Warning: Contains spoilers for Kaiju No. 8 chapter #117.Of all the mysterious elements in Kaiju No. 8, the most mysterious is the bug-like Kaiju that gave Kafka his powers in the first place. Little to nothing has been said about its origins or motives, and the fact that it’s a Kaiju that wants to kill other Kaiju only makes it more mysterious.

The bug-like Kaiju has been an enigmatic figure ever since its first appearance, but that’s finally changed in chapter #117. As Kafka suffered a fatal wound from the Daikaiju of the Meiriki Era, he had a vision of a battle between the ancient Defense Force and the Daikaiju, and in doing so, Kaiju No. 8 chapter #117 finally revealed the origin of the bug-like Kaiju that gave Kafka his powers. The nature of that reveal also has major implications for the overarching lore, and that’s great to see as Kaiju No. 8 slowly heads towards its finale.

The True Origin Of Kaiju No. 8's Mysterious Kaiju Explained

The Truth Behind Kafka's Mysterious Benefactor

In Kafka’s vision of the past, the predecessors to the Defense Force were locked in battle with a powerful Kaiju, and just when they thought they had beaten it, the Daikaiju of the Meiriki Era emerged from its body. It slaughtered the samurai and their loved ones with ease, and they cursed their powerlessness in the face of such a monster. Everyone’s collective hatred fused them into a singular Kaiju, and it was then revealed that the bug-like Kaiju that gave Kafka his powers was born from the hatred of the samurai killed by the Daikaiju of the Meiriki Era.

The bug-like Kaiju’s true origins perfectly explain its behavior throughout the series, as well. With it being born from the collective hatred of the Daikaiju’s victims, it makes sense that it would look for a host to continue its fight; additionally, the bug-like Kaiju likely made Kafka go berserk in his fight with Isao Shinomiya because Kaiju No. 2’s power reminded it of the Daikaiju. It’s still unclear why Kafka, specifically, was made its host, but with Kaiju No. 8 finally delving into the origins of the bug-like Kaiju, that’s sure to be revealed sooner, rather than later.

Kaiju No. 8's Big Reveal Changes Everything About Its Story

The reveal of the bug-like Kaiju’s origins is big not just for the character, but for the implications it has for Kaiju No. 8, as a whole. Despite being at the center of the plot, the origins of Kaiju have been left notably vague, even though recent chapters have established that people have been fighting Kaiju for centuries. Based on the bug-like Kaiju’s origins, however, Kaiju in Kaiju No. 8 are now heavily implied to have been born from humans in some capacity, which turns Kaiju from random monsters into something humanity brought upon themselves.

Kaiju being born from humans is an intriguing idea, but it’s not without its complications. In Kaiju No. 8 chapter #117, Kafka briefly mentioned that the armor of the ancient Defense Force was made from the remains of Kaiju, so the bug-like Kaiju was possibly only born because the samurai were fused with Kaiju flesh, so its situation could be a special circumstance rather than the norm. It’s a major development regardless, of course, and with any luck, it won’t be long until the Kaiju No. 8 manga fully clarifies how the bug-like Kaiju’s origins will affect things, going forward.