CHAPTER 13
Seconds before slamming into the reinforced glass of the VIP lounge on the 83rd floor of the Mori-Dans Tower, James disengaged his wing mechanism. Launching his body forward like a bullet, he shattered the massive pane with a deafening "CRACK!" and burst inside. As glass shards rained down onto the plush carpets, the guests' ear-piercing screams cut through the classical music like a knife.
As he rose from the dust and smoke, the rugged lines of his jaw and stubble emerged in the dim light of the lounge. That sharp blue mask around his eyes gave his gaze a predatory edge. James flicked his wrists, locking his Ironfang batons into place; they declared their readiness for war with a heavy metallic click.
Victor Dans stood frozen like a statue, champagne flute still in hand. James locked eyes directly with him. Keeping his voice changer active, his voice came out as a mechanical, deep, and bone-chilling growl.
"Party's over, Victor."
Victor's four private security guards lunged for their weapons simultaneously. James blurred to the right and tossed a Sonic Grenade from his belt right into the center of the table. Chinnnn! As the high-frequency sound wave hit the room, the guards collapsed to their knees, clutching their ears in agony. James tore through the smoke like a storm; the first Ironfang strike crushed a guard's ribs like paper. He caught the second guard mid-air and slammed him onto the table.
At the edge of the platform, Moriyama slowly drew his katana from its sheath. The sound of metal sliding against metal broke the silence of the room. "Well, look at this..." Moriyama said, his voice as cold as a snake's hiss. "James... the Sensei's most talented, most ungrateful student. A blue mask and a few new toys... You might think yourself a hero, but that exposed face of yours still carries the blood from Kagemura."
James didn't give Moriyama a second look; fighting him here would be suicide. He grabbed Victor Dans by the collar and dragged him across the table. "Where is Kagemura, Victor? I've settled the score with Alan; now it's the real monster's turn."
Just then, the police frequency in James's earpiece crackled to life. It was Eva's voice:
"The elevators are operational! We're heading to the 83rd floor, 30 seconds! Blueshade is in the building, do not let him escape!"
He was out of time. The elevators being functional meant the police would swarm the room in seconds. James threw Victor over his shoulder like a sack of grain and turned to Moriyama. "I'm not dancing with you today, Moriyama. But very soon, I will tear down all that fake honor of yours with my bare hands."
James fired his Grappling Hook at a steel beam in the ceiling and plummeted out the shattered window into the void with Victor. As the wind whipped against his face, he used his wing mechanism to cling to the building's exterior.
At that exact moment, the VIP lounge's elevator doors burst open. Eva and the heavy tactical teams stormed in. For a split second, standing by the broken window with her black hair blowing in the wind, Eva caught a glimpse of Blueshade his metallic blue armor shimmering as he glided into the darkness of the night like a shadow.
"Don't fire! I want him alive!" Eva shouted.
James slid rapidly down the building's exterior using the window-cleaning rails. Reaching a service balcony on the 50th floor, he threw Victor hard onto the metal floor. Gasping for air, Victor groaned, "Are you going to kill me?"
James pinned his knee against Victor's throat. His eyes behind the blue mask were as dark as the night itself. "I'm not going to kill you, Victor. But if you don't give me Kagemura's shipment route, I'll leave you to those angry cops waiting upstairs. I'll let them take Alan's revenge out on you."
James's phone vibrated. It was Eva. James clamped his hand over Victor's mouth and answered the phone, speaking in his normal voice:
"James! Where are you? Blueshade is in the building, he's kidnapped Victor Dans! We need backup now!"
Looking straight into Victor's terrified eyes, James replied calmly: "I'm at the rear entrance, Eva, trying to cut off his escape route. We'll find Victor, just stay calm."
After hanging up, he reverted to his mechanical growl. "You heard her, Victor... Your time is up. Talk."