Greg Veder smiled with excitement; he was about to embark on his first battle as a cape. Though a bit nervous, he wasn't afraid. Being immortal, he figured he was safe from any danger posed by the low-level members of ABB. They were just ordinary people, no humans with powers. So, it should be an easy job.
Defeat the gang members and take all the money they have. Also, get a shirt in your size. This is probably one of the smartest plans you've come up with. You're a genius, Greg.
Once Greg made sure his face was covered with his torn shirt and the sweater hid his hair, he started jogging towards where the ABB gang members had gone, with Michael floating behind him, wearing an analytical expression.
He could feel the energy coursing through his body, similar to the way adrenaline pumped, but much better, as if he had a boost of enhancement. Something akin to a strength spell. His body adopted a peculiar running style, much faster than any human could manage.
Instinctively, his body leaned forward, arms moving in synchronization, resembling an athlete's motion but distinctly different. His arms weren't straight, moving side to side as if he were skating on ice.
This feels very familiar as if he were accustomed to running this way. It was almost terrifying how intuitive it was for him.
As Greg approached the gang members, his body instinctively hid skillfully behind a wall. Peeking out, he observed what the ABB gang members were doing. He could see in detail how each one carried some kind of box into the warehouse.
Damn. This is one of ABB's warehouses.
What the warehouse contained, Greg didn't know, but he strongly suspected it was a weapons stash, though he wouldn't rule out drugs. There were at least a dozen heavily armed individuals, not to mention someone who seemed to be leading and giving orders in Japanese.
That guy might be one of the bosses running ABB. How come no one alerted the police? These guys weren't subtle about what they were doing.
Then again, Greg was used to the police being incompetent. They never did anything about Winslow High to stop drug trafficking or gang recruitment. Just thinking about it made his chest burn with anger. Before shaking his head and taking a deep breath to calm down. This wasn't the time to get angry about trivialities.
"Greg," Michael called, making him turn to look at him, raising an eyebrow, wondering what he needed. "You have my Remnant inside you, so you can do what I can do. I want you to feel and expand that energy around you, But not in an aggressive way, but gently and calmly."
Greg furrowed his brow, confused about what he meant, but did as Michael asked. He closed his eyes, trying to find the Remnant within him. Being familiar with this type of energy somehow, he quickly found it, feeling the same warmth he felt in his chest moments ago, only not aggressive.
Once he felt it, he expanded it gently, like creating his sound wave. As it spread, he could sense the living beings around him, much like an energy sensor. In this case, the energy concluded that they were the souls of other people.
Twenty people inside the warehouse, moving with coordination. Greg guessed they were moving and organizing the boxes, but he wasn't sure. He could also sense seventeen people outside the warehouse, but something caught his attention about one of those outside. Their soul felt a bit different from the others.
Something inside him stirred with excitement and morbid curiosity, surprising Greg. He was sure he was more concerned about this than excited. Maybe it's time to reconsider whether this was a good idea.
But if you don't do it, then who will? Will you let these low-life criminals get away with it? Just like those stupid bullies who intimidated you got away with it?
Greg blinked, shaking his head with a slight grimace. For a moment, he thought Michael was talking to him, so he opened his eyes, only to discover that Michael was looking towards the warehouse. He asked, confused.
"What was that?"
Michael turned his head to look at him, confused, raising an eyebrow. "What was what?"
"I... heard as if someone was talking to me just now," Greg whispered uncertainly.
Michael's gaze was confused for a few seconds before his pupils widened with surprise. Then his expression shifted from calm to somber and dark, with his pupils contracted to a small dot.
"It's the AGONY trying to corrupt you. Always ignore the voice. Okay, don't listen to it, and certainly don't let it influence you. If the voice persists, let me know. We'll find a way for you to adapt to it without bothering you." Michael said with great seriousness.
"You never told me about something called AGONY," Greg accused. "What is AGONY, and how dangerous is it?"
"It's very dangerous. A highly corrupt and malicious energy with a certain consciousness. It's not alive as such, but it can become intelligent enough if it grows too much. And to grow, it needs large amounts of AGONY." Michael explained. "AGONY is a consequence of Remnants, which are dark and negative feelings that manifest as corrupt energy. This energy seeks to feed on more AGONY to keep existing because it fades over time."
