The water above shimmered with steel. Dozens of submersible drones descended, their propellers spinning like angry hornets. Netting and containment rigs hung beneath them, reinforced with alloys that gleamed faintly in the abyssal gloom.
Lin flexed his claws. He had just killed a juvenile M.U.T.O., his blood still hot from battle. The urge to destroy the metal things above him pulsed like a second heartbeat.
> [Warning: Human Capture Attempt Detected.]
[Option 1: Resist.]
[Option 2: Evade.]
[Option 3: Allow Capture.]
For a moment, instinct screamed at him to tear the machines apart. But then he looked up, past the drones, to where Godzilla hovered. The King's glowing eyes were still fixed on him — impassive, unreadable.
What do you want from me? Lin wondered. Another test? Or a chance?
The system pulsed again, text flickering across his vision.
> [Note: Information about human technology and intent limited. Capture may reveal data.]
His mind flashed back to the glimpses he'd had through drone cameras: humans in strange uniforms, their eyes wide with fear and awe. They knew about Titans. Some had even spoken of him — the hatchling.
If he wanted to truly rule this world, he needed to know his rivals. Not just monsters, but humans.
Lin's dorsal plates dimmed. He lowered his head, letting his massive body drift upward. The drones surged in, nets flaring like steel spiderwebs.
---
Project Aegis – Submarine Control Room
"They're… they're capturing it," a tech stammered. "It's not resisting."
Keller's jaw tightened. "It's letting us," he said. "That's worse."
"Sir?"
"Titans don't surrender," Keller murmured. "They don't 'let' anything happen. It's thinking. Remember that."
He pressed the intercom button. "All units: proceed with Stage Two containment. Do not provoke it."
---
Below – The Trench
The first net settled over Lin's back. It sparked faintly, humming with some kind of energy dampener. He felt his power muted, dulled like a blade dipped in ice. The drones closed in tighter, their claws latching onto the reinforced edges.
Lin rumbled low in his chest, but did not struggle. His eyes flicked upward to where Godzilla still floated, watching. The King made no move to interfere.
So be it, Lin thought. I'll go to them. Learn. Then decide.
The system flickered again.
> [Decision Locked: Allow Capture.]
[New Objective: Gather Information on Humans.]
[Warning: Energy Dampener Active. Titan Abilities Reduced by 60%.]
He let the drones haul him upward, his massive body rising like a shadow from the depths. Around him, the trench grew lighter, the water brighter. Above lay the unknown.
As the ocean surface neared, Lin caught one last glimpse of Godzilla's glowing eyes. The King rumbled once, deep and thunderous — a sound that might have been warning, or approval.
Then Lin broke the surface, steel nets glinting, helicopters beating the air overhead.
---
Project Aegis – Surface Carrier
The sea erupted as the Titan broke through, spraying waves like walls. Soldiers scrambled, shouting. Massive cranes swung out, attaching reinforced harnesses to the nets.
Keller stood on the deck, wind tearing at his coat, and stared at the creature. Even bound and dampened, it radiated power.
The Titan turned its massive head. For a heartbeat, its glowing eyes met his.
Keller swallowed. "Welcome aboard," he murmured.
Lin's gaze flicked to the base ship, the humans, the sky full of machines. His system pinged softly in his mind.
> [Stage One Complete. New Phase: Observation.]
Somewhere deep inside, a new hunger stirred — not for flesh, but for understanding.
---
To be continued…
⚡️ Next Chapters Tease:
Lin enters Project Aegis' secret base. While restrained, he starts mapping human behavior and technology, waiting for the right time. Meanwhile, his system slowly adapts to the dampeners — preparing for the next evolution.