Deacon's log distraction seemed to be effective, as the cowboy managed to run past Bandanwicz and into the Major's office. It was there he looked around frantically before seeing the rifle on its pedestal. It didn't look any different from your standard bolt action rifle, but the wood it was constructed on gave off a distinctive gold shine within the grain that even Deacon couldn't miss. Wasting no time, he ran over to the gun and unhooked it from its plaque. As soon as the wood touched his palms, he felt a searing sizzle emanating from it that made him drop the rifle immediately.
"Yowch!" Deacon yelled as he blew on his hand dramatically. "Why is that thing so hot?" he asked out loud.
"I wouldn't even bother if I were you." Bandanawicz said as he spider-walked into the office, blocking off the only exit. "Goldenwood weapons choose their owners, and I doubt you're worthy."
"Oh, and you guys are?" Deacon asked.
"Someone here is." Bandanawicz replied. "But none of you are going to survive this, so it doesn't matter. It will reset and choose Moss once we get rid of you all."
Deacon could see out the office window into the main battle and see his side was struggling. Lee was focused on dodging Moss's attacks so she doesn't lose her only rifle, and the recruits, while they seemed to have more disciplined skill then the would-be rangers, it was clear their bullet proof bandanas were more than making up for it. Deacon knew that if anyone could wield this mysterious rifle, it was Lee, and he had to get it to her.
Deacon grabbed the rifle once more, trying to endure the scalding pain, and he rushed Bandanawicz, hoping to force his way through. Bandanawicz responded with a swarm of bandana tendrils that were impossible to dodge in such close quarters. Deacon was quickly tangled up and slammed back into the office, splitting the desk in two as he crashed into the wall.
"Where do you think you're going?" Bandanawicz taunted, his whips flailing chaotically. "I told you, you're all dying here!"
Deacon tried to make a rush for the window, but was met with the same problem as he was tied up by the bandanas and slammed back into place, unable to seize any ground.
Moss was having similar success against his opponent. Seeming to overpower Lee with every strike of his club, as she was unable to stand against it. Lee could only dodge and try to get some shots off but to no avail, as Moss was always quick enough to get his club up and deflect each shot.
Soon, Dwayne had finally returned back to the battlefield, this time with reinforcements, as Booker and the other Buffalo Soldiers joined the fray. Despite having no weapons, and being hungry, tired, and beaten, they still threw themselves into the battle. They tackled would be Rangers and restrained them, giving recruits the chance to either stab or shoot them dead. Others came in snatching their enemies' weapons away from them and then firing at them immediately. With the Buffalo Soldiers as backup, the tide started to turn against Moss and the outlaws.
"Must I do everything myself?" Moss asked with an exasperated sigh as he turned his back on Lee and rushed into the Buffalo soldiers. With one mighty swing, he managed to smash Private Bryce's head into a red mist. Causing the other Buffalo soldiers, including Lee, to cry out for him.
"Bryce!" She called out in anguish. She angrily grabbed her rifle and rushed over to Moss, cracking the stock against the back of his head, but the wood splintered on impact.
"Not bad." Moss said as he clutched his head wound, before pummeling Lee in the stomach with his fist and then grabbing her by the neck. He lifted her off the ground as his hand squeezed her throat, and she could only struggle for air. "But it's gonna take more than you got."
Deacon could hear all this from the office. The problem was that Bandanawicz had him locked down in here. With every attempt to escape the room, Deacon was just getting tossed around and injured more.
"Don't you know when to quit?" Bandanawicz asked, frustratedly. Normally, a person would've died from the beating Deacon was taking, but lo and behold, the kid was still standing.
"I can do this all day, banana man. Can you?" Deacon asked as he gave a smirk.
Bandanawicz growled angrily as sweat started to pour down his face. The venom from his snake-bite was coursing through his veins stronger and stronger the more he used his powers. He could feel the pain in his joints and the burning in his lungs begin to settle in. Knowing he needed to do this sooner rather than later, Bandanawicz pulled a flask out of his pockets and began chugging the whiskey inside.
Seeing an opening, Deacon grabbed the Goldenwood rifle one last time and clutched the wood into his chest. The searing pain burned him as he put all his strength into his legs and threw himself into the wall as hard as he could. With a loud crash, he smashed through the wooden cabin walls of the office over to the other side.
"Deacon." Lee struggled to yelp out. She mustered all her strength to swing her legs forward and kick Moss in the face, making him loosen his grip as she collapsed to the ground with an outstretched arm.
Before Deacon could toss the gun to her, a torrent of angry bandanas smashed through the hole he left and violently snatched him. Deacon was barely able to throw the gun in her general direction before he was dragged back to Bandanawicz.
Lee outstretched her arms. She could feel the longing coming from the gun. It was longing to be held, longing to be fired, by her. She was sure of it. Her eyes locked in on her prize and she forced herself up so she could catch it.
Moss had other plans. He intercepted the two and, with his club, swatted the gun well away from Lee's grasp.
Lee could only stare helplessly as the gun sailed through the air, farther and farther away, but she never let her arms down. Still she persisted to reach for it. She had to reach it. "Come back," she cried softly.
