Chapter 5
Flying Turtles Over Fuji
September 1st, 2004.
9:05 P.M.
The peak of Mount Fuji, one of Japan's most exotic landmarks. Even as smoke rose from the crater, the volcanic mountain had not erupted in some time, and scientific reports had indicated the area was safe for tourism at the moment. Now and then, lava would bubble within Mount Fuji's crater, and the ground surrounding the mountain's slope began to rumble.
A couple high-school teens from Osaka walked near the mountaintop, observing the scenery, and the smoke rising into the sky. They made sure they stayed away from the edge, knowing that the bottom of the crater was dangerous.
Caution was practiced among every visitor. Even though the danger level of a volcanic eruption was minimal, and the tourists were staying away from the crater, the mountain slopes were notoriously slippery. Dry volcanic dust often rolled down the hill, and ash often littered the ground.
"Look at that flower." 16-year-old Ikatun pointed to a lily that was flourishing nearby.
"Too bad it'll be burned when the lava rolls forth again." 15-year-old Huja quipped.
"Does anybody know when Fuji last erupted?" 17-year-old Kentakio asked curiously.
The high school students chattered quietly amongst themselves, while their tour guide, Mr. Trakada Unazagi, explained Fuji's lengthy history to the group. The air smelled fresh and warm, even in the early hours of the evening, despite the occasional trace of ash rising from the crater with the smoke.
Fuji rumbled again, and a pair of students braced themselves while keeping an eye on the ground for slipperiness. Just then, a shrill whirr cut through the air, and resonated around Fuji. The tour group stopped, and scratched their ears, wondering what the noise was.
"The UFO of Mount Fuji." 14-year-old Riasogo suddenly commented.
A large object streaked across the sky over Fuji like a comet, projecting a fiery glow that surrounded it, and the tourists watched as what looked like an alien spaceship flew over their position. The UFO swooped down a little, and flew back upward when it neared the tourists.
"It's Gamera." Huja said, recognizing the large flying mass.
"Gamera?" The tour guide and a pair of school teens inquired.
Gamera, in his flying form, flew over the group once more, and began descending towards the crater. In moments, the students and their guide backed away, watching as the titanic turtle passed the edge of Fuji and entered the crater of the volcano.
A howl shook the mountain, and lava briefly rose into the air as Gamera reached the bottom with a thump. Moments later, Gamera's cry resonated through Mount Fuji again, and the tour group began to clear out. The ground rumbled, and another roar carried its way out of the crater.
Within the depths of the volcano, the ancient Atlantean behemoth allowed the fiery lava to seep into his body as his strength rejuvenated. He felt himself healing, even as scars grew where Godzilla had attacked him.
He opened his mouth, and began to absorb the fires into his mouth. Gamera stood on his two feet, even as the lava around him steamed and boiled. The turtle's eyes gleamed, and his throat rumbled with a growl. Gamera thought of how stronger Godzilla had become in the last couple years, and he recalled their latest battle.
It was near-unbelievable that Godzilla had taken on more radioactivity, and he was at his peak in nuclear power. And yet, all of that radiation was bound to destroy the behemoth, and very soon. Soon, the titanic dinosaur would explode like a nuclear bomb.
Within this moment of solitude, Gamera began to wonder, could he actually defeat Godzilla despite his strength?