Although Feyd and Ray tried to avoid combat stray bullets and attacks managed to harm them during the battle.
They knew that time was running out, and that the people in the next room were the real deal, unlike the cannon fodder they were fighting before.
They got some information from a few surviving bandits. Both the captain and the vice-captain were stationed in the next freight where the vehicles for escape were.
They had left the people in this freight to fight the escaping slaves, without them knowing they were being used to clear out the number of slaves and also were meant to die, since these bandits were frequently disobeying the captain.
A few of the captains men were stationed in the back to slip out in the heat of battle and report the situation back to him. Unfortunately for them Ray had used a bit of his shadows to bind the door shut preventing escape.
Ray suggested jumping off the train but Feyd wasn't sure if the two could survive the landing, although he was definitely sure the tribesmen would not survive.
He told Ray that they could attempt to escape if things weren't looking good, but he atleast wanted to try helping the slaves escape in this final push.
Ray knew he couldn't persuade Feyd so he relented and prepared to breach the freight.
Ragnar's people, even the ones who couldn't fight, were raring to go. They got ready, bandaging wounds and reloading their weapons.
Even the non-combatants and children raised weapons, staying in the back to provide back up incase they needed help.
Meanwhile on the other side the bandit captain and his people discussed plans.
"...There aren't many tranquilizers left, so we'll have to be precise with this. Then after capturing those two manipulator elves we can score a big deal with those people "
"Only three chances to hit them, but the odds are in our facour sir!"
Suddenly the captain slammed his fist onto the table.
"You bastard! It's all your fault we have so little left!"
He pointed his finger at the vice-captain who gritted his teeth, resentment flaring up in his eyes.
He quickly calmed his emotions down before obediently nodding his head.
"I'm sorry captain... But it's all those three's fault for stealing it while I was in the toilet! I bet they were the ones who gave me food poisoning too!"
He decided to push all the blame to someone else, thinking they were most likely death.
"Tsk! If they aren't dead already I'll make them wish they were!"
The captain then started shouting orders to his people.
"Make sure everyone is in position! Have them check their mags, and ready their aims!
You three get ready with the tranquilizers! Move the vehicles to form cover!
And you–!"
He then pointed a finger his vice-captain.
"–Make sure those two don't get away! The other slaves aren't even worth a fraction of those elves. If they escape, you won't like what happens!"
He then turned to leave the room, making his away to his room.
After entering he opened a hidden safe where a small stack of bottles were kept. Taking one out he downed a pill with a bitter expression.
"This fucking illness is getting worse and worse by the day..."
Outside the vice-captain looked towards his captain's room with a ruthless expression.
'Heh, you won't survive long bastard. I swapped out your medicine for duds... It won't be long till I take over this place!'
He then made his way behind a bike, placing a rifle over it and aiming precisely at the door.
He then began ordering the bandits to make adjustments, his frustrations melting away as he did so.
'All the money from these slaves will enter my coffers soon enough'
A small grin made its way onto his face.
...
Feyd and Ray, with bandages wrapping around portions of their body, made their way in front of the door.
Unlike last time there were no bandits attempting to break in, and the view inside was almost completely dark.
Ray concluded that they had most likely shut their windows and closed the blinds for a surprise attack.
They decided that they would move forwards with Ragnar carrying a large metal table as a cover for both Feyd and Ray.
Feyd would then send sparks of flames inside, and Ray would then take the opportunity to use the shadows created by these flames to sense the enemy positions and launch an attack!
Ray needed the flames since he didn't control darkness, he controlled shadows.
In a completely or almost completely enclosed location like the freight over, the abscense of light transitioned from 'shadows' to 'darkness'.
Whereas shadows could exist only in the presence of light, darkness could only exist in the abscence of light.
Ray would then conjure a wall of darkness with the last bits of his energy, hopefully buying enough time so that all the warriors positioned themselves inside by the time the wall dissapears.
"Alright let's do this!"
Feyd said as he pulls the door open and Ragnar pushes a table through.
They both positioned themselves behind Ragnar as they slowly moved forward.
Feyd circulated his energy within himself, collecting them inside his finger tips.
Ray closed his eyes, focused his mind, and gathered his energy around himself, ready to spread it and take over the shadows produced.
They quietly inched forward until they moved enough for Feyd's finger tips to slip in between the table and the open door.
The door was already fully open, with the door itself hugging the wall to the right providing no cover whatsoever.
