Kaiju No.8: Devour and Evolve

"Oh?" Drake Myers spoke calmly, his tone steady. "What if I don't cooperate? I am human."

He no longer cared to explain further. The situation was simple—neither side was willing to back down. Since arriving in this world, Drake had gained knowledge and abilities far beyond those of the Defense Force. Why should he lower his head to them?

Kikoru's involvement from the start meant she was bound to take responsibility. Drake knew he could leverage the Shinoomiya family's influence when necessary. Especially since this confrontation now involved the Third Defense Force, a group he once respected but had grown disillusioned with due to their rigid hierarchies and rules.

A Battle of Perspectives

Soushiro Hoshina stepped forward, his voice cold. "Whether you're human or not will only be clear after an examination. Surrender now and cooperate, or I'll treat you as a monster."

Both sides—Drake and the Defense Force—had their reasons. Neither was inherently wrong; their actions stemmed from their respective perspectives. The world wasn't a matter of right or wrong but one of positions.

As an adult, Drake understood the blurred lines between truth and lies. What mattered wasn't clarity but who stood to benefit.

Drake smirked. "If you had shown some goodwill at the start—perhaps helped me slay the monster—I might have cooperated. But no. You were willing to watch me die rather than lend a hand. Is this the code of conduct for the Third Defense Force?"

With the unicorn's abilities fully absorbed, Drake calmly pulled a steel rod from his body without flinching, his expression devoid of emotion. This eerie composure only fueled the Defense Force's suspicion.

A Clash of Ideals

Mina Ashiro frowned. She hadn't expected such eloquence from someone so young.

"If you're human, what harm is there in undergoing a check? The Third Defense Force is only concerned with Yokohama's safety," Mina said, her patience wearing thin.

Soushiro, however, was less restrained. "Captain, this guy clearly isn't human! He's taken fatal injuries and yet stands here unscathed. That level of recovery is unheard of! I've trained for years and never seen a human capable of defeating a monster so effortlessly."

Soushiro stepped forward, his combat power unleashing as twin blades emerged, glowing with a pulsating purple energy.

Soushiro's liberation force reached an impressive 92%, a level few in the Defense Force achieved. His exclusive weapons were symbols of his dedication and skill, second only to Mina and her vice-captains.

Soushiro's anger flared as Mina suggested apologizing to Drake. "Why should we acknowledge this brat who questions the very heroes protecting this city? Without the Third Defense Force, Yokohama would have fallen long ago!"

Drake's Retort

Drake leaped gracefully from the monster's carcass, his blade in hand. "Never seen it, so it doesn't exist?" he mocked. His agility and poise were anything but human.

Kikoru Shinomiya stood frozen atop the monster's head, torn. Logically, she should side with the Defense Force, but she had helped Drake recover from his injuries. She trusted the healing potency of her family's medicine but was now confronted with a bigger dilemma: proving Drake's humanity.

Her family's reputation was at stake, especially as her father, a high-ranking Defense Force official, valued their image above all else. A scandal this early in her career could irreparably damage both her and her family's standing.

The Standoff

Drake's sword pointed toward Soushiro, his stance unyielding. Though wary of his opponent's strength, Drake's newfound abilities from the unicorn gave him an edge. Within his mental domain, enemies were subtly influenced, and he could perceive spatial rules invisible to ordinary eyes.

He mused to himself, If only I had Observation Haki...

As the tension mounted, Kikoru finally broke the silence.

"Stop this pointless fight!" she shouted from atop the monster. "Drake is human! If you insist on an examination, let me be the witness!"

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