"Chapter breakdown" / "section headings" / "episode outline" :
Rotten City – Unheard Cry – Violence Answers Violence – Blood and Immortality – The Fall of the Evil Hand – Flesh and Judgment – A Name to Remember – The Birth of a Legend.
***
Joe rode right past that wooden sign.
Once inside Arejoana, Hardy pulled Joe to a stop.
When he came to a stop, Hardy spotted a fat man roughin' up a woman… doin' things that had no business bein' done.
[ "You fat tyrant bastard… I'll tear your face clean off." ]
He stepped down off his horse and walked straight toward that fat bastard.
[ "Hey… lard-ass." ]
[ "Pick on someone your own size… or you just a coward?" ]
Then, just like that… the fat bastard's swing came to a sudden stop.
He slowly turned, starin' Hardy down… then snatched the woman's hand and bent her fingers back cruel.
[ "KYAAAAAAAHHHH!!" ]
[ "You got some nerve… you want the same fate as this poor woman?" ]
[ "Reckon you're new 'round here… what's your name, stranger?" ]
[ "They call me Death… and I've come for you." ]
[ "Bullshit, you crazy bastard! You claimin' you're my death? Then step up—let's settle this like men!" ]
Both men stepped forward, slow and steady, closin' in.
Stomp, stomp, jangle
Step by step they came together… then bam! Fists flew, Hardy and the fat son of a gun poundin' each other's heads. That bastard's strength… damn near tore Hardy up, blood flyin'.
[ "Immortality." ]
Just like that… Hardy's mouth, all busted and bloodied, healed right up.
[ "Heh… reckon you're holdin' the Heart of Immortality!" ]
[ "Here… my heart, Death… fuck you." ]
[ "Celerity." ]
That fat bastard charged at Hardy like a freight train, knockin' him back and breakin' his bones… but he healed right up, faster than anyone could blink.
[ "C'mon, fat son of a gun… this Heart ain't just healin' me, it makes me unkillable and numb to hurt." ]
That fat bastard charged at Hardy like a runaway freight, fast enough to shake the dirt off the ground… but Hardy was ready, fists cocked, aimin' to smash that skull hard.
BOOM! THWACK!
Hardy's punch smashed into the big bastard's head… hand shattered, Hardy bounced and tumbled across the ground.
The big bastard's head couldn't take it… bones shattered, he went tumblin', pieces of skull scatterin' everywhere.
[ "EEEEEAAAAAAGGGHHHH!!" ]
People stood back, watchin' from a distance… the battle was too mighty for any soul to come near.
He got to his feet, busted hand droopin'… next thing you know, it's back to normal.
[ "Damn… my immortality's run out. Gotta kill him, and fast." ]
That fat bastard was crawlin' in fear, blood pourin' from his busted head.
[ "Get the hell gone! Beat it! Don't kill me, I swear!" ]
Stomp... jingle... stomp... jingle...
Hardy kept walkin', gettin' closer to that fat bastard.
Hardy rode right up on that fat bastard, grabbin' his face with a grip like iron… peeled the skin back, exposin' raw red flesh and blood pourin' like a busted river.
Hardy whipped out his gun, pulled the trigger… BOOM! The shot punched through that skull, splatterin' brains and blood everywhere.
Hardy stood tall, liftin' that fat bastard's peeled face in his hand.
[ "Looks like I'm the last man standin'." ]
Folks came runnin' up to Hardy, cheerin' like they'd never seen a sight like this.
HOO-RAH!
[ "He's done for… Evil Hand's dead, by his hand." ]
The poor gal ran up and threw her arms 'round Hardy.
[ "Thank ya kindly, sir… I don't know what I'd'a done without ya." ]
The gal let go of her hug.
[ "Say, what's your name, sir?" ]
[ "Hardy Westwood." ]
The whole town's whoopin' and hollerin' for Hardy Westwood!
[ "And what's your name, poor gal?!" ]
[ "My name's Emma Kate." ]
[ "You fingers alright, Emma?" ]
[ "Don't you worry, Sir Hardy… I got me a low-level Heart Healing, enough to fix my fingers." ]
[ "Thank the Lord your fingers're alright." ]
[ "Come on, folks… we're throwin' a party for Hardy!" ]
Hardy's bein' carried by the crowd, and everyone's itchin' to throw a shindig for his triumph.