Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 389: Night of the King’s Assassination (5)

Dragon Raja 3

Though he hadn’t yet reached the tower, his presence had already blanketed Tokyo Tower and the surrounding area with the aura of imminent violence.

“This has nothing to do with me. I swear I didn’t leak any information,” Tachibana said slowly.

“Oh, really? Maybe your adorable student has been tailing you? That would be unfortunate. If he’s caught us meeting in secret, he’s probably come to clean house, don’t you think?” Osho had regained his composure. “Care to bet whose head he’ll cut off first? Yours, the traitor’s, or mine, the villain’s?”

“He’ll cut off yours first,” Tachibana said calmly. “Before cutting off my head, I imagine he’ll have many questions to ask me.”

“If that’s true, then we have no choice but to kill your student. Anyone who knows about our relationship must die. Otherwise, you’ll lose your standing in Yamata no Orochi, and you won’t be worthy of being my partner.”

“He’s the Emperor. Even if you and I work together, killing the Emperor won’t be easy. We should leave,” Tachibana said, moving toward the elevator and pressing the button for the down floor.

The indicator lit up, showing that the elevator was ascending. Osho had cut off the district’s power, but buildings like Tokyo Tower had their own diesel generators to keep essential systems running.

“Haven’t you thought about killing me? If you kill me, you could prove your innocence. You could claim you agreed to meet me only to lure me in and kill me,” Osho said slowly.

“Do you think I can kill you in this situation?” Tachibana spread his hands. “I tried using incendiary bombs on you before, and that didn’t work. Now I’m unarmed. You’re a half-evolved being, and I’m just a regular Hybrid. Do you think I have that ability? I suggest you hurry up. In all his time as head of the Execution Bureau, none of the monsters Chisei targeted ever escaped his net.”

“That’s terrible news. Let’s hurry and take the elevator then.” Osho walked toward the elevator beside Tachibana.

From the moment Tachibana had entered the observation deck, they had maintained a safe distance from each other. But now, Osho had closed that distance, moving closer and closer. At their speed, they were now well within each other’s attack range.

Tachibana was taken aback. “You hate elevators. You hate enclosed spaces!”

“Yes, I hate elevators. I hate confined spaces. They make me feel like a trapped animal,” Osho smiled, “but I also know that you, the cunning fox, never let others take the advantage. You chose the elevator, so I’m choosing it too.”

Tachibana didn’t move. Chisei had already begun ascending the iron stairs outside the tower, the sound of his deadly footsteps echoing through the storm.

The elevator arrived at the special observatory with a “ding,” and the doors opened, releasing a flood of bright light as if it were pouring out like a tide.

The elevator was filled with weapons, from MP5 submachine guns to Japanese swords, all reflecting a sharp, cold gleam. These weapons were neatly arranged on racks, ready to be grabbed and used at a moment’s notice—guns were loaded, and swords were drawn.

“You’ve chosen the wrong path, Dr. Herzog. This is the path to hell!” Tachibana’s voice suddenly changed, becoming void of any warmth.

He knew Herzog too well. Bringing weapons to this meeting wouldn’t allow him to get close, so he left all the weapons in the elevator. When the elevator reached the special observatory, the killing intent erupted like an unstoppable force.

Tachibana grabbed an MP5 submachine gun and turned, firing in a sweeping motion. Gunfire lit up the special observatory as bullets riddled the tempered glass with holes. The glass shattered, letting the storm’s wind and rain flood inside, reducing visibility to nearly nothing. The magazine was emptied, and Tachibana tossed the MP5 aside, a large-caliber revolver already in his hand. He wasn’t sure if he’d hit Herzog—when he fired, Herzog had been just five or six meters away, leaving him no time to aim. Herzog was a tough monster to kill, and Tachibana’s bloodline was weaker, so he had to suppress him with a storm of bullets.

He threw two tear gas grenades, and within half a second, the thick smoke reduced visibility to its absolute minimum. Tachibana donned a gas mask. The custom tear gas contained mercury droplets—dangerous for a half-evolved being like Herzog.

Through meticulous planning, Tachibana had turned the special observatory into his home ground. He had come here with the intention of killing Herzog, and Chisei’s unexpected arrival had only forced him to activate his plan earlier than intended.