Small fire balls formed on Feyd's fingertips which immediately alerted the bandits to start firing!
The fire balls launched haphazardly, with no intent to hit an individual, yet one of them flew past bandits and vehicles and fell behind a bike, creating a small explosion as a rifle was scattered away and a hideous voice shrieked.
Ray used the shadows created by the light from the constant gun fire and fire balls to sense the several dozen or so bandits inside the freight.
A few flanked either side of the door, yet most were behind vehicles or other objects firing in a frenzy.
Many shadow spikes burst through the floor before the flames dissapeared, piercing the bandits flanking the door and the one's close to them.
Immediately after all the shadows came together to form a large wall dividing the freight before the flames dissapeared.
Ragnar then threw the brutally damaged table away as he signaled to his people to rush inside.
Feyd and Ray both huddled towards the right corner.
"There are atleast 40 more on the other side, and maybe even more in the other freights. It's going to be a though fight"
Feyd nodded, pulling up the blinds as light peered inside the freight.
"I know what you're gonna say. I should have enough energy left to blow this window up if worse comes to shove"
Ray nods as he turns to look at the tribesmen pouring into the room with a grim expression.
"Altough I don't have much hope I do wish atleast some survive and escape"
Feyd also looks at them before taking out his blade.
"Yeah. Me too"
Eventually after they all positioned themselves and brought in cover the shadow wall could not take anymore damage, dissapearing into the air.
A dozen or so bandits were in the middle of reloading, caught off guard that the wall was gone so abruptly.
Ray had already informed the slaves in advance of the walls destruction so they could capitalize on a small surprise attack.
A volley of bullets shot from their side before a retaliation came from the bandits' side.
Both sides immediately starting losing people.
After a while of both sides firing they heard clicks coming from the bandits' side.
Ragnar and his people immediately knew what to do as they launched large objects towards the bandits!
They then rushed forward along with the flying objects using them as cover and distraction!
Feyd and Ray also ran forward, brandishing a long sword and a rapier each.
Ragnar and his warriors were more adept at close ranged fighting, which could be evidently seen as they began thrashing the bandits and the freight.
The objects had broken their formation, knocking people over, causing them to move away, pushing cover and vehicles, and damaging them!
Ragnar grabbed a bandit, slammed his head into a wall denting it before throwing him at another bandit.
Feyd blitzed forward, slicing thrice, taking down two bandits at once. He then engaged with two more bandits.
Ray dashed steadily while throwing nearby objects at bandits, keeping them occupied before he stabbed them with his rapier.
The other warriors ran past them as they attacked the other bandits, the few in the front taking multiple Gunshots before going down buying time for their brothers to attack the bandits who still had bullets.
A bandit noticing Feyd and Ray's performance immediately signaled the others to aim at them while the vice captain turned his rifle towards Ragnar.
With a series of gun shots Feyd and Ray were both injured before each took a few melee attacks by bandits.
Feyd managed to dodge two bullets in the nick of time before a third one hit him in his right shoulder, the bandits he was fighting slicing his waist and right arm.
Ray managed to dodge three gun shots, and a stab from the bandit he was fighting, but unfortunately an excruciating headache followed giving his attackers the chance to hit him with a bullet in his chest and three blade wounds.
Ragnar was blasted back by the rifle shot which tore through his right shoulder completely crippling it.
They all fell back before more warriors took their place.
A grim look appeared on each of their faces as they all grimaced at once, with Ray clutching his head and Ragnar releasing a sharp wail in pain.
The non-combatants attempted to help, shooting a small spray of bullets at the bandits, but a few managed to hit their allies causing them to wince in pain and stagger.
Ray attempted to move Feyd back towards cover, thinking it was time to leave, before noticing three men in the corner of the freight aiming their weapons at them.
A strange feeling welled up from within him as he brought his rapier up, striking the air infront of his.
As he did so the three men each shot a special tranquilizer dart towards Feyd and Ray.
Ray managed to strike one away, but a tranquilizer hit them both as a wave of weakness washed over them.
Ray staggered back, propping himself by the window and bracing for the expected assault of the tranquilizer and headache.
Feyd almost fell to the floor yet managed to hold on, hiding himself behind cover contemplating escape.
The battle was growing more and more disadvantageous for them, with their dwindling combatants and the enemies soon to come reinforcements.
