When the distracted Death Guard finished touring the temple, the battle outside the temple also drew to a close.
The battle between the Iron Men and the Howling Banshees ended with an Iron Man losing an arm, but this outcome was expected by those in the know.
After all, when only cold weapons are used, facing an opponent like the Howling Banshees, who are highly agile and high-damage, a large physique is a disadvantage.
But the series of duels made the Path Warriors watching deeply realize the terror of the Iron Men. Through each battle, they witnessed the Iron Men's progress. Idalin, who was initially at ease, now had to go all out, and the increasingly long combat times also invisibly put no small pressure on the Aeldari warriors.
After the tour, the Minister of Environment, acting as a temporary guide, gave the Death Guard free time as promised. When they reassembled at their lodging, Yvraine clearly sensed the restlessness among the Death Guard.
When morale is low, a team is hard to lead—that is an eternal truth.
Yvraine now deeply felt this. How many in the Death Guard truly believed in the God of Death?
Yvraine herself found this question difficult to answer. Before she was chosen as the God of Death's herald, she only regarded the God of Death as a story, and a tragic one at that, dragging a great enemy to their death.
Even she herself was not a true believer in the God of Death. Otherwise, she wouldn't have thought of awakening the God of Death by collecting the five Elder Swords. Breaking through Slaanesh's palace to find the last Elder Sword was even more difficult than killing all the Aeldari.
But even with another possibility before her, she and her companions had no retreat. They were all resurrected by Ynnead's power and were bound to the God of Death, with only one path to follow to the end. Even Guilliman had a slight connection to the God of Death.
The restless Death Guard and the ambiguous attitude of the Old Prophet made Yvraine feel isolated and helpless. Ulthwé only made a slight move, and she was already struggling to cope. After much thought, she realized that the key to breaking the deadlock was the "culprit" of all this—that unknown "human" named Gamma. As long as he left Ulthwé, all problems would be resolved!
So that night, Calgar welcomed an unexpected "old ally."
"Gamma, why are you so lazy now?"
"Hmph, it's all for the long-term peace and stability of Ulthwé Craftworld. You wouldn't understand, Om."
The little Tech-priest believed the Tech-priest Girl was simply jealous of his life of having everything handed to him. Otherwise, why were Jacob and the others so reserved, while she was the only one who enjoyed it with him with a clear conscience? If there weren't so many people, she would dare to ask him to call a few handsome Aeldari youths over to be models.
"How are Magos Lauster and your mother doing now?" Gamma asked gossiping.
"..."
"Why aren't you speaking?"
The Tech-priest Girl's expression became awkward, and she continued to feign death. What was she supposed to say? That she had intended to sleep with her mother to make up for years of missed affection, but was kicked out of the room, and then tried to persuade her father and mother to reconcile, only to find her father's room empty?
"Why are you so stingy? At least I saved Magos Camilla. Can't you satisfy my curiosity?" Gamma complained, getting impatient waiting for the gossip.
The Tech-priest Girl turned her head away, ignoring the little Tech-priest. At this moment, Jacob proactively interjected to help Leia, saying, "It's their family matter, Gamma, don't pry. You'll know when there's an outcome."
"What are your thoughts on this matter?"
Gamma naturally understood what Jacob was referring to. He sighed and said, "I won't hide it from you anymore. I don't plan to go back to the Imperium of Man. It's a den of dragons and tigers for me now. Staying in the dark side, I only need to deal with the Aeldari. Once I show my face in the Imperium of Man's controlled territory, all forces will target me."
"Moreover, the dark side, though chaotic, is full of opportunities. Once I conquer a territory, I'll let you experience being an Fabricator-General."
Eldrad took over, saying, "But the people of Thedan are still waiting for you to return and lead them."
"Alas, they'll just have to endure a bit longer. Once I succeed in my venture in the dark side, with the Webway in hand, Thedan can become a bridgehead and trade center connecting both sides of the Imperium of Man. Then, in just a few years, Thedan will become one of the most prosperous and rich worlds in the Imperium of Man."
"But Mars..." Louis looked at Gamma, not finishing his sentence.
The little Tech-priest scratched his head, scanned his hesitant companions, and reluctantly said, "I know you all have always thought I was the Omnissiah, but I really have nothing to do with it. I can't tell you the secret behind this; it's too dangerous for you—"
"Your Highness, the Ultramarines have arrived," a maid whispered in Gamma's ear.
"Let them come in."
"Yes."
The people who came were Calgar and Ventris. They said nothing when they saw the lazy Gamma, just walked to his opposite side and sat down. The appearance of the Ultramarines also prevented Gamma and his companions from continuing their previous conversation, but their earlier words had left Jacob and the others looking somewhat pale.
Calgar and Ventris, who had just arrived, noticed the unusual expressions of Jacob and the others, each wondering in their hearts what could have made their faces so grim.
Finally, the silent atmosphere was broken by Gamma, who spoke first: "Calgar, Ventris, I have always regarded you as friends. Don't make things difficult for me, alright?"
"..."
"Actually, we didn't want this either. The Primarch sent us because he was afraid that sending others would anger you," Calgar said honestly.
"Then I truly thank the Regent. If it were the Lion, he'd probably have the Dark Angels tie me up. Oh, by the way, Calgar, you two tell the Regent that although I don't plan to return to the Imperium of Man, I won't be an enemy of humanity. So, ask the Regent to arrange a position for me, like 'Dark Side Forge General' or something. That way, if I ever meet the Lion or Dante in the future, it might prevent conflicts."
Watching the thick-skinned little Tech-priest immediately ask a Primarch for an official position, a 'well' symbol appeared on Calgar's forehead, and Ventris's eyes were all whites. They truly couldn't quite understand the little Tech-priest's thought process. Didn't he consider that the Lion and Dante were both renowned and meritorious figures in the Imperium of Man? If the Primarch really appointed an unknown little Tech-priest as 'Dark Side Forge General,' the Imperium of Man and the Adeptus Mechanicus would surely be in an uproar.
Hmph, if you don't give it, then don't. When I conquer territory, you'll offer it to me, but I won't care then, Gamma grumbled unhappily in his heart.
However, the little Tech-priest's words also gave Calgar a hint. He looked at Gamma with a serious expression and asked, "What do you plan to do in the dark side?"
"Utilize the convenience of the Webway to quell the chaos in the dark side and save desperate humanity from the depths of despair!"
Upon hearing these words, Calgar and Ventris's pupils sharply contracted. Ventris said urgently, "Gamma, don't you know what this means?"
The little Tech-priest shrugged indifferently and said, "I know, but do you want me to watch countless humans in the dark side die in despair and collapse?"
"I need the power to protect myself, and they need survival and hope. Imperium of Man, Imperium of Man, 'Humanity' always comes before 'Imperium'. Besides, I'm not rebelling, so don't worry."
Calgar and Ventris could not be reassured by these words. They realized that they, including the Primarch, had made a mistake. A little Tech-priest who had broken free from his leash, where he would run wild, was something they could neither control nor predict.
Compared to the tense Ultramarines, Gamma appeared as lazy as ever. Ventris, imagining the scene of Gamma's Iron Men legions sweeping across the dark side, instinctively swallowed, but only felt his mouth dry.
After taking a sip of the tea in front of him, he finally spoke: "Is your current power not great enough? Didn't you say that even Mars would not be your opponent?"
Gamma adjusted himself into a more comfortable position while saying, "I said 'not necessarily.' You can never guess what a Tech-priest's treasury might hide. Even a broken ship still has three thousand nails."
"But with all this, what more do you want? What else could threaten you? Do you really have to do this?"
"As I just said, expansion is not only to increase my strength but also to save humanity in the dark side. Otherwise, I would just find a few resource-rich star systems and live my own small life."
