Dragon Raja; Chapter 33: Golden Eyes (8)

Dragon Raja

It was unclear how long the carnage outside had lasted. Smoke covered the campus, and the lawn and pathways were strewn with bodies. Both sides had escalated their use of weapons, deploying grenades, grenade launchers, and shoulder-fired rockets. Lu Mingfei recognized these expensive weapons from the military magazines he had skimmed through. Stray bullets shattered a row of glass not far from him, once again shattering his illusion that this might just be some kind of exercise.

Those weapons were all the real deal!

Lu Mingfei’s heart rate had almost reached the limit of 180 beats per minute, and adrenaline was flowing as if it were sweat… He could die any second, yet somehow, nothing had happened to him… still nothing… still nothing… He was so exhausted that he squatted down, resting his chin in his hands and peering out. Gradually, he began to understand the situation. The people in black combat gear and those in deep red combat gear were clearly opposing each other. Both sides were attempting to assault the other’s headquarters. The black team’s base was the small building they had been in earlier, while the deep red team’s base was the church across the lawn. The current focus of the artillery fire was the parking lot between the two positions. Both assault teams had to force their way through the parking lot, which lacked sufficient cover and was completely exposed to gunfire. More than forty people had already died there.

“If this were a Zerg rush, it would make sense—they’re quick and mindless—but if you’re human, shouldn’t you first position a tank for cover? Or maybe send a ghost to throw a nuke?” Lu Mingfei thought to himself.

As if the commanders were somehow in tune with StarCraft expert Lu Mingfei’s tactical thoughts, a deep red combatant holding a black briefcase appeared, trying to make it across the parking lot. He nimbly dodged a few waves of bullets before a sniper’s round from above took him down, flipping the briefcase over to reveal a clear yellow nuclear symbol.

Lu Mingfei’s face twitched. “I was just joking… but there actually is one? Well, I guess that’s not bad… being nuked at this close range, I guess it wouldn’t even hurt.”

There was nothing he could do. This battlefield of madmen was not something a normal person like him could understand.

The gunfire gradually lessened, and the smoke thinned slightly. A deep, powerful voice came from all directions, broadcasted through some amplification system. “Caesar, how many people do you have left? Do you want to continue?”

“Chu Zihang, well done,” replied a cold, amused voice from the same loudspeaker system. “Only me and a girl are left. Want me to send her to charge?”

“Chu Zihang?” Lu Mingfei was stunned. That name sounded so familiar.

“I also only have one girl left. Unfortunately for you, she’s the sniper who’s been giving you trouble. As long as she keeps targeting the parking lot, there’s no way for you to cross. But unfortunately, she’s not the type for an assault.”

“Does this end in a draw again this year? Isn’t that a pity?”

“It’s a shame, I wanted to win your Bugatti Veyron.”

“All I have left is a hunting knife. What about you?”

“Of course, just ‘Murasame’—my personal blade.”

“See you in the parking lot.”

“Good.”

The static from the loudspeakers abruptly ceased as both sides cut communication. The campus fell silent, like a ghost town, smoke lingering like morning mist. Lu Mingfei peeked around from his narrow alley, feeling that something bad was about to happen. After thinking about it, he lay down next to the bodies of Toyama Masashi and Professor Guderian. He turned his head to look at the old man’s face, feeling a slight sense of sadness. The professor had treated him well, yet he was killed just like that.

“It’s your fault for working in such a weird college,” Lu Mingfei sighed, lifting one of Professor Guderian’s arms and placing it over his back, making it look like the professor was trying to protect him when they both got shot.

The doors of both the church and the small building opened simultaneously, with heavy combat boots stepping out almost in unison.

The person in the deep red combat gear held a military hunting knife about half a meter long, its black blade etched with golden patterns. The person in black combat gear held a long katana, the blade reflecting the sunlight, dazzlingly bright. They both walked toward the parking lot, their steady, unhurried footsteps intensifying the atmosphere.

“What the heck? Hand-to-hand combat?” Lu Mingfei thought. “They’ve already brought mini-nukes for assault, and now they’re going to fight hand-to-hand?”

The person in deep red stood at one side of the parking lot and took off his helmet. His golden hair cascaded down, and he had a face like a Greek sculpture, with rare ice-blue eyes, his gaze cold. He tossed the hunting knife in the air playfully while looking at the person in black combat gear. The other also removed his helmet, revealing unruly black hair pointing in different directions, sharp as blades.

“To make it here, you’re stronger than I thought,” the blond young man said.

“To receive such praise from Caesar—it’s an honor,” the black-haired young man responded coldly.

“But this is the end.” As soon as he said this, Caesar shot forward like an arrow. Lu Mingfei felt an invisible pressure surging with Caesar’s attack, making his heart skip a beat, his breath caught. In that instant, Caesar’s figure blurred—that was due to an incredible speed. He was like an eagle diving from high above! The hunting knife and the arm holding it became indistinguishable due to his speed, almost invisible!

This was a strike meant to kill—a forceful, murderous blade, bearing the majesty of an emperor. If it struck, even iron in front of him would be cut through.

But Chu Zihang, his opponent, wasn’t made of iron; his katana was. He stood there without moving, the katana slowly tracing a circular arc, poised in midair. Caesar’s seemingly inescapable strike approached. At that instant, Chu Zihang’s blade also vanished. With just a flick of his wrist, the katana performed a sharp deflection, using minimal force to strike at the tip of Caesar’s blade. This was a technique that transcended speed and power—the sword acted as a lever, and applying force to the tip transmitted maximum force to the wielder’s wrist. Chu Zihang had chosen his timing precisely in the moment before Caesar fully exerted his strength. That was Caesar’s weakest point, and Chu Zihang intercepted it perfectly.

Lu Mingfei couldn’t make out these details; he only saw Caesar rushing toward Chu Zihang. Chu Zihang didn’t budge from his stance, only shifting slightly to one side. Caesar, however, seemed to crash into an invisible wall, stumbling slightly and leaning back before retreating a few steps.

The emperor-like pressure from Caesar was blocked by Chu Zihang, and Lu Mingfei suddenly found himself able to breathe again.