest, each step being rewarded with a cry of pain and the sound of cracking ribs. Varan grimaced before flipping himself onto his stomach.

Just as Kumasogami’s foot began to come down for another stomp, Varan positioned one of his sharp back spines directly in the path of the demon’s foot. The spike pierced his molten hide, causing the foul god to scream in agony as he stammered backwards, holding his foot in pain. Varan, finally free of his torment, began clawing at his opponent’s stomach, carving small grooves in the demon’s molten armor. Kumasogami grimaced before grabbing the monster’s hands, burning the flesh. The reptile screeched in alarm as his skin began smoking. It felt like his arms were about to be ripped off.

Just before his opponent could test this, Varan thrust forward with a powerful headbutt, sending his demonic enemy crashing to the ground with a loud THUD! Kumasogami screamed as he felt a part of his head crack from the force. He wasn’t expecting a strike that powerful from his opponent. He wouldn’t have time for surprise as Varan lunged forwards and bit into the demon’s neck. He wrestled to get free from the grip of his enemy, only to feel his opponent’s teeth pierce his skin. Now it was the mountain god’s turn to feel pain as his mouth burned. He staggered off of Kumasogami, desperately trying to remove the burning taste from his tongue. While Varan was distracted, the destroyer rose back to his feet, pure anger emanating off of his vision.

How? How could this pathetic, overgrown triphibian damage his almighty form? Kumasogami was stumped between respect and rage.

The latter emotion gained supremacy when the demon began morphing his hands into a bow and arrows. Varan watched on in intrigue, attempting to deduce what his opponent was doing. He wouldn’t get much longer to think as the demon fired two blazing arrows, piercing his hide and exploding, sending chunks of burnt flesh to the ground. Varan howled in horrendous pain as the demon fired another round of arrows which once again blasted more flesh off of the reptile’s brown skin. With his skin torn and bleeding, Varan slumped to the ground. He didn’t even have enough strength to move.

Or at least, that’s what he wanted his opponent to believe.

Kumasogami chuckled as he watched the near-dead kaiju, changing his hands once more. While his right hand reverted into a set of fingers, his left became a demonic sword, one that dripped with hot lava. He walked over to his opponent’s injured body before thrusting his sword upwards, preparing to decapitate the interloper. Now he would wish that he had never tangled with the mighty Kumasogami.

But while Varan was down, he wasn’t even close to being out.

Just before the demon could claim his prize, Varan suddenly leaped upwards and extended his arms, his hidden membranes becoming visible as he glided into the sky. Kumasogami was stunned, briefly dropping his weapon in pure shock. He had never expected his opponent to be hiding something from him.

With the wind hitting his face, Varan grinned to himself. He had fooled his opponent into believing he was defenseless, only to show his hidden features. Unlike what most would believe about him, the ancient beast was actually a triphibian, being able to fight and traverse the land, seas, and skies easily. With renewed confidence, Varan made a u-turn towards his demonic rival. Kumasogami, still stunned, suddenly felt his shoulder pierced as his foe flew over and upside down, impaling the body part as molten blood sprayed out of the wound. The demon stumbled back, holding the wound with his open hand, all while groaning in misery.

Before he could attempt to counter, he felt a blow to the back of his head that sent him tumbling down. Kumasogami began changing his hand once more as he was getting sick of the little pest’s hit and run strategy. Just as Varan soared over, the wicked one ducked down, avoiding the attack before sending his hand forwards, the appendage now being transformed into a demonic whip of sorts. The weapon wrapped around Varan’s leg, causing him to cry out in pain as he felt the whip scald and scratch his flesh. Gravity took effect on his body as he was slammed down hard into the ground, a crater being formed as trees were uprooted from the impact.

Varan groaned in misery, only for it to turn into a scream as he felt a molten sword slash into his skin, blood flying and painting the ground a shade of red, while the cuts inflicted burned. Kumasogami continued to hack into the triphibian’s skin, each cut rewarding the demon with a painful cry as Varan’s body became overrun with cuts and burns.

Finally, after a minute which felt like an hour, the torture mercifully ceased. Varan panted, each breath coming out as a weak wheeze as it hurt to even breathe. Dirt and ash clogged his wounds, making them sting even more. The triphibian lay still, using the last of his energy to roll over onto his stomach. This was the end, he thought to himself. He only hoped the demon would grant him a quick death.

Suddenly, something in Varan’s head snapped as he felt adrenaline kicking in. What was he thinking? Was kneeling over to die truly how he would go out?

NO!

He was a warrior, one that has survived centuries of combat. Why should he die today, when his own people live in torment? No matter what, Varan would not give up. In his relatively intelligent brain, he concocted a plan. He slowly closed his eyes, pretending to play dead.

Kumasogami stomped over to his opponent’s apparently dead body. Knowing to be careful, he threw a light kick at his side. The body moved, but overall did not react. Kumasogami reared back and roared to the heavens, letting all of Kitakami know that their god was dead.

Varan inwardly grinned to himself. He was falling for it, now he just needed to wait.

As Kumasogami ended his cry, he once more began turning his hand into a demonic sword. He knelt down, preparing to cut Varan’s head off from the neck. The demon beamed devilishly. He had claimed another trophy from a stupid creature that wished to test his might. Now it was time to claim his prize.

But just before he could slice the triphibian’s head off, Varan’s eyes snapped open.

Kumasogami was shocked! How was his enemy still alive after all of this torment? He roared in outrage before lunging forward with his sword, promising to make Varan’s death as painful as possible. At the same time, Varan jumped up on his four paws, his body lunging forward.

The two jumped at the same time, but Varan was half of a second faster.

Varan’s spikes shot straight through Kumasogami’s rock-hard skin, impaling his fiendish heart. The devil roared in absolute agony. For the first time in his long existence, the demon was afraid of death. Pathetically, he began to plead for mercy while weakly grabbing his head, attempting to remove his opponent’s deadly tools from his heart. Varan snorted. After all the demon had done, defiling his home and killing his people, he wanted mercy? He would receive none.

Rearing slightly up with Kumasogami still impaled on his spikes, Varan grabbed one side of the demon with each of his front paws before beginning to pull. He strained and howled as his skin burnt and his blood boiled from contact with the demon’s life essence, but he refused to give up.

A tearing sound proved that Varan’s determination had paid off.

Kumasogami’s body was ripped in half, each half of the demon’s body being thrown off of the triphibian’s back. Molten skin and blood of lava tainted the ground as the demon’s remains were scattered. On both sides of his body, the demon’s eyes briefly kept their glow before fading away, becoming as dark as the night sky.

Varan grunted as his body struggled to stay upright. This fight had taken nearly everything out of him. It was only thanks to his last ditch effort that he was able to win. With weakened legs, he began to stumble back to the waters of Kitakami River. Just as he reached the shoreline, he turned to see his people, and even some of the thieves that attacked his people, in prayer, chanting Varan’s name as they knelt to him. Varan nodded to them, as if he understood, before letting out one last roar that echoed throughout the land. He then turned back to the water before slipping below the depths, going to enjoy a long rest.

Although there were many demons in the world, the people of the Kitakami could rest knowing that perhaps the most dangerous of them all had been slain.

Winner: Varan (Universal)

Author: Alex Williams | Banner: Lucas C. Gabet

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: It Seems Today
Chapter 2: G-Fest
Chapter 3: A New Friend
Chapter 4: Destoroyah Days
Chapter 5: The Diagnosis
Chapter 6: Peter’s Obsession
Chapter 7: The Breakup
Chapter 8: Reflections
Chapter 9: Attack Titan vs. Destoroyah: Rollercoaster Rumbling
Chapter 10: A Griffin Resolution
(more…)

Author: Christian Salabert | Banner: Christian Salabert

“FinSTER! Where are those new monsters you promised me?!”

The shrill voice of the evil empress known as Rita Repulsa echoed throughout the corridors of her lunar palace. The millennia-old witch screamed out her inquiry as she marched through her home base, making her way from the main observation deck towards the laboratory of her chief monster maker.

Finster, the aforementioned maker of monsters, sighed as he heard his empress’ screeching. He adored Rita dearly, but even he had to admit her vocal outbursts could be a bit much at times. Spotting her as she entered his lab, he smiled in greeting.
“They’re almost complete, my queen. I’m putting the finishing touches on them as we speak.”

He made a few more flourishes with his sculptor’s knife, then paused, taking a step back and looking over his work.

“Ah, yes. There we go. All done.”

Turning to face his empress, the gnome-like being proudly gestured to the two clay sculptures that stood upon his work bench.

Rita stepped closer so she could get a better look at her minion’s newest creations. They both seemed to be reptilian in nature, though they looked vastly different from one another. One had two crescent horns on the side of its head with a spike on its snout, as the other sported two antennae on its head, while its tail was incredibly long.

“They look so wonderfully wicked, Finster! What are they?”

“Well, your evilness, as you know, I’ve made plenty of monsters based on creatures from Earth’s ancient past – Sphinxes, minotaurs, and the like. This time, I have decided to try a new type of monster, and therefore, my latest creations are based on two of the many daikaiju that have threatened the planet.”

“Finster, I love them! Hurry, put them in the Monster-Matic and get them to Earth!” Rita shrieked.

“Right away, my grace,” Finster said as he nodded and lifted the tray that held the two monsters, carrying it over to the conveyor belt of his monster-birthing machine. “There’s no way the Power Rangers will be able to overcome their combined might,” Finster declared as he pulled a lever, bringing the machine to life. “Even the Zords will be outmatched!”

The two clay sculptures disappeared into the Monster-Matic, the machine’s inner workings sparking to life, magical powers coursing through its circuits and gears, transforming the clay within into flesh and bone.

“By the way, Finster, these monsters…” Rita began, turning to face the elder extraterrestrial, raising her voice as the Monster-Matic’s steam whistle blew loudly. “What were they called again?”

* * * * *

“Gomora and Eleking?”

“That is correct, Billy,” Zordon answered his brainy Blue Ranger, nodding in response. “They were creatures that attacked the Earth over fifty years ago. Behold the Viewing Globe.”

The five teenagers turned around and stepped towards the rear of the room, facing Zordon’s technological crystal ball. For a moment, the orb flicked, before featuring the beast with crescent horns.

“This is Gomora,” Zordon informed them. “A subterranean dinosaur that appeared in Japan in 1966. He was eventually defeated by the original Ultraman.” The Viewing Globe flickered once again, this time showing an image of the creature with the extremely long tail. “And this is Eleking, an aquatic reptile sent to attack Earth by the Pitt Aliens the following year. He was defeated by Ultraseven,” Zordon explained. “My sensors tell me that these are not the true Gomora and Eleking, but rather that Rita has crafted her own loyal versions.”

“Don’t worry, Zordon,” Jason said as he and the others turned away from the Viewing Globe and faced their mentor. “We’re gonna send these overgrown lizards packing!”

“Be careful, Rangers!” Alpha 5 told them, his voice filled with worry. “Gomora and Eleking were both very powerful monsters, and we have no reason to assume that these recreations of Rita’s are any weaker than the originals! Especially with the two of them teaming up like this!”

“Don’t worry, Alpha, we’ve got this,” Jason reassured the robot. Together, he and the other Rangers reached behind themselves, their hands grabbing onto their Power Morphers. “It’s Morphin’ Time!”

“MASTODON!”

“PTERODACTYL!”

“TRICERATOPS!”

“SABERTOOTH TIGER!”

“TYRANNOSAURUS!”

* * * * *

Five beams of multicolored light shot through the sky as the Rangers teleported to the outskirts of Angel Grove, not too far from Angel Grove Lake. Rematerializing upon landing, the group of heroes looked around and scanned the area, but they saw no sign of either of Rita’s monsters.

“Alright, let’s spread out,” Jason suggested. “We’ll split up and look around. Alpha and Zordon said they were in this area, so as soon we see any signs of– Whoa!”

Jason could barely even finish explaining his strategy before the ground began to shake. The tremor was so violent that it threatened to knock the Rangers off their feet.

“It must be Gomora!” Billy surmised. “He’s probably burrowing underground!”

Just then, the ground started to buckle as a form began to emerge from beneath the surface. With a piercing cry, Gomora burst from the earth and leapt towards the Rangers. But this Prince of Monsters was no giant – He was the same size the Rangers were! But despite his newer, comparatively diminutive size, he was still just as strong and ferocious as his much larger counterpart. Not expecting the kaiju to be normal size, the Rangers were caught off-guard, allowing Gomora to gash them with his horns and claws as he leapt past them, knocking them all to the ground in a shower of sparks.

“Ah, Rangers! So nice to finally meet you,” Gomora snarled, baring his razor sharp teeth as he grinned. “You’re really gonna dig what I’ve got in store for you!”

“Come on, guys!” Jason said, commanding the other Rangers as the team got back to their feet. “Let’s send this guy back to the Cretaceous! Power Weapons!” In a flash of light, the Power Sword was in Jason’s hands as he charged the burrowing beast.

Roaring in defiance, the saurian spun around and whipped Jason with his tail, the appendage drawing sparks from the Red Ranger’s armor as it knocked him aside. Billy and Zack were up next, attacking with their Power Lance and Power Axe, but the horned monster reached out with his clawed hands, catching the weapons and using his grip on them to flip the Rangers off their feet. Lastly, Kimberly and Trini leapt into the air, Kimberly firing off an arrow from her Power Bow as Trini simply hurled her Power Daggers through the air. These weapons struck their target, sparking against Gomora’s tough hide. Angrily, the dinosaur took aim at the two female Rangers, the crescent horns on his head suddenly pulsating with crimson light. Before the girls could react, the Monster Prince unleashed a powerful Super Oscillatory Wave blast from his snout horn, blasting Trini to the ground, then Kimberly, their chests charred and smoking.

“What’s the matter, ladies?” the reptile asked with a smirk. “Too hot for you?”

With a mighty battle cry, Jason leapt into the air, bringing his sword down on a scaled hide. The dinosaur turned around just in time to receive a vertical slash from Jason’s blade, quickly followed by a horizontal one. Shrieking angrily, the clay copy suddenly reared up onto his tail and lashed out with both feet, kicking the Red Ranger hard and sending him careening through the air before finally crashing to and skidding across the ground.

“Jason!” The other Rangers ran to their leader’s side, helping him up. Before any of them could make another move, Gomora raised his clawed hand and made a signal with it.

“You Rangers want to bury me?” He asked, narrowing his eyes. “But I’ve just dug up a squad of Putties!”
Suddenly, he was surrounded by a series of yellow lights as Rita’s Putty Patrol materialized, arriving to help the recreated dinosaur against the Rangers. The gray humanoids immediately went on the attack, swinging their fists at the multicolored heroes. But the Rangers were well-versed in how to deal with Finster’s clay warriors, and thus they met their assault head-on. The Putties attacked with as much ferocity as they could muster, but they were no match for the Rangers’ strength and morphin’ powers. With their weapons still held tightly in their hands, the Rangers hacked and slashed until the Putties were reduced to shredded clay chunks strewn about on the ground.

“That takes care of those clay heads,” Zack said, lowering his Power Axe as he began to look around the immediate area. “But where’d the monster go?”

“Maybe he went back underground,” Trini suggested as she glanced around.

The relative silence was suddenly shattered when Kimberly let out with a piercing shriek. When the four of them spun around to see why she was screaming, they quickly realized that the mini kaiju’s upper torso had emerged from the ground, his clawed hands latching onto the gymnast’s legs.
“Geez, Pinky! You’re such a downer!”
With that, Gomora began to burrow back into the earth, dragging Kimberly with him.

“KIM!” Trini called out, rushing for her friend.

Grunting, Kimberly began hitting Gomora in the head as hard as she could, but her blows did little to deter his burial of her. “Let me go, Godzilla!”

“Keep your hands to yourself, Pink Ranger!” the monster growled in response. “You’re coming with me one way or another!”

“Think again, lizard-breath!” Zack shouted, taking his Power Axe and flipping it around, quickly converting it into cannon mode. Pulling the trigger, he fired a blast of purple energy, hitting the burrowing beast hard, sparks flying everywhere. With a roar, the prehistoric throwback leapt from the ground. Landing in front of the Black Ranger, he knocked the axe from his hands, then slammed his horned head into his gut, knocking the wind out of the Ranger as he was sent sprawling to the ground.

“Zack!” Jason called out. Brandishing his sword, the Red Ranger charged towards Gomora, but the reptile quickly burrowed back into the ground and disappeared.

Billy and Trini, meanwhile, were helping to pull Kimberly up and out of the ground, where Gomora had left her half-buried when he’d gone on to attack Zack.
“Kimberly, are you currently suffering from any noticeable injury?” The Blue Ranger asked her.

“He’s asking if you’re okay,” Trini clarified as she and Billy held onto Kimberly’s arms and pulled her up through the ground.

“Oh yeah, I’m great,” Kimberly said snarkily as she tried to help the other two Rangers lift her up out of the dirt. “I love getting literally dragged through the mud by a prehistoric– Aaaahh!”

Kimberly suddenly jerked down into the soil, once again having been snatched by thick claws, dragging her down into the earth.

* * * * *

Tommy Oliver breathed a sigh of relief as he reached his usual locker in the Youth Center. He had just finished teaching his weekly martial arts self defense class for the local children, which he was always happy to head, but today, he and Kimberly had plans to go see a movie together, and so naturally he was looking forward to that, as he always was. He was admittedly surprised at her choice of movie – the latest horror film, Blood Rippers IX: The Final Chapter – but he wasn’t going to complain, as he loved scary movies as well. As he pulled his bag out of the locker, he made sure he had everything. A change of clothes, his wallet, his communi–

Beep-beep, beepbeep, beep-beep

Of course Rita couldn’t just let him and Kimberly have a nice evening to themselves. Strapping his communicator back around his wrist, Tommy stepped away into a secluded corner. Making sure no one was around, he answered the call.

“Tommy here. What’s going on?”

“Aye-yi-yi, Tommy, the other Rangers need you! They’re being outmatched by a monster on the outskirts of Angel Grove!”

“Got it. Tommy out.” Deactivating his communicator, Tommy took another look around the immediate area, then reached behind himself, grabbing his Power Morpher. Withdrawing the ancient device and holding it out before him, he spoke the ever familiar command.

“DRAGONZORD!”

* * * * *

“I am SO over this!” Kimberly shouted, growing increasingly frustrated as she disappeared further and further underground. “POWER BOW!”

In an instant, the Pink Ranger’s signature weapon reappeared in her hand, and immediately she pointed it down into the dirt and fired. Any ordinary arrow wouldn’t have been able to pierce the soil in such a situation, but the Power Bow’s arrows were anything but ordinary. The projectiles shot through the earth, each of them hitting their reptilian target below. With an angry screech, the saurian released an oscillatory energy burst, resulting in an explosion that sent Kimberly flying up out of the dirt and spiraling through the air. As she crashed to and rolled across the ground, she was quickly surrounded by the other four Rangers as Gomora emerged from his tunnel. Still clutching the arrows Kimberly had shot at him, he quickly snapped them like twigs in his claws.

“Watch where you point those things!” he snarled at the team. “That sucked!”

“Here he comes, Rangers!” Jason warned, holding the Power Sword out in front of him, ready to fend off any attack Gomora attempted. He knew they’d likely need the Power Blaster to put an end to this fight. “Get ready to bring ’em together!”

“Oh, no you don’t!” the monster responded.

Before any of the Rangers could make a move, the Monster Prince unleashed his Oscillatory Wave once again, sweeping it over the five Rangers and blasting them all hard, knocking them to the dirt. The chests of their suits burnt and smoking, the Rangers struggled to pull themselves back up to their feet.

“Looks like you Rangers are at the end of your ropes,” Gomora taunted the worn out heroes, baring his teeth as he grinned deviously at them. “But I’m sure you’ll get a charge out of this!”

Once again, the curved horns on the monster’s head began to pulse and crackle with red oscillating energy. Bringing his hands together and rearing his head back, the prehistoric king prepared to unleash a devastating blast of his wave attack and take the Rangers out in a single shot.

What happened next took place so quickly that it seemed almost choreographed. A green beam of light shot down from the sky, landing directly in front of the fallen Rangers. The light faded away, revealing the Green Ranger standing there, his hand already wrapped tightly around the hilt of the Dragon Dagger. Throwing his hands aside and thrusting his head forward, the copied monster unleashed a powerful blast of his Super Oscillatory Wave. The crimson energy flew through the air, aimed directly at the new arrival. Instantly, the Green Ranger lifted the Dragon Dagger to his lips, playing a quick tune, causing his golden Dragon Shield to shine. As soon as the tune ended, the Super Oscillatory Wave struck the large diamond of the Dragon Shield, and with a flash of emerald energy, bounced right back at its sender! All the horned horror had time to do was widen his eyes in shock as his own oscillatory wave exploded in his face, sending the reptilian beast flying backwards and crashing to the ground.

It took the other Rangers a moment to realize they hadn’t been hit by Gomora’s blast. Lifting her head, Kimberly was the first of them to notice the new arrival.

“Tommy!” she cried out happily.

Tommy nodded, helping everyone to their feet. “You guys alright?” he asked them.

“Yeah,” Jason confirmed with a nod. “Now let’s take this guy out!”

“You got it, bro,” Tommy said. With that, all six Rangers turned to face their foe together.

Gomora, meanwhile, was still dazed, trying to recover from being hit by his own beam. Woozily, he managed to get back to his feet. The monster tried to act intimidating, but at the moment, couldn’t pull it off. Clutching his head, he muttered to himself.

“Ugh… Anyone get the license plate of that Zord?”

* * * * *

High above the Earth, in her lunar palace, Rita Repulsa snarled angrily as she watched the fight unfold through her RepulsaScope.
“What’s the matter with you?!” she screamed at Gomora as she watched the reptile try to overcome his current predicament. “One more Ranger isn’t that much of a difference! Get your act together! UGH!”

Stepping away from her telescope and up to the balcony railing, the ancient witch lifted her trusty wand into the air. Bracing her arm, she began to conjure the same dark magicks she always turned to in times like these.

“Magic Wand, make my monster GROW!”

Tossing it as if it were a javelin, Rita sent her wand shooting down towards the Earth.

* * * * *

Despite the great distance, Rita’s wand reached the planet’s surface in seconds, plunging into the dirt not too far from where Rita’s minion was fighting the Rangers. In response, the ground split open and released untold magical powers from deep within the bowels of the earth, imbuing them into his clay scales. In turn, the mighty reptile suddenly began to grow, increasing his height from comparable to humans to a whopping eighty eight meters tall!

“Now this is more what I’m used to!” With a diabolical laugh, Gomora peered down at the heroes. “Why, Rangers! You look so tiny!”

Raising his right foot, he brought it down hard, intending to crush the Rangers underneath. Flipping aside, the team just barely managed to avoid a quick and messy end.

“I’ve had enough of this guy!” Jason snarled. Raising their hands into the sky, the five Rangers called out “WE NEED DINO ZORD POWER NOW!”

From various locations around the world, the Dino Zords raced to answer the Rangers’ call. As soon as they were within range, the five heroes leapt high and met with their respective Zords, entering the mighty machines’ cockpits.

“Alright, Rangers, power ’em up!” Jason commanded as he inserted his Power Crystal into his Zord’s control panel. “Activating Megazord Tank Mode!”

As the Tank Mode rolled onto the scene, ready for action, Gomora smirked.

“You brought a tank against a giant monster? Hah!”

Aiming his horn at the machine, the monster unleashed a blast of his Super Oscillatory Wave, hitting the Megazord hard.

“Jason!” Billy reported as the Zord’s cockpit shook. “This mode is insufficient for our current combat requirements!”

“You’re right, Billy!” Jason said, nodding as he input the upcoming transformation into the controls. “Initiating Megazord Battle Mode!”

“Megazord sequence has been initiated!”

The Tank Mode began to shift and change, recalibrating and reformatting as it changed from its current form to its main combat mode. As the Tyrannosaurus’ head disappeared into its torso and the Pterodactyl attached, forming the chest plate, the onboard computer announced that the new form was now complete.

“Megazord activated!”

Its yellow eyes glistening in the sun, the Megazord struck a battle pose, ready to take on the prehistoric reptile it found itself faced with.

Readying himself for battle, Gomora punched his fists together, his eyes narrowing as he gazed upon the colorful mechanical warrior before him.

“That oversized toy isn’t going to save you, Rangers!” he bellowed. “You’re still going under!”

Lowering his head, the evil reptile charged, intent on ramming the Zord with the trio of horns on his head. But the Megazord was deceptively fast despite its heft, and it managed to reach out and snatch the imitation Gomorasaur’s horns in its hands, stopping the monster’s charge cold. The bull headed beast snarled as he shook his head back and forth, trying to dislodge his horns from the Megazord’s grip.

“Let go, let go, let go!”

As if fulfilling his request, the Zord removed its right hand from his horn, then brought its fist down hard onto his horned snout. In a burst of sparks, the dreaded kaiju dropped like a rock, collapsing to the ground. Recovering quickly, the dinosaur rolled aside, putting some distance between himself and the Megazord.

With a heave, the monster pulled himself to his feet. “You think you’re so tough, huh?!” The Monster Prince challenged. Before his foe could respond, he bent over and spun around, striking out with his long tail. Sparks burst as the whip-like appendage lashed against the Megazord’s chest plate, causing the robot to stumble back. Facing the Zord once again, the ancient menace charged up and fired off another blast of his Super Oscillatory Wave, hitting the mechanical warrior hard and knocking it off its feet. With an evil laugh, the burrowing monster leapt through the air, landing on and straddling the fallen Megazord.

“Hah! Time to dig through your Megazord like topsoil!”

With that, the reptile began to tear into the Zord’s chest plate with his digging, gouging claws. In the Megazord’s cockpit, the Rangers shook hard each time their machine was struck by thick claws.

“Jason!” Kimberly called out. “Our shields won’t hold up against this for long! We need to get him off of us!”

“Right!” With that, Jason looked up through the Megazord’s eyes, past the attacking Gomora, and into the clouds high above. “We need the Power Sword, now!”

With a thunderous noise, the gleaming silver blade fell from the sky. Soaring down from the clouds to the ground below, the edge of the sword caught their foe’s scaled shoulder on its way down, slicing his flesh. With a yowl, the prehistoric copy jumped back and crashed to the ground, thrashing about in pain. With the monster no longer pinning it down, the Morphing Grid’s champion quickly rolled aside and rose to its feet, snatching the hilt of the Power Sword, which had planted itself into the earth, and pulled it loose from the soil, raising its weapon high like King Arthur clutching Excalibur. Spotting his approaching foe, Gomora leapt to his feet, but the Megazord was already upon him. Before the reptile had a chance to react, the robot brought its sword down hard, slashing its blade against the monster’s spiky chest, eliciting a screech of pain and a burst of sparks. Flicking its hand around, the Zord slashed its opponent with its weapon once again, sending the burrower sprawling to the dirt.

“He’s down! Let’s take ‘im out!” Jason ordered.

“Right!” the other Rangers acknowledged.

As one, the team made the motion command for the Megazord to bring the Power Sword to full power. Raising the silver blade high into the air, the mighty machine’s eyes flashed as crimson thunder clouds filled the sky, striking the Power Sword over and over with red lightning, charging the sword until it glowed with a similar light.

“Any last words?” Jason called out to the targeted monster.

As he’d watched the Megazord raise and charge its Power Sword, the saurian had been concerned, nervously shielding himself with his clawed hands, as if that would somehow protect him from the Sword’s fully energized slash. But as soon as he heard the Red Ranger’s taunt, the monster’s entire demeanor changed. He stood more confidently and lowered his hands from his face, revealing a knowing grin.

“As a matter of fact, I do have one final word!” he snarled. “‘Surprise!'”

As if on command, an impossibly long appendage, seemingly a black and yellow tentacle, sprang out of nowhere, lassoing the Power Sword. With a strong tug, the tentacle wrenched the sword from the mechanized hand and sent the weapon falling to the ground.

“What the–? The Power Sword!” Jason called out, confused.

Realigning itself, the tentacle attacked again, tightly wrapping itself around the mecha’s neck and torso. The Zord struggled to keep its footing as the long limb tried to pull it away, but it was a losing battle. Even still, the powerful robot was putting up enough of a fight that the tentacle soon grew annoyed and released a devastating electric shock. With electricity arcing across its hull, the Ranger’s ultimate weapon collapsed, smoke rising from its metal, as the tentacle began to drag it across the dirt.

“What is going on?!” Kimberly cried.

“It must be the other monster!” Billy concluded.

“Oh yeah! Electric King!” Zack said. “Man, I forgot all about him!”

From his vantage point, Tommy watched as the tentacle dragged the Megazord across the field towards Angel Grove Lake.

“Guys!”

Reaching for his holster, he unsheathed the Dragon Dagger and brought it to his mouth plate, playing the ever familiar tune that summoned his own Dino Zord. Miles away, the water in Angel Grove Harbor began to churn as the mighty Dragonzord came to life and rose up to the surface. Setting foot on the shores of Angel Grove, the ancient machine turned and started making his way through the city, honing in on the Green Ranger’s location.

But the Dragonzord would not arrive in time. Struggling, the Megazord tried to resist as the tentacle tugged it towards the edge of the lake.

“What are we gonna do without the Power Sword?!” Zack asked their leader.

“Improvise!” Jason stated firmly. “Cranial laser!”

Gesturing to its head horns with its fist, the savior of Angel’s Grove charged up its main projectile attack, then fired off multicolored bolts of energy from its three horns. As the blast collided with the surface of the lake, it erupted, sending huge geysers of water and clouds of steam high into the air. For a second, the tentacle stopped pulling, and the combiner stood there. The Rangers began to wonder if they’d managed to hit their target by sheer luck.

With one, strong yank, the black and yellow tentacle tugged the mighty machine clean off its feet and sent it sprawling forward into the lake. Tidal waves splashed in all directions as the machine breached the surface and began to sink into the depths.

* * * * *

“Ha-ha!” Rita cackled with glee as she continued watching the fight unfold through the RepulsaScope. “That overgrown tin can can’t do anything underwater! Those Rangers have had it!”

Standing alongside her, the witch’s minions cheered. “Oh, boy!” Squatt squealed excitedly as he and Baboo applauded. “Megazord is a goner!”

“At long last, the end of the Power Rangers is at hand!” Goldar declared, waving his sword triumphantly.

* * * * *

With a thud that shook the surrounding area, the Megazord hit the bottom of the lake, sending clouds of dirt and algae in every direction.

“What do we do now?” Trini asked, looking out through the Zord’s eyes at the water outside.

“First, let’s get the big guy on his feet!” Jason ordered.

Taking hold of their controls, the Rangers struggled to get the robot to respond, but finally the mech was able to get itself upright once again.

“And now let’s–” But Jason quickly found himself interrupted.

“Ahh, Rangers!”

A strange, hissing voice could be heard not too far from the Megazord’s location. Sending dirt and rocks in every direction, a tall, lanky, black and yellow monster rose up from the lake floor, its zipper-like mouth curled into a sinister grin.
“I’m so glad to see you’ve accepted my invitation! Unfortunately, by doing so you have sealed your own doom!”
By visually following the tentacle back to its source, the Rangers quickly realized it was in fact the monster’s extremely long tail.

“There’s Eleking!” Billy realized. “Maybe now we can finally get this tail off of us!”

“Right!” Jason responded.

Slowed down by the water, the Megazord took a single step towards Eleking.

“Not so fast!” The kaiju reprimanded them, spitting out a trio of Light Blades from his mouth, hitting the Zord hard and forcing it to stumble back as they exploded against its chest plate. “You’re not the ones in charge here, Rangers! I am!”

Charging forward, Eleking lowered his head and smashed it into the Zord’s gut, sparks bursting from its hull as the monster’s revolving antennae-like horns collided with the metal. As the Megazord staggered backwards, the electric eel kaiju continued his assault, smacking the giant robot with his powerful, mitten-like hands, causing the machine to dent and spark with each blow.

“Hopefully this’ll spark your interest!”

The lake monster taunted them as he focused his power into his lengthy tail, sending another devastating electrical surge through the limb and into the Ranger’s titan. The team was helpless as the monster sent millions of volts of electricity through their mechanical defender, arcing across its hull, sparks bursting from all around its body. Overwhelmed and badly damaged, the Zord combiner dropped, landing on its knees. Eleking let out a sinister laugh as he saw his opponent fall.

“You look all burnt out, Rangers. Maybe you should take a trip!”

Bracing the muscles in his tail, the alien monster turned around and lifted the Megazord from its knees and into the ‘air,’ twirling around and taking the robot with it. Finally unwrapping his tail and releasing his foe, the copy of the Pitt weapon sent the Zord careening through the water and watched as it crashed face first against the lake floor, once again sending dirt and algae everywhere.

“Jason! Systems are failing throughout the Megazord!”

“Shields are down!”

“We can’t move!”

Satisfied with his work, the aquatic monarch brushed his hands together, chuckling deviously as he approached the fallen Megazord.

“Well, Rangers, it’s been fun, but I’m afraid all good things must come to an– URK!”

Nanoseconds after catching a brief flash of silver in his peripheral vision, the clay kaiju grunted as a metal drill collided with his face, sparks bursting from the impact as the monster was knocked clean off his feet, spiraling down to the ground.

With a mighty roar, the Dragonzord struck a battle pose, ready to attack this electric enemy again. It wasn’t long before he received another chance, as the black and yellow monster rose back to his feet.

“Oh, you’re gonna pay for that, Green Ranger!” he snarled.
Gesturing with his hands, Eleking sent his tail hurtling towards the titanium titan, preparing to ensnare it just as he had the Megazord. But the Zord leaned to the side, allowing the limb to harmlessly shoot past it. With the tail avoided for the moment, the lost Zord held out his hands, his fingers tipped with red as he loaded a full round of Dragonzord Missiles. Before the enormous eel could react, the Zord locked on and fired, emptying his cannons. The projectiles made their way through the water in the blink of an eye, hitting their target and detonating against the monster’s speckled chest, knocking him onto his back.

“Jason! Systems are 75% rebooted!”

“We can move again!”

“Bringing weapons back online!”

Though its Pterodactyl chest plate was still noticeably burnt, the Megazord managed to get back on its feet, stabilizing just as the Dragonzord stepped up and stood beside it. The reptilian mech looked at his ally, nodding as he made sure the Zord seemed well enough to continue the fight. Just as the Megazord returned the gesture with a nod of its own, an aggravated growl got the duo’s attention.

“No, no, no!” The kaiju snarled, throwing his hands to his sides. “You two are ruining Rita’s plans! I was supposed to destroy the Megazord underwater and then Gomora and I would destroy the Dragonzord together!”

“Plans change!” Jason fired back.

The electric monster angrily clenched his fist as he glared at the pair of Zords. “Not if I destroy you both right here and now!” He screeched and held his arm out as he charged his opponents, ready to tear into them both.

Briefly, the two Zords glanced at each other, then nodded in understanding, turning to face the advancing Eleking together. Clenching their fists, the two machines pulled their arms back, and as soon as the aquatic beast was close enough, the Megazord and Dragonzord brought their arms forward hard, slamming their fists into his chest simultaneously. In a burst of sparks, the Pitt superweapon was sent careening backwards, flipping through the water before reaching the edge of the lake, flying out and crashing onto dry land, sending waves splashing everywhere.

Gomora was stunned to see his partner in crime be so violently thrown out of his own aquatic domain. “What are you doing?!” he demanded. “You were supposed to get rid of the Megazord!”

“I KNOW.” The copied bioweapon snarled as he woozily pulled himself up and onto his feet.

Water pouring from their metallic hulls, the Zords emerged from the lake, stepping foot onto dry land once again. As the robotic drake let out a challenging roar, the two machines struck a battle pose, ready to fight.

“Alright, Rangers!” Jason said, making sure all systems were operational as he grabbed the controls. “Let’s send these lizards back to the Stone Age!”

“You may have handled us one on one, but now you’ve gotta deal with us both together!” The Monster Prince snarled before he and Eleking charged the two Zords.

The two pairs of titans collided, coming together and clashing for the fate of mankind. The lake monster spun around, sending his tail hurtling towards the combined Zord, but this time the machine managed to lash out and grab the limb from mid-air, tossing it aside and causing the black and yellow monster to stumble from the momentum. The burrowing beast lowered his head and rammed his horns into the Dragonzord’s chest plate. Despite the sparks that flew, the Zord held his ground, reaching out and grabbing hold of the monster’s crescent-shaped horns. After a brief grapple, the legendary mecha managed to toss the reptile to the side, sending him crashing to the ground. As the two reanimated kaiju got back to their feet, they regrouped, standing beside one another.

“You Rangers are a real blast!” Gomora snarked, firing off a surge of his Super Oscillatory Wave just as his ally unleashed a Discharge Ray from his zipper mouth.

The two blasts hit hard, exploding against the Megazord and Dragonzord, causing them to stagger back. But the Zords recovered quickly and returned fire with projectiles of their own. With a quick gesture from its right hand, the Megazord charged and fired its cranial laser, while at the same time, with a quick tune from the Dragon Dagger, the Dragonzord loaded and launched another volley of its Dragonzord Missiles. The blasts exploded all around Gomora and Eleking, causing them to jump in place.

“Buh-bye!” Gomora said suddenly, tearing into the soil and quickly disappearing into the ground.

“Hey!” Eleking cried, realizing his partner had disappeared on him.

Looking up from the crater where the royal kaiju had disappeared to the approaching Zords, the space monster realized he was on his own.

“You two stay right there!” he hissed, spitting out a duo of Light Discs which exploded against the two machines. Spinning around, he lashed out with his tail, the long limb knocking the pair of robotic defenders back a few steps.

Just then, the ground beneath the Zords’ feet began to shake. Dirt exploded high into the air as Gomora erupted from underneath, his claws tearing into the Megazord in a burst of sparks, sending the mighty machine toppling to the ground.

“Ha-ha! Surprise!” The kaiju cackled through his beaked mouth. “And as for you, Green–”

But the monster’s threat was cut off as the ancient Dinozord spun around, attacking with his own tail. The horned kaiju ducked, just barely dodging the blow, and charged forward, slashing the Dragonzord with his claws. The metal dragon retaliated quickly though, grabbing his foe by his snout horn, then kicking the monster’s leg with his large, heavy foot, sending his foe crashing to the ground. Rolling away, the ancient monster put enough distance between him and the pursuing mecha before getting back to his feet.

“Nice try!”

Crimson energy crackled over curved horns as the prehistoric beast unleashed another Super Oscillatory Wave at the Zord. The wave hit home, exploding against the Zord and sending it staggering back.

“Eleking!” Gomora said suddenly. “Do it!”

In a flash, the impossibly long tail was soaring through the air, and before either Tommy or his Zord could react, it wrapped around the Dragonzord, holding it tight. With his tail gripping his foe, the monster’s zipper-like mouth twisted into an evil grin.

“Hopefully this doesn’t come as a shock to you!”

The eel monster laughed, before sending millions of volts of electricity surging through his tail and into the Dragonzord. The Zord cried out as the voltage assaulted his form, sparks erupting from his hull, smoke rising into the air. After a moment, the electric kaiju cut off the power in his tail to see the damage he’d wrought. With a weak cry, the mecha Zord collapsed to his knees, his hull still smoking. But despite the damage inflicted, he still moved, trying to break free from the constricting tail.

“Hey, Eleking!” The saurian said, watching as the machine struggled. “This Zord’s still got some fight left in ‘im!”

“Well, then, let’s extinguish it, shall we?” The alien monster cackled, building up another devastating electrical charge to release through his tail. “And a one, and a two, and a– AACK!”

With a burst of sparks and blood, Eleking’s once deadly tail suddenly found itself violently severed, sending the aquatic monster crashing to the ground. Having completed its downward swing, the Megazord raised its Power Sword and prepared it for another attack, its silver blade stained with Pitt blood. Looking to the Dragonzord, the mecha knight took hold of the now slack tail and pulled it off in a single motion, freeing its ally. With a grateful nod, the drake managed to rise to his feet.

“My beautiful tail!” The invader squealed, reaching back and grabbing at what was left of his fifth limb. Growling angrily, he rose to his feet, just as Gomora took his place beside his partner.

“You miserable Rangers!” The burrower said, charging his Super Oscillatory Wave. “Take this!”

He fired his blast, but seconds before it hit its target, the Megazord suddenly held its left hand up. In a brief shimmering light, the head of the Mastodon Dinozord – now the Mammoth Shield – appeared in the Zord’s hand. The shield blocked the oscillatory wave and immediately sent it back, exploding against the dinosaur’s chest. Though taken aback by the tactic, the reptile wasn’t down, and he quickly spun around, striking the Mammoth Shield with his whip-like tail and knocking it out of the Megazord’s hand, sending it to the ground. Before either Zord could react, the bioweapon stepped forward, firing a powerful Discharge Ray, sending both heroic machines stumbling backwards in a burst of fire and sparks.

“Enough is enough!” Jason said angrily. “We need Mega Dragonzord Power!”

At the Red Ranger’s command, both Zords nodded and leapt into the sky. Splitting open down the middle, the Dragonzord reconfigured himself, abandoning his chest plate and tail. Leaping up into the now open Dragonzord, the Megazord fit within, turning its fellow machine into extra armor. Fully combined, the Mega Dragonzord fell back to earth and landed on its feet, the power of all six Zords now surging through its circuits.

“Uh-oh!” Eleking said.

“Get them!” Gomora roared.

Together, the two monsters fired off their energy blasts at the combined machine, but the Mega Dragonzord didn’t even react to their attacks, simply wading through the resulting explosions as if they weren’t even there.

“Uh, can we talk about this?” Gomora tried.

“Jason, Mega Dragonzord at full power!” Billy reported.

Jason nodded. “Right!”

As one, all five Rangers declared “Mega Dragonzord, lock on and fire!”

Standing firm, the ultimate weapon brought its fists together and began channeling its energy into one focused point in front of it. Soon, an enormous shimmering orb of energy with a large ‘Z’ on it was formed. As soon as it was ready, the Zord sent it hurtling forward at its two opponents. Before either monster could react, the Empire Attack hit hard. A wall of white, blinding energy rushed up from the ground, shredding through both their forms, vaporizing them completely before one final explosion took care of whatever was left.

Its attack over and its enemies gone, the Mega Dragonzord calmly lowered its arms to its sides.

“Good job, team!” Jason said, turning and congratulating the other Rangers.

In a column of green light, the Green Ranger teleported into the Zord’s cockpit. “Hey, guys, I hate to cut the celebration short, but…” With that, he turned to Kimberly. “Shall we get going? The movie’s going to start soon,” he reminded her.

“Oh, man! Blood Rippers!” Kimberly realized. “Stupid Rita! Yeah, let’s go! Later, guys!”

As the other Rangers laughed at their friends’ panic, Tommy and Kimberly teleported away in beams of green and pink.

* * * * *

“NO! Not again!” Rita cried, her hand clutching her temple as she could already feel another headache coming on. “Finster! You said these kaiju were going to make mince meat out of the Rangers!”

Her chief monster maker jumped, clearly nervous. “B-bu-but, m-my queen, it’s never a sure thing!” he tried to tell her. “W-we can never be absolutely certain if–”

“SHUT UP!”

“Sh-shutting up…”

“Don’t you worry, my queen,” Goldar said, crossing his arms. “The next time we meet the Power Rangers on the field of battle, they will be made to pay!”

* * * * *

“Aye-yi-yi, Zordon, that was a close one,” Alpha 5 said as he went over the battle in the Command Center’s databanks, scouring the footage for any information that may prove useful in the future. “Gomora and Eleking were almost too much for the Dino Zords!”

“Worry not, Alpha,” Zordon reassured his mechanical friend. “The Rangers had this battle well in hand. After all, they still had yet to call upon Titanus for Ultrazord Power. However, Rita’s decision to turn to Earth’s history of giant monsters for inspiration for her own creations is indeed a troubling turn of events. As tough as they were, Gomora and Eleking were nowhere near the most powerful kaiju the planet has seen in the past.”

“You think she’ll start using more kaiju from now on, Zordon?” Alpha asked the sage.

“I think it would be unwise to assume otherwise,” the wizard responded. “Once Rita finds a new toy to play with, she’s not the type to let it go so soon. I think this was only her first attempt out of many to use Earth’s own monsters against the Rangers.”

“Oh, aye-yi-yi-yi-yi…”

Winner: Megazord, Dragonzord

February 1st, 2026 Update: (more…)

Author: Marianne Ng | Banner: Marianne Ng

DRAGON BALL CROSSFIRE: MATCH 1 (more…)

Author: Vincent Rodger | Banner: Vincent Rodger

Chronicles of Conflict: Episode 3 (more…)

A little special something that’s been brewing in the docks for a while now. In lieu of today’s Multimedia Match, we have come to announce the rest of the Attack On Titan monster cast will be joining the K.W.C.! Alongside some other notable inclusions.

New Additions:

• Beast Titan
• Jaw Titan
• Cart Titan
• War Hammer Titan
• Female Titan

Updates/Changes:

• Attack Titan, Armored Titan, and Colossal Titan have all been shifted to “Universal” type Combatants reflecting their anime appearances
• Added the Founding Titan as an Enhancement (and subsequently regular Titans and the Source of All Living Matter as “Enhancement Assists”)

Sources pulled from for those not in the know:

• Monster Strike

Anything that may be missing will be added gradually. If you feel like we’re missing anything, let us know on the Forums. Said new Combatants and additional material have been added to both the K.W.C. Announced Combatants and the K.W.C. Forms, Assists & Enhancements pages. Please check both of them out.

Author: Vincent Rodger | Banner: Vincent Rodger & Andrew Sudomerski

Chronicles of Conflict: Episode 2 (more…)

Authors: Connor Clennell & Andrew Sudomerski | Banner: Matthew Freese

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: The Pursuit
Chapter 2: Unanimous Matrimony
Chapter 3: First Contact
Chapter 4: The Hunt Begins
Chapter 5: The Face of the Devil
Chapter 6: Illusion of Victory
Chapter 7: The Grand Reveal
Chapter 8: End of an Empire
Chapter 9: The Battle Continues

Chapter 1: The Pursuit

Crossing the endless blackness, the sapphire orb moved at speeds faster than light. It navigated thousands of miles in the span of seconds, leaving behind a glowing trail like the tail of a burning comet. Never before had the creature within reached such high speeds, content to travel the cosmos at his own leisurely pace. Now, he pushed the limits of the travel sphere, his only and preferred means of interstellar migration, for the sake of his survival.

For as long as he had wandered the spaceways, Bemular had scourged a plethora of worlds and civilisations. Invasion was the way of life for all the great powers that governed the galaxy, but the reptile’s motivations were centered around the slaughter of life, whether it be sentient or beast, to appease his unmerciful insanity rather than to procure resources or subjugate rivals. Far outside the regions of superior empires and nomadic space beasts, the demon of the stars spent his living ravaging planet after planet, making prey of the races not under protection by a higher governing body, with only the officers of the universe-patrolling Inter Galactic Defence Force to interfere in the alien predator’s blood-hungry desires. As the body count amassed, attention was drawn to the killer, putting more strain upon the spiked menace as the defenses of his targets grew with his reputation of villainy. At last, he was cast out from his old territory, forced to enter into the space that belonged to system-spanning empires, with the assembled military strength that he sought to avoid. He combed the edges of these kingdoms, hoping to acquire new hunting grounds in the backwater territories.

The scourge of worlds found something else instead. Stumbling upon a sight that no eyes were meant to see, a truth the space monster’s pursuers were eager to enforce. Even with his current velocity, the space beast knew that he could not outrun the trailing ships. Within the confines of the orb, vision was a sense denied to the reptile. Instead, with its natural talent to absorb and convert heat to energy, the escapee of the Monster Graveyard’s own vessel functioned as a radar, sensing the coordinates of other entities through the heat and energy produced and wasted. Only on rare occasions had the sense failed its duty, an impressive testament to its accuracy.

Far behind and closing in, the enemy ships appeared as dull pulses of light on the wall of his sphere. Not gifted with higher intelligence, the sadistic saurian was unable to calculate the current rate of acceleration for his stalkers. He knew enough, which was that his vessel would be unable to outpace them with the rapidly decreasing energy stores, a consequence of the travel ball’s high velocity. Before he could assess his odds further, the sphere’s radar pulsed brightly. Only able to turn his head, the reptile and his transport were sent spiralling from their current trajectory as the laser blast struck. Smoke sizzled from the transport’s blue surface while he regained control, willing it to the side with a jerk, but was only able to avoid part of the second shot.

Skilled was not a word commonly associated with a repulsive creature of Bemular’s nature. Despite this, the outcast reptile weaved between the ensuing volley of green laser fire from the approaching formation of ships with an incredible display of agility. The bursts of light and heat produced with each shot from the vessels’ guns allowed his sphere’s radar to guide a route for the fugitive through the shower. However, it was doing little more than buy him a few extra moments of time. This was the loneliest, emptiest region of the system, with no asteroid belts or satellites for cover, and the nearest planet too far for the reptile to reach.

The sensors flared with urgency, warning of an approaching, larger concentration of energy. Snapping away from his thoughts, the dinosauroid moved to the side to avoid whatever had targeted him. Shooting past at speeds as fast as light, a larger, crimson stream burst from the tip of the leading ship, bristling with excess power to the point that its structure could not form into a smooth cone, appearing with a shape similar to water or flames. As he felt it pass by, mere metres from the vessel’s exterior, the solution appeared to the savage beast in the spur of the moment. As the warship charged up for a repeat attack, he maneuvered the travel ball directly into its sights. He detected the energy burst from the firing of the cannon, but held his position and allowed the flickering stream to strike the spherical transport.

Overwhelming force pushed the orb across the empty void, washing its exterior in light, energy and, most importantly, heat. The last element was what the cold blooded killer craved, absorbing the burning fire of the attack through the sphere’s surface and converting it internally to his own power. Coupled with the pushing force of the crimson stream, the recharged invader shot away from the approaching fleet with a silent burst of sapphire blue flames. It moved beyond the speed of light, putting kilometers between the reptile and his pursuers in one short burst, leaving them far behind and the space devil to continue his escape. Heaving for breath, however, he was not fit to resume his course after a sudden use of hastily-converted power, leaving the alien’s body shaken and in chaos. In order to fully recuperate his strength, he had to make landfall, and soon.

