Bandit's Revenge

by Max Jager

  "There is one thing I will tell you, though: I am the new leader of the Ice Lands."

  Rachel's eyes widened as she gasped at Red's statement. She was completely speechless, but not because she did not know what to say.

  Rather, she was completely speechless because the wrath she felt inside of her body was so great, she could barely bring herself to speak.

  Red crossed his arms as he looked at Rachel indifferently angrily. Rachel's body was trembling with insurmountable fury, so Red was surprised when she suddenly buried her face in her hands, looked down at the ground, and did the last thing he thought she would ever do in this situation: begin to laugh.

  All three of the men watched in confusion as Rachel laughed.

  What the hell…?

  Of course, they could not understand her laughter. They could not comprehend what she had to laugh about. Was she not absolutely pissed at Red?

  Her laugh started out low and soft, but it slowly grew louder and more powerful. The three men around her really had no idea what was wrong with her, and Brayne and Abe began to look at her with scared expressions on their faces.

  Oh, shit… thought Brayne with widened eyes.

  Rachel… thought Abe as he gulped in slight fear.

  Red was truly baffled by the situation, that is, until Rachel looked up from the ground and directly at him. That was when he realized why she was laughing. As he looked at her widened eyes and crazed smile, he realized that not only had Rachel's fury peaked, but that she had snapped, and was laughing because she was so incredibly furious!

  She gritted her teeth in immense anger as she glared at the red-haired man she once knew with eyes filled with complete and utter hatred.

  "You…"

  "Wait, Rachel," said Brayne as he reached for her shoulder, "Who knows what kind of power he-."

  Brayne was about to grab Rachel's shoulder to keep her from trying to recklessly attack Red, but Rachel cracked her knuckles, and everyone watched as she suddenly released a massive amount of ruby red energy from her body. The power of the energy radiating from her body was so great, Brayne and Abe covered their faces and found themselves slowly pushed back by the sheer force of the energy.

  Whoa… thought Brayne in surprise.

  What kind of power is this? thought Abe.

  Red looked at her in amusement as she glared at him with the intent to kill.

  "You are the new leader of the Ice Lands?" she asked with rising fury as the muscles in her arms grew to such hulking proportions, her sleeves of her shirt began to rip apart, "Is this some kind of sick joke? You are the new leader?"

  Brayne and Abe looked at Rachel in fear, for they had never, in all the years they had known her, ever seen her become so absolutely enraged.

  "You!" she screamed as she clenched her fists so tight, her knuckles became white.

  She yelled as she charged at Red with the intention of tearing him to pieces.

  "Over my dead body!" she screamed furiously.

  Brayne and Abe gasped as they watched Rachel charge at him with great speed.

  "Wait, Rachel!" yelled Brayne with concern, "What are you doing? We need to attack him together!"

  "Stop!" yelled Abe, irritated by Rachel's impulsivity, "You can't take him on by yourself!"

  Unfortunately, Rachel was truly and uncharacteristically enraged, and disregarded her friends' attempts to stop her.

  Red gasped in surprise, for he had not expected her to be able to move with such blinding speed. Seeing that she was closing in on him fast and was about to punch him, he quickly swerved to the side right before she could do so, causing Rachel to gasp in surprise.

  He's fast!

  Red gritted his teeth as he quickly balled up his fists and tried to punch her, but she threw a punch of her own at exactly the same time. Their punches collided, and when they did, the collision produced a small shockwave. Red smirked at her, and Rachel yelled as they tried to punch each other again. Their blows clashed once again, however, and a shockwave was produced like before.

  Rachel jumped back to gain some distance between them, but Red would not allow such a thing to happen. He sped at her with blinding speed, and tried to kick her in the stomach. Rachel blocked his powerful kick with her arm, however, and yelled as she grabbed his foot and pulled him close so she could strike him. She punched him in the throat, and Red yelped in pain as he stumbled back and held his throat with his hands.

  Preoccupied by the pain in his throat, Red did not notice Rachel's next attack until it was too late. As he soon as his attention went back to her, she punched him in the face with a powerful blow that sent him flying five hundred feet away.

  He managed to land on his feet, but as soon as he did so, he gasped when he noticed Rachel right in front of him. She was so much faster than he had expected her to be, and he yelled when she kicked him in the stomach so hard, he was sent flying into the side of a building.

  He closed his eyes as he hissed in pain, and quickly reopened them to see Rachel charging right at him yet again.

  Damn it! he thought as he wiped blood from his mouth and quickly got back on his feet, Fine, Rachel! If that's how it is…

  Despite the beating he had just taken, he grunted as he shook his head and looked at Rachel as though she was a mere pissant.

  "I had no intention of fighting you, Rachel," he said irritably, "It had not even crossed my mind…but…if you and your friends insist on getting in my way, then I suppose…"

  Rachel gasped when Red suddenly disappeared from her sight, and her eyes widened in total shock when he reappeared directly in front of her.

