Earthquakes are quite common in Japan, but it seemed like they were becoming more and more frequent. Furthermore, Mt. Fuji was growing active, which naturally had people concerned. A relatively small eruption had even attracted the likes of Gamera, who seemed quite content to feed on the heat and fire as the lava rolled down the slopes. The locals were rather thankful he was able to hinder the blazes before any of them could get out of hand below, but not everyone was so sure it was an act of benevolence; it may have simply been an act of an animal sating its appetite. Young Eiichi, however, was thrilled to see Gamera with his own eyes, and so near to his home even.
After that, it seemed like the earthquakes had subsided.
But then a strange, new phenomenon began occurring at Mt. Fuji. An odd, yellowish glow would rise every night. It couldn't have been another eruption; no seismic activity. And it certainly wasn't another Barugon emitting its rainbow beam. After a week, tensions rose once again when a plane passed over the area at dusk; along with a shrill, ringing sound, a thin beam shot into the air and sliced the craft in two. Despite the mangled wreckage, cleanup crews were baffled to find that there were parts - and some human remains - that were...cut too cleanly to be from the blunt forces of crashing. Until something could be concluded, all air traffic was to avoid the area, and the area was under surveillance.
A highway construction crew near the area had been dealing with their own turmoil, butting heads with the local farm community. Negotiations were in order with the village elder, but he kept trying to find every which way to hold out for as much money as possible for his fellow villagers, even if it meant encouraging the farmers barring construction or outright stealing equipment to delay them. If it meant selling their land would make them a fortune, the men were eager to hear the old man's ideas. Though these strange happenings were not making things easy.
Eiichi did find adults confusing, though. Being the only 6-year-old kid in the village, he would much rather go to the creek and look for turtles (the boy grew quite enamored with turtles since seeing Gamera). But the creek had dried up since the strange light appeared, and he was determined to find out what happened. He sneaked out early that morning, before sunrise, and began to wander his way up the creek. Maybe a rock upstream had shifted from the tremors and simply needed to be moved.
He didn't make it far when he felt the ground begin to rumble...and then a high-pitched sound rang out. He began to run back towards home when out of the base of Mt. Fuji erupted not lava, but a giant, shadowy form. It was a strange bat-like...maybe bird-like creature. One would expect such a giant figure to make a lot of noise; it was eerily quiet as it scanned its surroundings from its den.
It was hunting.
Eiichi was petrified. He wanted to run, but he didn't want the monster to notice him. The creature's arrow-shaped head turned toward the nearby city of Nagoya. Its glowing eyes stared with hunger. The uneasy silence was SHATTERED with a loud, piercing shriek, and the monster fully emerged from its den, like a vampire rising from a coffin. It spread its wings and took to the air, heading toward the city. It circled above, blending in with the night sky.
Everyone below was already shaken by the monster's initial screech. Without warning, the shadowy monster descended. It tore at the buildings, not unlike a woodpecker jabbing at tree bark scrounging for bugs. It also seemed to show resentment for the lamps illuminating the roads and walkways, swiping at them to snuff them out. A nearby railway bridge was the path of a commuter train. The monster, anticipating its approach, leaped and used its talons to pounce on it, like a falcon catching a snake. Its sharp beak then tore away at the metallic serpent, greedily snapping for its terrorized passengers.
After it finished with the train, it let out another screech as it dove its head toward fleeing pedestrians. That awful screech was disorienting. More than the sound of it being loud, it was fear-inducing. This was more than a game of hunter and hunted. It was like the monster was actively trying to traumatize its prey.
Suddenly, a large explosion near the monster's side caused it to back away. Then another. Fire seemed to be raining from the sky. Some would have thought maybe Mt. Fuji was erupting again, but no. Eiichi knew what it was. Rather...WHO.
The unmistakable shape and jet-like WHOOSH indicated it was Gamera, descending upon the monster! He ducked into his shell and slammed into the monster, knocking it back. As the shadowy creature regained its footing, Gamera made his landing. As massive as Gamera was, the other monster was rather daunting, with its wings spread out and head held high. There came that awful, hateful screech again. As if to answer the challenge, Gamera let out his own voice. Now that roar was loud in its own right, but to Eiichi, it sounded far more reassuring and hopeful.
