Chapter 4: The Beginning of a Hunt
A Few Years Ago…
Tanaka the Despairing One was outside his laboratory of Monsters waiting for his new employee, his anaconda wrapped around his body. Today, he'll pay off the debt he owed to the Demonic Creator, also known as Yuuko Mori.
-At least she's on time- He thought as he looked up at the arriving black and white chopper.
The flying vehicle landed and two persons stepped out of it, the first one was a young looking, girl with long chestnut hair and red eye dressed in a black jacket and blue jeans. The other was a man who seems to not have eaten in days, his long hairs was a mess. He was wearing a long brown jacket and it was obvious he was missing his left arm. His eyes were devoid of emotions and will to live. But there was something familiar about him, hum, wait. That scar on the mouth, the red patch of hair…..
"Wait, is that-"
"Well hi to you too. And yeah, it's Ethos."
Ethos was murmuring numbers and everything he remembered about how to destroy objects, repeating it over and over again so he wouldn't fall into despair, a glow of insanity was present in his eyes and ready to take him completely if he would go on for a day or more.
"Hm… My dark powers can not sense any trace of Despairing energy in him."
"That's because he doesn't have any. You see, He's 'normal'." Yuuko smirked, "I know you're gonna ask why he's alive then, well because. Stop asking useless questions and follow the deal. Or should I remind you again who saved your hamsters from Hyde?"
"Do not speak the name of that monster! I remember too well… So, the Fallen Destroyer will stay in my lair and help me with my creations." The Ultimate Despair shouted, "But I must know, in his state, isn't it despairing?"
"Yeaaah, but it's getting boring quickly, and my team and I will be leaving more often, we have lots of games to prepare, I can't let him die like that, it isn't despairing enough. "The Ultimate Level Designer groaned for having to explain her choices.
"I see, alright then. Come! Fallen Destroyer, I'll show you the dark kingdom where you will be living in for a very long time." Tanaka exclaimed with enthusiasm.
But the zombie looking man didn't move an inch. The man with the snake around him raised an eyebrow, and asked again for Ethos to follow him. Yuuko leaned towards her 'boyfriend' and whispered some words in his ear. The mumbling stopped and the man finally looked up, taking his gaze off the ground. He finally entered the laboratory where he'll spend a few months of his despairing life in.
Tanaka explained to him about what his team was doing here: Monsters. This immediately caught Ethos' interest as he looked up with wide surprised eyes. Thankfully for the one armed man, he wouldn't have to do Despair work, but take care and analyse the specimens.
In other words, he has to babysit them.
After a quick tour in the lab, without any presentation to the other personnel, Tanaka announced that Ethos will start working immediately as they had already managed to create the first of many monsters of Despair. Yuuko kissed her man goodbye and left to do some more killing games.
The Ultimate Breeder asked Ethos to wait in a room that had only a large square table and a chair, and after a few minutes, he came back with a box and a notebook accompanied with a pen.
"Your role in my kingdom will be to find the abilities of my first Dark Lord. Do your role and you will not become food for my army." Tanaka said accompanied by a hiss of his snake before turning around and leaving without any other word.
Ethos sighed and sat down on the chair, he brought the box and notebook closer with his arm. How was he supposed to do his job well with only one arm? Whatever, no choice then. He took the paper and read.
"First specimen, number TMD#001… Sex: female… Mix of… fish, lizard (iguana), toad, anteater, and the eyes are of a rat, four rats? Also some cat was mixed in there somewhere… this must be one ugly monster…" the one armed man gulped and slowly reached for the lid of the box and lifted it up.
What he saw was completely different of what he had in mind. A strange green worm like creature was trying to bite its own tail. It had seven red eyes, gross.
"You're one ugly motherfucker…" Ethos said with eyes full of disgust, the creature heard him and turned towards him, and hissed, "This is going to be a pain."
What he didn't expect was that that creature he'll soon baptize under the name of Abotox will be the first light of Hope in this dark world of Despair for a few months.
And now she's dead.
Naegi's right arm was deep inside the cavity of the monster's mouth, the canon of the gun pressed against the back of the mouth, the dozen dagger sharp teeth of the monster were just slightly digging through the clothes and into the arm.
He fired three times, the bullets went through the head and brain of the Monster of Despair. Naegi retracted his arm as the creature reared its head back to roar in pain one last time, giving her final breath… and finally falling limp to the side, leaving the young man covered in blood under it enough time to kick himself out of under the belly.
It was dead, the first out of six escaped monsters was dead.
She was dead, Abotox was dead.
She…
The clung of Naegi's gun against the ground snapped the older man back to his senses. He looked up to see the ahoge man shaking, his eyes wide open in fright, staring at the hand he took a life with.
-That's right, moron! You'll mourn later!- He insulted himself as he slapped his right hand against his forehead.
