Stage V.
The ultimate form of Gastrea... because theoretically, Stage IV represented the maximum potential Gastrea could achieve—the "Complete Form."
Yet Stage V Gastrea undeniably existed in this world. Although no one knew exactly how or from where they emerged, humans had certainly observed their presence.
Every Stage V Gastrea was colossal; compared to them, even the Complete Form Stage IV Gastrea looked like mere children. To avoid collapsing under their immense weight, their muscles, skin, bones, and organs had drastically evolved, becoming unbelievably tough. They possessed molecular-level regenerative abilities and immunity to the Monoliths' magnetic fields—human weaponry simply couldn't kill them.
In total, there were eleven Stage V Gastrea, each named after constellations of the Zodiac by humanity. In the past decade, no new Stage V had been born.
Of these, Taurus had been slain by the Initiator ranked IP #1, and Virgo by the Initiator ranked IP #2. Thus, nine Stage V Gastrea remained.
As long as humans could defeat all Stage V, humanity would finally be able to turn the tide in this war against Gastrea. Defeating every Stage V was therefore considered the ultimate mission of Civil Security—akin to the "Three Great Quests" entrusted to adventurers in DanMachi.
Because Stage V Gastrea could ignore the magnetic influence of Monoliths, they alone possessed the terrifying ability to destroy humanity's protective barriers. Once a Monolith fell, lower-stage Gastrea from I to IV would surge through the collapsed defenses like an avalanche… a scenario humanity termed the Great Extinction.
And now… perhaps the Tokyo Area was about to face its very own Great Extinction.
Hiruko Kagetane, formerly ranked IP #134, had stolen the crucial catalyst for summoning a Stage V Gastrea—known as the Legacy of the Seven Stars—and fled into the uncharted territory beyond the Monoliths. In response, Civil Security officers from the Tokyo Area banded together, forming a temporary coalition determined to venture into danger and stop his insane plan.
No one understood why Hiruko Kagetane had chosen an abandoned, crumbling town deep within unexplored territory for summoning a Stage V Gastrea. Ultimately, he settled inside an abandoned church, as if placing this blasphemous ritual atop the lingering remnants of divinity.
Indeed, there had been previous cases where Cthulhu cultists had seized churches for dark rituals—and Hiruko Kagetane seemed genuinely connected to such cults. The grip of his treasured pistol clearly bore a metallic emblem of the eldritch god Cthulhu. No one knew if he truly worshipped the "Water God" slumbering in the deep-sea city of R'lyeh, or if he merely intended to borrow the symbolism of its immense power.
Though abandoned long ago, most buildings and smaller structures within this town remained largely intact, suggesting that its inhabitants had fled before the Gastrea invasion began. Gastrea had little interest in destroying uninhabited villages.
By the time the Civil Security coalition arrived at this ghost town, Hiruko Kagetane had not yet opened the metal briefcase—the very one containing the Legacy of the Seven Stars. Once opened, the catalyst inside would immediately draw a Stage V Gastrea to its location.
Yet, from the current situation, it appeared he had deliberately waited, anticipating the arrival of Tokyo's Civil Security officers.
"You finally arrived. Honestly, you kept me waiting so long, I nearly fell asleep... Perhaps it's my fault for expecting too much from you useless fools."
A voice chillingly similar to Emiya Kiritsugu's echoed forth, filled with a twisted, disconcerting coldness.
Hiruko Kagetane stood atop the church's roof, an enormous, slightly tilted cross looming behind him—a grotesque parody of faith.
Nobody could see his expression, for he always wore a pure white mask that seemed to mock the entire world. Even his greeting was purposefully provocative, effortlessly igniting the fury of every Civil Security officer present.
"Such arrogance!"
"So what if your IP ranking is higher? So what if you're one of those super soldiers from the New Human Creation Plan? There's only two of you, and so many of us—do you really think we can't take you down?"
"It's just one turtle-shell barrier!"
"Kill him!"
Their absolute numerical advantage instilled blind confidence. Most relied entirely on their Initiators' fighting strength, causing them to lack a clear grasp of the actual disparity in their respective powers.
A small number among them, more rational in thought, clearly understood that they had neither the luxury of fear nor the option to retreat… If they failed to defeat Hiruko Kagetane now—when their strength was at its peak—and allowed him to open the case, thereby attracting a Stage V Gastrea, the Tokyo Area would face absolute annihilation.