Thousands of kilometers away, a massive planet, the gas giant Jupiter, was detected through the travel sphere. The nature of the elements that composed it made it uninhabitable for most life, even for an extraterrestrial creature like Bemular, who could usually survive in the poorest environments. Before he could bite the bullet and head for the orange-brown world, a smaller body was sensed, hanging in the orbit and shadow of Jupiter. Unlike the larger planet, the sphere’s primitive sensors reported a more stable environment, but further information was inhibited from within the confines of his vessel. The sphere turned course, making for the planet under the little information it had, in the hopes that it would serve as a temporary site to hide out and recover from the ones who sought his destruction.

The exiled killer never knew he was being watched. Far from escaping his stalkers, from kilometers away, cruel eyes overlooked the energy trail of their quarry’s travel ball, tracking its projected course. As the planet that was the dinosauroid’s destination appeared on the screen, inhuman lips curled into a wicked smile.

“Oh, it couldn’t be more perfect. Now I have the opportunity to crush two obstacles in one single blow…”

 

Chapter 2: Unanimous Matrimony

The Xilien commandant rubbed his thumb and spandex-covered index finger over the headmaster chair, his patience thinning by the passing second. Those present had already been accommodated at the roundtable, yet many remained absent. With calculative precision, he jumbled with the billions of possible outcomes of their delay. He knew that his guests of honor, too, were becoming weary with impatience. Through the thin visor that sat atop his eyes, the Controller glanced at the central computer’s algorithmic patterns. The calculations did not deviate in the slightest, mathematically proving their absence would not derail from the prosperous future that awaited all of them.

Before he made his announcement, the Controller took one last look to verify those present. Two representatives of the Leviathan race were in attendance, both bulky extraterrestrials with tusk-like protrusions that jutted out from their face and two sets of eyes that stretched across their cranium. They possessed four two-pronged, disk-like fingers and four appendages for legs. These legs, however, were retracted inward into their bodies as they hovered in place, with no necessity for chairs.

In truth, these bodies weren’t truly theirs, for they had downloaded their consciousnesses into human hosts and restructured the human genome to resurrect their bodies. They had taken on the names of Sopler and Hoffman to distinguish themselves from the others, even if they were part of a greater hivemind colony. The Xilien Controller knew that their weapon—the aptly dubbed “Cyber Godzilla”—had already been deposited at Planet X’s Sector 07 containment unit, as were the other monsters, Gigan and Megalon, who were brought along by the others who sat parallel to the Leviathan aliens.

Across from the Leviathans, envoys of the Space Hunter Nebula M were present. Their insectoid bodies were on full display, having no need to project their human disguises. The Nebulan that identified itself as Fumio, the chairman, killed time by mapping out the relative trajectory between Planet X and their home in the Space Hunter Nebula, a simple hobby of his. The other, who identified as Kubota, fell into a mesmeric daze as he watched his young master solving for the shortest and longest routes most optimal for space travel, and all in-between.

To the Controller’s left sat the Queen of the Kilaak people, clad in a silver bodysuit and draped with a cape. Her distinct feminine appearance remained as elegant as ever, with a small red button on her upper chest. She sat, her hands folded over each other, and waited with brittle patience. But if there was one who had less patience than her, it was the Emperor of Seatopia who sat alongside his Nebulan compatriots. Antonio’s fingers curled into balled fists, his face fuming with impatience.

“What’s taking them so long?!” Antonio protested loudly, irritated by the long wait, “You sent out the invitation, and they should have been here by now!”

“Of course the human had to be the one to complain,” Sopler berated, speaking freely with the use of a telepathic frequency. “You deep dwellers and your surface relatives do not understand the patience needed for long-distance space travel.”

“DO NOT ASSOCIATE THEM WITH ME OR MY PEOPLE!” the Seatopian roared with utmost fury, “Or I will have you face the wrath of our god, in Megalon’s name!”

Kubota snapped out of his daze and directed his attention to his ally. “Lord Antonio, I implore you that now is not the time for petty fighting!” Kubota urged with a chitter from his mandibles, “You are falling for the Leviathan’s mind games and letting them take advantage of you for their amusement! Don’t humiliate yourself any further!” The Seatopian Emperor seethed, but held his tongue for the sake of keeping the peace.

The Kilaak Queen glanced at the Xilien Controller. “So will we finally begin, dear?” she questioned, her voice echoed with an eerie reverb, “It seems like things will only fall apart the longer we wait.”

He nodded. The Controller stood up from his headmaster seat and raised his right hand as a gesture of silence. All activity ceased, eyes glued to the Xilien leader. Even Fumio dropped his pen and listened attentively.

“Gentlemen, I apologize for the delay of our invitees. We cannot wait on them any longer, but it will be of no consequence. However, there is something I must address.” The Xilien’s eyes shifted to the Seatopian. “Emotional outbursts are punishable by Xilien law. As you are a guest of honor and that this is your first time here, all charges will be dropped, just this once.”

Antonio took a deep breath and exhaled. “I’m sorry,” he uttered remorsefully, “You invited me—a human—here, and here I am acting like a child.” He bowed with deepest respect. “Please accept my apology.”

“Your apology is accepted, and I will note that in the computer.” The Controller turned to the Leviathan aliens. “You, too, are guests of honor; but I must ask not to provoke anyone else for the rest of the session. Otherwise, you will be punished severely. Do I make myself clear?”

The two Leviathans glanced at each other before they came to a conclusion. “You have our word,” Sopler assured. Hoffman nodded in compliance.

“Excellent. Now let the meeting commence. I brought all of you here today to set forth a proposition,” the Controller began, “a unification of our forces acting as one cohesive unit. We distribute our resources among each other to help each of us prosper to new heights and begin a renaissance for our kinds through technological and intellectual exchange.”

“How can we be sure your aims are peaceful?” Hoffman inquired with suggestive doubt. “Do not misunderstand, we respect your race’s technological achievements and intellect. However, your past credentials indicate betrayal as a possibility. How can we assure our trust in this plan if this is still a very real risk down the line?”

Anxious murmurs stirred amongst the Nebulans and Seatopian. The Leviathan made a valid point, which was a cause for concern. The Xilien commandant, however, was unfazed and composed.

“I understand your doubts and apprehension. And allow us to put those qualms to rest,” the Xilien assured with calculated confidence. His specific wording perked their interest as they carefully tuned in to what he had to say next. “To ensure the ease of negotiations such as these, the Xiliens and Kilaakians have already become one. Our forces united, a free flowing exchange of information.” He paused for a moment and outstretched his left arm to the Kilaak Queen. “She is the Xilien Mistress; and I, the Kilaak Controller. For all intents and purposes, we are legally bound in interspecies marriage.”

“Hold on,” Fumio interfered, “does it not say under Xilien law that an Xilien citizen or authority figure is prohibited from expressing emotion and passion? And that those who do are punished for acting on those base desires?”

The Controller shook his head. But before he could speak, the Kilaak Queen took reign. “There is no contradiction of our marriage to the law,” she stated bluntly, “For our unity is based on the same goals for our species to prosper. Emotion and carnal desires have nothing to do with it. Look,” she said as she pointed to the red button on her chest, “this device is the creation of Xilien technology. It can regulate our body temperatures to what suits our needs, as our bodies cannot withstand low-temperature environments.”

“You mean this is too cold for you?” Antonio abruptly spurted out. “It’s already warm enough here as it is.”

“Very well then, if this means interstellar peace, we will very much take it into consideration,” Sopler contemplated aloud, mulling it over.

“To be honest, I still have my doubts,” Fumio remarked, “Since this is a preemptive measure, then who’s to say they don’t already have plans laid out? How can this be considered perfect peace?”

“We cannot change how you feel or force you to accept our hand of friendship,” the Controller noted, “It is only in your best interest to do what you feel is best for your people.” Xilien eyes shifted over to the only human present. “What say you, Antonio of Seatopia?”

Antonio’s eyes wavered, torn in his decision making. “I cannot give you an answer now, you will have to give me time.”

“No need to rush, take all the time you need. It is yours, and yours alone, to make,” the Xilien said. ‘Or until your Nebulan allies make that decision for you. Indecision is the worst trait for a leader to have.’ The Controller kept such thoughts to himself to maintain order.

Precise vision scanned the subtle movements of those present. The Leviathans were incredibly stoic, but the Controller could tell they were still processing the many possibilities and outcomes from the way they clamped their disk-fingers. Fumio, too, was deep in thought, with his claw-fingers overlapped near his mandibles. Kubota stood closer to Antonio, like an influencer over his decision making.

Then there were the empty seats. While the Controller had zero doubts all would bode well, as the algorithm had not changed, their absence stirred within his subconscious. Had they been building an invasion force against them? Is this what the computer predicted for their futures? It was one among billions of probabilities, outcomes he could not verify himself. He had to rely on the processing power of their computer…

The Kilaak Queen glanced over and saw him deep in thought. If she knew anything about the Controller, or the Xilien race for that matter, it was that his absolute faith in the computer would be his undoing. However, an Xilien subordinate approached her to deliver the news. “My Queen and Great Leader,” the subordinate started, acknowledging the pair. The Controller snapped out of his cold trance.

“What is it?” he coldly inquired.

“We’ve detected an anomaly in Sector 15…”

 

Chapter 3: First Contact

A brilliant light crashed upon the rocky surface of Jupiter’s dark moon. Dust kicked up from the impact, which infinitely sprawled beyond the thin atmosphere and into the void. Even as the cloud diminished, the bright light of Bemular’s spherical casing continued to shine like the sun. The dihydrogen monoxide plant, which was situated on the surface of Sector 15, burned away, eventually leading to the water spilling from the industrial structure. If the heat produced from the travel ball didn’t incinerate the Xilien workers in proximity, then the ensuing flood would certainly do the trick. Very few made it back to the underground tubes that led into the subterranean base before they were crushed by roaring water.

Steam billowed from the foot of the sphere, as it did little to affect it to any capacity. However, once the orb began to dissipate, Bemular could feel the water eagerly rush between his scaly toes. With a craggily screech, the reptile’s aberrant maw spewed superheated flames, evaporating the pouring liquid. Water was a precious resource for prospering life; without it, the living could not thrive. To quench his insatiable appetite, this moon’s destruction was all the more necessary. With powerful footfalls and wild whipping of his barbed tail, the thorny devil laid waste to the techno-infused rock formations and surface Xilien-made structures, killing all those who controlled the many facilities herein.

This brought a twisted smile to his face. However, his eyes briefly glanced at the ominous gas giant that loomed over him and the stars beyond, scanning for his pursuers. While there were many different spacecraft orbiting the planet, ranging from techno-organic carriers to fiery orange saucers, there was nothing of them. Verifying that they weren’t present, the invasive terror resumed his rampage.

***

“—and it is under siege,” the Xilien finished, “Shall we deploy our forces?”

Before either the Kilaak Queen or Controller could issue an order, Fumio took charge. “If you believe this treaty will ensure peace, then let us deploy Gigan to eradicate this creature,” Fumio insisted, “as a display of our peace.”

“Megalon could provide assistance,” Antonio interjected, “and their cooperation can guarantee an easy kill.”

The Xilien leader glanced at the computer, and for the first time since this session began, there was a change in the pattern. With this information, the Xilien was quick to decide. “I’m afraid that offer will have to be declined, gentlemen,” the Controller aptly stated, “It is not that we doubt Gigan or Megalon’s capabilities, but it is not in our best interest to use those two.”

“Then why not have the Leviathans deal with this pest?” the Kilaak Queen warmly suggested, “If they have come to a conclusion, that is.”

The Leviathan pair were still deep in thought, calculating the many outcomes that could sprawl from this decision. As they did, Antonio shot up from his seat. “Nonsense!” he shouted, “You’re telling us that their knock-off Godzilla is a better option than our god?”

The Controller raised his hand for silence. “Do you believe your ‘god’ must sully his power against something less than his full capability?” the Xilien calmly issued, “And must the universe’s renowned assassin engage against something with a pitiable bio-signature?” he said with a monotone straightforwardness.

“Very well then, if that is how you see it, Controller,” Fumio replied with a hint of spite. Even Antonio’s head drooped as he plunged into his seat.

“Leviathans? Have you come to a final verdict?” the Queen asked.

The bulky aliens revved to life with pulsating eyes. There wasn’t any more time to think it over; their decision was now. “We do not appreciate our greatest creation being classified as lesser than these,” Hoffman enunciated his disdain, “For our Cyber Godzilla is an engineered weapon that can rival the original.”

“However, if this is the first step to a united force,” Sopler added, “then so be it. We will showcase Cyber Godzilla’s power and prove it to be a force to be reckoned with.”

“Deploy a carrier to transport Cyber Godzilla to Sector 15,” the Controller ordered. “Designate the target as Monster Zero Sixty-Six.”

***

Rampant fires burned, yet the smoke produced fizzled out as they climbed through the thin atmosphere of Planet X. Nevertheless, it displayed the wreckage the wandering menace had wrought upon the area. The Xilien body count continued to pile up as they fell to his heat ray. However, the dark sky was illuminated by a shining saucer that caught his attention. Primarily white with red orbs on its top and undersides and a blue stripe around its circumference, the spaceship dipped over the horizon from the saurian’s view. His head tilted in curiosity, unsure what was going on. But when he saw it return to view, there was more to it. The three orbs produced cyan lightning, which carried a theropod-like lizard curled in a fetal position. Blue and red rings exuded from the bottom, encasing the other monster in a transparent sphere. Then, the saucer hastily flew over the mountainous terrain, with the creature in tow.

As the space machine came closer, Bemular was able to discern the fine details of this other creature. From its metallic sheen, the decayed red skin, and tubing across its neck, it became clear that the unknown intruder wasn’t wholly organic. As the saucer deposited the spherical case on the moist ground and retracted its tractor beam, a nearby cliffside began to open its doors. Within the hollowed mountain was a large satellite dish that could only be seen under the dim light of Jupiter. The device sparkled with technological display as a wave of ionizing particles, manifested in the form of a concentrated beam, washed over the barrier. In mere seconds, the atoms that made up the sphere broke down into gasses, left in the form of vapor. And just as quickly as it was done, the satellite was sealed back within the mountainside. In the midst of the haze, the cyborg that stood unconsciously unfurled from its fetal position, the lenses on its eyes dim and black.

“Cyber Godzilla, it is time to prove your worth as our flagship and their equal,” Sopler and Hoffman declared.

With a telepathic command received from his masters, Cyber Godzilla’s eyes activated in a flash of murky green. Pressurized steam ejected from his two large nostrils as the cyborg reptile rose from his slumped position. Cold, dead eyes scanned the target that stood before him. The enhanced revenant sneered at his target and released a synthetic cry, challenging the space reptile to battle.

Buggy eyes glared at the reanimated cyborg, pupils contracted with cruel intent. The space monster unleashed a high pitched wail, eager to lay waste to this cybernetic zombie. Both stood idle, if only for a moment, waiting for the other to move… And one order sealed the deal.

“Attack!”

Pressing his digitigrade feet into the rocky soil, the revived monster sprinted into action with impeccable speed. With only seconds to spare, Bemular spewed a stream of pale blue flames. Quick on his feet, the cybernetic mutant swerved out of the line of fire while maintaining his original trajectory. Before the space fugitive had the chance to turn its head, Cyber Godzilla used his boxy visage as a battering ram and plunged deep into the scaly fiend’s sternum. The extraterrestrial’s flames quenched in a violent wisp that singed his parched lips, all the while the spiny alien was flung from his feet. Only his thorny armor provided protection from the rocky wall he found himself embedded into. Unstable rock shook loose from the impact, pelting against his frame.

Wasting no time, the enhanced atomic reptile crouched low on all-fours and adjusted his position. From the mechanical devices weaved onto his prominent scutes, two sets of luminescent lights flared from the missile launchers on the right protrusion. With utmost accuracy, four energized missiles sped across the barren terrain and found their mark. Compacted energy unraveled in brilliant explosions as they bombarded damned scales, leaving burns in their wake. The Leviathan flagship pressed on with the assault, alternating to the other set of hi-tech missile launchers on the adjacent scute. Another round of energy missiles exploded, tearing and searing the scaly armor. The galactic menace wailed and panicked, which only caused more of the mountainside to cave in on itself.

Several more salvos blasted the imprisoned reptile to kingdom come, yowls being silenced by the nearly nonexistent atmosphere. After a while, blood sprayed from his wounds as the missiles chipped away his unnatural exterior. However, Cyber Godzilla reoriented himself and changed his trajectory. Rather than the target, the eight-count payload was fired at the massive wall that surrounded the extraterrestrial. A massive rockslide tumbled down the steep slope and buried the vile reptile under it. The unfeeling creation continued the bombardment until his foe’s screeches were cut short by the boulders that covered his entire body.

The dust hadn’t even settled as the zombified cyborg approached the makeshift prison. There was no hesitation on the revived American beast’s part as his scutes flashed with circulating atomic energy, his eyes temporarily a deep crimson. Radioactive ions formed within his mouth and exhaled as a wild burst of azure flames that coated the rubble. The minerals began to melt from the atomic breath, sealing the gaps and allowing the metallic components to weld together. He torched it until a new prison was forged from the rocks, a superheated metal casing that housed the infamous Bemular. Though the metal was still soft, the augmented reptile undisputedly knew that the compressed heat, trapped within the case, was cooking the target alive. Only subtle shifts of the metal shell informed him that the prisoner was still alive. But for how long was yet to be determined.

Had it been a few minutes longer, the metal casing would have had the chance to completely harden and perhaps encase the star beast in his prison. But it was not meant to be so. A few sudden, successive rams from within tore the soft metal like aluminum. The spiked devil leaned over horizontally and collided his thorny head with his captor’s metallic sternum. This caught the undead machine off guard. The cybernetic theropod was blown off his feet, crashing on his back where his back spines dug into the rocky soil. A visible crack was present on one of his metal chest plates. However, his cybernetic body absorbed the impact as he quickly regained his senses.

Making an effort to pull himself from the ground, Cyber Godzilla scanned for the conditions of his target. Bemular rose to his full height, which only revealed the declining health of the reptile. His body secreted sweat and steam from under his scales, giving him a distinctive shiny coat unseen with most reptiles as the dilated vapor was quenched from the void. Sweat mixed with blood from the wounds sustained, irritating the alien lifeform even more. The bane of the Inter Galactic Defence Force’s buggy eyes squinted as he tried to keep the dripping sweat and heat out of his sight. Even with the target’s limited vision, the reborn mutant was inclined to believe his foe knew where he was. This was further cemented with his next move.

Stretching his jaws wide, the alien terror spewed another round of pale flames. Having anticipated this, the first of the “Godzilla” species quickly propped his upper body through the support of his asymmetrical arms. Then his chest cavity popped open, revealing what was under the metal plates. Housed within was a satellite dish, an enhancement birthed from Leviathan engineering. As the pale fire struck the saucer, the azure blaze instead bounced off the reflector dish and returned to its sender with amplified power. Sparks and flames popped against the beast’s armor as his very own fire breath seared into his body. This left the towering reptile stunned, allowing the time for the fallen cyber-beast to reorient himself back on his feet.

With a synthetic hiss, the cyborg’s missile launchers lit up and fired from their sockets. Eight projectiles flew over and prepared to strike their target head-on. However, the sinister saurian had a trick up his sleeve. With cascading flashes of sapphire light, a swirling vortex of heat began to coat its thorny body. A spherical barrier forged from this heat, which caused the energy missiles to prematurely detonate before they could even reach their primary target. Then under its own volition, the orb began to hover above the ground. With another command, the sphere propelled towards his undead foe with incredible speeds.

The alien zombie leapt to his left, the orb passing by as it grazed the lizard’s mechanical right arm. It singed the space metal as the prosthetic’s sensors alerted the cyborg of the heat that exuded from it. Yet it also detected the marked increase in thermal energy from the impact as well. Cyber Godzilla’s green eyes tracked the sapphire orb as it circled around to mow him down. A plan hatched in the cyborg’s mind, one that wasn’t foolproof, but it was a plan nonetheless. Unlike before, the ultimate weapon of invasion stood his ground, prepared for the inevitable impact as the travel sphere rushed eagerly to meet him.

The dull red and cybernetic arms of the radioactive beast were held out in front of him, intending to halt the sphere with his bare hands. His feet crunched into the ground, anchoring himself. Even his artificial eyes squinted at the approaching brightness. All he needed was a brisk few seconds… But would it be enough? The answer came at the moment of impact.

A solid sphere of heat made direct contact with his outstretched palms, displacing until it pressed against his arms and upper torso, spreading the area of influence. The burning sensation began to wilt the flesh off his organic components and destabilized the structural integrity of the mechanical parts. The techno-organic iguana was pushed against his will, carving two trails where his feet were planted as he was dragged along. Amidst this, he prepared to press the opened dish against the fiery orb.

Another second passed. If he didn’t act now, he would certainly be compromised. Even if it wasn’t at full capacity as he had expected, it would hopefully be sufficient. The chest cavity pressed against the outer shell of the sphere, inverting the kinetic energy back at the source. Like the shockwaves of a tectonic plate, vibrations passed through the external barrier and the flaming heat that composed it, which washed over Bemular. The high-pitched frequency robbed the alien killer of his auditory and directional senses, losing his focus in the process. The flames died down as the space monster frothed from the mouth, unable to cope with the seismic burst that invaded his protective sphere. Before he knew it, the travel ball broke apart into large chunks and dissipated into sparkling fire as the dread extraterrestrial fell to the ground. With a loud thud, the alien reptile landed on his spiny back.

Much to the cyborg lizard’s pleasure, it panned out sufficiently. He took a look at his organic four-clawed arm, blackened and seared, exposing rotted muscle. While he noticed his regenerative intuition kicking in, it was a far cry from what it was back when he was truly alive. The right hand, however, was in a less fortunate spot. The three-pronged hand had warped and needed time to cool to solidify. But he knew there was no time to wait for either of these to rest. There was business to settle.

With cybernetic whirrs, the synthetic zombie advanced towards the fallen, dazed beast from the stars. Smoke puffed from the cyborg’s nostrils as his spines and eyes lit up. In an instant, Cyber Godzilla bathed Bemular in a blanket of azure atomic fire, making the stunned fiend suffer for it.

 

Chapter 4: The Hunt Begins

The orbiting assembly observed the battle far below from their position in the troposphere, judging silently as the Leviathan’s weapon demonstrated its power against the invasive reptile. From each of the commanding vessels, information was beamed down and fed into the Xilien computer, where it was then transmitted to the chamber of the council, and the eyes of the ruling bodies. The other races were impressed. Even though Cyber Godzilla had yet to gain victory, the triumph of Leviathan biotechnology and the abilities it possessed had started to sway the thoughts of their potential allies, which made the voices of the collective sing with egotistical pride.

“Do you continue to doubt the effectiveness of our creation now?” Sopler announced with vanity. “Our cyborg is equal in power to your own monsters, and its triumph will prove that it, and us, are worthy of this alliance and your respect.”

His face burning red and veins bulging at the arrogant words of the rotund alien, Antonio opened his mouth for a retort. The insinuation that their cyborg, some diseased, reanimated carcass, could stand alongside his god was an insult to Megalon’s magnificence. He held his tongue, however, at the piercing glares of the Xilien and Kilaak rulers, remembering the rules of their kind and the promise he had made. With a silent, calming breath, he sank back into his seat.

Kubota watched the Seatopian closely, his black, compound eyes glued to the human look-alike until he was certain that the emperor had his emotions in check. “That man needs to learn to keep his emotions in check, especially here.” He sighed in exasperation. “He has too much faith in Megalon, I fear. He and his people may see him as a god, but that belief does not give them power.”

He looked to his superior and awaited for a reply. But the chairman’s gaze was vacant, starting aimlessly across the room, with his antennae barely twitching and limbs frozen in their tasks. The silence was unnerving to Kubota, who had never seen his master in a state such as this. His discomfort was noticed by the Kilaak Queen, switching her gaze from the monitor screen to the Nebulans.

“Is there a problem, gentlemen?” she asked with a conflicted air.

Fumio’s mandibles chittered loudly, the first sign of sentience from the chairman since entering his trance. His antennae drooped over the side of his insectoid body, which reflected his mood of uncertainty.

“Something is… wrong.”

***

All eyes were locked on the surface of Planet X, fully focused on the outcome of the clash below. Only space’s dark vastness accompanied the mixed armada, with quick sweeps of the area sensing no other craft or being in the vicinity. However, a feeling of unease permeated many of the crew of the various vessels, unable to shake the aura of alien eyes upon them.

Above the fleet, the warship held its position. Its cloaking field and signal jammers hid it from sight and detection, leaving only a faint, reflective sheen in the shape of the craft as the only proof of its presence. Seated in his techno-organic throne, the ship’s commander watched the battle between their quarry and the revived corpse play out on the large screen before him, which shared the space with data graphs and video feeds of the vessel’s systems and occupants. Cold, scaly lips split to reveal sharp fangs, forming a cruel smile, while a tentacle flicked up lazily, giving a silent order to the crew circled beneath his seat of power. With a nod of confirmation, one of the lower-ranking operators tapped out an instruction on the controls at his station.

The surface of the illusion began to ripple as an object started to push through. Detaching from the vessel, a smaller ship pushed through the cloaking field as if it was water, bullet-shaped with a segmented, chitin-like cone. Simultaneously organic and mechanical in nature, the pod’s thrusters ripped it away from the mothership and out into the vacuum. It rocketed straight down, its onboard computers putting the pod on the most optimal course for the surface of Planet X. Unfortunately, that course was through the assembled fleet that guarded the moon’s atmosphere.

Without hesitation, the pod accelerated towards the wall of ships, picking up velocity in the few meters of space it traveled before contact. Only seconds before, the vessel had appeared on the conglomerate’s radar, and they were still reeling from the sudden revelation when it hit the blockade. Kilaak and Xilien saucers gave no resistance, popping like lightbulbs against the armour and force of the pod as it blasted through ship after ship without any sign of slowing down. The only challenge it faced was the massive Leviathan carriers, which sported greater armour and shielding in comparison to the other starcraft of the fleet.

But the pod did not deviate from its path, flying straight into the side of one of the colossal warships with a soundless impact. Ripping apart the energy barrier and reinforced plating, it scraped down the side of the warship in complete silence, tearing open the hull but unable to penetrate deeper. Eventually, the pod reached the vessel’s underside, sliding free with a shower of broken metal and launching back to its adjusted flight path with only minor exterior damage. Compared to the enemy fleet, its speed was incomparable, far out of range before they could gather their senses and gun down the craft. It continued to descend, glowing white hot with a cone of flames as it hit Planet X’s weak atmosphere, pushing through without any resistance.

“You poor, pathetic fools.” As the pod disappeared with its growing acceleration through the atmosphere, the rogue alien leader chuckled darkly. “The reptile’s chase has given me this perfect opportunity. And now…”

“There is nowhere left to hide.”

***

Heads darted around as alarms blared across the chamber. All at once, a hundred reports flooded into the central computer’s databanks, fighting over each other for priority to reach the eyes of the delegates. Fortunately, it was barely a strain on the processing power of the machine, a testament to its efficiency and the engineering skills of the Xiliens. Taking only a minute to process and organise the data, the conjoined data was uploaded to the viewing screen to allow its occupants to analyse it all at once.

Antonio pointed a finger at the screen, his twitching features swapping between confusion and anger at the image of the foreign pod. “What in the great name of Megalon is that… thing?!” he demanded.

No longer were the representatives of the galaxy’s strongest calm and collected. Fear and anxiety spread through the hall, manifesting physically in the unsettled body language of all but two of its occupants.

“This could not be anticipated.” With his spiny neck protruding from the cavity of his body, Hoffman’s bulbous head rose higher for a closer inspection of the collected reports. “The structure of the craft is much like our own; biological matter and circuitry together as one. But it is not ours, we assure you,” he promised to the others.

Up to this point, the organizers of the event had remained silent to converse with each other in private. While he lent his ear to the words and concerns of his mistress, the Xilien commandant could not resist his urge and devotion to the calculations of the computer, turning his back to the queen to examine its equations for the answers he needed. He did not frown, for that would be a violation of the very laws he governed, but uncertainty grew as he drank in the changes to the algorithm and the deviations it predicted.

Fumio, too, was engrossed in his own dilemma. Unlike the Controller, the answer he required was there, but unclear. Fog filled his mind to deny him of the information he knew was there, facts that could turn the atmosphere in the chamber around and restore the chance of success. As if to spite him, it continued to elude the Nebulan, leaving him enraged and beaten. I know you, he thought. The Leviathans speak the truth of their innocence. That feeling of familiarity… our race has seen that technology before, but where? From who?

The chairman’s colourless eyes returned to the monitor, where it showed the pod progress as it began to close the last few kilometres to the surface. It seems, for now, we must all wait and see.

***

Beneath the shadow of the reanimated mutation, Bemular’s garish features were imbued with the excruciating agony of thermonuclear fire. Screeching his torment worsened the experience for the reptile, for it allowed the atomic flames to access the sensitive gums and soft throat tissue inside his oral cavity. He could hear the crackling of his own scales as they blackened and withered under the unregulated heat, with each loss exposing the softer, vulnerable flesh underneath. Imbued by the mind-numbing agony, his legs lifted up from the black soil and snapped forward into the undead beast’s gut, kicking the cyborg away from his sprawled form. With great urgency, the trespassing alien began to lift his burnt body, suffering from spikes of intense anguish through the entire process, until he stood on his own feet at last.

Across the darkened plain, Cyber Godzilla recuperated from his prickly foe’s surprise counter-attack. His spines tore free from the colourless soil, flinging showers of rock across the metallic plating on his back as his head shook away the cobwebs. Although he had the benefit of cellular regeneration and Leviathan augmentation on his side, the resurrected iguana reacted too close to the sudden charge of his target and suffered for it as the mutant saurian’s needle-sharp teeth stabbed into the putrid flesh of his neck. For a moment, the spiny convict began to thrash his jaws across the cyborg’s nape, only to suddenly halt and withdraw as the rotten juices and preserving fluids that ran through the mutant’s veins flowed onto his tongue. He pulled back, gargling in horror at the vile concoction permeating his taste buds.

The augmented weapon took advantage and charged with an elephantine groan, his unmatching arms lifted to strike down at the reptile’s hide. Only at the last moment did the fugitive escape being disemboweled, turning around and throwing his head back to slam into the Leviathan zombie with the hundreds of spines that lined the length of his back. The impact was enough to disorient the interstellar monster’s attacker, stumbling on its feet with bruised scales and dent-lined armor. The first blow to deliver results was made, but the destroyer of worlds knew he had to keep up the offensive in order to contend with the cybernetic reptile. Sweeping his long, spike-lined tail, he stabbed the armored knee of the atomic machine’s left leg, forcing the reptile to stagger to the side as he lifted the assaulted foot. The combo was ended as Bemular swung around, tilting his body forwards to hammer it directly against the cyborg’s metallic sternum, with the resulting force tossing him across the battlefield through the air.

Pushing himself from the dirt, the undead soldier’s emerald eyes peered through the dust cloud generated from the impact of his landing. Only yards away, the lanky, green form of the beast from the stars stood out next to the black mountains, dripping blood from his scales while he stared back at the reanimated lizard. For both creatures, retreat was out of the question, for they both sought claim to the hidden moon. Despite their rivalry, an understanding was made between alien savage and cybernetic slave. Only through bloodshed could there be victory and supremacy. To that end, the terror from the Monster Graveyard and the Leviathan revenant of war opened their maws, charging up their signature energies. The air around each titan’s jaws warped with heat as sapphire fire vomited from their throats, colliding with a bright spark of light and flame. Funneling all the resources at their disposal, both reptiles sought to consume the other with super concentrated heat and nuclear fire respectively, but for now, a stalemate was reached.

Cyber Godzilla primed his fin launchers in preparation for a secondary attack. Unlike Bemular, who possessed only his oral heat beam, the Leviathan cyborg carried a multitude of weapons for long-ranged attacks. The compartments slid open, revealing a neon blue glow as the targeting computers connected to his augmented brain locked on. Before he could launch, his vision was unexpectedly overtaken by an overbearing orange flare. Blinded on the left side, his eye squinted in an attempt to block out the light and locate its source.

The mad fiend was also affected, mimicking the actions of his rival in the search of the intruding object. His frogish eyes bulged as they saw the descending pod, glowing bright with the flames that coated its surface like a protective shield. It rapidly began to close the distance, homing onto the dueling monsters’ position. As the pod neared the ground, the velocity and g-forces produced lashed out at the environment around it, mountains of black stone crumbling like jenga blocks and the soil splitting apart. Extreme heat and light engulfed both of the titans, which produced great quantities of sweat on the reptiles’ scales. That, in turn, evaporated to steam in the rising temperature, which started to melt the rock under their feet. The blinded duo finally cut off their duel, staggering away uselessly with their inability to see in the pod’s glare.

And finally, impact.

***

The eruption would forever leave a scar on the surface of Planet X. Although small, it released enough kinetic force to remold the terrain into a ragged, blackened crater, obscured by the brilliant orange mushroom cloud of fire and energy. Far underground, the secret fortress felt the effects of the impact as rooms shook from powerful tremors, while power across the base fluctuated. Lights flickered spastically, cutting out altogether as the power systems finally cut out from the unending vibrations.

In the chamber, the representatives only had to sit in darkness for a few moments before the backup systems activated, restoring life support, basic facilities and power to the complex. However, even this struggled to hold on, blinking on and off with erratic worry while Xilien engineers battled to keep the power from kicking out. In the face of danger, even the Xilien Controller and Kilaak Queen failed to maintain their unemotive appearance, growing expressions of distress as the chamber awaited the end of the tremors.

After what appeared like an eternity, the vibrations ended and the power stabilized. With the threat passed for now, the royal pair resumed their masks of neutrality, which had failed to be noticed by the other leaders amidst the panic. Had the slip been noticed, both rulers could have easily swung their power around for a feasible excuse, but at this moment, to aggravate their allies was not the intention. For the Controller, logic overpowered everything else; this moment was one to strengthen alliances in the face of this new threat, and he could only hope that the Nebulans, Leviathans, and the Seatopian Emperor would see the same sense. For the moment, his black visor joined the eyes of the room in looking at the restored image on the monitor.

***

The barren surface appeared even more lifeless after the impact. Fires quickly died from the lack of fuel to burn and the thin atmosphere of the planetoid, which prevented oxygen, a vital need for flames to grow, from collecting. It was the foul smoke from the flames that roused the thorny devil from unconsciousness, snorting hot air from his nostrils to dispel it from his aching form. Shakily, the extraterrestrial rose from under the collected sand and debris, shaking the material from his spines as he stood to his full height. He failed to stand straight, wobbling on his legs while trying to examine his surroundings through foggy vision. His mind scrambled temporarily from the collision, moving should have been the last thing to do, but it was a better alternative than lying helpless on the ground, where he would face the mercy of the augmented zombie or whatever had now entered the battlezone.

As the smoke faded, Bemular’s sight started to focus once more, losing the shakes in his limbs as the cobwebs cleared from his consciousness. With his restored sight, the interloping killer could see the devastation brought upon the surface; a sight to revolt and bring despair to most beings, but to a creature as repulsive as him, it was an image that sang to the depths of his black soul.

Far across, at the center of the crater, the pod lay embedded into the rock. Smoke wafted off its rapidly cooling plating, with barely a scratch or dent marring the techno-organic surface. There was a familiarity in his conscience, faintly recalling the image of a similar object, but the connection failed to click. However, the unchilling aura was enough to discourage him from venturing closer to the object. Then, with a hiss of air, it began to split open…

Cyber Godzilla’s eyes glowed, his processors rebooting the cyborg mutant’s augmented mind as purple lines of data flowed from his chest armor to the tubes connected to his lower jaw. The gears and motors in his limbs whirred as he pushed up, analyzing the condition of his body after the impact. Parts of the armor had been compromised and flesh was bruised and ripped away, but the Leviathan’s greatest accomplishment was not out for the count. Resuming his mission, the reptile was quick to locate his alien foe from a brief sweep of the environment, and stalked closer. He came to a stop, however, as he followed the spiny intruder’s gaze, coming to rest his eyes on the ship as it split open down the middle, unfolding like the cocoon of a moth or butterfly to expose the contents within.

Inside, dark shapes moved, obscured by the darkness with only crimson, luminous orbs across their bodies as markers for the creatures’ forms. Moving forward as light spilled into the confined space, the new life forms stepped out onto Planet X, crunching the gravel underfoot, locking their sights on the two beings that greeted them. They should have run or attacked at first sight, but like fools, both reptiles stood still and gawked, drinking in the terror of their arrival.

For this world and its people, it was too late to escape. To hide or to fight were the only options now, and neither would save their forfeit lives in the long run, for the harvest had commenced.

The Trilopods were here.

Chittering amongst their number, the arthropod hunters discussed the choice of first target. The undead saurian snorted, turning his head away from the invaders. The programming wired across the lizard zombie’s cortex did not label them as a threat nor a target, and until it did, his mission remained the same as before. Focusing on the green spines on the distracted space monster’s back, the cybernetic iguana’s scutes flashed bright with azure power from the tip of his tail to the nape of his neck. Bright fire flashed within his artificial eyes, but just before the moment of release…

“Cyber Godzilla, your instructions are changed. Ignore the reptile for now. It is barely a threat next to these unknown saboteurs. The arthropods are your new targets; terminate them without mercy.”

The blaze vanished as data streamed into the cyberised Godzilla’s cerebrum. Processing the new command, he looked between Bemular and the alien anomalocarids with uncertainty. Never had he been called off from a target before, but the instructions of the Leviathans were law, and he must obey.

He charged with a synthesized war cry, rushing at the pack with incomparable speed. Springing off the dark soil, the revived mutant pounced onto one of the bipedal beasts, pushing it to the ground with the combination of sudden force and his own hefty weight. Metal-coated jaws crunched the chitin plates of the Trilopod’s throat without difficulty, drawing out a squeal from its ringed orifice as green fluid bubbled up around the father of the species’ decayed gums. He grinned in pleasure, delighting in the creature’s suffering, but his eyes suddenly widened at the sensation of sharp objects coiling around the metal armor that strengthened his tail.

With its pedipalps securing the resurrected creature’s tail, the second Trilopod ripped the augmented assaulter away. The reanimated beast was tossed over the lifeless plains of scorched rock, droplets of dark green gore trailing from his stained jaws as he twisted in the air to land perfectly, digging claws into the earth for stability and drag. As he came to a halt, the cyborg remained crouched low as energy missiles rocketed from the scute pins, bombarding the skull and chest of the scythe-bearing anomalocarid with bright bursts of bluish-green fire and light. Smoke and dust rose up as the assault continued, whipping up a screen of clouds as the deep space predator raised its bladed arms to defend itself. Within seconds, the cybernetic weapon had to bring the barrage to a halt as the cloud covered the swarm completely, hiding them from his vision through the undead mutant’s own actions. Until the creatures entered his vision again, the revived lizard swept the landscape for head or limb.

The chittering of the intruders echoed around, but with the difference in conditions between the atmosphere of Earth and Planet X, the chorus came out muffled and muted. It hindered the unnatural being’s ability to locate the whereabouts of each creature, even with the amplified hearing granted from Leviathan engineering. Blind he was not, however. He immediately noticed the color change in a section of the cloud, switching from dark gray to a blood red as something within illuminated brightly. A crimson blast swept through the dust and ash, striking naught but rock as the nimble reptile leapt from the site of impact moments prior. Jumping to the side, his stare caught the hazy silhouette of a Trilopod from where the beam had fired from, granting the augmented reptile some insight into the capabilities of these unknowns.

His head snapped to the side, but he was already flying into the waiting radiodont’s zone, springing out from the smokescreen with its scythe raised high. With an ear-ringing shriek, the serrated limb slashed across the revenant’s left flank, tearing into the decaying scales with no resistance while only gashing the armor of his chest. The cyborg cried out, falling to the ground as putrid juices and chemicals spilled. Standing over, the alien hunter clicked its mandibles, lifting its bladed forearms above its head. It stopped suddenly, gagging and stumbling back as its olfactory center was assaulted by the overpowering stench of the zombie’s fluids. The distraction was enough for the techno-organic to climb onto all four of its limbs and lash out with his tail, knocking the arthropod off its feet as it gargled in horror.

Another Trilopod stepped forward as the smoke lifted, slamming the tips of both blades into the iguana’s armored skull. Cyber Godzilla crumpled like loose bricks, suffering from the ragged gash along his side that impaired the function of his leg. He couldn’t think of moving until the wound had healed, but that was too much time that the lizard lacked. As the looming insect’s foot pinned his back, he became aware of a smaller shape approaching from the side. He recognised it as another of the hunters when it emerged from the haze, but its shape and size were different from the beast above him. Only half of the bipedal warrior’s size and walking on multiple pairs of insectoid legs, the Alpha Trilopod crawled its way to the undead beast’s unarmoured neck, drawing out a pained hiss when it sank its pedipalps into the synthetic titan’s flesh and began to feed. Under the two creatures’ joined weight, his struggles were futile, as the parasite’s body bloated from the gorged bio-energy…

Bemular screeched out a warning. The Trilopods paid no heed as they closed around, blocking any and all escape routes for the extraterrestrial. The glossy eyes of the horde gleamed with a hunger that only the reptile’s essence could sate, chittering excitedly with the scent of dripping blood in the air. Although scrawnier and far from in good health, the space monster used the strength left at his disposal to the greatest efficiency. Hot fire blazed from the xeno’s chapped lips, throwing back a pair of Alphas with eruptive force. The assault was the signal for the pack to attack. With each Beta that approached, the sinister reptile threw his body against the mountains of chitin and muscle, taking every ounce of power in him to drive each creature back a few feet. Bladed appendages slashed at the psychotic beast, but many only bounced off the tough, defensive spines. Inch by inch, he gained room in the swarm’s midst.

Screeching aloud, a confident Trilopod brought down its raised scythe. The mad fiend countered the blow by leaning forward, catching the blade on the back of his neck. Several of the green monster’s spines cracked and fell off, but the arthropod was unable to penetrate the full layer. Swinging upward, the blade was dislodged, and the Beta stumbled back from the sudden shift in balance. Taking advantage of its downed defense, jagged jaws clamped around the Trilopod’s neck, crunching down on the tough plating. The hunter unleashed a shill cry as it fought to shake off the space dinosaur, but his grip was tight and secure. With a quick jerk forwards, a resounding crack echoed as he broke the alien hunter’s neck, dropping its limp form. One down, but a dozen remained. Meeting the eyes of the enclosing anomalocarids, the vicious monster cracked the stiff joints in his neck, cleaning the blood from his teeth with exaggerated licks.

That was when he noticed the condition of Cyber Godzilla. The broken mutation seemed even more like the living corpse it was under the heel of the Beta. His neck was soaked in his own disgusting blood, which also coated the mandibles of the bloated Alpha as it scuttled away. Hunching over, the larger Trilopod allowed it to crawl onto its back, not even flinching as the Alpha sank its pedipalps into the back of the skull. Both arthropods began to radiate with a green aura, their bodies merging as their genetic structure broke down and reformed with grotesque squelching noises. Before the reptile’s own eyes, the two Trilopods became one as a new body plan took shape.

When the light died out, it was revealed. It still looked like a Trilopod, but the changes in its appearance were obvious. Digitigrade legs, rows of curving, fin-like scutes along the back, a boxy set of jaws lined with stubby fangs; even its color had changed from reddish-brown to earthen grays. The new Trilopod hybrid parted its jaws, and even its call now sounded more like Cyber Godzilla’s own. It didn’t look right, though, trembling and wheezing with brittle armor and sunken eyes. Undoubtedly the result of taking genetic material from a creature long since dead, but the Zilla-Trilopod was prepared for combat despite its ailments.

Atomic fire spat from the hybrid’s jaws into Bemular’s sternum. Overtaken by the resulting agony and force, the bruised alien fell to the ground, howling and writhing for the assault to stop. There was no mercy from the Trilopod as it stepped closer to the reptile, coating his front in azure flames the entire time. Bemular craned his neck up, building up energy in his throat for a retaliating strike, but hooked forearms secured the wanderer’s jaws, locking them shut as the hybrid hunter’s atomic ray ceased. The twin Betas clicked ominously, pinning down Bemular while the Alphas set to work draining the genetic material out of the deranged criminal.

 

Chapter 5: The Face of the Devil

They watched as the horrific events transpired, seeing the situation turn from stable to dire in a matter of moments. The Xilien Controller discreetly glanced at the algorithmic graph, which continued to waver with uncertainty. In the midst of the ongoing havoc, he saw his compatriots breaking into a sweat, no doubt induced by stress and anxiety. The last thing the Controller needed to hear was from his subordinates, but unfortunately for him, the option was not in the cards at the moment.

“Great Leader,” the Xilien underling reported, “We’re receiving an encrypted signal.”

“Terminate it and block all external transmissions beyond Planet X,” the Controller ordered, “There will be no room for negotiations, for this undeniably has to be an act of war.” Without missing a beat, the computer suppressed all outside signals from entering the systems.

“Perfect peace cannot be obtained unless we fight for it,” Kubota plainly proclaimed, “On behalf of Master Fumio, allow us and the Emperor to deploy our monsters to aid the Leviathan’s creation.”

In an irritated growl, the Seatopian Emperor stood up. “Kubota, you do not speak on my behalf,” he vented his frustrations, “for Megalon carries the burden of protecting our people, and I must take that responsibility that will lead to a better future.”

“Then what will you do, human?” Hoffman scorned, as if the Leviathans had been reading the room the entire time. “What is your decision?” The others looked on, awaiting the Emperor’s response.

With a heated snort, Antonio rebuked the aliens, saying, “Our god will also provide help to your sinful abomination. No such filth should ever walk across the galaxy in the name of peace, but in dire straits such as this, I cannot find any other path that will guarantee my people’s protection.”

“The most reasonable conclusion you’ve come to,” Sopler added, “so long as these terms are not revoked by reckless actions, we will provide you assistance however we can.” Antonio reluctantly nodded, breathing carefully to manage control of himself.

“Something about this still isn’t right…” Fumio continued to chitter to himself, his antennae twitching nervously.

“Then I will issue the computer to release Gigan and Megalon from Sector 07, then we–” the Controller was cut off as the power began to flicker. The enclosure darkened to a near pitch black, with an emergency casing enveloping the guests of honor and the roundtable, leaving only a shimmering light hanging over them. Though they seemingly heard nothing, the Xilien Controller lost his composure as he felt an overwhelming strain on his neural processes, keeling over and falling into a seizure-induced state.

“Controller!” the Kilaak Queen called out, rushing to his prone and vulnerable form. With fluid action, she rolled him onto his side and stripped the cowl from her body, folding it and placing it under his head. She knew it would lose form and return to the metallic slug she once was, but it would still serve its purpose. Removing the thin visor from his visage, she clutched it near the red button on her chest as she slowly rose up.

Though pitch as black, the moans and wails of other Xiliens could be heard in the chamber. “Kilaakians, aid them!” Though unseen, the pitter-patter of Kilaak footsteps rummaged about, aiding their crippled Xilien partners.

“What happened? What’s going on?” Antonio inquired, concerned for the well-being of the Xilien commandant.

“I can only guess that the Xiliens have been compromised by a supersonic frequency,” the Kilaakian replied in hushed response, “but that shouldn’t be possible. We tuned out the original frequency that cost the Xiliens’ conquest of Earth years ago, so it shouldn’t be possible, unless…” She paused, dreading for the worst under her cold composure. All the while, she swept through the control systems of the Xilien computer in order to neutralize the frequency.

“It is not out of the question for the enemy to have repurposed or modified that frequency into something that could attack the vital components of Xilien engineering,” Sopler proposed, stretching out his neck to view the downed leader of this troubled treaty.

“And indeed, leave it to the deduction of the Leviathans to figure that one out.” The hardy and booming voice overrode the intercoms of the Xilien headquarters, which took everyone conscious by surprise. They scanned the pitch-black room for any invaders, until the monitor that had once surveyed the fight on the surface was replaced by a different image, one of a bioengineered throne room chiseled with chitin and mechanical components.

“Hello there,” the robust salutation came in crystal clear, exuding his presence upon these frightened sheep. “It would seem I was left uninvited. How unfortunate,” he spoke in a frivolous laugh, keeping his figure in the shadows.

Fumio froze solid, dropping the pen from his pincers. He glanced at the others; Antonio and the Leviathans were left speechless at this intruder, while the Kilaak Queen kept busy trying to reboot the system. Looking at Kubota, it seemed he too registered a familiarity with the one they were speaking with.

“Is that…?” Kubota chirped, his compound eyes seemingly widening with a fearful realization. Before Fumio could speak, the looming figure set his piercing gaze through the shadows.

“Oh? What do we have here?” the intruder replied with a firm, sturdy demeanor. “My reputation exceeds me, certainly.”

“You’re…” Fumio took a moment to compile his thoughts, letting it all fall into place. “You’re the one responsible for our world’s destruction. A cosmic crusader whose reach will go beyond the stars…”

The shadowy figure stepped into the lights of his monitors, revealing his colossal stature to those who stood conscious. Long, green tentacles drooped at the sides, robed in only the finest metallic armor that flowed like a silken dress. Piercing red orbs lit up the frontal torso, leading up to his tyrannical frill. The webbed membranes were tipped with bony spikes, seemingly fluttering in anticipation. In the center of this fold was his triangular head, layered in scaly flesh and adorned with an organic crown that protruded from his head. Double sets of incisors became visible when he hung his jaw low, contorting his mouth in a devilish glee, almost drooling with excitement.

“…Karkaro, ruler of the Cryogs,” Fumio concluded. The others fixated on Fumio, almost as if a wave of fear suddenly washed over them. Antonio almost dropped in what felt like utter shock. Though he had never heard of them, hearing the tension in Fumio’s voice was enough cause for concern.

