Author's Note: Unedited Chapter
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"The Battle Challenge shall resume tomorrow and by the end of the challenge, there will be another disqualification round," Handler One revealed.
"A higher number of points will be required to carry onto the next challenge?" Teemee voiced out.
"Most likely," Aildris responded with a contemplative expression.
Another round of loud chatters reverberated across the arena as the spectators guessed amongst themselves how many points will be required at the end of the Battle Challenge.
Gustav reckoned that only a few planets who had bought information from Axiler were left. It was uncertain if they bought even more future information. Gustav wondered if they'd still be willing to believe Axiler if they did.
The Diaporonians was amongst those who were disqualified this night. Gustav clicked his tongue in pity as he remembered them.
They had gone through extreme measures to further their rise in IYSOP only to get disqualified here. The Diaporonians initially had enough points to escape disqualification but some of their representatives lost a couple of times during the versus challenge, causing their points to dwindle.
"Let's head back," E.E voiced as the Versus Battle Challenge came to an end for the day.
The coming days were about to get even more hectic since it was majorly stronger planets that remained.
The group retired to their accommodation quarters along with other participants. Gustav excused himself from the group as they headed in and went in a different direction.
-
Minutes later Gustav and Stark could be seen strolling across a golden paved streets with natives of Planet Ozious around them.
"Have you discovered anything yet?" Gustav questioned.
"Hmm I tried.... its still the same," Stark responded with a slightly dispirited look.
"A dark fog still shrouds your vision of the interior of their quarters?" Gustav looked like he wasn't convinced as he voiced out.
"Yes..." Stark heaved a low sigh.
"I thought you said you could see everything?" Gustav questioned with a look of disbelief.
'He recalled that Stark was even capable of seeing Miss Aimee's real self hovering above the planet before anyone could.
"I can... Its not that i can't see the interior, it's more like the visibility within the interior is inexistent. Even if a person entered they wouldn't be able to see anything because of the lack of visibility in the environment," Stark explained.
"But you can see in the dark... how is this any different?" Gustav questioned.
"This is different because it is beyond darkness... its beyond anything comprehensible. Light wouldn't even be able to infiltrate that room, it would be instantly vanquished. I would lose my sight even if i got in," Stark kept explaining with a visibly disturbed expression.
It was obvious that this was something he had never experienced before. He didn't know this was possible.
"Could you force your all seeing visuals to catch a glimpse of anything at all...? Even the smallest detail would be appreciated," Gustav said with a tone of concern. This whole situation was getting more intense than he expected.
"I can try but I can't guarantee anything... I will certainly give it my all tonight and let you know if I discover anything," Stark replied with a smile.
'I owe him my life...' Stark still felt like he hadn't repayed Gustav so he was willing to do whatever he could to help.
"Thank you Stark," Gustav voiced with a tone of appreciation.
"Not a problem... if you don't mind me asking, why are you so concerned about them?" Stark questioned.
"I do mind you asking," Gustav replied.
"Ow," Stark mouthed with a sour expression.
After a few moments of silence Gustav spoke.
"All I can say is, they mjght be connected to whatever is responsible for causing problems for a friend. I need to be sure before taking any action," Gustav expressed with a suspicious expression.
"Oh so its for a friend," A hearty smile appeared on Stark's face.
"You really do love your friends," Stark added.
"Don't be cringe,"Gustav turned around while trying to maintain a cold look.
"Am I right? Or am I right? Hehe," Stark teased from while Gustav sped away.
"Contact me if you discover anything ," Gustav's voice echoed across the air despite being long gone.
Stark stood in place for a few moments with a smile.on his face till two figures appeared beside him.
"Family head... any word yet?" One of the two cloaked figures questioned. I think you should take a look at
"He has only been gone for like three days... its to early pfft," Stark respomded with a light chuckle.
"Then, what business do you have with Gustav Crimson?" The other one inquired.
