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: Michael Zamar | Banner: Landon Soto

At the edge of the Milky Way 

Footsteps rattled the plains as the horrid beast left destruction in his wake. Swords and spikes jutted from his form, one befitting the devil itself.

Years ago, likely eons, something had taken shape within the dark belly of the cosmos. It grew in power with every single encounter it had with another. Learning. Adapting. And as it mimicked all it saw, the appearance of it began to change; growing more wild and uncontrolled. None could stop it, and none could control it. It had many names that were coined as it traveled planet to planet, from star to star. But to those who looked in the records, they would tell you the only “true” name it had was simply…

IF.

And now, IF had prepared to start his rampage anew, demolishing cities on the system of a binary star. Music radiated from his entire body as instruments had emerged from his back, like the trumpets that played before the apocalypse. Weapons shot at it, but none made a dent, his hide having become immune to smaller projectiles long ago. His howling roar rattled the windows, and each blow from his sole fist was the equivalent of the force of a meteor, with his sword a knife through butter.

Thankfully for the denizens, there was still one last plan at play.

“BRING IT OVER THIS WAY! LET’S GO LET’S GO LET’S GO!” someone screamed in the distance, a military commander. Trying to focus his remaining laser gun on the monster’s eyes, he managed to catch his attention as the ever-evolving life form moved towards a still standing base. Suddenly, the music jutting from his body shifted from droning classical trombones to something more akin to an erratic electric guitar as he began to pick up the pace. Unbeknownst to him, he was running straight into a massive trap!

Stepping over the red lines, the base began to move from under his feet, him being none the wiser until it was too late. The ground shot up, a massive dome beginning to surround his form. Shouting out in surprise, he had hoped to escape, but an influx of missiles and lasers made sure to keep him distracted long enough to stay put. Soon, the dome collapsed around him entirely, rising into the sky as the rest of the massive rocket emerged. What was once a massive project meant to be used for long distance space travel in the case of an emergency had been retrofitted to become a massive prison for the beast.

Jets kicking in, it launched into the sky, soaring past the atmosphere and heading to parts unknown. Hopefully, he would never return….

Despite that, however, there were no cheers over their victory, only a stunned silence. Many were frankly shocked that the plan had worked to begin with, while others continued to mourn the losses the beast had left behind. With so much destruction, how could they ever recover?

“Sir… Do you think we made the right decision?” a surviving, injured civilian said to the commander. “If that thing ever gets out, who knows what it’ll try to do?”

Merely staring at the clouds, the higher up could only ask himself the same questions in his head. “I don’t know; but it was all we could hope to do. We tried punching the coordinates in so it wouldn’t risk landing on any nearby planets, but it’ll only be a matter of time before that luck runs out.”

“And when it does?”

“… Well, he’s someone else’s problem now.”

*******

Five Months Later

Said luck had run out once it had finally hit the Earth’s solar system, going past Pluto and soon all of the gas giants. The coordinates hadn’t been planned to go this far into the galaxy, leaving it, and the beast inside, on autopilot, waiting to see where destiny would take them.

It wouldn’t take much longer; for once they reached the Goldilocks Zone, the collision course had already been locked in. One that would take the ever evolving force towards Planet Earth, and towards an equally dangerous foe.

******

Seattle, Washington, 1:42 PM

The heat was relentless.

Buildings burned and toppled as the massive threat already had half of the city dead to rights. Massive wings beat akin to the force of a hurricane, violet lasers cutting into the military like a sword. With only freezer weapons doing anything noteworthy, they used as much as they could to hold the monster back, yet they were still fighting an uphill battle.

Eyes glowing amongst the dark smoke, Destoroyah was on a rampage. The Precambrian amalgam moved at a lumbering pace, trying to soak in every bit of pain and terror. With Godzilla and his allies occupied on the other side of the world with other threats, he was free to do as he pleased! And today, he had decided that would include demolishing all of America’s west coast. Having already taken out most of San Francisco, a quick flight had guided him towards his next location. Most of the army had already been defeated, but there was no point leaving the job unfinished. Only a few more miles to go before the rest of the city was destroyed.

Alas, he was destined to be interrupted. For as he began to calculate how each skyscraper in his path was to be destroyed, an odd glow had begun to radiate behind him…

Bursting through the clouds, the metallic object shined in the rays of the sun, the flames receding as it made it past reentry. Heading straight into the sea, all was silent as it eventually made touchdown, splashing with the force of the meteor and sinking into the sea.

Having his curiosity peaked, Destoroyah walked back over to where he too had first arrived, interested in seeing what had made an appearance. By the time he had flown back, however, it had appeared to have fully sunk; but things weren’t over yet…

For the being that was inside had finally gotten a chance to release himself from his bonds.

As the impact rattled and loosened the metal, that had given him a better shot at escape; wedging his weaponized hand against the walls as he slowly pried them open and popped part off with a final kick. His makeshift door flew past the waves and into the sky. The red devil took notice of this, as it crashed onto a building behind him.

Suddenly, the water began to foam as the strange beast had finally emerged, meeting his opponent face to face.

It was a tense standoff, yellow eyes staring into red. Despite Destoroyah having a somewhat notable size advantage, IF had refused to back down. In fact, the idea of toppling something larger than him had actually filled the extraterrestrial with a sense of excitement! A whole new window of opportunities had opened up for him depending on what this foe had in store, and he was willing to explore them all.

Destoroyah, however, had a much more simple mindset: and that involved finding out just how many pieces he could slice his new piece of mincemeat into!

Bellowing a shrill cry, the giant crustacean lowered his head, his glowing horn on full display as it aimed to stab right into the stomach of the enemy. However, IF braced for impact, his only hand grabbing the head and halting the demon in his tracks. Using a knee, he struck Destoroyah in the chin, earning a whine and making him step back as the strange being decided it was his turn to attack. Raising his bladed hand, he struck a crimson shoulder, but it did little more than spark.

When was the last time an entirely new face had actually struck Destoroyah back?

No matter, he would just have to use a bit more force. As his tail suddenly came to life and pinched together in preparation, a quick burst of purple energy shot into the air. IF stood in confusion… before suddenly being pulled into the light, with it bursting soon after. The sheer force temporarily blinded his eyes, and it made it hard for him to breathe. Taking the opportunity, Destoroyah continued his combo with a massive uppercut to the chin in retaliation. Then, grasping his foe by the neck, tossed him over his shoulders and further into the city streets.

The remaining crowds below ran for their lives, no longer wishing to be bystanders from afar. As IF slammed right into the ground and broke the concrete on impact, he was already in the midst of trying to get up and strike back. Alas, the sound of beating wings proved his foe had beat him to it. Another Oxygen Destroyer Ray spat from the gestalt’s mouth, cutting into his golden skin and the surrounding buildings, which in turn toppled onto the alien.

Alright then. Two could play that game…

Rising up, IF shook off the soot and debris covering him just as Destoroyah touched back down. As energy ran across his body, raw power merged with cosmic energy as his arms merged into a plus sign. In a matter of seconds, he fired off one of his most powerful stolen attacks: the Maxium Cannon!

Eyes widening in surprise, Destoroyah quickly stepped out of the way, watching it fly off until the horizon. He turned back around-

BOOM!

Only to receive a splitting headache the moment a Gravity Beam slammed into his skull! Yelping in shock and anguish, the demonic destroyer could only slowly open his eyes in shock. Out of nowhere, the alien had used two techniques only members of the Ultra and Ghidorah clans could use. How could this thing have possibly gotten ahold of them? It was certainly no natural member of either species!

Perhaps its abilities, and genome, were more complex than he had realized.

Things got even more mysterious when he once again raised into the air, IF following despite lacking anything resembling wings; simply levitating until he had reached the same height as his foe. Swinging his sword hand high, IF got back into action and swooped in, trying to cut more and more into the armored chitin until he could finally see blood. Destoroyah wouldn’t allow it though, striking back with his own Horn Katana. It was akin to a medieval sword fight, with each clash like fireworks. Neither side could get a leg up, prompting more drastic measures to be taken.

Fighting dirty, Destoroyah bit into the left hand, trying to dig into the fingers. IF tried stabbing at his foe’s side in response, but still could not fully puncture the tough skin, though he still had other options. Wrestling the hand out of the fiend’s mouth and seeing he only had a few punctures, he decided to tinker with everything else he had to offer, and throw out multiple tricks at a time. Blue heat built in his maw, and an odd clicking noise in his five fingers rang out.

Manifesting a yellow barrier with his horn, Destoroyah managed to bear the entourage, Bemular’s heat ray merging with organic finger missiles in a singular display. Once it resided, he went back in and spat back with a freezing mist that immediately formed frost across IF’s upper body, but that mattered little to a being who could withstand the frigid depths of space. Flexing muscles, the ice cracked, but the wound was quickly struck again as another purple blast shot at him, jamming some of the shards into his flesh. Destoroyah’s tail clamped around his foe’s neck, now having regained some control of the conflict as he flew forward, IF trailing behind as he slammed into building after building. Feeling like he had softened up the meat somewhat, the Precambrian beast decided it was about time to finish the job…

Eyeing the Space Needle in the distance, he figured out the best way to do so.

Beating his wings and going a bit higher, he stopped when IF’s chest and sensitive organs would be right above the skyscraper, akin to an executioner using a pit of spikes to kill a prisoner. Once the tail loosened its grip, IF fell an incredible twenty stories, slamming right into the tower as his spine and chest burst open in a shower of gore. Unable to handle the weight, the Space Needle fell to pieces, covering the monster in soot and debris, leaving the battlefield silent…

Laughing in victory, Destoroyah saw the smoke dissipate and decided it was time to leave this fight in the past. Moving away from the scene, he walked away with his backed turn, not even planning to give his opponent a proper farewell. He merely marched off, going to demolish whatever else was left of Seattle.

He hadn’t realized the hole left behind had suddenly opened wider, leaving a massive burrow and IF nowhere to be found.

Using both hands to breach the grated surface, IF burrowed underground akin to a living drill, moving so fast even the likes of Baragon would be put to shame. Moving forward and creating a trench underneath could have simply sent Destoroyah tumbling down. He had a different plan, however. One that involved giving the crustacean a taste of its own medicine, a purple glow building in his jaws as he aimed towards the concrete ceiling.

Striking the air like a pillar of light, the beam had quickly circled Destoroyah until the ground ran the risk of collapsing in on itself. Instead, it rose into the air with nothing but a single arm hoisting the weight. IF tossed the massive slab into the air, nearly striking the sea before Destoroyah panickedly flew away before impact.

It had perfectly mimicked his own attack after only two strikes?!

This did not bode well. Whatever he fired could be shot back twice as hard. Even if the damage was minimal due to the Oxygen Destroyer Ray being composed of what his entire body was made of, that meant other attacks could still pack a hit. He couldn’t understand it; how did this thing even work? It had taken him a much longer time to evolve to the point he was at now, but it could manage nearly instantly! No being on Earth had that level of power.

…No being, until perhaps, today.

Yes, if he could absorb that DNA and gain all of that power, he could effortlessly come out on top! But how could he reach for blood underneath a body full of jagged edges? He’d have to tear off those spikes one by one then, and he certainly had the strength to do so.

Snorting to himself, Destoroyah dove back down as his horn suddenly glowed to life, thinking that perhaps if he could cut them all off, he would have a clear shot at victory. IF, however, suddenly sprouted a counter-weapon: one with strings and a sharp edge at the tip that had suddenly sprouted and outright popped out of his right shoulder. Using it akin to a baseball bat, the strange life-form had fought back in the form of a… violin?

The crustacean had no idea what he was looking at, but his instincts kicked in anyways as he ducked the swing before it managed to nearly knock his head off. He tried grabbing the instrument to see if he could use it instead. Still, despite only having one dexterous hand, IF had quite the iron grip. Suddenly even more instruments began to sprout out in a terrible cacophony that made the humans nearby cover their ears, though Destoroyah merely grunted in annoyance. Seeing some more potential options, his eyes darted as he saw the different shapes, some more intriguing than others.

One that had caught his attention most, however, was a rather sharp electric guitar. One that was quite literally electric.

IF had decided to use every particular weapon to his advantage, and with how much he had seen and lived through, he certainly was not low on options. Some of the other ones sprouting from his form didn’t even remotely resemble anything you’d seen on Earth, but the ones that did still had their more deadly quirks. A flute began to play as it slithered down his arm like a snake, before bursting as a small puddle of blood pooled on the ground. Aiming at Destoroyah’s head, green light began to emit from it, as an acidic smell filled the air.

Knowing what was coming next, Destoroyah backed off, firing another homing ball that met the massive flute. It collided with the acidic sap IF had stolen from Biollante in a shower of smoke and acerbic sparks. The force from it made IF stumble back, giving the Precambrian terror the perfect time to swoop back in and steal the violin from under his nose! Getting a grip on the pegs and the scroll, his smirk had grown wider as he thought about bashing the head of the beast in until nothing but a bloody pulp remained. IF, however, was not deterred, the electric guitar from his back sprouting out in full as his anti-gravity flight took hold and prepared to strike.

What came next was a, quite literal, battle of the bands.

As both instruments met, the noise rattling from them came about in the form of an awful mix of sound, the contrast of their respective genres being clear. Destoroyah wielded his weapon akin to how Thor would for Mjolnir, but IF used his more akin to a sword. The tip would potentially pierce skin, the strings and wider base being used as just a means to an end in that regard. One would think the weapons would have broken after a few strikes, but they held strong, even the strings.

Backing off for a minute, IF kicked his guitar into the sky as trumpets formed on both shoulders, each one firing more self-made missiles. Destoroyah sent most of them flying away by either batting them with the violin or destroying them with his bare hands. Few still managed to hit him in the shoulder and the knee, though it wasn’t enough to make him stop fighting. In fact, now that he had a proper strategy in his head, pain just furthered his resolve. Playing around with the violin in his hands for a minute, he tried to line up the next attack perfectly to enact phase two. And as IF grabbed the guitar as it came back down and shot forward-

SHINK!

Destoroyah managed to strike first.

In seconds, three of IF’s spikes had crashed down to the ground as he cried out in shock and pain. And seeing that he managed to get in a perfect shot, Destoroyah saw no better time to split. Throwing himself to the ground and dropping his weapon, both his hands and knees met with the gravel below before his entire body was clouded in a massive puff of smoke, obscuring all who had tried to see. IF had taken the bait almost immediately, floating back down a decent distance away.

The first warning signs came from a chittering noise. Then there was another one… then another. Until they had revealed themselves to be aggregates in the dozens.

IF found himself so startled that he nearly tripped over his own feet as the swarm came in. Even with their smaller size, the sheer numbers had provided a new challenge he was not prepared for, and an advantage Destoroyah knew for a fact could not be nullified. Even if IF managed to put down a few directly in front of him, there were simply too many to stop his overall goal. The appendages sank into his back to keep steady as their teeth rose up and shot forward, piercing the skin as they drank in the blood like vampires. The alien rose to his feet, trying to shake off the 40-meter crabs, though he couldn’t manage before yet another force erupted from the ground and took to the skies.

Destoroyah’s flying form had rammed into him like a bull, knocking IF back down to his knees as more instruments sprouted to counter the constant threat. Something akin to a french horn sprouted from both shoulders, aiming down and shooting out powerful fireballs like they were gatling guns. They definitely did damage, as while the Aggregates had more numbers, they certainly were not as durable. More spikes began to burst from IF’s back, but that was okay to the swarm. They had gotten everything they had wanted, and all that was left to do was reform into one.

A bit easier said than done. Especially when the opponent had a new option in play.

Nuke the whole colony from orbit!

Swooping into the air, IF prepared multiple rays at once, one stemming from the eyes and the other forming at the ends of his arms. With his pupils beginning to glow crimson and a blue light radiating off the sword arm, it was clear the Destoroyah family would have little time for a counter attack. Multiple Juveniles formed from the remains of the destroyed and merged back into another Aggregate. Joining forces with the flying gestalt, two beams charged in their mandibles to stave off certain destruction.

Forming his arms into a plus sign, IF fired first, shooting a gigantic Zeperium Beam followed up with a Gigarium Cluster! The red lights soon merged with the pure white beam, forming a brilliant spiral, as both violet rays fired and merged themselves, growing in intensity. What followed was two attacks slamming into each other with the force of a meteor. Purple, ruby red, and ivory white merged as two rays fought for supremacy, each side pouring in even more power.

Power the runaway energies simply weren’t meant to handle, and both knew that. Destoroyah, however, had an option to rectify that.

Joining forces, even more of the swarm began to merge, turning into a second flying form! Circling their shared foe, it moved between both rays and behind the extraterrestrial. However, once he managed to catch the ploy, his body began to respond. A gun rose from his spine as it began to charge with heat! Electric energy pumped through it, firing in a massive strike of lightning that meshed with another detonating bomb.

Suddenly, it began to rain. An electrically charged, acidic fog soon formed from the acrid precipitation, making it impossible for anyone to breathe. Anyone, except for the two colliding titans. Withstanding the heat and calling off their respective attacks, both sides braced for the final phase of the war. Laughing in near unison, the remaining Destoroyahs began to remerge as IF’s body suddenly shifted again. Two more instrumental weapons emerged, and he grabbed them both with his only hand to dual wield as a much larger form began to form beneath him akin to a growing, cancerous mushroom. Soon enough, Destoroyah was back in his final form, energy radiating across his entire body as he smirked. Oh, the power… He felt like he could crush the entire planet in the palm of his hands.

IF’s inner reserves, however, could match nigh-perfectly. Conducting electricity across himself like a battery, he considered that now, they were evenly matched in power. Which meant this would all come down to skill.

Raising two electric mandolins high, IF’s war cry as he dove down signaled the beginning of the end!

Clenching his fist, Destoroyah’s punch met the two instruments in a contest of strength. Trying to overpower one another before they reached a stalemate, they applied more pressure. IF’s tail suddenly grew in size and grappled one of the mandolins for him, acting as a new hand while his sword arm plunged into Destoroyah’s shoulder. That hadn’t stopped the amalgamated monster from trying to get one of the instruments for himself, but the alien’s tail stabbed him with its sharp tip before that could happen. Like a scorpion, it had embedded itself in his leg, pulling away with a spray of yellow blood as the sword did the same. However, it would take far more than that to keep the crustacean down, as shown when he broke away and took to the sky.

It was time to put this new strength to good use.

Channeling newfound power, filled with alien energy, Destoroyah’s usual purple bolts suddenly gained a new, golden hue to them. So this was the power of the Ghidorah family! With the added gravitonic electricity coursing through it, an Oxygen Destroyer Ray shot forth. IF’s spikes became a shield that just barely rose in time to meet it, although the sheer force made sure to chip away slowly, but surely, breaking off shards. Trying to move away, IF went for a risky maneuver, jumping upwards before the beam could hit the rest of his body. Throwing his mandolin down before the beam could catch up, he struck Destoroyah in the forehead with a dull sounding clunk before diving back down with a tackle.

Suddenly, IF’s tail had split in two, each side grasping a mandolin and bashing Destoroyah repeatedly as he blocked with both arms. A swift blast from his mouth made the extraterrestrial stagger back, giving the incarnation of death an opening. Tapping into Spacium energy, his horn suddenly went from glowing yellow to blue, moving like a shooting star as he shot forward and sliced open IF’s chest like a cleaver through meat!

Howling in pain, the evolving creature clutched his wound and forced himself to temporarily retreat, rushing away and disappearing back into the smoke-filled city. After all that bravado, thought Destoroyah, he would flee like a coward? What a bore. Swooping back down, he sought to find the beast and end this conflict before things got even more needlessly dragged out. However, it wound up being surprisingly easier said than done…

With so much smoke and debris in his path, it was hard for Destoroyah to properly see. It would take ages to find IF at this point! If he wanted any hope, he’d have to clear all the ruckus in front of him; disperse it all at once somehow. Something akin to Godzilla’s nuclear pulse, so there’d be no place left to hide.

IF was on the job first.

A pulse of light expelled every bit of darkness, like a second sun forming on planet earth. Rainbow lasers split the cloud in two, and cut into the side of Destoroyah’s frill so fast it had immediately fallen off and disintegrated before it hit the ground. IF spared no time, bashing the massive cetacean abomination and slashing away with both hands as his tail grasped mandolins like clubs. Trying to get more space, Destoroyah’s chest suddenly began sparking, signaling a Hail Mary attack being prepared, but not one he wanted to fire too soon. With a being able to copy an attack from a single strike, this would have to be nothing less than the finisher.

Grabbing IF by the hand, Destoroyah tossed him into a building so hard it toppled immediately after, taking the monster down with it. A sweeping Oxygen Destroyer Beam eradicated what was left, explosions shooting high into the air and scorching the ground that still made it out somewhat intact. Yet, IF still got up, using one of the mandolins like a spear to attempt to stab the monster straight through the skull, yet it only met the palm of a hand as more blood skewered like a leaking faucet. Fighting through the sting, Destoroyah’s head slammed into his opponent as he pulled his hand free with a bit of pressure. Finally feeling like the strategy he had wasn’t working, the alien put the two weapons down and went all in on the final assault!

With the spikes on his body suddenly shifting, they molded further into the flesh, acting as a knight’s shield and growing more metallic as they acted as extra protection for what would come next. Swooping back in for the final time, his head dove down as the powerful “rock” he became struck Destoroyah in the chest hard enough to knock the breath out of the beast, tipping him over like a cow and knocking him flat on his back. With his maw glowing orange, the Precambrian kaiju knew he had to act fast. Wiggling one of his arms loose, he grappled IF by the neck, careening it upwards and pulling the head into the air before a whole row of fireballs lit up the sky.

Now with a brief distraction as his foe suddenly had a crick in the neck, Destoroyah used his foot and dug into the same wound his horn had left moments before. And to make sure it hurt, he dug his heels into the flesh, hard.

Feeling his organs begin to pop under the pressure, IF suddenly chopped off one of the clawed toes and backed away, the appendage slamming onto the ground as Destoroyah in turn winced. But it was fine. He had a bigger target than ever to blow this thing to pieces, and now he had gathered the perfect amount of energy to do so. Standing back up with a smile on his face, the plate on his chest bloomed open like a flower, green energy emerging from within like a spiral.

The Stomach Beam.

Grimacing, IF knew he had little time to strike back, but he still had enough energy for one last beam that could potentially win the day. Forming his arms back into a plus sign, azurite energy rushed around his entire body. One last Maxium Cannon would be used to counter the attack, gaining as much power as it could. Only the humming of energy from both could be heard…

As all the fireballs from above began to fall back down to the ground, both beams shot forward, meeting in the middle of the city in a booming explosion!

An orb of light pulsed as the two attacks struggled to overcome one another in a dazzling display, but neither had any advantage. Destoroyah poured more power into his Stomach Beam, but IF had plenty of Maximum Energy to keep going. Until one of them finally ran out of strength to give, it looked like a final clash that would have gone on forever. Fate would seemingly leave the victor up to nothing less but a coin toss. Fate’s true plan, however, would leave neither satisfied…

Fireballs had continued to rain down, striking what was left of Seattle as if it were the sign of the apocalypse. One portion of flame, however, was positioned above the perfect target. It hovered just over the ball of light created by both rays, diving down to act as the last straw upon the camel’s back. The stability of the singularity rippled. Like a runaway nuclear reactor, it would soon enter a complete meltdown.

Before either kaiju could realize what was about to happen, the explosion had begun to shroud both in a massive, fiery burst of light. As both of their cries were drowned by the droning sound of the massive explosion, the rest of the battlefield soon followed. Buildings crumbled as the remains shot out into the open sea, instruments flew straight into the air from the sheer force, and those who had not evacuated finally met their end as they disintegrated from the sheer power of the blast. Seattle, Washington had at last been broken beyond repair; as the war of the monsters came to a violent end with a detonation that had consumed everything.

And everyone…

******

One Hour Later

The aftermath had started with an aftershock.

IF clawed his way out of the crater he was trapped under with his bare hands, shaking off the rest of the rubble as his ruby red eyes scanned the area. There was no sign of Destoroyah anywhere… And yet, he still sensed his presence.

Frankly, he was lucky to still be alive after such an ignition, and he was thankful that he was. Still, he felt weak. Weaker than he had in a long time. He was in no shape to continue the fight as is, and it was fair to leave this part of the planet behind. Stumbling over, he found the violin he was using earlier in the conflict, picking it up and absorbing it back into his body. No use wasting a weapon after all.

Floating back into the air, IF had decided to scour the rest of the Earth. After all, the more lifeforms he could find, the more powerful he could grow. And this world would have plenty of strong beings to choose from.

At the same time, however, the nearby bay had begun to bubble to life, before Destoroyah had suddenly emerged with a howling roar! His hide was burnt, but he still had enough energy to stay in his perfected form. IF had turned back, seeing the demonic force call to him from afar; but he paid no mind. He had made his decision, and planned to stick with it. Soon, the alien had grown smaller and smaller from Destoroyah’s perspective, his wings too sore to give chase. Soon, IF had disappeared from view entirely.

Entirely shrouded in rage, Destoroyah’s fist struck the water like a toddler in a bathtub. He got away! With no clear target in sight, his Destroyer Ray merely targeted anything still left standing, the violet beam cutting into the buildings that still stood.

Suddenly, however, he had noticed something else in the water that snapped him out of his blind rage. The electric guitar IF had left behind. The one he had used as its own.

And with its original owner gone, surely it was ripe for the taking, was it not?

Getting another smirk on itself, Destoroyah grabbed it with one of his hands, taking the massive instrument with him; a souvenir of the battle. He had fun using the guitar as his own, and perhaps, with a bit more self-training, he could make better use of it as a personal weapon than even its creator could. Soon, the devilish monster had submerged, entering the depths until the day he would strike again. At the very least, he could say it wasn’t a total loss. He had only just begun to use the amount of power he had gained from the extraterrestrial. The rest of his newfound strength would be mastered in time as well…

Both titans quietly swore revenge, and knew a rematch was imminent. Regardless if it took days, months, or even years to meet again, they swore to settle the score all the same. Until that day, however, the question of who was truly the universe’s Perfect Life-Form would remain a mystery.

Draw: Destoroyah, IF

Author: Vincent Rodger & Alex Williams | Banner: Vincent Rodger

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: The Day Heroes Fall
Chapter 2: Together We Stand
Chapter 3: Death From All Angles
Chapter 4: The Osaka Onslaught
Chapter 5: History Repeats
Chapter 6: The Day Tyranny Reigns
Chapter 7: Home Sweet Home in The Apocalypse
Chapter 8: The Last of Our Families
Epilogue: He Who Remains

[Precedes Match 420]

Chapter 1: The Day Heroes Fall

28 Months Ago, Tokyo, Japan
Hour One of Infection

Every clue led to this moment. 

Weeks of investigation to fulfill what could be the most important mission for peace within Japan, maybe the world if the worst outcome was true. The never ending fight to bring an end to tyranny forced them to act whenever they could, a newer threat through the ongoing years rivaling the fear created by Shocker or Gedon. 

The League of Villains had perpetrated a series of terrorist attacks, even going on to attacking a school and injuring several pro heroes. Threatening the students on campus grounds… it was unforgivable. If one of the members caught him as is, it would be hard to see him as a “hero”.

The man sat close to the ground on top of a nearby hill, standing over the very end of a trail in the woods on the edge of Tokyo. Even if they were only here temporarily, a remote outpost would be a great opportunity for him to inflict pain on monsters that would hunt down children.

“Hongo,” a voice whispered, earning the vigilante’s attention quickly. The Rider, however, knew the voice of his rival, meeting the look of the second and third of their numbers. The second cyborg’s form was similar to his own, an olive green insect-like helmet with bright red eyes stared at him. Antennae pointed towards the sky, the mouth looking like the mandibles of a Mantis, black armor laid underneath dark green armor pads. Red boots matched his gloves, a belt that wrapped around his waist glowing bright red.

Kamen Rider Nigo had come to aid his fellow Rider in the fight against the horrors of mankind.

Behind him stood the third, though their forms resembled each other, this was more apparent than that of Nigo’s cyborg body. The helmet had red surrounding the bright green insect-like eyes, twin antennae ending with red tips. Patches of silver armor covered the green underneath, a silver belt that wrapped around his waist had red glowing segments. The engine which allowed their transformations glowed the same red as his boots. White gloves tightened their grip as the vigilante stood ready.

Kamen Rider V3, the creation of Rider 01 and Rider 02, had come to aid his teachers against the League to end them once and for all. Just as they had to defeat the dreaded Destron all those years ago.

“Ichimonji, Kazami, you got here just in time,” Ichigo spoke as he pointed towards the warehouse, the others paying close attention as a few members got out of a car quickly, allowing them to identify the primary target even as his form was covered to the face. It was no mistake, that was him.

“Tomura Shigaraki.”

Their numbers had dropped incredibly low recently, after All For One and All Might’s final battle had the incarnation of evil condemned to prison, members were quickly captured within the following weeks. But the primary group, the King of Evil’s Vanguard, had remained at large.

“We move as soon as they enter the building,” the first Rider spoke as he motioned towards the roof of the building, seeming to be a decent opening even if it was rundown. If the roof were to cave in and crush members of the League would be the best case scenario, but that was highly unlikely due to how far they would go to survive. At the very least, it would allow them to get the element of surprise. “Even with their heavy hitters on the field, together we can end this.”

The two other riders nodded, watching as the trio walked towards the entrance to their hideout. The one in front opened the door, allowing the leader of their group to enter first before allowing the other two passengers to follow. 

“On my mar-”

Before Ichigo could finish his sentence, a scream echoed throughout the area before a bright blue flash illuminated the building, flames being unleashed across the structure almost as soon as they had entered. 

Without second thought, they took action.

Quickly all three of them leapt into the air, hovering high in the sky before descending towards the middle of the building.

What were they about to get into? 

They crashed into the ceiling, breaking it apart and sending large chunks of concrete flying on impact. This created a shockwave which sent several people flying into the walls, or each other, as they landed. The smoke covered the group’s line of sight, but the glowing eyes of the Riders could be seen through the thick smog.

Through the smoke, shadows began to get back up from the ground, the dust settling to reveal the forms of several members of the League.

“You will face justice in the name of peace, terrorists!” Ichigo screamed with a commanding presence as the trio got into a defensive stance, waiting for the downed villains to strike back, when movement on their right caught Nigo’s eye. The youngest of the villainous group quickly backed away towards the rock wall as soon as she could, raising her knife and breathing heavily as the dust cleared. This revealed the identity of the being that could make even the vampiric Himiko Toga recoil in fear…

***

Moments ago…

A man in a black and silver jumpsuit, face obscured by a mask of the same color and wrists decorated with red bands, shut the door behind his leader. The terrorist known as Twice had been stationed here already and let them in.

“Glad we all got back in one piece!” A moment of silence passed as their leader slowly walked over to a chair within the warehouse, sitting the small bag of rations they could obtain on a table nearby before putting his black hoodie back on.

“Wait, One Piece!?” The damaged mind repeated out loud, the others looking at Twice for a moment out of sheer annoyance at the sudden outburst. His sudden thoughts blaring out loud for all to hear, admittedly, had him a bit embarrassed. “My bad…”

“I know you’re enjoying that manga, but could you bring down the energy a little,” a fellow leaguer stated as he followed in their leader’s example, sitting on the hard concrete ground and taking a moment to breathe in. “We have got to find some way to entertain ourselves.” The man had burned flesh across his form, damaged tissue covering his arms up to the wrists and engulfing his neck and bottom jaw. Metal stitches surrounded the ends of the burns, seemingly keeping the pyromaniac together as his green eyes stared soullessly at the group. The burns that marked the rest of his form surrounded those eyes as well. Dabi had seen plenty of action, but that itch to get back out there and burn away at his old man’s sanity kept creeping back into his mind.

“Oh, you’re back,” a new voice stated as they walked into the room, the man bowing to Shigaraki before he continued to approach. “I am thankful for your safe return my friends, were you able to gain anything?” 

The man wore a black vest over his orange buttoned up shirt, red gloves upon his hands, and finally a white mask covered in black markings laid on the magician’s face. A brown hat with a feather pointing upwards sat on his head, a red stripe wrapped around the large headwear. Black pants that matched his overshirt wrinkled a bit as he stepped forward, his white boots making a loud tap.

“Not much,” Tomura spoke as he opened the bag slightly, allowing the other league members to inspect what was inside. “Just the basics we could find, trying to stay out of trouble is always so annoying when it comes to food.” The face of the league flinched a bit as pain flared throughout his arm, recoiling from the bag and holding the limb with his free arm as he gritted his teeth.

“Are you alright, Shigaraki?” Mr. Compress asked as he got closer, wishing to see what was the matter.

“Some random homeless guy grabbed me while we were on our way to the closest gas station,” the supervillain explained as he rolled down his sleeve, revealing a gigantic gash on the forearm. Teeth marks revealed the nature of the attack, surrounded by ripped flesh. “Damn lunatic bit into me, so I took care of him. We had to leave shortly after to not get caught.”

“That looks really bad,” the magician stated as he looked in the bag for anything to help stop the wound from getting any worse. “You guys didn’t manage to grab anything for medical supplies, did you?”

“I would have wrapped it on the way back if we had. However, I was left with very little choice but to retreat before someone got a glimpse at us.”

“Dammit. Hey, Toga!” the terrorist shouted into the other room as he walked over, hoping to get an answer to his question sooner rather than later. “Do you know where any medic-” Mr. Compress stepped back for a moment, seeing the young woman shaking and struggling to breath.

“Toga?” Compress murmured as he got closer to the panicking shapeshifter, her body being covered in blood was normal, but to have her react in such a way was irregular, a grave concern even. “What happened here?”

“We went into the woods while you were reading… Me and Spinner were just taking a walk to clear our heads when…” Tears started to form as the memory quickly washed over her, the horror of the event that transpired only a little bit ago being quite fresh on her mind. “You wouldn’t believe it even if you saw it, from the shadows in the woods, something just jumped at us.”

“What did?” Compress asked with morbid curiosity and fear, that she was shaken up was clear, but what the hell could have scared Toga like this? “Go on, tell me.” The conversation drew the others from the main room in the warehouse to where their friends were, hovering near the entrance way as they continued to speak.

“They grabbed Spinner, he kept just screaming to run. It wasn’t like the movies, it wasn’t like my perfect dreams either. They weren’t human, Compress,” the vampire relayed as she continued to shake, the youngest member of the group being so rattled about what she saw beginning to spook the other members.

“Where is Spinner?” Twice asked, nearly stammering, as he stepped forward, concern entering his tone as he continued to stare at her.

“Gone. Dragged by those thi-AHHHHHHHH!” The young woman screamed with all of the air in her lungs when suddenly Shigaraki dropped to the ground, collapsing onto the concrete before shaking violently. Blood erupted from his mouth across the ground, the crimson fluid following suit from his eyes as he silently shook violently on the concrete floor. 

“Jesus Christ!” Twice screamed out as he rushed back to Shigraki’s side, Dabi stepping backward as he looked at the situation with little attention. That was until a rotten smell filled the air.

The pyromancer quickly turned to see in the main room a familiar sight, while his back was turned, it was clear who it was. The form sat still in the middle of the room, tears across his uniform signaling the attack that Toga spoke of before Shigraki suddenly dropped. Blood covered the opened wounds across the terrorist’s flesh, the damaged form of the Heteromorph stood mostly still, however it continued to twitch as his hand began to move.

The infected turned, roaring with fury as ichor sprayed across the ground, and with that signaled a surprise from the shadows. Glass broke instantly, shattering on impact as others from deep within the woods made themselves known. White milky eyes stared directly at the supervillain, the pyrokinetic instantly making a move before his once ally could get the jump on him. Azure flames surrounded his hands, Dabi giving a slight grin as he pointed his limbs at the monster once known as Spinner before unleashing a stream of blue fire.

The meta infected quickly dodged out of the way, still quick on his feet despite his state, only for something else to quickly show as a problem…

Suddenly, the roof caved in. Large chunks of concrete were sent flying, breaking on impact. One of the large pieces of rubble broke down the wall in between Dabi and the others, sending the other members of their group flying to the nearest stone wall. Dust covered all visibility in the area, now making it incredibly dangerous for the group as the numbers of their attackers were unknown to them, an instant disadvantage with new foes spilling in.

As the smoke began to clear, so did their forms. Three vigilantes stood in the middle of the room, each having an insect-like appearance upon the face with glowing eyes through the mist, but the one in the middle was the one that earned the most attention from Dabi. The supervillain realized that his luck had gone from horrible to almost unwinnable. The endgame of their plan had involved facing them, but right now was the worst time for them to show up.

He shared an extremely similar appearance and build to the other two that stood by him, but it was no mistake who was leading the charge. Red eyes glowed through the dust with dangerous intent, a helmet in the shape of a grasshopper’s head staring directly past the downed Dabi to the other members of the group. He spotted Shigaraki on the ground, unconscious. A red scarf flowed in the wind, as he gripped his fists, the most famous vigilante of Japan giving them all of his attention.

“You will face justice in the name of peace, terrorists!” screamed Kamen Rider Ichigo with fury, the hero of the late Showa Era instantly raising his aggression as he got a look at the group.

The three got into a fighting stance and waited for the others to make a move, as Toga quickly gained control of herself and backed into the wall. Holding her knife for dear life as the intruders quickly recovered, Compress and Twice followed in her example and prepared to defend themselves against the new threats in front of them. The dust finally dissipated as one of the horde leapt at the third Kamen Rider, earning his attention rather quickly.

“What in the hell!?” V3 stated as something charged forward, the blood-covered rotting corpse leaping at him, snapping its jaws while clawing at him.

“Another League Experimentation!?” Ichigo roared with fury as he charged straight towards the motionless Shigaraki, only for a fellow psychopath to intervene in the matter. He only saw for a second, but knew what was coming next, a wave of blue flame and the accompanying rushing of wind hurling him away. The first Kamen Rider broke through a wall and crushed members of the overwhelming group before coming to a halt. The vigilante quickly recovered and charged straight back into the room, only to see something unthinkable as everything was set ablaze.

Dabi’s eyes were filled with confusion, azure flames surrounding his fists as they burned everything around them. It looked as if it was something out of a horror movie, their forms continuing to charge at the pyro metahuman as they burned into ash. 

The roars of the horde sent a chill down their spines, the force quickly becoming something not to be trifled with. Himiko Toga screamed as she swiped at one of the approaching undead, rotting flesh opening its maw to sink its fangs deep into her arm, only for the blade to kill it in an instant. The knife cut deep into the infected’s skull, digging into the brain before making it drop to the ground. The serial killer quickly reached back for her blade as another attempted to grab her, only for another member of the group to quickly take action and kick the undead away.

“Oh god!” Twice yelled as he saw the result of his attack, his boot kicking the infected’s head in with a single strike and sending it to the floor with a lucky kill.

“Look out!” A voice screamed as Twice was pushed out of the way, his life quickly being saved by V3 as one of their own attempted to strike while his guard was low. The Kamen Rider landed a direct blow to the reptilian skull, sending the infected flying into the rock wall, but that only seemed to piss him off. The Heteromorph roared with rage and charged at him while aiming to end his life. Spinner raised his makeshift weapon at the cyborg, making V3 retreat momentarily as he leapt back to get distance. The horde continued to surround the others, it was making it hard to keep track of what was going on but it was clear at the very least what kind of situation was happening.

Through whatever means they had reached, the League had managed to raise the dead. Though they had done this with the wretched Nomu, this was an entirely different breed. Something out of a horror film from the States, rotten abominations that sought to devour the flesh of the living. Whatever happened on this day, they would put down every one of these victims.

“Shit! Shit! Shit!” Compress shouted as one of the horde leapt at him, bile and ichor dripping from its putrid maw as it aimed to sink its fangs deep into his flesh. The supervillain acted quickly, jumping to the side before touching the infected arm. A bright blue glow surrounded the entity for a moment, before turning into a marble and falling onto the ground. 

The magician reached into his pocket, grabbing a handful of marbles before scattering them across the room and with a snap of his fingers, releasing debris from them. Large rocks emerged and crushed many of the infected with a single motion, allowing a moment for the group to breathe as one front was covered. “Kamen Rider!” Compress shouted, earning Nigo’s attention as he kicked one of the undead away. “We’re surrounded and lacking in options, we must work together to escape with our lives!”

The second Rider quickly grabbed another infected before throwing them at the oncoming horde. While the series of boulders blocked a direct path to all of them, they still poured in from the other side of the warehouse. For a moment, he pondered just leaving with Ichigo and V3, but the moment any of them were to get infected, the result would be disastrous. “Agreed, but when we are safe, there will be questions for you and your group!”

“We have to grab Shigraki!” Twice stated as he punched another infected away, the jaw being sent across the room before the supervillain kicked the undead monstrosity to the ground. He raised his foot into the air before slamming it down on the moving carcasses’ skull, ending its existence with one swift attack.

“I got him!” Ichigo roared as he charged towards the fallen body of the leading terrorist, when suddenly he came to a halt. Fear rose quickly in the room as something horrific occurred.

The body twitched as it stood up, the supervillain standing idly amongst the chaos. The infected moved around him as milky white eyes stared at them, clueing the group in on his fate. A wretched smile lay upon his face as drool dripped to the ground…

Tomura Shigaraki was one with the Scourge.

The entity of Decay let out a hellish scream as he charged straight at the original Rider, his hands aiming for a direct attack on the vigilante’s skull, only for Spinner to slam into him as V3 threw him across the room. The two crashed into the rock wall near the others, alarming the remaining League members to take action.

“No! No!” Twice screamed as he attempted to gain distance, jumping back to not get bitten from the horde. There wasn’t a moment to breathe, a moment to make doubles of the others or himself even if he wanted to. The hell they found themselves in raised a question within the lunatic’s mind, his eyes widening as he realized what would happen next should they not survive.

Without reason or humanity, they would continue to devour the living. Alliances would fall as the dead gained more powerful numbers… they had consumed Decay and the Heteromorph, if they were to infect the others or himself, Japan wouldn’t have any hope…

“We have to leave NOW!” Ordered Twice with surprising confidence, the traumatized villain pushed another pair of undead towards Kamen Rider Nigo, the vigilante instantly ending their existence with a swipe of his arm. “If we don’t leave, Japan may be doomed!”

“Why the hell do you care what happens to Japan now!” screamed Ichigo as he grabbed another infected and ripped it in half, blood pouring all over him and the ground before swinging the two halves at the approaching undead. “You only wish to save yourselve-” His thought was cut off as Toga grabbed him by the arm, tears swelling in her eyes as she brought all of her courage into what she was about to say.

“I don’t care if we get arrested after this! Please just take us with you, I don’t want to be like them! They already took my friends, please, while we still have a chance!”

The words reached Ichigo’s mind, and in that moment he realized that he was wrong. They were not responsible for what was occurring, but an even greater discovery had reached him… the terrorists that he sought to end today were still human, more so than the countless armies he and his fellow Riders had faced.

“Oh dear god…”

“TOGA, LOOK OUT!” Twice screamed as Spinner leapt at her, the duplicating villain attempting to run towards her to save his friend, only for Shigraki to step in and attempt to sink his fangs into him. His life flashed before his eyes for a moment as pure instinct acted, swinging and knocking Shigaraki backward before a stream of flames lit the Decay villain’s back. Dabi had forced a scream of hellish rage and agony from the infected as he was thrown across the ground.

The shapeshifter turned, swiping her knife directly behind her in order to protect herself, time seeming to slow down as the worst outcome was about to occur. Ichigo couldn’t stop what was about to happen, and though you couldn’t see it upon his cyborg face, horror laid deep within his bones.

She screamed with agony as Spinner sunk his teeth into her arm, ripping away a massive chunk of meat away from her body with one swift motion, crimson ichor spraying into the air like a fountain as he pulled away. The shapeshifter collapsed onto her knees as her free hand held the wound, tears coming down as a massive wave of emotions rushed through her. Terrified beyond belief at what was about to occur, she shut her eyes and attempted to remember what was dear within her heart.

Her friends, their mission, that boy Izuku within the school… she would never get to tell him how she felt.

“Please… Please kill me,” she pleaded as she turned around, teary-eyed and with trembling lips. A stutter entered her voice as she asked the vigilante to end her very existence before it was too late.

The world around them was in chaos, and the only thing that Ichigo could hear were her words as he stared downward at the young murderer. Nigo came into the picture with a strong kick to Spinner’s side, earning a grunt of annoyance when the infected caught it before throwing the cyborg across the room before instinctively following the downed target. V3 reached over to Twice, pulling him away as Shigraki got up from Dabi’s assault, the infected leaping out of the flames straight towards the pyromancer. Compress desperately attempted to get away from the infected, punching and kicking to the best of his ability to get breathing room, but the roars of the hungry and rageful continued to put him on edge.

She was only sixteen… yet killing her would be a kindness in this situation. Perhaps there was a way to spare her while denying the horde another general. Ichigo raised his arm, grabbing Toga’s wounded limb with his free hand. His eyes glowed a violent red as he went to swing, but it seemed that the Rider had miscalculated.

Toga screamed with hellish rage as she opened her maw, attempting to sink her fangs through the cybernetics to end his life with one swift action, only for Ichigo to simply kick her away into the concrete wall. Breathing heavily, blood soaking his form, adrenaline rushing through him as the only thing he could think to do was considered cowardly, but what choice did he have? This was an endurance test, and if the other remaining members were to get infected, they would all die here.

“Nigo! V3! Get the others out of here now! If we do not leave this place, we will ALL DIE!” 

The two riders quickly took action, V3 rushed over to Dabi without a second thought, wrapping his hand around Shigraki’s hair and pulling him away before he began to swing. Throwing the infected Metahuman directly at the nearest wall, he managed to break the structure entirely and send him flying into the woods. Flames surrounded them, the dead continuing to roar with fury as more seemed to emerge from the woods, but hope still remained within his heart as he picked Dabi up. The third Rider took action and led the surviving members of the League of Villains out of this hell.

Nigo followed in his creation’s example, attempting to gain distance from Spinner as he swung his makeshift weapon rapidly at him. He caught the blade before punching the metahuman so hard that blood erupted from his decayed maw as he flew backward. This let the second Rider to leap back and follow the group, slamming his fist into another infected on his way out.

“Ichigo!” Ichimonji cried out as he saw the first Rider hold the horde back for a moment, Toga swinging her blade gave him little distance but it was enough to make a difference. The first raised his fist into the air before swinging downward with all of his strength, concrete flying in all directions as dust covered their view, allowing Ichigo to leave unharmed.

They ran like hell, the small group of survivors not paying attention as the smoke rose into the air and flames coated the “home” the League had made during their small time of hiding. To the horror of the Kamen Riders… smoke seemed to cover most of the sky ahead. 

Screams of all sorts were heard, racing over to the ears of the six survivors. Some belonged to the ghoulish assailants that assaulted them just minutes ago, while most belonged to terrified citizens. 

The Riders felt themselves at an impasse. 

The nearby flames from all the death and destruction lit up their eyes as the screaming did not cease. Their orders to bring in any members of the League were imperative, but they weren’t sure if they could achieve that goal now. 

They could handle a lot thrown at them, however playing babysitter to supervillains while fighting off the legions of the undead would be problematic. Despite their willingness to escape the building with the Riders, they collectively knew it’d only be temporary. 

Ichigo turned over to the remaining members of the League, the three of them prepping themselves for what was about to come. Dabi scorched the entirety of his hands, intending to unleash a torrent of flames while Twice made a duplicate of his two remaining friends. Compress, on the other hand, inspected the teal marbles in his possession. He rolled his eyes, knowing whatever they did with the villains would only be detrimental.

“I’ll accept the chew out.” The original Kamen Rider thought to himself, lightly kicking the dirt in mild frustration. 

Ichigo snapped his head back at the League, intending to make himself clear as fast as possible. “Assist with the evacuation or flee, we don’t have time to babysit you.”

Dabi chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. “Letting us go? How generous.” 

Ichimonji and Kazami were stunned by their friend’s leniency towards the criminals they were suppose to arrest. The second Rider went to protest, placing himself between Takeshi and the villains. “We can’t risk letting them go, much less get infected.”

“He has a point,” V3 pointed out, turning around to spot the city being further engulfed by the rising Scourge. “Think what will happen if someone like them were infected? We’d lose the whole country in less than a week.”

“I know the risks!” Hongo barked out, turning back towards the League. He stomped on the ground, causing Twice to yelp out, bouncing backwards as Dabi and Compress aimed their respective weapons towards him. He threw an arm out and pointed at Compress directly. “You seem like the most rational one here. If you flee, either get the hell out of this country or hide in the darkest corner where the infected will never find you.”

Compress nodded. “Your fight here is futile, gents, but I admire your bravery. We will take our leave.”

“Oh thank god!” Twice exclaimed, letting relief wash over him. “I can’t take anymore monsters! Not after Toga!”

Dabi hummed, feeling the sweet release of freedom just beyond the horizon. He extinguished the flames on his hands and planted them in his pockets. The burnt villain whistled softly, walking away as this crisis was no longer a problem for him. 

Twice quickly followed his close friend, almost huddling up to him in an effort for maximum security for this new world. Compress stalled for a moment before revealing two of his marbles. 

“I was saving these for a heist, but now’s as good a time as any.” Compress snapped his fingers, launching the marble onto the ground as it transformed into a jeep between them. “If things get too dicey here, then take this as my thanks.”

“The kindest villain we’ll ever get in our careers,” V3 remarked, watching the well dressed villain turn around to join the remnant. Compress snapped the remaining marble out of his hand and morphed it into a jeep, allowing themselves a safer exit than most. 

The Rider trio bolted off into the screaming streets to meet the infected head on and to save anyone they could find. Ichigo ripped the hood off a blue sedan, taking note of several infected galloping towards him. Their mouths poured out saliva, eagerly awaiting to sink their teeth into his flesh. Ichigo gripped the piece of metal, absolutely disgusted by the mangled remains of what were once innocent people. 

SWOOSH!

Takeshi swung the severed hood across the necks of all of the infected charging toward him, decapitating them instantly. Blood erupted out of their necks as they collapsed on the ground, turning the street red with blood. Ichigo jumped around before swinging the large piece of metal yet again, severing another group of zombies just behind him. Their bodily remains splattering the nearby vehicles, covering them with their guts. 

V3 flashed his green eyes before punching straight through a zombie’s face, breaking it apart. The infected body ceased as the Rider then kicked its stomach, exploding it to pieces as its remains flew out and hit several of its infected comrades. The third of the Riders bolted forward, ramming his hands forward and grabbing two of the zombies’ heads. He slammed them down on the ground, splattering into pieces.

Ichimonji elbowed a zombie in the mouth, peeling it off before he tore his head off with his bare hands. The second Rider snapped over to the evergrowing crowd of infected piling in the streets. Citizens witnessed the Riders putting up a resistance and ran towards them for salvation. 

The three Riders dispatched the already present zombies, but prepared themselves for the next wave. They waved their hands forward, ushering for the fleeing civilians to get behind them. One woman cried out, tears falling out of her eyes while her arm reached out for them. 

SNAP!

She fell face first, breaking her face apart as she screamed from her teeth falling out while her leg was torn off by the jaws of a rhinoceros-like heteromorph. The bulkier zombie pulled on her other leg and with one mighty tug, it was ripped clean off. He then shoved the leg down his throat before ramming his gigantic horn through the chest of another civilian.

The Riders sped forward, dispatching several more infected through gruesome means. They attempted to reach any remaining survivors, but their efforts were fruitless. One by one, they were either ripped to shreds or newly recruited members of the Scourge.

Ichigo punched the upper portion of an infected head off before turning around and stomping down on another one. He heard a scream that was not a part of the undead horde, finding one last survivor within the growing chaos. The Rider struck his hand out, intending for her to reach it, so the four of them could escape. 

CHOMP!

She let out a bloody cry as ichor shot out of her shoulder. The infected gulped down the torn chunk and went for seconds when Kamen Rider chopped the zombie’s head in two, squirting out more plasma. Ichigo stared at the crying woman briefly, taking note of the bite mark before staring back at her. 

Realizing what he was about to do, she cried out. The unwilling member of the Scourge begged for the hero’s mercy. Kamen Rider kept his composure, never letting her leave his sight as he reared his arm back. 

“I’m sorry,” Takeshi murmured, feeling absolutely horrified and guilty over the complete failure of the mission. 

The original Rider punched the woman’s head off, something that was quick and painless. It wasn’t kind, but he rationalized it. He knew becoming a member of the undead horde was a worse fate than death.

The three heroes knew there was no one left in this area anymore. 

Only the undead. 

Without saying a single word, they turned around and bolted. Killing the infected here would only be a tiring effort that eventually got them consumed. They needed to retreat so they could discuss a far more efficient plan to end this nightmare.

They raced over to the jeep, only to find several propellers going off in the sky. They looked up to see several searchlights peering through the smoke. The lights shined on them as the infected gathered closer and closer to them. 

The helicopters aimed their guns at the infected, mowing them down as the Riders were motioned by the crew to climb aboard. The three heroes jumped aboard the craft, with the vehicles ascending to the thick sky, leaving the remaining undead to wander about. 

Takeshi yanked his helmet off, breathing out. He rubbed his hands across his skin, feeling the sweat overtake it. “Tell them it was my fault I let the rest of the League go.”

He didn’t care for the ramifications. Hongo tried to do what he thought was right, but he failed. Several more innocents died because he was too slow and the villains were allowed to leave due to him being overconfident. 

“The League is no longer an issue,” spoke a soldier, eliciting the attention of the heroes. “We were told to grab you no matter where you were.”

“Wait, wait,” Ichimonji spoke, gripping his helmet. “What do you mean no matter where you were?”

“The Prime Minister ordered every service member and hero we can find for an operation,” the soldier relayed.

“Any chance it’ll go better?” V3 spoke through his helmet, electing to keep it securely on top of his head. “Because, I hate to break it to all of you, but zombies were not a part of the dossier.”

“Hold on, hold,” Ichigo repeated, putting his hand just above Kazam’s chest. He became nervous over learning an operation calling for everyone. One meaning potential devastation or even death of the entire nation if they failed. “What do you mean by operation?”

Chapter 2: Together We Stand

The wind picked up, blowing tents across the cement and slightly shaking the vehicles parked around. The trio of Riders felt it, their belts spinning nonstop. The soldiers that rode with them led them into a white building, taking note of several other people funneling in. What caught their eye was an assortment of unique individuals. Several attack teams, the Scout Regiment, Pro Heroes, Monster Hunters, and even an Ultra, all of them coming together in this growing crisis. 

“Guess we’re going all out with this one,” Ichimonji said, glancing back at his brothers.

V3 bashed his hands together, smiling at every hero entering the building. “We got this! We’re throwing out the heavy hitters! And us of course, the strongest there is.”

“Let’s not get carried away,” Takeshi chuckled, moving towards the building with his comrades following closely behind. “I appreciate the enthusiasm, though.”

Everyone invited to the meeting was gathered in a large auditorium, all of them either taking their seats or leaning up against a wall. Chatter filled the entire area, attempting to figure out what the plan was for in this dire crisis. Fight? Flee? 

Footsteps were heard at the stage as the figures about to address them stood at the center. Formalities like tables and chairs alongside the leaders being well dressed was a thing of the past now. They needed the outbreak to be contained quickly and orders needed to be dealt out. 

Tapping a cigarette before taking another huff, the Captain of the SSSP spoke up. “The plan currently is to retake both Tokyo and Osaka.”

Chatter erupted before the Captain of MAC, Ryu Ibuki stepped forward and screamed. “Silence!”

A pause soon followed before Muramatsu continued on. “We also plan to recover Kiryu in the middle of the city to help quell this infestation. However, this is where we ask all of you to come in.”

The Captain of the SSSP hung his head down, taking a moment to reflect. He looked into each and every one of their eyes for a second, seeing a vast array of emotions. Fear, anger, and sadness. There was no way he could lie to any of them, as he knew several of them would die today. Even his demise was a huge possibility. 

He sympathized with every single one of them, and felt guilty for even asking them to be a part of this high risk operation. Yet, the world, and whoever the culprit behind this plague was, were not kind. 

“We understand you’re angry, or even afraid, for your service to be requested when you’d rather escape this infection or be with your loved ones,” Muramatsu continued, briefly glancing over at the other leaders standing beside him. “But we request your assistance in making sure everyone has a chance to live.”

Members in the audience chattered to themselves until the gruff voice of Endeavor spoke up. “I can tell you all, I already got the best of the best with me guarding the Tokyo Tower.”

The audience silenced themselves upon witnessing the flames on his body illuminate the room as he continued addressing them, ushering out the utmost respect for everyone present. “Captain Levi Ackerman, Jet Jaguar Yung, Yun Arikawa, Douglas Gordon, Shinichi Ozaki, Zone Fighter, Sazer Tarious, Greenman, and Snipe have all agreed beforehand to help me hold the line. I ask you all to join us in pushing back the undead menace.”

Murmurs were heard once again, but not a single soul left the room. Their silence and their eyes entirely focused silently confirmed, despite the fears present, they were all willing to do it. Whether they had already lost everything, wanted a glorious battle, or even simply for their duty, they’d never know. The only thing they knew is they were united. 

“The Scout Regiment and I will be holding rear to make sure the other fronts succeed in the mission today,” Erwin Smith, commander of the regiment, relayed. “For our plan to succeed, however, we’ll need the assistance of several Pro Heroes to help us hold that barrier.”

“Several other Pro Heroes and some of our very own Devil Hunters will assist Super Mechagodzilla, the Super-X, Thundatross, and Gigaman in retaking Osaka, as that is an infection stronghold,” Makima sweetly spoke, smiling at the entire crowd with her orange spiral-like eyes. 

“Lastly, students of UA and support heroes will be in charge of evacuating the civilians,” Detective Tsukauchi dry voice spoke out, almost as if he was about to give in to exhaustion. He removed his hands out of his pockets while he yawned. “You will all find your orders with the servicemen in the next room.”

“We wish all of your brave men and women good luck in your mission,” Zoe Hange relayed, following it up with a salute.

***

“We’re not gonna be on the same front!?” V3 cried out, throwing his hands down. “I was hoping for another triple teamup!”

“They just need us to balance each of the fields out, nothing to worry about, my friend.” Nigo smirked, patting his friend on the back.

“One rider is just as amazing as three of them,” Ichigo relayed, looking at his friends, happy to see them still standing strong despite everything thrown at them. He may have been the original Kamen Rider, but he was infinitely glad there were more like him, willing to bring out the best of humanity. “All of us can do this.”

“If only the rest of our comrades could be here with us,” Ichimonji lamented, hearing absolutely no word on any of their whereabouts since the infection had started. “Hope they’re still fighting the good fight.”

“They are,” Ichigo said, reassuring not only his brothers, but himself. A small part of him could only assume the worst, that they had been overtaken, but he had to have hope. He had to showcase to everyone around him, because if Kamen Rider felt helpless, then everyone would falter. “They’re fighting to make sure we have a chance to end this.”

“And we can never repay that debt,” the voice of Hikaru Sakimori snuck up behind the three, eliciting a turnaround from the trio. 

“Mr. Sakimori, always a pleasure,” Hongo relayed, bowing as the others followed suit. 

Hikaru chuckled at the display, but bowed, nonetheless. “No need for formalities even if I just broke that rule.”

“What brings you to our little corner?” Ichimonji inquired, tapping his own shoulder.

The alter ego of Zone Fighter shrugged his shoulders. “Just wanted to do some rounds with people before we get shipped out.”

“He’s got the right idea!” Kazami pointed out, feeling the need to say some words to his fellow heroes.

Hongo felt a particular subject come to mind as he studied Hikaru and his demeanor. Unlike others, Sakimori was more upbeat. Something told him, he wasn’t hit too hard by the crisis. He decided to spring forth a question, hoping to have a dialogue.

“Have you heard from your family?” 

Hikaru smiled, nodded up and down. “They’re all accounted for on Smokey and headed for an island to hold out at.”

“Phew!” Takeshi breathed out, patting the Peacelander on the arm. “That’s one of the few bits of good news I’ve heard all day.”

“Same. I’m just glad my family is safe,” Hikaru spoke, keeping a smile on his face despite the next subject brewing in his mind. A more pessimistic thought regarding the nation’s situation. “Which is more than I can say for others, as a lot of our fellow heroes are unaccounted for.”

Nigo shook his head as Ichigo kept silent, but Kazami filled the silence, stuttering along the way in shock at that very same thought. “Who… are we missing?”

“Half of the Devil Hunters, the Lurkers, the Special Defense Force, and every Ultra aside from 80,” Hikaru listed off, each one making him choke up further and further. He fought to keep himself optimistic, for the sake of others, but despair was kicking in. 

“Was I wrong to not go with my family?”

“Hikaru,” Hongo said, snapping the Peacelander out of his thoughts. Sakimori looked up at the three Riders all smiling at him, his negative thoughts about the whole situation seeping away. “Let’s take victories where we can find them. Your family is safe and know you’re staying behind to make sure several more survive.”

Zone Fighter smiled at the trio, feeling enamoured by legendary heroes like themselves who were not only supportive of him but having a conversation with him. It was a dream come true. “You guys are truly amazing and just what we need.”

“We’re always receptive to positive feedback,” V3 chimed out, feeling flattered by the fellow hero’s praise. 

Takeshi stuck his hand out to the Peacelander as Hikaru stammered, witnessing what the Rider was offering. Hikaru took his hand as Takeshi spoke, “Everyone here is amazing and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Let’s finish this so we can see if that rumor about the virus originating in Shibuya is true,” Ichimonji vocalized, intending to find the person responsible for this entire mess and bring them to justice. 

“Was that actually confirmed, or…..” V3 trailed, getting Ichimonji to slightly glare at him for his skepticism. “Just all of the unusually high mangled bodies lying around.”

Ichimonji rolled his eyes as Hikaru cocked his head in his confusion. He heard there was some huge fight occurring in Shibuya the night before, but nothing to do with the zombie horde they were about to deal with. “Bodies?”

Takeshi murmured, not knowing the full story as well. Despite the brief summary witnesses had given, it always struck him in a frightening way. Several people spontaneously dropped dead while people from all corners were fighting each other, some of them not even where the bodies collapsed. It didn’t sit right with him.

“No one knows the full story. Just a huge fight between martial artists and people dropping like flies.”

Hikaru hummed, trying to dig deeper into this whole event, but an alarm blared. It snapped the four heroes out of their thoughts as they knew it was their cue to head to their respective front. The trio of Riders planted their helmets on their heads while Hikaru inspected his entire body, ensuring everything was in order.

The four turned back up to face each other as Hikaru offered up a salute. “It was an honor meeting the three of you. I hope we will be able to talk once again.”

“Likewise, Sakimori,” Takeshi uttered, smiling behind his helmet as he wished Zone Fighter all the luck in the world as his figure disappeared in the crowd. He turned over to his fellow Riders preparing to make their respective getaways. “Same to the both of you. You are two of the finest friends a man like myself could ask for you.”

“Aw! You do love us!” Kazami cheerfully called out, before whispering under his breath. “Love you both, too.”

“We heard that,” Ichimonji shot back, giving his younger companion a smile. “And same to you, Takeshi. We’ll see you on the other side.”

“Before we all know it, we’ll be back at Coffee House!” Takeshi happily exclaimed, following it up with raising his fist up to his two friends. The latter two Riders smirked behind their helmets and slammed their fists into his. They pulled them back simultaneously as their hands flattened, mimicking an explosion. 

The three of them took their separate paths, pilling out of the exits alongside their fellow volunteers. The halls and the auditorium itself were empty after the last bits of life left them. 

It would be the last time life ever set foot in this building. 

***

“Can you guys hurry up,” a loud voice rang from the speaker of the mechanical goliath as it kneeled down, a hand gently coming to the group of professionals. “The sooner we get to Osaka, the more people we can help AND I can see Mechagodzilla in person,” The boy stated as they each quickly stepped onto his machine’s hand.

The pilot within Thundatross looked down at the company he was escorting for a moment before stepping forward, quickly striding towards the coordinates given to him by their superiors. The sound of marching was followed by familiar footsteps to his side, his trusted partner quickly joining him. “Kid, slow down,” the elder stated as he quickly caught up, being thrown off from the sudden departure. “You didn’t give any warning.” Gigaman said with a stern expression as he shook his head.

“Not my fault you’re old and it took you longer to process,” the young voice replied back with a slight chuckle, laughing at his friend’s slight misfortune. While it was just a minor joke, it was good to keep optimistic about things even as they were plummeting into Hell.

Gigaman smirked as he scoffed at his younger ally’s comment, simply turning towards the others that sat or stood on Thundatross’ palm. The veteran instantly recognized the Kamen Rider that was accompanying them, remembering when they had first risen decades prior as a young man who was later inspired by V3 and his fellow Riders. “I didn’t get the chance to greet any of you, but before we charge into this battlefield together, I would like to get to know just a little about you guys,” he relayed with a wide grin on his face. The duo of Pro-Heroes that was amongst the group were reminded of the previous Symbol of Peace’s own grin, causing the younger of the two to roll his eyes.

There were those from all corners of this countries’ defenders, ranging from those deep within the system to the few that were not deemed “true heroes” in the eyes of the government. An obscene notion that rubbed a decent portion of the population the wrong way. “I remember seeing your work years ago,” The cyborg spoke to the much larger superhuman. “Its quite the surprise that we never managed to run into each other, or for you to not encounter any other Rider, but I’m glad that we can have a trustworthy ally in the upcoming battle.”

“Thank you, Kamen Rider,” The superhero spoke with genuine glee, a smile quickly forming on his face from the compliment. “While the undead outnumber us greatly, with three giants and the Super-X aiding you all on the ground, I have a feeling that we will see this through to the end.” While he did believe those words, the mutated man did feel as though they might be misinterpreted and cause a drift between the team and himself. But, it felt good to, even if experience taught him that he shouldn’t one hundred percent believe in notions like that.

The third Rider nodded in agreement, turning towards the rest of his squad. First was the Ace Hunter who was looking over his weapon of choice, the Heavy Bow-Gun, from across the metallic palm. “I’m not quite used to the idea of fighting armies of people,” The experienced hunter stated, continuing his inspection as he did so. He wore a thick coat made from the leather of Gypceros, fur covering the meeting points of the Master Ranked armor, as red hair formed a mohawk in the middle of his head. “The closest I’ve been was collaborating with the M-Organization or the Special Defense Force, but not any actual combat against them. I’ve only fought wild Kaiju destroying the local ecosystem or attempting to enter cities,” he stated honestly. A sigh rolled out, drawing attention towards the most experienced hunters in this war.

“Never thought there’d come the day I’d be fighting against the people I swore to protect, even if they aren’t human anymore.”

An older man took a swig from his flask before approaching the younger hunter. His hair was blonde, too short to flow in the wind like his trench coat, underneath which the Devil Hunter wore the signature white shirt and black tie to finish his uniform. A scar lined his jaw, cutting from the webbing in between the lips to the ear. The old soldier finished the swig before placing it back into his pocket, staring down at Aiden before speaking. “It never gets easier,” he stated with the horror of experience, not wanting to be dishonest about the matter. “You will have to cut yourself off from that feeling. Might make you feel a bit more dead inside, but we’re going to have to do some pretty horrific things to win this.”

The others didn’t want to speak, letting the man continue his thoughts while they waited for their turn, only for one of the Pro Heroes to step in. Scruffy, dirty blonde hair pointed in all directions on the young man’s head, the Number Two hero of Japan bearing massive crimson wings which covered his back. He wore a tribute to Air Force fighters’ uniforms with a brown jacket that had wool within the thick coat, alongside yellow goggles. “Pretty cold to say that old man, but I can’t say I disagree,” he spoke while one of his gloved hands was put up to his beard. “We are going to need ruthlessness to overcome the odds here, this is a different kind of war from what humanity has ever faced.”

“Do you really believe that to be true, Hawks?” A woman with bright red hair stated as her arms were crossed behind her back, her golden gaze hitting him like a blade through flesh. Her voice was soft, but it was accompanied by venom in every word. He couldn’t exactly tell why, but something was off with her. Deciding to play coy for now, the Pro Hero went along with what she was going to say. 

“We Devil Hunters, alongside Jujutsu Sorcerers, have fought against the undead for centuries, be it in the form of Devils and Curses.” The Devil Hunter thought about the report of the prior night for a moment, pondering on the possibility that the incident in Shibuya had dramatically reduced their numbers. Basing the thesis on the fact that Gojo Satoru had not been present amongst the ranks of the operation, and that Jujutsu High in both Kyoto and Tokyo had not answered any calls. “It only seems unprecedented because the rest of Japan, and the world, is seeing it now. Even if evil has changed its shape, it is fundamentally the same. We’ve always been fighting it for humanity’s sake, out of sight.”

“I think you’re full of shit,” another feminine voice cried out, a cocky grin forming on the Number Five Pro Hero’ face as she chimed into the conversation. Her arms were crossed as her muscular form flexed, adrenaline pumping as she spoke out against the Devil Hunter. Her outfit resembled the animal her Quirk took attributes from, twin white rabbit ears pointed upwards as tan skin reflected the dimmed light of the Sun. A yellow crescent laid on her chest, rabbit-like boots covered her feet, and soft looking winter gloves did the same to her hands. White hair covered her entire back, which was leaned against the fingers of Thundatross.

“I don’t buy that you’re some secret saint, suffering for humanity’s sake in the dark or whatever.”

The challenge to her character earned Miriko a sinister smile from the Devil Hunter, Makima revealing her true colors for only just a moment. But that minute moment was enough to catch the attention of the Scout. He was standing across from the group, eyes to the ground below as they discussed morality in war. But he had turned his attention fully just as she made that beautiful smile. He couldn’t help but stare for a moment. From the sound of her voice, to how her presence demanded respect, to her tone of authority, everything was hitting just right in his mind standing before true beauty.

It helped that the two shared more interests than the others had realized, their planning slowly coming into motion…

“Enough,” an older voice cut into the conversation, the Captain sharpening his sword with a stone as he sat. His legs crisscrossed, the older man bore grey hairs throughout his beard and pony tail. His hair and uniform were unusual for both his ranking and his brand in the military, the ordinary man wearing the cloth of a nobleman’s soldier during the feudal era of Japan with little equipment. His weapons were decades behind, but he had the necessary experience to aid the others in the operation. “What lies ahead at Osaka will not leave room for conflict amongst ourselves, nor hesitation against them. You kill or you die, or you die and you kill.” The strong words left an interesting feeling within the group, fully absorbing the situation that they were in.

While it was never an easy thought for them to commit such horrific violence in the name of saving their country and people, really speaking about it in this manner was… haunting.

V3 continued to look outward, the rest of the group discussing various different angles to approach the situation from. He hoped down to his core that they would overcome the hordes and properly evacuate the population as best as they could, having faith that his fellow Riders would also survive this war on multiple fronts.

The several MIA Kamen Riders would spring into action as soon as the plague would make itself known to them, having no doubt that the others were continuing through their various paths to survival. “Nigo, Ichigo, good luck my friends. See you on the other side of this.”

***

It wouldn’t take the other group all that long to reach their destination, but tension with every step forward was at an all time high, even with the forces at their disposal.

Beside them was a warrior from the planet Rosetta, the last in a lineage of royalty that had escaped his planet’s demise from an invading army from the stars. Silver and red covered the hero’s form, while long fluffy hair flowed down his back. While normally he would have transformed into his goliath stature to help aid the others, the mission called for them to secretly wrap around the ruins of the city without drawing any attention. The last Megaloman, guardian of the royal family of Rosetta, had arrived to aid his fellow heroes in the evacuation of civilians. 

To the Rider’s left, another extraterrestrial size-changing hero walked beside him. Silver covered most of the alien’s form, small patterns of emerald green across his knees, elbows, collar and belt. A golden star sat in the middle of the belt, one that matched the colorization of the heroes’ glowing eyes. Mirrorman had luckily been in the area when the crisis began, opting to jump into action and help cleanse as many souls as he could.

The Number Ten hero of Japan traveled alongside the group, wearing a dark red dress with a pattern of gold across the neck and flowing bottom of the cloth. Black boots stepped through rubble as she wrapped her hands around debris, pulling herself over the destruction around her. Her left eye was covered by metal which was held on by a green bandana underneath her short blonde hair, twin bat wing-like pieces covering the back of her skull. Ryuko had been one of the few Pro Heroes able to properly respond to the crisis, attempting to save as many people as she could. 

The avatar of the Planet Fire God looked all around him, searching for the best path forward to their destination while avoiding hellish destruction and the fangs of the infected. When the crisis had been announced to the world with blood soaked maws of the undead, people all around them prayed even as their homes were being torn into. Godman quickly arrived at the scene, finding his ally Greenman and starting their holy work as they began to purge the infected around them. The alien defender could only hope that the emissary of God was doing all that he could to survive to the next day.

A trio of heroes walked in the furthest back, protecting the rear from any lingering infected that would jump from the shadows while also protecting the students that were gathered in the middle of the group. The former sidekick of All Might had brought along two of his apprentices, those that he trusted to aid him and the rest of the evacuation team. The man wore a grey business suit with a red tie covered in yellow polka dots, glasses with a golden rim looking all around him as his green-yellow hair flowed in the air.

Sir Nighteye couldn’t shake the feeling that his visions of All Might’s demise were ever so near, especially with the fact that he had ventured off alone to rescue as many lives as he could. Not even being a part of the meeting, simply managing to get in contact with the proper authorities in order to reach a checkpoint. The experienced hero looked forward, spotting the next Symbol of Peace traveling alongside his friends as they began walking into hell. While he was still unsure of his mentor’s decision… Yagi was sure of his decision, and he would defend the boy to the horrific end.

A lingering thought however was within him, that while he was absolutely certain that in this situation the young man would be fine, Nighteye still was worried about the possibility of him falling to the Scourge. “Mirio, you and the others be safe.”

The last Pro Hero present was the only found Lurker, having been separated from the rest of his team as the world around them was thrown into chaos. His body had been transformed into wood from his Quirk, an armored shell protecting his face and head from a devastating attack, but his heart and mind were not so easily protected. He could only think that he had somehow sentenced them to their demise, even if he didn’t truly know everyone’s condition, the guilt still pulled. He begged within his mind to whatever force above could hear him, that his partners were safe. 

Ahead of the group, Kamen Rider suddenly felt a tap on his side, turning to see the young Izuku Midoriya walking beside him. “I’m sorry to bother you sir,” the student spoke while marching forward, the young man attempting not to stutter as he spoke to the legendary vigilante. “I had been following your career since I was little, wouldn’t feel right not saying something while I had the chance.”

The Rider continued forth, pushing aside a destroyed car and allowing the others to pass by before replying to the younger hero. “Well I am glad that you had, Deku. For I have also been following your career, ever since the news covered the League attacking your school.” Ichigo thought back to the encounter earlier in the day, his grip slightly tightening as frustration rose to the surface that another loose end wouldn’t be wrapped up due to the plague which ravaged the country. Pushing those feelings down, he let the young man speak.

“Kamen Rider… knows who I am?” He stated in disbelief, a smile forming on his face as he and the Rider continued walking forward. “I am flattered really, crazy to think about.” 

“You know that children have been looking up to you UA students, the same way that you used to me or All Might?” Izuku halted in his tracks for a moment, turning towards his superior as he continued. “The internet is a great place to gather information, and through your few encounters in broad daylight, you kids seem to have a following. That’s quite the achievement for someone so young.” 

The weight of the situation was placed further on his shoulders with those words, but it also filled Izuku with a sense of pride knowing that the original Kamen Rider was the one telling him this. “I really do have a lot to live up to, don’t I?”

Ichigo’s voice quickly turned into a stern tone but not out of frustration, the next words out of his mouth uttered from a place of belief. “I have complete faith in your success, the hero you have become will survive this. Have trust within yourself that you and your friends will see this to the end.” 

Deku nodded, thanking him for the kind words as they continued to observe the world around them. Every step forward was a possible gateway to their demise, but with their numbers and overall power, hope was accompanying the dread. 

He looked towards the rest of his fellow students, feeling at ease that his closest friends were with him on this mission. Especially as his mentor and mother were soon to reach them, the stress that even a single one of them would be lost would be too much if that came to pass. 

Together with his rivals, his friends, and the veterans across Japan’s history, they would emerge victorious against the undead. That dream of success would become a reality as one last member of their squad would be added, a man from the stars.

Chapter 3: Death From All Angles

Tokyo, Japan
Hour 12 of Infection

Takeshi Yamato tapped his finger against the railing, synchronizing with the occasional raindrop that made landfall. It all happened so fast, he was out enjoying his day when news hit him about an apocalypse crashing down on everyone. 

He chuckled at first, figuring a Rider, metahuman, Gamera, Godzilla, or even an Ultra like himself could stop it by dinnertime. Takeshi was so wrong. Every passing minute, several people succumbed to this infection, to the point where anyone could drop next.

One could consider the teacher lucky. Lucky enough to simply enjoy the rain in solitude, but in reality, it was only the calm before the storm. 

He was there, he understood the orders. 

When given the signal, he’d swoop in and come from behind the impending horde, cutting them off to where they could be boxed in. He didn’t like it, this whole operation. Takeshi was proud of the heroes stepping up to the plate to save all they could, but his mind drifted elsewhere.

Sakuragaoka Middle School.

His left hand trembled, feeling powerless to go and investigate. He wanted to go, desperately transform into his real body and fly to the school, blasting apart every undead he could. However, he realized it would only doom the others by abandoning his duty just on the slim hope any of them could still be alive.

Yet, he chuckled. 

He recalled a few students talking about zombie media a few weeks ago, discussing the ins and outs of how the genre worked. Takeshi found those types of movies goofy, but now more than ever he was glad his students were preparing, even if it was unintentional. 

“Just survive long enough for me to find you, I’ll handle the rest,” murmured Takeshi, continuing to tap the iron bar.

A ring was heard, snapping him out of his thoughts. He glanced down at the radio on his belt and picked it up. “Here.”

“Takeshi,” Endeavor’s voice came through.

“Sir,” Takeshi spoke aloud, becoming more alert, realizing the operation could start at any second. 

There was a small pause before the Number One’s hero’s voice came through again. “You ready to carry out your orders?”

The teacher sighed, hating having to abandon the life he created for himself as he gulped afterwards. “Ready on the dot.”

“Don’t follow it,” Endeavor spoke, eliciting shock in Takeshi.

“What?” the teacher nearly exclaimed, almost baffled at the last minute change in the plan. “I don’t understand, you’ll need me!”

“The south is already falling, they just don’t know it,” Endeavor elaborated before taking another pause. “I have another ord- a favor to ask.”

Takeshi was tempted to inquire about the sudden change of orders. However, considering the way the number one hero was acting and the world ending at any minute, he decided to listen. 

“How can I help?”

“My son, Shoto, and his friends are nearby… waiting to give their lives just to help… save the day,” Endeavor relayed, huffing, becoming overwhelmed with emotion. “Stop them.”

“Stop them?” Takeshi asked, feeling at a loss. He almost felt overjoyed at the thought of taking them out of battle, but figured something was off at the whole thing. “I don’t understand, that’ll just weaken our position as a whole.”

“I already said the south is falling and this whole operation won’t last as long as we like,” Endeavor clarified once more. “We’ll do everything we can to save everyone, but this favor is selfish… just help them rescue whoever, grab their families and get them the fuck out.”

“I…” Takeshi attempted to speak, but was abruptly cut off by a more furious sounding Endeavor. 

“Our orders are bullshit! I know it and you know it! Grab them and be a goddamn survivor,” Endeavor ordered, pausing once more. “The world needs an Ultraman to survive.”

80 slightly nodded, knowing there was no way his words could pierce his tough exterior. He followed it up with a small chuckle, knowing his old orders could no longer get through him as well. A part of him might have felt sick abandoning his duty, but the favor from not a hero, but a dad, was far more important.

“I’ll get them to safety, no matter the cost,” 80 acknowledged. “Light ‘em up for me.”

“And I’ll see you in Okinawa, pal,” Endeavor relayed, optimism oozing through his voice as he felt a small sense of relief at the Ultra agreeing to his request.

Communications between the two ended as 80 gave his tap on the metal before turning away as the rain started pouring harder. He may not still get to check on his students, but he at least got to do something that mattered to him more than anything. 

He was making sure the children of today will survive in this festering, infected world. Thankfully, their position wasn’t that far from his and it only took him a few minutes of running to reach them. 

The rain hit against his face as he saw several shuttles ascending to the skies, searching through the crowds of people being escorted by several heroes. For each helicopter ascending into the blackened sky, he felt himself feeling slightly more relieved at several more lives surviving this terrible night. 

He gently brushed past several more people until he saw the six students he was told to protect. Froppy, Deku, Bakugo, Ingenium, Shoto, and Uravity. Wasting zero time, he rushed over to them, providing the assistance they required by ushering the civilians into the aircraft. 

“Mr. Yamato, what are you doing here, ribbit?” Froppy, or Tsu, as she would want everyone to refer to her by, inquired, placing her finger up to her lip.

Takeshi gave a small smile to the frog-like girl, before ushering the rest of the group together. There was literally no time to waste as he couldn’t sugarcoat any of it whatsoever. “Evacuate everyone here double time, because after this I’m getting you all the hell out of here.” 

“Woah! Woah!” Bakugo stormed up to the disguised Ultra. “What makes you think we want to get out of here when there’s still infected for us to put down?”

Patience really was a virtue. 

“I don’t have the time to explain, we just need to get out of here now,” Takeshi relayed, gently pushing a wheelchaired bound evacuee onto the helicopter. “Please.”

“But… we can do more beyond this area, we can rally with the other groups to save everyone,” Izuku replied, feeling determination fill his body to not let another person die today. He saw it in Takeshi’s eyes. Izuku knew he wanted the same, but yet, saw he didn’t believe it to be possible. In fact, it was the only method he perceived as salvation.

“My dad will need me when the time comes,” Shoto added, stepping forward. “I don’t intend to miss out.”

“Your dad told me to get you all out of here!” Takeshi blurted out, stunning the six students. 

A moment passed. 

“Did my dad really say that?” the son of Endeavor asked, taking another step forward. 

“Yes,” the teacher answered, taking another breath. “It was his ord- request, and one I intend to fulfill.” 

“What about our families?” Tsu’s voice quivered, feeling anxious at having to abandon her own family just for her own guaranteed safety. “We can’t abandon them.”

Takeshi smiled softly at the girl, placing his hand on her shoulder. “We’ll pick up your families and get out of here.”

Shoto simply nodded. “Let us finish our job like we agreed upon and we’ll get out of here.”

“What!?” Bakugo snapped, raising his fists up. “We’re leaving just like that!?”

Tenya rolled his eyes at Bakugo’s complaining while Izuku rubbed the back of his head. He attempted to figure out something to say to calm him down. 

“Think of it this way, we might be able to kill a few zombies along the way,” Izuku rationalised, feeling sweat roll down his neck, knowing full well it could be the explosive hero that murders him instead of the infected. 

“We better,” Bakugo muttered before moving to push several people in a nearby shuttle out of frustration. 

Boom!

A distant sound was heard as the Ultra and students turned around to see green smoke arise from the center of the city. Then, thunder roared within the sky, following it up with a bolt of lightning lighting up the battlefield.

It was then that the shrieking hordes of the Scourge cried out into the night, sending shivers down the spine of every living soul.

“Shit,” 80 said, fearing what was about to transpire. 

***

Only minutes had passed since they joined the rest of the ground forces for evacuating who they could. 

The smoke began to cloak the sky even further, mixing with the rain. Smog slowly blanketed the dying Tokyo, making every corner of it invisible to the eye. The ash falling from above the evacuating civilians as heroes led them to the city’s limits. In the front was the man with the most experience leading the group of terrified people of this hell. Inko Midoriya, mother of the hero Deku, surveyed the area as the retired “number one hero” of Japan held onto her hand. All Might had managed to bring Inko to the evacuation just in the nick of time. It was the least he could do to help in this crisis, he might be retired, but he would be damned if he let Izuku’s mother be lost in the horde of horror and screams.

“All Might,” one of the children evacuating spoke with a soft sniffle, the little boy’s eyes red from the amount of crying he had done. “Will we get out of this?”

For the first time in his entire career, he paused for just a moment before answering with a forceful smile. “Stay close to me and Mrs. Midoriya, and I promise we will escape this, young one.” 

The elementary school student looked down as to keep himself from being too afraid in this horrific situation, he didn’t know where his parents and fellow classmates were, his teachers had all been consumed protecting them. He had only hoped that Mr.Kotaro had managed to get away from them when the opportunity presented itself, so many people dying that he looked up too was breaking the boy’s heart and he wouldn’t be able to bare the weight of their loss…

A slight shake was felt as Inko still held firm to his free hand, the feeling of fear and metal reaching her as they continued forward. The frail pro hero held a sleek black glock in his hand, feeling uncomfortable holding the weapon. Countless times he had seen illegal firearms holding a hostage or being fired at his comrades during a crisis, but now he was powerless to defend himself otherwise without One For All. But with this, and the gift Melissa had given him, he stood a chance of aiding against the Hollowed forces.

And if he were to fall saving the lives of innocent children, his students, or the mother of his successor, then he would do so without hesitation. All that mattered was that they survived, that Izuku survived to give hope to the future clouded in shadow and blood. The infected were widespread, the worst epidemic that the world had ever seen was occurring and only the devil would know what loomed in the darkness of the unknown future. If All For One were to act during this crisis… He couldn’t think about that now, even if the prison had been ravaged by escaping convicts and the infected, he needed to focus on the task at hand.

Many worlds had seen the end of their existence within his lifetime, but he still held hope that with so many heroes and Kaiju on the planet, this small world could be saved. It had seen countless terrors from beyond the stars, natural disasters made flesh with the form of Kaiju, countless forms of demonic presences, as well as humanity’s own hubris, but they had always managed to survive the odds.

This plague that raised the dead offered so many questions, but the one that kept playing within his head was; could humanity survive this epidemic? Unlike any virus they had seen, this was something out of a horror film that his students would talk about during class. The living across Japan, and possibly even the entire planet, now faced a war unlike any other.

Destroy the dead or become one with the Scourge. 

The sound of footsteps alerted the group, the children quickly becoming quieter and staring towards the source of the sound as All Might lifted his arm, aiming the firearm. Inko held on tight to her son’s mentor, their hearts beating at a rapid rate as adrenaline spiked in a mere moment.

Steady.

The footsteps grew closer and, not wanting to alert the nearby horde in case they would simply walk by, he didn’t move a muscle. Holding onto the weapon with a firm grip, sweat ran down his brow with every second that passed.

“All Might, it’s just me,” a familiar voice reached out, their voice not being broken unlike the infected which struggled to form sentences. He lowered the gun, trusting that everything was fine and to his relief, he was right.

Slowly walking into view was an old friend, the man who was once his sidekick during his younger years as the symbol of peace. “Nighteye, am I glad to see you,” he stated as he approached the group, letting go of Inko’s hand before giving the young man a hug. For a moment they shared a smile of relief before pulling back, the retired superhero getting a look at the newly arrived group of heroes. 

“Likewise, old friend, I am glad that we managed to run into you as fast as we could.” One by one, the heroes came into view, one in particular instantly reacting as they managed to meet.  

“Mom!” a familiar voice cheerfully cried, one Inko could never forget. She perked her head up to see her one and only son, Izuku. 

“Izuku!” Inko tearfully cried out, as water erupted from eyes. She bolted over to her boy and wrapped him up in a hug, depriving him of air. “I’m so happy you’re safe!” 

She planted several smooches on his forehead as his body stiffened up. “Mom… I can’t breathe.”

“Oh my god!” Inko screamed out, dropping Izuku to the ground, his body almost crumbling while he became dazed. Her eyes widened even more at the shock of the condition of her son. “Oh, baby! I’m so sorry!”

She lifted him off the wet concrete and placed him back on his feet, awkwardly laughing at her son’s condition. “I thought you were stronger to handle that…”

Izuku continued to remain dazed as his fellow classmates watched on. Tsu rubbed her finger against the side of his face, “It’s nice of Midoriya’s mom to show her love even in a crisis like this.”

“It is,” Ochaco snickered, watching her crush struggling to take in every word his mother was saying to him. She couldn’t help but feel even more enamored with him. 

“Pfft. What an idiot,” Bakugo snorted. 

The other four students snapped their hands at him as he glanced at them, shrugging. “I’m not taking it back, morons.”

“I am glad to see that you are all alright,” All Might stated as he approached his students, patting the next symbol of peace on the shoulder with an earnest smile. “It gives me hope that we can win this battle and take back the city, also gives me less concern with escorting these young ones all alone.”

“Mr. Yagi,” a man stepped forward, wearing civilian clothing in the middle of the hell that they had found themselves in. His appearance was unorthodox without knowing of his true identity, but the confidence he carried himself with made his casual outfit seem natural. “We were worried sick that something would happen on our way here.” 

“Mr. Yamato!? I wasn’t expecting to see you here, but I’m glad that we have more able hands. I trust that my students weren’t too much trouble during the evacuation.”

“Not at all! I have been watching them carefully, they have been doing their best work.” A sense of pride washed over the two teachers as these fine young men and women were doing their part during the operation; they would need to be at their best if they were to survive till dawn. After all that they had seen, they couldn’t lose another person that was close to them.

“All Might,” another familiar voice called out, looking up to the wooden man standing upon a destroyed car which was flipped on its side. He peered over the horizon, attempting to see any more of their forces, but there was nothing as far as the eye could see. Including the undead. “I believe we should get a move on before something lurks from the fires nearby, I can’t see a damn thing but that just raises more concern.”

