Bulat watched as Bane grabbed a long, heavy firearm from a dusty shelf near the back of the room.
The obsidian shotgun was robust, with a polished barrel and a sturdy wooden stock, built for close-range power and impact.
Its magazine could hold up to six shells, designed to deliver a blast of pellets that could rip through a crowd with brutal efficiency.
Bane thoroughly inspected the firearm, assessing its mechanical integrity, before extracting a set of green-coated cartridges and loading them one by one.
Bulat raised an eyebrow as he watched. "Where did you find this thing? And…What's with the green coating?"
Bane's eyes still on his task answered, "Picked this beauty up in the local armoury down in the cellar while you were out cold. As for the shells…" he glanced up, holding one between his fingers, "I infused them with my poison. Figured I'd give imperials a bit more to worry about." He tucked a few more green shells into his pocket, making sure he had enough spare rounds.
"Let's go." Once he was ready, Bane moved to Bulat's side, helping him struggle to his feet. With Bane's support, they made their way outside, where a horse stood waiting, its mane blowing gently in the breeze.
Beside it stood an unusual creature, its tall and dull-eyed, resembling a gigantic bird with a flat beak. Its feathers were a muted grey, almost dusty, and its eyes held a lazy, uninterested gaze.
Known for their slow speed and lethargic nature, these creatures were often called "slug runners" for their lack of energy and tendency to stop and rest every few yards.
Bulat eyed the creature with confusion. "You sure you don't want the horse?"
Bane shook his head. "I've got my own ways." He steadied Bulat as the injured man painfully climbed onto the horse, wincing as he adjusted himself in the saddle.
Bulat glanced down, noticing Bane's bandaged, mummified face, and the exhaustion still visible in his movements. "You haven't recovered, have you?"
"...." Bane's eyes remained fixed ahead, his expression unreadable. He didn't answer.
Bulat's voice softened, the concern evident. ".....Are you serious about this?"
Bane paused, glancing at Bulat, a sharp edge in his voice. "....Yeah. I am. You get one request, remember? Don't waste your breath trying to talk me out of it, and even if you stay, you'll just be dead weight, anyway." His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.
Bulat studied him, a flicker of frustration mixed with amusement. "Always the blunt edge, huh?" He managed a faint, weary smile, but his shoulders sagged as he resigned himself.
"Good luck," he said simply, sparing no more words. He pulled the reins, the horse moving forward, following the direction the small snake in his hand indicated.
As he departed into the distance, Bulat's jaw clenched as he bit his lip, causing bleeding as his eyes reddened. The burden of powerlessness and frustration pressed heavily upon him.
—-
As Bane witnessed Bulat receding from view, he released a quiet sigh and then proceeded to examine his gear.
Grenades strapped securely along his belt. Shotgun hanging from his shoulder which was fully loaded with his poisoned shells. And lastly tucked into his waistband was a revolver, ready for the worst.
"Alright, Time to kick some ass," he muttered to himself. "...Or get mine kicked instead."
He turned his attention to the sluggish creature standing beside him. The beast was tall and grey, feathers ruffled and drooping as it looked off with dull, unfocused eyes.
Slug Runners were a common sight in the Empire's capital, chosen more for convenience than speed. They didn't eat much, were easy to tame, and posed no threat, a perfect creature for the everyday transport needs of the citizens.
But as ineffective as they usually were in a fight, Bane had a way of making this one run like a wild beast on steroids.
"No hard feelings, buddy," he murmured as he mounted the sluggish beast, adjusting his grip on the reins.
Swishh!!
With a quick flick of his wrist, he summoned his gauntlet, the claws glowing from a translucent shimmer to a vivid purple.
Stab
He drove the claws deep into the beast's back, injecting it with a concentrated cocktail, a mix of adrenaline and aggression-inducing poison that flooded the slug runner's system.
"Kiiiiikkkkk!!!!" the beast shrieked, its eyes dilating as a surge of raw energy took hold, transforming it from a lazy creature to a frenzied blur of speed.
The slug runner reared, letting out a piercing scream, then shot forward, its legs pumping with unnatural force.
"Fuck!" Bane clutched the reins tightly, barely holding on as the beast surged ahead, a living bullet racing through the narrow streets of the pleasure district.
