As they say… More the merrier! With the conclusion of the Event Month, here are more inbound!

(Trailer by FatBaconUnicorn / Vincent Rodger)

Sources pulled from for those not in the know:

• Battle Spirits

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

What a way to conclude an Event Month, eh? Well, there’s more you can say on the new Survey that is now open for the public! Feels like it’s been a long time since we’ve had a Mid-Year Survey–though with the flux of Announcement pages, that more than covered that ground for a while. But figuring it’s the end of a month in the middle of the year, it seemed now’s prime time for a survey.

The K.W.C. 2025 Mid-Year Survey [Expired]

The Survey will remain open from June 30th to July 6th, with votes closing at 9 PM EST! Cast your vote, and make your voice known!

Author: Alex Williams | Banner: Andrew Sudomerski

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: A Cruel Beginning
Chapter 2: The Three Who Will Merge
Chapter 3: Ultraman Ace vs. Verokron – First Steps
Chapter 4: The Past and Present Dilemmas
Chapter 5: Type “O” Disappearances
Chapter 6: “We Can Make it Work”
Chapter 7: The Ultra Family vs. The Giant-Ant Terrible-Monster
Chapter 8: “Z, why!?”
Chapter 9: Family Feud
Chapter 10: “Dinner”
Chapter 11: The Beginning of Our Consequences
Chapter 12: Ultraman Ace and Z vs. Mefilas, Neronga, and Gabora
Chapter 13: The Awakening

[Continued from “A Good Man’s Amends”]

Chapter 1: A Cruel Beginning

A child’s breath met the cold breeze. The visualization of his breath was destroyed the moment it was unleashed as he passed through it. He ran through the outskirts, planting each step on the grassy terrain. He stumbled, nearly tripping over the rocks hiding in the tall blades of grass, forcing him to stop for a moment. The helpless child paused for a breather, slowly moving his hands to knees in an attempt to support himself.

A loud signal blared!

One that rattled the entire outskirts and even the closest of cities, as he took a second to admire its size. A starship ten times bigger than all the kaiju he was told stories about, blasting through the azure sky. Yet, it was something he didn’t want to see leave.

Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.

The red and silver child gasped, letting go of his knees, as he bolted towards the object ascending higher into the violet sky.

“Mom!” he cried out with all of his might, reaching for the ever growing distant starship. “Dad!”

His little legs could only take him so far in his attempt to halt the mission. All of his energy he had used was exhausted, his entire body gave out, forcing him to crash on his stomach.

He coughed from the impact, slowly brushing the dirt off the red streaks of his body.

Ace lifted himself up slightly just to see through the blades of grass, obscuring his vision. He was powerless to stop it, closing his eyes as if he was praying for a miracle. A miracle that would cause the ship to turn back around for any reason.

The Ultra slowly opened his eyes to see the last glimmer of the ship disappearing from the violet-red sky. They were gone from his sight and he was left by his lonesome despite promises to return shortly.

He lifted himself up to sit in the field, continuing his gaze onto the star-filled night, awaiting for their return. Ace tightened his grip on the grass, ripping it from the soil as he rubbed it between his digits.

Seconds turned into minutes while minutes turned into hours. His eyes never left the colorful night sky, but his bright yellow eyes dimmed. They were everything to him. They nurtured him and told him he could do anything he set his mind to.

Then, with a signature in the sky, they flew off towards the ship, leaving him where he stood with people he barely knew. Their promise of returning wasn’t enough, as he wanted them back more than anything. He coughed once more as he sniffed in despair. Ace’s entire body went hollow, with the realization of the reality he was cast into kicking in.

He relinquished his hold on the grass, letting it drop beside his knee. “Don’t leave me,” Ace murmured, feeling the utter sensation of defeat.

His head hung low, unbeknownst to him that the universe was about to teach him a cruel lesson in life. One he would take to heart at the cost of everyone, including himself.

 

Chapter 2: The Three Who Will Merge

Earth, 1972

“This is the place everyone speaks highly of…..” Ultraman Ace inspected the blue and green sphere just below him. He folded his arms, wishing he could spit at the disgusting planet, but simply snarled instead. “Disgusting.”

“Earth isn’t so bad. It’s not about saving the planet…..” Jack’s voice echoed throughout his mind before Ace threw his arms up in anger, cutting off the last thing he said to him.

Ace growled from the memory, looking off at the vast emptiness of space. His attempt brought him some mild comfort, not for its beauty, but for the lack of anything that angered him. It was where he could find what made him happy even if the path forward wasn’t present.

Still, it was infinitely better than anything in the primitive world below him.

CRACK!

Ace’s head snapped back up, scanning the space around the planet for the loud noise. There, he saw it.

His eyes widened, appalled by the display unraveling before him. It was as if space itself was contained in a room and its ceiling was ripped off. A large reddish crack ruptured through the emptiness in space, pieces of it cascading off towards Earth like shards of glass.

The Ultra threw his right arm forward and zoomed towards the anomaly, but he was too slow to intercept. Purple lightning shot out from the hellish circle and down towards the planet below, with a monstrous roar erupting through the heavens.

It was as if the monster was claiming the planet as its own.

Ultraman Ace studied the crack for a few moments, not minding the newly born kaiju, as the portal fascinated him. Upon pure instinct, he reached for it, intending to find out where it leads to before closing on him.

The Ultra was sent back from the mild shockwave, forcing him to spin upside down a few times, leaving him discombobulated. Ace shook his head once he found himself under control.

It was then, he saw he was greeted with the emptiness of space once more. Ace spun his entire body around, attempting to search for the window, but alas, he was alone once more.

He tightened his fists, snapping his back at the planet he was assigned to defend.
Rage building inside of him over the occurrence as he sent himself cascading down towards what his people call a ‘utopia’.

“You better put up a fight,” Ace snarled at the kaiju down below, with his hands crackling with yellow energy, fully intending to bring them down upon the culprit.

***

“The kaiju before us has been given the name ‘Verokron’,” the TAC Captain, Goro Ryu, relayed to his subordinates. Several of which stood beside each other in their orange and grey uniforms, all glaring at the red and black bumpy kaiju.

Verokron unleashed a torrent of flames down onto the distant city of Fukuyama, settling it ablaze. Tanks deployed by the JSDF could only hold it off for so long, as their shells simply bounced off its hide. The alien snapped its attention towards the group of tanks and aimed its hands towards them. Yellow beams crackled from its fingertips and shot out of them, colliding into the warmachines, destroying them in an instant.

The resulting explosion was seen by the group as Goro raised his hand up to his earpiece.
“Konno, Yoshimura.”

The Captain paused.

“Take the Arrows and give us an opening,” Goro relayed. “We’re going to pursue it on foot.”

“Yes, sir,” Konno acknowledged.

Goro Ryu watched two TAC arrow jets zoom above them, forcing Mikawa to jump back in surprise while Yamanaka chuckled at the display. Ayame, the team’s most efficient soldier, rolled her eyes as she turned to Mikawa.

“Stay focused,” Ayame commanded. “You’re our best chance at getting those explosives in that thing’s throat.

Mikawa nodded, feeling reassured by her comrade’s composure. Before she could even fathom her next movement, Ayame disappeared in front of her. The demolitions expert took note of Ayame running off towards the battlefield. She exhaled and followed her as the whole team was now on the move.

“Always on the move, Miss Ohta?” Goro inquired, keeping pace with his subordinate while Mikawa and Yamanka were falling behind.

“I was brought in for being the best, expect nothing less,” Ayame relayed, turning her attention to him for a brief moment.

Goro chuckled. “Sooner or later, I’ll get you to spill more about your life.”

“I highly doubt it,” Ayame chuckled, giving her superior a small smile before rushing off.

“Hide and seek….. O….” Goro attempted to speak, but was interrupted by another large explosion. He looked up to see the two Arrows unleashing their armament onto the kaiju as it unleashed a series of roars. It swung its arms at them, but missed with every attempt. “Godspeed, gents.”

The group of four raced into the ruined concrete jungle as broken and burnt cars littered the streets of the once proud city. Buildings were toppled over, forcing the crew to either climb over them or circle around to meet their objective. Verokron’s screams could be heard for miles and each one made the already broken streets rumble even further.

Lasers struck the creature onto its rough, uneven skin, eliciting slight burns on its darkened body. Verokron’s hands lit up once more, shooting out the same yellow energy as before, but the TAC pilots were faster on the draw, diverging out of the way to make another attack run.

Ayame scanned the entire area, trying to find a suitable place for Mikawa to fire the explosive in Verokron’s throat. Several of the buildings were on the verge of tipping over, but saw one that was in adequate shape. Mikawa and whoever else entered it would be at death’s door, but it was their only choice.

“Captain, Mikawa,” Ayame relayed through her earpiece. “Twelve o’clock.”

The rest of her team met up with her to find the building standing above them. Mikawa cringed at its remaining structure before turning to Ayame. “It’s the best we got.”

“Unfortunately as always, but we must proceed,” Goro added, taking a step towards the building. “Come along, Mikawa.”

“What about the rest of us, sir?” Ayame inquired, causing her superior to stop in his place.

You two will lead him from the ground while the others continue their assault. Yamanaka scoffed at the order, but nonetheless, pulled out his pistols. Ayame stepped forward. “I know I suggested it, but are you sure there’s no other way?”

“I never pegged you one to question orders, Miss Ohta,” Goro chuckled. “But we’ll be sure to get out of this, I assure all of you.”

“Yes, sir,” Ayame bitterly said, turning her back to engage the kaiju as Yamananka soon followed her. Goro simply smiled before heading up the path with the demolitions expert. Despite her attitude, he was proud to be working with such a dutiful soldier like Ayame.

“Wherever you are Mitsuko, I’m sure as hell glad you’re not here.”

Ayame tightened her grip on her gun, racing down the street trying to find the exact block the kaiju was on. She growled, fuming at the thought of not finding the kaiju immediately even if she would be able to spot him several miles away.

“Come on!” Ayame snapped, her speed increasing, trying to give Verokron a target to give. “Where the hell are you?”

“Captain, we have an emergency,” Konno said over the radio.

“Speak.”

“Verokron, he’s diverting his attention away from us and heading towards the power plant,” relayed the pilot.

“Fantastic,” Yamanaka groaned, slamming his pistols onto his side.

Ayame’s eyes widened. “Power plant?”

She slammed her fingers into her ear piece, almost cracking it. “Konno, do you know if the medical center is empty?”

A few moments of silence had passed as the two jets were confirming the status of the hospital. Ayame paced back and forth, slapping her hip in anticipation. Yamanaka cocked his head to the side, observing her behavior, never noticing her acting anxiously before. Aside from the Captain himself, she was the most competent member of their team.

“There’s still people evacuating,” Konno answered.

Then, as if a needle dropped, Ayame’s eyes widened while her heart dropped.

The TAC soldier immediately bolted towards the hospital as fast as she could. To Yamanaka, it was the fastest he saw her ever move, as if she were blur. He then shook his head, snapping himself out of his daze and called out to her, “Ayame! Where are you going!?”

His question fell on deaf ears as she radioed to the rest of her team. “Captain, we need to get Verokron back to us and away from the hospital.”

“That’s the plan, but I need you and Yamanaka back here with us,” the Captain relayed.

Ayame went silent, feeling absolutely disgusted with the order even if others knew it was the right one. However, what was at the hospital was far more important than any mission or city in the world.

“Duly noted, sir,” Ayame replied, shutting off her comm before racing further and further towards her destination.

“Ayame, Ayame!” the Captain tried to call out, but his calls also fell on deaf ears.

“Mitsuko, please….. Please… don’t be there,” Ayame murmured repeatedly.

***

Fukuyama Medical Center

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” Mitsuko hushed, comforting the infant as she latched onto her white and pink nurse’s uniform. She raced down the corridors of the hospital, finding herself in an unwitting competition with several of the other occupants. All of them trying to escape with their lives as the kaiju trekked closer and closer to them.

Several transports awaited the occupants of the building as everyone climbed aboard them for salvation. The nurse continued running and running, going down a flight of stairs to reach her destination. Keeping the baby secure with one hand, she yanked the door open to the lobby. Mitsuko barged inside, almost reaching for the front entrance when a wave of fleeing civilians rammed into her.

She let out a yelp, feeling herself lose her balance. Mitsuko wrapped her arms around the baby, as she quickly turned towards her back, allowing it and sadly, the back of her head to collapse on the hard floor.

Mitsuko heard nothing but ringing as swarms of people raced over her. Her body was almost motionless aside from her eyes and her arms, still wrapped around the baby. Seconds passed before more of her hearing could be realigned as she heard her favorite sound in the world.

“Mitsuko!” the angelic voice called out. “Mitsuko!”

The nurse slightly turned her head, feeling her body recomposing itself, to find Ayame pushing past several people with ease. Mitsuko smiled softly at her as Ayame was both furious yet more scared than ever before.

“Mitsuko!” Ayame yelled out, slamming one person away, causing him to be sent flying into a chair. The TAC soldier ran up to Mitsuko and the baby, lifting them up. Ayame attempted to inspect her for wounds, but was greeted by a kiss.

Her tongue danced with her own, as she felt herself at ease, bringing her body closer to hers. They stared into each other’s brown eyes, breathing rapidly over the excitement of being able to hold each other once more. Ayame couldn’t help but to be entranced by Mitsuko’s short brown hair dancing just past her ears. This embrace was just what she needed, but time wouldn’t allow it as they both snapped back to reality.

Ayame’s eyes snapped wide open before pulling away and casting a glare at her girlfriend. “Why the fuck didn’t you evacuate!?”

Mitsuko was stunned by her partner’s outburst, as her hands tightened up into fists as if she were ready to punch a hole through a wall or a person. She understood Ayame’s fear of losing her, but it wasn’t important right now. Her job was what’s important and that meant saving every life she could.

“I’m not prioritizing myself just so everyone else can die!” Mitsuko barked back, wobbling forward, hissing at the throbbing sensation in the back of her head.

“You picked the wrong day to do it!” Ayame screamed, snatching the baby from her hands, eliciting a gasp from her partner. The TAC soldier was furious, but already saw the pain her partner was in, realizing she’d only make it worse by arguing any further. Mitsuko stood there in shock before Ayame held the baby tight in her arms and yelled out “Come on!”

The two lovers raced out of the building and looked around for several transports, however there was none left. They saw the last bus depart from the hospital grounds.

“Damnit!” Ayame screamed out.

The TAC soldier yanked her helmet off as Mitsuko saw her long, well groomed, black hair dance with the wind upon its release. Ayame turned to Mitsuko and brought the helmet up to her chest. “Put it on.”

“What for?”

“To keep you safe!” Ayame barked out, as she watched Mitsuko nod and place the helmet over her.

Mitsuko attempted to use what strength remained her to argue against her partner’s logic of the helmet, but it was of no use. Ayame was set in her ways, but in the end, it didn’t matter. It was only because she loved her and was doing everything she could to keep her safe.

Verokron’s footsteps got closer and closer.

Ayame continued to search the area for any mode of transportation the three of them could use. Her eyes raced over every inch half a dozen times, however, there was nothing of use.

“Goddamnit!” Ayame cried out, her fist shaking in pure anger. Then, a soft hand was placed over hers as she saw Mitsuko smiling at her softly.

“I know, I know,” Mitsuko sheepishly responded, seeing the rage still flooding her eyes. She knew a small part of her was furious at her and the decisions she made. “I… I just… know you’re mad at me…”

“Right…..”

With a defeated sigh, Ayame placed herself on the asphalt, allowing Mitsuko to comfortably rest her broken head on her lap. The effects of the concussion won’t matter regardless of what she did. The TAC soldier looked up at Verokron advancing towards them.

Her earpiece went off, but it fell on deaf ears. The TAC soldier ripped the communication device off and threw it in the distance.

“I’m sorry for everything today.”

The TAC soldier let the baby rest between her and her girlfriend, allowing her to be nuzzled safely against the warm embrace of the nurse.

Ayame looked down at the culprit slowly lifting her body against hers while she attempted to remove the helmet. “What’s her name?”

“Yuka,” Mitsuko softly answered, rubbing the baby’s forehead gently, following it up with a soothing hum to coerce the baby to drift back to sleep.

“It’s a beautiful name.” Ayame smiled. “I would have stolen it.”

“And I’d be your trusty accomplice,” the nurse giggled slightly, shifting her gaze back to the sleeping Yuka. She smiled softly, relieved in the sense her last moments would be between two loving adults, cradling her in the best of a bad situation. The nurse glanced back up to her girlfriend.

“I know you wanted to keep me safe, but….” Mitsuko paused, struggling to remove the helmet as Ayame gave her a small smile, lifting it off of her. “I just want us to see each other, regardless… of where….”

“It’s okay,” Ayame hushed, feeling the anger slowly subside. She didn’t want to spend her last moments angry at the person she loved most of all.

The kaiju roared, startling the two, as its red bumps bounced up and down with each movement. It briefly looked at the building before turning its attention to the two women down below. These creatures of this planet were odd, yet fascinating. They almost resembled its creators, but were far more coherent in their appearance. Nonetheless, it will enjoy seeing its fiery wrath reduce them to a crisp.

Flames erupted from Verokron’s mouth, racing towards the two lovers as they held onto each other tightly. The two were afraid, but there was nothing more they could do.

“You are the best part of my life,” Mitsuko murmured.

“Likewise,” Ayame purred, snatching her up with one last kiss. Mitsuko tightened her grip on Ayame’s back as she pushed forward with her lips, almost overtaking the TAC soldier, eliciting a small giggle from her.

No matter how painful the blast will be, the comfort the two provided each other with will be eternal.

The flames engulfed them within seconds, settling them ablaze as their skin was soon reduced to a crisp.

Then, a white light engulfed them.

“You two are very lucky today….. be thankful for that.”

 

Chapter 3: Ultraman Ace vs. Verokron – First Steps

“And there you are,” Ultraman Ace spoke, witnessing Verokron march towards a building, spewing flames in every possible direction. He fully expected the anomaly to target him, but it had its eyes on something else.

The Ultra glanced down to see two humans huddling up together in the face of certain death. The gesture bewildered him, as he observed the area, taking note of the lack of escape routes Still, they could have attempted to run or find a place to hide from the kaiju, but were accepting their fate.

“Do the right thing,” Yuri’s soft voice spoke out in his head.

“Of course you’d say that, Yuri,” Ace slightly groaned, dreading the idea of not just one human, but two. The thought of two minds connecting to him would drive him crazy.

“Ace, please…. You’d do the same for us, why not them?” Rutia’s voice manifested in his head.

He knew neither of them were there with him, but he could hear their voices at almost any time, or at least imagine they were with him. Ace didn’t know why he constantly sought them out even though he’d argue with himself about it.

No.

There wasn’t time to think about them.

He had a mission to accomplish, but he could at least make them happy.

Ace ripped the circles off his ring fingers and dropped them onto the charred bodies of the two lovers. The Ultra landed next to them and were immediately engulfed into a ball of light, briefly stunning Verokron.

The kaiju’s eyes blinked several times as it then rubbed them, trying to regain its vision. Verokron blinked a few more times, finding its vision being restored to normal when it was greeted by a red and silver fist.

Ace roared out, throwing another punch at its mouth, shattering a few teeth while he struck its belly. The resulting impact forced the kaiju to gag, launching saliva onto the Ultra’s face.

“Gross!” Ace yelled out, launching one arm upwards and the other across it, unleashing his signature Metalium Beam. The yellow, blue, and red beam struck the creature’s belly, setting it ablaze as it shrieked out.

In its panicked state, Verokron lifted his hands up, aiming them directly at the approaching Ultra. The red and black kaiju launched several missiles at his chest as Ultraman Ace attempted to dodge. Yet, the missiles were faster and collided into him, but like a bouncing ball to a wall, they ricocheted off of him.

Ace shook his head, completely baffled by the useless attack the kaiju threw at him. He rushed over and slammed his foot onto Verokron’s neck, eliciting another series of gags. The anomaly thrashed around, attempting to escape Ace’s deadly restraint.

“That’s it,” Ace stared at the kaiju dead in the eyes, waiting for life to leave its destructive body. “You’ll pass on any minute now.”

Not soon enough, though.

In an act of desperation, Verokron slammed his hands together. His hands crackled with yellowish energy and shot them out. The beams collided into Ace’s face, earning the city a full fledged scream from the red and silver giant.

Ace continued to scream as he collapsed onto his back, squirming around on the dirt. Verokron, taking every advantage it could, rose back up on his feet. It approached the downed Ultra and unleashed a stream of flames, washing over his body.

The fire stream coarse over his entire body, as Ace felt searing pain all over. He grunted, attempting to hold back the pain, as he lifted his arms up to his head. A blue beam shot out of his head and into the neck of Verokron, ceasing his assault and allowing Ace to get back up.

Verokron choked out while Ace responded in kind with another Metalium Beam. The projectile shot into its shoulder, blowing a chunk of it off. Blood erupted like a volcano as the kaiju elicited another scream of agony, with it clutching its wound, attempting to nurse it back to health.

Ace provided no opening and rushed in. The Ultra launched himself upward and pointed his right leg forward, delivering an Ace kick into the belly of the beast. Verokron was launched backwards, stumbling as it fought against gravity, trying to regain its balance.

The Ultra Brother charged forward, intending to finish the kaiju once and for all. Verokron lifted his head up slightly at the approaching giant. It breathed out, feeling its energy nearly expended. It wanted to retreat, to rest, but its creators would not let it.

It was a machine, only existing to serve.

Still, it can take pride knowing that it could take down an Ultra with one last trick. It lifted his hands up, generating energy between them. Ace prepared himself for another volley of missiles to crash into him.

Oh, how wrong he was for expecting a simple fight.

A ring materialized between his hands and without a second thought, threw it above Ultraman Ace. Within a second, it landed on him, restraining him.

“What?” Ace snarled, feeling his body being constricted by the energy ring. “What is this garbage?”

“Some sort of restraint,” a voice spoke out in Ace’s head.

It forced him to search around the battlefield to find the culprit as a different, yet kinder voice spoke again. “We’re in your head, I think?”

“Right….. My passengers,” Ace surmised, going to facepalm himself, but felt himself still restrained by the yellowish white ring.

“Where the hell are we, by the way?” the first voice spoke out, peering through the inside of the Ultra’s eye. She took note of the city of Fukuyama still in the middle of a warzone before taking note of Verokron approaching them.

“Shit!”

“What is it, Ayame?” Mitsuko cried out, feeling herself starting to tense up.

“Verokron is still here and is about to kill us!” Ayame exclaimed, panicking at the thought of losing her lover once more. She turned around from the orb in front of her and attempted to move around the corner to reach her. Yet, the layout of Ace’s mind would not allow her to traverse any further.

“When I’m out in the open, neither of you can really move all that much,” Ace explained, wanting to roll his eyes at the amount of exposition he was dropping on the two of them.

“What, why not?” Mitsuko inquired, searching for a way to escape the silver and red prison.

“Then why the hell did you trap us in here?” Ayame vocalized angrily, as she slammed her elbow on the wall.

“Ow!” Ace yelled out, feeling his head starting to pound repeatedly from the impact. “And I didn’t trap you, you ungrateful Pigmon! I rescued you from becoming ashes.”

The couple were stunned by the revelation, as they realized what type of being they were dealing with.

An Ultra.

“Okay, then, what are we dealing with?” Mitsuko inquired, attempting to smooth things over between the three of them. She already had a feeling their supposed arrangement would end with a screaming match between Ayame and the Ultra.

“That terrible monster right there has me pinned. I don’t know how long, but another charge of his flame breath would be the end of us,” Ace delivered, explaining the rundown of the battle to the two women. “If you have any useful ideas, you better send them my way.”

Ayame stared out of the optic and observed the approaching Verokron. She noticed it was still nursing its shoulder wound, and opening and closing its mouth repeatedly. She rubbed her chin while she wrapped her body around her torso, attempting to find a solution to this conflict.

“Explosives!” Ayame called out, earning the attention of the Ultra. “Do you have anything like that?”

The Ultra smirked. “I do.”

“What are you up to, Aya?” Mitsuko inquired.

“Fulfilling the original plan of my mission,” relayed Ayame, following it up with a wink. She slightly slapped herself on the head, realizing her beloved didn’t see the gesture. Nonetheless, she resumed her attention to the battle ahead. “Whatever beam you have, shove it down that bastard’s throat and watch it explode.”

“Bastard?” Ace asked, slightly tilting his head. “I’m not familiar with that word.”

“It’s an insult, something we shouldn’t really say,” Mitsuko interjected.

“Sounds like fun,” Ace chuckled, placing his restrained hands together and aiming them slightly up at the approaching Verokron. It opened its mouth and launched another stream of flames, eliciting another cry of pain from the Ultra. It washed over him, his flesh feeling like it was melting, as he felt himself barely standing.

He tweaked his hands a bit further, finding that perfect angle to commence his attack. Ace then unleashed his hand beam, with a blue light shooting out his digits. The beam sliced through Verokron’s shoulder, completely disconnecting it from the rest of his body.

His entire left arm collapsed onto the ground as Verokron stood frozen in shock. It stared at the now free Ace in disbelief, as it was able to escape its prison. Every instinct or command, as he knew them, told him to fight back, but he knew this was a futile effort.

Verokron almost achieved his purpose in life.

He destroyed, fought, and was now gonna die.

His mission, in his point of view, was a success.

No matter what his creators told him.

Ace let out a scream, charging towards the red and black kaiju, and grabbed a hold of him. He pried his mouth open and slammed his hands down his throat. The Ultra Brother charged up his hands and shot off a red beam. It traveled down his body, melting every organ and bone it touched. Within seconds, Verokron’s life faded away from his body and beige goop flowed out of his mouth and its massive wound.

The Ultra took a deep breath and smiled, feeling proud of himself for saving the day quite efficiently in his eyes. He may have still hated it, but a part of him did enjoy the glory, especially if that meant making Jack feel inferior. He knew the humans had ways of finding out these events quite easily and was curious as to how his old rival would feel about his escapades.

“You mind telling us what the hell is going on?” Ayame asked, still peering through Ace’s optic.

Ace sighed, realizing his passengers were still with him. “Short story, because I’m not explaining all of this.”

Mitsuko nodded, attempting to memorize every detail she could.

“The name is Ace. I came down because the two of you were in danger and merged my lifeforce with what remained of your living bodies. We are all one in the same, I suppose,” Ace explained, before surveying the rest of the city, making sure they were in the clear. “And that’s the gist of it.”

Ayame nodded her head, keeping track of the story when a certain word caught Mitsuko’s attention. Her mouth quivered while her eyes widened, when a terrible thought crossed her mind.

“The baby!” Mitsuko cried out, lightly pounding on the wall around her. “Yuka! Where is she!?”

“Baby? What are you talking about?” Ace asked, completely baffled at what she was trying to demonstrate.

“The baby! We were holding her in our arms before we ended up here!” Mitsuko barked, shoving her face up to the orb, searching the entire area for any sign of the child.

“How did you not see us holding a baby!” Ayame joined in, anger rising up at the realization the giant had time to save them from death, but not for the child.

“I’m not making this up, you filthy Pigmon!” Ace countered, throwing his arms up. “If I’d have seen a child, I would have gotten them out of there!”

“Looks like you failed,” Ayame growled before turning over to the wall that divided her and Mitsuko. She felt the immense pain and guilt washing over her lover’s body. Both physically and mentally.

She wasn’t even a parent and she was already going through the loss of a child.

No one deserved that.

Especially Mitsuko.

“Asshole,” Ayame spat, looking away from his optic, as she pressed her body against the wall, trying to get as close as she could to her. All she heard was crying, followed up by screams of anguish.

“Yuka!”

***

A pair of eyes were glued to binoculars, observing the red and silver giant off in the distance. The culprit set the field glasses back into his bag as he took a moment to watch his TAC subordinates walk past him for checkups on injuries.

The Captain, Goro Ryu, smirked at the arrival of Ace and the revelation of who his two hosts were. He couldn’t help but smile, with one of them being his very own second in command along with it being someone she must care for a lot.

“Interesting…..” Goro hummed as his eyes flashed yellow. “I am very much looking forward to working with you, Ace, and whoever this mystery person is.”

 

Chapter 4: The Past and Present Dilemmas

Ace sat on a blue crystalline couch as he set a datapad down on the table just across from him. He shook his head from the discomfort he faced serving his time in a cell. It had only been a few years since his release, but he could still feel himself trapped inside a change with nothing, but a green wall to stare at.

“Jack…… you worthless, pile of….” Ace breathed out, but stopped his rant when he heard the front door open.

“I hope you’re not talking about me,” Ruko chirped, raising his eyes up, attempting to get his partner to react.

“Depends, is your name Jack?” Ace scoffed, not in the mood for his boyfriend’s games. He tilted his head upwards to find him standing in front of the door with his hand on his hip.
“And somehow I fell for this idiot.”

The blue mark on his face that ran down the center of his, separating his eyes, was something oddly appealing to him. Then, there was the tiara he always wore on the top of his head, seemingly connecting it to his birthmark.

It was mesmerizing.

“Would you still love me if I shared the same name?” Ruko hummed as he approached Ace.

Ace shook his head as he got up to meet his gaze. “Do you really want to hear the answer?”

Ruko looked at his lover, catching the frown plastered all over his face. The Ultra chuckled, rubbing his shoulder as he planted a kiss on Ace’s lips. “I suppose I can wait.”

“So, what brings you here, Ruko?” Ace huffed out, curious as to why Ruko decided to pay him a visit today. He cocked his slightly when he realized Yuri wasn’t with him, as they were always seen together, or even clinging to him. “Yuri out and about?”

“Her and Taro are taking the kiddo on a tour to the zoo,” Ruko answered, eliciting a chuckle from Ace. “Apparently he kept saying it was imperative for him and his nephew to bond over monsters.”

“Sounds like him,” Ace added, as he then noticed Ruko playing with his hands. He was baffled by the sudden change in his demeanor. Normally, he’d tell anyone else to spit it out and to stop delaying, whether they were too nervous or doing it for dramatic effect.

The Ultra Brother sighed, taking a hold of his partner, earning a gasp from him. He sat him down on the couch and joined him, as he wrapped his arm around his shoulder. Ruko placed his hand on Ace’s chest and looked up at him.

“There’s something I need to tell you,” murmured Ruko, rubbing his partner’s chest.

“I could tell,” Ace replied nonchalantly, causing Ruko to gulp, forming a mask of apprehension. The Ultra Brother realized he stepped in the wrong direction on how to handle comforting his partner. “Sorry, that came out wrong.”

“No,” Ruko hushed, feeling some relief over the tone of Ace’s voice. He glanced back up at him and noticed a small amount of regret for what he said. “It’s okay, this will probably be a hard conversation.”

“Well…..” Ace spoke, rubbing his shoulder while he brought his head against his chest. “We got plenty of time to talk about it.”

Their heartbeats danced in synchronization as they both waited for the right time to begin. Ace knew whatever Ruko had to say was important and not to be treated lightly. They had their moments of levity, but the two of them always trusted each other when it came down to them being vulnerable.

The only person they could do that with was Yuri.

Ruko slid his face upwards towards Ace, looking him blankly in the eye. “There’s no better way to say this….. I don’t want Ruko to be my name anymore.”

“That’s, um…. odd,” Ace spoke, trying to compose the words he needed to convey his response. “I thought you always liked Ruko.”

“It’s a good name, but….” the Ultra spoke, lifting his head up away from Ace. “It doesn’t fit me and I don’t think it ever did.”

Ace sat back up to meet his level, rubbing his head, several thoughts racing in his mind as to where his partner was going with all of this. “It’ll be a bit of adjustment, but I can work with it.”

The Ultra smiled softly. “Rutia.”

“Rutia?” inquired Ace.

“Mhm” Rutia murmured, placing his hands together in front of his chest, pressing it tightly, readying himself to tell Ace one other thing about himself. “I’m no longer your boyfriend.”

“No……” Ace whispered, his heart shattering to pieces at what Rutia had just conveyed to him. He didn’t need this. He lost two-thousand years of his life for someone’s mistake and now he was losing one, if not both of his loves.

He hung his head down.

“Oh no!” Rutia exclaimed, realizing he said the wrong thing. The Ultra scurried across the couch and snatched Ace up, holding him tightly as he rubbed his back and pressed his face against his chest.

“Then, what the hell did you mean by that?” question Ace, his voice cracking slightly between each word.

“It means I’m now your girlfriend,” Rutia clarified, holding her partner while Ace lifted his head to meet her gaze. “If you’ll have me.”

“I should throw you into a pit of Bemstars for scaring me!” Ace yelled out, bringing his girlfriend closer to him, as he leaned towards her ear. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily, by the way.”

Rutia giggled. “I love you so much.”

“As do I,” Ace hummed. “You’re going to be a great mother.”

“And you’re going to be a great father,” Rutia playfully shot back, grinning at him as Ace realized he was talking about her and Yuri’s kid.

“Not this again”

He wanted to point out that he barely spent time with the kid, much less bonded with him on anything meaningful. Him being a dad wouldn’t benefit him all that much, as he already had two loving parents to attend to his every need. They were there to show him right and wrong, to teach him how to be a good man.

He wasn’t needed in that regard.

Ace would be redundant.

Then, Ace snapped out his thought process when he felt a soft hand lightly grabbing his chin. He looked down to see Rutia smiling, grabbing him with her delicate hand. “No matter what, you will always be a part of the family. We accept you for you.”

Ace chuckled at the feeling of serenity. It had been a while where he could just feel calm instead of flying into a blind rage at any second. He was fully aware of his problems and he wasn’t the greatest in the academy or even in his family, but for those he loved, he wanted to put the effort in. He wanted to show he could do better.

He just didn’t know how to make it genuine.

Ace just had to try his best.

“You will always be accepted by me,” Ace whispered as he went to deliver a kiss to Rutia, but she beat him to the punch and pounced on him, completely over taking the Ultra Brother.

***

“So you can’t leave us be?” Ayame asked, instinctively looking up at the Ultra the two of them were now bonded with.

“You would need a Beta Capsule for us to separate,” Ace answered, folding his arms as he glanced at the brown couch in his hosts’ living room.

“Great!” the TAC soldier exclaimed, throwing her hands at the holographic Ultra. “Use it!”

“Can’t,” Ace simply answered, allowing himself to collapse only for him to phase right through it. Like a ghost moving through the many objects in a house, he floated through the couch to meet Ayame’s gaze. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Well, why not!?” Ayame mouthed, her tone of voice becoming more and more angry as she tilted her head. She never once kept her eyes on the being. “You clearly fucked up. We don’t want you around.”

Ace huffed, taking a brief look at his other host, Mitsuko. Her short brown hair was now a mess and gone was her nurse’s outfit, now replaced with a pink robe. She sat there silently, looking at the floor while her hands covered her knees. He shook his head, he felt bad about not knowing about the baby, but through his eyes, it was the least consequential route.

“How would a baby work as a host?” Ace mentally questioned himself.

The Ultra huffed. “I did what I had to and besides, we’d have to go a long way to retrieve one.”

Ayame threw her hands up, stomping forward, nearly shoving her face into his. “Great! I don’t mind traveling to get it, if it means getting rid of you dipshit!”

“You really are stupid, aren’t you?” Ace barked back, pushing his head towards hers, his glowing yellow eyes glared into her brown eyes. “If we really go through with your plan, the moment we all separate, the two of you will be ash.”

Ayame gulped, immediately breaking her glare from Ace and looked at Mitsuko. Her heart pounded non stop at the thought of her being reduced to nothing, taken from this world by her own reckless decision.

Mitsuko lifted her head up slowly to look at Ayame, that same fear washing over her as well. She already lost a baby she vowed to protect and it caused her great suffering. Losing Ayame, her best friend, the love of her life, would break her. Mitsuko’s mouth quivered as she wanted to say something, as her round, light pink cheeks shook in conjunction.

“Ayame….” she weakly responded, barely keeping herself composed as tears rained down from her eyes. “Just let it go….. We can find a way.”

Ace smirked at their conversation, eliciting the ire of Ayame, as she snapped her back to him. “You find this funny!?”

“Not in the way you’re thinking of,” Ace clarified, thinking back to the times of his life where he was more at ease. “The two of you just remind me of people back home.”

“And they can somehow stand you?”

“Yeah,” Ace answered curtly, shrugging his shoulders. “It also helps that I actually like them.”

“Oh, good for you then,” Ayame spat. “You’re actually capable of getting someone to like you.”

“Right back at you,” Ace threw back, before his mind drifted back to his host’s original question. “So, you still want to make the trip?”

Ayame tightened her grip, snapping back to her love. Mitsuko’s head was hanging back down as the TAC soldier stared at her. She was the best thing that happened to her and despite her hatred for the Ultra, she couldn’t let her die.

“No,” Ayame spat, taking another step. “Just so we’re clear, this doesn’t mean you’re off the hook.”

“Duly noted, dipshit,” Ace retaliated, taking another step forward to meet her glare.

BUZZ!

The doorbell caused both occupants of the apartment to jump up in shock. Neither of them were expecting visitors as Ayame growled at the interference. Whoever it was, she was in no mood for guests. Ayame yanked the door open and was ready to unleash everything she had at the visitor for bothering them at the worst time in their lives.

To her surprise, though, no one was there to meet her gaze. Instead, she looked down to see a child, no older than ten years old. The child looked up at her slightly messy black hair as she was dressed in an orange sweater and brown shorts. Ayame inspected his appearance to find the same colored brown eyes he shared with her and the short black hair. He wore black pants and a green shirt containing Eleking on it.

Ayame’s facial expression switched the fury to surprise in a millisecond. “Chiharu, what are you doing here!?”

“You told mom and dad that I can stay with you for the summer,” the boy answered, gripping the handle of his suitcase.

“I’m not opposed to you staying here, I just…. I must have completely forgotten with everything going on,” Ayame nearly stammered, trying to compose herself as best as she could in front of her younger brother.

Chiharu glanced into the apartment. “Can I come in?”

“Um, yes! Of course,” Ayame spoke aloud, stepping aside as she gestured for him to enter.

The boy walked in, setting his suitcase down as he glanced over at Mitsuko, still upset. Chiharu cocked his head to the side as he approached the depressed nurse. He tugged on her robe lightly.

Mitsuko slightly turned her head up at the boy. On the outside she kept the same exact look she provided to Ayame, but on the inside, she hated how she was looking at the boy. He was a part of her family and she always brought joy to him when they interacted. Yet, she couldn’t provide that for him, especially when they promised to watch over him for the summer.

“Are you okay?” Chiharu inquired, keeping his grip on the sleeve.

Mitsuko looked him in the eye, keeping her composure as best as she could. However, she could barely speak. Her mouth quivered as she attempted to speak, but was cut off by Ayame who stepped right next to her brother.

“Mitsuko….” Ayame spoke, attempting to find the right words to convey what happened to them without mentioning the fusion. She lightly gripped her brother’s shoulders as she came up with an answer. “Had a hard time at work a few days ago and just needs some time to clear her head.”

Chiharu shook his head. He understood what his sister meant as they were both present at the Fukuyama attack. The boy glanced back at the still distraught Mitsuko and reached out for a hug, immediately pulling her in his embrace.

The nurse yelped in shock, as she slowly looked down to see him wrap himself up around her. She smiled softly at him as Mitsuko lightly rubbed his head, slightly ruffling up his hair. Chiharu chuckled as did she. A little bit of life was slowly coming back to her as she extended her arms forward, bringing him closer to her.

“Well, that was easy,” Ace remarked, earning a glare from Ayame who snapped her back at him. “Who would have thought that’s all it took.”

“You’re an asshole,” Ayame hissed silently in order to prevent her brother from knowing her secret.

“Takes one to know one,” Ace remarked. “Turns out I lucked out with my pickings.” Ayame turned back to her loved ones as she attempted to speak with them, only to receive an alert on comms.

“Dammit,” she whispered, as she picked up the device from the kitchen counter.

“Ayame,” Goro’s voice came through the radio.

“Yes, sir?”

“I need you to report to headquarters immediately,” clarified the Captain.

“Of course, sir,” Ayame spoke bluntly before hanging up. “Goddammit!” She screamed in mental anguish.

“I’m loving these words, by the way. They really seem like my language,” Ace interjected.

“Just shut up,” Ayame growled silently once more, as she glanced over to Mitsuko slowly becoming more talkative with her brother. Then, like a lightbulb turning on, a thought occurred to her. Ayame then turned back to Ace. “Where do you go when Mitsuko and I aren’t in the same area together?”

“I thought you told me to shut up?” Ace mocked, brushing his hands together, looking away from her direction.

“Just answer the damn question,” Ayame spat, gripping the counter as a way to relieve her anger.

“I just simply bounce back between the two conduits. You and Mitsuko,” explained Ace. “It’s not rocket science.”

“Okay!” Ayame inhaled as she clapped her hands together before exhaling. “In that case, you’re coming with me.”

“What? You don’t trust me to watch over her?” Ace inquired, turning his head over to Mitsuko. He had to admit, compared to Ayame, she didn’t seem so bad. She was kind and seemed like the person who’d accept you for who you are. A person you could talk to for hours and make you forget about worries.

Just like Rutia.

“No,” Ayame answered bluntly, her face completely deadpan as if all emotion left her body. “You’ve done enough.”

The TAC soldier walked over to her brother and poked him on the shoulder. Chiharu turned around to meet her, smiling down at him. Ayame lowered herself down to meet him on his level, as she breathed out. “I hate to do this since you just got here, but I got called into work. Do you think you can keep Mitsuko company and raise her spirits?”

“Of course! I’d love to spend time with her!” Chiharu exclaimed, eliciting a small giggle from Mitsuko.

Ayame glanced at her girlfriend with a small smile. “It’s good to see you smile again.”

The TAC soldier leaned over and gave her a small kiss, instilling a tiny bit of life back into her. Mitsuko lifted her hand up and placed it over Ayame’s, rubbing it. Despite her constant duties at her job and the maintenance she does for the two of them, she always found a way to keep her hands soft.

Ayame smiled, feeling a sense of relief Mitsuko was coming back as her old self. Unfortunately, it was time to head back to headquarters and to leave her beloved behind. At the very least, she could take comfort knowing that Mitsuko will be with the makings of a great man.

All the while she’d be stuck with the worst one imaginable.

 

Chapter 5: Type “O” Disappearances

With a turn of a nob, she opened the door to her captain’s office. Goro looked up from his screen and eyed Ayame closing the door. “Ah, miss Ohta.”

The Captain motioned his hand forward. “Please take a seat.”

Ayame did so at his request and plotted herself down on the black chair, sitting just across from him. She let out a deep breath, thinking about every possible thing her superior would want to discuss with her. Her desertion, her disregard for protocol and possibly either a suspension or full on dismissal from TAC.

She gritted her teeth, despite not regretting her actions to abandon her duty and to save the woman she loved. However, the tradeoff was possibly being expelled from every position involving being a soldier or guard. Being a soldier, a defender, was one of the few things she was good at.

Ayame was never good at civilized life, not until Mitsuko boosted her up from terrible to tolerable. Despite her rough exterior, she knew her partner was ultimately the more stable person. The TAC soldier knew Mitsuko had her moments of sadness and despair, but she always picked herself up, stronger than ever.

Ayame chuckled ever so quietly.

“And I rage until I wake back up with her wrapped around me in bed.”

Still, she had to see this meeting through, otherwise she’d definitely be fired.

“Miss Ohta, I want to discuss the recents events that transpired over the past couple of days,” Captain Goro explained, lifting a small stack of papers and began observing them one by one.

“Of course, sir, “Ayame acknowledged, placing her hands on her lap.

Goro looked up from the stack and at his subordinate. “I won’t sugarcoat it, but I wish to know what exactly coaxed you into running off.”

“Shit….”

Ayame tightened her hands, tightly on the fabric of her uniform.

“I gathered that you wanted to provide assistance to the hospital, as several staff members have informed me you were there to help,” Goro clarified, placing his elbows on the white desk, putting his hands together as he let his fingers tap against each other. “But I feel like there was something more to it, as if there was something or someone you wanted to save above all else.”

Ayame tugged at her collar a bit, realizing she was on the hook. A great deal of concern washed over her, feeling as if several red lights shone down on her, leaving her out in the open and vulnerable.

She let out a sigh, feeling no use in lying. Ayame looked at her superior, determination plastered on her face, but her voice shook. “I…. I couldn’t stand losing my…. my partner…”

Goro’s eyebrows raised up a bit, as he slightly leaned back in his chair. “I understand. Losing your husband is a very understandable fear and under the circumstances, it’s acceptable.”

Ayame nodded in respect. “Thank you, sir, but I don’t have a husband.”

“Boyfriend, then,” Goro spoke, attempting to correct himself for the mistake.

The TAC subordinate shook her head, feeling slightly uneasy about revealing a personal detail about herself, but rationed he’d not give it up. What happens next will be no fault of her if things went sideways.

“Girlfriend,” Ayame clarified, letting palms fall flat on her legs.

“Oh,” Goro spoke, repeatedly tapping his fingers. “Good to know you and her are okay, then.”

Ayame cocked her head to the side, as she expected her superior to have an issue with who her partner was. “I must admit, sir. I’m surprised to hear that from you.”

Goro leaned forward from his chair, letting his hands drop. “As beautiful as Earth could be, some of its people are not. Disgusted by those who wish to live differently than them is one of my least favorite things about the human race.”

“That’s…. uh….. strangely well put,” Ayame commended, almost floored by the way her superior was responding to their conversation. “I didn’t expect you to say that.”

Goro shrugged his shoulders. “I like to surprise people.”

Ayame chuckled, feeling a sense of comradery and respect for her leader. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to get to know her captain and coworkers better.

“Still, I do have a mission for you,” Goro reported, his tone changing from relaxed to stern, looking down at his stack of papers. “There have been several disappearances occurring in the past couple of days.”

The Captain handed his deputy the dossier, as she inspected it. Ayame looked it over, scanning every bit of information she could absorb. A lot of things peaked out at her, such as the sinkholes appearing randomly in the streets and the disappearances of several, mainly women with type O blood.

Ayame looked up from her dossier. “Why type O?”

Goro waved his hands in confusion. “I don’t know, but the only thing I can rationalize here is the culprit needing it for something. Be it subsistence or some way to fuel itself.”

“Kaijin, perhaps?” inquired Ayame, her eyes widening at the thought of another monstrosity terrorizing the streets so soon after Verokron.

“Or kaiju, or Seijin,” added Goro.

“Exciting,” Ayame muttered, preparing herself for the day she’d have to take part in blowing several alien craft out of the sky. She had seen the footage of several encounters, but she’d never want to take part in it. Kaiju were her specialty.

“Any idea where these attacks largely take place?” Ayame asked. “Or at least follow a pattern from one to the other?”

“The more populated the area, the greater the destruction,” Goro answered, already baffled at how well the attacks could spring up at any moment.

“Knowing the city, that’ll be almost impossible,” Ayame vocalized.

Goro shook his in agreement. “Correct, which is why I’m having just about the whole team out and about, patrolling the streets several hours a day.”

“I suppose it’s the best thing we can do,” Ayame concurred, getting up as she then saluted her captain. “I’ll join the effort as well.”

“Granted,” Goro affirmed, as Ayame turned around as he then spoke up once again. “Miss Ohta.”

Just as Ayame had her hand on the doorknob, she turned around to face her Captain once more. She was curious at what her superior had to say as he never once had anything more to add after a briefing.

“Sir?”

“We should have dinner sometime,” Goro relayed, tapping his fingers once more. “You and your girlfriend. I’m trying to get to know the people in my life better.”

Ayame nodded. It wasn’t her ideal way to allocate her time, spending it with coworkers or her boss during her personal life. She tilted her head slightly, thinking back at how Mitsuko wanted to coordinate gatherings more often.

“I suppose we can set up a day to make that happen,” Ayame spoke, acquiescing to his request.

“This is for you, Mi.”

“Splendid!” Goro tapped his fingers excitedly. “Getting to know people, one of my favorite things to do.”

Ayame chuckled at the way her boss phrased that statement. She found him strange, quirky, but realized he was just friendly. She figured Mitsuko would have a field day with him, as they’d thankfully do all the talking while she could just sit back and tune it out.

The TAC soldier opened the door and closed it while Goro’s eyes flash yellow once more. “Perhaps you will allow me control of the Earth as opposed to Ultraman and the child, Ace.”

***

“Shit, I wished he shut up!” Ace exclaimed, materializing right next to Ayame as she walked down the busy sidewalk.

Ayame rolled her eyes at the alien talking once more. She smirked, however, knowing she could at least get one over him by explaining something he clearly didn’t understand. “You do know it’s better to say ‘fuck’ in this instance, right?”

“Lecturing me?” Ace mocked, swinging his hands over his face dismissively. “Fun!”

The TAC soldier shrugged her shoulders, retaining the smirk on her face at seeing the Ultra slowly become infuriated. “It’s fun for me.”

“Asshole,” Ace snarled.

“Oh ho ho!” Ayame giggled, causing pedestrians to look at her strangely. She glanced over to them, realizing that outburst of laughter was unprompted in everyone else’s eyes.

“Remember, only….” Ace tried to lecture, mocking his host until she cut him off.

“Only Mitsuko and I can see you!” Ayame nearly snapped out loud. “I got it!”

“Probably the smartest human I know, then,” the Ultra said, almost chuckling at his comment.

“And how many humans do you know?” inquired Ayame, raising her eyebrows as she stopped at a green and black building with purple lights on it. She inspected the sign, reading ‘Nyan Noodles’.

“About the same as you according to your boss,” Ace fired back.

Ayame gripped her pocket, rolling her eyes. “I doubt it.”

She gripped the handle of the door and entered the building. Ayame eyed the chef and said “Three Niku Udons to go, please.”

“Are you trying to challenge me on who has less people in their life?” Ultraman Ace spat. “It’s incredibly childish, but I don’t mind competition.”

“Yeah!” Ayame spoke aloud, but immediately silenced herself as she realized once again only she could see him. The TAC soldier sat down in a booth, resuming her conversation. “I would like to challenge you to see how sad your life is.”

“Prepare to be disappointed, asshole,” Ace spoke, snapping his fingers as the dimly lit restaurant grew brighter. The once brown walls morphed into teal crystalline walls as furniture morphed into objects she never saw.

Ayame’s eyes grew wide, her stomach turning to knots as she reached for the gun in her pocket. “Scared already?” Ace asked, glancing down at the already nervous Ayame, chuckling at her lack of knowledge. “Nothing here could hurt you; these are just my memories.”

She shook her head angrily at him mocking her, but relinquished her hold on her gun. The morphing was complete as she realized she was no longer in the restaurant mentally. Ayame saw Ace along with another Ultra sitting with him.

Her hair, or at least what it was supposed to be, was done in a ponytail while her eyes shined blue, matching the room. The half of her face was covered in red while the bottom half was silver.

“You’re expecting?” the past version of Ace asked, slowly putting his hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay? Is this what you wanted?’

Yuri shook her head excitedly. “Yes, Ruko and I are very excited.”

Ace’s past-self chuckled, smiling at her answer. “Then, I’m happy!”

“There’s just so many things to do!” Yuri explained, holding out her hand, counting down each of the things she needed. “We need to repaint the room for them, gather baby supplies, and take a bunch of classes! There’s just so much!”

The past Ace smirked, rubbing her shoulder. “Sounds like you and Ruko have your work cut out.”

“Nah!” Yuri playfully exclaimed, placing her hand on Ace’s thigh, looking him straight in the eye. “You’re taking those classes with us.”

Ace’s past-self reared his head back, tilting his head in confusion. “What do you mean ‘we’?”

Yuri frowned at him and smacked him upside the head. “You’re going to be this baby’s parent too.”

“I…. uh…..” Ace spoke, trying to come up with a response on why he shouldn’t be a parent. He glanced down at her still eliciting that frown. The frown that could send him to back down despite his known outbursts.

“Gotcha,” Yuri hummed, before placing herself on his lap and sending her lips plummeting towards him. Ace was then wrapped up by her embrace and tackled at him, pinning him down.

“Okay, okay! I get it!” Ayame exclaimed as Ace snapped his fingers, dismantling the crystalline structure and back to the restaurant’s aesthetics.

“Too much for you?” Ace asked, planting himself on the seat opposite of Ayame, but immediately phased through the booth. “Dammit!”

“Keep practicing, but I doubt you’ll get better at it,” Ayame teased while Ace flowed back up to meet her gaze, as he then hovered over the seat.

“Oh haha,” spat the Ultra, planting his hands together. “You didn’t answer my question, though.”

“I’m not fond of seeing other people’s business regardless of how many partners you have,” Ayame reasoned.

“Prude,” remarked Ace.

“Don’t ever spy on me and Mitsuko,” threatened Ayame, gripping the wooden table just below her, imagining snapping his neck if she could ever get a hold of him.

“Please! I would have better things to do than to watch you two do the deed,” Ace shot back.

Their conversation turned to standstill as they stared at each for a few moments until Ayame breathed out. Her mind wandered on what particular aspect of the memory her Ultra showed her.

“I do have one question, though,” Ayame brought up.

“Here we go.”

“Why did you seem so hesitant about being a dad?” she inquired, loosening her grip on the table, closely inspecting his body moments. Ayame immediately noticed his shoulders lowering down ever so slightly as he hung his head down.

“The kid already has two parents,” Ace answered shortly, but glanced up to see his explanation would not be satisfactory to her. He groaned slightly before continuing. “I never abandoned him, just wasn’t the most active adult in his life, but I know he had a good life with his biological parents. He never went to bed hungry and always knew he was loved. The point is….”

“You think you’d be a shitty dad?” Ayame deduced, letting go of her grasp on the table and placed them on the surface of it. Had this been anyone before, she might have reached out to comfort him, but they weren’t on good terms right now. Ayame did know she could relate to his struggle as Mitsuko wanted children along with getting married, but those thoughts terrified her.

“In a sense,” Ace mumbled, looking down at the table, contemplating his life as if he held onto regrets that still washed over him. His host continued to study him, trying to grasp everything that had transpired to make him feel like that.

“I understand,” Ayame relayed, tapping her hand on the table lightly.

Her order soon came to be picked up as she grabbed the bags and paid her due. Ayame walked out of the restaurant and down the street, contemplating just how fast her conversation with Ace turned from hatred to understanding.

The TAC soldier went to pinch her nose when the ground around her shook violently. Ayame barely kept herself standing while she saw other people collapsing from the intensity of the ground splitting apart.

“Steady!” Ace commanded, keeping his eyes peeled around the area, inspecting the anomaly.

BOOM!

The middle street collapsed with several vehicles and people plummeting to the abyss. Their screams could be heard down several streets as the ones who were lucky started to run.

What they all failed to realize was that luck could only get you so far. A pulsating wave washed passed through those running and pulled them into the newfound sinkhole. The streets were screaming again as Ayame watched in horror at seeing several innocent people being sucked up to their demise.

Never to be seen again in the body of the Earth.

Thud.

Ayame dropped her bags and raced towards the sinkhole, intending to rescue anyone she could.

“Ayame, we should call in Mitsuko!” Ace reasoned. “I can materialize and end this whole thing.”

“No!” Ayame snapped. “I’m not risking her life.”

“I can only keep you stable for so long!” Ace relayed, feeling uneasy about the situation he was being dragged into.

“Then let’s make it fast!” Ayame barked, throwing herself at the edge of the sink, throwing her arm outwards for anyone to reach.

The effort, while admirable, was hopeless. Ayame didn’t know what she could achieve with it, only that she needed to try. She stretched her arm forward, desperately hoping anyone would be able to grab it, but it was fruitless.

One by one, she watched as each person was devoured by the sinkhole. Man, woman, child, all becoming victims for whatever lay beneath them.

“Dammit!” Ayame screamed, feeling that hopelessness weighed down on her body. The TAC reared her arm backwards, intending to accept defeat only to feel something latch onto it.

Ayame snapped her head down and saw a woman with short black hair, gripping her arm as tight as she could. The TAC soldier smiled, her heart going a mile a minute as she pulled with all of her might. Ayame almost threw the girl over her back, holding onto her tightly until the pulsating waves ceased.

The two sat there, their breathing intensifying as she looked up at Ayame, immediately wrapping her up in a hug, bawling her eyes. “Thank you! Thank you so much!”

Ayame simply nodded, not knowing what to say as she patted her on the shoulder. The TAC soldier then looked at the civilian in the face. “I’m just glad you’re safe, just make sure you get out of here before it starts all over again.”

The girl nodded before running off while Ayame sat in the middle of the street. She stared down the hole, finding nothing but that abyss she saw earlier. Ayame placed her hand on her chest, allowing her to catch her breath, feeling grateful to Ace for once.

She nearly gagged at the thought, but nonetheless, appreciated him for allowing her to save at least one person. Today wasn’t a victory, but she could at least live knowing she did everything she could and that she saved someone.

Ace stood above Ayame, glancing down at the hole for himself. He shook his head, already dreading the possibility of having to go underground. The lack of cover and room to run maneuver was incredibly dangerous. He’d hope when the time came, a plan could actually be made.

***

Screams filled the cavern with the broken bodies of the victims pulled into the sinkhole. Their bones were shattered to pieces as others were leaking plasma, painting the rocks with red ichor. If anyone could hear those screams, they’d be mortified, wanting to do everything they could to make it end.

Except for the creature that lied beneath the earth.

It let out a shriek, causing the hearts of the broken to race.

A series of loud rumbles were heard followed by another shriek.

Its mandibles flexed eagerly, as its lime green eyes eyed their prey. It shrieked in excitement, bashing its claws together, following it up by rubbing his orange and burgundy body. The underground monster looked down at the broken bodies, watching them barely squirm in terror at its appearance.

Its mandibles twitched as it scanned its prey, sensing those that were different from the rest. It spotted them as it grabbed them one by one as they all screamed in agony. Their bodies feeling its claws starting to cut into them. Blood dripped onto its claws as it shoved them into his mouth, feeling the sensation of their plasma flow down its throat.

The group he grabbed was more than satisfying, but craved more. Another ambush would have to do, but first, it needed to clean up what was left. It looked down at the remaining writhing beings before opening its mandibles, spraying a clear acidic mist. The acid covered their bodies and the rocks they were on.

The screams echoed throughout the cavern while the acid melted their skin, not even leaving goopy remains. What was left of the acidic spray were skeletons that were completely clean as bubbles were only present for a few moments.

Not a trace of who they were remained.

They were now nothing more than screaming ants to the creature.

“Excellent, my pet,” a silver alien spoke behind a screen, observing the display in front of him. His green eyes kept themselves focused on the screen as Aribunta departed deeper into the cavern to rest. He rubbed the red frill around his before lowering his hand down to his long black hair. “You’ll be ready soon, Aribunta, and once the Ultras fall to your awesome might, Yapool will have this planet.”

 

Chapter 6: “We Can Make it Work”

“Not a fan of dinner last night, huh?” Ayame asked, carefully placing a piece of salmon over the sizzling pan. She saw the still groggy Chiharu stumbling just in front of the counter that separated the kitchen and living room.

He looked up at her and shook his head, rubbing his eyes. The child pulled out a stool and sat on it, resting his head on the clear counter. “Yeah….”

Ayame chuckled, pouring the contents of the miso soup into a small bowl. “I don’t blame you.”

She passed it to him, causing him to slowly lift his head up. “Niku Udon was the plan, but some monster ruined it.”

“You?” Chiharu murmured, slowly moving his hand towards the spoon.

“Haha,” Ayame mocked, pulling out a spoonful of rice and placing it in a bowl. “Hope this makes up for it.”

She finished the plating and delivered it to her brother, setting its contents in front of him on a wooden platter. Ayame then started dishing up her food, as he began to dig in. His murmurs of delight upon sinking his teeth into the fish was a sense of relief to her. Ayame smiled as she sat next to her brother.

“Add some takoyaki, and we’ll call it good,” Chiharu slurped between words.

Ayame chuckled. “Nice try.”

They ate their meals in peace, Ayame soon cleared her throat, turning to her little brother. “So, what’s the plan for the summer?”

“Water park on the table?” asked Chiharu between bites.

Ayame smiled. “Always on the table.”

“I was thinking Champion Festival as well,” the boy said after swallowing his rice.

“Only if there’s a romantic film for Mi,” countered Ayame, slightly rolling her eyes at her partner’s future request.

“Eh,” Chiharu groaned, taking a sip of his water. “Fine.”

“A tour of TAC?” Chiharu suggested, eliciting a small laugh from Ayame.

“No way!”

“Ah, come on!” complained Chiharu, throwing his hands out to his older sister. “I want to see where you work.”

“You can see it on the news,” Ayame playfully replied.

“What about ‘bring your son or daughter or sibling to work day’?” reasoned the younger sibling, setting his soup bowl down.

“Even if I somehow petitioned to make that happen, it’ll only last for like, three minutes, before we’re all called in,” Ayame explained, grabbing both of their wooden trays and taking them towards the kitchen.

“I don’t see the problem! You get to have someone you know at work and I get to look at all the cool tech you guys use,” justified Chiharu.

It then dawned on her, as she started scrubbing the dishes. Ayame turned back at him and slightly frowned at him. “You just want to run around and play with everything, don’t yah?”

Chiharu shrugged, smiling at her. “Wouldn’t you if you were still my age.”

“I would if I didn’t have to take care of some kid,” Ayame replied, smacking her brother on the arm, flashing him a cheeky grin.

“Exactly!” Chiharu exclaimed, smacking his sister back on the shoulder. “We can both play in headquarters!”

“You really think of everything, don’t you?” Ayame deduced, lifting her hand up and shaking it.

“Kinda.”

Ayame squinted at him. “I’ll try and put in a good word for you.”

The two sat in silence, as Ayame tapped her fingers on the counter, conjuring up the next conversational topic they can both have. She scanned her entire mind, trying to find anything for her sibling, but it could not come to her. Most of the stuff she remembered him liking he’d already grown out of, with everything else being a simple guess.

She went to sigh, feeling stressed by trying to connect with her brother, but it came out as a gasp. Ayame felt a pair of arms wrap themselves around her, as she looked down to see Chiharu clinging to her side.

“I just wish you, mom and dad could make up,” Chiharu sobbed, tears dropping on arm.

Ayame sighed, brushing his hair. “I wish we could, too.”

“Then…..” Chiharu sniffed, between breaths, wiping away his tears, looking up at his sister. “Why won’t you tell them? Do they hate Mitsuko?”

Ayame nearly chuckled at his question, restraining herself from doing so. If her parents disapproved of her relationship, then there’d be no chance of reconciliation. “Mi is the reason why they were willing to send you over here.”

She let out another breath. “They didn’t want me to be part of the JSDF, they figured I’d be better off doing what mom did.”

“Taking care of the shop?” Chiharu inquired, holding onto his sister with a stronger grip.

Ayame nodded. “Not for me, I’d be terrible at it.”

“You’d throw a customer out of the window,” Chiharu joked between his sniffling.

“More like five a day,” Ayame playfully fired back before telling more of the truth to her brother. “Being a soldier… is the best thing I can do and by being with TAC, I can at least be useful.”

“You’re more than that, you’re my sister, no matter what,” Chiharu murmured, looking up at her with tears still in his eyes.

“Always,” Ayame smirked, but deep down, she largely disagreed with that statement. Besides being a half decent cook and babysitter, military was what she was good at. Still, she wouldn’t want her brother to be upset the whole time.

The TAC soldier held out her hand, gaining Chiharu’s attention. “Give me the hardest high five you can offer.”

Without any hesitation, Chiharu slammed his hand against Ayame’s, eliciting a minor hiss from her. She, admittedly, was surprised by the force he slammed his hand into hers. Ayame smiled down at Chiharu, showing the same reaction as she felt relief wash over, just having a moment between her brother and herself.

No one to intrude or to ridicule her.

Especially no Ace.

“Wait….. Where the hell is he?” Ayame questioned herself, before the startling realization of where he could be.

***

Mitsuko closed the door behind her, letting the patient inside rest at his request. She breathed a sigh of relief, beyond thrilled that several of the most recent patients were making full recoveries. It was what she needed compared to what happened in the past couple of days.

She clutched her clipboard close to her chest, walking down the sterile white halls. Mitsuko breathed in and out slowly, feeling herself slightly more at ease. She stopped in front of the next room she was supposed to check in on. Mitsuko glanced down at the clipboard to make sure she had the right room. The nurse looked back up to see Ace attempting to lean against the wall, but immediately fell, phasing through it.

“Shit!”

Witnessing the careless display, Mitsuko couldn’t help but laugh, feeling almost delighted over the Ultra’s forgetfulness. Yet, she didn’t hate him, she just found slapstick to be highly amusing no matter who did it.

“Yeah, yeah,” Ace brushed off, waving his hand as he stumbled back in front of her. “Get used to it.”

Mitsuko kept smiling at him. “What brings you here? Did Ayame send you to deliver a message to me?”

“No. She doesn’t even know I’m here.” relayed Ace, trying to position himself against the wall once more.

Her smile faded away, she took a step forward out of concern. “Ayame is going to freak out if you’re here.”

“And?” Ace asked, dismissing one of his host’s threats as empty and primitive. “There’s nothing she could do to hurt me.”

Mitsuko sighed, not wanting to argue with the Ultra she now shared a body with as she leaned up against the wall next to him. Ace panned his head over to his host staring at the ceiling above them. There was nothing there, just a white void.

Peaceful, but lonely.

Ace sighed, feeling a strange sensation over him, especially towards this creature standing next to him. Had it been Yuri or Rutia or anyone else in his family, he’d apologize for anything he did to hurt them. Here, this primitive was nothing to him, just a bug that’ll not even last one-millionth of his life.

“Then, why do I feel guilty over her?” Ace questioned himself, taking note of her solemn look. She hid behind happiness, likely for the patients and her coworkers, but for those closer to her, she just let it out. “You’re welcome, Ayame.”

“Mitsuko,” Ace spoke, gaining his host’s attention.

“Mhm?” the nurse murmured, awaiting his response after hearing the light, soft tone of voice he had just used on her. Normally, all she’d be hearing is screaming and belittling others, but not here. Mitsuko studied his face and saw a small amount of regret painted over him, as if he regretted something in the past.

