In the fourth layer of the "Kingdom of Disorder," Nareth once again condensed a black "cable," linking it to the crimson sphere of light belonging to the Shadow of Order, the "Pyromaniac" Sanchez.
Upon returning to the fourth layer of space, Nareth's spirituality spread toward the crimson sphere.
The "Briber" immediately felt his spirituality draining rapidly, at a rate twice as fast as when touching Arsena Dunn's sphere.
After some thought, he understood why.
'Arsena and I are on the same ship, so the distance is close.'
'Just as prayers lose parts of their meaning when transmitted, the "Kingdom of Disorder" uses my position as the anchor point of reality.'
'I'm in the southwest of the Segmentum Tempestus, while Sanchez is on the far west of the Ultima Segmentum, The distance is enormous, so reaching him consumes far more "energy," that is, spirituality.'
Nareth saw Sanchez clad in jungle camouflage, leading a squad through dense forest.
With a single thought, the message Nareth wished to deliver formed in his mind and was transmitted through subtle links into the sphere of light.
On Catachan, light-years away, black mist suddenly surged into Sanchez's mind.
A dark figure sat enthroned. A terse yet commanding voice resounded directly in his mind:
"Leave the others' sight."
The black mist faded, and Sanchez's eyes flickered.
The Black Emperor?
"Hold position!"
After giving the order, the Reaper Lord strode away. The Shadows of Order fanned out warily, seasoned by Catachan's constant trials to stay ever-alert.
Sanchez moved ahead, covering over a hundred meters, when suddenly dozens of huge leaves lashed toward him.
The "Pyromaniac" raised his hand, seven ravens appeared at his side.
The incoming leaves were incinerated to ash, and Sanchez leapt upon a Venus flytrap, cleaving its stalk with his chainsword.
After countless expeditions, the "Pyromaniac" had learned to control dozens of ravens at once through the spirituality infused within them.
He also knew to sever such plants swiftly, to prevent wildfires.
Moving quickly, the "Pyromaniac" soon distanced himself several kilometers from the squad.
The moment he stopped, boundless gray mist swallowed him whole.
Sanchez couldn't resist at all. Gripping his chainsword tightly, he looked around warily.
Then he saw his Gene-Father. His eyes lit up and he sheathed his weapon.
"Father… you are the Black Emperor?" Sanchez asked in shock.
"That's right," Nareth nodded slightly, while gauging the drain of spirituality against the recovery rate of the crimson chain.
'The rate of spiritual drain is about three times faster than the recovery of the crimson chain. My spirituality continues to fall.'
'Given my current condition, if I "remotely" pull someone into the fourth layer of the Kingdom of Disorder, I can sustain at most two at once, and no longer than twenty standard Terran minutes.'
'Caution is needed, it's best to summon one at a time, and end early, to ensure safety.'
Nareth thought it through and understood.
'In other words, the galaxy-spanning council I had envisioned is not yet possible.'
'But interstellar communication and private audiences are feasible.'
After summarizing what the fourth layer could achieve, Nareth heard Sanchez ask curiously:
"What is this place?"
The perceptive shadow of order looked around, astonished to find nothing but black mist.
Aside from the Gene-Father and the throne, there was nothing else.
As Sanchez gaped, Nareth spoke:
"This is an independent space under my control. Only I, and those I permit, may enter here."
"From now on, I will summon you in this way. When you sense my call, ensure you are alone."
"If you have important matters, you may pray to report to me."
The Reaper Lord's eyes gleamed. For them, this was of immense importance.
'My bond with Father becomes closer. Reports are more efficient, messages more complete, and I can behold Father more often and receive his teachings.'
As Sanchez rejoiced inwardly, Nareth added:
"The Black Emperor cannot be known to all, not even to the court's members."
"Pass the ritual method only to Mikael and Marlena."
"Yes, Father," Sanchez replied. Nareth then asked:
"What is the current status of the Seventh Chapter?"
Calming his excitement, the Reaper Lord reported:
"Father, the Seventh Chapter has recruited 1,500 new soldiers from the Catachans, who are now undergoing modification surgery."
"The Catachans are fierce warriors, but I did not conscript all of them, they number only about five million."
"I adjusted your Vostoyan birth decree to Catachan's situation."
"Although their living conditions have improved somewhat, survival here is still like hell compared to Vostoya's 'paradise'."
"Every adult of age must have at least one child to receive antitoxin supplies."
"Those with five children receive food aid from Triken and unlimited medicine supplies. The Legion covers the children's medicines."
"Although the decree has only recently been implemented, results are already evident."
"Birth rates have risen sharply. On average, each Catachan family now has three children."
"Infant mortality has dropped by twenty percent."
Sanchez sincerely praised the Chief Apothecary's contributions.
"This is thanks to Mikael and his Apothecaries, who developed antidotes and other medicines for the Catachans as a reward for their loyalty."
"In gratitude, the Catachans gifted us the forging method for their unique steel-alloy combat knives, the Catachan Fang."
Sanchez drew a short blade from his side.
"They call it the Demon's Claw, meaning it is as terrifying as a Catachan Devil's claws."
"The largest ones are about 1.2 meters long, wielded like swords."
"Compared with other Catachan blades, the Demon's Claw is hollow with mercury inside, improving swing strength and flexibility."
"Our Techmarines modified it for the Shadows of Order's physique, making it usable as a power sword."
He then revealed an even shorter black dagger.
"This is the Night Reaper, suited for infiltration and assassination, coated with deadly Catachan venom."
"The venom on our Night Reapers can even kill an Astartes."
"As these blades entered the Legion, the Seventh Chapter itself became Catachanized. The hunters excel at setting traps, infiltrating, and launching deadly strikes."
After reporting on the Legion's changes, Sanchez continued:
"Marlena Scala's arrival has also greatly aided Catachan's development."
"Whenever Catachan settlements face large-scale assaults, Marlena appears in time."
"Plants that my fire and the Orders' bolters could barely handle become tame pets before her."
"Compared to me, I sometimes think Catachan suits the 'Harvest Priestess' better."
On Catachan, even in sleep, one must stay vigilant.
But when exploring with the "Harvest Priestess," they didn't even need guards.
Her catalyzed mutant plants were the most loyal sentinels.
If Catachan hones hunters, then the "Harvest Priestess" is its master.
"Marlena's experimental farmland reforms are also working. There's now one square kilometer of arable land. For the first time in thousands of years, Catachan has farmland."
Nareth nodded in satisfaction and praised:
"Good. Keep it up."
He then severed the connection with Sanchez.
Sanchez, back in Catachan's humid jungles, burned down a spitting cactus with his fire ravens before realizing he had returned to its perilous wilds.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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