Author's Note: Unedited Chapter ------------------- "Following ghost trails across the galaxy. Just a typical day, right?" Ria chimed with a look of unseriousness. "Exactly," Sersi said with a laugh while her eyes were glued to the screen. Endric remained focused, guiding the ship as they pursued the faint thread. The path led them far from the teal planet, through dense stretches of space where stars gleamed like distant beacons against the dark. ... ... In the vast reaches of interstellar space, Gustav's spacecraft was a solitary speck, a tiny vessel threading through the cosmos on its way to the next vestige of his Outworldly power. This vestige was far more distant than the previous ones, requiring over a week of travel at top speed. Gustav knew he could attempt to cover the distance faster using his void-piercing boots, but these boots were better suited for pinpoint travel, navigating known locations. This was why it was easier for him to get Endric and the others back to Earth. In unfamiliar regions, he risked overshooting his destination, ending up several galaxies off course. For now, he was content to let the spacecraft guide him. After all, he couldn't complete the ritual until Endric and the others located the sword. Gathering the vestiges was only part of his journey; his full power remained locked until all the pieces came together. With the spacecraft on autopilot, Gustav moved to a quiet spot along the corridor, away from the control deck's dim glow. He settled down on the cool metal floor, folding his legs into a meditative stance. He hadn't channeled his bloodline in a while, and as he began to focus, a familiar warmth stirred within him. His thoughts drifted as he relaxed, memories surfacing. Oslov. His old friend, the last of an era, who'd watched him disappear into his journey with a promise that someday, he'd return. "Rest in peace, old friend," Gustav murmured with a soft tone in the stillness of the ship. "Endric's your blood, and he'll definitely pass on the legacy." With that, Gustav took a deep breath, channeling his bloodline. His energy began to ripple through him, vibrant and fierce, a potent force that he hadn't fully explored since his return. He could feel that he was hovering at the peak of the fourth step of Beta rank, only a small push away from Alpha. But he hesitated. The first ascension to Alpha rank triggered a powerful phenomenon, a surge of energy so intense that it would overwhelm and likely destroy his surroundings. While he wasn't sentimental about the spacecraft, he wasn't exactly keen on drifting in the void either. For now, it would be best to hold back. As he sat there, lost in his thoughts, the system materialized before him. Dressed in a vibrant red gown, its girl-like appearance smirked at him and her eyes glinted with playful mischief. "You're getting rusty, Gustav," she teased, swirling her gown as she moved in a circle around him. "Sitting on your power like a miser with his gold. What, afraid you'll blow the ship apart? Or just afraid?" Gustav rolled his eyes. "And here I thought I might get a moment's peace. Guess I forgot I'm stuck with a talkative piece of code.," "Talkative? Me?" the system feigned offense, placing a hand on her chest in exaggerated surprise. "You wound me. After all, I'm the one guiding you on this grand journey!" "Guiding?" Gustav chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "If I remember correctly, you've spent just as much time being absent as you have guiding me. Remind me again how you long you've been gone or is that one of the many great mysteries?" "Perhaps it is," The system chuckled lightly. "Tell me... how is it that amongst everything dimension six revealed to me, your origin wasn't included. The revelation of my Outworldly identity and the existence of deities were all revealed and yet there was not a single hint as to how you... a computerised being capable of giving me the power to increase levels... came into existence," Gustav voiced with a look of curiosity. The system's teasing expression softened slightly, her eyes shifting to a distant look. "Dimension Six hmm. That was... I spent thousands of years drifting through space, searching for the right host. I saw countless worlds, countless lives, until I finally found Earth... and you." "Thousands of years, huh?" Gustav leaned back with a curious glint in his eyes. "And you never thought to give me a straightforward answer about where you came from? You know, most people just tell their story from the start, not in bits and riddles." The system laughed, twirling again. "Well, where's the fun in that? And besides, it's not that simple. My origin isn't tied to deities or celestials, nor does it come from any cosmic entity. My existence is... unique, let's say. But don't worry—soon enough, you'll understand everything." "Soon enough, huh?" Gustav's gaze narrowed. "Convenient answer. I've spent years unraveling mysteries, but yours still elude me. You show up when you want, disappear when you want, and have this uncanny ability to know things that people shouldn't. You're not exactly an open book." The system shrugged, looking him directly in the eyes. "I'm as much of a mystery to you as you are to yourself, Gustav. You've learned about your past, yes, but there's still much you don't know about your own power. You think you understand the Outworldly... but there's more to it. I'm here to guide you through that understanding. And when the time is right, you'll know my full purpose too." Gustav's expression hardened slightly. "So, what am I supposed to do until then? Just trust that everything will magically make sense?" "Oh, no. Trust is a luxury, and you've never been one for it. But you're not here by chance, and neither am I. Just keep moving forward. Keep gathering the vestiges, find your sword, and you'll have all the answers you're looking for." With that, she began to fade, her red gown becoming translucent as she vanished into the air, leaving Gustav alone once more. He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he stared into the dim lighting of the corridor. --- The next day, Gustav returned to the cockpit, his gaze fixed on the endless stretch of stars through the viewport. As he sat, memories continued to surface, weaving through his mind as he pondered the journey ahead. The space outside was dark, but the distant glow of stars painted the void with points of light. "Approaching waypoint in five days," the ship's AI chimed, interrupting his thoughts. "Acknowledged," Gustav replied, absentmindedly watching as the stars drifted past. He leaned back in his seat, allowing himself a rare moment of quiet as he felt the spacecraft buzz around him. Hours passed as he journeyed deeper into the void, and his mind continued to dwell on his friends, wondering how Endric and the others were faring. They were scouring distant worlds for the sword despite the obstacles they'd already faced. He hoped they were making progress; time wasn't on their side. --- The cold silence of space stretched endlessly around their ship. The darkness was broken only by the pinpricks of distant stars. Endric, Ria and Sersi had been following the faint, nearly invisible karmic temporal string for days, tracing its path relentlessly. They hoped it would lead them to the sword Gustav needed, but the journey was starting to take its toll—especially on Endric. His eyes were fixed on the glowing thread, visible only to him, that stretched out ahead like a faintly pulsating beacon. Each beat took a little more of his energy, draining him with the effort required to maintain the tenuous link. For nearly a week, they had journeyed like this, trusting in the thread to guide them to a place that seemed infinitely far away. "Are we there yet?" Ria asked while leaning back in his seat with a dramatic sigh. Endric shook his head in frustration. "No, not yet. And asking every five minutes isn't going to get us there any faster, Ria." Ria shrugged, unfazed. "Hey, I'm just saying. Following an invisible thread into nowhere? Not exactly the sightseeing tour I signed up for." Sersi shot Ria a glare, placing a hand on Endric's shoulder in reassurance. "Don't listen to him, Uncle. You're doing amazing. Just keep your focus. We're right here with you." Endric's face dropped even more from hearing this. Her consolation was doing more harm than good. "That's Endric to you!" He bellowed. His skin had paled from exhaustion, and his eyes held a flicker of weariness that he was trying hard to mask. They had been pushing through space without rest, and it was starting to show. Another day of nonstop flying passed, and Endric's energy reserves were reaching their limit. His vision started to blur, and the faint thread was beginning to flicker, as if it were about to vanish entirely. "Endric?" Sersi's voice was laced with concern as she noticed his hands trembling slightly.