Another late chapter, sorry. I might have to head to the forums or FFs twitter to ask about the problem, because I basically spent hours having to fix the undone bolded and italicized words. It's getting infuriating and time-consuming, and it's taking away from actually writing. So, if it doesn't get fixed soon, I'll probably take a break from FFnet for a bit.

That said, this chapter is where the fun begins~! See, I've been busy cooking, but I stayed in the kitchen for too long. But I'm ready to show you the final dish~!

Thank again to my patrons 'J', 'NimbleFlourish', and 'Edison Castelan', as well as to my new patrons, 'Bobby Emanuel' and 'Scott J', for your support. I'm very grateful for it.

Disclaimer: Godzilla and all related trademarks are owned and licensed by Toho Co., Ltd, Legendary Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Pictures. High School DxD is owned and licensed by Ichiei Ishibumi and Fujimi Shobo. I own neither series, please support official releases.


When I came to, I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. As I tried to regain my bearings, the world was rocking around.

Okay, I think it was less that the world was rocking, and more that whatever vehicle I was in was rocking. And I figured out that it was a vehicle pretty quick, considering that it was a bit of a bumpy ride.

The first few seconds after my vision stopped being blurry was when I started taking in my surroundings. Whatever van I had a gray, bland interior. It was clearly meant for transport, seeing as it had benches and belts to fasten. But it definitely wasn't meant for luxury, that was for sure.

Also, I wasn't the only one in here.

Nearby I spotted Tamachi, who was locked up in some sort of straight jacket while her tails were tied together. The poor girl even had a muzzle constricting her entire face. And around her neck was a suspicious-looking collar.

Nearby was a familiar bluenette. Tsubasa's legs and feet were cuffed, and she too had a collar around her neck. She was looking around anxiously, her shoulders raised like the hackles of a terrified animal ready for a fight.

I tried making a joke first. I ended up slurring my words and drooling instead before finally getting my voice back. I shook my head and gasped tiredly as I tilted my head to look at myself.

I also had handcuffs and ankle cuffs, which I probably should've realized. Plus, I could feel a collar around my neck. More than that, I had extra chains holding me against the wall of the van.

"F-Fuck! This is not ideal…" I huffed.

"Are you alright?" Tsubasa asked after a few moments.

"Do I look alright? I'm in chains. I feel like if I stand up I'll just fall over, and I think I may have serious brain damage! I mean…I already had that," I shook my head and groaned. "But now it's worse. W-What happened after they took me out?"

"Well, they dragged us out of the rubble, shoved hoods over our faces and escaped with us. I…I was also a bit out of it. I think they cuffed me halfway through," the bluenette sighed dejectedly. "A little while after I came to, they pulled off the hood and were shoving me into this truck or something. They…they hooked her down with everything," she motioned to the fox-girl offhandedly while rolling her eyes. "And then they dragged you in while you were unconscious, cuffed you, and chained you up. I don't know where we were before we got in. Everything happened so fast and I was still feeling off."

"Anything else? Did you hear anything?"

"They…they got Hanakai and Kusaka. But Tsubaki held them off, and they must've decided to cut their losses. H-Hanakai and Kusaka weren't there when I woke up…"

I inclined my head tiredly while breathing heavily. "They might've split up? They took us to one place, and those two to another place. That way, if anybody followed them, they'd have to pick and choose who to go after."

"Sounds about right…they also talked about some 'other' teams closing in on campus. Or, at least, I think they were talking about that?" Tsubasa frowned worriedly. "That might mean it wasn't just us and members from Student Council that they were after. This was extremely coordinated."

"...They said 'bakemono' when referring to Tamachi," I trailed off. "These people might be some big organization that's, uh, 'in the know', so to speak. They might've seen us around or something and tracked us down."

The bluenette swallowed nervously while averting her gaze. "It's not just yokai, Isashi. Remember how I said we'd need to talk later?"

"Yeah?" I cringed at the look she gave me. "What's this about?"

"The members of Student Council…all of them are devils. As in the same devils we've been investigating. Same creatures as the fish-guy," the blue-haired girl clasped her hands together and looked at the floor anxiously. "They all sat me down and revealed it. They even showed me their demonic traits."

"...Like, horns and stuff?"

"N-No, they just have wings! Souna-kaichou's eyes also glowed," the girl cupped a hand to her chin in thought. "Other than that, they look mostly human. I asked about that, and apparently they only rarely have stuff like horns or tails. Kaichou didn't really elaborate."

"Wait, you said…you said all of them? You don't mean-"

"Saji was a devil too," Tsubasa said simply.

"I…I can't believe this," I muttered worriedly.

"Which brings me to what they asked. They were assuaging me and telling me they were still friends and fellow classmates…then Kaichou made an offer to join her 'peerage'. Essentially, she was asking me to join them and become a devil."

"...That tracks?" I offered.

"How?!" the bluenette cried out.

"Remember how I talked about Freaky Fish Fuck? I didn't think I needed to remind you of this, but he said he used to be human. That a devil showed up and offered to turn him into one," I frowned and furrowed my brows in thought. "Something…something must've happened to their population. He said a huge chunk was taken out. Apparently, they made a way to convert humans and other things into devils. And by becoming devils, they serve the devil who converted them."

"So they manipulate people into that? Into being slaves? How evil-"

"I don't think that guy was manipulated. The way he talked, his boss was reasonable and sane, while fish-face was the psycho. He left his master's service so he could do as he pleased." I sat up straight and inclined my head. "And he said he became a fish-freak after he'd already left his boss. The way he spoke, he was just a bad egg. What about you? What did they say? I…I don't wanna believe that Saji was manipulated so-"

"They…huh? Well, it was odd," Tsubasa furrowed her brows in deep thought while looking away. "Kaichou asked me to join her 'peerage', whatever that is-"

"It's this legal system comprising ranked nobles who form part of the legislative process. The 'Duke' is at the top, while the 'Baron' is usually at the bottom." at the girl's confused look, I shrugged. "I read about it after watching 'The Man who Laughs'. In fact, our country used to have one in the Diet, but they dissolved after the, uh, t-the war…"

"That's…interesting to hear?" the bluenetter tilted her head, a strange expression spreading across her face. "Would…would that mean I'd basically become some form of devil royalty? Because…I mean…now that I think about it-"

"Let's not make assumptions. What did Shitori-kaichou say specifically?"

"She offered me to join her peerage, but didn't really give much of an explanation. When I didn't respond, she…she knelt down and laid a hand on my shoulder, then basically she said 'take all the time you need to think on it'," Tsubasa glanced away anxiously. "She said she wouldn't force the issue. That she'd give me a week to figure it out, that I could ask her to elaborate if I needed it. She even promised that she wouldn't 'wipe my memory' since she couldn't really take away my ability to see yokai and spirits. Which, by the way, didn't settle my nerves."

"Eh, I mean…makes sense that they'd keep the supernatural world a secret somehow. Wouldn't be able to operate without it. It's why the wizards in Harry Potter don't tip off the 'muggles'," I shrugged and shook my head. "Still, it…it doesn't sound like they're evil. Kaichou said she'd give you time to think about it. She didn't force the issue, and she knows she can't really do anything to get rid of your powers. Sounds like she's being diplomatic about that. Now, that could also mean that, if she were less principled, she could've…arranged something that forced you to accept. And all this right now would've felt sus, but-"

"No. Even if she was inclined to pull that, this isn't that, definitely not. She doesn't strike me as the kind of person who'd put her own people in danger," the bluenette cringed as her shoulders sagged. "Plus…they fired a fucking RPG at us. I can't imagine she'd even think that's a good idea."

"Yeah, that was messed up," I gasped exasperatedly. "Plus all the legal issues of pulling this off. I can't imagine she'd like dealing with the paperwork."

"...We should probably deal with the elephant in the room," the girl muttered.

"You mean the kitsune child? Yeah, we should do something," I trailed off while turning to Tamachi, who'd been listening curiously. Now she was shyly looking away and shaking fearfully. "Hey! Tamachi-chan? Are you hurt?"

The fox-girl shook her head.

"Are…are you okay?" the little girl shook her head again, and I frowned. "Uh, I'm sorry for ignoring you, okay? And I'm sorry that I didn't help you find your sister…"

Tamachi's shoulders sagged, and she gave me wide puppy-dog eyes while saying something muffled and nodding. I didn't really catch it, but the way she gave me a sort of eye-smile made me feel a little better.

"You're scared, right? I…I promise you that you'll see your sister again. You can put on a brave face, right?" the girl tilted her head nervously for a few seconds before hesitantly nodding. "I'm gonna try to get through these crazy guys, okay? If it doesn't work right away, I'll keep trying to bust us out. I promise you I'll get us all to safety. And I don't like breaking my promises…"

I felt like melting at the fox-girl's starry eyed look. I gave her a small smile and a nod before turning back to Tsubasa. The bluenette wasn't happy, but flinched when the kitsune turned to her with the same look, causing her to avert her gaze nervously.

"First step to getting out…breaking out of these," I said while shakily tugging at my chains.

The van was rocking, so it was gonna be difficult to break these things. But I had a new trick up my sleeve.

