"We've approached the Great Foundry Temple multiple times so far, but we've never truly managed to break through Nurgle's Demon Army's blockade."
Captain Ventris briefed his newly arrived cousins on the current battle situation, continuing, "Although we haven't been able to establish contact with them due to Warp energy interference, judging by the observed signs of engagement, the Great Foundry Temple has not fallen.
Archmagos Will and his forces are still resisting stubbornly."
"The location of the Warp Rift has been scouted; besides the demon army pouring out from the Warp, there's also a Great Demon guarding the rift.
We attempted to attack there, but even mortal soldiers whose faith had been enhanced couldn't directly face the Great Demon's mental influence, and ultimately, the effort collapsed."
Isaac, the Iron Knights' Isaac, said, "Dividing our forces to rescue the Great Foundry Temple is not a good idea.
We should focus all our strength on attacking the Warp Rift, banishing the Great Demon, and once the Warp Rift is closed, the crisis at the Great Foundry Temple will resolve itself."
Inquisitor Griffin explained, "We need to lure out the demon army at the Warp Rift to reduce the number of demons there; otherwise, attacking that area will be extremely difficult."
"Let us, the Iron Knights, take on the main assault; it's what we excel at," Isaac said resolutely.
Hearing Isaac's words, the commanders present at the meeting were all delighted.
Having a Space Marine Chapter willing to take on the main assault was undoubtedly good news for the current dilemma.
They weren't afraid of those abominations, but their soldiers couldn't directly face those monsters.
Ventris and Griffin exchanged glances, their eyes conveying a desire for the other to persuade the Chapter Master to abandon this plan.
However, they were there to support them, and with them actively seeking battle, how could they say, "Wait, no rush"?
At this moment, Chaplain Colin of the Fire Covenant said to Isaac, "Isaac, I understand your determination and will to eradicate the Emperor's enemies, but I must advise you to set this plan aside for now, for three reasons."
Isaac's fighting spirit surged, but he hadn't lost his reason.
He didn't mind spending a few minutes letting his cousin explain the reasons, saying, "Please speak, my cousin."
"Firstly, from the knowledge I've gained from the Chapter Library, I've learned that a world-center like the Great Foundry Temple holds special mystical significance.
If demons were to occupy it and perform sacrificial rituals there, we cannot predict the consequences; the entire planet could even be dragged into the Warp and become a demon world."
"Secondly, Captain Ventris said that mortal soldiers cannot directly face a Great Demon, but we need these soldiers to stabilize our battle lines, ensure we are not interfered with by other factors when banishing the Great Demon, and also ensure we have an escape route if we fail."
"Thirdly, since mortal soldiers cannot directly face a Great Demon, this distance needs to be defended by us, and our numbers are limited.
Therefore, we need to reduce the number of demons there so that we can accomplish this with fewer people, concentrating stronger forces to deal with the Great Demon and its escorts."
After listening to Colin's explanation, Isaac lowered his head and thought for a moment before saying, "Thank you for your reminder, Chaplain Colin."
Seeing Colin come to his rescue, Ventris quickly presented the plan he had already prepared, saying,
"We can commit most of the mortal soldiers towards the Great Foundry Temple to feign support for the Archmagos and his forces.
To prevent the Great Foundry Temple from receiving aid, the demons will surely send more of their numbers there to block us, thus reducing the number of demons at the Warp Rift."
"Then, with us, the Space Marine, as the spearhead, we will suddenly launch an attack on the Warp Rift.
A small number of soldiers will follow behind us to defend the front-line positions, while the highly demon-infested routes in the rear will be defended jointly by us and soldiers with extreme faith enhancement.
These soldiers have undergone extreme, side-effect-laden enhancements, giving them stronger resistance to the demons' corruption of mortal will, but their numbers are few, and due to the side effects, they require someone to command them to complete complex combat missions."
"Oh, this plan sounds like it has a high success rate," Isaac said.
"Indeed," Colin echoed.
They both also realized that this Ultramarines cousin had already formulated this plan upon their arrival, and he had only refrained from speaking out of respect for them.
Isaac of the Iron Knights: Just like their Primarch, they care about unimportant things.
But seeing as you're considering us, I'll forgive you this time!
Don't do it again next time, it makes it seem like we Iron Knights are petty, hmph!
(So difficult...)
Colin of the Fire Covenant: Just as hypocritical as their Primarch, not at all like our Lord Vulkan, who is honest and kind.
And this blue power armor is truly annoying to look at, detestable Ultramarines!
(Archmagos Cawl, you...)
Seeing that the powerful reinforcements approved Ventris's battle plan, they all stopped being silent and began to make small adjustments and additions to the plan, one after another.
Gamma is fighting demons, the allied forces are planning how to fight demons; both sides have things to be busy with.
Let's talk about why the Astartes Legions transformed from their original Legions into the Chapters they are today.
No matter how many stories there are, one unavoidable man stands out—the current Imperium Regent, Roboute Guilliman, and his magnum opus, the Codex Astartes.
This book maintained the stability of the Imperium, but also dismantled its most powerful military force.
It can be said that Horus crippled the Emperor, and Guilliman "crippled" the Imperium.
Everything begins with that great war—the Great Crusade.
The "Great Crusade" was a galaxy-spanning last stand launched by the Emperor to enable humanity to reclaim its position at the pinnacle of the galaxy.
To ensure this war, which would determine humanity's fate, met the Emperor's expectations and grand vision, the Emperor made many preparations, the most important of which was the creation of 21 Primarchs.
"They shall be my sons, and in their hearts shall reside the hope of humanity's unification.
They shall possess the strength for victory, not only when victory is within reach, but also when victory seems impossibly distant, when the shadow of doom and death shrouds all like a shroud.
In that dark hour, my noble sons shall shine with the brightest light."
— The Emperor
The "Primarchs" were 21 superhuman "sons" created by the Emperor in the late 30th Millennium using extremely advanced, incredibly genetic engineering technology.
They were intentionally designed as immortal, superhuman generals and leaders, commanding the Imperial armies to sweep across the galaxy during the magnificent Great Crusade, reuniting scattered humanity under the Emperor's leadership.
