Chapter 3: Ascending Step by Step to the Pinnacle!
“Second-tier monsters can withstand ordinary firearms, and some of the more special ones can easily overturn an entire city district.”
Shimizu Mizuki pondered silently.
[Chiryu]
[Rank: Third-tier]
A third-tier powerhouse like Chiryu, given enough time, could directly annihilate an entire city. Withstanding missiles would be no problem—it could be considered a walking nuclear weapon.
But that all depended on the authorities not taking harsh measures.
The power of a nation is terrifying. Although Japan lacked a formal army, it had the Self-Defense Forces, a military organization, and with the United States troops stationed here, they were essentially Japan’s real protectors. It was hard to say whether the government could withstand such pressure.
However, none of this concerned Mizuki. All he needed to ensure was a continuous flow of willpower.
Willpower stemmed from the emotions of living beings—whether devout or resentful, all could be harvested. His task was simple.
He aimed to build a mysterious stage in this world, to bring the mythic beings out of legend.
Gods coexisted with humans, demons, and ghosts—this could be called the Age of Gods!
He intended to become the driving hand of the world, standing high above, ascending step by step to the pinnacle!
Lost in his uninterrupted thoughts, the class bell rang. Mizuki walked out of the classroom under the reverent gazes of others.
Several people who had blocked his path quickly stepped aside and bowed repeatedly upon recognizing him.
He had no interest in these people.
He had no patience for Japan’s twisted hierarchy and customs—the constant bowing and apologizing, the so-called seniors who were mostly weaklings.
At first, he was naturally an outcast and even a target of pranks. But unfortunately for them, he wasn’t the kind of bottom-tier victim from Japanese films or anime.
Benefiting from the slight physical enhancement brought by his transmigration, combined with a few self-defense moves he’d learned, he fought his way from first to third grade, truly dominating his peers. His status as the top student also brought him convenience.
Ignoring all those gazes, Mizuki continued his calculations.
“The authorities will likely contact Chiryu soon. Empty words won’t convince those vermin; a strong, tangible impact is necessary.”
Ordinary monsters were unlikely to instill genuine fear in the government’s upper echelons. To them, civilian casualties were merely numbers. Only direct experience could truly make them feel terror.
Currently, the willpower wasn’t enough to conjure truly powerful monsters. Wait, if creating a permanent great monster wasn’t possible, what about a one-time use?
---
At the same time, at Senso-ji Temple, the solemn abbot greeted the suddenly arrived police officers with a calm expression.
Leading the group was a police superintendent who quietly presented a written order.
“In the name of the Metropolitan Police Department.”
The abbot’s expression changed, eyes widening—something was amiss.
---
Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.
Inside the Metropolitan Police Department, senior officials watched a surveillance recording.
“Superintendent Asakawa, can you confirm this footage is from your actual experience?”
The screen froze on a blurry recording taken from a nearby building. Though unclear, after special processing, the key details in the video were immediately discernible.
As for the body camera, the investigation team explained it had been completely damaged by unknown interference before the backup could record.
Director Shirakuma, seated at the head, looked at Yuuya Asakawa and asked gravely.
All the bigwigs stared intently at Asakawa.
With his injuries under control—his waist wrapped in bandages and a band-aid on his face—Asakawa was receiving such attention from high officials for the first time.
Fortunately, his frontline experience and recent ordeals helped him remain composed. He took a deep breath and nodded solemnly.
He slowly recounted his encounter.
Director Shirakuma nodded, then signaled Police Inspector Toyama to begin the report.
Toyama stood, clutching a report booklet, his voice echoing through the conference room.
“Preliminary analysis shows the creature known as the Three-Tailed Bone Cat moves at 49 meters per second, and when entering a pitch-black fluid state, accelerates to 145 meters per second. It’s unclear if that is its maximum speed.”
The cat monster toyed with its prey, clearly following this instinct. Otherwise, Asakawa would already be six feet under.
Turning to the next page, Toyama’s eyes showed disbelief as he continued: “Calculations indicate the power of the strike delivered by the individual named Chiryu is no less than a 50-kilogram TNT explosion. However, on-site measurements show this force was confined within a limited area, sparing the surroundings. As for his speed when leaving... no other surveillance caught his trace, making it difficult to estimate.”
His words instantly ignited the room.
“Bioweapon? Or a superhuman?”
“That man claimed to be a monk from Senso-ji. Could there be secrets at Senso-ji we don’t know?”
---
“But why have they suddenly appeared? Nothing like this has been seen before.”
The conference room erupted with speculation.
Those seated here were some of the most influential figures in Japan, privy to many of the world’s secrets.
For instance, one country under the stars and stripes had long been developing super soldiers, conducting human experiments as easily as eating or drinking. The creatures in the video naturally reminded them of these projects.
Director Shirakuma drummed his fingers thoughtfully on the table.
The monster’s origin could be explained as bioweapons, but what about the monk? If the US had truly succeeded in super soldier experiments, why would such beings appear in Japan? Wouldn’t they be tampered with?
Though likely, never underestimate human greed; the refusal to admit is a skill humans master instinctively.
Tapping the table to quiet the room, Shirakuma spoke.
“What is the current status of that... master?”
Police Inspector Odagiri stood and responded, “We have already dispatched people to invite him.”
No sooner had he finished than his phone rang. After a few words, his brow furrowed.
“He refuses to leave Senso-ji?”
He looked at Shirakuma.
Shirakuma nodded slightly.
“Can we do a video call? Good, let’s begin.”
Many in the room relaxed. They truly could not endure sharing a space with such a monster—one strike equivalent to fifty kilograms of TNT, eyesight sharp enough to instantly kill the cat demon, and speed so fast he left no trace. Returning to their prime youth would be a mere slap to him.
The invitation to the Metropolitan Police Department was merely to uphold its dignity... and their own pride.
The screen flickered, revealing a bald head. The expression was calm, the right palm raised.
“Amitabha, I am the humble monk Chiryu. Greetings to all benefactors.”