With visibility this low, he couldn’t shoot effectively. Instead, he sheathed his gun, grabbed a long sword from the rack, and picked up a claw weapon for his left hand. Following family rules, Chisei had cut off the five fingers of his left hand, so Tachibana couldn’t wield a sword with it. That’s why he had prepared the claw weapon. In his right hand, the sword followed the aggressive posture of Shinto Munen-ryu, while the left-hand claw employed ninja techniques. These two vastly different weapons melded seamlessly in his hands, putting him in a state of perfect offense and defense.

“Come on, Herzog! Let’s finish the battle we started thirty years ago, like men! Just like a thirty-year-old bottle of vodka, this will be intense! We once craved power like men, so let us die like men!” Tachibana roared like a wild beast.

But his steps were slow and measured, like a fox calmly sneaking into a hunter’s trap to steal the bait. His aggression was merely a disguise. If Herzog dared to counterattack recklessly, he would face the composed and calculating Tachibana. Both men were seasoned operatives, and cruelty and treachery flowed through their veins. Everything in their hands could become a weapon—even words and emotions. Only they were capable of killing each other; they were natural-born adversaries.

Tachibana slowly swung his sword, parting the smoke and rain. The thick white fog clung to his blade like liquid. The rain and tear gas seemed to be reacting to each other, the fog swirling like a dense, white curtain. Each time Tachibana cut through it, the rift in the fog would quickly close again.

Tachibana’s advantage was clear, but so was his weakness—Herzog could move freely in the fog, but Tachibana couldn’t leave the elevator. The elevator was his armory, and if Herzog gained control of it, the tables would turn. Tachibana had to hold this position until Chisei arrived.

This was a battlefield where one warrior must stand alone and hold the line, and Tachibana was determined to be that warrior. It was the only chance to kill such a cunning monster like Herzog, and only in this godforsaken place.

Low laughter came from the fog. Herzog didn’t seem to be injured at all. “So, you’ve gone with this plan after all. Killing me will absolve you of your sins? And then you can monopolize the White Empress’ inheritance?”

“Do you still believe that we’re on the same side? I’m flattered by your esteem, Dr. Herzog!” Tachibana replied loudly while carefully listening, hoping to locate Herzog by his voice.

“I don’t believe you. I believe in human nature. Greed is humanity’s essence, while justice is just their mask. When they’re sure they can destroy someone, they tear off the mask of justice and reveal their greedy nature. I know your greed better than anyone. You’re the most excellent specimen of humanity, more aware of human nature than anyone else. Why would someone like you kill me for love and justice?”

Herzog’s laughter moved from left to right, making it impossible for Tachibana to pinpoint his position. It seemed as if Herzog was moving at high speed through the fog.

“You must’ve had a tragic childhood, Dr. Herzog, leading you to hate and despair over humanity.”

“No, no, my childhood was wonderful because I saw through humanity’s weaknesses at a young age. I used those weaknesses to my advantage, so everyone loved me.”

“So what’s my weakness? Why don’t you exploit it to defeat me?” Tachibana took deep breaths, staying hyper-alert.

“I already told you, you’re nearly a perfect human. You have few weaknesses,” Herzog paused, “except that you’re too weak.”

The long sword slashed through the fog again. In the fraction of a second when the mist parted, Tachibana saw Herzog’s pale, smiling face. He had been standing right in front of him, close enough to feel his breath.

Tachibana swung both his sword and claw simultaneously. His right hand followed battlefield swordsmanship, with wide, powerful swings, while his left hand guarded his vital spots with the claw. Though aging had taken its toll on him, Tachibana could still suppress his frailty when needed, forcing his weakened muscles to unleash bursts of incredible violence. As a cunning fox, he had not only a calculating mind but also sharp fangs.

But then he was grabbed. Herzog embraced him tightly, like an old friend reunited after many years. Tachibana’s upper and lower arms both fractured, and his sharp blade was driven into the ground.

Series Navigation

<< Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 388: Night of the King’s Assassination (4)Dragon Raja 3; Chapter 390: Night of the King’s Assassination (6) >>