Gen Narumi

August 14, 06:21 AM.

The skies over Kanagawa opened as a kaiju emerged from the sea. It was so massive that satellites lost track of it. Its presence altered the environment: rivers changed course, clouds froze, and gravity failed in localized pulses. It wasn't Fortitude 10. It was something beyond comprehension.

Kafka Hibino, transformed into Kaiju No. 8, was deployed and defeated in less than four minutes. Divisions Four, Six, and even part of Eight fell like paper. Entire cities collapsed.

Even Gen Narumi, leader of the First Division, felt something he hadn't felt in years: fear. He fired three shots at the beast's skull and chest. It barely flinched. Its core was protected by a shell of unknown energy, an anti-living energy field.

From the command center, General Isao Shinomiya listened to the reports. "We have no countermeasures for this," an employee muttered.
"Sir... this is extinction class. The protocol requires..." another one began.

Isao didn't let them finish. He entered the code himself:
[Override: BLACK PROTOCOL - ACCESS TO DIVISION ZERO]
[Confirmed. D-ZERO Vault - Status: UNLOCKED]

"Send Narumi," he ordered. "He's the only one Van might still listen to. "

The vault was fifty stories below the former headquarters of the Tokyo Neutralization Bureau. No guards, no windows. Just reinforced steel, sealed doors, and a thick silence that no normal man could bear.

Narumi advanced down the empty corridor, his hand on his sword. His arrogant smile was gone.

When the last door opened, he saw him. Van, sitting cross-legged in the center of the containment chamber. Motionless as death. His inactive suit vibrated with barely contained kaiju energy. He hadn't aged.

Narumi took a step forward. The air grew thicker.
—…So— I murmured— . Are you still pretending to meditate?