Stygies Forge World No.8.
A*VIII1248 Mechanical Factory.
Several gigantic furnace forging facilities were melting metal substances, with thick smoke filling the air.
Inside the factory's laboratory.
The Tech-Priest Palus looked haggard, his frame frail and covered with faint arcs of electricity from days of intense contemplation.
His cybernetic brain was overloaded.
"Great Omnissiah, I beg you to grant me the light of inspiration. Your faithful devotee yearns for knowledge..."
Palus knelt devoutly, praying for a sliver of hope.
After his prayer, he suppressed his trembling hands and continued his experiments with his mechanical tools.
Boom—
Sparks flew.
The materials inside the crucible were once again destroyed.
Another failed experiment...
Sizzle~
"Could it be that the Machine God has truly forsaken me?"
More electrical arcs erupted from Palus's body. The continuous failures had driven this Tech-Priest into self-doubt.
He couldn't even determine the cause of his failures.
In recent years, Palus had repeatedly failed to complete the assignments given to him by the Forge World.
During every Tech-Priest meeting, he was the one who couldn't even raise his head.
He was constantly mocked by his rivals, and his funding had been significantly reduced.
It wasn't just his official work. Even his lifelong passion, the research on alien materials, had shown no progress whatsoever.
This feeling of having his path blocked, with no hope in sight, was excruciatingly painful.
The circuits in the laboratory flickered, emitting crackling sounds.
A wisp of black smoke seeped from Palus's mechanical body, and something in his consciousness seemed to be tempting him:
Surrender. Embrace the true God of Knowledge, and all the answers you seek will be yours!
Palus was fully aware that if he gave in to the other side, he would immediately gain the knowledge he had been desperately seeking for years.
At this moment, he finally understood why members of the Dark Mechanicum would choose to embrace Chaos.
When all roads were blocked and the knowledge they craved was within reach, all they needed to give was their consent.
Not many Tech-Priests could resist such temptation.
And neither could he.
"Great God of Wisdom, I am willing to accept your gift..."
Palus's crimson electronic eyes were overtaken by a dark green hue. He knelt in a twisted posture, his palms extended upward, begging piously for that all-powerful being to grant him knowledge.
Beep—
A sudden alarm interrupted everything.
Palus snapped awake, suddenly stumbling backward and crashing into a rack of chemicals, causing the murky fluids to drip onto the ground.
Only then did he notice that everything around him had somehow been covered in a layer of black fungus.
His heart pounded violently, torn between terror and regret: "Oh, Machine God, I nearly fell into the abyss!"
The Tech-Priest was acutely aware that if this happened again, he wouldn't be able to resist the temptation of knowledge.
Whew—
The laboratory fell into silence.
The pistons of his mechanical lungs moved slowly, producing a creaky sound.
Soon, Palus's attention shifted to the alarm: "An alert from the furnace area?
Hmm, that was set up ten years ago..."
As his cybernetic brain pulled up the monitoring information, he saw a strange mechanical box.
It bore the emblem of a certain Forge World.
He was quite curious. Could this be something sent by that particular entity?
He still remembered the unforgettable can of fuel drink he had received before.
Eagerly, Palus went to retrieve the mysterious mechanical box himself.
Then he locked the laboratory doors.
After conducting several detection procedures and confirming the blackened mechanical box contained no hazardous substances or signs of Chaos corruption,
He cautiously opened the box.
The moment the box was opened, a rich aroma of sacred oil filled the air.
Palus could identify it immediately. That was the scent of high-quality sacred oil, which reassured him somewhat.
Using such pure sacred oil, this had to be a construct made by a member of the Cult Mechanicus.
However, when he took out the items within the box, he was stunned.
Aside from two cans of mechanical fuel drinks with different designs, there was only an ordinary-looking datapad.
Along with it was an instruction manual written in binary code.
Palus scanned the page of binary characters, and a flood of information poured into his mind.
Translated into Low Gothic, it roughly read:
Mechanicus Forum: Open the doors of knowledge!
