CA [175]: Arrival

After Altair obliterated the electromagnetic railgun, the Zodiac Scorpio emerged from the Pacific, its colossal form rising like a mountain from the ocean depths.

Its immense bulk displaced the seawater, sending a small tsunami crashing onto the shoreline.

Standing on the ground, Altair gazed at the fleshy mountain rising from the sea, struck by its sheer presence.

In the Godslayer world, Luo Hao's authority could summon a kilometers-tall giant, an awe-inspiring sight, but one that grew weaker as it expanded. Scorpio was different: a grotesque heap of flesh, a mountain in motion, its writhing tentacles creating a visceral, almost maddening image that assaulted the senses.

Fortunately, Altair's resilience kept his sanity intact.

While awestruck, he also felt a pang of sorrow. The Zodiacs were the original Gastrea, products of humanity's reckless biotechnology experiments gone awry. The Legacy of the Seven Stars, a child's tricycle, and the fact that all Cursed Children were young girls pointed to a grim truth.

Clearly, humans had used these girls as test subjects for the Gastrea virus, a bioweapon that spiraled out of control. The girls became the first Gastrea, the Zodiacs.

These Zodiacs were once girls, but Altair couldn't save them. After a decade, the virus had consumed them entirely, leaving only instinctual behaviors, like Scorpio's response to the tricycle's call.

"What a tragic world." Altair murmured, watching Scorpio lumber toward the shore.

"Indeed, a world steeped in destruction and despair." Hiruko Kagetane echoed, moved by Altair's sentiment.

"Kagetane, do you want to live?"

"Oh? What does my lord command?" Kagetane replied, instantly adopting a deferential tone, aligning himself with Altair's authority.

"Work for me from now on. Can you do that?"

"Of course. Having witnessed such a miracle, I, as a human, have no regrets. My remaining days are yours to command."

Removing his hat, Kagetane bowed deeply, his respect palpable.

"Good. Tokyo's satellites are likely watching us. They'll record this. After it's over, retrieve those recordings and deliver them to Osaka. Any issues?"

"None. It's an honor to serve you, my lord."

Kagetane agreed without hesitation.

"Now, then."

Altair extended a massive claw, scooping up Kagetane, Kohina, and the Legacy of the Seven Stars, along with a chunk of earth, as if lifting a room. His black wings spread, flapping powerfully as his feet slammed into the ground, cratering it. The black dragon soared, heading straight for Tokyo.

The satellites captured the dragon's sudden movement, and when its trajectory toward Tokyo became clear, panic erupted in the command center.

"Where's the Self-Defense Force? Shoot it down!"

"It must not reach Tokyo!"

"Mobilize the Civil Security agents, too! Stop it before it crosses the Monoliths, or Tokyo's finished!"

Commanders shouted frantically. Kikunojō Tendō, mouth agape, was at a loss. He wanted to urge calm, but with the railgun destroyed and the Self-Defense Force unprepared, no one could stop the dragon. Even if they were ready, he doubted conventional weapons could harm it.

"Enough panic!" Seitenshi's voice cut through the chaos.

"Lady Seitenshi." A commander stammered.

"We must not lose composure, nor is there cause to."

"How can we not panic? You saw its attack! If it enters Tokyo, we're doomed. Even if it dies here, its explosion will destroy the city!"

"Its attack's power is precisely why we shouldn't panic." Seitenshi said firmly.

She'd recognized Altair on the screen. If he intended harm, he could've acted sooner. With his dragon form's devastating power, he could've razed Tokyo from within, not bothered with this elaborate approach.

"You saw its attack, megatons of energy, 500 kilotons per blast. How many such attacks could it unleash?"

"Well…"

"If it wanted to destroy Tokyo, it wouldn't need to come here. One blast from afar would suffice, leaving nothing behind."

"Its goal isn't destruction. And you saw, it's a human transformed. It was in Tokyo before. If it wanted to destroy us, it could've done so unnoticed."

Seitenshi's logic was compelling, convincing the room.

Tendō, surprised, hadn't considered this. He admired her insight, affirming his decision to groom her leadership.

"Exactly, as Lady Seitenshi says, this dragon isn't here to destroy Tokyo." He agreed.

Indeed, as Seitenshi predicted, Altair's dragon form flew low, only climbing sharply near the Monoliths. It soared above them, landing atop one.

The Somersault Cloud, carrying the Initiator girls, hovered nearby. The girls watched the dragon with a mix of fear and curiosity.

Altair said nothing, setting Kagetane and Kohina down gently. Perched on the Monolith, he gazed northeast toward the massive, slow-moving flesh mountain on the coast.

"Now, we wait for her to arrive."

***

Every 5 reviews and 200 power stones, a bonus chapter will be dropped. 

(5,10,15, 200, 400, 600, and so on then two bonus chapters will be dropped, 1 for 5 reviews and 1 for 200 power stones, so that's 2 bonus chapters!) 

And if you want to read more than 50 chapters early, feel free to visit pat re on. com / Xelenea (remove space).