  "…I have no choice!"

  Red punched her right in the face, and Rachel screamed as she went flying right through four buildings.

  Brayne and Abe gasped in complete shock, and looked back at the buildings their friend had crashed through in awe.

  What the…? thought Brayne as his eyes twitched, How did…? My God…! He sent her flying through all those buildings just like that!

  Damn it! thought Abe as he gritted his teeth in anger, He was so fast… I almost couldn't tell he had moved! What is this guy?

  "You bastard!" he yelled as he charged at Red with the intent of getting justice for his friend.

  He quickly brought his sword out of its scabbard, and yelled as he tried to slice Red with it. As soon as he made that attempt, however, Red jumped back to evade the attack. He pointed his index finger at him, and Abe screamed in extreme pain as Red struck him with a lightning bolt he shot out from his fingertip.

  "No!" screamed Brayne as he pointed his own index finger at Red.

  You bastard! he thought with gritted teeth, You're not the only one who can generate lightning! One of my arms may be useless at the moment, but that doesn't mean I can't use the other!

  He shot a bolt of lightning at Red from his own fingertip, but as soon as he did so, Red swerved to the side to evade the attack, and before he knew it, Red stood right in front of him.

  Sweat dripped down his face as he gasped and looked at his enemy in awe.

  Shit! he thought as he gritted his teeth, I may be able to manipulate lightning like him, but I can't move nearly as fast as him! Son of a-!

  Red interrupted Brayne's fearful thoughts by striking him in the stomach and chest with ten rapid punches, and proceeded to deliver a painfully powerful uppercut to his jaw directly afterwards, one so powerful, it drew blood from Brayne's mouth in an instant.

  Brayne grunted in unbelievable great pain as he was sent flying high into the air.

  Sadly, Red was not yet finished with him.

  He jumped into the air and towards Brayne immediately after he struck him, and used his leg to kick him to the ground so quickly and with such force, a crater was created as soon as Brayne struck the ground.

  Having recovered from Red's earlier attack, Abe gritted his teeth and grunted as he looked back at his fallen friend.

  "Brayne!" he yelled in fear.

  Unfortunatel
y, Abe really did not have the time to worry about anyone but himself.

  Brayne was out cold, and wherever she was, Rachel, whose body had reverted back to its original state, was trembling, covered in blood, and barely able to move.

  He was now the only one around who could face Red, but Red's earlier attack had left him a bit worse for wear, and sadly, that bit made all the difference.

  As soon as Red landed on the ground, he blurred right up to him, and Abe gasped as he watched his clenched fist come closer and closer to his face.

  Damn it!

  Red knocked him to the ground with a blow so powerful, it shook the ground itself.

  Dust and dirt flew into the air as a result, and when it cleared moments later, it revealed Abe to be barely conscious and completely unable to speak or move.

  Bandit… he thought as he slowly faded into unconsciousness.

  Red grunted as he cracked his neck and tiredly looked down at his fallen foe.

  Finally.

  Before he could make his next move, however, he felt great pain run through his body, and grunted as he clutched his chest, fell to his knees, and vomited a great deal of blood.

  He closed his eyes as he panted heavily.

  Shit…! he thought tiredly, Using up all that power always hurts my body…and drains me of my energy… But I suppose…it can't be helped… After all…using all that power was necessary…for me to achieve my goal… Anyway…it's not like there's anyone else around to pick a fight with me…

  "You bastard!" he heard a voice yell out in fury.

  He looked in the direction of the voice, and his eyes widened in shock when he saw a clenched, ice-covered fist head straight for his face.

  Shit! he thought, agitated, Not… Not him!

  He yelled when the fist struck him in the nose with massive force, and yelled as he was sent flying thirty yards away and into the side of a building.

  The possessor of the powerful fist gasped when he realized just who he had hit, and his eyes widened in surprise as his mind processed the information.

  "N… No way…" he said in utter disbelief of who he saw.

  Red groaned in pain as he held his nose. He was not bleeding, but the pain he felt was excruciating nonetheless. He looked up at the possessor of the fist with great anger as he slowly stood up.

  No way… thought his new enemy as he looked at him, It can't be…

  He was still in complete shock, but as the reality of the situation sunk in, he gritted his teeth as he closed his eyes in complete and utter fury.

  "Crim…son…" he said as he opened his eyes and looked at his opponent with inconceivable anger.

  Red simply grunted as he looked at his opponent.

  "I was hoping you had died in my initial attack on the city," he said as he removed his hand from his nose, "but it seems…that was too much to hope for. It looks like the rumors are true. It's a shame, though. I was hoping I would not have to fight my own brother…but…if you intend to get in my way, then I suppose…it can't be helped... It has been so long since I've seen you, and I must say…you have become…quite powerful…"

  "…Bandit…"

  The possessor of the icy fist, Bandit Lane, was practically steaming as he faced his newest foe, his deadliest adversary, and the brother he once loved and cared for.