“I apologize, to you, not to Ayame, for the way I acted about explaining my choice,” Ace rationed, gripping both of his arms, shaking ever so slightly. He felt like he was about to implode over bottling all of those feelings inside of him aside from anger. Heart to hearts weren’t his thing, but for Mitsuko’s sake, he had to do it, he wanted to do it. “I just did what I was told, saving your kind as best as I could, and didn’t think of the repercussions that could come with it.”

“Right…..” Mitsuko spoke, hanging her head down at the thought of Yuka once again. Ultraman Ace observed her behavior and closed his eyes in frustration. He threw his head back, but quickly phased through the wall. The Ultra pulled himself through and grumbled at the mistake he made once more.

“I just lost it, because Ayame and I were all Yuka had at that point,” Mitsuko reasoned, taking a moment to compose herself, as she felt her insides tearing themselves up from the guilt. “She was abandoned and I didn’t want her to be alone.”

Ace sighed, inching closer to his human host. “Had I known, I would have thrown myself in front of you and taken the brunt of the blast.”

Mitsuko briefly smiled at him. “That’s kind of you to say.”

The Ultra Brother shook his head, feeling a sense of dread wash over him as if he denied something from all three of them. He just had to know. How he would deal with it would be up to him.

“If the three of you had made it, would you and Ayame have taken Yuka in? As one of your own?” Ace asked, a huge part of him hoping she’d say ‘no’, but he knew he would delude himself. He already knew the answer, but wanted to hear the answer, to prove himself right.

“Fucking moron, you even want to best yourself,” Ace cursed at himself silently.

Mitsuko gulped, feeling that question drop on her like an anvil. She loved the thought of having kids, even being Yuka’s mother, but now, she wasn’t so sure. Ayame’s answer was still a ‘no’, thinking she’d repeat the same mistakes as her parents. She looked back at Ace and knew he was still waiting, despite being silent about it.

“That question is terrifying, but I would have said ‘yes’,” Mitsuko explained, causing Ace to lift himself away from the wall and turning directly to her. “Being a parent is the bravest thing you can do, it’s when you finally stand against the world, risking it for the person you helped bring in.”

Ace took her to heart. He looked back at his memories of Yuri and Rutia, vowing to do everything they could to provide the best life they could for their child. They were great parents that fitted in Mitsuko’s ideology, but he remembered how his parents thought an expedition was more important.

More important than their only child, who chased after them in an endless field.

He shook his head. He loved his step parents and Taro, but the mere knowledge of his parents leaving him hurt him in ways he wasn’t sure he could ever recover from. It made him vile and angry at just about everyone he crossed paths with, knowing they’ll only betray their kin later on.

“Most parents shouldn’t exist,” Ace mumbled to himself.

“Can I ask you a question?” Mitsuko inquired, her words flowing through his head, snapping him from festering hatred.

He turned his head towards her. “Shoot.”

“Did you mean what you said about Yuka?” Mitsuko asked, inching closer once more to her Ultra. “About how she wouldn’t be feasible as a host?”

Ace breathed out. “Yes.”

“I see….” Mitsuko simply mumbled. “And you’re right even if it is disgusting to forsake her.”

“Agreed.”

BOOM!

The two immediately jumped up to find the hospital shaking once again. Mitsuko scanned to see several people already running down the hallways as she quickly pieced it together.

“It’s happening again!” Mitsuko yelled out, slamming the door behind her open and rushing towards the patient.

She grabbed a hold of an elderly man and placed him on a wheelchair. Mitsuko began to speed down the various hallways as several pieces of the ceiling crumbled behind her while the floor was snapping away.

Furniture exploded from the resulting earthquake while people screamed out. Ace materialized in front of Mitsuko, running beside her. “I’m informing Ayame on where to find you.”

Before she could respond, his body was completely gone, leaving her by herself as she rammed her and the patient through the exit doors. Mitsuko was greeted by the sun shining down on her as several others continued running down the street to avoid certain doom.

The hospital behind her collapsed into pieces as she huffed and puffed, feeling relieved she wouldn’t be trapped once again. However, she knew she wasn’t out of the woods yet as the ground beneath her continued to shake.

Then, the sinkhole appeared just below her as she felt herself starting to sink. She groaned, feeling herself just at the edge while her patient nearly made it.

No!

She’ll at least save one life today!

That was certain!

Using the last of her strength, Mitsuko pushed forward and sent the elder in the wheelchair racing down the street until he was caught by another person fleeing the catastrophe. With her last view of the surface, she saw the old man being ushered to safety, as she now could breathe a small sigh of relief.

Mitsuko felt herself sinking in the ground, fearing she would die at any given second. Her life flashed before her eyes, but just as they started, the montage ceased. She felt an incredibly soft hand clasp against hers.

“Mitsuko!” an all too familiar voice screamed out as she looked up to see Ayame, looking as pale as a ghost over the fear of losing her girlfriend.

“Ayame!” Mitsuko cried out, holding on to her hand as she dangled from the sinkhole.

“I’m going to get you out of here!” the TAC soldier declared, her vocal cords rattling.

“No!” Mitsuko yelled out, looking back down at the impending doom below her.

Ayame nearly jerked her head in response. “Have you lost your mind!?”

“Ace! We need Ace to stop this!” Mitsuko reasoned, turning her head to the left to find Ace standing above her on solid ground. “He’s the one who can stop these quakes.”

Ayame breathed out heavily, hating that Mitsuko was right. She didn’t want to involve the Ultra once again, but they had no choice. They couldn’t be responsible for deaths they could have easily stopped.

“Okay, okay!” Ayame exclaimed, rearing her free hand back and slamming her ring into Mitsuko’s. The two were enveloped by a blinding light as Ace materialized into the planet, plummeting down the sinkhole towards the source of it all.

 

Chapter 7: The Ultra Family vs. The Giant-Ant Terrible-Monster

Ace landed on his feet, putting his hands together, intending to fire a Spacium Beam at the culprit, all he found was darkness. The Ultra kept his eyes peeled, scanning the entire area by circling around. He was surrounded by rocks, fortunate enough to get a rough idea at where he was.

He moved slowly, knowing anything could jump out at him at any given time. He kept his arms steady, even if darkness was something he hated. Then, add onto the fact he was effectively trapped inside this cave.

“What have I gotten myself into?” Ace asked himself, attempting to track down his prey.

Lime colored eyes watched from a distance as it twitched its mandibles. Its claws scraped together in excitement, eagerly awaiting to get the drop on his new foe. Aribunta moved quietly, using the darkness as its ally, keeping its eyes on the oblivious Ace, who was still fumbling in the dark.

“Just a little further…..” Guironian hummed, watching Ace continuing his search, as he gazed at Aribunta closing in on him. He rubbed his chin and smiled, proud of his pet for just about reaching the Ultra. The alien then murmured, realizing there was a small chance Ace could get lucky. “Perhaps a little distraction is in order.”

The silver and black alien raised his claws forward and fired a stream of bullets just past Ace. The projectiles startled Ace as they struck the rocky wall just before. The Ultra Brother unleashed his Spacium Beam, striking the wall with blue energy, briefly setting the cavern ablaze with light.

Ace jumped back, realizing he was the victim of an ambush, but he was not fast enough for Aribunta. The ant choju struck his claws outwards, with flames shooting out, immediately scorching Ace’s back.

The Ultra screamed out from the searing pain as the flames continued to wash over him. Ace turned around, facing the still standing Aribunta. Its lime colored eyes never kept its line of sight off of him as Ace growled. Ace bit his tongue as he felt more of his silver and red skin being charred, focusing himself as best as he could to launch his counterattack.

“You two ready to hear me scream?” Ace inquired to his two hosts, thinking of a way to escape his predicament.

“We hear it all the time, just do it!” Ayame barked back, watching the situation unfold. She didn’t mind Ace getting handed his own medicine, but not when it came to her and Mitsuko’s lives. “Destroy the ant!”

“Please,” Mitsuko murmured, putting her hands together, wanting to be more empathetic with Ace. Their last conversation had left her wanting to understand him, to know why he was someone who contradicts himself nearly every moment. “Scream as loud as you need to.”

Ace smirked at her suggestion.

The Ultra held his hands out, spinning them rapidly with blue energy surging around his fists, with them resembling drills. He let out a blood fueled scream as pain from the intense spinning of his hands were putting an acute amount of strain on them. He could feel his bones about to snap, as the flames were being dispersed from the intensity of the spin.

Aribunta, realizing what his foe was doing, ceased his assault and prepared himself to launch his next attack. Ace, however, was quicker on the draw, firing the drill-like beam straight at him.

Guironian hopped out from his hiding spot and screamed, “Aribunta, block!”

Obeying the command of his master, Aribunta turned to his side and allowed his white tendril on the right to be obliterated. The choju screamed, immediately collapsing on the ground, writhing in agony. The Guironian knew he wouldn’t be able to block it or escape it time, but the loss of a nonessential part of its body was acceptable.

With his hands still shaking from the drill beam, he ran forward, intending to strike the downed beast with his feet. Ace roared, launching his foot towards him while the Guironian clapped his claws together.

“I don’t think so,” the alien spoke, watching the ceiling above them crumble.

“What?!” Ace snarled, realizing he had fallen into another trap. The ceiling smacked him against the head, forcing him to collapse face first in the ground. The Ultra’s vision began to go hazy as he attempted to get up, but felt his back against the collapsed ceiling.

He looked at what was in front of him, realizing spikes were implanted in the ground, acting as a jail cell. A cocky laugh followed soon afterward, with the Guironian appearing just before him.

Aribunta’s master kneeled down in front of him, before poking him on the head, eliciting a scream from the Ultra. “A much wiser Ultra would have realized this operation was doomed from the start.”

“Lift up this prison and this will go way differently,” Ace spat, attempting to move his arms to perform any one of his abilities, but like the rest of his body, they were pinned down.

The Guironian chuckled once again, turning his attention briefly towards the recovering Aribunta. He smiled at his pet, gazing upon the imprisoned Ultra once more. “Oh, I know it would, which I’m grateful for.”

The alien flicked one of the spikes, eliciting a brief hum, almost as if a note was played. “If it had been…. what’s his name, Jack? I’d be terrified.”

Time suddenly stopped for the imprisoned Ultra.

His vision turned red while his heart beated faster than a bullet train. The mere mention of that name along with being told he was better than him shattered his mind. Ace couldn’t help but let out a scream, echoing the entire cavern, striking into the rocks just strong enough to form small fractures in them.

Ace attempted to shoot his left arm forward to push through the cage and grabbed that disgusting alien by the neck. He saw it in his very own eyes, his rage filled mind, strangling the Guironian to the point of breaking it as it cried out for mercy.

Guironian continued to laugh, mocking the downed Ultra, poking him once more. “My, my. I didn’t realize I could hurt you far more effectively like this.”

The alien turned to his pet walking towards him. “Right, we still have an operation to complete.”

He got up for a moment to pat Aribunta on the shoulder and looked upwards. The Guironian pointed to the surface. “Annihilate the city and feel free to devour as many as you wish.”

Aribunta roared out in pleasure, launching himself through the cavern, burrowing through intense speeds. Like a parasite readying to leave its host’s body, it burst through the streets of Fucho and unleashed another roar.

The citizens of the city screamed in fear as Aribunta pulled itself out of the ground and fired upon the buildings with its flames. The buildings were swallowed up while flaming debris dropped down on the running civilians, reducing them to paste. Others were being reduced by a crisp while Aribunta scanned the entire block, taking note of the destruction it caused.

It laughed, relishing in the suffering of the ants beneath him. In the corner of his eye, however, he saw a few of those insects running away from him as it cackled once again. It opened its mandibles and unleashed the white spray from its mouth. Like a cloud of dust, it washed over those unlucky, reducing them to their skeletal structures.

Airbunta bashed its claws once again, grateful he could finally play on the surface and cause real destruction to those above. Unbeknownst to him, a twinkle in the sky appeared before crashing into the Earth and down the tunnel it created.

“All Yapool just said was I have to kill you,” the Guironian relayed, raising his hand upwards as a spike materialized on his claw. “But he didn’t say I couldn’t torture you.”

The silver alien threw a spike in Ace’s cell, eliciting electricity, cascading all throughout. Ace screamed out in agony, with the wave of electricity coursing throughout his entire body. Guironian howled with laughter, watching his prisoner squirm.

A figure hopped into the darkness of the cavern, causing a small rumble in the cave, snapping Guironian’s attention away from Ace. The agent of Yapool cocked his head, confused at why Aribunta had returned to him. He got back up on his feet and walked towards the newcomer shrouded in darkness.

“Aribunta, have you forgotten your objective?” inquired the Guironian, trying to reach out to his pet.

“No,” the figure in the dark spoke, immediately lighting the whole cave up with light blue energy.

The energy beam struck the silver alien in the chest, sending him across the cavern, bringing out a scream of agony. The Guironian crashed into a wall, stunning him as his vision went out of focus.

Ace’s face lit up just a tad, as he saw his supposed savior racing over the cage. He screamed something out, but couldn’t tell exactly what it was as he heard his prison shatter. The pieces of rock lightly rained on his back, causing him to grunt from the resulting impact.

He attempted to get up, but found himself being lifted up and dragged towards the tunnel. Ace was perplexed at who his rescuer was. Hardly anyone knew where he was going and Jack wouldn’t be willing to risk his neck out of him. For all he knew, it could have been Belial himself just to execute him personally.

Ace felt himself and his newfound ally shoot up through the tunnel and into the bright blue sky. The Ultra closed his eyes for a moment only to find himself on his back, staring upwards as a familiar face stood over him.

Pure white orbs staring down at him with a silver face to match it. A blue z-like colored timer was plastered on his chest as the rest of his body was a mixture of dark blue, silver and streaks of red.

It was then, Ace realized who came to his rescue.

“Hey dad!” his rescuer hollered out with excitement, moving his arms around in excitement. “I’m so excited for my first battle!”

“Z!” Ace yelled out, feeling a resurgence of energy flow through his entire body. He jumped up to his feet and got close to the younger Ultra. The older Ultra shook his head, baffled at how Yuri and Rutia’s child found him. He slammed his hands down in front of Z. “How in the hell did you find me?”

“Oh!” Z spoke aloud, snapping his fingers. “Uncle Taro told me… after a few days of constantly bothering him.”

“Dammit, Taro!”

Ace breathed out, furious beyond belief, but didn’t want to risk the ire of the two women he loved most of all. The senior Ultra briefly tightened his fist before laying it flat and placing his hand on Z’s shoulder, eliciting a small giggle.

He tilted his head slightly, confused at Z’s behavior, but ignored it for the time being. “Z, I appreciate the help, but I can handle it from here.”

Z reared his hand back before jumping up in excitement. “Nice try! But I’m not missing out on fighting with you!”

“Nope!” Ace barked. “This is not a simulation at school, this is the real thing!”

“But what better way to learn than out on the field?” Z asked, slapping his hands together, briefly looking around the world. “And besides, this planet looks pretty.”

“No!” Ace yelled out. “You need to leave now. This is not negotiable.”

“Oh com…” Z spoke as Ace elbowed him on the arm, forcing him to stumble towards the side. “Ow! What was that for?”

The younger turned to Ace, wondering why his father struck him, but saw him slamming his hands against his head. A blue beam shot out the jewel on his forehead, striking Aribunta on the chest, sending him crashing down.

“Oh….” Z murmured, realizing why his dad did what he did. Ace turned back to him and offered him a hand back up. Z’s eyes immediately blew up once more, enamored by how effortlessly he dispatched that kaiju. “That was so cool!”

“Yes, yes, yes, I know,” Ace spoke, helping the younger Ultra up. “Now, you need to go before things get worse.”

“Two Ultras, huh?” the Guironian vocalized, spotting both Ultras standing close together, as Ace immediately placed himself in front of Z. He placed his hands together, wincing from the pain of his hands still being fractured. “This will be even more fun than I thought.”

“Looks like I’m staying after all,” Z mused, grinning at his dad.

“I like your attitude!” the Guironian praised, pointing his claw towards Z, but was immediately struck down by a Metalium Beam.

“Fuck off!” Ace yelled out, watching the last bit of energy leave his hands.

Z clapped his hands together and bounced up and down. “That was so cool!”

“Z,” Ace simply muttered, attempting to get him to calm down.

“Fuck off!” Z chanted excitedly, clapping his hands as he turned back to his dad. “I can’t wait to learn that move!”

“That’s his kid, isn’t it?” Ayame asked, putting two and two together upon witnessing Z’s naive, child-like behavior.

“I guess so,” Mitsuko replied, studying the younger Ultra and his behavior. “He seems nice, compared to our own.”

“The smartest thing he did was not raise him,” Ayame called out.

“Shut it, Ayame!” Ace barked back, hearing their voices ring throughout his head, evoking a confused look from Z.

“Not now!” Ace dismissed, realizing the younger Ultra heard him, watching as the Guironian and Aribunta slowly got up, readying to launch their next attack on them. He snapped his attention back to Z. “Okay, you lost your chance to leave.”

“Yes!” Z excitedly exclaimed, pumping his hands in the air as Ace mentally slapped himself against the face.

“You’re going to focus on Aribunta while I focus on this silver asshole,” Ace relayed, briefly turning to the Guironian. “Avoid the acid and flames, and try to focus your attacks on his back.”

“Right!” Z acknowledged, rearing himself back to get a headstart. “Let’s do this!”

Before Ace could even move, Z ran straight towards Aribunta who watched his charging foe. The ant choju unleashed a torrent of flames at the younger Ultra. Z smirked as he leapt off the ground and over the flames.

“I don’t believe it….” Ace remarked, feeling a small sense of pride in the younger Ultra for avoiding the attack.

“Dad, look!” Z called out from the space above Aribunta. “I’m doing it! I’m doing i…..”

Aribunta wasted no time by striking his airborne adversary with his tail, sending him crashing into a building. “Ow….” Z moaned out, feeling himself struggling to get out of the debris laying on top of him.

Ace went forward, attempting to rescue him, but felt several bullets strike against his burnt back. The senior Ultra roared out from the pain striking his very sensitive skin. Ace glared at the Guironian, as it waved its left claw at him.

“I don’t think so,” Guironian chuckled.

“You should have followed my advice, asshole,” Ace remarked, stomping his foot into the ground, dirt shooting up to his ankle, with electricity circulating around it.

“Is that so?” asked the Guironian, aiming his claws at Ace once more, intending to strike him with a hail of bullets.

“Unlike that piece of shit Jack, I don’t feel compassion for the likes of you,” Ace retaliated, allowing the yellow colored electricity build up around his foot.

“Hmm…. that doesn’t seem very noble of an Ultra Brother,” the Guironian spoke, keeping his composure, but at his core, confused at what the rage filled Ultra’s angle was. “No matter, like before, I can end this fight easily.”

“You want to take that bet, you filthy Pigmon?” inquired Ace, tightening his hands as he winced shortly after from the pain.

“Gladly,” the Guironian spoke, sending the wave of bullets out of his claws, but Ace kept his smirk, launching himself in the sky.

Ace struck his electric foot out at the Guironian as he looked up to see what the Ultra was doing. However, it was too late as the Ultra struck him directly in the center of his face, shooting electricity down his entire body. The agent of Yapool attempted to counter it, but felt himself effectively paralyzed by the kick.

The Ultra landed back on his feet and watched as the still electrocuted Guironian collapsed on his back. Ace walked over to the downed agent, staring right down at him as he watched him struggle with what was effectively a simple kick of his head.

“This changes nothing!” the Guironian spat, attempting to raise his claws, but screeched out. The surge of electricity was still running all over his body. “You may have won today, but….”

Ace slammed his foot down on the Guironian’s neck and moved it to the right, bringing about a loud snap. The Guironian’s bright green eyes went dark, his entire body went limp while Ace turned around to find Z still struggling in his fight against Aribunta.

“At least he can hold his own,” Ace observed, watching Z fire a Zestium Beam at Aribunta, forcing him to stumble back a few steps. However, the ant monster fired another torrent of flames, inducing a scream from Zett as he ran behind a building for cover. “Kind of.”

The senior Ultra sighed, bolting over towards the distracted Aribunta and jumping into the air. He positioned himself in the form of delivering an Ace kick, stretching his leg outward and allowing it to collide into the choju’s left tendril, shattering it.

Aribunta screamed out as it stumbled a few feet, rearing itself as another piece of its body was broken off. The ant kaiju ignored the pain and shrieked out, turning around and striking Ace with its claws. Its hands cast a diagonal scar that just missed his right eye. Ace screamed out, but the light shining out of his new scar temporarily blinded Aribunta, forcing both to stumble away from each other.

Ace gripped his face, scanning the city for Z, noticing him slowly emerge from behind the building. He knew Z was in better shape than him and that he had the potential to end this fight here and now.

“Z!” Ace called out, immediately gaining his attention. “Fire the beam! Finish him!”

Z grinned, feeling his body radiate with excitement as he moved his hands, tracing through the air to form a ‘z’ in front of him. Blue energy materialized in front of him as Arbiunta regained his footing, readying to continue the fight.

A blue light then shone in front of him, as he looked up to see energy erupt from the younger Ultra. It couldn’t react or even form a final thought, with the wave of energy crashing into the choju, blowing its upper half into pieces.

Both Ace and Z watched the bottom half of the kaiju collapse onto the ground while smoke went up into the air. The younger Ultra turned to Ace and grinned. “That was awesome!”

Ace took a moment to breathe before he was swallowed up by a huge, overbearing hug from his partners’ son. “We did it! We did it! We fight so well together!”

With Ace’s burnt body and his hands still recovering, Z’s affection hurt a lot compared to when he was a child. He barely felt them then, but irony dictated he felt the death grip swallow him up.

“OW!” Ace roared out, with Z quickly relinquishing his grasp on his dad.

“Sorry!”

Off in the distance, a beige quadruped observed the concluding battle, growling at the two. It soon felt a hand rub over his head, ceasing its intended hostility. The beast looked up to see its master, a black figure with a yellow visor glancing down at him.

It purred with delight, resting its head up against its master.

“Soon, my friend,” the figure spoke, watching the two Ultras interact with each other. “Let them have this victory.”

 

Chapter 8: “Z, why!?”

He was a free man.

Two-thousand years spent in a prison.

Ace was able to see the sky again, allowing himself to breathe out. The world above him was white, a rare color for the sky to be on for the Ultra homeworld. He heard an old superstition that it was symbolic for one’s mind to be filled with clarity.

Ultraman Ace scoffed at the idea, feeling so many thoughts combating each other for dominance. He strolled down the streets, furious at how the mission went so poorly and how he paid the price. All that time wasted because of something that was no fault of his own.

Then, there was them, and their child he hadn’t seen yet. They must be furious at him. He shook his head, knowing they’d probably kill him if he never stopped by. Ace huffed before picking his direction in his life.

He soon arrived at the home, taking note of its purple crystalline walls and the white roof over it. Ace approached the doorstep and knocked instantaneously, readying himself for the bombardment of lectures he would receive.

As he predicted, the door flung open to Yuri standing in front of him. Her fists on her hips as she seemingly glared at one of her partners standing at her doorstep. He slowly lifted his hand up to wave at her, but was immediately cut off.

Yuri pulled himself inside, wrapping her arms around him to the point of squeezing him. He couldn’t even muster the strength to say anything as she silenced him with a passionate kiss, excited to see her lover once more.

She then pulled away, smiling brightly at him. “It’s so good to see you again!”

Her and Ruko will always surprise him. He felt himself relieved from any sort of tension, as if Yuri could be happy to see him, then Ruko would be thrilled. He kept his hands on her waist as she led him over to the sofa, motioning for him to sit.

“You want anything?” Yuri inquired, wanting to make sure he was taken care of after his long stay in that dreadful cell.

Ace waved his hand dismissively, smiling at her. “I’m good.”

“Oh!” Yuri exclaimed, lifting her finger up, snapping her head back to the hallway. “Ruko! Ace is here!”

“Ace?!” Ruko’s voice cried out with excitement, his voice ringing throughout the whole house. Within seconds, Ruko bolted down the hallway, with his tiara shining brightly, reflecting it towards Ace’s eyes, forcing him to shield them.

“Perhaps that tiara was a bit too much,” Ace mentally noted to himself, slowly meeting Ruko’s gaze, as he saw their child in his hands. His eyes lit up as he saw the little Ultra’s round, bubbly face as he returned his stare.

Ace lifted his hand up towards the child as Zett did the same, their index fingers making contact with each other. The Ultra Brother chuckled as the toddler stretched his arms towards him, wanting to be in the arms of this man.

The Ultra Brother looked up at Ruko before nodding at him excitedly. Ace took a hold of the child as Ruko plopped himself right next to his lover, wrapping his arm around him. The Ultra Brother exhaled, feeling his breathing trembling as he embraced the child while Z cooed at him, flashing his hands at him.

Ace chuckled before pulling him closer as he closed his eyes. “He’s adorable.”

“Smartest thing you’ve ever said,” Yuri murmured, lightly tapping Ace on the side of the head, grinning at seeing Zett and his father bonding.

“I suppose that’s true,” Ace said, pulling him away just slightly, but keeping his grasp on the toddler firm. “So, what did I miss?”

Yuri and Ruko glanced at each other, smirking at the stories they could tell Ace. The former immediately bursted out laughing, “Zett’s first word was Pigmon!”

Ace nearly shot out in his seat from excitement, feeling his insides beginning to rupture as he started to howl with laughter. He kept his grip firm on Zett secure, but felt himself struggling due to the shock of the child’s first word.

The Ultra Brother stared down at Zett, offering him a high five. “Good job, little guy.”

The child slowly raised his hand up, softly matching his touch with Ace’s. “Tank you, Race….”

Ace reared his head slightly, turning it to Ruko scratching his head nervously. “He’s still getting the hang of it.”

Ace chuckled. “Figures.”

“Oh!” Yuri exclaimed, clapping her hands as she bounced up and down. “Don’t forget to tell him about the last time we saw your parents.”

“My…” Ace almost asked, but realized she was referring to Marie and Ken as opposed to his real parents. He huffed, feeling almost relieved she was talking about them instead. “Oh?”

“Zett completely scared Ken with a game of peekaboo!” Ruko exclaimed, feeling giddy over how the innocent game turned into a full on mystery.

“He fooled Ken!?” Ace exclaimed, feeling a sense of pride in the child, turning to the cooing Zett. His step-dad was one of the most intelligent people of their race and to be outsmarted by a baby was an amazing feat. Ace pinched Zett’s chubby cheek lightly. “Care to explain how you did that?”

Zett stared at him for a moment as he turned to Yuri for reassurance as she nodded with approval. The child stared up at Ace, speaking lightly. “I hid while he closed his eyes.”

Ace turned and frowned at Ruko as he simply giggled at the response. He was annoyed at the child not being watched at all times, feeling like he’d have a heart attack if he ever lost track of a child of his. However, a thought occurred in his head, realizing something about the conclusion.

“Marie found him, didn’t she?”

“Mhm,” hummed Yuri. “Under the floorboard of the shed.”

“After four hours,” added Ruko, forcing Ace’s eyes to go wide.

“Four hours!?” Ace exclaimed with pure shock in his voice as he felt himself, trembling with fear. He loved both his whole family to death, but all four of them were equally irresponsible for allowing Zett to disappear for such a long time. “He could have been dead!?”

“We gave them an earful, don’t you worry!” Yuri relayed, attempting to reassure him.

“I don’t care about the earful!” Ace clarified. “If he were my child, I’d never let him out of my sight!”

The room went silent, as Ace, despite feeling justified with his outburst, immediately regretted what he said. He went to apologize, but was beaten to the punch by Ruko’s soft voice.

“You’re his parent, too.”

“Parent? You’re still on this?”

Ace found himself still uncomfortable with the idea of him being a father to Zett. His anger has subsided, as apprehension took form. He couldn’t even think of the past transgression, with his focus now turned to his own insecurities. Ace had to think of something, a way to convince him he could and would not be a father.

“But you’re the two who conceived him, I had nothing to do with it,” Ace countered, feeling his palms becoming uneasy, bringing the child up close to his chest, making sure he didn’t lose his grip.

Ruko shook his head, playfully dismissing what Ace was trying to convey to them. “No force in the universe could ever tell us the three of us can’t be Zett’s parents.”

“I… uh….” Ace attempted to speak, but found himself struggling to refuse his partners. He couldn’t see himself as the child’s parent, not because he felt any disdain for him, but knew deep down, he’d be terrible at it. The Ultra Brother already knew Zett was in the best hands possible and him being a father would only repeat the cycle he experienced when his parents abandoned him. “I can’t accept being his dad…. we’re not even of the same blood.”

“Blood has nothing to do with it,” Yuri countered, eliciting a stern, but kind look at her partner, rubbing his shoulder. “He is your son.”

“It’s okay to be afraid, Ace,” Ruko softly chimed in, peeking his head around his son, giving Ace a small smile. “Being a parent is scary, but we’re here for each other.”

Ace considered their words as he looked into Zett’s big, round eyes. He didn’t believe a word Yuri and Ruko said about him being a father, but he loved that child. Ace couldn’t resist and would do anything to make sure he lived a long life. He just didn’t know if he wanted to say or even think about Zett as his child.

Ace pulled the toddler in for a hug, not wanting to ever let him go as Zett placed his tiny hands onto his father’s shoulders. One of the rare times Ace wasn’t filled with anger.

He couldn’t deny that Zett made his life far brighter than he could have ever dreamed of.

***

“Z,” Ace huffed, bringing his thumb and index finger up to the center of his face. “I’m going to ask again. Why are you here?”

“Because I wanted to see you,” Z reasoned, stretching his limbs out after the intense fight he and his dad just went through. “And I always wanted to fight by your side.”

Ace grumbled at the answer, taking a step forward. “My mission here would have only been about a year.”

“A year?” Mitsuko nearly exclaimed, as she snapped the wall separating her and Ayame.

Ayame’s eyes widened in shock, grasping the idea that their Ultra would have forced them to abandon their home at any given moment. “Don’t you ever think about leaving this planet!”

Ace heard their voices, muttering in annoyance over their input. “We will talk about this after I’m done with my so…. Z.”

Zett cocked his head, completely baffled by his dad’s recent habit of talking to himself. He reached out, attempting to find a way to sooth his father’s apparent ailment. “Are you feeling okay? You seem to be talking to yourself a lot.”

“See you what you two have done!?” Ace barked at his hosts, turning his attention back to Zett, calming himself down in front of him. “I recently had to bond with two of the planet’s natives.”

“Oh!” Zett exclaimed. “That makes sense!”

“Yes, of course,” Ace said, waving his hand around before another pressing thought exploded in his mind, forcing his heart to beat fast. “Wait, do your parents know you’re here!?”

“Uh……” Z trailed off, scratching the back of his head, chuckling nervously at the answer.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Ace groaned, slapping himself in the face. He took a moment to breathe, as he approached the younger Ultra, placing his hands on his shoulders. “Z, listen to me, okay?”

“I’m all ears,” Zett spoke happily, excited to receive the next set of orders his dad had planned for him. His mind was brimming with possibilities on what they could do together.

“Remember, you can’t stay on this planet, because your color timer is about to turn red and you need to go home, so your parents won’t be worried sick,” Ace relayed the instructions to Zett, annoyed he had to tell him basic anatomy, but he knew Z needed to be occasionally reminded of things. He could only hope Z would listen to him. “Got it?”

“You bet!” Zett enthusiastically exclaimed.

“Thank you….” Ace spoke, feeling relieved he got through to the young Ultra. As much of a hassle as this was, he was thankful to see Zett again. The next time he was on Land of Light, he’d have to get something really good for Z for saving his life.

“This little guy will do!” Zett called out, snapping Ace away from his tranquility.

“Wait, what!?” Ace exclaimed, as he scanned the area to find Z pointing to a small kid observing the ruined battlefield. The senior Ultra went to raise his mouth to counteract, but realized the situation was about to change entirely.

“Chiharu!?” Ayame screamed out, fear washing over her entire body, watching as the boy was at the complete mercy of the new Ultra.

“Z, don’t!” Ace cried out, attempting to stop Zett from fusing with the nearby human, but his voice fell onto deaf ears.

Z’s body disappeared and merged with the child, before taking the younger Ultra’s body form once again. Zett threw his arms up in excitement, racing back over to father, performing a victory jump.

“Now I can stay here even longer!” Z exclaimed.

Ace stared at the younger Ultra, taking a deep breath, as he could feel the inside of his head burning up from Ayame’s anger. She was about to blow up at any moment, leaving him with a splitting headache and a kid who was almost an adult. He couldn’t find himself angry, just very disappointed by the outcome.

“Z.”

“Yeah?” Zett inquired, his tone of voice dropping slightly, upon reading his dad’s face, taking note of how he wasn’t overjoyed. He had no idea what Ace was about to say and for once, gathered a glimpse of things not being as great as they seem.

“You just made everything worse.”

 

Chapter 9: Family Feud

“She’s really mad, huh, Ace?” Z asked his dad, turning away from Ayame, only to find him nowhere in sight. The Ultra perked his head back before scanning the entire room for Ace. “Weird. I wonder why he’s not here.”

“I don’t think you can see my sister’s Ultra,” Chiharu explained, glancing at the Ultra, his eyes shooting a concerned look. “And I don’t think either one is happy with us at the moment.”

“Right, right,” Ultraman Z acknowledged, shaking his head. “Perhaps, I could go talk to her.”

The boy shook his head as Z shot his finger up. “All you have to do is chant my name.”

“Uh, not at the moment,” Chiharu gulped, realizing Ayame was now towering over her younger brother, furious at him.

“Chiharu, stop talking to the Ultra,” Ayame commanded, her arms folded together, as she tapped her shoulders.

Chiharu did as he was told and stared at her. His spine tickled while sweat trickled down him, his heart beating faster than an intense game of dodgeball. He saw his sister exhibit her fury, but never towards himself, and now that day has come.

He was doomed.

“What the hell were you doing there!?” Ayame snapped, her voice cracking. She was furious at her brother, but upset at the possibility he could have died from the choju.

Chiharu stepped back, gulping. “I… just wanted to make sure you and Mitsuko were safe and…”

“Looking after me is not your job!” Ayame interrupted, throwing her arms just past him, causing him to jolt in shock. Her eyes watered, the possible reality of where her brother died just hours before sunk in even if he was standing in front of her. Her stomach turned to knots, she never wanted to yell at her brother or even be angry, but she had no choice. She had to make it clear. “I’m the one who’s supposed to look after you!”

Chiharu hung his head down, sniffling at making her cry. Even if she would deny it, he knew his actions hurt her and he was ashamed of himself.

Z reached out towards him and attempted to offer some words to his new friend, but reeled back. He saw a shadow cast itself over the boy as he turned over to see Ayame standing above him. The young Ultra titled his head as his host looked up at his older sister.

The boy wiped away his tears as he saw Ayame smiling softly at him. She knelt down in front of him and huffed out, “I exploded, because I was afraid of losing you, okay?”

Chiharu attempted to speak, but was drowned out by his sadness, his mistake. He knew nothing he could say would suffice and just nodded.

“I.. just….” Ayame struggled to speak, gently placing her hands on his shoulders, looking him in the eye. “You and Mitsuko are my family, and I can’t fathom what I’d do if I lost either one of you.”

They stared at each other until she slowly pulled him in for a hug. She held onto him tightly as she rubbed his back. “Just…. don’t do this again…. Please.”

Ayame reared back slightly to look back at him as he nodded, eliciting another small grin from her. She looked at him, only for it to now dawn on her that he thinks he’s still in trouble. Ayame chuckled as she ran her hand through his hair, ruffling it up. “You’re not in trouble, Chi.”

Chiharu smiled at her, finally finding himself able to speak once more. “You got it, Ay.”

“Good,” Ayame murmured, playfully hitting him on the shoulder, as she slowly turned around to look at Ace standing behind her. Her warm, kind face morphed into a cold, growling mess as she wanted to shove him face first into the oven. “And you! Why the hell did you allow your kid to merge with my brother!?”

“Hey! I’m not the one who told him to possess anyone!” Ace barked back, glancing at Chiharu, looking him in the eye, as if he was trying to focus on Z. “He misunderstood me.”

“Oh!” Ayame yelled out, raising her hands mockingly at him. “That makes it all okay, then! It was just a simple misunderstanding! No harm, no foul!”

“Sarcasm!” Ace retaliated, taking a step forward as he tightened his fist. “Not helping our predicament here!”

“Fuck you!” Ayame screamed out, spinning towards her little brother, her tone completely changing. She smiled at him, kneeling down ever so slightly. “Chiharu, do you think you can bring Z out? I need to have a chat with him.”

Ace’s body froze.

“No.”

He’d known her for less than a month and saw how she treated people she barely knew. While he didn’t claim to be the kindest of souls, he had an affinity for Z, and vowed he’d never let anything bad happen to him. Ace deduced his host was very likely going to attempt to harm the younger Ultra.

“Don’t even think about laying a finger on him!” Ace threatened, standing right beside her, glaring intensively down at her.

Ayame moved her head slightly to his direction and met his glare with her own. “He needs to answer for merging with my brother and putting his life on the line!”

Ace snarled at her, his hands tightening up, his entire body beginning to twitch. As if he were a creature from a horror movie, his body began curling down towards her, moving in all different directions with pure anger, rage readying to erupt at any given second.

His face now just an inch away from hers, Ace hissed at his host. “The moment I take over, and mark my words it will happen, I will go back to my planet and have us be separated, leaving you and Mitsuko to ash.”

Ayame continued focusing on her glare towards him as Ace did the same. She didn’t want this pathetic excuse of a soldier to win, but the TAC soldier knew the Ultra well enough that he was willing to let them both die. For the sake of both Mitsuko and Chiharu, she shook her head and backed off.

“Ultraman Z!” a voice enthusiastically called out, calling for both of them to turn away from each and towards the new figure in the room.

They both saw Z standing before them as he performed a small wave towards Ayame. “I don’t suppose my dad is with you right now.”

“Unfortunately, he is,” Ayame answered, briefly shooting her Ultra a nasty look at Ace.

“Ah, good,” Z breathed out, relaxing his shoulders. “I, uh, I’m Z, or Zett as some people call me.”

The younger Ultra stepped forward, offering his hand towards Ayame. She looked at his silvery hands and slowly took it into her own, slowly shaking his hand.

“It’s nice to meet you…” Ayame nearly stammered out, feeling tensions beginning to escalate. Ace tightened his hands once more, feeling ready to strike when given the opportunity to change as he saw the two exchange hands.

“Dad isn’t so bad, he’s just protective,” Z explained, rubbing his shoulder as he turned towards his general direction. He couldn’t see him, but sensed where his general area would be after observing his and Ayame’s argument.

“Definitely charming,” Ayame sarcastically remarked, taking a moment to observe the new Ultra. She found him more appealing on the eyes compared to Ace, more variety for the coloring schemes on his body and she preferred his attitude more. Ayame, however, did chalk it up to him still being a kid, but it could still be a lot worse.

“I guess, I, uh….” Z stammered, twiddling his fingers as Ayame kept her gaze on him. “I should apologize for what I did. For merging with your little brother.”

“Yeah, I suppose you should,” Ayame said, rolling her eyes at his grievous mistake.

“I’m sorry,” Z murmured, lifting his head down as Ayame studied him, taking note of the obvious flashing itself at her.

“Either he and Chiharu were made for each other, or he’s a quick learner,” Ayame privately mused to herself.

She sighed, realizing screaming and fighting to the death wouldn’t solve anything. “Just don’t ever let anything bad happen to Chiharu.”

Z nodded enthusiastically, throwing up a salute towards her, eliciting a slight draw back in confusion from Ayame. “No need to worry! I won’t let anything happen to him! You have my word.”

Ayame smirked at him as she heard a chuckle from behind. She glanced over to see Mitsuko entering the room. “Gotta say, he’s adorable.”

“Oh!” Z spoke up, walking towards her as he offered the nurse his hand. “I’m Z!”

The nurse giggled at his enthusiasm and shook it. “Mitsuko.”

The younger Ultra turned back to Ayame as if a lightbulb lit up. “One thing I should mention before I forget.”

“Go on?” Ayame inquired, curious to know what Zett was referring to.

“I didn’t merge with Chiharu to save his life, so whenever we come across a capsule, we can safely unmerge,” Zett explained, eliciting a sigh of relief from both Ayame and Mitsuko.

“And you’re sure of this?” Ayame questioned.

“Mhm,” Z answered. “Chiharu will be his old self.”

Ayame exhaled, smiling softly at the multicolored Ultra. “Thank you, Z.”

“Well, since you’ll be around for a while, why don’t I show you around the place,” Mitsuko relayed, stretching her arm around his shoulders, earning a yelp from Z.

“I’d like that!” Z spoke excitedly. “I like to know all of Earth’s customs and the food! Especially the food!”

“You’re in luck, then,” Mitsuko hummed, leading him towards the kitchen as Ayame smirked at them disappearing in the next room over.

“Already better than Ace,” Ayame said to herself.

“Shut up,” Ace spat. “And only because you said it.”

A ringing echoed throughout the whole apartment, alerting Ayame as she snapped her head to the device. Assuming the worst, Ayame ran over to the communications device and grabbed a hold of it, answering the call.

“What’s the situation?” the TAC soldier inquired, feeling ready to jump into combat once again, despite the ordeal these past couple of days have been.

“Easy, Miss Ohta,” Goro’s nonchalant voice oozed through the speaker, eliciting a calming effect on the young TAC soldier. “There’s a few things I want to brief you over regarding the Choju sightings.”

“Of course, sir,” Ayame relayed, pressing herself against the wall. “I can be there in thirty.”

“Not necessary,” Goro tsked, following it up with a chuckle. “I was thinking of having it over drinks or a warm meal.”

“Great. Penance is due,” Ayame mentally cursed to herself, realizing that dinner her captain proposed was now due.

She let out a sigh, acquiescing to his request, as she pretended to sound enthusiastic. “Absolutely. When were you thinking of having dinner?”

“I suppose Saturday isn’t out of the question?” Goro proposed, eliciting a head turn from Ayame as she eyed the calendar. She quietly prayed she had prior plans, but to her misfortune, nothing.

Ayame breathed. “Saturday would be okay.”

“Splendid!” Goro cheerfully exclaimed.

“Did you have a restaurant in mind?” Ayame thought to ask, not wanting to walk around aimlessly around the city before her boss finally picked a place. She heard her teammates gossiping how he’d take forever to decide where he wanted to eat. Ayame shook her head in annoyance, not wanting to know if those rumors were true.

“Actually, would it be okay if we had dinner at your residence, perhaps?” Goro inquired.

“Fuck….” Ayame muttered before slamming her hand over her mouth, nervous at the thought her superior heard her. A moment passed before she was cleared as she heard nothing from the other end. “I suppose that should be fine, I just need to give Mitsuko a heads up.”

“Of course!” Goro cheerfully exclaimed. “I’d like permission from both of you.”

“I appreciate that, sir,” Ayame relayed, feeling a slight sense of relief over her boss’ understanding and patient nature. She chuckled to herself, as she couldn’t help but think of him as the best boss she had. At least, by default. She sneered at the brief thought of all of her other superiors, how inconsiderate and forceful they were by nature.

Goro was odd, but she couldn’t help but hate the guy. He had a strange yet appealing aura to him, she couldn’t exactly refuse him either. Her mind continued to wander, trying to figure out what exactly was his ordeal. Perhaps he was just lonely and wanted friends, or even to fill his life with noise? She didn’t know and probably still won’t by the time Saturday is finished.

Her search ceased when Goro’s voice was heard once again. “Of course! Feeling welcomed is one of my favorite sensations.”

Ayame couldn’t help but to chuckle at his delivery. She asked herself how this strange yet quirky man became captain of TAC. Perhaps, that was a question she could ask over dinner.

Perhaps this wouldn’t be so bad at all.

***

Saturday

Mitsuko hummed to herself, stirring the pot with a wooden spoon. She looked in to see the liquid boiling as the potatoes, carrots, and beef swam in its confinement. Mitsuko couldn’t be more happy to have another guest come over. It was something she had constantly nagged Ayame about, wanting for the both of them to socialize with others.

She was eager to gain more insight into Ayame’s worklife as she barely divulged into her work life. Mitsuko continued buzzing, grabbing a hold of a knife as she moved it over to a lone onion. With a few chops, it was perfectly sliced and diced. Mitsuko lifted the cutting board and dumped the contents into the pot.

“You’re not too bad with a knife,” Ace commented, immediately ceasing Mitsuko’s, transforming into a yelp. She pointed the knife towards Ace, intending to strike, causing Ace to fold his arms. “Again, that’s not gonna hurt me.”

Mitsuko sighed, fully realizing it was just her Ultra appearing next to her. “Next time please come out in front of me.” She looked down at her knife, barely keeping her grip on the blade before setting it down on the counter. “I could have damaged the wall.”

“So?” Ultraman Ace inquired. “Not like anyone would get hurt.”

“But we’d lose the deposit,” Mitsuko countered, raising an eyebrow at him as he stared at her, highly confused on what she meant. She took his silence as he had no idea what she was talking about. “It’s part of what we paid to live here, on the off chance we damaged the apartment in any way.”

Ace cocked his head to the side, baffled by the information she relayed to him. “That sounds incredibly stupid.”

“You don’t have anything like that?”

“Nope,” Ace answered, shrugging his shoulders. “Every Ultra is given a basic home and then we’re free to build upon it however we like.”

“That sounds beautiful,” Mitsuko murmured, her eyes lighting up with how beautiful his people were treated. “If only that’s how it was here.”

“Your species is truly stupid, isn’t it?” mused Ace, hovering over the pot. He glanced down at its contents and was curious by what everything was. “Is that what Z was so excited about the other day?”

Mitsuko smiled. “It’s curry.”

“And people eat this?” Ace inquired, feeling slightly disgusted by its appearance.

“Mhm,” Mitsuko answered, walking back up the pot and stirring it once again. “It’s a delicacy.”

“Perhaps I’ll try the simulated version back home,” Ace said, his curiosity piqued as this strange dish below him was universally loved. He shook his head, realizing Z will be here on this backwater planet for a while, he may as well know the customs in the off chance he needed to bail him out. “Anything I can do to help?”

She smiled, appreciating her Ultra willing to help out with supper. Mitsuko eyed the kitchen, attempting to find some sort of use for Ace, but found nothing. The host didn’t want his offer to go to waste as she spoke, “Keep me company.”

Ace chuckled at the simple request. “Of course.”

He leaned against the counter only to phase right through it, earning another laugh from Mitsuko. Ace slowly recovered, coming back to her line of sight, hovering his arm just above the surface. “I hate this.”

“You’ll get the hang of it,” Mitsuko cheered. “Z is doing pretty well with it right now.”

“Is he now?” asked Ace, finding himself becoming more comfortable with his current position.

“Yup,” confirmed Mitsuko. “He’s really eager to learn, you must be proud of him.”

“More or less thanks to Rutia and Yuri,” Ace clarified. “I just kinda help out on occasion.”

“Don’t be so modest; I see the way you look at Z,” Mitsuko reasoned, banging the wooden spoon on the top of the pot, allowing its remains to drop back in. “You care about him and want the best for him.”

Ace smirked. She was right in the sense that he wanted what was best for Z, but horribly wrong at her implying he’s his father. “I helped him out with a few things. Such as how to fire his beam, fly, and lightning sphere.”

“Yeah, you were being a father,” reasoned Mitsuko, softly smiling at Ace’s pleasant side. She still saw him as a jerk, but was beginning to see he was more than that. He was like anyone on this planet, a person with problems, but another side that’ll bring the best out someone.

“He doesn’t need a father,” Ace replied, looking slightly down dismissively. “He already has two wonderful parents that teach him righ….. almost teach him right and wrong.”

“Despite your behavior, you at least teach him responsibility and provide stability,” Mitsuko added, deducing the right areas Ace was succeeding in his personal life. “Rutia and Yuri seem like wonderful people, but he needs you, they need you.”

Ace sighed, understanding her intentions and despite being annoyed by it, he still couldn’t find it in him to be furious at her. He just didn’t know why. Was it because she reminded him of Rutia? Or that he was starting to grow attracted to her?

The Ultra shivered at the thought of being with a human, equating it to dating an insect.

“Yeah, and you don’t need a third partner, idiot,” Ace cursed to himself, even though he couldn’t deny the comfort she brought to him. Her smile and kindness were infectious.

The Ultra sighed once more, realizing he hadn’t responded to his host. “While what you say is true, Z needs parents who are normal.”

“Normal?”

“Normal as in not being out in the field, fighting for your life against the kaiju,” Ace clarified. “And a parent who doesn’t fly off the handle, parents who are kind.”

“Hey,” Mitsuko said, taking her eyes off the cooking, giving Ace her full attention. She empathized with the Ultra, knowing he was scared about being a parent. His and Ayame’s arguments were migraine inducing, but was a good person when the right time came. “As others have pointed out, you’re an asshole, but…..”

“But?” Ace asked, curious to know where she was going with her rationale.

“You’d be a great dad, you just have to let them in and not worry if you’ll do bad,” Mitsuko explained, a soft tune oozing from her mouth with every word she spoke. “You just have to move through life with your child.”

Ace stared at her, taking in what she relayed to him. She was right and couldn’t argue against it. He just didn’t want Z to be hurt even further than before. Him officially being his dad would be an amazing feeling for all four of them, but the moment he dies on a mission, it’ll only bring a never ending wave of hurt.

“Perhaps you’re right, perhaps I can try with Z sometime,” Ace murmured, feeling his heart beat rise slightly.

“That’s the spirit!” Mitsuko cheered enthusiastically. “He’d be thrilled to spend more time with you.”

“What about you?” Ace asked. “You and Ayame ever thought about having little ones?”

“I’d love to,” Mitsuko answered happily, feeling warmth over the thought of having kids. “Been wanting them for as long as I can remember.”

“I think you have what it takes,” Ace spoke, motivating her ever so slightly.

“I appreciate that,” thanked Mitsuko, before her smile morphed into a frown. She turned around, leaning against the counter, remembering her recent failure. The death of Yuka still shook her greatly. It was as if a test was thrown onto her lap and failed just because she couldn’t do anything about it. Perhaps it was easier telling someone they could be a parent than to actually be one.

“But after the incident, I don’t know.”

“Yuka…” Ace surmised.

“Yes.” Mitsuko looked down, avoiding eye contact with her Ultra. “I just keep thinking. What if I’m in that situation and I can’t save my child like I failed with her. I could have ran faster, I could have pushed everyone out of the way. Literally anything!”

Ace sighed. He hated seeing her in such low spirits, especially when as she put it, being powerless to do anything. The Ultra knew it was never her fault. It was always his responsibility to save humanity and he himself should be labeled as the ‘failure’, not her.

“Don’t blame yourself,” Ace commanded, moving his hands behind his back. “Blame me.”

Mitsuko lifted her head up, studying his body language. It was as if he was attempting to impersonate an officer taking full responsibility for his failure, to spare the crew of any punishment. She respected him for it and only proved her point that he had redeeming qualities.

“No,” Mitsuko murmured.

Ace reared his head back, confused at how she could be so tolerant of him. From constantly picking fights with her partner, his screaming and his ruthless approach to conflicts, he had no idea how she could even like him.

“Why are you being so kind?” Ace questioned, continued to be fascinated yet frustrating with this anomaly of a human being. “I’ve been nothing but a hindrance to you and Ayame.”

Mitsuko smiled softly at him, slightly shaking her head. “Can I impart some advice to you? Something my mother taught me when I was a child.”

Ace nodded.

“Don’t lose your kindness. Take care of the weak and help each other. And don’t stop trying to be friendly with people from other places. No matter how many times you’re disappointed,” Mitsuko spoke, reciting every word her mom taught her. That message had a powerful effect on her, believing it was something everyone needed to hear.

Ace stood there motionless. Before this conversation began, he expected a conflict, but was met with just words. Words telling him he could be better. Just like how Jack imparted onto him months ago.

Neither of them had any interest in fighting him.

Outcomes he never accounted for.

“Am I stuck?” Ace thought to himself, feeling his soul sink at the words flooding his mind.

 

Chapter 10: “Dinner”

“Sir!” Ayame exclaimed, observing her captain standing in the hallway, sharply dressed in a black suit. She was surprised by how well her superior was dressed, immediately questioning herself if she and Mitsuko should have worn something more fancy. “I didn’t expect you to show up so well dressed.”

Goro laughed at her remark, handing Ayame a gold and blue bottle of wine. “It speaks to me.”

Ayame inspected the bottle, tracing her fingers over the gold lines plastered over the blue paint. She never heard of the brand before as she turned the bottle over to find the name of it.

“Hokuto and Minami,” Ayame murmured as she glanced up at her superior. “An interesting choice, sir.”

“No need to call me ‘sir’, Miss Ohta,” Goro spoke, placing his index and middle finger on his eyebrow before giving her a small salute. “We’re outside of work and here to enjoy ourselves.”

“Of course, Goro,” Ayame complied, slightly smiling at her superior. She motioned for him to enter her apartment as he followed her instructions. He inspected the apartment, smiling at how well decorated it was.

“The beauty of your home is inspiring,” Goro complimented, briefly rubbing his hands as he turned his attention to Ayame. He took note of the bright red dress she was wearing with a silver colored jacket covering her shoulders. “You should be proud.”

“I appreciate the compliment, si…. Goro,” Ayame said, feeling proud to gain her superior’s praise even if she wasn’t fully on board with this dinner.

“And I must thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me,” Goro expressed, bringing a black bag out in front of him, glancing down momentarily at it. “Some things I brought for dinner. I wasn’t fully sure what we’d want, so I figure we all could decide.”

“Great…. The rumors are true,” Ayame mentally deduced, placing her hand on her forehead. She already dreaded the four hour session of her captain’s indecisiveness.

Ayame then lowered her hand and motioned it over towards the kitchen. “Well, we can at least set the stuff there.”

Goro nodded his head, following her into the kitchen where he was instructed to set his stuff on the table where he caught Mitsuko in his line of sight. He offered a small wave before he stuck his hand out to offer her a handshake.

She smiled back at him, taking him up on the offer, shaking his hand. Goro took note of her red pantsuit with her brown hair tied up in a ponytail. The TAC captain chuckled. “Ah, I love your preference in clothing.”

Mitsuko giggled from his compliment as she made the finishing touches to the meal they’re about to have. The smell of the meal ascended up Goro’s nose, lifting his spirits to a new high he could never have imagined. He could have sworn he was levitating in response to it, feeling himself motion over to the pot.

“Might I see what you’re cooking?” inquired Goro, raising his eyebrows at Mitsuko, anticipating the delicacy that was about to be served to everyone.

“Of course,” Mitusko complied, stepping aside, allowing him to look inside. He stared down at it for a moment before turning his gaze back to the cook.

Goro smiled at both Mitsuko and Ayame, clapping his hands together. “There’s no need to decide, I want some of that!”

“Oh thank god,” Ayame whispered to herself in relief, not having to go through the agonizing session of deciding what to have for dinner.

Ace briefly materialized in front of Ayame, glancing at her boss before turning his attention back to her in disbelief. “There’s no way this guy is human, right? It’s not just me.”

“Shh….” hissed Ayame, not wanting to hear his voice for the time being.

Ace rolled his eyes before dematerializing, leaving them in peace.

“So, shall we dig in?” Goro asked, rubbing his hands together in anticipation to try the curry.

Everyone inside grabbed both a plate and bowl of food as they moseyed over to the table just across from the kitchen. They sat on beige cushions, feeling highly comfortable as they found themselves mesmerized by Mitsuko’s curry.

“Mhmm!” murmured Goro loudly, setting his bowl down on the table as he rubbed his chest. He looked over at Mitsuko seated to his right, bringing his hands up for a small round of applause. “This has to be the best curry I have ever tried in my life.”

Mitsuko’s cheeks grew bright red, surprised at the man’s compliment. “This? It’s nothing. Just something I whip up frequently.”

“Nonsense,” Goro dismissed, inspecting the meal below. “You could make a lot of money if you sell this to people. I know I’d eat at that restaurant.”

“Thank you for the compliments,” Mitsuko spoke, placing her hand under her chin. “Come to think of it, you might be my biggest fan of this.”

“Always will,” Goro chuckled, taking another spoonful of the curry. He soon took notice of the child on the other side of the table. He placed his spoon into the bowl and looked at Chiharu. “So, what are some things you’re into?”

Chiharu looked up to be greeted by the Captain’s smile. He paused for a moment before speaking. “Anime, waterparks, and Kamen Rider.”

“Kamen Rider?” Goro inquired, interest growing in his eyes as the name immediately sounded appealing to him. “Who’s that?”

“Oh boy….” Ayame spoke before taking a sip of her sake, knowing the full tangent her brother was about to go on.

“The greatest hero ever!” the boy exploded cheerfully, launching his arms outwards. “He stands up for the little guy while he stops the villainous Shocker from taking over the world!”

“Ooh!” Goro oozed out with excitement, already enamoured with the character’s commitment and heroics. “What channel and time would I catch his show?”

“He’s not a character,” Chiharu answered. “He’s a real superhero.”

The Captain stroked his chin. “You think he’d help us out at TAC? He sounds like he’d be of great use.”

“He’d be busy with Shocker, but I’m sure he’d charge in to save the day if we asked,” Chiharu surmised, taking another spoonful of his curry.

Goro glanced at Ayame as he half heartedly joked, “We could really use him.”

Ayame chuckled as her captain lowered his joking expression, turning his matters to serious business. “These attacks, starting with Garan, are all connected.”

“Really?” Ayame asked, leaning her head forward, fully understanding the weight of the conversation.

“Verokron was the first we were able to start piecing together with his emergence of the portal,” Goro paused, taking a sip of his wine. “The autopsies of King Kappa and Mazarius beforehand, however, were incredibly fruitful to our understanding.”

Ace briefly materialized next to Ayame and motioned for her to find out more. The Ultra was all the more curious about his new enemy. He may have only fought three of them, but they were already growing in power with each encounter. The Ultra hated to admit it, but this conflict wouldn’t last much longer if things kept proceeding as they did.

“What did the team find?”

“They were all created by one entity beyond our comprehension, a fusion of different beings. Verokron is composed of an ordinary kaiju and sea coral, the same with Aribunta, and so on,” Goro explained, feeling disgust over the method they were created along with their shared goal of wanting to destroy Earth, his planet. “I don’t even want to think about the possibilities involving kaiju like Godzilla or Gamera under that thing’s control.”

The rest of the table looked at him concerned over this shocking predicament. Ayame swallowed. “Then what’s the plan going forward?”

Goro placed his elbows onto the table, bringing his hands together, contemplating his course of action. “Their attacks will become more coordinated as evident by Aribunta’s assault, but it seems we now have two Ultras at the forefront of it all.”

Ayame, Mitsuko, and Chiharu all looked at each other, a sense of worry washing over them as they were terrified by what Goro was about to say. They all had a huge sense of dread, fearing the tiny possibility he could have caught on to them hosting the Ultras.

“However, without a concrete way of discerning who those hosts are, we’ll just have to focus on getting their attention on the battlefield,” Goro reasoned. “Them, or even Ultraman Jack, but that poses the same problem as well.”

“Jack!? No fucking way!” Ace blared, causing Ayame to shut her eyes and slam her hands against her head. His raging voice caused her head to hurt while Mitsuko’s hand seized, evoking a small gasp from her.

Goro slightly jumped back from the abrupt display of his subordinate seizing. He rushed over to Ayame, placing himself next to her as he held her steady. “Miss Ohta, Miss Abe, are the two of you alright?”

“Yeah… just…. A…. migraine suddenly came on,” Ayame breathed out, feelingly slightly relieved she wasn’t fully lying. The TAC soldier then shot a glare at Ace for not being able to control himself, turning her attention back to Mitsuko gripping her hand. “Mi, are you okay?”

Mitsuko nodded, loosening her grip on her hand. “I’m doing fine.”

She scooted over to her partner, wrapping herself around while Goro stood back up. “Is there anything I can do to help you all out?”

Ayame shook her head, feeling it still pounding. “No, sir… I just need to lie down.”

Goro nodded his head. “I understand, Miss Ohta. We need to be at our best for the oncoming storm.”

Mitsuko prepared to walk Ayame down the hall when Goro spoke again. “I appreciate you for letting me into your home. It was nice spending time with all three of you and I hope we can do this again.”

“Of course, Goro,” Ayame weakly said before being ushered into her bedroom as Goro simply smirked.

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend, one of my most conflicting sayings.”

Goro sighed. He hated the method he would employ in the coming days towards Ayame and her family, but he knew it was the only way he could save them, the people and the planet he loved so much.

“But in the end, it’ll be worth it.”

 

Chapter 11: The Beginning of Our Consequences

Another day, another day out patrolling the streets.

Ayame smiled softly. An easy day of just keeping an eye out for the citizens and to stretch her legs out. She preferred it over staring at a screen back at base. The TAC soldier gave a small wave over to people passing by her as she continued on her designated patrol.

Unsurprisingly, Ace materialized right next to her, walking besides her. Ayame rolled her eyes slightly, annoyed by his appearance, but accepted there was nothing she could do about it. “Decided to join me on a stroll?”

“Mitsuko requested it after the incident,” Ace relayed, feeling slightly guilty for ruining their get-together the other night. Mostly for Mitsuko’s sake even if her pain wasn’t anywhere near as bad as Ayame’s.

“Ah, so you are willing to listen,” Ayame surmised before thinking of a request. “Think you could stand here for the rest of the day?”

“Don’t push it,” Ace spat dismissively at the suggestion. “And besides, she’s not so bad.”

Ayame nearly huffed in response. “So you do actually like someone?”

“Don’t push it,” Ace instinctively responded, smirking slightly at his other host, already missing the conversations he’d have with her.

“Fair enough.” Ayame shrugged, inching her way past a few civilians walking in the opposite direction. “She does have that effect on everyone. It’s impossible to dislike her.”

“I must have failed the challenge.”

“Mhm,” Ayame murmured, feeling grateful the conversation hasn’t turned into a full on screaming match already. She chuckled lightly, thinking how this has probably been the longest they’ve been civilized. “I suppose if she’s okay with you, then who am I to get in the way?”

“That’s surprising to hear,” Ace said, feeling almost relieved she didn’t have a problem with him chatting with her partner so often. Not that he didn’t welcome a fight with someone he hated, but his admiration for Mitsuko far exceeded his need to fight. “But I appreciate it nonetheless.”

“Mitsuko has been a forgiving person, it’s just who she is,” Ayame explained, smirking at the thought of her smile. It was enough to set her at ease. “But I’m the complete opposite.”

“I can tell,” Ace commented, observing her abrupt transition from happy to furious in a moment’s notice. He knew exactly what she was talking about. Ace saw the pain and hatred festering inside her. All that hatred directed towards him because of his mistake of not taking everything in account was when he made a stunning realization.

“Ayame is my reflection,” Ace quietly surmised to himself.

It wasn’t Yuri he saw in her, but instead, the angry yet overprotective being that’ll do anything to save those they love. He felt his throat being clogged as if he was being choked, almost as if he didn’t want to say what was next, but for the sake of not his life, but hers, he had to make the attempt.

“Ayame…..” Ace murmured out, his voice no longer brash and arrogant, but one of fear. He didn’t want to mess this up even further than he has, taking note of her turning towards him. Ayame was annoyed, but kept her attention on him, curious as to what he wanted to tell her. “I want… to apologize… for what happened that day….”

Knowing almost instantaneously, Mitsuko would have fallen for it, but not her. She didn’t believe his apology was genuine and figured there was some ulterior motive he had laid out for her. She sighed, annoyed that the spotlight was now back to her, but she couldn’t back down. “I don’t buy your apology….”

Ace’s fist tightened, angered that she wanted to continue their quarrel, and possibly insult him further. He went to open his mouth, intending to hurl another wave of criticisms towards her, but she put her hand out.

“You’re not letting me finish,” Ayame relayed, taking note of her Ultra’s jump to hostility the moment he knew she said something he disagreed with. “Until your apology is genuine, I will not forgive you, but…..”

“But?”

“I am willing to back off, not for your sake or for mine, but for Mi, Chi and Z’s sake,” Ayame clarified. “They’re better than us and I don’t want to see them dragged any further than what we already did.”

Ace sighed. It wasn’t the answer he wanted, but he figured it’d be a lot worse. He loved Z and cared a lot for Mitsuko. He chuckled briefly, feeling a modicum of respect for Chiharu for willing to be a host.

However, it was an answer he was willing to take as he offered a hand towards Ayame. She reared her head back from him, confused by the gesture. “You do remember we can’t touch each other, right?”

“Can you appreciate the gesture or not!?” Ace exclaimed, annoyed by her not willing to take any form of truce he offered. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m willing to agree to your terms!”

Ayame sighed in relief. “Then, I guess we have a deal.”

The Ultra host raised her hand, allowing it to phase through his, indulging him in his gesture. She then smiled at him, deciding to offer some words of encouragement. “If any other Ultra merged with me, I’d take them over easily.”

Ace couldn’t help but laugh at the compliment she gave to him, feeling an ounce of respect for her simmer inside of him. “Absolutely.”

***

Tapping his fingers together, he watched from the outskirts. The grand metropolis stood just before him. A true testament to humanity’s ingenuity.

The being always admired humanity and even adored living amongst them. The people he had met along the way, the way they conjured up their many inventions even down to the food is amongst the best in the universe. It was beautiful to him.

He sighed, keeping his focus on the people off in the distance. All of them tell a far different story than each other. Another aspect of humanity he loved so much, but it was something he knew could also be improved on.

Mefilas saw it in Ayame and Mitsuko; two loving people who deserved peace in this world, but would only meet hostility by people who don’t understand them. Their happiness along with the rest of his subordinates was something he desired to see on this planet.

Peace on Earth was within his reach.

In order for that to happen, he needed to do something bad. Not just to provide happiness, but security to this still young civilization.

He needed to cause chaos, to show the world he would be the only one to save it. To save it from Yapool’s extermination under his leadership.