Each Primarch, though not identical, possessed a certain "perfection" on both biological and spiritual levels.
In the eyes of mortals, they were "perfect" commanders, generals, warriors, and statesmen, possessing extraordinary, even "unnatural," charisma and military prowess.
Physically alone, they were taller, stronger, more agile, wiser, and more intelligent than any mortal, making them appear to mortals like the gods of ancient myths, unaffected by disease, aging, and other "minor" flaws and "minor" weaknesses that plague mortal life and thoughts.
But unfortunately, the intervention of the Chaos Gods thwarted the Emperor's plan, and through a Warp storm, the infant Primarchs were scattered across various lost human worlds in the galaxy.
Lacking the Emperor's personal care and guidance, each Primarch developed their unique personality during their growth, a microcosm of their adopted homeworlds.
All Primarchs reflected the unique atmosphere, environment, culture, and temperament of the second homeworlds that "adopted" them.
Some of these were constructive, others detrimental.
Each Primarch was further shaped by those who accepted or adopted them, inheriting the values, ideas, kindness, and cruelty of these "people" or "things," molded by fate into heroes, kings, tyrants, or devils.
Ultimately, however, despite the Primarchs' unparalleled talent, strength, and wisdom, their external essence remained human.
Their more human characteristics also endowed them with the inherent imperfections and flaws of humanity, which ultimately proved to be a major hidden danger to the Emperor's grand dream.
With the Primarchs as extraordinary "generals" and "commanders," there needed to be extraordinary soldiers who would obey, cooperate with, and uphold the leadership of these Primarchs.
The Emperor then used these 21 Primarchs as genetic templates to create an extraordinary Legion for each of them—the Space Marine Legions (Astartes Legions).
"They shall be my finest warriors, these who dedicate themselves to me.
I shall reshape them as I would clay, and forge them in the crucible of war.
They shall possess wills of iron and bodies of steel.
I shall clad them in mighty armor and arm them with powerful weapons.
They shall be untouched by disease and plague; they shall not be weak.
In battle, they shall also possess stratagems, tactics, and machinery far superior to their enemies.
They are my bulwark against fear, they are the defenders of the Imperium of Man.
They are the Space Marine, and they shall know no fear!"
— The Emperor
Due to genetic and psychic connections, after undergoing 19 modification procedures, these soldiers would develop a natural dependency and obedience to their respective Primarchs.
Coupled with the Primarchs' own inhuman charisma, these Legions were fiercely loyal to their Primarchs, with their loyalty to the Primarch exceeding their loyalty to the Emperor.
After the Emperor found the Primarchs scattered across the galaxy and entrusted their Legions to them, the Primarchs also brought the unique atmosphere, culture, and their own unique acquired personalities shaped by their environments from their home worlds into their Space Marine Legion
So, what peculiar personalities did each Primarch bring to their Legions?
First Legion: Dark Angels
Primarch: Lion El'Jonson, also known as "The Emperor's Firstborn," "The First Lord," "The Lion," "Big Brother," and "The True Keeper of Secrets."
Legion Battle Cry: Repent! Tomorrow is your death!
One moment of weakness, a lifetime of heresy!
Characteristics: Secret police with a belly full of little secrets; the Emperor's personal military police.
Grievances: The First Legion has no secrets!
What is a Fallen Angel? Bang!
Second Imperi… Bang!
I'm a Fallen Angel, I'm not a greenskin, stop hitting me…
…
Second Legion: Don't mention it! Taboo! Bang!
…
Third Legion: Emperor's Children (Traitor)
Primarch: Fulgrim, titled "The Phoenix of the Imperium," Fulmeifeng, Lord of Chemos, The Illuminated One, The White-Haired King, The Great Gay Overlord, ascended to a Slaanesh Daemon Prince.
Legion Battle Cry: Emperor's Children, Slayers of Fathers! (Originally)
Perfect ecstasy, endless frenzy, extreme pain. I want more! (Now)
Characteristics: Once the cleanest and most honorable young men of the Imperium! Now they are perverts skilled in all kinds of play.
Grievances: It's just that awesome! Super awesome!
They play so wildly!
…
Fourth Legion: Iron Warriors (Traitor)
Primarch: Perturabo, also known as The Hammer of Olympia, Lord of Iron, The Black-Hearted Contractor, Boss Plankton, Old Fourth, Iron King, Space Autistic Da Vinci, or Whiny Princess, ascended to a Chaos Daemon Prince.
Legion Battle Cry: Clad in iron, steel within and without!
Iron Will, Iron Body!
Characteristics: Skilled in siege warfare; tech-savvy homebody; a twisted person, with a twisted soul.
Grievances: Dorn!!!!!!
Why don't you praise me!
Are you praising me because you want to use me!
…
Fifth Legion: White Scars
Primarch: Jaghatai Khan, missing, The Warhawk of Chogoris, Lord of the Icy Sky, Khan, Great Khan, Old Fifth, The Imperium's First Throat Singer, Master of the Morin Khuur, Master of Roast Whole Lamb.
Legion Battle Cry: For the Khan and the Emperor!
Characteristics: Speed is king; racing is the main business, hacking people is just incidental.
Grievances: I want a faster motorcycle!
This head feels good to wrap around!
Question: How many meters of horse does a three-meter-tall Primarch need to carry him? Answer: The Great Khan used to run… Bang!
…
Sixth Legion: Space Wolves
Primarch: Leman Russ, missing, The Great Wolf, Lord of Winter and Ruin, Wolf King of Fenris, Husky, Old Sixth, Super Furry.
Legion Battle Cry: For Russ! For the Wolf Time!
Characteristics: The Emperor's executioner; feigns foolishness, brave and cunning; super-evolved into a werewolf form.
Grievances: We don't use psychic powers, we use the rune power from our homeland!
If Fenris has no wolves, where do the Fenrisian Great Wolves come from?
To feel something, you have to add some poison to the mead…
…
Seventh Legion: Imperial Fists
Primarch: Rogal Dorn, missing, also known as The Rock of the Imperium, The Vigilant, The Praetorian of Terra, The Emperor's Blade, Lord of the Mountain Fortress, Castellan of Inwit, Old Seventh, Lord of Boring Speeches, The Man Who Spat in Khorne's Face, Little Cutie, The Unyielding.