"When those guys showed up…I think I unlocked my Ki," I smirked at the blue-haired girl's shocked look. "I know, right? Well, the power I felt when I used it will definitely help when I get rid of these~!"

From the corner of my eye, I saw Tamachi stiffen. The little yokai started whimpering and making muffled noises. When I looked at her, she was worriedly motioning towards me.

"Is…is something wrong? What, are you worried about me using my Ki?" I tilted my head when the fox-girl nodded. "Well, yeah, I literally just got it, but even if I don't know how to fully use it, I think I can pull this off. After that, I can see about getting you two out. Now then…"

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to remember how I'd felt before when I'd used my Ki. I clenched my fists, shaky as I was, while trying to call back that fire into my veins. I breathed in and out as I worked to call forth that power.

I felt a surge of energy coursing through me, and in my mind, I visualized a growing flame. I stoked it so that it could grow into a raging inferno. The flames turned a brilliant blue, wisps of pink energy dancing from the edges as it grew and burned brightly.

My eyes opened, and I could see the color at the corners of my vision. But then I heard a beep resounding from close to my ears.

Then that fire died as lightning shot straight through me. I let out a choked gasp as I seized up, my muscles clenching and burning painfully. I fell back into my seat with a hacking gasp of a cough.

Tamachi made a small, worried noise at my misfortune. I shifted my gaze to her, my eyes widening as she gave me a solemn hum.

"They put you in that because you fought back. You already knew what the collar would do," I said, wincing when the girl nodded sadly. "And you were trying to warn me."

"So, we've got nothing, then?" Tsubasa sighed out dejectedly.

…Well, not nothing.

There was still my literal 'nuclear option'. But…I wasn't ready for that yet. No, nobody was ready for that yet. Unless I had a better read of the situation, waking him up wasn't something I was going to consider right away.

I let out a tired huff and inclined my head. "Well, there's one thing I can do. I can use my energy sense to get a read on the situation."

"Will it let you…y'know, see outside?"

"Not technically. It'll let me see every significant energy signature around me, but it's not like full on 'blindsight'. I just get a basic layout and everything." I shrugged and tilted my head. "It should give me a better picture."

"P-Please do it. Even if it's just a basic layout, it'll help us," the bluenette nodded anxiously.

"Right, give me a moment…" I trailed off while closing my eyes.

I shakily sat up and took another deep breath, hoping that this didn't set off the damn collar. Thankfully, I felt that electrical tingle run up my spine, passing the thing easily as it traveled to the back of my head. And I could feel everything around us, even as we moved at breakneck speed.

"...Two guys up that way, not moving. So, the drivers then," I motioned towards Tamachi's direction while frowning. "There…there are a lot of people around us as we're going. We're in a space that's definitely public. So, the van's either disguised, or they've got something that keeps it from being noticed."

"I think it might be both. I barely got a look when they pulled my hood off, but I think there was some sort of logo on the side," Tsubasa said tiredly. "It might be padded from the outside to keep the noise from escaping. I tried banging against the wall and shouting, and nothing came of it. Plus, if there are others carrying devils, they've gotta have a way of keeping them from being detected. Which means magic of some sort."

I cut off my energy sense and frowned. "Okay…new plan. I'm gonna try to break this shit," I said while motioning towards my cuffs. "And then, the moment we stop, I'm getting out of this damn collar and coming out swinging. I don't care if they've got guns or fucking RPGs. I'm taking at least one of them with me."

"Isashi, that's crazy! How are you even gonna break those?!"

"With my new Ki powers," I shrugged.

"But the collar will shock you if you try," the bluenette noted while raising an eyebrow.

"Then…I'll just fight through the pain!" I growled. "I'm too stubborn to fucking give in, damn it. I don't care if I get shocked. I'll just grit my teeth and bear it!"

"Isashi, please don't put yourself at risk-"

I tuned the girl out as I willed my Ki to flare up again. I could feel my energy bursting forth like a brilliant flame again. I stoked that fire into a raging inferno and concentrated on pulling at my bindings.

I felt lightning lancing through me again, setting my muscles alight with pain. I let out a pained scream as I worked through it, doing my damndest to force my limbs free and tear through the chains holding me down. My vision blurred, turning spotty as the pain started pushing back my reasoning even as I tried to fight my way to keep it from leaving me.

I felt my teeth gritting hard enough that they might break as I pulled. I think a vein might've popped on my forehead. The entire time my body was being jolted like a tesla coil, burning me alive from the inside.

*c-criick*

"N-Nnnn! Almossht!" I hissed through the pain.

*C-CRAAACK*

"GAAH!" I cried out as I leaned forward further, cutting off my Ki and growling tiredly. "Gaaah! F-Fuck! Fuck that hurt! Agh! Why?!"

"...W-Well, you got out of the chains, at least," Tsubasa deadpanned before turning her gaze to the small child who was watching worriedly. "Hey! Never repeat some of the words we've said here. They're…they're, uh, not good words. You got that?"

Tamachi nodded worriedly before gazing at me. Then her eyes shifted to my hands and feet…which were still restrained.

"Hah! Now we've got the hard part out of the way," I huffed while looking at my handcuffs. "Breaking the chains? Wouldn't have been able to do that without Ki and stuff. Breaking my cuffs? That's easy!"

"H-How?! How is breaking those easy?" the bluenette asked exasperatedly.

I responded by rubbing the chains of my handcuffs against the bench I was sitting on. I ignored the blue-haired girl's indignant squawk as I rubbed them at different angles before raising them back up and twisting the chain around. I kept twisting until the chain started locking itself together, then I started applying torque.

It took a few tries, but I managed to snap the chain apart. Sure, I still had handcuffs around my wrists, but I had freedom of movement. I swung my legs up on the bench and started doing the same to the cuffs on my feet.

"How…how do you know how to do this?!" Tsubasa asked worriedly.

"...I'm a pervert?" I offered.

"Elaborate?!" the bluenette cried out.

"I was…y-y'know, watching, uh, stuff," I chuckled nervously while looking away. "Then I accidentally clicked on a link that led to a…forum for people who wanted to, uh, be with their partners while…y'know, handcuffed. And they had a thread on how to escape this sort of situation. Somebody on there basically said they didn't want anybody to get stuck in a 'Gerald's Game' situation."

"What the fuck is 'Gerald's Game'?! No, better yet, why were you on pervy websites and forums?!" the bluenette cried out.

I gave her the most deadpan stare I could while using the same method to finally break my ankle cuffs.

"...Right! Pervert! Why-why wouldn't you be on that kind of website?" Tsubasa cackled in exasperation.

"So, do you want me to help you out?" I asked, while giving her a nervous smile.

The bluenette gave me a deflated look before sighing dejectedly. "Just…just show me how to do it, damn it…"


"...We're slowing down," Tsubasa mumbled. "They're stopping a lot. So that must mean we're close to…wherever they're taking us."

It'd been only a couple of hours since we'd been taken-or, at least, I think it was hours. I had no sense of how long had really passed since I'd been knocked unconscious. I only knew it was a couple of hours since I'd woken up.

We'd managed to get Tsubasa out of the cuffs, but Tamachi was another story. The straightjacket they had her in was infused with magic or something. I could tell based on the way it forced me back when I tried to unlatch it. It was probably keeping her from using her powers, too. So my plan was to grab her and bring her with us once we'd cleared the way and gotten more help.

"Okay, well, these collars don't seem so tough," I hummed while tapping the flimsy thing around my neck. "They probably don't think we're supposed to get out, so they didn't make them with durability in mind. We break these as soon as we stop, and when the doors open, we go wild."

"And what's the plan to get us all out?" the blue-haired girl asked nervously.

I took a deep breath and looked away. "I'm gonna be honest, I've got no real plan. I figured that if they're taking Hanakai and Kusaka to the same spot, maybe they could help?"

"Are you for real?!"

"Well, they've got fucking magic, don't they? All I can do is punch stuff, sense energy signatures around me, and I just got my Ki so I don't know how to really use it." I shrugged furiously. "I think the guys with magic can do a hell of a lot better job helping us, even if they're not 'human'."

Tsubasa clicked her teeth while looking away. "Fine! But I'm not sure we should trust them, even if they're not actively working against us…"

I sighed tiredly while turning my gaze to the doors. "You don't have to like them, Tsubasa. But if they can help us, we should at least treat them fairly."

I tried not to let it bother me that she was acting like this. But I had to give her credit. She was at least tolerating Tamachi, so I had faith she'd behave until we escaped.

Eventually, the van stopped. I tensed slightly while activating my energy sense. Different humans were slowly lining up near our van. But there were others nearby in similar sitting positions to us-probably whoever else they'd grabbed. Since I could tell that a couple of them weren't human, I figured the two in the van just next to ours were Hanakai and Kusaka.

Just before I cut off my energy sense, I noticed the humans start dragging the people out of each van. Some of them lined up around us and prepared to do the same. I swore I heard a few loud voices from outside. Nearby, two people were approaching the van doors.

I frowned while nodding to Tsubasa. "It's go time. Tear it off!"

"Right!" the bluenette hummed while grabbing her collar. "Come on! Get…off! Gaaah!"

I grabbed my own collar, feeling a jolt as I did so. A growl escaped my lips as I wrenched both hands into it and pulled. There was a loud snap of plastic and metal as I tore the thing off my neck.