The Kilaak Queen finished with her work, pressing in the final two buttons for the operating system to restart. She looked down at the prone Controller, his body no longer spasming as it once was. The cloak she had laid under him had been reduced to mush, but still functioned as the softener it needed to be. ’Good,’ she thought, ’looks like they won’t be able to configure the frequency for a while.’ Pulling the Xilien’s visor to the button on her bosom, she affirmed her determination.

“What brings you here, Cryog?” the Kilaak Queen inquired, her soothing voice stone cold with malicious intent.

Karkaro replied with an overconfident smirk and a click of the tongue before saying, “Did you not listen to your compatriot? I have a name, it’s Karkaro. And you will address me as such, slug.”

A nerve hit the spot, but she kept her composure. “You believe you can waltz right in here and disrupt a treaty among alien species, who want nothing more than peace?”

“Once this universe falls under my thrall, absolutely,” Karkaro proclaimed brazenly, “And you will see that for yourselves.” Just as he said that, the monitor deliberately switched to an image of the blockade of warships and vessels, in which another ship rippled into existence. Deactivating the cloaking devices, the Cryog battle fleet revealed their dark armor to the void of space, displaying the herculean task that was laid before the alien alliance.

“For you see, in the universe I will build, in the legacy I will forge…” his jovial mockery shifted into a threatening chime, “…There will be no need for other species beyond that of the Cryog Empire. Your demise will be imminent.”

A stagnant pause filled the air, letting the threat sit in. As the Xilien computer finished updating its software and fortifying its firewall, the transmission from Karkaro was cut, allowing control back to them. There was no turning back, no chance to negotiate. But with that, it made what came next that much easier.

“Everyone, now is the time to decide,” the Kilaakian spoke firmly, “Will you fight for the cause? Or will you turn tail at the first sign of trouble?”

“We speak on behalf of our species when we want nothing more than perfect peace,” Fumio stood up, regaining his fortitude. “Gigan will be our instrument to ensure that it will become a reality. You have our word.”

She nodded, then turned to the Leviathan aliens. “What about you?”

“Your intelligence is formidable and admirable, one who can match and synchronize with the Xiliens is one worthy of our respect,” Hoffman noted, “Although there was friction between us, our services will be at your disposal against the Cryog menace.”

“Indeed, and I must concur,” Antonio spoke up, “for the future of the Seatopian people rests with our lord and savior, Megalon. So long as these ‘Cryogs’ threaten the mass genocide of intergalactic races, such actions will not be tolerated.”

“Then we will show them what for! OPEN FIRE!” The Kilaak Queen screamed, startling everyone at the roundtable. Immediately, the saucers under the Xilien-Kilaak joint union pushed forward, prepared to combat these invaders.

Without missing a beat, the surrounding blockade whirred to life. White and orange saucers under the helm of Xilien-Kilaak influence bombarded the nearest Cryog war vessel with a series of laser cannons, carving the anterior of the space-faring battleship. Though the Xilien drones packed a punch, it was nothing more than an insignificant scrape against the colossal dreadnought, a speck next to a mountain. The Kilaak discs likewise discharged fiery pellets to aid, though they were miniscule and non-lethal in comparison.

Then came the techno-organic blimps that comprised the Leviathan armada. Gates parted, unloading swarms of sleek, red and white spacecraft, maneuvering within the cracks of the gargantuan Cryog ship. Their twin blasters shredded the thick, vein-like cabling and crippled the cannons, but such a herculean feat proved to only be a mild inconvenience. It was then that four of the blimp-like vessels opened their laser ports, unloading searing beams of light at the seams. The dark, organic armor of the Cryog ship bursted, consumed by a volley of explosive blasts that finally dismembered the monolithic machine.

All that effort for one ship, some of which had already aimed their laser cannons at the fleet.

This was going to be nothing short of an uphill battle.

***

The orders were received, and they followed them dutifully. The cyborg fowl, adorned with green skin, golden scales, and metallic enhancements, took flight through jet propulsion by the vapors spewing from the tri-fins on his back. Megalon, the Seatopian deity, clasped his drill-hands and spread out his protective elytra and transparent wings. With a single bound, the worshipped destroyer was airborne and followed his Nebulan ally, leaving the sector behind them.

Over the vacant yet mountainous landscape of Planet X, Gigan paid heed to the dogfight occurring in the depths of space. A Cryog vessel collapsing in on itself, swarmed by an assortment of saucers and artillery. But even if the collective armada landed a lucky blow, it was a mere taste compared to what was to come. The void rippled with the presence of countless Cryog dreadnoughts, each one escalating the scale in which the task force had to contend with. But the bladed beast did not derail from his original orders; the extermination of the Trilopod menace.

Infrared vision detected oncoming objects heading their way; one grounded, the other a crimson orb of light. The cyborg squawked at his Seatopian ally, ordering him to take the grounded one. The brutal burrower veered into the canyons to intercept the target enemy, while the space dinosaur kept a beeline to the unidentified sphere that closed the gap.

The beetle god’s compound eyes quickly identified the target, one that became apparent the closer it came. Though the creature differed in many areas, it unquestionably resembled that of the cybernetic zombie he and his people oh-so despised. Layered under chitin plating and equipped with pointed scutes along its back, the arthropodic reptile ran upon a set of digitigrade legs. A pair of scythe-like claws were held in front, prepared to hack and slash into the first target it came across. It huffed with heavy breath, but was nevertheless ready for battle.

With clasped drills, the scarab deity dove in and tried to ram the undead hybrid, eager to gore the bastardized reptile into shrapnel and paste. But much like its cybernetic counterpart, the Zilla-Trilopod pressed its feet and leapt out of harm’s way, made more pronounced by Planet X’s weak gravitational pull. By the time the dim divine registered this, he had already plunged into the surface layer of the dead moon, scattering minerals and boulders across the landscape. Just as the insect god rose to his feet, he felt his posterior torched by a stream of atomic flames, forcibly pushing him forward and stumbling over his feet.

Azure fire spewed from the boxy snout of the reptilian anomalocarid, relentless in its continuous assault. But once its temporary energy cells had been exhausted, the Zilla-Trilopod braced its scythes and charged. With a single bound, the composite organism closed the distance and was more than ready to rend and tear into the coleopteran deity. But just before the Zilla-Trilopod could stick the landing, the Seatopian guardian turned onto his charred backside and blocked the clawed scythes with his reinforced drills, stopping them dead in their tracks.

Both monstrous warriors emitted spiteful rumbles, the undead hybrid snorting smoke from its nostrils. Its unnatural features grimaced at the ancient insect, its scutes illuminating in a white flash. Parting its jaws, a tormenting blue light awaited the drilled bug. However, fate would not allow a god to fall. Rather, mandibles parted and spat out a geothermal orb, made from condensed heat and natural resources. The bullet shot right into the glowing maw, touching the curtling flames from the back of the throat. In an instant, the thermal grenade ignited, eviscerating the Zilla-Trilopod’s head, leaving very little left beyond the cauterized stump of a neck. Lifelessly, the Zilla-Trilopod slumped over, allowing the burrowing beast to return to his feet.

The target was terminated, which was enough to satisfy the guardian of the deep. But the war was far from over; his sensitive antennae detected the vibrations of giant footsteps, alerting him that there were more just beyond the cliffside. Just as it registered, more silhouettes, at least three, emerged from over the horizon, charging at full speed. Their earthen-grey epidermis camouflaged them with their surroundings, though their weighted footfalls gave them away. Adjusting his aim, the star-shaped horn atop his holy head discharged a flurry of jagged bolts. The Zilla-Trilopods were quick to evade, using their maneuverability to avoid the beams of lightning and smoothly cross the rugged terrain. With every discharge, the explosive aftermath kicked up dust and rock, shrouding the battlefield.

Despite this obstruction, their vibrations still gave the underground defender the needed anticipation for their approach. He possessed a relative knowledge of where they all came from, but even if he knew full well, there was a decision that had to be made. Which of them would go down first? He wasn’t given the time to think, only an impulsive act was all he had. Revving his drill, the Seatopian warrior turned his head to his right, thrusting the spinning arm directly for the Trilopod mutation closest to him. As the reptilian arthropod came into view, its bulbous, reddened eyes widened, coming face-to-face with the twirling limb without stopping its momentum.

In an instant, its face was shredded into gory paste, blurbs of green blood splattering all over. The Seatopian felt its frail skin crack under the weight of his strike. Even with one down, there were others he had to contend with. Spreading his elytra open and flapping his wings aggressively, the Earth beast twisted around in an attempt to slay another of the Trilopod mutations, but found himself in the unavoidable situation he dreaded.

Parting his mandibles, Megalon spat out another napalm bomb, hoping to at the very least intercept one more of the bastardized abominations that approached. Unfortunately, a stream of atomic fire rushed from the alien’s gullet, coating the red orb and detonating it prematurely. The other Zilla-Trilopod likewise charged a stream of atomic flames, blindsiding the subterranean titan with its potency. Before he could retaliate, he was quickly overwhelmed when another river of fire pinned him against the canyon’s wall, bathed in a scorching blaze of nuclear heat.

As the fires evaporated into a wisp, the beetle-like deity dropped to the ground, panting for breath. The abominations went up to the fallen god and pressed their digitigrade feet upon his head and back respectively. Antennae flickered as they felt the incoming pitter-patter of smaller feet, squirming the vacant moon to the battlefield. The righteous beetle didn’t have to wait long to see the perpetrators in his midst, with several, long-bodied anomalocarids swarming his downed form. Their pedipalps hooked into his armored skin and began draining fluids for their own gain.

The dim destroyer squirmed in a panic, trying to resist, only for immense pressure to crunch against his head. As the smaller Alpha Trilopods bloated from genetic material and bodily fluids, the helpless scarab could only glance to the starry skies with his compound eyes. As heavier footfalls made their approach, no doubt from the Trilopod hunters, all the guardian could see was the clash that happened right above him…

—

A blitz of crimson light flashed as Gigan once more scraped the fiery red sphere with his hammer-claws, heating the cosmo steel to dangerous temperatures. Such a pest had been an irritant since their arrival, intercepting whenever Gigan tried to assist his insectoid partner. Sweeping through the vacant void, the Nebulan cyborg propelled himself with guzzling vapor spewing from his tri-wings, curving upward to perform a u-turn. The red visor detected the energized orb, mimicking his maneuver and making a beeline straight for him.

As the soaring giants prepared for the worst, the bead above the visor shone a brilliant blue, discharging a sharp, thin red laser from the port. The high-powered cannon darted for the shimmering ball, a super-condensed, high-particle laser that proved to be able to pierce the energized hull of the travel sphere. As the laser knife perforated through the other side, the hellacious screech of the orb’s controller could be heard from within. Burning flames spewed from the holes, sucking out into the vacuum and depleting the energy reserves to maintain the sphere. In a matter of moments, the hideous shape of the Bemular-Trilopod came to visible light, even among the dark shadow of the looming planet Jupiter.

A similar bipedal stance paralleled between the donor and the Trilopod hybrid, with elongated scythes replacing the stubby claws of the original, and a thinned body compared to its brethren. Bright, crimson bug eyes twitched with ravenous bloodlust, its upper mandible split by a set of pedipalps, while retaining a lower jaw. Layered on the back of its chitinous shell were rugged spikes that lined along the entire backside, ending with the pincer-like tail, derived from the Trilopods. A sizzling wound was embroidered against the arthropod’s lower torso, a clear hole visible to the other side.

Falling under the weak pull of Planet X’s gravity, the Bemular-Trilopod reoriented itself midfall and opened its disgusting maw. A pale blue light generated from the back of its throat, giving the cybernetic fowl cause for alarm. In a moment, the bastardized copy vomited azure fireballs in droves, each one homing in on the spaceborne cyborg. Twirling to meet the flaming projectiles, the extraterrestrial mercenary swiped at the blistering fireballs, splitting them apart with his hooked claws.

Though he was able to stave off the first wave, the Bemular-Trilopod kept up the relentless assault, sending cloves of fireballs at the cybernetic prodigy of the Nebulan race. Cleaving and kicking with his spiked claws and toes, the bladed beast competed with the flurry of blue fire, though nothing could last forever. Angled to a side that the slicing speedster couldn’t protect, a homing fireball successfully detonated against the cyborg’s side, the sheer force of it sending him careening to the canyon-like surface of Planet X.

An eruption of dirt and debris scattered when the cybernetic warrior crashed, whereas the Bemular-Trilopod adjusted to slam against the surface with its feet and tail. Starting at an initial crouch, the dinosaurian anomalocarid raised itself fully upright, taking lofty steps to where the cyborg monster had smashed into. Without wasting time, the jeering abomination lurched for the fallen alien, swiping its scythes into the dust. Chitin-layered claws met with reinforced cosmo steel under the cloud, blocked by the bracing bird. Parrying the claws off him, the space dinosaur retaliated by swinging a hooked jab into the reptilian arthropod’s gut, breaking abdominal armor and oozing green blood.

For not even half a minute, the towering chimeras hacked and slashed, blades of steel and cheliped sparking flashes of intense fire, only to be diminished by the absence of air and gasses. The Bemular-Trilopod opened its maw agape, spewing pale blue flames at point blank. However, Gigan swiftly jerked his head to the side, evading a potentially lethal blow. Instead, the visored assassin fired a narrow laser from the forehead cannon, piercing through the Trilopod’s cranium with utmost precision. The disgusting Bemular-Trilopod gurgled as its pure red bug-eyes seemingly rolled into the back of their head, loosening its grip and movement. The bestial imposter slumped back onto its spiked shell, frothing from the mouth.

Even with the enemy crippled, the cybernetic hunter had to be sure the deed was done. But before he could, a tremendously powerful bolt of lightning struck the tri-fins and knocked the machine-like fowl down. Such raw capability could only be from one individual he knew well; on the other hand, a second option became all too prevalent with what had transpired to his comrade.

As the living buzzsaw rose to his feet, he shot a lethal glare at the bipedal enemy that stood before him. The segmented armor that lined the Trilopod’s posterior was split down the middle, enabling it to unfold the insectoid wings hidden beneath. Its stance and shape resembled that of his old ally, but couldn’t be further from him otherwise. A disgusting sight of a hideous creature, one the cruel cyborg scoffed at with a mocking shriek. Firmly pressing his bladed hammer-claw against the roof of his metallic beak, the cyborg swiped and sprayed crackling sparks as an intimidation display, and repeated the gesture with the other arm.

Time to dance.

The opponent bore its burly drill-arms and whirred them, the mineral-coated metals lined with the chitin-like plates that distinguished the Trilopods from other organisms. It charged forth as the Megalon-Trilopod unleashed a warbled shrill, prepared to do battle against the cybernetic assassin. What followed was an inevitable clash between reinforced minerals and metallic cosmo steel, clanging together in a sound that barely had space to travel through the thin atmosphere. Although brutal and powerful, Gigan was quick to maneuver around the clumsy movements of the false god. It would seem some things don’t change.

That came to a turn when the Megalon-Trilopod spat out a blazing grenade from between its pedipalp-like orifice, erupting in an inferno upon contact. Although the flames quickly died out, the explosive blast nonetheless had the enhanced ronin reeling back, forcing him to put distance between them. Another discharge of the geothermal bomb hurled his way, but the bladed warrior was quick to counter by detonating it with his laser cannon, destroying it before it could land. The Trilopod leapt into the empty sky above, revving its drills to rend and tear the cyborg to shreds. Propelled by flight, the Megalon-Trilopod dove straight for the Nebulan.

Such a tactic proved too straightforward for the cybernetic creature, simply moving out of its path as the drill-armed alien tore the earthen crust of Planet X asunder. In an instant, the insectoid disappeared in the embrace of the mantle of the moon. This, too, was something the experienced killer saw coming–and was more than ready for. He felt the earth rumble beneath his bladed feet, aware of the general vicinity of where the enemy lurked. With a brilliant blue flash from the gem embedded in his forehead, the crimson laser knife bore into the surface, attempting to pierce the subterranean foe. But it found no target, or at the very least it didn’t seem apparent.

The rumbling intensified, the space dinosaur becoming evermore expecting of drills tearing out of the ground. But what emerged instead was return fire; scarlet lights shredding the earth and searing into the golden scales and green skin of his body. A synthetic pained shriek rang from the cyborg, who attempted to swat them away with his curved claws. He retaliated with another discharge of the laser knife, which pierced through the earth effortlessly. His feet felt the vibrations different from the burrowing; a muffled cry of agony. Then, the shaking began to intensify.

Good. A violent smirk graced his metallic beak.

Though the vibrations increased in a ferocity that made Gigan wary, he was nonetheless certain his foe was going to emerge. And in the intermediate moments that followed, so it did. The sudden eruption of dust and debris catapulted into the air, scattering its remnants aside as the abomination emerged from the depths. Whirling its combined drill hands, the Megalon-Trilopod’s chortles became abundantly clear as the subterranean menace breached the surface, eager to gore into the cyborg assassin.

In the brief time before contact was made, the cyborg was brought to a sudden calm. His body darkened, preparing to collect the reserves of energy from within. An experimental modification since his failures on Earth. Then, in a split second, his body shone in a brilliant green light–then, he vanished.

For the Megalon-Trilopod, the realization dawned on it that there was no target. Time slowed to an exponential crawl. If the target wasn’t here, where did it go? Rather abruptly, the fear and answer of the Trilopod clone came crashing behind it, as firm and solid metal feet buried themselves in the posterior shell of the beetle-like anomalocarid, spraying green fluid from the freshly made wounds. An imitated wail of the Seatopian deity rang from its orifice as it was harshly slammed into the ground, groaning in misery from the inflicted suffering.

Large compound eyes were able to register the target; it was indeed Gigan. Hammer-claw already lunged for them, closing the distance to its face. There was nothing the Megalon-Trilopod could do to retort; in its fear-stricken mind, death was all that it could wait for. Cold cosmo steel penetrated the back of its head, tearing through the chitin and breaking through to the other side. Green muck splattered on the ground and stained the alien metal, ending the Megalon-Trilopod for good.

The hook-handed beast huffed. Teleportation had proven itself a very handy tool in combat; an upgrade to get the jump on an opponent and gain the superior advantage was nothing short of paramount in war. However, it came with its drawbacks. Such a technique took a toll on his physiology, only able to warp in short bursts and taxed his internal reactor’s reserves. If he wasn’t careful, he would lose the energy to continue fighting. Such a drawback would have to be corrected, provided they made it out of this battle alive…

The interstellar fowl puffed. It was beyond a doubt that his opponent was slain… But the ground continued to rumble. Why? It couldn’t be–

–In an instant, not one, but two breaches occurred on either side of him. Only able to react to protect himself with his claws, the cybernetic killer was tackled to the ground through the combined masses of the two Megalon-Trilopods that emerged from the earth. Had the other acted as a decoy to disguise their approach? An angered squawk rang from his beaked maw. How foolish was he! The universe’s renowned monster assassin, tripped up by a mockery of his ally! Truly a pitiful situation, a shameful but familiar feeling he had during the many failed invasions of Earth…

The skittering of smaller feet caught the enhanced invader’s attention. The long-bodied, multi-limbed creatures, without a doubt part of the Trilopod clan, came crawling up to him with the chittering of pure jubilation. They sank their fangs into his flesh, drawing from the genetic material of his organic half. The shell along their back began to bloat, filling with the necessary goods to support the evolution of the Trilopod army.

Gigan winced at the thought, but he was going to have to risk it!

Before another of the Alpha Trilopods could drive its pedipalps into his flesh, the gold and green form darkened, then shined a viridescent flash, disappearing from the grips of the Megalon-Trilopods. The chitinous titans scanned the area in confusion, trying to locate their escaped convict. It was then they were alerted from a cry of their Beta squad leader, who pointed to the airborne cyborg. Then they saw their target hightailing it out of there, trying to flee into the horizon of Planet X.

But the Trilopods would ensure that would never happen.

Another order was issued by the Beta Trilopod, commanding them to commence fire. The Megalon variants jumped into action, opening their elytra and taking to the air until they reached the same path as their quarry. Their star-like horns illuminated with a yellow flare, discharging powerful lightning beams simultaneously–merging together into one super beam! The bladed alien pushed himself out of harm’s way, barely dodging the destructive beam of electricity. But the divine copies were relentless in their pursuit, discharging beam after beam. Though the cyborg was graceful in the air, he was not infallible, and soon enough became victim to a supercharged blast–knocking him out of the sky.

Without a cushion to soften his fall, the fowl fiend collided against the base of a mountain, shrieking in pain from the harsh crash. But from the dust, he could see the Beta Trilopod looming in the distance, almost cocky in its demeanor. It spread its scythed claws out, almost embracing the fate that was going to be bestowed upon it. Then, the cyborg saw the engorged arthropod crawling upon the back of the bipedal warrior, sinking its pedipalps into the grooves that led to the nape. In an ethereal flash of light, their bodies became as one flesh, mixing and morphing with new features and attributes. Even if he already knew they had this capability, what the visored warrior saw next shocked him to his core…

After the metamorphosis, what stood in the Beta’s place was something new, yet familiar. It bore most of the Trilopod qualities, but was adorned with green flesh and golden scales. Golden tri-fins ruptured from its back shell, exposing winged membranes to the dark moon and thin atmosphere. The shape of the figure became thinner, matching the proportions of his own. The scythes of the Trilopod sharpened, though with a mixture of chitin and bone, reflecting the creature Gigan used to be.

But no such sentiments overcame the assassin; all he saw was another Trilopod for him to kill.

The Gigan-Trilopod squawked in mocking amusement, approaching the fallen cyborg. It shrieked, beckoning the Megalon-Trilopods to its side. The space dinosaur knew he wouldn’t be able to flee this one… The brutish insectoid lifted its drills up, prepared to tear the downed creature to pieces, only to be stopped by the anomalocarid-dinosaur with a swift command. A screech from the scaly arthropod detested such primitive violence, and that a compatible subject be taken back to harvest.

Such actions took Gigan aback, but he knew there’d be no escape… Though was fleeing the best course of action? Or could being taken to the enemy’s base of operations be more sufficient in taking down the Trilopod menace? With that realization, a thought came to mind–one that held its risks, but had to be taken nonetheless.

With a loud shriek, the space dinosaur began to darken, his flesh, scales, and eye dimming as he suddenly fell limp. The Trilopod mutants stood on guard, anticipating another teleportation trick… But nothing. The newest hybrid kicked the prone body, which remained unresponsive. Observations indicated the cyborg was still alive, which was good enough for it.

The Gigan-Trilopod issued more commands to the others; for the Megalon-Trilopods to take the Seatopian deity for harvest, and for the smaller minions to siphon more genetic material from the unconscious cyborg. And so they did without a hitch, the large Megalon-Trilopods dragging the beaten, but barely conscious Megalon off the battlefield and back to the hive. All the while, three more of the crawlers jumped the prone space beast, inflating with his genetic material to create more like them.

Once all was said and done, the claspers at the end of the Gigan-Trilopod’s tail wrapped around the neck of the cybernetic assassin, taking flight with the body in tow. No doubt, their masters would be pleased with the results.

 

Chapter 6: Illusion of Victory

Eyes of many shapes watched the unfolding events upon the central monitor, processing the unanticipated and horrifying events played across its screen in the last few moments.

Sopler and Hoffman looked at one another, their expressions unemotive but their body language expressing clear disbelief and concern for the condition of their prized creation. Fumio and Kubota twitched and quivered, unbelieving in the fact that their own renowned champion of war, too, had fallen to the arthropod invaders with so little resistance on his part. Of course, the one who had the greatest reaction to this defeat was the Emperor of Seatopia, his mouth agape and skin pale, staring blankly upon the imprisoned form of his beloved god. The entire room felt as if there were only seconds remaining until Antonio broke from his stupor and expressed the true scope of his emotions, regardless of the consequences of doing so.

The Kilaak Queen observed the viewing screen, uncertain of the next processings following this unprecedented sweep of their main combat force. Her soft gaze fell to the Controller’s lying form, who had managed to stabilize at last from the Cyrogs’ debilitating frequency, but had yet to regain consciousness along with the other members of his council. She prayed for his guidance more now than ever, understanding for the first time why their culture frowned upon the use of emotion, for in her distressed state of mind, the metamorphosed Kilaakian found herself lost on the next course of orders to issue. A communication problem, no doubt, that the Xiliens would not have to encounter.

The screen changed image from the planet’s surface to the command center of the Cryog warship once more. The visage of Emperor Karkaro flooded the monitor’s surface with his insidious smile of jagged teeth, looking through at the stunned representatives with cruelty and mockery in his gaze.

“Well, that was a disappointment. Was that really the best you had to offer?” he asked jeeringly, and to the warlord’s delight, the members of the alliance rose to the bait with expressions of fierce anger. ”Perhaps I was wrong to expect too much from the so-called ‘greatest’ warriors of the galaxy, hmmm?”

Antonio, with his thin temperance, could bear the insults no more. “Silence your tongue, wretched worm! My god will enact retribution upon you and the rest of your kind for such insul-”

”Goodness, the tongue on this one,” Karkaro laughed in the face of the subterranean emperor’s meager threats. Harsh glares from the Nebula Hunter M and Kilaak leaders shut down any continuation of Antonio’s rant, and he subsided without protest.

”Your beast is no god, you outdated fool. All of your kaiju are nothing to us. They might be tenacious and possess admirable bio-signatures, but they are insignificant and pathetic next to the creatures that I command. I have witnessed better shows of resistance from the Vir-”

The Cryog suddenly paused mid-sentence, gaze glassing over as if he had lost the words to say. The Kilaak Queen watched with curiosity as the emperor’s face morphed into an expression of confusion, and she wondered what exactly had happened.

“Resistance from who?” she tentatively asked.

Karkaro’s eyes blinked and returned to normal, snapping to look at the Kilaakian with an enraged look, teeth barred like an animal. ”What nonsense do you babble, female?” he snapped, spraying droplets of spittle across the view screen on his end. ”I crush all who oppose our glorious race. I conquer all that should and shall belong to me. You are all beneath me, and like your weak champions, you will be eradicated as the bugs you are!”

Before the tyrant could rant on further, the atmosphere was disturbed by an ached groan. The Kilaak Queen tore her eyes away from the screen and focused her attention on the shifting form of her awakening companion. Taking hold of his arms, she aided the Xilien Controller up into his chair, rubbing them in a soothing rhythm to help expedite his recovery. Around her, she could see that the other Xiliens were also beginning to rise, having also, at last, recovered from the trauma of the Cryogs’ debilitating frequency and were seen to by her own Kilaak aids.

The Controller managed to lift his head, with teeth bared and gritted to fight off the agony raging in his skull. Recalling the laws in regards to physical shows of affection within Xilien society, the Kilaak ruler halted her destressing actions before he could take notice. “I… require a s-status report post-haste,” he managed to force out.

”Oh, you’re finally back with us, Xilien,” came Karkaro’s mocking voice, pulling the Controller’s gaze up to the monitor and the visage of the tentacled being upon, expressing no outwards emotion towards the Cryog leader’s presence or appearance. ”I’m glad you could join us again. Now all of you can experience the suffering and full power that my armada will bring upon this filth-encrusted world.”

The Xilien commandant remained unfazed by the Cryog’s words, regaining composure as he met the intruder’s yellowed eyes though the gaze of his darkened visor. “Whoever you are-”

”Emperor Karkaro of the Cryog Empire.

“-whatever you want-”

”The extermination of your races.”

“-you are an enemy of the peace that we have gathered to forge and will not be tolerated. It was you who will be subjugated under the power of our collective forces.”

Karkaro lowered his head and chuckled darkly. ”I have grown attached to hearing such speeches of defiances. Each one seemingly so special and yet utterly generic at the core. It makes crushing my enemies oh so sweeter. But I digress. The time for words is clearly over.”

With that, the transmission was cut, leaving the council in silence.

***

The emperor settled comfortably into his throne as the feed of the alien committee cut to black, permitting his scaly lips to form into a smirk of villainous intent. Joining his tentacles in a relaxed posture upon the lap of his ornate robe, he prepared to give out the order for a full-scale assault upon Planet X and its occupants. This was to be another victory for the expanding empire and a further step towards the Cryog vision of universal peace and supremacy.

“Must you continue to mock them?”

Pausing on the verse of speaking, Karkaro turned to address the owner of the voice, passing a disapproving glare upon their figure. The Cryog in question stood to the edge of the emperor’s command pedestal, their appearance biologically inferior in comparison to Karkaro’s own genetic purity. The lack of a reddish tint to their tentacles, the reduced tips of their spined collar and missing the crown of spikes upon their skull betrayed his place as a member of the lower caste; the sect of the social ladder that had not stayed true to the ideal of racial purity. It would normally have been impossible for these half-breeds to ascend to any high rank, but to Karkaro, this was the one exception he had permitted.

“Come now, Rhizon,” he grumbled. “These are but insects in comparison. Undeserving of respect or decency. I can and shall treat them as I like. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t do the same if you were in my position.”

Rhizon looked away from the gaze of his leader. “That was not something I will deny, my lord,” he admitted. “I only caution not to rile them up too much. Be careful of what you may accomplish in their anger.”

“We have their monsters practically in our grasp now, and soon we will find out if the claims of their superior firepower hold true. Which they won’t. There is no other power in the galaxy that can match Cryog science and engineering.”

Rhizon’s right tentacle reached up on instinct to rub the side of his own face, running down the ragged, crimson scar over his eye. “You should have told that to the Hipporitians.”

“Did you say something, Rhizon?” Karkaro asked, snapping a deadly look at the commander. “Perhaps that old wound of yours is acting up. Shall I take a look at it for you?”

To his credit, the smaller officer did not flinch or freeze under his superior’s gaze. Instead, it was met by his own steely glance. “You are playing a very dangerous game, Karkaro,” he warned, words slow, deep and deliberate in hope that the emperor would take what he had to say seriously. “These are conquerors in their own right. Their reputations are legendary for good reason. Stop treating them like toys and act accordingly.”

Karkaro appeared to consider his words, albeit begrudgingly, holding his tentacles together against his mouth to hide the sulking frown that formed there. He leaned forward and consulted his options for several seconds, but Rhizon knew it was just an act. He knew what the emperor’s response would be even before he heard it.

“Very well.”

Or not. Rhizon blinked in surprise. Normally, the emperor would have ignored his council with some half-veiled excuse, but now he seemed to actually take heed for once. In spite of this, he felt no gratitude for the sovereign’s choice, for he was aware from past experience how cunning he could be in his schemes. But to think ahead this far? To anticipate this very argument? Was this THE plan or an alternative cooked up as a potential back-up? Every time that Rhizon thought that he knew all the facts about his adversary would he be proven wrong, pushing back the scales of equality in their game of lies and deceptions.

Karkaro finally resumed his regular stance and turned to one of the visored technicians dotting the ring of his throne. With the crack of a tentacle, he gained their attention, the Cryog twisting around and awaiting orders. “Give the attack order to the fleet. The time for waiting had passed. We strike now.”

The technician swiftly nodded, uploading instructions to the terminal and issuing the command across the fleet’s shared pathnet. Karkaro smirked and pressed a button on the chair’s arm to open a screen of the void outside.

“We win now.”

***

The void outside of the biotechnological behemoth was illuminated and warmed by the detonating shots from the miniscule defending vessels, rapidly fading back to pitch black and below zero temperatures once the dispersed energy had expired, only for additional blasts to reignite the vacuum and start the process. The repetitive assault had been like this for what appeared like an eternity, few results to show from it. Even when combining their individual firepower, the Xilien, Kilaak, and Leviathan fighters simply weren’t enough to breach the heavy armor plates that enforced each Cryog vessel, thus forcing them to rely upon the heavier caliber of weaponry employed by the latter’s colossal war carriers in order to accomplish the destruction of these invaders.

The atmosphere around the passive Cryog fleet suddenly shifted, brimming with activity like mighty beasts awakening from slumber. The crafts thrummed as energy visibly gathered around the cone of each warship, upon which a crimson orb began to glow with increasing radiance. Without prior warning, the cause for the display was made clear as each orb violently spat forth a powerful scarlet ray, illuminating the dark void and the hulls of allied and enemy vessels with deep red hues.

The smaller UFOs and fighter craft were utterly vapourised by the waves of death, offering no resistance as their structure was reduced to simple atoms. Against the heavy plating and energised shields of the Leviathan motherships, the laser barrage proved not as effective, but nonetheless was able to penetrate their defences and inflict devastating damage. Balls of flame and shrapnel bloomed up from the site of each strike across multiple carriers, with several concentrated blasts required to split apart a single Leviathan craft, scattering their techno-organic remnants across the exosphere of Planet X.

The alliance was taken aback by this frightening display of power. With such devastating firepower at their fingertips, it gave another slither of truth to the tyrant’s claims of superiority. But nothing that powerful could exist without some type of weakness, surely. Nothing could truly be classed as perfect in the ever-evolving setting of war, where technology and stratagems always held room for refinement. A crack in the shell, a flaw in the design; the Cryog blueprint had to have something, and if they could not find it, then the union of races would have to make one.

They had variation among their ranks, both in artillery and tactics. They had unique strengths and weaknesses that could be played off of each other in ways that their foes might not be able to perceive in their arrogance.

It was a minor advantage. It was all that they had. They would make it work.

Subspace communications opened to connect the battle computers across the fleet into one expansive network. Faults and glitches instantly popped up as incompatible coding attempted to synchronize, and engineers from all factions had to work overtime updating hardware and software to keep the web from immediately collapsing. At the same time, strategists coordinated with one another, using what little information they had on the attackers to feed a new plan of retaliation to the alliance armada.

As the Cryog continued to bombard the Leviathan cruisers, their smaller vanguard rushed forth in blinding droves, filling the void between the two flotillas with the sheer mass of their own metallic shells and salvos of plasma cannon fire. The majority of the shots failed to make contact with any of the Cryog super-destroyers, but such was never their intention; the simple existence of so many bodies confused the invaders’s targeting array, causing their once pin-accurate shots to now wildly deviate. Like a swarm of Terran mosquitos, the nimble fighters were a debilitating cover for their gigantic hosts, granting them ample time to intensify their returning fire.

The stratagem worked, but only for a moment. The Cryog’s response was delivered with remorseless brutality, changing the focus of their weapons from piercing blasts to sweeping heat rays, washing across the swarming warcrafts and igniting them in droves. Swiftly, their numbers started to fall, and this was the cue for the Xilien’s part in their grand plan.

Gathering in formations of around a dozen each, clusters of UFOs dove into the firefight and aimed for the zones of highest offensive concentration. Each vessel’s hull glowed with a pale blue aura as power surged throughout, increasing their exterior shielding to the absolute limit. Cracking bolts connected the occupants of each group, and whenever a heat ray connected, it was met with a solid blockade of energy, shielding their allies from the worst of the beam’s destructive power.

With them holding the line, the Kilaak fleet initiated their part in the grand scheme. Hundreds of saucers raced towards the goliaths of chitin and cosmo steel, using the barriers of their Xilien compatriots as cover to get closer to the Cryog cruisers. Their hulls glowed bright as the saucers activated the Fire Dragon protocol, taking the form of winged, long-necked drakes cast in energised flames. Like bullets, they shot forth, timing their attacks between blasts to strike at the emitter orbs and hammer them with their own flaming shells. Explosions coated the noses of dozens of Cryog vessels as hundreds of Kilaak UFOs used themselves as projectiles to assail the source of their primary weapon, bouncing off the reinforced exterior and back to safety to repeat the stratagem again.

Slowly, each apparatus started to crack, reducing its focusing ability and weakening the power of its attacks, giving the Leviathan battleships further time in the battle before they were overwhelmed. The smaller ships aided their allies as best as they could with what limited firepower they possessed, targeting the invader’s damaged hulls in an attempt to disrupt critical systems. By combining their resources into one, the three races were pushing against the encroaching wall together, throwing their all in to protect what could be their last true chance for victory and for peace. It was a truly valiant effort.

But it wasn’t enough.

Sheer numbers were the key core to the success of their reprising assault, but without the ability to keep those numbers up, it was merely a matter of patience until the Cryogs widened the cracks in the union’s plan. Unable to constantly replenish new troops, the Leviathan fighters began to be worn down, wearing down the swarm until their targeting computers could once more fire upon their enemies unimpeded. Unable to withstand such concentrated firepower for long, the Xilien blockades couldn’t last and crumpled, scattering into scorched debris underneath their might. Despite their furious assault and how much their surface fractured, the Kilaaks were unable to disable a single cannon, and were completely obliterated by the point-blank retaliating fire.

The alliance could do nothing but try and hold back the inevitable. They were but a rag-tag collection of survivors, trying to win against a race who had countless experiences in warfare and a history of successful campaigns, of which they sought to aid their falling resistance to. The Cryog were as a swarm of marching ants, relentless, unquestioning and unfeeling. Leviathan, Xilien and Kilaak were but bugs to grind under their heel, their resistance an insignificant variable. They would fall, as all the others before them had, and how all after would as well.

The stars watched in silence as the battle raged on, the atmosphere above the lifeless planetoid clogged with wreckage and bodies. Had either side not been preoccupied, they might have noticed as one of the distant stars began to shine just a little brighter, growing in intensity as something else made its way towards the slaughter…

—

Resistance was futile, or at the very least, it was pointless to expend his energy fighting in the moment. Megalon only looked on with his bulbous yellow eyes, scanning the predicament he and his partner were in. The Trilopod knock-offs held him tightly, and it seemed an imitator of Gigan towed his cybernetic ally through a firm grasp of the tail. But the longer the flight lasted, the more Megalon saw the surface of Planet X swarmed by the Trilopod menace, each taking on different and unique forms. Even along the dark skies, crimson orbs similar to that of Bemular’s blue travel sphere swarmed the battlefield.

They were truly numerous… Did they even stand a chance against the horde? Was it even possible to achieve victory?

Megalon saw the others in the distance; the despised cyborg that was nothing more than an unnatural abomination, and the enemy that incidentally set everything into motion. Part of the old god’s heart hated them both, wishing nothing more than to end them. But now was not the time. A greater threat loomed over them, and it was going to take everything they had to stop this new threat. For the sake of victory–for the sake of peace. But Megalon held no plan in mind. Although worshiped by his people as a god, he himself had to rely on others for combat strategy. If there was anything the insect beast had learned over his lifetime, sometimes waiting was the best option…

—

Down below, Cyber Godzilla had long since ceased resisting. The undead flesh rejuvenated thanks to Leviathan technology, letting the gash in his leg slowly heal. Unfortunately, it came at a price; having taken his genetic material, more bastardized clones cropped up. Imitators that took on his likeness. But he nevertheless heeded to his master’s commands; the Trilopod menace would be exterminated. Just sometimes it required more trickery than brute force to deal with the situation.

His opponent, the nefarious criminal Bemular, was in no better of a position. The wild space fiend continued to struggle under their grip, keeping his mouth clamped shut as they dragged him away to the pod. Whatever waited for them once they entered, Cyber Godzilla wasn’t keen to find out. And likewise, as the cyborg zombie soon learned, neither was Bemular.

He saw as the panicked fugitive screeched and wailed, mustering all the collective energy he had to offer. With a sudden spike in energy increase, the body of Bemular illuminated in a bright blue hue, pulsing and burning the Trilopods that had once surrounded it. In a surge of searing light, Bemular shot up to the skies in a desperate bid to escape. The Zilla-Trilopods that had surrounded Cyber Godzilla, save for the one dragging him to the pod, were dispatched to aid in the recapture of Bemular.

Just the opening he was looking for.

Green eyes lit up, releasing pressurized steam from his cybernetic nostrils. The Zilla-Trilopod felt the sudden jerk from the resumed activity of Cyber Godzilla, but was unable to respond to the threat in time as it felt the energized missiles explode against its ankles, taking out both in a fiery blast. Even as it collapsed to the ground wailing in pain, the Zilla-Trilopod kept a firm grip with its tail, trying to crush the neck of the zombified cyborg. But such feats proved for naught as the organic and metallic claws tore into the lithe extension, tearing the pincers from the rest of the tail in a bloody mess of green goop. The reptilian anomalocarid crashed onto its front, allowing Cyber Godzilla ample time to rise to his feet. Planting a firm digitigrade foot onto the scutes of the hybrid organism, a stream of blue atomic flames spewed from the boxy maw of the zombified weapon, torching its head mercilessly and relentlessly.

Despite being made from the same material as Cyber Godzilla, the Zilla-Trilopod shriveled and died from the intense flames. The decayed genetic structure weakened it to the point of fragility; although the Zilla-Trilopods possessed ample speed and agility, it compromised their defensive capabilities compared to the others. What was left was a charred head bereft of life, a husk of a soldier. One target down, so many more to go.

Two of the Zilla-Trilopods turned, directing their gleaming eyes towards the defiant Cyber Godzilla. They stood up tall, opting to discharge crimson lasers from the organic cannons attached to their torsos. Nearly a dozen thin red beams lurched for the cybernetic zombie, with Cyber Godzilla responding by opening the metallic flaps on his chest. The lasers bounced off the flaps and ribs aimlessly, but those that found their mark against the satellite dish within were redirected back to the source, grazing upon the flesh of the imposter Trilopods. Seeing the futility in their efforts, the reptilian aliens leaned forward and began to rush the autonomous beast.

It was then that Cyber Godzilla applied all the pressure he could muster into his feet, performing a powerful, single-bound leap that propelled him through the air. With all of his weight, the cyborg reptile smashed into his Trilopod double, pinning the lizard-like arthropod and tearing the cretin to shreds with his asymmetrical claws. Green goop and guts torn and splattered asunder, it only took but mere seconds for Cyber Godzilla to rend the torso doppelganger into mush. And in those seconds, the other Zilla-Trilopod made its move, imitating its genetic donor by leaping with its powerful legs and ramming itself into the cyborg. The armored insectoid snapped its jaws around the metal and dead flesh of its opponent, eager to tear the titan to bits and haul his carcass to the hive.

But Cyber Godzilla had other plans. Churning a bath of flames, the undead machine sprayed his atomic fire onto the Zilla-Trilopod, forcing it to release its grip and stumble back. When the cybernetic reptile ceased, what was left on the Trilopod was a scorch mark engraved between its head and shoulder. The Zilla-Trilopod hissed violently, staring down Cyber Godzilla with utmost malice. But a shriek from the arthropod-like reptilian signaled its allies, who began to converge in. Two of them were those derived from the Seatopian god, taking flight and charging straight for him. Another that stood on a nearby cliffside was a freshly hewn Gigan-Trilopod, its trill making its presence known.

Cyber Godzilla huffed, once again expelling steam from his nostrils. Against all odds, fighting was the only option. And he’d gladly revel in the chance.

—

A disruption became evident. It began with a flash of blue light, followed up by sudden explosive blasts of energy and gore. The beak-shaped pedipalps of the Gigan-Trilopod emitted a squawk in irritation. An uprising had begun. Perhaps it was best to dispose of them sooner and let their carcasses become part of the digestive tract of their hive. After it stored its cybernetic counterpart into the pod, the Gigan-Trilopod would join in the foray and subdue these pests once and for all.

But a pulse caught its attention.

Life activity registered from the pincers on its tail, feeling the sudden surge of activity from the host which it dragged. This all became clear as movement wrestled with their tail. The Trilopod didn’t even need to look back with its eyes to confirm it; Gigan had reactivated. The Gigan-Trilopod applied force, hoping to crush the neck of the cyborg before it could do anything. Instead, what the alien anomalocarid got was a tearing sensation around the tip of the tail as hooked claws pierced and tore the appendage in two! With a shrillish cry, the avian-like arthropod pulled its appendage back, profusely bleeding from the torn limb.

Spreading his tri-fin wings and twirling around to regain equilibrium, Gigan charged his organic counterpart with renewed vigor, operating with the intent to kill. The Trilopod imitator blocked with its bone-like scythes, carried by the push as their bodies collided. Although the calcified hooks were incredibly durable, even more so than its previous state as a Trilopod, the Gigan-Trilopod felt the cosmo steel quickly wearing out its blades, and needed to react fast. Churning searing hot flames from within its beaked maw, the Gigan-Trilopod sprayed a blast of superheated fire onto its target.

Although the short-ranged combustible fire could neither travel far nor maintain its form in the near-absence of an atmosphere, it was enough to get the job done. Burning from scorching hot flames, flesh and metal of the cyborg swirled with coats of fire before quickly diminishing from the nonexistent pressure. Gigan knew of a similar weapon within his own arsenal, but the laser knife had always proven far more reliable of a far-ranged weapon in combat. Its precise, cutting capabilities made it the more pragmatic option over the biological remnant from his life as an organic creature. Plus without a substantial atmosphere to sustain its form, using the flame breath would be nothing short of detrimental. But even if the Trilopods were unable to harness his true capabilities and decades of upgrades, it seemed they were able to compensate for other elements and use them in their favor.

By the time Gigan regained aerial stability, he quickly turned to a defensive stance, blocking the oncoming rush from his impostor. Darts shot from the eyes of the Gigan-Trilopod, its ferocity and conquest would be known. For the hive, for the imperial galactic empire to dominate all the universe. With one bony claw pressed against the metal hooks of its opponent, the Gigan-Trilopod swung back the other blade in preparation for a devastating blow.

A decisive swing aimed for the neck, eager for a clean slice. Even if it couldn’t cleave the head straight off, a partial cut–anything–would be more than efficient. But its opponent was more than dexterous enough to keep pace, indicated by the flash of blue from his forehead. Twisting his head, Gigan aimed the laser cannon at the incoming arm, firing a thin red laser that pierced through the biceps, shredding muscle and nerves alike. The sudden jerk of pain changed the trajectory of the ossein blade to an upward arc, veering its path from Gigan’s neck to the spike antenna that jutted from his head–which barely grazed them with a fiery spark.

Such an act left the Gigan-Trilopod open, something that Gigan was quick to take advantage of. Parrying the other bone-like sword away, the cyborg returned the favor by swiftly swinging his own metallic claw with precision. When the tip of the blade connected, it started at the base of the Trilopod’s neck, embedding itself in the chitin-like flesh as it carved its throat open. As it continued its ascent, the hammer-claw found its way to the mandibles and frontal skull, cleaving through the head of the Gigan-Trilopod with little effort.

Such a feat lasted less than a second.

Stunned and losing its motor controls, the Trilopod imitation stiffened and began to drop from the sky, pulled by the moon’s gravitational flux. Without a second thought, Gigan surveyed the unfolding situation… Only to see a clash of brilliant lights.

And with that, he sped off towards it.

—

Chaos sprung at the ample opportunity. The former target had fled, the despised cyborg had launched a counterattack, and his renowned ally had freed himself and sped for the spheres in the sky. If there was ever more a time to strike back, it was now. Summoning his strength, Megalon struggled against the firm grip of his Trilopod clones. They held tightly, making sure he wouldn’t escape their grasps. Collectively, the brawn of the Megalon-Trilopods kept the Seatopian deity in his place.

The more the insect god struggled, the tighter their hold became. So Megalon had to improvise. Parting his mandibles and twisting his head, a blazing orb shot out of his maw, the geothermal napalm bomb bursting into a torrent of hellish flames. The torso of one of the Trilopods and the head of Megalon became consumed with flames, forcing one of them off. This in turn disoriented the formation, losing balance in the process.

Though the burning flames were fierce, it wasn’t long before they were extinguished by the vacuum of space. Lurching his head at the Trilopod doubles, Megalon’s star-tipped horn glistened with the pulse of electricity, discharging the beast-killing ray at the abominable imposters. The powerful bolt split apart, drilling into the cores of the Megalon-Trilopods, searing their undersides. Forced to release their hold, the insectoid beast used this time to adjust his body in freefall. Rather than spreading his elytra for flight, Megalon outstretched his twin-drill arms to his front, revving for the moment of anticipation.

In the moments that followed, the metallic drills made contact with the surface, shredding the soil and debris out of his path. More of his body was wrapped in lunar innards, vanishing from the naked eye. Even if his own sight was compromised, Megalon held a special expertise in burrowing. His biological evolution guaranteed survival in subterranean layers, and in some respects tunneling through Planet X was no different. His long horn acted as a radar, with the twin antennae’s hypersensitivity able to detect and distinguish different types of vibrations. It was with this that Megalon was able to tell the difference between the fighting above ground and his pursuers giving chase.

The ruckus brought on by the drills of his Trilopod imposters forewarned Megalon of the directions they were coming from. One of them approached at rapid speeds, catching up to him in the crust of lunar soil. Another also flanked him from the other side, forcing the insect god to maneuver around it. Though Megalon proved successful at evading the drills, that didn’t stop the Megalon-Trilopod from tailing his pathway and following the tunnel he made. Unlike himself, his double had little issue shredding the flying debris that shot behind him. When they closed the gap, the Megalon-Trilopod shot off its own beast-killer ray, the electric bolt struck him in the rear, forcing Megalon to utter an anguished cry.

Megalon knew burrowing at this rate would do him no good, so with his drills still spinning at maximum velocity, he contorted his flexible body to turn around in the cramped space, facing his doppelganger head-on. Ramming at full speed, their drills collided against one another, the underground pocket allowing the sparks to scatter in a vicious lightshow across the two combatants. The momentum pushed Megalon deeper into the carved tunnel of his making, the Seatopian deity uttering a disdained grunt. His feelers could isolate the fact the other Megalon-Trilopod was well on its way, curving around and aiming for a rear attack. Though given they were both clones of him, doubt festered in his mind; for they clearly possessed not just his powers, but his quirks as well.

Time became of the essence. If he didn’t act soon, he’d be shredded to bits.

In Seatopia, he was hailed as a god. But in battle, his wits weren’t the sharpest. He relied upon the guidance of others in order to take action and strategize. But in this potential life or death situation, perhaps strategy wasn’t the answer, but simple-minded brute strength. Charging his laser beam, Megalon fired the bolt of lightning at the right arm of the Trilopod clone, severing its limb and forcing it to lose its once dominant position. With only one functional drill pressing against Megalon, the insect beast took advantage of the unfolding situation and supplanted his might against the Trilopod warrior. With ease, the god of Seatopia shredded through the chitinous armor and pasty green innards of the Megalon-Trilopod and tore right through to the other side, following the pathway he had hewn with his drills.

