The Betrayal

Chapter 4: The Betrayal

The rain pounded against the steel containers, washing away the blood pooling beneath Aya's body. Kim Han's world narrowed to a single point—Daichi Sato, standing over her with a gun, a smug grin curling his lips.

Han barely registered Ryuu staggering behind him. His mind screamed at him to move, to reach Aya, to end Daichi right there.

But Daichi was calm. Too calm.

"Drop the sword, Han," Daichi said smoothly, pressing the gun against Aya's temple. "Or I paint the ground with her brains."

Han's grip on the Kurozetsu tightened until his knuckles turned white. Aya's breathing was shallow, blood seeping through her side.

He took a step forward.

Click.

Daichi cocked the hammer. "I said—drop it."

A long silence stretched between them. The rain blurred the neon lights around them, painting the scene in red and blue. Han's fingers twitched.

Then, another voice sliced through the tension.

"Enough."

From the shadows, Miyuki Sato stepped forward—Daichi's own sister. Her long black coat flowed behind her, and in her hands, she held a silenced pistol.

Pointed at Daichi.

"Let her go," Miyuki said, her voice cold.

Daichi didn't flinch. "Siding with them now? How disappointing."

Miyuki's gaze flicked to Han. "I told you I had doubts about my brother. Now you see why."

Han's mind raced. Miyuki had approached him in secret days ago, revealing her growing disillusionment with Daichi's ruthless rule. But he had never expected her to act now.

Daichi chuckled, lowering his gun slightly. "Ah, Miyuki. Always the soft one."

Bang!

A gunshot rang out.

For a moment, everything stood still.

Daichi stumbled back, clutching his shoulder, blood staining his suit. His eyes darkened as he turned to Miyuki, who held her smoking gun steady.

"Traitor," he spat.

But Miyuki's hand was shaking. Daichi was still standing. And now, his fury was unleashed.

With a flick of his wrist, he pulled a second gun from his holster and fired.

Miyuki barely dodged in time. The bullet grazed her arm, and she cried out, staggering back.

Han moved.

In a blur, he closed the distance, his blade slicing through the air. Daichi barely managed to twist away, the Kurozetsu cutting through his coat instead of flesh.

Gunfire erupted around them as the remaining Black Lotus soldiers engaged, but Jin-Seok and Ryuu—wounded but not done—joined the fight. The railway yard became a war zone.

Han had no time to think. Only to fight.

Daichi drew his own katana, a wickedly curved black blade, and met Han's strike with a shower of sparks. Their swords clashed again and again, each strike faster, more ruthless.

"You think you can kill me, Han?" Daichi growled. "I made you what you are."

Han's fury ignited. He drove forward, forcing Daichi back with a relentless barrage of strikes.

"No," Han snarled, his blade cutting through the rain. "You made me a monster."

Their swords locked in a deadly stalemate, muscles straining. Daichi smirked.

"And yet… you still hesitate."

Han's eyes flicked to Aya—bleeding, unconscious. He couldn't fail. Not again.

With a roar, he broke the deadlock, his sword carving a path through the storm.

Daichi barely deflected in time, but he was slowing. Weakening.

Han saw his opening.

With one final, decisive strike—

He cut deep.

Daichi gasped, staggering backward, his hand flying to his chest where blood poured freely. His sword clattered to the ground.

Han stood over him, rain dripping from his blade.

Daichi laughed—a bitter, choked sound. "So this is how it ends…"

Han didn't speak. He raised his sword for the final blow.

But Daichi, even in death, had one last trick.

He pulled his gun, bloodied hands shaking, and aimed—

Not at Han.

At Aya.

Han's heart stopped.

Bang!

A second shot rang out.

Not Daichi's.

Miyuki had fired first.

Daichi collapsed, the life draining from his eyes. His reign was over.

But there was no time to celebrate.

Han dropped his sword and ran to Aya, cradling her in his arms. Her breathing was weak, her skin too pale.

"Stay with me," he whispered, his voice breaking.

Her eyes fluttered open, a small, painful smile on her lips. "Took you… long enough."

Sirens wailed in the distance. The war was over.

But for Han, the real battle had only just begun.

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