"Okay, the doors are gonna open. Balls to the wall!" I said furiously.

"Let's fucking go!" the blue-haired girl agreed.

There was a small clicking noise as the van doors unlocked. Then they opened, revealing a tired-looking pair of guys in black military-esque uniforms. Behind them stood a bored man in a fancy suit, an assortment of badges dotting the right side of his chest.

I immediately jumped from the van, charged towards the suited man, and slammed my fist into his face. I followed it up with a barrage of punches that laid him out. I turned just in time to see Tsubasa tackling one of the uniformed guys. Before the other could help, I ran up and jabbed my feet into his knees, knocking him to the ground. Then I grabbed him by the back of the head and smashed his face into the pavement.

I turned while noticing that we were in an indoor parking lot. The vans were all parked in a line, with dozens of men in similar uniforms opening them.

The other guy, though, had already screamed out loud enough that he'd attracted attention. I turned to see several men in uniform running over to us, eyes widening once they saw what was happening. I nodded to Tsubasa once she'd taken the other guy out before squaring up as some more men charged us.

"Let's fucking go!" I cried out at the top of my lungs while tackling a guy.

"How the hell did they get out?!"

"They broke their bindings? What the hell?!"

"Get them! Bring them down!"

"Call somebody in, damn it!"

I'd been punching the guy I'd tackled in the face when one other guy grabbed me and tried to pull me off. I slammed my elbow into his ribs several times, and when he let go, I smashed his face into my knee twice. Then I flung him around, swinging him into this one dude who'd tried to come at me from behind.

One guy grabbed me by the upper arm, and I responded by grabbing his wrist with my free hand and twisting hard. I then slammed hard uppercuts into his jaw before crashing my elbow into his face. Another guy charged towards me, and I kicked his shins before roundhouse kicking him in the skull.

"N-Nii-san?!"

I froze at the voice and turned in horror. "I-Issei?!"

My brother was being dragged by a bunch of guys, and he was cuffed and collared all the same. Nearby, I saw Kiryuu and Koneko being strung along with chains as well. Further away from that, I saw Murayama and Katase struggling as men tried to drag them out of vans.

Issei and I shared a single look.

Then he slammed his shoulder into the man who was holding him in place. The other two guys released the girls and charged from the sides and tried to hold him down. I darted forward and smashed my fist into one's face before grabbing the other by the throat.

"Issei! Get out of here!" I cried out while choke-slamming the guy I'd tackled before stomping on another guy as he reached for Issei. "Take Koneko and Aika and run!"

"No! No way in hell I'm leaving you!" my brother cried out.

"Issei, just run! Run, damn it!"

There was a loud explosion from behind me, and I turned to see Hanakai holding a slowly dispersing magic circle up. There were several of the uniformed men on the ground in a daze, their uniforms slightly singed. In between all of them was a smoking spot on the ground.

Despite that, the white-haired girl dropped to the ground while clutching her neck. I saw the collar around it, and sparks were already flying off.

One guy charged from within the smoke with an enraged scream. "Damn devil! You think you're smart, huh? Overcoming that collar isn't easy!" the man screamed while grabbing Hanakai by her cuffed hands. "Shame it's not gonna do you any good! Go ahead and die!"

He pulled out a knife and raised it above his head. Hanakai's eyes went wide in horror as the blade glinted.

I ran forward and grabbed the man's hand, feeling my Ki burst from my body as I ran. The man looked at me in shock, giving me enough time to pull his arm down and snap it across my knee. He dropped his weapon and released the girl while clutching at his broken arm in horror. I finished him off by kicking him in the face hard enough to knock some teeth out and fling him back several feet.

"...Hanakai! Come on, you gotta get moving," I said curtly.

"I-I can't! They still have Kusaka!" the white-haired girl said worriedly.

I sighed while turning away. "Okay, I'll grab her. Just get to safety, damn it! Oi, Tsubasa! Get Murayama and Katase!"

"Right!" the bluenette cried out while charging towards the guys who were holding the two girls. "Get the fuck off of them, you damn creeps!"

I turned to see Kusaka being jabbed with a taser as she tried to run. She couldn't quite break her fall while handcuffed, so she landed awkwardly with a pained cry. The guy looming over her pulled out a cattle prod and uncollapsed it.

What happened next surprised me, as Issei of all people charged past me and headbutted the guy before he could jab Kusaka. Before the guy could get up, my brother was kicking him in the head. He continued this until the guy stopped moving.

"K-Kusaka-chan! Come on, we're running!" Issei said determinedly.

"Y-Yeah…" the pigtailed girl whimpered as the boy helped her up.

I helped Hanakai to her feet and ran towards Tsubasa to help her with her fight. I got there just in time to see a guy grabbing the bluenette from behind while another readied his taser. I grabbed the guy holding her and smashing the cuff on my wrist onto his head before pulling him away from her. I stomped my foot onto his throat after dragging him to the ground before turning to the guy with the taser.

Tsubasa had knocked him to the ground and was bashing him in the face with her broken handcuffs. She turned to me with a curt nod and shifted in place, a frown tugging at her lips. I followed her gaze and clicked my teeth.

There were more guys running in now. They'd all brought out cattle prods and tasers. Some of them noticed Tsubasa and I weren't cuffed, and flinched.

"They're not trying to kill us," the blue-haired girl said quietly.

"Yeah, wonder why," I nodded while raising my fists. "Just need to hold some of them off so that Issei and the others can get running. Then maybe they can get help-"

A loud shout cut me off when I heard my brother screaming. I turned to see him and the others clutching their necks in pain, sparks flying from their collars. Tamachi cried out from within the van, and muffled as it was, I still felt sick hearing it.

"Fuck! We forgot the collars!" I hissed while eyeing the crowd of uniformed men. Then I saw one-the suited guy from before, shakily standing to his feet and pressing on some device. "Motherfucker! I'll kick his ass!"

"Nii-san! Look out!"

That was all the warning I got from Issei before something slammed into me hard. I fell to the ground in a daze, and something big crashed into my chest. For a few moments, my vision was a blur.

Then I heard Tsubasa crying and screaming. My vision cleared just in time to see her rolling to a stop just a few feet away, a pained look on her face. A giant cloven hoof stomped on the girl's back, causing her to cough and vomit.

When I looked up, I saw a monstrous, suine-like face leering down at me. It had a vicious snout, elongated tusks, and furious eyes. It huffed and squealed into my face gleefully, causing me to wince back at the smell.

The thing leaned back, revealing a humanoid body. I almost mistook it for one of those pig-looking orcs from fantasy and isekai anime. It had the same general appearance; a pig-like head, hooved feet, blunted claws on its hands, a rotund but muscular body, all that.

But then I noticed the metal parts. It was like Frankenstein's Monster, with bolts and metal implants jutting from its skull and forehead. There were plates of metal welded to its chest, thick wires coiled from its back and across its right shoulder, and there were metal fixtures and parts across its left arm that powered some sort of clawed gauntlet.

Around its waist was a pair of wrestling trunks. A massive plate of metal sat on his studded belt, with an eerie insignia carved into it. The insignia looked like an eagle standing atop the globe, with bits of the design on the eagle's wings bringing to mind a…very specific political party from the last world war.

The suited man walked past it and frowned, completely ignoring me. "Shocker Kaijin…" the man shook his head while glaring at the creature. "You were only supposed to guard the Shocker executive that came through."

"Well, he was. But then we noticed you were having some trouble with your new arrivals, and we couldn't help but join in~!"

The voice belonged to some strange man in a red and black body-suit. He had a black beret on his head, and his face was covered in camouflage paint. Strapped to his studded belt was a metal plate that had the same insignia as the one of the pig creature's. I thought I saw a spider-like symbol on his gloved wrist, but I couldn't quite make it out fully.

"Is something wrong? I thought we were allies?" the man in the bodysuit giggled playfully. "Certainly you don't mind a little bit of help, no~?"

"Shocker was only here to provide research to our scientists with your Great Leader's approval. We can handle ourselves," the suited man said while rubbing his bruised face. "We don't need one of your pet monsters rampaging through our base!"

"Relax! We wouldn't do that to our friends~!" the man from this 'Shocker' said cheerfully. "If you're really that anal about it, we'll just drop off what you need and take our leave. Although…"

Then the man in the beret snapped his fingers. The pig monster suddenly grabbed me by my hair and pulled me to my feet. Before I could try to fight back, the thing had the clawed fingers of its gauntlet against my throat.

"Do you think we could take this one with us~?" the face-painted man asked cheerfully. "He's quite spirited. He could be useful! I think we could make something great out of him~!" the man in the beret turned to the pig creature with a sweet look. "What do you think, Pigsy~? Do you think we could make him into a new friend for you? Maybe we could turn him into a dinosaur? I think he'd look cute like that~!"

Turn me…

The pig thing? Was he…was he human?

Oh fuck! No, no, don't turn me into some freaky mutant! Let me go, let me go, let me go-

"No! Let him go!" Issei cried out from behind me. "Don't touch my little brother, damn it! Let him go!"

I let out a pained grunt and closed my eyes. Every time the pig-man's stinking breath washed over me, I gagged. But I had to sit there waiting for nearly half a minute for my next fate.

