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Chapter Text

SOMEWHERE IN ARIZONA - 2024

“And we are getting news, yes news of both Godzilla and Kong brawling in Hong Kong. Eyewitnesses report a hulking, mechanical Titan similar to Godzilla is also present on the scene and attacking the King of the Monsters. My god... This is... This...”

The newscaster stared at the information he was receiving in horror. He clasped a hand around his mouth, doing his best to maintain his composure. 

“We are... we are now getting confirmation that some sort of rivalry is on display. The two titans are expressing signs of understanding. This is... beyond extraordinary.”

From his motel room, Alan Jonah watched persistently. He was staring at the small television, his usual frown ever so present. The motel door slowly opened, a figure shrouded in darkness stepping in. They caught a glimpse of Jonah resting on a metal chair, fixated on the news report. 

“Good. You’re here,” he finally said, “I’m not sure how much longer I could wait.” He stood up and shut off the TV.

“Well forgive me for keeping you.” The figure replied. “Now, let’s talk business.”

“Yes, of course. I bet you’re starving for that now. After all, a rogue, man-made titan tearing Hong Kong apart shouldn’t be good for someone of your line of work.”

The figure grumbled in reply. Jonah walked over to his bed, grabbing a small briefcase. He callously threw it towards the figure, who caught it without much effort. 

“Is that it?” They chuckled. “You're kidding?”

“Of course not. I thought your friends were supposed to be professionals.” Jonah lambasted as he grabbed a file from the bedside drawer. He opened it and splayed it out on the desk. The figure dropped the briefcase and walked over. They picked up the first sheet of paper. 

A divine, elegant shape was plastered on front. One with a wingspan that was practically gargantuan. Eyes that were a blueish turquoise. The Queen of the Monsters. Titanus Mosura. 

“Isn’t this one dead?” They asked, puzzled while holding up the main image. 

“Ah yes. Her.” Alan snatched the image away, examining it closely. “You’re correct. But another egg has been found. It’s going to be your job to organise a way to get it.”

“That won’t be easy. Monarch will guard it with their life. You know how they operate.” They replied. 

“Yes. Yes that’s true. But then again, so do you.” Jonah splayed out all the information, grinning maliciously as he stared at the figure, their face still partially obscured by the fraught lighting of the motel. “There's something coming my friend. And like it or not, it's best that we get ready.”

They sighed, grimacing as a slight ache jolted through their head. They had rare contact with the infamous Alan Jonah, though if he was indeed one of the forces in King Ghidorah's release, then maybe this would all be worth it in the end. 

"So... how do you propose we start?"

Chapter Text

USS MARAUDER, OFF THE COAST OF INFANT ISLAND - JULY 10TH, 2026

Sgt. Stevens was pouring through drone recording after recording at his intel station on the navy class destroyer. The buffered footage of trees and foliage came through slowly. He took a chug of his energy drink, carelessly enough that the soda spilled out all over his uniform.

Standing up alarmed, his attention was turned back to the monitor as a low beeping emitted from the drone. He pressed a small button that zoomed in on the current image. 

It was a large outcrop of mountain. A small layering of brick rested on top, a spire stretching out to watch over the island. The drone peered further, finding an entire ancient structure resting on the side of the mountain that overlooked most of the island. 

His eyes slowly became wide. The image on the screen in front of him was as clear as day. He bolted off to alert his supervisors, now uncaring for the sticky fluid that was spilled on his clothes. 

MONARCH OBSERVATION TOWER, RUINS OF BOSTON - JULY 12TH, 2026

Ilene Chen could barely keep her eyes open as she watched the small readings carefully. Images of three-headed dragons, titans scratched into the walls. All very biblical, even for her.

“Well someone looks lively.” A man’s voice called out behind her. 

She turned and smiled as Mark Russell took a seat next to her at the desk. The light from the monitor screens cascaded brightly onto his face. In that moment, she could see just how tired he was. How tired they both were. 

“Oh forgive me, ‘Director’, surely you’ll understand?” She coyly asked. 

“Okay don’t you get started.” Mark chuckled. “Still can barely get used to this job. How’s the search going?”

“If by search, you mean pointless goose chase, then yes it is going quite well.” Ilene rolled her eyes. 

“Oh come on Chen. I thought this was what you’re good at.” Mark said. 

While that was true, Ilene wanted to dissuade him for other reasons. “That may be so, but this is insane Mark. This whole division, this research. It’s crazy. And you know it.”

He fell silent for a few seconds. “Walk with me for a bit?”

Ilene sighed and relented. She stood up from her desk and followed Mark as they exited the researchers’ office and walked through the halls of the observation tower. 

They reached the top of the skyscraper in little time, walking up to the helipad. They stared out at the lush expanse of destruction and wildlife in front of them. Under all of that they both knew, Emma Russel laid entombed somewhere. 

Ilene pushed the thought away and took in the dour air. Mark’s hand twitched over his jacket pocket, groping for something that wasn’t there. Watching him carefully, Ilene shot him a disapproving scowl. 

“Sorry.” Mark said meekly. “Guess old habits die hard.”

“You have to remember Maddie, Mark.” Ilene said. “How is she going by the way?”

“NYU, if you can believe it.” He boasted in a reserved manner. “She went up with Josh. I just hope that... that they’ll...” He found himself unable to finish.

“They’ll be fine Mark.” Ilene smiled warmly. “Though I’m guessing who wanted to talk about something that isn’t your daughter’s university plan?”

“Guilty.” Mark joked dryly. “I need something Chen. Anything.”

To that, Ilene had no answer. She shrugged nervously. “I told you, Gojira and Kong’s rivalry was unique. They understand that they are kings of different worlds. They respect one another.”

“And you’re telling me that no other Titan existed with a rivalry like this?” He raised his eyebrow. 

“As I just said, unique.” Ilene repeated.

Mark grabbed his phone from his pocket and scrolled through it for a short while. The Mythologist tried leaning over his shoulder or catch a peal, to no avail. He finally held the screen up for both of them to see. 

Ilene was met with images of ancient temples. Carvings lining the walls. Vines strewn about. All very prototypical for her line of work. Except that the hieroglyphics looked familiar. Depictions of winged behemoths. Some fighting and clashing with other Titans. And some leaning over human tribespeople gently. 

One behemoth was horned and almost devil-like. A bleak mirror to the slender and more simple design of the other. Two god-like beings, exact in appearance and adjacent in nature. 

“Is this...” Ilene took the phone, zooming in on the photos. 

“Our team in Skull Island caught them just before departing along with the Apex crew during the Hollow Earth mission.” He walked to her side and swiped to the next image. “And this is of the temple on an island in the Oceanic strait. Hard to see a difference right?”

A slight shiver found its way creeping up Ilene’s spine. Mark continued exposit information, unaware of her state. 

“It’s exactly like Titanus Mosura’s former outpost. The temple, the symbols. All of it.” He said. 

“...Mothra.” Ilene whispered under her breath. 

“Er, yeah. Anyway, this Mothra has two temples on two islands considered to be separate from the rest of civilization. Hardly a coincidence.” Moving on, Mark sighed drearily. “Look I’m still dealing with the fallout from Hong Kong. That and more torture from the UN on how we should react to Godzilla and Kong demolishing one of the most populated cities in the world.”

“I know what you’re asking Mark.” Ilene said bluntly.

“Then you know that I don’t have a choice in whether or not you go.” He sighed. “Everyone’s pointing to Monarch for not foreseeing how Godzilla would react. Even Apex are turning it in their favor. I’m begging you Chen.”

Ilene breathed in deeply. An anxious pit was swelling in her stomach. “Mark... I...”

“Anything you need,” he went on, turning visibly desperate, “you have it. Well not anything, but within reason. There’s already a team, a game plan and a transport to Skull Island.”

“I...” She slowly came to a reluctant resolve. “I have to call I need to make first. Another Monarch researcher. She comes along, and we have a deal.”

“Yeah, done.” Mark shook her hand, exhaling a breath of relief. “I’ll be downstairs if you need me.” With that, he left Ilene up on the helipad overlooking the devastated expanse of Boston wilderness. 

She pulled a small cellphone from her pocket and dialed in a series of numbers. Her fingers trembled as she typed away. She started to feel sweat building up as she pressed the phone to her ear. The person on the other end picked up, waiting for Ilene to speak.

“It’s me. We have a mission to Skull Island. I trust you know what about.”

On the other end, her sister Ling Chen breathed deeply. She could feel her sister’s thought bearing down upon her. None of them were pleasant. She took a few seconds before she finally replied. 

“Yes. I do. I’ll meet you in uptown tomorrow. You want to talk about something Ilene?”

“Yes sister.” Looking out at the ruined, but overgrown city in front of her, Ilene went on. “The time of the blight has come upon us.”

??? - ???

Deep in her slumber, she could feel a beating slowly grow louder and louder. Even in the early stages, it was almost deafening. She was confused. Everything around her was dark, the only thing that could possibly give light to her surroundings was dim. She was in the endless expanse of pure blackness. 

Despite her newfound consciousness, she could remember a few things. A battle in a sprawling scape filled with metal towers. A devil from the stars, golden scales and multiple heads. An enraged winged fiend, lava flowing through his veins.

A king who ruled over all, and fought by her side. She could remember her last sacrifice. The beams tearing through her body. Her essence flowing soothingly down to calm him. She could feel his grief. His sorrow. His rage. 

Her memory went back further. A time of beasts and monsters. Titans rising from the sea. Small reptiles, roaring and bleating up at them as they battled the golden death. The king by her side. A warrior. An ally. An equal. 

She could see them side by side, fighting as one. It was a comforting sight. All the Titans, all of their species, battling together. All against the things that sucked off this beautiful world. Though she knew there were those who would take it too far. She knew that he would always try and take it too far. 

Although she was only reawakened for a few moments, Mothra could remember everything she had lived through. Every battle. Every win. Every loss. Every sacrifice. 

Chapter Text

SALVAGE YARD, HONG KONG - JULY 13TH, 2026

“When you said we were heading to China, I was hoping we would revisit Yunnan.” Ling said dryly as the helicopter touched down on the outskirts of the ruined cityscape. 

“Here is fine! Thank you!” Ilene shouted at the pilot as he hovered over a quarantined area. He obliged and started to slowly lower down as she turned back to her sister. “We will visit Yunnan after the mission. I promise sister.”

“Sure, sure.” Ling sighed. “So what do we need a technician and senior analyst for? I thought we already had a full team.”

“Onsite at Yunnan for three years, she recorded more info than anyone else apart from Emma Russell.” Ilene explained. “Trust me. We’ll need her.”

“Get up! Now, Grayson! We have to talk!”

Snapping awake from her bunk, Lyla banged her head against the top of the small shack she resided in. The alarm on her phone was blaring loudly, though it didn’t seem to faze her. She grabbed a hair tie off her bedside and secured her long, dark brown hair into a messy bun as she walked out into the bright morning. 

She was promptly met with the gaping jaw of a titanic robot. The MechaGodzilla. Once a crowning achievement of Apex Cybernetics. Now, it rusted away in the ruined city awaiting its demolition from scrappers and private organisations. 

“Grayson! Here! Now!” Her boss, Li Xiao, sounded less than pleased. In fact, he was fuming. He stood outside her small metal shack, frowning as workers piled out around him with equipment to dismantle the Titan killer. 

“Boss-man! What do you have me on today? A leg? An optical nerve? Maybe the biotic telepathic implant?” Lyla immediately rushed over. She tied her flannel shirt around her waist, revealing a dull and messy singlet underneath. 

“My god!” Xiao pressed his hand over his mouth, coughing out a storm. “When was the last time you showered?!”

“For god’s sake Li, we’re working with ‘this thing’.” She pointed to the dismembered mecha behind her. “I don’t think showering should be a huge concern.”

“I-. Oh whatever. Walk with me. Now. We have to talk.” Xiao said as he grabbed a clipboard. He rested his glasses down from his head onto his nose as her pursed through the papers. “This is how much I’m paying you Grayson. Same as everyone else, right?”

“Uh, sure looks that way. Yeah.” Lyla said offhandedly. 

“So can you tell me why the returns are next to none?” Xiao suddenly stopped. Lyla did the same.

“Uh, what?” She asked. They had stopped directly in view of one of the beast’s gargantuan claws. It’s hand was just within their grasp. 

“Everyone of my workers sends their return through on a payday. It’s how I make sure no one is getting paid off by my rivals.” Li went through the list, stopping at Lyla’s name. “You haven’t paid on anything other than basic living necessities.”

“Er, so?” 

“Where is your money going Lyla?” Xiao asked forwardly. “I know the Benton Boys are planning to salvage some of the plasma tachyons in the leg. Are you stashing funds for them? Getting a heist ready?”

“Woah, woah where’s this coming from?” Lyla was startled by the accusations. She was also rather tired for waking up at 6AM to deal with this. “I just store it away Li. Buy what I need. That’s not illegal, now is it?”

“Yes but... it looks bad for you.” He sighed drearily. “My bosses have already reached a conclusion. You’re...”

“No, no, no, please don’t do this Xiao.” Lyla stepped out in front of him, blocking his path. “There has to be something I can do. I’m one of your best workers, I worked for Monarch for Christ’s sake.”

“And my colleagues lost people in this attack, Grayson. And in Boston. And a few in San Francisco.” Xiao said somberly.

“S-So did I Li.” Lyla said quietly. “Look, what do you need? I swear I’ll do anything!”

“There’s nothing I can do.” Xiao said, grabbing his forehead. “You’ve already been fired. You’re expected to clean up and ship off by the end of the week.”

“I-Wh... Fine. Okay. I get it.” Lyla sighed. “Except that I really don’t. Where is this coming from Li?”

“I’m sorry Lyla. Really I am. This was out of my hands.” Xiao rested and hand on her shoulder for comfort before walking off, delving into a bellowing order towards a group of workers moving a large metal claw. 

Lyla stood in place for what felt like hours. She tried blinking back the growing wetness in her eyes, desperate not to burst into tears in the middle of the junkyard. 

“You know, he really didn’t have a choice.”

She turned around promptly, wiping her eyes dry to find two Chinese women standing behind her. They were wearing identical black coats, pants and boots. Quite literally identical in every way, apart from a difference in hairstyle. The one with the shaggy cut walked forward, smiling reverently as she outstretched her hand.

“Chen.” Lyla muttered under her breath. “It’s been awhile.” She stormed over to try deliver a vicious jab to the woman’s face. 

She quickly sidestepped, sending Lyla stumbling to the ground as she groaned wearily. A hand was held out in front of her as the other woman offered some help up. Lyla begrudgingly took it as she was pulled back to her feet. 

“Thanks. So, what the hell are you doing here?” She turned to Ilene, shooting her an icy glare. 

“I wanted to check on you. See how you’re holding up.” Ilene replied. 

“Oh that so? Well you’re two years late, but I’m just splendid.” Lyla said sardonically, turning between Ilene and the other woman frequently. “Okay, I’m confused. Did I hit my head or something?”

“Dr. Grayson, I’ve seen some of your work.” The woman smiled softly. “My name is Dr. Ling Chen, Senior Mythologist at Monarch. I’m Ilene’s twin sister.”

“Huh. Cool.” Lyla said dismissively as she started to head back towards her shack. 

Ilene chased after her, followed by a reluctant Ling. “Lyla! You don’t even know what we’re going to say.”

She was met with a dry scoff. “Yeah well why else would you be here?” 

“I-Okay. Fine.” Ilene groaned. “It’s an expedition to Skull Island to investigate a part that has been hidden away. It matches the research you poured into the temples scattered across China and the Indonesian Islands. But you’re the only Senior Field Operator we can reach on a short notice. We don’t have anyone else.”

“Skull Island? That shithole? Thought it was sinking into the ocean.” Lyla spat out derisively. “So you’re telling me I’m the last resort? Nice sentiment.”

“What did you expect?” Ilene stopped her by rushing up to block her path. “It’s not as if you have a clear record. You’ve been working with an illegal scavenging outfit for the last two years.”

“If it’s so illegal then why are you guys here?” Lyla asked. 

“We’ve alerted the MPs. They’ll be shutting it down tomorrow.” Ilene replied. “You’re welcome for getting you out before you got arrested.” 

“Oh wow, yeah,” Lyla groaned, “thank you so much for getting me fired.”

“Are you kidding me?! You abandoned Monarch after Hong Kong! Everything you knew, you had been through, all your credibility!” Ilene erupted. 

“Oh you weren’t here Chen.” Lyla shot back. “You don’t really know how many people are lost in these attacks. How many of their own they had to bury.”

“And you do?!” Ilene swiftly covered her mouth, shocked at her own response. 

Lyla kept walking towards her shack. Her tears started to flow freely now as her mind drifted. She thought of birthdays, dates, the wedding. It all came so naturally, yet she desperately tried to shove it away. 

“Lyla, please. I’m sorry. I... know she meant a lot to you.” Ilene continued to keep up to her pace. 

“Oh yeah? What next? ‘You understand what I’m going through?’ What about, ‘I just have to move on with life?’ That’s a real good one.” Lyla gently moved aside, reaching the door of her metal caravan. She looked back and Ling and Ilene. “I know what you’re trying to do, Chen. It won’t work. So please, just leave me alone.” She started to close the door behind her. 

“We have $80,000 waiting for you.”

That caught Lyla’s interest. She left the door slightly ajar. 

“Just 80k?” Her curiosity piqued.

“That’s the upfront payment.” Ling stepped in. “If all goes well, you’ll get an extra $20,000.”

“You’re going to throw $100,000 away for little old me?” Lyla let the door swing all the way open. 

“We’re the top government body for information on Titan activity.” While not trying to boast, Ilene couldn’t help but flaunt a little. “At this point, we have the ability to throw $100,000 away. Afterwards, you can live in this wasteland until you pass on. Sound fair?”

“Bleak as hell,” Lyla joked, “but yeah. Sounds pretty damn fair.”

“Spineless.” Ling whispered under her breath in Mandarin. She was far more interested in the prospect of investigating Skull Island. A land practically unknown beyond a single outpost. The glory was entirely a second thought.

“Hopefully, I grow one on the way there.” Lyla grinned as she said in the same dialect.

Ling went wide eyed, chuckling anxiously as she was met with a sly grin from the downtrodden researcher. Ilene stepped in on the moment. 

“So, we have a deal?” She asked. 

Lyla pursed her lips, pondering the offer for a moment. She looked into the messy remains of her shack. The bedsheet thrown off the mattress. The dour door pouring from the room. The small shower cubicle in the corner that had barely seen a day of use. All a depressing pit of her own lack of self-care. 

She turned away from it, faintly smiling back at the two Twins who stood in front of her. “Give me fifteen minutes to get ready. This better be good, I’m telling you Chen.”

Chapter Text

MONARCH LAUNCH PLATFORM #4, DARWIN - JULY 14TH, 2026

The sun was beating down harshly on the crew as they walked across the asphalt. Monarch Launch Platform #4 was extended out over the edge of a cliff that gave a view of the sparkling crystalline ocean. The serene sounds of crashing waves was intercut by the deafening noise of an osprey engine. 

Colonel Jackson Barnes watched the team arrive with a sense of slight distaste. Foster, Griffin, Martinez. He couldn’t help but miss them all. The things they had been through. The horrors they had faced. The demons they had helped beat. 

And now they would just be replaced. Rolled along as if they were drones on a factory line. 

The first aircraft of the bunch set down on the landing pad in front of her. Two more flanked its left and right as the hanger door opened. A burly, suave looking man stepped out already in a tactical black uniform. He wore a pair of aviators. He almost looked like Viggo Mortensen if he was more buff and had a five o’clock shadow.

“Colonel.” He beamed gruffly. “Lieutenant Markus Rammfeld. I’ve been told I’m your new second in leading G-Team.”

“Lieutenant.” Barnes replied, shaking his hand firmly. “Pleasure to have you on board. Damn, how many of your boys we bringing in?”

“Oh, well we got a research team incoming as well.” Rammfeld held his hands on his hips as he and the Colonel watched the rest of the ospreys arrive. All in all, there must’ve been at least ten in total. “Me and my crew, yeah we go big or go home.”

“Yeah. Guess I’m used to a smaller team.” Barnes said, recalling his fondness for his main crew. “Though to new beginnings I guess.”

“To new beginnings.” Rammfeld spoke with a mild Southern drawl. “Say, you worked alongside the original G-Team during the Boston Brawl. Didn’t you?”

“Uh yeah. That was me and my team.” Barnes’ mind flashed back to the lighting. The fury. The screams. 

They stood side by side as a whole legion of specialized escort walked out of the winged vehicles. An osprey marked with a blue lining landed near the front of them, a team of researchers piling out as well. 

Leading the charge was Ilene Chen. Behind her, her sister and fellow Mythologist Ling Chen and Senior Researcher and Technician Lyla Grayson. They were followed by a whole team of scientists and experts on Titan behavior all dreading to choose lab coats and parkas for the mission. 

The Twins and Lyla opted for more practical gear. Button tops with the sleeves rolled up. Cargo pants. Double belts. Hiking boots. That sort of thing.

“Chen! Damn, am I seeing double or something?” The Colonel laughed as he ran over, beaming with genuine glee. At the very least, there would be some people he recognized. “God, look at you! Barely aged a damn day!”

“Jackson. How’ve you been?” Ilene grinned warmly. “How’s being team leader treating you?”

“Itching to get back out. See new and exciting places. Same old stuff.” His gaze drifted to the identical figure beside her. “So are you gon’ introduce me to your clone or are we just ignoring her?”

“Hello. My name is Ling Chen. Pleasure to meet you Colonel Barnes.” Ling smiled giddily as she shook hands with the seasoned fighter. 

“Pleasure to meet you.” Barnes beamed. He turned to meet Lyla’s gaze. “And you must be the backup?”

“Oh, so I’m the backup now?” Lyla eyed Ilene unwaveringly. “Name’s Lyla Grayson. Tech and Field Research.”

“Colonel Jackson Barnes. Leader of G-Team.” He returned the introduction courteously. “Grayson? Damn, that sounds kinda familiar.”

“Cleanup on San Fran and Boston. Helped spear the discovery of former Outpost 61. Enough of a resume? I’ve been told I’m running your little PowerPoint presentation.” 

Barnes scoffed, admittedly annoyed by her abrasive nature. “Guess you are. Anything else you want to rattle off? Maybe you helped kill the MUTOs or something.”

“Uh, sorry. Long flight. So, suppose I should be heading to the observation room.” Lyla started walking towards the processing unit of the facility. 

The Colonel called out and pointed in the opposite direction. The whole G-Team and the Chen Twins were heading to the researchers briefing room.

“Yeah, which is that way.” Lyla groaned, rubbing her temple as the incessant ringing of jetlag filled her head.

The crowd of G-Team soldiers were whooping and chatting obnoxiously. The researchers remained off to the side, doing their best to keep contained to their own conversation. Everyone was cut off by the blaring noise of an air horn cutting through the air.

“Everyone! May I please have your attention!” Colonel Barnes shouted loudly. 

Aside from a few lighthearted jeers, his orders were complied with. 

“Now, we have to ship out at 0500 hours tomorrow so we should get started,” he continued. A set of maps were splayed out via a projector. “The mission at hand is to investigate recordings of temples found throughout what’s left of Skull Island. This temple was once thought to be connected to Kong, but some footage recovered off the coast of an Island in the Indonesian Strait has found the exact same type of architecture.”

“And why are we looking into the island that’s tearing itself apart instead of the peaceful, sunny island?” A solider yelled from the crowd. 

“Exactly the point.” The Colonel replied simply. He moved to the next slide. It showed the scattered, half-flooded remains of what was once Skull Island from a satellite image. “We’ve still barely scratched the surface of what could be there.”

“Well we know that everything there wants to kill ya and that there’s a giant monkey who used to live there. Ain’t that all that’s important?”

“Not exactly.” Lyla meant to keep a self-contained remark. However, it grew well within earshot of the rest of the crew. They all turned to stare at her with dirty looks plastered over their faces. “I mean, uhhhh.”

“Dr. Lyla Grayson, would you care to explain your area of expertise and why we’re heading here first?” Barnes motioned to the space in front of the display room. 

Lyla walked over nervously, staring out at the seated rows of exhausted private military. Only one of them showed some form of interest, listening in closely as she started to speak. 

“Uh. Hi. As you know, I’m Dr. Grayson. I worked onsite at Outpost 61 with the Titanus Mosura egg.” The screen flickered to a display of the elegant goddess. “Now the carvings inside of the temple outpost seem to resemble some found at both Skull Island and an Indonesian Island, Palau Bayi. And as the Colonel said, we have to investigate Skull Island before it’s lost to the history books.”

“So why don’t we send in drones?” A soldier, Private Wilson, asked dryly. He fixated on Grayson in a leering and dismissive manner. “Why do we have to fly all the way over there?”

“Same reason they sent an expedition in the 70s.” Lyla replied simply. “These are the remnants of a balanced world. A world where Titan and human lived together. That, warrants something more than drones.”

“A goddamn ugly, disgusting moth deserves more than drones?” Wilson snarked angrily. He was met with an icy stare from the Twins and Lyla. 

“Well she seems to clean up better than you.” She  joked back. A few whoops and cheers erupted from the squad as Wilson clenched his fists angrily. 

“C’mon now boys!” A soldier standing up bellowed roughly. The entire military outfit grew silent once more. 

Lyla was admittedly impressed. The same soldier had listened to her presentation diligently without protest and displayed a visible amount of interest. She didn’t get a good look at his name patch. The word ‘Rammfeld’ was clear however. 

“Our friends at Monarch are serious about this. It’s a new era we’re living in. So do them a favor, and shut up.” He ordered before turning to Lyla and shooting her a reassuring expression. 

“Right,” she went on, “I guess we should continue then. This temple on Skull Island might belong to the ancient Iwi tribe. Or it could be something far greater. Truth is, we honestly have no idea what it’s doing on a remote island. But that doesn’t mean we’re in the dark about what it could represent.”

She motioned to the Twins. “Dr. Ilene and Ling Chen have explained to me that Monarch have been able to capture some photos of the exposed temple atrium. The carvings inside said atrium are different compared to the Temple of the Moth. They depict two Titanus Mosura’s. In combat.”

“Combat? Two moth Titans?” A soldier asked. “You’re telling us that there were two of these things?”

“Yes,” Lyla paused for a slight dramatic tone, “two of the same species. Two rivals.”

Later that night, Lyla rested outside in a foldout chair on the deck of the outpost calmly. The sky shimmered with peaceful hues. The waves lapped against the support beams persistently, adding to a layer of barnacles. Seagulls cawed silently, hoping to find a midnight snack. 

“Was speaking really that tiring?”

She turned to find Ling standing behind her. An indignant look was plastered on her face.

“You caught me. I’m not good at giving lectures.” Lyla yawned. “Plus, tough crowd.”

“Right.” Ling stood next to her. “Okay, we have to address this. D-Did you pack a collapsible seat?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I said no, would you?” Lyla dryly replied. 

“I guess not.” Ling let out a slight chuckle. 

“Well damn. She has an emotion other than constant stress.” Grayson spat out a dismissive crack. 

“My God. Such lack of discipline.” Ling remarked quietly in her native Mandarin.

“You forget I understand. Don’t you?” Lyla replied, though her words were slurred faintly on account of her weary state. 

“No. Just making sure that you know exactly what I’m saying.” Ling took a relaxed seat next to Lyla’s chair. 

They looked up at the stars peacefully in silence for a few seconds. Hues of white and blue shimmered across the sky, an unusual visage for the outback to cast. The quiet of the night became blatant as Ling spoke up. 

“So do you believe what you said?” She asked. 

Lyla expressed some disbelief towards her question. 

“Do you believe that Mothr-, Titanus Mosura has a rival?” 

“Why wouldn’t I?” Lyla replied. “Godzilla, Kong. Really that hard to think that there are more like them? More Titans with natural born opponents. More with old rivals.”

“You’d be surprised how many of the scientists I’ve talked to on this expedition are convinced it’s merely another Titanus Mosura.” Ling explained. “They think this is all Iwi worship and mythology.”

“Maybe it is. Legends of an old world that saw the Titans as the first gods turned out true. The Hollow Earth myth turned out true. Honestly, seems like mythology are more fact than most people realize nowadays.”

“You don’t think it’s a little silly?” Ling’s question made Lyla stand up. She walked over to the edge of the launchpad and motioned out at the murky dark sea in front of them. 

“Look at all this. This world belonged to them. And every time we try screwing with it, it’s always them who clean up the mess. Okay, admittedly by making their own.” Grayson went on calmly as Ling walked over to join her side. “But it’s something the world doesn’t honestly understand yet. This world is theirs. Never ours.”

??? - ???

The blight could feel his energy slowly arrive. Even though his form was not truly complete yet, he could feel his influence growing stronger and stronger. 

His power. His mind. His strength. All of it was coming to him now. 

As his mind came, so did the memories. He desperately wanted to snarl at the thought of the winged goddess and her incessant hope. Her optimism. 

It all was far too wretched to bear for him. She never knew what he really wanted. After all, she was far too reserved in how powerful she really was. How she could make the entire world hers. Even that vile beast with spikes along its back would be nothing but a skeleton as his old brothers. 

Yet here he was. Left with the task of bringing true balance. True peace. If only it was easy. 

He knew she would stop his destiny once more. He knew she would desperately try protecting the pathetic ants that plagued and ravaged this world with their tribal sense of law and their ridiculous worship. 

The title of blight fitted him rather undeservedly. He was merely a necessary figure. A true peacekeeper in a time of false kings and childish bickering between the supposed kings of the planet. 

The Blight of Humanity was certain in one thing. He would bring about a true time of calm. A true world free from hate and rage. A world free of the whiny ants that populated the Earth. Even if he had to kill the Almighty Mothra to do it. 

Chapter Text

MONARCH LAUNCH PLATFORM #4, DARWIN - JULY 15TH, 2026

The rising warmth of the sky shone across the deck of the outpost as everyone got ready to set out. The G-Team all set into the ten ospreys that were strewn out on the landing pad. Two large cargo helicopters were also present, slowly getting loaded with large monitors, generators, and other equipment that would prove useful on the island. 

Ilene and Barnes watched it all unfold. They stood side by side, watching the soldiers move out in an ordained manner.

“Lucky Dr. Brooks isn’t here to see this.” Ilene mentioned offhandedly. She had come to know the famed Hollow Earth doctor through lectures and briefings together.

“1973 was another time. This stuff? Top of the line. Reinforced steel shielding. Even without our guns, it’ll be enough.” Barnes boasted cheerily. “Plus Kong’s chilling in Skull Island’s basement. He won’t be able to punch us out of the sky this time.”

“Just don’t jinx us Colonel.” Ilene ribbed on his official title teasingly as she walked towards the osprey marked with the blue pattern. The one she and her sister had arrived in. 

Lyla was waiting inside the osprey patiently. She was messing around with her phone when Ilene hopped into the aircraft. Ling sat beside her, looking at a tablet with a flurry of info on Skull Island. Rammfeld was standing opposite to the two, talking to a few of his compatriots. 

“Well I’m sorry, only pretty people are allowed on this ride.” Lyla joked weakly.

“Shouldn’t you be moving to another flight then?” Ilene remarked back as she took a seat beside her sister. 

The chatter amongst the research crowd in the osprey was deafened by the crackle of a loudspeaker. They covered their ears in annoyance as the Colonel’s voice became clearer. 

“Good morning G-Team! Trust you all got your beauty sleep? That’s good, because today we’re going to be heading into the thick of it. I’m talking endless storms, wasps the size of your head, and I haven’t even started on the things that will eat you alive.”

