Kaiju No.8: Devour and Evolve

"Senior, don't panic," Drake Myers said calmly.

"Once you leave the hospital, just live like an ordinary person until the Defense Force begins its second round of recruitment.

"During this time, don't stand out. Yokohama's safety is the responsibility of the Third Defense Division, not yours.

"You're just a regular person now. And make sure to control your transformations better—your kaiju presence is far too obvious."

The Challenge of Blending In

Before, when Kafka worked at the cleaning company, his transformation into Kaiju No. 8 went unnoticed by the Defense Force.

But his association with Drake had drawn attention, making him a key surveillance target.

Fortunately, the time gap between events had allowed Drake to clear his name.

Though he was still under surveillance, the intensity had decreased significantly.

Humanity's Limited Understanding

The people of Kaiju No. 8 lacked deep understanding of kaiju.

They relied on scientific methods, turning kaiju remains into specialized weapons and utilizing some of their abilities.

However, these weapons were rudimentary at best.

A Bond of Trust

"I never imagined you'd endure so much, Senior," Reno said, his heart aching for Kafka.

Being too strong could be as much a curse as a blessing, especially in a world as uncertain as theirs.

Drake, observing the sincerity in both men, softened his tone. "For your safety, it's better if you both keep your distance from me.

"But if there's ever trouble you can't handle, call me," he said, holding up his phone with a smirk.

A Long Night

After their heartfelt conversation, Kafka and Reno felt closer to Drake.

Trust, a rare commodity in their world, now bound them together as comrades.

The next morning, the two left the hospital with dark circles under their eyes.

They had spent the night digesting the sheer volume of information they'd received.

Despite the lack of sleep, they still had to report to their cleaning company jobs.

Third Defense Division's Observations

The Third Defense Division's surveillance team had relaxed their monitoring of Drake.

Having confirmed he was human, they trusted him more.

Drake's record of fighting kaiju and assisting the Defense Force earned him their respect.

Even Isao Shinomiya, after reviewing footage from the hospital, nodded approvingly.

"This kid seems to know his place," Isao mused.

For now, Drake's power—equivalent to a Level 3–4 kaiju—wasn't a major concern.

But Isao couldn't help but wonder what would happen once Drake donned a battle suit.

A World in Chaos

Meanwhile, investigators Amon Kotaro and Mado Wu Xu were hard at work tracking ghouls in Yokohama.

Their efficiency was impressive, uncovering several ghoul hideouts within days.

In this world of constant kaiju attacks, the ghouls' attempts to stay hidden often backfired.

Some scavenged scraps left by kaiju, while others sought to create even greater chaos.

Unlike kaiju, ghouls were small and cunning, and their numbers continued to dwindle under CCG's watch.

Parasites fared slightly better, blending in with humans and avoiding major crackdowns.

Time Flies

As the days passed, the world carried on amid its chaos.

Before long, only 30 days remained until the Defense Force's recruitment deadline.

Drake's Discharge

Drake was finally discharged from the hospital, escorted by members of the Third Defense Division.

Among them were two familiar faces:

Muraoka Yutaka: A shy young man in his twenties who greatly admired Vice-Captain Soshiro Hoshina but now looked up to Drake for his swordsmanship.

Ino Ara: A middle-aged, stoic man with a square face and little presence, like a background character in a movie.

The Art of Swordsmanship

On the way to his temporary residence, Muraoka eagerly asked for tips on swordsmanship.

"Swordsmanship is a killing art," Drake said with a grin.

"No, scratch that—it's a monster-slaying art.

"To master it? Be fast, precise, and ruthless.

"Train hard, and one day, you'll understand."

Muraoka nodded eagerly, though he seemed slightly confused.

Ino, however, remained unimpressed.

The Modern Reality

Ino couldn't help but think to himself: *Swordsmanship? That's outdated.

"Sure, Vice-Captain Hoshina is skilled, but even he relies on the Captain's heavy artillery to finish off kaiju."*

Drake, unaware of Ino's thoughts, had his own concerns.

His previous home had been destroyed in a kaiju attack, leaving him effectively homeless.

For now, he planned to stay with the cleaning company—but only temporarily.

His ultimate goal? To establish his own faction.

A Race Against Time

With only a month left, Drake couldn't afford to waste time.

Would 30 days be enough?