"Leave him with us," I heard the suited man say. "Despite the trouble, he's still too useful to throw away. We aren't interested in letting another Sacred Gear user slip us by."

"Ah? One of those things? Aww, well that's a shame," the man from 'Shocker' whined before snapping his fingers. "Oh well! So long as we've traded information~!"

The pig-man dropped me to the ground and slowly stomped away. When I opened my eyes, he was walking back to the man in the beret's side. Said man gave a very suspect salute before dancing away towards several other men in berets, these ones with fully black suits and different colored face paint. The pig-man snorted loudly before turning and following his handler.

The suited man huffed before turning to me, his bruised face wincing in anger. "As for you two…well, you'll have a lot less of an attitude once we're done with you. Jolt 'em!"

That was when several men ran forward and jabbed Tsubasa and I with cattle prods. And within seconds, I was once again out like a light…


"-Age: 16. Ethnicity: Japanese. Height: 172.8 centimeters. Weight: 66 kilograms…"

My eyes blinked open tiredly for the second time that day. I flinched as I took in my surroundings, noting that I was in a padded white room. The color was so blindingly bright that it actually hurt my eyes.

"Ah, you're awake? Good, this makes things easier," the voice from before said.

I shifted my eyes to see a window at the end of the room. While it was dimmed a bit, I could still make out the man on the other side. He was a tall and lanky man with short dark hair and glasses, and he was dressed in a white lab coat and slacks. He stood in front of some sort of microphone, so I could hear as he shuffled papers around.

"Subject possesses an unawakened Sacred Gear. Collected data points to it being a unique 'Sealed-Type' due to the signature of an unknown entity sealed within," the man said in a monotone voice. "However, discerning the nature of the entity has proven difficult due to a secondary ability. Subject possesses an unknown form of energy coursing through their body. This energy remains in an 'inactive' state and can, on viewing of incident footage, be consciously activated when engaging in combat."

I frowned as the man shifted and began jotting things down. The entire time, I was eyeing the surrounding room, looking for an escape. I moved my arms, realizing they'd removed the broken cuffs from my limbs. But when my hand went to my neck, I found another collar.

"Of note, the energy is similar to that found in Subject 'Sophont-Enigma 237', who was recently captured the previous night. Based on interviews with Subject 'Diablos-Deviant 442', there may be a possible connection between both subjects. Research into this unknown energy is currently ongoing…" the bespectacled man tilted his head while jotting something down on whatever he was writing on. "Current subject has maintained a violent and recalcitrant attitude until this point. At this moment, they are visibly analyzing their surroundings and their current situation, possibly expressing a remarkable level of intelligence for their age…"

I felt my fists clench as he spoke like I wasn't even here. The guy just kept taking notes and talking to himself. Now and then he'd check something off to the side, something that was making beeping noises, and maybe also there was a walkie talkie of some sort based on the static I'd hear infrequently. But other than that, he was completely self-absorbed in his work.

"As of now, the subject has not spoken or addressed myself. I will attempt to conduct an interview with them," the man shoved something to the side and scooted forward, a curious glint in his eyes as he leaned towards the window. "I would like to ask you a few questions. Answer them promptly and without leaving out any details."

I held up my fist, then held my other fist next to it. I then moved my second fist like I was moving a crank. One of my fingers came up slowly as I did so.

"...Subject remains recalcitrant, and maintains a lack of cooperation," the bespectacled man noted.

I leaned back against the wall while glaring at him. He never once took his eyes off me, instead sending a creepy stare back.

"What do you know about the energy you utilized in combat earlier?"

I once again flipped him the bird.

The man raised an eyebrow at that, then moved his hand to the side. I realized just at the last second what he was doing when a loud buzzer echoed from behind the window.

That was when the collar activated. I felt lightning lancing through my body as sparks flew from the collar. A loud cry escaped my lips as I doubled over and curled into a ball in a desperate attempt to escape the pain.

"What do you know about the energy you utilized earlier?"

I let out a hacking cough while clutching my throat. When I could stand again, I sent the man a harsh glare. He simply gave me a cold stare in response while never taking his eyes away from my own.

"Answer the questions I ask promptly and without leaving out any details," he said flatly.

"Up yours!" I called back.

The man rolled his eyes at my remark. Then he pressed the button and shocked me again.

"F-Fuck you!" I hissed out between my grit teeth as electricity zapped me.

"Answer the questions I ask promptly and without leaving out any details," the man once again demanded.

"Go to hell!" I bit back.

The response he gave me was another shock.

"Answer the questions!" the man smacked his hand on his desk.

"Eat my ass! I don't have to do shit!" I growled hatefully.

The man once again hit me with another shock.

I hissed through the pain as my veins popped, my eyes burning as I glared at him. "W-What did you do to them? What did you do to them?!"

"Answer the questions I ask promptly and without leaving out any details."

"What did you do to Tsubasa? Tamachi? Murayama and Katase? Kiryuu? Kusaka and Hanakai? Koneko? Fucking tell me, damn you!" I screamed violently. "Where is Issei?! Where is my brother?! If you hurt him, I swear I'll-"

There was another loud buzz as he shocked me again.

"Answer the questions. Do so promptly, and do not withhold any details," the man said coldly.

I hung my head and clasped my shoulders in pain. The man shuffled his papers before continuing with his questions. When I didn't answer them, he'd just press that damn button again and shock me.

This went on for a few more minutes. I'd stopped talking to him and gone back to flipping him off. Right before he stopped, I spat at the floor in his direction.

The man simply stared at me with that blank gaze while tilting his head. "You're stubborn, I'll give you that. I see we'll get nowhere like this."

My response was to very obviously rub beneath my eye with my middle finger. I got another shock in response.

"I think we're done for now," he said after pulling his finger off the button. The man stood up and coldly took his documents. "I don't think interviewing you as is will be necessary. If you aren't cooperative now, you'll never be while you're like this."

Then he smiled. The only smile I'd seen on his face since I'd woken up. The way he smiled sent a chill down my spine. It was enragingly smug and twisted. Like he knew something, or he had something close to chest.

"Fortunately, we have an easy way of fixing that attitude…"

As soon as he left, I sat up straight with a frown and crossed my legs. I stared at the window darkly for a few seconds before clasping my hands and taking a deep breath.

Yeah, no, I'm done.

I didn't know anything about devils. But I'd never felt any malice from Hanakai and Kusaka, despite the former being one of my stalkers. So I doubted they were evil, and the way they'd acted when I saw them in the parking lot was too human for me to think of them like that.

Tamachi might've been a yokai, but she was a child. She had a-hopefully hot-older sister who apparently liked me. And she'd been desperately trying to find her, probably because she was scared without her. If her sister lost her, how would she react? Just thinking about that made my stomach churn.

Kiryuu might've been another stalker, but she'd helped me, and I can't imagine her being a bad person. Murayama's been through enough, what with Freaky Fish Fuck going after her, so she doesn't deserve this. Katase might've joined the dojo and gained powers, but she was still new to the supernatural, and there's no way they'd actually want anything out of her she'd be willing to give. And whatever my misgivings about Tsubasa's attitude on yokai, she was still somebody I trusted and cared about.

Hell, Koneko Toujou, yokai or otherwise, was probably just as innocent. My brother had only just gone on a second date with her in the last few days, but the fact that she hadn't killed him on the first meant she probably wasn't out for his blood. Koneko seemed less like a dangerous yokai and more like a shy chocolate fiend who couldn't get out of her shell without help.

And…Issei. My twin brother was here. He was one of the few people who'd helped me come to terms with being reincarnated and living in a new world and a new life, even if he didn't know it. He was my flesh and blood. He meant too much to me. And they'd taken him, put him in chains, and shoved a fucking collar around his neck.

…Fuck all of that.

I'm pulling my 'nuclear option'. I'm going to show these fucking imbeciles what the hell they were messing with. I'm gonna show them real terror, a real monster. I'm gonna watch as this entire place, wherever it is, burns.

I'm going to wake him up.

I'm going to wake up Gojira.


Meditating to see Gojira again wasn't actually that difficult.

A few deep breaths in, and I was no longer in that padded, blindingly white room. I was surrounded by the deep, dark abyss of the endless ocean.

And he was right in front of me.

Gojira's monstrous saurian face was lying before me. His jagged hide shuddered as he let out a rumbling snore, the low light from his spines causing his scales to flash with a metallic blue sheen. I could see his massive fangs peeking out from his lips, and further back, his tusks jutted from his lower jaw.

His cat-like ears twitched and flicked beneath the waves as he slept, and his massive nostrils twitched as a stream of bubbles rose from them. Further back, I could see his gills flexing and closing as they pumped water out. The small, limb-like extensions of skin trailing from between his gills waved absently in the current.

And as I stood in front of his massive snout…I realized I overestimated how pissed I was. Because fu-hu-hu-uck I could not do this. I was frozen in fear the moment I saw him. I was shaking and whimpering within seconds.

"Nii-san!"

I closed my eyes and shook my head as my brother's voice cut through my mind. That it was his voice, above all else that I was remembering, made my stomach churn with worry. I opened my eyes and rubbed them, certain that if I weren't surrounded by water I'd be bawling my eyes out.

