The Bloodline System

Author's Note: Unedited Chapter

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Endric nodded slowly with a grim expression. "She's right. The standard paths won't get us there fast enough. We'll take the forbidden routes."

Ria threw his hands up dramatically. "Great. Just what I wanted—dodging death traps while trying not to get vaporized in the middle of space."

Sersi smirked. "Look at it this way: you'll finally have an adventure worth bragging about."

The ship's engines roared to life as they veered off the standard intergalactic path. The forbidden routes were uncharted, unpredictable, and filled with anomalies that could obliterate even the most advanced ships. As they entered the first stretch, the atmosphere in the cabin grew tense.

"Scanning the area," Endric announced, his fingers dancing across the console. His voice was steady, but his shoulders were tight. "We're heading into a cluster of gravitational anomalies. They're strong enough to pull us into a black hole if we're not careful."

"Lovely," Ria muttered, gripping the edge of his seat. "Why don't we just paint a target on the ship while we're at it?"

"Focus," Endric snapped. "Sersi, monitor the energy shields. If they drop below 60%, we're pulling out."

Sersi nodded, her fingers deftly adjusting the ship's defense systems. "Got it. Shields at 95% for now, but these gravitational fluctuations are intense. We'll have to tread carefully."

The ship began to shake violently as they entered the anomaly cluster. Streams of warped light surrounded them, bending and twisting as the gravitational forces tugged at the vessel.

"Increase thrust to 120%," Endric commanded. "We need to counteract the pull."

Ria quickly adjusted the controls, his usually playful demeanor replaced with focused determination. "Thrust increased. Let's hope this ship doesn't rip apart."

The ship lurched forward, narrowly avoiding a swirling vortex that appeared out of nowhere. The lights inside flickered as the shields absorbed a massive impact.

"Shields down to 72%!" Sersi called out. "We need to get through this cluster fast, or we're toast."

"Almost there," Endric said through gritted teeth, his eyes glued to the navigational charts. "Just hold it together a little longer."

The ship twisted and turned, dodging vortexes and gravitational surges with barely a moment to spare. Finally, they burst out of the cluster, the light around them stabilizing as they returned to normal space.

"Shields at 55%," Sersi reported, exhaling in relief. "That was too close."

"One down," Endric said, his tone grim. "Two more routes to go."

---

### **The Second Route**

The second forbidden route was known as the **Oblivion Veil**, a stretch of space shrouded in thick, impenetrable darkness. No light could penetrate the veil, and any ship entering it had to rely entirely on sensors and instinct.

"Endric, tell me you've got a plan for this," Ria said, staring nervously at the black expanse ahead. "Because I'm not exactly thrilled about flying blind."

"I'm working on it," Endric replied, activating the ship's advanced sensors. "The key is to move slowly and stay close to the energy signature of the veil. Straying too far from it could... well, let's just not stray."

Sersi leaned forward, her silver eyes glowing faintly. "I'll keep the shields reinforced, but we'll need to conserve energy. This place is a black hole for power."

As they entered the veil, the darkness enveloped them completely. The ship's external lights were useless, swallowed by the void. The only sounds were the hum of the engines and the faint beeping of the sensors.

"Stay on course," Endric instructed. "We're following the signature. If you see any sudden energy spikes, alert me immediately."

Minutes felt like hours as they inched forward through the darkness. The air inside the ship felt heavy, the oppressive silence amplifying every creak and groan of the vessel.

"I hate this," Ria muttered. "Feels like we're being watched."

"You're not wrong," Sersi said, her eyes scanning the monitors. "I'm picking up faint life signs. Multiple, actually."

"On screen," Endric ordered.

The monitor flickered to life, displaying blurry shapes moving in the darkness around them. The figures were humanoid but distorted, their movements unnatural.

"Energy shields up to maximum," Endric said sharply. "Prepare for evasive maneuvers."

Before they could react, the shapes lunged at the ship, their elongated limbs striking the hull with incredible force. The ship rocked violently, alarms blaring as the shields absorbed the impact.

"Shields at 38%!" Sersi shouted. "We can't take much more of this!"

"Ria, take the controls!" Endric barked. "Get us out of here, now!"

Ria grabbed the controls, weaving the ship through the darkness as more figures attacked. Sersi worked frantically to stabilize the shields, while Endric activated the ship's weapons systems.