“Understood Kamui Woods, lead the way,” Toshinori stated, quickly following behind the others. The elemental hero stepped in front of the group, standing alongside Ryuko who was waiting alongside the others, a conversation slightly brewing as they continued forth.

“I wish that we had met again under different circumstances, All Might, but I am glad that we have someone like you here during this operation,” the dragon hero stated, her eyes looking across the environment to make sure that nothing was surprising them with sharp fangs and a brewing appetite. “When all of this is over, let’s all get something to eat.”

“That sounds lovely, Ms. Tatsuma.”

“By the way,” she stated as she slightly turned away from the chaos towards Toshinori and Inko. “Are you two?”

There was a pause as they continued forward, a blush appearing on All Might’s face for a moment as he quickly attempted to dismiss the question, only for Inko to grasp tighter with a smile. “Its not what you think-”

“I wasn’t expecting anyone to ask that question,” the mother of Izuku Midoriya spoke, just as her son quickly stepped towards the back of the evacuating party to watch the rear while avoiding the conversation. “Mr.Yagi has been so helpful with my boy and ever since his father-” there was a sudden cut in the sentence before Inko resumed, wishing to not speak on the matter. “I guess he has been the closest friend I’ve had in a long time.”

“That’s lovely dear,” Ryuko spoke once more with an upbeat attitude, hope once again rising within their group as the conversation continued. The rest of UA’s students chuckled a bit as they heard the adults speak, given new ammo to poke fun at their friend when they escaped from the ruins that were once Tokyo. 

“I’m sorry to interrupt but,” A new voice stated as they entered the conversation, a surprising figure appearing before Yagi. While it was not surprising that the original Kamen Rider, or any Rider for that matter, was helping during the operation, it was a shock that the two legendary defenders of Japan would meet this way. Across the decades of work against the forces of evil, they had never encountered each other during their work. “It is an honor to finally meet you, All Might.”

“I should be the one saying that, Kamen Rider, your work has been incredible across the decades. It is actually infuriating how the government does not see you and your fellow Riders as heroes to this country, deemed outlaws for taking out Nazi scum and similar organizations.” A sense of pride washed over Hongo as those words reached him. Walking alongside the All Might was somewhat of a dream come true, but to actually hear praise from the man was something he never would have expected before his augmentation.

“Thank you sir, that truly means a lot to me. It is a shame that we are needed the way we are in the first place, but it is nice knowing that despite everything that has happened, we have people like us to depend on for aid.”

“I agree whole heartedly, Kamen Rider, when this is over we will have to pass stories to each other.”

As the group ahead of him continued to speak quietly amongst themselves, Yamato couldn’t help but feel unease with every step that they took. 

He had led countless evacuating missions across multiple worlds, but none were as disturbing as this one, being at his weakest state in order to truly lead the population away from the hellish deceased metropolis. His faith in the others would have to do for now, the rest of his squadron watching over the traveling civilians. They were experienced heroes, even if some were on the younger side, not even pros yet. But he had seen how the younger members of humanity inspired the hope to survive such ordeals. Even in the apocalypse, hope brewed within their hearts to see the light at the end of this hellish journey. 

He hoped that he wouldn’t have to transform into his original body, but with how the situation was, that was doubtful. At the very least, he was capable of defending himself should the Scourge arrive at their location. The Riser Gun was held firmly within his grasp, should the occasion rise that he would need to aid the others in defending the party, he was well armed to do so.

Just as thoughts clouded the minds of their teachers, between the moments of peaceful conversation between the various party members, a lingering question hung over the students’ heads as they marched forward with their seniors. Should they abandon their post and look for the rest of their families, or would they stay and escort strangers towards a point of safety?

While Izuku had his mother among the small crowd of children and superheroes, everyone else had people waiting for them at home. Scared and alone, waiting for their children to return to them to make sure that they were safe.

A sense of shame lingered in their minds at the thought of leaving mere children alone to defend for themselves, a selfish wish to save those they loved the most from the undead horde approaching with every step. Their minds screamed for them to do so, to leave as fast as they could and kill as many of the infected as possible, but no matter what, their bodies wouldn’t turn away from the mission.

If their families were devoured, they would have to live with the guilt for the rest of their lives… but the shame of leaving small children to their deaths would be a much heavier burden upon their souls.

“It’s understandable the thoughts that venture through your minds,” Mirrorman spoke, earning the attention of the students of UA as they marched forward. They did not halt for even a moment as they listened. “You don’t even have to say a thing, but it’s written within your movements, your body language is screaming to abandon the fight and look for your loved ones. And yet you cannot.”

“I would shut your mouth before you say something you’ll regret, geezer,” Bakugo stated with hate in his voice, still marching forward. “What the hell do you know about us?”

“That you are children scared of what is to come next, just as they are.”

That was it.

The explosive hero turned quickly, energy for just a quick flash built up within his palm as Uravity stepped in the way. Standing her ground as she stared into his eyes, she did not flinch as the tension skyrocketed. 

The silver hero continued. “Being a child is not a crime, Dynamight. It’s completely normal for you to feel like this… I know I’m scared for those in my life right now. That I’m not there when they need me, screaming for my name that falls on hungry ears.”

The energy ceased building, the rain continuing to pour onto the group as they moved forward, the only ones lagging behind being a few of the escorting heroes. Godman turned towards the conversation, listening to the words that the fellow hero of the Showa Era spoke. The words reminded him of his ally Greenman, hoping that during this hell that they were being consumed in, he was holding his own in the fight. “But all we can do is march forward, and have hope that they will have made it through the tunnel just as we will, just as these children will as we guide them through this. If the roles were switched around, if you were these young souls being guided by heroes… what would you be thinking right now?”

A hand fell onto Bakugo’s shoulder, making him turn around to see Godman standing behind him. “He’s right. We have to focus on the task at hand, or else none of us will be able to reunite with those in our lives. The worst possible outcome would be that you all lose what makes you so special,” the experienced hero of the Showa period then pointed towards the young man’s heart with his other hand, his gaze not leaving Bakugo’s own for even a second. “Your humanity.” 

The student of UA simply brushed Godman’s hand away before marching forward, quickly catching up with the others. While his anger had certainly risen during the conversation, it also gave him a sense of urgency. The faster that they escorted the civilians away from the warzone, the sooner that he could rush to his parents and take them out of the city. 

Ochako took in a deep breath as she too began marching forward. While she wasn’t too worried that Bakugo would actively cause the infected to be lured towards their area, adrenaline was still through the roof. They were all on high alert and with Mirrorman’s words echoing within their minds, it was ringing truer with each step.

They needed to help these people and then get their parents the fuck out of here.

Izuku looked forward, staring at Uravity as they continued along the path. He and Mirrorman were given the task of making sure the back was covered during the operation, while others were certainly close to them, they were the first line of defense from the rear. Something else clicked within his mind as he hung onto his senior’s words, and it was something that the latter quickly noticed.

“Once this is over, you should talk to her.”

Izuku for a second froze up a bit, his shy side quickly taking over at the statement. He just tried to focus on the mission and pretend that nothing was bothering him. “I-I don’t know what you mean by that,” he stated with a slight stutter on every word, not taking his eyes off of her even as he tried to hide his feelings.

“Even the undead could see it kid,” Mirrorman stated with a slight chuckle, patting him on the shoulder as they continued forward. Every moment counted and even with the conversation at a minimum, they couldn’t lag behind the others. “You might not have another chance, so just do it the first thing you can, okay?”

The hybrid hero ceased the subject of conversation with that statement, opting to focus on the task at hand. While Izuku was trying to think of something to say, he had a horrific realization that didn’t quite make sense with the chaos that they were all in right now.

There was an eerie silence that hung over the entire area. Through the ruins of death and brimstone, the explosions were so far away that they were hard to even consider part of the same conflict. While there was a sense of luck that they weren’t being hunted at this moment, it still was giving him dread. His head was screaming that this wasn’t right, that something was lurking in the darkness to reach out and eat them.

And to his horror, he was the only one who noticed what was about to happen. 

Ms. Tatsuma was in her human form at the moment to not lure the enemy nearby. Besides Bakugo’s slight outburst, talking was at a minimum given the situation. And yet, they laid still in the destroyed cars which surrounded them, as if they had prepared an ambush knowing they would travel this way. 

Their eyes glowed with white irises’ staring with hunger. An eerie smile made its way onto a member of the horde before they leapt out of the window ever so silently, the glass not even shattering as it slipped through. Izuku’s eyes widened as he realized the infected’s target was not one of the fleeing civilians, but instead one of the supporting heroes.

He attempted to reach out to Mirrorman, but it was too late. The infected sunk its fangs into the hybrid’s skull with swift action. Its eyes looked in opposite directions as fluid poured from the wound, drenching the deceased hero in blood and killing him in an instant. The body fell onto the ground with a loud thud, the corpse twitching as the undead ZQN paid no attention to the rest of the fleeing civilians, even as they screamed seeing the horror of Mirrorman’s murder.

With a single action, the undead had gained an advantage over the evacuation team, killing one of their stronger members without even making a sound. This gave the signal to the rest of the undead hiding within the destroyed transportation that surrounded them. The screams of those attempting to flee filled their ears like a dinner bell.

“EVERYONE RUN!” Izuku screamed with fury and fear, the student of UA swinging and avenging Mirrorman before turning his attention to the overwhelming horde that began to engulf his sight. “DON’T WORRY ABOUT US! JUST GO! TAKE THE CHILDREN AND RUN!”

Everyone was immediately surrounded as hell was let loose, screams of the damned rung in their ears as Quirks and weaponry opened fire upon the enemy. All Might’s grip upon both his firearm and Inko’s hand grew stronger as he turned towards an infected, opening fire and landing a direct hit towards the sky. “Follow us children!” He yelled with genuine fear, his eyes painting a picture of pure horror within the minds of the young as they saw the symbol of peace afraid. A smile was no longer present during this crisis, the gates of Hell had opened to swallow them whole and the superheroes were the last defense.

An explosion rang in their ears as even some heroes were pushed back a bit by the sheer force of Bakugo’s blasts, a large portion of the horde being instantly disintegrated. While a sense of pride rushed through him for a moment, it was quickly ruined by the sheer size of the undead wave. Once he stepped onto a flipped over car, he saw just how many of them were hiding in the ruins that they were traveling through.

Uravity quickly ran alongside the environment, placing her hands against the burning metal, singeing her fingertips slightly. Gritting her teeth through the pain, she activated her Quirk. Cars began to float into the air, some even still having the undead present within their frames. Froppy wrapped her tongue around a rusty pipe, and while the taste was disgusting, it was a necessary action to commit as she forced the object into the skull of an infected. Swiftly, she leapt away from the danger that approached from the rear, landing on a car and slipping as she attempted to retreat.

One of the horde attempted to reach for Kamen Rider, only for Ida to rush by and slam his leg at full force into the undead’s skull. In an instant, the entire head was reduced to pulp, earning a nod of appreciation from the vigilante as they continued to carve their way through the horde. 

“Fuck this!” Ryuko yelled as her body quickly shifted into a more appropriate form for combatant, scales covering her as her entire frame morphed into a beast of myth. Each digit turned into talons which punctured the concrete beneath their feet, her head taking on the shape of an avian as her maw filled with razor sharp fangs. Gigantic wings erupted from her back, a long tail slamming into the undead behind her with ease. She turned and sent more of the approaching horde flying, the moving corpses slamming into the environment below and being reduced to nothing but blood and chunks of meat. 

***

Far away, an entity watched as the battle began, a sinister smile forming as the infected continued to hunt down a larger target. Sniffing the air as she tracked them, she’d finally found where the man had attempted to hide. She was close enough towards her end goal that she could grab a little snack.

Listening closely to the evacuation orders on the comms shortly after they had gone missing in action, she had known that they would come through this area. The group had always been in her sight as she chased down a fleeing individual. Watching the chaos below with milky, hunger-filled eyes, she noticed an extremely familiar frame amongst the heroes that were defending the civilians. He made her speak with both sorrow and hate, what remained of a heart breaking at what had to be done in order to win the battle and take the city. Along with a more baseline anger that she couldn’t eat the flesh of her former comrade.

“S-S-Shin-ji…”

A few more would have to die before she made her move, arriving with a leap of faith off of this building just as she had so many times in the past. At least she could enjoy a meal as she watched the show, slightly growing in size to swiftly kill her prey without the survivors spotting her before her proper reveal. The strength to crush the disgusting salvation from her gigantification would be needed here, a slight chuckle exiting her blood-filled mouth. This alerted the poor soul hidden in the dumpster that his doom was only seconds away.

She couldn’t quite hear what the man was saying as she lifted the object into the air above her head, but it sounded like a prayer. Empty words that would not be answered, cries to whatever he sought to save him falling on deaf ears. Pressure quickly turned the object into a crushed can of trash and gore, trash bags popping as metal punctured their exterior, spilling onto the ground with a mix of blood. Her golden hair was stained with all sorts of putrid colors, as was her white and purple jumpsuit.

She lifted the dumpster above her maw and began to drink the mix of sewage and ichor, a vile display of hunger occurring as she enjoyed the rotted smoothie. Eventually she no longer tasted liquid iron, only the raw trash that civilians of this apartment complex had thrown out. Tossing the broken dumpster away, it skipped like a rock on water for a moment before coming to a halt to find the mass display of gore across the concrete.  

Her maw drooled with saliva and blood onto the corpse as she approached, watching her plan unfold while enjoying a small meal. The steam from the intestines still gave a great sense of cooked meat, even as it was raw. 

She dug in, ripping into meat with sharp fangs with delight while watching the fight continue. After she finished devouring the man, she would climb up this building and drop onto them like an anchor. 

***

The Scourge continued piling in, reaching forward intending to grab whoever they could. Centipeder extended his arms forward, intending to restrain the charging crowd so the others could vanquish them. The infected, on the other hand, saw this as a free invitation to feast. They grabbed the elongated centipede man, tearing into his flesh as he screamed out, attempting to fight them off. It didn’t last long as his limbs were being torn apart while his skin was bitten into. 

His cries sent shivers down everyone’s bodies as he begged for mercy when Bakugo looked him straight in the eye. The centipede’s eyes were filled with sadness and pain as the hero in training nodded his head. Death awaited him and Kacchan would grant it to him without him ever knowing the infection.

Bakugo fired away, completely vaporizing Centipeder and his assailants. The student of 1-A couldn’t afford to scoff as he turned around and fired on another group of infected, freeing up space in the already crowded building. He then started backing away, keeping his distance from the growing Scourge. 

“Froppy, look out!” Bubble Girl hollered out, spraying out bubbles, temporarily stunning the members of the Scourge. The zombies waved their arms around, stinging their eyes as bubbles blinded them. 

“Thank you, Miss Awata,” Tsu called out, hopping out of the way from the infected’s reach. The frog-like student hopped her way back to the rest of her friends while Bubble Girl moved back slowly, continuously spraying her bubbles. 

It didn’t last. 

The undead assailants’ eyes grew used to the stinging sensation and grabbed a hold of her.  The light blue hero screamed at the top of her lungs when one infected tore a huge chunk of flesh from her right arm. The resulting bite even tore through the bone, forcing her hand to plummet to the ground. The three infected dug their nails in her stomach, ripping out her entrails and devouring them like noodles.

Her screams filled the entire area, begging for someone to help her in any way, however, one ghoul was seemingly annoyed by her cries. The infected lunged forward and tore into her throat with her bare teeth. Pieces of Awata’s neck made their way down the infected body’s as her face was drenched with blood from the newly deceased hero. 

Bubble Girl’s head slumped backwards, her eyes becoming milky white. The infected relinquished their hold on her, changing their attention towards the remaining survivors. All while the newly infected hero stared at them from her backwards hanging head. Her breaths were raspy as bubbles slowly popped out of her mouth, slowly moving backwards to them, never bothering to turn her body around.

Flames surrounded the Rosettitan’s hair as he charged forward, burning infected as the extraterrestrial charged through the horde. The Megalon Blades made their way through the skulls of various undead as they attempted to reach out, the flames protecting him from an assault from the rear as he continued to just swipe through the horde. Any blood that splashed onto Megaloman as he tore through the enemy forces was burned to a crisp from the heat radiating from the alien’s body. 

“Megalon Fire!” The superhero shouted as the flames were sent out to the surrounding horde, screams of agony rolling across the vast battlefield as flames consumed their bodies. Some even still pressed onward, which prompted the others to step in.

“Rider Punch!” Ichigo roared as he swung, a shockwave thundering as he slammed his fist into an infected’s skull. The burning corpse slumped over as the original Rider continued to aid the assault, swiping through burning infected with no resistance from the moving corpses. A few bullets ripped through the skulls of approaching undead as All Might continued to try to keep track of the students and Ms. Midoriya, fear being written across his face with each bullet that exited when he heard a click.

A child’s scream alerted him towards the back, an undead charging directly at the small group of children. He quickly equipped the gear that Meliessa had gifted him, the enhancement wrapping around his wrist before he swung, blowing away the corpse into nothing but a puddle. She had worked on similar equipment before, granting Izuku the same technology when her island home had been raided by terrorists, and thankfully she had done the same for her uncle in case things had gone south on the mainland. “Are you all right?” All Might called out, pulling the children closer as they continued to run.

The boy shook his head with a sniffle, showing that he was okay even if he was frightened beyond belief. “Continue onward, All Might,” Megaloman cried out as he and Kamen Rider Ichigo carved through the horde, his hair no longer illuminating in flames. “Take the children and leave! It isn’t much further to the evacuation cen-”

A horrific scream exited his mouth as hair was grasped and quickly torn away, blood erupting from the extraterrestrial’s skull as his scalp was completely revealed by a duo of hungry Scourge. Kamen Rider turned in horror to see his ally be slain in such a manner, the children screaming once again as the death of another hero hit their eyes. That sound cut through the Rider’s mind as they began to dig into the alien.

BOOM!

The remaining heroes all turned in unison to see another hero pinned, the draconic form of Ryuko struggling to free herself from her former friend. Her eyes widened to see the goliath holding her down with only one arm. The undead’s gaze turned towards the group of survivors with a mouth-watering appetite before unleashing a hellish cry towards a single person within their group.

“SHINJI!” she screamed out to Kamui Woods, who was frozen by the sight of his fallen friend. Tears swelled up as he continued to stare at her form, wounds across her body showing that when they had gotten separated, she was quickly overtaken by the undead. He had failed her as a friend, as a partner, as a team member, and as her other half outside of their careers. As well, he had allowed for the armies of ghouls to earn a powerful general amongst their ranks.

“Oh Yu,” Ryuko stated with pure fear, looking upward to the hideous fiend that had stolen her friend’s body, attempting with all of her might to escape the grasp of the fallen Lurker with no success. Mount Lady looked back down at the dragon, opening her maw as she went to feast upon fresh meat, when she was stopped by a series of explosives hitting her back. The undead stumbled forwards as Bakugo unleashed a series of projectiles directly at her, burning away pieces of the ruined costume and flesh alike.

She simply swiped backwards, knocking the student away and sending him flying into the ruins, far away from the initial conflict. “Kacchan!” Izuku screamed as he charged at the former Pro Hero, energy surrounding his fist as he aimed for the demon’s cheek.

“DETROIT SMAS-” At the last moment, the infected Mount Lady had thrown Ryuko in front of the blow, ceasing the attempt at striking her down while also swatting Izuku back down to the ground. He slammed into the earth, carving through hot concrete before halting his momentum as infected once again attempted to reach out for him.

“No no no no!” The chosen hero shouted as he quickly gained distance, shooting out waves of air as he flicked towards the infected. Blowing them apart with no resistance, it gained him some more precious minutes to live, at the very least to help the others properly escape. Stress levels were skyrocketing, the situation turning from bad to the worst case scenario.

His friends would die, these children would die, his own mother and mentor would be lost as the infected sank their fangs into fresh meat. His heart rate elevated as adrenaline pumped through his veins, his eyes darting to the various heroes that remained, only to catch sight of the giant feasting upon Ryuko’s body. Even as Kamen Rider struck so hard that it would send a car flying, while Kamui Woods attempted to hold her back with vines deep into the earth itself, and Godman continued to rapidly fire energy at the infected giant… Mount Lady continued to take chunks out of the dragon.

His heart skipped a beat as all that pressure built up into a tidal wave of emotion. Suddenly, black vines shot out of his hands as the chaos continued to get worse, his new power lashing out at anything it could carve through. Izuku let loose a scream as pain rushed through his arm, holding it tight with his free hand as he attempted to hold back the power breaking through. “Izuku!” Ochako stated as she instantly charged towards his floating body, needing to reach out to him during what could be the turning point of the battle. While everyone was suffering, and it horrified her that all of her friends were in mortal danger, seeing the young man in such anguish caused an alarm to go off within her head that she needed to silence.

Within the center of the battlefield, the teacher could only stare as the corpses of the various children they couldn’t save were laying across the ground. The horde not hesitating for even a moment to feast upon the forms of children caused something to snap. Energy burst through each of their heads as Takashi took aim, quickly dispatching of the wicked before reaching into his pocket and pointing the item towards the sky. The substitute teacher stared at Mount Lady’s form with a spiral of vengeance, it was now or never.

“80!”

Light surrounded the man’s entire body, shining like a miniature star within the battlefield. The infected giantess turned her attention away from devouring her former friend to bear witness to the legendary defender of mankind. He was the newest of the Land of Light to emerge upon Earth, having only been active for the last couple of weeks and finding whatever teaching jobs he could when not helping defend humanity. The light ceased and a giant stood before them, red and silver covering his form with a blue light illuminating the center of his chest. Golden eyes stared forward directly at the colossi that was rampaging. 

“Retreat! The operation is lost!” Ultraman 80 stated as he charged the infected Pro Hero, slamming a powerful strike across the demon’s cheek and sending the ZQN infected metahuman flying into a skyscraper. “You must all survive, I will hold the line.”

“We cannot abandon you,” screamed Kamen Rider as he slammed his fist through the torso of another zombie before ripping them in half, a display of gore splashing across his body and the ground before the vigilante. “I will not allow this world to lose an Ultraman!”

He charged forward, acting quickly to aid the newly arrived giant of light as Mount Lady recovered from the blow. Leaping into the air before descending at a violent speed, he stretched out his leg as he aimed for the head. “RIDER KICK!” The infected lashed out, matching his blow with a palm strike. “Wh-WHAT!?” Ichigo cried out as she flung him backwards, the cyborg crashing against the ground before skipping like a rock to water from the blow. Blood erupted from his mask as he quickly returned to his feet, staring at the recovering infected Lurker.

Had the virus increased her strength? He had aimed to strike with enough power to rip through a tank, and yet he was swatted away like a fly. Even at her peak, that shouldn’t have been possible. Whatever the case was, they were in for the brawl of their lives.

Nearby the ensuing battle against Mount Lady, two teenagers hung in the air. Pitch black energy whips, surrounded by an emerald green tint, sliced through entire bodies with ease. Fire and concrete shot up into the sky with each tendril carving through the land. “Izuku! You have to calm down just a little! Our friends are down there!”

“I can’t! Whatever I do, I can’t stop it! It’s like a valve was holding back all the pressure built up in a dam, only for the thing to shatter completely!” She held on tight, her head placing itself next to his ear as she lifted them away from the conflict for a moment.

“I’m so scared, Izuku,” she stated with tears shedding onto her helmet, looking at the ensuing battle before them. Their friends were fighting for their lives against a force which never ceased to keep overwhelming them, an onslaught of the Undead with their only purpose being to devour the living. “We can’t lose anyone else! Please, you have to stop it! Your mom is down there!”

His heart ached hearing her weep.

Gritting his teeth while closing his eyes to concentrate, the flow of power began to calm down, even as the stress was throwing them around like a pinball machine. He stared down, looking to see his mom and All Might against a wall, the tired hero swinging against the oncoming horde the best that he could while Inko could only look at the hero.

“Mom!” Izuku screamed out as he and Ochako descended like a rocket, slamming into the earth as the new Quirk continued to slice through the surrounding undead before coming to a complete halt. He turned to see his friend wounded, a few bruises and cuts form from just being near him. “Oh my god… I hurt you, are you okay?”

“We’ll worry about this later Deku, we have to do something.” They both nodded in agreement before running straight towards the alone pair, hoping that the rest of their friends were doing fine enough to survive the onslaught.

The warrior of the Fire God delivered a kick in the infected’s body, exploding it to pieces. Godman turned around, firing acid from his hand at another charging zombie, dissolving the dead flesh off her head, leaving nothing but a skull in its place. The red and white hero punched the skeletal head, shattering it into pieces before repeating the process with several more infected. 

The acid immediately dissolved that group of the Scourge, melting them to pieces. Things were going sideways for the entire group right away and their options were becoming limited. Sparks erupted from the knuckles of his right hand, striking the oncoming horde, keeping them at bay.

CRASH!

The roof was torn open, revealing the monstrous Mt. Lady, licking her lips at bite sized pieces of flesh to consume. She had gone to grab a projectile to throw at the Ultraman, but had surprisingly found herself a snack, unable to hold herself back as her free hand reached out. Godman fired his acid ray at the gigantic zombie, melting away her ruined left purple glove. The attack did little to deter the goliath, snatching the alien hero up as he tore into her hand. 

Godman felt himself being moved from the building and towards her maw extremely fast. He didn’t want it to be true, but knew the end was near for him. The emissary of the Fire God could at least hinder the gigantic zombie for his remaining allies. He folded his arms together and fired an orange supersonic wave at Mt. Lady, vaporising the flesh on her forearm, reducing it to bone. 

She howled in agony, placing the hero on her ruined lips. Godman breathed out, and staring into her maw, let out a cry of defiance. He slammed his hands together, firing another round, devastating her left jowl. Flesh erupted out of her cheek, splattering a nearby building with dead meat. 

The gigantic zombie slammed her teeth down, ripping Godman in half. His upper half was swallowed by Mt. Lady before she used her right hand to shove the bottom half in her mouth. Her teeth shredded what remained of Godman, rendering him into pieces of grounded up flesh in her stomach. 

It was becoming clear to him. Sir Nighteye saw it, throwing his Hyper-Density Seals at the charging infected. The little black stamp-shaped weapons held a good number of the infected back, trapping them on the walls. He glanced over to see Izuku protecting not only his mother and classmate, but his weakened mentor, All Might. 

The future he saw in both of them wasn’t going to end well, and his foresight was never wrong. He didn’t want it to come true as he finally got what All Might saw in the young boy. Izuku was not only a reflection of Toshinori, but one step beyond.

The face of a hero.

The one to save this world.

Deku was amazing in so many ways, but that strength could only get him so far. The Pro Hero witnessed zombies closing in on the three, almost completely at their mercy. He knew Izuku could escape just fine, but the other two were civilians with no real means of defending themselves. 

Nighteye huffed out, knowing he already lost two of his most trusted allies. He couldn’t let his friend die, nor be responsible for a civilian losing her life, especially the mother of the next hero. Sasaki wouldn’t be able to see it, but he could at least make sure they saw it through. 

He threw the last of his seals at a couple of charging infected and lunged forward, tackling the infected away from the three. Toshinori and Izuku’s eyes widened as Nighteye started laying into one of the zombies, bludgeoning it until his shoulder was bitten into by another one. 

“Mirai…” Toshinori wept out, letting his hands drop at seeing his former friend being consumed. 

Izuku screamed out, striking several more undead as he saw an opening to lead the remainder of his group away from the Scourge.

Chapter 4: The Osaka Onslaught 

Osaka Castle

BOOM! 

A series of explosions coated the outskirts of the area, the warzone only echoing with detonations into the city with each passing second. While the bridge to the castle had been well guarded by the combination of military forces and their two superweapons on the scene, they still proceeded to fire into the direct line of the infected. 

Civilians ran for their lives as soldiers guided them across the bridge, besides the castle being a mechanical goliath which resembled the king of the monsters. Created to defend mankind against Kaiju threats, the mechanical doppelganger had been called onto the battlefield the moment the situation was deemed an epidemic. Twin gigantic limbs allowed the G-Force’s trump card to march forward, four digits at the end of the massive feet. Four-fingered hands were kept upfront, prepared to strike down any sudden Infected Metahumans or a building on top of the horde within a moment’s notice. A stumpy tail stood firm behind them, short dorsal spines that ran down the back to the tail’s endpoint were partially covered by the repurposed Garuda warship.

Its twin cannons pointed forward as they laid resting upon the mecha’s shoulders, ready to obliterate the space in front of them if necessary. Golden glowing eyes looked ahead, allowing the pilots within to see the situation at hand. A single horn covered the top of the copy’s “skull”, metal fangs along with the rest of the silver coated body shone within the reflection of the flames.

Super Mechagodzilla of G-Force had been covering the evacuation of Osaka with almost no resistance. While the horde had at first been troublesome to properly clear for the population to escape, it was soon dispatched of within a moment’s notice. The pilots inside watched carefully for any possible hostile movement from beyond the retreating civilians, their armed transportation keeping a close eye near them as they marched forward past the bridge. One could never be too careful within the depths of Hell.

He sat in position, waiting for another horde to emerge from the ruins that surrounded them. The highest ranking officer within the Mecha held strong as the flames continued to climb into the sky. The operation, for all intents and purposes, had been going smoothly. They had run into little issue compared to other evacuations running into waves of the average and meta infected. While he wouldn’t ever ignore the possibility of horrific failure within the operation, it was highly unlikely for them to fail with the weapons on the site along with the mass number of soldiers. 

There were three others wearing the uniform that he wore within the Mecha, the super weapon’s pilots being carefully picked for the operation.

The first was the creator of the Garuda, the scientist having the proper knowledge of both war machines to be a correct choice. While he had certainly never been on a battlefield, he had been training for a situation like this for a while now. While it did not take a lot of time to actually dispose of the horde that was located here, he still arrived to see death in the form of an epidemic of cannibalism. Hundreds of people, possibly even thousands, were slaughtered either through their own loved ones sinking fangs into flesh or the chaos of Super Mechagodzilla’s arsenal to block off paths around the evacuation center. 

Kazuma Aoki, a lead scientist within the JSDF, couldn’t help but feel that he was underprepared for the worst possible scenario. While their odds of survival were staggeringly high, he knew better than to leave a variable out of the equation. 

The second was an older man, around the age of their captain. He had been the assigned gunner to the Mecha after years of successful missions piloting both Gunheds and military Patlabors, becoming the perfect fit for the organization’s strongest weapon. If motion was detected, he was more than prepared to once again open fire upon the surrounding area as long as it wasn’t near the evacuating civilians. 

Atsushi Sonezaki had seen many warzones during his career, but none were as chaotic as this. It didn’t matter the amount of training they had or the weapons they unleashed, the part of him that felt fear saw the possible end of the world. The epidemic was a story left best for the world of fiction, within the confines of a horror movie night or video game to pass the time after a long shift, but here they were in the dead center of a spreading virus that raised the dead. Though he didn’t show it, he elicited a calm demeanor despite the feeling of dread washing over his mind. 

The third was artificial in nature, their body resembling that of a healthy young woman with bright blonde hair. Bright blue eyes observed the data before her, the android taking in the information as she planned their next course of action. While she would be mistaken for human, even down to the feeling of her hand meeting your own, in truth Catherine Berger was the first of many artificial humans working within the JSDF’s ranks.

The data was sound that at the end of the battle, her mission would be successful.

The three were under the command of Captain Takuya Sasaki, by far the most experienced of the group when it came to conflicts. A war hero who had commanded military forces against the threat of Kaiju and invading forces from the stars. 

High above them, simply floating in the air awaiting command to move from its pilots, was a flying vessel of war. Used against the third generation of Godzilla when he rampaged across the country’s metropolis known as Tokyo, the silver metal glistened a little in the sun’s rays as its smaller frame sat amongst the clouds. The Super-X, piloted by some of the best meta humans the JSDF could offer, was prepared for another wave of the Scourge.

The four members of the team wore coordinated armor, resembling a team of superheroes. Their commanding officer wore the armor that was covered in pitch black, while the rest was a metallic silver. An identical helmet to the rest of the team, besides having a silver visor, stared at the battlefield before them. While they had done their part in aiding the operation, a part of him wished that he could do more on the ground level should the infected break the lines, but they all had a role in the operation to play.

Colonel Pete Richards was prepared to lay down his life on this day if it meant they could manage to have more civilians evacuate. He was thankful that if they were to somehow go down and be forced to join the ground forces that he had his trusted anti Kaiju rifle to aid him.

Beside him was a man donned in red and silver armor, a black visor staring at the ground below awaiting this commanding officer’s orders. Beneath the helmet sat a pair of goggles on the man’s face, allowing him to see properly. 

David Easton closed his eyes as he attempted to reach out with his mind, perhaps his psychic abilities would allow the squad to be alerted to an approaching horde or whatever lurked within the dark corners of the ruins. Though, a part of him did fear what he was going to find if he did reach even a single mind amongst the horde, let alone the entire enemy force. 

Behind the pair of pilots sat the last two members of their squadron. The first, in silver and blue armor, held a shield as his rifle leaned against the super weapon’s wall. At the very least, they each had means to defend themselves if the ongoing chaos below brought them down from the heavens, a fight that he hoped would not come to pass. While the others had some extraordinary gift to aid them and their allies in the conflict, Michael Van Horn, like many of the other soldiers protecting the evacuating civilians, was mainly an ordinary man. Only he was given different tools to aid against the spread of the virus, at the very least he had the rest of his team to rely on and vice versa.

The last member’s armor was a bleach white, the special forces member being slightly annoyed at her armor as its only noticeable difference was to identify her gender… Something that, if they made it out of this, she would scold the higher ups for. Her rifle sat at her side, just as the others had theirs on stand by, though her abilities might make the weapon borderline useless as her barrier could do a lot more than just protecting. Her gift, or Quirk as the world mostly knew them as, would become their saving grace if somehow an infected metahuman managed to knock them out of the sky or attempted to force themselves into the vessel.

Margret O’Brien would assist her team in any way she could to ensure victory, even if it meant her own life would be put in jeopardy. 

“Captain,” Kazuma stated as he continued to watch the outskirts of the evacuation, spotting two gigantic frames slowly approaching the evacuation. “I believe that our reinforcements have arrived on the scene.”

The very ground beneath their feet shook as the sun’s rays only showed twin silhouettes of gigantic figures making their way towards them, the pair picking up a little speed as they finally made it towards the evacuation team. “We finally made it!” Yelled Yuuki, the young pilot of Thundatross, smiling knowing that he had safely transported the reinforcements for the ground level in his hand. There hadn’t been much resistance on their journey, the horde simply being crushed underneath the mecha or giant’s weights as they marched forward.

“Yes, but don’t forget Yuuki,” Gigaman stated as he continued to march forward, a look of sorrow on his face as he continued to watch some infected emerge from the ruins in an attempt to attack them. “Our top priority is to save as many lives as we can.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” the young eager pilot groaned, his glasses glistening a little in the light as the shine of the other war machines’ hit his sight just right. “I just can’t believe I am fighting along the JSDF Mechagodzilla! It’s a dream come true!” 

Gigaman gave the young pilot a slight glare as they continued to march forward, worrying about the overall state of the operation while reflecting on his statement. It didn’t truly matter at the moment why he was saving all of these people in the grand scheme of things, all that mattered was that he was doing his job to save as many lives as he possibly could. But it still didn’t sit right with the veteran hero of Japan. He had always been happy to be of service to the people of his homeland, and yet he stood side to side with someone filled with ego at such a young age. Hopefully after a firsthand encounter with the legion of the dead, it would shake him enough to take this job seriously.

The group of metahumans which sat within Thundatross’ palm all stood up in unison to look down upon the operation at hand. Most staring in fear, anticipation for the inevitable conflict, and concern for the well being for civilian and soldier alike. They had the numbers, the resources, and the sheer power to guarantee success… and yet that lingering sense of damnation still entered their minds.

There was an eerie silence amongst the group of fighters as the wind continued to brush past them, those with cloaks having the material flow in the passing air. Their weapons were primed, held within the respective users’ hands as they looked towards the earth below. Fists were clenched as determination rose within their numbers, to see this until the very end, to save as many lives as they could, to give their life if necessary for the greater good.

All but two.

While the others hadn’t noticed, Shikishima gazed off towards the side of the ruins. Attempting to spot an incredibly important asset towards the plan at hand, a wicked smile hid underneath the calm mask that laid upon his face when he managed to spot strange movement. A shimmer in his eye, small and almost completely invisible to the naked eye. Luck seemed to be on his side as the massive form brushed past the side of the evacuation center.

It had seemed that the pieces were in play to rid this world of its foolish heroics and adopt a new world order, at least the first major play by those above him. He turned his attention back towards the group, noticing for a moment the attention of the most beautiful sight in hell. Her eyes golden with rings, her bright blood-red hair flowing a bit as her ponytail struggled to hang on from the passing winds. Her gaze was intoxicating. In all of his life, he had never looked into an abyss so… stunning.

Perhaps in the hell, which their new world would be born, he would have the opportunity to explore more than just her breathtaking gaze. After all, why shouldn’t he seek a queen within his utopia?

She gave a smile hiding malice, before winking and returning to the sight below of the undead. Just as Shikishima had spotted the approaching invisible calamity, she had seen a future filled with death and rebirth in their image.

“All hail the Red Bamboo.” They thought in unison, not speaking a word as they shared a moment of impending doom to the hope of the world with pure hatred adorned with a wicked smile.

“This day we march into the depths of hell itself to save our country,” Kamen Rider V3 spoke as he stepped forward, looking up at his squad with glowing green eyes of determination. “No matter the cost, we must succeed in saving as many lives as possible. If we are to fail, if we are to be devoured by the horde, then allow our deaths to not be in vain. If necessary, we must put our fellow comrades down to save them from damnation of the highest order. If necessary, we will die for the greater good, no matter the cost we MUST prevail.”

For a moment, the creation of Ichigo and Nigo turned his gaze unknowingly to his feet, his confidence lowering as the worst possible outcome rushed through his mind. But just as that horrific thought had rushed through his mind, a sense of hope washed over it as it always had. “Today we will exterminate, no, put down as many infected as we can. To save them with a final act of kindness, avenging their deaths and putting them to rest. No matter the cost.”

They all nodded in unison before leaping towards the group below. ODM Gear launched cables forward to carry Shikishima to safety, landing upon the rooftop with ease. With the ferocity of an animal, Miriko and Aiden leapt from the Mecha’s palm into the ground below with a thunderous boom as rubble flew in all directions. “I’ve got a rush!” The third strongest hero stated as she gave a sinister smile filled with excitement for the oncoming conflict. While she was a hero through and through, she couldn’t deny the rush that combat gave her in a dire situation. Aiden chuckled a little as the youngest member of the Ace Hunters reached for the Heavy Bowgun strapped onto his back, holding the heavy weapon with ease as he began to march forward. 

The two were quickly followed by the best Devil Hunters of Japan, landing with elegance as they carefully landed amongst the rubble. Kishibe quickly reached into his pocket, carefully wrapping his hand around a cigarette and lighter before putting the nicotine into his mouth and lighting it. He took a soft, quick drag of it before puffing out a bit of smoke.

“Another day at the office, aye Makima?”

The head of the organization stood tall with her arms behind her back, swaying her head side to side for a moment as she tapped her foot onto the rubble below. “A busy day at that,” she stated with a soft voice followed by a smile, one that Kishibe didn’t see but still felt from behind her skull. He had always felt something deep within her was wrong… Perhaps the others would see it during this operation.

Hawks for a moment took to the air, hovering above the few left upon Thundatross’ palm and reached out with a hand to Takeo. The soldiers of Japan quickly took the pro hero’s offer, the two taking a moment as they looked upon Kamen Rider V3’s form. The second strongest hero of Japan gave a confident smile before stating, “I still don’t understand how the government doesn’t deem you as heroes, you truly are an inspiration, Rider.”

Takeo gave a salute as they flew towards the street below, joining the others on the ground for the fight of their lives. A sign of respect to the Rider as he felt honored to join them in the battle against the Scourge’s forces.

The last two standing upon the metallic hand gave each other a nod before leaping towards the earth below, their combined weight causing a resounding thud. Sazer Mithras of the Fire Tribe of Gransazers and the third Kamen Rider had made their presence clear with a booming declaration of war. They would lead the group to salvation or die amongst their soldiers in a battle of glory. 

Mika reached to her sides, wrapping her hands around twin metallic fans to remove limbs from the walking carcasses screaming for flesh. The Rider squeezed his fists as he stood ready for war, his eyes glowing brightly as he waited.

“I’m glad you all finally made it,” Captain Takuya stated on the intercom, earning everyone’s attention through their earpieces. “We haven’t had much trouble, but be wary as we push the civilians closer to safety. We can’t have any surprises looming in the dark.”

“Roger that,” Gigaman replied as he stood over the fleeing crowd, they walked in a single file line filled with hope from the protection around them. A few even gave a wave towards the giant, earning a smile from him in these dire times as he waved back. “We’ll hold the line, no matter the cost.” 

***

“This way!” Reiner breathed, smashing the head of an infected against the wall, splattering it to pieces. He threw the body down, ushering for the people to keep moving and to not let up. “Come on!”

The blonde bulky man yanked the door open, revealing a battlefield to the scared group of survivors. Reiner’s eyes widened at the sight of how much worse the crisis was becoming, watching as several Pro Heroes were dropping from the zombies. He scanned the area, snapping his head left and right, attempting to find the best route for his friends and family to make it to an escape zone.

“Reiner,” Bertholdt, the tallest member of the group, spoke out as he ran his fingers through his brown hair. “We need to move!”

“I know!” he shot back, gripping the frame of the door, desperately trying to find the safest route for him. He gritted his teeth until he heard a scream erupting behind him. 

Reiner turned around to see his little cousin, Gabi, screaming in pure terror. Her tiny body shook while her mouth quivered at the sight of an infected charging towards her. His blood boiled in his body, his cousin completely in the crosshairs of the lone infected sneaking up at them.  

“Son of a bitch!” Reiner roared out, pushing Gabi out of the way as he tackled the zombie. The lone infected launched her head forward, snapping her jaws at him. Reiner kept his body distant from the bite’s radius before sending his fist downwards on the infected’s forehead, slightly denting it. 

The infected was unfettered by the assault as it kept pushing against his aggressor. Reiner threw his fists down on the zombie, further creating a deeper and deeper crater in the ghoul’s head. The monster stalled for a second before attempting to lunge at him once more until Reiner saw a blade go right through the side of his head. 

The zombie let out a small gasp with its eyes rolling in the back of his skull. He ceased his moments dropping to the ground as Reiner collapsed on his rear, turning to his left to see his nearly emotionless friend, Annie, standing by him. 

“You were taking too long,” she muttered, offering him a hand as he gave her a small smile. 

“Thanks for that,” Reiner breathed out, taking the hand as he stared at her vibrant blue eyes and her golden hair. If he was sure he wouldn’t get his ass kicked by her, he’d call her an angel right then and there. Reiner grabbed a nearby towel and wiped his hands of the blood, throwing it off in the distance. 

So many had been lost as an older woman wrapped her arms around Reiner and sobbed. She sobbed on his shoulder as he lightly brushed his hand on her greying hair. “I’m so sorry you and Gabi are stuck in this mess.”

“It’s okay, mom,” Reiner softly said, keeping a hold of his mom as he felt a light tug from a soft hand. He glanced down to see Gabi and smiled, pulling her in as they stayed huddled for a moment. “The five of us will make it and it will be nothing more than a bad memory.”

“Fairly optimistic, don’t yah think? Annie questioned, folding her arms together, lifting up an eyebrow.

Reiner turned back to her and glared at her. He would have barked back, to save the pessimism around Gabi. She already lost her parents, she didn’t need to hear anymore alongside the possibility none of them would make it. If he could just get them all out of here, he could let his mind be at peace.

“Annie…” Bertholdt breathed, placing his hand on her shoulder. She slightly hissed at him, but kept her composure. Reiner knew if anyone could bring her down to earth, it’d be his best friend. How he was able to do it was beyond him and didn’t care. “It’s fine, we can get through this.”

Annie sighed, dropping the subject before mentally preparing herself to make another break for it. Reiner mosied over to the door and opened it once more to see the streets becoming more manageable. He felt relief at seeing several heroes charging and dispatching the undead that walked the street. 

Three in particular stood out to him. The first was a man walking calmly in a suit and a trenchcoat. His lips held a cigarette as he calmly threw several knives out, dispatching several of the infected. Reiner took note of his blonde hair, chuckling to himself. “Me in three decades, probably.”

The second was a masked man with an orange helmet and two glowing green eyes. Blood splattered against his orange and silver chest while he kicked a zombie’s head off. He jumped around, slicing another’s head in half with just a hand chop. Then, he rammed his fist into a zombie facing him and ripped her brain out. The masked hero threw brain on the asphalt and stomped on it. “If only I had armor like that to get my family out of this hell.”

Lastly, a woman dressed in red, white and golden armor. She moved like she was dancing across the battlefield, slicing several infected into pieces with twin identical fans. With every step she took, she moved gracefully. “If she was a dancer before this, I’d have loved to have seen her and tried my luck.”

She turned her head over to the peeking Reiner, immediately waving her hand over. “We have survivors in that building!” 

***

Shikishima stood on a building, letting himself be coated with the rain. He eyed Thundatross towering above him, the pilot keeping his eyes on the battlefield. The Scout Captain admired the unique design of the mech that transported him. More earnest and inspiring compared to the other mechs he had seen. 

“The sword especially,” Shikishima hummed, glancing up at the gigantic golden blade laying above its shoulder. He patted his body, watching the battlefield howl with groans of the undead, the screams of the living and cackle of bullets all being ushered out. He couldn’t but wonder how morbid this whole conflict would be up close, to stroll along the streets witnessing the devastation. 

He sighed, slamming his hands on pants. ”Sadly, duty calls.”

The sky flashed with lightning cascading across the grey clouds, slightly illuminating the landscape with a whitish light. Shikishima smirked, watching the bolt strike Mechagodzilla. It let out a dying-like noise, with every system in its body shutting down. The once mighty mech, some considering it to be the strongest weapon in the JSDF, was now nothing more than a statue. 

“Good riddance,” Shikishima chuckled before turning his attention back to the blue mech standing above him. He shot twin cables out of his ODM gear and onto the nearby mech, fulfilling his part of the deal with his hidden allies. Shikishima launched himself upwards, allowing him to land on the mech’s shoulders. “This one I’m gonna regret.”

He grabbed a hold of the handle and opened the hatch. The Scout Captain descended down the ladder, making his way towards the cockpit. The mech, despite its bulky size, was surprisingly cramped, making Shikishima wince as he felt like he was suffocating. 

Shikishima pushed through until he reached the door leading to his destination. He pulled out his twin blades before elbowing the button to the door. Blue and gold lights flickered all around the room while darkness covered everything else. Yuuki was far too entranced with holding the line, especially since a hidden ally gave him the invitation. 

“They all think it’s lightning, but in just a minute, those who remain will see the good friend we brought along the way,” Shikishima whispered under his breath, inching his way towards the pilot. He raised his two blades, pointing them towards the back of the seat. The traitorous Titan Shifter shook his head slightly, disgusted his target was a kid. Yuuki had heart and spirit, but others would not see it that way. He tried to pitch him to the others, believing he would be a great asset to their cause, but they were firm in their decision. 

“I’m sorry kid,” Shikishima solemnly said, looking away as he rammed the blades through the seat and into his stomach. The child’s movements ceased, his hands relinquishing their grip on the controls as his head slumped down while Shikishima yanked the blades out of the kid’s stomach. “If only they saw your potential.”

He stood in complete darkness, awaiting for the rest of the plan to commence.

Like Mechagodzilla, Thundatross slumped over, becoming the second of Osaka’s reclaimers to turn inanimate. 

“Colonel!” Margaret yelled out through her white helmet. “We just lost Thundatross as well!”

“Shit!” Pete Richard screamed out, slamming a button to the open up comms with the last giant still standing. “Gigaman! We just lost Super Mechagodzilla and Thundatross! We’re on our own!”

Gigaman felt his heart stop upon hearing the loss of Thundatross. “Yuuki….” 

The superhero turned to face the inactive mech, immediately fearing the worst for his longtime friend. He took a step forward to thoroughly check his friend when he heard a growl. His body seized up, moving only his head around to the source. 

The being materialized as it pounced on him, shredding his arm with its sharp teeth. Neronga screamed at the stunned Gigaman, slamming his horn against his face. The hero breathed out, attempting to fight back, slamming his hands on the electric kaiju. 

The crew of the Super-X sped forward to assist their last remaining comrade, firing several missiles at the creature. Neronga cried out as he was launched off the gigantic hero. The electric beast charged up his horn and fired at the Super-X, barely dodging the bolt. 

Off in the distance Shikishima climbed on the outside of the mech, watching his ally getting tagteamed by the weaker two of their enemies. He shook his head and rolled his eyes at the display unfolding before him. 

“And they say my choices of recruits are bad.”

Shikishima jumped off the towering mech and bit into his thumb, a bolt of lightning crashing down on him. His body coating itself with charcoal grey and purple colored armor as he himself became a towering figure.

The distraction caused both Gigaman and the crew of the flying fortress to witness the new arrival. Shikishim smirked from the inside of his golem, bashing his avatar’s hands together, tiny pieces of armor chipping off its hands. 

“Let’s have some fun.”

Chapter 5: History Repeats

Sazer Mithras swung her fans down, completely bisecting a nearby infected. The entirety of his organs poured out of his separate halves, blood flowing through the gutter. The Gransazer turned around and decapitated another. She turned over to the survivors her and squad had just rescued. They were far behind the others in the evacuation route, but no matter their perceived stupidity for leaving so late, it was her duty to keep them safe. 

“Keep moving!” she screamed, waving her fans around, keeping the infected at bay. 

“Sorry you’re seeing this, kid,” V3 spoke, shielding Gabi from an infected by shoving his entire elbow through the head of a zombie. He yanked out his arm and let the body collapse, smiling behind his helmet. “

“Cool…” Gabi murmured even though she was still terrified more than ever. However, seeing a man as joyful as the Rider was, he was willing to face the enemy head on. She admired that about the hero, something she wished she could be. Not only a warrior, but fearless as well. 

Maybe then, she’d be able to avenge her parents. 

Reiner pressed his hand against his little cousin’s back, pushing her along as the heroes kept themselves huddled around them. Their numbers for this operation were thinning, but the five that remained in this area were still going as strong as ever. 

BOOM!

Lasers shot over them, striking a building just above them. Its blue lasers cut through its hull like butter. Their eyes collectively widened as it began to crumble. Its upper half collapsed, tilting over as it was making landfall. 

“Run!” Kishibe screamed out, slitting a zombie’s throat before kicking its head off. He turned around to the crowd, startled by the building making its descent. His eyes burned with a fury, angered they were not listening to his orders. He needed to make himself clear. “RUN!”

The group finally listened to him, bolting away from the structure while Mithras, Takeo, and Aiden followed closely behind him. Kishibe lit another cigarette, striking another infected in the chest with his knife keeping her at bay. There was no way he would make it with the group in time, he was still on the other side, keeping the infected off their six. 

He’d be alone, potentially even considering this would be his death. Kishibe considered this a good one, if they could even get to them. The Devil Hunter chuckled, thinking they weren’t even trying as he killed them with ease.

Or so he thought.

SPLAT!

Kishibe turned around to see V3 still standing alongside him, slamming his foot onto another ghoul’s face, flattening it. The sound of the skull breaking apart would be an afterthought after hearing the building finally collapsing. 

“You’re not riding this one solo,” V3 joked, throwing his arms up at the infected still present in the area.

The older man smirked, feeling almost impressed by the young hero’s resilience. He respected him far more than Denji and Power. With another puff of his cigarette, he held up his knives once more, readying to continue his duty.

Those who were fortunate to make it to the other side, continued pushing forward. They only had a few more miles left to the evacuation center. Reiner gripped the hands of both Gabi and his mother, feeling himself matching up to the speed of the Gransazer. His heart raced not only out of fear, but from the warrioress before him. 

I’d love a woman who can kick my ass. 

He shook his head. 

No. Think, Reiner. Now is not the time.

Reiner snapped himself out of it as the Gransazer spoke, “Sazer Mithras at your service, by the way.”

“Reiner,” he breathed, humored by her giving him her persona as opposed to her real name. “Got an actual name?”

“If we escape this, I’ll tell you,” the hero spoke.

Reiner chuckled. “Deal.”

Through the shadows of the alleys the group ran past, a monstrous growl was heard. Its figure crawled around, watching the group run as fast as they could. He licked his torn lips while his sharp nails scratched against the cement. Flesh would be torn into and funneled down his gullet. 

With a monstrous shriek, he leapt out, revealing his blue sweat and dark brown pants in the streetlights. The leaping zombie lunged onto Aiden, instantly tearing through his skull and ripping out his brain matter. The man couldn’t even react as blood erupted from his mouth, violently thrashing about as the ghoul continued devouring the cranium. While the armor would have protected the Monster Hunter, it was a shame that he didn’t bother wearing a helmet forged from the Kaiju that he had slain. 

“Oh my god!” Bertholdt screamed out as Mithras bolted past the group. She let out a scream to unleash her fans, but the cries of the undead were stronger. The undead assailants rushed through the many alleys, stretching their arms forward to grab the living. 

As cold as it was, Mika backed away from her comrade being torn into, realizing there was nothing she could do for him now. Mika started swinging to keep the infected at bay, but it was all for naught as Takeo felt the cold grips of the undead, tearing into his body. 

He screamed out, attempting to reach for Mika, but felt the skin of his limbs being ripped apart. The ghouls tore into his chest, every bit filling their stomachs. The Gransazer breathed heavily, scared beyond almost any rational thought. Two of her remaining comrades ripped apart in seconds as she had only one thought left.

“Keep running!”

She slammed her fans into the arms of the infected closest to the group, preventing them from reaching out. Blood splattered all around, carefully avoiding their bodily fluids. Mithras ran alongside the group, keeping the infected at bay as much as she could. However, despite her enhancements, she was running out of breath. There was only so much one hero could do in a crisis. 

Her swings were getting slower and her field of vision was becoming blurry. She needed them to survive, she needed to do better. A second wind is what she expected, but it never came. Instead, another scream was heard. 

Bertholdt screamed out, the back of his neck getting torn into by an infected’s teeth. Reiner and Annie turned over with pure shock in their eyes. Their best friend slumped over dead as several more ghouls ripped into his stomach, desecrating it by ripping out every body part imaginable. 

Rage brewed inside them, wanting to rip apart the infected with their bare hands, but they were powerless. More and more members of the undead legion chased them down the entirety of the path they were on now.

“Just one more mile!” Mithras breathed, barely swinging her weapons at the infected. She felt her entire body could give out at any second, surmising stubbornness was the only thing keeping her going. The hero felt sick at already losing half of the group under her watch, it made her feel like a failure. 

If she could save those that remained, she can maybe see herself as a hero. Mithras just needed to push herself. 

“No! No! No!” Annie cried out, feeling her body being pulled into the darkness of one of the many alleys surrounding them. Her arms reached out for the group, begging for them to pull her back. “Don’t let them get me! Reiner, you promised to get us out of here!”

Reiner’s mouth quivered while his eyes grew wide. His other friend was gone, taken by a muscular shaped infected hiding out in the shadows. From the brief glance he got of it, its head appeared almost shrunken down while its arms looked as if they could rip a car in half. 

A large crunch was heard and Reiner didn’t even want to think how gruesome Annie’s fate was. 

His life was becoming a far cry from what it used to be. He may be able to keep his mind sane for now solely to save what remained of his family, but once it was done with, Reiner would be no more.

“Reiner…” Mithras breathed, sounding almost as if she were to collapse. 

“Save your breath, we’re almost there,” Reiner nearly snapped, grief looming over him as he kept his family closer and closer to him. 

“I’m done for….” the Gransazer weakly rasped out, slowing her movements. “But I can at least give the three of you a guarantee of survival.”

“Are you stupid!? No!” Reiner cried out, not taking his eyes off the nearby zone. They were so close and to leave anyone now would be an insult to those who already lost their lives. “The four of us can stick to it!”

“Guess you’ll never know my name, then,” Mithras murmured as Reiner briefly turned his head around to see her standing in place. 

“Mithras, don’t!” Reiner shrieked out. Despite only knowing her for a few minutes, he felt connected to her in a way he couldn’t describe. He found her attractive, but it felt like it went beyond that. Like, the two shared a bond he couldn’t quite place. 

He just couldn’t let anyone else die.

“Just pay it forward.”

Those were the last words spoken by the Gransazer before she plunged herself deeper into the undead assailants, giving it everything she got until she disappeared. 

“Fuck!” Reiner shouted, pushing himself to the limit, keeping Gabi and Karina out of danger. 

So many good people dropped like flies and he was spared in this reality thus far. He could have done so much more to save them, to ensure they’d live far away from all of this. Only now there was so little he had left. 

If he could make a deal with the devil to keep his family alive, he’d do it in a heartbeat. His soul would be devoured in the process, but his body would still be functional, doing whatever was commanded of him. 

A person was slipping away and only a body of flesh and bone would be in its presence. 

***

CRASH!

Gigaman rolled across the destroyed earth, the roar of the invisible tyrant following the assault as the veteran hero found himself on the back end of the conflict. He quickly leapt back to his feet, even managing to jump over the invader before wrapping his hands around the fiend’s tail. Neronga let out a cry of surprise as he attempted to keep his footing, claws digging into the concrete in an attempt to latch onto the environment, but it was no use. The superhero managed to throw the Kaiju across the ruined city, landing with a gigantic thud as his much larger enemy let loose a howl.

The superhero for a brief moment looked back towards the two stationary mechas, hoping that they would come back online at any moment. Only for his fear to leave him wide open as the Armored Titan forced the giant of light to act, only barely managing to dodge the attempt to slam his fist deep into Gigaman’s core. The traitor Titan Shifter was quick to act, swinging once again and this time landing true. His elbow struck the back of the superhero’s neck and forced him to his knees before the returning Neronga slammed his tail into the veteran’s stomach, sending him flying into a nearby building which collapsed from the impact.

Shikishima turned towards the Red Bamboo spawn, reaching out and placing his hand onto the creature’s skull as he pet the abomination. “The most loyal dog deserves to be shown appreciation, don’t you think so?” the man spoke within his safe haven, an earnest smile of pride forming upon his face before an assault from the sky broke the moment. The Super-X was unloading various missiles upon the duo, explosions covering their body and earning groans of pain from them.

While the attack was successful and managed to break apart some of Shikishima’s armor, it served as the perfect distraction within the moment. The Armored Titan’s vessel watched wide eyed as Gigaman returned to the fray, leaping through the thick dust with a powerful kick to his chest. The attack managed to push Shikishima backwards, his feet carving through the earth before coming to a halt. The superhero quickly then wrapped his arms around Neronga’s neck, attempting to suffocate the artificial behemoth with his sheer strength. The invisible invader let out roars of pain as he felt the pressure rising around his throat, entering a frenzy to free himself of Gigaman’s grasp by running into the nearby ruins. He thrashed violently, but the reforged meta-human held on tight.

The Armored Titan began to charge directly at the humanoid before him in order to aid his hunting dog, only to once again be interrupted by the Super-X passing by with a full artillery. Missiles detonated against his armored form and the earth around them, the explosions completely engulfing his body as howls of rage exited the demon’s maw. “Whatever you do, do not stop! We must buy time for Thundatross and Super Mechagodzilla to reactivate at any cost!” The commander ordered, his hands gripping around the controls so tightly that beneath the armor, his knuckles were whitening. Rage was erupting through his voice, the operation to protect the civilians was going to hell and the only logical explanation was treason.

Sabotage within their ranks to turn the tides of the operation in favor of the Undead, but why? Why the hell would anyone alive do such a horrific thing? Whatever the reason was, the giants before them needed to be slain. While lost in his train of thought, suddenly, debris struck the side of the flying war machine, earning their attention as the Armored Titan had escaped from the onslaught of military might. His armor was cracked across the entire body, the left arm completely vaporized and half of the demon’s face completely torn away. And yet, it still unleashed a hellish howl of might as Shikishima charged forward, leaping into the sky and slamming his limb directly into the superweapon. The pilots shook within the cockpit as they were thrown off balance for just a moment before managing to catch themselves, each of them looking to see the shield of the Red Bamboo circle them.

“Easton!” Pete roared out with authority. “Concentrate the laser upon the target’s form!” Without further adieu, the man listened to his superior without hesitation. A large blue laser was tracking across the earth in an attempt to strike the Armored Titan down, only for the trail of energy to miss by a few meters. Steam rose from the various wounds as his regeneration quickly went to work. It wouldn’t be much longer until he was at his full strength once more, but he needed to buy time to assault the war machine once again. 

His eyes slightly drifted towards the battle between his ally and Gigaman. The artificial invader finally managed to rid himself of the hero’s grasp, throwing him to the ground before electricity began to build up around his trio of horns. Gigaman could only brace himself for the surge of energy, putting his arms up to defend his core only moments away from the beam of pure elemental fury striking him. The superhero let loose a cry of agony as he was pushed back, completely losing his footing as he was thrown across the landscape before landing with a thud. Neronga continued the onslaught of energy for a moment before charging forward like a bear. The Armored Titan’s gaze returned back towards his opponent, a sinister smile forming upon the goliath’s form as the injuries to his head were completely healed. 

“That thing has to be human… Easton, look into the target’s mind. We will discover who this traitor is.”

“Yes sir,” the soldier stated before ceasing the laser’s activation, placing one hand upon his helmet while the other reached out to the screen before him. Staring directly into the Titan host’s mind to discover… oh dear god. “Colonel… the traitor is Captain Shikishima of the Scout Regiment.” A moment of shock washed over the crew of the Super-X to the haunting truth, a commander in the very operation to save Japan had conspired against them for one reason or another.

“Colonel, your orders?” Margot asked as the armored goliath stared upward at the flying war machine, the two almost daring the other to make another move. As time was quickly passing by, the Armored Titan’s arm was almost completely healed from the assault, forcing the team to act quickly.

“If we can manage to somehow bring the traitor back alive, do so, but shoot to kill. I  don’t care about the damn consequences that happen after this. For the safety of this country, we have to do what is necessary.”

Without further delay, the battle resumed once more, but before a single trigger could be pulled, Shikishima leapt forward. His hands wrapped around the ship, but there was a sudden cessation of all motion in his body. Collapsing onto the ground with a loud thud, dust kicked up in the air as the Super-X quickly returned to the sky, hovering above the corpse of the colossi. 

O’Brien concentrated on the task at hand, one hand firm on the ship’s controls as the other was held out towards the screen before her. She had formed a barrier surrounding a specific part of the Titan Shifter’s brain, ceasing motor function with a simple twist.

While it was a gigantic gamble, it was one that she was willing to take. Seeing that limbs could be completely reconstructed from stumps, perhaps his organs would be capable of the same feat. If it did not put Shikishima down completely, then she could at least buy them a moment to capture the traitor. 

Shikishima’s mind could only drift as there was a sudden black within his vision, it was a strange feeling… He couldn’t feel or truly think and yet, he was present while also not existing all the same. It was a sight that he couldn’t even truly describe, almost like a dream that one would forget as they woke up. He sat upon an endless stretch of sand, his gaze towards the bright, star-filled horizon. At the center of his view was a gigantic shape, its blinding luminance making it impossible to fully tell what it was before the vision ceased.

But he could have sworn that it looked like a tree.

The memory was erased as his eyes snapped open within the nape of the Armored Titan, the damage to his brain reversed far quicker than the Quirk User had anticipated. The shield of the Red Bamboo reached outward with a scream of horror as he grabbed the Super-X in the palm of his hands again. Before death could wrap its jaws around the small crew, the white armored metahuman acted quick enough to project a barrier around the super weapon, protecting them before Shikishima could crush them.

The barrier was still very thin, barely showing any difference in pressure as she put her entire power into protecting her crew. Sparks flew within the cockpit as metal creased, armored fingers starting to sink through the hull. 

The attack was a gamble, one that left him completely in the open, but it was worth attempting. His superiors wished to take the weapon for themselves, but if it could not be retrieved then he had permission to completely destroy it. The second option was one he would rather avoid, and thus he hoped that his assault would kill everyone inside. The Armored Titan lifted the Super-X above his head before swinging downward, repeating the action over and over again, forming dents across the super weapon’s form with each slam into the ground.

The laser once again began to power up, blue light illuminating across his body as he rapidly swung the weapon around.

Only for Shikishima to not notice in the most crucial moment that the lights within both of the downed Mechas lit up with fury.

The laser misfired as a metallic hand wrapped around Shikishima’s shoulder, pulling him away completely from the JSDF weapon. Instead, the laser shot forward and managed to strike Neronga far away from the current battle. This allowed Gigaman to breathe for a moment, before closing the distance and pummeling the invisible tyrant with various blows. Within the Armored Titan’s nape, the host’s eyes widened with both awe and fear as Thundatross returned to the battle at hand. The grip itself broke the armor surrounding the shoulder blade with pure fury as the Mecha threw the armored goliath away from the damaged Super-X. The war machine fell to the ground with sparks shooting out of various damaged ports.

“Well I’ll be damned,” Shikishima stated with respect, a smile once again forming upon his face as he stared at the duo of Mechas before him. “I should have aimed for the head, but I am glad you survived, boy. For doing your duty to protect this country, you should be granted a warrior’s death.”

“Super Mechagodzilla,” A young voice stated as it came over the comms, taking in heavy breaths as blood continued to pour from his mouth. “Assist Gigaman with the Neronga… Shikishima is MINE.” He stated with authority and fury, slowly stepping forward. The mecha’s blade was placed upon his shoulders, before he entered a sprint and closed the distance in a mere moment.

Chapter 6: The Day Tyranny Reigns

“Why hadn’t he been devoured completely?” Was the first thought that appeared within the ghoul’s mind as he stood up, his body jumping back to its feet as an unending hunger filled what remained of his mind. The corpse of the Monster Hunter reached down to his weapon, the Bow Gun feeling heavier than when he was alive as the very little mush that remained in his cranium began to fall out of the skull. Brain matter scattered across the blood soaked concrete as he continued to step forward. Even for an undead, Aiden didn’t have much time left in this world.

He quickly aimed the weapon towards a pair of heroes in the distance. The duo stood on a mountain of corpses as they continued to rip into the seemingly endless horde with their bare hands, blood coating their forms with a rich red. Aiden smirked with what little of a face was still clinging onto the muscle and bone, pulling the trigger and unleashing powerful bullets towards the duo. In just a moment’s time, all Kamen Rider V3 could do was push Kishibe out of the way, the stream of bullets knocking him down as sparks and blood shot from the various wounds. The Devil Hunter’s eyes widened as he quickly dodged out of the way, leaping on top of the heads of the moving horde with precision.

“Are you alright, Rider!?” he yelled out as he continued to move, keeping on his toes while turning his gaze towards their fallen comrade. While the young man hadn’t deserved such a fate, it didn’t exactly get under his skin. He had trained so many young men and women that were sent off to the frontlines of fighting off Devils, that he began seeing his students more like dogs than anything else. Dogs were loyal, dogs would die for the mission without a second thought, just as everyone he had gotten to know over the years. It seemed unfair, that an old broken man like himself would live longer than any under his tutelage, but as he thought about the young Monster Hunter’s fate, the opposite reaction occurred with the Rider.

If there was no divine figure to save us from our own sins, or a perfect harmony to achieve beyond our own understanding, there would always be a Kamen Rider. And if the old man had any power in his life, he was going to make sure that V3 would survive the battle, for he couldn’t bear the thought of such a beacon being devoured by the Scourge. If hope were to die, then humanity would truly be finished.

With a great announcement of gore, V3 had answered the Devil Hunter’s call. Bodies imploded as he swung as hard as he could at the oncoming waves, ichor covering him with only his bright emerald eyes piercing through the horror as gore flew through the air. He quickly leapt into the air, blood flying away from his form as he quickly turned his attention towards their former comrade. Aiden’s gaze caught the Rider within his sight, the sensitive bloodshot orb staring as a fresh meal descended towards him at rapid speeds. He attempted to strike the vigilante down from the sky, lighting up the sky with bullets which tracked his path, but the infected’s fate was sealed the moment he turned his eye towards the heroes.

“RIDER KICK!”

The blow not only knocked the head off from the body, but crushed it under the weight of the attack, the decapitated corpse instantly falling onto the ground with a thud. His grip was tight on the Bow Gun as it continued to rip through the horde, his body having muscle spasms which forced the weapon to change aim. Blood continued to fly into the air behind the Rider as he took a moment to just stare at what mush covered his foot, kicking it off as he turned away from the crushed skull. “I’m truly sorry…” The Kamen Rider returned to the task at land, spotting Kishibe continuing to take out more of the horde as he leapt from their heads, unloading bullets and knives into the heads of every target.

Electricity surged around his body as the V3 Barrier surrounded his form, taking a running position before running so fast through the horde, a clap of thunder echoed across the battlefield. Those that had reached out to his passing form, or were simply destroyed in his wake, had electricity surge through their form until they combusted. Kishibe turned towards the arrival of his comrade as he squeezed an infected’s head like a grape, crushing it and coating his hand in gore as he went to speak. “We have to finish this fast, Kamen Rider, with how things are going, the operation will fail soon.”

“I hate to agree, but it’s hard to deny what is in front of me…” A bullet ricocheted off the Rider’s helmet, earning both heroes’ attention as another of their infected comrades approached with a snarl. Skin was completely removed from the soldier’s arm on the right, meanwhile his throat had been ripped out, allowing blood to flow like a massive river down the moving carcass’ form. Milky eyes stared at the fresh meal in the Kamen Rider and Devil Hunter like any man would at food after a long day’s worth of work. The skin which surrounded the entity’s teeth had been removed for the most part, but there was enough to recognize a twisted smile appearing on the ghoul’s face.

Takeo Masaki might have fallen into the clutches of the undead, but the soldier had found a new calling. An incredibly loud buzzing filled his ears as he stepped forward, his other decayed hand wrapping around the blade to his side. Revealing the sword to his prey, he pointed it at the duo, seemingly alerting the rest of the horde that they were off limits. They began to back away, searching for a new source of a meal as the once proud soldier of Japan opened his hideous maw and stated.

“G-Good… Soldiers, foLLow… orders.”

The two heroes stood speechless as the ghoul uttered those words, launching himself at the two with surprising speed and aiming his blade at Kishibe first. However, the Devil Hunter was faster, managing to wrap his hands around the wrist of the Scourge. Before he could disarm the withered corpse, the gun in the monster’s other hand fired, nearly taking the weary warrior’s head off. Kishibe only barely managed to dodge the attempt on his life as he moved his head out of the way, but he lost the opportunity to remove the corpse’s weapons.

The soldier attempted to swing towards Kishibe’s stomach, only for the blade to be caught by the Rider and snapped like a toothpick. Takeo’s attention was stolen as bright green eyes announced his demise. Quickly taking action to dodge the blow, he jumped out of the way as concrete flew into the air. The infected soldier stood firm, one hand firmly on the trigger while the other held tight upon the hilt of the broken blade, flipping it backwards before charging once again.

“For a normal human, he sure is giving us trouble,” Kishibe uttered as the undead fiend charged once again, pulling the trigger as he aimed directly at the experienced Devil Hunter. He dodged the passing bullets in quick succession before charging directly at the infected with his own firearm in his left hand and a knife in the right. For a moment, the two were in a standstill as bullets flew through the air and blades clashed.

The experienced hunter was lost in deep thought even as he moved effectively to make sure that he wasn’t killed for a misstep. The Scourge before him was an ordinary human, and yet he was giving him such trouble. No Quirk, no Jujutsu technique that he was aware of, was it a deal with a Devil that was made before the operation? It just made little sense, but perhaps he was just that skilled, it wasn’t like he hadn’t performed similar achievements before gaining a contract.

Kishibe’s blade was suddenly knocked out of his hand as V3 attempted to assault the infected from behind, only for Takeo to quickly turn around. Skidding the ruined blade across his arm and shoulder, he attempted to force what little remained of steel into the augmented human’s neck. A bullet ripped through his hand, forcing him to drop the broken sword to the ground before quickly dodging the attack as the Devil Hunter pulled the trigger again, accidently hitting the helmet of V3. The two turned to see Takeo hunched over, his gaze turning towards the new wound on his hand before staring at the bullets that remained within the clip of his handgun. With the two being much stronger than he was, the infected made an unexpected move.

“This… I-isN’t… OVER!” the Ghoul spoke with a howl as he began to retreat, wanting to feast for another day.

“We can’t let him escape!” V3 declared as he began to charge at the infected captain, only for a familiar voice to come onto the comms.

“This is Hawks to any surviving heroes left on the battlefield,” he spoke with certainty as the sound of him lifting something was heard, heavy breathing and the sounds of chaos echoing through the microphone. “The operation is beginning to look lost. Miriko and I have retrieved Gigaman and are retreating for now. Seems we at least managed to allow some time to let civilians escape but… there was a lion amongst us.”

“What the hell does that mean?” V3 quickly asked, the duo of saviors waiting for what the pro hero had to say.

“Captain Shikishima has committed treason. Transformed into some giant and is currently aiding a Neronga against our forces, something reeks in the air that he wasn’t working alone, so be on your guard, Kamen Rider.”

The words sank into their mind as they received the information, the thought that now of all times there would be a snake amongst their ranks fueled the cyborg with pure rage as he clenched his fist. “Understood, moving to your position. Over and out.” He turned to Kishibe, who took the moment to resume an unfinished cigarette. The smell of tobacco left a very thin layer over the scent of iron and fire, taking a drag as he looked at the carnage before him.

“Dammit…” he stated with regret, looking towards the chaos which spanned the entire city. “To think that I would worry about dogs after so long.”

“Himeno, you and Aki better be fine. Lost too many hunting animals to lose anymore.”

“What was that?” V3 asked as he began to survey the area, looking for the best direction to meet the others at.

“I was cursing myself for not being able to put down Takeo,” he quickly lied, taking another drag from the cigarette as he kept his eyes forward so that they wouldn’t be jumped by the undead. “Just a few more moments and we would have managed to put the poor bastard out of his misery.”

“He is just one in the grand scheme of things, I feel what you speak of too but we have to get the hell out of here.” He pointed towards the clash of Thundatross and the duo which surrounded him. Super Mechagodzilla was standing hauntingly still as their ally was being beaten down by the traitor and his dog. Gigaman was retrieved by the Number Two and Three Pro Heroes, but the Rider couldn’t seem to spot the Super-X, which was an alarming notion. “There, we have to move towards the battle,” he stated before marching forward through the ruins, Kishibe quickly following behind as they both entered a sprint.

As heroes began to fall, as traitors amongst their ranks were revealed, a lingering question entered Kishibe’s mind…

Where the hell was Makima?

***

Minutes ago…

Shikishima could barely recognize what was about to happen, eyes widening as Thundatross closed the distance within a moment. The massive blade in the mecha’s grip swung directly at him. He narrowly dodged the attempt on his life, luck and skill combining as he rolled away and retaliated with a counter punch. This only managed to crack his own armor against the superior metal of the superweapon, twin golden eyes turning to see the futile attempt before simply swatting the Armored Titan away with a back hand.

The traitor was sent soaring, the armored goliath’s form crashing into the ruins which covered the battlefield, structures collapsing on top of his body. The armor which covered his skull was completely eradicated with such a simple attack, only leaving a little surrounding the left eye which stared with horror as he witnessed energy surrounding the gigantic blade. Both his own eyes and those of his Titan widened before he rolled out of the way, Thundatross barreling through where he had just laid in a crackling charge.

Dust billowed in all directions as the mechanical marvel turned towards the Armored Titan, who once again returned to his feet. Standing in a defensive position with his arms prepared for a blow as the dwarfing Mecha swung downwards, Shikishima reached out, managing to halt the blade from slicing him in two. As his hands caught both sides, a sonic boom roared out as one knee buckled. It was taking all of his strength to keep the gigantic weapon from cleaving him in two, he could feel his artificial arms shaking from the sheer pressure as Thundatross applied more.

He let out a ghoulish howl directly at Thundatross’ face, while in the moment seeming like the defiant roar of a warrior, it was in truth an order.

Neronga’s eyes darted towards the source of the sound, seeing his current master struggle against the mecha. Then the anomaly spotted the flying machine again before his attention was once again stolen by the superhero. Gigaman attempted to hold his opponent in an iron grip, causing the invisible invader to begin to shake once more.

“You were sneaky last time,” Captain Sasaki stated as the JSDF’s Mechagodzilla marched forward, the mechanical maw opening to reveal fake fangs. “But you will surely regret your actions, Kaiju.” A rainbow beam of energy crashed into the side of Neronga, earning a cry of pain as Gigaman continued to hold him down.

The trio of horns came together as energy surged around them, electricity flying as the eye darted towards the little flying machine once again…

The Super-X returned to the conflict with a powerful blue laser shooting through the Armored Titan’s stomach, the armor breaking in an instant and leaving a hole filled with steam as the regeneration process began to repair the damage. “What the hell do you think you’re doing!?” Yuuki roared as he simply let Shikishima fall to the ground, allowing the regeneration to continue forward.

“This is a direct order from a superior, your pride does not matter right now!” The Colonel barked back, frustrated with the general situation on top of the attitude of the child in a war machine. “Contain or kill Captain Shikishima this instant-”

“I don’t have much time, I can feel it,” The boy stated as blood continued to fall from his mouth onto his lap. “While the life support systems are keeping me alive for now, I’ve lost a lot of blood thanks to this bastard.” The pilot of Thundatross took heavy breaths as he turned his attention towards the recovering Titan, standing over him with complete control as he just stared and waited. “Assist Gigaman and Super Mechagodzilla with the Neronga, but until the last drop of blood leaves my body, until I draw my last breath,” He pointed directly at Shikishima, slightly turning his gaze towards the flying war machine beside him.

“The traitor is MINE.”

There was a burning iron will in the boy’s voice, that of a seasoned warrior which wouldn’t dare to be tampered with. He had seen battle against Kaiju of the Earth and invaders from the stars, he was certainly experienced enough to know that any wrong mistake could cost the lives of millions. But with the surrounding company… ”Fine,” the commanding officer stated as the Super-X began to turn around. “Don’t play with your food too much but make sure he regr-AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

The team within Super Mechagodzilla had expected for the beam to strike them and only be reduced to a conversion of energy, as they were bombarding the artificial Kaiju, it made the most logical sense for the creature to retaliate.

But the beam wasn’t meant for them.

Thundatross turned around completely as the Super-X was shot out of the sky, a fire erupting from the side of the war machine as all systems were switched off. The JSDF’s first proper superweapon in the age of Kaiju crashed into the ruins of Osaka with a deafening boom.

Yuuki stared in horror before turning towards Neronga, who had made the shot from halfway across the battlefield, staring with shame and rage at both his mentor and the Mecha he had looked up too.

“No!” Gigaman screamed as his grip slightly faltered, giving the Kaiju an opportunity to free himself. Fangs punctured flesh and bone, a loud SNAP echoing as Neronga bit into the superhero’s arm, which was quickly followed by a scream of pure agony. Another beam of rainbow energy left the mechanical doopleganger’s maw, this time aiming at the creature’s skull, only for a horrific outcome to occur as the beast flung the veteran hero into the way of the blast. Each pilots’ eyes widened in horror as Neronga’s grasp relinquished, blood flying from the wound as Gigaman’s form was thrown miles away.

His body slammed into a cluster of buildings like a ragdoll, smoke rising from the wound across the superhero’s back. His form was motionless as he shrunk down to the size of a person. The crew of the Super Mechagodzilla couldn’t even process what had happened, until turning towards where the Neronga stood, only to find nothing there.

“Fuck!” screamed the Captain, slamming his control panel as they began to search for the anomaly, this time forcing the war machine into the air. Jet thrusters lifted it off of the ground and hovering in a circle to spot any strange movements, forcing the Neronga to come to them in a different manner.

It only took a few seconds to detect the anomaly, or at least the direction it was going, the creature beelining towards the Thundatross as fast as it could move. Various weapons shot out across the landscape in an attempt to strike the invisible behemoth before it could reach their comrade. The light reflecting off of the missed explosions exposed the anomaly’s form, even just slightly, as it unleashed a roar at the towering Mecha.

Yuuki prepared for impact from the front as Shikishima had returned to his feet behind him, the wound within his torso sealed. The Armored Titan attempted to subdue the child, only for the attempt to instantly fail as Thundatross elbowed his nose. Backing away with a stumble, blood poured from each nostril as the Mecha’s superior strength was made clear before charging at Neronga.

The two clashed, with the invader being sent flying by a powerful charge. “Super Mechagodzilla,” Yuuki stated, pain rising through his body at an alarming rate. His throat felt like it was burning, every word stole another moment of precious air from his lungs. But a combination of pride, duty, and a deep hatred kept the young warrior going. “We have to finish this quickly! I think we can all agree with that, any more stupid moves and we are totally screwed!”

“Who the hell does this brat think he is?” Sonezaki yelled out as he gritted his teeth, the Mecha turning towards the recovering Neronga as the creature attempted to flee once more into the ruins.

“Not this time!” Kazuma yelled out as twin cables shot out of the Mecha’s wrists, launching directly into Neronga’s flesh which earned a scream of pain as blood flew from the wound. If they pumped the Kaiju with tons of electricity, it could destroy it like a battery receiving too much energy. The Super Mechagodzilla would survive the blast radius, and possibly so would Thundatross if they were caught up in the explosion, but just to be safe-

“Deal with Shikishima away from here,” the Captain ordered, fearing for the young man’s life. “Get away before the Neronga is completely overloaded with energy!”

Thundatross nodded his head before turning towards the traitor, who had been swinging his fists constantly the entire time that Yuuki’s attention was not on him. A smile formed across his face as the voice within the Mecha reached his ears.

“Giga Energy Acquired.”

Loud speakers activated for the outside world, the sound of Yuuki’s voice as he spoke quickly reaching Shikishima as he continued to strike repeatedly against the Mecha’s body. “Captain Shikishima of the Scout Regiment,” energy surrounded Thundatross’ entire body, sparks of gold and bright indigo light which coated the metal. It was like a beacon in the middle of the hellish battlefield, while not blinding to the naked eye, it was a signal for the arrival of a death sentence served with an iron blade. “For your crime of treason against the citizens of Japan, you are sentenced to damnation.”

Time seemed to slow down as fear quickly erupted through Shikishima’s mind, staring as each portion of Thundatross’ body grew an additional fifty meters. The transformation was quick, but still felt like an eternity as he bore witness to the mecha’s ascension, awe and horror dancing through his mind. A bright glow coated the metal across its form, the gold which lined each joint now illuminated.

Giga Thundatross towered over the Armored Titan like a mountain would an ant, and without a moment’s notice, the blade began to glow with radiant light. Metal parted to reveal a bright beam of electrical energy surrounding the shell. Flesh was punctured without resistance, the entire blade shoving its way through the armor and burning meat like a hot knife through butter before speed increased dramatically. The mecha’s ultimate move zipped across the battlefield at lightning speeds, the two staring each other in the eyes as an agonizing scream erupted from the giant’s maw, crying out to Neronga.

Shikishima felt like he was boiling alive as electricity surged through his body, every nerve feeling like it was burning as he let loose a scream of pure anguish. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he still attempted to reach out, his hand weakly reaching towards Thundatross’ cockpit, but it felt like he could feel Yuuki staring into his very soul. So full of hate, one which burned even the fallen Scout’s thoughts as pain continued to engulf his mind and body.

He had to get the hell out of here.

In a desperate gamble, the Titan Shifter opted to quickly emerge from the nape. While there was a risk of being slain as the Mecha continued to blitz through the surrounding battlefield, at the very least it would be faster than the fate he was sentenced to. With a final swing of his blade, Giga Thundatross slammed the husk into the earth as energy surged outward. No final scream of agony, no final move of resistance. It was over.

The rest of the body was charred beyond belief, skin was completely darkened as the armor was evaporating into ash. “Serves you right… for what… you did… “ Yuuki spoke with a raspy breath. While his time was surely coming to a close, at the very least he had managed to kill the traitor and buy the civilians enough time to escape onto the evacuation vehicles.

He had protected his country to the very end, he had avenged those that were lost on this harsh battlefield with a final push of vengeance, for someone who had only lived for eleven years on this Earth, he had accomplished a lot in his short life.

“You little FUCK!” Shikishima’s voice roared onto the comms, alerting the Mecha’s pilot in a moment’s notice. Adrenaline spiked as he looked down at the corpse beneath his feet, not understanding how that wasn’t the final blow. “Looks like we both made the same mistake, you always aim for the head!”

A thunderbolt above the Mecha echoed across the ruins of Osaka, the sky flashing green as bright golden light engulfed their vision. While Shikishima was hurting like all hell, the regeneration process, as well as having enough energy to transform at least one more time, allowed for him to enter the fray once more.

An elbow drop from the reformed armor struck Thundatross’ head, forcing it to look downward for a moment as sparks flew. Muscle, skin, and finally armor completely returned to form the Armored Titan. A ghoulish howl left the shield of the Red Bamboo’s wretched maw before wrapping his hand around nearby debris. A cellphone tower served as a bludgeon to slam into the goliath’s form, sending the Mecha flying. Shikishima stared at the object for a moment in sheer confusion as to how that was more successful than his own blows, before simply shrugging, turning his gaze towards the Super Mechagodzilla.

Neronga’s screams echoed into the valley of death as energy continued to pump into it, as hard as it tried to escape the cables’ grasp, fear ran rampant through its mind at the inevitable.

But what the creature didn’t know was that the final push for victory was about to be complete…

***

Within the Super Mechagodzilla’s cockpit, each pilot was sure of their victory. Neronga only needed to be pushed a little further and it would be dealt with. Then, they could assist in completely obliterating Shikishima in an overwhelming showcase of superior firepower.

But what they didn’t know was that one amongst them was waiting for this opportunity, a hand wrapped around a firearm aimed directly at the nearest co-pilot’s head. As they were focused on the destruction of the enemy, they had calculated that this was the right time to strike.

BANG!

An echo rang as a bullet ripped through Sonezaki’s skull, his body slumping over as brain matter scattered across the dash board and Mechagodzilla quickly descended towards the ground. The machine shook violently for a moment as balance was almost lost, the Mecha managing to keep their footing at the very least. Kazuma looked in horror to see his comrade had been slain by the android on board, quickly unbuckling his seat belt and dodging out of the way of fire as Catherine opened fire. The Captain quickly got out of his seat, aiming his weapon at the android and pulling the trigger.

Only to find himself flung onto his back as she had landed the blow first, metal puncturing his chest in an instant. Blood erupted from the wound and his mouth as he slumped over, while the android simply stood with a minor injury to the arm. She turned, attempting to spot the last member of the crew, only to find nothing.

It didn’t matter if he would escape from the vessel, he would be either devoured by the undead or crushed under the weight of the clashing colossi. There was no reason to follow him.

The Android reached into her pockets before approaching each side of the cockpit, placing explosives against the hull. It didn’t take long to plant the few that she had, and without the JSDF’s super weapon, Osaka would be lost. She didn’t question why her superior officers wished to destroy Mechagodzilla but salvage the Super-X. The various calculations had determined that it would be easier to sabotage the larger of the two war machines during the operation while still gaining the spoils of war.

All that mattered was her directive, to cripple the JSDF during this crisis was the perfect opportunity. Katherine held out the trigger, pressing her thumb against the detonator, but before she relinquished her grip, a noise had caught her attention. Turning her head to spot the Captain still clinging to life, his weapon aimed at her with a fruitless gesture of a threat. He took in deep, heavy breaths as he looked around the room, spotting the scattered C4.

“Who the hell do you work for?”

And without hesitation, the android spoke. “All hail the Red Bamboo.”

***

Super Mechagodzilla’s head detonated, fires spiraling out into the open air as the war machine ceased all movement. It hunched over as the flames roared across its steel form. Neronga ceased its screaming, the energy which was being pumped into it silently ending as its attacker was slain.

The artificial beast swatted at the cables, ripping them out of its leg with no resistance. Thundatross stared in pure horror for a moment, strands of hair turning grey from the stress now reaching its apex.

He was now alone in the middle of Hell. The only solo mission the child had done was when he stole the Thundatross to defend Otomatic HQ from Rohanna. For an entire year after he trained to be ready for oncoming threats with the proper discipline, and realistically, the experience to take on any worse threats. He was lucky the first time he had gotten into Thundatross, and with Kaiju like Godzilla roaming this Earth, luck wasn’t enough.

And now he was stuck between the Armored Titan and Neronga, both circling around him with a limited supply of energy. He had to make every moment count.

The Giga-evolved Mecha swung his blade at Neronga, instantly landing a strike with the extended reach, earning a cry of pain from the invader. He followed the attack with another powerful strike, and then one more to finish the string of blows, launching the invisible fiend away. Shikishima charged in, the armor around his fist crystallizing into a construct like brass knuckles before slamming into the mecha’s form. Giga Thundatross was pushed back slightly, causing the pilot to turn his attention towards the humanoid.

Yuuki violently swung the blade as he stood still, carving through the concrete which surrounded them, forcing the Armored Titan to leap backward. But his arm was still sliced in two, the blade carving through flesh and bone before dicing the rest of the limb as the young warrior continued to swing. “Son of a…” Shikishima whispered to himself as he quickly attempted to gain more distance, running towards what appeared to be a sharp piece of rubble. Giga Thundertross wrapped its free hand around rubble before tossing it at the fleeing traitor, slamming into his back and sending him crashing into the ruined concrete below.