"That's... Greg didn't know what to say to that, but what worried him was that Michael said it was a consequence of Remnants. "So does that mean I can create my AGONY?"
"Yes, especially us, who generate negative feelings. There's no living being, be it an animal or a human, that doesn't emit negative feelings. AGONY can manifest without the help of Remnant, but only if the negative feelings are strong, very strong. Otherwise, it's rare for it to manifest; generally, it remains as an energy that doesn't interact with the world. Otherwise, the world would be a war zone and post-apocalyptic," Michael shuddered at the thought. Especially because this world has an excess of Remnant; it's a miracle that no fool has found this substance.
Greg's back shivered at that. He really should learn to control his negative feelings because he has Remnant in his body; any AGONY he releases could manifest in the world, and that would be very dangerous. Honestly, he doesn't want to be the reason the world goes further to hell than it already is.
"We can leave that for another time," said Michael before turning his gaze back to the warehouse. "We have a job to do right now. So tell me, did you feel it, Kiddo?"
Greg nodded, quickly understanding what Michael was referring to. "I could feel people's energies as if I had some kind of radar. If I had to guess, my own Remnant synergizes with the souls of other people."
Michael smiled at his explanation, clearly impressed, making Greg smile with satisfaction and warmth in his body. "You got it pretty fast, kid, even faster than I did," Michael said with a proud smile, even if he never had any support from anyone when he was a corpse and was learning about the mysteries of Remnant. "So... how many people do you sense inside and outside the warehouse?"
"20 inside the warehouse and 17 outside the warehouse," Greg frowned uncertainly. "Although one of those outside feels different. Although I'm not sure why."
Michael nodded with a serious look as his eyes were fixed on some part of the warehouse. "I feel it too. It's not something I was familiar with. Honestly, the energy this person emits is similar to that thing, but at the same time, very different," Michael briefly thought of the worm-like whale; their energies were similar but very different. Trying to compare them was like comparing a cat to a tiger. Both are felines, but they would never be the same.
"That thing?" Greg asked puzzled by the comparison he was unfamiliar with. Now Greg had no idea what Michael was comparing the energy they were feeling right now to, but something told him that the thing was not something pleasant or beautiful.
"Don't worry about that, Kiddo," Michael dismissed, but something in his instincts itched at him, telling him something was wrong. He hadn't felt that feeling before he was tricked into entering the Scooping Room, because he ignored that feeling; he died. This time would be different. "I think it's best to eliminate this person quickly. We have to be as stealthy, skillful, and discreet as possible."
Greg looked at him confused for a few minutes before giving him an incredulous look. "By eliminate, do you mean kill?"
Now it was Michael's turn to be horrified. "What?! No!" Michael then sighed in exasperation. "Killing is wrong. Okay, never go with the intention of killing, unless there's no other choice and we're desperate." Then Michael's gaze shifted to his own hands as if he were looking at something that wasn't there. "Believe me, Kiddo, once you kill someone, your hands will be stained for eternity, and I don't want that for you, you know?"
Greg nodded a bit relieved; he wasn't willing to kill anyone either. He didn't want to become that kind of person. He wanted to be better than those who intimidated him, than those who dismissed him as useless. He was going to show them they were wrong here and now.
"What I meant was that we take this person with the unknown energy out of the equation before they become a problem for us," Michael explained.
Greg nodded, feeling the importance of Michael's words, but there was a small problem with that. "But how do we approach this person without others noticing that we're interfering in their operations?" Greg posed the problem, and if he was honest, he wasn't sure how they were going to manage to sneak without anyone noticing them; it was practically impossible.
Michael smiled because he knew why Greg was hesitating about what he had suggested. Then he started pointing at one of the boxes before pointing at one of the posts leading to one of the beams of the building, where you could hide and access one of the halfway-open windows.
Greg looked at him with his mouth open and with disbelief. "How were you able to notice something like that?" Then Greg looked at the box before looking at the post to end up on the beam, only to shake his head in denial. "What you propose is ridiculous. I can't do that. I've never been one of those people who exercise, let alone do gymnastics." Greg hissed with irritation.