His jovial tone felt jarring to be used to describe such horrors. 

“Wait, aren’t you his second?” Lyla leaned forward, staring at Rammfeld. “Why aren’t you in the main osprey with Barnes?”

“Eh. Prefer it up here with the grunts.” The Lieutenant replied, grinning. “I mean you are the ones who’re keeping me and my boys alive. Right?”

“That’s the plan.” Lyla said as the engines of the aircraft started to spin up, marking a rocky voyage ahead. 

Ilene knew many great storms. The whirlwinds that surrounded King Ghidorah. The flaming winds that scorched the Argo during the Rodan pursuit. 

They barely compared to the bleak tones of grey that engulfed the squad of ospreys. The storm they ventured into was a volatile one. Thunder droned ominously, like the beating drums to ritual song. Lightning flared just in the view of the porthole windows, thankfully a stark blue instead of yellow. 

Watching it all calmly, Ilene could feel the aircraft shake from time to time. 

“All pilots, we are over Skull Island. I repeat, we are over Skull Island. Begin a gradual descent towards the landing pad near Outpost 33. Plan is to set up shack in Kong’s old backyard.” A voice said over the loudspeaker. 

The osprey started to move down. The scenery turned from grey clouds to a blackened and horrific night. Even though it must’ve been about midday, the entire island was coated in an endless dark hue. Trees and foliage were shaking violently, as if trying to pry free from the ground itself. 

Even the clearings weren’t free from the carnage. Lakes and rivers turned into small tidal waves, flooding the rest of the island as they team were witness to its slow death. 

Ilene leaned back in her seat, yawning. To her right, Ling was watching Lyla scroll through a photo album on her phone. Rammfeld was up in the cockpit, conversing with the pilots on the best landing style. Everything seemed relaxed, a stark contrast to the weather outside. 

“Marvins, we’re all good here. Take it easy why don’t you?”

While the pilot was joking, Sgt. Alex Marvins couldn’t help but take some offence. This was meant to be a high stakes mission. Well, he hoped it was. Too many years spent on private outfits and security positions. He had enough training to take down even the best of the old G-Team. 

While reluctant, he still walked towards the end of the osprey and sat down. He gazed out the window down at the ravaged landscape below them. While it was fairly dark, the big bolts of lightning did occasionally give him enough light to truly see the valley. 

CRACKA-THOM!

Marvins jumped back. The aircraft he was in, osprey-010, was dangerously close to the side of a hill. In that brief flash of light, he could make out the rustling of trees. While this wouldn’t be unusual for the current weather at hand, the trees were moving in a pattern. As if something was coming towards him. 

CRACKA-THOM!

He got another glimpse. A faint, eerie crimson glow started to appear from the blackness of the forest. A glow that seemed to pulsate vibrantly, saturating the woods around it in a bath of red light. A glow that seemed to move. 

“Hey! Something ain’t right!” Marvins yelled up to the pilots. He was met with crass jokes and little concern from the rest of his allies. “Look I’m not kidding okay?!”

“I wouldn’t worry!” The pilot shouted back. “The things on Skull Island won’t go out of their way to eat ya! As long as we don’t drop any bombs, everything should be all good.”

Marvins remained unconvinced. He snapped back to stare out the window. The red glow seemed to subside. The trees and valley turned back to the familiar icy darkness. 

CRACKA-THOM!

He didn’t get a good look at what tore through the hull of the V-22. Marvins could only hear the panicked cries and screams as a darkness enveloped him. Teeth as long as machetes and curved like hooks tore into him, shredding him into nothing but scrap as he slid down the beast’s gullet. 

Capt. Willis looked at the holographic display. He groaned in annoyance to find the osprey marked 010 was veering off course. It wasn’t like this was a first time occurrence though. His comrades usually enjoyed pulling a few dangerous pranks on the more seasoned flyer. 

Sometimes it was flying in too close and pulling back at the last second. Sometimes they dropped the scanners, causing a significant amount of worry. Kind of like they were doing now. 

“010, this 006. Please fall back into formation or Barnes’ll make sure you’ll move the heavy stuff,” he ordered. Not so much as a budge. The osprey started drifting even further away. “010, I repeat, you have to move back into formation.”

CRACKA-THOM!

Willis got a good look at where the V-22 was supposed to be thanks to the bright crack of lightning. In that moment, he saw the aircraft descend down into the side of the hill at a rapid speed. Something glowing with a vibrant crimson surrounded it. 

“010, pull up! You’re getting too-.”

His orders were cut off by the deafening explosion of the osprey as it slammed into the mountain. Every soldier in the osprey jerked up in shock at the low rumble. Willis and his copilot watched the fire and flames shoot up, basking the landscape in an orange glow. 

In that glow, it grew apparent and clear. A Skullcrawler, almost half the size of Godzilla, trudging alongside the wreckage of the V-22. It’s head was colored a mix of yellow and black, patterned along like a hornet. Bits of its skin was bloated to the point of swelling like pimples. The bloats were pulsating rhythmically with a vibrant red. 

The creature was screaming. Not of victory. Not of rage. Of sorrow. The beast was in an endless cycle of pain. It’s existence, simply pain. One of its eyes was swollen shut on account of the red, bloated glow. Its claws were twitching unnaturally. The hunt was now the only way it could distract itself from the sheer agony.

“Shit! Shit, shit, shit!”

A panicked voice came over the intercom. Lyla perked up in shock. Ilene and Ling glanced at each other and stormed over, along with Rammfeld, to the cockpit. 

“010 is down! I have a visual on a creature with... red skin?”

Willis yelled, frenzied and panicked. “Uhhh, looks... my god it looks like a Skull Devil I think? It just yanked them right out of the sky! Wait, wha-.”

His message was cut off suddenly. For the slightest second, the team heard a bloodcurdling scream and the tearing of metal. A high-pitched, guttural screech cut through the transmission.

“Jesus. What the hell is up with that things’ skin?” Markus asked. His question fell on deaf ears as Ilene turned to the pilot. 

“Order everyone to pull up. Now!” She demanded. 

“If I pull up, we’re gonna get torn apart by the storm!” The pilot shouted back. 

“If you don’t, we’ll get torn apart by those things!” Ilene replied. They stopped their chatter when the Colonel’s voice came over the speaker. 

“All units! This is Colonel Barnes! We got some bogies down on the ground! 006 and 010 are down! Make sure you’re keeping an eye out!” He ordered frantically, words rushing from his mouth. 

The sound of thunder and lightning grew faded under the panicked state of the soldiers. The armada of V-22’s powered on, flying through the chaos and the storm. 

Lyla watched them panic and rush to the windows. She and Ling shared an alarmed expression as she walked to the back of the osprey. She dug through the supplies at the back. Medkits. Emergency supplies. Flares. 

Flares. 

She tore the 4-pack from its secure latch on the wall and marched towards Rammfeld and Ilene.

“Hey. How bout this?” She handed the plastic package to the Lieutenant. 

“Can’t exactly crack a window down.” He murmured. 

“Well just lower the hanger doors.” Lyla suggested simply. It was met with an incredulous stare from both Ilene and Rammfeld. “What? You boys have some rope, don’t you?”

“I mean yeah, but-.” 

“Great. Tie me up. I can be the bait. Maybe we can get their attention.” Lyla took the flares and crammed them into her pockets. “Well, what’re you waiting for?”

“I’m not sure this is a good idea.” Ilene pondered. She tried keeping her composure, as this display of self-sacrifice was not unfamiliar. “Please, Grayson. There has to be something else we can do.”

“Relax. Even if I do die, that’s an extra $100,000 you can hang onto.” Lyla shot her a reassuring smirk as Markus walked over to hand her the line. 

“Where is it?! Can you see anything?!” Private Anderson yelled. 

“No sir!” A soldier said back, turning to a small walkie talkie. “001, this is 004. Do you have a visual?! I repeat, do you have a visual?!”  

He was fixated on the murky view outside the osprey. Despite the radio transmission, all seemed well. Rain pattered against the steel roof of the V-22. The slow ambience could put someone like him to sleep. 

The aircraft shook violently. The Private and his fellow soldiers were thrown off their feet, slamming into the walls of the osprey. A clawed foot tore into the roof. Veins glowing red, skin bloated and blackened. 

The claw ripped through the osprey like it was butter. The bloated pimples lent a dark red lighting as the Skullcrawler snarled around the insides, lapping up unfortunate soldiers into its multi-teethed mouth.

Anderson was left clutching onto a seatbelt as the V-22 fell down onto the Earth below. The Skullcrawler bore down closer and roared in his face. He truly saw how grotesque the creature was. Pimples and cysts surrounded its face. Some were even in its mouth. 

He closed his eyes as the flames and shrapnel swiftly engulfing the both of them. 

The devil of Skull Island was left practically untouched as the osprey exploded into a mess of metal and fire. It snapped towards the remaining seven aircrafts, glaring at the whirring motors and the blinking lights with unbridled fury. It set its gaze on one of the middle ones, desperate for anything that could shut out the immense torture.

The ground shook, trees shaking as it barreled towards the aircraft. It shot its tongue out to wrap around one of the propellers. The engine tore its tongue apart, exposing a mess of fleshy and pulpy blood. The Skullcrawler hardly cared as it yanked its head back. 

Osprey 008 was dragged down into the forest. It exploded into a fiery ball, flickering against the Titan’s milky and clouded pupils. It roared as a sudden burst of pain swept over its cysts. Looking around, the beast searched for another target. 

It focused on a bright, blinding glow being slowly lowered from an osprey furthered from its position. The red light was like a dinner bell, beckoning for the Skullcrawler to come forth. It emitted a low growl before stomping forward. 

“Now what?!” Ilene yelled, gripping onto the rope firmly along with Rammfeld and a couple of others. Ling watched closely, ready to step in if she was needed.  

Lyla was attached via a secure knot around her waist. She stood on the lowered hanger door and waved one of the flares maniacally, doing her damndest to grab the predator’s attention. She tossed the waning torch aside, grabbing and striking up another one. 

“We make sure it follows us! Let the other ospreys get to Outpost 33 safely!” She replied. 

“And us?” Rammfeld asked. 

“Uh, we improvise?” It was a horrible answer, but Lyla didn’t know what else to say. 

The Skullcrawler delivered another vicious roar as it got ready to pounce onto the V-22. The team could barely see it through the foliage as it buckled its arms to jump. 

“Hard right! HARD RIGHT!!” Rammfeld ordered. 

Everyone dove for something fastened down to hold onto. Everyone except Lyla. Before anybody could realise the mistake of leaving the rope unsecured, she was swept off her feet and towards the edge of the hanger door. She dug her fingers into a part of the grated steel, yelping in pain as she was shaken by the swerving aircraft. 

The sounds of the rain and the lightning became all that she could hear. Pouring down onto the metal, it was like bullets against a solid surface. Spitting out a mouthful of foul rainwater, Lyla tried crawling back up onto the door. 

She fell back, holding her hands up in shock as the Skullcrawler leapt up and snapped its jaws near the hanger. She stumbled back. The floor gave way to a 15ft drop into the dark forest below. Lyla was thrown off as the beast inched towards her, its jaws opened wide as it tried snapping her up in a single bite. 

Her eyes widened in fear. The osprey grew further and further away as she plummeted down. People said that stuff like this always played in slow motion, like you could see every second in perfect detail. 

That didn’t happen for Lyla. It was as if she was falling for hours, speeding down into the earth below. The osprey, the Skullcrawler. It all became a blur. Her breath grew wavered. Something washed over her. It was almost a sense of calm. 

The feeling was washed away as the rope tightened swiftly. Rammfeld groaned out in anguish as the fabric of his gloves was lightly torn. Ling rushed to his side, helping him pull up the rope as Lyla was left dangling in the valley. 

The Skullcrawler had eased its attack on the osprey. It was now focusing on the tasty little morsel dangling from the rope near the end of the aircraft. 

“Oh Christ.” Lyla whispered, quickly erupting into a panicked scream. “Pull me up! Pull me up! For the love of sweet god, PULL ME UP!!”

“We’re trying!” Ling shouted back. The wind was certainly not helping. Every time they tried. Stepping out to get a glimpse of Lyla’s position, the storm would do its best to try and fling them out of the V-22. 

Lyla desperately tried pulling herself up. The metallic wire was slippery and icy to the touch. She gripped it with one hand, trying to swing herself up. The Skullcrawler was drawing closer, chittering and gnashing its jaws frenziedly. It dove in for the kill. 

The sound of its snapping jaws would be one that Lyla would never forget. She swung herself just out of harms way of the beast, watching as it dove into the side of a mountain. Rushing through the thick forest, she was able to make out its shape on account of its crimson bioluminescent cysts. 

The flares shook around in her back pocket. Lyla grabbed one free. She looked at the small torch and at the Skullcrawler, who was getting ready for a second attack. An idea formed in her head as she struck up the flare, basking in its scarlet hue. 

“C’mon you bastard.” She whispered under her breath. 

The chitters and roars of the Skullcrawler grew quiet. For a moment, all she could hear was the crack of the lightning and the impact of the rain crashing into her back. 

A violent and sorrowful cry made her ears almost bleed as the tainted beast burst forth. A rancid, foul, decaying odor filled her nostrils as she saw the torn garments and fatigues of G-Team members. A fate that she could very soon share. 

Trying her best, Lyla flung the flare towards its only open eye. While it didn’t hit a bullseye, it was enough sudden light to cause the creature to turn away and plant itself deep into the ground. 

Lyla breathed tirelessly as Rammfeld, Ilene and Ling all worked together to try pull her back up. As soon as she was inside, the Lieutenant gave the go ahead to shut the doors. All four of them collapsed onto the floor of the osprey, exclaiming and sighing exhaustedly as the V-22 finally started to descend down onto what was left of Outpost 33. 

Chapter Text

MONARCH OUTPOST 33, SKULL ISLAND - JULY 15TH, 2026

The sound of whirring engines slowly subsided as the researchers and soldiers hurried from the osprey. Rammfeld ordered them out, stopping to stare at Lyla. She was lost in a daze, staring at the space in front of her.

“That takes balls.” He smiled brashly. 

“Hm?” Grayson snapped from her empty stare to look up at Markus. 

“Dangling out of the osprey with nothing but a pack of flares and fighting a Skullcrawler.” He recounted the events that occurred les than fifteen minutes ago. Yet for Lyla, it felt like days. Almost weeks. “That sorta stuff, I wouldn’t be able to do that. You’re a damn hero.”

“Thanks,” she replied, “but I’m not a hero. I promise you.”

“Well, sorry. But I’m already convinced.” He said as he walked out of the V-22. 

She merely smirked weakly in reply. While he intended it as a compliment, Lyla couldn’t help but feel moronic. There must’ve been at least a dozen other ways to distract the Skullcrawler. And she picked the one that involved a life-threatening stunt that could’ve gotten everybody killed. She let out another restless sigh as Ling approached her. 

“Uh, hi,” she groaned, “guess I’m not exactly up for the Lara Croft type, right?”

Ling grinned coyly. “As a matter of fact, that was the dumbest idea I’ve ever seen actually work.” She followed Rammfeld and her sister as they walked out of the V-22.

“Er, I’ll just take that as a compliment then?” Lyla followed closely behind.

The remainder of G-Team and the researchers were all huddled on the interior landing pad. The savage winds and weather of Skull Island was cordoned off by a large metal door. 

The crowd spoke frantically and loudly. Some talked about the events that had just transpired, the researchers curious about the boils on the Skullcrawler’s skin. Soldiers horrified and mournful for the brothers and sisters they just lost. Among them, Colonel Barnes glanced around trying to grab the group’s attention. 

He resolved to standing atop a stack of crates and delivering a high pitched whistle. The team all winced in annoyance as they turned to face him.

“Alright! Pipe down!” Barnes yelled loudly. “Look, I know we lost some good people out there. They’ll be remembered by Monarch for decades to come. But we can’t delay the task any longer.” He grimaced to himself as a few G-Team soldiers glared at him. Yeah it wasn’t exactly a comforting line, but this was a part of the job he was never cut out for. 

“And what is the task?” Rammfeld stepped forward. “For god’s sake, almost half of the fleet was wiped out by some angry lizard with a bad case of acne. You really expect us to get all geared up and head out there?” He pointed to the large metal door. As if on cue, the low rumbling of thunder could be heard. 

“If it brings you any comfort, I’ll be leading front out there.” Barnes sighed. “Dr. Grayson and both Dr. Chens will be joining us while the rest of the team try and renovate what’s left of this place.”

Lyla jolted up. She wasn’t exactly vying to march back into the harsh wilderness. 

“So you’re bringing civilians along with us? Well that’s just wonderful.” The Lieutenant groaned. 

“With all due respect, these ‘civilians’ know more about this island than you do. You’re going to need us. Unless you want to do your best to get eaten.” Ilene snarked. 

“Alright, alright.” Rammfeld held up his hands in resignation. He looked at Barnes. “So what’s the plan? We after some sort of ancient temple that’s about to sink into the ocean?”

“That’s exactly it.” Barnes nodded towards Lyla. “Doctor? Believe this is your field of expertise?”

In an instant, everyone turned around. Lyla took a moment to glance to the side anxiously before joining in. 

“Right. The temple we’re looking for is megalithic. Earliest dating for the Temple of the Moth put it around 1500 B.C. So, chances are it might be sunken halfway into the ground at this point.” She explained. It wasn’t hard to guess that everyone was tired of hearing the excessive talk. 

“Our sonar mapping puts the temple about half a dozen kilometers from where we are right now.” The Colonel fell silent for a moment. “You can take it easy for about an hour. After that, get ready to head out. Sound good?”

The G-Team murmured a halfhearted affirmation before heading off. 

Lyla walked over to the double doors that led to the rest of the facility. Opening them, she was met with a blast of icy air. Parts of the ceiling had caved in, giving the observation outpost a rather out-of-place sunroof. The catwalks and walkways were curved around a truly massive observation dome. 

The artificial environment was flickering and spasming. Dozens of holes were present in the roof of the dome. Despite the toughness of the geothermal generators, it was clear that they were fading. Everything that wasn’t bolted down had been torn away, after Monarch abandoned the Island to focus on the Hollow Earth. 

“Impressed?”

A voice called from behind. Lyla turned to see the Lieutenant standing in the doorway. He was shivering, no doubt at the sudden rush of air into the main outpost. 

“Damn fine piece of engineering,” Grayson watched the inner workings of the facility closely, “but the whole thing is janky. Flawed. The display is too weak to support an Alpha Titan. Especially one as intelligent as Kong.”

“Eh, I don’t know. The monkey seemed fine living here.” Markus replied. He walked over to her side. 

“The ‘monkey’ was only docile because it had a familiar. An Iwi girl, I think.” Lyla said. “They should’ve kept the outpost off-site, kept tabs on Kong as he ruled over Skull Island.”

“And what about the storm?” Rammfeld made a decent point. “This thing protected him from it.”

“Maybe. Though maybe he should’ve known.” Lyla rebutted. “These Titans, they aren’t something Monarch can keep control of.”

“Woah, easy there Emma Russell.” He joked. “Yeah it’s not a good idea to keep them contained, but you think Monarch should just let loose? Let all Titans have free roam of the planet?”

“No. What? No.” Lyla stared at him incredulously. “They should just observe. Not awaken, not obstruct. Just watch these animals in their natural habitat. They rule this planet. We’re just... termites to them. Who knows? Maybe we should be.”

“Uh, fair enough. I guess.” A half a dozen soldiers and scientists walked into the observation dome. Rammfeld turned to them. “Fellas. What’s say I help you get settled in? Make the place more homey?”

He walked off with the crew into the depths of the facility before he even received a response. Lyla looked back out through the observatory shield, pondering her thoughts and views. The idyllic, tropical visage was almost pleasing. If she hadn’t seen how devastated the island truly was. 

“I think you scared him off.” Ling leaned on the doorway, her hands folded against her chest. 

“Wouldn’t be the first time, believe me.”

The Mythologist chuckled and walked to Lyla’s side. “So, that’s what we hired you for then? To throw yourself out of ospreys and spout ridiculous theories?”

“What were you expecting?” Lyla was somber, almost cynical. “I’m just here to get paid. Keep that in mind.”

Ling was left speechless for a few moments. She didn’t know what to expect from the Former Senior Operative. One minute, she was committing acts of selflessness. The next, she was abrasive and confrontational. 

“You know,” she tried thinking of some way to cut the tension, “the Titans were looked upon as gods in ancient times. Myths saw them as givers of life.”

“Yeah I know the whole book. I studied Titan mythology with Monarch too y’know.” Grayson frowned. 

Ling ignored her retort. “My mom used to say that those myths were our compass. That they helped bring a sense of understanding to the world. They helped express peace, nobility... and even helped bring about redemption.” She walked towards a group of researchers. “Make of that what you will.”

She left to help the others. Lyla felt an urge to join her, yet remained at the railing gazing out at the mirage. 

Ilene went through a small manifest on a clipboard. A set of high-end computers, portable generators, observation equipment. Everything was listed in an ordered and neat manner. She walked through the hanger bay, checking off each item and sending it through as it was unloaded off the cargo helicopters.

She stopped as she came to the end of the massive room, finding a figure hunched behind one of the copters. He was swigging away at an old flask, the alcohol dribbling down his chin. 

“I... Barnes?” She raised her hand over her mouth. 

“Urgh, hey Chen,” the Colonel slurred, “sorry. Grh... Guess my break’s taking a little longer than usual?”

“What are you doing?”

Barnes took another drink. “Jushh doing what I’m expected to do.”

“This... isn’t...” Ilene began slowly before storming over and grabbing the flask from his hands. “What are you doing? You’re a Colonel now! You have to-.”

“Shut up. Just shuddup.” Barnes groaned. He tried reaching for the metal bottle. “I just need time... time to... to...”

“You’re a mess.” Ilene looked back, worried that some of the soldiers may see their leader in such a state of disrepair. 

“I’ll be fine Chen... just needed a little pick-me-up...” He gurgled, staring emptily down at the ground. “I’m... I’m scared man.”

The Mythologist stared at him in sincere confusion as he continued. “This sorta stuff? Bossing everyone around. I’m not meant for it... I-I miss Foster. And Griffin. And Martinez.”

“Shh. It’s okay. It’s okay.” Ilene rested a hand on his shoulder comfortingly. 

“And when I try remember them... all I see is lightning... and death.” Barnes hands started to tremble as he thought back to the fight against Ghidorah.

“Me too, Jackson.” Chen admitted hesitantly. “Sam, Rick, Vivienne, Emma... Serizawa.” Her voice quivered. “I can’t think of them without remembering Antartica. The darkness, the screams.”

“Man, we probably should’ve gone to therapy.” Barnes chuckled morbidly. “Instead, I got a promotion and you kept working for Monarch.”

“Maybe we should have.” Ilene shared his perturbed snickering before downing some of the booze herself. 

“Yeah. World’s moving on though.” Barnes coughed. “Pretty soon, we’re gonna be damn relics.”

“You’ll be the relic. I’ll still be kicking.” 

They laughed as they looked out at the hanger doors. In some way, the Colonel was right. They should be taking a break right now. Someplace nice, calming, and picturesque. Anywhere but Skull Island. Absolutely anywhere. 

Chapter Text

MONARCH OUTPOST 33, SKULL ISLAND - JULY 15TH, 2026

The sounds of the thunderous storm that plagued Skull Island grew louder and louder from the safety of the sealed off hanger. Barnes was at the front, now attentive and sober. To his right, Rammfeld was fiddling with an ACP submachine gun. To his left, Ilene examined a small yellow and black GPS that laid out the path ahead. 

At the back of the squad, Ling and Lyla stood watching G-Team ready their weapons. The Technician had a disapproving look on her face. While she wouldn’t object to the chance to put a Skullcrawler in the ground, the thought of a soldier accidentally shooting a Spore Mantis or a Sker Buffalo worried her deeply. 

Though in the end, she knew that the squad wasn’t going to take any chances with what might be out there. 

“Alright!” Barnes yelled from the front. “We set out in a single file line! Make sure you have eyes on someone behind and in front of you! If anyone’s missing let me know immediately! This temple is a few hours from camp so we don’t want to be out too late. Any questions?”

He received barely a peep. 

“Good!” The Colonel equipped a ballistic helmet. “Let’s bring er’ up then!”

Following his orders, a worker off to the side turned a key in an ignition hole. The large steel doors sputtered and creaked to life, sliding apart as the the insides of the hanger was hit with the violence of the wind. 

Pushing forward, the entire G-Team filed out slowly, fighting against the pure force of the storm that was slowly dooming the island. The branches of the trees curved in an unnatural manner, as if they were alive themselves and desperately trying to break free from the ground. 

Everyone wore appropriate equipment. Raincoats, high-duty goggles in case the rain proved to be too much, mountain boots. Even that didn’t prepare them for the winds that tried to pry the equipment from their hands. As they set off, the outpost dissipated from view in less than a few minutes. As if it was swallowed whole by the hurricane. 

“Keep ahead!” Barnes called out after around an hour of walking. “We’re almost at the temple!”

He stopped dead in his tracks as the sound of a large branch breaking erupted in the bushes in front of him. 

It wasn’t like the soft snapping of a twig that might alarm or frighten someone. This was loud enough that it was clear over the destructive sounds of the storm. Soldiers rushed to his side, lining up in a firing squad with rifles pointed towards the foliage ahead. 

Ilene stayed behind the line of fire, holding her hand out for all others to halt in their path. Ling ran up to her, as did Lyla. They stared out along with the squad. 

The Colonel adjusted his handling on the grip. He walked forward slowly. The mud squelched under his shoes, at least a dozen critters and insectoids slithering out from the earth below. Sounds of the turbulent weather became the only thing audible once more. G-Team kept their guns trained ahead, their fingers shaking on the trigger as they were overcome by anxiety. 

Barnes pulled back the vegetation in a quick flash. The sight that he was met with almost made him expel the liquor he ingested a few hours ago. The rest of the squad looked on in a mix of confusion, horror and disdain. 

Laying there on the jungle floor was the body of Skullcrawler child. It was no bigger than a dog, a miniature sized version of the familiar prehistoric creature. Rather than attack the Colonel, it simply lay on the floor. Wheezes and cries came from its minuscule fanged mouth. 

The same venomous crimson bloats that infected the adults had the same effect on the young. The same amount of excruciating pain. While the elders were more driven to madness, the babies were left immobile and squealing in anguish.

“God. It’s probably 4-6 weeks old,” Ilene stepped forward, “almost looks like it was abandoned by its parents.” She examined the creature closer. “Likely due to these marks. They must be causing an immense amount of pain for it to be almost immobile.”

“I-Is there something we can do?” Lyla asked.

“Yeah.” Barnes stood up and promptly put two rounds directly into the small beast’s head. “Nothing else we could’ve done for her. Thing was as good as dead.”

“What happened to it?” Ling leant over to look, taking an interest in the splotched cysts on the creature’s body. 

“Some kinda disease maybe? Could it be an infection?” Rammfeld suggested. 

“Possibly. But most diseases deteriorate the host. This baby looks healthy, apart from these swells.” Ilene hypothesized. “And... they’re still glowing.”

“Let’s just find this damn temple and get the hell out off this island.” He followed up, walking further through the forest. 

Barnes tailed him carefully. The entire squad gradually set out, leaving the corpse of the Skullcrawler young to be consumed by the mud and the scavengers of the island. 

Lyla couldn’t help but hang behind. She watched the small creature persistently. Its empty eyes, bulbous head, frail body position. The way it seemed to stare vacantly ahead. She could see its fear. Its agony. Its hopelessness. Things that felt far too familiar. 

“Hey, you coming?”

She snapped to attention as Ling stepped in front of her. 

“Uh, yeah. Sorry.” Grayson replied, still fixated on the body of the predator as she joined the Mythologist in following the rest of the team.

The sounds of rain hitting the leaves around G-Team was far too comforting for Lieutenant Rammfeld. He felt as if he was on another patrol in Ha Long Bay. Private jobs and ventures paid well in Vietnam, after he retired from active service and turned to mercenary work. 

It was hardly a clean job. He had to clean up some rather dirty messes. Missions that would never leave his mind. Brothers he wouldn’t forget. Families that he inadvertently buried. 

When Monarch offered him the chance after Hong Kong to help create a new and more advanced G-Team, he practically jumped at the opportunity. The whole idea of facing things like these Titans was of no interest to him. Rather, leading a team. Having people behind him who knew how to use a gun properly. That was what he was fond of. 

Working under Barnes had its ups and downs. For one, the guy seemed to be sullen and exhausted whenever they talked, even if it was a brief conversation. Yet he was almost a legend for someone so young. Rammfeld was nearing damn forty and he was barely near the acclaim the fresh-faced Colonel had. 

“Something on your mind Lieutenant?” Jackson interrupted his train of thought, walking alongside him with his rifle on its sling. 

“Just thinking sir.” 

“Ay, you know you don’t have to call me ‘sir’, right?” The Colonel chuckled. 

“Honestly, I think the formality is the only thing keeping me sane at this point.” Markus replied. “Uh, if you don’t mind, Colonel.”

“Dude, believe me when I say you are not alone.” Barnes assured him. The mud underneath them grew more loose and malleable. “World’s changing.”

“Yeah. Guess so.” Rammfeld thought to himself with a rather awkward question. “So, uh, what was it like? Washington I mean? Y’know I heard that you emptied an M60 into that big fiery bird’s face.”

“Gatling gun.” Barnes corrected him. “I-It was a Gatling gun. And I was... with Griffin. She flew the chopper.”

His mind drifted. Panicked orders. A flame-ridden tornado. A prehistoric demon flying through the skies as its wings leaked with a hazy fire. The memory made him feel like it all only happened a few days ago. 

“And Martinez was on support, right? The original G-Squad.” The Lieutenant joked. “Gotta say, you fellas were the real shi-.”

He was cut off as the earth beneath him collapsed. The mud engulfed Rammfeld in a swift instant, cascading down in a sludgy mess. Barnes followed, his body planting into the wet dirt as they fell. 

The rest of the team quickly stopped in their tracks. They aimed their rifles at the hole that was slowly forming in the ground. Ling and Lyla walked over to investigate. Ilene bolted over in a panic, peering into the hole as rain and mud poured in.

“Barnes, are you okay?! Barnes! ... Jackson!?” She cupped her hands around her mouth frantically. 

“Not dead yet!” The Colonel yelled, spitting out a mouthful of dirt and muck. “Aw, what’s the matter? Don’t tell me you’re worried about me Chen!” 

The Mythologist scoffed jokingly at the notion. Private Wilson walked over, preparing a rappel down. 

“Everything okay down there Markus?” He asked. 

“Yeah, we’re good! Looks like some sort of... sinkhole?” Rammfeld looked around. He fumbled with his flashlight, switching the button on the illuminate the dark pit. 

Something felt off. This wasn’t like any sinkhole or cave he had tumbled into before. Everything was solid. It was secure. He walked over and wiped away at the mud that caked the walls. Sure enough, it came off on his gloves with little to no effort. 

The walls of the cave they had sunk in were smooth. It almost felt like limestone. Lines covered it, alternating in a variety of patterns. The art didn’t grab Barnes’ or Rammfeld’s attention that much. They were instead much more drawn towards the way the carvings glowed and shimmered in the near pitch dark. It was dim and ambient. 

The same crimson shade that tainted the Skullcrawlers was imbedded in the archaic art all along the walls. 

