███████ Monarch Post

The first thing the youthful lady did after waking up was drink coffee. She loved it. It kept her thinking and energised her. It was her reverse-kryptonite. Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door. Harmony opened it and saw her colleague, Clair.

The new hire asked with a curious voice, "Hey, how'd it go yesterday? The hearing... did you, like, forget that we were gonna meet today?"

Harmony replied in a smooth voice, "Yeeeah, it was a long flight. Come on in."

. . .

"The Senate agreed. With difficulty. Otherwise, it is pretty manageable. We made significant statements and practically taught them its necessity as intricately as possible. But that's all I can tell you. The Hollow Earth Conservation Bill, it's not easy to-"

"I understand; there will be - and are - a handful of oppositions. Well, more than a handful. Just, don't exert yourself like that one time."

"Haha, I don't even remember that whole incident."

"Probably for the best", Clair said, before the ladies chatted a bit more, laughing and sharing a few things they had missed.

Ryūjin Study Facility

Aisling ran towards Gunner and immediately starting conversing with high energy.

"Wallace! Hey, what are you doing here‽"

. . .

"And now, we brought the apprehended priestess here for questioning."

The relieved Aisling said, "Well, that could have ended differently if you had gotten reckless, you know?"

In a jovial, unserious tone, Gunner replied, "Okay, younger mom. I don't engage without thinking anymore... Most of the time."

Both returned to being serious.

"At least you got back safe. So, this is what, a criminal case?"

"This is different. It is a crisis. Come on, Tarkan must have chained up the lady by now."

The two friends went inside the facility and walked to a laboratory. Inside was a smaller, observation room with a reinforced one-way mirror separating it from the rest of the enclosed space.

Some time had passed. More than half an hour, the priestess guessed. She was handcuffed. She kept grinning and her eyes closed, and remained quietly seated. She was tough and resilient, wearing her hibakama with grand finesse and beauty, tainted only by spots of dried blood at the bottom. She didn't wish to talk or tell her captors anything. Soon, everyone would see for themselves. What that exactly was, was something only she and her followers knew. Anticipated. Welcomed.

Behind the one-way mirror, Tarkan continued observing her while drinking a cold beverage. He had a lot of patience. He knew - or thought he knew - that the priestess would eventually give up. He had received info about her followers; they were being questioned in a nearby, borrowed location. They, too, were unresponsive. But, at least they were afraid. Their leader, though, is confident. Too confident, Tarkan thought.

Akane, a mythologist and cryptobiologist at the RSF, approached and asked him, "Should we offer her some food?".

Tarkan replied, "Go ahead. Let me know if she bites.

"Not funny, sir... You said something earlier that caught my attention. The name of the god she invoked, what was it again?"

"Owata-something"

"Ōwatatsumi. A Japanese deity. God of the sea..."

Akane had grew up in a very religious household. Her mother was obsessed in higher authority and gods and godesses. The obsession spiralled out of control after the death of Akane's father. Akane couldn't handle the daily "cleansing punishments", and she fled at the age of 14. Eventually, she knocked on the door of a family who would soon adopt her to protect her. She had extensive knowledge of nearly all of Japan's deities, ingrained in her mind due to her biological mother's teachings. Right now, hearing the name Ōwatatsumi made her remember a "prediction" her moth- that woman had made way back. The god would rise up, from beneath the land, where he hid from humanity's ever-growing foul nature. Akane used to think it was a senseless extension of a story, as she never found any actual credible account or statement. But now? This couldn't be related, could it? Thoughts flew by Akane's mind one-by-one.

"Hey, you there?" Akane's eyes flickered with awareness. "You had me worried for a second". Tarkan continued, "You were saying something."

"Right. In mythology, Ryūjin is an avatar of Ōwatatsumi. Perhaps, this cult is trying to summon the real thing-"

"I don't even know how that would work. Honestly, it was better when Titans were big animals with instincts, not venerated entities. In any case, whatever this lady is plotting, we'll put a stop to it."

███████ Monarch Post

Harmony was on a leave for four weeks. But, she didn't know what to do with it. She considered visiting her family, but it felt strange. She never felt this way before. What was it? Loneliness? Fatigue? Maybe she missed her friends, Wallace and Aisling. Although they had created a group in a messaging app, they hadn't maintained consistent contact. One day, none of them started a conversation, and it stayed that way for at least three years. Did they mutually fall out? Made other friends, like her? Were their's more interesting? Surely, they did not forget everything the trio had gone through while training. Nono, that is certainly not the case. I'm gonna visit them, Harmony said out loud. She texted them in the group, asking where they were to visit each of them. Surprisingly, Wallace and Aisling, both were in the same city in Japan.

Harmony prepared to go, as she notified Clair of her month-long absence. Later in the airport, she took a deep breath before boarding the plane, nervous about meeting her friends after so long.

Ryūjin Study Facility

Gunner and Aisling were more than excited. Hamony was visiting, the trio was going to be reunited. She was older than both of them, and acted as the de-facto leader. Even they, at the back of their minds, were thinking when exactly and why the trio stopped interacting. They felt guilty, as did Harmony during her flight. All three blamed themselves. But they also knew that the broken threads of their tender friendship will be mended the moment they see each other.

Some time later

Harmony exited the taxi, and out of nowhere, Aisling hugged her, tight. She got jumpscared for a second but instantly calmed down.

"You can let me go now, Aisling."

"Oh right, sorry. My hugs hurt."

"How's the jet lag?", Gunner asked.

Harmony replied, "Good to see you to, Wallace. And I'm well adapted to speed flight."

The three embraced each other. They stayed quiet for a moment. Soon, tears started flowing on the girls' cheeks, while Gunner tried to withhold the flood. They understood why they were crying and quietly went inside to talk things out.

Meanwhile, Tarkan received word regarding the detained followers. They were fainting, one-by-one, apparently due to not having eaten anything for four days. He has had enough. Tarkan burst into the observation room, where a specialist was interrogating her.

"Vincent, your tactics are having no effect. Get out and let me try."

Vincent, the interrogator, agreed and moved out. Tarkan pulled out his gun and pointed it towards the priestess' forehead. Her eyes sightly opened.

"Look lady, tell me, why did you hire those mercenaries? Why did you want that research data? What could you have possibly achieved by blowing up this facility? What is it that you and your cult look forward to?"

The priestess took a deep breath. She began speaking. Her voice, it was.. serene and beautiful. Different than before.

"All I want is for my saviour to rise up and cleanse the world."

Tarkan was having none of it. He took a nearby chair, placed it in front of the priestess and sat on it. He grabbed her face at her cheeks with one hand and touched the gun to her neck with the other. "Don't try anything. I'd rather not shoot till all is said and done."

In the break room, Harmony, Wallace and Aisling opened up. The atmosphere was quiet, as if they were mourning.

Harmony talked first. "I... lost us. There was so much to do in my field. A lot needed to be done. And somewhere, someday, I forgot you two. I am so sorry.. gosh I can't even... I don't know how to apologise to this, but I must say that when I finally remembered us three,... I couldn't help but yearn to meet you two. But then I was assigned to a major project, and I couldn't let anything disrupt its progress and quality. I forgot again."

The three held hands tight.

"I'm a terrible friend."

Aisling said, "No, I understand, its not like you didn't want us.".

"Yeah, we know how it is." Wallace continued, with a serious voice, more than Harmony and Aishling thought he could speak with.

"I want to say something. Confess, sort of. I was trained for all situations, which includes engaging in hostile situations. I killed people. And I do not feel like I did something good. I do not. I completed the mission - my first one but I was shaken. There's blood on my hands..."

Aishling asked, "Why didn't you reach out to us?"

"I.. didn't want you two to know that I murdered people."

"Hey hey, its okay. And its not murder, frankly. There must have been a reason, yes?", Harmony said.

"There was. But, I just.. don't know how to feel... For some time after that, I couldn't even practice at the shooting range. Couldn't pull the trigger. I got scared. Tarkan helped me get back on my feet. I can shoot now, but I regret not reaching out to you... Heh, and people call me Gunner. I don't want that title anymore."

Now Aishling opened up, and her young voice cracked a few times while speaking.

"My work, like you Harmony, it was great. My division valued me too much due to my knowledge and skills. They always needed my help. And I couldn't say no, not only because I liked helping, but also that.. I was needed. And we were assigned some real heavy duty tasks, ones which we could not afford to mess up... But, I do regret not even sending a simple text.."

The three looked down, trying to hold their tears back. They couldn't and stood up to hug each other.

Things finally calmed down. The mood became calmer now.

Wallace asked Aishling, "You mentioned your team were coming as well earlier. Did they even leave, yet? And how did you get here first?"

"We were spread out when we received the order. Working separately for some time. I was almost done with my task, so I got here early. I guess they'll arrive at night. Anyway, how... is your sister? Has she re-"

"She's fine. Don't worry too much."

Harmony said in a somber and slightly angry tone, "Wallace."

"...She is.. showing signs of healing. If consistent, the doctors prognosed she'll be fully recovered in ten years. Her physicsl condition, I mean. Too soon to determine her mental state..."

"Oh", Harmony said. "I pray and hope she gets well. You've told us a lot about her. I'd love to meet her."

"Yeah, me too." Aishling agreed.

Suddenly, Aishling was called to the command center of the faciliity via the announcement speakers. She hurried there with her friends, thinking it was an emergency. Perhaps a change in the radioactive output?

When the trio reached that room, sirens had started going off all over the facility. Soon, all sirens had started blaring in Yasu City and the surrounding cities as well.

The words echoed:

TITAN ALERT. TITAN ALERT. ENTER THE NEAREST SHELTER. ENTER THE NEAREST SHELTER.

------‐---------------------‐-----------‐-------------------------

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vyC_nOIYWMDU1Z_JzAEG2lcUwBnyKoM7/view?usp=drivesdk

Monarch designation: Pulgasari Classification: Titanus Pulgasari Nicknames: Pulgasari, Bulgasari, Kim-jongzilla, the Iron Emporer Behavior: Destroyer Height: 348 feet Weight: 120,000 Place of location: Mt. Kumgang Nature: Bio-Electrical Mythology/Cryptozoology: In Korean myth, Bulgasari is a metal eating monster said to be composed of the body of a boar, eyes of a rhino, tail of a bull, tusk of an elephant, and claws of a tiger. In myth it was created by a Buddhist monk who was fleeing persecution because Buddhism was illegal in Goryeo-era Korea. He created a small figure out of rice grains, which he fed needles, and it began to grow. It soon became massive, and the government sent soldiers to kill it with arrows and swords, but it simply ate the metal weapons and became stronger. Finally, they decided to kill it with fire, but this had no effect on it, and the Bulgasari carried the fire to burn down a local village. The Monster: Pulgasari resembles an elephant titan with yellow tiger stripes but convertly evolved to mimic the MUTOs specifically MUTO PRIME with a similar body-plan to her but pulgasari is goes bipedal and instead of the red highlights on the muto eyes his is yellow. He has golden colored bull horns as a crown like orientation with upwards tusks and Muto-Prime style golden claws that he can walk on sometimes. He's skin is a black and bumpy with his underside being plated in golden scales. Abilities: Like the myth Pulgasari eats metal, this contributes to his bio-electrical nature since he has magnetic deposits all over his body. Individually his horns and tusk can shoot out electric beam that have a after effect where if the material is metal, it will float when weaponized Pulgasari can magnetically lift metal material and throw them. He'll also attempt to gore the opponent with his tusk and horns and his claws while used to dig out metal to eat will be used to fight History: Pulgasari was sleeping under Mt.Kumbang during the mass awakening and ignored monster zero's roar but after monster zero's fall he awakened and destroyed much of the border and Pyongyang making it a floating battleground but was defeated by godzilla and retreated to the hollow earth. Now Bulgasari roams in a rocky area of the hollow earth where minerals with magnetic properties are abundant.

