Destination: Mount Fuji

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting hues of gold and crimson across the sky, the underground chambers beneath Mount Fuji remained illuminated. Here, nestled beneath the earth's surface, lay a fortress of unparalleled sophistication—a testament to human intellect and innovation.

Within the confines of the Fuji Mountain Special Research Institute, scientists moved with purpose, their minds consumed by the pursuit of knowledge. At the heart of this bastion of progress sat the workspace of two seasoned researchers, engrossed in their duties. Seizing a rare moment of respite, one of them prepared a cup of coffee with practiced ease, delicately adding a cube of sugar before passing it to his colleague.

"Care for a cup? What has captured your attention?" he inquired, nodding towards his companion's phone.

"Thank you," his colleague replied, accepting the coffee and taking a sip as he glanced at the screen. "It's a lone YouTuber, a recent upload, currently the most popular video..."

"It's undeniably impressive, almost akin to some Hollywood blockbusters," the first man remarked, sipping his own coffee before shaking his head with a hint of disdain. "But it lacks practicality."

"Given Earth's current atmospheric conditions, it's simply unfeasible to support life forms exceeding a hundred meters in height," he continued. "Anything larger would collapse under its own weight, succumbing to gravitational forces. Even during the Cretaceous period, the era of dinosaurs, the largest creatures never surpassed eighty to ninety meters."

"This creature in the video must be over three hundred meters tall, surpassing even the Tokyo Tower," he scoffed. "Misleading the new generation with such fantasies."

His colleague sighed in agreement. "Indeed."

"In this day and age, size is merely a burden; technology reigns supreme. Even if such colossal beings did exist, they would be no match for modern weaponry."

"Absolutely," the first man concurred. "That creature in the video may seem formidable, but it's merely flesh and blood."

After finishing their coffee, the researchers exchanged a pat on the shoulder. "Let's get back to work. Our research has reached a critical juncture, and we cannot afford any mistakes."

"I heard the Prime Minister has dispatched a security detail to the vicinity of Mount Fuji. This experiment is receiving significant attention," remarked one of them.

The other nodded in agreement, setting aside his phone. "That peculiar little tree growing underground has caught everyone's interest. Most researchers are preparing to collect samples. If we unravel its mysteries, it could lead to a groundbreaking discovery."

...

Under the cloak of darkness, the sky resembled an impending storm, its blackened canvas stretching endlessly. Along an abandoned and desolate coastline, where even the lighthouse stood in disrepair, a solitary figure emerged at the distant edge of the ocean.

Gradually, the faint glimmer drew closer, eventually revealing itself to be a towering giant enveloped in flames and radiance, illuminating the sea and shore alike.

With deliberate steps, Lithos advanced, neither hastening nor faltering. He ascended the shoreline not upon the jagged rocks, but seemingly upon steps formed by the very air, ascending into the sky with a natural and regal grace. Within his eyes of fiery gold, a shimmering brilliance sent shivers down one's spine.

"Huff... huff..."

In that moment, as he ascended into the sky, the looming clouds trembled. Suddenly, gales howled, lightning flashed, and thunder roared! The firmament seemed to descend several feet as the black clouds pressed down upon the land.

Far away, a fisherman preparing for bed rose to close the window, observing the flickering lightning and howling winds outside. Rubbing his eyes, he murmured, "Looks like a storm is coming."

As Lithos strolled through the void, surrounded by lightning and thunder, the coastal cities near Japan were sparsely populated, due to the impending storm and darkness. The overcast sky concealed Lithos's radiant flames, ensuring his passage went unnoticed by the few pedestrians below.

"Human cities on Earth, so fragile," Lithos mused, gazing down at the sparkling city lights below. To him, these structures resembled fragile glasswork—exquisite and radiant yet exceedingly fragile. It seemed as though a mere breath could reduce them to ruins.

Surveying the surroundings, shrouded in mist, Lithos recalled encounters with ancient deities, such as one whose power veiled in mist obscured all senses, rendering perception and divine sight useless. It had been a formidable adversary, one that Lithos had narrowly overcome, thanks to the intervention of another deity, whom he now considered a friend.

"I wonder how they're doing now, each tucked away in their own corner of the universe, awaiting my next move after this game," Lithos pondered, reminiscing every detail of their previous encounters. Without that individual's assistance, Lithos would have faced significant trouble, perhaps even sustained severe injuries.