Mefilas ceased his tapping and raised his hand towards his face, his yellow mouthpiece glowing against his blue narrow visor. He had failed once over half a decade ago, he will not fail again.

The world needs him.

“The ends justify the means…..” Mefilas wiped his hand down his face before launching it forward. “One of my least favorite sayings.”

The ground rumbled past him, as a huge tremor shook the earth, devastating the ground all around him. Gabora jumped out of the ground, issuing a powerful shriek as its drill split open, revealing its skull-like face. Blue energy flowed around its mouth before it abruptly changed to a violet aura, as a powerful uranium beam shot out of its maw. The beam struck against a building, splitting it apart.

The top half of the building collapsed onto the street, crushing all those unfortunate to be in its vicinity. Gabora unleashed another roar as it marched forward, connecting all four pieces of its drill together. The loyal servant of Mefilas marched forward, drilling through the exterior of the city, demolishing everything it could.

“You too, my friend,” Mefilas spoke aloud as a cloaked creature, sharing a similar body type to Gabora moved past him. It, too, ushered out a roar, intending to not only make his master proud, but to feast on the energy circulating in the city.

It was a great risk Mefilas was taking, sending out two of his strongest creations, but if he played his cards right, he could make his dreams a reality. The Ambassador Extraordinare placed his fingers together, letting them tap against each other once more. His yellow mouthpiece glowing once again.

“Now to wait for the guests of honor,” Mefilas said, watching the dreaded chaos unfold in front of his very eyes.

 

Chapter 12: Ultraman Ace and Z vs. Mefilas, Neronga and Gabora

Twin TAC Arrows zoomed across the sky, with both Neronga and Gabora in their sights. Missiles struck against the two kaiju’s hides. Neronga growled, turning his attention away from the city block and towards the threats from the sky. He brought his horns together and unleashed a beam of lightning. The projectile ascended towards the jets, but the pilots were faster than the creature anticipated, pulling away from its trajectory.

Gabora felt the missiles exploding against the saws on his back, shaking his head in mild disappointment. He glanced up at the jets circling around him and comrade, viewing their attacks as nothing more than a nuisance. Still, as his master told him, they were not to be underestimated.

The Iron Fortress slammed his tails repeatedly like sticks against a drum. The saws spinning at an intense rate, launching his tails straight at the jets, striking their engines directly. His iron-like tails tore straight through them as he reeled them back. Gabora watched the two jets fall from the sky as he opened his mouth, prepared to unleash his uranium beam. The blue energy formed inside his throat, preparing himself to send it cascading towards the descending jets, but he heard a voice.

“No,” the voice commanded. “Spare them.”

The blue energy subsided as Gabora reluctantly followed his master’s command. He shook his head as he continued forward, swinging his tails into two buildings across from him. The swipe split them in half perfectly like a hot knife against butter.

“Konno and Yoshimura are down!” Yamanaka’s voice blared out over the radio as Ayame placed her fingers against the earpiece. “Mikawa and I are being pushed back, is anyone else out here?”

“Yamanka, this is Ohta! I’m heading over to assist,” Ayame relayed, running down the packed streets as everyone bolted past her towards safety. She pulled out her standard issued gun, moving as fast as she could to reach her comrades. “What about the Captain?”

“No clue!” Yamanka’s voice rang out, irritation rising in his voice. “Bastard better have a good reason for not showing up.”

Ayame pushed herself as fast as she could, intending to reach her comrades, but in the corner of her eye, she saw Mitsuko and Chiharu rushing towards her. She stopped herself at the sight of them, giving them her full undivided attention.

She nearly threw her fist down in anger, annoyed by them never listening to her when it comes to situations like this. Ayame, on the other hand, knew she could only buy her comrades time by herself as she held out her hand, pointing the ring towards Mitsuko’s.

Mitsuko grinned at her partner and mirrored the gesture, immediately swapping places with Ace.

“I ask that you chant my name!” Zett exclaimed excitedly, stretching his arms outward behind the child, eagerly awaiting to join the battlefield once more.

Chiharu raised his fist in the air, clenching a teal and black holder, resembling a portable deck to hold cards. “Ultraman Z!”

“Wait, when did he get that?” Ayame questioned, witnessing the transformation, but Ace ignored her question and kept his focus on him.

Like his father before, Ultraman Z rose, towering above the many structures surrounding them. They spotted the two living bioweapons tearing the city apart just blocks away from them. Z moved to rush in, but Ace slammed his hand against his chest, stunning the younger Ultra.

“Wait,” Ace hushed, keeping his eyes on the two creatures. He spotted Neronga’s electricity cascading from building to building, blowing out its windows before the entire structures followed suit. The Ultra Brother turned his head over to Gabora, taking note of his entire body being covered in saws and drills. He groaned, already despising this fight out of the latter’s bizarre body nature and the creature was far different than Lipiah explained.

“That thing is not supposed to be covered in blades!” Ace cursed. “Dammit!”

Z watched his father lose himself analyzing the threats in front of them. He placed his hand on his shoulder. “What’s the plan? How do we win that?”

“The plan…. Right.”

Ace lifted his head up at Z, knowing he had to keep himself composed for their child. He pointed his hand at Neronga. “See that one with the electricity?”

“Of course,” Z yelped, observing the electricity based kaiju swiping his hand across a nearby structure, forcing its upper half to collapse onto the street.

“You’ll be immune to its electricity, but do not,” Ace relayed, his tone of voice becoming more and more demanding, as he slammed his hands onto the younger Ultra. “Do not underestimate it whatsoever, got it?”

“Of course….” Z attempted to speak, but was cut off Ace tightening his grip onto him and bringing his face against him.

“Do you understand!?” Ace nearly roared out, ensuring he was drilling the order straight into the Ultra’s head. Deep down he hated screaming at the younger Ultra, but had to get the message across, so he could survive.

“Yes!” Z blared out, feeling a brief sensation of anger drip into his very core before slowly coming back to his normal upbeat self. “I’ll make sure to follow your command.”

“Good and….” Ace almost relayed when he saw Gabora firing a blue beam towards Zett. As if it was second nature, the senior Ultra took a step forward and shoved Z to the ground.

Z looked up, baffled at why his father knocked him down when he then saw him getting struck in the shoulder by a powerful beam. Ace screamed out in pain, as it blackened his shoulder. The younger Ultra watched his father slowly get up to match the charging Gabora.

A roar was unleashed, but not from Gabora. Z snapped his head over towards the charging Neronga, intending to aid his brother in the conflict. The young Ultra slammed his hands together, unleashing the Zestium Beam on Neronga. The blast struck his underside, cutting into his belly, forcing it to shriek out in agony.

The living bioweapon crashed on his back, waving its limbs around as it struggled to get back on his feet. He knew him and his brother had to make his master proud by keeping the Ultras distracted just long enough, but was already growing furious from this conflict. Mefilas better have the most precious of meals prepared for the two of them. Nothing less.

Almost as if they synchronized, both Z and Neronga got back to their feet, glaring at each other. The two of them looked back at their respective partners, but they paid no mind to them. The two were already charging towards each other.

Z gulped at the thought of his father being impaled by the massive drill or being cut up on its back. As terrifying as the thought was, he had to follow his superior’s orders, he had to listen to his father.

He couldn’t let him down.

“You got this, Z,” Chiharu spoke, materializing in front of him, flashing him a thumbs up.

Z nodded, bashing his fists together before setting himself in a stance. He raised his left hand forward and reared his right back. Z planted his feet firmly into the asphalt, locking eyes with Neronga. “Let’s see what you got.”

Neronga commanded his antlers to come together as electricity circulated throughout the jugular. The blue markings traversed upwards to his head as the horn shot out the current, sending it directly towards Ultraman Z.

The younger Ultra prepared to dodge the beam, but remembered what his father had told him just moments ago.

“Right…” Ultraman Z murmured to himself, bringing his hands up once again, mimicking his signature move. “I’ll be okay.”

The current struck Z directly in the chest, feeling it impact lightly against him, but no pain whatsoever. He chuckled at the sensation, nearly breaking his stance with his hands faltering. Still, he kept himself focused and unleashed the Zestium Beam, striking Neronga’s shoulder.

The energy blast sent the living bioweapon down a few blocks, his back completely tearing up the asphalt, leaving nothing but a large ditch. Neronga shook his head as he slowly got up to his feet, allowing the remains of asphalt and concrete to fall off of him.

Neronga growled at the Ultra’s persistence and its immunity to its primary weapon. He glanced over to see Gabora keeping the more senior Ultra at bay. The electricity based bioweapon huffed, turning to the other side to locate where his master previously was, but saw no sign of him.

He growled once again, frustrated he was making him and his brother do all the heavy work. His only hope of defeating Z was through a battle of attrition. However, it would be very easy for Z if he cloaked now. Neronga stared right back at Z, taking note of how little he moved or didn’t even take his eyes off of him.

The most he can do is keep a stalemate up between the two of them.

Z, on the other hand, moved his hands towards each other, intending to charge another beam. Neronga’s eyes widened in fear, attempting to back up and retreat, knowing full well how painful the blasts were. He’d be lucky enough to survive this one. The living bioweapon attempted to retreat only for Z to scream out as orange electricity struck his back.

The resulting impact forced Z to collapse onto his stomach as Neronga breathed a sigh of relief. From the thin veil of dust, he saw his master, waving off in the distance before tapping his fingers together.

Neronga sighed as he then cloaked, intending to go through with his new plan.

Twin drills came full force at Ace. The Ultra Brother barely dodged the first as the second one struck his shoulder. He cried out while his cut shot out a ray of light. Ace stumbled a few feet back as Gabora bulldozed his way through several structures with his massive drill. The Ultra’s widened as he narrowly avoided the drill, jumping out of the way landing on his back.

“Shit. Let’s see,” Ace cursed, scanning through his list of powers he could retaliate with. His mind kept browsing until he saw one that would buy him time. “Ultra Guillotine!”

He brought up his hands, allowing crackling energy to surge between them and his head. Ace then shot out his right and launched a singular buzzsaw, striking the massive drill. The buzzsaw bounced off the drill before diving themselves up into smaller ones, striking the saws on his back.

Both sets of saws danced against each other, forcing the Iron Fortress’ set to stall. Ace smirked, propelling himself upwards while Gabora split his drill open and roared out, agitated by the Ultra’s actions.

Gabora’s maw began to charge, intending to fire its devastating beam once again. “Not this time!” Ultraman Ace screamed back.

The Ultra slammed his hands together and fired a red beam from his fingertips, careening towards Gabora. The Iron Fortress spat out his uranium beam, colliding with Ace’s Punch laser. The two stood still, keeping their focus as best as they could, attempting to overpower the other with their beam. Red and blue merged into purple, illuminating their little area.

For them, it was the only thing that existed in front of their very eyes. Yet, it had no effect on the outcome of their battle. Their eyes focused on one other, demanding they fall before their incredible might.

The two attempted to step forward, intending to overpower each other, but their chance never came. An explosion materialized just in front of them, sending Ace onto his back and forcing Gabora to drop to his stomach.

Dust soon began to settle while the magenta aura disappeared. Ace struggled to get back on his feet, observing his wounds to find more cracks of light scattered around his entire body. He coughed, placing his hand on his stomach, taking a step further when he heard the Iron Fortress scream out.

“Fuck!” Ace exclaimed, following it up with another series of coughs. He looked up to see Gabora slowly emerge from the veil of dust, slowly limping towards him. The entirety of his back rotating as perfectly as ever while his tails drummed against the ground. Ace gagged once again from his wounds, but noticed one particular thing about his foe.

The upper left and bottom right portions of its drill were blown off. Blood seeped from its cheeks as it growled out once again, intending to cause further harm to Ace for damaging its body. Gabora shrieked out, lifting its tails out at him as Ace simply chuckled.

“Come on!” Z shouted out, searching his surroundings as he tried to find his invisible foe. “Where are you?” He scanned to his left only to find the invisible force striking against his hip, sending him careening down face first into a building.

“Ow!” Z cried out as Neronga swiped against his back repeatedly. The young Ultra attempted to get back up on his feet, but was only met with more resistance. Neronga cackled, feeling relieved he was now the one coming up on top in this whole skirmish.

“Okay, um… think, Z, think,” Z spoke, conjuring up several ideas on how to escape his predicament. It was hard for him to think of a solution when the living bioweapon’s claws were digging into him, as it was only making him more and more furious. Then, in an instance, it all came to it. “Be like Ace!”

Z screamed out as azure colored energy circulated around his foot as he then launched it on Neronga’s underside, eliciting a pained filled shriek. The Invisible Monster stumbled backwards, allowing himself to breathe for just a few moments as Z stood back.

“Zestium Bea…..” Ultraman Z attempted to scream out, but Neronga immediately pounced on him, shrieking straight in his face. The living bioweapon made it very clear he did not want to be struck by that beam again whatsoever.

The younger Ultra slammed his hands onto Neronga’s head, earning another shriek from the Invisible Monster. However, the living bioweapon’s hold on the Ultra did not falter as he dug his claws into the younger Ultra’s shoulder, eliciting his share of screams as well.

The two were locked into a death grip with one another, trading in several strikes. Z focused on striking Neronga’s head, intending to make the creature go unconscious as best as he could. All the while Neronga kept his claws dug in as slammed his tail against his silver and blue body.

Neither one of them was going to win this.

“Metalium Beam!” Ace roared out, firing the multicolored beam, striking Gaboara’s launching twin tails. The projectile sliced one of the tails in half, eliciting a roar of agony from the Iron Fortress as purple ichor shot out, raining down on the ruined streets.

The other tail pierced through Ace’s shoulder, earning the Iron Fortress the pleasure of hearing a gagged scream from the Ultra. Ace huffed out, slowly placing his hand near the gaping wound while Gabora pulled him forward with the remaining tail.

Ace was dragged through the ruined ground, feeling pieces of dirt, asphalt and concrete strike him against the face. He cried out once again, feeling pain course through his entire body. He wanted to rip this abomination apart, piece by piece, but he didn’t have that luxury. The Ultra had to finish this and get to Z as fast as he could.

He huffed and puffed when he found himself being lifted up by the appendage, finding himself face to face with the skeletal-like face of Gabora. The Iron Fortress stared at him, no sign of gloating or even hatred, almost as if it was just another objective for him.

It didn’t matter.

Ace simply smirked.

“Timer…. Shot!” Ace gagged out, swinging his hands towards his chest before unleashing them outwards. Within the span of a millisecond, the beam fired out a multicolored beam from his color timer. The projectile crashed through Gabora’s skull, shattering the top half and going through his entire body.

The Iron Fortress was no more.

He dropped in an instant as Ace collapsed onto his knees, breathing heavily as the tail was still impaled through him. His energy was all but depleted, slowly moving his hands towards the appendage. Ace braced himself for the horrendous amount of pain he was about to endure.

Ace yanked it out of his shoulder, giving the Earth a blood curled scream. The Ultra dropped the tail, allowing himself to rest once again as the gaping hole shot out another beam of light.

The Ultra Brother slowly got up to his feet, trying his best to recover when he heard Z scream out. Ace snapped his head over to find him still tangling with Neronga, constantly trading blows with each other.

Ace’s eyes widen in horror at seeing his lovers’ son close to being torn apart. He rushed forward, but yelled out yet again, feeling his entire body working against him. Ace had already been through the brunt of it with Gabora, but he couldn’t stop now.

He had to finish this.

He had to save the day.

He had to prove him wrong.

He had to save Z.

Ace limped over to Z only to find his chest struck with an orange crackling beam. The Ultra Brother gasped out, feeling pain continuing to wash over him as he saw a new figure approach from the distance.

A dark figure with a narrow blue visor and a yellow faceplate lighting up, marched towards him. Ace looked at him, noticing the pure determination in him. Whatever he wanted, it couldn’t be good.

Ace weakly put his shaking hands together and fired a Guillotine Shot. The buzzsaw raced towards Mefilas, but he slowly raised his hand upwards and knocked it aside like it was trash. The Ambassador Extraordinaire continued his trek unimpeded until he stood above the wounded Ace.

Whoever this figure was, Ace already despised him. It was without any words being spoken Ace attempted to strike the figure with an Ultra punch, intending to punch a hole straight through him.

Mefilas grabbed a hold of Ace’s arm and yanked it out of the socket. The sounds of his joint going out of place was very uncomfortable for both of them. Ace screamed out in agony as Mefilas looked away briefly before taking note of the Ultra’s very limp arm on the ground.

He abhorred violence, but it was necessary for what was about to happen.

“Dad!” Z cried out, watching the whole encounter afar as a newfound resurgence of strength washed over him. He sent an energy-filled punch into Neronga’s chest, forcing the bioweapon off of him.

The younger Ultra raced towards the newcomer in an attempt to free him, but Mefilas was two steps ahead of him. The Ambassador Extraordinaire stepped out of the way, allowing Z to run just past him before he grabbed him by the back of his head.

It happened all too fast for both Ultras to comprehend.

Mefilas slammed Z face first into the ground and fired another round of his Pair Hand ray at him. The orange beam slammed into his back, earning another cry of agony as Mefilas shook his head in disgust.

He then glanced over at Neronga and motioned for him to restrain the younger Ultra. The living bioweapon shook his head once again in irritation as he marched off. Neronga then stalled, spotting Gabora’s corpse off in the distance.

His heart stopped for a moment.

His brother was gone.

He snapped his head over to the very wounded Ace as the culprit behind his murder. Neronga unleashed a rage filled cry as he reared his feet, getting ready to charge straight towards the incapacitated Ultra Brother. He fully intended to stab Ace in the neck for his transgression.

“Enough!” Mefilas yelled out, forcing Neronga to halt to attention. The Seijin glanced down at his pet as his tone of voice changed, feeling upset over the loss of one of his pets and even more so for Neronga’s misery. “There has already been enough death for one day.”

Without any further words, Mefilas motioned for Neronga to follow his order. The living bioweapon reluctantly followed the order before glaring at both him and Ace. Neronga planted his hands onto Z’s back, keeping him in place while Mefilas moseyed over to the wounded Ultra Brother.

“If it’s any consolation, I don’t take pleasure in any of this,” Mefilas murmured regretfully, placing his hand onto the wounded shoulder of Ace.

“Fuck off….” Ace spat, raising his head weakly up at the Seijin. “If you didn’t take pleasure in this, you wouldn’t have sent your dogs out!”

“If only that were so,” Mefilas spoke, agreeing with what Ace threw at him, as he looked him directly in the eye. “Isn’t that right, Miss Ohta?”

That phrase.

The very foundation of Ace, Ayame and Mitsuko’s bodies all shook.

“Goro….” Ayame muttered in utter disbelief, her mouth quivering while her eyes were nearly bloodshot at the revelation.

“I know I can’t hear you, Miss Ohta, but I imagine you’re not happy about any of this,” Mefilas spoke, keeping pressure on Ace’s shoulder wound. “But as I told our mutual friend here, I’m not happy about any of this myself.”

“You fucking asshole!” Ayame shrieked out, as Ace felt her entire voice pounding against his head, but it was nothing compared to the wounds already dished out to him. Ace weakly lifted up his head as Ayame continued to scream out. “I trusted you!”

“What…. the hell do you want….” Ace nearly choked out, wanting to execute Mefilas so badly, but his entire body refused to budge. The fight had left his body, all that remained was defeat holding him in place.

Mefilas shook his head, his entire state of mind filled with despair that it all had come to this. He placed his finger underneath Ace’s chin and lifted his head slightly. “This world is on fire, and this beautiful planet cannot survive without help.”

“Help? How is he planning to help us when he sacrificed countless lives today!” Mitsuko cried out, not even wanting to guess how many people had to perish for Goro’s proposal.

“I don’t know, but we’re not letting him!” Ayame yelled out, turning her focus on her Ultra. “Ace, get up! We’re not letting this piece of shit win!”

Ace gasped out once again, feeling himself barely able to hold his body in place. If he didn’t switch control back to his hosts, then he would cease to be. The thought of losing infuriated him, but he couldn’t let that interfere with his life, not when he still had him to look out for.

The Ultra glanced over at the incapacitated Z, before turning over to Mefilas. “Let him go…. I don’t have much time….”

“I know you don’t, my friend,” Mefilas murmured, lightly patting him on the shoulder. “And neither does this planet, which is why I need your help to defend it. Only with our combined strength can we save it from Yapool, and create a better tomorrow for all of humanity.”

Ace chuckled at what the Seijin relayed to him, earning a confused look from Mefilas. “You could have gotten any Ultra for that….”

Mefilas chuckled as well and shook his head. “On the contrary my friend, they wouldn’t have listened to reason no matter what method I used, but you…..”

The Ambassador Extraordinaire relinquished his hold on the wounded Ultra and stood up, towering above him. “You’ll listen after you’ve been humiliated, to the point of no return.”

“Bullshit….” Ace spat once again, feeling his starting to flash in and out, barely holding his connection to the physical world.

“Is it?” Mefilas asked. “You overvalue your abilities, thinking you’re the best in the universe, when in reality, you’re the worst of your race.”

Mefilas moved over to the corpse of Gabora and hoisted him above his shoulder before turning back to the Ultra Brother. “And that makes you the most qualified in helping me bring stability to humanity.”

“Go to hell….” Ace breathed.

“Not yet,” Mefilas laughed, looking him in the eye one last time, speaking to Ayame and Mitsuko directly. “Give it some time and pay me a visit. We can discuss the details in about a week.”

The Ambassador Extraordinaire whistled, as Neronga hopped off the wounded Z. The living bioweapon trailed behind Mefilas, leaving the two wounded Ultramen behind. Ace’s eyes began flickering as he witnessed the two walk away, barely able to comprehend the situation before him.

Today was the day he lost.

And whether he could admit it or not, it was the first time he could not blame anyone but himself for the loss of a fight.

Ace’s vision went black before his entire body dematerialized, leaving his hosts in his place.

 

Chapter 13: The Awakening

The being opened its emerald-like eyes to a wave of flashing lights. It raised its red and bronze colored arm over them to avoid the bright sensation.

“Do not be afraid, my child!” a booming voice called out through the flashing lights.

The being slowly lowered its arm as it nearly shielded itself once more out of instinct, but felt compelled to follow the orders of the voice. The being stepped forward to inspect the light and the voice behind it and found it mesmerizing.

“You have a purpose here.”

The being reached out for the light, wanting to feel some sort of connection towards the voice. His hand slipped through the light as he morphed his hand into a fist. The machine-like anomaly reared his hand back and opened it only to find nothing.

It snapped its head up and looked up at the incorporeal being, awaiting another signal that it was there with him. The being looked down for a moment only to find nothing but a void underneath it.

A dark realization was made.

It was at the mercy of being alone.

The voice was speaking sporadically. It wanted to know why it was created and what it could do to achieve its purpose. It just needed the being to speak once more.

The bronze and red automaton reached towards the glowing light, attempting to see if the simulation of physical touch would be enough. Its hand neared the light when the voice finally spoke again.

“You are to destroy the being known as Ultraman Ace, and soon, the Ultras known as Z and Jack,” the voice vocalized, issuing its directive.

The being nodded, realizing now why it was created.

To eliminate those that seek to harm its parent.

The being felt its insides rattling about, anticipating the coming hunt. It wanted to make its creator happy, to feel that sensation of praise.

The automaton nodded in acknowledgement as it banged its fists together, signifying that it was ready to start the mission.

A red crack snapped into the existence of the voice, eliciting a knee jerk reaction from the machine before realizing it was his ticket out of there. It marched on with excitement as the voice spoke once again.

“Be the hero of our people, Ace Killer,” Yapool spoke, christening his newest creation.

Winner: Alien Mefilas (Universal), Neronga (Universal)

Author: Andrew Sudomerski & Dao Zang Moua | Banner: Dao Zang Moua

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: The God Slayer vs. The Devil’s Serpent
Chapter 2: The First Wave
Chapter 3: Tides of War
Chapter 4: Round 2 – The Cavalry Arrives
Chapter 5: Desperate Gambit

[Continued from Match 409]

Chapter 1: The God Slayer vs. The Devil’s Serpent

To the ignorance of the mechanical warlord and the pathetic defenders who fought back in futile resistance, a disturbance began to make itself known. Next to the slain and broken body of the mighty Behemoth, the Prison of the Sealed One shuddered violently. The glowing veins of the Hollow Earth’s natural energy resource dimmed, having been siphoned by the wicked menace that brought death to this realm.

Without the energy to maintain its structure, the once firm and sturdy boulder began to diminish, the crystal veins crumbling into powder and shards alongside the naturally hewn basalt and dust. The fractured stone fell apart into large chunks, oozing remnants of the Hollow Earth Energy from within.

Amidst the one-sided war against the mechanical goliath of death, one of its stray missiles struck against the crumbling rock formation. An explosive burst scattered from the freshly formed crater, revealing beneath a horned brow from within its tomb. Droopy eyes opened up to reveal a fierce orange blaze from its iris, with the rest of its senses reorienting from within its prison. The sensory organs responsible for hearing were muffled, but it could make out the sounds of warfare and the heat of battle that resounded through the inner world. But the more the creature awakened, the clearer the chorus of destruction became.

The once imprisoned beast grumbled a quiet roar, locating the source of all the havoc brought unto the Hollow Earth. Orange eyes surveyed the chaos, locking onto the bizarre anomaly that was clearly not of this world. Its steel-brazen exoskeleton distinguished it from all other forms of life, making it an obvious target. As the rest of the casing gradually dissipated into dust, the creature heard the pulsating distortion from the mechanical fiend, its Alpha signature registering with the bumpy reptile.

Twisting its stoic face to a toothy grin, it knew a challenger awaited.

—

The Apex Titan let loose a mechanical laugh of joy as the residents of the Hollow Earth rushed to drive it out of their home, tearing through drone fire and missiles flying rampantly around them. Charging up its fist with energy, it slammed a large blue theropod that roared similarly to a former monster king into the ground. A stomp to its head drove it further into the dirt as the steel titan used it as a leaping point, jumping into the air and smacking the Warbat with a fist to the face. The flying snake slammed into the ground where it was quickly pierced through the head by the tail of the mecha, killing it instantly.

Immediately after the machine landed, what appeared to be a giant condor dove down toward its face, biting down on a drone as it descended. When it got close, the machine shot forth towards the bird, maw wide open as it clamped down on its wing, the grinders inside its maw tearing up the feathers and muscle into a messy pulp, ejecting it out below its jawline. Blood and feathers scattered across the mech’s chest as the condor screeched in pain, scratching with its talons as a metal hand grabbed ahold of its small body. The clenched fist tore it away from the grinder with saws spinning, slamming the bird into a rock, pinning it down as he charged up its molecular scream once more.

However, one of Mechagodzilla’s sensors detected an anomaly within the rock that it pinned the condor to, noticing movement on the side of his vision. It depowered its Proton Scream, analyzing the changing situation nearby. An eye stared back at him from within the stone, one filled with malice and fighting spirit. With a loud crack, the boulder exploded onto the machine, sending rock and dust flying as Mechagodzilla backpedaled, dropping the mangled body of the giant condor.

A loud baritone roar tore through the landscape, bringing joy to the Apex Titan’s mind as he scanned its frequency. The surrounding creatures began to back away or flee in fear as they heard the roar, leaving the steel titan facing an opponent hidden in dust. It was as if they knew this was no longer a fight they were capable of handling.

A memory sparked in the mind of the mecha, from its lost mind. A memory of its esteemed father quoting something about the king of the monsters, to let them fight. These creatures of the Hollow Earth knew it was time to let their strongest fight for them, as it should be.

It did not know how wrong it was in this assumption. The creatures had retreated, not because they were leaving their strongest to fight, but to run away from the demon that had been unleashed. Their genetic memories within their DNA were warning them of great danger. The Devil’s Serpent was free, and he was bringing hell down upon the world once more.

Unlike all the other creatures the machine had slaughtered down in the depths, it could tell this new one was a fighter. Its roar was strong, powerful, its Titan frequency similar in range to that of an Alpha Titan.

This might be a fight to enjoy.

Chest ports opened up as the mecha let loose a cluster of missiles to start off this fight, a test to see whether or not this creature was truly worthy of fighting a God of Steel and Fire. The stream of missiles exploded as they quickly split into dozens more devastating missiles as they dove into the dust. The iron destroyer would have grinned if it could as it waited for the oncoming explosions, only to be confused when nothing occurred. Laughter split through the dust as it began to settle, a hand splitting through and gesturing for more.

Surprise entered the mecha’s combined consciousness as it fired more missiles into the clearing dust. As they split, it watched with calculative precision as the dust cleared to reveal the opponent, the AI already scanning for weaknesses or data on this creature. It was bipedal with a body like an old upright retrosaur from back before their skeletal structures were better defined. Its flesh was a bumpy, reddish brown texture like a rocky mountainside. Its brows expanded into horns above fiery orange eyes, a short nasal horn on its snout. Ghidorah had fought many of this planet’s guardians, yet this one eluded their knowledge. Perhaps its species had not reached the surface for them to fight.

The machination of metal and destruction watched as the missiles struck the body of the beast, only to do nothing as they harmlessly bounced off his hide to the ground. As the reptile roared out in mockery of its attack, the artificial portion of the mecha’s mind found documents in the Monarch archives of theoretical titans yet to be discovered on the surface. Ancient cave paintings and scriptures about a servant of the Demon King Satan in one file somewhat matched the appearance of this beast and gave the mecha this creature’s possible identity.

Tsunojiras, the Brutal Beast.

The Enemy of the Gods roared with delight. After tens of thousands of years, he was finally free! It was time for him to conquer this realm and recreate his master’s reign once again! The millenia spent trapped between the landmasses, left helpless, healing his wounds and resting entombed within that stone prison unable to move or fight. His master was gone, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t continue his plan to destroy heaven and conquer the Earth. Taking a look at his opponent, the horned brute snarled with glee at having something to unleash millenia of boring aches and unfulfilled bloodlust onto.

This creature of iron had the appearance of those arrogant spiny reptiles, perhaps being a descendant? The call it emitted spoke otherwise however, alien and from the void outside heaven and earth. The thing before it exuded an unnatural symmetry to its body and shape, like it didn’t belong in the natural order. Almost as though it were built for destruction, just like he was made for conquest so many millennia ago. Either way, he would let loose his frustrations and rage upon this steel monstrosity that took the appearance of one of his hated enemies. Tsunojiras roared with the intent of war, charging forth through the missiles his enemy shot his way, with those that missed casting grand explosions behind his terrible frame.

The Steel King roared back as it rushed to meet him in combat. Steel met flesh as the two slammed head on into each other. Fists of steel began to spin and build with fiery energy while the enemy of God and Man clenched his fist with brutal determination. Though more powerful, Mechagodzilla soon realized that the foe’s body proportions and less mass made it far faster on its feet and more mobile than itself was without its rockets, as the horned beast ducked under the blow and struck with a powerful blow to the gut.

While the brutal beast weighed far less than the mechanical titan, he had momentum in his blow combined with his enemy’s unsteady footing from the leap. As such, the blow sent the Mechanical King recoiling back towards the now ruined jungle. Dirt and debris flew around as the metal mecha slid across the landscape, dragging trenches with its steel limbs. Swerving its head up to face its opponent, the machine hadn’t anticipated seeing the creature already in front of him. The horned monster quickly slammed a powerful blow to the chest with its claws, pushing back the steel titan further and slashed upward at its face. Sparks flew as the rough claws slid across the bloodied metal.

Quickly, the steel titan attempted to slam its fists into the organic monster, only for the creature to quickly move beneath the mecha’s longer arms, twisting its body to grab ahold of the right arm and drag the metal monster down. Tsunojiras roared as he forcibly tried to slam his enemy into the ground, finding it weighed a lot more than he was expecting as the two slammed into the dirt below, sending foliage and dirt flying. As soon as his enemy was flat to the ground, the brutal beast twisted the metal arm back and started stomping down on the steel titan’s back, attempting to tear out the limb.

Unfortunately for the envoy of the devil, his opponent had little in the form of true pain receptors, with the closest being warnings and code that activated the machine’s haptic nerves to simulate minor pain in the mind for its pilots. With no true pain being felt, the steel titan quickly swung its steel tail around, blades shifting as they slashed into the back of the brown reptile.

Tsunojiras recoiled as he felt the sharp steel cut into his body, releasing the arm as he slashed at the tail behind him. Twisting his body, Tsunojiras grabbed a hold of the sharp tail and bit into it, attempting to drag it around with his arms. He quickly realized he had no chance of moving a being over twice his weight resisting him, the metal monster took its chance and latched its hands and feet into the ground and flung the horned giant back with a flick of its tail. Getting back to its feet, the mechanical offshoot of King Ghidorah roared out as it rushed towards its opponent. The recovering dinosaur quickly responded by attempting to punch his oncoming enemy once more.

Mechagodzilla shot forth its own metallic claws in response, catching the oncoming fist as a shockwave of blue energy shot out from the impact. Tsunojiras roared out as his attack was caught, slashing forth with his other hand, only to be grabbed by the wrist as his metallic enemy stood high. Mechagodzilla roared at Tsunojiras as its sawed fingers began slicing in an attempt to cut through the brown hide of the beast before it as it swung its tail like a knife, gouging out small chunks of skin and fleshy sludge from the beast’s back. The brutal beast cried out as it felt the sparking saws grinding against its rocklike hide and the chunks of its flesh being torn out, quickly slamming forth its horned head in an attempt to disorient his opponent.

The sharp horns of the beast slammed into the metal face of the mecha, knocking it back with sparks flying. With the metal monstrosity briefly disoriented, the enemy of god kicked forth with his muscular leg and began using his enemy as a vantage point, yanking back his arms in an attempt to free himself from the grinding saws digging into its hide. The Apex Titan felt its enemy attempting to tear itself free and turned to face it head on to finish it off, the glow of its Proton Scream casting a red light against the brown hide of the beast.

Tsunojiras roared out seeing his enemy charging up an energy attack. Yanking harder, he felt the saws tearing apart his hide and sending goop like flesh flying. If he wanted to get free of this, he would have to use his other powers. Moments before Mechagodzilla could fire, Tsunojiras turned to face the mecha head on and belched forth a cloud of teal smog, the smoke quickly covering the head of the metal titan.

Mechagodzilla cackled as its sensors detected the smog as a toxin as they saw nearby trees wither away as the smog touched them. The blood covering its steel began to darken and rot, flaking off the metal in toxic chunks. How could one poison an entity without the need to breathe, or possess organic material to be poisoned?

Pathetic.

It wasn’t until errors began to blare in its mind that the steel titan realized this poisonous smog not only was effective on organics, but also on mechanical creations as its internal systems began to malfunction and clog with corrosion. Quickly he released his grasp on Tsunojiras and backed out of the cloud, firing the Proton Scream outward in an attempt to slice its foe to pieces. The beam tore through the smog and into the landscape, strafing across the bumpy hide of the retreating brutal beast and causing it to screech in pain, teal smog still leaking from its maw like mist.

Already, the face of the steel titan began to spark as it purged the poisonous gas out of its systems with pulses of fiery blue energy. Drones shot out and began to assess the damages as Mechagodzilla circled the smaller creature, who was now patting at the cuts and burns across his hide. The drones relayed what they saw to the internal computers, showcasing that the metal around the face and shoulders were now tinged with patches of corrosion, something that should have been near impossible. Rage built up in its mind as rockets charged up, firing and propelling the machine towards its horned opponent.

The brutal beast was not without protection however, as he saw the quickly approaching steel titan and fired off another stream of his poisonous breath. Unfortunately for the organic monster, his enemy was quick to adjust his course with a burst of rocket fire, pushing him around to the side of the horned beast and unleashing a powerful punch to the beast’s face. Tsunojiras screeched as it was knocked down by the blow, only for it to quickly lose its bearing as the mecha grabbed ahold of its tail and began to swing.

Mechagodzilla spun with rocket boosters bursting loud, throwing the brutal beast into the rocky cliffs of the forest ravines. The brown rocky hide of the organic monster slammed hard into the stone, sending rocks flying as he slid down the hill. It wasn’t much before the beast found himself pinned to the wall as the steel knee of the artificial titan slammed into his chest, sending a pulse of Hollow Earth energy flowing through his body. Fists clamped down on the beast’s horns, pulling back and slamming his face into the rock with a pulse of fiery energy.

Blue flames flowed through the steel veins of the mecha as it boosted itself forward, dragging the face of its opponent across the cliffside as they accelerated along the path. Trees and rocks grinded into the reptile’s face as he was repeatedly slammed face first into the stone at high speeds. Just as quickly as the pain came, so was it that Tsunojiras found that it ended as he was lifted up and thrown, slamming back first into the ground. The brown reptile attempted to get back up, only for Mechagodzilla to slam down onto him from above, pinning down the dinosaur with its heavier mass. Mechagodzilla roared out as he grabbed onto the dinosaur’s right arm. Very quickly it began to yank and pull at the appendage as its legs kept the creature pinned below him.

Tsunojiras roared with pain as he felt his arm twisting around, being gradually torn out of its socket. With an energy infused stomp, the steel titan snapped the elbow joint of the arm, causing an agonized roar to bellow outward. Mechagodzilla released its pulse of subjugation once more in an attempt to recruit this beast into his army, roaring into its face. The beast’s strength was not much compared to Kong or Godzilla, but something in its roar had shown it to be similar to an Alpha in power, and it wanted to see what that power was.

In retaliation, Tsunojiras opened his maw and began to release his poison gas once more. The moment the mecha saw the poison beginning to spread, it slammed a foot onto the beast’s head, stomping it into the dirt and stopping the flow of poison. It was with great pain that Tsunojiras found himself disarmed as a Proton Scream tore through his flesh, digging deep into the shoulder and allowing the beast to tear off the limb.

The Apex destroyer cackled with joy as it threw the broken arm to the side. As it looked down at its opponent, there were no signs of blood leaking from the missing limb. Instead, what was there was a sludge-like fleshy substance pulsing around the injury in place of blood and muscle. Immediately its mind found the odd substance intriguing, wondering if this creature could also regenerate limbs like the old body of its past life. Only one way to find out.

Grabbing a hold of the creature’s tail, Mechagodzilla quickly went on a path of devastation as it began to dismantle the enemy. Proton Screams fired against his enemy’s hide, tearing through flesh and bone. The drill-like tail spun wildly, stabbing through the other arm, but not quite tearing it off as the mecha threw the tail off to the side. Lifting the creature up by the horns, it stomped down on the back of its foe, roaring out as it pulled with all its mechanical strength.

Tsunojiras roared out in pain as he felt his flesh and bones popping from the strain. He let loose a loud, magnificent roar into the surrounding area, the mecha detecting it as some sort of promise of revenge as he continued to tear at the creature’s body. Tsunojiras began releasing the poisonous smog as fast as he could in an attempt to force the steel destroyer off his body. Corrosion began spreading on the metal claws and feet as Mechagodzilla pulled harder on the head, enraged that its body was being tarnished further. With a slash to the throat by its tail, the flesh finally gave way as the head ripped off the body, teal smog bursting upward from the throat one last time before stopping just as quickly.

Sludge like flesh went flying as the head was tossed aside. However, the rage of the steel titan didn’t end there, as this creature had tarnished its steel, the other’s pride and joy, which would take time to fix. Proton Screams fired out wildly in rage, slowly slicing the torso of the dead monster in half as the mecha punted the top portion away, the still attached arm flailing by a thread of flesh. The tail blades spun as they drilled through meat and bone, claws tearing apart the gooey muscles and tossing them aside in a maddening rage.

Unbeknownst to the enraged machine, unholy miracles were happening all around this bloodbath…

 

Chapter 2: The First Wave

Among the slabs of living flesh splattered against the undefiled earth, they began to wriggle and writhe under their own power. Among the myriad of chunks derived from Tsunojiras, their twitching forms molded into many shapes. Bipedal in nature, the human-sized blobs were quick to become a diverse line of monsters far unlike that of their progenitor.

The first among them to achieve their codified forms were a pair of hominids, one green and the other brown with a metallic-colored skull. The fanged green one, self-proclaimed as Gaira, shook his shaggy hair as he popped his jaw in preparation. The other, the monkey-like Shilarji, raised his hairy arms high above him with the sounds of rattling bones, shooting a threatening glance at the towering monolith that tore the horned giant asunder.

Others came into their own, from the reptilian canine Tsunokera to the pair of Skeleto-Men and the aquatic bird-like Kappalge, each humanoid in stature. Even more creatures of different shapes and sizes came to be, following their utmost basic intuition to get by.

Off in the distance, the colossal arm of Tsunojiras twitched as it began to melt and reform. Accelerating in size to match its newfound body mass, the arm twisted and contorted, growing like a mountain of flesh as four limbs sprouted outward in a quadrupedal stance. The amorphous flesh continued to shift until its shape matched that of a terrapin, hardening its outer shell until its gelatin-like innards were well-protected. With a small screech, Kamoebas made itself known.

Another arm, still partially attached to the torn torso, warped and folded on itself, the genetic material computing the form to take as the small connecting flesh ripped off. A defined form began to take shape, molding into a towering figure of red warts and silver horns. Spikes ran down its back and along its tail, with a face with human-like eyes and a protruding, oblong nose. Its sharp tongue perpetually stuck out on the left side of its mouth, awkwardly holding its maw open at all times. The hideous creature, Tsunosilver, shrieked at the metallic menace that destroyed his creator, waving his two-clawed fingers at it. As he rushed to face his enemy, the blob that was once the torso remained bulging as trees fell onto it, leaving it to slowly form a future creation beneath the treeline cover.

From the tossed head, the three-horned shape of Tsunojiras melted and stretched out to accommodate its new body type. The crests merged with the rest of the head, the snout elongating as a theropodian body sprouted from the stump. In no time at all, the former head of Tsunojiras became that of Gorosaurus, raising itself high on its feet and clenching its claws into balled fists, roaring out to the landmass above as it stood ready to fight. The cerulean dinosaur held memories of his creator’s death, and their purpose in this realm. He wouldn’t let this usurper reign supreme!

The severed, thick tail squirmed on the ground, disheveling trees and dirt as it underwent transmutation. Once reptilian in origin, it quickly shifted into a puffed humanoid frame, with pronounced abs and a stocky build. Grumpy eyes and a permanent frown marked its distinguished face as Ghoston clumsily rose to his feet, veering his agitated growl at the mechanical menace that inadvertently paved the way for his existence.

With a whirring sneer, Mechagodzilla gazed upon the carnage of its own making. Little remained of the once mighty Tsunojiras, though its retinal scanners picked up unusual cellular activity with the shredded remains. The way they reconstituted themselves suggested the beast was still alive, but how could it after being torn asunder, limb from limb? The mecha was almost entranced by this bizarre and unnatural process, it almost couldn’t help but wonder what was to result from this.

Then, almost as if sudden, the putrid remains erupted into that of a violent burst of volcanic steam. An automated recoil had Mechagodzilla step back to see what transpired from this mysterious monster, detecting a new shape silhouetted against the fiery mist.

What came from it was an abomination like no other; though it failed to measure up to Tsunojiras, this new monstrosity was heavyset and rounded with a wide girth. Its front was tattered with wart-like bumps on its skin, its backside layered with dark green hairs and tufts of white fur lined on the sides, ending with a short, fuzzy, and rounded pathetic excuse for a tail. The thick neck of the humanoid fiend extended seamlessly with its large body, almost indiscernible from the rest of its figure. But its face was something else; nigh uncanny with a long, protruding nose, a pair of flaring orange eyes, pointed ears, and a human-like mouth that parted to unleash its piping screech.

Mechagodzilla could not efficiently designate such an atrocity, though the fiendish humanoid was comfortable identifying itself as Trunker.

Like a knee-jerk response in humans, the metallic reptile swung into immediate action, channeling its swiveling claws with condensed plasma. Without missing a beat, steel-forged fists slammed into the abnormal form of Trunker, knocking the obscene monster into a nearby mountainside. Flashes of illuminated light revealed the skeletal structure of such an anomaly, revealing its skull, ribs, and spinal cord in an instant. The anthropoid crashed against the rugged walls, with tumbling boulders skipping along the slopes. Trunker groaned in pain, trying to pick itself back up after that sudden strike. But before Mechagodzilla could initiate its programmed executive, a sudden blast of white energies struck the automaton on the dorsals, gaining its newfound attention.

Turning to scan the changing situation, the reaper-esque machine saw more monsters in its path, projected from the pieces it had so casually thrown aside. Likewise, the bustling trees swayed with activity, seeing human-sized lifeforms squandering about. Had these spawned from the strong and terrible Tsunojiras? Or had his promise of vengeance simply been a call for assistance? Mechagodzilla traced the residual particles left behind by the milky beam. From there he had found the source and identified his attacker in the distance. The bumpy creature, adorned with silver horns, red flesh, and a pointed tongue, shrieked at the destructive menace. Tsunosilver trudged through the treeline, as too did Gorosaurus, Kamoebas, and Ghoston.

It seemed there was more to Tsunojiras than it had originally anticipated. But the directive remained the same nonetheless.

Destroy every last one.

—

More spawn rose from their resting place, chunks of flesh morphing into an assortment of monsters. From the brown-haired Gorilla to the warty toad-like Gabara, and the cannon mounted Gegil, all gauging their primary target in the form of a mechanized colossus despite their diminutive sizes.

Yet among them all, one took the form of a man-like goblin. Swathed in pale green skin, the bare cretin shook… His… horned head and looked down upon himself. His brain surged with adrenaline, but not of the fight-or-flight instinct, but rather one of embarrassment. He saw his thorny arms and was afraid, so he hid himself in shame. His mind swirled with awkward and strange thoughts, that was until an instinct kicked in, one latent to his natural abilities.

He didn’t fully comprehend what he was going to do, but felt like the intuitive thing to do. Twiddling his fingers, the goblin felt a flow of unseen energy course from his core and into his fingertips, directing the magical influence at a nearby bush as a test dummy. Anxiety shot up, unsure of what the outcome would be from this little experiment. Could he even control it?

Extending the influence of his power, the bush became shrouded in powdery mist–when it settled, it revealed the leafy bush tattered with strings of cloth. He again directed his magical prowess at the bush, fortifying the cloth into distinguished clothing by making cotton appear. A rush of excitement overcame the green goblin! He did it! Though since the clothes had merged with the bush, there was no use pulling it out. However, confident with his newfound ability, he directed his fingers towards himself, enraptured by a blast of white smoke. When it faded, he found himself covered in a dark top with matching pants, his arms wrapped under silver gloves, equipped with red boots, and a black and red cape with golden embroidery lined along the neck. He flexed his fingers, getting accustomed to his tailor-made outfit, and felt satisfied.

But a thought dug into his mind, irritating him. He discovered his power, yet… Who was he? He glanced at his fellow spawnling brethren, who seemed more simple-mindedly preoccupied with the primary target, even if they were unable to actively do anything. Was it that they had already come to terms with who they are? Or did they simply not have his level of thinking? A primal obsession to fight, rooted in their veins?

The moment didn’t last, however. In an instant, a thunderous boom rattled the smaller creatures, sending them scattering through the forest as the titanic battle went underway. The greenish ghoul witnessed as Tsunosilver and Ghoston collided against the mechanical gargantuan, their massive footfalls vibrating the ground. Yet almost effortlessly, he saw as the menace threw out a whirring punch, bursting with sky blue flames as the puffy Ghoston fell over. The great shadow of the blue ogre covered the man-like goblin, realizing he was directly in its path. Panic overtook the caped magician, knowing full well that running wouldn’t do him any favors. Holding his arms out and reeling to the side, he closed his eyes and anxiously waited for the inevitable.

Then, he felt himself gone in an instant.

—

The grumpy Ghoston bellowed as he crashed into the dirt, his head ringing from the impact. It rubbed its nonexistent chin, getting back to its feet and grabbing ahold of a large log, ignoring that the log quickly sprouted legs and began screeching in panic. Tsunosilver unloaded another white stream of energy from its opened maw, sparking against the titanium-alloy that made the mecha’s armor. In response, the machine’s rocket boosters roared to life for a swift twirl, promptly front-kicking the crimson giant onto its back with a tremendous thud. In the time the mecha took to perform the feat, Trunker body slammed into its metallic frame, though barely able to even force no more than a couple of steps out of it.

The titan of steel swung around and elbowed the stoic faced monster in the face. Blue flames spread through the head of Trunker as he fell to the ground, his red face retaining no damage in his unblinking gaze as energy that flowed into his body showed only the thickness of his face. Kicking the downed beast, he was caught off guard as Ghoston leapt in, smashing a large Spore Mantis against the face of the metal Titan. The wood covered insect crumpled under the force of both the swing, and the hardness of the titanium as amber laden sap and body fluids splattered onto the machine. As the remnants of the insect’s broken body dribbled down from the machine’s body, Ghoston reeled his fist back for another blow against the metal beast.

The mecha let loose a powerful jab to the monster’s gut in response to being struck with an insect, taking the wind out of its enemy before sweeping out his legs with its powerful tail. As this was happening, the artificial intelligence portion of the android’s mind recorded and documented everything these creatures could do in order to systematically take them down, and others of their kind if discovered.

Ghoston struggled to breathe as Mechagodzilla charged its spiraling fist with energy, uppercutting the blue creature and sending him flying back. Another beam lanced into the back of the steel titan forcing it to return its attention to the warty red beast, returning fire with several missiles. Explosions rocketed across the land, striking both Trunker and Tsunosilver with powerful bursts. Charging forth, the living machine kneed Trunker in the face, knocking him to the ground.

A foot stomped on to the troll’s nose, causing Trunker some pain as he was used as a stepping stone for the steel titan. The resulting jump led Mechagodzilla on the path to slam its spiraling fist into the recovering Tsunosilver, only for the large head of Gorosaurus to tackle the leaping machine out of the sky.

Blue flesh met tarnished steel as Gorosaurus headbutted the metal titan away from his fellow spawn. The cerulean allosaur knew that they would need to work together to defeat this enemy, but out of his fellow giants, only he and another had the skill or strength to potentially hold it back. He could remember memories of his creator, the fight against this metal lifeform and how it imbued its fists with power for devastating blows. Watching the mecha beating down on his allies showed him that each hit and blow from the mecha was slow, but with great reach and power. This meant they could be maneuvered around if one had enough speed to get past that reach and into the guard of the metal thing. As such, he immediately charged forth towards the silver abomination.

Mechagodzilla cackled as it swung its fist out towards the oncoming dinosaur, only to be surprised when the dinosaur immediately ducked low, swaying his body left and right in a mobius loop like pattern, his arms tucked in tight to his chest. As soon as he ducked beneath the fist, Gorosaurus lunged forth and let loose a strong punch at his enemy’s chest, knocking it back a few steps before dodging to the left of the beast.

The Apex Titan was somewhat surprised at the strength of this dinosaur as the force of its blows managed to push it back. Quickly it swung another fist at the dinosaur, only to see it once more dodge to the side and rush in, letting loose a couple more jabs to the side of its chest before thrusting forth a powerful shoulder blow into its metallic body. A twist of his body slammed his tail into the gut of the metal titan, granting him some space to avoid a retaliatory blow.

The way the creature fought seemed somewhat familiar to the steel titan, as Gorosaurus continued to bob and weave around its attacks, swinging around his fists and unleashing his own strong body blows when the opportunity arose. The monster within only understood this beast was fighting smart to make up for its size, while the AI analyzed closely to try to figure out where this familiarity was coming from.

It then clicked to the machine as a memory from the remnants of its human side was brought to its attention. The AI mind overlayed a recording of the boxing match from that memory in the edge of their vision, showcasing similar movements in the boxer to the cerulean dinosaur before him. This dinosaur was somehow using human fighting techniques against it!

Gorosaurus swung around to the left of Mechagodzilla, letting loose more jabs to the side as he continued his best to dodge the titan’s swinging blows. Surprisingly, his plan had worked as each swing of his enemy’s fist was slow, and hard to make contact once inside the guard of the mecha.

As another fist came swinging towards him from the left, the blue allosaur knocked it aside with a quick shoulder blow to its joint as he twisted his body, swinging his tail into the mecha once more, knocking it through a rocky outcrop.

Unfortunately, he had forgotten that his foe fought not only with his limbs, but with other methods as well, as the mecha’s shoulder rockets took aim and fired off a barrage of cluster missiles, sending a cloud of fire and smoke to cover his body with pain. A fist shot through the smokescreen into the dinosaur’s face, sending blue energy burning through his skull, but he wouldn’t give up. No matter how much pain he would take, he would continue to fight and beat this creature. He would end its distorted nature and avenge his progenitor.

Gorosaurus continued his rush against Mechagodzilla, taking another powerful fist to the face as he charged forth, kicking at the titan’s legs and managing to get it down to a knee. Swaying his body left and right, Gorosaurus used the momentum he was generating to unleash several powerful blows against the steel face of his enemy. Each hit knocked the robot’s head from side to side as sparks and bits of corroded metal were chipped away.

A red glow filled the steel titan’s maw as its face was smacked to the side once more. Opening wide, the Apex destroyer unleashed its heat ray the same moment another fist rocketed into its face, pushing back Gorosaurus and leaving a fierce burn along the dinosaur’s side. A resounding knee knocked the dinosaur back further as Mechagodzilla slammed into the cerulean beast.

Wanting to finish off this dinosaur before it could continue its assault, the creation of man grabbed the creature’s face with its saw bladed claws and started prying open its mouth, the dinosaur’s hands unable to rip away the steel vice grip holding him.

That was when Ghoston leapt in, tackling the mecha off his powerful ally. The blow caused Mechagodzilla to turn his rage towards the blue ogre as he readied to fire its Proton Scream, only for another white beam to slam into its face sending the beam soaring into the land across the sky. Together, Ghoston and Tsunosilver rushed forth and tore the mecha away from the downed dinosaur, grabbing an arm each as they rushed him backwards.

The mecha thrashed violently as it attempted to free its arms, but the two held strong, doing their best to let the others recover as they stood their ground. The tail slashed forth in an attempt to spear Ghoston from behind, only for the recovered Trunker to lunge forth, catching the thrashing limb in hand and struggling to hold it steady as it swung about with its spiraling drill. A slot on the mecha’s shoulder opened up and unleashed several missiles toward the face of Tsunosilver, only to be met with his milky beam from his gaping maw bursting them halfway and striking the hidden port shut.

These creatures were fighting well together despite their different species. It was uncommon to see so many diverse beings fighting not against one another, but working together to overcome something stronger. It was almost human-like in how they fought and worked together.

All together, the three held back Mechagodzilla, struggling but succeeding for the most part against the stronger mechanical beast as Gorosaurus rushed back in.

—

There was no pain nor suffering, though his pointed ears were filled with the violent shockwaves from their tremendous weights. Taking refuge behind a protruding stone, the green goblin opened his eyes, much to his surprise. He clapped his hands, tapped his feet, pinched his nerves just to be sure he wasn’t hallucinating. And lo, he wasn’t; the last feeling he had recalled was panicking fear and his magical circuitry flowing with power…

He mentally recreated the high-stress anxiety, seeing if that was the trigger, yet it proved fruitless. He tried to harness his inherited powers, see if that did anything. In a snap, he found himself atop a cliffside that had stood above him just moments before, yet he knew his feet remained unmoving. He did it again, and found himself back on the ground below, though not where he had stood just moments before. He was getting the hang of it, although he had a hard time comprehending how he made such a radical jump from where Ghoston crashed to here. Was it just a survival instinct that teleported him to a safer place?

Still, no question about his powers could match the existentialism of the discovery of self. Suppose now would be as good of a time as any to codify something for him… self? Though he wondered if the other spawns felt the same. He glanced at his glove, recalling the arm under it. Green skin…

Green… Face? No, that didn’t sit well with him.

Green… Man? An instinctual gut punch told him that wasn’t the one either.

Green… Mask? Something about that felt appropriate. As far as he knew, his face was a real face; but much like a mask, there were secrets hidden underneath it. So many layers to unravel, all to be chipped away–but at least for now… He… had a name to abide by.

Green Mask tried out another trick. Since he felt confident he could make clothing appear, he had wondered how far he could take it. Holding his hand out, he felt the magical tingling against his fingertips, and with a concentrated thought, materialized a bamboo stick with a white flag. It was still a process, but at the very most progress was being made. He was mildly unsure why a stick and a flag, but if it was in service as a conduit, who was he to complain?

He scanned the hectic battlefield, seeing the odds being pushed against the spawn of Tsunojiras. The Titan destroyer threatened everyone here who dwelt in the Hollow Earth, and he only knew he had to do something. But… What, exactly? He surveyed the land and tried to locate some of the other spawnlings, spotting only a few of the Skeleto-Men and Tsunokera seemingly trying to figure that question out themselves.

Green Mask ran up to the group, squawking at them to gather intel on the situation. The first of the Skeleto-Men, with a bluish skull and proclaiming himself as the Number One, gestured to the metallic menace battling the giant spawnlings before them. Green Mask promptly slapped him. Of course that was the situation! The second Skeleto-Man, distinguished with a greenish skull and deemed as the Number Two, scoffed at the other’s humiliation with mocking laughter. Turning his frustration from Green Mask to his companion, the Skeleto-Man kicked No. 2 in the groin, sending him reeling in trilling agony.

No. 1 pointed and laughed at his companion’s misery, approaching the fallen Skeleto-Man for another kick to the groin. But a firm grip pulled No. 1 away from the fallen skull-person, Green Mask urging him to focus on the target at hand. The Skeleto-Man shrugged, unsure of any meaningful suggestions he could offer…

Tsunokera, a reptoid canine adorned with a stiff, bipedal stance and white hair running down its navy blue body, sniffed the air. Silence turned to a bark as he faced the direction of the distinct scent. The others likewise turned to Tsunokera, wondering what he found. Something rummaged through the trees, and it wasn’t long for the figure to be identified.

From the foliage and shrubbery, the humanoid creature stumbled out of the woods, armed with a distinct silver cannon-like appendage on the left arm. Two large eyes dotted with large pupils adorned the flattened head of the creature, whose “ears” resembled horns. A mirage of rainbow colors tattered the torso in a colorful display, standing out against the greenery of the environment.

With a shriek, Gegil made their presence known, approaching the group of critters gathered around. Another born from the flesh of Tsunojiras. Green Mask gazed at the arm, inquiring the rainbow-colored warrior of its offensive potency. They pointed it at him, trilling with confidence of their weapon.

He wasn’t sure what to do, but standing around and doing nothing was not an option. Assembling the rag-tag group of warriors, the Skeleto-Men got to their feet, magically summoning throwing darts in their hands. Tsunokera barked with an eccentric excitement. Green Mask raised his conduit, holding the white flag high above. This was not a sign of surrender; but rather, an order to do the one thing they can.

Fight.

 

Chapter 3: Tides of War

With the dinosaur unleashing more hits against its metal hide, the mechanical titan thrashed in attempts to get its limbs free, nearly succeeding only for another blow from Gorosaurus to undo its progress. In a rage, the mecha opened its chest ports, unleashing a missile barrage against the cerulean beast in hopes to beat him back. Gorosaurus thrashed in pain as the missiles bombarded against his flesh, keeping him at bay as flames and smoke covered his form.

It was then that Mechagodzilla rose, roaring to the sky as it thrashed against the three holding it down. Rockets fired off at full power on one side of its body, allowing the machine to slowly twirl its enemies around into a spiral as the others shifted in an attempt to lift upward.

Soon enough, the three humanoid creatures were rushing to keep up with the speed being built up by the mecha. This was not to be, however, as the steel titan swung its left arm forward, managing to throw the struggling Tsunosilver off its arm and into the recovering Gorosaurus. This loss of weight was immediately known as the mecha shot to the side, slamming its fist into the thick skull of Ghoston, knocking the blue ogre back towards one of the rivers flowing down the ravine. The last to fall was Trunker as the tail swung his body forward into a powerful blow, the hit striking him in the nose and sending the red giant barrelling backward with the rest.

The destroyer cackled as it glared at the giants around it, each slowly getting back to their feet. Tsunosilver shot off his milky beam once more as the Apex Titan returned fire, the Proton Scream immediately shredding and overpowering the weaker ray.

An explosion of heat and energy burst against the silver horned kobold, throwing him back with smoke rising from his giant nose and face. Mechagodzilla’s eyes glowed brightly as they released a distorted alpha noise. It had no idea if the alpha signature would work, as it was but one of a trio of frequencies working in tandem. It would make do with what it had, however.

These creatures, while weak, fought with determination and tactics. It could have use for them in the future, if only for a possible future beat down. Turning its gaze at the rest, Mechagodzilla roared at them, daring them to either charge forth and die, or submit to its will.

Their defiant stances and growls gave the decision to enact on next. They would receive a painful death. The Apex Titan fired off a barrage of cluster missiles against them, sending smoke and flames bursting skyward as its shoulder missiles shot at Ghoston, knocking him further back. The joy it felt at hearing their pained cries was met by panicked noises to its side. Turning its gaze, the machine noticed that the blue humanoid was panicking as it backed away from a lake formed from a large waterfall, seeing some of the creature’s skin hissing from a splash of water.

Curious about this sudden show of weakness, the mecha rushed over and kicked the blue beast into the water to see what would happen.

Immediately, Ghoston let loose a roar of pain as it crawled away in panic, the water that touched its body melting and giving way to the whitish goo that made up its muscles. It was with great joy that the mecha took advantage of this weakness, grabbing ahold of the bulbous head of the panicking ogre, and slamming him face-first into the lake. The blue giant thrashed and pushed as his face was submerged beneath the life ending water, managing to lift himself out momentarily before he was shoved back into the mud. The steel titan watched with glee as his enemy quickly began dissolving and melting into the lake like styrofoam, his movement slowing down with each passing second.

Small blasts scattered across its mechanical eyes, catching the mecha’s attention to the smaller creatures in the surroundings. The AI mind quickly identified the culprit as an oil slick, rainbow skinned creature with a rectangular cannon on its arm. Dinks of darts signaled the mecha of the thrown objects, observing what looked like a pair of skeleton men in jumpsuits throwing darts, a strange bipedal dog-beast spraying resin webbing from its mouth, and another green faced creature wearing clothing and waving a flag on a stick. The goblin ordered the bat-headed creature with a gesture as it fired another bolt of white lightning at the machine, scattering across its chest.

Almost immediately the AI was surprised at these findings. There were beasts down here equipped with energy based weaponry! Not only that, sentient beings that gave orders, wore clothing, and worked together despite their differing appearances if its vision of the green one was any indication. Sentient beings potentially on par with humanity lived down here. These findings were immediately stored for future possibilities of the Hollow Earth within its mind, drawing ideas from their humanity for possible resemblances as an offshoot of some sort. Sparks flew off its face as another ray scattered across its metal hide, disrupting its thought process and annoying the machine.

Releasing the corpse of Ghoston, the malicious android kicked it into the lake, sending a wave of water and frothing bubbles washing over the tiny creatures and pushing them deeper into the woods. The body of Ghoston quickly began to melt down in the waters into bluish froth and bubbles as the wave made to crash over the group of monsters. The clothed goblin waved its flag in a panic, as the blue wolf-like creature seemed to disappear, teleporting away from danger.

How intriguing.

If those smaller abominations wanted a fight, it would just have to take them out as well. Best get rid of a potential threat before they can grow large enough to become a threat. Quickly it sent out a signal to the drones already circling the area as it unleashed more from its body, keeping some in reserve for future repairs. The signal called all the active drones to the current coordinates as it gave them all a singular purpose.

Search and destroy.

The drones began their assault immediately under the commands in their limited intelligence, allowing the machine to return to more pressing matters. As Mechagodzilla turned around to check on the other three, it realized there should have been a fourth creature, only for the smoke to clear out to reveal a massive spiked rock in front of the others. The rock shifted, turning around to reveal the angered face of Kamoebas standing in defense of his allies. The massive turtle roared out to the mecha, challenging its strength as he waddled forth with confidence.

Amusement filled its mind as he released another volley of cluster missiles outward. Each missile split continuously until the entirety of the turtle was coated in flames and explosions, yet it continued walking through the assault. Having seen it withstand its missile assault, the steel titan strutted towards its prey. Perhaps this one would prove more challenging.

—

Surging waves crashed through the dense forestry of the Hollow Earth, washing through all the foliage and bending large trunks through sheer force. Green Mask, the Skeleto-Men, and Gegil were all forcefully carried by the relentless tide, just barely able to avoid the trees torn from the earth.

Green Mask struggled to keep his vision clear, but couldn’t amidst the water running into his eyes. Panic drove him mad… He couldn’t make it, he thought. And now he’d get them all killed. A new strategy was in order, but against a menace this powerful?… Suddenly, the goblin barely made out a splotch in the water, swimming rapidly through the surface. It wasn’t the trees, but rather an aquatic creature. With dotted pores adorned on its green skin, the bird-like kaijin was plated with thick green armor and a yellow beak, catching the drenched critters in its dark clawed arms. Hustling with its strength, the aquatic bird rode the tide until it thinned out into walkable mud.

Gently, the armored bird placed its compatriots on the mud, allowing them to get back up with their own strength. Green Mask inquired its name, and the creature replied with a screech and a nod. The aquatic fowl identified verself as Kappalge. Green Mask reached out, offering a handshake. A gesture of… His… Appreciation. His head felt muddled for a second. Why did he remember this gesture…? Why was he… He…?

He shook it off as the firm grip from Kappalge brought him back to reality. Kappalge nodded as ve pointed to a nearby cliffside, its limestone composition contrasting with the dark blues of Tsunokera, who waved and barked from a distance. Green Mask chirped loudly, affirming their ally they were on their way. Waving the flag around, Green Mask issued the others to get a move on.

Kappalge and the Skeleto-Men were quick to heed the order, the latter pair prancing and cartwheeling around to their destination. Gegil, the last in line and struggling to catch up, came to a stop. Their ears detected an abnormality, one closer to their relative proximity than that of the mecha or the others fighting. When the sudden wave of panic overtook Tsunokera’s barking, that all but confirmed it.

Gegil took aim, keenly waiting for the target to drop. The whirring noise it generated suggested aerial mobility, just barely hovering over the thick layer of leaves. shooting blasters from their arm cannon amidst the treetops. When the blast struck the unidentified object, sparks and fires erupted from its core as it spun out of control. Dipping underneath the treeline, the object was revealed to be an automated drone, carried by four propellers and mounted with a frontal gatling gun at its base. Even if their blaster took out one of its propellers, it didn’t stop the drone from spurting out rounds upon rounds of machine gun fire.