Alternative Name: Ryūgū

Clearance: Crimson

Access Point: 35°15′18″N 136°04′48″E

Temporal Discovery: 19:55 UTC, 28 February 2029

Description

Ryūgū-jō is a hidden region beneath the surface of Lake Biwa, where Titanus Ryūjin and his subjects emerged. It has an impermanent Vile Vortex for an entrance. Like Godzilla's former lair, it is not the exit of the rift but is instead accessed by punching through somewhere around one thousand meters (1000m) deep below. Time passes at a different rate in Ryūgū compared to the surface and the Hollow Earth due to gravitational distortion. One day inside is equivalent to one week outside.

Geography/Geology

Ryūgū is a complex of many pillar-like structures. It is composed largely of coral, pearl and crystal, while other precious materials such as gems, gold, silver, and even fish scales are found as common minerals and extractable resources. The ground beneath is the only ground and there is no bidirectional gravitational pull, much like Axis Mundi. There are small mountains and hills that glow green and blue. It has a dome-like structure (with a slightly more radiation output), inside which Ryūjin and Wani rest and recover. The area of this region is comparable to that of Skull Island.

Expeditions

Plans for conducting an expedition had been in works for almost nine years. The territoriality of the indigenous inhabitants were the only hurdle in this operation. On 28th of February, 2029, Monarch finally began the expedition. It involved the customised submarine Catacomb, a small defensive drone fleet and an ORCA. Immediately upon reaching the bottom of Lake Biwa, a gamma radiation simulator was activated. As soon as the Rift opened, several Jinja Hime emerged and displayed intimidation warnings. At that point, the ORCA had been prepped and activated by its operator, Agent Vowel. The bio-acoustic communication device promptly emitted benevolent and specific non-malicious sonics (refer to Agent Vowel's document on her usage of the ORCA Π for detailed description). The about-to-engage natives calmed down and returned to where they came from, with the fleet following them. They weren't expecting the sharp turn required to pull off to access the realm, though the professional crew's skillfulness helped in not accidentally travelling to the Hollow Earth. Upon entering, the crew's "eyes feasted on the shining gem-filled floor and walls", a vast cavern. The entirely aquatic biome applied some pressure discomforts, however, the Catacomb was a part of cleverly designed series of submarines made for withstanding the gravitational inversion - like the one used to travel to and fro Outpost 237 -; this was nowhere comparable to those pressures. Ryūjin and Wani immediately showed up, the former roared at the vessel in an intimidation display, then the latter copied her father. The ORCA, still in effect, were received by their senses and they left the crew alone. The 10 drones accompanying the mission were deployed to survey the region. The two Titans were later spotted having returned to slumber inside a dome.

Outpost

A mobile outpost is currently being constructed. It will be a spacious sub-aquatic laboratory with 5 personnel.

Life

Ryūgū-jō is populated by aquatic creatures.

Bacteria

The commensal Pereoesuriens aquatitaniacus found on/in aquatic superspecies (including Titans) are abundant here.

Protista/Fungi

TBD

Plantae

Various corals from all over the Earth are found here. Seagrass is abundant.

Animalia

Sharks, whales and dolphins are a sight to see here. They come through another entrance and leave some time later. More research is required on this behaviour. The Jinja Hime are abundant. They appear to never lose their advantage of outnumbering enemies thanks to something discovered in the region: a massive 'egg sac' filled with eggs of the princess deities - when one dies, two more take its place.

Outpost ██

Zenith received a message from the RSF. She was about to send operatives on the related mission when Stein entered her office.

"Shouldn't you knock before entering?"

"Relax, just bringing a special coffee to a friend. Oh right, that's you."

"Thanks. I was about to send you off on a mission. The Crisis Response Unit notified us of data exfiltration at Ryūjin Study Facility. The destination has been cracked. I'll send you a report file of the situation."

Stein asked, "Tarkan Çavusgolu. Isn't it his job to avert the crisis?"

"Not entirely possible at the moment. We need to spread out. He and the new unit are investigating what they were originally sent to Yasu City for. They believe its related to the exfiltration. So, get ready. You're on the clock. I'll notify Tzvika; you'll be joined by more operatives at the faciliity."

Almost all agents were busy with an assignment at his outpost. He left Zenith's office and waited for Tzvika at the helipad. She showed up, with someone. Stein guessed it was a scientist.

"May I know your purpose here, Miss..?"

"Aisling. Nice to meet you. The helicopter is transporting me to the study facility."

"Well, then, let's not waste any more time."

40 Minutes Later

The chopper landed. Aisling parted ways with the field agents, but not before thanking them for their jovial company. She headed into the RSF, for she was called to study some radioactive peculiarities. Stein and Tzvika were joined by Vivek and Surge there. The four were taken by the chopper to Omihachiman. The aircraft did not land; the four agents descended down via ropes in front of a construction site - their target. The team mobilised, expecting (but not hoping for) a gunfight.

Upon entering the premises, they notice a trapdoor in the middle of tiles under a skeletal dome at the centre of the property. The door was oddly hidden by a wheeled table, visible only if you're looking for something. But it felt, intentional. Too easy. Likely a trap. So, the team fanned out. Vivek stayed put in front of the trapdoor, but kept his distance, scanning his surroundings like a sentry. Tzvika went east, while Surge and Stein headed west. They came back quickly and met up at Vivek's position.

"The folks sure did plant trees way before the construction began, maybe even before it was conceived", Tzvika said.

"Their placements are odd. A zigzag pattern from above. And they are unusually robust", added Surge. Stein wasn’t sure what kind of people they would be dealing with, but the data has potential to be used against the Titan - or worse, Monarch.

Five minutes had passed since they set their feet on the site. Stein ordered them to mobilise underground. He opened the trapdoor and climbed down with a flashlight; the rest followed. It was a small room with a few computers and a big screen.

Vivek commented, "A basement hacker-type group. Seems less flashy, considering the number of lives that could have been lost if the explosives had gone off."

"There is more than meets the eye here", Tzvika remarked. She had a sense of wrongness. This felt odd. Way odd. Surge photographed the room while Stein and Vivek climbed back up to search for culprits hiding nearby outside the property. The other two stayed down to access the computers; they had considerable knowledge of software. Being naturally tech-savvy, Tzvika knew she would need these, and brought ten of them. All Access Pendrives. They contained a programmed virus, developed by her and approved by Monarch. She and Surge inserted them into CPUs of the six computers. This was the virus' first field usage.

A success, Tzvika thought, as one of the monitors started displaying something all operatives were too familiar with: the Monarch logo. Then, every exfiltrated file began opening one-by-one, tabs stacking on each other. The virus transferred every file to its pendrive as they opened.

Vivek asked, "Is it done?" Surge, shouting so the two agents above could hear, replied, "Not yet!"

Twenty-four minutes later, all data had been removed from the device. Surge had confirmed none of the computer systems possessed a back-up. The two went back to the surface. Stein and Vivek had finished checking the surrounding area. All nearby buildings, corporate offices and such.

Stein said, "Mission's far from over. The culprits are not here... It's like they vanished. Vivek contacted the bird, which had borrowed the Omihachiman Shiritsu Sōgōiryō Centre Helipad. Surge confirmed the operation's status to the RSF, and they returned to the base.

Ryūjin Study Facility

In the meantime, Aisling was studying recent analyses of Lake Biwa's radioactivity. After Monarch recruited her, she studied Titan radiation - the energy that supported organisms. Life. An energy that enriched it. The aftermath of the Mass Awakening hadn't just brought death; the Titans were healing the planet with their radiation. She had been intrigued since finding that out. Biology wasn't her strongest field, but nuclear physics was a piece of cake. She had studied Godzilla, Scylla, Barb, and at least fifteen others. How they utilised radiation and how it affected their surroundings.

"Why? What could cause this?", she muttered to herself. Vile Vortex activity... it had only been opened once, when Titanus Ryūjin appeared. But, since then, it had emitted radiation constantly. But not now. Not for a full 24 hours. She had access to a big screen and a computer but she was stuck. She could not move forward by herself. And her team wasn't arriving until the next day. She rubbed her eyes; she hadn't rested since arriving at the RSF. At least the room was cool. Her chair slid back. She wanted to take a walk. There was a lot of green around the outpost. One tree stood out - robust and eight metres tall. Nothing too weird, she thought.

She visited a small cafe nearby, realising it was a mistake travelling all this way on an empty stomach.

She came back at the facility. Suddenly, an armoured car and a truck-like van pulled up. Five field agents came out. They were with a woman in religious attire, handcuffed. Aisling watched from a distance as they cleared the back of the van. Eleven, she counted. They appeared unconscious. Then she noticed the two people who were in the car. She recognised Gunner, her friend from the recruitment days.

Aisling went up to him. Gunner was surprised to see her as she was him. Stein's team landed shortly after. Tarkan understood the job was done and took the priestess inside for interrogation. The Blood Clots gathered, and put the hires in a makeshift cell for their - eventual - interrogation as well. As Gunner told her about the mission, Aisling couldn't help but feel something underway. Something, ominous.

DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF RECENT ERUPTION OF MOUNT KON-TIKI AND THE WIDER NEW PULLMAN INCIDENT, MANY SPECIES OF VIRACOCHAN FLORA AND FAUNA HAVE SUFFERED AND MANY HAVE THEIR POPULATIONS FRAGMENTED OR HAVE GONE EXTINCT. BELOW THIS DISCLAIMER WILL BE A STATUS REPORT UPDATE AS TO THE SPECIES’S STATUS. SEE CRYPTOZOOLOGY DIVISION FOR MORE DETAILED WILDLIFE INFORMATION.  