Knowledge sharing, theoretical discussions, collaborations, doctrinal debates, online surfing and trolling — millions of Tech-Priests welcome you!
Presented by the genius Kaul!
Oh, and don't forget to try the most authentic mechanical fuel drink.
Moss's Improved Version is even more delicious! — From the Biologis Archmagos Moss.
A long string of binary insults:
Kaul: I *******.
Moss: ***********.
Following that, there was a tutorial on how to manufacture the "Special Edition Mechanicus Forum" datapad.
It also included instructions on how to adjust signal channels to access the forum.
To prevent the inability to log in if the initial datapad was damaged.
"Mechanicus Forum?"
Palus was quite curious. He roughly understood what this was — some sort of collective communication network.
Usually, such networks were used for important meetings or combat operations.
But what were forums and online socializing?
He had little concept of those things.
After all, for most of the Imperium's citizens, communication was done through basic devices. Under the influence of the Warp, there was no concept of an internet.
In extreme cases, communication was done using primitive parchment letters.
Driven by curiosity, Palus activated the datapad. The high-resolution screen displayed the emblem of the Urth Mechanicus.
Then, he quickly entered the interface.
On the interface, there was only one software icon — a gear-shaped emblem, and nothing else.
Palus immediately clicked into the Mechanicus Forum.
A registration page popped up, indicating that a test must be passed to gain registration eligibility.
"It seems this is some sort of faction or organization within the Mechanicus, and you have to meet a certain standard to join..."
Strictly speaking, the Adeptus Mechanicus was an alliance of tech-savvy individuals, loosely organized, consisting of countless factions and sub-groups.
Some Forge Worlds didn't even follow the orders from Mars.
The only thing they all agreed upon was their faith in the Omnissiah, while loyalty to the Imperium came second.
After all, they were a privileged group, and the Imperium needed them.
Some extreme factions would break away and even turn to Chaos, known as the Dark Mechanicum.
But not all of the Dark Mechanicum pledged themselves to the Chaos Gods; some simply pursued overly radical theories or delved too deeply into Warp research.
Palus didn't think too much about it.
He lowered his head and began answering the test questions on the screen. However, the deeper he went, the more shocked he became.
The further he progressed, the more difficult the questions became, to the point where some of them were so complex that he couldn't even answer them.
Sweat, or rather, machine oil, began to drip from Palus's forehead as he became increasingly serious.
After all, this "Mechanicus Forum" clearly had real substance to it, and the questioner's level of knowledge far exceeded his own.
At this moment, Palus was fully absorbed in answering the test, desperately trying to gain access to the Mechanicus Forum.
He hoped that this organization, as it claimed, could indeed provide him with the knowledge he sought through exchange and collaboration.
"Machine God, grant me more time!"
When a glaring red countdown appeared on the screen, Palus's anxiety peaked.
Yet, the test page mercilessly closed, transitioning into a grading process.
He waited anxiously.
As the progress bar advanced, his optical detectors showed that his heartbeat had already far exceeded normal levels.
Palus began doubting himself:
"What if I didn't reach the required threshold? A failure like me who has been stuck with endless research failures — how could the Mechanicus Forum possibly accept me?"
The progress bar completed, and the final score appeared on the screen: 60 points.
"Congratulations, you have obtained registration eligibility!"
Red confetti exploded on the screen, and Webby's animated mechanical girl avatar cheerfully congratulated him.
"Praise the Omnissiah!"
Palus's tense heart finally relaxed.
He excitedly registered an account and created a username: "Seeker of Knowledge."
Then, he eagerly entered the forum and began browsing its contents.
The top post of the forum was:
Poll: Which Tastes Better, Authentic Mechanical Fuel Drink or Moss's Improved Version?
The forum was flooded with various topics and articles:
What Are the Nutritional Values of Antelope Meat, and How to Cook It for the Best Taste?
How to Improve the Durability and Defensive Properties of Paints?
Innovative Applications of Alien Materials in Enhancing Weapon Systems?
