Mogul vs. Remnants Pt. IV

Chapter 41 (Remnant 3)

They starved me.

For three days, I was without food, and without sleep. I was only given water to drink, and even the water tasted foul.

I walked alongside several Halakites with a strange collar around my neck that prevented me from using my pyrokinesis. Despite my weakened body, that was screaming for food and water, and sleep, I was filled with adrenaline. All that matters was what had happened to Meena.

We entered the throne room, where I was thrown on my knees. I looked up, and my eyes widened.

Meena stood by Kallas' side, who was seated on a large throne. On his left, sat another Halakite, who wore a three piece suit, with Halakite patterns. I thought he was a human, until I looked close and realized he had a third eye. And his skin, was purple, just like Kallas.

The throne on his right was empty.

Meena was expressionless, standing by Kallas' side, and Chance, was on his other. They were both unrestrained. But they made no attempt to escape. I could see why.

Meena looked at me, and her face was momentarily full of horror, but returned back to its dead expression.

"Mee-" I muttered, but a Halakite slammed me in my midsection, washing me with nausea, as I fell to the ground, groaning.

Meena said nothing.

"Deacon Chow. Meena's corruptor. I have brought you here today to... actually. What am I saying." Kallas began to laugh, maniacally. His voice booming and echoing in the throne room. The throne room itself looked organic, like... alien flesh. Burgundy, and alive.

"Screw the formalities." Kallas muttered. He leaned forward from the throne.

"I just wanna play with you. You're going to become my new play-mate. Does that sound nice?"

The Halakite next to him sneered.

"My brother is of poor professionalism. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Malakai. You have been summoned here today, for us to test the results of our operation on Meena Kennedy."

Operation?!

I stared at Meena's expressionless face, in shock. I didn't see it before, but underneath her neck, the same place as Chance's, was a glowing mass. She was...

Malakai leaned to the side on his throne, placing his chin on his hand.

"The shock on your face tells me you've figured it out. We have finished restoring Meena to her original form. To what she was intended to be."

A tear ran down my cheek.

"You... you..." I muttered.

"YOU BASTARDS!" I screamed, unleashing everything I had, the flames overtaking the collar's capacity, as I flooded the entire surroundings with flame.

Kallas raised an eyebrow.

"Looks like our collars need more work. Well, I guess this is fine. Was going to take it off anyway."

I glared at the Halakites.

"How could you..." I growled. "Give Meena back!"

Kallas shook his head. "The Meena you knew is gone. At least... that is what we will see today. Because I'm going to be putting you to a test."

Kallas leapt from his throne, facing me. From where his feet landed, several purple cracks appeared.

"I received word that my youngest brother, Zora, was slain by the being known as Brickhouse. I am now receiving news from my Halakite subordinates that he is related to you by blood."

A droplet of sweat ran down my neck.

"As annoying as he was, he was still my brother. I don't take this lightly..." Kallas' face turned into a maniacal smile.

"An eye for an eye. He took a brother from me. I shall take a brother from him. In the most brutal... painful way possible. The only way I know how."

Malakai leaned forward.

"You want to get Meena back, Deacon? Then prove it. Fight Kallas. And show that you are strong enough to deserve her. But I must warn you... if you lose. You will not face a quick and painless death. You will face a fate much worse..."

"Yes..." Kallas hissed. "You will become my toy. My play-mate. A new thing to have fun with..."

Kallas licked his lips.

"I knew your face was similar... Deacon Chow. Because it reminded me of another being. One who brought my kind to the brink of extinction.

"Paladin Decen of Acadia."

My eyes went wide, as Kallas charged.

Chapter 42 (Remnant 3)

There was no time to dodge.

I superheated my body, blasting a flame outwards, but Kallas barged right through, slamming into me with his shoulder. I slid back.

"Come on, Deacon. You want Meena? You have to try a lot harder than that."

I needed more power. I needed it. If I didn't step up... I was going to lose Meena forever.

I roared, and held out my hands, launching a massive torrent of flames at Kallas, who simply summoned a purple machete, swinging and brandishing it, extinguishing my flames.

