The only sound that filtered through the rocky ridges was the gentle whisper of a soft breeze. The myriad caves carved into the canyon walls were filled with fearful ankon, heads held low as they waited for a sign that they were well and truly safe. Clawed appendages clutched the upper lip of a cave entrance. Before the herbivores could react, their predator slunk into the cave and got to work.
Frightened ankon let out panicked roars as they abandoned their shelters and charged into the canyon. The slobbering hunters clung to the stony walls and screeched as they continued their pursuit. The ankon kicked up clouds of dust amidst the commotion which rose high into the air. At the sight of the canyon’s exit, the herd charged ahead with full force. They anticipated safety, however, the moment that the first bull cleared the threshold, a titanic maw fell upon it.
Wayne shook the life out of the bull as quickly as he could and then cast it aside. The herd had only one way to go, and Wayne was doing all he could to catch as many as he could. By the time the herd had finished filtering through, his kill count had reached five. Talk about success! His collaborators hissed and screeched at the fleeing herd, then quickly turned to their prize.
Wayne caught sight of them and let out an authoritative snarl. He was the head of this arrangement, so he would decide who got to eat, and when.
The predators’ ears flattened as they prowled around, waiting for their turn.
Wayne had come to refer to these creatures as hexwolves, and he had decided to name his favorite, the once scrawny hexwolf who served as the gateway to establishing this partnership, Boss. Wayne fully intended on influencing the pack to make Boss their new leader, so to get his point across, he gave the hexwolf in question an entire carcass to himself. After a few minutes of forcing the others to watch Boss tuck in to assert his dominance, he kicked two of the corpses to the rest of the pack. Loud yips and yowls filled the air as they tore into their hard-earned prize.
Wayne returned his attention to Boss. The hexwolf looked bigger, stronger, and overall healthier since he had begun to give him preferential treatment. The rest of the pack had quickly gotten the message that Boss was the favorite. Wayne supervised them for a few more moments before he collected his cut of the spoils, two of the larger creatures, and made his way back to the region he had claimed as his territory.
It had been around two weeks since Wayne had first emerged at this point, and he was getting much more comfortable with his ordeal. His anatomy no longer befuddled him; he had become more cognizant of its limitations, as well as its strengths. That wasn’t to say he was pleased with what he had been given, mind, but pleasure notwithstanding, he was doing much better than he had been when he emerged.
He nestled the corpses into rocky supports above the steaming waters to cook and lumbered to the upturned earth he had excavated to serve as a resting spot for himself. Wayne had begun to establish a routine, but a gnawing within constantly reminded him that such banal victories meant nothing in the face of his greater goals. Having a pack of ravenous beasts at your beck and call was a plus, but his personal strength was still lacking, and he had found no means to improve yet.
Yes, his mindset and intellect had helped him overcome one obstacle so far, but the biggest roadblock to his success still stood tall before him. The idea of becoming strong enough to usurp Apocalis was a towering monolith with no visible footholds, an ascent that was, from every angle he could see at that moment, unapproachable. Where was one to begin...?
A distant bark and a yip roused Wayne from his thoughts. The hexwolves had returned from their feeding frenzy to a den they had established nearby, one made so they could stay under the protection and guidance of their newfound benefactor. In the days since, Wayne had not only hunted with the pack, but protected them from greater threats, such as a variety of flying beasts of burden which had become a nuisance now that he traveled with smaller, more delectable looking company.
The kaiju rose from his hovel and lumbered back to the springs to collect his meal. He reached out and grasped one of the steamed beasts in his maw, then sat down at the water’s edge to enjoy it. As before, the ankon’s thick dorsal plates proved offensive to the palette, so he was sure to pick the tough defensive layer off before he tucked in.
While his human mind was a boon, Wayne was quickly learning it could just as easily be a curse. The monotony of eating the same bland steamed meat for every meal was already starting to take a toll on his psyche. He needed variety, and if he was lucky, some variety of spices so that consuming food would become enticing again. A new task for the morning, he concluded. Without much further thought, Wayne got his fill, curled up, and shut his eyes.
***
On the morrow, rather than aiding the hexwolves with their hunt, he ventured into the jungles in search of something, ANYTHING that could tantalize his taste buds. Whenever his gaze fell upon a new type of plant that he felt he could reasonably harvest in adequate amounts, he’d give it a hesitant lick. Performing this ‘taste check’ on loop reminded him of his neighbor’s dog who would do much the same to anything it thought smelled appealing. Great, now he was comparing himself to a Yorkshire terrier.
