Entering Citadel Vigilant, Arkhan Land, eagerly began studying the Doomsday Weapon from the Dark Age of Technology.
Nareth's eyes filled with threads of rules. The glowing energy core, dim screens of silver machines, everything around him transformed into strands of rule-threads.
He felt something within him dissolving like sugar cubes, blending seamlessly into coffee.
Moments later, the dense web of rule-threads vanished. Nareth felt his spirituality grow more vibrant.
Combined with past digestion experience, he quickly assessed his progress.
'Approximately three-fifths.'
'More than the projected half.'
Nareth's gaze swept the group. After the long journey, they were somewhat fatigued.
"Rest as needed."
Then, leaving the Dionysian Spear on the ground, he exited Citadel Vigilant.
The black wolf followed with relaxed steps; the gyrinx strained to keep up.
"You stay."
Exiting Citadel Vigilant, Nareth avoided the others' sight within the dust storm, arriving at the Kingdom of Disorder.
He was about to instruct the Jokaeros to prepare potions when he sensed a change in the Kingdom of Disorder.
His increased control over the Kingdom of Disorder after ascending to mid-sequence allowed him to feel another layer's mist had cleared.
With a thought, he arrived at the sixth layer.
The space was empty, devoid even of black mist. Yet, Nareth instantly understood this layer's ability.
Still "Corrosion," but its target expanded beyond people to new domains.
Nareth's eyes grew profound. His mind raced, ideas flashing.
Corroding objects circulating in the world, indirectly corroding others for his use.
Corroding "spiritual sculptures", then using the fourth layer's connection to animate them.
...
As thoughts flowed, his eyes suddenly brightened.
'Perhaps its greatest use is corroding gene-seed from other Legions.'
'I could first corrode Apothecaries, have them offer gene-seed, then corrupt it.'
His thoughts followed the captured inspiration.
'Hmm, if after the Heresy, the Imperium imposes gene-seed tithes on Astartes Chapters as in my memory, I could also corrode inspection personnel, gaining access to various Chapters.'
'Whether these gene-seeds are used to rebuild severely damaged Chapters or found new ones, they would bear my influence.'
'Over time, wouldn't that allow infiltration, even control, of many Chapters?'
With this new idea, his thoughts continued to diverge.
'This would also facilitate actions after Primaris research succeeds.'
He anticipated acquiring the Sangprimus Portum, corroding and elevating Cawl as a beyonder, then, with assistance from beyonders of the "Mother," "Paragon," and "Moon" pathways, combined with Squat cloning technology, Gardinaal biochemical caste tech, developing Primaris versions earlier.
Once achieved, other Imperial factions would quickly notice.
Sudden, massive physical changes would be hard to explain conventionally.
Nareth didn't want other factions to possess Primaris, though he could exert some influence while corroding them.
Astartes culture often compelled repayment for aid received, but that still wasn't enough.
If he could corrupt gene-seed and deliver Primaris as "packages," it would be a wiser move.
Reining in his thoughts, Nareth considered the feasibility of the gene-seed corrosion plan.
'"Corrosion" doesn't operate on the genetic level but on a supernatural, mystical level.'
'Hathor Maat has been "corroded" for a long time without detection.'
'The gene-seed corrosion plan has high success probability. Hmm, first test with my own sons' gene-seed. After corrosion, have Mekel check for abnormalities.'
With that thought, he willed himself to the first layer of the Kingdom of Disorder.
He instructed the Jokaeros to prepare the "Savant" potion, then the "Calamity Priest" potion using Calamity Mantis and other ingredients.
As the Jokaeros worked swiftly, Nareth's gaze grew profound. He looked towards the shadow side, then through the six layers, into the depths of the "Kingdom of Disorder."
'After ascending to "Baron of Corruption", I've unlocked two layers. Complete digestion should unlock another.'
'From one layer per sequence initially, to two later, now three.'
'As my Sequence rises, the layers I unlock increase.'
He also considered how "Corrosion" could make Hathor Maat loyal and affect objects.
