Regarding the military, the Emperor did indeed experiment with true genetic modification.
But facts proved that such technology either altered the human form itself, was difficult to control, or was extremely costly.
As the Emperor's right-hand man and close friend, Regent Malcador once told the Emperor:
If the Emperor were to use the Custodes as his main force, the Empire would have no time to produce anything else.
—
Other Worlds holding the same view saw the definitive answer; they originally thought that since the Emperor had lost his Thunder Warriors, he would be confined to Terra and could no longer pose a threat to them.
They breathed a sigh of relief, thinking they were safe.
However, the footage on the screen continued to play, revealing a shocking truth.
On the screen, rows of burly warriors appeared. Their armor was incredibly sturdy, covering their entire bodies and making them look like tin cans encased in metal.
As the image gradually cleared, the number of these warriors seemed endless, and their presence shocked everyone watching.
The Emperor's voice echoed across the screen.
["They shall be my finest warriors, these men who give of themselves to me."]
["Like clay I shall mould them, and in the furnace of war forge them."]
["They will be of iron will and steely muscle."]
["In great armour shall I clad them and with the mightiest guns shall they be armed."]
["They will be untouched by plague or disease, no sickness shall blight them."]
["They will have tactics, strategies and machines such that no foe can best them in battle."]
["They are my bulwark against the Terror."]
["They are the Defenders of Humanity."]
["They are my Space Marines."]
["And they shall know no fear."]
— The Emperor of Mankind
The Worlds that had previously breathed a sigh of relief, dismissed the Emperor, and even openly mocked him, fell silent.
"What is that?"
"Is that... an army?!"
After a brief silence, many Worlds began to chatter in discussion.
Then the sound of discussion grew louder and louder, and every World underwent earth-shaking changes.
Those Worlds that had previously felt relieved or even mocked the Emperor were now plunged into silence.
Their expressions shifted from ease to shock, and from mockery to awe.
They began to realize that the Emperor's power was far greater than they had imagined.
"What is that?" a voice rang out among the many Worlds. "Is that an army?!" another voice exclaimed.
After a brief silence, many Worlds began a heated discussion.
Every World was turned upside down because of this new discovery.
They began to reassess their own safety and reconsider the threat of the Emperor.
In the Marvel Universe, heroes gathered at the Avengers headquarters, and the images displayed on the screen made them all feel uneasy.
The usually steady Captain America could no longer care about so-called civility and cursed loudly: "Motherfucker! What the hell is this?!"
Not a single hero present refuted him. The reason was simple: the army appearing on the screen surpassed everyone's imagination.
The power and presence of these warriors—each one seemed to possess destructive power like the Hulk.
And that unstable factor was something that even their creator could suffer backlash from.
They had originally thought the Emperor had completely abandoned such an army.
But now, from outward appearances, creations that were not at all inferior to the Thunder Warriors—and perhaps even surpassed them—appeared on the screen again.
"That Emperor... is he insane?" Tony Stark's voice carried a hint of a tremor.
"He actually dares to toy with human genetics like this," Dr. Banner's voice was filled with concern.
————
Although the Astartes are smaller in strength compared to their predecessors, the Thunder Warriors, the genetic technology they utilize is much more mature and stable.
Mortals can be transformed into Astartes through the implantation of powerful artificial organs cultivated from unique genetic material: the Gene-seed produced by Progenoid Glands.
These modified warriors are no longer mere mortals.
They can tear an enemy's body apart with their bare hands, withstand attacks that would kill a mortal, and learn information about an enemy by consuming their flesh.
They can even spit corrosive saliva from their mouths when necessary to break free from metal restraints.
When equipped with powerful Power Armor and war gear, the Astartes themselves are already a dangerous weapon of the Emperor.
They would also serve as the spearhead at the front lines during the subsequent Great Crusade.
The research and development of the Gene-seed used to create Astartes came from the Emperor using his own DNA combined with forbidden dark science.
Even fragments of the Warp were used to cultivate what is said to be the research on the Primarchs. This began in the 29th Millennium, before Terra was even unified; he created 20 infants in gene-cultivation pods in his secret laboratory.
They were the Primarchs.
These Primarchs, possessing the Emperor's own genetic material, were specifically built for combat and conquest.
When grown, they would become war leaders and strategists far stronger than ordinary humans. The Gene-seed for the Astartes units was derived precisely from the genetic research of these Primarchs.