Legion Battle Cry: Primarch above, for your honor and that of the Lord of Earth!
Characteristics: Tower defense master, defense expert; especially loves to build fortresses.
Grievances: One of the three "people" with the hardest mouths in the galaxy;
Khorne: I am Rogal Dorn…
Brothers? Aren't brothers meant to be offended!
…
Eighth Legion: Night Lords (Traitor)
Primarch: Konrad Curze, deceased, also known as The Night Haunter, The Final Reckoning, The Lord of the Night, The Shell, Space Batman, Green-Winged Bat King, Corvus Corax's emo version, a cooler Konrad, basically a giant, cackling Flashpoint Batman, an upright vigilante, a ruthless killer, a mentally tormented terrorist who seeks to maintain order through fear.
Legion Battle Cry: We come for you!
Characteristics: The cruelest madmen, masters of sadism, fear tactics.
Grievances: The Primarch looks down on the Legion, and the Legion looks down on the Primarch!
Although he's a crazy sadist, his intentions are good…
The Primarch is the Legion Champion!
…
Ninth Legion: Blood Angels
Primarch: Sanguinius, deceased, also known as The Great Angel, The Most Luminous, King of Baal, Lord of Hosts, Handsome Eagle Man, The Perfect Primarch, Golden White-Feathered Chicken, Papa-san, Old Ninth.
Legion Battle Cry: For the Blood of Sanguinius!
For the Emperor and Sanguinius! Kill! Kill!
Characteristics: Bloodthirst and Black Rage, incredibly strong when enraged!
Grievances: Horus, ah ah ah ah ah!?! Who are you?
Blood slave is a glorious job!
…
Tenth Legion: Iron Hands
Primarch: Ferrus Manus, deceased, also known as The Iron Hand, The Great Iron Father, Gorgon of Medusa, Old Tenth, Headless Ferrus, Sister Ferrus, famous for his arms covered in living metal.
Legion Battle Cry: Flesh is weak!
(Tech-priest, we greeted you, so you use it! But I still appreciate you.)
Characteristics: Inorganic content in their bodies is no less than that of Tech-priest.
Grievances: Why is there no one inside your Dreadnought? Bang!
If you're all going to replace yourselves with bionics, why are you still using gene-seed modifications?
What's the difference between you and the Tech-priest?
…
Eleventh Legion: Don't ask! If you ask, there isn't one!
…
Twelfth Legion: World Eaters (Traitor)
Primarch: Angron, also known as The Crimson Angel, Slave of Nuceria, King of the Red Sands, The World Eater, Gladiator King, Blood Prince, The Butcher, The Breaker, Old Twelfth, Ambaddax, Space Kratos, Wetware of the Butcher's Nails, ascended to a Khorne Daemon Prince.
Legion Battle Cry: No quarter! Kill! Kill! Kill!
Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the Skull Throne! Death to the False Emperor!
Characteristics: Chop!
Grievances: This is a tragedy, I don't want to complain anymore…
The Emperor: Why is this child so humorless?
…
Thirteenth Legion: Ultramarines
Primarch: Roboute Guilliman, Lord of Ultramar, The Warlord, King of Five Hundred Worlds, Sword of Unity, Master of Hosts, Lord Commander of the Imperium, The Uncrowned King, The Victor, Old Thirteenth, Son of Vengeance, Old Rob, Big G, Roboute Gayman, Naked Roboute Chickenman, Grandpa Blue of the Smurfs, The Blue Sun in the People's Hearts.
Legion Battle Cry: Courage and Honor! For Macragge!
Characteristics: All-rounder, everything is decent.
Grievances: The father of 3/4 of the Imperium's Space Marine!
Ambitious Guilliman!
Hereditary ICU specialist!
…
Fourteenth Legion: Death Guard (Traitor)
Primarch: Mortarion, also known as The Lord of Death, The Pale King, The Prince of Decay, Old Fourteenth, Green-Robed Hooded Stinker, Morty, Big Gas Tank, Fluttering Moth, famous throughout the galaxy for being clean and hygienic, ascended to a Nurgle Daemon Prince.
Legion Battle Cry: None, yes, none!
Characteristics: Originally the toughest of the Space Marine, now even tougher after becoming a "Plague Pig."
Grievances: This isn't psychic power! This is numerology!
A steadfast materialist warrior.
I heard there's still a chance for him to be redeemed…
…
Fifteenth Legion: Thousand Sons (Traitor)
Primarch: Magnus, also known as Lord of Prospero, The Crimson King, The Sorcerer King, The Cyclops, The Red Demon, One-Eyed Sunburned Ogre, The Man Who Did Nothing Wrong, Little Magic Magnus, Amazing Little Magnus, Space Archmage, Iron Silly Chili Boy, Ahriman Plus, Invertebrate, ascended to a Tzeentch Daemon Prince.
Legion Battle Cry: All is dust!
Characteristics: All living members are psychic masters.
Grievances: He contributed the most to putting the Emperor on the Golden Throne.
I heard he was forced to kneel by his sons.
It's a shame this physique isn't for close combat…
…
Sixteenth Legion: Luna Wolves / Sons of Horus / Black Legion (Traitor)
Primarch: Horus Lupercal, deceased, also known as The Punishing Tyrant, Warmaster of the Imperium, Old Sixteenth, Bald Horus, The First Filial Son, The Most Evil Traitor, The Damned Traitor, the central figure of the Horus Heresy, known as "the idiot who screwed everything up," but… it's not entirely his fault.
Legion Battle Cry: For Horus and the Emperor! (Before heresy)
We have returned! Death to the False Emperor! (After heresy)
Characteristics: Hmm… is father complex considered one? The Primarch used to be a gang leader.
Grievances: Victorious in every battle…
The era of the Primarch ended…
Pointy head!
…
Seventeenth Legion: Word Bearers (Traitor)
Primarch: Lorgar Aurelian, also known as The Great Word Bearer, Urizen (the god of reason and tradition in William Blake's mythology), The Golden Man, Old Seventeenth, Innocent Baby, Mad Bald Prophet, Choir Boy, Pathetic Weakling, also the first Primarch to convert to the Chaos Gods, ascended to a Chaos Daemon Prince.
