Chapter 1582 Your Decision Author's Note: Unedited Chapter ------------------- The hood was deep and shadowy, obscuring the face beneath, but as the figure drew closer, the faint outline of a mask could be seen. The mask was an intricate piece of craftsmanship, carved from obsidian and adorned with swirling patterns that glowed with an inner crimson light. The eyes of the mask were hollow voids, emanating a chilling glow that pierced through the darkness. As the figure descended further, the masked eyes seemed to scan the surroundings, instilling dread in all who met their gaze. Lightning crackled around the figure, dancing in colors of deep purple and blue, creating an electrifying display that illuminated the courtroom with flashes of unnatural light. The sound of the crackling energy was deafening, and the air buzzed with its intensity. With a final, thunderous crash, the figure broke through the hall's ceiling, landing with a resounding impact that shook the entire building. The floor beneath its feet cracked and splintered, and a shockwave of energy rippled outward, causing those nearby to stumble and fall. The figure stood tall and menacing in the center of the courtroom, its presence commanding immediate attention and fear. The robe continued to flow around it, defying gravity and logic, while the mask's glowing eyes surveyed the chaos it had wrought. "The Gustavo Alliance has come to retrieve our god!" the figure announced in a deep and resonant voice, that echoed through the hall like a death knell. As it spoke, the lightning above intensified, casting a surreal, apocalyptic light over the scene. The entire hall erupted into chaos. Spectators screamed and scrambled for cover, and security personnel rushed forward to confront the intruder. But the figure raised its hands, summoning a barrier of lightning that repelled them with ease. "Futile," it declared with an air of absolute authority. "We will take back our god and leave this place. Any interference will be met with severe consequences." Angy, Falco, Aildris, and E.E. sprang into action. "We have to protect Gustav!" Angy shouted, her voice filled with determination. Jareth Cole tried to maintain order. "Everyone, stay calm and remain in your seats!" But the hooded figure's presence and proclamation had already thrown the courtroom into disarray. The alliance panel members and the judge looked on in shock, their authority momentarily shattered by the sheer force of the intruder's arrival. Veran Kess, seizing the moment, pointed at Gustav. "See? This is exactly what we've been talking about! Gustav Crimson is undeniably linked to the Gustavo Alliance!" Jareth Cole retorted, "This is an orchestrated attempt to frame my client!" In the midst of the pandemonium, the masked figure moved toward Gustav, who floated unconscious in the containment tube. "Our god must awaken," the figure intoned. Angy lunged forward, trying to stop the intruder. "No! You can't take him!" Swwooovv~ Her speed was still a far cry from it's original level but no normal person would be able to follow it. She had been the fastest to react to the intruder. Unfortunately... Pah! The figure swatted her away with a wave of its hand, sending her crashing into the wall in the distance. "Do not interfere." "It's that guy from before," Endric recalled the Gustavo alliance member they battled with on the planet where Gustav's spacecraft underwent repair. Falco summoned a wave of dark energy, directing it at the intruder. "Get away from him!" he roared. The masked figure turned, raising a barrier to deflect the attack. "Meaningless. Haven't we done this before?" "You are all mere mortals. You cannot stop the will of the Gustavo Alliance." Veran Kess continued to use the chaos to his advantage. "Ladies and gentlemen, I implore you to see the truth. Gustav Crimson is the leader of this terror!" Jareth Cole, undeterred, shouted back, "This is a staged attack! Do not be deceived!" "Be reduced to ash... All those who would slander our god!" The figure voiced out while pointing at the prosecutor. The prosecutor eyes widened in terror as a powerful lightning bolt descended from the skies above. Outside the courtroom, the media scrambled to report on the unprecedented events. The cut live feeds only fueled speculation and conspiracy theories. The world watched in horror and fascination, unaware of the true stakes within the hall. Thrraahhh! After the powerful lightning descended, the courthouse became a scene of utter chaos. Dust and debris filled the air, and the sound of shouts reverberated through the vast hall. Everyone had expected the prosecutor to be reduced to ash but when the dust died down, Jack could be seen in the initial