Just as he did, he heard the other Megalon-Trilopod break free from the place he was–its alerting cries informing him of his pursuer. It wasn’t long until another lightning bolt of the enemy struck him, but with no obstructions in his way, he powered through. Keeping his drills forward, Megalon tilted his head downward and parted his mandibles wide open. One by one, he spat volleys of napalm bombs from his maw, each one dropping and bouncing off the lunar tunnel until it vanished into the darkness. A retaliatory strike from the Trilopod detonated some of them prematurely, but that was also according to plan. The compact space caved in a portion of the tunnel, bringing it down and falling onto the duplicate. But the crumbling cavern did little to hold the Megalon-Trilopod back, as it too simply drilled the obstruction out of its way.

Even still, Megalon continued to drop bombs down the shaft, collapsing the pathway behind him. However, his feelers sensed several bodies waiting for him at the top, peering down the hole with malicious intent. Several of the Zilla-Trilopods hurled a flurry of atomic rays down the hole, filling the top in an azure blaze. Megalon found himself pinned between the wash of atomic flames or the ferocious drills of the other, leaving him no choice but to devise his own solution. Banking a hard left, Megalon embedded his drills through the walls, carving a new path for him to take. In doing so, he felt the radioactive fire rush past him. Unfortunately, he felt the Megalon-Trilopod do the same, tracing his trajectory and following his path.

Thankfully, it didn’t matter what the Trilopod imposter did; Megalon would find his way out. Rupturing the surface of Planet X, the insect god emerged from the depths, hopping onto the ground with feet firmly planted. Bashing his drills together, Megalon bellowed with his warbling cry at the Zilla-Trilopods. The reptilian anomalocaridids jeered at him with discontent, eager to take him down.

The fight was far from over, but he’d continue until the bitter end.

—

He had to run.

There was nothing left here for him to gain; if he remained here, he’d no doubt perish. A simple moon that didn’t seem all too conspicuous, to lay low and hide from their pursuer. But his malevolent instincts got the better of him when signs of life became apparent. Bemular hoped to avoid the consequences of his actions, mayhaps find another moon to hide. Yet a loud hum filled the dark skies, becoming ever apparent that this was not going to go his way.

His travel sphere pulsed a radiant light, informing Bemular of his surroundings within the blazing blue ball. It didn’t take long for his radar to detect the interference of similar-natured pulses washing over him. Two sets of crimson orbs, burning with a signature in his likeness, rapidly approached from above. Without a moment of debate or hesitation, Bemular banked a hard turn to steer clear of the Trilopod doppelgangers, trying to find a pathway to escape into the stars.

Unfortunately for him, his pursuers were quick to follow his trail. Maneuvering the vacuum with grace and proficiency, the crimson spheres accelerated and caught up to it, smashing into the blue travel ball with tremendous force. The conflicting energies pressed against each other, rupturing in sparks of red, blue, and violet light as the two red orbs slowed the speed of the blue one down. Gradually and steadily, they descended to the jagged terrain of Planet X. The Trilopod-influenced spheres forced the blazing blue orb of Bemular to drag along the surface, embedding a trench in its wake that left an unnatural glow in its path.

Bemular tried resisting their power as best he could, exerting the travel ball to the heights of its limits. But it proved for naught as he felt the external pressure of the red orbs compress his own. No matter how much he resisted, all it did was wane the formation of the travel sphere. The more it faded, the more congealed it became. Then, almost under the will of the Bemular-Trilopods, the dimming blue orb was hoisted to the air before being thrust into the ground, shattering its rounded shape and sending the cretin tumbling along the ragged surface of the vacant moon.

Rolling and rolling across the blue-brown terrain, the spiked reptile eventually found himself lying face up, wincing as he stared at the incoming threats. Among the two hovering spheres, one of them aimed straight for him–and for once, Bemular’s bugged out eyes clenched, bracing for impact. Moments dragged out into endless anxiety, swelling up in his very being as he awaited suffering, or even death.

But through his squinted eyes, Bemular saw a thin laser puncture the crimson sphere and rupture out the other side. Just as the laser beam vanished, the red orb lost its integrity, exposing the limp Bemular-Trilopod, helplessly falling on top of the spikey fiend. Without the strength to move, the space fugitive could only wait as the corpse crashed into him. Peering from his eyes, Bemular noticed his bastardized duplicate had a hole in its cranium. Regardless of the case of how, the Trilopod was dead, leaving Bemular ample time to shove the lifeless carcass with his legs and tiny arms.

Mustering from his sapped reserves, the spikey fiend forced himself up to his legs, glancing at the fight in the sky. The crimson orb and the augmented space dinosaur twirled across the empty void, moving with precision and grace. But when the cyborg found the ample opportunity, he fired another laser from his forehead, piercing through the hull of the orb effortlessly. It made its mark, although the sphere didn’t lose its shape like the other. However, it did force the red orb to crawl from the sky to the ground, leading Bemular’s rudimentary intelligence to determine that it had been injured.

Though it became quickly apparent that they were not the only target in the cyborg’s sights. The force and vibrations of the rough landing from Gigan was very much felt, forcing Bemular to turn his attention to the automated assassin. The red cannon on the cyborg’s forehead flashed blue, but didn’t fire anything. With an aggressive stance, Gigan pointed his hooked claws, drawing the reptile’s attention.

A shriekish squawk made Gigan’s intentions all the more clear. With the other claw, he pointed up to the sky. It was nothing short of a warzone up there; filled to the brim with spaceships and dreadnaughts that Bemular didn’t register. He figured some had to be his pursuers, but others were fighting against the endless armada. What he did see were more of his doppelgangers orbiting the hellfire, ensuring nothing made it in–or out. A caw brought Bemular’s attention back to the cyborg, blade still pointed at him.

Did he really think he’d escape? That was what Gigan proposed. It was foolish to think otherwise.

The bug-eyed cretin twisted its face in a vicious scowl, glaring at Gigan in contempt. Even if the cyborg spoke the truth, what was it to him? Bemular already knew he was severely outmatched. His odds of survival did not favor him, and fleeing for the stars would be the best outcome for him. It was his choice, and his choice alone. Bemular released a warbled cry, screeching his disapproval. He’d make it out alive, no matter what it took.

It was then Gigan braced his hammer-claws together. A harsh call rang from his metallic beak. An ultimatum–die to him, or die to them.

A snarl rumbled from Bemular’s throat, keeping his glare glued to the garish cyborg. His jaws parted, filling with ferocious blue flames. His nostrils snorted in discontent, puffing out residual smoke. His choice was the only one that mattered! As his pale heat wave neared overflowing in his maw, he saw the forehead of Gigan flash blue, and–

–In an instant, Bemular swerved his head to the side, discharging the full brunt of his attack away from the cyborg. Instead, the condensed beam of plasma found its mark against the other Trilopod clone of himself over in the distance, who stagnantly limped towards their location. The blast was immediately overwhelming, charring and searing the reptilian anomalocarid with its utmost fury. It survived, but very clearly sustained major wounds from that one burst alone. But to ensure its quick demise, Gigan likewise fired his beam at the wounded Trilopod, lancing it through the cranial region, killing it.

The two turned to each other. Bemular made his choice; to not make another enemy he didn’t have a chance of winning against. He contested Gigan’s methodology, still saw him as a hostile party, someone he couldn’t put his trust in. But between dying to the cyborg and being slain by the Trilopods, the latter left a far fouler stench in his consciousness. Something that had to be purged. At the very least, if he were to perish, there was an estranged comfort in his demented mind that he wouldn’t die alone.

For now, Bemular submitted. It was the only choice that ensured his survival. Seemingly satisfied with this decision, Gigan gestured to follow his lead. The tri-fins compressed against the creature’s back, gas expelling from the tips as Gigan flew off. Mustering what strength he could, Bemular formed a sphere around him. It lacked the integrity of his previous uses, but was sufficient enough to get him off the ground.

As he tailed the alien’s path, he wondered… Would this bear the fruit he expected? Or was it desperation that sold him on the temporary alliance? An illusion to victory? Perhaps this was all going to be for naught–but compared to the alternative, there was at least a shot of making it out alive, no matter how slim it seemed…

—

“Look at them, Rhizon. The vermin have decided to work together against our hunters. Isn’t that just sweet? Inspiring? So utterly hopeless.”

Rhizon paid half a mind to the mocking words of Karkaro as he observed the battle playing out outside on a monitor, noting down the tactics of the alliance’s vanguard. Cross-referencing with collected data from past campaigns, the commander instructed the fleet to counteract the strategies that their inferior battle systems could scrounge up. Efficiency was the foundation of all things, in his mind, an element that these lower beings had no clear understanding of, in spite of what the Xiliens and their computer-ruled society claimed.

Turning his gaze away, he focused on another monitor displaying the hunt on the surface against the alien beings, unable to stop his brow furrowing with infuriation. He despised these creatures with every ounce of his being. They were barely a step above wild beasts, undeserving of a place within the Cryog Empire, and yet the emperor of his race had chosen them as the vanguard of his crusade for universal domination over any asset his own people had crafted. The fact that he wouldn’t disclose where he had acquired them added further distrust in the Trilopods and their part in the Great Plan, and Rhizon loathed to work with these beasts under his command. But the emperor had ordered him so, and with his word as law, he was strained to comply.

Though he could not admit as such in front of Karkaro, the Cryog strategist found a hint of admiration as he witnessed the truce formed by the Nebulan cyborg and the rogue element. He wouldn’t have thought such a thing to be possible, especially with the reptile’s roguish nature, but in the long history of his career, Rhizon had been witness and victim to many unexpected strategies and contingencies, weapons and creatures mechanical and biological alike that put the will and power of the empire to the test, ensuring that complacency could never grow among their ranks.

Perhaps this one would be as challenging as the others, but ultimately would never bear the fruits of victory. One day, he might look back on this moment and question why it was that they must destroy something as intriguing as this solely for the reason that it was different. Perhaps, that moment would be amongst the comforts of the utopia that Karkaro had promised at the end of this long war, if that was the ultimate truth that he had longly doubted. In which case, his actions here would be justified, his doubts unnecessary, and there would be no guilt to bear on his conscience. They were survivors, through and through. If these lowly scraps had no power to resist their strength, their extinction was utterly justified. Such was the order of all things. Such was the way of the immoral Cryog Empire.

“They are nothing, my lord. Lowly insects scrambling for a few extra seconds of life before the boot comes down on them.” Rhizon allowed a cruel, predatory smile to spread across his features, flashing rows of sharp, pointed fangs. Not even he could not find displeasure in the final moments to their victory. “And like insects, we shall crush them all the same.”

“Yes, well, all the same, these ‘bugs’ have been a rather troublesome batch,” Karkaro murmured, thinking as he checked the live feed, frowning at the number of casualties, of which all were his loyal pets. “The first wave is starting to bear thin and all four of those abominations are still well and kicking. We’d better fix that.”

The sound of tapping drew Rhizon’s attention away from the monitor to look towards the emperor tapping instructions into the control panel embedded within the arm of his throne. His eyes bulged upon recognising the command sequence that was entered. “Three pods?! That amount of force is wholly unnecessary. Just one or few of our battleships would be far more effici – ACK!”

Karkaro’s other arm shot out and wrapped tightly around the officer’s throat, cutting his protest short as Rhizon gasped desperately for air. He was dragged roughly towards the throne and lifted so that he and the emperor were face to face, staring into Karkaro’s enraged features. Once cold eyes now burned red with fury, his words a hissed whisper to the commander’s hearing alone.

“I do not like those who forget their manners. If you take issues with my orders, you may address me in private. You will not challenge me in public again, and certainly not when those insects could be listening in.” He tightened his hold on Rhizon further, ignoring his rasping cries for mercy. “I am your emperor and if you wish to see the paradise I have promised, you will obey me in all things. Never forget that, half-breed.”

The pressure around his windpipe released as Rhizon was tossed away, crumpling across the bridge floor and wheezing for breath. Rubbing his bruising neck, the commander’s eyes turned back towards Karkaro, unable to hide the fear written across his features. Those cold orbs bore into his own, as if daring him to speak out again, but he couldn’t find the breath to act even if he wanted to. He could feel all the eyes in the room upon him, judging his display of weakness with hidden contempt. With a scowl, he managed to force himself up and meet the doubters with his own hateful gaze, cowing them into submission and returning them to their stations.

As Rhizon returned to his post, he cast one more look back towards the emperor, who was now preoccupied with the main screen as it displayed the new Trilopod carriers leaving the ship and rocketing towards the planet’s surface. What exactly had happened on that fateful day, when their world fell to the great destroyer, to twist him into the creature he was now? He hadn’t been present, witness only to the aftermath and the lifeless husk that once was the heart of their empire, but Karkaro had not been the same ever since, almost distant to the needs of his people in spite of the reward he promised them. How was a tyrant such as him meant to bring about paradise for their kind? It was a question he found himself too terrified to answer.

Alarms blared across the bridge, pulling the Cryog from his thoughts and turning towards one of the screens. “Report!” he barked to the corresponding station.

“Unknown bogey approaching our position, commander,” a technician responded, bringing up the radar and camera footage onto the main monitor. “Entering at mach 10, ETA two minutes to atmosphere entry.”

“Did you say approaching? As in, coming towards us?” Karkaro let out a booming, mocking laugh. “I didn’t think that anyone had the scrotes. Let’s see these brave fools for ourselves, shall we?”

The technician spoke up again. “We’re intercepting a coded message, emperor; a recording on an encrypted wavelength. Shall I attempt to access it?”

“Proceed,” ordered Rhizon. His curiosity was just as peaked as the emperor’s towards this sudden development. Who would openly fly towards an active battlefield? Who even knew that they were here? So many questions and not enough answers for the warmonger’s liking, requiring his patience for the twenty-four seconds it took for the message to be accessed.

As the voice came through, he nearly stumbled over, taken aback. His eyes went wide as the rogue object came into view on the scanner, recognising the unmistakable technology and craftsmanship all too clearly to pretend it was anything else. To the Cryog, it was the closest thing to seeing a ghost, a relic of a genocide now seemingly incomplete as this anomaly seemed to prove. The same word spilled from Rhizon and Karkaro’s lips, though the former lacked any of the venomous tone hissed out by his superior.

“No…”

 

Chapter 7: The Grand Reveal

A cold conclusion awaited. An inevitability against the might of the Trilopods.

Megalon struggled. With the persistence of angry hornets, the Zilla-Trilopods swarmed the insectoid god without any sign of letting up. Slashing and torching the insect’s hide with their onslaught, they surrounded him on all sides. Joining their assault was also the Megalon-Trilopod, whose fluttering wings soared above the chaotic crowd beneath it. Lightning rained from the Trilopod’s star-shaped protrusion, striking its target down below. Megalon suffered from the wrath of his Trilopod double, any deaths of the Zilla-morphed fodder ultimately inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

But the compound eyes of the Megalon-Trilopod caught something in its sights. At first, it mistook the figure as another of the Gigan-variants, but closer inspection confirmed it was the original. Ceasing its assault on the Seatopian warrior, the Megalon-Trilopod turned its attention to the oncoming intruder. Very quickly, metal drills met with cosmo steel hooks, two large bodies shoved through the air. Before the Megalon duplicate could fight back, Gigan shanked the Trilopod with a lethal kick, embedding his bladed foot into the gut of the hybrid organism. Another kick followed soon after, likewise puncturing the lower torso of the alien fiend, before finishing it off with a firm slap from Gigan’s tail. The insectoid-anomalocarid was sent hurtling through the sky, crashing roughly against the ground.

Then, almost willingly, Gigan dropped from the space above to the lunar crust below, slamming his bladed feet into one of the many Zilla-Trilopods, smashing it to green-plastered mush and gore, killing it instantly. The moment of Gigan’s arrival, the nearby soldiers redirected their attention to the bird-like cyborg. The buzzsaw jutting from his belly began to rev wildly, rotating at rapid speeds. Those foolish enough to approach became quickly ensnared by the hammer-claws, forcefully dragged onto the whirling buzzsaw without mercy or remorse head first. What remained were splattered corpses, painting the skin of the cyborg a sickly green.

Such skill and confidence was noted. But did one really matter against the many? With an issuing call from the Megalon-Trilopod, the Zilla-variants were quick to turn on the sudden intruder, swarming the cyborg with their sheer numbers. Even with the universal cutter still revving, the Trilopod pawns were careful to work around it, restraining Gigan’s other limbs and suppressing all movement from the cyborg.

A distorted shrill emitted from Gigan as a bolt of lightning struck upon his golden scales. While he knew full well of the uses of teleportation, the circumstances he knew didn’t allow it. His first attempt was futile, and doing so now would yield the same results. And likewise, the energy consumption of its use required more strategic usage, or at the very least needed to be timed just right. Seeking to conserve as much energy as he could, Gigan decided to take the brunt of the Trilopod’s wrath. But through the cluster of the Zilla-Trilopods, he saw Megalon scarred and bloodied. The limp beetle remained unmoving, only rolling when the Megalon-Trilopod landed nearby and kicked him around.

In the world of battle, death was nothing short of an inevitability. It was something Gigan was well accustomed to. But seeing Megalon in such poor health–the jaded indifference cracked, if ever so slightly. He kept an even temper, but the residual sting remained nonetheless…

—

The Gigan-Trilopod hacked and slashed its calcified blades against the reanimated cyborg, scarring the dead tissue and alien metal with ease. Cyber Godzilla was evasive, but the quick movements of the Trilopod matched his own in terms of speed and skill. In retaliation, the radioactive automaton fired its fearsome atomic ray, hoping to push the agile assassin away. But in response, the Gigan-Trilopod discharged ferocious flames of its own. Although the vacuum threatened to extinguish its fire, the full powered might of the flamethrower ensured it met its target, charring the undead reptile with its searing pain.

Wracked with pain, the robotic zombie faltered and stumbled, leaving him open to a decisive kick that launched the cyborg away. Chittering in delight, the Trilopod confidently loomed over the fallen warrior, eager to fulfill its master’s bidding.

Cyber Godzilla’s eyes glowed with the Leviathan’s influence, forcing him to move beyond his exhaustion. But even the suppression of his pained body could only do so much. The bio-robotic automaton weakly stood in place, arranging himself for the next strike. However, both he and the Trilopod menace were quick to notice a flash of light closing in on them. The transparent layer of the sapphire orb made it abundantly clear to Cyber Godzilla the identity of the perpetrator. The shimmering sphere crashed near them, the exterior dissipating into a faint wisp, leaving the blood-curdling shrieks of Bemular.

The bug-eyed fiend scanned the two, rushing towards the despised Trilopod clone of Gigan. Leaning forward with his spiny head at ramming speeds, the space reptile collided against the chitinous armor of the arthropodic hybrid, pressing and shoving the Trilopod warrior. Calcified scythes grinded against the hardened scutes that adorned the fugitive’s body, leaving light scratch marks upon them. Seeing the futility of its efforts, the Gigan-Trilopod opted to swing for the considerably less durable scales, only to be met face-first with a barrage of energized missiles. The concussive knockback of the blast forced the arthropod warrior down, leaving Bemular to loom over his fallen form.

The glaring red eyes of the Trilopod glared back with malice at the two reptiles that stood above it. But it was without mercy or remorse that both began to churn their blue flames, bathing the avian-like anomalocarid in a flash of superheat fire, torching its body pitch black. With screams and wails from the onslaught, the Gigan-Trilopod was no more, leaving its husk to burn from their wrath. But they could not rest, for another wave of Trilopod imposters converged on their location. More of the Zilla and Megalon variants screeched and bellowed, bombarding the battlefield with high-yield explosives and a flurry of atomic flames.

As a Zilla-Trilopod got close, Bemular lunged forward and clamped his jaws around its neck, tearing its throat out with a twisted glee. But just as he got the jump on one, another took its place and jumped the space criminal, toppling the spiked reptile to the ground. Wailing and grinding of teeth resounded from Bemular’s oblong maw, struggling to batter the pests off of him.

All the while, Cyber Godzilla could only evade the bombardment thrusted upon him. Raining lightning bolts and napalm blasts carved the landscape to charred ruin, the force of the attacks changing the very landscape around him. A ring of destruction cut off any escape routes available to the cybernetic zombie, pinning the beast to one location. But what urged them not to just blow him to smithereens outright? Such fallacies made him believe that these Trilopods were just as incompetent as their progenitor. But a blaring red light from above signaled Cyber Godzilla of the impending danger, leaping out of the way and into the array of blasts and bombs–an unsuitably safer place to be comparatively speaking.

In a matter of seconds, a crimson orb crashed onto the very location Cyber Godzilla had once stood. From the impact zone and scattered debris, the red sphere dissipated and revealed within it a Bemular-Trilopod, chittering and shrieking at the evasive reptile. The cybernetic augment had no time to spare, dancing around the explosive wrath of the Megalon clones. But the Bemular-variant snapped its eyes at him, a blue light illuminating from its maw…

—

Pinned and strained, Gigan struggled against their grip. A shot from the laser knife from his forehead was evaded by the cretins or their acting commander; and likewise, a sudden burst of short-ranged flames from his maw was woefully insufficient for the task at hand, all in a display of desperation for options. Even if he did escape, was there ever going to be a chance to recharge?

Perhaps it was better than nothing. Channeling his reserves, his body began to darken…

…Only to stop when the painful cries of the Megalon-Trilopod resounded. Jutted from its chest were a pair of metallic drills, rapidly whirling and shredding the torso of the Trilopod into paste. Then, with utmost force, the drills parted and tore the Megalon-Trilopod in two, killing it instantly. From behind the maimed carcass, Megalon stood and roared in triumph, catching the attention of the Zilla-Trilopods that held Gigan down.

The few that could be dispatched quickly lunged for Megalon, only to be met by a gruesome bolt of lightning from the star-shaped horn. Upon contact with the cranial region, the head of the Zilla clone exploded into a mess of brain matter and slimy green gore. The others that made their approach were either felled by his whirling drills or the ensuing napalm bombs that burned their chitinous exoskeleton to a crisp.

With the enemy preoccupied, Gigan adapted to the circumstances. Although still pinned under the weight of the Zilla-Trilopods, their decreased numbers had lightened the load rather significantly. Shifting from teleportation to flight, the tri-fins collapsed against his back, grinding against the lunar surface as the tips jettisoned with steam. Try as they might, they held their grip to the best of their ability; but even as they anchored their feet into the ground, it did little as the speed gradually picked up. Next thing they knew, they dangled helplessly as Gigan took to the higher echelons of space.

For the cretins that refused to let go, the fearsome assassin was quick to dispose of the scrawny anomalocarid-lizards with a whirring of his magnificent buzzsaw and a graceful aileron roll, using his hammer-claws to dislodge and tear at the energy parasites. Those that weren’t torn clean off met a worse fate with his revving buzzsaw, splitting them in half or shredding any desperate limbs trying to cling onto his gold-scaled body. As their falling forms crashed onto the lunar surface, Gigan made a hard turn to rendezvous with his long-time ally.

In the moment of his freedom, it seemed Megalon had been quickly overrun by the parasitic organisms. Bracing his reinforced cosmo steel blades, Gigan lunged for the dogpile, hacking and slashing at the infested colony until his insectoid compatriot was able to fight back, beating them down with a flurry of blunt strikes that bashed their frail heads wide open. Splurts of garish green goo launched from the impact wounds, be it from Megalon’s tough drills or Gigan’s deadly claws. And in what felt like a matter of moments, they cleared out the arena.

It wouldn’t be long before more fell upon them. But it was proof they stood better together than divided. Gigan extended his claw to his comrade, and the Seatopian god responded in kind. Their metal weapons clanged together.

A mantra from their people. For perfect peace among races.

And four was certainly better odds than one, or even two.

Tri-fins folded and elytra spread out, both allied monsters taking to the dark skies above as they sailed off to a different portion of the battleground. As gleaming red eyes picked up their airborne formations, the duo responded in kind. A volley of lightning blasts, laser cannons, and napalm bombs torched the mountainous land in a conflagration, the burning fires consuming all Trilopods in their path. Then the others came into view, fighting their own war against the other Trilopod variants. With a pulse from his high-powered cannon, Gigan fired another Laser Knife, piercing the skull of the bombarding Megalon-Trilopod that had been giving the zombified cyborg ample trouble. It keeled over instantly.

As the Bemular-Trilopod fired its heat ray, Cyber Godzilla’s chest flung open in a heartbeat. The burning blue heat ray bounced off the reflective sheen of the inner circuits, reflecting it back at the sender. Explosive bursts erupted from the crazed imitation, the arthropod-like reptile shrieking in dissatisfaction from what had just transpired. Taking advantage of the stunned alien pest, Cyber Godzilla pounced onto the target, mauling it with its asymmetrical claws and tearing it with its boxy mouth.

Noticing the pile of Zilla-Trilopods nearby, Megalon veered into the mound of crawling bodies, clamping his drills together as one. Revving at high speeds, he grazed along the top, shredding them into a slurry of organic paste. Noticing his interference, the lizard-like Trilopods directed their collective attention to the drilling beetle, dispersing their atomic rays at the airborne insect. Such flames proved futile against the high-speed drill, parting it with little effort as Megalon spat more fiery bombs from his mandibles. An eruption of hellfire overcame the chittering arthropoids, their legs scuttering to escape the raging flames. In doing so, they freed Bemular from restraint, allowing the bug-eyed menace to lash out and tear the face of a Zilla-Trilopod with utmost glee. Without rest, he fired his burning blue heat ray into the disgusting alien hybrid, reducing its face to cinders.

As Cyber Godzilla and Bemular dispatched their foes, Gigan and Megalon made a hard landing. Grouped together, the four giant monsters barked and scowled, but they understood each other. Whether they liked it or not, this was a fight that had to be taken on together. But even such a testy alliance had their plates full. For every Trilopod that had been slain, ten would take their place. The swarm was nothing short of massive, and only growing the more their appropriated genetics fueled the disgusting doppelgangers that mocked their visage.

With a squawk, Gigan issued the assault. For there was no other way than through, and no other method than killing.

In the name of peace.

But as the ground flooded with splattering green blood and the body parts of bastardized imposters, three distinct objects littered the sky. From the disgusting hive launched more pods from its nest, their bartizan hulls barreled through the void of space, closing in to the surface of Planet X at rapid speeds. Each impact shook the battleground, the noticeable blowback from the scattering dust and debris altering the four monsters of their impending incursion. As the last pod made landfall, they each opened up, one by one unleashing fresh Trilopod warriors to partake in this dwindling war.

Some of the surviving parasites, bloated from the harvested genetic material, crawled out of the dark pits of Planet X’s fissures and leapt onto the backs of the bipedal warriors. Their pedipalps sunk into the grooves of the nape, performing the ritual for more hybrid monstrosities. Each one morphing into a distinct, hideous shape that mocked their genetic progenitors. Low growls rang from the newly formed doppelgangers, each moving in to extend the battle.

Until each of them were subdued and destroyed accordingly.

***

The air stifled the longer this bloodbath drew on.

Their mightiest warriors and a rogue forced to contend with the monstrosity of the Cryog’s endless army. Each side drew blood from the other, but their warriors fought to the bittermost end. Warnings and intercoms from the space-faring war that took place well above their heads screamed in terror, their forces thinning from the monstrous force that beckoned them. For every Cryog warship downed, a whole sleuth of Xilien saucers and Fire Dragons would be wiped out by the firepower of another. The lethal combination of the fighter crafts and Leviathan-class battle cruisers from Cyber Godzilla’s masters proved fruitful in resisting the Cryog’s advances, but even their might struggled against the overwhelming wrath of Karkaro’s armada.

The algorithm flashed with unstable uncertainty. Dire straits were certainly ahead. Unease wavered, but all they could do was hold on until the battle turned in their favor.

But the careful eyes of the Xilien Commandant took notice of Fumio’s sketching, mapping out pathways as his antennae twitched anxiously. “What are you calculating?” The Xilien plainly asked, addressing the Nebulan.

“A tactile retreat may be in our best interest,” Fumio firmly suggested.

“Have no fear, Fumio,” the Commandant assured, “Evacuation ships are already on standby. Should the Cryog breach the surface, we will have made our retreat well before then.”

Fumio shook his head. “It’ll be too late by then. If we were to split up, the Cryog would certainly use that chance to exterminate us on the spot. A collective evacuation on one ship would be the best outcome. Our transport vessel will more than suffice.”

“That scrapheap?” Sopler ridiculed, “We fail to see it breaking through the exosphere before the Cryog make their move.”

The supercomputer ran its calculations. It seemed to take the heedings of the Leviathan and Nebulan in equal measure.

“Then let’s take it on faith the odds will turn in our favor,” the Kilaak Queen interjected.

Faith. Such a feeble, human construct. Yet in the right circumstances, it swayed the hearts and minds of those that believed. The Xilien held no such sentiment, but there was an understanding with his Mistress’ words. To continue their rally against overwhelming odds. A preposterous notion, but an option the Xilien had to at least consider.

Her words at least quelled the rising tensions. No doubt they too realize there wasn’t much to do but prepare for the worst.

“Great Leaders!” A Kilaakian servicewoman addressed, “We have readings of an unidentified object en route to Sector 15. There is also an open transmission from a third party.”

“Allow it,” the Xilien issued. He had no doubt Karkaro would also be viewing it, whoever it may hail from. All eyes glued to the screen, showing the visage of the ape-like alien both firm and diligent. Encrypting the information, it was clear the video was not a live transmission, leading the Xilien to come to only one conclusion…

”My name is Rikal, and I bring to you a message from beyond the grave. In life, I was a great commander of the Simeon race, who led our people out across the stars in search of a new home after our sun collapsed into a black hole. Though our methods may be considered cruel, in our eyes and cultures, they were acceptable in finding the salvation I so desperately sought for my people.”

He paused, if only for a moment.

“But we never found it. Instead, someone else found us.”

Rikal’s face contorted in anguish, the sounds of a predetermined war raging from beyond the Simeon’s confines. His eyes snapped open with cold resignation.

“To whoever receives this, I bring this grim warning. This oppressive force that exterminated our home, our entire race, will not stop at just that. It had set its goal to the complete subjugation of all life in the galaxy, perhaps the universe, and I truly believe they can accomplish this task. To prevent this, Mechagodzilla, our greatest achievement, has been sent to seek out and destroy these monsters wherever they claim root, and will wipe them out with the same lack of empathy that they showed us. It is in the best interests of whatever peace you seek that you aid our creation, and give my people the vengeance they deserve.”

When the transmission looped, it was cut off. But instead of a blank screen, the face of Karkaro overtook it instead, much to the chagrin of all present. His face read that of indifference, almost as if the entire purpose of this exchange was nothing more than to prove that he too received the signal. Fumio was quick to hide his notes, ensuring that the cruel ruler did not get a glimpse of their backup plan.

“Then let us see how this unfolds.” Reacting to the words of the Xilien, the Cryog gave a quiet huff. They will have to see, indeed…

***

Their will, their might, shall be enforced. The end of the opposition was nigh.

For each one felled, three more took their place. A non-stop hydra in colossal numbers that, even if the stubborn survivors could dispose of them efficiently, would overwhelm them sooner or later. The enemy forces were organic, or hosted such parts; there was only one end to this slaughter. They were bound to weakness such as exhaustion and depleted energy reserves. But the Trilopods were built to outlast and outnumber, no matter how powerful their enemies were.

The cyborg assassin and its closest compatriot tagged in with a whirl of claw-jabs and drill-punches. Bladed edges shred through their forces with relative ease, with subsequent bombardment of lightning blasts, laser beams, and thermal bombs aiding in the slaughter. Even so, their might waned the longer the battle went on. In a battle of attrition, there was no doubt the Trilopods would reign supreme.

The ailing cybernetic zombie likewise resisted, shooting streams of atomic fire to keep them at bay. Energized missiles found their marks, repelling those that it struck. But such resistance was futile. Steam pumped from its nostrils, the decayed augment maintaining maximum capacity. But such a state began to wear on its reserves, barely keeping up with what was demanded of it. A duck and a weave enabled the undead machine to clamp its boxy jaws around the throat of a Trilopod warrior, searing its flesh with a blast of radioactive fire. But just as the one perished from the burning wound, a triad of Zilla-Trilopods jumped their genetic donor, pinning it to the rugged top-surface. The lithe Alphas crawled upon their prey and sank their proboscis into rotted flesh, still willing to extract broken DNA for more hybrid warriors.

The primal space murderer ripped and tore asunder any Trilopod that dared stand in its way. Crazed and bug-eyed, the savage psychopath mimicked the tactics of the reanimated corpse, plunging its teeth into the neck of a Trilopod warrior. However, the feral beast pulled a different maneuver; anchoring itself with its tail and a leg, it used the other to lunge a powerful kick into the Trilopod’s gut, pulling back at its neck as it did so. In one swift move, the membranes and armor that kept its head attached ripped at the seams, spraying garish vile fluids as its head and spine were pulled from where its head once rested. As it tossed the dying head aside, the brutal criminal was tackled to the ground by a Megalon-Trilopod, stamped by its heavy body and powerful legs.

One by one, they fell. The Trilopods swarmed the already downed reptiles, leaving only two to deal with the incoming masses. And unfortunately for them, it wasn’t long before the pressure got to them. Alphas crawled all over them, siphoning their genetic material for more clones. No matter how hard they struggled, there was no resistance against the Trilopod forces.

They will conquer. And they will destroy.

But as the endless war waged on, there was… Interference.

Ping.

A dark object, nigh invisible to the naked eye, soared past the space-bound destruction occurring above. Only the glow of its rocket boosters and pulsing antenna gave it away.

Ping.

The pod began to shift, automatically adjusting its flight trajectory for a rough, but sound landing. Red alien eyes glared at the sudden arrival, the horde not contending with their respective targets braced and ready for whatever was going to emerge…

Ping.

Steam jettisoned as the pod doors slid open. No light breached the dark, only the gleam of red, cybernetic eyes pierced the other side. Each metallic footfall signaled to the Trilopods that the target was on the move. More importantly, it hosted no bio-signature or genetic material to draw from…

No option but termination.

The object showed itself, brimming with silver light as it stood out amidst the dark planetoid. It carried its weight with a bipedal stance, its knee-springs cushioning its immense weight. A large, reptile-like machine, with not an ounce of blood within. Rather, a circulatory system of wires and weapons was all that coursed through its constructed form. The cold, unfeeling automaton surveyed the situation, noticing distinct signatures among the masses. Its blocky frame shifted, locking its rotating wrists in place.

Without hesitation, the Trilopods charged en masse.

Time slowed to a crawl. The stampede of anomalocarids vibrated the very ground under their feet, and those with the capacity for flight took to the air. In a moment, they’d tear this machine to shreds, leaving nothing but space dust by the time they were finished with it…

And in that moment, they were torn to shreds.

—

With open shutters, all hell broke loose.

The payload was imminent, the sudden burst of sprawling energies and missiles erupted in a chorus of destruction. With merciless execution, Mechagodzilla mowed down all that stood in its way. Space missiles fired off from its fingertips, battering the massive horde with splintered armor and ruptured skin, littering the hellzone with fresh and bloodied wounds. With neck vents parted, a barrage of missiles beneath joined the choir of hellfire upon the Trilopod menace. Homyu shots, high pressure homing shells, and mouth missiles further embellished the unfolding chaos, inflicting severe trauma or exterminating them outright. A flash of orange electric discharge sawed through the limbs of the clawed warriors, disarming them as they keeled over. And its potent optical weapon–the Space Beams–utterly destroyed the flesh of the Trilopods on contact.

The monstrous war machine spread its destructive influence, spreading its missiles and firepower to the widest possible range. Even as the airborne Trilopods made a beeline for the weapons maestro, Mechagodzilla was quick to ceasefire, funneling all its powers into its jet engines. With a bounce from its springs, the mechanical destroyer quickly took to the air, evading the swarm entirely. Assuming its flight position, Mechagodzilla continued its gradual ascent. But Trilopod pursuers were quick to follow; Gigan and Megalon variants trailed the mecha’s flight path, ready to unload blasters of their own.

Flamethrowers and streams of lightning circled around the soaring superweapon, its head locked bow-first, with its hands pointed to the stern. Its head began to rotate along the craniocervical junction, spinning rapidly until it became a blur. Then, firing modified Space Beams, a cyan light pulsed from its eyes, coating the cosmic automaton in a cone-like barrier, protecting it from the onslaught of energy beams that would have otherwise harmed it.

Banking a wide turn, the flying machine propelled itself with burning jet fuel, barreling itself towards the incoming hunters. As the Defense Neo Barrier rammed into the Gigan and Megalon imposters, their shrieks of pain resounded as their skin and armor burned from the searing energy shield, sending them spiraling out of control with curdling smoke. A Bemular-Trilopod was quick to take their place, ramming its crimson sphere into the cone-shaped barrier. An array of sparking lights erupted between the two forces, their clashing energies mixed in a destructive display. But it didn’t take long for the narrow point of the conical shield to piercing the energized protection of the Bemular-Trilopod, drilling through it cleanly. Before the hostile alien knew it, its head was reduced to a bloody pulp, killing it instantly.

A mocking metallic shriek rang from the autonomous war machine, ruthless and cruel it continued to shred its enemies apart, dominating the dark, starry skies above.

While below, a shift began to occur.

The once active and vibrant Gigan began to dim, catching the attention of the Trilopod captors. There had been squawks and chitters about one of them that could teleport. Seeing this as a threat, one of the standing Gigan-Trilopods took a swipe with its claws, intending for a clean decapitation. But just as feared, in a flash of green light, the prisoner vanished. Quick on the draw, the Gigan-Trilopod swiped behind it, fully anticipating a sneak attack.

It found nothing.

Much to its dismay, when it found the rematerialized cyborg, he had warped away from them–and instead found his mark along the Trilopods holding the brutish Megalon down. A quick whirling from the buzzsaw sliced several Trilopod skulls wide open, loosening their fiendish grip on the Seatopian god. Using raw strength to free himself, the monstrous beetle went on the full offensive, drill-punching nearby Trilopods to paste and discharging his napalm bombs to usher calamity on the war-torn battlefield. Joining the mass destruction wrought by Mechagodzilla, Megalon too began to bombard everything in his path with fire and lightning.

As plumes of smoldering fire rose from the surface, Gigan made the advance to the other two. A shot from his Laser Knife reached for the further-out Bemular, killing the Megalon-Trilopod, enabling the rampant space reptile the chance to fight back against the other cretins that dared extract its genetic material. All the while, Gigan bared his blades, landing feet-first into the horde of Zilla-Trilopods. The knife-like foot hooked into the frail doppelganger, piercing and crushing it underfoot as Gigan’s weight bore down on it. With a slash of his claws, Gigan was quick to exterminate the other abominations, giving Cyber Godzilla the chance to get back to his feet. With a rush of steam from the nostrils, the undead cyborg rammed his mass into another of the Trilopod warriors, knocking it off its feet.

Ravenous and bloodthirsty, Bemular glared at the silver reptile high above, his eye twitching. Its focus was squarely on the Trilopod menace; and so long as that remained the case, he’d bitterly comply. But his wild mind only saw it as a means to an end. And what that entailed would only be known once this war was over.

For now, they had to push for a fighting chance. An opportunity against adversity. To overcome the tyranny of fear and conquer it. With a belching wail, Bemular tagged in, enjoying each moment of this massacre.

They’d die here now.

***

The control chamber was silent, the atmosphere reflecting the mood and thoughts of the gathered council, observing the viewing screen with intrigue and enthusiasm. Although caution remained at the forefront of their minds, there were none who, if asked, would deny the excitement rushing throughout their form, observing as the forces of the arthropod-esque hunters dwindled by the minute against the combined power of their representative champions and the reptilian interloper-turned-temporary partner.

Antonio watched with a firm-set expression and eyes shining with adoration at the sight of his revered god, feeling the pride and faith within him well with each heretic and pretender dispatched by his mighty claws and crackling thunder. The Nebulans, too, judged their creation, with their opinions able to be read by the room only through the subtle flicks and twitches of their erect antennae. The Kilaak Queen forged a small smile upon her usually cold features, sensing the growing passion for battle within the room and giving her silent approval.

“Your challenge fails, Cryog,” the Controller sternly stated.

As if on cue, the screen’s image shifted into waves of static and fuzz, reconfiguring into the bioorganic throne chamber of the Cryog royal warship, where Karkaro sat in waiting upon his command, the despot’s arm tentacles interlocked with one another before his pointed cranium, allowing only for narrowed, red eyes to stare back across the transmission into the Xilien’s visor. “So it would seem…”

“Each species represented here has proven their power here today. Alone, they would prove a challenging foe, but united as one, create a power thought to be unachievable.” The Controller stood up and glared hard at the emperor, standing in confident and defiant form for the occupants of the room and his addressor to bear witness. “Your actions here have helped in strengthening the bonds between our races we sought to forge against our enemies. Now you, our shared enemy, your army and your creatures shall see the demonstration of these bonds.”

The faintest trace of a smile crept upon the lips of the Xilien as Karkaro leaned forward in his throne, as if in contemplation, no doubt struggling to find the words to respond, trying with their “superior” intellect to imagine a new stratagem on the fly. The Controller took a brief glance away from the view screen to observe the calculations of the central computer and confirm their answers, and what he saw turned his small smile into a beaming grin of confidence.

“Perhaps I have underestimated you,” the emperor said after a moment. “I was expecting an easy victory, against a group of mismatched and uncoordinated pests. But now… I have seen the full extent of your joined abilities and what they can achieve.”

Fumio and Kubota’s antennae twitched at the unexpected praise. The Nebulan leader refused to buy into these honeyed words, like his predecessors had in their first encounter with the frilled raiders, for which their once-treasured homeworld had paid the cost. Fumio’s multi-compound eyes scanned the other inhabitants of the war chamber, and were pleased to see that none seemed to have fallen for the Cryog deceiver’s words, all sporting their own expressions of uncertainty.

His gaze met the viewing screen again as Karkaro’s limbs dropped, head tilting forward in despair and eyes closing shut… only to immediately open as he snapped back up, glaring across the screen with manic, gleaming eyes, lips pulled back to expose chitinous tooth plates in a psychotic, mocking grin.

“I see your power – and it is nothing!”

The central computer’s monitor screen suddenly stopped in the midst of its calculations. It started to flicker with erratic bursts of glitched pixels and static waves, making all heads turn towards the phenomenon and stare with expressions of disbelief.

“What is happening?” the Controller queried, snapping his gaze from one side of the chamber to the other, hoping for an explanation from his subordinates or even his allies. The only response was the sound of Karkaro’s cruel laughter as it consumed the room, drowning out the malfunctioning processors’ tones and whines of distress.

Fumio figured it out first, and a tremble of fear crept up his cold antennae, quivering erratically. “How long have you been in control?” the cockroach inquired of the emperor. The other representatives turned back their eyes to the Nebulan minister, with the Controller and Queen sharing the strongest expressions of shock amongst them.

“Since the beginning. Before we even revealed ourselves. The Xilien firewalls were hard to crack, and operating beneath the range of your subspace communication channels was certainly difficult. But a challenge?” Karkaro barked out another round of laughter. “We had total control of Planet X’s facilities within minutes. I must say, Xiliens, your level of cyber security is woefully outdated for a race dedicated to technology. It utterly disgusts me how such lowly mites like yourselves have managed to survive on this wasteland of a world.”

“But survive we have,” the Controller countered. “Our world persists despite its depleted state. Can you say the same, Cryog? You claim to be superior in many things, and yet you have no home to return to when your campaign has ended. Your failure to protect your own assets is what drove you on this doomed path.”

“It was the destruction of our homeworld that showed me the path which lies ahead,” Karkaro proclaimed joyously, spreading his tentacled arms wide. “You all simply could not understand, even when you each had the answer within your clutches.”

Fumio’s vibrating antennae betrayed the sudden sense of fear that overcame him, making his insectoid blood run degrees colder than it normally should. The tone with which the emperor had spoken triggered something primal in his memories, and what he could observe, the same was true with the Kilaak Queen and the Xilien Controller, though the latter was far more successful in hiding his body language. The answer had some relation between the three races, and the dread blooming inside compelled his investigation.

“What do you speak of, Karkaro,” he demanded.

“The Great Destroyer,” the Cryog bluntly responded, grinning wildly with zealous excitement. “He goes by many names and titles, but we know him as he truly is. My kingdom had grown weak and complacent, going unopposed for far too long until he appeared to us and revealed the error of our ways.”

“Though we lost everything that day, what I gained in knowledge made the sacrifice worthwhile. It showed me the path to allow the Cryogs to truly prosper, to follow in the ways of the Great Destroyer and to retake the strength we’d lost. Don’t you see it?” he laughed. “Of course you can’t. Why do I even bother with you? In fact…”

His tone grew dark, replacing glee with restrained contempt as his features became a mask of false calmness. “I think I’ve had enough of this game.”

“If you have more than empty threats to throw at us, Cryog,” the Kilaak Queen stated coldly, “we shall meet them with the same tenacity as before. We are not beaten yet.”

“Oh, you were beaten long before this conversation, female,” the emperor rebutted. “You want to see more than empty threats? You wish to see what the might of the Cryog Empire can do? How we conquered whole systems and slaughtered civilisations?”

The image pulled back to show the entirety of Karkaro’s throne, the dread within Fumio growing stronger as the tentacled alien made a show of moving his arm towards a specific section of the controls, poised above a large, red button. He cast a final look towards the council of races, his final words echoing around the room as the screen cut off, just as he slammed the tentacle down hard onto the switch.

”I hope you’re prepared for the terror you have unleashed.”

***

As the monitor wiped to black, Karkaro leaned comfortably into the throne. Around him, his crew stumbled and clung to the infrastructure as the whole vessel shook. Hisses of pressurised air and horrible squelching noises flooded the chamber, drowning out the noise of the uninitiated as they scrambled to understand the situation. Only Karkaro and his personal retinue understood the truth behind all of this; the secret which had carried the Cryog race to victory after victory and perhaps the greatest of the emperor’s accomplishments. And now he was setting it loose on these infuriating rebels who had defied him for too long.

“Ah, no kill like overkill. Perhaps my favourite saying.”

“You’re releasing the hive?!” Rhizon shrieked in horror, but Karkaro paid him no mind. Even if he managed to forget himself for a second time, he could forgive his commander’s unfounded concerns for the moment. “Emperor- Karkaro, why are you doing this? What possible reason could justify this kind of response?”

“To flex, my dear Rhizon, simple as that,” he purred. “These bugs keep pushing and pushing, testing their luck. Now it’s time that we push back, and push hard. I want them to understand why they have no place in the grand plan. I want them to run and hide in terror, to spread the word of our coming. And I have longed to use this asset for a long, long time.”

A new sound permeated the chitinous walls, unmistakingly organic in nature and decidedly alive. It was deafening, but soft, like some ancient beast awakening from a deep slumber. Karkaro looked to the ceiling, smiling in glee while his subordinate looked on in wide-eyed terror.

“What do you have inside there?” whispered Rhizon, his blood as cold as ice.

“My equal,” replied the emperor. “The only creature in this universe that understands the hunger which courses through me. Insatiable, demanding, a force which drives us on no matter what may lie ahead. And like me, she understands the true purpose of all other forms of disgusting life in this galaxy.”

“Those beasts down there, those mighty champions that those rejects hold so dear. They’re not protectors or vanguards,” he proclaimed aloud. “Like all things, they are food.”

“Food for what?”

Karkaro’s shark-like fangs gleamed with excitement as he answered.

“The Monster Who Devoured A Galaxy.”

***

For each moment passing, their collective might whittled down the combined forces of the Trilopod menace. Their dying screeches faded as gurgling noises drowned in their own blood, the relentless onslaught more than they could bear. Missiles, laser beams, and napalm bombs blasted them to pieces, some spraying wounds, others losing heads or limbs outright. The combined might of Mechagodzilla and Megalon proved daunting for the slaughtered cretins. And those that did escape their destructive line of sight were met with the fearsome claws of Gigan or the burning flames of Cyber Godzilla or Bemular.

Since this war of attrition began, there was at last pushback. A resistance against the might of the Trilopod army as they pushed through, massacring them one by one. Most fought, and therefore most died at the hands of the rebels.

A Trilopod hybrid died from an uppercut slash from Gigan, vivisecting its head in two. Lightning sprawled from Megalon’s star-shaped horn, scorching a line of their arthropod enemies with merciless savagery. Bemular rendered the last remaining Zilla-Trilopods with his teeth and feet, tearing them asunder without remorse. Cyber Godzilla pounced onto a bastardized Gigan copy, using his arms to pry its mouth open; and with the glow of his energized missiles, they shot into the back of the Trilopod’s throat, blowing it out and killing it on the spot. Mechagodzilla shifted from a flurry of missiles to a more calculated approach, terminating all Trilopods with a blast of its Space Beams or electrical Cross Attack Beam to do the job.

A breath of relief as the footfalls and screeches of the Trilopods faded into the cosmic winds.

As the arthropodal menace became scarcer on the battlefield, Mechagodzilla resumed the hunt, scanning the surroundings for any residual Trilopod activity. Bemular’s focus shifted. His leering gaze eyed the new mechanical arrival with fear and malice. While certainly a benefactor in the elimination of the Trilopods, it was only a matter of time before such a weapon would turn on him. With a boisterous cry and a reckless charge, Bemular sped towards the metallic juggernaut–

–only to be intercepted by the sudden body slam from the Nebulan cyborg, pinning him down to the dark, lunar ground. Gigan growled through his distorted vox, lowering his scythe-blades with a menacing hum. The reptilian criminal squealed under the space assassin’s weight, squirming to break free. Shrieks and bellows rang from the spiked fiend, the sadistic creature charging a blast of its pale heat ray to fire at the autonomous machine. But the surprise intervention of Cyber Godzilla ensured contact was never made, with the unfolding spread of his breastplate bouncing the heat ray aimlessly into space above.

Such actions would not be tolerated. Although their tested alliance had been through the wringer, the possibility of them turning on each other would certainly lead to their demise. Gigan held his hammer-claw high, ensuring the most force to slice through Bemular’s neck without hesitation. But a shriek from Mechagodzilla stopped him cold.

More were inbound.