"Daddy, I really don't like the way those people are looking at us. Can I cut them up?"
Beside Hiruko Kagetane stood his Initiator—also his own daughter, Hiruko Kohina—who asked this cruel question in a voice that sounded uncannily like Okita Souji, Tiamat, Shuten-douji, Ibuki-douji, or Ganesha, yet spoken with a perfectly innocent tone.
"Behave yourself a little longer, Kohina. Daddy still has things left to say."
"Okay…"
Kohina hung her head dejectedly.
Seeing everyone's fighting spirit fully ignited, Hiruko Kagetane nodded approvingly.
"Now, that's more like it. This is a game deciding life and death—determining whether Tokyo lives or dies. A chance to change fate is right here in my hands. Kill me, reclaim it, and you'll survive as heroes who saved Tokyo."
With those words, he leapt down dramatically from the church rooftop, arms wide open, theatrically proclaiming to them all:
"If you win, you live. If you lose, you die. Win everything or lose everything—a very simple, easy-to-understand set of rules, no?"
"That suits me just fine!"
The hot-tempered, rough-edged Ikuma Shogen immediately prepared to rush forward, eager to smash that obnoxious mask—and the arrogance behind it—to pieces.
Hiruko Kagetane wielded two automatic pistols—one black, one silver—engraved respectively with the inscriptions "Give the life with dignity" and "Otherwise give the death as a martyr."
Yet, because he had to hold onto the briefcase, he casually drew only one pistol from its holster—an obvious provocation clearly saying, "I can still win even with one hand occupied," enraging the Civil Security officers even more.
As their battle was about to erupt, Initiators instantly entered combat readiness, their eyes flaring with deadly scarlet light—
At that very moment, a blinding bolt of lightning abruptly split the sky, striking precisely between Hiruko Kagetane and the Civil Security forces! Its deafening thunderclap and dazzling flash instantly shattered the almost tangible bloodlust permeating the air.
Everyone froze.
On a bright, clear day, how could lightning strike?
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"
Suddenly, hearty laughter rang out, seemingly echoing from every direction at once.
Rather than relaxing their guard, everyone became even more alert, scanning their surroundings tensely—until their gazes collectively landed on the precise spot where lightning had struck… where now stood an eerie figure who had appeared without warning.
Though human-shaped, he looked far more like an exceptionally realistic android. His body gleamed with cold metallic luster; a large scoreboard was prominently displayed upon his chest, and numerous blue stripes decorated his frame.
In his hand, he held a bizarrely shaped, dragonfly-like microphone.
"I thought I heard someone mention a competition just now? In that case, allow me to referee this match!"
He raised the microphone to his mouth. Clearly, his mouth never moved, as if it were mere decoration, yet his voice somehow reached everyone's ears perfectly clearly.
"First! Absolutely no impulsive judgment!"
"Second! Absolutely no overlooking any wrongdoing!"
"Third! Absolute fairness and beauty in refereeing!"
"I am the referee robot, Captain Tomborg! Greetings, everyone!"
Although the stranger called himself a referee robot, practically no one present believed him.
Where in the world would you find a robot with intelligence like this?
Most secretly guessed he was just a deranged human, wrapped in clunky metal plating—or perhaps another super-soldier like Hiruko Kagetane, rebuilt by the "New Human Creation Plan," his flesh partly replaced with Varanium-based mechanical limbs.
Thinking back, the strange man had appeared right after that inexplicable lightning strike... Could his ability actually be artificially triggering thunderbolts?
"You there... Are you that masked bastard's companion?"
Ikuma Shogen bluntly fired a rough challenge at Captain Tomborg, who stood between them.
"Companion? No, no, no—I am a referee, entirely impartial toward all participants—"
"Shut up and die!"
Captain Tomborg was still attempting to explain himself, but Ikuma Shogen had already lost patience, roaring aggressively as he prepared to attack.
Seeing the opponent actually daring to attack him—the referee!—Captain Tomborg wasted no more breath, lightly waving his microphone in Ikuma Shogen's direction.
In the next instant, another bolt of lightning fell from the sky.
Ikuma Shogen made a swift move to dodge in advance. Naturally, human reaction speeds could never match lightning itself—but he could predict Captain Tomborg's actions.
However, he severely underestimated the sheer power of lightning. Also, he'd completely forgotten…that he was still gripping a Varanium-metal greatsword in his hand.
BOOM—!
