The Metropolitan Police Department's plan to test "Mrs. Inoue" could not proceed smoothly—because something new had just occurred.
"Alert! Alert!"
"Unusual seismic activity detected in Arakawa Ward!"
"It's the 'Seismic Catfish'! It's appeared again, now in Nishiogu Town, Block One!"
Inside the Special Operations Room, urgent alarms rang out continuously. Reports from multiple departments streamed in: eyewitnesses had seen the extraordinary creature dubbed "Seismic Catfish" by the MPD reappearing in Arakawa Ward.
"Pull up surveillance from the target area!"
"Deploy armed helicopters to the site—immediately!"
After a brief thought, Director Takemasa issued another order:
"Contact the First Division. Request support from the Self-Defense Forces."
The First Division of the SDF was stationed in Nerima Ward, northwestern Tokyo. With about 6,500 professional soldiers, including engineering battalions, reconnaissance units, air defense units, chemical defense, aviation companies, and three infantry regiments, it was the military backbone protecting Tokyo.
Unlike individuals like Souta Kiryuu, who had been transformed into supernaturals through unusual means, this Seismic Catfish showed no signs of communication or reasoning. Its mere presence caused widespread destruction.
While the MPD scrambled to dispatch negotiators, they also requested deployment from the First Division as a contingency.
"What is that?!"
"It's a monster! Wait—where's Ultraman? Where are the Self-Defense Forces?!"
"Help us!!"
In Arakawa Ward, Nishiogu Town, Block One, pedestrians gawked in disbelief at the massive black fish surfacing from underground. The sound of smartphones clattering to the ground echoed across the street.
RUMMMBLE~~
The enormous fish, as tall as a building, ignored the "ants" around it. It swam lazily with half its body submerged in the ground. Only its enormous flat head, two whip-like whiskers, and eyes full of strange "intelligence" surfaced.
Perhaps because the road was spacious, it avoided sidewalks and buildings. As for the cars on the road:
"Out! Get out of the car!"
"Run! It's a monster!!"
"What the hell is going on up there?!"
As the monstrous fish swam toward them, drivers slammed on brakes, abandoning vehicles and fleeing.
The black giant catfish with a vermilion torii shrine on its back drifted forward lazily. Occasionally, it flicked its whiskers to send vehicles flying, triggering waves of shocked cries.
But gradually—
"Wait, it's not attacking us?"
"Are they shooting a movie? But those props look way too realistic."
"Mom, it looks like a catfish."
Once the initial panic settled, pedestrians pulled out their phones:
Posting on social media!
LINE, Facebook, Discord—even live-streamers joined in:
"Hey fam, your boy Kazestorm is live! You won't believe what I'm seeing—"
"This is INSANE! Check it out, everyone—"
The moment UP-hosts began streaming on-site—
Tch.
The giant catfish halted. Eyes slowly scanned the crowd sheltering under nearby eaves, then locked onto a large cargo truck.
"Wuuu~~"
The creature raised its wide, flat head, opening its mouth in a guttural roar. A row of massive white fangs gleamed, each longer than a human arm. The crowd, once in awe, finally realized—
This was no harmless beast.
Peace had dulled their instincts, but reality snapped them back.
The catfish coiled back—then surged forward with incredible speed.
CRASH!
Despite being dozens of meters away, it slammed headlong into the cargo truck. If time slowed by a hundredfold, you could see the truck's front crumpling, the cab's windows shattering into splinters. The enormous fish's head continued to plow forward.
The four-meter-high truck folded like paper. Shockwaves rippled through its frame, spider-web cracks expanding across the body.
Finally, the wreckage was flung like a lobster shell into the air, smashing into a nearby building, embedding into a load-bearing pillar.
Utter silence.
Then:
"RUN!"
"It's a MONSTER!"
"Mommy—wahhh!!"
Screams erupted. The crowd fled in a frenzy like ants doused in boiling water. No one could pretend it was just a spectacle now.
This monster could kill with ease.
"Wuuuuu~~"
The catfish bellowed in triumph, flicking its massive tail out of the earth.
BOOM!
The street cracked beneath the impact, seismic waves spreading in concentric circles. Those too slow to run cried as they crawled away.
Hmph.
Still daring to gawk?
What, did you think monsters were all friendly?
Autumn Yuu, controlling the giant black catfish, snorted coldly and searched for a new target.
RATATATATAT!