Legion Battle Cry: The Lectitio Divinitatus!
Characteristics: Religious zealots seeking and worshipping gods.
Grievances: The founder of the Imperial Cult.
The copyright holder of The Lectitio Divinitatus.
How do you prove you're not a god?
…
Eighteenth Legion: Salamanders
Primarch: Vulkan, missing, also known as Lord of Drakes, Hammer of Salvation, Fire of Prometheus, Old Eighteenth, Gentle Big Black Dragon, or Happy Green Giant. He is not only the strongest Primarch but also inherited the ability of an immortal from the Emperor, meaning he can revive almost infinitely. A legendary craftsman, one of the kindest and gentlest characters, the moral pillar of the Emperor's big family.
Legion Battle Cry: Forged in fire, tempered in battle!
Characteristics: Grilling master, master-level craftsman, the most friendly Space Marine to mortals.
Grievances: The Black Uncle is a good person, just let them go…
…
Nineteenth Legion: Raven Guard
Primarch: Corvus Corax, also known as The Deliverer, The Raven Lord, The Eye of Slaughter, The Liberator, King of Shadows, Akari, Black Long Straight Hair, Duck King, Space Ninja Dragon, Mandela's Big Daddy, Honest and Reserved Konrad, Good Friend of Workers.
Legion Battle Cry: None
Characteristics: Can become invisible, skilled in assassination.
Grievances: Duck King is a good comrade.
Depressed…
Lorgar, get out here!!!
…
Twentieth Legion: Alpha Legion
Primarch: Alpharius Omegon, one is presumed dead, Lord of the Hydra, twins, King of Lies, deceives even himself, all is mystery.
Legion Battle Cry: Hydra Dominatus!
I am Alpharius!
Characteristics: Loyalty is hard to discern, secret agents who can disguise themselves, spies.
Grievances: Who is Alpharius?
Am I Alpharius?
Are you Alpharius?
We are all Alpharius!
With a 'general' and 'soldiers' in place, the Great Crusade naturally began smoothly, until Horus led nine Primarchs in the Great Betrayal.
Although it ultimately failed, resulting in his complete annihilation, it also sent the Emperor to the Golden Throne, and the Imperium of Man lost the Emperor's direct leadership.
Our then-late and ill-reputed master of the Thirteenth Legion, Roboute Guilliman, was heavily criticized for not making it back to Terra to provide support.
Amidst the chaos throughout the Imperium at that time, for the sake of the Imperium's stability, his own reputation, and to prove his innocence, Guilliman brought out his 'magnum opus' — the Codex Astartes.
The main purpose of this 'masterpiece' was to divide all Legions into Chapters not exceeding 1,000 Space Marine, and to establish a new set of rules to manage (suppress) them.
Guilliman: You say I'm ambitious, right? Do you know who has the most soldiers? It's me! After seeing my Codex, who dares to talk back!
Ambitious? Then no one should even think about it!
Guilliman (╯‵□′)╯︵┴─┴
No one knows the expressions of the loyalist Primarchs who were still alive when they saw this Codex Astartes; the Imperium's second civil war almost broke out.
The final result was that the Codex Astartes was nominally implemented, while the Primarchs who secretly opposed it engaged in covert actions, feigning cooperation.
At the same time, some loyalist Space Marine from the Traitor side also concealed their past and blended in.
But as one loyalist Primarch after another disappeared, and Guilliman was also run through by Fulgrim and put into 'ICU', the Imperium, having lost the Emperor's leadership, then lost the Primarchs' leadership.
No one could again rally and unite the already fractured Legions based on personal prestige.
The Imperium thus lost its most powerful military force — the Space Marine Legions.
Guilliman, with a single Codex Astartes, accomplished a 'feat' that even the Traitor Horus failed to complete.
It could be said that Horus crippled the Emperor, and Guilliman crippled the Imperium.
Guilliman: Who would have thought they'd be so rigid? I added 'subject to specific circumstances' at the end! You really can't blame me!!!
...
Turning our attention back to Gamma, as the Warp energy's erosion of the real universe intensified, the physical laws of the real universe became increasingly unstable.
The Great Foundry Temple's defensive shields began to show flaws, no longer able to intercept all ranged attacks, which made Gamma and his comrades' defense increasingly difficult.
'Alas... I'm going to die young without accomplishing anything, another life lived in vain!'
After howling at the sky, Gamma inhaled a foul stench and nearly vomited, then began to exert himself to fight the demons again.
Dying in a cesspit was completely unacceptable to Gamma; whenever he thought of giving up, a deep breath immediately invigorated him.
'Don't let me escape, or I'll never be done with you! Magos Lyra, isn't there a better way?'
As Gamma fiercely attacked the demons, he didn't forget to ask Magos Lyra, who was commanding the Adeptus Ministorum somewhere, via the communicator.
'After everyone's calculations, defense is our optimal solution right now.'
'But this is too passive; if we continue like this, we won't even have the strength to break through! There will only be death.'
'...' There was no response from the communicator.
Regarding Magos Lyra's silence, Gamma thought: We might have already lost the strength to break through...
If there were no reinforcements outside, the Archmagos might have chosen to abandon the Great Foundry Temple from the start, but precisely because of the reinforcements' existence, they chose to hold their ground.
Holding their ground allowed them to live until now, but holding their ground also extinguished their future.
'Sorry, Magos, I shouldn't have said that.' Gamma apologized to Magos Lyra.
'No need, you are not wrong; according to your physiological signs, you need rest now.'
'I can still hold on; everyone else is holding on, aren't they...'
'Warning! Gamma! Get out of your current position!'
Gamma, who was already very tired both mentally and physically, didn't expect Magos Lyra to suddenly issue a warning to him.
I dodge!
Hiding behind cover, Gamma saw a large mass of yellowish-green liquid rapidly fall not far from where he had just been standing.
Ugh! Feeling a bit dizzy... I suddenly understand why Tech-priest always say 'flesh is weak.' I didn't even put the Gamma's emergency evasion to maximum, and one acceleration almost made me pass out! Ugh...