Rammfeld kicked away the mud at their feet. The same applied for the patterned floor below. The hue seemed to vibrate. Like it was reacting to their presence. Like it was alive. 

The two soldiers stared at each other in shock, both knowing that they found what the team was seeking.

The Colonel looked up at Ilene. Ling slowly came into view as she and Grayson joined her side. “Hey Doctors! I think this is the part where you step in.”

Chapter Text

TEMPLE OF THE BLIGHT, SKULL ISLAND - JULY 15TH, 2026

The team rappelled down into the catacomb slowly, piling in one by one. Ilene and Ling were the first to enter. They were instantly transfixed by the glowing hieroglyphics, the light cascading off their faces. 

“My god.” Wilson murmured.

“I don’t think this is his handiwork.” Lyla snarked as she looked at the glyphs closely. “This is Archaic Chinese... and some... Iwi?”

“What?” Ling walked over to the dual specialist. 

“Hang on, we’ve got some Indonesian over here too.” Ilene read through the ancient engravings. 

“Can you tell what they say?”

“No. The writing is chipped. The glow is only making a few parts of it comprehensive.” The Mythologist reached for her torch. The bulb glowed for a moment before fizzling out.

The Colonel tried walking over to lend her his, only for the same problem to occur. “Great. Just great.”

Despite the faulty nature of their torches, the glowing carvings provided plenty of light to see. Lyla walked over and ventured near the apparent end of the room. The illumination followed her, lighting the pitch black in a ominous crimson hue. She peered ahead before turning around to face the others. 

“So, who wants to go first?” She jokingly asked. 

Rammfeld was the first to march ahead, his gun pointed up. Barnes was at his six, though his gaze was focused on watching the intricate hieroglyphics. Wilson, Ilene, Ling. Everyone hopped down into the ancient corridor and slowly followed the Lieutenant and the Colonel. 

Lyla tagged behind a little. She was mesmerized by the writing. In her time working for Monarch, she had only ever investigated a single real-life ancient history site. The Temple of the Moth. Other than that, she had earned a position as a Mythologist through research and theories on legends that just so happened to grab the attention of Dr. Rick Stanton. A nut for the Hollow Earth. 

She herself wasn’t big on the theory. After getting into his good graces, she soared through the basic training on how the organization operated. Along with Senior Mythologist, she attained a job as a Techie and a Field Operator. Surprisingly, the extra workload didn’t add much stress to her day. She was still able to get out, relax, and complete extensive reports whenever she connected the dots between some ancient property and the existence of Titans. 

The hieroglyphics and wall carvings they found in Yunnan were repeated in this new temple. Giants winged creatures. People the size of ants, watching these behemoths from afar. She recognized Titanus Mosura, painted in a way that was nothing short of beautiful. Some Skullcrawlers were scattered here and there. 

And there was something else that caught her eye. Writing styled like a list. Stylish accents and lettering used. Compared to the rest of the wall, it was clearer. Though not by much. The red lighting was just enough to help Lyla make out a verse around the beginning of the list. 

‘Kasaku yaanmu.’ 

She repeated it aloud out of curiosity. It fell from her mouth wistfully. Like it was a poem. Or a song. 

“What are you looking at?” Ling appeared from behind, speaking over her shoulder. 

Lyla cursed aloud. She lightly slapped the Mythologist’s shoulder. “Argh! Jesus! Don’t do that!”

“The team is heading ahead without us.” Ling replied. She took notice of the lyrics engraved in the wall. For a split second, Lyla could swear she saw some semblance of recognition. “What is this?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.” Grayson said. “It looks like some sort of prayer. Or poem. Writing’s different to what we saw before.”

“It’s Indonesian.”

“Like what your sister found?”

“No. This is ancient.” Ling brushed her hand against the old rock. “It almost looks like...” She trailed off. 

“Like?”

“You were right.” The Mythologist leaned back up, slipping her glove back on. “It’s a prayer.”

“Okay.” They both stared at the writing. “But a prayer for what? Let me tell you, I looked through every photo Monarch had of Yunnan. Never saw anything like this.”

The glowing carvings started to pulsate. The stylish curves became blunt. Like a flame that was slowly growing dim and fading into smoke. 

“Dr. Grayson! Dr. Chen!” The duo could hear Barnes yell out from further down the hall. They could see his shadowy silhouette against what looked like a brighter source of light. “There’s something over here. I think you want to check this out.”

Ling and Lyla walked ahead. The corridor was pre-lit, the team had marched ahead in haste. Illustrations of mythological creatures continued to line the walls. Grayson almost stopped a few times as she saw a familiar looking titan with maple leaf-shaped plates along its back. She and Ling made their way to the end of the corridor, gasping in shock at the sight they were met with. 

The G-Team had reached the temple atrium. Where windows and openings would be, there was now hardened dirt and rock. The glow turned from lighting up hieroglyphics to illuminating distinct lines and patterns. The crimson glow mixed with a blue phosphorus reaction of the rock around the structure. It basked the area in soft indigo, allowing for slightly better light. 

Everyone wasn’t too concerned with that. They were more focused on the titanic egg that laid in the center of the atrium. 

It shared the same red glow, though the pattern was spiraling and circular, and covered the egg entirely. The surface of the egg was also rocky. It looked like burnt and blackened concrete almost. 

“By the ones above.” Ling whispered. Her eyes were wide, like she saw someone die right in front of her. Ilene shared her sister’s expression of horror and surprise. 

“What the hell?” Lyla gawked. “I thought the egg was supposed to be on Palau Bayi?”

“It is.” Barnes insisted. 

“So,” the Lieutenant spoke up, “you’re saying we found another Titanus Moth egg or whatever?”

“Possibly.” Grayson walked forward, gaze burrowing towards the new discovery. “Or we found something else.”

??? - ???

He could feel his hate growing. His rage. His fury. His horror. 

There was no doubt in his mind that they were near. That they were dawning closer and closer upon him. He could feel the two guardians of her secret alongside the spiteful ants that tried tearing apart this island once before.

During that time, this place at least had a King who could watch over the less fortunate. A King who could protect them from the devils below. A King who was ruthless when he needed to be. 

That King was cornered and dragged from this domain. Sent to the place of the ancient kings. 

Now he was was forced to seize rule from the ape. He was fearful however. His influence had already spread from his sanctuary and into the wildlife. The devils from beneath were nothing he was too worried about. 

But all the docile creatures of this prehistoric earth were slowly dying. And it was his fault. 

Maybe he should slumber for longer? Maybe he should return to his rest?

At least until he could control this persistent infection that spread from his rest. He knew that he had to be a king, that he had to bring this world under a more natural control. But he couldn’t if his mere existence proved a threat to the things around him. 

The Blighted Titan’s mind thumped with duress. The human presence just outside his shield was no help. He could feel their hearts beat rhythmically. The way they breathed. The positions of their bodies. 

He stopped. Everything about those pathetic mongrels was clear to him. How their bodies worked. How they moved carefully among his grounds. He could feel them exactly as he could feel the wildlife of Skull Island. 

Exactly as he could control the wildlife. 

He curled up in the amniotic fluid of his egg in a fit of celebratory glee. He let out a muffled warble that saw his mandibles get soaked with the slimy fluid within the shell. Plans were starting to form. And he was more than delighted to set them into motion. 

Chapter Text

TEMPLE OF THE BLIGHT, SKULL ISLAND - JULY 15TH, 2026

“Alright! Get that stuff over here!” 

Lyla ordered a couple of G-Team soldiers. They carried a metal case over and set it on the ground. The soldiers opened it up, revealing a high-range camera and more observation equipment. 

“You had us drag down a camera?” One of them asked.

“Yes. A camera with the specific settings to get the best quality photo out of this thing.” Grayson explained, taking out the bulky device. She found that cameras could barely get a decent image in the atrium. Not with all the alternating light affecting the final prints. 

“Whatever.” The soldier sighed. “Hey, have you figured out why this place is glowing? Or are we just not gonna talk about that?”

Lyla ignored him and hurried over to the egg. The camera beeped as she snapped a photo. She eagerly awaited the demo on the digital screen. The urge to smash the expensive camera into the ground when it turned out blurry and unfocused swept over her. Ultimately, she sighed and set it back down in its case. 

“No luck?” Ling strolled over. 

“Nope. Whatever this light is, it’s screwing with the filter. Making everything blurry.” Grayson wiped a few beads of sweat from her forehead. “I’m guessing that’s not good for Director Russell?”

“Mhm.” Ling veered close to the uncovered egg. “I prefer to examine things in person. You can capture it from all angles. Every surface. Every detail. It’s like... it’s speaking to you.”

“Well that sounds enriching,” Grayson walked over to her side, “but unfortunately it doesn’t send results to Monarch.”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but she’s right.” Ilene was fixated by the red shell. “We have to at least send some sort of proof to the base in Boston.”

“I mean, they’ll understand right?” Lyla asked. “It’s not like we can strike gold on the...” she checked her watch, “first evening of the trip.”

They watched the crimson egg pulsate vibrantly. The color almost seemed to bleed out into the ground below. The blue rock gave it this ethereal magenta feel. As if the shell was leaking some cosmic essence into the world. 

“So, you’re the expert here.” Grayson folded her arms across her chest and looked at Ilene. “What are we looking at here? Another Mothra maybe? Something entirely different?”

“Judging from the hieroglyphics so far,” the Mythologist explained, “this looks like a temple of worship to Titanus Mosura. They called her... Mothra. The Divine Goddess.”

“Well we know ancient societies worshipped these things like gods.”

“No, this place is different. It wasn’t of worship.” She led them over to a panel that depicted a large mass begging to the Moth God. “It was of great plea and hopelessness. They were trying to get Mothra to protect them.”

“Protect them? Protect them from what?”

“From this.” Ling led them over to a large wall near the center of the back of the atrium. It was simply a singular drawing. 

It sure looked like Mothra at first glance, but something was off. Its body was spiky and jagged. Curved spikes lined its head. Its legs were far more barbed. The red glow made its entire form light up in a hellish visage. A demonic inversion. A destroyer from the dark. 

“Well,” Lyla quipped, “looks like this ‘Mothra’ went through an emo phase. Very cool.”

The Twins glared at her. She glanced away sheepishly. “Uh, sorry. But you got to admit, it does looks a lot like her.”

“This is not Mothra. This is what they called her for protection from.” Ling reached her hand out to touch the carving. “A monster, born of hate. Created from the deepest depths of hell with the sole intent to ‘save the earth.’”

“Save the earth? From what?”

The Researcher turned around in a dramatic manner. Her face was twisted in a mortified stare. “From the human race.”

Lyla exchanged a perturbed look. “Well... that sounds wonderful. I mean in all fairness, to them we are just a bunch of really annoying, horny ants.”

“How poetic.” Ilene groaned. She looked around to see Colonel Barnes beckoning towards her. 

He was pointing towards the hallway the team had come from. In his other hand, a high-tech satellite phone was resting. A frantic expression was on his face. Clearly, there was something he had to tell her. 

She turned to face Ling. “See if you two can find anything else from this writing. I’ll check back in a few.”

“Yes sister.” Ling replied diligently. 

“Sure.” Lyla waved a thumbs up. 

Ilene hurried off, leaving the duo to their own devices. Grayson was fixated by the mural of the twisted Mothra, while Ling started to move on. She examined the next painting closely. This one presented her with an image of the twisted deity and Mothra locked in combat above the skies. Beneath them, tribespeople watched in awe and terror. 

It was a spitting reminder of the mural that showed Kong and Godzilla locked in an ancient fight. From the way the creatures looked up at the Titans, to the style of the carving. She looked back fondly on the memory of first uncovering the epic cave art, a window into a bygone era. 

Ling Chen was far less accomplished than her sister. When she was breaking ground in Monarch R&D, Ling was uncovering some myth or tall tale that could be the earliest report of some undiscovered Titan. She preferred the academic side of things, the small circle that focused on old literature and writings. 

The only time she had ever been out in the field was on scouting operations. And when the Mothra Larva hatched from its cocoon during Ghidorah’s call. She remembered how dour that day had been. Godzilla was thought dead. The False King had claimed his throne. And yet from the fury, the Queen had risen to set things right. 

Ling recalled that day fondly. Maybe she would bear witness to her new awakening? She held on the thought as she kneeled beside Lyla to inspect the ruins of the temple. 

“How long can we get a signal for?” 

Ilene asked the Colonel as they walked down the corridor. The crimson glow of the hieroglyphics illuminated his face for her. He was disheveled, his beard was in tatters. But what Ilene could see most of all was that the young Colonel was tired. 

“Uh, about ten minutes or so?” He suggested. “This damn storm ain’t exactly helping.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“Look, I know I’m not exactly a scholar or a scientist,” Barnes began, “but this place. It’s off. And I mean, off.”

“I think we all share the same notion.” Ilene assured him. “Once we wrap up, I promise we’ll get your men out of here.”

“All I’m asking.” He smiled weakly. “Thanks, Chen.”

“Not a problem, Colonel Barnes.” She said warmly before bringing the radio to her lips. “Director Russell? I repeat, Director Russell? This is Dr. Chen calling from Skull Island.”

“Reading you Chen.” A voice spoke out on the other end. Mark was in a helicopter over Southwest China. He stared out at the landscape below. “Alright, how’s your first day going in island paradise?”

“Just fantastic.” The Mythologist replied. She hooked the small phone up to a speaker system to give Barnes a chance to talk in. “I’m here with the Colonel.”

“How’s it going old man?” Barnes joked. 

“Hey, just remember who stopped you from sinking into a Godzilla-Ghidorah free for all.” Mark remembered the day in Isla De Mara when the old G-Team had barely been able to make it back aboard the Argo. Barnes only remembered the snarling visage of the Golden Demise. 

“Yeah... yeah. Fair enough.”

“Mark, we found something. I think it could be a huge benefit towards your research into Titan rivalries.” Ilene spoke up.

“Oh yeah?”

“This is going to sound insane, but the temple we saw on Skull Island. The carvings... they’re glowing.” She described the sights they were met with vivid detail. “The hieroglyphics and the art. It’s all illuminating almost like an LED. And we can barely capture any clear footage inside.”

“I’ll be honest, we’ve seen aliens Chen.” Mark sighed. “That sort of stuff isn’t exactly a surprise anymore. I mean, we watched a nuclear dinosaur fight a three-headed alien dragon.”

“That’s not all,” She continued, “Mark... we found another egg. Like the one from Outpost 61. But this one is in the temple atrium. And it’s covered in these glowing patterns.”

The Monarch Director leaned up in his seat. This, was something he was definitely not expecting to hear. “You’re... you’re serious?”

“Of course I’m serious!” Ilene cried out.

“Yeah, she ain’t kidding man. It’s like Raiders of the Lost Ark down here.” The Colonel chipped in. 

“I guess... the board’s decision might’ve been for the better then.”

Both Ilene and Barnes looked at each in confusion. The board? What decision? The questions that raced through their minds were plentiful. 

“Wh-What decision?” She nervously asked. 

Mark let out a heavy sigh. He paused for a few seconds while the duo waited on the other end of the line restlessly. “The Monarch board and I reached a verdict to... to send the egg from Palau Bayi through the storm to Outpost 33. I was going to let you know when we got back in contract, but right now it’s about seven hours out.”

Ilene gasped. “Wait... what?”

“You... You for real? Don’t know if it left your mind, but remember the last time two Titans mixed?” The Colonel asked incredulously. “Nearly an entire fleet of warships was wiped out.” While he didn’t serve in the armada itself, Barnes had heard stories from the survivors of how Godzilla tore through battleships viciously trying to reach Kong. 

“Well this isn’t a fleet.” Mark responded. 

“No,” Barnes frowned, “but it is my entire team! What the hell?! Where is this coming from, Russell?”

“It’s out of my hands Colonel.” The Director explained. “The Monarch board needed results and this is the way they’re trying to get them. They think that maybe studying both eggs side-by-side could help us uncover more about both specimens.”

“Or it could cause some chain reaction.” The Mythologist warned him precariously. “The point is, we don’t know. Which is why we shouldn’t try mixing them together just yet. We need time.”

“Monarch has a lot of things now. Time isn’t one of them.” Mark groaned bluntly. “For god’s sake, one of the most dense cities on the planet was wiped out two years ago. All that’s left is scavengers and a Hollow Earth station. The amount of people displaced, and that’s not mentioning how many died. Either we do this, or Monarch runs the risk of becoming a laughing stock again. And you know that I can’t do that, Chen.”

Ilene wanted to desperately lash out. She wanted to call out how reckless this move had been. She wanted to point out how he was effectively using the Battle of Hong Kong as an excuse to make irrational decisions. Yet she was left silent as Mark added the final part of his explanation. 

“And with the developments on Palau Bayi, I think moving the egg isn’t that bad of an idea.”

“I-What?” She asked, dumbfounded. 

“The island where the other egg was found,” the Director said, “it’s getting engulfed by a storm just like the one over Skull Island. The damn thing formed not long after you guys left the base in Darwin.”

The Mythologist shared a shocked expression with the Colonel. Her hand started to shake as she held the radio, doing her best to maintain a firm grasp on it. 

“How bad is it?”

“So far it’s just storm clouds and few lightning bolts,” Mark said, “but if it keeps going on, the place will be as bad as Skull Island in less than a few months.”

“Goddess above.” Ilene whispered. The idea of bringing forth the egg from its resting place was something to balk at. She knew Ling would share the same sentiment. 

“So that’s that then? You just send over the egg, and we deal with that.” Barnes added. 

“Yes.” Mark said firmly, pausing to speak a sentence filled with nothing but self-loathing. “Because it’s your job, Colonel.” The sentence made him want to throw himself out of the helicopter. Barnes and him had been through a lot. They had gotten a first glimpse at Ghidorah side-by-side, they watched as Godzilla nearly killed him. And he still was forced to order him around like some simple lackey. 

“Aight. Fine. I got it, ‘Director.’” Barnes grimaced as he stormed off. 

“He... We all just need some time, Mark.” Ilene tried to offer some form of assurance. 

“Th-Thanks Chen.”

“And Mark?” She said before shutting the radio’s connection fizzled out. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Chapter Text

TEMPLE OF THE BLIGHT, SKULL ISLAND - JULY 15TH, 2026

Ling knew something was wrong when she saw The Colonel and her sister storm out from the hallway in a perturbed huff. They were glaring at the ground indignantly. Barnes was clenching his fists. Ilene was far more reserved, though she could still sense that something was awry. 

“Everyone!” Barnes yelled. “Can I have your attention?!”

The researchers and soldiers all snapped their heads towards the two. Lyla remained focused on the egg, though she kept an ear out to the briefing. 

“We’ve gotten some new info directly from the Director of Monarch,” the Colonel sighed, “and it seems we’re receiving a cargo drop.”

“Okay. Why are you saying that like it’s bad news?” Someone asked.

“The ‘cargo’ is the giant egg from Palau Bayi. The board is sending it over for a cross-examination. The decision is final.”

The crowd, once docile and relaxed, was now exploding into shouts and angered yelling. Rammfeld frowned ahead at Barnes, who kept his gaze fixated on the floor. Ilene was similarly ashamed of the revelation. 

Ling looked at her sister with a hint of reverence, though it was interrupted by a slight nudge on her shoulder. 

“Oh well, this is going to go over wonderfully,” Lyla spoke with distaste. 

“Wh-What are they doing? Monarch knows what can happen when humanity tries obstructing the natural order.” Ling wondered aloud. 

“It’s an experiment to them,” Lyla replied, “who knows? Maybe nothing happens.”

“Do you really believe that?”

Grayson shrugged. “All I know is that these things are best left alone.”

“I think we share that thought then.”

“More or less, right?”

Ling turned to shoot her a quizzical expression. “More or less?” 

“Yeah,” Lyla stared at her simply, “it means, to a certain extent or something.”

“I know what it means.”

“So what’s up?” 

“I’m not sure Titans should be looked at as a ‘more or less’ situation.” Ling folded her arms. 

“To each their own or something,” the Specialist waved her concerns away. 

The shouts and yelling continued. Ilene and Barnes remained at the entrance of the hallway, looking over the crowd. Every time the Colonel tried to raise his voice, he was droned out by the accusations and cries from the team. 

“Alright! Cut it!” Rammfeld’s voice cut through the thick like a knife slicing into bread. Everyone begrudgingly followed his order, with only a few more scattered cries of derision. “Colonel, you mind telling us what the board is trying to do by sending another one of these things?” He pointed to the large, crimson-glowing egg. 

“It’s... tough to explain.” Barnes groaned. “Honestly, I don’t completely get it either. But the gist is that the egg was already on its way before we touched down. The board... they want to try to speed up the results gathered from this op.”

The idea of a board running Monarch wasn’t exactly a bad one. Prior, it had been a handful of high-class employees and a figure appointed as Director. The only problem was that the US senate seemed to want to add its own generals and admirals to the board. Colonel Foster was one of them, getting a hefty promotion from leading the USS Argo. However, she was a small voice of reason within a large group who saw nothing more than another military front to run. 

“And the egg is set to arrive in,” he checked his watch, “six hours at the max.” A few frantic murmurs interrupted him. “Now, we’ve got to head back in time to help try and figure out where we keep that thing. So, as the leader of this expedition, I’m gonna make sure all required personnel head back to Outpost 33.”

The shouts returned like a bitter symphony. 

“Look I get this ain’t what y’all wanna hear, but having two teams in two main locations seems like the best way to cover more ground.”

“Dude, that’s how people die in horror movies!” A soldier said dryly. 

The Colonel sighed. “Okay, I’m putting Private Wilson in charge at this temple. Everyone who wants to come with, we need a max of about...” He scanned through the twenty heads in the room, “ten. That includes both Dr. Chens, the Lieutenant, and Dr. Grayson. We’ll set out in roughly ten minutes. That’s final, everyone.”

The team all looked up at him with exasperated looks. Everyone was either tired, annoyed, or a wracked combination of both. Though, they nevertheless let out a halfhearted confirmation as they set about getting the equipment ready for transport. 

“What the hell...?”

The only words that escaped Barnes’ mouth as he climbed up onto the mud and dirt. Rammfeld and Ilene joined his side, both sharing looks of astonishment 

The jungle landscape had changed drastically. The endless storms and rain seemed to halt, for the time being, a rarity for the island nowadays. Where there were once large trees and shallow rivers, now lakes and shriveled, bulbous roots that shot up from the ground. They were shades of salmon and vermillion, sprouting out into tentacle-like appendages. 

Just ahead, a hoard of bulging sacs hung from the transformed flora. Vines hung down, with similar colors, and moved slowly. They explored the space below the bagged hunks of flesh as if searching for something to latch onto. 

“Vinestranglers.” The Lieutenant remarked. “Yeah, I read about them in the dossier on this place. They’re usually green, aren’t they?”

Ilene approached one of the writhing stumps carefully. “It’s this plant. It’s some sort of carnivorous fungi, feeding on the natural wildlife.”

“Well, that’s just fantastic,” Barnes said dourly as Ling, Lyla, and the rest of the Outpost team reached the surface. “Okay. Let’s go around. It’ll take longer, but it’s easier than trying to make our way through that.” 

“Not that worst idea.” The Senior Mythologist joked as she pulled away from the unnatural fauna. She stopped as she saw something in Rammfeld’s back pocket. 

At first, she thought it must’ve been the light from the caverns playing tricks on her eyes. But this glow was directly from the Lieutenant’s pocket. A similar tone to the hue from the carvings. While she only seemed to focus on it for a few seconds, Ilene looked up to find that the team had started to head forward through a small lake. 

“Uh, buy me dinner first?” Markus snickered, noticing her sudden interest. 

“Oh. Um, sorry.” She said, pulling her eyes ahead to the swampy bed of water. “Thought something was on your leg.”

“Christ don’t tell me this place has radioactive leeches.” He tried cracking a comeback, but Ilene saw readjust a small object in the back of his pants. She pursed her view forward as they walked into the murky bog, not wanting to arouse his suspicions.  

He noticed her unusually piqued interest, taking a glance down at his back pocket anxiously. While it seemed fine, Markus shrugged before joining the Mythologist in venturing into the marsh.

The team of ten must’ve walked for roughly half an hour through the waist-high water before the complaints really started to arise. They were mostly from the soldiers and researchers, the latter of whom were far more used to walking through a crowded office than a mire. 

The Chens remained at the front with the Lieutenant and Colonel Barnes while Lyla lounged around near the middle. She desperately wanted to add onto the persistent bemoaning. After all, her pants and shoes were getting engulfed with the grimy water that felt like cold slime. The smell resembled a dozen rotting carcasses. Yet, she powered through the urge to cry out and instead marched ahead.

Others seemed to be not as willful. 

“Oh god! I’m gonna be sick! I’m gon-!” One of them cried out before upchucking a clear bile into the green water. 

“Keep up the pace!” Lyla yelled, wading towards the meek fellow. “I’ll stick with him until he empties his guts, then we’ll catch up.”

“You sure about that?” A soldier at the end of the queue asked as she reached the sick person. “We should really stick together.”

She slyly shone a torch into his eyes in reply. “Don’t worry about us. Seriously, it’s just straight ahead.”

“Alright, you heard her. Keep at it!” Barnes yelled as he led the others forward. 

The rearguard Lyla threw off glared at her before following the person in front of him. Rather than shoot a response, she rested her hand on the back of the researcher. 

“Hey, hey,” she whistled soothingly, “just take it easy. We all have our bad benders, y’know?”

“T-The smell.” The Scientist coughed, spitting out what seemed to be the end of his puke. “It’s just... so-Mmph!” Another load of bile shot from his throat as he leaned over. 

Lyla carefully pulled his hair back and out of the way. She patted him softly, turning to make sure that they weren’t too far from the main group. Sure enough, she made out the faintest shape of a soldier lumbering forward. 

KERR-SPLUSH!

The sound made Grayson jump. While the researcher was too oblivious with his vomiting to notice much, the striking sound of something splashing in the water had sounded off not far from the duo’s position. 

She inched forward gradually, doing her best to keep her view on the sick fellow. The light from her torch was at least able to clear the dour air in front of Lyla, giving her a better view of the surrounding swampland. The macabre fungi from before were dipping into the lake. Reeds were tainted with similar veiny colors. 

A bank near the water’s edge was visible to her. She would’ve gone right past it, if not for something that caught her eye at the last minute. 

The slimy water, rippling lightly before going back to a still form. 

“Hey! I’m sorry, but time’s up! We’re heading back.” Lyla clipped her torch back to her belt. She waded forward, splashing the pond into a frothy mess as she tried to get a clear view of the researcher. 

Nothing laid in front of her. She sighed in frustration as she cupped her hands to her mouth. 

“HEY! WHERE ARE YOU!? C’MON, JUST SAY SOMETHING! Y-!”

An explosion of water sent Lyla flying forward. She glided through the air a short distance before collapsing deep into the bog. The water hit her like a bag of concrete, slamming into her chest and knocking the wind from her lungs. 

She did her best to close her mouth before the water tried replacing her air. In the end, a bevy of water flew out as she leaned back up above the surface and upchucked a heap of grimy fluid. 

At first, the violent upheaval of swamp made Lyla fear that they had accidentally awoken something like a titanic Sirenjaw from its slumber. Infected with the aggressive blotches no less. 

No, the sight she was met with was far more horrifying. 

A Death Jackal emerged from the marsh. A semi-quadruped creature that resembled some monstrous combination of velociraptor and wolf. It emitted a low cackle as its body became clearer and clearer. 

Its mane was tattered in mud, muck, and blood. Something hung from its open jaws, crammed inside like a fast food meal. Whatever it was, it started to whimper and breathe shakily. 

Oh. Oh shit, Lyla came to a silent realization. Her eyes went wide as she nervously gulped. 

The researcher was somehow still alive. Grayson was guessing that maybe the predator had grabbed him while she was trying to figure out what had made the splashing noise. An inquiry she didn’t hold any longer.

He was doing a damn good job of not breaking down into a frenzy for someone with razor-sharp teeth tearing into his skull. Blood leaked down across his face. His head was sandwiched inside, his limp body hanging out. 

The Death Jackal took notice of Lyla. Its pupil snapped in her direction, head still unmoving as it held the researcher in its jaws. 

Grayson noticed something seemingly moving around its eyeball. A red spiraling embryo, circling inside of the iris swimmingly. Like the Skullcrawlers and glowing engravings beforehand. 

Her train of focus was halted as another Death Jackal leaped out from beneath the water. The moss and cysts covered it as it slammed into the researcher’s side. 

Now, he had started to scream. 

His panicked shouts and cries almost made Lyla want to puke herself. The amount of pain he was in was staggering, each action driving the teeth deeper and deeper in. 

The second Death Jackal began to pull away at him, digging its jaws into his left side. The first one saw the challenge and retaliated with a swift turn of its neck. Tendons, veins, and blood exploded from the man’s neck. He slapped frantically away at the creature’s jaw, fruitlessly trying to ward it off. 

The challenger retaliated by yowling and ripping away at his torso. The fabric of his clothes tore off along with his stomach flesh. It dawned on Lyla soon enough. 

They were playing with him. A living, breathing, terrified human being. And the two beasts were toying around with him like a toddler with food. 

She shuddered and gulped before spinning around and wading off towards the others. the Death Jackals were too preoccupied with ripping the poor researcher to bloody shreds to notice as she escaped. 

Either her adrenaline was kicking in, or the others had heard the man’s screams. Because Lyla had come across the team in no time. A few soldiers, lead by Rammfeld and Barnes, already had their guns drawn and aimed into the bog. 

Ling waded forward and ushered Grayson behind the shield of rifles. 

"What the hell happened?!" Rammfeld bellowed. 

“Death Jackal. Two of them.” She wheezed, resting her hands on her knees. “The other guy... he... he was pulled under... by the time he was pulled out... god...”

“Just take it easy.”

“Nelson, Frankie, grab our three. Chujo, get our nine. If you see anything moving, light it up.” Barnes ordered as he marched forward with the Lieutenant. They both had their Vector ACPs pointed high.

The wind blew roughly, a vapid whoosh through their ears. Lyla, Ling, and Ilene watched with the other researchers silently. They dared not make a sound. Through the ambient sounds of the swamp. 

A low gurgling came ahead from the fog. It was shrill and horrific, like low-pitched drilling mixed with a hyena growl. Rammfeld’s finger shuddered over the trigger as he switched the safety off. 

“You sure he didn’t just slip and get stuck?” The soldier, Nelson, asked. 

“Yeah. I’m pretty damn sure.” Lyla glared at him. “Unless getting a lung torn out is just a flesh wound to you!”

“Eyes ahead soldier!” The Colonel interjected.

Nelson sighed indignantly. “Sir, I’m just saying! She might’ve se-!”

His irate bemoaning was brought to a halt as a Death Jackal leaped up and pounced onto his back. It roared at the others, which was quickly met with a barrage of gunfire from Barnes and the soldiers. Though it did nothing to stop it from digging into Nelson’s back, making a feast from his spinal cord and upper vertebrae. 

The researchers all ducked into the swamp. Lyla looked back, her eyes resting on a bed of upturned mud that could be dry enough to get a footing on. 

She looked to the Colonel. He was confused at first, before staring out at what had caught her eye. 

“Go! Chujo, cover them!” He said through pauses as he reloaded his rifle. 

“Barnes! No!” Ilene tried protesting. 

“We’ll be right behind you!” He replied, resuming fire on the large beast as another roared into view. The Colonel looked on drearily before taking his sidearm from its holster and tossing it to the scientist.“Just! Go!”