The pilot laughed a little bit at his fall before electricity slammed into his back, the energy beam pushing the young man forward as the surge of energy continued to gain in voltage. Yuuki gritted his teeth before turning the mecha around, blocking the stream of energy with the massive blade as he continued to march forth. The looming shadow fell over Neronga completely, showering the artificial life form with a sense of dread as his much larger foe continued forward. To the beast, Giga Thundatross was the very element he controlled taunting him, the yellow across his form seeming to glow like that of a God to Neronga’s primitive mind.

The mecha reached out with its free hand, wrapping the limb around Neronga’s skull and applying pressure. The surge of energy ceased completely as the artificial beast screamed, its life was going to end on this day…

Metal punched through the creation of Dr.Kazuo, sparks shooting outwards as the super fortress stumbled, releasing Neronga from the hero’s grip. He turned to see Shikishima charging straight at him, the traitor having used the wreckage like a javelin to aid his hunting dog. The shield of rebellion unleashed another cry of war with every step that he took, aiming his now regenerated limb directly at the “skull” of the Mecha.

Before the war machine began to act, Neronga had slashed across its form, casting sparks with each swipe. The invisible invader unleashed a roar directly at the cockpit as Giga Thundatross went to reach down and grab Neronga by the skull to throw at the approaching traitor, only for the moment of hesitation to leave him open. Armored brass knuckles struck the cockpit, cracking it as a shockwave was sent out from the blow, the attack followed by another strike to the dome.

The duo of invaders continued to pummel the larger Mecha, sparks flying with every strike. Lights flashed within the cockpit as Yuuki attempted to concentrate at all, when an idea brewed in his head. His hand reached out to the sky, clouds quickly forming above them at his command. “Can you let me breathe!” The child shouted at the top of his lungs as lightning struck the two, descending from the sky with a simple wave and striking the trio of combatants, sending the pair away from the Mecha’s form. Giga Thundatross stood back to his full height, attempting to get the jump on them once again, only for the Kaiju to retreat into the earth. Using his mole-like claws, it submerged into the ground and began to burrow. While Yuuki doubted that Neronga had retreated from the conflict altogether, it would at least give him a moment to finish off Shikishima before returning to beating the Kaiju to death.

The metallic hand wrapped around the Armored Titan’s ankle before lifting the goliath into the air, slamming him into the ground so hard that the left arm went flying off, crashing into a nearby building. Another slam into the earth separated the right arm, and with a final slam, the head was sent upwards into the air. Being caught in Giga Thundatross’ palm with a wet plop, Shikishima stared with both amazement and acceptance that the boy he had attempted to murder was his undoing. “Checkmate…”

Before he could squeeze, Neronga emerged from the earth, launching himself at the super fortress like a cannon. The severed head of the Armored Titan rolled across the earth before coming to a halt. Shikishima let loose a hideous laughter as fate seemed to have saved him for another day in the form of his partner.

“No, not now!” Yuuki yelled as his form quickly shrunk to their sizes. Giga Energy shot out to multiple points across the battlefield, the bright pinkish purple orbs floating above the ruins like a lure. Neronga instantly charged towards one of the orbs which granted Thundatross such tremendous energy, like a rabid animal. He had to reach the rest of the energy first to regain the transformation before-

A third lightning strike hammered the battlefield, Shikishima forming another vessel before Yuuki’s eyes as he reached out with a powerful strike to the side of the head. “It’s like I said boy, checkmate!” The head of Thundatross was sent flying from the body, the fortress falling over, now completely limp, as the cockpit rolled across the damaged earth. As Neronga devoured one of the energy orbs before seeking another off in the distance, Yuuki could only sit with pain flaring across his entire body, his ears ringing as vision instantly became hazy.

His life began to flash before his eyes. A person so young wouldn’t have that long of a flashback, but it still was piercing what little remained of his soul. Blood continued to pour from various wounds, his broken glasses were laying on their side, coughs spraying ichor across the broken screen. “We… we did our best Thundatross, I’m sorry… I really wanted to have more adventures with you and Gigaman…” The young man thought back to the very harsh words he had spoken earlier, and was filled with such regret as the light was drawing closer and closer with each passing second.

Tears swelled within his eyes as he reached out, struggling to lift his arm towards the broken screen in front of him and with a sorrowful tone spoke. “I’m so sorry, Dad…”

The grief was silenced with a powerful stomp, crushing the head of the Mecha completely, finally killing the boy. Shikishima stood for a moment over the remains before kicking them to the side and walking towards the last ball of energy that had emerged from Thundatross. Wrapping his hand around the strange orb, he absorbed it. A quick rush of energy pulsed through his veins as a howl of victory escaped the jaws of the Armored Titan, beating on his chest with a booming declaration. He let out another smaller roar as he waved his hand at Neronga, beckoning the invader towards him.

The artificial goliath quickly approached Shikishima’s form like that of a loyal dog to its master, its earnest aid in the success of their operation earning it at least a few pats on the head. “You were a good… whatever you are, Neronga,” he said within the nape, looking towards the chaos spanning the city before turning his attention towards the downed Super-X…

***

Their vision was blurry as they regained consciousness, ears ringing as sparks flew all around the cockpit of the Super-X. Blood poured from the various wounds across their body, they attempted to regain their composure as they looked towards the rest of their comrades.

He was the only survivor. The barrier that O’Brien would have put up never came as electricity surged through her body, the poor woman being cooked alive even before they crashed into the ruined city. The Colonel laid upon the dash of the cockpit, his carcass ripped into by steel as the impact completely crushed the front of the war machine. Easton wasn’t even in sight, all that remained was a splash of gore across the hull as the crash ripped into the poor bastard like a blender.

Michael had somehow, against all odds, survived the crash. The soldier took in heavy breaths as he quickly unbuckled himself, falling to the ground while coughing up a bit of blood as his hand held onto his helmet. The concussion was coursing through his head like rushing water, making it hard to even stand as his equilibrium was thrown off, finding himself needing to guide himself against the wall. He looked over to the floor, finding his rifle amongst the ruins, somehow still intact. The JSDF member reached down, wrapping his hand around the cold iron which would protect his life from the infected, when a shadow suddenly cast itself over him.

“Bang.”

Michael’s form was blown apart, another coat of blood covering the interior as his legs dropped to the ground with a thud. She stood over the corpses, her bright orange and yellow ringed eyes illuminating the darkness as she stepped into the ruins of the Super-X. She looked down at her uniform, seeing that blood had finally stained the white shirt after the entire battle had been won. She reached down to her walkie talkie, quickly changing it to a different frequency to make sure that no one would overhear what she had to say, calmly speaking to the other side.

“Osaka has been overrun by the undead, confirmed deceased targets. Yuuki Kazuo, Atsushi Sonezaki, Captain Takuya Sasaki, Ace Hunter Aiden, Captain Takeo Misaki, Colonel Pete Richards, Margot O’Brien, David Easton, Michael Van Horn, Kazuma Aoki, and Katherine Berger. Destruction of Super Mechagodzilla is a success, Super-X has been reclaimed. Over.” The walkie went silent for a few moments before picking back up, another voice speaking from it. One far older than her current body. 

“Well done, Agent. Continue with the plan, assist Captain Shikishima. Over and out.”

A wicked smile formed as she stepped out of the ruined superweapon, returning to the hellish landscape as the infected stood still surrounding her. The red haired woman looked in all directions to ponder her next move, placing her hand against her chin as she thought. “I suppose I shouldn’t let you all stand around, after all you are all so hungry,” She pointed towards the horizon, the ruined city with fires spreading and the smog of death choking the sky around them. “Go and feast upon anything you can find.” The Devil Hunter commanded the horde, creating a mass migration through them all as they continued forth, the echoing footsteps overcoming the rest of the sound in the warzone for her.

She walked directly into the horde, not a single one lashing out at her as they continued forward, all perfectly avoiding the single “living” thing throughout the entire valley of death. That was all except for the giants which were ahead of them, still carving through the undead and ruined city alike as the duo marched.

“Where were you during all of this, Denji?” She asked outloud, looking towards the sky as embers continued to climb to the smoke covered sky. Time had lost meaning, although only an hour had gone by, it had felt like eternity. “I had told you, I had no use for dogs who wouldn’t listen to a command. Though something doesn’t exactly add up.”

Her thoughts dwelled on the pawns that had been unaccounted for during this crisis, contact with several trusted agents going dark as the terrorists hidden within the shadows made their move. While her deception was all just a step towards her grander plan, she still wished to have complete control over all of the pieces in the game. She smirked for just a second, knowing that it would only be a matter of time to find him again and make him follow her to the end of the Earth.

“We’ll meet again, country mouse,” she spoke into the wind…

***

Shikishima surveyed the area, standing on top of a building once more, watching the flames wash over Osaka. Outside of a few heroes escaping, his mission had been a rousing success. Perhaps he could scour the streets for a couple bottles of wine, feeling he completely deserved it.

He tugged on his white button up shirt, tracing his fingers over it only to meet his bare skin. Shikishima groaned, glancing down to find a hole in it. “Son of a bitch. This was my favorite.”

The Red Bamboo captain shrugged his shoulders. “Perhaps a department store has what I fancy.”

He went to activate his ODM gear to start his shopping spree when he heard screams down below. Shikishima ceased his jump and walked to the edge of the building to see three people running down the sidewalk. One was a woman in her forties, another was a small girl, and the last was a young man issuing out orders. 

Shikishima kept his eyes focused on the three, watching them be chased by half a dozen infected. A part of him felt sympathy for the family in peril, completely at the mercy of the infected’s insatiable hunger, yet his superiors would view them as expendable. 

He pulled out one of his blades, inspecting his reflection in it. The Titan Shifter snapped his fingers repeatedly, trying to conjure up a solution for his predicament. In the back of his mind, Shikishima felt a small sense of guilt being part of the reason why Yuuki was dead. He really did try to save him, but they didn’t see him as worthy enough. 

“Neither would the three of them,” Shikishima surmised, glancing down at the three running for their lives. He shook his head, feeling sickened by a poor family about to be ripped apart. The Titan Shifter continued to inspect their behavior, taking note of the young bulky man shielding the older woman and the little girl behind. His interest was piqued when he realized just how much he could not only manipulate his leaders in taking them in but doing so to the three below. 

“It seems I’ll be redeemed after all,” Shikishima chuckled, drawing out his other blade.

The Titan Shifter leapt off the roof, descending downwards to the street as he shot out his ODM cables. They shot out into the skull of an infected, splattering pieces of her brain while he kicked her into a brick wall. Shikishima relinquished his cable before decapitating two more.

Reiner felt himself starting to be able to breathe when he witnessed his rescuer effortlessly dispatching their remaining pursuers. His form and his handling of weapons was awe inspiring. It made him want to pick up the blade and be at least half as good as the man was standing in front of him.

Shikishima flicked the blood off his blades before turning back to the family of three. He approached them slowly, smiling at them. The Red Bamboo captain put his swords away and offered a hand out to Reiner, something the young man immediately grabbed onto.

“Thank you so much for rescuing our asses!” Reiner expressed, shaking the soldier’s hand up and down, eliciting a laugh from Shikishima.

“The pleasure is all mine, mister….” Shikishima trailed off, curious to know their names.

“Apologies,” Reiner spoke, pointing to himself. “Reiner Braun, and this is my mom, Karina, and my little cousin, Gabi.”

“Thank you so much!” Karina spoke up, feeling overjoyed to be rescued by one of the many heroes of Japan. She brushed her hand against Shikishima’s shoulder, causing him to smile at the older woman. 

“Just doing my duty, ma’am.”

Gabi waltzed up to Shikishima, giving him a small salute as he did the same, humouring the little girl. The former Scout placed his hands on his hips, looking around the ruins they were standing in. 

“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m getting tired of looking at all of this. Who wants to get out of here?” Shikishima questioned, coming off as slightly playful. 

“Me!” Gabi called out, raising her arm out.

“Yes, please!” Reiner exclaimed, tightening his hand as the nightmare was nearly over. 

“Of course. Let me just arrange for transport,” Shikishima relayed, taking a few steps away and putting his fingers on his earpiece, readying to rendezvous with the other Red Bamboo operatives. 

“The three of you got very lucky today….” Shikishima mumbled to himself, slightly glancing back at the family. “You best remember that when I come to collect.”

 

Chapter 7: Home Sweet Home in The Apocalypse 

Trees snapped as the infected goliath pulled away from Kamui’s ensnarement, her strength rising tenfold after becoming one with the overwhelming horde. She let loose a howl at the approaching Ultraman, ripping away completely and charging on all fours like an animal. The experienced alien quickly went to the defensive, bracing himself for impact just a moment before her rabid form came crashing into him, using all of his strength to hold her back from completely mauling him.

He held her wrists back, only to find himself quickly being overpowered as the former Lurker attempted to devour him, jaws snapping only inches away from his body. He quickly placed his leg under her before throwing her away from his form, a strong kick sending her against the concrete in a matter of a second. The infected snarled as she returned back to her feet, only for a powerful strike to the knee to slightly send cracks across the bone. The fracture made her stumble as she witnessed Ingenium running around her at top speeds. Blue fire surrounded each of the thrusters in his leg, burning nearby infected as he trailed around the giantess.

She wrapped her hand around debris before throwing it at the charging 80, forcing him to stumble as she once again leapt forward, this time slashing at his arm with her talons. A groan of pain left the substitute teacher as sparks flew from impact, alarming him to counter the next blow, simply pushing the arm aside before sending out a powerful kick to the fiend’s core. Mount Lady looked around her, quickly realizing that the rest of the survivors were focusing on her, almost ignoring the undead horde which was surrounding their every path.

The temperature quickly rose as explosions trailed in a circular motion in the sky as Bakugo returned to the battle with a vengeful battle cry, spinning before shooting out like a rocket towards the back of Mount Lady’s skull. Light surrounded the palm of his hand before a Howitzer Impact struck. The ZQN host stumbled over slightly as her once bright blonde hair was soaked with ash and blood, the attack doing minor damage to her body. The fallen hero let loose another scream as she swiped at the student of UA, this time bracing himself for impact as he was thrown across the battlefield.

“Delaware!” a young voice shouted as he attempted to aid in overwhelming Mount Lady, earning her attention, her head snapping forward with her jaws widening open. Izuku’s eyes stretched as he realized that he was going to be devoured here, his actions a mistake as he was tossed into the wicked maw of the colossus.  The strange energy whips released once again, however, his moment of stress bringing forth the new ability as it forced her jaws to stay open. Blood flew as he was launched away from the infected, carving through the concrete like a rocket. Yet far away, the same whips held the monster in place as she attempted to free herself from its hold, leaving her open.

Cars suddenly slammed into her form as Ochako continued to place her Quirk on the vast amount of debris, chunks of rock and metal slamming into her body as Froppy sat on top of the last vehicle. Her tongue wrapped around a sharp metal pipe, even as it was hurting herself in the moment, the end result would warrant the pain. Raising the object above her head, she forced it through the revenant’s cheek, dark red ichor pumping out of the wound as she let loose a pain-filled scream. As the amphibian-themed hero leapt away, Ultraman 80 came back into the equation.

The Ultra’s elbow slammed into the side of her jaw, dislocating it as she was finally freed from the hold of Izuku’s new Quirk. She slammed into the ground with a loud thud, letting loose a roar as her back crushed debris. The former superhero quickly launched herself back to her feet, seeing Ida once again attempt to charge at her with a powerful kick. The shadow of Kamen Rider Ichigo appeared next to the young student of UA. “RIDDAAAAAAA!” Both of them shouted, the class representative calling out the cyborg’s signature attack in a moment of elation.

“KICK!” they shouted in unison as Mount Lady quickly protected her skull from the double Rider Kick, putting all of her strength into not losing this contest. Speed increased as they attempted to force their way through the limb. The fires from Ingenium’s boosters roared as they almost engulfed Ichigo’s form, but they needed to keep going. All three violently yelled as the struggle finally came to an end, Mount Lady managing to win as her hand simply wrapped around them. Raising the duo above her head, she slammed them into the ground with enough force that the concrete cracked like an egg.

“NO!” All Might cried out, helpless to do anything but watch as his students continued to fight for their lives. His gun was out of ammo and his equipment gifted from Melissa would only go so far. While a strike might badly hurt the former defender of Japan, it would only earn him a swift death. While death would have been preferable to watching powerlessly in horror as children fought, he had other lives than his own to consider.

“Izuku!” Inko cried out, quickly entering a sprint towards her son as his Quirk started going into an overdrive once again. She knew the danger, but would much rather reach out to her son than ever risk him feeling so much pain alone. So, she charged towards the whips with no hesitation.

“Mom, stay back!” His eyes widened, fear climbing through his mind as he attempted to calm down the overloading power. His grip tightened so much that he considered breaking his wrist just to cease the flow of energy. If his own mother had gotten injured during this operation, especially by him, he would never forgive himself.

“ALL MIGHT!” The boy called out to him, quickly thinking of a solution as he stared at the duo, the plea halting Inko in her tracks due to the fury in her son’s voice. “Get her the hell out of here! We’ll meet you back at our house, I promise!” He gritted his teeth, closing his eyes as he attempted to concentrate. “You two can’t help here! You have to survive! Go! We won’t take too long!”

While fear was erupting in his own voice, the plea for the safety of his student’s mom made the retired superhero jump into action. Reaching his hand around her wrist, he gained her attention once again. As the sound of stone being sliced through by the strange whips and the breeze filled with embers and smog surrounded them, they stood still in the moment of chaos. Every emotion told them that they shouldn’t run, but they both knew that the boy was right. Tears flowed from Inko’s eyes as she turned back to her own son, her pride and joy, before stating, “You get home by tonight or you are so grounded, young man!” Humor in an attempt to bring hope, before the two ran in the opposite direction.

“Thank you…” Izuku stated with his stress calming down, the flow of energy becoming controlled as he descended towards the ground safely. He could properly focus on the battle at hand without the risk of hurting those dear to him, the others would quickly adjust to his fighting style. Energy surrounded Izuku’s form as he activated Full Cowling, marks appearing on his skin as Black Whip wrapped around a car like a web before throwing it at Mount Lady’s head.

The assault was halted at the last second, however, her teeth sinking into the car and tossing it away. As the ruined vehicle combusted, her attention fell upon the young hero. “You will not lay a hand on any of them!” 80 screamed as he swung a karate chop at her skull, only for the giantess to catch the blow without even turning her gaze, a shockwave rippling outward. The Ultraman stood horrified as she applied pressure, pain rushing through his forearm as he was forced onto one knee. She twisted the limb backwards, the sound emitting from the former hero’s grasp like the great snapping of a tree that had not fully landed.

From the ruins of the street, Kamen Rider rose back to his feet, taking in heavy breaths as he stared at the brawl before him. They were throwing everything at her and the Quirk user was still not only standing, but overpowering the trained group of heroes. Ichigo slammed his fist into the ground with great frustration. An unending will to see this operation to the bitter end, to save the children entrusted to him and the other pros during said operation, to finally turn the tides of this battle.

He stood up, making his signature pose before pointing his right arm towards the sky with his hand in a fist. The cyborg looked towards the giantess as he shouted. “HENSHIN!” He had never used this ability on command, somehow only managing to manifest the power during a friendly spar with the original Ultraman, a great sign of respect to his opponent.

His form glowed with bright light as his body grew to massive proportions, the light like the quick flash of a beacon as he now stood beside Mount Lady. The group watched in awe at the original Rider’s might manifested in this way, the infected woman for a moment being caught off guard. That was enough of an opening to free 80 from her grasp. Flames surrounded her back completely as Shoto poured everything into burning her body to nothing but embers, and while it did unleash a horrific howl from the former Lurker’s maw, it only caused her to throw 80 at Ichigo before swinging at Shoto.

‘Not so fast!’ The Rider thought as he quickly wrapped his hands around her hair, stopping her only feet away from her palm slamming into the boy and flattening him completely. Halting her movement with the sound of hair strands tearing away, blood flew from the wound as pus quickly followed. She quickly swatted at the pyromancer-cryomancer fusion, causing the young man to jump backwards to avoid being turned into paste.

Before the infection, Mount Lady had been 23rd on the Pro Hero ranking in Japan. While it was an impressive feat, accomplished due to the sheer power of her Quirk alongside her other businesses, it made no sense for her to be holding back both a Rider and Ultra at the same time. If she was not dealt with here and now, she would prove to be one of the strongest undead in this long war.

She launched backwards with a powerful kick to the ground, her skull slamming into Ichigo’s helmet and pushing him back with a stumble before 80 managed to catch his ally. The two nodded before they began circling the infected, forcing her to choose which her next target was. She wasn’t paying attention to the others, her hunger reaching an all time high and clouding her judgement. But, her enhanced senses would alert her to any form of assault from the group of Meta Humans before her.

“YU!” Kamui yelled out to his former partner, earning her attention with a snap of her neck. The quick motion cracked the joints as she looked directly at the elemental. “I’m so sorry! I couldn’t protect you! I can’t even find Edgeshot, but if anything that resembles the woman I knew is still in there, you have to stop this!”

A look of sorrow made its way to her face, the group swearing that they saw a tear of blood running down her cheek as she went to speak. “I c-c-can’t control it, Shinji… Oh god what am I doing?” she said with a crack in her voice, looking all around her to see herself fighting children broke her soul, she had even eaten her friends alive without a second thought. “You have to kill me Shinji!” His eyes widened, heart breaking at hearing her plea for her own death. It was a future he never would have expected, even in his worst nightmares.

She stood up with shocking ferocity, managing to catch the swinging arms of Ichigo and 80 at the same time before throwing them backwards. Her hunger ripped her away from the conversation she was having. “I’m just s-s-s-sooO hun-GRY!” She leapt forward at the Kamen Rider, her fangs attempting to wrap around his neck, only for his arm to block the attempt on his life. The cyborg let out a painful grunt as his other hand attempted to free his limb, the infected sinking her fangs into his arm and shaking the limb like a rabid dog. Sparks and blood flew as the thick layer of skin coating the metal underneath was damaged from the assault.

She swung her neck downwards, bringing the Kamen Rider to the ground while dodging an attack from the Ultraman behind her. The concrete beneath their feet launched into the sky as the impact landed, the infected once known as Yu Takeyama letting go of the cyborg’s limb before launching forward at 80.

“Dammit!” She left little time to come up with a proper strategy. Even between the two most experienced fighters and the group of Quirk Users assaulting her from every angle, it wasn’t enough to stop her advancements in the battle at all. The undead had an almost infinite pain tolerance, they would twist and break their body just to get closer to the next meal without a second thought. Adding that to the fact that the virus had enhanced her capabilities greatly, it was leaving them very little opportunity to land a finishing blow.

Normally, he would have worn down the opponent physically before attempting to do any energy attacks. But here, she wasn’t even allowing him to prepare the weaker beams, overwhelming them with physical prowess.

Just as the thought had appeared within his mind, an opening was finally made as the bottom half of Mount Lady was frozen solid with a single swipe of Todoroki’s hand. A glacier of ice had appeared from thin air, encasing her. The infected continued to reach out with her free hand as roars of hatred left her maw, the ice already beginning to break as cracks formed from her strength.

He had to finish this fast.

Ultraman 80 jumped back a bit, quickly gathering energy into his arms as light glowed between the meeting point of the two limbs. The extraterrestrial went to fire the finishing move towards a stationary target, only for fate to twist as the ice coffin shattered completely, freeing herself. The beam continued past where she had just been and only made contact with burning ruins in the distance, a tremendous detonation rocking the city. Everyone stared in horror as 80’s color timer began to rapidly flash, his energy already at its limits. Time seemed to slow down as the infected superhero launched herself towards him with a gigantic piece of ice in her hand.

The infected swung, aiming the shard of element at the color timer to pierce it, only for Kamen Rider to slam into her form. Pushing her back, he crashed his knuckles against her face before turning to his ally. “Take the children and run, 80,” The Rider demanded as he stood in front of the giant of light, staring down at the recovering infected.

Kamui Woods sprang into action, standing upon her skull as vines quickly went to wrap around the former Lurker’s eyes. She was quickly blinded as the plant life covered her forehead, the undead unleashing a scream of rage which sent a shiver down the spines of the surviving students. Her talons reached for the vines, ripping through her own skin with swipes as she attempted to remove the bark. Slamming her head into the ground to shake her former partner off of her head, eventually she reached upwards and wrapped her hands around the wooden man. She squeezed, forcing a scream from her former friend who she couldn’t devour, cracking bones before simply tossing him into the fires behind her.

The students all watched in horror as another Pro was seemingly slain, the body slamming into the flames. Only silence followed. She broke free from the vines as a powerful fist crashed into her nose, throwing her backwards before slamming into a series of apartment buildings with a gigantic crash. Kamen Rider Ichigo stood before her.

“We cannot leave yet, Number One,” 80 stated as he quickly recovered, tensing his muscles as he prepared to finish the infected goliath before them. “We’re so close to finishing the job, we have to now or else-”

“If you do not leave now, then this world will lose its future,” Ichigo spoke firmly, watching as the infected Mount Lady rose to her feet. “I can feel it down to my soul, they must survive at any cost. And you will be the light to guide them through the horrors of this war. For if there is no God or Buddha, there will always be an Ultraman.”

The words stuck with 80 as he weighed his options, his power draining with every moment that passed. And the students were certainly reaching their limits, mentally and physically. If they didn’t leave soon, they would all die. But the feeling of guilt from leaving Kamen Rider behind would surely stain his very soul. It wasn’t right to trade him for his survival over the Rider’s. 

The lingering thoughts were cut off as the students all unleashed their most powerful moves at the infected goliath, explosions running down her body as flames and ice assaulted her from the side. Black Whip held her left side down with great resistance as Izuku felt pulled. Ochako charged in from behind, leaping forward before slamming her hand into the infected’s suit, causing her to lift into the air. Mount Lady looked down in horror as gravity continued to disobey her will, floating into the sky as the others continued their assault.

Deku let go of his grip of Black Whip, instead opting to send her further up into the air. “New Hampshire,” he screamed as he jumped with incredible speed at her stomach, swinging his first directly into her core. “SMASH!” She was thrown upwards at an alarming rate, a sonic boom echoing as a shockwave was sent out from the blow.

Ichigo stood over where she would fall, taking in heavy breaths before turning towards the surviving students. “Take Ingenium and get out of here, children, this will be my fight to finish. Follow Mr.Yamato, you all have to survive.”

“But we can’t leave you here!” Tsu spoke before being cut off.

“There is no time! You must all leave NOW! That is an order!” He turned towards Ochako, speaking with authority in his voice. “Deactivate your Quirk as soon as I am above her. You’ll see the signal, then run like hell.”

She nodded, showing that she understood what was being said as he launched into the sky, a sonic boom once again echoing as the surrounding area cracked. “Rider Jump!” He flipped through the air, now descending high above the floating infected goliath with his leg stretched out. Ochako did as she was instructed, placing her fingers together to release Mount Lady from her grasp, allowing the fallen hero to sit still in the air for a moment.

“RIDER KICK!”

He yelled with fury, his foot slamming into Mount Lady’s back with a loud SNAP as the two quickly descended towards the ground. The students of UA quickly scattered as they both approached the ground, running for cover in all directions, Tsuyu quickly grabbing the near unconscious Ida as they retreated. Their forms slammed into the hot earth below, an explosion upon contact engulfing the pair in concrete and fire.

The finishing blow had seemingly been made, only for the worst possibility to occur as through the thick black smoke, Ichigo was thrown away. The vigilante bounced off of the ground as he rolled, the infected Mount Lady unleashing a hellish scream over the battlefield as she approached the downed Rider. Ichigo acted quickly, rising to his feet and preparing for her mass to slam into him at full speed. He managed to catch her, but failed to stop her momentum. His feet caved into the ground as he was pushed back, his elbow continuing to slam into her back to subdue her, but he was reaching no proper results.

“I said go!” Ichigo cried out to the rest of the group, the small batch of survivors staring in horror as another one of their comrades sacrificed themselves for them. 80 began to rapidly shrink, a look of shame on his human form’s face as he began to run in the opposite direction, the group quickly following behind.

“So where the hell do we even go!?” Bakugo asked with much frustration, continuing to watch Ichigo battle the infected from a distance as they all retreated. He growled under his breath that he had to swallow his pride and leave the dispatching of Mount Lady to the Rider alone.

“We’re going to my place,” Izuku declared as he quickly got in front of the group, leading them with every step. “Just stay close and cover each other’s backs, All Might and my Mom went ahead during the worst of the battle to recover our apartment,” A bit of fear entered his mind that they had been jumped on the way there and hadn’t made it, but he had to hold onto hope that they were safe.

As the sky choked with a thick smog and embers, as flames continued to devour the city all around them, the battle had been lost. Not a single person they were meant to evacuate had made it, the children lost in the battle were quickly as the other heroes within their squad.

Survivors’ guilt rang within each of their hearts, but they continued to press onward, marching towards what would be their salvation.

***

28 Hours Later…
The Midoriya Residence

The group nearly broke down after managing to make their way to the Midoriya home, a wave of emotions crashing against them as everything had finally managed to calm down. Sounds of battle continued further in the city, but only as a dull din. The children stayed in the same room as Inko quickly made food for the survivors. A meal shared in the dark, in the quiet, but they were at least together.

That was something that at the very least they could take in stride, that they had all managed to survive this day, hoping the same for the rest of their families and classmates. 

They couldn’t wrap their heads around everything that had happened, the group only managing to fall asleep from sheer exhaustion. But Izuku couldn’t do the same. He sat in the living room, watching over everyone as a candle was the only source of light. Anything else could alarm the infected. 

He debated turning on the television, to see what the world was reporting on the situation. Between the noise, the light, and the dread that would surely pierce his heart, he decided against the idea. Sitting amongst the group of friends in a moment of calm amongst the horror, his gaze shifted to Ochako, who was resting on his shoulder. He brushed some of her hair out of her face as she slept. If this had been an ordinary moment between friends becoming more, he would have had the biggest smile across his face.

But the circumstances were killing any romantic thoughts in his head, only filled with regret that he couldn’t do more to save those they worked with. Kamen Rider had given his life to save them, his last words stirring feelings of hope, but in the end it just left such a hole within the young man’s heart even as they weren’t directed towards him. He turned towards the balcony, seeing Mr. Yamato simply look out towards the continuing chaos. Screams still echoed into the night, crying out for anyone to rescue them from their cruel fate as they just sat there and did nothing.

Izuku turned back to the door, seeing that plenty of furniture had blocked the doorway. If any of the few groans he heard in the dead of night attempted to barge their way in, it wouldn’t take long for them to notice and deal with the issue accordingly. He slowly rose to his feet, making sure to not step on those that slept on the floor while gently placing Ochako’s head onto the couch, before walking towards the balcony. “Mr. Yamato,” the boy whispered, gaining the substitute teacher’s attention and snapping him back to reality. “Something on your mind?”

Takashi pondered for a moment about speaking on the matter, several things lingering on his mind. Those last words that Ichigo had spoken as he held Mount Lady back, “For if there is no God or Buddha, there will always be an Ultraman”, made him feel an incredible amount of weight on his shoulders. His kind had been venturing to this world for years now, with himself being the latest to arrive on this small but wonderful world. Yet, none of them had faced a crisis like this during their careers. Even as they had unfortunately witnessed the end of a world, it was not quite like this horrific event transpiring here.

He had lost so many students during the evacuation, never even having a moment to calm them or speak to them during this madness. That mistake would always linger within his heart and memory. They said that once one arrives on Earth, it changes something within you… He looked towards the sky, shooting out a beam of light almost invisible to the naked eye towards the stars above, creating the Ultra Sign above the small world. Even if he didn’t get an answer to if any were on Earth, 80 had to make sure that the others were safe. “This is what we would call an Ultra Sign,” The teacher spoke softly as Izuku joined him on the balcony, the two staring at the stars above the hellish landscape below them. “It allows me to contact others of my kind across vast star systems, and vice versa with their own. After everything that has happened today, I should at least make sure that backup is coming.”

He looked towards the stars with so many questions.

Would the Land of Light send more warriors to Earth to aid them against the ZQN plague? Without seeing a body, had Kamen Rider survived his encounter with Mount Lady? Was… was Kyoko Aihara okay?

That last one tore through his heart like a razor, with his short amount of time being on the Earth, Takashi had grown quite fond of his coworker. She had a good heart to accompany her bright smile, always attempting to bring down any tension within the work place or showing a better path for her students. Every conversation the two shared had him hanging on every word. He looked slightly down with a bit of shame, looking back to when he was deployed here to this world. He had recalled hearing of Seven’s experience with the people of Earth, that he had grown attached to a young human woman by the name of Anne Yuri. While he didn’t think it was too out of the realm of possibility for that to occur to any of them, he didn’t expect those feelings to appear within his own heart during his time here.

His eyes lit back up as one by one, Ultra Signs began to appear in the star filled sky.

Lipiah.

Jack.

Leo.

Ace.

Taro.

Where was Seven’s? The signs began to fade away, disappearing just as fast as they had arrived, at least giving him answers on how a few of them were. But not seeing Ultraseven’s sign made 80 fear the worst. “Seems that a few of us are still around,” Takashi stated with a slight sadness in his voice, attempting to hide his concern for a friend as he turned back to Izuku. “I suppose that Kamen Rider was right with what he said.”

Izuku stared forward, feeling the cold breeze brush past him as he simply stared with silence. He didn’t really know what to say, what to make of the situation. What Ichigo had stated to 80 reminded him of that fateful day that All Might had beaten All For One, staring at the gigantic television screen the same as the rest of the world. His finger pointed towards the camera with him declaring that it was his time, that he was truly the next symbol of peace. “Do you think that we’ll really be able to survive this?” The young man asked his elder, he had seen more than most his age, but he was still a child just as he was a warrior.

“I would say faith, but that would sound like a backhanded comment,” The alien visitor stated before continuing. “So I will say, trust that we will. That you and your friends will make it out of this.”

“Thanks,” Izuku stated, appreciating the honesty. “I’m going to check on my Mom, if you need anything, just come get me.”

“Wait,” the Ultra spoke, halting the young man as he stepped back inside of the apartment. He had been feeling regret for not doing that much with Kyoko before the world was devoured by this horrific plague, the least he could do was attempt to have another avoid that same regret. “When she wakes up… you need to talk to her, Izuku.”

Izuku knew exactly what Mr. Yamato meant when he uttered those words in that tone.

Normally, the young man would deflect the subject matter or avoid it entirely, but after what they had all been through, and seeing as he might not get another chance… Mr. Yamato was right. “I… I’ve never had to tell someone how I feel like that before. It might sound so stupid, but I’m afraid of saying the wrong thing or stuttering and looking like an idiot, or even worse that I could make things awkward between us. She’s a really good friend and I don’t want to ruin that…”

Kids these days were so blind. That’s what Takashi thought as he looked at the student of UA High, chuckling a little as he heard Izuku say that, but he quickly showed that he wasn’t trying to offend the boy. “Listen to me, young Midoriya. You could say the dumbest thing, stutter every word and even make the conversation awkward; and that girl would say yes in a heartbeat. Just keep that in mind.”

Was it really that simple? Izuku thought as he turned to the couch, the dark room only being illuminated by a single light on the table in the center. He wouldn’t wake her up just to start the conversation, she needed the rest just as everyone else did. But when the time was right… When was the time ever going to be right with what was happening around the world? He looked back at his teacher, giving a warm smirk as a response. “I’ll have to keep that in mind. Thank you.”

The two nodded as he went back into the apartment, slowly walking past the group to go to his mother’s room as quietly as he could when he heard her and All Might speaking, halting him turning the knob. “What are we going to do about the kids?” Inko stated as she sat at the end of the bed, attempting not to succumb to all the pressure that was being placed upon her shoulders.

“We’ll figure it out, all of us together,” Toshinori stated with certainty as his hand slightly inched closer to her own. With the amount of time they had been spending together lately, and since connecting with Izuku, he couldn’t help but feel drawn to the struggling single parent. While that wasn’t the task at hand he should focus on, it was in human nature to put what was so selfish at the front of the mind, and he was no different in the grand scheme of things. “The children are strong, and evacuation to Okinawa is still taking place. Even if the virus did manage to arrive there, a simple song would awaken King Caesar. We’ll be safe there.”

One hand pressed against Inko’s face as tears quietly flowed down her face, altering All Might during the serious conversation. “They shouldn’t be seeing what we saw today. They should be studying for tests, not becoming soldiers. I have already seen my Izuku hurt too many times and this could…”

“Ms. Midoriya,” Yagi stated as he reached out, his hand gently placed on her own. The middle aged woman turned to her friend, attempting to look at him clearly as tears were streaming down her face. “Inko, I promise you and your boy will get out of this. We are going to go find the rest of their families and leave on the fastest evacuation transport out of here, I swear it.”

The two simply stared at each other for a moment, the moment of silence feeling like an eternity within just a few minutes of the conversation. It wasn’t the appropriate time to reach out the way that she wanted to, at least within her mind. After Izuku’s father had left for the states shortly after he was born it had left her feeling incredibly lonely. All Might was not only her son’s idol, but in their wildest dreams the two of house Midoriya would have never believed that he would be such a huge part of their personal lives. He had become Izuku’s mentor and father figure, as well as a dear friend to her.

She felt so stupid, not at least asking such a simple question at least once. “When we get to Okinawa, and things are much safer, would you like to grab a coffee?”

Yagi was stunned by the question for a moment, before an earnest smile formed on his face. “I would like that very much.” A slight laugh left the two of them, trying to be quiet enough to allow the children to continue sleeping. Her head pressed against his shoulder, the two sitting in silence as exhaustion quickly took over. Their hands fully embraced, even as the pair finally managed to fall asleep, managing to do so while not falling backward into the soft bed they sat on.

Izuku relinquished his grip from the door knob, quietly stepping back with a smile on his face. He wouldn’t mention the conversation that he didn’t mean to overhear, he did not want to intrude on or embarrass them in any manner. He was just happy that maybe in this horrific circumstance, good things could occur on smaller levels. Besides, his Mom deserved all the love in the world and he wouldn’t have to worry about anything with his mentor.

He turned around, seeing Ochako standing across the room, wiping her eyes as she looked at him.

Between the conversation with Mr.Yamato and what he had just overheard, there wasn’t much of a better time than now to speak what was on his mind. “Uraraka,” he said gently, silently stepping over their friends that were laying in the living room. “Just woke up, huh?”

“Can… can we talk?” she stated, cutting right to the point, taking Izuku aback. Was what was on his mind also on her mind? He shouldn’t jump to conclusions, the last thing he needed to do was start off on an incredibly wrong note.

“Yeah we can talk, what’s up?” He asked as he got closer, watching her body language as the conversation began. Her hand was slightly rubbing her other arm, her head pointed downward with a look of mixed anxiety on her face.

“Let’s go into your room if that is okay, we shouldn’t wake the others by accident.”

“O-Oh yeah that makes sense,” he stated while rubbing the back of his head with a fake laugh. “I’ll lead the way.” Quietly walking down the hall to his bedroom before twisting the door knob, the pair entered the separated space. He gently reached over to his desk which was lined against the wall, turning on the night lamp at the lowest setting as they each took a seat. “So what did you want to talk about?”

It took her a moment to answer the question, going through all the possible routes to state what was on her mind while looking directly at him. They had been friends since the moment they had entered this school and had been through so much together, just in their first year of UA. While everything was so overwhelming with the start of a different kind of war, them being on the front lines and already losing so much with the first day, this was crystal clear. She only wished that she could have said something before all of this had happened, but that didn’t matter anymore, it was the time to act while she still could.

“I wish that we could have said something sooner, under less pressuring circumstances… but I can’t hold it in anymore. If something were to happen, if I couldn’t” A single tear crossed her cheek as she continued to look Izuku in the eye, not breaking away for a single word. “If I couldn’t tell you, I would never forgive myself.”

The two teenagers sat with only each other to keep company, the light barely illuminating the room but being enough for them to see each other.

“I love you,” she uttered out loud for the first time, not looking away from him for a single syllable with those three powerful words. His eyes widened as she finally let weight off of her shoulders. “I have for a while now, and I can’t figure out the exact moment that I felt this way towards you, from our first interaction you were already so amazing. Taking on that training robot at the exam to enter the school, risking everything just so that I couldn’t get hurt,” More tears began to pour down her face, being followed by a bright smile as she quickly stood up and walked over to him.

He couldn’t move a muscle, he wanted to listen to anything more she had to say before acting. His heart was beating so fast, he swore that it would come out of his chest. He could only focus on her, on this moment. “I wanted to wait until after everything with the league stopped. I wanted to tell you properly after we were all safe. We wouldn’t be able to focus on that, being constantly in danger even on campus. But… I couldn’t stand the thought of turning into one of those things and never telling you.”

Izuku stood up slowly, standing over her as they looked into each other’s eyes. One hand wrapped around her own, quickly interlocking as he got closer. The other placed itself on her cheek, a bright smile on his own face as he quivered, joy rushing through his entire body at her words. “I didn’t know how to tell you,” he stated honestly, knowing that it was obvious that he would look at her from time to time or that he would grow flustered with her appearance. “I have never done this before. It was always hard for me to connect with people as a kid because,” He halted for a second, not wanting to open another can of worms in the middle of the emotional conversation, but he decided to press on anyway. “Because I was born Quirkless.”

Ochako’s eyes widened a bit at how vulnerable Izuku was, opting to listen just as he had with her. “Everyone treated me differently for it, but when I got into UA and I had met all of you, I slowly got to learn how to deal with those difficulties. All except not knowing how to tell you how I felt.” Tears continued to pour down the teenager’s face, shivering a bit when uttering the words that had held him like chains for so long. “I love you too, Ochako Ururaka.”

A moment wasn’t spared as she pulled him in, their lips locking as eyes quickly closed. Their embraced hands held tight as they simply let the moment sink in, pulling away from each other as an excited chuckle exited the both of them. In this moment in Hell, they felt like the luckiest people on the planet, and that nothing could ruin finally letting this out.

“Freaking finally, ribbit,” Was heard by the pair from the other side of the door, their heads turning in unison when they realized that their friends were listening the entire time. The door quietly, but quickly, opened to see Tsu wide eyed on the ceiling while Bakugo was against the nearby wall.

Neither of them could utter a word as they stared at the pair waiting outside of Izuku’s room, stuck to properly react to them eavesdropping when Kacchan spoke first. “Relax you two,” he stated with a surprisingly respectful tone. “You two idiots belong together, it has literally been the talk of the entire class for months. Just glad you finally said something.”

“I didn’t mean to intrude,” Tsu spoke honestly, looking down with a bit of shame for ruining the tender moment. “But after all this time, I wanted to give my support somehow, ribbit.” Froppy explained, fearing that her friends would be upset that they were being listened to.

Only to be given a hug by Ochako instead, a genuine surprise as a smile was kept on her face. “I am truly blessed to have a friend as good as you, Tsu,” she happily spoke while letting the hug last a bit longer before pulling away, looking her in the eyes as she sarcastically stated. “But couldn’t you have at least made a joke, like, in the morning?”

Bakugo smiled at the ordinary moment, the angst and anger washing away for even just a time as the world around them felt so… normal. Right. That nothing could taint this moment of innocent youth that was before him, that he couldn’t even say a rude comment towards Izuku. “Hey,” he said towards the two of them, earning their attention. “I’m happy for you two.”

They both stood slightly embarrassed, but happy that their friends approved this much, the pair going to speak when a loud BANG slammed the door to the apartment. Everyone’s attention quickly darted towards the entrance of the small living space as something was listening outside, every voice instantly going silent as fear skyrocketed amongst the group. Mr.Yamato quietly walked back into the apartment, looking straight ahead at the entrance.

Ida, who had been sleeping on the floor in the living room, quickly sprang into action. The door to Inko’s room slowly opened as the pair of adults walked into the shared space, checking in on the noise that had woken them up.

Everyone stared with high tension as growls and snarls were heard from the hallway, the rest of the apartment complex hearing just enough to grow curious to the noise from their safe haven.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The door was being broken down by a series of blows, the infected unleashing a hideous roar as various pieces of furniture that stood in the path bounced with each hit. They were being held back, barely, every moment growing more desperate to sink their teeth into their meals.

Ida quickly ran towards the door, pressing the furniture back in place. “Hurry! Grab what you can and then get run! I can only hold this back for so long!” The silence that once covered the halls of the apartment complex was now deafened by the howls of the undead, all congregating towards the entrance to the Midoriya residence. Food was thrown into a small backpack, Izuku working as fast as he could to find what was necessary while realistically being possible to carry. 

The others quickly prepared to evacuate the small living space, when All Might suddenly placed his hand on Inko’s shoulder. A look of sorrow was upon his face as he forced a smile before speaking. “I would have enjoyed that coffee, Ms. Midoriya,” The retired Pro Hero stated as he kissed her hand, standing up and walking over to Ida who was covering everyone else’s escape.

“You were the right choice for Class Rep, even now allowing your fellow students time to escape the clutches of death. Your brother would be proud of you.” The student looked confused before All Might quickly transformed into his muscular form, the same state he had carried out his heroics in before his final battle. Coughing blood as smoke rolled off of his body, he still had the strength to lift Ida away from the makeshift barricade and gently toss him aside.

“Wait, All Might, what are you doing!?” Ida cried out, earning the others’ attention with a quick snap of their heads. Their teacher’s body pressed against the furniture, making it so that the barrier was more secure.

“Ururaka,” he spoke with clarity, looking directly at her as he spoke. “Do not let these horrific times change that wonderful heart of yours. The world will continue to need kindness.” His attention then turned to Froppy, the undead still trying to claw their way through the hardwood before the veteran hero, breaking away skin just to get to them.

“Tsuyu, never allow your friends to stray away from the people they are. You will all face trials in this new world, some that will seem to break you in the moment, but you must all stay strong and I believe that you will be their proper support-” BANG!

The door shifted slightly as a fist made its way through, blood flying as the screams of the horde echoed through their ears. A milky white eye staring above blood soaked teeth pierced their souls as All Might quickly threw a couch backwards. His back put in more effort to halt the assault of the undead, sweat running down his body as his muscular form began to give. Strands of hair lulled downward, half of his face in its normal state, smoke continuing to roll upward from his body.

“Bakugo, you have a fire like that of a forge. The heat and pressure will create something new like a blacksmith would with iron, but your rage must never overshadow your heart, especially in times of war. Protect them all with your life and whoever would dare attempt to hurt them, unleash hell.”

Tears began to stream from the group’s eyes as they realized what was happening, the group of children witnessing one last valiant act of heroism from their mentor, their idol, their friend…

“Shoto, out of everyone here, you have carried the most burden in your life. And I unfortunately must ask that you carry another, in helping guide this group of young people. If hate should ever begin to consume them, you will have to keep them from slipping even further.”

“Mr. Yamato!” All Might called out with a slight turn towards the extraterrestrial teacher, his soul being pierced by the legendary hero of Japan’s words, the tension in the air rising just as fast as the heartbreak. The upper half of the door snapped completely, chips of wood flying across the furniture. Yagi’s left arm completely shrank back to its normal state, blood once again flying from his mouth as he was defying destiny just as his former sidekick had done to save Izuku. He would do the same for these children. “Protect them! These children are our future! If they are consumed, all hope will be lost for this world!”

The weight of the furniture and situation came crashing down on Yagi, his knees buckling slightly as his strength continued to leave him, turning his gaze completely towards Izuku. Tears streamed down his face as he stared at his student, quivering as he looked towards the boy that had changed his heart. “Before meeting you, I was in a really dark place. You showed me that it was possible to end this cycle of hate, you were determined to save people even with no Quirk. No hesitation in your footsteps. I am so sorry, young Midoriya, that I can’t teach you more. That I can’t watch you grow, but you are a fine young man, and I fully trust that you will succeed where I have failed.” He pointed towards Izuku with his free hand, holding up the furniture with the stronger limb as it shook violently. “It’s your turn now.”

And with those final words, he no longer could hold up the barrier. The undead quickly came rolling in. Yagi turned, swinging with what little strength remained to completely decimate the oncoming horde and the nearby apartment all the way through. A powerful gust of wind erupted from the swing, knocking everyone further away from All Might as he stood the best he could. Taking in deep heavy breaths, he turned to see Izuku and Bakugo being dragged away from the battle with screams of horror.

“We have to go!” shouted Takashi as he, alongside the other students, pulled the duo as hard as they could.

“I can’t let you die! Please! It doesn’t have to be this way!” Izuku screamed with passion. While he certainly had the strength to throw everyone off of him, he couldn’t bring himself to accidentally hurt them to save the man he looked up to.

Yagi closed his eyes for a second, thinking about his life. The moment he had inherited One For All, a quirkless young man who wanted to do the right thing finally gaining the opportunity to do so. The days in college with David as learning superheroes in the States, granting him the names of his attacks which would inspire an entire generation to stand up against the forces of evil in whatever shape it would take. 

Then he remembered that beautiful smile of his mentor, and her last act as his teacher, protecting him as Gran Torino flew him away from the battle against All For One. “I’ll be right behind you Nana…” he stated under his breath before charging into the hallway, looking side to side to see more of the infected surrounding him.

“Detroit Smash!” he screamed at the top of his lungs while swinging once again towards the left, all the students witnessing his final stand as they slowly managed to drop down to the street from the balcony. Ochako’s quirk guided them safely to the ground one by one for those that required it, Inko landing safely on the streets below with Tenya and Shoto standing right beside her, waiting for Tsuyu to quickly climb down the wall. Bakugo stopped resisting the grip, simply shaking them off before leaping off of the building to the streets below, tears flowing from his eyes as he landed.

All Might’s form went deeper into the apartment complex, the hero having his final stand as the children escaped. Izuku continued to weep as Takashi finally let go, watching the boy fall to his knees and slamming the floor for a moment before finally moving. The pair jumping down to the street below, the group quickly moving further with two goals on their minds.

They had to honor All Might’s sacrifice and continue forward in the oncoming war, and they had to find the rest of their families.

Inko held onto Izuku’s hand tightly as they marched forward, the tears from the group having to be forced back as the sound could alert more of them towards their direction. 

Chapter 8: The Last of Our Families 

Shoto’s house was the closest from their destroyed haven. Todoroki’s quirk activated, ice covering up the entirety of his right side while flames did the same on his left. Whatever remained of his family had to be in here. A part of him didn’t want an answer, or to find anyone in the house, on the off chance his fears would be confirmed. 

He breathed out, bolting straight towards the door. The half-cold half-hot hero in training stared at the door, tempted to kick it down, but resisted on the off chance it’d attract the horde. Shoto lightly gripped the handle and opened it slowly, being careful not to attract any attention. 

His flames illuminated the living room, scanning the area to find nothing in sight. The appliances and even the TV were silent as he motioned for the others to come inside. He motioned for them to stay in the living room while he continued searching the house, carefully keeping his silence. 

The first floor had been secured as Shoto walked back to the hallway connecting to the living room, shaking his head at its temporary occupants. No luck to be found on the first floor. 

Glass was then heard shattering upstairs, snapping Shoto’s attention to the stairs leading to it. He snapped his head away and bolted up the steps to find the source of the commotion, desperately hoping it was one of his siblings making a clumsy mistake. 

Shoto reached just outside the door where the source of the noise was when he heard another scream inside it. Instincts taking over, he kicked open the door to see his older sister, Fuyumi backing up to a wall, terrified beyond belief as her white and red hair brushed up against it. 

He was relieved to see at least one member of his family alive and well, but out of the shadows in the room, his heart sank. His older brother, Natsuo, was no longer amongst the living, but a member of the Scourge. He growled at his cornered sister, the left side of his face covered in scratch marks and blisters oozing with pus. The infected Natsuo stretched his arms forward to devour his captive prey as Shoto raised his arms up, intending to eradicate the monster his brother had become. 

Yet, he couldn’t. Shoto felt himself stalling, something he rarely ever did. He tried to move forward, but found himself frozen in fear, knowing he couldn’t kill his own brother. The pro hero in training tried to fire off either of his two abilities, but couldn’t do it no matter how many times he commanded himself. 

He was lost, befuddled at his lack of initiative. 

BOOM!

Like a blink of an eye, Bakugo walked past him and detonated his explosive power onto his infected brother, completely scorching his head. Natsuo shrieked out from his skin burning away until he collapsed on his stomach, no longer on this ruined Earth. 

Shoto felt his body beginning to relax even at the grief he was now facing from his brother now being deceased. He slightly turned his head to Bakugo, who simply nodded at him. His loud mouthed friend didn’t have anything to say, remaining uncharacteristically silent. 

“Shoto…” Fuyumi’s voice trembled, wobbling over to her little brother, wrecked with a plethora of emotions overloading her mind and body. She wrapped herself around him, crying into his shoulder after he deactivated his quirks. 

The youngest member of the Todorki clan lightly rubbed her back, mentally kicking himself for not being stronger. For not doing what was necessary to protect his family, letting that burden fall to a friend of his. It may have not affected Bakugo, but he worried it might make his sister resent him for it.

“Fuyumi… I’m sorry… for stalling… I promise…” Shoto breathed out, feeling wrecked with guilt, pulling his sister in tighter. 

“It’s okay, Shoto,” Fuyumi hushed, rubbing his red and white hair. “I’m just glad you’re here.” 

“How did Natsuo…” Shoto inquired, pulling back slightly and looking up at his sister. 

Fuyumi lifted up her glasses, wiping away a tear. “We had to double back to the house after we missed the evacuation, and he pushed me out of the way. I tried bringing him back home, but that’s when he turned…”

She couldn’t finish as she cried, allowing Shoto to wrap her up tightly once again. Bakugo watched the siblings embrace as he glanced back at the corpse he created. Inside himself, he felt guilty for doing what had to be done, knowing Shoto’s sister probably hated him for it. He felt compelled to give them his condolences, however, he knew they likely didn’t want to hear it. Besides, an apology coming from him would sound fake. 

Instead, he stood there in silence, allowing himself to be their guardian for just a few minutes so they may grieve. It wasn’t perfect, but this was the best he could do for them. 

***

Next step was Ochaco’s residence. They climbed up the flight of stairs, all keeping their eyes peeled for any infected along the way. The group made it to find her front door cracked open as Uravity feared the worst. Instincts took over as she nearly ripped the door off to find two corpses on the ground, both with holes in their heads as the group’s eyes collectively looked over to a pistol in the man’s hand.

“Mom!” Ochaco cried out, tears flowing out of her eyes. “Dad…”

She collapsed to her knees, landing just between their bodies, looking at their faces. Ochaco was mortified at what her parents did, taking note of their faces as she always remembered them. Pure.

No signs of infection amongst them. 

“Why didn’t I get here sooner?” Ochaco wept, inching her hands towards their bodies, attempting to feel them one last time. “Why did I have to assist in this useless evacuation attempt?”

Izuku was heartbroken at his girlfriend’s grief. He was fortunate, more so than almost everyone else that his mother was amongst the living while she lost her family today. Deku kneeled down next to her, wrapping his hands around her. He allowed her head to rest on his chest. Her tears soaked his suit while he held her tight, keeping his eyes focused on their bodies. 

Deku felt himself at a loss, knowing he couldn’t say something along the lines of her parents being proud of her for being a hero or how they’d want her to live without them. He felt like shit, not knowing what to do or even say as just recently they professed their love for each other. Now, he was met with his first real challenge in their relationship. 

“Life really is unfair.”

“Ochaco, I’m so sorry,” Izuku wept, turning his head from their bodies and towards her. He was all she had left now, and he couldn’t rush off to be the self-sacrificing hero. Izuku couldn’t destroy her world even further, yet he’d hate himself for not doing everything he could just for a chance to save the Earth. His mind was no longer clear. 

Only Ochaco’s sobs were heard while everyone remained silent at their friend’s grief. 

They were all slowly realizing they were going to be at their lowest. 

***

Bakugo stared up at his residency, hearing the growls inside. He tightened his hands, gritting his teeth while a low growl oozed from his mouth. “Fuck.”

The rage filled hero kicked down the door, pointing his grenade shaped cannons inside the hall, searching for his parents. Katsuki already knew the worst was about to happen to him. Like Ochaco, he was already too late, letting anger and grief wash over, he decided to scream out.

“Mom! Dad! I’m home!”

His shrieks of anger might attract other zombies to their position, but he didn’t care. It just meant more he’d get to eradicate in anger for what the world took from him. 

As if on cue, two shambling corpses descended down the stairs and eyed their son standing in the doorframe. His father’s spiky brown hair was falling apart, revealing brain matter while his right arm had forcibly been torn off. Lastly, his glasses collapsed on the wooden stairs, shattering them. 

His mother’s fate affected him even more. Her beautiful face was torn off, revealing flesh underneath while her nose atrophied prior to his arrival. Her pink shirt was covered in blood as it was ripped apart, revealing her torn insides. 

They both shrieked out, shooting their damaged arms out to rip into their son when Bakugo’s hands sparkled. Explosives detonated from his gauntlets, eviscerating them from existence, granting them peace from this undead curse. 

“Fuck!” Bakugo cried out, tears dropping from his eyes as he turned around to face the rest of his group. They all looked at him with concern, understanding what he was going through, but before any of them could relay their sympathies he cut them off. “Don’t give me any fucking apologies. Just watch your ass!”

He marched past them, surveying the area around them to find more infected to eradicate. To him, his whole world was taken from him as he had to gun down his parents. Bakugo armed his weapons forward, keeping watch as he waited for the rest of his group to make their way back to them.

Izuku, on the other hand, spotted a framed photo of Kacchan and his family. He mosied over to see all three of them smiling together in front of an amusement park on a bright sunny day. A far cry from their reality now. 

He may not want to see it now or ever, but Izuku couldn’t help but take the photo and place it inside his bag. Maybe one day, his former best friend would like to see it once again, but at the very least, he could hold onto it as a reminder for better days.

***

The group moved slower through the city, grief striking each member one at a time. Despair made them question whether it was saving lives or saving themselves, but they all silently agreed to let the others find their families. 

Takeshi even saw it in the kids’ eyes. He hated himself for not being there for them, for feeling like he was already failing Endeavor’s request. 80 declared himself to be the most useless out of every Ultra, fleeing from a battle while so many good people gave up their lives. 

“If any other Ultra were present, this would go down a lot better.”

He lightly grunted, knowing these kids and what remained of their families were his purpose now. Takeshi declared to himself he was the last line of defense for all of them. When the time came for him to face the horde, he would not run, but fight to the very end. 

The Ultra in disguise inched closer to Tsu, realizing they were at her house. It wasn’t much of a gesture, but he breathed out, telling himself he needed to be more present with the students. It may not help in the long run, but it’d be appreciated from them in due time.

Tsu jiggled the doorhandle, realizing it was locked. She breathed a small sigh of relief, knowing her house hadn’t been attacked yet as she reached in her pocket, pulling out the key. Froppy inserted the key inside and unlocked it, opening the door.

She was about to walk inside when 80 placed his hand in front of her and shook his head. “Let me go in first to make sure it’s alright.”

Froppy nodded her head, as she followed closely behind him. Takeshi scanned the living room to find heads slowly rising up behind the furniture as he prepared himself to fight the infected present. Tsu turned over to see the figure rising up when she heard a cheerful voice. 

“Tsu!” the figure plunged out of the darkness to reveal Tsu’s mother, looking completely healthy, rushing over to her. 

“Mom!” Tsu cried out with relief, allowing herself to be wrapped up in a hug as she tearfully did the same. Her father and her younger siblings bolted over to her, reuniting themselves with her. 

The Asui family collectively sobbed in relief, knowing their family was going to be okay. Takeshi and the rest of the group watched over the family in relief. Despite the grief they faced in the past few hours, they were happy to know Tsu’s family was intact as she smiled.

Tsu felt herself on cloud nine, but knew they couldn’t waste time as the infected horde could be on them at any minute. She pulled herself away from the family’s embrace and looked them straight in the eyes.

“As much as I’d like to continue this, we need to get out of here. We wouldn’t be safe here for long,” Tsu explained, rubbing her hands together, glancing at the home she grew up in. Neither she nor her family wanted to leave it behind, as they held a lot of meaningful memories there, but it wasn’t feasible to hide in the long term. 

“We understand, Tsu. We’ll leave immediately,” her mother, Bell, said, giving her a sense of relief.

“Just let us grab a few things before we get going,” Ganma, her father, explained, rushing over to grab a few family trinkets and heirlooms. 

Tsu’s little siblings still huddled next to her as she brought them closer to her. The two of them looked up at 80, giving him small smiles as the Ultra couldn’t help but smile back at them. He was gonna do what was necessary to keep the family intact, knowing it would be one of the few to survive this infection. The world already saw too much death, he could at least spare the Asuis from it.

He was just happy to know there might be some light at the end of that tunnel they were digging through.

***

Last was Ida’s as they rushed through the streets, narrowly avoiding the infected wherever they ran to. His residence was farther than everyone else’s as they came across a bridge connecting the two neighborhoods together. The white bridge seemingly shined in this dark storm they were trapped in. 

An answer was about to be discovered, one Tenya was terrified to uncover. The fastest hero in 1-A prepared to step forward onto the bridge, when the group collectively heard an explosion on the other side. 

The group looked up to see a series of explosions engulfing the entirety of that neighborhood, incinerating it. “No…” Ida’s voice trembled as the fire raged on through his eyes. He dropped to his knees and sobbed, knowing if his family were present, then they’d be nothing but ash.

“Ida…” Takeshi murmured, placing his hand on the class rep’s shoulder. The Ultra’s faith was briefly restored with Tsu’s family being okay, but now, it was as if he had been given false hope. To see another child’s family to be possibly incinerated was cruel, and to not even be given an answer was the worst insult that’d be thrown at someone. “I’m so sorry.”

Ida didn’t answer as he cried out, taking a moment to stare at the raging inferno just across from him. The bridge soon crumbled before his soaking eyes, cutting them off permanently. 

Tenya picked himself up, still feeling the light hand of the teacher on his shoulder before brushing it off. He glanced at 80 and gave him a small nod, seemingly thanking him. Ida was still distraught, but couldn’t let himself be consumed by grief, not when his friends’ lives were still at a stake. He continued moving forward to their next destination, wherever that may be. 

Takeshi sighed out, feeling himself still at his lowest. Being a teacher meant the world to him, to help everyone no matter what, but he felt himself at a loss. He breathed out, following the rest of the group, contemplating what everyone was seeing in him.

“There has to be a reason for my place in all of this.” 

The Ultra stared up at the dark grey clouds looming over him, letting the rain drop on his body. 

“If there is one, please tell me and I’ll do it.”

The world responded with silence, forcing his head to hang low, shuffling behind everyone, feeling defeated. 

“Figures.”

Time sped up for the remnants of the defense force. Rain poured heavily against the raging flames of Tokyo. Reports were relayed by what remained of leadership to acquire the scattered civilians and heroes. 

It was risky. 

To ask yet another favor of those who survived the first several hours of this crisis only to risk it to save those left behind. Only this time, a few answered that call.

A group of helicopters flew through the raging infernal, drops pelting their windshields. The noise of their propellers attracted the survivors to their landing zone. A brief sensation of relief washed over them, but deep down knew it was about to get a lot worse.

The howls of the undead echoed through the dying city, startling everyone to their core. Bones shook while hearts raced nonstop. Izuku turned around to see infected piling into the streets, bolting around the block while others dropped straight from the buildings. None of them cared if they broke their bodies, all of them attracted to the source of the noise, and soon, the few uninfected on the streets. 

“We have to move!” Izuku roared out, his eyes widening at the neverending horror. Acting upon instinct, he grabbed a hold of his mother’s arm and raced off with her in tow. The others soon followed, avoiding the infected at every step. 

Bakugo screamed out at the top of his lungs, blasting apart the zombies that dared to strike at them. Limbs exploded all across the street while the bulk of their bodies were incinerated. To him, killing zombies was almost what he had left in this world. He wanted to stay behind and kill as many as he could, to enact sweet revenge for taking his parents away from him. However, Bakugo knew any attempt would only lead the others in risking their lives for him. 

No. As much as he hated it, he had to live. 

At least for today.

Tsuyu and her family sprinted ahead to reach the aircraft in view. She sympathized with her friends, but escape was within their reach. Once they made it to the craft, she would turn back and assist them, but she couldn’t bear the thought of losing them.

Froppy and her family reached the craft where there were a few dozen other survivors boarding the craft. The military kept guard as they fired in all directions, mowing down all that ran towards them. It wouldn’t be long until they were forced to flee.

Tsu snatched up her younger sister and nearly threw her in the craft, as the rest of her family boarded it. Froppy turned around to face her friends still speeding through the streets to salvation as she heard her mother scream.

“Tsu! Get on!” 

Froppy glanced back at her family and smiled solemnly, placing her finger on her lip. “Go ahead without me, mama. I can’t live with myself if I don’t help them.”

“Tsu, no!” her father barked out, furious at his daughter’s willingness to stay behind for such a fruitless endeavor. He had no doubt they were great people, but his family’s wellbeing was what mattered more. He attempted to grab her, but a hollering voice beat him to it.

“Chopper three, loaded up!” 

A nearby soldier blocked the group, lightly pushing the bigger man back as the door sealed up. The cries of her family could be heard through the reinforced hull as Tsu shed a tear, watching her family ascend to safety.

She turned around, racing back towards her friends. A zombie with half of his head exposed took note of her charging forward and growled. He stretched his arms outwards and attempted to grab her, only for the hero in training to hop over him. Tsu noticed his exposed spine and ripped it off without any hesitation. The act made her want to vomit, but she had no time. She slammed the bones down and continued forward.

Inspired by her heroism, a couple of the nearby personnel aimed their weapons at the closing infected. The walking corpses were riddled by the bullets, allowing the others a more secure passage. Tsuyu bolted up next to Izuku and smiled, offering him a hand with his mother. 

Izuku wouldn’t have blamed her if she left then and there, but felt appreciative of her insistence to help their friends. He admired that hulking sense of loyalty that brewed inside her. The two moved forward while Shoto kept the infected from pouring in behind.

The flames incinerated several infected, leaving them charred, but it wasn’t enough. They still kept moving, their hunger insatiable and will not stop until they sink their teeth in them. Shoto gritted his teeth, angered by his attacks seemingly doing nothing but slow the infected. 

His hands grew cold as she swung them upwards, erecting several walls of ice. Yet, barriers began to crack, with some even able to stick their hands through it. Shoto tightened his grip, knowing they were living off borrowed time.

He glanced over to Ida, running at normal speed alongside the rest of his friends. If only he didn’t overheat his mufflers, they could have gotten through this quickly. Yet, he couldn’t blame him as he did what he had to throughout the day.

CRACK!

The infected poured through, amping up their speed and pushing to the brink. The group soon made it to the choppers where several of them started to slam their doors. Realizing what it meant, Izuku ignored everything around him, pushing his mom up the steps and towards the remaining opened helicopter. 

The howls of the undead grew stronger as the horde closed in on the landing zone. Propellers rotated around as they started to lift off from the ground. Just as the final doors were about to close, Izuku shoved his mom onto the last helicopter, as the door closed behind her. 

Realizing what her son did, Inko saw Izuku standing on the other side while the helicopter took off. “Izuku!”

She immediately began throwing her hands against the glass, attempting to break through it to reach him as he shed tears. It happened all so fast, he hated the JSDF for not giving them an extra few seconds to board, but knew the horde was right on them. 

“At least you’ll make it out, mom,” Izuku murmured, watching the helicopter disappearing in the grey clouds while Takeshi and the rest of his classmates gathered around him. “I love you.”

Deku turned up, intending to make a final stand against the infection all clawing their way towards them. Hope was not on their side as they prepared themselves for the end. They were tired and knew they couldn’t last long, but they at least saved a couple of lives as opposed to saving none.

It was terrible, but they at least accomplished part of their goal.

The infected charged towards them, reaching at them as everyone gave it their all, to blast as many as they could. 

Until everything went black.

***

GASP!

Izuku shot up from the ground, breathing heavily. He struck his arms out, intending to break apart any undead that tried to grab him. After a few more breaths, did he realize rain was no longer hitting him on the face, but was met by the warmth of the sun. 

Deku glanced over to see his fellow classmates all performing their respective duties around the campfire. Shoto and Tenya were hauling wood for them to burn while Ochaco, Fuyumi, and Bakugo were gathering ingredients for their next meal. Finally, he saw Takeshi and Tsuyu discussing amongst themselves.

He realized, as he watched the morning sun ascend higher and higher, that that night had been over two years ago. Despite reality telling him otherwise, it felt like only seconds had blazed by, leaving him to wonder if anyone besides the eight of them made it out alive.

It plagued his mind, filling him with dread. Izuku sat himself upright, keeping his lower half secured inside the teal sleeping bag. He asked himself the same questions over and over again. 

Is my mom okay?

Are their families okay?

Will we ever escape this nightmare?

Izuku still kept himself contemplating those thoughts, feeling himself unable to snap out of it. He knew he survived that fateful night, but a part of his personality that made him upbeat and optimistic made him dour. 

He breathed out once more, moving himself out of the confines of the bag, he stood up to meet the dawn of a new day. Izuku’s personality had changed since that day, but he couldn’t let it be a detriment to the rest of his friends. 

They were the only things keeping him alive. 

Epilogue: He Who Remains

Hate.

It was the only thing that remained within his decayed heart, each step forward in the burning metropolis showed that it was the only thing that remained within his undead brothers and sisters as well. Everything else had been ripped away, taken from them in a moment’s notice.

Love. Compassion. Empathy. Sympathy. Humanity. All of it was nothing more than a distant memory now. Even if his transformation had only been hours prior, it had felt like an entire lifetime.

He no longer needed to breathe, and yet he still commanded his lungs to attempt to, blood oozing from the gaping wound in his neck as he stumbled forward, his milky white eyes looking for the very thing that robbed him of his life. A guttural, hate fueled growl exited his jaws as he continued to march forward, not paying attention to the chaos around him. The howls of the damned and hungry were muted within his mind, the only sound echoing throughout his head as he stepped forward were the screams of the last person to ever show him compassion. A dear friend who died too young, attempting to be the only person to rush out to save him in his last moments as the horde surrounded him, all the while his so-called “best friend” ran away like a coward just as everyone else did.

Bile began to slowly ooze from between fangs as he reached down into the debris, wrapping his cold hand around the flowing, damaged cape of a torn apart corpse. Pulling the emerald colored cloth from the deceased mush of meat and metal with ease, he tightened his grip around the article of clothing before continuing his march forward.

Hate.

All he could feel was a scornful rage surrounding him, the other members of the undead horde wishing nothing but to devour whatever flesh remained within the deceased city. It was chaotic, undefined. It served no purpose. It needed a guiding hand.

Hate.

The entity looked onward, spotting one of the many machines that humanity used to fend off the Scourge’s onslaught, a lonely Gunhed flipped on its back surrounded by flames and smog. Embers rose to the sky as he felt the anger deep within his… soul was the wrong word for it, he no longer possessed a soul. He was hollow inside, a specter of vengeance that would guide this new world to a purpose. A vile smile formed as he got closer to the destroyed military weapon, the smell of iron and elemental fury surrounding him as he reached out. Wrapping his decayed hand around the molten hot iron, he lifted himself up with one hand as he held on tighter to the cloth from the deceased soldier before throwing it onto his back. Holding it in place, he reached the top of the destroyed war machine, standing amongst the horde in the middle of a hellish landscape.

With one hand he wrapped the cloth around him, the symbol of the Scout Regiment flying in the wind as he stood tall. The vile smile returned to him as he clenched his fist before raising it above his head, his pose mocking that of the strongest hero Japan had ever seen, before unleashing a hideous howl into the burning night.

“HATE!”

His undead brothers and sisters turned towards the noise, spotting another of the Hollowed. Infected civilians, soldiers, heroes, and villains, all waited for him to continue.

“Our hate has no purpose. Trapped within a decaying, deceased body, craving the flesh of those that we had once called friends and family! We are deemed monsters by the living, we are deemed ‘inhuman’, yet it is us who have claimed this city!”

A few of the infected began to walk closer towards the one speaking, those that had died protecting the civilians evacuating Tokyo Tower being the first to step forward. Their curiosity for the one able to speak so fluently rose with each passing word. “Were you discarded? Forgotten as they ran for their lives!?” The entity’s rage began to build, the emotions that remained like small embers in his heart becoming a wildfire. “You have no souls, and yet you demand to scream!”

For a moment, the undead once known as Endeavor had thought he saw this entity cry blood from the sheer emotion pouring out of him, only to realize that what he imagined was true. Throughout the brimstone and death, this being still retained the ability to cry. The black liquid ran down the entity’s cheek as a sinister laugher exited his maw for a moment before resuming speaking. “I will give you a glorious purpose! One that will allow you to live as you see fit, a guiding hand for our shared rage and hunger to devour the world!”

The chaos grew silent as one by one, the meta humans grew closer. “For we are many, we are a legion of the damned and forgotten! I will be your arbiter of vengeance within this new world! Our deaths will have meaning as we rob them of everything that is rightfully ours!”

If they had hearts, they would be beating fast with adrenaline and excitement. The warped, disgusting broken mirrors of the people they once were, for the first time in their undead existence, felt purpose.

From the flames, others began to join, the undead tank once known as Muscular tossed a few infected away from him as he approached, staring directly at the one speaking. The captain of the Gotengo, his sword on his shoulder, and his most trusted ally stood before him. The shapeshifting vampire began to chuckle with glee as the words reached her, a hideous smile forcing itself onto her face. The fallen leader of the League of Villains stood next to the number one hero, scratching his neck as anticipation rose in the air. The being before him reminded him of the malice that was born from his master. The foolish Gransazer that had charged into hell continued to devour the meat from their biggest meal thus far, the taste of extraterrestrial giant satisfying him as he listened closely. 

The earth shook as a giantess made her presence known, the rotting giant looked downward with white hollowed eyes at the one speaking. The sound of beating wings was heard overhead as a draconic figure swooped down to the ground, landing onto the horde, crushing some of the weaker ones. The future-seeing teacher stood behind most of the group, the creature attempting to find the next best course of action with his Quirk. The heteromorph chuckled as he grew excited from the speech, all the flesh he could consume would be given to him, it mattered very little how to the Hollowed. 

“We will turn them into cattle as we reclaim this world for our own. Follow me, and together we will take our rightful place at the top of the food chain, the new humanity, the true humanity!”

The air once again grew silent before one by one, those with heightened intelligence began to kneel before him. A man with no Quirk, a man with no contract to a Devil, a man powerless to a well timed bullet, now stood above the horde. A sinister smile formed on his maw as he stepped down from the Gunhed, the cape still flowing in the wind as he approached Endeavor, reaching down with his hand. The fallen pro hero took it, rising to his feet as the entity began to do the same to the others that surrounded him, each of them standing around him.

“Take whatever you can from the Gotengo, reclaim anything of value.”

“W-Wait,” Shigaraki spoke, earning the entity’s attention with a side glare. “Wh-What… do we… c-c-call you?…”

For a moment the entity had to ponder on his answer, the question forcing himself to remember his own name. Turning fully towards the deceased supervillain with a warm smile, one hiding his true rage at even attempting to remember who he was before his transformation. “My name is Armin Arlet, and I demand justice.”

With a wave of his hand, the group one by one all began to march towards the fallen war machine in the distance, its form coated in flames and ash. All but two. He turned towards those that remained by his side, the fallen Douglus Gordon and Shinichi Ozaki, still standing with a salute towards their new leader. “A-Allow us… to travel w-w-with you.” The mutant spoke, his destroyed form struggling to even muster the simplest of words.

“As you wish,” Armin replied before spotting something amongst the ruins, keeping his gaze upon the object of his interest before beginning to march towards it. “But first you must do something. Begin a wide search within the city, find any others that might have interest such as yourself. We require numbers, power, and coordination. Do you believe you are up for the task?”

“At your… c-command,” Gordon spoke.

“Good.”

As the two JSDF soldiers took their leave, Armin continued marching towards what he had spotted, finding amongst the hellish landscape that surrounded him the corpse of a mechanical man. Oil spilled across the pavement just as blood had done the same for any human or animal caught within the chaos. Its humanoid form lay colorless on the ground as nothing but a corpse, one that could be devoured like the others. He crouched down, placing his hand on the torn apart head of the robotic entity with a soft touch.

“Were you forgotten too?” He spoke with an odd softness towards the fallen emissary of God, a plan forming in his mind to gain his revenge towards the one who had cursed him and Mikasa into oblivion.

“Our hate has united us, and it will rebuild you as it rebuilt me…” He looked into the ash filled sky, the air blowing past him as he took the moment in, his thoughts rushing towards the one responsible for his hate.

“Eren… I will kill you and everything you love in this world.”

***

GASP!

A series of weak breaths bounced underneath the pile of rubble, as the culprit placed his bloodied hand on the ground, wincing at the pain. He glanced down at his hand, noticing his index finger completely removed while his middle hung on by a thread. 

“Fuck.”

Observing his surroundings, he realized how limited it was as he was practically in a concrete dome. The soldier slowly shifted himself upward, allowing his back to rest on the makeshift wall, grunting from the injuries he received within the past few hours. He glanced down at his bloodstained shirt, ichor still pouring out while he groaned slightly in response. 

However, it was only then, with his conscience fully coming back, did he notice the worst of the damage on his body. His vision was partially gone, as he couldn’t see anything from the right side. The Captain lifted up his uninjured hand and tapped it ever slightly, finding nothing but a gaping hole. 

“Just my luck….” he mouthed out, closing his remaining eye, allowing himself to contemplate his next move. “Bastards.”

“Levi!” an excited voice echoed through his mind, as she continued on. “I love the new look!”

The Scout Regiment Captain chuckled at the voice, inspiring him to lift his head back up. “You better still be alive, four-eyes.”

He took his time getting himself back to his feet, rolling his eye at how the gap in the rubble was the perfect height for him. “Somewhere out there, I bet they’re laughing their asses off at this.”

Levi placed his wounded hand on his stomach, keeping whatever blood remained from spilling out as he glanced through the hole. “And same to you, Erwin.”

He limped over to the opening, intending to squeeze out of it, but a bloodcurdling cry was unleashed, followed up by a hand grabbing the collar of his shirt. Levi pulled back, as the infected stuck his head through the hole, screaming at him. The Captain’s strength was sapped as he struggled to escape, allowing the infected to pull him closer and closer.

“Captain Levi has the best chance out of any of us to stop this. He’s the only one I trust to see it through.”

“Goddammit, Erwin,” Levi hissed, planting his feet to the ground, allowing himself to hold his position for a few seconds, facing the zombie trying to bite down on his skin. “Why did you put that much faith in me?”

He scanned his entire body to search for anything he could use against the member of the Scourge. It could have been easy to miss something had he been a nervous wreck or had his injuries been even worse, but he was revered for a reason. The Scout Captain had been seen as a symbol of hope for humanity, and he couldn’t let that falter. Even if he didn’t care for the titles everyone threw at him.

Levi noticed a couple of blades still attached to his belt. He breathed, feeling a tad relieved he could still pull through this situation. The high ranking member of the Survey Corp snatched a blade off his belt, wincing at the steel cutting into his hand. He eyed the hole and gritted his teeth, knowing that attacking his assailant wouldn’t do much good.

Even if he could stab the monster in the head, there was no guarantee he’d die. The most the injured man could do was to ensure a stalemate. Levi huffed, preparing himself for the pain he was about to endure as he glanced down at his dangling finger. He moved his damaged hand just in front of the infected and slashed the finger with the swipe of his blade. 

Blood splattered across the zombie’s face, coating his eyes with red and blinding him briefly. The zombie panicked at the sight of his prey disappearing, forcing him to let go in a moment of confusion.  

Levi backed away with newfound freedom, grabbing a hold of his now severed finger. Despite the pain he induced upon himself, he kept himself composed, holding on to the digit. The Scout Captain squinted his eyes, aiming for the hole just past the zombie. Like throwing a treat to a dog, he tossed his severed finger. The impact was tiny, but it was enough to divert the infected’s attention. 

The trapped scout cut off a piece of his cape and wrapped his bloodied hand up in an attempt to stop the bleeding. Levi watched from a distance, noticing his assailant was taking the bait just as planned, devouring the finger to the bone. 

“Enjoy every little bit of it, you bastard,” Levi hissed between breaths, feeling the pain coarse through his whole body. 

The distraction didn’t last long as the zombie screamed right back at Levi, attempting to claw his way through the sanctuary. The Scout Captain breathed out, feeling himself collapse back down, watching the infected struggling to reach for him.

He closed his eyes, exhaling once more. “I guess I won’t be able to tell you after all, Hange.”

Levi chuckled. 

He wasn’t fond of this outcome, but at the very least, he chose how he would go out. It was a privilege to go out as a member of the living as opposed to being a part of the Scourge. 

“If you’re still out there, Hange. Take as many of those bastards out as you can and-” Levi paused, smiling at the thought of her, with her huge smile and those big, stupid glasses. “Live.”

He readied himself for death while the scream of the infected rattled on and on. Little did he know, death had no interest in claiming him that day. 

SPLAT!

The infected’s head exploded like a watermelon, immediately jolting Levi up. He witnessed the now headless zombie collapse from the tiny hole. The Scout captain kept his distance, properly equipping his blades, readying himself for a fight. He saw a brief glimpse of a figure clad in black just outside, having a bad feeling in his stomach that it was a far bigger threat.

The rubble exploded instantly as pieces landed just in front of him. Levi stood his ground, placing his blades just in front of him. The figure slowly entered the haven, revealing himself to have black armor with cracks all over it, while a red scarf draped around his neck was ripped.

Levi’s grip on his blades tightened, fully expecting the Kamen Rider to be infected. He’d be surprised, and even thankful, for the rescue. But with the helmet still intact, he had no idea what the new arrival wanted. 

The masked individual took note of Levi’s stance, identifying him as human, taking note of his fear towards him. The rider stood still and lifted his hands onto his helmet and removed it slowly, revealing the still human form of Takeshi Hongo. 

The unmasked rider smiled at his fellow compatriot before offering his hand. Levi breathed out in relief, immediately taking it as Ichigo led him further out. The two stepped free of the rubble, Levi realizing he was in the ruins of a convenience store. Ruined aisles full of scattered bags of chips and candy caught his eye. 

“Anyone else?” inquired Levi. 

Hongo shook his head, wasting no time in putting his helmet back on. He scanned Levi’s body, acknowledging the wounds plastered all over. The man was stubborn enough to go down fighting no matter the situation, but they needed to escape this hell and fast.

“We need to get out of here,” Hongo relayed, skimming through the aisles for supplies and bandages for his ally. 

Levi scoffed at the idea, allowing himself to lean back against a shelf. “I thought you’d want to look for more survivors.”

“How long do you think you’ve been out for?” Hongo asked, throwing a pack of bandages over towards him as he then reached for a backpack. 

“A couple of hours at most,” Levi coughed, picking up the bandages while the pain in his body continued. 

“It’s been twenty-eight hours since the operation ended,” Hongo clarified, ramming his hand across a shelf, pushing several bags of food into the pack. 

Levi huffed while he closed his eyes and wrapped his body up in bandages. “Shit. We really did lose, huh?”

“We didn’t just lose the battle,” Hongo announced, walking up to his fellow soldier, stuffing a few bottles of water in the pack before setting it down. “We lost the planet.”

Levi paused for a moment, taking in the information that was delivered to him. He was frozen at the revelation, questioning how they could have botched the operation so badly. The captain took note of Hongo taking over for applying his bandages, but continued traversing in his thoughts. He tried to take account of all divisions involved, his eyes widening. 

“Do you know if anyone made it out!? Do you know if Section Commander Hange made it out?” Levi almost barked out, before Hongo shushed him.

Ichigo shook his head, applying the last of the needed bandages onto the captain. “I don’t, I’m sorry. All I saw were corpses littered across the streets and a few choppers escaping the city.”

Levi hung his head down, muttering “Dammit.”

“I wish I knew, I really do,” Hongo spoke, noticing the distress in his friend before picking up the pack. “I have a lot of people I’m worried about as well, but right now we need to get out of here before either the infected find us or the flames devour us.”

“Yeah,” Levi simply whispered while he stood back up, gripping his blades. “I really was the only person you found, huh?”

“Sadly, yes,” Hongo answered, taking a peek outside the ruined store. 

“I can’t take offence in that,” Levi stated, moving closer to possibly the only friend he had left in this world. “If only there were more.”

“Agreed,” Hongo affirmed, turning his head slightly back at him. “You can run, right?”

“It’ll hurt like hell, but yeah, I can manage,” answered Levi.

“Good,” Hongo said, opening the door slowly, spotting zero infected congregating in the street they were in. Kamen Rider motioned for Levi to follow him outside as kept just outside of the business.

“What’s the plan?”

“First destination is to check up on a military base a few miles up north and see if anyone else made it,” clarified the Rider as the two began making their way down the street towards their target. 

“And if nothing is there?” Asked Levi, taking it easy with his aching body screaming at him. 

“Then, we keep searching, no matter what,” answered Hongo, marching down the street, finding his resolve in this newfound world. The world was lost and it crushed Takeshi’s spirit, but a glimmer of light was still in his heart. Even if there was only one person left out there, he’d fight tooth and nail to make sure they’d still live.

Levi’s survival was proof of that.

Levi, on the other hand, would follow Kamen Rider’s lead, but more important was making sure the Survey Corps’ sacrifice would not be in vain. When the time came, he would continue to dedicate his heart to them until the end. 

Despite their failures and regrets, the two marched out of Tokyo and into the wilderness with a newfound resolve. They were embers that’d help spark the fire of humanity to rise back up against the ever growing scourge.

Winner: Armored Titan, Neronga (Universal), Mt. Lady

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)

Author: Andrew Sudomerski, Joshua Strittmatter & Tyler Trieschock | Banner: Tyler Trieschock & George Petrakos

Table of Contents:
Prologue: A Small Light
Chapter 1: Lost in a New World
Chapter 2: Convergence
Chapter 3: Meeting of the Minds
Chapter 4: When Demons Come A’Callin’
Chapter 5: Trial by Hellfire
Chapter 6: Nothing So Undoing as a Daughter
Chapter 7: There’s a Bad Moon On the Rise
Chapter 8: The Battle Begins
Chapter 9: The Thunder of War
Chapter 10: For Not Whom the Bell Tolls…
Chapter 11: …The Bell Tolls for Thee
Chapter 12: Jet Jaguar FMT
Chapter 13: To Smile in the Dark of Night
Chapter 14: The Final Countdown
Chapter 15: Operation: Dragonslayer
Chapter 16: Hope in a Despairingly Long Nightmare
Chapter 17: The Adjacent Devil and the Adjacent Titan
Chapter 18: A Long Time Coming
Epilogue: In the Worlds After, Before the Gods

[Continued from Match 419]

Prologue: A Small Light

Abandoned Hangar – Japan

Everything had gone black.

Jet Jaguar understood what had transpired. One moment, he had been operating accordingly, the next his systems suddenly shut down. His deteriorating body finally got the better of him, even as he was half finished with completing the needed downgrade to operate the gunship. But after his sudden shutdown, it seemed the machine ceased all functions.

How long had it been? His body creaked from the forced movement, each failed attempt infuriating his circuits. The rusted automaton spastically smashed his head against the ground, unable to move, venting all his accumulating frustration. How could he have failed so miserably? Was the universe truly that cruel to him? To take away his chance at avenging those lost to the threat of Titanization? To Kubal’s selfishness that plunged the world into hell? Had Goro’s death been for nothing? The right side of his cranium cracked, spidering across his forehead and eye lens. He cared little for his condition…

For there was nothing left for him here. He was truly alone.

When his eyes flickered to life, he felt rigid, barely able to move any of his limbs. It wasn’t long before Jet Jaguar determined that his limbs had rusted from inactivity. For that to happen, just how long was he out for…?

He laid in front of the effigy that stood before him. It was only half-made, having only started on it after the completion of the UX-01-92. A memory flickered for the source of inspiration. A smiling robot, a human girl and her cruel father. The drawing was disproportionate to how he was, but it was this template that served handy. Not only was it simpler to build, but could have served as a backup in the event of an emergency such as what he was going through now. But he failed to account for the miscalculated step that led him to this point.

Every jittery movement was an excruciating toll on his failing body. Perhaps he was a bigger fool for not transferring himself into the second body sooner, even in its incompleted state.

At last, he stopped. His robotic, desaturated body fell limp against the cold, hard ground, but even its embrace was far too forgiving compared to the shame that lingered in his machine heart. Just within his peripheral vision was the half-formed idol created in his image, his symbol of hope against Kubal’s ruthlessness. He laid prostrate in front of it. How futile his efforts were…

He changed his optical spectrum, seeing the ebb and flow of light from his body. Before, it had once been free-flowing and beautiful; but now it had decayed, barely trickling from his prone frame. Maybe he had simply begun to run dry, but a deeper fear of obsoletion was getting to him. He’d never get the chance to right the wrongs of his mistake.

Maybe his wishes were never meant to be.

With a last flicker, his eyes went out. However, his body responded in kind, the antennae sprouting from his conical head. The distress beacon pulsed, calling into the empty vacuum of the empty facility that he had spent the last few years of his life in.

If nothing else, he had to push on–no matter the outcome. Even in the pits of darkness was a small, miniscule light of comfort. And perhaps that was better than nothing at all.

 

Chapter 1: Lost in a New World

Bougainville Trench, Pacific Ocean

Amidst a world without light or warmth or familiarity, Zilla floated amongst other dwellers of darkness. Glistening, miniscule marine life fluttered by, driven by all types of purpose the great marine reptile envied. Because while the boundless aquatic life seemingly knew their roles within the new world, whether it be predator, observer, or prey, the mutant beast meanwhile for the first time in his life possessed no sense of what he should do.

