Author's Note: Unedited Chapter
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Gustav turned, nodding slightly. "Neither will I... can't even if I wanted to... I remember everything. "
With that, he boarded his spacecraft and ascended into the fiery skies, leaving the molten planet behind. The system's voice echoed in his mind as he set a course for the final vestige.
...
...
Gustav's spacecraft cruised effortlessly through the infinite stretch of space, its design cutting through the void as he moved toward the final vestige.
The power of 7% of his Outworldly strength coursed through his veins making his senses sharper. His abilities neared a level few in the universe could even comprehend.
As he gazed out at the stars, his mind wandered. **Seven percent**, he thought. Seven percent of his full strength was already enough to manipulate dimensions, obliterate armadas, and sense fluctuations in the cosmos. Yet, he felt the daunting weight of the task ahead. **Until the final vestige is mine, I am not whole.**
---
### **The Activation**
A soft hum suddenly filled the spacecraft, breaking his train of thought. Gustav's brow furrowed as the hum grew louder, pulsating with a rhythm that resonated deep within him.
"**What the—?**" he muttered, glancing at the console.
It wasn't the ship. The source of the sound came from the crimson cube, the core retrieved from Ehyrian's realm, which now floated in the middle of the chamber. It glowed brighter with each pulse until the entire room was bathed in its light. Gustav stepped closer, his hand instinctively hovering over his weapon.
The cube began to rotate, faster and faster, until it stopped abruptly and projected a beam of light. The light condensed into a humanoid figure with an ethereal presence. Gustav's eyes widened as the figure of **Ehyrian** materialized before him, his regal features composed but tinged with urgency.
"**Ehyrian...**" Gustav whispered, recognizing the being immediately from the descriptions given by the monoliths.
Ehyrian's projection raised a hand. "Outworldly, you have done well to retrieve the vestiges so far," his voice was deep and commanding, yet carried a certain weariness, as if the projection itself bore the weight of countless millennia. "But your final task will be the most challenging yet."
---
### **The Warning**
Gustav crossed his arms, his tone calm but inquisitive. "You said I'd need these vestiges to regain my strength, and I've followed through. What aren't you telling me about the last one?"
Ehyrian's projection flickered slightly, the energy sustaining it seeming strained. "The last vestige is no longer at its intended location. It has been taken by one of the Cosmic Superior beings."
Gustav's expression hardened. "The Xyfect. Let me guess—they took it to keep me from regaining my full power?"
Ehyrian nodded solemnly. "They fear what you represent. They believe that no being in the universe should possess power rivaling the deities of old. They have taken measures to ensure the vestige is kept from you. To retrieve it, you must face them."
"**I've already faced one of their kind, and it nearly cost me everything,**" Gustav admitted, his fists clenching. "How am I supposed to take on another one? And why not just destroy the vestige if they're so afraid of me?"
"Because they know its destruction would unleash chaos upon the universe," Ehyrian explained. "The vestige is not merely a fragment of your power; it is tied to the balance of existence itself. To destroy it would risk undoing the very fabric of reality. But make no mistake—they will not surrender it willingly. They will use it as a weapon against you."
---
### **The Task Ahead**
Gustav's mind raced as he considered the implications. He had grown immensely powerful with only 7% of his Outworldly strength, yet the thought of facing another Cosmic Superior being filled him with unease. He had witnessed their ability to bend the very laws of reality, and he knew this encounter would push him to his limits.
"**Which one has it?**" Gustav asked, his voice steady despite the storm brewing within him.
Ehyrian's projection flickered again, his features briefly distorted before stabilizing. "The one known as **Avaris** holds the vestige. He resides in the **Crimson Nexus**, a realm that exists beyond conventional space and time. It is a domain shaped entirely by his will, and you will find no natural laws there to aid you."
"**Great, another eldritch playground.**" Gustav exhaled sharply, his frustration evident. "Anything else I should know before I head into this death trap?"
Ehyrian's gaze softened slightly. "Trust in your instincts, Gustav. The Outworldly is more than just raw power. You are a force of creation and destruction, a balance between chaos and order. Remember who you are and what you fight for."
---
### **The Projection's Farewell**
Gustav met Ehyrian's gaze, the weight of the words settling over him. "Why are you helping me? You're gone, yet you still orchestrated all of this. Why put your faith in me?"
Ehyrian's expression grew distant, as if recalling a memory long past. "Because I have seen what lies beyond. I have glimpsed the chaos that will consume the universe if Nocturnis is not stopped. And because... I know you will rise above it."
Before Gustav could press further, the projection began to fade, the crimson cube dimming until it returned to its inert state. Ehyrian's final words echoed softly in the chamber:
"**The universe does not need another deity. It needs you.**"
The silence that followed was deafening. Gustav stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the now-inert cube. A mixture of resolve and trepidation filled him as he turned toward the console.