The moment the liquid landed, splashing pus, imbued with Nurgle's evil power, splattered onto the surrounding auto-defense turrets, the slower Adeptus Ministorum soldiers, and the alloy-paved ground.
Metal cannon barrels grew flesh and fangs, circuit parts turned into a pile of rust, skin began to rot, organs grew claws and teeth, tearing open bellies and crawling out of abdominal cavities, and poisonous fungi and plants emerged and grew from the ground.
'Gamma!' Magos Lyra exclaimed, hastily mobilizing the nearby auspexes to ascertain Gamma's condition.
'Magos, I'm fine!'
Her internal communication module received a data stream from Gamma; data transmitted back by the auspex showed only one life sign remaining at the attacked location.
After Magos Lyra's rapid calculation, it was determined that the probability of Gamma being affected by demonic power exceeded 77.7%.
'Question: What was the function of the relic you borrowed from me last time?'
'Ugh! Manipulating atoms, ugh ugh.'
'Appearance?'
'Three-dimensional cube 0.6 * 0.51 * 0.48. Ugh.'
'Stay in place and make no sudden movements; await further investigation, otherwise the extermination protocol will be activated.'
'Ugh ugh, received, obeying orders.'
Is she afraid I'm possessed? Or afraid I'm corrupted? Gamma didn't want to be exterminated by the distant defense turrets, so he had to honestly wait for someone to take him for examination.
This was the disgusting part of fighting Chaos demons; not only could they not be truly eliminated, but because demon Chaos Gods are born from the thoughts and emotions of intelligent beings, their power can directly or indirectly influence the thoughts and emotions of intelligent beings.
A momentary thought, a sudden idea, could all be demons using their power to corrupt you; facing powerful demons, if the person's will is not firm enough, they might even be directly twisted into pathetic playthings by the demons' power.
Soon, Gamma was escorted by a heavy servitor towards a room built with special materials inside the Great Foundry Temple; these materials might be anti-psychic substances like the bones of Blanks or Null-materials.
The purpose of building such rooms was to deal with psykers and those suspected of being possessed by demons; their power would be suppressed inside.
After entering, Gamma didn't feel any different from usual; he thought: It seems my magic resistance isn't just for 'positive psychic energy'; even 'negative psychic energy' like Blanks can't do anything to me.
Wait! Then my 'reduced to ashes, soul scattered, rest in peace after death plan' might be ruined! It can't be, right? It can't be, it shouldn't be...
The Imperium's classification of psychic ability is 'psykers' (positive psychic energy), ordinary humans (unawakened), and soulless ones (negative psychic energy).
Blanks are also called 'soulless ones'; they are special existences that appear randomly among humans, and because they carry special genes, their souls appear as a 'black hole' in the Warp.
This gene is highly unstable and cannot be stably inherited or cloned.
Due to the 'black hole' effect of their souls, they absorb and neutralize psychic energy in their surroundings; they literally form a vacuum of the soul, drawing all soul-fire from the surrounding environment into it.
And since the souls of intelligent beings reside in the Warp, approaching their 'black hole' causes extreme discomfort and repulsion.
Even in death, their bones can produce a psychic-suppressing effect.
Weak Blanks only trigger an instinctive repulsion in those around them; strong Blanks can cause electronic machinery to malfunction, which also indirectly proves that machine spirits truly exist.
Upon hearing that his 'wild son' was in danger and had to be isolated, Archmagos Will set aside his affairs and rushed to where Gamma was detained.
The current situation was urgent, and as a Archmagos, he could not show favoritism at such a time.
During this period of holding out, he had even turned off the 'emotional module' in his brain to avoid being swayed by emotions, but this feeling was truly terrible.
The Archmagos, having lived for about a thousand years, still didn't understand how those Tech-priest who didn't even install 'emotional modules' managed to survive.
And what was the meaning of living?
He had intended to stage a 'Macragge-style' scene of filial piety with Gamma, just like the Regent and his adopted father.
However, when he saw the boy, he was 'playing dead' soundly asleep on the bed board, and the first meaning conveyed when he saw his 'father' was — why are you disturbing my sleep!
Gamma: Who doesn't have a bit of morning grumpiness.
Archmagos Will: Unfilial son! Do you know how many things I put aside just to come and comfort you, 'Don't be afraid, father is here,' and this is your attitude!
Today I'll show you how Macragge people educate their children!
Fortunately, Gamma knew better and understood that Archmagos Will coming to see him at such a time meant that this 'father' was worth acknowledging.
He saw the Archmagos not speaking and thought Archmagos Will, being 'out of practice as a father,' didn't know what to say.
He didn't know that Archmagos Will was frozen in place, mentally searching through his childhood memories of being beaten, learning techniques, to give him a 'Macragge-style education.'
Gamma spoke first: 'Archmagos, don't worry, I'm fine. I have very high psychic resistance; Magos Lauster tested me before, it's ridiculously high!'
Archmagos Will: Hmm!? I have this talent too?
Psychic resistance, unlike psychic power, doesn't have a specific grading system; it's just a manifestation of insensitivity to Warp energy.
Psychic energy that would severely affect ordinary people has a much smaller impact on those with resistance, for example: Ultramarines Titus, a formidable individual who can ignore Chaos artifacts and single-handedly destroy ascended Chaos Lords.
'Really?'
'Really, when I did the psychic test, I didn't feel anything at all; Magos Lauster was terribly jealous.'
Archmagos Will: Oh, Archmagos me! How much talent have I been burying all this time—
Gamma should be grateful that Inquisitor Griffin wasn't here, otherwise he would have been locked up in a secret fortress prison whose location in the galaxy only Inquisitor Griffin himself knew.
He would be held until it was determined that he posed no threat to the Imperium, only then would he be released—and there's no one safer than a dead man.
No one could legally stop Inquisitor Griffin from doing this under Imperial law, because this was a right granted to the Inquisition by the Emperor before he ascended the Golden Throne—an Inquisitor has the right to investigate anyone in the Imperium except the Emperor, from Primarchs down to paupers.
The people your Adeptus Astartes don't dare to imprison, I, an Inquisitor, will imprison!
The people your Assassin Court doesn't dare to kill, I, an Inquisitor, will kill!
The people your Administratum can't control, I, an Inquisitor, will control!
