"This disaster is a heavy one, but the price paid... is very small."
"Hundreds of thousands of people, and you say it's small?" Luo Ji looked up at him.
"Then, what if I told you" Emrys' eyes were cold as he said, "Once, there was a disaster that directly or indirectly led to the deaths of over ten billion humans, split the entire Milky Way Galaxy in half, and the chaotic tides of the Warp completely tore through the veil of reality, allowing endless daemons to invade the Human world? Now... do you still think this price is heavy?"
He used his psyker abilities to conjure a holographic projection of the Warhammer Universe's Milky Way Galaxy.
In the projection, a terrifying, hideous, gigantic purple scar, like a wound in reality, tore the galaxy in half!
"This is reality."
Emrys gazed at the 'cursed scar' with an expressionless face.
"This is the Great Rift, something that truly happened in the Imperium of Man, and even today... it still exists, still affecting millions of human-inhabited worlds. Now, do you still think hundreds of thousands of people are a lot? Or, if not for this lesson, do you think humanity today would remember this pain and fear the Warp and Chaos?"
Luo Ji was silent for a long time.
He suddenly felt a pang of resentment that he could remain so calm and rational.
This logical thinking gave him the ability to discern the essence of matters and phenomena, but it also prevented him from roaring like ordinary people, let alone accusing Emrys of being cold-blooded and ruthless.
He knew very well that humans... are creatures that need lessons to grow!
Growing through pain, like a fractured femur, only becomes stronger after it has healed again!
"You've said so much, and shown me so much" Luo Ji took a deep breath, looked at him, and asked, "What exactly do you want me to do? If it's just to replace you in that chair, there shouldn't be a need to do so much for me, right?"
"I want you to become a 'sharp sword' hanging over humanity's head."
Emrys finally stated his purpose.
"The Sword of Damocles... You will oversee humanity, oversee the world. You will forever sit in this chair, facing solitude, confronting the corruption of the Warp and the threat of Chaos with ultimate calm and rationality. You will be both the guardian of human civilization and humanity's dictator."
"You... truly believe I can do it?"
Luo Ji asked after a few seconds of silence.
"Because, you are the Swordholder."
Emrys smiled.
The next day, humanity received a declaration of war from the Trisolaran Civilization.
No, to be precise, it wasn't a declaration of war... but a naked war warning!
The Trisolaran Civilization's fleet had already crossed the edge of the Sol System stipulated in the peace agreement, and at the same time, the Trisolaran Civilization Council temporarily residing on Titan announced a series of human crimes.
Yes, crimes... conspiring to murder the Trisolaran Civilization's Supreme Executive officer, the head of State, intending to wipe out the Trisolaran Civilization, and openly tearing up the agreement!
That poor Trisolaran Executive head of State had long since died in the ruins of Holy Terra.
And the Trisolaran Civilization, naturally, couldn't lady this opportunity. Seizing the internal strife within the Holy Terra Alliance, they dispatched a large fleet to invade the Sol System, their ambition known to all!
But precisely at this critical moment, the Holy Terra Alliance was 'wiped out'.
There was no one left to stand up, and even the Adeptus Astartes, including the Martian Machine cult, maintained a strange silence.
Just as humanity plunged into chaos due to the broadcast issued by the Trisolarans, one person stepped forward.
He was the Wallfacer from two hundred years ago — Luo Ji!
Luo Ji sat alone in the ruins.
This was the site of the Holy Terra Alliance Council, surrounded by devastation, nothing but broken walls and rubble.
"I know you are here." A hint of indifference and calmness was in the depths of his eyes as he looked directly at the void before him.
"I can give you one chance. Now, immediately, withdraw your fleet from the Sol System. I am willing to pretend nothing happened and can continue our previous agreement, granting you a space to survive."
His voice echoed in the desolate ruins.
However, apart from the lonely sound of the wind, there was no response.
"Right, you never cared about human thoughts."
Luo Ji, receiving no response, lowered his head and sighed softly.
"What you truly care about are the Adeptus Astartes and the Martian Machine cult, but I'm curious... on what basis do you judge that you can win this war?"
Two hundred years ago, the Trisolaran Civilization attempted to invade humanity, but unfortunately... they were struck down!
The Astartes' strange biological modification technology, the Martian Machine cult's fleet, and even their eerie Machine Spirits, all made the Trisolaran Civilization extremely wary.
It was precisely because of this that the Trisolaran Civilization, two hundred years later, chose a more 'gentle' method of invasion.
