Kaiju No.8: Devour and Evolve

Drake Myers' sudden change in demeanor startled many around him.

Noticing the curious stares from nearby diners, Kafka hastily apologized, assuring everyone that he wasn't drunk but utterly sober. After over a decade of relentless effort without any results, it was no surprise Kafka was emotionally drained.

Drake understood this all too well. In his shoes, he doubted he could have lasted so long before giving up and returning to a normal life.

"Kafka, you've held on for so long. Don't give up now! Isn't joining the Defense Force just a test away? Can I still register?" Drake asked, clenching his fists.

"There are three months until the interviews. There's still time," Kafka replied, his mood instantly lifting. "Haha, having someone alongside me this time makes all the difference."

Kafka was genuinely delighted. Previously, he had always faced these challenges alone, but now, he believed things could be different with Drake by his side.

Though reluctant, Drake agreed. Three months, huh? Who knows what might happen by then? he thought. For now, his goal was to stay with the cleaning company—a veritable treasure trove in this world of kaiju. Beyond Kaiju No. 8 and 9, who knew what other extraordinary beings might emerge?

The next day, Drake requested leave to attend the Defense Force's written exam. It was a theoretical test that posed no challenge to him. After all, for employees of cleaning companies or even ordinary citizens, kaiju incidents were as familiar as natural disasters.

In this world, there were no Ultramen, Kamen Riders, or superheroes. There were only martial artists who carried on ancient traditions and, perhaps in hidden corners, monstrous beings that might be the true yokai.

The exam felt effortless for Drake, who finished and left the venue early. Little did he know his actions were far from unique. Several other candidates had the same idea but weren't nearly as quick as him.

These included Reno Ichikawa, Aoi Kaguragi, Haruichi Izumo, Yoko Furuhashi, and Shikoku Kikoru, the prodigious returnee from America. All of them were slated to join the Defense Force alongside Kafka and played significant roles in the story.

Notably, Kikoru, hailing from the prestigious Shikoku family, was a standout. A gifted individual and a rising star, she could have easily leveraged her background to secure a spot. But she rejected any preferential treatment.

For Kikoru, being first—both in combat and theory—was non-negotiable. Anything less would tarnish the Shikoku name.

However, she didn't expect to encounter someone leaving the venue even faster than her.

"Miss Kikoru, please don't be upset. Judging by his attire, he's clearly a janitor from a kaiju cleaning company," Kikoru's butler, Seibuya, reassured her.

It wasn't hard to assume. The sight of Drake's beat-up company van screamed "ordinary person." Cleaning company staff were known as the support team with no exceptional abilities, filled with regular civilians.

"Hey, you there! Stop right now!" Kikoru shouted, her tone sharp with indignation.

At first, Drake ignored her, his mind focused on returning to the company. A wolf-like kaiju was scheduled for cleanup today, and the thought of absorbing its abilities made him giddy. Wolves were far superior to ordinary dogs in traits like sharp fangs, claws, and resilience in dire situations.

Drake didn't expect to run into key characters this early, thinking such meetings would happen only during the interviews.

Kikoru, unaccustomed to being ignored, was furious. Freshly returned from America and accustomed to being treated with respect, she couldn't tolerate such blatant disregard.

She leaped into action. Her combat suit flickered with a blue glow as she closed the distance.

"Boom!"

Her punch, aimed directly at the van, was stopped midway by a powerful hand.

The onlookers froze in disbelief.

Haruichi Izumo's jaw dropped as he watched. "What the...?" he muttered. He'd noticed Kikoru's extraordinary presence earlier, especially her state-of-the-art combat suit. But now, this seemingly ordinary guy had intercepted her strike with ease.

Aoi Kaguragi and Yoko Furuhashi were equally stunned, their faces blank with shock. They'd seen many things but nothing like this.

That punch, backed by a combat suit amplifying strength exponentially, had been casually neutralized.

Who was this seemingly unremarkable young man?

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