The truck came to a slow, creaking stop, its heavy tires grinding to a halt against the uneven ground. Riku was the first to open the door, hopping down from the rear, followed by Yoshiro, Tanaka, and Suzuki. One by one, they filed out into the open, the stale air inside the truck immediately replaced by the harsh, raw scent of the site—dirt, smoke, and something sour lingering beneath the surface.
The junior part-timers had never been so...close to the aftermath of a Kaiju and Titan battlefield, they were uneasy, small. Yoshiro, however, despite his trembling hands and wide, nervous eyes, tried his best to keep a brave face. His enthusiasm had dimmed under the weight of reality, but a spark of determination still flickered.
Even in death, Arashi towered over the remains of the debris, a giant that now lay broken, sprawled out like an island of flesh and bone. Its scaled body was cracked and torn in places, with sections of the outer scale flayed off, revealing thick muscles underneath, now rotting in the open air. Jagged spines, shattered and blackened by battle, jutted out along its back, while its long tail, coiled and twisted, crushed what little remained of the buildings around it. Out of its four limbs one is severed, a front foot- though the appendage itself appears to be missing.
The Kaiju’s head, rested limply against a half-collapsed building, its lifeless eyes glassy and dull. Deep marks ran along its face, and its jaw hung open with its bottom maw split in two to spit, It’s fangs that were wide were the size of them. There was something eerie about the stillness—Arsashi was dead yet somehow it still felt alive...
Flies buzzed in erratic clouds over the corpse, feeding on the oozing fluids that had pooled beneath it. In some places, It had been dead for 72 hours yet steam still rose from deep gashes in the creature's body, where the heat of its massive internal organs hadn’t yet fully dissipated.
All around it, a large chunk of the city lay in ruins—streets turned to rubble, buildings leaning precariously or reduced to twisted metal and shattered glass. The news said the damage was kept to a minimum, I suppose by standards of Titans against Kaiju's this was tame...Yet the battle still bulldozed through entire blocks, leveling skyscrapers and burying neighborhoods beneath its sheer weight. Crushed cars, overturned buses, and debris stretched far…And it was the PDCD’s job to always clean after.
"Don't get to intimidated by the scale, the more you stay on the job the more you get used to it." He spoke securing his own mask.
Much of the crew began to unload their equipment, the hushed clatter of tools and supplies being hauled off the truck.
"Are we- really going to be cleaning all this up!? Arashi's huge-...I know the news said it was only 60 meters long-" Tanaka remarked.
"And Arashi is 60 meters, and this is what 60 meters can do." Riku enforced before picking up a saw from their truck.
"Don’t worry though, new timers don't usually join in handling the main body. We'll be disposing of chunks, a few trash here and there. We’re starting you three off easy, so grab some tools." Riku explained and nudged.
The part-timers moved with some hesitation, each grabbing tools from the truck as Riku handed them out. Yoshiro, Tanaka, and Suzuki were outfitted with basic equipment—rakes, shovels, and saws designed for cutting through flesh and debris.
The PDCD spread out, already sifting through the wreckage. As Riku's team moved.
“Over here,” Riku called, motioning for the three part-timers to follow. They trudged across uneven ground, boots crunching over broken glass and shattered concrete. Everything was bent or broken, streets nearly unrecognizable beneath the layers of debris. Soon, they reached a more isolated area where wreckage had piled up, burying parts of buildings under Arashi’s immense weight.
“Start clearing this section,” Riku instructed, pointing toward scattered bits of flesh and rubble.
“This is the easier stuff. We’ll work our way to the bigger chunks later.”
The trio set to work, though Tanaka looked queasy as he used his saw to cut through a piece of rotting Kaiju skin, thick and leathery like a tire. Yoshiro, meanwhile, kept his head down, attacking the task with quietly. He winced at the foul smell that even the mask couldn’t block out completely, but he pressed on, trying to keep up with Riku’s pace.
As they worked, something strange caught Tanaka’s eye. Yoshiro was hacking away at a piece of debris when Tanaka, climbing higher across the mounds of concrete, suddenly froze, his face pale.
“Holy shit...” Tanaka muttered.
The others approached, seeing the cavity. It was wide, several meters in diameter, and tunneled deep into the earth. The walls were smooth, carved out by something massive.
“Is this...?” Tanaka trailed off, unable to finish his sentence as Riku stepped closer.
“That must be one of Arashi’s tunnels,” Yoshiro said softly, his voice shaking slightly.
“Arashi was an Subterranean-Class (S-Class) Kaiju—capable of burrowing through solid ground.”
Riku nodded. “Correct. Depending on how much it dug during the fight, we’ll probably find more of these. Watch your step—they’re deeper than they look. Some construction teams will come in later to patch them up, but for now, steer clear.”