But now, he was truly curious, who gave the Trisolaran Civilization such courage?
Making them believe that a war they couldn't win two hundred years ago could be won two hundred years later?
"Your proud technology, in front of us... is meaningless!"
Finally, his words made the Sophon appear.
"I thought you wouldn't show up."
Luo Ji stared expressionlessly at the Sophon before him.
"Now, withdraw your fleet from the Sol System. This is your last chance."
"Laughable psychological tactics."
Facing his advice, the Sophon's words were filled with deep sarcasm.
"It's not just you humans who are progressing; so are we," the Sophon said. "In the past two hundred years, we have already used ETO to understand your so-called 'psyker abilities.' This is indeed a very powerful force, but now... it is no longer a 'unique talent' of you humans. We... understand psyker abilities better than humans, and we are stronger!"
In the Trisolarans' imagination, Luo Ji, upon hearing this news, should have been shocked, even terrified.
Because the direction of 'evolution' that humanity thought they had found, little did they know... also opened up a whole new direction for the Trisolarans!
But what puzzled the Trisolarans was that Luo Ji's emotions showed no shock or fear, but rather a look of pity.
"I guess it was Frederick Taylor who taught you how to use psyker abilities, right?"
Luo Ji already knew this outcome; his tone was tinged with a hint of pity.
"Yes."
The Trisolarans, through the Sophon, mocked.
"Thanks to him, we were able to smoothly understand the power of 'psyker abilities.' Do you know... we Trisolarans are more suited to psyker abilities than you humans. The awakening rate of psykers in Trisolaran Civilization is over eighty percent. I imagine... you must know what this means, right?!"
"This means that we Trisolarans are born psykers!"
"We have unparalleled talent, we adapt to this power better than humans. I want to thank you on behalf of the Trisolarans, thank humanity... With this power, we can completely achieve the advancement of our civilization within a hundred years!"
"As thanks, we will gratefully... utterly annihilate you!"
"Believe me, this is the greatest respect for a civilization!"
Cold words, in a frenzied manner, filled the Sophon's holographic image.
But Luo Ji sighed deeply, he knew... it was already irreversible.
The Trisolaran Civilization believed psyker abilities were a 'gift' bestowed upon them?
No, this was not a gift, it was a curse!
The 'psyker abilities' that the Trisolaran Civilization believes it has mastered are the 'key' to advancing the civilization to the next stage.
Yet, little do they know that this 'key' opens not the 'future,' but a path destined for destruction.
Luo Ji had personally experienced the horror of the Warp and Chaos.
He had also witnessed, in his soul form, the embodiments of order filled with malice toward life, deep within the turbulent Immaterium.
The ruins beneath his feet now serve as the best example.
Humanity, driven by the 'lust for power,' summoned daemons from the Warp, and a disaster on this small scale alone resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties.
Furthermore, if Emrys hadn't provided a safety net at the last moment... Luo Ji couldn't even imagine the misery that would befall hundreds of thousands of years of human civilization if Frederick Taylor's conspiracy had succeeded!
The Trisolaran Civilization stole the authority to reach 'God-tier Civilization' from the hands of foolish humans.
psyker abilities, what a marvelous power!
Its diversity, versatility, and even infinite applicability are certainly enough to allow a Tier 3 Civilization to complete several leaps in a short time.
But what is the cost?
The Trisolarans, and their entire civilization, cannot see the price of this power—a power that appears to be the hope of civilization but secretly contains 'destruction.'
Returning to the original topic.
The Trisolarans believed they had used the foolish Frederick Taylor.
But is that truly the case?
In Frederick Taylor's vision, he would become humanity's savior, achieving a perfect biological society free of conflict, war, and suspicion by perfectly merging humans and Trisolarans.
Meanwhile, in the Trisolaran Civilization's strategy, they utilized Frederick Taylor's greed to 'unearth' the psychic power abilities step by step!
Who exactly used whom?
No, the two seemingly mutually exploiting parties were merely... pawns on a vast chessboard. Having gone through so much, Luo Ji could now easily see the 'guy' hidden behind the entire conspiracy.
All of this was entirely Tzeentch's plan!
It was he who exploited the Trisolarans' greed, thereby corrupting and polluting the former hero, Frederick Taylor.
And the method was simple: merely allowing Taylor to witness a portion of the 'future.'
