Chapter 31: Battlefield and Slaughter
Fifth floor, Q-Taro's office.
"His stance... it's changed?"
Yako looked at the monitor wall, observing Shiraki Kei's form, and realized he must be planning to switch fighting styles.
How interesting.
To ensure he could continue to watch, Yako said, "Pardon me," bent down, picked up the pen-shaped listening device from the floor, and slipped it into his suit pocket.
Q-Taro was confused. "Hm? What are you doing, Yako-san?"
Yako was polite as always. "I merely dropped my pen. Please pay it no mind. Continue."
"..."
It was a small interruption. Q-Taro paid it no mind.
But Yako was already thinking further.
A pen bug... that wasn't an everyday item. It had to be prepared in advance.
From this, he could deduce that [Usogui] Madarame Baku... had planned this from the very beginning.
But [Usogui] likely hadn't expected Q-Taro to be a Kakerou member.
In other words, [Usogui]'s original goal wasn't the membership. It was something else entirely!
Could it be... he's still plotting his Gekokujō*? Is this part of some grand scheme?*
Yako's eyes narrowed slightly.
In any case... this was now a moment of life and death.
Facing the enhanced soldier, Rodem, and his inhuman level of force... whether they could handle him, and how... that was the key to this gamble.
"..."
"Haha! You're really focused, Yako-san!"
Q-Taro's voice broke Yako's train of thought.
Yako's high praise of Shiraki Kei's group earlier was still bothering Q-Taro, who couldn't resist digging at him.
"I know a thing or two about fighting. That guy's style... it's some kind of karate, right?"
"Yako-san, are you a karate fan? Hahaha..."
"Makes sense. Shingokai, Rokushin Kaikan... they're both famous karate organizations. Kakerou has probably dealt with them."
Q-Taro smiled darkly. "But... no matter how strong a karate master is, it's still just 'human-level force.' He's no match for Rodem!"
"Don't you agree, Yako-san?"
"..."
Yako gave a noncommittal response, his eyes drawn back to the screen.
Q-Taro found this strange, looked back at the monitor, and also noticed the change in Shiraki Kei's style.
Before, Shiraki Kei had used a solid, stable karate stance: left arm raised to guard, right arm bent and high.
But now... he looked much "rougher."
His hands were slightly open, his arms wide, his legs apart.
It was too simple to be called a "style," but underestimating it meant ignoring the explosive power it held in reserve.
"...?" Q-Taro was confused. "He knows... pro-wrestling?"
Yako shook his head, correcting him. "No, it's 'wrestling'."
Pro-wrestling is a mix of drama and violence, for entertainment and business; amateur wrestling is a competition of strength and skill, centered on rules and victory.
But then, Yako frowned again, silently correcting himself.
No, that's not right either. It seems to be... both?
Pop-culture pro-wrestling and athletic amateur wrestling... both share the same ancient origins in combat.
Shiraki Kei's stance seemed to fuse the two, creating a completely new fighting style.
"..."
Here it comes!
Yako's eyes narrowed.
Following Q-Taro's order, Rodem charged forward.
Even from the first-person camera feed, it was clear Rodem's dash was as savage as a beast's. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Shiraki Kei.
At that moment, Shiraki Kei had just set his stance, his eyes flashing with a storm of thoughts.
Now!
SWOOSH!
Shiraki Kei exhaled, his feet digging in as he dashed forward, his hands, fingers locked, chopping forward like blades.
[Aura Burst • Russian Double Lariat]!
BANG!
The two hand-chops struck Rodem's upper arms. It didn't do real damage, but it stunned Rodem for an instant.
In that split second, Shiraki Kei advanced another half-step, wrapped his arms around Rodem's waist, and, arching his body backward, suplexed him.
[Zangief • Suplex]!
BOOM!
Shiraki Kei already had his back to the concrete wall. This suplex smashed Rodem's head through the wall, embedding it deep inside.
"GAA—GAAAH!"
Rodem struggled, his roars growing more savage.
With a CRASH, Rodem tore himself free from the wall. The camera view spun, looking behind him.
Shiraki Kei had already retreated several steps. Blood was trickling from his nose, but his eyes were shining.
Without hesitating, Shiraki Kei turned and ran, sprinting for the stairs.
"After him, Rodem!"
Q-Taro commanded. "Hunt him down like a rabbit! Don't let him escape!"
Hearing this, Yako mused, "Is he really... 'escaping'?"
"Huh?" Q-Taro was annoyed. "If he's not escaping, what is he doing?"
Yako said, half-joking, "Perhaps it's a 'warm-up'?"
"What kind of nonsense is that!"
Q-Taro was seething at Yako's attitude. "That guy, Shiraki Kei... he's all out of tricks."
"Pro-wrestling, amateur wrestling... it's all just stupid monkey theatrics!"
"This building isn't a fighting ring! The context is completely different. It's useless to struggle!"
"..."
For once, Yako nodded, agreeing with Q-Taro. "That is true."
Yako stared at the screen, thinking.
If Shiraki Kei doesn't account for 'that point,' he has no chance of beating Rodem.
...
...
Swish! Swish!
Shiraki Kei and Rodem, one chasing the other, bolted up the stairs, returning to the sixth floor in an instant.
Reaching the far end of the sixth floor, Shiraki Kei finally stopped, a good sweat on his body.
But he still felt... insufficient. His condition wasn't good enough.
After all, Zangief, like Ryu, was just "teaching" him. This wasn't some divine possession.
On the way up, his mind had been in overdrive, learning Zangief's phantom movements. He'd gotten the hang of it and needed to test it in a real fight.
He stood his ground, waiting for Rodem to attack.
But after a few seconds, Rodem was still nowhere to be seen. Kei was confused.
What is...
DAKKA-DAKKA-DAKKA-DAKKA!
A burst of gunfire forced Shiraki Kei's mind into overdrive again.
He saw Rodem at the far end of the hall, holding an SMG, spraying bullets at him.
In that instant, Shiraki Kei realized with a jolt: This wasn't a ring. This was a life-or-death slaughter.
This was a battlefield. Anything goes!
Swish!
Shiraki Kei dove into a corner, barely avoiding the bullets.
When the gunfire stopped, Kei didn't feel relieved. He felt a chilling sense of danger.
He looked up and saw a dagger, thrown with immense force, flying right at him.
Smack!
Shiraki Kei knocked the dagger aside with a chop.
But the next thing he saw was the soles of two large boots.
Rodem had sprinted and then leaped, launching a flying dropkick!
BOOM!
Shiraki Kei had no time to block. The kick slammed into his face. The combined force of momentum and monstrous strength sent him flying backward.
Swish—CRASH!
The blow sent him straight through a window. The glass shattered, and Shiraki Kei fell out, plummeting toward the ground below.