Author Notes:
Yahallo~! New GSS chapter is up! It's a bit surprising how writing the Interlude of this story was actually harder than a normal chapter. Why? Because I had to come up with a plausible description/reaction for these characters when they came to experience Ein's shenanigan. It's much harder than writing A blowing B up before crafting C to resurrect B lol.
And bloody hell, where did that wild idea come from?
Anyway, I hope you all will be enjoying this chapter as usual. Though it's a bit unfortunate that I can't really get any image out, yet. Still working on getting something to work with the sites' limitations and not to mention generating something worth a damn.
There are advanced chapters on P-atreon for both of my fics, with a couple of special bonuses if you read the fine print :D
https://www.patre-on.com/Heartbreak117
https://ko-fi.com/heartbreak117/goal?g=0
Income goal 745/800 USD (The increase to 800 is now set to pay the hospital bills and sequelae)
For my fics:
https://www.scribblehub.com/series/55793/reich-marshal-of-the-belkan-reich/
https://www.webnovel.com/book/reich-marshal-of-the-belkan-reich_23809095505377305
https://photos.app.goo.gl/waZgkRa3UQhqKQBi9
https://www.scribblehub.com/series/1375924/in-the-grimdark-sector-with-a-system/
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Aboard the Iron Revenant, familiar faces like Tu'shan, Vel'cona, Belisarius Cawl, Elyzabeth, and Tsavorae convened for a meeting. A private session, attended only by the people who witnessed the glorious visage of the Emperor, is reserved for discussing the developments of and around their person of interest, Ein. Recently, acknowledged first by the ever-stalwart leaders of the Salamander Chapter and culminating in the keen realization of Cawl, all of them have noticed something is amiss about themselves.
They do not tire.
But such a conjecture isn't quite accurate, at least not fully.
Chapter Master Tu'shan leans in. "As you all know, we Astartes live by a stringent daily schedule, Some subjects in one of our days can induce a tremendous amount of physical and mental fatigue, the aim is to gradually increase our resilience in both. So, imagine our surprise when Vel'cona and I could blaze through our daily rituals. This basically confirmed our immunity to physical fatigue."
The Chief Librarian adds. "Perhaps most noticeable of all is the fact I am not at all affected by my negative inflictions as a Psyker. I have since been unable to listen to the beguilement of the Immaterium, even when I try casting one of my stronger attacks. While the mental strain is still there, it's of a different kind altogether, it's like a lack of sleep that induces a headache or whatever else you would like to call it. Even then, one can power through the strain with training and conscious effort... My head has never been clearer."
Both Elyzabeth and Tsavorae nod. "We can attest to the enhancement of our mental faculties as well. Through long prayer nights and ritualistic sessions, we Sisters have set a new record of sorts. Having gone an entire week without sleep, it's but a minor inconvenience for either of us."
Belisarius Cawl rouses his large mechanical body into a thinker position. "It's as I have suspected from all of you then..."
Elyzabeth asks. "Then what about you, Dominus Cawl? Given that it's only recently that you received these... Benefits, and that you have a mostly mechanical body, how did they affect you?"
The others look at the Archmagos Dominus with interest. Cawl nods, answering as simplest as he can.
"I have run some tests, the results are... Quite fascinating. As a whole, my physical mechanized form has never been smoother, and the machine spirits that operated the equipment on me have never been so energetic and docile. In other words, all of me is running optimally. However, when I removed a non-critical part of myself and installed it elsewhere, that part returned to its previous, less-than-optimal form. When I installed a replacement part, one that was practically rusted on its hinge, on myself... That rusted part paradoxically operated at peak efficiency instead of falling short of expectation. Such an experiment was performed on me multiple times, using a variety of body parts as test subjects, but all of them returned the same answer. Broadly speaking, I cannot feel physical fatigue, and my computation power is supremely enhanced. Somehow, rusted parts in my body can still perform as if they're freshly minted from a Forge World."
Tseavorae scratches her pinkish-brow hair in confusion. "I may not be the smartest tool in the shed here, but it seems to me that what we're all feeling right now is, in no shape or form, scientifically possible. Like, all activities consume energy, it's why we need to eat and sleep, but then something just straight up helps us eliminate those two needs altogether?"
Elyzabeth shakes her head. "Not completely, Tsavorae. As Vel'cona has said, we will still have a sort of mental fatigue, scaling with our activities. We still feel hungry and thirsty, despite our bodies doesn't seem to require them to function anymore. We can still feel pain, albeit to a much lesser extent. It's quite simply confusing to think about."
Tu'shan adds. "Logically, it makes no sense. Equivalent exchange exists for a reason, even if the Warp tries to topple that law from time to time."