Comparing the connection to the fourth layer and the simple storage of the first layer, he inwardly marveled.
'The Kingdom of Disorder's layers grow increasingly miraculous. "Corrosion" leverages more of the Sefirah's power.'
Gazing into the depths, he hoped.
'I wonder if any layer might leverage resurrection power before I ascend to "Black Emperor."
Among all Sequence 0, the "Black Emperor" possesses the strongest resurrection capability.'
As he pondered, the Jokaeros finished preparing both potions.
He then returned to reality, entered Citadel Vigilant, and handed the black potion to John.
"Your reward."
The gyrinx's jet-black eyes fixed on the potion. Extending a ginger-furred paw, he eagerly consumed it.
Instantly, John's eyes filled with sand, his ears echoing with howling winds.
For the next dozen seconds, he was engulfed in volcanic lava, swept by tidal surges...
The gyrinx's ginger fur momentarily turned black, emitting an eerie, dangerous glow.
Seeing the gyrinx lose control from fear of calamity, Nareth soothed through their psychic link.
"Don't fear. You can foresee calamities, prepare in advance."
John's mind echoed with his master's calm, firm voice.
His fear receded. He forced himself into "Robot" state.
'Right, I can foresee calamities, prepare.'
'I also have my master. No one can harm me.'
The gyrinx's fur returned to ginger. He contained the potion's dissipating power, ascending to a Sequence 6 parahuman.
Grateful for surviving the ordeal, John glanced at his master.
But the next instant, the "Calamity Priest," lying steadily on the ground, suddenly rolled aside.
A pipe section as long as an arm fell from above, crashing where he had been.
John bared his teeth angrily, looking up at the servitor on the railing.
Seeing the servitor unresponsive, he withdrew his gaze resentfully, black eyes tinged with grievance as he looked at Nareth.
Through the psychic link, Nareth sensed John's thought.
"Today was supposed to be my lucky day."
Amused, Nareth gently stroked his fur, then ascended.
He found Arkhan in the data storage room.
The room held fifty-two shelves labeled A to Z, filled with data-slates, plus a cabinet of data-crystals.
"Arkhan, your contributions on this journey were significant. This is your reward."
The proud Arkhan said with shame.
"No, my Lord. My calculations were wrong."
Nareth shook his head slightly. "The energy suppression devices you built were the foundation for our arrival."
"Moreover, they enable you to review these materials faster."
"I need you to find a way to dismantle the Voidclaw and safely place it aboard the Shadow's Sovereignity."
Arkhan examined the potion in Lord Nareth's hand curiously.
'What'
'Helps me review these materials?'
'A stimulant? Those have little effect on me.'
Seeing Lord Nareth offered no explanation, Arkhan suppressed his curiosity and accepted the potion.
"In that case, Lord Nareth, I accept with humility."
He drank it.
The next moment, information exploded in his mind.
Having mastered over fifty languages by age five, constantly ostracized, Arkhan had relied solely on reading to attain his knowledge.
Now, every book, every data slate he had ever read transformed into an information torrent flashing through his mind.
After three minutes, the longest pause in Arkhan's life, the new "Savant" took a deep breath, recovering.
He gazed at Lord Nareth in amazement, thinking:
'A single potion can awaken and make me comprehend all my memories.'
'Lord Nareth knew of the Doomsday Weapon in this system. His gyrinx found it.'
'Only the Omnissiah could accomplish this.'
Arkhan's gaze grew fervent.
'I once believed the Emperor was the Omnissiah.'
'No! I was wrong!'
'Lord Nareth is the true Omnissiah!'
"Praise be the Omnissiah!"
"Praise my Lord!"
"Thank you for the gift!"
Seeing the fully "corroded" Arkhan working diligently in the data storage room, Nareth smiled, feeling a sense of completing a collection.
'The three greatest talents of the Mechanicum during the Great Crusade: Magos Lian Ramilies, Magos Arkhan Land, and Tech-Priest Malevolus, all are now my loyal believers.'
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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