She hesitated for a brief second before grabbing the pistol. Ling started to drag people over to the bank while Ilene remained back, aiming the pistol towards the predators shakily. 

Her hands trembled as she pulled the trigger, firing a shot into one of the Death Jackal’s legs. She fired off a couple more rounds, proceeding to follow her sister in escaping to land.

The bullets burst open a plentiful amount of cysts, causing the creature a great deal of pain. It also gave the squad the perfect opportunity to empty their magazines into its side, causing the beast to slump over into the water. 

In response, the second Death Jackal let out a mournful wail. Droning, crying. The beast looked on at its companion in sorrow. 

“What’s it doing? It sad or something?” A soldier asked. 

“... Run. Just run! Follow the others!” Barnes knew that either it was sad. Or it was calling to something. “Y’all deaf?! RUUN!”

The team lumbered after the others, wading through the water gradually. Sure enough, the Death Jackal’s call started to attract the remainder of the pack. Three more of them sprinted from the carnivorous forest, yowling and crying in glee at the new meal waiting in the bog. 

The first to go was Frankie. The last in the queue of soldiers making their way to the bank. He was yanked back as a creature dipped under the water, pulling his ankle up to trip the hapless man up. The others promptly dug in, tearing him to pieces just underneath the surface. The water, tainted with a murky red.

“Keep going!” The Colonel stayed back, ushering every single one of his troops who ran past. He loaded a gun magazine from his belt, his last, and got ready to empty it. 

He felt a hand tug him back. Chujo readied his AR-15 rifle, spitting bullets towards the pack. 

“Go, sir!”

“Shut up! Either we’re all going or I’m not! That’s an order!” Barnes shouted back. 

“You’re the team leader sir! You’re needed!” Chujo reloaded his weapon. “I’m not! Now go!”

The Colonel persisted. “With all due respect, that’s bullshit!”

“Barnes, we have to go!” Rammfeld yanked on his collar, pulling him back firmly. He was met with a vicious fight as Barnes tried barreling forward. “Goddamnit! Now sir!”

Ilene cried out from land. A Death Jackal perked up, looking forward in curiosity. Chujo panicked, emptying round after round into the beast’s head until it dropped into the water.

“Go! Now!”

Barnes was ultimately dragged back onto the shore by Rammfeld and Ilene, who ran over to help the Colonel up. He looked back in dread, watching as the Death Jackals bided their time. They dodged round after round of gunfire from the resilient G-Team member until he was left with nothing but a Bowie knife. 

In the end, his death was swift. Though, he had been able to pass on peacefully before facing dishonor.  

The pilot of the Rolisica-062 cargo helicopter didn’t know what to expect when the team leader of the Skull Island-Palau Bayi mission was due to arrive. Maybe an Indiana Jones type, or someone who was well versed in this particular art.

He definitely didn’t expect to see a shell-shocked group of seven walk up the hill to the outer asphalt pad. The soldier at the front was glazed, staring ahead as if he had just witnessed every untold horror of Skull Island. The others around him had similar looks. 

One of them walked forward, a researcher from the looks of it. Blood coated her shirt. Her gaze was sullen, though she tried fighting it with a reluctant smile. 

“H-Hi. Dr. Lyla Grayson, I’m helping with this op.” She reached out to shake his hand. 

“Name’s Martin,” he returned the gesture, “uh, hope you don’t mind me saying, but you all look like you’ve been through hell.”

Lyla sighed, turning to stare at the Chens as they passed by. Both of them were shaken, looking down out the ground as they entered the base. 

The new egg, the one from Palau Bayi, was resting on the outer landing pad. It was a magnificent sight, despite resembling a dull, enormous, eclipse-shaped boulder. If only Lyla had the energy to truly appreciate. 

She forced a sly, weary smirk. “More or less.”

??? - ???

She could feel something brewing on the new land beneath her. 

Something vile, wicked. Downright wrong. 

The Queen was sickened at the feeling. And yet despite that, she also felt a sense of calm. A sense of resolution. 

Familiar figures, she once thought lost to the ages, now walking in her midst. Worshippers, not unlike the ones she knew in the high jungles, walking amongst the ones who inhabited the earth now. The ones who had fought alongside her and the King during the time of the Usurper. 

She could also feel the urgency that they felt. The dread. Terrors and nightmares would soon arrive, she could feel it. 

And that also meant she would have to arise. For the sake of their protection from what was to come. From the blight that plagued humanity itself. 

Chapter Text

MONARCH OUTPOST 33, SKULL ISLAND - JULY 16TH, 2026

Lyla bolted to the makeshift shower block as soon as she was inside the facility. She garnered a few stares on her way there, mostly due to her frazzled state and the blood spattered over her clothes. She tore them off in a hurry and shuffled into a stall near the back of the room. 

Lukewarm water poured from above, basking her bruised and wracked body. She saw a few yellow and red spots on her chest, likely meaning a few fractured bones. She brushed her hand over some old scars. That, and the screams of her companions brought her back to two years ago.

When she had first arrived in Hong Kong, after the fighting. 

She remembered digging through concrete and rebar, tearing it all apart in a desperate craze. Beneath it, cries and screams of trapped civilians. Whatever was powering MechaGodzilla had enough energy to turn half the city into a slowly melting sludge pit. Mixed with crowds of frenzied people trapped underneath, it resulted in a hell just below the surface. 

Hanging her head, Lyla leaned on the wall. She stared down at the ground, slight tears mixing with the water as it hit the back of her head. 

She remembered the buildings that had been left standing, some converted into crude hospitals. And most into morgues. 

The memories were hitting harder now. Maybe it was the death that had come with Skull Island. Maybe it was working around familiar faces. The how didn’t matter. All that Lyla was concerned about was the flashes of ruined cityscape and masked workers trying to lift up slabs of skyscraper.

Her breathing shuddered. Her entire body began to shake with dread, perilously trying to push away the horrors she had witnessed. 

“Dr. Grayson... Lyla... Lyla!”

Ling shouted from outside the shower cubicle. Lyla pulled in back instantly, snapping out of her daze. 

“What?!” She asked, perturbed. 

“The team is waiting for you,” Ling pulled her eyes away, reaching her hand out to pass over a small stack of clothes, “so it may be a good idea to put something on that doesn’t smell like swamp water.”

Lyla awkwardly draped over the shower curtain, poking only her hand out to take the garments. “Uh, sorry. And thanks.” She shut the faucet off, getting ready to head out. 

“Are you okay?” The Cryptid Expert asked.

“Hm?”

“I said are you okay?” She repeated, “what you saw... it wasn’t a normal thing to see out there.”

“I... it’s fine.” Lyla replied, slipping on some pants.

“You saw someone get torn to pieces.” Ling said bluntly. “That doesn’t go away on its own. And you can’t ignore i-.”

Grayson stormed from behind the curtain, zipping up a jumper. “Trust me when I say, you can. Alright?” She started walking off, “now let’s. Go.”

Ling watched as she hurried away, looking on in an almost mournful way. 

They arrived to find the main meeting room in a state of patient waiting. Barnes, Ilene, Rammfeld. Everyone was huddled around a bright holographic display table waiting for the missing two to arrive. 

The busy room overlooked an small sect artificial habitat, which had been cornered off. The gargantuan Palau Bayi egg had been hoisted into a small pond, complete with a waterfall and a cliffy overhang. Around the area, a white field shot up, blocking anything from getting out. Or in. 

“You’ve been busy.” Lyla lamented as she walked over to stare out the window, down at the biome. “Man, how long was I in the shower?”

“Fifteen minutes.” Barnes answered. 

“Oh. Anyway, what are we dealing with here?”

Rammfeld walked over with a tablet. “Electromagnetic field. 100% efficient. Apparently it’s the same sorta stuff they’ve used at Outpost 61.”

Lyla was unfocused, staring forward at the egg. Her eyes perked up as she saw it pulsate vibrantly, azure patterns gleaming all over. 

The Lieutenant noticed. “Thing’s been glowing ever since we got back from the temple. Heartbeat’s elevated too.”

“Does that mean..?” Another soldier asked. 

“No,” Ilene said. Lyla turned around to see her hunched over the table. “She’s not about to hatch. It just means she’s at a heightened emotional state.”

“And she wasn’t like this before. According to the pilots,” the Colonel frowned, “which means the little trip from Infant Island did a number on her. Changed her.”

“Hang on, Infant Island?” Lyla scoffed. 

“The island’s English translation. It has become some sort of a nickname amongst the crew who monitor it.” Ling added. 

“Huh. Cute.” Grayson bemused. She stopped as something caught her eye. The slightest amount of flickering within the barrier, dissipating into nothingness before reverting. “Wait, what the hell was that?”

“It’s what we called a meeting about,” a base technician walked to the table, “we started running into the problem when it was first set up.” The table lit up with a diagram of the containment field. “We believe it to be a problem with the system itself. You worked on the original field, so we were hoping you could sort out the complication.”

Lyla walked up to Ilene’s side. “Well, can you tell me what we’re working with here?”

“Of course.” The techie activated the diagram, showing an in-depth breakdown of the field generators. “How the main device works is that we operate on a high-powered battery. From the remote main control, we send out a signal that the battery receives and transmits as the barrier. It’s a force field, but it’s higher strength than anything we’ve ever gotten our hands on. I mean, not like we’re dealing with Kong so we scaled it back a little.”

“What about the excess?” Grayson pondered. “All that energy that’s just looping back around into the battery?”

“We funnel it all back into the barrier, taking care of any excess power. The old outpost kept these things in high stock.”

“This is wrong,” Lyla selected specific part of the diagram, “the batteries can’t loop it back around. All that energy, that leaks out.”

“No, that’s impossible-.”

She played a looping image of the striking black liquid as it poured from a cylindrical cartridge. “It is very possible. You’re treating this like it’s all done from a remote. But you have to adjust the settings manually to make sure everything’s up to shape. Since you dialled it back on that remote, you only reduced the output.”

“So what you’re saying is, the energy is only being reduced without shutting the excess off. And its going to screw with the rest of the system.” The technician rubbed his head. “Shit...”

“It’s fine, just shut off the field and go down to fix it.” Lyla’s suggestion was met with halfhearted moans. “What? You can... right?”

“That thing doesn’t look good, Doctor.” Rammfeld said. “And that blue glow might screw with you the same way the stuff from the temple messed with the wildlife on the island. I think it’s best not to meddle with it.”

“We’re not meddling with it,” she rebutted, “we’re going in and fixing the battery. It’ll take twenty minutes at most. Coach?” Her gaze went ahead to Barnes. 

He sighed. “Make it quick.”

“Thanks,” Lyla replied, waving to a small team of workers and mechanics. “Can you guys come with me?”

“You’re sure?” Ling asked as she walked off alongside Grayson. “The holes in the roof, what if something found its way inside?”

“If anything did, I doubt it would be inside the field.” Lyla grabbed two radios off a charging port, tossing one to the Mythologist. “If you see anything, you can always give me a foreword.” 

She approached the stairs to the double layered entrance. It was comprised of a glass door to a small room, which led out to the Titan habitat. Lyla turned to the team and motioned for them to enter, not far behind herself. 

She smirked to Ling before following the others. “Hey, break a leg right?”

The inside of the dome was illuminated brightly from the hue of the containment shield. It provided plenty of light as Lyla and the team ventured forth, walking through the vegetation towards the edge of the field. 

The barrier all came from a slender strip of titanium, heavy wires leading back to a small substation in the interior of the enclosure.

“Okay, check up on the batteries.” She pointed to three of the workers. “You two, with me. Let’s see what’s up with the barrier strip.” As they walked off, she grabbed the radio and pulled it to her mouth. “Hey Chen? Do me a favour and shut down the shield for me. Would ya?”

It took a few seconds. The field continued to flicker and spasm as it remained up. However, the light faded and went away as it dissipated into nothing. 

Lyla walked forward to the strip, a slimy and viscous fluid leaking from underneath. This had to have been it. The reason the barrier was breaking formation so badly. She grabbed a torch from her belt and shone it down on the leaking battery. 

“This might need a full blown replacement.” A mechanic strolled over and leaned down with his tools laid out. “Be a fortune if I can clean and seal it.”

“Just do your best.” Lyla smiled. 

They were both distracted as the whooshing of leaves overhead, a few slowly flying down. Their eyes were focused upwards on the trees. The branches fell motionless, becoming gradually as still as the rest of the forest. 

“I’ll do my best to be quick.” The mechanic assured her. 

“Good.” 

Lyla walked over to the substation. She leaned in the doorway, watching as sparks flew and crackled sporadically. Two workers blew away at the smoke on the panel, coughing at the sudden burst.

“How’re we doing here?” She asked. 

“Well,” he threw a rag down, “circuitry’s all busted to hell. But I might be able to hook it up to the hydroelectric generator outside. With the storm, this thing’ll be getting enough juice to last a century.”

Grayson looked at him, confused at the mention of such generator. “Our job here is to figure out how to get the batteries up and running again.”

The mechanic merely pointed to a large metal box on the other side of the small room. A panel door was halfway open, the contents inside darkened and unclear. Lyla walked forward and slowly opened it up, revealing nothing but scattered battery fluids and burnt ash.

“Something seemed to make a meal out of whatever was in there,” he explained, “so right now, generator’s all we got.”

“Right...” Lyla trailed off, “just get it working. And step on it, please.”

“You got it boss-lady.”

She left the substation to return to the mechanic at the strip. Maybe he was already cleaning up everything. Getting it in a halfway functional order so they could test the hydroelectricity method sooner rather than later. 

The silence outside was unnerving, like an alien concept on the ravaged continent. At first, she had thought he had just taken a break when she walked around to find the area empty. The other workers had somehow vanished too, nothing left in their wake other than the empty biome. Sure, the entire team had just taken a break at the same time. 

The low, whining gurgle from above squashed the meek theory. Lyla slowly turned her gaze upward, covering her mouth swiftly as she let out an instinctual gasp of shock. 

The branches and leaves above were breathing. Raspy, unkempt, ragged breathing. Beaks with jutted, needle-shaped teeth were pointing down. Their eyes, bleak and drab with a crimson glow. The tree they were resting on was stripped down to the wood, only a few astray bits of foliage hanging down. 

Lyla gulped, her body quaking with horror as something solid was slumped over a branch. From the way it was torn and ripped open, she almost assumed it was some sort of deer. A cow. Perhaps even a piece of buffalo. 

Those thoughts were quickly dashed as a Monarch cap and torch fell from above. It plummeted down into the mud, tumbling to Grayson’s feet as she tried inching back ever so slowly. 

A horned, wiry creature resembling a small black and red pterodactyl swooped down to peck at the headwear. A pronounced, jagged horn was perched on its forehead. It pierced the fabric easily, impaling the hat on its mouth. It started to shake its head back and forth frantically, trying desperately to free itself from the baseball cap. 

The bird was familiar to Lyla. A specimen reported during the dossier from 1973. Titanus Desubado. Also known more commonly as a Leafwing. On its own, it could be handled. Ten of them, something to worry about. Twenty, even some of G-Team’s finest would be faced with a challenge. 

Up above, there must’ve been at least thirty. Maybe forty from Lyla’s estimate. 

“Hey! Hydroelectricity’s up!” The mechanic called out, walking out of the substation wiping his hands with a rag. 

In an instant, all the Leafwings resting in the tree snapped their heads towards him. Grayson’s eyes went wide. The worker noticed her horrified expression, glancing around until his gaze eventually rested on the barren wooden spire. 

They shared a solemn, mortified look. The winged scavengers looked open curiously, waiting for either of them to make a move. Their interest seemed to die down. They slowly started to resume a still, patient camouflage. Waiting for anything that could signal some form of activity. 

The substation lit up like a beacon in the dim enclosure. The whirring of the generator was practically a ringing of the dinner bell. 

The Leafwings departed in a blinding tornado of wings and teeth. They dived towards the entrance of the power station, quickly finding the worker’s presence. 

“Run! Just go!” Was the only sentence he was able to spout before the beasts carried him up into the air, engulfed in a tornado of chaos and blood. His screams were deafened by the harrowing calls of the scavenger pterodactyls, crooning and cheering for the new feast that they uncovered.

Unlike the swamp, Lyla bolted off. She sprinted in a panic, grabbing the radio from her belt and practically screaming into it. “Ling?! Ilene?! If anybody’s there, get the door ready!”

Back up in the briefing room, everyone watched as the containment field flickered to life. The sighs, even cheers, of relief died down as soon as they started when the frantic shouting exploded from Barnes’ radio. 

He pulled it to his ear immediately, shooting both Chen twins an alarmed glance. Ling quickly rushed off to the entrance of the biome, while an alarm drew Ilene to the display table. 

“We got people on the way!” The Colonel assured her. He looked at Ilene, perplexed at what had drawn her attention. “Chen, what is it?”

“The heartbeat monitor,” she explained, “it’s spiking.”

“Doc, just hang on!” Barnes said, breathing heavily as he hurried over to the viewing window. 

“Thanks!” Lyla cried back at his report, yelping as she dodged a series of attacks from the hoard of Leafwings that was fixated on catching some new prey. “Just please hurry!”

A Leafwing made a swiping dive, barely missing Grayson as she sprinted forward. The sudden attack caused her to stumble, collapsing into a muddy puddle. Another winged pest tried speeding down. Its beak impaled the ground beside her softly, missing her temple by only a few millimeters. 

Lyla scrambled to her feet. Through the thick foliage, she could see the faint light coming from the opening entry between the enclosure and the rest of the facility. Ling was rapping on the door rapidly, her shouting muffled. 

The ten meter walk to the door felt like an eternity. The artificial night environment was almost dreamlike. Everything became ethereal as Lyla made the mad dash towards the light. It grew within arms reach as the Mythologist pressed the opening button. 

A sharp, stinging pain suddenly slammed into her as a Leafwing zipped through the air in front of her like a flying blade. She fell down to the ground once more, clutching her shoulder in anguish as a wetness grew. The fabric of her shirt and raincoat was torn. Blood was seeping out from the deep cut.

Ling was forced to shut the door as the vicious pests tried to bear down to the inside of the entryway. The beasts were initially perturbed, though they quickly turned back to Lyla as she bolted further into the biome. 

Good, she thought. It was better her than the entire facility getting breached. Grayson continued to sprint through the shrubbery and jungle, her footing falling loose as she fell into a shallow part of murky lake. To her shock, the water was excreting a bright blue hue. 

In the center of the small lake, the Infant Island egg was glowing vibrantly. The patterns emblazoned in the shell were pulsating rapidly. They were more and more frequent, becoming effectively a siren as it warbled loudly. 

Lyla didn’t fixate on it for long. Rather, she was more concerned with the pack as they descended upon her. The water was surprisingly warm, providing a slight amount of comfort as she trudged through. 

The crowd of Leafwings mostly dispersed as she entered the lake. The ones who remained kept above the cyan glow, nipping above to try and get a bite from her skull. 

The falls. Grayson’s gaze focused on the torrent of water that was pouring from the cliffs edge. If she could just slip behind it, maybe she’d be safe. At least until Barnes and Rammfeld could come in with a proper team to drive the creatures away.

She tried powering onwards. Her steps began to wane and falter. The wound was far too much for her to bear, bringing about a desperate desire for rest. 

The blaring sound of cracking rock and shattering noise filled Lyla’s ears. Everything was slowly growing fuzzy, her peripheral vision fading. A lone Leafwing flew done to perch atop her back. As it landed, it forced her down into the water. 

It pecked at her leg violently, picking it apart in a crazed hunger. Its gurgled chirping was muffled as the water poured its way into Grayson’s throat and nose. Her fight grew weak. Her resilience faded. 

This was how it ends? The question raced through her mind, blocking out any other thought. Drowned as a prehistoric bird makes mince meat from her thigh. She kept asking herself as water entered her lungs, embracing her in an eerily warm embrace of slow death. 

The warmth started to fade, subsiding to become nothing more than a shallow pool. The Leafwing chirped up at something, though it was quickly batted away by a large shadow Lyla couldn’t get a clear look at.

Water erupted from her throat, causing her to hunch over and vomit a bevy of clear fluid onto the grassy jungle floor. The jungle. As she was dazed, something had dragged Lyla up from the pond and onto the shore. At first, she presumed it was someone from the outpost. Maybe Barnes or Rammfeld had finally gotten through? Or perhaps it was the Chen twins?

Grayson moaned quietly, rubbing her wounded shoulder. Her fingers brushed up against a small mark. A scar. The attack from the Leafwing had healed up completely. At most, both her shoulder and leg were only aching slightly. 

All her questions were answered as a low gurgle deafened every other noise in the biome. Clicking that was almost curious in a way. The azure glow of the egg and lake was now shining down upon her, basking her in a spotlight of angelic energy. 

As Lyla looked up, her jaw hung open in awe.

The new Mothra was gazing down, fawning for the small human that she pulled from her resting place. Her eyes were larger than the previous reported specimen, becoming more emotive and expressive. Her mouth was shaped far more unusually, almost like a small, stunted pincer combined with a traditional caterpillar jaws. 

Grayson froze as the Larva leaned down gradually. She was transfixed by her beauty, every inch of her body glowing with an electric hue of sapphire. She looked at her carefully, as if the newly hatched Queen was examining the small, feeble human. 

“Uh... wow.” Lyla chuckled, unsure of what she should do. 

The Larva slowly motioned her head down, tenderly bumping Grayson with her head. She let out her distinct cry, though it was quiet and careful as not to alarm the human barely a few centimeters away.

Lyla saw it as some sort of sign. Very slowly, she reached her hand out. Mothra moved into it, nuzzling her head against her palm. She squinted in delight, the sensation of the soft hand quite comforting against her skin. Grayson exclaimed a breath of amazement. She was touching a Titan, up close. The way her bioluminescence cascaded down, almost felt mythical in a sense. Like it was some beautiful work of art taking an abstract shape. Like the glow of the morning sunset, shining down as if it were some shower of spiritual energy.

The Larva felt almost fluffy in a way. Brown and blonde hairs were buzzed down on her skin, creating an interesting pattern that weaved across her body.

She let out a few rapid squeals, arching back in a sudden motion. The wind rushed past Lyla’s ears as she watched the Larva let out a quick sneeze, the force of which blew her back a short distance. 

Mothra crawled forward in alarm, worried at the prospect that this new human was hurt by a basic action. Luckily, Lyla didn’t mind that much. Instead, she stared up at the Larva with a sense of childish glee. A smile spread across her face as she watched the Queen tilt her head ever so slightly, a similar feeling of awe coursing through her body as she watched the small human up close and carefully. 

“Holy...” Rammfeld was the only one to speak after a good few minutes of silence, “... shit.”

“She’s returned.” Ilene was far more elated, watching the Hatchling closely.

“Damn right.” Barnes was grinning. Despite his unfamiliarity with the specimen, he would never be able to drive the sight of the Queen of the Monsters blasting away an array of storm clouds, bringing Monarch the renewed strength and hope that they needed after Ghidorah usurped control. 

A closer recording was displayed on the table. The image of the Larva leaning down in an almost motherly fashion over Lyla became clear. Everyone in the room watched in withdrawn astonishment. 

“Are we recording this?” The Lieutenant asked. 

“No kidding.” The Colonel replied, briefly turning around to scan through the heads in the room. “Wait, where’s Dr. Ling?”

“I think...” Ilene felt a piece of her mind throb. Her brain thumped rhythmically, droning on to the point where every other noise was muffled. An exact imitation of the call of the ORCA. “My sister is outside. In the entry tube...”

“Friend. Please stay calm...”

Ling’s hand started to glow with a familiar blue tone as a pattern gradually weaved up her arm. It didn’t matter. She closed her eyes firmly and continued to sense the Queen’s movements and thoughts ahead, doing her best to maintain a constant form of communication. 

It had been seven years since her and her sister had witnessed Mothra’s first rise in centuries. Their mother and aunt had told of such an occurrence. And that when the opportunity rose, they would have to be the ones who talked to the Moth Goddess.

They would have to be the ones to bring about the new era of coexistence. And it all was to start here, as Ling maintained her focus with the Larva. 

“That woman... is my friend... please... remain calm... you’ll realize... everything in time... my Queen...”

Chapter Text

MONARCH OUTPOST 33, SKULL ISLAND - JULY 17TH, 2026

The meeting room was cleared out. Ilene, Rammfeld and Barnes were the only ones who were left hunched around the display table. In front of them, live footage of the new Titanus Mosura. She was curious inspecting her paddock, chirping in perplexed delight. 

“What’s it doing now?” The Lieutenant asked. 

“She’s looking around man,” the Colonel replied, “just relax.”

“With all due respect colonel, you can’t seriously say that.” Markus stormed over and rammed his fist against the glass. “That thing down there is indeed looking around. That means it’s intelligent. Which also means, if it damn well pleased, it could easily break out of here.”

“Well it’s good that She isn’t trying to break out,” Ilene specified, “and plenty of Titans have displayed sapience. It’s nothing new.”

“First Godzilla, then Monster Zero, and then Kong. Now it’s this thing.” Rammfeld listed the names off slowly. “That’s a pattern. And it ain’t a good pattern.”

“That these things may have personalities and aren’t just mindless beasts?” Barnes chuckled sardonically. “Oh yeah, it’s horrifying.”

“Nah, you don’t get it.” Markus rubbed the bridge of his nose in resting anger. “If these things keep learning, keep evolving, they could replace us. So... I recommend we start organizing a contingency plan in case it tries getting loose.”

The Mythologist scoffed quietly, hovering her hand over the table. A dozen or so images appeared of cave paintings. They detailed humans worshipping either Godzilla, Kong, or Mothra. Praying to the Titans for guidance, peace, understanding. A glimpse into a culture that was dashed from the history books, locked in Monarch’s vault. Until Titans became commonplace in the world once more. 

Though Godzilla maintained a firm rule, there were slip ups. The most recent incident occurred just before the Pensacola attack. Titanus Methuselah emerged from a sinkhole that formed in Scotland, turning the half the countryside into his own personal lounging pit. 

The King of the Monsters arrived in short while, sending the Titan running with a single display of his atomic breath. Ilene reminisced when she had crawled up from the submarine to witness his call to arms. An beam of blue energy flying up into the sky. A majestic sight.

And yet, ever since the clash in Hong Kong, not a single sighting. Not even the faintest glimpse of his dorsal spines glowing in the depths of the sea. It was just like San Francisco after 2014. 

“What the hell is this supposed to be?”

“Proof.” She explained simply. “Titans and humankind have existed peacefully before. And they can again. All we need, is the right attitude.”

Rammfeld chortled. “You really think we’ll be able to dealing with these things by having a positive outlook?! Oh wow, you’re so right. Yeah, screw maser tech. Let’s all join a Titan cult.”

“That ain’t what we’re talking about here.” Barnes said firmly, silencing them both. “We’re discussing the new Titanus Mosura. And the fact we’ve locked Dr. Grayson inside the gateway between the outpost and habitat.”

“For a day.” Ilene specified, glaring towards the Lieutenant. “A decision someone seems to back far too eagerly.”

“Woah, are you kidding me?” He balked. “She came into contact with that thing. We have to make sure she isn’t carrying some kind of infection. Hell, any minute she could burst into a glowing blue rash just like those Skullcrawlers.”

“It’s been at least 35 hours Jackson,” Ilene sighed as she turned to the Colonel, “and she hasn’t displayed any signs of a contagion. She saw the new hatchling up close, she could help us understand more about her.”

“Well she could do that from containment.” Rammfeld said. “We can’t just make exacerbated decisions based on heated emotions.”

“Heated emotions?!” She shouted. “This is coming from the guy who chose to lock her up based a nothing but superstition.”

“Oh I’m sorry, Doctor, what would you’ve done?! Oh that’s right, absolutely nothing!”

“That’s it!” Barnes brought his fist down on the table. “Both of you, cut it. Now!”

“Apologies sir.” The Lieutenant said.

The Senior Mythologist remained undeterred, glaring him down. She swiped her hand over the table, the images and documents dissipating away. She was stern, truly doing her best to contain her precipitating anger and infuriation. 

“Chen I know she’s your friend,” he began. 

“The complete opposite, she’s a pain in my ass.” She snarked. “But that doesn’t mean I want her locked up like some test subject.”

Barnes glanced between the two anxiously. He scratched the back of his thumb in a frenzied manner, trying to figure out what choice he should make. For one, Ilene was the only one he knew from the hell they had faced in 2019. The closest he had to a friend on this trip. And Rammfeld was the one who knew how the new squad did things. He was experienced. Whatever he would do, they would do.

“I say we give it a couple more hours,” he finally spoke, “that way we can just be sure.”

Ilene sighed. Markus was equally as annoyed, though he simply bit his lip and stormed off. She gave the Colonel a longing stare before following the Lieutenant in exiting the meeting room.

Lyla watched with hushed breaths as the Larva peered down through the glass door. The way her eyes glistened with azure illumination, how she chirped in curious squeaks. An elegant part of nature, and her she was with a front row seat. 

“I brought you two options.” She turned to see Ling standing near the door into the outpost, two plastic bags in her hand. “There’s either the chicken, or there’s pork.”

Dinner on the trip wasn’t going to be anything luxurious. Lyla knew that. The best the team could do was frozen meals in styrofoam containers, left in the microwave for up to three minutes. 

“Well which one do you want?” Lyla asked back. “Or have you already eaten?”

“Chicken it is then.”

Ling slid the plastic container through a small slit in the glass door. Grayson trudged over and took it, peeling back the lid to groan in disgust. The meal looked as if it were assembled from rubber, like an imitation. 

“If you really want, I can always get you another cup of coffee.” The Cryptid Expert joked dryly. 

“I wouldn’t say no to that honestly.”

They laughed and ate mostly in silence. Lyla pushed through her burgeoning nausea and wharfed down the small wrap. All while the Titanus Mosura perused around her environment playfully, inspecting every single tree and patch of dirt like it was some grand part of ancient history. 

“You okay?” Ling said, looking over worriedly. 

“Well there’s no Jamba Juice leaking from my eyes yet, so I think I’m good.” Grayson snarked back, yawning drearily. She turned, staring out at the majestic Titan once more. “Wow... you know I’ve seen her egg up close before, but looking at her like this... she’s beautiful.”

Ling agreed easily. “She is.”

“Almost makes you wonder, what else is tucked away on this planet that we have yet to uncover?” Lyla wondered. “Should we even discover it in the first place?”

“You think all the myths and legends of the world are best left as that. Nothing more than fairytales?” 

“I think that humanity has to stop pretending like we’re the gods we were on our knees worshipping hundreds of years ago.” She shrugged. “Apex, the MechaGodzilla, the Senate. They all think this is something they can keep a leash on.”

“And what if those gods come for us, specifically? What then?” Ling asked.

Lyla motioned over to the Mothra Larva, who took a keen interest in the light illuminating from the small entry. Her body glowed intriguingly with a sapphire hue. 

“Not all gods.” She retorted.

“But the demons? The monsters?” Ling’s point was a good one. Creatures such as the MUTOs had torn up the earth merely out of instinct. Ghidorah was an alien apex predator, arriving to the planet centuries ago. Even without human intervention, there would always be threats out of their control. 

“They see this planet as their kingdom,” Grayson finally spoke, “if anything tries to steal it away, they’ll make sure to defend it.”

Ling moved her gaze towards the curious hatchling as well, staring at her fondly. It was a hard thing to describe, but there was some sense of familiarity there. A feeling of peace. She secretly took a peek at her hand, hidden by a long coat sleeve. 

