The Bloodline System

Chapter 1506: It Was A Trap

Authorʼs Note: Unedited Chapter

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In the void of his own consciousness, Gustavʼs focus was razor-sharp. He could feel the darkness spreading through his core.

It pulsed like a living entity, ready to consume him the moment he let his guard down. Isolating it was his only option, and he worked tirelessly to curb it.

”I have to keep it contained.”

Gustavʼs mind flickered with the memory of—E.E, Endric, Aildris, and Falco.

The danger ahead based on the visions. He didnʼt even know if it had happened yet but he knew he had to find a way to help them. He concentrated harder, pushing the darkness to one side of him. It felt like trying to hold back a flood with a fragile dam, but he was determined.

With a monumental effort, he finally managed to isolate the darkness to a corner of his consciousness. The pressure eased slightly, but he knew it was only temporary. The darkness thrashed against its mental prison, desperate to break free.

Gustav knew he couldnʼt regain consciousness yet because he risked letting it free but there was something else he could do right now...

”Time to reach Jack,” his consciousness voice rang through the space.

Using his mental transmission ability, Gustav extended his consciousness outward, searching for a link.

The effort was taxing, especially with the darkness constantly pushing against his mental barriers.

He could sense every living being in close proximity with his body at this moment but he couldnʼt sense Jack.

He further spread his ability outwards enveloping a gargantuan range just to find Jack.

”Jack...Jack, can you hear me?” Gustav projected his thoughts as strongly as he could.

In the physical world, Jack was somewhere in the MBO tower.

His mind was a fortress due to his incredible strength but as he walked through one of the corridors, he suddenly felt a faint mental touch.

Jack determined that it wasnʼt malicious and decided not to block it out.

-”Jack, itʼs Gustav. Can you hear me?” The voice was faint but unmistakable.

Jack paused as his eyes narrowed while he focused on the mental link. ”Gustav? How are you contacting me? Youʼre supposed to be unconscious.”

-”I donʼt have much time,” Gustavʼs mental voice came through albeit strained. ”I need your help. My friends...theyʼre heading into the Allianceʼs base. E.E, Endric, Aildris, and Falco. They donʼt know what theyʼre walking into. I saw a vision so I know theyʼll be in trouble, I need you to save them.”

Jackʼs expression hardened. ”What are they doing there?”

-”They went to save Ria. You must have heard how one of my friends just captured.”

”That wasnʼt a smart move. The alliance isnʼt a place to just waltz into even for me... It would cause too many problems,” Jack replied while shaking his head.

”Please, Jack,” Gustav pleaded as his mental voice wavered with desperation.

”Theyʼre in danger because of me. I would have done it myself but you know why I canʼt.”

Jack sighed. ”Alright, Gustav. Iʼll see what I can do. But if they get caught, thatʼs it.”

-”Thank you. How many days has it been?” Gustav inquired.

”Four days since you lost consciousness,” Jack responded.

-”Damn it! They left on the same day I interrupted you and Angyʼs battle. You need to go now!*

”Iʼll do my best,” Jack replied while severing the connection.

Back in the void, Gustav felt the strain of the effort. The darkness surged against its confines, sensing his momentary lapse in focus.

He quickly reinforced his mental barriers, pushing the darkness back into its isolated corner. His consciousness was fatigued but he couldnʼt afford to let his guard down.

”Now, itʼs up to Jack,” he muttered.

---

Angy stood in the facility where Gustav was being held. She seemed to have been summoned here.

Scientists in white lab coats moved around purposefully as one would expect, noting down all sorts of data.

Gustav remained unconscious behind a transparent glass wall. His body was strapped to a and invisible wall force with restraints. Dark marks continuously moved across his skin like living tattoos.

The sight was still heart-wrenching for Angy, but she forced herself to stay composed.

She had been giving the scientists details of what she remembered since her own ordeal began, hoping it might help them find a way to aid Gustav.

Her mind was a whirl of fragmented memories and the haunting, dark voice that had driven her actions.

”Can you tell us more about your time in the other plane? How exactly did you feel?” one of the scientists asked while hands glided across a tablet.