In the Emperor's plan, every Primarch had their own designed purpose and specialty within the Great Crusade.
And every Primarch, upon reaching adulthood, would possess a Legion of Space Marines built using their own genes as a template.
These 20 Primarchs would lead twenty Legions in loyalty to the Emperor's Great Crusade.
Of course, becoming a Space Marine requires a complex process to ensure its integrity.
First, only males can be selected, because Space Marines are essentially incomplete clones of the Primarchs.
Since the Primarchs are all male, the Gene-seed requires a Y chromosome to function. Afterward, as an ordinary person, you must undergo a rigorous selection process lasting several years to prove you are exceptional enough.
At the same time, to ensure the success rate, the age for this selection is basically around sixteen years old or even lower.
As for the form of selection, each Chapter has its own unique methods, ranging from deathmatches to hunting giant beasts—all sorts of things.
After passing the assessment, you will be permitted to have the Gene-seed implanted and begin the long physical transformation process, where the survival rate is not very optimistic.
During the various surgeries, you must also train as a Neophyte and perform missions, supplemented by various forms of mental hypnosis to ensure your mind is properly adjusted.
Once this entire process is complete, you will become one of the Universe's premier killing machines, desiring nothing but to fight in the name of the Emperor.
You will forget your past and no longer have sexual impulses; your only mental weakness will be a strong aversion to failure, being unable to continue fighting, or any similar situation.
————
Land of Light
In the grand halls of the Land of Light, the Father of Ultra sat on his throne, deep concern showing in his eyes.
His gaze pierced through the endless Universe, falling upon the images of a distant World.
There, the fate of humanity was undergoing an unprecedented trial.
The Father of Ultra could not help but let out a sigh—a sigh for the tragic fate of humanity in that World.
Children are the future of a race; this is true without exception for any race. Yet the humans of this World were capable of pushing a group of children onto operating tables just to create warriors to protect themselves.
This was undoubtedly evil, but could the Father of Ultra persuade them otherwise?
He could not, because these people couldn't even be sure they would survive the next year. Until their survival crisis was resolved, cruel things like this would only continue to happen.
DC Universe
At the Justice League headquarters, the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive. The images on the screen left all the heroes silent.
They had thought of the evil of this Empire, but they hadn't expected the Empire's actions to still exceed their imagination.
Systematically training children into killing machines—even the most evil organizations they had encountered had not done this.
There was no fear in the eyes of these children, only indifference and the desire to kill.
Their bodies were modified, their minds twisted, becoming the sharpest weapons in the Empire's hands.
"This is too cruel," Superman said softly, his voice full of anger and helplessness.
"We've encountered many enemies, but none like this." Wonder Woman clenched her fists, her anger almost shattering the golden light of the shield on her fist.
"This isn't just cruelty; it's a desecration of life." Hal Jordan's voice carried a hint of a tremor; he couldn't imagine a World treating its own children this way.
Darkseid sat on his throne, watching the children participating in life-and-death brawls on the screen, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
He was called the most cruel tyrant and butcher in the Universe by countless people.
But now it seemed his actions were too light compared to the Emperor's; he didn't have such a systematic practice of treating individuals of a race as weapons.
"Emperor, you really are a genius." Darkseid muttered to himself, his eyes flashing with admiration and jealousy for the Emperor.
————
Marvel Universe
Tony Stark was the first to break the silence, his voice carrying a hint of anger and confusion:
"This is insane. They actually dare to do this. Turning children into War Machines is simply anti-human."
"And the act of devouring an enemy's flesh to gain information is simply unbelievable. I'm sure they have other ways to get information. Don't they know what this kind of behavior implies?"
Iron Man didn't say the rest, but everyone knew what it meant.
Eating someone else's flesh to gain information—it would be one thing if it were just Beasts, but what if it were other intelligent beings?
Even when these soldiers need to deal with internal rebellions, would they end up eating the flesh of their own race—that is, humans?
(The Blood Angels say: 'Hey, are you talking about me?')
"This isn't just a moral issue; it's a complete collapse of scientific ethics," Tony muttered to himself.
"If they can create such warriors through genetic engineering, maybe we can find a way to reverse all of this."
He opened multiple terminals and pulled up data on genetic engineering and biotechnology, trying to find methods he could learn from.
His heart was full of unease, but also a sense of responsibility. These children were being robbed of their futures; he couldn't just sit by and watch.