"To tell you directly, first, it's because you are my friends, and I don't want my future actions to cause misunderstandings between us. Second, I want you to convey this to the Regent, so he doesn't misunderstand either."
...
Ventris didn't know what to say. He understood Gamma and knew how stubborn the seemingly lazy little Tech-Priest in front of him was at heart. He had seen how Gamma had overridden all objections to improve workers' welfare when he was stationed in Thedan.
Countless Tech-Priests had objected and advised him, but Gamma was never swayed. He turned a deaf ear to opposition and directly suppressed those who resisted.
Even when the workers themselves complained about the heavy labor, Gamma ignored it. For his goals, he would clear all obstacles in his path.
"Gamma, I am honored that you are so frank and trust us so much. However, have you considered that you might clash with the Lion?"
Gamma looked at Calgar, who spoke, and at the same time recalled information about the Lion and the Dark Angels. He compared the difference in strength between himself and the half-crippled Dark Angels, finding that the other side seemed to only have those "little secrets" that were somewhat interesting. He said very directly:
"He can't beat me."
""....."
"But don't worry, we're unlikely to meet. Warp travel in the dark side is difficult, and I won't actively provoke him. Internal strife among humans is not what I want to see either. Who knows, maybe the Dark Angels' future armaments will even be supplied by me."
Seeing that the little Tech-priest was determined to cause trouble, Calgar thought for a long time but couldn't find a reason to make Gamma give up the idea. He also couldn't fully foresee what changes Gamma's actions would bring to the Imperium of Man. But he also knew that whether Gamma's plan's impact on the Imperium of Man was good or bad, it was impossible to conclude for now, but it was beneficial to the "human" race.
The Ultramarines Chapter Master, unable to stop Gamma, asked the question he most wanted to know. This question had always plagued him, even influencing his judgment of the situation in this mission. He looked at Gamma, using the most sincere tone and attitude, hoping Gamma could answer him:
"Gamma, can you tell me what you are?"
This was also the question Jacob and Leia wanted to ask. If Gamma wasn't the Omnissiah, then what was he?
Noticing everyone looking at him, Gamma scratched his head. He didn't know how to answer this question. Should he insist, as before, that he was human?
He himself now doubted that. But what he was, why should others define it? I am me, I am whatever I want to be, even if I'm crazy, it's none of anyone else's business!
The more Gamma thought about this question, the more aggrieved he felt, as if everyone was giving him a hard time about it. Couldn't they just ignore this matter?
A bit agitated, Gamma gritted his teeth, with anger, helplessness, and a touch of hysteria, he replied:
"Actually, I don't know either."
"I'm also very confused. I think I'm a human, just a somewhat special normal person, but all of you tell me: Gamma, you're not normal, Gamma, you're not human, Gamma, you're a god."
"All of you say that, to the point where I even doubt myself."
"Put yourselves in my shoes, wouldn't you feel very fragmented?"
"Sometimes I even doubt if my memories are fake. Fabricating memories isn't that hard; anyone can do it easily."
"You don't know how happy I was when I first discovered my abilities. At that time, I thought, finally, I have the qualifications to survive in this dangerous world. From now on, I can play whatever I want, eat whatever I want."
"But now I'm becoming more and more afraid. I don't want it anymore. It makes all of you distance yourselves from me, it makes all of you revere me. The key is, I still haven't figured out or understood where it came from, or why it appeared in me."
"I don't want to be coveted by the Chaos Gods, nor by the Emperor, but what do you want me to do? They are so strong, I can only constantly strengthen my power for self-preservation."
"To become stronger, I have to eat souls! Eat demons! I don't want to eat them, but that old geezer Eldrad keeps finding ways to force me!"
"Do you know that souls can talk? They cry, they laugh, they recall, they regret. Although they are already dead, I feel like I killed them. I can't remember how many people I've 'killed'."
"Demons look so disgusting, ugly and repulsive, and they curse me! Why do they curse me? I want to shut their mouths and beat them up, but I just can't."
As if to vent the emotions that had been suppressed for a long time, Gamma spoke continuously, pouring out what had been in his heart, not even noticing that his emotions were out of control!
The uncontrolled emotion was like a needle, piercing Gamma's balloon of "reason," allowing the "thing" suppressed and constrained by his reason to escape.
The escaped "thing" made Gamma's thoughts chaotic, as if he had gained something, but Gamma didn't notice. He wanted to vent, he wanted to release all the discomfort, grievances, and feigned nonchalance that only he had known all these years.
"Everyone bullies me! I just want to live happily, why do they bother me!"
"What a damn world! I didn't want to come here!"
"Give me back my mom! Give me back my dad! Give me back my dog!"
"Why won't you let me grow taller? Give me back my six-foot height!"
"Gamma!"
"Gamma!"
"Gamma!"
"Who's calling me?"
Gamma heard someone calling him. As this thought arose, his previously chaotic mind seemed to find direction, becoming orderly and rational again. The return of rationality also woke Gamma up.
The awakened little Tech-priest opened his eyes and was startled by the scene before him: How did my huge palace turn into just a foundation!?
"Where did my grand palace go?!"
The little Tech-priest on the wreckage let out a mournful wail. This was the palace where countless beautiful memories were recorded, a place of wine, meat, and song, a paradise he wouldn't have dared to dream of in his previous life, and now it was gone! His heart ached!
The pain of losing what he loved was too much; Gamma was going to turn dark. He would make this world feel pain!
"Your Highness?!"
Pfft, what kind of person wakes a dark protagonist, and it's a sweating Eldar elder! No! I will get revenge on this world! The little Tech-priest, looking up at Eldrad, once again firmed his resolve to turn dark.
"Eldrad, that scoundrel tore down my palace. Are my handmaidens alright?" Gamma said through gritted teeth, then, remembering something, a flicker of awkwardness crossed his face, and he asked again:
"Are my friends alright?"
....
"Why are you staring at me?" Gamma asked, confused, seeing Eldrad's direct gaze.
Eldrad, trembling on his old legs, sat down shakily before speaking: "Your Highness, don't you remember?"
Uh, Gamma wasn't stupid. When he woke up, he suspected it might have been his own doing, because with the Eldar artifacts he possessed, surfing on the surface of a star wasn't impossible. What kind of attack could make an immune person lose consciousness?
However, the thought that his loved ones might have died by his own hands made the little Tech-priest's heart vehemently deny such a possibility.
Eldrad's counter-question shattered Gamma's self-protective facade. His face turned ashen, and his lips began to tremble uncontrollably.
Seeing this, Eldrad quickly explained: "Your Highness, rest assured, no one died!"
"Inhale! Exhale! Next time, say so sooner, you scared me to death!"
Eldrad gave a wry smile. Gamma walked over to him and asked with concern: "Did you wake me? Are you alright?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I'm fine, just a bit exhausted. The important thing is, how do you feel now?"
"Me? Wait a moment."
With that, Gamma closed his eyes, his expression shifting between amusement and realization, and with his changing expression, the rubble within a 222-meter radius centered on him—or rather, the laws of physics—also changed.
The rubble would float, then crash to the ground. Gamma felt he could manipulate and modify these rules.
At the same time, he could also feel the machines he created, both intelligent and inanimate. He could also feel those not created by him, but the range was limited, still 222 meters. If not for some intact machines underground, he wouldn't have been able to test it.
"How is Your Highness?" Eldrad eagerly asked when Gamma opened his eyes.
"Hmm, pretty much as you guessed before. You've got some skills!"
The Supreme Seer, disregarding his disheveled appearance, struggled to get up. Gamma quickly stepped forward, pressed him back down, and said: "Don't be polite. But you didn't say that awakening would cause such a huge commotion. Now it's completely impossible to explain."
After venting, Gamma had resigned himself to his fate. Eldrad's guesses were largely correct. He had to believe it, whether he wanted to or not. Whatever happens, he is who he is, and he will be what he wants to be.