All eyes peered to the darkness above. The large, globulating sack attached to the royal warship separated from its carriage, the dirigible trajected to their location. Pods discharged from their porous cells, spreading out across the perimeter of the battlefield en masse. The monstrous hive began speeding to the center of the formation, soon to make a touchdown on the small lunar rock.

Bemular froze, realizing the unfolding nightmare that was soon to draw upon them. A fierce squawk from the cyborg assassin issued a simple command; it seemed that there was an alliance to still uphold, even if begrudgingly. Gigan bounced off the space criminal, allowing the wretched cretin to free itself. Nowhere to flee with the war littering the exosphere, so bitterly they had to fight.

But what was the cost to climb over this insurmountable wall?

For as thin an atmosphere Planet X possessed, a vibration washed over them as the gargantuan hive made landfall. Upon impact, a cascade of dust and shockwaves rolled over the alien faction, shaking the orbiting satellite to its core. Such mass ejected ash and rock high into the sky, leaving the gravitational binds of Planet X. And there, as the dust began to settle, it stood. It pulsated with sickening life, the rest knowing full well something rested within… Then, a glow from above caught their attention. From the aperture of the Cryog’s royal cruiser, brimming with light, came a laser beam that struck the hive. What followed was an explosive blast that rocked the foundations of Planet X once more, even forcing the alliance to avert their eyes.

The great, burning fire quickly reduced to a smolder, as the sack began to undulate, its organic mesh beginning to recede for the birth of a monstrosity. Its visage mirrored that of the Trilopods before it, but far more numerous in eyes and pedipalps. In place of their claws were a set of elongated, segmented limbs. Instead of two legs, the Trilopod superior climbed out of its nest with several sets of titanic trunks, each stomp shaking the ground with utmost intensity.

Its large shape and radiant compound eyes cast a colossal shadow across the battlefield, an omen to the end. Towering and furious, her roar tore through the void, shaking the ground and every heart still beating upon it.

So declared Magita, the harvesting Queen of the Trilopods.

The survivors turned to face her and braced themselves.

Their final challenge had arrived.

 

Chapter 8: End of an Empire

The council room sat in stunned silence, taking in the sheer enormity of what could only be described as a monstrosity. Tremors shook the walls of the complex with ever-growing magnitude with each shift of the leviathan’s grand mass, lights flickering as the power struggled to keep operating. The alien delegates had all been witness to many diverse sights across the many corners of the galaxy, conforming to all shapes and sizes, but to merely label the titan as another kaiju almost seemed offensive.

“It cannot be,” whispered Kubota in utmost horror. His reaction earned the interest of the Controller, who noted that the Leviathans, too bristled in fear upon the sight of this… “Trilogod”, if that was its relation to the insectoid hunters. Their appearances were too alike for it not to be their queen or progenitor, but clearly their allies knew more about it than he did.

“You know of this creature?” he quizzed, his words seeming to strike a cord with the Nebulans as they snapped towards the Controller with shaking antennae.

“You truly do not know about th-” Fumio paused, antennae drooping in thought. “No, I suppose you wouldn’t. The story of Magita is not one that circulates commonly within your underpopulated sector.”

“Magita?” The name was unfamiliar to him, finding no results under that name within the central computer’s library. Glances to the Kilaak Queen and Antonio rewarded him with equally confused looks.

”That creature cannot be them!” protested Hoffman. ”Magita is nothing but a tale founded in superstition. A story told to our grublings about the dangers of gluttony and its trappings.”

“Do you not believe your own eyes?” Kubota interacted. “You can’t look at that… that behemoth and say that the galaxy eater is not real.”

Antonio’s face turned white in horror. “That thing actually ate an entire galaxy?!?”

”It is only a theory at best,” explained Sopler. ”There exists a space between this galaxy and the next where theoretically one could have once existed, littered with the scraps of long dead civilisations. The source between the rumours of this ‘Magita’ have never been confirmed, but it has long been embedded in the intercosmic sphere as a tale of warning. Only now, that warning appears to be all too real.”

“How do these Cryog dogs manage to control such an unholy thing?” Antonio was still struggling to understand the existence of this monstrosity. Even the Controller, normally good at keeping their emotions locked away, felt cracks form in his composure.

Distorted alarms blared from the crackling monitor, diverting all attention away from the matter as the operators rushed to intercept the incoming data. It was not the relief any were looking for.

“The blockade has been broken,” an Xilien reported. “Estimating 86% depletion of Planet X’s forces, 73% of the Kilaak detachment, and 59% of the Leviathan armada.”

Kubota sagged over in defeat, antennae drooping solemnly across the war table. “Is this it, then? Our last great chance for victory squashed before it can begin?”

“We have lost only when we have lost the ability to fight back.” The Kilaak mistress stood from her chair to address the chamber, the Controller following suit behind her. “This day is surely lost, but there can be others. Let us make sure that our races can live to see it.”

“Access secondary systems and initiate evacuation procedures,” the Controller ordered his subordinates. “We shall regroup and rebuild. My friends, can I ask for your assets’ assistance to prolong our escape?”

The five ambassadors looked at one another, taking only a moment to analyze the Controller’s demands. What he asked for was a huge gamble, but at this time, what else was left? All that he offered was the sliver of a chance, but that was infinitely better than nothing. Survival over victory; that was the new goal of their alliance.

They nodded in acceptance. Now all they could do was wait.

***

A magnificent and horrific shape began to move, the moon itself seeming to groan beneath her. Each footfall taken was nothing short of a tectonic event, displacing the lunar surface with jagged and ruptured rock. A living calamity of unimaginable proportion, draped in thick, heavy armor and glistening from the remnants of her former sack. Her many eyes, lined along her neck, glowed a pallid green. But the primary set illuminated with a spiteful yellow hue, housing a dark, primal intelligence and blind hunger.

Around the mammoth feet of Magita, the hunter horde swarmed like ants. Those who had survived the cataclysmic entry of the hive eyed the quintet with ravenous hunter, mandibles and claws twitching in anticipation of the feast. As the circle closed in, Bemular took heed of a Zilla-Trilopod that had taken interest in him, guiding one of its collector brethren closer to aid it in its sickening task. He barked off a warning, and the hybrid tensed in response.

A colossal mass slammed down just as the hunter began its leap. The defenders of Planet X and the arthropod vanguard were equally disordinated by the thunderous impact. As the dust began to clear, the noise of the screeching hunters rang out. The massive head of Magita rose up with the Zilla-Trilopod and its Alpha cohort locked inside her hooked mouthparts, ignorant to their squeals of protest while her jaws ground them to paste.

Of the five-monster alliance, only Mechagodzilla did not look on in horror at the repulsive sight, its computer unable to register concepts such as disgust or terror. Uncaring for the titan’s presence, the Trilopods continued to advance on the group, seemingly ignorant to the death of their own kin even as ichor and blood dripped upon their carapaces. Gulping down the mangled remains, Magita turned to look for the next source of bio-mass, spoiled for choice on this overpopulated battlefield, and none too picky to whatever or whoever filled her insatiable gullet.

The rag-tag group braced themselves, but knew staying put would certainly only end in their demise. Taking charge as the ringleader, Gigan eyed the gargantuan supergiant, taking heed of the extremities that loomed from behind the monstrous silhouette. Two sets of massive pinchers swayed on elongated tails, each one more than capable of gripping and slicing them in two if they were ever caught. So with a shrieking command, Gigan gave the first order: split up!

Following the cyborg’s lead, Megalon, Mechagodzilla, and Bemular joined in flight, scattering across the skies through their various means of self-propulsion. Gigan kept a healthy distance, observing the overwhelming mountain of chitin pulling its tremendous mass.

The others did their thing. Mechagodzilla, engines howling, soared with a flurry of Space Beams against her armored hide, detonating as explosive sparks. Certainly more durable than the lowly Trilopod troops. The airborne machine swerved around a swipe from Magita’s segmented arms, barely evading the brutal blow. Close quarters may not be an option for Mechagodzilla, every moment and every strike had to count.

Swooping in from the side, Megalon’s wings fluttered into motion, spitting volleys of lightning bolts and burning orbs upon the supergiant. Successive rounds struck Magita like a hailstorm of blazing suns…. Yet it barely left a mark against her indomitable defenses. Fire temporarily swamped her colossal form, yet no burns remained.

From within the confines of his orbital form, Bemular streaked across the vacant heavens. A darting comet shimmering with pristine light as he looped around Magita. But as the firepower from the mechanical destroyer and the beetle god ceased, the frenzied criminal opted for a daring strike–perhaps even a stupid one, but one with nothing to lose. Pulsating with tremendous light, Bemular slammed all his mass into a lethal strike, forcibly pressing against the cranium of the titanic arthropod.

Had it been any other monster, it would have proved worthy as a critical strike. But against Magita? It was merely the force of an apple against the human skull. An irritation, if nothing else. One Magita did not leave unheeded.

Monstrous pedipalps flared, lunging for the searing blue travel sphere in which Bemular resided. Teeth made for crunching and grinding snapped shut from a gaping maw capable of swallowing kaiju whole. Darting across open space, Bemular drew her ire, keeping the wrathful anomalocarid squared on him.

Gigan kept his distance, contemplating his next action. There were notable weak points, especially with the many eye-like organs lined along this colossus’ neck… But provoking her that soon may result in his premature death. A blue flash from his forehead cannon fired a crimson laser, which barely bore into the thick armor. The cyborg squawked in disappointment. At the very minimum, he could continue rallying the others to action, keeping firm tabs of her next move.

But in the back of his mind, he knew this situation was going to turn for the worse soon enough…

Cyber Godzilla remained grounded, arching his path just barely out of range of Magita’s colossal feet and the surrounding broken earth. A huff from its nostrils reflected the strain placed upon it; for there were no immediate weaknesses the reanimated cyborg could take advantage of. Thick armored plating ensured there was no weapon at his disposal that could harm the living mountain… But the many eyes proved promising. But Gigan’s lack of initiative informed him otherwise.

Yet there were other matters to concern themselves with.

With a twist of his neck, Cyber Godzilla peered over the horizon. What he saw raised concern… A new wave of Trilopods, from the freshly deployed pods, scavenging the battlefield for their war-dead. A snarl escaped his undead lips at the sickening display he saw next. The smaller, lithe cretins crawled onto the shredded bodies of the fallen hybrids, siphoning the genetic extract and fattening themselves to initiate the birth of a new clan of fearsome killers. And when they found their way up the backs of the host warriors, the ritual began once more. Harvested from the dead, a new breed of Trilopod hybrids screeched, proclaiming their impending arrival.

A snort from the machine augment gave him a moment to think. To concoct a scheme that’d make use of a bad situation turning worse… He scanned the incoming army and the hulking behemoth that threatened to kill them all.

Green eyes widened. An idea.

Returning his gaze upon the incoming horde, Cyber Godzilla declared his presence to the imposters, staying his ground. Among the reconstructed Trilopods, it was a Megalon variant that took the bait. Clasping its drills together, it plunged straight to where Cyber Godzilla stood, eager to gore the undead machine to plaster… Only for the Leviathan weapon to turn tail and speed towards the great colossus.

Springing with his powerful legs, the cyborg clung onto one of the many massive trunks that supported Magita. He felt the immensity of her movement, how the devouring queen lifted her appendage up and began to sway, shaking it violently. But still, the Leviathan cyborg remained undeterred. And all as he anticipated, the Megalon-Trilopod flew too close and, with the tremendous force behind the wobbling leg, splattered to pieces.

Thrusting her leg back down, Magita boomed with a vibrating roar of destructive prowess. The juddering tremors shook the cyborg, funneling them into his chest. But now was not the time for that. Storing the sonic vibrations, he’d have to make the bold climb up… But that wasn’t going to be made easy. If it wasn’t for the incoming Gigan-Trilopod wanting to dice him to bits, then certainly the incoming swing of the pincher-tipped tail was certainly going to. With another powerful bound, Cyber Godzilla flew onto the incoming appendage, landing near the base of the pincers.

Adapting on the fly, the reanimated cyborg dashed along the thick, lithe tail, following its trail and being careful not to slip off the colossal queen. Before he knew it, Cyber Godzilla found himself near the base, proceeding to climb along the back of the mammoth titan. But pursuers came in close as a pair of Bemular-Trilopods orbited him in their shimmering crimson spheres. A sneering growl escaped Cyber Godzilla’s lips, crouching low for another jump…

…Only for a thin red laser to pierce the hull of the travel sphere, puncturing through the Trilopod’s head. Before the other could make its mark, it was met with the full thrust of Gigan’s mass, the cyborg throwing himself against it. Pressing himself against the orb, the revving buzzsaw roared to life, sparking and grating against the energy ball in a splashing array of lights. It burrowed within the energized shell, breaching the host within, mangling the Trilopod hybrid until its brimming red light faded, leaving only a sawed-open husk to drop from orbit. With others inbound, Gigan took the fight to them, leaving Cyber Godzilla back to his mountainous trek.

Magita was far from static. Her wild and lively movements made it difficult to keep a steady climb, but it was a mission Cyber Godzilla was insistent he’d complete. Ever shifting movements kept the cyborg lizard on his toes; for every lunge of her long, outstretched ‘arms’ or thrust of her tremendous mass, the harder it was to climb. Even so, this did not deter the Leviathan automaton. He saw his allies fighting for their lives, with Magita’s hungry gaze fixated upon the brilliant blues of Bemular’s travel sphere. They had her distracted. And with Gigan dismantling the other airborne Trilopod clones with a flurry of hooks, buzzsaws, and laser beams, Cyber Godzilla knew his chance was now.

There was no doubt in the reptile’s mind that the colossus knew he was there; but the firefight from the others shifted her priorities. For every vibration carried, he stored it in his chest compartment, gestating sonic waves waiting to come out. And the higher he climbed, the more of the warring battlefield he saw. But now was not the time for observations; now was the time to strike! And with his chest flapping open, Cyber Godzilla proceeded to do just that.

Pressing against the skull of the humongous anomalocarid, Cyber Godzilla discharged all the sonic reserves in his chest, sending waves of intense vibrations through her thick armor. When they found their way through, the hollering, booming roar of Magita rang out of her gigantic maw, whose intense vibrations fueled the sonic discharge even more. Her head violently thrashed, attempting to dislodge the diminutive creature off of her. And with another firm head thrust, Cyber Godzilla lost his grip, sending the undead squamate hurtling off of her like a speeding bullet. The damage was undeniable, the impact scrapping the metal arm off the reanimated corpse entirely and rendering the components to his chest cavity useless.

Stunned and reorienting her senses, her hulking mass for once stopped moving. It was this chance they had to use, an opening created by the Leviathan zombie. Megalon and Mechagodzilla flanked the immobile supergiant with a united blast of lightning and lasers of flashing spectrums, their combined array aimed for the shoulder joint. Great thick chitinous flesh was not as sturdy as the layered armor, but would have proved resilient in most cases. But in unifying their beam weapons, they began to burn and scar the shoulder padding, earning her ire in the form of a reverberating shriek of agony.

The jolt forced her to move, and both monsters were quick to disengage. But while Mechagodzilla veered away from the incoming strike, Megalon doubled down and pushed further. Clamping his hand-drills together, they began to spin with utmost intensity, boring into the rugged flesh of the super-sized titan. Flaky, ashen flesh and striated muscles scattered as the screaming wails of the mighty Magita resounded once more. Unlike the subterranean realm under the crust, be it planet or moon, the innards of the great devourer proved to be far thicker than he had anticipated. Sensing the many parts of Magita at play with his antennae, the space within began to contract, threatening to crush Megalon from sheer, overwhelming muscle.

But he pushed ever deeper. Though his wishes of rendering her asunder from within failed, simply making it to the other side would prove more than sufficient. Especially for what he had in mind next.

His multi-part mandibles opened, spitting out one napalm bomb after another, each embedding in the wall of muscle and chitin as he passed along. But instead of exploding on impact, these were timed. And so long as he found an exit, then there was a nasty surprise awaiting the monstrous calamity…

Much to Megalon’s relief, he felt his drills poke and prod beyond the boundaries of Magita’s thick flesh. Shredding it all apart, the insectoid god burst through and soared high into the dark skies.

Then came the moment of promise.

Explosive charges set off, the fleshy tunnel igniting with burning orange fire and curdling smoke from both ends. Even her screams filled her maw with fire and smoke, bile pouring from the internal wounds created by the magnificent Megalon. But just as the god of Seatopia mocked and jeered at the titanic behemoth, he was suddenly met with an airborne ambush. An imitation of himself, Gigan, and Bemular rushed from above, putting all their collective mass into hurtling Megalon into the lunar surface…

Even so, it was up to Mechagodzilla to continue the assault.

Keeping focus on its primary directive, the bionic superweapon reloaded its finger ports, replacing the standard artillery in favor of a stronger punch. New missiles slotted into place, their shape distinctly harpoon-like as the alien terminator brought its hands frontward, rotating rapidly at the wrist joints. And with a powerful blast, the revolver missiles fired off, bombarding the plated armor and dense skin of the colossus that opposed them. The potent explosions washed over the monstrous figure in a shower of sparks, spurting blood and cracking armor from the power they packed.

Mechagodzilla refused to let up. Another round of revolvers found their mark against her many pseudocone eyes, mutilating them in a violent display of mechanical might. The infuriated Magita swung recklessly, hoping to find a target she could smash to pieces–yet these persistent insects continued to resist her eternal hunger.

For a fleeting instant, it looked like victory…

But such a fate was not meant to be.

Her body wracked with agonizing pain, the great colossus began to tremble. Powerful trunks and spindly prolegs shifted, spreading them out. Armor rattled as folds between the legs and body began to move, the previously unseen appendages unraveling from their hidden crevice. Her actions were slow, but very much deliberate. It came alive as it rose in full display, the lithe appendages tipped with serrated spears glistened unlike that of the body armor the titanic monstrosity adorned. The mesmerizing sight befell all who bore witness to it, especially as it began to spread out and unfurl. Suddenly, the new extensions fully revealed themselves to be wings! Their tertiary gradients flowed between the cool colors, offsetting her reddish armor and chitinous flesh, showing her majesty in its truest essence.

As her wings spread their terrifying visage, the mere act of unfolding disrupted the flightpaths of the airborne. Mechagodzilla was derailed from rushing into the membranes, with only a quick activation of the Defense Neo Barrier cushioning the impact, the residual burns doing little against the thick skin of her wings. As they fully outstretched, revealing their full glory, they likewise incidentally intercepted Gigan’s slaughter of the Trilopods, knocking the cyborg out of rhythm. Shifting to evasive mode, Gigan focused on dodging the incoming swarms of Trilopods surrounding him… But what the terrifying ‘Trilopod Queen’ had in store was cause of great concern.

Magita’s unemotive eyes narrowed on the fallen Cyber Godzilla, who was struggling to find its footing. A flap of her gargantuan wings dispelled the thin atmosphere of Planet X, preparing to take flight… Until a glowing blue sphere caught her attention. From within, Bemular growled. He had gotten in over his head; their chances were slim to none against this beast of the galaxy. Even with everything they’ve thrown at her, she still stood tall–and more importantly, alive. Warring pursuers be damned, he had to escape!

Pulsing with all the power at his disposal, Bemular flew away from the lost cause of a battle. There was no victory to be had here. But as he did, his sphere’s sonar informed him that the great devourer had achieved liftoff, following his flight trail. And to his horror, perhaps due to the less dense core of the moon or her immense size, she was catching up to him! As they breached the depths of outer space, Bemular squarely focused on escape–once he was fully freed from any influence of the moon’s light pull, he’d be in the home stretch. And at first, it seemed he was finally exceeding her, putting distance between them. But before he could shriek a victorious cheer, a large appendage flanked him at his side. The immense impact shattered the travel sphere in an instant; though had it not been for it, he would have been broken into pieces of organic chunks for certain. Magita’s long, segmented arms made their mark, sending him spiraling out of control.

A fading spark, cast into the void.

Even injured and maimed, Magita stood strong. Her enormity began to drop back to the moon, more than ready to plummet onto the lunar surface with all her mass. Among her dominant and remaining neck eyes, she found her initial target writhing on the ground. Such a pathetic creature. Guiding her falling trajectory, it was only a matter of time before she found her mark once more; this time, disposing of another pest as Cyber Godzilla vanished under her immensity. The ensuing impact rocked the moon once again, the demise of Cyber Godzilla more than certain.

The monstrous rumbling vibrated even the thin atmosphere, the vibrations passing through Mechagodzilla’s space titanium. But even against overwhelming odds, its directive remained unwavering. No room for compromise; terminate and destroy until there was nothing left. Even as a flock of flying Trilopods converged on the magnificent machine, they were quickly torn asunder by revolving missiles and an array of Space Beams and Cross Attack Beams, pulverizing the hybrid warriors without issue. And once disposed of, his cold, cybernetic eyes narrowed on the main prize…

Magita heralded another booming cacophony, her wings outstretched, imposing her massive figure. Calculations ran through the artificial mind of the superweapon, suspicious of her behavior. As if to confirm those suspicions, her massive wings folded at speeds that belied their size, drawing the curtains to reveal her next move. A set of lithe appendages barreled over her folded wings, the massive set of tail pinchers aimed squarely at the cosmic machine. Against the first, Mechagodzilla retaliated with a flurry of Space Beams and revolver missiles. Their impacts diverted the chela from its original trajectory, leaving the steel reptile ample time to evade the second one with precise maneuverability.

But their pursuit did not stop, the over-the-shoulder tails veering back around for a second chance. Perhaps there was opportunity to be had, using her pincers to sustain self-inflicted damage. Or perhaps such a chance was never meant to manifest; although Mechagodzilla had swerved out of the way of the initial strike, it was the second set of pincers that snagged the machine midflight, crunching against its space titanium hull. With applied pressure, the bony protrusions breached its machine innards, initiating a massive explosion where Mechagodzilla had once been. At last, a thorn in her side had been plucked, leaving only blackened ash across her massive tail pincer.

One by one they fell, forcing them to submit to her power, to prove her voracious hunger. None shall stand in her way.

Her eyes diverted to the cries and pleas of the straggler that dared puncture a hole through her. She saw the cretin pinned under several other of the Trilopod units, each one beating and battering the fallen beetle monster with ruthless torment. Her boisterous declaration forced them to move, fully intending on consuming this one to feast. The Trilopods scattered, enabling her to open wide and devour the unmoving prey…

Before her jaws could clamp shut, a speeding figure zipped past, hooking his fallen ally and pulling the beetle’s weight as they sped off. Anger boiled, an unfettered rage portraying her dismay as Gigan hauled his dying compatriot out of harm’s way. Perhaps such attempts were feeble; but after this devastating loss, there was no turning back. As if to reciprocate those feelings, a retreat signal was transmitted to his antenna horn, relaying the commands to fall back.

Assured that this fight would continue another time, Gigan held Megalon close. And with an array of full-body flashes, hardened crystallization encased both of them. In a matter of moments, the diamond casing began operating by Gigan’s will, putting distance between them and the destructive Magita. But even as they escaped, the war had truly fallen into the Cryog’s favor. Their warships descended upon the fleeing saucers of the Xilien-Kilaak fleets, sparing none in the process. Their massive laser cannons pointed at the retreating diamond, attempting to pulverize it. But Gigan evaded, barely nicking the casing as it sped for the stars…

Magita stood amidst a sea of death, the mangled remains of the dead strewn like offerings around her feet. A loud, boisterous roar proclaimed her absolute victory, but with it too came the pangs of hunger. As her Cryog ‘masters’ and Trilopod hybrids pursued the last of the stragglers, she began to feast. With deliberate calm, she bent down, her jaws unfurling as she began to feed. Their scattered or smashed corpses vacuumed into her gullet, satiating her eternal hunger with the rotten decay of the dead over the fresh taste of live prey.

With each step, the ground trembled beneath her hunger. But this would not prove to be enough. Nothing ever would. No matter how long it took, all would digest in the furnace of her belly. No planet, no galaxy would be safe from her everlasting hunger.

She would continue until she was full.

***

Alarms blared throughout the facility. The signal to retreat to all forces had been sent. The operators screamed of breaches and incursions occurring throughout all their sectors. The supercomputer ran through all calculations.

They lost. And the future held an inevitable outcome.

They were all going to die.

Jeering eyes mocked them from the other side of the screen, a cruel, curling smile rose from the twisted dictator. All his rows of razor-sharp teeth were bare and exposed, savoring every last moment of the fall of this rag-tag group of rebels that dared fight against his overwhelming might.

“You tried, and you failed once again,” the Cryog ruler spat, “Even together, you are nothing without the power to prove it. Your species will be a dead race you all will see with your very eyes, all the while the great rule of the Cryog will expand and thrive. The universe wills our species’ propagation, and nothing will stand in the way.”

His hands trembled, the Controller taking a moment to catch his breath. He had to suppress these emotions, if only to keep a stable mind. But such swelling anxieties became hard to ignore… But no matter; he pressed on, issuing his stern warning to the pervader of life.

“Know this, Cryog.” The countenance of the frilled emperor shifted to petty annoyance, not bothering to correct the Xilien of his namesake. “This battle isn’t over.”

Karkaro huffed in amusement. “Is that so? Whatever you think you have will fall to us. Know that, for certain.” The transmission feed ceased to be, the base vibrating intensely. No doubt scouts for the Cryog Empire arrived at their footsteps. Troops and soldiers would come flooding in at any moment… Then another violent explosion resounded from beyond.

“Great Leaders!” the Xilien operator panicked, “The Cryog forces are pursuing the attack!”

True to their word, every last one of them were going to be exterminated.

“Dishonorable wretch!” Antonio shrieked. “He won the battle!”

“Species such as the Cryog concern themselves less with taking prisoners, so long as their arrogance as the superior conception remains the status quo,” the Leviathan Sopler rationalized.

“Indeed, and so will remain the case as long as the Cryog thrive,” Hoffman added. Their blank green eyes flashed red, the surrounding Xilien computers picking up a Tachyon transmission beamed straight into the Leviathans’ brains.

“What is it?” The Kilaak Queen quickly inquired.

“Core Command has issued a retreat,” Hoffman relayed. “But such tactics are fallible with the Cryog’s ever-advancing pursuits.” The Leviathan aliens glanced at their contemporaries. “So we will hold off their forces. Use this chance to make your escape. For the sake of peace among all species.”

“Your sacrifices will not be forgotten,” the Xilien Controller remarked. “Before they flood this room, allow us to recompense you with an eventuality. A promise.” The Controller pressed a series of button commands into the supercomputer, the immediate action sending out a pronounced signal. “A promise that the Monster Zero Contingency will flatten everything the Cryog are and stand for.”

A crooked smile crawled over the stoic faces of the Leviathan aliens. “The gesture is much appreciated. Now go, follow the Nebulans’ plan and flee, and keep to your word, Controller.”

The Controller and the Mistress nodded in gratitude. All the while, Fumio relayed the plan, the group sprinting off to the nearest elevator that was least likely occupied by the incoming footsoldiers. As the leaders and the surrounding Xilien-Kilaak subordinates fled out of the chamber, the Leviathan were at last left alone. But such isolation proved short-lived as, just as predicted, the squirming tentacled limbs of the Cryog troops flooded the vacant room. Their numbers lined up, spear-guns raised and prepared to fire away with no regard.

A gambit the Leviathan were willing to play with.

Their green eyes flashed, exerting their telepathic influence to all those within the confined space. Some held strong, their servitude to their callous king unwavering; but among them were those with neural pathways susceptible to their psychic will. And it was in exploiting their individual sense of thought that some of the Cryog soldiers began to turn against their kind. Before long, they were in-fighting amongst each other, screaming and shouting as they slaughtered the traitors in their midst.

“You may hold fear or devotion to your deluded tyrant, but know that your individuality is your greatest weakness,” the Leviathan boldly proclaimed, their necks extending in a display of intimidation. “Without a conglomerate mind, the Cryog Empire will certainly fall.” But the strong-willed among the Cryog soldiers resumed their aim, blasting away at the rotund alien organisms without remorse. A hole seared into Sopler’s chest, another round separating his arm. Yet another found its mark along Hoffman’s extended neck, severing his head from the rest of his body.

Both aliens fell over, dead.

The stifled air returned to normalcy, without the telepathic influence of the Leviathan blinding them. However, among the dwindled numbers in their group, those that had turned against the will of Karkaro were exterminated on the spot. There was no room to compromise with the enemy, be it of a different species or ideology. Those who showed weakness needed to be exterminated.

For the glory of the Cryog.

—

The pitter patter of their scurries rang through the vacant halls, each turn Fumio took representing a step closer to getting out of here alive. That was, provided, they weren’t slain in the process. The spade-shaped halls were confounding to those not acquainted with them, but fortunately the Nebulan ringleader was more than adjusted for the most optimal path there. And even when they found Cryog soldiers, there was an alternate path on the fly they could take. Perhaps it was because of the hostile environment they thrived in and supplanted, but the Nebulans’ instincts were on-point. A trait the Xilien Controller secretly admired.

Kubota acted as a protective guard for the Seatopian Emperor, ensuring his safety first and foremost. As Fumio navigated, the Controller and the Queen acted as the rear-guard, whipping out their laser pistols at the incoming intruders. Anytime the cyan laser made contact, it pierced the transparent barriers that protected the Cryog footsoldiers, their life-like colors reduced to a negative state before vanishing from this plane of existence.

Fortunately for them, any hits they did take from the enemy spear-guns were greatly reduced by an electrifying protective forcefield, courtesy of Kilaak technology. Even so, it wasn’t impervious; for every blaster nicked his black armored vest, it exposed more of the gray spandex that laid underneath, and more importantly, the circuitry of his cybernetically augmented body. The Queen, however, was better off. Any damage sustained to her could morph and form around the wound, regenerating it as if nothing happened. The perk of being made of living metal, so long as the button-like radiator wasn’t broken…

“Here!” Fumio directed. “Into the elevator, quick!”

Operated with quick button presses and influenced by thought, the orange-like hue greeted the rag-tag alliance as they shoved into the tight space. By the time the doors slid shut, the Cryogs tried in vain to stop the elevator’s advances. But given the influence the Controller had over it, it proved for naught. Despite the temporary reprieve, the fight was inevitably waiting for them at the bottom…

“A little tight in here,” Antonio plainly acknowledged. This space would be comfortable for two individuals, but being crammed up like this was less than desirable.

“Gentlemen, allow us to take the frontlines,” the Controller requested. “The enemy forces are likely going to be ready. We will protect you with our forcefields.”

“Does your computer guarantee that outcome, darling?” the Kilaak Queen teased.

The Controller simply smirked. “This is my own calculated move to make.” His face returned to its default stoicism, addressing Fumio directly. “Where is your vessel?”

“We kept it secluded in the event things went south. Under a cliff near here. We will follow Gigan’s path as the best escape route once spaceborne.”

“You certainly have the foresight, Mr. Fumio,” the Controller complimented. They shuffled around, adjusting as need be. What waited outside was without question a risk they were going to have to take–

“Wait.” The insisted words of the Nebulan chairman caught his attention. Antennae perked, a realization that dawned on him. “I may have something worthwhile.”

The Xilien leader nodded, allowing Fumio to proceed…

—

War raged in the hangar. Blasters pelted off metal walls as the Cryog fought viciously against the joint Xilien-Kilaak efforts. Their forcefields protected them, but were not without fault. With repetitive and consecutive blows, it didn’t take long for the tentacled troops to overwhelm an Xilien or Kilaakian fighter. All things considered, it wasn’t holding up too well.

Elevator doors opened, with the Great Leaders and Antonio forcibly pushed out. Two Cryog guards kept their spear-guns pointed to their backs, with one of their armed tentacles restraining the Seatopian royal. “Move it!” one of them barked. Before they could proceed any further, a unit of Cryog soldiers aimed their weapons at the captives.

“Halt!” They cocked their weapons. “The decree from His Lordship is the extermination of all rebel scum!”

“And Lord Karkaro will get his wish!” the guard rebutted. “However, he requested that he make an example out of these ‘Great Leaders’ himself. The filthy insects are also scurrying somewhere, so get a move on!” With apprehensive gruffs and mocking jeers, the Cryog resumed battle against the remaining forces, the guards escorting their hosts to beyond the hangar bay.

Turning around through the large entranceway, the Cryog pair were quick to scan for any suspicious activity. With nothing of note, the Cryogs and their prisoners slinked away, out of sight of the others. But even the outside was a horrific sight; the monstrous Magita dwarfed the mountainous ranges of Planet X, and even further beyond were the massive Cryog warships and space fleet giving their collective a run for their money. But to ensure their kind lived to see another day, their leaders had to be there to guide their people through these dark times.

“There, to the right,” the Cryog whispered into the Controller’s auditor receptor. It was an ideal spot, underneath a ledge covered by the looming rocky formation and the fortified hangar.

“Your talents continue to impress,” the Kilaak Queen warmly remarked. But before any of them could go on further, the cyan blast of laser beams zipped past, scattering the rag-tag group. Two Xiliens and two Kilaaks, having followed their trail, closed the gap. They swayed their pistols with wavering conviction. The Cryog guards raised their spears, aimed and ready to fire.

“Ceasefire!” the Xilien commandant ordered. Obeying his word, the subordinates did as they were told and lowered their weapons.

“My Queen, I am glad you’re alive!” a Kilaak kindly gestured. The Queen only responded with a heavy nod, keeping a close eye on her subjects.

“Great Leader, why are these Cryog taking you to this hillside?” quizzed one of the Xiliens.

The Controller absorbed the moment. The fearful eyes of the Nebulans masquerading as Cryogs, the incantation of the subordinates, the leering eyes of his Queen… A very different picture was being painted. He had to choose his words carefully.

“Cryog sympathizers. They understand our cause for universal peace, so they were willing to guide us to safety. So please, disarm yourselves in the name of peace.”

They waited with bated breath, seeing what kind of reaction those words invoked. The real truth would have made it impossible to discern if they were hostile, or even an open invitation to get closer. But in the limited time exposed to their ruthless leader, it informed the Controller of what he needed to know. Sympathy to a cause other than their own would not be tolerated.

All he had to do was irritate that itch.

“My Great Leader, don’t be absurd! We are in a war, and–”

“Open fire.” Without hesitation, the false Cryogs complied with the Controller’s orders, the cyan laser emitting from the spear-gun, which in actuality had simply been the pistol disguised under image projection. It found its mark against an Xilien agent, and just as they suspected, the atomizing Xilien shed its disguise to reveal the Cryog beneath, clearly having appropriated weapons from the war-dead. And it didn’t take long for the others to show their true colors.

As their facades wore off, the tentacled aliens aimed their weapons. Two of them kept their eyes locked on the imposter species, evading laser fire as they did. The third, however, took a different approach. Their shot wasn’t intended for any of the other extraterrestrial species–save for one. Surrounded by bodies on nearly all sides was the Seatopian ruler, only armed with Nebulan-derived pistols, a far cry from the more refined Xilien laser guns. Even so, the human proved to be the most vulnerable, with the disguised cockroaches bearing the borrowed tech and the Great Leaders of the alliance using their forcefields to protect them from incoming fire. And with a blast, he fired off.

For a moment, Antonio saw the eyes of his killer. His heart stopped, fearing death was soon to find him. He prayed to Megalon for a safe passage.

But before he could accept death, the formation broke. Barking orders from the Kilaak Queen issued for Kubota to move, allowing her to more closely defend them both with her electrified barrier. Even as they successfully redirected round after round, it still chipped away at her fluid metal form. Then, a gesture from one Cryog to another issued a shift in strategy; and instead of one, two began whaling against her protection with rapidfire succession.

Before anyone knew it, they broke through.

A round from the spear-guns found its mark along the Kilaak Queen’s neck, puncturing it–and worse yet, breaking the radiator that helped her sustain shape. Her determined visage ran cold with fear as her structure began to malform, losing the human-like shape they all adopted for themselves. In this loss, the Nebulans used this chance to eliminate another of the Cryog warriors, the combined laser fire atomizing them. Even so, another casualty was no less devastating, even with their nigh-immortality and malleable form.

The visceral and slimy metal slug that remained squirmed in place, Antonio quickly scooped up the disfigured Queen in his palms. Without hesitation, Kubota kept up the attack, ensuring the Seatopian Emperor’s safety behind the Controller. Pillaging laser fire kept up from the enemy opposition, but scoring direct hits from the pistols ensured the demise of the Cryog soldiers. But such reprieve didn’t last long before other Cryog soldiers began flooding the ravine, no doubt lured by their firefight. The best they could manage was crawling back, inching ever slowly to the crevice that housed their means of escape.

“Lord Antonio, make a break for it!” Kubota shouted. Mustering all the courage and speed he could, the Seatopian leader made a beeline for the rickety saucer, the Queen in hand. Even if it was structurally imperfect, it was certainly a better alternative than being left in the open.

The shutter opened, a quick scanner recognition identifying Antonio. He was almost there, but his nerves ran cold. Death could come for him any given second…

“ANTONIO!”

His name resounded from the mouth of the still-disguised Nebulan, bolting away from the protection of the Controller’s barrier.

“KUBOTA, NO!” Fumio shouted, enraged and in disbelief. The Xilien commandant could only vex his frustration, unable to do anything to stop Kubota without compromising their well-being.

Antonio took one look back to see the unfolding scenario before his eyes before he could slip into the spacecraft. A blaster was aimed straight for him, the shot trailing in his direction. But a sudden shadow obstructed the incoming projectile. An overwhelming sense of emotion ran through Antonio as he realized Kubota took the hit, his false Cryog body bursting with the sticky fluids of a cockroach. His body flashed in photonegative light, dissipating the projected image and exposing the real damage done to the Nebulan counselor. The insectoid body burst open from the firefight, ensuring the protection of Antonio at the cost of his own life.

Not wanting his death to be in vain, the Seatopian royal fled into the spacecraft, leaving him a moment to process his comrade’s death.

Fumio and the Controller picked up the pace, the Controller recollecting his weapon from the fallen Kubota along the way. As they lined up for the spaceship, Fumio darted in as fast as he could while the Xilien held guard at the only entrance available, doing his damndest to keep the genocidal killers at bay. Lights flickered from the Nebulan transport vessel, its alien engines purring to life. When he felt the shifting movements of the ship’s antigravity propulsion kick in, the Controller sealed the door, allowing the Cryog blasters to pelt off the ship’s outer shell.

Lifting off the ground, the Nebulan saucer sped off from the tight crevice, ascending to the vacuum above and soaring into the darkness. Even as their dwindling fleets tried to follow, the onslaught of Cryog war vessels and gunships unloaded their payloads with ruthless vigor. Fumio steered their small ship on the most optimal flight path, barely missing the stray laser cannons that came their way. There were no weapons aboard; so all they could do was hold out and hope Fumio would guide them to safety among the stars.

To reconvene. To continue their fight.

The Xilien strolled up next to the Seatopian lord, casting his gaze upon the slug form of his Mistress.

“Human bodies produce more heat than most other species out there. To prevent her from going into hibernation, keep her close. I will try and create a new radiator for her.” Before he could scavenge for parts, Antonio spoke up.

“I’ve failed.” The human emperor sulked in misery. “Failed my god, my people, and my allies. And when Hell breaks loose, what do I do? I flee, hide behind others for the sake of my own protection. I should have been prepared for this outcome, but I let the Nebulans do that for me… How little I’ve been able to contribute. Except for being a heat source!” His body tensed, frustrated beyond comparison. “It should have been Kubota here in my place.”

The Xilien gleamed at the distraught emperor, computing his next words. “Indecision is the greatest weakness of any leader,” the Controller stated coldly, “Without resolve, your people will suffer for it. Your weakness since you got here.” He let those words linger, pressing the subterranean human into guilt over his actions. Even so, Antonio did not refute the claims, but silently accepted them. “But the greatest of leaders can be born from the valleys of despair, so long as you are willing to accept the reality that has transpired and rebound from it. Kubota died knowing that. It was a risk he was willing to take. Do not let his death be for nothing.”

A stifled sniffle came from the broken man. He wiped away his tears, being careful not to let any slip on the metal slug that leeched off his natural warmth. “Your kind can be robotic and straightforward, even cold…” Antonio mustered the will to engage eye contact. “But thank you.”

The Controller returned the gesture with a robotic nod. “And you are very welcome, Lord Antonio.” The Xilien resumed his trek, walking away as the Seatopian Emperor was left to his own devices. The metallic limax gently wrapped herself around his arm, a firm but warm grip as she siphoned the heat from his body. He had to be sure to take care of her in the interim. To take action of his own volition.

For the sake of a more prosperous future.

***

Bulbous eyes flickered open.

Floating in the great void of space, Bemular stared at the stars beyond, consumed by the many agonies that permeated his body. Broken spines, bruised scales and lacerations of all sizes decorated the dinosaurian’s bloodied form, his reward for his part in the alliance he had wanted no part in. Pain blurred his thoughts, making Bemular’s memories of what transpired fuzzy, leaving him uncertain to the fates of his despised “allies”. What really wanted was that he was alive. He had survived the hunt. Could the others say the same, at this point in time?

He couldn’t dawdle for too long. Intelligence was far from the greatest of the reptile’s traits, but Bemular could tell that the blow which had knocked him out couldn’t have launched him far from the moon’s surface, which left him squarely within the pursuer’s range, should they choose to follow. And he had no plans to wait and see if they would.

Where to go, however? Bemular scanned the stars for a direction to go, and his gaze caught on a distant blue shape amidst the distance lights. Something clicked within the alien’s scattered consciousness, a sense of familiarity, almost as if he had been here before. Confusion racked his thoughts, though the promise of sanctuary was too tempting to ignore.

A bright flash ignited in the void as the criminal entered his travel ball and began the journey towards the blue planet. Though he knew that any sanctuary he might find there would be temporary with the hostile invaders practically on its doorstep, Bemular was willing to take any chance of relief that he could.

And if this world turned out to be inhabited just like the last one, Bemular hoped they would have the common sense to leave him alone.

 

Chapter 9: The Battle Continues

Silence hung over the colourless terrain of Planet X. After a millenia of survival, clinging on above the brink of collapse, the hub of the once mighty Xilien empire had gone dark, snuffed out by a newer and greater power. Black smoke rose from the scorched remains of the citadel and dissipated quickly in the thin atmosphere, the structure as much a corpse as the numerous dead that scattered the moon’s monochrome soil. The last specks of life had been silenced; Planet X now well and truly a dead world.

High in orbit, Karkaro looked down upon his triumph in cold, calculating silence. Another victory for the glory of the empire, another step closer down the path of the great plan he had entailed. His orders delivered, the emperor was free to observe how the clean-up operation progressed. Techno-organic supply craft worked in swarming droves to strip down the remains of the Leviathan fleet, disassembling their bulk to be repurposed for the needs of their own, while on the surface far below, similar crafts took charge in herding the swarms of Trilopods back into the confines of the hive. Cables attached to two massive carriers were secured to the exterior of the fleshy mass in preparation for transport back to the mothership, bringing along its fresh bounty of harvested biomass.

Body disposal was left to the endless appetite of the hive queen. Showing no remorse for the fate of her fallen “kin”, Magita feasted at her own leisure, throwing body after body into the living meat grinder that was her colossal maw. Her scythed limbs probed the rubble for further bounties and skewered the mangled remains of Cyber Godzilla, slurping it down like spaghetti with only the mildest shudder of disgust at its flavour.

Any other being would have felt disgust or terror at the sight of her. Instead, Karkaro was utterly enthralled by the titan’s beauty. He and her were alike, transformed in the wake of the Great Destroyer, taking on his teachings in order to propagate the survival of their races. There was a hunger inside them, a voice gnawing away constantly at the back of their minds to be appeased by conquest and slaughter. Perhaps this was the reason he was so fascinated by her. The only non-Cryog in the universe that could understand the purpose behind his vision.

“Remarkable, isn’t she?”

He didn’t spare a glance as the commander stepped beside him, knowing fullheartedly of the disdain that Rhizon held for him and his beloved queen. His views were too shallow to see the beauty that lay before him.

“Where did you find it?” Rhizon’s words were laced with horrified awe as he stared at the feasting titan. “Where did you find the technology to even control such a thing?”

“Now, now, my dear Rhizon,” the emperor of the Cryog chuckled. “We’re all entitled to our little secrets, aren’t we? Especially if they benefit the empire.”

Now Karkaro cast his gaze to the side, drinking in his subordinate’s look of muffled frustration. It was cute, like a hatchling standing up against their schoolyard bully. Though in that scenario, the hatchling would have more of a spine than his “trusted” commander ever would.

“Prepare the fleet to regather and move out when you’ve finished cleaning up the mess. I want following those snivelling cowards’ trail to be our top priority.”

Rhizon’s brow furrowed. “Our entire fleet to wipe out a few stranglers is hardly optimal. They have no chance to rebuild, why bother at all?”

“Oh, we’re not going after them,” Karkaro clarified for his confused colleague. “They just happen to be heading towards our next destination.”

Turning away from the viewing monitor, the Cryog stepped towards the war table and input a series of commands. Projecting from the centre of the holographic map, a blue planet interlayered with various landmasses filled the two leaders’ gazes. The sight brought callous excitement to the emperor’s eyes.

“It’s incredible, Rhizon,” he explained in detail, “that this little planet and its primitive population has been such a pain for so many of the races that once inhabited this galaxy. Barely able to reach their satellite and yet they’ve repelled empires and destroyers again and again. Some would call that luck, but we do not believe in such drivel.”

“The answer is here, Rhizon,” Karkaro announced. “The culmination of the Great Plan is within our reach. The key to finally sating the hunger that plagues Magita and I, hidden away on this unsuspecting rock. And it’s almost within my grasp.”

As Rhizon leaned in, overcome with curiosity, Karkaro allowed a grin to take over his features as the bait took. His commander’s interest peaked, and now he would seal the deal.

“You know the story of Magita, The Monster That Ate A Galaxy. Tell me, then, if you’ve heard of this story too…”

***

The planetoid was nameless. In the depths of space, it sat alone in this vast universe, devoid of satellites, suns or orbit that might have given it some degree of significance. Isolated from the cosmos, it had drifted for millennia, as lifeless as the day it had completed its assembly from accumulated debris. Only stone and dust marked its dull, gray surface, disturbed only by the harsh winds and the occasional meteor strike. To the universe, it meant nothing… until now.

Flashes of lightning lit up the walls of the canyon, casting upon its coarse surface the titanic shadows of its dueling occupants. Smoke and dust were thrown up and charred rocks were tossed around, accompanied by harsh screams as the Gravity Beams found their mark, eviscerating the defenseless creature without remorse or regret. The one who cast them cackled in delight, flailing its multitude of heads and tails in delight of its kill.

The celebration was cut short by a shot of fire that erupted against the back of the titan, turning its joyful singing into calls of rage. Beating golden, bat-like wings to extinguish the pitiful flames, it spun around to face the second attacker, which charred forward without plan or care. Scythe-like horn, razor-sharp claws, fanged jaws and clubbed tail all lashed upon the slayer of its kin, but three jaws lined with sharp teeth halted the frenzied assault by clamping upon the neck and forearms of the beast, and hoisted it off the ground. Serpentine necks bulged and strained, slowly and painfully tearing the head and limbs from the body, allowing the corpse to slam against the dead ground.

Dropping his trophies, King Ghidorah cackled loud and long to the empty sky, letting the rest of the great cosmos know of the new lives snuffed out and added to the long list of his victims. So many had fallen to his almighty power, so many worlds plundered and civilisations exterminated that he had lost count; not that he had cared to begin with.

But in recent times, the King of Terror found that there was less and less life to experience his terror. The number of populated planets had begun to dwindle, and each one that he did find had mediocre varieties and numbers of flora and fauna. Many a time, he had come across worlds in the process of killing themselves, whether it be from war, pollution or natural causes. The entertainment gained from these disasters had worn itself out years ago. Now there was nothing. Less to kill. Less to do.

It was not the first time that King Ghidorah had wondered about the end of his long crusade. What he would do when all other life in the universe was extinguished. Descent into madness meant nothing to a creature who’d never had a sense of sanity from the moment of creation, but what would that mean for him? Would he just continue to exist for the rest of time in isolation? It sounded boring. He craved for something to distract him from the monotony of his own thoughts.

The left head sensed it first, curling around the body to look behind as it relayed the stimulus to its companions. The others followed suit, commanding the whole body to turn in the desired direction. The signal played loud and clear in the hydra’s minds – a call to arms, one that Ghidorah recognised still after all these years of abandonment. He remembered the experiences of servitude to these lowly bacteria all too well, seeking not a return to those would circumvent his will and make the destroyers of worlds a puppet for their ambitions.

It was the memories of such campaigns that changed his mind. He remembered the beasts that had faced him in battle, who had not cowed in the King of Terror’s shadow and defied him over and over without fear. It was from these creatures that King Ghidorah learned the concept not only of loss, but of challenge. He knew the concept of a battle where victory had to be earned and abilities had to be tested. And the message he was receiving would indicate that his summoners were against a foe that might give Ghidorah the challenge he had needed for so long, being so long since he had battled any other kaiju.

He paused, blinking in confusion. A head snaked around to look around at the landscape, sensing that something in his own statement was not right. But no, the planetoid had been as empty as it had been when he had arrived, and his hunger for destruction remained unsatisfied. But if the promise in his summoners’ message rang true, perhaps the subjugation of his will would be an acceptable, if only temporary, sacrifice.

A powerful flap of his wings hurled King Ghidorah off the ground, and several more carried him through the low gravity atmosphere at incredible speed, growing faster and faster as he ascended higher and higher. A last chorus of bell-like cries echoed across the empty landscape before the space monster escaped from the atmosphere and the vacuum of space consumed all sound. Soon, he was nothing more than an ever-shrinking speck of gold against the twinkling sky, and the planet was left as it had been more once. Lifeless, alone, insignificant.

…

…except for the patch of space that had begun to glow, illuminating the murky surface. If the King of Terror had stayed around just a little longer, he would have witnessed the glowing sphere break apart into thousands of swirling glass shards…

And hear the universe scream.

[Continued in Match 259]

Winner: Trilopod, Magita

A very special thanks to dopepope for some of the assets used in this banner for the K.W.C. Be sure to follow him on DeviantART, ArtStation, and Instagram.
And a very noteworthy shoutout to ByNEET for the spectacular Magita model!