Despite the warning, the crew resumed their task, though the tunnel’s presence lingered in their minds. Suzuki was busy hacking away at debris when her shovel struck something solid. she knelt down, brushing away the loose dirt and rubble, and revealed a large, unfamiliar form. Beneath the mound, partially buried under stone and dirt, lay a smaller Kaiju. Its body, though much smaller than Arashi’s, bore an unmistakable resemblance—the leathery skin, jagged spines, and twisted tail all mirrored the giant Kaiju’s form. But this one was no larger than a full-grown crocodile.
“What the hell...?” Suzuki whispered, backing away, as she nearly gagged.
Yoshiro, though clearly nervous, was oddly more composed, crouched down for a closer look, his wide eyes filled with curiosity.
"It's… smaller, but it looks just like Arashi," he muttered, almost in disbelief for seeing it himself.
Tanaka stepped closer, his face frozen. Riku leaned in, his eyes narrowing as he examined the creature. He let out a long, deliberate breath before speaking.
“This is why the JKSDF waited 72 hours before giving the PDCD the green light. It wasn’t just Arashi we had to deal with,” Riku explained.
Yoshiro turned to Riku, curious but cautious.
“Arashi was a Shūkaiju—a Leader-Beast. These are its spawns, right?”
Suzuki's eyes widened as the realization hit her.
“Oh my god-... Arashi was pregnant!?”
Riku nodded grimly.
“The JKSDF knew Arashi had spawned, so before we could come in to clean up, they had to make sure every last one of these spawns was dealt with. They’ve been hunting them down since the battle ended, making sure none escaped into the city.”
“So... these things. They could’ve grown into a bigger Kaiju, like Arashi?” Tanaka’s voice wavered.
“Maybe,” Riku replied with a shrug, standing over the small corpse.
“Not all Shūkaiju can reproduce, but they are the exceptions but even if they do, their spawns don’t always reach full size. Some Shūkaiju lead other Kaiju—whether it’s their offspring or different Kaijus. Besides, many spawns are born deformed, and even before they get much bigger than this, the JKSDF hunts them down.”
“But that’s enough of that, we need to start cleaning this up. If you see more spawns, just tell me…” Riku remarked.
The work resumed, and the group, though still visibly shaken, forced themself to focus on the task at hand. Going through their tasks step by step.
Hours dragged on as the crew worked tirelessly, their tools biting into the flesh and rubble. Riku kept a close watch on the part-timers, guiding them as their work hours continued. Yoshiro, seemed to have a steady rhythm, but Tanaka's discomfort was evident with each passing minute. Suzuki, though quieter than the others, held her ground.
The work both monotonous and gruesome. Riku, with his years of experience, seemed immune to the stale pace, moving from one task to the next. But for the part-timers, they were barely keeping up with him, though fairing close to the full-time workers with Riku's aid.
At around 11:45 a.m., the sun managed to push through the overcast skies, casting a harsh, glaring light. Sweat dripped down Yoshiro's face as the heat was getting to them through the suit. Even Suzuki and Tanaka, were needing small pauses under some shade.
Riku checked his watch, then let out a short whistle.
"Alright, let’s take a break. It’s almost noon."
The three part-timers didn’t need to be told twice. They immediately stopped what they were doing, dropping their tools and stretching out their aching limbs. They had still had to go far from the main working site and into a more secluded area where the PDCD had set up camp, refreshments, and among other relaxing luxuries to rest.
Yoshiro rubbed his shoulders, feeling the soreness that had settled into his muscles, while Tanaka pulled off his mask and breathed in the fresher, albeit still tainted, air. Suzuki took a seat, worn out.
"How do you all feel?" Riku asked as he peeled his gear off, grabbing a few bottles of water and handing them out to the three
"Like crap," Tanaka groaned, immediately pouring the water over himself.
"I thought I was going to pass out at least three times back there."
Yoshiro, still catching his breath, chuckled faintly.
"Better, but I can still keep going sir!-...After a little break-"
Suzuki didn’t say much, but she nodded, her eyes half-closed as she leaned back against a broken concrete slab.
"Good," Riku said, cracking his knuckles.
"You'll need to rest quick. We're barely a quarter through this section. And that’s just the easy part. Something this big, takes about a few weeks to a whole month and that’s not covering construction."
They all groaned but didn’t argue.
As they sat catching their breath, the distant hum of machinery and voices calling over the cleanup site filled the air. The PDCD crew settled in for their lunch break, with bento boxes and cup noodles passed around. Everyone was worn out from the grueling morning, but there was a temporary peace as they rested. Overhead, Arashi’s corpse still lays…much of the crew barely peeled open its scales, exposed innards loaded into trucks to be transported off for proper disposal…
Yoshiro, however, seemed distracted from the progress the PDCD has done. He sat up straighter, his gaze fixed on something beyond the others. Riku followed his eyes and saw what had caught his attention—a squad of twelve JKSDF soldiers stationed at the perimeter. They stood off, tense in their dark green and black combat uniforms, their five-letter insignia glinting in the noon sun. Scanning the area and exchanging clipped, serious words...before splitting off in teams.
