Fortitude 5.7?
Even in that state, it still gives off this much energy?
You're finally awake, huh?
Kaiju No. 10.
You're not impressing anybody.
Try that again and I kill you.
Katana Man.
I knew you were different from the others.
I wish I could've won and eaten you.
Be careful, Vice-Captain.
There's no telling what he might do.
I won't waste time.
There's a Kaiju we call No. 9.
If you know anything about it, start talking.
Sure, if you want.
It was my creator, after all.
Creator?
But I want something in return.
Take me out of this place.
And fight with me.
Take me out of this place.
And fight with me.
I can't do that.
Episode 18 Compatible User
Your core's too damaged to restore you to a state where you can fight.
No. I know that.
That's not what I mean.
You have the technology to make my body a weapon, right?
Turn me into a weapon and equip me.
Give me your body.
The Kaiju wants us to turn it into a weapon?
It's dangerous, Vice-Captain!
There's no precedent for turning an intelligent Kaiju into a weapon.
We don't know what effects it would have on the wielder.
My battle with you was fun.
Like a dream.
Shut up. I was bored as hell.
Don't lie to me.
I was there. I could tell.
You were clearly enjoying the battle itself.
You're like me.
You understand, I'm sure...
The urge to fight anyone,
be it Kaiju or human, if the battle would be truly thrilling.
Give me a bit of time.
You'll have to wait.
Okonogi-chan...
What's that guy's deal? He's super-scary!
Why does he love fighting so much? He was trying to get up in my face!
I felt a different kind of danger to my being!
I don't want to equip that thing.
I'm opposed to it as well!
There's no precedent, and we don't know what it's planning!
It may really take over your body!
But he's certainly strong, is the thing...
And we don't have any other sources of information...
Well, if it doesn't work, I guess I'll just die.
Captain.
I'm going to take him up on his deal.
All right.
I'll let you make the call.
I'll tell HQ we want to turn No. 10 into a weapon.
Sheesh...
He's not somebody I want to like me.
Start talking.
So we have a deal, then.
Very well.
I want to be clear on one thing, though.
You're not the one in control.
I'm in charge here.
Huh? Vice-Captain Hoshina is coming here?
Yes.
For a meeting to discuss what to do about No. 9.
Vice-Captain Hoshina...
I never did get to apologize to him for hiding who I was...
So, where's Narumi?
He took the platoon leaders off somewhere with him.
That's bad...
Bad?
The First and Third Divisions share Tokyo as a jurisdiction,
so they're constantly compared to each other
and constantly getting into fights over turf.
You could say...
They don't get along at all.
Hoshina, who the hell told you that you were allowed here on my territory?
Well, well.
If it isn't Captain Narumi, coming to greet me himself.
I got permission from somebody more important than you. Your bosses at HQ.
Well, I didn't okay it.
This base has a ban on bowl cuts and narrow eyes.
And you've got both of those.
Oh, are you still mad about that?
That time I beat you in small Kaiju kills during the neutralization training exercise?
Beat You
Captain!
What the hell did you do?
Nothing.
We're still not done talking about what happened in Suginami last month!
You neutralized a Kaiju in our territory!
Some of the Yoju had entered Mitaka.
We also took down the Honju while fighting them, that's all.
You need to get our permission first, though!
Like hell we do!
That's the problem with you elites!
Tell 'em, you guys!
Hoshina only beat me in the small Kaiju section!
I've got the title for everything else!
I thought Captain Ashiro had the title for long-range fire.
I thought Captain Ashiro had the title?
Captain!
Why would you tell such an obvious lie?!
Shut up! Shut up!
The point is, I don't like you!
So get out!
Knock it off.
Good afternoon, Vice-Captain Hasegawa!
It's good to see you again, Soshiro.
It's been a long time, Hasegawa-san.
We're ready to start the leaders' conference.
I'll show you the way.
Everyone's here.