Gegil dove behind one of the trunks, shielding themself from the oncoming bullets. Even as they sprayed wildly through the foliage, the tumbling drone eventually crashed with an explosive burst, only for the flames to be dampened by the moist wood. Without a second thought, Gegil called out to their allies–no doubt that they too were targets to these things.

Green Mask grinded his boots to the ground and came to a stop, veering his eyes to the treeline above. Silhouettes blocked out the permeating light of the Hollow Earth, several of them whirring overhead. He called out to them, only to be found surrounded by a hail of gunfire. Bringing up his cape, Green Mask teleported out of the danger zone, spontaneously reappearing deeper inland–though not out of harm’s way.

Reorienting to his surroundings, Green Mask tried to track his compatriots. He saw laser fire coming from Gegil’s arm cannon, though they were a considerable distance away. Eyes swerved through the dense forestry to find the Skeleto-Men performing various acrobatics and teleportation maneuvers in short bursts to avoid the flurry of machine gun rounds. He eventually found the cliffside where Tsunokera was, only to see that the dog-beast was also surrounded by the attack drones.

But where was Kappalge?

It was the shrieks that gave the kappa-like creature away. And it wasn’t without reason. From the beak of the estranged fowl, a gum-like sphere inflated and discharged, flying towards one of the drones. The balloon collided against one of the propellers of the drone with homing precision, the sticky adhesion keeping the blades together. The automated weapon lost stability, but another blast from the gum-like bubble brought it down completely, crashing hard into the ground.

With Kappalge being the closest ally in proximity, Green Mask ran up to ver. But intrusive thoughts crept into his mind. What could he bring? He didn’t possess weapons like his compatriots. No darts, no blasters, no webbing, no elastic bubbles. What was his purpose? Maybe he didn’t have any…

He came to a stop, hiding behind the bark of the tree as more bullets rained down from above. The trunks helped sponge the barrage, but how long would it hold? Green Mask needed to think… And amidst all the mental turmoil perpetuating in his mind, a thought clicked. If he made things appear, could the inverse also be true? There was only one way to find out.

Resuming his sprint, Green Mask called out to Kappalge. The bird-like biped crossed vis arms around their head, unsure if ve could take the onslaught from the killer drones. But ve turned to face vis ally, whose white glove reached out to ver. Extending vis dark claws, Kappalge reached out and grasped them, feeling a magical surge throughout vis body. Then, in an instant… Ve vanished.

In the moment of contact, Kappalge disappeared. But Green Mask felt he hadn’t erased vis existence, rather stored in a magical pocket of space. His body felt the tingle of his spellcasting capability, but before he could dwell on it, Green Mask teleported away, avoiding the volley of bullets aimed at the spot where they once were. Reappearing elsewhere in the thicket of trees, catching his breath. His natural abilities drained at his lifeforce, and needed to rest to recharge. But the enemy would never allow for such an opportunity, so he had to make his choice matter.

Time became very pressing. Who else could he save…?

Panic settled as he turned to the Skeleto-Men off in the distance. Despite their best efforts, a bullet had successfully shot No. 2 in the leg, stopping all momentum from the humanoid. The greenish skeletal man collapsed, aching in pain from the flaring surge of the bullet. The bluish one continued to maneuver around the endless onslaught, knowing well he wouldn’t make it if he got hit. But he had to do something, even if his skeletal twin was a pain in the pelvic region. Materializing darts in his hand, No. 1 tossed them at the firing drone, embedding them in the steel hull of the machine. But unfortunately, it did nothing to deter the automaton from its designated mission.

It took everything in Green Mask to move forward, but it took even more to hold back, realizing their fate was already sealed. Before either he or No. 1 could do anything, the continuous fire of another drone shredded the grounded No. 2 into pieces. Chunks of bone and black gelatin scattered from where the corpse laid. The body spasmed until it fell limp, the life of No. 2 fading away. Then, rather abruptly, No. 2 vanished in an explosive burst, smoke drifting through the underground sky. Clenching his fists, No. 1 went on the offensive, materializing more darts in both his hands. He tossed them by the gloveful in reckless abandon, hoping they’d just do something!

But alas, it was not meant to be. A well placed shot put a bullet through the skull, splattering with pieces and chunks of his head. The ensuing rapid fire tore his body to shreds, ending in the same fate as his twin. And much like his twin, his body erupted in a shower of sparks and smoke, gone from the face of the Hollow Earth.

Green Mask fell into distraught, which was only amplified when he turned to face the cliff. Tsunokera was stuck in a predicament, swarmed by the drones firing away. The dog-beast teleported across the cliffside, evading the barrage the best he could. When he found room, Tsunokera sprayed his resin webbing at one of the drones. But next to the metal of the aerial turret, it was mere silly string plastering to the alloy. Inevitably, the bullets found their mark against the navy blue creature, puncturing through its hide effortlessly. Suffering from fatal wounds, Tsunokera dropped dead, his body rolling over the edge of the cliff and falling down to the forest below.

Green Mask fell deeper into despair. He had barely known them, yet felt like extensions of himself dying. Why did he have to feel this way? Did the others feel like this too…? Through this trauma, something sparked in his consciousness. Visions of another’s eyes from another time, staring up at the Titans that had once claimed this world as their own. Whose memories were these…? Suddenly, their perspective shifted after being engulfed in volcanic steam. They were no longer looking up, but rather staring at the Titans that defied them. Was this something their kind could do? Then, it faded, Green Mask’s sight and focus returning to normality.

His life force, perhaps through fear, drove him to his feet. If nothing else, it was to ensure that he and Kappalge lived. More importantly, to unlock the secrets of their kind and aid in the war against the mecha beast. But when the wails of Gegil reached his ears… Perhaps there was one that he could save.

Rushing through the billowing trees, Green Mask weaved between them until Gegil came into his sights. A chirping shrill echoed from the illusionist goblin, trying to gain their attention. He saw as Gegil blasted another of the ruthless drones out of the sky, blowing it to bits. Shrapnel scattered across the forestry, though did no harm to the creatures within its vicinity. Both of them hid behind another tree, one which had already taken the brunt of the hellfire slaughtering their kind, and Green Mask explained that he could keep them safe. Though Gegil felt reluctant, they took the offer. With a tap of his fingers, Green Mask whisked Gegil away, vanishing from sight.

Everything was wearing him down, but he knew he couldn’t stop for nothing… Not until they were all in a safe and sound place to recoup and collect their thoughts. He focused his mind to teleport somewhere far away… But the moment he did, he realized he barely made a move at all. Exhaustion was taking its toll, sapping his magic reserves dry. Then the droning whirs of the automated weapons drifted from the sky…

…This wasn’t good. Not at all.

Green Mask ran for it, mustering all his strength into his legs. Bullets flew from the shafts of the gatling guns, but the goblin just barely kept slightly ahead of the curb. Any moment of hesitation would certainly cripple him–or worse, kill him. The ground beneath him shifted between soil, rocks, and running water, trying to avoid the killer drones as they swarmed into.

This was it… It had to be.

Or did it?

A bellowing roar resounded from deep in the jungle, giving pause to even the artificial drones that recalibrated their priority target. Green Mask saw the trees ahead bend and sway, as if something traveled along the treeline… And just as he thought, something was swinging across the trees and branches with ease. A bolstering holler emphasized its presence as the ape-like figure busted from the trees, smashing against one of the aerial drones with its mass. Falling with the flying weapon, the beastly creature grabbed hold of the side handles and used its tremendous might to hurl it into another drone, which in turn smashed into another. The last of them changed its target from Green Mask to this new intruder, whose body buffered the barrage of bullets without much issue. Picking up a sizable rock nearby, the enlarged primate tossed it at rapid speeds, impacting the drone at high velocity. When the last of the drones went down, the beast roared in victorious delight!

Green Mask faced his savior, almost baffled by the miraculous turn of events. Though he felt cautious around the brute, he nonetheless had to place some faith that he’d be okay. His stamina was at a low, and rather than risking going out any further, Green Mask waved his flag around and pointed to the ground. In a puff of smoke, Gegil and Kappalge reappeared. The two of them turned, realizing Green Mask’s dire state. Almost instinctively, Kappalge knew what to do and carried the magic goblin to a nearby river for him to drink. Gegil meanwhile turned to the brutish ape, inquiring its name.

The beast roared. Gorilla.

Gegil wasn’t amused, but took it in stride. They all needed to rest, and until they were back in fighting mode, it was best to keep watch… Fortunately, they put space between themselves and the mayhem off in the distance. Unfortunately…

—

A massive shockwave of blue flames tore through the landscape as the destroyer slammed both its fists into the rocky shell of the turtle monster, knocking it to the ground from its bipedal stance. Kamoebas merely laughed as he felt the energy flowing through his body, filling him with warmth as he shrugged off the blow. In response, the turtle lashed out, biting onto the steel titan’s shoulder as he lifted his body up on his two hind legs, grabbing onto the machine’s hips with his forelimbs to push him back. Surprised, the steel titan initially began to lose ground, astounded that this beast had the gall to even attempt to overpower him. Energy built up in its clawed fist as it slammed it into the face of the turtle, forcing it to release its bite and recoil back.

Acting quickly, the mecha shot forth and slammed its foot onto the head of the massive turtle, pushing it into the ground with intense force, but doing little damage to the armored face of the beast. As the mecha lifted its foot to stomp again, Kamoebas flipped upward, knocking the mechanoid reptile backward by using his shell to push the steel titan over. Though half his size, the giant mata mata was a heavyset creature, and it utilized this by using its weight and build to push the heavy destroyer away from his allies. Mechagodzilla slammed into the ground with a resounding crash, dirt and dust flying into the sky.

As soon as the dust coated the mecha, Kamoebas had turned to check on his allies. The furry back of Trunker rose slowly as he attempted to get up, only for the troll to fall over weakly. Tsunosilver laid flat on his face with smoke rising from the body of the bumpy red kobold, craters revealing the bulging sludge that was his muscles twitching from exposure. As for Gorosaurus, the blue allosaurus was clenching its burn wound in hand as he tried to catch his breath, an oozing goop dripping from the cuts and missile wounds on his body with ashen smoke rising from them.

He knew he had been too slow to get to the fight, having used his shell to protect the newborns from flying debris so they could realize their potential. As a result, his fellow giants paid for his actions as they hadn’t had the defensive ability his shell provided. Hearing the rocks and metal scraping in the dust, the turtle spawn knew that he would have to keep the mecha occupied to allow the others to get back to their feet. Luckily for him, that blow from the mecha had shown him that his armored body was strong enough to withstand whatever the destroyer could output.

Kamoebas roared out as he rushed into the dust cloud, slamming head first into a glowing blue foot. The metal foot knocked him upward as the mecha rushed forth, grabbing onto the terrapin’s body and throwing him to the side. Kamoebas felt his shell dredging through the land as the mecha grabbed ahold of his face, dragging it through the purple ore rich soil before throwing the turtle with a rocket assisted throw. Through all of this, the turtle monster had felt very little pain at all, but was dazed at the sudden speed and twists his body was sent through as his airborne body slammed into the glowing riverbed.

Kamoebas screeched as he twisted his body, managing to flip himself over into the riverbank as the clanking of metal drew near. Acting quickly, the hardy terrapin braced his body and allowed the mecha to slam its fist into his shell, flinging his body upward to toss the mecha back. This sudden throw from the turtle caught the steel titan off guard, knocking its body upward as the giant turtle shot forth and began to slash at the steel making up its body. Sparks flew as claws clashed against metal, pushing back the metal titan slowly.

Mechagodzilla was angered that this irritable beast would not stay down. With one fist clenching the rock hard shell, the mecha began unleashing powerful punches with the other in an attempt at breaking through the carapace and cripple the beast, not wanting to risk a blow to the creature’s neck and face as they were too close to his own for potential self injury. Each blow was infused with the power of the hollow earth, sending pulses of blue flames and energy flowing into the turtle and its surroundings, yet not even a crack or chip in the turtle’s armor was shown as the two continued their contest of strength. As the Monster within continued to barrage the tough shell in wrath, the Artificial Mind within was split between analyzing the turtle for potential weaknesses and commanding the surprisingly evenly matched drone assault.

Kamoebas struggled to keep his body from slowly being pushed back, his enemy’s superior strength and its rockets quickly creating trenches in the dirt below their standing. The defensive power of this beast’s armor astonished the mecha as he continued to unleash blow after blow onto the pointed shell. A knee to the creature’s underbelly knocked it into the air, allowing the mecha to boost forward at incredible speed and slam the creature back first into a mountainside, yet it continued its grasp on the chest of the metal terror.

The missile pods on its back shifted and took aim as explosives bombarded the massive turtle, pillars of smoke and heat scattering across its infrared vision, but doing little to damage the creature despite the point blank explosions to the face. Acting quickly, the mecha fired off its Proton Scream against the beast alongside its barrage, hoping to crush it beneath the strength of its attacks, only to be surprised as it merely scattered against the hard carapace, making the shell glow with energy as the scattered protons dissipated into the surroundings. Kamoebas roared out for his recovering comrades to attack as he held tight to the mecha, the bombardment and blows to his body doing little to get past his ultimate defense. As if to spite the turtle, one of the rocket pods twisted and fired in the direction of his comrades, garnering some cries of pain over the explosions.

Twin fists spiraled in the sky, building with energy as the mecha slammed a knee into the turtle’s underbelly, dropping the fists down and striking with immense power on both sides of the turtle. As the power flowed through the shell, the steel beast was disappointed that it had failed to penetrate either side of the beast before it. That blow had crippled some of the strongest Titans in the world above, yet it barely even scratched the shell of the turtle. This body of theirs was made to end the existence of titans, no matter their shape and power, yet it was failing to even dent this deluded reptile!

This beatdown continued as the mecha was unable to dislodge the turtle from its body, firing off missiles from its chest port point blank into the underbelly of the terrapin as its tail attempted to drill into the beast’s shell. Beams, missiles, energy infused blows, nothing was working against the stubborn reptile and its impenetrable shell. The turtle monster slowly backed his legs into the cliffside as the onslaught continued to batter him about, until finally, he released his hold on the mecha and kicked off the cliffside, tripping the steel titan as his spiky shell shot between the steel legs.

The mecha fell to the ground face first as Kamoebas rushed out from beneath the automaton, the metal segments getting caught on his spikes allowing the turtle to drag the mecha alongside him. With great strength, he lifted himself onto his hind legs and threw himself backward, slamming the mecha between himself and the cliffside face first. With Mechagodzilla laying across the rocky wall, Kamoebas twisted about and launched his body forth, tackling the machine against the stone and shrubbery.

Mechagodzilla lashed out as it felt the terrapin keeping it against the wall, slamming its fist against the turtle’s less armored arm. The small grunt of pain was enough motivation for the mecha as it kicked outward, knocking Kamoebas onto his back. As the turtle monster thrashed about in an attempt to right himself, Mechagodzilla rushed forth and kicked as hard as it could at its enemy’s shell. The massive turtle screeched out as the kick forced his body to pivot and spin rapidly, sliding him across the terrain until Mechagodzilla caught up to his body with another kick, this time to the face. Kamoebas yelped as the metal foot smacked into his face, sending his upside down body barreling over multiple times. Dizzy from the encounter, he had no time to react as the mecha grabbed ahold of his shell and tossed him away with a rocket propelled twirl.

As the massive turtle slammed through a rocky outcrop, Mechagodzilla unleashed its proton scream, intending to embed the creature into the earth. If the beast’s shell couldn’t be broken, then he would be buried alive! Kamoebas felt his body slamming into the dirt and stone as a landslide fell upon his body, forcing him deeper into the pits. He knew he could handle the beam, but he was not too certain he could free himself if he were to be buried alive. Luckily, it was at this moment one of his allies leapt to his rescue.

The Apex Titan heard the scream of Tsunosilver first before feeling the massive body of the kobold land feet first onto his back. The jump kick knocked the mecha onto its chest as the red mutant reptile rolled forth, standing between the robot and his shelled sibling. The mechanical menace attempted to get up, only for Gorosaurus to slam his tail into his face, throwing his body sideways. Pounding his fists together, Tsunosilver roared into the air, his tongue waving about as he shook his head while Gorosaurus circled behind the machine. Behind the red kobold waddled Trunker, pulling off dirt and rocks to help Kamoebas out of his predicament, all the while encouraging his fellow spawn with an idea.

Mechagodzilla watched warily as its opponents readied to attack. The AI kept track of Gorosaurus behind it while the more monstrous aspect focused on the horned beast in front. Gorosaurus crouched at his back, his body coiled and ready to lunge forth, while Tsunosilver acted as a barrier between him and the other two giants. The machine could see it in their faces and their bodily actions, the exhaustion that came with being an organic lifeform. All of them were panting hard with breath as they were forced to match with his might, sustaining injuries which no doubt worsened their fighting condition further.

Unlike them, the mecha was no longer held back by such limitations such as stamina, only relying on its limitless power supply and the limits of its mechanical bearings. Where others would tire quickly during battle, it would still be perfectly at near peak physical and energetic might hours later. Even better was that the AI was recording and noting down information about each monster in its data banks, providing useful information on locations with the most damage to cause devastating injuries or the limits and range of their abilities so far. Crimson and azure energies pulsed through the mech as it began to enjoy the thrill of the challenge being provided to it, readying for the next move.

Tsunosilver was the first to act, firing off a pale streak of light from his ever open maw at the mecha. As a response, the titan of steel returned fire with its own red death ray, striking Tsunosilver’s own blast. Upon contact, the two beams created a pulsing lightshow of energy, shockwaves of red and white bursting forth from the meeting point which glowed like the sun. The contest of power quickly turned in favor of Mechagodzilla as the sphere of energy slowly shot towards the kobold as Tsunosilver put every ounce of energy he had into his ray to delay the inevitable.

Gorosaurus rushed forth in the chaos, bobbing his body about as he rushed the mecha from the back. Sensing the approach of the blue allosaurus, the engine of human and titan malice twisted around one of its missile pods, firing a couple cluster missiles at the dinosaur. What surprised it was when the dinosaur rushed through the explosive assault even as it tore into his flesh and grappled its mighty tail. Smoke rose from blistering wounds seeping with bulging goop as the monster roared out to his allies. Hearing this, the silver horned spawn of the beast ceased his own ray and leapt high into the sky above the conflicting blast. This let the built up energy to shoot past below him, straight into the shell of Kamoebas.

The blast slammed into the shell with incredible force, pushing back the hard carapace for a brief moment before Trunker continued his charge. The turtle monster had his back turned to the mech as Trunker held his body, using the shell like a massive shield to push through the burst of energy firing their way. Like a battering ram, Trunker rushed the shell of the massive turtle through the fiery power of the proton scream and barreled into the automaton.

Mechagodzilla lost its footing as the massive shell slammed into its face, pushing it backwards while Gorosaurus twisted with the tail held tight. Together, they managed to lift the mech into the air and flip it, just in time for Tsunosilver to drop down feet first into the machine’s chest, slamming it into the ground.

The impact sent debris flying as the shockwave tore through the surrounding foliage. Dust flew into the surroundings, covering up the damages. The silver horned reptile leapt up into the air past the dust, and landed on the chest of the machine, dispersing the dust cloud around them and to see the crater they had made beneath the robot. Trunker set down Kamoebas as they slowly made their way over. Gorosaurus held tightly to the tail, stomping down on it to hold the robot down as Tsunosilver leapt high once more. Only this time, he was met with a series of rockets, firing from the chest cavity into his legs.

Mighty explosions billowed across Tsunosilver’s lower body as chunks of flesh went flying. The kobold crashed down onto the mech harshly on injured legs, smoking and burnt with ashen craters. Before he had the chance to roll off, he felt the saw covered graspers ripping into his already injured legs, and yanked upward, flipping the reptilian menace face first into the ground meters away from the cybernetic terror. He twitched briefly before going still.

The metal tail began to thrash, the drill end shifting back into blades as it flipped over Gorosaurus, swiping a cut across his face as he held tight to the appendage. As the robot twisted its body to get back up, Trunker rushed over and kicked as hard as he could, smacking the steel jaws of the robot to the side. In response, the titanium brute fired forth its rockets, boosting into Trunker and wrapping its arms around his chest as the two dragged through the dirt. The moment they shot forth, Gorosaurus was caught off guard holding the writhing tail and ended up dragging along behind them. Kamoebas attempted to keep up, but he was too slow compared to the rocket boosted trio, taking a short glance to the now broken legs of Tsunosilver.

The turtle let loose a small chirp to the broken monster, leaning down to allow him to climb onto his shell for transport. Tsunosilver powered through the pain of his broken legs and lifted himself onto the shell, holding on tight as they slowly rushed to the fight ahead of them.

Trunker felt the brunt of the earth furrowing around his fuzzy back. The land around them slowly changed from a forest to a more open landscape with scattered patches of trees and large jagged rock formations, the sight of a volcanic wasteland in the distance. Scrapes and bruises formed as they continued forth, a red glow filling the mecha’s eyes as he suddenly twisted their bodies. With a snap, Gorosaurus was sent flying as Mechagodzilla boosted their bodies into a sharp twist. The blue dinosaur went soaring into a jagged stone pillar of purple ore, the earthen structure crumbling atop his body as several shards stabbed into his injured hide. As for Trunker, he felt fear in his mind as the deathly glow of the mecha’s eyes held tight to his own, hearing the machine’s evil laughter as the grip he held was used to slam his body back first into the ground.

Swinging his fist forth, Trunker attempted to blindside the titan of man only for a steel grasper to clamp down on it. The same happened to the other fist, immediately getting grabbed as soon as it punched forth. The pressure on his chest increased as a sinister idea formed in the minds of the apex destroyer. Blue flames flowed through his arms into his graspers, holding tight as the saws dug deep into the troll’s fists. Then, they began to strain harshly as they twisted in opposing directions.

Trunker felt his round arms twisting as they were pulled taut, using all the strength he could to try to resist the might of the machine. He screamed as he felt the flames and pressure twisting his limbs against his will. More energy flowed into the four steel claws, fueling the intense power of the grasp as it flowed into and revealed the twisting, fracturing bones inside the arms. Blue flames crept across bulging red arms, veins of fire and ash spreading downward as the energy literally burned its way through the red troll’s flesh.

A loud crack resounded out as the joints in his hands gave out, shattering bone as his flesh began to twist violently. The burning flames and twisting pressure inevitably allowed the machine to rip them off, crumbling to ash in his claws as what remained of the burning arms fell to the ground. Trunker weakly let out a painful breath, unable to handle the pain surging through his body. A stomp to both arms finished what the twisting hands couldn’t, shattering the fractured bones and burnt flesh into a mess of charred goop.

It was always a joy for the portion of Ghidorah still in the machine to see another monster’s spirit break beneath their might. Holding tight to the beast’s throat, Mechagodzilla lifted Trunker up, rocketed himself upward, and slammed the red monster into the ground with a powerful boom. Pulsing flashes of blue surged through his body, revealing his ribs and skull, but most important to the mech was the sight of a spine in the creature. Grabbing onto the monster’s arm, it twisted the beast around and wrapped its tail around his chest in a crushing grip. Trunker thrashed weakly in the grasp of the beast, not aware of the joy within the minds of the machine readying to kill.

Both the monster and the remnants of man within their combined consciousness felt some joy as they gripped tightly to the base of Trunker’s neck, the other hand wrapping around his stoic yet dispirited face. With a sinister cackle, the apex titan crunched its flaming saw fingers into the troll’s back, sending chunks of burning flesh flying about until finally it grabbed ahold of his spine. Clamping one foot down on the monster’s leg for support, Mechagodzilla pulled as hard as it could, ripping out the spine and head of Trunker from his body. He roared to the skies as he held the hideous head high, the body falling down below lifeless.

The screech of Kamoebas echoed behind him, prompting the machine to drop the head and grab ahold of the decapitated body below. With a mighty twist, it swung and threw the headless body in the direction of the turtle monster, releasing a salvo of missiles soon after. With a loud thud, the remains of Trunker smacked onto the shell of Kamoebas, the blob-like flesh that made and formed their muscles sliding across his face as missiles exploded across his body. Tsunosilver was knocked off the back of the turtle by the explosions, crashing to the dirt as he watched the flames and smoke cover his armored brethren. Almost immediately, Trunker’s body seemed to combust alongside the missiles, a large explosion rocketing and dazing the mata mata turtle.

Kameobas shook his head trying to clear his mind from the light and noise, trying to focus as he stopped in his charge. As soon as his vision began to clear, the blue flames of Mechagodzilla’s palm shot through the smoke cloud and slammed into his face, sending his head and neck extending out to the side. Almost immediately after, he felt the rough graspers catch hold of his neck.

The grasp of the steel titan was tight as he dug his feet into the earth. With a mechanical roar, he yanked the neck of the beast upward, and following it came the rest of the turtle monster as he flipped the beast into the sky. Kamoebas felt dizzy as his shell spun in the air above, his neck hurting from being used to yank his entire body into the air.

The resounding roar of rockets grew closer towards him. The feeling of steel grasping into his shell was quickly met by his vision suddenly being aimed downward toward the ground. Mechagodzilla smirked in its mind as it rocketed downward, its targeting systems locating the perfect landing zone. Kamoebas screamed as the ground grew closer, then screamed louder in concern as he noticed where they were rocketing towards.

Gorosaurus shifted beneath his makeshift grave, his body sore and several bones broken from combat. There were shards of sharp rock sticking out of his side from where he slammed into the stone, though there was no blood to be seen dripping from them. He looked around as he heard the screaming of his fellow spawn, but could not see any of his companions or their metal enemy anywhere in the surroundings. Then, he looked up.

The massive spiky shell and face of Kamoebas slammed into the head of Gorosaurus with great velocity, slamming his face into the earth below as Mechagodzilla crashed into his back. A loud crack echoed through the plains as the trio slammed into the pile of red and purple rocks. Gorosaurus twitched for a few moments beneath the two before slowly going still. The steel titan rolled off the duo and got to its feet, staring happily at the carnage it just caused, the broken body of Gorosaurus lying beneath the tough armor of the now stunned turtle. The dinosaur’s broken body then lit up suddenly, a fiery explosion bursting from within as chunks of amorphous flesh and shards of rock went flying.

Kamoebas rolled over and lied in shock. The lifegiving blob-like flesh that once made up Gorosaurus and Trunker covered his body, leaving him too stunned to process what had just happened. His stupor was broken as he felt the shuddering of the earth from each step of the metal titan. Fear and hatred filled Kamoebas as he turned his body and screeched at the false god.

This rage was met by a knee slamming into his jaw. As his body was knocked upward, the massive turtle felt both hands of the machine grab onto his head and neck, attempting to pry open his maw.

Kamoebas refused to let his opponent get the best of him after what had happened, and slowly began to retract his neck back into his shell against the pull of the arms. He grappled the arms with his own forelimbs and began trying to pull the machine closer. As he did so, he noticed the glow surging toward the face of the beast and closed his eyes to brace for the surge of energy. A foot then slammed into his shell for leverage, as the apex of war unleashed his destructive scream.

The blazing hot laser seared against his head, a red glow spreading across his armored face as he stood strong. Though it caused little pain from the growing heat, the worst of the pain was the struggle to not breathe or open his eyes in the stream of energy. Then, almost suddenly, the burning heat stopped. Kamoebas continued his attempt at prying off the metal arms and took a peek at his surroundings, just in time to see the blazing, spinning saws on the machine’s hands dig into them.

True pain surged through the turtle beast for the first time in this battle as the saws carved and gouged into his eye sockets. His wheezing screech of agony puttered out from his throat as he felt the graspers shift over his face. Empty was his vision as he roared out in pain and rage, the graspers clamping down and keeping his mouth open wide.

Mechagodzilla let loose a mechanical chuckle as it held open the now blinded turtle’s maw. The bladed drill on the end of its tail began to spin with burning flames as the mecha yanked the mouth open as wide as it could. The moment Kamoebas let loose another scream of rage, the machine stabbed forth its tail, shoving it down the throat of the turtle with glee. If it couldn’t damage and kill the beast from outside, it would do so from the inside. The Ghidorah within knew he could have very well killed the turtle far quicker by firing its proton scream into the turtle’s gut as the AI originally plotted, but he wanted this beast to suffer for making them seem weak.

The whirring of the drill as it blended up the turtle’s insides were loud as blazing radioactive energy flowed through the tail. The energy surging into the tail rendered the inside Kamoebas into a burning chaos, lighting up his innards and skeleton blue from within as smoke and goop slowly seeped out of the mutant’s mangled maw.

Kamoebas could only gurgle in pain and agony as he felt his innards ripping apart and burning. When his grip on the machine’s arms went limp, the machine yanked the tail out of his enemy, a chunk of amorphous flesh beating once before melting down into liquid biomass. The ground shuddered as he dropped the corpse to the ground, blackened fluids flowing out of the ripped open neck and mouth. The moment his shell hit the ground, his entire body burst into a burning explosion, confusing the AI within the machine as they had not fired any missiles, nor did they do anything to prompt such an explosion other than pump the turtle full of energy. This same phenomenon had happened prior with Gorosaurus, as well as with Trunker, though the latter could have been attributed to its missiles.

Either way, victory was certain. Mechagodzilla screamed into the sky as it claimed a successful hunt over these beasts. A victory quickly tainted as a white beam shot into the back of its head. Twisting its arm to block the milky ray, it turned around to see an astonishing sight. Tsunosilver had dragged himself upright despite his broken legs, showing the machine the resolve this creature had to die. The red fiend was leaning against a rock, firing what little energy he had left at the machine. His legs were a burnt and mangled mess, and his broken nose and mouth were covered with sludge. But he would not let this monster win!

The Apex Titan merely grinned at this development. It seemed like this one just refused to die. It would savor this kill, as it could be the last until he tracked down all the creatures who had fled when Tsunojiras showed himself.

Rockets boosted to life as it shot towards the injured reptile, cackling with glee as the beam washed over its steel. Tsunosilver screamed as the foot of the metal titan slammed into his nose, the momentum dragging his head and body sliding across the ground for a few moments. As his dazed mind began to recuperate, he felt Mechagodzilla straddle his body. Then came the pain, as metal fists began to pummel into his sturdy face.

Right punch. Left punch. Right blow. A monotonous cycle of punches rained down upon his face in an unending force of demented glee.

The android’s monstrous side began to overtake all judgment as it grabbed onto Tsunosilver’s right horn with its left grasper, and began to unleash punch after punch into the monster’s face. Glowing blue flames surging with each blow into the creature’s extremely hard skull. The Monster within decided it would take its time for this one, savoring each punch as it stabbed its tail into the giant’s leg.

 

Chapter 4: Round 2 – The Cavalry Arrives

Kappalge hauled the exhausted magician around, trekking away until they reached the river. Emerging from the swaying trees and dense shrubbery, Kappalge held the goblin as ve guided him down, allowing him to drink the crystal clear waters. Green Mask had reservations, trying to force himself away. Ghoston died from it, and they were nearly drowned by it. But Kappalge insisted it was not the case. Reluctantly, he gulped down, letting it slither between his sharp teeth, feeling the life-giving fluids course through his body. He was not like the native creatures who relied upon it for sustenance, yet his senses tingle at the sensation.

It felt… Right.

He released himself from the gentle hold of Kappalge and sat back down on the riverbank, feeling a sense of refreshment he was in dire need of. Odd, considering how the ability to give life was able to take it away just as easily.

Even with how far they were, it was hard to ignore the pained screams of their giant compatriots. One by one, they fell in battle; Trunker, Gorosaurus, Kamoebas, and Ghoston were all slain by the robotic menace, their voices becoming silenced as the rampaging machine mutilated each one of them. Likewise too, the endless rounds of distant turrets gunning down any of their remaining allies did not bode well for their chances out here. But when the two heard the blasters of Gegil going off, they knew trouble was closer to their doorstep than anticipated.

The burly cries of Gorilla and the laser fire of Gegil rang from nearby, the two creatures backing out of the foliage. The ape-like beast hollered in dominance, standing straight and using his body as a buffer to protect the goblin and the kappa from anything the enemy had in store. The flat-faced ghoul had their cannon ready, discharging white beams to the treeline above, destroying the enemy drone in a dazzling explosive display. But for every one Gegil took down, another quickly took its place.

Kappalge took a stance, spreading vis arms and preparing to join vis comrades in battle. But Green Mask fell into contemplation. What good would this do? Fighting was their nature, but could they overwhelm a foe whose resources were abundant, whose stamina yielded to none, whose pursuit was ruthless and savage? Perhaps his vision contained the answer they needed, but what good would it be to think at a time like this? His eyes scanned in a panic, trying to–

–at that moment, he spotted something amidst the cliffside. A wreckage of some machine, unlike that of the mecha and its pawns. All they needed was a plan… one that couldn’t be conversed here. So he’d have to take them by force. Green Mask screeched loudly and boldly, summoning his magical prowess once more. Using his cape and stick, in one swooping motion, the other three vanished in a puff of clouds, stored in his magic pocket.

Now, it was time to run.

Green Mask sprinted along as fast as his body would allow, mustering more of his prowess in short bursts of teleportation. The attack drones were relentless in their pursuit, but even their scanners eventually lost their target, who kept skipping ahead through unnatural means. Even if he wasn’t in full health, Green Mask found the strength and confidence to evade the enemy–hoping to take refuge in the rusted vehicle engraved in the cliffside.

Once he reached the base of the cliff, Green Mask looked up and saw the steepness of the cliff. However, time wasn’t on his side, and needed to act quickly. Clasping the ridges of the rock face, the magician repeated his tactic of teleporting along the precipitous formation, making sure he still had a hold every time he reappeared. When he reached the edge, Green Mask pulled his lithe body over and rolled onto solid ground. Dusting himself off, the goblin took a quick glance behind as he dashed for the wreckage–not seeing the pursuers in sight.

The closer he got, the more defined the features became on the wrecked ship. An armored hovercraft, reinforced with a titanium alloy able to withstand immense amounts of pressure… But was unable to last for its voyage. Where it came from was of no concern for Green Mask, but the cavernous hole in the vehicle was worrisome–and it seemed fresh. The shattered glass that used to adorn the hovercraft was now nothing more than millions of shards that lay scattered through the interior. When he finally got the chance to peek inside the hole, it didn’t take long to identify who–or what–was responsible.

Laying its back on the backmost layer of the steel wall was a reptilian creature, bipedal in nature with a long tail and warty skin. Its head was adorned with a trio of horns, two jutting from the brow and a nasal horn from its maw. The beastly reptile laid dormant, seemingly in a deathly sleep. Upon seeing the unconscious monster, Green Mask was taken aback. If the deaths of the Skeleto-Men and Tsunokera were like losing parts of himself, then this was like looking at his own reflection. A dark, twisted version of… Himself? A beast he’d wish not to become. And as if almost by pure instinct, he knew its name.

Tsunojiras.

But time was soon going to catch up with him, and every gut feeling screamed that Tsunojiras had to be saved. Mustering his magic spells, Green Mask pointed his fingers at the dormant monster and stored him into the same pocket space as the others. Tsunojiras vanished in a puff of smoke, freeing space in the cockpit to hide in. Slipping into the hole, Green Mask tightly packed himself under the control panels, waiting…

The buzzing whirrs of the attack drones became more and more evident, the soulless machines surveying the area for any additional targets. Green Mask stood still, each second expanding into minutes of excruciating waiting. It was only when the drones flew off that he felt like he could move again; but just as he did, his gloved hand intermediately knocked into something. Retracting his hand, Green Mask eyed the strange object that rolled to the side. A bleach white skull came to a stop, with decayed bits of organic material unlike that of the Skeleto-Men. Frontal trauma was apparent with the fracture embedded in the skull and missing teeth, and the head was long detached from the skeleton it was a part of.

What was he looking at? The failings of one that preceded him? Or a grim fate that was coming to get him? He tried to dismiss the dark thoughts plaguing his mind, crawling out of the abandoned vehicle and onto the dirt of the Hollow Earth. Waving his wand, Green Mask pointed it and triggered a large burst of clouds–bringing all the others back to this plane of reality.

Gorilla waved wildly, but stopped when he realized he was no longer under attack. Gegil retracted fire, noticing there was nothing to aim at. Kappalge was stunned and confused, unsure of where ve or the others had been for the last few… Minutes? Even vis sense of time was completely off. But they all turned their gaze to Green Mask, but before anyone could react, they also saw the still form of the reptile at Green Mask’s feet.

Collectively, they jerked back at the sight. If Green Mask had to guess, the others must’ve had the same reaction he did upon seeing Tsunojiras. Which, if he was speculating right, meant that this creature wasn’t some derivative like they were; rather, a fragment of the original creature that gave them life. It strangely made sense in his head. The shrieks of Gegil inquired the place of origin for the dormant reptile, to which Green Mask simply pointed behind at the destroyed hovercraft.

They looked beyond, seeing the chaos unfold before their very eyes. It seemed the mechanical destroyer proved itself victorious and would continue its rampage unopposed. All the while, the drones it deployed scoured the dense foliage and shot anything that moved with extreme prejudice. The question that lingered in their minds was what were they to do? No one came to a proper conclusion. Green Mask thought… And pondered… What was that vision? Then, something in his mind clicked, and planted his fist inside his palm.

That was it!

Green Mask jumped up, much to everyone else’s surprise, who eyeballed him with skepticism. He vocalized the prospect of their kind, those derived from Tsunojiras, being able to alter their size on a whim, or bring out some kind of innate talent that each one of them possessed. The brown-haired Gorilla scratched his head in confusion. Gegil responded with a squawk, asking a simple question. How so? To that, Green Mask wasn’t sure…

Then they all looked down at Tsunojiras. If anyone held the keys to their mysteries, it had to be him.

With a firm and confident growl, Gorilla was on the case! Throwing his hairy body onto the dormant monster, Gorilla used his strong hands to slap the unconscious beast awake. Slaps evolved into fists, pounding against the rough bumpy scales of the reptiloid. Despite this, Tsunojiras showed no signs of waking. In an urgent act of rage-fueled annoyance, the muscular primate grabbed the immobile reptile by the shoulders and slammed him repeatedly against the ground he rested on. The pressure from the force cracked the rock-solid earth beneath them. Still nothing.

A frustrated nickering seethed from the hulking ape, throwing his hands up and giving up on the cause. Just as he did, Gorilla felt a sudden thwack knock him upside the head. Everyone else stood stunned as they witnessed the large tail pummel Gorilla in the head, thrusting the gorilla-beast to the ground. And with it, the reptilian figure of Tsunojiras rose to his feet. Devilish mist oozed from his clenched fangs, enraged. Then, a loud, baritone roar resounded from the brutal beast, leaking traces of residual fog from its mouth. Upon hearing his cries, they all fell to their feet in an instinctual act of submission. Gegil trembled at his might, Kappalge was deathly afraid, and Green Mask joined in sharing the same sense of anxiety. Even Gorilla, dazed and confused, turned and bowed submissively.

Fear ran through their bones. But when the bustling roar of Tsunojiras died down, it was Green Mask who, albeit shakily, was the first to speak up.

How were they to wage war against the tyrannical machine that tormented these lands?

Tsunojiras snorted, jeering at Green Mask for his inquiry. But nevertheless, it was a question he was at least willing to disclose. The terrible monster barked, bringing their attention front and center. He wasn’t going to repeat himself.

Their natural talents were skills to be unlocked, through rapid evolution and self-actualization. And that could only come if they accept just one truth: that they were all slaves to his will, and his alone. Like the loosening of a hinge, their minds flooded with a new sensation. A realization that never dawned on them before… Was it really that simple? Even if that was the answer given, Green Mask had reservations. Yes, he felt a tingling sensation, but he still had his sense of mind. Looking over to Kappalge, he saw that ve was on the same wavelength. But Gegil and Gorilla, on the other hand, felt completely overwhelmed by a neural sensation.

The two of them changed their focus, aiming their eyes toward the mechanical behemoth. With a sudden surge of adrenaline running through their forms, they both simultaneously ran and leaped off the cliffside. Green Mask reached out, trying to call for his compatriots. But they ignored his pleas, vanishing in a sudden wave of misty clouds. When they reappeared, the two of them had grown exponentially! Their newfound size dwarfed the very trees they had once used for cover, crashing into the ground with a booming thud. Without a beat, Gegil pushed himself with all their might, sprinting towards the destroyer of the Hollow Earth. Gorilla, though far clumsier in his landing, was also able to get to his feet and charged, prepared to continue the fight.

Green Mask watched helplessly as they ran to the warzone, not able to do a single thing to stop them… He turned to Tsunojiras, who snorted with contempt. A bark from the brutal beast told the goblin to look to the trees, to which he reluctantly complied. Scanning the horizon, most smoke erupted from the trees, with a set of hominid creatures likewise growing gigantic in size. The scaly green one balled his fists and smashed the drones, which became little more than gnats to him. The brown-haired one followed suit, eradicating the forces of the mechanized tyrant with ease by summoning a Morning Star by its own volition, smashing them to bits with it.

Such a sight took Green Mask aback. They were nowhere near hearing range, but yet they too achieved the power of growth… Was there fruit that bore from Tsunojiras’ knowledge? Or was it a truth twisted for its own ends? He… didn’t know. Or maybe… He… didn’t want to know? Seemingly satisfied, Tsunojiras turned his back to the two, only for Green Mask to call out one more time, much to the reptile’s ire. The beast was half-tempted to ignore the inquiry, but decided to hear the goblin out one last time.

Green Masks screeched… What was… His… Purpose?

A snarl exposed the razor teeth of Tsunojiras, jeering at the lowly slave with a nasty growl. His purpose is to fight. Anything less… Made him useless.

Hearing that sneering growl made something snap in Green Mask’s mind… Was that all he was? The caped goblin only stared on in stunned disbelief as Tsunojiras leapt over the cliffside, likewise growing exponentially in size. The rumbling crash from the giant reptile made Green Mask lose balance, falling to the floor without the will to catch himself. Trees snapped like twigs under the reptilian’s large legs, watching Tsunojiras become farther and farther as he approached the battlefield with Gegil and Gorilla.

Green Mask contemplated that growl. Was that all he was good for…?

His sense of feeling had numbed, not realizing that Kappalge had started to lift him up. Ve patted his back, trying to comfort him. But all he could hear was that growl of disapproval… Of shame, of humiliation. Green Mask clenched his fists tightly, to which even Kappalge grew concerned. A newfound sense of determination flowed through his body.

Green Mask rose to his feet, turning to Kappalge. The bird-like kappa nodded, understanding what must be done. With a twiddle of his fingers, Kappalge was stored in the magic pocket in a puff of smoke, leaving Green Mask by himself. Disappearing from sight, Green Mask scaled down the cliffside until he safely reached the bottom, in which he sprinted as fast as he could.

Even if he wasn’t gifted with the same abilities as his now-giant brethren, he’d prove his master wrong.

—

Chunks of bumpy red hide were strewn across the ground as Mechagodzilla let loose another powerful punch into the head of Tsunosilver. The kobold was somehow still clinging to life, his ragged breaths only motivating the deadly hunter. His large nose had been broken and crushed into a bruised mess as the machine continued his onslaught. The red bumpy flesh that covered his head was now swollen, with some having been ripped off by the constant hits as his face was a slurry of bruised sludge and cracked bone.

While the machine’s AI saw the inefficiency of such actions and urged the other side to just finish the beast with a Proton Scream, the Monster within was stubbornly wanting to break his oddly tough skull. The monster within was enraged that he couldn’t get through Kamoebas’ shell, but he would not stand a simple skull being too tough for its mechanical strength. Another hit shattered off the last remaining horn on the beast’s skull, with one last hit finally cracking it open completely. The mecha felt some satisfaction that finally, its punches had broken the skull.

Then the deceased body of Tsunosilver ignited and popped with a flashy explosion, briefly blinding the mech as the force pushed its body upward. Chunks of sludge like flesh dripped off its body as the machine’s vision readjusted, stumbling backward. This was just like the others. It seemed that these strange organisms were just very combustible apparently. Perhaps due to the large veins of energy rich ores everywhere, or perhaps a diet of explosive energy rich ore to subsist their bodies reserves of energy? Or, perhaps something else was at play here.

Standing upright after the sudden combustion, the Titan of Man began preparations for the next hunt, readying to check in with the AI on the attack drones when its sensors heard a loud, familiar roar echoing with the promise of vengeance. This was followed quickly by the sound of grunting and pounding footsteps getting closer to its location as the mech began to turn to find the challenger.

Brown fur filled his vision briefly as the mecha was tackled by another newcomer. Machine and beast rolled across the ground. Purple, ore rich soil and rock flying astray as they dredged through the landscape.

Mechagodzilla kicked at the opponent’s chest, receiving a fist to the face as the two rolled away from each other. Getting to its feet, it roared out as it turned to face its newest opponent, a realization of joy that his combat could continue much sooner than he thought. Then shock and excitement filled his monstrous mind as the massive brown ape roared back at him, pounding his chest with long fur covered arms and a dead eyed dopey face.

Another Kong!

Happiness filled its bestial mind at the possibilities of finding others like the titans of the surface down below to crush and test his metal against! Then the AI portion of his mind ruined the thought with its more logical processes. It showcased images comparing the two titanic apes, revealing that this creature was either a subspecies, or just another form of massive ape like the fossils and skeletons of those lemur titans would suggest.

Though the resemblance was there, this Giant Gorilla was no Kong, its roars and mannerisms befitting more a beast than the protective and cunning nature of the King of Skull Island. Drone footage of a smaller man sized version of the beast gave birth to the idea of this being a parent to the smaller creature as the footage cut short from its destruction. Perhaps it came to protect its young from danger. No, this creature was no Kong. Just an imposter from down in the Hollow Earth. He would brutally crush this ape for getting his hopes up, then start his search for the origin of that roar.

Hearing more roars of anger and the sounds of more rushing footfalls around him told him that he wouldn’t have to search for long, as three more creatures began to circle around him, looking awfully familiar to the beasts he sent his drones to hunt down. But most concerning of all was the three horned reptile that followed with them, rage in its eyes almost as though it knew what he had done.

Tsunojiras, the Brutal Beast, had returned.

The same type of creature which had left rust and corrosion on his powerful body. He could feel a similar titan frequency in this one, nearly the exact same as the one he killed just before, though he could sense his rage through more obvious observations. He let loose a loud roar into the surroundings, pounding his fists together.

The others roared out in united rage at his command as they circled hungrily for combat, quite similar to how Godzilla and himself, when he was part of Ghidorah, had once done when they were King of the Monsters. So it seemed the beast did have an Alpha signature capable of leading lesser beings to his commands. His servants were an interesting lot as he looked closer at them.

Of course there was the Imposter Kong, a massive brown gorilla pounding away at its chest. To his side was a bulky green gargantua, who flung his arms into the sky as an intimidation tactic with teeth clacking hungrily. Beside Tsunojiras knelt the boomerang headed, rainbow skinned creature with a sturdy looking cannon arm, the same species as the little one who shot him in the face when finishing off Ghoston. Lastly was a large brown furred, silver skull faced beast, chittering with the sound of rattling bones while swinging a morning star at his face.

Brief confusion overtook his mind at the last thought as the large spiked ball slammed into his face. Sparks flew as Shilarji swung his Morning Star at the metal monstrosity once more, knocking him into the waiting arms of Gaira. Gaira grabbed the mech by the shoulder, and let loose a powerful palm strike to his chest to knock the machine away.

With a warcry and a wave of his arm, Tsunojiras ordered his hellish spawn to destroy their enemy.

As Mechagodzilla caught his footing, a blast of jagged white lightning shot into its side sending the mecha reeling further. The robotic monster returned fire with his Proton Scream, only to see the iridescent creature return fire with its lightning blast. The two beams intersected in an intense struggle between the two.

With both competing for dominance, Tsunojiras acted quickly, summoning forth a cactus-like orb. The red death ray quickly began to overpower the lightning attack, only for the mech to receive a series of needles shot at his face and body, each exploding upon impact with his armor. The distraction allowed Gegil to let loose a surge of power into per lightning, overpowering the steel demon’s destructive energy with a burst of energy. White electricity coursed and sparked across the robot Godzilla in an attempt to damage and paralyze the circuitry, only to find resistance in the form of pulsing blue and red energy surging through the steel titan.

Lifting a hand into the path of the attack, the machine surged energy into its arm to counteract the electrifying energy as more explosive spines popped across its metal hide. The assault stopped suddenly, putting the demonic dragon on alert for why, when the spiked ball of the morning star struck down from above onto its head.

As this was happening, the AI mind quickly began to assess the situation while the monstrous side continued their fight, assigning names to each creature for documentation by translating their screeches through its access to Ghidorah’s mind and memories. Time seemed to slow down for the AI as it processed the information at high speed.

All these new beings were similar in appearance, down to various minor wounds, as the smaller ones which were fighting the drones just moments before. They all seemed to have some form of anger against them, and worked together greatly, like a mob or pack. These were no parents or simple giants coming to defend their home. These were the same little creatures who worked together to fight and take on their drones.

Perhaps something within had triggered a massive form of growth in them? Some drone footage had managed to capture footage of Gaira and Shilarji being coated by some form of steam mid fight, then it cut out as they seemed to expand and crush the drone.

If so, this potentially meant that any small creature in the Hollow Earth had the potential to shift from a smaller creature into a large titan going off these four beings. The science behind this process made very little sense, as it broke all laws of the conservation of mass, and yet there were oddities in the hollow earth that were constantly changing humanity’s thoughts on the world and its rules.

It was then that an odd occurrence happened in their minds. Theories slowly surged forth from the fragments of Serizawa’s mind, having been slowly coming together since their journey into the underworld.

Fragments of observed information linking together to showcase how some of these creatures were able to grow larger, while others like the green faced goblin still remained human sized. How they seemed to be skilled in the use of weaponry as well as basic strategy despite their differences in species. An observation of something humanlike in their behaviors and actions guiding them to work as a team. Something was uniting these beasts together, and somehow they had a trigger mechanism in their bodies that allowed for massive growths in mass in a short amount of time to combat Titan sized opponents.

It theorized that these were not natural creations at all, but some form of Titan Mutations or Offspring.

If Tsunojiras was one such being capable of altering and commanding these types of mutants into their massive forms, then the three horned beast would need to die quickly before he could grow an army of giants large enough to wear them down through sheer numbers.

Yet even as this epiphany went through their minds, the computer felt there was still vital information missing, something that would link everything together. It prodded at the gathered fragments of the human mind buried beneath their massive presences for an answer, but received but a few memories in its sudden silence.

As the AI shared this information to the monster side, their body was still in the midst of being smacked by the spikes of Shilarji’s weapon. With a lurch of its arm, Mechagodzilla grabbed ahold of the weapon and swung the skull-faced ape into the path of an energy blast. Shilarji screamed with rattling bones as the lightning coursed into him. The moment the electricity stopped coursing through his armor, Mechagodzilla unleashed a barrage of missiles at its ranged opponent, swinging its bladed tail at Shilarji’s arm to potentially disarm the hairy beast.

It was but a few moments late however, as the silver faced beast released his grip on his weapon and stumbled back to avoid the sharp blades. Gegil meanwhile, was already on their way to avoid the missiles, rolling away from the explosions as they returned fire with a volley of energy blasts from the cannon arm. Each blast sent explosive sparks flying off the tough metal, acting more like a concussive explosion than a blast of hot plasma. The energy blasts were enough to push the steel monster back and keep its attention long enough for Shilarji to roll out of danger.

Tsunojiras however, merely waded through the missiles as they bounced off his hide, roaring for the others to jump the machine as he lifted the orb off his head, tossing it at the mechanical titan of man.

The Anti-Titan Weapon swung its arm to intercept, opening his fist and grabbing onto the cactus-like sphere to throw it back at the reptile. This was a mistake, as upon contact, the orb exploded in a burst of heat and large amounts of smoke, blinding the machine briefly as it rushed headfirst into battle.

The machine’s charge was met with feet to the face, as Gorilla had leapt forth into a drop kick toward the blinded machine. The hairy ape snarled with anger as he hit the ground. While he only felt some kinship with but a few of the other spawn, this thing was responsible for many of the others deaths.

The whirring of machinery caught his ear as he turned toward the machine, watching as it lunged toward his fallen body. Crossing his arms over his face, the ape prepared for the impact, only to feel nothing as a tail swung over his body.

The thick tail of Tsunojiras slammed into the metal monster, knocking the mecha to the ground. Dust flew into the air as the horned monster quickly began to stomp onto the steel head of the machine. The servant of the devil snarled out to the grounded Gorilla to join in. He immediately responded by picking up and throwing a rock toward the two, striking down a fist which was shooting up towards Tsunojiras.

Gaira grunted over to the others as he rushed over and began to kick and punch at the robot. The spinning blades of the tail shot towards the green menace, only to be wrapped up by the chain of Shilarji’s weapon and dragged down. Falling from above came the Gorilla, slamming his fists down onto the mech’s tail as the others unleashed their own anger.

Altogether, the four monsters began to stomp and kick at the downed machine, making sure to strike the arms and legs of the mech to prevent it from getting back up. Gegil stood off to the side, watching the beat down and taking potshots when they could.

The AI worked hard as alerts pounded into its systems of errors and damage being taken to their body. Metal was groaning and creaking under the stress of the enemies attacks, causing the interface to warn its monstrous cohost to do something to stop the damages. The monstrous mind retorted that he was doing his best, as another attempt to fire missiles from shoulder pods was quickly slammed down by another creature.

Each attempt to kick or swing their arms was immediately stopped by one of the other monsters watching out for their fellow monsters. An attempted elbow was kicked into the ground by a green foot as the tail continued to be tied up by the skull faced monkey. Looking up, the mecha could now see teal smoke leaking from the maw of the brutal beast as it sneered down at them. Its stare told the monster within that it saw him as a lesser being, looking down upon him as though he was lesser. That he was weak.

Rage filled the part of Ghidorah within the machine as he saw the look of superiority and condescension in his opponent. He and his kind had conquered worlds! He had traversed the cosmos to lay claim to this world and prove his strength as the greatest in this system! He had destroyed monsters far stronger than this simple reptile for merely existing, to show their power was the strongest around, to show they were the strongest around. They were a King, a God amongst Monsters! And though he might not have his siblings with him or his old body, he would destroy this insolent insect for ever looking down upon his being with pity and superiority!

As toxic smog billowed down onto titanium frames, slowly but surely corroding the metal into rust, the apex destroyer roared out as it ignited its boosters. Despite fists and kicks slamming into his steel body and disorienting his movements, he shot forth towards the horned reptile, a singular rage flowing through its monstrous mind even as it spiraled from each blow. The machine slammed into the horned serpent with its full bulk, knocking the air out of him as they barreled forth.

Sinister red eyes glared into fiery orange as the two alpha titans blasted past the others, both filled with an intense hatred. Mechagodzilla snapped its maw down upon Tsunojiras’ shoulder, grinders sawing away at rock hard flesh as the horned beast pounded away at the steel exterior of his foe. The two slammed into a hillside, slamming away at the other in an attempt to rip each other apart.

The impact caused the duo to split from one another, rolling upward and ready to fight. The horned serpent roared as he rushed the steel menace. This annoyance was not dying as fast as he’d liked, and this irked him to no end.

Mechagodzilla felt the same as it met the false Titan’s charge itself, boosting itself forth with rockets.

The two struck at the same moment, a kick from the servant of the devil slammed into the mech’s gut as the machine landed a powerful haymaker to the reptile’s head. Both attacks proved devastating in different ways, the blow to the gut off balancing the Mecha to the point its rockets slammed it head first into the ground while the machine’s own haymaker sent the brutal beast’s mind into a confusing mess as the blistering pulse of heat shot through his brain.

His face hitting the ground forced him to regain some sense of himself, but his balance was somewhat shot as he fell to his side while trying to stand. As the dinosaurian creature held himself up on his hands and knees, a titanium foot slammed into his face from the side, sending him rolling in a confused heap.

Mechagodzilla screeched in rage as it rushed for another kick, hitting the brown skinned beast in the gut and sending him skidding back in pain. It could hear and sense the others approaching quickly to their location, but it mattered not to the machine. If it killed the head, the rest would soon follow.

Having the sense knocked back into him, the horned serpent was quick to roll himself out of the path of the next kick, quickly getting back to his feet as the machine turned to face him. He could see the energy building up in his enemy’s maw, remembering the searing heat of that blasted beam from his past life. All he had to do was stall for his minions to catch up, then he could let them weaken his enemy for him to finish off. A flash of light flickered atop his head as the spiked cactus-like ball reappeared on his head.

Proton Scream met spiked ball as Tsunojiras launched the ball into the path of destruction, creating another smokescreen. Using the smoke to cover his path, Tsunojiras rushed under the beam and swung with all his might upward. Fist met steel as the devil’s serpent uppercutted the machine’s head upward. Not wanting to let up his advantage, he immediately began to claw and punch at his enemy, slowly pushing him back.

Then things went wrong as he felt steel slash into his leg, the tail of the machine having swung from below. Tsunojiras attempted to blast the machine with another burst of toxic smoke, only for a hand to slam down on his face with an explosive burst, momentarily disorienting the beast as it clamped the mouth shut. Yanking him forth, Mechagodzilla quickly bit down on the beast’s shoulder, grinding away at rocky flesh as it slammed the monster into the dirt. Drones flew around the duo as Mechagodzilla stomped down on the writhing tail, keeping his prey pinned. The other hand clamped down on the arm being bitten as Mechagodzilla’s grinding maws began to glow with a radiant crimson glow.

Pain filled the horned dinosaur’s being as the Proton Scream seared into his flesh. Chunks of burnt flesh grinded down into the machine’s industrial crushers, spewing down the machine’s body. The reptilian demon could do little as the grasper on his face continued to lift and slam his head into the dirt with bursts of azure energy as the mecha began to slice through his shoulder. While one arm slammed the beast into the dirt, the other was pulling at flesh, trying to rip off the arm as soon as it was severed.

Almost instantaneously, rocket pods twisted to the side and fired, sending a cluster of missiles rocketing behind the machine and into the aerial form of Gaira. The green gargantua had been the first to catch up to the dueling giants, having leapt forth in an attempt to knock off the steel monster, only to receive a barrage of missiles against his body, knocking him off to the side with explosive force. Chunks of scaly flesh and fur were sent flying as the smoking body of Gaira slammed to the ground.

The green gargantua clutched his smoking chest, gasping for air as lightning shot past overhead. The mecha reacted quickly, almost as though it had known the attack was coming as it twisted its body and swung the injured Tsunojiras into the path of the lightning, electrocuting the horned saurian as the Proton Scream fired back. Gegil was unprepared for the oncoming beam, their body being hit full force and sent flying backwards in pain, burns already spreading from the impact. The searing pain filled the mind of the armed fiend as they crashed into the ground, clutching the burns with their hand. Gegil had never felt this much pain before in their life, even if said life was less than an hour or so old.

For Tsunojiras however, the pain had only just begun, as the force of the swing combined with the burning beam and Gegil’s electricity contracting his muscles was too much pressure for his arm to bear. The bone dislocated from his shoulder as contracted and burned flesh gave way, ripping off of the dinosaur’s body.

The steel apex discarded the arm quickly as it kneed the shocked monster in the gut, sending a pulse of burning plasma searing into his body. Releasing the hold on his face, Mechagodzilla rocketed his body sideways, twisting rapidly to slam his tail into the gut of his enemy and sending the tyrant flying, taking the air out of him.

With the horned serpent soaring away, the mecha clawed and lunged forth toward him. One arm grappled onto the neck of Gaira, surprising the gargantua as Mechagodzilla charged forth, dragging the gargantua with him. The green giant grabbed onto the offending arm even as he was dragged through the dirt and trees, scale and flesh scraping across the land.

Gorilla acted quickly, catching his flying master and setting him down, watching the reptile struggling to breathe from the attack. The thundering footsteps caught his attention as he turned back to the mecha, only to see Gaira’s body being thrown at them. With the gargantua slamming into them head on, the trio collapsed to the ground in a pile atop Gorilla.

The Gorilla struggled as he lifted the duo up, trying to push them off when he heard the whistling of the missiles. With Gaira and Gorilla covering his body, Tsunojiras was unable to counteract a majority of the missiles as they struck hard. Explosions blasted across the trio, covering the pile of bodies in flame. As they laid in pain, the steel mech finally arrived, falling down from above with cerulean flames. Though in pain, the Gorilla managed to shove the others away just in time for the steel feet of the artificial Titan to slam into his chest with a crack.

Gorilla gasped in pain as his ribs shattered, the steel foot digging down hard. The mecha began to build a charge in its maw, rage filling its vision as it glared down upon the ape. Before the beam could fire upon the primate, a chain wrapped around the neck of the machine as Shilarji yanked with all his strength. The beam shot off to the side as the silver-faced ghoul did his best to drag the mech away from his allies.

Off in the distance, the cannon armed demon known as Gegil slowly got back to their feet, breathing heavily as they pepped themself up to rejoin the fight. If needed, they would fight up close to protect their allies from harm, or they could draw its attention with ranged fire. Seeing Shilarji already drawing the ire of the beast, Gegil took cover behind a boulder. Taking aim, they tried to focus as the mecha thrashed about trying to shake Shilarji off its back. Before either could do much, Gaira had gotten back into the fight, slamming a fist into the mech’s face, granting Gegil the opportunity it needed to take a shot, making a glancing strike against the machine with a blast of energy.

—

Dense foliage was the only real protection he had, but even then that didn’t stop him from being spotted by the drones. Quick maneuvers prevented an untimely demise, but Green Mask still had a promise to keep. One to… Himself? He wasn’t sure why he detested the feeling. Why was this a promise to uphold? For his sake? Did he not deserve freedom? He did, but it is as Tsunojiras said: they were slaves to his will. What was… He… To do?

But Green Mask couldn’t ponder for long; rapid fire whirls of machine gun bullets zipped through the air, the magician performing a teleport-strafe to safely move out of harm’s way. Even with a firm hand on his teleportation ability, Green Mask couldn’t avoid the rumbling earth beneath his feet. The closer he got, the more intense it became. As the mechanical menace tossed his large allies around like ragdolls, he knew none of them would be reliable; they were too close to the action for Green Mask’s liking.

That was why his destination lied with Gegil. The one who maintained the most distance from the fight. They blasted away with their arm cannon, launching concussive bursts at the mechanized threat. But for every one that hit, at least three more missed the mobile target, scattering at its feet.

Reality came crashing back as rapid fire bullets shredded the foliage around him, the high-pitched whines of their traces indicating they were close to their mark. Had it not been for his inherited teleportation, he would have met the same fate as his brethren ages ago. But no matter the case, he had to keep running. To see the full extent of his capabilities–to his use for the cause.

The gap was closing. Almost there.

Gegil stood high and tall, doing their part in the war against the machine. As Green Mask came in range, he snapped his fingers; from a puff of smoke, Kappalge returned to this plane of reality. As the mechanical drone broke through the treetops, its turrets aimed squarely against Green Mask, Kappalge took action. Vis beak swelled with a large bubble, discharging it as soon as ve could. Propelled by pressurized air, the gum-like bubble crashed against the drone’s rotary wings, spiraling out of control. It slammed against the ground, breaking its internal mechanisms and disabling the machine from participating in the slaughter of their kind. Kappalge turned around, bearing witness if vis compatriot’s efforts will bear fruit.

Green Mask planted his gloved hands against the foot of Gegil, mustering all his power to store the giant ally in his magic pocket. So large they were, Green Mask felt his hands glow, trying to open the gap to store the giant. But alas, a massive spark blew back against him, sending Green Mask hurling away from Gegil. No matter the quantity Green Mask could hold, his power rejected him. Storing his supergiant brethren proved for naught. Kappalge came running to him, aiding him in getting back to his feet.

Pain coursed through his body; all the more dejected by his power’s limitations. A stern reminder of his uselessness. But at that moment, the two of them looked up and saw Gegil staring down at them. The giant still recognized their smaller allies, they leaned over and offered them to hop on. The pair do, leaping onto Gegil’s massive palm. When they steady themselves, the giant brought them up to their shoulder; the tour of which was filled with immense pressure from Gegil’s newfound size. Their movements were slow compared to their smaller state. When the hand pressed against the shoulder, they hopped off and tried to find a hiding place along their neck folds.

Now out of the field of view of any drones, Green Mask slumped against the wall of flesh. Doubt gnawed at him. There truly wasn’t anything he could do, could he? Kappalge saw vis comrade in clear distress, leaning over next to him. Ve reached around him, holding him close. With gentle taps from vis hand, Kappalge cooed assuredly.

It was going to be okay.

 

Chapter 5: Desperate Gambit

As the others fought, the last chunk of amorphous flesh that was once the torso of the first Tsunojiras pulsed with life, still buried under the trees knocked down by Tsunosilver’s birth. Whereas the rest of the first wave of giants had already perished, the one forming from the torso was taking its time to come free. Nearby, a couple of flying drones chased the injured spawn called Gabara away from his comrades, one managing to finally shoot the legs of the warty toad. Unbeknownst to either the drones or Gabara, the mass of flesh seemed to detect the pain and need of a fellow spawn, and began to accelerate its formation.

Gabara stood tired as he leaned against a tree, seeing the drones taking aim at his bullet-ridden body. He attempted to rip off one of his claws only to get shot in the arm by a drone he didn’t see. He began to accept his fate as the machine gun turrets began to spin, hearing the telltale hissing pop of a new spawn forming right as they opened fire. As the drones unleashed their hellfire upon the warty toad mutant, a large fist slammed onto them, claws dripping with toxic sludge. The drones not smashed by the fist began to rust and corrode from the toxic fumes around the claws, breaking into rusted junk onto the dirt.

Gabara stared at the familiar looking hand, twisting his head to see what had helped him. Upon seeing the new spawn, he let loose a choked out giggle, met by an equally familiar chuckle from the newly formed giant, the green warty hand grabbing and cradling the dying monster in comfort. The sound of combat in the distance caught the giant’s attention, knowing instinctively the path of destruction would lead him to his enemy. As for Gabara, he had a simple thought before he perished and popped in the hands of his fellow toad. If only he could see the face on that bastard machine when his brother showed up.