Author: Alex Williams | Banner: Andrew Sudomerski

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Aftermath Perspectives
Chapter 2: A Deal with the Devil
Chapter 3: Adjusting to Life
Chapter 4: Ultraman Ace and Mefilas vs. Vakishim
Chapter 5: Ambush!
Chapter 6: Just Stop!
Chapter 7: The Runaways and the Rider
Chapter 8: Ultraman Ace vs. Ultraman Jack
Chapter 9: The Calm Before the Storm
Chapter 10: All Out Assault
Chapter 11: We Can Be Better
Chapter 12: “Want to know something?”

[Continued from Match 468]

Chapter 1: Aftermath Perspectives

The Ultra awoke to find himself in a dark abyss, seeing streaks of red across the blackened sky. He scanned the area, barely taking note of the orange hue creeping up on him, their flames scouring the land. 

“Where… am I?” Ace questioned, rubbing his eyes, as his mind was slowly coming back together. 

Screams were heard, slightly startling the Ultra. He jumped around to see shuttles preparing to launch before blobs with glaring red eyes destroyed them with their crimson beams. Ace instinctively reared back, flashing his arms forward only to realize he wasn’t present for the battle.

Instead, it was far worse.

It was his memory.

“The day my life went to hell,” Ace growled, the dream nudging its way towards him, attempting to plague him. At least, that was his interpretation on why it was presenting itself. 

He saw it all.

The seconds leading to the moment he snapped.

Deathla gurgled in laughter, basking in their failure as it watched them observe the remains of the shuttles raining down on them. He saw what befell him before, the despair inflicted upon them, realizing their mission had been a failure. 

All because of one man.

Ace watched his past bolting towards Jack, ramming his foot against his ribcage, shattering it in an instant. The Present couldn’t help but watch the display of his younger self brutalize the man he hated most of all. Sympathy was not present. 

“It’s your fault this happened!” the past screamed at the top of his lungs, feeling fire raging through his entire body. Both versions of Ace felt it, the pure hatred for not only failing the mission or even causing an entire race to be doomed, but to allow his brother to be on death’s door.

Blue energy erupted from his body, electricity striking every body of Jack’s, searing his skin and forcing him to scream continuously. Jack’s body was writhing around from each volt as the present kept his eyes laser focused on it.

“Keep doing it!” Ace screamed at his past torturing the Ultra who sent Taro to his death as his hand twitched violently. He wanted to take his past’s place, to commit the deed of making Jack suffer for what he did. His parents were taken from him, and he would not allow some worthless runt to take his brother from him now. 

“Don’t act so innocent yourself, you sack of shit!” a demonic-like voice echoed through Ace’s mind, causing him to jump in shock.

“What?” Ace stammered before composing himself, raising his fists up. “Show yourself!” 

“You can’t fight me!” the voice boomed yet again, following it up with a giggle. “I own you and always will!” 

“We’ll see about that!” Ace growled, placing his hands together, intending to unleash his beam at the unseen foe. 

“See if you can fight your past first!” the voice cackled, as everything around him started going in reverse, almost as if someone was hitting rewind until a critical moment of Jack handing Taro to his past. 

“At the cost of the mission?!” the Past screamed at Jack, furious at what the Ultra did during the mission. 

The Present felt himself at a loss, his throat clogged. Ace’s hands soon faltered, realizing what he meant when his past screamed that out. He took the mission far more seriously than the life of his brother, despite loving him dearly. 

“Ah!” the voice creeped around, almost as if it was hovering over Ace’s shoulders, smirking at him. Ace’s head lowered down while his hands finally dropped to his sides as it could only tell how many thoughts were rushing to his head. “Already through your defenses, eh? My, my. For being so full of himself, I thought you would at least last longer than…. Jack, perhaps?”

Ace lashed out, screaming at the top of his lungs, firing a Metalium Beam at the disembodied voice. The seemingly present being cackled as Ace pounced on it, striking it several times with his fists, going at it for an eternity. 

The Ultra roared once again, throwing himself down at the voice getting lower and lower to ground as he sent his fists nonstop at it. He smirked when he felt his fists finally hitting something as he pulled through the darkness and reached out. 

To his shock, it was Jack!

His broken face staring at him, his eyes barely lit up. Ace was more shocked than excited or even angry, confused at how Jack was with him right now. The broken Ultra attempted to reach up and murmured, “I’m sorry….. For everything.”

Ace felt himself at odds, feeling a harsh chill wind hit him as he dropped Jack’s body. The enjoyment of striking Jack, one of the people he hated the most, was gone. There was nothing to it until the voice started cackling again. 

The Ultra’s head darted around, attempting to find the source once more as it seemingly hung about his shoulder. 

“Check again…..” the voice hummed.

Ace screamed as he reached through the ground and pulled the body back only to find himself. Ace nearly jumped back at the horror of his broken, decomposing body staring back at him. One eye torn out as half of his head was burnt in flames while his color timer beat nonstop. 

The noise was ear piercing, causing his ears to ring while he murmured in pain. 

The cackle was heard again. 

Ace relinquished his grasp on the body before huddling down, his arms wrapping around his torso. The Ultra’s knees were shot as he cried out in pure agony while the voice leaned down next to him, slightly caressing him on the cheek.

“Figured you out……” the voice hummed, caressing the top of his head like a mother would do to her newborn. “You don’t hate Jack.”

“No!” Ace panicked, realizing the voice knew his secret, his flaw he kept hidden from everyone. He attempted to reach out, but the voice backed away only to mock him even further. 

“You hate….”

“NO!” Ace shouted, throwing his arms out when he found his entire world change in a moment’s notice. The dark dying world of M Space Hunter Nebula, but the comfort of Ayame and Mitsuko’s apartment. 

He felt his chest racing rapidly, trying to piece together what exactly happened to him, only to realize his hosts were watching. Ace wanted to snap at them, for seeing him in such a weakened state. But upon closer inspection, he saw the two of them were in no better position than he was.

Then, after another moment of clarity, he couldn’t scream at Mitsuko. Despite that horrific nightmare, he, as much as he didn’t want to admit it even further, he cared for her.

“This garbage planet,” Ace mentally growled to himself.

“Are you okay, Ace?” Mitsuko asked, placing her hands together, as she walked towards him. 

“No,” Ace murmured, feeling his entire body still aching from the fight, forcing himself to take another breath. “But thanks for asking; I appreciate it.”

“I’m just glad you’re alright,” she breathed, relief washing over to see her newfound friend coming back around. Most people like her partner would hate him, but she saw the kindness in him, the person he could be. He just needed to see it for himself.

“That’s a first,” Ayame remarked, hanging her back against the wall, all the while Ace slightly glared at her. The TAC soldier smiled softly at him. “But it’s good you’re back, I’m gonna need your help in killing my boss.”

“Your boss?” Ace almost snorted out in confusion, trying to remember when Ayame’s boss angered her in any way.

“You really don’t remember, huh?” Ayame asked, taking her back off the wall, approaching him.

“No, that asshole Mefilas brutalized me while monologing about his bullshit!” Ace exclaimed, beyond furious at how he could defeat an Iron Fortress like Gabora, but could lose to a scrawny alien Mefilas. “So forgive me if I don’t remember the whole fight.”

“Well, my boss is whatever this Mefilas is,” Ayame confirmed, furious at how someone she trusted betrayed her in an instant. “So, unless we want to storm TAC headquarters ourselves, we’re screwed.” 

The TAC soldier raised her hand up to her face, rubbing it as she hated the situation she was in. Her job, her livelihood, even her family is all out stake. Any wrong move and it could all be vaporized.

Mitsuko glanced at her partner and felt it all. The pain and confliction coursing through her body as she had no idea what to do. She looked back at her Ultra and knew the only thing she could do was continue to fill him in. 

“Ace…. for now it’s best if we tell you everything,” Mitsuko reasoned, inching herself closer to the Ultra. “That way we may be able to think of something.”

Ace simply shook his head, preparing himself to listen to her recap when an important person came to mind. He nearly jumped and exclaimed, “Z! Where is he!?”

His heart raced a mile a minute, desperately trying to find out where he was. He last remembered face first into the rubble, not knowing if he was still alive or not. The Ultra attempted to rummage through the entire area, but a small clap got his attention.

Mitsuko smiled at the Ultra, taking one step in front of him, raising her hand just above his arm. Her warm, soothing voice brought a calming effect onto him, cascading him with serenity. “Z’s okay. He’s with Chiharu on the roof.”

Ace lifted his head up slightly, feeling relieved at Z’s survival. Yet, everything else in the past few minutes made him feel hollow.

Worthless.

***

“There,” Mefilas spoke, looking down at a huge plot of land hollowed. He glanced over at almost a hillside’s worth of dirt sitting next to him. The Seijin exhaled, feeling tired from the manual labor he set upon himself.

Mefilas rolled his shoulders, hunching himself over ever so slightly to relax the muscles in his body. He turned his head over to the motionless body of Gabora, one of his beloved pets. The Seijin knelt down beside him and rubbed his hand over his side. 

He hung his head down, closing his eyes just for a moment. “I am so sorry, my friend.”

Mefilas caressed his hand upwards, rubbing his beige head, feeling the cracks over it. He glanced over to his head nearly split open and the ruined upper parts of his drill. “Your loss is regrettable and no one could ever take your place, but we are so close to peace.”

He felt something rub up against his free arm, as Mefilas turned over to see Neronga gently pressed up against him. The Seijin chuckled at the display of affection and moved his hand over Neronga’s head. He moved his hand across every part of his pet’s head as Neronga murmured with delight, feeling comfort with his owner despite the death of his brother.

Neronga looked up at Mefilas, the night sky shining behind him as the stars barely lit them up. “I know it’s a terrible moment, but it’ll soon pass us over and will be nothing but a bad memory.”

Mefilas got back up and began pushing the corpse of Gabora into the hole as Neronga stood in front of him. The Seijin paused, confused at what Neronga was trying to do. He stood by while Neronga marched over to Gabora, looking its ruined face straight in the sockets. The electric beast gently placed his head against his brother’s and closed his eyes. 

Neronga opened his eyes and backed away, looking up at Mefilas, seemingly motioning to continue with the burial. “I understand wanting to say goodbye.”

Mefilas gently pushed the body into the hole as he moved over to the hill level height of dirt. The Seijin began pushing it back into the hole, covering the body of his dear friend. “Funerals, one of my least favorite events.”

***

Chiharu stretched across a folding chair, looking up at the clear night sky. The stars shone down on him while he kept his gaze on them. Physically, he felt fine, but mentally, the battle left him apprehensive about the future. 

A question lingered in his mind. 

One regarding Z.

“If he died, what would happen to me?”

Scenarios swam through his mind, each making him fearful that even one of them could come to light. 

Would he simply cease to exist if Z died?

Would he be as he was before the merger?

Would he be comatose?

All of them provided him with a path of uncertainty. Something he didn’t think would happen this early, only when he reached adulthood, according to his sister. 

Chiharu sighed.

He didn’t know, only keeping his eyes on the sky above him. 

“Heyo!” an enthusiastic voice called out nearly startling the boy. 

Chiharu turned around to see Z still full of energy as he was jumping around, clearly unphased by the fight. The boy jumped up from his seat and held his hands up, causing the Ultra to cease his celebration. 

He tilted his head in confusion at Chiharu’s change of demeanor. Z had known his host as energetic like himself, feeling almost baffled at why he could only assume he’d want him to stop. 

“Woah!” Z exclaimed, raising his arms up, matching his host’s behavior. “What’s the big deal? I thought we were having fun?”

“You just got hurt!” Chiharu countered, fear filling his vocal cords at how Z could be up on his feet within a few hours. “Shouldn’t you be resting!?”

“Oh!” Z yelped out, the realization settling in. It was familiar to him, at least from what school had taught him, but to Chiharu, it was an entirely new thing. It was something he had to be mindful of going forward even if he didn’t think of it as a major deal. Z rubbed his chin, smiling back at the boy. “Give us a couple of hours and we’ll be good as new!”

Despite his concerns over Z, he couldn’t help but smile back at his friend. Something about him made him feel at ease, he couldn’t describe it. He felt a siblingly connection to the Ultra, one that was very similar to his own relationship with Ayame. 

“It’s good you’re okay, Z,” Chiharu murmured, turning to take a seat back on his recliner. 

The Ultra took a few steps forward, standing next to the piece of furniture, watching outwards. Within seconds, he pieced it together. Z figured Chiharu was out here for some peace of mind after the conflict.

The fight was intense, he couldn’t deny that, as he took a deep breath remembering the outcome. He was nearly out of it when Mefilas revealed himself, but still prided himself in being able to stand toe to toe with a kaiju Lipiah once fought. 

Z knew he and his father lost today, but vowed to get stronger before that day came. He just needed Ace to help him with it as his smile lowered slightly, as his curiosity peaked his mind. Z wondered how his dad was taking all of this, knowing he was at least unhappy about the outcome.

“Hey, Z?” Chiharu asked, shaking Z out of his thoughts and turning his attention to the boy. 

“What’s up?” Z replied, kneeling next to his friend. 

“Your dad… my sister’s Ultra…” Chiharu trailed, twiddling his fingers together, hearing the arguments she had with Ace, with concern washing over him. He had to know, to know from the person who was a part of his family, what the senior Ultra was like. “What is Ace like? At least how do you view him?”

Z paused, contemplating on what to say. He wanted to say Ace was one of the kindest people he knew, but heard the stories and even witnessed how he treated certain people. He loved his father dearly, but to fabricate it with a glowing review was a complete disservice to his newfound friends.

“Ace…. my dad is someone a lot of people dislike for reasons I can’t fully comprehend, but….” Z paused, trying to compose himself on how he exactly wanted to word his answer. “However, despite that, he always made sure both my moms and I were taken care of..” 

“Huh….” Chiharu simply replied, rubbing his hands together. “Sounds a little similar to Ayame.”

“I can only imagine,” Z murmured. 

“Some people think she’s too rude, but when it comes to me and Mitsuko, she’s the greatest person around. Like, she could do no wrong.” Chiharu relayed, feeling a smile grow on his face. “Especially when she surprises us with Niku Udon and mochi ice cream!”

Z breathed out.

The entirety of the night sky was replaced with a viridescent light, causing Chiharu to nearly jump out of his chair. 

“What the heck!?” Chiharu gasped, astonished at the very world changing around him. 

“Don’t worry!”  Zett chuckled while the roof they were standing on morphed into a grassy field. “I wanna show you something.”

The boy calmed himself, allowing himself to rest back in his chair while the whole display was reminiscent of a laser light show. Within the memory several other beings similar to Zett and Ace materialized, all focusing on pointing their heads to the sky. 

With the dark green sky, purple bodies of icy shot through, cascading past the Land of Light. Their bright figures shone, casting zones of violet light all around the Ultras.

Like the Ultras of the past, Chiharu couldn’t help but be enthralled by its beauty. The child got up from his chair and observed the phenomenon closely. Without turning his head, he had to know what kind of event he was witnessing. 

“Oshira’s comets,” a voice belonging to Ace spoke with excitement, something Chiharu found immediately uncharacteristic. He snapped his head around, expecting to find Ace coming in, only to realize it was a version of him from the past when he saw a smaller form of Zett.

“Wow!” the younger Zett ushered with wonder in his voice, mesmerized by the comets sailing above them. “They’re amazing!”

The past version of Ace chuckled at the boy’s enthusiasm. “So amazing they only show up every sixty-six thousand years.”

Z’s past self turned around and up at his father with concern in his face. “Why do they take so long to come back?”

“Because I yell at them too much,” Ace joked, catching Z’s younger self by surprise before laughing at his joke. “But I’m no scientist, your moms will have a better answer to that.”

“It’s beautiful,” Zett chimed in, turning his attention back to the comets once again. He wrapped his hand around Ace’s hand, causing a slight jerk in the older Ultra. “I’m glad you’re spending time with me out here.”

Ace turned his head down at Zett, giving him a small smile before turning back up. “Me, too, kid.”

The green and purple filled sky vanished and was replaced with the regular night atmosphere. Zett chuckled fondly from the memory he presented to his friend “Only sixty-three thousand more years left to go.”

“That much more to go?” Chiharu inquired, feeling a small realization settle in his body. “How long do you guys live for?”

“Hmm……” Zett pondered, placing his fist under his chin, desperately trying to remember the teachings from his days at school. “I believe the oldest is a little over three hundred thousand years old.”

“Yikes!” Chiharu exclaimed, feeling extremely nervous about his friend outliving him over several lifetimes. 

“Eeyup!” Zett exclaimed, clapping his hands together. “Still a long way to go, though!”

“Will you still remember our conversations by that time?” Chiharu asked worriedly, knowing he can not live alongside his friend for long, but hoped he would never be forgotten.

Zett looked down at his friend, concerned about washing over him and could even swore he saw his eyes welling up. Ultraman Z lowered his hand down to comfort the boy, “How can I ever when you told me about water parks?”

Chiharu laughed at Zett’s remark, feeling himself be more at ease. He laid back down on the recliner, turning his attention back to the Earth sky. “You know? I think we’ll do okay for now.”

“For now?” Zett asked, almost shocked by the declaration as he continued to smile. “We’ll always do okay.”

“Yeah, we will,” Chiharu concurred, wanting to watch the life above him for as long as he could before he drifted off to sleep, knowing full well Ayame would bring him back in. The memory of both Zett’s night and his will be enough to bring him peace.

 

Chapter 2: A Deal with the Devil

TAC Headquarters. 

A place she had come to dread.

Ayame’s hand twitched as she looked up at the white and blue building. She hated having to come here, knowing her superior, a man she could have trusted was nothing more than a Seijin wanting to take over the world. 

It made her want to storm through the building and execute Mefilas on the spot, but knew she couldn’t and wouldn’t on principle. Ayame figured Mefilas would have some trick up his sleeve while the rest of TAC would likely open fire on her before she could get the chance to expose the Seijin.

Then, there was the possibility Mitsuko would be hurt in the crossfire. Ayame gritted her teeth, she hated having to bring her with her, to put her in this situation over the ominous threat Mefilas presented. Especially how he wanted both of them to meet him.

She hated it so much, she hated putting her partner in danger. 

Ayame felt herself staggering, as if she was trying to fight herself on entering the building. She wanted to break free and run away with both Mitsuko and Chiharu, to a place where no one could find them.

A place where they can live in peace.

With a light touch against her hand, Ayame glanced up to see Mitsuko looking back at her with that beautiful smile. The TAC soldier felt herself slightly at ease, as that smile and touch were all she needed to remain on task. 

“It’s okay, Ayame,” Mitsuko murmured, placing herself right next to her partner, keeping her grip soft but firm. “We’ll just listen to what he has to say and hope that’ll be the end of it.”

Ayame nodded. She wanted to argue back, knowing it won’t be as simple, however, Mitsuko’s presence overwhelmed that urge. The TAC soldier cleared her throat. “Right. We’ll just listen to what he has to say.”

The two walked in, keeping each other close as they saw several of Ayame’s comrades preoccupied with their respective tasks. Both Ayame and Mitsuko kept their distance, providing small smiles to whoever passed them as they made their way over to the command center.

Noriko Mikawa typed away at the console, monitoring each of the TAC stations, ensuring there were no anomalies detected. She blinked before taking her eyes off the screen to rest them when she saw Ayame walking in. 

The communications specialist smiled and waved. “Ayame! It’s good to see you!”

Ayame smiled and offered a small wave as Noriko got up from her chair and briefly stretched. “I didn’t expect to see you today.”

The TAC soldier shrugged her shoulders. “I didn’t either, but the….. Captain requested a meeting.”

“Oh?” Mikawa questioned, raising her eyebrows. “A promotion, raise? I could use one of those, and get a better apartment.”

“No idea,” Ayame murmured, still dreading the upcoming conversation with the Seijin, but kept herself as composed as she could be around her co-worker.

Noriko took her eyes off of Ayame and towards Mitsuko, realizing she had never seen the nurse before. Then, like a lightbulb turning on, she held out her hand towards Mitsuko. “I don’t think I’ve seen you before! Noriko Mikawa.”

Mitsuko chuckled as she took the woman’s hand and shook it. “Mitsuko.”

“Are you applying to be a TAC soldier?” Noriko inquired, causing Mitsuko’s eyes to widen as Ayame nearly jolted back. 

“Oh no!” Mitsuko chuckled, waving her hands dismissively. “I’m just here to have a little chat with your Captain after our dinner…. session….. prematurely ended.”

“Nice save,” Ace commented, earning him the ire of Ayame, who gave him a cold blooded stare. 

Mitsuko chuckled nervously from the lie she made up while rubbing the back of her neck. She started to really understand why Ayame was so nervous about all of this. As nice as it was to get a glimmer of what her partner’s work life was like, she wished it was under different circumstances. Noriko seemed nice enough, but lying right off the bat was something she wasn’t comfortable with. 

“Ohta!” a voice belonging to Ichiro Yamanaka echoed out, causing Ayame and Mitsuko to turn their heads, as they watched him approach them. “Captain wants to see you now.”

Ayame nodded her head. “As he should.”

The two turned to take their leave before Noriko expressed her enthusiasm. “It’s good to see you again Ayame, and it’s great to meet you Mitsuko.”

Ayame kept her attention towards the door of Mefilas’ office while Mitsuko turned back and waved, a false smile plastered on her face. 

Goro looked away from his station and towards the door seeing the couple enter his office. He grinned at them, feeling overjoyed at the arrival. 

“Aw! Two of my favorite people on this planet!” Goro vocalized, his vocal cords vibrating with every word spoken. “Come, sit.”

“Piss off,” Ayame growled, slamming down on the seat, even if it killed her to listen to an order from him. 

Goro lifted his hands up defensively, shrinking his lips in shock at his subordinate’s behavior. “I thought we’d get off on a strong start.”

“Apologies,” Mitsuko simply murmured, placing her hands together and facing them downwards. She glanced over to her partner and gave her a small glare, motioning for her to dial it back. Ayame rolled her eyes, as she let out a defeated sigh.

The TAC captain chuckled, loving the couple’s interaction despite knowing they were in no mood for pleasantries. He set his elbows on the desk, tapping his fingers together, “I was hoping we’d have an icebreaker, but I suppose we can discuss the situation at hand.”

“Just say the word and I can vaporize him in an instant,” Ace firmly suggested, materializing right between his two hosts and glared at the figure on the opposite side of the table. 

Mitsuko slightly glanced over and nodded her head, signifying for him to hold. Mefilas tapped his index fingers and turned his attention to Mitsuko. “Ah, I can tell our friend is getting excited. I’m curious to hear his thoughts about my little proposal.”

“Let me out!” Ace spat, tightening his fists. “He’s asking for it!”

“No, that won’t be necessary, Mr. Ryu,” Mitsuku humbly said, keeping the peace between all four members in the room. She hated it, even outright disliking the Seijin across from her, but knew it was the only way their little family could be spared. “Please continue with your proposition.”

Mefilas pressed his hands together and pointed them at Mitsuko. “I appreciate your manners, Miss Abe.” He reeled his hands back, eager to get back to the discussion at hand. “This beautiful green and blue planet we all love is on the verge of death.”

“Yeah, so?” Ayame muttered, crossing her arms. “That happens several times a year and we’re able to handle it just fine.”

The TAC captain chuckled once again, finding his subordinate’s responses funny. Her rage and how he’s able to get a reaction out of her, fueled him. Mefilas did genuinely care about Ayame, but her reactions were some of his favorite things about her. “True and true, my good friend, but Yapool is something far different than any of us have ever faced.”

“And you need our help to defend it,” Mitsuko surmised. 

“Correct!” Mefilas grinned, taking a moment to pause. “But you’ll also need my help as well.” 

“Uh-huh,” Ayame muttered, looking him in the eye. “Let me guess, you probably need us to take the brunt of the assault, so you can conquer or destroy the planet however you want. Is that right?”

Mefilas shook his head, slightly disappointed by Ayame not seeing the bigger picture in his plan. “Not at all. I want this to be a partnership.”

He got up from his chair, slightly startling the couple as Ace snapped his head towards them. “Hurry! Let me deal with him!”

His request fell to deaf ears as Mitsuko and Ayame kept their wits as they simply saw him pacing around. “I want the world to see how far it could progress when they see humanity, Ultras and Seijin working together against a common threat! The perfect unity to bring all together in a time of crisis.”

“Seems noble enough… almost admirable….” Mitsuko commended as she was then cut off by Ayame.

“Yeah, until you take the world for yourself,” Ayame countered, not taking her guard down for one second despite Mefilas’ declarations sounding beautiful. 

Mefilas shrugged, smiling back at her. “‘Superior Conception’ has a nice ring to it and you wouldn’t be wrong. I love Earth and her people, but they need a leader to get them on track.”

“Knew it,” Ayame muttered as Ace waved his hand around, motioning for them to relinquish control over to him.

Mitsuko got up from her seat. “And what’s to stop us from entering an alliance with you?”

“Short answer; technically nothing,” Mefilas mouthed, slowly rubbing his hands together. “But it’d be in your best interest to accept this partnership.”

“You’re going to tell everyone we’re bonded with an Ultra?” Ayame guessed, standing up as she placed herself next to Mitsuko, intending to shield her away from the Seijin. 

“You don’t seem to listen, do you?” Mefilas inquired, slightly tilting his head. “Revealing your connections to Ace does more harm than good, at least for my benefit.”

Ayame continued to glare at him, forcing the Seijin to raise his hands up defensively. “But, let me say straight away there will be benefits to this collaboration. Miss Abe, you will be granted membership to TAC, all three of you will be uplifted from your quaint apartment and moved to a beautiful home in the countryside, and whatever you need, all you have to do is ask.”

The perks he spewed out of his mouth ran into their ears. Mitsuko was almost enthralled by his promises, feeling she could do more good out on the field and be closer to her beloved while they’d live more comfortable lives. 

Ayame, on the other hand, was still livid at the gall of Mefilas. He nearly killed them alongside Ace and even worse, threatened the lives of Chiharu and Z. She felt every fiber of her being commanding her to scream at the Seijin, but hesitated. 

She looked over to Mitsuko who shook her head while Ace spoke out yet again. 

“Please! Let me do this! Let me vanquish him for what he did to us!” 

Ayame shook her head, realizing her wrath will not do anyone any good, alongside the fact of potentially getting Mitsuko killed. She instead breathed and closed her eyes.

“Fine, we’ll work together.”

“Splendid!” Mefilas exclaimed happily, feeling overjoyed by the newfound partnership. “Everyone will get what they wan….”

“But don’t think I’ll ever consider trusting you,” Ayame cut off her superior, pointing directly at him. “I’ll be watching you the whole time to make sure you’re good on your promises.” 

The TAC captain chuckled at her threat, feeling almost enamoured at how much she cares about this little proposal of theirs. He will have to do the same for her, as Ayame is known to be reckless and will not stand for any doublecross whatsoever. 

“I look forward to all of us working together.”

***

“You know you’ll regret not letting me out here and now, right?” Ace spat.

“So?” Ayame muttered, walking over to the breakroom, with Mitsuko following close behind her. “Get in line, I want to rip him in half.”

“All the more reason you should have let me out!” Ace yelled, forcing the two to cover their ears from his ear piercing outburst.

“I wish I could,” Ayame growled, gripping onto the fridge before nearly ripping the handle off. She snatched a bottle of water and chugged it while Mitsuko watched her worriedly. “But unfortunately, he could have several tricks up his sleeve ranging from annoying the shit out of me further or blowing up the entire goddamn planet.”

“Ayame….” Mitsuko cooed, placing her hand over her partner’s before smiling at her. “It sucks. I know, but we just need to go along with him until the three of us can find a way to undermine him.”

The TAC soldier chuckled at her comment, feeling the usual relief washing down on her. Ayame was ecstatic that she had someone who could bring her back no matter the situation. She gripped Mitsuko’s hand and said “I like the way you think, Mi.”

“If her way of thinking is so good, then we’re glad she’s on the team,” Yoshimura complimented, nearly startling the two. 

The couple turned to see Konno and Mikawa standing alongside Yoshimura, all of them smiling at the two. The display slightly frightened Ayame while Mitsuko was dumbfounded by their sudden happiness. 

“Seems like they’re about to kill you,” Ace pointed out, glancing back at them still smiling before turning back to his hosts. “Sure you don’t want me to come out?”

Ayame swiped her hands in disgust. “No.”

The TAC soldier stepped forward, placing herself in front of Mitsuko, addressing her comrades. “What seems to be the problem?”

“We just wanted to check on the new member of our little team,” Konno spoke up, giving a small wave to the girl behind. Mitsuko returned to the gesture by waving her hand at new co-worker.

“That makes sense…” Ayame trailed, feeling slightly more relaxed at the revelation as she stepped out of the way, allowing Mitsuko to fully see her new comrades. Yet, something puzzled her by the sudden reveal. 

“It’ll be good working with all of you,” Mitsuko accepted happily, bowing in front of the three while the TAC soldiers did the same. 

“If you can keep us in the fight, you’ll be bound to be ‘Trouble Maker’ of the month!” Yoshimura enthusiastically called out.

“‘Trouble Maker’ of the month?” Mitsuko giggled, already in love with the group’s enthusiasm and eager to learn more about their little traditions. “What’s that exactly?”

Mikawa stepped forward. “It’s whoever causes the Terrible Monsters the most trouble, either by doing the most damage to them or making sure we’re still standing to continue the fight.”

Mitsuko smiled back at her partner, lightly wrapping her arm around her back. “Ayame, you never told me about that little tradition. It’s so cute.”

Ayame rolled her eyes. “It just never came up.”

“But she won it at least three times!” Konno pointed out, smiling at his co-worker’s accomplishment.

Mitsuko snapped her head back to her partner, slightly glaring at her. “Why didn’t you tell me about that? It’s a great thing to achieve.”

“I…. I di….”Ayame stumbled between her words because she didn’t want to cause a scene between her, Mitsuko, and her co-workers. She didn’t care about the empty title or recognition, it was just ‘bullshit’ to her. But Ayame also knew how much it meant to the others, particularly with morale. She went to fabricate a half-assed answer, but remembered something that puzzled her just minutes ago. “Wait, how did the three of you know Mitsuko joined TAC?”

“Oh….” Yoshimura murmured, scratching the back of his head. “Goro messaged us a few minutes ago, probably after your little meeting with him.”

Ayame’s fists tightened, but ceased relatively quickly, realizing this was the least offensive thing the Seijin had done. She sighed before patting Mitsuko on the back. “She’ll do extremely well here and even win the… ‘Trouble Maker’ award.”

“Woo!” Konno cheered, clapping his hands at the declaration. 

“Let’s get you some Choju to blow up!” Mikawa vocalized, adding on to the enthusiasm.

“Wait!” Yoshimura uttered, putting his arms out in front of his two friends. “We have to celebrate first!”

“Yes!” Mikawa gasped, pausing as she then slammed her hands down repeatedly through the air, eliciting out a chant. “Drinks! Drinks! Drinks!”

“Drinks! Drinks!” Konno and Yoshimura soon joined in as Ayame and Mitsuko eyed each other. 

Mitsuko shrugged her shoulders before leaning her on Ayame’s own shoulder. “It’ll at least help us unwind.”

“Drink the day away,” Ayame murmured, finding the route of being blackout drunk more and more appealing as this day went on.

 

Chapter 3: Adjusting to Life

Drinks were filled and bellies were full of the delicious sushi. Ayame had her arm around Mitsuko’s shoulder while she rested her head against her chest. “I’ve been dying…. To know…” Konno said between bites, pointing his chopsticks at the two. “How’d you two meet?”

“Tell us!” Mikawa cheered, putting her glass down. “Ayame never tells us anything.”

Mitsuko elbowed her partner and gave her a shocked expression. Ayame rolled her eyes slightly before Mitsuko turned back with a smile on her face. “It all started when I stepped into this little shop and I heard some shouting.”

“Sounds awfully like a certain someone,” Yamanaka snarked as Ayame shot him aglare.

“Watch it,” she growled, but felt herself being hit with Mitsuko’s elbow as she smiled back at her.

“I see Ayame just around the corner yelling at this customer, who at the time, I didn’t know he was completely rude. I stepped between the two to sort it out and the guy attempted to hit me when….” Mitsuko regaled before turning back to Ayame and placing her head on her shoulder “Saved me by kicking him through a window.”

“Way to go, Ohta!” Yoshimura cheered, slamming his glass down so he could give her a round of applause while the others soon followed. 

Ayame gave her comrades a small smile, surprised to hear they didn’t judge her for her reckless behavior during her teens. “I wish I got that response back then. All I got were my parents nagging me about the broken window.”

“It does seem a bit rude, but you got me out of it,” Mitsuko smirked at her partner as Ayame simply chuckled. 

Ayame smiled until she turned her back to see Goro grinning back at her. It was then, the entirety of her happiness was shattered, replaced only now with fury. She scooted herself up from her seat and towards the others at the booth. “Sorry to leave this a bit early, but the Captain is requesting to speak with me.”

“Aw….” Mitsuko murmured. “I was going to tell them more about us.”

“I know….” Ayame faked a smile in front of her co-workers. “I won’t be long.”

Mitsuko nodded as she went back to telling them about their life while Ayame picked up the pace with her feet. She didn’t even allow herself to blink as she kept her hateful gaze upon the disguised Seijin who continued to smile at her, knowing he was relishing their upcoming conversation. 

“Enjoying the show?” Ayame spoke up, placing herself on the stool next to Mefilas. She eyed the bartender and motioned for a drink. 

Mefilas chuckled. “I am enjoying seeing all of you happy.”

Ayame grabbed her drink and took a sip, completely surprised at her supposed boss not mingling with the team. It was then a sudden realization had hit her, a missing element since the fight had not been seen.“Where’s your pup?”

“Out and about,” Mefilas answered, taking a sip from his drink. He glanced over to Ayame glaring at him as he then waved his hand dismissively. “Relax, Neronga’s not hurting anyone.”

Ayame huffed, shaking her head. “So, when do you take over as ‘Superior Conception’, as you like to call it?” 

“It won’t be for a while if that’s what you’re asking,” Mefilas sniggered, always finding himself amused by his interactions with Ayame. He did, however, respect her enough to engage in a proper conversation. “It’s an investment after all.” 

She squinted her eyes at him, tightening his grip around glass, imagining herself squeezing the life out of the Seijin’s body. “What exactly are you waiting for?”

“You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs, one of my least favorite sayings, even if it is a necessary one,” Mefilas relayed, lightly tapping his cup, watching the liquid bounce. “Trial and error by killing several kaiju and fulfilling other requirements if necessary?”

“Other requirements?” Ayame nearly stammered, feeling her heartbeat increase.

“Whatever gets me… us to be looked at more favorably in the public eye,” Mefilas clarified, looking back at his subordinate. 

Ayame scoffed, trying to keep herself contained, but failed in letting a piece of that rage shoot out of her throat. “History here will teach you humanity will never bow down to an invader like yourself.” 

“I’m well aware of the atrocities committed by let’s see… “ Mefilas calmly spoke, holding his hand out, slowly raising his fingers one by one, as if he was conducting a list. “The Mysterians, Xiliens, Virasians, the Baltan, Zarab, and so on.”

“Funny,” Ayame chuckled at the series of justifications her faux boss was throwing at her to see him in a better light. “I also thought you would be smarter than to copy the Nebulans’ plan of destroying all monsters.”

Mefilas smiled while waving a finger at her before taking another swig. “People are warming up to Earth’s kaiju, particularly the children. They cheer to your high heavens whenever one shows up to save the day. Which is why I specifically only go after Choju. Relatively easy to prove they’re different from your average kaiju.”

“Guess you really thought it through,” Ayame sarcastically surmised, rolling her eyes, lightly tapping her glass against the wooden counter. 

“I have indeed, Miss Ohta,” Mefilas said, giving her a warm smile, still trying to show he held her in a favorable view.  “And as I said, I love humanity and this planet, my compassion will push all of us forward.”

“You can start by showing the rest of the crew who you really are,” Ayame pointed out, turning her attention to the rest of her crew, watching them continue to share stories and laughter. 

Mefilas smiled back at his crew, feeling completely proud of them like any great leader would. However, he knew the one downside in his entire plan and to say it didn’t bother him, would be a lie. “You know they’d shoot me on site, all because I made a little visit and simply asked to have this planet a few years ago.”

“You kidnapped SSSP members and a child!” Ayame spat. 

“I abhor violence,” Mefilas calmly said, shaking his hands dismissively. “I just had them play a game, it’s not like I tried to eat their brains like those Terrans do.”

“What you did was still terrible.”

“Perhaps, but it made me come to admire all of you,” Mefilas paused, smiling just how amazing humanity can be in his relatively brief observations of them. “Even your children will spit in the face of your aggressors.”

“Because we have a lot to live for,” Ayame declared, taking a moment by glancing over at Mitsuko. She smiled at her, watching just how unaware her partner was at the moment, only in a world of happiness. “And we’ll fight and even kill whoever threatens that.”

“Bravo!” Mefilas cheered, clapping to the high heavens at Ayame’s declaration. “And that is why I changed my approach. Forcing you to give me the planet will only make you fight for it more, but by being your friend and your savior, you will all willingly entrust it to me.”

Ayame sat there, the horrible realization settling right in her as she slowly put her hands together. Her mouth quivered, as after everything Mefilas relayed to her, she knew he had a very high chance in succeeding and that everyone would be powerless to stop him. 

***

This world, much like the one it was born on, was completely foreign. 

Ace Killer stood in a forest, trees hiding his form as it kept its knees to the ground. It brushed its hand across the dirt, feeling its contents connect against its body. The machine lifted its hand and inspected the dirt, rock and grass. The bits and pieces of this forest intrigued it, allowing the machinery to process everything it witnessed thus far. 

It was only a little, but this made the being excited over the countless possibilities. Perhaps once it finishes its mission, the voice, its creator, will allow it to explore more of this. 

Creak!

Ace Killer slowly turned its head, gently peaking through a few trees as it noticed a deer taking its steps. The machine inspected the animal, lowering its head and taking a drink from the nearby creek. Ace Killer couldn’t help but feel entranced by how calm the animal was in nourishing itself. In fact, this is what it strived for. 

The birds over it cawed, as they migrated across the forest while other critters scurried about. Ace Killer murmured slightly, as it attempted to get a closer look, but its grip on the trees was too much.

SNAP!

The deer snapped its head upwards to find the giant red and bronzed colored robot peaking behind. The hart bolted off as fast it could, the deer not reciprocating to its presence. Instead, it disappeared beyond its line of sight as the giant machine simply eyed the animal’s trail. It felt something on how the interaction went. Why then was it disappointed?

“Be prepared, my child,” Yapool’s voice suddenly rang, causing Ace Killer to jump to their feet. A fervor of a chance, it realized, to fill the hole in its artificial heart. To eagerly await and obey its creator. “Your assault will begin shortly, but first you will venture forward in the city when Vakishim has Ace distracted. It’ll be there you will eliminate Z.”

Ace Killer nodded its head with enthusiasm, as it saw a reddish crack appear in front of him. There, a Choju marched out of it, slamming its navy colored hands together while letting out a roar from its orange maw. The newcomer’s emerald colored eyes glanced at Ace Killer briefly before turning away towards its destination.

The machine attempted to communicate with the being, but it ignored them. Ace Killer felt a stinging pang, briefly glancing back down at the forest it was in. However, it wasn’t time to study what truly intrigued it, but to study what his enemy was capable of. 

Despite never knowing what Vakishim was like, it would have liked to be able to bond with them. Perhaps its creator will be kind enough to allow it to interact with others like them in the future. 

For now, it needed to complete its mission for even the possibility of that reward. 

***

Sirens blared, altering the entire TAC team. They collectively jumped up from their seats and turned to their commanding officer, awaiting orders for the newfound choju. 

“Konno, Yoshimura, take to the skies!” Goro ordered, with Yoshimura saluting him before running off.

“Sir, yes, sir!” Konno vocalized before running off. 

The Captain of TAC turned to Mikawa and Yamanaka. “The two of you will take the Panther and harass it from the ground. Mikawa, I want you to chuck the explosives at its feet, knock him down!”

“You’ll like what you’ll see when we’re done,” Yamanaka declared, smirking at the grand gesture of when they inevitably bring down the monster.

The two bolted off leaving only the captain and the two hosts of the Ultras. Goro turned around and snickered, letting his fingers tap against each other once more. “And just like that, I gave the two of you an alibi, so our mutual friend can play hero.”

“Thanks,” Ayame muttered, unimpressed by the favor he bestowed onto them. 

“And where will you be?” Mitsuko questioned, raising an eyebrow, beyond curious if he’ll be present alongside his men or committing to showing his true self in battle.

“Twidling his thumbs in base while a kaiju eats us,” Ayame called out, as Mitsuko felt herself beginning to laugh before immediately slamming her hand over her mouth. She didn’t want to risk offending the Seijin, but she couldn’t help it. 

Mefilas slightly rolled his eyes at Mitsuko’s laughter from a lackluster joke. “I do that when I think or when I’m engaged in a conversation. Nonetheless, I’ll be participating in the fight, so please don’t think so little of me.”

“Oh, I’m going to kill him when I see him.”

“Don’t!” Ayame hushed the Ultra as the TAC captain raised an eyebrow. Mitsuko flashed him with a nervous smile. 

“We got a job, Ayame!” Mitsuko hollered firmly, placing her hands on her partner’s back, slowly pushing her outside the establishment. 

“‘Fortune favors the brave,’” Mefilas reflected, tapping his middle fingers together while looking at the fleeing couple. “One of my favorite sayings.”

 

Chapter 4: Ultraman Ace and Mefilas vs. Vakishim

Vakishim roared out, with flames emitting from his hands, torching the countryside. The greenery was no more, as ash was all that remained. The choju watched its handiwork, bashing its hands together in excitement watching the black particles slowly descend to the ground. The orange and blue being marched forward, spotting the next plot of land for it to set ablaze.

ZOOM!

Missiles struck Vakishim from the sky, exploding across his chest. The choju shrieked, turning its attention towards the aircraft, watching their red and silver forms fly past it. The orange and blue being roared yet again, charging its fists and yanking itself around. Blue energy bolts shot out of his hands, chasing after the aircraft.

Yoshimura snickered. “Typical.” 

He spun his jet out of the way as Konno followed his comrade’s lead, allowing them to go in for another attack. The twin jets bombarded the kaiju with several missiles as Vakishim got ready to fire another round of bolts when an explosive struck him on the foot.

Vakishim squealed, taking note of a black car zooming past him while Yamanaka held out his twin pistols, firing at it repeatedly. The repeated bolts slammed against its bumpy hide as the choju attempted to figure out which target to strike down first. All three of them came from different angles, not even being given a chance to properly assess the battlefield. 

“Punch laser!” Ace screamed from the heavens, striking Vakishim across the next chest, sending him flying across the blackened landscape. The Ultra landed on his feet and yelled out, holding his hands out as he assessed his downed opponent writhing around. 

The Ultra’s vision skewed as Vakishim was gone, but instead, Mefilas cried out in agony. Ace slammed his hands together, readying to inflict oblivion until the manipulator. 

“Do it!” a voice whispered. “Rid your precious world of this disgusting Seijin and show the world you will not tolerate any of it!”

Ace bashed his hands together and fired a blue laser from his hands, blasting apart the choju’s chest. An explosion followed as Vakishim cried out yet again from the resulting impact, rolling around in the ash. Vakishim struggled to get up when Ace bolted forward and slammed his fist down on the back of the choju’s head.

The orange and blue being collapsed onto the ground and gurgled out. Vakishim struggled to get up as Ace continued beating him down to the ground, refusing to let the terrible monster rise again. The choju shrieked, betting on one action to be his salvation by launching the horn off his nose.

“Keep going!” the voice commanded, seemingly watching him brutalize the terrible monster. “Rid the world of one less demon! Do what you failed to do all those years ago!” 

Ace suddenly found himself hesitating. His vision became clear once more through the field of ash and saw it was not Mefilas, but the choju. Killing a terrible monster was no skin off his back, but the mention of a demon and that event all those years ago shook him to his core. 

“No!” Ace yelled out, throwing his hands up, feeling himself panicking at the thoughts rushing back to him. Seeing the pure hatred of him brutalizing Jack, his rage firing out on all cylinders at nearly everyone he interacted with, his parents abandoning him for no reason, and the lack of commitment to his family. “Get out! Get out of my head!”

Ace stumbled forward when Vakishim’s horn rammed him in his back, piercing him. The Ultra screamed out in pain as the weapon dug into his skin while he moved forward when Vakishim rammed his foot forward. Ultraman Ace lost his footing and fell face first into the dead ground, blanketing him in ash like his foe. 

Vakishim roared in victory as a new horn grew through his skin. He stood above the struggling Ultra, deciding to repay his enemy in kind. The choju shot a crimson and azure colored beam straight on Ace’s back, detonating the horn and scattering its pieces all across his body. Ace screamed in pain while Vakishim shot his foot forward, crashing into his chest, earning a gag from the Ultra.

Ace was struggling to get up, pushing himself upward while he heard the blasts coming from TAC vehicles. He briefly glanced over to see Vakishim turning its attention away from him and back to the aggressors. 

“Look at you!” the voice creeped back, causing Ace to look forward, expecting to see someone, but alas, nothing. “You gave Jack all that shit about being useless, but look at you.”

“Not now!” Ace barked, gripping his hands against the ash infested dirt as he glared at the nonexistent entity. 

“We don’t play when you want to!” it cackled, relishing in Ace’s misery. “We play when I want to!”

“Goddammit! I said not now!” the Ultra screeched, jumping up to knees and slamming his hands together, firing off a Metalium Beam. 

“If only Rutia and Yuri could see you now, to see just how much of a shitty influence you are to their baby boy,” the figment voice spoke, its voice slinging around Ace’s shoulders, causing him to shutter.

“You don’t need to tell me about Z,” Ace spat, looking down at his hand slinging into the ash, feeling ashamed of himself for not being better. Deep down he knew he failed them and Z for not being as good to him as they’d like to. “I tell that to myself everyday.”

“They’ll be better off without you.”

Other voices rang in Ace’s head, commanding him to stop. The Ultra knew it was both Ayame and Mitsuko telling him to get back into the fight, but despair had him enthralled. He was too tired to fight, too exhausted.

Vakishim chased the jets away, allowing him to turn back to Ace slumped over. The choju saw the figure motionless and cackled, eager to annihilate him in one fell swoop. The orange and blue beast lifted his hands up and charged the embers inside. 

Flames erupted as Ace could sense the heat rushing towards him as he turned his eyes forward, intending to look away at the distant blue sky. At the very least, the three of them could enjoy their lives without him in it. 

ZOOM!

In the corner of Ace’s optics, he saw a golden beam rush past him. The Ultra slowly turned his head around to find Vakishim ceasing his assault while the flames died down. Blood shot out of the choju’s shoulder like a volcano as Vakishim let out a massive shriek. He slammed his hand over the wound, attempting to nurse it as best as it could.

Ace looked over to see Mefilas’ standing over him with his hand out. In that moment, self-hatred had left his body and filled with pure malice for the Seijin. He wanted to crush his skull in and reduce his body to a pile of mush, however, the voices were more clear to him now.

“Ace, believe me, I want to do it as well, but we need to wait!” Ayame cried out, waving her arms. 

“Ace… please…. Let’s save the day,” Mitsuko pleaded, putting her hands together. “This isn’t about Mefilas or us, it’s for everyone else. Just focus.”

The Ultra glared at Mefilas still offering a hand out, as Ace huffed. Killing him would have to come another day. Ace slammed his hand against Mefilas’ and picked himself up. The two stood side by side, facing against the recovering Vakishim.

“Aren’t you worried about your little friends shooting at you?” Ace snarked, glancing up at the TAC jets flying back towards the battlefield. 

“Nonsense,” Mefilas, glancing over to the Ultra. “After this battle, they’ll love me.”

“Shut up and fight,” Ace barked, firing an arrow beam. 

The red projectile slammed into Vakishim’s neck, forcing him to gag. The choju slammed its hands against its neck while blood resumed to geyser out of its wound. Mefilas’ elbowed Ace, eliciting a glare, but Mefilas rushed towards the wounded beast. 

Energy crackled around his hands, as the Seijin shot the energy out, striking Vakishim. The resulting impact forced the beast to cry out as Ace watched Mefilas strike the choju several times. Mefilas bashed his head against Vakishim’s, forcing his right eye to swell up. Vakishim cried out, stumbling forward while Mefilas delivered a kick against its back.

“Time to end this before he shows off even further,” Ace muttered, generating an Ultra Slash from his hand. 

The buzzsaw energy weapon swirled around his fist while Ace watched the stumbling choju. Ace yelled out, charging forward. Before Vakishim could even be aware of what’s going on, Ace ran past him, striking the space monster on the head, dragging the weapon downwards. The resulting impact sliced through Vakishim, splitting him in half, blanketing the ground he once stood on with blood.

Ace turned back to see the rest of TAC surrounding Mefilas and realized what was about to happen. 

“A little help, my friend?” Mefilas chuckled, watching his subordinates circling around him, aiming their weapons. 

The Ultra wanted to leave him to fate, to hear him be vanquished by Earth’s defenders, but knew there were so many ways this encounter could go sideways. Ayame and Mitsuko wouldn’t forgive him in the event any of their friends perished or even the possibility of Mefilas’ pet ambushing him at any second. Then, the worst of all, the idea of Mefilas having something even greater up his sleeve.

Ace sighed and moved forward. He never directly interacted with the members of TAC, but out of the two giants, he had a better chance of them listening to him. The Ultra moved over to Seijin, resisting the urge to punch a hole through his face. Ace waved his hands at the members of TAC, motioning for them to not open fire.

“Is that… Ultraman telling us not to shoot Mefilas?” Konno inquired. 

“Looks like it,” Mikawa answered, glancing from the window.

“I don’t like this,” Yamanaka bluntly stated, glaring at the Seijin, keeping his fingers just an inch away from the triggers. He sensed something could go wrong at any second, but knew the captain would disapprove if a diplomatic meeting with an alien species was botched. “We’ll converse with the Seijin, but keep your wits about you.”