At that moment, an armed helicopter arrived overhead. A negotiator leaned out of the side hatch, speaking into a megaphone with a bitter smile.
"To the Seismic Catfish below, please cease your destructive behavior."
"I am a representative of the government. We are willing to talk."
The giant catfish looked up, its lantern-sized eyes rolling independently.
"We mean you no harm—"
As the negotiator racked his brain for a way to communicate with a supernatural catfish, the creature opened its mouth.
"DANGER!"
"EVASIVE MANEUVERS!!"
Even those unfamiliar with monsters knew what that motion meant—
PLOP.
The catfish spat out a tiny pebble. Compared to its house-sized bulk, it was no bigger than a fingernail.
But as it soared, the pebble rapidly grew in midair, ballooning into a massive boulder.
Earth Style: Rock Iron Cannon
A D-rank Earth-style ninjutsu where a small stone is spat out and expands into a solid projectile midair. While not particularly fast, it packs serious force.
In the world of Flame of Nations, Earth ninjas used this in group bombardments.
It was only considered slow relative to ninjas who could run on water and leap off rooftops.
"Evade it—NO!"
The helicopter couldn't veer in time. The massive rock slammed into it, sending it crashing down in smoke and fire.
"No room for negotiation."
Back in the MPD headquarters, Director Takemasa sighed.
"Initiate capture plan. Aim to take it alive."
But he held little hope.
After all, this was the Seismic Catfish—capable of swimming freely underground.
"Sorry!"
"Roads ahead are closed. Please turn back immediately!"
"What?! I have somewhere to be—"
Every street around Nishiogu was locked down. Police tape blocked all routes. Frustrated civilians grumbled—it was 4 PM, peak school dismissal time. The roads were packed with parents, shoppers, and children.
But all complaints ceased.
Armored vehicles roared in, crashing through blocked roads. Muzzles of black guns silenced everyone.
Type 87 armored patrol vehicles. Type 16 assault vehicles.
These were just "light" armor, but their cold metal bodies, menacing cannons, and expressionless SDF soldiers made it clear: something serious was happening.
These machines could crush the entire Tokyo underworld if needed. Even without tanks, they were built for war—and possibly, monster battles.
BOOM!
The SDF had barely entered Nishiogu when disaster struck.
The lead armored vehicle suddenly flipped into the air, crashing into the one behind. Two multi-million-yen machines reduced to scrap without a single shot fired.
"Of course this wouldn't work."
Armed helicopters, armored vehicles, drones—all focused on the battlefield.
From above, the entire street was blanketed by a high-tech net—a fishing mesh launched by helicopters, reinforced with aircraft carrier-grade arresting cables. Steel spikes drove deep into the asphalt.
Even a blue whale would be immobilized by it.
But the Seismic Catfish simply sank downward and slipped free.
"It's an earth-type supernatural being. You can't trap it this way," muttered the head priest from Yushima Tenmangu Shrine.
Despite his traditional garb, he was a modern man who played games like DreamX Monsters at home. True recluses didn't exist anymore.
"Then what do you suggest?" Director Takemasa asked.
The priest pointed at the torii on the catfish's back.
"The key lies there."
Then fell silent, much to everyone's frustration.
That vermilion torii clearly held meaning. But even shrine leaders couldn't explain it.
"Mr. Takemasa, let's see what this creature can do under modern firepower," said a foreign advisor.
The Americans, especially, were thrilled. Monster vs. military was their favorite genre.
After all, any casualties were Japan's problem.
RATATATATAT!
Gunfire echoed through Nishiogu. The scene resembled the Middle East, not Tokyo.
From atop a Type 87 vehicle, a 25mm Oerlikon cannon spat out bullets at 600 rounds per minute, creating a steel whip that lashed the catfish.
"WUUU?!"
Such fire should reduce flesh to mist. Lightly armored foes stood no chance.
Yet the enormous black fish took the hit without flinching, and instead lunged at the vehicle.
"Retreat, retreat, retreat!"
The gunner cursed his commanders. The tank commander had already spun the wheel, backing up while turning.
"Orders are to keep firing!"
"Tell them to do it themselves—" the commander grumbled until the radio operator tapped his helmet, reminding him they were live.
"Understood! Continuing attack!"
Still, the vehicle's attacks had no effect.
"If the 7.62mm MG and the 25mm cannon are useless, then..."
Director Takemasa rubbed his brow.
"Deploy the assault tanks. Use the 105mm cannons."