22.y (Bonus Interlude; Lung)

Worm, Chapter 22.y (Bonus Interlude, Lung) Summary:

March 2nd, 1997: Kenta, a young man of mixed Chinese-Japanese heritage, feels out of place in Japanese society. Seeking to break free from conformity, he joins Daiichi’s gang, aiming to gain notoriety and eventually join the Yakuza. They embark on their “springtime,” a period of freedom before they join the organization.

Their first target is a group of Chinese businessmen meeting with two foreign women. Kenta kicks down the door, and they enter, finding five people in the room. One of the foreigners, a black woman, instructs everyone to stand back as her bodyguard, a younger woman in a black suit, will handle the situation.

Daiichi fires a warning shot, but the bodyguard remains unfazed. She expertly deflects his attacks using a knife and a table, showcasing remarkable skill and precision. Daiichi’s ghostly replica and Ren’s wind-based power are both countered effortlessly.

The bodyguard disables the gang members one by one, her movements calculated and efficient. Kenta is forced face-first into a brick of powder, possibly drugs, and experiences a powerful rush. He feels like he’s having a heart attack and has a brief, out-of-body experience, witnessing two entities communicating through various mediums, observing a gaseous planet and its lifeforms.

Kenta snaps back to reality, finding himself and his gang defeated. The bodyguard, slightly injured, is helped by the black woman. The Chinese men collect their money and drugs, and the black woman negotiates the cost of the lost product.

Kenta, left among his dead or dying comrades, realizes the folly of their attack. He vows to be more careful in choosing his battles.

November 2nd, 1999: Lung, now a powerful parahuman, watches Leviathan’s rampage in Japan. He’s waiting for the right moment to join the fight, feeling his power stir within him. A Sentai woman approaches, questioning his presence. He explains he’s waiting, and she reveals her power is ineffective against Leviathan.

Lung enters the fray, his scales growing as he anticipates the battle. He fights alongside other heroes, enduring Leviathan’s attacks and healing rapidly. He reaches a critical point in his transformation, his power escalating. He battles Leviathan, growing larger and stronger, his fire burning hotter. The ground shakes, and a chasm opens. Lung resists being dragged in, aided by Alexandria.

He fights for an indeterminate amount of time, growing larger than Leviathan, his power reaching its peak. However, as the other heroes retreat or evacuate, Lung’s power begins to wane. Leviathan, wounded, flees into the depths. Lung, unable to float, sinks to the ocean floor, his power leaving him. He feels a sense of despair, having failed to kill his enemy and having no audience to witness his strength. Alexandria retrieves him from the depths.

August 13th, 2002: Lung is imprisoned in the C.U.I. prison, his power suppressed. He’s visited by two Yàngbǎn members who question him about his dealings with American heroes. Lung reveals he turned down their offers. He agrees to join the Yàngbǎn to escape, planning to betray them later.

March 23rd, 2011: Lung, now in Brockton Bay, is confronted by Bakuda, who criticizes his gang’s name and his lack of ambition. Lung explains his philosophy of fear, his goal to engender a “fear of knowing” in his enemies. He reveals his past, how he defeated many gangs and recruited members like Oni Lee. He states his intention to defeat his enemies and rule.

July 14th, 2011: In the Birdcage, Amelia discusses her theory about power-granting entities with Teacher and Marquis. Teacher expresses skepticism, and they debate the implications. Lung watches a news broadcast about Alexandria’s death and Weaver’s (formerly Skitter) role in stopping her. Teacher suggests it might soothe Lung’s ego to know Weaver defeated Alexandria, but Lung dismisses the notion.

Weaver announces her intention to serve the people, even if it means facing imprisonment. Teacher and Lung discuss a plan to manipulate events to secure their release, using a captured parahuman named Saint to communicate with the outside world through Dragon’s systems. Lung agrees, on the condition that his power is left alone. He’ll act as Teacher’s bodyguard for a time after their release.

Lung returns to Marquis’ cell block. Marquis offers him tea, a gesture of acceptance. Lung, contemplating the nature of acceptance and conformity, chooses not to reveal Teacher’s plan to undermine everything Marquis and Amelia are working towards. He simply thanks Marquis for the tea, keeping his secret. He feels his power under his skin, fueled by the possibility of freedom, and the scale of the events Teacher has hinted at, and the promise of revenge.