Although he wasn't sure why only a dozen or so bandits had come to help he couldn't be bothered to think as a surge of sleepiness came from within him.
He gathered his last remaining specks of energy, producing more and more untill he drained himself dry, before looking towards the window.
He knew a simple Blast Burn would allow both him and Ray to escape, yet as he was about to do so he felt as though it was wrong.
He slowly turned his head towards the bloody battle being fought by the tribesmen.
Although he hadn't known them for long, nor did he feel any particular comraderie with them, he felt as though abandoning them would be wrong.
He thought about the few memories of his past life he had, mainly the ones right before his death.
In a destroyed battlefield a Feyd from the past had barely survived a battle against a powerful foe, almost dying numerous times during the battle, and was on the verge of death with his lifeforce quickly draining away.
Although he couldn't remember the battle he could remember what the him from the past was feeling at that moment.
Regret, despair, weakness, pain and loss. Yet, also happiness.
He was glad he could die a hero, following his creed of justice and doing the right thing.
Feyd felt leaving right now would be doing injustice to the great deeds his previous self had done, whatever glory he had built up for himself.
At that moment a slight resolve burned in his eyes as he focused his now sharp gaze onto the enemy bandits.
Enemy positions clear, threat level assessed, and his own power calculated, he raised his hands forwards before shouting to his allies to duck down.
Ray was shocked out of his stupor as he asked Feyd with a tense tone.
"What are you trying!?"
Feyd grimaced from the pain pulsating from his wounds but managed to squeeze out a reply past the tranquilizer's effect.
"I... I have a plan! Just help me and we can escape... With these people!"
Multiple medium sized fire bolts launched out, targeting the bandits.
Two flew towards the vice captain who attempted to roll out of the way but his legs were caught in the attack.
The small explosions caused the train to start shaking as objects and people were blown away.
Although a few slower warriors were caught in the attacks most had managed to escape in time.
Feyd's attack had managed to blow the door leading to the freight over off its hinged and create a hole in the floor.
Pointing at the hole Feyd shouted, "Ray! Try using the last bits of your shadows to unbind the two freights together!"
Ray looked towards the hole, his vision blurring slightly. With a somewhat slurred voice he spoke.
"I... I'm not sure how to do that! I don't know anything about trains"
Feyd felt the weakness from draining his body and the tranquilizer's effects start seemingly combining their efforts into one, causing him to fall to one knee.
"Such launched a few attacks at the thing connecting both the freights!"
Ray gritted his teeth before nodded slowly, lifting both of his hands infront of him and extending his influence over shadows outward.
Using the last drops of energy inside him he materialized three spikes of shadows before launching them through the freights!
A crackling and tearing sound came as the spiraling, drill-like spikes pierced the metal!
But as Ray was controlling the spikes an insidious will crept up from within him and changed the shadows slightly, influencing them.
The shadows somehow twisted both freights together, amalgamation the walls and everything between the gap of both freights into a mass of metal.
The shadows dissolved like ink as Ray slumped to the floor, clutching his terribly aching head.
"Tch... I'm sorry I failed Feyd, I couldn't separate the two freights..."
Feyd shook his head and smacked his face to drive away the drowsiness.
"Well it's not all bad news. No more reinforcements will come in, which was the main reason why I wanted... Wanted to separate the freights!"
He called a few of the kids over, pointing at the gates on the side of the freight.
"Open those doors! There should be a way to do so!"
He then turned towards Ragnar who was being bandaged and being medically attended to.
"We will have to try escaping now! Get inside a few vehicles and drive off!"
Ragnar nodded weakly before looking towards the few remaining warriors of his.
A sorrowful expression appeared on his face for just a moment before he resolutely got up with a now solemn face.
He called all the non-combatants over onto the remaining working vehicles.
The remaining tribesmen, not including the ones who were fighting, managed to squeeze inside two vehicles.
A few kids manged to open the gates as wind blasted inside.
One of the few remaining warriors turned to look at Feyd and Ray before grabbing a bike next him and a man with burnt legs knocked unconscious on the floor and throwing it towards them.
It clattered on the floor as Feyd's eyes locked onto the object skittering towards him before snapping up towards the warrior to threw it to him.
He gave Feyd a rigid nod, his eyes filled with respect and gratitude, as he turned back to continue fighting the bandits and occupy their attention.
All the bandist attempted to break past the few remaining warriors yet the tribesmen held strong, willingly taking attacks to push the bandits back!