"How disgusting. To think that Miss Kennedy chose you to breed."

"Meena..." I muttered, looking at her. She regarded me with a cold expression.

"MEENA!" I shouted. "SNAP OUT OF IT!"

Kallas closed the distance, and slashed his machete right into my chest, as it exploded in pain. I yelled in agony, but before I could do anything, Kallas spun around and launched me to the other side of the throne room.

I tried to get up, but slipped on the ground. It was slippery with my own blood.

Kallas began to approach me, his machete spinning from his hand, his expression bored.

"You're a disappointment, Deacon. How could you call yourself a suitable mate for the great Meena Kennedy? The greatest killer? Hm? Well, the objective isn't to have a great fight. It's just to see if Meena has lost her connection to you... so..."

Kallas swiped down, and I yelled in pain, as the machete went through my leg.

"Ack... urghhh!!!" I groaned, and fired a jet of flame out of my hand, launching me under Kallas' legs, and flew into the air.

I needed to defeat him. If I could create a massive explosion, I could blow my way out of here. I could grab Meena and leave.

My body glowed with heat, I could feel myself giving way. The exhaustion creeping as I felt the last of my gas tank being depleted. This would be my final blast. A final burst of heat in a massive explosion, to finish this and survive. To protect Meena.

Everything I had done to become tough.

This was my chance to prove that I could save Meena.

I thought back to how Kyrael had trained me. Merrow's smile.

Lucius, kneeling down in front of me. Telling me he was also training to get stronger. Despite never showing it, I knew he cared for me and wanted me to become tough. He respected me and loved me as a brother.

I needed to come back to them, with Meena.

I had to do this.

I closed my eyes, summoning everything I had. I opened my eyes, and the whole room became illuminated with heat, as I generated more flames than ever before.

Kallas stood there, smiling. "Come. Deacon. Show me... your full power."

This was it.

No going back now.

I yelled, as hard as I could, as I unleashed everything. A massive torrent of flame, bigger than anything I had ever produced, aiming straight into Kallas as the entire throne room was drowned in flames. Kallas nowhere to be found.

I fell to the ground, depleted. I needed to get up. The last burst must have done something... I must have...

The smoke cleared, and my eyes widened.

Nothing burnt. Nothing was damaged. The walls were still intact. My flames... weren't even enough to char the surroundings and make an opening to escape. I watched as the outline of Kallas emerged from the smoke, his machete in hand.

I fell to my knees, hopeless.

"No..."

"Deacon... I am most disappointed." Kallas said, as he swiped down with his machete, cutting deep into my collarbone. I screamed in agony as I looked at Meena, her face momentarily twitching.

The blade came back up again as I stared at the blood all over the blade. My blood.

Kallas dropped the blade into me again, as I could not help but scream. The pain... it was too much. I couldn't do anything. I could barely breathe. All I could do... was follow my instincts. To scream for help.

"AAAAUGH" I yelled, as Kallas continued slashing, chopping and hacking away at me. The feeling was surreal. I had never seen my body take so much punishment.

I fell to my side, staring at Meena. Her face had contorted, as her mouth twitched.

Malakai raised an eyebrow.

"Hmmm... I guess our procedure failed. She was not the right one after all."

Kallas stabbed, cut, and chopped into me, as more of my screams caused Meena to come back.

"STOP!" Meena screamed, but several Halakites restrained her.

Kallas stopped cutting and stood up.

"Oh dear. Looks like our procedure wasn't a success after all. Whatever shall we do."

"Urghh.... blurrgh...." I sputtered, my mouth full of blood. I was unable to speak.

"Deacon..." Meena sobbed.

I tried to hold out my hand, but my elbows were broken.

My eyes began to close, but I watched as the Halakites took Meena away.

Kallas shook his head. "Shame. I thought the procedure would work. Who are we going to use the Transformer on now?"

Malakai put his hand on his chin.

"I have a better idea." He got up from his throne and went up to me, grabbing my chin.

"He's still alive, after all of that. Even then, during your last encounter with this boy, you noted he displayed a more primal... destructive side, did you not?"

