My update after chapter 1687: the battle arc ended soon after my previous comment, turns out that these characters including villains were given hundreds of chapters as a field because the arc is more of an "opening" into galaxy and they're the bridges to connect to it so they keep appearing, still the arc was way too long! Prefer the author's non battle arcs.Reading the plot still makes one feel uncomfortable and uneasy, because we're surrounded by a couple of these plotting characters with unclear motives, and no arcs/character developments change their nature. Unlike other novels where such people would turn into MC's friend or ally after a crucial arc, here.. nope, no matter how much you help them or make them your ally, it's more like they help you "for now