The Bloodline System

Author's Note: Unedited Chapter

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"What are you saying?" Gustav's voice was low as his eyes glinted intensely. "Who are these enemies? Why don't they want me to regain my power?"

"They are beings like Ehyrian, Cosmic Superior beings who have glimpsed the memories of the deities," The monoliths' voices grew heavier, vibrating the air around Gustav. "When they reached their level of power, they saw the devastation and tyranny wrought by the deities, and they vowed that no being would ever reach that level of strength again."

Gustav's brows furrowed. "So they want to stop me because they're afraid I'll turn out like the deities? While knowing I put an end to them in the past? That's ridiculous. I'm nothing like them."

"They do not care for your intent," the monoliths replied. "They fear the power itself. And they have worked in secret to weaken you in this life, to strip you of even the fragments of your Outworldly strength."

The weight of their words hit Gustav like a hammer. "Are you saying my lack of power at birth wasn't a coincidence? That someone deliberately made me ordinary?"

"Yes," the monoliths confirmed. "When you were reborn, you should have retained a fraction of your Outworldly power, a tiny spark that would have guided you to your full potential. But it was taken from you. Suppressed by forces that do not wish to see you rise again."

Gustav eyed narrowed as he made a low hmph. "Who are these beings? Tell me their names. Tell me where to find them."

"We cannot," the monoliths said regretfully. "Their identities are hidden even from us. But know this: they are just as dangerous as Nocturnis. These beings seek to ensure that even he is destroyed. They will not tolerate the presence of beings being too powerful so they are currently pulling strings in the shadows."

Gustav took a deep breath. "And Ehyrian? Why is he no more?"

The central monolith's face softened slightly. "Ehyrian believed in you, Outworldly. He foresaw that you would be needed to protect the universe from the chaos that threatens it just as you have once done. He knew that only an Outworldly could defeat Nocturnis and the enemies beyond. And more importantly, he knew that his old friends would have no chance against Nocturnis if they got rid of you. That is why he entrusted his legacy to us, to guide you when the time came."

Gustav felt gratitude for a being he had never met. "Tell me what I need to do. How do I stop these enemies?"

The stillness of the strange dimension was broken as a small crimson cube materialized in the air.

It's surface pulsed faintly as though alive. Gustav's sharp eyes tracked its movements as it floated toward him, suspended by unseen forces.

"What is this?" Gustav voice was filled with suspicion as he extended his hand toward the cube.

"Ehyrian left this for you, Outworldly," the monoliths intoned in unison causing their deep voices to resonate across the higher dimension. "This artifact is a fragment of his knowledge, his insight, and his power. It will guide you in the trials to come."

Gustav hesitated for a moment before clasping the cube. The instant his fingers made contact, a surge of energy coursed through his arm, and his system interface lit up with a cascade of notifications.

---

""System Integration...""

[ System Alert: Synchronization detected. Integrating new subsystem... ]

[ Relic Identified: Ehyrian Core ]

[ Synchronization Progress: 12%... 46%... 89%... Complete ]

[ Warning: Incomplete Access – Additional Vestiges Required ]

---

Gustav's eyes narrowed as he examined the notifications. He had grown accustomed to the system's cryptic nature, but this felt… different.

"What the hell is this?" he muttered with a look of suspicion.

The system had never acted this way before.

The monoliths loomed larger with their expressions unreadable yet heavy with ancient wisdom. "It is the first key to uncovering your other enemies," they explained. "Ehyrian created the core with the last vestiges of his strength. It will help you unlock what has been hidden from you and prepare you for what lies ahead."

"Why does it feel like the system is tied to this?" Gustav questioned with a sharp tone. "You're not telling me everything. What does this have to do with the system in my body? Was that Ehyrian's doing too?"

The monoliths' faces shifted slightly, a faint sense of reluctance visible in their stony features. "The system within you is... of Ehyrian's creation. If you wish to know more, it will be revealed during your travels."

Gustav's jaw clenched. "So, Ehyrian was the creator of the system this whole time? And the stupid thing wouldn't tell me. How much more has been hidden from me?"