"Targeting the energy signatures," Endric said, firing a barrage of plasma bolts. The projectiles lit up the darkness briefly, revealing dozens of the strange creatures swarming toward them.

"We're not gonna make it," Ria yelled. "The exit's still too far!"

"Yes, we will," Endric said firmly. "Sersi, reroute all non-essential power to the engines. Ria, prepare for a full-speed burst."

"But the shields—"

"Just do it!" Endric snapped.

Sersi quickly rerouted the power, and Ria pushed the engines to their limit. The ship surged forward, leaving the creatures behind as they broke free of the veil.

---

### **The Final Stretch**

They emerged into a stretch of open space, the stars shining brightly around them. The silence was deafening after the chaos of the veil, but the relief was short-lived.

"Shields at 12%," Sersi reported, slumping back in her chair. "We're barely holding it together."

"That was... horrifying," Ria said, his hands still gripping the controls. "Please tell me that was the worst of it."

Endric checked the navigational charts, his face pale but determined. "We're almost there. One last push, and we'll reach the real planet."

The team exchanged weary but resolute looks. They had survived the forbidden routes, but the hardest part was yet to come. As the ship powered forward, the distant silhouette of the planet came into view, a stark reminder of the monumental task ahead.

---ss

Miss Aimee didn't respond immediately. Instead, she continued walking forward, with confident and deliberate strides.

Gustav watched in surprise as the magma-like liquid began to part before her, creating a narrow path through the molten sea.

Gustav's eyes widened in astonishment. "Miss Aimee, what are you doing? I thought you said not to use abilities."

Miss Aimee glanced back at him with a calm smile on her face. "Gustav, I am a transcendent being. My abilities won't affect the integrity of this planet's fragile core. I can create a path for us."

Gustav hesitated for a moment before following her, carefully stepping onto the newly formed path.

The heat radiating from the magma was intense, but the path Miss Aimee created was cool and solid under his feet.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Gustav asked as they walked, his voice a mixture of relief and curiosity.

Miss Aimee's smile widened. "I wanted you to see the magnitude of what we are dealing with. Sometimes, experiencing the journey firsthand is the best way to understand the challenges we face."

Gustav nodded, absorbing her words. "So, where are we headed now?"

"To the heart of this place," Miss Aimee replied. "The path will lead us to it."

They continued walking, the path winding through the sea of molten liquid. The glowing magma cast eerie shadows on the cavern walls, creating a surreal and otherworldly atmosphere. Gustav couldn't help but marvel at the sight, even as he remained vigilant for any signs of danger.

As they walked, Gustav's mind raced with questions. "Miss Aimee, what exactly are we looking for down here?" Stay updated via empire

"We'll know when we see it," Miss Aimee answered.

Gustav was just curious as to what to look out for but it seemed like Miss Aimee wasn't too sure herself.

As Gustav and Miss Aimee continued their journey forward, the magma-like liquid continued to part before them, creating a pathway that snaked through the vast expanse of molten rock.

The walls of magma rose on either side, forming a corridor that shimmered with intense heat and light. Despite the treacherous surroundings, Gustav felt a sense of calm. His trust in Miss Aimee's abilities were unwavering.

They walked in silence for what seemed like hours, the only sounds being the bubbling of the magma and the soft tap of their own footsteps.

The path beneath their feet gradually began to change, shifting from the rough, uneven surface of the chasm to something more refined and constructed. The ground took on a smoother texture, and intricate patterns began to emerge, etched into the very rock itself.

Gustav paused, glancing around in awe. "The ground here... its... Unscathed."

Miss Aimee nodded. "Yes, kiddo. We're getting closer."

As they continued, the refined ground gave way to an expansive platform that stretched out before them.

It was incredibly large, its surface unscathed by the surrounding magma. The platform's structure was nearly indescribable. It was a blend of intricate patterns and futuristic designs that seemed both ancient and advanced.

At the center of the platform stood a structure that seemed to defy the very fabric of reality. It was both in time and out of time, a paradoxical blend of past and future.

Various technological constructs adorned its surface, their designs sleek and incredibly advanced. Holographic interfaces flickered with streams of data, and strange, glowing symbols adorned the walls.

Gustav's eyes widened in astonishment. "Is this it?"