People observing Gamma and Eldrad talking from several kilometers away immediately swarmed over. After seeing that Jacob and the others were fine, Gamma's anxious heart settled. He didn't want to explain what had just happened, or his own situation. After a brief chat, he excused himself, claiming exhaustion, and plunged into his laboratory, refusing to see anyone.
The little Tech-priest found his peace, but those who had witnessed Gamma's loss of control and those who understood the situation couldn't sleep.
The Tech-priests who had followed him to Ulthwé Craftworld were the most loyal of Gamma's faction. They were now facing a severe crisis of faith. Gamma had personally denied any connection to the Omnissiah. This wasn't the previous foot-stomping denial, but a serious and solemn one. The problem was very serious; it was possible that after this night, the newly formed Gamma faction would vanish.
This was the better scenario. The worst case was that some would repent, some would waver, and some would stubbornly deny it. Even Gamma's denial would be useless; no one understood the Omnissiah better than them. This could very likely lead to an internal war within the Gamma faction.
Don't think this is impossible. Mars has fought how many doctrinal wars, sectarian wars? Which Forge World hasn't had an internal war over religious differences? Not to mention Tech-priests, even the Iron Hand, who are close to Tech-priests, have fought.
But events always unfold unexpectedly. After Jacob and his companions delivered Gamma's message, as everyone's faith was plunged into confusion, a clever individual successfully saved the Gamma faction.
The viewpoint he proposed successfully channeled internal conflicts outward. The only drawback was that the target of this conflict export was a bit "large," forcing the Gamma faction, which had just begun to rise, to go into hibernation again, otherwise it would be jointly suppressed by the Imperium and the Adeptus Mechanicus.
This clever individual, based on the core idea of "heretical doctrines" within the faith, combined with Gamma's resistance to the Emperor, and the fact that he discovered today that the efficiency of approaching Gamma's machine spirit increased by 22%, summarized the following:
1. The Emperor is not the true Omnissiah; he deceived us with sorcery!
2. Gamma is the true Omnissiah!
3. Omnissiah is just a designation, an honorific given by mortals, not the true name of the Omnissiah's incarnation, which is why Gamma never acknowledges himself as the Omnissiah and resists the name Omnissiah!
4. The enemy is on Terra, which is why Gamma resists going to Terra!
This viewpoint perfectly resolved all the problems currently facing the Gamma faction and received high praise from Arch-Bishop Magos Lauster, as well as the approval of all the Tech-priests present. Everyone unanimously agreed that from now on, these contents would be the core ideology and highest secret of the Gamma faction.
The only one muttering to herself was Magos Camilla, who had newly joined through high-level connections. But her husband and daughter were already deeply involved, so even if she muttered, she could only do so in her heart.
While the Tech-priests were holding a meeting, the Ultramarines were also holding a meeting. With the entire palace being razed, concealing the news was meaningless, so all Astartes on Ulthwé Craftworld attended this internal meeting of the Ultramarines.
Calgar first explained to everyone the Primarch's mission, Gamma's plans, and his conjectures about Gamma's identity. The Ultramarines's first reaction after hearing this was: Emperor, this is a high-stakes game!
The second reaction was: So, the armor on my body, the sword in my hand, the gun at my waist, my dog, the mechs in the armory, they could all become heretical weapons if I'm not careful! Emperor, this is deadly!
It's often said that the Ultramarines chapter is the most politically adept chapter. If it were another chapter, facing such a situation, there would only be two choices:
Fight, betting everyone's lives to nip this evil plan that could split the Imperium and the chaotic god's offspring in the bud.
Flee, the disparity in strength is too great. Take advantage of the good relations now to retreat quickly, preserve vital forces, and most importantly, bring the news back.
The Ultramarines were different; they chose to join, giving very sufficient reasons:
First, Gamma did not say he wanted to rebel.
Second, their joining could help maintain relations with Gamma, while also getting firsthand intelligence, allowing the Primarch to prepare in advance.
Third, this ancestor was unusually troublesome. If he were truly allowed to return to the Imperium, he might just be the one to dismantle the last pillar supporting the Imperium.
Fourth, such a major matter should be decided by the Primarch. It's not that the sons don't want to share their father's worries, but they truly can't bear the responsibility.
The humans stayed awake all night, and the Eldar were much the same. The Ulysses Eldar felt they were about to prosper. They appeased the ordinary citizens who didn't know the truth while cleaning up the mess Gamma had made.
Fortunately, when the little Tech-priest lost control, he was in the core area of the palace. The entire royal palace, inside and out, was equipped with the Craftworld's most complete automatic defense system. The outer defense system successfully locked most of the damage caused by this disaster inside, and a small part was intercepted by the city's automatic defense weapons. Besides some damaged buildings, there was no loss, and the mechanical beetles could repair it overnight. The Death Guard's thoughts were much more complex. Having learned the truth of Ulthwé, their internal division was extremely severe. After all, compared to a Death God yet to be born, a visible and tangible present-day deity was clearly more attractive.
You say this present-day deity also consumes souls? Let him consume them, as long as he doesn't mess with us. The Ulysses Eldar have verified it many times,
It doesn't hurt at all!
Living a splendid life, dying a clean death, what more could one ask for?
Greed! Do you want to repeat the downfall of the Eldar?
You mean the Webway?
Currently, the one you suspect has the highest psychic technology on Ulthwé Craftworld. Perhaps in the future, he will work hard to fix all the damaged Webways, and then we will have to beg him.
What, humans are not trustworthy?
Actually, according to the Imperium of Man's craniological classification, we can also be classified as abhumans. Many nomadic Eldar make a living in human society by posing as mutants.
Besides, haven't you heard that this one is at odds with the one paralyzed on the human homeworld? Do you know what this means?
To not take what heaven bestows is to suffer its consequences!
In summary, the Death Guard were split. One faction wanted to side with the Ulysses Eldar, and the other wanted to stick to the Eldar's own path. Yvraine,
Our Thirteenth Princess Consort, facing the greatest crisis since the founding of the Death Guard, brought her political wisdom learned from Guilliman to its fullest extent.
She chose not to take a stance, merely telling everyone that arguments and disputes were fine, but they were all Death Guard, and they must never say anything that would undermine unity. The path to saving the Eldar was difficult and winding, and she understood everyone's urgent feelings, but precisely at such times, they needed to remain calm. Their Eldar no longer had the capital for another failure.
This balancing act was Yvraine's highest achievement, successfully preventing the separation of the Death Guard, but only that, because it was so perfectly balanced that Yvraine couldn't prevent the pro-Ulthwé faction from colluding with the Ulysses Eldar!
When the little Tech-priest, feeling the storm had passed, emerged from the laboratory, the scene that greeted him almost scared him back inside.
To describe it roughly:
Tech-priests: Don't speak! We understand! You are not the Omnissiah! (Leave it to us!)
Ultramarines: Gamma, let us go together and save the dark side of the Imperium! (A row of big guys with bared teeth)
Death Guard pro-Ulthwé faction: Your Highness, we were ignorant before. Please, in your magnanimity, accept us! (Red beans, sorry, master!)
Death Guard Ynnari faction: We are here to negotiate! The Webway must not be given to humans! (Lacking confidence)
Harlequins: Your Highness, can we get your contact info? (Flattering, our lord says there are great benefits!)
Ulysses Eldar: Hahahahaha. (Giggling foolishly)
Gamma pursed his lips, holding it in for a long time before uttering his first sentence: "What a mess!"
He didn't understand why the style had changed so suddenly. Had he transmigrated again in the laboratory or something?
Among everyone, the only ones who seemed to be doing something serious were the Death Guard... well, a part of the Death Guard. The little Tech-priest decided to respect the serious people and see what they wanted to discuss.
Necron technology was truly awe-inspiring. The palace, reduced to its foundations, was restored perfectly, down to the marks Gamma had idly scratched into the bed frame.
