The Bloodline System

Chapter 1605: Almost There

Authorʼs Note: Unedited Chapter

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Elevora leaned against the edge of the table with a calm but resolute look.

”We donʼt need to gather any intel... You have me, remember?” she stated, glancing at each of them in turn, referencing the many months sheʼd spent infiltrating the Gustavo Alliance.

A spark of realization lit up E.E.ʼs eyes. ”Youʼre right, Vora. Youʼve been on the inside. You know them.”

She nodded stoically as she continued. ”The Gustavo Alliance isnʼt like other organizations. Theyʼre constantly on the move, always shifting, adapting. Many of their bases are on space vessels, traveling through remote sectors to avoid detection. They have a few stationary bases, but theyʼre hidden in some of the most obscure, isolated corners of the galaxy. Places that no one bothers to look.”

Angy furrowed her brows, listening intently. ”So, weʼd be chasing ghosts if we tried to hit every base?”

”Exactly,” Elevora replied. ”The Gustavo Alliance has millions of members, spread across conquered planets, space vessels, and stations. If we go after every member, weʼll exhaust ourselves and achieve nothing. Our focus has to be on the leaders. Take them down, and the rest will crumble.”

Aildris nodded thoughtfully. ”So, who exactly are we targeting? I know there are commanders, but Iʼm guessing thereʼs more to it.”

Elevora leaned forward as she began listing the details. ”There are ninety-two commanders and twenty-seven sovereigns, each one overseeing major bases and factions. Theyʼre spread across the galaxy, coordinating the Allianceʼs movements and ensuring loyalty from the lower ranks. I know where most of them operate from.”

E.E. raised an eyebrow, leaning forward with interest. ”Ninety-two commanders and twenty-seven sovereigns? Quite the lineup. But you know, thatʼs still manageable. We can handle them.”

Elevoraʼs expression darkened as she shook her head. ”Thereʼs more. Above the commanders and sovereigns, there are two individuals—two major arrowheads with authority over everyone else. Theyʼre the real power behind the Allianceʼs agenda, the ones directing its movements and overseeing its operations. Iʼve only heard about them in whispers.

Information about them is tightly controlled, even within the Alliance. I donʼt know where they are, or even what they look like.”

A tense silence settled over the group as they absorbed the information. Aildris broke the quiet, nodding as he laid out a strategy on the table, drawing rough diagrams and maps.

”Alright. Weʼre not going to be able to take them down randomly,” Aildris voiced with a serious tone. ”If we go around slaughtering them left and right, weʼll lose any chance at getting more information on these arrowheads. We need to take out these commanders and sovereigns one at a time, carefully. Weʼll need to make each kill discreet, without alerting the others.”

Elevoraʼs gaze intensified as she nodded in agreement. ”Thatʼs the only way weʼll get closer to the truth. If we cause too much of a stir, theyʼll go into hiding, and weʼll lose any chance of reaching the top.”

Endric cleared his throat, leaning back in his seat. ”You all know I wonʼt be joining you on this. Iʼve got another mission: finding Gustavʼs sword. That has to be my priority. I donʼt have the luxury of sticking around.”

E.E. let out a sigh, scratching the back of his head. ”Figures. We could use your abilities here, Endric, but I get it. Without that sword, Gustav canʼt perform the ritual. Itʼs the missing piece he needs.”

”Exactly,” Endric replied affirmatively. ”If we donʼt find that sword, all of this might be for nothing. Gustav wonʼt be able to fully regain his power, and without that, facing Nocturnis would be a death sentence.”

E.E. crossed his arms, nodding in agreement. ”Alright, so letʼs split up. One half of us goes after the Alliance leaders, taking them down strategically and gathering intel along the way. The other half focuses on finding the sword. Endric, you lead the search for the sword.

The rest of us can handle the Alliance.”

Aildris glanced at Endric with a smirk. ”Seems like a solid plan. You up for it, Endric? Searching every corner of the universe for a single sword isnʼt exactly the easiest mission.”

Endric grinned with an unwavering expression. ”Easy? No. But since when have we ever gone for easy? Iʼll find it. I just need to follow every clue we have and cover as much ground as possible.