What Is the True Skill Level of the Savior's Gaming Abilities?
Titan Rear Thruster Design Schematics, Seeking Guidance.
Forbidden Topic: Slaanesh Daemonette Training Ideas... (Removed and Banned for One Month!)
Reward of 200 Gear Coins, Seeking a Design Plan for a Cool Body Modification!
Followers of Webby, Gather Here! I Am Your Dog!
Does Anyone Know What This Place Is? I'm a Little Scared...
Replies:
Anonymous User: Yo, a newcomer?
Wise One: Give me two Gear Coins, and I'll tell you.
Urgent! Please, experts, I'm begging you. The project is due tomorrow, and I'm short of 30 Gear Coins to buy Webby's computation services...
"Can it really work like this?"
Palus felt as if he had opened the door to a new world.
At first, he was cautious, worried that this was some kind of Warp-related conspiracy.
But soon, he found himself fully immersed in the forum, quickly understanding how it worked.
And realizing just how valuable Gear Coins were.
Browsing the forum's general section was addictive.
The various questions and perspectives offered were so novel that he couldn't stop himself from reading.
He then tried to post one of the problems he encountered in his research on alien materials, attaching a reward of 100 Gear Coins.
That was all he had to begin with, as presenting a technical question required offering some Gear Coins.
Soon, a high-ranking member with the title of "Wise One" replied, providing a detailed and thorough answer.
"Yes! This is exactly the answer I was looking for!"
Palus was overjoyed.
The problem that had troubled him for days was solved so easily.
On this forum, the exchange and sharing of knowledge were so natural, something unimaginable anywhere else.
Rarely would any member of the Adeptus Mechanicus willingly share their knowledge. Such competition could even spark wars.
However, on this forum, such exchanges were happening freely.
He couldn't imagine what had motivated these members to share their knowledge so willingly.
Palus didn't delve too deeply into that question. Instead, he considered a possibility, then took a deep breath.
His hands trembled as he entered a core question related to his research on alien materials.
Seeking an answer.
This problem had troubled him for decades!
But then, he was stunned.
The forum displayed that to post this inquiry with a reward, he needed 50,000 Gear Coins...
Where would he find that many Gear Coins?
Very quickly, Palus found the answer.
Besides answering other people's questions and publishing professional articles to earn rewards, he could also sell his knowledge directly in exchange for Gear Coins!
Palus entered the knowledge base page.
He felt like he had entered an ocean of knowledge. Every mechanical field of study he could imagine was here, clearly priced.
What an incredible database!
You could unlock the knowledge you desired by spending Gear Coins.
If you didn't have Gear Coins, you could upload your own knowledge to exchange for them and then unlock the knowledge you needed.
Palus finally understood why everyone was so willing to share their knowledge on this mysterious forum.
Because by doing so, they could gain even greater rewards!
The knowledge presented here was overwhelmingly tempting.
After browsing a few pages, he couldn't tear his eyes away.
"Alien Material Fusion Technology?"
Palus saw the description of the content and confirmed that it was the very knowledge he had been pursuing all these years!
This information would undoubtedly help him break through his bottleneck and continue his research.
However, the price was steep: 100,000 Gear Coins!
Fortunately, the Mechanicus Forum provided a fast way to earn Gear Coins — simply upload your own knowledge.
Palus hesitated for a moment, then inserted his data interface into the datapad.
He began uploading the knowledge and data he possessed.
He yearned for that alien knowledge!
After uploading, he waited anxiously for the approval, with a hint of fear.
What if this was all a scam?
The knowledge he uploaded contained some of Stygies Forge World No.8's unique data.
But his doubts were soon dispelled.
He noticed that the forum already contained knowledge he recognized from various other Forge Worlds.
He wasn't alone; other Tech-Priests had also shared their knowledge.
This kind of knowledge exchange would only make them more knowledgeable.
And besides, they were all members of the Adeptus Mechanicus. This wasn't heretical.
It wasn't without risk, of course. He might face punishment from the directors of Stygies No.8.
