"A Level 5 kaiju? No rush," Drake Myers muttered, cracking his knuckles.
This creature's abilities were something he absolutely had to devour.
Its barrier effect was a game-changer—perfect for escaping the constant surveillance plaguing him.
Once activated, the barrier rendered it undetectable, creating the ideal illusion.
For Drake, this was invaluable. After all, he wasn't the obedient type and despised being controlled.
Kafka Hibino stared at the young man beside him, visibly shaken.
He had seen the footage of Drake defeating a kaiju before and could only envy such strength.
But now, watching Drake prepare to engage the creature head-on—it was something Kafka couldn't comprehend.
"How could a human possibly defeat a kaiju?" Kafka muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Relax, senior," Drake said with a grin. "The Third Defense Division will be here soon. I'm just here to assist."
Without waiting for a reply, Drake opened the window and leapt out, plummeting from the high-rise.
Even without a combat suit, his strength was extraordinary.
A Strategic Approach
As Drake descended, his eyes locked onto the Barrier Kaiju below. A hint of frustration crossed his face.
Fighting without a proper weapon was always troublesome. It seemed he would need to forge a specialized weapon for himself eventually.
Unlike a game where NPCs provided everything, anime worlds demanded personal exploration and discovery.
So far, none of the interconnected worlds he'd encountered—Kaiju No. 8, Tokyo Ghoul, or Parasyte—had any notable master blacksmiths.
In Kaiju No. 8, everything relied on cutting-edge technology. High-tech weapons fused with kaiju materials were the norm.
In Tokyo Ghoul, combat methods were primitive, with Quinques being useful but lacking flair.
And in Parasyte, they relied purely on firearms.
"This is a low-tech world," Drake mused, landing atop the Barrier Kaiju. Raising his fist, he punched down with precision.
The impact wasn't particularly damaging—deliberately so.
He knew the Third Defense Division's drones were watching, and he didn't want to overplay his hand.
As long as he made contact with the kaiju, he could absorb its abilities. There was no need to waste effort or expose too much strength.
After all, his previous battle with the unicorn kaiju had been dramatic enough, aided by Defense Force weapons.
Back at Base
Inside the command vehicle, Koizumi Haomi was watching the live feed from the drones. She slammed her fist against the console.
"Damn it! This kid is way too reckless!"
Soshiro Hoshina and Yabai Mina sat nearby, monitoring the footage.
"Without weapon support, his strength is average at best," Hoshina remarked.
"Using fists to fight a kaiju? That's absurd. Why bother with combat suits if that worked?"
Yabai Mina sighed. "Reckless, yes, but he's trying to protect the building. Look—Kafka's apartment is still intact."
Her concern was evident as she glanced at the high-rise where Kafka lived.
"If he'd just joined the Defense Force, none of this would've happened," grumbled Ikaruga, clearly frustrated.
Hoshina remained silent, lost in thought. Had the Defense Force made a mistake?
Would more humans like Drake appear in the future?
Memories surfaced.
Soshiro's Past
"Back in the Edo period, you'd have been a legendary swordsman, Soshiro," his father had said coldly. "But times have changed.
"The kaiju we face today are massive, far beyond what swordsmanship can handle.
"Forget your dreams of joining the Defense Force. With your skills, you'd be a burden."
His father's words had been a brutal awakening.
In this modern era, what use was a swordsman?
Perhaps that was why Soshiro admired Drake so much.
Drake reminded him of his younger self—overflowing with potential.
A swordsman like Drake, equipped with a combat suit, would be unstoppable in the Defense Force.
A Heated Encounter
Meanwhile, Drake was still engaging the kaiju. Each punch seemed to have little effect, but it was enough to redirect the creature's attention away from Kafka's apartment.
From above, Kafka watched intently, his fists clenched. He wanted to transform and help—but he couldn't.
What if Drake discovered his secret?
"He's just like me," Kafka thought bitterly. "If I transformed in front of him, he'd probably kill me on the spot."
Drake lured the kaiju toward the designated combat zone.
The Sakura Nation had poured immense resources into creating numerous safe zones and battle areas, striking a balance between safety and economic development.
Reinforcements Arrive
Within ten minutes, members of the Third Defense Division arrived, armed with automatic rifles.
A Level 5 kaiju, while massive, wasn't a significant threat to seasoned Defense Force fighters.
For Captain Yabai Mina and Vice-Captain Soshiro Hoshina, taking it down would be effortless.
Drake breathed a sigh of relief as the firepower provided much-needed support. He nimbly jumped off the Barrier Kaiju, sprinting across its body to the ground.
His devouring ability was powerful but had one limitation: he could only absorb a kaiju's traits at the moment of its death.
This meant that while he could benefit from the creature, the Defense Force could still use its remains as usual.
For now, he kept his spatial abilities hidden, continuing to mask his full strength.
The squad leader leading the charge, an old acquaintance of Drake's, greeted him warmly.
She had bright pink hair and a cheerful demeanor.
"Great work, kid! When are you joining the Defense Force?
"With a combat suit, you could take this kaiju down all by yourself!"