Chapter 115: Returning to the Warhammer Universe
Joric had concluded his preparations in the Cyberpunk world.
The desert bastion was left in Moiré's capable hands. Maine's crew was granted operational autonomy to maintain a presence in Night City and gather resources, preventing an over-reliance on the manufactorum.
Based on the latest threat assessments, all factions were currently pacified. No major conflicts were projected in the immediate future.
With the temporary base secure, Joric focused his entire will on the trans-dimensional transit.
This return to the Warhammer universe had two clear objectives: complete the Magos Ascension ritual, and leverage that new status to secure command of a Forge Ship, laying the foundation for his future expansion.
Joric stood before the main console of the Dimensional Sextant. His dark-red, augmented form was statuesque under the ethereal blue glow.
Data-streams cascaded across his optical lenses, detailing the fluctuating energy parameters.
This transit was fundamentally different from transporting Maine's crew.
He was not merely transporting himself; he was taking the Dimensional Sextant with him.
This was far more complex than moving cargo. The Sextant was a precision-energy system itself. It had to maintain its own internal stability during the transit while simultaneously holding a lock on the destination coordinates.
The energy requirements and control precision were orders of magnitude higher.
Several dexterous mechadendrites extended from his robes, interfacing directly with multiple ports on the console.
He bypassed the standard interface, diving deep into the energy-regulation system, fine-tuning every harmonic parameter.
Directives flowed in a mix of binary-cant and low Gothic, governing the energy-output curve with absolute precision.
As power surged, the manufactorum's overhead lights dimmed significantly, while the core of the Sextant blazed with blinding intensity.
Within that twisting, blue-light anomaly, the very structure of space began to buckle.
"Initiating Synergistic-Transit Protocol. Designating Sextant-Unit as Primary Coordinate Anchor, deeply bound to Operator Bio-Sign." Joric's steady, synthesized voice cut through the equipment's roar—a command to the servo-skull, and a confirmation to his own logic-core.
The final command was entered. A massive energy-wave swept through the manufactorum.
Micro-arcs of electricity snapped in the air, and the sharp scent of ozone flooded the space.
Then, an irresistible force seized both Joric and the Sextant simultaneously.
His vision was swallowed by a torrent of twisted light. All external sensors went blind.
Unlike the "shredded-and-reassembled" horror described by Maine's crew, Joric's experience was distinctly different.
As the dimensional fissure engulfed him, he felt a immense force acting upon his mechanical chassis and internal energy-fields.
It was not a crushing impact, but a tearing sensation, as if existence itself was being stretched and twisted.
Against a standard biological organism or conventional metal structure, this force would have caused irreversible damage.
However, as the spatial pressure mounted, the Dimensional Sextant—now physically carried by him—reacted.
Its core resonance-unit emitted a unique frequency, and a faint energy-field rapidly expanded, enveloping Joric.
This field did not rigidly oppose the tearing force; instead, it guided and dispersed it with exquisite subtlety, like the prow of a ship parting water.
The intense tearing sensation faded rapidly, replaced by a sustained, but manageable, systemic pressure.
In his internal monitors, the surrounding spatial coordinates were still fluctuating violently, and the turbulence of high-dimensional energy washed over the protective field, but the actual load on his chassis and the Sextant's structure remained far below critical thresholds.
The entire transit lasted approximately 7.3 seconds.
When the twisted light subsided and the structure of reality solidified, he stood firm on the rune-inscribed platform within the familiar cavern of the Warhammer universe.
Beneath his feet were the ancient markings of the archeotech platform. The air was thick with the scent of sacred unguents and ancient stone—the smell of home.
The transit-complete chime echoed in the cavern. Joric's voice broke the silence. "Coordinates confirmed. Death World. Primary Ruin Transit Zone."
He first ran a diagnostic on his own systems.
Motive units functional. Systems nominal. Energy readings within acceptable parameters.
Next, he turned his attention to the Dimensional Sextant he had brought with him.
Initiating its self-test protocol, a series of green status-lights illuminated on its panel. The device had survived the transit undamaged.
With basic status confirmed, he pulled the detailed log of the transit.
The data clearly showed that in the initial phase, spatial pressure had spiked near critical levels, but was rapidly neutralized by the energy-field generated by the Sextant itself.
This protective mechanism was highly effective, making the transit far smoother than his initial projections.
"It appears the Sextant automatically shields units bound to it during active transit," he logged the discovery, flagging it for high-priority research.
This confirmed his suspicion: the ruin and the Sextant were far more than a simple doorway.
It likely possessed capabilities he had yet to uncover.
This realization shifted his thoughts on future research.
Aside from the Ascension, he needed to schedule a deeper, more comprehensive survey of this ruin.
This ancient facility might hold more secrets of trans-dimensional travel.
As Joric completed his system checks, the rhythmic sound of heavy, metallic footsteps echoed from the tunnel. He looked up to see the familiar figure of Ignis appearing at the entrance.
Clad in her dark-red carapace armor, her tall form stood out starkly under the cavern lights. Her servo-skull hovered silently behind her.
Stopping ten meters from the platform, Ignis struck her chest-plate with a mailed fist—the standard salute of the Mechanicus.
"Welcome back, Magos," Ignis's voice, though synthesized, carried a tone of deep reverence.
Joric inclined his head slightly in response. His gaze moved past Ignis, scanning the interior of the cavern.
"Report on the status of the base, and all significant changes during my absence." His voice was steady, pragmatic as ever.
Ignis held her stance and began her report.
Joric listened in silence, verifying her intel through his own sensors as she spoke.
(End of Chapter)