Such purposelessness had been inconceivable upon his home world. There, wherever there was, he belonged to a family which constantly endangered itself. Mighty titans of death or destruction routinely threatened his families’ lives and, responding to that uncanny sixth sense of his that knew when those he cared for were in danger, the monster champion would arise to meet that murderous force.

No matter the opponent, no matter the discrepancy in size, in strength, in power; Zilla clashed against those dreaded monsters without regret or fear for decade after decade. And while those clashes became rarer as time progressed, the last confrontation proved greater than anything he’d faced before.

To the dreaded dorsal spined leviathan which spouted azure flames, he buried the behemoth within the sea.

For the demon of the stars that summoned endless crystals, he aligned himself with the leviathan to plunge it into the depths of a volcano.

And after vanquishing a pink-spined fiend, ensuring his families’ safety, a void of black opened up within the air like a gaping, abyssal maw. With a thunderous roar he was swallowed, plunging him into a new world. When he finally broke free of his hastily created tomb and shook off the last vestiges of soil, a new nightmare descended upon him from a lush, life-filled landscape.

What was one curiously tall human, seemingly placid and smiling, became hundreds of ravenous devourers in the span of seconds. The first attacker he’d silenced with ease, crushing the ghoul under his three-toed right heel… but then the rest of the horde descended. Crushing jaws and unrelenting aggression forced the nimble mutant into a retreat where even unrelenting atomic fire could do little to stem the tide. Against the endless waves of pursuing ghouls, the atomic reptile bitterly swallowed his pride to retreat into the sea, losing his pursuers within the depths of the Pacific.

Days passed. Marred flesh mended thanks to a never-ending full belly. The oceans he now roamed were thriving with life; an endless, welcoming buffet no matter where he roamed. But after his wounds healed and the reptile focused on returning home, Zilla realized the scope of his troubles.

He was utterly lost; he was completely alone.

And with no sense of direction to pull him, the marine lizard floated between the imposing cliffs of the Bougainville Trench, weighing a return to the mainland for a final battle against the horde to find a way home—if such a path existed. Primitive thoughts clashed against instinct, unable to find consensus until reptilian eyes noticed a discrepancy: a monstrous shadow hiding amongst the darkness.

Dorsal spines blazed with power, illuminating the trench with unmatched, emerald light. The threat which lingered immediately retreated, beat back by the glistening aura; leaving behind a cloud of black ink as the unseen thing raced for some, distant shelter. He considered leaving the creature alone, allowing the would-be predator to slink off into whatever corner of the new world it called home, but the thought of conflict ignited what little motivation the lost reptile could latch onto.

A distraction for the current indecision, nothing more.

So with unmatched speed and ferocity, Zilla gave chase. Too focused on the fleeing shadow to pay any mind to the unnaturally warm waters he swam through, or the ocean floor which cracked and steamed in the reptile’s wake.

*****

Tokyo, Japan

The mission: Rescue and escort the H.E.A.T. members to safety from the anomalies.

The situation: Zilla nowhere in sight. Currently swarmed by unregistered organisms.

The outcome: Probable, even if unfavorable.

The multi-colored robot clenched his fists, summoning the strength available to him to thwart the horde of naked giants trampling over him. They were a relentless bunch, even one unusual humanoid scraping its head against the helicopter that contained Randy and Monique. Their lives were at stake, and he needed to be quick with it.

With a powerful swing of his massive 30-meter frame, the smaller creatures were easily dislodged, helpless as their bodies soared across the sky. A flick of his arm was followed by a lunge of his foot, each movement successful in peeling the plump zombies off his body. As the load lightened, Jet Jaguar was quick to activate his flight initiative, which pushed him to the skies by antigravity propulsion. The higher he climbed, the more the ghoulish humans lost their grip, haplessly falling to the ground. Then, with a rapid aerial spin, he shook off the last of them before pursuing the helicopter.

Despite their numbers, it was odd that their light-weight composition was strange when compared to humans of this scale. Although he himself was a size-changing robot inhabiting a universe of monsters that defied the basic understanding of physics, the encounter with these light-weight humanoids proved there was no limit to the types of creatures that could exist. More importantly, however, was their increased body temperatures. Like honey bees defending their colony, clusters of these creatures could easily overheat whatever prey or target happened to cross their path. It was wise not to be overwhelmed by them.

Upon being released from the horde, the android hero flashed in a brilliant light, reducing his size to 12 meters and matching the helicopter’s length. Smaller size meant more evasive flight and dexterity, though being mindful of the unknown territory they resided in. Although they had both outpaced the unidentified humanoids, there was one for concern still in hot pursuit. The same long-haired female type, keeping pace by crawling on all fours. She eyed the human passengers and himself, eager to take another pounce.

All the while, the robotic creation of Goro Ibuki kept a close ear on the back and forth between Randy and Monique. Being able to selectively isolate their speech from the surrounding wind made it easier to distinguish their discussion.

“Hey, you see that?” Randy inquisitively pointed out. “That is one humongo wall…”

“Fairly obvious what it’s for,” Monique had quickly put the pieces together.

Jet had likewise come to the same conclusion. These walls would’ve been infeasible against the might of a kaiju. But these much smaller humanoid organisms? It seemed to do the trick. Even seeing a flock of them huddled around the base of the wall only reinforced their purpose. The only oddity was the semi-circle hole, which didn’t line up with the rest of the more evenly distributed structure, possibly caused by an explosive.

But there were always going to be special exceptions to the rule.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, hey!” Randy cried out in a panic, pointing to the ground below.

Jet shifted his gaze, seeing the quadrupedal entity in a specialized stance. It pressed on all four of its limbs, leaping with a tremendous bound unseen before. Its jaws opened wide, tearing the flesh around its maw, elongating its gate. Just before it could take a chomp out of the pilots in the chopper, Jet Jaguar swooped in front of them, taking the brunt of the damage. With arms crossed, the robot felt the square teeth sink into his metal skin, and the subsequent force nudged him back and bumped into the copter.

Although the airborne vehicle continued forward, it wasn’t enough as the back of Jet’s armored back scraped against the tail of the chopper, with the tail rotor shattering against the hard metal. Almost instantly, the Bell 412 spiraled out of control, struggling to maintain buoyancy. The landing skids sparked against the stone edge of the towering wall, descending to yet further uncharted territory. Jet likewise struggled against the throttling zombie, sinking its teeth deeper into his body of steel and circuits. Reeling with his other arm, the electric guardian threw his fist into the eye of the cretin, the impact causing a burst of steam and heated blood to rupture from the wound. Then, pressing against the creature’s skull, Jet forcibly lodged the humanoid off of him, allowing it to fall to the ground.

By the time he had finished, it was too late–the helicopter had likewise made a hard landing against the ground.

The scattered dust from the crash made it difficult to determine the condition of its crewmembers. In a panicked rush, Jet Jaguar hastily landed with a thud, kicking off with an immediate sprint over to the fallen chopper. His scanners quickly indicated they had made it in one piece, but unconscious; though there was no doubt that the helicopter was far worse for wear. Before he could scoop up the prone crewmates and make a run for it, the feral human shrieked and lunged for him. Side-stepping out of the creature’s trajectory, Ibuki’s son watched as the leaping zombie unceremoniously crashed into the ruined earth, its face obscured by dust and steam. He struck a battle stance, now ready to go on the offensive against this mystery cretin.

Yet before he could make a move, his auditory sensors detected the whirling screeches of metallic wire and the hisses of high-pressurized gas. Pops from firearms also caught his attention, and just as suddenly, there were streams of black smoke billowing in the air. Where did those come from? Then in front of him, he had barely registered a human-sized figure… Flying through the air?

What in the world was happening? Were they being ambushed?

Just then, he felt something scrape against the back of his neck. Like the grind of box cutters against a slab of steel, there was a concentrated pressure applied to the back of his neck, yet all it left were mild grooves and shattered blades. Jet turned to see his assailant, who whizzed by like a speeding bullet. The figure was cloaked, holding a pair of broken swords in their hands. Then just as quickly, they retracted their wires into a device strapped around the hips before quickly ejecting out to guide the human’s momentum.

When he turned back to face the anomalous creature, he found it slumped over. Had it been paralyzed? It happened so suddenly, it was impossible to determine the method employed.

They began to shout and scream, seemingly relaying orders to one another. The sound registered similar to Japanese, but the dialect had been one he was not familiar with. Before he could process and translate their words, the airborne human pulled out a flare gun and loaded it up with a shell, pulling the trigger. With an immensely loud ringing distracting him, the two soldiers slinked off into the distance. An acoustic burst? Jet had to wonder what it was for, but his intuition told him he was going to find out very quickly.

And not even a moment later, that prediction came to pass.

As the other two retreated further away, another soldier–this one different from the others–made a rapid approach, closing the gap. As the user skillfully propelled themself through the air with a combination of immaculate wirework and bursts of pressurized gas, the soldier flung into the air, meeting Jet Jaguar’s line of sight. Their movements were quick and decisive, and without any restraint, they bit down into their hand. The next thing Jet Jaguar knew, the person flashed in an enveloping, electrical light simply bursting with steam and heat. A whirlwind of destruction erupted from where the human once was, and what stood before him was no longer a person, but a creature no different than the cretin he had been dealing with previously.

Yet this one was refined–a large, toned body, ragged hair, and pointed ears distinguished this one apart from the other easily. And unlike the previous humanoid, this one towered over him at 15 meters. Without a moment’s rest, the giant made the first move. Lunging forward with a fist full of fury, the monstrous human directed its attack towards his grinning face, who could only deflect it by covering his face with his hands. The blow was full of raw power, flinging the steel fighter back effortlessly. The swelling heat stung his hands, without a doubt more intense than the waves of zombies he had dealt with previously.

With a boisterous roar, the titanic human demanded a fight. And it was a fight Jet Jaguar was going to have to provide, whether he liked it or not.

 

Chapter 2: Convergence

Moments before…

The Titans were on the move. That was the initiative for the Scouts’s mobilization. Her former home of Monzen had once again become the primed battleground for the fate of humanity. First the Colossal Titan, Shikishima’s coup, then the giant from the sea… A deep lingering stung to her core as memories of Armin washed over her. But she was quick to dismiss them, her heart steeled for the occasion.

No doubt, she thought, Eren felt the same.

But what the Scouts had found was nothing short of… unusual. An Abnormal was to be expected, but a helicopter? There wasn’t a dispatch team sent to the area last she recalled… but she couldn’t keep wondering the whos or the whats. That was for the Commander to figure out. She just needed to attack. To kill. That was all.

A two-pair formation was set, partnered with Shizumu, as they went ahead of the rest of the Scouts. Titan-like objects had been identified, both with unusual characteristics for Titans. One was a feral jumper, no doubt having mustered the determination to crawl over the wall… but the other was far beyond the typical Titan, even for an Abnormal. Its metallic body and appearance evoked more of a machine than a living being, yet it was too smooth to match any of their technology. A new Armored Titan?

“Shizumu, take the Titan, I’ll dispatch the other one,” Mikasa issued, keeping her stoic demeanor.

“Hold on! Chief! We don’t even know what the other one can do!”

Before Shizumu’s words could even register, she had sped off towards the metallic Titan. For the safety of humanity, for the sake of the Scouts… to vent her frustrations. But as her blades shattered against its nape, an uneasy sense of guilt and anxiety began to crawl through her mind. ‘Not again,’ she muttered to herself. Swiftly peeling away from the metal Titan, she turned to see it tracking her…

“It’s intelligent.”

She loaded up an acoustic shell. There wasn’t a point to send in more Scouts to their deaths, especially against an intelligent Titan. Everything had to be left to Eren to dispose of this other shifter. And not long after, there he was. Rushing in, biting down, transforming into his Titan form. And unlike the metal one, Eren had the clear height advantage as he went in for a decisive blow to the steel humanoid. But she couldn’t keep an eye on him for long.

“Chief, look!” Shizumu pointed to the source, a signal flare. But this one was purple, near the crashed helicopter. Hange and her soldiers were already on top of it, pulling out the two operators from it–both bloodied and bruised. Since Eren was dealing with the mystery Titan, maybe these two had the answers she sought.

But a thought came to mind; if the Titan Eren was fighting is indeed a shifter, then perhaps…

As they landed near the crash site, Mikasa could hear the hollering of Hange’s orders. “Call the trucks! We’re going to retrieve the helicopter and deck that thing out. Be handy to use a replacement.” Just as she finished barking orders, Hange finally took notice.

“Mikasa, what do you have to report?” The Scout Commander inquired. Although her usual giddiness would peek through from the mere thought of new Titans, she was also good at keeping her head straight–especially when lives were at stake. “Everything you can.”

“I’m not sure what to make of it,” Mikasa started, “it has skin with hardness equal to, maybe even greater than Shikishima’s Armored Titan. Not just that, but I think it’d be right to say that someone is controlling it.”

Hange pondered, bopping her head in a rhythmic nod. “Hmm, I see… and the damage?”

“Impossible to cut through. Only light scratches.”

“So like the green giant… but metal… if that’s all we got to go off of, then let’s hope Eren can help restrain the Titan for further study. Fortunately,” Hange perked up, as if the solution came to her, “we may have just the people… once they wake up, that is.”

Hange motioned to Mikasa the two unconscious strangers, both of radically different complexions unusual for those who lived within the walls. Their clothes, too, seemed like the material only ever found and sold within Wall Okuno for its innermost residents. Then a thought popped in her mind. A nagging feeling that irked her.

“Commander… is there a chance of them being part of Kubal’s personnel?”

Hange’s mildly gleeful disposition quickly turned grim at the thought. “I can’t deny it to be a possibility. But until we know for sure what we’re dealing with, it’d be best to withhold judgment. I hope you understand.” Mikasa begrudgingly nodded, complying with her Commander’s words.

“Commander! Chief! We have activity, they’re waking up!” A Scout shouted.

“Be quick, and restrain them,” Hange barked back, “We need to know all we can!” And without hesitation, the soldiers did as she willed. But the reporting Scout scurried up to Hange and whispered something out of Mikasa’s hearing. The Commander nodded with grim resignation.

“Mikasa, I need you to take care of things.”

With an astute and firm salute, Mikasa simply replied, “Yes.”

Without uttering another word, the Commander took off, scaling up to the top of the walls. Either way, she was entrusted with the task at hand–and to that she will fulfill.

*****

South Pacific Ocean

Never before had Zilla hunted like this.

When instinct propelled him to chase a monster, it was always backed by an important purpose. A creature that threatened the planet itself, perhaps, or a beast that dared bare its teeth towards his adopted family. But this hunt was unlike any other, for it was backed by no special purpose or objective whatsoever.

For the first time in his life, New York’s Lizard King was hunting another creature purely for existing.

It wasn’t exactly common that the intelligent saurian would be one to ponder over morals; normally, circumstances made it that he didn’t have to. In the world he knew, the process was rather simple: a threat arises that humanity cannot stop alone, so he would rise to the occasion to face it head-on. Alas, this was not the world the Lizard King knew. And as he torpedoed through the depths of an ocean he used to know inside and out, he found himself pondering over the unthinkable: questioning his own actions.

Was this how far he had fallen? Had this new, savage world truly brought him down to this level of low? It was one thing to take action against a rampaging monstrosity that threatened the lives of those he held close to his heart; it was quite another to hound down a fleeing creature for no other reason other than to satisfy a sense of boredom. A creature that didn’t even bother to fight back, no less, but chose flight before any conflict could begin. In his mind, the giant iguana couldn’t help but begin to wonder.

Was he no better than the beasts of his past? Was he no different from the monsters that brought terror to his family, the very ones he had spent so long fighting…?

The waters around Zilla started to lighten, at first so gradually he didn’t notice. Up ahead, the shadow of his “prey” seemed to be ever out of reach, not speeding up but not slowing down either. Just managing to keep ahead of the reptile, trailing multiple appendages behind it. As seconds turned to minutes, however, Zilla began to notice the subtle changes of the environment around him. The ocean floor was slowly rising to his level; the plant life was beginning to look different, as was the fish and other sea creatures about him. And with the slow brightening of the water, so too did he begin to see hints of sunlight that ever increased the further he swam.

Somewhere up ahead, there was land.

Seconds continued to crawl at an ant’s pace, and in time the slow increase of sun-lit visibility started to shed light on Zilla’s quarry. It seemed to be a massive cephalopod, and nothing more. A gigantic octopus, but hundreds of times as large as they were supposed to get. And it didn’t seem to mind that it was headed towards a body of land, aquatic creatures as they were…

An idea abruptly popped into the iguana’s head, a memory that seemed to go off like a bomb. Finally finding a good reason to abandon his chase of the Giant Octopus, the lizard leviathan undulated his tail like a dolphin and switched directions. No longer going in a straight line, the mutant iguana powered up towards the surface, hoping against hope to be greeted by the sight of a familiar island when he broke the veil of water…

Steam burst from the lizard’s nostrils upon meeting fresh air, followed quickly by the entire top of his boxy skull. His flaming orange eyes spied ahead, vision razor-sharp as ever… and confusion graced his mind when he spied what he was headed for.

It was not Site Omega, the Monster Island he recalled from yesteryear.

He was far closer to the island than he had realized—and just so, for when he looked back, he saw the walls of a gigantic hurricane dwelling far behind. He and the octopus had swam right under it, and didn’t even notice.

Even before the island itself truly began, several rocky karsts jutted from emerald waters for at least a mile about, each one brimming with vibrant vegetation and flocks of white birds. And the island itself, even from what little he saw of it, was beyond gigantic. Far more vast than any he had ever seen. There were massive expanses of jungle extending as far as his eyes could see—and in the grand scheme of things, he could only see a small fraction of it. For much of the distance was shrouded by intense levels of mist, typical for any tropical environment. When Zilla dared to take a whiff of the air about him, his senses confirmed his suspicions; this was no island he had ever seen. Everything about this land was entirely new, and was now his to explore.

Undulating his tail in a sideways motion, the irradiated lizard picked up speed to start swimming inland. His spines knifed through the veil of seawater like shark fins of stone, kicking up great waves in his passing. The closer he drew to shallow water, the more scents began to fill his nostrils. Scents of which he didn’t recognize, but clearly belonging to animalistic sources larger than any whale.

Perhaps when he stepped foot upon this island, he wouldn’t be alone…

The sea floor began to scrape against Zilla’s knees, enticing the lizard to cease his swimming at last. The shallows were upon him—and with it, the inevitable coming of dry land. Three-toed talons planted themselves against sandy seabed, contracting strength into the reptile’s long legs before pushing off. Salt water roared off the lizard’s body as he reared up, standing to his full mighty height with a rumbling growl.

The depths of the earth trembled as the mutant monster took his first step forward, beginning his trek inland. Water splashed around his heels as he waded through the criss-crosses of water channels, his footfalls disturbing flocks of birds from the mini-islands that surrounded him on all sides. Upon looking closer, though, the atomic reptile realized that not all of the flying creatures were birds. Flocking about now and then were small murders of flying reptiles, adorned with patterns of gray and vibrant yellow, and each sporting a saw-edged spire from their snouts like a sawfish. The minute pterosaurs circled about him once or twice, curious about this strange newcomer yet clearly keeping their distance, before eventually deciding to fly away.

Zilla kept his eyes peeled as he waded further through the shallows. He had the bare minimum of a look at this island’s fauna, and already it was the strangest he had ever seen. He had no clue what to prepare for the deeper he trekked…

To his left, a splash revealed a trio of tentacles surfacing briefly before vanishing beneath the boggy veil. His head cocking to the side, the atomic reptile strode over to the spot, only to see that the perpetrator had vanished once more. Before Zilla could question any of it, yet another splash attracted his attention even further inland. Again the iguana followed the disturbance—and again, the perpetrator was nowhere to be seen.

Was the cephalopod playing with him?

A sense of unease began to creep over the reptile’s nerves. When he heard the next splash, unlike before he stayed still. This was beginning to feel all too much like an ambush. Perhaps the octopus had meant for him to follow it, luring him into a trap so it could strike when he was unaware. Or maybe it had gotten fed up being chased, and was now planning to get back at him for the trouble he caused it. Either way, Zilla was not bent on playing either game.

Lo, for he was about to learn that neither scenario would prove true.

The next time he heard a splash, it was followed by the frothing of water as something massive emerged. No longer hidden by the shadows of the deep sea, the Giant Octopus made way into the shallower waters, fully visible to his orange eyes. The iguana hunched low with teeth bared, hissing a warning to the mammoth mollusk. But the octopus merely held its ground from afar, staring right back at him with its strange eyes. Before the Lizard King could ponder over what to do next, an entirely new sound announced the coming of another presence. The island trembled from the vigor of a booming roar, as loud as it was mighty, carrying across land and sea for several miles all around. Not even twitching, the cephalaod merely turned about, as if in expectance from the source of the powerful cry…

The shallow water rippled from the quaking of distant footfalls. Repetitive, hammering like primordial drums of war—and growing stronger with each step. A low snarl rippled from Zilla’s throat as his fight or flight response kicked in, tail swirling and talons tensed at their tightest. Fiery eyes narrowed into dangerous slits, showing the slightest hint of a glint that would prelude his most deadly weapon should the need for it arise. Whatever would show itself from that fog would be nothing he couldn’t take on, and he would make sure the unseen being damn well knew it.

He did not come all this way just to die here.

The pounding of great footsteps at the height of their power, a muscular form began to loom out of the vaporous haze. Bipedal in shape, with visible hands and feet that set Zilla on alert. Normally, the sight of something so human would be of no source for alarm for him—but these circumstances were anything but normal. The last time he had happened upon anything human, said entities had tried to devour him like rabid ants. For all he knew, he had crossed paths with yet another of the feral savages, larger than any other of its kind.

It was when the hulking form continued to walk out of the fog, though, that the Lizard King realized he was wrong. While the creature was distantly related to humans, it was nothing of the sort. It was a gigantic ape, adorned with tattered brown fur with the occasional missing patch to reveal dark gray skin. Ugly scars decorated different sections of his head and body, long turned stone gray with age. His eyes, dark orange in a manner almost similar to Zilla’s own, stared at the iguana with a most powerful gaze. Such a look, hardened by decades’ worth of struggle, combat, and experience, would’ve put off many a foe. Even the toughest would’ve stepped back in fear of such a sight. But Zilla made it clear he was no ordinary beast, and throated a growl that rumbled the island to its core; a warning for the primate to keep his distance.

Or else.

Despite the fury of the warning, the ape did not respond in any way. No hardening of his gaze, no steps forward, no growl or roar to announce the beginning of a fight. Instead, he merely continued to hold his gaze upon the new arrival in silence, as if contemplating over what to do with him. Zilla’s eyes flicked back and forth between the ape and the octopus, peeled for any signs that either could make a move…but it never came. Just a tense stand-off buried in thick layers of silence that threatened to set the reptile’s teeth on edge…

*****

The moment Mikasa signaled the attack, he was on the move. With at least one Titan disposed of, he could focus all his sights on this new Abnormal. Eren ignited his transformation, harnessing the power of the Titans in his grasp. But when he went to deliver a fatal blow, he instead found mild resistance when the steel humanoid blocked his oncoming attack. Despite its resistance, it did not fare well against the blazing heat of his fist, throwing the silver Titan back against the ground in a violent crash.

“No Titan can block like that… unless it possessed intelligence.”

Eren recalled the face of the man he hated the most, how he used his power to keep humanity in fear of the Titans; he also recollected the former Survey Corps Captain, Shikishima, and his ambitions to overthrow the government at the cost of innocents. Men with great power and selfish intent. There was little hope to cling to that this ‘Titan Shifter’ would be any different…

Eren clenched his Titan’s fists, lunging in for another blow. The metallic-skinned Titan was quick to evade the oncoming attack, using its smaller size and stature to avoid the flurry of swings and hooks that came at it. And even when he got close to another strike, the metal man would do its best to parry it with both their arms, deflecting the blow.

“Come on!” Eren shouted, his Titan roaring in tandem.

Every rage-fueled thought placed the blame on Kubal to some capacity, even as the grinning humanoid continued to evade his strikes. But he was quick to realize being fueled by the building frustration would not do him any good. With a sharp inhale, Eren temporarily cleared his mind of the lingering loss. It didn’t matter if this other Titan survived or not–it had to be stopped…

With a cleared mind and sharp focus, Eren lunged for a strike–and this time, a direct hit. Planting a firm punch to the grinning jaw of the metallic Titan. The immense force behind the blow forced the humanoid back, spinning around helplessly as it struggled to regain its footing. Before Eren could go in for another lethal hit, the robot man performed an unfamiliar gesture, which was followed by a flash of light. Registering it as the potential power of the Titans at play, Eren backed away to put distance between them.

“What is it…?” Eren didn’t even have the time to complete the thought as the Abnormal Titan began to grow, its mass, height, and volume expanding until it matched his 15-meter Titan. His eyes widened at the sight before him. “It grew?!”

Only with a moment to spare, Eren pulled into a defensive stance as the metal Titan retaliated with a punch of its own, finding it square in the center of his crossed arms. The impact fractured skin and bone as superheated blood geysered from the fresh wound. Even so, having the Titan this close was not a detriment, but rather a benefit. Pulling his right leg up, this opening gave Eren the chance to deliver a hard kick to the metal man, forcing it to stumble back on its feet. Eren used what little time allotted to him to prioritize the regeneration of his arms, which quickly began being patched up by skin and steam.

“A Titan that is able to freely change its size…” Such a power had been unheard of in the realm of Titans. Certainly, he had only recently learned that Titan Shifters were able to control how big or small their Titans could be, but to do that required discarding the body in favor of a new one. This Titan was able to alter itself at will without the need to discard its body. But this just showed that surprises were bound for every corner. For that matter, if this metallic Titan was anything like the green gargantua, then perhaps there was a chance of this thing not even being a Titan at all…

He gritted his teeth. He felt his judgment being clouded by uncertainty. It didn’t matter who or what this thing was.

He had to destroy it.

The burning fires of rage and fury overtook his mind as he murmured to himself…

“For Armin…”

For all they had been through, to reclaim their home from the corruption of Kubal. To seek freedom without compromise. To see the ocean… all their dreams they had accomplished and fulfilled together. And now in this world without him, only despair stared back. And he’d rebel against it, defy it to the bitter end.

Because it was what he had to do.

But even then… this is what Armin would want…

…right?

He took a breath. Not now. Just destroy.

Switching from defensive to offensive, with his arms fully healed, Eren rushed the colorful fighter with a flurry of swings and fists in an attempt to dismantle the metal Titan. But the crafty automaton was becoming wise to his movements; for every punch Eren threw out, the robot-like Titan swerved out of its path with skill and grace. With another deep breath, Eren kept his focus.

“Come on, take it,” he mumbled under his breath. With balled fists, he reared one of them back, leaving him wide open. With tremendous thrust, he hauled it towards the metal man, only for the silver humanoid to evade it, using the opening to strike at the lower jaw. The force behind the attack broke the jaw cleanly off, spraying heat and blood across their bodies.

“Perfect! I got you!”

Without missing a beat, Eren charged a powerful fist–this one tipped with blazing heat generated from his Titan. He lunged it towards the gut of the metal Titan, his teeth scraping down the arm, leaving a trail of sparks in their wake. Then, with a decisive blow, the fist landed directly on the emblem embroidered on the Titan’s belly.

It cracked.

Intense heat geysered from the impact, sending the metal man hurtling through the air at unprecedented speeds. Although Eren had ruined his hand performing the maneuver, he knew it’d heal in no time. He kept his eyes glued to the airborne humanoid, tracing the arc where it’d crash into the ground.

But that didn’t happen.

Instead, what Eren witnessed were protrusions from the Titan’s head sprouting outwards, and in just a few moments, swirling around in the air. It did finally come to a stop–but not in the means he had ever anticipated.

“It flies too…” Eren winced at the sight.

So many unknowns with this thing, but at the same time, if he could just get it to expose more of its tricks–however many there are–the better his chances at defeating it. Eradicating it.

Reorienting itself midair, the metallic human spun itself around, aiming its feet right for him for a devastating flying kick. It propelled itself at high velocity, closing the gap rapidly. But in those select few moments, it gave Eren ample time to evade–dodging just before the moment of impact. Though the blowback from the kick against the ground ruptured in flying debris and whirlwinds, the ensuing shockwave hurdled him back. He rolled until his back hit the wall, which stood sturdy amidst the chaos. Eren quickly rose to his Titan’s feet, but the dust obstructed any visibility. He couldn’t even tell where the nearby camp was.

It looked like nothing was there. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

He just had to wait and see what his opponent did next…

——

She felt her breath circulate through her lungs, quickly and steadily waking herself up from her abrupt trip into the unconscious. The rough landing did them no favors, and try as she might, the unpredictability of this new world forced her to keep on her toes at all times. Doubt gnawed in her subconsciousness, but she suppressed the swelling anxiety through sheer mental discipline and regained focus on the matter at hand.

They were in a tent, only big enough to house a handful of people. Hands were chained and interlocked together, with their legs bound by tight ropes. Monique felt her back pressed against Randy’s. The pieces started to fall together right away; they were being held prisoner. More importantly, as she came to quickly learn, by other humans.

Near the opening stood a young woman, unquestionably of Asian descent, with jet black hair that barely reached the base of her neck. The uniform she wore was one Monique had no prior recollection on from past experiences, especially with the cowl worn obstructing the mystery woman. Some kind of contraption was held at the waist, but once again the long cloak covered it from her view. The soldier’s facial features were sharp and well defined, highlighted with a guarded gaze Monique knew all too well. The face of a soldier who’s been through Hell and back, and the ability to do what is necessary.

As Monique continued processing her surroundings, she heard distant sounds equivalent to blasts of cannons or tank fire rumbling from beyond the tent. Was it Jet Jaguar dealing with that zombie? Or something more? A flood of other questions naturally flowed through her mind, but Monique had to gauge the situation as efficiently as she could.

“Where’s the robot?” Monique asked in fluent Japanese, which earned a startled look from their captor.

“Robot? You mean the Titan?” she responded in kind, keeping her guard up. Monique perked up at hearing those words. They had to be those humanoid zombies they were dealing with earlier. In her many years of experience, Monique knew not to press with a rapid barrage of questions; rather, she hoped to goad the woman into spilling the information they needed. “It’s currently engaged with our forces,” she said with an affirmed coldness.

A dissuasive, blanketed statement. Just about as Monique expected.

“Which district do you come from?” Her leering eyes studied them closely, even if Randy was still not fully there.

“We’re from beyond the wall. We were investigating the area until we were attacked by the Titans.” It was the simple truth, but even then there was so much she had to hold back. To pretend they were residents of this society within the walls would’ve been nothing short of falsified information that just simply wouldn’t have lined up. The lie would’ve been too obvious to the keen of hearing and those well-versed in perceiving. But the real truth was too absurd to anyone not in their predicament, unless they had knowledge about the portal that brought them here. But Monique couldn’t bank on them knowing, at least until she knew for certain.

But even hearing they were from beyond the wall, the soldier wore a mask of disbelief. “That can’t be possible… humanity died out during the Great Titan War.”

“Then maybe it’s time to check outside these walls, no?” Monique knew her statement held no validity; as far as they could tell, there were no humans left. But seeing the slight and subtle wince from their captor told her everything she needed to know. Perhaps that had been their mission statement. But if that was the case, what was keeping them back? The Titans were her first guess, but her hunch told her otherwise.

A stagnant pause overtook the black-haired soldier, contemplating her next question.

“…then where’s Kubal?” the detainer questioned, laced with venom and spite. The sudden shift took Monique aback.

“Kubal?”

Doubt marked the face of the soldier, but she kept her cold gaze nonetheless. More rounds of explosive bursts persisted beyond the tent. Monique heard the grinding of large-scale vehicles rolling by, gradually coming to a stop as their personnel dropped off. What was happening outside this tent was a mystery to Monique.

Just then, she felt shuffling behind her back, without a doubt Randy finally coming to. The dazed man reoriented his senses and looked around, trying to get a grasp of their current predicament. He shuffled some more, only to realize they were bound together.

“I’ll admit, not how I envisioned us being next to each other…” Randy remarked.

Monique simply scoffed at the pass; now wasn’t the time for his games. Though she knew full well it was how he responded to dire or perilous situations, or even a futile attempt to alleviate the swelling tension. But it was the effort that counted, no matter how bad it got.

Monique took notice of the woman’s shift in attention, directing her eyes to Randy. “Where do you come from?” her inquiry coming as cold as ice, awaiting a response from the sun-kissed man.

“¿Nada de inglés? Sorry, I don’t speak Italian,” Randy playfully retorted. But the eyes of the woman walled off his words completely.

“English, then.” To their surprise, the woman was able to speak in English. Bilingual, Japanese-English from what it seemed.

“What is your allegiance?” Monique interjected, taking her shot for valuable information.

“The Survey Corps. We explore the outside to expand humanity’s territory. We kill Titans, or anything that threatens humanity.”

“Wait, Titans?” Randy glanced at Monique, hoping for answers.

“Those human-like zombies, it’s how the natives address them.”

“Gotcha. Well, as long as there aren’t any Dragmas. In that case then, Miss…?” Randy turned his eyes on the woman, awaiting an answer.

“Mikasa.”

“Well, mi casa del ‘kasa, have you–?”

“You are in no position to ask. Where are you from?”

“Is that to me, or the both of us?” Randy simply asked, only for her cold gaze to make the statement for her. “I’m from New Jersey, a stone’s throw from the Big Apple. Frenchie here is from, well–” Before he could finish his statement, he felt a jab from Monique’s elbow that cut him short. “Ow! Okay, I deserve that for running my mouth.”

“How can I be sure that’s where you come from? How can you make certain you’re not part of Kubal’s forces?”

“Uh, Kubal? Mind filling me in there on that, Monique?”

“She hasn’t divulged any information in regards to him. I do think that she believes we are part of this ‘Kubal’s’ forces…”

Randy sat and pondered, thinking of the most optimal course of action. “Well, what have you told her thus far?”

“We’re from beyond the wall. That much is undisputed fact.”

“Then let’s just tell her! Certainly will help prove our innocence, yeah?” Randy suggested. Monique contemplated. All things considered, telling her the truth outright was a stretch beyond reason; but if Mikasa’s insistent they’re part of this extraneous force, then perhaps it’s their best shot at proving innocence.

“Tell me what?” Mikasa’s glare shot into them.

“Take us up to the top of the wall,” Monique firmly requested, “And we will prove to you that we are not affiliated with this Kubal person.”

Mikasa’s eyes shifted, contemplating the thought. “Not until the Commander returns. That is not in my authority to act on.”

“D’oh. In that case then…” Randy pondered, thinking what to say next. It was then a thought popped to mind. “Have you seen a giant lizard around these parts? Y’know, one as tall as a submarine is long? Maybe even almost as tall as that wall over there. We’re looking for him, and–”

The fierce soldier seemed dumbfounded at the mountain of details, so she quickly cut him off with a response. “No, we haven’t. We’ve had encounters with such monsters in the past…” Monique was quick to pick up a crack in the facade, her stoicism cracking ever so slightly at the hint of kaiju encounters. “But nothing resembling a lizard.”

“Darn it.”

Monique scanned the room, still hearing the booms of war occurring from beyond the tent. “Are you able to initiate a ceasefire?” Hearing this perked Mikasa’s attention, listening intently. “If you stop, Jet Jaguar will also stop fighting.”

“Jet Jaguar? The… Titan robot?” Mikasa clarified, affirming the previous facts.

“Yeah, he’s about as friendly as his big goofy grin appears to be,” Randy remarked, “Though I’ve never been big on the name. Maybe Robo-Titan would be better. No…”

the computer whiz contemplated a new name for their robot companion. He deliberated and brainstormed in his head, that much Monique knew without a shadow of a doubt.

“Can it be done?”

Mikasa shook her head at the inquiry. “Even if I wanted to… I’m not sure he’d listen. Not without the Commander’s orders.”

‘He?’ Monique took a mental note of that.

“Well… No hurt in trying, right?” Randy suggested, nervously grinning to keep his cheerful demeanor. But when Mikasa shot him an ice-cold glare, he instantly shriveled at the thought of the consequences that’d be brought upon him. But suddenly, Monique heard the hissing of gas and the grinding of wires nearby, no doubt other members of the Survey Corp. Only two entered the tent; both were women clad in the same uniform as Mikasa. The first of them had a soft, sheepish face, with light brown eyes and auburn hair tied back in a ponytail, her excess bangs drooping over the sides of her head. The other was an older woman with brown hair and equally brown eyes, though her goggles easily set her apart from the younger soldier.

“Did you get anything out of them, Mikasa?” The woman prodded at her subordinate, “Were they what you predicted them to be?”

“They claim not to be, rather they say they come from beyond the Walls.”

“Oh?” Her head perked with utmost curiosity, “An interesting answer… Can they prove it?”

“Atop the Wall. There we can find their ‘proof.’” Upon hearing this, the woman’s curious expression upturned to a crazy grin, her giddiness peeking through.

“Look, I can handle crazy, but this might be a step beyond my personal boundaries…” Randy quietly muttered.

“Welcome, strangers!” The woman blurted aloud, filled with a sudden excitement, “I’m Hange Zoe, the Commander of the Survey Corps. Nice to meet you! But as much as I’d love to get into the details, I need a question from you.”

A question… No, without a doubt, a request.

“Can you stop your metal man? Can I guarantee he won’t attack our soldier on the line?”

“Jet Jaguar will stop when he recognizes your ‘weapon’ as non-hostile.” Monique took note of Mikasa’s sharp glance. “I need your guarantee on that one.”

“I see… Mikasa, Sasha, release them. We are going to need everyone in attendance for this. Eren’s going to need to hear about it, too.” Without a retort or question, Monique saw as the two women soldiers unrestrained them, save for keeping their hands cuffed. Though much to her relief, she was at least no longer bound to Randy.

“Ow, hey, take it easy, will you?” Randy complained to the woman known as Sasha.

“Um, sorry,” Sasha politely muttered, almost uncharacteristically of a soldier.

“Come. Follow me,” Hange ordered.

——

How swift his foe was, its body posture and movement clued Eren in of its experience. No doubt a true and tried fighter that has seen the front lines many times. Every punch Eren threw out, the metal man was quick to evade. With its antennae still sprouted, it used its flight capabilities to enhance its evasiveness. The inability to make contact infuriated him, trying in vain to close the distance between himself and the artificial Titan.

Their fight took them again along the Wall, where a failed strike found itself embedded in the constructed stone that held the structure steady. But this time, Eren saw as the steel Titan propelled itself into the air, intending to deliver a chop near the back of his neck. With only a moment to spare, Eren forcibly pulled his Titan’s arm out of the Wall, his mangled hand steaming and sizzling with hot blood, and reflexively clasped his other hand around the nape. Narrowly avoiding the decisive blow, Eren leapt out of the flying man’s path as it crashed onto its feet, giving him the opening he was so desperately seeking.

Lunging toward the metal Titan, Eren started by using another frontal kick attack, successfully connecting with the armored plates. The humanoid rolled along the ground until it smashed against the side of the Wall, its movement cumbersome from the strike. As the metal man struggled to regain its footing, Eren used this chance to throw himself on top of the humanoid, pinning it to the ground.

“I got you!”

Despite the resistance the artificial man put up, it was struggling against his wrath. His superheated hands burned to the touch, keeping the Titan pinned to the ground. But before Eren could guarantee another blow, a new sensation washed over him as he felt himself being lifted off the ground. And it wasn’t just him; it was the Titan that was lifting itself off the ground. Before Eren could turn the tide in his favor, the machine-like man flipped Eren onto his back and ensured complete control over the scenario at hand.

Then, a sudden burst of light shined from the Titan’s eyes, overwhelming his vision under the intense ultraviolet light. All he could do was squirm and roar as he fruitlessly tried to regain control, but the next thing he knew, he heard the flesh of his Titan violated by the steel hand of the other. Just as quickly, he felt an immense force caress his human body, forcefully pulling him out of his Titan’s cockpit. It was firm, yet simultaneously restrained, barely leaving a dent in his gear. Sunlight bathed Eren as he coughed his lungs out from the sudden change in environment.

As he regained his senses, Eren saw the hole in the neck of the Attack Titan, steaming and bleeding from the area where he was gouged from as it slowly decayed into nothingness. He stared into the camera-like eyes of the Titan, who had since turned off its high beams, seeing its fixed grin in full display. How desperately he wanted to transform right then and there, but he felt his stamina sapped from the fight. Without rest, he’d be unable to transform again. His gear was unusable in this state, leaving him at the mercy of this mystery Titan.

“Well what are you waiting for? Just do it!” Eren shouted boldly, violently hacking in the Titan’s hand.

Death comes for all, and Eren knew he was no exception to that. Dying here… nothing short of undesirable. But instead of feeling the hand clench and forcefully jettison his organs, the metal hand relaxed as the Titan opened its palm, allowing Eren to move freely. He weakly stood on his feet, feeling the Titan blood steam off of him and the metal hand. Another flash from the Titan’s chest shined like a star, and before he knew it, the Titan began shrinking. Using this time to escape, his gear burst to life as he wired his way to the ground. As he did, he saw as it continued reducing in size until it became of human height.

It stood there, emitting a quiet hum. With nowhere to go, Eren slowly approached the machine-like humanoid with cautious steps.

“You could have killed me right then and there… what do you want?”

The robot waved its hand, almost insistent it didn’t want to fight. The screeches and whines it made were indecipherable to Eren’s hearing, but its body language communicated its intentions well enough for him to understand. Eren scoffed at the idea.

“Even if those are your intentions… The world is cruel. You shouldn’t hold back, no matter the reasoning.” Before he could say more, a blast from a signal flare caught both their attention. “A yellow flare?” He surmised it was to terminate the fight, which was only ever used to cancel an operation.

“Eren!” he heard Hange’s shouts from a distance, “Come over here! And bring Jet Jaguar too! I really want to inspect him!”

“Jet Jaguar?” Eren turned to the robot man, who nodded in affirmation. The two made the silent trek as they covered the distance between the battlefield to the tent as they made their approach to Hange and the others. Mikasa and Sasha were there, guarding two strangers he didn’t recognize.

“Ahhh!~” Hange’s sudden glow up filled her with an intense excitement, the same kind of reaction as instigating a Titan. His Commander kept a certain child-like enthusiasm, even when things were bleak. He wasn’t sure if it was an endearing trait or an obnoxious one, but he knew to keep his mouth shut.

“I can’t believe you’re not a Titan! What’s the secret?” she jumped around, giddy and ecstatic as she prodded Jet Jaguar at every conceivable angle. Jet Jaguar simply responded with his metallic screech. “Eh? I’m not sure what you mean,” she groaned, wanting more out of the robot man’s pool of knowledge. It was then he saw Mikasa approach the ecstatic Hange.

“Commander, Eren,” Mikasa reminded her. Almost at the drop of a hat and a simple clearing of the throat, Hange switched from gleeful to stern.

“Right. Eren,” Hange shifted her attention to him. “There’s been a development. First off,” she gestured to the two cuffed strangers, “These are Randy and Monique. They, and their compatriot Jet Jaguar, come from beyond the Walls.” Eren was taken aback by those set of words, but kept his stoic composure as he allowed Hange to continue. “We are going to need to scale up the Wall to verify their claim. But more importantly, thanks to Sasha’s scouting…”

The following words she uttered shook him to his very core. His quick glance at Sasha told him that she was just as nervous about this as anyone else. Rampant thoughts sweltered in his mind. Those words, that name, something he’d thought he’d hear again. ‘No…no no no.’ Of all the things Hange had to say…

…Why did it have to be him?

 

Chapter 3: Meeting of the Minds

The ape started to move forward. Slowly, but not in a way that made Zilla lower his guard. The iguana did not show it, but his leg muscles were tensing tight enough to snap; more than ready to spring should worst come to worst. The primate walked right up to him, looking him over for a moment… and then motioned his head sideways with a snort.

Motioning the reptile to follow him.

Zilla remained unflinching, even after the ape turned about face and began trudging back into the island. Equal parts surprise and undying caution kept the iguana stationary, not exactly buying the simian’s seeming request. Halfway through, though, the ape stopped and turned back to look at him once more with an arched eyebrow. Another snort echoed from the mammal, the request still the same.

Slowly, carefully, Zilla took a step forward.

With the pace of a black leopard stalking an antelope, the Lizard King began to follow in the ape’s footsteps. Only when he was close enough did the simian continue his walk, knowing for certain that the newcomer was trailing behind. Zilla took a moment to look sideways, briefly sparing a glance at the Giant Octopus who still remained where he was. The cephalopod was no louder nor more active than usual, merely continuing to stare right back at the squamate mutation. No hint of bad blood, no sign of communication, nothi–

SMACK!

One of the mollusk’s tentacles slapped Zilla across the face. It didn’t really hurt, so much as take the reptile by surprise. For a moment the desire for conflict sparked within the great reptile… but as the two giants held their gaze, eventually it died away and Zilla moved on.

Perhaps he deserved that.

All potential bad blood cast aside, New York’s former protector focused all caution on what was ahead as he resumed following the ape. It seemed he had every right to retain his uneasiness; when the shallows ended and the recesses of the island itself began, more than a few strange creatures caught Zilla’s eye every few minutes. Some were minute compared to the mutant iguana, hardly half the size of his massive foot. Others, however, seemed to approach a little too close to half his own size. How such an alien habitat had come to be, the lizard had no clue; but one way or another, these strange plants and animals had somehow grown to fit every ecological niche available to become a stable ecosystem.

The deeper the kaiju traveled into the island, the more considerably the fog lessened. Forests were not the only biomes this island possessed; vast floodplains criss-crossed what would’ve been a grassland with large lakes, creeks and river channels. And it was here that the ape came to a halt, a notion of which Zilla himself soon copied.

It was here that the monoliths of Skull Island roamed about.

Zilla’s eyebrows broadened upon greeting the sight of other kaiju, while the primate turned to spare a glance at him. The sound of suckling tentacles emanating from behind, Zilla looked over his shoulder as the Giant Octopus shambled casually past him, clearly fine with being out of the sea as he went towards the other monsters. The beasts all seemed to talk amongst themselves upon seeing the iguana, uttering deep grunts and growls in a conversation Zilla knew little about.

A quadrupedal dinosaur with floppy ears and an amber nasal horn bellowed to a bipedal theropod with knife-like teeth, who grunted back in reply. Their banter was joined by a massive walrus with cyan opal-like eyes, who bellowed seemingly in approval of the lizard’s presence. However, a mighty screech voiced its disapproval, in the form of a giant tuatara-like reptile with a row of spikes running down his back, neck and tail. A roar of agreement echoed from a gigantic lion with eagle’s wings, who spared Zilla a gaze that radiated mistrust. When the others looked to a strange, reptilian biped with horns and whip-like appendages for arms, however, said creature simply threw his arms upwards and shrugged in what looked to be complete disinterest.

Which was the opposite of the response from the next kaiju. A winged reptilian with a curved horn atop his head, with fangs like tusks giving him a saber-toothed overbite, grunted his disagreement with the lion and the Varanopode. He too, approved of Zilla’s presence. In this world, more was always better.

It was then that all of them turned to the biggest kaiju of them all, one that made Zilla stiffen in alarm. A golden, two-headed dragon stood tall and mighty on two columnar legs. Fanned tapestries for wings stretched out wide from both sides of his armless body, of which was adorned in scars just as old and ugly as those of the ape. Spiked horns crowned each of its remaining heads, all of which gazed upon the mutant iguana with hardened red eyes. Even the ape seemed to look at the xanthic drake with an expression of utter respect.

On this island, Kong was not the only king.

After a long moment of silence that sent a growing chill through Zilla’s nerves, King Ghidorah’s side heads screeched a proclamation, determining the final verdict of this stranger. Varan and Black Moth glared with contempt, hoping to eject the wanderer much as they did with the strange alien Shipdraw ages ago. The others wavered in uncertainty, not wishing to cast aside a potential member for their ranks.

Yet before it could be announced, an abrupt rumble in the soil told them that it couldn’t have come at a worse time.

A hollow, otherworldly howl split the damp air, startling the monsters stiff. Fight or flight instincts kicking into gear, Zilla snapped his head around to look back, eyes wide in alarm. He did not recognize that cry, but he knew it meant trouble when he heard it. In the blink of an eye, all kaiju were even more on edge and staring out in the direction of the shore with furrowed eyes. Once more, the earth rattled from the echoes of mounting tremors, but unlike before Kong was not the source; even the King of Skull Island was tense and silent, curling his lip in unease as the tremors grew stronger.

The imminent sign that the threat was growing closer.

Another demonic roar reverberated across the island; the prelude to a hulking, glowing shape lumbering into view from the boggy distance…

*****

Thoughts and concerns swirled in Mikasa’s mind. Everything had to go according to plan–otherwise they’d be putting their lives at stake once again. The squadron remained stationed at the top of Wall Sotono, the Scouts guarding the trio of robed figures prepared for the exchange. It wasn’t often she acknowledged the weather. But the bleak, cloudy skies reflected the doubt that gnawed at her heart.

“Hey, if you don’t mind me asking,” piqued a sickly Randy from under the cloak, “Mind if I can ask for another bodyguard? I am not vibing with this Shimozo guy. Sasha would be better. Preferred, actually.”

“Quiet, imbecile!” Shizumu barked with a hushed sternness.

“Randy,” Monique interrupted, shooting daggers at her compatriot. With a disgruntled sigh, Randy relented and kept quiet. Now was not the time to bicker or nitpick. And if Randy spoke out of line again, she swore she’d stick a blade up to his neck. Mikasa glanced at her Commander, who was peering through a set of binoculars, surveying the abandoned world beyond the Walls. Though she knew she was to keep a lookout for their ‘special guest,’ Mikasa couldn’t help but wonder if the claims of their visitors had credence to them. An overlooked outpost? A hidden bunker like those beneath the Walls? It was hard to say.

She heard her Commander issue for Monique’s presence. Though she kept her eyes firm in front of her, her ears couldn’t help but pick up the conversation between the two.

“That’s it? The place where you came from?” Hange asked, almost taken aback by whatever it was she was seeing.

“Indeed,” Monique responded, “That is the place we came from, and where we need to get back to once our objective is complete.”

“Objective?”

“A large friend of ours was here, we found his footprints near the portal.”

“Wait, like a Titan friend?! Can I see him!?”

“Not the type of Titan you’re familiar with. But unless we can track him down or use a beacon to lure him, finding him is going to be incredibly difficult.”

A portal? She thought it’d be impossible. Though she understood Monique’s vague words; had she tried to tell her that outright, she wouldn’t have believed them. Such a preposterous story wouldn’t have passed. But it is what it is…

Movement.

Without a second thought, Mikasa pulled out from her holster and fired a flare. It was indisputable.

“He’s here.”

—

Earlier…

“…But more importantly, thanks to Sasha’s scouting, we have received intel that Kubal wishes to schedule a meeting atop Wall Sotono. No weapons.” Hange concluded. Upon hearing this, Mikasa turned to see Eren swelling in an uncontrollable anger. A deep seated rage that hadn’t risen up since that day.

“You… you can’t be serious, right?!” Eren seethed between his teeth, “That bastard’s still alive? How?! I thought we made a clean sweep of the entire area for the bodies!”

“I wish I knew. There isn’t a whole lot of clean information on Kubal; anything that is public may have been altered by the Military Police. Who knows how many times he’s been eviscerated.”

“Wait,” Mikasa said, “You’re telling us that Shikishima…”

“His sacrifice only halted Kubal. It might’ve been only a matter of time before his return.” Hange’s grim expression told it all. Shikishima, the former Captain of the Survey Corps, leader of the anti-government rebellion, and the Armored Titan, had failed in stopping Kubal’s reign.

“Then it’ll be up to me,” Eren muttered with clenched teeth, “To murder that son of the bitch!” A tense silence washed over them as Eren made his bold proclamation. But it was Hange who spoke up first.

“Eren, you’re not going. That’s final.”

“Commander, what do you mean–?”

“I can’t afford your temperamental attitude in this pivotal moment. Kubal’s taken many things from us, but sometimes we have to try and make peace with those demons.”

“So what, you’re just going to give up?!” Eren blurted with heated breath, “The Scouts will never go down without a fight! If you can’t take the fight to him, then I will!”

“Eren…” Mikasa muttered. She felt and understood his rage and anger. Even as she was groomed to be the perfect killer, she knew Eren valued his friends beyond all else. But something in her couldn’t stand up to him, and she didn’t understand why.

“Eren, stop!” The sudden shout took everyone aback as everyone’s attention shifted over to Sasha of all people. “You think you’re able to do this by yourself? Last time, it took all of us to fight against Kubal and Shikishima. You weren’t able to do it without us. Mikasa… Sannagi… Jean… Armin… Do you think Armin would want this?”

Mikasa heard the sorrow seeded in her words. She knew Armin and Sasha had been seeing each other after the retaking of Wall Sotono. Mikasa was informed of the fact she was assigned to a mission within Wall Nakano, preventing her from being there when they encountered the green giant. A quick glance at Eren told her that her mourning words washed over his rage, diminishing the hate seething in his heart.

“I don’t know what Armin would have done…but not this. N-not this.” Sasha stammered, trying to keep her emotions in check. Only their heavy breathing remained as an awkward pause permeated the air.

“So, should we be here for this?” Randy asked, breaking the silence, “Seems like pretty personal affairs here.”

“That’s why I have a plan.” Hange affirmed, ignoring Randy’s remark. “From previous reports, Kubal’s only ever been after one thing… and that’s you, Eren. If we brought you along, then there’s the risk of your capture. It’s why we need them.” Hange pointed to the three strangers.

“If I may ask…”

Before Randy could complete the thought, Monique cut him off. “What for?” She responded, direct and to the point.

“You will act as our hostages of a new rebellion, and Jet Jaguar as a new Titan appropriated from the encounter. Then we trade off Jet Jaguar, and–”

“Whoa woah, no way José, you’re not pawning off our guy here for free!” Randy rebutted, “I am against this plan!”

“For once, I think we agree on something,” Monique chimed in, “Who’s to say that this Kubal will be tricked by a robot?”

“Well, if Jet isn’t from around here, then what are the odds of Kubal knowing any better? Besides, there’s also the phase two rescue plan to get Jet Jaguar back for you. We track him back to wherever Kubal is hiding, and bam! We nail him!” Hange explained ecstatically.

“Wait, hold on, I think we’re missing context here,” Randy interjected, “Kubal who? Like, can he also turn into a giant naked person like your guy right here?” He said, pointing to Eren.

“Correct,” Hange clarified, “For clarity, Kubal is able to become the Colossal Titan, the most powerful of all the Titans–or even the strongest thing on Earth. Then there was Shikishima, a man who possessed the Armored Titan… More importantly, Kubal is also the leader of the Military Police, who double as enforcers for the Security Treaty. In essence, they control the flow of information we do, or don’t, receive.”

“Literal 1984, geez,” Randy quietly quipped.

“Hidden in plain sight, essentially…” Monique presumed. Hange silently nodded.

“Nothing about this will go right,” Eren retorted, “Kubal is a monster. We can’t expect him to be so easily tricked. Our priority should be to subdue him as soon as possible.”

“There are other ways than heading straight into battle, Eren,” Hange responded. While Mikasa felt Eren’s sentiments, Hange’s orders were in the best interest of saving lives instead of putting them at risk. Both of them she understood well. But the words that came out of Monique took them aback.

“Commander Zoe, we’ll go with your plan,” the pale-skinned woman spoke plainly. Before her compatriot could vocalize his disdain, she asserted herself and continued. “I understand the wish to be tactile, but given the information provided, we can’t always be sure things will go according to plan.” Monique turned her gaze to Eren before facing back to Hange.

“Please, hear me out.”

—

Now

From the moment she fired the flare, the mood shifted drastically. Every Scout armed themselves to the teeth with their blades, fingers on their triggers. Even the Commander ceased her jovial demeanor as all eyes spotted the figures making their approach. Even after all this time, his face was burned into her memory; and once again, the fate of the future would begin atop the Walls.

The man needed no introduction as Hange initiated the dialogue.

“Kubal! Here as promised. We kept to our word.”

The ragged dictator seethed with an intense animosity, one Mikasa felt like his breath was down her neck despite the great distance between them. Then, he shouted back, “And you’re armed to the teeth! Hardly keeping to your word, I say.” But there wasn’t much of a difference either way, provided if he simply transformed right then and there.

“Did you bring Eren Jaeger?” The boisterous man boomed with his external voice.

“No. However–”

“If you refuse to hand over Eren Jaeger, then we can’t make any guarantees of your protection.” The woman next to Kubal interjected.

“Wait, wait wait,” Hange awkwardly waved, trying to reel in the situation to her favor, “That doesn’t mean we don’t have anything to give!”

“Unless you have Eren, I don’t want to hear another word!” Kubal roared.

“We have another Titan! Thanks to these rebels, we were able to locate and acquire another Titan for the deal, though the host is a strange one.” With a motion, Hange ordered them to bring up the two humans robed in their cloaks. Randy whined as he was taken for presentation, though the words weren’t discernible enough for Mikasa’s attention to focus on. The improv hostages two were forced to their knees, hoods thrown back and exposing their faces to the warlord before them.

“Hey Monique, this guy gives me the creeps. Don’t want him stealing my personal information,” Randy whispered.

“Shut it.”

Observant eyes scanned the two ‘rebels,’ but his reactions and subsequent response remained the same. “I have no clue what stunt you’re trying to pull, woman,” Kubal bluntly stated, “but bring out Eren Jaeger, or there will be consequences.”

“Very well then!” With another gesture, Hange ordered that the third cloaked figure be brought up. The towering robot stepped in Kubal’s presence before disrobing, exposing his metal smile and colorful body. “Here you go!” Hange exclaimed.

Mikasa remained on edge. Their reactions were different this time; instead of confusion, it was shock. Widened eyes of recognition. Were the odds truly against them? She had to wonder how on Earth either of them could even recognize this interdimensional foreigner… but before she could ponder any longer, Kubal’s expression shifted from shock to laughter.

“You’re kidding!” Kubal wheezed hysterically. “My two worst enemies, joining forces! I should have known that this was staged.” His hands clapped amusedly, taking steps towards them without hesitation. The woman, meanwhile, stood behind. “I want to say, impressed with the clean up job!” Kubal boomed sardonically. “Wonder how long it’s going to hold!”

Without hesitation, Jet Jaguar held his hands out wide, as if suggesting to Kubal that he’d had to pass through him before getting to anyone else. Mikasa gripped her gear. It was do or die time.

“Please, tell me something, Jet Jaguar…” Kubal boasted loudly. Anxious sweat dripped from her forehead. He knew its name.

“Is he dead? Did that coward get what he deserved?” Mikasa saw the robot get into a defensive stance, prepared to do battle if need be. Even Randy and Monique were cautious. But he did not approach the dictator, rather he kept his ground. Before Kubal could say anymore, a hiss stopped the man in his tracks. Almost immediately after came a flash of light.

“Wait, what is that…?” The hiss was without doubt from ODM gear, but there shouldn’t be anyone operating it. “Unless…oh, goddammit! Break! Fall back!” Hange shouted, and on cue the Scouts scattered, using their gear to fly around, finding safety amidst the walls. Mikasa was no exception to that. She saw Jet Jaguar turn his back to Kubal, rushing and scooping up his people to avoid the incoming disaster.

“Come on, dude, GO, GO, GO!” Randy panickedly shouted at the top of his lungs, the man kicking up a nervous sweat at the train-wreck occurring before them.

With a casual leap, the robot put distance between them and the dangerous man. Despite the vast distance they put between them and Kubal, they still felt the heated whirlwind of the thunderous light. Mikasa saw the familiar formation of Titan muscle strands and calcified bone, with the face of a demon glaring directly at the target. All Kubal could do was stare at the beast before him, only for the enlarged fist of the Attack Titan to belie its size, striking its target with utmost precision. Shredding the top of Wall Sotono, Kubal didn’t even last for a moment. One second, he took the full impact of the meaty fist; the next, his broken body was shot off faster than a bullet, soaring high in the sky.

With the midair punch having sent Kubal flying, Eren’s Titan began to fall to the ground, though the Titan was quick to catch himself as he landed with a heavy thud. Even though he found the mark, now was not the time to celebrate. It was then Mikasa noticed the woman, Kubal’s partner, no longer standing where she was… nor was she retreating. Instead, she had jumped off the wall, with a knife in hand.

Her heart began to sink.

“Eren!” she shouted at the top of her lungs, pulling out a signal flare. Loading the gun, she fired off a black flare in the direction where the woman had dropped. She had hoped the signal was enough to inform the Scouts, but more importantly, for Eren. But just as she did, another bright flash of light emanated from the side of the wall. Unlike the golden glow of Eren’s transformation, this one was an ever so familiar hue. A deep purple flash of light washed over them.

“That… that’s not possible.” Memories flashed before Mikasa’s eyes. Her heart shuddered, and her hands trembled. Another whirlwind blasted through the sides and top of the wall, taking everyone off guard. As the fierce winds died down and the steam dissipated, Mikasa was still in utter disbelief at the sight before her. Standing along the side of Wall Sotono stood yet another familiar face.

There was no mistaking it. She whispered in dreaded anxiety.

“The Armored Titan…”

 

Chapter 4: When Demons Come A’Callin’

Just because an organism lacks eyes, doesn’t mean it is a helpless wretch.

Many an animal has other ways of detecting what lies around them when eyes are not an option. Some use their sense of smell, one of the strongest senses of them all, to differentiate the environment around them and the factors that contribute. They can tell whether flora or other fauna are in their general proximity, just by the different smells they can give off. Others use more specialized senses, such as echolocation; a sound uttered by the organism that bounces back into ears so sensitive and scalpel-sharp, that an animal with terrible eyesight can tell whether another animal—food or foe—is around them, and which direction to take to either pursue or avoid.

For the volcanic berserker known as Obsidius, it was neither.

Imbued in his being through the unnatural power of the crystals that birthed him, the infernal golem detected those around him via means unlike any normal animal: the strength of their life signatures. Just by being in the proximity of other creatures, he could tell the health, size and fitness of each and every one without seeing or smelling a thing.

And through such sensory methods, he could tell that a particularly powerful signature was amongst those ahead of him.

There was no other such a signature could belong to; it had to be the one from before. The beast that had reduced him to pieces, shredded him right down to his molten heart. A heart that it should’ve destroyed, if it wanted him to remain deceased. But being a creature of magma, having his heart submerged in molten rock at the moment of his death, it was a no-brainer that he still lived and breathed. The molten blood of the earth had regenerated him quite quickly, primed and ready for round two.

The lava monster knew not specifically where he was; he could’ve sworn that the energy here felt… different, than what came before. But in the end, where he was didn’t matter. After having spent much time hunting for his ‘killer,’ he had detected a signature of immense power near his vicinity. The golem didn’t even hesitate to hound after it, a sweltering thrill coursing through his magmic blood. His patience had paid off, and he had finally found the loathsome entity that had so foolishly believed it had killed him.

If he had such organs to see, the satisfaction would be nothing short of gratifying to see the look of shocked terror on his to-be-victim’s face.

But for now, imagining it would have to do as he announced his arrival with a roar, beating his chest. The hatred brewing in his being was even hotter than the lava that composed his body. His ‘killer’ was a present he had been waiting far too long to open, and now the moment to do so presented itself before him. Smashing his fists against the moist earth, Obsidius barreled forth with deadly intentions.

Howling how he would murder the beast who had been so foolish to damage him.

*****

Then

“Please, hear me out.” Monique firmly pleaded. “If this Kubal is as much of a threat as you believe he is, and if you’ve already had run-ins with him, then I believe an offensive countermeasure is required.”

Eren heard his Commander humming as she pondered the words of a stranger.

“And what do you believe that will accomplish?” Hange responded.

Wasn’t it obvious? Part of him couldn’t believe the faith this foreign woman was putting into him. This individual understood the situation with a keen eye. Kubal’s death isn’t an option, but an inevitability. So Eren brewed in silent rage as he listened to what this woman from another land had to contribute.

“Kubal is set to arrive here with no armed guards, no troops, and no weapons–except for his Titan power.” She took a glance at Eren with a confident knowingness. “And use him to spear the ambush.”

“With all due respect, that is a risk I’m not willing to take,” Hange asserted, “Provoking Kubal with an offensive attack is only going to put the entire population of the Walls in jeopardy. He survived a point-blank, high-yield explosive to the face. If that didn’t do him in, then there’s nothing that will.”

Despite the assertion, Eren felt his spirit burn. He wanted to argue against his Commander, tell her how wrong she was. But he knew to keep his mouth shut and keep in line. It’d only create unneeded friction.

“And what will happen if Kubal sees through the ruse you have set up? That’s a high gamble in itself, no?” He could see the stranger’s words affecting his Commander. She knew well of that being a possibility. Monqiue continued. “You cannot use a spear as a shield. Flying in the face of danger is sometimes the biggest risk of all.”

“Sounds like that’s coming from experience,” Hange remarked.

“More than I’d care to admit.”

“Well then, if I may interject, ladies,” Randy interrupted in a flirtatious manner, much to Eren’s annoyance. “Maybe we can lay out an evacuation plan if things head south. Got any tech?”

“Some. Not sure how useful it’ll be, resources are rather limited. But if you have the skills for it, we won’t say no.” Hange admitted. “Or it just might be your head!”

Randy gulped, his face told it all. Now he had Hange’s expectations to live up to.

“So in the meantime, we’ll follow through with your plan, Commander,” Monique said plainly. “And for Plan B, we use him.” She motioned to Eren.

He wasn’t sure how to feel. Complete strangers giving their input, he wasn’t sure if they could be trusted. His heart was still hardened from past ordeals and betrayals. Randy was a nuisance that he’d wish to punch in the face, but Monique was someone at least deserving of a modicum of respect.

But even respect did not translate into trust.

“You have a reasonable head on your shoulders, however I must decline the suggestion. It’s too much of a risk to take. It’d be better to deal with Kubal, not the Colossal Titan.” Hange said matter-of-factly. “I know a spear cannot be used to defend, but we can’t risk losing it, either.”

“I see, how unfortunate,” Monique rebutted, “One more thing. The Titans, do they have a weak point?”

“They have a weak point at the nape of the neck. Back here,” she said, pointing to the back of her neck, “It’s a small area, nearly one meter across and roughly thirty centimeters wide for most. Though Kubal is deeper than that from what we know. Anything else?”

The foreigner shook her head, confirming the Commander’s inquiry. With that, Hange began barking orders. “All units begin mobilization. We have a date with Kubal in less than half an hour.” She turned her eyes to Sasha and Eren.

“Yes ma’am?” the soldier whimpered.

“I need you two on the truck with the helicopter crew. I have a feeling that the crashed heli is going to be in need of repairs, and maaaybe so our guests have some kind of transportation back to their homeworld.” Without hesitation, Sasha saluted before turning around, making her departure with the clean up crew.

“The rest, let’s head up the Wall. Make sure all of our guests are robed. Shizumu, take–” before Hange could even complete her words, the metallic arms of Jet Jaguar wrapped around his two companions and began to ascend. The panicked cries of Randy became evident, nearly puking his guts out. The other, Monique, kept her composure. “Oh, thanks, I guess. Shizumu, you’re coming with us.” Her eyes shifted to Eren. Anger gestated in his heart, boiling over his personal limits.

“Hange, this is bullshit! Even they know this plan of yours won’t work!” Heat steamed out of his mouth. His frustration became more and more obvious. A glare shot from Hange’s eyes, one uncharacteristic for the usually jovial commander.

“Eren… What’s more important to you? Kubal, or the mission?”

He didn’t hesitate. “These are mutually exclusive. The extermination of Kubal benefits the mission of protecting humanity!” Rather than rile up anger, the Commander kept her composure. Her lack of a response creeped in as the words settled. But his mind refused to differentiate them; they both had the same end-point. How could there be another way…?

“Truck. Now. I won’t be hearing anymore of it.” Slinging her ODM cables, Hange flew up the Wall, leaving him behind. There were hidden compartments in the Walls that allowed ease of travel, but in the intermediate time after Kubal’s initial defeat, a blueprint just showed off a maze that was nothing short of a complicated puzzle. Even the MPs that had been taken into questioning couldn’t comprehend the labyrinth; one wrong move and there’d be no way out. Though it seemed Kubal knew his way around them well from past experiences…

Without any immediate options at his disposal, Eren headed to the large tow trucks, the Scouts securing the crashed helicopter to the large trailer, aligning it and anchoring it down tightly for the road ahead. Hopping into the back of one of the Humvees, Eren took a seat. Though trying to escape here would do him no good. But just as he thought on it, the other soldiers filed in and lined the back of the vehicle, Sasha included.

The engines roared to life as the armored vehicle hauled their load back to HQ. The familiar bouncing from the rugged roads was all too familiar to the Scouts now, though it was infrequent to travel in daylight. As time passed, Eren glanced at Sasha. The emotional wear was written all over her; she didn’t have the best poker face. Even so, Eren knew not to force it out.

“Hey Sasha,” he whispered, nudging his head to her, “Are you holding all right?”

She was taken aback by Eren’s initiation, taking a couple of moments to respond, keeping as quiet as possible. “I dunno,” she replied earnestly, “All of this is out of my league. But no leaving!” she said firmly. “Hange’s orders.” Eren nodded in compliance, awkwardly shuffling in place. He felt all the eyes on him. Did they all hear his outbursts? Not like his feelings about Kubal were of any secret. Still, it felt… strange.

Eren glanced out the open back of the Humvee, staring at the helicopter being towed. The longer he sat, the further away they were from Kubal, and the more his chance at revenge slipped from his hands. Was there really more to this that he didn’t realize? He threatened them before, instigated the breach of Wall Sotono, and led many to unnecessary deaths. Just how was there room for compromise…?

“Eren… about earlier.” Hearing Sasha’s voice brought him back to reality.

“You might not have been wrong. About Armin, that is.” He took a pause, contemplating his next choice of words. “I don’t know what he would do. It’s beyond frustrating, but he always found a way out of a compromising situation. If only he were here now…”

Her eyes began to water, but she held them back. “What happened to him was out of your control. No one blames you for the circumstances around his death.”

“I know that!” Eren snapped back. But his sudden reaction earned a jolt from Sasha, with a nervous sweat gleaming from her skin. Seeing this, he sighed.

“Sorry. Let’s save it for when we get back.” He sternly replied. It was clear that she wanted to say more, but she kept it to herself. It was probably related to her emotional outburst from earlier. Not that it was easy. Her skills lie in fighting Titans and hunting animals, invaluable for the Survey Corps. But emotional tethers were another story. Especially after… Armin…

Something caught his peripheral vision. A signal flare. It was so far away, but still visible in his line of sight.

Kubal. It had to be.

He breathed in.

There was now considerable distance between where Hange and company were at. He had enough gas to get there at full throttle, a resource he thankfully didn’t expend during the conflict with Jet Jaguar. More importantly, the signal flare was only visible because they were atop the Wall. Any flares shot from the ground would be difficult to track from this distance. But the guilt of betraying Sasha ate away at him, but it wasn’t an option. Not just as a friend, but as a soldier with responsibilities. So they all can live long, plentiful lives.

He exhaled.

But it had to be done.

Faster than anyone could have anticipated, Eren rushed out of the Humvee and leapt out of the moving vehicle. He heard Sasha screaming at him to come back, almost ready to pursue him. Just as he anticipated, she fired a flare as a warning to the others; but the chances of them noticing were slim. Even an acoustic shell had limited range, and more than likely would attract a Titan in its place. He felt the wind against his face, climbing higher and higher atop the Walls. Maximizing his gas, he sped off faster than anyone bar none, perhaps aside from Mikasa.

For a moment, he felt almost sure Sasha and a few others would be in pursuit. Though given his speed and reflexes, he assumed they didn’t because it would be a moot point that would only endanger their lives. Consequences be damned, he had to do this.

Blistering the fastest he’d ever been, Eren scaled across the Wall alone. The moment of truth approached. All that burned at his forethought was putting an end to Kubal’s tyranny, to the suffering he’s inflicted upon the countless lives of the Scouts and civilians alike.

It was payback time…

—

Now

Everything went without a hitch. He summoned all his wrath and might to reduce Kubal to paste, much as the dictator did to Jean during the reclamation of Wall Sotono. He felt the small, frail body crunch under his rage, and subsequently fling off the top of the wall. Although such a moment would be worthy of celebration, there’d be no victory until Kubal was confirmed dead.

Even then, said achievement left a hollow feeling in his heart. Killing Kubal would never bring Armin back. But if nothing else, it was done for his sake… though before he could dwell on it any further, a familiar shout and a signal flare informed him that the threat wasn’t over. It was Mikasa calling his name. As his Titan’s body fell against the ground, leaning against the sturdy wall, he saw what she was addressing…

It was something he’d never thought he’d see again.

From the flashing purple hues, a body began to morph and materialize. Organs and skin formed out of the shining light as a titanic human emerged from it. Bone white plated covered its entire form, with hair and visage that was almost a complete imitation of the former captain of the Scouts. Magenta light pulsed throughout its body, coursing with heat and steam. Blank eyes stared at Eren, focusing on him.

“That’s not possible…” Eren murmured in disbelief. “Captain Shikishima…?” Thoughts ran through his mind. He had no context to the sudden appearance of the Armored Titan. All he knew for sure was that it had returned.

“I don’t know what the hell is going through your head, but…” Eren seethed hot air from his teeth, “But I beat you once. And I can do it again.”

As the Armored Titan slowly rose to its full standing height, so too did Eren get into position. If it’s a rumble they want, it’s a rumble they’ll get!

But before either could make the first move, the sky above them began to shine a brilliant golden glow. Off in the distance, a new sun was birthed high in the sky. In that moment, he realized what was soon to transpire. “Shit…”

*****

Skull Island

Both Kong and Ghidorah alike looked to the outsider, eyebrows arched from the golem’s vengeful proclamations towards the iguana. Looking right back at them with nothing but the utmost sincerity in his eyes, Zilla simply hissed back.

He had no idea who this creature–or the problem it had with him specifically–was.

Getting down on all fours, the infernal beast howled a war cry and broke into a charge, sending hundreds upon hundreds of leafwings and psychovultures taking to the skies in terror. Briefly holding out an arm, King Kong grunted for his fellow titans to hold back before sprinting towards the newcomer. Axe in hand, the great ape responded to the golem’s bellow with a war howl of his own.

The moment the primate was within range, Obsidius swung a fist towards his head. Kong ducked reflexively, sliding in towards his opponent’s legs before throwing his axe forward. The blade struck the golem’s calf, but barely dug any further in than the tip. Kong’s eyes broadened, realizing his enemy’s hide was much tougher than he…

WHAM!

A hammer blow from Obsidius’ other fist came down upon Kong’s cranium, knocking him flat. Quick as lightning, the lava monster went berserk upon his fallen form; laying into him with fist and claw alike. Smashing the ape’s torso with punches that shook the mountains, the volcanic killer howled for blood. Thinking quickly, Kong held up an arm and began blocking the painful strikes—if only temporarily.

Exactly when Kong swung his axe forward, Obsidius seized the offending arm mid-swing with one hand. Before the ape could enact a counter, the golem clocked him straight in the face. The King of Skull Island hit the ground like a ton of bricks, but already his adversary wasn’t giving him any moment of rest. The insidious killer reared back with a hollow inhalation, his mouth glowing brighter in preparation to unleash the blow that would surely kill the simian…

…before something heavy slammed into him from the side, knocking him away!

Stamping the boggy soil, Zilla bellowed furiously at the volcanic berserker before going back on the offensive. Shaking his head in an effort to fight the headache he now possessed, the Great Ape opened his eyes as he looked at the attacking lizard. If the residents of Skull Island didn’t have a reason to be thankful for his presence before, they all certainly did now. The ape stared in amazement as the squamate pounced upon the magmic beast, tearing at it with tooth and nail in a ferocity he had never seen before. Even when the golem started to shake him off, even when it was clear he wasn’t going to be down for very long, Zilla kept attacking him where he lay. Unrelenting in his mission to fell him here and now, his resolve blanketed in an aura devoid of any fear.

To the king of the island, it was a most inspiring sight.

Sadly, Obsidius seemed poised to cling onto life longer than the other kaiju wished. Belching a quick burst of lava upon his scaled torso, the golem reveled in the lizard’s screams before lashing out. Striking both legs against his quarry’s face, the lava monster sent the iguana recoiling away before standing back up. Scrabbling wildly at his burning torso, Zilla hissed in pain before putting some distance between himself and the infernal brute.

His injuries were but a mild inconvenience, and H.E.A.T.’s great champion defied the murderous thing ever further with another fearless roar. Behind the defensive lizard, Kong looked to Ghidorah; his features weaved in an expression of uncertainty. What should they do at the moment? Should they assist him… or was it best to hold back? Picking up on this, Ghidorah’s left head screeched to the ape, giving him his answer on the matter. And Kong nodded in agreement.

Zilla would face this battle on his own… for the time being at least.

It seemed the great lizard was no stranger to fighting battles on his own; his days of fighting with monstrous allies at his side were a more recent development in the grand scheme of things. If this was his battle to prove himself to the island’s denizens, then so be it. Zilla was no youthful rookie. Years and years of experience fighting foes of all shapes and sizes went with him, and he would rely on them yet again to put down this strange attacker just the same.

Eyes fixed on his quarry, Zilla began to lumber in a circle around Obsidius; a motion the golem copied. Staring at nothing but each other, the titans waited for one or the other to make the next move; all while the other kaiju did nothing but stare at the tense standoff. Even those select few who did not approve of the iguana were still and quiet, the tensions beginning to wear on their nerves…

A mighty bellow from Zilla was followed by a fearless charge back into the fray.

******

Not a single thought registered. Not a feeling pricked at his nerves as he sailed high in the sky. He saw his limbs shredded from his torso, but the concussion left him unable to feel the impact. Such raw power and immense force would have no doubt killed any other man. But Kubal was far from ordinary. He was gifted with a latent power very few others possessed. A power to forge a future through his iron fist.

Yet such gifts did not make him special.

“And life isn’t going to hold back, Kubal. So never give the courtesy.”

Those words rang in his mind, bringing his consciousness back from the brink. It was then he felt every sting of agony course through his body. His nervous system screamed in burning pain as a rush of endorphins swelled in his brain. He felt his throat resonate with a guttural shriek to ease the suffering. Pathetic. He must be ruthless, to fight against the cruelty of the world! But such a mindset only proved he was a weak man, no different than the humans he so vehemently despised.

All because there was one stronger than him. Her bright smile flashed in his mind, igniting his wrath and retribution. If this pain was all Eren could deliver…

…then he is nothing.

A surge of light pulsed through his remaining body, his back sprouting bony appendages that wrapped around him. Veiled under shimmering light, he began to transform. Weaving muscle strands knitted around the forming calcified structures that made up his bones, with tendons bridging between the muscles and limited tissue of his Titan. Heat waves emanated from his body, pushing away the overcast that permeated the skies. With his power, he opened the sun’s beaming light unto this world, and his might radiated through it.

Shockwaves pulsed from the fireball, leaving riptides of roaring winds in their wake. He was so high above, it did little destruction; but it made sure his presence was felt to all below. Even as the Walls protected them, there was no doubt that they could feel the wind push against the mighty superstructure. When his body had completely formed, it was then he began to fall. From the burning fireball, he tore through the bottom as he made his descent. There wasn’t a need to soften the landing; he knew his Titan could withstand it. Rushing wind filled his Titan’s ears, and in a matter of a few, deliberate moments, he crashed against the earth with a resounding, destructive boom.

Dirt and dust ripped from the surface, scattering them to the air above. Even the landing impact generated another shockwave, though far less pronounced than his transformation. It wasn’t long until the Colossal Titan rose to its full magnificence, clocking in at 150 meters. This time, he’d show the Scouts what for. His true wrath, his true might. Before, he had kicked a hole in Wall Sotono to drive out the rebellious scum. But now the Scouts proved their fruitless efforts would only lead to more trouble.

To strip humanity of its protection from the outside world.

With eyes that could peer beyond the 100-meter wall, he saw that Azusa had already transformed into the Armored Titan. Then there was nothing to worry about. Clenching his Colossal’s fist, it began to generate tremendous heat. Radiating with a golden light that pierced the skies with their god rays, he concentrated its power into a single, focused point. Immense force started at the shoulder joint, pressing and forcing itself through the entirety of his arm. A ball of pressure worked its way until it centered in his palm, meeting with the generating heat from his hand. It wracked his Titan with tortuous pain, but Kubal refused to let it deter him. When he felt ready, he opened his palms and thrusted it forth.

From the center of his palm, a bright flash of light pulsed from it, shooting out a blitz of highly pressurized air. The concentrated point of pressure zipped across the landscape, carving a trench in its path. When it finally made contact with Wall Sotono, the concrete and structural integrity disintegrated, the man-made barrier shattering upon impact. The explosive knockback blasted thousands of tons of material across the other side, littering the outside with rubble and debris. Even what remained of the structure clearly wobbled from the tremendous power inflicted upon it.

The commotion forced the puny insects to move, the cataclysmic blast scattering them all about. In the chaos, he saw as the Armored Titan stood resolute against the collapsing wall and destructive winds; the Attack Titan was less fortunate. The vile giant was thrown off its feet, punctured by the bricks and shrapnel from Wall Sotono. It was a pathetic sight. Their target had been quickly rendered immobile, leaving him to the mercy of Azusa. Finally, this can all be over with, as it should have been from the get-go…

The tremendous height and eyes of his Titan enabled Kubal’s attention to drift to a pulsing light from afar. Though quite the distance, his Titan’s eyes were sharp, and it didn’t take much to decipher the strange object’s soft luminance. Its ethereal appearance had to be a portal, or at least that was the conclusion he came to. But such a sight was not what he would have ever conceived in his long life. Its black ripples looked like that of water, but its alien presence suggested otherwise.

It was then it dawned on him. Humans he had never seen before. A fresh and new Jet Jaguar. If they truly did come from the other side… His eyes flashed at the implication.

There was a chance.

But first, there was business to deal with. By any means necessary.

Even as Azusa reached over for the fallen Attack Titan, Kubal knew what he had to do. They would reclaim their old lives back, no matter the blood that had to be shed. Even with Eren falling back into his clutches once more, there was no longer a need to sustain the humans of Wall Sotono. To ensure the demise of the Survey Corps and the rebellious element therein, he did what needed to be done.

Sucking the air through his Titan’s teeth, the Colossal Titan took in a tremendous amount of air in one, massive breath.

Then he, with a deafening blast, let out a cacophonous roar.

 

Chapter 5: Trial by Hellfire

The mutated iguana ducked under a swinging fist, going in low and slashing past his enemy’s heel.

However, the damage was minor at best, and as Zilla emerged behind the golem, Obsidius whirled around and charged as if he hadn’t been harmed at all. Ignoring the pain of his own wounds, the Champion of H.E.A.T. snapped on his heels and sidestepped the killer’s stampede—only to have to evade again when a blast of lava erupted from its eyeless maw.

Molten rock met boggy water and wet grass, causing a gigantic pillar of steam to birth upon impact. At first, the lizard paid this little mind; but as he evaded a second lava blast from the golem, an idea struck his brain.

Like a raven pestering a coyote, Zilla roared mockingly at the lava monster, daring him to hit him with his best shot. His rage spurring to new levels, Obsidius happily obliged and spewed yet another river of molten rock in the reptile’s direction. Fighting hard not to smirk, the squamate instantly darted aside and began to run in a wide arc around his opponent. And to his immense satisfaction, Obsidius cooperated beautifully and continued spewing after him; trying seemingly in vain to score a successful shot on the speedy lizard.

And all the while, the lava kept bombarding the soaking wetlands around them, rapidly producing the same results as before.

In record time a huge shroud of vapor and mist formed all about the molten golem, completely shrouding his field of vision. Had it not been for the endless glow of the magmic cracks across his body, he himself would’ve been shadowed entirely from the outside view of the other titans. Seeing this from a distance, Kong and Ghidorah kept their keen eyes on the unfolding battle. The others looked at one another, their expressions speaking of their amazement as they realized the iguana’s plan. Zilla could still see Obsidius—but the same could not be said vice-versa.

From behind the ruling beasts, Black Moth growled. Very bizarre, no? But a screech from Ghidorah mused something different.

There was promise.

Outside the vaporous haze, Zilla growled in satisfaction. His eyes fixed on the telltale glow of Obsidius like a hunting eagle, the reptilian defender sprinted into the evaporated water. The bewildered golem hardly had a moment to counter before the lizard’s tail swiped out his legs, bringing him to his stomach with a furious roar.

Skidding to a halt on the other side of the cloud, Zilla snarled and prepared to go in for a second round. But as he charged, however, a blast of lava abruptly exploded in his face! Caught completely off guard, the lizard shrieked as he was caught full-force by the infernal river that now enveloped his head, neck, and shoulders. He tried to retreat, but in his agony he could only stumble and crash to the ground. As the molten rock seared his flesh and he scrabbled painfully about it, he heard Obsidius’ mocking roars close by.

The reptile’s makeshift vapor shroud had done little to mask his life signature of which the golem could so easily detect.

Slamming his fists into the ground, Obsidius bellowed as he pushed himself back onto his feet. The wails of his quarry were the sweetest melody he had ever heard; something he thirsted to amplify tenfold. Ignoring the vaporous mist around him, the lava monster let loose another sweltering blast upon his prey. An elephantine scream from the reptile rewarded his efforts like a delectable supper, doubling Obsidius’ bloodlust.

With the mist not even a hindrance anymore, the magmic monstrosity closed in on his waiting present. Clawed hands grasped the wounded saurian, and without mercy Obsidius lifted him off the boggy earth before slinging him back down with all his might. Another cry escaped the lizard’s jaws—which was cut off by what the psychotic golem did next. Leaping sideways into the air, Obsidius brought the full weight of his elbow crashing down upon the hapless squamate; the impact of the blow resounding with a vomit-inducing CRACK!

The wind had been completely knocked out of the heroic reptile, his throat managing only a wheeze most piteous to hear. A sound seemingly akin to laughter reverberated from Obsidius’ glowing maw, reveling in the suffering he brought upon his prey. It was everything he had famished for and then some—and he wasn’t even done. Oh no, his quarry’s suffering had only just begun. Reading back with his maw glowing to life, Obsidius vomited yet another stream of lava upon the great reptile; having the time of his life with its screams of agony.

From afar, clawed paws tensed into the wet earth. Not even the mighty Varan could keep his composure in the face of such a noise. Zilla’s screams were ghastly to behold, piercing and all-echoing across the vast expanses of Skull Island. Varan and Black Moth spared a glance at one another. Neither one of them had liked or trusted the iguana when he arrived… but was there really anything to truly hold a grudge against?

Were they really going to just stand here and do nothing, while a brave warrior was beaten to an inch of his life after saving their king from death?

Trying his best to fight the pain, Zilla twisted to direct himself at the lava monster. His spines and eyes flashing with a pulse of light, the scaly champion wasted no time in spitting his atomic breath. The emerald flames engulfed Obsidius, and a howling roar echoed from within the jade inferno. New York’s Protector fought hard not to smirk while firing…

…as if it would’ve mattered.

The blast came to an end—and what it revealed shocked Zilla to his core. Obsidius stood entirely unharmed, smoke and vapor wisping off his infernal body. Zilla’s atomic flames hadn’t harmed him at all.

They had fed him.

Howling with delight, the blood-drunk Obsidius curled up into a ball and rolled right at the dumbfounded reptile. Entirely caught off guard by the new tactic, Zilla didn’t have time to evade before the living wrecking ball slammed into him, knocking his injured form silly. Not bothering to give even a second of respite, the lava monster leaped upon the injured saurian with a quaking body slam, before quickly proceeding to batter away at his flesh with fist and claw alike. Jets of crimson flew in spray after spray, beginning to paint the water around them a sickening velvet that would surely draw aquatic scavengers to the scene. Zilla could hardly even cry out under the golem’s fury, for each strike followed so rapidly after the other they all but shut him up.

A roar of pleasure erupted from the demon’s cavernous maw. It was all he ever wanted, the delectable and sweet taste of karmic vengeance. The excruciating fate he had been waiting to dole out upon his ‘killer’ for far too long, and now there was nowhere to run or hide. A point-blank burst of lava puked from the golem’s jaws to blanket the reptile in its sweltering fury, and Obsidius nearly applauded at the sound of his prey being cooked alive…

…which was all ripped away when he felt something slam onto his shoulders with a baritone shriek.

Extended claws scratched against flesh of stone, their mammalian owner growling as she attempted to find a killer grip on her inorganic foe. The lava monster howled and staggered, rearing his arms up in an attempt to dislodge Black Moth—and was knocked right off his feet by a second kaiju body-slamming into his side. A screech to tremble the mountains echoed into the air, announcing Varan’s entry into the battle. As Obsidius writhed and thrashed about on the boggy wetlands, the survivor of Blood Rock and the Mountain God Baradagi spared a glance at one another. All was communicated with merely a glance, no sounds or head motions needed.

Former reservations be damned, they were aiding the lizard.

Another roar split the air, followed swiftly by a four-legged form tackling Obsidius with feral ferocity. Baragon snarled and crunched upon the golem’s mineral hide, snagging him by the neck like a black leopard hunting an ape. At first the strange dinosaur had trouble, but his efforts were eventually rewarded when his canines pierced the rock that composed the golem’s flesh. Magmic lifeblood leaked out, though at first the archosaur resisted the searing sensation; the perks of being able to spit a heat ray.

Him hanging on was exactly the opportunity Black Moth needed to attack again.

The winged lion pounced upon the thrashing Obsidius, securing a grip to the other side of his neck while she clung on with her claws. Adding her body weight to the fray, the griffon pitched in to aid her ally in restraining the repugnant killer. It was an effort far easier said than done, for the lava monster continued to flail about in earth-shaking fury, but they made do if only for the moment.