As if the rifle was listening to her, it stopped midair and flew right into her arms, like it was magnetically attracted to her. Surprising everyone, including Lee. As she handled the rifle, she could feel the gratitude emanating off the rifle like a warm pulse that comforted her, like it was happy to be back in her hands.
"She's its chosen one?" Moss asked angrily as he reeled his club back and swung it at Lee's head.
Lee grabbed her Goldenwood rifle and placed it in front of her to block it. Unlike the other times where the club smashed through her guard, this time the rifle stood firm as it deflected the club away. With this rifle in her hands she felt strong. She felt confident. She felt whole.
"What the?" Moss yelled frustratedly as he then began to swing his club wildly at Lee, who now was seemingly able to match his strikes with the rifle.
She deflected each blow and even managed to dish some heavy hits back. Each strike from the rifle smashed into Moss' body harder than he's ever been hit before.
Lee knew it was almost a matter of time before Moss adapted, so she had to end this right here. She focused on dodging rather than deflecting so she could load a shot into her rifle. Something Moss seemed determined to not let happen. He desperately swung his club back and forth, trying to not give Lee any space. With one final spin, he unleashed a powerful swing, trying to end her once and for all. Lee however, had loaded her bullet into her gun, then in a split second, jumped over the swing. Midair, she aimed her Goldenwood rifle at Moss' head.
Krakoom!
The sound of her rifle crackled through the air like a deafening thunder. Moss lifted his club to block the bullet, but his effort was in vain. The shot from the Goldenwood rifle splintered his club into tiny pieces, but it didnt stop there. it sailed through his club and into his head, the high caliber of the shot exploding his skull on impact.
"Herbert! NOOOO!" Bandanawicz wailed as he fell to his knees.
"Herbert?" Deacon and Lee asked simulataneously.
With Bandanawicz demoralized, the web of bandanas that were binding Deacon started losing their grip. Deacon used this moment to slip out rather easily.
"It's over." Lee said triumphantly as she raised her rifle into the air. "Y'all lost. Now throw your guns to the dirt before I leave all of y'all without heads."
Moss' death had already paused any fighting. The would-be Rangers all looked at each other before cautiously lowering their weapons.
"What are you idiots doing?" Bandanawicz growled. His voice dropped several octaves as he was seething in anger.
"Give it up banana man, you've lost." Deacon said irreverently. "Nobody else has to die."
"That's where you're wrong!" Bandanawicz said as he flared his nostrils and gritted his teeth. "You killed my best friend. So now, all of you must die."
Lee aimed her rifle to put Bandanawicz down, but in an instant, his body collapsed flat onto the ground. When both Deacon and Lee rushed over to check on him, all that was left was a pile of bandanas.
"What's this?" Lee asked cautiously as she poked the pile with her rifle.
"Your doom!" the sound of Bandanawicz voice yelled from the pile.
The bandanas all began to fly independently into the air, linking together to form many seperate ropes that all latched onto every person in the battlefield. Friend or foe, it did not matter to Bandanawicz. Deacon, Lee, Dwayne, Booker, and every bandit, recruit, and buffalo soldier all struggled as ropes tied around their necks and anchored into the ground on one end. The strength of the bandana ropes were too strong for even Deacon to pull out.
Lee could feel her vision blur, and her grip on her rifle weaken as it clattered onto the ground next to her. As she saw Deacon faring no better, and the life draining from everyone's eyes, Lee felt no choice but to close her own eyes and accept her fate.
Deacon, however, wasn't ready to quit. he grabbed onto the tight bandana rope around his neck and forced his fingers in the loop. As soon as he managed to find a good grip, he pulled as hard as he possibly could.
"Give it up! I put all my strength into this attack. I don't care if the venom kills me, I won't let up until you're at the pearly gates, meeting Iemannuel face to face!" Bandanawicz voice yelled from the bandanas.
The rope strangling his neck reminded Deacon of a very unpleasant memory. This certainly wasn't the first time he had been strangled, the only thing missing in this scene was the drunk and angry face of his father, staring back at him with crazy eyes.
"You're weak." Deacon could hear his father repeating back to him. "And weak men don't get a say in anything in this world."
"That's not true, I'm strong!" Deacon barely managed to get out.
"Not really relevant to what I said." Bandanawicz's confused voice replied. "Damn you take forever to choke out!"
"I'll show you just how strong I am!" Deacon said through gritted teeth as he continued to pull on his bandana noose.
As he strained, his star tattoo started to shimmer as a second one began forming right under the first one. By the time it fully materialized, the ropes around Deacon's neck started to feel weaker. Or was he getting stronger? Either way, Deacon was able to rip the bandana off of him, tearing the fabric loudly as Bandanawicz screamed in pain.
The binds around the necks of everyone else began to loosen, letting everyone take a huge breath of relief. Deacon wasted no time and snatched up every bandana rope and tied them all together as they wiggled in his grasp. Once every bandana was tied into one big knot, Deacon threw it into the air and punched it into the ground. The force of the punch knocking the wind out of Bandanawicz and forcing him to return to his human form as he fell to the ground.
"I give up! No more! Please!" Bandanawicz cried as he put his hands up and waved a white bandana.
"Good choice." Lee said angrily as she whacked him across the fae with her goldenwood rifle, knocking him out instantly.