Kallas looked surprised. "Good call. You are right."

Malakai looked at me, as my vision began to fade. "He's hiding it, but it's there. Let's see you bring that side of him out. Whatever means necessary. Perhaps our little trip to Corinth wasn't a waste of time after all."

My last few moments before losing consciousness was seeing Kallas gleaming at me, his smile, unnaturally big. So big that his face contorted in an unnatural shape.

Chapter 43 (Remnant 9)

"AGAIN!" I shouted at Merrow.

She was breathing heavily, but she raised her hand, and blasted another barrage of Hydropower dragons at me.

"RAAAAAGH!!!" I roared, swinging Pariah as hard as I could, launching a massive wave of spikes, shattering them.

Merrow fell to her knees. "Lucius... I can't... I'm too tired..."

"Just jump into the ocean. It's right behind you."

"I've already been using it to my maximum potential. We need to rest, I can't keep this up-"

"Fine." I growled, and turned around.

"Luke, stop pushing Merrow so hard." Michael went up to me, but I yelled in frustration, pushing him away with a shove.

I strapped Pariah to my back, and walked back to the Fortress. The people of the Fortress saw me and ran away, or hid into their homes out of fear. I couldn't care less. I needed to get stronger. My stamina wasn't enough. My strength wasn't enough. My everything was not enough.

I wasn't enough.

I stormed across the path when an old hag interrupted me.

"Lucius Cassidy. The Third." She spoke.

"Not in the mood, granny." I muttered.

"The leader, of the Remnants. He sees. He knows."

My eye twitched. I spun around and grabbed the old hag and slammed her against the wall.

"What kind of game you playin at. I don't have time for this. I have to get-"

"Stronger. You seek strength. To atone... for the loss of both the First and the Third."

My voice shook, as I glared at her. "Listen well granny. If you know what's best for you, better watch your mouth. There's no telling what I will do."

"Decen's blood runs deep in you. Your rage. It shall be a weapon in your final fight. But it will be at a large cost."

I let go. Deep breaths. That was what Merrow had told me. One...Two...Three...Four...Five...

"You're the seer." I noted.

"Yes." The old woman turned around, beckoning me into the worn down hut.

I sat down, as the granny went to her cabinet.

"You look famished. Can I help you to something?"

"Not interested in your potions, granny. And why did you drop your damn prophecy talk?"

The seer laughed. "My dear boy, I've been living for many many years. Heroes and warriors alike have come to me, in times of turmoil or uncertainty. Or just curiosity."

Turmoil and uncertainty.

"You seek your brothers, to defeat Mogul?"

I sighed. "Yeah. But it's not looking good. I've lost two of the Remnants already. One trapped in ice. The other, kidnapped. I don't know what's happened to him. But nothing good." I closed my eyes, tears running down my cheeks.

"Dear child..." The granny wiped my face with a cloth. "You must be in so much pain."

"WHAT DO YOU KNOW?!" I shot to my feet, but suddenly stopped. "I'm... I'm sorry." I muttered, sitting back down.

The granny regarded me, with sympathetic eyes.

"Blessed with the powers of the great Paladin of War, yet coming as a double edged sword. To serve your purpose, shrouded in hatred and rage. It is a dark and grim life you will live, young Cassidy. Until the very end, when you see the light."

"Yea, well my life never started off too great anyway. I took everybody for granted, and never learned my lessons. First with Arman. Now with Deacon. I..."

"You saw value, in Decen's third Remnant. Did you?"

"I... I only saw him as a means to free Arman. There's no denying it. But over time, he grew on me. As much as I didn't wanna admit." I muttered.

"And now... he's gone. Because I wasn't strong enough. Arman will never be free."

The seer looked at me, and handed me a cup of broth.

"The hell is this?" I asked, inquisitively.

"Boar soup." She replied.

"Huh?"

The seer smiled. "I know how to cook, child. It isn't just potions that I make."

I took a sip, and it was... good. Wholesome. I never had something like this before.