A moment Varan capitalized on, by leaping over to the side of the injured Zilla.

The defender of New York groaned upon trying to muscle through the pain of his wounds, as he had done so many times before. His arms trembled like leaves as he applied pressure, trying to rise back up with a strained growl. The world needed him, his new allies needed him. And somewhere out there, in places he could not see, his family needed him. So he would keep fighting. He would try his hardest to stand. He would get right back into that battle and see it done, no matter how hard his injuries tried to do him in.

His limbs buckled. An anguished hiss left Zilla’s throat as he fell…

…and was caught when Varan lunged under him, before pushing upwards and hoisting the wounded iguana right back on his feet..

The prehistoric reptile grumbled softly as he re-situated Zilla, all potential animosities as dead as a mayfly. No growls of reluctance, no gloats, nothing. Varan knew he had been wrong to dismiss the iguana, and now sought nothing more than to rectify that mistake. As if in accommodation with his thoughts, Zilla growled his gratitude to the triphibian, wiping out any last trace of potential bad blood with it.

A bellowing shriek pierced the air, catching both reptiles’ attention.

They turned back to the battle, just in time to see Gudon barrel straight into Obsidius, tackling him like a football player. The very moment the golem went down, the horned monster howled and began to repeatedly beat his enemy with his whip-like arms. Loud crack after crack resounded in rapid-fire succession as Gudon let loose his bloodlust upon the volcanic killer, rearing his horned head to the sky and screaming a deafening cry.

He just wanted to kill something.

Varan fought the urge to shake his head. That absolute madlad…

A shriek left Gudon’s maw when a rocky hand punched him in the face, sending him reeling. Obsidius tore up the boggy ground around him as he returned to his feet—and already he was met with yet more trouble, when a frigid mist began to blow over him with the force of a blizzard. The water and mud around him froze in less than three seconds, as began his obsidian skin. Steam billowed in metric tons off his body as the Antarctic temperatures clashed with his molten body heat, and Obsidius’s roars of surprise were met by yet another mighty bellow.

Flapping his wings, Peguila roared as he spewed a continuous blast of below-freezing vapor, unleashing the full power of cold itself upon the volcanic berserker.

An infernal luminosity birthed to life in Obsidius’ opening maw, signaling the coming of his most violent attack. The winged titan noticed the change, but continued to lay down his frigid fire. If he could just keep up the blast long enough, he might be able to freeze the interloper before he could let loose at all.

Alas, the clashing temperatures only served to birth more vaporous haze, and Obsidius reared back in preparation to return fire…

A quick blur charged without hesitation into the frigid fray, knocking the golem off his feet before zipping right back out on two agile legs. Temporarily, Peguila ceased fire, eyes wide as Obsidius’ lava blast discharged harmlessly off course.

His scaly skin now dotted with a layer of permafrost, Zilla growled as he fought against the cold that now bit at him. It was painful, but so long as it meant one of his comrades lived, it was worth it.

Obsidius was scrambling frantically to his feet when he heard it. Not one, not even three, but a whole chorus of roars. It was not any new arrivals, but something else entirely. Something he learned the hard way when a pair of taloned feet slammed into the golem from behind in a kangaroo kick, grounding him yet again. Gorosaurus’ mighty roar was joined by those of his brethren, and Obsidius felt his magmic blood run cold.

All of the kaiju of Skull Island were attacking together, seemingly inspired by their latest newcomer.

Pushing off with his knees, Obsidius lashed out with a fist, clobbering Gorosaurus across the jaw just seconds before another shape pounced upon him. Black Moth was onto him yet again, gnawing at his neck while trying to wrestle him to the ground. Aiming his head up, Obsidius tried a new tactic and discharged his lava skyward, causing the molten rock to fountain back down in an infernal rain. The winged lion yowled as some of the magma fell upon her skin, quickly banking off the golem to retreat to a safe distance.

Obsidius fought the urge to chuckle—which would’ve been shut up anyway, when Varan and Gorosaurus pounced upon him from left and right.

A hollow roar escaping the volcanic killer, Obsidius thrashed and flailed, trying to use his sheer body weight to his advantage, but neither saurian would yield; each clasped one of his arms in their jaws, and both of their bites were like vices. Still the lava monster continued thrashing, deciding to pit his sheer strength against their respective bite forces. Perhaps with enough force, he might be able to—!

WHAM!

Before he knew it, another heavyweight body-slammed him to the floor, a trumpeting howl echoing from its tusked jaws. Pinning the volcanic berserker with his blubbery weight, the reptilian walrus mimic known as Maguma wasted no time in attacking his prey where it lay. Sparks erupted again and again as Maguma pierced the golem’s hide with his fearsome tusks; a predicament which only worsened when another roar bellowed into the air.

Having recovered from his earlier headache, Gudon spread his arms and leaped forward, landing his entire front half upon the lava monster in a body slam. Fueled by new levels of crazed excitement, the horned biped drew his arms back and began to repeatedly whip the downed Obsidius; all while Varan and Gorosaurus restrained his arms with their unyielding jaws.

It was all they needed for what came next.

Even the sheer furious might of Obsidius couldn’t contend with the wave of sheer, unrelenting wrath that followed. As one, the denizens of Skull Island let loose their war cries to the heavens and attacked. Gudon was merely the very first of an entire angry mob that soon followed his lead; one after another, kaiju after kaiju charged forward and leaped onto the pinned golem to unleash their bloodlust upon his hapless form. Baragon clawed and bit furiously into the killer’s mineral hide; Maguma joined him and resumed stabbing into the fiend with his prehistoric icepicks for teeth. Screeching for vengeance, Black Moth was not one to be left out and pounced on her quarry just the same, mauling him with rapacious intensity.

Bellowing along with his monstrous comrades, Peguila played his part by kicking and stomping upon Obsidius’ neck and chest. The lava monster howled in anguish and tried to rear up, to spit his infernal essence and turn the tide in his favor—only for his hopes to be dashed when a swarm of tentacles erupted from the boggy water, wrapping around his head like a swarm of angry pythons and grounding him right back down. His lungs audibly gasping for air, Oodako didn’t waste an ounce of strength as he held the golem fast, keeping him wholly restrained while his packmates doled out upon the killer their savage punishment.

A roar to rival even Kong himself split the air, carving into Obsidius a new wave of horror as the last combatant announced his joining in the mobbing. Using the pain of his wounds to fuel his fury, Zilla pawed the boggy earth below him before leaping like a giant, reptilian serval. The earth vibrated tremendously as the iguana landed upon the volcanic berserker, laying into him with foot, tooth and claw along with his fellow kaiju.

What had once been a battle, had now become a massacre. Pieces, chunks, entire strips of Obsidius’ magmic frame were chipped apart, ripped and torn away to disgorge bleeding fountains of lava. It was a dangerous defense mechanism, yet the monsters did well to let it touch them as little as possible as they continued their assault. Not even the gigantic plumes of steam that immediately rose from where the lava leaked into the water, did anything to save the dying golem, whose screams of agony continued to echo throughout the depths of Skull Island as its colossal denizens pickaxed him alive.

From a distance, Kong and Ghidorah watched in content as the massacre unfolded. The ape looked to his fellow king; the dragon’s left head turning to look back at him, while his right head kept its eyes on the battle-turned-butchery. No language was needed to know they were both thinking the same thing.

Amongst the angry monsters enacting their vengeance, none laid more furiously into the infernal interloper than Zilla. The reptilian champion shredded and crushed the spawn of SpaceGodzilla like an angry child with a taunting piñata. Swipes of clawed hands and crunches of toothy jaws removed more of what made Obsidius recognizable; the lizard tearing, all but digging his way through the ailing killer—until he spotted something that immediately seized his focus.

Glowing cracks of lava streaked through the exposed mass, radiating every three seconds with luminous power with a thrumming beat, and in the blink of an eye Zilla knew. He had exposed Obsidius’ heart to the world.

As the other monsters continued crushing and mauling the lava monster apart, the mutated iguana didn’t wait even a second. Ignoring the searing heat, the lizard snatched the golem’s heart in his boxy jaws and yanked. With a spurt of molten rock, the infernal organ was torn free from the savage womb of Obsidius’ destroyed torso. Holding it high with a fierce growl, Zilla tossed the organ to the side; watching it bounce once, twice, thrice, four times before it finally squelched to a pathetic halt on a tiny “island” of grass surrounded by marsh water.

The Champion of H.E.A.T. snarled as he stormed towards the thrumming, “beating” organ, the earth thundering with his angry footfalls. While most of the kaiju only continued to ravage Obsidius where he lay, one of them ceased his part in the assault. Peguila grunted as he followed the reptilian defender, fully intent on helping him finish the job the right way.

—

Molten ‘blood’ spurted violently from two sockets that were no longer whole as Varan and Gorosaurus pulled so hard, they ripped their quarry’s arms right off. No howl, no roar nor even a scream came from Obsidius’ broken maw, but instead a stomach-churning gurgle that grew weaker with each ticking second. This was how he was to go out. Shattered, maimed, mutilated, rendered utterly helpless, and completely robbed of the revenge he sought so badly. All that time, all that effort, an entire second shot at life and therefore a chance at retribution… spent for nothing.

The pointlessness of it all stung more than the beating the other creatures gave him ever could, even as they crushed and tore apart his rocky flesh this very moment. His return to the land of the living meant nothing in the end. Just a prolonged cruel joke before the end, a final mockery from life before the end. A reminder that he might as well have stayed dead the first time around. With these thoughts running through his mind, Obsidius managed to spend his final seconds grateful for one tiny, seemingly insignificant thing in all of this: that he had no eyes, and could not see.

Because as molten, hellishly torturous as these final moments were, at least he didn’t have to add onto it the humiliation of seeing his former killer end his life a second time.

A last reminder that it was as if his resurrection had never happened at all.

—

Two pairs of eyes took only a moment to stare at the magmic, beating heart of Obsidius before them. One pair, yellow with pale irises that seemed to reflect the cold land from which their owner hailed from, stared with similar intent at the beating heart of the volcanic berserker. The other pair, a draconic fiery orange that seemed to burn like the fires of the nuclear bomb which gave rise to their bearer, seethed with a fittingly fiery rage at the life source of Obsidius. Both sets of eyes glowering with contempt, focused with lethal desire at the thrumming object.

That moment was a fleeting one.

Peguila let loose his subzero spray. At first, steam plumed off the infernal heart as the Antarctic temperatures met its superheated surface; but in time steam gave way to snow as the rock began to calcify, the veins of lava beginning to lose their glow before fading altogether. Paler and paler the heart grew as sheets of ice encased its hardening form, until eventually the winged freezing monster ceased his spray.

Amber eyes looked to flaming orange ones, and the two kaiju nodded to one another before Zilla raised a foot. In the blink of an eye, it was all over; the iguana’s foot came down with a force to shame a collapsing building, smashing the frozen heart of Obsidius apart like a dried clay statue. Shattering it out of existence, scattering it into a thousand little pieces—before a blast of atomic fire followed suit, melting and vaporizing the pieces into vapor that blew away into the wind.

And with it, the glow of Obsidius’ own body faded away, his movements coming to a silent halt.

His superheated breath ceasing to be, a low growl echoed from the depths of the triumphant lizard. All eyes now looked to him, from Varan and Black Moth to Ghidorah and Kong—all except Gudon, who continued to wail on Obsidius’ already massacred, expired corpse. A quick slap in the face from Oodako, however, ceased his ravenous frenzy right quick.

After a moment of silence, all the inhabitants of Skull Island began to lumber towards the mutated iguana. Before long, Zilla found himself surrounded by the beasts on all sides, every one of them eyeing him intensely. Before the squamate could make sense of what was going on, the two largest monsters on the island trudged towards him. Their hardened gazes fixed on him like visual vices, Kong and Ghidorah made no sound as they marched up to the former Champion of New York; the earth rattling from every one of their thundering footsteps. For a moment they merely stood there in silence, as if casting an unknown judgement upon the reptile who remained equally stationary.

The moment was upon him.

The great golden king raised his scarred wings, shouting his final proclamation. A motion Kong likewise copied, raising his axe on high.

Not out of fear, or begrudgement, but sheer and genuine respect.

It was then the rally of monsters erupted in victorious shrieks of approval. Zilla’s fiery eyes scoured over the fellow giants, before he reared his head to the sky and let loose a spectacular roar of triumph, joining them in their cause. Ghidorah glanced at the newcomer, recognizing something deep within he hadn’t felt in a long time.

A spark of hope brought back, one thought to have been long diminished. The spirit of a hero, like the blue humanoid he had fought alongside with all those centuries ago.

But their celebration was short-lived. From places far beyond even their sharpest sights, places so very far away, a distant call echoed faintly. A call that Zilla had never heard before, but made him and the other kaiju tense in alarm and snarl lowly.

A call filled to the brim with nothing but a terrible, molten rage…

 

Chapter 6: Nothing So Undoing as a Daughter

Wall Sotono, Japan

It was all so sudden. Her heart was elated the moment Eren threw his fist at Kubal, and had that been the end of it, it would have been a much needed victory. But it wasn’t. The reappearance of the Armored Titan, the rushing winds from Kubal’s transformation, and the subsequent destruction of Wall Sotono devastated any hope of a chance at overpowering their enemies. Amidst the turmoil, Mikasa found her footing among the still-standing structure of the Wall, now filled with an even larger gap than during the Wall Sotono Reclamation operation. To see all their efforts be discarded so swiftly, it hurt to see everything the Survey Corp worked for come crumbling down… Doubt gnawed at her decision to turn against Shikishima’s ruthless plan to attack the heart of the Walls, to bring down the government from within–and by proxy, Kubal.

But she made her choice long ago. It was only a matter of living with it.

Even with everything afire and ablaze, she heard Hange shouting at the top of her lungs for a retreat. There was no scenario where they’d be able to feasibly turn the tables in their favor. Eren was rendered catatonic from the blast, his Titan unmoving. Seeing the white-plated Titan beginning to make the move forced Mikasa to prioritize Eren above all else. But her determination was quickly whiplashed by the sudden burst from the Colossal Titan’s maw. Such a boisterous and powerful roar it was, so much so that if she didn’t make the effort to cover her ears, she’d certainly lose her hearing. Even as her hands clasped over, she felt her eardrums vibrate from the intensity of it all. Her mind scurried for reasons, but it became evident very quickly.

A Titan’s roar acted as a lure for other Titans. She had seen this with Eren and Shikishima–and now, Kubal. The implication wretched her gut, and one that didn’t take long to manifest. Even from high above the ground, the structures felt the rumble of footfalls making their approach. The Titans were coming. Fast.

“Don’t let Eren fall into enemy hands!” Hange shouted at the top of her lungs, “If we lose Eren, there won’t be a chance in Hell for humanity’s survival!” Mikasa revved for the coming conflict. Wild Titans were already on the prowl, most shuttering their malformed feet towards the Colossal Titan. But there were detractors from the group, eager to chomp upon the flesh of the Armored Titan–to no avail. The woman controlling the Armored simply continued her stride, ignoring the bites of the Wraiths. Then there was Eren, still prone and unconscious. Mikasa anchored herself, prepared to jump…

“H-hey, wait!” That was Shizumu’s stuttering. For a moment, Mikasa didn’t want to divert her eyes; she had to remain locked in on Eren at all costs. But it didn’t take long for a figure to zip by, coming into focus as they made their rapid descent. But there was something off; no soldier in the Survey Corps could top its speeds. Only her and Eren were some of the most maneuverable bodies when using ODM gear, but what she saw defied those expectations. Then it started to come into shape; there was no hissing from the gear, nothing suggesting it was propelled by gas, but rather by its own will…

Her eyes widened. The robot!

Clutched in Jet Jaguar’s hands were a pair of Shizumu’s ultrasteel swords, evidently pulled straight out of the sheath with no controllers attached. The size-altering robot retained his human size, gliding over the stampede of Wraith Titans converging on Eren. Mikasa saw as the robot man wielded the swords with grace, only dispatching the ankles of the taller Titans with precision and skill. Jet Jaguar was getting close–but the Armored Titan was even closer.

It was then an idea popped into her mind. Without hesitation, Mikasa pulled out her signal flare, loading the handgun with ammunition–it didn’t matter which one. Pulling the trigger, a trail of green smoke crossed over the eyes of the Armored Titan. Her simple action quickly brought the ire of the Armored Titan, whose wrathful gaze turned onto Mikasa. However, the Titan returned to the task at hand, its hand closing in on Titan-Eren’s neck–

–only for more rounds of signal smoke to pelt around and against the hardened skin of the Titan, obstructing its vision. Mikasa quickly saw Hange and the Scouts loading and firing at the Armored Titan. Even if it was a wordless exchange, Hange’s beaming smile told it all. ‘Nice going!’, no doubt. But that distraction only held the Titan’s attention ever so briefly. It wasn’t enough. Next thing she saw, the Armored Titan resumed its action and clamped around the Attack Titan, gripping tightly and pulling his lifeless body from the ground. Mikasa’s heart sank as she saw the Titan pull its hand, in turn flipping the husk around, exposing its nape. Steam swelled from the nape, making it difficult to discern the finer details.

Before they knew it, a sudden rush of wind washed over them. Even from their distance, the heat made it abundantly clear it was from the Colossal, gushing steam from his body in order to curtail the smoke of their flares. In an instant, the once blinded Armored Titan was now able to maintain contact with their intended target. While Scouts lost balance, they managed to find safety along the Wall, clinging to dear life.

When the steam cleared, all that remained was an excavated hole and a pair of blades plunged into the fleshy walls. Almost immediately after, Mikasa heard the whirring of the flying robot man heading straight to the safety of the walls. In his arms was the unconscious human body of Eren, evidently still stunned from the ordeal. But now wasn’t the chance to rest, especially when the Armored Titan came to the exact same realization. With its larger size, its movements were slow and deliberate–but when it came to closing the gap, Jet Jaguar and Eren were in perfect reach.

She knew she had to do something.

Thankfully, she wasn’t alone. Another volley of green smoke fired at the Armored Titan, the Scouts doing their best to obscure the Titan’s vision, even as they dispersed from the outpouring steam. However, this gave Mikasa the opening she was looking for. Darting from the wall, using the wind behind her back, her hooked wires found their anchor in the bony, hardened skin of the giant. She swirled through the air with expertise and grace, with blades in hand, she gunned it for one of the fingers of the Titan. Even if it was on a much larger scale, the Armored Titan had a few weaknesses. Hardened skin covered most of its body, somehow even more durable having withstood Kubal’s attack, but for flexibility, there were exposed regions of skin. Mikasa had exploited this with Shikishima’s Titan, lobbing off his fingers.

Zooming past the retreating Jet Jaguar, Mikasa flew towards the primary finger of the Armored, digging her blades into the base of the extremity. Propelled by the steam from her tank, she circled around the digit, superheated blood gushing from the freshly made wound until she successfully detached it from the hand, giving the Armored Titan a moment of pause. Its subsequent pained cry meant the diversion was successful. Just before the fist of the white giant could close in on her, Mikasa made her escape, tailing Jet Jaguar and the retreating Scouts. As they parted ways, Mikasa heard and saw the cataclysm unfolding. In a fit of rage, the Armored Titan was screaming and bashing in the pestering smaller Titans into pulp, leaving a bloody mess in her wake.

The Colossal Titan, however, kept his eyes on them. Shifting into action, it unleashed another blast from its palms, trying to aim for them. A quick shout from the Commander ordered to crawl along the Walls, protected by the rest of the superstructure as the winds chipped at it piece by piece. Fortunately with Jet Jaguar in tow, the Scouts could focus purely on maneuvering until they felt out of range of the Colossal’s wrath. The last thing Mikasa saw were the two monstrous Titans exterminating the smaller ones that closed in…

She had to count her blessings. Whatever was going through that sicko’s head was of no concern to her. Everyone was on the run as the Colossal and Armored Titans became ever more distant from their view. Their fuel wasn’t going to carry them for much longer; but thankful foresight from the helicopter crew sent a reconnaissance team, hoisting everyone on board for the long trip back.

Even so, tension filled the air. With the walls breached and beyond repair, she could only cling to a small hope that something would turn up…

******

Rage coursed through his veins. Anger overcame him, venting his frustrations by slaughtering the nearby Titans that had converged. He didn’t do this to save the humans of the walls; rather to ensure a clean getaway. The loss of a few dozen mattered little in the wake of millions of Titans that would be converging on this place in time. Smashed, ruined Titan bodies littered the breached wall, reduced to pulp or burned to cinders.

‘How. Did. You. FAIL?!’

Such words he refused to direct at himself; but rather his wife, who was so close to acquiring Eren Jaeger. To end his daughter’s nightmare once and for all. And she failed! Even with all the power in the world, the Colossal’s might had a drawback; if he wasn’t careful, there was a chance he’d kill the Titan Shifter, ending their chances at restoring his daughter. Therefore, he had to leave the capture to Azusa. Talking to them, what a joke…

And Jet Jaguar…

He couldn’t ponder on the hows or whys any further. They had to go. Leaning his Titan against the broken wall, nape pressed against the edge, he detached from the fleshy tendons that controlled the supergiant. Spilling out of the burning mass, Kubal landed on the wall with a thud. Not the most graceful landing, but such was not important to him. He saw his wife fumble the same exiting her Titan, but was quick to make herself presentable by comparison. Kubal took heavy strides as he made his approach, more than ready to butt heads against her.

“You, you,” Kubal seethed with venomous rage, “You only had one job! He was right there in your grasp!” His domineering glare shot down as he stood over her. But she shot a glare back at him.

“Why didn’t you do something about it, jackass!” Azusa barked back, “Maybe put more backbone into those pathetic bursts of steam!”

“Shut it!” Kubal retaliated, “Maybe if you were in my position, you’d understand!”

“Understand what, Kubal?” Azusa hissed, “That you didn’t help anymore than what was needed? Because the Titans gathering here might steal Eren’s power on the off-chance? No, I don’t think I’d understand–”

Kubal snapped at her. “There’s a portal! Several klicks out near the coast.” He saw Azusa ease her tension, her sharp gaze softening. “Those hostages must have been native to that world.”

“And if there’s a whole other world…” Azusa’s eyes widened at the prospect. No doubt, she had come to the same conclusion he did. A potent silence befell them. But he knew it had to be done, to guarantee that he’d have his little Titan back. There was hesitance written all over Azusa’s face.

Because of the grim reality that was soon to follow, and the enormity of it.

“It is the only way,” Kubal said with firm resolve, “The virus burned itself out a long time ago, and the people here have developed immunities. But the chance to ignite it anew with the other vial… A whole new population, one of them has to have the same odds in creating a Titan for Nariko to consume.”

Her gloomy expression weighed down, deep in contemplative thought. For Kubal, the rest of humanity was expendable. So long as he can have his family back, to live the rest of their lives together… Nothing else mattered. Azusa began to nod, understanding what must be done. “For Nariko,” she whispered.

He nodded in satisfaction. “Good. Then let’s get back.”

“Not without a plan,” Azusa shot back.

“Fine. But don’t let this one be as stupid as talking to them. See how well that worked out.” Without uttering another word, they walked along the top of Wall Sotono until they found a segment still operating with power. A hidden door flipped open, and they both went into the built-in elevator. If anyone had seen them, it would seem as if they vanished from the face of the Earth. But the elevator took them deeper than that; beneath the Walls were a series of complex tunnels built in secrecy at the behest of the Japanese government. Such a luxury only existed for the wealthy; or in his case, those with the power to tear it all down.

They had to gear up for the final voyage to the world beyond–a slimmer hope for their daughter and pull her out of her everlasting nightmare.

******

Survey Corps HQ, Iruma, Wall Nakano – Several hours later…

The trip to their headquarters was nothing short of disastrous, but miraculous that they even survived the suicidal ordeal to begin with. But everything turned as Monique expected; since their roles as temporary pawns had been used up, there wasn’t any need to keep them untied. She found herself thrown into a steel cell, whereas Randy was put to work to fulfill his end of the bargain.

No ease, no rest, no downtime. Just four hours of grueling silence.

Such a short time flew by for Monique within the confines of her prison, under the watchful eyes of her hopeful new world friends. Of course, if Randy failed in delivering on his promise, the denizens of the post apocalyptic Tokyo would no doubt retaliate. No matter how innocent or casual the group’s leader Hange appeared, decades of experience allowed Monique to see through her hospitable facade.

She’d kill them all if they proved useless or dangerous, but maybe not if they were able to pick at her curiosity.

While not thrilled to deal with possible traitors in her midst, the pony-tailed leader seemed to revel in the possibilities of their arrival and Monique held no doubt it was why she was escorting her to Randy’s makeshift workshop. Hange wanted to be the first to see Randy’s tantalizing success or death-inducing failure.

Reaching an aged classroom door, the woman stopped and shifted her attention back to Monique, the Scout leader’s smile seemingly glistening against the orange light of the setting sun which bathed the school’s halls. A clear path shown along the tiles, indicating many feet have been in and out of these halls and this very room, and the weariness of everything outside of the trail. As Monique was escorted in by Eren and Mikasa, she absorbed everything she needed to see.

CCTVs lined the back wall, stacked on top of each other as if on display at a supermarket. While the room lacked tables and chairs, the massive chalkboard still ensured the essence of a classroom, even with Sasha and her battalion wielding guns and swords standing about, cackling with Randy at the center of the group. Then, as if caught by the principle, they straightened to attention while others backpedaled to the corner of the room, distancing themselves from a man that could very much die any moment. All things considered, it seemed like he was the life of the party, as usual.

“Oh, hey, is it time?” Randy quipped, throwing up his hands in mock surrender.

Monique exhaled sharply. “You’d do well to take this seriously.”

“Nah, listen. You did all the talking last time and nearly got us killed. My turn, mi novia.” He turned back around, making the final touches to his discoveries in the four hours granted to him, with Jet standing idly by. Feeling the twitch of her left eye, Monique’s permanent glare tightened.

“Too much, got it,” Randy noted, backtracking to the center of the room. “So ugh, you wanted me to find info on that Kubal guy and… well, I can’t. In four hours, I have no idea who that dude is.”

“I told you this was a waste!” Eren barked at Hange, but the leader paid no mind, too focused on Randy’s obvious shit-eating grin.

“Do you have something else worthy of your life?” Hange inquired, to which the promisee raised his hands up once more, seemingly in defeat.

“My life, no chance. What I offer is priceless. Five mind blowing facts that will not only make you unable to kill us, but will make you thank us.”

Monique’s instinct to belittle Randy’s confidence roared to life, but the latter statement was the equivalent of a double down for their shared fate. If Hange’s mind wasn’t blown by the end of Randy’s presentation, they’d all be dead. For once, Monique hoped that her friend’s theatricality would blow her away.

“Okay, so going least important to most, the Colossal Dude’s hanging out some 200 kilometers from here. Some bunker or complex, not sure which and not sure exactly where, but they are live!”

A snap of Randy’s fingers signaled Jet Jaguar’s pressing of a button on the keyboard. CCTVs blinked alive, revealing distant cameras and the staff working beneath them. Men and women, unbeknownst of the new eyes, were hauling and undergoing preparations for something big.

Randy gestured at the monitors, the footage flicking between different areas of the fortified bunker. “Second, I reversed their mikes. Been eavesdropping on their chatter. From data encryptions from the metal man here, they know about the anomaly hanging out in your front yard there. Or the place we came from–you get the point.”

Hange’s smile thinned, but she said nothing. Hearing the words fall out of the CCTVs was enough for her.

“Mind blowing fact numero tres!” He said, holding up three fingers, “We’ve got inbound. A lot inbound!” On Randy’s cue, Jet Jaguar toggled the screens to show a thermal camera from one of the many satellites adrift in the Earth’s atmosphere. “All big, all nasty, and no room for negotiations! A herd of Uglies are going crazy, they are crossing all over the Asian mainland and heading straight for Japan!”

“But that’s impossible!” Eren blurted in a furious outburst, “Titans aren’t known to swim!”

“Well, it would seem these fellas are either all Olympic gold medalists, or Colossal Dude’s big fat roar finally got their butts to scurry over here. No matter the case, if I had to guess, ETA in about 2 weeks to a month for the ones overseas–but for the Uglies on the mainland is a whole different ball game.” The camera zoomed in, showing signs of activity all across the Japanese countryside. “We might only have 18 hours to prepare for a whole swarm of Titans breaking through.”

“So that’s it, then? We just sit here and die?” Hange said grimly, almost uncharacteristically so. “Even if we got the cruiseliners up and running, there’s no way to evacuate everyone to them…”

“If I may, I said I had ‘Five Mind Blowing Facts’ to share,” Randy replied with a wink, “There is some hope. Best bet? Pack up and head for New Zealand.”

Eren bristled, clearly agitated with his little diatribe. “You want us to run?”

“Yeah,” Randy answered without hesitation. “Unless you want everyone here to be squashed.” Before anyone could stop him, Eren clenched his fist and landed a solid punch across Randy’s jaw. The sun-kissed man staggered, but steadied himself, rubbing his face. “Ow. Okay, maybe too straightforward with that.” Even if Randy got what was coming to him, it didn’t stop Monique from shooting a glare at Eren, who was being pulled back by Mikasa.

Hange sighed. “What did you find?”

“Look here,” he gestured to the screen, to which Jet already set it to a screen over New Zealand, the camera changing optics to detect radio waves. “New Zealand may be home to survivors, they started sending out a distress beacon fairly recently. Less than five days ago, I’d say.”

“Recently? Why haven’t they been trying to make a distress call before?” The Scout Commander inquired.

“Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe they finally found a sustainable power source? Or they just set up shop? Can’t really gain any additional intel on this place, either. But certainly, it has to be better than here.”

“Hinging all our bets on a wild goose chase…” Eren murmured, frustrated at the prospect.

“It may be our best bet,” Hange quickly declared. “You covered a lot for four hours…”

“And I still have one last trick up my sleeve! Or I guess two, depending how you look at it.” On cue, the screen changed to a blueprint of the Walls, quickly morphing into a grid diagram of their inner workings.

“So here are probably some of the weirdest walls I’ve ever encountered, with all these weird rooms and tunnels.”

“Ah, I recall Eren’s report of the government-sanctioned ‘white room’ back when Shikishima was still Captain, correct?” Hange said, glancing at her commandant.

Eren hesitantly paused, but confirmed the course of events. “Even so, none of us have been able to make heads or tails out of the Walls’ configuration.”

“If you give me more time, I can get into the systems here and help with that.” Those words perked Hange’s curiosity.

“How so?” She simply asked.

“So if I am able to reroute, I just might be able to help the different areas of the wall follow a consistent path. Luckily for you, there is an exit way that leads directly to the cruiseliners.”

“You’re serious…” Her gloomy demeanor returned to her more jovial persona, igniting a sense of hope for the operation.

“Yup. Not only that, this tunnel system is loaded out with goodies and doo-dads.”

“Those government rooms are chalk full of technology I can barely comprehend,” Eren admitted, “It must be how those in Wall Okuno live…”

Monique chimed in. “Then it must be reasonable to assume they’re stockpiled with nonperishables and canned goods for catastrophes such as this.”

Eren nodded in agreement. “All these resources, and not even remotely informed of how it works or opening up to the people… It sickens me.”

“There is a flaw in your plan, however,” Hange added. “The total wall population is about 240,000.”

“Oh… And a cruiseliner can hold, how many?” Randy asked.

“About 8,000, I want to say, given their sizes,” Hange answered.

“Even if each one was holding double capacity…” The problem became evident right then and there.

“That’d only be 1/5th the entire population, tops. At best, we’d have to make multiple round trips to ensure everyone’s safety…” The Commander pondered the morality of the situation.

“Do you think the MPs would really wait that long?” Sasha asked inquisitively.

“If not the MPs, then Kubal certainly wouldn’t,” Eren stated coldly.

“Wish I could say, but I think that’s going to be up to you guys to figure out,” Randy added, “In the meantime, I have one more mind blowing fact…!” Switching the CCTVs once more, the orbiting satellite filled the screen with a gargantuan supercell, its rough winds swirling around a stationary location. “I got side-tracked from Kubal research, and found this oddity of nature… So I hacked into an acoustic satellite, and I found something worth not only your time, but our time too. Listen.”

With another tap on the keyboard, what started off as static rain gradually morphed into a cacophony of trills and shrieks. A hellish choir of monstrous roars and bleats resounding from the eye of the storm. But while the Scouts couldn’t tell what they were looking for, hearing the familiar cry of Zilla amongst the shrieks and bellows certainly caught her attention.

“Randy, when was this recorded?” Monique inquired.

“The recording for this was less than 24 hours ago. Dare I say, even less than that. The Z-Man has been found!”

“On an island presumably infested with other monsters, great.” Monique rolled her eyes, but there was a part of her that was grateful that they knew the approximate location of their giant reptilian ally.

“Looks like you found your Titan friend!” Hange asked quizzically. “But what is it you have in mind?”

Randy straightened out, grinning widely, wincing in pain from Eren’s punch. “We need the big guns. Jet Jaguar needs to head to wherever our Z-Man is and maybe, hopefully gather some reinforcements. It sounds like he’s made a bunch of friends there already.”

“And your ‘Z-Man,’” Eren interjected bitterly, “You think he can stop Kubal?”

“Colossal Dude’s pretty ridiculous, but he’s our best shot against him. What I can tell you is this,” Randy injected firmly, “he will put up a fight if needed. For our sake. For family.”

Monique grunted hearing Randy’s machismo, but there was some truth to it. It just had to be phrased in the cheesiest way possible, even if he was well-meaning.

“A monster that protects its family…” Eren fell silent, not uttering a word further. Taking in all the information given, Hange nodded reflexively.

“You get to keep your head, Randy! Ain’t that great?” Hange’s smile widened considerably. She then exhaled, redirecting her eyes to all the squadmates gathered here, changing personas completely. “We need to move, now. And Randy, take the time you need to get everything in order for evacuation.”

Sweat dripped from Randy’s worried face. “Um… Thanks?” Monique quietly breathed out. They weren’t dead, at the very least. Not yet, anyway. With his theatrics finished, Randy returned to the computer, typing away and hacking the needed systems for preparation. All the while, Hange, Eren, and the Scouts all made way for their own tasks at hand, no doubt commencing for an 18-hour shift before the Titans arrive.

Hacking was always Randy’s thing, but it was something Monique never paid much heed to. It was simply trust that he’d get it done and be able to do it efficiently. Her eyes peered at the tech whiz punching in a combination of numbers and letters, pulling up an assortment of screens on the primitive machine.

“Before we get to the more complicated matters with the walls, let’s get the easy stuff out of the way first.” In a few clicks, Randy pulled up the coordinates for the giant storm, the place where they’d no doubt find Zilla. “Sending the coordinates your way, J–” He stopped, almost as if an idea popped into his mind. “I got it!”

Monique was taken aback by the abruptness of Randy’s idea. Did he figure something out?

“Full Metal Titan! That’s what you should be called! Boo-yah!”

Monique didn’t express it, but she would have placed her hand against her face if she could. Typical Randy Hernandez tomfoolery. Jet Jaguar simply stared at the hacker genius, unsure if just idle or contemplating the suggested name. But Jet Jaguar’s answer came quickly as the robot gave a firm thumbs-down to the idea.

“Phooey,” Randy complained, “Full Metal Titan is such a badass name for you! Ugh!” Her teammate sighed in disappointment, no doubt unable to really find a name that sticks.

After transferring the data to Jet Jaguar, the machine dismissed himself and headed outside, taking flight to the predetermined coordinates Randy had sent him. With the tech whiz doing his thing and rerouting the complicated tunnels for the most optimal path, Monique departed. Giving the Scouts, for as off-kilter and potentially untrusting as they are, an extra set of hands with the heli’s repairs would do more good than harm.

*****

Missile Defense Station, Japan

His heavy footsteps rumbled through the silo, Kubal’s frustration burning to a peak. There was no time to waste. Surrounding him were goddamn idiots who believed they could proceed without his consent. His boiling temper was already pouring into drenched sweat, patting his uniform with the musk of his body odor. It was pointless to take the rickety elevator, the stairs were faster.

The next door he came across broke off from its hinges. This rage only became empowered the more he heard the brittle wailing coming from the bottom of the facility. Her monstrous cries told him everything he needed to know.

She was in pain.

His fractured mind raced at the potential culprits. He had to wonder how a bunch of spineless good-for-nothings would dare be bold enough to enact this on his little Titan. If he didn’t get answers immediately, he’d promise all hell will break loose. But first and foremost came his entire world.

He was the only one there who would be able to protect her.

The scientific curators tasked with the study of Wraiths surrounded the gaunt, misformed Titan, her spinal column burdened with a series of large needles piercing her back. Her arms and legs flailed helplessly, her bemoaning fueled the anger of the father. They pleaded with him, but their words did little to detract his seething rage.

“Who did this? WHO DID THIS, ANSWER ME!” Kubal bellowed at the top of his lungs, terrifying every living soul in the vicinity. As they well deserve to be for their foolish actions. He saw his wife rush in from behind, keeping a steady distance.

“Kubal, wait!” Her words cut through the menagerie of excuses and cowardice from the faculty that operated this safe haven. She was the only other person–besides his little Titan–that he’d heed any words of. But if she dared spout nonsensical bullshit again, he’d punish her all the same.

“What?” Kubal spat, venom dripping from his lips. “I better get an answer for this.”

“S-sir,” one of the faculty members, a nameless face as far as he was concerned, shakily and reluctantly spoke up, “It was under your list of demands to study the Wraith and the properties of Titans. After Azusa, Nariko is the only pure Titan…”

“And I said nothing about using my daughter for any such experiments!” Kubal propped his fingers near the neck of the expendable pawn.

“Kubal, Jesus Christ, just listen to them,” Azusa rebutted.

“How can you be satisfied with this? You support these heinous creatures and their actions?” barked the grimacing dictator.

“No! I’m not happy with what came out of this!” Azusa insisted, “But if they have anything that can help her, for God’s sake… Maybe a less convoluted alternative to curing her!”

Heat vented from his nostrils, his swelling anger if only ever so partially tempered. With a sigh, he issued the go-ahead for the spokesperson to speak before he fully lost his patience.

“Well sir,” they began to explain, “We were collecting spinal fluid samples for a control test. There was a major breakthrough with how the spinal fluid plays a key role in Wraith-based mutations. It’s impossible to reproduce the original virus with this, and any open-air experiments end with it evaporating instantly…” the scientist paused, wearing thin on Kubal’s patience. “But we experimented with several different samples of bodily fluids and found that the cells of Nariko responded most to spinal fluid.” They gestured to the doorway. “This way, sir, and I will show you the proof you seek.”

Kubal’s face, still contorted in rage, snapped at the surrounding medical team. “Take those things out of her. Do not pull this stunt again, you got that?” Without hesitation, the teams of researchers began to remove the obstructions and equipment out of Nariko’s vicinity. He followed the individual into the research office, showing a projector and rolling footage that Kubal was willing to assume were from the experiments. Azusa stood by his side, also waiting for the evidence provided by the scientist.

“Sample A is Kubal’s spinal fluid with Nariko’s. The explosion of cells and the ensuing reaction shows her Titan cells, or ‘T-cells,’ consuming the spinal fluid and ingesting it as a part of itself.” They let the footage roll, witnessing the exact situation he testified. “We tried out other parts as well. Skin cells, saliva, whatever else we could…” Kubal’s wrathful gaze singed at the scientist. But such an outburst wasn’t needed.

He had something else in mind.

“Continue,” he said coldly.

“R-right, so to the point, all of Nariko’s T-cells, regardless of which part of the body we used as the template, ushered the same results. On a cellular level, Titans wish to consume human spinal fluid. And because of both you and Azusa having Titan powers…” The video was changed to a photo at the press of a button, showing the aftermath of said tests. “Her Titanized state is able to absorb your properties and mix them as a part of her. Effectively, she has the powers of the Colossal Titan in this sample…” The image changed again, showing crystalized samples. “…and the Armored Titan in this sample. The current leading hypothesis is that if a Wraith Titan eats your Titan, they revert. It may be why Azusa was able to become her human self after the captive’s execution.”

“How much fluid will it take?” Kubal grimaced.

“We don’t know… The exact quantity is an unknown variable before reversion can occur. We need more time and samples for that.”

“There won’t be any time,” Kubal stated firmly. “So tell me how any of this is going to be helpful.”

“Wait, why?” the nebbish scientist inquired.

“There will be a mass gathering of Titans converging on Japan,” Azusa stepped in, “There’s limited time. Is there an application to your discovery?”

“There might be,” they said, “If Wraith T-cells are able to adopt the properties of those with Titan powers, then maybe your powers can be shared if injected with each other’s spinal fluid. We won’t know any of the adverse side-effects this will cause, but it’s only a hypothesis–”

“Do it.” It was cold and direct, but it was the exact thing Kubal needed to hear. “Don’t waste my fucking time and do it.”

“But sir, the effects may cause permanent damage–”

“And I can take it! So just do it.” His intense scowl and fierce demand made it all the more clear of his intent. The scientist sheepishly inquired Azusa for her consent, to which she quickly obliged. Without daring to utter useless disputes, the medical associates pulled out their syringes and planted them between the spinal discs. Fresh samples were drawn as the glass vials filled with spinal fluid, the associates careful to withdraw and exchange for a quick injection. Spearing the needle into their spines once more, the fluid of Armored flowed into him, and without doubt the same for her and the Colossal.

A painful wince overcame Kubal, a burning sensation running up his back. The headache built into an over-stimulation of fiery sensation, almost forcing him into an unfocused trance. He tried to keep his breath steady, the tingling pricks at his nerves swelling for each passing moment. Its burn was comparable to all the rigorous hell, the torture, he had endured. Then, in what felt like a flash, it was over. Almost by instinct, he could feel the thoughts and feelings of his wife and her intuitive use of the Armored Titan’s powers. It was hazy, but clarity didn’t matter when in use on the field. And for him, there was no doubt in his mind she was experiencing the exact same sensation.

And that she was. Sweat coalesced and moistened her skin, labored on the floor, her breath panting and erratic. But she got up and stood strong. Good. He had chosen her right, her firm attitude and strength in spirit was what drew him to her so long ago. But above love or desire was stone-cold pragmatism. There was more hell for them to pull through to be reunited.

And she was strong enough to pull through.

“Prepare another vial,” Kubal issued, nudging his head towards the Titanized Nariko, “I will need all the Titan power I can harvest.” There was reluctance from the spineless scientist, unsure if Nariko harbored some secret power they didn’t know about. But a sharp glare from Kubal commanded them to heed his word as absolute. As they prepared, a messenger from the surveillance team–he thought their name started with an ‘L’–came barging in.

“Kubal, sir, we have intel on the Survey Corps. They seem to be on the move.”

His interest immediately piqued. “Where to, soldier?”

“Along the coast of Wall Sotono, near Monzen. Details unknown. Unfortunately,” the messenger paused, “our systems have also been compromised.”

Kubal snapped at him. “How so?” he furiously demanded.

“We don’t know! There was a bypass in the firewall, and every countermeasure we took to stop the hacker…we couldn’t do anything!”

“Useless!” Kubal barked, infuriated by their incompetence. The scientist returned with the serum, only to be snatched out of their hands by an assertive Kubal. His nostrils flared, his angry eyes focused on the needle tip as he squirted the fluids. It was just as they said, it evaporated into steam as it made contact with the air.

Now it was time to put it to the test.

“You are all useless!” With an equally aggressive maneuver, Kubal thrusted the syringe back into the spineless dog that dared put his daughter in harm and discomfort. He pushed the fluids into their bloodstream, the scientist screamed and yelped in agony, their face growing pale at the ramifications soon to follow. Their movements backed away from Kubal, putting distance between them. In a matter of moments, they collapsed onto the ground, losing all sense of control as they spiraled into a seizure.

Then, they were enveloped by a beaming light.

Their body vanished in a whirlwind of chaos, replaced by the steaming form of their Titan. The gaunt humanoid, leaning and crouched over, was estimated to be in the 7-meter range. Its piercing eyes gazed at him, lunging in to consume him whole. But Kubal was quick on his feet, skipping aside as the hungry Titan slammed face-first into the pavement. The MP Commander immediately sprinted to the fallen Titan, climbing its enlarged head and quickly getting to the nape. He anchored himself, grabbing its hair and steadying his position. Then with a firm planting of his boots, he grinded his foot against the sensitive part of the nape–the kill-point of any Titan. He hammered his foot in deeper, breaking and tearing the skin in a superheated blitz of boiling pain. The Titan spasmed under his might, inducing both intense pain and paralysis to the ravenous giant.

With another firm stomp, he pushed the lightweight Titan down to the ground. Letting go of its hair, Kubal crouched over and began to savagely tear through the nape with his hands. One meter long and ten centimeters wide from the information made public about them. Heated blood sprayed from the tearing wound, Kubal’s fearsome grasp stripping the nerves out of the nape. With a wheeze, the Titan’s movements came to a crawl, falling limp as its body began to dissipate. He hopped down, his body wrapped in blood and steam as the Titan fluids began to evaporate.

Rage-induced eyes beamed at the stunned crowd, almost too afraid to even budge. But one by one, they regained their will to move, turning their backs to Kubal’s wicked ways. It didn’t matter where they went off to–certainly, anywhere else would be better than this hellish ‘paradise’ they were promised. By the time they had all fled, the remains of the Titan had completely disappeared from the face of the Earth.

Before long, all that was left was Kubal, Azusa, and Nariko. As it should be.

“We don’t need them,” Kubal stated plainly.

“Sure we don’t,” Azusa retorted bitterly. But he dismissed her remark, Kubal instead marched to his office within the silo. Azusa followed, if only for company’s sake. He rummaged through his disorganized mess, looking for the safe he kept his darkest secret in. Pulling it off with his strength alone, the metal door came flying off as he reached in for its contents. And in his hand was the other vial of the original Wraith Virus, the very thing that brought this world to the brink of total annihilation.

“The spinal fluid serum was never going to match the raw power of the virus. Unless you can retrieve Eren Jaeger, this is the key for Nariko’s recovery.”

“And how are we going to get there? You heard Leo, the systems of Okuno have been compromised. The inner wall schematics may not operate in our favor–”

“That is where your power comes into play. Your Titan will be able to charge through the Walls and get there in a reasonable time. Find out what’s going on with the Survey Corps and stop their plans by any means necessary. Am I clear?” Hearing this, Azusa nodded, albeit reluctantly. “What’s the problem?” Kubal shot back, noticing her hesitation.

“There’s a lot to deal with, especially with the horde…”

“There is no other way around it. The Titans will keep them put, and you bring them in further. Do whatever it takes,” Kubal reiterated. “For Nariko.”

She caught her breath. “For Nariko.”

He placed the Wraith vial, protected under a thick layer of shatter-proof glass, securely in his pockets, assuring it won’t break when things get hectic. “Let’s get going.” They left the office and headed to an open area of the silo, putting distance between them and Nariko. Biting her hand down, Azusa initiated the transformation ritual, engulfed in a purple light. The explosive burst unveiled the new and improved Armored Titan, its alabaster armor sheening against the glistening sunlight. Between the armor lay bright red muscles, distinguishing its appearance from the predecessor. A horrid mixture of the Armored Titan with the Colossal’s muscle strands.

Placing her hands along the walls, she began to climb. He rested along her shoulders, her ascent going higher and higher… By the time they peered over the top, night had fallen across Japan. The time it’d take to get there–even by the speed a Titan could provide–

–the sun would rise upon their demolition of everything the Survey Corp had planned.

 

Chapter 7: There’s a Bad Moon On the Rise

‘Just focus.’

Her mind drifted away before pulling back to reality, her strength servicing her Scout brethren in the restoration of the foreigner’s helicopter. She didn’t really consider herself much of a mechanic, but when it came to hoisting any of the heavier parts or propping up the airborne vehicle, there was nothing she couldn’t do in that regard. The helicopter had taken substantial damage from the crash, but most of its vital components were functional. While the Scouts chattered amongst themselves, she continued to work silently. Sasha had taken watch in the event of a Titan breach, leaving Eren and the Commander in the office, without a doubt being reprimanded for his reckless actions against Kubal.

Then there was Monique, one of the foreigners.

Despite not being among their ranks, she was far from trustworthy; however, there was no denying that they intended to pose a threat to their way of life. If anything, there was something on her mind she wished to ask the stranger from the other side. It was important, but not enough to make it public to the others. She’d rather ask in private. All the while, the foreign spy tested the cockpit controls, relaying to the others what needed fixing and what was primed and ready. The respiration ran as smooth as it could, considering the time crunch they were placed under.

Less than 18 hours. Wall Sotono had fallen once more. The pressure… It was nothing short of immense. But there were small miracles. The tech whiz getting everything situated with his skills, the coordination from everyone to ensure the safety of everyone in the Walls… This wasn’t going to be a repeat of the last breach. She had to remind herself of that.

This time, the cruelty of the world returned–and they were going to push through it, no matter how bad it got.

Then there was a sudden thud from the office Eren was in. Their voices vibrated through the walls in anger and frustration before the door hurled open, leaving a fuming Eren to exit his Commander’s presence. Hange bursted out after him breathless, but stopped in a knowing sense of futility. Mikasa’s instincts urged her to find him, but she withheld. What was she to do? In her experience, he needed his time alone when he got mad like this. Even so, she remembered how Armin reached out to him, confronted him when he threw a fit. But she didn’t know how to approach him like Armin did…

Eren’s outburst had no doubt caught all eyes and ears in his direction. And it came much to Mikasa’s surprise when the foreigner reached out to her. “Is everything all right?” she said plainly. Mikasa was taken aback by Monique’s straightforwardness.

“It’s… Okay. He just gets like this when things don’t go his way.” She couldn’t be like Sasha, letting loose the floodgates like that. She had been attuned to be reserved. It was the life she served under Shikishima, and even now it was what kept her safe. “It’s for the best.”

Monique cocked her brow, seemingly tentative. “Sometimes isolation is what’s needed. Other times, it must be confrontation that necessitates change. But always keep the door cracked, you never know how things will turn out.”

Her words rung with sincerity, no doubt a pull from experience. “Thank you.” Mikasa responded. “And thank you…” she paused, giving a moment to gather her words. “…For believing in Eren when the Commander wouldn’t.”

“Making that call is never an easy choice to make… But, de rien.” The Frenchwoman rebutted in earnest. “Just go talk to him. If he cares, he will listen to you–even if he’s resisting you the entire time.” A light, but confident smirk graced Monique’s countenance. “You’ll figure something out.” Mikasa nodded, taking action as she followed Eren’s pathway, only using her gear to bypass any gaps and obstructions that stood in her way.

To her surprise, she saw him standing atop the Wall’s edge, peering over the horizon, taking in deep and deliberate breaths. The lunar light stretched his shadow long across the ragged stone, and for a moment he looked less like a soldier and more like a monument. Mikasa’s steps were silent until she stood beside him.

“You shouldn’t be up here alone,” she said, her voice calm but firm. “What did the Commander say?”

Eren didn’t answer right away. He dragged in another breath, eyes fixed on the distance. Finally, he muttered, “Said we’re stretched too thin. That we can’t spare anyone for risks. Hange… she told me point blank that if I keep making decisions like the one against Kubal, we’ll break apart before the enemy ever does it for us.”

Mikasa’s expression remained unreadable, but her grip on her scarf tightened. “And she’s right about that. We don’t have the people. Every loss cuts deeper than the last. I could have lost you.”

Eren’s jaw flexed. He finally turned, and there was fire in his expression, stubborn and unyielding. “I couldn’t let him dictate our path. If we allow cowards like him to act freely, we’re finished before the Titans even touch us. Maybe I did make it harder for us now, but at least we know where we stand.”

“Knowing doesn’t mean surviving,” Mikasa shot back. “We should leave.”

He finally turned toward her, his eyes sharp, restless. “And then what? Keep running? Hide while people like Randy keep pretending it’ll all work out if we just believe hard enough?” His voice dropped, bitter. “I’m done running. If I stay, I can face this head-on. I can do it.”

Mikasa shook her head. “You can’t.” Her voice cracked at the name in her mind, but she pressed on. “You don’t get to throw yourself away just because you’re angry. You know Armin wouldn’t want that. He’d want us alive to fight another day.”

Eren’s face softened at the mention, but only for a breath. He looked away, back toward the horizon. “After Jet Jaguar, I’ve been brainstorming a countermeasure to break through his armor. I didn’t get the chance to use it on the Armored Titan, but next time for sure…” Eren held a grim resignation, almost regretting what came next. “Armin believed in fighting for a better world. If I run now, then everything he gave up is meaningless.”

“You’re twisting his memory!” Mikasa snapped. “Armin believed in us working together, not you throwing yourself to the wolves alone.”

He stepped closer, defiant. “We’ve been playing it safe for years, and where has it gotten us? Armin believed in fighting for more than survival. If I run now, then everything he died for is wasted.”

The name struck her like a blade. Mikasa’s hands clenched at her sides. “Don’t you dare!” she hissed. “Don’t you dare use Armin as an excuse to throw yourself away. You think I haven’t lost him too? You think I can stand to lose you as well?”

For the first time, Eren faltered, his eyes softening, guilt flickering beneath his rage. But only for a moment. His resolve quickly returned, hard as stone.

“I’m sorry, Mikasa,” he said, his voice low and final. “But this is my demon to dispose of. No one else’s.”

Before she could answer, the loud bangs of flares caught their attention. A black flare arching inward, aimed within the land of humans. It normally signaled for Abnormal Titans, but the direction suggested otherwise…

Passed down from word of mouth, the nearest soldier barked at her and Eren. “The Armored Titan has been spotted! It’s been spotted outside of Wall Okuno and is currently trajected to collide with Wall Nakano within the hour!”

They were taken aback. Her eyes widened with shock. “Already…?” All hope for humanity surviving in the walls dropped to nonexistent. “I will inform the Commander,” Mikasa stated bluntly.

But before she vaulted off to relay the news to Hange, she took one last glance at Eren. His eyes were clearly mixed with conflicting emotions. But there was nothing else she could add. Bolting off, Mikasa left him behind. Her chest tightened, the weight of helplessness pressing down harder than the grip of any Titan.

It was his choice to make from here.

******

Skull Island

For a while, all Zilla could do was stare.

Not a nerve in his body had felt right since he heard that demonic, distant war cry, for there was something about it that shrieked, screamed abnormal to him. He couldn’t find it within himself to go socialize or rest with the other kaiju, even despite his own wounds that still bit at his scaly hide.

His mind and senses entirely on alert, Zilla kept his eyes fixed on the horizon. Standing tall and erect, a reptilian colossus holding the demeanor of an ever-watchful stone gargoyle. Burning orange eyes scoured the distance with razor-sharp efficiency, keeping watch for any sign of something approaching. Somehow, he just knew that whatever had uttered that faraway call, it was nothing benevolent.

But that was not the only reason he stood where he was.

The lizard felt a little twinge, a tug of something that bridged the risky gap between tension… and yearning. He had heard nothing else besides that call, no other sounds or vocalizations to signify to him that there was more than just that call’s source. And yet that little twinge pulled ever persistently at his nerves, egging him to stand guard and wait.

That twinge, that tug that so dangerously held that fine line that he waited on… was hope.

Hope that maybe, just maybe, his family was out there after all.

Thromping footsteps grew closer to the great reptile from behind, as both Kong and Ghidorah lumbered over until they were both standing at different sides of their new comrade. A sniff of the battle axe held traces of power that matched Zilla’s own, curious about it. But it wasn’t long before he refocused his attention to the biped and the dragon. The ape held an angry scowl as he too stared off into the same direction that the mutated squamate had been looking, his upper lip curling for a moment to bare pointed canines with a low growl.

Ghidorah, meanwhile, had a reaction far more unnerving: he made no noise whatsoever. The dragon simply stared into the distance in a cold and dreadful silence; his two heads crossed in a dual glare with an intensity that one could swear could kill. No teeth were borne nor claws extended, just a silent look of brewing wrath. Icy, venomous, and terrifyingly quiet… and filled with an all-too obvious aura of recognition.

As if the hydra knew exactly what—or who—that call had come from.

There was an entire story to be told here, one that Zilla had never gotten to witness, yet could perceive clear as the water all around him. It was written on his new companions’ faces plain as day: there was history between the two kings of this island, and whatever had made that frightful war bellow.

And with it, Zilla felt a twinge of fear intermix with his hope.

Fear that his family’s lives, wherever they were, may be in terrible peril…

The iguana’s eyes twitched. The very start of a growl began to stir within the depths of his spined dewlap, his taloned feet starting to tense into the soil. He saw something. Something was out there in the horizon; something small to the eye, something airborne… but something shaped like a life-form.

Something approaching the island, growing ever closer…

Now a full growl was rumbling from the depths of Zilla’s gut. His tail began to swish like an angry cat, teeth bared and claws poised to get straight back to ripping and tearing just as they had done with the late Obsidius. He didn’t know what this approaching thing was, but if it was the bearer of that terrible call, then he would not hesitate to rend it to ribbons to scatter across the—

Abruptly, his growl stopped.

The being was rapidly getting closer—but rather than fear or caution, Zilla felt a pleasant surprise radiate through his scaly form. He recognized this being! A humanoid entity of silver, blue, and orange steel and a semi-conical head, its mouth-like speaker shaped in a permanent smile. He remembered this entity—this android—as an ally, a companion of whom had aided him in a battle with the menace of Gyaos.

This change of pace being more than welcome to the lizard, Zilla roared a friendly call to the incoming robot, garnering confused expressions from his newfound allies standing beside him. And sure enough, the robot seemed to pick up speed, clearly reacting to the iguana’s call. Like a metallic meteor, the smiling android closed the gap between it and the boglands of the island in less than a minute, landing before the bewildered Titans on its feet like the superhero it resembled.

At first, King Kong held fast to his axe, keeping a combat stance despite the robot’s lack of any aggressive gestures. A thunderous growl reverberated from the depths of his lungs, warning the droid not to try him after today. Beside the simian, Ghidorah held his fierce glare just the same, though his expressions had slightly calmed in comparison to before.

Holding his hands out in a passive manner, Jet Jaguar immediately set to trying to diffuse the tension. A series of mechanical whirrs echoed from the speaker in his mouthpiece, playing at frequencies so uniquely beyond human comprehension that they bypassed barriers of language and vocalization; a key that opened the door to possibly limitless communication. One by one, the kaiju of Skull Island understood the robot’s dialect; he did not mean any of them harm. A fact Zilla was quick to back up with an elephantine cry, announcing to his fellow titans Jet Jaguar’s status as an old ally.

The android’s whirring screeches continued, wordless sirens of exemplary communication that soon rendered each and every kaiju present silent.

Jet Jaguar was not merely here for friendly greetings… but to ask for aid.

Hearing this, Ghidorah, Kong, and Zilla all spared one another a glance before the robot continued… and stillness turned to audible tension when the metallic newcomer described the cause for his pleading for aid:

That there was a threat at hand that needed vanquishing. A threat that the inhabitants of Skull Island knew far too well.

The grasp that Kong held on his axe tightened, his growl returning; a growl quickly shared by the two-headed dragon next to him. Glares of all sorts were quickly crossed upon the faces of the other kaiju present… with the sole exception of Zilla, whose expression was less a glare of fury and more a stern gaze of alert. He had never met this threat face to face, never beheld the visage of the entity which his fellow monsters hated—and feared—so much.

…that was, until something within Jet Jaguar changed.

Within the workings of the android’s speaker, something shifted. Blaring screeches began to convert into something else, something even more coherent to the mutated iguana. Something less mechanical, and far more recognizable. And upon clarity, the lizard’s fiery eyes widened in ecstatic vigor.

Voices. Two voices in particular.

Voices Zilla knew better than any other…

That hope, of which he had been so fiercely clinging to as the sole thing to keep him going in this strange new world, bloomed like a spring flower upon hearing those voices. One would have to wipe clean his memory of every day of his existence to make him forget those voices. Jet Jaguar hadn’t needed to say anything; one recording of those sounds, and Zilla had understood. His family was finally here—and there was something terrible and malevolent lurking out there in the world. Something that posed a great threat to their lives, meaning only one thing.

Just like the old days, they needed him.

With a mammoth cry, the Champion of New York announced his own decision: he was going. And he cared not if his fellow titans agreed with his choice. He was going, and nothing and no one was going to halt him.

Most of the other kaiju stared at the iguana with flabbergasted, confused expressions. Dumbfounded that their newest member cared so much about a couple of humans of all things. Not a mate, nor lost offspring, but humans. The tiny, hairless, bipedal apes that had all but taken over the planet for millennia on end, had terraformed the world for a time and caused giants like themselves so much trouble.

The ones who had brought about the Wraith Titan scourge in the first place.

But one colossus in particular held a very different sentiment than his other kin. While gazes of bewilderment greeted Zilla from most of the others, Kong beheld the reactive reptile with a look of compassion… and recognition.

The lizard was not the only one to have lived a life protecting humans. Even decades later, Kong remembered how an entire tribe once lived here on this very island, protected under his wing. For years they looked up to him, called upon his might whenever a fell threat emerged to plague their peaceful existence, counted on him to vanquish said threats in the heat of battle.

The ape’s gaze drifted down to the boggy grass he stood upon, forlorn and gazing beyond the barriers of time. They had long since died out, his people. And with that notion, Kong found himself curling his hand into a fist. He may have lost his people.

That didn’t mean his newfound friend had to lose his.

Hefting his axe, Kong grunted softly to the iguana and trudged over to him, placing a friendly hand on his shoulder.

Zilla wouldn’t need to worry about going alone… because Kong was going with him.

A metallic roar added its owner’s input to the matter, turning heads to his xanthic presence. Ghidorah made his own answer every bit as clear.

So was he.

With his position clear, the golden king’s left head turned to gaze at his fellow kaiju. And one after another, they all stepped forward. Black Moth, Peguila, Varan, Gudon, Baragon, Gorosaurus, Maguma, and even the shambling Oodako; all of them lumbered forth to stand by the side of their kings.

They were sick of waiting. Sick of hiding out, letting the world simply go about being ruled by a sworn enemy while standing by and doing nothing. It was long past time for that tide to change, for their world’s balance of power to at last shift.

Maybe before, they would’ve merely waited it out; elected to simply stay put and remain hidden, as they have for so long. But their recent battle with the fearsome magmic killer, Obsidius, had changed them. Their standing up to a powerful hostile force and overcoming it, despite the odds against them, had sparked something in them that they thought had gone dormant long ago.

Seeing the reptilian newcomer, Zilla, stand up to and fight Obsidius to the finish without hesitation or fear had inspired them all. And now, they all would stand right beside their new comrade.

They would follow him, just as they followed King Kong and Ghidorah.

So what if it was their death march. At least they could die knowing they at last were fed up with hiding, and opted to try and do something about it. They could die together, as warriors in arms, just like Zilla had been willing to do when the volcanic berserker had intruded on their home.

They could die giving the Colossal Titan hell.

And if they didn’t meet the Grim Reaper? If they succeeded in their final war, and toppled their foe once and for all? Then they would usher in a whole new world. A new tomorrow, one with no more despair, no more hiding to elude the famished jaws of death.

A world where hope was reborn.

Rearing his head to the sky, Zilla unleashed a fearless roar that made the deepest depths of the earth tremble. Raising his axe, King Kong let loose his own war bellow; one of which was rapidly allied by the metallic screeches of Ghidorah. And one by one, every one of the other kaiju joined in. Any and all debate there might’ve been left was officially over, and in response Jet Jaguar gave a thumbs up.

They would fight.

To the last monster standing, if need be.

******

When the news dropped of the Armored Titan’s sighting, it was all hands on deck. While some members of the Scout Regiment remained behind to continue repairs on the battered heli, others were torn away for evacuation preparations. Much to Monique’s relief, Randy had managed to reroute the complex inner-workings of the Walls for higher efficiency—though the damage sustained was a setback, he somehow devised a workaround. She hadn’t the faintest clue of how, but she entrusted the technical mysteries to his qualifications.

But that didn’t make things easier for the herculean task ahead of them. Admirably, Hange carried that burden on her shoulders with a series of sharp orders and commands to ensure evacuation could roll as smoothly as possible.

“Prioritize the infirm and children! Route the convoys to the southern approach!” Without a moment of setback, the Scouts scattered to fulfill their duties–to act as vanguards for the fleeing civilians, whose stranded confusion caused murmurs among the populace. It was no surprise, Monique could overhear what they were saying to an extent. The doubt that flowed from their lips, questioning the good nature of their authority–no doubt a mistrust scarred from Kubal’s tyranny over these people.

The logistics of the operation confounded Monique. How were they ever going to manage to escape with such limited capacity? And with the walls becoming compromised one by one, there’d be no safe measure against the incoming horde. A tense snip tugged in her chest; there’d be without doubt casualty, and even if everything went off without a hitch, could they really just abandon 4/5ths of the population to the Titans now that there was no vanguard to protect them…?

It was cruel. So was the way of the world. But she could hear Randy’s imaginary rebuttal. ‘It doesn’t hurt to hope!’ She smirked, but quickly resumed default when signal flares began to pop. Red trails lingered in the sky, aimed in the direction of the source…

“Monique, I need something from you.” Monique was taken aback from the request of the Scout Commander. “Update your hacker friend of the situation. Begin evacuation procedures across the walls as planned.” Monique nodded. Even if their terms weren’t the strongest, it was better to play along with what Hange said. She at least had their best interest in mind.

Recalling the path down the corridors, Monique took it in stride as she strolled through the busy hallways, with Scouts frantically moving about in every corner. When she found the makeshift lab Randy was stationed in, he found him by his lonesome. Then, likely having heard her footsteps, Randy turned to greet in his typical fashion.

“Oh hey there, Frenchie! What brings you here?”

“Titans.”

“Already?” Randy grimaced. The jumper had already been a bad enough experience for the both of them. The thought of encountering more was a rodeo they were familiar with, but not a delightful one. “Can’t we like, toss zombie meat in their direction or something?”

She shrugged, “You’d gag.” She certainly wasn’t an expert on Titans, neither of them were. But if there was anything she did know, Randy would rather steer clear from any foul stench that didn’t involve the ‘Big Guy.’

“Word from the Commander. You’re authorized to initiate the evacuation route.”

“No problemo! Getting on that right away!” In a blitz, Randy’s fingers danced with the keyboard, inputting code and commands with immaculate speed and precision. In what felt like a matter of moments, Randy celebrated as he input the final command. “Boo-yah! Now everything has been set in motion. Let’s just hope this insane hair-brained scheme works, yeah?”

Monique dismissively nodded. “Find anything else?”

“Oh, uhh,” Randy paused, “Not much. How’s the Bell handling?”

“Progressing well. Though whether it’ll be done before the creatures get here is another story.”

“Yikes.” A twitch of concern washed over Randy’s face, a tick Monique picked up on clearly. Though with the burden and responsibility of the task given, who wouldn’t be worried?

“Mind doing another sweep?” Monique plainly asked.

“Oh sure. Doesn’t hurt to be thorough. And no pings from ol’ Roboman, but…” The CRT flickered between different screens, each registering the worsening developments of the unfolding scenario. Heat-detection was clearly picking up on the mass-horde of Titans en route to the outermost wall.

“Let’s see here…” Before Randy could say anything further, the computer began to beep, signaling them of… Something, Monique wasn’t sure as to what.

“Hang on, new development?” The tech whiz quickly pulled up the screen, showing the satellite hovering over Japan. He cycled between all the frequencies, but didn’t notice anything new or unusual. “That’s odd, I’m not seeing anything… Hmm, nothing noteworthy with the Uglies.” The sun-kissed man pondered on what this old piece of tech was reciprocating. Something that couldn’t be seen… Unless.

“Wait,” Monique interjected, “Turn back to the radio frequencies.” She pointed to the monitor, noting a dull pulse around the Shizuoka-Yamanashi Prefectures, near the base of Mt. Fuji. “What’s that?”

“Ooh, good catch, Monique! A low-frequency pulse, it looks like. Curious… It is a lot closer to us. Think we should have Full–” Before Randy could say anything, a quick glare from herself said it all. “–Jet Jaguar investigate it first?”

“We only have one Jet Jaguar, and we need every bit of time before either the Titans or Kubal get here. Sure it’d be wise to send him over when we need all hands on deck?”

“About that–” A sudden rumble shook the powerful wall, a vibration that rocked the entire structure. It was without doubt that the Armored Titan had made a breach–and even less doubt that it was not going to stop.

“Shoot. That’s… not good. Definitely not good.” Randy uttered, wide-eyed and terrified.

“Well if you don’t have anything else, then dépêche-toi! To the chopper, your tech wizardry might be helpful there!” Before he complied with her command, Randy made some final adjustments on the primitive tech with his portable computer.

“Before we depart, need to make sure that the Jag knows and… Presto!” Without hesitation, the moment he was done, Randy made a run for the helicopter. But only one thought crossed her mind. ‘The Jag? Really?’ She moaned silently, following her compatriot to the chopper.

*****

His feet tapped the ground, and before he knew it, he was off. He’d take lead, a beacon to an army of monsters that sought to reclaim this planet. From the powers of tyranny, from the iron grip of one man. Jet Jaguar knew he didn’t need to see them to indicate they were following him. The rally cry of Zilla assured him of that. His flight kept him above the territorial grounds of Skull Island and the torrential waters surrounding the isolated landmass.

The tropical humidity clung to his silver skin, even as flight was underway. But such would not be the case for long. Crashing waves collapsed under him, but what laid ahead was the roughest storm he had only broken through recently–and now he had to go through it again. But if it was any consultation, he wouldn’t be alone on this. The supercell was an anomaly in of itself, but acted as an effective deterrent against any external threats to the island’s prosperity. Even its waters were nothing short of a series of deadly riptides if they weren’t careful.

It wasn’t long before Jet found himself at the storm’s edge, ready to plunge into the darkness once more. The radio waves began to scramble from the erratic lightning that brewed within, making it difficult to discern if any of Randy’s messages–or another signal–were coming his way.

But he wasn’t alone.

Speeding beneath him was Zilla, an ally from the battle against Ravenous Shadow and the Green Gargantua. One whose strength was dependable in times of need, even when things had only gotten worse. A lit torch that illuminated the uncertainty. Others followed in the reptile’s wake. A giant octopus strolled right alongside him, traversing the murky depths as they sailed through the booming storm. Two others bobbed and weaved through the crashing waves, the massive walrus and the triphibian varanopode competing neck and neck to outpace the other. Behind the aquatic-capable ones were the terrestrials; the theropod that maintained buoyancy amidst the storm, as too were the subterranean titans, who were out of their depth and merely getting by. The red horned one was holding out better than the whip-master, who fared poorer in water.

Then were the titans of the sky, who had to withstand the torrential winds pushing back against them. To force them back to the safe haven that was Skull Island. But they were a persistent lot. The winged lion braced against the windstreams, booming a defiant roar that only reinvigorated their hope for a better tomorrow. Another chirp came from the flying freezing monster, whose body was coated in a glacial mist that spewed from its body. It froze the condensation around it, leaving a trail of hail and snow in its path.

At last were the Kings. Although Zilla had inspired hope, it was still they who caught up to their allies and led the charge into war. The golden king flapped its majestic wings, tearing through the storm with no resistance. The ape king stood upon the back of his steed, issuing a commanding roar to the perpetuating cyclone, holding his axe high and mighty in an act of defiance. So decreed the Kings.

Hopes were held high for the coming conflict, but what the future held was one he could not see. Jet Jaguar had to put it in good faith that things would be all right.

What else to cling to in times of trouble but faith?

—

They entered the darkness together. And it is through trial and tribulation that they will emerge as one.

The blasts of lightning increased, as did the perpetual winds and rainstorm that beat them down. But they were resilient. And maybe it was this togetherness that would help them in the battle against the tyrant that kept an iron grip on this empty Earth. The Kings of Skull Island had long since passed him up, leading the way for their troupe against an indomitable foe. But for Zilla, there was more at stake.

His human compatriots. His father, whose scent he had lost during the calamity against the cosmic sultan. A home to return to once this war was over. If he wasn’t careful, there was a sure-shot that he wouldn’t make it out of this alive. But it was an experience he had readily brushed with in the past; the clash with the alien invaders was nearly the death of him had it not been for Kiryu. For every battle he partook in, death was almost certainly looming over him. And now was no different.

Perhaps, this would be his last fight for all he knew.

For every dip Zilla took under the water, the more it showed the contrast. Although the surface was ravaged by the torrential superstorm, the sea beneath was blanketed by a calm under the shadow. Even in the shadow of the storm, life thrived here. Maybe somewhere down there was a second chance for humankind, or lifeforms like humans. When this desolate world returns to its natural beauty. But that was not for Zilla to contemplate. He was surrounded by allies on all sides.

And together, they can overcome.

They moved as one, brunting the harrowing storm that pushed against them. Crashing waves splashed against the sea-faring beasts and creatures of the earth, and the fliers of the sky remained undeterred by the fierce winds of Mother Nature. Even as they were extensions of the Earth’s natural cycle, they still had to overcome her last obstacle. One that protected them from the threat of Man beyond her veil.

But the start of their long journey to the biggest threat on Earth was going to come to an end soon enough. Ahead shone a light at the outer rim of the storm, signaling that this rough patch was going to end.

Somehow… Zilla found something comforting about it.

This storm in of itself was a task to overcome, a powerful obstacle that tested them all as they traversed its broiling might. For millions of years, such storms had terrorized life on earth as unstoppable forces that could only be waited out; undefeatable and unnegotiable until the moment they moved on or dissipated. By traditional wisdoms, this storm should’ve been no different; an immovable object and unstoppable force rolled into one, and to fight it would be a fruitless labor.

This hurricane should’ve been something one couldn’t fight. An act of god. When one saw such a typhoon on the arrival, they had to get out of the way.

Yet here, they all were.

Braving the storm, pushing through its bellowing wrath. Holding together with all their might as they made a journey many would deem impossible. And now, there was light ahead of them, a foretelling that this task was almost complete.

If they could brave this storm, who was to say what else they could face?

The winds were beginning to lessen, the cracks of velvet lightning starting to lose their godly intensity the further they pressed on. More light began to peek through the tiring clouds about them, the triumphant sight of the other side starting to greet the lizard’s determined eyes. A titanic roar echoed from his boxy jaws, calling to his comrades that they were all but there; a roar that his new allies answered one after the other with their own.

Before the light then bathed them in its full and victorious warmth as at last, air and sea-borne alike, the great giants broke through. And the glorious sight of the sun welcomed their presence with open arms.

If the enemy they sought was a storm, they could conquer him too. No task, no obstacle, no enemy was truly undefeatable.

So long as they never gave in and continued to pull together, they could fight the hurricane.

They could win.

*****

Kubal held onto the Armored Titan as her feet sprinted into a charge. The quaking stride shook the very ground beneath them, the body of her Titanized state radiating heat unlike her previous transformation. A side effect of her adopting traits of the Colossal, perhaps. But such observations were irrelevant to the greater goal at hand. His focus razor sharp to bring back her smile–to pull her back from the terror of being a monster, to rescue her from the brink of death.

From the silo, Azusa’s footfalls burned the foliage around her. The journey there was nothing short of uneventful, but Kubal remained wary. The night sky was without doubt going to dawn soon enough. Despite the wind rushing around him, he stood steadfast. If the Scouts were wise to their movements–such as the hacker who compromised their systems–then he had to be sure that no surprises came their way.

And he knew such a risk would occur after they climbed over Wall Okuno.

Within the hour, the Armored Titan found itself closing in on the innermost wall of their isolated society. Due to her increased size, crawling over the wall was less of a hassle compared to the much smaller 15-meter state. Even so, she had to be careful not to damage Wall Okuno; it was vital for their future, to be protected from the Titans around them.

But all else? Fodder. And nothing more.

He’d take away everything from them to fuel his own ambition. But beneath all this destruction was a dream. A utopia for his family, for his lineage. Nothing was going to stop him from achieving it. But what came after? For Kubal, such existentialism didn’t matter. He’d bare the brunt of the tortured soul for all he cared.

If it meant her happiness above his, that was all that mattered.

The breeze washed over him, silently waiting for the moment of inevitability, for time to fly as the long trek from Wall Okuno to Wall Nakano came to a close. His ears clogged with the sound of rushing air and the rhythmic bodily functions of the Armored Titan. The massive centrical wall came into view, its bold frame outlined by the dawning light that peeked from the horizon. Japan was truly the Land of the Rising Sun for a reason, even when they had started the voyage in the dead of night.

Kubal felt a memory sting. That moment. “I know she means the world to you. I have siblings that mean the world to me; but the cost will be far too great. There must be another way!” Hearing the words of that hypocrite boiled his blood to no end. There is no other way. That much he knew for certain.

It was then the words of his late father sprang to mind once more.

“And life isn’t going to hold back, Kubal. So never give the courtesy.”

He clenched his fists. He had inflicted cruelty upon his world, and now he had full intentions of spreading that cruelty to another. And it wasn’t going to stop until he got what he wanted, even if many worlds had to fall for it. He knew he would make it happen.

As the Armored Titan made the approach, Kubal knew it was wise to hide in the grooves of the Titan’s shoulder protrusions. Then, upon impact, his ears were filled to the brim with the chorus of destruction. The wall barely held the Armored Titan back, plowing through the reinforced wall as mechanisms and stone scattered across the vacant lot. Without stopping, Azusa’s Titan pressed on.

And soon enough, there would be nothing to hold them back.

*****

“Woohoo! Yeah!” The celebratory chant from Randy was hardly random. Within the limited time allotted to their dire situation, the necessary components to the helicopter were finally completed. Although some diagnostics were required for fine tuning, the vehicle was otherwise good to go. It was only a matter of waiting on Zilla before they could even think about getting out of here alive.

But should they? It was a thought that troubled Monique greatly. An insurmountable task to save as many lives as they could… Even the Scouts, as unstable as they could be, were still keen on saving as many as possible for the outset of a better future. She pondered this as Randy gave confident high-fives to the nearby engineers who ultimately got the job done. The man had his ways with people, it seemed. And just before she knew it, the engineers had scattered to help with the monstrous task at hand.

“Now we just wait for Nick’s pet, ai-je raison?” Monique asked, even if her doubts gnawed at her. At the very least, she wanted to see what her crewmate was thinking.

“I was thinking that… How badly I want to get out of here.” Randy said, scratching the back of his neck nervously. The tone in his voice gave away that he wasn’t ready to leave. Not yet.

“And what is it that you want?” Monique pressed, prying the answer out of the tech whiz.

“With how bad everything is here, I figured why not give that signal in Mount Fuji a closer look? The J-Man is gonna get my looping transmission, so I was thinking of heading over there and checking it out. Maybe it’ll have something that can even the odds.”

“And we have enough fuel to make the trip and back?” Monique questioned.

“Full tank!”

“And the Titans?”

“Erm… Think we’d have to ask Crazy Commando about that one. Not sure if we’d make it without a pinch of their guards…” There was no doubt the Scouts needed every person available to them. Even so, taking the venture outside the walls was more than a risky maneuver, but a life-threatening one. There’d be no guarantee they’d make it out alive; or that they’d be able to escape from the confines the future presented.

Even so, it was time to take matters into their own hands. Whatever it took.

A shriek suddenly zipped past them. Monique’s combat instincts kicked into high gear, noticing right away the source of their attacker. Unlike most of the other Scouts in the facility, this one was distinguished by their on-hand bow and arrows. The arrow had not penetrated the hull of the copter, instead passing through the open doors and embedding into the nearby wall. She recognized the sharpshooter from earlier, and it was beyond clear that it was a warning shot.

Had it not been, Randy would have been dead where he stood.

“Stop right there!” Sasha cried out, “You’re not going anywhere!”

“Why not?” Monique demanded, “Your Commander offered it to us as a means of returning to our home dimension.”

“Wait… Really?” the archer raised her head, doubt written on her face. Be it from the words she heard or if her instincts had been wrong, Monique couldn’t fully tell. Regardless of the matter, it was only a second later before she pulled the bow back for another shot. “How can I be sure?” Sasha interrogated.

“Ask your Commander about it. She will tell the whole thing.” Monique firmly concluded. She had to be careful with her words; the immense pressure on the Scouts was no doubt getting to them. Likewise, this was not her or anyone else’s domain to condemn reckless actions; this was a world on the brink of human extinction. It’d drive anyone up the wall.

“But I heard you talking about leaving!” Sasha took a decisive step closer. “…and without considering taking any survivors with you!”

“Whoa, whoa, hey!” Randy chimed in, “It’s not like that at all!” Randy’s once sun-kissed skin had turned pale and sweaty from the first arrow. When Sasha geared up for the second, he became even paler.

“Wait!” Monique interjected, “We did not wish to abandon your people in your time of need.” At that moment, Monique knew she had made up her mind. Perhaps Nick would have done the same without any hesitation. “We caught wind of a signal near Mt. Fuji and hoped we could return with reinforcements.”

The Scout sharpshooter turned her bow to Monique. “Known ally?”

“Yes,” Monqiue lied, keeping her composure. Had this been Mikasa or even Eren, they would have been in deep trouble; but Sasha didn’t seem like the hardened warrior type. “We only got word not too long ago. But in order to do that, we have to breach into Titan territory. And we may need your help.”

“Titan territory? Are you…” Sasha cut herself off from finishing her statement, struggling to think of something else to say. “You gotta be out of your minds!”

“Well, we’re the Humanitarian Environmental Analysis Team!” Randy said with a cheerful jig, trying to restore his beautiful complexion to his paled face. “Doing crazy things is kind of our thing!”

“Huma.. Enviro… What’s-it-what? You just said a string of words I don’t understand,” Sasha admitted.

“We analyze threats and assess them accordingly.” Monique explained plainly. “Just so happens we get wrapped up in a lot of calamities. Comes with the job.”

“Or H.E.A.T., ‘cause we’re sizzling hot to the touch!” With an eloquent spin, Randy shot fingerguns at the Scout, wrapping up his theatrics. It would seem his charisma won her over as she lowered her weapon.

“You’re a funny guy, Mr. Randy,” Sasha remarked. She showed clear signs of agitation, but at least it was no longer hostile.

“It’s Hernandez,” Randy flirtatiously clicked back.

“Think you can ask your Commander about it?” Monique interjected, ensuring Randy wouldn’t be able to pursue the matter any further.

“O-of course!” Sasha stammered, “Just wait first, okay?” Before either of them could say anything, Sasha had already darted off.

“Hope we get a full squad,” Randy remarked.

“Don’t be so hopeful, they’re going to be busy enough as it is,” Monique stated coldly.

“Nothing wrong with holding onto a little bit of hope, right?” the tech whiz rebutted. Monique refuted with a stern ‘hmph!’ of her own. Maybe there was, maybe there wasn’t. But all she knew for sure was that they had to wait and make sure everything was in order.

If Randy was right on his assessment, then it’d make the risk worthwhile. That was provided they’d come back alive.

*****

He had a choice to make. And it was in that choice he felt regret swell up; why was that? Exact his vengeance against the man who ruined the world, but threatened the livelihood of all those he ever cared about. Eren would see to it, or at least that’s what his heart told him. It was a mutual benefit; the destruction of Kubal would lead to the peace of humanity…

When the Armored Titan breached through Wall Nakano, Eren manifested that choice into action. Knowing there were armored vehicles outside of Nakano, he propelled himself and hijacked the nearest one. Driving wasn’t his strongest forte, but so long as no one got in his way, there’d be no qualms. With all the chaos and craziness abound in the Survey Corps, now was the prime opportunity to enact his will.

He couldn’t trust his Commander’s wisdom. He found his heart becoming colder and colder to heed the words of his friends. It was an incredibly selfish choice, and he knew it. But if it was for them, his friends, then it would be justified…

Right?

Revving the heavy engine to life, the armored car began to grind rubber against the dirt road, twisting around and making a mad rush through the near-empty city into the dense foliage of nature. Trips from Nakano to Sotono took no more than roughly two hours, depending on the terrain. But the Armored Titan, given its gigantism and running stature, easily outpaced any vehicle known to the inhabitants of the Walls. Without a doubt, it would make it to the outermost wall first. But all he had to do was tag where the Armored Titan would be.

Where there was the Armored, the Colossal was sure to follow.

“I’ll get you, Kubal,” Eren muttered in an angry reprieve. It was then Eren realized what the choice was going to cost him. Somewhere in his heart, without his Scout-mates nearby, he felt the sensation dwelling in him. One that gnawed at his heart. Where his one-note obsession was leading him.

A place of loneliness.

 

Chapter 8: The Battle Begins

The ocean stretched beyond comprehension, the voyage to the lost land of Japan was no easy feat. Even when they escaped the confines of the supercell, the sheer distance was truly outstanding. The calmer waters provided no resistance, but it almost became an endurance test in itself. For Jet Jaguar, it wasn’t as much of a concern about his energy output. He could last, so long as combat or enlargement was kept to a minimum. But some of the others were showing mild fatigue, especially the monsters that’d without question be built for a subterranean environment.

Thankfully, the horizon showed itself; from the small mountains near Kamakura—and more importantly, the gate that held the place Jet Jaguar called home. Its black surface pulsated an eerie glow, an effervescent ripple traveling unnaturally across the torn open space. The jagged crystals, flowing with extraterrestrial power beyond control, sustained the portal’s integrity. The path home, only obstructed by an obligatory sense of duty to protect and guide these walled people to a safe haven.

A task Jet Jaguar greatly abided by. One he’d see through to its bitter end.

As they closed in on their destined location, the scramblings of a message were being picked up by his antennae. A looping message no doubt from the H.E.A.T. tech wizard Randy Hernandez. Coordinates to a location near Mt. Fuji. With his speed, he’d no doubt be able to make it in record time.

But first, some ground rules had to be set.

Torrential cascades flushed from the colossal giants that stepped ashore, the residual waterfalls flooding the beach in a downpour of sea water. The mere sight of so many monsters gathered in one location was nothing short of breathtaking, each coming in different species and sizes. Zilla and the sea beasts were in fair condition. However, the airborne creatures grounded themselves and rested from the long voyage. Even the land-dwellers collapsed onto the brush that bordered the beach and the foliage, taking this moment to rest before all hell broke loose.

Jet witnessed the ape king jump off his steed, approaching Zilla with his battle axe in tow. The beast king grunted at their reptilian compatriot, who in turn gleamed at himself. It was the answer they were waiting for, something Jet Jaguar was keen to deliver.

Via a series of electronic screeches and body gestures, Jet Jaguar communicated exactly what was going to entail. First, the protection of the anomaly. Without it, he and Zilla would have no way home for themselves or their human companions. Second, to prevent the threats of all kaiju-kind–the Colossal and Armored Titans–from entering the portal in the interim. His eyes projected holograms of the two Titans, trusting the higher intelligence of Zilla and Kong to comprehend what they were dealing with. Third, a weak-point. Placing his hand on the back of his neck, Jet emphasized that it was the place where Titans rested. He had to put it on faith they’d be able to communicate the idea to the other primitive beasts in their midst.

Kong snorted, suggesting an understanding of the information relayed to them. Then a fourth message, one for Zilla specifically. He received information on the whereabouts of the lizard’s human comrades, and that the robot would be back once they have been corralled. The boxy-headed reptile snorted contently, the red-orange eyes of the lizard king watching as Jet Jaguar took to the skies, darting off into the realm of Titan territory.

He had to put faith they’d be able to hold out until then.

*****

The last breach.

With a monstrous slam against another portion of Wall Sotono, Azusa’s Titan did the deed and had escaped the confines of the centrical walls that had protected the last bastion of humanity for the last 100 years or so. The loud cacophony of air resounded like thunder, with pieces of Sotono scattering in the wind, destroying any standing structure or tree in their path. Dust flooded the vacant streets and foliage, pushing over the frailty with the force behind the sudden surge. It was then the white-plated Titan crawled to a walk after hours of nonstop running, taking the chance to catch her breath.

It was the only stop Kubal was going to give her.

He stepped out of the crevice in the Titan’s shoulder, taking in the sight. The anomaly hung over the hillsides of Kamakura, pulsing as it did that day. And with the vial stored in his pocket and encased in thick, shatter-resistant glass, he’d make the final push into frontiers unknown. With the promise of humans on the other side, there’d finally be a chance to restore his daughter to the smiling child she was–that was provided they couldn’t retrieve Eren Jaeger or the Attack Titan in a timely manner.

The closer the Armored Titan got, the more details came into view… Including a rather unexpected welcome party he’d rather not deal with. A menagerie of giant monsters congregated into this one spot. It couldn’t be a coincidence. His blood boiled seeing the now two-headed dragon he thought had been shredded by the Wraith Titans of the past. Surely, it should have succumbed to its wounds. And the ape looked familiar, though different to his memory’s recollection. He remembered tearing the heart out of the other one back during his stint in Osaka, how it had been the one of four monsters he killed that month. Had this one been its offspring?

It didn’t matter. All he needed was power, and that alone spoke more than any word ever could.

He leaned into the massive ear of the Titan and began to speak. “Azusa, put me down. You continue as planned.” Even for the Armored’s blank eyes and stiff expression, he felt a certain hesitation on Azusa’s part. But with a firm grunt, the white giant willingly complied with his request. Bringing her giant hand up, Kubal stepped onto the white-armored hand and was lowered down to the ground. The surrounding slopes gave him the needed cover from kaiju and Titan alike, at least for the time being. It wouldn’t be long now before everything here was stampeded by the Titan threat.

Even so, he knew he had to break through that portal. No matter what.

