The ancient gate in the Fog Realm groaned as it swung open, revealing a tunnel of shimmering light that pulsed with the chaos of countless realities. Colors swirled and fractured, forming abstract patterns that danced like living paintings—now a starfield, now a vortex of impossible shapes. As the Emperor stepped into the passage, a sensation washed over him: a fleeting, exhilarating weightlessness, as if he stood outside the bounds of existence itself. Time and space unraveled, their rules dissolving into irrelevance.
Guided by Raven's power, the Emperor crossed the cosmic membrane separating universes, plunging into the eternal void—a realm of absolute nothingness. No light, no sound, no life or death—only an endless absence that pressed against the soul. Even as a being of godlike power, the Emperor felt the void's oppressive weight, though his will held firm.
Instinctively, he glanced back. Mortal eyes would see nothing without light, but the Emperor, the mortal vessel of a nascent Chaos God, transcended such limits. His gaze pierced the void, revealing his home universe: a galaxy of glittering stars cradled within a translucent veil, shielding it from the emptiness. Beyond that veil lurked horrors—indescribable entities coiling through the void, their tendrils spanning galaxies. He recognized four of them: Khorne, Tzeentch, Nurgle, and Slaanesh, the Chaos Gods born of mortal sins, eternal and unyielding, his greatest foes.
Another presence caught his eye—a fifth entity, its form a void-black silhouette radiating an insatiable hunger, creeping ever closer to the Milky Way. It was a force as vast as the Four, its appetite threatening to devour entire realities. As the Emperor observed, the gods stirred, sensing his gaze, but their eyes found nothing. He and Raven were already too deep in the void, slipping toward another universe.
The tunnel twisted violently, a cosmic storm tearing at the fabric of his being. His soul felt stretched, warped into shapes no mortal mind could fathom. Then, with a jarring lurch, reality snapped back into focus. The Emperor stood in a bustling city, its neon-lit streets alive with the hum of life. Above, the sky was marred by a jagged tear, a rift emitting an eerie, discordant melody that set his nerves on edge—a song of death woven into the fabric of this world.
Behind him, voices echoed from a narrow alley. "You little punk, do you know who I am?" a gruff voice bellowed. "They call me the Headhunter, and you dare mess with me? Get him!"
The Emperor turned, his sharp eyes scanning his surroundings. Towering skyscrapers loomed, their glass facades reflecting the glow of holographic billboards. Hovercars zipped through the air, and pedestrians moved with the hurried rhythm of a civilization on the cusp of interstellar discovery. This world's technology rivaled Terra's in its 30th millennium, but it had yet to conquer the stars. Closing his eyes, he extended his psychic senses into the immaterium—or what passed for it here. The realm was calm, free of the warp's malevolent daemons and gods. This was not his universe.
Catching his reflection in a nearby car's mirror, he noted his altered appearance. His golden armor was gone, replaced by nondescript civilian clothes—a dark jacket and pants that felt alien on his frame. His towering four-meter height had shrunk to a still-imposing two meters, blending him into the crowd, though his presence still drew wary glances.
Raven materialized on his shoulder, its black feathers glinting. "Alright, big guy," it said, its voice brimming with mischief. "A quick rundown. The grand consciousness of any universe loves a good shake-up—it fuels their evolution. But you can't just smash the place up. Too much chaos, and you'll corrupt the universe's data, causing errors when it resets. That'll piss off the cosmic powers, and trust me, you don't want that. So, we change fate gently, with finesse."
The Emperor raised an eyebrow. "Which is why my armor and sword are gone?"
"Exactly," Raven chirped. "You'll get 'em back once you've nudged this universe's fate enough. For now, you're incognito—less 'Golden Titan,' more 'tall guy with a scary vibe.'"
The Emperor's lips twitched, a rare hint of amusement. "Your words hint at secrets of cosmic cycles, Raven."
The bird preened smugly. "You're powerful and wise, big guy, no question. But some mysteries are beyond even you—for now. Just follow my lead, and we'll both come out ahead. Deal?"
The Emperor nodded, his tone measured but cooperative. "Understood. I trust our partnership will be fruitful."
"Love the enthusiasm!" Raven grinned. "So, what do you think of this place? Welcome to the SuperGod Universe, home of some seriously wild tech. Shift its fate, and I can snag you some of their best toys."
"Where are we?" the Emperor asked, his gaze sweeping the city.
"Earth, SuperGod style. They've got tech like Gene Engines—stuff that could make your Astartes look like kids with sticks. Your job? Nudge the key players, change their paths, and we'll unlock the goodies."
"What's my first step?"
