Kafka hesitated first moment.
In this world—kaiju disasters existing hundreds of years—ordinary people's impression of kaiju: ugly and brutal. For Defense Force members—subjugating kaiju was their mission.
He'd likely be imprisoned afterward.
Moreover—if Mina discovered he reached this point using kaiju power—probably... disappointed?
But—if not transforming now...
Kafka's mindset shifting. Already clenched fist.
What truly made him decide—voice through earpiece.
"What are you hesitating for!?"
"Did you forget everything I taught you!?"
"Power's meaning—decided by user. Now... go do what you want!"
Monitoring room—technicians watched Natsuki suddenly grab microphone and shout. All surprised.
These words—what meaning?
Defense Force members hearing—also confused. What's happening?
Such urgent battle—still saying this?
Everyone on battlefield—heard Natsuki's voice through comms.
"With me here—you need fear nothing!"
"Kafka Hibino—show me your resolve!"
Natsuki's voice through earpiece—entered Kafka's brain. Struck his heart. Brain's last hesitation—instantly vanished.
These words' meaning—only he understood.
"I understand, Natsuki-san..." He looked up at massive bone dragon catching Mina. Voice became hoarse. Like whisper from abyss.
Powerful energy from beating heart—transmitted to limbs. Overflowing energy—burst black lightning on surface. Body became tall. Tough scales layered onto body.
Shockwave threw surrounding building ruins aside. He slightly crouched. Right fist clenched. Ground beneath—massive cracks!
"I'll subjugate that thing!!"
BOOM!!
Kaiju No. 8—officially entered battlefield!
"Not good!"
"Another massive kaiju reaction on battlefield!"
"Strength Grade 9.8!!"
Technician detecting data—eyes widened. Couldn't believe another massive kaiju appeared.
"What!?"
"Wait... that is—could it be?"
"Kafka!"
"That's Kafka Hibino!?"
Squad Two members—saw Kaiju No. 8 leap. Felt worldview shattering.
Someone could transform into kaiju!?
"Kafka?" Mina already fell from wall. Landed in ruins. Raised head. Saw pouncing bone dragon and sky-filling black flame feathers. And... energy-radiating humanoid kaiju—fist about to strike bone dragon.
All this—too fast. Too sudden!
"Roar..."
"Get... LOST!!"
Kaiju Kafka's arm—thruster-like holes appeared. Burning flames. Full-force punch from side-above—struck bone dragon. Mental attack interrupted before release.
BANG!!
Massive bone dragon—took solid punch. Instantly sent flying from mid-air. Entire body scattered. Bone fragments filled sky!
Wreckage fell into battlefield ruins. Continuously sliding.
"Are you Kaiju No. 8—or... Kafka Hibino?" Mina watched humanoid kaiju landing beside her...
Couldn't believe previously Defense Force-hunted Kaiju No. 8 was Kafka. Asked dazedly.
She worried—did kaiju occupy Kafka's body?
If so—she'd eliminate this kaiju no matter what.
Then—Kaiju No. 8 spoke.
"Even borrowing kaiju power—I still want to protect people." Kaiju Kafka watched gradually-reassembling bone dragon. Stepped forward. Left these words. Walked toward it.
Hearing this—Mina stunned.
This... only Kafka would say this.
"Kaiju No. 8—repelled Grade 9 main beast!"
"How could this happen!?"
Monitoring room technicians—watching screen—felt absurd.
Simultaneously—looked toward man who grabbed microphone earlier.
This flowered-shirt man—already knew Kaiju No. 8's true identity. That's why he said those words.
"Wait... what's this reading!?"
"Seismic source rising from underground!"
"Kaiju strength 9.9—eight of them!"
"From eight positions—about to break surface into battlefield!" Technician detected new data. Urgently shouted via comms.
True enemies—appearing!
"What?"
"More massive kaiju?"
Just raised sniper cannon to cover Kaiju Kafka—Mina heard news. Brow furrowed. Looked toward battlefield's other directions.
RUMBLE!
Intense tremor struck. Made battlefield kaiju and Defense Force members shake.
Then—in battlefield firelight—eight directions' ground bulged. Massive objects burst forth!
Eight dragon-snake heads. Burst from surface. Occupied battlefield's eight edge positions. Heads with necks—over hundred meters. Eight such kaiju.
Or rather... they were one entity.
"Grade 9.9 eight-headed serpent kaiju. Impossible. Just like... mythological Yamata no Orochi." Mina watched eight massive snake heads covering battlefield. Gripped sniper cannon tighter.
Grade 9 bone dragon already exhausted them. Now mythological-level kaiju appeared.
As if enemies calculated their forces. Used bone dragon to counter her. Used these serpents against Kaiju No. 8.
Everything—enemy planned.
"Kaiju No. 8... and Mina Ashiro. You're both our prey." Restored bone dragon—wings spread—flew mid-air. Overlooked battlefield below. Told still-unreacting Kaiju Kafka.
Already inescapable net. Specially designed to capture these two.
"First Division support—twelve minutes away!"
"Damn... too late!" Technician said anxiously.
First moment enemies attacked—they notified First Division. But distance between bases—still chasm.
Their arrival—needed time.
"Eh?"
"Natsuki-san?" He turned back. Saw Natsuki walking toward door.
"Let's see how thorough their plan really is." Natsuki left these words. Departed monitoring room.
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