Chapter 1466 The Planet Destroyer Author's Note: Unedited Chapter ---------- Hmph! Perhaps dying isn't such a bad option so long as that treacherous bitch gets to join in," Thalos spat out, his disdain for Karis evident in his sneer. Gustav's response was measured, his tone icy as he leaned in closer. "Don't test my patience, Thalos. Release Karis, so she can deactivate the Rion. I've been awfully understanding and nice these days. You don't want to see the other side." Thalos, clenching his fists, shot back, "And why would I do that? If I'm going down, I want the Rion in the end. Without that, there's no deal." Gustav's expression darkened. "Listen carefully. With the little time we have left, I can make your life a living hell. I can save you from the destruction only to dedicate the rest of your days to torturing you until you beg for death as a relief—and I will not grant it." The threat hung heavy in the air, Gustav's words echoing with a chilling promise. Thalos, looking into Gustav's relentless eyes, felt a shiver run down his spine. There was no bluff in Gustav's gaze, only the cold certainty of his intentions. Was he powerful enough to handle it? Recalling all he had witnessed these last couple of days, he doubted it. Initially he thought Gustav and the others were just ordinary people that had saved him but he knew very well now that they were far from being ordinary, especially after finding out about Gustav's identity. After a tense moment, Thalos swallowed hard, his earlier bravado crumbling under the weight of Gustav's resolve. "Alright... alright, I'll do it. Just... just... Spare me." Gustav nodded curtly, signaling to an operative who handed Thalos a small, reflective surface—a portal device. With a resigned sigh, Thalos took the device, his hands slightly trembling as he summoned Karis from the dimensional void she was trapped in. The air shimmered as Karis was pulled through the reflective portal, her form solidifying in the real world. She looked around, disoriented for a moment before her gaze hardened upon seeing Thalos and Gustav. The urgency of the situation brought them to the site where the Rion was embedded, its glow pulsating ominously. The operatives, along with Vlaid Zenith, stood back as Gustav led Karis to the crystalline structure. "Karis, you're the only one who can deactivate this," Gustav stated. Karis, her expression unreadable, surveyed the Rion. The burden of her decision weighed visibly on her shoulders. After a moment's hesitation, she shook her head. "No." The single word fell like a hammer. Gustav's brow furrowed, his patience fraying. "Why won't you deactivate the Rion? You really want innocent folks... children to lose their lives just like how your baby lost it's?" Karis's eyes met Gustav's as a flurry of emotions flickered through. "That is not it. I am trying to save them and the potential many others that may fall into such a disastrous situation. When the Nereus Sector is no more, so will their suffering. This will only bring salvation." Thalos interjected, anger lacing his tone, "You'd risk everything for your ideals? You're as mad as they say!" Karis turned to face Thalos, her gaze steely. "And you'd sell us all out for a chance at power. We're different, Thalos. I'm trying to save lives as opposed to your selfish ass." Gustav stepped between them; "No, you're trying to take them. There can be other better ways of saving them. Do you really believe this is the only path?" Karis sighed, the weight of the world seeming to press down upon her. "There is no other way. The Nereus Sector is full of rotten criminals. Their death will make the universe a better place. Other innocents won't fall into their hand once the charge goes off." Zenith, who had been silent, now spoke up; "If I had known of our baby... I would have done better. As much rotten as I am, I don't believe those kids should suffer the same fate as the ones you wish to punish. You are not giving them the chance to be saved or live a potential life different from how you did." "What if... There is hope for them and you end up snuffing it out with this?" The question hung in the air, unanswered as Karis pondered the gravity of her next actions. Gustav knew that persuading her would take more than threats or pleas; it would require understanding and perhaps aligning with her deeper motivations. "You want the kingpins and crimelords gone, right?" Gustav broke the silence, his voice steady, eyes locked on Karis's conflicted gaze. Karis, taken