The Bloodline System

Author's Note: Unedited Chapter

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"It would be a pleasure if I met my end at your glorious hands," Commander Ergril stated in response.

Gustav still couldn't understand what the whole thing was about but he decided to hear Commander Ergrill Livat out. Nothing could have prepared him for what was coming.

….

Within a large bird-face structure situated at the top of a massive 'V' shaped building, Gustav sat before Commander Ergril alongside Endric.

Both of them listened attentively as Commander Ergril narrated a tale as old as the start of the Tarks Empire.

"Our first ancestors were given this tablet by an unknown entity which went on to prophesy things to come. In the beginning, the first ancestors were just a motley crew who knew nothing and believed nothing… until the first prophecy came to pass," Commander Ergril paused for a while to show a holographic image of a large double-faced tablet.

It looked like two merged smoothened rocks with weird glowing engravings on them.

"The drought appeared on our planet of origin that wiped out major of our species… the tablet had informed our first ancestors that they needed to move to another place entirely for our species to flourish but they chose not to listen until they had no other choice but to move.

When they moved to the instructed location, things began to change. Our species underwent what we called the first evolution. We became faster, smarter, and better… we began to recognize the minerals around us as valuable resources that could be further used for our advancement. The tablet soon predicted something else and this time our ancestors chose to listen. This action once more benefited our species and our ancestors worshipped the tablet as our god.

A lot of the things you see today would not have existed if not for the divine tablet. It taught our species a lot and we are the only species in the universe with the technology to replicate planets and increase resources. That is also why our species never suffers the usual hunger that exists in other galaxies. The average Tark lives well enough their entire lifetime. We long eliminated the concept of world hunger and suffering in our territory," Commander Ergril Livat kept speaking with a tone of adoration.

"Good for y'all but what does this have to do with me?" Gustav questioned with a weird look.

"It has everything to do with you," Commander Ergril Livat stated.

"How?" Endric inquired from the side.

"During our ancestors' time of worshipping the divine tablet as god, it revealed something… It revealed that the one who handed it to them is a henchman of the great one known as the outworldly," Commander Ergril Livat stated.

"Hmm… even at that it doesn't prove anything. Anyone could be the outworldly. It could be any Tom, Dick, and Harry," Gustav shook his head from side to side with an unconvinced look.

"As much as I would like to indulge… you are wrong. The tablet foretold of events before they occurred. It foretold the first premonition and the location of its appearance long before it happened. It foretold of the alliance IYSOP and how the outworldly would appear as a being with blonde hair and dominate his opponents. It also foretold the destruction of Ozious long before it happened as well as the alliance coming after you.

As you may well be aware, we the Tarks are not under a part of the alliance… did it ever occur to you why a search was being conducted to find the spacecraft that helped you in journeying across galaxies?" The moment Commander Ergril voiced out the last question, Gustav's mind traveled back to their first appearance in the Tarks' territory.

He recalled how he mentioned to Endric that it was odd for the travel inspectors to check for his spacecraft since they weren't under the alliance. There was no need for them to also join in the search for him but now he was starting to understand.

"Are you saying, this is the reason you lots were looking for me?" Gustav asked despite already starting to see reason in Commander Ergril Livat's explanation.

"The tablet long foretold of your return and how you would visit Gohatark looking exactly like you did. This is why we knew exactly where to search. You are our benefactor… our god, we mean you no harm. The tablet mentioned that should you return, it would mean the salvation of our species and we must do everything in our power to stand by you," Commander Ergil added with a tone of sincerity.

'Is this tablet one of the sacred items?' Gustav communicated with Endric mentally.

'No… this is the first I am hearing about any of these,' Endric replied.

"I want to see the tablet… show it to me. Then I'll believe your claims," Gustav demanded with a strong tone.

"That might be difficult…" Commander Ergril Livat answered with a disturbed expression.

"Then I cannot believe your claims. For all I know this might be an elaborate scheme so I can let my guard down and then get stabbed in the back," Gustav retorted while getting to his feet.

"This discussion is over. I will slaughter anyone who tries to stop me from leaving," Gustav spoke with an overbearing tone.

"Wait… the reason why I said I cannot show it to you is because it isn't on this planet," Commander Ergril quickly yelled out.

Gustav paused his footsteps and slowly turned his face to the side, "I cannot believe your claims without visual evidence," He stated.

Commander Ergril swiftly moved and stood before Gustav with a small circular device in his grasp. This device shot forth rays that formed a projection of an unknown place.

Within this place, an altar with a three-foot large item which was exactly what Commander Ergril described as the divine tablet, could be spotted.

A figure whose face wasn't visible due to the cloak draped around his figure, appeared in view, emitting a greenish aura as they walked toward the divine tablet on the altar.

He proceeded to pick it up and the tablet exuded a golden glow that encompassed the entire vicinity before they both vanished.

"Hmm? It got stolen?" Gustav questioned with a tone of curiosity.

"Not stolen. The person who touched the Divine Tablet in that footage is the First Tovan," Commander Ergril voiced in response.

"Why would a leader of the Tarks steal your precious Divine Tablet?" Gustav inquired once more, confounded.

"Like I said, Great Outworldly, not stolen. First Trovan is one of the three-time candidates just like the one beside you. He journeyed somewhere far with the Divine Tablet on a necessary mission for the future," Commander Ergril explained.

"How do you know that term?" This time it was Endric's turn to ask.

"Like I mentioned times without number, the Divine Tablet informed us. Your coming had been prophesied thousands of years ago and the Divine Tablet made it known that one of the three-time candidates would be your companion," Commander Ergril explained once more.

'Does anyone know about the existence of Time Candidates?' Gustav asked Endric mentally.

'No. That is a term that should be known only by you, Husarius, that computer inside of you, and myself. No one else should be aware of our existence or even have an idea of our purpose,' Endric answered.

'So, do you believe they're telling us the truth?' Gustav followed up with this question.

'I sensed the power of the time candidate through the footage… it is real,' Endric answered.

Gustav recalled Endric mentioning the time candidates were capable of perceiving one another despite having never met. At this point, he was inclined to believe that everything Commander Ergril Livat had mentioned there that day was the truth.

Gustav had a conflicted expression on his face as he slowly turned around and took a seat.

"Tell me more about the divine tablet and the being who brought it to your ancestors," Gustav demanded.

….

….

….

Hours later, Gustav and Endric had settled in a luxurious living space they had been provided by Commander Ergril Livat. Commander Ergril Livat had wanted to make a live announcement to the general public all across Gohatark planet about the appearance of the outworldly but Gustav stopped him.

Commander Ergril mentioned that should the inhabitants of the Tark territory be aware of his visit, the whole city would be flooded with both Tarks within the planet and outside of it, coming to worship his arrival. The Tarks were strong believers who saw the Outworldly as the current reason for their existence.

Gustav had stopped him from spreading the word because things were already very dangerous. Even though the Tarks had good intentions, a lot of other species from outside the planet who were only visiting for a little while might have nefarious intentions. He was still considered a fugitive outside of the Tarks territory so who knew what they might try?

He knew the Tarks could prevent the alliance from exerting their dominance within their territory but what about when he left here?