The marking from the morning prior was still embedded in her wrist. It was a dim, almost faded shade of white. Yet it was still there, printed in like some form of exotic tribal ink. Patterns with spiraling lines, illustrious engravings. Ling had only read myths with such similarities. Elegant priestesses covered in stark white tattoos, wearing intricately crafted robes. Praying and speaking to the ones they thought were gods. 

She was quite familiar with the history. Her family history. Though Ilene was far less interested, Ling was fascinated. Downright regaled by the stories her mother used to entail them with. To this day, she held onto those tales. Desperately hoping that they would be true. 

Though along with those stories, it would be reasonable to assume the nightmares that followed would be true as well. 

“Hey doc. Um, docs.”

Both women almost jumped in alarm as Colonel Barnes stood behind the Mythologist. He sheepishly raised his hand, letting out a meek apology. 

“What do you want?” Lyla asked, though she spoke in an unintentionally abrasive tone. 

“Just wanted to say that you’re free to go.” He walked over and pressed his hand on a sleek, black pad. It beeped with erratic red lights as the glass entryway slid open. “You ain’t displaying anything resembling the symptoms we saw.”

“Unfortunately, she’s still Dr. Grayson.” Ling joked. 

“Sorry, no curing that.” Grayson groaned as she left the small room, stretching her back. “Okay. New plan. I’m going to have a shower, and you go ahead and get ready to bring all the observation equipment out into the habitat.”

She walked off off as Ling and Barnes stared back at her in confusion. “Hold up. You want us to do what, exactly?”

“If it’s not too much trouble I hope.” She replied. “That new Titanus Mosura displayed sentience. And I want to find out how far that goes.” Lyla headed off, while the Colonel sighed and grabbed the radio strapped to his belt.

??? - ???

The rage inside him was billowing, bloating like a growing wart. 

The Blight could feel her presence growing. The one who had sent him into a slumber all those years ago. A beacon of pitiful optimism. If only he could hold all the same notions. 

He remembered the time of giants, when they had first collided. The Queen was desperate, trying her best to sway him from his path. She didn’t know how truly driven he was. After all, how could she?

Mothra held the warped perspective that almost all lifeforms should have a chance at peace. Even if the worthless specks of flesh were driving the earth into the hell beneath.

The Blighted Demon had almost let her blood spill into the ancient valleys. If it hadn’t been for her king roaring in at the last second, he very well would have. They fought alongside each other as allies, putting him to rest before he even had a chance to escape. 

However, the Blight could lookout far beyond the island. He could feel every single hibernating Titan in their sleep, their heartbeats like a set of drums beating through the ground. 

He didn’t see the king anywhere above the depths. 

Rather than question it any further, Battra was elated. He warbled malevolently in his shell, for his chance at a one-on-one rematch with the so-called Queen of the Monsters. For he was ready for a shot at revenge. 

Chapter Text

MONARCH OUTPOST 33, SKULL ISLAND - JULY 17TH, 2026

The Queen had been awake for one whole day. She had no time to rest, instead exploring this new domain she found herself hatched in. The enclosed jungle was a single spot on the stormed landscape, a place of calm in a sea of chaos.

In this environment, she easily caught the scent of something big. An alpha Titan. One who treated this land as his domain. Despite that, she had run into nothing else in the habitat other than the small, pesky birds that had tried attacking her human friend when she first arose.

The lights that surrounded her enclosure were definitely brighter than she was comfortable with. Though, it failed to stop her from peering further to examine the humans who walked about in the large metal facility. Scanning through the vast populace, she could sense two beacons of familiarity. Like the feeling of being within a mother’s grasp.

As long as they were near, she knew that she was safe. 

She was merely intrigued as the small humans wandered through her habitat, bulky and unusual devices in hand. She chirped in curiosity, leaning down to investigate. A few of them stepped back in panic, startled as she veered closer. 

A low hum escaped from her mouth as tilted her head. Her blue glow pulsated steadily as two of them walked a little closer. One had a digital tablet in hand, holding it up over the Larva as she sat in place diligently.

“Heya, girl. How you doing?” 

Lyla chuckled as she watched the gargantuan hatchling bear down upon the team. Monitoring systems were set up, getting every bit of info on her heartbeat and vitals. 

Barnes was also on-site, watching in hushed awe as Mothra stood by while the team of scientists walked over to her pool, drawing samples from the dim, though still glimmering water. 

“Remind me again exactly how this is a good idea?” Rammfeld walked up beside him. 

The Colonel sighed. “Y’know Lieutenant, it wouldn’t kill ya to have a little sense of wonder. Or curiosity. Hell, maybe there’s some little kid jumping up and down deep in there?”

“In a place like this sir, it would absolutely kill me.” Markus shot back. “And no. There is no ‘little kid.’”

They walked over to the dual specialist gradually, scooting closer as she was barely a few meters away from the Titanus Mosura. She had a sonar in hand, holding it up near the Titan’s midsection. Before either of them could grab her attention, they watched as Grayson stormed off towards a couple of scientists getting a long-range syringe ready.

“Hey! I’d hold off on blood samples for now, unless you wanna give her a reason to step on you.” She said.

The duo sighed and set the equipment down, walking off and muttering over the missed chance at research. 

“Doc!” Barnes tried to yell softly, though it still came off a little gruff. 

“Colonel... Lieutenant.” She turned around briskly. “What is it you need me for?”

“What are we doing specifically?” Rammfeld butted in before Barnes got a chance to open his mouth. “What is this a circus show? Maybe a zoo? How about we make it a pet? That could be fun.”

“... You done? I mean you seem like you have more crap to spout, but I’m guessing you’re done.” Lyla snarked before slipping into an explanation. “She’s been up for less than a few days. We want her to be familiar with us before we go digging around under her hood.”

“Fair enough.” Barnes bemused, glancing up at the gigantic and wilful Titan. In a shocking move, she returned his gaze innocently, her large sapphire eyes bearing into the Colonel’s with a sense of innate wonder. 

He took a bated breath, hesitating before he continued. “So, how bout you give us a tour of the place?”

Ling stood in the meeting room alone, watching as Lyla and Barnes began their observation of the Queen. She was fond of the muffled silence, looking on in revered astonishment. Despite that, she could also feel some dread. She had hoped Lyla would stay true to her principles and observe instead of interfere. 

From the myths, Mothra had been quite tolerant towards humanity. Almost downright affectionate. However, through her research, she had uncovered evidence of radical cults. Tribes of people who would worship the blighted. Even in her forgiving nature, it was said that Mothra was left less than pleased with how dedicated they were to their perverted dark lord. A tainted spot in her benevolent past.

“Taking some time off?” Ilene entered the room, carrying a cup of coffee which she was sipping slowly. 

“And you’re not?” Ling dryly remarked. “Come to think of it, why aren’t you down there with them?”

“I wanted to talk to you,” her sister replied, setting the cup on the table as she leaned against it, “about the call before the mission.”

She seized up. The thought of facing the Blight, in such an unprepared state, left her on the verge of panicking. Her fingers twitched anxiously, settled down by the comforting hand of her twin’s hand on her shoulder. 

“Just... breathe.” She said slowly. “Relax. Take your time.”

“I’m sorry. I just...” Ling shuddered. “It’s hard to think that after everything, this is where we must draw the line. You were there in Boston, yes? You saw the Golden Demise?”

“I did.” Ilene was able to recall the feeling of sensing the arrival of Queen, flying in to come to Godzilla’s aid. “But this is different sister. The threat we’re facing... poses something far more ancient.”

“So the myths are true? In a more literal sense than we anticipated as well.” 

“They always have been sister.” The Senior Mythologist sipped her coffee. “They’ve only been dormant. Waiting for the time to become truth once more. She walked over to the window, pressing her palm against the glass.

Ling thought hard at her sister’s words. She pulled her sleeve back to find the white pattern was curving further up her wrist. The pattern was more jagged now, spiking and pointing in an almost feral way. She rubbed the ink anxiously, watching as it took a while for the tattoo to revert back to its usual white circular imprint. 

“By the Goddess above.” She froze in surprise as Ilene stormed over and grabbed her arm. “What is this?”

“Y-You know what it is,” Ling said bluntly. It wasn’t a lie either, she could sense as her sister recognized the inking.

“How long ago? And how did it happen?” Ilene asked hurriedly.

Her sister took a slight while to reply, pulling back in annoyance. “A day ago. When Lyla was in the habitat. I... reached out. Like we do. And I felt the Larva... I talked to her.”

“You...” Ilene grimaced, “you did what?”

Ling continued. “I did exactly as the myths instructed. As our mother instructed.”

“Our mother instructed us to communicate together,” Ilene stressed, rubbing her forehead.

“I’m sorry,” Ling said meekly, “I didn’t think... I saw she needed help and I reached out...”

“No! You didn’t think! You could’ve exposed our entire family with a reckless and impulsive decision!” 

“Saving someone’s life was not an impulsive decision!” She broke into a shout. “If I didn’t help Lyla she could’ve-.”

“She’s only here for a paycheck! You think she cares about any of this?!” Ilene exploded suddenly, slamming her fist against the glass pane. “You think she cares about any of us?!”

“I... I can feel that she does.”

“You hold too much faith in her.” Ilene gripped her hair tightly, her breathing ragged and tense. She was angry, practically fuming. “And clearly, it seems I’ve made the same mistake.”

“I... You...” Ling’s speech grew faint, becoming shaky.

The Mythologist sighed in shame, “Wait... sister. I didn’t mean to-.”

“I’m getting some rest. Goodbye. Doctor.” Ling stormed out of the meeting room, leaving her sister to stand alone in silence as she contemplated her actions.

‘I’ve made the same mistake.’

‘I’ve made the same mistake.’

The sentence echoed through Ling’s head. She turned and twisted in her sleep. Sweat drenched her sheets. She could feel a sense of dread growing ever so apparent. 

She swiftly bolted up in her bed, breathing heavily and deeply. Her heart felt like it was about to explode from her chest. The digital display of the alarm clock coated the room in jade light. She pulled the small screen forward, squinting. It read out; 4:12AM.

Ling groaned, shuffling out of bed. The tattoo was growing larger now, spreading up to her shoulder and close to over her chest. She didn’t pay it any mind as she threw on a raincoat and walked out of her small cabin. To the left of it, was her sisters. 

A part of her wanted to storm in and tear Ilene to pieces. Mostly out of immense and reckless anger. They were close as kids, though they drifted apart as Ilene became the bigger breadwinner of the Chen twins, amassing an impressive résumé before she was even allowed to drink. After that, there was no time for anything else.

Though at the same time, Ling could feel her sister’s self-loathing. Her shame. Her sadness. It was like a flood, knocking her down and throwing her about. Maybe they both just needed time. After all, they had found a mysterious new egg and seen the return of Mothra in less than a week. A break would be warranted. 

Ling walked in the other direction, towards the meeting room. Even walking around the massive structure, she could spot the soft glow of the Larva’s bioluminescence easily. The hue coated her in a sapphire light, washing all the bitterness away like a shower. 

As the Mythologist opened the door, she slightly jumped as she found someone waiting and watching in the darkness. Their gaze was focused forward, towards the hatchling. An expression of awe spread across their face. Pure wonder. Simply nothing else. 

“Shit, sorry Ch-. I mean, um, Doctor Ling.” Lyla emerged from the shadows, gazing softly as Ling doubled over. 

“Just Ling, is fine.” She started to chuckle. “You... you scared me.”

“I’m... sorry.” The Specialist said shakily, nervously resting a hand on Ling’s back. “Are you okay? Hope I didn’t give you a heart attack.”

“I’m fine,” Ling brushed forward to the window, “just can’t get sleep. That’s all.”

“Riiiiiiight.” Lyla drew out her reply, clearly not buying the half-baked response.

“Is it that obvious?” The Cryptid Expert groaned as she stared up. The Larva was peering into the window closely, watching them both curiously as her illuminated body lit the dull room.

“Let’s just say I know what it looks like when someone needs to vent,” Grayson said.

“Believe me, you haven’t met someone like me before.”

“Oh wow. Nice. Real nice. You use that line on everyone?”

They snickered quietly. Ling brushed her hair behind her ear, clearing her face and showcasing her sunken eyes. Lyla’s hair fell to her shoulders, and was equally as dim, wearing some cargo pants and a button up with rolled sleeves. She smiled sincerely towards the Monarch scientist, who got the hint pretty quickly.

“It’s my sister...” She began. “She’s just upset. And stressed out. We... kinda got into a fight and I’m not sure what to do next.”

“This the first time you two have gotten into a fight?” Ling nodded in reply. 

“We’ve always gotten along. People even said we had the same mind. But lately, that feeling’s been... slipping.”

Lyla sighed. “That sounds like some sort of twin superpower. But in all honesty, tell me what you did wrong.”

“I...” The Mythologist trailed off for a slight moment, unsure of whether or not she should give the full explanation. The tattoo, the carvings, all of it. She winced in discomfort. “I just did something before her. Something that we were told we have to do together one day.”

“Okay. Some sort of pact or tradition. I got it.” Grayson pondered, gazing into the invigorating eyes of the Titan that stood before them. “Look, neither of you have to be perfect all the time. Maybe you win a few ones, maybe your sister does. But you guys have each other. And you always will. Just remember that.”

“Not bad, ‘doctor.’” Ling admitted, giggling. “Y’know maybe if you were a little nicer, who knows? You could work in therapy.”

“Aw, thanks. But I’ll pass.” Lyla returned her hushed laughter. “Can’t really deal with the talk all too much. I mostly just came to Monarch to get out into the field, investigate things that have been lost to the history books. That sort of thing.”

“Huh.” Ling turned her gaze from Mothra to Grayson, staring into her eyes carefully. 

She seemed to notice the sudden piqued interest. “Uh... have I got something on my face?”

“No.” The Mythologist simply replied. “I’m just trying to see what happened to you.”

“Trust me. You really don’t wanna know.”

“You excelled in Titan research and in fieldwork. You were activated as a field agent at a record age.” Ling listed off her track record. “I’ve peeked at your file. You were one of the best. And now you’re...”

“Go on,” Lyla frowned, though it was simply a mask over her sorrow, “finish that sentence.”

“Please, Lyla.” The Cryptid Expert said tenderly, echoing Grayson by placing a hand on hers. “Please tell me.”

“Christ, you’re persistent.” The Specialist shrunk back before ramming a fist into her pocket and pulling out a crumpled piece of paper. She tossed it to Ling, who grabbed it cautiously. 

It was a Polaroid photo, though the picture was slightly faded due to what was most likely age. In it, there were two people. One was a burly, fairly athletic-looking woman who was holding someone in her arms. Her hand was stretched out, the one who was taking the photo. The other woman in her arms was almost instantly familiar. Despite the longer hair, cheery smile, and youthful appearance, the Mythologist knew instantly that it was Grayson.

“Her name was Margret. She worked the fire and rescue for the San Fran attacks. Which, was also the day I started fieldwork.” Lyla slightly chuckled. “We, uh, actually met when she punched me in the face for telling her she was in land under Monarch jurisdiction.”

She choked a little, coughing loudly to try and distract herself from the growing memories. “She apologized and we kinda hit it off. 5 years later, during the Rise of the Titans, she proposed... Told me she did it in case anything happened. And I told her that... that... nothing would ever happen to us.”

“I-It was so damn long, looking for her in Hong Kong. She went as a freelancer for an Apex safety inspection job. Thought it would be some easy money.” Lyla started hyperventilating, tears running down her cheeks. She paid it barely a second thought. “When I found her... god...”

She turned her head to Ling, locking eyes with her as she continued. “I spent a week in a lead-shielded room. While people in hazmat suits... told me that the pile of burnt flesh and bone on a table... w-was my wife.”

Lyla sniffled silently, her body shaking and shuddering.

“I’m so sorry, Lyla. I’m so, so sorry.” Ling’s speech was equally as shaky as she went on. “And you’re torn? Between the Titans and the death of your wife?” 

“What? No.” Grayson stared at her in disbelief. “If Apex hadn’t screwed with Ghidorah’s corpse, if they didn’t build MechaGodzilla, then Hong Kong would still be a city. Godzilla would never have come ashore to attack. And... my Maggie would still be alive.”

“You... you aren’t wrong. Sometimes, in our attempts to prevent monsters from attacking, we create the monsters themselves.” The philosophical musing was all Ling could think to say.

”Yeah. Guess so.” Lyla shrugged. “Heh. Still think I’m just here for the 100k?”

The Mythologist had no response as they both focused on the hatchling, standing up to watch her closely. 

The Larva was staring at them. While that wasn’t anything new at this point, something was different this time. Her brows were slanted. Her chittering, quiet and mournful. Her body was dipping in between a rich violet and the familiar blue tone. In some way, even unknown to Ling, Mothra could feel Lyla’s growing sadness. She could feel how bitter and abandoned she had felt. And in an even more mysterious way, the Larva could display her pain.

Grayson herself was almost speechless, a single word escaping from her scratchy throat. 

“... Beautiful.”

Chapter Text

TEMPLE OF THE BLIGHT, SKULL ISLAND - JULY 18TH, 2026

He knew the time was slowly approaching.

She was already awake and breathing, her power growing with each passing hour. Her compassion for these pests, becoming ever so sickening to the Blight as he started to prepare. 

Pests and fleas surrounding him were oblivious. Their minds too scattered to understand what was truly laying before them. Or what he had planned. 

The fluid within his shell started to bubble. His hatching, slowly dawning. The dawning of a damned era, gradually approaching. 

All he needed now was the perfect genesis.

“Christ.” Private Wilson sighed. “Rammfeld gets the outpost, while I get babysitting duty.”

“Says the whiny child.” A researcher sitting by the gargantuan egg remarked snidely. “Y’know if you’re so bored, you can always help us take a look at this thing.”

“I don’t know if I’m qualified to take a look at this thing.” Wilson bemoaned, stepping close towards the massive egg. The red light pulsated, illuminating the ancient and overgrown atrium. 

The scientist snickered. “Not really. From the carvings, we can assume it’s either another Mothra... or something completely new.”

“You’re telling me you guys don’t even know what’s in there?”

“Yeah. Look, it’s insane. Seriously. X-rays have turned up nothing. We tried a sonar mapping system and, not even a blink.” The scientist pulled out a small heated laser-scalpel. “Next option, we try extracting a physical sample.”

“That sounds messy,” the Private chuckled, pulling his glove free. He rubbed his naked palm against the rocky and craggy surface. “Damn, this thing is like concrete or something. You sure you’ll be able to-.”

He sharply winced in pain, yelping an expletive. He grabbed it firmly, breathing uneasily. Blood was trickling from an unnaturally deep slit on his palm.

“Goddamnit... I hate this place...” He groaned annoyedly, wiping it against his pants. It barely helped, the redness still seeping from the wound. 

The researcher pursed his eyes forward. “What was that you said about not being qualified to check this thing out?”

“Ah! Just shut the hell up! Freaking Monarch asshats” Wilson shuddered, the wound growing ever more tender and sensitive. The blood was pouring out excessively, almost appearing brighter as it oozed from the wound. 

“Better get used to us quickly pal.” The scientist said. “Damn, y’know that doesn’t look too good.”

“Really? Well I wonder what gave you that impression?!”

His incessant cries were silenced as a low hum filled the room. Everyone’s heads turned towards the egg, the patterned light vibrating and glowing brighter. It dipped in brightness rhythmically, lighting the room before plunging it into a faded, gloomy heap of blackness. The rhythm slowed, taking longer to light up the room. 

The crimson hieroglyphics started to retract, percolating back into the giant egg. The rest of the rocky surface was filled with the ruby hue. The pattern bled outside into the shell, becoming a fervent, blotchy ball of vermillion. 

“The hell is happening?!” Wilson yelled. 

“We look like we know?!” The researcher shouted back. He erupted into a panicked cry as a redness creeped down his arms. It was like a rash or a severe case of sunburn, bleeding into a harsh tone. 

He collapsed to the ground in shock, the burns trailing up his arms to his shoulders. The same fell upon the rest of the soldiers and scientists in the room, falling down in horror. Their skin warped and ballooned, transforming while they were still conscious. Their faces became crackled, slipping off like a melting sludge. Hands twisted and broke, snapping in horrific and macabre directions. 

The Private was the only one standing, watching the carnage in shock. The glow of the egg was blinding now, scarlet tones cascading off the walls. The entire structure started to shake and tremble, dirt and dust falling from the ceiling. 

His cut was vibrant and saturated, like a pen bleeding ink for too long. His arm was yanked forward violently, dragged towards the mountainous egg by an invisible force. The crimson energy enveloped him, numbing every limp and inch of his body like a growing shot of morphine. He tried screaming futilely, though his voice was droning and garbled. 

The glowing brightness sent them all back in a thunderous explosion. The rash that infected everyone was blown back all over their bodies, wiping them completely clean of any distinct features. They were all now in tatters, exposed flesh and skin pulsating in a lurid manner. 

The place where there heads once were was now a lumpy mound of muscle. It split open vertically, blossoming into a monstrous, chaotic mess of teeth, gums and freakishly long tongue.

They were mindless drones now, slouched over as they waited persistently. 

The egg in the center of the room was dull and drab. Suddenly, a thunderous crack shattered the side of the rocky shell. Scarlet luminance erupted from the hole, growing even more prominent as more openings burst out. A golden horn emerged first, bolts of lightning jittering out and stinking into the walls of the atrium. 

The red luminous energy poured out from the shell, soaking the mindless mutants in a bath of light. Their skin worsened. Their teeth grew sharper and chipped. Their limbs sank to the floor. Their feet dripped down into tumultuous growths. 

The eggshell coated the new hatchling as he jerked and crawled free from his resting place. The amniotic fluid dribbled out hurriedly, drenching the floor of the temple in a moist puddle. 

The Larva looked like Mothra. If one were to squint and ignore a bevy of grotesque and abhorrent features. His mouth was a stark difference, teeth and tusks more prominent and warped. A crown like pattern of golden lining coated his head. His legs were thinner, sharper. Easier to use to pin something down for the kill. 

He also had a bioluminescence, though it was a dark, saturated red. Like the violent glow of a fire alarm. The gaps in his black and gold armor was exceeding the scarlet hue. His underside was a faded shade of salmon. The end of his body tailed off into three points, thorny and pointed. His eyes were also expelling a red glow, permanently curved and slanted in a way that painted an intimidating and furious expression. 

The newly hatched Blight of Humanity explored his surroundings in a confused way. He had last been awake when his resting place was shining and magnificent. Now, it was a sunken mess. A graveyard, nothing left for it except the decay of the storm.

He warbled indignantly, mortified at how decrepit his surroundings were. The maligned creatures beneath him staring up in blind awe. The thing that used to be Wilson stumbled forward, chittering and gnashing its teeth frantically. It reached a malformed hand out slowly. 

Battra snapped backwards, disgusted at the mere appearance of such feeble and mutated beings. Though these ones seemed to be dull, unthinking. They were all watching him carefully, their heads fixating on his body. He gradually eased, leaning down. His bioluminescence grew stronger, becoming a rich shade of scarlet. 

Its fleshy hand brushed against the Larva’s exoskeleton, caressing it mindlessly. It was subservient, pulling back to drop to its knees. Bending to his whim and entering a prayer-like state.

He was left in shock, watching as he other humanoids hastily followed suit. They all dropped down to worship by the hatchling’s spindly feet, bleating loudly like the distorted howl of a pack of wolves. And it was clear whom they saw as the alpha. 

The Blight of Humanity looked on in awe, chittering perplexingly. The pests were docile, though they were still feeble. Their mutated status resembled an ancient species that he had witnessed before. The things that knelt before him now, nothing but the weak strewn together mess that he so desperately desired to wipe clean. 

He used his back legs firmly, lifting himself off of the ground as red lightning shot out from underneath his black and gold shell. It struck the walls of the submerged atrium, an entire bed of dirt and mud getting rocked by the manic energy. 

The mutants maintained their position, unflinching as debris cascaded down around them. A few were outright crushed, slammed into the mossy floor of the temple by rocks and old bricks. The deaths of those around them did little in terms of providing a distraction as the perversions of nature looked up at their new malevolent god.

Battra let a high-pitched screech. Again, he was similar to how the Queen of the Monsters sounded. But everything about his roar was just inherently wrong. Like an instinctual feeling or a growing woe. 

The gurgled cry was enough to bring the rest of the temple down around him. His self-appointed servants were all engulfed in the quake. Some of them were crushed. Some were killed by the copious amounts of Earth pouring into the atrium. And others lived long enough to bear witness to a horrifying sight.

The Larva shot an orange-yellow beam from his golden horn, shooting a large pillar of fiery light up through the temple. It gave him enough protection as he simply waited for all that laid around him to crumble into a dusted heap, not wanting to bear the sight of witnessing his acropolis in such an undesirable state. 

Without the restrictions of the half-sunken temple, the Blight was able to crawl his way up a sturdy side of the hill that remained intact. He stretched out to his full size, 16 meters, before rearing his head back to scout the ravished and stormy landscape. 

Far from his ruined temple, resting on land that was protected from the devastating winds, he saw them. Their ridiculous domed containment field. A stain upon this island’s vegetation. An infection, truly the worst kind. 

His chitters grew more rapid, emotional, enraged. He was furious, watching them with nothing but a sliver of hatred. He threw his head back in the air as the red glow immersed the forest around him, basking him in a sea of blood-red as he let out a roar that cut through rock. A roar that shattered trees. A roar that made all lakes quiver horribly.

A roar that was meant for her. For the arrogant and unruly Queen. 

MONARCH OUTPOST 33, SKULL ISLAND - JULY 18TH, 2026

The piercing sound of the horrific cry echoed across Skull Island. 

Colonel Barnes was staring fondly at the images of him and his old crew, under the tutelage of Foster. He desperately missed them, craving even another chance to carry out a tactics training session with Martinez and Griffin. His thoughts came to a halt when he heard the harrowing cry of something beyond the outpost. Something that was coming for them.

Rammfeld was busy making a call, slamming the satellite phone on the bathroom sink a few times to try and knock some life into it. There would only be a few small chances to check back to command for updates on the mission. And he didn’t want to miss them. All worries of trying to meet that deadline were washed away with the traveling call of something that was downright demonic. 

Ling and Lyla watched the Mothra Larva snap her head up in horror. Her eyes somehow widened further, darting around frantically as if she was panicked. As if she was scared. They were faced with the same horror as the call of the Blight dawned upon them. 

Ilene awoke sharply, sensing something awry. It was her sister, calling to her in her sleep. She could feel her urgency. Her alarm. Her terror. The Mythologist ignored the early morning shower and instead threw on a button up shirt and some pants, storming towards the meeting room. 

The hatchling inside the dome was chittering softly. Her bioluminescent field grew dim, fading as she stared into the dark virtual space before her. Beyond the screens, wires and metal, she could feel something coming. Something that was familiar. Something that she had fought before. Raising her full body up, she stood on her hind legs to return with her own signature cry of fury. For she would have no choice but to be ready for the thing that was sweeping the island. 

Chapter Text

MONARCH OUTPOST 33, SKULL ISLAND - JULY 18TH, 2026

“I think we need to begin by asking what the hell was that noise?!”

A solider asked frantically, leaning over the table. 

“Possibly a Sirenjaw. Or another, bigger Skullcrawler.” A researcher brought out a blueish projection of the creatures. 

“No... This is different,” Lyla walked over, “the wildlife acts up all the time thanks to this damn storm. But this time, the Larva responded.” She brought up a security recording of Mothra a few hours prior. 

The video detailed the hatchling as she paced around in her enclosure. She was agitated. Panicked. Yelling at something well beyond the artificial screen walls of her habitat. 

“Yeah, she definitely ain’t happy about something.” Barnes surmised, watching the footage closely. “There any word from our scouts on what the hell else could’ve made that noise?”

“No sir,” a G-Team soldier replied, “all they’re getting is scattered sightings of infected Skullcrawlers.”

The sound of a blaring alarm dashed his claims. The flashing red lights preceded the manic cries of an emergency officer as they shouted over the speaker system. “All personnel! Be advised, we have an unidentified Titan bearing down on the outpost! External maser cannons are down! We’re vulnerable! Please evacuate in an orderly and organized fashion!”

“That’s impossible. I swear, the only thing we got were sightings.” The soldier summoned an outer feed of the facility, the grainy footage splaying out for all of the team to see.

It was scattered and jittery. A bleak and drab shot of the horizon beyond the outpost showed a mass of squad members lining behind Jeep’s and concrete barriers. Like a blinding flash of light, a gargantuan Larva that looked like a mix of a black, wingless hornet and a Mothra hatchling charged through the brush and foliage. The team opened fire, shooting aimlessly as the creature let a beam erupt from his horn. The energy tore through the soldiers and the vehicles like a knife against hot butter, fire, and explosions reigning over the landing pad.

“What the...” The Colonel said, horrified. "Is it just me or does that thing look like the freaky, glowy cave paintings?"

“Yes. It’s like another Titanus Mosura... but it’s warped. Wrong.” Ilene gasped. She activated an editing layer on the display table, creating a sleek blue shine to the footage. The unnatural Larva was coated in a sleek green glow.

“Well whatever the hell it is, it’s excreting a shitload of radiation.” The dual specialist stepped over to her side. 

“All Titans do. Stuff triggers life and vegetative growth, doesn’t it?” Someone from the mass asked. 

“Yeah. But this... enough exposure and it’s a lethal case of ARS in less than half an hour.” Lyla grimaced. 

The crowd of scientists and G-Team members murmured worriedly. They moved closer and closer to the exit. The anxiety was practically seeping, taking the form of nervous beads of sweat. All it took for Barnes to glance in their direction for him to understand.

“Okay, you heard the loudspeaker. Everyone get out to the V-22’s. Fit as many people as they can carry.” He ordered. Everyone followed and sprinted off as he reached for his radio. “Anyone from Monarch copy? This is Colonel Barnes from Outpost 33. We have a situation here command and we’re gonna need some backup.”

As he tried bellowing into the radio, Lyla took a moment to stare at Ilene. "What is this thing, Chen? I thought this mission was meant to be an in and out. An investigation into a temple, not a front-row seat to another monster fight."

"It..." the Mythologist said uneasily, "it was."

"So what the hell changed?!"

Ilene sighed and uncovered a small scripture from the display table. It resembled some sort of ancient scroll, an elaborate set of art below the header in a foreign text. The image was a replica of the art from the sunken temple. Two winged Titans, flying towards each other in a brawl as two figures watched on. One, a bearer of light. The other, the sweeping visage of darkness. 

"Yeah, I get it. It's ominous or whatever." Grayson pointed to the bleak and menacing behemoth. "But what the hell is that?!"

"There's a file on it, but it's classified-."

Lyla glared at her. "No, I don't care about clearance codes or whatever. I want you to tell me what you know. Anything at all... Please..."

"We don't know what it is. Only that it has been said to be the chaotic force of the Earth itself. The one who will cleanse the planet of anything that may pose a threat." Ilene explained hesitantly. "Our mythology division was only able to reach a designation after finding this transcript on him."

"Him?" 

"Titanus Battora. Also known as Battra." The Mythologist shuddered as she spoke his name. "The Blight of Humanity."

"Th-The Blig-." Lyla stopped, shaking her head with confusion as she groaned. "Okay, okay. Is that all, or are there some other fun facts you've been keeping from me?"

"Him and Mosura. They were rivals, Lyla." Ilene went on. "We were assigned to try and find more on them after Gojira and Kong fought two years ago."

"So I guess you never told your buddy Mark about the whole 'flying too close to the sun' myth." The specialist snarked in reply.

"I... I never meant to deceive you."