Michael looked at him amused. "You don't, but I'm sure my Remnant has. Just let yourself be guided by the instincts of my Remnant. Believe me, sometimes you'll be surprised by the conversation instinct the soul juice has. Or at least, in what concerns my Remnant." Then he sighed. "If you can't do it, then it's better for us to leave this place. Otherwise, I feel this will become very dangerous."
Greg thought about it carefully for a few seconds before nodding with determination. If Michael said he could do it, then he was going to do it to not disappoint him, and it would be quite embarrassing to fail when someone puts their hopes in you.
Even if he failed, he could always retreat. He wouldn't be running away; it would be a tactical withdrawal when he was better prepared for what he was about to do. And there was also the option of calling the police or the PRT.
Greg took a deep breath to calm his nerves. "All right, I'm ready."
Michael looked at him for a few minutes before nodding. "I'll be watching your back, but there's only so much a ghost like me can do without being able to interact with the world. So be careful, and if it's too much, you can retreat. There's nothing wrong with knowing when you're overmatched."
Greg nodded, understanding the point, even if it would leave a bad taste in his mouth if he had to retreat because of non-capes. But Michael was right. It was better to withdraw than be defeated by the pride of proving something.
Greg closed his eyes as he clenched his fists, mentally preparing for what he was about to do. Then he opened them, and although Greg didn't notice, his purple eyes began to glow creepily, showcasing his powers to anyone who looked into his eyes.
Greg moved when all the people outside the warehouse were distracted for a moment. He ran without making any sound of steps before launching and rolling to cover himself with a box. He closed his eyes to sense the people around him and opened them again when it was time to move.
He moved stealthily, using the boxes as cover, heading toward the post, only to crouch down when he felt someone looking in his direction. Greg held his breath while hiding in the shadow of one of the buildings, trying to blend into the darkness. He didn't move for a few minutes before he no longer felt the gaze.
Greg leaped to land in a Spiderman style, making no noise, and immediately launched himself to the post with feline grace, clinging to it for a few minutes before quickly climbing, holding tightly to the post. When he was close enough to the beam, he supported his legs, tensed them, and jumped to grab onto the metal beam. He struggled for a moment before pulling himself up and immediately blending into the nearest shadow.
Honestly, he was incredulous about what he had achieved. It seemed surreal to accomplish something he had never tried before, filling him with euphoria. He could still feel all the adrenaline pumping through his body, joining the strange Remnant energy from Michael, while feeling a reassuring gesture.
Speaking of Michael, Greg discreetly looked around for him and found him looking at him in plain sight with a thumbs-up. No one seemed aware that Michael was there since he was in plain view of everyone. So, it was reassuring and sad at the same time because he didn't want to imagine existing as a ghost without anyone noticing you.
The selfish part of Greg that felt reassured was that if he had never met Michael, he would probably be dead. And worst of all, no one would miss him. The only person who would notice him would be his mother, but he barely spent time with her due to her work. So, he wondered how long his mother would mourn him before forgetting him.
That's why he was relieved because Michael was now his friend, and they were united in good and bad times. Despite all the mistakes Greg might make, he knew Michael would never abandon him because he's the only person who knows of his existence. He was his first and only friend, besides being his teacher guiding him on the path of the supernatural, as he had said. Greg had to achieve his plan. He didn't want to disappoint Michael; he had to show him that he was worthy.
You can't let him look at you the way others do. That's why you have to do whatever it takes to earn his respect and achieve it. You have to impress him and avoid at all costs that he sees you as someone useless.
Greg made a face at that, but this time, he was aware of what it meant. He could easily ignore it while focusing on the task. And although the stupid voice of AGONY was right, Michael wasn't the only reason he was doing this, but to prove to himself that he wasn't useless and that he could make a difference as long as he set his mind to it.
He was doing this even before that stupid voice started babbling. Here was the before and after a new era, a new life for Greg Veder. Everyone would realize the mistake they were making by ignoring him and would start wanting to be friends with him voluntarily.