Then I turned to Gojira with a worried look. He continued to lie there, snoring and making bubbles as he slept.

I gulped audibly while narrowing my eyes. No, I had to do this. For everybody who was counting on me, I had to wake up the most terrible monster to ever exist. I had to do this so that I could beat these idiots.

"...T-Time to wake up!" I cried out.

It was less of a cry and more of a horrified scream, actually. But I still called out at the top of my lungs, hoping that something would happen.

Except Gojira didn't even stir in his sleep.

"D-Did you hear me? It's time to wake up!" I cried out more confidently again while walking up to his snout. "Time to get up! Wake up! Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey!"

Even when I started pulling at his nostrils, the giant monster didn't awaken. He let out a tired snort and shook his snout slightly, but continued to sleep.

"Oh, damn it! Do I really gotta do this?" I whined worriedly.

After a few tense moments, I realized that yes, I would have to do this.

I walked past Gojira's nostrils and began climbing up his snout. The Daikaiju huffed and shuddered in his sleep, but otherwise barely reacted. I quickly made my way towards his eyes.

"Fuckin' always opening these things and growling when I don't want you to wake up. But the one time I need you to do that…" I huffed while grabbing at one of his eyelids. "Oi! C-Come on! It's time to get up! Wake up already!"

I pulled his eyelid up to reveal his eye. But then it snapped back down, and Gojira made a low, sleep-addled roar while turning his head.

I let out a horrified scream as I nearly fell from his face. Of course, I instead started floating in the water around us. When I turned back to him, I saw Gojira's head twisted to the side, a low snore erupting from him and kicking up the sand beneath.

"Fuck's sake! Okay, plan C then…" I said while darting to his ear.

I grabbed at his cat-like ear and tugged for a bit. It started twitching as I moved, knocking me back a few feet. So when I swam back to it, I put my face in and cupped my hands to my mouth.

"Get the fuck up!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. "Simon says GET THE FUCK UP!"

Gojira's ear flicked abruptly, slamming into me and knocking me several feet. I flew through the water and bounced across the sand for a good few moments. When I skidded to a halt, I heard Gojira grumbling slightly before letting out an annoyed whine.

When I turned, he was still asleep. I hung my head as I stood to my feet, a low growl passing from my lips.

"Come on! Come on, time to get up!" I said while running forward and pushing at the skin on his massive head. "Can you not do this right now?! I never thought I'd say this, but I need you to WAKE YOUR SCALY ASS UP!"

Gojira let out a low whining noise before shifting his head to the side.

"N-No! No, no, no, no! Do not crush me!" I cried out while pulling away from him before he could trap me under his massive bulk. "Fuuuuck! Why?!"

*CHU-CHINK*


My eyes opened with a start. I turned to see the creepy man walking into the room, four men in black military-esque uniforms flanking him. The uniformed men each preemptively pulled out cattle prods while stalking towards me.

I held my hands up in surrender. One man motioned for me to stand to my feet, and I complied. The entire time, I kept glaring at the man in the lab coat.

"A bit too late to start cooperating now, boy," the man sneered.

I didn't respond, instead glaring at him. One of the uniformed men grabbed my arms and put me back in cuffs. I huffed and ignored it as the group forcibly pulled me out of the white room.

Everything else about the building wasn't immediately interesting. For the first several minutes, it was only sterile hallways that you'd see at a lab or hospital. But then things got crazy.

We passed by windows, and even though they were rushing me around, I got a good look. It wasn't the 'outside' world that was outside those windows. It was just more of the massive, complex base that we were in.

Outside the windows was a massive, cylinder-shaped chamber wider than a football stadium. It must've been taller than most buildings. There were hundreds of suspended paths going across it at different levels, and there were different sections built into the walls like the one I was walking in. Different levels seemed to serve different purposes, and there were even elevators to get to certain levels.

I could see a level filled with cages for different creatures, some of which I didn't recognize, but a few I knew from western mythology. There was another section that looked like a massive storage room, and another that might've been barracks, and still dozens more. I couldn't believe the scale of it all.

Where was this? How did they get the resources to fund this? How big were these guys? There was a constant amount of bustle across the paths in the chamber. I could see that so clearly. How many people did they have here? Just who are these guys?

"Hmm? I see you're starting to figure it out." The creepy man clicked his teeth while turning to me. "We're not worried about keeping you from seeing this. After all, you have no way out. There's no reason to hide it when you can't escape~!"

I turned to the man with a fierce glare. He simply cocked his head to the side mockingly before turning away. The uniformed men pushed me forward, and I kept walking, eventually leaving the window to that daunting image behind.

The men led me to a room that was already not well lit. There was a chair in the center, and it was sitting in front of a huge widescreen TV. The TV was on, but was completely blank and only playing a basic tone.

The chair had cuffs attached to the arms. There was an apparatus at the top of the chair that seemed to fit a human head.

…Ah shit, they were going to Bucky Barnes my ass.

They must've seen me tense up, because two of the uniformed men were grabbing me and keeping me in their grip. Then the other two grabbed me and forced me into the chair. One pair uncuffed my hands, only for the second to force my arms into the shackles on the chair.

"I see you've realized what's about to happen. Don't worry, once we're done here, you should be far more compliant," the man in the lab coat smirked darkly as he fastened the apparatus on the chair to my head. "Although I am worried there's still a chance you might fight back. Even with the research Shocker and Ugralska gave us, brainwashing isn't an exact science…"

As the man latched whatever the hell this was to my skull, he patted me on the shoulder. Then he turned around and clicked something near the TV, a small chuckle escaping him as he did so.

"Oh well~! I suppose we'll find out what we're working with, won't we?" he hummed as he turned around and switched the light off.

Then he and the uniformed men left, locking me inside as they did so. And I was all alone, looking on in horror as the TV came to life. It was only a logo at first, a logo on a blindingly white background. But as the minutes went on, there were colors, and soon different sounds.

The sounds must've been calibrated to make me open my eyes. As I closed my eyes, whenever the sounds echoed, I physically couldn't keep them closed. It was actually painful to do so. That meant that I could only blink normally, all while colors and symbols started flashing across the screen.

"F-Fuck this!" I hissed angrily as I tried desperately to bring my Ki out.

When I got even the barest hint of it, I was shocked. When I forced a little trickle, I was shocked. If I pushed even the smallest amount I could, I was shocked. The collar around my neck kept me complacent while the TV's work began.

"N-No! No way in hell!" I growled angrily as I tried to tear myself out of my bindings.

It didn't quite work. And since I couldn't meditate to wake up Gojira, I went with the only option I had. That being continuing to try and use my Ki, even if the shock collar killed me, just so that I could escape.

I was pushing through the pain of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of volts searing through me. But I forced my energy out and desperately tried to use it to, somehow, strengthen my body so I could escape.

I ended up breaking the chair first. Maybe I simply unhooked it, actually. The chair didn't feel like it was fastened to the ground very well. Either way, I considered that a success.

When I cut off my energy, I was shaky as hell. The chair felt almost like it weighed a ton of bricks, and walking like this was stupidly awkward. I couldn't possibly make use of this to escape.

But I could do one thing…

For the next several minutes, I started smashing the TV screen by slamming the chair into it. Eventually the image cut as cracks started forming across it until there was nothing to see on the screen. It physically hurt me a bit, actually, so I slammed the chair on the ground and took a breather in order to regain my bearings.

I only took a few minutes rest, however, because there were still some sounds playing over the speakers. I couldn't discount the fact that they'd try auditory brainwashing. So I started smashing whatever consoles and speakers were present in the room, just to cut off the damn sounds.

I did this for a few minutes until, when I smashed the main console, something started to buzz, like some sort of alarm. I fell back awkwardly, barely able to move properly as I slid the chair roughly across the ground.

"Well, that doesn't sound good…" I muttered worriedly.

Within moments, a bunch of the uniformed men charged into the room. I turned to them with a defiant smirk.

"Oh, is something wrong?" I asked them dumbly.

They simply brought out cattle prods in response. Then they slowly converged on me with malicious looks.

"Fellas, is that really necessary? I mean, I'm already like this!" I motioned to the chair I was still stuck to.

I got jabbed in the stomach and jolted in response. And for the third time that day, everything went dark…


"U-Ughhhh…"

"You are the most irritating subject I've ever dealt with!" a familiar voice echoed from an intercom.

I tilted my head in confusion as I took in my surroundings. Once again, I was in a blindingly white, padded room. This time it was much bigger, and the window was much further towards the top of the room, revealing the barest hints of a viewing room looming over me.

…Also there were fucking guns.

Two huge turrets that seemed to follow my every movement. I moved to the side a bit, they'd follow me. I leaned forward, the guns would roll their gun barrels and close in on me. I wondered if they might actually shoot at me.

I turned my head to see the creepy dude in a lab coat standing at the viewing window. Though it was difficult to see, since the glass was dark, I could tell he was glaring at me coldly.

"You are the single most stubborn individual I have ever laid eyes upon!"

"Aww, really? Thanks, I try my hardest~!" I said, while rubbing my eye with my middle finger.

"Notice! Heightened levels of hostility detected from subject!" a robotic voice echoed through the room.

