Chapter 1404 Don't Be Silly Author's Note: Unedited Chapter ---------------- "Don't," He held him back and pulled him to the side. "There is no guarantee you can win against him; we don't know his level of strength and just how many abilities of mine he possesses. I also have a feeling that this is just a diversion," Gustav pointed out. Gustav felt like the clone's first statement, 'You were looking for me…' was directed at him and not anyone else unlike how everyone would think he was referring to being wanted. If Scientist Zil did things right, the clone would have a lot of things in his arsenal that Gustav wasn't sure E.E. would not be able to guard against so he knew it would be a bad idea to let him go. "So what do you suggest we do?" E.E. inquired with an unsettled expression. Instead of responding, Gustav reached out and planted his index finger on E.E.'s forehead and activated Mental Manipulation. [ Transferring Memories ] A bunch of memories flowed into E.E's mind and he instantly understood what the plan was. Without wasting any more time, Gustav stepped into the vortex that E.E. just conjured and vanished. E.E. peered southeast with a look of determination before conjuring another vortex. He stepped into it and instantly vanished as well. Meanwhile, the breaking news was still circulating all across the planet with the other Gustav wreaking havoc across Aribia city. Aribia city had undergone a state of chaos and near complete annihilation over a year ago so one could understand how E.E. felt seeing a similar scenario play out once more. However, he had to trust that Gustav would take care of it. The live footage of the ongoing collateral wreckage and destruction also displayed MBO officers arriving on the scene. The battle between the other Gustav and the deployment of MBO officers became intense in just a few seconds. The other Gustav didn't seem to be lacking as he engaged and dealt powerful blows using atomic blades as well as many other abilities that belonged to the original Gustav. The MBO officers had difficulty keeping up as many of them got blasted away and left with grievous injuries. Despite being accosted by several MBO officials, the cloned Gustav didn't stop wreaking havoc on the surroundings while dealing with them all at the same time. A group of three MBO officers unleashed a joint attack of telekinesis to trap the cloned Gustav in place so other officers could finally hit him with their destructive abilities. However, he suddenly transformed into a massive muscular beast with brownish-red skin and dark wings sprouting out of his back. With a single swift motion, he ripped through the constraints of the telekinesis and clawed forward intensely. A slash sent forth destructive dark lines that ripped through the officers easily and continued till another skyscraper far behind got cleaved into four different parts, crumbling onto the sides. The MBO officers who unleashed a joint telekinetic attack had their body parts raining from the air with blood. "Are you going to keep hiding or are you going to face me?!" The cloned Gustav yelled after decimating another bunch of them. He had mercilessly dealt with almost all the officers who arrived on the scene, showing that he wasn't bothered slaughtering them like their lives were worth nothing. A figure suddenly flickered into existence a few feet from the cloned Gustav in mid-air. The moment that happened, the destruction in the vicinity came to a stop as the cloned Gustav stared at the being before him with slight wariness and reverence. "You finally showed yourself," The cloned Gustav stated. The live footage display, had everyone guessing about the identity of the person who had just arrived on scene. "Is it an MBO officer?" "What is going on? Who is that person?" "Why are they wearing a mask?" Several questions continued to permeate the despair-filled air in Aribia city, especially because the being who had just arrived was clad in a strange dark outfit and seemed to be wearing a fox-like mask. "Hmm, what was the point of all this?" The newly arrived figure questioned with a hint of bafflement. "You… you were the point," The cloned Gustav responded. "I was trying to keep my presence hidden, why did you have to disturb that?" The masked figure kept speaking. "You are the original, so you tell me," The cloned Gustav smirked, displaying a mischievous expression. "Hmm, E.E. won't find him now, will he?" Gustav questioned with a tone of realization. "No, he won't," The cloned Gustav responded. "Only I know where he is, but then you could as well, which was why I made sure to drag you here. I knew you wouldn't let E.E. come face me. He is our friend," He added. "Point of correction, he is my friend. You are just a mistake… A mistake I made by trusting a greedy scientist," The masked figure who happened to be the real Gustav turned around after speaking. "What if I killed you… and took your place… then I'd have your life to myself," The cloned Gustav spoke with a tone of intrigue. "You'd regret it. It's not such a great life…" The real Gustav replied with a melancholic tone. "That is for me to decide," The cloned Gustav stated while his energy began to climb intensely. "You were better off hiding in the shadows, why did you have to come out?" Gustav's eyes through the mask bore a look of pity. "Do you know what it feels like living like that?" The cloned Gustav's eyes suddenly bore a look of hatred as he glared at Gustav. "As much as I would have liked to ask you… I am pressed for time. Since you won't tell me where Zil is, I will end this as soon as possible and find him," Gustav slowly raised his right hand. "Hahaha, I knew you wouldn't be able to leave here until you found a way to save this meaningless city… I was right," The cloned Gustav yelled before charging forward. Fwiiiiii! His figure blurred and he reappeared before the real Gustav with a powerful uppercut headed for his chin. "Don't be silly," Gustav quietly voiced in ridicule before retracting his right arm and swinging it sideways. Pah! A heavy slap rang out as the back of Gustav's palm slammed into the cheek of the clone, sending him flying into the distance with ripples of destruction sweeping across the air from the collision. "Just because you defeated the MBO officers doesn't mean you stand a chance against me," Gustav spoke with such casualness that would cause anyone to be terrified. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! The cloned Gustav blasted through multiple buildings as his body kept getting catapulted into the distance from the slap. His whole face was soon smeared in blood as he gritted his teeth and swirled his body to take advantage of the momentum. Stamping his feet onto a mast that appeared in his line of sight, he catapulted his body forward with intensity while conjuring a massive atomic blade. Thwwiih! Gustav who was still floating in mid-air, spotted a red and white streak in the distance which soon appeared before him in the form of the clone who had combined beast transformation with atomic disintegration. Slash! The clone swung at Gustav thinking it had taken him by surprise due to its intense speed, only for the atomic blade to cleave through the wind, leaving a crescent-shaped milky line to sweep forward with intensity. "Where are you looking," Gustav's voice rang out from behind him. However, before he could turn around, another powerful blow rammed into his back, sending him hurling downwards. Bang! Boom! His figure slammed into the ground and ricocheted across it, causing spiderwebs-like cracks to appear on the roads. Gustav's figure vanished and reappeared before the clone's figure which was still getting pushed backwards by the force of the punch. Pah! Another slap rang out again as the clone got sent catapulting towards the west. Pah! Pah! Bang! Bang! The clone was unable to follow Gustav's series of attacks as he moved like he was teleporting. One second he was on the left and the next he was on the right or behind him or before him. It was almost like he was everywhere at the same time and the clone wasn't the only one with this thought. As the world watched who they thought was the real Gustav get beaten up, they couldn't hide their astonishment. "Just who is that man in the fox mask?" "For him to have the upper hand against an anomaly like Gustav Crimson he has to be alpha-ranked, right?" "This is unbelievable. How is he winning when even the MBO officers couldn't do anything?" The confusion continued as the cloned Gustav repeatedly received a pummeling until he was no longer able to counter in the slightest. Every attack he used, Gustav would counter with ten times more power. The real Gustav made sure not to use an ability that might bring suspicion and fortunately, the fight was over after a few minutes. "Hand him over!" A loud voice rang out from the side.