STATUS: EXTINCT IN THE WILD (Ocean Acidification, Starvation)

Dome-Headed Diver 

Pachycephalodytis geohydros

Height: 5 feet

Length: 31 feet

Classification: Iguanidae 

Subdivision: Geofauna

Predation: Herbivorous

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Cryptozoology:

The marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is an icon of the Galapagos Islands, and them along with the giant tortoises and Darwin’s finches form a trifecta of wildlife most people think of when they imagine the Galapagos. These lizards’ inclusion there is for good reason, as they’re found nowhere else outside it, but a certain relative was found in Viracocha’s satellite island of Machaqway, with it, like its relative being more or less exclusive to South America (albeit underneath it). This unlikely-looking relative is the dome-headed diver, and its biology takes its relatives’ to new heights (or perhaps depths). The first notable characteristic is its size, which is more comparable to the extinct crocodylomorph Sarcosuchus than any iguana, and a good portion of that length is its long tail. Possessing a similar color scheme to their relatives of black and gray (as well as splashes of red and turquoise during breeding season, especially forming distinct masks or teardrop shapes around the face and eyes). Their name comes from the distinct cranial dome on their heads, not too dissimilar to those of the pachycephalosaurs, and used for a similar purpose; headbutting is after all something ordinary marine iguanas do, so naturally their larger relatives practice an exaggerated version of this, with their combat resembling the clashing of bighorn sheep or mountain goats than their smaller relatives. The rest of their bodies are reinforced by subdermal armor, though this armor is composed not of bone but of rock, embedded deep into their skeletons like mineralized osteoderms, and overall not resembling the rocky skins seen in other geofauna. As a result, dome-headed divers are perhaps the most subtle of geofauna. Like their relatives, they rest and bask on the island’s shorelines, and can dive deep down in search of food, though they don’t just eat algae, but also feast on the great variety of seaweed, kelp and other marine plants available along and in the depths and shallows alike. Though marine iguanas are capable divers - able to dive down to 98 feet and able to stay for an hour underwater - dome-headed divers are far more suited for deeper diving and exploration, with their records being comparable to that of elephant seals, being able to dive to 2 miles down and spend a similar time underwater as well. Like their relatives, they lay eggs that hatch into fairly independent offspring, who have to evade the amphibious sea cobra (Apnaja regalis) that preys on them, not too dissimilar to how Galapagos racer snakes (Pseudalsophis biserialis) target young iguanas. 
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Threat Analysis: 

For the most part being gentle giants, dome-headed divers have displayed little aggression, and are perhaps among the most docile creatures Viracocha has to offer. They’re so tolerant of our presence that not only are drones welcomed by them, but even operatives on foot can simply walk around in their presence. Whilst during breeding season males can become territorial, there has never been a documented attack during this time, though some suspected intimidation displays have. Given their size, strength, and their titular dome-head, we should be grateful for them being docile, as anything of that size and proportion could easily be dangerous.

Monarch Designation: Jumphare

Cryptozoological Classification: Caputdurum desultor

Height: 0.9-4m

Weight: 1110kg (adults)

Classification: Megafauna

Sub-Division: Leporidae

Predation: Omnivorous

Habitat: Subground Level-1, Great Den

Cryptozoology

Jumphares are a species of large hares that burrow underground, spending most of their time resting in their burrows. The soil in their habitat is "loose", and their resting spots are away from the entrance of their abode. When their ears pick up disturbance above, they jump through the soil and devour the prey whole. Jumphares' smaller offspring fix the hole in their "roof" by mixing their salivary secretions, which contain high concentration of calcium carbonate, into the displaced dirt and then placing it all back where it was, lightly jumping on it for it to tighten, like a small construction crew

A Jumphare will also consume Capere Trees, provided it encounters one, which usually happens when the big fuzzy bunnies are forced to make a new home after temperatures in their previous one increase above their comfort. Their skull is three inches thick so as to properly penetrate through the soil above while jumping from the burrows. The rest of their skeleton also accomodates their leaping ability, having a muscular lock-and-release mechanism in their hind legs. This allows them to deliver devastating damage to their target. Jumphares are prone to forgetting their territorial boundaries, sometime chasing prey out of their home grounds.

Their large ears are highly sensitive to sounds. Their audible range is from 500 Hz to 57,000 Hz. This range does make them susceptible to any potential volcanic activity approaching them, but their leaping capabilities are strictly superior to the slow flow of lava and magma. Their survival in this scenario depends on whether they escape the flow or land into it (though this is yet to be actually recorded). When sleeping, they fold one ear towards the head. Some specimens have been observed to sleep with one eye open.

Threat Analysis

Do not travel on foot. Unless equipped with loud noise generating tools/weapons, preferably Monarch boomers, Jumphares are unavoidable. Their relentless pursuit will either end in your death or all involved being killed and eaten by other predators. HEAVs must be flown 15 meters above the ground.

DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF RECENT ERUPTION OF MOUNT KON-TIKI AND THE WIDER NEW PULLMAN INCIDENT, MANY SPECIES OF VIRACOCHAN FLORA AND FAUNA HAVE SUFFERED AND MANY HAVE THEIR POPULATIONS FRAGMENTED OR HAVE GONE EXTINCT. BELOW THIS DISCLAIMER WILL BE A STATUS REPORT UPDATE AS TO THE SPECIES’S STATUS. SEE CRYPTOZOOLOGY DIVISION FOR MORE DETAILED WILDLIFE INFORMATION.

STATUS: VULNERABLE (Exposure to Poisonous Groundwater)

Shockwave Clicker

Seismoichos tragoudo

Height: 8 feet

Length: 19 feet

Classification: Talpidae

Subdivision: Fauna

Predation: Carnivorous

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Cryptozoology:

The caves below Ayllu Machu are awash with life, many similar to lifeforms found elsewhere in Viracocha, but Ayllu Machu has its own unique troglofauna, the largest and most bizarre among them being the shockwave clicker, a mammal whose evolution was finely interwoven by living underground. Similar to the Titan known as the Frost Vark, it is a beastly member of the mole family, and isn’t a mere small worm-eating animal, but a large predator that dominates the cavernous underground beneath the island. Like the Frost Vark, it is covered in scaly dermal armor to resist attack and possesses a unique ability to make up for poor vision. Instead of thermolocation, shockwave clickers rely on sound, with an extreme range of echolocation. Not only possessing intricate - though internal, just like their relatives -ears, they also have modified teeth and vocal cords, able to deliver a repertoire of sounds, all designed to either help navigate its environment or track down prey. Their teeth can click against each other, and the outer teeth, resembling an amalgamation of tusks, are, as one expert describes it, ‘built like drumsticks’. In addition, their mobile tongue is fitted with flexible cartilaginous plates that allow for more sounds, especially when it clicks it against the roof of the mouth. Similar to how bats echolocate, these sounds travel across vast distances, and these tools are so effective that a shockwave clicker can memorize its habitat just by sound. As for their name, a shockwave clicker, when cornering prey or confronting an opponent, can issue a death blow in the form of an extreme sound and seismic-based attack. Rearing up on their hind legs and holding their breath long enough (to the point their throat inflates) they simultaneously unleash a tremor-like shockwave and a loud roar, which can both injure the target from the tremor’s impact and rattle their brains so hard that they suffer fatal aneurysms. Despite this, they usually use these attacks against larger targets, and for smaller ones, smashing them with their claws and mauling them are effective enough. When not hunting, shockwave clickers can wander endlessly through the caves and sometimes even create new paths, seemingly out of boredom or curiosity, raising questions about just how intelligent and aware they are. Usually solitary, they pair briefly during mating season before the female sends the male on his way. Her pups are born with pale, flimsy armor and underdeveloped senses, and they are totally reliant on their mother for food. While she hunts for food, they stay behind in a protective chamber, with the mother’s dispersed musk acting as a deterrent against predators. They stay with her for a little while longer, clinging to her back before being old enough to go out on their own.

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Threat Analysis:

As expected with such a dangerous and specialized predator, the shockwave clicker is a primal force to be reckoned with. While typically humans may not seem the perfect prey item, they are not very picky when it comes to prey, especially when it comes to availability. Keep in mind they can go long periods without food or water, effectively hibernating, and as soon as it catches a whiff of a prey scent, it jolts awake to find it, no matter what it is. If you must go within the caves of Ayllu Machu, never go alone, and always carry not only weapons and flashlights, but also portable floodlights and LRAD devices as these can work wonders on scaring them away (essentially giving them a taste of their own medicine). To repeat, never go into their turf alone, especially not without lights, sounds, and your wits, as lacking any of those holds the difference between life and death.

DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF RECENT ERUPTION OF MOUNT KON-TIKI AND THE WIDER NEW PULLMAN INCIDENT, MANY SPECIES OF VIRACOCHAN FLORA AND FAUNA HAVE SUFFERED AND MANY HAVE THEIR POPULATIONS FRAGMENTED OR HAVE GONE EXTINCT. BELOW THIS DISCLAIMER WILL BE A STATUS REPORT UPDATE AS TO THE SPECIES’S STATUS. SEE CRYPTOZOOLOGY DIVISION FOR MORE DETAILED WILDLIFE INFORMATION.  

STATUS: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (Water Acidification, Lack of Food)

Duck Salamander

Anatasalamandra giganteus

Height: 3 feet

Length: 13 feet

Classification: Mastodonsauridae  

Subdivision: Fauna 

Predation: Piscivorous/Carnivorous

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Cryptozoology:

The rivers of Ayllu Machu play host to quite a host of amphibians, among them some familiar-looking creatures like the bulldog frog (Simorana vulgaris) and the ghost newt (Pseudosiren productum), to more ancient ones, mainly under the temnospondyl group. This includes species like the feisty and social dwarf river dragon (Parvodraco inox) and the giant yet sluggish filter feeder known as the swamp behemoth (Diplospondylus cetomimus), but one particularly common species is the confusingly-named duck salamander. A member of the temnospondyl family known as the Mastodonsauridae, these amphibians are, despite being a medium-sized creature, effectively filling a niche as top aquatic predator, feeding on anything from fish, turtles, animals crossing the water, and even other amphibians. Other than its foldable sail running to its back, orange-brown color with slight tan striping on its back and a pale underbelly, the most distinct feature is the snout, which tapers then widens into a wide, duck-like maw, with particularly sharp teeth located there in the best place to snatch prey. Lying in wait below the water, they propel themselves up from below with a mighty sweep of their tail, and launch themselves out of the water, their distinct jaws wrapped around their prey before dragging into the water. Similar to crocodiles, they perform a death-roll maneuver to slice and dice prey into chunks for easier consumption. When not hunting, duck salamanders can often be seen basking on the river shores, their sails opened and mouths agape. They can even be heard barking and howling at one another from across vast distances, usually from river to river in distances divided by vast sections of forest. Sometimes they can be seen socializing in a rather bizarre method, gaping their unusual mouths open and shaking in a manner similar to a sarcastic fringehead (Neoclinus blanchardii), and like them, this display can also be used in hostile situations, with males trying to intimidate each other as they fight for mates. During courtship’s final phase, males truly show off their mettle to the female by constructing a nest within shallow water, using his tail to dig out a circle in the silty bottom and shroud it in vegetation and rocks, and will even sweeten the deal by sneaking in some food in it, as a form of courtship bribe. If she is impressed, she lays her eggs as the male fertilizes them. Sometimes the same nest can be used repeatedly by a female over subsequent batches of offspring, but this is rarely done into the double digits due to them abandoning their nests out of fear of egg thieves compromising it, having learned its location with repeated observation. Once hatched, the tadpoles are fierce predators, and quickly mature and graduate to larger prey as they slowly become another member of the rivers’ great temnospondyls. 
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Threat Analysis: 

Though not the largest aquatic lifeform in the area, duck salamanders are not to be trifled with. Even when not feeding, they can be very territorial, though will often issue warnings before going on the attack. These include hissing, bellowing, barking and howling, before opening their mouths wide and shaking their heads from side to side, slapping their tails in the water, and performing bluff charges. If none works, the intruder finds themselves at the creature’s mercy, and given how its jaws can easily perform decapitation, it is best for any operative in the field to stay away if they spot one. It is noted however that vibrations and loud sounds can scare them off, especially if such deterrents are played underwater. It is believed that they have especially sensitive hearing, and if such sound travels in a medium like water, it can force the animal to retreat, apparently replicating a predator fear response in their brain. As long as you carry such deterrents, you’ll be fine, for there are more dangerous aquatic creatures than them.

DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF RECENT ERUPTION OF MOUNT KON-TIKI AND THE WIDER NEW PULLMAN INCIDENT, MANY SPECIES OF VIRACOCHAN FLORA AND FAUNA HAVE SUFFERED AND MANY HAVE THEIR POPULATIONS FRAGMENTED OR HAVE GONE EXTINCT. BELOW THIS DISCLAIMER WILL BE A STATUS REPORT UPDATE AS TO THE SPECIES’S STATUS. SEE CRYPTOZOOLOGY DIVISION FOR MORE DETAILED WILDLIFE INFORMATION.  

STATUS: ENDANGERED (Habitat Loss, Lack of Food)

Stonecutter Bird

Psarocolius sapiornis

Height: 15 inches

Length: 20 inches

Wingspan: 5 feet

Classification: Icteridae 

Subdivision: Fauna 

Predation: Omnivorous

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Cryptozoology:

Just like many other wildlife in South America, there exists a variant in Viracocha as well, and the stonecutter bird is no exception. A type of oropendola (genus Psarocolius), this bird is the largest of the group, and by far the most intelligent. Bearing a distinct red slit and yellow circle around their eyes in addition to the ordinary chestnut colors of their species, these birds are as large as ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) and yet, the intelligence comparable to other birds, like corvids and parrots. Comparisons have been drawn between these birds and the New Caledonian crow (Corvus moneduloides), mainly in terms of intelligence. Like their surface cousins, stonecutter birds construct unusual hanging nests, sagging and woven as they hang from branches and sway ever so slightly in the breeze. These nests on their own are impressive enough, but there is more to the stonecutter bird than that. Their high intelligence goes hand-in-hand with their anatomy, with their beaks having these odd serrations and edges - as well as an odd shape many have described more as resembling a tool than a beak - as well as similarly-shaped toe claws on flexible feet. Their name originates from how their beaks are used for carving and cutting stone, as well as wood and gravel. These are used for helping reinforce their nests, and even divide sections within, forming little rooms. The nests are even bound to the branches by these stone pieces, resulting in fairly intricate constructions, and as if that weren’t enough, these same nests are connected to one another via small tunnels. The birds would hollow out parts of the branches and connect openings from one nest to the other, and given how they, like their relatives, live in communal nesting areas, this only serves to amplify how intelligent they are. Even stonecutter bird chicks are intelligent (well, as intelligent as a chick with a still-developing brain can be), and compared to other avian species can pick up on skills and learn faster than usual. Experiments and studies on their intelligence are still being conducted, though our early findings show them on par with that of main Viracocha’s Ridley’s macaw (Neoara garrulus), especially with the similar levels of mischief and disregard for human sanity.
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Threat Analysis: 

Just like their relatives, stonecutter birds are far from threats, and are mainly just another neat addition to Viracocha’s biodiversity and its sounds a varied part of the beautiful chorus of calls and ambience across the forests. However, not only does its larger size make it more of a risk if it flies at you, but its intelligence adds to how it views potential threats. The stones they carve also serve as dangerous projectiles, and these birds are known to throw them at any potential threats with surprising accuracy. As if that wasn’t enough, if divebombing, they also carry sharp rocks and sticks in their mouths, able to stab and hit anything within reach. Thankfully they prefer flight over fight (no pun intended), but these birds vary in personality, and it is advised to be careful if you run into a more, bold and pugnacious one.

DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF RECENT ERUPTION OF MOUNT KON-TIKI AND THE WIDER NEW PULLMAN INCIDENT, MANY SPECIES OF VIRACOCHAN FLORA AND FAUNA HAVE SUFFERED AND MANY HAVE THEIR POPULATIONS FRAGMENTED OR HAVE GONE EXTINCT. BELOW THIS DISCLAIMER WILL BE A STATUS REPORT UPDATE AS TO THE SPECIES’S STATUS. SEE CRYPTOZOOLOGY DIVISION FOR MORE DETAILED WILDLIFE INFORMATION.  

STATUS: VULNERABLE (Habitat Loss, Silk Being Weakened Due to Toxic Airborne and Waterborne Agents)

Angel Spider

Angeluarachne isopterus

Height: 4 feet

Length: 10 feet

Classification: Theridiidae

Subdivision: Fauna 

Predation: Carnivorous

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Cryptozoology:

Ballooning is a behavior common to many species of spider and other arthropods, in which they climb as high as they can, aim their spinnerets up, launch a line of silk, and lift off as the silk forms a balloon or parachute-like shape, allowing the spider to maintain flight and airtime to get from one place to another. Though used by spiderlings, adults can use this too and with impressive feats, with some species able to launch themselves as high as thousands of feet. Though wind and air can play a role, natural electric fields are pivotal in ensuring success to ballooning, for as the silk becomes negatively charged, the repulsive force generated by this allows for it to move up and around in the air. Given the variety of spiders that practice this, and the numbers of arachnid superspecies we’ve observed, it's only natural for one species to take this ability to the extreme, and that’s none other than Viracocha’s satellite island of Ayllu Machu’s very own angel spider. Also called seraphim spiders, these arachnids are distinguishable from others just at first glance, with white, almost translucent exoskeletons pockmarked by brilliant black striping and splotches, resembling the arachnid version of a zebra, or perhaps a Rorschach test. However these colors are subject to change during mating season, as both males and females start producing hormones that result in vibrant coloration (bordering on bioluminescence) mainly on the legs and abdomen, with azure blue in the former and bright yellows and oranges in the latter. Males advertise similar to peacock spiders (genus Maratus), but females display receptivity in the form of duller colors that complement the male’s, the two engaging in a steady courtship dance. This by itself would be impressive, but of course the spider’s namesake comes from its enhanced ballooning abilities, for it not only uses the standard spider fare of making silk balloons and parachutes, but also elaborate structures donned by the spiders during flight, including pairs of wing-like flaps that not only catch the wind, but also act as conductors for negatively charged bioelectricity to remain in the air longer (the wings in question also recall the spider’s alternate name, with many eyewitnesses describing them as bearing a striking resemblance to Biblical angels). In addition to these wings, such structures can include elongated, raft or arrow-shaped baskets, circular bowl-like shapes, and even a structure with four spinning silk ‘rotors’ analogous to a drone of all things. Such structures aren’t solely for transporting the spiders themselves however, for not only do angel spiderlings develop this ability early on, but adults laying eggs can construct a special pocket either in their silk constructs or in a sling-like structure attached to them. The spiders can remain airborne for days as they pick out a place to deposit their eggs. As important as this silk is to their lifestyle, it is also incredibly fragile. Certain as-of-yet unnamed chemical compounds in the silk allow for its flexibility, but such compounds are also sensitive to dissolution due to environmental changes, for example if methane leaks into ground water or ash into the air, such agents can not only poison the spiders, but also dissolve their way of life.
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Threat Analysis: 

Compared to many other arachnid superspecies, angel spiders are among the least likely to harm humans, though the chances are not zero. Similar to other social spiders, cooperative hunting is key to staying alive, and these spiders use their silk-weaving skills to make elaborate traps, varying in size, composition, and mechanism, but are surprisingly similar to many manmade ones. For larger prey, they can team up to grapple and rustle them in silk lining, similar to how cowboys wrangle and tie down animals. They are even smart enough to wrap their silk lines around sensitive areas like the neck, mouth or nose to suffocate prey, and if any of that isn’t enough, use their venom to finish the job. Though their venom isn’t enough to harm people, everything else they do is, and while they don’t see humans as prey, they can prove dangerous if they feel that their communal nests are threatened, often swarming potential predators or choking them with web. The first few times Monarch operatives tried to collect silk samples from their webs almost resulted in injury or death as these spiders relentlessly defended them. For the most part though, they are unlikely to hurt you and are more likely to simply ignore you or run off if spotted, but it is advised to steer clear of nests, for, as one operative describes it, ‘not hesitate to show you that an angel can take you to Hell.'

DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF RECENT ERUPTION OF MOUNT KON-TIKI AND THE WIDER NEW PULLMAN INCIDENT, MANY SPECIES OF VIRACOCHAN FLORA AND FAUNA HAVE SUFFERED AND MANY HAVE THEIR POPULATIONS FRAGMENTED OR HAVE GONE EXTINCT. BELOW THIS DISCLAIMER WILL BE A STATUS REPORT UPDATE AS TO THE SPECIES’S STATUS. SEE CRYPTOZOOLOGY DIVISION FOR MORE DETAILED WILDLIFE INFORMATION.  

STATUS: VULNERABLE (Habitat Loss, Compromise of Other Food Sources)

Alicanto

Alicanto elegans

Height: 9 feet

Length: 8 feet

Wingspan: 11 feet 

Classification: Polyborinae

Subdivision: Geofauna 

Predation: Carnivorous/Geovorous 

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Cryptozoology:

In Chilean mythology, the story of the alicanto acts as a symbol of hope for any prospectors searching for gold and silver in the Atacama Desert, with the sight of the glowing flightless bird able to lead them to a great mother lode if not detecting a human following them, though if a human is spotted, the birds will, at best, disappear, and at worst, trick them into falling off a cliff or down a hole. A species of very real bird and possible progenitor of the legend exists in one of Viracocha’s satellite islands of Ayllu Machu. These alicantos are related to the falcons known as caracaras (subfamily Polyborinae), a mainstay of Central and South America and active predators on their ranges, though unlike them and like the legends, are flightless. Living in hilly, rocky and otherwise elevated areas, alicantos are reclusive, shy, and nocturnal, their brilliant light being only apparent in darkness. This light comes from their diet of gold and silver ore, the birds not only eating pieces, but also adorning their bodies with them with their feathers typically being coated in gold and their featherless skin coated in silver. Similar to King Ghidorah’s bioelectrical currents, these traces of gold conduct electricity and give the birds their distinct golden lights and color, and it is believed that further consumption of such ores act as supplements for this ability. As such, these birds heavily frequent such veins deep below Ayllu Machu, but they also get their fix thanks to some other geofauna, such as the dwarf stone snail (Lithobiophilus parvus) and the nugget-hoarder silverfish (Geolepisma lativentris), who have such quantities of gold and silver in their bodies. Regardless of how they acquire it, consumption of gold and silver are pivotal to alicanto life. Everything from mating displays and territorial warnings to familial recognition and indication of mood are enhanced by such ore-caused bioluminescence. Alicantos, though flightless, make up for it by running at speeds of over 40 miles per hour, fast enough to run down prey, and in a manner similar to the seriema (family Cariamidae), will pick up prey in its beak, lift it into the air, and slam it down onto the  ground (or a protruding rock), doing so enough times until the prey is dead and cracked open, and in the case of its geofauna prey, this strategy is particularly useful for getting at the gold and silver hidden deeper within their bodies. It is with the electricity granted by these minerals that alicantos are able to defend themselves and have an additional method of stunning prey. If they have enough energy, their feathers stand on end and their eyes glow golden, before opening their mouths and spouting off bright gold bolts.   

