Chapter 1603 The Higher The Risk Author's Note: Unedited Chapter ------------------- The realization that this powerful tool came at the ultimate price left a bitter taste in their mouths. The previously enthusiastic dignitary with shimmering scales was the first to break the silence. "Grand Commander, this news is… devastating. How can we ask our warriors to make such a sacrifice?" Shion nodded, his face reflecting the inner turmoil he felt. "I understand your concerns. This is not a decision to be taken lightly. But we are faced with an existential threat. The beings of the dark plane will not show mercy, and our universe is at stake. We must weigh the cost of using this tool against the potential destruction of all we hold dear." An ethereal figure from the Mystic Enclave spoke up. "We must ensure that those who choose to use this tool are fully aware of the consequences and are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. It is a heavy burden, but one that may be necessary to save countless lives." Another delegate, with metallic skin and a deep, rumbling voice, addressed the room. "Indeed we may have brave warriors but we cannot simply send them to their deaths without exploring every possible alternative. Are there no other options, Grand Commander?" Shion took a deep breath. "We are continuing our research, and we are exploring every possible avenue. But as of now, this amplification tool is our best chance to confront the dark plane on equal footing. We must prevent the final premonition, as these efforts are crucial to our survival." The room erupted in a mix of voices. Some agreed while others disagreed. Grand Commander Shion allowed the discussions to continue for a moment before raising his hand again. "Please, everyone. I understand how difficult it is to digest what I've told you. However, we must move forward with caution and unity. We need volunteers from every planet under the alliance who understand the stakes and are willing to make this sacrifice. We must also continue to work together to find other solutions. Our universe's survival depends on our combined efforts." The delegates nodded in agreement, their faces reflecting resolve. As the meeting continued, the delegates worked together to develop a plan. They discussed how to use the amplification tool strategically. Each step was carefully considered, with the understanding that the stakes had never been higher. ... ... ... Gustav had been in Dimension Six for what felt like an eternity. The passage of time seemed distorted in this place. The realm itself was like an empty city, maintaining its mechanical and incredibly futuristic constructs despite the desolation that had befallen Humbad. Gustav found himself in awe of the towering structures and the smooth ines of the buildings that defied gravity. The buzzing of machines seemed to operate on their own, defying the decay of time. Yet, there was a haunting emptiness, a sense of loss that permeated every corner. The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional whirr and click of the constructs. Gustav had spent most of his time in a particular construct, an enormous chamber filled with holographic displays and intricate machinery. This construct was a one of origins. Gustav had been moving around since and found this one which was currently showing him Planet Humbad's origin. The place reconstructed it's planet history in vivid detail like he was witnessing the occurences as though he lived in such times. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎 The chamber flickered and shifted, creating a panoramic view of Humbad in its prime. The advanced technology brought the past to life, allowing him to walk through the city as it had once been, filled with vibrant energy and life. "So this is how it used to look?" Gustav whispered to himself. He felt a deep sense of connection to the place, as if he were witnessing a part of his own heritage. The playback showed bustling streets filled with the inhabitants of Humbad with fluid and graceful movements. Their clothes, movement machinery and everything was just out of this world. It was inconceivable. "These people," Gustav thought, "they were so advanced, so full of life. What happened to them?" As he walked through the city, he felt a pang of sadness. He hadn't even had the time to properly think about what had happened to Miss Aimee or grieve her loss. The current objective had consumed him, driving him forward with relentless determination. In as much as he wanted to grieve, Miss Aimee sacrificed for him to be here so he knew he had to keep the ball rolling. "Miss Aimee," he murmured, "I won't let your sacrifice be in vain." The construct shifted, showing the once-thriving city beginning to fall into disarray. The vibrant lights dimmed, the streets grew emptier, and the inhabitants seemed to fade away. Gustav watched as the planet's decline played out before him, the advanced technology unable to prevent the inevitable decay. He reached out to touch one of the holographic figures, a young child with wide, curious eyes. His hand passed through the image, and the child dissolved into a cascade of light. "It's moving too fast" Gustav voiced aloud. The playback continued, showing scenes of chaos and destruction. The once-proud buildings crumbled, and the ground split open, revealing the molten core beneath. The inhabitants of Humbad fought desperately to save their world, but their efforts were in vain. The planet was dragged into the Stagnant Siterus Void, its fate sealed by forces beyond their control. "Slow down..." Gustav stated. Everything immediately paused at this moment. "Take it back... And reduce the speed, I want to properly digest it all," It was like the construct had a mind of its own. It began to rescind at a rapid pace. The whole playback restarted, giving Gustav a detailed showdown of Planet Humbad's past. As the constructive surroundings shifted and reformed around him, Gustav was transported back in time, witnessing the truth about how everything began. "Humans have always believed that we were amongst the first intelligent species," Gustav thought, watching the scenes unfold. "But the Slarkovs were here long before us... their civilization was thriving while Earth was still in its infancy." The city came to life, filled with beings that bore a striking resemblance to humans but with distinct animalistic features. Some had horns curling elegantly from their heads, others had elongated ears, and many had scaly or iridescent skin that shimmered. The playback showed the bustling streets of Humbad, filled with the daily activities of its inhabitants. Advanced vehicles zipped through the air, and towering buildings gleamed with the reflection of the twin suns in their sky. The architecture being far beyond anything Gustav had ever seen. There were energy towers everywhere and devices that didn't need physical charge. As the solar system was displayed, Gustav recognized some things and was shocked. "Earth was a neighboring planet in their solar system," Gustav voiced as the construct shifted to show the cosmic relationship between Humbad and Earth. "It was so close, that the distance between them was shorter than the distance from Earth to Mercury." The scene changed, showing Earth as a barren, lifeless world. The planet's surface was a desolate landscape, devoid of the flora and fauna that would one day flourish there. "But it looks like Earth didn't even have humans back then... Just how far back is this?" Gustav was still utterly surprised. In stark contrast, Humbad was a vibrant, thriving world, teeming with life and advanced civilizations. "Humbad had already borne intelligent species for millennia," Gustav mused. "The Slarkovs were the most intelligent and their technology still surpasses that of Earth even till today." The playback shifted again, showing the development of the Slarkovs' technology. Gustav watched as they harnessed the power of their planet's natural resources, creating energy sources that were clean and inexhaustible. They built towering structures that reached into the sky and some that lived in the sky with elegant and efficient designs. The Slarkovs had achieved a level of technological sophistication that seemed almost magical. "They were so far ahead," Gustav thought, awe. "Their understanding of science and technology was unparalleled. Earth only got the short end of the stick." The scenes shifted to show the Slarkovs' daily lives. Gustav saw families gathered together, sharing meals and stories. He saw scholars and scientists working diligently in their laboratories, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and discovery. He saw artists creating breathtaking works of beauty. The Slarkovs truly bore many similarities to earth. "They were so much like humans," Gustav realized. "But much more united from the looks of things." The past continued to unfold before Gustav, revealing more layers of the Slarkovs' history and the challenges they faced. The playback showed a time when Humbad existed in an era dominated by powerful beings who were essentially deities. These beings possessed unimaginable power, and their very presence could alter the fabric of reality. Gustav watched in awe as the surroundings shifted to show these deities, titanic figures of immense strength and majesty that existed deep in the solar system. Their origins were unknown. The only knownt fact was that they ruled the cosmos and had existsd since the beginning of time.