Atomic Abyss

Chapter 2: An Explosive Encounter

Ranger Ranger swiftly jumped to his feet and ran at Pyrebomb. "No more games Adrien, I'll subdue you right here"

Pyrebomb laughed "I've been perfecting my power, being behind bars gave me a lot of time to think, what makes Ranger Ranger so special? What's his weakness? Well, I figured it out, I hope you're ready, I'm not going down so easily!"

Pyrebomb flicked his wrist once again and a large explosion engulfed Ranger Ranger. Smoke filled the area which lowered visibility, the road was razed to dust and nearby buildings creaked from their foundations being shook.

Pyrebomb laughed "Nobody could survive that, foolish Ranger, it was a good run, but this is where your career ends, even if you did miraculously survive, you'll be so crippled that you'll never be able to be a hero again!"

Suddenly, a bright red fist cut through the smoke and curved upwards, it hit Pyrebomb in the jaw, which sent him into the air before he crashed to the ground with a loud thud.

The smoke cleared and revealed Ranger Ranger, he stood proudly in front of Pyrebomb. "You're a lot stronger now Adrien, had I not been paying attention you'd surely have injured me, and just so no further misunderstandings are made, it's Ranger Ranger, not Ranger!"

Pyrebomb clutched at his jaw, blood seeping from beneath his mask. Ranger Ranger slowly walked towards him. "You've exhausted yourself, You've gravely underestimated the strength of Arhke's defenders. I'll take you into custody now, like a true ranger should!"

Pyrebomb coughed and shouted "NO, THIS ISN'T OVER YET RANGER RANGER!!!" He flicked his wrist, a missile suddenly flew towards Ranger Ranger.

Ranger Ranger sidestepped the missile effortlessly, he grabbed Pyrebomb and lifted him off the ground. "You're done Adrien."

Pyrebomb laughed "Not yet Ranger Ranger, I wasn't aiming for you." He pointed to the police transport, the missile impacted and exploded, it tore a hole through the front of the transport.

Ranger Ranger dropped Pyrebomb and rushed to the transport.

Pyrebomb called out "That's your weakness Ranger Ranger! You care about everyone you meet, you make it your responsibility to protect them all, but you know as well as I do that's impossible, You can't save everyone!"

Ranger Ranger searched the wreckage, he pulled the driver out first, he was burnt and bloody beyond recognition. Ranger Ranger checked his vital signs. "Dead... you'll pay for this Adrien!"

A cough could be heard as Claude crawled from the wreckage, his face scratched and bloody, dust all over him, his cuffs had been broken and he could freely move his hands.

Ranger Ranger rushed up to him and extended a hand, helping him to his feet and steadying him. "Claude, you're alive! Good, that's one thing less to worry about, your wounds seem minimal."

"Stay here Claude, I shall subdue this criminal!" Ranger Ranger clenched his fists tightly and ran towards Pyrebomb.

"I was willing to let you off with a minor cut to the chin, but you've killed somebody, an innocent bystander, a police officer no less, I'm no longer going easy on you!"

Pyrebomb sighed "Ranger Ranger, you know that the more a person understands their power the stronger that power becomes, I've come to a full understanding of my power, I can feel it like it's a part of me, that's why you'll never defeat me! Let's begin the real fight!"

Pyrebomb opened his hand, on his palm was a small, round object, it had a black casing and a red light flashed repeatedly. 

"This is a little creation of mine, I spent the last few years perfecting it, let's see how you handle this Ranger Ranger!"

He wound his hand back and threw the device towards Ranger Ranger like a shotput, it beeped as it flew through the air.

Ranger Ranger caught it in his hand, he squeezed it tightly, which caused it to explode, the shockwave shattered nearby building windows and burned his glove up, his hand was covered in burns from the impact.

Pyrebomb recoiled in surprise "What? Why aren't you a pile of ashes? I was sure that bomb had a shockwave that would well and truly destroy you."

Ranger Ranger chuckled "You'll never understand my power, that's why you're losing, it's true that understanding your own power makes you stronger, however you must also understand your foe's power to truly have the upper hand."

Ranger Ranger wound back his arm and then pushed it forwards, towards Pyrebomb. He jumped backwards and flicked his wrist, threw several landmines around Ranger Ranger's feet and stopped him in his tracks.

"You should've retired ages ago Ranger Ranger, Why are you so god damn durable? This shall be your end once and for all!"

"I call this one Rain of a Hundred Missiles!" 

One hundred missiles launched into the air, cutting through it with precision and speed, they changed trajectory, flying towards Ranger Ranger. As the missiles whistled through the air towards him, Ranger Ranger extended his arms in front of him, making a cross shape with his arms as he braced for impact.

Suddenly, half of the missiles changed course. "Nice defence Ranger Ranger, but you're not my only target."

The missiles hurtled towards Claude, on impact the street was engulfed in flames and the smell of gunpowder hung heavy in the air.

Ranger Ranger's defence held strong, he swung his arm and the smoke dissipated around him, His suit was burned up and torn, up to his upper arms, his skin was bloody, burned and charred. He crouched down, jumped over the landmines and rushed to the impact site.

"CLAUDE!!"

Suddenly a gust of air whipped through the smoke, it hit Pyrebomb and sliced his left hand clean off. Blood spurted from the torn, fleshy stump, staining his arm crimson red. "What? How?" Pyrebomb cried out, his breathing uneven and heavy with pain.

"NO! I will NOT die here!" 

Pyrebomb gritted his teeth and with his right hand he created a flame. He put the flame to his bleeding left arm stump and screamed out as he burned the blood, sealing the wound shut. He breathed heavily and looked back at the clearing smoke.

Claude was stood there, a crater around the concrete platform he was now standing on, his eyes were clenched shut and his body trembled, his arm was outstretched, as though trying to protect himself.

Pyrebomb looked over to Claude with intrigue "So, that's what that power feels like, the power of the "Savior", the power I was ordered to awaken... My job is done, there's no use dying here, I'm still not strong enough, there's a lot more I need to learn about myself... farewell Ranger Ranger..." Pyrebomb took off running and disappeared into a dark alley, he clutched his left arm as he went.

Claude collapsed, his breathing was heavy and laboured. He coughed up blood. Ranger Ranger rushed up to him. "Claude, stay still, you've had an Awakening... I've never seen a rebound this big before though."

Claude spoke breathlessly "Shouldn't you go after Pyrebomb?"

Ranger Ranger shook his head. "No Claude, your safety is more important right now, I shall put out a commission to the Hero Organisation about him, he'll be apprehended soon enough."

He stood up and tapped the right side of his helmet, as though he was taking a phone call. "Hello, this is Ranger Ranger, the civilian I apprehended has had an Awakening... his rebound was too much for him, he won't make it without proper treatment... Yes, I understand... I shall await your arrival. I would also like to request a clean-up crew, this street is unsafe for civilians in this state... understood... I shall remain here."

Ranger Ranger crouched down to Claude's eye level. "Claude, stay with me, help is on it's way."

Claude's consciousness grew hazy, lights flashing in and out of his blurred vision, the black void of unconsciousness claimed him.