Difference between revisions of "Mogul vs. Remnants Pt. II"

Revision as of 20:15, 6 October 2020

Chapter 19 (Remnant 9)

Having superhuman strength is great. You can do whatever you want, beat up whoever (except for Mogul... and Merrow I guess), and get away with it. Right?

No. Not if you want to get stronger. Because as someone who has a strength evo that can't be turned the hell off, I can't go to a regular gym and expect to have progress. I have to be creative.

I spent the day training with boulders. Grabbing Pariah, and smashing, slicing. Building my strength with each blow. Each cut, reminded me of Arman, and it made me sad. Months had passed, since Arman was frozen in the ice. We had never figured out how to free him from it, and every day, Michael went to check, and it turned out that Arman's life force was fading away. With every day, we lost more of R1.

"Raaaah!" I yelled at the sky, having sliced the last boulder in half. It had started to rain, and I became bombarded with raindrops. My face was wet, but I couldn't tell if it was the rain, or my tears.

Pariah's tip clunked on the ground, as I fell to my knees.

Was there even a point in training? It seemed that no matter how hard I tried to push, it was useless. I wasn't getting stronger, at least strong enough to be of any threat to Mogul.

I rested on Pariah, the blade glowing silver in the rain, my long hair plastered to the left side of my face, slightly covering my left eye.

"Arman..." I muttered, thinking back to our time together.

"You have a brother, Brickhouse. I am your brother, and I will be here with you."

I sobbed in the rain. Where no one could hear me. "I loved you too bro. I just... couldn't tell you." I muttered.

I looked at my reflection. I had grown over the past few months. My rapid aging as a Remnant really showing. I probably looked around the same age as Arman. Since he had told me that when he grew, it plateau'd around 22. My face became more chiseled, but at the same time, I had lost my energetic, confident, and cocky grin. Could call it maturity, but I felt like it was more depression.

I remembered how Arman always cared for the wellbeing of everybody else. He was every definition of a saint. Every time he smiled, it filled me with happiness. Obviously, I wouldn't tell him that. I never thought much of it at the time, but now, knowing that Arman isn't here, it made me realize how much of my brother I had taken for granted.

I sat on the ground, my arms resting on the hilt of Pariah. I had looked so badass, those many months when I strapped Arman's sword to my back, declaring I would carry on his legacy. Merrow looked so proud, and I knew a sliver of hope had entered her.

But looking at those boulders that I struggled to chop down. I knew Arman could have cut them down in seconds. It took me a whole day.

I could never live up to Arman's name. I could never live up to Merrow's expectations and give her the same smile Arman had. Cuz it just isn't me.

I closed my eyes, and got to my feet, putting Pariah onto my back. I didn't deserve this sword. I knew that more than everybody. But somebody had to step up. Even if it was temporary.

I looked at my hand, which was blistered from wielding Pariah all day. "I'll get you out of this, big bro. So Merrow will be happy again. And we can kick Mogul's ass together. Properly this time."

Chapter 20 (Remnant 9)

"Back from training, Lucius?" Merrow asked me, she was in the office again, studying. She looked as beautiful as ever. But I knew she was with Michael. Nothing can be done about that. Also, you might have noticed that she started calling me by the name that I was given. I couldn't care less anymore. The Brickhouse... I was no Brickhouse. I didn't deserve to be called that, after getting my ass kicked by Mogul.

I said nothing as I took off Pariah, and put it gently next to Arman's body. He looked so at peace, smiling, still trying to comfort Merrow thinking she was there. I put my hand on his face. It felt cold to the touch, but at the same time, looking at his smile, filled me with warmth.

Merrow was at the doorframe. I turned to her.

"Got any leads on my brothers?" I asked.

"I haven't gotten far. I'm... sorry."

"It's all good." I replied.

I walked back to my room and took off my shirt. I had gained some muscle mass. Maybe a little bit. My arms had gotten bigger, and my shoulders too, making me look wider. I was still nowhere near Michael, or those guys you would see in the ring who actually knew how to fight and train. But it was alright progress. Then again, could have been puberty. I was technically still a teenager when I decided to start training with Pariah. I wish I could say the same for my power though.

I sighed, filled a cup of water, and sat on the sofa. I sifted through Arman's old letters he had written. They were meant to be for Lyra and Kaius, but since he... well. Let's just say the letters never were sent. We had no means of exiting more than 25 meters from the house without being too separated. Yes, I said house. We had relocated, since Mogul found our old location.

Dear Lyra and Kaius,

I am doing well. Lady Rivenlight has taught me the customs of "fashion". She purchased me these garments, as it has helped me integrate myself into modern society. One day, if I make it, perhaps we can go to the malls together. I am certain that Lyra will get along greatly with Lady Rivenlight! She is very beautiful, even my brother thinks so!

Yes, on the topic of my brother. I had met my first Remnant. He looks just like me! You claim I jest, but if you saw him with your own eyes, the resemblance is uncanny! He is undergoing inner turmoil, and I struggle to connect with him, as I did with the children in the Church. But I will not give up. Because like you two, he is family. And I love him.

I miss you two dearly, and be well!