"Poor boy. You lived your life alone for so long... have you never had warm soup before?"

"No..." I muttered. The closest thing I ever had was the gruel that Lucius made for me.

"Granny... I don't know how to repay you. I'm sorry I've been so aggressive-"

"No. There is no need to thank me. I watched your battle. I've seen your past, and your future. For it is a dark road, which you walk. One full of tragedy, death, and pain. A role you were thrown in. Perhaps I am in a helping mood, or perhaps..."

She put her wrinkly hand on my face, and a rush appeared from within me. Different from magic, or from any adrenaline shot. I felt a sense of comfort.

"A poor boy, in need of a family."

I sighed. "I have a family. That's Arman and Deacon. I have to save both... but I don't know how."

The seer got up, and hobbled to the cabinet to put stuff away.

"The First can be saved. By the celestial fires."

"Deacon is gone, granny. Did you forget?"

"Not from the Third. But from a friend. His old friend. The Daughter of Diablos. Lyra Tetras also wields the flames you speak of."

Lyra Tetras. Arman's long time friend.

The seer looked at me, then pulled out a compass. "Find her, and she will free the First, to aid in your quest to find the Third. Once you are done, come back to me, and I shall provide you with the next steps."

My heart skipped a beat. Arman. I could save him. With this...

"Wait." I said. The seer raised an eyebrow.

"Yes?"

"Why... Why tell me this now? Why not sooner? If R1 was freed before he would have-"

"Because it must happen this way."

"I... I don't understand."

The seer smiled. "It must be this way. Prophecy and fate works in interesting ways. Your life, my life, R1's life, Deacon's life. I see the future, the past, and the present. But I cannot change it. That is my fate."

I also smiled, genuinely. For once, I felt hope. "Thanks, granny. For everything."

Chapter 44 (Remnant 9)

Lyra had the same powers as Deacon. Celestial flame. Diablos. The name sounded real evil, but I didn't care. A childhood friend of Arman's couldn't be bad.

I went to my room and put on my attire. It had changed, becoming accustomed to the magical and fantasy landscape of Corinth. Fur boots, black pants, bronze knee plating. Black shirt with Pariah's leather strap, and a green sleeveless coat with white fur lined at the collar. My hair had grown even longer, reaching the top of my chest. Yikes.

I put Pariah into its sheathe on my back. Ever since I had manifested Spike Formation, my eyes had become magenta, like Decen.

I put on a glove on my left hand. There was no need for one on my right, considering the Spike Cladding pretty much was resistant to anything, as it raced up my right arm up to the elbow.

Looking at my reflection in my mirror, I was like a completely different person from two years ago. I was way more muscular and bigger. Yes, I flex in the mirror time to time, in private, of course.

I touched my satchel, which condensed into a tiny pocket. Good old Corinth magic, and slipped it into the inside pocket of my coat.

"Heading out?" Merrow asked me.

"Yeah." I replied.

"I can come, let me just put these books away-"

"No. I'm going alone. It's a quest, a personal one, I guess you could say."

Merrow frowned. "Lucius..."

I walked up to her and knelt down, kissing her forehead. "I'll come back to you. I promise."

Merrow smiled. "You better, or I'll kill you."

The compass led me through mountains to cities, to villages. I would say a few weeks had passed since I had travelled. If I didn't have the compass the seer had given me, I'd be hella lost. Also this Lyra girl was so friggin far away.

"Damn you, granny. Why couldn't you have just gave Merrow coordinates for a damn portal." I grumbled.

"Sir?" An elderly man called out to me.

I turned around. "What do you want." I replied.

The man ran up to me. "Your sword... are you a warrior?"

"So what if I am? What is it?"

"My daughter... she went wandering in the Plains. I haven't seen her in a hours. Can you go to find her? Please? I beg you." The man began groveling at my feet. I felt really uncomfortable.

"Please... my little girl. Only you can go. No one here can fight, my village has been forsaken by the higher powers. Please."

I looked at my compass. There was still a chance to find Lyra. I guess... helping this irresponsible excuse of a parent wouldn't hurt anybody.

"Which way."