And hey, if any of you happen to stumble across a glowing enormous sword in your travels, donʼt hesitate to give me a call.”

Everyone chuckled as the brief moment of levity broke the tension. E.E. vlapped Endric on the back.

”Youʼve got this, Endric. And weʼll be counting on you. Meanwhile, I canʼt wait to start tearing through these Alliance leaders, one by one. They hurt my baby girl.”

Elevora gave him a sidelong glance, before smiling. ”Thanks sweetheart but remember, weʼre not just planning to kill them. Information on the arrowheads is our top priority. If we learn more about them, we might stand a chance against the Allianceʼs higher command. Youʼll have to be calm.”

E.E. winked at her, his playful tone returning. ”Donʼt worry, Vora. Iʼm not as trigger-happy as I look. Calm is my middle name.”

”I thought it was ʼExcessive Annoyingness?” Endric quipped, a grin spreading across his face.

The group burst into laughter upon hearing this.

But as the laughter died down, their expressions grew serious once more. They each understood the enormity of their mission, the danger they were stepping into.

Elevora took a deep breath as she addressed them. ”This isnʼt going to be easy. The Gustavo Alliance has been growing in power for years. And as weʼve seen, some of their members are enhanced by Nocturnisʼs influence. We have to be careful, and we have to stay united.”

Angy nodded, her jaw set. ”Weʼre with you, Elevora. Weʼll do whatever it takes. We canʼt let them keep using Gustavʼs name to justify their agenda. Itʼs time to bring them down.”

One by one, the others voiced their agreement, their resolve solidifying. The Gustavo Alliance would fall, no matter how many obstacles lay in their path.

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Meanwhile, in the far reaches of the universe, Gustav continued his journey toward the second vestige.

He had left his spacecraft behind, knowing the gravitational density in the region would likely crush it if he tried to pilot any closer.

Instead, he was flying through the void, relying on his own strength and resilience to withstand the immense pressures warping the space around him.

The gravitational density was so intense that entire asteroid fields seemed frozen in place, held captive by the twisting forces surrounding the vestigeʼs location.

But Gustavʼs body, strengthened and honed over countless battles and hardships, was built to withstand such extremes. He pushed forward, fixing his gaze on the distant shimmer of light ahead—the faint beacon calling him toward the source of his power.

”Just a bit further,” he muttered to himself.

As he flew, he could feel the vestigeʼs energy growing stronger, resonating with the fragments of power he had already reclaimed.

It was as if the vestiges themselves recognized him, their rightful owner, and called out to him with a silent, potent urgency.

With each passing moment, the gravity around him grew more twisted, warping reality in unpredictable ways.

But Gustavʼs motion was unwavering. He had already endured the harrowing void of Dimension Six, faced Nocturnisʼs dark influence, and survived countless battles. This was just another challenge, another step on the path to reclaiming his true strength.

He pushed forward with a focused and cold gaze as he drew closer to the source of the energy.

The light ahead flickered, casting strange shadows across the fractured terrain of the planet below. He could feel it now—the raw, unfiltered power thrumming beneath the surface, a piece of himself waiting to be reclaimed.

”Almost there,” he murmured once more.

---

Back on Earth, the group prepared to set their plans in motion, dividing their resources and setting their priorities.

Endric gathered his equipment, solely focused on finding the sword. Ria and Sersi seemed bent on joining him but Endric was still skeptical about Sersi. Who knew how dangerous this mission could get.

Elevora, E.E., Aildris, and Angy began discussing the Allianceʼs commanders and sovereigns, reviewing every piece of intel Elevora could provide.

”If we do this right, weʼll dismantle the Alliance from the inside,” Elevora stated with a resolute gaze.

E.E. nodded with a look of seriousness but with a glint of excitement in his eyes. ”And weʼll show them what happens when they mess with the wrong team.”

With their mission clear and their resolve unwavering, they each prepared to face the battles ahead. They wanted to make sure that when Gustav returned, it would be to a universe free from the shadows of Nocturnis corrupted followers within the Gustavo Alliance.

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