---
### **Preparation for the Battle Ahead**
Gustav's voice was calm but carried a sharp edge as he addressed the system. "Pull up everything we have on the Crimson Nexus. I want to know what I'm walking into."
("Some leave immediately, some are waiting till IYSOP ends but I know why you're asking,") The system replied.
("They're still undergoing medical procedures so they will be here for a while,") The system added.
"Good... now the games can begin," Gustav muttered with a cold tone.
...
The night went by very quickly and the next morning arrived.
Everyone still discussed how the last major challenge went. Earth and Gustav remained one of the major debates amongst these discussions.
Some were wary of Gustav at this point and wondered if it was okay for someone who could take others supernatural ability to be allowed free will and movement. They didn't know if this power affected aliens or was only capable of affecting mixedbloods but they were still concerned.
Others could care less and only spoke of Gustav reverence. A lot of them who were aliens had developed a great amount of liking and respect for him. Stories about him began to spread everywhere. His accomplishments as an MBO officer even before IYSOP began.
Rumors about him being a Cosmic Superior Being had also started escalating. Cosmic Superior beings were extremely rare to the point that the last time anyone ran into one was over two hundred years ago.
It was unknown how many Cosmic Superior Beings existed at the moment but it was estimated that there might not be more than ten of them in this vast universe.
A new Cosmic Superior Being was unlikely... but based on everything Gustav had done so far, a lot of people believed the rumors.
This was happening despite the fact that Gustav had used Yarki at a moment where time was being manipulated. No one except people like Miss Aimee should have been able to witness him use it and yet the rumors had spread.
Still there was a lot of back and forth especially with many people saying, "If he was a Cosmic Superior Being, he wouldn't even need to fight,"
There was no doubt that Gustav and the earth would be a topic of debate for the next couple of days unless something else arose.
...
In an IYSOP medical centre, a group of five people laid on a bed of sorts. These five were positioned close to one another as they seemed to be suffering from the same ailment.
They had wrinkly transparent skins and very thin figures. Their limbs were bent like they were elastic due to how extremely thin they were.
It seemed like they were very old beings. Technological medical equipments were strapped to their bodies, seemingly preventing them from kicking the bucket.
An Ozis in red medical outfit walked in and began examining these beings one after the other.
It seemed to be a female Ozis. She spoke to them one after the other with a kind tone asking how they feel and generally showing concern.
They answered one after the other and she did her examinations till she arrived at the last one on the far left end.
"How are you feeling? Much better?" She questioned.
"I am trying doctor... my back aches and I feel joint pains..." The wrinkly being answered feebly.
"Sorry about that, I will administer a drug that will ease your pains," She said while whipping out a massive tool that looked like a syringe.
"Thank you doctor..." The moment he uttered these words he suddenly felt a small sting.
"Doc... tor...?" He voiced weakly while looking up at the doctor who displayed a sinister smile after stabbing the syringe like tool into his wrinkly arm.
He caught a glimpse of the purplish liquid the tool held before it completely penterated his body.
"...It... hurts..." It was at this point he realised that this wasn't the doctor.
A sharp pain assaulted his senses as he felt a burning sensation spread across his body.
"Arrrrghhhh!" He yelled in pain while the doctor quickly covered his mouth.
"Wuubbllhhhrrrh!" His entire body shook as he experienced pain unlike anything he ever felt before.
"I told you I'd make you suffer hehehe..." The doctor whispered in his ear while covering his mouth.
His joints were flaming, his skin felt like it was getting sliced through and pepper was being added. It seemed like hot rod was moving through his belly and ultimately the feeling of all sorts of pain interlined.
"This is just the start... I will come everyday... watch out... I could be your doctor, your teammate, your brother, your father or even your uncle. I could be anyone so make sure you fear the approach of any soul regardless of who it might be... remember today and cry in dread anytime a person gets close to you. I am everywhere..." The moment the doctor finished saying this, she let go of the sickly being who kept trembling intensely in pain and fear.
"Urrrghhhh!" Orimon yelled in pain once more but the doctor turned invisible and completely vanished before anyone could come check on them.
"Arrrrghhh! It burns! It burns!" He kept yelling while the real medical officials trotted into the room with expressions of worry.
#######
("You sure are having fun,") The system voiced in Gustav's mind after he reappeared within his room.
"Only fair to make him suffer enough before sending him to join Teemee. A good tribute too," Gustav respomded while his figure transformed from an Ozis into his original look.
("Well... It does seem like there is no point in trying to win the case anymore since they already got disqualified,") The system voiced with a tone of understanding.
It was indeed as the system said. The Xionsis got disqualified along with every other planet under a different color than red.
Now that they were disqualified, earth could no longer take up the case of trying to prove that the murder had been intentional and not accidental. The point of all that was to get them disqualified in the first place and now they were.