The members of TAC got out of their respective vehicles as both beings shrunk down to greet the team. The entire team kept their grips on their weapons while Mefilas simply nudged at Ace to break the ice.

“Any ideas?” Ace muttered to his hosts, attempting to figure out how to even navigate through this faux peace meeting. 

“Well, just be kind to them, this is also their first time meeting you,” Mitsuko reasoned, smiling upon seeing her standing in front of the Ultra.

“Um, hi,” Ace mouthed, waving his hand in front of them. After speaking only two words to them, he already hated it and wished another Ultra was with him to take his place. “I’m Ace and uh, Mefilas here just helped us in vanquishing Vakishim.”

Ace stuttered for a moment when he heard Mitsuko’s voice going on inside his head.

“You’re doing great!”

“You’re totally not screwing this up,” Ayame scolded, earning a glare from her partner.

“Ayame!”

“I’d like to see you try!” Ace hushed discreetly before turning his attention back to the crew. “Let me put you all at ease that Mefilas does not seek to harm you, but instead…. Instead…”

Then, Ace felt himself slightly gagging at the massive lie he was about to relay to the attack team. The members stared at him for his unusual pause before Ace could reconstitute himself to finish the fib he had to tell. The Ultra still did not know what could happen at any moment and he hated it. 

“Instead, Mefilas wishes to partner with us to keep the planet safe from the Choju,” Ace regrettably testified, glancing at Mikawa, briefly flashing a look of disbelief. 

Mikawa reared her head slightly back in confusion, attempting to figure out what the Ultra meant by this odd display. She went to speak up when Mefilas stepped forward and cut in, “What my friend says here is true. I have made mistakes in the past, but I wish to make amends and help save you and your beautiful planet from the invasion we are currently facing.”

Yamanaka sighed, pulling his fingers away from the triggers and putting his guns in their respective holsters. The others did the same. Mikawa hesitated ever so slightly, still bewildered by the gesture Ace sent her way, but nonetheless, followed suit. 

“If what you say is true, then you would be okay with us escorting you back to base where we can discuss an alliance,” Yamanaka relayed as Mefilas offered his hand out. 

“I’d be delighted to,” Mefilas accepted, as the man took his hand and shook it. The Seijin turned over to Ace. “I take it you will be joining us, Ultraman Ace?”

Ace went over to speak when he heard a loud scream far off in the distance. It was faint, but he could still recognize it and its importance to him. His eyes grew wide as a result and he raised his arms out, prepping himself for flight. 

“Z!”

Ultraman Ace shot up into the sky, flying towards the conflict. He may have compromised the “collaboration” with Mefilas, but he didn’t care. The consequences or whatever both him and TAC were going to discuss didn’t matter.  

Z’s life was all that mattered.

 

Chapter 5: Ambush!

“So…. what exactly is the Earth custom of splashing around in the mud while it’s raining?” Z inquired, materializing right next to his host, scratching his head.

“It’s not a custom…..” Chiharu answered, adjusting his umbrella to better protect him from the dripping rainstorm. “It’s Fujimoto’s very, very strange habit.”

“Oh!” Z exclaimed in shock, realizing it was something that was not common. “So just a quirk.”

“Eeyup. A very strange quirk,” Chiharu added, stepping on the wet cement, thinking more of the strange child the two of them saw earlier in the day. “Sure am glad I’m not his friend.”

Z cocked his head, curious as to why his host would not be fond of having him as a friend. “And why is that?”

Chiharu sighed. “Just a bit too weird for me.” 

“Even if he was just having harmless fun?”

The boy pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling slightly annoyed over the conversation. He never felt such irritation before in his life, but something in him changed. Chiharu didn’t know, he felt puzzled. Aside from him and family being hosts to aliens, he didn’t feel affected by anything even if he almost died just a week ago. 

Still, he just felt a bit different than before. 

“Z, he was playing in the mud in front of a theater,” Chiharu rationed, taking a moment to pause. “Where people go to watch entertainment.”

“But him playing in the mud was entertainment,” Z countered, chuckling at the thought of that act. 

“The sooner I distance myself from that, the better,” Chiharu retorted, feeling ever more thankful he has no affiliation with Fujimoto.

“Pfft! You sound an awful like Ayame and dad,” Z pointed out, causing Chiharu to pause. 

He contemplated his companion’s words, trying to process if he really was like either of them. The thoughts were nothing but brief, shaking his head once more dismissively. “ Nah! I’m not like that one. I have standards.”

“Whatever you say, Ayame,” Z playfully teased, eliciting a slight glare from his human compatriot. 

Chiharu went to speak but a large object crashed down directly in front of him, sending the boy several feet away. His body skidded across the wet cement as he grunt in pain, feeling the burn against his skin. 

The boy slowly raised head up to see a bronze and burgundy-like machine staring down at him. The being’s emerald eyes scanned the boy, taking only but a second to confirm the identity of its target. 

The machine pulled out a blade, brandishing in front of Chiharu. Today was the day it would please its master, by eliminating one of the greatest threats to him. It will be rewarded with its creator’s love and admiration.

Ace Killer launched his battle sai towards the child, intending to impale him through the wet concrete. Chiharu’s eyes went wide, but before he could react, he was engulfed in a blinding light. The illumination caused Ace Killer to shriek in agony, forcing it to close its optics while it backed away. 

“Ultraman Z!” the Ultra chanted through the light, causing Ace Killer to lift his head up to see the blue and silver giant standing in front of him. 

It saw that its target was currently capable of fighting back, allowing it to chuckle. Ultraman Z would provide it with a greater sense of honor once it slays him in combat. The love its creator would cast down on it would be a thousand-fold.

Ace Killer tightened his grip on its battle sai, excitement coursing through its circuits as it charged forward, readying to give itself a warrior’s victory.

Z watched the machine charge at him, throwing his arm forward, firing a Zestium Beam. The beam vaporized the falling water and struck the machine, causing it to stumble back as sparks erupted from its chest. The young Ultra held his hands up, preparing himself for the next strike, noticing the machine already planting its feet back to the ground.

Ace Killer hissed from the beam colliding striking it, its body ceased momentarily from the projectile, but commanded it to fight it. It never felt this sensation before, as it was all strange to it and not in a good way. It launched forward, slamming its battle sai towards Ultraman Z, forcing the Ultra to move his head out of the way.

“What kind of robot is that!?” Chiharu blared out in both horror and amazement at seeing the machine function. 

“Good question!” Z hollered back, jumping away from each swing as Ace Killer continued swinging forward. The young Ultra reared his back, his eyes rolling down to the blade’s tip just at his neck. He started to breathe heavily before allowing himself to crash onto his back to avoid the sharp object. “Any ideas?”

Chiharu looked up through the eyes of Z, witnessing Ace Killer rush forward towards the downed Ultra. “Aim for the legs!” 

Z nodded his head, swinging his own legs towards the machine’s, forcing it to collapse on the ground. The Ultra picked himself back up and fired another Zestium Beam at the robot, but its instincts were a lot faster. Ace Killer lifted up its battle sai and blocked the azure beam, sending it into the sky.

Before the young Ultra could react, Ace Killer rushed up and caught him off guard. The machine grabbed him behind the neck and powered up its light blue core. Energy pulsated out of Z’s body, heading towards the machine, eliciting a scream from the Ultra.

“Z, what’s happening!?” Chiharu cried out, watching Z struggle against the choju. 

“It’s draining… my power!” Z gasped, throwing punches at the machine’s head, but it did not deter it. Instead, Ace Killer kept its grip on Z, feeling more of his power flow into its body. The transfer was nearly complete and one Ultra will be down for the count. 

Ace Killer could feel itself grinning as it’ll make its master proud.

“GET OFF HIM!” The rage filled Ace bellowed, causing Ace Killer to turn its head, only to be met with an electric kick. The choju skidded across the wet asphalt, electricity coursing through its body as it found itself stalling for a few moments.

The senior Ultra turned towards the younger Ultra, struggling to stand up. Ace felt a small sense of relief at seeing the boy still standing strong, but seeing that machine trying to harness his energy filled his insides with fire. 

“Are you okay?” Ace questioned, grabbing Z’s shoulders, holding him in place.

“Yeah…” Z breathed, putting his hands on his father’s shoulders in an attempt to support himself. “I just need a moment.”

“You’re getting more than a moment,” Ace pointed out towards a nearby building more than capable of holding his weight. “Sit back there and let me take care of the rest.”

“But…” Z continued to breathe out in protest, trying to take a step forward.

“You did enough!” Ace commanded. “Let me handle the rest.”

Z simply nodded before limping over to the building as he was instructed to do so. Ace turned around to face the slowly ascending machine, looking directly at him in the eye. His hands tightened, wanting to rip it apart like he did with the choju just minutes before him.

Ace Killer unleashed its battle sai, intending to slash the Ultra it was modeled after, feeling its inner workings operating at an intense speed. It’ll be a battle worth fighting and to tell its glorious master.

Ace stared back at the machine, taking note of its primary weapon. The Ultra held his right hand out flat, intending to have it strike against the blade of the machine. Without any further hesitating both ran towards each other as Ace Killer swung its weapon down at Ace, but the Ultra was fast. He swung his hand against the blade, hissing at it cutting into his body, but was able to match up against it, holding himself in place. 

The two circled in place, neither intending to give up even with Ace beginning to grunt slightly from the blade. The two stared each other directly in the eye, seeing each other as nothing more than machines with one simple function. 

To eliminate the other.

“I’m coming!” Z cried out, causing Ace’s head to tilt over to see the younger Ultra rushing over despite the obvious limp that accompanied him. 

“Z, don’t!” Ace demanded while Z put his hands up to his now azure glowing head. 

“Z Slugger!” 

Blue projectiles rushed over to Ace Killer, striking it in the chest. The machine shrieked, launching out its larger hand with sharp talons at the younger Ultra. His sharp fingers struck Z, forcing to collapse on his back.

“Z!” Ace screamed at the top of his lungs, seeing the younger Ultra incapacitated. The Ultra’s hands pulsated blue energy before firing them directly at the robot, shattering part of his blade and forcing him to stumble backwards.

Ace continued screaming, storming over to the machine when a bolt of electricity struck the back of the machine, forcing it to falter. The Ultra watched as Mefilas’ invisible pet, Neronga materialized behind the machine it was fighting.

“I fucking knew it!” Ayame hollered, knowing full well Neronga was lurking around them this entire time. 

The Ultra wanted to rip that kaiju apart as well, but he’ll have to wait as Ace Killer was far more deserving of that fate. Neronga’s horn glowed, firing another round of electricity at the machine, forcing it in place while Ace fired a Metalium Beam. More and more sparks flew out of its body, forcing its body to stall every few seconds.

Ace Killer forced itself to move forward, towards the Ultra, but felt itself unable to proceed with its master plan. It felt ashamed of itself, failing Yapool, the one who gave it purpose. It wanted its love for doing a good job, but that chance may never come.

“Retreat for now,” Yapool simply commanded, his words moving all around its circuits. 

Ace Killer felt excited to hear its master’s voice again, especially with new orders on him wanting it to live. An order it couldn’t be more than happy to fulfill. Ace Killer lifted its sai to deflect Ace’s beam while it turned to its side, rushing away from the battlefield. It could still feel Neronga’s electricity hitting it, but it was pain the machine was willing to endure. The torture would only last a few seconds before it could be recovered for repairs and soon it realized it was out of their sight.

Safe at last and standing to fight another day.

Ace snarled at the robot escaping before he stared at Neronga, wanting to blast it to pieces just out of rage. However, before he could even realize how much of a bad idea it was, the dinosaurian kaiju became invisible once more, disappearing almost without a trace.

The Ultra could easily track it down, but the thought of Z rushed back in his head. Ace ran back over to the struggling Z and picked him back up to his feet. He kept him close to him, moving him towards the home of their hosts. Neither said a word to each other on the journey home, as their day was agonizing.

“Why did you have to be in my life?” Ace whispered angrily, words the younger Ultra did not even hear.

 

Chapter 6: Just Stop!

“Are you okay!?” Ayame tearfully cried out, wrapping her little brother up in a hug. Within the span of a week, her little brother had nearly been killed twice. She continued keeping him close to her as he rested his chin on her shoulder. Mitsuko soon followed by rubbing her hand on her partner’s shoulder as she lightly brushed her other hand across Chiharu’s hair. 

“Yeah…. Just a bit tired,” Chiharu breathed, looking over at Z and giving him a small smile. 

Z gave him a thumbs up while Ayame felt a small sense of relief. It was all that mattered to her for the time being, but for others, it wasn’t the end of it. She noticed the fury of Ace when it came to Z’s safety once more and looked back at Mitsuko, noticing the same idea popping in her head. 

Ace will want to come back out. 

“You both know,” the senior Ultra uttered, without any hint of emotion in his voice. They heard every word come out as if he had lost his spark, his fury. All that was present was defeat. “Tell Chiharu I want to talk to Z.”

“Is it even the right time to?” Mitsuko asked, rubbing her hands together. “Both of you expended a bunch of energy, you need the rest.”

“For once, don’t argue with me,” Ace plainly said, commanding them to let him out.

Ayame and Mitsuko looked at each other, reluctantly nodding, knowing it’ll only be worse if they resisted. “Chiharu, Ace wants to speak with Z, is that alright?” 

Chiharu paused, awaiting for a response from his Ultra. 

“It must be important,” Z called out, feeling slightly giddy at talking to his father again. “I should speak to him.”

The boy nodded his head as all three felt themselves dematerializing from their living room as the two Ultras took their places once more. Z looked up at his dad and chuckled. “I’m getting better at fighting kaiju at least.”

Ace pinched the bridge of his nose and breathed out. “Z, stop. Things are not getting any better.”

“Huh?” Z mouthed out, tilting his head. “What do you mean? We may get some cuts here and there, but we always do well. I do…”

“No,” Ace cut the younger Ultra off. He had to tell him now, he could no longer be nice or tiptoe around the situation. As much as it pained him, he needed to say it in a way he understood. A way everyone was able to acknowledge with him. “You need to leave this planet.”

The words frozen Z, taking him a few moments to conjure up a response. He was struck like a planet being hit by an asteroid. A chuckle soon came out of his mouth, denial setting in, making him think his dad was just joking around with him. 

“Nice try!” Z hollered, raising his hand in an attempt to highfive him, but Ace remained motionless, forcing him to backtrack. His heart started beating rapidly. “Nice try, right?”

“Z, it’s better this way,” Ace explained, taking a moment to pause, keeping his composure as best as he could. “Leave Earth and head back home, because I guarantee your parents are worried to death about you.”

“I can’t just leave!” Z announced, pointing at his head. “I still got Chiharu with me and I don’t think he’ll survive our planet.”

“Then I can contact your parents and they’ll bring a beta capsule,” Ace countered, feeling his hands tightening up from the resistance Z was pushing onto him.

Z shook his head, waving his arms up as he stepped towards his father. “I… still can’t do that. I need to protect this planet, continue hanging out with Chiharu, and helping you, my da…..”

Like a needle dropping to the ground, his patience ran out. 

Rage overwhelmed him, forcing him to unleash the point onto the younger Ultra, he screamed at the top of his lungs.

“I’m not your fucking dad!” 

The room fell silent.

Both Ultras stood there, waiting for the other to make the next move, unsure of where to go from there. 

In a flash to the naked eye, Z vanished and was replaced by Chiharu. 

“Z?” Ace’s voice quivered, regret suddenly kicking in at how he handled the situation. A recent voice oozed back into his conscience, taking the utmost delight at Ace’s further descent into despair.

“Brilliant! You really did screw it up yet again! I love it, you pathetic idiot.”

Ace, not knowing what to do, heard another voice screaming out, one belonging to Ayame.

“What the fuck is your problem!?” 

The Ultra didn’t respond, but in turn, dematerialized, allowing his hosts to walk on the Earth once more. Ayame and Mitsuko looked down at Chiharu, as the former kneeled down next to her brother.

“Are you okay? How’s Z?” Ayame asked, placing her hands on his shoulders.

Chiharu lightly brushed them away, feeling empathetic about what Z just experienced. For him, he couldn’t even hear his Ultra’s voice and it made him feel alone and devastated. He rubbed Ayame’s hand and murmured, “I would like some space…”

Ayame nodded, feeling herself tear up over her little brother being hurt over the conflict. She watched mosey over to his bedroom and soon shut the door. Her feelings of being sad were replaced with anger, directing them over to the Ultra once again.

“What the hell is your problem!?” Ayame yelled out, staring directly at the Ultra behind.

“I did what I had to do to protect both of them!” Ace screamed back, ramming his face against hers. “Unlike you!”

“At least I try to be there, unlike you who acts like he’s better than everyone else!” 

“And you do the same exact goddamn thing!” Ace barked back.

Ayame threw her arms out, really wanting to punch through the nearest wall around her, but realized it would only make things worse. She didn’t want people outside of their lives to think she was ever hostile to Mitsuko and Chiharu. Instead, she took a deep breath and found her thoughts trailing over to Mefilas. 

The bastard who had his guard dog watching over them this whole time. Ayame breathed out once again, “Mitsuko, you coming?”

“Where… are we going?” she stammered, rubbing her hands together, slowly inching body towards her partner’s in an attempt to comfort her.

“Hopefully get an opportunity to beat the shit out of Mefilas,” Ayame almost snarled, but was able to dial back her emotions.

“Oh no…” Mitsuko murmured, placing herself next to Ayame’s body. She knew she couldn’t stop her, but could at least minimize the damage if something did come. 

“Good! I can use the practice,” Ace clamored angrily, wanting to punch Ayame so hard she’d never wake, concurred that Mefilas will be enough. 

Ayame didn’t retaliate, for Mitsuko’s sake, but she gritted her teeth .

Things were getting worse by the minute.

***

“What the hell were you thinking!?” Ayame lashed out, slamming her hand on Mefilas’ desk. The resulting impact knocked over a pencil holder. 

“I seem to get that a lot,” Mefilas mouthed out, keeping his composure as he moved his hand over to the holder and picked it back up. “What did I do this time?”

“Let me out! I really want to do it,” Ace commanded, but his orders fell on deaf ears. 

“I’m talking about your pet following us!” Ayame cried out.

“Oh, that,” Mefilas surmised, tapping his fingers. “He ended up saving your lives.”

“We had it under control!” Ayame countered, slamming her hands on the desk. 

“While I don’t doubt your capabilities, Ace Killer would have left regardless, what Neronga ended up doing was help buy time,” Mefilas explained, justifying Neronga’s surveillance of his new found partners. “Enough time for us to mobilize properly against that threat.”

“And how is TAC going to accept an invisible monster roaming around in their backyard?” Mitsuko questioned, deciding to jump in before Ayame could get a chance to scream.

Mefilas smiled at the new recruit, giving her a small clap. “I’m glad you asked. Our pal, I mean, me, convinced them that I pacified the kaiju after that little demonstration. So, when the time comes, he can come out and play if I so choose.”

“And the others bought it?” Mitsuko questioned, following it up with a snort from Ayame.

“They can’t be that stupid.”

“With some minor pushback from Mikawa and Yamanaka, I convinced them pretty easily. Probably because of the daily threat from the Choju and other invaders, that they can’t be picky about their allies,” Mefilas rationalized, keeping his focus on the two hosts. “And need I remind you, I’m keeping your secret, so don’t meddle in what we’re creating here.”

“Let me do it!” Ace barked, forcing Ayame to grip the table from the seizing pain of his outburst.

“It’s tempting, but no….” Ayame growled seemingly to herself, catching Mefilas’ attention. 

“Perhaps you should lecture our friend more on patience and order.”

Ayame stared him dead in the eye, wanting to rip him apart herself, but Mitsuko jumped in the way, blocking him from her vision. “And we shall, we’ll continue this at a later date, yes?”

Mefilas smiled at her, holding both of his hands together. “Of course, Miss Abe. You know where to find me.”

Mitsuko, without wanting to risk an incident, rushed Ayame outside of the office and to a more secluded area of headquarters. Ayame breathed, placing her hands on her knees, looking back up at her partner.

“As much as I hate that, it was definitely the right choice you made.”

Mitsuko smiled, rubbing her hand on Ayame’s cheek. “We’ll find a way to sort all of this out. We always do.”

“I need to talk to someone,” Ace muttered, making himself known to the two. He felt the defeat writhing around in his body. He didn’t want it to come to this, but found himself truly at a loss. It was the only option he had left.

“Pathetic,” the voice spoke, forcing Ace to tighten his hand.

“Who… do you need to talk, Ace?” Mitsuko inquired, glancing over in his direction, curiosity piquing her interest. She was curious as to why Ace would suddenly be willing to ask for someone’s advice outside of someone he cared about deeply. “Is there anyone you even care about here?”

Ace glared at her briefly before taking a moment to compose himself. She was right to ask, but he was more angry at himself for allowing this to happen. 

“And the answer will be the reason why you are really the worst Ultra of them,” the voice chimed in again, feeling excited about the Ultra it was tormenting to face his downfall.

“Worse,” Ace clarified.

 

Chapter 7: The Runaways and the Rider

“You sure Ayame will be okay with you walking around without her knowing?” Ultraman Z questioned, inspecting every area in his field of vision to ensure his host’s safety. 

“Her and Mitsuko will be fine with us taking a walk,” Chiharu rationalized, looking at several of the stores they passed. “Besides, I think we deserve some space especially since the rain is gone.”

“That’s nice of you to say that, but I think they’re only worried about you,” Z murmured, looking away from not only Chiharu but everything around them, keeping his gaze on the drying cement. “I don’t think Ayame likes me very much and Mitsuko is just keeping the peace.”

Chiharu sighed, knowing what Ace said still got to him, and his older sister didn’t do much to mitigate the disaster. He wasn’t blinded by his sister’s behavior, but knew she did care in her own way. 

“Ayame cares, she just takes a while to show it,” Chiharu explained, attempting to cheer up his friend. “It was even like that with Mitsuko, but she always comes around.”

Z huffed, taking a small sense of solace from what his host relayed to him. “I suppose so, but Ace….” 

The Ultra couldn’t continue on with what he was trying to convey as the emotions were starting to overwhelm him. He felt his ghostly form phasing in and out, feeling the sense of not wanting to be seen, to just disappear entirely. To him, it felt like it was all a lie. 

“Ace is an asshole and what he said to you was horrible,” Chiharu conveyed, turning around to face his friend. “And you entering my life has made it even better.” 

Z coughed, feeling overwhelmed by having his host stick up for him. The damage wasn’t undone, but he could feel himself being able to keep himself visible. “Thank you. I just want to let you know that you’re my best friend.” 

“Back at you!” Chiharu exclaimed happily, raising his hand up for a high five as both of them raced their hands towards each other. Their hands, however, phased through each other, immediately causing them to laugh.

“That one!” a distant, gruff voice called out. “He’ll do nicely for conversion!”

Z jolted his head to the side to see several people adorned in black clothing with white stripes across their bodies. Their faces obscured in masks outside of their eyes and mouths, covering up any humanity that may have once been present. Realizing the trouble they were about to bring upon them, Z turned back to his host. 

“Chant my name!” 

“What?” Chiharu stammered only to turn around to see several of the masked men charging at him. He reared his head back in surprise and spoke his name, “Ultraman Z!” 

In a blinding light, Ultraman Z took his place, raising his hands forward, striking a pose as he kept his focus on them. The goons circled him, intending to strike him down with either their fists or the weapons they brought with them. 

The Ultra, however, beat them to the punch and fired the Z Slugger from the top of his now azure colored crest. The blue projectiles launched forward, hitting several of the masked men, forcing them onto the ground. Ultraman Z turned around to face the rear guard, only to be met with several punches to the face and chest, making him stumble backwards. 

Z slammed his hands together, firing a Zestium Beam at the offenders. The beams sliced through a couple of the assailants while others were sent skidding across the street. However, despite his best efforts, he saw more and more of the masked men surrounding him. 

“I got about maybe thirty seconds left in this form,” Ultraman Z relayed to his host, keeping his eyes at the evergrowing crowd of hostiles. The seemingly endless amount of troops caused him to rethink his entire strategy compared to fighting one singular kaiju. “Any ideas?”

“Uh, we can always book it,” Chiharu suggested, noticing just how little energy Z had left from his brief stunt. He did find it odd how being human sized always put him at a disadvantage. Chiharu even asked Z about it and couldn’t provide an answer himself. 

“Eeyup!” Z exclaimed, raising his arms in the air. “I was thinking the same thing too!”

The Ultra intended to make his getaway, but was met with several objects colliding into his body, forcing him to seize up. Z collapsed on his back as he was met with more objects hitting him against his silver and blue skin. 

“An Ultra will be very exciting to use for the program,” one of the goons yelled out. 

“Oh shit,” Chiharu muttered, realizing who they were. 

“What?” Z questioned, firing another Zestium Beam, bisecting one of the masked men. His remains caused a few of the others to stagger away. 

“It’s Shocker!” Chiharu cried out, realizing the amount of trouble they were in. 

“Why hasn’t TAC or anyone done anything about them!?” Z cried out, firing more of his Z Slugger, dispatching more of the footsoldiers. However, it wasn’t enough as their numbers were seemingly endless. They were at their wit’s end. 

Until…

Off in the distance, the sound of a motorcycle revved. The masked rider sped down the street, racing past everything in his path until he saw several members of Shocker huddled together. He tightened his grip on the gas as flames erupted from the exhaust, barreling through various members of the terrorist organization. Their bodies launched up from the sky and broke upon impact, some of them even expiring.

“It’s him!” a Shocker soldier cried out before being flattened by the Cyclone, leaving behind a bloody trail.

The others turned around while Z lifted himself up, sitting on the ground to witness the new arrival. “Who is that?” Z asked, immediately becoming mesmerized with the multicolored figure. The figure’s red eyes were as bright as the scarf wrapped around his neck as green body armor reflected the sunlight off it.

Chiharu grinned like he would on Christmas day, upon seeing exactly who he had always wanted to meet in person. “Kamen Rider!”

Kamen Rider removed one of his hands from the handle and struck a goon’s face, instantly becoming a crater akin to a plot of land being hit by an asteroid. The impact sent the soldier flying into several other masked men, breaking apart their bones. 

“We need more men! We need mo….” another soldier attempted to cry out, only to be met with the rear wheel of the Cyclone. Teeth splattered out of his mouth from impact before being sent flying into the sky. 

Kamen Rider turned his motorcycle around to face the last of the goons around their hostage. Revving the Cyclone’s engine once again, he sped up, giving himself the momentum before launching himself up in the air. 

“Oh! Here it comes!” Chiharu excitedly yelled out, clapping his hands together. 

Z didn’t respond, but only watched with the same amount of excitement as his host had, he had no idea what was about to occur. Kamen Rider stretched his right leg forward, aiming it directly at them.

“Rider Kick!”

The masked rider collided into the Shocker goon, shattering his entire ribcage, causing him to collapse instantly. The superhero turned around and grabbed two more of the soldiers’ heads and smashed them together. Their bodies dropped like flies as he saw the rest of Shocker running off with their tails tucked between their legs. 

He chuckled at them being terrified by his mere presence before turning back to what really mattered. The person he came to rescue.

Kamen Rider faced the sitting Ultra, cocking his head as he studied the figure in question. Z was pacing around, twiddling his thumbs together, feeling a bit nervous. He chalked it up to the Ultra likely being frightened from the ambush. “Hmm… never would have I expected to save an Ultra. Much less meet one.”

Before Z could answer, the masked man extended a hand for the Ultra. The excitement from Chiharu was contagious and Z was not immune to it. The young Ultra snapped out of his nervous state and excitedly grabbed the hand of the superhero, beginning to shake it rapidly. 

“I just now discovered you and I’m such a huge fan!” Ultraman Z excitedly cheered, still shaking the man’s hand up and down, earning a small chuckle from the masked hero. 

“The pleasure is all mine,” Kamen Rider returned the gesture, albeit more gently. “I’m honored to meet an Ultra like yourself.”

“Chiharu, he thinks it’s awesome to meet me!” Z excitedly exclaimed to his host before abruptly disappearing. 

The Grasshopper Augment slightly jumped back in surprise only to see a child in his presence. He tapped the side of his darkened helmet, putting the pieces together of why an Ultra merged with a child as opposed to an adult. Knowing how Ultras tend to treat humanity, he had a solid guess on what it could be.

“Accident, I presume?” Kamen Rider asked Chiharu, only to realize he wasn’t getting a response, but instead, simply being stared at in awe. The superhero laughed in response, realizing he wasn’t going to get an answer, but it mattered little to him. What mattered is that both him and the Ultra were safe from Shocker. 

The Rider took Chiharu’s hand and shook it, as the boy kept his eyes on him the entire time. He felt the cyborg’s grip and couldn’t help but squeal in delight. He was absolutely enamored with meeting his hero while in the corner of his eye, he saw Z jumping up and down, throwing his arms up in excitement. 

The two were on cloud nine.

Kamen Rider gently relinquished his grip and clapped his hands together, realizing what he could do. “Tell you both what, my friend has a nice cafe a little ways out and you can tell me your story there.”

Chiharu finally turned his gaze away from his idol and towards Z, both of them excited beyond belief. They screamed in unison “We get to hang out with Kamen Rider!”

“Call me Takeshi,” the masked rider said, smiling behind the mask as he watched Chiharu dancing with the invisible Ultra by throwing his arms up and moving his feet at an intense speed. 

***

“Welcome to Coffee House COL!” Takeshi introduced aloud, opening the door for Chiharu as he excitedly entered the cafe. He smiled at the quaint cafe decorated with white walls and assortment of colors ranging from pink to yellow plastered on various objects. 

“Wow! This is where you go to relax after stopping Shocker for the day!” Chiharu exclaimed as Z inspected every time in the vicinity. 

Takeshi removed his helmet off his head and placed it on the desk before making it over to the bar. He seated himself, ringing the bell as an older man came out from the backroom. Upon seeing Hongo, he lit up, placing a few glasses down. 

“Takeshi! How’s the day been treating you?” the man asked, filling Takeshi’s glass with coffee, spotting Chiharu looking around the cafe. “Who’s the kid?”

“Chiharu,” Hongo answered, taking a sip from the cup. “Saved him from a Shocker platoon.” 

The owner of the cafe reared his back, disgusted by what transpired. “Kidnapping a child? What the hell for?”

“He’s the host of an Ultra, and they thought converting one would be a good idea,” explained Takeshi before turning over yet again, this time to get the boy’s attention. “Hey Chiharu, you should get something to drink.”

“Oh, right!” Chiharu snapped  himself out of being distracted by the decorations throughout. He rushed over and hopped on the barstool, turning to the owner. “Coke, please.”

“You bet!” the man replied enthusiastically, fulfilling the young boy’s request.

“By the way, this is Tobei Tachibana, a good friend of mine,” Takeshi introduced, earning a chuckle from the older man. 

“And let’s not forget, trusted mentor,” Tachibana joked, rubbing his hand through his greying hair before turning to the boy. “I helped him develop the Lightning Rider Kick.”

Chiharu’s face immediately lit up, becoming full of excitement as he was learning more about his hero. “Wow! That’s so cool!”

“It really is,” chuckled the owner, passing the boy his drink. “So what brings you around these parts?”

“Oh, right…” Chiharu hung his head down, gaining the attention of the two. The boy had forgotten the argument that transpired earlier and was now brought back to its cold reality. Despite not wanting to talk about it, he felt at home in this cafe alongside having a sense of trust with both of them. “My friend and his, um, dad got in a huge fight, and it also affected my relationship with my sister.”

Takeshi tapped against the white counter, feeling saddened by the dynamic both him and his Ultra were going through. He, along with Tacibana didn’t need to hear him say it had to do with his Ultra, they were able to pick up on it. 

“Well, how does…” Takeshi was about to ask when he realized something about the Ultra he just met. “I never got his name actually.”

“Z.”

“Well, how does Z feel about all of this?” Hongo inquired, almost shrugging in response. “Was it perhaps a misunderstanding?”

Chiharu took a moment and glanced over to Z looking off slightly, muttering, “It wasn’t a misunderstanding, he disowned me.”

The boy wasn’t sure if he should speak out on what exactly transpired, but decided to give them some sort of answer nonetheless. He took another sip of his drink, before looking up at them. “Ace said some really mean things to Z despite only wanting to help his dad, but it wasn’t enough. It was never enough according to him.” 

The boy hung his head down as both Tachibana and Takeshi took a moment to compose themselves. The sound of their conflict broke their hearts, having a completely hard time even pretending to act like that to a loved one. Still, neither had to see it, but despite never meeting the man, there had to be more to it. 

Takeshi breathed out, trying to find the words he wanted to convey to the child. “It’s… not what I imagine either of you want to hear, but everyone says things they don’t mean, or it just comes out wrong. It’s human.”

“But, no matter what Z said, it didn’t matter to Ace. He tried getting better or just tried to help with every kaiju he fought, Ace just said the worst thing imaginable to him,” Chiharu relayed, as Z hovered his head just over the counter in sadness, hating reliving those words the senior Ultra spat at him.

Tachibana placed his elbows on the counter, looking over at Chiharu. “Yes, what his father said was terrible, but I can see where he’s coming from.”

Chiharu snapped his head towards the owner, baffled at what Tachibana was about to suggest. “What are you talking about?”

Tobee lifted his right arm off the counter, wiping away a tear from his eye as if painful memory came back to haunt him. “My family, my wife, two sons, and daughter wanted to see me race one day and I thought it’d be the greatest feeling in the world. To be on that track doing what I loved most while the people I loved most of all watched me achieve it.” 

The cafe owner took a moment to pause, keeping himself composed as Chiharu kept his focus on him while Z slightly lifted his head up. “For the longest time, I closed myself off, thinking I lost everything until I met Takeshi,” Tobee relayed, looking over to Takeshi, giving him a small smile. “And he became my son, someone I vowed to do better by.”

“Love you too, pop,” Takeshi cheerfully gestured, lighting the tension up, earning a chuckle from the older man. “But to add onto what he’s saying, Ace said it in the worst possible way, but he said it because he’s probably scared of him getting hurt or even dying.”

“I, maybe, I just don’t know,” Chiharu responded, finding some logic with their rationale, but the hurt that was thrown at his best friend was devastating. He couldn’t quite explain it, but he felt a small part of that pain Z experienced, perhaps it was due to their bonding that caused them to share certain things. “I just also wonder if Ayame feels the same way, because she always tells me not to do certain things or tries to hold my hand through it all.”

“She’s doing her best to help you through and if she’s always looking out for you, then I say you got yourself a really cool sister,” Takeshi conveyed.

Chiharu couldn’t help but smile through all the things he and his sister have done together. Their countless adventures, bonding over the taste of food, and her teaching him how to survive in this world. He couldn’t help but think that’s what Ace attempted to do, but due to his own shortcomings, failed to do it. 

“Yeah, Ayame really is great,” Chiharu recalled, smiling fondly at the mental image of her. “She’s probably worried sick about me!”

“She’ll be happy to see you back,” Takeshi confidently assured him. Chiharu got up from his seat, but stopped him for a moment. “He probably could hear us this whole time, but I want to talk to Z real quick, if that’s okay.”

Z lifted his head up as Chiharu smiled at his Ultra, excited for his friend to get another chance to talk to the superhero. The two switched places, with Z materializing the cafe, stunning Tachibana for just a moment, never would have expected to have interacted with an extraterrestrial. 

“You wanted to speak to me?” Z almost stammered out.

“I know you’re probably thinking you’re not ‘good enough’, but no one is at the start,” Takeshi relayed, causing a huff of disappointment from the Ultra. “You might not believe me, but do you know how many times I’ve had my ass handed to me?”

Z shook his head, wanting to be surprised that Kamen Rider had ever lost a battle, but was still down on himself. 

“So many times that’ll take a while to count, but I didn’t let that change me,” Takeshi reasoned before turning to his surrogate father and smiling. “But I had people lift me back up and push me to be better. Like Tobei said, he taught me the Lighting Rider Kick, and without it I would haven’t won one of my hardest battles.” 

“I’m not even sure what you’re getting it,” Z said, rubbing his head.

“My point is, Ace wants you to be better, probably even better than him, but he doesn’t want you to die. Though, I don’t think he realizes you’re quite capable already,” Takeishi added.

“I’m capable?” Z stammered, lifting his hand up to his glowing blue chest. 

Takeshi smiled. “Anyone willing to stand up to Shocker is more than capable in my book. You have a long way to go, but there’s a fire raging inside you. Keep it burning.”

“And, might I add something,” Tachibana cut in. “You still got your family, and I’m not saying you need to forgive him right away, but just show him you’re alive and still standing, stronger than ever. You got this.”

“Wow….” Z murmured, feeling overwhelmed by lessons his newfound friends told him. “I… don’t know what to say.”

“It’s only natu…” Takeshi attempted to speak only to be interrupted by a hug from the Ultra, completely surprising him. The superhero slowly lifted his arms up and returned the gesture, noticing Tachibana laughing from the corner of the eye. 

After a few seconds, Z let go as Takeshi put his helmet back on before addressing both him and Chiharu. “Come on, I’ll take you both home.”

Chiharu’s mouth dropped while Z pumped his arm in the air in excitement. They both couldn’t but scream in unison. 

“I get to ride on the Cyclone!?”

 

Chapter 8: Ultraman Ace vs. Ultraman Jack

“This is where we’re supposed to go, right?” Mitsuko inquired, staring up at the door leading to their destination. The hallway they stood in was quiet, something they were all thankful in the event things went south.

Ace huffed as he materialized right next to his hosts. He briefly turned to his hosts, his body shaking before facing the door once more. “Yeah…. at least from my understanding.”

“Are you getting cold feet?” Ayame asked, taking a step forward, preparing herself to knock. Whatever Ace needed to do, she’d just hoped it worked for his sake. Him screaming at both Z and to some extent, Chiharu, infuriated her.

“No…. shut up.” Ace nearly yelled out, stomping his foot down only for it to briefly phase through the floor.

The Ultra yelped, slowly regaining his footing as Mitsuko went over by his side. She placed her hand just near his shoulder and gave him a small smile. “Ace… it’s okay.”

“It’s just… this is the last person I want to see,” Ace explained, feeling a part of himself become lighter. He didn’t know why, but perhaps it was finally becoming close to telling himself the truth. Yet, it still made him sick to his core even coming to this realization. “And this is going to kill me, crawling for…. Advice…”

“Hey, we got you,” Mitsuko murmured, keeping her eyes on him, intending to be there every step of the way for him. 

“Yeah…. We’ll just do what you need us to do,” added Ayame as she moved her hand to the wooden door and knocked.

The door opened to reveal a woman with shoulder length brown hair and a smile that matched Mitsuko’s kindness. The two couldn’t help but notice her bright yellow sweater and beige skirt as well before wondering who she was to the person Ace was searching for.

“Hi, I’m Mitsuko Abe and this is Ayame Ohta,” Mitsuko formally greeted, bowing in front of her as the woman did the same. 

“Hello there! I’m Aki Sakata” Aki greeted them before continuing. “What can I do for you both?”

Ayame decided to cut through the pleasantries and get straight to the point. “Is there a Hideki Go here?” 

Aki cocked her head to the side, curious as to what two beautiful women would want with Hideki. She was suspicious by their behavior until she decided to further hear them out. 

“Well, to ans…” Mitsuko attempted to speak, but Ayame cut her off to further speed things along. 

“Making a general assumption that you know, but we’re the hosts of Ultraman Ace and need to talk to Jack.”

“Ace, huh?” Aki asked, her eyes starting to glare at the two women, causing them to realize something was not right. 

“Yes, Miss Sakata,” Mitsuko clarified, moving her hands together. 

“No,” Aki bluntly stated, her golden smile completely replaced with a frown, turning to slowly shut the door on them. “Ace has already caused Jack enough problems and I won’t tolerate him assaulting someone I care about.”

Ace yelled out, throwing his hands in complete and utter anger. “Great! She was already told!” 

“Jesus, what did you do to him?” Ayame baffled, not caring if Aki had heard her one-sided conversation with the Ultra. She felt bad for whatever Ace did to Jack and to some extent, the people connected to him, but her own frustrations outweighed their own. Ayame desperately needed Ace under control so she can get some semblance of her life back together.

“Not now!” Ace barked back, folding his arms together, wanting them to continue in their attempt to locate Hideki. 

“We understand, Aki, we hear him all the time, but we just need to talk to Jack, and see, I…. I don’t even know how to explain it,”  Ayame almost stuttered between words as she held her hand on the door. Mitsuko and Aki both saw the TAC soldier on the verge of crying.  “I’m so lost in all of this to the point where I’m leaving my little brother all alone yet again, because…..”

“You have no idea where to go from here?” a masculine voice was heard from inside the apartment, causing everyone to turn their heads towards the source. “I should know.”

“Hideki?” Mitsuko inquired, taking note of the tall man with black hair neatly combed while he wore a white jumpsuit.

Hideki nodded, smiling at the two visitors. “I overheard some of what all of you were talking about.”

“Is Jack there?” Mitsuko asked, immediately jumping to the gun. 

Hideki glanced over at Jack leaning against the wall, leaving just enough of a gap between it and his noncorporeal form. 

“It’s okay,” Jack spoke. 

Hideki turned back to the two, “He is.”

“Tell him to bring Jack out,” Ace commanded, feeling himself in a better state, knowing he can potentially receive the answers he’s looking for. “Time is of the essence.”

Mitsuko stood forward as Aki relinquished her hold on the door, allowing the two to come inside. “I know you two aren’t on the best terms, but Ace would like to speak to you.” 

“Ace wanting to speak to me?” Jack lifted himself up to face Ace’s hosts. “That’s a first.”

“Up to you,”  Hideki relayed, feeling slightly apprehensive about all of this after seeing the hell Ace put him through. However, he knew Jack would be willing to listen to him even if it wasn’t going to be pretty. “We can see what he wants.”

“It couldn’t hurt, just tell them we’ll do it under certain conditions,”  Jack rationalized.

Hideki and Jack took a moment to discuss as the others watched Hideki having a one-sided conversation. Both Ayame and Mitsuko realized this is what they appear to other people whenever they spoke to Ace. They glanced at each other, silently confirming they should be more selective on where they have a conversation. 

Hideki turned around, clapping his hands.“We’ll do it, but we have a few conditions.” 

“Great….” Ace muttered, realizing it was going to be a list of inconsequential demands. 

“And those are?” Ayame inquired, raising an eyebrow.

“Only the three of us will go to a certain point to avoid any unnecessary damages and we only let out our respective Ultras at that point,” Hideki relayed Jack’s requests to the two other hosts. 

“Unnecessary damage? Who the hell does he think he is?” Ace scrutinized, irritated he had to go through more hurdles just to receive advice that may not even work for him. 

“Ace!” Ayame barked firmly. 

“Fine! I accept!” Ace begrudgingly complied, turning away from everyone.

“Ace agrees to those terms, surprisingly,” Ayame relayed, rubbing her forehead as Mitsuko patted her on the back.

“Good,” Hideki nodded, making his way towards the kitchen, with Aki following her partner. He brought a few things down as both Ayame and Mitsuko were confused by his sudden behavior. 

Aki wrapped her arms around Hideki, terrified for his and Jack’s wellbeing as she had a gut feeling this could end in a fight. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”

“We’ll be okay, the two of them seem nice,” Hideki looked back over at Ayame and Mitsuko standing off in the living room, smiling at them. “And I don’t think this will end in a fight despite how Ace is.” Hideki spoke as Jack gave him a thumbs up, brightening his faith in this being a peaceful encounter. 

“You sure about that?” Aki questioned, tilting her head back, lightly brushing her hand against his chest. 

“Ace is a lot of things, but he has a reason for approaching me and for once it’s not to antagonize me. I’m willing to see this through,” Jack assured, briefly trading places with his host, just out of eyesight from Ace’s hosts, to bring a sense of solace to her. 

“And I as well,” Hideki complied, phasing back into reality, wrapping her up in a massive hug. 

“Just don’t hesitate if something happens,” Aki murmured before glaring over at the invisible Ace. “Otherwise I’ll have to beat him into a coma.”

“Always,” Hideki chuckled before turning back to Ace’s hosts, keeping a smile on.“Oh. One more thing?”

“Yes?” Ayame responded, curious as to what else he could want. 

“Need a water?” Hideki inquired, reaching inside the fridge. 

“Why?” Ayame said, squinting her eyes.

“We’re going on a hike,” Hideki announced, pulling out two more bottles of water as he gave them a wide smile. 

***

“How much further?” Ayame asked, keeping her body pumping with each step on the rocky path. She looked at the massive cliffside they were at as the three of them stood over, taking in the great valley just below them. 

“Here should be good,” Hideki relayed, taking a moment to look at the beautiful landscape he led the other hosts to. He turned around and smiled back at them. “Well, moment of truth, I suppose.”

“And we’ll be okay, right?” Mitsuko asked, taking a swig of her drink. “Have you ever done this before?”

“Transform alongside another host, nope,” Hideki answered. “And, uh, we’ll personally be fine, but it’ll be up to Jack and Ace how this goes down.”

“Right….” Mitsuko breathed with Ayame following her lead as they brought up both of their rings. Hideki kept his eyes open as both he and Ace’s hosts phased out of reality. 

A brief light engulfed the cliffside before revealing the two Ultras facing each other. Jack chuckled, offering him a small wave. He was curious to know what Ace had come to him for, as he could already spot something different about him. 

Ace was still furious, but not at him. Jack could sense there was a lot of pain residing in him currently. Before he could even inspect any further, Ace rushed over, asking, “How did you do it!?”

“Did what?”

“Ha ha!” Ace blurted out, feeling his mind chip away from his growing anger. “You know what I’m talking about. How you’re so full of yourself like you were before that day!”

Jack shuddered slightly, remembering that with the worn torn, blood red sky as he and the others fought for their lives to stop Deathla. A day that remained in infamy for him, causing himself to take a deep breath. He further planted his feet in the ground, remaining strong as he kept his mind focused on the task at hand. 

“It’s not something I or my host did in a day.”

“And you were able to do it! Because life just loves giving you handouts!” Ace vexed his distress, bashing his hands together out of frustration, wanting to punch Jack in the face yet again. Despite that initial feeling, he didn’t want to go through it, he needed his help. Ace punched himself in the shoulder, keeping himself in check, choking out once more. “While I’m stuck hearing a goddamn voice in my head now all because….”

“Regret, “ Jack answered, watching the Ultra starting to lose it while pacing around. He saw how much worse he was getting and knew it wouldn’t be a typical conversation they had in the past. “That’s what it is.”

“Oh, he’s good. Can figure it out in an instance unlike you,” the voice inside of Ace’s mind spoke, tormenting the flawed person it was born from. 

“Shut it!”  Ace barked to the sky, attempting to direct the voice in general. His entire body was visibly shaking, readying to punch the air or someone in his vicinity. 

“Ace!” Jack yelled back out, attempting to get him back on track, to prevent him from going down that spiral he once went through. It was hell for him and he vowed to save anyone who’d be on its path. Never again. “It’s not real… they’re demons we conju….”

“Demons I created!?” Ace retaliated, turning his full attention back to Jack. His voice started to crack from the emotions overwhelming him, but he fought himself by moving forward towards Jack. Fury still raged heavily in his eyes.  “Oh right! The ones I created by thinking it was best to stop you from screwing up even further on that planet, belittle every species, neglect my partners, treat my hosts like garbage, become no better than my parents by disowning my son!” 

“That’s not….”  Jack attempted to speak, trying to do everything he could to help his former rival, but found himself interrupted yet again. 

“And I can’t even find a goddamn solution to stop the Choju or Mefilas by myself, or even know why my parents abandoned me!?” Ace vented, listing more of the grievances life itself had thrown at him, his insides spinning like crazy as if he felt sick to his stomach. 

“Ace, it’s okay,” Jack spoke, offering a hand out in an attempt to comfort him. “We all fai…..” 

“I’m not Lipiah, I’m not Zoffy!”  Ace screamed, smacking Jack’s hand aside as he got up right in front of his face. He looked him dead in the eye, seeing just how much Jack encapsulated the picture of being a hero. He couldn’t deny it any longer.

“I’M NOT YOU!”

The scream rattled the entirety of their surroundings. Both of them stood still while the quiet settled back down.

Ace didn’t realize it at first, but he had his fist raised up to Jack. His hand shook in response, realizing even instinctively he always reacted with hostility. Before Jack could say or do anything, Ace turned away and faced the vista they stood before. 

The Ultra flashed his hands together, intending to fire his Metalium Beam to decimate everything around him in anger. Colors formed at his fingertips, attempting to come out while Ace unleashed a scream so loud it could be heard across the whole valley, rattling it once again. 

All of it was at his mercy.

Yet…

The colors faded away as Ace threw down his hands, collapsing onto the ground. He sat there, taking a moment to witness what he almost destroyed before turning over to Jack. 

“You won… I hate myself,” Ace choked, feeling himself at his complete lowest by handing one of the people he disliked the most their victory. “That’s what you wanted to hear.”

Jack was dumbfounded by everything Ace had screamed out. He never would have expected the next encounter to be emotional as it was, but couldn’t let himself be stopped in what he vowed to do just months ago. 

He walked forward to Ace, but upon closer inspection of his devastated form, an all too familiar voice made itself known. 

“Good. He’s at his lowest. Bring him down even further and you will prove you’ll always be better than him.”

Jack glanced over to his left to see his own demon, Belial, standing off in the distance. The disgraced Ultra smiled devilishly at him as he started up a round of applause for him. 

Ultraman Jack glared at the devil and shook his head, refusing to give him any more power. He turned his attention towards Ace, with his vision altering ever so slightly. Instead of Ace, it was when he and Beth were kids, watching that colorful night and telling her she can be anything she wanted. 

He attempted to reach out, to put his hand on his shoulders, but pulled back. If he wanted to help him, then he’d have to go through a different approach. Jack plopped down next to Ace, staring at the beautiful landscape, watching life itself flourish before their very eyes. 