The falling lightning bolt triggered an enormous explosion upon impact. Amid billowing clouds of smoke and dust, Ikuma Shogen was blasted violently into the air by the shockwave. When he crashed heavily onto the ground, his body was charred black, convulsing uncontrollably, sparks still dancing erratically across his frame.
The crowd gasped in shock.
Previously they'd harbored doubts, but now everyone had to believe it… This guy could genuinely call down thunderbolts from the sky!
And precisely at his intended target!
"Very well! It seems you all unanimously acknowledge me as referee now…"
Obviously! The only one who'd disagreed was still convulsing on the ground!
Captain Tomborg paid no heed whatsoever to the Civil Security officers' twisted and complicated expressions, continuing cheerfully, "Then, allow me—the referee—to hold onto the competition prize temporarily."
As he said that, he raised his hand—and suddenly, a silver briefcase simply appeared there, as if out of thin air.
"—?!"
Hiruko Kagetane reflexively glanced down at his own empty hand, then sharply jerked his gaze up to stare at the briefcase now firmly grasped by Captain Tomborg. His eyes filled with utter disbelief—everything had happened far too swiftly, surpassing even his comprehension.
How had the briefcase vanished from his grip and reappeared in someone else's?
Spatial teleportation? Impossible! Such technology was merely theoretical fantasy; even entities as legendary as the Four Sages had yet to master it, let alone deploy it so effortlessly and casually.
Could it be an illusion, then? But if that were the case…when had he fallen under its influence?
"Daddy, this weird guy is really annoying. Can I cut him up?"
Hiruko Kohina's eyes glowed red, radiating excitement, as if she'd leap forward at any second.
Hiruko Kagetane was about to stop her, but a thought suddenly flashed through his mind… Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to test him first?
The Legacy of the Seven Stars had fallen into the strange man's hands; Kagetane absolutely needed it back. Yet, uncertain of the man's intentions or combat strength, he wasn't confident the strange figure would return the briefcase—even if Kagetane emerged victorious. Too many unknown variables existed.
In that case, a fight was inevitable. He should at least test the waters and gauge the opponent's strength.
Thus, Hiruko Kagetane stepped forward calmly, interrupting Captain Tomborg's speech.
"Taking someone else's possession without permission seems rather uncivilized, don't you think? Moreover…even if those fellows accept you as referee, I still harbor certain doubts."
A cold, razor-sharp gleam flashed through his eyes beneath the mask.
"Kohina, go ahead—bring back both the briefcase and his head."
"Yay!"
Thrilled at finally receiving permission for a killing spree, Hiruko Kohina cried out excitedly. Dual blades flashing, she dashed forward, her figure flickering across the ground, leaving behind blurred afterimages. Simultaneously, Hiruko Kagetane also raised both pistols, barrels precisely targeting Captain Tomborg's head and heart.
...
Satomi Rentaro had not joined the main force earlier. Previously, he had confronted Hiruko Kagetane alone and suffered a crushing defeat, receiving serious injuries that hospitalized him. Upon hearing news that the coalition had set out, he immediately requested discharge, ignoring his injuries and rushing to join them.
On the way, he encountered Ikuma Shogen's Initiator, Senju Kayo. Together with Aihara Enju, they arrived at the abandoned town where Hiruko Kagetane was reportedly sighted.
However, instead of the anticipated scene of a devastating battle, they discovered a group of Civil Security officers standing around awkwardly—each inexplicably holding onto an enormous kite.
"I knew you'd come, Satomi-kun."
Satomi Rentaro instantly recognized that voice.
"Hiruko Kagetane!"
A chill surged down his spine. Without hesitation, Rentaro swiftly took a step back, drawing his handgun. However, when his eyes clearly registered Hiruko Kagetane's current appearance, he froze on the spot.
Hiruko Kagetane's wine-red suit was scorched and charred in multiple places, and his signature mask now bore a prominent crack.
As for Hiruko Kohina trailing closely behind him… Last Rentaro saw, she'd had messy, algae-green hair. Now, it had exploded into an exaggerated afro, as if recently and violently electrocuted.
Most notably, what Hiruko Kagetane held in his hand was neither the Legacy of the Seven Stars nor his usual automatic pistols—but rather an enormous kite, even bigger than an adult human.
Just like those Civil Security officers standing nearby, wearing equally bewildered expressions.
---
T/N: CAPTAIN TOMBORGGG