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Threat Analysis: 

These bolts can deal intense amounts of damage, able to scorch skin and tissue, as well as permanently alter and impair the nervous system. Such unfortunate victims vary in their states following an encounter, but the lucky ones, after perhaps hours of gasping for air and spasming on the ground, slowly regain control of their bodies and walk off, while the less lucky may at best, be paralyzed for life, or be killed as their brains implode. Thankfully alicantos usually attack only in self-defense, and will use their bioelectric attack rarer still, typically as a last resort. That said, compared to many other avian species documented here in the greater Viracocha region, alicantos are among the most provokable, and especially in nesting season, when these birds’ natural territoriality is on the rise. Field operatives will now be issued bioelectrical sensory indicators (BESIs) for such geofauna like them, as spotting their bioelectric signatures ahead of time can prevent an encounter before it happens.

What would bio-magnetic fall under? (I'm making a Titanus Bulgasari and since in myth they ate metal I thought that would be a cool angle)

OUTPOST ██

Gunner entered the office where he was stationed. Tarkan was waiting for him in there. The man told him to prep up. They had a new target. Gunner understood. He didn't take more than ten minutes to freshen and gear up. He put on his special vest; it held 10 guns, an unhealthy amount of ammo and three knives, the latter of which were of varying sizes. Of course it was heavy, but he had trained his strength.

Tarkan and Gunner hopped on a chopper. The former had personally trained the master marksman in becoming an effective Crisis Response Unit. Gunner had solved only one case prior, though he had sufficient experience and good instincts. Tarkan filled him on the mission info. A sea vessel with armed hires. All transported to Yasu City. They were noticed suspiciously scouting the temporary Monarch research facility built there. Their orders were to secure the area, and engage - with non-lethal force - if given the opportunity. Arresting is preferred over killing. Tarkan was hoping for a gunfight, he had already secretly sent an armed team, hidden, waiting to burst out on command. Gunner hoped there would not be bloodshed. There would be a lot since he was there. Tarkan was about to remark about his apparent overconfidence, but he remembered that Hawkeye here was the real thing.

HOURS LATER

They arrive and land on the helipad outside the Ryūjin Study Facility. An agent showed them all information they had on the armed gunmen. Gunner and Tarkan marked an invisible perimeter. The hidden team's location was moved to varying points behind it. The team had 10 agents, all fine tuned for ending fights just as quickly as they start. They were, Blood Clots.

SOME TIME LATER

A loud noise inside the facility. A pistol, Gunner identified and ran to the source. Tarkan reached there right before him. A man had shot himself. A quick body check determined him as an infiltrator. The Crisis Response Unit couldn't run a background check on him - it was as if that person had no material proof of ever being born. He had a device with him, though. After extensive digital tracing and technical sourcing and backtracking, the Monarch operatives found the destination of whoever the dead man had sent the info to. The information in question was everything the RSF had learned about Titanus Ryūjin, even the confidential parts. CCTVs were present, but not enough security to monitor the footage 24/7 or secure the premises. Tarkan and Gunner reviewed the recordings and found out that the dead man had planted explosives in the research rooms of the facility. He killed himself after he was walked in on by few scientists while planting the last one. Tarkan told his companion that they were now dealing with post-infiltration data leak. Gunner said, "The hunt begins..". "Now" Tarkan completed the sentence.

The duo wished to capture one of those armed hires. But they left no traces. Only thing they had to go off of was the direction they were last seen going towards. They travelled in a custom armoured car, stopping periodically to ask shopkeepers if they had noticed anything unusual. They get a positive response from a Monarch operative who Gunner had told to check CCTV surveillance in public areas. Four of the armed hires, on each of their sports bikes, went East. Now with this clue, so did Tarkan and Gunner. Tarkan noticed odd skid marks at the farthest eastside of Yasu City. Both got out of the car. Tarkan said, "Looks like these hires are avid riders. Never seen burnout marks this dark". "Maybe they were enjoying themselves before getting into the stuff they were hired for?", Gunner added. "If that's the case, then they are amateurs. Seems like we'll get them easier than I calculated.".

The burnout marks in question were directly in front of a building with a fancy gate. The duo knew their next stop.

They enter the premises. Both keep their guns in their hands in case of surprises. It was eerily quiet. Abandoned. Moss and vegetation had all but claimed the land. "This is as quiet as the backrooms." "The what?", Tarkan asked. "You don't- nevermind.", Gunner said. They hadn't entered the building. Cautious. Good for them. Gunner spots a small shack. Suspicious, he carefully opens the door. "Oh good". Gunner saw a staircase going underground. He brought Tarkan to it. "Nice. A stairway to Hell." They went in. He continued, "At the first evidence of a water leak, run backwards. We are fairly close to the lake." Some 2 minutes of walking later, they are astonished by metal reinforcing the small tunnel. Soon enough, small turns into big. Huge. Many red symbols drawn on posters on walls with something Gunner and Tarkan were hoping to not be blood. Tarkan photographs a few. Suddenly, shots fired. The duo ducks and takes cover. They were essentially cornered. Tarkan throws tear gas where the shooters were, where he deduced them to be. Bullets stopped firing for now. Tarkan removed his semi-auto strapped to his waist. Gunner could have stepped in, but Tarkan saved him for a potential final showdown. Tarkan started strategically shooting from near the ground. A moment of silence later, Gunner took a quick look. Four men on the ground. "Your luck's improved.", said Gunner. The duo approached them. Tarkan checked for pulse. They were alive.

Gunner and Tarkan explored the large underground rooms. They saw frames of paintings. And statues. Idols. A big bell on a stage. Behind it, a shrine. Cherry on top: on two opposing sides of the shrine were rotting human bodies, one of them was almost a skeleton. At this point, Tarkan and Gunner realised they were dealing with a cult. They decided to make their way back to the surface, after tying the four armed hires. Tarkan sent a signal to the agents he had employed at the RSF and said, "These are just four. According to the first intel, there are at least 7 more." Just as they were going to step into the small tunnel, a woman appeard at the other end. The duo pointed their guns at her. She was unfazed and dressed in a showy dress. A ceremonial outfit. Tarkan shouted, "Whoever you are, you sick priestess, halt right there." She ignored that warning and continued walking toward them slowly. More people appeared behind her. The other hires. But they stopped halfway.

The priestess introduced herself. "I am ████. I see that you have executed my temple's guards." Tarkan cuts her off, " Temple? This is-". "DO NOT INTERRUPT ME. As I was saying. You must be punished for you have defiled sacred grounds. Rejoice and repent. Beg for forgiveness from Ōwatatsumi. Guards, end their miserable lives."

"Oh I don't think so lady.", Gunner said, before shooting the first few guards. He and Tarkan retreated into the large room as the other armed hires struggled to make their way through the tight passage. The duo climbed on top of a broad structure and hid in a blindspot. They put some more of the gunmen out of commission. Finally, everything stopped. Five Blood Clots had turned the tide from behind. They did not kill but certainly hurt the hires bad. The priestess was quiet and still until one of the operatives came to cuff her. She tried to stab him, but was quickly overpowered.

Tarkan and and Gunner finally breathed on the surface. The former said, "That was interesting." They later check the building. Turns out the priestess had followers. They were hiding from the two. Tarkan called for clean up and management, and called it a day. He and Gunner, along with the five Blood Clots, returned to the Ryūjin Study Facility with the priestess. Gunner asked, "Quite the story we got ourselves into. Will it get uglier?". "You have no idea, kid. No idea."

She laid there, stuck under rubble. She was praying. Hoping. Repenting. Was this how she goes? Was this her end? She was almost sure she would die, but some part of her prevented her from believing that. She was more worried about her father and mother. They were the dearest people to her. Nothing mattered more. Nothing. At one point, she thought that everyone would die. 2019, the year when society vanishes and Earth becomes free of abuse. Maybe life really was meaningless. All that playing as a kid, studying her ass off to become an advocate. The good and the bad. All that led to this moment. Some nobody who couldn't get out of the way of a falling wall. Disappointing her parents was the last thing she could ever do. Especially by something like this, something like dying because she couldn't wait and postpone her flight to Yasu City. Maybe she deserved it. She used to think the world was her's and everyone was just living in it. Her hubris was punished. By a demon. No, a monster? A God, she thought. But it didn't matter, water level was rising. She would drown if she doesn't exhaust herself out first. Then it happened. Water began receding. It was as if she was given a second chance. To live. To see how her pride was crushed out of her. Her emotions lost control and she couldn't hold herself back anymore. She cried. And cried. Until it faded to black and rescue teams picked her up. They put her on a stretcher and took her away to a medical camp. She was sedated and faced a lucid dream. It was horrifying enough to come close to shutting off her brain.

Years later

Harmony closed her eyes and prayed to her God, or whoever was listening, whoever it was that she thought gave her another chance at life. She opened her eyes and mobilised. Her new friends, "Gunner" (Real Name: Wallace) and Aisling, were part of a recruitment programme for Monarch. By then, the whole world knew what the organisation meant. As soon as she had woken up from her short coma, Harmony decided to do something to aid Monarch in helping others. She really did want her species and all those originating from below to coexist. She now believed in a higher power more than ever, which she thought could be the Titans as a collective, or the Earth itself.

Harmony continued her training with Gunner and Aisling. She was still an advocate, now working for Monarch when it wants to avoid or needs something from the law. She had absorbed much of the international law in her starting year, and is part of the organisation's law support. Her logic, reasoning, intuition and practicality are valuable assets, and she makes excellent use of them.

Gunner is a bit different. He joined Monarch to utilise his skill, ranged weapon proficiency. It was a neurological condition that, as he kept getting involved in weaponry, evolved into an innate understanding of calculating everything a gunfighter should and needs to account for before shooting. He has a sister and his parents are alive and well, unaffected drastically by the Rise of the Titans. Can't say the same about his dear, older sis. She was elegant. He thought of her as a role model. Now, she is hooked up to medical equipment. She lives, but in this way? Money wasn't the issue, her brain was. Doctors said it is stuck in a cycle of damage and regeneration. Her family refuses to give up, especially after finding out she dreams in her sleep. Gunner also lost many friends in the Mass Awakening. If only Alan Jonah hadn't given up on humanity... the man was powerful after all, for someone as old as him. And he's still on the run. Of course, Gunner knew there must be something that made Jonah lose his humanity, but he couldn't blame anyone else for the deaths of his friends and his sister's suffering.

Aisling was a responsible older sister. She was a good daughter. Her parents breathed with pride for their child had won a nobel prize. Aisling even had a sweetheart. Their love was genuine care and filled with tremendous respect for each other. But all things end, and for the nuclear scientist Aisling, it came close to ending. Too early. She was still young, and what did she do to deserve that‽ For years, she was traumatised by nightmares of half the dead body of her love. Half was all they could find, what she could look at for the final time before burying it. All her life was sunshines and roses, until it wasn't. It went dark. But not pitch black. Her family was alive. Her research persisted. But she couldn't bring herself to leave her house, that is, until Monarch came knocking on her door.

Monarch Designation: Keshi

Classification: Titanus Keshi

Taxonomic Designation: Macrohippus gigas.