You don't need them. If they didn't appreciate you before, they won't appreciate you now, and they'll only use you for what you are now. And what you will become.
Greg frowned. He was going to ignore that honestly. He wasn't going to bother with what that thing trying to manipulate him was saying. So, he did what came to his mind and silenced AGONY with Michael's Remnant. He waited a few seconds to see if the results were successful, thinking negative things. Fortunately, the voice didn't return, and he smiled satisfied and proud of himself that it had worked.
Stop getting easily distracted, Greg. You're doing it again. Focus on what you have in your hands right now.
Greg moved stealthily along the metal beam when he felt no one was looking at him. He balanced like a professional gymnast on a tightrope, quickly reaching the window that was half open before making a big jump. He flexed his back and legs to astonishing levels.
Greg landed crouched inside the warehouse. Euphoria tried to dominate him, but he restrained it before laughing out of excitement. This wasn't the time for fooling around; he could boast once he finished what he was doing.
Honestly, the flexibility of my body is amazing, even my grip strength is no small thing as I can climb a pole quickly and easily, plus I can hold myself with just my arms for a few seconds on the metal beam. My powers are more amazing than I had originally calculated.
He clenched his fists to calm the emotions that arose from within. Greg closed his eyes to search for the energy, but he furrowed his brow when he didn't find it in the same place but on the other side of the warehouse.
Strange, I could swear that guy wasn't so far from where I am.
How he moved to the other side without him noticing was beyond Greg. It was almost as if he had teleported to that place out of nowhere, but that shouldn't be possible as far as Greg knew. There was no person capable of using teleportation, except for Oni Lee.
Greg blinked before paling, realizing whose strange energy they had sensed moments ago. Maybe he should leave and abandon this; he wasn't sure about his chances against a teleportation and clone cape.
He closed his eyes to sense the energy before feeling it behind him, making him open his eyes in panic and look back in horror.
A demonic mask with a lascivious grin, and fangs from ear to ear, stared back at him as a knife extended toward his body.
His body reacted before his brain caught up with what had happened moments ago. His head tilted to the side, narrowly avoiding the knife that was about to cut his throat. Then, he immediately reached out to touch Oni Lee.
But before touching him, Oni Lee created a copy of himself, surrounding him on both sides. His arm made contact with one of the Oni Lee copies, and it convulsed violently before disintegrating into a cloud of white carbon ashes.
His instincts screamed at him to move, so he did immediately. He leaped backward while his eyes focused on the katana that had nearly cut him in half. Both clones that tried to cut him stared at him for what seemed like an eternity to Greg, but it was only a few seconds.
Greg frowned as sweat dripped down his forehead. Something was bothering him about all this.
Michael appeared by his side with a somber look, realizing what had happened and why his instincts had been warning him from the moment they realized they had sensed this strange energy.
"He seems to have discovered us the moment we were somehow given his atypical energy," Michael concluded. His eyes moved to where the new clones of Oni Lee were appearing as they surrounded Greg. "Most likely, he sensed our negative feelings or, more accurately, your negative feelings, Greg."
If Oni Lee was someone sensitive to people's malicious intentions towards him, then that would explain why Greg was caught so quickly. The AGONY that Greg was released from his negative thoughts must have been strong enough for Oni Lee to detect it.
Michael doubted this because most people are not sensitive to AGONY, and although he could feel the emotions Greg emanated moments ago, it was rare for a person not familiar with AGONY to feel it. This made Michael wonder if Oni Lee being ability to detect the AGONY emotions had to do with him being a Parahuman.
Greg tried to touch Oni Lee again when he barely dodged the katana, but he got the same result as the first time. The clone convulsed before turning into ashes. He twisted his body in an unnatural way to dodge a direct cut to his heart before jumping and somersaulting while avoiding the other attacks from the rest of the clones. He tried to kick the one he thought was the real Oni Lee, but when his kick connected, it turned into ashes.
Greg didn't land perfectly because he stumbled and hit something with his elbow. Whatever he managed to hit fell to the ground, causing a loud noise that echoed throughout the warehouse.
Greg had only one word to describe what had happened.
"Shit."
Michael frowned, becoming increasingly serious. "Indeed. Shit."