Author's Note: Unedited Chapter --------------------- "I was trying to get Ifeiev off our back... that's the name of the faceless one after us or specifically... after me," Gustav clarified. "Ifeiev... that's a weird name," Ria stated bluntly. "You should hear the name of the Cosmic Superior faceless one," Gustav wondered what Ria would call that if he knew of it. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚 "I tried to get him to help us take Ifeiev off our case," Gustav added. "Any luck with that?" Aildris inquired. "Nah... He said he can't do that. It isn't the way of the faceless... whatever that means," Gustav responded. "Bummer," Ria mumbled. "He mentioned something else..." Gustav paused for a bit with a disturbed expression. "He said the reason Ifeiev keeps getting to us is because he has a piece of his hair," Gustav revealed. "What does his hair have to do with this?" Ria questioned. "Cosmic Superiority beings are linked... so he uses the cosmic strand to link us and locates us each time," Gustav explained. Gustav watched as shock plastered all over Ria and Aildris's faces after his revelation. "Is there any way we can get it from him?" Aildris asked. "Even if we did, we would still have this loop problem," Gustav shook his head softly. "Isn't Endric taking care of that at the moment?" Ria said while looking around. "There is no guarantee that he will find it," A plan began formulating in Gustav's head immediately after he spoke. "I have an..." Before Gustav could complete his sentence, space pulsated rhythmically up ahead. They all turned to stare in the northeast direction in horror. "He's here," Aildris stated. "Endric!" Gustav yelled and vanished. Fwwhoomm~ He reappeared atop the spacecraft and reached out to grab Endric who was floating while emitting a powerful green glow from his figure. .... .... .... [ Earth ] Within a broad space lay an exemplar of sophistication and high-class design. Its expansive dimensions were accentuated by the minimalist, yet opulent décor, where the interplay of natural light and shadows cast a serene ambiance conducive to focused deliberation. The room was encased in panels of dark, rich mahogany, their polished surfaces reflecting the subdued lighting from the elegant, recessed ceiling fixtures, creating an atmosphere of warmth and exclusivity. At the heart of the boardroom lay a grand, elongated table, its surface a flawless expanse of gleaming, jet-black marble. There was no question that the imposing centerpiece commanded respect. It's sleek, reflective top mirroring the solemn expressions of those seated around it. Around the table, figures clad in authoritative uniforms convened their attire a testament to their positions of power within the MBO. Medals and insignias, symbols of achievements and rank, glinted under the soft lighting, adding a touch of solemnity and pride to the gathering. "What is this talk about sending more of our officers to the alliance," The officer backing the ceiling-high window that offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline, voiced in bafflement. "It was requested by the alliance to capture the fugitive, Gustav Crimson," General Chell answered from the other end. "They have enough forces. It is unwise for us to give more," Another General voiced his opinion. "Other planets agreed so it would be odd if we decided not to," General Chell responded. "Yes, capturing Gustav Crimson should be the number one priority," Another officer agreed with General Chell. "With all due respect, we have already put a lot of resources into capturing Gustav Crimson. At this point, we are starting to neglect that there are bigger issues to take care of right here on our planet and not out there in the stars," Commander Xanatus who was also present, stated with a respectful yet assertive tone. "We have enough forces to handle whatever is on the ground just as much as what is in the sky," General Chell responded. "Not according to recent data..." Another officer shook their head while putting up a bunch of holographic statistics. The meeting seemed to be split between two sides. One side was with General Chell while the other side disagreed with him. "Grand Commander Shion, what is your take on this?" Commander Xanatus said to an aged-looking man with a diamond shard in his forehead. "Enough with the bickering. The grand commanders will decide on this later. For now, this meeting is adjourned," Grand Commander Shion stated with an authoritative tone. Minutes after the meeting came to an end, General Chell approached Grand Commander Shion. "We need to make a move now or we are going to lose