As one spawn of the devilish beast died, another had taken his place, fresh and ready to continue his battle on a grander scale.

—

Sparks flew as blasts of energy slammed into the steel hide of the apex destroyer. The mechanical titan killer made another swing at the duo of Gaira and Shilarji only for the two giants to roll in opposite directions, allowing another blast from Gegil to strike its arm. Shilarji took another swing with his morning star, only for the machine to grab and yank it out of his grip. With a rattling shout, the weapon seemed to ignite and explode in the mecha’s grasp, filling the mech’s vision with smoke and damaging the hand saws as Shilarji taunted the machine.

This was a mistake as several missiles blasted through the smokescreen. Explosions slammed into the furry creature, throwing him back in a ball of fire. The skull-faced demon quickly began to pat the fires that had ignited on his body when the mechanical screeching of the mecha dawned on him. A silver fist slammed down from above onto his head, sending Shilarji’s skull bouncing off the ground with blue flames. As the second fist came down, it was quickly intercepted by Gaira, wrapping his arms around the steel arm and struggling to pull the steel titan away from his ally.

The green bigfoot began to pummel his fists into the tough steel of his enemy’s face with as much strength as he could only to feel the stinging cut of the tail blade slicing into his side. Still he held tight to the mecha’s arm with all his might. The steel fist of the destroyer swung towards his body only for Shilarji to leap forth and grab onto the opposing arm, yanking tight as the two of them dragged the machine to the ground. With a shout, Gaira called for Gegil to fire. Electricity slammed into the chest of the mecha, shocking its systems as it was forced to focus energy to mitigate damages.

Gaira took a quick glance over to the others, seeing Gorilla holding his broken ribs tight, while Tsunojiras seemed to have finally regained his breath. The one armed monster glared with an intense hatred as he clutched the burnt flesh on his shoulder. He watched as the horned beast lifted the injured ape to his feet and pushed him towards battle, commanding the injured beast to fight his battle.

Though he knew Tsunojiras was his superior and creator, Gaira felt that the beast only saw them as tools to be used to fight his wars. He cared little for them, and would throw them into the forefront of his fights while he sat back watching, waiting for them to do the job for him. A screech of pain made him turn to look at Shilarji, seeing that his ally, his friend, had taken a blast of the mech’s energy attack to the face and was now reeling back on fire. Hearing the hissing of missiles above him, Gaira rolled away from the mech just in time for the barrage of missiles to slam into the ground where he once stood. He turned to glare at the mecha as it shifted its attention back to the source of the electrifying beam.

With electricity coursing through its body, Mechagodzilla turned its beam towards the distant Gegil, torching the land as the cannon-armed monster was forced to stop their assault to move. Gegil continued to fire their cannon blasts as they ran, explosions bursting up in front of the mech in hopes of blinding it momentarily to escape. A barrage of missiles shot towards the large headed beast, only to be met by blasts of electricity bursting them in the sky.

While this did little to stop Mechagodzilla, it was enough for Gaira to return to action, throwing a fist into the machine’s face from the side and sending it reeling and stopping the beam. Gaira then went to throw another punch into the face of the mecha only for his fist to be grabbed. The mecha cackled as it began crushing the green bigfoot’s hand in its grip. The green giant growled in pain as it went to punch with its other fist, only for that one to also get grabbed. Lifting the gargantua up, Mechagodzilla began to pull the scaly giant taut by its arms, garnering roars of agony.

Sparks scattered across Gaira’s back as he was used as a shield against Gegil’s attacks, yet the gargantua did not yield despite that. It was only when he saw what else was coming that he began to feel fear for his life. Chest ports opened and back missile pods took aim, the sinister glow of the mech seeming to grow brighter as it looked into his eyes. Missiles of various size and power began to fire onto his body, coating his body in bursts of fire and smoke. Flesh and scales were sent flying as explosions rocketed across the gargantua’s body. The bursting roar of the explosions drowned out the agonizing cries of the green giant. The assault soon came to a stop as the shoulder pods turned to the side, the missiles suddenly veering behind the duo and into the body of the Gorilla.

The ape growled as the bombardment struck his flesh, but he pushed through the pain. Tsunojiras had given him orders to fight, and fight he would. The acrid scent of burnt flesh and fur filled his nostrils as he leapt to slam his fist into the back of the machine, only to be hit mid jump by the mech’s tail.

Mechagodzilla tossed away the burnt and damaged body of Gaira as he turned his attention to the burning ape. Snarling a mechanical screech, it rocketed forth and slammed its claws into the chest of the ape, revealing and shattering the broken bones further into his body with blistering azure flames.

A cry of pain bellowed from the ape’s lips as he felt bones stabbing into organs. His breathing grew harsh as he swung back, only to get another blazing fist to the chest as the mecha blocked his assault. The damages continued onward with each failed strike resulting in another devastating body blow. Each hit lighting up the gorilla’s chest with a pulse of blue energy as the bone grew more and more broken. Even as explosions slammed into the mecha’s back, he only used their push to slam the gorilla further back in pain.

On the side, Shilarji crawled over to the burnt body of Gaira, holding onto his burnt face with one hand as he shook his friend with the other. He could see the blackened body was still moving, taking ragged breaths with vicious coughs in between. His body was littered with holes and pits, burnt and pulsing with amorphous muscles. Gaira let out a groan of pain as he laid on the ground, leaning up to grip onto Shilarji’s less damaged body.

They could hear Gorilla’s screams, knowing he needed help, yet as they leaned on one another, Gaira took note in his mind that Tsunojiras simply watched as Gorilla was beaten and broken by the enemy, still on the sidelines watching the machine fight. Their boss could have joined in at any time, summoned another spike ball even to assist their comrade. But he stood there, clutching his missing arm with hatred burning in his eyes. Waiting for them to do the job for him. Grunting to his fellow spawn, the green gargantua started the beginnings of a plan as the silver skulled demon held him close.

Gorilla felt his back slam into a pillar of stone, doing his best to protect himself from the powerful strikes of the titanium titan. Silver claws slammed into his arms, searing his bones with its fiery energy as missiles occasionally blasted him from the sides. Then suddenly, the hits stopped. The ape took a deep breath as he took a glance at his opponent through his arms, wondering if someone else had gotten the machine’s attention.

Gorilla then screamed out in pain as the spiraling blades of Mechagodzilla’s tail speared into his broken chest. Sludge like flesh and fur were sent flying as the drill dug into the ape’s body, pumped full of energy. Mechagodzilla shoved the tail further into the monkey’s chest, hoping to burn the ape’s organs from the inside as ethereal flames seared through its steel into its opponent. The machine pushed the gorilla’s body against the stony pillar, firing missiles around them to stop the others from getting close. The Monster within the Machine wanted to savor this moment, this kill, on a creature so closely resembling Kong, and it would not have the others interfere.

He heard the chuckling of the robot as it shoved the tail further into the monster, stabbing into the rock behind. The Gorilla could feel his life slipping from him as the tail twisted and pulsed energy into his body. Yet, he wanted to show this invader that he still had some fight in him. He wanted to prove himself to be more than just a simple beast to be put down. Before the machine could draw back its tail, the Gorilla latched onto the metal appendage and held tight. He then kicked the robot back, feeling both the tail and his own body being pulled off the stone.

With the enemy’s tail gripped in his dying arms, the giant gorilla heaved with all his might. Mechagodzilla felt some surprise as he was pulled off his feet, the massive ape spinning him around with incredible strength. Metal slammed into stone as the ape swung his enemy through the rock he had been pinned to, roaring with all his remaining rage as he did so. Then he released his grip, sending the machine, and the tail in his chest, soaring into a cliffside, stone and foliage quickly landsliding over the mecha’s body.

Gorilla roared out in agony, clenching his burnt and broken torso as the machine slowly began to dig itself free. As he felt his life fading, the ape slammed one arm into the crook of the other, his forearm raised upward with his hand flipping his middle finger to the mech as a final act of hate. Then, his movements and breathing ceased as he fell to his knees, collapsing to the ground as what strength he had left began to fade. Moments later, a burst of flames and energy exploded from his body, ripping his corpse asunder.

Rock flew as steel arms ripped upward in rage. Mechagodzilla screeched into the sky as it turned to see Gorilla’s final moments, the dissatisfaction of seeing its prey rebelling even in death. Turning to survey the area, it saw the burnt skull faced monkey holding up the injured gargantua. In the side of its vision it saw footage of the cannon armed imp from the drones the AI had tasked to keep track of the beast, and two additional cretins holding firm against the creature’s neck. And there? Behind the two injured mammals was the one armed coward, glaring at him.

As the mecha readied to rush back into combat, two feet slammed into its back from above, the cackling of a new creature echoing into its audio systems as the creature shoved it into the ground below. Almost immediately, the machine felt sharp objects jam into the joints of its boosters, before alerts clued it in that a corrosive poison had clogged the top two rocket boosters in place. A swipe of its tail sent the intruder rolling off its body, as drone footage revealed claws jammed into the joints of his rockets with a corrosive patch spreading over them.

Snarling in rage, the mecha turned to his new opponent, who was cackling with glee as it patted its warty hide.

Gabara laughed as he stared down at the machine before him. Venom dropped from his claws as he taunted the steel beast before him. He would take out the machine and prove himself the most useful and powerful of the spawn. Arms outstretched, the mutant toad cackled to the skies as he charged forth, ready to fight this enemy.

The machine dragon simply snarled, weaving low as it let loose a powerful uppercut on the warty beast, sending him flying into the air.

Pathetic. And yet these lowly creatures are the ones that keep tarnishing its body. Disgusting. But they’d be terminated sooner or later–not if, but when.

—

War waged in the distance, with Gegil keeping them safe first and foremost. But even so, Green Mask held onto doubt. Was there truly nothing he could do? Kappalge insisted they’d be fine. But wasn’t there more they could do…?

Even then, the gnawing doubt spread into the depths of his mind. He questioned himself again; why? If his progenitor could care less, then why was he hardwired to pursue a fight he wasn’t going to survive? Green Mask muttered his doubts, but a caw from Kappalge cut through the string of anxiety.

Did he not realize? They were hardwired to fight because the machine was a threat, nothing more. If their sole purpose was to fight, what would be their use after the menace was conquered? Kappalge’s inquiry struck a chord with Green Mask. How could he have held onto such a narrow-minded belief? How did Kappalge even come to that realization?

The magician asked. How?

And Kappalge responded. It was simple. The only one to define your path is you. It could be in service of others, it could be to the self. But the choice was yours to make.

Tsunojiras was never going to fulfill that aching desire. It is why ve is who ve is. Ve made that choice after they were molded into the world. Ve fought because everyone had a common enemy. But the choice was vis to make.

So then the bird rebuked vis compatriot. What was Green Mask going to decide?

At this time, the green-skinned goblin had no answer. But the euphoria from this seldom reflection connected the dots in his mind. Maybe he didn’t have the answer to his existentialism now, but to contribute to the battle–a spark ignited within him, albeit rather suddenly. Green Mask squawked at his bird ally. Thank you.

Propping up to his feet, Green Mask swung and jumped up to Gegil’s gigantic ear. He began relaying strategies and ideas to the arm-cannoned imp. The giant nodded in compliance. As Green Mask instructed their giant ally, Kappalge kept a keen eye out for any drones; any that got too close were shot down on sight.

Now, it was a matter of pushing his luck… and to put words to action.

—

There was no time to waste. Not when its efforts were this close. Heavy footfalls crunched against the tattered, war-torn environment as the relentless anti-Titan superweapon was on the move. It refused to let up, prioritizing the fresh meat that just entered the fray. A series of stomps and punches put the warty toad on the back foot, wailing on the green ogre with deliberate strikes. The pathetic creature shrieked and cried at every blow, but still maintained integrity regardless.

And fortunately for Gabara, he wasn’t alone.

From both sides, the sudden jump of the hominids pulled its wrathful machine hands back, mustering all their collective strength to hold the mechanical devil back. Gaira and Shilarji possessed incredible strength, but they couldn’t hold back Mechagodzilla forever. Overwhelmed by artificial power, the two hairy giants were thrashed by the full might of Mechagodzilla, ragdolled and dragged against the earth, hanging on for dear life. The ruthless tyrant finished the ordeal by slamming both of them together, channeling its fiery might in that last blow. In doing so, the machine was freed from their pathetic grasp.

But just as one set was temporarily beaten back, the return of another made his presence known. Lunging several poison-coated spears, Gabara’s nails lodged themselves into the chest of the mechanical devil, the oozing poison corroding the surrounding metal. Mechagodzilla swiftly swiped at the embedded nails, removing them before they could contaminate its systems further. Glowing crimson orbs glared at the mutant toad, who cackled with delight at the inflicted wound. With a handful of nails in its hands, Gabara began flinging them once more, this time all at once.

Mechagodzilla braced itself, but rather than the poisonous fluids of the previous batch, the scattered nails erupted into warped explosions upon contact, taking the machine aback. Gabara took advantage of this, rushing towards the distracted machine and tackled the massive mecha, burying his face into the forearm of the steel goliath. Teeth clamped into the mechanized exterior, actively consuming and stripping the titanium alloy that made up Mechagodzilla’s form. Among the many hidden compartments laced across Mechagodzilla’s body, a missile launcher peeked from the upper biceps, spurting missiles directly into the face of the warty behemoth. Pained shrills resounded from Gabara, sending the mutant freak off of him and casting him aside in favor of the machine’s prime target.

Redirecting its aim, Mechagodzilla glared at the one-armed Tsunojiras. The horned titan growled with animosity. This was not a favorable position; down an arm, and the rest of its spawn nearing death’s door. It was given no choice but to fight… But then something caught its eye. And no doubt it caught the machine’s attention as well, especially as the lumbering form of Gegil began rushing towards the towering titan of steel. Taking quick potshots, the cannon-armed giant launched an array of missile-strength blasts at the machine, somehow irritating the steel beast despite its stoic, unmoving demeanor. In spite of the range advantage Gegil possessed, the large imp continued to close the gap between them. Tsunojiras questioned the decision, his orange eyes scanning what on earth would force Gegil to move like that…

…Then he saw them on the shoulder. Green Mask and Kappalge hung in there, with the kappa protecting the goblin from the drones that buzzed around them. It seemed Green Mask found some kind of vigor. Was he finally going to be useful to the cause? He’d better. With a hefty snort, and hoping to capitalize on this sudden arrival, Tsunojiras began to paw at the ground…

The closer they got, the higher the anticipation became. The crimson light of Mechagodzilla began to glow anew, preparing its Proton Scream. But when Gegil came in range, they pointed their arm-cannon at the machine and fired. But rather than being the potshots he had been inflicting, Gegil shifted gears and fired a jagged beam of electricity. Too close to dodge, the electrical blast struck the neck of the metal creature, its crimson light dulling by the second. Next thing it knew, its internal circuits were malfunctioning. Instead of the boisterous, powerful roar, out came a distorted blur of rageful screams.

The damned imp disabled the Proton Scream!

But thankfully, that wasn’t the only tactic in its arsenal.

Missile compartments began to open up, gearing up for an onslaught like no other. Gegil knew they couldn’t avoid it; and if they couldn’t survive, neither would the tiny lives resting on their shoulder. They had to protect them. But this time, fate proved kind to the rainbow imp, as the sudden rush from Tsunojiras toppled the mechanical tyrant off its feet. Missiles launched from the ports, but now without direction, spiraling out of control. Gegil braced themself, unsure if they could avoid the chaos ensuing.

That was, until Green Mask stepped up to the plate.

Teleporting to the giant’s arm, the diminutive goblin placed his hands out, willing to bet it all. His cries reaffirmed what had to come next, what he had whispered to them earlier; and all this hinged on whether or not this crazy plan would work in his favor. A stray missile veered straight for them, and with the loudest shout he could, Green Mask insisted for Gegil to stay still…

Within mere millimeters away from his face, Green Mask’s hands glowed–and just as suddenly, the missile vanished into thin air! Be it from the fear of death or the amount of power it took, Green Mask fell to his knees in exhaustion. Kappalge rushed up the arm to meet vis compatriot, but Green Mask knew it wasn’t time to rest. But this proved his suspicion; while he couldn’t store supergiants like Gegil or the like, it seemed missile-sized objects were the largest things he could store consecutively. The problem was, he needed more–now.

Almost as if recognizing his wish, another stray missile began barreling towards them. At Green Mask’s instruction, Gegil turned to face the missile, only for it to quickly vanish amidst the magician’s magic pocket. For each stray, Green Mask was able to store them. By the end of it, the small goblin possessed seven missiles in his extradimensional space. With a chirp, the green goblin asked for one last request from their giant friend. He pointed at the foliage with a distinct imprint. Unlike some of the other pieces of their progenitor, the arm that had been dismembered had yet to grow.

And if they were going to win this fight, they needed to recruit more allies…

Gegil could hear the roars of anguish, and the cackling of the metal monstrosity. They watched as Gaira was knocked unconscious from a vicious blow to the head, only avoiding death by the swift actions of Shilarji. Missiles bombarded the brown furred friend as he covered Gaira’s body with his own. Gabara was still struggling to regain his wits from that strike to the head. Their master rushed in immediately, but with only one arm he wouldn’t last long. Looking down at their friends holding onto them, they let out a quiet murmur. They were needed here. Green Mask looked at the fight happening, at the damage being wrought and understood.

Placing down their friends, Gegil wished them luck on their mission, pausing briefly as Green Mask and Kappalge shouted up at him, wishing them luck on their mission as well. Thanking the two for their brief friendship, they turned back towards the battle. Their friends needed their help, and they would fight until they dropped to give them the time needed to complete their mission.

Tsunojiras pressed the assault, slashing at the mechanical goliath with his remaining hand. The brutal beast was just as relentless as the machine was, following up with a spray of toxic gas from his maw. Smoke corroded the metal of Mechagodzilla’s exterior, eating away at the metallic ‘flesh’. With its Proton Scream disabled, the mechanical menace launched its gripper claws at the bumpy-scaled dinosaur, pushing against the one-armed beast with all its autonomous prowess. Rocket boosters revved up, accelerating the force tenfold. Try as he might, Tsunojiras couldn’t keep a firm placement atop the downed foe, lurching off from the powerful thrust. As Tsunojiras fell and rolled over, Mechagodzilla rose to its feet.

With a distorted shriek, the apex of destruction boosted itself to close the gap, proceeding to stamp the downed reptile with an aggressive assault of plasma-charged stomps. The horned beast cried out in pain as his assailant continued its ruthless onslaught. But before Mechagodzilla could gain the satisfaction of prolonging its foe’s suffering, another electrical beam struck its dorsal fins, short-circuiting portions of its body. Though functional, Mechagodzilla knew full well what this entailed–and none of the consciousnesses within were happy about it.

A defiant cry rang from Gegil as the giant imp made their charge. Data collected from the drones indicated the hideous cretin had dropped off the smaller pests within the forest, with the kappa defending its goblin ally from any of the offensive drones raining bullets on them. Even earlier, the drones captured the sudden disappearance of some stray missiles… Was this the culprit? It remembered seeing them earlier, leading the charge only to be swept away by water… If this pest persisted, then it’d have to be exterminated sooner than later. But right now, there were more pressing matters at hand to deal with.

Shifting its deadly gaze, Mechagodzilla surged with tremendous power. Just because it couldn’t dispatch it with the Proton Scream didn’t mean there were other means of disposing such pathetic creatures. It just had to make this quick. A quick stomp to the three horned beasts head sent it into a restless sleep like all the others, as it rushed forth to meet this thing’s charge.

The imp fired successive potshots at the towering behemoth, each blast exploding against the metallic hide of the mighty foe. Every time Mechagodzilla got in close, Gegil barely avoided the wrathful, plasma-fueled punches that swung their way. But before the rainbow-colored giant could discharge another lightning beam, a sudden swing from the tail of the metal overlord tripped the imp off their feet, collapsing onto the ground.

In a matter of moments that dictated the line between life and death, Gegil rolled out of the path of the metallic feet that crushed the dirt beneath where they laid, each stomp more fervent and destructive than the last. A burst of plasma, debris, and shockwaves chased the rolling giant. If the imp stopped now, they’d meet certain death. So, they had to improvise. Halting for just a moment, Gegil aimed their cannon at the foot of the rampaging mecha, discharging an electric beam at the soles of its lifted foot. The blast short-circuited the foot, cutting off access from the plasma flames that endowed the rest of the body. Reeling back and distracted by this sudden tactic, this opened room for Gegil to leap up and resume a bipedal stance, armed and ready.

They began to unleash a barrage of concussive blasts against the stationary robot, each knocking the machine slowly backwards and casting sparks flying across its metal hide. Mechagodzilla forced energy to pulse through its arms as it did its best to block the oncoming explosive attacks, rage building within its animalistic mind as it roared out.

With one foot still unresponsive, Mechagodzilla took to rushing on all fours, its leg dragging behind as it lunged at the imp with death in its sinister eyes. The iridescent humanoid leapt into the air, flipping over the rampant machine as they quickly swung their blaster arm downward, firing upon the mech’s head and blasting it into the ground with a quick rapid fire. Upon landing, they were forced to rapidly block with their blaster, a fierce tail jab pushing them backwards. The spiraling tip drilled against their metal arm, sparks flying as they found themselves pushed back. Sparks of electricity crackled across the machine’s head before a pulse of azure flames washed over its systems, the crimson glow of its eyes growing brighter with hatred.

The mechanical dragon rocket forth once more, boosting forward as they rolled to the side, just inches from being grabbed by the saw tipped graspers. With their enemy’s rockets jammed, it could only make boosting movements in forward bursts. It could no longer do quick turns like it had in prior fights, and they could take advantage of this sudden weakness. Or take it away entirely to make this fight more fair for them all.

Gegil took aim, firing another beam of its paralyzing lightning. The cascading electricity shocked through the machine’s systems, flowing across the boosters and shutting them down as the false king crashed into the ground. Pulsing waves of azure flames attempted to counteract the electricity jamming their systems, doing little but act as a brief barricade as the metal titan got back to its feet. The boosters sputtered out as the mechanical being attempted to move forth. Suddenly, its leg had recovered, blue energy arcing across its circuitry once more. A soft, machine-like cackle resonated from the steel destroyer.

The imp grimaced at the unfolding situation. Not good. Their opponent was recovering from their blasts faster than anticipated. They glanced at their cannon. Maybe now, it was all or nothing. But in that quick moment, Mechagodzilla closed the gap.

Now or never.

With a thunderous strike, Mechagodzilla struck Gegil in the eye, sending the large headed creature spinning with flames bursting across their face. Just as it seemed the monster would fall, the iridescent shooter suddenly stomped hard onto the ground, catching themselves mid spin and twisted around to their knees to take aim. Mechagodzilla immediately lashed out, fists blazing as it readied to finish this insect.

A desperate gambit was all they had left in them, and they would not let it go to waste. With the last of their strength, Gegil unleashed all their power into a single overcharged blast. Their blaster ripped apart, shards of metal and electric sparks scattering as a powerful beam fired forth point blank into the aspirating flaming fist. An explosion of cascading fire and lightning tore between the two fighters, blasting both backwards as though they were trees in a hurricane. Gegil’s body caught flame as they skidded across the dirt, agony filling their limp body as they clutched tightly to their broken arm.

For a brief moment, Mechagodzilla had shut down from the electrical backlash as it skidded across the dirt and foliage, coming back online moments later. Shock and fear pulsed through its mind at the brief, but terrifying thought of being shut down with no way to recover. Alarms were blaring in its digital mind, damaged systems and circuitry slowly coming back online, with one exception. Lifting their arm, the machine stared down at the burnt and fractured stump where its hand had once been.

Crippled.

They had lost a limb in this fight! Rage surged through Mechagodzilla as it turned to glare at the burnt and beaten body of the beast who did this to him. Leaping into the air, the rage fueled mind of the golden destroyer could focus on nothing but ripping this insolent insect to pieces. Blue flames coursed through their limbs into the body of the beast as the machine ground the saws of its remaining fist into Gegil’s throat. The once rainbow colored monster simply smirked, laughing in the face of its death, knowing that even in death, their enemy would always remember them.

Clutching tightly with one foot clenched against their chest, Mechagodzilla pulled with all their mechanical strength, until finally something gave. Holding up the head of Gegil, Mechagodzilla roared out to the world before tossing it to the ground. Both head and body began to melt into primordial ooze before exploding.

The event processed through its systems, quickly circumventing the damage caused by the nuisance. Stiff, robotic gurgles resounded from the machine as it went under a full reboot. It was only a matter of moments before Mechagodzilla returned to partial functionality. Its thrusters were having trouble rebooting, but its Proton Scream was back in action. The other beasts had gotten up, preparing to circle and fight once more.

As the mechanical Titan roared out with its metallic rage, it heard the sounds of another explosion behind it. Turning its head, it watched as the once severed arm of the brutal beast had burst into chunks of goo like flesh, strewn about the locale. How useless it was to destroy an arm not attached to any threat, especially one belonging to the one who led you. The monster within turned to focus on his enemies once more, yet something else inside them continued to watch the fleshy blobs, casting drone footage into the sides of their vision. It watched as they began to shift and morph, slowly taking form.

“The final piece of this puzzle has been revealed at last,” a third mind spoke, catching the attention of Ghidorah and the AI. A couple drones split from their formation and turned to watch the shifting flesh as the mecha began to fight.

Drone footage revealed as the first of many blobs began to steam and take a humanoid shape, growing brown, shaggy fur along a bulky frame similar to the Green Gargantua they were currently fighting, roaring out in a similar manner. Others began to shift into their own beings, covered by hissing steam and smoke as they shifted into their new forms. This triggered a memory within the monster side of the machine. A memory of having been rebirthed many times in a similar manner. It was then that the mecha finally linked together how and why these monsters all seemed to serve Tsunojiras, and how the brutal beast seemingly had returned with a vengence.

It was through the formation of these smaller abominations that the various theories and ideas given by the “fragmented” mind finally clicked in the logical processes of their AI. It brought up the remaining files in the Tsunojiras entry, the folders marked “uncertified potential links”. Myths from around the world, speaking of creatures and spirits whose body birthed forth monsters and evil unto the world of man and those below.

The Indian Asura Raktabīja, whose blood, even a single drop, would form innumerable other Raktabīja to fight his battles upon hitting the ground and was only stopped by having his blood be collected in a bowl, and his spawn swallowed by a goddess. The Demonic Hmong God Nyong and the misshapen egg his wife bore, which, upon his unwillingness to burn the egg to ashes upon the words of his father, birthed evil spirits and demons who spread plague and death to the world of men below after eating their mother and escaping the heavens. Last but not least, legends of a demonic serpent, loyal only to the devil himself who led armies to war for hell. Many other myths and legends of creatures who could create new lifeforms from their very essence with similar appearances or powers revealed themselves in great similarity to the monster before them.

All these myths pointed out an ability Mechagodzilla had not thought an enemy to be capable of. The ability to birth a variety of monsters from their body, and be reborn to fight their battles once more. The power to create a loyal army filled with hatred at your enemy with little more than the flesh from your body. It was no wonder that the enemy they had torn apart had suddenly reappeared, and all these monstrosities were rushing out of the woodwork.

It was then that the formerly fragmented third mind within, the mind of Ren Serizawa, showcased the truth of their enemy to the other two. The creature they were fighting now wasn’t another of its species, but a reincarnation with all its prior memories born from the flesh of its progenitor, just as how Mothra inherited the memories of past lives through her own DNA. The rest of these beastly spawns ignored the calls of their Alpha status as they were genetically linked to obey Tsunojiras, with an inbuilt hatred of Them. Drone footage linked together by the ingenuity of the human mind augmented by his new cybernetic systems showcasing why all these creatures of varying shapes and species would work together so well against a foe they would never have met before.

It seemed that this creature was one of the hidden secrets of the Hollow Earth, and this ability was the reason the beast was similar in frequency to an alpha. Unlike true alphas who commanded other titans with no relations due to their sheer strength and willpower, Tsunojiras was the Alpha of the beings born of his own flesh and blood, and only those of his bloodline. But the scientist within also spoke to him, that this was not a natural occurrence that should be possible, which led to the idea of the now labeled Titanus Tsunojiras and his spawn being some ancient weapon, created by another unknown being. A mutated spawn of devilish origins unknown to man. Only the beast before him knew the truth of its origin.

With the monsters continuing to be formed and spreading around them, ready to fight to the death, The Trinity of Minds came to a realization. If they truly wished to destroy this beast and the rest of these lesser creatures, they would have to work together to fill out the others weaknesses and vulnerabilities within their minds. They would have to be united as one.

For Ghidorah, the task was one he had dealt with since he was born, having had two other personalities and minds watching his back, and him theirs together in one body. The AI knew it could follow this process and interject information and logical actions to the others, having been built for this very purpose, while taking control of the various drones deployed onto the field alongside linking the trio together. As for Ren Serizawa, he knew his mind could work to figure out weaknesses the others would not see, using the cruel intelligence of his humanity to assist in the fight.

A sense of peace and belonging filled the mind of the Ghidorah within their metal shell as he felt the other two connected to him in the machine’s systems. He no longer felt alone inside this metal body, for he once more had two others to share his joys, his victories, his thoughts. It, no, They felt complete, for the first time since they had killed the Kings of the Surface.

A Monster for Combat, a Human for Ingenuity, and an AI for Communication. A trinity of minds, working in tandem to destroy and subjugate all in their path.

—

When they had parted ways from Gegil, Green Mask had advanced into the deep neck of the woods. A desperate gamble to turn the tide of war in their favor–for everyone that had fallen in this merciless war. Their progenitor had lost their arm earlier in combat, and had yet to fully form into a new creature. While Green Mask saw glimpses of the past incarnations cycle in his mind, an intuitive thought occurred. The bumpy flesh that wrapped Tsunojiras was immune to the effects of these missiles… But the secret lay in the innards. Since they were all the same on the inside, then perhaps this insane plan of his was going to work.

Reaching just before the arm began manifesting, Green Mask unloaded the stored missiles from his pocket dimension. One by one, each blast ruptured the gooey innards of Tsunojiras’ arm, blasting it apart piece by piece. Chunks and fragments scattered across the battlefield, with the explosive blowback from the missiles pushing away Green Mask and Kappalge. Their tiny forms flew through the dense foliage, slamming against the tree trunks that withstood the intense explosions. Wind and heat washed over them as they clung for dear life. When the dust settled, Green Mask saw the soaring pieces fall into the forestry around them–it was only a matter of time if this plan worked or not…

They turned their attention to the leftovers of the large-scale piece, which began transforming into a new beast. Perhaps a giant that could use its strength to aid in their war. As the residual arm of Tsunojiras began to morph and contract, it suddenly expanded into a new monster. From the dark goop came a blue, hairy mass. A humanoid creature covered in blue and silver fur, each hand tipped with three-pronged claws and a sharp underbite. But most distinctly was its odd head and oblong nose, which covered its thick furry mustache. It remained slouched against the ground, content to sleep peacefully.

Green Mask echoed trills at the sleeping giant. But just as he did, its eyes shot open. Red veins clouded the piercing orange eyes of the sleepless giant, who roared in anger at his disturbed slumber. How dare this small cretin interrupt the sleep of Gejiruba! He raised his blue-haired claws, almost ready to swing it down at the goblin. But before he could bring it down, Gejiruba yawned, inhaling air through its hideous mouth. It wanted none of this. Instead of using its raised fist to kill, the blue giant instead stretched himself outward, shuffling in an effort to get to its feet. In a matter of moments, the tired hominid slumped off into the distance, dragging his drowsy self until he was far away from the ongoing chaos. Despite Green Mask’s pleas, they ultimately fell on deaf ears as Gejiruba traversed further and further away, eager to sit this one out.

The goblin sighed, disappointed. It proved short-lived as the chaos unfolded. His anxiety spiked, unsure if any of them were going to make it out alive… But even if they weren’t, then perhaps now was as much a time as any to let everything spill.

He felt unsure of himself. A poison that lingered, a doubt that gnawed at him. A grunt, a growl that held him back. You’re useless. But it was wrong! You’re useless! He… did something right, didn’t he…? You’re useless! They proved themselves! Useless! Green Mask shrieked in despair. Useless! USELESS! USELESS!

In a panicked sweat, Green Mask lurched back, letting all the pent up anxiety flow through their body. How was any of this madness supposed to work? How was their plan going to unfold? Was it all for naught? Why? WHY?

An assured hand clasped onto his shoulder. Kappalge squawked with the same, strong confidence ve always had. It wasn’t about satisfying the needs of others, ve reiterated. It was about asking yourself who you really are:

A slave to Tsunojiras’ will? Or someone you can be proud of?

Ve once again guided the troubled soul to the river. Ve squawked; look into it. See yourself for who you are.

And so Green Mask looked. Even as the destruction of all surrounded them, it was time to shed this mask… And find who Ze truly is.

Ze was Green Mask. And this was hir choice, hir declaration.

To move beyond the will of Tsunojiras, and fight for a cause worth fighting for. For the friends and allies that respected them for who ze is. To finally achieve the actualization of the self. Even if it meant nothing to the havoc-inducing world around them, it meant everything to hir. And that was all that mattered.

Kappalge nodded, pulling in vis beloved friend into a bear hug. Even the smallest of victories was something to celebrate about. Then almost just as suddenly, the flattened jungle around them sprang to life. A burst of smoke rose as the miracle of Tsunojiras’ flesh had achieved their own self-actualization.

It was now time to fight back. Even if ze could only watch, Green Mask was beginning to feel content with hirself. Why? Ze didn’t know. Maybe because for once, it wasn’t some base instinct driving hir decision, but rather something ze came to conclude all on their own.

And there was something to be proud of about that.

—

Mechagodzilla kicked away their enemy as their prey circled them once more, ready to jump and tackle their body into the ground in an attempt to destroy them. Signals triggered and pulsed within their eyes as they roared into the sky, releasing their alpha call promising subjugation over this world. A call that was not only monstrous in nature, but also very Human. The combined roars of Ghidorah, the AI, and Ren Serizawa synthesized together into a terrifying mechanical screech of conquest and destruction.

The others felt it within their souls, the chilling call of the steel predator before them. What was once distorted and incomplete, was now augmented into a threatening and fear inducing melody of war. The one third alpha frequency of King Ghidorah, patched up and augmented by the growing artificial intelligence was now combined with Serizawa’s own alpha signature of humanity, restoring and amplifying their call beyond its past restraints. A true majesty of terror.

And as such, they garnered a response from the titans of the world around them. One not unwelcome in the circumstances.

Things would go awry if action wasn’t taken. Ren had detected the rumblings of life beyond the battlefield. More importantly, new spawn were being produced. The odds were being stacked against the mechanized conglomerate that unified their minds if they didn’t dispose of them quickly. And like all great thinkers, it was always wise to have a contingency in place… And it was then Mechagodzilla unleashed a booming, artificial roar. Drones launched and gathered in the air above as the AI took control, set on monitoring the surroundings and annihilating anything it could.

With all systems green and a new improved mindset, the mechanical king of the monsters rushed forth. The green one moved next, swinging its borrowed weapon with wild rage as the silver faced one did the same. Twisting their body around, he caught the chains of the flails onto his tail spikes, and swung as hard as he could. The duo were torn off their feet, directly into the path of the mecha’s outstretched fist. Blazing blue flames burst across the face of Shilarji as he made impact with the green gargantua. Their bodies went soaring as the resulting pulse of energy knocked them both to the ground.

Shilarji bounced off the earth from the blow, directly into a kick to the side from the destroyer which knocked the breath out of him. Gaira stumbled to get his wits about him only to receive a foot to the face, slowly crushing him into the dirt as he punched away at the leg holding him down.

The sounds of a mad cackle alerted the AI to the oncoming danger, quickly finding Gabara approaching from the side with Tsunojiras on the other. Pushing down hard on Gaira’s face, the machine leapt high into the air, twisting as they fired off a blast of their Proton Scream. Crimson energy tore into the landscape in a spiral, sending dirt and debris flying into the air. As the toad and reptile rushed through the dust, ready to strike, they quickly found themselves ambushed from above as the serrated blades of Mechagodzilla’s tail slashed across their bodies, followed rapidly with a flaming metal fist to Tsunojiras’s head. Missile pods twisted and fired upon Gabara at point blank range, cascading him in burning flames causing the monster to backpedal in surprise.

Waving his arms in an attempt to clear the smoke and fire did little to help, as did the surprise tail swipe slamming into his gut sending him sprawling across the ground in pain. The Mecha stomped down on his chest, pressing hard against him. Poison dripped from his claws as he attempted to stab the leg, only to receive another barrage of missiles against his upper body. The tail of the mechanical monster lashed out suddenly into the air, stabbing the green gargantua in the chest and drilling through his flesh, hanging him in the air clutching tightly to the metal limb.

“Foolish beast thought he could catch us off guard? Think again, you seaweed ridden simpleton,” Serizawa spoke as he swung their tail forth, dragging the impaled gargantua to the front of their body, scratching and pounding against their tail. “He’s all yours, Ghidorah.”

The monstrous mind felt some glee at this proposition, slamming Gabara’s face into the ground as they turned to face the struggling humanoid. Energy built up in their maw, staring the green monster in the eyes to watch as life faded from the beast. Gaira roared out against his foe in rage. If this was how he was to die, he would not go calm, but proud and rageful like all his kin before him.

An alert sent from the AI was sent to Serizawa, catching on quickly to the message and acting. Missile launchers twisted as Serizawa took control of them, directing a barrage into a seemingly empty portion of dust, a smile growing on his mental face as the silhouette of Shilarji lit up in flames, crashing to the ground in pain. The brown monkey crawled in pain towards the two, fear in his face as he saw the fate of his friend.

The skull faced monster roared out in fear as crimson light blasted forth into the face of his only friend. Scorching flesh and bone scattered into the surroundings as the beam pierced through the gargantua’s head, splattering the earth. Swinging their tail violently to the side, they dislodged Gaira from their tail and into the crawling body of Shilarji, sending the two rolling backwards. Tears streamed down his silver face as he placed a hand onto the headless body of Gaira. Missiles bombarded the two of them, causing Shilarji to cover his face as the body of his friend self-destructed, knocking him backwards away from the conflict with scorched fur. As the missiles burst against his body, Shilarji had but a single thought left in his mind. That silver demon would pay for this! He would die for this!

While one mind bombarded their enemies, another had gripped Gabara by the throat, lifting the mutant into the air and slamming him back into the dirt repeatedly. Gabara could barely think as his head collided with the earth repeatedly, stuck in a daze and unable to escape his predicament. He attempted to call for help, only to have his face shoved into the dirt. His mind blanked out, his vision turning black, all he could feel was pain with each strike, until suddenly, it stopped.

Slowly pushing his body up, he tried to search for the mechanical monster, weakly twisting his body into a sitting position. A small distance away, he could see his master clawing and slashing away at the metal hide of their enemy, creating mere sparks with each swipe of his arm as the machine seemed to laugh in his face. He could see the brown one, covered in smoking pits with rage in his eyes, yet too tired to get up and fight. The one with the blaster had died, as had the green one. He wasn’t sure if they could defeat this thing as they were now. Already the mechanical menace had knocked his master to the ground, pummeling him relentlessly. With his mind somewhat confused and his footing unsteady, Gabara hatched a plan. He would buy them time to grow, to become strong enough to defeat this abomination. Even if it cost him a life of exile to do so.

A steady hand helped him up, two freshly born spawns holding him by the shoulder as they stared into their new friends eyes. Gabara grunted in thanks, asking them for their assistance in hopefully ending this battle, no matter how briefly it lasted. And with two grunts of approval, Gabara told them his plan.

Blow after blow slammed into the face of Tsunojiras as Mechagodzilla relentlessly swung. Horns began to crack as pulses of blue flames coursed through him with each strike. The Serpent of the Devil could feel his mind slipping away as more and more punches sent pulses of energy coursing through his brain. If this didn’t stop soon, he would be gone, and would need to hope the next incarnation would finish what he continued.

As another blazing fist swung downwards towards the face of the destroyer, the sound of a spinning object caught his attention. Missiles twisted and fired into the distance, bursting in the sky as they collided with some other object, yet the noise continued. Through the smokescreen of the missile barrage came two spinning tops, which slammed into the head and body of Mechagodzilla, knocking them off the one armed tyrant. The confused and dazed Tsunojiras didn’t know what exactly was happening, but was happy all the same that the punches had stopped.

With a loud roar, a green and red creature with a massive heart shaped head with a silver cracked disk in the center strutted forth. Crossing his arms into an X formation, the freshly born spawn known as Valingar roared out, multiple spinning tops flying out of the crack at the top of his head. Each top began to soar through the sky like flying saucers, circling Mechagodzilla and flying in at random intervals to attack the machine.

“They can make drones as well?” Serizawa shouted as he launched a missile barrage at the top-themed spawn of Tsunojiras. Valingar did little in the face of the barrage, standing still as his drones continued to assault the mecha. He had little to fear after all.

Within moments of the missiles splitting, a second newcomer rushed into the path of the missiles. It appeared similar to that of Gaira, but with sandy fur like Shilarji, and this was no coincidence, for the Gargantua known as Sanda roared out with glee. With rapid movements, he snatched each missile out of the air, piling them up on his arms. The sandy haired beast then began to toss them into his open mouth like popcorn, chewing and devouring each missile like they were tasty candies instead of explosive ordinance.

The gargantua then burped, a cloud of pink smoke billowing from his mouth towards Mechagodzilla, covering the mechanical monstrosity with noxious fumes. The smog began to clog up the mech’s more vulnerable joints, making moving some parts more of a struggle than others.

Mechagodzilla swung wildly, trying to knock the tops out of the sky as they continued to strike at them from many angles. Already, the AI had marked nearly twelve of the spinning drones circling above and below them. Missile pods attempted to spin, only to creak as the pink mist gunked up their joints as another top swung down from above, smacking into the back of the machine’s head.

A quick swing of the tail knocked one top out of the sky, preventing it from striking them in the side. However, as the deflected top was knocked away, a second top flew in, striking the first in the side and into the path of a third, enhancing the first top’s spin and bouncing it from below into the body of Mechagodzilla like a punch to the gut. Two more tops joined it, managing to actually lift the mechanical dragon into the air momentarily.

Before the machine could act, Sanda had already struck, body slamming the machine into the ground and grappling with it. The titan of steel opened their maw, preparing to blast the gargantua with their Proton Scream when another top slammed into their face, sending the beam scattering into the distance. Missiles burst free from the machine, targeting the tops circling around them and blasting many, but still some emerged from the missile fire, smacking into the machine at high speed.

Valingar was sweating as he struggled to maintain his control over his tops. It was taking all his concentration to keep the dozen or so tops continuously moving and striking at their enemy, but the strain of manipulating so many drones was wearing on his mind. He watched as Sanda punched and grappled with the machine, doing his best to assist with his tops where he could to allow the hairy beasty to avoid anything too damaging, like that energy beam. But he was starting to tire. Worse, he watched as the drones of the machine began to act, chasing after his tops and firing upon them with a rain of bullets to knock them off course.

A stray missile flew past his barrage, a top just barely missing due to a drone crashing into it, allowing the explosive to strike him in the gut. Valingar keeled over, his tops briefly falling out of his control due to the pain before he yanked them back into order. He didn’t know how much longer he could keep producing and controlling his tops to keep the machine at bay. Bullets shot into his back, feeling like pricks of needles against his giant hide. While not damaging, they were irritating to his concentration. With a shout, he told Gabara that it was now or never, as several more of his tops were destroyed by a secondary missile barrage.

With the irritation decreased, Mechagodzilla could focus on the furry Bigfoot grappling his arms. The hairy beast let loose another belch of pink smog into his face, which he met in turn by head butting the shaggy creature directly in the face. Dazed, Sanda attempted to swing his fist at the mechanical dinosaur, only for Mechagodzilla to grab onto his fist and yank him upward. High he soared over the machine before slamming back first into the ground. Eyes glowing red and their beam charging up, they readied to end this pathetic insect here and now.

The rattling of bones was their only warning as the spiked ball of Shilarji’s flail smashed into their skull. Rapidly they found themselves under heavy assault. Various tops slammed into them from many different angles, while the heavy hitting Shilarji continued whaling away with his weapon, striking heavy blows against their sides. Missile launchers fired, but were rapidly countered by the quick handed Sanda, munching down on the explosives and belching another cloud of noxious fumes at the mecha.

The machine could do little to counter. A swing of their fist was met by a kick from Sanda, while an attempt to bite or fire the proton scream was rapidly shut down by a strike from the flail or an errant top drone spinning into their face. Sanda and Shilarji unleashed their rage against the machine, punching and swinging at any area they could.

An alert signaled in their minds.

All systems functional.

The crimson glow of their mechanical eyes intensified as with a loud bang, their boosters activated. The machine burst forward with an intense burst of speed, knocking both hairy apes to the ground. Twisting their body, they used their tail to swat away several oncoming tops as missiles fired in every direction. Explosions erupted against the land, cascading fire and ash flying as most of the tops were shattered in the ensuing destruction.

Another shot towards them, only to be grabbed in their hand and crushed like a toy. Sanda swung from his downed position, attempting to uppercut the machine only to receive a flaming punch by the stump of their arm. Lifting up a foot, they stomped hard on Shilarji’s leg, causing a swing from his flail to miss their body. The monster within began to charge up the Proton Scream once more, lifting Shilarji up by the throat. Finally, he could kill these beasts without interruption.

And yet, it seemed fate was on the Devil’s side, as a sudden burst of poison smog splattered against their stern. The corrosion ate the metal, which in turn began to gnaw away at the boosters inside their back compartment. With its mouth gears grinding without remorse, Mechagodzilla prepared to turn and face down Tsunojiras, even if it destroyed them to do so. Then, just as suddenly, Tsunojiras backed away.

The mecha was stunned. What was it?

The source revealed itself as a manic cackle roared through the air. Clogged launchers failed to pivot towards the oncoming threat which they detected as that toxic bipedal toad. Mechagodzilla turned to blast the approaching toad mutant with its Proton Scream, only to reel back in surprise as the beast’s mouth seemed to encompass his entire vision.

Gabara grabbed hold of Mechagodzilla, ripping him away from his fellow spawn and bit down, swallowing the machine whole in a single gulp. Patting his belly, Gabara laughed at his successfully enacted plan, nearly stumbling over his own feet in a daze. Holding out a hand, he helped his fellow spawns to their feet, grinning in victory as his master seemed pleased with him. Tsunojiras stared at the mutant toad and nodded with a backhanded grunt. All things considered, it was exceptional to gain Tsunojiras’ high praise.

Sanda and Valingar roared out in glee, as the injured Shilarji watched on with a smile from where he stood. He wasn’t certain how long he could hold the machine for, or if perhaps his stomach would crush and destroy the machine. But a win was a win!

—

Even if there was nothing they could do, they could only watch in hope and belief as the tides turned in their favor. Valingar and Sanda brought the help, and their brother Gabara managed to encase the mechanical menace within his stomach. In doing so, the drones that littered the forests of the Hollow Earth began to spiral out of control, losing their functionality. By stopping the tyrant mecha, they had incidentally brought peace back to the land.

Green Mask sighed in relief, and Kappalge cheered. This was their victory! Their battle won! Even so, Green Mask mourned the loss of hir fallen comrades. Melancholy washed over hir, wishing for a chance to know them better. Who they are will be lost, only stored in memories of a time past.

They didn’t deserve such deaths.

As everyone congratulated Gabara, ze could only look up at hir progenitor. There was a score to settle, something ze had to come to grips with. But before ze could confront Tsunojiras, ze heard something.

A pulse. But from where?

Ze began squawking, trying to get the attention of their giant brethren. But their clamors of sweet victory drowned out hir warning. When Kappalge realized what ze needed, the kappa began to expand gum like never before. Vis bubble expanded until it was nearly as large as ve was, Then, ve fired, spurting through the air until it reached within the range of their heads. It suddenly popped, startling the giants and forcing them to glare down at their tiny brethren.

Kappalge pointed to Green Mask, who in turn screeched as ze pointed at Gabara. At first, they almost dismissed hir claims, until they heard it. A thrumming heartbeat, for the lack of a better term. Originating from Gabara’s belly, where the devil machine was stored away at. But just what was it? A cry, a signal for… help? From a lethal machine such as itself?

Tsunojiras vented an order to Gabara. Find a volcanic vent and dispose of the machine, no matter the cost. Green Mask glared at the callous commands of hir progenitor, even if there was truth to it. But no matter hir personal feelings, it became very apparent that, although they had won the battle, this war was far from over.

The soil began to tremble, rocking the foundation of the earth they stood on. Then the dirt of the Hollows began to shift, it became apparent that the Titan-slaying machine had brought its own reinforcements. Skull-capped lizards began to rampage through the foliage, leveling the once beautiful trees that stood in their midst.

Their hideous visage took the spawn-creatures aback. Green Mask was unsure if they could outpace these hellbeasts. Their sizes varied, with the larger ones zooming past them and towards their giant allies. But the smaller ones–the scouts that scurried the flattened woods–had their sights set. With little time to spare, Green Mask grabbed hold of Kappalge and used hir magical prowess to teleport out of sight. Such a sight took the slimy cretin by surprise, but in reality Green Mask knew its range was limited; ze just prayed they wouldn’t be able to locate them.

The skull lizard stumbled around, confused, sniffing the ground where they had once been. But the higher call that drew it here demanded its attention. Releasing a breath of relief, the two spawnmates nodded at each other.

Get out of here, find who they can, and book it.

—

They began to hear multitudes of growling and snarling from their surroundings. Skulls began to rise from the earth and approach from the forests, tongues flicking out as many two legged reptiles of varying sizes began to circle and snarl at them. The rest of the spawn got to their feet quickly, rushing over to their master in a protective circle as more and more skulls began to show themselves. The lizards roared out, tasting the fear and blood in the air.

The Skullcrawlers had arrived, and they were starving for a meal. Most of them immediately honed in on Gabara, the signal calling them faintly echoing from within the toad. A smack to the head told him to follow his master’s orders, or else. He moved away from his master and friends slowly, watching as the bipedal horde followed his movements closely.

He could see the molten lands in the distance. If he could make it there, it was possible he could cause many of the two legged reptiles to die from the heat of the steam and lava. And if he fell in battle, dump the remains of the mechanical terror into its molten depths. He would need to act fast. A quick grunt told the others of his plan, as the venomous toad took in a deep breath, steadying himself for his journey.

As one, the serpents of gluttony charged forth like a sea of monsters, and with a powerful leap over their masses, Gabara of the Devil’s Army began to flee. He would buy them as much time as he could, as hundreds of serpentine devils followed closely behind.

This was his duty to undertake. This was his prime directive.

—

Mechagodzilla’s minds began to panic at the ungodly and impossible event happening before their very eyes. They were being EATEN ALIVE! By a creature barely taller than themselves, and nowhere near as fat! How was this happening!? The tight space of the esophagus they were sliding down was slimy and disgusting to all three of their minds.

Ghidorah was enraged that such an occurrence could happen at all! Not even Godzilla could eat an entire monster in a single bite! And he knew, because he could remember many times where that damned radiation spewing reptile had ripped him off his body with those jaws, and not once had he ever eaten an entire head whole, instead preferring to burn them inside out.

The AI was suffering from logical failures at the very occurrence happening, unable to process what exactly had just happened as fact. Its processors were stalling as it attempted to find any logic in this event while struggling to monitor and control the drones outside this predicament. The few that were still connected followed and monitored the now mobile toad running away from the Skullcrawlers, while the rest were on mission to hunt down the minions.

As for Serizawa, while he was shocked and confused at what the hell just happened, he was on a mission. They would not fall like this. Already Serizawa could detect dozens, if not hundreds of signatures spreading across his Titan frequency radar racing toward their location. This wasn’t just any Titan he was detecting, but one he was quite familiar with during his time at Apex. Something he could and would use to their advantage.

All he had to do was tweak some frequencies just right and activate the ORCA-Z. He dove deep into the depths of his research files for exactly what he needed, latching onto the frequency of his favorite test subjects and pouring power and rage into it. After all, what better to take on an Army of Beasts, than an army of his own? And so he let loose the frequency needed to cause a massacre. Though their rampage was halted, their rage would continue to burn.

May they all be devoured by his children of gluttony.

Winner: Tsunojiras (Universal)

Author: Joshua Strittmatter | Banner: Andrew Sudomerski

A low, chittering rumble quaked from the jaws of the male MUTO as he stepped into the once still waters of Berg Lake at Mt. Robson Provincial Park, causing the biological mirror to ripple across the surface. Clouds of frozen vapor wisped from his jaws on contact with the cold autumn air as he waded through the waters, letting the cold water ignite the nerves in his limbs as he walked. The sun was beginning its course to set, daytime was turning to afternoon, and the already frigid air was about to turn even colder.

But this did nothing to deter the MUTO. His species could thrive anywhere- their great evolutionary strength was their environmental adaptability.

The male continued his walk; every time his scythed limbs impacted the lake floor caused fish great and small to jump out of the water before falling back in. Not very far away, the lacerated corpse of Methuselah lay near the edge of the lake, a crimson glow radiating from within the broken hole in his chest. That crimson glow belonged to none other than his offspring, all neatly deposited within the radioactive carcass to gestate on the scrumptious nuclear energy. The cold water dripping off his limbs as he stepped onto land with a quake, the MUTO trudged over to the corpse of the slain Titan and lowered his head to peek into the shattered ribcage for a better look.

Within the dozens of eggs that his mate had laid, underdeveloped embryos lay curled in the fetal position inside their protective jelly, their strength steadily growing and their recognizable shape of the species ever so slowly forging to perfection. It would be quite a long time before they were developed enough to hatch and begin moving, but even from within their eggs the young were already letting out a series of audible, dolphin-like chirps and chatters. Communicating with each other, and all those around them in the outside world.

The male croaked to them. At once, all of them chittered right back.

A fair distance away, the massive female MUTO watched fondly as her mate communicated with their unborn offspring for a moment, then eventually resumed his walk. While the male patrolled their territory, the female stood still in her vigilance. The biological visor that acted as her eyes never left her mate nor her unborn offspring- if there were any threats in the vicinity, they would not be going by unnoticed.

Unfortunately for them, some didn’t want to go by undetected to begin with.

A thunderous croak made both MUTOs snap their heads up in both alarm and recognition- especially the female. Primordial instincts flared to life and she galloped over to the middle of the lake, grunting for the male to get behind her. The language and intent of that call was clear to her- that was a courtship call if she ever heard one, and one from what sounded like an unusually big specimen.

The male backed away towards Methuselah’s corpse as the female barked loudly, demanding the unseen intruder to leave this place at once. No sooner did her angry voice finish echoing through the canyons did the intruder show itself from behind the mountains. The female could not show facial expression, but the abnormally bright glow of her visor sufficed perfectly for a savage glare as she faced the newcomer. It was another MUTO, sure enough, but this individual was different. She was even larger than the female she faced, with massive trunk-like arms adorned in shining orange scales. Pointed spires towered behind her head; oversized claws walked on their knuckles in a gorilla-like fashion; and two spider-like mandibles clattered beneath her jaw.

MUTO Prime grumbled a deep thunder as she stepped into the lake, her visor brightening the moment she saw the female. Then, she let her gaze wander for a second- and stopped when she spotted two things that grabbed her attention. One was what she was searching for: a male MUTO. Although her method of reproduction was different to that of the standard members of her species, it still required fertilization from another before the spores were viable. However, what lay beside him began to spur dark thoughts through her prehistoric mind. The unmistakable glow of a batch of MUTO eggs. This male and female had reproduced! As long as this female and their unborn offspring were around, the male would not be receptive to her advances. She couldn’t produce her own young to thus birth a generation carrying her genes.

And that only left one option in her mind. Destroy the eggs!

But as she moved forward, the female stepped in her path, growling like an enraged elephant. MUTO Prime bellowed angrily. This smaller beast thought she could stand up to her? Did she have any idea what kind of stunt she was pulling?! It was one thing to challenge a rival of the same subspecies- it was quite another to challenge the apex of the race! Had this female lost her sanity?

The truth was, the female MUTO did know what kind of move she was making- and she didn’t care. She didn’t care that her rival was the parent superspecies to her race, didn’t care that this armored goliath was essentially the queen of their species. This knuckle-walking brute couldn’t just waltz into her home uninvited and destroy everything she and her mate had worked so hard to create while replacing it with her own work. She would not allow it. Size did not matter to the female MUTO. This abomination was an alpha species- and with that came the notion that she was too used to being top dog. Too used to getting her way.

The female MUTO was gonna put an end to that notion one way or another. She was gonna teach this prideful parasite a lesson. Should this oversized giant get anywhere near her mate or offspring, and she would tear her apart. Behind her, the male crouched low over the nest with wings spread, chittering a low warning as he waited for the outcome of his mate’s current stand-off.

MUTO Prime roared a second time, telling the female to get out of her way. But the female only screamed into her face, refusing to budge. The motion actually startled the larger MUTO, who took a step back. The female roared, demanding that the intruder leave this place at once. She wasn’t bluffing, and this was her last warning. But the larger Kaiju only pawed the water and growled her refusal. The female held her ground as she got into a combat stance, the stress setting in. Without looking back the she chirped softly to the male, telling him to stay where he was, causing him to crouch lower in response with a nervous chitter. In that moment, it was all too clear the outcome of the situation; nobody was gonna be backing down now.

This was going to get ugly.

MUTO Prime boomed a powerful roar, backing up for a charge. The female MUTO’s howling reply echoed throughout the mountains, rattling snow and sending any rodents, amphibians, and reptiles who had emerged scurrying back into their burrows. Ripping her scythed limbs through the water in a threatening motion, the MUTO showed zero fear in the face of what was supposedly an apex superspecies as she too backed up.

The sun’s light half hid behind a coming cloud, thus casting the lake in an eerie, almost otherworldly glow as the two titans finally charged like oversized rams. When they met in a collision strong enough to shatter canyons and shake the very earth, at first it seemed like MUTO Prime would obviously shove her way out. Muscling against the female MUTO, the larger monster seemed soon to topple the former family matriarch off her feet; but in her belief in pure physical might, she underestimated her foe. This was a determined mother. In a display that would’ve shocked Monarch to their core had they been present to witness the battle, the female MUTO began to push back and overpower her larger rival.

The female threw her entire upper body upwards, forcing the larger Titan up onto her hind legs. And then, unable to stay balanced, MUTO Prime fell onto her back with a colossal THUD! The MUTO rushed towards her downed opponent, but without consideration that said opponent could still attack. Before she could lunge for the kill, she caught a brief glimpse of MUTO Prime’s right claw headed straight for her face.

The next second, she felt a molten pain consume her head as she felt herself flying across the battlefield, before a new hurt devoured her skin as she crashed into the earth and dragged a massive trench of rock and dirt along with her. The instinct to protect her family immediately began to wage its own war with her pain, and the female began to summon the strength to get back on her feet. She could hear her rival’s roar of approval as she shook her head, the sound serving as a tremendous motivator to get up and running. Stabbing her scythes into the earth, the MUTO pushed back to her full height just as she felt the earth begin to rumble with unmistakable footfalls. The male MUTO cried out in distress for his injured mate.

MUTO Prime was charging.

The female’s instincts kicking back into gear, she thought fast and broke into her own sprint. Even with a painful headache, she could still make out MUTO Prime’s approaching shape- but she had a different strategy this time. As the orange-armed abomination was right on top of her, the female quickly ducked straight under and allowed the bigger monster to pass right on top of her. The larger MUTO realized her mistake too late as the female jerked upward, sending MUTO Prime flying over her head and crashing behind her.

The Unclean Thing flailed her massive arms as she attempted to right herself, screaming how she would butcher her foe and destroy her offspring. Had she been speaking or thinking in words, what her opponent did next would’ve made her eat them right quick. Lunging like a hunting dog, the female MUTO clamped her jaws around her enemy’s hind leg before proceeding to drag her screaming across the lake. MUTO Prime wailed in distress and thrashed, but in vain. There was no escape from the wrath of the angry mother; the female shook her head, digging her hooked jaws deeper into the bony leg with every yank.

MUTO Prime’s struggles grew painful to the point where she felt her leg was going to be torn off at any moment. She had no other option- she knew what had to be done.

As the female MUTO pulled and tugged, ripping great trenches along the edges of the mountains, MUTO Prime held her head steady as she aimed it at her adversary. Reddish electricity began to spark and sizzle around her eyes, catching the female MUTO’s attention. Before she could get an idea of what that meant, MUTO Prime’s jaws suddenly snapped open and a great wave of pure concussive sound roared from her mouth. The female MUTO immediately relinquished her grasp to wail like a tormented soul as the sonic roar ravaged her body like nothing had ever in her life, cracking skin and bone alike and carving bloody scars all across her monolithic form. Unable to stay standing in one place, the female backed away as MUTO Prime climbed to her feet while continuing to roar, not stopping until she ran out of breath.

But even through the haze of agony that devoured her senses, the female MUTO reacted upon instinct. For she had not lost the will to fight back- the state of motherhood had given her near-supernatural levels of tenacity and relentlessness. A devastating attack, her opponent possessed indeed… but the female had a counter.

Pushing herself to her full height through the sound waves that rippled through her body, the female MUTO bellowed in the face of defeat as she raised her claw, which had begun to glow a bright red that mirrored the eyes of her enemy. The Dragon Beetle would’ve narrowed her eyes in confusion had it been possible, but nonetheless continued to roar.

She was entirely unprepared for what came next.

The female MUTO roared and slammed her claw into the earth, and a powerful electromagnetic pulse burst from the scythed appendage to spread across the land for a total radius of five miles. The moment the pulse washed over MUTO Prime, her sonic roar suddenly stopped. Her eyes couldn’t widen, but the quick gasp she emitted as she jolted told her shock well enough. The Unclean Thing tried to summon her sonic roar again, but all she managed were a few measly sparks around her eyes before releasing a weak gurgle, the energy having all but drained from her.

A cold chill went down her spine.

Her elephantine skin was so covered in blood that her grisly scars couldn’t be seen, but the female MUTO sure as hell felt them. But it mattered not- her primeval mind had snapped back to full reality, and her already heightened aggression combed with the sheer agony lacing her being soon gave way to clouding her mind with a fog of vengeance.

She charged.

MUTO Prime didn’t have time to react as she was steamrolled by her smaller rival. How could everything have suddenly gone so wrong? She had pulled out her trump card, had put her enemy on the ropes! This fight should’ve been over right now, the eggs should’ve been destroyed and the male hers for the taking! And yet she found herself lain upon the earth, pierced again and again by the claws of her enemy, continuously trampled beneath the heel of the foe she considered inferior. Even her great armor did nothing to stop the blood-spurting trenches the MUTO’s scythes ripped through her body.

MUTO Prime shrilled miserably under the claws of the female MUTO, who screamed infuriatedly as she vented her rage on her offspring’s wannabe attacker. At this point, only one instinct overtook her primeval mind- survival. Every wound she suffered for every second decreased the chances of that happening. There was nothing else to be done- she had to get out of here. She had suffered enough injury as it was, and already her wounds were serious. If she tried to continue fighting, it was unlikely she’d survive the night.

And the female MUTO wasn’t showing any mercy.

MUTO Prime lashed out with a fist just as the female threw another claw down to pierce her bronze hide, temporarily stunning the eight-legged beast. This was it- this was her chance. With a powerful fear greater than any she had ever felt in her life, MUTO Prime clambered to her feet and began to run as fast as she could. Not even passing a glance at the male or Methuselah’s egg-laden corpse, the once unbeatable predator was now fleeing for her life as the female quickly recovered and galloped after her, hot on her trail like a blood-soaked missile.

The female knew Prime was fleeing. She knew that she had already won the fight. But that didn’t mean she was finished dealing her punishment just yet. She still had more to say on the matter.

Catching up to the knuckle-walking beast, the female MUTO snagged MUTO Prime by the neck with her hooked jaws. As the parent superspecies wailed in pain, the female used all of her strength to turn the larger monster about and, with one hard thrust forward, throw her clear through the entrance she had come through in the first place. Slung onto her back a good two hundred meters away, Prime groaned as she rolled over back onto her stomach. For a minute she considered resting, to recover enough strength to get to her feet painlessly- a plan that was quickly put to an end when the female MUTO loosed an angry roar followed by a warning charge. MUTO Prime did her best to ignore the agony she was in as she ran. She didn’t dare look back, she just kept running. Even when she knew that she was far beyond the reach of her opponent, the female MUTO’s last fading roar spurred her to keep going like her life depended on it.

The female MUTO reared up on her hind legs as she howled in triumph, warning the defeated fool to stay out. Then, bringing herself back to the ground, the bloodied colossus sighed in exhaustion as she turned about face, slowly lumbering back to the nest. The male chirped in relief as he flapped over to his mate, where she leaned down to nuzzle him. Her partner, and her brood, were safe.

It had never been a greater day to be an underdog.

*****

A week had passed since the colossal skirmish.

The female MUTO sighed contently as she looked over the alpine landscape that comprised of her and her mate’s territory. Her eye-like visor pulsed with radioactive bioluminescence as she scoured her home, her tongue clicking every now and then as she tested her echolocation, trying to locate as many organisms in the vicinity as possible, threat or otherwise. The cracks and scars that adorned her elephantine flesh added to her already imposing physique, and while they occasionally ached every now and then they did nothing to slow her movements down.

There had been no sign of MUTO Prime for seven days, and the MUTOs couldn’t have been happier about it.

The female yawned as she began her descent down the slope, back down to the lake where her mate and brood resided. Her shift was over, and now the male was preparing to take flight. Their species could go quite a while without food, but nonetheless it would certainly increase their chances of survival and success if he found and brought back a source of radiation for them to snack on. The female grumbled softly to her mate, who chittered back in reply. Then, unfurling his wings like a cape, the male flapped and lifted off the ground. The female watched as her mate rose higher into the air, before then gaining velocity and soaring out over the mountains. The eight-legged beast turned back to her unhatched brood. It was time for another several hours of guard duty.