aback by the simplicity of the question, responded with a hint of frustration, "Of course, that's why we're here. This—" she gestured to the glowing Rion, "—is the only way to cleanse the sector once and for all." Gustav shook his head slightly, a thoughtful look crossing his features. "It's not the only way. There are other paths, ones that don't involve taking innocent lives." Karis's eyes narrowed, skepticism written across her face. "And what would you know of it?" "I can help you achieve that. I have the power," Gustav stated. "Pfft... You? What can you do? Where does such unruly confidence come from?" Karis nearly bursted out in laughter as deeds of the powerful crime lords appeared in her mind. "It's because I am Gustav Crimson—the 'Planet Destroyer,' as the Alliance calls me," Gustav revealed, his title hanging heavy in the air. He didn't elaborate on his past deeds, but the weight of his reputation was evident. Karis stepped back, her shock apparent. "You? You're him?" she murmured, piecing together rumors and stories she'd heard of the infamous fugitive. "Yes," Gustav affirmed, "You have no doubt heard of some of my feats. Does any of your crime lords compare?" Karis didn't need to answer because the look on her face already did. "You're just as bad or even worse... Why would I deactivate the Rion after your revelation?" Karis inquired with a frightened look. Karis, still processing the revelation, looked from Gustav to the Rion and back. "You're a planet destroyer, yet you speak of saving lives?" Gustav's expression softened. "I've been called many things, Karis. Not all are true, and not all are unfounded." Eyhrum wanted to step in and speak on behalf of Gustav based on all he had seen so far but Gustav stopped him. He leaned closer to Karis before responding; "Sometimes, you need a monster to get rid of other monsters." Karis mouth hung open as she couldn't find the words to refute. For some reason Gustav statement made a lot of sense even though she was supposed to be terrified of such a presence. "But I need you to trust me, deactivate the Rion, and let us handle this without catastrophe." Finally, she nodded, her decision made. "I don't know why I'm trusting a planet destroyer, but I'll do it." Turning to the Rion, Karis approached the crystalline structure. She placed her hands on its surface, her fingers tracing the complex patterns that emitted a soft, blue light. Whispering words of deactivation, she began the process. The glow of the Rion slowly dimmed, the pulsating energy ebbing away as Karis's chant continued. Around them, the atmosphere shifted, the imminent threat receding with each passing second. As the light of the Rion faded to a mere flicker and then extinguished, a collective sigh of relief swept through the room. The Triton guards, led by Officer Eyhrum, stepped forward. With professionalism and precision, they secured the now inert Rion, placing it within a specialized containment unit designed to safeguard such powerful mineral. "Thank you, Gustav, for your intervention," Officer Eyhrum said, offering a nod of respect to Gustav. "We'll take it from here. The Rion will be kept under maximum security." As they prepared to escort Karis and Thalos away, Karis gave Gustav a long, searching look. "I hope you keep to your word Gustav," she said quietly, a mix of hope and uncertainty in her voice. Gustav nodded in acknowledgment, "I will but too bad you won't be around to see it." In the aftermath of the crisis with the Rion, Ria approached Gustav with an inquisitive gaze. "So, what's next?" he asked. Gustav turned to him with a smirk, his eyes glinting with a fierce resolve that had become all too familiar. "It's time for heads to roll," he declared, his tone suggesting a looming storm about to be unleashed. As Eyhrum and the Triton guards organized their exit from the Nereus Sector, Gustav quickly laid out his plans. He assigned tasks to each of them focusing on strategic strikes against the criminal underbelly of the sector in a bid to keep his word to Karis. "Aildris and Falco" he said, "I need you two to coordinate the extraction of trafficked alien kids. Get them to safety, set up a secure channel for medical and psychological support. No loose ends." "Endric, Ria..." he instructed, "Start dismantling the slave markets. Free those held against their will, and ensure they have a passage to safe havens. I don't have to say, 'Use force if necessary' because it will be but keep casualties to a minimum."