Feyd had a worried and distressed expression as he fit onto the bike, placing the near unconscious Ray onto the back.
He gave a brief glance at Ragnar who was touched by the sacrifice of his fellow warriors.
The non-combatants, including children, the elderly, women and injured, all had tears streaming down their faces as they their red eyes stared at their last comrades about to be slain.
Gritting his teeth Ragnar signaled the driver of the other vehicle to drive out of the freight as the train had already slowed down to half its previous speed.
He then nodded at his men with the utmost respect, lifting his left arm to the air and pointing two fingers towards them in some kind of gesture.
He the moved his fingers towards Feyd and Day before nodding at them too then pressed his foot down hard onto the peddle, driving towards the same gate the other vehicle went through.
Feyd looked at the freight with a solemn expression. The escaping tribesmen, the last warriors on the verge of death, and the dozen or so bandits remaining ready come after him.
The scene seared itself into his mind as he started the bike.
He had no experience on driving a bike, having only learned how it worked from a biker weeks ago during his travels.
He twisted the handle before shooting forward, accelerating.
He almost hit the edge of the gate as he launched out of the freight, moving almost parallel to it but with a slight difference in angle.
Ray made sure to hold them both tight onto the bike with his last psychic powers he recovered before the headache grew stronger.
Feyd somehow steadied the bike before turning it slowly, maneuvering away from the train.
As the train slowed down the bike sped up.
The bandits inside the freight looked out, frustration maring their faces.
But it looked as though they weren't ready to give up just yet as the last working vehicle flew out of the gate, four bandits inside, and drove towards Feyd and Ray.
"There... Car after us..."
Ray barely slurred out as he turned his body around to face to the car.
Ray looked at one of the mirrors conveniently placed to the side of the bike on either side.
The car was quickly catching up, the driver much more experienced than Feyd.
Feyd narrowed his eyes as he accelerated forward, shifting his body while speaking to Ray.
"There are some random objects I looted from the previous freight. Throw those!"
Feyd barely noticed Ray nod as his bag was slipped off of him.
The bandits had taken out their guns, one even licking the chamber of his revolved as he spun it with his tongue before shooting them.
Feyd was moving his bike unpredictably, almost knocking both himself and Ray off the bike yet they managed to dodge the first round of bullets.
Ray started chucking random objects at the enemies.
An axe, a sword, a helmet, a cod piece, a shield... a single gauntlet.
The bandit driving attempted to dodge the objects yet Ray had somehow thrown the them with such precision even in his near unconscious state that each object that came after the previous blocked the escape route for the car!
Multiple dull thuds rang out from behind them as the car was dented by Ray's attacks.
The roar of glass shattering came as the shards lacerated and pierced the bandits.
A metal cod piece manages to smack a bandit in the passenger seat knocking him out!
The scar swerved left and right for a few moments before stabilizing.
Feyd looked around to see a slight slope infront towards his right that became steeper the further up he looked.
The two bandits in the back of the car lifted their bodies through the windows and aimed at them.
One of the bandits, with a slightly crazed expression, again spun the revolver in his hand with his tongue before firing.
Feyd felt a slight disgust well up within him seeing that.
Though his body was still weak and his mind drowsy the adrenaline flowing through him managed to keep him up.
Ray on the other hand was barely hanging on, having spent almost all his stamina on throwing those objects.
He tried looked for more objects to throw from inside the bag but found it empty.
The two bandits began to fire their shots as Feyd started swerving.
The bullets clinked against the metal of the bike. Dust flew up from the bullets that hit the ground.
One of the bullets managed to pierce somewhere inside of the bike, as Feyd noticed he could no longer accelerate the bike.
He realized the car would catch up soon, so he sharply turned to the right, trying a last ditch maneuver to climb up that hill and escape somehow.
Whatever was ahead of the hill would be his problem to deal with, only if he managed to survive the current hurdle.
The turn managed to dodge more of the bullets as the two bandits reloadEd their weapons once more.
Ray slumped slightly lower as he tried to stop himself from falling off the bike or going unconscious.
The bandit licked his barrel once more, spinning it with his tongue before shooting at the two.
Feyd had just begun going up the slope when they began their third volley of shots.
More hit the bike or the ground as Feyd maneuvered in a zig-zag motion.
The final bullet in the strange bandit's revolver shot out.
"Uhk–!"
Ray's unconscious body began to fall off the bike.