The Bloodline System

Chapter 1592: Taking A Moment

Authorʼs Note: Unedited Chapter

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Gustav didnʼt have the power to weave a web as powerful as in the past but he certainly could create one large enough to contain the cracks.

With a slow motion, Gustav raised both hands toward the crack in space. The air around him vibrated with energy, the stars themselves seeming to flicker as his power grew.

Gustavʼs hands began to move, as though he were pulling invisible threads from the very fabric of the cosmos. And then, in the space around him, the dimensional web began to take shape.

It was delicate but unbreakable—a latticework of glowing, shimmering threads that spread out from his fingers and wrapped themselves around the crack in space.

Each thread of the web pulsed with cosmic light, infused with the very essence of Gustavʼs power. He wove the web slowly but surely, layer by layer, creating an intricate network of energy that stretched around the crack. The threads were like strands of reality itself, binding the tear and sealing it within a protective barrier.

As he worked, the crack began to shrink, its dark energy pulled inward by the threads of the web. The once gaping wound in space was now contained, held in place by the shimmering latticework that Gustav had created.

But Gustav wasnʼt finished. He knew that simply sealing the crack wasnʼt enough. He had to create a miniature dimension, a place where the rift could be contained, unable to spread its corruption any further.

He focused, drawing the last of his cosmic energy into his hands. Finally, he closed his hands around the web, and the space around the crack folded in on itself.

The crack disappeared, sealed within a small, glowing dimensional sphere that hovered in the air, held together by the web Gustav had created.

The sphere pulsed with light for a moment, and then it faded, becoming invisible to the naked eye. The crack in space was gone, contained within a pocket dimension of Gustavʼs making.

He lowered himself back to the surface of the planet, his feet touching the ground as the glow around him faded. The dark mist had receded, the fissures were gone, and the crack in space was sealed. Earth was safe, for now.

Angy rushed forward, her face filled with awe and relief. ”Gustav… you did it. You actually sealed the fissures. The crack… itʼs gone.”

Gustav nodded with a light smile. ”Itʼs not over yet. But for now, the planet is safe.”

Angy smiled softly, her eyes filled with admiration. ”Youʼre incredible.”

Angyʼs expression turned serious as she glanced at Gustav, knowing she had to fill him in on everything heʼd missed.

”Gustav, thereʼs a lot you need to know,” she began. ”Things changed a lot after you left.”

Gustav, still processing everything heʼd learned so far, gave her a quiet nod. ”I figured as much. Go on.”

Angy let out a breath, her gaze sweeping over the landscape. ”Grand Commander Shion... heʼs no more.”

Gustav turned to her, a slight narrowing of his eyes. ”Grand Commander Shion? What happened?”

Angyʼs voice was filled with sorrow as she explained. ”He joined the soldiers that were sent to the dark plane. He volunteered to lead them, Gustav. We all thought that if anyone could survive the mission, it would be him. But after they went through that portal... he never came back.

Most of them didnʼt.”

A heavy silence fell between them. Gustav had always respected Grand Commander Shion. The Grand Commander had been a mentor to many, a pillar of strength in their ranks. To hear that he had sacrificed himself in such a way—it was hard to process.

Angy continued with a soft voice. ”Most of our friends are currently off-world, running missions, trying to help with whateverʼs left of the alliance. Itʼs chaotic out there, Gustav. E.E went to a distant planet to ask for help. Everyoneʼs spread thin.”

Gustav let out a slow, controlled breath. ”E.Eʼs off-world too, huh? I expected as much.” His mind wandered briefly to the others he hadnʼt seen in months, wondering what battles they were facing, what losses they had endured.

Angy paused, her eyes searching his face. ”Youʼve been gone for six months, Gustav. It feels like the whole universe has been falling apart while you were away. Things got… really bad.”

”I can see that,” Gustav muttered.

He then looked back at her, his eyes filled with urgency. ”Thereʼs another problem, Angy. Something that make things a whole lot worse.”

She turned fully toward him, sensing the gravity in his tone. ”What is it?”