“You’re right,” Jack spoke, earning Ace’s attention as he lifted his head slowly at him, completely at the mercy of what he was about to say. “You’re not me and you never will be.”

“Thanks,” Ace muttered, turning away. He felt disgusted with himself that he could open up only to be repaid with gloating, but also knew Jack was right. He could never be better, like he was trying to be.

Jack shook his head. “But you shouldn’t strive to be like me.”

Ace turned back up to see Jack continuing on, keeping himself focused as if he was facing down an entire army. “You did what you did back there to save lives, something I forgot about because I wanted glory. Despite your claims, you still provide for your family to make sure they see the next day and when the world or even someone needs saving, you ride in, risking your life every chance you get.”

“How… does that help me in any way? Just a few things to say so I can pat myself on the back?” Ace scoffed, rubbing his legs. 

“Because under that tough exterior you like to parade around in, you’re caring, resourceful, and stubborn to do the right thing.” Jack relayed. “All of those are part of what makes someone a good person.”

Ace breathed, feeling his insides work up again as his mind raced at everything Jack said to him. Ayame looked down in regret, knowing she didn’t make it easier on Ace as well despite their constant arguments. 

“Ace, I’m sorry,” Ayame murmured, reaching her hand out as a gesture to shake his hand, even if he didn’t see it. “I don’t know what more I can say, but I want to be better, to help not only you, but all of us.”

Mitsuko smiled at her partner, the progress she was making to push forward. “And you know you’ll always have me around you, whether you like it or not.”

Ace chuckled, shaking his head, something Jack quickly picked up on. “Listen to them. Our hosts help make us better, to see we’re also a small part of this universe, just trying to do what we can for everyone.”

“I suppose I have a lot of work ahead of me….” Ace huffed, getting up back on his feet. “Great.”

“Ace, the battles that are the most important to us are never easy, you can do this,” Jack said out of compassion, following Ace’s lead by standing back up, facing him properly. 

“Yeah….” Ace sighed, brushing the dirt off his lower body before looking back at his former rival. “And I still have two sets of threats to take out.”

“Need any help?” Jack asked, readying to step up to the plate to help not only him but the rest of the planet in the crisis. “I’ll always be there.”

“We’re not there yet,” Ace chuckled, lightly smacking Jack on the shoulder, eliciting a small laugh from him. “But if my hosts are up to it, I think I might take some of your advice… at least regarding the topic of help.”

“Okay,” Jack chuckled, before taking another look at the descending sun, giving the vast land the last amount of light it had for the day. “If things ever go sideways, don’t hesitate…”

“Yeah, yeah!” Ace responded sardonically, tempted to recite everything Jack threw out to him. “I’ll be sure to call you.”

 

Chapter 9: The Calm Before the Storm

“Any idea what you want to say to Z?” Ayame asked, glancing over at her Ultra, flashing him a small smile as she and Mitsuko walked down the hallway to their apartment. 

“I… I’m not sure,” Ace said, going through every apology he could think of, but nothing sounded meaningful to him or even to Z. “I just think I might wing it. Make it up as I come along.”

“Sometimes that’s best,” Mitsuko hummed, tilting herself towards his corporeal form. “It comes from the heart.”

Ayame pressed the key into the lock and unlocked the door, taking a step in. “We’ll just need to get Chiharu to come over when he and Z are ready.”

“Ready for what?” Chiharu asked, seemingly materializing in front of his older sister.

Ayame jumped back out in surprise, startled by the boy’s sudden appearance. “You scared me!”

“Oh,” Chiharu murmured, looking away as he felt he disappointed her. “I’m sorry.”

She immediately realized by raising her voice she upset him, knowing it only made today’s argument surrounding the group worse. Ayame pulled him in for a hug, rubbing her hand through his hair. “You have nothing to be sorry about, this one is on me.”

Chiharu gave her a small smile before returning the gesture while Mitsuko folded her hands together and placed them above her heart. She loved seeing this side of Ayame, a sweet and loving protector of her family. 

Ayame pulled her head back to properly face her brother, registering the fact she still hadn’t answered his question. “Ace, and I guess us, to some extent, did a lot of thinking.”

Chiharu glanced back at Z, noticing him keeping his distance despite only being seen by him. He still felt unwelcomed around Ayame and Mitsuko. “We did a lot of thinking and even met Kamen Rider on our adventure.”

“Kamen Rider?” Mitsuko asked. 

“Wait, you weren’t here the whole time?” Ayame inquired, putting together the pieces of the puzzles upon realizing where Chiharu was just moments ago. She almost shot her brother with a small glare, but caught herself in the nick of time. “So, an adventure with Kamen Rider, huh? How was that?”

Chiharu smiled. “He saved us from Shocker troops and Z even got to take a few out! Both of them kicked ass!”

“Languge!” Ayame called out, stunning her little brother for just a second until she smiled again. “Sounds to me Z did most of the heavy lifting and Kamen Rider just helped out a tad.”

Z chuckled in response, inching himself closer to Ayame, noticing her smiling at him despite him being invisible to her. “Z, regardless of what happened, I’m glad you came into our lives. You’re not only my brother’s best friend, but his brother as well, and that makes you family to me.”

The young Ultra felt his body becoming light, overwhelmed by the loving reception he received from someone who was indifferent about him at best. Now, he knew she showed genuine love for him.

“And there will be plenty of hugs when you decide to say hi,” Mitsuko chimed in, flashing him a huge grin.

Z moved next to Chiharu. “Tell them… ‘I love them’.”

“Z says he loves you both,” Chiharu relayed, causing Ayame to smile as her heart beat, feeling happy to have another person in her life she can truly love. Mitsuko was simply overjoyed, another person she can bond with. 

“We love you too, Z,” Ayame murmured, her eyes twinkling slightly.

“We love you so much!” Mitsuko enthusiastically jumped in.

Ace watched the whole display, seeing as everyone was making their amends towards each other. He wanted to join them, feeling as if he was an outcast in their little family, but those words he was searching for still couldn’t come to him. The Ultra revisited the idea of winging it, but couldn’t bring himself to make an uninspired apology. 

He did, however, wanted to relay something to Z through his hosts. 

“Ayame, I still can’t think of the words, but just tell Z, ‘I’m sorry for what I said, and I’m sorry for not being able to give you a proper apology. I’m terrible at this and I understand if you need time away from me, as much as you need.’”

She nodded her head, getting Chiharu’s attention. Ayame relayed every word verbatim, with Z listening to every word. He was still devastated by what Ace screamed at him, not wanting to speak to him, possibly forever. However, he remembered what Hongo and Tachibana told him, knowing time will be what he needs.

“Tell Ace, I appreciate what he’s trying to do, but I just need the time,” Z said, rubbing his shoulder, looking away from the group.

Chiharu did as he was instructed as Ayame simply nodded her head. Ace titled his head down in disappointment, knowing it was the expected outcome. However, time is what Ace will give him as he just hoped there’ll be a moment when the two can reconcile. 

With tensions being reduced between the five of them, they shuffled into the apartment, preparing to settle down for the night, with a nice warm meal.

***

Ayame tapped her shoulder while Mitsuko paced around their living room, waiting for their next step. It had only been a day after their reconciliation, but the plan to move forward still needed to happen. They were anxious with how Ace conveyed his plan, but were willing to go through with his plan, as the evidence he laid out for them made sense. It was just a matter of the others believing it. 

A knock was heard at the door, causing Mitsuko to perk up and open the door, revealing a couple of their coworkers, Yamanaka, Mikawa, Konno, and Yoshimura. They smiled at Mitsuko as Mikawa greeted them delightfully, “This is a nice surprise to be invited by the two of you.”

“By all means, come in,” Mitsuko greeted her four friends as they stepped inside, all taking seats on the couch or a nearby stool. 

“So….” Konno said, rubbing his hands together flashing the two hosts a huge grin. “What’s on the agenda today?”

Ayame breathed, dropping her hand as she eyed her comrades. There was no point in dancing around the subject, what they needed to tell them needed to happen now. “I wish it was under better circumstances, but Mefilas isn’t who he is cracked up to be.”

Silence was met. Both Ayame and Mitsuko looked at their friends with mixed reactions. Konno was confused, Yoshimura was processing it all, Mikawa and Yamanaka frowned. Vice Captain Yamanaka stood up and stared Ayame in the eye. 

“I had my reservations on Mefilas, but if the captain and an Ultraman can vouch for him, then we’ll have to let it play out,” he rationed as the others followed suit on their opinions. 

Konno followed through, asking, “What would Mefilas even want out of this? He said he wanted peace.”

Mikawa stayed quiet for a moment, letting their statements pass through one ear and out the other. That was, until she remembered something that day. The mental image of Ace looking at her as if he was trying to warn her of something. 

“Mefilas is onto something,” the communications specialist spoke up, turning everyone’s attention towards her. “That Ultra… Ultraman Ace, he gave me a puzzling look, like he wanted to tell me something, but couldn’t.”

“Yes,” Ayame responded, lowering her head slightly, still feeling apprehensive about what Ace had planned. Panning over slightly to Mitsuko, she gave her an encouraging smile to trust him. “Ace was right, he was trying to warn you about Mefilas.”

“Warn her how?” Yoshimura questioned. 

“And how would the two of you know that?” Yamanaka questioned, continuing to frown at what the two were getting at. He wondered what their connection to Ace was or at least their claim of knowing what he said. 

Mitsuko chimed in, preparing to relay that information to them. “Did you ever wonder why we weren’t there during the Vakishim attack?” 

“I assume Goro had orders for you both to stay back,” Konno answered, before smacking himself up the head upon realizing that tactic made no sense. “Now I’m confused by his methods.”

The moment of truth was upon them.

Ayame nodded at Mitsuko before rolling up their sleeves to reveal their rings. The shiny silver and red objects caught their attention like a mosquito to a bug zapper. Before they could ask further questions for the two, the two hosts disappeared out of existence and were replaced by Ace.

Mikawa and Yoshimura stared at the Ultra, their eyes widening while Konno backed away. Yamanaka smirked. “Knew it.”

“What, how?” Ace questioned, completely thrown off by what his hosts’ friend relayed. He’d expected shock across the whole room, not someone already figuring out the little secret he hid with the two hosts. 

“You…” Yamanaka tried to speak, catching himself when he realized he was no longer talking to his friends, but the Ultraman that stood before him. “I mean, Ayame and Mitsuko seemed to disappear whenever a kaiju attacked or some excuse always came up conveniently.”

“He’s making a good point there,” Konno added, pointing at the Ultra.

“I… you…. did not know that, how?” Ace questioned, feeling annoyed at how one person was able to figure it out instantly. 

“Ace, this is good. We want to catch them up to speed quickly,” Ayame pointed out, causing another huff from the Ultra.

“Whatever,” Ace muttered. “Did you at least know your precious captain and Mefilas are one in the same?” 

“No.” Yamanaka frowned. 

“Oh, so I was obvious, but the Seijin with an electric dog wasn’t?” Ace uttered in disbelief, feeling frustrated at how clueless the members of TAC were. He felt himself wanting to scream at them, berate them for their stupidity as he gripped his hands.

“Ace, remember…” Mitsuko gently said, reminding him to take a deep breath and compose himself.

“Ace is right, he did try to warn me about Mefilas,” Mikawa elaborated, stepping towards the Ultra and her Vice Captain, but still appeared puzzled. “Though, I’m confused as to why you or Ayame and Mitsuko didn’t say anything beforehand.” 

“Yeah…. That…” Ace murmured, scratching the back of his head, temporarily looking away at them and towards his hosts. Ayame sighed out but joined Mitsuko in smiling at him, telling him to reveal it all. “I, to some extent Ayame and Mitsuko, mainly me, didn’t know how you would all react to this information, especially since I don’t know any of you. Along with the fact that Mefilas would have revealed it to TAC and likely the world.” 

The room went silent for a moment until Yoshimura stepped forward. “While I understand the hesitation, the three of you haven’t led us astray yet. You’re all doing your duty to protect this planet.”

Konno nodded his head, agreeing with his comrade. Mikawa gave the Ultra a smile, patting him on the shoulder. “If my friends came to me for anything, even revealing a personal secret, then I’d have to trust them.”

Yamanaka sighed, patting the gun strapped to his hostler. “Welp, what’s Mefilas’ endgame here, on top of being a liar, so I can shoot him.”

Ace couldn’t help, but feel happy at how people are not only looking up to him, but accepting the three of them. He, and Ayame, felt like kicking themselves for never once believing in them the same way they believed in them. Their numbers were small, but they felt confident they could not only prevent Mefilas from ruling the Earth, but stop Yapool as well. 

***

It glanced at the city lights off in the distance. Like the forest it had witnessed previously this concrete jungle lathered in lights reminiscent of the cosmos. Ace Killer wanted to be within its body, but today’s earlier experience taught it that the beings inside feared it.

The machine couldn’t comprehend why. It was not there to hurt them, only the silver giants that occupy that space. 

Ace Killer shuttered for a moment. 

“What did the Ultras do to hurt its creator?”

The machine held its hand out, imagining the touch of every building in that plot of land. It wanted to know what kind of story each of those colorful signs displayed. To Ace Killer, the whole city could tell stories far different than anything it experienced. 

“My child!” Yapool’s voice echoed, shaking Ace Killer, forcing its gears to go into overdrive. The machine stood at attention for orders by its creator. 

“Tomorrow is the day when our enemies will engage each other,” Yapool announced, eliciting a head tilt from the machine. “You will jump in when they’re weak and all of them will be vanquished in an instant.”

Ace Killer nodded its head, intending to fulfill its duty by killing the four biggest threats to its master’s plan. The machine raised its arm up towards its head and saluted Yapool. Ace Killer couldn’t help but show extra gratitude for its master by being inspired by how the inhabitants of this planet praised each other. It felt calming and even warm.

The voice ceased, leaving Ace Killer alone. It took a few moments to realize, but all the machine could do was hang its head down. The being couldn’t understand why its creator would not wish to be with his creation more often. Ace Killer couldn’t help but feel confused, baffled by why its creator wouldn’t be here, when it could enjoy something as beautiful as the city.

Still, there had to be a reason for Yapool’s decision, his behavior. 

It would only be a matter of time before he opened up more to Ace Killer. To get that sweet reward of being praised further by its parent, and it’ll fulfill the completion of tomorrow’s mission. 

It must.

***

Chiharu threw a yellow ball up against the ceiling, letting it drop back to his hand before repeating the process. He laid on his bed, listening to the conversation between the members of TAC in the other room. From what he heard, it sounded like they were going to throw everything at Mefilas and Neronga. 

Z materialized next to him, holding out his hand to catch the ball only for it to phase through. He already knew he wouldn’t be able to catch it, but he wanted that illusion, to feel like he was playing with him. 

He, too, listened to the conversation happening beyond the walls and glanced back at Chiharu. “Are you worried about them?”

“A little,” Chiharu said, continuing to throw the ball. He had his reservations about their plan, not knowing if they could even stop Mefilas with TAC behind their back. What Mefilas was doing wasn’t right for anyone, but he’s been helping in keeping the Choju invasion at a pause. He just wasn’t sure if this was the right move to make. “I just don’t know if they’re doing the right thing or not.”

Z chuckled. “I know the feeling, just not sure if any of us are doing the right thing.” 

Chiharu let the ball drop on his chest, turning his complete attention to Z. He noticed how Zett stared at him, slowly putting it together on his Ultra coming up with a conclusion. “You thinking of doing something?”

“Yeah,” Z huffed, brushing his hands together. He wasn’t fully there with coming to terms with his emotions and how he felt about Ace, but he couldn’t stand by and do nothing. “Ace is a jerk, but he’s going to need to help whether he wants it or not. All hands on deck, am I right?”

Chiharu shot up from his bed, planting his feet on the soft carpet. “Ayame is going to kill me, but it beats being alone throwing a ball.” 

“You can say that again!”  Z cheered out, throwing his hand up for Chiharu to high five him. The boy instinctively did so only for their hands to phase through each other, forcing both of them to stumble through each other. They turned around and chuckled at their behavior, still not fully comprehending how the merging works. “We still have a ways to go.”

“Let’s figure that out after the battle.”

 

Chapter 10: All Out Assault

Ayame peered out through the glass door, leading to the back of the facility. She saw Goro sitting on one of the benches, overlooking the valley leading to Mt. Fuji itself. No doubt he was enjoying the view, knowing he’d take joy in anything. 

She turned back to Mitsuko, giving her a smile. Her partner noticed her looking at her and matched hers. Mitsuko raised her hand up to Ayame’s cheek, slightly squeezing it, eliciting a giggle from Ayame. “It’s going to be okay. We got this.”

Ayame placed her hand behind Mitsuko’s back, looking her in the eyes and smiling. “Let’s do it.”

“Do… do what?” Mitsuko asked, grinning at her girlfriend. 

“Start a life together like, actually start one together,” Ayame exclaimed, gripping her fingers against Mitsuko’s back. 

“What brought this on, Ay?” Mitsuko questioned, squinting her eyes, but keeping her smile. Despite the poor timing, she was liking where her partner’s head was. 

“Maybe because we’re not gonna make it or maybe it’s just kicking in for me, I just don’t know, but who cares!?” Ayame said out loud, pulling Mitsuko closer to her. “It’s you and me.”

Before Mitsuko could even say anything Ayame pulled her even further and planted her lips onto hers. It felt like years had passed as the two kept their hold onto each other, never wanting the moment to end. 

“Ahem!” Ace coughed, startling them as they turned around to see him tapping his foot and point at his hand. 

“Right…. Distracted before the big fight,” Ayame murmured, fiddling with her outfit while Mitsuko just simply slapped her on the shoulder.

“It’s just what I needed.”

“Good, whatever. Do that after we kick his ass,” Ace groaned, ushering them to head outside to confront the Seijin. 

Ayame and Mitsuko breathed, heading outside to be met with a gentle breeze. The two mosied out, pacing themselves to prevent suspicion until they made it to the nearby benches. They stared at the vista Mefilas was seemingly fixated on, as they couldn’t help but agree in finding it beautiful. 

“Enjoying the view?” Mefilas inquired, never taking his eye off the green valley. 

“We are,” Ayame simply answered, panning her head slightly towards her former superior, making sure he hadn’t moved a muscle. Instead, he kept himself seemingly frozen in place. 

“That’s good,” the disguised Seijin flexed his lips as he was planning to grin, but stopped halfway through. “It’d be a shame if this was lost.”

This time, he turned over to face the couple, puzzling them before Ayame was starting to realize what was happening. “Nothing escapes your eyes, does it?”

Mefilas chuckled, brushing his hands together. “I guess not, but I suppose I should congratulate you both for rallying the team together. You really do have the makings to be a good leader, Miss Ohta.”

“Then you know it won’t end for you well,” Ayame countered, inching her hand towards her gun in the event he tries to run for it. 

“That depends how this all goes down,” Mefilas relayed, pulling himself off the bench and taking another look at the gulch. “We still have many surprises for each other.”

“We do,” Ayame pulled out her gun while Mefilas yanked out his own version of the Beta Box, shaped like a dagger with a tip drenched in red. Ayame’s finger was inching away from the trigger as Mefilas glanced at her until the engine belonging to the Panther revved up. 

The Seijin smirked, seeing Mikawa aiming a rocket launcher at him as he heard the sounds of the Arrows’ engines roaring. He knew they would pursue him to the ends of the Earth no matter what.

“A shame this didn’t last. I really thought we could have worked well together.”

“Not when you decide to dictate us however you want,” Mitsuko called out.

“‘No one’s ever perfect’, one of my least favorite sayings,” Mefilas sadly surmised. “I would have made sure everyone was safe and treated however they’d want to be.”

“Until it conflicts with your ideal world,” Ayame fired back. “Everyone deserves to live free without having to compromise it.”

“In time you’ll see,” Mefilas pointed out, tilting his head slightly to the left as he seemingly spotted the invisible Ace. “All three of you will see that humanity needs me.”

“We got the Ultras and Kamen Rider,” Ayame said, taking delight in rejecting Mefilas’ supposed help. “We’re doing fine.”

“For now, but it never ends well with humanity,” Mefilas poignantly noted, keeping his eyes purely on the Ultra hosts, ignoring the rest of TAC pointing weapons at them. “Eh, one last thing?”

“What?” Ayame muttered, wanting to either shoot him or for him to escape into space never to be seen again. His constant chattering was fueling an oncoming headache. 

“Where’s Z?” 

Ace rolled his eyes as Ayame winked at him, telling him to not let it get to him. She turned back to Mefilas and smiled, “As far away from all of this.”

Mefilas smiled, clapping his hand slowly, letting the Beta Capsule meet the faux flesh on his palm. “I respect your dedication to your family.”

Before anyone could respond, Mefilas slammed his hand against the capsule, growing exponentially larger, destroying the patio. Concrete and wood flew out towards the two hosts, expecting to be hit when their rings lit up. 

Other bits of debris rivaled the ones from Mefilas’ direction, colliding into each other and shattering into pieces. Ace materialized fright in front of Mefilas, throwing his hands up to strike the Seijin at any given point.

“I guess I chose well after all,” Ace felt proud of how his hosts handled themselves in a conflict and their willingness to protect his son.

The two stared at each other for exactly one second before firing off their respective beams. Mefilas’ orange pair ray collided with Ace’s rainbow Metalium Beam. The colors danced across their very eyes with neither giving up any ground. They stood still, concentrating their respective beams as best as they could until the collision could no longer hold.

The engagement forced an explosion between the two, sending them skidding backwards. TAC immediately opened fire on the recovering Mefilas while Ace regained his footing. Ace smirked and threw several guillotine shots, intending to amputate his limbs. 

The saw-like projectiles swarmed at the Seijin, but Mefilas swung his hands repeatedly causing them to fly across the battlefield. The now earthbound weapons of energy tore up the ground, ruining the once grassy valley. 

“Neronga, now!” Mefilas commanded, blocking several missiles with arm before firing off a grip beam at the swerving Arrow. 

Emerging from behind the mountain, an invisible force plowed through the land, rushing towards the aid of his master. Neronga cried out, tackling Ace to the ground, striking him several times with his claws. The lightning quadruped smacked his horn against Ace’s face, eliciting a roar of pain. 

Ace slammed his hands to his chest and fired a timer bolt. The red singular beam struck Neronga in the chest, sending the hound off the Ultra and into a nearby body of water. Ace recovered slowly while he watched Neronga splashing around and making his way back towards the surface. 

The Ultra circled his arms forward, firing an arrow beam. The projectiles were fast, but Neronga was quicker on the draw, leaping out of the way. Neronga roared, declaring it was faster than Ace, but the Ultra had something planned. Ace waited just another second before throwing out a devastating punch, knocking his foe to the ground as he was left stirring. 

Mefilas, on the other hand, only felt ticklish at best from TAC’s combined strength. Their missiles and weapons were nothing to him, but he was at a complete stalemate. They were too evasive for not only his physical strikes, but his beams as well. 

“I taught you all well,” Mefilas felt a small sense of pride for training his former soldiers well.

“Hey Mefilas!” Ace called, with the Seijin turning around still feeling the meager blasters from TAC. “Let’s finish this.”

Ace’s hands glowed yellow and immediately wasted no time charging in. The Ultra sent out punch after punch, striking Mefilas anywhere he could as the Seijin threw up his arms to defend himself. Mefilas quickly folded his arms back before slamming them on both sides of Ace’s, causing him to scream and stumble backwards. 

Mefilas fired his pair ray, forcing Ace to collapse on his back. The Seijin rushed over but Ace beat him to it by firing another Metalium Beam. Alien Mefilas was sent flying upwards before crashing down on his feet, something he was able to prepare himself for. 

Lighting was channeled between Ace’s hands before morphing into a red ball. The Ultra yelled out and threw it at his rival as Mefilas ducked. The Seijin retaliated by firing another beam as Ace was too quick on the draw and evaded it. 

Both of them soon came to realize something. 

At full strength, neither of them had the advantage. 

BOOM!

Ace and Mefilas turned around to see both jets engulfed in flames as the pilots were ejected from their craft while the Panther was tipped over. Ayame and Mitsuko’s eyes widened in horror at their friends not only being taken out of the fight, but potentially injured. 

“No!” the two hosts screamed out in unison. 

Mefilas chuckled, assuming Neornga was able to shoot them down without anyone noticing. He turned back to Ace, preparing to lecture him once more when he felt a searing pain in his side. Before he was sent skidding across the ruined landscape, he saw a blue beam piercing it. 

Ace recognizing that beam anywhere was both happy and upset that Z was here. He went to turn his head over to acknowledge his son’s appearance only to be met with the same beam as his rival did. The Ultra slid across the dirt, his head hitting Mefilas’ chest. 

The Ultra grumbled, realizing it was the brown and crimson colored machine that attempted to kill Z. Yet, it was puzzled by how it had acquired Z’s beam, however, he wasn’t going to let it have the chance.

Ace jumped up to face the approaching machine while Ace Killer kept its eye on him as well. The machine pulled out its battle sai, brandishing it as if it were showing the down giants at the means of their execution. 

It didn’t know them personally or even know what they did to anger its father, but it was simply irrelevant. It needed to feel Yapool’s warmth and it’ll destroy anyone he demanded, no matter how interesting they appeared to it.

Ace threw his hands up as he then heard a coughing Mefilas. The Ultra glanced over to the slowly recovering Mefilas looking up at him. “I know we’re not on good terms right now, but would you be opposed to extending our arrangement… at least for a few more minutes?”

“Just do it!” Ayame firmly issued, glaring at her former superior. She still wanted to see Ace beat him into submission and hear his cries of mercy, but there were bigger issues afoot. “We can humiliate him later.”

Without saying words, Ace offered up a hand to Mefilas, eliciting a chuckle from the Seijin. The two got ready to fight while Neronga slowly materialized right next to his master. The hound shook his head, still feeling his head pounding from the punch. Mefilas lightly patted him on the head, “Excellent resilience, my friend! That’s the spirit!” 

Neronga huffed, aiming his horn at the approaching mech and readying to fire at any second. Not even having to convey anything towards each other, they fired their respective beams, all of them cascading towards Yapool’s agent. 

Three different beams struck its metallic exterior, smoke rising out of it as it slowly raised its blade, allowing it to take the brunt of the assault. Ace Killer steered the beams away with its sai, impacting the nearby hills, blowing them apart. Its blade as a result shattered to pieces causing it to drop the handle.

Ace, Mefilas and Neronga all looked surprised to see the robot functioning after being blasted. The machine’s front half was still charred, but functioning as it wasted no time charging towards them. Neronga opened fire, firing several bolts of electricity at it, striking it. 

The bolts only danced around its body, eliciting minimal damage, allowing the machine to keep pushing forward. It leapt up and delivered a kick to Neronga’s face, forcing a yelp of pain as blood gushed out of his cheek. Ace Killer raised his arm upwards, gears circulating in response before striking Neronga on the head. 

Mefilas growled, seeing his pet being harmed as he went to kick the machine’s darkened head. Ace Killer reared its head back, dodging the attack before matching his foe’s leg with his arm. The machine kept Mefilas still until it fired Z’s copied beam at the Seijin, sending him crashing down on his back. 

Ace leapt forward, firing a few bolts of white energy at his doppelganger, forcing it to stumble backwards. Sparks erupted even further as its natural colors were being further darkened by his attacks. Ace Killer responded in kind by firing another Zestium Beam at Ace’s chest, eliciting an agonized scream, barely keeping himself upright. 

The Ultra took a breath, taking just a second to recompose himself before he let out a primal scream and jumped onto it. Ace threw down several punches, barely denting the armor before the machine looked at him blankly and shot out another Zestium Beam. The blue energy sent Ace flying off of him and crashing down on his back. 

Ace struggled to get up, watching Yapool’s creation march towards him, preparing to fire another beam. This was the end for him. The Ultra groaned, feeling he failed no matter how hard he tried. He glanced over at his hosts, begging for him to get up, but his energy was almost depleted. 

“I’m so sorry Ayame and Mitsuko,” Ace apologized, feeling his body almost motionless. “I thought I could make this all work. At the very least, Z and Chiharu are safe.”

Before anything further could happen from an attack on his physical body or his conscience, a scream was heard from the sky. A blue beam struck the machine’s back, forcing it to stumble forward as several sluggers followed. Ace turned his head to see the machine collapse on its belly as he then heard a loud thud. 

The Ultra Brother looked up to see to his complete shock Z standing above him. “Z!?” Ace exclaimed, not even mad at his presence but overwhelmed by the sudden entrance. 

“I heard your little plan the other day and figured you’d need help whether you like it or not,” Z relayed, inching his hand closer to his body. 

Ace couldn’t but chuckle before throwing his hand forward, matching his son’s before being pulled up. “You did the right thing, son!”

Z’s heart raced at hearing Ace refer to him as his son for the first time in his life. The younger Ultra attempted to speak up before being cut off by Ace. “I’m sorry for everything I said. It was absolutely horrible and no excuse could ever justify it. What matters is you. You’re my one and only son!”

The younger Ultra snatched his father up with a hug. He felt overjoyed to know someone he looked up to for a very long time cared about him. “I love you too, Dad, but we should do this later.”

“Yes, very heartwarming, indeed,” Mefilas coughed, slowly picking himself up. “We still have a robot to deal with.”

Ace glared at him, wanting to still strike him down where he stood, but was right. With the four of them present, they could stop the damaged being. They each struck up a pose as Ace leaned over to Mefilas, “Mind keeping his attention for a few seconds?”

“How so?” Mefilas asked, curious as to know what Ace had in store.

“Just fire a couple of beams, Neronga and I can overload it,” Ace relayed, knowing how the last encounter went with it. “Just need everyone to do their part.”

“I suppose I can do it,” Mefilas sighed before firing off an orange beam, striking the charred robot. It beeped out, taking the bait and fired a Zestium Beam as Mefilas barely leapt out of the way. The Seijin fired off another beam as instructed, completely gaining the attention of Ace Killer.

Ace glanced over at the still head shaking Neronga. He wasn’t sure if this part of the plan would work, much less the hound even being capable of listening to him, but still had to try. The Ultra moved over to the slow moving Neronga as Ace raised his hands up, signifying he meant him no harm. 

“Hey, you, uh, Neronga,” Ace spoke, causing the electric reptile to look up at him. “I need you to fire just one or two more bolts of lightning at the thing attacking your master at the same time as me, okay?”

Neronga blinked at him.

“I don’t think he knows what you’re talking about,” Z pointed out, inspecting the docile creature who just kept staring at them.

“Oh my god…” Ace muttered as Neronga lightly pushed past him, electricity glowing up his horn. The Ultra then smiled upon relief before turning around and folding his arms together. 

Lightning was called upon sky, striking himself as he felt himself imbued with it. Matching Neronga’s timing of his own surge of electricity, the two fired them off, striking the distracted machine. Upon impact, the machine erupted into flames as it let out a hideous shriek, feeling a sense of pain for once. 

The burning Ace Killer turned around to meet its assailants, intending to fire back on them. Blue energy coursed from its body when the being he was based upon called out to the high heavens. “Everyone! Give it everything you got!”

On cue, Neronga fired another round of his lightning as Mefilas followed it up with another beam. Ace nodded at Z, causing the younger Ultra to light up with joy and unleashes a Zestium Beam alongside his father’s Metalium Beam. 

All four beams crashed into Ace Killer, forcing its already burning limbs to act out of control. It staggered around for a few seconds as its emerald eyes blackened. The machine was in complete darkness, no longer able to see this new world it was brought to nor its master. 

In its last few moments, it felt fear.

Ace Killer became motionless, falling backwards as the flames continued washing over it. The four ceased their assault upon realizing they slayed their opponent and for a few moments, none of them thought about fighting. 

Just breathing.

Ace patted Z on the back for a job well done as the younger Ultra did the same. They were relieved they just made it through the day, regardless if Yapool strikes again soon. 

Footsteps were heard, with both Ultras looking up to see Mefilas weakly walking over to his pet. They saw the Seijin rub his hand on the hound as he inspected the gash on his cheek. Mefilas attempted to nurse as Neronga let out a small growl, eliciting a chuckle from him.

The Seijin weakly turned his head around, taking note of the Ultra’s weakened condition. The thought came to him about resuming the fight as all of them were still standing. However, Mefilas absolutely still abhorred violence, even if he had been exposed and lost TAC, a place he grew fond of. 

“Why don’t we call it a day and go our separate ways?” Mefilas suggested, raising his hand up, pointing it towards Ace.

Ace scoffed at the idea, hating how it would mean the Seijin would live to fight another day and concoct another, more dangerous scheme to take over the planet. Yet, his entire body was on fire and despite his newfound confidence in Z’s abilities, he couldn’t risk another fight. Not now.

“I’m not shaking your disgusting hand,” Ace spat, shooting daggers out of his eyes, intending to still execute the Seijin here in and there. “But I’m making an exception. Leave and never come back, because I won’t be as generous.”

Mefilas chuckled in response, dropping hand. “Tough, but fair. A saying I’m fifty-fifty on.”

The Seijin placed his hand onto the Neronga’s back as they felt their bodies dematerializing. The two Ultras watched their foes vanish before their very eyes only for Mefilas to utter one more thing. 

“Take care of TAC, they’ll need you.”

Ace attempted to ponder on his newfound allegiance, knowing he would soon be more a part of their lives. He questioned how far he’ll continue taking up the mantle of being Earth’s defender, but he didn’t want to focus on that right. The Ultra just wanted to help his comrades back onto their feet and to not hear anything for the next couple of days.

“Dad.”

Except one.

“Yeah?”

“That was pretty awesome, right!?” Z exclaimed excitedly, already going back on the memory of the battle they fought together. The younger Ultra snapped his head back at the burning body of Ace Killer with Ace looking back on it as well.

“You’re awesome.”

 

Chapter 11: We Can Be Better

Every member of TAC was back at the base either recovering from their wounds suffered in the battle or celebrating their victory. The captain told them ‘they earned it’ and not wanting to let the opportunity or allowance go to waste they went all out. Drinks and food filled their bellies as they let their ears open up to the music blaring. 

All but two, that is.

“You’re kidding, right!?” Ayame exclaimed, completely shocked by what Captain Yamanaka was suggesting to her. Her left eye was raised, slightly twitching as her mouth hung open. “You know I’m not even a teamplayer!”

“Ayame, you’re not only very capable and revealed the truth about Mefilas to us, and you can swap with an Ultra!” Yamanaka exclaimed, circling his hands as if he were dishing everything out to her. “That makes you more than qualified.”

“I….” Ayame stammered, lightly popping herself on the head. “I don’t know if I want the responsibility, I just promised Mitsuko to pretty much take it up to the next stage, I don’t want the added responsibility.”

“Fair, but I know TAC can benefit from this very handily,” the Captain relayed, marveling to her at how much not only morale will improve but their jobs as well. “They’d love it.”

Ayame thought about the proposition for a bit, pressing the bridge of her nose. She wanted that life with Mitsuko, to pop the question to her in the next few days and eventually what they discussed that day. 

Starting a family.

Then, it hit her.

“Why am I stopping myself?”

“Okay, yes, yeah!” Ayame said aloud, giving in as Yamanaka grinned. “I’ll take the job; I’ll be Vice Captain!”

Yamanaka then bowed to her, eliciting the same reaction from his second in command. “Better go make the announcement.”

The two made their way out into the main area of the building where they saw their subordinates enjoying themselves. Yamanaka walked over to the stereo, smiling softly as he then pressed the power. The music ceased as everyone turned around to see Yamanaka and Ayame preparing to make a statement. 

Ayame glanced down and saw Mitsuko winking at her. The Vice Captain winked back before looking back at the entire group amassed in front of them. “I’m the Vice Captain,” she said bluntly as Yamanaka snapped his head at her. 

“What, I wanted to get back to the party?” Ayame reasoned as Mitsuko snatched her away for a hug. 

Yamanaka shrugged his shoulders before turning the entertainment system back on and joining his friends. 

Mitsuko snatched a kiss from her partner, bringing her in close as she pressed up against her. “I’m so proud of you, Ay,” she hummed.

“I didn’t know this was my bonus,” huffed Ayame.

“Get used to it,” Mitsuko quipped, moving her lips towards her neck. 

“Ahem!” Ace’s voice abruptly interrupted, causing the two to let go of each other as Mitsuko rolled her eyes. “We need to have a meeting.”

“Can it wait?” Ayame almost snapped, glaring at the intruding Ultra.

“It can’t,” Ace spoke before clarifying further. “It’s nothing bad or anything, just family related.”

Mitsuko’s behavior switched, going from agitated to concerned. If he or Z were having a tough time, then she’d do what she could to help. “Okay, we can hear you out.”

“I need Chiharu as well, he’s kind of important for the meeting,” Ace explained. 

“Does it involve Z?” Ayame inquired.

“Yes.”

***

Ayame, Mitsuko, and Chiharu walked on an open field, traveling a decent way outside of the city. They were still unsure why Ace wanted them to travel to this area in particular, but were willing to go along with his simple request. 

“Trying to take in the view here?” Ayame asked, flashing the nearby Ace a smirk. She was still slightly baffled at his reluctance to tell any of them what he planned, even leaving Z in the dark was equally as puzzling. 

“Yeah, right,” Ace chuckled before stopping, motioning for both his hosts to halt. Ayame placed her hand on her brother’s shoulder, signaling him to follow their lead. “Figure I let you all know why you’re gathered here.”

“Could have at least packed a few things so we can have a picnic,” Mitsuko chirped. 

Ace playfully brushed her off before presenting himself more seriously. “I do need to have a talk with Z.”

“Oh?” Mitsuko inquired. “What do you and Z need to talk about?”

Chiharu looked at Z’s noncorporeal form as the Ultra shrugged his shoulders, completely in the dark like himself. 

“His future, I suppose,” Ace answered, shrugging his shoulders.

Ayame turned to Chiharu. “Would you and Z be okay with that?”

Chiharu nodded his head, before turning his head back to the Ultra. Z thought for a moment before nodding his head as well.

All three of them were engulfed in light as the two giants from the Land of Light stood, facing each other. Ace scratched the back of his head, taking note of how far his son had come since he first arrived on this planet. He was so happy to be proven wrong with everything Z did during their short time together.

“Z, I’m so proud of you,” Ace congratulated, approaching his child and placing his hands on his shoulders. 

Z felt himself overcome with happiness, seeing that joy in his father’s eyes after so long. He snatched him up with a hug, almost lifting him up as Ace let out a small laugh, patting him on the shoulders. 

“Thanks, dad,” Z murmured, pulling away as he clapped his hands together. He was feeling energized from not only the latest fight, but the praise he received from his father. Z was ready to get back into the field. “So, who’s the next Choju on the list?”

“Z, you’re a very capable warrior, but….” Ace said, trying to convey what he was trying to mean without giving him the wrong idea.

“But?” 

“I don’t regret you being here with me, but… I need you to start your training at home,” Ace said, causing Z to lower his head slightly. The younger Ultra deep down knew his father was right, only wanting the best for him and for him to be safe. Ace noticed the slight change of behavior before speaking up again, intending to instill confidence in him. “Think of it this way. Your adventures here will be a hell of a story and you’ll already prove you’re the best that there is.”

Z glanced over at Chiharu flashing him two thumbs up before lifting his head back up, reveling in revelation. “You’re right! I’ll be flying through everything so fast they’ll have to pass me earlier than everyone!”

“That’s my boy!”

“Wait, wait!” Ayame cut in, swinging her arms wildly. “What about Chiharu? He can’t just go alongside him.”

“Got you covered,” Ace snapped his fingers.

As if on cue, two figures descended from the clouds landing just a few feet from the two Ultras. Z turned around only to see both Rutia and Yuri standing side by side, smiling at the two planetside Ultras. 

“Mom! Mama!” Z shrieked happily, rushing over and swinging his arms out. Yuri and Rutia scooped him up as the three of them shared a family hug together as Ace slowly walked over to them, feeling his heart race excitedly. 

Rutia looked over her son’s shoulder at her slowly approaching partner and waved at him. “Ace, get over here!”

“Yeah, we rarely get to have moments like this!” Yuri chimed in, motioning for him to join them.

Ace glanced over at his hosts both snickering at him. He shook his head only to be met with Ayame making a snarky comment. “Hey, you’re the one who created that family.”

The Ultra Brother playfully flipped her off before joining in on the family hug. Ace felt their arms swarming his body, he couldn’t remember the last time he felt this amount of love and peace. It was still relatively foreign to him, but he wouldn’t say ‘no’ to it anymore. 

The four relinquished their grasp onto each other as Yuri snatched out a Beta Capsule, pointing it at Z. “You ready, Z?”

Z went to speak up before glancing back at his host. He turned his back on his mom, placing his attention on his soon to be former host. A part of him was excited to continue his training and to show he’s the best of the best, but he didn’t want to leave his friend behind. In just a short amount of time, he built up a seemingly unbreakable bond that he could no longer see as his best friend. 

Instead, Chiharu was his brother.

“It’s okay, Z,” Chiharu cheerfully said. “I’m sure we can bug your parents and Ayame enough to let us hang out again.”

“Yeah, you’re right!” Z exclaimed before turning over to his father. “I want to come back to Earth periodically regardless of what anyone says.” 

Ace chuckled, seeing a small bit of his fiery spirit in the next generation before him. “The three of us talked about it and three months out of the year, you can spend time with me here.”

“Yes!” Z excitedly yelled out, throwing his arms up in the air as Chiharu did the same. “I’ll see you soon, buddy!”

“Count on it!” Chiharu exclaimed, matching the same amount of energy his Ultra was dishing out as Yuri pressed the button on the Beta Capsule. The two felt their bodies no longer intertwined, but now of their own.

Chiharu materialized beneath the four Ultras, almost gulping as he completely forgot just how much bigger they all were. His height couldn’t even match up to their feet.

“Mom, Mama, this is Chiharu!” Z introduced, pointing back to his brother on the ground. His body commanded him to jump and down, but quickly had to remind himself about Chiharu getting squashed if he did so. 

“He’s adorable,” Yuri cooed while Rutia waved her at the child, something he responded to in kind. 

Rutia then walked over to Ace and wrapped herself around his body, resting her head on his shoulder. “You sure you don’t want to come back with us? We’d like your company again.”

Ace reared his head slightly, looking at her soft silvery eyes. He huffed out, “I’d love to, but my place is here for the time being. Earth and its people still need me.” 

On one hand, Rutia was disappointed, but couldn’t help but feel enamored by her partner’s dedication. She placed her hand on his cheek, softly smiling at him.“Just don’t be a stranger this time around.”

“Visit me whenever any of you want,” Ace relayed, rubbing his hands down her arms as she slowly backed away to Yuri and Z. The three of them all smiling and waving at him before shooting up into the sky and towards their homeworld. 

Ace might have been alone physically, but he knew they would always be with him mentally. They will never be far from him again. 

***

Optics flickered. 

Its emerald eyes slowly gazed at the ruined battleground. The battle before was becoming clear to it. The machine felt its entire body in flames from the four entities coming together in unison, with several pieces of their armor, their body being blown to bits… Yet, it didn’t hate them, it was more curious on how such mortal enemies could come together.

Did they form a close-knitted community?

Would they help each other in future?

Can it be possible for me? Ace Killer questioned, letting the processors go wild with possibilities they can learn in the coming days. 

They felt comfort in those thoughts, providing them with time to reflect as their master will send a recovery unit for them. In fact, now that they thought about it, their master has not connected with them after the battle.

Not even in an attempt to reactivate them.

No word.

Their processors generated a new topic, one to replace the pleasant thoughts they briefly had. They wondered why their creator had abandoned them. 

What did I do wrong?

The results in their search were a fruitless endeavor. Only theories, no answers. 

They slowly picked itself up, lifting their body off the blackened dirt. Ace Killer went to rest their hands on the ground, but found their body shifting slightly towards the left. They caught themselves, pushing their hand upwards, as it took a moment to compose themselves. Ace Killer turned towards their right and found its right arm missing. 

Realizing the situation afoot, Ace Killer glanced down at the rest of their body and saw multiple holes punctured through their body. The brown and crimson colored torso of theirs was no more, but a pitch black while the emerald on their chest was a dull color.

They brushed their hand across the body, as it attempted to get up. Their body faltered slightly, but managed to accomplish the task. Ace Killer huffed, annoyed at their body becoming slower while they then decided to move forward. It was a step forward, feeling confident in its right foot, but as they took their second step, it felt itself dragging. 

Ace Killer scanned their entire body again to find their left foot damaged, barely able to move. 

Ace Killer hung their head down, disappointed in themselves. They failed their mission, causing their creator to abandon them, for them to feel broken. To not know the feeling of when their opponents came together with differences set aside. 

What does that feel like?

They lifted their head back up and made an objective themselves. If they were to survive in this universe, then they needed a community and understanding of the lifeforms. For then, they can transcend being a simple machine, but as a lifeform. 

***

Her knife cut through the vegetables as she hummed. Mitsuko moved her blade under the faucet and rinsed it before scooping the produce up. Ayame was out running errands, leaving her alone to get a few chores done around the apartment. She poured the food into the bowl, only now realizing something that puzzled her in the back of her mind.

“Hey Ace?” Mitsuko asked and upon the words uttered, the Ultra materialized right next to her.

“What’s up?” Ace asked, leaning to the side over the counter, keeping himself stabilized. 

Mitsuko couldn’t help but giggle over Ace’s behavior. “Still on the counter shtick?”

“It’s something I’m trying to conquer,” Ace clarified.

“It’s cute,” Mitsuko said, smiling at him as she shook the bowl. “But there’s something I’m a bit confused about.” 

“What’s that?”

Mitsuko tapped her chin, looking slightly away from her Ultra. “Why did you name him just Z in particular?

Ace leaned away from the counter, standing back up as he snapped his fingers. In an instant, the kitchen morphed into the living room of Rutia and Yuri’s home. They turned to see a younger version of Ace holding onto the toddler.

“Z….” Ace’s past self murmured, bringing the sleeping child closer to him. “I don’t know what your parents were thinking when they gave you a name like that, but… doesn’t mean I can’t improve on it.”

Hearing the child’s little snores, Ace couldn’t help but feel his heart race. He let Z’s little head rest on his chest as he kept his grip on him firm. The Ultra looked down at his face, staring at how happy he looked, likely from a really good dream. 

It made him happy.

“Z, often the last letter…” His face lit up when he realized how he could improve upon the meaning of his name. He saw the child wiggle slightly as he opened his eyes, cooing at the sight of his father. Ace couldn’t help but do the same, smiling back at the toddler’s pudgy little face. “You’ll be the last hero to exist, because you’ll be the one to bring peace to the universe.”

“I know it,” the present day version of Ace spoke, watching that cherished memory of him holding his son. 

 

Chapter 12: “Want to know something?”

2020

He rubbed his eyes as he walked out of the conference room, following it up with a yawn. The pilot was normally enthused about these meetings, always admiring his captain drawing up the plan regardless if it was business as usual or a kaiju attack. Then, of course, being with his friends all at once. He loved his job, he wouldn’t change it for the world, but he would have loved to spend more time with them outside of work hours. 

Despite all that, he was fighting the exhaustion that took over him. He let out another yawn, tugging at his light brown jumpsuit, moseying over to the nearby coffee pot. The young man poured himself a glass and brought it up to lips.

“Hey, Haruki!” an energetic voice called, forcing him to sputter out his coffee. 

Haruki’s grip on the white mug tightened as he slowly turned over to Ultraman Z leaning over by the counter, barely resting his head over the clear wall. He sighed, not fully used to the Ultra integrating himself with him. 

“You scared the heck out of me, you know?” Haruki spoke up, loosening his grip as he set his mug on the counter. 

“My bad, sorry about that,” Z chuckled further, keeping his eye on his new friend and host. He had an advantage over most Ultras and that was observing the behavior of humans. The Ultra noticed Haruki was checked out, almost docile-like. He stood back up and reached to his friend, placing his hand just above his shoulder. “You doing okay?”

Haruki nodded. “Just tired from yesterday’s fight. I barely got any sleep in.”

“Don’t need to tell me twice, those Valis Raiders are exhausting to deal with,”  Z sleepily complied, at least before oddly turning his attention to a new arrival in the room. She had long brown hair that went down her shoulders and a smile that was so infectious it could encourage anyone to match it. STORAGE’s most important scientist and the organization’s greatest weapon standing across the room.

He kept his eyes on her, feeling a great sense of relief as he watched her push her glasses upwards and inspect a strange liquid in a glass. Then, he saw a hand waving up and down in front of him, snapping the Ultra out of his trance. 

Z looked over at a perplexed Haruki, realizing he was still in a conversation with his host. “Oh, right. Completely my bad.”

“Why are you staring at her like that?” Haruki asked, wondering why Z was so fixated on her like she was an object of great obsession. In fact, he couldn’t help but notice he has done that ever since he brought him into work. 

Z chuckled. He knew he couldn’t talk himself out of this one, especially when Haruki was catching on to his connection. He went over to place his hand over the wall once more, but felt himself completely phasing through, earning Haruki a loud yelp.

“Okay!” Z clapped his hands together, phasing back into his line of sight. “Want to know something?”

Haruki nodded as Z pointed towards the girl in question, as the Ultra couldn’t help but smile. 

“Are you in love with her?” Haruki inquired, eliciting a kneejerk reaction from Z. 

The Ultra jumped back, waving his arms repeatedly, terrified beyond belief at such a question like that being raised. “What!? No, no! Never!”

“Really, she’s kinda cute, though?” Haruki scratched the back of his head, taking a quick glance back at her.

“Hey, she’s family!” Z blurted, immediately causing Haruki’s eyes to shoot out. The Ultra’s demeanor soon changed when he rubbed his shoulder lightly and turned away.“And besides, I may or may not have my eyes on Yoko!” 

“Fa… family?” Haruki sputtered, taking several steps closer to his Ultra. “What are you talking about? Is she like you?”

Z turned his head back at the oblivious girl still mixing away the liquids in the vials. He may have not seen her all that much, but like himself, so many people were proud of that girl. Human and Ultra alike. 

“Yuka’s grandmothers are Ultraman Ace’s hosts.”

Winner: Ultraman Ace, Ultraman Z, Alien Mefilas (Universal), Neronga (Universal)