GTAG Chapter 34: Divine Blessing
The purpose of those believers flocking to the island nation was strikingly similar.
They had come to worship.
But there was a subtle difference. Followers of the Godzilla cult came to pay homage, while some who believed in "God" had come seeking death.
This sent panic across many nations.
Governments didn't know whether to block or allow them. After all, no one could tell if these people were simply coming to worship, or secretly marching to their own deaths.
If they let them pass, wasn't that the same as abetting murder?
The most unsettled of all was the Church.
At first, they didn't realize the seriousness.
Until hundreds of priests came to say their farewells, announcing they would travel to the land where Godzilla descended, hoping for a chance to ascend to heaven.
Only then did the Church grasp the disaster unfolding.
Next most alarmed were the Americans.
After all, they had built a secret laboratory right where Godzilla had appeared.
Originally, it was chosen because the site was perfect for experiments. Godzilla's blood spilled so much during his evolutions that even though they recovered what they could, the ocean still remained contaminated. Mutated creatures would appear with unsettling frequency.
Now the "secret" part of that laboratory was becoming questionable.
If it continued, there would be consequences.
While nations struggled to restrain their own fanatic citizens, the newly formed Godzilla Religious State began absorbing everything from the previous government.
That included the laboratory studying organisms mutated by Godzilla's blood.
This laboratory was one of the conditions the Americans promised when they agreed to support the cult—though that demand had been added later, right before the cult seized control of the island nation.
Inside the facility, more than ten thousand mutated creatures were stored.
Every single one of them carried traces of Godzilla's features.
When the cult leader, a devout fanatic, saw these animals infused with Godzilla's blood yet still alive and thriving, tears of ecstasy rolled down his face.
"This… this is God's blessing!"
The cultists treated the scientists with surprising respect, even reverence.
But the scientists, dressed in protective suits, shivered as fanatics stared at them with blazing eyes.
"Gentlemen," the cult leader declared, "I know you have studied the power of our God for a long time. Perhaps you even know Him better than us."
He wiped his eyes and stepped closer to the trembling researchers.
"There is no need to be afraid. We will not harm you. You must trust us."
"Yes, yes, we trust you," the scientists stammered, nodding rapidly.
If they hadn't seen these cultists butcher guards without blinking, they might have believed him.
Satisfied, the cult leader smiled and said, "We hope you can discover a way for us believers to also bask in God's blessing."
He leaned close to one unfortunate scientist, bloodshot eyes boring into him.
"You… can do that, can't you?"
Though phrased as a question, everyone knew what would happen if he shook his head.
So the man nodded.
"Yes… it can be done."
"Wonderful!"
The cult leader clutched his shoulders with such force that the frail researcher winced in pain.
"You will have all the people and funds you need. I ask only one thing…"
His tone softened, almost neighborly.
"Do it quickly. Can you?"
"Yes… no problem," the scientist whispered.
What else could he do but nod?
After admiring the mutated animals for a while, the cult leader left with his followers.
The moment they were gone, the scientists collapsed in exhaustion.
They stared at the distorted creatures floating in their tanks, tears welling in despair.
They knew exactly what the cult wanted: to make humans undergo the same mutations, to create "God's blessing."
And that thought horrified them.
"We're just ordinary graduates from second-rate universities," one muttered. "We're not some geniuses."
Mutating animals sounded impressive, but it was actually disturbingly simple. Inject Godzilla's cells into living organisms, and some would survive the transformation.
Back then, it seemed like easy, well-paid work.
Especially since the Americans paid in hard currency, not local bills.
But now, regret consumed them.
"Why did we ever agree to this?"
They had no choice now but to obey.
"Wait," one suddenly said, eyes lighting up. "We can find him!"
"Who?"
"The man who first ordered us to create these mutated creatures! He knows far more than we do!"
Hope for survival flickered in their eyes.
…
Somewhere in the Pacific.
Godzilla rested on the seafloor.
Beside him swam a massive beast resembling the electromagnetic cannon-wielding kaiju he once fought, but with two massive horns on its head.
This was the first monster Godzilla had created since returning to this world—his proudest work yet.
With the earlier kaiju as a template, this creation had developed smoothly, requiring little oversight.
It broke free of its cocoon and grew to over a hundred meters in length in no time. With enough food, it could grow even further.
And like its predecessor, it wielded the fearsome electromagnetic cannon.
It would straighten its body, then unleash a devastating beam from its mouth.
But this monster was vastly stronger.
Though it lacked a true fusion reactor, its cells could still generate nuclear energy, producing powerful electrical discharges.
Its electromagnetic cannon was already several times stronger than the previous creature's—
and that was before it had even doubled its size.
At its current stage, it could already match the earlier beast's attack.
[Please give powerstones if you're enjoying the story.
500 stones = 1 extra chapter
patreon com/GuessMyName33 for up to 30 chapters ahead]