"No. It's... It's fine." Grayson sighed, contemplating her decision to tag along on the mission. She gave Ilene an uneasy look. Along with bemoaning her choice to herself quietly. She walked over to help the Colonel.

As he tried fruitlessly to get his radio working, Barnes was met with nothing but static. “The hell is up with comms?”

“There, uh, appears to be something blocking a signal from getting off the island.”

“So what the hell is it?!”

Lyla activated another security feed. A few meters from the camera, sparks were flying. The sound of crackling electricity was ear-splitting. A set of satellites were being attacked relentlessly by a barrage of lightning. 

“Well,” Barnes frowned, “that’s just great. Yeah, just fantastic. God, I hate this place.”

“Don’t go celebrating just yet.” Grayson sardonically added as she brought up a list of employee IDs, tracking numbers, and vital readings. They all seemed to be clear, though slightly unsettled. “Okay. From the looks of it, the evac is going pretty good.”

“Okay, both of you get down to an osprey.” The Colonel said.

“Colonel, n-.” 

“That wasn’t a request. Whatever this is, it ain’t like MechaGodzilla or the MUTOs or even Ghidorah.” He said firmly. "So I don't want anyone from the research division becoming roadkill. That clear?"

“O-Okay... Sure. We got it.” While Lyla was initially ready, she stopped to scan through the room. She tried recalling back to when it was packed with scientists, what she was searching for nowhere clear in her memory. “Wait, did either of you spot Ling at all?”

“No. I thought she was with you.” Barnes said, confused. “You were both in here when I came in.”

“If she’s not here...” Ilene didn’t need to finish that sentence. She could feel her sister’s presence close by, closing her eyes to scour her mind desperately trying to accurately pinpoint her location. A thumping heartbeat soon became deafening, followed by a distinct and familiar chirp. “Oh god.”

“What?” Both the Colonel and Grayson asked as she hurried out of the meeting room.

“My sister. She’s inside the biome!” 

They exchanged a set of shocked looks before rushing after the Mythologist. The duo followed her down towards the habitat. They were sprinting, determined to get inside before whatever was at their gates could rip open an entrance of its own. 

“Stupid piece of cheap bullshit!” In his bunk, Rammfeld groaned incessantly. He threw the feeble communicator against his bedroom walls, collapsing onto the mattress as he rubbed his eyes in frustration.

His room shook. The thunderous footsteps of the Titan outside bearing down closer. 

This is insane, he thought. He should’ve been on a V-22 yesterday and back at the mainland. He should’ve been lounging in his bed, waiting for the next opportunity to present itself to him. Instead, he was in a cramped cubicle. Wilson wasn’t responding to his attempts at communication. And some twisted creation from the depths of Skull Island was trying to tear its way into the building. Think Markus, think. 

He hurried across to his room to a dim-green duffle bag on a table. It was already opened, a glowing shine peeking out. The sample was tucked away in a hidden pocket, protecting it from prying eyes. The Lieutenant grabbed the vial and swiftly jammed it into his back pocket as his door was thrown open.

“Sir!” The G-Team soldier cried out. “Everyone’s evacuating! The safety of the outpost has almost been breached!”

“How?! I thought this place was built to withstand Kong?” Rammfeld threw on a jacket and grabbed a sidearm holster, clipping it around his waist as he walked out with the soldier. 

“It was sir.” The lackey ran forward, motioning towards one end of the corridor. “This way. We’re set to ship out in a few minutes.”

“Right.” The Lieutenant stopped in his tracks as he pulled his phone from his pocket. Blazoned across the black digital background, a blue pop-up window let out a small alert. 

‘GET THE SAMPLE OUT IN STABLE CONDITION. IT MAY BE VOLATILE, SO KEEP IT SAFE. AS A BONUS, COLLECT ANYTHING THEY HAVE ON THE LARVA. DO SO, AND YOUR PAY WILL BE TRIPLED. - R.S’

The text was clear and simple. The offer was far too enticing to Rammfeld, making him take a few steps back towards the other end of the hall. To the entrance of the main enclosure. 

“Sir, we have to go now!”

“Just give me a second!” He crassly fired back as he scoured through his belongings. He chuckled in relief as he found two things he knew he would need. A Glock, and a USB. 

“Sir, with all du-!”

The soldier’s frantic cries devolved into a sharp cry of terror. As the Lieutenant returned, he witnessed as the corridor where the trooper was once standing was torn open. The officer himself, thrown against a wall as the jagged metal and wiring came through. Rammfeld could barely make out a corpse as something big and shimmering with a red hue charged through, screeching in pure rage. 

He watched in mortified awe as the creature made mincemeat of the facility's inner workings. Ripping through it like it was nothing. The hulking outline passed after a few seconds, giving him a good view of its gold and black armor. 

The Lieutenant was frozen in place, watching the carnage unfolding before him with dread. The gap between him and the exit out to the landing platform wasn’t too big. He could easily make it to, at the very least, the edge. From there, he could climb up with little effort. 

But Rammfeld took another look at his phone and the message. The gray text, like a perversive invitation. He gulped in reluctance before storming off towards the habitat, no doubt trying to reassure himself with the benefits that this would reap.

Lyla, Ilene, and Barnes rushed down to the entryway. The operating floor they landed on was covered in abandoned equipment and forgotten moving vehicles. The door to the habitat was stuck open, slightly jutting out as sparks and dim light came from the doorway. 

“Oh... shit...” A horrified gasp escaped Barnes’ throat. “I thought evac was going well?”

“Yeah... it was...” Grayson replied, desperately trying to slow her breathing to deal with the sudden stress. “I mean... I thought-.”

Barnes eased her worries. “It’s okay... just breathe. Take your time.”

Ilene was less concerned. She stormed through the entrance to the biome, the others following carefully behind. The air inside was damp and stuffy. The trees swaying back and forth slowly. Something was definitely amiss. 

“Ling! Ling!” She began to call out, hoping that she’d receive some form of response. A shout. A crackling of the trees. Anything that could help her pinpoint her sister’s exact location. All she was met with was the soft sounds of the wilderness around them. 

The group started making their way further through the trees, watching as the virtual display slowly started to shift to an exuberant orange. 

They were able to reach the hatchling’s falls in no time. The tender sapphire glow of her bioluminescence providing a perfect beacon as they hurried through the brush and vegetation. The Larva was upright, peering down at a figure who had her arms locked in a prayer position and was murmuring quietly. 

“Wh-? Ling?!” The Mythologist hurried forward, resting a hand on her sister’s shoulder. “What are you doing?!”

“I...” Ling was startled, turning to see the Colonel and Grayson by her sibling’s side. “I-I was trying to communicate with her. See if I can get her to help.” Mothra stared down at the humans curiously. Her warbling was high pitched, like the symphonies of a singing bird. 

“Y-You’re trying to do what?!” Barnes was flabbergasted by the idea.

“Hang on,” Lyla lightly moved past him, her gaze focused on Ling’s rolled-up sleeve, “what the hell is that?” She motioned to the pulsating tattoo, vibrant and a stark white. 

“I swear, I can explain all of this! I...” Ilene began. She sighed, racking her mind for any way she could write this off. Any feasible excuse that wasn’t from some outlandish fairytale. Anything that could keep both her sister and her safe and secure. 

Her attempts at coming up with an alternative explanation for the tattoo were dashed as a loud roar sliced through the forest. Everything leaned over in shock, slamming their hands over their ears as the sound of the screech became grating. It could best be described as the call of a hissing alligator. Though this was guttural. Almost hateful. 

Everyone looked over to find the large creature from outside the base lumbering forward. It was growling frequently, its eyes warped in a spiteful glare. There ahead was the reason he tore through this metal dome. The very reason he had awoken. To kill the one thing that would stand a chance against him. 

Mothra reacted by roaring back and running ahead. The two Larvae crashed into each other, scratching and nipping at each other’s armor and skin. Battra pushed the Queen of the Monsters forward, his horn illuminating with a yellow hue. 

A bright beam of energy erupted forth, sending Mothra falling back into the waterfall. She chipped away at the dirt and rock that held it in place as the Blight crawled forward slowly, cackling and gurgling like he was some demonic malformation. It was as if he was happy. Elated at the chance to come face to face with his ancient rival after so long. This time would be different, for the King was nowhere in sight. 

The team had taken cover behind a few upturned rocks. They watched the fight go on as Mothra fired back with a blast of webbing from her mouth. The attack blinded Battra long enough for her to barrel forward, charging into his stomach and sending him falling back into the forest. She crawled over and bit into his horn, tugging on his head like it was a toy.

Battra leaned up, exposing Mothra’s underbelly. It gave him the perfect chance to slash at one of her legs. Two of her limbs came off fairly easily, crashing into the ground and shaking the rocky foundation. The Queen yelped and screamed in pain, crying out directly into the Blight’s face. He cackled again, gleeful in his proclaimed torture of the false monarch. 

She took the opportunity with ease, feigning pain to bite down onto one of his tusks. The Blight roared in shock as she closed her jaws firmly, cracking through the armored appendage with ease. She craned her head back, tearing off the golden tusk. Battra shook his head in agony as a green-yellow slime poured from his open wound. He snapped back to attention, burrowing his eyes towards the Queen as she defensively prepared for his next attack.

“Should... should we do something?” Lyla asked, unsure of whether or not it was even a good question. 

“I sure as hell wouldn’t.”

They all turned to see Rammfeld standing in the brush behind them. He was grabbing at his side, a small bit of blood trickling down his forehead. 

“Jesus,” Barnes stood up, the first to hurry towards him, “good to see you, lieutenant.”

“Yeah...” Rammfeld chuckled gruffly, uneasily holding his side. “Wish I could say the same thing, sir.”

Before anyone could react, he pulled a pistol from his holster and shot the Colonel twice in the chest. Barnes stumbled back, alarmed at the sudden action, before collapsing down to his knees. He plummeted to the ground, a breathless sigh escaping his lips. 

“Jackson!” Ilene hurried to his side, carefully turning him over to check his wound. “Jackson... no, no, no.” She pressed her hands over one of the shots, blood seeping through his shirt and staining her hands. 

Lyla tried joining her in helping but was swiftly stopped by the rogue Lieutenant jabbing the gun in her face.

“Ah, I wouldn’t recommend that.” He said slyly. "Don't be so down. He was a shitty colonel anyway."

“Sonuvabitch.” She replied, glaring at him furiously. Ling shared a similar expression of distaste as she raised her hands. “You’re with Apex, aren’t you? Trying to create another freak show to claim control over the Titans or something? Barnes trusted you...”

“Well, that's his fault. And FYI, I have higher standards.”

“Alan. Jonah.” Ilene scowled at him through her tears. “That’s your contact, isn’t it? That’s why you stole a sample from the temple. Isn’t it?”

“Well shit. I knew someone saw.” Rammfeld groaned as he used his free hand to pull forth a vial from his pocket. The liquid inside was translucent, though there was still a red tint to it. “And just for the record, there is no way in hell I would work for that asshole. What? You think I have any reason to ‘bring the earth back to the age of the Titans?’ Restore the natural order?! All that shit?! Nope. I work for a guy who knows another guy who knows Jonah. The only thing that British bastard does well as far as I’m concerned is paying me in bulk.”

“So that’s it? You steal all of this ground-breaking research for what? Money?” Grayson asked dismissively. “Christ. You’re shameless.”

“Oh am I?” The Lieutenant smirked, walking closer towards her. “The only reason you’re here is because you're getting a $100,000. Without that little selling point, you’d just be wasting away in Hong Kong. Drinking yourself to death.”

“That’s... that’s not-.”

“Actually, you seem pretty good at this whole ‘Titan hunting’ thing.” He continued, not even paying her the slightest mind as he moved over to Ling. “And you... well I know you ain’t normal, that’s for sure.” A glint of malice shimmered in his eyes as he turned back to Lyla. “I’m betting we bring my partner both this sample and one of the wonder twins here, we can crack 10mil easily.”

As much as it shamed her to dwell on it, Lyla did consider the option. Even if it was for the briefest second. She gulped nervously, glancing between Rammfeld, the panicked Ilene, the anxious Ling, and the gun that was aimed at her hip. The sounds of the fight raged on, even without them focusing on it too much. She could hear Mothra’s cries, however. Her roars. Her pleas. 

“You can take that 10mil and you can shove it up your ass.” She finally snarked back. 

“Okay. 2mil then. Even for this tiny thing.” Rammfeld waved the canister in her face. “Come on. It’s barely a sliver. And you’ll be getting all that dough for it.”

“Already said no asshat.” Lyla reaffirmed, letting her hands fall to her side. 

“Well shit.” The Lieutenant sighed. “Guess I don’t have any other reason to prolong this then.” He snapped around and aimed at Ling’s torso. 

Everything that followed was hazy. Ling threw her hands up in defense. Rammfeld snickered as he steadied his finger on the trigger. Grayson sprinted ahead, sandwiching herself between the two of them. She raised her hand to try and shove the Lieutenant aside. He squeezed the trigger firmly as he pressed the gun against her abdomen. 

Two gunshots went off. Ling dropped to the ground. Ilene turned to them, dreading the idea of seeing her sister in the same state as her friend. She was fine thankfully. Her brief moment of elation was quashed as she saw Lyla stumble back. 

Surprisingly, the bullets hadn’t knocked her onto her back. Rather, they had left a bloody mess in her hip and stomach. Blood was practically pouring out, staining her clothes. She gasped in horror, looking down at herself and then at Ling.

“I... You... I’m...” She coughed out a bit of blood that dribbled down her chin. Her body crashed into the underbrush as she mumbled incoherently. 

Throughout the scuffle between the group, the two Titans had been brawling through the forest. Battra was growing far more merciless, making every move he could think of to try and gain an advantage. His gnashes and charges did nothing but demolish the wildlife surrounding them as Mothra swerved and jumped out of the way of his destructive path.

He had to think of something new. Something that would cripple the Queen while also giving him the upper hand. His crimson gaze scanned the landscape carefully, soon settling on the space near her birthing place.

There were five humans. Two on the ground. Two standing up. And another one pointing a peculiar object in the air pointlessly. It didn’t matter whether they were all aligned or not. Battra only knew that Mothra would do anything to protect those feeble insects. To protect her two followers. 

He reared his head back, his horn charging with ethereal energy. The Moth Goddess saw his attack, already preparing ready to dive out of the way in an instant. 

She was left shocked as he snapped to the left, the beam starting to form as he aimed for the small crowd of humans. Mothra acted swiftly, barreling into the Blight’s side. He was flung off target, sending a blast of energy into a patch of trees. The underbrush caught aflame as Battra shook his head, startled by the sudden interruption. 

Lifting his legs high, he stabbed his jagged prolegs into her chest, pulling her in close. She wriggled in his grasp, squirming valiantly as he used another pair to grip her head tightly. His eyes were pulsating, a vibrant crimson hue reflecting off of her azure pupils. A violet hue was created, a result of their combined bioluminescence. 

Opening his fanged maw wide, a vile and enraged roar escaped from Battra’s mouth. Ling, Rammfeld, and Ilene turned to watch as the Mothra Larva was lifted up and flung off of the cliffy face. She screamed futilely as she landed in the shallow pool, the Blighted Titan standing atop in victory. 

He reared up again, his horn charging with a fiery light. Mothra squealed, scrambling to her feet. Water poured off her back, pooling off onto the dirt as she crawled over in front of the group. If she couldn’t win, at the very least she’d make sure that her priestesses were safe. 

The blast of light scorched her back armor. She screamed horrifically as the attack left her armored shell smoking and burnt. She collapsed onto the shore, wheezing exhaustedly. 

Roaring and cackling with pride, Battra’s body started to glow brighter. His eyes were practically leaking a crimson fluid. His bioluminescence became sharper, more focused throughout his body. 

Every tree, animal, and even insect were left in a panicked mess across the island. Every single tainted creature had their life drained slowly, excreting into the earth below. The ground shook and split open, waves slowly consuming it as the once exotic island started to descend into the sea below. Veins tainted a scarlet hue that ran through forests and mountains. The lightning turned a similar color. All drawing to the domed outpost.

Inside the habitat, the Blighted Titan could feel his evolution coming. With the amount of energy he had been feeding into the fauna of this island, it would only be a matter of time. The wounds he’d gained during his battle with the Queen were sealing up. His legs were warping into claws, twisting violently. Most sunk into his body, six left to contort. The front two lengthened out into raptorial legs, spiked with a golden outline. His horn grew sharper and longer. 

Battra warbled in agony as his back started to split open, making way for four limbs to protrude out. They quickly started to spread out, forming a barbed set of wings. They were splattered with yellow and red patterns, a jaded mirror image. His tail shifted, the most prominent barb forming into a reddish-yellow stinger. 

As his transformation neared an end, the Blight unfurled his wings in a triumphant pose. The roof of the habitat dome caved in. Vermillion lightning erupted from both above and below, siphoning into his wings and creating a misty, ethereal tone. The patterns pulsated with a prominent hue, basking Mothra below in a dominant red light. A vile, exultant roar was let out as he glared up at the sky. 

She frantically crawled to the space behind the waterfall, collapsing out of exhaustion and weariness. A silk spray poured from her mouth as she covered her wounds. The web cauterized them swiftly, encasing her in a blanket of white fiber.

Rammfeld had long abandoned the twins, bolting out for the landing pad. He was relieved, sighing with ease as he spotted an osprey sitting patiently on the asphalt. He hurried over and started it up, the V-22 taking some time due to the chaotic weather. 

He whooped and cheered to himself ecstatically, pulling out the communicator to wire a message back to his contact. 

‘GOT THE PACKAGE AND EXTRA. EXPECTING EIGHT FIGURE FOR THIS. MEET YOU NEAR INDONESIAN OUTPOST AT 0900. - M.R’

The flight was definitely not going to be short, but judging from his fuel gauge, Rammfeld easily assumed he’d be able to make it to the meeting point in time. And after that, he could lay back and watch his account numbers rise by the millions. 

In the biome, the Chen twins stayed by their allies’ side as they watched the scene unfolding before them. Mothra encased in a cocoon behind the waterfall in a severe state. Battra standing above, boasting his wings in an apparent victory. 

Though this was not the end for him. The Blighted Titan wished to wipe every speck of his rival’s existence from the earth. He wanted her to be exactly as he had been for so long. Forgotten to many. Left to rot in a sunken pit. And it all started with her shrine. Infant Island. The place where she had first risen. And it would be the last speck of her history wiped away. 

Battra began to ascend, flapping his wings in an alluring display of prowess. He took off, slicing through the roof of the biome easily. He rose above into the storm as it took on his crimson hue. He soared up, flying off into the early sunrise. A demon incarnate, now taking flight.

Chapter Text

USS MARAUDER, OFF THE COAST OF INFANT ISLAND - JULY 18TH, 2026

The wind changed dramatically as Mark’s helicopter started to settle over the large Navy destroyer vessel. He was scrolling through a chat log with Maddie Russell, now attending a tier-one university. 

The last text she had sent was ‘doing fine, classes are ://‘

Director Russell chuckled at the small amount of snark in his daughter’s text. Despite her laid-back attitude, he was well aware of what she had been through after the attack in Boston. The nightmares. The jitters. The flashbacks. 

He’d be lying if he said he came out of there fine, but for Madison it was different. She saw Emma throw herself towards Ghidorah. All for the hope that maybe she’d be able to lead him away from the escape osprey. Which she did. After San Francisco, she and Maddie were inseparable. They saw some kind of redemption in Andrew’s death. That maybe if they tried, they could find some sort of reason for why he died so senselessly.

Mark shivered in anxiety as he remembered his young son. No older than twelve before he was lost in a flurry of concrete and fire. He remembered rummaging throughout the ruined remains of San Francisco, desperate for any sign that Andrew was alive. In the end, he found his son’s broken and bruised body laying under a large slab of a ruined building. 

He breathed slowly, trying to pull himself back to the present. That was twelve years ago. There was no way he could’ve predicted such a catastrophe. Andrew and Emma were both dead. But he still had his daughter to think about. He still had Maddie.

“Uh, Director? We’re about to touch down in a minute.” The pilot called out over the headset. “I think Director Guillermin is already waiting for you on the ship.”

“Thanks,” Mark said dryly, turning his gaze out the window. The clouds around them were a dim grey. Thunder rumbled ominously. Lightning crackled above, striking ever so close the helicopter. “Hey, do you know where this storm is coming from?”

“No sir.”

Director Russell kept his gaze fixated on the brewing thunderclouds as the chopper reached the landing pad. The ship was bustling with crew members and scientists. All new arrivals to help determine how this cyclone had started to erratically descend upon the island. 

Guillermin was waiting patiently for his fellow Director on the landing pad. His hands were buried in his pockets. His brow was furrowed, watching as the grey clouds grew stronger overhead. He was perplexed by the drastic change in the weather, occurring over the course of less than a week. He had an umbrella at his side. Mostly out of precaution other than anything else. 

The helicopter touched down slowly, slightly shaken off-balance thanks to the wind. Mark stepped out carefully, running over with his hand outstretched. 

“Director Guillermin!” He yelled over the wind. “Pleasure to see you after so long!”

“Director Russell, let’s skip the formalities shall we?” Guillermin said stoically, walking towards the entryway to the bridge of the ship. “You have any more information on the storm surrounding the island?”

“Uh, not yet,” Mark replied. “We’re getting nothing but mixed signals at the moment. That, and the fact we’ve barely gotten any updates from Skull Island, has left me feeling a little worried.”

“You should be Mark.” 

Standing in the hallway to the main deck was another Monarch Director. Gondo Goro, a former four-star JSDF Admiral. Now one of the more upheld members of the organization. He was gruff and serious, his dark grey suit straightened and fresh. His glasses were pushed up, his hair slicked back. 

“Director Gondo wanted to see firsthand how we’re progressing on the Palau Bayi operation,” Guillermin explained. “As you can see, he’s not one for patience.”

“O-Of course.” Mark was admittedly startled by his appearance. Gondo had only dealt with Senate meetings after the Board of Directors was assembled.  “Director, I was just explaining to Guillermin about the... complicated situation over in Skull Island.”

“Is that so, Director Russell?” Gondo led the two forward as he marched towards the main hub. “You should know that I am not one to wait. Monarch has been sitting on the next big Titan discovery for over a year. The initial seventeen that have been discovered are all mostly in hibernation. Amhuluk, Na Kika, Behemoth, Tiamat, Scylla, Camazotz. They’re the only ones that have awoken. And even then, they were driven back down to their slumber thanks to Gojira and Kong.”

“I mean, that’s probably for the better.” Guillermin and Gondo stopped in their tracks. “With... all due respect.”

“The lack of Titans to document is precisely why Monarch was forced to fast track the Skull Island mission.” The former JSDF admiral continued, entering the main bridge. “It’s also why I’ve had this place running around to observe an island with nothing more than an old building on it. Gojira has sunk back down into the endless abyssal sea. And Kong roams the Hollow Earth, supervised by a child.”

The room was bustling with scientists. Researchers and mythologists looking through ancient engraving after ancient engraving. Browsing through the texts, they were transfixed by the faded legends. Stories of monsters and gods that could very well be the next uncovered Titans. 

“Directors, nice to see you.” Walking up to the trio, Doctor Rick Stanton was sipping at a company-branded coffee cup. “You’re really rocking the whole ‘evil corporation’ style. Got to say, it suits you.”

“Doctor Stanton,” Gondo ignored his incessant little quip, “have you or your team found anything that may help us in our search for more signs of Titan rivalries?”

“Well, not exactly.” Stanton grabbed a file from a desk, showcasing the printouts to the esteemed Director. “It’s kinda more of the same. Carvings of Godzilla fighting MUTOs, Monster Zero, Kong.” He pulled a single photo from the pile. “Though this is a little cool. Thing looks like a goddamn turtle, right? Can you imagine? A turtle the size of a skyscraper.”

“Doctor Stanton...” Gondo said firmly. 

“Right, right. Sorry.” Rick hastily reshuffled his notes. 

“If you really have been doing nothing but looking at ancient art for two years, then you’ve wasted Monarch’s time.” He turned towards Mark. “And you Director, have wasted my time.”

Mark didn't know what he could say. It wasn't as if he was keen on keeping this job, but the money that was getting thrown at the Titan organization was the only thing keeping Maddie in New York.

“Director Gondo,” Guillermin stepped in, “I recommend that we relax our restrictions on Director Russell’s operation. The research division has always been able to yield the best results when they take their time.”

“That was before two of the most famous Titans in the world turned Hong Kong into a fighting ring.” Gondo responded. He glanced around. Everyone in the room was frozen, staring straight ahead at him. “You have another three months, Mark. But if you-.”

Goro was interrupted by the sudden beeping of an alert system. He, Guillermin, and Russell all turned to look at a small mapping system. A red dot was appearing against the navy blue layout. Blinking in and out of visibility, and soaring near the islands of Hawaii. 

“That’s one of our proximity alerts. It sends a signal when a Titan bioacoustics is heard near a significant landmass.” Stanton hurried over to the monitor. “Whatever this thing is, it’s giving off a very different kind of radiation compared to the other Titans. The Elephant’s Foot kind.”

“Can you get its bioacoustics up?” Gondo asked. 

“Yeah. Grabbing something from our long-range sonars...” Rick trailed off as he entered a combination of keyboard clicks. “Acoustics on now.”

A heartbeat and a Titan’s calls were thrown up onto the speakers. Instantly, everyone in the room shuddered at the sounds. They were far more feral and animalistic than Godzilla or Kong. It was shrill, droning. Lower pitched and violent. The call of something filled with hate and rage.

“What the hell is that, Rick?” Mark looked at the researcher, horrified and yet also curious. 

“I’m not sure. The radiation signature is different. The acoustics are... I mean the best way to describe it is full-blown Predator screeches, man.” Stanton explained. "Hang on, I'll try to get in contact with our team over in El Cinco Muertos one more time." He grabbed a radio and raised his voice. "Skull Island, this is the USS Marauder. Do you copy?"

Rick was met with the shrill sound of static. He hastily tried bringing up something on his computer, pressing in a series of coordinates. "Wai-What the hell? It's unstable."

"Unstable?" Russell asked. "Does that mean...?"

"Skull Island is going to go back to being nothing more than a myth. The whole island is breaking apart and sinking into the South Pacific." Stanton removed his glasses wearily. "... And I can't get in contact with Chen. Or Barnes..." 

“I understand this is concerning for you, Doctor.” Guillermin said softly, though also bringing up the other pressing matter. “But we have to focus on the issue at hand. We'll send a team out to Skull Island to search. In the meantime, please answer this. Why would this mystery Titan come to Palau Bayi of all places?”

“Uh, I dunno. This place was rooted in ancient Indonesian myth. Monarch even ran an op here once, but it barely turned up anything.” The beleaguered Doctor motioned to a series of glyphs. A battle between two winged creatures. One elegant and beautiful. The other twisted and malformed. “End of times kind of stuff. Said that one day, a dark version of their protector would bring about the extinction of humanity. Y'know. The usual.”

“Doctor.” Gondo bellowed. “What was this ‘protector?’”

“Uh,” Rick flipped through his dossier, “Titanus Mosura. The egg was here before, but it was moved... on your orders. Sir.”

Goro grimaced. He stared furiously at the ground, desperately trying to fixate his gaze away from the screens and papers. Mark went to walk past him to aid in the defense efforts, though not before stopping to whisper a single question into Gondo’s ear. 

“Still think it was a good idea moving that thing?”

SALAMUMU, SAMOAN ISLANDS - JULY 18TH, 2026

Kala was lying down in the sand calmly. Her younger brothers, off in the shallow water splashing about. Her father was behind her, taking a nap with his head leaned back. Her mother, by his side and, hunched playfully on his shoulder. 

The sun was beaming down cheerily. Clouds were sparse. Everything was pleasant. A far cry from the devastation that befell Hawaii all those years ago. Kala remembered the arriving masses vividly, moved over to the islands as a form of relocation after the city was ravaged from spontaneous and unnerving vegetative growth. As a toddler, she didn’t understand the hardships they went through. Only their fables. 

She heard stories from those that had witnessed the event firsthand. The fiery explosions of the planes. The screaming of hundreds. The onyx devil that she was certain had ascended from hell itself, fixated on laying waste. 

All put to a silent rest as the King came ashore. 

Much to the dismay of her father, Kala found herself enamored by the gargantuan Titan. To her, he was almost noble. A warrior sent to protect and defeat some of the greatest monsters that threatened the Earth. 

Kala was fixated on the small, garbled television when the three-headed dragon tried to claim the throne seven years ago. She watched in awe at the scattered and grimy footage from afar, almost barely able to make out the glimpses of Godzilla’s atomic breath charging up. Among him, she saw a bird made of flame and a goddess who lit up the night sky. 

The image left her staring up in blissful ignorance. Dreaming of a time when she could see the beautiful, though ruthless, creatures up close. She was quickly startled as the beach umbrella flew off. Her father went to grab it as her mother grew shaken by the suddenly changing weather, walking over to fetch her two sons. 

Peering up at the sky, Kala was left wide-eyed. Far off on the horizon, a blanket of darkness was swiftly approaching. She screamed a warning out to her mother, who quickly took note and clasped a hand around her mouth. 

The fast-approaching storm swept through the area in a flash of yellow and red lightning. The sky was turned to a shroud of blackened smoke and soot. 

Kala collapsed over, gasping for air. She coughed out a heap of sand that was forced down her throat. Meanwhile, her mom was screaming out at the ocean. She wailed horrifically, praying for protection from above. Her brothers were nowhere to be seen. Kala assumed that they had been swept up in the storm, flung off to plunge into the sea. 

She stumbled over to grasp onto her mother’s shoulders, desperate to calm and comfort her. Kala’s mother responded by taking her in her arms, bawling as her father ran over. He screamed her brother’s names. No response. He tried yelling and shouting in a rabid ploy to see if either of them would reply. Still, nothing. 

He ultimately fell onto his wife and daughter, embracing them in a frenzied emotional state. They all coughed and wheezed, the strange taste of metal creeping in on the tip of their tongues. 

Looking out beyond the small beach, Kala wept in shock. The thing that had flown overhead was dragged and horrific. The red and black make her think of the MUTOs. Except this was different. This was a nightmare spat out from the hell below. This was not a creature, but a terror that haunted the world. A demon incarnate. 

Chapter Text

MONARCH OUTPOST 33, SKULL ISLAND - JULY 18TH, 2026

“Lyla?! Can you hear me?!”

Ling whispered hoarsely, her voice scratchy and tattered. She gulped nervously as she kept the pressure on her friend’s seeping wound. Blood poured out into her hands. The fabric of her clothes was stained horrifically, a giant red mark imprinted into her shirt. 

She didn’t care in the slightest. 

Ilene was similarly tending to the wounded Barnes. He was mumbling in a half-conscious state. His breaths were growing scarce, becoming slight huffs against the thunderous sounds of the storm. 

The outpost itself was on the brink of collapse. The scaffolding and digital screens above were cascading down, planting themselves throughout the habitat. The Leafwings, treated with some peace and safety from the thunder, were scattered about and squawking in a frenzied state. The water level was slowly rising, the dirt around the Twins turning from dry to a damp, muddy sludge. 

“Can you get through to Monarch?!” Ling shouted at her sister.

Grabbing the radio, Ilene nervously twisted the knobs and fiddled with the settings. Hoping for anything that wasn’t the garbled sounds of static. 

“There... There’s nothing,” the Mythologist bemoaned wearily. “That's it. We're done. By the time Mosura awakens... Infant Island will be rubble."

“Maybe... Maybe not.”

