The Bloodline System

Chapter 1462: Karis Appearance

Authorʼs Note: Unedited Chapter

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”However, boss... There have been sightings of powerful forces present in the sector.”

Zenithʼs interest peaked almost immediately.

”That could be trouble. Keep a close watch; I donʼt want any surprises. Iʼll be leaving soon to broker the deal with the Calrissian delegates. Itʼs delicate and needs my personal touch.”

As he concluded his directives, instructing one of his underlings to assemble a team with specific capabilities for an upcoming secretive operation, the tranquility of the meeting was shattered by a sudden, resounding crash.

Bang!

The metal doors at the far end of the warehouse burst inward, revealing a group of five.

They appeared to be humanoid in physique. All except for one in a Triton guard uniform.

”Secure the exits!” Zenith barked, as his well-trained crew scrambled into defensive positions, pulling tech weapons from concealed holsters and activating defensive shields.

But before the skirmish could escalate, Gustav himself appeared from a side entrance, moving with such unexpected swiftness that he seemed to materialize out of thin air. He bypassed the chaotic melee and headed straight for Zenith who was trying to flee.

”Going somewhere?” Gustavʼs voice boomed through the warehouse as he grabbed the crime lord, his grip iron-tight.

Zenith struggled, his strength considerable, but incomparable to that of Gustavʼs.

”Let me go! You donʼt know what youʼre meddling with!”

Gustav tightened his grip, pulling Zenith closer. ”I know exactly what Iʼm messing with.”

As Zenithʼs lieutenants watched their boss being subdued, a brief hesitation fell among them; their leader, the linchpin of their operations, was compromised.

”Restraints! Donʼt let any get away!” Endric stated.

Aildris opened his eyes and colorful, glowing strings wrapped around every single one of them, Zenith included.

The warehouse had become a scene of total control by Gustav. Ria moved efficiently, disarming the lieutenants while Falco kept an eye on the perimeter, ensuring no reinforcements could surprise them.

Zenith, now caught and restrained, glared at Gustav.

”What do you think youʼre doing? Do you know who I am?” he barked at Gustav, trying to regain some semblance of control over the situation. His voice carried a mix of arrogance and a thinly veiled anxiety.

Gustav, unfazed by the bravado, replied coolly, ”I know exactly who you are, Zenith. And I know what youʼre capable of. But right now, youʼre the one in restraints, not me.”

Zenith scoffed, his worry creeping deeper as he recognized the calm confidence in Gustavʼs posture—a clear indicator that he was no ordinary foe.

”I have an army at my disposal. You think you can just walk in here, restrain me, and there wonʼt be consequences?”

Gustav leaned in, his voice steady.

”I only want two things, Zenith. Karis and the Rion.”

Zenith let out a hollow laugh, his earlier confidence waning as he processed the implications.

”Karis? That makes two of us then,” he said, his tone laced with sarcasm.

His words were proof that he was aware of Karisʼs possession of the Rion.

Gustavʼs brow furrowed in confusion.

”Youʼre supposed to be working with her. If thatʼs the case, hand them both over.”

Zenith shook his head, a genuine chuckle escaping him despite his predicament. ”I donʼt have them. Youʼre barking up the wrong tree.”

”Explain,” Gustav demanded, his patience thinning. ”Youʼre supposed to be in cahoots with her. How do you not have what Iʼm looking for?”

Zenith sighed, realizing that there was no point in withholding the truth any longer since he had been captured.

”Karis and I... we were partners, yes, but that was years ago. Our last heist together didnʼt end well—for her. I thought sheʼd come to me with the Rion, looking to cash in so we could split the profits. Seems she learned from the past, too.”

Gustav crossed his arms, intrigued despite himself.

”What happened in the past?”

Zenithʼs eyes drifted to a spot on the dusty floor, his mind replaying the events. ”I betrayed her. During our last big score, I let the authorities have her. Thought I could wipe out the competition. She was arrested and spent years being transferred from one maximum security vessel to another. Triton vessels, mostly.”

Gustav listened, his understanding of the situation deepening. Zenithʼs revelation had added a layer of complexity to Karisʼs motives and slightly explained her current movements.

”If sheʼs avoiding you, then sheʼs likely working alone or with someone else. Someone who isnʼt you,” Gustav mused aloud, piecing together the scattered information into a clearer picture.

Zenith nodded, a bitter smile twisting his features.