Speaking of which, this was Gamma and Yvraine's first formal meeting; they hadn't exchanged a single word at the previous banquet.
"Ahem, are you worried that the Webway falling into human hands would be detrimental to the Eldar?" Gamma asked a rhetorical question with a serious expression.
"Yes," Yvraine replied concisely.
"Understood. If the foundation of your people fell into others' hands, I would also be worried. But you can rest assured, I have no intention of handing the Webway over to the Imperium of Man. It is the foundation of your people, and it is also mine."
Yvraine breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but Gamma immediately presented her with a twist. The little Tech-priest then said: "However, I will allow humans to use the Webway."
This made Yvraine's relieved heart clench again, but Gamma then gave her another reassurance.
"But I also don't want to anger other Eldar factions over this matter, after all, the true enemy of humans and Eldar is not each other."
"Then what do you mean?" Yvraine asked somewhat impatiently. She found this present-day deity quite annoying!
Alas, how could serious negotiations be so easily concluded? Without a few twists and turns, how could others appreciate the leader's difficulty? This comrade needs to go to Regent for some serious lessons, the little Tech-priest muttered to himself.
"It's good to set rules in advance. Nothing can be accomplished without rules."
"What rules?"
"Haven't thought of them yet."
"You!"
"See, you're getting impatient again. The negotiation has just begun. Haven't I already shown my sincerity in wanting to resolve this peacefully?" Gamma said slowly, sipping his tea.
....
"Ah, my idea is this: you should already know that my current status in the Imperium of Man is a bit awkward. At the same time, your Death Guard and the Imperium also have a cooperative relationship. How about we cooperate and form a Webway Management Committee?"
"Webway Management Committee? What is that?" Yvraine looked at Gamma, puzzled.
The idea of a 'Webway Management Committee' wasn't something Magos Gamma came up with on a whim; he had spent days in the laboratory sorting out his situation and the challenges he would face.
He concluded that the Webway was, for now, inseparable from the Eldar. Since it couldn't be avoided, he could only bring more people into the fold, make more friends, fewer enemies, and avoid conflict with the Eldar as much as possible. Otherwise, given the Eldar's familiarity with the Webway, if they launched a Webway version of jungle guerrilla warfare and a protracted war, would he still be able to use the Webway in the future?
With the precedents of the US and Japan, he absolutely couldn't become arrogant due to strength, or he'd easily be dragged down.
Seeing Yvraine's interest, the young Tech-priest patiently explained:
"Chaos is our common enemy, I think you agree with this, otherwise you wouldn't be cooperating with the Imperium of Man."
"Since we're cooperating, why not deepen the cooperation? There are many Eldar with similar ideas to yours. I also understand that you Eldar want to use humanity's strength against Chaos, and even to gain benefits."
"I admit that as long as the gains outweigh the pay, it's a win-win. So, my idea is for you to take the lead, gather Eldar from various Craftworlds who share your vision. I will provide the venue and resources, and you will manage, supervise, and evaluate humanity's use of the Webway."
"Of course, there will also be humans on this management committee, but they will only be councilors, responsible for offering suggestions. Whether those suggestions pass will be decided by you, the committee members."
"For example, if a riot breaks out on a human world, and an Inquisitor discovers it's a demonic plot, but the Imperium of Man cannot gather forces in time to resolve it, he chooses to report it to the committee. You will assess the severity of the situation, as your Eldar's prophetic abilities are second to none in the galaxy; no one dares claim first."
"If approved, you help humanity quickly gather troops using the Webway."
"If not approved, then humanity has to find its own way."
"Although I am very close to humanity, I also admit that the Imperium of Man is a pile of dog crap. Many riots and rebellions are simply about wanting to survive, not demons at work."
Yvraine was shocked by Magos Gamma's idea. She had never thought it could be played this way. If this succeeded, wouldn't she be raising another Death Guard? But after a moment's thought, she incisively pointed out two fatal flaws in Magos Gamma's proposal.
"The establishment of this committee can indeed curb the power of Chaos, but it only benefits humanity. Why should we make unilateral sacrifices, just because you rule Ulthwé Craftworld?"
"Even if we are willing to contribute, other Eldar will see humanity abusing the Webway. They still won't trust you, and will continue to view you and Ulthwé Craftworld as a threat."
"Hahaha, such sharp words!" Magos Gamma chuckled.
He drained his cup of tea in one gulp, savored the aroma, and then said: "My rule over Ulthwé Craftworld is merely a platform, creating a prerequisite for the committee's establishment. If I didn't rule here, we wouldn't be sitting here discussing this matter right now."
He paused, looking at Yvraine with an amused expression, and continued: "As for the Eldar's interests, that's something you should discuss with Lord Regent Guilliman. The Imperium of Man benefits from this; why ask me instead of Guilliman?"
"..."
"As for the other Eldar, they lack the courage to fight Chaos, burying their heads in the sand like ostriches. Do they then have the guts to fight me? They are merely dry bones in a tomb."
"I am entrusting the management, supervision, and auditing rights of the Webway to you Eldar, allowing you to exercise my authority in my world. This is my greatest goodwill. If they don't appreciate it and continue to act like ostriches, I won't bother with them. But if they mistake goodwill for weakness, thinking I fear them, I will make them realize that demons are not the only terrifying force!"
Yvraine stared intently at Magos Gamma, because as he spoke, the teacup in his hand floated into the air. Magos Gamma's small body exuded an aura so powerful that it made Yvraine's hair stand on end. The teacup floating above his hand was crushed and shrunk by an inexplicable force, shrinking again and again, continuously shrinking!
Her psychic abilities were frantically alarming Yvraine; with every fraction the tiny sphere shrank, the warning increased exponentially, and her psychic powers urged her to flee! To flee as far as possible!
Fortunately, Magos Gamma did not continue. He merely examined the almost invisible "small ball" in his hand with interest. After examining it, he was about to casually discard it, but as he raised his hand, he remembered something. He mumbled something about almost having to rebuild again, and a mass of primordial cosmic energy floated from his hand, transforming into a thread that entered the mouth of a mechanical beetle that had crawled out from who knows where.
"Hoo—" Yvraine's psychic abilities ceased.
"Sorry, I was just trying to show off just now, it wasn't directed at you." The young Tech-priest explained, a little embarrassed.
"..."
Yvraine didn't know how to evaluate Magos Gamma. She also didn't know if this god, who enjoyed eating, drinking, and playing, was a blessing or a curse to the Eldar. But the only thing she knew was that mortals were, after all, mortals, fundamentally different from gods, even if she was the Herald of the Death Guard.
"Alright, I'll leave this matter to you. You can discuss anything you need with Eldrad, even personnel. The Ulthwé Seer Council members are almost bored to death."
"I reiterate one last time: I don't want, nor do I like, senseless slaughter. So, please put in some effort with the other Eldar. If words don't persuade them, then use fists. Ulthwé Craftworld can support you, but for specifics, discuss with Eldrad."
"If you have anything else you'd like to propose, you can take your time thinking about it. What I say now isn't set in stone; the specifics will depend on the actual situation."
Having a clear-headed, goal-oriented, and communicative god is truly not bad—Yvraine thought with a hint of self-mockery.
Having resolved the Death Guard's affairs, Magos Gamma, still in high spirits, sought out the Ultramarines. Again, he saw a row of large men with eight-toothed grins, a style so jarring that the young Tech-priest couldn't bear to look directly.
To avoid becoming an abstract protagonist, Magos Gamma cut straight to the chase, asking Calgar what they ultimately wanted to do.
The answer was still, "Magos Gamma, let's save the dark side of the Imperium of Man together!" After subtly probing and getting the same answer, Magos Gamma finally understood what these Ultramarines wanted to do.