But Palus didn't care anymore. Compared to falling into Chaos, this was a minor risk.
As long as he was careful, no one would know it was him. After all, what Tech-Priest didn't have secrets of their own?
Soon, Palus received his payment — approximately 90,000 Gear Coins.
Furthermore, he would continue to earn a share of the profit whenever someone purchased his knowledge.
Before long, someone bought one of the knowledge entries he uploaded, earning him an extra 1,000 Gear Coins.
"Yes! I'm so close to obtaining that alien material technology!"
Palus dove back into the forum, eagerly answering questions to earn more Gear Coins.
...
Months later.
Palus leisurely sipped on a can of mechanical fuel drink while replying to a pinned post about fuel drink preferences:
"The authentic mechanical fuel drink is the real deal! I can taste the fermented sacred oil within it, and…"
He proceeded to write a lengthy post detailing his analysis.
Recently, Palus had been living quite well. He had exchanged the knowledge he craved and made significant progress in his research.
During this time, he had been practically living on the forum, acquiring more new knowledge in a few months than he had in the past hundred years.
Now, he felt uneasy if he didn't check the Mechanicus Forum daily.
"I'm learning!"
He firmly believed.
Suddenly, a mechanical image engulfed in flames floated across the screen — it was Cawl's avatar entering the forum!
Palus was familiar with these marks. High-ranking members of the Mechanicus Forum had special symbols and visual effects.
Unfortunately, his level wasn't high enough to have those privileges.
"Kaul himself liked my post?"
Palus was elated. The mysterious genius possessed knowledge far beyond anyone's imagination and was deeply revered by the forum's members.
More importantly, Kaul was known for being generous.
As expected, after Kaul's like, Palus received a 1,000 Gear Coin reward.
What Palus usually earned in a month didn't even amount to that many Gear Coins. This only strengthened his conviction to join the "Authentic Fuel Drink Faction."
Soon enough, Palus was charging into battles for Cawl, furiously arguing against the members of the "Moss Improved Fuel Drink Faction."
What he didn't realize was that, without noticing, he had already become a product of the Mechanicus Forum's influence.
Beep—
The servitor skull's communication signal lit up.
It was a message from the Forge General, urging him to attend the Tech-Priest meeting tomorrow and submit his research project.
"Damn, I haven't even started on the project task..."
Palus suddenly realized that all this time he had been engrossed in browsing the Mechanicus Forum and conducting his own experiments.
The official assignment he had been given was only halfway completed.
Since Roboute Guilliman, the Primarch of the Ultramarines and the Regent of the Imperium, announced the Indomitable Crusade to take revenge against Chaos.
With the gathering of a massive army, the logistics and large-scale production tasks had become even more critical.
The major Forge Worlds were burdened with heavy production tasks, requiring them to optimize and develop even more advanced military equipment.
As a Tech-Priest, Palus had been assigned a specific task.
Moreover, this task was an urgent one, personally overseen by the Forge General.
Those Tech-Priests who failed to complete their assignments would undoubtedly face severe punishment.
Even with the deadline pressing down on him, he wasn't too worried.
Because there was always Webby, the mechanical goddess!
Palus's task involved a complex data calculation. Using his own cyber-brain alone would require an enormous amount of time.
However, with Webby's computational assistance, he could complete the calculations several times, or even dozens of times, faster.
The computational power was costly, and the speed depended on how many Gear Coins he was willing to spend.
Fortunately, Palus still had plenty of Gear Coins left. He immediately spent over 2,000 Gear Coins, connected his datapad, and uploaded the relevant data.
With Webby's intervention.
His cyber-brain's capacity seemed to expand several times over, allowing him to swim freely in the sea of data.
What a marvelous feeling...
"Praise the Machine Goddess!"
He offered his praise reverently, then immediately began the calculation task.
One night passed.
Palus, feeling refreshed, headed toward the Forge Palace to attend the Tech-Priest meeting.
During the meeting.
The Forge General was furious because half of the Tech-Priests had failed to complete their urgent tasks.