Gamera let loose another fireball. The creature was swift, easily dodging it. Gamera then shot a few more fireballs in rapid fire, but a sickly cloud billowed from the monster's body. It was dousing them before they could even reach it! With another of its awful screeches (which almost sounded like mocking laughter to Eiichi) then came another sound - the high-pitched ringing. The monster had shot a thin, yellow beam from its mouth. Gamera quickly turned to have his carapace take the hit. While sparking, it bounced off and did no harm. A second beam, however, caused Gamera to shriek and falter. A large laceration on Gamera's leg dripped with his green blood.
The winged monster lunged forth, pushing Gamera back and throwing him to the ground. Then with another shrill ringing, Gamera let out another cry in pain as the winged creature's beam sliced across his arm. The creature's foot came crashing down on Gamera's head. The monster began to charge its beam again...but then it stopped and looked up, towards the east. The sun was beginning to rise, and the top of the creature's arrow-shaped crest began to glow red.
Suddenly, it let out a yelp. Gamera managed to snare the creature's foot with his powerful jaws. As is the nature of a turtle, he was not keen to let go. The beast tried to take to the air, but Gamera was too heavy to lift. It tried to claw at him with its free foot, but Gamera grabbed that with his hand. It then let loose its slicing beam, striking Gamera a few times in the head and hand. While Gamera's hand loosened, he STILL refused to open his mouth and let this thing escape.
The sun itself now crept above the horizon, and the monster was now screeching in sheer panic. In a final, desperate unleashing of its beam, it pointed at its own leg...
With a clean slice, the monster was free, taking to the air. It headed towards where it had emerged from near the base of Mt. Fuji, and disappeared underground. Gamera, his own green blood and his foe's purple blood streaked across his face, angrily snarled with its foot still in his mouth. After a few huffs, he tossed the severed limb away, where it hit the ground with a lifeless splat. With an exhausted look, Gamera pulled himself into his shell, ignited his rockets and spun into the air, heading to sea to recuperate.
Later that day, the field team sent to investigate the happenings around Mt. Fuji arrived to the village, eager to question any witnesses. Eiichi was the most eager to recount what he saw to both scientists and press, since he could actually talk about Gamera with people just as happy to listen. One would think he was spinning quite the tall tale, but Gamera, Barugon, and now this monster...even men of cold, hard reason were listening with undivided attention. He insisted the new monster be called "Gyaos", because, as he put it, that's what its hateful screech sounded like.
Something else from the boy's story that fascinated the scientists as well was the severed foot. They had retrieved the foot and brought it into a lab for observation. Though Eiichi was insistent that it was far bigger than it actually was. The scientists were intrigued that Gyaos's head glowed red and that it seemed desperate to hide when the sun came up, so maybe there was a connection.
Eiichi's grandfather was not so sure he wanted to dive any further into this. He and his community would be coming into a lot of money, he pompously gloated, and he didn't want any of this to hinder the transaction. The scientists weren't sure they could make a promise, but the old man told them to stay out, and that they'd best stick to their own devices.
Meanwhile, Gyaos hunkered down in its lair. Normally, the creature would have taken time to sleep. Instead, it spent all day and night picking at its stump, like it was preening. The cleanly cut stump had stretched out and grown. Pecking a stalactite, Gyaos threw the rock onto it, wincing from stinging pain. More time had passed, and talons had emerged and hardened. The foot had regrown, and now even looked as if the appendage was never lost. Gyaos stomped its new foot on the ground...and felt no pain. It was fully healed, but the sun would be up soon, so the monster reluctantly chose to wait.
At sundown, the hunt would begin again.
The next morning, the farmers stormed the front yard, with anger on their faces. Rumors were mounting that the highway construction was going to divert and not even bother with the land purchase. A bad year for crops, the livestock sold in preparation for the land purchase, and now the monsters practically at their doorsteps...they were FUMING. They went to all the trouble to hold out for more money, only for the possibility they'll get nothing at all. The old man tried to calm them down, but they only seemed to grow angrier.