Adhering to the principle of not wasting free labor, the young Tech-priest told Calgar and his men to find Eldrad and Warstrider to quickly devise a reliable and feasible plan, as he intended to expand his territory.
He also informed Calgar about the "Webway Management Committee," asking him to select people to return with Yvraine to meet the Regent.
This news stunned the Ultramarines. Humanity's Webway dream was already partially realized?
Was the treasure that the Emperor coveted so cheap?
Then his old man's paralysis was far too unworthy!
However, the "Great Humanism" ingrained in the Astartes' genes kicked in, and Calgar immediately stated, "Why should we be supervised by the Eldar for something we seized by our own abilities?"
Infuriated, the young Tech-priest kicked Calgar's ceramite thigh, yelling at the Ultramarines, whose faces were all asking, "Why?":
"Use your brains! If the Webway were truly that simple, why would the Emperor have gone to such great lengths back then?"
"How many human psykers do you think have the psychic sensitivity and precision to meet the standard for opening Webway gates?"
"Do you know what another name for the Webway is? It's called the 'Labyrinth Dimension'!"
"Even the Eldar's multi-dimensional senses require specialized training to navigate the Webway relatively safely, and that's when they know the way. Untrained Eldar also get lost in the Webway. How much do you think humanity would have to sacrifice to figure out these patterns, or do you want me to create a hybrid human race!"
"And this doesn't even include the threats after the Webway breaks: monsters, Soul-eating Bees, demons, and even time acceleration, time suspension, etc.
Each of these requires lives to fill."
"The Imperium of Man hasn't destroyed Craftworlds before, and you Ultramarines have done it too. The Imperium of Man has also captured intact Webway gates. Do you think the Emperor couldn't do something that even you can accomplish?"
"Without the Eldar's guidance, I can't even manage it. Jaghatai has been missing in the Webway for over ten thousand years!"
Ultramarines: We're good now, the Webway Management Committee idea is brilliant!
Actually, the young Tech-priest said all that, but there was one most, most, most important reason he didn't mention: without giving the Eldar a step down, giving them some sense of security, could the Imperium of Man truly contribute if a real fight broke out? The power in his, Magos Gamma's, hands was meant to deal with the Chaos Gods who coveted him. Unless he willingly chose to, no one would take advantage of him for free.
Having dealt with the Ultramarines, Magos Gamma went to find Jacob and his group. He felt it was still necessary to explain to them. The process went more smoothly than Magos Gamma had imagined. He said he wasn't the Omnissiah, and the Tech-priests all nodded in agreement, even saying that they had indeed misunderstood before.
The change was so natural that it made the young Tech-priest a little suspicious. He secretly used a lie detector and found that they were all telling the truth,
which left Magos Gamma feeling unsettled.
Was his, Magos Gamma's, charm so weak? You weren't like this before!
Tech-priests are all big pig trotters!
The young Tech-priest pouted all the way back to the palace, countless flowers and plants on the path becoming innocent victims of his frustrated venting.
As for the Ulysses Eldar and the Death Guard who had pledged allegiance, there's not much to say. With a single blessing, those who weren't his people would become his people.
Yvraine truly lived up to her reputation, transitioning from dancer to prophet, then to Warstrider, and finally becoming a pirate. She was efficient in her work. The next day, she packed her bags, intending to go to Guilliman to "ask for money." The young Tech-priest had opened her mind and broadened her horizons. She felt she had been so foolish before, giving things away for free. If she had realized this sooner, the Death Guard's financial problems would have been solved long ago.
There's no need to elaborate on her journey, but Yvraine's descent into a "gold digger" was such a huge blow to Guilliman that he wanted to howl at the sky and question the Emperor—what was real anymore?!
Uh—actually, it was Magos Gamma's venture into entrepreneurship that was such a huge blow to Guilliman. He wasn't really worried about Magos Gamma rebelling; the bloodline of Macragge never produced ambitious individuals!
He merely saw himself in Magos Gamma once again. He had always said that the Emperor's methods only made honest children want a home of their own. However, Magos Gamma was still too young. For finding a home, it's best to bring two brothers along! Search together!
Conversely, Magos Gamma's awakening didn't shock Guilliman much. How could someone the Emperor coveted not have some tricks up his sleeve?
"Yvraine, the Imperium of Man is plagued by internal and external troubles. Look, my hair has turned white from worry. Where would I get resources for you?" The veteran scoundrel Guilliman said with a wry smile.
"Hmph, put away your hypocritical face. Do you think I'm some naive young girl you can dismiss with a few words!" Yvraine leaned close to Guilliman's large face, glaring at him.
But Yvraine's tactics were not enough to penetrate Guilliman's thick skin, honed by navigating the bureaucracy of Terra. He "argued" for himself with the most sincere tone:
"Your technology tree has nothing to do with ours. If you ask me for spirit stones, I'd have to have them!"
"Pfft, don't think I don't know how many Craftworlds have been destroyed by you humans. You greedy lot wouldn't pass up those riches!"
"That was years ago. The most recent time, I was still half-dead in a stasis field. Thanks to you, I was able to wake up." The Regent subtly offered a compliment.
This compliment indeed worked; Yvraine herself didn't realize her lips had curled into a smile, but what was due had to be given, not a single cent less.
"You don't have any, right? Fine then, consider the Webway Management Committee proposal unsaid."
With that, Yvraine turned to leave. Guilliman quickly rose from his office chair, grabbed her arm, and said:
"Wait, how can we so easily give up on such an important matter as fighting Chaos?"
Yvraine contemptuously shook off Guilliman's hand, looking at the "pauper" before her with disdain, and said in a scornful tone:
"You're not trying to make me pay for it first, are you?"
"No, of course not!" Guilliman, who had almost blurted out his true feelings, quickly corrected himself.
"Hmph, fine, I'll give you more time."
Warfare is about money. The Imperium of Man is constantly at war, and money is needed everywhere. Even with Guilliman's strenuous reforms to the Departmento Administratum's dreadful efficiency, and his desperate efforts to fill it with Ultramarines, it was merely a drop in the bucket. This was only half of the original Imperium of Man, without the Great Rift. Guilliman's problem wouldn't just be white hair; he'd be bald!
It's not impossible that one day Guilliman would be driven mad by the Imperium of Man's affairs, becoming another bald man drooling and shouting "something, something burning."
Spirit stones? Spirit stones! The Inquisition had some, but the vast majority were in the hands of the Tech-priests. It was incredibly difficult to pry anything from the Tech-priests' hands. Guilliman didn't even know how many Primaris Astartes Cawl still had; that old Tech-priest always seemed to pull them out of nowhere.
Once he let slip that he wanted to collect spirit stones, those Tech-priests would 100% hoard them, drive up prices, and wait for the highest bidder. No amount of Imperial treasury would be enough to fill that hole. If only there was a large surplus in the treasury now... As he thought, the Regent couldn't help but look towards the direction of the Imperial Palace. He wasn't thinking of the Emperor; he was thinking that the richest people in the Imperium of Man were all on Terra, and the richest on Terra were those Custodes who did nothing but acted incredibly arrogant, their armor alone worth an entire habitable planet.
The Regent Lord had extremely low regard for the Custodes. If he hadn't figured out a way to make the Custodes move, they would still be standing guard in the Imperial Palace, wearing the most advanced and expensive power armor, and still have the nerve to claim they were all well-read and highly educated. They must have read their books into a dog's belly!
Especially that damned Tribune, who always stood behind him and directed killing intent at his back's vital points!
By the Emperor, what did that mean?
A mere Imperial Guard dared? Hm!?
Guilliman: "What have I gotten myself into?"
The familiar mist made Guilliman's heart fill with a bad premonition. He knew that if he couldn't accomplish the task, the Emperor would surely not spare him. But this time, he wasn't asleep yet, couldn't he have been given some prior psychological preparation?