"There is no time for more explanations, Outworldly," the monoliths voices resonated with urgency. You must return. The enemies you face will not wait, and the balance of the universe is fragile. The Core will guide you. Trust in it and in your growing strength."

Before Gustav could press further, he felt a strange force tugging at him, pulling him away from the chaotic dimension.

The monoliths' faces began to blur, their final words echoing in his ears.

"Ehyrian believed in you, Outworldly. We believe in you. Go now and fulfill your destiny."

With a final surge of energy, the dimension dissolved around him, into a vortex of light and shadow. Gustav felt himself hurtling through the fabric of space.

His body spun as the pull intensified. Then, with a flash, he reappeared in outer space.

The familiar expanse of stars and darkness stretched around him.

-

Gustav floated momentarily in the void with his breathing steady as his sharp eyes scanned his surroundings. His spacecraft, still anchored in place, hovered nearby. Its polished surface reflected the faint starlight in the distance.

He floated back toward the craft with his body glowing faintly with residual energy from the Crimson Core's integration. As he reentered the spacecraft, the system interface in his vision displayed new notifications.

[ Synchronization Stabilized. Ehyrian Core Functional. ]

[ New Objectives Unlocked: Decipher the Path | Reclaim the Vestiges | Discover the Truth ]

Sitting in the captain's chair, Gustav rested his chin on his hand as a whirlwind of thoughts swam through his mind.The whispers of the monoliths still lingered in his ears... their cryptic warnings and revelations.

"So, Nocturnis isn't the only one I need to worry about, huh?" he muttered to himself. "Cosmic Superiors… enemies who don't want me to regain my power… Ehyrian's sacrifice… This just keeps getting better."

"Fine. If they're afraid of me, then they should be. I'm not letting anyone have what is mine..." Gustav stated.
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Gustav stood alone in the cockpit of his spacecraft with his arms crossed and his gaze locked on the endless void of stars beyond the glass.

"And you… how long are you going to stay in there? You'd better get out here and give me a good explanation."

To an unsuspecting observer, it might have seemed like Gustav was speaking to himself, but he knew better.

His sharp eyes flicked to the empty air beside him. Moments later, a shimmer of red light appeared, swirling into a feminine form. The system's physical manifestation materialized—a teenage girl with fiery red hair, wearing her signature flowing red dress.

Her playful demeanor was written all over her face, but Gustav's icy glare made her pause.

"Oh, come on, Gusty! I didn't think you'd miss me so much you'd call me out like this," the system teased with her hands clasped behind her back as she gave him an exaggerated grin.

Gustav didn't flinch. "Cut the act," he snapped. "Why didn't you tell me?"

The system tilted her head, feigning confusion. "Tell you what?"

Gustav's voice sharpened. "That you were created by Ehyrian. You've been with me for over four years, and you never thought to mention that little detail?"

Her playful grin faded. The system's crimson eyes met his. "It wasn't my place to reveal that, Gustav," she said softly.

Gustav took a step closer, his towering frame dwarfing her smaller figure. "Not your place? You've been inside me, guiding me, making decisions that affect my life, and yet you kept something this important from me? Don't you think I deserve to know?"

The system shifted uncomfortably. "Ehyrian's legacy isn't something I could just… blurt out," she admitted. "There's a time and place for everything. It wasn't the right time before."

"And now is?" Gustav shot back with a slightly sarcastic tone. "Now, after I've already met those monoliths, after they've revealed more about you than you ever have?"

The system opened her mouth to respond but faltered. Her usual confidence waned under his scornful gaze. "I…"

"No excuses," Gustav interrupted.

His voice was cold, his disappointment evident. "I've trusted you, relied on you, and yet you've been keeping secrets from me this entire time like you always do."

The system shoulders dropped slightly. "I'm sorry but I do not regret my actions," she said quietly. "Some truths… they come with risks. If you had known everything too soon, it might have changed the way you approached your journey. It might have put you in danger."

Gustav turned away and exhaled heavily. "I could get rid of you, you know," he muttered with a measured but cold tone. "I have the power to sever our partnership right here and now. I don't need you to finish this task. I can pursue it on my own."