"What, me? Hostile? No, no, I'm totally not hostile right now! I mean, it's not like I've been kidnapped, tortured, and nearly brainwashed!" I rolled my eyes sarcastically. "No, definitely not feeling hostile at all~!"

The creepy dude glared at me for a few moments before moving out of view. I heard him arguing with somebody, but I didn't really listen. Those guns were really revving up, which made me worried.

"-It isn't at levels which are normal for humans! It's clearly a glitch!" the guy in the lab coat growled. "Override it! No, just override it! I don't care!"

The turret guns suddenly became less intense in their movements. I didn't breathe a sigh of relief, though. I simply continued to glare at him as he came back into view.

"I consider this a personal insult, you understand? That at every turn, you're continuing to stonewall me!" the man growled angrily. "You attacked a commanding officer. You refuse to give us information. You damage our property and ruin our attempts to induct you into our ranks. You are infuriating!"

"Gee, I'd feel like being a lot more helpful if I wasn't kidnapped!" I bit back viciously. "See, that tends to put a damper on my interactions with people. Also, you know, my friends, a bunch of innocent people, and my brother! If you let us all go, I'd be a lot more cooperative~!"

"...Four of those things are not 'people'. They're freaks," the man in the lab coat said coldly while pacing back and forth. "Devils and yokai are abominations. Inhuman things that don't have a place in this world. Their existence needs to be scrubbed."

I inclined my head while letting out a nervous puff of air. "Wow~! I mean, I expected this, what with you being friends with Nazis. But even then, that's a bit wild!"

"Don't give me that! Our goal of cleansing the world of inhuman filth is the best option to elevate us all! Shocker's views may differ in how to do so, but they understand the truth of the world!"

"And you even sound like a Nazi. What next, you gonna put them all in camps?" I called up to him. "Seriously, get a new thing!"

"I don't expect you to understand! You, you're blissfully ignorant of the horrors monsters like them are capable of-"

"Shut your fucking face!" I hissed violently. "You haven't gone through half the shit I've seen! You've never known what a real monster is capable of…keep fucking pissing me off, you just might find out."

"Notice! Heightened levels of hostility detected from subject!" a robotic voice echoed while the guns raised and whirred.

"No, no, no! There are no heightened levels of hostility, damn it!" the man roared angrily while turning away. "I told you to fix that fucking bug!"

There was a small voice echoing from the room. I couldn't quite make it out, but I heard something about 'voice activation'. The man in the lab coat tilted his head before growling.

"Override code 8856! Do not shoot!"

"Override confirmed!" the voice said as the turret guns once again settled.

The man snorted derisively before turning to me with a cold gaze. "I wouldn't expect you to understand, boy! Those things need to be removed from our world! If you had just sat and let things happen as they should have, we'd be one step closer!"

"Hey, question, what do they do?" I tilted my head curiously. "Like, what do devils do? Are they evil? Are all of them mutant freaks? Do they all attack people? Seriously, I would've been more open to conversation if you'd explained all this!"

"They're inhuman things! They're vile and disgusting and filthy!"

"...Okay, but, like, what is it they do? I'm asking for specific things!" I clicked my teeth at the annoyed look on the man's face. "What, is that so much to ask? Seriously, what do normal devils do that's so bad?!"

"They're not human!" he roared. "They're biologically different from humans-they possess wings, they have the potential to grow horns a-and claws, and tails, and hooves-and who knows what else?! Their musculature is different, their bone structure is too abnormal, their mental, emotional, and physical development is staggeringly disgusting-especially in the females! They possess an internal energy that doesn't naturally occur in almost every other species, and they utilize it for trivial means!" The man in the lab coat growled as he continued pacing back and forth. "Their morals and society are vile! They believe in sexual freedom and positivity, they allow homosexuals rights and tolerance, and while their 'beliefs' on women are certainly impressive, they practice the opposite by allowing them a measure of equality! Their entire existence makes me sick!"

I felt my jaw drop as he ranted and raved violently to where his mouth even started foaming. My anger was subsiding because hearing this was actually making me uncomfortable.

"Wow…you're really messed up. Like, it totally makes sense that you guys are friends with Nazis. Also, you didn't answer my question!" I added in that last part pointedly, while setting him with a disgusted glare. "I didn't ask about their biology or their society or morals or shit. I asked what they do. So, what do they do? What do normal devils do that is so bad?!"

"Just why the hell are you asking me such stupid questions?!"

"Why the hell are you giving me stupid answers?! Come on, give me a good reason for why they're so bad!" I called up to him.

"I've given you every reason! Yet you're still too damn stubborn to understand how you should see things! It's despicable! Repulsive! APPALLING!" the man shrieked violently. "That somebody could hear the only reasons they'd ever need to understand why a species needs to be wiped out, and still not see the truth, is astounding! I can't understand how a person like you functions!"

"...Nah, bro. You-you're the crazy one here! Seriously, listen to yourself! You're creepy, and you're crazy!" I cried out when he tried to speak.

"Notice! Heightened levels of hostility detected from subject!"

I flinched as the guns whirred back to life. The man in the lab coat growled angrily before turning.

"Override code 8856! Do not shoot!"

"Override confirmed!"

The man clicked his teeth before turning back to me. "It's despicable that your perception of reality is so distorted. The way you're speaking, it just doesn't seem like there's any mundane way to fix it…" he sneered at me as a wild glint flashed in his eyes. "But you'll understand. Once we've properly educated you, you won't act so crazy. You'll be a model citizen who does as they should, and you'll be a valued member of the new age we plan to usher in!"

"And you're continuing to prove you're creepy and insane," I said flatly. "I will never work for you lunatics. I'll die before I start talking crazy like you. But I don't plan on dying yet…where is my brother? Where are the people you took-doesn't matter if they're not 'human'! If I don't get an answer-"

"You're not threatening me, boy. I mean, you're not threatening to me. You're trapped in that little room, with your little chatter from your warped mind, that you can't back up," the man in the lab coat sneered. "And you'll stay in there until we have our men pull you to the next 'reeducation chamber'. You'll be less likely to break it like you did before, and once the process finishes, you'll finally start to make some sense. You will serve our will, whether you like it or not!"

"...I will never be a slave. Let alone to somebody like you!" I hissed angrily. "And you better have a plan for when that all fails. Because you're messing with something you can't possibly stop."

"Oh? You really think you're all that? Just because of some mystical energy?"

"I'm not talking about my Ki. I'm talking about that guy," I ignored the man's confused expression as the gears turned in his head. "He'll wake up today. I'll make sure of it, even if I have to do it myself. And when that happens…you're gonna know what a real monster is. Trust me, you'll understand~!"

Before the man in the lab coat could respond, the turrets whirred to life again. There was a low alarm echoing in the room as a machine in the viewing room began beeping.

"Notice! Heightened levels of hostility detected from subject!"

"God damn it, no! Override code 8856! Do not shoot!"

"Override code not accepted!"

"W-What?! Damn it, fix that bug! Override code 9332! Do not shoot!"

"Override code not accepted! Heightened levels of hostility detected from subject!"

"Show me the levels! What is this…?" the man balked as some sort of hologram came up on the window. "This is impossible! Humans can't have these levels-Override code 7449! Do not shoot! These are glitches in the system! System shutdown, now!"

"Override code not accepted! System shutdown not authorized!" the robotic voice echoed as the guns began whirring and inching their way towards me. "Hostility levels emanating from Subject growing beyond critical! Subject deemed dangerous to facility! Neutralization will commence!"

"Neutral-what-now?" I asked worriedly.

"No! NO! DO NOT SHOOT!"

*RATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATATA-*

I fell back onto the floor, ears ringing as pain burst across my torso. I blankly palmed my hand across my front, blankly gripping at a wet feeling on my shirt. When I raised my hand up, I saw it was dripping completely in red.

"...Ah? So, that's what's going on, huh?" I choked out, blood spilling from my lips.

Then I fell back, eyes slowly rolling into my skull.

"Subject neutralization successful! Warning! Hostility levels increasing!"

"DAMN IT! Shut that OFF! Get what's left of the subject to the infirmary, have a mage come down to preserve the body! We can extract his Sacred Gear later if we play our cards right-"

I tuned the man out as my last thoughts raced through my head.

…What did I do wrong?

I…I ended up getting dragged into the whole 'main character' thing without commiting, didn't I?

How? I don't understand how this could happen. Was it because I could see yokai? If that's the case, then I was always doomed from the start. Which means nothing I'd done to prevent this kind of fate mattered.

No, that's not fair! I avoided even acknowledging that they existed until recently. So it couldn't have been that, because if I'd avoided them most of my life, then I'd staved off a lot of the death flags. So it couldn't be just because I could see the supernatural. So long as I avoided them, I should've been fine.

…Was that it? Was it because I made that switch? Started fighting them, and plotting with Tsubasa in secret to actually handle them. And then when I helped Murayama, it all spiraled out of control because I started trying to gain superpowers.

So, I basically doomed myself. But…I couldn't just not do something. That shouldn't have meant I was lined up to die like this. I've dealt with enough, though, haven't I? I can't just sacrifice my morals and leave somebody to suffer. So why do I have to die because of it?

…Was I too perverted? I only did that because I knew it was the surefire way to keep myself from dying. The perverted comic relief character never ends up dying, especially not right away. I should have been safe!

