Author's Note: Unedited Chapter
"Now this is the life a sovereign such as myself should be living," The cylindrical head shaped being voiced with a slight tone of gratification.
Besides the greenish pool they were currently lying in, the transparent window before the being displayed a massive butter-colored planet. It turned out that this wasn't an outdoor pool… it was an outer space pool.
….
"It's been a day and we already crossed more than half the journey…"
Vilax's voice rang out in surprise as the spacecraft drifted across the endless darkness.
"This spacecraft jump function is at the highest level… a thousand light years per jump. It can jump three times in a single day but it takes more than a week for the jump drive to recharge," Gustav explained.
"One thousand light years per jump?" Osiark and the others couldn't believe their ears.
A hundred light years was moving more than three hundred quintillion feet in an instant. Talk more of a thousand light years which was ten more of that speed.
A light year was equivalent to how much distance light would travel in a year. It wasn't just about its speed, it was about the distance, and a thousand years of that speed breached in a single instant.
"The defense of this spacecraft must be on another level for it to withstand such," Osiark muttered in bewilderment.
Most spacecraft could only go a little above a hundred so this was a surprise to them. The usual speed of any spacecraft was more than light speed but the jumps were a different case entirely.
Gustav estimated that if they continued towards the location of Seifiling, they should get to them in another day's worth of travel.
This would mean, two days had been spent out of the one-week time frame Gustav had given them. They could only hope that the rest of the days would be enough for them to complete the operation.
Their journey went on nonstop. Gustav wouldn't need to take a stop on any planet since they had everything they needed. He and Endric had already filled up their storage with supplies that would last them for months if need be.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Tell me everything you know about this being named Seifiling," Gustav voiced.
"The Mundane one didn't tell us much about him since their only task was to give information about the whereabouts of our people… but here is what we know about Seifiling," Vilax proceeded to start narrating what the mundane one told them.
"Seifiling is a narcissistic but very powerful being who has his universe. He takes species from all parts of the galaxies to put them in his universe because he wants a world where every single species all across the galaxies worships him as a god. He does everything he can to acquire different species, be it buying them or forcibly abducting them. Then he puts them in his universe to work. He won't stop until he has acquired species from every nook and corner of the universe that is why he is always moving," Vilax explained.
"So there is someone like this out there and the alliance deemed me more dangerous and wanted? Isn't that interesting," Gustav chuckled while shaking his head.
"Some of the species were acquired legally while others… not so much. We had no idea that he was the one responsible for holding our people till the mundane one informed us. We only thought it was a case of misplacement," Vilax said.
"While Seifiling is wanted, the alliance doesn't place so much importance on capturing him," Osiark stated from the side.
"Gee, I wonder why," Gustav responded with a tone of sarcasm.
"He doesn't necessarily try to cause problems on planets or murder innocents… in fact, according to what I heard in the past, he has never killed. So long as he acquires even a single species from any corner of the universe, he leaves the others alone and continues his journey to acquire a different species," Osiark explained what she knew about him.
"It almost sounds like you're defending the person who abducted millions of your people," Gustav shot her a side glance.
"No, no, I am not saying he hasn't abducted plenty, he just isn't seen as a huge threat based on the pattern of his actions. However, he is undoubtedly very powerful… people refrain from trying to mess with him because once he drags you into his universe, you automatically become his slave," Osiark tried to clear this misconception.
"Hmm, if he is as powerful as you guys say he is then, this will still be difficult despite my help," Gustav said warily.
"But we have a much higher chance. Without you our chances were close to 0%," Vilax said with an appreciative tone.
"So what is the plan?" Gustav questioned.
"I haven't thought that far yet," Vilax said while turning to stare at Milox.
"Maybe the captain has one for us," He added.
Milox who had been silent the entire time, stared back cluelessly the moment everyone turned to stare at him.
His eyes darted around, "Well… we… hmm… we…" He stuttered repeatedly.
"Don't tell me you don't have a plan. Did you expect us to just walk in there and ask him to hand over your people back and he's see our group and cower in his boots? How unserious," Gustav shook his head in disappointment.
"We could try talking to him first though. Based on what they said he isn't someone who just murders people for the fun of it," Endric chimed in from the side.
"I've seen people with this type of ego… talking to him won't help," Gustav refuted.
He knew damn well that a narcissistic person with an agenda would not stop until he was done. Especially one as powerful as him.
"I am not saying we should only try to talk to him… I am saying we distract him by having a conversation that shows no nefarious intention. Then we could implement something that takes him off guard and try to set the Ozis people free," Endric explained logically.
"Hmm… I'm seeing it but we first have to know how to free them, where exactly he is keeping them, and how to get access to wherever that is," Gustav felt they needed more information to come up with a proper plan.
"We don't know how he captures people. He just does according to what I have heard," Osiark voiced.
"That isn't helpful," Gustav stated.
"The only people that would be aware of this must be people who he already took," Milox chimed in.
"We can't just go in blind we need proper understanding. We don't know if it is his ability or if he uses an item. And if it is the latter whereas we prepare a plan thinking it is the former… we will fail," Gustav shook his head.
"I have my universe but I can only pull people within range forcefully into it… even at that you have escaped it before and it takes a lot of power to have living beings within a universe of your creation. Not to mention in millions… He would have to be extremely powerful for that… more powerful than Jack and Mack," Endric analyzed with a contemplative expression.
"Jack and Mack are considered top five in the universe according to the alliance. I have never heard of this Seifiling before. Since he is not on the list, he should be weaker than them but still very powerful regardless. Which means, he isn't using his power?" Gustav also replied in a contemplative tone.
"He must be using a tool," Endric stated with a look of certainty.
"Are you sure?" Gustav inquired.
"90%..." Endric responded.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"What happened to the other ten?" Gustav asked.
"This will be plenty enough… hopefully," Endric responded with a wry tone.
"Hmm, I like to be certain about information before implementing a plan but there's no time. We'll go with what we currently have," Gustav decided.
"Now this is the plan…"
Everyone focused on Gustav as he proceeded to tell them the plan he came up with based on the amount of information they currently had.
After a few minutes, they all gave off expressions of understanding.
"So we're going to get the tool from him then… I hope this works," Vilax said with anticipation.
"If he truly uses a tool, then, it should."
….
….
….
[The Ozious Ring]
A spacecraft could be spotted descending onto a massive ring circulating like an orbital body in space. The ring had an icy color and almost looked like it was made out of gas but that wasn't the case.
It was composed of physical matter and happened to be half the size of a planet.
Just like a planet would, it also had a lower and upper atmosphere. It was where the Ozis survivors had taken refuge.
Volpork, the fifth member of the Ozis team that was sent out over three months before was being welcomed by a line of Handlers as the spacecraft descended.
They didn't know that only a single person had returned out of the five they sent, till he stepped out of the spacecraft.
"Where are the others?"