Belisarius Cawl lets out a raspy chuckle. "I find it ironic that an Astartes is the one to speak of logic, and all the more so when I am the one to say that what happens to us is nothing short of a miracle."
"Or it's the manipulation of the most fouls." Vel'cona interjects. "But I think we can all shelve that thought, given the extensive tests we all seem to have conducted on our own volitions."
They all share a look before nodding at one another. Elyzabeth then says. "After much pondering, I think we can all agree that this is a blessing of the Emperor Herself."
"Given that I can feel the same energy that is presented on the badges crafted by Ein, yes." Vel'cona nods alongside everyone inside Cawl's private office.
Belisarius Cawl grabs a thick visor from somewhere before sliding it onto the table between them all. On top of the visor is one of the badges Ein crafted for the Order of Our Martyred Lady. "To further verify, take a look at the badge with the visor before looking at any of us. I, for one, have never tried to do that."
Everyone looks at the visor curiously, with Tsavorae shrugging before leaning over the table to grab the two objects. Putting the visor on, the Palatine asks. "If you never tried this visor before, how are you sure that this will give us the answer we need?"
Belisarius Cawl shrugs to the best of his ability. "I want to savor the surprise."
"Huh." Tsavorae replies tersely as she looks through the visor. "Freaky, it's like I am viewing things through a monochromatic glass."
The Archmagos Dominus explains. "I came up with the visor in my free time, it's useful for viewing the tangible energy of the Omnissiah on objects blessed by Her."
The others look at Tsavorae who is now playing with the badge on her palm. "You're speaking about this golden, misty glow around the badge, right? It's not just this one, my and Elyzabeth's badges are also glowing gold as well."
Tsavorae stops, her mouth agape slightly as she gazes at everyone in the room. "Should I offer my prayer now as all of us are glowing that same golden mist?"
The words, the absolute confirmation, cause their hearts, mechanical or not, to tremble. Elyzabeth sighs. "Maybe when we get back, Tsavorae. We have yet to discuss the reason behind our blessed status."
Cawl comments. "I believe we all know why we are blessed, no?"
"... Ein." Elyzabeth breathes out, massaging her temple.
It's yet another fortuitous event, coming from the person they're tasked with safeguarding. Elyzabeth says with a serious gaze. "To bless us with boundless physicality and reinforced fortitude, am I right to fear that something, or someone, maybe coming for my daughter?"
Tu'shan, his elbows on the table, and his scarred chin resting on his interlocking fingers, replies. "Perhaps not to her, specifically, but to us as a whole... I believe we have been quite noticeable with the Iron Revenant."
"Whenever I go, the Ark Mechanicus follows." Belisarius Cawl adds, contemplating. "I regret to inform you that we can't exactly hide an Ark Mechanicus."
Vel'cona speaks up. "Rather than hiding, we should go all in, no? I have learned a quote from Ein, and I believe it rings true in all situations: All fears come from insufficient firepower."
"So we must intensify the production of war materials then? At the very least, the JTF must be fully equipped, both its ground forces and the naval branch." Cawl nods, finding himself agreeing with the quote.
Tsavorae raises a hand, interjecting. "But do we even know what's the nature of the threat? Is it external or internal and what of its severity? We can plan more efficiently if we can at least know the origin of hostility."
Tu'shan hums. "In this part of the galaxy? The highest probability is either the Orks or the Heretics. However, one can not dismiss the potential emergence of a roving Tyrannid or Necron war fleet. It has happened before in the history of Cadia, and it can happen again."
Tsavorae stills. "Heretics? Wait, didn't the 8th and the Kasrkin go planetside for initial operations against that hidden heretic stronghold?"
Elyzabeth facepalms. "And we sent Ein down there as part of the recon element... Damn it, I should have known!"
Belisarius Cawl raises a mechanical hand in to calm down Elyzabeth's momentum. "Be not afraid, Canoness Superior. This is a joint operation consisting of our best soldiers. Ein is in a position where she can be reinforced at any time and it's not like she doesn't have enough firepower for a holdout in the face of danger."
Tu'shan adds. "Nonetheless, we should still get down there. Better be safe than sorry."
"Then I will pledge the Iron Revenant in your cause. If need be, I can provide fire support and material aid from here, alongside the rest of the fleet." Cawl nods, standing to full height as the rest follow suit. "Perhaps this is also a good opportunity to see how you all fare in the heat of battle."
Elyzabeth nods. "Once again, your help is much appreciated, Archmagos Dominus. We will make sure to return with the data of interest for you as well."
"I couldn't ask for more than that. Miracles are quite fascinating to witness." Cawl actually smiles, gazing at the badge Tsavorae left back on the table. "Times are changing indeed, and I can only hope that we can push it back without being swept away."