The Armored Titan’s slow stride quickly turned into a rampant charge, putting distance between the two of them. She had a mission to do, as did he. Pulling out his trusty blade, he slit his bare palm, igniting the Titanized ritual he had performed so many times before. Enveloped by a radiant light that reflected his fiery rage, Kubal was wrapped by bony protrusions and fleshy tendons, encasing his body in a protective sack as his Titanized body began to manifest into reality. The electrical pulse from the transformation washed over the surrounding foliage, and next thing he knew, Kubal had become his fully realized self. Now adorned with the white armored plates of Azusa’s Titan, the Colossal Titan boomed a hellish roar that challenged the despicable creatures before him.

It was now do or die. And for Kubal, there wouldn’t be a standing body to get in his way once he was done with them.

*****

A roar like a great mammoth echoed from Zilla’s jaws as their gargantuan foe took shape before them.

A wind so strong as to match the wrathful storm of Skull Island, yet packed to the brim with a heat that tested the lizard’s resistance with a vengeance, blew over the gathered giants as if it were the fury of a god. King Ghidorah shrieked out to his fellow kaiju to stick together as the superheated winds battered his scaly body, his call greeted by bellows of equal parts distress and comradery as they all obeyed their draconic leader.

As the winds slowly started to die down, Ghidorah’s right head screeched once more, informing his comrades exactly what they needed to know.

He was here.

A war cry to shame the denizens of Hell bloomed into the sweltering air, heralding the stand of a gigantic humanoid of alabaster plates and crimson musculature that bulged like the great statues of Greek craftsmanship. And with his arrival, Ghidorah’s two heads snarled.

After so long, the Colossal Titan stood before him once more; more lethal and powerful than he had ever been yet.

At first, the other kaiju held back in a frozen silence. Even those who had never encountered this foe personally, knew exactly who this entity was and what he was capable of. Even those who were yet strangers to his presence knew what he had brought about. This was the foe from whom Ghidorah had sustained his old scars, still ugly and rugged to look upon even to this day. This was the bastard who had ushered this world in its bleak, apocalyptic state.

The great king ranked as their strongest, the two-headed hydra barking at them to stay back. To study, to understand the menace they stood up against. As the denizens of Skull Island stepped back, King Ghidorah took flight, his mighty wings generating a dust storm from his flight path. Zilla eyed the golden dragon en route to the one who ended this world, waiting to study what this dreaded Colossal Titan was capable of…

A wail from Maguma directed their collective attention. Beneath the pinniped’s fins was a mound of dirt, with a gaping hole next to it. Kong checked among their ranks, realizing that… Baragon was missing! But a firm bark from Kong forced them to maintain silence. They couldn’t afford to let their enemy know of this development, they just had to trust that the superheated nephilim didn’t notice. Kong irked in frustration.

Such recklessness always posed dangerous consequences…

—

The wild beast tunneled underground, parting the sands and packed dirt with his brazen claws. For any materials too tough for his claws, he melted with fire and carried on. Certainly, this Colossal Titan was a force to be reckoned with… But a surprise attack from beneath would certainly catch him off guard! Feeling the vibrations from Ghidorah’s low flight trajectory, the maroon reptile clenched his tongue.

Clawing through the earth beneath him, Baragon’s nasal horn glowed to life, illuminating the dark around him.. This giant may have bested Ghidorah in the past. He may have murdered Kong’s father. But that was then.

This was now.

Baragon crushed the soil as his movement displaced the earth around him. He knew it was likely he would not come out of this battle alive, that this was his final war. So what? Dying fighting such a foe would be a greater honor than going so much as another minute hiding or staying idle.

His instincts continued to serve him well, giving him a pin-point location of the Colossal Titan’s whereabouts. If he was fast enough, he’d be able to get the jump on him before Ghidorah got there. His golden king may have ruled the skies, but Baragon mastered subterranean travel! A show that the Earth was not to be trifled with!

Homing in on the vibrations of the Titan’s shifting feet, Baragon took aim, and in a matter of moments, leapt into the light…

—

Cackles echoed from the two remaining heads, closing the gap between him and the Colossal. The glowing yellow eyes of the hellish human were kept locked and firm, the massive superhuman taking an aggressive battle stance. Ghidorah was coming in range, prepared to fire away. But before he could, the ground next to the armored nephilim began to dishevel and erupt with a pillar of ejecting dirt.

Ghidorah saw it all transpire before his eyes.

The collective bore witness to the moment.

With a fearless roar, Baragon exploded out of the soil with fangs poised to crunch—

Like it was as easy as breathing, the Colossal Titan whirled around and thrust his fist towards the archosaur’s open jaws with all his wrathful might.

Baragon didn’t even have time to make another sound before his skull was shattered. Gore, brain matter and teeth flew in every direction as the dinosaur’s body was vertically split in half. Blood and shreds of organ matter decorated Kubal’s muscular form only to cook out of existence from the extreme heat, while both halves of Baragon’s bisected body landed on opposite ends behind him. Within one half an organic beating gradually began its course of slowing to an eternal halt, the final persistent pounding of a once-proud heart that didn’t know it was dead yet.

A horrific chill, frigid and all-agonizing, plummeted upon the gathered kaiju like an invisible avalanche.

It had happened just like that. One moment he was amongst their ranks, and the next Baragon was dead. Gone forever, never for them to see again. The battle hadn’t even begun and already they had lost a longtime companion.

It had all happened so fast.

Kubal wanted to scoff.

Tricks. That’s all this floppy-eared reptilian had up its scaly sleeve. Just a bunch of deceitful tricks, to play around instead of going in with all its might. Hit and run, nothing else.

A creature that held back.

His experience against such pitiful beasts taught him all the tricks he needed to know. The soft vibrations had already alerted him well before the creature could even ambush him. Such a fool it was to pretend it even had a shot against him. He didn’t even need to look.

The words of his father roared as a chorus in his mind. A firm reminder of the fate that awaited the foolish kaiju that dared try to stop him.

Kubal looked over beyond the incoming dragon, following them with his furrowed gaze. His Titan’s glowing eyes met the gathered monsters; an infernal grim reaper awaiting the execution of what he perceived to be worthless worms. The harbinger of death waiting for them all to come to their doom.

What had once been an hour of hope, of the promise of triumph…was now cloaked underneath a brewing atmosphere of one thing and nothing else:

Fear.

Their enemy was far stronger than he had been since Ghidorah had last seen him—and that was anything but an easy feat. They were horribly underprepared, even in regards to a foe they knew would be far from simple to defeat.

…had they already lost?

Boisterous screeches erupted from King Ghidorah’s jaws, spearing against the Colossal Titan.

No! They would not submit. They refused! Too long had they accepted defeat, had let the cruelty of this new world reign supreme while they hid away with what little safety remained.

There were always going to be casualties, even losses right from the get go. No war of this magnitude was won without them. Outmatched and outgunned in every category, Baragon had still died doing what his seemingly-primitive mind believed in. He had died fighting, had left this world a brave warrior right to the last breath. It was more than possible that many of his comrades would suffer the same fate. Perhaps, even for Ghidorah himself.

If that was the way to honor Baragon’s passing, then it would be so.

Silently wishing the dinosaur’s spirit a safe passage to whatever afterlife awaited him, the two-headed monster screeched a challenge at his old rival and stormed towards him on powerful sails, the sky quaking from the force of his mighty wingbeats.

Even now, dread and fear mauled his heart and soul… but he could not let it stay him.

Not anymore.

Whipping around with a thundering growl, Kubal correspondingly tightened his broiling fists.

Like the temper of a building volcano, steam began to radiate from the dictator’s body; sweltering and searing to the touch. His fist began to tremble with ever-mounting fury, his eyes redirecting back to his priority target.

He was ready.

‘Let’s end this, you persistent fucker,’ he thought viciously.

Mid-stride, the creation of the Futurians flapped his wings and lunged for his hated foe… and then, mere meters away, abruptly stopped.

Undulating his body vertically like a dolphin, the dragon launched his two tails at Kubal like dual whips of gold. They may have lacked the spiked ends they once possessed, but that didn’t stop them from making good blunt force weapons.

Even so, the Colossal Titan seemed just one step ahead.

Reflexes honed by over a century of this same routine, Kubal snapped up his right arm and caught both tails in one hand. And with a good hard yank, brought the hydra towards him—

—just as simultaneously, Ghidorah put up both of his feet, using the momentum of the pull to his advantage.

By the time Kubal realized the dragon’s plan, Ghidorah had already crashed both feet into his face with an earth-rattling BOOM, sending the nephilim onto his back.

The Futurian Creation had dealt the first blow.

Razor teeth just itching to tear into the dictator’s flesh, Ghidorah lunged and chomped upon the Titan’s arms—and found a problem. The goliath’s armor plating was too thick, a factor even Ghidorah’s own past experience had unforeseen. If true and meaningful damage was to be dealt, there needed to be a way to get through the—

BAM!

An armored, steaming knee slammed into the hydra’s gut, knocking half the wind out of him. Not wasting the opportunity, Kubal reared back a foot and slammed it into the empty spot where Ghidorah’s middle head once towered, mighty and frightful. The golden king of Skull Island was thrown back by the ungodly force of the blow, pain shooting through his torso and eliciting twin howls of anguish as he too was grounded.

Armored muscles bulged as they planted furious palms into the earth, pushing a humanoid frame back to a standing position. Aurum-hued wings slammed against the earth, sending a once-grounded hydra back onto his feet with a duo of relentless war cries. Golden lights sparked in the back of his throats, making way for the discharge of his most formidable weapon. The gravity beams ripped through the earth before trailing to meet Kubal, lancing against his hulking frame in bursts of sparks and smoke…

…which rapidly faded upon discharge, revealing a most terrifying sight indeed: hardly, if any, damage at all.

Once again, fear fought to rise in the hydra’s soul, hungrily gripping his heart in its foul teeth. Even his most formidable means of offense weren’t enough to breach his old rival’s thick armor.

They would have to hit even harder than that…

For a moment Zilla took a step forward, preparing to intervene—only for a mammalian hand to stop him cold. Despite sympathizing with the iguana’s intentions, Kong grunted firmly.

Not yet…

Pawing the earth beneath him, King Ghidorah roared his fears away and stampeded back into the line of fire. If brute force or firepower were not yet enough to injure the humanoid monolith, perhaps he could find ways to soften him up a bit.

With a bellow to tremble the planet’s core, the Colossal Titan stormed to meet his draconic adversary. The two met in a bone-rattling CRASH that sent a shockwave ripping through the air for miles, echoing off the mountains like a thunderclap from Olympus. Knifelike teeth gnashed against armored plating as Ghidorah’s right head snapped upon Kubal’s throat, while his left head bit down upon the murderer’s right wrist.

Kubal was not one to make things so easy, and began to repeatedly punch the hydra in the torso with his free fist.

Crimson eyes cringed and winced from the force of the blows, yet Ghidorah did his best to withstand them and shoved back against his quarry with his gigantic body. The Colossal Titan may have been a horror in the department of sheer power, there was one advantage King Ghidorah did hold over his murderous foe: weight. At 20,000 metric tons heavier, the Futurian Superweapon was able to push back against Baragon’s killer, all while using his gigantic wings as a means of leverage to keep himself afoot in his efforts.

So Kubal just fought harder.

Punching with one hand, evolved into kneeing with one leg, and with Ghidorah truly began to feel his limits getting tested. He was amongst the most durable kaiju around, but even he could only withstand so much before so much became too much.

And the killer’s fearsome blows were only getting stronger with every hit…

Another idea hit the hydra’s mind.

Snaking his two tails between his own legs, Ghidorah lashed them forth and wrapped them around the berserker’s heels, squeezing as hard as he could muster in an attempt to hold them in place. It was a half-rewarded effort; while it was enough to slow the power and frequency of Kubal knee-slamming him on repeat, it was not enough to stop it altogether.

That’s when the golden drake switched tactics.

Point blank, Ghidorah abruptly fired his gravity beams into the Titan’s throat and right wrist. Fire and smoke erupted forth from the corners of both of the hydra’s jaws, managing to startle Kubal, so unexpected was the attack.

Other than surprise, Kubal hardly felt a thing.

Putting all his might into his necks and tails, Ghidorah yanked hard to the side and managed to sling the Colossal Titan onto his back. Lifting a foot, he slammed it upon the humanoid’s stomach and looked upon the results of his handiwork. And with it, he was greeted with yet another frigid chill.

Hardly a thing, other than burnt splotches that were already beginning to slowly clear—

In an instant, Kubal had switched from passive to berserk. A superheated knee jutted upwards and slammed into the back of Ghidorah’s leg, sending the dragon forward just enough that the nephilim could throw a fist right into his left head. The impact that CRACKED through the air was a most sickening sound for all to hear, and it was more than a miracle that the hydra’s left head avoided the same fate as Baragon’s poor skull mere minutes ago.

But the force of the punch was more than enough to bestow upon the unfortunate head, a brutal concussion.

Screeching in agony, the Futurian bioweapon was all but helpless to fend off the second, rageful punch that connected with his stomach. An all-encompassing quake reverberated through the earth as Ghidorah was floored onto his back—and unlike before, the Colossal Titan didn’t waste a second to be slow.

His body steaming to life, Kubal was on his feet in an instant, and leaping upon his downed adversary the very next. Ghidorah hardly even had time to fend him off; a measly gravity beam spearing out of his jaws to strike almost harmlessly against his attacker’s face… before a heated fist slammed into his right shoulder with horrible force. The hydra’s functional head caterwauled in pain as he felt the bone crack under the force—only to be hushed when another fist slammed into his face, hitting it against the earth.

Crouched atop his hapless quarry, the armored killer beat into the dragon with thundering punch after punch. Scale and muscle rippled, bones began to succumb to stresses they weren’t meant to take, screeches of agony were drowned out by bellows of bloodlust as Kubal let loose the broiling depths of his rage.

There would be no escape for the pitiful wyrm this time. No last minute getaways, no pitiful attacks to throw him off. This was where Ghidorah’s resting place would be—or at least, what would be left of him.

Under the searing heat of the Colossal Titan’s presence, Ghidorah snarled weakly as the former lifted both arms high, preparing to bring both fists down upon his right head with all his strength…

SKREEEEEENK!

Before Kubal had a moment to contemplate what sounded like an all-too familiar cry, something impressively heavy had slammed into his side with such force it sent him flying off his draconic victim, crashing hard on his side. He was not one to stay down, and quickly rolled over and returned standing…

The strange, theropod-like beast stood protectively over the battered Ghidorah, glaring at Kubal with eyes that seemed to burn with a special kind of fire.

A defiant fire that Kubal had seen before, so long ago.

The differences were plain and evident, yet the similarities were undeniably there. And when the reptile reared its head and thundered the sound barrier with another almighty roar, perhaps for the first time in over a century Kubal felt just a twinge of unease.

As if no time had ever passed at all, it felt as if he were face-to-face again with an old rival. One long since gone by his hand…

 

Chapter 9: The Thunder of War

Earlier…

Whirring tires closed in on the massive Wall Sotono. Its dreary grey walls stood tall and firm, even with the damage it took from the Armored and Colossal Titans. But the moment of truth was coming ever closer as Eren rode through the giant hole created by the Armored.

Kubal had to be near. It was just a matter of locating him…

But the situation quickly became even more problematic than he thought. Nearing Sotono were a series of smaller Titans peeking from the sides of the hole, sprawling into the land within the wall. He had seen others earlier, without question also crawling in from the giant wound from the Colossal Titan’s spurt from earlier. Although he knew these wheels could outpace some of the Titans, others may be able to catch up with him. He just had to hope his vehicle wasn’t confiscated by then.

Veering a hard right, Eren drove with reckless abandon as he zoomed past the wandering Titans. The curdling sounds of tires attracted their collective attention, but so long as he kept pedal to the metal, they wouldn’t be able to stop him. Keeping steady became substantially more difficult the more he accelerated, but with no civilians in harm’s way, he knew he could risk it. Gas guzzled from the exhaust, keeping speeds high and intense.

With the distance closing, he saw the Armored Titan at a standstill. But when it moved to drop something off, it had to be him! No doubt about it! But it was the Jaeger Titan’s next actions that was cause for concern; as the transformation of the Colossal Titan occurred before his very eyes, the Armored was already venturing off in its own direction. Eren’s gut was kicking at him with grim recognition.

The boats. Their only hope for escape!

Realizing this, he knew the car wasn’t going to be enough to catch up to the Titan. So he had to compromise. Lowering the window flap, Eren crawled out of the rushing vehicle with wind filling his ears. Using the latch of his ODM gear, Eren pressed on as much gas as he could muster to fling himself out of the still-moving car, abandoning it with a sudden and explosive crash that distracted a lot of Titans. Propelling himself like a slingshot, Eren moved at astronomical speeds, slinging himself to the general direction of the Armored Titan. As his ascent made its peak, he knew he would fall sooner or later. And from the trajectory, he’d never make it to the Armored Titan.

Not as a human, anyway.

Slashing himself with his blade, Eren reignited the raw power of the Titans once more, engulfing his body in a whirlwind of steam and sewing organic compounds. From the light birthed a roaring demon of justice. His scale matched that of the Armored, but his free fall gave him more than enough momentum to deliver every ounce of his rage into a concentrated punch! Without question having heard him from behind, the Armored Titan turned around and saw Eren face to face–the next thing it knew, a raging fist slammed into her face, tumbling her over and skidding back from the monstrous impact.

But even such a perfect strike wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Delivering that kind of blow may have fractured the Armored Titan’s face, but it left the Attack Titan’s fist in no better position. But in prioritizing its regeneration, he’d be able to throw another blow in no time.

The blank eyes of the Armored Titan glared at him. And Eren knew they were after him specifically. So if it was any consolation, they wouldn’t divert their attention back to the boats. He was their target for whatever reason it may be. Both Titans struck battle stances, more than ready for combat.

And with a booming howl, it was payback time.

******

Near the base of Mt. Fuji – Japan

The cutting blades of the Bell 412 whirred as they flew overhead. Thanks to Commander Zoe, they were granted special permissions for Sasha and a pair of other Scouts to guard them for their outside expedition. Considering the insurmountable task ahead of them, Monique had reservations of pulling away the help they needed. But if Hange was willing to put her faith in them that they’d find something, then who was she to feel conflicted about the verdict?

Although the group of five remained confined within the limited space of the cab, Monique kept her focus steady on operating the helicopter. Without road paths or elevation to obstruct their path, all she had to do was keep flying straight–and more importantly, high enough out of any Titans, jumper or otherwise. Randy fidgeted with a small hand-held transceiver in his hand, ensuring they kept track of the mystery signal that was guiding them there to begin with. It was an objective they had to meet, no matter what.

A ringing pulse fired up the closer they got. No doubt they were getting close, but there was no obvious spot of the signal’s source. If they didn’t find anything soon, there was a chance they’d be in trouble.

“Anything?” Monique inquired. Although addressed to Randy, she had no qualms if someone else spoke up first.

“Not that I’m seeing, chief,” Randy replied in his usual playful manner, with a twinge of concern mixed in there. A stillness permeated as Monique awaited a response from anyone.

“Down there!” Sasha blurted out, “There’s a ridge at the base of the mountain.”

“A volcano, actually,” Randy remarked. He was promptly ignored.

“An underground base, it seems,” Monique responded, “No aerial entrance that I can see…”

“Then it looks like we’re gonna have to take a landing,” Randy added. But she knew full well what that’d entail.

“No chance,” Monique firmly stated, “That’s not a risk worth taking.”

“Hold on, wait, lemme try something.” Randy set aside his transceiver, pulling out his portable computer and began typing away. It was a handy device to intercept signals and frequencies from what Monique recalled from their past adventures. “If there is a chance this place still has power, and is able to receive radio waves… Ah ha!” With a confident press of the command key, an overgrown portion of the forest began to part open. The cylindrical hole led straight into what seemed like an abyss, the sun shining into the hole for what would no doubt be the first time in a long time.

“Oh ho ho, yeah!” The enthusiastic hacker pulled his fist with excitement. “Still got it!”

“Look down there!” Monique’s eyes darted in regards to the soldier’s statement. Deep in the abyss, there was something down there, its shape oddly familiar. Had they found a stored superweapon? One to potentially turn the tide of battle? With a smirk, the only way to know was down.

“Make sure to close behind us, Randy. Can’t afford any Titan pursuers.”

“You got it!” As the Bell descended farther into the depths, Randy inputted the command key once more, forcing the giant sliding doors closed, their intense vibrations shaking the cylinder of the facility. “Dark, but Ugly-proof!” the tech whiz added.

Monique flicked the switch, activating the spotlight to illuminate the dull innards of the hidden bunker. She kept her eyes peeled for any potential landing pads, but the light shone upon the mystery weapon that rested near the bottom of the cylinder. Randy, meanwhile, only gawked in awe at what he saw.

“There’s no way that’s the Garuda, right? Of all things, the Garuda!” the young hacker said with ecstatic glee. “But it looks so different from what G-Force has.”

“Different universes have different rules. A different outcome compared to the decisions made in our own reality, even if the base concept is rooted in the same principle or event” Monique postulated.

“It’ll be confusing to call this Garuda and the other one Garuda… Garuda-2, maybe?” Randy suggested.

“I have an inclination that the natives wouldn’t appreciate being labeled as a ‘number two,’” Monique retorted. “Especially since we have no idea what entails in the other portal. Since both opened at the same time, if there was a Garuda in the other portal, which would be designated as ‘number two’ or ‘number three?’”

“Touché,” Randy replied.

“Anything with the signal?” Monique asked.

“Oh right.” Scrambling for the transceiver, Randy pulled it out, noticing that it was pulsing tremendously. “So, we’re definitely a lot closer to it now than above ground. That’s the good news. But surprisingly, the Not-Garuda there isn’t the source of it…”

“Monique, over there,” Sasha pointed out, “A stable landing point.”

“Good. Then we can set ground and start looking.” Pulling and twisting on the control handle, Monique carefully guided the Bell to the platform in question. As the whirling blades kicked up the light dust around the metallic hull of the bunker, Monique landed with a graceful thud, ensuring the helicopter wasn’t going to slip or fumble. The cab doors flung open, all the passengers scurrying out as Monique turned the engines off, conserving fuel for a safe flight. At the very least, there were no Titans rummaging about that she could tell.

“All right, Scouts, spread out!” Sasha ordered. “Mr. Randy, where to?”

“I think it’s nearby…” He shifted the transceiver, waiting for the most intense ping before pointing, “Over there!” The room was on the ground layer, the three Scouts immediately hurtling toward it with their incredibly swift speed. Monique was impressed with their physicality, no doubt operating the ODM gear takes intense physical prowess and spatial awareness to even use it. As her and Randy hauled down the metal stair frame, the Scouts were just one step ahead of them, carefully surveying for any potential threats lingering nearby.

They flicked the light on, proving this place still channeled power. It was then Sasha began shouting, “Come here!” Monique hustled, hastening her step to the area. Randy tried likewise, but was far more sluggish about it compared to her stride. When they caught up, what they saw took them aback.

On the ground was Jet Jaguar.

“Whoa,” Randy said, wide eyed and befuddled, “I can’t believe what I’m seeing…” As if to verify for himself, Randy scanned the rusted robot with the transceiver. And just as everyone expected, powerful pings were going off–this was the source. All the more proven with the fallen Jaguar’s sprouted antennae, which only ever came on when receiving or emitting signals.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to Monique. “This makes too much sense.”

“Whaddya mean?” Sasha inquired.

“Kubal had a strange reaction to Jet Jaguar on top of the wall. Made an odd claim about teaming up with the Scouts. No doubt he misidentified our Jet Jaguar with this one.”

“Wait, so you mean…?” The Scout Elite asked, curious. Monique knew she wasn’t there with the transaction with Kubal, so it was clear to spell it out.

“This is Kubal’s enemy. And by proxy, someone who can give us more intel on him than any of the Military Police records ever could.”

“Don’t mean to address the elephant in the room,” Randy interrupted, “But if that’s this universe’s Jet Jaguar, then what the heck is that?” He pointed directly ahead of where the prone body laid, which was a robotic effigy that looked identical to Jet Jaguar. Yet like the Garuda, there were fundamental differences. The machine was clearly only half-built, with an upper torso that was more rotund than the default Jet Jaguar model, with a massive battery pack lodged into its back. Its arms were long, ending with black, crane-like prongs for gripping, each rectangular in shape. The last notable difference was its chest compartment, covered by grey metal gratings and a thick yellow outline, almost like a door to enter within the obtuse robot.

“Must’ve been a contingency plan. Given his condition, no doubt he had suffered from operational failure from an encounter…” Monique assumed.

“…From the Colossal Titan!” Randy exclaimed, “The metal of this JJ has been clearly warped by intense exposure to heat. And if Kubal knew about our man right here, then the two have beef with each other. So are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

Monique smirked. “Let’s wake him up.”

*****

Zilla’s roar was not merely a challenge to the Colossal Titan; it was a rallying cry. A call to arms. A lesson the nephilim learned the hard way when Gudon, Gorosaurus, and Kong charged at him with battle cries of their own. A hellish fury gleamed in the primordial eyes of Gorosaurus, thirsting for vengeance over Baragon’s brutal butchery. A sentiment King Kong shared most passionately, for Baragon was not the only soul that had fallen to this dark human. This was the monstrosity that had taken Kong’s father from him.

Kong had loved his father more than anything. He had been strong, wise, and he never doubted or gave up on his son. He had been his safe space, the one whom he had always looked up to when things became fearful and dire. And the Guardian of Skull Island wanted nothing more than to avenge his death… or die trying.

And Gudon?

Flailing his whips about like a horned madman, Gudon’s war cry was unmistakable. Let’s kill EVERYTHING.

Before Baragon’s murderer could respond, a messy, black substance abruptly dropped upon his head from above with a thick, wet smack.

Taken aback by this abrupt combination of events, Kubal was taken by surprise when all three ground-based kaiju tackled him off his feet. Gudon let loose first, exploding into a howling fury of bashing whips that smacked and smashed repeatedly all over Kubal’s armored body.

Jaws like a bladed vice snapped down upon the humanoid’s right arm, twisting and shaking with rabid fury as Gorosaurus tried everything in his power to be the one to draw first blood from the fell killer.

Kong covered for the Allosaurus by attempting to bash the Colossal Titan’s nape in. Thunderous punch after punch to the dictator’s neck sought to rend his armor, tear his sinew and crush his bones; each one fueled by the rage of his father’s murder. This foul killer couldn’t be immortal. He had to have a breach, a kink in the armor in which the other kaiju could exploit.

The dictator’s punishment was far too long coming.

He had to pay.

Unfortunately for the great ape, Kubal had full intention of making such a sentiment far easier said than done. Packing every ounce of his own rage into his mighty form, the Colossal Titan bellowed and smashed his cranium into Kong’s in a sickening headbutt, then lurched forward with such force he knocked Gudon away and staggered Gorosaurus at once. Wrenching his arm out of the theropod’s jaws so hard he splintered a few teeth, he swung it around to clock Gudon in the chest at full power. The blow rippled through the horned heathen, three squirts of blood flying from his maw and nostrils simultaneously as he was sent careening away like a softball.

And with horrifying speed that seemed to belie his immense magnitude, Kubal swung both fists into Gorosaurus’ side in a haymaker great enough to splinter a hill.

Already, two kaiju were temporarily down and badly injured. And the Colossal Titan intended to render it permanent when he charged towards Kong with fist a-steaming—

—and was once again caught off guard, when another splat of something wet and repulsive smacked onto his head.

Startled, he looked up…

SPLAT!

Whatever it was, it was now entirely on his face. His vision was all but black as he roared out in frustration and scrabbled wildly at his face—and was left open to a hairy fist clocking him thunderously across the face.

Above the deranged dictator, the ones responsible persisted in their endeavors. Clutched in the avian-pantherine paws of Black Moth, Oodako sucked in another chunk of air before dropping yet another ink bomb upon the humanoid killer, this one thicker and larger than the last. Flapping her wings so as to keep aloft, Black Moth began to circle away from Baragon’s murderer, if only to regain a bit of stamina—and wait for the perfect moment to enact this same plan to their advantage.

Seeing that blunt force trauma was clearly not enough, Kong decided it was time to pull out the big guns. With a fearless roar, the Guardian of Skull Island swung his axe into the murderer’s sternum with all his might. Sparks showered, tiny chips of ivory plating sprinkled off the blow… and nothing else. No blood, no flesh, nothing.

Again and again Kong swung, striking the ink-distracted goliath time after time with unyielding ferocity; yet despite his ever-strengthening blows, nothing ever came of it. Just more sparks and tiny shards of armor, nothing more.

He would have to chip away at Kubal for hours if he was going to finally breach—

It was at that moment that it hit him.

As if in perfect accommodation with his epiphany, a trumpeting roar tore through the air as Zilla dashed past the Colossal Titan, bending low and slashing across his legs with his claws and dorsal spines alike. Following swiftly behind him, Varan roared as he flew right into Kubal’s face, bashing into him and sending him staggering back. Blindly, the kaiju killer tried to reach up and grab his attacker, but the triphibian was already soaring far out of reach on leathery flaps of skin.

But the most perfect moment of all arrived when a blast of antarctic mist washed over the Colossal Titan, unrelenting and unceasing. The humanoid goliath howled out in rage as the below-zero temperatures began their rapid work, coating his armored form in a quickly growing coat of ice.

The culprit was unmistakable. Glowing eyes narrowed with rage, Peguila smirked as he kept up fire. The winged freezing monster relished in the booming cries of the Colossal Titan as he worked on freezing him alive, hoping against hope that he was beginning to feel just a semblance of the pain he had caused them all. He wanted to hear the murderous nephilim scream.

He wanted to make him suffer for what he had done to Baragon.

Capitalizing on the winged beast’s diversion, Kong roared out to Zilla, informing him of his latest idea. Seeing the ape hold his axe high, the iguana snorted in immediate understanding.

A surge of light streaking across his scutes, Zilla’s eyes flashed a burning yellow before an atomic ray catapulted from his jaws. His aim scored true; the emerald flames engulfed the ivory blade of Kong’s axe, and upon their touch it immediately lit up with a jade glow. The irradiated reptile didn’t hold back, and kept up fire for a good thirty seconds; all the while, Peguila continued to keep the Colossal Titan distracted with his freezing mist.

Only when the mounting heat became too much did King Kong hold his free hand up, bellowing for the squamate to cease fire. A request Zilla obeyed instantly, snapping his jaws shut to end the green inferno.

It was then that steam began to radiate off of Kubal’s monolithic form, signifying the building of immense heat. Ice started to melt off his armored muscles, only to be continuously replaced by more as Peguila ignored the growing heat and kept up fire. Water and heated vapor began to billow up and around the Colossal Titan as the two opposing temperatures continued to clash, reaching ever greater levels of intensity—until, most unexpectedly, a truly shocking phenomenon occurred.

Such was the quickly mounting power of the temperature clash, that the very weather itself around them began to change. The clouds above began to darken into an ugly, near-black shade of gray. Lightning started to dance in the darkening heavens. And before long, sheets of rain were starting to plummet onto the battlefield, adding to the clouds of water vapor that were already spreading about to add a layer of humid haze to the line of combat.

Still, both bearers of such forces refused to relent, and kept up their respective battle of two opposite elements. And in doing so, one failed to notice the green light that shone through the rain and vapor like a beacon in the storm.

Rearing his fist, Kong roared out to his fellow kaiju. The plan was simple: keep the armored killer occupied as long as possible. All… except Zilla, whom he looked to with a knowing expression.

A look that the iguana shared.

Powering every ounce of strength his leg muscles bore, the great ape charged towards the lizard. With a magnificent leap, he jumped onto the reptile’s back, gripping one of his spines as Zilla took off running away from the battlefield.

While such a sight was rather surprising to witness, the other monsters had full faith that there was no abandonment in their leaders’ efforts. Whatever the ape and the lizard were planning, it would be most beneficial. Their own role in the matter was simple; despite the thunder above, they had all heard the order loud and clear.

Stall the Colossal Titan.

Stall him, keep him occupied… and buy their leaders time to execute whatever they had planned.

Not even bothering to stand anymore, Kubal mustered all the strength he could into charging through Peguila’s mist spray. It was a most arduous effort… yet in the end, he saw it done. The winged biped had no time to evade before a heated fist slammed into his chest, sending him recoiling with a hideous wheeze; the wind having been knocked out of his lungs.

Predicting a coming attack from behind, the dictator whirled around with his fist ready to thrust…

…only to be once again caught by surprise when Varan, flying in tandem with Black Moth, fired a purple sonic beam from his fanged jaws. The beam struck the Colossal Titan right in the face, fazing him just enough for both flying monsters to knock him sprawling with a dual aerial body slam.

The heat radiating off the nephilim’s body stung more than a little, but the pair muscled through it and banked away. Their quarry was downed. They just needed to keep him that way until Kong and Zilla returned…

A pair of jagged golden bolts streaked into the humanoid murderer’s downed form, spearing against him again and again with repetitive persistence. Even while wounded, King Ghidorah was still a capable fighter—and he too had heard Kong’s order just the same.

Not one to be left out, Varan fired his sonic beam from overhead, striking the humanoid killer in the face. It was not meant to kill, not even to harm, but merely to faze. To distract.

To keep him in one place.

And before the Perfect Darkness could retaliate in any way, he caught one fleeting glimpse of another winged form flying overhead… before another glob of ink splattered onto his mug.

Clutched yet again in Black Moth’s paws, Oodako’s suction of air almost sounded like a mocking chuckle as the winged lion gained some distance from the stunned Titan.

More gravity rays and sonic beams pelted the Colossal Titan where he lay, still keeping up all effort to stall Baragon’s killer—an effort which found itself joined by not merely a third, but also a fourth defiler. Before he knew it, Kubal felt not one, but two heavy bodies slam atop him. A familiar roar was followed by repeated slam after slam of whipped appendages against his face and torso, easily recognizable as Gudon.

The second let loose a trumpeting howl of wrath before proceeding to chop and pierce away at the Titan’s armored flesh, announcing its identity as Maguma. Like Kong before him, the walrus-like reptile tried to find any chink, any hidden weakness in the dictator’s armor to target and exploit.

No matter how in vain the effort seemed.

Yet already, the Colossal Titan was beginning to regain his terrible strength. Thrashing and jerking about through his enemies’ combined assault, preparing to reemerge with arms swinging.

Seeing this from afar, Black Moth roared and changed direction, heading right back into the fray with Oodako in tow. They couldn’t afford for him to get up yet. They had to do something, and fast.

Flying overhead, the airborne lion wasted no time and dropped Oodako himself. Not even seeing it coming, the Colossal Titan had no counter when the Giant Octopus landed right onto his face; immediately wrapping all tentacles around his head and upper body before chipping and biting at his face with his serrated circle.

For a moment it seemed that the three monsters had the demon on the ropes, restrained and growing ever closer to defenseless. Held in the perfect position for whatever attack Kong was planning to unleash.

But then…

Muffled within the body of the Giant Octopus, a roar to lay low the thunder above reverberated forth as Kubal’s thrashing resumed—and doubled in vigor. Even the crazed Gudon, wailing on the Colossal Titan with all his fury, was quickly starting to have a hard time keeping his quarry down…

…before the monolith reared back his arm, and then lurched up and swung it at maximum effort.

Both kaiju took the full brunt of the swing, sent flying off with cries of pain before Kubal instantly set to grabbing Oodako. The giant cephalopod tried his hardest to maintain a foothold, but in the end it was not to be; with a firm and painful yank, the dictator pulled the hapless octopus off and slung him to the ground like a toy.

Seeing the killer’s attention all but focused on the cephalopod, Ghidorah wasted no time in flapping his wings and breaking into a flying charge, intending to take the Perfect Darkness by surprise. Varan flew right beside him, electing to help the dragon’s efforts—only for both to be taken unawares when the Colossal Titan whirled around with a swinging kick of his thick, reinforced trunks, taking both of them right out of the air in an instant.

Both giants crashed aside the nephilim in a bellowing heap… and leaving Oodako entirely at the dictator’s mercy.

The octopus could only stare, small in comparison yet defiant to the very end, as Kubal marched upon him. Rearing both fists high to bring them down upon his head…

A pair of mile-echoing roars split the air.

Barreling towards the armored murderer at his top velocity of 500 miles per hour, Zilla fired an atomic ray mid-run into Kubal’s face—and riding atop him like a great primordial jouster, glowing green axe in hand, was King Kong. Orange eyes furrowed in a furious, determined glare, the Lord of Skull Island snarled. No more waiting.

The time was now.

Contracting his great legs, Kong leaped off his squamate steed. Below him, Zilla did not stop firing his radioactive flames until he was right in front of the dictator—then abruptly snapped on his heels, simultaneously whipping Kubal’s heels out from under him with his tail, while banking away.

Leaving him entirely vulnerable as Kong came down upon him.

The last thing Kubal saw before everything went white was the ape, roaring at the top of his huge lungs, axe raised high before slamming into his chest with every ounce of might the primate could muster.

BOOM!

A light to rival a star bloomed across the battlefield, the blast so great it drove away sound itself for a moment. Every kaiju, from Varan and Oodako, to Kong and even King Ghidorah himself was blown back by the shockwaves that burst to life from the hit. Rain and steam alike evaporated for several hundred meters, the light shining as a beacon in the tempestuous darkness from as far away as Mount Fuji…

 

Chapter 10: For Not Whom The Bell Tolls…

Mount Fuji

The signal’s pulse intensified the closer he got. Each moment spent away from the monster horde, the more he worried for their well being. But stopping Kubal from reaching the portal had to be done, no matter the cost. He simply hoped Randy’s gambit would pay off in full. They needed all the hands they could get–be that in the form of knowledge, or an extra set of battle hands for the war of humanity.

His scanners detected activity beneath him. He saw the Titans in mass migration, all coming to the same location. The 18-hour limit was nearly up, and the Scouts were going to have a lot more on their hands than just the Colossal or Armored Titans to contend with. He just had to hold out in good faith that there’d be something here in this lost world of Titans and monsters.

The truth.

The beauty and enormity of Mount Fuji became ever present, but he followed the trail left behind by the one who left this distress call. It beckoned for help, for anyone to reach out… It was then he saw a ridge that protruded from the volcano’s base. Flying gracefully, Jet Jaguar touched down, ensuring he was scaled to the entrance that led to this mysterious bunker. A shot of dread overcame his circuits. The door had already been pried open… But its weather and overgrowth showed that such an event transpired long ago.

Hurling himself into the darkness, Jet Jaguar found that the growth had only extended to the frontmost entranceway and not much further. To his surprise, the facility was truly enormous. He had wondered if his home dimension had a similar such bunker stashed away under Mt. Fuji. But that was an answer for later. His auditory receptors picked up on the residual whips of a motor blade, no doubt from the Bell 412 that Monique and Randy came in. All he had to do was follow their general direction, and he’d find them promptly.

Taking flight, Jet Jaguar flew into the darkness, barely lit by small lights aligned against the crevices of the floors and ceilings. It was then he shined his high-beams to full effect, illuminating what he saw. Along the walls were what he best surmised were scrapped superweapons of the anti-kaiju variety. The most completed among them barely had a furnished endoskeleton to build from. A Mechagodzilla from the looks of it, but its structure didn’t match with anything he knew from his database.

To Jet Jaguar, this place was a tomb of fruits they were unable to grow. A scrapyard of weapons that would never see the light of day. But one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, so he believed. Off in the distance, he saw a light. Without question a room, and even less doubt that he’d meet his compatriots. Upon analysis, he deactivated his high-beams, gently landing on the ground.

Time to see what was hidden in the dark.

*****

Mikasa felt the air thicken with each passing moment.

The crowded subterranean venues became borderline impossible to contain. According to the Commander, Randy had set up everything as optimally as he could. Although storage within the standing walls was deemed a risk to safety, the underground passages–which had only been exclusive to the central government and MP until recently–were beginning to clutter. Every Scout from the elite to the cadets were tasked with guiding and streamlining the evacuation process, keeping them in the hidden shelters until they could reach the cargo vessels.

But the odds had been stacked infinitely against them. Time and time again, the Scouts pursued freedom beyond the walls, yet had been punished each time for it. For her, it was worse for wear; trained as the strongest soldier, only second to Captain Shikishima, and yet her futility showed when it mattered most. But she couldn’t afford to regret it, otherwise it would crush her.

The voice of the Commander boomed through the speakerphone, addressing all the concerned citizens of the operation and method. The partial solution was to simplify the selection process, which had been reduced to a raffle. Whether they liked it or not, an unbiased approach was needed given the limited capacity. At maximum, 16,000 per vessel, and it was going to be far from comfortable.

However, despite the raffle system, priority was given to the women, children, elderly, and disabled. They required the most care in this operation. And it was the sworn duty that they’d make it out of here alive. Where Hange’s operation truly began.

She recalled the plan of operation. The organization of the underground shortcuts proved vital; with two large groups of people separated from the passageway, and being safely tucked underground, it prevented the Titans from clawing under and feasting on them. The raffle would then determine who would get priority to the boats, creating an organized line from the exit to the boats, with only the operating Scouts given a headstart to get the boat loaded and ready to sail.

And it was her duty–and the team she led–to dispatch any stray Titans that didn’t take the bait. The raffle system for the first set was complete, it was simply a matter of waiting for Hange to finish the address. And right on cue, the door that led to the hell outside slid open. The first set of Scouts, comprising the skeleton crew required to operate the boat, were dispatched as the others lined up. Following that up, the other Scout-mates were paired in groups of four, keeping a straight line from exit to the boat. With her versatile experience, Mikasa was issued to accompany the skeleton crews en route to the ship, a task she’d have to do in each succession.

It was far from an easy task, but at the very minimum the Titans were clear and in sight.

With little effort, Mikasa swung around these accursed ruins, recalling the fall of Armin at the hands of the green garguanta. But she couldn’t let those memories consume her. There was an even bigger monster that lurked far off; ones that threatened their very existence. She kept focus, guiding the skeleton crew to the boat with surprisingly little difficulty. The other Titans were drawn to Wall Sotono, desperately trying to claw away at the structure. As preparations began, a signal flare was fired to begin the first wave.

They’d make it out alive, even if it killed them.

*****

The fist against his chest.

The painful impact of his small body hitting the floor.

The pain…so much pain…just make it STOP…

Kubal jolted his Titan eyes open to agony. Burning, raw agony that mauled his torso with a terrible vengeance. For a moment, he was no longer in the mountainous regions of Japan, surrounded on all sides by a legion of primordial monsters. For just one moment, he was back in that little house in Tokyo. On the floor, all senses consumed by an everlasting pain, as a malevolent shadow loomed over his small physique…

…and just like that, it ended.

Before long the vision of the past was snuffed out, and he was back on the rain-drenched battlefield; no longer a small boy, but a giant amongst giants. A Titan amongst Titans.

A Titan with a gigantic, gaping wound that all but replaced his upper torso, still spewing literal metric tons of blood.

A wound that festered with searing agony.

An agony which doubled when two gravity beams speared into the open wound. Flesh detonated, muscle charred and exploded—and the Colossal Titan roared in pain. Not to be outdone, Varan stood beside King Ghidorah and fired his sonic beam into the exposed injury. Agony filled Kubal’s form to the brim as he caterwauled to the rainy sky.

His enemies had managed to inflict pain upon him.

The calls of the wounded dictator did not in any way go unnoticed. Shaking his head as he managed to pull himself onto his feet, Zilla’s eyes widened in shock at the sight that greeted them. The humanoid demon was no longer shrugging off his allies’ attacks. Visible injury had now been dealt, and further still was being afflicted.

Their plan had worked. They had injured the devil!

Standing to his full height, Zilla bellowed forth a booming order that was certain to be heard. A call to arms to all of his fellow kaiju. The devil was hurt, his armor had been rent.

Attack!

Hearing the iguana’s command loud and clear, Varan and Ghidorah kept up fire, solely targeting their quarry’s chest wound. Standing beside them with a loud war cry, Gudon added to the conflagration by revealing something entirely new; twin crimson beams of energy leaped forth from his maroon eyes, piercing into the dictator’s exposed musculature with fiery explosions. Neither Varan nor Ghidorah had seen him do that before, but they were more than happy to have additional firepower on their side.

Trying his damndest to fight through the grueling torture, the Colossal Titan fought his way to a sitting position—which quickly became more complicated when a pantherine form pounce upon him from the side. Black Moth’s fearsome canines gnashed against his head, the winged lion shaking her head as she wrestled him back to the ground.

He didn’t even get the chance to punch or grab her off; for the gnashing jaws of Gorosaurus chomped down on his right arm while Oodako wrapped his tentacles around his left, staying him for the time being.

It was just what Zilla needed to leap onto his body and begin biting into his exposed muscles.

The torturous ache of his chest, so great it rendered him prone upon the cold wooden floor…

The Colossal Titan bewailed in agony, like a dying god trembling the earth with its final cries. Hot blood flew as the iguana ripped and tore—then leaped off to allow the dragon and the flying lizard to open back fire into his wound. Flame exploded, charred flesh flew, and regenerative properties were hindered significantly by the nonstop frequency of attacks.

Yet even then, helplessness was but a stranger to the Perfect Darkness.

His howls of pain turning to those of wrath, the nephilim began to thrash through his captors in a strengthening bid to shake free. Attempting to put down his furious resistance, Gorosaurus tried to bite down harder and thrash his head from side to side; even planting a foot down upon his arm with all his strength.

The Allosaurus was rewarded for his efforts by being tripped to the ground, when Kubal put all his strength into yanking his right arm out of his grasp. Even hardly able to see with Black Moth still attacking his face, Kubal relied on his sense of touch and flung his fist straight into Oodako’s face. The octopus’ blubbery skin saved him from mortal injury—but still wasn’t enough to prevent him from being flung away like a pinball. Before Black Moth had a chance to even react, the Colossal Titan grabbed both sides of her head and tossed forward, throwing her right into the path of Ghidorah’s gravity beams.

The winged panther bellowed in pain as the beams blew off chunks of her sides, and immediately the hydra cut off his attack. As the felid dropped, Kubal began to clamber back to his feet—an action that a certain large theropod shared. Thinking of nothing but preventing the murderer from reaching his pantherine comrade, Gorosaurus reared back on his tail and lashed out with both feet. The kangaroo kick slammed into the humanoid’s stomach, knocking him back down…

The boot to his stomach left the air knocked from his lungs…

…and pushing off with one arm, Kubal bellowed a roar of fury and lunged back; punching the Allosaurus in the face so hard, he knocked out several teeth and took him right off his feet.

Gravity beams blasted back onto his body again, their bearer trying to divert the heathen’s attention; but the Colossal Titan was already taking a step towards the injured archosaur—

—and wailed in pain when a glowing blade suddenly slashed right through his armored form, sending blood spurting into the air as a majestic roar announced King Kong’s return to the conflict.

His royal axe shining alight with Zilla’s atomic energy, the ape threw every second of time and ounce of effort he had into swinging his axe into Kubal’s body over and over. Unlike before, this time the axe had little trouble breaching the nephilim’s armor; hacking great rents into his muscular physique that bled like a stuck swine. The kaiju killer tried to defend, to counter, to find any way of staving off the wrathful ape; but Kong swung too fast, with far too much fury. Further and deeper, he cut through the dictator’s once-impenetrable armor, making every blow count as he set to cutting down his defenses.

A strategy he was far from alone in participating.

An all-too familiar roar split the air as Zilla barreled into the fray and ducked low, slicing his dorsal scutes into Kubal’s flesh like knives through butter. Muscle and ailing armor was torn like paper, and there was blood everywhere. And before Baragon’s murderer had a chance to retaliate, the mutant squamate whipped his legs out from under him with his tail, sending him crashing right back down.

The others weren’t going to give him a chance to get back up.

A vaporous spray cold as the storms of Antarctica blew upon Kubal, informing him of who had returned to the battle. Every last bit of firepower Peguila had in him, he dedicated to this moment; unleashing the full, furious might of his freezing breath upon the injured devil. He would not stop until he knew for certain the killer couldn’t escape, nor fight back. Until he was all but disabled, and entirely at the mercy of his monstrous comrades.

Ghidorah, Varan, and Gudon, wanting to add their input to Peguila’s brilliant attack, let loose their respective beams into the fray just the same; doing well so as to keep targeting where the dictator was most vulnerable. The other giants held back, but they would not stay that way for long, this even Kubal knew.

It was only a matter of time before they would all leap into the fray at once, and have at him with all their ravenous fury…

It was only for a minute or two, yet to the Colossal Titan it felt like a millennia had passed before Peguila finally cut off his subzero spray—and the very instant he did, the giants of Skull Island were upon him.

Zilla led the charge, pouncing upon the already maimed Titan like a leopard upon an antelope. Conical teeth crunched failing armor to rend great pieces of flesh off a gigantic body, all while clawing into the dictator’s form with a frenzied vengeance. Gudon followed quickly in the iguana’s wake, simply stomping and kicking the downed humanoid in the face and neck. And one after the other, every one of the vengeful giants followed. Black Moth, Varan, Gorosaurus, Oodako, King Ghidorah, Maguma; and with his axe still shining like an emerald torch, King Kong wasted not a second in resuming hacking and chopping into his swarmed quarry.

With every swing, every chop, every slice he ripped into the nephilim’s ailing frame, the mighty ape thought of nothing and no one else but his old man. His wise and loving mentor, his best friend and mighty protector who had taught him so much… and had been so violently taken from him.

So he would be twice as such in avenging him.

Like angry medieval villagers overthrowing a cruel leader, the monsters dogpiled the humanoid devil; ripping and tearing him apart, piece by piece with tooth, claw and blade.

Until in time, they began to reach the murderer’s neck. And under their feral ferocity, it too began to come apart in shreds of bone and flesh…

—

Light began to shine through the domain of muscle that surrounded Kubal.

There was no mistaking what was happening, no denial despite his former potency. The monsters had breached his defenses, and now they were ripping their way through his vessel. Tearing in—and beginning to expose the man behind the monster.

Yet in this moment, which would’ve stopped the heart of any average man with terror, all the dictator felt was a blinding rage.

The agony of his torture spread through his nerves like a genetic wildfire, burning and all-encompassing, yet Kubal merely used it as fuel for his engorging wrath. Used it to picture every hit, every kick, every bottle against his head, every throw of his body against that cold, unforgiving floor…

Light flooded into his once-concealed vicinity as the monsters ripped away the flesh that once shadowed him from sight, shining down upon tear-stricken eyes bloodshot with volcanic fury. Kubal didn’t spare his foes a second.

The time was now.

In a spurt of bloody flesh, Kubal tore himself free of his titanic vessel, soaring into the air in the midst of the once-frenzied kaiju. Taking just a quarter of a second to lock eyes with the visibly widening ones of the iguana.

And took the last three quarters to plunge his teeth into his wrist.

 

Chapter 11: …The Bell Tolls for Thee

Abandoned Hangar – Japan

Click.

With a firm press against the grating, the chest compartment of the Jet Jaguar look-alike was closed tightly. Having scoured the nearby stations for resources, a couple of portable batteries were hooked up to the large backpack. In a matter of moments, it was prime time to see if Randy’s off-the-cuff idea would work or not.

“All right, let her rip!” Randy’s jovial mannerisms surged with a hope that was infectious. And on cue, a steady current flowed into the massive battery pack, ticking the small indicator piece by piece, showing progress of the charge. “Remember to let it overcharge, juice needs to go into the inner sanctum if this is gonna work.” To Monique’s surprise, she’d never thought Randy would ever pull big words like ‘sanctum’ out of his personal dictionary.

Between the room scouring and the clean up of the mess left behind, she had to remember to put Randy on cleaning duties when they got back to HQ.

Minutes passed, the indicator ticking ever higher to a full charge. Waiting around was all they could really do, dragging along akin to watching water boil. She knew time was limited; with all the hell that was no doubt transpiring near the Walls–or even the portal for that matter–she had to wonder how the Scouts were holding up in this insanity.

Though if their scenario was anything like H.E.A.T.’s, this was just par for the course.

A final tick. Full tank.

“Now wait for the overcharge, and we are going to Frankenstein this dude to life!” Randy exclaimed, eager to see the fruits of his intuition. To the naked eye, nothing happened. But from Monique’s limited understanding, excess energy was still charging in the battery. According to Randy, the added energy would defibrillate the ‘heart’ and spring the new Jet Jaguar to life. While she had reasoned such methodology would backfire on most machines, Jet Jaguar was always a one-of-a-kind robot. Maybe Randy’s crazy theory might just work.

Either that or they should’ve left it to Mendel.

With a sudden jolt, the blue eyes blared from the half-made machine.With a quick order from Randy, the external batteries were safely turned off, earning a victory cry from the enthusiastic hacker. The other Jet behaved almost human-like, shocked at being brought online. There was a pause, a moment for the automaton to process the events that had transpired.

“Data synchronization in process,” the robot said. “Copying, transferring, storing. Oral audio test, 1, 2, 3, A, B, C…” It continued down the path of numbers, letters, and integers, uttering mostly incomprehensible numerical mumbo-jumbo as far as Monique was concerned. Its linguistics became more complex and fluid in a matter of minutes. For her, Jet Jaguar was always an enigma from the reports concerning the 1973 Seatopia invasion. In it, Goro Ibuki claimed he just gained sentience to fend off Megalon long enough for Godzilla to arrive. Was this process of becoming sentient similar to that day? It wasn’t an answer she desired to know, but an intriguing question no less.

“Looks like Robodude is calibrating, just give him a few and…” Randy waved his fingers, casting them forth as if forcing the magic moment to occur. It didn’t.

Sasha stared at the bulky machine intently, scanning it from head to… torso. “So how’s he gonna move without legs?”

“I’d imagine we’ll either have to build him some, or…”

Monique cut in. “We don’t have time for that.”

“Given,” Randy retorted, “Though there are spare parts in the other room that could be retooled. Little motor engines on the side of the battery, cover it up, and bam!”

“If you were a roboticist, maybe. But that field is far out of your depth.” Monique’s words proved cutting, with the sun-kissed man defensively backing down.

“There was a tripod in the other room,” one of the Scouts acknowledged, “Would it be possible to connect the two?”

“Maybe, but getting the right wires in is a pain in the butt,” Randy responded, “I can do the programming half without issue, that’s easy-peasy for me.”

“I can do the programming.” The suddenness caught everyone off guard as the robot spoke. “And I can help guide the needed equipment in the robotics department.”

“How long would it take?” Randy was keen to ask.

“Five minutes for the Harvey substitute. Less than twenty for the alternative flying gear. Less than five for the additional weapons.”

“Oh shit, he was listening in,” Randy muttered to himself.

“Provided all tasks are performed at top-most efficiency, no breaks, and done with utmost expertise.” In other words, no screw ups allowed.

“But to do that, we would need…” Before Monique could complete her statement, the familiar hum whizzed from behind. She felt relieved to see his upturned smile after his prolonged absence.

“Jet Jaguar,” the robot concluded. “Is this one yours?”

“Well, yes! But not like, ours-ours, but he comes from another dimension,” Randy awkwardly explained. “I mean, we come from that dimension too, and there’s a giant portal, and–”

“Wait.” The sudden interruption stopped Randy cold. “There’s civilization from where you are from?”

“Yes,” Monique answered, “And a man by the name of Kubal is en route there.”

Hearing those words, the robot nearly shuffled out of its resting spot, almost in a panic.

“That’s… not good, isn’t it?” Randy piqued.

“The place you hail from is in grave danger. If Kubal is allowed to escape into your realm, it will spell the end of all of humankind.”

Monique felt tense. And she knew full well that news stirred unease, audibly hearing the gulps from Randy and Sasha. Even the other Scouts trembled behind the weight of his words.

“What on Earth went on here…?” Randy simply inquired, setting aside his usual jovial persona.

“I will also need to be filled in on as much as possible,” the other Jet Jaguar requested. He turned his soft blue gaze upon his counterpart, “Please, Jet Jaguar, begin operations as quickly as you can.” Without hesitation, Jet Jaguar darted off, with Sasha giving subsequent orders to the Scouts to aid the robot man.

“I’m not with these folk, we share this world together,” Sasha spoke up, addressing the robot directly.

The other Jet Jaguar simply nodded. “Then let’s begin.”

*****

The initial blow had all his force behind that punch. Every bit of inertia that amplified the thrust of his strike. And all it achieved was fracturing the face of the monstrous foe. The Attack Titan bellowed a booming roar at Eren’s behest, trying to goad the Titan Shifter into attacking.

“Come at me!” Eren shouted. Even without an audience to hear, releasing the pent up anger through words kept his mind sharp and focused on the target at hand. It staved the madness that lurked in his heart. Once again, he was face to face with the Armored Titan–and last time he failed miserably. Had it not been for Mikasa, for the Scouts, for Jet Jaguar… He had failed them. For not being the spear they needed most.

That was going to change.

He commanded his Titan to move, tumbling through the ruins, closing the gap with utmost haste. Hurtling his body with all his might, he tackled the Armored Titan with a colossal impact, forcing it down to the ground. Without relenting, the Attack Titan drove its fists into the steaming face of the hostile. He put all his weight behind each strike, but without the added momentum to enhance the pressure, his fists barely left a dent in the Titan’s armor. But he refused to stop, every hit counted before the Armored Titan could regenerate.

Unfortunately, such efforts proved fruitless.

Vicegrips clamped around each swinging fist, the compressing force breaking the skin of the Attack Titan. The strength of the Armored was unmatched by most, some even considering it the Strongest Titan that had once been wielded by the Strongest Man… Though a troubling thought pervaded his mind.

“Shikishima, you bastard…” Eren muttered, recalling his previous bout with his former Captain, “…Had you been holding back the entire time?” By the standards of Titans, the Armored always had the advantage in defense. But he recalled being able to fracture his armor, breaking its face, splitting it in two with a helicopter blade… Yet this new Armored Titan was unlike him. Its armor was nigh impossible to penetrate, and now the once magenta skin under the armor had changed to a crimson like that matched the Colossal Titan’s muscles. Eren had thought he could conquer the Armored Titan with raw strength alone. But now he realized for certain:

What he fought now was the true strength of the Armored Titan.

Slipping its leg from under, the brunt force of the Armored Titan’s kick sent Eren hurling. His Titan hands shredded from the impact, freeing him from the opponent’s grip. He crashed onto his back, leaving his steaming stumps regenerating his lost hands. But he knew the host of the Armored wasn’t going to give him that courtesy. Having since stood back up on its legs, the Armored Titan made the approach with the full intent of stomping the Attack Titan into the ground. Eren had to be quick, for each crushing stomp ruptured the land around them in a cascade of explosive bursts. He rolled around with swift maneuverability, evading each lethal blow. But he knew he couldn’t maintain defense forever…

Coming to an abrupt stop, Eren took the risk. As the Armored brought up its leg, a quick and decisive leg sweep from the Attack Titan knocked the alabaster warrior off its feet, sending it careening into the ground with remarkable weight. Using this chance, Eren got back to his feet and made sure to put distance between them, placing himself along the edge of Wall Sotono. It wasn’t difficult to discern the screeching hunger of the Wraith Titans nearby, but it seemed whatever plan the Commander had in store was keeping them occupied.

At least, for the smaller ones.

Kaiju-sized Titans had been spotted amongst the migrating horde. Their towering figures made it easy to evade, and Eren knew his Titan could match them. Even so, that didn’t make them any less imposing. A Titan was a Titan, regardless of size. So when he had backed into the wall, he felt the sudden jump of a large Titan press against him. His tongue clicked in frustration. His attention had been tunneled on the Armored, it didn’t occur to him that these brutes had started converging on their fight.

It reminded him that time was running out. This place was soon to be swarming with Titans.

But he wasn’t going to let that stop him. Grabbing a firm hold of the wild cannibal, Eren forced the Titan off of him, adjusting his grip accordingly until he got a hold of its leg. Pulling it from down under, the primitive Titan lost its footing as Eren hauled it behind him, prepared to weaponize the savage creature. As the Armored Titan rose to its feet once more, the Attack Titan mustered its mighty strength and battered the white-plated humanoid with the giant Wraith, splattering its superheated blood all over the marble skin of the enemy. Its wailing cries fell on deaf ears. Once again without stopping, Eren continued to swing the mangled husk of the Titan into the Armored, each strike shredding the naked humanoid more and more until it started evaporating–no doubt having destroyed the nape in the process.

But even this proved futile against the skin of the Armored Titan.

“How did you…” Eren didn’t finish his statement, but his mind swirled with endless thoughts. How were the powers of Shikishima’s Titan stolen? Or perhaps even transferred, if the Colossal Titan’s new figure was anything to go by. Even after they had reclaimed the Walls from the terror of the Titans, there was still so little information they had. Most of the information interrogated from the MPs had only vague hypotheses and ideas, but nothing concrete about the functions and special abilities of the Titans that hadn’t already been public knowledge. A simple gut instinct told him there’d be no way Captain Shikishima would give himself over… Or even be alive to result in the catastrophe they were up against.

But those ideas had to be put on hold. Right now, he had a threat to dispose of.

And he had a plan.

The Attack Titan immediately lunged for the Armored, looking to lock and restrain the Armored with a specialized technique. Figuring there’d be harder-than-steel opponents like Jet Jaguar that’d overpower his raw attack, pressure grappling was his next best bet. Restrict their movement, let the natural hardness of their exteriors crack, and then dispose of them from there.

Dodging the hellish punch of the Armored Titan, Eren swerved into its personal space, locking his body with his opponents. His muscle-bound extensions wrapped around the Armored Titan’s arm, squeezing with all his might. First he’d throw the enemy Titan down, a technique he had experienced from Lil, and then–

Before he knew it, a burning sensation overflowed from the pressure joint. It didn’t take long for Eren to abandon his hold on the Armored, backing away from the scalding heat that overwhelmed him. When he saw the damage, his Titan’s skin puffed and blistered from the freshly hewn burns. But the same numbness pricked at his human nerves. Eren cursed aloud. The Armored Titan had also shared the Colossal’s steam ability, which only became more evident with how the arm had shrunken from muscle consumption, closing the gaps in the armor and pressing them together. He criticized himself for not anticipating this sooner.

Eren grimaced. He furrowed his Titan’s brow. This was going to be one hell of an uphill battle… For a moment, he allowed himself to survey the entire arena. And out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Scouts guarding and deterring any incoming Titans, dispatching them to the best of their abilities. Some had been eaten alive, but they fought with everything they could. A line of people migrating to the boats in a miraculous single file line… Eren recalled the Commander mentioning this during his heated debate with her. A raffle to determine the selection among the population, with only priority given to those in need. It was the best they had with the worsening situation at hand; it was at least something to cling to. Even with the odds stacked against them.

Before he could conjure his next attack, a sudden flash of light shined off in the distance. The source of it appeared far too abruptly to be the rising sun… And when he realized, his eyes widened. Even the Armored Titan diverted its attention, both of them staring at the same thing.

A mushroom cloud ominously looming overhead…

*****

Somehow, Zilla just knew.

He didn’t know what, he didn’t know the specifics; yet somewhere in that brain of his, call it gut instinct or an inclination of some sort, the Lizard King somehow knew that the very moment that little human shot out of the corpse of the murderous Titan, something utterly horrific was about to take place.

It was with utmost tragedy that he had no time to inform his comrades of just how right he was.

The very moment the iguana started to cry out a warning, it happened. A light like a new sun being born lit up right in the middle of the gathered monsters—and from what followed in an instant, such a comparison was not far off. A sweltering heat like none any of them had ever felt washed over them, point blank, as a titanic explosion bloomed into existence and disemboweled the earth and air alike for an entire mile. Several roars and screeches of untold suffering were drowned out by the devastating combination of scorching temperatures, and the earth-shaking power of the godly rupture.

His flesh already burning to a crisp, Zilla did the only thing he could think of to avoid the terrible conflagration: he began to tunnel and burrow into the depths of the earth, as fast as his claws could take him. But sadly, none of the other kaiju were so lucky, and could only wail silently through the roar of the explosion that cooked them alive.

Even despite the agony that tore through his form, King Kong tried to bellow out to his comrades; to tell them to stick together, to try and fight through it, to not give in. But even for himself, it was an uphill battle just to try and get back on his feet… even as the infernal blast finally began to subside and die away.

And when it did, the sight that greeted his broadening eyes was nothing short of a horror.

He wasn’t the only one grievously injured. Most of his monstrous companions were covered head to toe in the most hideous burns he had ever seen. Black Moth looked nothing so much as a ragged imitation of her former self, having lost most of her fur and feathers alike amidst the blast. Maguma, Gorosaurus, Varan, and even Gudon looked as if they had emerged from the torturous fires of Hell itself; missing an eye, or teeth, or even a toe or three.

King Ghidorah hardly fared any better. Even he, the most durable kaiju around, was matted with ugly scorches and blackened patches of missing scales. His wings were even more tattered than they had ever been, and some of his horns appeared to be half-melted.

A heart-wrenching groan echoed from Maguma as he summoned all his strength to roll over, flopping piteously onto his side—and revealing a miraculously, mostly unscathed Oodako, having used his own body as a shield to protect the octopus from an attack that would’ve surely killed him.

But worst of all, Peguila looked nothing so much as like a charred corpse, his wings so tattered they merely resembled giant, gnarly fingers of burnt bone. His left eye had been burned right out of its socket, and his once-mighty tusks no longer existed. Had it not been for the tiny rasps of breath that wheezed out of his mouth, no one would’ve even believed he was alive…

Through the dying ash and smoke, a howl to quiver Lucifer himself made itself known. Bursting forth from the aftermath of the rupture, the Colossal Titan emerged like a Greek statue Grim Reaper; entirely reformed and uninjured as if his previous predicament had never happened whatsoever. Steam radiated off his regenerated body like the fires of Tartarus itself.

And he stormed towards one adversary in particular.

A tiny, defiant rasp managed to wind its way out of Peguila’s lungs before collapsing onto his back, barely moving a muscle. With horrid and destructive footfalls, Kubal loomed over the winged freezing monster. And yet even looking like a charred zombie, Peguila managed to breathe out a single, weak wisp of frozen air…

…before Kubal heaved a mighty stomp straight at his throat with all his might.

The winged kaiju’s neck itself exploded, severing his head from the body in a single blow. The disembodied skull bounced away like a basketball, while the body itself teetered off its feet and collapsed, forever unmoving, with a thud like a deathly drumbeat.

Even the most wounded kaiju present watched the spectacle with widened eyes, that agonized pang of loss reverberating through their chests.

Had they known it in itself was a prelude to what was about to happen…

Not bothering to waste time mocking the winged monster’s demise, the Colossal Titan whirled about and stomped towards the next nearest behemoth he could find. Crippled and blistered with burns, Black Moth gurgled in warning as the dictator closed the gap upon her, the desire to butcher glowing in his eyes—

—and a mountain-quaking roar of rage split into existence as a glowing axe blade slashed through his armored frame, staggering him.

Nothing but pure, molten red encompassed King Kong’s eyesight as he slashed into the mad humanoid; a superheated, crimson haze of flesh-eating rage that starved for bloody revenge. Famished for it like a wolf that had gone days without food. This was it. No more. NO MORE lives would be taken by this barbaric, murderous madman!

He had taken Baragon, he had taken Peguila, he had taken his beloved father…but it stopped NOW. His killing spree ended right here, today!

Howling fearlessly to the heavens, Kong hacked and slashed into the butcherer with repeated, rabid intensity. Blood sprayed and steam billowed, singing Kong’s already injured body, yet the King of Skull Island refused to let it stop him.

More steam began to wisp from Kubal’s body, even as he staggered from each slice of Kong’s axe…

Images of Peguila, of Baragon, of his late elder filling his mind, the great ape snarled horridly as he chopped and sliced faster, harder…

The dictator’s fists tightened harder than a noose, the armor around his fingers cracked, trembling with wrath…

Kong leaped out of the way of the first punch, weaving in around to the Colossal Titan’s side before continuing to chop and slash into his statue-esque body…

“And life isn’t going to hold back, Kubal…”

Steam trailing from his body like an angry volcano, the nephilim’s glowing eyes narrowed into bloodthirsty slits.

“SO NEVER GIVE IT THE COURTESY.”

As Kong raised his axe, Kubal whirled around and hurled his steaming fist at the ape without an ounce of effort to be spared. No evasions, no possibility to miss, the superheated punch went straight for the great primate’s face.

The last thing Kong’s widened eyes saw on the mortal plane was the dictator’s infernal fist rocketing straight into his sights with certainty of impact assured, the brass knuckles cracking before they even connected. And the last thing he heard was the burst of steam that exploded like the barrel of a shotgun.

…and the very first to greet him, amidst what had seemed to be a tunnel of endless blackness, was a light.

At the end of which waited a familiar figure.

Of whom he had missed so torturously, for so, so long.

 

Chapter 12: Jet Jaguar FMT

Earlier…

The first crew had nearly loaded up. But amidst the chaos, despite the limited prep time, the people flooded the cruiser at rapid capacity. The skeleton crew struggled to haul the needed supplies on board aside from what they could carry by hand. Even worse yet, some of the Titans were catching on to the line of humans making their desperate bid to escape.

Mikasa twirled through the air in elegance, slashing off the napes of three Titans in an aerial ballet. Their large bodies fell and crumbled to her might, dissipating into steam shortly thereafter. Even so, other Scout units corralled the Titans away from the populace to the best of their ability. Coordination became key as they dismantled a Titan piece by piece until a clean cut to the nape could be secured, but such tactics came at the cost of excess gas. She knew they had to be careful and on their feet, no matter what.

The deep, vibrating rumble of the cruiser engine roared to life, signaling the near-readiness to take off. The tail end of the first group also came into the clear. All things considered, Mikasa considered it a miracle they’d even managed this much… Though she had to attribute that to the fighting off in the distance.

The vicious strikes of the Attack Titan slammed against the durability of the Armored Titan. She wanted to believe Eren had returned to join her and the Scouts from escaping. But she knew full well that wasn’t the case… The Armored Titan was simply an obstacle to overcome, to allow the Scouts the freedom to escape from his sanctimonious hell. The choice he’d make would only come after the Armored Titan was conquered. Would he stay and flee with them? Or join the army of monsters in the war against Kubal?

That was his choice to make… And she regrettably knew that.

Suddenly, a flash of light shone its brilliance over the horizon. Soon after came a gust of destructive winds. The dueling Titan Shifters buffered part of it, but the ensuing shockwave and the deafening vibrations rocked the stationed cruisers in place, scraping against each other. Titans and Scouts alike were also disorientated from the raw, destructive prowess that lingered far off in the distance.

It had to be Kubal. No doubt about it.

For all her proficiency, not even she could withstand the turbulence that threw her off key. She was helpless, unable to reorient herself in a timely manner… But rather than fall face-first into the ground, the sudden lunge of a Titan had her in its grasp. Its harsh grip squeezed her human body, threatening to crush her…

“Oh no you don’t!” A familiar cry rang hard and loud, the buzzing gas of Shizumu sped towards the nape of the Titan, proficiently wielding his dual blades and lobbing the nape off the Titan. With its hold loosened, Mikasa used this chance to reorient herself and hook herself down to safety. Shizumu landed nearby.

“Chief, are you okay?” The Scout asked, concerned for her well being.

“I’m okay. Thank you,” she replied plainly.

“Still got enough gas?” he asked. Mikasa nodded. Her tank still has some juice left, but there was no denying that a refuel was in order sooner than later.

The sudden boom of the cruiser roared to life, with the last few huddling aboard. The amount of time it took for a single vessel was astronomical… The absolute miracle this herculean task should’ve been by all rights an impossibility. But to their relief, as soon as the anchor was pulled and the ropes unfastened–it sailed off. It was uncomfortably packed to the brim from what they could tell, crammed nearly shoulder-to-shoulder and well beyond its carrying capacity. But its powerful propellers hoisted its large load as the demobilization ship departed from dock.

It was a matter of leadership on board that counted, and they trusted those recruits to care for the needs of the civilians–not an easy task, that was for certain.

A signal flare pointed in their direction. The operation was to continue. It was also a sign for the second skeleton crew to make their approach, flinging across the dedicated pathway set for them. They reached for the second ship, beginning fine tuning and organization before calling for the mass migration of predetermined evacuees.

“You all got this, ya shits!” Shizumu shouted in encouragement as the crew flew over them. Even if Mikasa wasn’t one for outward directness, the boost in morale was appreciated. Needed now more than ever.

Then, another boom. But this one wasn’t the rumble of a cruiser–it was instead of an indisputable thunderclap of a giant fist against another.

And the results were more than dire.

When she turned, her eyes widened in horror at the sight before her. “EREN!” She didn’t even control her outburst, almost reflexively it came out, catching Shizumu off guard.

She only saw the tail end of the impact, but even what she saw was nearly unbelievable. Eren’s Titan flung in an arch, soaring high above even the highest point of the 100-meter tall Sotono. A deep, sizzling impact broiled around the frontal neck of the Attack Titan, with the orange glow dying down from the Armored Titan’s burning fist. A clear uppercut from the towering brute. Even as the orange glow faded, steam burst from all sides of the searing hand, the red muscles vanishing as the alabaster plates closed the gaps. The entire other arm of the Armored had also been sealed, suggesting prolonged use of steam.

‘Impossible,’ she thought. ‘Shikishima’s Titan never possessed that kind of ability…’ She remembered how much Shikishima detested his Titan. How he wished to overthrow the central government and Kubal as a human, a knight in shining armor that would spark a rebellion against the corrupt. As he believed, no human being would follow a Titan to war. But when push came to shove, he used his Titan once all had been lost. A desperate, rampaging final bid to reclaim the bomb and use it against the central government, no matter how many lives it took. She had to wonder… That desperate gambit, his battle against Eren, had it all been a farce? Had he despised his Titan so much that he refused to bring out its full potential? The hardened armor, capable of holding back against Eren’s punches? The super-sized state? Did he know about any of it?

So much of Shikishima was an enigma for her. And now, it was a power that wasn’t even his anymore.

She grimaced. ‘Bastard.’

As her mind stored away the Shikishima case, she saw the gradual descent–time returned, and the Attack Titan began to fall at the pull of gravity. His trajectory was aimed square at Wall Sotono–and without question, the end result wasn’t going to be pretty. She couldn’t make out the finer details, but what came next was a nasty sight. With the full force of a falling body, the Attack Titan splattered from the impact. Skin ruptured with superheated blood and steam, pasting the thick, grey walls with crimson red and intense vibrations; so much so, they began to sway. The skull of his Titan split straight down the middle, and even fingers launched from their sockets from the tremendous impact.

From the hole where the Scouts and civilians emerged from, there was an audible cry of anguish–as if the bowels of hell began to scream from the terrified people underground.

Death had been for certain. And that felt justified when the twitching corpse began to evaporate. Titan decay took a while, and those of the super-sized scale certainly took even longer. With the rising steam, she couldn’t see if Eren had made it out or not… But concerns of Eren had to be put to the side.

There was the Armored Titan to contend with.

“Chief!” Shizumu called out, “What now?”

“Be ready and standby… To challenge the Armored Titan!” Mikasa called upon the nearby squads, only those essential as not to deter from the main operation. Her eyes glued to the Armored Titan–and as if acknowledging her mere presence, it scowled at her.

Fear ran deep in her heart, but her will kept her afloat from the terror that laid beneath her skin. How it was going to turn out, she didn’t know…

*****

Zilla erupted out of the Earth with an ambush in mind—just in time to watch Kubal’s steaming fist collide with Kong’s skull.

The boom that echoed across Japan rippled through the air itself in a shockwave that traveled for several kilometers around, a vicious wind blowing behind it to whip over all in its path, and shards of hardened crystal scattering beyond the wind. A sound like an organic thunderclap speared through the sound barrier far and wide, nauseating and stomach-twisting to an untold extreme.

All too befitting to the heart-stopping sight that now greeted nine pairs of horrified eyes.

No one, not even King Ghidorah, could comprehend what had just happened. The golden dragon, the eldest, most experienced of them all, was stone-silent at the sight that his two heads now beheld. Even he felt like it was a nightmare, one that he should be waking from any minute now. A bad dream trying to play tricks on his troubled mind.

Even he couldn’t yet comprehend that the sight of King Kong’s headless corpse, collapsing to the earth with a trembling quake, was indeed very real.

It felt as if the very air itself had turned cold. Every body in the vicinity felt a sickening tightness, a tension as if they were going to freeze from the inside out. As if their hearts had stopped beating in the wake of what they just saw. Icing them all from the inside out as the avalanching reality of the situation began to finally, truly set in.

One of the mightiest souls to ever walk the planet, had fallen. A leader. A king. A guide. A warrior. A guardian. A protector.

But most importantly, a dear friend.

Amidst the maimed crowd of injured monsters, one in particular began to quiver—but not with fear, and not merely with grief. The air was torn by a piercing shriek of baleful desire, and pain no longer meant a thing to its bearer who now charged the evil dictator. Two of his toes having been burned off and his left eye charred shut, Gorosaurus muscled through the agony and used it to fuel the seething rage that now consumed him.

Trying to get back to his feet, King Ghidorah roared out in an attempt to stay his saurian companion, but the enraged Allosaurus would not oblige. His one good eye seeing that same crimson haze of fury, he thundered the earth with his footfalls as he closed the gap between him and Kong’s killer.

Knowing exactly what fate awaited the dinosaur if he charged alone, Zilla wasted no time in dashing forth to assist him.

As the Colossal Titan prepared to deliver a roundhouse kick to the theropod’s incoming face, Zilla teetered sideways as he ran right past the nephilim; his dorsal spines cutting deep into his still-wounded side, having not yet finished healing from Kong’s final assault. The humanoid bellowed in painful surprise—and allowed Gorosaurus to take him at full force.

Like a hunting tiger, the outraged saurischian pounced upon his bipedal quarry, slamming his jaws shut on his neck as he knocked him onto his back. Now knowing that was where the true killer resided, the dinosaur shook and twisted his head in a fury, desperate to tear the brute’s throat open for its atrocity.

A wish that was not to be, when a steaming fist collided with the side of his neck, audibly cracking the vertebrae and knocking him clean off. Seeing his friend in peril, Zilla charged right back into the fray…

…but unlike before, he did not do so unnoticed.

As the iguana tried to take the dictator unawares, the Colossal Titan snapped on his heels and swung both fists into Zilla’s head. The lizard was knocked silly by the godly hit, his jaws aching with a furious vengeance that refused to relent anytime soon.

Seeing an opening, King Ghidorah spat his gravity beams from a distance, actually managing to rend Kubal’s wounds that hadn’t fully healed yet—but unlike before, the madman all but ignored it and, much to the dragon’s horror, continued storming towards the recovering Gorosaurus.

Even in grueling pain, the wounded archosaur was quick to find his feet again; the adrenaline-fueled desire to make the dictator pay for Kong’s murder boosted his strength. Snarling, the Allosaurus contracted his leg muscles and prepared to lunge—

—just as the steam-sheathed Kubal put all his vigor into a sideways punch to the dinosaur’s lower jaw.

The reptile’s jaw was sent flying into the distance like a frisbee in a spray of gore, no longer a part of his body. Hardly even having time to stagger, the crippled carnosaur was helpless as Kubal seized him by the neck and squeezed with all the strength he had… and an instant later, refocused all that strength into forcefully thrusting his neck backwards.

With a nauseating, organic SNAP, Gorosaurus’ neck was broken at a backwards ninety-degree angle. The dinosaur’s pupils broadened to encompass his eyes with a sea of black, his body going limp as a wet rag in an instant as Kubal tossed him aside like garbage.

The great Allosaurus was dead before he even hit the earth.

Before the dagger of grief could even slip into the flesh of the witnesses, Kubal was on the attack. Ignoring the rageful gravity beams singing into him, the Colossal Titan pulled a tactic most unexpected: his armor began to fracture, the snap resounding from the source. His body began heating up, the steam building beneath the surface…

And in an instant, they burst. Shrapnel of his own armored flesh launched at high velocity, the large chunks sweltering towards the airborne beasts. They shredded through the hydra’s chest and sent him reeling onto his belly with a screech of pain. More found their mark on the left side of Black Moth’s face.

The upper left portion of the panther’s skull was blown off from the high-accelerated piece of fractured armor, bringing forth a howl of agony from her once-mighty jaws. Living in a world of nothing but excruciating torture, the winged cat could only swat and claw fruitlessly as Kubal grabbed her by the back of the neck and forced her head to face upwards.

Raising his large hand, the superheated nephilim forcefully shoved it straight down her throat.

The explosive emission of steam seared and tore the beast asunder, obliterating the entirety of Black Moth’s upper torso; head, neck and chest shredded apart in a blooming inferno, sending her smoke-infested lower half falling limply to the ground. And with it, a thick and acrid stench permeated the battlefield with a merciless ferocity.

The horrific and stomach-churning stench of impending doom…

A pair of crimson beams joined with a purple sonic ray to lance into Kubal’s back, snapping his bloodlusted attention to the perpetrators in question. Hideously wounded yet brimming to the core with rage, Varan and Gudon roared their respective cries into the face of the Grim Reaper.

Refusing to give in to the ever-growing shade of defeat…

*****

Abandoned Hangar – Japan

Operations began as soon as the other requested. Jet Jaguar, with the aid of the other Scout members, began to pull the necessary resources from the next room over. One by one, piece by piece, they worked hard and vigilante to transfer everything over to where the other Jet Jaguar resided. The Harvey, a wheeled tripod machine, was shuffled under the upper torso of the rotund robot, placing it gently as Jet Jaguar began detaching and reattaching the needed parts for the two halves to connect. All the while, their dialogue overlapped during the progression of this second body, with pivotal pieces of information that needed to be cleared up.

“‘The road to Hell is paved with good intentions,’ a proverb I am sure you are all familiar with,” the other Jet Jaguar began. “My mentor Goro collaborated with a renowned geneticist by the name of Dr. Shiragami, using my specs and knowledge as a reference to understand the mystery properties of the sample he was working with. The prospect was to grant humanity immortality, but such fruits did not prosper as intended.”

“Wait, like Doctor ‘I created a giant plant monster’ Shiragami?” Randy interrupted.

Monique scolded, “He’s not going to know about that.”

“Right right, sorry. But I’d imagine this is the part where this Kubal dude comes into the picture and ruins everything?” Randy assumed.

“An accurate assessment,” the other Jet Jaguar continued, “Kubal Kunimura had been subjected due to a bizarre genetic occurrence in his DNA that, in short, allowed him to become the Colossal Titan you’ve already witnessed. Unfortunately, Shiragami’s formula to achieve such a state was too dangerous and volatile to be used publicly… But that didn’t stop Kubal from doing as he wished.”

“The Wraith Virus was man-made?” Sasha interjected. The other Jet Jaguar simply nodded.

“To my understanding, it is. Though the samples were attained by Shiragami, I am afraid I do not know the extent of where he obtained them from, or if they had been propagated by him.”

“I know you went over how Goro and Shiragami wished for a better future,” Randy persisted, “What’s this Kubal dude’s whole spiel in this?”

“Kubal has a family, his wife Azusa and his little girl Nariko. Nariko had a terminal illness that research into the Titan Program would have been used to reverse or cure her ailments. But when Kubal procured the Wraith samples, he had used it on his daughter to prolong her life… At the cost of the rest of humankind. I had tried to stop him, but failed to put an end to his terror… So here I am. Trying to remedy a regret that has haunted me for far too long.”

“This Azusa,” Monique spoke up, “Is she a woman with black hair? Fierce glare?” She went into the minutia of her appearance, sparking a reaction from the other JJ.

“Yes. How do you know?” the automated machine inquired.

“We had encountered her earlier with the Scout unit,” Monique stated plainly. “She was with Kubal the entire time, possessing a Titan of her own.”

“Impossible… DNA records showed her and Nariko didn’t possess the same genetic anomaly as Kubal.”

“If I may,” Sasha skittishly raised her hand, “I dunno if this will fill in the gaps or not, but I heard about an Armored Titan appearance… And the only known individual to have had it before then was Captain Shikishima of the Survey Corps…”

“Are you suggesting Titan transfer?” the robot asked.

“I-I’m not suggesting anything!” the Scout awkwardly stammered, “I’m just throwing that out there.”

“No… I think you’re onto something with that,” the sentient robot commended. “It fits with the conclusion based on my own Titan research. I had mentioned that Shiragami’s formula was volatile, but my research shows it’s because Wraith warps and contorts the essence of the human soul. Titans themselves consume humans primarily seeking the likes of Kubal’s genetic anomaly, though I hypothesize these people too need to undergo Titanization for the full effect to occur.”

The operating Jet Jaguar listened intently, as did his human compatriots. The lingering answers they didn’t realize they needed. It was then Monique spoke up with the question that had one inevitable conclusion. “To revert to their human state?” she said.

“Correct. In essence, I believe it is through consumption that the power of a Titan can be passed from one to another. But since I couldn’t acquire a sample from Kubal, or any others like him for that matter, it was impossible to test those hypotheses.” Almost succinctly timed, the connection was fully completed between the other’s two halves. “Calibrating,” the automaton uttered, struggling to synchronize his auto gyro as its wheels fumbled around like a newborn learning to walk. In a matter of moments, the synchronicity adjusted accordingly, accustoming to the new treads.

“Thank you for your continued help. I have offered all the information that will be of aid to you, so I request your exchange of information.” With everything looking in order, the wheeled Jet Jaguar scuttled out of the confinements of the room, with everyone following suit to the vast, open space. Bar the Bell 412 and the massive gunship, there was hardly a soul beyond their small group. “Aerial attachments here, it would have been too cramped to do everything in there.” Without hesitation, Jet Jaguar began work promptly attaching and welding the extensions onto the battery pack.

“Introductions first,” Randy suggested, “I’m Randy Hernandez, tech whizzo and software programmer at H.E.A.T.! And that’s Monique, French Secret Services and kicks serious butt!”

Monique sighed. “From another dimension, as you already know. Trying to find our ally, a giant monster designated ‘Zilla’ by our government. Long story, but we are trying to help the Scouts with a massive evacuation that’s run into some serious trouble.”

“Sasha Braus, of the Survey Corp Regiment.” She formally saluted, fist clenched over her heart, as did the other two in tow. “The Scouts with us are Kazuki and Shinobu. Had to stop government corruption and a political revolt, currently trying to evacuate as many civilians as possible. Requesting your aid in this operation.”

The robot nodded compliantly. “I am Jet Jaguar, the creation of the late Professor Goro Ibuki.” Hearing that from his counterpart brought a heaviness to his artificial heart. But the circumstances made sense given the conditions. How Goro would last this long in a world devoid of humanity would be worse than dying…

“Okay, wait,” Randy interjected, “If you’re Jet Jaguar, and he’s Jet Jaguar,” he enunciated his point by gesturing to the only other Jet Jaguar present, “Then I think a new name is in order!” The operating machine groaned, knowing full well what Randy was going to suggest.

“Since you know of the Titans, and both of you are Jet Jaguars… Pa-bam! Full Metal Titan! How does it sound?” Randy enthusiastically declared, his jovial mannerisms certain that he had this one hook, line, and sinker.

“In good faith, I cannot fully rebrand myself. I wish to carry the legacy of my late mentor by carrying the name of Jet Jaguar. As such, supplanting it with ‘Full Metal Titan’ is out of the question.” Hearing that, Randy groaned in dismay. “However, I do acknowledge my role in the development of the Titans, even if it was only adjacent. To better distinguish the two of us, allow me to humor you with ‘Jet Jaguar FMT.’” the robot responded dryly.

“Jet Jaguar FMT… JJ FMT… FMT…” Randy said aloud, reiterating and letting the name settle, “Y’know what, it has a nice ring. At this point, I can’t complain.” The tech whiz threw his hands up, admitting defeat. “In no universe can I change the name of the mighty ‘Jet Jaguar’ it seems,” the tech whiz replied sardonically.

Jet Jaguar’s sensors perked. Something was amiss. The tone of how FMT adopted the name didn’t ring with the humor he claimed. Perhaps because both were Jet Jaguars by heart that he could perceive the hidden resignation. A deep and lingering regret that boiled beneath the surface. But to call him out on it was not the best move, or maybe he was just imagining it. But to feel that grimness must have been the result of mistakes… And while aiding in the creation of the world-ending Wraith certainly was a part of it, Jet Jaguar had to ask himself:

Was Goro Ibuki murdered? He decided to keep that to himself. For now.

“Oh right, I guess there’s the other elephant in the room,” Randy said, gesturing to the massive gunship. “Wanna know, what is that thing?”

“That weapon was developed from the UX-01-92 blueprints left behind by its creator, Kazuma Aoki,” FMT replied, “I had since honed and developed it with the resources allocated from the lost Mechagodzilla project.”

“Hold up, Mechagodzilla??” Randy exclaimed. “We could have had a super badass killing machine… or a pew-pew gunship.”

“Considering my deteriorating condition,” FMT retorted, tapping onto his chest compartment, “the time required to complete the Mechagodzilla would have been astronomical. Instead, shifting gears to completing the UX-01-92 and recycling the various weapons that were meant for Mechagodzilla to use myself.”

“Then wait, lemme ask you this,” Randy inquired, “Why are you asking for wing attachments if you’re going to use the gunship?”

“Because I have a recommendation,” the automaton requested. “That Jet Jaguar be equipped with the armaments of both the UX-01-92 and the Plasma Beam Cannon arm attachments. The Mechagodzilla Hangar has more experimental weapons laying about, I will find something for myself. Besides, the more weapons we can scrounge up from here, the better our odds will be against Kubal. You will need all the help you can get.”

“Then… Can we have the liberty of naming the gunship then?” Randy asked, “We have a Garuda in our native universe, so maybe a name so as not to mix the two up?”