Angy took a deep breath. ”It was... sinister. I canʼt remember much but my thoughts were mosyly driven in one direction. Everything was dark but even in the dark I could see...”

Any continued to talk about what she could recall while Wnother scientist scribbled notes furiously. ”And do you remember any specific instructions or moments of clarity during that time?”

Angy shook her head. ”Not really... it was all a blur. Just flashes of command and an inbuilt reverence to the Lord...”

As the scientists continued their questioning, Jack entered the room.

The room seemed to hold its breath as he walked in. He approached Angy with an unreadable expression while asking the scientists to leave.

”Jack,” Angy said with a look of curiosity. ”Did something happen?”

Jack leaned in closer with a low tone. ”Gustav reached out to me. He said he needed help.”

Angyʼs eyes widened. ”Gustav contacted you? How? Heʼs unconscious.”

”Through mental transmission,” Jack replied. ”He warned me about his friends heading into dangerous territory. Iʼm leaving soon to assist them.”

Angy frowned, feeling a pang of frustration as she wondered why he didnʼt ask her. ”I want to help, too. Let me come with you.”

Jack shook his head firmly. ”Itʼs not necessary, Angy. Stay here and focus on helping Gustav. I just decided to inform you because I believe theyʼre your friends too and for you to be careful since I will be briefly off the planet.”

”But I—” Angy began, but Jack cut her off.

”This isnʼt up for debate,” Jack said, his tone leaving no room for argument. ”Gustav needs you here. If thereʼs anything that can be done to help him, itʼs making sure he has someone on his side within these walls.”

Angy clenched her fists. ”Fine. But promise me youʼll bring them back safely.”

”I will try.”

As Jack left the room, Angy couldnʼt help but feel useless.

She decided she would try her best to assist from the sidelines.

---

Within the alliance,Endric, Aildris, Falco, and E.E. moved through rows of high rectangular shaped structures.

Their footsteps echoed softly against the mirror like floors as they passed another checkpoint using their fake identification.

It turned out that the more deeper parts needed clarification and access. Fortunately, they hadnʼt been figured out yet.

After moving for ages, yhey finally arrived at the cell they had been searching for.

”There it is,” Falco whispered while pointing towards a reinforced glass cell at the end of the corridor. ”Cell Block d-7 Thatʼs where theyʼre keeping Ria.”

E.E. nodded. ”Letʼs get him out of here.”

They approached the cell cautiously, avoiding the others that had unknown mixtures of species within.

They saw Ria, appearing calm but somewhat weary within the cell.

The sight of him brought a wave of relief to the group.

”Ria!” E.E called softly, not wanting to alert any guards. ”Weʼre here to get you out.”

Ria looked up as his expression softened into a smile. ”You guys made it. I knew you would.”

E.E. quickly moved to the control panel beside the cell, his fingers flying over the holographic interface. ”Hold on, just a second. Iʼll have you out of there.”

As he worked while making use of the high grade tech he had swiped from the MBO tower, Aildris and Falco kept watch for any sign of approaching danger.

”Got it,” E.E. said, as the rectangular transparent door vanished. ”Letʼs move.”

Ria face beamed up as stepped out. However, just as he did, his form flickered and then vanished, revealing nothing but empty space behind him.

”What the...?” Falco started, but he was cut off by the sudden blaring of alarms echoing throughout the facility.

”Attention! Intruders detected in Sector 7. All units, converge immediately,” a disembodied voice announced over the intercom.

”It was a trap!” Endric shouted. ”That was just a hologram!”

”No it wasnʼt a hologram... He was here and then he wasnʼt. That was spatial abilities... Shit, they knew we would come,” E.E voiced with widened eyes.

The realization hit them hard. They had been duped, and now they were surrounded. The walls themselves seemed to pulse with the alarm, and they could hear the sound of approaching footsteps—lots of them.

Aildris looked around as his eyes narrowed. ”We need to move, now!”

They sprinted down the corridor, but it wasnʼt long before Alliance corps members appeared at the other end.

Members with blue uniforms and emblem of a hand holding the universe...

”Hold it right there!” one of the corps members shouted, raising his blaster.