"He needed a favour," Stark replied while strolling forward.
"Family head... I wouldn't advice being acquainted with someone like him. It would be trouble if he finds out our real purpose of coming here," The first one spoke again.
"Relax Viltru, he isn't going to find out especially since he has a lot on his plate and Axiler won't be meeting us on this planet after acquiring the item," Stark said with an unbothered tone.
"Family head should be aware that Gustav Crimson is one of the smartest MBO officers on the face of the earth despite his paltry sum of filed experiences," Viltru sounded with a tone of warning.
"On earth hehe not on earth right now heheh..." Stark's face slowly went from chuckling to straight as he noticed their expressions didn't change.
"That was supposed to be a joke... Anyways, like I said, you worry too much. Besides Gustav is a friend who has not only saved my life but saved the family as well. Hr is not someone I can ignore when he needs a favour," Stark reiterated with a firm tone.
"This young lad has accolades to his nam..."
"Enough with the complaints... let's go," Stark shut them both down and continued strolling forward.
"I have a job to do this night,"
----
Gustav had arrived back at the accommodation area minutes ago. He sat in place with a contemplative expression.
'For someone capable of seeing even Miss Aimee when she didn't want to be spotted, it is inconceivable that Stark is unable to see the interior of their accommodation area...' Gustav thought.
'Are they using a power beyond that of Miss Aimee? Indulus Prime are average on planetary strength under the alliance, that doesn't make sense,'
Gustav suspicions about Indulus Prime had festered since the start of the battle Challenge. He had tried to spy on them but God Eyes wasn't powerful enough to do the job.
Gustav decided to contact someone who he thought had the capability to successfully spy on them so he could gather a bit of information and increase chances of piecing things together.
Unfortinately, evem Stark All Seeing eyes were unable to give imagery feedback of the happenings within Indulus Prime accommodation quarters.
'Beyond darkness?' Gustav recalled Stark mentionimg that even light would be instantly snuffed out if it tried to phase through their accommodation quarters.
There was only one other person he recalled with dark abilities that had manifested something on that level... Falco.
Gustav recalled the incident at Aribia City where Falco was supposedly transitioning. The thick darkness that had clouded the environment was so polluting that even a powerful Mixedblood would not survive more than a second in there.
The concept of light didn't exist within that vicinity but he made use of perception to pinpoint Falco's presence within.
'To go through such measures, they must have something to hide,' Gustav thought about how he could infiltrate if Stark ended up being unsuccessful.
("Falco could do it,") The system suggested.
'No not him... I'll find another way,' Gustav immediately shut down the system's suggestion.
There was no doubt that someone like Falco who was an entity of darkness with a title Gustav didn't understand yet, would definitely be able to see in such a place but Gustav wasn't willing to include Falco in his investigations especially because of his current state.
Also, they needed to be spied on so Falco couldn't just walk into there like he owned the place or something. Watching them without their realisation was the best way to finding out what they were hiding.
'I didn't count on IYSOP be this complicated...' Gustav wondered what would have happened if he had chosen not to attend IYSOP.
Gustav analysed an idea in his head which he decided he would try if Stark failed to have any new information for him by tomorrow.
"What are you thinking about?" E.E voiced as he walked into the main room.
"A lot..." Gustav responded.
"I can tell... you've been more worked up since we arrived on this planet," E.E stated while taking a seat from across Gustav's position.
"IYSOP is more than it seems on the surface... there's a lot going on. I only hope i can figure things out before its too late," Gustav brows furrowed as he voiced with a concerned tone.
"You need to relax man... no matter what is going on under the surface, so long as we are all together in one piece we can handle it," E.E said with a tone of encouragement.
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Author's Note: Update on the character Illustrations.
According to Webnovel, Five Character Illustrations will be available on the front page before this month runs out. The first Five characters who have been picked for proper Illustration are, Gustav, Angy, Miss Aimee, E.E and Falco.
The others will be available on a later date.