A member of the Klaw Sect
approaches Count Dracula asking permission to kill a defector from their sect.
When he learns the quarry is Raizu Kodo, he scoffs that the minion’s lack of
knowledge and proceeds to relate the story of Raizu Kodo….
In Japan, 1585, Raizu and his
brother Ryuhei, sons of Lord Kodo, disguise themselves as farmers to enter the
camp of their enemy Jakkaru, about whom swirl rumors of uncanny powers.
Reaching the warlord’s tent, the brothers kill the unsuspecting guards and
enter to confront Jakkaru. The warlord turns out to be surprisingly fast and
nimble, immediately putting them on the defensive but after a fight, Ryuhei
skewers Jakkaru through the heart with his sword. But when he bends over the
man, seeking a token, Jakkaru leaps up and bites Ryuhei on the neck, crowing
about his victory. But Raizu stabs him in the back with a wooden practice sword
but swiping his head off with the steel weapon. This time Jakkaru stays down
and Raizu must help his wounded brother out of the camp and all the way home….
Once home, Ryuhei receives medical
attention while Lord Kodo informs Raizo that Jakkaru’s army, held together by
fear, has dispersed after their leader’s death. But there are whispers among
the servants that Ryuhei is possessed by a demon but Lordo Kodo does not listen
to such talk. Raizo is concerned about his brother but Ryuhei grows more
arrogant and dismissive of his brother, while Raizo’ fiancée Suzume resents his
ignoring her for his brother, telling him to solve the problem….
Raizo rides for three days to
Jakkaru’s castle where he has to fight the servants. He demands an explanation
and they tell him that Jakkaru changed after meeting with a stranger who
promised him eternal life; he became more arrogant and lusty, engaging in acts
of depravity. Concerned, Raizo rides home to find his whole family are now
vampires; he has prepared, donning armor and whittling wooden stakes. He slays
his parents and takes Suzume under his protection—but she is also a vampire and
bites him in the neck. He kills her, then slaughters the servants and burns the
house down. He confronts Ryuhei last of all in a burning room. They duel with
swords, the younger brother now faster. But when he gets Raizo at his mercy,
the burning roof collapses on him and Raizo swiftly slices his head off. Raizo
goes out to a field, intending to commit seppuku with a wooden blade…but the
power coursing through him is too much to ignore and he goes off to seek his
fate….
Dracula concludes the tale by
explaining that Raizo Kodo had his own code of honor and considers vampirism an
evil that must be stopped. So Dracula grants permission to his warrior to kill
Kodo—though he won’t be holding his breath….