One large flowering plant tasted of nothing but pollen; another struck him with a bitterness he didn’t know was even possible. Of all the vegetation he tested over the course of hours fumbling about the jungle, one thing remained constant: all the plants that fit his criteria tasted absolutely disgusting or had a texture that was offensive to his senses.
He needed a break. Once he stumbled upon a ridge alongside a large lake, he flopped onto his side with a grumble of discontent. He wasn’t exactly a botanist or a chef himself, so it was probably a fool’s errand trying to find ‘spices’ for a kaiju palette. He should just be happy that he can eat cooked meat at all, he mused.
A small chuffing sound caught his ears. He looked to his side, and there stood Boss. He stared in confusion at the hexwolf before him. “Did you follow me?”
Boss sat much like a dog on its hind-most legs and met his gaze.
Wayne let out a heavy sigh. “You’re supposed to be hunting with your pack, not following me around.”
The hexwolf continued to stare up at him without flinching.
The reptile evaluated Boss with a scrutinizing gaze. This creature was much too insistent for a feral. “…Can you understand me?”
Boss let out a hoarse bark as its tail swayed behind it.
Wayne felt a smile of utter glee dominate his features. Was this the adaptation of kaiju at work once more, or had this always been the case? Could all kaiju just understand each other? It didn’t matter, now was the time to put Boss to work. Wayne clambered to his feet and hunched down to speak to the beast. “I’m looking for something that tastes good but isn’t meat. Can you help me?”
After a few moments of contemplation, the hexwolf stood, turned away from Wayne, and bolted with Wayne hot on its heels.
After sprinting for a good fifteen minutes, Boss came to a stop in an empty field that held nothing but rocks and stones. It turned to Wayne and let out another bark-like vocalization.
Wayne skidded to a halt and observed the area around him. He looked in every direction, but ultimately was left with nothing of note. He turned his attention to Boss for guidance.
Boss crouched and began to lick the stones beneath its feet.
Wayne finally understood. He knew what this was, but he still needed to test it to be sure. He used his claws to chip off a sizable hunk of the pinkish rock and brought it to his mouth as best he could. As the flavor became clear, he couldn’t help but jump with glee. “Yes, yes! Salt, glorious salt!”
Boss dashed a bit away in fear, only to stop once he sensed Wayne’s reaction was, in fact, excitement. The beast seemed quite proud of itself; it had clearly pleased the larger kaiju. Perhaps that would prove to him that it's kind were useful to keep around!
Wayne continued to lick the stone in his hands as he mulled over how best to approach this. He now knew where he could get this stuff, but how should he bring it back to his abode? Should he break a large hunk and deal with it once it was home? Perhaps he could utilize the pack, have each of them carry a small bit of it back. Then again, he wasn’t sure if Boss’ ability to communicate was an adaptation all the hexwolves shared, or one it had acquired due to Wayne’s selective treatment.
His train of thought was interrupted by a howl of pain. He quickly turned to the source, only to bear witness to a creature almost as big as he was. It appeared as an overgrown plumed basilisk with musculature made to support its colossal frame. Piercing orange eyes locked upon Wayne as Boss dangled from its jowls helplessly.
Wayne recognized this kaiju. After all, as boring as its abilities were compared to its peers, it was still afforded the illustrious honor of being dubbed an A-rank. “Velostia,” Wayne hissed as he bared his teeth. “Let that creature go, now!”
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Velostia’s head tilted in recognition of the name which had been bestowed upon her by humans. She did as she was asked, and skittered away from the injured hexwolf, eyes locked on Wayne. “So, you are the tenth,” she spoke in an erratic tone. “But why does it care for prey? Why do YOU care? Do you feel camaraderie with them? Do you relate, as much like them, you are at the bottom? The weakest link?!” A curl came to her eyes. “Finally, the one below me!”
Boss was injured, but not fatally so. Velostia's teeth seemed meant for shredding, and since she had not had the time to grind her prey between her jaws, Boss' condition seemed stable. Blood oozed from its wounds, but it still had the strength to scurry to safety.
His companion was safe; now it was just him and Velostia. Wayne would normally try and reason with one of his peers, but she had made the mistake of harming something he cared about. Nobody, NOBODY was allowed to take from him. He slammed his tail on the ground, and cracks shot through the stones in every direction. “I am the newest, but you do not know that I am the weakest.”