When it was Palus's turn to submit his results, he effortlessly handed over his completed calculations, with precision that completely crushed his old rivals.
Leaving them seething with rage.
Moreover, because of the excellence of his work, the Forge General praised him, referring to him as the "precious mind of Stygies No.8."
Palus wasn't the only one receiving praise; several other Tech-Priests who had also delivered flawless results were praised as well.
"Indeed, with the Mechanicus Forum, I can truly be 'Miles Ahead' as the forum says!"
Palus was filled with excitement as he glanced at the other Tech-Priests who had received praise.
He knew very well how those Tech-Priests managed to deliver such outstanding research results.
Because they were also members of the Mechanicus Forum.
And he was the one who had personally invited them!
...
Agripinaa Forge World.
Inside the Mechanical Hall.
"Damn fools! How dare they leak our precious knowledge!"
An Alchemical Master gripped a confiscated datapad, which had been retrieved from one of his subordinate Tech-Priests.
He roared in fury, "I will report this to the Forge General and have all you traitors purged!"
The Alchemical Master was resolute. Such behavior would not be tolerated on this Forge World.
He scrolled through the datapad, trying to see what exactly had corrupted those idiots.
"Praise the Omnissiah! What a magnificent alchemical ritual!"
Not long after, the Alchemical Master's electronic eyes widened. He was desperate to acquire the knowledge.
Yet, he couldn't unlock it.
Helplessly, he ordered the servitors to release the captured Tech-Priest and raised a privacy barrier.
Quietly, he asked for instructions on how to access the Mechanicus Forum...
...
Urth.
The Spire Residence.
Eden sat at his desk, reviewing documents.
After finishing the files related to the online trade and shopping software, he began reviewing the progress report on the Mechanicus Forum.
Over the past few days, the forum had attracted millions of members from the Adeptus Mechanicus, providing them with various services.
Meanwhile, several updates had been implemented, including titles, visual effects, personal spaces, and tens of thousands of sub-forums.
Moreover, thanks to the promotional event of giving out Gear Coins to new members, the Mechanicus Forum's membership was still growing rapidly.
Just as Eden had predicted.
The Mechanicus Forum, providing Tech-Priests with a platform free from Chaos corruption, had been enthusiastically embraced by them.
The free exchange of knowledge had brought countless benefits to each member.
The Tech-Priests had uploaded an enormous amount of knowledge.
Aside from their personal research, some of the knowledge included core information about important vehicles.
As a result, the Urth Mechanicus's database had accumulated a terrifying amount of technological data.
At this rate, the Urth Mechanicus would eventually surpass Mars, holding the largest database in the galaxy.
Of course, the Imperium also benefited from the overall improvement of the Mechanicus members.
But the biggest gain went to his territory. The immeasurable amount of knowledge obtained had accelerated the territory's development.
Now, his territory had launched a massive research and production campaign.
Moreover, due to the vast accumulation of data and the worship of the Mechanicus members, Webby was becoming even more powerful.
Eden faintly sensed that Webby, the machine spirit, was gradually transforming into some sort of conceptual deity.
Regardless, it was a good thing.
However, as the forum continued to expand, it would inevitably be exposed and could potentially be attacked.
At the same time, the members of the forum would face life-threatening dangers.
That was something he absolutely did not want to see.
Eden frowned, pondering a way to solve this problem.
He didn't want this matter to trigger a bloodbath within the Adeptus Mechanicus or even spark a war.
But at this point, he couldn't stop now.
With a determined look, Eden sent a message to Kaul:
"No matter what method you use, bring in more members. Accelerate the expansion!"
...
Six months later.
Stygies Forge World No.8.
Inside the Mechanical Palace.
Boom—
A massive mechanical foot crushed the metal floor.
"We must wage war, reclaim our knowledge, and arrest all those traitors!"
The Forge General held a datapad in one of his mechanical arms.
His fury was so intense that thick black smoke billowed from his massive, ten-meter-tall mechanical body...
(End of Chapter)
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