In the dark emerald forests that cloaked the mountains, new life emerged.
They fell from fruits hanging heavy on ancient trees, bursting forth from pulpy prisons before crawling into their new world. After shaking off the nutrient-rich fluids and meticulously cleaning themselves, these creatures took their first breaths as fully-formed beings.
Despite being newborns, they were far from small or vulnerable.
Their bodies were encased in metallic-like shells, each weighing over 600 pounds with a length approaching ten feet including their powerful tails. Though freshly born, these creatures already ranked among the apex predators of this strange ecosystem. In another era, they would have rivaled tigers and leopards, even challenging elephants for dominance.
But that was before. In this transformed environment, they were merely infants in a world of giants.
A pair of keen eyes surveyed this unfamiliar realm with unbridled curiosity. The creature staggered forward on four limbs before breaking into a run, looking up at the massive tree trunk—the "parent" that had nurtured its development.
Its body resembled an armored terrestrial dragon, possessing a strange and captivating beauty. It evoked images of prehistoric beasts—a hybrid of Permian-era giant crocodilians and armored beetles, a formidable titan born to rule this ecosystem.
The newborn flexed its muscles, testing its capabilities before launching into an explosive leap. It soared nearly twenty-five feet straight up, powerful claws gripping the tree trunk as it began to climb. Despite its heavy armor plating, its agility rivaled that of the most nimble felines.
The new ecosystem existed in distinct layers. Towering trees stretched sixty to a hundred feet above the hillsides, their sturdy leaves forming a biological environment unlike any before.
This was the canopy layer of the new ecosystem.
Unlike conventional forest canopies, this new elevated realm functioned as a second forest floor, complete with large predators and decomposers breaking down the remains of plants and animals.
This unusual development occurred because the dense, incredibly strong leaves prevented dead creatures from falling to the ground below. Instead, corpses remained caught in the thick foliage.
Branches and leaves capable of supporting tremendous weight allowed even large scavengers to ascend in search of carrion. With small photosynthetic organisms forming the foundation and medium-sized creatures feeding on fruits and plant parasites serving as middle links in the food chain, a revolutionary ecosystem had emerged.
Now, even predators weighing hundreds of pounds could thrive at the forest's summit.
In just over four days since its birth, Godzilla's ecosystem had evolved with astonishing speed.
───「 GODZILLA POV 」───
The newly born creatures leapt from the ground to the trees' leaves and branches, continuing to test and adapt to their powerful bodies.
Then, from the horizon, came thunderous explosions that made the mountains tremble.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
A sound more powerful than the mightiest thunderclap materialized as physical force, causing the entire forest to shudder in response.
Ordinary animals would have fled in terror from such a monumental and frightening sound. But the newborns and all other creatures in the forest showed no discomfort. Instead, they grew excited.
The newborn creature bounded upward with several powerful leaps, quickly climbing higher. After a few more jumps, it reached the forest canopy's pinnacle.
From this vantage point, it looked toward the source of the earth-shattering roar. In the distance, a blue mountain moved across the landscape.
That was their god, their creator.
Though miles away, its presence remained awe-inspiring. The newborn creature watched its deity until Godzilla vanished from sight, feeling a pang of reluctance as the massive form disappeared.
It loved Godzilla. They all loved Godzilla.
With their god's inspection complete, it was time to hunt.
The agile creature descended from the leafy heights, scanning its surroundings. Its armored nostrils detected the scents of other creatures. The time had come for its first meal since birth.
Nature could be cruel; all living things competed against one another, with some species occasionally facing extinction. From this perspective, even humanity's extinction of other species represented merely another facet of evolution—not exceptional cruelty.
Yet nature was simultaneously compassionate, providing an environment where all life could coexist. Even when species vanished, their evolved descendants or close relatives often thrived.
Just as non-avian dinosaurs evolved wings and conquered the skies, leaving their indelible mark on the world.
Nature's struggles were never about complete eradication.
As night descended, the creature located its first potential prey: another recently born offspring that had emerged from the branches.
This too was a carnivorous beast, like the creature itself, existing to sustain its own life by taking others.
The prey sensed the unwelcome visitor on its branch, baring its gums and fixing its eyes on the intruder. The claws on its four limbs extended in layers, attempting to intimidate the predator.
But at that moment, from the darkness on the opposite side, another figure plummeted with lightning speed.
With its full weight bearing down on the double-clawed creature, this new arrival launched its attack, aiming to snap the spine in a single motion.
However, its timing was slightly off.
Just as it focused on the armored intruder, another figure dropped from above at incredible speed.
Before it could react, the creature's powerful hind legs kicked upward, striking the enemy descending from above. It kicked its attacker groundward before whipping its tail across the fallen predator's face.
Spinning around, it drove its claws into its opponent's body, engaging in fierce combat.
More than one hunter had been waiting in the darkness—and patience wasn't always the optimal strategy.
CRACK!
After the violent clash between the two combatants below, the armored crocodile-like beast above made its move. It descended the tree trunk, seizing the opportunity presented by the newborns' skirmish. It charged forward, aiming its thick-skulled head at both distracted fighters.
BOOM!
The impact was successful.
However, the struggling parties noticed this new threat and temporarily ceased their battle, joining forces against the common enemy.
The three predators collided in chaotic violence. By cruel coincidence, the multiple claws of one beast sliced open the throat of the armored crocodile, while the crocodile's powerful jaws clamped down on the neck of the third combatant, whose leg simultaneously kicked the head of the clawed beast.
The forest fell silent.
The three gravely wounded creatures collapsed separately, each seemingly at death's doorstep.
At that moment, pristine white moonlight bathed their broken bodies.
And a miraculous transformation began.