Or…or maybe I wasn't perverted enough? Maybe I should've just peeked once or twice, just to get it out of my system. I mean, it's not that I didn't want to either-not because I'd feel scummy about seeing naked girls. I'd actually be perfectly fine with that. No, I'd feel bad because I was doing it to literally keep myself from dying.

Sure, I'd be the perverted comic relief character who peeks, but I'd essentially be using other people to stave off my death. Even letting, say, Murayama and Katase, kick my ass for doing it, that would still be part of using them. That actually felt more scummy to me than peeking to get my rocks off, honestly.

But if I'd just bitten the bullet, maybe…maybe?

…Well, maybe I wouldn't be dying. But, when you're dying, and your thoughts are going by a mile a minute, there are a lot of maybes. And they don't really help you when all that thinking slows to a crawl.

And then the end hits you like a wayward bus.


And so there it is. You're all finally caught up. Right up to my second death.

…You know, thinking about it now, actually, maybe it was a bit pathetic, but to be fair, that still isn't my fault.

What would you do in that situation? I was trapped in a cold, blindingly white cage, being talked down to by an actual fucking lunatic who believed the bullshit he was spewing. All the while, I was treated as less than a person. I was called 'subject', told I'll be 'reeducated', that I'd serve their 'will', whether I 'like it or not'.

Tell me that isn't the creepiest thing you've ever heard. Anybody would be freaked out by that situation on its own. But it was a lot worse when you had literal guns pointed at you. I think, deep down, I knew something was gonna go wrong in that situation. But I didn't think I'd…y'know, die.

And now I'm trapped in my empty 'soulscape' or something, waiting to pass on. With the way they were talking, my body is probably only slightly better than trash to them.

Here I am, in my second and probably last life. The last embers of my consciousness, of my sense of self, are slowly fading.

I'm dying…and I'm dying alone.

*Fwoooooooooooooosh*

"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr."

…Well, not completely alone.

"So now you wake up," I whispered.

I shuddered as Gojira's face slowly emerged from the dark. His saurian head slowly emerged, a curious look on it as his jaws twitched. I saw teeth flash as his lips parted slightly, a cautious snarl flashing across his expression.

His ursine nostrils flared, and hit cat-like ears flicked as he regarded me. There was a flash as his spiky, metallic scales shimmered. I could see his eyes glowing in the dark, before they were wildly looking around in confusion before snapping to me with a worryingly restrained glare.

Further back, I heard the whooshing of water as his gills flared out. There was a loud, deep scraping as something, or several somethings, tore into the ground nearby.

I was a bit worried about this. See, in my old world, people had gotten footage of this exact situation. Gojira would loom over a single human, glaring at them and snarling. There'd be no reason for it. He'd just focus on that one person.

And no matter what they did, whether they groveled or froze in fear, whether they dropped to the ground to play dead or started crying, he'd…he'd end it. Most of the time, he'd slam a single claw down, assuredly killing them by crushing them or by letting them fall with the rubble of the building they stood on. Other times he'd turn and just swing his tail into them, likely pulping them on impact. And infrequently, if he seemed to care enough to spend the energy, he'd charge a blast of atomic power and…well…

But about a decade or so after his attacks started again in the 80s, somebody once came forward with a story. Said they were in this kind of situation, one where everybody else who'd ever been caught up in it died in the worst ways possible. And that person said that the opposite happened.

They claimed Gojira was just looming over them, staring at them. Judging them like a god presiding over your final fate. A mountain looming over an ant, ready to crush them. And instead of doing that, he just walked away.

Now, from the internet, the first response was, of course, 'fake and gay'. Not unexpected, really. Even when they mentioned specific details about his face-specific scars, oddly colored scales, a break in one of his teeth, it was too good to be believed. So nobody was willing to give them the time of day, save for tabloids and sensationalist talk show hosts who just wanted to hear an 'idiot' talk.

…Then, in the 2010s, somebody got footage of that very thing happening to them. They showed him just standing over them, glaring, but not acting. And then he turned and just walked away, leaving to do whatever else he wished.

Like I said, people knew the first guy wasn't bullshitting after that, because they mentioned specific features. Features that the footage highlighted in high detail for the first time. Scars, odd patches of skin, a broken tooth, all that. And just having that footage gave researchers more insight into Gojira than ever before.

I was in that situation now. Gojira, the one inside me, was staring me down. But he wasn't killing me, and I doubted it would matter. But, with him awake, with the light better even in this dark space, I finally had a good look at him.

His chin had a massive spike jutting down from the tip. The teeth on his lower jaw jutted out a bit more, and it almost looked like he had a bit of an underbite. I think I saw extra rows of teeth behind his normal set. His brow ridges looked more dinosaur-like, and I think some of the spines trailing from his head connected to them.

There were all these little things that I focused on that I couldn't believe I'd missed the first time. In my last life, I'd spend most of my teenage and college years obsessing over him, yet here I'd done everything to ignore him. The old me who'd spend entire nights pouring over every video of him would've been affronted.

Right now, I was living what might as well have been a nightmare in both my lives. Gojira, glaring at me. Silently judging me like the terrible god that he was, ready to enact my final fate.

His eyes were flashing two, maybe three different colors. They were shifting between brilliant orange, theropod-like eyes that glowed furiously in the dark, then to a flashing, star-like blue with slit pupils. Intermittently, they'd shift between glowing green, and maybe bloodshot white, but they never stayed those last two colors for long.

The entire time I sat there, I wondered what he was doing. Why was he just sitting there, glaring at me? Waiting for…for what?

Then I realized he was waiting for something from me. For me to do…anything at all.

"...I still…remember you," I said tiredly, fighting back the urge to flinch when Gojira's eyes narrowed. "In…in my last life, I lived it terrified and obsessed with your very existence. I wanted…I wanted answers. Why? Why did it have to happen? Why did I have to watch as the home I knew burned and suffered? What did we do that could ever have justified that?!"

The Kaiju King just inclined his head slightly, his nose flaring as he regarded me curiously. I felt my hands balling into fists as I licked my lips anxiously.

"As I got older, I fell into such a deep obsession over you that…that I couldn't ever connect to people. I'd lost so much, and I just wanted to know what it was all for. I wanted to understand just what you were, just why you haunted us as you did," I said in an almost sobbing voice. "But because I was so stuck on the past, on my fear and my need to have an answer…that I lost the ability to be human. I couldn't even talk to people without thinking about you. Every moment of my life, every happy achievement, was spent in fear that you'd show up to take it away again…"

Gojira's head rose slightly as he leaned forward. I gave him a wilted look as his eyes scanned me. Although I'd raised my voice, he hadn't reacted outwardly.

"And then…I died. I…I never even got to know if it was all worth it. Every long night spent on research, every paper, every thesis…and it was all for nothing. A waste of a life that I never even got to enjoy…" I trailed off while turning to him with a solemn gaze. "So, when those guys told me I had a second chance, a new life in another world…I didn't know how to feel. I felt…I felt like I might actually be free. I don't know how I can describe that, just that…that I'd be free."

The Kaiju tilted his head curiously, almost enraptured. I didn't know whether he could actually understand me, but I didn't discount it. I sat up a little straighter and looked him in the eye, my sad gaze meeting his flat glare.

"The only condition was…that they'd seal something big inside me. Something that was so terrible, it would threaten not just one world, but all of them." I took a deep, hitching breath as I struggled to meet the monster's gaze. "And…I didn't have a choice. N-No out, no negotiating to get an alternative. It was Jinchūriki or bust for them, and 'no' wasn't an option…"

I flinched slightly as Gojira's breath washed over me. His expression wasn't quite angry, but it wasn't happy either. There was a look in his color-shifting eyes that told me that, while he could understand me, he had no actual idea what I was going on about.

"I figured that…that whatever it was, I could handle it. That, no matter what creature they'd shoved in my soul, I wouldn't need to worry. That so long as it never woke up, I wouldn't even need to bother with it," I shrugged while shaking my head, though tears were streaming down my face. "I mean, once I'd gotten to the other world, I thought 'that'll be it'. Once I was there, I was free. No more fear, no more obsession, no more wracking my head over an answer I know I'll either never get, never understand, or never be able to handle. I could maybe, just maybe, have a full life…"

The King of the Monsters regarded me, his blank stare shifting slightly as he stretched his massive neck. Those eyes narrowed again, this time in both curiosity and annoyance, as I turned to gaze at him with a defeated look.

"It was you. It was always you. And…it was always gonna be you," I said tiredly while looking at the Kaiju. "I thought I'd only have to see you in nightmares, nightmares which I hoped and prayed would grow distant and far away until they were nothing but a ghost of a bad dream. But…it was you they put inside my soul…"

Gojira's eyes widened, and his head reared back slightly. There was a low growl passing from his saurian lips as he gazed at me in what looked like something between shock, disgust, and a bit of rage. Despite that, he didn't attack. His eyes narrowed at me viciously, but I felt so cold that I couldn't bother to be afraid anymore.

