Chapter 1297 Just What I Needed Author's Note: Unedited Chapters -------------- They didn't understand that earthlings were very emotional beings. ... A lot of time had passed on the monolith and tons of groups had surpassed earth participants on the monolith. Many of them used the left pathways to avoid bumping into earth participants who occupied a part of the pathways for longer than expected. They had felt the dread earlier on that came from Gustav and decided it wouldn't be sensible to keep going right. At this point it was starting to look like earth would fail to reach the peak before all two hundred spots were taken. "Let's go," Gustav voiced after some time and sped forward instantly. None of them were able to get a word in before Gustav sped off. "Try to keep up," His voice trailed off while the others moved at this point. It seemed like Gustav didn't want to move as a group anymore since he no longer slowed his speed to match with the others. [Sprint Has Been Activated] Thwwoosshhh~ Only Angy was able to keep up with Gustav at this point as they both headed for the peak. The rest of the group lagged behind and some of them now realised just how fast Gustav was. There was no doubt that they had been surpassed by mamy groups initially but the moment Angy and Gustav moved, they covered a long distance in very short time. The group understood that Gustav had to get to the peak as soon as possible since they had taken time below. It only took a short time for Gustav and Angy to arrive at the peak of the Monolith. However, the moment they did, they met with a bunch of groups up ahead. The peak had an exalted area was the size of an entire stadium. Meanwhile the whole peak of the monolith covered a radius of around seven thousand feet. It was as large as a couple of streets combined. The exalted area on the peak was where the blinding glow originated from and it was also where the two hundred spots for captains were situated. One would have to walk through the glow to get to one of the spots. However, to get to the exalted area on the peak... "Krrruuuoooohhhh!" A loud rour reverberated across the peak. Gustav stared at the massive sixty feet tall creatures that were positioned around the exalted area. There were around twenty of them and no doubt each powerful. These creatures had massive black space helmets covering their heads so their facial structures weren't visible. However their bodies were shaped like apes and they also happened to have fourteen dark tentacles strapped to their backs despite their muscular frame. The captains would have to get past them to gain access to the exalted area. At the moment, participants and captains were engaging these creatures in a bid to get an opening. Unfortunately, things weren't easy in the slightest. The creatures were not only large but their dark tentacles could extend as well which made it easier for them to cover large distances. Captains would occasionally try to leap over them so they could land within the exalted area but such never ended well. Thrrooouuuhhh~ Gustav watched a captain get completed wrapped by the dark tentacles and flung off the peak. While almost everyone was tensed Gustav was getting fired up as he squeezed his fist with a cold glare. "Just what I needed..." He muttered while stepping forward. Swwowòooohhhh~ An immense pressure radiated from his being, causing the participants around to instantly stare at him with look of confoundment. Gustav leapt forward in the next instant while Angy followed behind him. Gustav's arm transformed, becoming massive and reddish as he descended from the air. Thwwwiihhh~ Thwwiihh~ Thwwiihh~ Gustav's body twisted and flipped multiple times in mid air, dodging the multiple tentacles that shot at him while he descended. "Go down!" The surroundings trembled as his powerful fist landed on the heads of one of the creatures. Booom! A loud crash reverberated across the peak of the monolith, sending shockwaves across space that pushed everyone back. The jaws of nearly every participant here dropped as the creature that received the fist slumped heavily to the golden peak. Twwhiiii` Thwwiiihh~ Thwwiiihh~ Gustav didn't get the chance to stabilise himself as tentacles latched onto his figure from directions. His face showed a crazed look as he reached out to grab one of the tentacles and pulled the creature towards him. ######### "I must go offer my condolences... I cannot imagine how he must feel for being unable to protect his subordinate," Stark said to the figures beside him as he stared at the screens. "Family head..." "I know you're going to say I should stay away from him but I will not watch him suffer such without at least offering support in form of condolence. It isn't up for debate," Stark pointed out clearly, causing the figures beside him to keep quiet. "I have spoken with Teemee before and I find him to be a very warm person... *sigh* what a loss. Even with all that Gustav still managed to finish the challenge..." Stark felt both sympathetic and respectful at the same time. Currently the earth spectators areas was still in shambles. A bittersweet feeling arose within them. Teemee had been lost but Gustav managed to claim a spot amongst the two hundred, getting earth to the next stage. "Teemee! Teemee! Teemee! Teemee!" At first it was a little chant from one person but soon other earthlings began to join in. "Teemee! Teeemee! Teemee! Teemee Teemee!" Soon it became a fully vibrant chant from earth's audience. It resonated deep from their hearts as they hailed this fallen participant. Even on earth as everyone witnessed IYSOP on the big screens, the chants had overtaken the sound of vehicles. Almost every single person chanted Teemee's name. It was like a memorial while the Monolith Challenge had come to an end with the end of his life. Zing~ Zing~ Zing~ Zing~ Zing~ The groups that made it began to appear in the middle of the arena one after the other. In a bit all two hundred groups that passed had appeared in the arena. Cheers mixed with chatters rang out from the spectators corners while Handler One moved to address them. Aildris, Abestos and Shirama who didn't get to the peak with the others since they were sacrifices, were just hearing about Teemee. Aildris was in disbelief for some time after hearing the full gist of things from E.E. He couldn't comprehend how such a thing could have taken place with everyone right there. 'I should not have been away from them... I should have let someone else been sacrificed...' Aildris blamed himself internally but at the same time he felt he might have still failed to protect Teemee even if he was present since Gustav also became a victim. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖 It felt like a dream but unfortunately this was the new reality of things... Teemee was gone and they would have to continue without him. "They made it too..." Matilda said while pointing at the group of transparent skinned beings hundreds of feet away. "Not for long...." Gustav's gaze was laced with absolute coldness as he stated. The Xionsis could feel his gaze of coldness penetrating their skins and instantly felt uncomfortable. They couldn't even stare back and had the urge to sink into the ground upon noticing Gustav penetrative gaze. Captain Ilumo was the most conflicted of the bunch as he didn't know whether to approach Gustav and apologise for Orimon's actions or just stay put. The major problem was how the apology would be perceived. If he apologised, he risked putting the Xionsis in a state where he is supposedly admitting that the act was committed intentionally. This could also lead to a disqualification for them and be thought about how far his group had come since the start. No one thought they would make it this far and now he had to proceed with decisions in the best interest of his planet. 'I am sorry Captain Crimson... I really wish I could admit that it was done intentionally but I cannot. I cannot jeopardise the progress of my group after they have worked this hard to get here... I will put everything into making sure we are only given a strike and not disqualified...' Captain Ilumo let out a sigh as he came to a conclusion in his head. Earth participants continued staring daggers at them while waiting for Handler One's briefing to be concluded. "The next challenge will hold in five days from now and the participants shall be spilt into four groups," Handler One voiced. Everyone paid more attention as Handler One got to this point. "These four groups will each have fifty planets within under a particular color..." Handler One went on to explain the four groups would be named after colors... Red, Blue, Green and yellow. When the time came participants would be given colored vests that represent the groups they fall under. ########## Author's Note: Unfortunately were unable to get Gustav to top 16 so no mass release. However, in appreciation to everyone who voted I'll release two chapters tomorrow.