Yoshiro’s expression had changed. His usual timid demeanor faded as his eyes lingered on the soldiers as they marched. There was a yearning there, a quiet intensity. It wasn’t lost on Riku, though he was more worried on what’s getting the JKSDF riled. But he shakes it off...eyeing the three part-timers.
“Mr. Takeda mentioned you three are interested in joining the JKSDF. Why?” Breaking the silence, Riku casually prompted.
Tanaka, who had been eating looked at Riku almost choking when the question was prompted, gulping down the food in his mouth he shifts uncomfortably, before giving an answer.
“I… well, my family’s always served. My dad’s with the army, and he wanted me to follow-..."
"So I figured why not the JKSDF? you know..." He stuttered out.
Suzuki sitting on the ground, usually quieter, glanced at Riku before sighing softly.
“I’ve got my reasons too.” Keeping it at that, pulling her knees close to her chest.
Riku nodded in quiet respect for the two.
"And what of you, Arikawa..." He called out.
Yoshiro snapped out of his reverie, blinking in surprise. Tanaka and Suzuki also looking at him.
“S-Sir?” Yoshiro asked, uncertain.
Riku gestured subtly toward the soldiers patrolling the perimeter.
“You’ve been eyeing the JKSDF just now. Thinking about what it’d be like in uniform, I’m guessing?”
Yoshiro rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish smile forming on his lips.
“Yeah… I guess I was. I can’t help it. They just seem so… capable, no matter how big the Kaiju get. It’s the best way to make a difference, right?”
There was a pause. Gears running in Yoshiro’s mind. He wasn’t just admiring them—he was imagining himself among them. His gaze turned distant again, seeing something else.
Back then he was small, too small to truly understand the danger as he sat in the shelter with the others. The adults spoke in hushed voices, his father hadn’t come with them. He had stayed behind, saying everything would be fine, handing Yoshiro to the JKSDF officer who promised to protect him. The man telling him that the Titans would take care of the Kaiju, and that he’d see his father again.
But when the world outside began to quake, and the shelter groaned under the weight of collapsing buildings, Yoshiro had known something was terribly wrong.
The ceiling screamed, the walls buckled, and before he could cry out, the officer threw himself over Yoshiro, shielding him from the rubble that came crashing down.
Darkness followed. Cold, suffocating darkness.
Yoshiro blinked, breath hitching, the officer atop him dead, he was forced clawed his way out, his small hands bloodied from pulling at the wreckage. When he did finally surfaced out, and breath… the city was dead…
…
Yoshiro’s focus snapped back to the present. “You see how much damage Kaiju do, how they wipe out entire neighborhoods, whole families…”
His voice trailed off, but he caught himself and continued,
“I just… I want a chance to fight them. To stop them. And being in a Titan... It’s the only way for someone like me to make that difference.”
Riku studied him for a moment.
“And you think you’re cut out for being a Pilot?” Riku asked, raising an eyebrow.
Yoshiro straightened; his expression fierce, for as polite as he was...he stares defiant.
“I know I don’t look like much… but I’ll prove it. And I won’t stop trying.”
Riku didn’t respond immediately. He just stared at Yoshiro, blanky. The JKSDF was perhaps a delicate matter, prompting someone so timid and polite to speak so determined...was unexpected—different. Riku's eyes stayed locked on him, weighing something in his mind. The silence between them stretched for a long moment, until finally, Riku sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing.
Just as he was about to speak, a senior staff member approached, wiping the sweat from his brow and holding a clipboard.
“Riku, got something for you and the new guys. We found one of Arashi’s limbs—The missing foot, to be exact. Thought maybe the part-timers could have a go at dissecting it for transport. Shouldn’t be too hard, but the area’s a bit of a mess. Also… one of the loaders is acting up, looks like it’s busted. Might need someone to help with repairs.” Handing Riku over a marked map.
Riku nodded thoughtfully, taking it.
“Alright, that shouldn’t be a problem.”
Before anyone else could respond, Suzuki stood up, brushing the dust from her uniform.
“I’ll help with the vehicle,” she offered, her voice calm and resolute. She glanced at Riku for approval, then added,
“Might as well make myself useful. I’ve got some experience with mechanics.”
Riku gave her a slight nod.
“Alright, Suzuki. Go with them and see what you can do.”
As Suzuki walked off with the senior staff member, Yoshiro and Tanaka exchanged a glance before looking back at Riku.