What followed was simple. After witnessing a portion of the 'dark future,' Taylor believed himself to be the savior, yet unknowingly fell deeper into the abyss, ultimately becoming Tzeentch's puppet.
At the same time, after witnessing the sheer psychic power abilities, the Trisolarans' greedy desires reached their peak!
Deep research into psyker abilities, even their full-scale implementation... isn't that exactly what Tzeentch hoped for?
Once these 'psykers' explode,' the 'Great Rift' that Emrys showed him, that terrifying scar of damnation, will re-enact the tragedy of the Imperium of Man in this universe!
"I will say this one last time."
Luo Ji closed his eyes, his tone low and carrying a final thread of advice.
"Immediately halt your fleet, and furthermore... prohibit the research and use of psionics abilities. This is your last chance, and my final sincerity and patience."
The Trisolarans believed they had used Frederick Taylor.
Three holographic projections split above the ruins, answering in unison.
[We reject your proposal]
[This is meaningless]
[As the losing side, humanity is not qualified to negotiate with us]
Looking at the text Sophon projected in front of him, Luo Ji, sitting on the ruins, couldn't help but laugh.
"Indeed, two hundred years later... you still haven't changed." Although he was laughing, his eyes were terrifyingly cold, reflecting the chilling glint of pure, ruthless rationality and logical thinking after all emotion had been completely stripped away.
"Peace treaties, shattering the Dark Forest—all of these were merely lies you used to deceive humanity."
[This is strategy]
[We are also learning from you]
[We must admit that humanity's deception on the strategic level was precisely our weakness]
[Thank you, thank humanity. It is you... who taught us how to correct our shortcomings]
[Of course, as a sign of the highest respect]
[We will, with utmost respect and reverence, completely destroy human civilization on Earth]
The cold and cruel words, projected through Sophon's hologram, were deeply branded into the depths of Luo Ji's eyes.
"Very well, I will remember that sentence."
Luo Ji nodded, his face completely devoid of the panic that the Trisolaran Civilization expected to see.
His gaze was icy, brewing a chilling, extremely pure murderous intent.
"No wonder he looked at me that way after I proposed the idea of communicating with you. Now that I think about it... he was probably laughing at my naivety."
[He?]
"I should also thank you."
Luo Ji slowly rose from the ruins, tidied his appearance, straightened his suit collar, and said expressionlessly.
"Thank you for teaching me the first lesson of Universal Civilization Sociology: the greatest respect you can show a civilization... is annihilation."
[Your bluster will not make us fear you]
[Doctor Luo Ji, you should understand how vast the gap is between us now]
[Two hundred years ago, humanity relied on 'psyker abilities' to leave us helpless, but two hundred years later... we are the chosen ones]
[You may not understand, but based on our in-depth research results, the Trisolarans have undergone the most complete genetic modification]
[In the current Trisolaran Civilization, every new life born has an awakening probability of over 80%]
[We apologize, this is cruel, but... this is reality!]
Upon hearing this sentence, Luo Ji completely eliminated and discarded the last shred of 'benevolence' in his heart.
What does an 80% probability of awakening as a psyker mean?
If this were the Warhammer Universe.
The Imperium of Man would regard them as the greatest threat, 'super-bombs of the Material universe,' and would destroy them at all costs.
The Eldar would view them as 'walking disasters' and would destroy that civilization whenever possible.
The Drukhari would treat them as 'Human Bombs' and 'sources of pain,' hunting the lives of that civilization everywhere.
The Tyranids, on the other hand, would regard them as a sumptuous feast; their psyker signals would act like lighthouses, attracting the Hive Mind and its fleets!
As for the Orks?
They might show up seeking a sufficiently satisfying Waaagh.
As for the Necrons, needless to say, they would only view them as Cosmic Cancer Cells that must be purged.
As a sigh fell, the once benevolent Luo Ji had completely died.
The man he was now was the last line of defense for humanity against the Warp, humanity's most severe 'Father,' and the Civilization's Sword Holder!
"As you wish, I shall ignite the galaxy!"
Luo Ji's deep voice seemed to contain infinite power.
"And I shall become the cruelest tyrant in the history of human civilization, a terrifying existence who destroyed tens of billions of lives. I apologize for this, but... for the sake of humanity, I will not repent!"
"I, Luo Ji!"
"In my capacity as the 'Sword Holder' granted by the Seal Holder of the Holy Terra Imperium, I officially declare."
"Upon the heretical civilization, execute... Exterminatus!"