Kaiju No. 8 chapter 116: Meireki Monster withstands Narumi and Hoshina as Kafka’s status is confirmed

Kaiju No. 8 chapter 116 was expected to focus on First Division Captain Gen Narumi and Third Division Vice-Captain Soshiro Hoshina’s efforts against the Meireki Era Mega Monster (Meireki for short). Officially released on Thursday, October 24, 2024, the issue focused on this and much more, also giving a flashback focus on Narumi and Hoshina’s relationship.

Kaiju No. 8 chapter 116 also excitingly, and arguably most importantly, gave focus to Kafka Hibino and confirmed his current status in the process. While he was initially implied to be on death’s door, it seems that there is a way to save him by deepening his connection with the powers lying within him.

Kaiju No. 8 chapter 116 teases Kafka getting stronger than he ever has before in the coming weeks

Kaiju No. 8 chapter 116: Origins of the best

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Kaiju No. 8 chapter 116 began with a flashback to four years ago which gave focus to Soshiro Hoshina's training as a recruit to the Kaiju Defense Force. Gen Narumi was seen disliking Hoshina from the moment they met. Narumi even said just looking at Hoshina was enough to hate his guts, adding that it reminded him of Soshiro’s brother Soichiro. Narumi’s additional comments also suggested that Hoshina had already committed to the Third Division by this point.

However, Narumi then used his Weapons No. 1 abilities on Hoshina, commenting on how refined his “signal flow” was. This is a reference to Weapons No. 1’s main ability to let Narumi perceive electrical signals in living beings. Narumi and other First Division members then approached Hoshina and his friends, demanding that he come to the First Division since the Third Division doesn’t suit him at all.

Kaiju No. 8 chapter 116 saw Narumi add that they’re the strongest unit and his talents are best spent supporting Narumiu likewise. Hoshina rejected the offer politely, saying he already knew who he was going to follow. The First Division members were in disbelief that he rejected the offer, as was Narumi when he discovered Hoshina was promoted to the Third Division’s Vice-Captain role.

Gen Narumi gets ferocious in Kaiju No. 8 chapter 116 (Image via Production I.G)

Narumi also lamented that Hoshina broke all the records he had set in close-quarters combat as the focus returned to the present. Hoshina told Narumi not to slow him down, prompting a clearly infuriated Narumi to think to himself that he didn’t like Hoshina one bit. Mina Ashiro, Keiji Itami, and others then began celebrating the pair’s arrival on the battlefield.

However, Kaiju No. 8 chapter 116 saw Meireki take the opportunity to attack Hoshina. Narumi then jumped down on the side of Meireki opposite Hoshina, who was revealed to be fine. Narumi warned Hoshina that he was gonna cut down both him and Meireki, to which Hoshina said he was good at dodging as they each rushed at the monster.

Narumi used his Troop Style Bayonet Technique Second Form attack, Slashing Fire. Akira Kurusu then explained that Captain-level officers fighting at full strength necessitates prohibiting troop members with 60% Unleashed Combat Power or below from entering the area. This is due to the fact that Captain-level officers rival a Mega Monster’s power, and will kill weaker troops instantaneously if they’re caught in an attack.

Kaiju No. 8 chapter 116: Kafka prepares to fight once more

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As a member of the First Division, Kaiju No. 8 chapter 116 saw Akira expand that this rings especially true when Narumi wields Weapons No. 1, Japan’s greatest power. He added that he thought there shouldn’t be anyone who can survive being within a hundred meters of him, but acknowledged that Hoshina was proving him wrong.

Hoshina and Narumi continued attacking as Kurusu said this, working in sync despite their personal issues still clearly existing. Weapons No. 10 then told Hoshina that it wanted to fight Narumi too since he was so strong. However, in a show of implicit respect, Hoshina told it that Narumi was the one monster he wanted to avoid fighting at all costs.

Kaiju No. 8 chapter 116 saw another science staff member comment on how this is essentially a tag team of Japan’s strongest close combat specialists. Hoshina, however, was more concerned with Kafka, who was still motionlessly bleeding out on the sidelines. He said that even if Kafka survived, he was now at his limit, and it was thus up to him and Narumi to take Meireki down.

Soshiro Hoshina proves his strength in Kaiju No. 8 chapter 116 (Image via Production I.G)

Hoshina then used his Sixth Form Strata Strike, Seven Blades as Narumi also rushed at Meireki. However, the monster effortlessly stopped both of their attacks while also seemingly preparing one of his own. This was confirmed via the mass of eyes in its body swelling out in a suggestively explosive manner as Hoshina and Narumi were motionless with shock.

However, Kaiju No. 8 chapter 116 didn’t elaborate on their ultimate fates from the attack, instead shifting focus to Kafka Hibino. In his own mindscape, he was drowning as he commented on hearing the others fight. He wanted to go back since the fight wasn’t over yet, even saying he needed to return. A voice then called out to him and asked if that’s what he desired, to fight longer.

The voice then pointed out the terrible injuries he suffered, asking Kafka if he really wanted to return despite them. Kafka first asked who the voice was, but decided it didn’t matter and answered that wanting to fight with Mina and his friends was his desire, regardless of what happened to him. The issue ended with the oni-mask warrior appearing, telling Kafka to strengthen his “connection with us” as the issue ended.

Kaiju No. 8 chapter 116: In summation

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Kaiju No. 8 chapter 116 not only confirms that Kafka is alive but teases him as imminently receiving a massive power-up to become stronger than ever before. This power-up will also seemingly provide the lore on his powers and Meireki’s origins which fans have been desperate for. However, it’s unknown if there’ll be anyone left to fight with by the time Kafka returns to the battlefield given the attack on Narumi and Hoshina.