The Bloodline System Chapter 3 - System Interface

A figure clad in medical attire, glasses resting on his face, approached the individual dressed in an azure suit.

"Besides the impact location, there's no other trace to uncover in this place. It's just a pointless effort," he murmured quietly.

"Are you claiming that absolutely nothing is present here following the massive energy fluctuation picked up in this region?... That's utterly unbelievable!" The azure-suited man exclaimed sharply.

"It might appear unbelievable, but that's precisely the case right now," the medical expert responded, "We've scoured the area through the whole night without detecting any trace of energy," he continued.

The man wearing the azure suit wore an expression of deep thought while he advanced gradually, "Seal off this woodland and conduct a thorough search of all nearby areas!" He ordered, "Nobody can enter or exit this forest! Every person spotted in this zone needs to be detained for examination and interrogation!"

Right after issuing these directives, the four guards trailing him bolted away in different paths, venturing further into the woods.

"I require every bit of resource and authority at my disposal immediately!" The azure-suited man declared with a grave expression, clasping his hands behind his back and linking his fingers.

The medical expert trailing him shook his head and let out a sigh upon hearing those final words.

This very incident resulted in the predicament that Gustav encountered.

----

Within a room illuminated by faint light, a young teen dressed in a maroon school uniform lay submerged in a compact tub positioned centrally. He remained in profound slumber as his hair shifted colors incessantly, and his eyelids fluttered occasionally, as if discomfort plagued him.

[Completion of system update into host - 12%]

[Host has received BLESSINGS OF THE RESTORATION!]

[Host has received RECREATION!]

[Host has received TOXIN IMMUNITY!]

--

[Completion of system update into host - 24%]

[Host has received the function BLOODLINE UPGRADE!]

[Host has received the function BLOODLINE DOWNGRADE!}

---

While asleep, Gustav perceived the chimes of alerts echoing in his ears. Had he been conscious, he would have witnessed this procedure.

---

-Twelve hours later

[Completion of system update into host - 97%]

[Host has received the function QUESTS!]

[Host has received the function DAILY TASKS!]

[Completion to system update - 99.9%]

-

[Completion to system update - 100%]

[System update completed!]

The moment Gustav's eyes fluttered open, this message appeared foremost in his vision.

Initially, he attempted to retreat, only to bump his head against the tub's edge where he rested.

"Ouch! So that wasn't just a dream?" He questioned aloud, recalling the occurrences from the past day.

[Congratulations, host, you have now received this power completely!]

Gustav gawked at the displayed text with a stunned expression lingering.

"What exactly is this power that these letters mention?"

[To check out what this power entails, call out; System Interface!]

Gustav observed the text transform once more. He scanned his modest chamber to confirm no one lurked nearby, a foolish notion given his solitary presence.

"System interface," He whispered in a subdued, drowsy tone.

The instant those words escaped, the text reshaped, presenting a menu in front of him.

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

"Hmm?" Observing the layout materializing before him, Gustav sensed a vague familiarity.

"Host attributes," He uttered, apparently grasping the mechanism, and invoked it.

Upon voicing that, all other text vanished, leaving only the host attributes visible.

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

[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

{Attributes point: 0}

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

A shadowed expression crossed Gustav's face as he examined certain details shown.

"Agility, Bravery, Charm, null? These blasted letters!" Struggling to accept the revealed data, he fumed.

As though responding to his frustration, a new message surfaced above the data panel.

[These attributes have been properly calculated, and it would seem the host lacks in various aspects, especially charm and bravery!]

Gustav; "..."

The system's forthrightness tempted Gustav to unleash a string of curses.

"I possess brav..." He nearly yelled about his bravery, but memories of the previous night's chaos halted him. He recalled his suicidal intent dissolving into desperate flight from a deadly incoming threat.

"Alright, I see your point," He conceded in a tone of resignation, "But I do have ch..."

"Forget it," Reflecting on his dismal existence thus far, he acknowledged his deficiencies in those areas.

"Yet why does this resemble an archaic gaming setup? Levels? Points?" He identified it from vintage human games predating the Slarkovs' arrival on Earth, knowledge gleaned from his extensive reading.

"Skills and abilities!" Gustav summoned.

The host attributes section faded, supplanted by the skills and abilities 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)

»(Locked)

»(Locked)

»(Locked)

...

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

Gustav noticed numerous locked skills and abilities stretching downward.

"It really mimics those vintage games," he remarked, hand on chin. "All appear at level one, but do they advance through leveling?"

"I grasp roughly what dash, toxin immunity, and regeneration entail, yet the rest... Recreation, Bloodline acquisition, and morph? What do they involve?" As curiosity stirred, supplementary details emerged under the skills.

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

»Dash - level 1

(Ability to increase current speed by 20 for ten seconds)

»Regeneration - level 1

(Recover from injuries ten times as fast)

»Morph - level 1

(Bloodline ability - change hair color and skin tone at level 1)

»Toxin immunity - level 1

(Protection against not so serious toxins)

»Recreation - Level 1

»Bloodline acquisition - level 1

(Ability to steal bloodlines and pair them with a host if the right requirements are met. {D - F rank})

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

"The capacity to alter skin tone has joined my bloodline features, but why label it morph? Regardless, how does it differ from the futile hair color shift?" Disappointment washed over Gustav at the morph details, and his gaze drifted lower.

Reaching the Recreation entry, Gustav narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Unlike the others, this skill alone lacked any descriptive text below.

He scrutinized it intently, gaze shifting up and down repeatedly.

"Is this a malfunction? Why does this one reveal nothing?" With squinted eyes fixed on it, Gustav waited, yet no details materialized no matter the duration.

"Hmm? Suppose I'll uncover it eventually," Still clutching his chin, he pondered, "Besides, I'm uncertain if this is merely hallucinations in my mind,"

Resolving to proceed, Gustav shifted focus to the subsequent skill since this one withheld info.

His attention honed in on the final entry: Bloodline acquisition!

Perusing the description, his eyes bulged in shock.

"What?" Gustav could scarcely credit the sight.

"A bloodline theft capability?" Disbelief widened his stare further.

"This has to be a prank, doesn't it?" He quipped with a derisive light laugh, "My bloodline was forever worthless, and now this claims I can pilfer bloodlines?" Instinctively rising, Gustav paced the room excitedly.

Visions of years tormented by bullies flooded back—peers flaunting their impressive, potent bloodlines while he concealed his shame over mere hair color alteration.

"Should this prove genuine, then..." Gustav halted, his gaze sharpening with determination.

"I'll rise as the supreme bloodline thief across the globe!"