Suddenly, Eiichi began flinging his toys at the angry men, screaming at them to leave his grandfather be, calling them selfish. His mother managed to calm him down, then assertively told the men to settle this matter later. As if a fire had been doused, the men solemnly turned and left for their homes. The old man collected himself, and looked about the yard at the toys, some of which had been broken. He bent down to pick up as many as he could, annoyed that his grandson had normally been so careful with them. He walked to the door and saw Eiichi scribbling away with his crayons. His mother knelt down to watch, inquiring what his new masterpiece was. Eiichi was scribbling Gamera, and he said that he would come back to defeat Gyaos.
The old man looked at the battered trinkets in his hands, then back at his grandson, and gave some thought about the land sale...
Searchlights and flares were set up around the hole from where Gyaos emerged and retreated. The scientists heading the countermeasures determined Gyaos was nocturnal, but peculiarly so. Direct UV rays caused the severed foot to shrink and become brittle. Perhaps bright lights would give the bloodthirsty monster pause to emerge, especially after losing its leg. Everything would be ready by nightfall.
However, an order to turn on as many lights as possible in Nagoya had overloaded the power grid. A total blackout. It was now a race against time. The monster would see Nagoya as an entire buffet if the power could not be restored.
Eiichi and his grandfather arrived to speak with the field team. After speaking with the other farmers, no one was worried about the land sale anymore. Gyaos was the real problem. The old man did a lot of hunting back in his younger days, but much preferred trapping. Eiichi compared the two monsters, mostly that they seem to be opposites - Gamera likes fire, and Gyaos hates it; Gamera is okay in sunlight, Gyaos is not. Gamera doesn't get dizzy when he spins, so maybe Gyaos would get dizzy when spun. He suggested luring it atop a revolving restaurant to spin it around until it was too dizzy to get away while the sun rose. The scientist chuckled, telling Eiichi doing so would be impractical...but he commended his way of thinking outside the box. Eiichi's plan might have some merit to it.
As quickly as possible, meat of all kinds was being flown in. The farmers even chipped in, hauling in what meat they had leftover from their own slaughterhouse. The plan was simple. All of the meat would be heavily laced with tranquilizing chemicals, with the hope of Gyaos being rendered unconscious - too dizzy to fly - while the sun came up.
But the sun was setting, and Nagoya's power grid was not yet operational. As the last rays slipped beneath the horizon, there came the eerie glow, and Gyaos emerged (obviously, its regenerated leg sparking horrified curiosity). Flares were set off between it and the city, in hopes to sow disinterest in the vulnerable target. Thankfully, the monster was far more interested in the wafting smell coming from the pile of meat. The monster was somewhat skeptical...but its hunger got the best of it. It began pecking at the morbid banquet prepared for it, savoring each morsel.
After a few minutes, the monster's body began to show signs of relaxation. It continued to gobble up its meal, but slower...and slower... Though lacking eyelids, the eyes gave a stare of unconsciousness, and Gyaos' body slumped. The sedative had taken effect!
...For only a fleeting moment.
The monster lurched awake and stood to its feet, and it resumed devouring the rest of its feast. To make the matter even worse, Nagoya's power grid flashed to life. The flickering city lights caught the attention of the reawakened Gyaos. It let out its horrible, hateful screech toward the city, letting the populace know it was coming.
But then came the sounds of hooping and hollering from the nearby village. Everyone, even Gyaos, turned to see what it could be.
The farmers and some of the road construction workers took torches and ignited what was left of the frayed crops and dry brush. Kickstarted with gasoline, the fire burned bright and strong, enough to give Gyaos concern. It began to fly toward the blaze, already using its wings and extinguishing cloud to douse the blaze. Just then, Eiichi's mother screamed for her son.
Eiichi had grabbed another torch and ran with it out into the open field, setting another fire. Gyaos scowled at the boy's defiance. It landed and began approaching him. Like before, it was as if it took pleasure in instilling fear in its prey, a fear that Eiichi could feel growing with every passing second. Just then, an incoming projectile flew in and slammed right into the menacing creature, leaving an unsightly wound on its body. It sounded like a squadron of jets overhead. Perhaps the JSDF was mobilized and firing on it?
No. This was much bigger.
GAMERA.
With an earthshaking thud, Gamera landed and stood before Gyaos, ready to take on the winged monster once more. However, Eiichi was caught between the titans. Gamera charged at Gyaos, grappling it with his hands. The boy desperately tried to run back to his family, but it seemed like there was no way he was going to get around Gyaos. Why wouldn't Gamera just unload and blast Gyaos away with his fiery breath? But all Eiichi could think about was getting the hell out of there.