At least, that’s what she wished was gonna happen.

A familiar howl echoed through the winds like the cry of a wolf, causing the female’s visor to light up considerably. Her scythed limbs dug into the ground as she rose, a low growl resounding from her gut. For a moment she felt her anger flare, her blood beginning to heat as she waited for this potential challenger to call again… and sure enough, it did.

Her reaction this time, however, was different. For one thing, the call was not from the rival who had given her body its scars. This call she was familiar with as well, and rather than fuel a need for conflict it instead peaked her interest. It was the cry of another female MUTO- and she was in distress.

*****

Large wisps of breathly vapor fogged from the jaws of the injured MUTO as she panted painfully. Her muscles throbbed; her limbs shook so badly that she could barely stand. Fresh, horrific burns were etched into her pitch-black skin, crimson embers still flaking off the horrendous injuries. The barbed female groaned in agony as she took a shaky step forward, limping as strongly as her sore muscles would allow. However, when a contraction suddenly coursed through her lower abdomen, she instantly dropped to the ground with a roar.

Her pregnancy was beginning to fester.

The MUTO took a moment to regain her breath, inhaling and exhaling massive clouds of vapor that permeated the trees with frost due to the mix of cold and warm temperatures. Panting like an exhausted feline, the arthropodal amphibian waited until her contractions steadied, before digging her scythed limbs into the cold soil and pushing, straining as hard as she could against the exhaustion crawling through her injured form as she struggled to get back to her feet.

She couldn’t stay here. Her children would be born soon- and the destroyer was not far behind.

A heartbroken groan bassed from the female’s throat as she contemplated everything that had happened in the past seven minutes, her frightened mind trying desperately to push such memories away for the time being.

Her mate bellowed a warning, wings spread wide and scythes raised.

She called back, unsure of what was going on.

A terrible cry, like the howl of a demonic entity, answered back.

Carnage ensued, so quickly she barely had time to register what was happening.

Her mate, pinned beneath the heels of Death, called out to her one last time, telling her to run, which she did.

A burst of hellfire, followed by a final scream of agony before going silent…

The ground began to rhythmically tremble, a telltale sign of approaching footfalls. Something was arriving on her position, and quite fast at that. The MUTO fought ever harder to stand, her panting increasing just as quickly as her heartbeat. But as she began to move, another contraction waved through her lower region, eliciting a cry of pain that she tried desperately to keep as quiet as possible. Her visor brightening from stress, she looked around like a frightened prairie dog in a desperate attempt to locate her pursuer.

And she froze, unsure of what to do when the source of the tremors came into view.

*****

The female stopped short when the second MUTO came into her sights. At first, she simply remained standing in one spot, staring at the new female. Unsure of what to do other than size her up. For one thing, this newcomer was slightly smaller than her, and had small barbed spires rising from the back of her neck. Spires that partially reminded her of MUTO Prime- but she could tell that this was certainly no Jinshin Mushi.

Then the second detail came to mind: this female was pregnant. The pouch of transparent skin in her lower region glowed luminously with the hundreds of jelly-like eggs within, each housing an underdeveloped tadpole slowly perfecting its form. The smaller female remained crouched low to the ground, trying her best to hold her unborn offspring out of harm’s reach. And from what the larger female could tell, this pregnancy was in its final stages. This mother-to-be would lay her eggs soon, there was no other way around it.

But the third detail sparked a reaction in the larger female: as if the clear labor pains she was displaying wasn’t enough, her barbed counterpart was also gravely wounded. And she had no mate with her. The larger female took a step forward- and the smaller one back, lowering herself defensively. She was scared out of her mind and didn’t try to hide it.

A haunting scream howled over the mountains, causing both MUTOs to jump in shock. The barbed female groaned miserably.

The destroyer was here.

Summoning all the strength she could, the barbed MUTO rose to her feet and began to limp away as fast as her limbs could carry her. She paid no attention to direction or scent; all she knew was that her life was never more in danger than it was right now, and she needed to get as far away from the coming threat as possible before death found her. Another wave of pain coursed through her abdomen, but she pressed on. She was going to need to muscle through the pain if her unborn brood was to survive. However, another convulsion nearly brought the pregnant amphibian to her knees. The larger MUTO called out to her, wanting to know the cause of her fleeing.

Another terrible scream from the distance.

An eyeless, grotesque head reared over the mountains, howling a chaotic cry of pure malevolence to the heavens. Veins of lava pulsed through a body forged from the very rock that made up the mountains, a muscular physique pulling itself up to the top of the scar of limestone that ran across the earth to beat its chest like a demonic gorilla, roaring a hollow war cry. A gaping fish-like mouth shone with the same glowing magma that coursed through the golem’s musculature and veins, two ear-like appendages of solid rock protruded behind its hideous skull like rabbit ears. A short yet thick tail swung behind it as it stood to its full height, screaming for bloodshed.

The MUTOs backed away as the hideous golem reared up on its hind legs with another terrible cry, balling his hands into fists and bringing them down onto the peaks of the hills and crushing them like they didn’t exist. As an avalanche of rock and earth tumbled forward, the lava monster leaped right over the earthen peaks without a second thought, crashing to the ground on all fours and lumbering towards the frightened MUTOs like the impending omen of doom he was. Obsidius raised his arms to the heavens and bellowed, announcing the coming of their imminent deaths.

The larger MUTO thrust her forelimbs into the ground and roared a warning to the volcanic abomination, but Obsidius didn’t cease his charge. Beside her, the barbed female began to limp away, but another contraction forced her to her knees. Obsidius roared evilly as he neared her- and was suddenly knocked back when the larger MUTO charged into him. Skidding back on his feet, the golem bellowed a noise that almost sounded akin to a mocking chuckle, before then proceeding to march back towards his new foe. The scythe-limbed amphibian reared her arms up as she prepared to bring them down upon the terrible golem, but Obsidius grabbed them with both hands and shoved forward, sending the predator stumbling back. As the MUTO began to recover her footing, Obsidius lashed out with a fist and socked the nucleovore in the chest, knocking her flat on her back.

The golem roared and reared back, puffing out his rocky chest as his mouth began to shine with an infernal glow. Instinctively the pregnant female reacted, knowing that a most horrifying attack awaited her counterpart if she didn’t do something fast. Her eyes flashing a bright red, an electromagnetic pulse erupted from a hidden organ deep within her prehistoric body, washing over the golem and widening into a sphere of influence that carried for miles.

Obsidius halted for a moment, the glow in his gaping maw dimming ever so slightly. He turned his eyeless head towards the barbed female, who struggled to stand back to her full height before another contraction made her regret that choice. And then, his head shaking backwards to point towards the sky, the golem broke into a brief fit of mocking laughter at the predator’s feeble attempt at disarming him. The barbed MUTO watched in horror as, with a deep breath, Obsidius spat a streaming river of lava upon the downed female, eliciting a loud scream of agony from the nucleovore.

The larger female instantly began to struggle, kicking and thrashing as she desperately tried to keep focus and regain her footing while the golem’s molten breath barbecued her elephantine flesh. But just as the blast ended and she pushed herself off her feet, a pair of rocky fists slammed down upon her back, sending her falling right back. Obsidius reared over her with a devilish cry, pounding his chest- a mistake. Near-instantly, the female kicked her back legs out, hitting those of her enemy and tripping him up, sending him falling on his back while she at last began to find her footing again.

While turning about and keeping the golem in her line of sight, the female directed a cry towards her barbed counterpart, telling her to flee; this was no place for a pregnant, injured mother-to-be. A request that the barbed female, despite how heavily pregnant she was, tried with every fiber to obey as she strained herself up, limping onward with sheer determination to protect her unborn young. Obsidius turned his eyeless head towards her with a sadistic snarl, but the larger female took this as the perfect opportunity to charge. The golem swung a fist out- but, recalling a battle with an old enemy, the MUTO ducked under and hoisted Obsidius onto her back before bucking upwards, throwing him clear over her head. But as she turned around, she bore witness to a shocking surprise; before he even hit the ground, the golem had curled himself into a ball. The moment he struck the earth he began to roll around, circling the battlefield as he began to veer towards the limping barbed female.

Instantly, the larger MUTO ran in front of the mother-to-be, digging her scythes into the ground as she braced herself for the inevitable. The impact of 78,000 metric tons of hardened magma colliding with her prehistoric flesh all but knocked the wind out of her massive lungs. She fought with every ounce of her strength to keep her scythes ingrained in the earth as she skidded back, digging great trenches in the soil as she just barely kept her footing, all the while the golem bounced away. The evil beast unfurled and landed on all fours, howling menacingly as the MUTO gasped an agonizing gulp of oxygen in an effort to regain her breath. Unfortunately, the lava monster wouldn’t give her such an opportunity and fired another burst of searing lava, enveloping her right shoulder and eliciting a terrible howl of pain.

Obsidius growled contently as the corners of his jaws curled back, the closest he could possibly get to smiling with pleasure… before two scythes skewered his chest as a pair of feet planted upon his shoulder!

Two massive wings flapped a great gust of wind over his head as the golem cried out in rage, spinning around with swinging claws in an attempt to dislodge his new attacker. The male MUTO bellowed in defiance as he reared one of his arms up before plunging it through the golem’s body- but recoiled and leaped away with a scream of pain when the magma that substituted for blood burned his limbs. Obsidius roared as he turned to face the male MUTO, glaring at him even without discernible eyes. The EMP that the barbed female had given off wasn’t just an attempt of disarming him; it was a potential distress call, one that could be heard for miles. The male must’ve picked it up and come to investigate its source- such were the behavior of social animals.

An angry wail roared from the male’s jaws as he flapped his wings, taking flight back towards the volcanic obscenity. The golem snarled demonically and spat forth a burst of lava, but the male’s quick reflexes saved him from an agonizing fate as he flapped just above it, snagging Obsidius by the throat before wringing himself around onto his back like a bull rider. Obsidius roared and flailed madly as the winged predator bit down unto the base between his shoulder and neck, but once more was forced to recoil due to the mutant’s lava lifeblood. The golem reached up, but before he could grab the winged amphibian, something powerful slammed into him from behind.

The female MUTO bellowed her return to the combat as she pounced upon the stunned Obsidius, ripping at his monolithic body with her scythes.

*****

The barbed MUTO wailed as she finally fell to her knees, her quivering scythes ingrained in the soil as she slowly lowered her stomach down onto the ground to ease herself, crushing a great many trees in the process. She couldn’t move anymore, despite the grim truth that she hadn’t gotten very far from the ensuing battle. She could very clearly hear the roars of her mate’s murderer behind her, followed by the wails of her fellow MUTOs that she never knew existed in this territory until now. The nucleovorous predators could hold their own against the volcanic demon for only so long… before the inevitable happened. They couldn’t win against the horrible beast.

It was only a matter of time before they shared…

Another wave stung through the amphibian’s abdomen, coursing up through her entire body. Her labor pains were worsening by the minute, and now she had nowhere to go. The barbed MUTO was too overcome with the mounting agonies of childbirth to be able to so much as rise to her knees, and she was growing ever closer to the verge of laying her brood in a radiation-less wasteland, in the middle of a hopeless battle against a mortal enemy that had murdered their father. With the waves of agony that lingered through her body, the pangs of something else began to seep throughout her mind: despair. Everything was so bleak, so hopeless; her beloved was dead, her injured body wracked with the sensations of flaring pain receptors, her home long left behind, the lives of her children already hanging by the thinnest of threads… all of it.

A distant wail of agony echoed into her ears, and she just barely managed to lift her head to see the abominable horror known as Obsidius grab hold of the male MUTO’s leg and throw him into his mate like a ragdoll, the heavens splitting with his horrific roars of frenzied pleasure. Rearing his hands skyward and screaming like some devilish, blood-crazed berserker, Obsidius leaped at the downed titans with a terrible thrill.

The barbed MUTO wailed from the contraction that undulated through her lower body, the distant cries of battle beginning to become drowned out by a molten sense enveloping her very being, the concept of sight and sound beginning to become indiscernible amidst her own agony. She cried in despair, begging for the pain and sorrow to just end.

So captivated in her own mournful torment was she, that she didn’t make out the towering shape that lumbered towards her on two great pillars of arms clad in orange scales.

*****

MUTO Prime thundered a surprised growl upon seeing the injured MUTO, trudging towards the distressed creature with growing curiosity. She had heard the EMP from a mile away, amplifying her echolocative skills and enticing her back to this territory once again. All MUTOs were capable of giving specific frequencies to their EMPs, and different frequencies could tell different emotions- and this one sounded like a clear distress call. And upon finding its source, curiosity turned to dreaded shock when she saw the full state of the barbed female- she wasn’t just hideously injured, she was pregnant. And heavily pregnant at that. She was on the verge of giving birth, and she had no source of radiation to expose them to. And that’s when the next detail dawned on her: this female had no mate with her. She could very clearly smell brief after-traces of a male MUTO on her, but no such presence accompanied her.

She was alone.

A blasphemous howl unlike anything MUTO Prime had ever heard in her millions of years of life suddenly screamed into existence to burn itself into her mind for as long as she lived henceforth, and she looked up to view its source. Had her eyes been capable of widening, they would be big as miniature asteroids when she looked upon the sacrilegious horror that terrorized two familiar faces she hadn’t seen in a week, just a few hundred meters ahead. The female MUTO who defeated her, the one who had given her a fresh adornment of scars and chased her out of this territory, as well as her mate. And they were being slung around like children’s toys by a living mountain of searing magma and volcanic limestone. A most wretched beast that screamed its vile war cry again and again as it pummeled the MUTO pair with merciless cruelty.

MUTO Prime looked back to the barbed female who lay helpless and in horrible torment before her, looking over the fresh burns that adorned her once gray, elephantine skin. The pregnant amphibian croaked miserably, feebly scratching her hooked limbs against the soil as her groin convulsed again. The larger kaiju looked to the battle ahead, then back to the crippled mother-to-be. In that moment, the Dragon Beetle came to a decision, and only now as she lumbered towards the suffering MUTO did the female wail out once more in tortured despair.

Sliding her head under the MUTO’s abdominal region, Jinshin Mushi began to hoist the barbed predator up off the ground. The strain on her muscles made the MUTO cry out in pain again, but as she lifted MUTO Prime took the rest of the body up with her, and in seconds she had lifted the pregnant Kaiju onto her back. Instinctively, the MUTO hooked her scythes onto the larger monster’s shoulders, knowing full well what was coming. Making sure her passenger was now safely in tow, MUTO Prime began to gallop away at her top speed. There was still time to exploit; this MUTO needed radiation for her unborn children.

And she knew just the place to find it.

*****

The male MUTO flapped off the ground just as Obsidius pounced on his former position, twisting around to hover facing the volcanic berserker. Obsidius stamped the ground with a primal aggression and roared at the prehistoric amphibian, demanding his blood be spilt today. His mouth beginning to heat up with an infernal light, Obsidius reared back as the male MUTO recognized his vile intentions and dove away. However, the winged predator failed to notice the golem’s true plan. Thinking Obsidius was going to try and blast her mate out of the sky, the female MUTO barreled into a charge towards the vile monstrosity.

If only his lips were capable of pulling fully back, for Obsidius wished he could smile.

Whipping his head around faster than the female MUTO thought he could, Obsidius watched the split-second of the MUTO’s face falling in shock before he unloaded his superheated cargo onto her flesh. The force of the blast was so great it sent the wailing MUTO careening backwards and crashing onto her back, howling with agony as the golem refused to cease his horrible assault and continued to sear her flesh. The only thing that stopped Obsidius from roasting her alive was the male MUTO flying in to plunge his claws through the top of the golem’s head- but, unlike an ordinary creature of flesh and blood, Obsidius did not die.

Instead, the volcanic superorganism went into a frenzied rage, thrashing and bucking around at an intensity that even the male MUTO couldn’t keep up with. If such thrashing didn’t put the nail in the coffin for the MUTO’s plan, then the golem’s superheated blood that boiled his limbs did. Ripping them out in showers of magma, the MUTO flew to retreat- only for a rocky, clawed hand to grab him by the leg. Even flapping his wings with all his power did nothing to stop Obsidius from turning about face and slinging the amphibian to the earth chest-first, roaring a hollow cackle in response. The male MUTO bellowed in frustration as he tried to move, but before he could, Obsidius yanked him upwards and slammed him down on the other side, knocking the wind out of him.

Despite her hideous wounds, the female MUTO managed to struggle to her feet. However, this time, she did not attack outright; such a tactic had proved futile before. Instead, the eight-legged predator lowered herself down in a hunched position, and began to stalk the volcanic obscenity like a big cat. Obsidius was so engrossed in slinging the male around like a dog toy, he didn’t seem to notice the female’s slow approach. Her plan seemed to be working.

The male MUTO roared in defiance as he twisted himself in mid-fling, landing on his limbs as Obsidius slung him to the ground once more. However, unlike before, the golem didn’t lift him back off the ground- instead he stepped forward and slammed a rocky foot down onto his back, eliciting a pained cry. The amphibian tried to fight back against the strain, but the evil golem was too strong and pressed down harder.

A booming bellow of fury exploded from the female’s jaws as she finally made her move and pounced, springing onto the volcanic obscenity and taking him completely by surprise. Obsidius roared in rage as he found himself trampled under the MUTO’s wrath, her scythes skewering his body in repeated bursts of rock and geysers of magma. Even with the molten rock that seared her skin with every strike, the radioactive predator was blind in her rage as she struck Obsidius with repeated strikes of her hooked limbs, punching hole after hole in the solid rock that substituted for his flesh. Obsidius swiped at her face, but the giant amphibian grasped the golem by the wrist in her hooked jaws and bit down as hard as she could, all the while still continuing to spear his rocky physique.

With his free hand the geothermal maniac swiped again, this time actually managing to claw the prehistoric predator across the forehead, but still she refused to relent and bit down harder, stabbing with greater strength into his rock-strewn body. But as valiant as her efforts were, as great the wounds she rended in Obsidius’ ghastly form, her tactics were only serving to further enrage the terrible golem, strike by strike. When the MUTO raised another claw, Obsidius reacted just as fast and grabbed it in his hand, and wasted not a second as he yanked it to the side, smacking it against one of her other limbs. As the MUTO tripped, the golem thrust his hand forward and planted his palm straight into her face, sending her reeling back with a painful howl.

The female MUTO shook her head with a booming wail as she fought to keep standing, holding all six locomotive limbs planted firmly into the ground as she regained her senses- and not a moment too soon. The nucleovore bolted to the right just as a searing burst of lava lanced right through where she had been standing a second ago, boiling the mountainous limestone behind her instead. Obsidius jumped up and down and screamed his death chant towards the monogamous predators, informing them of the painful deaths he was to inflict upon them very soon.

The male MUTO, perched on the top of the mountain behind Obsidius and lowered into a panther-like crouch, seized his chance and took cues from his mate from earlier, pouncing off the peak and flying as silently as he could towards the insidious golem, scythes raised as he too attempted to take him by surprise- and was rewarded with a rocky, clawed hand reaching out and snagging him by the neck. Obsidius all but laughed as he threw the male straight towards his mate, who immediately lifted herself up as high as her massive body would allow and just barely managed to catch her mate, dropping him to the ground to soften his fall.

Such a moment was short-lived when a burst of lava slammed into her chest, knocking the female MUTO off her feet.

*****

The cavern wall shattered with one almighty blow. Thousands and thousands of tons of ancient mineral and solid rock cracked apart and fell in one colossal rain of stone. Some were solid and opaque, the average rocks that one would often see when walking about on the shores of a river or creek. Some were highlighted in countless different shades of color, brightening the dense and usual gray to add some color to the darkness. And some were both brilliantly colorful in multiple differing shades, and translucent as if they were made of glass; these were minerals that were often looked upon by humans as the basis for precious gems, jewels, and nuggets.

Diamond, pearl, emerald, amethyst, ruby, sapphire, even traces of silver and gold; all were valued by humankind as among the strongest sources of wealth on the planet. But to the prehistoric elder beast known to humanity as MUTO Prime, it was all but just a falling obstacle out of the way that happened to contain a dazzling shower of color. It was but a temporary spectacle of beauty as ton by ton, the shower of rock fell into a useless heap before her hooked knuckles as she waded into the now-exposed hollow that was so massive, it dwarfed even the largest Titans in existence.

On her back, even in her pained stupor, the barbed female MUTO would’ve widened her eyes if she could have when she lifted her head to gaze upon the incredible sight.

The colossal hallways went on for miles and in multiple directions, extending deep into the farthest depths of the mountains and beyond. And, from floor to wall to ceiling, the entire cavern itself was all composed of one mineral and one mineral only. All across the makeshift geological dungeon, the very being of the cavern was made up of countless cyan gemstones that absolutely reeked of the most potent of radioactivity. Coursed with it. Emitted it like no other substance had ever before. Even now the pregnant MUTO could feel her body absorbing certain portions of its properties as her mount carried her through the cavern, searching for a suitable location to place her.

MUTO Prime had only discovered this location yesterday, by nothing but sheer coincidence; but nonetheless, when her senses had alerted her to the presence of such incredibly potent radiation, she had followed her nose as she always did, and had thus stumbled across this goldmine of the most mysterious and sought after mineral in the world: Element X. As such, she established it as her new territory- and now, she saw that it would prove to serve more purposes than just one.

MUTO Prime grumbled softly to her pregnant passenger as she finally ceased her walk, deeming this smooth patch of ground suitable enough. Gently lowering herself into a hunch, she slowly slid the barbed MUTO onto her stomach upon the Element X that made up the ground, before finally rising back up to her full height as she backed up a bit. As if on cue, the MUTO let out a blaring wail of pain that echoed through the caverns like the howl of a mournful banshee- it was happening. There was no stopping nor delaying it now.

The MUTO was giving birth.

Her lower regions finally began their quickening, more prominent convulsions as they began to expel their infantile cargo. Groans and bellows of labor echoing from her massive jaws to reverberate off the caverns as her cloaca expanded to begin dispensing with her young; thus, the female MUTO started to lay her eggs. Pulse after pulse, with tremendous effort that only the females of her species were capable of she pushed out the next generation, until what seemed like hours contained to only a solid thirty seconds of great pain finally came to an end.

It was all over.

A wearied clatter croaked from the MUTO’s throat as she finally laid her head upon the Element X-laden ground to rest, inhaling a much-needed deep breath of air. MUTO Prime rumbled a thunderous dolphin-like chatter as she knelt down to inspect the once-pregnant titan, checking her over as she remained on the ground all but unmoving. Another deep sigh escaped the MUTO’s vocal cords as she remained stationary, for the time being unable to find her feet.

She was absolutely exhausted.

Noting this fact, MUTO Prime reached down and sank her beaked jaws into the ground, with a bite force up there with the strongest on the animal kingdom, and with a loud CRACK pulled a sizable chunk of delectable Element X free from the ground. Then, with a throaty chatter that was so deep it would’ve made a human being’s ears explode, she leaned down and held it in front of the barbed MUTO’s face, the female noticing and lifting her tired head up to inspect it. The very scent it gave off was mouthwatering, and its glow was so heavenly so as to be downright hypnotic.

MUTO Prime was offering it to her as a gift.

Instinctively, the smaller MUTO reached up with all her strength and snagged the radioactive piece in her jaws, and with one efficient yet lazy motion snapped it up and swallowed it, ingesting its contents. Near instantly the properties of the poisonous gems began to re-energize her fatigued build from the inside out. Her body finally filled with enough radiation to keep her going for the next few hours, the slowly healing nucleovore tilted her head around as she finally gazed upon the results of her torturous labor, and a gentle wailing trill crooned from her jaws. Behind her, sprawled about in a large batch, was the unmistakable sight of dozens upon dozens of glowing MUTO eggs- and within each translucent orb of jelly, she could clearly make out the distinctive shape of an unborn, underdeveloped tadpole-like embryo curled inside. From the very moment those eggs had entered the world, the entire cavern was thus filled with the clicking, dolphin-like chatter of the unhatched MUTO tadpoles within; all of them immediately setting to practicing their echolocation skills upon birth.

An emotion that could only be described as joy set in to the MUTO’s mind.

MUTO Prime thundered a soft croon at the new mother, who chattered her gratitude to her in reply before laying her head back down. The copper-armed beast looked around, scoping the cavern out as she smelled the air, inhaling the intoxicating scent of the Element X. She was testing the area for which specific areas packed more radiation; some of the minerals were more potent than others. If either one of them was going to regain their strength, it would be better safe than sorry to seek out the most fit samples of Element X in the mountainous cavity. As she began to step towards a makeshift pillar of the poisonous minerals, she clicked her tongue as she let her echolocation do the work of scanning the territory- and came to a freezing halt.

Something was wrong.

Instantly, MUTO Prime’s senses detected the presence of something… unwelcoming. A scent that she had not detected at any time she had been here. She didn’t know what it was, she had never smelled anything like it before. But there was something about it that screamed ‘danger’ to her instincts, and as a result she immediately began to look from one direction to the other in an attempt to find-

MUTO Prime bellowed in pain when something sharp stabbed into her side- then, as suddenly as it came, its source dashed away and submerged itself behind one of the columns of Element X. The knuckle-walking amphibian thundered in rage as she demanded the intruder to come forth from hiding, tearing a trench in the crystal-laden ground with one of her clawed limbs.

Two yellow eyes devoid of any pupils fixed on her from within the mass of glowing crystals, looking her over with the most wicked of intent.

MUTO Prime barely had time to register the sound of fast-approaching footfalls, each one light as a feather- but with what little time she had she used well and swung one of her claws. A mere second before her blow connected, her attacker jumped gracefully over her spired body and landed just on her left. Three spheres of energy suddenly struck her other side as she began to turn around, eliciting a howl of pain from Jinshin Mushi. But this time, MUTO Prime muscled through it and charged her foe, who once more leaped away.

Only when the assaulter landed a good hundred meters away did MUTO Prime finally get a good look at the source of her pain- and her head jolted back in shock. A bipedal obscenity white as the snow that covered the mountains stood before her, with an entire dorsal region that was all but covered in violet spires of razor-sharp crystal. The beast’s very claws on its hands and feet were made of the same crystal material- as was the assortment of spikes on the end of its long, dog-like tail. A mouth full of teeth cracked to bear a crooked grin of malice as the beast lowered itself on all fours, scratching the crystalline ground with its mineral claws and producing a craggy, scratching noise that set MUTO Prime’s beak on edge. She roared a warning to the newcomer, but the crystalline terror only swiped its claws in mock attack before uttering a warped cry that reverberated through the cavernous cavities of Element X.

Krystalak grinned evilly. Such a pathetic display of power would be crushed out of existence when he showed this pitiful wretch what real power looked like!

The mineral menace lunged forth like a charging leopard, MUTO Prime trying to time her strike just right as she lashed out with a fist. Just inches in front of the appendage, Krystalak leaped up and somersaulted, flinging three purple spheres of energy from his tail that struck the giant amphibian in the face. MUTO Prime bellowed in pain as she reeled back, noticing that tiny shards of crystal were now stuck in her skin. Krystalak roared mockingly before lunging again, and this time the massive MUTO didn’t have time to counter. With the efficiency of a hunting wild dog, Krystalak leaped up and grabbed the Titan’s neck, wringing himself around as he landed atop her back!

Hissing sadistically, Krystalak lunged and bit down unto the back of her neck, sending MUTO Prime into a rage!

Bucking and running about like an enraged bull, the prehistoric predator thrashed in a maddened fury as she attempted to toss the crystal menace off of her, but Krystalak persisted with little trouble. As if to make matters worse for Jinshin Mushi, the unnatural beast thrust its tail down and jabbed it into the lower base of her shoulder.

So MUTO Prime changed her course of action.

Howling a thunderous roar, MUTO Prime suddenly began to walk backwards; slowly at first, but picking up pace quickly. Krystalak loosened his grip, confused as to what the hunchbacked beast was doing- and then gaped his jaws open in a painful gag when MUTO Prime slammed herself backwards into a wall, pinning him between her back and the wall. Krystalak tried to roar but couldn’t, the wind having been knocked out of him from the force of the hit. At least he was lucky enough not to have been impaled by the beast’s dorsal spires.

Wrenching herself to the side, MUTO Prime flung Krystalak to the floor around her before lashing out, and this time the crystalline terror was too fatigued to react as her fist slammed home and sent him flying across the cavern. The blow echoed across the cave like the crack of a thunderbolt, and Krystalak crashed to the mineral ground in a spray of Element X fragments. Not even wasting time, MUTO Prime broke into a sprint towards the crystal terror, but even having sustained such injuries Krystalak was not one to stay down so easily. Seconds before MUTO Prime reached his position the evil beast had leaped away, crawling up a mineral pillar like a monkey. The ebon colossus bellowed wrathfully at him like a dog at a cat in a tree, demanding him to come down.

Krystalak smiled. Be careful what you wish for.

His crystal spines suddenly glowing to life, Krystalak fired a violet beam of pure concentrated fragments of crystal material from his mouth. The Prism Beam smashed into MUTO Prime’s chest, eliciting a howl of agony from the elder beast. Capitalizing on her moment of pain, Krystalak leaped down and slammed into the prehistoric brute. MUTO Prime bellowed in defiance, which turned to one of pain when the crystal menace loosed another Prism Beam that struck her side. The ancient predator swung her fist, but Krystalak jumped up before somersaulting. Instinctively, MUTO Prime held up her arm as the energy blasts struck the copper appendage, blocking them from hitting her face. She lowered her arm, and Krystalak was already lunging towards her.

MUTO Prime struck.

Her claw lashed out, and once more, the crystal fiend leaped over her head. Near-instantly she whirled about as she lashed out a second time, and a Prism Beam struck her face. MUTO Prime cursed herself for failing to hit the wicked creature, which only got worse when Krystalak lunged in and slashed her across the face, deepening her already painful injuries. Survival instincts taking over, MUTO Prime backed up, not wanting to risk him taking out her eyes.

She needed to be careful from here on out. She needed to be tactful.

Thundering a deep chatter, MUTO Prime hunched down like a hunting puma as she glared at the living mountain of crystals that was Krystalak, who leered back at her through narrowed yellow eyes. Hunched down like a wrestler prepared to throw down, arms spread, Krystalak hissed a mocking challenge at the ancient predator, trying to entice her to charge. But MUTO Prime stayed put, her only reply being a low growl that vibrated down the fiend’s spine. She was not falling for his tricks this time- she needed to try and beat him at his own game.

An alien snarl hissing from his toothed jaws, Krystalak began to circle the brutish behemoth through the cavern; the giant amphibian never taking her line of sight off him. MUTO Prime boomed a savage rumble as the evil creature continued to circle her- before he suddenly broke into a sprint.

Where he ran towards made MUTO Prime break into a run of her own.

Yellow eyes widened with delighted thrill as the crystalline terror charged towards the barbed female MUTO, still laying exhausted on the ground in front of her newborn batch of eggs, his crystal spines glowing purple as he neared the unhatched infants, his mouth beginning to shine the same color as he prepared to wipe out the poor batch with one fell swoop-

-and was knocked sprawling when MUTO Prime intercepted him at the last second.

This time, the Unclean Thing took no chances and snagged the fallen beast’s tail in her jaws before turning back around, proceeding to charge deeper into the cavern. Jutting her head up and down as she ran, the enraged Titan killer smacked the crystal fiend against the floor again and again- before going out of her way to swing her head while still keeping her grip intact, smacking the beast against one of the pillars. Keeping her jog up, she twisted her colossal body about and changed directions, running onward before she swung her head a second time, smacking him against another column of Element X.

Skidding to a halt, MUTO Prime growled through her closed jaws as she flung her head a third time, slinging Krystalak against the same pillar with a loud boom. Even before he cried out in pain MUTO Prime had lifted him into the air before yanking him down to the ground. With a powerful roar, Jinshin Mushi wailed upon the downed fiend with ferocious blow after blow of her oversized claws, letting her rage explode as she vented her long-contained fury upon him. The crystalline terror tried to defend from the vicious onslaught, but MUTO Prime was beating into him too hard. The ground shook and the caverns rattled with every blow as MUTO Prime tried her hardest to make the mineral menace one with the Element X that made up the very fabric of the geological expansion they fought in.

Krystalak smiled.

His spines flashed with the same violet hue, but MUTO Prime ignored it and intensified her assault. A move that would prove to be a big mistake indeed; a powerful surge of energy suddenly exploded from Krystalak’s body, slamming into MUTO Prime at full furious force and knocking her a formidable three-hundred meters away on her back with a thunderous howl of shocked agony.

MUTO Prime grumbled in agony as she tried to move, but her muscles ached so badly that it tested her to her limits just to roll halfway over. She couldn’t comprehend where that had come from, how her horrid foe had been able to conjure such an unnatural ability, but whatever it was made of had left her crippled beyond comprehension. She couldn’t tell whether or not any bones had been broken from the hit, she was in so much pain. Laying her head upon the radioactive crystals of Element X that comprised of the ground, the giant amphibian gasped and panted for air while she waited for her body to fully regain its senses, trying to conserve whatever strength she had left…

A Prism Beam slammed into her chest, knocking the wind out of her. Even in spite of her dazed state, Krystalak’s hollow laughter echoed through her ears, informing her of his return to the upper hand of the combat. The crystal demon laughed before blasting MUTO Prime again, relishing in her wail of pain. But even before she had finished, Krystalak had broke into a cheetah-like sprint and closed the distance between him and her in seconds. Leaping upon the weakened Titan, Krystalak began to assail her with repeated slashes and jabs of his diamond-hard claws; even her natural armor failed to protect her from the horrid gashes the fiendish horror rended into her flesh. Krystalak roared pleasurably as he continued to hack bleeding trenches into MUTO Prime’s weakened body, her crimson lifeblood spilling out in repeated bursts to stain the radioactive ground. The crystalline terror decided such torment wasn’t enough and lashed out with his tail, jabbing its crystal tips into her belly and eliciting a louder roar of agony from the Dragon Beetle. Another Prism Beam followed suit, blasting her in the neck.

Krystalak growled a sadistic snarl as he lashed out again, rending another trio of bloody gashes in the Titan’s flesh before he reared back, preparing to blast her point-blank in the face.

An otherworldly howl nearly made his ears explode when a massive body slammed into him at forces that put a Russian freight train to shame, knocking him off his prey and slamming him against another pillar. Despite the colossal force of the blow the pillar still continued to stand, its rocky hold proving strong. With an exhausted wail, MUTO Prime lifted her skull off the ground as she fought to regain her eyesight, trying to get a glimpse of her savior- even though she already knew who it was.

Blaring a wrathful bellow, the barbed female MUTO lashed out with a scythed limb, slashing open the side of Krystalak’s neck. Howling in equal parts pain and rage, the crystalline abomination reeled back just as she lashed out with another scythe, plunging it into the ground where he had just been standing seconds ago. Bending down into a defensive position, Krystalak hissed like a demented cross between a tiger and a crocodile as the recovered MUTO faced him.

Suddenly, the MUTO lunged at him, the crystal menace jutting backwards just as the multi-limbed predator snapped her jaws mere inches from his face- an intentional mock-charge on the MUTO’s part. Before Krystalak could retaliate, the MUTO lashed out with another of her limbs, her scythe curled into the closest her species could get to a fist and clocked it against Krystalak’s face. Howling in pain, the evil creature recoiled just as the female MUTO took the opportunity to take him-

-and recoiled herself when his tail swiped in an arc, letting loose a trio of energy blasts that struck her in the abdomen.

Both monsters stepped away from each other as they recovered from one another’s respective attacks; however, it was unfortunately Krystalak who took advantage of it first. Bounding towards the multi-legged nucleovore, Krystalak slammed head-on into her. The female MUTO roared in pain as she dug her limbs into the ground to prevent herself from sliding a good distance back, and not a moment too soon. Grinning another wicked smile, Krystalak turned about face to aim his spike-covered back towards the MUTO. Instinctively, the giant amphibian ducked low just as Krystalak jumped backwards, thrusting herself up only when he was just above her head. Knocking him in the torso, she sent him skidding backwards behind her.

A Prism Beam erupted from his gaping jaws, striking the back of her skull and flooring her flat.

Quick as a demonic ninja, Krystalak leaped onto her back. The MUTO wailed in distress as the sadistic fiend jabbed his tail crystals into her thigh, grinning at the blood that flowed from her injury. But he didn’t give her a moment to mourn before he slammed his foot down on her head, knocking it against the ground. Groaning painfully, the nucleovore was helpless as Krystalak turned around again, leaping into the air and repositioning himself as he prepared to land his crystal quills upon the wounded MUTO…

MUTO Prime roared in outrage as she stampeded seemingly out of nowhere to body-slam him in mid-air, knocking him flat like a soccer ball against the nearest pillar. Fragments of Element X and his own bodily crystals splintered as Krystalak crashed against the geological column with a hollow roar. His eyes snapped open to find MUTO Prime’s own optical visor mere inches from his own, sparking with crimson electricity as her jaws gaped.

Before he even had time to counter, the Dragon Beetle let loose her sonic roar at point-blank range upon the crystal fiend. What followed thus was the greatest, longest, most indescribably agonizing and grueling torture Krystalak had ever experienced in his life. Rapid wave after wave of pure concussive sound slammed and reverberated throughout his body from the inside out in a ceaseless onslaught. His ears exploded and his eyes all but cracked as MUTO Prime unleashed every ounce of power she held within her monolithic body, finally in a position to exact her righteous vengeance on her arrogant attacker.

A loud splinter rang through the sound barrier as one by one Krystalak’s bodily crystals shattered, a roar of torment escaping his quivering jaws as his body began to seize from the agony.

MUTO Prime kept roaring until she ran out of breath, but it mattered not; by the time she was finished, Krystalak lay upon the mineral earth looking nothing so much as like a plucked porcupine. Crippled, deaf, and nearly blind, the crystalline terror’s jaws quivered open and shut in soundless screams as he fell into a torturous seizure, sprawled pitifully under MUTO Prime’s feet. With an angry roar, the apex predator swiped the once-formidable fiend aside with an oversized claw, sending him skidding right towards the wounded female MUTO. By the time he came to a halt, she had recovered, towering over him with a fierce glower. Booming footsteps from behind informed him of MUTO Prime’s approach, the larger amphibian soon coming to stand beside her smaller counterpart as she too glared down at the loathsome beast. Had he not been in such an agonizing convulsion, Krystalak would’ve sighed in frustration at how the tables had turned.

The last thing he saw was both Kaiju raising a respective limb, before the barbed female MUTO thrust a scythe down towards his face.

*****

The mountain nearly shattered when the female MUTO’s body slammed against it, a powerful quake echoing through the earth’s crust as the weary nucleovore fell to her knuckles with a fatigued sigh.

Across from her, the volcanic berserker known as Obsidius roared a devilish scream from another world that sent all diminutive animals fleeing for their lives. A howl of defiance made his eyeless head snap to the left as the male MUTO spread his wings and reared up on his hind legs, challenging the horrific golem to come at him, regardless of the horrid burns that adorned his ebony skin. Obsidius merely chuckled in reply before turning back to the wounded female, trudging towards her with murderous intent. His head perking in fearful shock, the male instantly took flight in an attempt to intercept the evil beast.

A rocky fist merely reached out, punching him in the chest.

Despite the painful blow, the male managed to land on his feet before breaking into a charge. This time however, as he neared, he ducked low and lunged towards the legs of the golem. Obsidius whipped around with a fierce roar, spitting a blast of lava that just barely missed the nucleovore’s head as he snagged the golem’s left leg in his jaws, then yanked upwards as he pushed to his feet. Obsidius howled in annoyance as he fell on his back, and immediately the MUTO pounced upon him with a fierce roar- only to receive a kick to the throat for his efforts. Gagging, the winged amphibian was sent falling away on his back as Obsidius stood back to his full height.

But no sooner than he had crippled one obstacle, did Obsidius have to face another. The female MUTO charged like a maddened bull, intent on ripping this abominable obscenity apart no matter how long it took. The golem fired a blast of his lava breath, but this time the MUTO was ready and veered to the side just in time. She closed the gap between her and this most terrible foe- just like Obsidius had wanted. The golem would’ve smiled if he could.

Perfect.

Quickly grabbing his hands under the MUTO’s shoulders, one minute the eight-legged amphibian was on the ground, the next Obsidius had yanked his arms up and flipped her clear over his head like a ragdoll. Howling with surprise, the female MUTO crashed to the earth with a painful thud! and ended up in an entanglement of her own limbs. She bellowed in distress as she tried to free herself of her own predicament, struggling as hard and fast as she could to untangle her limbs and get to her feet- and a foot pressed firmly onto her chest, stopping her.

Even pinned, the female MUTO still refused to give in, and tried to push against the hideous golem who restrained her. Gazing down on her with his eyeless face, Obsidius hissed a demonic trill as he pressed harder, and yet still the female continued trying to snap and bite at him. So Obsidius grabbed her by the throat and threw her over his shoulder like an afterthought, turning around as she landed flat on her stomach. The entangled amphibian tried to right herself, just barely managing to pull a few of her limbs free while she looked back- and her eyes would’ve widened if they could have.

Roaring loudly, Obsidius leaped sideways and crashed his elbow full force on her back.

A roaring boom exploded from the MUTO’s muzzle as she felt her ebony armor and bones crack, blood leaking from a few spots from the force of the hit. Obsidius stamped the ground and screamed his awful cry, wanting more pain from his prehistoric adversary. So he jumped up above the wounded nucleovore, grabbing her head at the same time and yanking upwards the moment he began to fall back down. The MUTO howled as she fell, crashing painfully against the earth with a great quake. The volcanic abomination known as Obsidius lifted his fists and brought them hard upon the back of her head eliciting another scream of torture from the female MUTO, all while the evil golem roared with laughter once again.

A massive body landed upon his shoulders from behind as a pair of scythes stabbed into his chest.

The male MUTO bellowed in fury as he raised his right arm and tried to bring it down upon the golem’s head, but Obsidius jutted it to the side, so it impaled his shoulder instead. The very moment the male lifted his other arm to skewer him Obsidius reached backwards to grab him- and the male leaped away and took flight before he could even do so.

So Obsidius decided to make him come back down.

Cracking the closest he could to a sick grin, he turned back to the female and blasted her with a boiling spray of magma. The eight-legged amphibian howled in agony as the volcanic berserker cooked her alive, and sure enough her mate changed direction and flew down to save her with a wail of rage. Scythes raised, molten wrath eclipsing all else, the male sprung towards the living volcano with a fury burning bright in his crimson visor.

And Obsidius leaped right over his head.

The male MUTO landed upon the earth, his scythes stabbing nothing but solid ground. Knowing his enemy would surely land, he whirled back around as quickly as he could- and barely had time to register a blast of lava lashing in to scorch his legs. Howling in agony, the male tried to back off as Obsidius burned away at his limbs- and then, just as suddenly as he started, he cut it off. The male fell to his knees; taking a moment to breathe, though confused as to why his foe had suddenly ceased his hellish assault. When he looked back up to gaze upon him, it didn’t take so much as a second to figure out why.

Cackling a demonic hiss, Obsidius curled himself inward as he rolled forward, soon becoming a living ball of fury. Too fast did he roll towards the male MUTO to dodge in time, and the volcanic obscenity slammed into him like an oversized dodgeball, flooring him instantly. The male groaned in pain- which suddenly turned to a wail when the quickly unfurled Obsidius grabbed hold of his leg and swung around, tossing him away and sending him crashing into his mate; the two radioactive predators now lying in a heap.

Without hesitation, Obsidius charged.

Tired and in more pain than ever, the MUTOs were too weak to react in time before Obsidius snagged both of them by the throats in his hands and lifted them high above his head as if they were weightless pieces of cardboard. A devilish roar echoed from his glowing jaws as he continued to stand there, holding them above the ground… and then they both felt it. They had no clue how the creature was capable of such a power, but even their animalistic minds could comprehend that this horrid abomination was siphoning their very essence!

Obsidius roared a hollow laugh as he sapped the helpless MUTOs of their nuclear hemoglobin, enjoying the power that coursed through him from his pathetic foes. Their essence tasted good; it refilled all the energy he had spent thus far in the battle. He wanted more!

The male MUTO cried out in distress to his mate as he felt the golem’s claws dig deeper into his flesh, more of his radioactive essence being ripped from his body. The female MUTO tried to struggle, but Obsidius held them both in too tight of a grip. The evil golem chuckled at their weak attempts to escape his foul grasp, his lava-filled veins glowing a crimson hue as he fed on the energy that they depended on. At first, their struggles remained as hard and defiant as ever, Obsidius’ arms actually wobbling a bit as they fought to break free. But then, their efforts slowly began to dampen, lessening in intensity as Obsidius held them completely at their mercy, waiting eagerly for their thrashes to come to a complete halt.

The Richter Scale began to grow.

Obsidius perked his head in curiosity, slowing his essence absorption as he pondered over such an occurrence. It were as if an earthquake had suddenly struck out of nowhere. The ground was beginning to shake more violently with every passing second, the volcanic berserker beginning to have trouble keeping his footing as well as his grip on his weakened foes. Obsidius uttered a confused roar as he began to stumble, the shaking of the earth’s crust ever growing in intensity to the point where he finally had to throw the MUTOs to the ground, dropping down on all fours to keep his footing.

The ground in front of his face suddenly exploded outward, a massive form erupting forth like a demon out of hell. Obsidius was so taken aback he could not react fast enough before a bronze-scaled fist swung forth to slam right into his face, partially caving it inwards and sending him flying back. The living volcano actually burst straight through the mountainside and out the other end on his back, groaning a hollow hiss as he looked up to see the cause of his current predicament. The MUTOs, weak from exhaustion but still strong in spirit, managed to lift their heads up with low chatters as they took in the sight of their savior- and received a first.

Rearing up like an angry horse, the Earthquake Beetle known as MUTO Prime bellowed an earth-shaking thunder, denouncing the murderous golem that was Obsidius. Clambering back to his feet, the volcanic menace beat his chest and challenged the Unclean Thing with a terrible roar that sent shivers down her spine, but still she held her firm composure and growled back, unwilling to back down here and now. Rearing back, Obsidius spat forth a blast of lava that struck the Dragon Beetle in the chest, eliciting a bellow of pain. Obsidius wanted to smile as he relished in the sound of his attacker paying so dearly for her arrogance.

But such a smile would’ve been wiped off his face when a series of footsteps rapidly approached from his left.

Before he knew what hit him, an equally powerful body slammed into his side, knocking him silly. The barbed female MUTO howled in fury as she pounced upon her mate’s murderer, repeatedly skewering holes in his body with her scythes. Bellowing from a distance, MUTO Prime galloped forward to join in the carnage, taking extreme relish in proceeding to land crushing blows with her oversized claws. Obsidius howled in fury as he breathed forth a burst of lava, searing the knuckle-walking monster’s chest and knocking her off of him. The barbed MUTO called out in worry for the Earthquake Beetle- and was sent reeling back from a punch to her face. Obsidius wasted no time and stood back to his feet, whirling on his new foes with a sadistic snarl. His mouth aglow, he reared back as he prepared to unleash his superheated fury-

-and a familiar roar blared in whatever substituted for ears as two scythes stabbed into his neck before yanking him off his feet.

The male MUTO bellowed mightily as he proceeded to drag the thrashing Obsidius away from the barbed female with what little strength he had left. Howling with rage, Obsidius flailed like a hooked fish as he tried to snag the winged amphibian in his limestone claws, wanting nothing more than to butcher him with his bare hands here and now. But as he was dragged along the ground, he looked over his shoulder, trying to get a clear shot at the male. As he did, he got a full glimpse of what else lay behind him, and the realization of where the male MUTO was dragging him towards dawned on him.

Standing side by side together, two old enemies now shared a hatred for a common enemy. MUTO Prime bent under to hold the exhausted female MUTO back up to her feet, grumbling a deep chatter as she then turned back to glare at the sadistic golem that was steadily being dragged towards them by the second. The female MUTO growled her own hatred towards the volcanic abomination; the rivalry between her and her old rival was but forgotten in this moment. The feelings towards their common foe were mutual at this point, and that was all that mattered. Seeing MUTO Prime’s eyes beginning to shine red and spark with scarlet electricity, the female MUTO wisely stepped back as the Dragon Beetle prepared to unleash her most formidable weapon.

The male MUTO slung his arms upwards, tearing two deep trenches into Obsidius’ rocky flesh along the way as he finally let go and took flight, just as MUTO Prime capitalized on the opportunity. Her eyes glowing brighter than ever, the Titan killer let loose her supersonic roar upon the vile Obsidius. Whatever substituted for pain receptors in the lava monster’s body all but exploded as the waves of concussive sound ripped through his granite-strewn body with tremendous force. Lava leaked from shattered veins and forming cracks in his body alike, limbs flailing like a madman as Obsidius stepped back in a vain attempt to escape the pain. An attempt that proved futile as MUTO Prime continued to lumber forward, continuing to unleash her fury upon the volcanic organism. Molten lifeblood poured from Obsidius’ screaming maw as he reeled in agony, his stone body slowly beginning to crumble under the power of the concussive sound that ravaged his being.

Even the very moment MUTO Prime’s sonic roar ceased, the pain didn’t stop. With a booming howl, MUTO Prime smashed her fist into the ground, producing a powerful shockwave that sent Obsidius flying back with a howl-

-which cut off when a long, black appendage burst through his back and out his chest, impaling him.

The barbed female MUTO roared with rage as she ripped her scythe out of the golem’s body, ignoring the igneous blood that burned the offending limb as she pounced back onto her mate’s killer. Roaring their denouncement to the volcanic superorganism, both the larger female and MUTO Prime charged into the fray as they too descended upon the crippled Obsidius, and this time there was no stopping them. Filling the air with their screams of wrath, the three MUTOs proceeded to curb stomp the once tyrannical titan all at once. Time and again the once invulnerable berserker was pelted with scythed limbs punching over and over into his crippled body; all accompanied by repeated strikes of MUTO Prime’s fists smashing into him, caving his injuries in deeper with every blow as molten rock geysered forth through the multiplying wounds. Solid granite cracked further with each hit, lava leaked and spurt about; his arms, legs, stomach, torso, neck, head, all came away in the brutal onslaught of the enraged Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organisms.

Obsidius’ once terrifying roars gradually evolved into repulsive gurgles of bubbling lava frothing from his shattering mouth as the MUTOs proceeded to beat him into an unrecognizable puddle of shattered rock and pooling magma that steamed on the cold autumn ground. The magma singed at the MUTOs’ feet, but in their rage they paid it no mind- the circumstances were far too urgent. They knew how close to victory they were, and they were taking no chances. They needed to make absolute certain that this cruel obscenity was destroyed, and so they continued their savage massacre. Eventually, there was little left of the volcanic berserker to subjugate, and Obsidius’ head emitted a last, dying gurgle as the barbed MUTO reared up off the ground, raising her forearms into the sky. The other two MUTOs backed off, knowing full well she deserved this kill more than anything.

With a roar that made her lungs ache, she brought them both down through Obsidius’ head.

The golem’s eyesless skull split like an overripe melon, spilling lava of all textures everywhere across the floor. All movement from the mutilated husk that was once Obsidius ceased, and the magma that once flowed through his unnatural veins began to rapidly cool and fade to a dull, lifeless gray. A wave of satisfaction coursed through the MUTO’s mind as she watched all life in the wretched beast who had taken her mate’s life flee from existence, until it now resembled nothing more than simply a shattered pile of rocks left to erode.

All four MUTOs reared on their tired legs and filled the air with their howls of victory.

As their cries faded into the wind, the victors simply stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do now that this most loathsome foe had been at last slain. The barbed female MUTO continued to glare unmovingly at the deceased remains, still and silent as a sleeping reptile, not even uttering the lowest of grumbling booms. She simply watched the unmoving chunks that remained of the volcanic atrocity, as if she expected them to come back to life at any given moment. But nothing came from either; the remains of Obsidius lay upon the earth barren and harmless as ever, and the barbed female MUTO continued to glare at it for what felt to be a suspenseful eternity.

But it wasn’t to be.

With the longest, most mournful sigh, the battered nucleovore slowly turned away and began to limp back the way she came without sparing her allies so much as a glance. MUTO Prime boomed a guttural grumble as she looked back to the male and female whom she had met a week ago, sharing once last glance with them. The one look alone between the unlikely trio communicated everything there was needed between them, and just like that, all bad blood from the past had been put aside for good. They had all worked together to destroy a potential threat to all life on earth, and had succeeded. The female MUTO understood perfectly well that had it not been for the intervention of her old rival and her newfound companion, then she and her mate would likely not be standing here alive right now. They would’ve been charred, barbecued corpses blazing in a heap behind the leaving footfalls of the evil abomination known as Obsidius.

With a last bellow, MUTO Prime turned away and followed the barbed female, catching up with her as she too took her leave; her former foe wailing her gratitude to her as they parted ways.

The two MUTOs, male and female, decided that they too had been here long enough. It was time to regroup back at their nest and recuperate, for today had proven to be nothing short of unconventional. Now would be a time to rest- they deserved it. The pair sharing a moment to nuzzle affectionately, the MUTOs finally began to trudge away as they followed the path back to their territory by sheer memory. Such a walk was a short one, for the battle had not taken place very far from where their main nesting ground lay. And upon arrival, they were greeted with a familiar sight that had never been so sweet to sore eyes. The air was fresh and cold; the watery veil of the lake was still enough to provide a biological mirror of the sky; the recognizable chatters of their unhatched young within Methusela’s corpse reached their ears as they re-entered their beloved territory. Burnt, bruised, exhausted, but alive.

It had never been so sweet to re-embrace the warm comforts of home.

*****

MUTO Prime lunged under the barbed female just as she stumbled, nearly falling to the earth had it not been for the larger Kaiju catching her and lifting her back to her feet. A somber chatter rumbled from the MUTO’s throat as she continued her limp, the pains of battle and childbirth catching back up to her. Even her Element X banquet that had re-energized her and her titanic savior hadn’t eliminated the terrible waves of exhaustion that threatened to make her monolithic body give out with every step she took. She could have no more combat after this for at least a good two days; she needed rest, and a very long period of it at that. But most importantly… she needed to mourn. She needed time to comprehend all that had changed in the course of a day, all that the vile golem known as Obsidius had taken from her.

As intelligent as she and the rest of her species were, they were still animals. Their mindsets being rather primitive- but even a mind as feral as hers still understood the concept of change. Understood the pains of it. And through that, still understood the pain of loss.

With a wounded wail she stumbled a second time- and yet again, was suddenly caught by the larger MUTO Prime. The larger Titan hoisted the eight-legged amphibian back to her feet once more, rumbling a soft chatter. But as the two nuclear predators rose back to their full height, the barbed MUTO shakily reached up and nuzzled her savior, emitting a deep series of clicks in gratitude. For a moment, the larger MUTO was unsure of how to react to this, frozen stiff like a deer in headlights. But before long, her long-dormant social instincts clicked back into gear for the first time in many years.

With a soft rumble of infrasound, she returned the gesture.

*****

One week later; Winter Solstice

A deep snore reverberated throughout the luminous caverns of the most radioactive material known to humanity, Element X. Laying comfortably upon a flat space of the toxic gems like a mythological dragon upon its treasure horde, the Queen MUTO slumbered soundly next to her batch of eggs; the unborn tadpoles permanently kept alive due to the presence of unfading radiation within their surroundings. Her burns and wounds had long since faded into scars, adorning her elephantine skin all across her body as a testament to the might of her slain adversary. But despite the rugged and battle-torn texture of her body, the giant amphibian slept in a state of comfortable, painless peace.

After all that she had suffered, after all that had been taken from her, she finally had all the time in the world to have some peace and quiet.

Not too far away, staring in the direction of the entrance to the cavern of Element X, MUTO Prime stood tall and mighty like a mythical statue; her tongue clicking every four seconds as she tested her echolocation skills, listening to the howling winter snowstorm that raged outside. Her optical visor pulsed faintly with bioluminescence as she looked about her radioactive territory, still clicking her tongue as she made certain that no more threats were headed their way. The Dragon Beetle could detect nothing, which eased her mind, but still she remained vigilant. The only noises that reached her auditory receptors were the infantile chatters of the unborn MUTO tadpoles and the soft snoring of their mother.

Chittering one last echolocative call and detecting nothing once more, MUTO Prime finally stepped away from her vigilance and trudged onward, continuing to listen to the muffled roar of the blizzard outside. The voice of the wind whispered through the caverns in warped, ghostly howls that would’ve unnerved most creatures, but MUTO Prime understood it was merely but a natural phenomenon of nature far beyond their reach. They were safe and untouchable in the heart of the mountain, out of reach of the bitter cold.

For a moment, the random voice of the distant wind shifted, sounding somewhat akin to a familiar roar for a moment before dying away. A mere two seconds later, a roused chitter croaked from the jaws of the sleeping Queen MUTO as she shifted in her sleep, beginning to twitch and quiver every now and then. Stressed sighs and croaks began to wisp from her jaws, the sounds of the outside world influencing her dreams and turning them into bitter nightmares.

But like all bygone menaces from the past, they wouldn’t last.

Rumbling softly, MUTO Prime knelt down to nuzzle her triangular skull, and already the sleeping giant’s twitching began to subside as her gigantic body loosened back to its peaceful state, and she was still and peaceful once more. Satisfied, the Earthquake Beetle stood back to her full height as she scoured about her territory with her biological visor, all the while she contemplated all that lay before her. For the majority of the Fall, MUTO Prime had searched about for a mate to allow her to produce the next generation carrying her genetics. Unfortunately, time nor fate had not been kind to her during her voyages, and she had ultimately failed. However, surprisingly, such a disappointment hadn’t proved to be the end of everything for her. Fate had ended up yielding some truly surprising results for her, indeed.

A widowed female MUTO slumbering soundly on the ground, a fresh batch of healthy eggs beside her who lacked a second parent, and an entire territory reeking of their species’ primary food source that they both shared together, that was all theirs for the taking and theirs alone. A literal mountain of energy that could last them for years if not decades to come.

A pleasant twinge of fondness coursed though her mind as MUTO Prime knelt down to nuzzle the slumbering Queen MUTO, who continued to snore soundly. For all the failure and bad karma that had befallen the both of them in the past week during the end stages of autumn…

This was not a bad place to start over.

Winner: MUTO, MUTO Prime

Author: Harley Jameson | Banner: Vincent Rodger

Sluggishly sitting up, Asuka reached over to check the time on her phone and sighed through her nose. It was just after six in the morning. She glanced down at the still sleeping Rei next to her and carefully wormed her way out of bed and re-adjusted the covers so the other girl could stay sleeping a little while longer. It’s not as if she was an early riser even on good days, she thought to herself.

Still, it gave her uninterrupted time to get herself ready for the day and make breakfast for the both of them. Thanks to how long she showered to maintain her hair, by the time she was dried off, dressed, and making breakfast Rei would hopefully be up by then. If not…. well, there were always leftovers and re-heating, she supposed.

Stepping out of the shower and sitting down on the rim of the tub, her phone buzzed and she reached over to see who it was and turned on the video call and set her phone somewhere where the recipient couldn’t see all of her. “Hey loser.” She smiled good naturedly.

“Morgen, Asuka!” A bright and chipper voice spoke through the other end. It was still odd hearing Shinji sound so happy and carefree but she couldn’t deny the extended vacation he was taking was doing him a world of good. She smiled a bit at the little video screen.

“Ah, endlich in Deutschland angekommen?” She asked him, snickering in amusement as she watched him fumble through a phrasebook and frowning. It was nice to speak her mother tongue again, even if he didn’t really understand her. “You must have just gotten off of the plane, it’s pretty late there isn’t it?” She continued in Japanese.

He nodded a little, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. “Y-Yeah we did. Kaworu’s at the hotel checking us in right now, I just went off with Mari to get something to eat.” A hand stuck into view to wave before disappearing. “I’ll have to ask for good recommendations from you later, right now we’re just getting something cheap and easy.” Quietly, she always wondered how on earth Shinji managed to pull both of them but she never had the guts to ask.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you know all of the best foods to eat,” She waved at him lazily. “Just don’t overindulge on the beer alright? We know how to drink.” She snorted, even though she herself had never actually gotten to drink back in her home country. She hadn’t been back since…

Well, since she was a teenager and had been recruited to the Japanese branch of NERV. It made her chest feel somewhat tighter knowing that she had been away for so long. Already an adult – hell she was nearly 30 now – and still sticking in Japan.

At least the work wasn’t boring, she mused to herself. Ever since the whole fiasco with the tenth angel (or was it fourteenth? She lost track of how many of the damn things there were anymore) and having to basically rebuild NERV from scratch while Shinji took a long overdue vacation after things had finally settled down, a global tour! With all of the backpay they were given when they turned 18, none of them really needed to worry about money ever again.

Her beloved Eva 02 was one of the few still fully operational at the time and as such she had been working night and day with whatever they had needed. It was actually pretty nice, using her powerful machine to help with construction or other tasks that would require it. And then the angels had either stopped or slowed down significantly. Asuka only half-listened as Shinji detailed some of his plans for their time in Germany.

“I’ll let you get some sleep, Shinji.” She said after a while. “Tell Mari I say hi, and tell Kaworu to use some freaking sunscreen next time.” The picture he had sent her while they were on the cruise ship of Kaworu’s pale features being a bright red still made her cackle from time to time.

“Tell Rei I’ll call later when we’re up, alright?” She nodded absently and turned the phone off before checking the time and slipping her eyepatch back on before getting dressed and into the little kitchen space. After some minor debate, she decided on a healthy European breakfast this time. Eggs, bacon, sausages, the works. Working two pans on the stove, Asuka couldn’t help but laugh a little at how domestic she had really become over the years, but years of therapy had worked wonders. Now she was able to keep that legendary temper of hers in check or directed in the right direction. Most of the time. Her therapist had recommended that she keep a mental or physical checklist of stuff that made her happy to counterbalance what made her angry and it worked wonders.

Asuka took a deep breath as the rich scent of bacon, eggs, and sausage being fried filled the little home she and Rei had bought for themselves. She cooked the bacon with the sausage, one of the few things she remembered clearly about her mother before her health took a nosedive.

Two slender, pale arms wrapped around her waist and she felt Rei’s hot breath against her neck as she nuzzled against her hair. “Smells good.” The other pilot murmured against her skin.

Asuka gave a little laugh, swirling around the grease in the bacon and sausage pan. “Do you mean the food or me, Schatzi?”

“Both.” Rei hugged Asuka tighter for a few moments before reluctantly pulling herself away. “I should go shower.”

“Breakfast will likely be ready by the time you’re out.” Asuka agreed, scooting some of the eggs with her spatula. “What do you want to drink with the food?”

“Anything will do.” Came the somewhat detached, flat tone. Out of the corner of her eye, Asuka watched Rei disappear back upstairs and sighed to herself.

What had been eating at her partner lately? Ever since Eva 00’s repairs were finally finished and was deemed field worthy, Rei had seemed so… off somehow. Asuka hadn’t been able to pinpoint what was going on, only noticing that she was slipping further and further back into habits that she used to have when they were in high school. She remembered was Rei was like in high school, and the thought of her treasure backsliding into that lifeless husk again scared her more than she wanted to admit.

Her phone rang out again to break her out of her stupor, the ringtone she set for Misato was as loud and obnoxious as the now head of NERV often was when off duty. Picking up the phone, she set it on speaker. “Mornin’ boss.”

“Morning Asuka!” Misato sounded far too chipper for the hour even if it wasn’t that early yet. “I know that you and Rei have the day off but as soon as you can I need you to come down to Terminal Dogma and get ready to suit up.”

Asuka frowned a little at that as she flipped the bacon and made sure the sausage got in with the fat. “What for? It’s not an angel is it?” Suddenly she felt her shoulders tense at the possibility.

“No! No no. Trust me if it was an Angel then things would be way more hectic. It’s just… well it’s kind of hard to explain over the phone. It’ll be easier to brief you both in person. But there’s not a big rush! Just finish up breakfast and come down. See you in a bit!”

Well, so much for her plans for the day. Rei, having rechanged into her pajamas, gave her a kiss on the cheek in thanks before sitting down. Then she cocked her head at Asuka. “What’s the matter? You look annoyed.”

The German scoffed as she munched on her bacon. “Misato just called us in. Said that after we’re finished eating we have to go down to Terminal Dogma to suit up. Didn’t want to tell me over the phone why though.”

Rei hesitated as she brought a forkful of egg and some bacon to her mouth and a tiny frown creased her forehead. Her tone was still flat, but Asuka could detect some anxiety in it. “…It’s not an angel, is it?”

She reached over to grab Rei’s free hand and squeezed it gently, running her thumb over the back of her hand. “No, liebe, it’s not. Whatever it is, it doesn’t seem to be that important.” Rei nodded, squeezing Asuka’s fingers briefly before pulling away to keep eating.

Asuka was happy to note down in her mental checklist that Rei had indeed eaten the entire meal as they made their way to work. That was another thing to add on the happy checklist for the day, she decided. The idea of going to work. It felt so… normal, in a way. She liked having a life that wasn’t constantly surrounded by chaos and esoteric alien bullshit.

Changing into the plugsuits, Asuka let out a low whistle when she saw Rei. “Looking good Rei.”

She rolled her eyes fondly. “You always say that.”

Grinning cheekily, she walked over to her partner and bumped their hips together. “And I always mean it. You looked good in it when we were teenagers and you’ll look just as good when we’re old crones.”

Instead of the desired result of getting her to smile, Rei instead grimaced a bit. “Mmm, yeah.” She immediately forced herself to smile a little though, and nudged Asuka’s hips back gently. “You look even better in yours though.”

Deciding to let it slide for now, Asuka hummed thoughtfully. “I think it’s just the red. I don’t think white suits you very much.” She looked Rei up and down, frowning. “What about getting a paint scheme to match your Eva? The blue would look great on you. Or you could try orange.” She smiled at her teasingly.

Rei’s nose wrinkled at that as they kept walking towards the briefing room. “The orange looked awful on 00.” Then she looked down at her plain white suit and pursed her lips. “…You think the blue would look good on me?”

