[This simulation ends in one minute.]
[The options available for this simulation are as follows:]
[1. The Emperor's Gaze (Human Affinity)]
[The simulation time is less than twenty-four hours. Simulator loss has been waived.]
The second simulation ended as quickly as it began. A shooting star, brilliant and fleeting.
"Well, at least I survived a few dozen seconds longer," Nolan muttered, his chest tight with frustration.
His eyes dropped to the single reward offered by the simulator.
The Emperor's Gaze (Human Affinity): You will be protected by the Emperor. The favorability of most humans towards you will increase, while the favorability of Chaos and Xenos will decrease.
Nolan blinked, then selected the reward without hesitation.
His prayer to the Emperor had been nothing more than a desperate gamble. He never expected it to actually work, to attract the attention of that singular being.
The Emperor. The founder of humanity's Imperium in the Warhammer universe.
Those who loved Him called Him the God-Emperor, the Lord of Mankind, the Omnissiah.
The monsters who hated Him cursed Him as the Corpse Emperor, the False Emperor, the carrion lord who played with forbidden powers.
The Emperor did not love individual humans. He loved humanity as a whole, a vast and infinite collective.
"I hope the next simulation doesn't attract the Four Chaos Gods again," Nolan whispered, swallowing hard. "The Emperor's blessing should help... right?"
The memory of his skull exploding lingered, a phantom ache that made him wince.
Yet even as anxiety gnawed at him, Nolan realized he'd completely forgotten about his real-world troubles. Like a teenager lost in an addictive game, he couldn't wait to start the next simulation.
[Simulation starting...]
[You have arrived in the Warhammer universe]
[Location: Ultima Segmentum, Catachan System, Catachan]
[You step onto the planet's surface and discover, to your surprise, a small human stronghold ahead of you.]
[You have no time to rejoice. You are already surrounded by countless deadly animals and plants.]
[Through sheer luck, you survive.]
[You are rescued and brought back to the stronghold by a Catachan warrior who was out hunting.]
[You pledge your loyalty to the Emperor. You are permitted to stay.]
[You discover there is only one Catachan warrior in the small stronghold. He is a recruit undergoing intensive wilderness survival training.]
[You attempt to learn combat and survival skills from him. Though he remains silent, you catch a glimmer of approval in his eyes.]
[Week One: You follow the Catachan recruit through extreme physical training. You begin urinating blood. After each session, you collapse and cannot move a single finger.]
[Week Two: The Catachan recruit teaches you about the planet's deadly native animals and plants. Shapes, colors, habits, characteristics. If you fail to memorize any detail, you are forced into brutal Catachan combat drills. You lose several teeth. You feel that death would be preferable to this existence.]
[Week Three: You follow the Catachan recruit through basic firearms training. Your shooting results are satisfactory. You earn the recruit's recognition.]
[You accidentally discover that the injuries from your extreme physical training have healed completely. You suspect it's due to the cans of Ambull extract the Catachan recruit has been feeding you. The taciturn recruit falls into deep thought when you mention this.]
[Week Four: Your survivability has increased dramatically. You ask the Catachan recruit to take you on real wilderness survival training. The recruit refuses.]
[You stubbornly believe this refusal is an insult, a sign the recruit still views you as weak. You choose to venture into the Catachan jungle alone.]
[You cleverly avoid a Lobe Parasite. In the bushes not far behind you, the Catachan recruit watches with approval.]
[You sprint through the hunting range of Spikeweed. In the massive vines overhead, the Catachan recruit nods in affirmation.]
[You bravely face an attacking Catachan Barking Toad. Near the rancid pool beside you, the Catachan recruit, who has already killed three Catachan Face Eaters in advance, shakes his head and sighs.]
[You escape the Catachan Barking Toad, but fail to notice the arrival of Heathen Mosquitoes.]
[You are bitten several times. Venom enters your bloodstream. Your internal organs begin to rot.]
[You are dying.]
[Through dimming, rotting eyes, you see the figure of the Catachan recruit approaching. Your ears catch his gentle words, the first kindness you've heard in weeks. A Catachan Fang pierces your heart, ending your agony.]
["The Emperor bless you, my friend." The taciturn Catachan recruit, Sly Marbo, speaks his final eulogy.]
[You are dead.]
[This simulation ended after twenty-seven days.]
[This simulation has retainable options:]
[1. Catachan Deadly Plants and Animals Illustrated Guide]
[2. A Catachan Fang (Melee Weapon)]
[3. Special Training from Sly Marbo (One Month)]
[This simulation time has exceeded 24 hours. Simulator loss has not been exempted.]
[Cooldown time: twenty-seven hours.]
[Please invest resources to reduce cooldown time (currently holding no resources)]
Nolan stared at the floating text, bewildered by his own reckless behavior in the simulation. But there was nothing to be done about it. The simulation had ended, and now he had to choose his reward.
He considered the three options carefully.
From a practical standpoint, the first reward was useless. Catachan's environment was so uniquely hostile that it was rare even within the Warhammer universe. Knowledge of its deadly flora and fauna would serve him little purpose on Earth.
The second reward could only serve as a decorative paperweight. The skills required to properly wield a Catachan Fang were far beyond what an ordinary person could master.
That left only one real choice.
Nolan selected the third reward.
Special Training from Sly Marbo (One Month).
The change was instantaneous.
Nolan's muscles suddenly swelled, expanding outward as if inflated. Even his loose clothing grew tight across his chest and arms, the fabric straining against his newly enhanced physique. Countless techniques and trapping methods flooded his mind, settling into his muscle memory as if he'd trained for years. The knowledge felt natural, instinctive, as deeply ingrained as breathing.
"Sly Marbo training really is extraordinary," Nolan murmured, rolling up his sleeves.
He stared at his forearms, watching the defined muscle lines shift and flex beneath his skin. His heart swelled with genuine joy, a feeling he hadn't experienced since arriving in this world.
Ever since he'd transmigrated, Nolan had felt vulnerable. Exposed. A fragile human in a universe preparing for cosmic disasters.
But now, confidence surged through him like electricity.
As long as he continued to run simulations, he could prepare for any crisis. He could survive. He could protect himself and his aunt when the time came.
There was only one problem.
The Warhammer simulator needed time to cool down. If he wanted to skip the wait, he'd need to invest resources to reduce the cooldown period. Unfortunately, Nolan had no idea what kind of resources the simulator required.
He'd have to figure that out later.
At that moment, Nolan, who had been curled up on the sofa basking in his newfound strength, suddenly remembered something important.
His eyes snapped to the wall clock.
Several hours had passed while he'd been absorbed in the simulation. The clock hands had marched forward relentlessly while he'd been oblivious.
It was now 12:20 PM.
He'd missed his morning classes entirely. And if he didn't leave immediately, he'd miss his afternoon shift at the restaurant.
"If I don't show up, Aunt is going to kill me!" Nolan yelped, launching himself off the sofa.
He snatched his phone and keys from the coffee table and bolted toward the door, his enhanced muscles carrying him faster than ever before.