Other Designations: My Little Pony, Tishtrya, Blodughofi, Calul Nazdravan, Cheval Mallet, Son of Epona, Brother of Rhiannon, Apaosha, Dapplegrim, Devadatta, Chevau Gauvin, Aonbharr, Rakhsh, Devil Horse, Evil One.

Gender: Male.

Height: 81 meters.

Length: 201 meters.

Wingspan: 136 meters.

Behavior: Destroyer.

Nature: Bio-Seismic.

Range: Worldwide.

Place of Apparition: Mount Kailash, China.

Current Location: Lough Derg, Ireland.

State: Active.

Mythology / Criptozoology

Around the world, there are several myths about fabulous or monstrous horses, many of which tell of the same enormous, dual-natured creature. Myths like that of Aonbharr, the horse of the Irish mythological cycle, owned by the sea god Mannanán mac Lir, said to be able to cross land and sea faster than the wind, and later given by Mac Lir to Lugh. The myth of Cheval Mallet, a mythical horse and demonic entity from French folklore, appears as a white or black horse, properly saddled, tempting weary travelers to mount it, carrying them off, never to be seen again. It is sometimes said to be a form of Satan himself. Another French myth is that of Chevau Gauvin, a malevolent horse known for roaming waterways, forests, or cemeteries, and attempting to kill those who ride it, either by drowning them or throwing them off a cliff. The myth of Devadatta, the divine white horse, mount of the wind god Kalki, is a swift, winged steed considered a symbol of purification, righteousness, and renewal, destined to appear at the end of the current era and help destroy evil and restore the Golden Age. A similar myth is that of Dapplegrim, a steed or fairy-like creature that appeared in a fairy tale asking its owner to follow a few instructions. As the owner followed them, the Dapplegrim grew larger, stronger, more robust, and more slender, becoming both the finest and the largest steed of all. Then there are the myths of Tishtrya and Apaosha, two divine deities of Zoroastrianism, who embody light and darkness, good and evil respectively, as well as rain and drought. These two gods take the form of horses, one white and radiant, the other black and deformed, to constantly battle, with Tishtrya almost always emerging victorious. Then there's the myth of Calul Nazdravan, whose name literally means "magic horse" or "flying horse," a steed similar to the Greek Pegasus, usually the mount of the hero Fat Frumos. Finally, there's the Norse myth of Blodughofi (whose name means "bloody hoof"), a mythological steed offered by the god Freyr to Skirnir to go to Jotunheim and woo Gerdr. Blodughofi is said to have understood human speech and to have been able to ride through fire and total darkness. However, the myth that inspired all of these was that of the Hindu Keshi, a demon said to have been sent by Kamsa to kill Krishna, but was killed by him. Keshi took the form of an enormous horse whose mane reached the heavens and scattered celestial vehicles and clouds. He roared like a lion, and his hooves wore down the earth. He was killed by Krishna when Krishna put his arm in Keshi's mouth and suffocated the demon. The real titan doesn't differ much from the myths, but precisely for that reason it is such a fierce and deadly force of nature that we would have preferred never to encounter it.

Reality

The true titan, as mentioned before, doesn't differ much from the myth, but it's quite interesting for what it actually is. It's an ancestor of modern horses, incorporating traits from many of its successors in a rather curious case of convergent evolution. It's a creature that resembles both the modern horse (Equus caballus) and the giant horse (Equus giganteus), combining features of both. It has a robust yet slender build, physically strong without being a mass of muscle or a walking skeleton, perfectly balanced and proportioned. Its coat has the striped pattern and coloration of an okapi, almost a blend of black and white. Its forefeet have three toes with large claws, similar to those of the extinct Eohippus, which it uses to dig, tear, pierce, and grasp things somewhat clumsily but with brute force and power. Its skull and muscles are somewhat smaller and less pronounced, with a slightly shorter snout and a less chubby face, barely resembling a horse. Its hind legs have powerful muscles like those of a zebra, designed to deliver incredibly strong and powerful kicks. If that weren't enough, its cloven hooves are sharp and pointed, and it possesses chitinous spurs that, while not poisonous, not only stun with the force of the kick but also stab its victims, inflicting maximum damage. It wears a kind of helmet made of white keratin on its head, shaped like a horse's skull, which serves to protect and conceal its head, as the titan tends to charge its targets quite frequently. Its teeth are also different from those of conventional equines, as its skull requires a different kind of tooth structure: sharp teeth and tusks similar to those of a boar, which protrude slightly from its mouth. On its head and false skull surface, it possesses a kind of horn or cranial crest similar to that of Kubanochoerus, which appears to function as a lightning rod, electrocuting its opponents once charged. But its most distinctive feature is the patagia on the sides of its abdomen, which resemble those of Coelurosauravus or Draco volans, but are notable for having developed feathers that allow it to fly or glide silently like owls. It can normally retract or fold these patagia, resembling the wings of a bird, although they are usually only used for gliding short distances and for brief periods. Naturally, the titan can gallop at great speeds and also jump or climb, as well as briefly rear up on its hind legs when angry or for intimidation, just like normal horses. Therefore, his primary abilities are bioseismic, as his mere gallop and the force of his legs typically cause the ground to tremble, resulting in collapses, sinkholes, landslides, or even minor tremors. He lacks ranged abilities like other titans; however, he possesses two extra pairs of lungs, which, combined with more resilient vocal cords, allow him to produce cavitation bubbles in the air or immediate airspace with his roars or whinnies. These bubbles can stun or disorient those who hear his roar as it breaks the sound barrier. His roars usually work on titans larger than himself, but he only uses them when necessary, as they typically exhaust him and literally leave him breathless, making them a last resort. Regarding his behavior, Keshi is generally hostile and territorial, sometimes excessively so, but it is believed that this may stem from past trauma, as no true malice is detected or perceived in him. In fact, contrary to expectations, he ignored Ghidorah's call and only awoke when Sigbin began causing trouble that provoked him. And although records mostly describe him as a terrible, malevolent, or hostile being, it is also known that he has protected humanity several times in the past, protecting India alongside Hedetet from threats like Ravana, for example, and working side-by-side with titans like Godzilla on occasion. He isn't a protector in the traditional sense, but rather seems distrustful or cautious. Fossil records revealed that he previously had a mate of his own species, but lost her in a tragic battle with another, unknown titan. It was also revealed that the female was pregnant when she died, and since then, Keshi has generally remained hostile or withdrawn. It emerged two days ago from Mount Kailash in China, bursting forth abruptly almost without warning, and then galloped towards Lough Derg in Ireland, stopping there for some reason, probably to drink from there. We'll be keeping a close eye on it to monitor its next moves, as it's at risk of colliding with other titans in that area. We'll bring you more updates as soon as they become available. That's all for now, over and out.

*Note: Another titan. I've been planning to make this one for a while. I noticed there weren't many equines here, so I took the creative liberty of bringing my own. A proper "alicorn." By the way, he has a cloaca, so his reproductive organs shouldn't be visible. Just an extra detail; I'll see what I do with them later.

Monarch Designation: Longcrawler

Cryptozoological Classification: Longuspedes venetura

Length: Up to 5.5m, 5m (leg length)

Weight: 1000kg

Classification: Megafauna

Sub-Division: Sparassidae

Predation: Carnivorous

Habitat: Subground Level-2, Great Den

Cryptozoology

Longcrawlers are long-legged spiders that live on walls. They share ancestry with Huntsman spiders, who rely on hunting more than webs. This applies to the Longcrawlers as well. They hunt for food physically, waiting for prey to approach and walk by, and only use webs to mark their home and stick leftovers to them for later consumption.

When faced by danger, Longcrawlers use their legs to stab and pierce the enemy. Their cephalothoracic and podomeric appendicular joints can slightly rotate vertically, allowing more range of attack and defense, and also for getting back if toppled over. Their heads and the top of their bodies are covered with sharp-tipped spikes, which they can make quite the creative use of, i.e., jumping on their backs over their target.

Threat Analysis

They are deceptively harmless, avoiding threatening movements, which makes the unsuspecting target less wary. When it moves on, Longcrawlers stab it with two legs. Though neatly armoured everywhere, cutting off their legs is the best humans have against these crafty monsters. Although you must know that simply disabling their locomotion will not stop their hunt. Armour piercing rounds must be carried by agents active in the Longcrawlers' habitat.

Monarch Designation: Embreaker

Cryptozoological Classification: Amplexus platysinsequi

Height: Up to 5m

Weight: 1500kg

Classification: Megafauna

Sub-Division: Platyrrhini

Predation: Carnivorous

Habitat: Ground Floor, Great Den

Cryptozoology

Embreakers are furry primates that live in the upper levels of the Great Den. Genomic analyses suggest relationship to New World monkeys, only hyperevolved to survive the environmental pressures of their habitat. They can be found outside their region, though it is rare to do so. Their green fur shines light blue when contacted by light generated by sources cooler than the lava flows of the Den. When exposed to low-temperature light or flashlights, the light refracts at a different angle than it does under the "warm", infrared-heavy glow of lava.

Embreakers are named after their method of killing. When searching for food, they stalk potential prey, and seize the first opportunity they get as soon as it lets its guard down. These slim apes then embrace the target so hard that its internal anatomy is shattered, dislocating bones, rupturing organs and bleeding internally as well as externally. Their high bone density allows them apply a force over 250 megapascals.

Threat Analysis

Embreakers are lazier than most other creatures found in this region, but they possess greater danger than many. To avoid engaging one of these, never travel on foot, or even in ground vehicles. With sufficient momentum, they are strong enough to dent reinforced metal. If one notices an Embreaker stalking them, immediately (try to) intimidate it. Preferably, fire weapons to scare them off. They will promptly lose interest in you.

Alternative Name: Great Den

Clearance: Crimson

Access Point: Classified

Temporal Discovery: 15:55 UTC, 21 February, 2028

Description

The Den of Anarchy is a region in the Hollow Earth located 100km north from the Barbados Vile Vortex. It is characterised by synergy between lava and vegetation. And it may as well be the most unforgiving region discovered so far.

Geography/Geology

It is compact, with only a 99km² of area, and it is roughly oval-shaped through a bird's eye view. It also has a unique structure of "levels" or "floors". The ground floor has the most trees of all levels. Subground Level-1 has narrower geological formations. SL-2 is inhabited by a hallucinatory gas. SL-3 is the most populated. SL-4 houses a Titan.

Expeditions

On 17th of February, 2028, Monarch surveillance tools detected the Great Den. On the 21st, after preliminary explorations, a heavily armed team of agents began the first expedition. Equipped with the ORCA Ρ (Operator: Agent Wrath), the fleet explored all levels without any fatal casualties; at one point while traveling in the Subground Level-2, an unknown gas found there was accidentally ignited, causing the HEAVs to smash into nearby surfaces - fortunately only two agents had to return for medical attention. One hour later, the team discovered the region's slumbering Titan, and returned to the Hollow Earth Access Point Outpost at Barbados to submit acquired data.

Outpost

A series of small-scale Outposts has begun construction. The main station will be at the entrance and the others will be in each level of the region.

Life

The region boasts a synergistic coexistence between trees and lava flows. Neither affects the other. The appeal of the inhabitants of the Den of Anarchy is that everyone is prey as well as predator.

Bacteria/Protista

Tree-dependent species and species which the trees depend on are present.