What your Astartes can fight, I, an Inquisitor, must fight!
What your Astartes cannot fight, I, an Inquisitor, must fight even more!
This is an Inquisitor! Execute first, report later, by special imperial decree!
Titus, the former Captain of the Ultramarines Second Company, was immediately taken down by an Inquisitor because his psychic resistance was abnormally high. His Chapter Master searched for him for over a hundred years without any news, and finally had to give up.
Later, it was said that Titus, relying on his modified physique, outlived the Inquisitor before regaining his freedom and returning to his Chapter.
If this were to happen to Gamma... hmm... it's possible he could also outlive Griffon.
The foolishly happy 'wild father' and the smug 'wild son' both knew nothing of Titus's story, each thinking they were incredibly formidable.
Archmagos Will left alone, feeling, 'How much have I been delayed!' Gamma was still confined in the isolation chamber; at this time, favoritism would affect morale.
The current situation offered no other option but to wait for reinforcements from outside. In his over thousand years of life, he had encountered such situations more than once or twice, and he clearly knew what to do and what not to do.
Unable to leave, Gamma began his most idle days on Thedan. Every day, besides a servitor bringing him food outside the door, he saw no one else.
He was only left with a Tech-Priest's robe and a set of underwear; nothing else was left for him. If he needed to change, he would have the servitor bring him new ones.
What the dazed Gamma didn't know was that he had already been targeted by a Traitor. It was this Traitor who offered the medium to open the Warp Rift, and the missing Magos was merely a scapegoat he had prepared.
After this Traitor Magos delivered the 'World Extinguisher Incubator' to Plague Prophet Vik, the two of them formulated their next conspiracy—to occupy the Great Foundry Temple.
The Plague Prophet paid the Traitor Magos a partial reward in advance, a small blessing that would not change the Traitor's appearance but would cut off his retreat.
The Traitor then returned to the Great Foundry Temple to continue his 潛伏. His mission was not to help Nurgle's Demon Army breach the Great Foundry Temple's defenses, but to find a way to kill the Fabricator-General, because they worried that this Archmagos, who dared to use a spaceship as a weapon, might destroy the Great Foundry Temple directly if he saw no hope of victory.
If the Great Foundry Temple were self-destructed by the Archmagos, their plan would be in vain. After Thedan was ravaged by the demon army, it would merely revert to its original barren planet, and the Imperium might even issue an 'Exterminatus' to destroy the entire planet, eliminating future troubles, once they determined Thedan had no recovery value.
Therefore, they had to kill Archmagos Will, because everyone who had experienced this civil war of the Adeptus Mechanicus knew the Archmagos's courage.
(Archmagos Will: Heh, why didn't I know I was so brave? An old ship scared you guys like this. Sure enough, dog meat doesn't belong on the banquet table, so petty.)
But how could the Traitor Magos alone be an match for the Fabricator-General? He needed allies, he needed help.
Every experienced Tech-Priest has 'little secrets' that cannot be seen by others, but 'little secrets' come in many kinds. Not everyone would betray to Chaos like him. He had no way to guarantee that when he revealed a bit of his secret to another Magos, that Magos would choose to join him, or choose to report him, or even attack him directly.
For this, the Plague Prophet prepared sealed artifacts containing demons for the Traitor Magos. The fragile seals could only ensure that the demons could attach themselves to objects.
But as long as the demons inside wished, they could break through the seal at any time. Of course, these demons were all carefully selected by the Plague Prophet and willingly sealed within the objects, precisely to help the Traitor complete their plan.
The Plague Prophet prepared a total of three such sealed artifacts, each containing a Nurgle demon that was the most cunning and best at corrupting hearts.
As soon as someone touched these objects, the demons could instantly break through the seal and possess that person's body. Those with weak wills would have their bodies directly seized, while those with strong wills would be corrupted and twisted by their subtle whispers, willingly offering their souls and bodies.
This way, they could gain helpers without the risk of exposure.
Why not prepare a few more sealed artifacts to ensure the plan is foolproof?
The answer is that there are simply too few Nurgle demons intelligent enough to handle such a task. They are not like Tzeentch demons, who specialize in schemes and tricks, nor are they like Slaanesh demons, who excel at distortion and temptation.
They are simple and happy Nurgle demons!
But the development of events was not as smooth as the Traitor had imagined. Although there was a scapegoat, which kept the Traitor from being exposed, the Magos could not be sure that there were no other Traitors within the Forge Temple. So, in this special moment, they all kept their distance from each other and remained wary of each other—inorganic brains only speak in probabilities.
Now the Traitor was dumbfounded! Perhaps it was because, after being blessed, his organic matter content was higher than before, or perhaps it was because the brain fluid encasing his brain had been replaced with pus. He had not anticipated this situation. The demon army had already reached the last layer of the city wall, and he hadn't found a suitable host.
Just as he was about to risk contacting the Plague Prophet to ask him to slow down the attack, Gamma, who was confined in the isolation chamber, entered his sight.
Is there a more suitable target than the Fabricator-General's own son?
A son played by Chaos betraying a father who is the Lord of the World!
How familiar! How wonderful! Indeed, classics never fade!
The Traitor thought so.
(The Emperor: Who the hell are you being sarcastic to?!)
Gamma's name was frequently mentioned in the Great Foundry Temple, from the initial rumors of him being an illegitimate child, to the Archmagos personally acknowledging him as his own son, then to being praised as a 'prodigy' among the Magos, and finally to being recognized by the Priests as 'the one blessed by the Omnissiah.'
A bizarre origin, extraordinary talent, and divine blessings—any one of these would be enough to make someone a focal point, let alone possessing all three simultaneously.
The reason Gamma wasn't chosen as a target from the start was precisely because he was too conspicuous. No one in the Great Foundry Temple would not pay attention to such a child.
Even the slightest abnormal change in him would be magnified, turning a minor flaw into a fatal mistake.
But now it was different. Because of his uniqueness, Gamma had the opportunity to be isolated, rather than being directly purged or assigned a suicide mission.
The Magos gave Gamma a chance, and also gave the Traitor a chance. He could, without attracting attention, let the demons corrupt and possess Gamma's body and mind.
