What Kaiju Are You Contest?

Name: IronBloodAika

Type of Monster: Mythical Marauder

Description:

  Like others of this class, Aika most resembles a creature of myth or legend. In its case it most closely resembles the three-headed beast Cerberus, described as the Guardian of the Underworld by the ancient Greeks. While key traits such as multiple heads and overall build are similar to ancient texts, there are many key differences that are clearly visible upon closer inspection.

  Using nearby standing structures for reference alongside surveillance satellites, it is estimated that Aika stands at a height of 30 m (98.42) at the shoulder and slopping downward at an angle to a total length of 80 m (262.46 ft). Its front limbs are wide spaced and straight and more well muscled then the backs which are shorter and with noticeable hocks which give them a well angulated bend. Aika is a digitigrade, meaning its weight is placed upon its toes, 5 in the front and 4 in the back, both sets end with curved non-retractable claws. Overall these traits give Aika the rough anatomy of a canine, in particular that of a Rottweiler or similar breed.

  Obviously its most noticeable feature of anatomy is the three heads jutting just above and between its shoulders. The heads have an astonishing level of mobility and flexibility, allowing each head a wide field of ‘vision’. Long range studies seem to verify eye-witness reports of ‘communication’ between heads, where in one will notify the others if it sees something only noticeable within its ‘line of sight’. This shared intelligence has given it a distinct advantage over other monsters, insuring that none can surprise or escape its grasp.

  However this is where the similarities between Aika and its inspiration end. Though its form is canine to an extent, it has (as previously mentioned) several traits unmentioned in historical texts. In place of fur or skin, Aika is covered head to toe in a thick layer of olive colored scales, which grow darker and thicker the farther they radiate from the belly. The heads are equally reptilian, with short broad snouts and outward jutting teeth roughly resembling that of a crocodilian. The teeth are all sharp and hooked, which when combined with the strength of its jaw muscles ensure that no monster can escape from its clutches. While Aika has noticeable nostrils and reptilian equivalent to ears, there appear to be no noticeable eyes or other means of sight.

Origin:

  As with most monsters prowling the planet, the exact origins of Aika are purely speculation. However its unique similarity with an existing creature in human history has lead to further archaeological studies of Greek history for some clue within the ancient legends, not just for its own origins, but perhaps for all the monsters currently prowling the Earth. So far the most promising lead is a completed version of the Bibliotheca, uncovered in a classified location of Greece.

  It tells the tale of the final days of Echidna, known as the Mother of Monsters in Greek mythology. Unlike the tale that told her being murdered in her sleep by an agent of Hera, this completed version gives a different story. It tells of how Echinda tearfully mournined the murder of her children. For centuries without fail, her children would all suffer horrible ends, either as tools or trials of Gods and heroes. Her sorrow so consuming, she did not hear her assassin approaching.

  She could have not have known that the God’s had been warned by an oracle of a deadly threat. He warned that the children of Echida would one day gain the strength of Titans and seek vengeance upon the world, determined to destroy all that they and their servants had created. Seeking to prevent these visions from coming to pass, Hera sent her servant Argus to kill Echida.

  As her blood pooled around her, Echidna choked out a final curse to the Gods. That like her, descendents of them and their “heroes” would suffer for her family’s slaughter. She swore that her fallen children would someday rise again from Hades, with new bodies forged from death itself and tempered by the waters of the River Styx. With her final breath she laughed, content that when it was all over, the world would belong to her children.

  This tale has given some much needed insight into what sort of creatures the human race was dealing with. It also explains why Aika is such an abnormality compared to the other monsters. At the time of Echidna’s death only one of her children was still alive, her second child Cerberus. It is to be assumed that as a result of this, it was spared the effect of her curse, and retained its mortal body.

Offensive Ability:

  In some ancient myths, it was said that the spittle of Cerberus was so poisonous, that from it grew the first poisonous plants. While the botanical potential is questionable, the deadliness of Aika’s bile cannot be understated. Only seen when in combat with other monsters, Aika’s acid breath seems to be the most effective means of breaching the dead shell that makes up their bodies. Creatures that could weather a barrage of tritonal filled shells without a scratch will buckle and melt from sustained contact with Aika’s bile. Even Aika’s mere breaths can create a brief mist strong enough to corrode steel and crumble concrete. So far all attempts to study this acid have proven fruitless as there is currently no material strong enough to contain or extract a sample.