The Regent held a sliver of hope in his heart: as long as he didn't go anywhere, perhaps he wouldn't encounter that old madman from last time.
But things didn't go as planned. The moment this thought arose, the mist before his eyes began to recede rapidly. Guilliman found himself at the door of the dilapidated house, and the old madman was sitting on a creaking broken chair, glaring at him.
Guilliman gave an awkward smile, just about to open his mouth to explain, when a foul-smelling, worn-out shoe smashed into his face. The powerful blow made the Regent of the Imperium see stars, and the intense stench brought tears to his eyes. Even holding his breath and pinching his nose couldn't stop the foul odor that assailed his very soul.
"Ugh..."
The Regent suspected that the Emperor truly wanted to kill him. In his several communications with the Emperor since his awakening, he could feel the Human Master's disgust, contempt, and indifference towards him. If he hadn't also felt feelings of anticipation, cherish, and paternal love, perhaps Guilliman's choices would have been entirely different.
"I know you're anxious, but he's avoiding you, what can I do? If we truly push that little guy too hard, who knows what he might do," Guilliman explained with a bitter smile, enduring the dizziness and nausea.
The madman didn't answer, merely looking at the chair beneath him with worried and ecstatic eyes. Seeing this, Guilliman noticed the Emperor's awkward posture; rather than sitting on the chair, he was more like in a horse stance, with only his buttocks touching the chair.
It was as if two forces were locked in a stalemate within his body: one wanted to sit down heavily and sway vigorously, while the other maintained its posture, resisting the first force.
This made Guilliman recall the warnings he had received from Yvraine and the Old Prophet. Fear surged from within him: the Golden Throne, this crucial device that maintained the Imperium of Man, and even the existence of the human race, was likely on the verge of its limits!
"I'll find a solution, but it will take some time!" Guilliman promised.
The madman's eyes revealed joy, relief, as well as dislike and killing intent. In the past, Guilliman had been troubled, saddened, and angered by such contradictory emotions. He had once questioned what the Primarchs were to the Emperor.
Now, the Regent was at peace. He was Guilliman, and what he was, he would decide himself. Regardless of the emotions and intentions the Emperor held when creating him and his brothers, it was the Emperor who gave them life, allowing them to have their own lives.
Their lives and wills belonged to them; this was already the greatest gift the Emperor had given to them, his Primarchs, his sons, his demigods.
"Guilliman! Guilliman, wake up! Wake up!"
Opening his eyes in Yvraine's embrace, Guilliman smelled a faint, dark fragrance. He gave the Aeldari before him a smile to show he was fine, then was tormented by the ensuing pain, which was more intense than any previous time. Guilliman could only desperately hold on, not allowing himself to faint.
Otherwise, Yvraine would be torn to shreds by his bewildered sons, and the already tenuous alliance between humans and Aeldari would completely shatter. Guilliman dared not imagine what his millions of sons, plunged into grief and fury, would do, or what would happen to the Imperium engulfed by this rage.
The Regent was grateful he had persevered. Several times, he felt his heart stop beating. Fortunately, the worst-case scenario did not occur.
"You scared me! I thought I'd have to use the power of the God of Death to revive you again."
So there's that trick too? Emperor, you old bastard, did you calculate this, to strike with such heavy cruelty! Guilliman thought angrily.
"What was wrong with you just now? Was it some hidden danger left from the last revival? Or should we do it again?"
"Hey, hey, hey, no! Your technique last time was exquisite!" Seeing Yvraine's hand reach for the sword, Guilliman quickly spoke to stop her. How could a human—no, an Aeldari—be so fierce!
"Hmph, ungrateful!" Yvraine angrily tossed Guilliman's head onto the ground.
The impact of the back of his head on the ground was not enough to harm a Primarch's body, but the resulting vibration made Guilliman, already suffering from a splitting headache, grit his teeth in pain. He lay there recovering for a long time before finally being able to struggle to his feet with his own strength.
Yvraine looked at Guilliman's shaky, pitiful appearance and, unable to bear it, helped him to the sofa to sit down (Xenos, let go of that Blue Man!).
"You're not intentionally feigning weakness to avoid providing resources, are you?" Yvraine looked suspiciously at the pale-faced Primarch. She couldn't understand why Guilliman, with his physique, would be like this for no reason.
"How could you think that of me?" Guilliman said helplessly.
"Heh, in my eyes, you'd do anything for humanity!"
You really do understand me! Guilliman muttered inwardly, then began to ponder where to scrounge up the spirit bones Yvraine needed. The Webway Management Committee's help to the Imperium was too significant; it was also an opportunity for humanity to access knowledge related to the Webway. The Aeldari had always fiercely guarded information in this area, so it absolutely couldn't be missed!
"Give me some time; I need to communicate with Gamma about this matter," Guilliman said, rubbing his temples.
"You're not trying to cut me out, are you? I warn you, Guilliman, if you dare! I won't spare you!" Yvraine stood up abruptly, pointing at Guilliman's nose.
"No, no."
"Then what are you trying to do?"
"This is a matter between humans; you don't need to know."
"No! You must explain it to me clearly!"
"No comment!" Guilliman refused firmly.
"You!"
Yvraine, not to be outdone, looked furiously at the tall, cold human before her. She felt his disgust towards her emanating from Guilliman's aura, which greatly disappointed Yvraine. She had clearly tried very hard to be understanding of Guilliman, and to think of the human race in the best possible light.
But what did she get in return?
Suspicion! Guardedness! Distrust! Endless schemes!
The rapidly deteriorating relationship was not without reason. The cause of the destruction of their friendship and mutual admiration had been sown over ten thousand years ago. The culprit was none other than the Primarchs' father, their creator, the Imperium of Man. When creating the Primarchs, he had etched into their genetic material a profound identification with the human race and an extreme abhorrence of Xenos.
If Guilliman hadn't been injured, he could have used his reason to suppress this innate disgust. But now, in his weakened state, he could no longer suppress his abhorrence of Xenos, just from one interrogation by Yvraine. Thoughts of killing Yvraine kept surfacing in his mind.
"You truly disappoint me too much! Do you want to kill me?!" Yvraine, sensing Guilliman's killing intent, said with a cold, taunting smile.
The Aeldari are an extreme race—
"Do you think I wouldn't dare! Xenos!" Guilliman's throat emitted a low growl.
Disgust etched into his genetic material, an unquenchable fury always restrained by reason and emotion—almost no one remembered that the Ultramarines, renowned for his rationality and diplomacy, had been named by the Emperor as the Son of War before Guilliman's return!
"Come on then!" Yvraine reached for the weapon at her waist; the power from the God of Death swirled around her.
In the Warp, the Four Gods, who were originally attacking each other, now simultaneously moved to suppress the cold sun trying to break through. The Blood God roared with war, Tzeentch cheered for change, Slaanesh howled for souls, and Nurgle clapped his belly gleefully, finally getting to watch the show!
The more anxious the sun became, the louder the cheers of the Four Gods!
"Thump, thump, thump!" The urgent knocking on the door suddenly brought the tense atmosphere in the room to a halt.
Guilliman, startled awake, realized something was wrong with himself. He violently twisted his head away, avoiding Yvraine's gaze, and simultaneously roared at the door: "What is it?"
He needed to distract himself with another matter.
"My lord, you've been in there for three hours! We were worried—"
Guilliman interrupted Sicarius, saying: "Alright, I know."
With that, he disregarded his weakness and staggered outside, not looking back or saying another word until he was out of Yvraine's sight. "Professional matters must be handled by professionals!"
The Warstriders all hung their heads in shame, because the battle plans in the hands of the young Tech-priest were basically completed by the Ultramarines.
"Alright, I'm not blaming you. Why are you hanging your heads? You don't have experience in conquering territories, so it's normal not to perform as well as the Ultramarines. Only by seeing the gap can there be progress. To feel shame and then strive for courage is the mark of a true hero," Gamma comforted the dispirited Aeldari.