Gustav to the Draconets," He stated. "What do you mean by that?" Grand Commander Shion inquired with a suspicious expression. "They employed a very powerful entity to capture him." "Who?" .... .... Amidst the serenity of space, where stars twinkled like distant lighthouses guiding the wanderers of the cosmos, a spacecraft, its design unconventional with a distinct pentagon shape, could be spotted floating in place. Atop this vessel were two remarkable-looking figures. The first figure, an individual with curly black hair, floated slightly above the vessel. On his forehead, a green glowing dot pulsed with an ethereal light, marking him as someone of significant power and mystique. Around him, an aura of formidable energy emanated, pushing against the very fabric of space, distorting the area with an invisible force. His eyes were focused, reflecting a resolve that was both calming and intimidating. Beside him, the second figure, with dirty blonde hair, exuded a different kind of significance. The individual carried a weight in their demeanor, a target of unimaginable value. It was that figure that beckoned the extraordinary, drawing forth the presence of divinity. Without warning, the space before the spacecraft distorted, a rippling effect that heralded the arrival of the entity with crimson, tree-like hair. It materialized with silent grace, floating before the vessel, its hair billowing in an unseen cosmic wind. The entity's appearance was mesmerizing, its hair glowing with a deep, rich hue that contrasted starkly against the backdrop of space. The moment of confrontation was electric, charged with an unseen tension that gripped the void. Endric's eyes remained closed almost like he was lost in a trance. Gustav reached out to touch him but the energy that emanated from Endric's figure repelled his hand. With the Ifeiev right before him, Gustav decided to make a last-minute decision. In a bold move, he launched himself into the vacuum of space, propelling away from the spacecraft in the opposite direction. His movement was swift, a desperate bid to draw the Crimson-haired being away, sacrificing his safety since he seemed to be headed back for the dead man zone. The faceless one stood in place for a bit seemingly confounded but soon, his gaze shifted, locking onto the fleeing figure with an intensity that belied its serene appearance. With a fluid motion, it gave chase, moving through space with an ease that defied physics. [ Ultimate Combination Has Been Activated ] Gustav's figure morphed as he wove through asteroids and debris, pushing his limits in a desperate bid to outrun the faceless one even though he knew it was impossible. He aimed to get Ifeiev as far away from the spacecraft as possible so the others could get out of there and the only chance he felt he had at achieving this was by heading back to the dead man zone that made it impossible for any being of matter to pass through. Fwwwhissshh~ They both transcend unimaginable speed as Ifeiev closes in on him. Meanwhile, back on the spacecraft, Endric suddenly opened his eyes. "I found the focal point," He voiced before blinking. Twwhwii~ He reappeared within the spacecraft that was already veering forward with Aildris taking charge. "Where is Gustav?" Endric inquired with a slightly befuddled look. "We need to get out of here now or he won't be safe," Aildris stated before powering up the hyperjump. Endric's face lit up in realization as the recent events played out in his head. "Husarius! Why didn't you tell me?" He yelled out. -"Breaking concentration would have prevented us from finding the focal point," Husarius answered without an ounce of remorse while the spacecraft turned into a line that streaked forward with intensity. On the outside, Gustav closed in on a massive net wriggling with violent throngs of energy. { I know what you are planning. I won't let you} The voice of the faceless one thrummed across space as it suddenly accelerated. Fwwhoossmm~ Before Gustav could reach the net, Ifeiev reached him. Gustav tried to evade but Ifeiev caught him by the neck and held him in place as Gustav struggled powerlessly. { Now I have you } His voice reached Gustav's hearing once more even though he wasn't speaking. "Do you?" A smirk suddenly appeared on Gustav's face as he stared at a countdown. < 1... > A burst of sky-blue light suddenly emanated from his wrist, completely consuming his figure. Gustav vanished in the next moment, causing Ifeiev's hand to close in on nothing. { No! } Although Ifeiev was faceless, one could sense the frustration in his voice as infuriating energy spread forth from his being.