“Alright, you heard him. Suit up,” Riku instructed. “We’re heading over to see what we can do with that foot.”
As soon as the instructions were given, Tanaka and Yoshiro rushed to finish their meals, hastily throwing their gear back on. Riku, always quicker, was already geared up and waiting for them, his movements fluid and efficient.
“Alright, come on, you two. Let’s get moving,” Riku said, his voice steady as he moved ahead, leading them away from the makeshift camp and back to the rubble-strewn work site.
The cleanup had resumed in full swing, but despite the crew’s efforts, large swaths of the city remained untouched, still buried under the layers. The Kaiju’s massive corpse loomed in the distance, with crews working inside and out to clear what they could.
As they passed Arashi’s head, its lifeless opened eyes reflected their silhouettes in an unsettling way. Tanaka and Yoshiro both shivered as the eerie feeling of being watched by something that no longer lived...
“Creepy, isn’t it?” Tanaka muttered, shaking his head as they hurried past
Yoshiro just nodded, his mind too preoccupied to respond.
When they reached the designated area, it was immediately clear the damage was worse than expected. They stood far from Arashi’s body now, in what used to be a densely populated city block. Massive chunks of concrete and twisted metal lay scattered like broken toys across the landscape, remnants of what had once been homes and businesses. Reconstruction wouldn’t be happening anytime soon—not with so much still left to clear.
Yoshiro stepped carefully through the wreckage, his gaze scanning the ground, trying to avoid stepping on anything too fragile. But suddenly, his foot pressed against something small and brittle. He glanced down to find a little dirt-covered doll beneath his boot. The doll’s dress was torn and faded; its once-bright features now marred by dust. Yoshiro bent down and picked it up, his brow furrowed in concern. A child had owned this. The doll had once been loved, carried in small arms, perhaps hugged tightly in fear when the Kaiju came. But what happened to the child? Had they made it to safety, or…?
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His chest tightened, and for a moment, Yoshiro couldn’t breathe.
He thought of being alone with nothing but his robotic figurine—Tears streamed down his face as he wandered through the desolate streets, clutching his own broken toy, calling out in vain: “Papa! Papa!”
But the only answer was silence. When he came across a broken off block, there, there he saw it-....
Yoshiro blinked, snapping back to the present. His heart was pounding in his chest, and for a brief second, he struggled to remember where he was. Tanaka nudging him out of his daze, The doll felt heavy in his hands. Too heavy. His grip tightened momentarily before he sighed.
"You alright there? You seem off." Tanaka asked worried, lightly shaking his shoulder
"S-Sorry, I’m fine, I promise" he assured with a small smile... before gently placed it on a nearby ledge, as if returning it to the child who had once loved it. There was no telling what had happened to them, but at least this small token could be treated with dignity.
Tanaka glanced at the doll, understanding crossing his face. He didn’t press the matter further, giving Yoshiro a quiet nod as they continued to survey the area.
But Arashi’s limb—what they were here to disassemble—was nowhere to be seen.
Riku squinted, scanning the area.
“Hmm… the limb was supposed to be around here,” he murmured, more to himself than to the others. His eyes darted between the scattered debris, and the marked map
“I’m guessing we’ll need a better vantage point to find it.”
Tanaka adjusted his mask, glancing first at Yoshiro, then back to Riku.
“We could split up? Me and Yoshiro can head east—see if we can spot anything from there.”
Riku paused, weighing the suggestion. His instinct was to keep them all together, especially given how new Yoshiro and Tanaka were to the job. The area was dangerous, the wreckage unstable. But splitting up could save them the time... He sighed realizing perhaps he was overthinking the scenario.
“Alright, fine.” he said, handing Tanaka a small radio linked to his own.
“But stay sharp and watch your footing for any unstable debris. If anything happens, radio me in. I'll circle the other side."
Tanaka took the radio, exchanging a glance with Yoshiro, both nodding in silent agreement before turning to move away. Riku still reluctant, sees them off before shaking his head, and walking onward his own route.
----------------------------------------
Riku moved cautiously through the area for long moments, his eyes scanning around as he walked. The quiet that hung over the area made his footsteps seem louder than they should’ve been. He frowned, keeping an eye out, but something else tugged at his attention.
His boots squelched into a slick patch, and Riku’s gaze dropped to the ground only to sternly hold his breath—a pool of red on the soles of his boots, spread across the broken pavement. His brow furrowed. Kaiju blood? No...this was different, and more frighteningly—fresh. His gut clenched as he traced a trail of crimson splatters leading off into the distance.
He followed the smeared trail. The blood thickened, streaking the ground in erratic patterns, as though something—or someone—had been dragged. He quickened his pace until the trail led him around a corner, where his worst fear was confirmed.