Buildings, lanterns, and street signs blurred past, the wind howling in his ears as the slug runner tore through the narrow pathways, charging forward with reckless abandon.
The ground shook beneath its pounding feet, sending loose cobblestones and debris scattering in its wake.
The creature's frantic energy was uncontrollable, ploughing through anything in its path, barrels, carts.
Bane's mind locked onto controlling the beast as they hurtled toward their destination. He couldn't take in the details of the district, couldn't see the chaos in their wake.
His entire world narrowed down to the sound of pounding hooves and the blood-pumping intensity of the creature beneath him.
The slug runner crashed through the last street, dust and debris swirling as they approached the rundown part of town, where narrow pathways twisted like a maze.
Ahead, Bane spotted a platoon of around two hundred Imperial soldiers, heavily armoured and standing guard around the entrance to an underground sewer.
This was the route Sheele had used to escape.
Rifles and bayonets glinted under the dim light, a solid, impenetrable line of soldiers poised to strike.
"So, they're already here," Bane muttered, his voice barely audible over the creature's shrieks. Without slowing down, he urged the slug runner forward, gripping the shotgun as he saw the first of the soldiers begin to raise their weapons.
Pew! Pew! Pew!
A crackle of gunfire split the air. Bullets tore through the air, pelting the slug runner with brutality.
"Kiiiiihkkkk!!!" The creature's frantic shrieks grew louder as bullets punched through its hide, purple blood spraying from the wounds, splattering across the ground.
A few bullets even grazed Bane's shoulders, tearing through his clothes and biting into his skin, but he gritted his teeth and held on, ignoring the pain.
With a fluid motion, he pulled a grenade from his belt, pried open the creature's jaws, and shoved the explosive down its throat.
"Time for you to take centre stage," he muttered, then hauled himself up to a standing position on the creature's back.
The slug runner barreled forward, unrestrained and crazed, hurtling straight into the line of soldiers.
At the last possible second, Bane jumped, flipping through the air as he aimed his shotgun downward, pulling the trigger just as the creature crashed into the soldiers.
BOOOMMM!!!!
The slug runner's head exploded in a spray of purple blood and splintered bone as Bane's shot hit its mark, igniting the grenade in its stomach.
The beast erupted in a deafening blast, the shockwave sending soldiers sprawling, shields and armour clattering against the cobblestones.
Blood and viscera sprayed across the platoon, coating armour and faces alike in the beast's toxic blood.
For a heartbeat, there was silence, a stunned pause as soldiers stumbled back, trying to regain their footing.
"Arghhhh!!!" But then the screams began. The soldiers nearest the blast began to writhe, clawing at their skin as the purple blood sizzled and burned, eating through their armour with terrifying speed.
"What is happening!!!!" The poison in the blood seeped through cracks and joints, melting flesh and muscle beneath the heavy metal plates.
Ten seconds stretched into an eternity as screams of agony filled the air, bodies dropping to the ground as the deadly concoction did its work.
Soldiers tried to pull away their armour, ripping off gauntlets and breastplates, but the poison clung to them, relentless.
"Nooo!!!! Save us!!!" Eyes wide with terror, some soldiers tried to retreat, but the wave of panic had already taken hold.
Bane landed on his feet a few yards away, steadying himself as he took in the carnage. His shotgun still in hand, he pumped the next shell into place with a sharp metallic clack, his expression hardened, focused.
Clack!
The surviving soldiers, those not caught in the initial blast, regrouped, levelling their guns and preparing to fire, but their faces were pale, shaken by the sight of their comrades writhing on the ground.
Undeterred, Bane raised his shotgun, his finger poised on the trigger as he met their eyes, a glint of amusement in his gaze.
He levelled his voice, low and dangerous, letting it carry over the cries of the wounded.
"Come on, then," he called out. "Let's finish this."
A/N: How was the chapter, fellas? Did you like it? If you did, drop a comment and show some love with power stones as we're already close to hitting one million views!
Also, for those who don't understand how Bane survived after Budo drowned him, Bane is a Hydra hybrid, which explains everything.
Budo has some knowledge about Bane's powers but didn't knew our guy could breathe underwater. So yeah, Bane put on a bit of an act for the general, showing just enough desperation without making it too obvious.