These encouraging words immediately had an effect; the Warstriders' morale visibly recovered. The little Tech-priest smugly thought his verbal persuasion skills had once again improved, unaware that it was entirely due to the bonus his identity provided.
Walking to Calgar's side, Gamma handed a scepter to the Ultramarines Chapter Master, saying:
"Calgar, I now appoint you as the supreme commander of the 'Imperium's Rebirth' plan. All the forces on the Craftworld are entrusted to you. Do well, don't disgrace the Regent. Dante, a mere Chapter Master, being on the same rank as the Regent in terms of duty, what kind of image is that!"
"No matter what, you must use your achievements to slap those arrogant Blood Angels in the face and let them know the might of us Macragge people!"
Hearing the little Tech-priest's malicious intentions and blatant instigation, Calgar rolled his eyes and hesitantly took the scepter Gamma held out. He really didn't want to be some supreme commander—just listen to that terrible name! "Imperium's Rebirth"—had the Imperium already fallen or what?
The name alone was enough for the Inquisition to come knocking.
And what about him, this supreme commander? What were the things he commanded?
Aeldari, Iron Men, and the "Omega Warriors," who were highly similar to the Astartes yet had differences. Any one of these would be enough for the Imperium to use exterminatus to cleanse any related area three times, confirm no survivors, and then cleanse it three more times to eliminate future troubles.
This matter, let alone reaching the Imperium's ears, even if it reached Abaddon's ears, he would have to wonder if he was actually the Imperium's "loyal subject."
"Smile."
The dazed Calgar subconsciously looked towards the source of the voice, and then heard a "click." The incriminating evidence fell into the hands of the insidious little Tech-priest.
Taking the photo handed to him by the photographer, Gamma said vainly: "I didn't realize I was quite photogenic."
Calgar looked down at the photo in Gamma's hand, felt his vision go black, and even his extraordinary body began to sway.
"The rest is up to you. Conquer, make sure to learn well from the teacher I found for you!"
"Yes, my Lord," the tall Iron Man standing beside Calgar replied calmly.
A thought suddenly popped into the Ultramarines Chapter Master's mind: perhaps he was the true gravedigger of the Imperium. As for Abaddon?
Just a clown...
Shaking his head to dispel this absurd thought, Calgar looked with complex eyes at the military-specialized super artificial intelligence named "Conquer." He had now surpassed his past self as "Dante" and understood the difference between Iron Men and super artificial intelligence.
The gap between them was as vast as that between a mortal and a Primarch (in terms of intelligence).
Calgar and his battle brothers had already witnessed "Conquer's" terrifying learning ability. According to what they understood, Gamma still had at least two other beings of the same caliber.
He had also once expressed his distrust of artificial intelligence to Gamma, but Gamma merely snapped his fingers to show him how strong Gamma's control over his creations was—his creations belonged to him.
After the little Tech-priest left, shaking his head, Calgar, still standing dumbfounded, heard his brother behind him grumble:
"Well, now the undercover agent is the boss. Will this net ever be pulled back in?"
"You say less. Be careful, the Chapter Master might punish you. But is this what it feels like to become a heretic? So strange! Bitterness, entanglement, shame, and a bit of relief and excitement—"
"....."
"Oh, Emperor—"
Calgar groaned, then, as if making some decision, turned and said to his battle brothers:
"I now order all of you to forget your identity, name, and glory as Ultramarines. Scrape off any symbols related to the Ultramarines, Macragge, Ultramar, Primarchs, or the Imperium. Destroy all related items!"
"From now on, our helmets are our faces, understand?!"
The Ultramarines looked at each other, then, without any resistance, responded in unison: "Yes!"
At this moment, Ventris asked: "Then—Chapter—Lord Calgar! What is our identity?"
"Nameless One" pondered for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said decisively:
"We are all 'Omega Warriors'!"
The little Tech-priest, who had single-handedly caused the Regent of the Imperium's eldest son to fall into depravity, had intended to go have some fun. But when he arrived at his "happy base camp," his face instantly darkened.
The dance troupe had already started performing, and Gamma's usual seat for enjoying the show was already occupied. As for who was so bold as to occupy his exclusive spot and not yet be sliced into pieces by the nearby Aeldari, there was only one person in the entire galaxy with that ability—Archmagos Will.
The Ulysses Eldar had nothing to say to this old man who, relying on his son being the ruler of the Craftworld, lorded over everyone. What could they say? He had the ability to sire a god; if you were unhappy, you could sire one too.
The Eldar couldn't speak, but that didn't mean Gamma couldn't. He had been waiting a long time!
He quickly walked over to the Archmagos, who was engrossed in an Eldar mythological opera, and the little Tech-priest asked without ceremony:
"Father, when are you planning to return to Thedan?"
The Archmagos was so engrossed that he didn't notice Gamma's arrival or hear his words. Annoyed, the little Tech-priest raised his voice and shouted:
"Father, when are you planning to return to Thedan?!"
This time it worked, but the Archmagos didn't hear clearly. He just looked at Gamma in confusion and mumbled, "Thedan? What Thedan?"
"Magos Lauster and the others are already packing up to return. Why aren't you in a hurry at all?" Gamma asked, speechless.
"They can pack their things; what does that have to do with me?"
What did he mean? Was he not planning to go back?
Gamma scrutinized Archmagos Will, who looked like a carefree lord, and for a moment wondered if he had misheard. But for this unpromising father, a biological father who competed with his son for happiness, the little Tech-priest had no intention of being a filial son.
"The Forge World has so many matters waiting for your decision; how can you be like this?!"
"If there's anything for me to decide, let the Council discuss it. With what you've left behind, they won't be able to cause any trouble."
The Archmagos believed this was his promised land. He, Will, had walked step by step from a Tech-Priest to an Fabricator-General, traveling thousands of miles to find his "runaway" son. Both in terms of personal achievement and family happiness, he had already achieved perfection, reaching the limits of a mortal. There was nothing left in his remaining life worth striving for; only enjoyment remained.
If his son worked a little harder, he could continue to enjoy himself even after he died. What a boring and tedious long life!
Seeing Archmagos Will completely conquered by the Eldar's sugar-coated bullets, the little Tech-priest was "deeply distressed." Who made his "wise and mighty," loyal, and fearless father, who dared to fight aliens, degenerate like this? How hateful!!!
He wanted to save the man who gave him life, he wanted the Archmagos to find his original intention, he wanted to awaken the honor in his father's heart, he wanted to—
"No! This doesn't belong to me!"
A specially made iron cage held the "old beast" with its claws and teeth removed. He frantically beat the cage that trapped him, wanting to escape. He didn't want to leave his promised land.
"Magos Lauster, I'm entrusting my father to you and Magos Camilla. Please use the strictest and most rigorous rules to awaken his dignity and sense of honor as a Priest of the Omnissiah!" The little Tech-priest said with a solemn expression and sincere attitude to the person he trusted most.
"..."
Camilla's silence was deafening. Her long-established worldview was being challenged. She didn't understand why the Archmagos, whom she had met a few times and then disappeared without a trace, was now in a cage when he reappeared. And it seemed to be done by the embodiment of the omnissiah, as her husband called him. But she clearly remembered they were father and son?!
Is the embodiment of the omnissiah so heartless and unfeeling? Should she persuade Lauster and Leia to leave the heretical group they founded?
"Don't worry!" Magos Lauster replied solemnly.
"If he shows no signs of recovery after returning to Thedan, remember to inform me promptly. I will find a way to send him to Lord Regent Guilliman!"
Gamma deeply understood the difficulty of reforming a fallen person, so he made multiple preparations. One day, he would manage to remove—help the Archmagos wake up!