position of the prosecutor. Meanwhile the prosecutor was in an entirely different position. Jack stood poised, ready to confront the unexpected guest who had descended from the crack in the sky. The figure, cloaked in dark robes and a menacing mask, seemed unfazed by the feat Jack had just displayed. More figures began to emerge from the crack above, each one draped in robes bearing the Gustavo Alliance sigil. They descended with an eerie fluidity, surrounding Jack and positioning themselves around Gustav's containment tube. The atmosphere grew tense, the air thick with impending violence. Jack's presence spread wide, releasing an aura of power and authority. "Only one will be left alive when I am done with you lots," he declared, his voice resonating with an unyielding threat. The Gustavo Alliance members showed no fear. Their resolve remained unwavering as they tightened their circle around Jack. Several moved closer to Gustav's tube, ready to make contact and take him away. The tension reached a fever pitch, and it seemed like the situation was about to explode into a full-blown battle. Just as a member of the Gustavo Alliance reached out to touch the tube, a blinding golden light erupted from within. Gustav's body turned a radiant gold, emitting a powerful blast of energy that swept across the hall. The closest person was sent flying, crashing into the far wall with a sickening thud. Others around Gustav were thrown back, their bodies slamming into the crumbling walls of the hall. The sheer force of the blast caused the walls of the courthouse to crack and crumble, sending chunks of stone and metal raining down. The entire structure groaned under the strain, and the once grand hall was reduced to a scene of utter devastation. Amidst the rubble, Gustav floated in place. His three in one golden body was activated. He radiating with an aura of unmatched power and authority. "Quiet down!" Gustav's voice boomed, not just in the hall but across the entire earth. Every living being heard his command in their minds, a voice that brooked no disobedience. The chaos halted, and a stunned silence fell over the scene. Even the most hardened warriors of the Gustavo Alliance were left in awe, their confidence shaken by the display of raw power before them. The hall was stoked with powerful figures, ranging from MBO officers to the alien spectators to the alliance leaders and yet not a single one of them could deny the chill that permeated their bodies. "It is time I reminded you lot of who you are dealing with!" Gustav's voice echoed, carrying a weight that demanded absolute attention. Jack, though prepared for battle, couldn't help but be impressed by the sudden turn of events. He stepped back, allowing Gustav to take center stage. The members of the Gustavo Alliance hesitated, uncertainty creeping into their eyes as they faced the radiant figure before them. Gustav surveyed the scene with a mix of amusement and disdain. "You really had the audacity to hold a trial for me while I was unconscious, unable to participate in my own defense?" Gustav's voice was calm but carried a steely edge. One of the alliance leaders sitting behind the judges, a stern-faced woman with crystalline eyes, stood and addressed him. "There is nothing wrong with proceeding so long as you were present, even in an unconscious state." Gustav's laughter rang out, deep and resonant, shaking the very ground beneath them. The earth trembled as if sharing in his mirth. His grim expressions on the faces of everyone in the surroundings increased the longer he laughed. The prosecutor, seizing the moment, attempted to regain control. "You see, Your Honors, this is precisely the kind of behavior we are dealing with. Gustav is unpredictable, unstable, and dangerous. He uses his power recklessly—" Before he could continue, Gustav raised a hand, and a wave of pinkish-red energy swept across the entire earth. The energy radiated from him in powerful surges, enveloping every living being. Instantly, everyone fell to their knees. Their wills were overwhelmed by the force of Gustav's cosmic superiority. "I will speak, and you will all listen!" Gustav's voice echoed across the globe, resonating in the minds of every creature, human and alien alike. Silence fell over the courtroom, the only sound being the faint vibration of Gustav's energy. He took a deep breath and began to speak, his tone grave and contemplative. "You accuse me of heinous crimes, yet you fail to see the truth. I am not a good person. I have never claimed to be. Most of the acts I performed were not out of some misguided sense of heroism. No, they were for the handful of beings in this vast universe who mean something to me..."