He coudn't stand up because of his injured leg, and thankfully Kirigiri was there to help Naegi stand up and comfort him.
"I...I took a life!" the brunet exclaimed with shame.
"I know… It's okay… it's okay…" Kirigiri whispered to him, "You had no choice. It was going to kill us… It's not your fault."
"She's right…" Ethos intervened with a cough, "It was whoever was controlling it Aby's fault…"
"Controlling..?" the lavender haired woman asked.
"Yes, I managed to calm and talk to Aby before she went berserk on me. It's because of the so-... Wait a minute. The song stopped!"
At that statement, the trio looked around and indeed, the music that was coming out of the speaker has stopped. When did it stop?
"So we have someone… who took six monsters, and can control them with music, if they are the same person. Maybe there's more than one." Kirigiri stated.
"That sounds like a tamer. Right? Do you guys think there's an Ultimate Tamer within the ranks of Despair?" Naegi asked.
"It's possible, never met one though. But for now. We should get out of here and get treated." Ethos sighed while trying to stand up. But with only one arm and a leg hurt, it was rather difficult.
Kirigiri didn't get that badly injured, her back and chest hurt but wasn't enough for her to not be able to lift her fiancé from the ground. Fiancé that immediately blushed and said that he could walk.
"Your legs were under the monster's belly for more than a minute. They must have pins and needles."
"Ok you got me there."
Suddenly, a group of agent appeared from the corridor leading to the exit, heavier armed than before. As they saw the corpse of the green monster, they put their weapons down and immediately went to assist their boss and companions. One of the men helped Ethos stand up.
"Wait, can we go back deep in the lab, I need to get something. And also, can you guys take her away?" the Destroyer asked as he pointed at the corpse of Abotox, surprising the agents, Kirigiri and Naegi included, "Maybe… We could do something? Analyze the body to see why she's so big?"
That was enough to convince them to also take the body.
Ethos and the agent walked through the dark and blood sticking corridors until they reached their destination.
The place where the black and red haired man fought the monster. But what he was looking at was a wreckage of his lost companions.
His arm and Jessie's head.
"Oh God, Sonosuke is going to kill me…"
"..." Izayoi was staring at the man in front of him with wide, furious eyes and the biggest scowl on his face.
"Hehehe…"And Ethos was just grinning and sticking his tongue out as he presented his destroyed arm to the blacksmith.
Only a few hours have passed since the Operation, Ethos was back on his feet but before he could go change and get a shower, Izayoi intercepted him to ask him a favor, then he saw the destroyed robot arm.
"Soooo… You see, we had this mission… And I fought that monster and I had no choice to unplug the arm and Aby broke it?" Tried to explain Ethos.
"Ethos…" Izayoi said as he put a hand on his friend's shoulder, his face not changing one bit, "... Remember when I told you that I am a Blacksmith, not a Mechanic nor Doctor… It took me months to learn how to and built this prosthesis. I never agreed for improvements because I didn't want to jeopardize what I worked so hard on… I asked you to take care of it… I have to admit I was pretty proud of this work…" He said in his monotone tone.
"Ethos… I have to kill you now."
"Please don't! I'm sorry!"
The reason why Izayoi came to the encounter of the Paranormal Branch right after they came back from the mission and got treated quickly, since their wounds weren't that bad, was because he finished the prototypes of one of the projects taken from the UPDPC lab.
Ethos was supposed to be the one to test it out but since he's now was unable to do it, Hagakure will replace him.
The Paranormal Branch team and their friends followed the man in red to a testing chamber in one of the Division building of his branch that was close to where the Paranormal Head Quarter was. Naegi asked what the project was, Izayoi asked for Hagakure to come in the testing area.
"An armor?" Kirigiri wondered.
"Not really. It's a combat suit." the blonde blacksmith answered.
"Though it does look a bit like a knight armor." Ethos commented.
Hagakure was wearing a suit that had green plates all around his body with two large ones covering his chest. A helmet matching the colors of the armors plates was somehow managing to contain the tremendously long ponytail the clairvoyant had. The plates on the forearms were grey like the belt and finally there was two red shoulder plates.
"Hey guys! Are you sure it's a good idea? I kinda float in it." Hagakure exclaimed.
"Well it was for Ethos… Do you float too much?" Izayoi asked the tester.
"No, not really."
"Then it will be alright. Go to the cross you see there in the center of the room." ordered the head of the 9th Branch.
Hagakure obeyed and stood over the cross. He asked what's next. Izayoi pressed a button in front of him and a hatched opened in front of the man in the body suit.
A shotgun emerged from the hole and before anyone could ask what was going on, it shot Hagakure on the chest.
"AGH!" Hagakure screamed as he was thrown backward.