“You have a penchant for naming, don’t you Mr. Hernandez?” Jet Jaguar FMT responded. “I have no qualms. If Aoki’s dream has been fulfilled in another world, and since I myself will not be donning the weapon, it is yours to use as you please.”

Before Randy even had a chance to conjure something, it was Monique that contributed to the most straightforward answer she could give. “Toryu.”

“The Toryu gunship, hey hey, I like it!” Randy said, chipper and content. “But what does ‘Toryu’ mean, exactly?”

“She named it from the Japanese word for ‘Dragonslayer,’” FMT answered. Randy erupted in a giddy excitement.

“It’s going to be used to fight a monster like Kubal, am I correct?” Monique interjected. “We also don’t have time for 20 questions. The sooner, the better.”

“Understood,” replied the rotund machine, Once again as if in sync, the wing attachments were ready. Experimenting, the rotors whirled if ever so briefly, simply to show they could be powered when ready. “For the final touches will require me to execute the size-changing parameter. Your help will no longer be required. Please, begin your retreat to your home dimension as soon as humanely possible. I wish you both the best of luck.”

Nodding compliantly, Monique gestured to Sasha to order the Scouts to return to the Bell. But before they could leave, Jet Jaguar FMT had one more thing to say.

“One more question. The evacuees… Where are they going?” he asked.

“New Zealand.” Monique stated, “There’s a show of activity there. Whether or not it’s another Walled outpost like this one here is beyond us. But if it’s the best chance these people have, it’s a risk that has to be taken.”

Jet Jaguar FMT nodded in understanding, allowing them to leave. The whirling of the helicopter sprung to life as its cab filled with the pilot and its passengers, making its ascent above the newly christened Toryu, the sliding doors parting ways no doubt thanks to Randy’s hacking. The gleaming light from above shined upon the gunship.

It was then FMT responded in the screeches native to a Jet Jaguar. Come on, let’s prepare. In an instant, both metal beings grew to monstrous sizes. The cavernous space had allowed them to operate freely in their giant states as FMT instructed him to recover the Plasma Beam Cannons, Railguns, and the Maser Blades stashed away in one of the hidden compartments. Finding the Maser Blades, Jet Jaguar helped attach them to the bulky, three-pronged hands of FMT’s new body. To ensure maximum weapons capacity, he lent the Railguns to his counterpart, holding them in his three-pronged fingers.

What happened to your Goro? Jet Jaguar asked with his metallic screech. He scrounged around and saw two sets of shoulder mounts, each possessing missiles in them. It took him a bit, but he managed to clamp and wire the circuits into FMT.

Kubal nearly killed him. But even so, an accident with the Titans allowed the Wraith strain to turn him into a Titan… I had done everything to try and cure him, and learned a lot from studying him… But when I discovered how the Titans operated, I put him out of his misery…

Jet Jaguar placed his hand on FMT’s shoulder. Not one that condoned him for his actions, but one of a sympathetic heart. There was no easy answer to that dilemma.

Jet Jaguar, do you think once this fight is over… That I can join you into your dimension?

He was taken aback by that request. But the motivation was easy to understand why.

Goro.

You miss him dearly. But allow me to ask; is it more important for you to be united with another version of Goro, or to provide information to the people of your world when all is said and done?

Jet Jaguar FMT contemplated the matter as Jet Jaguar began strapping the Toryu gunship to his back and attaching the extended control wires into his back, ensuring a quasi-remote operation.

I don’t know.

Jet Jaguar slipped the two arm-mounted Plasma Beam Cannons over his hands, hefting the bulky arm attachments. He looked up to the opening above.

Make the choice you won’t regret.

Taking flight, Jet Jaguar flew off with the Toryu and weapons in tow. He heard the bustling and whirling of FMT’s wing engines sputtering to life. It wasn’t long at all before FMT followed his flight path, exiting the Mechagodzilla Hanger and breaching into the warm glow of the ever-rising sun. Without question, the helicopter his compatriots left on got a good headstart, but with their enlarged sizes and output, they’d be able to catch up in record time.

What choice FMT made was going to be his to make. But for Jet Jaguar himself, there was no burden he held onto. He could only keep pushing forward.

 

Chapter 13: To Smile in the Dark of Night

The surroundings were not ideal, but they could work around them. Several tall structures allowed their ODM gear to cling to even elevation with the Armored Titan–but once they were gone, the target was their only reliable point. Either that, or try from the ground… An angle of attack few Scouts, even among the best, could manage.

But Mikasa was in a league of her own.

“Shizumu, lead an attack on the Armored,” Mikasa ordered, “I’ll keep low and see for any weak points.”

With a grin, Shizumu relayed the orders. “Look up, fellas! Time to press the assault!” Flying high, she saw as Shizumu and those following his trail pressed their attack against the enemy. Massive swings distorted the air for every movement the Armored Titan enacted. From what she could tell, there wasn’t an easy exploit like the last encounter. The Armored Titan’s fatal weakness had always been the gaps in the very armored plates that protected it. But now, having the steam emission power at the beckon, those gaps had now been closed.

She had to find another opening.

Her sharp eyes noticed a sizable gap in the Achilles heel, burning red hot. But another peek above showed trouble. Wires that tried to cling to the red muscle were dispersed by bursting steam, leaving the Scout either to bid a desperate retreat to the structures or continue swinging using the white plates to cling to. Either that, or splatter against the ground, an unfortunate feat she saw for herself as a Scout-mate plummeted to their death. She heard their cries for their fallen ally, too late to do anything to save them.

With a burst of gas, she kept low, aiming squarely for the open heel. With a fierce slash, Mikasa carved the thick muscles open, but the lack of reaction showed it wasn’t enough. She had to try again. Spooling her wires, she clung to the armor for a roundabout, circling around for another hack and slash. Yet what she feared came to pass, as the bleeding wound and the muscle fibers erupted to life with steam, pushing her away with immense force. Her wires clung with all their grip in the Titan’s armor, but she had to relent. It was getting too hot to hold, she had to retreat.

Letting the superheated gust blow her away, Mikasa secured herself onto one of the nearby remains. Her eyes were kept sharp and observant, looking for anything to combat their tremendous enemy. Or even issue a full-scale retreat if need be… As the Scouts buzzed around the Armored Titan, she tracked the smallest of discrepancies in the Titan’s movements. She could only passively watch as the humongoid giant flailed in her super-sized state, swatting another Scout with her gigantic palm. The blank eyes of the Titan began shifting focus, turning her head in the direction where the Attack Titan had been… Before veering to the general direction of the dock.

Then it clicked. The Armored Titan hadn’t moved since they began the attack. But she knew the Armored Titan, at least under Shikishima’s helm, was not an immobile entity. Even if her armor was reinforced, that shouldn’t by any right keep the Armored Titan from simply charging forward…

The steam. The pressurized steam consumed muscle, that had to be the contributing factor. And so long as they kept up the assault, there was a chance they could keep the Armored Titan pinned. But how long they could hold out was another matter; it certainly wasn’t going to be enough time for another haul of people to fill the second ship. Especially as she knew for sure that her tank would run out much sooner than later…

Even then, all they needed to do was burn her out. And maybe then an opportunity would present itself.

Slinging high above to relay this realization, Mikasa shouted, “Keep up, and don’t stop! Focus on evasion and maneuverability!” If she specified more, there’d be no doubt the host of the Armored would pick up on her plan. They had to goad her into using as much of her steam as possible. But her keen vision noticed a peculiarity. A magenta glow circulating throughout the Titan’s body, a similar light during the battle between Eren and Shikishima. An active state of intense heat, no doubt.

But a call from Shizumu brought even more concern. “Mikasa! The mouth! It’s glowing!”

Her sight aligned to the gnashed teeth, a distinct orange glow accumulating behind closed gates. From the shifting plates, it became clear whatever was gestating consumed an exorbitant amount of muscle mass. And in doing so, the differences between Shikishima’s Titan and the woman’s was all the more evident–as the face plates closed together, sealing all exits and exposed muscle. Bar the blank eyes, silver hair, and the rigid teeth, it no longer looked like an imitation of Shikishima’s Titan. The face resembled that of the host, more than ready to unleash burning fury.

“Move! MOVE!” Mikasa’s desperate plea couldn’t have been uttered faster. But even then, she only had time to save herself. The gates of hell parted, with a lethal combination of bright luminance and burning steam soared out of the Titan’s maw. The rest were caught up in the initial discharge. If the intense heat didn’t melt their wires, forcing them to fall to their deaths, then they were incinerated on the spot. Mikasa felt the sweltering heat catch up with her. Had she been any closer, there was no doubt she would’ve met her end right then and there…

And even worse, the trajectory of the blast was aimed squarely at the docked vessels.

Upon impact, the gust of flames crashed against the steel hull, burning through it with little resistance. There was no doubt the skeleton crew sent aboard died from the blast. It punched straight through and found itself breaching the third ship, likewise tearing it asunder with raw power. Both cruisers exploded in a horrific display. Mikasa felt a pit drop in her stomach.

Out of the nearly 48,000 that were planning to find a new home, only 16,000 of them were going to make that venture… And that was only if the Armored Titan was going to give them the right of day.

As she landed near another Scout unit, they all could only watch with drained, pale faces the unfolding nightmare before them. Their hopes and dreams stolen from them once more… Only reinforced more when the half-burnt body of Shizumu crashed near them.

The Armored Titan didn’t stand as magnificent as it once did; without the muscle mass, the alabaster plates made the humanoid look thin and frail. It could have been mistaken for a Wraith had it not been for the closed creases in the armor. With its mighty flames extinguished, the Titan huffed in exhaustion. She knelt down, propping up with its hands and knees. Whatever trick the host pulled expended it greatly. Be it from the vicious projectile or even not having the chance to rest after the reports of its nonstop run, maybe it’d collapse and die.

How she wished that to be true.

Residual steam poured from the Titan’s open maw, almost lifeless as it rested in place. But it wasn’t long until its head shifted, peering in the direction of the last boat, which had not fully escaped out of the Bay area. To her horror, the Armored Titan began to move, regaining its footing and stamping towards the open waters. With a colossal splash, steam began to sizzle all around the superheated Titan as it began its trek to their last bastion…

Mikasa slumped over. Her heart rattled and her cold disposition broken. Tears welled up in her eyes knowing the truth. They failed. The others called to her, but their voices didn’t register. She cut herself off from the outside world, ruminating on the pointlessness of it all. But Eren flashed in her mind. She clenched the dusty scarf she held so near and dear to her. She was alone with him, even if he stood there, so close, yet so distant.

‘Eren. Please…’

*****

Every loss in this battle tore a bleeding chunk from the hearts of all who partook, no matter how hardened or combat-crazed. Not one was more important or agonizing than the other; they were all exactly the same. Each death turned the world itself gray, lanced into their souls like blades of rancid venom.

The images of Baragon, of Kong, of Peguila, of Gorosaurus, of Black Moth’s brutal demise stilled through Gudon’s primeval mind like picture reels; fresh reminders of what had once been a part of his life for so long, that had now been taken away for eternity. And with each one, a wave of boiling-hot rage slammed into him, fueling his unchangeable resolve.

Itching for a fight as he may have always been, that didn’t change that Skull Island had become his home—and with it, its inhabitants his friends.

His family.

Even Gudon’s rather brutish mind couldn’t help but wonder who the murderer before them truly was… and why he would commit the atrocities he had. What had driven this human mutant to such mad bloodthirst? So sweltering, so as to kill and mutilate so viscerally and sleep at night?

What had turned him into such a monster, so as to make even Gudon’s usually simple train of thought ponder something this complex…?

Next to the horned behemoth, Varan didn’t seem bent on pondering such things. Spreading the flaps of skin his arms had left, the Varadaki bounded towards the dictator in a series of great frog-like leaps. The Colossal Titan swung a fist, one that the reptile just narrowly avoided before circling in around his enemy’s side. A sonic beam speared forth from Varan’s jaws and into the Titan’s side, earning a grunt of rageful pain, for the brute’s armor was still in the process of regenerating.

The muscular humanoid whirled on the surprised triphibian, ready to throw a bone-shattering punch—and was tackled off his feet by an intervening third party. A roar much like that of Godzilla himself rang into the air as a crescendo of defiance, announcing the third party’s identity as Zilla.

Hardly a second upon hitting the ground, Kubal wrung his arm around the iguana’s neck with a loud slam, before lunging down and biting into his neck like a feral ape. Screeching in pain, Zilla twisted his body to aim his feet at the bloodthirsty nephilim; then with all his might, he lashed out with a tri-clawed foot and kicked him right in the face, sending him off.

Knocked away, the Colossal Titan recovered far too quickly and prepared to lunge at the lizard again, but was stopped when a pair of velvet beams detonated off his face, bringing forth an anguished howl and shrouding his vision. Gudon’s furious cry mocked the dictator—which was soon joined by another when a blubbery body slammed into him and began to stab at his face with a pair of ivory icepicks.

Even hideously maimed by the infernal rupture of Kubal’s second transformation, Maguma still tried his damndest to avenge the deaths of those he held so dear. His first two attacks were rewarded with spurts of blood and flecks of muscle…

…but it was his third that scored a one-and-a-million hit.

Rage gleaming in his cyan orbs, the walrus-like reptile thrusted forth and impaled his tusks straight into Kubal’s face, rendering him blind.

The earth and air alike quivered in terror from the humanoid’s howl of agony, and for a second the monsters began to wonder if unwanted attention might have heard such a bewail from a distance. But that second passed, and they all snapped themselves back to the important thing: the murderer was blind. He was entirely without sight.

If there was any time to attack the giant and tear him asunder while he was vulnerable, it was now.

Conical teeth crunched into hot muscle as Zilla joined Maguma in the melee and went into a frenzy, biting and clawing at Kubal’s monstrous physique while his armor had yet to regenerate. Sure enough, blood spurted and muscle ripped like the meat it was, and the Lizard King got all the information he needed.

The devil was not invulnerable.

Wanting nothing more than to assist their comrades in making the dictator suffer, Varan and Gudon threw their weight into the melee. Mauling and beating the humanoid with a berserk fury, ripping muscle and sinew like frenzied dogs into a steak—and they weren’t alone.

A metallic screech echoed from above before something massive slammed into Kubal’s chest, cracking bone and cartilage alike, and even blind the dictator was able to decipher the identity of his attacker just by sound. King Ghidorah cackled for vengeance as he leaped up and down, over and over; using Kubal as a living trampoline to keep him entirely grounded.

A familiar feeling of a slimy body slammed into his face, informing him of another kaiju’s return to the fray. Air suctioning into his lungs, Oodako completely wrapped himself around Kubal’s regenerating face, biting violently into his face with his razor-sharp teeth. Lack of facial expressions concealed the volcanic rage that coursed through the octopus’ blue blood, hungering for the same satiation of vengeance as his peers as he furiously attempted to chew the nephilim’s face off.

It was then that the blind Titan felt something shift; sans the Giant Octopus, the monsters no longer tore into his mere body. As King Ghidorah continued to repeatedly crush his feet upon him and Oodako continued mauling his face, the other kaiju changed their assault to one part of his body specifically.

The neck.

A trumpeting roar from Zilla resounded a desperate order, one his companions were only too eager to follow up on: attack the devil where he was weak. Rip the nape asunder!

Teeth crunched. Claws ripped and savaged. Flesh and blood fountained into the air. Gravity beams detonated now and again as all six kaiju focused all they had into destroying the heart of the demon. The jaws of triumph mere seconds away…

…before a furious howl like a tornado siren erupted from Kubal’s jaws.

A burst of steam exploded from every inch of the Colossal Titan’s wounded frame, catching every single kaiju in its wrath without hope to evade. Scalded by the searing temperatures, the monsters roared in agony as they were all flung back from their enraged quarry… Freeing him of their assault.

It was a golden opportunity Kubal was rapid to seize. The very second his eyes healed, the dictator clambered to his feet with a thunderous growl and charged the closest kaiju to his proximity: the horned monster, Gudon. The minotaur-like beast was too wounded and surprised to counter as Kubal seized him by the horns, then yanked him downward and slammed his knee into his throat with a loud CRACK. Stunned by the hideous blow, Gudon could only retch as the Perfect Darkness then slammed him face-first into the earth.

It was merely a predecessor for what was to come.

Planting his foot on the back of Gudon’s neck, Kubal grabbed both of his horns… and began to pull. Memories of times long past flooded his brain—and with them, he used the rage of every one to fuel his demonic strength…

The fist against his small face…

The boot against his gut…

The alcohol bottle against his head…

“And life isn’t going to hold back, Kubal…”

A horrible, organic, bile-attracting crack began to echo into the rainy air…

“SO NEVER GIVE IT THE COURTESY.”

The most disgusting pair of SNAPS imaginable sliced through the sound barrier for miles as Gudon’s neck dislocated—and Kubal ripped both of his horns free in sprays of bloody ivory.

Glowering down upon the crippled kaiju, Kubal reared one of the horns high—only to whirl about face and charge Varan, who was still recovering from his steam-induced wounds. Before the triphibian had a chance to react, the Colossal Titan stampeded right into him…

SHINK!

…and plunged the horn in his right hand straight through his chest.

Varan’s body suddenly shuddered, his eyes snapping wide and a gagged wheeze managing to escape his jaws—but the madman wouldn’t give him the luxury of dying slow. Grabbing the saurian by the neck, Kubal stomped back over to the crippled Gudon and, horn still in one hand, hoisted Varan high above his head as if he weighed no more than a child.

And thrusted him down onto Gudon, back first.

Fresh blood squelched into the air when Varan’s dorsal spines pierced all the way into Gudon’s back. A new wave of pain shooting through him like a hundred molten knives, the now-hornless kaiju managed to echo out one last bellow…

…before the Colossal Titan aimed towards his head, and brought down the other horn with such force, it buried almost completely into the ground.

Gudon’s skull was split in half like an elderly honey melon; literal metric tons of gore, bone, and brain matter puddling around where a mighty head once resided. Two once ferocious and terrifying behemoths, ancient relics of a long lost age, were now just two lifeless, desecrated corpses piled onto one another like afternoon trash. Left to rot upon the earth, to feed the crows until there was nothing left but bones.

…was defeat inevitable?

It was a bone-chilling prospect. To have spent so much effort, overcoming trial after trial, one obstacle after the other; coming so far… all just to end up with this. Only four of them left, all in terrible—and ever worsening—condition, while no matter what plan they enacted their foe always seemed to be one step ahead.

So much hope…just to then suffer so much loss.

Baragon, Peguila, Kong, Gorosaurus, Black Moth…now Varan and Gudon…

Already, portions of Kubal’s armor were beginning to regenerate. Ivory plating started to crystallize and harden around the madman’s terrible frame, beginning the process of shielding him from any and all damage once more.

Zilla’s own natural healing factor could only do so much, before so much became too much. He could only fight for so long… and his allies had no such healing capabilities at all. Unless by some miracle they managed to take their relentless foe down, he would wear them out and systematically end their lives.

Staggering back to his feet, even King Ghidorah began to ponder an old strategy, one he dreaded more than any other. One he hoped he would never have to contemplate against this vile adversary ever again.

Was fleeing truly the only option?

The portal to another universe was not very far away. It would not require much effort to close the distance and finally enter a brave new world, one where a fresh start awaited those who had lost so much in this one.

…but that was no guarantee that their enemy wouldn’t follow them.

More of the Colossal Titan’s armor regenerated, starting to prominently re-enter his physique…

The four kaiju, the last of the Skull Island resistance, were at a crossroads. A choice lay before them—and they would have to make it quickly. For the window of opportunity to do so was closing faster than even the smartest of them realized…

His armor already halfway recovered, the Colossal Titan broke into a heavy sprint, picking up speed. Twin jaws snapping open, King Ghidorah opened fire on the murderer with his gravity beams. Chunks of cooked flesh detonated in blooms of fire and smoke, yet the pain seemed all but inconsequential to the nephilim.

Mid-stride, the dictator contracted his leg muscles and leaped…

Unwilling to relent, Ghidorah continued to blast him…

Still, Kubal landed right on top of the two-headed dragon, knocking him to the ground…

BOOM!

With a furious cry, the Colossal Titan threw back his head as another infernal burst of steam erupted from his body, more sweltering than any that preceded it. Glowing embers blew amidst the makeshift storm, such were the incredible temperatures. Zilla, Maguma and Oodako were blown back by the sudden inferno—but King Ghidorah, trapped under the feet of his enemy, could only wail in torture as the unexpected firestorm scorched him alive on the spot. Even his thick golden scales had limits to how much they could take, and now they were being pushed considerably past their limits…

Amidst the aggressively strengthening haze of agony, the hydra mustered the strength to rear his necks and let loose his gravity beams… only to be shocked when the beams dissipated before they could form in the first place. The nuke-like temperatures had wiped them out on the spot, too much for their properties to handle.

Pinned, charring on the spot and nowhere to go, the dragon screeched in a blend of agony, and a rage every bit as atomic as the makeshift firestorm that currently burned him alive.

The sound of the wyrm’s tortured wails was music to Kubal’s ears. Many a western tale told of terrifying and almighty dragons, beasts of fire or lightning that were amongst the most frightening and powerful foes a mortal man could possibly face in combat. Monsters of such vigor and ferocity that any man who dared to face them was gambling his life against all but insurmountable odds.

Except in the end, every single such tale ended in exactly the same way. Something the dual-headed drake cooking under his foot failed to know: no matter how huge, how fierce, how supposedly powerful the serpent in question was…

The dragons always lost.

The Futurian Superweapon continued to writhe and howl under the horrific temperatures, all while his slayer-to-be continued to stare down upon him; continuously emitting more boiling steam, a hint of a smirk starting to tug at his mouth. Even as his body began to show signs of visible thinning, such as the energy and muscle mass spent to emit such steam, Kubal kept up his horrific attack.

The desire to see the hydra die was even more superheated than the temperatures themselves.

So focused the dictator was in listening to the dying roars of the dragon… that he failed to notice another huge shape, moving through the ember storm at speeds to shame a cheetah.

WHAM!

35,000 metric tons of reptilian muscle slammed into Kubal, knocking him off the maimed hydra and bringing his steam eruption to a relieving end. Ghidorah all but gasped for air as the conflagration died off, doing his best to stay conscious despite the excruciating pain that now consumed his senses. But when clarity returned to his eyes and allowed him to look upon his savior, he realized that said savior wasn’t doing much better than him.

His scaly skin barbecued to a nigh-unrecognizable husk, Zilla hissed and panted as he fixed his fiery gaze on the already recovering Kubal. Smoke that reeked like death itself curled off his charred form, a scent so putrid it would make even the most hardened humans empty their stomachs. He had braved temperatures that had all but roasted him into an iguana delicacy, just to merely knock the murderous madman away from the ailing dragon—and had paid a hideous price in return.

Just looking at the state he was in sent an arctic chill through Ghidorah’s burnt body, informing him of everything he needed to know. A confirmation of his worst fear.

This wasn’t going to last.

They weren’t going to win this conflict.

…leaving really was the last hope of survival they had left.

Hoisting the burned hydra to his feet, Zilla hissed to Ghidorah—and the dragon’s two heads snapped right to him, eyes broadened in shock at the lizard’s order.

Take the other two and go.

But he was staying behind, to bide them time… and keep this devil from following them through.

The golden king of Skull Island screeched in objection—but a particularly loud and desperate bellow from Zilla interrupted him on the spot. It was not a request, it was a firm and direct order. This had to happen.

And it needed to happen now—for the Colossal Titan, his spent muscle mass beginning to regenerate, was already stomping towards them, murder glowing in his devilish eyes.

A roar ordering his fellow kaiju to go echoed from Zilla’s jaws before he charged the Titan Shifter, trying his best to ignore the agony that chewed at his body. His heart-poisoning sorrow clambering to new heights, in the heat of the moment King Ghidorah reached a decision: he would obey the iguana’s command. Turning about face, the maimed serpent began to trudge towards the anomaly as fast as his injured legs could carry him; an action Maguma and Oodako were all too reluctant to follow.

Zilla ducked low, snapping around for a tail whip to Kubal’s legs—only for the nephilim to think faster and catch his tail with both hands. Yanking up with a terrible roar, the Colossal Titan lifted the bellowing reptile over his head and slammed him down upon the earth behind him.

But rather than continue his attack, he turned his attention to the fleeing giants.

A cowardly sight to behold. Only so strong until their numbers dwindled and the futility of their strength became obvious, and then they tucked their tails between their legs and fled.

They would rather hold back and flee like the animals they were, than stand and face their doom like the symbols of power humanity believed them to be.

Too bad.

Fists curled hard enough to hurt, Kubal charged after the fearful behemoths. The kaiju moved with all the strength they had left, but none of them were amongst the fastest of their like.

And worst of all, one in particular lagged behind, for he was slower than his peers…

—

Try as he might, Oodako could hardly keep up even with his wounded companions. In the water, he was a speed demon; a swift and agile predator, worthy to be a symbol of prowess for hunters to look up to. Fast enough that there was hardly a creature in the sea that could outswim him. But on land, the giant octopus was no such entity. Slow and heavy, pulled by the weight of gravity into a stalking behemoth, his only hope for any true speed was propelling himself forward in great leaps.

And still, even that wasn’t enough.

Teeth gritting hard enough to crack, the Colossal Titan was rapidly closing in on his position; his feet leaving massive craters in the earth. Even with the anomaly just a few hundred meters away, there was not enough time; Kubal was much closer, and getting ever so much closer still. By the time the octopus turned around to prepare an ink squirt, a counterattack he knew had far too little a chance of working, the bloodthirsty dictator was already almost on top of him…

A tusked maw grabbed the cephalopod and yanked him out of the way, surprisingly careful not to harm him.

Maguma growled a genuine apology to the giant octopus—the reason for which Oodako would learn far too late. Leaning his head back and putting all his might into his neck muscles, the walrus-like reptile thrust forward and SMACKED Kubal’s Colossal body with Oodako himself…

…and then, as hard as he possibly could, turned and threw the mollusk like a softball, in the direction of the portal.

A loud gasp of air compensated for a cry of grief before Oodako vanished into the anomaly… And splashed down, alone, into the waters of an unfamiliar world.

*****

He had landed with a bone-shattering thud. Everything was a blur, his head pounding from the concussion. A cognitive fog draped over the entirety of his mind, unable to discern memory from reality. Or even his sense of time. How long had it been? He struggled to recall what had just transpired. But only a gut feeling remained.

He screwed up.

But why did he screw up? His memory failed him. Left prone and helpless, he could only bleed out in this blurry state between the conscious and the void. Eren felt the heat releasing, the steam closing his wounds from the landing. But how on earth did he wind up here to begin with…?

Slumping with all the strength he could, he turned to his side. Focusing with everything his foggy mind could muster, he saw his Attack Titan, bloodied and ruptured against the wall. Its exposed neck had a popped blister where the nape resided. Had the impact been so violent, he was forcefully ejected from the Attack Titan? It was his only assumption. To have even landed on the Wall by all rights should’ve been an impossibility.

He should be dead. Why then was he still alive in this cruel world?

The more his body healed, the more he could move around and focus. Propping himself upright, Eren surveyed the situation. Titans clawed at the wall, desperately trying to seek and devour the humans beneath their feet. Even some of the smaller ones had noticed him, but could do nothing to breach the gap. Of all coincidences, or fate, or whatever happened, Eren was grateful to have landed atop Wall Sotono.

Off in the distance, a worst-case scenario. The two shipping vessels they had procured from that fateful day had been destroyed. The Armored Titan, having lost a lot of mass, had made a mad dash to the water… He forced himself up, gnashing his teeth into his skin to reignite Titanization. Nothing happened, only the sputtering of blood from a freshly opened wound. He swore to himself, unable to transform into the Attack Titan when he needed it most. With his body still healing, there was nothing he could do but wait…

His heart sank. He screwed up so badly. A slip up in his movement that allowed the Armored to get that punch in. How he broke the trust of Hange and Sasha. His dismissal of Mikasa’s concerns. What the hell would Armin think? It all came crashing into him, shame welling up in his soul. His blind hatred for Kubal had burned bridges that he took for granted. And at what cost? Would it truly be worth saving humanity at the cost of those he loved?

Would he be able to confront his own mistakes?

Mustering his strength, he stood up, only able to watch from the sidelines as the situation unraveled. There was no clean direction, the Titans would swarm him in no time. Even if he managed to push through, it’d be too much of a giveaway for the Armored Titan… Or he’d be overwhelmed without the protection needed against their gnashing teeth. But when his ears popped, returning his hearing, the whirls of helicopter blades echoed through his eardrums.

At first, he saw gleaming objects off in the distance. “Is that Jet Jaguar…?” Eren mumbled to himself. It was either the robot man, or two airborne vehicles heading in Kubal’s direction. Perhaps it was his woozy state, but he couldn’t tell clearly… But what did come in crystal clear was the rotary beats of the chopper nearby. It was the vehicle the Scouts repaired for the interdimensional people. Fumbling through his equipment, he pulled out the signal flare from its holster and fired. Green smoke rose high above the wall, hoping it’d mark his location to them. Fortunately, it proved fruitful as the air-cab shifted gears, heading for his general direction.

As the helicopter hovered over the wall-tops, its door flung open. In it, he saw the two strangers–detesting Randy’s presence in particular–and three Scouts, including Sasha among them. His chest tightened seeing her on board, but knew there weren’t going to be any other vehicles to get him out of this situation. He clung onto the railings, propelling himself through the door and taking the last available seat in the rear end of the cabin. The door handler shut it tight, allowing the chopper to move out of harm’s way.

A permeating silence hung in the air. Words were stuck in his throat. He wasn’t sure if she had forgiven him–or if he had even forgiven himself for his selfishness.

He saw the tech whiz meddling with the frequency knobs, presumably trying to make contact with the Scout’s radio transceiver down below. “Hello, Commander Zoe?” Randy spoke into the hand microphone, “Hello?”

“Hello?” Crackled the voice of Hange from the other side. “What do you got?”

“We got your Titan Guy here.” The sun-kissed man gestured the transceiver to him. Eren maintained silence, refusing to partake in this man’s witty annoyance. It was also better than an outburst, but every word uttered only got under his skin. “Hmm, doesn’t really want to speak right now.”

“Ugh, it’s fine,” Hange sighed, “Things are looking terrible over here. We got one of the ships out, but the Armored Titan pulled a new stunt out of its ass and destroyed the other two. So your little side trip better be worth the time, Randy.”

“I think you’ll like to know that we got reinforcements!” Randy exclaimed, “The Big J got some nice fancy tech from an abandoned weapons facility, and we even found a second Jet Jaguar that has some serious beef with Kubal. Gave us the low-down on everything he knew about Kubal and the origins of the Titans!”

“That’s great!” Hange sarcastically cheered, “Now how is that going to help us with our current predicament?”

“I, uh,” the dreadlock haired man stammered, “I could try rerouting one of the JJs over to deal with the Armored Titan if you–”

“No.” It was the first words Eren spoke of his own volition, cutting Randy off. “Let me take care of the Armored.” He felt the steam around him lighten and his strength returning. It’d only be a matter of time before he could transform again.

“Eren,” Hange’s voice crackled through the radio, “Is that what you really want?”

“It’s only a matter of the practical choice,” Eren rebuked, “The Jaguars are better equipped for fighting Kubal right now. The Attack Titan doesn’t have the raw power to break through the hardening, but the Armored is showing signs of fatigue. If they fly me over, I can take them from above.” Even as he explained himself, he felt an inkling of guilt in his stomach. He admitted to his mistakes to himself, but why then could he not speak up to those he held closest?

Because, he realized, maybe in his heart of hearts his actions were still dictated in defeating Kubal.

“I see. Do as you must, then.” It was his Commander’s only response to him, sounding defeated. He felt the sting of guilt in his heart. Though seemingly complying with his plan, the helicopter began to shift, courtesy of its pilot, Monique. Flying over the hordes of Titans and the land, they found themselves over the waters of the old bay. They’d be on top of the Armored Titan in any given moment.

“Eren, I think there is something you should know,” Monique spoke up. “According to the other Jet Jaguar, it’s surmised Titans are able to transfer their powers through consumption.”

He gleamed at her, confused. “Why are you telling me this?”

“Utilitarian by trade,” she responded, “if it helps to be able to use your Titan to its fullest, then you have the right to know.”

“Why do you put so much trust in me?” he demanded. ‘Despite the fact I’ve screwed up so much…’

“It’s not a matter of what you did was the right choice or not. Everything comes with a cost, sooner or later. But if you can live with that decision without regret, then all you can do is push forward to uncharted territory,” Monique firmly concluded. “In the end, I trust you will do the right thing, no matter what it takes.”

What the hell was the right thing? The more he thought about it, the less sure he was.

“Besides,” Randy proclaimed, “screwing up bad can be like flunking a college test. It hurts for a while, but then it becomes one heckuva motivator!”

Eren seethed. “Why do you always joke? Why are you always like this??” Maybe another punch would shut him up.

Even if the stranger from another land jolted back from his directed anger, the sun-kissed man kept up the perky attitude. “Because when you’re in Hell with your friends, you need someone that’ll always smile. A positive force goes a long way in keeping spirits up.”

That bombshell disarmed him like no other. In his voyage to take down Kubal, the smiles that had once permeated his closest comrades had eroded away. He always assumed the loss of Armin had taken its toll, but was it really his actions that took away those smiles? But when this ‘comedian’ was around, it seemed like there was a pervading light in the cruel darkness. A quick glance at Sasha all but confirmed it for him. Something different sparked in her; her frown had upturned into a small smile hearing his words.

A sight he didn’t realize how much he had missed until now. Shame welled even more, that this clown could bring something he had failed to provide.

Hope.

“We’re here,” Monique stated, the helicopter orbiting the steam cloud rising from the bay. No doubt, the Armored Titan lurked just beneath them. And the other cruiserliner, their last sign of hope for a better future, was just in range. Eren stood up and opened the door, prepared to make the jump. But before he could…

“Eren,” Sasha meekly spoke up, her eyes becoming firm with confidence, “Do you… Intend to still go after Kubal?”

He stared at her, lingering regret in his eyes. ‘I don’t know.’

“I’m sorry. For everything.” He couldn’t afford to waste anymore time, taking the risky plunge to the waters below. Once again, running away when conflict came his way. A coward, through and through. As he made his descent, he chomped down on his fully rejuvenated hand, the sparking light surrounding his body. The protrusions sprouted from his back, encasing him as it formed the nape of the Attack Titan. In rapid succession, the full body of the Attack Titan materialized into its complete form, falling rapidly towards the source of the steam trail.

With a booming roar and a colliding splash, a pillar of water and steam shot high into the air, nearly reaching the helicopter he departed from. Eren had successfully intercepted the target.

Now, he had to put a stop to them. No matter what.

 

Chapter 14: The Final Countdown

A trumpeting roar howled from the tusked reptile known as Maguma, as he turned to face what he knew was his doom. A roar informing his remaining comrades that it had been nothing short of an honor to fight alongside them.

It was the last noise he would ever make.

Cruel hands seized him by both tusks, applying every ounce of terrible strength to spare before yanking to both sides. The air was violated by the echo of sickening SNAPS as both of Maguma’s tusks were ripped right out of their perches.

Only to find themselves back inside their owner, when Kubal thrusted them both inwards like a pair of daggers, and impaled the reptile’s head with his own tusks.

From just in front of the anomaly, King Ghidorah watched as Maguma’s lifeless corpse plummeted at the dictator’s feet, limp as a boned fish. Twin shrieks of rage and grief tore free from the dragon’s heads, his body now feeling all but ready to collapse in on itself. All of this death, this loss… it was becoming too much to bear any longer.

Nearly all his beloved comrades were forever departed; the void they left behind eating away at his heart like ravenous, starving beasts.

And already, the murderous madman was looking to add him to his list of victims…

In an eruption of dirt and earth, Zilla exploded out of the earth and tackled the nephilim; screaming forth a loud roar telling Ghidorah to run for it.

It was now or never.

In a minute effort to give Zilla one last little advantage, the draconic king fired two last gravity beams at the Titan Shifter’s head. His final attack over with, he at last turned away and charged at the portal, doing his best to shrug off his agony and exhaustion just one more time.

Hoping that some way the iguana would avoid his companions’ fate, Ghidorah passed through the anomaly, vanishing into the new world…

A distance away, the Lizard King’s odds were hardly looking as good as the departed drake had wished. Like a professional Judo fighter, the Colossal Titan grabbed the frenzied iguana by the neck and threw him over his shoulder, slamming him hard onto his back. The impact shot a vicious bolt of pain through the reptile’s burned body, but still he muscled through it and twisted onto his stomach like a cat.

He had to keep this vile killer from entering his world.

No matter the cost.

Spines flashing, Zilla loosed an atomic ray into Kubal’s face as he stood to his feet—but it was not to harm, for the squamate knew his opponent’s armor was too strong. Rather, it was to distract; to faze him, so that he wouldn’t see his next attack coming.

Taking inspiration from a departed friend, the Champion of New York snapped back and leaned on his tail, lashing out with both feet. If there was an afterlife somewhere beyond the mortal veil, hopefully Gorosaurus was watching with pride as Zilla lashed out with a kangaroo kick, one that connected straight to Kubal’s ugly mug with a crack that echoed even through the depths of the earth.

A bellow of wrathful shock echoed from the Colossal Titan as he staggered from the hit, which Zilla responded to with an elephantine trumpet.

That was for Gorosaurus.

The lizard ran straight towards his quarry, then edged sideways to pass by him—while simultaneously slamming his tail into Kubal’s jaw, nearly knocking him off his feet. Another vengeful roar.

That was for all the other lives the dictator had taken.

Not bothering to wait, the mutated reptile charged back at the madman, spines flashing in preparation for a point-blank atomic ray—and horribly underestimated his reaction timing when Kubal whirled around and seized him by the jaws, stopping him flat in his tracks.

And hardly a second later, the humanoid slammed him upside the jaw with a full-force uppercut that knocked him silly.

Furious hands grabbed the lizard by the head and neck, gripping with enough force to start cracking bone. With one hand he held the squamate fast to the spot, crushing any and all hope of running away. And with the other, he curled into a fist and began slamming it into Zilla’s skull with thunderous punch after punch. Teeth cracked and broke, skin rippled, bone started to rapidly toe the line of dislocation as Kubal vented his full and furious rage. Picturing a whole different face in place of Zilla’s, using that image to fuel his volcanic wrath…

He paid no mind to dual airborne shapes moving in his direction, gaining velocity by the second…

Another punch connected to Zilla’s jaw, causing blood to cough from his mouth.

The shapes grew nearer…

Kubal reared his fist all the way back, steam starting to radiate off his body as he prepared to throw the same punch that had taken Kong’s head off, and would certainly do the same to this troublesome reptile—

WHAM!

Two sets of feet donkey-kicked the nephilim off his feet, freeing the injured Zilla and sending him falling to the ground with a hiss. Feet that were not organic; but metallic, mechanical in nature…

Shaking his head, Kubal returned quickly to his feet—and his eyes were met with a sight that sent a genuine bolt of surprise through his nerves.

Not one, but two Jet Jaguars stood before him. One built particularly blockier than the other and driven by tripod wheels rather than feet, with both adorned in strange battle armor; different assortments of gear and weaponry that he was but a stranger to. One helping the wounded Zilla back to his feet, while the other, blockier one held its glowing blue gaze solely on him.

Two visages of the same old enemy come back to haunt him like pestering ghosts.

A thunderous growl rippled from the Colossal Titan as he assumed a combat stance, his narrowed eyes scouring across all three of his foes. He had put down an entire assortment of pests prior to this. He would have little problem with a few more. He would see to it that their resistance would mean nothing.

Their efforts would only delay the inevitable.

Thunder rumbled in the rain-infested sky above, as if Mother Earth herself was signaling that the final battle had begun…

*****

A mass retreat was in order. With nothing else they could do, there was no point in keeping put in this doomed location. But worse yet was the clamoring from the public that had migrated from their homes. If there were no Walls to protect them, where would they truly go? Would Wall Okuno be enough to sustain them all? Arguments and bickering broke out among the populace, filling the subterranean chamber with the hollowed cries of the angry and the weeping. Even with Scout interference, trying to quell the rising tension, fights erupted into a free-for-all that left many injured, even dead.

There was no hope for this place.

Mikasa remembered this hellish cacophony, similar to when Monzen had fallen all those years ago. When the Colossal Titan first appeared, when the Titans swarmed in… The mass panic that sprawled the streets of her hometown, people trampling over each other just to survive. Silenced screams as people were eaten alive. The horrors, the destruction, the terror of the Titans manifesting once more in the present. But it wasn’t just humans versus Titans. Humans had fought and killed for as long as humanity existed, now it was just those primal roots bubbling to the surface.

How the hell were they going to get out of this one? She could only wonder.

With pressure ever mounting from within, Mikasa hung around the Commander’s quarters. Shacked up with antennae to pick up any frequencies, the Commander adjusted the radio frequency in order to make contact with the helicopter crew. Mikasa used this chance to restock and refuel; fresh new blades, pristine and sharp yet ever so flexible for slicing, and canisters filled to the brim in preparations for mobilization. But from where they were stuck, there was no escape. When the Scouts had been recalled into the hidden bunker, the door closed behind them–ensuring no Titan could get in. But with the Titans pressing on their doors, it’d only be a matter of time before that portion of the wall collapsed–either bringing down the entire structure onto them, or simply allowing the smaller ones to run rampant among the population.

Eventually Hange made contact with the Bell, gaining information in regards to their side venture. Mikasa’s heart skipped when she heard Eren over the radio. He lived. A moment of reprieve for her worried mind. But even so, he sounded distant. For as much as she chased him, he always seemed to get farther and farther away from her… No matter how hard she pushed, he was just out of reach. But every time he stepped out of line, her and Armin would… bring him back.

She couldn’t let these feelings stew, not now at least. But it stung nonetheless.

“Has Eren departed?” Hange asked over the radio. They gave the confirmation. “Swing around to the inner Wall. The door to the outer portion is swarmed with Titans. Even if the inner Wall poses a risk, it’d be safer.” The moment comms cut off, Hange slammed her head against the desk. Her frustration groans made it clear the stress and unraveling scenario was getting to her.

“Come the hell on!” The Commander roared in vexing contempt, “We’re trapped in here, and now the last bastion of humans is left to that idiot!” Her groans trailed off after the initial outburst, a good scream needed to get it out of her system. She blew air, steadying her breathing to regain her composure. “Sorry about that.”

“No need to apologize, Commander,” Mikasa issued, “You have a burden to carry.”

“Sometimes it feels like I shouldn’t be the one in charge,” Hange stated. “It’s a miracle the Scouts have lasted as long as they have under me… But I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to hold.”

“You can hold out, Commander. Just until this nightmare is over.” Mikasa usually wasn’t the one to deliver words of encouragement. But perhaps even the slightest bit of encouragement would be enough to get by, even amidst the violence spreading among the people. “Just think of… P-pretty things,” Mikasa awkwardly stammered. Maybe being fully encouraging wasn’t her cup of tea.

“Thanks for that,” Hange chuckled. “It’s appreciated.”

Suddenly, the radio crackled to life.

“Hey, uh, this is Randy of the Helicopter Battalion,” he said, clearly with an etch of concern, “I’m seeing something weird right now.”

Hange sprung for the hand radio. “What is it?”

“I don’t know, it’s huge and it’s flying, but–” the sudden gasp of Randy could be heard as another set of hands swiped the microphone from his hands. Mikasa couldn’t help but lean in, eager to absorb every piece of information that they were about to relay. What entailed, she had no idea.

“Commander, this is Sasha, do you read me?”

“I do. Continue.”

“Randy’s not pulling your leg, there’s something high above!” Sasha desperately shouted. “But it’s hidden among the clouds. And there might be another unidentified object pulling into the bay!”

Mikasa felt her and the Commander pull in a cold sweat. Were they being ambushed by unknowns? Were the monsters slated to aid the foreigner’s ‘Zilla’ coming en route to their location? With the ruckus no doubt going on between the Attack and Armored Titans, anything was possible.

The buzz from the radio crackled intently, leaving them with white noise for a moment. “Hold on,” Randy said, pulling the mic back to him, “We’re getting some interference.”

Hange tweaked with the settings, trying to clear the signal from distortion. But the more she tried, the less it worked. But through it, indiscernible words echoed from the broken frequency. When she was able to hear Randy again, it became clear they were also being hijacked by a third party.

Then the voice came through.

“This is Captain Craig McKenzie of the S.S. Alpha, calling,” the stranger, that of an older man, issued, “We received a looping transmission l from this vicinity and haven’t been able to get through to you. What seems to be the situation?”

The Scout Chief stared with bated breath, almost shaking at what she was hearing. Commander Hange no doubt felt the same, almost speechless from what they had just heard.

“L-looping transmission, that’s me, uh, sir!” Randy blurted from the other line, “That had been left open for our Jet Jaguar to meet us as Mt. Fuji!”

“Are there any survivors at the Mt. Fuji area, son?” McKenzie inquired. Hearing this, the Commander butted in.

“N-no they aren’t, Captain McKenzie! This is Hange Zoe, Commander of the Survey Corps, sir. We are currently in an underground labyrinth beneath the outermost wall, surrounded by Titans. We had sent out a boat en route to a location in New Zealand, threatened to be compromised by the enemy faction.”

“Ooh, Commander, eh?” the old man pondered. “I suppose I am under your services. Allow me to contact my compatriots. They are skybound and routed to the Mt. Fuji area. This isn’t their first rodeo with this business.” And with a click, the static ceased and clarity returned.

“Randy! Monique!” Hange cried out, “Change of plans! Drop the Scouts off the top of Wall Sotono. Sasha! Do you read me?”

“Yes ma’am?” Sasha replied.

“Fire as many signal flares as possible. Whatever you have left, we need to make ourselves clear and visible, understood?”

“Understood, Commander!” The comms cut off once more, allowing a moment of silence. Mikasa heard a sniffle, unsure as to who. But the second made it clear it was from Hange. Contrasting to her anger, tears rolled down her face. In a moment, hopelessness turned on its head. She couldn’t hold back any longer; her dam burst wide open, sobbing against the desk. Mikasa rubbed her back, comforting her Commander. They were tears mixed with joy and anguish. Even Mikasa, for her cold demeanor, couldn’t help but be misty eyed.

The burden they had to carry was no longer just theirs to hold. And now there was a hope this nightmare would soon come to an end.

*****

“Got you!”

The moment the water erupted with both their Titan bodies colliding into each other, Eren ensured he’d keep her pinned to the seabed. With a column rising high above, he felt the water carve an open hole that led straight to the bottom–but before long, the vacuum was filled with rushing water, smothering the superheated monstrosities in the cold embrace of the bay. Its crushing force slammed into them, even bruising the tough skin of the Attack Titan. Even so, Eren refused to yield.

No matter what, he couldn’t afford to let her free.

He tried to keep her in a vicegrip, but the watery environment proved to be a detriment. The buoyancy made them float, allowing the Armored Titan the chance to gain control. She shifted around, twirling around and breaking free from the Attack Titan’s grip. Before he knew it, the plated warrior slipped from his grasp, rising to the surface amidst the shallow waters. Eren followed suit, bursting ahead in a thunderous roar, hurling himself towards the bleached paladin.

Waves sloshed and crumbled from their overwhelming size, churring the old bay with ripples that spread across the entire surface. Their powerful tussle displaced the evacuation vessel, but Eren knew it couldn’t be helped. Not when contending with the Armored. Colliding waves concave from their monstrous strikes, limbs thrashing like massive oars. She lunged back, her plated shoulder slamming into his ribs; even without the muscle that had, the thickness of the plates were more than enough to knock the wind out of his Titan.

The shock rattled through him, scattering his focus. But he couldn’t afford to slip up, not again. Eren snarled through his Titan’s clenched teeth, blood leaking from his mouth and dribbling into the brine. Focus. He lashed forward, catching her arm before she could recoil. She tried to wrench free, but Eren wrapped around her, dragging them both into a brutal tumble. The impact into the water slowed everything, but it couldn’t soften the intent.

Plunging into the seabed, sand and stone exploded from their harsh landing. The two Titans tussled and struggled to gain dominance, rolling around to deeper levels of the vacant bay. If the shallower waters reached their hips, then these depths would barely cover their heads in an upright posture. If it kept them away from the boat, then it was all Eren could ask for.

A veil of dust and sand littered the undersea battlefield. Even if he couldn’t see, he knew he had the Armored Titan well in his grasp. Holding down with double underhooks, Eren squeezed with all his strength. She thrashed wildly, clawing and flailing to pry him off of her. But the more she tried, the harder Eren pressed on. A loud snap resonated in the murky depths, bubbles roaring from the grind of her plates as she tried to twist away.

But her struggles proved fruitless, as this gave Eren the opening to coil his legs around her torso, hooked and steady. Adjusting his hold, he began to pull, attempting to yank the Armored Titan’s head clean off. Although the flailing enemy could manipulate her movement thanks to the undersea environment, it did little to deter Eren from his hold. The plating cracked in jagging seams. Had this been on land, he certainly would have had the effect he desired. But being underwater, those forces were against him, but all he had to do was wait it out…

And with another resounding snap, it yielded results.

The protective plating that held the nape splintered and shattered, scattering shrapnel and blood into the brine. Muffled roars frothed from the Armored Titan, a desperate plea as water no doubt filled its lungs and innards. The Attack Titan yanked back, ensuring a solid landing against the seabed, where he’d be able to maintain the stable ground needed to finish her off. With the seabed bracing them both, he torqued with every ounce of force. Another volley of blood and armor pieces flew across the seascape…

Before he knew it, the entire head came clean off.

Pulled back from the force, Eren quickly scavenged the head for the nape region, making sure his target hadn’t made the getaway. But to his disgusted surprise, when he did find her, she was a tangled mess of limbs, hair, and bones. Likely, when he had fractured the nape, the rushing water and sudden pressure change no doubt killed her instantaneously. He released her lifeless body from his hand, allowing it to drift with the current, rising at his eye level…

His eyes widened.

A spark of lightning danced around her mangled corpse.

‘Impossible!’

He only had a split second to react. Taking Monique’s disclosure into account, the Attack Titan stepped as fast as he could. His mouth agape, he saw a faint purple glow starting to accentuate the closer he got. If he didn’t do this quickly, then the rebirth of the Armored Titan was going to be nothing short of an inevitability… As his teeth clenched around her mutilated body, he felt the immense heat scorch as purple light and electric crackles radiated around her form.

It was time to see if this worked.

With a sickening crunch, he felt her blood and fluids rush to fill his water-filled mouth. And like a conductive spark between exposed wires, a sharp flicker signaled the end of the Armored Titan. The violet light faded as the bouncing lightning died down, quelling the anxiety that swelled in Eren. Springing his Titan’s legs abound, he made a leap to the surface in one fell swoop, breaking through the surface, his body steaming from the heat generated by his Titan. Water flung from his rising shape, swallowing the salt and blood down in one gulp. He waited for the big moment, the revelation of how this ‘Titan transfer’ worked…

There was nothing.

Maybe this whole thing was a farce. Eren wasn’t sure what to think, only that he reflected on Sasha’s words. He grimaced. His decision was final. Logging his Titan to the shore, step by step he approached the dock. He knew what he had to do, and no one was going to tell him otherwise–

His nerves struck. Eren’s eyes rolled back into his head, his Titan likewise stiffening. His enormous Attack Titan fell limp, falling frontward onto land with a waterlogged thud. He couldn’t move, stuck in a trance that held him in its allure. Unwillingly, he felt the safety net of his nape split open, guzzling with steam as he popped out. Sinew and flesh clung to his body, ensuring he didn’t fall out of the exposed nape. But he couldn’t wake up, unable to move his body per his will.

He was lost. Trapped in a long dream…

 

Chapter 15: Operation: Dragonslayer

The androids were as still as the very air itself.

Even with the diverse array of gear they were equipped with, the Jet Jaguars couldn’t help but feel a cold uneasiness crawl up their circuits like a million tiny ants. They had armed up, as the old saying went, ‘to the teeth’; made every use of any and all of the most formidable instruments available. Weaponry that was solely meant to dish out harm to the monstrous madman their eyes currently beheld… yet still, there was an unshakable discomfort that held them in a clawed, icy grasp.

No mistakes could be made in this battle. No miscalculations or misjudgments, nothing that in any way equated to getting cocky or sure of victory. The adversary before them was to be taken with the utmost amount of caution possible, and not given so much as a single inch. To say the Colossal Titan was to be taken as extraordinarily dangerous would be a terrifying understatement.

Something both Jet Jaguar FMT and Zilla knew to be true from grisly personal experience.

Standing tall and tense, the three defenders held together as they prepared to engage this most terrible foe. There was no true certainty of victory against the wrathful giant, even with all their accumulated potency. Which was why it was more imperative than ever that no matter what, they needed to make every single hit count. There could be no room for error.

Every last attack had—needed—to matter.

The four colossi stood in graveyard silence for a moment, waiting for someone, anyone amongst them to cut loose and make the first move…

Taking a quaking step forward, Zilla inhaled and let loose a battle roar that made even the Walls shudder from afar; a sound that reminded Kubal all too much of Godzilla himself. A roar that voiced every ounce of sweltering hatred the iguana had for the dictator, feral and flesh-burning in its wrath.

Wounded, the last of his former company left standing, and still this reptile refused to give up.

Kubal fought the urge to scoff.

Moronic. That’s all this animal was—

Spinning about with the grace of a felid, Zilla struck the ground in front of him with his tail and sent a spray of dirt and earth into the madman’s face. Stepping back in surprise, the dictator tried to swipe the rubbish off—and left himself open to an atomic ray that engulfed his upper torso.

The hunger to avenge his fallen comrades blazing in his fiery eyes, Zilla continued to spew for a good eight seconds straight, even as Kubal started to march towards him through the emerald inferno…

…allowing the Titan Shifter to be taken unawares when two metallic feet drop kicked him in the side of the head.

Staggering sideways, Kubal snapped his head to look upon his assailant—and received twin beams of azure energy to his face for his efforts. Small explosions blossomed off where the beams had hit him, and an ever-so-slight twinge of pain coursed through him as he took a few steps back.

Smoke drifting from the pulse cannons of his Toryu gunship, Jet Jaguar screeched and ran forward before slamming a somersault kick up Kubal’s jaw, then jutted both feet forward and double-kicked the Titan Shifter in the face. A howl of rage echoed from the nephilim as he staggered from the hit, which was only bolstered when something fast whizzed by and sliced at his side with a sharp instrument.

Whirling about, the Colossal Titan saw the other, blockier Jet Jaguar spin back about to face him on its industrial wheels; bearing twin blades and two other mechanical appendages on his wrists.

Not to feel left out, Zilla seized his chance to ambush the nephilim unawares and smashed his skull into his back; then, his reflexes serving him well, snapped on his heels and smacked his tail straight into Kubal’s throat the very moment he turned on him. However, this time the dictator recovered far faster than before and lashed out with a curled fist, clocking the squamate across the face with an ear-rending punch…

…and was promptly shot in the side of the neck from another blast of Jet Jaguar’s pulse cannons.

Infuriated beyond comprehension, the Colossal Titan sprang towards him, growling the most murderous of threats imaginable; but before he could reach him, another colossus intercepted him at the last moment.

Speeding in on his wheels from the side, Jet Jaguar FMT smashed into the madman with all his strength in a great burst of sparks and vapor. Thinking fast, the blocky android swerved smoothly to the right just as Kubal threw a punch that would’ve definitely dented something had it connected. Not wanting to give the berserker an opening of any kind, the robot slashed him across the face with the maser blade on his right wrist—then backed up just as the Perfect Darkness swung another punch.

Growling like a titanic animal, Kubal changed his fighting style and swung an uppercut—but this too, Jet Jaguar FMT managed to sidestep before scoring another slash from his maser blade, this time to his neck.

And like with the first Jet Jaguar’s pulse cannons, Kubal felt an ever so mild twinge of pain from the maser blade’s cut.

Mild… but present nonetheless.

Again and again the murderous giant tried to smash the android like a tin can. But every punch he threw, Jet Jaguar FMT managed to dodge, even in spite of the battle armor equipped to his body; using the function of his Harvey wheels to control the distance and weave in and out of Kubal’s attacks, while swiftly landing his own time and time again.

But for the maximum amount of caution he put into each swerve and every slash… even he was not infallible.

All of a sudden, Kubal threw a punch straight down into the ground—and then swiped across and sent a spray of burning earth into Jet Jaguar FMT’s face. Immediately recognizing what his foe was doing, the android once again attempted to retreat… but this time the Titan Shifter thought ahead. Leaping forward with arms outstretched, the Colossal Titan tackled his robotic quarry head-on with a bone-rattling impact, flooring him with relative ease.

Pinning the droid under his knees, the madman reared a fist—and was surprised by the trembling of rapidly-approaching footfalls. From the side, Zilla dashed towards Kubal at his top speed, bellowing in fury. The murderer waited until the exact moment the lizard was almost right on top of him, then swung an uppercut towards his throat…

…only for Zilla to catch him off guard by weaving out of the way, then lunging forth and crunching his jaws upon Kubal’s wrist.

Kubal snarled and moved to pry the reptile off—but was met with a faceful of laser blasts that peppered rapidly into his face. Tiny stings of pain singed across his armored flesh, staying him just long enough for Zilla to release his grasp and swing his tail into the dictator’s jaw at full force, sending him careening off his robotic prey.

“Thank you… Zilla-san,” said Jet Jaguar FMT, as he continued to open fire on Kubal with his Type-4 Railguns. A thanks that the mutant lizard was happy to repay by joining in the robot’s assault, blasting the armored madman with another river of atomic fire.

Putting up a hand to block the projectiles from hitting his mug, Kubal steeled himself and started to move back towards his foes. Ignoring Zilla’s radioactive flames, he broke into a run, making way to close the distance like a maddened bull.

Jet Jaguar FMT activated his wheels and rolled away—but Zilla was not so lucky. Whether by good reaction timing or just bad luck, Kubal connected a punch that sent the iguana sprawling on the ground with a heavy THUD; a hiss of pain crawling from his throat at the concussion that now wreaked havoc on his brain. A sickening satisfaction gleaming in his eyes, the dictator raised both fists…

…before a brand new pair of azure energy blasts detonated off his side.

Growling in mild pain, the Colossal Titan turned to glare daggers at the more humanoid Jet Jaguar, who stood roughly a hundred and fifty meters away. But the autonomous machine was in no mood to exchange pleasantries of any sort, and fired his handheld Plasma Beam Cannons a second time. The blue rays of energy struck the Titan Shifter in the stomach in moderately-sized explosions, and with a grunt of pain Kubal understood.

Even with his armor at full capacity and strength; these weapons, however slightly, could hurt him.

A notion that became more clear than ever when Jet Jaguar fired a third duo of blasts that struck the last place Kubal wanted: his neck. Dangerously close to the nape itself.

Staggering away from the downed Zilla, Kubal clutched his neck as the minor wound began the process of reconstituting itself, his eyes training between both Jet Jaguars in a bid to keep ready for any surprise attacks.

These weapons dealt him injury—and the ones wielding him were clearly not going to hold back.

This conflict was likely to be even riskier than he thought.

Another volley of Railgun blasts singed into Kubal’s stomach, courtesy of Jet Jaguar FMT. Within the metallic cranium of the droid, a plan of his own was quickly beginning to formulate—but it was of equal importance that he diverted the dictator away from Zilla first.

He only had known the mutant for a few minutes, but said minutes were enough. He was a fellow defender, an ally.

And no ally got left behind.

While he didn’t chase after the machine as hoped, the nephilim did back away further from the concussed iguana. More than fine with this substitute, the old robot kept up fire with one hand and wheeled to Zilla’s side, using his free hand to grab the saurian by the tail and drag him away.

A deep growl rumbled from the murderous humanoid as he began to charge after the duo, but two Plasma Beams from the humanoid Jet Jaguar struck his knees, tripping him up and bringing him low. As Jet Jaguar FMT pulled the iguana out of the line of fire, the Jet Jaguar from another universe ran forward to take up the fight in his place; a brief screech echoing from his mouthpiece to inform his doppelgänger.

He had a plan, and he needed him to be ready for it.

Understanding, Jet Jaguar FMT nodded.

It was time to test out the best of their weaponry.

With speed fueled to the brim by wariness, Jet Jaguar dropped a roundhouse kick to Kubal’s skull before leaping overhead, just narrowly avoiding a retaliatory haymaker. And it was at that moment, mid-leap, that the robot hero faced his gunship at the back of the nephilim’s neck and fired the heaviest hitter of its arsenal. Smoke trailed behind a large missile that rocketed with vicious precision and velocity, detonating perfectly on-target. Flames and armor flew from the resulting explosion, and the Colossal Titan roared in fury… and pain.

Landing on the earth behind the killer, Jet Jaguar nodded mutely. They were exactly the results they needed… but there was a hitch. Both Jet Jaguars had only six Mega Missiles each, four in one port and two in the other—and he had just used one up.

Out of all the weaponry they had at their disposal, these were the ones they would need to make count the most.

But as Jet Jaguar was about to see, fate was a truly sadistic mistress; for the enemy had a contingency to this change in weaponry. The air was abruptly assailed by loud, brickening cracks, signaling the armor around the Titan Shifter’s nape starting to fortify. Crystallizing like hardened mineral, protecting where the defenders knew he was vulnerable…

Like an infuriated rhino, Kubal charged the robotic defender that dared wound him. Another duo of Plasma Beams flew from Jet Jaguar’s handheld cannons, blasting small injuries into the nephilim’s right arm which he held to protect his face; but despite the pain, he kept on running. Waiting until the exact moment when he was close, the mechanical protector swept a low kick towards the murderer’s legs in an effort to trip him under—only for Kubal to quickly grab the offending legs with one hand.

Before the android could counter, Kubal punched him in the face with the other.

Knocked to the ground by the force of the hit, sparks flew from the robot as the side of his head hit the earth. Kubal reared his arm for another punch—only for Jet Jaguar to fire both pulse and plasma beam cannons all at once, at close range into his throat. As the dictator recoiled, Jet capitalized on the opportunity to jut his right leg up and kick him in the jaw, somersaulting back to his feet.

But hardly a moment afterwards, Kubal was back at him, growling like a living earthquake.

As the armored killer shrunk the gap to engage him yet again in close combat, it was clear to Jet Jaguar that already, speed and agility could only work so much. The Colossal Titan was no dim-witted brute. He was learning, adapting quickly to what his enemies threw at him.

For every time the defenders elected to change strategies…so too would Kubal.

And such a notion was no more apparent than when Kubal, after a few missed punches, managed to seize the android by the left hand’s Plasma Beam Cannon… and violently contracted his fingers, crushing the weapon into dented scrap in mere seconds.

Not wanting to risk another loss, Jet Jaguar pulled himself free of the ruined weapon and kicked away as fast as he could; taking flight into the air right as Kubal started to chase after him.

It was in that moment that an epiphany entered Kubal’s mind—and as he would find, it would serve him well; quickly for a giant of such size, the Titan Shifter whirled about face just as Jet Jaguar FMT came wheeling in, maser blades unsheathed. The Colossal Titan managed to grab the droid’s left hand as it neared his face, stopping it cold—but failed to stop the other from plunging its blade deep into one of the grooves between the armor on his stomach.

Not even half a second later, a surge of microwaved electrical energy traveled up the blade, shocking and searing into the dictator’s flesh from the inside out. Glowing eyes almost bulging out of their cartilaginous sockets, a cry of agony like a damaged tornado siren reverberated from the Titan Shifter’s jaws.

There was no physical defense to protect him from this new onslaught. Nothing to shield him from the maser energy that now set to frying away at him where he was entirely vulnerable. The blade had pierced exactly where there was no armor; the android had known exactly where to hit. At first, the pain overrode sense and thought alike, and the Colossal Titan continued to roar out in torture.

It only worsened when from above, Jet Jaguar hit him with repeated blasts of his pulse cannons and remaining plasma beam cannon; circling about as he tried to rend the giant’s body further.

But it was only temporary.

Reconfiguring the pain into fuel for his wrath, Kubal howled as he unleashed his burst of steam. Caught point blank in the superheated storm, Jet Jaguar FMT screeched in alarm as the force of the burst yanked the blade out of the nephilim’s body, sending the corroded robot careening back. Meanwhile above, Jet Jaguar’s energy blasts were no longer striking their target; the kaiju killer’s steam emission was diffusing the beams before they could even touch him. Quickly, the aerial android cut off his assault, opting to wait for a better time…

An idea lit aglow in his consciousness.

To say it was risky was a dangerous understatement… but it was the best option for attack he currently had. For as much steam as the giant emitted, there was a takeaway to go with it in turn.

And perhaps, Jet Jaguar could add onto it.

Aiming himself at where he judged to be the center of the steam eruption, the android fired a second Mega Missile into the broiling cloud. Sure enough, an explosion detonated through it… followed by the oh-so-rewarding sound of a roar of pain.

Within the mixture of steam, fire and smoke, the emissions ceased.

Kubal could feel the difference between before and after his use of steam, even disregarding the fresh injury blown into his face by the Mega Missile. He was… thinner. Ganglier. Every use of this steam sacrificed muscle mass, his armor notwithstanding. And this body was only getting thinner still, with each use of his steam he enacted—and it was only made worse by the weaponry his enemies wielded. One in particular that he knew was capable of bypassing his—

Kubal froze.

Within the nape of the Colossal Titan, the man frantically looked down towards his shirt. Pulling on the musculature attached to his left arm, Kubal reached into one of his shirt’s pockets… and closed his eyes with a relieved sigh when he felt the Wraith vial.

It was still intact, even after the robot’s maser blade attack.

His little princess’s lifeline, still whole despite the odds.

And with that revelation… relief gave way to burning rage.

Midair, Jet Jaguar was caught completely off guard when Kubal jumped out of the vapor cloud left by his steam; tackling him right out of the air, and back down to the earth with a trembling quake. The moment they hit the ground, the nephilim smashed his fist into the android’s face, denting the steel of his head in a shower of sparks and shrapnel. A damaged shriek whizzed from the robot’s speaker—but while he was down, the mechanical warrior was not out.

When the Colossal Titan was a second away from throwing another punch, Jet Jaguar’s eyes abruptly flashed with an intense light. Like a giant flashbang grenade, the abrupt light beams completely disrupted the Titan Shifter’s vision—leaving him open to a bone-rattling punch to the side of the head. Not one to waste the opportunity given, Jet Jaguar socked the giant between the teeth, actually knocking a couple out as the killer was knocked off of him.

Quick as lightning, the child of Goro Ibuki ran around behind the stunned nephilim, knowing that his current blindness was only temporary. And without hesitation, fired not one, not two, but three Mega Missiles and a Plasma Beam all at once, straight into the madman’s nape.

As the bellowing Titan Shifter recoiled from the powerful strike, Jet Jaguar ran forward like a famished cheetah. Knowing he was full and well in the danger zone, the android leaped onto the killer’s back…

…and not even sparing a second, plunged his free fingers into the small, yet fresh, wound.

Feeling the sensation, the Colossal Titan went nothing short of wild. Howling like the berserk madman he was, thrashing and whipping about in his still-persisting blindness. Swiping his arms as he tried seemingly in vain to dislodge the attacking automaton, who dug his fingers into the exposed flesh in a monumental effort to reach the man within the monster.

An effort that, as the droid would discover, he wouldn’t have to partake in alone.

Wheeling in from behind at full velocity, Jet Jaguar FMT used Kubal’s blindness to attack him entirely by surprise. Unsheathing his maser blades, the second Jet Jaguar plunged them both into the gaps between Kubal’s upper back armor—and as he activated yet another conductive current of maser energy, Jet Jaguar FMT aimed his own missile port at the nephilim’s neck.

At close range, he fired two more Mega Missiles—right as the other universe’s Jet Jaguar fired his pulse cannons into the same wound.

Within the nape of the humanoid nightmare, Kubal went rigid. They knew what his weakest point was—and they couldn’t afford to hold back.

Just the same, neither could he.

Seemingly on the ropes one moment, the Colossal Titan switched tactics the very next. Almost seamlessly, the dictator ceased thrashing…and dropped backwards, crushing both androids underneath his greater size.

Then, without warning, he let loose a terrible war cry and unleashed his steam.

His legs and waist completely pinned underneath the nephilim’s shoulders, Jet Jaguar could only thrash in vain as the boiling temperatures assailed his steel body with a vengeance—to say nothing of his counterpart trapped entirely beneath the madman’s back. For a full minute the assault went on, but in time the murderous giant ceased it at last and rolled himself off.

For a brief moment, Jet Jaguar noticed the relative thinness of the goliath’s body, proving his assumptions about the steam right…

…but was quickly washed away when Kubal went straight back on the offensive with terrifying speed.

Stomping one foot on the downed Jet Jaguar FMT, the Colossal Titan seized the humanoid Jet Jaguar by both hands—including his other Plasma Beam Cannon. His fingers contracting with earth-cracking pressure, the poor weapon didn’t stand a chance as it was crushed into useless rubbish like its earlier counterpart.

A stab of agony jabbed into Kubal’s heel; Jet Jaguar FMT, despite his corroded and deteriorated state, had stabbed his maser blades into the unarmored grooves of the Titan’s leg and was already conducting more energy into his body. Simultaneously, he opened fire with his Railguns, fully intent on stopping the nephilim from going any further.

It was a truly noble effort… that ultimately bore little fruit.

Piece by piece, Kubal’s armor unexpectedly began to fracture apart. Both Jet Jaguars balked at this abrupt development—and immediately began to struggle ever harder, knowing full and well something nothing short of devastating was about to take place. The Jet Jaguar of the other universe even went so far as to fire another Mega Missile and twin blasts of his pulse cannons into Kubal’s throat, trying to halt whatever was coming.

It was for naught.

A rageful scream erupting out of the dictator, Kubal’s fracturing armor exploded outwards. Caught in the unexpected attack at near point-blank, neither android had a chance of evading as hundreds of shards of armored shrapnel stabbed and cut into their bodies with chilling precision. Jet Jaguar was thrown back by the sheer kinetic force of the burst; Jet Jaguar FMT, meanwhile, was pinned down to experience the full and terrible wrath of this most lethal attack.

His armor was spent, and would now take quite a bit to regenerate. His musculature was depleted compared to prior, not at its full strength… yet, Kubal found it entirely worth it. For the results of his latest attack were exactly what he had been aiming for.

The battle armor of both Jet Jaguars had been shredded like tinfoil, damaged completely beyond repair.

With a cruel sneer, the Titan Shifter lunged down and seized Jet Jaguar FMT by the head; growling like an animal as he lifted him up to face him.

A vicious hand grabbed Kubal by the chest, yanking him up to eye level…

Regenerating muscles contracted as his free fingers curled into a cracking fist.

You’re either the guy throwing the punch—

The Colossal Titan’s right arm reared back…

—OR THE ONE TAKING IT.

The nephilim’s hand flew forward to smash into the android’s face; even with depleted musculature, still packing the force to knock him to the ground.

Kubal’s small body hit the floor with a painful CRACK that rattled his bones, leaving his muscles with an ache that seemed to never end…

The looming shadow of the Colossal Titan drifted over the downed robot, who struggled to find his “feet” as his adversary closed in on him.

And life isn’t going to—

“…it was never my wish to fight you, Kubal.”

The android’s words, entirely and utterly unexpected, caught the Titan Shifter completely off guard. The once bloodlusted madman abruptly froze in his tracks, registering what the blocky machine had just said to him.

But his brief moment of surprise was rapidly melted by ever-eternal rage, and he intended to move forward—

BOOM!

—only to be taken by surprise when the first Jet Jaguar, coming in from the side, slammed what was left of the Toryu into the back of his neck in a great explosion.

It was nothing short of stupid. That he allowed himself to be distracted so easily like that. That he was so caught off guard by an unexpected occurrence, that he had completely missed the possibility that the other enemy would seize its chance to spring an ambush.

A mistake he would do well to rectify.

Hardly a moment later and the nephilim retaliated with an open-handed slap that sent the humanoid robot flying like a toy. Exposed flesh and reduced muscle mass be damned; even in his weakened state, the Colossal Titan was the strongest being on Earth.

The sound of metal grating reached Kubal’s ears, and he turned to see Jet Jaguar FMT spending all his might to roll away. The dictator bit back the urge to sneer at this. Even heavily damaged, borderline crippled, this machine was still a persistent one.

Pushing himself off with his arms and back onto his damaged wheels, Jet Jaguar FMT shook off his destroyed Battle Armor just the same; the missile ports and Mega Missiles alike shredded beyond use ever again. Hefting the one Type-4 Railgun that somehow miraculously still functioned, the wounded android opened fire on Kubal’s armorless neck before beginning to wheel around him in circles.

The madman growled and chased after the shooting robot, swinging and punching in a maddened rage in yet another game of cobra and mongoose. It was an uphill maneuver on the defender’s part; every blow Kubal threw at him only narrowly missed, and no matter how quickly the robot managed to gain distance, the murderer was rapid to shorten it all over again.

Another violent swing of a hand—and the sound of metal breaking asunder tore through the air as Jet Jaguar FMT’s remaining Railgun, along with the maser blade beneath it, shattered to pieces. The robot hadn’t been fast enough to avoid it, and now a single functional maser blade was the only weapon he had left.

The mechanical hero continued to wheel and weave, delivering slashing blows where he could. Fighting against the ever-mounting odds the best he could as the Colossal Titan got closer and closer in his bloodlust…

…before the sound barrier was humbled by an elephantine roar, catching the android’s attention.

*****

Monzen, Japan

She was issued an order. Kill all the Titans and clear a path for their arrival. A specialty for Mikasa.

Flinging through the open plains, one would think it’d be suicide to even attempt to use ODM gear without any structures to cling to. And there was merit behind those concerns. But there were two things to consider; one was that the citizens of Monzen had been ushered underground, leaving plenty of ruined structures up for grabs. But that wasn’t the section she was clearing out, which led to the second thing: while there were no structures, there were objects more than tall enough to get by. Using a Titan as a hook, she used the propulsion to slice off the nape of one Titan, and quickly follow up with the other she had anchored with her wires. Spooling wires returned before launching again, digging into the skin of a nearby tall Titan.

She had to be fast, exceptionally so. None of her peers could match her raw skill and talent, so she was handpicked for the most dangerous task required. In a heartbeat, another Titan downed. Her instincts were sharp and natural, she felt her body move on its own as she diced down their napes. 15-meter class, 3-meter class, and all in-between and beyond–it was all the same for her. Her Scout allies tried to keep up, their coordination taking down a singular Titan–but the amount of manpower it took expended more gas than necessary. Provided they weren’t eaten alive or stomped to death. To lessen the load, she took more upon herself as her mind escaped into a daydream–a hope she clung to so desperately.

One where Eren returned to her. Where they’d escape into the great unknown. That they didn’t become victims of Kubal’s tyranny. The world the girl saw. Paradise. Just the two of them…

…

She lost count after a while. 72 Titans? Mikasa recalled keeping a tally of kills during her time with Shikishima. The fizzle of gas warned her that she needed to refuel. Breaking off from the massacre, she aimed for the nearest refuel station situated along the projected perimeter point, close to the Wall. According to Hange, this rescue ship was expected to be massive. Refilling on gas, Mikasa saw the wall of colors atop Sotono; other soldiers had since joined Sasha on top, making sure their rescuers didn’t miss the signal. A cloud of mixed colors wafted high above, drifting with the current.

With the dismantling of the Titans off in the distance and the vocals of the other Scouts looking to get back into the fray, she let the moment soak. Though rather abruptly, the chatter shifted to murmurs as soldiers began to point to the sky, accounting for a deep, low hum. Upon visual confirmation, signal flares scattered all across the clearance area, informing the more distant Scouts of the incoming guests. What she saw, she had to make sure her eyes didn’t deceive. The way it floated looked unnatural and fake; yet as its defining conical nose and sharper edges came into view, it was indisputably real. It didn’t run like a cruiser’s guzzlers, it clearly used an energy source beyond her comprehension. No dirty emission of the sort that she could see, yet its exhausts glowed an ethereal hue that was mesmerizing to look at…

But as it came closer, its scale was far beyond anything Mikasa had expected. Its length she estimated to be about a kilometer long, with a total height that exceeds Wall Sotono. 120 meters? 140? It was hard to precisely discern. It was truly a gargantuan sight, and she had every right that the landing would be nothing short of disastrous. A precaution maybe their informants should’ve made clearer on the outset. She braced herself, unease quickly swelling of how much of the ground would hold before breaking into the underground labyrinth beneath them. Pulses of light shone from beneath, stabilizing the gigantic ship for landing. Yet despite its massive size, it landed with the softest thud she had ever felt. Only the wind displacement made it seem worse than it actually was.

Mikasa was awestruck at the enormity before her. And on its side was its name. The S.S. Pandora.

For a moment, nobody moved a muscle.

Movement from behind caught her attention, only to quickly realize it was the Commander, no doubt wanting to see their rescuers in the flesh. Her eyes gleamed with the same sensation as everyone else. As it steadied, the pulsing lights diminished, and with a loud whoosh, like a valve blowing off air, an assortment of doors slid open, with stairs shooting down to the ground. Then, like bees from a beehive, human figures began flying out of the vessel, propelled by gas tanks on their backs, not all too dissimilar to the ODM gear. Their uniforms could only be described as pure gold weaved into clothing, akin hazmat suits in a way, adorned with head goggles and gloves that were made of the same sparkling gold. Only their faces were exposed, which led Mikasa to be able to identify them as human beings. Nearly 50 of them vacated from the Pandora, scattering around the vessel’s perimeters.

One of them, however, swooped by and landed in front of the Commander. The distinguished individual was a large man with a strong build, of Japanese lineage with a light facial hair patterned across his face. He locked eyes with Hange, making a slight bow.

“You are Commander Hange Zoe of the Survey Corps?” the golden-clad man inquired. Hange simply replied, “Yes.”

“Kobo Omae, assistant to Captain McKenzie of the Alpha. We are here to aid in the relief efforts of the people confined to these Walls. The Captain will be aiding in taking a portion of the passenger load to alleviate the carrying capacity of the cruiseliner.” Kobo explained, plain and simply.

“Understood. It’s just that…” Hange paused, almost at a loss for words. “There’s so much I want to ask.”

“I understand. We will give you the full briefing once all has been said and done. We just need you to keep your trust in us–and ours in you.” Kobo’s words were firmly vindicated and honest. Despite Mikasa’s own resignations, there was almost no choice but to put faith into their claims. “Have your regiment provide guidance for the evacuees to the Pandora, please. Allow us to take over with the Titans.”

Hange nodded willingly, immediately firing an acoustic blast to rally the Scouts to her. She relayed her instructions to guide the people onboard the Pandora, as they had done with the cruiseliner. A similar strategy, with the added safety net of these golden-embued strangers holding off the Titans. Without hesitation, they filed in order, now in greater numbers. There was no need to be reserved of who got on first; it was a matter of efficient organization that would be key to getting out of this hell.

And keeping to their promise, as a new wave of Titans from outside the Wall made their approach, the gold-clad warriors unloaded their mythical weapons. Flamethrowers, laser beams, missiles, and paralytic gas spewed from their fingertips, toppling or repelling the cannibalistic threats in their place. Their aerial mobility evaded their grasps and bites, a show of skill in the air without the limitation of the wirework for ODM.

As Hange continued organizing the relief efforts, a shout from above chimed in. No doubt Sasha had to muster all her lung strength to be heard. “Commander!” Sasha screamed, “It’s Eren!” Hearing his name made Mikasa’s heart spike. “He’s conquered the Armored Titan, but he’s become immobile!” With or without the Commander’s orders, Mikasa speared straight up Wall Sotono without a second thought. It was only happenstance that Hange and Kobo followed her up, to verify for themselves the unfolding situation.

When they landed on top, they saw the situation. Mikasa was in disbelief; there was Eren, his Titan deteriorating, open and exposed on the nape, laying along the vestige of water and land. Even if she could rush over there, Titans littered the nearby Walls–some even en route to Eren’s general direction. The sheer quantity of Titans outside dwarfed compared to those on the inside. Different sizes, different elevations of attack… A risk too great to take. But her heart yearned for her to rescue him by any means necessary.

“Is this one yours?” Kubo asked, nudging to the decaying Titan.

“Yes. Eren Jaeger is able to transform into a Titan with complete control.” Hange explained. Kubo nodded, seemingly unfazed by the explanation. It was then the burly man adjusted his wrist, speaking into a transceiver.

“This is Kubo. Code ZZ, we have one personnel in Titan territory. Rescue dispatch, over.”

A crackle came to life. “Code ZZ confirmed, we are on our way.” The voice was male, but it was one Mikasa didn’t know.

“Now we just wait,” Kubo said calmly.

“For how–” Before Mikasa could even complete her statement, the sudden audible “Wows” from the Scouts below caught their collective attention. Just as they peered down the inner wall, blurry streaks zipped past them–faster than speeding bullets, the blue and pink lines of energy hovered above them. Mikasa could barely perceive humanoid frames within them, but next thing she registered was them darting straight ahead.

Towards the fallen dock.

To Eren.

*****

Zilla shook off his concussion to the sight of his allies in unmistakable peril.

He opened his eyes in full just in time to watch the Colossal Titan fall back, pinning both robots under his bulk before engulfing them from sight in a great eruption of steam. The chill that went down the iguana’s spine very nearly paralyzed him on the spot, knowing from first hand experience what was going on.

They desperately needed aid. They needed something that could help them turn the tide of the battle, shift the balance of power back in their favor.

They needed…

It hit him. Like a wave against a tide pool rock, it just struck his brain.

Internally swearing that this was not abandonment, that he would most assuredly return, Zilla took off running. Five hundred miles per hour, his weary legs carried him; across the desolate battlefield where the massacred corpses of his comrades lay scattered about him. Peguila, Black Moth, the bisected Baragon, the impaled amalgamate that was once Varan and Gudon…

The Lizard King stopped.

A particular body lay chest down on the ruined, rain-soaked earth; its brown-furred body missing its once-noble head. Here, the great corpse of King Kong lay in his final resting place, the mere sight of his body ripping further an already bleeding gash in Zilla’s heart. A once great king who ruled a kingdom of monsters with a perfect balance of might and kindness… now another victim of the Colossal Titan’s wrathful hunger for bloodshed.

Yet still clutched in his hand, was exactly the object Zilla was looking for.

Kneeling low to the body, the Champion of New York uttered a low, whale-like groan; a fond farewell to the King of Skull Island.

Before, with the utmost care, he took the fallen king’s axe in his boxy jaws.

Turning about face and placing the object on the ground in front of him, the mutant squamate jumped straight to business. Light streaking across his dorsal spines, a blast of atomic fire erupted from his jaws to bathe the blade of the weapon in its full fury. Ten seconds turned to thirty, and thirty to a minute as the blade’s former jade luminosity was reborn anew; until eventually the glow was so bright that the blade itself could no longer be seen, for it now resembled a miniature star. A development which made Zilla’s eyes narrow.

Good.

It was exactly what he wanted.

Taking the handle back into his jaws, the lizard took back off running. Given his extraordinary speed, it didn’t take him long to cross the distance and gain proximity back with the cataclysmic combat at hand. And as he quickly perceived, he arrived just in the nick of time; Jet Jaguar was down, and Jet Jaguar FMT was currently fighting a losing battle trying to avoid the rampaging Titan Shifter.

And both of them were terribly damaged, and their weaponry all but lost…

The Champion of H.E.A.T. growled, taking a step forward with eyes narrowed in a savage glare.

It was time to sound off.

Flexing his neck muscles, the irradiated iguana took his chances and threw Kong’s axe at the android with a mammoth bellow. Through a mix of his aim being true and Jet Jaguar FMT’s reaction timing, Zilla’s ultimate plan manifested to fruition as the robot swerved to exactly the right position, and caught the glowing axe in his grappler hands.

And with a twirl so graceful so as to impress a ninja, swung it.

Out of nothing but pure reactive instinct, Kubal held his arm up to shield himself; but it was entirely for naught. With his armor hardly even present, there was no contest as the axe cleaved half his arm right off—and sliced straight through his neck just as effortlessly.

The head of the Colossal Titan went flying off its body like a soccer ball.

A heart-pounding desperation hijacking the iguana’s body, Zilla ran forward the very moment the giant’s skull left its neck. This may very well be it; the sole, single chance remaining to destroy the source of the killer, and end the Colossal Titan’s threat once and for all. There was not a second to waste, not a mile per hour to withhold, and above all importance Zilla could not miss…

Clambering to his feet despite his terrible condition, the Jet Jaguar of Zilla’s universe ran alongside him, fully intent on aiding the squamate in his unmistakable objective…

Wheels a-whirring, Jet Jaguar FMT sped right after them, knowing just as well that this truly could be their only shot…

From the half-nape of the prone, still-standing body, a minuscule form abruptly shot out with a burst of gore like an organic bullet. And even with its nigh-insignificant size, all three giants could hear its loud, guttural cry of rage.

A roar of distress thundering from Zilla’s jaws, the Lizard King leaped at the ejected human; an action shared by Jet Jaguar, his own hands outstretched to catch the source of all this terror. So close, they were so close—!

—and mere inches from Zilla’s glowing maw, Kubal slammed his teeth upon his wrist in a savage bite.

By the time the iguana realized what had just happened, a sudden burst of light, infernal heat and unholy hellfire overtook the three defenders in a mile-echoing BANG.

 

Chapter 16: Hope in a Despairingly Long Nightmare

He felt sleepless, yet was sound asleep all the same, a wave of dreams and nightmares washing over him. What he was bearing witness to, he didn’t fully comprehend. Eren slowly lost cognitive function, feeling his mind and body slip into the river of swelling thoughts. They all acclimated to his memories–but deep down, he knew what he saw was merely part of a long dream.

But that was when he saw him–Kubal. But it wasn’t the one he knew. Long before the dictator with the gray buzz cut was a much younger man with a jet black variant of his same haircut. Orange beams illuminated the counter of the yatai, with the night Shibuya sky surrounding them with flashy neon signs and late-shift office lights. The after scent of takoyaki and grilled seafood was potent, with the food mostly gone and several beers downed. The chef was preparing to close for the night, with them as the last two there. Azusa stared intently at him. They hooked together, holding hands across from each other. A question lingered in her mind, one she had been trying to pry out of him for a while.

“Honey, when are we ever going to meet your parents?” Azusa asked with gentle disposition. Every time she tried to nudge him with his family life, Kubal was always reluctant to spill the beans. But now with the buzz of alcohol flowing through their blood, maybe he’d finally open up. The more she thought about it too, he had never uttered his family name. He was always just ‘Kubal’–and a force to be reckoned with, at that. They had been seeing each other for a few months already, but she was eager to learn more about her mystery man. Pick at him piece by piece…

“I, wha?” Kubal said in a drunken stupor, “I don’t think there’s anything to learn about.” His next few sentences trailed into indiscernible gibberish. But what came next was what she was looking for. “Jun Zaizen is dead to me.”

Zaizen? Kubal Zaizen. She kept that note to herself as he continued his ramblings.

“The old man would always say there are always just two types of people. You’re either the one throwing it, or the one taking it!” Clenched fists slammed against the countertop, no doubt from him recalling his troubled past. Checked out in her mind. When Kubal had saved her from a sex pest, the dirty pervert had been left abandoned in an alleyway with an inflicted testicular rupture when Kubal was done with him. A man true to his word.

And she found that intriguing.

“What ever happened to him?” Azusa persisted.

“Left to rot. Consequences caught up with him. His lesson was the only thing he gave to me.” He leaned back, letting his body sag–but refusing to let go of her hand, swaying back and forth as they held tight. “I don’t even remember my mother. Not anymore.” Azusa scooted over, situating the chair so she could lean against him. Feel his radiating warmth as her face burned red hot, and her mind hummed with booze. He murmured her name as he drifted into a sleep-like daze. “Remind me when that day comes…”

She listened intently.

“…To take your family name. I don’t wish to be remembered as something as weak as a Zaizen…” Her heart fluttered. She knew, even in her lucid state, the proposal was farther off. But the idea he entertained was certainly unorthodox. Azusa continued to listen, heeding his wish for the future. “Let me be strong.”

Azusa muttered quietly. “Of course.”

And they rested that night.

…

Before he could fully register, Eren’s vision began to blur. A torment of regrets and unfulfilled wishes hung in his heart. These feelings had been his, but they were hers as well. Another flash, and he saw the man known as Kubal holding a baby in his arms. Rocked gently, back and forth as he hummed to the little one.

“You are my little Titan,” Kubal murmured to the infant. She had fallen in love with him all over again.

A few years later, the baby had grown into a little girl. She became sick, hospitalized for weeks on end until she could no longer return home. Their arguments escalated, the heated debates leaving them wounded by the end. No physical scars, but the emotional ones took so much longer to heal.

A professor helped her through those times. Goro Ibuki and his robot companion. As Kubal searched for medical help, Azusa worked the days and stayed with Nariko on most nights. And even when he had found someone, his absence made the strenuous wait all the more painful. Nariko was fading. Every time she tried to contact Kubal, there was nothing. But when Goro let it slip about the Titan Program, she’d finally confront Kubal about the cure to their daughter’s ailment… But the last thing she expected was for him to destroy the world to save their only child.

And that marked the last time Azusa Kunimura was a human being. Before she lived through her longest nightmare. She was left to wander, acting on cannibalistic instinct, consuming humans one by one. Their souls resonated, seeking to consume them to fill her body with the flowing life she once had. Eventually, she had been lured and trapped deep in a silo… Starved for souls, she only rummaged through the nothing, leaving only her and Titan Nariko in the lonely pit. That was, until a man splattered at the bottom, separated from his stretcher. And she took that opportunity, waking up into the world… neither fully human nor fully Titan.