There, slumped against a heap of rocks, lay a half-eaten body of a soldier. The armor and gear was shredded, his torso torn open, flesh ravaged, eyes opened but grey, a bloodied sewn patch with the JKSDF insignia on the exposed uniform. Riku's heart dropped though his face refused too... The soldier’s rifle lay unused beside him, the safety still on. His hand had been reaching for it...too late.
Riku's breath caught in his throat. His mind raced. A Kaiju spawn… One had to be alive. And hunting. The implications hit him to move—this area wasn’t safe, and he’d just sent Yoshiro and Tanaka unsupervised.
Without wasting a second, he grabbed the rifle, yanking it from the dead soldier's grip. His hands shook as he quickly inspected it for ammo. With the cold realization settling over him, he yanked the soldier’s handgun from its holster, too, strapping it to his belt.
His radio crackled faintly as he fumbled for it, panic rising. He pressed the button, his voice sharp.
"Tanaka! Arikawa! Do you copy?"
Only static answered him.
“Dammit!” Riku cursed under his breath. His instincts screamed at him—he should never have let them split off. He should’ve kept them close.
He slung the rifle over his shoulder, his pulse pounding in his ears, and broke into a sprint, rushing to find them!
----------------------------------------
Yoshiro and Tanaka moved cautiously through the ruined streets, and watching their steps over shattered concrete. Despite the two's silence, Tanaka broke it with a low chuckle.
“Hey, why don’t we take a seat? Moving around so much right after lunch is starting to feel heavy,” Tanaka said, slumping down onto a protruding slab of debris.
“Seriously!? What if Tatsumaki-san sees us—” Yoshiro began, his voice tense.
“Relax.” Tanaka waved a hand dismissively. “That’s why I suggested we split up in the first place. We’re out of sight. Besides, you look like you could use a breather.”
Yoshiro hesitated before sighing, letting himself sink down beside Tanaka. “N-No well, maybe just a little,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
“You sure you’re alright? Signing up for the PDCD was your idea, and honestly, you’ve been doing pretty well so far.”
“Yeah... it’s just, this is the second time I’ve been in a place like this,” Yoshiro said, his gaze wandering over the wreckage around them. His voice dropped slightly.
“Hey, do you think... I was a little rude when he asked us why we wanted to join the JKSDF?”
Tanaka shook his head, leaning back with a thoughtful expression.
“No, man. Why would it be? You were just being honest.”
Yoshiro stared at the crumbled area before them, his eyes distant as Tanaka’s words hung in the air.
“Yeah… I was being Honest.” He repeated, more to himself than anyone else. His hands fidgeted in his lap, clenching and unclenching.
He thought of stumbling through the streets just like this. After he clawed his way out of the rubble, as a boy...Coming across a city block after a turn.
He saw a Titan
He saw it’s a corpse.
The massive Mech laid to rest against a broken building, its hull scorched and torn open, its head partially caved in, and its arms hung limp. Its white sleek frame... caked in grime and ash.
It looked so... cold. lifeless.
As a boy he thought them invincible. Yet, here it was shattered and defeated. The sight made his stomach churn.
With trembling hands, he clutched his toy—a small, battered replica. He took a tentative step forward, his feet crunching over the ground. The closer he got, the tighter he held onto the plastic-
…
Before Yoshiro’s memories could spiral further, a faint rustling sound broke through the stillness...small rocks tumbling from a nearby pile. Both of their heads snapped in the direction of the noise.
“Huh? What was that?” Yoshiro whispered, tension lacing his voice.
Tanaka frowned, scanning the area.
“Probably just the wind.”
“Hey, Kazu—” Yoshiro calling Tanaka by name, his voice barely above a whisper.
CRAAAACK!
Suddenly, the ground beside them exploded with force, sending chunks of the soil flying. A blur of movement lunged violently from the rubble. Jaws snapped shut mere inches from Yoshiro’s head, the air vibrating with the force of the near miss. All Yoshiro could react with was widened eyes.
“Move!” Tanaka barked, tackling Yoshiro aside!
Both hitting the ground hard! groaning, barely having time to register what had happened, when they saw the blur again—razor-sharp claws slashing through the air where they’d just been standing moments before.
Both men scrambling to their feet to make shape of what had just attacked them.
The THING stood before them, asymmetric and malformed— Its front legs, thick and heavily muscled, supported most of its body, while its hind was stunted and deformed, dragging behind it like useless appendages giving it a twisted, unnatural gait...A Kaiju, worse it was one of Arashi's spawns...
“N-No way…! I thought Tatsumaki-san said the JKSDF wiped them out!” Yoshiro stammered, his voice shaking.
“They must have missed one!” Tanaka replied, urgency thick in his.