The only uncertainty was the suppression of the demons by the anti-psychic material used to construct the isolation chamber, which would prevent complete suppression of Gamma's personal will during possession.
If one isn't enough, then two; if two aren't enough, then three! This brat is worth it!
The Traitor made up his mind. Time was short, and there would be no more suitable target than Gamma.
...
Gamma, knowing nothing, was currently recalling memories from his past life, looking for inspiration and amusement.
Gamma lay flat with his hands behind his head, one foot resting on the other leg, swinging it, and muttered to himself:
"The longer I'm transmigrated, the stronger the sense of unfamiliarity becomes. It's like watching someone else's life movie, and a bad one at that, with no sense of immersion..."
"So boring..."
"When can I finally do whatever I want? I have so much technology in my head, waiting to realize all the inspirations in my mind..."
"Or maybe later..."
"Sigh, I wonder if there will even be a 'later.' Wild father said he observed signs of reinforcements the other day, I wonder if he was just comforting me?"
"Bah! I'm almost getting used to calling him 'father.' Gamma, you need to stand firm! How can you be misled by sugar-coated bullets? You're Gamma, who has drifted for half a lifetime!"
"Something's happening. Is it time to eat?"
"Heh, eating without growing taller. Whoever raises a pig like me will surely go bankrupt..."
Gamma lazily got up, walked to the door, and retrieved his dinner.
"The taste is great, as expected of a chef hired at great expense. Spray some edible fluorescent agent on it, and it could be on a gourmet show."
"What's this?"
Gamma picked up a small sculpture on the tray. The sculpture was exquisite, shaped like a chubby little figure holding fruit to give to someone, made of bronze, and looked quite old. It might be an artwork from some feudal world.
"A decoration? The chef really has style."
Thoughts of bronze smelting and various casting techniques popped into his mind. Gamma's mouth twitched, and he put the sculpture back, focusing on eating.
Gamma: I am no longer the person who loved watching metallurgy and blacksmithing videos...
Hopanda was born on Ancient Terra from humanity's fear and disgust of the Hepatitis B virus. He also inherited humanity's impression of the Hepatitis B virus at that time:
Long-term latency with strong concealment, difficult to completely eradicate, and once it has a chance, it will make a comeback;
Mild symptoms and a potential carcinogenic risk make people overlook its danger.
Cunning and insidious!
No demon was more suitable for Plague Prophet Vik's task than him.
The demon Hopanda, who willingly allowed himself to be sealed, patiently waited in the sculpture for an opportunity to appear. "Patience" was his inherent weapon.
Gamma, who felt sleepy after eating, thought before going to sleep:
"This meal was really comfortable; my body felt warm all over after eating it…",
"Huuhaa…",
"Huuhaa…",
"Mmm… Haa…",
After waking up and stretching comfortably, Gamma muttered,
"What kind of strange dream was that?"
He vaguely remembered that in his dream, he turned into a dark, spiral-patterned egg.
He was also held in the hand by something that looked like a Nurgle demon. It should be said that the "egg" was absorbing the Nurgle demon, and the demon was crying out for its father and mother, unable to shake free, until it was completely consumed by the "egg."
Although the dream wasn't a good one, this sleep was very comfortable. Gamma now felt refreshed and full of vitality.
"No wonder they say, 'seven or eight years old, even dogs dislike them.'"
"I haven't really rested for over three, almost four, years."
"After just a few days of rest, my body has recovered, and my energy is so abundant!"
Gamma kicked his legs and swung his arms, exercising his body while lamenting how great the body of a "young person" was and how strong its recovery ability was.
…
The Traitor, who had not received the signal agreed upon with the demon, was fighting demons on the city wall, thinking:
Did it not succeed directly?
It doesn't matter, it's all within expectations. Continue.
Can't you demons be lazy for once! What's the point of fighting so hard! Let me show you the power of this relic technology I've collected. This is prepared for Will!
The Traitor was a true Traitor; he was genuinely fighting the demons, even pulling out his trump cards.
If there were a transmigator with some knowledge who knew the inside story, he would surely compose a poem:
Poem Title: Reversal of the Heavenly Dipper
The cunning guard the national gate, the green-skinned die for the nation.
Heretics slay demons, the Empire kills loyal men.
(The Emperor: I'll get up and kill you right now!)
…
To vent his boundless energy, Gamma was practicing the "Sixteen Forms of Universal Law" of the "Great Mechanical God Sect."
"Universal Law First Form: Life is directed motion, Ha!"
When parrying, both arms must be round and braced, dynamic and static, real and empty, attacking at will.
"Universal Law Second Form: Spirit is the fire of life, Hey!"
When engaging, brush aside and squeeze the palm, the enemy's desire to counter will be difficult to achieve.
"Universal Law Third Form: Intellect is the ability to grasp the value of knowledge, Ho!"
When pressing down, use it as if overturning, grasping firmly with both hands, not letting go.
(I'll try not to pad the text; I'll release the remaining forms when I have time.)
…
Tonight's dinner was still the same as yesterday, as Gamma requested it. He thought yesterday's dinner was especially good and wanted to eat it again.
His request, as a "second-generation rich kid," was naturally granted. However, the chef was still very "thoughtful" and replaced the sculpted centerpiece with a new one, adding a touch of personal care.
Gamma also picked up the sculpture, examined it, and then put it down. After all, it was a gesture of goodwill, and looking at it was a sign of respect for the chef.
Gamma always believed in returning kindness tenfold. Having acted as a "great hero" for a day and still maintaining the persona, he thought this.
After eating, he would sleep…
"Huuhaa…",
…
Where is this? How did it turn into a "spiral black egg" again?
The exact same dream?
Oh, no, it's different. The demon has changed.
Hehehe, little guy, no demon will come to save you even if you scream yourself hoarse!
Kurwei? What a terrible name, and "True Name," and a demon born from the "Coronavirus" disease?
You've successfully awakened a very unpleasant memory in me. You might as well just die.
Die!
Die!
…
After Gamma woke up, his face was very grim. He realized something was wrong; the dream was wrong! He was also wrong!
"Am I being targeted by Nurgle?"
"No, that's not right. Are there demons who cry out for their father and mother to corrupt people?"