But a monster with the resolve to see it through to the end. “For Nariko.”

Everything spiraled further the longer this went on. Muffled stamping echoed in his ears, but Eren couldn’t do a thing about it aside from drift into the abyss of memories… The tunnel manifested as a branch, all connected to a blistering, sprawling tree of great luminance… and high above, a void in the center of a silver moon. Before he could comprehend it, his mind snapped away to another moment in time.

It all became white.

A familiar place, with sand in a boxed room. It was smooth and silky, an idyllic paradise for self-indulgent pleasure. Eren knew this room. But the vision he saw, on the other side, was himself clad in white. He stared at his living memory in disbelief before turning away, clasping at the wall’s edge. It was then he heard his words drip from his counterpart’s mouth.

“How long will this continue?”

Eren trembled in self-doubt. Had he been holding onto those regrets for that long? He knew those words were not meant for him, but rather the one he had spoken with so long ago, whose eyes he was viewing this from. But even then, it felt like a directed message, and it terrified him. Before he could linger in this moment any longer, the vibrations in his body began to wrack up. Another flash, and it shifted to a moment upon the Walls. A transformation into a Titan, hoisting the bomb and scaling up the Wall.

Directly for Kubal, the Colossal Titan.

And another message left for him. “Live a future of your own making… Eren.” He saw as he came face to face with the Colossal, bearing the weight of his sins on his shoulders. Then, ramming the bomb into the Titan’s gaping mouth, he squeezed the fuse–

–and it exploded.

—

A sudden rush of air filled his lungs, screaming to awaken himself up from the swirl of memories. Vapor clouds surrounded Eren on all sides, bound by the fleshy cushion of his Titan’s nape. He struggled and tore through the thick membranes, yanking himself out of the pocket he was stashed in. Muscle strands snapped as he climbed out, only to see shadows approaching him from every direction. He needed to regain his breath, his stamina before igniting another transformation.

But would the Titans allow him such leeway?

Before he could take action, surging streaks slammed into a couple of nearby Titans, knocking the wind out of them effortlessly. Eren was stunned at the sight. ‘What the hell was that?’ Like speeding bullets, the blue and pink streaks circled around him rapidly, clearing up the mist around them. They only slowed down once their power–or whatever they were using–faded. Their appearance became all the more evident; from what he could tell, both were distinctly adults donned in superhero garb. Silver-claded warriors in blue and pink, each wearing a face veil and helmets adorned with distinct antennae. Pulling weapons from their holsters, the two warriors began firing maser blasts at the incoming swarm, blasting apart the faces of the Titans.

“What… the hell is going?” Eren murmured in disbelief. It was then the warrior clad in pink approached him, keeping the Titans at pay with her supergun.

“We were deployed to rescue you.” She reached her hand out. “My name is Hotaru Sakimori, or Zone Angel if you prefer.” She gestured to the other warrior wrapped in blue and silver, “And that is Akira, or Zone–”

“Fighter!” Akira called out, spinning and maneuvering out of harm’s way from the ravenous Titans.

“Okay, Junior,” Angel teased. Although reluctant, Eren took her hand as she pulled him to his feet. “Our allies are currently helping your compatriots escape this prison.” Hotaru pointed towards the Wall, Eren noticing the gargantuan spaceship docked behind the giant structure. “Your people are currently boarding Pandora as we speak. My question to you is, do you think you can help us?”

Eren reflected on the question, recalling his last decision before falling into the unconscious. He had learned the inherited instincts of Azusa’s Titan, and now the power to fight Kubal was more than in his grasp! He flexed his fingers, letting the moment slow to a crawl. Was it what he truly wanted? The words of his friends and acquaintances sprung to mind, compounding him with what he needed to do, with the recency of Monique sticking out to him.

“I trust you will do the right thing, no matter what it takes.”

And the right thing was the choice he was going to enforce.

“I can,” Eren replied firmly. “If I focus on eliminating the Titans here, there will be more hands to help with the evacuation proceedings. It may not be long before these outer Titans flood the gaps and overwhelm our forces on the inside. However, Titanization requires some distance. Back away and help your comrades.”

Hotaru nodded in understanding. But she said assuredly, “Your comrades are our comrades, too. Don’t forget that.” She turned to address her brother. “Junior! Back away, stat!”

“Stop calling me that!” Akira whined. With that, both heroes flew off. He didn’t question how on earth humans could fly, if they were even humans at all. But as soon as he thought it was safe, he bit down. Blood ruptured from his hand, igniting the bloody ritual once more. Lightning danced around him, as a whirlwind of heat and wind erupted from the spot where he stood. His Titan body was constructed from thin air, materializing in a new form. It still resembled the Attack Titan he had always used, but now its rough skin was replaced with the gleam of alabaster armor, his tuft of black hair sprouting from the head. He embellished in his super-sized state, knowing it was the best shot at dealing with the small ones.

The armor-plated Attack Titan began his assault with a well-placed stomp, crushing the smaller Titans underfoot. Bending down, he swiped more off their feet, scattering them away. His newfound armor made it easy to shred the landscape with his bare hands. Even the larger Titans turned to face the new and improved Attack Titan, lunging for him in a monstrous sprint.

But Eren was ready. Thrusting his hand like a spear, Eren tore through the neck of the rampaging super giant, pulling and squeezing what had once been its nape. Its lifeless body collapsed, incidentally crushing other smaller Titans in the process.

He bellowed a roar, a challenge to all the Titans present. A lure to bring all the Titans to him, to shoulder the burden he had put off for so long. He smashed and stamped the life out of the swarm, even as their numbers increased exponentially. Their teeth could do nothing to tear through the crystalized armor. Even if it wore him out to the point of exhaustion, even if this slaughter lasted forever… It was the future he decided for himself. Even if it meant he forfeited his fight with Kubal, that was more than fine if it meant the protection of those that mattered the most.

His friends. The mission. Those were more important now than his selfish wish. And against the immortal Kubal, was it even guaranteed he’d win in the end? He began to doubt that he could. Sometimes running away was the better option. Eren only wished he had seen that sooner.

As the Titan-slaughter commenced, a sudden flash of light shone from the distance. It was just like before, no doubt signaling that Kubal still had more than enough fight in him. Though Eren knew he could withstand the incoming shockwave, with all the Scouts and the big ship protected by Wall Sotono, it still instilled a sense of unease. The chance that Kubal would win was a very real possibility.

Even so, there was more than one way to fight. And he’d see through that to the bitter end.

*****

Hellfire and brimstone tattered the ruined city of outer Monzen. Jet Jaguar saw as his counterpart was flung off his wheels, the immense power and shockwaves applying tremendous pressure. He and Zilla only endured because they had means of keeping low to the ground and holding tight. When the rumble died down, Jet Jaguar saw the infernal cloud rising into the air, warping around in that distinct mushroom shape.

At its burning heart stood the shadow of the devil.

The Colossal Titan stepped free from the core of his fire, with the regenerated human underneath scrambling for the vial. When he had been decapitated, his upper torso had popped completely; had it not been for him scrambling his Titan’s nervous system, death certainly would’ve claimed him. It saved his life all the way back during the duel at Mt. Mihara… Fortunately, his lower torso–where he had stored it, tight and snug–barely avoided the incident. There was reason to continue.

And his eyes found its first target.

Much to the mild confusion of Jet Jaguar, he saw as the Colossal began taking steps not to either of them. But in a second, he realized what his first target was–a weapon that had been a thorn in Kubal’s hide throughout this battle. Likely having lost grip of it during Kubal’s revival, the battle axe had long since lost its fuel. With a few, heavy steps, the Colossal Titan began to reinforce armor around his soles, battering the titanic weapon under his heel. With each stomp, the weapon fractured, and before they knew it, it shattered into an explosion of ethereal jades and blues–dispensing the residual radiation that lingered within it, snuffing out its light.

Jet Jaguar scrambled, but found the energy cells sapped out of him. His desperate screeches to move fell on deaf ears as he bore witness to Kubal’s next target.

The charred lizard withstood the brunt of the blast, but even that may have not been the wisest move on his part. His regeneration tried to mend for the burns, but time was a necessity to be back in peak physical condition–something the heroic creature knew the kaiju killer wouldn’t give him. His best bet was to escape beneath the earth, maybe tunnel a path to the nearby ocean. As his waning strength tried to claw through the ruined brimstone, a sharp tug ensured that he wasn’t going to escape to the embrace of the crust.

With every chance Zilla tried to resist, he felt the massive pull from the superheated nephilim. A firm grasp on his tail, the reptilian theropod could only shriek as he was swung overhead, his reverse-finned spines embedding into the ruins upon impact, trapping him in place. Before he could move out of his stunned state, the boxy foot of the Colossal Titan mounted on Zilla’s calves, the immediate pressure nearly breaking bone. The wails of the flailing animal echoed, which only intensified as Kubal added heat to his palms, searing the reptilian skin around the lithe appendage. The base of the tail began to tear, the outermost layer of skin first, followed by the fat reserves, then the muscle…

The humanoid robot smashed the ground with his fists, charging all his limited reserves into one shot. He couldn’t afford to lose him!

But Kubal uttered a low, hallowing chuckle. Shame he couldn’t have enjoyed this more…

Anchoring his armored foot, a sickening crack splintered Zilla’s leg. Bone jutted from the wound, nearly splitting the reptile’s foot from the rest of his body. Before Zilla could even cry in agony, the disgusting shlurp of his separated tail ushered a wheezing that took the breath out of him. An agonizing cry that was heard across the battlefield that induced a shiver to all present–all, except Kubal.

Cruel and ruthless, Kubal heralded his merciless philosophy over his head, letting the squirming and spastic tail of the Champion of H.E.A.T. dangle. Even if Zilla had sustained serious injury, Jet Jaguar knew his life could still be saved. Mustering everything into his flight capability, the metal man rammed his entire mass into the hulking giant, bouncing off of him and regaining his footing. Much to his surprise, perhaps it may have been the torque behind his attack, the armor-plated Colossal Titan was sent careening into the monolithic wall. Time was of the essence, they had to scram NOW.

Using the chance allotted, Jet Jaguar stumbled to his fallen comrade. The missing tail stole his dignity, his shattered leg may have been well beyond repair–amputation might be a requirement. The squamate mutation was in a state of catatonic shock, but still alive. Pulling him out of the embedded earth, Jet Jaguar hoisted his ally atop him. Sprouting his antennae, Jet Jaguar took flight of his own volition, they couldn’t afford to hold off any longer. However those evacuation procedures were going, he had to take it in good faith they’d be able to hold their own…

—

Kubal was infuriated. He saw that pest coming, yet didn’t have the time to react. No matter. Stripping the dignity out of a creature that was a thorn in his side was good enough. Without problem, he rose to his titanic feet, seeing the enemy flee. Cowards, the lot. But when he swerved and saw what aligned Wall Sotono, it was both what he expected… and didn’t take delight in.

The first was the massive ship; he wondered where that came from. But closer inspection with a squint rang a familiar sense of unease… That ship! Its structure was reminiscent of the one that hauled the denizens of Monzen back in the early years of the outbreak. That stole potential candidates to save his daughter’s precious life… Now it was back, bigger than ever before. He knew of the Survey Corps and their evacuation scheme, but now it seemed they were all in on this… Ghosts of his past coming to haunt him.

His eyes veered to the other side, parallel to him. There stood the distinguished Attack Titan. It mauled and massacred every Titan that stood in his way. But there was something different; gone was the rugged flesh that gave the Jaeger Titan its form, but now shined with the gleaming armor that once belonged to Azusa. He knew she had her concerns about the horde, but they were meant to overwhelm Eren and devour him–so that they could take the host that spawned in their place and feed them to his little Titan. But the way the Attack Titan fought, how it went against his plan… And with no inclination of returning to him, Kubal knew the conclusion already.

Azusa lost, and Eren stole her power.

He clenched his fist in a rage. For as much shit he gave her, threatened her, fought with her… She was the one soul that understood him. His intentions, his ambitions, especially when they both had something to lose. He was remorseful of her loss. Errors could always be corrected, but once death reaped what it sowed, there was no coming back from that.

…Then he’d have it no more. This ended NOW.

He still had the virus. So long as he held onto that, then he could afford to dispense of the scraps. If Eren survived, then that’d be one vessel to bring back to feed. If he didn’t, it no longer mattered as long as there was another universe to purge. None of these people mattered, like Hell he’d let them live while his daughter suffered. His building rage started with a glow from the stomach, a light steam exerting from his body as it climbed upwards, funneling into his mouth. Heat radiated from the surrounding jaws.

He’d kill them all. Every. Last. One of them.

*****

It all burned and warped. Weapons stripped of their function, his efforts against Kubal proved futile. As the explosive blast sent him hurtling away, his landing was nothing short of rough. The inertia rolled the rotund machine along the ground, scattering whatever equipment he had left. The remains of the rotor pack shattered upon impact, his industrial rollers crumbling from the tremendous force, the Mega Missile gear that had already been rendered obsolete melted even further.

Everything he ever had, gone in a flash once more. Now his new friends and compatriots were at stake as well, left to face the wrath of the Colossal Titan… Provided they still had the will to move.

He crashed against the sturdy structure that upheld the portal. Loose rock covered him in an avalanche, burying the machine against the cliffside. Pressure built and mounted, denting the metal of his exo-body. Errors rang through FMT’s mind like sirens, running diagnostics and repairing programs and functionality. Everything had been rendered inoperable, except for the Harvey and one operating Maser Blade. Even so, clear damage was sustained to one of the wheels. Purging would be required for this giant body to escape from its entrapment.

Or perhaps, finally step out.

Click.

The chest grating shoveled the mound out of the way, revealing the innards of the exo-body. A silver hand gripped the side, pulling himself out of the compartment. Dulled and desaturated from deterioration showed its scars. Although the overcharge stunt from Randy balanced his internal core, he was still rugged and warped from the last encounter with Kubal all that time ago. He stood there, idle and unsure. Even worse than the pressure built around his downgrade, he felt it in his artificial heart. A feeling he despised most, yet rang true to his heart.

A failure.

He failed to protect humankind when the Wraith virus took hold. Had he turned back and fought Kubal right then and there, then he might have prevented this cataclysmic disaster. He failed Goro, not able to find a cure or reverse his Titanization. A failure of a Jet Jaguar, he was. And now, his new companions were going to suffer for his actions. He should have taken action sooner to exterminate Kubal right then and there…

The agonizing screams of Zilla only reinforced the sentiment.

But what was he to do?

The glimmering presence lingered behind him, turning his eyes towards the portal that played a vital role in the congregation here. Kubal’s advances to destroy another world, the strangers displaced here, the mass evacuation by the Scouts… His chance at seeing Goro again. Part of him just wanted to fly through that portal right now, see Goro once more before the cruel inevitability of Kubal’s terror reigns upon the other world…

Or he could put a stop to it.

Cameras scanned the crystalline structures, feeding power to the ebbing rift. To ensure Kubal’s operations came to a screeching halt, there was no other choice but to destroy them. He only hoped his allies–provided they were still alive–would use this chance to rush and escape. He’d use what little of himself there was left to stave off Kubal until the portal closed. After that, his life didn’t matter. He could at least cease functioning knowing he thwarted Kubal’s goal. Knowing that he’d at least join his Goro in whatever laid beyond death–even if it was nothing.

He climbed the steep slope towards the sprawling crystals, and without holding back, began to smash. Fists shattered the hardened, otherworldly minerals, sparks of alien energy rupturing from them. His body absorbed the overflow, only fueling his anguish even more. The portal held firm, so he knew that signaled more of the crystals had to be undone. His relentless destruction empowered him with each structure broken, in which the black rift began to waver. A burning meter rose the more he destroyed, but if it meant Kubal would be trapped here, unable to bring about the end of another world, then he’d do it.

But then another option presented itself to him.

As his fist shattered another alien crystal, he felt a spark ignite in him. His body composition began swelling, his metal skin radiating burning hot. Crimson rings patterned throughout his body, the once dulled red shimmered with a fiery glow. He felt his size grow against his will, achieving an exponential increase in a short period of time. A transformation into something beyond Jet Jaguar… Into something new. Even if his assessment had only ever been adjacent, the guilt never left him. But now he carried the responsibility of his burden in his hand.

The power to beat Kubal.

He turned away, leaving the warbling portal be. He’d put it to chance that they’d make it through. Even if he didn’t… He’d give Kubal absolute hell. And this newfound power, he’d give it a name…

He clenched his fists and took his first heavy step forward, steaming as he did.

The Full Metal Titan.

 

Chapter 17: The Adjacent Devil and the Adjacent Titan

They had given their farewells to the Scouts before the connection was reduced to static. The Bell operated as needed, its blades whirling and still plenty of gas, even after their venture into Mount Fuji. They had taken a longer route, circling above the waters and hills of Japan’s coast to avoid the destructive inland fighting. Much to Monique’s surprise, Randy hadn’t been as talkative after their departure, no doubt thoughts from recent events weighing down on him.

Even those that smile the brightest always had something kept to themselves.

So she decided to speak up.

“You okay, Randy?”

Snapping out of his indifferent trance, Randy perked up. “Oh, um… Guess so. Can’t see anything going on with that crazy mushroom cloud there.” No matter what he said, she could hear the reservation in his voice, something he was holding back. He stopped rambling for a moment, letting his thoughts collect.

“Okay look, Monique, I gotta ask,” Randy scrutinized, “I get where you were coming from… But recommending a man to kill another person through cannibalism is not a good look. What would Nick think?”

“I don’t think you understand, the world these people inhabit is cruel. If you were in the Secret Service, you’d understand,” she explained firmly. “Nick would never agree with the circumstances, but this place is not ours to make those kinds of calls. If there’s pragmatic information to share, then they should know it’s available to them. How they use it is entirely up to them after that.”

“I get that to a point, but it’s still… Gross,” he muttered in disgust.

“And? What would you have done about it?” she stated bluntly.

He pondered, unsure of himself. “I don’t know.”

“The most optimal choices aren’t always the easiest to swallow, and not everyone is ready to make that leap into the messy moral greys…” She knew where Randy came from. Sure, he had a lot to learn, but his energetic youth kept morale high amidst their chaotic adventures and world-ending calamities. “Better?” she asked.

“A good bit, at least getting those feelings off my chest did a lot,” Randy sighed in relief.

“And that’s important, too. It’s always important to let your feelings out to whoever’s willing to listen.”

Randy nudged. “You got anything to say? Lay it on me!”

“No,” she shot back.

“Phooey.” It seemed Randy was regaining some of his spirit back, much to Monique’s mental relief. Even if he was grating or yapped too much, things wouldn’t be the same without him. But before either of them knew it, they heard the blood curdling cry of Zilla somewhere amidst the heavy, lingering clouds…

Monique felt it for the both of them as their hearts sank.

“No…” Randy uttered in despair. Even Monique felt her breath stifle. She knew Zilla didn’t stand a chance against the Colossal, it felt like nothing did… But was this mission going to slip out of her grasp so easily? More importantly… To lose another valued member of H.EA.T. to these rifts was heart-breaking, to put it mildly.

Carnage and movement shuffled somewhere in those dark clouds, but Monique could only focus on the journey ahead. Fortunately, out of the outermost diameter came Jet Jaguar, with the body of Zilla in tow. But the ghastly sight perturbed even her. It wasn’t long before Randy broke down into a jumble of pleading words only she could audibly hear. Begging for the life of their reptilian companion to be saved, a rambling of his different nicknames until he landed on the one he held dearest to his heart, one he shouted with all his breath.

“GODZILLAAAAAA!!”

As the portal came closer into view, Monique’s eyes widened at the sight before her. Along the basin was the giant robotic shell of Jet Jaguar FMT, the chest compartment opened where they stuffed the ruined body… Then what on Earth was she looking at?

—

He saw the glistening glow of the black portal pulse from a distance. His camera lenses noticed a disturbance, however. Shattered crystals around the base of the edge, which in turn was destabilizing the integrity of the rift. Before Jet Jaguar could ponder any further, he saw the remains of his counterpart–the exo-body pushed against the cliffside, buried. More importantly was the opened chest cavity. A realization that hit him all too well when the pieces started falling together…

…When he saw the red mass that lurked nearby.

Its gait bore an uncanny resemblance to the Colossal Titan, each footfall stamping the terrain into the ground, which sizzled from the heat it produced. The glowing patterns, the web-like cracks on his head, and the crimson eyes of the Jet Jaguar doppelgänger told him everything he needed to know. And it terrified him beyond belief. The last time his databank recalled anything possessing this raw power was SpaceGodzilla before his lifeline was cut.

Was he going to turn on them?

His auditory senses detected vibrations from nearby. Jet Jaguar twisted and saw the Bell 412, possessing the two operators he had come into this hellish universe with. From within the cabin, he could hear the vocalization of Randy’s screams, calling for the name of the near-dead companion he carried on his shoulders. Not just the name he was sanctioned with, but the one the family of this reptile knew all too well. He even saw Monique’s expression shift, her usual stoicism breaking seeing the mangled body of Zilla. But both human eyes glued to the giant red metal man as soon as they registered it.

Jet Jaguar braced himself for the worst…

But the humanoid’s arms slumped to the side, only one raised up to his side, pointing directly at the deteriorating portal. And the following screech all but confirmed it. GO.

The searing supergiant took his steps forth, displacing the earth beneath with his added weight. Jet Jaguar turned to the helicopter, gesturing to them to enter first. But a fierce swiping from Monique issued him to go through first, and that they’d follow suit. Jet Jaguar had no qualms with that, taking flight and entering the destabilizing portal. He trusted Monique and Randy would be following soon after.

As for his counterpart… He didn’t know what to expect. Before he did, a spark of electricity thrumped the air… But its source he didn’t register. Maybe it was the crystals? Or maybe the android’s discarded husk? Quickly disregarding it, he leapt into the portal–back to the home he missed oh so dearly.

To return to Goro Ibuki, at long last.

—

The weight of his guilt pressed on him. Every footfall taken broke the foundation of the land he stood on. But each step followed up to a gradual sprint, chugging along with the added mass. For the first time in ages, his antennae sprouted, allowing the Full Metal Titan to sustain flight. There were no thoughts but a programmed sense of rage. This alien energy interfaced with his soul like nothing else ever had… Even if it didn’t draw from the source of power the Titans did, the adjacent Titan was still going to muster everything he could.

Give Kubal every bit of hell back to him that he had inflicted on the world. To the people he cared about most. He believed in a better future for the new friends he made. But his was undetermined, an unfolding path full of strife and terror… Whether there was peace at the end, he didn’t know. But if stopping Kubal was what it took, then he had no choice but to embrace his full fury.

Until the bitter end.

*****

Eren threw every last fist he could, even as the Titans ganged up on him. He flared in fury, bearing the burden. He smashed the ones behind him to the ground, pulverizing him with his body. Even the Zones flew overhead, firing off laser beams for their helmets, aiding him in his battle against the swarming Titans. But as he got up, a monstrous howl from the distance took his attention away, his eyes widened in fear. He knew that cry from anywhere… Kubal. Even from a distance, his gargantuan form struck terror, and in that there was no doubt his intention. His mouth glowed in a brightening light, a miniature star that threatened to snuff the lives out of them…

There was nothing they could do.

Eren braced himself, knowing he could only protect himself with the new layer of armor propagated from the previous Armored Titan host. The collective screams of the evacuees broke out from the other side, no doubt they too saw the horrors about to transpire. The Zones shot down towards the people, hidden behind Wall Sotono. How this was going to turn out wasn’t going to end well…

But then, a miracle…

—

Fire dripped from the Colossal’s maw, the accumulated heat rupturing into eager flames, waiting to wash all his past transgressions clean in one fell swoop. His energy built up to burn everything to cinders… Then at the moment of discharge, a large body walloped into him. Pushed by the tremendous heave, both the Colossal Titan and the immense force shattered through Wall Sotono, scattering brick and debris through the sky. The large body continued its push, dragging the armored Colossal Titan onto the earth, carving an entire trench as they moved along.

At the moment of impact, he dispelled his burning heat, lancing out as a mix of fire and steam. But he was left with no choice but to use it all up. Before he could direct his face to his attacker, large metal hands gripped his armor-enforced cranium, ensuring that he had nowhere to aim it. But the output of his superheated breath caused the visage of the attacker’s right side to melt. Even so, his charged breath weapon expired, allowing Kubal direct control once more. Reaching his hands, he grappled with the super-sized metal humanoid and forcibly turned him to the ground, where they both collided and erupted in a wall of dust, rock, and steam.

The forcible stop sent both of them flying. By the time he regained footing, Kubal saw the glowing Jet Jaguar in front of him. This was the one he had despised so abhorrently. And so too was his nemesis ready.

The last line of defense for both of them.

…And thus began the clash of the Titans.

Jet Jaguar FMT didn’t bother waiting or standing around; he was on the offensive in the blink of an eye. Twirling as he ran forward, the fiery android jutted both fists upward and smashed them into Kubal’s jaw—and unlike most physical blows the Titan Shifter had sustained prior, this dual punch hurt like hell. The Colossal Titan growled as he was sent staggering back, but his opponent did not give him a moment of reprieve.

Running forward, the Full Metal Titan punched the kaiju killer across the face with one fist, then seized his head with both hands and thrust him face-first into his knee. An organic CRACK split the air as cartilage cracked and muscle bent from the sheer power of the hit, which was soon joined by another when the glowing robot kicked Kubal up the jaw with all his might.

Opting to keep in close quarters combat, Burning Jet Jaguar ran closer still and lashed out with both feet—which were seized in place by a furious hand, stopping the droid in his tracks. Eyes furrowed in a rageful glare, the Colossal Titan hurled the Full Metal Titan over his head, smashing him face-first onto the ground behind him.

A deafening bellow echoing from his jaws, Kubal stomped towards the recovering robot. The burning automaton rolled onto his back just in time for the nephilim to sock him across the face, sending sparks and embers flying into the air. Sneering viciously, the Colossal Titan landed yet another punch to the android’s mug, followed swiftly by yet another that was even more powerful. Rearing his fist back, the murderer threw it down…

…and a glowing metal hand caught it with an echoing CLANG, stopping it.

Yanking the offending hand to the side, Jet Jaguar FMT lunged up to slam his cranium into Kubal’s face with a cartilage-splitting headbutt. Capitalizing on the giant’s recoil, the burning android sent him further back with a kick to the head before returning standing.

Unlike before, the Titan Shifter recovered considerably quicker; back on the defensive as the Full Metal Titan attacked. A glowing leg jutted up in an attempted kick, which Kubal caught with one hand—only for Jet Jaguar FMT to smash his fingers with his elbow and punch the side of his face in quick succession.

Roaring in equal parts pain and rage, the Colossal Titan thrust a balled fist at the robot’s face, but the android held his arms up to block the strike before throwing a punch of his own. But he was not the only combatant quick on the draw, and the widowed dictator caught the fist with one hand before successfully landing a punch to the cranium with the other—

—while at the exact same time, the burning automaton’s foot struck him square in the jaw.

As both colossi staggered from one another, a jade glow started to encompass Burning Jet Jaguar’s hands. It was an entirely new development to the android; the skyrocketing levels of energy coursing through his body had unlocked properties never before seen.

Properties that tapped much deeper into his existence than just the physical realm.

It was the energy of the soul that his ‘Critical Mass’ allowed him to access: the power of his Mana, the energy that encompassed all living things. Taking the potential of that Mana, and allowing him to channel that energy into sound vibrations. Vibrations so powerful, they were packed with more than just sheer auditory force…

The emerald glow of his hands shone brighter with every second, until with a robotic screech the Full Metal Titan slammed his hands together. A reddish-purple blast of energy flew forth, taking Kubal by full force. An explosion that humbled the sound barrier tore from the impact as the Colossal Titan was sent flying back, chunks of his rock-hard armor blown off his midsection to scatter like bark dust.

As he began to lift himself off the desolate ground, Kubal gazed upon the burning android with broadened eyes. He had little idea where that attack had come from, and what power it held! So mighty so as to breach his armor with little effort, all in a single hit.

Steam started to wisp off the dictator’s body, his left hand wiping a trickle of blood off his torn, healing cheek.

As if this robot was the only one to possess such power in the hands…

Pushing off with his leg muscles, Kubal broke into a sprint; Burning Jet Jaguar dashing to meet him. An abrupt burst of steam leaped forth from the nephilim’s body as he neared; but in the robot’s critical state it was of no effect to Jet Jaguar FMT, who just rushed right through it to smack into Kubal with a booming impact. The Colossal Titan suppressed the desire to smirk.

Good. It wasn’t supposed to be.

The steam was merely a distraction for his true plan.

Two sets of hands, one flesh and the other of burning steel, smashed together as their owners began to grapple for physical control… and in the heated midst of this grappling match, the Perfect Darkness made his move.

Too late did Jet Jaguar FMT see it coming. Too late did he perceive the Titan Shifter’s right hand suddenly yanking free and curling into a fist, before throwing it right into his face.

The impact combined with the shotgun burst of steam ripped the auditory field asunder for miles all about. Even in his empowered condition, the Full Metal Titan was sent flying back like a toy, smashing to the ground only after going back a full three hundred meters. Perhaps it was his Critical Mass that allowed him to survive the hit, or maybe it was his increased size and strength. Possibly, it was a mix of both; nonetheless, it was a miracle that his head didn’t fly right off from the same attack that had destroyed King Kong’s.

But to say he was undamaged was grossly false.

His mouthpiece and left eye lens were mostly broken. The steel of his head and even neck were dented. Small fires burned on his shoulder and left upper chest.

Yet still, the Full Metal Titan lived.

And he would not waste it.

Screeching a brave war cry, Jet Jaguar FMT righted himself quickly and charged right back at Kubal, who was storming towards him with a booming caterwaul. His legs carrying him at his full speed, Burning Jet Jaguar threw punch after punch upon the Titan Shifter the very second he was within range. So suddenly and with such rapid frequency he attacked, that at first the dictator was unable to keep up. Without mercy, the android landed a series of swinging, rapid-fire punches to the murderer’s face and shoulders, hitting with such force that they dented and even cracked Kubal’s armor.

Then, mid-frenzy, the Full Metal Titan suddenly jumped and threw himself into a spinning kick. The Colossal Titan was donkey-kicked in the throat, sending him staggering back with a loud gag while Jet Jaguar FMT landed with ninjile grace. Back on the offensive in but a second, the burning automaton smashed a double-handed haymaker into the dictator’s nasal area, then threw another sock for the throat—

—which Kubal, despite his painful recoil, caught mid-punch.

Deciding that what came around went around, the nephilim smashed his elbow onto the robot’s arm, before letting go with his other hand and using it to smash his palm into his quarry’s chest at full force. At first, FMT was sent flying like last time… but this time, he adapted on the literal fly. Shifting tactics, the glowing android took flight and changed directions, barreling right into Kubal with arms outstretched.

The kaiju killer was taken right off his feet, the wind temporarily knocked out of him as Burning Jet Jaguar flew hundreds of meters up; securing his arms around the Titan Shifter in a firm, unbreakable hug as he spiraled around in a twirl.

Then, inspired by a fictional dragon from a long-lost piece of pop culture from his memory, he shifted around and shot down like a bullet.

The widowed giant was slammed face-first into the earth, sending the Richter Scale into a biblical frenzy and the Titan’s skull into a vicious headache. Merely upon landing, Burning Jet Jaguar lifted a foot as high as he could, then brought it down upon the dictator’s nape in a bone-cracking stomp. Over and over the Full Metal Titan repeated the maneuver, further cracking the armor of the killer’s nape with every blow…

Even amidst the pain in his head, Kubal noticed what was happening; the android was still going straight for his Achilles heel. The Colossal Titan attempted to push himself off the ground, instinctively set to stop this affront, only for another stomp to put him back down.

With previous foes, he could’ve redoubled his efforts and pushed them off. But Jet Jaguar FMT was not like his previous adversaries, not in this state. He was far stronger than all that preceded him, hit far harder. Hard enough to give him injuries that mattered.

A concussion. Broken cartilage.

Cracking his armor without need for an empowered weapon…

Sacrificing muscle mass be damned, he needed to get that accursed android off of him. With a powerful bellow, the Colossal Titan unleashed his steam at its highest intensity possible; the savage winds produced by its eruption successfully blew the robot away from him. His headache beginning to wear off, Kubal finally managed to rise back to his feet before ceasing his attack…

…and turned around to see Burning Jet Jaguar come barreling at him through the fog of vapor.

The knuckle sandwich the android landed shattered two of his teeth like tortilla chips—but he didn’t stop there. In a wrathful flurry of rage, the Full Metal Titan unleashed rapid, devastating punch after punch to all over the dictator’s upper body. Pieces of armor went flying with each hit; cartilage bending, cracking under the furious ferocity of the blows.

Marching ever forward, unceasing in his onslaught, Jet Jaguar FMT screeched mightily as he wailed with all his might on the bringer of the apocalypse. Crushing more armor, hammering more muscle and drawing more blood with every frenzied impact. His thoughts filled with the memories of all those whose lost lives lay on the shoulders of this madman.

Like Goro…

Even amidst the rage of his onslaught, still Jet Jaguar FMT couldn’t help but feel remorse for the tragedy of the situation. Fear of losing the light of Kubal’s life had driven him to all of this. Amidst all the agony and terror and despair inflicted upon him in his life; the threat of losing the greatest gift, one of the two only good things given to him in existence… broke him.

A life already filled with so much pain, to the point that one more blow of such soul-destroying magnitude… It was all too much for an already deeply wounded man.

Cracking armor, rippling flesh and drawing blood with each punch, sadness still stood tall in the android’s mind. The giant he currently wailed upon stood as a reminder that love, motivated by fear and pain, could drive one to do horrible things.

Even so much as to burn the world.

It was a tragedy that it had to have come to this. That they now had to fight to the finish. That there was no other outcome than the death of a broken man.

That he could no longer be helped.

Emerald-hued light began to engorge from the robot‘s hands as he continued to beat into the Titan Shifter. In time Kubal noticed, but was too occupied with the flurry of blows constantly smashing into his once-fortified form to counter. Before long, another Sound Clap burst forth from the Full Metal Titan’s hands at point blank range, blowing off armor and vaporizing flesh at a most alarming amount. Carried off his feet by the blast, the Colossal Titan howled in abject agony before crashing a full two hundred meters away.

Jet Jaguar FMT didn’t give him a moment of reprieve.

Taking a running start, the burning automaton leaped into the air before coming right down with a full-might punch—

—just as the steaming Kubal lashed out with a fist of his own.

Both punches landed at the same time. The android’s fist struck Kubal’s jaw with such force it dislocated it instantly; at the same time, the explosive roar like a shotgun split through the air as Kubal’s punch slammed into the robot’s belly emblem, sending him shooting away and crashing onto his back.

Fighting against the fresh damages they had both endured, both colossi rolled over and began to find their feet. His regenerative properties beginning their work, the Colossal Titan growled painfully as his damaged jaw snapped back into place—to say nothing of the injuries that were still in the gradual process of healing.

Burning Jet Jaguar, by contrast, had no such privileges; his damages remained prominent and sparking. Yet despite the viciousness of his wounds, the glowing android stood to his feet. For while his metal and wires may yet be damaged, his spirit remained unchanged and more empowered than ever. His steel battered and cracked in some places, fire bleeding from them, the Full Metal Titan pulled up his fists and re-assumed a combat stance.

So long as it saved those he loved, he could do this all day.

At once, both giants charged.

The collision of two great bodies meeting, one of armor and muscle and the other of burning steel, was biblical. The shockwave seemed to tear open the air itself like an invisible fissure, signaling the continuation of the duel of the millennia.

A curled fist of armored muscle slammed an uppercut into a chin of burning steel, sending sparks and fire flying before coming down with a right cross to the head. But just as quickly as he took the hit, Jet Jaguar FMT retaliated with a jab to the throat, followed by five rapid punches to the face and torso. Before he could connect a sixth, Kubal swatted the offending fist aside with one hand before socking him across the face with the other.

At first the Full Metal Titan recoiled from the blow, allowing an opening for the dictator to start pummeling him back with fury-backed punch after punch. But in time, he too mustered the strength and focus to weave out of the way of the next punch, before kneeing the Titan Shifter in the stomach and smacking him in the throat with a double-handed haymaker.

Before long Kubal recovered and plunged back into the fray, and the two combatants traded blows in an equalized fury. Blows that could shatter bone and splinter diamond wailed upon two monolithic forms of flesh and steel, rending their respective bodies further and further. Glowing metal dented and sparked, cartilage and muscle broke and tore; yet in spite of their worsening states, both giants continued to unpack all their stored ferocity.

Seemingly on a collision course with the inevitability that they would end up destroying each other.

A knee of monolithic muscle slammed into the android’s face, tearing a crack across his face and shattering more of his mouthpiece lens. Alerts went off in his vision as the damages climbed, informing him of the mounting peril he was in; but beneath that ever-denting metal, his spirit refused in any way to waver.

Even if his last moments were upon him, even if this was his final war, Jet Jaguar FMT had to see this through to the end.

Another earth-shaking punch collided with the robot’s glowing cranium, staggering him once more—but as the third punch came, he readied himself. Seizing the fist in place with his right hand, the Full Metal Titan used the position to contract his leg workings and leap right over the madman.

And land right on his shoulders.

In an instant, the burning automaton wrapped his left arm around the dictator’s neck and squeezed with all the strength it had; while with his right, he delivered punch after punch to the nephilim’s head. A booming bellow of wrath thundered from the Colossal Titan as he thrashed, flailing like an enraged horse. But no matter how hard he swung and snapped about, Burning Jet Jaguar would not yield; putting in just as much effort to hold on as his enemy did to toss him off.

Yet despite punch after punch assailing his skull, despite the droid’s sweltering body burning into his armored flesh, Kubal was not entirely out of options.

There was one tactic that entered his brain… one that he knew carried considerable, even monumental risk. But times had become desperate again—and as such the measures in question must adapt to match.

At the greatest output possible, the Perfect Darkness unleashed his burst of steam. Even despite the forceful winds that kicked up from the continuous blast, Jet Jaguar FMT only continued to cling on and keep punching.

But unfortunately for the Full Metal Titan, he failed to perceive that just like last time, it too was a ruse.

Amidst the incessant roaring of the steam, the Titan Shifter’s continued thrashing and deep billowing of the embers showering off his body, Burning Jet Jaguar didn’t even hear a third noise entering the fray: the cracking of all armor present beginning to fissure apart.

Yet such was the irony, that Kubal himself failed to notice a developing shift all his foe’s very own: Jet Jaguar FMT’s hands were beginning to glow, building with immeasurable power…

The fracturing armor of the Colossal Titan reached its breaking point…

The glow of the robot’s wrists greatened…

Straightening out to his full height, Kubal howled as he lessened his steam—at the exact second his armor burst. While there wasn’t quite as much armored shrapnel as there had been before, it was no less devastating; the alabaster shards, glowing with heat, tore into the android’s frame just as viciously as the force of the burst at last ripped him off.

And yet, it was only the first half of Kubal’s plan…

The glow of the Full Metal Titan’s wrists reached its greatest luminosity yet…

Steam still billowing from his seams, the Colossal Titan whirled around and threw his right fist forward with all his strength. For perhaps the hundredth time in merely the last hour, the sound barrier cracked from the resulting shotgun burst of steam as the punch connected with the automaton’s chest—

—and at the exact same time, Jet Jaguar FMT fired his Sound Clap straight into Kubal’s.

Unprotected flesh, already severely thinned by extreme use of steam, was vaporized in massive quantities. Glowing metal, caught full-force with no defense, was dented and cracked like an ailing eggshell. Both giants were thrown from one another like golf balls, practically in the same physical state as they both trembled the earth’s crust with their painful crashes.

Like tattered zombies of their former selves, the towering behemoths swayed like ailing trees upon staggering gradually to their feet. With fissures all but decorating his glowing frame and sparks leaking from his wounds, Jet Jaguar FMT nearly looked nothing so much as a demonic corpse rising from the pits of Hell. Looking in no way better, even Kubal’s regenerative factor had been all but taxed; his maimed body pausing on the energy required to restart restoring itself.

Yet even in the face of such debilitation, both persisted.

The Full Metal Titan pulled his fists back up; a warped, damaged cry whirring from his mouthpiece. On damaged, yet still functional legs, he began to press forward once more. First a walk, his stride evolved into a run rather impressively soon.

Strings of muscle hanging from his ruin of a body, bleeding and charred alike, the Colossal Titan growled through the excruciating pain and started lumbering to meet his enemy. Physical state notwithstanding, this was a battle he had to finish. If the burning android was the ultimate personification of life, then he would topple him as the final demonstration that he had conquered his old demons.

He had given life as much courtesy as it gave him, and he didn’t plan on stopping now. But their vigor blinded them both. Their movements stifled, the ongoing battle growing weary. More than certainly, the battle was taking more of a toll than either expected. Their powerful strides came to a faulty stop, the burning Titans dragging their legs to move it.

Kubal refused to go down; he must breach to the other side. With the evacuees of the Walls no longer an option, it was the only surefire means he had left. This couldn’t end now. Not until it was finished.

FMT felt the vibrant energies flow through him; but even then, they were depleting at a faster rate than he had hoped. This surging ‘Critical Mass’ state brought more wonder to him than he’d have ever thought; another side to the miracle of Mana. But now was not the time to gawk in awe. There was a battle to finish.

And he’d give it everything he had!

As the Colossal Titan rose to its feet, the robotic warrior surged ahead, footfalls crumbling the earth under his feet. The crimson nephilim seemed to become larger the closer he got, but such overwhelming odds could be conquered! He channeled his very soul into vibrations, glowing with a green light and connected with the tough muscle of the Titan’s chest…

Instead of rupturing soft meat into paste and delivering a cataclysmic shockwave with his Sound Clap, his fist collided with a meaty thud. And after that, nothing. The light had faded in his hand, and only now did the robot notice the swelling heat of the Colossal Titan take hold again. More importantly, the bright red luminance he shined had all but vanished.

He was no longer the Full Metal Titan.

Before he could move out of harm’s way, the Colossal Titan thwacked the shrunken Jet Jaguar to the ground, careening to the broken earth at bullet-like speeds. Although he felt a difference in his physiology, that mattered little against the raw, overwhelming power that the red giant still possessed. His wounds fractured his mind; he needed to shut down or reboot to refresh his programming. But would Kubal let him? He didn’t think so…

Heavy footfalls crashed with each step taken, the Colossal Titan more than ready to end it all. But before the final stomp to put FMT out of his misery, a reeling noise of burning rubber had finally made itself known to both of them. Jet Jaguar FMT was the first to notice the interloper, standing steady upon two of its wheels, its arm ready to thrust.

There was no other word than dumbfounded at the arising situation.

The Jet Jaguar husk clamped its three-pronged fingers near the base of Kubal’s Titan neck. And with a swift shink, the maser blade plunged into the nape…

Kubal was infuriated with himself. Amidst the burning madness during his battle, how had he only noticed this pest now? Its tires should’ve made it a dead giveaway, and now the surging pain of a gigantic blade–which narrowly avoided him, only slicing an arm off and puncturing his left ribcage–remained. Before he could command his Titan to dislodge the robotic shell, he felt a full pump of electricity flow into him. It scarred and seared his skin, broiling it as he and his Titan screamed in utmost agony. Kubal felt his ears pop, going deaf as his regeneration struggled to endure the overflow of burning lightning.

But he didn’t need ears to hear…

Jet Jaguar could only stare, awestruck at the sight before him. He saw his discarded husk atop the Colossal, swaying under the supergiant’s leaning movement. And that description was apt; for the chest compartment hung loosely, verifying for FMT that no one was operating it from within. The gentle glowing blue eyes of the reanimated android gazed at the humanoid machine, its head tilted to stare at him. An orange glow shined from beneath the patchwork robot, signaling the Colossal Titan’s next move.

“Jet Jaguar,” it uttered in an electronic cadence, “I’m sorry. For everything.”

…The orange glow overtook the operating fist of the Colossal Titan, who had dispersed steam from his back in order to dislodge the robotic pest. The rotund machine was successfully pushed off, the blade slipping out of the nape. Then, at the very first opportunity he could, Kubal heralded his wrathful backhanded fist, burning the air around the glowing fist as he did. Helpless on its fall back, and with no means of avoiding what came next, the searing fist of the mighty Titan made contact with the hollowed shell, breaking it apart in one fell swoop.

The remains of FMT’s former exo-body littered the battlefield, dismantling the pest for good. And all he could do was helplessly watch as the Colossal Titan remained the last one standing. Continuing the fight was truly futile, but when the Colossal Titan began to scream… There was an odd sense of gratitude or relief. The straw that broke the camel’s back, as they say…

Even after disposing of the interloper, that didn’t mean the damage done could be reversed. His hearing was still muffled, slowly regenerating as sound slowly returned to him. But it was when he checked his pocket did he finally realize the last vial–the last strain of the Wraith virus known to anyone–had shattered. Not even the fluids of the infectious agent remained, having withered into little more than vapors–only shattered glass remained.

He began to tremble, tears welling in his eyes. Even if he couldn’t hear himself scream, he most certainly felt himself enacting those actions. Everything he had ever done slipped right out of his grasp… He continued to bellow in torment, his Titan following those same actions. As his body rejuvenated in the safety of the nape, he peered his eyes upon the fallen Jet Jaguar…

Maybe it was time to finish this.

Jet Jaguar could only stare. Contentment overrode any rational sense to fly and get away, his programming wouldn’t allow it. Knowing the Wraith was destroyed was good enough for him. His chest flashed with a star-like light, reducing his size down to the human frame. There wasn’t a need to hold his gigantic form, he was going to perish either way.

He felt Kubal’s wrathful gaze lock onto his location, but Jet Jaguar FMT could finally let his systems rest, knowing this nightmare was at last going to come to an end… And when the Colossal Titan was in range, the last thing FMT saw before powering down was the giant’s hand encompassing his vision.

Then, it all went dark.

 

Chapter 18: A Long Time Coming

Tearing them apart limb for limb, crushing them under his heel, Eren continued his ruthless slaughter. For once, he allowed his accumulated frustrations to manifest to the surface. A blind rage that sheathed his eyes and thoughts; he didn’t need to focus, for the freshly donned armor protected him from the mauls and bites of the ravenous creatures. An opportunity he would have exacted on Kubal if he had gone for it, but one that found a home nonetheless.

For the Jet Jaguars, putting up a fight against Kubal even better than he ever could. Saving the lives of countless doing so. Another set of Titans quashed under his armored weight.

For the strangers that changed their entire lives. Gave them the chance to flee this Hell. A Titan met its demise with a kneecap to the nape, killing it instantly. An elbow bash collided with another, snapping its jaws off. That one was for Randy’s irritating personality.

For the mere chance to make amends to those whose trust he had broken. Hange, Sasha, the Scouts… He had let them down for his selfishness. He repaid that with slammed two Titan heads into shattered skulls and meshing blood.

For Mikasa. For trying to guide him on the right path when he refused to listen. Standing up to him when he was in the wrong. Grabbing hold of a Titan, Eren chomped down on its nape, tearing it out with his teeth.

Shikishima… Jean… Hiana… Old man Souda… Fukushi… Lil… Sannagi… For Armin. Those gone, but not forgotten. He had to keep to that for as long as he lived. And he stamped at the fallen Titan with his foot, smashing it until he was satisfied–which was well after it had perished.

His Titan came to a slow stop. There was little left aside from the rising steam of Titan carcasses. Every last one of them had fallen to his hand.

But he did not roar. He felt his eyes sunken from the dreariness. The moment he relaxed his Titan’s muscles, they fell limp. He vented so much of his anger, he failed to realize the toll it took on his body. He collapsed to his knees, slumped forward. The split in his nape erupted, freeing him from the fleshy confinement. He tasted air, despite the humidity, which only illuminated how tired he was. His mind was in a daze, waiting until he regained the strength to move.

But before he could, the familiar twang of spooling wires and hissing gas made their approach. His eyes saw the figure of Mikasa flying towards him. She landed next to him, weapons sheathed as she approached his prone form. He glanced up at her.

“Mikasa…” Eren groaned. “I’m tired.”

“Then sleep,” she quietly responded, with a small, glimmering smile. “Eren. Let us take care of it.”

“It’s what Armin would’ve wanted… Right?” Eren asked in a whisper. Mikasa simply nodded, caressing him in her embrace. The sun shone from behind, illuminating her figure and basking in her beauty.

It was the last thing he saw before dozing off.

—

Sleepy eyes opened to a view that was both familiar, yet not. It reminded him greatly of the white rooms hidden under the Walls, but its beige paint complimented the warm glow of the wall-mounted lamp near him. This was far more like the Okuno suites he had heard about, albeit the room size being comparable to a prison cell. Still, it was surprisingly comfortable. Even the technology was reminiscent of the tech found in the innermost wall. A minifridge, some cabinets, a stovetop, a circular window, and three doors. Comfortable living quarters for a long voyage.

If it hadn’t been for the port-hole window, he would have doubted that he was even airborne.

Eren turned and saw the person resting next to him. Slumped over on the chair was Mikasa, having long since dozed off into wonderland. Though she wasn’t in uniform; rather, she was donning a white button-up and black pants, clearly having taken the chance for bathing. The tattered scarf was still around her, that old, raggedy thing. He checked himself, still in the same rancid clothes when he fell into slumber. He needed to bathe and change.

He shuffled, careful not to wake her up. Investigating the rooms, he discovered the purposes behind the three doors–one that led outside to a vast hallway, one for bathing, and the other for… natural needs. After finding a set of clothes identical to Mikasa’s, Eren took his time until there was nothing left of the grim that clung to him. A clean face, free of burden to sins’ past.

To start anew.

Drying himself off, he dressed himself appropriately, stepping out in the open. Hearing the turn of the knob, Mikasa awoke from her droopy nap in a daze.

“Eren,” she murmured quietly, “when did you get up?”

“Not too long ago,” he responded, “A clean up was in order, that’s all.” Mikasa pointed to the bag near the door, one used to pick up dirty laundry by the faculty of the Pandora. Stuffing his worn and weathered clothes and accessories in there, he left it out in the hallway for pickup. An odd custom, or at least one he hadn’t experienced before. He turned to face her, making the attempt to smile.

“You okay?” he asked.

She rubbed her eyes. “Yeah.”

“How long have we been flying for?” Eren questioned.

“About…” Mikasa paused, letting her mind wake up, “7 hours when I drifted to sleep… So maybe another 5 on top of that? And I think they said something about a 15 hour trip, so…”

“About 12 hours, then,” he answered. She nodded. “Any word from Hange?”

“Yes, she wanted to see you as soon as you’re ready.”

“I have a lot to own up to…” His smile faded, remembering his wrongdoings.

“Eren, as long as you recognize those faults, it’ll be okay.” She wrapped herself around him, and he reciprocated in kind. They held each other tenderly, feeling safe after a lifetime’s worth of heavily fortified security, tyranny, loss, betrayal, and stolen hopes. “Even if it’s hard now,” Mikasa gently whispered. “What Armin would’ve said.”

“Yeah. Thank you, Mikasa.” Their warmth swirled amongst each other before finally breaking it off. “Let’s go see the Commander.”

Down the luxurious hallway, they followed to the room Hange was supposed to be staying in. Room 910. When they opened the door, larger and more spacious than his, they saw her and another man at the nearby desk, clearly having a discussion that veered off to a tangent unrelated to what they were talking about. But when they entered, Hange’s demeanor was quick to change to ‘Commander Mode,’ a look Eren knew all too well. Even the jet-black haired gentleman was quick to dismiss the jovial persona he had just moments ago. Eren and Mikasa gave their salutes, and her in return.

“At ease.” Hange said coolly, “Eren. Do you remember what I said to you?”

He nodded. “The protection of humanity isn’t the same as the termination of the threat. Any more splitting of the forces will completely ruin the plan.”

“Good. Do you understand the principles?”

Eren firmly nodded. “Yes, Commander.”

“Putting yourself ahead of others like that will bring needless loss, even if you happen to come across benefits,” Hange said upfront, “We could have lost you there.”

“I understand. I have a lot of people to apologize to…” Eren took a fervent bow. “I’m sorry!”

The gleam in her eyes did not fade, remaining as firm as ever. “That’s what I like to hear,” she stated coldly. “I’d send you to your cell for detainment, but these LZ folks are far too generous,” she said, her voice softening to her regular self.

“LZ, Commander?” Eren asked.

It was then the other man butted in, glowing up after the serious discussion. “Short for ‘Latitude Zero,’ hence ‘LZ.’ Or ‘E-l-z-e-e’ if you’re comfortable with that,” the man remarked. “Some people have different tastes, you never know.”

“And you’re a native?” Eren inquired.

“Not quite,” the Asian-looking man refuted, “I am by virtue of having lived there long enough, though my sister and I hail from Peaceland. Oh!” The man realized something and struck a pose. “You don’t recognize me without my getup, don’t you? Akira Sakimori, the great Zone Fighter!”

Eren scoffed. “Junior.”

“Ack!” Akira looked defeated by the statement. “You’re on my sister’s side, too! Always just ‘Zone Junior,’ never ‘Zone Fighter’ with her, geez,” he complained, highlighting his speech with enunciated air quotes.

“But regardless,” Hange cut in, “There has been some valuable information that’s cropped up since you were asleep, Eren.” She revealed the documents and reports laid out on her desk, all focused on one subject in particular.

Kubal Kunimura.

“Sasha’s Scout group proved invaluable from their intel,” Hange began, “Their encounter with another Jet Jaguar located in Mt. Fuji had the details needed to map out his motivations and goals. We also found a surprise with some of the civvies on board during the evacuation. A few of them were former Military Police that had worked with Kubal personally.”

“And where are they now? Are they locked up?” Eren implored.

“Of course. Scouts and LZ are keeping a close guard on them. But like I said, LZ is far too generous,” Hange said, waving off Akira.

“What can I say?” Akira shrugged, “When Peacelandian and El-zeean engineering come together, magic is born. Not my problem, McKenzie prefers to give the benefit of the doubt where possible. Best living standards anyone can ask for!”

She continued unabated. “Testimony from Leo Suarez, a computer operator during his tenure at Kubal’s facility. According to him, a missile silo that went abandoned after the outbreak of Wraith was used as Kubal’s covert place of refuge to hide his wife and daughter in their Titanized states, and even to regenerate after Shikishima dealt that bomb blow to him. Left after quote-unquote, ‘workplace abuse,’ when Kubal transformed one of the scientists, Masao Komuro, into a Wraith Titan and killed it.”

Eren felt his rage flare up. They had coordinated with Kubal, no doubt leading to the deaths of countless innocent lives. But they were just as much victims of Kubal as the dead were. Second chances were important; he had to remember that.

“There’s a lot more research notes from the others who collaborated with him, so it may prove invaluable with Titan functionality and how they ultimately work. But that will be tested in the future when we arrive at our new place.”

“And that place is…?” Eren asked.

“An old-world map suggests this place was called Nelson, New Zealand,” Hange answered with a faint smile. “New sweet home.”

“And I guess that just leaves you and your sister,” Eren directed at Akira, “How are a pair of aliens working for a group of advanced humans?”

For a moment, Akira prepared a more quippy response, but his sunken shoulders told of another burden. “Came here to Earth when I was very young. Hotaru has a better recollection of our early years than I do, but we needed to hide from these alien forces known as the Garoga. They destroyed our homeworld of Peaceland. Fought many things, saved the day… Though it wasn’t always me, or even my sister for that matter.”

Akira paused, regaining his composure.

“Zone Fighter did. Our brother did. Last we saw him, he was fighting this Colossal Titan of yours… And haven’t heard from him since.” His face contorted with emotional wrought. “Goddammit Hikaru, why couldn’t you be here…” he mumbled to himself.

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Eren said, his heart moved. Akira took another breath, relieving his nerves.

“Regardless, afterward our first plan worked… Sort of. The infection had spread to our ship, so a couple of Titanized folk brought it all down into the ocean… We fought them off for as long as we could. Tried to save as many as we could…” Eren noticed the grim resignation written over Akira’s face, a dark moment for those that couldn’t see another tomorrow. Who only found their graves in the watery depths… “Captain McKenzie claims he had happened to be in the area when he found us adrift, so a few hundred people were taken aboard the Alpha, and we have remained with them in Latitude Zero since.”

“Up until recently, I take it?” Hange interfered, recalling Randy’s presentation.

“Correct. We had started to set up shop on land to give these people a chance to breathe and not be so cramped down in LZ… Even if LZ is the fantasy paradise you’d imagine it to be, there’s only so much room it can hold for a growing population. My sister and I made a proposal to investigate the Walls with the new and improved Pandora, especially since the Wraith virus had burned out… McKenzie had reservations, but once we found a signal in your area, it swayed his decision to take flight. And…”

“The rest is history,” Eren finished.

“Whew, one hell of a story, ‘ey?” Akira commented, “Captain’s got a lot to tell. I’m sure everyone does if they put their hearts and minds to it.”

Although his sympathies were to Akira and his cause, there was something that irked Eren deep down. Remarkable, superpowered human-like beings capable of great things… Hiding in fear of Kubal for who-knows-how-long before finally braving the surface. Let alone, having this incredible technology at their disposal… Yet only a privileged few were allowed to use it. A stark reminder of the white rooms and their purpose. Part of him wanted to flare up right there, questioning why they didn’t take action sooner. But rationale overtook instinct. There was an untold story he didn’t know of, it was unwise to jump to conclusions until he knew for certain what the truth even was.

A story for him to find out another time, he supposed.

Suddenly, a reverberating sound echoed in the room. The grumblings of the stomach were heard crystal clear. And it was only a matter of moments to spot the source. Mikasa’s usual neutrality was usurped by embarrassment, her body wishing for sustenance. “I’m sorry,” Mikasa apologized, clearly flustered.

“You two get something to eat,” Hange ordered, albeit informally. “We’ll be landing in a couple of hours.”

With a nod, he and Mikasa gave another salute, their Commander gesturing them off as they turned back into the hallway. Now the real question remained: where was the mess hall?

*****

“Get up.”

His eyes flickered to life, his data scrambled from what just transpired. The residuals of alien energy within allowed him to move, without the hindrance of rust or joint pain. The sun still shone upon them, but not for long as the bright orange array shifted to a purple skyline. He felt the sun’s rays warm the exposed circuitry of his half-missing face, reminding him of the cruel battle he just endured.

Despite the glow of the sun, a distinct overcasting shadow loomed over him.

With a quick glance, he saw the decaying corpse of the Colossal Titan sitting and slumped over, its vacant eyesockets and open maw seemingly staring at him… And more importantly, the man who stood in front of him with a terrifying glare. Kubal raised his hand up, exposing his bloodied palm to Jet Jaguar.

“Don’t try anything funny.” In a display of absolute control, lightning danced around the wounded hand. It crawled up his forearm before he tightened into a fist, ceasing the lightshow. “I still have one more in me if you dare step out of line.”

For the autonomous unit, the only silver lining was that he wasn’t disposed of right away.

Kubal nudged behind him. Scanning the landscape was the hole that led down to a missile silo from what Jet Jaguar FMT could readily identify. Portions of its concrete walling were broken, a show that something climbed out of here… With an assertive gesture, Kubal ordered him to follow. And with no other choice, he did. They reached a long elevator shaft, one that indisputably led to the pits of this facility. But aside from them, there was no one else here… Not a single human, nor a single Titan. The thought unnerved his digital processors.

Shutters closed behind them, their descent to the bottom was left with stagnant silence. It was an uncomfortable and rickety ride down, testing the patience of those who boarded it. But it wasn’t long before Kubal began spilling his thoughts.

“The humans held here may have escaped my grasp… The other universe may have been spared from the Wraith… You may have had a lucky shot with that robot lookalike… But never forget this, Jet Jaguar,” he seethed with vigorous anger, “I won that fight. More than strong enough to defeat you and your bag of tricks,” he boldly declared. The flaring anger from the dictator had to be stifled with quick breaths, recomposing himself. “So I’m the only one strong enough to do what must be done.”

Jet Jaguar turned his gaze at him, not uttering a sound. The gesture told everything.

“Once I’m done, take Nariko and let her live a happy life. I don’t care where she goes, so long as it’s far away from here. If nothing else, she deserves to live as a human.”

The see-through shutters parted way, and the two of them stepped out. In the distance was a malformed Titan, her limbs too stubby to move or crawl with. Jet Jaguar saw her face, recalling the beaming smile of the young patient… It sprawled with excitement, her eyes glued to Kubal the entire time.

“Hey there, little Titan,” Kubal gently ushered, approaching the excitable humanoid, “It’s about that time, sweetheart. Daddy wasn’t strong enough to find a cure for you.” He traced his bloodied hand along her cheek, her eyes jittering in anticipation. “You’re a strong girl. Find it in you to be stronger than daddy ever has been.”

He stood there in silence as the Titan known as Nariko began to moan and wail. He rested his head against her skin, a small spark igniting between them for only a moment. With a sniffle, Kubal gave his answer. “I’m ready.”

Mustering all it could, Nariko lunged for her father, snapping her jaws around him. In an instant, he was reduced to a bloody paste, chewed, gobbled, and swallowed so effortlessly. It was unsightly to see a man of Kubal’s stature, who gave him absolute hell, vanish so quickly, even for the long, destructive life he lived. There was nothing Jet Jaguar could do now but wait. Yet as Nariko devoured what was left of her father, the android’s scanners noticed something.

Tears.

Accumulating from the tear ducts, water streamed down Nariko’s Titanized face, swallowing repeatedly as to ensure all of Kubal was down her gullet. And with a dying moan, she collapsed as life faded from her Titan’s eyes. Steam erupted from the nape, with a sack of flesh rupturing from the weak point, covering the human child in layers of membranes. Quick to assume no clothes were available in the initial regeneration from Wraith to Jaeger, FMT had to pivot, scouring the nearby rooms for anything. A blanket and some adult clothing were all he could find before rushing over to the slumped Titan corpse. Excavating the girl from the nape was a messy task, stripping the gunk and flesh off her delicate form, he fitted the unconscious girl with the clothes he found and swaddled her in the blanket, carrying her in his arms.

Granting Kubal’s wish, antennae sprouted from his head as he took flight.

From the depths of the silo, Jet Jaguar took high into the dimming sky, taking one last notice of the husk of the Colossal Titan. The sun had set past the horizon, bringing the night with it. The cold night breeze flowed over them, the blanket keeping the young girl warm. His flight was far from aimless. Rather, he had a direct destination in mind… Provided what he sought was still there. He kept going, pushing himself as fast as he could while carrying a human. Over the walls he flew, seeing the path Kubal took. The concrete reinforced palisade closest to the silo had been broken down. The longer this voyage lasted, the more anxiety lingered in his digital consciousness.

There was only one way but to keep haste.

Over the inner and middle walls he went, with nothing in sight but unmoving silence. It was then he saw the wreckage from their destructive battle come into view. The unfortunate scattered remains of the exo-body that had aided in stopping Kubal’s rampage to the other side… Perhaps if the natives of this world were to ever salvage the rotund android, then they could learn everything for themselves. Knowledge sought of their own accord, rather than being supplied with the secrets of everything. Maybe that was for the better.

The first and outermost wall came into view, the carnage all the more evident. It made him glad the young girl slept through this, the bloodshed that occurred beyond the barriers were… Horrifying, to say the least. Kaiju corpses littered the battlefield, and a stark reminder of Zilla’s grievous injury as the dismembered tail laid there. But beyond the vacant yet hellish sight was the very thing he sought… The tall mound was still there, and much to his surprise, the rift was still there. But it became evident it wouldn’t hold shape for much longer. Lights sparkled around it, the destabilizing rift threatening to collapse in on itself…

And with one last desperate push, he continued forward.

*****

U.S.S. Cowpens – Earth

Everything had to go to plan. It had to, for the sake of Nick, for Zilla–for everyone. Goro Ibuki had faith they’d be able to pull off the impossible. But the cost was the monkey-wrench he wasn’t sure how it’d turn out. Not everything could go picture-perfect, there were bound to be mishaps abound in executing their plan. It all hinged on so much.

Hikaru’s ability to talk with or overcome Ultraseven. Randy, Monique, and his beloved being able to retrieve their allies in this dire time. Even the surprise interference of Mothra Leo took him by surprise as the moth snagged a helicopter aboard the Cowpens, carrying it into the white anomaly with the Misses in tow. Even the mighty Battra, for reasons he didn’t fully know, had eventually found its way in after trial and error.

He just had to hold onto that small spark of hope.

But being steadfast didn’t mean it was all easy. He hadn’t been sure how much time had passed, but before he knew it, the white anomaly pulsated, and from it was a glimpse of terror upon their world. First was a creature identical to Rodan, or at the very least a subspecies native to whatever universe laid on the other side. Following that was a storm that knew no bounds, and the horrifying presence of an other-dimensional King Ghidorah that threatened to savage the world. Had it not been for the Godzilla, Mothra, and an unidentified aerial organism that pursued after it, with the intervention of the new Rodan, doomsday may have been wrought in place of the terror of SpaceGodzilla.

Before the bright, emerald flash that quelled the destroyer of worlds, it was evident life thrived on the other side of the black anomaly–very much so. Pulsating to life, Goro didn’t know what to expect–a giant octopus of colossal magnitude was not one of them. Seemingly hurled against its own will, the enlarged cephalopod made a hard landing against the torrential surface in an enormous splash.

It floated to the surface, either stunned or dead–but Goro was quickly proven wrong when the monstrous flash from the caldera scared the gargantuan mollusk off into the depths. Had it not been for his vantage point, he doubted anyone–human or kaiju alike–would have noticed the marine animal there at all. Even if it had been detected by radar or sonar, the EMP emission from the garish green explosion would’ve temporarily obstructed any signal the Cowpens had on it. He felt very fortunate to have seen it with his own eyes.

And as for the whereabouts of the new Godzilla after that, he didn’t know–no one did.

After the light dissipated, Goro tried to scan for his acquaintances, but found nothing. It seemed the war between the new Godzilla and Ghidorah began to lessen the effects both rifts had on this world, gradually losing their power over the hours. More concerningly, his friends were still trapped on the other side, but he wasn’t sure. Hope, however, had arrived–having evidently missed her entering during the explosion came the new Mothra. Dropping a sack of web, she had rescued the survivors who entered into the white anomaly. Focusing his binoculars, he saw Ultraseven land next to them, discussing something.

Goro wished he could smile. But seeing Nick’s condition was worse for wear; clear symptoms of radiation poisoning were taking effect. But to his relief, he saw Seven pick up Nick, a red light enveloping them both. Encased in a red sphere, it began to float above before darting off at speeds incalculable, no doubt returning to where the Ultra warrior hailed from. Goro hoped they’d have some kind of solution. The surprises weren’t done yet, however. Like a beating heart, the black rift spat another creature from its shape. For a split second, Goro’s heart twinged with fear… Only to subside with a closer inspection.

Another King Ghidorah had emerged. But it differed greatly in many regards.

Unlike the terror that brought destruction, this new Ghidorah only had two heads. It was marred and wounded, some new, some very old. But those fresh burns sizzled off its flaky scales, nearly charred beyond recognition. It didn’t concern itself with destruction or being a threat to the planet; rather, it simply fled as far away as it could from its exit, seeking survival beyond all else. Ghidorahs were nothing short of fearsome creatures, the last one proved that crystal clear. To terrify a creature of Ghidorah’s stature like that… It made Goro fear what lay on the other side of that portal.

But such an appearance brought attention to one of the skybound kaiju. While the new creature lingered in the air, calling out for a response, the new Rodan diverted its binocular eyes towards the escaping hydra. Be it simply mistaking the new for the old or otherwise, the burning hawk propelled its wings in hot pursuit. It still had strength in it to fight and began making chase as it flew past the Cowpens. Where the two titanic creatures went off to after that was none of Goro’s worries.

Still, no sign of Monique, Randy, or Jet Jaguar. They had to be in trouble if they hadn’t shown up yet… The waning doorways became increasingly alarming as the seconds ticked on. Each moment had to count, but if Goro knew anything from firsthand experience, it was that Zilla and Jet Jaguar would give their all against a devil of all worlds if need be; they’d refuse to go down without a fight… But those actions had their consequences.

And what he saw next shook the professor to his core.

With another pulse, it spat out another. His eyes instantly recognized his beloved creation, but the wounds sustained showed that of a great battle. Metal armor patterned with scars of shrapnel and a crack along his emblem. But what had shook him was not the state of his creation, but rather the one they had sought to rescue. He almost didn’t recognize Zilla for a moment, especially without his long, strong tail. The helicopter the H.E.A.T. crew operated came out soon after, easing his mind just a little.

As Jet Jaguar flew to his location, the Bell 412 dipped down to the caldera below to retrieve the stragglers vanguarded by the insectoid Mothra. With Randy’s help, Audrey hoisted the prone Hikaru on board, with the Elias sisters hitching a ride with their new guardian. Mothra and the Bell departed, the latter en route to the Cowpens, as the large lepidopteran chirped to the vaguely insectoid creature. Seemingly begrudging, the flying hook-clawed creature followed, disappearing to parts unknown.

Before long, his beloved gracefully dipped into the oceanic waters, careful to let the maimed reptile float on the surface. Fortunately, the large lizard’s prone form maintained buoyancy. From where the automaton stood, with a flash of light, Jet Jaguar began reducing in size. His human-scaled size hovered over to where the professor and the captain stood, landing next to them. Goro smiled. “Welcome back, old friend. Glad you’re safe.”

The droning whirl of helicopter blades sliced the air as the Bell came closer and closer, making a smooth touchdown aboard the landing pad. As the engine cut off, the cab doors flew open.

“Medic! We need a medic!” Audrey shouted. With the given permission from Cole, sailors rolled out the gurney and lifted the unconscious Hikaru Sakimori, taking him to sick bay.

“And we need another for the Big Guy!” Randy desperately pleaded, gesturing to the comatose Zilla. “Please, someone help him!”

“Randy,” Monique cut in, firm but gentle. “Breathe.” Following her instruction, the intern inhaled and exhaled slowly and deliberately, easing himself from his emotional state. “He’s going to be okay. We both know that.” As if to add to Monique’s claim, Jet Jaguar gave an affirmative thumbs up. Maybe he was just being supportive to a friend in need, but it made Goro smile.

“Yeah, I know,” the misty-eyed Randy acknowledged, “I know he gets his butt kicked around a lot… But not like this.” He shook his head, reiterating, “Not like this.”

From behind were footsteps and the brazen voice of H.E.A.T.’s resident redhead biologist. “Hey, why wasn’t I invited as part of the welcoming committee?” Elsie sarcastically inquired. But a look around informed her of everything she needed to know, quickly changing her tune. “Oh, Jesus…” Elsie Chapman was just as stunned at the unsightly comatose reptile floating in the Pacific. “Anyone mind filling me in, what did that to our guy?” Goro listened keenly, morbidly curious on the same thing.

Monique started. “The Colossal Titan.” She proceeded to run down the events that transpired after hijacking the Bell. From their landing and their run in with the man-eating Titans, to their escapades with the surviving humans within the Walls, their history and encounter with Kubal Kunimura, the discovery of a second Jet Jaguar in Mt. Fuji, and their eventual escape. Certainly sounded like 100 adventures that’d be too much for Goro’s old bones.

“Sounds like everyone aboard the helicopter needs to be decontaminated,” Cole strictly advised, “Between the high doses of radiation and the threat of a dangerous viral infection, you all are looking to be quarantined for some time.”

“Radiation… Nick…” Randy muttered, “What happened to Jefe?”

Audrey was the one to step in. “We found him in the white anomaly. Acute radiation poisoning…” Her words drifted off, the emotional pressure compounding onto Randy.

“Not him too, no…” sobbed the sun-kissed tech whiz. Monique had him continue his breathing exercise, comforting her friend in his hour of need. After being the beacon to so many others, he too clearly needed the support he could get. Even the strongest wills weren’t indomitable from mounting pain, Goro knew that from experience.

But Audrey remained strong. “But he’ll be okay. I know that for a fact,” she said confidently. “Ultraseven took Nick with him, heading back to his homeworld to fix him up. How long he’ll be gone for, I’m not entirely sure… But he’ll be back.”

Such glowing confidence gave Goro a needed sense of relief. One by one, Audrey and the crew of H.E.A.T. began piling on in a big group hug, although Monique Dupre kept to herself.

“I’m glad Seven left when he did,” Audrey added, “I’m not sure how he would have reacted seeing a second King Ghidorah come out of the other portal.”

“In that case, it’d be best to get a move on,” Cole issued. But before he could give the order, Jet Jaguar screeched loudly, even taking Goro aback. “What’s wrong now?”

“He says there’s one more we’re waiting on,” Goro explained. No doubt the second one Monique had mentioned; the one called Jet Jaguar FMT. He turned to Randy, asking, “What does ‘FMT’ stand for? I wanted to ask earlier, but to interrupt would’ve been rude of me.”

“Oh, right,” the young intern flushed, “‘Full Metal Titan.’ I thought it was a better name than ‘Jet Jaguar.’ It sounded good to me!”

“Really Randy?” Elsie interjected, rebuking him. “Only angsty teenagers would rebrand him as ‘the Full Metal Titan,’” she sarcastically air-quoted the name. “It’s almost comparable to having a musical stage show about any kaiju attack! Maybe a little insensitive!”

“But you had to be there to see it!” Randy complained, “He looked like a Titan when we left!”

Learning this, Goro was amused. “Call me biased, but I see nothing wrong with ‘Jet Jaguar,’” he remarked. “The best wines take time to settle. Even if you don’t appreciate it at first, you’ll learn to accept Jet Jaguar as is.” Though he did admit that FMT retooling the name signified that Randy’s funny nickname must have hit a chord on a fundamental level. A personal issue, no doubt. Still, he decided to keep this to himself; the young lad would accept ‘Jet Jaguar’ faster if he didn’t say anything.

“I guess so,” Randy sighed, defeated. Still, afterward the conversations drifted to more light-hearted affairs, if only to ease the worry and pain that lingered in the air. It was a long wait, but for Goro Ibuki, hours passed in minutes. Perhaps because time flew by the older he got, but before anyone knew it, the last signs of the portals drew near. Their structural integrity collapsed, shrinking and closing as they dissipated into nothingness.

After what had felt like a decade since they first materialized, even if they only sustained form for nearly a week at most, the threats from beyond had finally ceased to be in this world.

But for Goro’s old eyes, there were no clear-cut signs of Jet Jaguar FMT. Maybe he had fallen in battle, or simply couldn’t make it in time for the collapse. But whatever transpired, the Wraith virus didn’t pass through to the other side. To that, he had to be thankful that such a calamity was averted before it could be carried over.

Yet before Cole could give the all-clear, Jet Jaguar exploded into a series of handwaves and gestures, screeching as loud as his audio output would allow. Goro knew then his eyes missed something as not only he, but everyone else, started scanning the skies for the other Jet Jaguar.

“There!” Monique pointed out, tracking the airborne humanoid. When the others caught on, Goro himself included, they bore witness as the Jet Jaguar doppelgänger made way to the Cowpens. Having maintained a human scale explained why he didn’t spot it right away. Just when he thought his creation had it rough, this alternate JJ showed signs of being through Hell and back. Half his face mask was gone, exposing the circuitry underneath, and marred with more wounds that required extensive repairs. He was shocked the robot was even operating at this capacity.

But any ally of his Jet Jaguar was a friend of his.

“Hello, Jet Jaguar FMT,” Goro greeted with a knowing smile. “Nice to finally meet you.”

FMT nodded, taking slow and steady steps with the blanketed garb he carried. His Jet Jaguar offered a hand, taking and unwrapping the human underneath. A child, with pale skin and a near balding head from her former illness, still fast asleep. Motioning to FMT, Jet Jaguar allowed his counterpart to have this moment.

“Come here,” the professor gestured with arms wide open, “You miss your creator dearly, don’t you?” The broken machine took stagnant steps, visibly shaken as his legs weakened the closer he got. The desaturated automaton collapsed onto his knees, pulled into Goro’s embrace. The old inventor placed his hand where JJ’s cheeks would be, comforting the circuitry under the face plate. “I’m not the Goro you knew. Please never hold me to the same pedestal as him, use this chance to live the life you want. But any Jet Jaguar, no matter the different lives we live, is always welcomed to my place.”

Goro coddled the damaged automaton for a while longer, allowing them the chance to grieve for their losses. It is only in grieving that newfound appreciation can be found; a long lived human life informed him of that. When FMT finally regained his strength, the robot stood back up, now able to heed the professor’s request; to live a life they wanted.

As the others simply stared in awe of the scene before them, a sudden splash took the collective off guard. The resting reptile began to awaken from its shocked state. Awkwardly regaining equilibrium, Zilla began to move directly for the Cowpens, inching silently closer with each passing moment.

Only Cole panicked at the rushing waves and cutting dorsal fins; but Goro and the rest knew this creature wasn’t a threat. Rather, quite the opposite. The titanic lizard floated on the surface, rising gently as not to displace the warship. Aside from the sway of the waves, everyone remained calm and collected as water cascaded from the squamate’s body. Large nostrils sniffed the humans aboard, no doubt checking for their scents. Red-orange eyes gleamed at all those in attendance, a feeling Goro wasn’t accustomed to. In particular, it narrowed to Jet Jaguar FMT. Upon completing its inspection, the mutated lizard echoed a booming, powerful roar, one that defied its broken and torn body. A resonant spirit that returned to full strength, well before its body rejuvenated.

When Goro turned to the Jet Jaguars, he saw the young girl stirring from her deep slumber, even if only for a moment. The words she spoke stuck with him for the rest of his life.

“Dad… Is that… Godzilla?…” Nariko fell back into slumber afterward. Goro had to wonder if she woke up on her own accord, or had it simply been the girl sleep-talking? He’d have to see once he was able to secure custody of her. If they had been friends in another universe, then perhaps he’d be the best person to take care of her. Certainly better than the alternative of handing her off to the government for study.

He’d protect her small light, no matter what.

Even without a tail, the defiant Zilla turned and waded into the ocean. Having no rudder to steer it, the creature opted to use its hands and feet as alternate propellers, waddling through the water nowhere near the terrific speeds it once had. But all wounds healed with time; and there wasn’t a doubt Zilla would be back in peak condition before anyone knew it.

And for the longest time, it would be the last time Goro Ibuki saw Zilla. A farewell, at least for now. There were those in medical attendance, including Anthony Hicks, Hikaru Sakimori, and Nariko Kunimura to take care of now.

Even if the future was uncertain, he believed in a better tomorrow. That’s what counted.

 

Epilogue: In the Worlds After, Before the Gods

Karamea Beach, New Zealand – Titan Earth – Six months later

He breathed in.

The salted seas rushed up to his legs, trickling just past his bare kneecaps. A slight tug pulled at him as they receded back to the shore, only to wash up again moments later. Rinse and repeat. The crisp air enhanced this particular experience, the cooler breeze kicking in with the glowing sunset dipping into the horizon, an orange-purple hue lit up the twilight sky. It was soon to be nightfall, but Eren enjoyed having some R&R when the chance allowed it. Just him and his thoughts–even if it was for a little while. Alone on a beach with nothing but his black swim trunks, his back embedded in the soft, golden sand.

He exhaled.

Karamea was the perfect settlement to thrive in. Not a ton of people around, with mostly beautiful landscapes and lush environments to get lost in. Survivors of the Walls and the LZ volunteers who stayed behind migrated to the bigger cities of New Zealand’s lost past. But for Eren, this small place was more than perfect, especially when the Survey Corps dissolved. Or at the very least, was undergoing major restructuring, and Hange was slated to be the head of whatever this was. All Eren knew for sure was that he was going to play a big part in it. To train a new generation of soldiers in the event of an emergency–or if the threat of Titans ever cropped up.

For they were all free. Now they had to defend that newfound freedom from anything that threatened to take it away.

Even so, a small cozy town would also be needed–to escape from the drama of other lives. For relaxation away from the work he’d eventually be putting up with. The new life was still taking time to adjust, but it was better than the Hell they lived in back in Japan. Life had already changed for him, allowing time to process his grief. To apologize to everyone whose hearts he had broken. To make amends and start anew.

He was happy here.

Gentle steps approached from behind, Eren tilting his head up to see Mikasa hovering over him. Her black two-piece bikini dress and white straw hat complemented her well, an outfit he thought he’d never see her in. She’d normally wear a swimsuit on most occasions, and even more shocking was the absence of the scarf he gave her… This signaled to him that they were likely alone. Not too much of a surprise, given that people were hardly here during or after sundown.

Eren had forgotten about the scar that lined up her midsection, the imprinted teeth of a Titan that stole a baby from her arms. A grim reminder of the past, yet one that did not define the future they wished to make. She settled near Eren’s head, nestling into the sand. Mikasa reached and gently pulled Eren back, resting his head in her lap. Her hands, strong and firm, caressed the contortions of his face as they both looked to the horizon.

“It’s beautiful tonight, isn’t it?” Mikasa gently asked. Eren hummed in agreement, bringing his hands to meet hers. Their moment in the twilight sun was directed to the trillings of an animal nearby. Looking at the nearby foliage was the shrills of a flightless bird, small and round as it stood on its hind legs. Its call squeaked in the night, more than likely seeking a mate if he had to guess.

And the Kiwi continued to screech, almost calling attention to itself. A survivor of the wilderness, before finally retreating inland, hiding amongst the dense brushes and plantlife.

They were going to be fine. For him, for those he cared for most–they’d be able to live long, happy lives. He reached for the sand, shoveling it into his hand and letting the grains fall between his fingers. The soft sand gave him relief and comfort when visiting the beach. He wasn’t sure what it was at first, but then he found out the word that best described this peaceful paradise.

Safe.

And unlike his long dreams, the sand wasn’t red.

*****

In the vicinity of H.E.A.T. Headquarters – Earth – Six months and one day later

Orange-red eyes snapped open.

Shuffling from his hidden pocket, his primal instincts alerted him of a nearby presence. Sprinting into a crawl, the massive reptile was quick on his feet, diving into the underwater passageway that led to the open depths of the harbor. As if to confirm his suspicions, the signal blared from above–a usual sign that danger was afoot.

Speeding through the hollowed out vein, Zilla immediately set eyes on the target ahead–only for his intuition to stop him in his tracks, analyzing the large shape that drifted in these waters with him. It took a second to register, but its unassuming posture informed him that the deepsea monster had no ill intention. Spread out far and wide, maybe even a bit bigger than his memory recollected, was the distinguished eight-armed shape he once knew from another world.

The sound of slimy puffed air resounded from the enlarged cephalopod, muffled by the watery depths. A greeting Zilla took well to with a receptive roar of his own. A warm welcome to his turf. Oodako chirped back, indulging on the plentiful food sources this world had to offer. A grunt from Zilla inquired, had he seen the Old King around?

Body gestures contorted into the shape of the two-headed dragon, or at least as best Oodako could mimic. They had seen him from time to time, both of them almost reconnecting to the Skull Island of this world. Unfortunately, that place… Had been less than kind to their presence. Far more hostile than the one they knew. As far as their primitive mind knew, the Old King sought refuge on some remote island in the Pacific, while they had been globe-trotting through water and land, making sure to avoid human contact.

Zilla swung his fresh new tail, which took months to regrow. The giant octopus was more shocked he even survived the encounter with the Colossal Titan at all. Another ping rang from above, where Zilla knew his human compatriots dwelled. With a certain knowingness, Oodako slid back into the Atlantic, not eager to engage with humans. Respecting his comrades wishes, Zilla bid the cephalopod a farewell, and with another puff of air, Oodako vanished from sight.

Turning around, Zilla ascended up to the surface. Waves crashed around him as he broke through, showing himself to those that dared to trespass his territory!… Except Zilla didn’t see any kind of monster lurking about. Rather, the source came from just outside the building, seeing all the humans he knew there.

Among their group, he counted the ones he had seen for the last few months. But now there were two more among the regulars. The woman that often hung around his…

Father.

A slow blink reaffirmed what he saw was real. With sloshing steps through the banks, Zilla approached the human he had sorely missed. The others scattered to give clearance, only his father stood his ground with an open embrace. He nudged his boxy snout as close as he could, nuzzling the tiny human held onto so dearly.

“I’m home,” Nick said, the reptilian feeling the pats on his chin. A gentle hum rang from his vocals, Zilla content to let the moment play out. “Missed you a lot, buddy.”

But then a distinct waft caught his scent glands. With extra sniffs, he noticed it wasn’t just Nick’s he had found. But where…? Everyone backed up at this unexpected development.

“Uh, Mendel did it!” Randy quickly accused the orange haired roboticist, passing any blame onto him.

“No I did not!” Mendel complained, “You said it, therefore you dealt it!”

“Big Guy’s sniffing around,” Elsie noted, “Wonder what for…”

Zilla retracted from Nick, sussing out the origin of this other scent. Perfume…? His eyes locked onto the blonde woman, zoning in on her.

“Uh, Nick, sweetie?” Audrey uttered in a panic. “Help?”

When he investigated her, he found Nick’s scent on her as well. And it seemed Elsie caught on at the same time.

“That must be it!” Her indignant stare focused squarely on Audrey. “Zilla must’ve picked up Audrey’s scent on Nick!”

“Meaning?” Monique chimed in.

Elsie’s smile turned smug, leering her gaze at Audrey and Nick. “…You got the scoop the night before, didn’t you?”

Audrey could only let out a nervous laugh. “Okay, you got me! I just… Is it wrong for us to have a little ‘couples alone time?’” Randy purred at the spicy connotations, but was promptly ignored.

Nick spoke up. “Guys, I don’t think it’s wrong…” Before he could even finish, the glare of detesting eyes told him everything he needed to know. Including Zilla’s. “Sorry.”

“No biggie,” Randy replied, “Just proves the Z-Man is truly Ol’ Reliable.”

“Let’s get inside and have cake now,” Mendel said, his stomach grumbling. “Been waiting all day for this.”

Zilla watched as his human allies all entered the shutter door, disappearing inside their containment. With more room for him, the reptile simply curled up and laid down on his chest, exhaling with a huff from his nostrils. He heard their chatter and loud noises, feeling like music to his ears as he drifted into a short nap.

A family reunited at long last.

*****

Goro Ibuki’s Home – Earth – Seven years later…

Memory banks and data logs remembered with precise clarity the day he was let into the Ibuki household. Even with his digital mind capable of holding countless words of wisdom, there was a powerful nostalgia in reliving those days. But even more powerful was the ability to forge a path to a life unknown. That had been his experience in helping raise Nariko Kunimura for the last few years of his life.

From a scrawny patient to a passionate young girl, teeming with promise. Black hair grew out her bald spots, her complexion returned to a sustainable state… And her finals were up and coming, studying hard and not goofing off. But still, it was hard to believe she prospered so quickly in the time she had been here… Certainly, having Professor Ibuki’s tutelage aided her growth exponentially. Even then, it was rare to see such quick progress in such little time. The only stunt in her growth were memory problems; while most could be reasonably excused, FMT knew the bizarre properties of the Titans required more research. But without causing a panic, it was best to keep her Titan side under wraps. Much to his relief, she never once had to use it, even when disaster struck.

Off and on, Goro’s closest friends would gather. He remembered breaking down at seeing a fully grown Rokuro, following in his older brother’s footsteps. Same with Hiroshi Jinkawa, a face he missed seeing during the experimental tenure of the Titan Program. He always remembered that these people were not the same ones he knew. Even so, they evoked the same emotions. Showing a future where they lived long, happy lives. Or more importantly, living that future.

It was FMT’s selfish wish. There were no regrets.

Each day carried their own adventures. In the interim, Goro had kindly supplied him with many upgrades, either shared hardware or new weapons to help people with. Parts of them had been installed with a special program to reciprocate to the size-changing protocol, one-of-a-kind tools that no one other than he and his brother could use. Alongside that, a voice-box upgrade (which his brother politely declined) with human speech software, and a new coat of paint of his choosing. FMT opted for an all-red coloration, not only keeping it simple when under repairs or maintenance, but to be a symbol of aid against any natural disaster.

To reflect this change, he adopted a new acronym. ‘Jet Jaguar, Firefighting Mitigation Technician,’ specializing in wildfires and the occasional kaiju threat that caused them. His days as the ‘Full Metal Titan’ were left behind; without access to those alien crystals, achieving such a state was an impossibility to induce naturally. Likewise, recognizing the issues this would present to the public (especially for the sake of Nariko’s confidentiality of the Colossal Titan), a name change was in order regardless. A chance to start anew.

At the very least, he humored the memory of Randy’s disappointment when the Full Metal moniker had to be dropped all together.

He stepped outside, prepared to take flight. A signal caught his antennae. A fire near the Metropolitan Building in Shinjuku. He had to help. Before he could he heard footsteps from behind. He already knew what they were going to say, but he had to give courtesy where it was due.

“See you around, Hero,” the elder Goro remarked with a proud smile.

“Put out that fire, FMT!” Nariko cheered confidently.

His brother screeched, giving a thumbs up. “Thank you,” he replied. Jet Jaguar FMT returned the kindness with a thumbs up. Taking flight with gear in tow, FMT flew as fast as he could, to save the lives of those he couldn’t in his home universe, to rectify the mistakes of his past and forge a new future of their making.

No matter what.

Winner: Colossal Titan

A very special thanks to guest-artist George Petrakos, who you may know for designing the scrapped monster Chaos from Godzilla vs. Chaos for Toho Kingdom and provided illustrations for the book series TITANIOUS. You can follow George on his Instagram for those inclined for his artwork! In the meantime, here is an unaltered version of the drawn banner provided below. Enjoy!