A deafening explosion broke Nakajima's concentration.
A star-mark-adorned F-14 jet divebombed, slicing through the clouds. Nakajima all of a sudden found himself hovering over a battlefield. Below him was a hair-raising sight.
An unbelieveably large lump of flesh, a hideous tower of raw meat, was slowly writhing. Its pale green, transparent gelatinous membrane was greedily expanding at its base. Several long black rivers flowed into it. No, what looked like black rivers were actually the hair of the people heading toward the tower. Tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of people tore off their clothes and proceeded forward completely naked.
Rapid explosions echoed through the air. The SDF's F14 jets scrambled from the 7th fleet were attacking, targeting the top of the tower so as to minimize injury to the humans below. A rain of bullets from an attack helicopter's machine guns sprayed through the air. Though that ammunition was capable of penetrating tank armor, it was absorbed without any resistance into the body of the ever-expanding otherworldly creature, as if it was laughing at the pathetic attack. It was almost as if it was trying to prove that any attacks against it would be futile.
Nakajima pictured the blue spheres within his mind. His body was wreathed in a scorching wind, and then in his right hand he gripped the sword of Hi-no-Kagutsuchi. Gripping the hilt with both hands and holding it forward, Nakajima cut through the air, charging toward the summit of the tower.
GRAAAAGH!
Nakajima's attack appeared to have given his target a shock it could not ignore; the demon Set, formerly engrossed in absorbing humans into his own body, turned his attention toward Nakajima and interrupted his mind control of the people he had been manipulating. As a result, the people advancing toward the tower were suddenly freed from their trances. Around the tower, an ocean of ghastly protoplasm spread out, its gelatinous walls crashing down like a tsunami. Far above, the fighters darted amongst themselves and an attack helicopter plummeted to the ground in a ball of fire, having being hit by an attack from Set.
The hellish sight now standing before the people suddenly brought back to their senses was far too much for them to handle. Instinct overpowered them, and a cruelty far greater than when they had been controlled by the demon possessed them as in their efforts to save themselves they blindly knocked over others, trampling their naked backs and stomachs underfoot. Seeking new victims, an ocean of blood and bile let off a great stench.
So, you really did come after all.
Already inside the tower of flesh, a powerful psychic wave assaulted Nakajima's mind. As if trying to shake off the headsplitting pain, Nakajima slashed his sword around. The inside of Set's body was torn up by the sword of Hi-no-Kagutsuchi surprisingly easily.
What you are so gleefully cutting up are the bodies of the humans that have become a part of me. Dice them up to your heart's content.
Set's scornful psychic wave seemed to be almost pleased that a somewhat worthy opponent had appeared.
Where is Yumiko! Give her back!
There was no response.
Instead, it appeared as if the space in front of Nakajima suddenly opened up, and with a sickening sound, there stood a boiling swamp of blood. One of the sticky bubbles burst, and a human hand extended out. As if on cue, one by one, naked, stooped-over humans came crawling out of the swamp dripping with fresh blood.
Kill us, kill us! End our misery...
As they pulled themselves out of the swamp, they pulled up their heads with one hand by their blood-matted hair. The faces of those advancing, murmuring as if chanting a spell, were clearly those of Kondo, Takai...all classmates that had lost their lives to the demon Nakajima had summoned, Loki.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Part 7: Chapter 1
The Kumazasa was wet with morning dew. As Nakajima left Shirasagi Mound behind him, the calm expression on his face showed not a trace of the worry that had lined it when he came here to ask Izanami's help. Turning around one last time, he sucked in a deep breath and kicked off the ground as hard as he could.
His body seemed as light as a feather. As if coming to the surface from deep within the ocean, Nakajima floated through the air, his arms pushing in a swimming motion. The wind whipped at his ears. But it was not that of a great howl, but a comfortable sound like that of cloth fluttering in the breeze.
Using one arm to push the air aside and twist his body, Nakajima started flying parallel to the ground. Below him, the Ishibutai tombs and roofs of ancient temples looked scattered amongst a pale green panorama. Leaving Asuka, Nakajima went in a straight line to the east. Soon, the blinding blue-black shimmer of Ise Bay spread out below him. Further ahead, the Nobi plains and the peaks of the Japan Alps appeared to be looking up at Nakajima gently flying across the sky.