"With that appearance, it's more likely to scare people away."
"Also, what's going on with my body? My spirit is too good, and my body is too comfortable!"
"This feeling is familiar…"
The explosive "brat power" in his body made Gamma roll from the head of the bed to the foot, and then from the foot to the head…
He needed to think quietly now, but his body didn't want him to be quiet at all.
Gamma could only roll and think: When exactly did I feel this way before…
…
The traitorous Magos, who "showed his true abilities in fighting demons after joining Chaos," naturally did not receive a successful signal from the demon. He continued to fight the demons diligently while thinking:
Did it not succeed directly again? It seems the suppression on demons there is too great.
However, the demon is no longer inside the sculpture, and no alarm has been triggered from there, which means Gamma must have been possessed. But the demons are dormant; they need help.
Let's send the last sealed object over. It's best if it succeeds directly. Otherwise, we'll wait until the Archmagos releases his "precious son"…
Hehehe, I'm starting to look forward to what Will will say before he dies? Hehehe…
…
Gamma, in his "rolling contemplation," finally remembered why he felt so familiar with this surge of energy.
Wasn't this the same feeling he had when he first started hunting with the workers!
It was as if his body had inexhaustible vitality and endless energy. At that time, this feeling wasn't as intense as it was now.
He had thought then that it was because he was too excited, but now it seemed it wasn't because he was excited, but because of the changes in his body, which made him excited. The relationship between the two was inverted!
And that time also matched the period when his body's growth "slowed down."
So what caused the slowdown in body growth? The dream! The black egg! The demon!
The dream was real! Gamma realized.
The egg is a cheat! No! The eggshell is the cheat, and what's inside the shell is "me"! It's the soul!
The spiral-patterned eggshell can give me "knowledge" and "protection," which also explains why my psychic resistance is high.
Now the "eggshell" has an additional ability—absorbing demons, and then feeding the absorbed "nutrients" to me. The nutrients come from the absorbed demons.
Nurgle's three biggest characteristics are life, death, and decay, and his demons naturally inherit his characteristics.
It seems the "eggshell" can also separate the "nutrients," not feeding everything indiscriminately.
The "eggshell" is for "feeding" me, not "feeding me to death." And my soul has been given life-related psychic abilities by the eggshell, and my body, which is interdependent with my soul, naturally changes, becoming healthier, more vigorous, recovering faster, and having a longer life…
Gamma understood the relationship between the demon, the black egg, and his body. He smiled.
"Hahaha, I laugh at those four in the Warp: the red one, a brainless brute; the blue one, a cowardly rat; the green one, a dry bone in a tomb; the purple one, a wanton harlot. Among all the heroes in the galaxy, only the Emperor and I remain, hahaha…",
(The Emperor: Hey, you rascal, don't scare Uncle! Be normal, let's discuss this slowly. Don't be so brave, do you hear me? Hey?)
Gamma laughed and then cried.
"Wuwuwu, now no one tells me the truth. How many years will it take to grow up now? Last time I didn't just cry because I wasn't growing taller, wuwuwu."
"Wuwuwu, I was already a virgin, and now after transmigrating, I have to be a virgin again. This is great. Originally, it was just a delay of a dozen years, but now I don't know how many years I'll have to live to reach puberty… Wuwuwu… Why couldn't I encounter a Nurgle demon after I grew up? Why did you come so early… I'm not like the Emperor, who has been both male and female. I'm still young… Wuwuwu…"
(The Emperor: Hahaha, don't cry, Uncle will give you his chair later!!!)
Gamma, distraught over his "little brother," was gloomy all day until near dinner time, when he emerged from the shadow. Dinner was already the same as the previous two days; he hadn't said to change it, so the person in charge assumed he still wanted to eat it.
"Sigh, haven't these past few years been like this? It's just a few more decades, or even hundreds… Wuwuwu…"
Gamma, who had hurt himself again, no longer had an appetite for dinner. He just listlessly scraped at his food with his utensils.
Gamma sat there blankly in front of his food. Although the demon in the sealed object was sealed and suppressed by the anti-psyker material in the room, he was not oblivious to the situation outside.
Seeing Gamma's appearance, the demon thought it was due to the corruption of his already possessed accomplice. But Gamma kept not touching the sculpture, so he couldn't join in.
Here! Here! Come! Touch this sculpture, and when you touch it, you'll forget all your troubles! Come… The demon carefully, enduring the suppression, used its psychic energy to influence Gamma.
The effect?
Like a stone sinking into the sea, talking to a brick wall.
"Forget it, I'm not eating. Let the servitor take the food away."
When the demon heard Gamma's words, he knew he couldn't wait any longer. He had to take a gamble. He didn't care about the consequences of the plan failing; what he cared about was whether he would have any credit in the gift offered to his father.
A cloud of yellowish-green mist rose from the sculpture, forming a blurry demon image, dominating Gamma's face.
The moment Gamma saw the ruthless entity, he felt a great sense of dread. During the day, he had racked his brains trying to figure out how the demon found him; he truly didn't understand psychic powers. Now that he understood, it was too late…
Don't come over, ahhh…
The moment this thought arose in his mind, the demon had already pounced on him.
The Warp energy detection instrument monitoring the isolation chamber instantly reached its peak, then instantly returned to zero.
Gamma was furious that the working time of his "little brother" was once again postponed.
This time, the "eggshell" should eat slowly, savoring every bit, tormenting this demon, ravaging this demon, playing with this demon, making him repent to me!!!
Gamma roared in his heart, commanding the "eggshell," but unfortunately, the "eggshell" ignored him, remaining as before.
Gamma, whose soul had already consumed two "Green Rejuvenation Pills," this time didn't need to be asleep to see the scene of the demon being absorbed by the "eggshell," unlike the previous two times.
This time, as soon as the thought arose, his consciousness appeared in the Warp. As expected, coming early this time, the demon he saw was much more energetic than the previous two, but it wouldn't be energetic for long.
Because Gamma felt the "eggshell" growing stronger. It seemed that the "eggshell," as the vessel for his soul, was one with him. As his soul grew stronger, the "eggshell" would also grow stronger. In other words: Gamma's soul was an "egg."