He pressed a button on a nearby console.
The laboratory lights suddenly dimmed.
Mechanical sounds echoed throughout the room.
The floor slowly separated.
A massive cylindrical chamber began rising from beneath the laboratory.
Blue liquid swirled inside the enormous glass tank.
Kael's confident expression disappeared.
Floating within the chamber...
...was a Kaiju.
Unlike the others surrounding the laboratory...
This one was almost human-sized.
Its body was covered in scars.
Black veins carrying glowing Voltra spread beneath its skin.
Its eyes remained closed.
Dozens of tubes connected its body to the surrounding machines.
Kael slowly stepped closer.
"...What..."
"...is this?"
Veylor looked proudly at the creature.
"My masterpiece."
"I created it."
Kael immediately looked back at him.
"You..."
"...created a Kaiju?"
"Not entirely."
Veylor calmly replied.
"I assembled it."
"Using the remains of hundreds of Kaijus."
"The strongest claws."
"The hardest skin."
"The most efficient organs."
"I selected only the finest specimens."
Kael stared through the glass.
"...It's alive?"
"It will be."
Veylor answered.
"I'm still perfecting it."
"For years..."
"...I've tried to understand how Kaijus are born."
"So eventually..."
"I decided to create one myself."
Kael slowly circled the enormous chamber.
"...You're insane."
"Most people would agree."
Veylor smiled.
"But history rarely remembers sane people."
Kael stopped walking.
"...And this thing..."
"...is supposed to capture Hikari?"
"Yes."
"So what's your actual plan?"
Veylor: You'll know
---
Three days later...
The Royal Palace overflowed with celebration.
The newest graduates of the Kaiju Combat Academy had completed their first successful mission.
Soldiers.
Royal officials.
Commanders.
Friends and family.
Everyone had gathered inside the grand banquet hall to congratulate the young warriors.
Long tables overflowed with food.
Musicians filled the room with cheerful melodies.
For the first time since the battle...
The atmosphere felt peaceful.
Almost normal.
The banquet hall buzzed with conversation and laughter.
At one of the long tables, Hikari sat beside Lyra, quietly enjoying the evening.
Lyra smiled warmly.
"So... how did your first mission go?"
Hikari took a sip of her drink before answering.
"It was difficult."
"The Kaiju was much stronger than we expected."
"But we completed the mission."
Mariel approached with the twin brothers, Alaric and Aldric.
"So it's true," Mariel said with a grin. "You really defeated a powerful Kaiju."
Hikari nodded.
"We were fortunate."
"And what about your team?" she asked.
Mariel shrugged.
"We only dealt with a low-level Kaiju."
"It wasn't much of a challenge."
The twins exchanged proud smiles.
"Still," Aldric said, "a victory is a victory."
"Agreed," Alaric added.
The five continued talking as the celebration carried on around them.
---
On the opposite side of the hall...
Light and Karem stood near one of the balconies, each holding a drink.
Karem smiled.
"So..."
"Your first official mission."
"How does it feel?"
Light looked across the hall.
"It wasn't what I imagined."
"What do you mean?"
Light sighed.
"When I was a kid..."
"I thought becoming stronger would be enough."
"But after fighting that Kaiju..."
"...I realized how weak I still am."
He looked down at his hands.
"If Hikari hadn't arrived..."
"Lothar and I would've died."
He tightened his fist.
"If I want to become king someday..."
"I have to become much stronger."
"I promised my mother..."
"...and my grandfather..."
"...that I'd protect the weak."
"I can't keep that promise if I'm barely surviving my first mission."
Karem smiled.
"You'll get there."
"You've always improved faster than everyone else."
Light laughed quietly.
"I hope you're right."
---
Not far away...
King Jugram stood speaking with General Darius and Commander Zuko.
The three watched the graduates from a distance.
"They're adapting well," Darius said.
Jugram nodded.
"They still have much to learn."
"But today's battle proved they have potential."
Zuko smiled.
"The future of the kingdom looks promising."
---
Meanwhile...
Heavy footsteps approached Hikari's table.
Kira stopped in front of her.
His cold eyes met hers.
The cheerful atmosphere around them slowly faded.
"So..."
"The last Draekor."
Hikari calmly looked back at him.
"Can I help you?"
Kira laughed.
"You actually joined the Kaiju Combat Team."
"Tell me..."
"Are you trying to convince everyone you've changed?"
"That your family wasn't responsible for centuries of suffering?"
Several nearby conversations stopped.
People quietly watched.
Lyra immediately stood.
"Brother."
"That's enough."
Kira ignored her.
"You people started countless wars."
"Destroyed kingdoms."
"Killed innocent families."
"And now..."
"...you expect everyone to forgive you?"
Mariel frowned.
"Hikari wasn't even born during those wars."
"So stop blaming her."
Kira glanced toward Mariel.
"I wasn't talking to you."
Lyra stepped between them.
"Hikari has done nothing wrong."
"The Dreakors are gone."
"Leave the past where it belongs."
Kira slowly leaned closer to Hikari.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"I don't care."
"I'll never forgive your bloodline."
"One day..."
"...I'll make you pay for everything your family did."
For the first time...
A flicker of sadness crossed Hikari's face.
She didn't answer.
Kira smirked before turning away.
The room slowly returned to normal.
Lyra looked apologetically at Hikari.
"I'm sorry..."
"My brother can be..."
Hikari gave her a small smile.
"It's alright."
"I'm used to it."
Even so...
Her smile couldn't hide the pain in her eyes.
---
BOOM!!
The entire palace shook violently.
Glasses shattered.
The chandeliers swung wildly overhead.
Guests screamed.
Several soldiers immediately drew their weapons.
Another explosion echoed outside.
Without hesitation, Lothar rushed toward the nearest balcony.
He looked over the city.
Smoke rose from one of the nearby streets.
He turned back immediately.
"Your Majesty!"
"We're under attack!"
The banquet hall instantly fell silent.
General Darius stepped forward.
"I'll mobilize the Royal Army."
"And notify the elite Kaiju Combat Team."
Before anyone could move...
Jugram raised his hand.
"No."
Everyone looked at him.
"Lothar."
"Light."
"Hikari."
The three immediately stepped forward.
"You'll handle this mission."
Zuko looked surprised.
"Your Majesty..."
"They only graduated a few days ago."
"They're still inexperienced."
Jugram remained calm.
"They defeated a Level Twelve Kaiju."
"They're ready."
The three nodded.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Without wasting another second...
They rushed out of the palace.
---
The streets were filled with smoke.
Buildings burned.
Citizens fled in every direction.
Soldiers struggled to keep order.
Then...
They saw it.
Standing in the middle of the ruined street...
...was a humanoid Kaiju.
Unlike every Kaiju they'd faced before...
Its body resembled a person.
Dark Voltra flowed across its skin like veins.
Its glowing eyes slowly turned toward them.
Light instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword.
Lothar clenched his fists.
Hikari quietly drew both of her blades.
The creature stared at them.
Then...
To their complete shock...
It spoke.
"...Target..."
A long silence followed.
"...is here."
None of the three moved.
Their hearts pounded.
This wasn't an ordinary Kaiju.
It had come...
...for them.