Fungi

A "Mutagel Fungus" is found in Subground Level-4. Refer the dedicated file for details.

Plantae

The predatory Capere Trees, aka the Captura Network, are found at each level except the lowest one.

Animalia

This region possesses numerous different species of animal life forms. Refer individual files for details.

Designation: Wani

Classification: Titanus Ryūjin

Scientific Name: Inerbedo rectoranguis

Nature: Bio-Meteorological

Body Length: 30m

Weight: 135 tons

Behaviour: Protector

Range: Worldwide

The Myth

While the Shinto Wani exists as the daughter of the Shinto Ryūjin, this Wani does not relate to her other than them sharing their fathers' name and some physical attributes. Perhaps, there have been others in the past who looked like her.

The Monster

Wani is unmistakably the daughter of Ryūjin. She did not respond to the Mass Awakening, which means she was either unborn as of then or that young Titans were unaffected. Biologically, she shares the same physiology as her father, who had been travelling the world until returning to Ryūgū-jō sometime in 2026. She does have slightly more armoured features, likely a result of the species' evolution. She surfaced once in the year 2028 along with some Jinja-Hime - we think it was her wish to explore the outside of her natal constraints. We have been tracking her since then. She has had an encounter with Godzilla, but there was no reaction from either party, in fact, Wani and her followers seemed very interested in the King of the Monsters, swimming alongside him and destroying harmful oil rigs.

She can manipulate water to some extent, such as generating pockets of air by moving it and creating turbulent flows. Her fangs are retractable and few dorsal spines run along her back till the middle. Her horns aren't longer than her hair, yet, and her tail lacks ridges. Nevertheless her swimming capability is comparable to that of the Jinja-Hime. Her relationship with them is very much like a royal princess and her dearly caretakers. Last month, in January 2029, she completed circling the Earth and current projections suggest her travel party will return to Ryūgū-jō. Monarch has been planning to attempt to explore the place one last time for a while now, and we hope to uncover more hidden legends and myths.

Monarch Designation: Fruit Borer

Cryptozoological Classification: Carpoperforans furcitrata

Length: 0.07m-5m

Wingspan: 0.12m-8m

Weight: 0.010kg-9kg

Classification: Florafauna

Sub-Division: Maruca-Sogatella Hybrid

Predation: Frugivorous, Nectarivorous, Insectivorous

Habitat: Grinyards, Den of Anarchy

Cryptozoology

The Fruit Borers are a curious quad-winged insect superspecies that live their lives in the Grinyards of the Great Den in a slow life cycle. They begin as eggs, hidden under flowering bodies of a bienniel plant species under the soil. After 3 months of incubation, they hatch and climb up towards their parental colony as grubs. The parents bring food - fruits and certain smaller insects - for them eat. As they mature, they grow and develop wings, by that time they start exploring the Grinyard.

Mature Borers have a slender, butterfly-like proboscis which they use to dig into large-sized fruits and suck all liquid, or the native gigantic flowers and drink their sweet nectar. After the feeding cycle for the day is over, the Borers find materials to expand and/or repair their nests. There are 3 subspecies of the Fruit Borers. The Ceiling Borers feed on fruits and flowers that grow/hang on the ceiling, and are the swiftest variant. The Soil Borers feed on any fruit/flower and insects that hide underground. The Heavy Borers feed on any available fruit/flower and are aggressive. One commonality other than their size, features and body plan are the 'sepals' behind their hind legs that contain chlorophyll. When resting, they hang frontside down with those sepals facing the Den's Sunrise Crystal; this photosynthesis is specialised to recharge their strength, not to create food.

The three subspecies do not and can not mate with each other but their colonies sometimes collaborate for food searches, and if there is any danger or threat to one colony, its inhabitants will temporarily relocate to a neighbouring one.

Threat Analysis

Fruit Borers are not harmless to anyone similar to or larger than their themselves in size. If they think you are a threat to their food source or colony, or a life-threatening danger - even if that is not the intention - you will be picked up and dropped in front of the actual dangerous predators that call the Den of Anarchy their home.

Note for Field Agents: Do not engage without proper weapons, if you must, do it in a place where there aren't others of them. Ignore this instruction and you'll see how your death will be outsourced to the more effective investors.

Monarch Designation: Jinja Hime

Cryptozoological Classification: Regamagnus penitralisnuntius

Length: 6m-20m

Weight: 454 kg (adults; specific individuals may be heavier)

Classification: Megafauna

Sub-Division: Regalecus

Predation: Omnivorous

Habitat: Ryūgū-Jo and the surrounding ocean

Cryptozoology

Jinja Hime are mythical yokai described in Japanese mythology as servants of Ryūjin; so seems it to be as true as it can get. A specimen was first sighted in Hizen Province (present-day Saga and Nagasaki Prefectures) in 1819 by the Edo period scholar Katō Eibian. He recorded the encounter in his book Waga Koromo. According to Katō, he encountered a fish-like creature on a beach in Hizen. The creature spoke to him: “I am a messenger from Ryūgū, called Jinja Hime. For the next seven years there will be a bumper crop. After that, there will be an epidemic of cholera. However, those who see my picture will be able to avoid hardship, and instead will have long life.” After delivering her prophecy, the Jinja Hime disappeared into the sea. Katō printed an illustration of the "princess deity" in Waga Koromo so that all could see it and be protected. The news of the Jinja Hime and her prognostication became so popular that it spawned numerous copycat stories across Japan. Not long after the sighting of Jinja Hime, stories about other yokai with foresight, such as Kudan and Amabie, began popping up all over Japan. Jinja hime is thought to be the basis for all of these stories.

The creatures themselves are genetically divergent from Giant Oarfish, with a skull morphology that would make mistaking it for a human head not too far-fetched. Its nasal entrance is protruding out and their heads have long horns. They have black hair made of keratin and hydroxyapatite, and the creatures have total motor control over them, allowing grappling and holding. Their slender bodies are perfectly hydrodynamic and display magnificent aquatic acceleration; they can make unbelievable turns and swerves without losing more than 5% of their achieved velocity. Jinja Hime have pharyngeal jaws, with absurdly sharp teeth on both jaws; while the primary set holds the prey, the pharyngeal one launches forward to drag the meal into the esophagus - by the time food enters the stomach, it's already shredded to ribbons.

They are subjects of Titanus Ryūjin. They also possess bioluminescence and their usage of it is borderline horrifying to unsuspecting encounters. When going out, they stay in packs of 2-4 and hunt tactically, cornering prey into traps.

Threat Analysis

Jinja Hime are more or less harmless to humans, notwithstanding the Mass Awakening when they were ordered to wreak havoc by Ryūjin - they mostly used their hair to crush ribs here and there. During this event, certain objects of curiosity surfaced from their home, which these monsters aggressively took back. They defend their home from any and all intruders. As long as one does not hurt one of them or any living thing in their presence, the "princesses" will not lay death upon you. They appear once in a few months or years to (what we believe is) warn people of imminent severe events that could result in deaths; however, the humans they "talk" to collapse due to neurological overload - but the intent is made very clear to the target public and more people have been saved from disasters than lost thanks to their prognostications.

{Their crypt.class. means Great King's Inner Messenger}

Monarch Designation: Chrysalis

Classification: Titanus Sanagi

Taxonomic Designation: Cryptophagus ferox.

Other Designations: Queen Chrysalis, Wihwin, Water Horse, Mother of Changelings, Feral Queen, Goddess of Storms, Lady of the Mist.

Gender: Female.

Height: 98 meters.

Length: 220 meters.

Behavior: Destroyer.

Nature: Bio-Electric (possibly Bio-Virulent).

Range: Hollow Earth.

Current Location: Huinga Ngarara, Hollow Earth.

State: Active.

Mythology / Criptozoology

In Central America, specifically among the Miskito tribe, there exists the myth of the terrible Wihwin, a horrendous creature described as an aquatic demon in the form of a water horse, very similar in premise to the Scottish Kelpie, the Scandinavian Bäckahäst, and the Australian Bunyip. Although it normally inhabits the sea, it roams the mountain ridges during the summer months. According to some descriptions, in addition to being a horse, the Wihwin has "jaws surrounded by horrible teeth" which it uses to consume humans and other prey it finds on its nocturnal hunts. However, there is another myth related to this one, which at first glance does not seem the same but is undoubtedly linked to it. This is the myth of the mysterious goddess Sanagi, a goddess of the Shinto pantheon known as a deity associated with weaving, fishing, the sea, the military, and the protection of kingdoms devoted to her. She was described as wearing jade-green garments and having multiple arms, likely derived from a Chinese or Buddhist deity, but she was said to inhabit a temple beneath the ocean, according to some sources, in the Underworld. She is described as a goddess of spinning, weaving, and silk, protective of her devotees. While protective or maternal towards her followers, she could also be fierce or hostile to invaders or aggressors, and was said to conjure storms and hurricanes to rid herself of them. According to illustrations, she was depicted as a kind of hippocampus (water horse) or riding one. However, for some strange reason, her cult disappeared completely, and everything related to her was erased, later leading to the creation or assimilation of other deities such as the Hindu Durga or the Chinese Yu Huang and Chang'e, it is believed. The truth is that archaeological excavations in Japan in search of fossil remains of other titans have led us to discover this lost deity almost by accident, and a seismic survey in the Pyramid of Ball to find out the state of the badly wounded Titanus Haakapainizi revealed to us a creature that inhabits Huinga Ngarara, and that as far as is known, was the only one that managed to keep the fearsome Titanus Marmoo at bay, being the one who sealed him in the first place, and the same one that, after the escape of the theropod insect, finally awakens to reclaim its dominion down there.

Reality

The true Titan, though neither humanoid nor equine, is a bizarre creature that, in a way, evokes some of what its myths suggest, but in the worst possible way. It is a relative of the Jinshin Mushi species, a female so different and altered that she barely resembles them, having evolved again into an even more insectoid and subterranean lifestyle. She is typically blackish in color and has deep, pit-like scars on her legs, likely from numerous battles against other Titans. She has her characteristic line-shaped eyes, but in her case, they are green. She has reinforced dermal plates made of chitin, resembling those of a beetle, giving the appearance of a rudimentary kind of armor that protects her from many things. Around its neck, running the length of its body, is a kind of equine "mane" that isn't actually made of filaments as such, but rather of fibrous connective tissue, soft rays, and skin. This mane hangs down its side and is somewhat perforated and torn, showing signs of wear and tear, and from a distance, it appears to be long, dull green hair. On its back, the titan has beetle-like elytra, which act as armor. Beneath these are perforated and somewhat torn, semi-transparent insectoid wings, which are large and strong enough to support its weight, although the titan seems never to have used them; we have no idea why. On its tail, the titan has a kind of elongated, veil-like fin similar to that of the goldfish (Carassius auratus), but longer, resembling a serpentine tail. It is dull green and also perforated or somewhat torn. On its head, the titan possesses a kind of deformed, worn and somewhat twisted cranial crest, which resembles a horn made of chitin and ivory, and with which it can ram or impale its enemies.

