Mogul vs. Remnants Pt. II

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 bullet magazines, and holsters for two of her guns, which were revolvers. 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. "Thanks, Meena."

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.

Deacon looked at Merrow.

"I've been having visions, of you and Decen. I had to find you, and I knew you were looking for me. But I'm not strong enough to help you in your quest. I'm sorry."

Merrow put her hand on his arm. "It's going to be okay, Deacon. We're all in this together. You have amazing fire powers. It's just a matter of control." Deacon and Merrow began to talk about stuff. Deacon sharing Merrow his visions, and Merrow explaining everything. About Mogul, about Decen, and his Remnants.

Meena sat next to me and a frozen Arman.

I put my hand on Arman, instinctively.

"Is this your brother?" Meena asked, gently.

"Yeah." I responded. "His name is Arman Wan. The First Remnant. Deacon and my eldest brother. He gave his life trying to protect me, to save me. Fought Mogul himself to allow us to escape. I owe him my life."

"I'm sorry." Meena responded.

I looked at Deacon. "How did you guys meet?"

Meena leaned back. "He's kind of my... sidekick."

"Sidekick?"

"Yeah. I'm a mercenary, for an organization, at least I was. Deacon helped me with stuff, but he's... not too great in a fight. I've been trying to help him to get stronger, but he's not the kind of guy to fight and harm others. He's sweet, and a good person."

"The hell..." I muttered. Not another one. For a badass Paladin of War, that's two for two I ended up with someone soft.

Meena smirked. "You probably think it sounds stupid, from what Merrow tells me, you lived your life fighting in the Underground. I can relate, I spent my life taking contracts, and training, mastering my revolvers. But... not everybody's gone through that.

"Deacon hates fighting. He doesn't like hurting people. Because he's just so different from me, he helped me see that everybody has value. I don't know. I'm not good with that kinda stuff. I guess I lived my life without having someone actually love me, and with Deacon, he's so innocent. It's why I don't like pushing him into doing something he doesn't like."

He's going to be doing a ton of shit he don't like, if he was coming with us to fight Mogul. And he will help us beat Mogul. Pacifist or not, he was a Remnant of war. He had to have potential. He just needed to unlock it.

I glanced at Deacon again, who was trying to show Merrow his pyrokinesis, but the flames raced up his sleeve, as he yelped. Merrow quickly doused the flame with some Hydropower.

Chrissake. I might as well take my chances with Meena instead. This dude is hopeless.

"I have to take a shit." I announced in front of everybody. Merrow stared at me. That was a bit excessive. But I couldn't care less.

I got up, and slammed the door to their house. I probably shouldn't have done that, considering it wasn't even my house. But I couldn't give a flying shit. I was so eager to meet Deacon, because he had fire powers. He could bring Arman back. But my usual luck, screwed me over. And now we're left with a god damn Pacifist who didn't even know how to use his own powers to light a candle.

I propped Pariah onto the wall and took off my shirt. Groaning in pain.

"Arghhh...." I groaned, taking a look at my wrist. Red lines had developed underneath. I clutched my temple. I managed to hold it in until now, but the pain was too much.

I gasped, breathing heavily, as I undid one of the bandages. I told Merrow that it was just a minor injury, but that was a lie. I don't normally get hurt, my skin was like iron. But...

I stared at the cracks that had developed all over my forearm. It had gotten worse. Pieces of.... something had developed, protruding out of my arm like spikes. I didn't know what the hell that was, but just looking at it...

I clutched my forehead again, groaning in agony, falling to the ground of the bathroom. It wasn't just the pain. Looking at the spikes, made me... angry. It filled me with rage.

"What... what is happening to me..." I seethed, my teeth gnashing and grinding, as I fumbled with the bandages, wrapping my wounds up again to keep the pain back to its usual throbbing tone.

It happened every time I wielded Pariah. Every time I swung that blade, the celestial energy entered my body, like it was trying to cleanse me, but something inside me was fighting it.

The clash was causing my body to explode. These spikes... I felt like it was just the beginning.

Chapter 23 (Remnant 9)

I spent the next few days chopping down trees with Pariah. Then I went to chop more rocks. I intentionally used the flat of the blade for each, using crushing damage instead of the blade to make the task harder.

Every time I swung the sword, my right forearm would momentarily flare up in pain. But I kept soldiering through.

"You shouldn't be training with injuries my man." Michael said from behind.

I turned around, breathing hard. Michael had also finished working out, he was in a tank top, which showed his capped delts, massive chest, and huge lats. Even though I was stronger than him, a small part of me envied him, because he looked strong too. Nobody would want to pick a fight with a six foot five musclebound jockey. He looked like a bouncer.

"What am I gonna do? Sit on my ass all day?" I grumbled.

Michael looked around the training grounds. "Looks like them boulders ain't gonna bother nobody ever again." He joked.

"Haha."

Michael glanced at my forearm bandages. "You still ain't recovered? It's been weeks."

"Yeah, you know. Probably cuz of my iron skin. Might've slowed down my healing or something. I'm sure it'll get better."

"It won't unless you stop pushing yourself so hard."

I got up to tell him off, but I grimaced. Taking a breath, I planted Pariah on the ground.

"I just gotta take a few breathers, it'll recover. I'm sure."

"Take it from me, it won't. You gotta understand, you need recovery to grow. It ain't a nonstop grind of the same muscle, it won't have time to get big."

I said nothing, as I sat on a rock, staring at the sunset.

"Arman left quite the impact on you, hasn't he?" Michael sat next to me.

"I ain't no leader, Mike. I'm just... me. I bust heads, it's all I known, all my life. I can't inspire people. Like Arman."

"Arman is pretty inspiring. The little man was one of the bravest fighters I ever seen."

Michael repositioned himself. "But you know, you are too."

I turned around. "Nah, you're messing with me."

Michael raised an eyebrow. "You don't think you're brave? When you fought through Mogul's creepy ass aura and threw that punch anyway? You ran after Arman... despite being knocked unconscious by that monster."

"I did it for Arman."

"But you still went back. It doesn't matter what the motive is, you fought through your fears. I think that deserves respect all on its own."

I realized a tear had run down my cheek. I furiously wiped it off.

Michael put his hand on my back, and it was one of the few times I didn't wanna push the big guy away.

"You still blame yourself, during that day. I don't know what to tell ya. But I know if Arman was still here, he would tell you it's gonna be okay. You did what you could."

The next day was full of surprises.

"I want you to train me, Lucius." Deacon went up to me.

"The hell?" I muttered. I looked at Merrow. "You ain't gonna train him? Why do I have to?"

Merrow smiled. "It'll be nice for you to get to know each other. Deacon wants to become tough, for Meena. Isn't that sweet?"

My eye twitched in annoyance.

"What are we going to do first, Lucius? Pushups? A run?" Deacon asked me question after question like a god damn uzi.

I turned around, and punched him in the gut. Lightly, obviously.

Deacon groaned, and fell to his knees, clutching his midsection. Coughing and retching.

"Lucius.... why..." He groaned.

"I'm gonna make it real transparent with you. I don't care about you wanting to impress your super hot girlfriend. But this ain't something you can just turn on like a switch. You don't choose to become tough. You don't suddenly decide to become a badass and blow shit up. You need to train. You need to grow stronger. You need to take this seriously."

"Lucius..." Deacon looked up, his face determined, but contorted in pain.

"I will become tough. For Meena."

I turned around. "Yeah, whatever."

Suddenly, Deacon got to his feet, bounding to my direction like a student to a teacher. I couldn't believe this was happening. Screw you Merrow. I bet you're enjoying every second of this.