Velostia cackled. “The tenth- he refutes me. So eager, so feisty, so stupid! He has only just emerged, and he already wishes to die! Stupid, stupid, stupid!” The kaiju bounded past the corner of Wayne's eye with such speed that his vision couldn't keep up.
Wayne recalled what Apocalis told him of their hierarchy. If he couldn’t reason with this one, she would have to be his first step towards his goal. “I challenge you, Velostia! I will take your seat in the throne as my own!”
The basilisk smiled wide as her tail thrashed about in anticipation. “The challenge is issued; the blood is promised! I will finally be able to prove my strength to those who stand above me! Alas, your claim must wait.”
Wayne’s eyes widened in disbelief. He had to wait? She had been the one taunting him from the start! “Are you afraid!?”
“Velostia HAS no fear! She has orders from Apocalis that come before your challenge! I am to assault the humans, strike further fear into their hearts! Once I have finished my task and licked my wounds, then, puny one, oh then, shall I claim the blood you have promised me.” Her tongue flicked from her mouth and licked her eye. “I had hoped to feast before my assault, but your jabbering has cost me precious time. I go, but know you cannot escape your promise!” And with that, Velostia turned and began to scurry away.
“Hey, wait just a damn minute!” Wayne yelled as he gave chase. This kaiju was inexplicably swift. He had a hard time keeping up, but he managed to keep her in sight just long enough to watch her disappear into a cavern formed along the wall of the chamber that made up the Land of the Titans.
There was nowhere Velostia could have gone but into the tunnel, so forward he would sprint. The shaft went on and on. It was dark, cold, and completely enclosed. Just when all light had completely faded, a new source illuminated the path before him. Wayne squinted as he tried to make out the source, but just as it came into view, it was too late for him to stop his approach. He crashed face-first into a swirling maelstrom of aqua blue.
The substance before him greedily yanked him deeper and dragged him along. He tumbled and twisted; senses overwhelmed as he beheld a warm sea of stars that seemed to muffle all sound within it. He could see other funnels of this ‘liquid’ in the distance that went far and wide amidst this inexplicable cerulean void. Alas, he wouldn’t have long to appreciate the sights, as he was suddenly spat out into a cold and unwelcoming torrent of actual water. A similarly swirling vortex now rested behind him, waiting for anything that would approach.
What the hell was that? Some kind of wormhole!? Whatever it was, he felt like he had just been run through a blender. Once he regained lucidity, he recalled how he got there in the first place: his pursuit of Velostia. Wayne wasted no time swimming towards the surface to try and get a better grip on his surroundings. Once he breached, he beheld the sun high in the sky, and not a cloud to be spoken of. A beautiful day for a monster attack.
Wayne spun around until trails of smoke in the distance caught his eye. That had to be where Velostia had gone. Without a moment of hesitation, Wayne flopped onto his stomach and swam towards the source, body cutting through the water as he moved like a titanic crocodile.
***
Fort Lauderdale had been anything but prepared for an attack, especially from a kaiju like Velostia. The basilisk had blown past the watchpoint that protected the southern Florida coast and made landfall with no major opposition. The military struggled to muster a response, leaving the kaiju uncontested. As always, dealing with the beast would be up to Pantheon. Video of Velostia’s rampage played on a screen in the organization’s crisis response room. The room was choked by silent contemplation, none thinking harder than the two military officials in attendance, Generals Hutch and Alger.
General Hutch, a clean-shaven man in his 50s with a heavy brow ridge tapped his fingers in anticipation. He was getting tired of waiting. “Pull up her file on this one, Mr. Fletcher.”
Agent Fletcher did so without a moment’s hesitation. Documentation on the basilisk kaiju populated half of the screen, the other continuing to display a live feed of the monster’s rampage. “Here you are, General.”
Everyone in the room read, but few made sense of the information. In an attempt to break the silence, a younger scientist stepped up to explain. “I-Incredible speed, and a passion for destruction. The watchpoint wasn’t equipped to handle anything like it,” he said meekly. “A-As you may be aware, the kaiju who most frequently assaults this part of the coast is the Golden Tyrant, Rei Sol. The watchpoint, as such, was equipped to deal with that kaiju’s particular strengths. Experimental capacitors hooked to lightning rods, excess explosives, and-“
He was cut off as General Alger, a stout, graying man decorated with accolades and medals waved a dismissive hand. “Enough about that one. How do we deal with this one?”