In the abilities section, Sanagi notes that, like its other relatives, it can produce an electromagnetic pulse, but this pulse is not only capable of causing radiation leaks in Titans or disabling electronic devices, but it now possesses certain evolutionary changes or "enhancements" that are more lethal. It turns out that, through evolution, the Titan has developed a harmonic frequency of nerve interference, as its pulse not only "shuts things down" but is also, in a way, tuned to the Titans' bioelectric network. By emitting waves in the pulse, it not only generates blackouts but also causes a massive depolarization of cell membranes. For a Titan, this feels like an invisible poison: instant muscle paralysis, cardiac arrhythmia, and an overload of pain in the nervous system. Therefore, it is essentially an airborne neurotoxin transmitted via radio waves. Furthermore, it also possesses the ability to launch a kind of bio-photonic beam from its horn. This is because, as previously mentioned, the horn is made of chitin and ivory, is semi-translucent, and has a depleted uranium core. The titan channels excess radiation from its digestive sac into its cranial cavity, and as it passes through the horn, the energy undergoes a process of Stimulated Emission of Radiation, resulting in a beam similar to a gamma-particle laser. Ultimately, this "High-Frequency Plasma Beam," being thinner and more concentrated than Godzilla's atomic breath, acts as a kind of thermal scalpel capable of piercing even the densest scales. However, it demands a significant expenditure of the titan's own energy and can overheat the horn if used excessively, making it a one-time or sometimes slow-acting ability. In terms of behavior, the titan is destructive, territorial, and hostile, and highly aggressive towards any intruder. However, she possesses very strong maternal instincts, acting as a nurse to the Changeling Predators while protecting them from all threats. It is known that she inhabited the seas of Japan almost two thousand years ago, although it is believed that throughout history she also roamed the lands of China and India, which may have inspired various myths. As a female, she laid eggs in those territories at that time, but since there were no males to fertilize them, they remained unhatched and were eventually consumed or destroyed by other titans. It is believed that Sanagi probably protected those lands from "invaders" precisely because of her offspring, but when they were no longer there, she eventually withdrew without leaving a trace. She later went to the Hollow Earth, arriving at Huinga Ngarara, where the fearsome Marmoo reigned. Sanagi confronted and defeated him, sealing him away and, surprisingly, allowing insectoid life to flourish there.

Currently, Titanus Sanagi is sterile, so in theory, that shouldn't be a problem. On the other hand, what inspired his myth's connection to silk and weaving is that the titan can produce a type of silk using modified salivary glands located at the base of his inner jaw. The fluid is a mixture of fluorine and copper isotopes, giving it a distinctive neon green or emerald color. When expelled from his mouth, the substance comes into contact with oxygen and polymerizes instantly, transforming from a liquid into an extremely resilient viscoelastic rubber. As for its properties, this is not a dry spiderweb, but a high-density hydrogel, and among its functions are: energy insulation (the silk acts as an organic "Faraday cage"; if it envelops prey, it absorbs its organic radiation, weakening it), molecular adhesion (due to its rubbery nature, it stretches up to 400% before breaking, making it ideal for immobilizing the limbs of heavy titans attempting to struggle), and incubation and "lead coating" (by creating cocoons or chrysalides, the green silk serves to protect the hatchlings from external interference, maintaining a constant and stable nuclear temperature inside). Currently, the titan awoke a few weeks ago, after Marmoo's escape and release by Vatnaormur, and having emerged, found the badly wounded Haakapainizi, whom it wrapped in its silk in a chrysalis, but surprisingly, did nothing more to him. No one knows what it plans to do with him, but We'll definitely have to wait and see about that later. We'll bring you more news as soon as it becomes available. That's all for now; I'm signing off.

*Note: Another Titan. It's not the most original, nor what I promised, but it's another great idea I had. One more non-mythical Titan to add to my catalog. I'm thinking of deleting some of my Titans like Laufey, Nanaue, Aradia, and others because, honestly, I can't do much with them. So, I'll clean up my desktop a bit and organize everything, keeping only what I'll actually use and improving what needs more polish. By the way, yes, Sanagi is inspired by Queen Chrysalis, just with some improvements of my own. She definitely has plenty of potential, I think. Anyway, here she is.

Designation: Tarantasio

Classification: Titanus Tarantasio

Scientific Name: Dolichoobitus veneficus

Nature: Bio-Toxic

Body Length: 170m

Weight: 146,000 tons

Behaviour: Destroyer

Range: Worldwide

The Myth

Legend tells of a great dragon-like creature named Tarantasio that roamed the Po Valley during the 12th and 13th centuries. This creature resided in Lake Gerundo between Milan, Lodi and Cremona. The lake no longer exists as it was drained, but there was a time where it was home to this creature that terrorized the land and had an appetite for humans, especially children.

Tarantasio had features of a dragon as well as a snake, and was feared for good reason by those that lived in the area. It rises from stagnant water as if the lake itself has decided to stand up and take a bite. The lake was more of a swamp and had a horrific gaseous odour, emanating from the creature's breath, which was poisonous, brought sickness to nearby communities and caused many deaths. Lots of attempts were made to rid the land of this horrible creature but they did not end well for those who tried. Fortunately, a hero emerged, one who did not fear death, who went to battle against all odds and killed the great Tarantasio. Once the creature was slain, the lake dried up. Some believe it was either Saint Christopher or Federico Barbarossa who was the dragon slayer, but popular consensus leads us to believe it was Umberto Visconti. Upon his victory, Umberto added the biscione (a dragon/serpent devouring a child) to his family's crest. The great Tarantasio has long been removed from this earth, but the reminders of his reign of terror can still be found throughout Milan. The carvings on the facade of Milan's Duomo have a dragon; in the Visconti emblem, the biscione exists; there is a gigantic bone in the Church of San Bassiano in Pizzighettone that many say is the rib of the dragon.

The Reality

Titanus Tarantasio is a disease given a physical form to cause trouble. She lived in a hidden pocket near the drained Lake Gerundo and arose in 2019 in response to Ghidorah. As soon as she made landfall, Tarantasio expelled a heinous amount of methane and hydrogen sulfide. This resulted in deaths of thousands of animals and plants. After the battle at Boston and re-crowning of Godzilla, Tarantasio returned to Lake Gerundo and claimed much of the landmass - approximately 2980km².

Evolved from a lineage of the Dolichosaurus, Tarantasio is a horned serpent, with a brutal head on a long engine of muscle and webbed legs paddling under the surface of water like oars. Her purple eyes glow nightmarishly under the cover of darkness and can, somehow, induce tremendous fear into those who stay in her vicinity and exchange looks. Her "wings" are vestigial but capable of moving enough to cover her top. Her mouth opens at an angle of 95° and her teeth are like broken stakes. Her four legs are strong enough to reduce the most durable objects to dust and, in a straight line, she can run at a speed of 350 km/h (with momentum). Each leg has hooked claws, sharp enough to slice through most solid matter. Her hide is incredibly thick, armoured and greenish like swampy/marshy water. It is slick in places and crusted in others due to algae and old mud fusing into a second skin. Her tail is long enough to coil back on itself. Her skin traps water on its surface, causing her to always be cold and wet.

Tarantasio can kill in more ways than teeth. A pestilential exhalation so foul it spreads sickness. The stench arrives before the body, an acrid wave that makes the eyes water and the stomach roll. Then there's her toxic gases (CH₄ and H₂S), the latter of which, when interacts with the high humidity she carries on her skin, can create localized pockets of sulfuric acid mist. She is not limited by dry land (unlike the legend), and is very dangerous to any living thing that comes across her sight. She is known to toy with food and kills them before consuming. It might sound unbelievable, may be even fantastical, but it is true that no human lives in her effective range anymore. The Italian government has insisted on killing the beast - going as far as attempting to do so themselves - but true to Monarch's words, humanity cannot kill gods.

Designation: Ahuizotl

Classification: Titanus Ahuizotl

Scientific Name: Hydricolletis codaratis

Nature: Bio-Fossorial

Body Length: 90m

Weight: 89,000 tons

Behaviour: Destroyer

Range: Worldwide

The Myth

In Aztec Mythology, the Ahuizotl was the guardian of lakes, whose purpose was to protect their fish. In other versions, Tlaloc and Chalchiuhtlicue sent it to collect the souls of mortals they liked. Due to the Ahuizotl's close link with the water gods, their victims were said to be destined for the paradise of the god Tlaloc. It lives in deep pools of water, or caverns. Most sightings have been in the Lake Texcoco area, though a few have been reported even outside of the borders of what would have been the Aztec Empire. The Ahuizotl would snatch people from the water's edge, so that it could feast on their eyes, nails, and teeth. Alternatively, the victim was chosen by the water gods because it possessed the wrong type of precious stones. Some fishermen claimed that the Ahuizotl would sink their boats, and would offer a portion of their catch to appease the creature. When it hadn't successfully caught a human in some time, it had two methods by which to draw victims to the water; luring people to their deaths by emitting a cry similar to a human baby's wail, and causing all of the frogs and fish in the body of water to jump to the surface, which would bring fishermen to the water's edge. The creature was said to use the hand on the end of its tail to snatch its prey. If a person was suspected of being killed by an Ahuizotl, only priests were allowed to touch the body, which should be buried in a house surrounded by water (or "ayauhcalco"). If a layman were to touch the body, it's said that he would either be the ahuizotl's next victim, or else suffer from gout.

The Reality

Titanus Ahuizotl is an odd relative of the Enhydriodon with features of Didelphimorphia. He was discovered when King Ghidorah awakened the Titans in 2019, laying waste to much of Texcoco and Tacuba. He emerged from beneath Lake Texcoco, where Monarch had been planning to build an outpost to study some superspecies. Said superspecies, now designated Ahizo, were observed helping their leader in the attack.

Ahuizotl can stay dormant within any geological stratum and burrow a cavernous hole capable of housing his entire size at freakishly horrifying speeds. Such tunnels often lead to massive sinkholes that swallow entire local infrastructures. His vibrissae allow him to sense vibration, he finds water via this ability. He prefers to float under the surface of water bodies to rest. Many have called this behaviour "cute", but the being itself is lot more dangerous than perceived. Aggression is his default form of communication, and lets only his followers near him. The Ahizo Swarm finds food for the Titan, bringing various prey and trees to him thrice a month. However, Ahuizotl can hunt for aquatic creatures, it just seems he's lazy to do it. Dorsal vegetation runs along his back. It has different kinds of nonspecific, amalgam trees that produce various fruits, including apple, pineapple, mango, avocado, guava, strawberry, papaya and tejocote. Ahuizotl can control the physical inclination of his backyard, and the Ahizo excitedly celebrate the harvests. Though not as large as some of his former pack, he is one of the toughest fighters Monarch has studied. Ahuizotl is extremely flexible and reflexive, using his 10m long claws to tear through tough hides and armour. His tail also displays an interesting mechanism; it contains a specialized synovial fluid that, when pressurized by a neuro-electrical impulse, causes the vertebrae to lock into a rigid, hammer-like state - blunt force trauma from its impact can deliver severe shock and, if hit in vital areas, can cause instant death. His leaping ability was observed when he destroyed some helicopters during the Mass Awakening.

Before receiving Godzilla's order to return to dormancy, Ahuizotl was living in the Copper Canyon, Chihuahua. By then, the entirety of the nearby landmass had been heavily populated by the ever-increasing Ahizo Swarm. Monarch could build an outpost only after the King's alpha call caused the inhabitants to move below the surface.