Nature gave birth to and killed millions of lives here...
Ages ago, the gods Izanami and Izanagi had a great fight. That day, Izanami vowed to take the lives of one hundred people per day, and in response Izanagi vowed to give life to two hundred people per day. Whether or not the gods actually had any interest in the lives or deaths of the race of humans, surely there was no conflict over whether any individual life survived or died.
In ages past, this Toyoashihara might have been the country of the gods. But present-day Japan was created by the efforts of people, and ruled by people. It would be difficult to see any opportunity for the gods to interfere.
And am I really Izanagi's reincarnation? At the very least, that's what Izanami told me. But I do not want to be a god. I want to live and die as a person...
If Nakajima could really compare himself with a god, things would have been so much easier for him. Then he would have been able explain away the fact that because the single program he created caused his mother, Yumiko's family, and thousands--tens of thousands--of people to die as a destiny given to the race of humans by the gods. The gods simply would have given a cruel trial to humans who put too much faith in their own power by making them face off against technology-produced demons. It would seem natural for the demons would destroy the human world, and after the people had seen just how powerless they were, then the ever-capricious gods would step in and save them by driving off the demons.
Even if I really am Izanagi's reincarnation, I could not become a god. I only created that program to get revenge on those who hurt me for no reason. And now I am using all of the power Izanami gave me to save Yumiko, just one person that I love...
Gaining altitude, Nakajima plunged into the coulds. Crisp, cold air caressed his cheek.
More than accepting the fact that his attacking the demons was out of stubborn insistence on rescuing Yumiko, Nakajima was trying to hold onto his identity as a person. But ironically, Nakajima had not yet realized that destroying the many in favor of an individual was also a common act of those very same ever-capricious gods. Furthermore, from the moment he had donned Izanami's robe, his body had subtly started transforming from the inside out.
His body seemed as light as a feather. As if coming to the surface from deep within the ocean, Nakajima floated through the air, his arms pushing in a swimming motion. The wind whipped at his ears. But it was not that of a great howl, but a comfortable sound like that of cloth fluttering in the breeze.
Using one arm to push the air aside and twist his body, Nakajima started flying parallel to the ground. Below him, the Ishibutai tombs and roofs of ancient temples looked scattered amongst a pale green panorama. Leaving Asuka, Nakajima went in a straight line to the east. Soon, the blinding blue-black shimmer of Ise Bay spread out below him. Further ahead, the Nobi plains and the peaks of the Japan Alps appeared to be looking up at Nakajima gently flying across the sky.
Nature gave birth to and killed millions of lives here...
Ages ago, the gods Izanami and Izanagi had a great fight. That day, Izanami vowed to take the lives of one hundred people per day, and in response Izanagi vowed to give life to two hundred people per day. Whether or not the gods actually had any interest in the lives or deaths of the race of humans, surely there was no conflict over whether any individual life survived or died.
In ages past, this Toyoashihara might have been the country of the gods. But present-day Japan was created by the efforts of people, and ruled by people. It would be difficult to see any opportunity for the gods to interfere.
And am I really Izanagi's reincarnation? At the very least, that's what Izanami told me. But I do not want to be a god. I want to live and die as a person...
If Nakajima could really compare himself with a god, things would have been so much easier for him. Then he would have been able explain away the fact that because the single program he created caused his mother, Yumiko's family, and thousands--tens of thousands--of people to die as a destiny given to the race of humans by the gods. The gods simply would have given a cruel trial to humans who put too much faith in their own power by making them face off against technology-produced demons. It would seem natural for the demons would destroy the human world, and after the people had seen just how powerless they were, then the ever-capricious gods would step in and save them by driving off the demons.
Even if I really am Izanagi's reincarnation, I could not become a god. I only created that program to get revenge on those who hurt me for no reason. And now I am using all of the power Izanami gave me to save Yumiko, just one person that I love...
Gaining altitude, Nakajima plunged into the coulds. Crisp, cold air caressed his cheek.