“We can go clothes shopping once work is done and I’ll show you what I mean. But Rei…” Sitting down, Asuka pulled Rei close and whispered softly in her ear. “You look good in anything.” Then she released her, watching with a smug satisfaction the way Rei’s face lit up crimson.

Some more soldiers and scientists shuffled into the briefing room, giving both women some hellos before Misato walked into the room and cleared her throat. “Thank you everyone for coming at short notice, especially our two Eva pilots.” She chuckled a little, rubbing the back of her head. “I realize this briefing is rather sudden but I’m afraid it is urgent.”

It was always amazing to watch Misato go from the happy-go-lucky all smiles boss to the hardened, serious military leader so quickly. “Lights!” The whole room went dim and a giant holographic display of Old Tokyo was formed in front of everyone present.

“As some of you may be aware, recently there has been a construction effort to drain more of the water submerging Old Tokyo to make room for an expanded landfill.” The display shifted to show the estimated size of the increased landfill. “It was during the process that some unknown cocoon or chrysalis was discovered.” A huge, egg-shaped mark was plopped in on the display. “After an initial investigation, we were able to determine that it is not an Angel. However, whatever this strange cocoon is, it is clearly alive and housing some kind of creature. With that in mind, the Japanese government has asked NERV to investigate this strange entity.”

“Why ask us to investigate? If it’s not an angel, it’s not in our jurisdiction.”

“You’re absolutely right. However, after the incident with Jet Alone along with the recent approval for Evangelion Unit 00 to return to active field duty, the fact is that the Evangelions are the only machines capable of dealing with any potential problem that may arise. As it happens, this strange entity is emitting an EMP pulse at regular intervals which under normal circumstances would render any electronic equipment completely unusable. However…”

The display updated again, this time showing the EMP pulses surrounding the cocoon. “The Evangelions are capable of running without power if needed, as well as both of our Evas having been modified to be able to withstand EMPs more readily after having to launch them manually after dealing with the Eleventh Angel. The battery packs have been brought out of storage for this mission specifically.”

Asuka briefly shivered at the memory of that incident. In the middle of reconstruction after the 10th Angel’s attack, the 11th Angel had shown up. She could still remember those unblinking, haunting eyes staring down at her as they executed the plan to kill it with what minimal resources they had left.

The projection scaled back a little to show where NERV forces and the two Evangelion units would be positioned. “As we’re unaware of what this entity is capable of, Unit 00 will be positioned above the ground with the rest of the troops while Unit 02 will lead the investigation underwater. Asuka, while you should be safe inside the plug, you’re going to be given some diving equipment before you sortie just in case. Are there any questions so far?”

Asuka glanced over at Rei, noticing how her hands were balled into fists. She couldn’t really blame her, Rei seemed to be getting more anxious every time they went on missions. It started to remind her of Shinji and how nervous he would always get. It was kinda cute, knowing Rei was so worried about her safety. She scooted over, whispering softly. “I’ll be okay.”

Rei’s eyes flickered to Asuka, lingering on her eyepatch for longer than was probably necessary. Asuka frowned, squeezing her thigh. “I’ll be fine, Rei. I’ll be careful.” Rei didn’t respond, instead focusing her attention back to Misato.

“What do we do if the entity is hostile?” She asked.

Misato hummed a little at Rei’s question. “That unfortunately, will be difficult to determine. We won’t be going in as equipped for combat as I would like to be and there’s some other organization in the UN preventing us from doing so. I don’t remember the name off the top of my head, but our official orders are that we’re to determine if this strange cocoon is close to hatching and if so, if the creature within is a potential threat to the country.”

Asuka folded her arms and scoffed a bit. “What exactly constitutes a threat in this situation?”

Misato shrugged at that, but there was a dangerous gleam in her eye. “That is something we get to determine for ourselves. And I don’t know about any of you, but I for one am not willing to take any chances. If something even remotely resembling a threat or a problem happens, we’re to treat it as if it were an Angel attack and use all of our available resources to take it down. Is that clear?”

There was a chorus of agreements and Misato clapped her hands together. The holographic projectors cut out and the lights dimmed back on. “Alright everyone, that’ll do it for now. You all have your assignments. Asuka, Rei, I’ll get in contact with you over the comms when you’re in your Evas, okay? Dismissed!”

As everyone filed out of the room, Asuka grabbed Rei’s arm and held her back as they walked towards their respective hangers. “Rei, liebe, are you alright? You seem… more anxious than normal about this.”

Rei didn’t respond for a moment, reaching up to grab Asuka’s hand and squeeze. “I’ll tell you after the mission.” She mumbled, purposefully avoiding looking at her lover as she quickly headed towards Eva 00’s hanger.

Watching her go, Asuka suddenly felt the cold feeling of dread wash over her as she made her way into Eva 02’s hanger. In addition to the plugsuit, she was given a scuba tank and mask in the event something went wrong. Shivering as she was submerged in the plug and injected into the mighty machine, Evangelion Unit 02 hummed to life as she prepared it for sortie. “Give me strength, mother.” She whispered softly.

Something was wrong with Rei, and she was going to find out what it was. Those thoughts kept her distracted as she carefully climbed Eva 02 onto the loading bed of a giant transport truck and knelt it down, sitting back to watch the cityscape of Tokyo-3 disappear into the countryside as they were en route to Old Tokyo.

The silence was getting to her, and she leaned over to flicker on the radio and hail Eva 00. “Rei, I almost forgot. Shinji called while you were still asleep this morning.” She tapped her fingers nervously against one of the controls. “He said he’d call you sometime later tonight. So you get to look forward to telling him all about this little adventure huh?” She laughed a little to fill the dead air, her nerves starting to get the better of her as Rei didn’t say anything back.

Mercifully, Misato’s voice crackled into life to help fill the tension. “Ohh? Glad to hear he’s made it to Germany safe and sound then! Kinda hard to believe he’ll still be gone for a while on his whole World Tour thing. Is he still sending his dad postcards?”

“I think so,” Asuka said, happy to have someone to talk to to take her mind off of the storm she felt brewing. “I know that Kaworu would probably want to send the old bastard some cards to his cell out of spite if nothing else.” Asuka remembered the dramatic and sudden ousting of Gendo Ikari from a position of power during the middle of reconstruction had nearly caused the whole thing to cave in on itself. After old man Fuyutsuki blew the whistle, Gendo was immediately hauled to jail. When asked why, Fuyutsuki simply said that he couldn’t stomach what Gendo had planned anymore.

“Mmm, that sounds like Kaworu. But I think if Shinji’s doing this then maybe he’ll actually go visit Gendo once his vacation’s over. He’s certainly grown into a capable man.” Asuka raised an eyebrow at the almost wistful sigh Misato gave at that. “Hopefully Gendo’s as proud of him as I am.”

Asuka nodded at that. It took her years and lots of therapy for her to actually tell Shinji just how much he meant to her as a friend without backhanding it out like her usual angry self. “I’m kind of jealous of him, actually.” She admitted after a moment. “I haven’t been able to…” She trailed off a little, unsure if she could rightly call Germany ‘home’ after being away for so long. “I haven’t been able to see my father and step-mother for a while.” She settled on.

Reconciling with both her father and step-mother had been the hardest moment of Asuka’s entire life. Rei had been her anchor back in those hectic, early days of adulthood. Not only was she trying to reconnect with her family, she was also coming out as a lesbian to them at around the same time. Asuka couldn’t remember the last time she cried so hard when her father said he still loved her and wanted her and her girlfriend to visit them back at home.

“Maybe after Shinji and his entourage gets back, you can take a vacation back to Germany for a bit?” Misato suggested. “I think getting some time to yourself and Rei would be a great idea, especially after we’re gonna be dealing with this weird situation.”

Asuka’s heart jumped in her throat at that. The idea of going to Germany with Rei on a proper vacation hit her like a rampaging angel. Sure, there were always plans in the back of her mind but for some reason hearing Misato say it so casually made it seem much more real. “Yeah, I think that’d be good for us.” She said quietly.

Misato cleared her throat and her tone was serious again. “Alright, it looks like you’re nearing the target location. You’ll be brought near the water’s edge and then you’ll have to dive in from there. The target isn’t too far down in the water mercifully, but I want you to be careful regardless Asuka. There’s a lot of unknowns going into this.”

She gripped the controls of Eva 02 tightly. “I’ll be careful.” She promised, knowing Rei could still hear them.

Once everyone got into position, Eva 02 stood up to her full height and looked around briefly. There were military and self-defence force personnel stationed on some of the ruined skyscrapers, and there were a few tanks lining the shoreline where the artificial shore had been built back up. Eva 00 stood like a statue, singular green eye glaring at the water.

“This is Unit 02. I’m going in.” Wading into the water, Asuka double checked her sensors to make sure they were all working as she was fully submerged beneath the still water. Very rarely did any of the Evangelion pilots need to put themselves underwater alongside their machines, but all of the Evangelion units had been designed to be somewhat capable of such unusual terrain. She had even been told that the Evangelion units were capable of submerging themselves in lava, but Asuka had always wondered why that sort of thing was even necessary. What kind of angel would be underwater?

As Eva 02’s feet touched the bottom of the flooded city, she switched on the external headlights and double checked her readings one more time. Something was off…she checked the geiger counter and cocked her head. “Misato, wasn’t Old Tokyo bombarded with nuclear missiles after Second Impact?”

“Yes it was, but it’s been so long since the incident that there’s no danger of radiation. Why?”

“Because I should be picking up some trace amounts of radiation from the fallout.” Asuka explained with a frown. “But I’m not picking anything up.”

“It’s possible that the floodwaters that came in after the whole event helped disperse the radiation.” Rei’s voice chimed in, and Asuka shivered at how detached she sounded. “Water is often used in nuclear reactors to help store spent fuel. The water helps shield the radiation.”

Asuka wasn’t entirely sure she bought that, but she felt it was better to humor her treasure in this instance. “Ahh I see, thank you for telling me Mein Schatzi. I’m continuing on towards the target.”

The underwater ruins were an eerie sight to Asuka. Rusted and corroded buildings half submerged in water and blackened by a point blank nuclear strike. There was no sea life around either, and the idea of anything growing in this kind of environment did nothing to calm her nerves.

It didn’t take long for Asuka to find the target and she paused to examine the thing in mild shock. It was as tall as a small building, nearly curling in on top of itself as an eerie, red light pulsed up the organic-looking tissue. She flicked on her radio and flinched when the static hissed through. “Misato, I found the target. It’s… a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be.”

The red lights on the chrysalis grew faster and then dimmed. Eva 02’s screen flickered a little and more static burst through the comms. “I don’t know if you can hear me, but I’m getting closer.” Cautiously, Eva 02 walked closer to the unknown dormant organism. The floodlights on Eva 02 blinked rapidly the closer she got. Just for a split second, she thought she saw movement.

Then a giant, spindly leg crashed out of the cocoon and slammed against Eva 02’s chest. Asuka grunted in pain and pulled back, Eva 02 taking a few steps back as the strange organism broke free of the cocoon and immediately darted for the surface.

“Oh no you don’t!”

Pulling out one of her prog knives, the water began boiling around the rapidly vibrating blade as Eva 02 surged forward, grabbing at the surfacing creature to drag it back down into the water. The creature squealed and writhed in Eva 02’s grasp, the prog knife just barely nicking one of its legs and blood clouded the water.

The creature reared up one of its legs and battered Eva 02 across the head and back to free itself, Asuka blinking rapidly to keep her focus sharp before the creature’s body flashed a sharp blue and… the world went black.

The EMP. Asuka quietly affixed the breathing apparatus she had been forced to bring onto her face as the cockpit shook violently and Eva 02 presumably crashed to the ground after being shoved away. She gripped the controls tightly, tapping her finger until the screen suddenly burst to life and the battery packs kicked in. After a brief check, the radios were still down and soon she was marching back onto dry land.

The closer she got to the surface, the clearer the war above her was. Bullets splashed against the water and she could hear the distant thunder of tank shells firing. There was another bright flash of blue and all of a sudden the screens flickered again as another EMP boomed out. Finally breaking through to the surface, she sucked in an unhappy breath to see Unit 00 grappling around with the strange creature.

Sprinting over, Unit 02 tackled the large creature off of 00 before grabbing Unit 00’s hands and pulling her back to her feet. The two nodded at each other, 02 unsheathing her other prog knife while 00 brought her own out and both turned to face down the strange creature together.

The radio hissed to life and at such close proximity they could finally break through. “What’s the plan?” Rei asked as the two machines edged around the dazed creature.

“If we can pincer attack it, we might stand a chance. It’s big and strong but kind of slow after just… hatching, more or less.” Her eyes unfocused for a moment and she shook her head again. “I probably have a concussion, too, so don’t mirror my movements that closely.”

“Asuka…” Rei’s concern bled through the static radio. “Maybe we should fall back for now and get better equipped, we only have our prog knives…” It wasn’t an awful idea, but Asuka knew why Rei was suggesting it.

“I’ll be fine for a little longer, Rei. Don’t worry. As long as we’re a little careful, we can take this thing down no problem. We’ve dealt with worse. We’re running out of time on the battery packs and we can’t let it escape, let’s move!”

Unit 02 ran forward with surgical precision and leaped over the creature while Unit 00 followed behind her, bearing down her prog knife and getting a decent slash against one of the creature’s many legs. It boomed out in pain and reared up to attack when Unit 02 jumped onto its back and grabbed the two front legs, yanking the creature backwards.

Rei watched as Unit 02 struggled against the creature, being thrown this way and that as she attempted to pin the legs down enough for her to get a clean attack against the creature. “Now, Rei!”

She hesitated. What if the creature moved at just the last second and she stabbed Unit 02? Asuka was already hurt, and what if her injuries got worse? What if Rei herself got hurt too badly? Then everything would-“REI!!” Asuka’s shout had broken her from her stupor and Unit 00 lurched forward on instinct, but it was too late, the creature had broken free and Unit 02 was thrown head over heel. All 00 could do was try to catch her, sending both of them crashing to the ground loudly.

As the two machines began scrambling to their feet, the creature suddenly jerked its head off to the side. Looking back at the two Evas, the creature turned away from them and began stomping off. Eva 00 moved to pursue but Eva 02 held out a hand. “Don’t.” She said quietly. As they watched the creature disappear, Misato’s voice finally burst through the radio.

“Rei! Asuka! Are you two alright? What the hell happened?”

Asuka cut Rei off before she could speak. “Some strange creature hatched from the cocoon and knocked us both out with a powerful EMP blast. It took us both off guard and we scrambled a bit to mount a proper counter-attack. Unfortunately, it escaped before we could really figure out what was going on.”

“Hmm… I see. Well, nothing we can do now. Come back to base and we’ll figure out what to do from here. I for one have to get on the phone with this ‘Monarch’ group or whatever they’re called and wring them for info. See you two in a bit.” The radio clicked off and there was silence as Unit 00 and 02 loaded themselves in the transport vehicles.

“Asuka…” Rei began. There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment, then Asuka sighed.

“Rei, let’s talk when we’re back at base.” She said quietly, before cutting the radio out. It hurt having to do that, but she also knew that it was something both girls had to do face to face and not over the radio. Asuka figured Misato didn’t buy the out she gave Rei but was grateful she took it regardless. Leaning, Asuka folded her arms, closed her eyes, and waited in silence as they journeyed home.

—

There was a small part of Asuka that was surprised that Rei was actually waiting for her outside the changing rooms. Asuka had taken a quick shower and changed back into some more comfortable clothing, and she had a fleeting worry that during that time, Rei would have fled for home to avoid the confrontation that was about to happen.

Asuka opened her mouth, but Rei took her hands and shook her head. “…Come with me.” And then began leading her off deeper in Terminal Dogma and into the elevators to take her down even further underground. As they rode down, Rei pulled Asuka to her in a tight, warm hug and nuzzled against her neck. “I’m sorry.” She breathed, sounding close to tears.

She held Rei back just as tightly, kissing the top of her head. “I just wish I could help you.” Asuka whispered back, and she meant with all of her heart. “I see you suffering and I don’t know why. I see you sliding back into how you used to be and I can’t stop it. You didn’t even use your AT field back there.”

The elevator jolted to a halt and Rei laced her hands with Asuka’s, pulling her out of the elevator. “Don’t tell anyone I brought you down here.” She said as they walked along the dark corridor. Asuka technically never had the clearance to be down here, but Rei at the moment didn’t quite care.

The tanks lining the walls lit up with an eerie orange glow. Pale bodies, some half-shapen, some full, with dead blank eyes and serene smiles on their faces twisted and writhed against one another in the tanks. Rei reached up a hand, fingertips touching the glass softly as she stared at her clones. “…You know I’m a clone.” She started. She felt Asuka’s arms around her waist as her gaze grew more haunted. “I was never meant to live this long.” Rei said quietly.

“I was made…” She frowned at the wording. “I was born for a specific purpose. Then I was to die, replaced by someone else who has my face and my name. I… was expendable.” She took a slow, shaky breath. Tears pricked her eyes. “But I have lived this long. I’ve survived into adulthood and that was never meant to happen. I wasn’t supposed to live, I wasn’t supposed to have friends. I wasn’t supposed to fall in love…” She hiccupped slightly, closing her eyes tightly. “And yet I have. I have so many wonderful people in my life. I have you.” She reached her hand down and squeezed Asuka’s hand.

“I have the one person in my life I cherish above all else. To wake up next to you every morning, to feel your skin against mine… you have given me everything.” Her shoulders shook. “And now I’m afraid of losing all of that now. I’m afraid of dying, everytime I get inside my Evangelion. Because I know that everytime we do, we risk dying. Every time an angel comes, we might not make it home.”

Rei leaned her forehead against the glass, tears staining it as the clones inside floated around lazily. “Will I be replaced if I die?” She asked aloud. “Will a new Rei step out of these tanks, a teenager again? I don’t… I don’t want that to happen to you. To have me gone and see another Rei take my place. To love me and show me what it means to live, only to have it all ripped away.”

“That’s why I hesitated. I was scared I would hurt you.” She sniffed and a few sobs broke out. “I couldn’t handle it by myself, I’m sorry. I don’t want to die and lose you, and you to lose me.” She turned and held Asuka close to her, sobbing against her chest. “I don’t want to be replaced!”

Asuka held Rei as she sobbed, her crying turning uglier as she held onto her lover for dear life. “Rei…” She sighed, stroking her back and kissing the side of her head. “Oh Rei… mein schönes Mädchen. You will never be replaced.” She took her own breath, pulling away so she could wipe Rei’s eyes with her thumbs and cupped her wet, tear-stained cheeks and leaned forward to press their foreheads together. “I love you and only you, Rei. That’s why I’ll do everything I can to protect you. From the angels, from the monsters, even yourself.”

“W-What if… what if you can’t?” Rei choked out. “What if we can’t…”

“We will.” Asuka countered firmly. “Just like you were there for me when I needed you the most, I’ll be here for you. I will be with you always, forever and ever. Even if you die, and even if another you steps out of these tanks… I will always love you.” She emphasized this point by kissing her cheeks. “And I’ll make sure you don’t die, because we haven’t gotten married yet and there’s still a lot to do.”

Rei stiffened in Asuka’s arms and she looked at her with wide, puffy-red eyes. “…You mean that?” She whispered. “You want to get married?”

Asuka hummed a little. “Not how I was intending to propose but… yes. I want to get married. To be bound to you for eternity and back.” She leaned in, her lips hovering over Rei’s. “Rei, will you marry me?”

Gripping Asuka’s shirt tightly, Rei opened her mouth and no words came out. Tears started spilling down her cheeks again. She kept trying to speak, until her vocal chords finally gave her the one word that she was so desperate to say. “Ja.” She leaned in, kissing Asuka roughly and emotionally. She held her beloved there, Asuka kissing her back and holding her close.

Deep down, Rei knew that she would have to seek professional help. As much as her lover did for her, Asuka could only do so much and Rei refused to be a burden on Asuka’s shoulders like that. That, however, could be dealt with later. All Rei wanted to be now is in Asuka’s arms.

“Let’s go home.” Rei murmured, and together they left the clone vats hands interlaced.

After eating dinner, both girls were laying in bed, Rei holding tightly onto Asuka and having her eyes shut. Asuka petted her hair gently, leaning back against the pillows and sighing. “I’ll have to go buy you a ring. I was planning on taking you out to your favorite place and surprising you with it. Oh well, I suppose it’s better this way.” She hoisted Rei up a little to whisper in her ear. “When this is over, and when Shinji gets back… I’ll take you out to Germany. Just you and me, okay?”

Rei nodded, laying her head on Asuka’s chest. “I’d like that, but…” The fear was still there. The fear of the angels, of these creatures. “What if that time never comes?”

Asuka was quiet for a moment, thinking over what to say next until it finally hit her. “Do you remember back when we were still in high school?” She asked, smiling a little when Rei blinked up at her in confusion, not sure what that had to do with their current conversation. Still, she answered. “Around when we got together.”

“A little.” She mumbled into her shoulder.

“I’m not surprised, we had just avoided Third Impact after all.” Asuka sighed and leaned back against the headboard a little. “I remember being worried sick about everyone after waking up in the hospital. I hadn’t even registered that I lost my eye until I could see all of you again.” She stroked Rei’s hair, humming.

“Shinji was in a bad way but stable, Mari and Kaworu were nowhere to be seen. And when I barged into your room…” She sighed a little as the memories came flooding back. “I saw you bandaged up and bruised. Shinji had told me that was how you looked when he was first recruited, but I was so stuck in my own head that I never really thought about it. I thought you were some hyper-competent robot girl. Invincible but emotionless.”

“Then I saw you laying there, sleeping. It was the first time I saw you looking so vulnerable. You almost looked fragile with how pale your skin was. I knew I was being unfair to you and I wanted to make it up somehow. Show my appreciation for you.”

She laughed a little at that, her hand moving up to touch the spot where her eye once was before bringing it back down. “So I sat down with you and helped you with your homework. I hung out with you at school and walked you home after class. To give you a sense of… Of normalcy I guess. After everything we went through, we deserved it. It wasn’t long after that I started seeing my therapist and she helped me realize something.”

Rei had been clinging onto every word her girlfriend was speaking, looking up at her now. “What?”

“That I loved you.” Asuka smiled knowingly at the memories. “I would go on and on about you to her. Talk about how frustrated I was that you never put yourself out there to find someone like Shinji did. Because you were a beautiful, wonderful girl and everyone else was too blind to notice.” She snorted a bit at herself. “That included me. Then she asked me one day out of the blue if I ever liked girls.”

“Naturally, I told her that I was as straight as an arrow, I had a crush on Kanji for the longest time… Then she asked me how I had talked about Kanji in the past. It was so embarrassing, love, to talk about that but she helped me realize my feelings by pointing out that I talked about you that way now.”

Cuddling Rei closer to her, Asuka kissed the top of her head before continuing her recollection. “It took me days of staring at my mirror and thinking over all of the times I thought about your smile, your laugh, your body.. To realize that I really was in love with you.”

Now it was Rei’s turn to smile. “It took me a while to realize my own feelings.” She said quietly. “I had never felt emotions like that before… Well, I should say I never let myself feel like that. I was terrified, I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. But when you confessed your feelings to me, I… I knew then that you were special to me. I just didn’t know how to figure it out.” She kissed her jaw. “You were so patient with me during that time. I was so shy and you were willing to take it slow, no matter how much it frustrated you. I could see it on your face sometimes, but every time I felt guilty I took it to mean my feelings were genuine. It took me a year before I finally had the guts to call you my girlfriend.”

Asuka let out a low, amused laugh. “You kissed me out of the blue during our graduation ceremony. I can’t think of a better gift than that. But you see, that’s why I brought this up. If it took us that long to finally be comfortable with… this.” She made an airy motion with her hand. “Then I don’t care how long it’ll take us to get a vacation. We will get it one day.”

Tilting Rei’s head up, she kissed her on the lips softly. “I made you a promise when you told me you wanted to try dating, Rei. I promised you that I would treat you like you deserved to be treated. And right now, you deserve to be treated like royalty. No Angels, no Evas, and no Monsters. Just you and me, going back home and enjoying ourselves. Okay?”

“Okay.” Rei whispered back, laying her head against Asuka’s chest. She wasn’t entirely sure if she could go to sleep, her anxieties were still raging within her, but now it was mixed with hope. Hope for the future and the two of them.

That was when Asuka carded her hand through Rei’s hair, and began humming softly.

“Ruhe, mein Liebling, schließe deine Augen.
Weine nicht und weine nicht.
Denk nur an unsere Bindungen.
Und lass mich dich in den Schlaf singen.
Die Engel können dir nichts anhaben.
Die Monster werden besiegt.
Und wenn du wegdriftest,
werden deine Träume süß sein.
Ruhe jetzt, mein Liebling.
Ich werde dich diese Nacht beschützen.
Versinke tief in deinen Träumen.
Und morgen heben wir ab…”

Asuka kept her voice soft and gentle. Although she wouldn’t call herself a good singer, Rei was fast asleep in her arms. Satisfied, she nestled down against the pillows and was soon off to sleep alongside her lover. The worries of tomorrow being temporarily forgotten.

—

Asuka was surprised to wake up to breakfast already cooked and set on a tray for her. She raised an eyebrow at Rei who shrugged and offered a little smile. “For yesterday.” She leaned in to peck her on the lips before sitting down on the edge, eating her own much lighter breakfast. “Misato called, said we had to come in as soon as possible. Not a flat out emergency, though.”

The German raised an eyebrow at her girlfriend as she dove into the food. “How long ago did she call?”

Rei’s smile grew a touch more mischievous and her tone lighter. “Before I made breakfast. About half an hour ago. You have plenty of time to eat and get dressed before we head out.” Upon closer inspection, Asuka had noticed that Rei hadn’t even changed out of her own pajamas. “Now please keep eating, we have a long day ahead of us after all.”

With a fond shake of her head, the two girls ate their breakfast and got dressed before heading to work and were greeted by a bemused Misato as they exited into Terminal Dogma. “You two took your time.” She said lightly, arms folded and raising an eyebrow. “Everything good between you two? Things are escalating and I need to make sure that you two are at 100%” She looked directly at Rei.

Rei stiffened slightly, but her eyes were sharp as she nodded. “We’re good.” She said firmly, and walked behind Misato towards the changing rooms. “What did you mean by things escalating?”

“It turns out that the creature you saw was part of a pair. Apparently, the one you fought was the female and the ruins of Tokyo-2 have recently been made into a nesting ground.” Both girls’ eyes widened a little as Misato continued. “I managed to use some connections to strong-arm this Monarch group into revealing the details for us. Naturally, they want to procreate and that’s apparently an apocalypse level scenario.”

“There is something that’s meant to be around to stop this sort of thing, but for whatever reason it’s not waking up and thus we’ve been given full authorization to treat this as an Angel and use any means necessary to stop them before the worst happens.” She held up a piece of paper. “Just got a report that the male stole a nuclear submarine, I don’t think I need to tell you why that’s not good. The male is the one with wings and can fly, so that’ll present another wrinkle to this operation. We’ve made sure to outfit both Evangelions with extra EMP protection after seeing the creature’s main weapon in action.”

Rei’s brow furrowed in thought as the two pilots entered the changing room and got into their plug suits. After putting on the last finishing touches, she walked over to Misato. “I have an idea.” She said, leaning in to whisper the plan.

Misato’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “You sure about that? It’ll put Asuka in a pretty dicey spot until you get what you need.”

“I’m sure. I won’t let her down.”

Slowly, the leader of NERV nodded her head. “Alright, I’ll let Asuka know what the details are en-route. Now go get in your Eva and I’ll make sure you two have all the arms you need.”

Loading themselves into the tubes, Misato resumed her position within the heart of Terminal Dogma and tapped on the radio. “Alright girls, listen up. Here’s what the plan is going to be. Asuka, you’re going to be going in there alone for a little while. I know that sounds crazy, but the goal here is to force the male to fly out into the open so Rei can get a clean shot with her sniper rifle. She’ll also be providing covering fire for you if things really get too hectic, but your priority is making sure she gets that shot off. Once the Male is neutralized, she’ll join the fight properly to assist you with taking down the female. Understood?”

“Understood.” They both replied. Rei spoke up next. “I won’t miss.”

Asuka only smiled. “I know you won’t, Schatzi.”

In the middle of Tokyo-2, two massive unidentified terrestrial objects were in the middle of a complicated mating ritual. The nuclear submarine lay at the heart of their nest, surrounded by dozens if not hundreds of eggs. Without the presence of the Alpha, the two’s brood would swarm the world. They nuzzled against one another, trilling happily.

A loud shot rang out and both MUTOs jerked back in alarm. The male squealed in pain as the large bullet from Eva 02’s pistol smashed into one of his legs. The female immediately bellowed in fury and went on the attack as Evangelion 02 dove to the side and sprinted after the male, firing more shots as the large creature spread his wings and took off into the air.

Raising her gun, Eva 02 instead whipped around and raised up its hands to form its AT Field, the two front forearms of the female smashing down on the barrier of energy as the EMP rippled across it. Immediately dropping the shield, Eva 02 fired a few point blank shots at the creature’s chest, pushing the female back with a squeal of pain and a splatter of blood.

The male swooped in from above, clawing at Eva 02’s shoulders with his claws in an attempt to grab the machine and lift it skywards. Flicking out one of her progknives, she slashed at his legs to force him to let go and aimed her pistol skywards, only to hear the click of an empty magazine. “Damn.” She hissed, throwing the useless pistol at the male. “This is Unit 02, requesting pallet rifle.”

“Pallet Rifle inbound, ETA 2 minutes Unit 02.”

Flicking out her other prog knife, she stabbed at the female who kept backing up, only to slam her claws down onto the ground and send an EMP Wave across the city. Evangelion 02 seized up, the prog knives flickering as their power was disrupted and the female tackled Unit 02 to the ground only to have Unit 02 roll with the attack and monkey-flip the female overhead and send her crashing back onto the ground.

“Good, the extra EMP protections we added are holding up.” Asuka thought to herself. A loud crash as the giant case holding the Pallet Rifle signalled its arrival as it smashed down onto one of the buildings. Ducking underneath the male’s attempts to grab her again, Eva 02 sprinted over and scaled the building as the case popped open and she quickly retrieved and loaded her rifle.

Crouching down, she aimed at the male and fired a neat series of bursts. A few bullets managed to hit home and the male staggered in the air, one bullet even clipping his wing. “That’s it.” She thought, reloading the rifle and firing at the female MUTO to ward her off as she approached the building, forcing her to retreat as the bullets ripped up the concrete.

“Follow me.” With a little grin, she jumped off of the building and latched onto one of the many half-finished skyscrapers, crawling up one-handed as she continually fired at the male MUTO wildly. The male screeched in rage, climbing higher into the sky as he circled the skyscraper and made occasional passes at Eva 02 with his claws.

The female marched up and began smashing the base of the skyscraper, intent on bringing it down as Eva 02 began clinging on for dear life, still firing at the MUTO as the machine kept climbing higher until she reached the apex. “Alright, Mein Engel.” She thought to herself. “It’s now or never.”

A few miles away, Unit 00 sat motionless. The large, heavy-duty sniper rifle nestled against its shoulder. The only movement was the occasional adjustment of the scope, and the slight shifting of the gun itself to account for aim.

It was tempting to fire off warning shots at the MUTOs as she watched the battle rage on through her scope, yet she kept her trigger finger steady and her nerves calm. She couldn’t afford to waste precious bullets or even worse, accidentally lure them to her position.

She trusted Asuka to get the job done, and she would do hers in turn.

Watching Unit 02 climb the skyscraper, Unit 00’s finger pressed itself against the trigger. Rei closed one of her eyes, leaning forward as she stared down the barrel of her mighty rifle and watched as the male MUTO started circling higher and higher out of the concrete jungle of Tokyo-2 and into the more open skies. “Just a little more..” She thought to herself.

Mentally, she went over all of the factors again. Calculating and adjusting her barrel accordingly to try and predict the circling motions the male was doing in the air. Bullet drop, air density, everything she could think of so she could nail that one perfect shot.

Finally, the male MUTO reached the apex of the building and soared around the top. The building was shaking as the female attempted to bring the thing down. The world faded away. Nothing else mattered in that moment than what was happening at that moment.

Now.

The shot exploded out like a thunderclap. In an instant, the bullet smashed through the male MUTO mid-flight and blew his head apart. Silently, the corpse angled downwards before crashing to the ground with a splattering, wet thud.

The female stopped what she was doing and immediately ran over to her mate. She trilled softly, nudging the corpse with one of her claws. As she got no response, she leaned down and nudged him again. No response. The corpse remained lifeless.

She wailed out in despair. A loud, howling wail that quickly turned into frothing, untold anger as she shrieked to the heavens. On some level, both Rei and Asuka could empathize with the creature’s despair. They knew that if the other had died, they would react the same way.

Placing her sniper rifle to the side, Unit 00 stood up. “This is Evangelion Unit 00.” Rei said into the comms. “The Male creature has been downed, now regrouping with Unit 02 to engage with the female. Misato, how long will I last with the battery packs?”

“About 5 minutes, give or take.”

“Good.” Yanking the umbilical cord out of its socket, Unit 00 leaped from her position and sprinted towards Tokyo-2. “I’ll be there shortly.”

The female was on a rampage, smashing everything in her path as she thundered towards Unit 02. Asuka stood calm and raised the AT Field to block the claws smashing down at her head but the female kept battering the forcefield, sending wave after wave of EMP energy in a frothing, desperate attempt to get at her mate’s killer.

Slowly reaching up one of her hands to her pylons, Unit 02 unsheathed one of her prog knives and quickly dropped the AT field, stabbing the female only for the claws to batter down against her head and knock the wind out of her.

Uncaring about the pain that suddenly flared in her chest, the female continued beating Eva 02 with her forelegs and claws, smashing into the machine over and over again and forcing her onto her hands and knees.

Raising her claws again, the female MUTO’s EMP energies sparked dangerously before she suddenly jerked to the side and shrieked in pain. Embedded in her back was a prog knife. Asuka’s vision swam but after shaking her head, she saw Eva 00 cradling her now smoking hand. The two machines looked at one another before they nodded and turned towards the female MUTO.

They circled around her like sharks, blood dripping from her back and her front as the vibrations of the knives racked her body with pain. She tried her best to keep her eyes on her mate’s killers but the blood loss was getting to her. She was going to die soon. Her brood would be unprotected.

She tried to move forward and found herself tripping over her shaky limbs, stumbling onto the ground and breathing raggedly. Blood seeped down onto the concrete below her. The female MUTO watched as the two machines walked over to her. The red one pulled out another knife.

Then there was blackness.

Unit 02 pulled her knife out of the skull of the now dead creature and retrieved the other two knives from the corpse. Once the weapons were safely back in their pylons, Eva 02 held out her hands and the escape hatch popped open.

A tired, sore, and still dizzy Asuka crawled out and sat down onto the palms of her Evangelion. She watched as Unit 00 mirrored her actions and soon Rei was sitting next to her. Her fingers looked burnt and raw.

Asuka clicked her tongue, grabbing Rei’s fingers and kissing the tips gently. “You didn’t need to do that.” She chided softly.

Rei hummed, clearly not caring as she brought Asuka close to her and kissed her head. “And you have a concussion, so I don’t want to hear it.” There was a small, almost smirk on her face as Asuka scoffed and rested her head in her lap. “Medical team will be here soon.” Rei assured her, brushing some hair out of her face.

“What about the submarine?” Asuka mumbled, closing her eyes as the throbbing pain in her head seemed to get worse. She could feel the dull ache behind her eyes.

“The JSDF can handle it,” Rei dismissed, wiggling her burnt fingers a little. “We were injured during the fight, after all.”

Asuka snorted in amusement. “You’re sneaky.”

“I learned from the best.”

They fell into silence as the distant sound of helicopters and tanks could be heard thudding into the city, and Asuka spoke up again. “Shinji’s gonna be unbearable when he next calls.” She groused, keeping her eyes screwed shut to help block out some of the pain. “We find out giant monsters are real and we kill two of ‘em. Sheesh…”

She smiled to herself as Rei burst into uncontrollable, happy laughter. She leaned against Rei as she laughed her head off and mentally began making plans to call her parents about setting up a guest room. The second Shinji got back to Japan, they were going to Germany.

Rei pulled Asuka in close and gave her a firm, delirious kiss on the lips. “I love you.” She whispered to her.

“I love you too.” She whispered back.

Winner: Evangelion Unit-00, Evangelion Unit-02

Creator: Joshua Sudomerski | Banner: Tarrell Christie

“Thalassophobia is the fear of the sea and can be associated with the fear of water or waves, fear of the vast emptiness, or fear of distance from land. [… It] could also be related to the fear of salty water.” -Kari Snyder from the article “Attack of the Water Monster” in the April 2003 issue of Boating

Waves casually lap the calm surface of the vast ocean. From above, the male MUTO plummets through the watery surface in a familiar maneuver, his visor-like eyes focused on a submarine cruising through the depths. But the sea itself also has eyes…

(more…)

Author: Joshua Strittmatter | Banner: Matthew Williams

A playful screech pierced the twilight ambience of Monster Island.

Minilla, the son of the King of the Monsters himself, kicked a sizable boulder with all his strength, sending it rolling forward like a soccer ball- a really heavy soccer ball. But he was able to send it rolling a sizable distance; he was getting stronger by the month. One day, he would be big enough and strong enough to defend himself all on his own, and days further still he’d be King of the Monsters just like his father. But for now, he stayed here practicing on simple rocks and any other inanimate objects he could find.

Squeaking again, Minilla kicked the stone a second time, sending it crashing against a pointed rock face. As it came to a halt, however, an idea entered the toddler Godzilla’s mind. He was practicing for so long on means of physical strength, perhaps now would be a good time for him to practice on the weapon his father made infamous. Walking up to the distance his young mind judged fit for the feat he hoped to achieve, Minilla bent low as he tried to focus on his internal energy and build it up. His tiny dorsal plates lit up with a faint blue light, and with a deep breath he reared back…

Minilla lurched forward and a simple smoke ring flew from his jaws, briefly taking a moment to encircle the rock before fading out of existence, not leaving a single mark. Minilla stomped the ground in frustration before taking a moment to lurch forward, breathing in as he leaned back once more to try again- and another smoke ring flew forth before evaporating. The young Godzilla sighed. He had a very long time to go before he reached anywhere remotely close to where his father stood in the world. But that didn’t mean he would cease practicing, and the saurian toddler took a moment to regain his breath before preparing to try again.

A louder, more aggressive chirp suddenly stung his ears and Minilla coughed up another smoke ring as he turned to see the mutant cuttlefish Gezora lumbering towards him, waving his tentacles menacingly while staring at him with predatory orange eyes. The Yog cephalopod screeched as he stalked towards the son of Godzilla. Minilla screamed and quickly began to hurry away, only to stop mid-stride when he saw the mutant rock crab Ganimes approaching from the other direction, pincers snapping in anticipation and mandibles splitting to release a malevolent chirp.

A third cry made Minilla’s blood run cold with terror, and the trembling toddler turned to his left to view the unmistakable disturbance. His eyes widened as the biggest bully of Monster Island, Gabara, cracked his fists and loosed another cackling cry as he gazed down upon the young Godzilla with an evil gaze; electricity crackling up his arms as he began to lumber towards Minilla. The child screamed with fright as the bullies began to close in on him, each one more than ready to deal their savage torments on the young Godzilla. Instinctively, Minilla took a deep breath as he pointed himself at his biggest enemy of the three and let loose.

A smoke ring launched into Gabara’s face, briefly making him wince before all three kaiju stopped short. The cries that followed from the trio sounded akin to cackling laughter at Minilla’s feeble attempt to defend himself. Screeching as loudly as he could, Minilla puffed in and tried to fire an atomic ray at Gezora, but yet again only a weak smoke ring assailed the cackling cuttlefish. As their laughter died down, Gabara decided enough was enough. Cackling sadistically, he reared his fist back-

-and was stopped by a booming footstep.

Gezora turned to his left, Ganimes to his right, and Gabara a full 180 as a savage, feral growl rumbled through the island and their souls alike. Almost instantly, Gabara’s hair stood on end as he jumped into the air like a startled cat, screaming horrifically in terror. The moment he landed back on the ground he was scrambling towards the nearest exit point. This was just as a dinosaurian giant clad in emerald scales and underdeveloped dorsal scutes charged right past Minilla and pounced on his former position. Gabara howled as he tried to climb over a sizable hill, but the Prince of Monsters himself was right on his tail with snapping jaws. As Gabara started to run, he stopped short when he found himself faced with a massive fissure in the earth; one that went down for a long distance, and its interior was laced with massive strings of unmistakable webbing. And the distance to the other side was too far to jump.

He was trapped.

With a hollow screech, his attacker clambered quickly over the hillside and lunged at him. Before he even had time to think it over, Gabara had jumped clear off the ground and into the gorge below, his last howl of fear echoing through the web-laden canyon as he braced for the inevitable, and painful, impact. But to him, it didn’t matter. He’d rather suffer a bad fall and fight his way through Kumonga’s lair than face the wrath of Minilla’s older brother again.

Filling the air with a higher-pitched version of his father’s famous cry, Godzilla Junior turned back and lumbered down the hill to find that Gezora and Ganimes were scattering. His blazing orange eyes glared back at them contently, his upper lip curled in a snarl. They remembered full well what he had done to Kamoebas last time, and were unwilling to suffer the same fate.

Minilla screeched happily as he ran over to his big brother, hugging his leg as hard as his little arms could allow. Junior grunted gently as he patted his younger sibling on the head, reassuring him that he was safe. Looking up in the direction of the fleeing Yog monsters, Godzilla Junior beat the ground behind him with his tail and roared his warning to them one last time, grunting contently when Minilla cupped his hands to his mouth and screeched to try and imitate him.

Someday, Minilla would get there. Someday, his little brother would be a king.

But for now, they were both still young. Definitely not the strongest monsters in the world, especially the younger of the two. Not even Junior had reached the point where one could call him “king,” and like his little brother he too would take a while before he reached such a stage in life. But that wasn’t to say he was inefficient at sending Monster Island’s resident bullies running for their lives whenever they tried to pick on Minilla. Six months ago, a particular rock turtle had tried chasing the toddler up a rock spire like a dog would a cat, and had received a fatal laceration to his neck from Junior’s claws that sent him reeling back into the sea in return. The other bullies had been weary of the Prince of Monsters before, but after such an event they were now downright terrified of him every time he showed his scaly face. And today, the sent message was just the same.

Nobody messed with his family and got away with it.

As the immature Godzillasaurus grunted to his brother and began to turn to walk inland with him, he froze. Something had caught his attention, a scent had entered his nostrils. And it was a scent he didn’t like. It smelled unnatural, misplaced, foul with decay, and just… wrong. His prehistoric mind couldn’t put a finger on what it was about that scent that reeked so strongly of malice, but whatever it was already had his scaly build tensed as a stone column. Beside him, Minya squeaked nervously as he grabbed Junior’s leg, seemingly aware of the strange scent as well.

The clouds, already darkening from the unseen setting sun as twilight slowly began to descend into night, were getting darker for a different reason. A low rumble of thunder echoed across the reaches of Monster Island; a storm was coming. The occurrence briefly startled Minilla who screeched and huddled against Junior’s leg. The monster prince grunted gently to his sibling as he patted his shoulder, still keeping his eyes peeled for any signs of the unnatural scent he was on. Deep down, he knew it wasn’t the oncoming storm that had him rigid. No, there was something else amiss.

Even with the gradually dying light, Godzilla Junior could see just fine thanks to his enhanced eyesight. So, the growing darkness did not hamper his detection skills in the slightest as he looked around, picking up no signs of any immediate threat. So rather than relying on his eyes, he instead set to using his ears and nose; rearing his head up, he inhaled a deep breath through his nostrils and took in all the information needed from that strange scent. He widened his eyes when he realized that whatever it belonged to had gotten closer.

Another rumble of thunder. The clouds were beginning to gray, the weather growing restless… and that’s when the monster prince saw it.

A being began to slowly descend from the clouds, carrying with it an aura of pure evil. Floating down from the brewing storm clouds in a crucifixion pose, smoothly and flawlessly in a manner that was anything but divine. For a moment, the strange beast was all but frozen in his position; not a single sign of so much as a twitch as he gradually descended towards the ground. But the very moment he touched the ground the creature lurched forward a bit, as if in a bow… before standing up to his full intimidating height to leer at the creatures before him with four glowing red, seemingly soulless eyes that screamed pure malicious evil.

The creature was a skeletal, humanoid dragon that stood upright on two legs, a black body clad in bony armor gray as volcanic ash. Clawed fingers curled into fists as the creature swished its two tails behind it, steam wisping from its jaws as it half-growled, half-hissed at the irradiated dinosaurs in front of it. Within his hideous skull, the invader heard the orders of his alien masters loud and clear: kill those damned dinosaurs. An order that he was more than happy to oblige, and as the first streak of lightning silently lit up the ominous clouds, Monster X released a hissing bellow of malice towards the Prince of Monsters and his diminutive sibling.

Godzilla Junior would be his first target.

Minilla screeched in terror as he tugged on Junior’s leg, begging him to run. But the juvenile Godzillasaurus turned to him with a firm grunt, telling him to run and hide, quickly. His younger sibling tried to convince him otherwise, but Godzilla Junior was defiant. Minilla and him would only be able to make it so far before they were blocked off or killed if they ran. There was no way out of this other than combat. Junior was gonna have to face the invader, there was no other way to it. He wished it could be any other way, but it couldn’t be.

The monster prince furrowed his brow into a fearsome glare and bared his upper teeth in a snarl. How outmatched he was in the coming conflict didn’t matter to him. This creature wanted his brother? Well, it would have to receive his wrath first. Godzilla Junior nudged his sibling to run, and with a helpless cry the younger Godzilla finally obliged. As Minilla finally ran aside, his elder brother stomped the ground and roared a challenge to Monster X. Godzilla Junior refused to back down, flee or step aside; he would do anything to protect his brother, and see to it that he grew up. And Monster X would learn that the hard way.

So what if it was suicidal? So what if this was his last day on Earth? The Prince of Monsters would give the foul beast hell.

Godzilla Junior beat the ground with his tail as he screeched fearlessly towards Monster X. He was facing his first big opponent, his first true threat- and very possibly his last. If such a fate came to befall him, then so be it. He would meet the skeletal invader head-on long before it got so much as two hundred meters from his brother. But deep down, Junior knew that there was another reason that drove him in this moment: this was his time to prove himself. He was the eldest son of Godzilla, and one could not establish himself a future monster king without proving it first. Even though his instincts told him this would be his last battle, he faced it nonetheless. It was time for his reputation to heighten in the monster hierarchy, whether he lived to see it or not.

He wouldn’t run from his problems anymore. He would start facing them like a true king.

Monster X bellowed another alien cry, pawing the ground with one foot as his enemy charged at him without hesitation, lightning flashing quietly in the sky as he did so. The dragon broke into his own sprint, claws flexed to begin the combat. At once, both kaiju threw a punch the moment they were within arms’ reach of one another. Junior’s struck almost harmlessly against the alien’s skeletal armor, while Monster X socked the mutant dinosaur in the chest which sent him recoiling a step back. Capitalizing on the moment, Monster X leaped into the air and spun a full 360o, smacking Junior in the face with both his elbow and his twin tails. With a screech of surprise, Junior reeled back just as the dragon lashed out with a foot to kick him in the stomach, knocking him away.

Smoothly, Monster X levitated back to the ground.

Godzilla Junior howled in rage as he snapped back into a combat position, breaking back into a charge towards the nefarious alien. Monster X hissed as he spun on his heels, only for Junior to duck under his swiping tails and turn about on his feet, smacking the dragon in the face with his own tail. A bellow of surprise left Monster X’s jaws as sparks crackled off his head, moments before he got a face-full of searing nuclear energy when Junior fired his atomic ray. Surprise turned to agony as Monster X wisely backed off, keeping his arms held in front of his face until Junior’s heat ray cut off.

The very moment the river of atomic particles dissipated, Monster X flung his arms wide as a golden light sparked in his four eyes. Before Junior could react, four lances of golden light lashed out from the invader’s crimson orbs and stabbed into Junior’s emerald green scales. Screaming in agony, the monster prince fell to his knees, holding himself off the ground with his hands as he took a breather. Smacking his tail into the earth, Junior gave himself a boost as he stood himself up. He reacted instinctively upon seeing Monster X charging towards him a second time.

Roaring fiercely, Junior lashed out with his clawed hands just as Monster X swiped with his own. The two monsters locked hands and grappled, and despite his inferior size Godzilla Junior held his own fairly well against the alien dragon. That was, until Monster X suddenly twisted Junior’s wrists completely around and yanked upwards, suspending him in the air as he howled in pain. The bipedal hydra cackled with laughter as the dinosaur bellowed in anguish, but such laughter turned to screams of his own when Junior suddenly kneed him in the throat. Letting go of the monster prince, the dragon clutched his throat with horrid gags as he struggled to breathe, an opportunity Junior wasn’t one to waste. Snapping his wrists back into place, Junior lunged forward with a hard kick to Monster X’s stomach. Before the alien could react to the strike, the Prince of Monsters fired his atomic ray into his chest, flooring him.

Godzilla Junior didn’t waste a second; he had a fairly good idea just how dangerous this foe was, and he wasn’t willing to risk him getting any more dangerous. In a flash he was on the downed extraterrestrial, slashing and biting away like a frenzied wolverine as he tried to find a soft spot in his foe’s armor and draw blood. For a moment Monster X seemed on the ropes; struggling all but feebly against Junior’s furious onslaught, his blood-red eyes unable to widen when the juvenile Godzillasaurus clamped his double rows of teeth down on his throat. The dragon cried in pain when the reptile’s teeth managed to pierce his neck, drawing rivers of red that flooded Junior’s teeth.

But then Monster X refocused.

With all his might, the extraterrestrial jutted his leg up to slam it into Junior’s groin. Orange eyes flaring wide open, the monster prince’s jaws snapped open loose an ear-splitting cry of agony as he backed off the bipedal hydra, dry heaving to keep himself breathing properly. A process which became harder when Monster X leaped to his feet and socked him in the face with the speed of a martial artist. Junior’s roars of distress echoed across the island as Monster X assailed him with a speedy fury of punches and chops across his upper body and face, too quick for the irradiated dinosaur to keep up with. Despite every painful hit to his stomach or cranium, Godzilla Junior fought as hard as he could to keep focused on the fight at hand. He needed to stay awake and standing, wait for any opening he could find and exploit it when he did. It was his father’s key to overcoming his opponent’s in battle- he needed to take advantage of it now.

Monster X suddenly smacked Junior in the jaw, knocking out a dozen teeth. As the monster prince howled and shook his head in an attempt to regain his composure, Monster X hissed evilly and unleashed his Destroyed Thunder Beams upon him near point-blank. The burns on his chest and shoulders stung like the strongest acids, and Junior’s screams of pain were so loud they threatened to make Monster X’s ears bleed.

Not that the dragon cared; bellowing like a demonic alligator, Monster X slashed the Prince of Monsters across the face with his claws. Godzilla Junior tried to lunge up to fight back, but Monster X lunged forward to smash his skeletal cranium into his own in a headbutt so painful it crippled the dinosaur’s eyesight. Godzilla Junior was seeing not double, nor even triple, but six Monster X’s as he stumbled off his feet and fell to the ground with a thud!

Monster X hissed with laughter as he kicked the fallen Godzillasaurus in the gut, eliciting only a weak groan in response. A distance away, Minilla watched the scene with horrified eyes. He was trembling so bad it was hard to stay standing. His older brother, his best friend and second mentor after his father, lay defeated on the cold, dark earth at the feet of an interstellar invader that mocked him with its sickening cackles. The Prince of Monsters having been crippled in the mere first minutes of the combat with the evil hydra, beaten to the point of no getting up. But still Minilla internally screamed for his brother to get back to his feet, his racing heart only worsening when Monster X kicked the fallen prince a second time-

Godzilla Junior’s tail suddenly swept the dragon’s legs from under him, tripping him up to fall face-first towards him. The moment his face came within inches of Junior’s a burst of atomic radiation leaped from his gaping jaws, striking Monster X straight between the eyes and sending him stumbling away. His wounds stitching themselves back together while he shook his head to fight the concussion that plagued his brain, Godzilla Junior fired a second atomic ray that hit the skeletal demon in the torso, knocking him on his back. In the background, Minya cheered as the Prince of Monsters stood to his feet, taking a moment to look back at his younger brother before turning his fiery gaze back to the downed Monster X.

He had a new strategy in mind.

Screeching a higher-pitched version of his father’s roar, Godzilla Junior stomped over to the recovering alien and grabbed hold of his two tails with the firmest grip he could muster. Then, with all the strength his 25,000 metric-ton body could give, he yanked upwards, and he tried with every fiber in his mind to not widen his eyes with shock.

Monster X, heavy as he was, actually lifted into the air!

Quickly suppressing his initial shock, Junior roared and yanked down, smashing the dragon face-first back into the earth. Not even giving Monster X an opportunity to recover the monster prince yanked upwards, before slamming him back down a second time; a technique he had learned from watching his father in battle in the past. The third time he yanked upwards his arms ached, but through sheer determination he ignored it and thrust back down. He repeated the maneuver as many times as he could, Monster X’s cries of anguish a primal music to his ears as he repeatedly beat the skeletal biped into the earth with a vengeance.

Godzilla Junior lifted again, but unlike before he did not thrust back down; instead, he blasted Monster X in mid-air with his heat ray, eliciting a cry on painful rage from the alien beast. Still holding his tails, Godzilla Junior thrust back down once more- and Monster X planted his palms into the earth with a painful effort, stopping himself. Before Junior could lift again Monster X whipped his lower body with a hard yank, breaking free of the monster prince’s grasp. Monster X whirled around with eyes sparking gold, just as Junior’s gaping jaws flashed a bright cerulean. Both kaiju fired their respective beam weapons at once, and a fiery rupture engulfed them both in short order.

But despite the massive size of the explosion and the flames that bathed their flesh, it didn’t take long for both monsters to clamber to their feet and wait for the flames to die down. The moment they did, they charged back out to engage in combat once more- neither had been put down in any way shape or form, and were more than ready to tear each other apart.

Lightning flashed in the cloudy heavens, and as the thunder roared in its wake, the first drop of rain fell out of the brewing clouds. One by one, it rapidly began to multiply in number as a full-rage rainstorm birthed into existence, an event not uncommon to Monster Island. Not that its current combatant’s gave a crap; Godzilla Junior’s shark-like teeth dug into Monster X’s arm in squirts of alien blood, the hydra retaliating with a hard punch to the dinosaur’s head which caused him to rip it off, taking strips of Monster X’s flesh with him. Another fist lunged towards him, but Junior caught it in his jaws and bit down hard. The Prince of Monsters yanked downward and sent Monster X bending over, but the alien spun around to slap Junior upside the head with his tails.

The immature Godzilla roared and fired his heat ray onto Monster X just as he finished turning around, only to be blasted by the full agonizing force of the alien’s Destroyed Thunder Beams. Junior howled with rage as he fought the excruciating pain, his receptors being tested to their limits. Monster X lashed out with a fist, but Junior batted it away before turning quickly on his heals and slamming his tail into the space monster. Another atomic ray lashed out from Godzilla Junior’s maw to sear into Monster X’s sternum. Digging his feet into the ground, Monster X held his ground as the juvenile Godzillasaurus unleashed his nuclear fury until it dissipated.

Monster X held his fists up just as Junior smacked into him with his full upper body strength, blocking the dinosaur from attacking his face or neck. The bipedal hydra clocked the monster prince across the face with a fist, catching him off guard long enough for Monster X to lash out with his tails- but this time, he employed them differently than just a mere blunt force weapon. Whipping them at just the right angle and speed, Monster X gashed open Junior’s chest, birthing a bloody spray to pain the dragon’s chest a contrasting red. His eyes sparking, Monster X hissed and fired his Destroyed Thunder Beams.

But Junior was ready this time.

Reflexes kicking in and nerves snapping, the Prince of Monsters hurled his upper body forward and ducked under the energy assault. Before the beams had finished firing, Junior had lunged in and smacked his head into Monster X’s stomach. Ignoring the pain of his wounds regenerating, Junior bent low like a big cat and clamped his jaws down on Monster X’s leg just above the heel. The hydra’s flesh being considerably less armored on the hind limbs, Junior’s teeth once more sank below the black musculature in spurts of blood. But rather than savor the running of his enemy’s blood or shaking his head to tear the wound, the Prince of Monsters pushed upwards with all his might and yanked his neck muscles, tripping up Monster X and sending him falling on his back-

-at least, until the extraterrestrial stopped himself short by planting his hands into the earth the moment he landed.

Junior yanked again, tearing his teeth through the leg while attempting to drag Monster X forward and pull him off balance, but still the alien held on. Monster X lashed out with his other foot, but Junior let go just in time and dropped the confused invader, who’s foot hit nothing but thin air and hard rain. All rain in the monster prince’s path vaporized when he fired his atomic ray into Monster X’s throat, eliciting a pained shriek from the space monster as he was knocked back down to the ground. Lightning flashed in the heavens as Godzilla Junior charged his downed opponent with a loud screech, and as Monster X looked up to gaze upon him with his four crimson eyes, he could’ve sworn the monster prince’s outline had changed; for a brief moment, the flash in the sky seemed to illuminate the silhouette of Godzilla himself!

But as the lightning faded as quickly as it came and the bellowing thunder roared across the island, such an illusion ceased to be, and Monster X found himself faced with the same youthful prince still trying to follow in his father’s footsteps.

A legacy that Monster X sought to put to an end.

Godzilla Junior turned around with a roar, rearing his tail above the skeletal dragon before slinging it down like a sledgehammer. The crack of prehistoric flesh slamming against skeletal armor was as loud as the thunder that raged in the stormy heavens, sparks flying off the dragon’s body from the blow. But despite the force of the hit, Monster X didn’t take long to recover; the moment Junior reared his tail up to hit him again, the hydra let loose his Destroyed Thunder Beams upon the dinosaur’s back, sending him stumbling forward with a howl of agony. Rolling onto his stomach, Monster X jumped to his feet and whipped around as quick as the lightning that danced in the clouds; so fast his tails cracked across Junior’s back like a whip and sent him falling to the ground.

The monster prince’s wounds were already healing, but even after they had sealed up the burning pain didn’t go away. And it only worsened when Monster X pounced upon him, pinning him back to the earth as he unleashed another barrage of painful punches. However, this time the barrage didn’t last long- focusing entirely on his tail, the Prince of Monsters swiped the appendage just as Monster X leaped into the air. For a moment, the meteorite monster floated back down, levitating like a demonic ghost as he drifted back towards his saurian foe.

But Junior rolled over onto his back, quickly enough that Monster X didn’t see his dorsal plates flashing to life. A volley of atomic flames roared from Junior’s jaws, but unlike before they were aimed at a specific target: the bite wound on Monster X’s leg. The dragon bellowed in pain as the injury was rended and blackened by the searing heat, but the Prince of Monsters wasn’t finished. Howling a Godzilla-like cry, Godzilla Junior fired a second atomic ray into Monster X’s neck; a blow of which knocked the skeletal beast out of the air.

Monster X somersaulted in mid-air like a cat as he managed to land on his feet- and with a loud screech of pain, he collapsed to one knee as a horrid pain shot through his wounded leg, the impact having been too hard on the injury to handle the stress. Out of more desperation than anything, Monster X fired his Destroyed Thunder Beams at Junior’s legs; the monster prince had mistaken the first signs as if he were going to fire at his torso, and as he bent low to duck he realized too late he had just exposed himself to the brunt of the blast. The beams lancing into his shoulders, Junior cried in pain and stumbled back, giving both monsters breathing room to recover.

The meteorite monster stared hard at the Prince of Monsters; his expressionless face unreadable. He had come here expecting an arrogant youth who would prove little trouble for him, with him being the Xilliens’ most powerful weapon of destruction. But, to his surprise, the son of Godzilla had proved to be a bigger challenge than he initially thought. He was wet behind the ears; but he was also strong, tactful, downright fearless, and mindful of the obvious. The young Godzillasaurus would notice when a weakness presented itself, and exploited it to painful effect on the hydra’s part.

He was more like his father then Monster X had previously thought.

The downpour grew harder, the rain roaring through the stormy night as another dead-silent flash of lightning illuminated the brewing clouds, and both monsters released their respective war cries before charging once more.

Mid-distance to his draconic foe, Godzilla Junior suddenly stopped and fired an atomic ray that singed Monster X’s feet. As the dragon reeled, an explosion of dust and smoke obscured his view. Taking this chance, Junior charged right at him- only for the hydra’s Destroyed Thunder Beams to lash out of the smoke and knife into his torso. Shrieking in pain, Junior recoiled as Monster X ran out of the fading dust cloud, taking the monster prince by full storm. Jutting out a curled fist, Monster X punched the emerald dinosaur in the face. Despite the headache he had just obtained, Junior tried to fight it as he lashed forward and snapped his jaws; his teeth chomping on nothing but rain mere inches from Monster X’s face. An unfortunate outcome as the dragon attacked again, socking the dinosaur in the throat. As Junior gagged, Monster X lashed out and delivered an uppercut to his jaw, a blow which sent Junior toppling onto his back.

Monster X bellowed demonically as he pounced upon the downed saurian. As Godzilla Junior screeched in pain, the skeletal dragon reared one foot off the ground and brought it down onto Junior’s head with all his strength. The dinosaur’s head was buried beneath the soil, pinned at the side by the alien’s cruel foot. Junior loosed a muffled roar as he attempted to struggle, but his roar turned to a scream of pain when Monster X flicked his tail across his exposed torso a second time, whipping another gash in his chest. As the monster prince dealt with the pain, Monster X lifted his foot again before bringing it back down, smashing his skull further into the muddy soil.

His ears surrounded by dirt and mud, Godzilla Junior could barely hear Monster X’s roar of malice as he lifted and stomped his skull a third time- but he could hear clearly enough that the roar wasn’t directed at him. His eyes widening in the darkness at the thought, Junior’s spines flashed to life as he fired an atomic ray. The beam of nuclear energy seared a burning trench through the soil, rupturing it from the inside out as it carved a visible window to the outside world, all the while creating a slight tremor that began to give Monster X difficulty standing.

And a most horrifying sight he saw indeed.

Monster X had seen Minilla, his four crimson orbs focused on the toddler prince like a hawk with a mouse. An evil hiss gurgled from his toothed jaws as his foot reared back up, stamping into Junior’s head a fourth time, all the while his eyes showed the slightest hint of increasing in light.

Junior reacted without thinking.

Roaring more powerfully than any Kaiju thought he could- including himself- Godzilla Junior flexed all the power in his left leg before jutting it up, kneeing the skeletal dragon dead-center in the groin. His eyes flashing open as a substitute for widening like pizzas, Monster X clutched his groin as he wobbled off the monster prince, screeching his mind-numbing agony to the heavens. But his opponent did not give him time to mourn his losses; spines flashing and powering himself up with all the strength he could muster, Godzilla Junior fired an atomic ray that struck the same area, eliciting an even louder howl of torture and knocking Monster X on his back. Roaring with a righteous fury, Junior got to his feet and charged his crippled enemy with a ferocity unseen in the battle.

Pinning him to the ground with one foot, Junior slung his fist with all his fury into Monster X’s face. As the dragon recoiled from the blow, Junior punched him again with his other fist even harder than before. Again and again, faster and angrier with every strike Junior assailed his alien foe with powerful punch after punch to the face and throat; sparks and skeletal armor flying as Junior gave in to his burning rage. This foul beast had just attempted to murder his little brother, and now Junior knew full-well what he was going to do from here on out. He wasn’t just gonna beat him until he lay unconscious at his feet- he was going to kill him. He was going to massacre this evil aberration so utterly that whatever had sent it would never send another foe to this island ever again.

Blow after blow crashed against Monster X’s draconic skull, and unlike before these blows were dealt with such ferocity that the extraterrestrial howled in pain. The sickening cracks of Junior’s fists slamming into Monster X’s skeletal body were so loud they drowned out the roars of thunder echoing across the sky as the Prince of Monsters beat the attacker who had so foolishly tried to bring harm to his little brother into submission, not intent on stopping until he lay on the precipice of death.

Monster X swiped feebly as he attempted to fend off Junior’s attacks, but each attempt was either avoided or swatted away before the enraged Godzillasaurus landed another punch that sent waves of pain rippling through his head. Godzilla Junior’s bellow of rage howled through the downpour as he assailed the skeletal demon, and even through the sheets of rain he could see small cracks beginning to form in Monster X’s armor. Any pain the monster prince may have felt in his body had long been cast aside like an afterthought, doing nothing to hinder his prowess as he vented his rage.

Monster X suddenly jutted his skull up, his eyes sparking a golden hue just as Junior lurched forward with gaping jaws, his spines flashing a radioactive cerulean. Both monsters unleashed their beams point blank upon one another, and before either could put an end to it they were engulfed in a brilliant fireball.

Minilla screamed in the distance as he watched his brother and the vile space demon known as Monster X disappear in a near-blinding rupture. The explosion rattled the island to its core and sent shockwaves across the ocean that surrounded it, and Minilla had to hold onto the closest rock face he could find to keep himself steady before the tremors eventually died down. So strong were the tremors that Minya barely even noticed a slender form being sent flying out of the fiery mushroom cloud, slamming into the ground and digging a trench for several hundred meters. For a time, the flames continued to loom at an impressive height that dwarfed even the largest Kaiju, but whether due to the heavy rain or just sheer dumb luck they began to lessen and die away as the dust they kicked up unveiled the outcome of the event.

Monster X, his armor burned and his wounds rended further, hissed a wounded breath as he shakily attempted to stand to his feet. But the absence of Godzilla Junior sent a cold chill down the frightened Minilla, and his eyes widened as he comprehended what that meant. But a shrill cry of defiance crushed the growing despair out of existence and replaced it with the spark of hope the toddler always felt whenever he saw his brother appear on the horizon in the past.

And appear on the rainy horizon, he did.

