5 years ago

Livestream highlight #21 (Transcript excerpt)

R= Remy

WA= Wide Awake

R: Can I ask you a question?

WA: You just did, punk.

R: Hahaha

WA: You do realise the whole point of these private livestreams is for you to learn and ask questions.

R: I know. The reason I asked is that it's personal, and I didn't want to upset you.

WA: I've been asked everything under the sun by the media. Do your worst.

R: How many people have you killed?

WA: Humans, I assume?

R: Yes.

WA: Honestly, at this point in my career, it's too many to count.

R: They were bad guys though... right?

WA: Yes. Always.

R: What was it like to kill someone for the first time? Is that a weird question?

WA: No. The only issue with it is I'm 100% sure my answer is too much of an anomaly. Most would probably feel sad about killing another human being for the first time, but I felt envious.

R: Why would that be?

WA: They got to sleep. It's messed up, I know.

R: It is weird. But I get it. They get to sleep, and we can't.

WA: Exactly. Now with that being said, there's a psychological burden that comes with taking another life, and you must carry that weight for the rest of your life. But if you're doing it to survive, if you're doing it to protect the ones you love, if you're doing it because you think it's right, I recommend not thinking about it too much. Focus on what's in front of you.

R: Okay. I'll keep that in mind for when I kill someone in the future.

WA: That’s a bad joke. You're joking, right? Why aren't you replying? Hello?

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Remy hurled the axe, and it impaled one of the cannibals in the chest. He darted towards the dead body and picked it up just as bullets rained upon him. He charged forward, using the lifeless body as a meat shield, before throwing it into the two armed assailants.

"Surround him!" one gangster yelled.

Remy turned and rocketed a body blow into one of the thugs before hopping backwards to avoid a wild, broad swing of a sword. The assailant leapt forward, closing the gap, but before they could attack further, Remy snatched the weapon and threw it behind him, impaling the neck of another gang member. His hands went to work, jabbing two more perfectly in the chin, sending them crumpling to the ground.

Sensei Hayato had helped him fully appreciate his strengths back in Whisperwind. His long arms were perfect for the art of boxing and much more efficient than his kicks.

"Stay back! Leave me alone, or I'll blow your head off.”

The voice drenched in terror made Remy flinch, and he blinked rapidly, almost confused. Almost as if he wasn't the one who had gone on a mini-killing spree. He observed the bloody bodies around him and then stared up at the girl in front of him holding his gun.

He briskly walked towards her. One bullet grazed his cheek, and another pierced the outer rim of his right ear, but Remy continued, eyes locked onto hers. "I'm not going to hurt you. Calm down."

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The girl's hands shook violently, giving the pistol a life of its own. Then slowly, to Remy's complete horror, she turned the pistol on herself, the butt of the gun pressed against her temple.

"Wait!" Remy yelled, his heart thumping heavily. He took a few cautious steps, arms raised. “No… Don’t…”

He lunged.

BANG!

A sickening silence hung in the air.

“No, no, no…”

Remy slowly hit his head against the grey sand and whispered curses. He hugged himself and stared at the sky, trying his best to avoid the ghastly sight in front of him.

I did that… I killed them.

“Focus on what's in front of you,” his sister gently reminded him.

He jumped to his feet, pushing the haunting thought aside and searched around the campsite. He quickly found his gauntlets, backpack, and car keys for their vehicle.

For the next two days, he travelled across the Deadzone, his compass helping to guide the way and finally, Shadowspire, the mountain, revealed itself. Its jagged peaks pierced the sky, shrouded in perpetual mist.

Remy began his ascent along a rugged slope. He didn't need traditional climbing equipment like ropes or harnesses. Climbing was one of his greatest skills, surpassing even his prowess in boxing. Since his sister's death, he had practiced relentlessly at his local climbing gym, preparing for the challenge of Shadowspire. With a firm grip, he grabbed onto cracks, ledges, and protrusions, always testing his footing. As he ascended higher and the stakes grew, his mind entered a flow state. The future and the past faded away, leaving only the present moment and even when night fell upon him, he did not cease his momentum, climbing at a steady, cautious pace, never accelerating and rarely pausing.