More than accepting the fact that his attacking the demons was out of stubborn insistence on rescuing Yumiko, Nakajima was trying to hold onto his identity as a person. But ironically, Nakajima had not yet realized that destroying the many in favor of an individual was also a common act of those very same ever-capricious gods. Furthermore, from the moment he had donned Izanami's robe, his body had subtly started transforming from the inside out.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Part 6: Chapter 9
As if to split Tokyo on a north-south line, the riot police, stationed along Loop 7, set up a thick barricade to try and push back the line of people toward Shinjuku. Here and there, young soliders could be seen cowering at the sight of the massive line of over 100,000 people and being screamed at by their superiors as a result.
"You can use tear gas if you need to. Do whatever you can to push back the flow of people!"
The duralumin shields futilely attempted to push back the people. Those that fell over after being knocked over by the shields were trampled underfoot casually by the next group behind them. In the face of the meaningless bloodbath, the younger soldiers trembled in fear.
Furthermore, in the midst of the chaos, some of the army men themselves abandoned their posts and joined the line, enthralled by Set's call. At the same time, the missile launcher teams that had been waiting for the order to open fire left their vehicles and mixed in with the throngs of civilians. Their owners gone, abandoned flamethrowers and portable surface-to-air missiles littered the sidewalk.
While being enthralled by the visage of the enormous demon tower in their heads-up displays, the Airborne SDF also appeared to have been ensnared by Set's call; unable to attack, they dived the noses of their aircraft without hesitation and crashed amongst the trees of the Soga forest.
Before even getting the chance to find out whether or not modern weaponry would work against Set, the officers in the Capital Defense Base had no choice but to recognize that there was nobody left to operate it.
"You can use tear gas if you need to. Do whatever you can to push back the flow of people!"
The duralumin shields futilely attempted to push back the people. Those that fell over after being knocked over by the shields were trampled underfoot casually by the next group behind them. In the face of the meaningless bloodbath, the younger soldiers trembled in fear.
Furthermore, in the midst of the chaos, some of the army men themselves abandoned their posts and joined the line, enthralled by Set's call. At the same time, the missile launcher teams that had been waiting for the order to open fire left their vehicles and mixed in with the throngs of civilians. Their owners gone, abandoned flamethrowers and portable surface-to-air missiles littered the sidewalk.
While being enthralled by the visage of the enormous demon tower in their heads-up displays, the Airborne SDF also appeared to have been ensnared by Set's call; unable to attack, they dived the noses of their aircraft without hesitation and crashed amongst the trees of the Soga forest.
Before even getting the chance to find out whether or not modern weaponry would work against Set, the officers in the Capital Defense Base had no choice but to recognize that there was nobody left to operate it.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Part 6: Chapter 8
The data from the RPV was being fed in real-time from the Ministry of Defense via American military satellite to the Space Command Center in Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.
"The President has decided on a basic level to support Professor Feed's plan." Aide to the President Richard spoke while staring at th bizarre phenomenon attacking Tokyo onscreen. Opposite the screen, a monitor was set up on the far end of the long rectangular meeting table. Sitting at the table were Aide Richard and Professor Feed, along with General Louis of the Space and Missile Defense Command and Baker, the engineer who in essence was in control of the SDI.
President Reagan's concerned face displayed on the monitor. The teleconferencing system in Peterson Air Force Base was connected directly to the White House.
"So, essentially we are faced with the choice of using a satellite in low orbit, one in dead orbit, or whether we should try to fire a satellite out of Earth's gravitational pull entirely when summoning the demon." Baker pushed his thick glasses up his nose with his finger.
"We only have two satellites currently capable of summoning a demon. The Satellite Early Warning System Satellite Hummingbird at a height of 8,000 kilometers, or the satellite Star Scorpion, which is in dead orbit at a height of 35,000 kilometers. However, both satellites are important for our country's defense, and if anything happened to either of them it could cause great problems in case of nuclear warfare." General Louis spoke disinterestedly. "Of course, this would all be moot if the Japanese Self-Defense-Force were able to solve the problem on their own..."
Aide Richard pressed a switch by his hand and a map of Tokyo appeared on the screen. Many green dotted lines on it pointed toward a large red cross that was situated a little left of center on the map, an indication of Set's location and the people moving toward him. On the monitor, President Reagan turned to the side, apparently looking at the same diagram being sent to a screen in the White House.
