Murder Train

The village was burning and bodies were strewn about. Men in leather armor dragged women into huts by their hair. Men were tied by two leather straps to posts. A group of men stood over him and took turns hitting him. He was an older grizzled man with scars upon his chest and back. "So a veteran here living the simple life? What made you quit as a soldier?" The grizzled man had a glare that would kill staring back at the man hitting him.

"Doesn't matter why I gave up being a soldier. I served my realm with distinction. Can you say the same thing? Aren't the Murder Train made up of disgraced soldiers?" He looked around at the men and carnage. "Yeah you are a disgrace!" The man was grabbed by the mouth and pulled in close. "We took your weaklings down easy enough. War is life and killing you is our own personal war!" The old veteran yanked his head free from the man's grasp. "Murdering, raping, and killing of women and children. Real brave of you, but you failed to realize that everyone here was not weak" the straps then ripped off the post. As be yanked them free using all his chi left. His body began to glow red. His eyes were now crimson. He then threw a fist into the bandit's gut. He hunched over and vomited, the veteran stood erect and cracked his neck. With fast movement he took the sword from the bandit's belt. All the other bandits stood around him, weapons ready for him to make a move.

He looked about and began to drag the tip of the blade upon the ground letting the metal spark. The scraps across the rock seemed to create a tension as he made a circle looking at all the men before him. Then he attacked, taking down two with one swipe. He then thrusted his hand out creating a shock of red energy from it. With a loud boom the men flew back violently. He cut down more and more as they all came at him.

He moved with great skill and precision as he cut them all down. The gut punched bandit collected himself and unsheathed a dagger spinning it in his hands. He ran forward screaming at the veteran. He was then hit by red energy that came from the veteran's free hand. It then turned to threads and coiled around him covering him like a cocoon. The cocoon then sprang right around his body. His threaded coffin started to smoke and burn his body away.

The veteran made short work of all that came at him till he came upon a brute of a man that exited a hut, blood covering his bare chest. He was buckling his belt and he had a big ax resting on his shoulder. He had a large chain wrapped around his neck. It clinked as he walked. He was tall and tight and had purple eyes. They were cold and piercing as he had no expression on his face as he walked towards the veteran. His comrades gave him a wide berth as he walked towards his opponent slowly. He said nothing as he then ran at him. The veteran moved quickly and jumped away and threw a spell at the brute. The spell made a large red fist with spiked knuckles as he threw a punch. It was bigger than the big man. They impacted and the hand shattered from the axe of the bandit. The veteran was now exposed as the blade of the axe came swinging on him. He brought the sword up quickly and was able to soften the blow, but barely as his body felt like he was hit by a boulder. The blade of his weapon cracked. He spit blood and fell to his knees and was then kicked up into the air. He flew backwards hitting a wagon, crushing it with his body. He was now dazed and in a lot of pain. His ribs were definitely broken and his breathing was ragged.

He tried to rise but found his legs felt like jelly. He looked up at the brute coming towards him. 'I tried to save the town. I would have done better if I hadn't been caught off guard getting a head injury. Stupid fool. I've gotten soft in my old age' he rolled over on his stomach and pushed up getting to his feet. He straightened himself best he could. Spit blood on the ground and stood to face the man. "I die on my feet. Like a real soldier…" he gripped his sword and made ready to fight again. An axe came flying from behind him and the brute had to act quickly before he was killed. He blocked the attack. And looked behind the veteran. Smiling Demon was running at him and was coated in metal. He jumped, catching the axe and bringing it down on the bandit. The ground shook from the impact and the brute felt his body vibrate like a tremor.

His legs felt weakened and balance was off. Smiling then drove a metal fist his face bringing him down. Smiling without hesitation brought the axe down on his chest. Red Demon began attacking the other bandits with Sun Demon. They weaved through the enemy, easily catching them off guard and increasing their speed. Red Demon with one swipe of Havoc Flame he was able to take down three at a time. The bandits began to run away. He gave chase out running them and catching up cutting them down with a quick slash. He turned and saw two more running and in a flash of lightning threw two bolts at them. They became electrocuted and convulsed on the ground. 

Soon all bandits were dead with Sun killing the last of them with her spear. The veteran sat upon the ground and gripped his sword weary of the three strangers. Survivors, mostly women, came out of the huts. Some had blouses ripped and bruises upon their face and body. They looked scared and lost as they came closer with tears running down their faces. One woman in particular ran towards the veteran gripping him in a hug. His eyes were also tearing up as she held the woman tight, "I'm so sorry I wasn't able to help you sooner sweetheart" he said holding her. "It's okay I can see you tried your best to fight. I held strong like you taught me" the young woman began to examine his face and tear out rags to stop the bleeding on his head. "I'm more worried about you! Don't fret about my love" he told her. "Hush father," she demanded. He relented and let her treat him. Red, Smiling, and Sun approached the veteran who still gripped his sword. "Thanks for the help. You hear about taking the big score from them?" He was direct and cold with his accusations. 

"No, I ran into a woman fleeing with children on the way here. She was being pursued by three bandits from this company. We handled it and came here" Red looked about. "Who are they?" he approached one, kicking him over. Upon his back a sigil of a flaming skull with a train coming out of its mouth. "Murder Train. Disgraced and defected soldiers who pillage towns. They are outlaws, but the King does nothing about them" the veteran stood to his feet. He held his side and walked towards Red Demon. "Who are you? Clearly you're not from here and you look demonic with those horns?" Red nodded at him. "I am the King Slayer and these are my companions. Were the Red Cohort" Smiling looked at him in confusion as his eyes looked like slits. "You named us already? Does the name need work?" 

Red held the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "It's a simple name and this isn't the time to discuss it" Smiling shook head, "This is the exact time to discuss it! From on out it's going to catch on. Then what?" Red shook his head. "It's the name to deal with it" he walked towards the man. "You are?" he held out a hand. "Brick Vaughn is my name. I was once a soldier in the King's army before I was kicked out" he shook Red's hand. "You can call me Red Demon" Smiling grunted in frustration. "I am Smiling Demon" the big man stated, annoyed. He took a seat upon the fountain in the middle of the town. "I am Sun Demon" she approached the young woman offering her a elixir for healing, "For your injuries" the young woman looked taken aback and smiled.

 "Thank you, I am Serena Vaughn" she downed the elixir and her wounds began to heal rapidly. "So where is the rest of the Murder Train?" Brick then sat down on the fountain. "They are nomads. They could be anywhere in the desert, but rumors say they have a hidden base in the rock shaped like an anvil not far from here" he explained. Red nodded, "What direction?" he asked. "West" he then looked at his compass and started walking west. "Let me come with you," Brick asked. "You sure?" Red asked, locking eyes within. "Yes I need this please" Red pulled out an elixir and threw it to him. "Get what you need and be quick about it" Brick smirked and drank the elixir.