“W-well, you s-see sir," the scientist stammered, "uhm. You-“
He groaned, rolling his eyes. “What is taking Dr. Wells so long? I’m sick of dealing with one of her painfully inept lackies!”
“I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t insult a member of my team, General Alger,” the woman in question spoke as she entered the room.
At Monica's arrival, the room brightened up, both generals seeming to correct their posture and correct their demeanor.
“About time,” General Hutch exclaimed. “Dr. Wells, your sage counsel would be greatly appreciated.”
Monica pat her underling on the shoulder, then went about unpacking her belongings. “Alright, so, what, you need my advice on how to deal with this thing?”
The two generals in attendance stared at her blankly.
“Uh-huh. Right. Well, if we consult Velostia’s file…” she said as she consulted a list of prior incidents, “…You’ll see that the tactic that’s always worked on this particular subject has been overwhelming it with targets that can match its speed, but it cannot reach. So, as always, I recommend-”
“About that Ms. Wells,” a man in fatigues spoke up, “we’ve been informed the jets normally stationed near Fort Lauderdale were deployed in the north to aid in repelling an attack yesterday evening, and have yet to return. Even with their specs, ETA would be around an hour.”
Monica stared at the soldier blankly as she processed the gravity of their situation. “…Ah. Well. That is an issue. The aircraft in use by the military aren’t as fast as our fighters, so…” She rested a hand on her hip and tapped her foot as she tried to think of an alternative.
General Alger slammed his hands onto his desk and leapt up from his seat. “We don’t have time to dally, Ms. Wells! What else do we have!?” he exclaimed through grit teeth.
“I’m thinking damn it, give me a moment!”
A communications operator from the back of the room interrupted their squabble. “Sir, the watchpoint just triggered its Kaiju detection alarm!”
General Alger managed to raise a dismissive hand in spite of his rage. “At ease, they’re probably just catching up after completely failing at their jobs!”
“No, sir, it’s a new contact!”
“What!?” multiple voices in the room shouted in unison.
“Get us a feed from the watchpoint now!”, General Hutch ordered.
The dossier on Velostia was replaced by footage from a security camera mounted on the metal decks of the structure. What they beheld was a row of large, tan dorsal plates which cut through the water and sped towards the shore. A titanic green tail lashed at the water from behind the beast impatiently.
General Alger gripped his head as he fell back into his seat in despair. “One of these demons we can handle, but two? This is the second coordinated attack in a day!”
“Let's not be so quick to accept defeat,” Monica spoke as she stepped closer to the screen, “this isn’t just any kaiju… It’s the tenth. The wild one we’ve yet to classify or properly see in action.”
“That’s even worse! How can you possibly see any kind of silver lining in a situation this dire!?”
Monica turned to face to General Alger, her gaze sharp. “You read my report on its emergence event, yes?”
The General bit his tongue.
Monica pinched her brow. “In summary, the newly emerged kaiju demonstrated behaviors unlike anything we've ever documented. It seemed unwilling, or at least disinclined to destroy human constructions, and not once did it directly retaliate when attacked by our forces- not to mention its documented attempt at communication through drawings.”
General Hutch leaned in, low and stern. “Dr. Wells. Are you seriously proposing the idea that this thing may very well be on our side? Do you realize just how insane you sound?”
“If you have an alternative, I'm sure everyone in the room would love to hear it,” she said with a scoff.
Alger fumed, face flushed and brow creased into a tight scowl. He wasn't sure what angered him more, Monica's disrespect for their authority, or the fact that he knew all to well that without her, they'd be completely lost in a situation such as this.
The room watched as the unnamed kaiju made landfall. It trudged through the rubble that Velostia had left in its wake, a snarl etched upon its features. Once it caught sight of the titanic basilisk, it let out a mighty roar.
Velostia ceased its rampage and turned to face the newcomer. It responded to the unnamed kaiju’s roar with a screech of disapproval. The fans upon its back and head stood at full mast as it tried to make itself seem larger to intimidate its opponent.
Monica’s face was dominated by a sanguine smile. Finally, she was about to have irrefutable proof that kaiju weren't solely interested in mankind's destruction. “Show us all what you can do, big guy.”