"In order for the SDF to attack Set directly, they will have to keep the civilians from getting near him. However, according to the CIA's simulations, they will need at least 300,000 soldiers to be able to pull this off. The Japanese government can barely pull together 100,000 soldiers around the capital. They would have to get outside help first." Aide Richard was clearly hinting that the American armed forces would have to get involved.
"So, gentlemen, which satellite would be most appropriate to use?" The president spoke from the monitor. Realizing that one way or another he would be forced to lose one of his military satellites, General Louis looked up toward the ceiling and sighed.
Feed leaned toward the President on the display and spoke. "There is only one option. We must use the satellite in dead orbit."
"Why is that?"
"A low-flying satellite will pass over other countries' airspace, including those of potential enemies, and the potential for an international incident is too great should any unforeseen consequences come of summoning the demon to the satellite. Furthemore, all satellites in low orbit are fated to eventually fall to earth, and should we not come up with a method to destroy the demon permanently, that would mean summoning it to the surface once more. Launching a satellite out of Earth's orbit would of course be ideal, but it would take too long to prepare. Every minute we sit here, roughly 50 more citizens of an allied country are falling prey to Set's efforts to gather human Magnetite."
"Very well. I shall communicate to Prime Minister Nakasone our plan to use the satellite in dead orbit then. General Louis, you shall head up the operation."
"Yes, sir!"
First a military man, Louis stood to salute.
"The President has decided on a basic level to support Professor Feed's plan." Aide to the President Richard spoke while staring at th bizarre phenomenon attacking Tokyo onscreen. Opposite the screen, a monitor was set up on the far end of the long rectangular meeting table. Sitting at the table were Aide Richard and Professor Feed, along with General Louis of the Space and Missile Defense Command and Baker, the engineer who in essence was in control of the SDI.
President Reagan's concerned face displayed on the monitor. The teleconferencing system in Peterson Air Force Base was connected directly to the White House.
"So, essentially we are faced with the choice of using a satellite in low orbit, one in dead orbit, or whether we should try to fire a satellite out of Earth's gravitational pull entirely when summoning the demon." Baker pushed his thick glasses up his nose with his finger.
"We only have two satellites currently capable of summoning a demon. The Satellite Early Warning System Satellite Hummingbird at a height of 8,000 kilometers, or the satellite Star Scorpion, which is in dead orbit at a height of 35,000 kilometers. However, both satellites are important for our country's defense, and if anything happened to either of them it could cause great problems in case of nuclear warfare." General Louis spoke disinterestedly. "Of course, this would all be moot if the Japanese Self-Defense-Force were able to solve the problem on their own..."
Aide Richard pressed a switch by his hand and a map of Tokyo appeared on the screen. Many green dotted lines on it pointed toward a large red cross that was situated a little left of center on the map, an indication of Set's location and the people moving toward him. On the monitor, President Reagan turned to the side, apparently looking at the same diagram being sent to a screen in the White House.
"In order for the SDF to attack Set directly, they will have to keep the civilians from getting near him. However, according to the CIA's simulations, they will need at least 300,000 soldiers to be able to pull this off. The Japanese government can barely pull together 100,000 soldiers around the capital. They would have to get outside help first." Aide Richard was clearly hinting that the American armed forces would have to get involved.
"So, gentlemen, which satellite would be most appropriate to use?" The president spoke from the monitor. Realizing that one way or another he would be forced to lose one of his military satellites, General Louis looked up toward the ceiling and sighed.
Feed leaned toward the President on the display and spoke. "There is only one option. We must use the satellite in dead orbit."
"Why is that?"
"A low-flying satellite will pass over other countries' airspace, including those of potential enemies, and the potential for an international incident is too great should any unforeseen consequences come of summoning the demon to the satellite. Furthemore, all satellites in low orbit are fated to eventually fall to earth, and should we not come up with a method to destroy the demon permanently, that would mean summoning it to the surface once more. Launching a satellite out of Earth's orbit would of course be ideal, but it would take too long to prepare. Every minute we sit here, roughly 50 more citizens of an allied country are falling prey to Set's efforts to gather human Magnetite."
"Very well. I shall communicate to Prime Minister Nakasone our plan to use the satellite in dead orbit then. General Louis, you shall head up the operation."
"Yes, sir!"
First a military man, Louis stood to salute.
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