First Division Vice-Captain Eiji Hasegawa
We will now begin the meeting to discuss how the Eastern Japan forces
First Division Captain Gen Narumi
Second Division Captain Jura Igarashi
Third Division Captain Mina Ashiro
will enhance our defenses against Kaiju No.9.
Third Division Vice-Captain Soshiro Hoshina
Fourth Division Captain Juugo Ogata
Hey, Narumi, don't you dare start yawning in the middle of the meeting.
I'll slap your mouth off.
Musclebrain.
It's my right to yawn whenever I want.
Am I wrong?
Stop it, Jura.
This is nothing new for him.
He's a man who's good for nothing but killing Kaiju.
Hey, Ashiro!
That's way worse than what Igarashi said!
Now, now.
We haven't seen each other in ages. Let's try and get along.
You're drinking, aren't you?
I can see the bottle!
Oh, my apologies.
Quiet, all of you.
New Defense Force Director-General Keiji Itami
Sheesh... Bunch of damn troublemakers...
Get to the point, Soshiro Hoshina.
Roger.
We have new information about No. 9.
Long story short,
the No. 9 disaster is not one that any individual division can handle on their own.
What's the source of that information?
No. 10, who we have in our custody.
He said something quite surprising.
That No. 9 created him.
A Kaiju created that fortitude 9.0 monster?!
Correct.
Kaiju No. 9 is likely the first Kaiju with the ability
to create new Kaiju, and particularly powerful ones at that.
And No. 10 added this:
I am a prototype.
I want to fight the finished versions that came after me.
Something strong enough to get its own number is a "prototype"?
It's said that the Japanese Defense Force has the ability
to fight five powerful Kaiju at once.
And that number only decreases if any are above fortitude 9.0.
If No.9's capable of creating powerful Kaiju in numbers far exceeding this...
If we can't work together beyond the boundaries of our divisions...
This nation
will be destroyed.
A Kaiju capable of creating new species of Kaiju...
I find it hard to believe.
Is it possible No. 10's lying?
It's possible, of course.
But as you can see from this data,
Record of Ft. 6 or Greater Kaiju from the Past 10 Years
we're seeing more and more Kaiju recently, and more new species.
The yearly average fortitude has gone up from 2.6 to 4.8.
It all matches.
As you're aware, there's a lot we don't know about why Kaiju appear,
but the most promising theory we have recently says that the huge energy and warpage
created by tectonic faults has an effect on geological material
and plant and animal matter in the surrounding area, creating Kaiju.
We believe that No. 9 is interfering with this process to create its Kaiju.
Any information on its location?
It changes its form and shifts between bases of operations.
We don't know where it is right now.
But if it needs enough energy to create multiple numbered Daikaiju,
that'd put it somewhere along the contact point between the Philippine and Eurasian plates.
It's somewhere below where mankind can get to it.
That's too big an area to search.
It would take years just to find it.
So we just have to wait for it to make its move?
No. 10 also tells us
that No. 9 can access the memories of any human it's absorbed.
By absorbing Director-General Shinonomiya,
it may have gained full knowledge of the Defense Force's powers.
In other words, the next few months will be a race to come up
with as many things as possible that it won't expect.
That it won't expect?!
Yes. Things that aren't part of our current fighting forces.
Things it won't have counted on in its calculations.
Those who are inexperienced and incomplete,
and thus have the most potential for growth in a short period.
The growth of the next generation will be the key.
And the most important thing is to raise someone to the point where they can
use our most powerful weapon, No. 6, which still sleeps.
Numbers Weapon 6...
The weapon said to be the most powerful, and the most dangerous.
We'll put the former king of the Kaiju up against the current one, huh?
Did we find someone who can use it?
A biological sample from one of the new recruits
is currently showing signs of synchronizing with No. 6.
He's not from a neutralization university.
His grades during the entrance exam were completely average.
The other divisions had no idea he even existed.
His name is...
Nagano Prefecture Matsumoto City
Damn it!
Iharu-kun! Get down!