Secondary Ability:

  Aika’s sensory abilities are beyond that of any other currently known monster. While lacking eyes, Aika seems to more than compensate with its keen sense of smell and hearing. These senses are so sharp that Aika is nearly impossible to surprise, able to avoid artillery and air strikes far beyond normal monsters visual or auditory range. It also seems to possess a ‘sixth’ sense in regarding other monster. No matter how far it is, Aika is seemingly able to pin-point the closest monster to his current location, even if the monster is on the other side of the planet.

Weakness:

  Seeing the monsters resistance to most modern weapons, experts were called in to find alternative means to deal with them. Even those held as crackpots were given their chance before Joint Chiefs and were given permission to experiment in the ancient fields of magic in an attempt to ward of the creatures. At the time their efforts focused mostly on defensive measure to protect key cities and installations from being attacked. These efforts paid off into magic wards. They hoped that these wards would act as barriers to the monsters and eventually provide a means to contain them.

  However this plan was met with mixed results on the field. After placing the wards, a wounded monster being chased by Aika, bounded its way through the wards as easily as thin air. However Aika was not so fortunate and was thrown back by the invisible wall and unable to enter. It appeared that these cursed beings were untouchable by lesser magic. With the monster unwilling to leave and Aika unable to enter, the wounded monster set about destroying the installation at its leisure. The specialists quickly disabled the wards and the monster was soon dealt with, Aika soon taking its leave. This unforeseen weakness interested the specialists and it is there hope they can use Aika’s weakness to magic to their advantage if the right spell can be discovered.

Artillery Resistance:

 As seen during its first encounter during Operation Aika, Aika has proven to be nigh-resistant to all conventional weaponry. During its battle with another monster, it was able to weather all heavy ordnance on hand without dividing its attention from the fight, even as the surrounding cityscape was leveled to the street. It was only during a later time under a much heavier payload, that Aika forced to react. Even then it was only enough for Aika to change its course to go around a city instead of through it.

Motivation:

 Based upon its actions during Operation Aika and later incidents recorded by surveillance satellites, it appears that the creature has no interest in attacking any nearby military forces or bases it comes across, instead focusing all attention on fellow kaiju. It has so far avoided contact with any human settlements or cities, only into contact when the city is through the shortest route to the opposing monster. With the discovery of the Bibliotheca, there has been a prevailing theory on why Aika would turn on its own kin and stop their destruction of Earth. If Aika truly is Cerberus of legend, then it could be it is simply following with its duties as Guardian of the Underworld: Only the dead may enter and no dead can leave. With his kin having risen from the dead in new bodies and escaping the Underworld, it appears as if Aika is bent on insuring their return by destroying their bodies and sending their spirits back.

Location of First Attack:

  The first recorded sighting of the creature was in Pyongyang, NK during the final hours of Operation Aika. A joint mission by American and Japanese military forces, their mission was the contain the attacking monster, evacuate the civilians and surviving government staff to the Safe Zone, and eliminate the creature to prevent further loss of the Asian continent. The mission was about to be scrapped as the available artillery and air power was insufficient to contain the creature or allow for ground forces to properly evacuate.

  A nuclear launch was about to be requested before a new monster appeared, weathering the hailstorm of artillery shells and bombs and throwing itself its fellow monster. The battle that followed was long and terrifying to all who watched, but the distraction was enough to keep the two contained and the evacuations to proceed. Eventually this new creature emerged triumphant and killed his fellow beast with a flood of acid that left a scar in the heart of the destroyed city. The Colonel in charge of the operation was about to call in the nuke to deal with this new threat, but was shocked to see it merely run away from the human forces.

  This abnormality in behavior came to the attention of the leading group of monster researchers. It was through their study of the battlefield that they were able to uncover plenty of genetic material and information on this new creature. They were shocked to see the creature left blood on the battlefield. No creature so far had bleed like a mortal beast. They have been wounded and died, but none have ever bled. Once more its blood showed that it was iron-based, signs that it and perhaps the rest of these creatures were terrestrial in origin.

  As the war continued this creature would continue to hunt down its fellow creatures across the globe, often unintentionally coming to the aide of cities and humans under attack. In time it became a hero to a growing number of people across the world as the number of attacking monsters continued to dwindle. Eventually they began to ask what they should call this unexpected savior. When the news of their discoveries was shared with the public, one crazy writer came up with one: Iron Blood Aika.