But even if that was the case, Gyaos felt no remorse in using its own weapon. Gamera winced as the piercing beam sliced into his shoulder, but that wasn't enough to make him back down. Gamera turned his arm and ignited the thruster on it. The intense wave of heat that shot from it went right into Gyaos' wing, easily burning through the membrane. Even with its regenerative powers, the monster was now incapable of flying away.
Gyaos angrily lunged at Gamera, knocking him onto his back. Eiichi's family watched in horror. They never did see him get away. Was...he crushed under the monster?
Gyaos had Gamera pinned down again. Gamera opened his mouth to expel his breath of fire, but Gyaos' talons shoved his face into the ground. Gamera tried to ignite his thrusters, but Gyaos mockingly let out its vapor and snuffed the flames. This time, there was no rising sun to scare it away. Even to Gamera, this felt like the end...but the defiance in his eyes refused to be extinguished.
But to Gyaos' surprise, it spotted a gleaming light in the corner of its eye, and turned to look at where it was coming from.
Eiichi's grandfather had taken a road flare and angrily hurled it at the monster. He was furious at the monster. Deep inside, he felt that Gyaos was the reason for the farmers' poor crops. He felt that Gyaos had made the land worthless. He felt that Gyaos was comeuppance for only caring about the money the land would fetch. And now his grandson was gone. Curse the highway construction. Curse this monster. Curse his selfishness.
But that small act made a big difference.
Gyaos felt itself being upended. It belted out its hateful shriek, but it was cut off, only able to gurgle. Gamera had lunged out his head to bite, right down on the monster's throat.
Gamera began to drag the flailing monster away...toward Mt. Fuji. Perhaps it was fate that the volcano had rumbled to life again, or maybe the heavy weight of the monsters throwing each other around had triggered something. But one thing was clear - Gamera was dragging Gyaos toward it. And not long after, the giant turtle, refusing to loosen his grip, was dragging his foe up the slope...to the crater...
Gyaos' arrow-shaped crest glowed red. Gyaos was afraid.
The heat was intense. The winged monster sprayed its extinguishing cloud...but the volcano's heat never faltered. Gamera and Gyaos then slipped out of sight, into the glowing crater. All that was seen then was a strange, yellow glow. It flickered...and then...nothing. Many thought that was the end of both monsters, until a bluish glow appeared, spiraling out of the crater. Gamera was a sturdy monster who fed on fire and heat, so molten lava would not harm him. The threat of Gyaos was gone, and Gamera was victorious...but at what cost?
Many expected Gamera to go back home to sea, but curiously, he landed and stood up. He began striding back toward the village. The fires had gone out, so there was nothing here for him.
As he grew closer, it was obvious the great beast was carrying something in his hand. It was...
Eiichi was alive!
Gamera towered over the village. His hand lowered to the ground, and Eiichi disembarked, a smile on his face as if he had been on a carnival ride, into the waiting arms of his mother and grandfather, thankful that he was okay. The monster let out one last roar of victory, and began walking away. With a good distance between himself and the humans, Gamera ignited his powerful rockets and took to the sky.
Just then, the science team showed up, having witnessed the encounter. The scientists were completely dumbfounded by what they had witnessed. Normally, Eiichi would have been ecstatic to share his experience of Gamera protecting him and escorting him, but he felt tired from being up so late (and, as fun as it was, he felt quite dizzy from being up so high in Gamera's clutches). The old man was then approached by the contractor of the highway construction. The work was only postponed, not rerouted, and they had every intention of going through with the purchase. The old man looked to the farmers, and then to his grandson, who smiled back at him. With a twinkle in his eye, and much to the delight of the farmers, he was ready to sell.
...
Several months later, Eiichi parted ways with his friends from school, and strolled to his house. Like all the houses in this small suburb, it was not a lavish, boastful structure, but it didn't need to be. It was home for him and his mother.
After eating a hearty supper, the boy went up to his room to finish his homework. Before doing so, he took a moment to admire a humble shrine on his dresser, dedicated to his two heroes - a photo of his late grandfather, and a small, comma-shaped bead.
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Next Chapter: CONGLOMERATE