The slight suggestion made Ilene look over to her sister in confusion. She had a stern, thoughtful expression. Even with the Blight tearing free and barreling towards Infant Island, she still had hope. 

“No...” The Mythologist replied, carefully setting the Colonel down. “There could still be a chance Monarch can deal with him. We aren’t going to-.”

Before either of them could continue further, a large piece of the containment field came crashing down. The jagged piece of metal stabbed itself into the mud. The ooze was sent flying up into the air. A precursor to more wreckage falling from the ruined domed ceiling. 

Ling hurdled out of the way. A shard of glass impaled the ground a few centimeters from her face, her disheveled state getting reflected back at her. 

Running to her side, her sister helped her to her feet as they both struggled to evade the avalanche of debris. 

“You know what we have to do!” She coughed out. “The hymns mother sang to us when we were children. She said that they brought protection and strength. That they brought health and spirit.”

“You don’t seriously believe that would work, do you?”

Ling pulled back her coat sleeve in response. Her tattoos were glowing more vibrantly now. The spiraling pattern grew more varied. “If this is real, then I think everything else we were told isn’t out of the realm of possibility!”

They rested by their friends, looking ahead at the waterfall. The shape of Mothra’s cocoon was easily visible. The white stranded silk casing, jutting out slightly from the mouth of the hidden space. Water poured down over it, blurring the glowing luminescence that came from the gaps in the shielding. 

Ilene was hesitant. “Sh-She said it was a last resort! Do you have any idea what performing it may do to our family? What harm it could bring?!”

“I do,” Ling admitted, taking a dramatic sigh, “but I also know of the good that it will do. Even if something happens, we can try to protect them. All of us.”

“There’s no going back from this.” Ilene knew that her resistance was grating. Yet, she wanted to make sure that there was no other way forward. That this was all they had left. 

“I’m guessing you already know I know that already.” Ling smiled faintly. 

“I-I do.” Her sister chuckled softly, rising to her feet. She outstretched her hand to Ling, who took it with a jubilant and reinvigorated expression. 

“I only hope you remember the words.” She wheezed out a small quip. Ilene responded with an exasperated expression.

The Twins grabbed onto Barnes and Lyla and slowly dragged them over to the shore of the pond. They made sure to keep them from the hailstorm of metal and glass. Grayson mumbled and moaned slightly as she was moved, while the Colonel was murmuring to himself drearily. Both of them were severely out of it, on the verge of slipping in and out of their sleep. 

Ling and Ilene wandered forward into the pond. The water lapped up against their legs as they slowly approached the cocoon. Both could hear the thumping of a heartbeat. It was like a drum, getting pounded rhythmically as the sisters reached out to grab each other’s hand. 

The sounds of the jungle around them seemed to transform. The rumbling of thunder turned to a soft, drumming melody. The Twins both breathed in softly. An ancient lullaby that they chanted to the glowing cocoon. A hymn that had been passed down for generations.

“Mosura ya Mosura,

Dongan kasakuyan indo muu,

Rusuto uiraandoa, hanba hanbamuyan, randa banunradan,

Tounjukanraa.

Kasaku yaanmu!”

Around them, the stars seemed to swirl down like fireflies. Dancing to the tune that they both started to produce. A mysterious roaring wind sent the Twin’s hair flying back. Their pupils shimmered with an exotic hue. 

Ilene’s skin slowly started to transform. The patterns that had spread across Ling’s body were engulfing hers. Her arms, her legs, her back. The tattoos covered both of them in little time. The pulsating hue shining through their clothes, they continued as the silk casing started to crack.

“Mosura ya Mosura,

Dongan kasakuyan indo muu,

Rusuto uiraandoa, hanba hanbamuyan, randa banunradan,

Tounjukanraa.”

Behind the Twins, Lyla and Barnes were covered in a bright azure glow. Their wounds were glimmering the most brightly. They both started to whimper and groan in exhaustion, though they were still induced in a dreary state. 

The tattoo crept up to both Ilene and Ling’s cheeks. It became permanently carved in, the white symbols tinted with a sapphire outline. They took a brief glance behind them to their friends, catching a glimpse of the translucent energy that had wrapped around them. Both sisters smiled in relief as they continued with their song. 

The gap in the cocoon widened, splintering apart slowly. A low gurgle came forth as two long pincers stabbed into the ground. The Larva was evolving, her eyes still closed in a weary state from her hasty recovery. 

“Rusuto uiraandoa, hanba hanbamuyan, randa banunradan

Tounjukanraa...”

A set of gargantuan and ethereally luminous wings unfurled from beneath the waterfall. Radiating with an orange and white pattern, they cast a dazzling set of lights upon the Twins. Her skin was a mix of brown and white, fuzzy and damp from the pond. Fireflies circled the beautiful wings, a mystical essence that was summoning forth a true goddess.

They both drew in a sharp breath as the last sentence of their hymn approached. 

“Kasaku yaanmu!”

With that, Mothra’s eyes shot open. She chirped loudly, curious and only slightly tired at her sudden awakening. She stared down at the two figures in front of her, murmuring with ease as she came to recognize the inking engraved in their skin. 

The Gentle Titan leaned down, sheathing her truly massive wings to peer forward closely. Ilene stepped forward anxiously, reaching her hand out in a welcoming and tender gesture. It barely took even a second for the newly hatched Imago to close her eyes and hum warmly as she nuzzled up to the practically miniature priestess.

“Our queen...” She pursed her mind, doing her best to make sure the message was sent. “Thank you...”

Mothra was more than ecstatic, tilting her head in an affectionate and almost playful way. She let out a small sniffle, though it was enough to send both Twins stumbling back a few steps. Ling beamed encouragingly at her sister as she stared up in awe. The childish glint of amazement in her eyes was unmistakable. A stark cry from how focused Ilene had become on Monarch in the recent few years. Now, she just looked free.

A small cough made the Mythologist snap back around. Lyla was covering the area where her bullet wound once was, wheezing sleepily. Ling rushed over swiftly, soon followed by her sister who collapsed to Barnes’ side. He too was heaving and gasping for air. 

“A-Am... Am I dead?” His breaths were rapid and tense.

“No. You’re okay now Jackson.” Ilene said tenderly. “You’re okay.”

The Colonel leaned up to catch a glimpse of the newly evolved Mothra. They both shared a look of bewilderment, locking eye contact for a split second. “Okay, okay... Cool... That’s... I’m just gonna take a minute...”

Grayson was motionless, save for the slight rising of her chest. She leaped forward in a mortified shock, grabbing the space around her for anything to latch onto. Ling took her hand quickly, resting another on her shoulder to comfort the panicked Specialist. 

“Oh my god... Oh my god!” She suddenly exclaimed. “I’m... not dead? Well, that’s a little surprising to be hone-.” She immediately grew silent as soon as she saw the newly appointed Priestess of the Titan that waited before them. “Uh... wow.”

“‘Wow?’” Ling raised an eyebrow. 

"It's... not a bad thing..." Lyla gulped nervously. “I’m going to go on a whim here and say that’s how you normally look?” 

The Mythologist chuckled lightly before thinking of a coy and simple reply. “More or less.”

“Hah. Nice. I mean, you, uh, look... nice.” Grayson stumbled to her feet, followed by the more exhausted Barnes. “Wait, where the hell is Rammfeld?”

“H-He got away. As did Battra.” Ilene admitted, looking towards the Queen of the Monsters. “But maybe... we can catch up.”

They all gazed up at Mothra. She started to shake a layer of dust from her wings, her eyes focused above to the large gap that Battra had left in the containment dome. She could feel her rival’s essence from miles away, his darkness spreading like an infectious disease.

Lyla looked up at the crumbling structure. The ground beneath her began to buckle and shake, cracks forming in the damp mud. Skull Island was slowly coming apart, that much was clear. And it would be preferable if none of them were present on the island for when the land would finally sink into the Pacific. 

“Do you know if we can put some firepower on those ospreys of yours?” She turned towards Barnes.

“Maybe.” He replied. “What’d you have in mind?”

Lyla gazed at the Twins and him. “What if we don’t have to sit on the sidelines this time?”

“The rockets are tipped with Maser particles.” Colonel Barnes explained.

The four of them had all dragged out a stockpile of anti-Titan weaponry from the armory. Some of it was old. Some brand new. Lyla was working on wiring it to the main control console while the Twins set the launcher in place.

Mothra was waiting for the team, perched atop the ruins of the dome. She was skittish, warming her wings up precariously. While her two Priestesses had told her they had an idea, she was less than elated enough to wait around while they tried to prepare their strange metal hovercrafts.

“We used it at Castle Bravo whenever Godzilla wanted to get a little too close. A single shot should at least be enough to disorient them,” he went on, walking over to help the Chens. “So just to recap, we’re going to go out and fighting the giant Titan who the natives on this island saw as so evil that they let his temple sink into the dirt?”

“We aren’t going to fight him.” Lyla gestured up to Mosura, who was perched atop the outpost. “We’re going to help her fight him. These things could disorient Battra long enough for Mothra to get an upper hand.”

“What about Rammfeld?” Ling asked. “He has data on both of them that he’s going to sell to one of the most ruthless eco-terrorists of the modern era. We can’t just let him do that.”

“That has to be a second priority right now,” Ilene responded. “Battra has the potential to lay waste to the planet.”

A thunderous boom rang through the valley. The rest of the facility began collapsing, crumbling into a heap of billowing dust. Mothra raised her wings high before leaping off the ruins. She started to speed off due west, the trees shaking in her wake. 

She sensed both the Blight and her home. She could feel him bearing down closer and closer upon it, determined to let it crumble into the sea. All because of her. He was going to lay waste to the land she called home out of pure, unbridled hatred.

Maybe she could show him there were other ways? Maybe she could try and give him a differing perspective?

The Titan Goddess pushed those thoughts away as she flew away from the crumbling center of the island. The storms around her growing dense, she did her best to push past and head onwards. 

“She’s going to Infant Island,” Ilene said as the team watched Mothra soar off. Her tattoos seemed to pulsate with a teal light. “As is Battra.”

“Right. Forgot you kinda have superpowers now. Very cool.” Barnes walked up the ramp entrance to the V-22. “Okay. Let’s head out.”

“They aren’t superpowers. It’s more like a connection passed down from our ancestors.” Ling cheerily pointed out. “An evolutionary gene in a sense.”

“Maybe we should save the history lesson for later,” Lyla said as she walked into the aircraft. “Right now, let’s get in the air.”

“Alright.” The Colonel rested down in the pilot’s seat. His hands were shaking slightly, a product of his injured state. Nevertheless, he persisted. “We gotta hang back a little. I’ve been up close when Titans have fought before. Believe me, it ain’t something you wanna see.”

“Okay,” Grayson replied as she buckled herself in. “You sure you’re up for this? I mean you did just come back from a bullet to the gut.”

“Hey, so did you.” He snarked back. “I mean it’s definitely... weirder. But I got this.”

“Well then, I’ll trust we’re in good hands,” Lyla said reassuringly.

The engines of the osprey started to spin rapidly as the craft lifted into the air. It slowly booted up, its speed increasing a significant amount as the team tailed after the Goddess Titian. They flew a few meters behind her as Skull Island’s foundation finally gave way.

Forests fell to the floods. Skullcrawlers, Sker Buffalos, Death Jackals. All running pointlessly in a desperate bid. An entire, almost untouched civilization that finally faced its extinction. The group couldn’t help but gasp and watch in somber horror as the rock and dirt were pulled into the inky abyss of the Pacific.

Chapter Text

A FEW KILOMETERS ABOVE SARATAMATA, VANUATU - JULY 18TH, 2026

It was about 6:30 AM in the Vanuatu Standard Time Zone. Yet all that spread across the islands of the Pacific was an ever-growing blanket of storms and darkness. This was different from the aftermath of Ghidorah’s eldritch nature. The storm clouds were almost completely blackened. Only a few streaks of glowing crimson power spread across the sky. 

As he sped off on his journey, Battra came to a screeching halt. He growled deeply as he turned back to the direction of Skull Island. Surely, she wouldn’t be awake so soon. He had witnessed her crawling away for cover as he grew and evolved. Last he saw, she was helpless. 

The Priestesses. He snarled with contempt. Of course, they remained behind to aide their Queen. Why should he have expected anything less? It wouldn’t matter. All he had to do was kill her and then he’d be able to finally complete his mission. And he knew just who to start with. 

A rhythmic pounding echoed through the sky. Battra pursed his eyes forward, getting ready in the event of an ambush. He reared his front legs, the jagged limbs pointed forward, and prepared to parry anything that would come from the front. 

The Blight of Humanity was thrown off as Mothra tore through the dark storm clouds. Her light, cleansing the environment of the blackened horrors that tainted it. She flew straight for him, gripping onto his back and flipping around. 

The two Titans tore through the air, a jumbled mess of light and dark. Both desperately trying to gain an upper footing. Battra stabbed wildly, his pincers flailing about to try and tear away chunks of flesh. Mothra swiftly dodged the attempted strikes, attacking back with a few slashes at his wings. 

He stumbled down into the land, uprooting trees and sending a shockwave through the small island. Both of them tumbled about, rolling through the vegetation.

Mothra was the first to regain her footing. She shot herself into the air, falling back down to dig into Battra’s back. He buckled and shook wildly, roaring in annoyance as she dug her forelimbs into his armored shell. 

The students from St. Patrick’s College watched in awe and terror. They were barely able to glimpse the brawl, holding their phones up high to try and capture the carnage.

Battra slammed Mothra into the side of a hill. She slumped down as stepped back, displaying his wings in a threatening declaration. His golden horn began to light up with energy. 

The Queen’s eyes widened as she frantically took to the air. She barely had enough time as his Prism Beam tore through the valley. The rocks and trees were left singed and tattered as he glanced around, confused as to where she flew off to. 

His inquiry was answered with a vigorous war cry as Mothra gripped onto his wings and carried him away from the island. Away from the people.

Battra defiantly pulled away. He raised all of his front arms high, using his lower two legs to grip onto Mothra’s legs. He started back on his original course, rolling in the air. The Queen was shaken ruthlessly, her wings becoming massive liabilities by blocking out her peripheral vision. 

She retaliated by tearing her right leg free. The Blight of Humanity was left unbalanced and writhing. Mothra broke from his gasp circling Battra as she chirped warily. He growled loudly, even the hills afar trembling with the sounds of his screech. 

Clouds and sunlight melded together vividly. A dark crimson and a bright azure clashing violently. Purple rays cascading down upon the dirt and sea. Illuminating it. A godly image as the two Titans stared each other down. 

Battra wanted to dive in again. To tear the pitiful Goddess apart piece by piece. And yet, despite those urges, he had to be elsewhere. Even if it was trivial, what it would send to the new Titanus Mosura would be far too rich to deny. 

He sped off further west. It didn’t take long for Mothra to catch on and speed off after him, her wings leaving a trail of glimmering luminous dust in her wake. 

Battra spun around and halted midair. Mothra crashed into him. Both Titanic Beasts collided with a shockwave that was enough to make every landmass tremble with a quake. He started scratching at her chest, his jagged forelimbs cutting through slowly. The Queen bore through the pain and brought her front arms down on his head. She clawed at his face, leaving a deep cut near his cheek. 

He winced in slight pain. The agony subsided as he turned to glare at Mothra. His limbs trembled as he rolled again, throwing her away. He sped forward and let his stinger cut through her back. She screamed in anguish as Battra flew off. 

Desperately trying to power through her wounds, Mothra soared above the clouds, hoping for the chance to get the drop on the Blight of Humanity. She flew up high, catching a glimpse of the stars and the worlds beyond. The air chilled. Frost started forming on her wings. To Mothra’s shock, her breath grew clear and visible in front of her. Her movements slowed. 

Her vision was tainted with a fiery orange as she started to descend. The armor that encased her body shielded her as she reentered the atmosphere. She could feel the velocity slowly try to rip her limb from limb. Her wings started to tatter as she went further and further. 

Mothra’s eyes slowly fluttered close. She could see her home. The tribe that watched over her. Worshipped her. And in turn, she protected them. She could see the King. He was not in battle nor was he restless or unsettled. Almost unnaturally, he was calm. He sniffled at the sight of the humans, peering closer in curiosity and childlike bewilderment. She was by his side, watching his piqued interest with slight amusement as her two priestesses watched on in pride and a similar sense of humor. All of that, now at the risk of being run from the Earth. All because of a vendetta. A grudge. 

She couldn’t allow it. She wouldn’t allow it. 

She started relaxing all her muscles. She felt her tension wane. Her wings started to pulsate with a rich orange glow. Her determination, her spirit, her ruthlessness, and her kindness. All of it was starting to show. The bioluminescent energy that flowed through her grew more prominent. The peach, sapphire, and white mix left a colorful trail as she flew back down to the Earth. 

Yet again, the dark clouds dispersed. Unlike before however, this was far greater. Storms and lightning fell away... and stayed that way. The seas, chaotic and frenzied with freak waves, now calm and gentle. Mothra hovered above the docile Pacific Ocean. Her wings were more vibrant. As was her bioluminescence, which was now a calming shade of light turquoise. 

She almost looked like an angel, hovering above the sea with her massive wings spread large enough for anything to see. Now more than ever, she was a true Goddess. 

Gazing around, the Titan Goddess peered forward at a black speck on the horizon. A speck that had small red streaks shooting from his body. Not wanting to waste even a single second, she sped off towards the Blight. 

Rammfeld cursed silently to himself as he fumbled with the radio in the back of the osprey. Luckily for him, the thing had an autopilot function. So he didn’t have to fly it while trying to sort out the complicated piece of crap he was given from Jonah. 

“Hey, this is Rammfeld.” He said dryly. “Do you copy?”

Static.

“Once again, this is Lieutenant Rammfeld. I’m calling from over... I dunno Samoa? Does anyone cop-.”

“Yes, Lieutenant?” A smooth, sharp voice answered. 

Markus gulped. “Uh, yeah. I’m... just wondering where the specific rendezvous point was. GPS kinda got screwed up in some sort of storm, I think? That’s, uh, all.”

“I see. That shouldn’t be a problem. There has been a change of plans. Our new destination is the mainland. Our associate is waiting in a hotel. I’m already on my way. I’ll be waiting for you in Jakarta.”

“Wait, the mainland?” The Lieutenant turned away from the windshield, staring at the back of the V-22. 

“How is that a problem exactly?” 

“Um,” Rammfeld knew the idea was risky. 

His contact, only operating by a single code name: Jiro, wasn’t exactly one to be direct. They had only met a few times in person. They wore a concealer and modulator to mask their true appearance even then. And despite that, they still brought in a good amount of money and took a very small cut. In other words, he couldn’t afford to be curious.

“No,” he finally said. “No, it’s no problem.”

“Wonderful.”

An alarm almost made the Lieutenant jump. He rushed over to find that he was nearing a Monarch site. A Navy destroyer near some island. At least he knew that he was near the coast.

“It isn’t a problem.” He said. “Just a proximity alert.”

“Raptor 10, this is USS Marauder. Please identify why you haven’t been cleared for flight.” A voice came over the radio quickly disproved his assumption.

“Ah shit.” Rammfeld froze in place. Any response he could think of would only lead to more scrutiny and investigation. “I have to go.”

Jiro only responded with a single sentence. “Very well, just be there Lieutenant.”

Markus let out a halfhearted assurance before rushing over to the pilot's seat. Another alert popped up, though he paid it no mind as he opened up a communication channel. 

“USS Marauder, Raptor 10 calling,” he mumbled. “I was, uh, on orders from Colonel Barnes to scout out the area. Something on Outpost 33... it, uh, led back to this place.” It was a horrible excuse. And he knew it. Alas, there was nothing else he could likely do or say that would strengthen his story. 

Rather than receive a response, Rammfeld only heard panicked cries and shouting on a left open channel. The yelling was all that filled his speaker system, an eerie siren to an unknown horror. 

He leaned back in his chair, letting out a preemptive sigh of relief. His eye rolled around to the side of the cockpit. He was met with a ghastly crimson shine in reply. Engulfing half Rammfeld’s view, a cloudy white pupil centered on him. 

The Titan that brought down Outpost 33 was staring back at him. Its armor was far more prominent. Its wings, a dark reflection of Titanus Mosura’s. And it was looking right back at him. 

Battra pursed his glare towards the small ant in the metal cocoon. He glared at it, enraged that these feeble things had somehow come to sharing the skies. His Prism Beam started to charge up, pulling back to obliterate the pesky nuisance from the air. 

A rumbling from all around stopped him in his pursuit. The clouds lit up once more with an eclectic aura, shimmering with a golden glow. Followed by a soft, but furious cry from the heavens. 

The ghastly storm that followed him was blown away with a single, powerful flap of Mothra’s wings. She hovered above him, screeching out in a provoking and awe-inspiring display of prowess. Her bioluminescence was enough to completely clear the sky of the growing darkness. It revealed the rising, illustrious sunset as yellow rays shone over the two rival Titans. 

The Blight of Humanity was left unimpressed as he returned the intimidation display. Red energy crackled forth from his wings. They also happened to feed into the osprey beside him. The aircraft was sent into a sputtering mess, falling towards Infant Island. 

The crew out on the Marauder watched closely. Mark, Guillermin, and Gondo were watching on the screens in the observation room. All of them dreaded to speak. The only thing that was expressed was a few nervous glances aside. Others nearby could only see the clashing pallets of red and blue. 

Both Battra and Mothra roared to each other in a deafening rage. The grounds shook. Water rippled. The Earth itself was close to trembling as the two sped towards each other, the island resting behind them idly.

Chapter Text

THE INDONESIAN STRAIT, A FEW KILOMETERS OUT FROM INFANT ISLAND - JULY 18TH, 2026

Lyla paced around in the back of the osprey anxiously. The Chen Twins were seated down, glancing at her curiously. Barnes was in the cockpit, keeping the plane steady as he shuddered at the familiar sight of the blanketing storm. 

“I’m just still trying to wrap my head around this.” She said, staring at the Twins. “You’re saying your ancestors were able to evolve to the point that you’re born with the ability to communicate with Titans?”

“Not all Titans,” Ling pointed out. “Just Mosura.”

“So, uh, how did Mothra give you guys ink exactly?” Grayson asked, staring at the slightly luminous tattoos that lined both their bodies. 

“They come from an ancient tribe known as the Hotta.

All of them stopped as the unmistakable cries of both the Blight and the Queen tore through the air. The roars pierced through the metal hull, filling the V-22. 

“Y’all might wanna see this,” Barnes called out. The crew walked up to find that a few kilometers from the osprey, Mothra and Battra were clashing. Light and dark, battling for dominance over the skies. They flew around, swiping at each other in long and calculated attack runs. “On the bright side, we’re almost near a Monarch Destroyer. Lemme see if I can radio them and get some support.”

“And you just glossed over that?” Lyla pointed out the window towards the brawl before.  

“I mean, I think we’re far away enough. Here’s hoping they don’t come by for a hello.” The Colonel said. He swerved suddenly, sending the others tumbling for something secure to latch onto as the aircraft was struck by a bolt of red energy. Dials rocketed and jittered. Alarms sounded off.

Everything came flashing all back to Barnes. The horrid calls of Ghidorah. The frost-bitten, windy hell that surrounded him in Antarctica and Boston. The way his three heads snarled and grinned in unison as they sadistically sought out as many of his friends as possible, vaporizing them into nothing but wretched dust and a dour smell.

His hands started shaking. The V-22 started to dip, making a beeline for a small shallow section near the shore of an island. Ilene bolted forward, grabbing onto the control wheel as the osprey began to spin around. Ling and Lyla slowly crawled their way over to the seats lining the walls. They strapped themselves tightly. Out of instinct, Ling grabbed onto Grayson’s hand as they rapidly approached the solid ground. She wasn’t about to protest. 

“Get ready!” Ilene called out from the pilot’s seat as she tried reassuring Barnes gently. “Jackson, please. Listen to my voice. Ghidorah is dead. He won’t be able to come back. But we need you right now. Please, Barnes. Y-Your team needs you.”

The Colonel was lost in a sea of his own thought, gazing ahead emptily as the aircraft dived. But something about that last sentence was like the flipping of a switch. He lurched forward and quickly yanked the wheel. The osprey pulled up just barely, skimming above the water. They collided with an outcrop of trees. The plane tore through the foliage, burying itself further and further within Infant Island. 

The screeches and roars of the battle became louder and louder. The sound of the ground shaking was enough to rattle Ilene’s eardrums. She frightfully gripped onto the back of the Colonel’s chair, doing her best to keep her body from jerking and writhing free. A coppery and bloody taste was definitely on the tip of her tongue. Her side was aching brutally as a few impacts caused her to ram right back into the seat. The world around was a fuzzy, jaded mess. And despite all that, she kept hanging on out of desperation and hope. 

The ruined aircraft gradually came to a halt just outside of a spacious clearing. The trees weren’t so much as cushioning as they were bowling pins in the way of the V-22. 

Ling immediately unclipped from her seatbelt and rushed over to her sister. Ilene was resting on the floor. From what was visible, her arm and cheek were terribly bruised. Her lip was cut. Blood was oozing down from her forehead. Yet it only made the illuminated engravings pulsate more vibrantly. They shone with a sapphire hue as Lyla walked over, groaning and wincing. 

“Oh shit,” she murmured as she saw the state of the Mythologist. “Shit! Hey, can you hear me?” She leaned over and carefully pried open her eye. “How’s your vision? How many fingers am I holding up?! Are-.”

“I-I’m fine.” Ilene coughed, trying her best to be reassuring. “I’m just a little bruised. Th-That’s all.”

“Oh shit!” Barnes exclaimed as he jumped from his seat and collapsed by her side. “I’m sorry! Oh god, I’m sorry, I-I should’ve b-been better. I-.” He was also shushed by the rather calm Ilene. 

“I-It wasn’t your fault.” She smiled weakly, but genuinely. “I know it can’t be easy. Living with all of that. And getting a promotion.”

“Maybe it’s time that I consider asking for a vacation.” The Colonel chuckled lightly as he tore away at a piece of his sleeve that was already ripped. He held it up to her temple, dabbing the blood away gently. 

“You’ll be okay sister. I swear.” Ling clutched onto Ilene’s hand firmly.

“Th-Thank you, sister.” Ilene beamed softly, leaning back against a small pile of rubble.

Lyla leaned over her, watching the Twins closely. “Y’know, you guys are full of surprises.” They turned to stare at her with incredulity. “Sorry. Kinda killed the moment. Yup. That one’s on me.”

Ilene snorted. “I-I think your paycheck might be a little hard to fulfill, Lyla. After we kind of sunk Skull Island. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. After all, I get to be a part of the crew that sunk Skull Island. That sounds pretty badass if you ask me.” Grayson replied, smirking warmly.  “Both of you take it easy for now.” She turned to the Colonel. “You too, man. I’m gonna go through this mess and see if I can pull out anything useful.”

She started her search by pulling up pits and pieces of metallic plating and shielding. Soon, a soft pinging sent Lyla searching through the wreck. She ultimately came across a small GPS. On the digital screen, there were two green dots. One was Raptor 02, the other Raptor 010. Both were marked in red writing as being: DOWNED. 

“Hey, I hate to interrupt,” she walked over to the group. “But is this what I think it is?”

“Just a locator. It picks up on Monarch signals while also sending an SOS back.” Barnes said. “Hopefully they pick it up soon.”

“Yeah, but there’s another signal.” She turned the device over to him. 

“Wait what?” He peered closer. “But the temple expedition was the only unit equipped with this type. If there’s another close by then that means-.”

Lyla finished the sentence he started with a growl. “Rammfeld.”

The sound of sparks flying was what ultimately woke the Lieutenant. He shook his head gruffly, his eyes widening in amazement as he assessed the situation.

Currently, he was sprawled over the window. Surprisingly, it hadn’t shattered immediately. Rather, he was left motionless as he desperately did his best not to crack the glass further. Wires were strewn about in the cockpit, sparkling and fizzling in an erratic display. A faulty screen was blaring with the words: COLLISION DETECTED. Everything was basked in a red glow, the emergency lights flickering on. The sky outside was dark, despite the fact he’d been flying in perfect dawn weather a few hours ago. 

Above him, the small vial was hanging from a bag. The same bag also contained the USB drive with everything that was stored away at Outpost 33. Both of which were enough to set him up for a dozen lifetimes. In other words, he couldn’t afford to lose it.

Rammfeld tried reaching up slowly, the glass beneath him cracking softly. He barely tugged on one of the bag straps as he rested back down. He tried again, this time leaning up further. Yet again, the vial was barely within his grasp. He groaned in anger and simply shot up, yanking the bag down. 

The small sample slipped from its secure space. It crashed against the left side of his face, the fluid seeping his skin, eye, and mouth. He shook it away incessantly, digging through the satchel to retrieve the small USB stick. 

Suddenly his skin started to burn. His left eye grew bloodshot and red, ghastly horror jolting through his body. His mouth became itchy as he thrashed around in horrid pain. Rammfeld could barely hold himself together as he writhed in agony. His cheek reddened and blistered. The left side of his face grew malformed. As he wriggled about, the glass finally gave way. 

Rammfeld fell down a small decline, tumbling through brush and weed. He tensed up and bore through it, the USB drive clutched tightly in his palm. Landing roughly into the ground, he gritted his teeth and bore through. He slowly stopped at the foot of the hill, reaching quite a large clearing with a decent view of the surrounding area and the mountain that laid in the middle of the island. 

The Lieutenant cursed under his breath as he carefully examined the sample he had in hand. Luckily, it was mostly undamaged. He winced in pain as he turned to get a brief glimpse at the shards of glass embedded into him, tearing the back of his shirt to shreds. The pain in his face had slowly subsided. Either that, or he had just grown numb to it. 

A new, slight pain came rushing forth as a fist struck him from his right. He stumbled for a short second, turning to see who had punched. 

“I’ll be damned.” He chuckled at the sight of Lyla, who remained a few steps away in a defensive pose. “Didn’t I shoot you?”

“Gonna take more than a bullet to take care of me.” She snarked back. 

“Just my luck,” Rammfeld sighed as he reached for his holster. He shuddered in anger when he found it was empty, his sidearm likely having slipped out during his tumble. “Even without a gun, I can still lay you out.”

“You sure about that pal?” Lyla asked mockingly. “Because you look like shit. Actually, it’s not a bad look. Kinda matches who you really are.”

“How poetic.” He murmured. “Y’know the offer’s still on the table. You don’t have to follow Monarch anymore. Even with just this USB, that’s a hefty bonus. I can get six figures at the max. That’s still something.”

Grayson paused for a moment, staring ahead at him before she let a small grin spread across her face. “Thanks.”

“For what?”

“For letting me know you lost that vial, genius.” She remarked before diving for Rammfeld’s closed fist. 

He dodged easily, bringing an elbow down against her back. She crumpled to the ground, scrambling to her feet as the Lieutenant circled her. She had barely gotten up when he delivered another jab, ramming his fist against her cheek. 

As their brawl went on, Battra and Mothra battled above the skies. Both of them took long attack runs, striking brutally and trying to throw the other aside. The Blight of Humanity suddenly stopped midair. His wings glowed with a crimson hue, crackling and pouring out in a vile and electric manner. He curled them in, before letting them fly back out to release a large pulse of red energy.

The vermillion shockwave roared across the island. Cracks formed in the earth. A vaporous red gas poured out, veins spreading across the ground. Mothra yelped in anguish, horrified at the sight of her island becoming tainted and poisoned. She glared at him as he cackled with warped glee, flapping his wings in a thunderous motion. 