”Exactly. And knowing Karis, she wonʼt stop until sheʼs played her hand. If she hasnʼt come to me with the Rion, sheʼs planning to use it for something... bigger.”

Gustav turned back to his group, signaling them to keep searching the area for any more clues.

”We need to find her before she strikes. Any idea where she might head?”

Zenith laughed weakly, the irony of the situation not lost on him.

”If I knew that, Iʼd be chasing her myself. But Karis is a ghost—she doesnʼt want to be found, especially not by me.”

Gustav nodded, processing the information.

”But youʼre her best bet at selling the Rion, and if she had gone to another person, youʼd be aware because you have eyes everywhere, right?” Gustavʼs tone was pointed, cutting through the stagnant air with its sharpness.

Zenith nodded reluctantly, a trace of unease flickering across his features.

”Yes, thatʼs correct. My network is extensive.”

Gustav, sensing a shift in the undercurrents of the conversation, leaned in closer. ”Did you ever consider the fact that Karis might be after your life?”

The mention jolted Zenith, his eyes widening as he processed the implications. After a moment of intense reflection, he conceded, ”You might be right. It never crossed my mind, but considering our past... itʼs possible.”

At that moment, Gustavʼs demeanor changed as he activated an ability.

[ God Eyes Have Been Activated ]

His irises swirled into a mesmerizing blend of gold, crimson, and green glows, casting an eerie light in the dimly lit room.

The room fell silent as Gustavʼs eyes began their scan. The operatives watched in awe and confusion as his gaze swept across the warehouse. With the power of God Eyes, nothing could escape Gustavʼs sight.

His gaze moved methodically, sweeping through the cluttered spaces of the warehouse, past the superficial layers, and into the core of its structure.

As his supernatural vision pierced through a seemingly innocuous corner of the premises, he caught a glimpse of a feminine figure cleverly camouflaged within the shadows.

The figure seemed to be using an ability that was hidden from perception, which was why none of them had been aware of her presence the entire time.

The figure, sensing detection, made a swift move to flee, her movements a blur to the ordinary eye but clear as day to Gustav.

Gustav vanished from his position, reappearing almost instantaneously beside the fleeing figure.

With a swift motion, he grasped her arm, halting her escape, and dragged her into the light, to the center of the warehouse. The sudden appearance of the two caused a collective gasp among the group.

Gustavʼs grip was firm as he addressed the captive, ”Karis, I presume?”

The woman, now unable to hide her identity, met Gustavʼs gaze defiantly. Her appearance was striking.

Her skin was a pale, iridescent color that caught the light with a subtle shimmer, reminiscent of a pearl.

Her eyes were the most captivating aspect of her visage. Larger than human eyes, they gleamed with a vibrant teal color, speckled with tiny flecks of gold that sparkled under direct light. The pupils were vertically slit, hinting at her alien lineage, and they dilated or contracted with a precision that seemed almost mechanical, adapting instantaneously to changes in light.

Karisʼs hair flowed down her back in a cascade of soft waves, the color a deep blue that at times appeared almost black. The tips of her hair occasionally emitted a faint glow, particularly when she was agitated or excited.

She had an angular facial structure with high cheekbones and a slender jawline that gave her a regal and authoritative appearance. Her ears were slightly pointed, more pronounced than a humanʼs, and from the tips hung delicate, bioluminescent earrings that complemented her natural glow.

Her hands were slender, with elongated fingers tipped with nails that resembled smooth, polished opal.

”Yes, Iʼm Karis. Seems my luck has finally run out,” she said, her voice steady despite the precarious situation.

Zenith, witnessing the unfolding scene, felt a mix of shock and betrayal.

”Karis... here to kill me, after all these years?”

The air in the dimly lit warehouse was heavy with tension and unspoken grievances as Karis faced Vlaid Zenith, her expression a mixture of scorn and profound hurt.

”You realize what you did by betraying me, Vlaid?” Karisʼs voice was low, almost a whisper, but it carried through the space with chilling clarity.

Zenith, still reeling from the shock of her sudden appearance and capture, looked at her, confusion and realization dawning in his eyes.

”Karis, I— You should have seen it coming. I taught you the ways of this world is full of blood and treachery so—”

”Did you even know?” Karis cut him off, stepping closer, her presence imposing despite her physical restraints. ”When you turned me in, did you know I was carrying your child?”