"Gamma, I'm your biological father, how can you treat me like this?!" The Archmagos, whose Priest's red robe had been replaced with a blue and white striped hospital gown by Gamma, demanded.
The little Tech-priest, who had just "drugged" his father and disarmed him, felt guilty—ashamed! He reluctantly turned his head away and said with a pained heart:
"Father, forgive me, this is all for your own good!"
"You brat! Why do you only enjoy the good things yourself?! How much have I eaten? How much have I used?!" The Archmagos once again asked a soul-searching question.
Gamma's demeanor suddenly changed as he said, "Father, am I distressed about those things? Having watched so many Eldar operas, have you not realized that the root cause of the Eldar's tragedy is hedonism?"
The Archmagos's momentum weakened, but he still stubbornly said, "At most, I'll watch less—"
"Do you even believe what you're saying?" This time, it was Gamma who questioned him.
Unable to argue with Gamma and unable to resist, Archmagos Will could only resort to his last move, beginning to "throw a tantrum."
"I don't want to leave here, I don't want to go back to Thedan, they even try to control me when I drink a cup of tea!"
The complaining Archmagos did not elicit an ounce of sympathy from Gamma. He looked at him speechlessly and said, "If you insist on adding your daily expenses to Thedan's development funds, of course the Oversight Committee will intervene. You're not short on money, what are you trying to achieve?"
"This is a long-standing custom, an unyielding bottom line for the Fabricator-General. Otherwise, how would my status as Archmagos be demonstrated?!"
An unyielding bottom line means engaging in privilege, right? Are you going to embezzle next, and then be acquitted, just to show off your special status?
"Hmph, Father, you have completely failed to grasp the spiritual core of 'Building a Law-Abiding Thedan' that I left before I departed.
Don't struggle! You are definitely going back to Thedan!"
"No! I don't want to go back to Thedan and live a hard life without top-grade Macragge red tea!"
Archmagos Will's sorrowful cry could make any Tech-priest bend over and weep, then pick up a stone at their feet and throw it at him. Gamma, who was completely devoted to the public good, remained unmoved, and with a cold flick of his hand, he commanded:
"Depart!"
"No."
Watching the Tech-priest team, escorted by Path Warriors, enter the Webway gate, Gamma watched for a long time without leaving. He had originally wanted to invite his little companions to stay with him, since they had already come, and his strength had also made significant progress.
But Jacob and the others said that Thedan had more important things for them to do, and Gamma couldn't force them. He could understand the awkwardness his companions felt when facing him; mistaking the Omnissiah was a difficult hurdle for Tech-priests to overcome. Using time and distance to wash away the awkwardness might be the most correct choice.
But what he didn't know was that after everyone had entered the Webway, Magos Lauster spoke in Gamma's secret channel:
"You must understand the importance of our return this time. As long as that person on Terra occupies a position that doesn't belong to him, Gamma will not be safe. So after we return, we must develop our influence, recruit like-minded comrades, and reclaim the position that belongs to Gamma!"
"Thedan is currently full of people and eyes; Mars, the Inquisition, and Terra have all planted many informants and agents there.
So, we must act cautiously!"
"Understood! For Gamma!" x N
".." Camilla.
Returning to a somewhat melancholic Gamma, he heard footsteps behind him. The little Tech-priest turned and saw that the person approaching was a tall, silent Gamma Warrior, fully helmeted and armored. Aside from the scepter at his waist, his attire was no different from the people behind him.
"How do you like the new power core and equipment?"
"The performance is excellent," Calgar's voice came from within the armor.
"How are the new Warriors performing?"
"Not bad," Calgar replied. To be honest, he was astonished by the super-soldiers Gamma had created. Their physical capabilities were no less than those of Primaris Space Marines, and the modification process was a one-button, fool-proof procedure. The "Gamma Type 3 Spores" within their bodies not only modified their bodies but also rapidly healed injuries, and immunized them against toxins and pathogens.
More importantly, it could also produce and decompose various hormones, allowing Omega Warriors to burst forth with several times their normal strength and speed in a short period, and giving them the ability to freely control their emotions. One moment they could be berserk warriors tearing all enemies apart with brute force, and the next they could become wise strategists who planned with absolute rationality and calmness.
If it weren't for the Space Marines possessing extraordinary talents inherited from the Primarchs, such as the Raven Guard's "invisibility,"
the Ultramarines' multi-threaded thinking, the White Scars' bullet time, and so on.
Their gene-seed also carried the accumulated experience and knowledge of their predecessors, and they could even gain intelligence by consuming the flesh and blood of enemies. Calgar even felt that they were about to be phased out.
"Hmm, getting a 'not bad' from you is already very satisfying."
Gamma wasn't lying about this. His goal in creating Omega Warriors was to produce a type of soldier that could be quickly manufactured, possessed frontal combat power no less than a Space Marine, and had resistance to the powers of the Four Gods. They were not meant to be generals or scholars.
The enhanced gene template used by Omega Warriors was a common part of the gene-seeds of various chapters, which the little Tech-priest had extracted. In short, it was a basic template, or "blank slate."
The advantage was that they were not affected by any Primarch, but the disadvantage was that they also didn't enjoy the Primarch's bonuses. However, the Gamma spores gave them the ability to control their emotions, which was what Gamma desired most. The power of the Four Gods could influence mortals, but human emotions are closely related to the hormones secreted by the brain. Being able to control the secretion and decomposition of one's own hormones naturally also affects one's emotions.
Knowledge could be physically instilled through technological means. For individuals who stood out in war and displayed personal talent, Gamma also had ways to enhance their talents and then train them according to those talents.
"Preparations are complete. You can begin your plan."
"Then let's begin!"
Solar Segmentum, Solar System, Terra, the Regent's secret prison. Guilliman, who had never intended to engage in prison play, was looking with a smirk at Yvraine in the cell, who was lazily displaying her body's curves and astonishing flexibility.
"Oh, isn't this the human Primarch who wanted to kill me, the Imperial Regent, Lord of Macragge, Lord Guilliman?" Yvraine said with the Eldar's characteristic sarcastic tone.
"Yvraine, I wasn't myself then. You saw how badly I was injured at the time."
"Heh, it was quite severe, but even if you couldn't stand steadily, Lord Primarch's determination to exterminate xenos still commanded admiration!" The Eldar said, gritting her teeth, word by word.
...
Sigh, I've completely offended this grandma this time. Guilliman thought, his head aching, as he woke up and immediately ran over.
"This time it was my fault. In the future, I will find a way to compensate you, so how about we put this matter behind us for now?" The Regent pleaded.
Yvraine chuckled and said, "Look how nervous you are. I also made a mistake. 'Put it behind us for now' is too serious a phrase. I'm not a narrow-minded person."
Guilliman's face immediately lit up, and he blurted out, "Yvraine, your heart is broad enough to encompass the Glory of Macragge. Since you have forgiven me for this mistake, let's change places and continue discussing the Webway. I've found a way to solve the problem of the psychocrystal!"
Yvraine propped herself up and, smiling, uttered one word: "Scram!"
"Uh, hmm?! No—...—"
"You haven't even apologized, and you expect me to forgive you! Do you know why I didn't resist when your blue boys rushed into the room?"
"I just wanted to see how you would beg me, and what you would do to me after I refused. I'm telling you very clearly, Guilliman, there will be no more Webway Management Committee. They were right, you are not to be trusted!"
Seeing Yvraine's somber expression and icy face, Guilliman knew that if he didn't appease her this time, let alone the Webway, the alliance between humanity and the Eldar would be completely ruined.
After much thought, Guilliman, unable to devise a strategy to resolve the matter, decided to do his utmost to gain her forgiveness. The method was simple: honesty.
He walked into the cell, approached Yvraine, and sat cross-legged in front of her, looking her straight in the eye as he said,
"Do you know what I was thinking the first time I saw you?"