"AAAH!" his friends cried at seeing him get shot.
"Calm down." Izayoi just sighed.
A few seconds later, the clairvoyant opened an eye as he noticed that he wasn't dead and quickly stood up. Started to scream to what was the big idea, but the blacksmith just pressed another button and a 'clong' was heard. Everyone looked up only to see a big wrecking ball swinging towards Hagakure hitting him with precision, throwing the man, this time, against the wall.
"Hagakure-kun!" Naegi and Asahina ran towards their friend who was embed in the wall, "Please, tell us you're ok!"
"And you wanted me to get in that thing?" Ethos asked, his face pale. Izayoi just nodded.
"I'm alive! I'm ok!" Hagakure shouted.
"As you can all see, this armor can resist bullets, shotgun pellets and even harsh impact like this one you just witnessed. And that's because it is crafted out of Godzilla scales."
"Are you serious?!" Ethos and Hagakure asked in unison.
"Yes. It wasn't easy but I'm glad it has been a success. I can now work on the final adjustments and produce more for monster attacks."
"Wait, I'm sure his cockroach abilities are what made the fool survive." Togami suddenly said as he pointed at Hagakure.
"Hahaha, you're so funny Togamichi! But this is amazing and all but why was I the second in list to test it after you found out that Ethos couldn't?"
"I already tested the suit before, also because you're the less valuable agent in the room." Izayoi said.
"What?!"
That evening, Naegi wanted to talk to Ethos, about the monster, Abotox was it's- no, her name.
"Ethos…"
"Oh, Makoto, what's up?"
"I just… Can you talk to me about Abotox? I'd like to know more about her." Naegi asked.
"...Her death isn't your fault, kid. She should be dead a month ago during our first mission. It's all that person who was controlling her's fault."
"I wish to believe that…"
"Alright, let's make a deal. Once we're done with that hunt, once all five remaining creatures are dead. I'll tell you everything you want to know about the monsters I knew." Ethos smiled as he reached his hand for a handshake.
"Deal." Naegi smiled back and shook his hand.
The Next Day…
There was six monsters of Despair were missing during the purge of the lab, one was dead now. Only five to go, but without any information of which one they were… It's going to be very difficult to localize them, and the people controlling them.
They needed to find them but also know how was it possible for they to grow so much, what happened.
And Ethos knew who to call for these information: Yuuko Mori, the Remnant of Despair Ultimate Level Designer. Of course, with a team of cell phone tracking, they'll try to locate and capture the Despair.
But for that he must keep her talking for at least 2 minutes. They had a lot to talk about. So it should be easy if everything goes well.
They were in a conference room, a total of five person sitting at the table: Kirigiri, Naegi, two tracker guys and Ethos. The later took a deep breath and dialed the number. It didn't take long for Yuuko to answer.
"Ethoos! Sweetheart! Took you long enough to call! One month, you sly dog! Especially after everything I learned about what's going on!" Yuuko shouted through the phone, already bringing confusion.
"Wait what?"
"Well yeah, congratulation for your post at the new Branch!"
The Paranormal Branch wasn't announced to the public yet, since it's still a big test by itself. How did she know that?
"Yuuko, how do you know that? No… First w- I have questions to ask you."
"Ooh? Is Future Foundation that deep in the new shit pile that are Tanaka's Monsters of Despair for you to ask help from the Despair? This is hilarious. And do you think I'm actually going to help you?"
This was already going bad, very bad. Ethos needed to convince her to tell them about the monsters and who was controlling them.
"How did it feel Ethos? To see Aby again? And see her die." Yuuko asked, glee in her voice.
Sadness, regret… despair. But he couldn't say that, everyone was looking at him, the two guys with suspicion, and the fiancés with worry. Ethos shook his head.
"Do not try to change the subject… Even tho it is part of it. But answer my questions."
"What if I don't want to?" he could imagine her pulling out her tongue.
"...Please…?"
"HAHAHAHAHA! You're so adorable, Ethos! You know what? Since I love you, I'm gonna tell you three information!"
Kirigiri immediately grabbed her notebook, any information was vital for this hunt.
"Alright! First info: The one controlling the remaining monsters has only one goal in mind, killing a certain person. Who is it? You'll find out pretty soon. Also they can't control all of the creatures at once if they're separated."
The detective quickly wrote down that information. They all had an idea of who that target might be, considering the one controlling them was a despair.
"Alright. Second information… I already know that you guys took the corpse of the first monster with you, and probably gave it to your medical Branch led by Kimura. So you must already know what's in the body, why they grew so much."
Ethos raised an eyebrow and looked at his comrades, they were as confused as he was.
"...No, we don't?" he answered.
"Oh really? Well, here's a hint: Last giant Monokuma, not the Anti-G/Anti-Hope."
