The Bloodline System Chapter 3 - System Interface

Previously on The Bloodline System...

Gustav, after surviving a fall, discovered a mysterious system that offered him power or death. He accepted just as an unknown man appeared, attempting to abduct him. Before the man could capture him, the system activated, transporting Gustav away as the man pondered his escape. Meanwhile, a team of officials investigated the partially destroyed mountain Gustav had fallen from.

A figure clad in medical scrubs, spectacles perched on his nose, approached the man dressed in an azure suit.

"Other than the initial impact site, we've found nothing here. This is proving to be a waste of time," he reported in a hushed tone.

"Are you suggesting that after such a massive energy surge was recorded in this sector, nothing remains?... That is impossible!" the man in the azure suit barked back.

"It might seem that way, but it is the reality of the situation," the medic countered. "We have scoured the area for the entire night, and not a single trace of energy can be detected," he added.

The azure-suited man fell into deep thought as he paced forward. "Seal off this forest and conduct a total sweep of the perimeter!" he commanded. "No one enters or leaves this forest! Anyone caught in this vicinity is to be detained for observation and interrogation!"

As soon as the orders were issued, the four guards standing behind him bolted in different directions, disappearing into the thick forest.

"I require every bit of power and resource I can grasp right now!" the man in the azure suit declared, his expression solemn as he clasped his hands behind his back.

The medic behind him could only shake his head, letting out a weary sigh at those words.

It was this very sequence of events that led to the predicament Gustav now faced.

----

Inside a dimly lit room, a teenage boy wearing a maroon school uniform lay within a small tub positioned in the center. He was trapped in a heavy slumber; his hair shifted colors incessantly, and his eyelids twitched as if he were gripped by a persistent discomfort.

[System update integration – 12%]

[Host has been granted BLESSINGS OF THE RESTORATION!]

[Host has been granted RECREATION!]

[Host has been granted TOXIN IMMUNITY!]

[System update integration – 24%]

[Host has unlocked the function: BLOODLINE UPGRADE!]

[Host has unlocked the function: BLOODLINE DOWNGRADE!]

---

The chime of notifications rang in Gustav’s ears throughout his sleep. Had he been conscious, he would have witnessed the entire transformation.

---

-Twelve hours later-

[System update integration – 97%]

[Host has unlocked the function: QUESTS!]

[Host has unlocked the function: DAILY TASKS!]

[System update integration – 99.9%]

[System update integration – 100%]

[System update complete!]

The moment Gustav’s eyes snapped open, these words were the first things to manifest in his field of vision.

Startled, he tried to scramble back, only to crack his head against the rim of the tub.

"Ouch! So... that wasn’t just a dream?" he muttered to himself, the memories of the past twenty-four hours rushing back.

[Congratulations, Host. You have fully inherited this power!]

Gustav stared at the floating characters, look of utter bewilderment on his face.

"What power is this thing talking about?"

[To view the details of this power, command: System Interface!]

Gustav watched as the text shifted again. He glanced around his cramped room to ensure he was alone—a redundant thought, considering it was his private space.

"System interface," he whispered, his voice still thick with sleep.

Immediately, the floating text rearranged itself into a structured list before him.

[Host Attributes] [Skills and Abilities] [Bloodlines] [Quests] [Shop]

"Hmm?" Looking at the layout, Gustav felt a sense of familiarity.

"Host attributes," he called out, beginning to understand the mechanics.

Following his command, the other options vanished, leaving only the attribute panel.

-----------------------------

[Host Attributes]

-Name: Gustav Oslov

-Level: 1

-Class: ?

-Exp: 0/100

-Hp: 100/100

-Energy: 30/30

{Attributes}

»Strength: 1

»Perception: 1

»Agility: null

»Speed: 1

»Bravery: null

»Intelligence: 4

»Charm: null

{Attribute points: 0}

---------------------------

Gustav’s expression darkened as he scanned the displayed data.

"Agility, Bravery, Charm... null? These damn letters!" He struggled to process the insulting information.

As if responding to his frustration, a new line of text appeared above the chart.

[These attributes have been calculated precisely; it appears the Host is deficient in several areas, particularly charm and bravery!]

Gustav: "..."

He felt a sudden urge to scream at the system’s bluntness.

"I have brav—" He started to argue, but the memory of last night cut him short. He remembered wanting to end it all, yet instinctively running for his life the moment a deadly projectile flew his way.

"Fine, I see your point," he conceded, defeated. "But I have ch—"

"Never mind." Recalling his miserable social life, he knew the system was right about both.

"But why does this look like some ancient gaming system? Levels? Points?" He recognized the concepts from books about the era before the Slarkovs arrived on Earth. He was well-read enough to know of such relics.

"Skills and abilities!" Gustav commanded.

The attribute panel was replaced by a new list.

-------------------------

{Skills and Abilities]

»Dash - Level 1

»Regeneration - Level 1

»Morph - Level 1

»Toxin immunity - Level 1

»Recreation - Level 1

»Bloodline acquisition level 1

»(Locked)

...

--------------------------

Gustav noted a long list of locked entries stretching downward.

"It really is like an old game," Gustav mused, rubbing his chin. "Everything is at level one, but will they improve as I level up?"

"I can guess what dash, toxin immunity, and regeneration do, but what about the rest... Recreation, Bloodline acquisition, and morph? What are those?" As the question formed in his mind, detailed descriptions materialized below the skills.

----------------------------

»Dash - level 1

(Increases current speed by 20 for ten seconds)

»Regeneration - level 1

(Heal from physical trauma ten times faster)

»Morph - level 1

(Bloodline ability - allows alteration of hair color and skin tone at level 1)

»Toxin immunity - level 1

(Resistance against minor poisons and toxins)

»Recreation - Level 1

»Bloodline acquisition - level 1

(The ability to extract bloodlines and integrate them into the host, provided requirements are met. {D - F rank})

------------------------------

"Changing skin tone was added to my bloodline, but why call it morph? Is there even a point to it beyond that useless hair color change?" Gustav sighed, disappointed by the Morph description, and moved his gaze further down.

He stopped at Recreation, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.

Unlike the others, this ability had no description beneath it.

He stared at the word intensely, scanning it over and over.

"Is this a bug? Why won't it show me anything?" No matter how hard he focused, no explanation appeared.

"Hmm. I'll have to figure that out later," he muttered, still stroking his chin. "I still can't be sure if my mind is just playing tricks on me."

He decided to move on to the final entry: Bloodline Acquisition!

As he read the description, his eyes nearly bulged out of his head.

"What?" Gustav gasped, unable to process the words.

"An ability to steal bloodlines?" He was in total disbelief.

"This has to be a joke," he chuckled nervously. "My own bloodline has always been trash, and now this thing claims I can steal others?"

Gustav stood up abruptly, pacing around his small room. He thought of the years of torment and bullying. He remembered his peers flaunting their incredible powers while he hid in shame, able only to change his hair color.

"If this is real, then..." Gustav stopped, his gaze turning sharp and fierce.

"I’ll become the greatest bloodline thief the world has ever seen!"