Kaiju No. 8 chapter 113: No. 9's true identity revealed as Kafka is seriously injured

Heading into Kaiju No. 8 chapter 113, what fans were most expecting from the issue was confirmation of No. 9’s defeat at the hands of Kafka Hibino and Mina Ashiro. Officially released on Thursday, August 29, 2024, the issue opened up with confirmation of this, showing No. 9’s core being completely shattered by Kafka’s latest attack.

In turn, fans were concerned that Kaiju No. 8 chapter 113 would confirm their fears of mangaka Naoya Matsumoto’s smash-hit series rapidly approaching its conclusion with No. 9’s defeat. However, by the issue’s end, it became apparent that there’s still much more story to tell, with No. 9’s defeat possibly marking the series’ true start rather than the beginning of its end.

Kaiju No. 8 chapter 113 officially introduces the Meireki Era Mega Monster in the wake of No. 9’s defeat

Kaiju No. 8 chapter 113: Victory at last…?

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Kaiju No. 8 chapter 113 opened up with a continued focus on Kafka’s latest attack on No. 9 and the shockwave it created. No. 9’s core was then shown to have been completely shattered, splintering into innumerable pieces likewise. Kafka was shocked to see this while Mina, children watching from the bunker, and Kaiju Defense Force staff confirmed and celebrated the apparent win.

However, No. 9 then told Kafka that they should have a little chat as energy radiated out of No. 9’s core and into Kafka’s body. Still in his transformed state, Kafka was suddenly transported to a battlefield in Feudal Era Japan, where corpses littered the ground. Kafka questioned if this was happening inside of No. 9 before asking where it went, eventually noticing a mask on the ground nearby.

Kaiju No. 8 chapter 113 saw Kafka claim he’d seen the mask before but didn’t say where before No. 9 arrived in an almost childlike form. No. 9 commented on how it thought Kafka’s appearance before was a mere coincidence at first but eventually realized that this whole series of events was inevitable after feeling the power within him. Kafka asks what it’s even saying, but No. 9 simply asks if this place brings back any memories.

Kafka and Mina's victory initially looks certain, but Kaiju No. 8 chapter 113 quickly brings it into doubt (Image via Production I.G)

Kafka ignored this and demanded answers, prompting No. 9 to say it’s still “not that deeply connected to it,” with the “it” presumably being the Kaiju that infected Kafka. This interpretation is further supported by No. 9’s next words, which say that for Kafka to show such power, his hatred must’ve been immense at the time. Kafka asked what was going on before saying that if it isn’t dead yet, he’ll keep fighting, but No. 9 confirms that Kafka did kill it.

Kaiju No. 8 chapter 113 saw No. 9 say it would soon “fade away,” adding that its ambitions have been crushed and that their battle is over, with victory being Kafka’s. No. 9 adds that it truly enjoyed itself, praising humans for exceeding its expectations and foiling its plans over and over again. It added that it wanted to be closer to humanity and to know and learn more before claiming it had been utterly defeated.

Kafka told it to quit lying, but No. 9 claimed it was telling the truth and had no more cards up its sleeve. Kafka said he knew it was hiding something before asking what it was that was trying to escape from No. 9. As he said this, dialogue boxes repeating the word “die” appeared, as the spiritual visages of several monsters appeared to be pouring out of No. 9’s regressed, childlike form.

Kaiju No. 8 chapter 113: The true enemy, revealed

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Kaiju No. 8 chapter 113 revealed that the Kaiju inside Kafka was reacting and responsible for chanting the word “die.” Kafka questioned what this reaction was as No. 9’s body swelled, saying it didn’t want things to come to this. No. 9 then began referring to itself in the third person, saying it can’t maintain equilibrium now that No. 9’s core has been destroyed.

Likewise, it claimed it was now nothing more than a beast with an uncontrollable lust for destruction. Kafka remembered what Mina said about countless monsters being inside of No. 9, realizing that this must be what she was talking about. Kafka asked No. 9, or rather the Kaiju claiming to be No. 9, what it was when the ground around him suddenly shook and cracked open.

Kaiju No. 8 chapter 113 saw Kafka in shock as the Kaiju, claiming to be No. 9 tried to remember what the humans called “this” again. After struggling with the phrase “mei,” cracks appeared on a cliff before Kafka.

It then said it remembered a giant Kaiju with many faces burst through the cliff, revealing itself as the Meireki Era Mega Monster. Its main face possesses nine eyes and a small mouth, sporting many additional arms and faces of various shapes, sizes, and characteristics. Essentially, it looked like an amalgamation of various Kaiju.

As Kafka looked on, he thought back to the mask, realizing he recognized it from the warrior he saw at the shrine he was training at prior to the start of the Second Wave arc. However, the focus returned to reality here, where Mina Ashiro looked on in horror as Kafka began coughing up blood. The issue ended with the reveal that No. 9, or rather the Meireki Era Mega Monster, had run Kafka through what appeared to be his core, given the placement of its appendage and Kafka’s body.

Kaiju No. 8 chapter 113: In summation

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Despite No. 9 promising Kafka, that victory was his in Kaiju No. 8 chapter 113, it seemingly only meant victory against the No. 9 entity itself. Likewise, it seems that the No. 9 entity was something of a “governing body” for the Meireki Era Mega Monster. With its death, the Mega Monster is now seemingly free, having devastatingly attacked Kafka.

Likewise, fans can expect the next few issues to see backup begin arriving for Kafka and Mina. This will serve the purpose of both saving the pair from this new threat and ensuring that other Kaiju Defense Force officers can verify their story. In turn, fans can expect The Last Wave arc to conclude sometime in the coming weeks and months.