Gustav took a deep breath as his brow furrowing. ”A sacred item... That happens to be a sword. I need it to complete the ritual to restore my power. I almost had it, but just as I was about to claim it, it was snatched away.”

Angyʼs eyes squinted in suspicion. ”Snatched away? By who?”

”Iʼm not entirely sure,” Gustav admitted. ”But I have a strong suspicion that it was one of the soldiers who returned from the dark plane. Someone whoʼs been completely corrupted by Nocturnis. That crack… that dark energy—itʼs too similar. Now the sword is out there somewhere, and I have to get it back as soon as I can.”

Angyʼs face grew serious as the situation sank in. She understood that the sword Gustav spoke of—the fifth sacred item that held an unimaginable amount of power. It was the same item Endric left to go get many months ago. If someone had taken it, and if that someone was corrupted by Nocturnis… the implications were catastrophic.

She placed a hand on Gustavʼs arm with a look of concern. ”I get it. This is huge. But you just got back. Jumping straight back into this—especially without having a chance to rest—youʼre going to burn yourself out.”

Gustav frowned, clearly torn. ”I donʼt have time to relax, Angy. Every moment I waste is another moment that sword is out there. You saw what alread y happened—the fissures, this corruption. If I donʼt—”

”Gustav,” she interrupted softly, her eyes pleading. ”I know how important this is. But you need to take a moment. Just one moment to breathe. Iʼm not saying stop the fight—Iʼm saying pace yourself. If you rush in now, without resting or thinking clearly, you might not be able to finish this fight at all.”

He hesitated while thinking of everything. But when he looked into Angyʼs eyes, saw the genuine concern there, something in him shifted. She wasnʼt wrong.

He hadnʼt even had a wink of sleep for the last six months and now that he just returned, he hadnʼt taken a single moment to pause, to process everything. Maybe, just maybe, he needed to listen.

After a long moment, Gustav let out a sigh. ”Fine. Iʼll take a moment. But just a moment,” he said with a small, reluctant smile. ”In the meantime, I need the MBO to gather the data on every soldier who was sent to the dark plane. I need to know who came back and what weʼre dealing with.”

Angy smiled softly, relieved that he was at least willing to take a break. ”Thank you. I promise weʼll figure this out, Gustav.”

Gustav nodded, turning to the nearest officer. ”Gather me the list of every soldier drafted for the mission to the dark plane. Bring it to me as soon as possible.”

The officer saluted and hurried off to fulfill the request.

Angy placed a hand on Gustavʼs back and smiled warmly. ”Now, come with me. You need to recharge, and I know just the place.”

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The journey back to Angyʼs parentsʼ house was a brief reprieve from the chaos outside.

They arrived at the quaint, well-kept house that sat in a peaceful, almost untouched part of the city. The air was calmer here and for a moment, Gustav his shoulders ease.

As they stepped inside, they were greeted by Angyʼs parents who both wore warm smiles. Both of them had been worried sick about their daughter during the chaos, but seeing her come home safe and sound was a relief in itself.

”Gustav!” Angyʼs father exclaimed, walking over to clap him on the shoulder. ”Good to see you back, boy. Itʼs been a while.”

Gustav nodded, offering a small smile. ”Itʼs good to see you too, sir.”

Angyʼs mother appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. ”Gustav! I canʼt believe youʼre here. Itʼs been so long. You look thinner—have you been eating properly?”

Gustav chuckled softly, feeling the warmth of being in a familiar, caring environment again. ”Iʼm fine, maʼam. Iʼve just been… busy.”

Gustav couldnʼt recall the last time he had a proper meal. All he ate since he went on the journey to dimension six were snacks.

Before anyone else could say anything, a large figure darted into the room—a teenager with bright eyes and a mischievous grin. Philip, Angyʼs little brother, practically launched himself at Gustav, wrapping his arms around Gustavʼs waist and lifting him.

”Welcome back, big brother Gustav! Fight any bad guys while you were away?”

Gustav laughed while ruffling the boyʼs hair. ”Iʼve been fighting plenty of bad guys but Philip but youʼre too big for this...” He slowly pulled back from Philip.