Lightning flashing in the heavens to illuminate his silhouette against the clouds, Godzilla Junior managed to stand to one knee as he took a breather. His emerald skin was patched with burns, but unlike Monster X his injures had begun the gradual process of healing, clearing away the burnt skin as new scales regenerated and overtook their place. Still, his body ached with pain and exhaustion, and Junior decided to lay low to conserve his strength. His orange eyes shining with regal power, he glared at the recovering Monster X, who surprisingly looked worse for wear compared to him. As the monster prince let his breathing rate set into place, he heard Minilla’s distant cheering screech that sent a wave of pride through his exhausted form; the same cry that always gave him the strength he needed to carry on.

His spines flashed, water evaporated into steam from his back, and an atomic ray catapulted from Junior’s fanged jaws.

The nuclear flames bathed Monster X in a burning shower, scorching his thought impenetrable armor and searing the softer flesh beneath as the dragon reared back and howled in pain, so loud Junior’s eardrums began to ring. For ten impressive seconds he kept the blast going before his jaws finally snapped shut, the nuclear particles dissipating as Monster X fell to all fours with an exhausted bellow. Junior’s eyes narrowing with a vengeful gaze, the Prince of Monsters unleashed a loud roar that shook all and everything for miles, informing the space invader that his time was up. A gurgling hiss rumbled from Monster X’s vocal cords as Godzilla Junior stood to his full height, taking a step forward with the intent to end this once and for all.

A sickening laughter growled from Monster X’s jaws.

Junior eyed him, equal mix puzzled and alarmed. Standing on all fours like a dog, the dragon began to rattle and shiver violently as his laughter increased in volume, his blackened armor beginning to fester- and then a loud cackle tore from his throat as a pair of leather wings suddenly ripped from his back!

The two “half-heads” on his shoulders suddenly engorged, and in less than a split second both had become fully formed miniature heads. Glowing, lava-like veins began to ignite around Monster X’s middle head as his skin changed color and texture; the skeletal armor receded inward as his now-quadrupedal body engorged into brilliant golden musculature rippling with colossal strength. His tails lengthened, his hands and feet swelled into Ursid-like paws, his once humanoid stance evolved into a four-legged posture reminiscent of a giant bear. It was then that the last of the transformation took place; a pair of horns emerging from each of his heads, Monster X cackled a haunting laughter as his necks lengthened, waving like demonic serpents as the space dragon finished his horrifying alteration.

Godzilla Junior’s eyes widened at the beast that stood before him, a trio of demonic cackles echoing from the space monster’s three heads to burn themselves in the minds of both sons of Godzilla. Before his very eyes, Monster X had not only evolved, he had effectively ceased to be. A golden, four-legged, three-headed dragon that towered an incomprehensible 140 meters in height now stood before him, spreading his wings to beat the wind and rain with them to demonstrate his increased power. Monster X had merely been a disguise, for now the space dragon’s true identity had at last revealed itself to the Prince of Monsters.

Fingers of lightning streaking through the rain-laden storm clouds, the giant demon beast Keizer Ghidorah screeched with devilish laughter as thunder bellowed powerfully through the sky, as if to herald the coming of the great destroyer.

Godzilla Junior’s widened gaze lingered on the space dragon for a moment, the fangs of a feeling of dread unlike any felt in his life sinking into his flesh while he comprehended what stood before his very eyes. The three-headed drake that boomed with haunting laughter was bigger than any monster he had seen in his life; dwarfing even his own father, the King of the Monsters himself. There was no doubt that the creature’s power exceeded that of when he was Monster X, the monster prince could feel it just by looking upon him. The festering feeling that Junior was beyond outmatched had already spread throughout every inch of his being.

Deep within the young Godzilla’s mind, a beacon was lit; a signal blared to life. But, contrary to his days in infancy, it was not a call for help, not a telepathic distress signal directed to his father or his fellow Kaiju. No, it was a silent warning. A firm and direct order, directed at only one being: his younger sibling, watching the spectacle from a distance with frightened eyes.

It was an order to hide.

The juvenile Godzillasaurus pawed the ground as his gaze furrowed into a vicious scowl, a killer look in his eyes, body hunched over in a predatory manner. He was going to fight this “Keizer Ghidorah.” He was not going to turn tail and flee for his life from this draconic abomination. He was going to face him head-on just the same. And, if fate willed it so, he would lose his life trying.

To Junior’s relieved surprise, Minilla obeyed his request, scampering towards a nearby cave that was only just large enough for him to fit inside. A place where the hideous hydra could not reach him. Beating his tail against the ground, Godzilla Junior reared back as he stretched his neck towards the cloud-infested sky, letting loose a fearless roar every bit as loud as that of his father’s. The damned dragon wanted to fight the son of Godzilla? Then he could have it for all he cared!

Keizer Ghidorah raised his three heads skyward to scream forth a demonic chorus, answering Junior’s battle cry with a warning. An evil warning. A living apocalypse given form informing the monster prince of the inevitable:

His death.

The ground quaked with powerful footfalls as Godzilla Junior began to charge, but what happened next crushed any hope of physical combat. A trio of golden, gravity-guided beams of alien electricity launched from Keizer Ghidorah’s three maws and speared into Junior’s emerald form, lighting him up in a golden hue as the beams electrocuted him to his core. The Prince of Monsters screamed in torment as the beams thrust him back like a pinball, slamming him to the earth and dragging him a good two hundred meters back before suddenly ceasing to be. Junior gasped for breath as he flailed weakly, attempting to get back to his feet.

A notion Keizer Ghidorah would deny.

His triple jaws glowing as if miniature stars had birthed within them, Keizer Ghidorah unleashed a second round of his Antigravity Destroyed Keizer Beams- but upon striking their saurian target, they then enacted a different purpose. Not only did they continue to shock Godzilla Junior, but upon Keizer Ghidorah’s wishes they lifted the trapped dinosaur into the air! The Prince of Monsters was helpless as the golden hydra lifted him a good two hundred meters above the earth…then cut his beams off, dropping the immature saurian to the ground below. Before Junior had a chance to recover, a third volley of gravity beams reached forward and snagged him in their painful grasp, dragging him sideways across the muddy earth before ceasing.

The cosmic emperor roared with laughter before unleashing his gravity rays yet again, dragging the monster prince back the way he came before suddenly stopping. As Junior cried out in pain, the golden dragon cackled again with delight, relishing his foe’s suffering. Junior’s eyes snapped open with a lethal fury. This devilish aberration was laughing at him!

His spines flashed, and Godzilla Junior fired an atomic ray in an enraged haze. But a half second later and Keizer Ghidorah’s gravity beams had stopped it dead in its tracks and begun pushing it right back into its source. Junior was forced to swallow his own atomic energy as the shot knocked him back on the ground- and just like that, another burst of the hydra’s gravity beams ensnared him and lifted him up into the sky. Thrusting all three of his heads to his right, Keizer Ghidorah threw the Prince of Monsters across the battlefield like a baseball. As the accursed beams of alien electricity engulfed him again and began to pull him back the opposite direction of which he came, Junior now understood exactly what Keizer Ghidorah was doing.

He was toying with him.

Again and again the devilish dragon gripped the juvenile Godzillasaurus in his electrical grasp and slung him all across the battlefield, beating and dragging him across the earth like he was a present he had been waiting to open for years. But through it all, Godzilla Junior continued to roar and howl in defiance at the horrible hydra, refusing to give in even in his most desperate hour. No matter how painfully the electrical blasts shocked his flesh, no matter how hard Keizer Ghidorah beat him against the ground like a toy, the Prince of Monsters would not submit. He would not try to run for his life, nor even call for help for his fellow Kaiju.

Keizer Ghidorah was his to face, and his alone.

The very moment Junior hit the earth again, the monster prince suddenly lurched upwards to fire an atomic ray; this time, too fast for Keizer Ghidorah to counter, and the searing beam of nuclear power burned into its intended target. Keizer Ghidorah screeched in pain when Junior’s atomic ray burned into his middle neck, causing the dragon to take a step back before firing his gravity beams yet again. The golden fingers of lightning snared the young dinosaur and began to lift him yet again, but despite the terrible pain Godzilla Junior managed the slightest hint of his species’ equivalent to a smirk.

His attack had caused the space monster pain. Now he knew he was not invulnerable.

His six red eyes widening with a prideful fury, Keizer Ghidorah slung his gravity beams upwards before cutting them off, letting Junior drop to the ground flat on his stomach. Now the dragon was furious! With an angry scream, the dreadful drake began to charge towards the downed dinosaur like an enraged bear. Junior roared a defiant warning at the space demon shortly before Keizer Ghidorah jutted forth a golden paw to smack him in the head, knocking him a good fifty meters back.

But as he fell onto his side, another atomic ray catapulted from Junior’s maw, striking the hydra’s middle head and forcing him to recoil. Junior capitalized on the opportunity and fired a second heat ray that seared into Keizer Ghidorah’s middle neck, worsening his previous injury. An enraged howl all but shattered the stormy heavens as Keizer Ghidorah shook his heads back to regain his focus, his six crimson eyes glowing with boiling hatred. Now the space dragon was angrier than ever; a fact that Junior took note of right away. And if he was this angry, that meant he would too be far more dangerous.

Three yellow auras shone within the hydra’s mouths, warning Junior of what was to come. The monster prince ducked low, expecting the beams to take him from the front- and got a nasty surprise in return. Aiming his heads straight up, Keizer Ghidorah fired his Antigravity Destroyed Keizer Beams towards the sky- and then, to Junior’s shock, they looped back down, ensnaring him once more! Junior shrieked in anger as the dragon levitated him back off the earth, but this time the giant demon beast did not throw him like a pinball. Slinging his three heads downward, Keizer Ghidorah brought Junior crashing before his paws with an earth-rattling THUD!

Rearing up on his hind legs like a bear, Keizer Ghidorah howled his demonic laughter to the heavens as lightning flashed through the clouds, then brought his full body strength down on the so-called “Prince of Monsters.” His paws crashed into Junior like sledgehammers with a deafening crack that drowned out the roaring thunder, and a howling boom quaked from Junior’s fanged muzzle. The terrible demon reared up a paw and brought it down- and Junior’s palm crashed into it, shockingly stopping it in its tracks. However, such a pushing contest, brave as it may be on Junior’s part, did not last long as Keizer Ghidorah smashed Junior’s hand into the ground, overpowering it.

Before Junior could think of a way to counter, Keizer Ghidorah decided enough was enough. His three heads striking forth like demonic snakes, his three jaws bit down on Junior’s neck and shoulders, and in a show of incredible strength and utter superiority lifted the Prince of Monsters clear off the ground. As Junior struggled, a cerulean glow suddenly filled Keizer Ghidorah’s necks as the monster prince felt something happen. Something shifted; something went wrong. Dreadfully wrong.

Keizer Ghidorah was draining his energy.

A content growl rumbled from the dragon’s gut as he gorged, the brilliant blue glow of the very nuclear energy the dinosaur depended on flowing down his three necks like a sponge siphoning water. Junior roared weakly as he lifted an arm, trying to reach out for anything. He knew what the hydra was doing to him, knew what the inevitable outcome would be. For a moment, time seemed to stop for the Prince of Monsters as he comprehended everything. He was caught in the grasp of a terrible foe far more powerful than he had ever thought possible. A horrific being beyond his understanding was draining him of the very force that kept him alive while suspending him like a hanging victim, and there was nothing he could do about it. Far away, he could smell Minilla’s scent, knowing full well that his little brother could see what was happening, could see his elder sibling being robbed of his very life right before his very eyes. For a brief moment, Godzilla Junior let his whole life flash before his mind.

He remembered his first days of life, breaking free of a shelled prison that enabled his gradual growth. His first memories being of one of fear and confusion, as he woke up not remembering or comprehending how or why he was in this big new world, or even who he was to begin with. Baby Godzilla had been born to complete absence, alone in a nest with no inhabitants, so he instinctively cried and cried for someone, anyone to hear him.

The following night, his very first in fact, he had received an unexpected response. A towering beast of charcoal black scales and jagged white spines arose from the depths of the vast veil of water surrounding the island in which he was born, roaring with a volume that rattled the mountains and shook the trees as if they were nothing to it. At first, Baby Godzilla had cowered in fear when the dinosaurian behemoth made his way inland and approached him with another deafening roar. But there was nowhere to go, and Baby’s little legs had barely even gathered the strength to walk. But to his surprise, as the dorsal-plated beast loomed over him, his once mighty roars softened, and he greeted the newborn infant with gentle rumbles and soft growls.

On that day Godzilla, King of the Monsters, adopted the newborn Godzillasaurus as his own son.

Junior’s eyes closed, remembering what followed his first day of life. They had come here, to this very island; a place to hide and live out in peace far away from the horrors of the outside world. Here on this very landmass, the Monster King raised his adopted son into toddlerhood; caring for him, protecting him from the unfriendly inhabitants of the island, teaching him the basics of survival all the while gradually mentoring him on how to defend himself from threats should they come his way. Day by day, month by month, Little Godzilla grew and learned under his father’s wing, slowly preparing to step out of his shadow and cast a shade of his own in the far future.

Junior’s eyes opened again, a weak roar resonating from his throat as he then remembered the day Minilla came into his life.

Godzilla had left the island, following a strange signal he had only felt before once in his life: when Baby Godzilla was born. So, the King of the Monsters made for the ocean, leaving a perplexed and confused Little Godzilla behind. At the end of the day, as the sun began to set over the horizon, he had re-emerged from the shores of the beach, carrying with him a little lump of infantile flesh, a stubby tail and four tiny limbs. A creature so small even Little Godzilla dwarfed it in size. At first, Little Godzilla didn’t know what to make of the new arrival and shied away in uncertainty. But as time passed and the new creature began to practice mobility on its little legs, the frog-like infant began to waddle everywhere Little Godzilla went; following his every trail while emitting playful coos and happy chirps.

And then, Monster Island’s resident bully had approached them, thus leading to one of his finest moments. Little Godzilla fired his first atomic ray into Gabara’s face that day, sending the ogre-like toad fleeing with a painful burn and saving his baby brother’s life for the first time. He remembered how strangely prideful he felt protecting his new sibling from the heinous bully, and how proud of him his father had been when he had known about what his eldest child had done in his absence.

Junior blinked again, remembering how he had grown as the years passed by. No longer a youthful toddler, Junior would charge straight out of the foliage of Monster Island whenever he had heard his brother cry out for help, proceeding to teach whatever arrogant fool who had dared try and bring Minilla harm a painful lesson; in the case of a certain rock turtle, a fatal one. Now the spitting image of his father, Junior began to teach Minilla the very things his dad had taught him at an early age. The student was now the teacher, the young pup a little wet behind the ears was now the big brother training and mentoring his next of kin. The two of them played together, traveled the island together, play-fought together, even though it dawned on Junior that they weren’t even of the same species despite being genetic relatives.

Junior’s weary eyes blinked again; the memories all gone. It had happened in three seconds, no more or less. But his eyebrows raised when a familiar noise reached his ears, one that made his head drift ever so slightly to his right to look upon its source. Minilla had emerged from his hiding cave, screeching at Junior. Cheering for him. Telling him to break free, to keep fighting, to fight until he killed the evil beast that fed on his nuclear power this very moment. Junior’s eyes stared at Minilla astoundingly for a moment, watching as the toddler Godzilla begged him not to give up now. Even in the moment of Junior’s imminent demise, Minilla refused to give up on him, refused to admit his brother was done for or defeated in any way. Minilla believed in his big brother every bit as much as the latter believed in him, and he showed it without hesitation.

His energy may be drained with every passing second, but if there was such thing as an aura of pride, then Godzilla Junior would’ve shone like a star with it. Deep within his mind, the monster prince thanked his little brother for believing in him, for praising him, for uplifting him even in what may be his final moments of life… and then, his eyes hardened into a killer glare as he looked over to his new target.

Keizer Ghidorah’s left head.

His fingers curled into a fist, Junior summoned his strength as he raised his arm, a defiant screech resounding from his jaws. This made the hydra’s eyes widen in surprise, not expecting such a display- and not paying attention as Junior’s hand reached up to grab his left head. Junior’s other hand strained up to grasp the same area, their fingers pressing down as hard as he could as he grabbed a firm hold of the hydra’s head. All six eyes widened as Keizer Ghidorah questioned what the monster prince was doing. And such a question would soon be answered when Junior began to pull outward. The dragon’s teeth cut through his emerald flesh, dragging bloody trenches through his skin as he pulled and pulled, but Junior cared not for it. He pulled until he was met with a searing agony when at last the left head’s jaws ripped free from his shoulder, dragging strips of his flesh with it. The left head cackled in surprise, the middle head raising its eyebrows- and then, Junior boomed a powerful roar that nearly made Keizer Ghidorah jump when he thrust his arms to his left with all his strength.

The jaws of the left head chomped down unto the hydra’s middle neck in a burst of blood!

Minilla cheered louder than ever in the background, jumping up and down at his brother’s spectacular move. At once, the middle head let go to rear back with a screech of agony, and the right head could no longer hold the monster prince’s 25,000 metric-ton weight by its lonesome. As it was forced to let go, Godzilla Junior fell to the ground at one knee with a resounding thud. For but a second, Junior let the extent of his predicament catch up to him. He felt drained, exhausted beyond comprehension. His wounds, despite beginning the gradual process of reworking and closing up, hurt like the lowest plain of oblivion. Part of him wanted to lie down, to rest, to give in to his fatigue.

The very next second, that part of him was extinguished and the other part of him that wanted to keep going, to turn the tide in his favor, to save the world and save his beloved brother ignited like a fire. Minilla cheered again in the distance, giving Junior all the strength he needed to return to his full 77 meter height.

The storm grew ever more powerful, and a new phenomenon of nature began to assail the entirety of Monster Island: it started hailing. But such an occurrence was nothing to Godzilla Junior. Thunder roared in the heavens, and Junior fired the strongest atomic ray he could. His attack struck the recoiling dragon’s middle neck, burning its injury further and sending the tyrannical Keizer Ghidorah reeling with a terrible howl. Capitalizing on the opportunity, Junior powered his legs forth with all his strength as he rushed the wounded space hydra.

Godzilla Junior threw his full strength against Keizer Ghidorah’s torso, knocking the dragon on his hind legs. Keizer Ghidorah cackled angrily and jutted two of his heads forward. The middle head bit down on Junior’s shoulder, but the monster prince caught the right one in his clawed hands. With an enraged bellow, he thrust it downward, slamming it into the ground with a great quake. Stomping down on it with his right foot, Junior turned about and fired another atomic ray into the middle neck, forcing its respective head to relinquish its grip. As quickly and powerfully as he possibly could, Junior reared his foot up before stomping it upon Keizer Ghidorah’s right head a second time with a loud crack. The other two heads reared back, and as the golden glow began to shine within their maws Junior reacted quickly the only way he knew how. Pressing low to the ground and turning quickly on his heels, the Prince of Monsters spun his lower body upwards and smacked the dragon’s middle head with his tail just as both heads fired their gravity beams.

The left head emitted a sharp cry of agony which was then cut off in a final gag as the middle head’s beam lanced straight through its neck, severing it from the great dragon’s body!

A third of his mind lost to oblivion and the other two reeling from a haze of agony, Keizer Ghidorah screeched a satanic wail to the stormy heavens, hail harmlessly pelting his eyes and jaws all the while Godzilla Junior grabbed hold of his right neck and bit down on it. His teeth sank below the golden flesh, but not by the margin the monster prince wanted. With his jaws unable to deal a serious injury, Junior sought to shaking his head like a dog- but all the while keeping the middle head in his line of sight.

He wanted to try something.

Holding the neck up with his hands and jaws, Godzilla Junior held on while it struggled, still shaking his head in a rather vain attempt to tear its flesh and deliver some serious injury- as if that were even his plan. No, he kept a weary eye on the middle head… and his eyes widened when it did exactly what he wanted it to do. Its jaws gaped open, a sun-like glow sparking in its throat as it lunged like a viper, attempting to blast Junior in the face point-blank.

Just as Junior jutted the right head in its way.

The middle head fired too late, and its gravity beam severed the right head from its body in a burst of sparks and charred flesh. The now disembodied skull falling to the cold wet earth, its eyes flashed once before dimming forever. The dragon wailed so loud, Godzilla Junior’s eardrums broke- but once more, the Prince of Monsters stood through it with a determination that matched that of his father. Roaring angrily, Junior spun around and slammed his tail into Keizer Ghidorah’s torso with all his strength, a booming shockwave reverberating off the hydra’s body from the force of the blow. Hail and rain blew away from the massive combatants for a brief moment, the ground quaking from the thunderous impact, before their bodies were once again showered by an endless rain of water, liquid and frozen alike.

Keizer Ghidorah staggered through the haze of agony and confusion, just as Godzilla Junior backed up for a charge. The juvenile dinosaur bellowed a Godzilla-like cry and stormed towards the detestable dragon like a maddened bison, right as Keizer Ghidorah regained his senses just enough to fire a gravity beam at his saurian opponent. Stopping mid-charge, Godzilla Junior fired the strongest atomic ray he could muster, and once more their beams locked- and this time, the struggle was not so one sided. With no two other heads to aid the middle, the beam fight was an even match. Neither one could overpower the other, and as seconds passed the mix of different energies colliding with one another for so long began to spiral out of control.

For the third time in this colossal conflict, the two Daikaiju disappeared in a fiery explosion. Minilla was forced to take cover again as the flames licked the battlefield and the tremors ripped through the earth’s crust for a few miles.

It took a surprisingly quick three minutes before the flames died away and the ash cleared to reveal the state of the combatants.

Godzilla Junior was struggling to one knee, breathing heavily as his fatigue displayed itself at last. But still, he kept trying to stand. Trying to end this before it got any worse. Far away from the monster prince, Keizer Ghidorah looked every bit as battered as he was. Sprawled on his stomach like an exhausted dog, the now one-headed dragon writhed and cackled weakly as he endured the full agonizing torture of having but a third of his mind left. His jaws snapping open and closed, the hydra’s remaining head tried to turn about to nurse the burn that adorned its neck, but it could barely move so much as a few feet before having to contend with his own neural pain.

The hailstorm died away, but still the rain continued to fall in great sheets. Even through such a watery blanket pelting his emerald scales, Junior could still see the crippled Keizer Ghidorah not too far away, and still he pressed on to get up. The hydra was at its most vulnerable as of right now- he had to act quickly. His legs shaking like weakened tree trunks, Godzilla Junior managed to stand before plating his toe claws firmly in the muddy soil… and then, he took a step. Nearly stumbling from the motion, he held himself forward for a bit, then stepped again. Step after step, he began his march towards the wounded extraterrestrial, digging his feet into the ground to keep himself from falling as he got closer and closer to his objective.

By the time Keizer Ghidorah could comprehend what was going on, Junior had literally stomped onto his back, standing atop him as he turned around to glare down at him. With a feral snarl, Godzilla Junior reached down and grabbed the dragon’s neck, claws digging at the golden flesh as the young Godzillasaurus assured his grip and began to pull.

Keizer Ghidorah’s wings began to beat the ground, his tails began to rear and flail and a distressed cackle emanated from his jaws as Junior increased his strength, pulling up with all his might. Lightning flared in the rainclouds above Monster Island as Junior pulled harder and harder, his hands beginning to shake and his muscles throb like they had never in his life. But the thrill, the urgency, the need to finally finish his evil opponent off eclipsed all other senses and thus harder he pulled; his teeth grinding so hard the smallest broke off as his clawed feet pressed harder into the alien’s back. Keizer Ghidorah cackled weakly in defiance at the Prince of Monsters, a yellow glow beginning to build in his throat just as a series of loud rips and cracks echoed from his burnt neck and Junior pulled harder still-

-and with an organic, splitting crack and a sudden thrust upwards of his arms that nearly made the juvenile dinosaur stumble off his feet. Godzilla Junior ripped Keizer Ghidorah’s middle head clean off its body, holding it high like a grisly trophy!

Without hesitation, Junior threw the disembodied skull forward, letting it crash and roll about before finally coming to a complete stop. As Junior reared back his head and let loose an awesome thunder-drowning bellow of triumph the hydra’s body quivered rapidly in a death seizure…and then slowed down, gradually perishing as its movements came to a complete stop, its once powerful form going entirely limp. Ahead of it, the severed head gaped its once formidable jaws once and closed them, a dreadful gurgle billowing from its ruptured vocal cords and then stilled entirely as the last fading glow in its crimson eyes died, and the once terrible tyrant passed away.

Keizer Ghidorah was dead.

*****

Within the Xillien mothership, the Xillien controller screamed in furious anger, stomping his foot down on the ground like an overgrown child. His face steaming red and his eyes dilated; his front teeth crossed his lower lip as he prepared to utter forth the queen mother of all words.

*****

The last ounces of air vented from Godzilla Junior’s open jaws as his roar faded to a fading guttural hum. The last resounding echoes of his triumphant cry fading into the roaring wind and the pouring rain, the monster prince hung his head low as he finally allowed the full, furious fatigue of the battle crash down upon him. He had done it. His tyrannical oppressor was finally defeated, by his hand. He, the son of Godzilla, had slain the imperious space dragon known as Keizer Ghidorah; had proved his worth to the world at long last, had proved his position as the Prince of Monsters. And had done so all by himself.

A screeching cheer echoed from his left, and Junior tried to smile. Well, almost by himself.

It was then that the fatigue and pain finally took hold of the victorious prince, and his muscles began to go numb one by one as the full extent of his battle wounds caught up with him. The immature dinosaur staggered, a weakening screech venting from his tired jaws before his legs suddenly caved, his feet slipped out from under him.

With a final groan, the Prince of Monsters collapsed on top of the motionless corpse of his slain oppressor.

Minilla cried out in fear as he finally rushed out of his hiding place, running over to his brother’s side. The saurian toddler climbed on top of the slain dragon with a strained effort, chirping to his elder sibling who remained motionless as the corpse he lay upon. The younger son of Godzilla squeaked louder, trying to wake his best friend up, but once more he was met with no response. Curiously, Minilla leaned forward and pressed the side of his head against Junior’s immobile body, listening for a heartbeat.

His eyes widened in terror at what he found.

Crying out in distress, Minilla pushed against Junior’s body, but barely succeeded in making him budge before he relented. His cries evolved into full-blown screams as he did everything he possibly could to wake his older brother. He pushed, he kicked, he hit, he screamed louder than ever through the thunderstorm that brewed above, but even after doing so for a heartbreaking two minutes the Prince of Monsters remained unmoving, his half-closed eyes staring blankly at nothing. Eventually, the toddler was so weak he too could barely stand, and with a defeated groan of grief he tumbled back, sagging against his brother’s corpse. His eyes closed, his body curled into a tiny shivering ball, and he lay there next to the fallen prince, all by his lonesome.

Another silent streak of lightning, a roar of thunder to follow it, and the rain continued to pour through the night.

*****

When the first rays of sunlight began to brighten the early morning sky, few signs of last night’s raging thunderstorm remained. As minutes passed into hours, the sun slowly rose from the mountainous distance of Monster Island, bathing the glistening wet aftermath of last night’s conflict in a heavenly, warm glow. Droplets of water and dew still clinging to the remaining foliage began to glisten beautifully as the sunlight reflected off their mirror-like surface. As the warm glow slowly spread across the island, a trio of unmoving bodies were bathed in its beautiful light.

Weary, tired eyes drooped open as a tiny form gradually uncurled itself, chubby hands grasping golden flesh as they pushed a small body up to its full minuscule height. Minilla looked about, noticing that the storm had long since passed. The night was over, and a new day had just birthed into existence. And, even still, he was alone.

Minilla, youngest son of Godzilla, turned around to see his brother’s lifeless body once more, his heart breaking all over again upon looking at it. The saurian toddler stepped towards it, sitting back down as he stared at the unmoving form of who was once his biggest hero and inspiration alongside his father. Godzilla Junior had fought for him without so much as a second thought, giving it his all to shield him from the revolting hydra he currently sat upon. And in the end, had given his life to save him. That Minilla was now the next in line in Godzilla’s footsteps was of no thought or concern to him; his brother was dead. His best friend gone forever, and now he had even larger footprints to fill in his wake.

A snap of trees made the young dinosaur jolt, and he stood up to view the disturbance.

With a bellowing honk, Anguirus emerged from the rain-soaked flora of Monster Island. Not too far behind him, the ground caved in as Baragon rose from the subterranean realm he called home. A piercing screech echoed through the trees as Kamacuras lumbered out of the foliage, gazing at the sight before him with big golden eyes. Chittering his bird-like cry, the giant spider Kumonga lumbered into view, just alongside the giant mantis. Gaira, Sanda, Titanosaurus, Ganimes, Gezora, Oodako, Varan, Manda, Rodan; one by one, the monstrous inhabitants that gave this island its name were coming out of hiding, all awestruck at the sight before them.

A booming footstep echoed across the island, shuddering it to its core. Hearing it, all monsters jolted and looked to the beach. Minilla turned around, eyes widened as he watched the island’s newest arrival burst forth from the oceanic blue with a powerful roar that split the heavens. His ivory dorsal plates glinting in the sun, seawater falling off his charcoal black scales in sheets; his ugly chest scar, rended by two terrible battles each a year apart, gleaming under the morning sunlight. Godzilla bellowed again as he waded inland with thunderous footsteps. However, five steps forward, and he stopped dead in his tracks with widened eyes.

The King of the Monsters stood like a tree as he gazed upon the unexpected sight before him. The other kaiju fixed their king with unmoving gazes, knowing full well what his reaction would be. Even Minilla, Godzilla’s youngest child, had no idea what to do even in spite of his father’s arrival. At first, Godzilla’s gaze remained solely on the fallen Junior, his nerves feeling a horrible chill as he felt like his entire body had just gone cold. It wasn’t too long, though, before he noticed Minilla standing at Junior’s side, the look on his face confirming his worst fears.

And yet, the body of the slain menace lay beneath him. As if-

A shrieking cackle made Minya jump, the other kaiju’s eyes widening in surprise when they saw the severed middle head of Keizer Ghidorah suddenly twitch to life, its demented jaws snapping as it gazed at Minilla with its foul stare, promising evil intentions. Instinctively, Godzilla’s paternal instincts kicked into gear and he began to charge-

-before an angry shriek caught everyone off guard, and a sudden burst of movement made Minilla stumble, nearly knocking him off his feet as a blur of jade scales rushed right off the hydra’s body to clasp the still-living head in a pair of razor-toothed jaws. All the kaiju jumped back in shock when Godzilla Junior, still very much alive, bit down on the end of the squirming head, holding it fast before he proceeded to sling it around, beating it repeatedly against the ground in a rage. Again and again, the seemingly resurrected monster prince rammed the serpentine appendage against the earth all the while occasionally loosening his jaws before fastening them, securing a tighter and firmer grip on the reanimated head. The dragon cackled in vain as Junior slung it all around like a dog with a toy- then screamed in pain when Junior’s spines flashed to life, nuclear energy building in his jaws.

Already Keizer Ghidorah’s head was cooking alive from the inside out, a glowing blue light beginning to radiate from his deteriorating face and neck as his eyeballs suddenly vaporized in a puff of cyan haze. And then, pointing his neck towards the sky, straightening his back as he stood to his full height, Godzilla Junior let loose his atomic breath. Caught perfectly between the center of the radioactive blast, Keizer Ghidorah howled weakly one last time as the nuclear particles consumed him; his entire neck and head charring black, his flesh, blood and muscles devoured in seconds. Soon, even his charred bones crumpled away like paper and evaporated into ash- ash which then evaporated into wisps of glowing vapor that blew away into the wind. Only after the last bits of nuclear power expelled from his jaws did Junior finally cease fire, shaking his head with a grunt as he took a moment to breathe.

Keizer Ghidorah was dead- for real this time.

The Prince of Monsters barely even had time to take a moment to stand before a familiar screech caught his attention, and a small lifeform suddenly clasped onto his leg in a hug. Bending down to one knee, the juvenile Godzillasaurus embraced his little brother, grumbling to him that he was safe. The entire time, Godzilla Junior had not been dead; exhaustion had overcome the victorious prince, so he did what any lifeform would’ve done had they been pushed to such extremes. He had fallen into a temporary coma, slowly regaining his strength as the storm passed by and night decayed into day. Even now, Junior still felt twinges of tiredness ache in his brain that tested his need for sleep.

A booming footfall made Junior’s eyes open wide as a familiar sight trudged up to meet him. Minilla screeched excitedly as Godzilla lumbered into view, walking right past the motionless corpse of Keizer Ghidorah as he came face to face with his eldest child who stood back to his full height. Godzilla towered over Junior, his grace and majesty surpassing that of his son in but every way- and yet, the Monster King looked at him as if the opposite were true. A low grumble of prideful approval quaked from Godzilla’s jaws, telling Junior how unspeakably proud of him he was. He knew full well what had occurred here, and none of the kaiju that surrounded them were more surprised nor overjoyed than he was. Junior had fought an otherworldly evil beyond his scope of power, had stood up to a deadly bully far above any other he had faced in his life, and through the slightest margin of sheer unbreakable will had vanquished the evil of the alien beast- all just to protect his younger sibling.

Even now, Godzilla didn’t think Junior seemed to fully understand how huge this was.

A rustle of trees made Godzilla’s gaze avert from his sons, watching with flaring anger as, with a painful groan, Gabara emerged from the undergrowth. Battered, bruised, strands of webbing attatched to his body, but still alive nonetheless. The very moment the amphibious bully laid eyes on Junior, his eyes narrowed arrogantly and he bared his teeth in fury. But when Junior widened his eyes in a deep and terrifying glare, snorting wisps of vapor from his scaly nostrils, Gabara took a wide-eyed step backwards. That one look communicated everything the dumbstruck bully needed to know, and after a brief moment of hesitation, the ogreish fiend took a knee… and he bowed to the Prince of Monsters.

Snorting, Godzilla Junior turned his gaze to Ganimes and Gezora, fixing them with the same deadly glare. And they too, bowed at his beckoning. But, to Junior’s surprise, the most surprising was yet to come.

Taking a few steps back until he stood amongst his kaiju peers, Godzilla almost seemed to smile as he took a knee and bowed before his triumphant son. And, at this, all the monsters around him followed his lead. Anguirus took a step forward and bowed. Rodan spread his wings and did the same. One by one, ally or enemy, great or small, bully or familiar alike, all monsters- even Minilla- knelt low as they acknowledged Junior’s success. By the time ten seconds had passed, all of the islands colossal inhabitants lay low, bowing to their prince.

Under the rising light of the new sun, Godzilla Junior spread his arms wide and straightened his build to the sky, letting loose a fearsome roar of victory reminiscent of his father’s famous cry that resounded across all and beyond Monster Island, rippling the surrounding sea with its power as he proclaimed his unmistakable position to all with auditory receptors.

He was the son of Godzilla, the Prince of Monsters, slayer of Keizer Ghidorah, and he was not to be messed with.

*****

X growled and snarled in fury as he curled his hands into fists, shaking like a child as his temper flared. And then, almost regretfully, he let it pass. He allowed himself a moment to take a breath and cool his anger down, slowly returning to his normally nonchalant composure as he contemplated what to do next. But, no matter how many options or scenarios he played over in his mind, the Xillien Keizer couldn’t come up with anything truly useful for the time being. Begrudgingly, X considered the only safe option for the moment: lay low, and wait until a better opportunity presented itself.

A familiar cackle caught X’s ears, and he whirled back to the screen as Keizer Ghidorah’s laughter-like cry sprang back into existence. One of his heads still lived?!

“Wait a minute!” he held up his hand as he allowed his excitement to flare-

-which was quickly extinguished when a blue flash engulfed the screen, and Keizer Ghidorah’s last fading scream was drowned out by the familiar flow of an atomic ray. A sound which then died down, as Godzilla Junior’s shrill bellow resounded through the room. X sighed quickly, eyes narrowing as his shoulders sagged in defeat.

“Oh, forget it.”

Winner: Godzilla Junior

Author: Matt Ng | Banner: Matt Ng

Flames burst into the night sky and rubble cascaded all around.

Unhindered by any sort of resistance to its destructive rampage, a titanic beast tore through its surroundings, pulling down buildings with its shovel-like hands. The twin tendrils of the creature thrashed back and forth, ripping up nearby structures and shaking the earth each time they pounded against the ground. The drill-shaped head of the kaiju ominously spun around at a slow pace, everything that came into contact with the spinning spear crumbling into nothingness.

The Iron Fortress was terrorizing one of Japan’s many cities, laying waste to all in its path. No amount of military resistance had been able to stop the titans advances, for they all met the same fate; death at the hands of the nightmarish colossus. A low rumble emanated from Gabora’s insides, sending a chill down the spines of any who dared to lay eyes upon the wretched beast.

The drill that made up Gabora’s head revved to life as the monstrous lifeform dug its way down beneath the soil, hundreds of thousands of dirt, rock, and rubble flying into the air as it descended into the earthen embrace of the land. Tremors shook the earth for miles as the monstrous titan burrowed its way through the underground before erupting out of a building, reducing the sky-high structure into shattered glass and dust.

Looking on at the wanton destruction Gabora was causing from the spectacular view of a high-rise, a young woman with blue hair shaped into an eighth-note crossed her arms as she surveyed the terrible beast’s rampage. As all other attempts to destroy the Iron Fortress had failed, there was no denying it now. She was the last roadblock to the complete and total blotting out of this city from the map.

Hair and clothes swaying gently in the breeze, the young woman prepared for a fight not unlike many she had faced before in the past…

***

Several hours earlier

Tsubasa Kazanari walked out of the door that led to the dressing room to the backstage of a grand concert hall, just about ready for her performance. She could hear the muffled excitement of the crowd from beyond the wall that separated them, which led her thoughts to places outside her soon to be live performance.

It had been a couple of years since she and her friends had saved the world from destruction for the final time. No other problems had really occurred since then, allowing each of them to live their lives out as normal. Naturally though, it meant them drifting apart. Her thoughts drifted from her friends over to those close to her heart who had long since passed; her father and best friend. Tsubasa wondered about how they would think about what had gone on since they had left this world. It was something she often reflected on, given her truly long and troubled history.

Perhaps she really had moved on from the scars of long ago. While still present, they no longer eerily lingered in the air, having faded into unpleasant memories of the past. Tsubasa breathed in deeply, closing her eyes. Alas, now was no time for idle thoughts. She had a show to put on.

And yet still, her thoughts once again drifted to that day many years ago. The final performance she had with her best friend. Since then, her concerts truly never were the same. Had she really truly moved on from the loss all those years ago? Tsubasa didn’t really know herself, but still…the reality in front of her, the life she was living couldn’t afford to steep in the agonies of bygone days. She lived, and she would continue to live for a purpose.

Stepping out onto the stage to the response of a thunderous ruckus of applause, Tsubasa prepared to begin her concert in earnest.

***

As Tsubasa stared down at the unhindered trail of havoc that Gabora had caused, she produced a necklace with a pinkish-red gemstone attached, grasping it tightly in her hand. She was not simply a singer, but a sentinel who shielded the weak.

For a moment, Tsubasa paused. It had been years since the almighty power of Ame no Habakiri had flowed through her, but now was no time for reminiscence of old. She would move forward, spreading her wings to fly towards the future.

Stepping out onto the balcony, Tsubasa leapt from high above off of the structure towards the rampaging monster, holding her relic high above to the sky.

It was time for the Blade of Heavenly Wings to shine once again.

“Imyuteus Ame no Habakiri tron…”

The melodious chant echoed throughout the city, drawing the attention of the Iron Fortress. Gabora’s drill reared up, as did the rest of its enormous form. Rising up to stand on its hind legs, the muted metallic purplish surface of Gabora’s drill reflected a shimmering luminescent azure light that shone down from high in the air…

Ya-Haiya nariwatare… Ya-Haiya ten e to…

A vocal riff emanated from the source of the light, which continued to shimmer and coalesce into the human figure of a warrior clad in blue and white armor. In a sudden burst of melodic sound, the glowing blue light faded to reveal Tsubasa in her Symphogear armor, the angelic armor acting as a conduit for its wearer, continuously pumping out a musical Japanese rock backing track that immediately upped in intensity upon her completed transformation.

Ya-Haiya-Haiya-ie Yaiye-Haiye- chikara yo kaeran~Ya-Haiya-Haiya-ie Yaiye-Haiye- Ame no Habakiri~ Ya-i-ye tsurugi yo utae~!

Sword in hand, Tsubasa raised her weapon high up into the air as she descended down like a dive bomb towards Gabora, song spilling from her lips as she opened her mouth to sing, entering into battle.

“As flowers of time flutter to the ground, I spend many nights questioning myself…
The waters flow down, to find the lowest point…why do people act the same so heartlessly…”

Gabora’s drill began to split open, its components expanding outwards like a blossoming flower to reveal the small head of the monstrous menace. Bellowing a guttural snarl from its maw, the Iron Fortress swiped one of its massive hands at Tsubasa, intent on swatting her out of the sky like a fly. In a single and fluid motion, Tsubasa dodged the clumsy strike, angling her sword to cut a thin gash deep into the scaly flesh of the beast.

Bellowing in rage, Gabora clenched its other hand into a fist, attempting to strike at the Symphogear user. Tsubasa spun out of the way, the blades on her ankles expanding outwards at the same time. Doing several mid-air cartwheels, Tsubasa sliced at Gabora’s forearm in a whirlwind of blades, drawing a harsh roar of pain from the Iron Fortress.

“Crumble to dust and disappear…! Nothing you do can save you now…! Though that may be, my grief too shall become a blade of condemnation…! And even if I were to be torn apart, wish upon a sword for victory will be mine…!”

“Defending the weak…!”

With its opponent too agile to reliably tag, Gabora snarled as its armor flaps closed up to reform its gigantic drill. Dropping down to all fours, the Iron Fortress barreled forward in a frenzied manner, intent on skewering its opponent. Landing atop Gabora’s back and using the monster’s erratic movements as leverage, Tsubasa leapt high up into the air and came back down with thundering fury. Splitting her katana into two much larger swords, she cut an X-shape into the air with them, slicing twin streaks of energy that lanced into Gabora’s back. The Iron Fortress bellowed, the twin tendrils on its back swiping upwards in retaliatory fury. Tsubasa brought her swords up defensively just in time, allowing her to lessen the oncoming impact. Though unharmed, the sheer force of the blow still sent the Symphogear wielder tumbling through the air.

“If I were to take count every battle scar, how much blood have I shed for you…
Was it not possible, from the very start, to save you from evil? Is there an answer to be found? Is there a light to guide our way?”

“Holding this blade, I have the strength to open the path…! Holding this blade!”

Quickly stabilizing herself, Tsubasa condensed her sword into a singular larger blade, the swords attached to her feet bursting into flames as they jettisoned the Symphogear wielder down towards her foe. Gabora’s drill flowered open, the titanic beast turning around just in time to see Tsubasa strike at it with her blade. The sword clashed against one of the drill components with a tremendous impact, blue lightning dancing across Tsubasa’s blade and Gabora’s armor. The hit caused a massive shockwave that blew Tsubasa across the city, whereas Gabora was sent stumbling back. Bellowing in annoyance, the tendrils upon the back of the Iron Fortress slammed hard into the ground, allowing the titanic monster to stabilize itself.

“If you can understand what’s in your heart, know that blood is not what defines your worth…Tell the story of how you reached the end, this is how I lived my life… regretfully…”

Landing atop a building rooftop, Tsubasa split her larger blade in two once more before she broke into a sprint, her ankle swords igniting once again. Her other two swords lit aflame as well as she jumped up into the air, taking to the sky. Her blades acted as if they were wings, allowing her to careen right back into the battle. High in the moonlit sky, Tsubasa appeared as if she were a phoenix, her blazing wings casting an ethereal presence. Gabora bellowed at its foe, the armor plates that made up its drill opening wide and spinning rapidly as the Iron Fortress opened its maw, eerie purple light beginning to shimmer within its gullet.

Not a moment later, Gabora vomited a pale blue laser beam right at Tsubasa, who swerved in the nick of time to avoid the scorching blast. Still trying to tag Tsubasa with its beam, Gabora attempted to aim its beam around to zap its opponent out of the sky. What the Iron Fortress didn’t see coming however was instead of Tsubasa continuing to weave around the trajectory of the beam, the Symphogear wielder was making a beeline right towards it! Too focused on trying to land a hit with its laser, Gabora paid the price when Tsubasa rammed into its side in a burst of flame that engulfed a third of the massive beast.

“Even without a sword in hand…If you still have a dream to claim…No matter when or where you look, you will find that people have always been worth fighting for…! Love has taught me that, by discarding my blade, my true strength can be found deep within my heart…!”

“Defending the weak…!”

Gabora crashed onto its side, shrieking wildly as it thrashed about. Between the mess of limbs and tendrils, Tsubasa veered out of the way, instead flying up high into the sky. Lit by the backdrop of the moon shining overhead, Tsubasa conjured a dizzying amount of azure energy blades which rained down upon Gabora, who bellowed in a mixture of irritation and pain. Scrambling to its feet, the Iron Fortress bellowed furiously up at the sky, its drill plates rotating incessantly.

Combining her swords and attaching them to her feet, the blade grew to a massive size, dwarfing Tsubasa’s frame in comparison as she rocketed down in a kicking motion, intent on piercing right through Gabora with the attack. The Iron Fortress snarled ferociously as it belched its beam once more, meeting Tsubasa’s sword mid-air. The concussive force of the laser fought against the momentum Tsubasa had built up, and was winning. Tsubasa’s descent slowed to a crawl as runoff energy began to flood over her in waves. Unable to sustain her attack any longer, she split off from the blade, allowing herself to fall down towards the ground.

“The greatest warrior, worth a thousand more, lifts their eyes and looks to the sky!
Sing a melody for those who came before, and now shine as a star…The answer must be somewhere near…! Reach out and grasp your destiny…!”

“Listen to the sound of wings beating through the air, just as a blade…!”

With its foes’ attack unsuccessful, Gabora bellowed in triumph as it looked around for Tsubasa, spotting the Symphogear wilder down on the ground, sword in hand. The titanic monster bellowed down at its miniscule foe, flecks of spittle flying from the maw of the Iron Fortress as it rose its enormous form up, its arms primed to smash down upon its irritating enemy…

Tsubasa looked up at the Iron Fortress, its screeches and bellows doing nothing to deter her ultimate resolve. She was the sentinel who shielded the weak, and protected those who couldn’t protect themselves. Enough was enough; this monster would fall here and now.

For she was the Sword that pierced the Heavens.

Breaking into a sprint right as Gabora’s hands crashed down upon the earth, Tsubasa sang aloud. She would not be deterred! She would be the one to win the day! Jumping up onto the clenched fists of the Iron Fortress as leverage, Tsubasa took to the skies like a bird, holding her sword aloft as it expanded, growing exponentially in size.

“Bet your all and protect every life to the end…!”

“Show them where you learned to love…!”

“Take this fight into the air and prove with your resolve to win…!”

“I have become the wind…”

The six beady red eyes of the Iron Fortress widened in surprise as Tsubasa’s blade erupted in proportion, blotting the dim light from the moon from its sheer magnitude. Holding her sword up above her head, Tsubasa shot down with the force of a meteor, her blade aimed squarely at the head of her enemy.

Gabora bellowed, its armor plates closing up around its head as the drill spun to life once more. Slamming its hands down upon the dirt and snarling a muted roar from within, the Iron Fortress barreled forth to clash with the Defending Sword.

“If I were to take count of every battle scar, how much blood have I shed for you…
Was it not possible, from the very start, to save you from evil?
Heaven reveals the answer…and guides us down our chosen path…!”

As momentum and gravity carried her and her blade forward, Tsubasa’s song reached its peak, singing her heart out with a passion that burned hotter than the sun.

“Holding this blade, I have the strength to open the path…! Holding this blade!”

With a shout of finality, Tsubasa catapulted down at Gabora, the drill head of the titanic beast meeting her blade head on. Sparks erupted from the impact points of the tips before with a tumultuous tearing rip, Tsubasa’s sword pierced through, splitting right through the hardened material that comprised the drill. Gabora’s exposed head bellowed one last time in utter shock and defiance before the titanic sword stabbed straight through its skull, silencing the Iron Fortress forever.

The sword cut right through the rest of Gabora’s form like a hot knife through butter, tearing a clean line between each half of the monster. Right as Tsubasa’s sword tip impacted the ground, embedding itself into the dirt, Gabora promptly exploded behind the Symphogear wielder, sending up a massive cloud of fire high into the night sky.

The Iron Fortress had been vanquished. Nothing remained but ashes that burned in the wind.

The Defending Sword stood victorious, the Blade of Heavenly Wings rising up from the flames that blazed behind.

Tonight, these wings had spread once more, taking flight toward monumental triumph.

Authors: Michael Menei & Connor Clennell | Banner: Matthew Williams

Death Valley.

The hottest place on Earth, where life forms that have adapted to the harsh environment could survive without dying from the hellish temperatures. The very land was like the Earth equivalent of Hell itself for this very reason. Many people who have gotten lost in this inhospitable place have died, while others were lucky to survive. For those reasons, this was why it is considered one of the deadliest places on the face of the Earth, and today, it was about to become even more dangerous.

Roaming through the scorching desert was a creature that could only be described as evil incarnate. One look at its hellish appearance alone was enough for unknowing individuals to label it as a devil. It was nothing of the sort, but its reputation more than made up for these rumors. It was a fiendish monster, born from the very weapon that killed the original Godzilla. It was none other than Destoroyah.

The Precambrian terror chuckled evilly, thinking about all the misery and pain he has brought upon this very world. Just now from this moment, Destoroyah had already recently turned entire cities into rubble under his feet, killing many innocent souls just for the sake of fun. The only thing he wished to fulfill in life was to exterminate all life on Earth. Armies had tried to take him down, but all failed. In the end, it was all in vain, and fell to the monstrosity’s power.

As the towering devil continued on with his path, he came to a halt and looked down as he began to hear something coming from the ground before him. Sand and rocks began to fall as the earth split apart, a hellish, red glow emerging from the pit now forming before the Precambrian terror. The next thing the crimson crustacean witnessed was a being rising from inside, crawling out of its domain. Once it stepped forth onto the hot grounds of the desert, the being stood at full height. It wasn’t like any other creature Destoroyah had seen before. Its entire body was composed of thick, molten rock, its form resembling that of humans, the very insects that Destoroyah liked to inflict terror onto. Most of all, similar to Destoroyah, this very being also had an appearance that spelt death. Hot liquid from the core of the planet dripped from his mouth, sizzling upon dropping to the earth.

It was none other than the demonic monstrosity, Kumasogami.

Kumasogami had come here upon hearing about the very monster standing in front of him and he was enraged! No, not enraged, that’s just being polite in his view. If anything, he was extremely livid! Livid at the fact that Destoroyah is taking the very thing he lived for: pain, misery, and death. If that wasn’t enough, the last straw was those pitiful humans calling Destoroyah the Devil itself, a demon among monsters. Kumasogami didn’t care how evil and sadistic this monster was. That was his title, and he would let no monster take it away from him. It was his purpose and goal to cause horror and destruction among the world, not this mutant impersonator that was created through man’s weaponry. The creature before him may have resembled his kind, but it was an impostor to his name. Today, Kumasogami was going to claim back everything stolen from him.

The first thing that came to Destoroyah’s mind was to let out a roar in hopes of intimidating his foe. However, his effort was in vain, as Kumasogami showed no fear and simply laughed at his foe’s attempt to do so. Destoroyah was shocked, something he never thought would’ve ever happened. A monster showing no fear from him. Even Godzilla, the King of the Monsters, the only monster that actually gave him pause, had shown the slightest of fear from Destoroyah’s power, but here, this being didn’t.

Before Destoroyah could react as the very thought distracted him, the lord of brimstone morphed his hands into a bow and arrows. Joining his hands together and then arching his arrows back, he fired his arrows at the crimson titan, the projectiles detonating on impact against the mutant’s hide, bathing him in explosions as the mutant crustacean collapsed to the ground. Desert sand was launched into the air as the false demon’s weight smashed into the ground, blanketing Destoroyah in a cloud of dust. Before the spawn of the Oxygen Destroyer had the chance to lift himself back up on his feet, Kumasogami was soon standing over him. This time, the molten damnation changed one of his hands into a ragged blade. He raised it over his head, ready to swing it down at Destoroyah’s face and end the pretender to his title.

Unfortunately for Kumasogami, Destoroyah had other plans for him.

The next thing Kumasogami knew, a blast of the infamous Oxygen Destroyer Beam slammed against his chest. Purplish energy kept pushing against the demonic golem as he felt pieces of his molten rock skin blast off of his body, forcing him to stagger back. This gave Destoroyah time to pull himself back up, snarling angrily at the fire demon. This meant war. If it was a fight this strange creature wanted, he was more than happy to oblige what he would make its final request.

Kumasogami recovered from the hit he received, clutching his chest in pain. He looked down to see pieces of his hide littering the earth around him, as his molten life blood oozed from the open wound. Burning fury engulfed his eyes. While he may have suffered worse than Destoroyah, he’d make sure his foe would pay for that insulting attack.

Before he could look up, another purple beam from the winged destroyer struck Kumasogami in the face, causing the molten damnation to reel back. Destoroyah approached, his cranial horn surging with energy as he prepared to swing it. Kumasogami was quick to recover once again and ducked, dodging a slash of the Laser Horn. Taking note of his foe’s close proximity, Kumasogami decided to engage him in physical combat. His hands transformed once more, returning to their natural state and clenching into fists. He swung his right arm forward, decking Destoroyah in the jaw. Another blow from Kumasogami forced Destoroyah a step back, then another, as the God of Kumaso itself continued to attack him with a barrage of punches.

Destoroyah broke free from his assault when he grasped Kumasogami’s swinging fist with his clawed hand, halting the blow. The molten abomination tried to break his hand free, but Destoroyah’s grip was too firm. Cackling sinisterly, the mammoth crustacean began to put pressure on Kumasogami’s hand, the rocky skin of his foe beginning to crack under his strength.

Kumasogami punched Destoroyah in an attempt to free himself, but his captor was unfazed by the strike and continued squeezing. Deciding to put more power behind his next strike, Kumasogami swung again, freeing himself this time as he struck Destoroyah into the elbow, saving his hand from destruction. Morphing one of his hands once more, it shifted and extended into his signature blade and he lashed out with it, aiming for Destoroyah’s chest. The mutant crustacean flapped his wings, leaping back out of harm’s way while targeting Kumasogami with another Micro-Oxygen beam.

Feeling the force of Destoroyah’s beam once more, Kumasogami anchored his feet to the desert’s sand, preventing himself from falling. He grimaced in pain as the beam tore into the wound from the previous blast, unable to resist its annihilating power. He tried to wait for Destoroyah to stop spewing out his signature attack, but after a few moments, it seemed that he wouldn’t stop. Reverting to his bow and arrows, the molten damnation fired his arrows, blasting just under Destoroyah’s feet.

Destoroyah shrieked as he backpedaled, caught off-guard by the arrows detonating under him. All of a sudden, Kumasogami came charging forwards, faster than the eye could see. The demon swung his bladed arm down, faster than Destoroyah could see or react.

SLICE!

Destoroyah shrieked out in agonizing pain as his right wing fell to the ground with a heavy thud. Green blood began to gush out of the stump, but Kumasogami wasn’t finished. He swung his blade again, slicing off the bulky left arm at the shoulder, earning another shriek from the crustacean as more blood pumped out of his wounds. Rearing his arm back, the sadistic devil thrust the blade into the flowery pattern on the titan’s chest, the tip bursting out of his back. Destoroyah coughed up gallons of blood from his mouth, drenching Kumasogami’s arm and staining the sands below. Destoroyah stared at Kumasogami, who smiled in pleasure, knowing victory for him was nearing.

All of a sudden, rather than feeling displeasure, Destoroyah smiled in return, an evil look crossing his features. Confused, Kumasogami drove his blade in deeper, determined to wipe the smile off the pretenders face. Suddenly, Destoroyah vanished, exploding into a cloud of white mist. Kumasogami’s eyes widened in shock. Where had his foe vanished?

His answer suddenly came from a shriek above. He didn’t have time to look when he felt himself being slammed to the ground and a hooked tail latching itself onto his neck. Kumasogami roared as he was suddenly dragged along the ground by his unseen attacker. Turning his head, he found the culprit. It was his foe… Or at least, it resembled the mutant crustacean. It looked almost the same, except it was smaller and its shape was much more different. The creature resembled a demonic bat, bearing the armor and colors of Destoroyah. The Precambrian life form’s flying form cackling evilly as he dragged Kumasogami across the sand, enjoying as his foe struggled to free himself.

Kumasogami violently struggled to free himself from Destoroyah’s grasp, but it was no use. The hooked tail was locked on heavily. Pulling his arms out, Kumasogami grasped his foe’s tail, hoping his super-heated body would force the crimson beast to free him. Unfortunately though, Destoroyah felt no such thing, as his armor proved to offer some protection. Realizing he was out of options, the demon beast did the only thing he knew to get out of this. The airborne destroyer continued to drag his foe around, only to let out a screech of pain when he felt something sharp cut off the tip of his tail. Turning to look, he saw that the tip of his tail was missing, blood squirted from its stump. Far behind, Kumasogami tumbled across the dirt, his left hand morphed into a blade and coated in garish green blood. Though the loss of his tail was nothing serious, Destoroyah was concerned, now that his foe had freed himself.

Kumasogami took his time to regain himself. Having been dragged around for a bit had left him rather disorientated. Once he finally got a stabled consciousness back, he pulled himself up and watched as the flying form of Destoroyah flew towards him. Kumasogami was ready to attack, only for the aerial cretin to dive down and blast his beam. Sparks flew as Kumasogami almost fell on one knee, but caught himself. Looking up, he saw Destoroyah flying straight at him again. Raising his blade, he swung the moment the Precambrian crustacean was within reach, only to miss by a few inches. Quickly, the molten damnation thrust out his other arm to grab Destoroyah by the tail, but missed once more.

Destroyoyah screeched, unleashing multiple blasts of his Oxygen Destroyer Beam, crisscrossing them across the desert sand. While many of the beams missed, they kicked up the earth around Kumasogami, coated in a shroud of sand. The molten demon waved his arms around, trying to get all the sand dust out of his view, to no avail. Looking around, Destoroyah was nowhere in sight for the moment. Kumasogami watched on cautiously, squinting his eyes to get a better view to where the Precambrian crustacean had gone. Suddenly, he was struck in the back, causing him to stagger forwards before a purple beam nailed him in the side, forcing him to a knee. As he pulled himself up, more beams washed over his body before he was rammed hard from behind. Kumasogami roared out, collapsing face first.

The demon lord was starting to get frustrated. If he wanted to have a good chance of hitting his foe, he’d have to focus on sound rather than sight. Fortunately for him though, that option was then thrown out when the dust began to clear up and Kumasogami spotted Destoroyah.

Deciding to take his time and focus, Kumasogami reverted his hands before aiming his arrows. While the first two ended up missing, the last arrow managed to slam into Destoroyah’s face, washing his face in a small shower of sparks. The hideous spawn of destruction screeched in pain, falling to the ground below leaving an impact crater. As fast as he could, the vile golem rushed towards his fallen opponent, not wanting to give him the chance to recover. As he reached his downed opponent, Destoroyah once again vanished just before Kumasogami could slam his foot down. The demon lord roared out angrily, knowing from past experience that his foe was nowhere close to being dead. The ground below him suddenly burst open as multiple Aggregate Destoroyahs burst out. Startled by this, Kumasogami tried to engage, but they quickly latched onto the lava demon’s body, pinning him to the earth under their combined mass. Kumasogami violently shook himself to get them off, but the smaller creatures kept themselves tightly anchored, pounding their claws across his molten body.

The demonic lord tried to pull himself up, but the combined weight of the Aggregate swarm kept him from rising. Kumasogami continued to struggle, not willing to surrender while still fighting back. With a heave, Kumasogami grabbed one of the Aggregates by the neck and squeezed, crushing its windpipe and killing it instantly. His other hand changed shape, taking the form of a two-headed axe. With a single, powerful swing, three more of the Aggregates were decapitated. The others, witnessing the death of the other Aggregates, quickly got off, not wanting to risk the chance of being killed. They swarmed together, disappearing into a cloud of white and surges of energy. Soon, the original, final form of Destoroyah stood over Kumasogami, staring coldly at the ruler of the underworld.

Destoroyah slowly approached the downed Kumasogami, enjoying every moment of the demon’s suffering. He placed a foot down on his chest and stared down with a cold glare, hoping to finish him right here. Before Destoroyah could do anything, Kumasogami formed his hands back to normal and grabbed the crustacean’s bulky foot. He twisted his hands, pulling out Destoroyah and causing him to fall to the ground next to the molten damnation as he shrieked with rage.

In an instant, Kumasogami was back up and reached down, grabbing Destoroyah by the back of his skull and lifting him up, his free hand transforming into a blade. Before it could finish, Destoroyah’s tail struck up, the hooked tip latching onto Kumasogami’s head. The demon lord attempted to pry it off, but didn’t have the chance to as Destoroyah reared himself up and, in a showcase of strength, tossed Kumasogami hundreds of feet away.

Kumasogami could hear his foe quickly approaching him. He only had time to get back up when Destoroyah thrust his energy-coated horn into Kumasogami, piercing his shoulder. The abomination of fire howled in pain, but his cry was soon joined by Destoroyah as he pulled his horn out of the demon’s shoulder. Searing hot lava, the life force of Kumasogami, dripped down the appendage on Destoroyah’s head, burning it severely. The volcanic titan was amused by this, chuckling darkly. It seemed his foe had severely underestimated him, not knowing that unlike most monsters, his ‘blood’ was far different compared to others.

The pain finally ceased when Destoroyah’s howls of agony ended. His horn was still largely intact and useful in battle, albeit warped and charred by the lava, but he’d kept that in mind his next cut into his foe. The spawn of destruction has endured intense heat before, and was familiar with the pain it brought. Suddenly, Destoroyah shrieked out when Kumasogami swung his blade across his chest, gouging a deep cut across it. Green blood splattered across both creatures, and Kumasogami licked his lips, tasting Destoroyah’s essence. It was delicious, but unnecessary.

The two resumed their fight, their bodies crashing into each other and attempting to force the other back. Being the taller and heavier out of the two, Destoroyah was the one to seize control of the struggle and decided to take advantage of this. Smiling evilly, the Precambrian crustacean grabbed onto his foe and lifted off into the air.

Kumasogami’s eyes widened with shock. Suddenly, he found himself being taken off the earth. Looking down, he and his foe were hundreds of meters above the desert. He wasn’t even too sure what to do. Even if he did free himself, there was a possible chance he could die upon impact. He quickly wiped that thought out of his head. He doubted that he’d die from falling, considering his durability against countless of powerful foes he’s faced and survived throughout the thousands of years he has been alive. He was also Kumasogami, not just the demonic beast of fire and brimstone, but even once having been a God of the bygone Kumaso Kingdom. He wasn’t about to let this mutant mistake take everything away from him. He had gone this far!

As Destoroyah continued to soar higher, grasping Kumasogami, the molten damnation suddenly broke one of his arms free and jabbed his blade into Destoroyah’s side, forcing the mutant crustacean to wail out and let go of him as the two began to pummel down towards the earth. As the two continued to fall at a fast rate to the earth below, the winged titan tried to gain flight, but being close enough to him, Kumasogami used momentum and sliced his blade at one of Destoroyah’s wings, crippling it and earning another painful shriek from the Precambrian horror.

Within moments, the two landed in an earth shattering collision that left a crater impact in their wake. As everything cleared up, Destoroyah was the only one back on his feet and looked to see Kumasogami still lying on the ground. Believing his foe to have been knocked out by the impact, Destoroyah cackled. He was going to finish him and make him regret ever messing with him in the first place.

As he towered above Kumasogami, Destoroyah was ready to swing his horn down to deliver the fatal blow…

Unknown to Destoroyah, being too occupied with finishing off his seemingly unconscious foe, he had fallen into Kumasogami’s trap. The hellish damnation sprung up, one of his hands taking the shape of a medieval mace. He leapt onto Destoroyah, catching him off-guard and forcing him against the ground. Before the fall, Kumasogami pretended to be unconscious so he could lure Destoroyah in a false sense of security and take advantage of him. This time, Kumasogami wasn’t going to give him a chance to retaliate.

Pinning his foe down to the ground, Kumasogami began to slam his mace against Destoroyah’s face. Destoroyah tried to attack back, but his foe proved to strike much faster, continuing to pummel him in the face with his powerful blows. Destoroyah could suddenly feel darkness starting to eat away at him as he neared unconsciousness. For every strike Kumasogami’s mace delivered, the more power there was behind it.

In a matter of a few minutes, Kumasogami stopped himself from finishing the job as he looked upon Destoroyah’s pummeled face. Teeth that were broken off were missing from his jaw and blood oozed out in various spots where the armor had been broken and pierced. To Kumasogami’s surprise, Destoroyah still had consciousness in him, letting out a low cackle of hate for being defeated like this. Not taking the chance for his foe to recover and putting more strength to his mace, Kumasogami swung it one last time, knocking Destoroyah unconscious.

Kumasogami breathed heavily from the whole ordeal. He had done it. He’s defeated this impersonator that was taking on his appearance as the devil. However, one thing he knew deep down due to his intense fight with him was that Destoroyah was very difficult to kill. It was now all or nothing, his time to finally remove the abomination from the face of the Earth for good.

Kumasogami would have if a second option had not popped up…

It was an evil thought that came into Kumasogami’s mind. Something he should’ve honestly done in the first place. A fate far worse than death itself. Why had he never tried doing this in the first place?

With a sinister smile, Kumasogami grabbed Destoroyah’s prone form by the tail and dragged him over to the pit from which he’d emerged. He dropped inside, pulling Destoroyah with him, and the pit collapsed shut behind them, leaving no indication it ever existed in the first place…

To him, this was without a doubt his greatest accomplishment. More importantly, there was a reason he was to be feared as the Devil of all monsters.

Winner: Kumasogami

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

Chronicles of Conflict: Episode 1 (more…)