"Let's hope they arrive soon, but hopefully not too soon."

...

Lost in his thoughts, Lithos continued his slow advance, the city passing beneath him in a blur of vibrant lights. The rain, having started at some point, now cascaded down relentlessly.

In the depths of the night, Lithos walked alone towards Mount Fuji, the beacon of his destination. Amidst the myriad of city lights, none noticed the colossal figure hovering above them, silently making his way forward.

However, a few intoxicated individuals, sprawled on the ground, gazed up at the drizzling sky, catching a glimpse of a faint reddish glow amidst the rain-soaked clouds.

One of them took another swig of alcohol. "How beautiful..."

...

Crossing through desolation into the radiance of bustling civilization, Lithos gazed down upon a city that never slept, its myriad lights shimmering against the darkened sky.

Lowering his gaze, he beheld a spectacle—the famed Tokyo Tower, a beacon of vibrant colors in the midst of the city.

"Behold, the illustrious Tokyo Tower, also known as Skytree! The most magnificent sight in the world, perhaps even the entire universe!" exclaimed a passerby, unaware of Lithos's presence.

Lithos didn't mock or react; he simply felt a twinge of pity for the individual. Having seen the destruction of planets and the birth of black holes, he knew true splendor lay elsewhere.

"Up ahead lies Mount Fuji, and the energy core is ready," Lithos exhaled deeply, flames dancing around him as he continued his stride towards the mountain.

...

As Lithos embarked on his journey towards Mount Fuji, a sense of foreboding settled over the Tokyo Tower Security Bureau. Suddenly, a deafening alarm shattered the tranquility of the control room.

"Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!"

The urgent wail of the alarm sent dozens of figures scrambling out of their offices, racing towards the control room as if their lives depended on it.

"What's happening? What's the situation?!" voices clamored in panic as they burst through the doors.

Inside the control room, all eyes were drawn to the imposing screen dominating the space. It displayed a radar image of Tokyo Tower's vicinity, but something was amiss – a sprawling, ominous shadow stretching over three hundred meters, dwarfing the iconic tower beneath.

"What the hell is that?!" exclaimed one of the officers.

Within the confines of the Tokyo Tower Security Bureau, chaos ensued as personnel frantically sought to make sense of the unprecedented situation. Unidentified flying objects hovering above Tokyo Tower were unheard of since the aftermath of World War II, injecting a palpable sense of fear into the hearts of those present.

"At a crucial juncture like this..." muttered a high-ranking officer, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the edge of his desk, eyes ablaze with determination tinged with dread.

As the highest-ranking official in the bureau, he was privy to classified information. He knew about the groundbreaking scientific endeavor unfolding a hundred kilometers away near Mount Fuji, involving an enigmatic tree. Even the Prime Minister had personally urged him to tighten security measures, emphasizing the significance of the situation. Yet, despite their preparations, they were caught off guard by this unforeseen intrusion.

The officer's gaze remained fixed on the screen, his brow furrowed with concern. "Have we pinpointed the origin of this anomaly?" he demanded, his voice laced with urgency.

"No, sir. We're unable to ascertain its exact location," replied a technician, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead. "The technology involved is beyond anything we've encountered before. We can't even gauge its size accurately."

"It appears to be disrupting our radar, hence the three-hundred-meter projection," added another.

The officer nodded solemnly, the intensity of the storm raging outside only exacerbating their dilemma. Even a craft a fraction of that size would be torn asunder by the ferocity of the elements.

"When did it first appear?" the officer inquired tersely.

"Approximately several tens of minutes ago, sir," came the frantic response. "It's as if... it materialized out of thin air!"

"Thus far, all we can confirm is that its velocity seems sluggish," interjected another technician. "But we're unable to determine its dimensions or precise whereabouts. Radar readings are fluctuating."

"It's... it's utterly baffling," murmured a Japanese military technician, his expression a mixture of awe and trepidation.

"Nevertheless, sir, helicopters have been dispatched," another technician reported. "We've transmitted radio signals, but there's been no response."

The officer's countenance darkened at the news. "No response? If they've breached Tokyo airspace, forget radio signals. Instruct them to locate and neutralize the threat immediately. I'll shoulder the consequences."