He stopped when he heard a collective, loud bleating sound around him. Brown goats expertly leapt up the mountain alongside him. Remy stared in intrigue until one of them was impaled by talons and ripped into the sky. Moments later, another eagle swooped down, but this time Remy was ready. He ducked and simultaneously gripped the eagle's neck with his gauntlets. It squawked as he swiftly broke its neck.

"See ya," Remy muttered, throwing the dead bird behind him. He continued his ascent, and when he believed he was at 10,000 feet, he took a seat on a wide ledge, panting heavily.

Nearly there.

He kept going. Eventually, he found a wide, spiraling path, indicating he was near the peak. However, it was hard to rejoice when his lungs burned, desperate for more oxygen at the high altitude.

A group of snow leopards blocked his path. Four in total. It was clear they had been waiting for him. He wondered how long they had been tracking his progress.

They sped towards him at an astonishing speed. Remy swung with his right gauntlet which expanded into brawling mode, but the animals leapt back as quick as their pounce. They took turns to attack and Remy narrowly ducked and weaved each one, relying more on prediction than reflexes. The little game went on for a while until one of them managed to chomp at his shoulder.

Remy yelped in pain, and the rest of the leopards rushed for him. He swung with his left gauntlet which expanded to the enlarged form, propelling all of the leopards off the mountain.

He stumbled back as the weapon quickly retracted to its glove form. Moments later, he reluctantly inspected the injury. The wound was deep and bleeding heavily.

Just perfect.

He tried his best to focus, to somehow regain the zen meditation he had managed to reach while dealing with the Agony Caterpillar but it became quite apparent that the circumstances were too different.

Remy could feel the truth as he continued up the mountain: he was dying. The snow leopard had injected a venom of some kind and it was quickly obliterating his immune system, and travelling around his circulatory system.

Moments later, Remy stumbled with wobbly legs at the summit.

"I did it," he whispered.

He fell to his knees and then something he had wished for a long time dawned upon him– drowsiness. As soon as the feeling came, he knew what it was. At a young age, he had repetitively asked his parents about it, and they had spoke of it negatively and offhandedly… as if it was in the same category as physical pain. As if it was a nuisance.

No, no, no. Not at all.

Remy fell in love with the sensation. It was alluring. It felt like someone was taking him to a better place. Drowsiness felt like finality. It felt like peace. It was a beautiful kind of exhaustion. A gentle tug to the abyss.

* Stage Three: Travel to the peak of Shadowspire

Congratulations on completing Stage three!

Your mind is strong enough. Your body is strong enough.

Only one challenge remains. Good luck.

Stage Four: Prove your purity with the Miracle Ball.

Remy paid no attention to the text in front of him, too enthralled by the drowsy sensation. He lay on his side and waited, a slight smile on his face.

I can feel it coming. This is what they call sleep.

He closed his eyes because that’s what everyone said they did to sleep. That was the switch. Apparently, it took the average human ten to twenty minutes to fall asleep.

Wide Awake’s lively voice entered his ears, clear as day.

“Eternal sleep after Eternal Insomnia? Now wouldn’t that be a perfect way to escape everything? I’m sure you can relate.”

I can, sis.

“ Don’t do anything crazy. We’re all going to die eventually so wait until your time comes.”

Remy’s eyes shot open. He clenched his fists.

No. He couldn’t die yet. Jay and Lyra were waiting for him. He fought against the gentle tug and after a silent, agonising five minutes, he heard a melodic hum of a woman nearby.

“Is someone there?” Remy croaked. “Please. Help me.”

The woman came into view and crouched beside him. Despite the freezing temperatures, she wore a sundress. Her eyes were gold though too intense and fierce to be attractive. Even in his horrendous state, Remy identified the individual. He was face to face with one of the most notorious supervillains on Earth.

Isolate the Conqueror frowned, repeatedly flicking him on the forehead. “Alright. But only because you have manners.”