Kaiju No.8: Devour and Evolve

Drake's direct question left Kafka stunned.

Was it that obvious?

Looking at the young man who had fought kaiju and been injured in the process, Kafka bit his lip before finally mustering the courage to admit:

"Yes, the friend I mentioned is me!

Drake, do you understand the pain of helplessness? The frustration of watching tragedies unfold, powerless to stop them?

I've worked so hard, year after year, but what have I achieved? Nothing!

This year is my last chance. If I can't join the Defense Force, if I can't protect my home or chase my dreams, then what's left? I'll just be another average man, doomed to die in some kaiju attack.

That's not the life I want!

If I must, I'll take the power—even as a kaiju—to protect what matters!"

Kafka's Burden

Kafka's voice trembled with emotion, tears streaming down his face.

The weight of years of disappointment and despair was finally surfacing. To Kafka, gaining power, even if it meant becoming a kaiju, was a price worth paying.

Reno, standing silently nearby, was visibly shaken.

Most people had their youthful dreams—dreams of adventure, heroism, or happiness.

Yet, life's relentless pressures crushed those dreams under the weight of responsibility, duty, and survival.

For adults, what remained was heartbreak and exhaustion.

Drake's Support

Drake, a former corporate drone himself, understood Kafka's struggle all too well.

"Senior, who says only those in the light can be heroes?

There's light in the darkness, too.

If you've turned into a kaiju but still fight to protect others, you'll always be my ally," Drake said, standing up and punching Kafka lightly on the shoulder.

Between men, words weren't always necessary.

"Phew, thank goodness!" Reno sighed in relief, wiping the sweat from his brow.

For a moment, he had feared Drake and Kafka might come to blows.

After all, Kafka was a 9.8-level kaiju, but his personality often kept him from utilizing his full strength.

Building Trust

"Thank you, Drake. Let's join the Defense Force together. We'll have each other's backs!" Kafka said, smiling as he scratched his head in relief.

Drake, however, merely smirked.

"Senior, Reno—you're both far too naive," he said, and began recounting his recent experiences.

A Grim Reality

Forty minutes later, Kafka and Reno sat frozen in disbelief, their faces pale with shock.

"So you're saying... this place is being watched right now?" Reno whispered, sneaking over to the window and cautiously pulling back the curtain.

Outside, the neon lights of Yokohama glimmered against the dark night, with faint lights visible in distant high-rise apartments.

Drake chuckled. "Why, are you afraid you haven't exposed yourself enough already?"

The Unseen Watchers

Kafka closed his eyes and concentrated, sensing the faint hum of drones in the vicinity. He even caught snippets of Defense Force communications.

His kaiju-enhanced senses confirmed it—this area was under constant surveillance.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to," Kafka muttered, opening his eyes with a resigned look.

Had his dream of joining the Defense Force already ended before it even began?

He had wanted to stand alongside Mina, to fight by her side. Now, that seemed like a distant fantasy.

Drake's Calm Assurance

"Heh, you two really can't stay calm, can you?" Drake teased.

"Senior, remember this—you owe me a favor. When I need your help, don't forget it."

Kafka blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

Reno, equally puzzled, demanded an explanation.

"What's going on, Drake? Tell us everything!"

The Truth of the Barrier

Drake smirked. "Relax. This room is shielded by a barrier.

"My injuries have already healed, but to stay safe, I'll keep up appearances and lie low for a couple of weeks."

Kafka and Reno were stunned into silence.

Each word made sense, but together, it sounded like something out of a fantasy novel.

"A barrier? That actually exists?" Reno asked, dumbfounded.

Drake shrugged. "Survival comes first.

"Showing off too much strength isn't always wise.

"But I'm human, so I'm not afraid of any tests.

"You, Senior, are different.

"Outwardly, you still look human, but your heart has been replaced by a kaiju core.

"If that gets discovered…"

Drake didn't finish his sentence. He didn't need to.

The Weight of Exposure

Kafka paled, the gravity of Drake's words sinking in.

If his secret was revealed, Kikoru and the Defense Force wouldn't hesitate to hunt him down as Kaiju No. 8.

"What should I do?" Kafka asked, panic creeping into his voice.