The Bloodline System Chapter 1 - How It All Began
The roar of a massive audience echoed through the stadium. Fans were screaming in excitement, their voices rising in a synchronized chant as a specific figure appeared on the colossal screens overlooking the arena.
These giant monitors flickered with images of a battlefield, a landscape scarred by destruction and ruin in every direction.
A squad of five warriors retreated in visible terror as a lone young man closed the distance between them. While the five-man team wore green tactical vests, the approaching youth was clad in striking red gear.
Standing roughly six feet tall with short, dirty blond hair, he possessed a physique that was perfectly balanced—neither overly muscular nor too lean, but leanly toned and athletic.
With an air of cold detachment and effortless grace, he advanced toward the fleeing group. Crimson light began to radiate from his palms. His gaze was icy and aloof as he declared,
"Your journey ends here!"
With those words, he extended his right hand toward his enemies.
Vrreii~
Crimson! Crimson! Crimson! Crimson!
The audience’s rhythmic chanting of the young man’s name intensified as the clash between him and the group finally erupted.
---
‘That’s right, that person is me... I am Gustav Crimson. The path that led me to this moment was paved with agony, disaster, and constant peril, yet it was also a grand adventure.
I started as nothing more than worthless trash, a complete nobody. So,
how did I gain the power to make thousands scream my name in worship and force my rivals to tremble at my very presence? To understand, we must travel back through my memories... back to the very beginning.’
(Author’s note: THIS ISN’T THE END OF THE STORY. IT’S JUST AN INTERMISSION. THE JOURNEY WILL CONTINUE WHEN WE GET TO THIS SCENE IN THE FUTURE!)
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-Three years ago
In a mountainous region enveloped by a thick forest of towering trees, a gentle breeze moved through the air, creating a peaceful atmosphere. From the mountain’s peak, a high-tech city could be seen to the north, its lights shimmering against the darkness of the night.
The view from this height was mesmerizing, with the city lights resembling glowing swarms of fireflies. In the distance, right in the heart of the metropolis, a brilliantly illuminated spire pierced the clouds, reaching toward the heavens.
A teenager dressed in a maroon school uniform stood at the precipice of a cliff, his eyes devoid of hope. His hair was in a state of constant flux, shifting from red to blue, then blue to green, before finally settling on blond.
Tears welled in his eyes as he looked out at the urban sprawl. "What’s the point of existing in this world if my dreams are forever out of reach?" He spoke with a voice heavy with despair, before letting out a self-deprecating laugh. "Haha, listen to me. People like me don't even have the privilege of dreaming."
"I've lived a truly miserable life. I can only hope my next one is better," he muttered, lost in his memories...
Gustav was born into an era where one's bloodline defined their entire worth. His parents were mixedbloods, capable of using their genetic gifts to achieve superhuman feats. However, their bloodline was low-ranked, which meant they were destined to remain average members of society.
When Gustav was born, his parents were convinced he would manifest a high-ranking bloodline. It was common knowledge that when two mixedbloods reproduced, the result was often an evolved bloodline—something incredibly potent and prestigious. Since bloodlines dictated one’s fate and social standing, their expectations were sky-high.
Tragically, Gustav’s evolved bloodline turned out to be the most pathetic one in recorded history. His only "power" was the ability to change the color of his hair.
The disappointment his parents felt was absolute. Gustav, who was only six at the time, watched as his parents' love curdled into resentment. The affection and care he had known since birth vanished instantly. They would often forget to feed him for entire days; if he dared to complain about his hunger, they would sneer at him with pure hatred: "USELESS TRASH! ALL YOU ARE GOOD FOR IS EATING!"
It was difficult for a child to process, but as he grew, he realized society felt the same way. He was a social pariah at school, subjected to relentless bullying. Teachers and students alike ridiculed him. No one cared for him because his bloodline was considered the bottom of the barrel. It was so dismal that even others labeled as "trash" felt lucky compared to him.
Gustav’s aspirations of joining the MBO federation to explore the galaxy and the stars withered away the moment his bloodline awakened.
When Gustav was nearly eight, his mother gave birth to another son. By the time this brother was two, he awakened a high-grade bloodline. His parents were overjoyed, completely discarding Gustav to shower his younger brother with all their devotion. Gustav tried to love his brother, but the feeling was never mutual. "Why am I stuck with a piece of trash like you for a big brother?" the boy would ask.
As the younger brother grew, he adopted the same arrogant contempt as the rest of the world. While the brother was hailed as a prodigy in school and society, Gustav was treated as his polar opposite.
Hated, abused, and broken, Gustav began making frequent trips to the mountains west of Plankton City with the intent to end it all. Yet, despite his suffering, the fear of death held him back. Even though he knew his disappearance would go unnoticed, he couldn't bring himself to jump. He would stare into the abyss, swallowing hard as he imagined his bones shattering against the earth. "My head would just turn into mush," he’d think.
He would retreat, only to return the following day with renewed suicidal resolve, only for his imagination to paralyze him once more.
Today, however, he was determined to go through with it. Standing just inches from the edge, he looked down at the forest floor over a thousand feet below.
Gulp!
"This is where the story of Gustav Oslov concludes!" he screamed toward the heavens. His voice rang out through the mountains, and as if in response, a single star in the sky began to glow with unnatural intensity.
"Huh?" Gustav squinted, noticing the strange phenomenon.
The brightening star was rapidly growing in size.
"What is going on with that star? Why is it getting so big?"
Even at the brink of death, Gustav’s instincts remained sharp.
Among the countless stars in the night sky, this specific one in the northwest was expanding at an alarming rate.
Gustav’s eyes went wide as the reality set in. "Crap, it's not getting bigger. It's falling right toward me!"
Panic replaced his suicidal thoughts, and he turned to flee. "I don't want to die like this! I'll be blown to bits!"
He let out a terrified shriek, glancing over his shoulder at the object streaking toward the cliffside.
Blam!
The luminous projectile slammed into the mountain face.
Crumble! Crumble!
The force of the impact shattered the cliff, creating massive fissures across a fifty-foot radius. Gustav had only managed to run a few paces, leaving him right in the middle of the collapsing zone.
"Kiiaarrrhhh!"
Gustav let out a piercing scream as the ground vanished beneath him, sending him plummeting toward the base of the mountain along with the debris.
The sheer terror and shock caused Gustav to lose consciousness mid-fall, his scream cutting short. Because of this, he never saw the faint crimson spark fly directly into his open mouth as he fell through the air.