  Blood Souls

  May 11, 1839

  In the middle of one of the Ice Lands' four forests, a young Bandit Blood grunted as he struggled to perform a push-up. This was not his first push-up, however. Rather, it was the nineteenth one he was trying to perform. He gritted his teeth and sweated as he tried his best to push himself up, but he was so tired after having done eighteen push-ups in a row. It seemed like he truly did not have the strength to perform any more of the exercise.

  Unfortunately for him, his older brother, Red Blood, had no intention of allowing him to give up.

  "Come on, Bandit!" he asserted, "What are you doing?Push up!"

  Bandit groaned in pain as his brother crossed his arms and looked at him fiercely.

  "You've already managed to do eighteen of those! Don't tell me you can't do one more!"

  "I…" began Bandit as his sweat dripped from his chin, "I…can't…"

  "What?" asked Red aggressively, "You can't do anymore?"

  Bandit closed his eyes as he shook his head, and Red threw his hands up in exasperation and disbelief.

  "Wow!" he exclaimed, "You have no strength and no determination! A little girl could beat you up!"

  Hurt by his older brother's words, Bandit sniffed as slight tears filled his eyes.

  "I'm trying, Crim, but…but…!"

  "But what?" asked Red impatiently.

  He watched as his little brother dropped to the ground in exhaustion, and sighed as he shook his head in disappointment. He would have said some harsh remark about his brother's lack of ability, but before he could, he heard his brother sniffle in sadness.

  "I'm…sorry, Red…!" his brother sobbed, "I… I can't…! I can't…do it!"

  Upon hearing his brother's broken voice, Red looked at his brother with guilt and shame, for he realized he had been too hard on him. He sighed as he knelt down and put his hand on his brother's shoulder.

  "Don't cry, Car…" he said with a soft tone of voice, "Hey… Look at me… Look at me, Bandit…"

  Still crying, Bandit sniffled as he raised his head and looked at his brother with tears streaming down his face.

  Upon seeing his brother's face, Red slowly picked him up, and gave him a firm embrace. His little brother gasped in surprise, for he was not used to his big brother showing him such affection.

  "Listen, Car…" began Red, "Yesterday, you were beaten up by a bully at school… You remember that, don't you?"

  Bandit did remember that, and he buried his face in his brother's shirt as his brother continued to speak.

  "I'm sorry…" said Red, "I know I'm being hard on you…but…I want you to become strong… I want you to become capable of protecting yourself… That's why I'm pushing you so hard… So you can grow strong enough to keep those bullies from hurting you."

  Bandit sniffled once more, and wiped his runny nose on his brother's shirt, to his brother's dismay.

  Gross… thought Red as he pulled Bandit's head from his shirt.

  He looked Bandit right in his eyes and, despite his irritation at Bandit rubbing his nasal mucus on his favorite shirt, he looked at his brother tenderly as he spoke.

  "I love you," he said softly, "I know it may not seem like it all the time, but…I do love you… I will always be there for you…and I will do anything…to protect you, Car, but…I want you to be strong enough to protect yourself when I'm not around… That's why I push so hard… Do you understand?"

  Bandit nodded his head, and Red wiped his little brother's tears away as he continued to speak.

  "So what do you say, Car? Will let you me help you be strong?"

  "Yes…" said Bandit as he nodded his head.

  Good, thought Red as he sighed, Now I can make him strong enough to protect himself from anything that comes his way…

  August 15, 1854

  Fifteen years later, Bandit Lane took a deep breath as he looked at his brother with a mixture of anger and hurt.

  He balled up his fists as he remembered how Red had helped him become strong enough to defend himself when they were young, and gritted his teeth and shook his head as he remembered all that Red had done for him.

  "So…you're the one responsible for all this?" asked Bandit bitterly as he looked at his familial opponent.

  Red remained silent as he looked at his brother indifferently, and Bandit looked at him sternly as he shook his head once more.

  "Where…have you been all this time?" he asked with slight irritation.

  Red closed his eyes and grunted before he responded.

  "That…is none of your concer-."

  "Don't you dare tell me it's none of my concern!" shouted Bandit, enraged by Red's indifference, "I am
your brother! You can pull that crap on everyone else, but you will not pull it on me, so…where have you been all these years?"

  Red looked at him in slight surprise, for he had not expected Bandit to blow up like that, but after a moment, he regained his composure, and looked at his little brother with slight compassion, for he understood the main reason Bandit was so upset.

  "You're probably worried about Scarlet," he said, "Do not worry… She is fine. After…what happened…I decided to…leave this place with her. After what happened…I…didn't know what else to do… I was distraught and confused, so I decided to travel around the world in search of enlightenment, and since neither you nor our…parents…were around to take care of her, I took Scarlet with me. There isn't much for me to tell you, really. After spending quite some time travelling the world, I eventually obtained the enlightenment I had set out to find, and once I did, I sought out a number of allies to aid me in achieving my new life goal, and returned…here."