The Bloodline System Chapter 1682: There Is Nothing Left To Restore

Gustav gave a nod as he wiped the sweat off his forehead.

"It is finished."

The refugees looked around in all directions, gasping, sobbing, and laughing. Bright stars sparkled overhead, planets gleamed nearby, and the vast universe expanded completely once again.

E.E. plopped down onto a freshly formed area of rock.

"You're crazy, man... rebuilding a whole universe? Who even does something like that?!"

Gustav murmured.

"Someone who wrecked it... I guess."

Endric moved closer and seized Gustav's arm with a firm hold.

"Thank you, big brother," he said in a low voice.

Gustav nodded and shifted back a bit, as if checking the area for anything unusual.

After some time, he remained by himself, gazing far off.

New stars gleamed like fresh diamonds. Galaxies shone in vibrant swirls. Planets rotated in balanced groups, their atmospheres renewed and oceans sparkling beneath the sun.

Civilizations stirred to life, breathing, talking, and existing like the end of the world was just a nightmare.

Laughter rang out over the small remade moon that Gustav had formed for his companions.

E.E. was twirling about with arms outstretched.

Falco grinned widely, his cheeks almost cramping.

Sersi wept freely, overcome with emotion.

Aildris settled down and took a deep breath, as though he could truly inhale after months of struggle.

Elevora embraced a child firmly while Xanatus shared jokes with two crystalline entities who were still amazed to be alive once more.

The hundreds of refugees partied with equal fervor.

Some jumped high into the sky.

Some huddled close to their loved ones.

Some chanted the tunes of their kind.

Others just sprawled on the ground, shedding tears of relief that existence had returned.

It was pure delight.

Unfiltered, genuine delight.

The sort of festivity that emerges only after complete destruction and then incredible rescue.

And amid all that delight...

Gustav remained solitary.

He was there in body among them but detached in spirit. His head was bowed, eyes partly closed with a faraway, silent pain.

No one spotted it initially.

The sounds of revelry overshadowed all else.

E.E. slung an arm over Falco and yelled, "BRO, we're heading HOME! Real home! Earth, beaches, grub, my bed—OH MAN my bed! I missed it so bad!"

Falco chuckled. "Can't wait to repair my sound setup. If it made it through."

Aildris offered a slight smile. "It's finally ended..."

Yet Endric was the first to sense his brother's aura seemed fainter than expected.

"Hey..." Endric said softly to the group. "Gus isn't moving."

They all looked over.

Gustav positioned himself at the border of the moon's rebuilt terrain, gazing at the revived universe with an expression of detachment. Not a hint of happiness lingered in his eyes.

E.E. blinked.

"Yo—why's he got that face?"

"He ought to be thrilled," Sersi said under her breath. "He pulled it off... the universe lives again."

Falco scowled. "Let's head to him."

The friends approached with puzzled looks. E.E. hurried ahead and, without overthinking, jumped onto Gustav's back.

"BROOOO!" E.E. shouted happily while shaking his shoulders. "Bet you're dying to see Angy!"

He anticipated Gustav would chuckle.

Or grin.

Or maybe eye-roll.

But Gustav stayed still.

Showed no response.

Not even a flinch.

E.E. halted as the rest reached them.

"Don't seem so gloomy," Sersi spoke gently.

"It turned out fine," Elevora chimed in with a grin. "All's normal now. Angy's likely hunting for you at this moment."

Aildris placed a hand on Gustav's shoulder.

"You can quit bearing the weight of the universe on those strong shoulders," he mentioned.

Gustav's fingers tightened.

Then he murmured.

"...Angy won't return."

The merriment behind froze solid.

The chuckles vanished.

The refugees went quiet.

Even the stars appeared to fade.

E.E. blinked, then gave a uneasy laugh.

"What? What do you mean, guy? You fixed it all already. She's gotta be back on Earth, waiting. Dude, you gotta marry her fast—I wanna be godfather..."

Gustav gradually shook his head.

And restated in an empty tone.

"Angy will never come back."

This round... they sensed it.

Something in his tone...

Something etched in grief profounder than any they'd known.

Falco advanced with bewilderment. "Gustav... that's not amusing."

"For real," Sersi said as dread entered her voice. "Don't kid around like that."

Elevora grasped for his hand. "We just got you here. Don't frighten us."

Gustav at last faced them.

And the sight they beheld—

The agony in his eyes

The void

The ruin

The subtle, fragile mourning that stuck to him like ice—

It chilled their souls.

Aildris stepped back without thinking.

Endric pressed a hand to his mouth.

E.E. felt his gut plunge so fast he almost retched.

Gustav uttered gently, but each phrase struck like an asteroid.

"She understood the cost she paid... to revive me."

The team's breathing caught.

"She knew the toll," Gustav went on as his fist shook. "She and... our unborn child."

A few drew in sharp breaths.

Sersi's legs buckled.

Elevora's palm covered her mouth.

Even nearby refugees paused to absorb the revelation.

Falco breathed, "Un... unborn...? She really was expecting..."

"She kept it secret from everyone," Gustav stated softly.

Endric bowed his head in shame.

Gustav looked away once more, eyeing the stunning universe he'd just revived.

"She's vanished for good," he breathed. "I can't restore her."

They couldn't grasp it.

Gustav had revived worlds.

Revived star systems.

Revived whole societies.

He could twist the rules of reality

Alter time flows

Retrieve the departed

Undo species' ends

Reverse cosmic end.

So why not Angy?

Falco sputtered, "Gus... why? Why can't you revive her? If you fixed the rest, then—then she must be out there! Her soul, her mind—"

"She no longer exists," Gustav breathed. "Not her form. Not her core. Not her soul. Not her essence. Not even a fragment in universal records."

A single tear trailed down his face...

"Bringing me back took all of her. She gave her being to drag me here. Nothing remains to revive."