His name is Reno Ichikawa.
One of our young talents, who's maturing fast.
So he's potentially capable of using the No. 6 suit?
Wow, we got more than we bargained for when we took him in, Toko-chan.
You're on duty.
Cut me some slack.
Fourth Division Vice-Captain Toko Kirimori
This sudden huge responsibility feels like it's going to crush me.
People who are about to be crushed by responsibility don't pick their nose hairs.
...Hikari Shinonomiya Dies
Sympathy Messages from Around Japan, Sadness Spreads
Symbol of the Defense Force
Chaotic Neutralization Operation
I hate to say it, but it's true.
Despair Wrought by the King of Kaiju
Kaiju No. 6.
Not only did it have a fortitude of 9.6,
it came down on us with several Honju-class Kaiju in its wake.
It was truly the King of Kaiju.
I was still a student then,
but it was such a shock that I remember it well.
Captain Hikari Shinonomiya led a combined group of divisions to engage it at Odawara.
The First Division linked up later.
Many sacrifices were made, but the neutralization was successful.
Alongside the rare snowfall in Odawara that day,
it remains carved into people's memories even now. As a symbol of despair.
And now we're going to force some kid in his teens to use it.
Even if I make it sound cool, I still don't get to drink?
No.
It's Ichikawa.
I'm... going to be given the No. 6 weapon?
You know about the Numbers... the numbered Kaiju weapons, right?
I've never seen one, but I know of them.
I see.
Listen well, then.
Given a skilled wielder, the Numbers Weapons can take down a Daikaiju by themselves.
But between the load they place on the body and the increase in front line combat,
half their users die before they leave the force.
And the most powerful and most dangerous of them, it's said, is Numbers Weapon 6.
I know this isn't appropriate for me to say as a part of this nation's defense force,
but I'll be honest.
I think you should refuse.
I've heard that Senpai agreed to fight with the Defense Force as Kaiju No. 8.
But what happens to his dream, then?
Who's going to save him?
Ichikawa-kun, what will you do?
Even if it's just the arms, it's still...
Captain Ogata.
Please begin.
I like his eyes.
Activating Numbers Weapon 6.
Form assimilation, nerve synchronization, both normal.
I'm just trying the arms, but it's like it's sucking away my strength!
I won't give in!
Toko-chan.
Get a stretcher ready.
Wh-What is this?
Oh, I see...
This is what Senpai's fighting all the time...
Reno! Reno!
Reno?!
Reno!
Iharu-kun!
Whew! You're awake!
Where am I?
The medical room.
You're safe.
I see.
I failed when I tried to use Numbers Weapon 6...
Does it feel a little more real now?
The terror of using a numbered Kaiju weapon.
Captain?
Even partially equipping it puts that much stress on you.
You can imagine what it'll do to you if you try to equip the whole thing.
I'll say it again.
You should refuse this.
I agree.
I'll do it.
No wavering, huh?
That's dangerous.
If he goes out to the front lines with Numbers Weapon 6 like this...
He'll probably die before much longer at all.
But I don't think he'll listen to me...
You get a trial period of one month.
Then you're going on a neutralization mission.
I'm going to see for myself
whether you're worthy of using Numbers Weapon 6 on the battlefield.
Soshiro Hoshina's "Hoshi Night Japan"!
Today's guest is...
Hey, bowl cut.
Who gave you permission to be a radio host?
My radio program has a ban on messy bangs and dirty rooms.
Today's the last day you'll get to talk like that!
I can say tongue twisters faster than anybody in the force.
Hand over the role of host to me.
What's tongue twisters have to do with radio?
What, scared?
Seared short rib! Seared short rib! Seared short rib!
How about that?
Kafka's mysterious mysteries remain mired in mystical mystery. Go.
Kafka's mysterious myst...
Oh? Can't do that one, Captain Narumi?
Can't Do That One
Captain Narumi
See you next week on "Hoshi Night Japan"!
To Be Continued