They'll have to look through that then…
"Alright… Can you tell us their locations?" Ethos asked, maybe he could choose the last information.
"Welp, can't tell. Kamui never told us where she planned on placing the creatures."
"Damn…" he looked back to Kirigiri, she was glaring at him. "What?" he whispered to her.
She pinched irritably between her eyes, Naegi was saying something to the Destroyer… Ka..Mui… Wait.
"Wait a second. Kamui? She's the one controlling them?"
"Yep."
"So we need to find a certain Kamui."
"Aw, Ethos. But you already know her. Kamui Focsfang." Yuuko laughed through the phone.
"But wait, why on earth would you give us the name of the one who's controlling them."
"Because I can imagine your faces at learning that one of your agents was a Despair for who knows how long and was also taking care of your little hope symbol."
Naegi was getting a call, it was from Kimura, what did she learn?
"Anyway, those were the three information. Good luck Future Foundation in this new hunt. You guys are going to need it, hehehe."
Wait, they can't stop there, there's still twenty second left before tracking her. Ethos needs to find a topic, quick.
"Wait, are there any other spy of Despair among the ranks of Future Foundation?!" Ethos asked again.
"Ohoho… Ethos, sweetie… You think I don't know you guys are listening to everything and trying to track me? Not today, kids." and like that, she hung up, ten seconds before she could be tracked.
Ethos' remaining hand pounded the table and Naegi quickly said that he needed to listen to what Kimura had discovered.
"Seiko? What's wrong?"
"Ethos, I already told Naegi-san, we dissected the creature you brought… And we found out something very unsettling… On the bone structure, on the spine… There was a dorsal spine similar to Godzilla forming on it."
"What?"
"I see now. Remember what Mori said Ethos: the last Monokaiju." Kirigiri reminded, "Godzilla was tired after fighting three at the same time, the last one appeared and Remnants of Despair were on the roofs. The Monokuma stabbed Godzilla multiple times and threw blood on the Remnants."
"No… You don't mean."
"Yes." Seiko and Kirigiri said at the same time.
"Tanaka's Monsters of Despair are part Godzilla for over a month."
The next few hours were very full of work. Ethos planned on going back to the lab with a heavy armed group of agents in case another monster was waiting for them, they still needed to know which monsters were roaming on the surface of the globe.
Kirigiri said that she'll go investigate and capture Kamui Focsfang, it seems that she'd disappeared and never came back after Godzilla almost destroyed the 14th Branch Headquarter. With her investigation team, they should find her quickly.
Naegi kept on looking and trying to find any new labs of UPDPC and with luck they'll find sighting of some strange creature that could be one of the MOnster of Despair.
He felt like he was cryptid hunting.
Suddenly, out of the blue, his phone rang. He looked at it and quickly picked up.
"Hinata-kun? What's going on? Is everything alright-... What do you mean a boat?"
Somewhere unknown
He was sleeping, he needed to rest for a long time…
But a friend wouldn't let him be.
Please go away.
"But there's something wrong going on on the surface. They need your help. It's a kaiju level threat."
No they don't. Is their problem. And if it's so big, why doesn't she go?
"That's the problem… It's Man Made. I can't get in between."
They must see again those stupid rules…
"I know… But tell yourself this: These new creatures are in Despair side,that means that Future Foundation will be in trouble. Also, it could prove to the other Guardians that you meant your words. That you want to change."
…
"If you do protect the 'good' humans… I can promise you I'll talk to the others… and you could join the shared Mind Room we all are connected to…"
Really?... He won't be alone anymore?... They would really accept him again?
"I know I am the Host… But I can't just invite you because we are friends… You must prove yourself and show that you're trying to change."
… Fine. But just that she knows, he's not doing this for the humans. He's doing this for the planet and his friends.
"Hehe, of course. Alright, I cancelled my magic that was keeping you invisible to anything on Earth besides me. Your targets aren't far from where you are. Good luck, Goji."
Thank you, Mothra.
The King of Monsters snapped open his yellow eyes, his senses coming back to him. He was asleep for only a month. It didn't matter now, he had creatures to hunt down. And he could already sense two of them in the vast ocean with him. One was closer. He'll hunt this one first.
But there was something strange about the creature… Something familiar…
They couldn't…
Humans… If he hadn't made that promise… He'd be hunting them down right now for daring play with his genes! Making 'clones' of himself for the service of humans.
Unforgivable.
He'll kill those abnormalities.
The giant stood up, his fist clenched. The others, smaller, creatures of the sea knew by instinct what was coming, they swam away at full speed.
The King was back. To bring more destruction and for a new hunt.
And then, the legendary roar:
SKKKKRRREEEEEOOOONGGGKKKKKK!
Part 1: The Lab of Monsters
-The End-
Monsters of Despair killed: 1
5 remains...