Raven tilted its head toward the alley. "Turn around."
The Emperor pivoted, his eyes landing on a chaotic scene. A young man, brimming with reckless energy, was locked in a brawl with a gang of thugs. The leader, a burly figure with a scarred face, wielded a brick like a weapon, while his cronies circled their opponent—a lean youth with a defiant glint in his eye.
"Those guys," Raven said, "are big deals in this universe's fate. Mess with them, and you mess with the whole cosmic script. Step one? Beat some sense into them and make them follow you."
The Emperor's brow furrowed, a rare flicker of incredulity crossing his face. "That's… straightforward."
Raven cackled. "Told you it's simple."
This moment, Raven knew, was pivotal. The SuperGod Universe stood at a turning point: the Stygian Civilization had torn a rift in the sky, broadcasting a death song to weaken Earth's defenses. Two key figures—Galen, destined to wield the Power of the Galaxy, and Lucas, the future War God of Nuo—were awakening their Gene Engine abilities. Their first clash, sparked by Lucas's attempt to harass a girl and Galen's intervention, was the spark of this universe's destiny.
The Emperor strode into the alley, his presence commanding despite his mortal guise. "Enough," he declared, his voice cutting through the din like a thunderclap. "Cease this at once."
Lucas, the gang leader, spun around, brick raised. "Who the hell are you?" he snarled. "I'm the Headhunter, and you're asking for a beating!" He swung the brick with brutal force.
The Emperor raised a hand, and Lucas flew backward, crashing into a dumpster with a metallic clang. The other thugs froze, then charged with a chorus of angry yells. A moment later, they were sprawled across the alley, groaning in pain, dispatched with effortless precision.
Raven perched on a nearby lamppost, stifling a laugh. Lucas, you absolute legend, it thought. Smacking the fifth Chaos God with a brick? That's a first.
Lucas and his gang scrambled to their knees, their bravado shattered. "Mercy, man!" Lucas stammered. "We're sorry!"
The Emperor loomed over them, his voice resonant with authority. "Children, you are not beyond redemption. Follow my guidance, swear loyalty to me, and I will lead you to a new purpose."
The thugs blinked, their faces blank with confusion. Lucas scratched his head, muttering, "Uh… what?"
Raven tilted its head, chuckling. "Big guy, your preacher routine's a bit much for these street punks. Try something simpler."
The Emperor's eyes glinted with adaptability. He'd worn countless guises on Terra—scholar, warrior, even gang leader. Switching tactics, he fixed Lucas with a stern gaze. "Call me Boss. Or else."
"Boss!" Lucas and his crew shouted in unison, their pride evaporating under the threat of another thrashing.
The Emperor turned to Galen, who stood frozen, his eyes wide with shock. "You," the Emperor said, beckoning. "Join them. Call me Boss."
Galen, a self-proclaimed paragon of virtue, puffed out his chest. "Me? I'm a model citizen, top of my class in morals and ethics. I'd never bow to some street—"
The Emperor clenched his fist, and the nearby dumpster crumpled into a twisted ball of metal with a tortured screech.
"Boss!" Galen yelped, his principles crumbling. "You're the Boss for life! I'd die for you, live for you, smash walls for you!"
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Fate Node Altered: 1% Complete
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Raven felt a surge of origin force flood its being, a tingling rush that sharpened its ability to read cosmic traces and bend universal laws. It nodded approvingly. "Nice work, big guy. Step one's in the bag."
The Emperor dismissed Galen with a wave. "Return home. I'll find you when the time is right." He turned to Lucas. "Take me to your base."
Lucas's eyes widened, a mix of fear and excitement flickering across his face. "My place? Uh, sure!" He hesitated, a sly thought forming. Rose is still there. Maybe her powers can handle this guy.
"Lead the way," the Emperor commanded.
"Yes, Boss!" Lucas and his crew scurried ahead, practically tripping over themselves to obey. As they moved through the neon-lit streets, the Emperor fell into step beside Raven, his voice low. "How long must we remain here?"
"Get the fate node to 5%, and we'll unlock a starter reward," Raven replied. "I'll anchor time so you can take it back to Terra. Galen and Lucas are key players—keep nudging them, and the changes will stack up fast."
"And if we reach 100%?" the Emperor asked, his mind already calculating the possibilities.
Raven's eyes gleamed. "Full transformation. The universe resets with a new power system, new knowledge, maybe even evolves into something greater. But that's a long game. For now, focus on the small wins."
The Emperor nodded, his gaze fixed on the city's fractured sky, where the death song's eerie notes lingered. A new world, a new challenge—and a chance to reshape his destiny.