Fallen World: Wrath of Shin Godzilla

Bitter Cold

A hard exoskeleton slammed against the smooth surface of an alien metal. An electromagnetic interference burst from the hook-like claw, now losing the vibrant, red bioluminescence. A pulse ran over the two, and electromagnetism reverberated within the alien spacecraft. Losing all of its functions, the light source from the port cannon diminished and the tentacles dissipated. Its speed decelerated drastically, and then lost its aerial prowess. The M.U.T.O.'s punch sent the vessel flipping down, with nothing to help it regain balance. Only the sloshing of liquids within the vessel could be heard as it made its silent descent into the cold, merciless ocean.

Although the M.U.T.O. fared better, he was in no state to claim aerial dominance. The momentum from his attack brought the Male flipping frontward, losing nearly any chance of him stabilizing. Although this awkward motion allowed him to drag himself out of his original trajectory, his vain attempts at regaining flight proved to be naught.

With enough airtime to rotate and land on his greater arms and legs, the actual impact proved to be rough. Pressure built from terminal velocity weighed down on him, forcing him to nearly collapse on the rocky shores. The explosion of rock and shallow, iced water erupted from the landing area. After standing idly from the shock, the Male folded his wings and trekked inland.

Clicking with his tongue, the M.U.T.O. investigated the premises via echolocation. The nearby vibrations told him that intense activity brewed beneath the ground. Feeling the earth with his outer arms, he honed in on the fight ensuing beneath him. The beast prepared to take flight, unconcerned with the battle until something else caught his attention.

Slight creaks from under the earth. Familiar, yet deranged as if its source wasn't communicating, but screaming! The M.U.T.O. curiosity took hold once more and he searched for a path into the void below before he found the very spot he needed.

Mounds of rock and dirt piled up from an underground force. The first among them poked its head out, with its narrow, skull-encased muzzle and diminutive size. A pink tongue flicked from its snout, letting the crisp, brutally cold air alert its senses that it's no longer confined to the warmth of the catacombs. The lizard-like creature gasped for fresh air, even if the contrast in temperature made it uncomfortable to even breathe.

Then more began to pop up.

Other small Skullcrawlers made their way to the frozen surface. It was undoubting that many of their kin were able to find their way to their underground burrows, where the warmth of the earth provided for these ravenous cretins. But for the ones forced to exit to aboveground, surviving the fury of Mechani-Kong, their chances for survival were slim. Even slimmer as a large shadow overtook the group and a massive appendage slammed into their hides.

Four small reptiles soared into the air, creating plumes of snow from their impacts hundreds of feet from their burrow as the other focused on the parasite in front of them. Two Skullcrawlers lunged, merely for the Male's left appendage to skewer them in mid-air. Five others retreated backward, preparing to strike, only for the male to slam its dead brethren in front of them. With a series of deafening chirps, the Male challenged them all to attack. In unison, the group of Skullcrawlers fled in terror.

All five dove into their burrow, catching the attention of the dozen other reptiles which clung to the chasm's sides. A massive explosion of rock and light blinded the Skullcrawlers, allowing the Male to descend with impunity.

The parasite touched down upon the ground and immediately charged its right appendage with radioactive energies. It could hear the reptiles jumping from the walls, ready to tear into his flesh for intruding on their territory, but the Male didn't have patience to fight any longer.

The M.U.T.O. brought his arm down, unleashing a concussive shockwave through the catacombs which mapped the area and found his target. The M.U.T.O. let loose a challenging screech as it spun around to face the impending reptiles, yet he discovered them in an utter panic!

Skullcrawlers raced around in a craze, running into walls and others of its kind. Dozens dropped from the walls, screaming in pain before retreating into their burrows or digging into the frozen earth. As the chasm emptied, the Male scanned the area with confusion. Was this the effect of the EMP or did the burst of sound overload the sensitive ears of the subterranean creatures? Either way, the M.U.T.O. took advantage of its luck and barreled down the chasm. Determined not to let anything else stand in its way, including the massive wall that separated him from him target.

A frozen wall burst open, shrapnel striking everything within the smaller void. Smoke clouded the Male's sight for a brief moment before it turned its head to the far side of the chamber. There he discovered another of his kind on the edge of life, a mutation feasting on its insides, and an immobile machine standing beside another opening to another chasm. Hearing his entrance, the beige creature retracted its long head out of the belly of the other M.U.T.O.

Without hesitating, the Male smashed his right appendage against the reptile that feasted on its kind. The monster smashed against the opposite side of the chamber. Rock and ice fell, submerging the creature under a massive mound of debris. With the threat taken of for the moment, the Male slowly moved its head toward the injured creature.

It was a Female M.U.T.O. Her profusely bleeding scars, missing inner arms, and broken body told him nearly everything he needed to know. With what strength the Female possessed, it looked at its momentary savior and echoed a soft cry. The Male remained motionless, unsure of what to do before resting its head against the Female's. The red features that acted as their eyes for a brief moment synced, allowing each to communicate with the other. Their struggles, pain, and loneliness were instantly shared. For a brief moment, the two were no longer alone in a world that wished nothing but their destruction. Then the Female's light faded.

The Male let loose a muffled cry, trying to coax the Female to remain alive, but its cries fell on deaf ears. The Male tried again, a loud screech echoed from its maw to awaken the Female, but something else stirred.

The mound ruptured as the Female's killer broke free. Shin Gojira's massive eyes focused on the Male. The mutation could sense the radiation within the new monster. But his body was in no state for proper combat.

Shin Gojira's lithe tail slammed against the ground. Assimilating the abundance of raw radiation from his surroundings, his digitigrade feet began to snap and contort, repurposing for true bipedal locomotion. The pouch-like gills regressed into his neck, leaving the slits remaining. His horizontal body began to shift and adapt, allowing him to stand upright. The tips of his nubs broke off, revealing four, miniscule fingers. His body mutated; the once beige colored skin now burning a hot crimson, his size increasing by over 40%, fitting the needs of the environment. Pushing the air out of his newly developed lungs, a deep, baritone roar reverberated across the cavern.

With swift speed, Shin Gojira charged the Male M.U.T.O. who stood motionless, unfocused on the approaching creature that now rivaled its size. A roar echoed from Shin Gojira's jaws as it neared, causing stalactites to fall to the floor all while the parasite remained motionless. As the killing blow came within reach, Shin Gojira lunged for the M.U.T.O.'s throat.

Blood struck the floor, steaming as the ice coating it vaporized. A pained cry emanated from the blood's source, allowing the M.U.T.O. to gain a few seconds of joy as it watched the mutation squirm. The two scythe like appendages which skewered Shin Gojira gradually retracted, allowing the mutation to fall to the floor. The M.U.T.O. did not screech to signify its superiority in battle or continue to slice open the fallen creature. The Male remained silent and focused on watching the blood-soaked killer perish in the frozen void.

In agony. Alone.