The spawn let out a gurgling, sickening roar through its split jaw. Lurching forward on its front legs, dragging its limp hindquarters across the cracked pavement. Despite its deformities, it moved with terrifying speed, its twisted body capable of sudden lunges.
Without wasting another second, Yoshiro and Tanaka broke into a desperate sprint, feet pounding against the rocks. The creature’s uneven, heavy gait thundered behind them, it was faster!
Tanaka fumbled frantically in his pocket for the radio, his hands trembling. But as he pulled it out, his heart sank—the device was shattered, its pieces dangling uselessly from the fall.
“Dammit!” he cursed, throwing the broken radio aside as they raced through.
Desperate gasps as Yoshiro and Tanaka sprinted through the uneven wreckage in a frantic stride as the spawn gave chase!
“Faster!” Tanaka shouted, his voice raw with panic as he glanced over his shoulder, eyes widening in horror.
“It’s gaining on us!”
Each step was heavy, as they drove themselves forward. Tanaka, stumbled over a piece of rubble, nearly losing his balance before catching himself. The Kaiju nearly catching him as it launched itself in another pounce, Yoshiro reacted instinctively, tackling Tanaka to the ground, saving him from the creature’s deadly pounce.
"Kazu, look out!" Yoshiro screamed reaching out to pull Tanaka up.
But before the creature could make another deadly strike—BANG! A deafening crack split the air, followed by another, and another—BANG! BANG!
The small Kaiju spawn jerked violently, letting out a shriek of pain as a series of gunshots tore into its side. Blackish-green blood sprayed from the wounds as the beast recoiled, squirming in agony. Its deformed hind legs spasmed as it staggered back, its ferocious lunge cut short.
“Wh-What…?” he whispered. His wide eyes searched for the source of the shots.
Another round of gunfire rang out—BANG!—the shots precisely aimed, slamming into the spawn’s already wounded flank. The beast let out a final screech, stumbling to the side, but it was still alive, its twisted body refusing to collapse even under the onslaught of bullets.
Yoshiro turned his head and saw a figure standing atop a pile of rubble, silhouetted against the smoky sky.
It was Riku.
He stood tall from a vantage, rifle in hand as the barrel smoked, glowing faintly from the release. Eyes sharp and cold as he maintains a practiced aim at the Kaiju.
Without saying a word, He fired another round—BANG!—the recoil barely affecting him as the shot struck the spawn in its side, causing it to screech and stumble again.
“Get out of here!” Riku commanded.
“Leave as fast as you can!”
“What!?” Yoshiro’s voice trembled, his face pale with fear and disbelief.
“Are you serious? We can't just leave you here!” His head shook violently in protest, legs still trembling.
Riku’s gaze snapped toward him.
“You’re going to have to!” he shouted, the urgency in his tone. He adjusted, firing another round—BANG!—the spawn screeched again, momentarily thrown off balance.
“I'll hold it off. Buy you time to get help.”
"But—" Yoshiro started to protest again.
“You said you wanted to be JKSDF, right?” Riku growled, eyes locked onto the spawn as it kept standing.
“Then don’t die here!” His voice hardened.
The words hit Yoshiro as a jolt, his heart pounding in his chest. His legs felt like they’d betray him at any moment. Tanaka grabbed his arm, giving him a sharp tug.
“Yoshiro, Lets go!” Tanaka’s voice cracked, with urgency and fear.
With one final look at Riku, Yoshiro swallowed hard, guilt and fear battling in his chest. But he turned, and the two of them bolted—running as fast as their legs would carry them. Behind them, the sound of gunfire continued to ring out—BANG! BANG!—as an echoing lifeline.
Riku stayed rooted in place, eyes sharp. His rifle kicked back as he unloaded more rounds, the spawn’s howls shaking the air. He knew he couldn’t stop it, not alone—but he could damn well try and fight it down.
The Kaiju locked eyes on Riku, letting out a bone-rattling roar. Its deformed body lurched forward, dragging itself on its overdeveloped forelimbs while its dwarfed hind legs struggled to keep up. The ground beneath it cracked as it dug its claws, propelling itself toward him in a terrifying burst of speed.
Riku bolted immediately! He sprinted away, giving chase. Leaping over broken slabs of concrete and vaulting over twisted metal beams. The Kaiju lunged, its massive jaws snapping mere inches from his back. He could feel the air shift with each failed bite.
BANG! Another shot rang out as Riku fired over his shoulder without stopping, the bullet grazing the creature’s face.
Riku didn’t slow. He vaulted onto a pile of debris, pushing off a toppled wall to gain height as the Kaiju swiped at him. The creature crashing against it to reach him, but Riku was already moving again. Darting across a narrow beam that bridged two crumbling structures. He leaped to the other side just as the Kaiju pounced again, bridging the gap with ease.
