Seducing the Guideverse With My System — Raising an Anomaly [BL]

Valentine’s Penthouse, Aurelia

He hasn’t been here for a week.

Ever since Ambrose disappeared, he followed suit, making sure he was off the grid while moving from one secret residence to another.

It was his way of dealing with the chaos in his head anytime he thought about that stubborn little Guide. Every time he felt like ripping a hole through the world in hopes of pulling him out.

His conversation with President Josiah was still fresh in his head even as he stepped out of the kitchen with a plate of stir-fried noodles.

The man might be a pathological manipulator... but he was being honest when he said he had no clue where the Void Entity or Ambrose went.

He made himself comfortable on a couch, silently using the remote to navigate through channels on the big screen TV. His eyes skimmed through each one with a bored glint.

Until he came across a news channel with a headline that made him pause.

"PURPLE RIFT ANOMALY STOPPED BEFORE IT COULD TURN INTO ANOTHER ECHO RIFT CATASTROPHE."

On the screen was a female reporter on the scene where the Purple Rift had been, her face brightened with a smile as she spoke.

"Yes, Fred. It’s indeed a win for the Canadian Hunters Federation and indeed all of North America and the world. We all remember how devastating the Echo Rift and everything after was."

Behind her, Hunters were still present, blocking off the exact spot the Rift had been, shouting orders he couldn’t make sense of or simply loitering around and discussing among themselves.

"Mabel," Fred’s voice cut in as he read something off the papers before him, "reports I’m seeing here say the Hunters who embarked on the raid to begin with somehow made it out AFTER the Rift was closed. Can you explain how that’s possible?"

Valentine immediately squinted, only chowing down one spoonful of his noodles before leaning closer.

"Well, we didn’t get to interview any of the surviving Hunters, sadly." Mabel’s smile dulled. "They lost two members there. Not to mention the other casualty outside the Rift from a Federation personnel."

"But one of the Hunters outside the Rift reported seeing an unidentified man—whom they suspect is a Guide—walking into the scene alongside the Hunters. This man also took a wounded Hunter Gabriel away for treatment."

Hearing about the deaths didn’t even make Valentine blink. But the second he heard the part about Gabriel, his crimson eyes bulged.

"What?!" He got to his feet, pulling out his phone and immediately dialling the space god’s number. Of course, after two calls, the man didn’t pick up. "Fuck. Who the heck took him away for treatment?"

He suddenly had a bad feeling.

And he hated it.

There were never any plans to take a trip to Canada... but with this news, he just had to.

"Rise." His shadow elongated behind him, an avian-type beast screeching as it awaited his orders. "Gabriel, you better not have gotten your flat ass into anything crazy."

★★★★★

Winter Cove Hotel, Calgary, Alberta.

"The last thing I expected you to bring me was chocolates." Ambrose chuckled as he and Loki settled into seats away from Gabriel. He’d already popped a couple of chocolates into his mouth, barely able to speak through the explosion of overwhelming sweetness. "Thanks again, Loki."

The Esper gave a dismissive wave, although a sly grin stretched their mouth. "Ah, it’s nothing. Just thought you’d like a reenactment of one of the only times we actually hung out... before you disappeared."

Ambrose smiled wryly at that.

He chewed slower, his gaze drifting for a beat. "I... I was gone for a week, apparently." He finally murmured, gaze trailing back to Loki. "But in there it wasn’t even up to a day."

Loki’s grin softened ever so slightly. "How’s Gabriel?"

The question came so casually that Ambrose almost missed the concern hidden beneath it.

He looked over at the bed where the space god still lay peacefully asleep, chest rising and falling in slow, steady breaths.

"He’ll be better," Ambrose answered after a moment. "His aether’s finally stabilising. I don’t know when he’ll wake up. But he will."

Loki followed his gaze. "That’s honestly incredible."

Ambrose frowned. "What is?"

"The fact that he’s even breathing normally." They rested an elbow against the armrest, shaking their head in disbelief. "You didn’t see what we saw. Gabriel was seconds away from going berserk." Their eyes met his again. "Then you showed up. And somehow dragged him back before he crossed that line."

Silence settled between them.

Ambrose’s fingers tightened ever so slightly around the chocolate wrapper.

He remembered the original Ambrose’s words perfectly.

"...You already know, don’t you?"

Loki blinked. "Know what?"

"About the permanent link."

The lord of chaos maintained the innocent expression for exactly three seconds. Then they burst into laughter.

"Oh, gods." They wiped at one eye. "I was wondering how long it’d take you to bring that up."

Ambrose groaned. "So you do know."

"Devon couldn’t keep his mouth shut." Loki snickered. "Neither could Viktor once I cornered him."

Their smile became smaller. "They told me about the link. And about your Esper abilities."

Ambrose lowered his head.

"I..." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I’m sorry."

Loki tilted theirs. "For what?"

"For never telling you." He let out a slow breath. "And for making the permanent link without asking first."

The confession hung between them.

"It wasn’t my decision." He laughed bitterly. "The system forced it as a mission. At the time, I didn’t even understand what it’d actually do."

To his surprise, Loki simply shrugged. "I figured."

"...That’s it?"

"What? You expected me to punch you?"

"A little."

They barked another laugh.

"Nah." Loki leaned back comfortably, their grin slowly returning. "Honestly? I’m more impressed."

Ambrose narrowed his eyes. "Impressed?"

"You tricked every single one of us."

"I did not."

"You absolutely did." Loki pointed accusingly. "You acted like some clueless little C-Rank Guide while secretly walking around with a busted system, undead summons, dimensional artefacts, impossible abilities and whatever else you’ve been hiding."

They whistled. "That’s commitment."

"When you say it like that, I sound like a criminal."

"You kinda do."

Against his better judgment... Ambrose laughed. Loki joined in seconds after.

For the first time in what felt like forever, neither of them was laughing because the world was ending.

[DING.]

Aura’s familiar notification window abruptly flashed before Ambrose’s eyes.

[Congratulations!]

[Target: Gabriel Silverstone.]

[AttractionPoints: 100!]

[RewardUnlocked: Esper Ability Successfully Copied.]

Ambrose’s smile disappeared. ’Wait...’

Behind him, the bedsheets rustled.

"...Ambrose?"

Both he and Loki whipped around.

Gabriel’s iridescent eyes had slowly opened.

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