In all respects and wishes,

Arman Wan of Argen

A tear drop had landed on the paper, and I quickly dried it off, putting it away. I wiped my eyes. God dammit. I ruined it. My stupid eyes.

"We'll get him out of this. I swear by Neptune." Merrow spoke, from behind me.

I made way on the sofa for her, as she sat next to me. She managed a weak smile.

"By Neptune, huh." I replied, managing a slight smirk.

"Lucius?"

I turned. Merrow was fiddling with her hair again, she liked doing that whenever she was uncomfortable.

"Sup." I replied.

"If I told you... that I had no idea what I'm doing. What to do. What is right... would you leave me?"

"No." I looked out the window. "We're in this together now. For Arman's sake."

Merrow picked up Arman's letters, and started reading them.

"He was such a sweetheart." She muttered.

"I know. I wanted to bully him so bad, and take advantage of his naiveness." I joked.

Merrow smirked. "Of all the people I had met, even when I was with Decen, I never met someone so pure and kind. But despite all that, you know he had some inner demons himself."

My eyes widened. "Really? Like what?"

Merrow smiled. "You're afraid of being unable to carry on Arman's legacy. Whenever you swing Pariah, I see hesitation in your movements. Like you feel that you don't deserve to wield that sword. You know, Arman was the same way. He always thought he was inferior to Decen, and always compared himself to him."

"Makes sense, Decen's strong as hell. Who wouldn't wanna be like him?"

Merrow continued reading the other letters Arman had written. "Arman realized that to become strong, he had to do it his own way. He became strong through his love for Lyra, Kaius, and the people of Argen. He used what was special to him. His compassion. To grow strong. I think if you found something that was innate to you... maybe you could build off of that."

I looked back at the window. "Ain't nothing special about me." I muttered.

"You think so?" Merrow asked.

"I'm strong, but not strong enough. I'm durable, but not durable enough. Everything I am is mediocre." I replied.

"I think you need to keep searching, Lucius. Everybody is special, and I'm not saying that to be generic. Every Remnant has their own special ability and quality that represents Decen. If you want to start somewhere to get stronger, you could try to find what that is. I believe in you, Lucius."

Chapter 21 (Remnant 9)

"His name is Deacon Chow." Merrow told me, sifting through papers, the light making her green hair brighter than usual.

"Deacon, huh? What powers he got?" Merrow looked at a few documents. I had never really figured out how she was able to pinpoint all them Remnants. I figured she had just did interviews and stuff. She had some good detective skills, but judging from the bags under her eyes, it was pretty clear she was being taxed out. No matter how much mascara she had on.

"Not much. He has some fire powers, that's it-"

"FIRE!" I shouted, grabbing Merrow's shoulders. She gasped.

"Jeez, Lucius. You scared me." She muttered.

"Fire, he could melt the ice. He could get Arman out of there. We need him. Where is he? How much fire can he control?"

"Lucius..." Merrow put her hand on my face. "We can't be too hasty. I want Arman to be better too, but we can't just rush into things."

"Little man looks like he can deal some good damage." Michael said, as he leaned down to take a look.

He looked older than me, which made sense. His hair spiked forward, but ran down the back of his neck like a mullet. He wore a baggy jacket, like Decen in my visions. I hoped he wasn't as soft as he looked.

We left the house, together. These days, if we needed to leave outside the house beyond the "safe zone", we needed to go together. I hoped our house wasn't in ruins when we got back.

I gently lifted Arman from the bed, and put him in the back seat to Michael's truck. The sheets were stiff, from being in Loz-Q's vicinity. But I took those too, blanketing him. I knew it wasn't gonna do shit for him, but for some reason, I wanted to make him feel comfortable.

I took Pariah and strapped it to my back as we headed out.

Michael took the wheel, as I sat in the back with Arman. Merrow looked in the rear view mirror, smiling as I tended to Arman, readjusting his blankets.

"Remember, Lucius. Try to contain yourself."

"The hell's that supposed to mean." I muttered.

"Just... try not to flip out, if Deacon isn't what you expected. When you first met Arman, you literally hurled him into the octagon and tried to fight him. We don't know what kind of Remnant Deacon is. He could be really powerful."

Chapter 22 (Remnant 9)

"What do you mean you can't control it?!" I grabbed the guy and began shaking him.

"Lucius!" Merrow shouted, pulling me back.

Deacon looked down. "I'm... so sorry. I can't control my powers. I don't like hurting people man."

For a guy who was older and taller than me, I couldn't expect him to be so damn soft. I thought Arman was soft, this guy... was the biggest beta I had ever seen.

A tall woman walked up to us. She was... hot. Okay, I admit. I thought Merrow was a bombshell, but this woman was just... freaking smoking hot. She had a curvy figure, black bodysuit and everything, but her waist was lined with bullets, and holsters for two of her guns. A gold wrap covered her right eye, like a blindfold.

I was about to throw in a pickup line, but she suddenly wrapped her arms around Deacon. "It's okay, babe. You're perfect for me."

Deacon smiled.

I couldn't believe my eyes; my nose twitched in disbelief. Apparently, Michael found my expression hilarious, because his face was tensed up, holding in a laugh.