"Dammit," Riku muttered under his panting breath, He slid down the side of a broken building, landing hard but rolling to his feet, never stopping.
He fired another round—BANG!—but this time the shot barely slowed it. The spawn roared, lunging once more, its jaws snapping shut as Riku narrowly ducked beneath its massive bulk.
He knew he couldn’t keep this up forever, he’s not as young as he was. A normal man could not outrun a beast much less a monster, and it was only a matter of time before he slipped up. But he had to hold on—to keep it distracted long enough for the JKSDF to show up, after all the rounds he fired were loud.
heaving hard, Riku sprinted toward a half-destroyed structure, he could hear the Kaiju tearing through behind him.
With one final burst of energy. He didn’t hesitate. Riku spun around, firing the last few rounds in his rifle—BANG! BANG!—each shot hitting the Kaiju’s hide, but the beast only screeched and pressed on, now riddled with bullets yet it still remained in a frenzy.
Riku’s rifle clicked, out of ammo.
"Shit-" he cursed under his breath, he had no more shots left—nothing but sheer instinct and the wreckage around him.
It lunged once more! Riku braced himself, knowing he was running out of options. The sound of its claws digging into the dirt sent a chill down his spine. But just as the Kaiju leapt toward him—
WHAM!
A loud sharp clang reverberated as a metal pipe smashed into the side of the Kaiju’s skull, knocking its head off trajectory mid-pounce. The massive creature missed its mark, crashing down to the side.
Riku’s eyes snapped, widening towards the batter, in disbelief. Standing firm, panting heavily, was Yoshiro, gripping the now-bent metal pipe in his hands, determination burning through the grit in his eyes.
"Arikawa! What the hell are you doing?!" Riku barked, frustrated.
"I told you to run!"
Yoshiro held his ground, his chest heaving from the exertion, but his eyes never wavered.
"I won’t just leave you to die!" he shouted, the words shaking with both fear and resolve.
"I told you before, didn’t I? When you asked—I want a chance to fight them. To stop them... And I’ll prove it!"
Yoshiro’s knuckles whitened as he tightened his grip on the bent pipe, readying himself as the creature shifted its gaze back to them, snarling.
"I won’t run," he said, quieter this time but no less determined.
"And I’m not fucking backing down!"
Instead of charging, the Kaiju reared back, its massive claws sinking deep into the earth. Riku's sharp eyes followed every movement, his breath catching. Even he hadn’t expected this. With a violent screech, the creature lunged downward, burrowing rapidly beneath the ground. Its entire body disappeared in moments—from its head, to its hulking torso, to its elongated tail—vanishing into the earth and leaving behind nothing but a gaping crater.
"What the—" Yoshiro’s eyes widened, his grip tightening on the pipe.
"Where is it going!?" Yoshiro gasped, spinning around,. his head whipped from side to side, panic flickering in his eyes as he scanned around.
Riku’s jaw clenched, his mind racing.
"Stay sharp! It’s trying to—" Before he could finish his warning, the ground beside Yoshiro exploded.
WHHOOOSSSH!
The Kaiju burst up from the soil beside him, flanking Yoshiro with terrifying speed. Dirt and rubble scattered everywhere as its monstrous form emerged, jaws wide as it lunged straight for him.
"ARIKAWA! Move!" Riku yelled-
CRUNCH!
A sickening sound filled the air as the Kaiju’s teeth sank into flesh. Blood sprayed—but it wasn’t Yoshiro’s. Riku had thrown himself between the beast and Yoshiro, thrusting his arm into the creature’s gaping maw just as it struck, feeding it his own arm.
"Gaaaahh—!" Riku’s scream of pain echoed, raw and guttural, as the Kaiju's razor-sharp teeth clamped down on his forearm, blood spilling from the deep wounds. The pressure was unbearable, his arm screamed in agony as the beast tried to wrench him off balance.
"Tatsumaki-san!" Yoshiro's voice cracked in horror!
Riku gritted his teeth, barely holding himself upright as the Kaiju jerked and twisted, trying to tear him apart. His body telling him to let go, to recoil from the pain, but his instincts held firm, refusing to give the creature an inch.
"Arikawa...!" Riku gasped between ragged breaths, his voice strained. "Get out of here... NOW!"
But Yoshiro didn’t listen.
"Get off him!" Yoshiro roared, desperation taking over as he rushed behind the Kaiju. His hands gripped the bent metal and without hesitation, he began slamming it into the Kaiju’s thick hide. The metal rang with each hit, clanging against the beast’s scaled body.
WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!
"I said—GO!" he bellowed, pulling the handgun from his belt with his one last hand, fingers on the trigger—BANG! BANG! BANG!
Three shots fired into the Kaiju’s torso. The sound was deafening at close range, the recoil fierce. Yoshiro yelped and dropped the pipe, stumbling back, his hands clamping over his ears.