The Queen of the Monsters flew towards him, flying low. The trees were thrown back, rocked by her action. She tilted up and clawed away at his chest, dodging the volatile retaliating strike. 

“Jesus Christ,” Stanton mumbled. “They’re trying to tear each other apart.”

Everyone in the observation room was silent. Watching the carnage unfold on monitors suspended on the wall and a large viewing window. 

“Do we have an ID on the other Titan?” Guillermin pondered aloud. 

“Pulling up a bio now,” He replied. “Uh, wow. This thing was buried. The closest match we got is Titanus Battora. But it was a myth.”

“Doesn’t look like a myth anymore,” Mark remarked as he walked over beside him. “How’s this new Mothra doing?” 

“Well, she appears to be newly reformed. And... h-her energy signature is maxing out the charts. But he’s practically leaking enough radiation to destroy this island in a few hours max. I’m... I’m not sure she’ll be able to hold her own for much longer.”

“Then we must act now. Doctor, how are we doing on backup?” Gondo asked. 

“HQ says they’ll still be a couple of hours.” Rick opened up a message log. “The maser turrets are the only type of ammo that could put a dent in that thing.”

“What about your onboard weaponry?” The Director wondered. “You’re saying you have no maser weapons on hand?”

”We, uh, weren’t expecting something like this.... Sir.”

Goro grumbled.

“It’s no use,” Guillermin said. “The only thing our missiles can do is no more than a nudge.”

Gondo stared firmly at him. “I can work with a nudge.” He stormed out of the room. 

Mark and Guillermin followed closely behind as the Director let his suit jacket fall to the floor and started walking up to the deck. 

“Sir, with all due respect-.” Russell began, only to be cut off by Gondo’s booming voice. 

“If this is happening because we moved the egg, then part of that blame is mine. Please, allow me to make it right.”

They walked out into the stormy chaos. The image of Mothra and Battra battling above the skies was visible from afar as Gondo strode over towards a large cannon. 

“Soldier,” he yelled out. “You’ve been relieved of your post. Please head down to the observation room at once.”

“Uh, sir?”

Goro simply glared at the meek soldier, who quickly rushed off as he had instructed. He rested behind the turret, squinting his eye down the sights. The cannon moved slowly, the Director barely getting a glimpse of the two behemoths as they battled midair. One moment they were in view, and the next they were nothing more than blinding lights shimmering with blue and red hues. 

“I can’t get a clear shot.” He shouted to the others. 

“So what can we do in the meantime?” Guillermin asked. 

“For now, we must wait.”

Lyla kneeled on the ground, bloodied and weary. Rammfeld was equally as exhausted, towering over her as he slowly delivered a series of further punches. She tried to leap up and grab onto his jacket. He sent her back down to the ground with another punch. 

“I might be burned, but that doesn’t mean I’m a cripple.” He coughed out. “C’mon, you know I’m right. This world is already on fire. May as well make some money before it turns into hell.”

“You... Y-.” Lyla muttered, spitting out a small glob of blood. “You’re such a goddamn cliche... You know that?”

He sighed and kicked her in the stomach. She crumpled down to the ground, groaning and gasping. Her face was bruised and battered. Her knuckles split. Everything felt like it was on fire, coursing through her nerves sporadically.

“Oh, boohoo.” The Lieutenant murmured.

“And you’re a self-centered sociopath. And a selfish, narcissist.”

“Wow, you reading my resume or something?!” Rammfeld groaned as he searched his body for anything that would finish her off without much effort. “Anything else you’d like to exposit?! Clearly, we have the time.”

“And you suck at keeping track of your belongings.”

Markus was about to mock her a second time, only to suddenly pause. He stared back at Grayson in confusion as she snickered under her breath. Slowly, she pulled out two objects from her pocket. One was a small thermite charge, no bigger than a gum packet. The other, the delicate USB drive. 

“Like I said, self-centered.” 

Rammfeld tried leaping forward, making a desperate grab for the drive. In response, Lyla stepped back. She stuck her hand out, dangling the small USB over a vaporous, hellish crack in the Earth. He instantly stopped, holding his arms up over his head. 

“Okay, okay. Let’s be calm.”

“Says the guy who was trying to murder me a few seconds ago.” She snarked, stepping closer to the pit. She toyed jokingly with the small explosive in her other hand. 

“Fine. What do you want? Surely you have a price. So name it.” He begged.

Lyla rolled her eyes and put both objects in her palm, which she half-heartedly held over the gaping maw. 

“Sell the USB, keep it all.” He continued. “Would that suit you better? We never have to see each other ever again. You can use that money to go off and do whatever the hell you damn well please. No more sucking up to Monarch, or Chen, or anybody else for that matter. Or just destroy it. But if you detonate that thing, those two are gonna notice. And I don’t think they’ll be as forgiving as Kong for blowing up the island.”

“Y’know what?” Lyla paused for a slight second. “I actually wanted this little doohickey. The USB was... what’d you say? Oh yeah. A bonus.” She pressed the small button on the side and dropped both devices into the crevasse. 

Rammfeld bolted over and skidded to his feet. His palms were outstretched, doing his best to try and clasp onto the data drive. He arrived too late as it plummeted, along with the explosive, into the ground. The thermite charge activated slowly, persisting against the caustic fires of the Earth. 

5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

The ensuing explosion rattled both him and the fleeing Lyla, who had barely made it past the edge of the clearing. They were both flung back as the crack fizzled with erratic crimson pulses, flickering and sputtering chaotically.

Battra shared the manic state, his connecting infection of the island halted by the sudden attack. He entered a frenzy as he flew up into the air and swiftly dive-bombed Mothra. They both were sent colliding down into the mountain of Infant Island, crashing through the rock and dirt. The avalanche caused by their tumble ripped through the nearby woods and forests, burying the vegetation in a sea of decrepit ruins. 

He could’ve easily ended her right there. A single swipe and the Queen of the Monsters would be no more. But his rage was far too great. He turned and focused on the small, beady insect that had disturbed his vengeance. The winds roared as he raced forward, his pincers and arms sharpened for the kill. 

A ringing grew in Lyla’s ear as she slowly leaned up to her feet. She glanced over to see that Rammfeld was in a similar state of shock, shaking his head fervently. His gaze soon focused on her as his face contorted into a mournful scowl of hatred. 

“You dumb motherfu-!”

The ground around him exploded into grass and boulders. Lyla was flung back yet again as a Battra crashed into the ground. The Lieutenant was reduced to mere nothingness from the impact. In his fury, however, the Blight of Humanity tore into the dirt, shoveling it all into his mouth in a frenzied state of outrage. 

Grayson watched as she gradually tried backing away. Her movements, as slow as she could be as the hellish Titan feasted on the mangled remains of the demolished Rammfeld. Her efforts were for naught.

He snapped his head in her direction. His eye reflecting her disheveled and horrified expression back at her as he glared, preparing to crush another meager bug.

Chapter Text

USS MARAUDER, NEAR THE SHORE OF INFANT ISLAND - JULY 18TH, 2026

“I can see it!” Gondo yelled. “We have an opening!”

He focused on the faded outline of Battra hidden amongst the trees. Guillermin and Mark rushed over to spectate. Lining up the shot, Goro drew in a deep breath. His mind drifted back to his early days, serving on a destroyer not too different from one such as this. The feeling of activating a piece of heavy machinery was almost nostalgic, the shell loading into the barrel. 

“Cover your ears.” He warned dryly as he took aim and fired. 

The missile flew through the air swiftly. The sound confused Battra as he turned his gaze away from the small human in front of him. The shell promptly crashed into his face. He let a sharp cry, shaking his head free of the inferno as he soared up and searched around for where the attack could’ve come from. Slowly, he focused on the vessel. 

Gondo loaded up another shot, smirking as he aimed. He pressed down on the ignition, the projectile speeding towards him. It merely bounced off his wings as he hovered in the air, glaring down at the ship.

“Well, we have his attention.” Mark surmised bleakly. 

The Nightmarish Titan began to descend towards them. His claws were outstretched and ready to demolish the boat with a single strike. Gondo looked on reservedly. Guillermin gulped silently, fixating his gaze down on the floor of the ship. 

Mark could only think of Maddie as death loomed in front of him. He shuddered as he remembered the birthdays, the arguments, the time they spent with Emma and Andrew all together. He was mortified at the thought of leaving her alone in this world, and yet somehow relieved that he could finally rest with his wife and son. 

Their impending deaths were thwarted as a burst of light knocked the Blight into the ocean. The three directors all watched as Mothra threw both herself and him into the sea, the water churning and bubbling as they tore at each other under the waves. Both Titans struggled to resurface, occasionally diving up for quick breaths of air. 

The Queen knew it was a downright suicidal play. But that possibility that it could prove fatal for Battra was what drove her. She sacrificed a chance to breathe to tear at his wings. The large, blanketing limb blocked them both from gaining a footing over each other. 

The Blighted Monster was the first to reach some semblance of solid ground, tearing his pincer into the side of a nearby backup army vessel. The ship began to descend into the water, sinking gradually as he lifted himself up and flapped his wings soundly. The water shook off like crashing hail. He sped up into the air, red embers flying off his wings as he waited in the air. 

Battra watched the water closely. The rumbling below. The last of the bubbles rising to the surface. He murmured in satisfaction, though he was less than convinced by the flimsy display of death. 

Sure enough, Mothra erupted up from the ocean swiftly. The ensuing shockwave sent Battra tumbling back over the warship. She fluttered in the sky for a brief moment before gliding down and gripping onto his stomach. She carefully carried him off the devastated ship and back towards Infant Island. She loosened her grasp, the momentum carrying the Blight of Humanity into the side of the mountain. He crumbled down to the foot of the large summit. 

A low growl emanated from his throat as he scowled up at her. Mothra was circling the mountain, leaving a trail of luminous dust in her path. He roared back up to the skies. They collided once more, soaring up into the air. 

Frost started to form around them. The icy air of the upper atmosphere slowed their movements, reducing them to lumbering messes as they clashed above the clouds. 

Their bioluminescence became a beacon as they slowly approached the stars. Both Titans gasped for air slowly, the oxygen dropping as they rose further and further. The stars danced around them as they struggled valiantly. 

Battra brought down one of his pincers into Mothra’s gut. She retaliated by impaling her forelimb into his left wing, piercing through the red and yellow pattern. They hovered in the gap between the air and the outer bounds of space. 

Battra burrowed his gaze furiously towards her. Mothra responded with a somber, equally absolved glare. It was clear in her eyes. This was absolutely the last thing she wished to do. She wanted something fairer, calmer. Savage conflicts such as this she had only wished to reserve for true battles. In the end, they both wanted the same thing. They both wanted something that best resembled peace.

And in some way, they both wished there would be other ways to deal with this. But Battra had only been born with a single idea of peace. An idea that was centralized around extermination. 

Both Titans started to fall back down to the Earth. From afar, the Monarch Directors watched on the Marauder as they became a gleaming meteor, plummeting straight for the base of Infant Island. Lyla steadily approached the downed osprey, looking up to glimpse the burning ball of light that was steadfastly approaching. She hastily rushed onward, gritting her teeth as she pulled her bloodied body through the foliage. 

Walking near the wreck of the V-22, she saw Barnes and the Twins equally as starstruck. The Chens, uttering silent prayers as they watched their Goddess crumble to the Earth. 

“C’mon! Take cover!” The Colonel yelled, motioning for Grayson to join them inside the ruined remains of the aircraft. “They’re gonna hit back down and it ain’t gonna be pretty.”

On the ship, Mark and Guillermin watched in subdued awe. Gondo was far more stoic, having seen his fair share, though it wasn’t enough to stop him from growing worried for the benevolent Queen. 

Like the crackling of thunder, the two Titans slammed into Infant Island. A crater was formed in the aftermath, the ground splitting and gaping open. The vaporous red energy poured out, filling the air with a crimson mist that made it seem like a devil had ascended from some long-forgotten hell. The resulting shockwave sent them scrambling back into the demolished osprey for cover, the winds tearing and ripping through like an ever-approaching apocalypse.

Battra slowly crawled up the hill from the dust and smoke, the unmistakable image of wings showing prominently. The Chen Twins watched horrified, repeating their ancient mantra in a desperate bid of inspiration.

The Blight of Humanity roared in uneasy triumph, his warbling a violent and tense cry. He used his lower set of arms to clutch his wounds, his upper pincers pointed high up in apparent victory. His infection worsened across the land. The vaporous red zeal ripped through the Earth, crevasses forming in the droves. 

Mothra was huddled in a decrepit mess in the impact crater. Her wings in shredded tatters. Her claws dulled and splintered. She quietly wailed, mournfully gazing up at Battra as he reigned arrogantly. The feeling surged through her. The feeling of failure. 

She remembered the hallowed calls of King when he was at his lowest. She felt them, even as she was resting in her stasis. From all that distance away, she could feel his hopelessness. His despair in the face of a similar mimic glowing with malice at his end. It was torture, feeling him that way, and still forced to rest in her shell. But she was awake now.

Something began to stir within her. Her bioluminescence grew abnormal and rigid, pulsating in a matter not too different to a glowing campfire. The azure hue became dim and unearthly, dipping in and out of various shades. Red, yellow, orange, purple, and green. All of them blending like a shimmering, ethereal glow. 

It started to course through her body, gaps forming all over to allow the light to peek out. Her wings perked up prominently, the orange and white glistening off like the glow of a lamp. Something was far more unusual though. The luminous energy started to affect the area around her.

The crumbled remains of the island and forest started to grow lush. Vines wrapped around into thick trunks, transforming into stumps and then tall trees. A bountiful spring grew from beneath her feet, feeding the growing vegetation. The crimson energy that flowed in the rock of Infant Island became faint and muted. Replaced with immense vitality.

Battra took note, turning his attention away from his display of prowess to the vibrant beacon that laid quite a distance away. He maintained his stance, hopeful that his posture would at least provide some intimidation. Instead, he himself was left gawking as the light lifted, splitting into two separate beams as its origin was revealed. 

The Queen of the Monsters gazed ahead softly at her rival. Her wings, like the shine of a morning sun that lit up the world. The crew on the Marauder were only able to watch through autonomous drones, reveling in the ecstatic beauty that was exhibited. The team inside the osprey looked in awe and wonder, the Twins beaming with pride. 

Chittering unnervingly, Battra attempted to intimidate her through a roar and show of his glowing red wings. It was followed by a swift beam attack from his horn, ripping across the island towards Mothra. She simply tilted her head in confusion as the beam collided near one of the turquoise eyes of her right wing. 

The blast bounced off like a boomerang, ricocheted back to strike the ground at the Blight’s feet. He almost jumped in shock, quickly snapping back to Mothra with a malformed and enraged glare. Another screech escaped from his raspy throat as he dove into the air, spinning and showing off. He started to fly down towards her, letting go of the cuts on his body. All four of his pincers were readied as bellowed furiously and prepared to attack. 

Her bioluminescence pulsating rapidly, the Queen closed her eyes as an overwhelming feeling quickly approached. A gust of power tore up into the sky, emanating from her wings. The energy demolished Battra’s attack run in an instance, instantly rendering his brawn moot as he veered out of control near the base of the mountain. 

Every muscle in his body tensed up in pain as he crashed into the rock. He quickly looked up to stare in shock. His smaller set of wings were almost completely vaporized. His larger ones, tattered and ruined with ragged edges. Everything felt unsettlingly warm. Not to the point where he was scorched, but enough to make him struggle to regain his footing. 

None of that dared stop him as he prepared to attack again. An assault from above was expected, that should’ve been obvious. Perhaps a rush from the front could loosen her guard, startle her even. His assumptions were flimsy at best, but his body was in enough anguish for him to just use the only thing he thought of first. 

Bearing through the pain and barreling ahead, a vicious war cry came from Battra’s throat as he continued towards Mothra. Closing her eyes, she let another beam of light erupt forth. The attack was silent for a brief second before causing a bellowing impact, rocking and shaking the foliage and trees. 

The Blight of Humanity was sent flying back into the mountain, cracking off a good chunk of the hillside. The dirt left him partially buried, gurgling with exhaustion. His wounds were worse, the most notable of all was now a scar carved into his left eye. The red glow that came from it was faint, sparkling, and crackling. 

Mothra glided over to him, landing gently and gradually. She stared down at the ruined behemoth, resting her wings slowly. The light emanating forth becoming dim and faded, reverting to its usual state of subdued hue. She looked at him with a mix of reverence and sorrow. The sight of the once threatening Titan was almost pitiful, his disheveled state a stark contrast from his once-mighty prowess. 

Battra completely expected to be met with another strike. He fluttered his eyes shut in preparation, hoping that he could at least come to some peace before he met another, familiar demise. He waited, and waited, and waited. Yet nothing happened. 

He opened his eyes to find that Mothra was simply watching and waiting. There was a hint of suspicion and tenderness in her eyes, warmly looking ahead with hesitation. It was clear that she was in doubt with what would come next, reluctant to be the first one to act. Hoping that there would be some glimmer of redemption. 

The mere notion left the Blight disgusted. Mortified at the thought that he would live peacefully on a planet with such indignant and monstrous creatures desperately trying to reign supreme. Though even then, the idea came to him at times. In another lifetime, perhaps it could’ve been possible. But he couldn’t help but hate the concept. For it was how he was conceived and brought out into the world. 

A restless sigh escaped his mouth as he lurched forward. His claws ready to tear and gnash away futilely, desperate for some sense of revenge. Mothra watched in dejection and misery as she let the bright energy overwhelm them both in a shockwave of luminescent radiance. 

Chapter Text

INFANT ISLAND - JULY 18TH, 2026

The third shockwave tore through the island and engulfed the numerous ships off the coast of the island. A gleaming light blinded everyone in close vicinity, covering their eyes hastily. The crew in the osprey quickly dropped to the ground for protection, brightness crashing in all over.

On the Marauder, the Directors all watched silently. Neither of them dared to utter a word, anxious of what the other may say. A good few seconds passed. Most of them, waiting to see if either Titan would rise from the aftermath. 

“If I’m not mistaken,” Gondo was the first to pipe up. “Our outer cameras caught two ospreys from the Skull Island voyage going down over the island.”

Guillermin retrieved a small tablet from his pocket, going over the reports from the security system. “That would be correct. Now that the main targets seem to have settled down, it would be ideal to send over a team to investigate.”

Mark was already on his way, calling out to a trio of officers on deck. “You three! Get a boat on the water ASAP! And wait for me until you cast off!”

“Do we have any idea what we just witnessed?” Goro murmured, the sight still taking its toll on him. “Apart from the rivalry on display.”

“My best guess is that’s it something we won’t be able to understand for a long time,” Guillermin responded. He slowly looked back at his tablet as another alert popped up on the display. One of their outposts was giving off unnatural readings, blaring abnormally. He opted to get a glimpse through a security camera system. Alas, he was met with the flickering sight of rushing water and debris crashing into the lens, a somber and mournful sight. “It... It appears Skull Island has succumbed to the storm.”

Russell and Gondo exchanged subtly alarmed gazes. They hunched over to take a look at the footage, watching in disbelief as the prehistoric land started to break apart and take its place in extinction.

Mark barely took a second as the soldiers confirmed the boat was ready to takeoff, hastily rushing over as his two fellow Directors grimaced in bewilderment and horror. Their moment of shock was interrupted by Doctor Stanton jogging over, heaving heavily as he ran.

“D-D-Directors...” He gasped. “Y-Y-You need t-to see this...” And handed over a high range Geiger counter. 

Guillermin took it, reading the rather mundane roentgen reading on the LCD screen. “What am I meant to be looking at here Doctor?”

Rick leaned over and set the counter back by a few hours. The reading was gargantuan, a sound case of death after exposure for at least an hour. 

“It’s the radiation reading from the island,” he explained. “During the fight, at least. But now it’s... it’s...”

“So what are you suggesting?” Gondo asked. “That this new Titanus Mosura was able to negate its effects?”

“Not just on the island sir,” Stanton sighed wearily. “But... on everyone in the nearest vicinity.”

The three men all paused a low, but a thunderous cry came echoing out from Infant Island. It was sharp and mournful, reminiscent of both Mothra and Battra’s signature screeches. They all stepped closer, eyes glued to the landmass as they waited patiently for anything to follow it up.

“Everyone okay?!” Barnes yelled over the booming sound. 

He was met with shaky assurances. Lyla rubbed the back of her neck drearily, shaken from the incessant ringing in her ears. She turned to the Twins.

"Woah, hey. You guys okay? Anything we need to worry about?"

She was met with firm, if dizzy and weak, nods. Ilene's pixie cut was ruffled and unkempt, her tattoos blinking with a subtle sapphire glow as she started to come to. The same went for Ling, who was clutching her temple and breathing in and out softly. Though it felt as if her head was on fire, she could feel a resting, calming reassurance from her sister. She smiled. Grayson beamed wearily, admittedly relieved that none of them had become worse for wear.

“Okay. So do either of you know anything about what the hell just happened?” She asked ponderously. "That was... like Boston all over again. Except we aren't melted bone and scrap right now. And it was more of a beam than a mushroom cloud or pulse."

“A God Ray,” Ilene answered. “S-Something Mosura and Gojira have in common... But I never knew she could focus it on a single target...”

“First time for everything I guess,” Lyla mumbled.

“Hey, can I grab you for a sec?” Barnes asked Grayson, nodding over to a large plate of metal that was covering a potential exit from the wreckage.

Lyla walked over in reply, grabbing one end of the sheet as he grabbed the other. It took a while with both of them in a frazzled state, but they succeeded in pushing it aside to reveal the lush jungle and forest. It was breathtaking, the sight of the once malnourished foliage now filled with life. The Colonel’s face suddenly dropped as he heard a few scattered footsteps outside. 

He swiftly turned to Grayson. “What the hell happened with Rammfeld?”

“Nope.” She sighed. “He’s dead. I watched him get ground into literal roadkill right in front of me.”

“Then who-.” Barnes was cut off as two soldiers rushed into the downed aircraft. They were clad in grey outfits, their rifles already pointed high. The duo collapsed back, their hands held up as the Twins gasped in shock. 

“Monarch Defense Unit! Identify yourself this in-.” The one leading began before quickly dropping off, lifting his visor up. “Oh shit. Hey Colonel.”

Jackson gawked in confusion. “Wha-? Andrews? Damn, I can’t believe I’m saying this but-.”

“It’s good to see you?” A figure pushed past the two operatives, grinning softly. Mark Russell lent his hand out for the Colonel to take, another soldier turning to help Lyla up.

“D-Director.” The Colonel muttered uneasily. “It’s, uh, good to see you, sir.”

“Please, don’t call me sir. It makes me feel even older.” Russell chuckled as he turned to Grayson. “Dr. Lyla Grayson, you worked at the Temple of the Moth, right? One of the best living experts on it?”

“Yes, si-I mean, um, Director... Russell... I-It’s an honor.” She said nervously. 

Mark nodded appreciatively as he turned to see Ilene and Ling. His jaw promptly hung open, shocked at the glowing patterns that remained engraved into their bodies. 

“Uh, Ch-Chen...” He mumbled. 

“Hey, Mark,” Ilene replied, while Ling simply stared up at him assuredly. “I suppose I have some explaining to do.”

“You could say that.” He gazed at her.

“It’s... something our mother used to tell us,” Ling said slowly. “She said that we would fulfill the role she had once. As a worshipper, an ambassador and priestess of Mosura...”

“She called the myth...” Ilene finished. “The Legend of Shobijin.”

Russell was quiet for a few seconds. A part of him didn’t want to believe it. That the scientist he had come to know over the last seven years was directly linked to a Titan.

“Mark...” Ilene murmured uneasily. 

He sighed. “S-Sorry... it’s a lot... But I mean, it’s a pretty cool look. I’ll give you that.

She chuckled dryly, her and her sister rising to their feet as they, along with the rest of the group, started to file out of the ruined osprey. They walked through the luscious and alien-like environment, gawking in awe as they all walked through down to the shoreline.

The first thing Mothra felt was shakiness. She let out a low cry that echoed through the valley as she shakily pulled herself up. The dust and rubble fell from her body, collapsing away to reveal the patterns and bright spots on her wings. 

Beneath her, bright red specks flew about flamboyantly. The way they danced in the air made it clear to her that it was all that remained of Battra now. And despite that, she could still feel him resting. Waiting. Watching. Simply biding his time until he could rise once more. She would be ready for that when the moment would arrive.

In the meantime, she clicked uneasily under her breath as he brought one of her front pincers up. She impaled the side of the mountain to carry herself, slowly crawling up alongside the hill. Slowly but securely, she was soon approaching the peak of the mountain. 

The visage of her body leaning against the rock was unmistakable from afar. It was as if something had crashed down from heaven itself, pulsating and shining with a bright light as she struggled to keep herself stable at the top of the mountain that overlooked the island. The crew on the Marauder saw it. The team in the boat on their way back was watching in shock and silence. 

She looked back at all of them. Her eyes filled with acknowledgment and warmth as she stared at the small humans who looked up at her. When they once thought of her as a god, then a test subject. Something to monitor and experiment with rather than a living, breathing creature. Now, she felt a sense of resolution. In some way, she knew that they would keep their distance. Merely watched as she strived to care and nurture for the planet.

And even further, maybe she would see her King once more. Maybe they could rest from the brutality instead of barrelling into another tremendous brawl. 

For now, she did her best to raise her wings high. The patterns engraved within glowed with her angelic bioluminescence, sending a series of rays flying around. She flapped them prominently, a call to any other Titans who were listening. 

The Shobijin Twins, Lyla, Barnes, Mark, Guillermin, Gondo, Stanton. They gazed on in wonder as Mothra called tenderly but also celebration. The follow-up call of victory was merely a confirmation of what everyone had already known. 

That the Queen of the Monsters had risen yet again. 

Chapter Text

Olivia Thirlby as Lyla Grayson

Zhang Ziyi as Dr. Ling & Ilene Chen/The Shobijin Twins

O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Colonel Jackson Barnes 

Kyle Chandler as Director Mark Russell

Frank Grillo as Private Wilson

Lance Reddick as Director Merian Guillermin

Norio Wakamoto as Director Goro Gondo

Bradley Whitford as Doctor Rick Stanton

Shun Oguri as Ren Serizawa/Jiro 

Sammo Hung as Li Xiao  

Mothra as Herself

Battra as Himself

With Chris Evans as Lieutenant Markus Rammfeld

And Sir Charles Dance as Alan Jonah

MANDARIN ORIENTAL, JAKARTA - JULY 20TH, 2026

The sounds of the murmuring tourists annoyed Jonah as he attempted to bury his head in a magazine. An elderly man such as himself holding the fashion weekly with an idol on the front cover was jarring to see. He tried pulling down the tip of his bowler hat, a few beads of sweat already falling as he dealt with the humid weather while wearing a coat. He had no choice. Even if security cameras caught as little as a glimpse, chances were he'd be arrested within a few hours. 

He sighed, checking his watch indignantly. Where was that bloody dolt? He wondered to himself. He hadn't seen Jiro until the reporting from Hong Kong came into the small motel in the Southwest. Even then, they had an important deal. And the main dealer was nowhere to be seen. He started to tap his foot anxiously, his eyes darting around the lobby of the hotel. 

"I wouldn't recommend that."

At first, Alan paid the man standing behind him no mind. 

"You're trying to remain hidden by being obvious. It's foolish, to be honest."

He finally turned to see the figure standing behind him. They were dressed in a grey bathrobe and were wearing a pair of slippers. Frankly, he found it ridiculous to even try and maintain a conversation. And then he noticed the onyx, silky undercut. The black ear piercings. The thick sunglasses covering the figure's face. Everything slowly fell into place as he scoffed in shock. 

"Talking about foolish while wearing a goddamn robe? That's rich... Even for you."

The figure chuckled as he took a seat next to Jonah on the couch. He yawned tirelessly, looking around nervously. "I presume we're in the clear?"

"Chances are, not for long." Jonah threw the magazine back onto the table. "Now, tell me why exactly I don't have some samples or information to sell. Your man was supposed to be here hours ago."

"There was... a complication..." Jiro replied. "He's been reported on the casualty list from the final Skull Island expedition. According to info from some connections, he was killed on the Island. Both the sample and the drive were lost."

"So how do you intend to compensate me for that?" Alan asked. "It was because of my funds that you were even able to get a man on the inside during that mission. Hell, without me you'd still be on the run."

Jiro glared at him. "So what? You intend to use my status as blackmail."

"I was thinking of calling up Monarch for a quick chat. Letting them know for certain that the son of their best and brightest is nothing more than a paltry black market dealer. How does that sound... Serizawa?"

Ren gulped. He did his best to refrain from striking Jonah then and there. Instead, he composed himself and allowed a sly smile to spread across his face. "Your baseless threat is truly laughable. To them, I am dead. How is what you are suggesting any different?"

"My oh my, so you're the callous type then?" Jonah chuckled. "Let us be frank, if it weren't for me, you'd be six feet underneath your own creation along with that pedantic former boss of yours."

"And what makes you think that I wanted your aid?" Ren snarked back, a glint of anger simmering in his eyes behind the darkened shades of his glasses. Yet, he had no other option. Jonah was the only one who was able to provide him with some form of employment. 

"Oh well. Either way, you still have to pay me back for your botched op. I'm not exactly made of good favors."

Serizawa grinned to himself as he grabbed a small folded-up blueprint from his robe pocket. The piece of paper was marked with a small insignia that resembled a black triangle inside of a red circle. Jonah snatched it away and opened it up, quickly taking attention to what Ren had handed him. They were bioacoustics, cave paintings. What seemed like decades of research on a Titan that looked truly bizarre. As if it was plucked from the screen of a Saturday morning cartoon. Even the green color palette was quite bright, though still somewhat dull. It seemed hunched over in the engravings, but despite that, it seemed to be locked in a truly intense brawl with the Titan who ruled over the planet. The King of the Monsters.

"So," he said slowly. "How do you exactly propose we go about this?"

"You were able to bring about the reign of King Ghidorah," Serizawa pointed out, smiling as he took off his sunglasses. A burnt, blackened mark covered his left eye, leaving it a cloudy, pearly color. "I think that this will be twice as easy."

Written by: Heydria

Special Thanks for the properties created/owned/designed by:

○ Yuji Koseki ○ Ishiro Honda ○ Tomoyuki Tanaka ○ Yoshie Hotta ○ Teizo Toshimitsu ○ Keizo Murase ○ Kanju Yagi ○ Yasuei Yagi ○ Takehiko Fukanaga ○ Shinchi Sekizawa ○ Shin’ichiro Nakamura ○ Kazuki Omori ○ Takao Okawara ○ Minoru Yoshida ○ Michael Dougherty ○ Zach Shields ○ Max Borenstein ○ Bear McCreary ○ Adam Wingard ○ The Toho Company ○ Warner Brothers ○ Legendary Entertainment ○ And an extra special thanks to you, the reader of this truly wacky fic, I mean it, thank you so much ○

Dedicated to the memory of Koichi Kawakita, the special effects director for the Heisei series (barring Return of Godzilla) of Godzilla films and the first two films in the Rebirth of Mothra trilogy

December 5th, 1942 - December 5th, 2014

Dedicated to Haruo Nakajima and Katsumi Tezuka, the actors/puppeteers of Mothra's Imago and Larva form in the original 1961 classic daikaiju film

H.N, January 1st, 1929 - August 7th, 2017

K.T, August 31st, 1912 - Death Unknown, Retired from stuntwork in 1967 

May all of their work continue to amaze and inspire the generations to come.