The Bloodline System

Author's Note: Unedited Chapter

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

"Bruce?" Old Man Shin said as he approached the figure.

"Old Man Shin, you're back," The figure stood to his feet with a joyous look.

"Waiting outside my house this late. Did you missed me that much?" Old Man Shin chuckled as he approached the young boy who was no more than five feet in height.

He had short brown hair with a innocent looking blue eyes.

"What happened to your face?" Old Man Shin noticed some bruises on the face of the young boy as he approached.

Bruce who initially had a bright look of excitement became moody as he turned away.

"It's nothing," He shook his head.

"Don't tell me you got bullied again," Old Man Shin questioned while trying to touch Bruce's face.

"I said it's nothing," Bruce slapped his hand away before shifting to the side.

Old Man Shin sighed and moved to sit on the balcony area of his house.

"You should really do something about this or they won't stop," Old Man Shin spoke with a concerned look.

"I can't do anything about it," Bruce lowered his head with a look of self ridicule.

"Maybe if my bloodline was above E grade, things could have been different," Bruce went back to his squatting position. 

"Remember, you're the only one in this settlement with a bloodline. Not to mention, one that could make your body as tough as steel," Old Man Shin stated.

"I can only do that for a few seconds. Its useless compared to everyone else bloodline in my school. They can all do flashy and powerful things but I'm just... nothing... sure everyone here thinks I'm special but in there I'm at the bottom of the well," Bruce gritted his teeth in frustration. 

Old Man Shin stared at him with pity for a few seconds before standing to his feet.

"Come on... I'll make you a tridashi dish," He inclined.

Bruce face instantly lit up once more, "Really?" He voiced while jumping to his feet.

"I'll make as plenty as you can eat and some for your mom too," Old Man Shin opened his door and moved in.

"Yaaayyy mom would be really happy when she gets back from work too," Bruce galloped after Old Man Shin.

Happy chuckles could be heard from within as they chatted on.

...

 - Midnight -

Old Man Shin cleared the table inside his small house and put some food inside a plastic container. He washed the dishes and brought the plastic container back to the living room where a young boy could be spotted fast asleep on his couch.

"Hmm Bruce mom still isn't back..." Old Man Shin muttered before dropping the container on the table.

He wanted to head to his room when he suddenly paused and turned to stare at the sleeping boy. A slight glint of guilt flashed in his eyes.

"I probably shouldn't..." He turned back around to head in the direction of his room before pausing again.

The voice of a well respected person played in his mind as he recalled an old advice. It was like his conscience was playing at him.

However, he didn't want to perform an action he'd come to regret. 

He let out a sigh before walking into his room.

"Things will get better... its best to operate without risk for now," Old Man Shin mumbled while moving to lay on his bed.

...

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Loud knocking sounds woke Old Man Shin from his night sleep.

"Hmm... is it morning already?" He mumbled with a sleepy tone.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

The sound of the knocking was getting more intense.

"Who is there?" Old Man Shin voiced with a slightly fatigued expression. 

"Old man Shin! My mother... she... she..." A person yelled from the other end.

"Bruce?" Old Man Shin jumped to his feet and trotted forward. 

He opened the door quickly and Bruce appeared before him with tears dripping down his face.

"What happened?" He questioned and Bruce proceeded to point at the living room entrance.

Chatter~ Chatter~ Chatter~ Chatter~

The door was wide open and neighbours had gathered around a body that seemed unconscious. 

Old Man Shin's eyes widened as he rushed towards the front porch with Bruce.

The neighbors around made a path for Old Man Shin after spotting him coming out. 

"Old Man Shin she's dying," One of the neighbours stated.

Laid out on the ground was a young woman who looked like she wasn't even in her thirties. Her long chestnut colored hair was mixed with red which of course wasn't an original color.

The red could also be spotted on her tight gown like outfit which was torn in multiple places. She was bleeding profusely and from what old man Shin could see, she was stabbed repeatedly.

To make matters worse, there was also a deep cut that extended from her neck to her chest area.

It was a miracle that she wasn't dead yet with all of these grievous injuries but nonetheless it didn't seem like she could last any longer.

"Please save my mother!" Bruce begged.

"What of the town doctor?" Old Man Shin questioned.

"We won't be able to get her to him on time," One of the other neighbours shook their head.

"Please... Please save her! Please!" Bruce kept begging.

"I ca..."

"Please! I know you can! Please!" Bruce knelt before Old Man Shin while bawling his eyes out.

He had witnessed Old Man Shin feeding a medicine to someone who was sick one time and they immediately got healed. He knew Old Man Shin definitely had something that could help.

'I've run out of grade one regenerative pills... What I have won't be enough to save her,' Old Man thought with a slightly regretful look.

"I am sorry, I cannot save her," Old Man Shin shook his head.

These words were like sharp blade that pierced into Bruce's chest. The world instantly turned white before him as static rang in his ears. 

'Mother is going to die? Then... I would no longer have anyone in this world,' Negative thoughts instantly clouded his mind.

"I can give her something to help make her stable long enough for us to get a doctor but that's it..." Old Man Shin voiced before heading back in.

A morsel of hope returned to Bruce's face as he knelt before his mother's unconscious body waiting. Tears continued to stream down his face as the young boy blamed the unfairness of the world.

Old Man Shin soon returned with a small water in a bowl. He proceeded to feed it to Bruce's mother and soon her barely noticeable breathing returned.

Her pulse which wasn't readable initially became vibrant once more and color returned to her face. She visibly looked better than before and even stopped bleeding but of course she wasn't completely healed.

"Thank you! Thank you!" Bruce repeatedly showed his appreciation after noticing the differences.

Just as Old Man Shin mentioned, this would only help make her stable but it was more than enough since her life was practically saved now.

One of the neighbours who had a vehicle quickly hurried to take Bruce's mother to the doctor.

Old Man Shin moved back into his house after the crowd had dispersed. It turned out that Bruce's mother was assaulted on her way back from work.

The location of her work was more than three settlements away. She was always working late so as to provide enough for her son and herself.

It was usually dangerous to move at night since Dildier and the boys who looked out for the town couldn't be everywhere at once. However, Bruce's mother didn't have a choice.

She also happened to be a single mother so it made it even more difficult for her to be aware of her son getting bullied or even do anything about it.

Old Man Shin moved into his room and sat on his bed. He closed his eyes, clearing his mind as he tried to forget everything that had happened this early morning.

Old Man Shin never opened up shop till around noon so he had the rest of the morning to himself. 

"Its almost time..." He muttered while slowly opening his eyes.

"It should appear in a day or two. Hmm I have grown quite fond of this place but everything must eventually come to an end," Old Man Shin had a little smile on his face as he recalled his memories here.

"Also, I've dispatched quite the number of them... would be best I leave as quickly as I can so as not to cause trouble for this poor people..."

########

Within a small city surrounded by lots of sands and barricaded by a large white wall, people could be seen moving to and fro.

The roads seemed better structured, especially those that led outside the small city. However, it seemed to be a mix between urban and medieval.

Nevertheless, it looked better than the settlements. Within a ten storey building at the centre of this city, a domineering figure sat in a large hall.

On his right hand side was a feminine figure clad in all black and a ski mask. On his left hand side was a chubby looking male with mean looking eyes and bald head.