BANG! BANG! BANG! He fired more bullets punctured its thick hide but it didn’t let go.
His mind flashed to Yumi, her bright, curious eyes as she waved goodbye to him earlier that morning.
"I’ll try to get home early, promise." He remembered promising her-
"Riku, promise me...Promise me, you'll take care of her-" And he remembers the promise he made to someone else.
Gritting his teeth through the pain, Riku forced the barrel of the gun upward, jamming it beneath the Kaiju’s chin. His hand shook, but his grip was firm, the trigger under his finger cold and solid.
"RRAAAAGHHH!!!" Riku roared as he squeezed!
BANG!
The shot rang out...It tore through bone. It let out a gurgling screech as its body spasmed then limped. Its jaws loosening its grip as the Kaiju collapsed to the ground with a Thud.
There was a held silence after the Kaiju fell... The only sound was Riku’s labored breathing, harsh and ragged. Yoshiro stood frozen, his mind struggling to catch up with what had just happened, his eyes wide as they flicked between the dead Kaiju and Riku’s bloodied, limp arm.
“Tatsumaki-san...” Yoshiro whispered, his voice barely audible.
Before he could move closer, the ground beneath him rumbled—a deep, groaning shift that sent cracks spidering across the wreckage. The unstable structure gave way in an instant.
CRACK—BOOM!
Yoshiro’s feet slipped as the debris beneath him collapsed, giving way to a jagged chasm. His body lurched forward, gravity pulling him down.
But before he could fall, Riku’s good arm shot out, grabbing Yoshiro’s wrist with all the strength he had left.
The handgun slipped from Riku’s hand, clattering to the ground as his grip tightened on Yoshiro. “Hold on!” Riku growled, his voice rough and strained.
“T-Tatsumaki-san!”
Yoshiro clung to Riku in a panic, the edge of the chasm crumbling beneath his feet.
“Hold on! Arikawa- I got you-“ He gritted, but just as Riku started to pull him up, a low, menacing growl echoed through the debris.
Riku’s head snapped up, eyes locking on the source of the sound. His heart sank.
Two more of Arashi’s spawn slithered out from the shadows, their eyes fixating on the two figures clinging to the edge. Their maws growled open, revealing rows of jagged teeth, drool dripping from their gaping maws.
"No- Dammit, you’re kidding me,” Riku hissed, sweat pouring down his brow.
Yoshiro with some limited vision is able to see the newly arrived pair of Kaiju, eyes widened in shock and horror. His drained face turning white pale.
“Grrrr-“ Riku growled as he strained to reach for the fallen handgun, with his bleeding arm. Just as he struggles to keep Yoshiro from falling.
The smaller Kaijus moved in closer, claws scraping against the debris as they prepared to lunge. Time was running out.
Just as one of the creatures crouched to pounce—
RATATATATAT!
Gunfire erupted from the distance, a heavy volley ripping into the spawns. Their bodies jerking violently under the barrage. One creature screeched in agony as rounds pierced its thick hide, while the other was driven back, snarling in fury.
“Shoot them down!” a commanding voice barked over gunfire.
Riku’s head turned toward the sound, relief flooding his system. The squad of JKSDF soldiers arriving to the scene, rifles raised as they advanced, continuing to fire into the remaining spawn. The creatures recoiled, unable to withstand the barrage of bullets, from multiple men. Their screeches echoing as they were driven back.
“Move! Secure the area!” one of the soldiers yelled as they fanned out, forming a protective line between Riku and Yoshiro and the retreating Kaiju spawns.
A pair of soldiers rushed forward immediately. One grabbed Yoshiro’s arm, pulling him up onto solid ground while the other grabbed Riku under the shoulders, dragging him away from the crumbling edge.
“Got you!” one of the soldiers grunted, steadying Riku.
Yoshiro collapsed onto his back, breathing heavily, as he scrambled to his feet.
Riku, finally letting out a shaky breath, his arm throbbing with pain as blood continued to drip from the deep wounds in his forearm. Being tended too by the soldier, as he just looked at Yoshiro who was relatively unscathed.
"Hold the line!"
Riku heard someone barked, the sound of gunfire still fresh...but the world had started to blur
His vision swam, the edges growing darker as the adrenaline that had kept him standing drained from his system. The searing pain in his arm was overwhelming, the deep wounds oozing blood with every weak pulse. His body, already worn and exhausted, was reaching its limit.
The sounds became a muffled hum...the soldier's mouth moving rapidly but no words reached him. His breath came in shallow gasps as his vision dimmed, the daylight now a swirling blur of gray and black. His injured arm hung limply by his side, and the rest of his body went cold. Closing his eyes, as he falls unconscious.