"Having an Absolutian as a companion is indeed a good thing—at the very least, better than those guys from the Land of Light," said Rhodes.
In fact, Absolutian science and technology is formidable, not inferior to that of the Land of Light. However, the Absolutian summoned this time wasn't a scientific genius, but rather a leader and combatant.
"Enough small talk. Tartarus, when Belisarius Cawl is present, just call me Lord Rhodes. There's no need for 'Master.' Also, keep your human disguise and don't allow him to discover your true form," Rhodes instructed.
For now, his subordinates needed to maintain some mystery—no revealing their alien forms. Everyone was to keep up their human disguises.
"I understand, Master. In front of Belisarius Cawl, I will never reveal my true appearance. Last time was just an accident—he's not weak," Tartarus nodded.
Last time, being seen through by the Emperor of Mankind was unavoidable. That guy on the Golden Throne is incredibly powerful. If he ever stood up, Tartarus might not be able to match him.
After his subordinates got acquainted, Rhodes led them to the laboratory's center, where Belisarius Cawl was calibrating some monstrous data.
Besides the giant incubation pods, the lab also housed thousands of smaller ones, each over ten meters tall, cultivating massive volumes of Zetton's bio-muscle and skin.
"Lord Rhodes, have you brought the item?" Upon seeing Rhodes, Cawl immediately approached and bowed.
"Yes, it's done. My new subordinate here possesses the power to travel freely across the galaxy. For small units or individuals, he can open a portal and take them anywhere," Rhodes explained.
Rhodes had no intention of hiding Tartarus's abilities; they would be used on a large scale in the future, so secrecy was pointless.
"To traverse the galaxy freely, and open golden portals—remarkable abilities indeed.
I am Belisarius Cawl, an Archmagos of the Adeptus Mechanicus. If used for military purposes, this would be a rapid and effective strike force," Cawl nodded.
He had already witnessed Rhodes's power during the last war returning to Holy Terra.
"I am Tartarus. I look forward to working with you, Cawl," Tartarus said.
My master seems to have sold me a bit short, Tartarus thought. He could open portals anywhere in the universe. And if the Kingdom was established and he had a relay, he could freely cross timelines and parallel universes. If his master's enhancement system could be used, he might not even need the Kingdom's power. With a little more power, he could do even more.
"Alright, let's take a look at this Necron tomb mechanic," Rhodes said.
He removed the temporal stasis field from the iron canister, and a strangely designed green metallic skeleton emerged.
The newly awakened Necron woman stared around in confusion, and then her eyes flashed green as her core logic came online.
"Damn vermin! How dare such inferior lifeforms imprison me?" she started to shout, but before she could finish, a golden energy bound her tight, rendering her immobile.
"You're the inferior one—a lowly being not even a super-lifeform," Rhodes snorted, using his psychic power to restrain her.
"Who... what are you?" she managed, her voice trembling.
If her powers weren't suppressed, her weapons confiscated, and she was still within her tomb world, she'd have used time manipulation to freeze Rhodes already.
If the Blackstone Matrix were present, these psychic users would be powerless—like those creations of the Old Ones.
Did something go wrong with the Silent King's sleep protocol? Why did she awaken only to be assaulted and captured by inferior beings? What had happened to her dynasty, the great Phaeron, and the Overlords?
"Let me introduce myself. I am Rhodes, Primarch of the Human Imperium. I woke you because I want to discuss cooperation.
I have something you absolutely cannot refuse, something you will crave. If you agree to my terms, I'll give it to you," Rhodes said.
"There is nothing in this galaxy that could tempt our Necron kind," she sneered.
Did he even understand how powerful the Necrons were? If not for the Silent King's slumber edict, they would have already mobilized for war.
And because of the King's orders, many of the tomb world's forbidden weapons couldn't be used. These upstart species only rose to power because the Necrons slept.
"Don't be so hasty! What if I could restore your soul—give you back your own soul? Would that not move you?" Rhodes asked.
"What... what did you say? Our souls were long ago devoured by those cursed C'tan," AsanethAyu trembled.
To the Necrons, soul was an ancient concept. Their souls had been devoured by the C'tan who tricked them into becoming machines.
Rhodes wasted no words. He released the cosmic fire-phoenix, Baton, from within himself—even in a reduced form.
The moment Baton appeared, the Necron tomb mechanic's eyes went wide in disbelief.
"You—you're a C'tan lackey! Damn it! I was captured by those trash's servant!" she screamed and struggled, her face contorted with hatred.
Among the Necrons, the Silent King had decreed that the C'tan had the lowest status, not even slaves. To be captured by their servant was a disgrace beyond words.
"Don't misunderstand. What you see isn't a C'tan or a C'tan shard.
It's a cosmic phantom beast, a creature of pure cosmic energy and life, but not evil like the C'tan. In fact, they are the mortal enemies of the C'tan.
They can even devour C'tan shards and annihilate them completely," Rhodes explained briefly.
"So, what do you want?" AsanethAyu asked, regaining her composure.
Could such beings really have arisen in the galaxy during their 60 million years of sleep? A lifeform able to match the C'tan?
But even if this being was powerful, the weakest C'tan could destroy it. Still, if it was just a C'tan shard, maybe it could eat it—if there were enough of them.
If the Silent King knew this, he'd be delighted. The Necrons' hatred for the C'tan was beyond words.
If there were a way to kill the C'tan, they'd do it without hesitation—they were eternal enemies.
Now AsanethAyu was considering: first, she had to verify if this being could really destroy C'tan shards. If so, she had to get this news out.
"Let's discuss your soul restoration. Your souls were devoured by the C'tan and became their energy. My cosmic phantom beasts can devour C'tan shards and, at the cost of energy, restore your souls," Rhodes revealed.
"You can really restore a Necron's soul?" Her electronic eyes flickered.
It might be possible, but it would be extremely complex. Could their race regain souls?
"Don't misunderstand—I mean only for you, individually. The souls of all Necrons were devoured by all the C'tan collectively. My phantom beast only absorbed a single shard, so for now, it can only restore your soul," Rhodes clarified.
"What do you want? If you truly have this power, the best way is to return with me to the Necron dynasty, to meet the Silent King. When the Necrons fully awaken, we will rule the galaxy again.
If you humans surrender and offer the phantom beast to us, the Silent King will allow your species to survive under Necron protection. That's your best outcome," AsanethAyu said.
If the phantom beast could destroy shards and restore Necron souls, it was invaluable.