"Thanks to them, I'm back to square one. No matter where I go, no matter what I try to do…I can't escape you. I can't ever just be free…and those guys who put you here, they never wanted that anyway," I huffed tiredly while choking back a sob. "You're always going to haunt me, regardless of the life I live. And I can't ever put that behind me. I still…remember you…"

Gojira's lips pulled back into a vicious sneer. I simply hung my head in dejection, not even bothering to fight what was to come. For the next several moments, as I slowly grew colder, I waited as the most terrible monster to exist growled lowly, shaking the air with his rage.

And then he stopped. I waited for a few more moments before tentatively looking up. He was still glaring at me, his eyes flashing between colors. But there was an almost contemplative look on his saurian face.

It was like he was waiting again. Waiting for whatever I'd do next.

"...I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that, once I'm dead, you probably have a way out. And that means you'll show up…out there," I looked up to the 'sky' in this dark space we were sharing, before turning my attention back to him. "The people that killed me…they took my brother hostage, too. They kidnapped a child, and they've killed other people. I…I'm scared that my brother…"

I fought back a choked sob before slamming my palm against the 'ground' beneath me. My eyes screwed shut, and I let out a pained and desperate whine as the memories flashed through me. When I looked up, Gojira was giving me a strange look.

"Once you get out of here…please, just end them. The people that killed me, who might've already killed my brother or worse, and who are doing terrible things-please, go ahead and destroy them!" I gave the Kaiju a fierce nod before closing my eyes. "I know it's a lot to ask, seeing as you must hate me. B-But those people…they're mad. They're insane, they're practically animals. And what they plan on doing, it can't be allowed to come to fruition. Regardless of whether I pass on, everybody that I cared about, everybody I wanted to protect, that…that I failed, should be avenged. Should have some peace."

I leaned back tiredly as my body started to feel like it was freezing over. I registered Gojira's breath washing over me again, but it did little to make me react.

"That's all I could think of as a last request. I'm…I'm already dead, so there's nothing else I can do. Not like I can come back to life…"

The ground beneath me shook slightly. My eyes slowly opened as I saw Gojira lean close to me. His eyes flashed a brilliant, starry blue as he pinned me down with his glare.

Then I felt it. A presence spearing through my mind. I wondered if it should be painful, since I felt the kind of discomfort that told me it was-but I was already dead, so maybe pain meant nothing. What I knew was that the presence was pressing into my mind, forcing its way into me.

All to show me a single vision.

It was Gojira-not my Gojira, and not the one inside me. Another Gojira, with blue-green, bark-like skin and leaf-shaped spines. He must've been as big as a mountain, and the very planet seemed to shudder beneath his every step. But he moved almost tenderly, an almost sweet look flashing across its massive face.

I saw why soon enough.

It was much smaller, barely rising above the taller one's foot. But he looked almost exactly alike to the larger Gojira, with very few differences. He was toddling along, looking around curiously and eyeing the world around him in wonder.

The vision changed, this time to me and Issei. It was from when we were younger. One of those days where I'd convinced him to not peek at girls that day. Instead, we went and bought ice cream. We were sitting at a park and talking about training, school, and about our next visit to Jiichan.

The vision ended, my view swallowed by Gojira's looming visage. His presence still shifted in the back of my head. I felt rage, confusion, regret, and annoyance as he stared down at me. The expression he gave me seemed like he was disgusted. His eyes flickered between fiery orange and glowing green before settling back to starry blue.

Then he started to rise to his feet.

Behind him, a terrible blue light flashed, illuminating the entire space around us. And I suddenly felt my body warming back up, even slowly, causing me to shudder in awe.

My eyes widened and my jaw dropped as I took in Gojira's full form. He really wasn't anything like my old world's Gojira.

His rib cage seemed to protrude from his chest and form an 'ax' shape with its sternum-except it wasn't simply his 'ribs' or chest bones. I could see that it was actually armored plating fitted over his chest, made of thick osteoderms and scutes that created the illusion of exposed ribs. The thick skin around the armor-specifically in between the 'ribs'-glowed with abright energy that helped to illuminate the surrounding space.

His stomach was covered in scales and heavy muscle, with many dark osteoderms lining its center. Gojira's torso flexed as he moved, making a sound like boulders crashing and rubbing coarsely against one another.

Past his neck and curling towards his chest were massive arms taut with thickly corded muscle. Spikes jutted from his elbows, and his forearms terminated into massive, webbed hands tipped with wickedly curved, monstrous claws. As he rose to his full height, he flexed his limbs all the way down to his five fingers, causing small gusts of wind to buffet the ground as his claws slashed at the air.

When he finally stood to his fullest, I could barely see past his legs despite his hunched posture. They were thicker than any tree-trunk from any tree that could have ever existed-thicker than the thickest pillars and only outdone by the largest buildings. The massive limbs were covered in warty scales and bony plating, with overlapping plates of scales trailing towards the knees and completely covering them.

The limbs ended in monstrous feet with outspread, clawed toes with little webbing. The big toes had the largest claws, and they also curled parallel towards each other, creating an almost saurian look to them. Gojira flexed them slightly as he stood, causing the ground beneath me to quake.

Swaying behind him was a monstrous, crocodilian tail, twice as long as he was tall. Right towards the end, bony spines emerged from back and sides, like the spinous processes were jutting out and had been worked into wickedly sharp, saurian blades. The spikes quickly terminated into a single, bone-like spike at the tip of the tail that glowed with brilliant energy, to where it looked like light was trailing around as the extra limb swayed.

The tail suddenly snapped at the air like a whip, leaving a blinding light behind for several long moments. Then, the massive appendage slowly settled to the ground and began flicking, not unlike an annoyed cat's.

Trailing down his spine, from the back of his head and towards the end of his tail, were three rows of immense, jagged maple-leaf shaped spines. They looked like they were made of some strange cross between crystal, thorns, bone, or keratin. The largest two spines closest to his shoulders curved forward a little. Beside them, just above its shoulders, were a pair of smaller spines that had less serrations and curved forward like jagged scythes.

Smaller maple-leaf shaped spines jutted out from the sides of the large rows, just rising in between each spine from the Kaiju's flanks. The largest of these extra spines had veins in them, like actual leaves-or as though blood was pumping into them. For a split second, all the spines suddenly flashed with terrible, bluish-white light.

I felt my muscles tense as the creature slowly leaned towards me, its bloodshot eyes pinning me in place. Gojira's jaws twitched as it tilted its head, a curious expression spreading across its saurian face. Those eyes flashed back to starry blue again as he narrowed them at me.

For a split second, he stared at me, eyeing me for several more moments. Then he nodded, a curt motion that was done in a way that almost made me think he was hesitating. I didn't have time to ponder that, because his eyes suddenly came to life with brilliant light, like two blazing infernos. Brilliant blue and white energy flashed and surged across his hide, the excess wafting away like steam.

Then he opened his jaws and breathed in deeply. I felt my bones shudder as heat filled my body. The Kaiju king reared back as he sucked in air…

Then, The Roaring God lived up to his name.

*SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-OOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNKKKKKKKKKKKgggggg~!*

I felt the heat burning me from the inside. Then I began to scream.


Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.


So, yeah, Shocker is here. As in, from Kamen Rider. They're here. And they're allied to the guys that kidnapped Isashi and the others. Keep in mind, they're not the actual guys who did it, just allies, and I need to be specific here. Isashi isn't gonna regularly encounter Shocker that much after this arc, but he knows they exist, and he'll end up having to deal with them intermittently. But actually facing them consistently is something that's up to Kamen Rider himself...just wait until you see who he'll be.

Godzilla's roar is meant to sound like a mix between Heisei's pre-92 roar and Legendary's. It's also got a bit of OG/Showa's, with maybe some of Shin's, mixed in, as well as MO's mega loud roars, and sometimes he'll belt out a Millennium/Earth roar. All his other sounds are mainly a mix between Legendary's, Millennium's/'98 Junior's, and MO-Godzillasaurus.

Godzilla's appearance is a big mix of, well, all of them. He's got a thagomizer like evolved MV Godzilla, he's got normal spines as well as '98 Junior's shoulder spikes, Shin's ax-shaped ribcage, MO's elbow spikes, and a bunch of other things. He's meant to be a mix between all of them, so some features just blend together instead of standing out. If I ever get the chance, I'll draw it and post it on Deviantart or something.

Also a bunch of the other people got kidnapped. I'll probably show some POV changes in a few chapters to show how things went down. But for now I'm focusing on Isashi and Godzilla for the next few chapters. Don't worry about Isashi, he's not dead, you'll see in a few chapters.

Anyway, onto the reviews.

Nexusplayer: Some of these are smooth. I'll have to test them on some Vtubers when I get the chance. Mind you, all of the pickup lines I borrow are stress-tested with Vtubers, either by myself or I steal them from somebody else. So I'll need to check if they're good.

Azure Dragon of the East: You'd be correct~!

Feldragon: Yeah, they're about to be destroyed. Goji's going 'whoaboyImbouttamakeanameformyself~!'.

Saurian96: Oh, they were prepared for the devils and yokai. They just weren't prepared for what Goji's cooking up.

For anybody whose interested, you can check out my P a treon. Unfortunately, FF. Net doesn't do the links well, so you'll have to close the spaces below/rewrite it slightly on your browser.

P a treon. com(slash) Locksoli

As always, please leave any thoughts, questions, and constructive criticism in your reviews. And thank you for reading.