Days passed and the effort to explore was underway. Alexander was to accompany the Ghost into the ruins of Chicago, both aware of some of the dangers they might find there. As the old Bronco II left town heading East on I-80, they didn't think of the things to come...
Hours later, The Ghost and Alexander arrive on the Outskirts of Chicago.
"Stay with the truck, stay hidden, keep the radio on you. If anything goes south, I'll need you to get me out of there."
"Yes sir."
The Ghost, equip with a 15 pound sledgehammer, his sword and a few hidden weapons left the Bronco II and Alexander, wandering into the city. The American Flag gator neck/face shield, concealed his identity, as he marched deeper into the city.
After walking for about 15 minutes, the Ghost found himself surrounded by raiders, murderers, thieves, and more. Before he could make a move, he was unconscious hitting the floor. They dragged the Ghost into their palace...Soldier Field.
Waking up, he was chained and on his knees, face still covered by his face shield, and his hidden weapons still tucked away in the coveralls.
"Welcome to Soldier Field bitch!"
"Fuck up, now, who sent you here?" Asked the Raider Boss
"I sent me." Replied the Ghost.
"Well, me, do you have a name?"
"I am The Ghost of Ottawa."
"Well Ghost, today's your lucky day. You'll be fighting in the arena, competing for not only your freedom, but you'll also be competing for the hand of a lovely maiden prisoner." Grinned the Boss, laughing as he motioned his men to take him to the pit.
The Ghost was lead through the inner workings of the old football stadium, seeing other fighters and more. They passed into a room where they locked the door behind him. Inside were his weapons that they'd taken. His Sledgehammer, Sword, and his Revolver. Once he'd reequip himself, he dipped his fingers in the blood war paint. Dawning the mark of the Ghost, four scratch makes running across his face, then pulled his face shield back up and knocked on the door.
The Raiders lead him and the others to the opening where they were announcing the fighters. As the announcer ran down the list and the line got shorter, The Ghost cleared his mind, letting the demon inside him awaken.
"And now for our finally fighter, he's known a shadow, the reason you don't fuck with the small cities of Illinois, give it up for our newest fighter, THE GHOST OF OTTAWA!"
As he marched onto the field, he gripped onto the sledgehammer as the crowd went wild, they'd never seen anyone like him. Although he was calm the crowd could sense he was filled with bloodlust, an unquenchable rage, demanding that blood be spilled.
"Fighters! If you want your freedom...DON'T DIE!!! However, that's not all you're competing for! Lower the cage!
A cage is lowered from the ceiling revealing the maiden, she had jet black hair, tattered clothes, but her face lit up when she saw him.
The Ghost stared up at her, knowing full well, now he had no choice but to win.
The two knew each other, and if things had been different back then....
"Looks like the maiden has her eyes set on the newcomer entering the ring! Boss Leonido! Count us down!"
The Boss stood up high above the crowd and counted: 3...2..1...FIGHT!"
As the word rang out, the fighter went to work making short work of the weaker ones. In the first few minutes Ghost stacked up a mound of bodies, the Stainless Steel Sledgehammer was now covered in crimson red blood, and the mound was only growing, and with the way she looked at him, they made him first target.
The Ghost splattered brains and spilled blood using the Sledgehammer, and the Sword. The Maiden gripped the cage bars as she watched the fight. He swung the sledge, cleaving another fighters head off his shoulder, now rushing the last eight. They were all preoccupied with another opponent, some begged for mercy before dying, others backed away in fear as the Ghost made his way up to them. Heads splattered and limbs fell as he made his move.
Now it was down to the final four, and the Ghost knew what must be done. He made the first move launching a hidden screwdriver, converted into a knife into one fighters throat, then stabbing the next one, dropping both of them. "Final two, do or die."
"You fight well for an outsider."
"Sorry, but this will be your last fight."
"Tell me, why is she so special to you?"
"She's someone I know."
"I see, too bad that reunion will never come to pass Ghost."
"Good luck with that, your freedom is as good as gone."
"Yes, my freedom, I will take my freedom and take that sweet piece of a..."
Before the last fighter could finished his statement, the Ghost cleaved his head off his body, grabbed it and held it up to the Boss. The crowd went wild, as the newcomer had defeated everyone with ease.
Leonido meet him on the battlefield.
"Congratulations, however, we can only offer you one of the two options, Freedom, or the girl."
The Ghost glared at him, then pointed to the cage. As it was lowered, he managed to get the maiden out. She held him, but his work was not complete.
"You seem to think I took her over my freedom, but the thing is, there's still one other fighter on this field. Leonido."
Leonido looked at him, The Ghost was defending the girl, and ready to fight him. Leonido laughed as the crowd booed him.
"You'd really fight me in order to get your freedom as well? If the people agreed, we fight to the death. You win, you and the girl get freedom, I win, I'll kill you, but not before you watch me destroy her."
The Ghost nodded, and the crowd cheered.
Leonido charged, then was met by a scream and the swift blow from The Ghost's sledgehammer, straight to the chest. The Ghost wasted no time, he stabbing Leonido in the arm, slashed opened his legs, and shattered his knees. The Ghost loaded a single round into the revolver and pointed it at him.
"Give me a reason why I shouldn't kill you?"
"You'll never leave this city alive."
"I'll take those odds." Replied the Ghost send the round through the Raider Bosses head. Grabbing the maiden, he left the arena.