"Miracle of the Holy Spirit"
Kenmyo Isayama clicked to view the details.
Whether it was the origin, the rating, or the utility—every piece of data was marked with "???". Clicking them only brought up a prompt: [Insufficient Authority. Unable to view.]
He inquired with the Warhammer system, which informed him that this was an exceptional reward granted out of cycle for his outstanding performance. Its rank was extremely high, a commendation for Kenmyo's pivotal role in the epic "Waaagh!" during the war between the Ork Empire and the Tyranids.
The [Miracle of the Holy Spirit] was undoubtedly a treasure, but it was a reward far beyond Kenmyo's current level—so much so that he didn't even have the permission to see what it did. If he didn't want it to rot in his inventory, the system's suggestion was to apply it directly to the [Psionic Codex].
As for what change would occur? Only the gods knew.
The [Psionic Codex] was the sum total of the knowledge Kenmyo had obtained from his mentor, Ahriman. Because his teacher's knowledge was so vast, it had manifested as a piece of special equipment—a codex.
Codex: A vessel for recording vital knowledge. An extremely precious non-physical spiritual item (possesses no equipment level or rating).
Kenmyo's Telekinesis spells had been unlocked from within this very book. Soon, a giant, floating bronze-colored metal book appeared before him. The words "Psionic Codex" burned with a terrifying psionic flame. It recorded Ahriman's research on the Warp and the psyche, covering most of the knowledge of the Corvidae cult and a collection of all psionic disciplines.
Due to Kenmyo's current psionic level, he only had partial reading privileges. This was a protection, not a limitation. Some knowledge was so dangerous that even Ahriman himself handled it with caution. For a beginner like Kenmyo, seeing a single symbol could cause unpredictable flesh-mutations or cause him to spontaneously explode into a mist of blood.
His current exploration of the book was less than 1%—more like 0.000...% at best.
Since the system recommended applying the [Miracle of the Holy Spirit] to the [Psionic Codex], he decided to go for it. Kenmyo tried to move the miracle from his inventory to his hand, but he couldn't even do that. A warning popped up stating the item's rank was so high that its physical presence would cause the collapse of his current world; the reality simply couldn't sustain its existence.
As he fumbled with how to use it, the system jumped in.
[Apply "???" to the Psionic Codex? This process is irreversible!!!]
At this point, even whether the unknown item was actually called the "Miracle of the Holy Spirit" was questionable; it was likely a protective alias or a filter applied by the system.
[Using "???". Commencing fusion with the [Psionic Codex]...]
The floating codex began to undergo a metamorphosis. The pure, pale-blue psionic fire that originally engulfed it began to change, becoming tainted with something... foul. It was the chaotic power of Evil, an unthinkable level of disorder that surpassed Kenmyo's understanding.
A terrifying, writhing flame of Change incinerated the [Psionic Codex] entirely. Through the twisting silhouettes in the fire, Kenmyo saw a vision of a double-layered gate and the world behind it.
A vast, blue Crystal Labyrinth filled with endless Chaos energy. Inside, there were grotesque illusions and countless monsters: bio-beasts corrupted into madness, imprisoned demons who had failed their master, and twisted souls screaming in despair for a freedom they would never find.
In the depths, Kenmyo caught a glimpse of a shimmering, iridescent substance. Another glance, and it transformed into an impossibly large, two-headed raven with magnificent, multi-colored wings and a vulture's beak. Its feathers shifted constantly, forming grotesque, mocking faces and a kaleidoscope of searing colors that dazed the mind.
The moment he saw the symbol representing "Change," Kenmyo felt as if a thousand needles were driven into his skull. Blood and tears streamed from his eyes. He couldn't even stand, doubling over and vomiting a large pool of blood.
When the incinerated book re-manifested from the flames, it had become a jet-black metal tome, pulsating with the chaotic power of Change and an unimaginable sense of despair.
The mutation wasn't over. Several blood-red symbols suddenly surfaced on the heavy, black cover—looking remarkably like the Rubric.
[Conversion Complete]
THUD.
The book fell to the ground in front of the kneeling Kenmyo. When his blood-stained hand touched the tome, the information updated immediately. The [Psionic Codex] had been transformed into the crimson-lettered title: [The Rubric's Redemption].
Because he had looked directly at the unknown change, Kenmyo had been severely tainted by Chaos. This time, the system provided healing for free.
[The Rubric's Redemption]
"If the path to salvation leads through the halls of Purgatory, then I choose to accept it."
This sentence appeared as the book's epigraph, seemingly written by Ahzek Ahriman himself.
Opening the first page revealed hundreds of engravings—intricate, orderly sigils. When Kenmyo channeled his psionic energy into it, the first sigil lit up, and a gargantuan amount of knowledge flooded his mind, nearly causing it to burst. He gritted his teeth and pushed through, but when the second sigil began to glow, he knew he couldn't hold on and immediately cut the energy supply.
That [???] item hadn't just turned the codex into something more terrifying; it had stripped away the system's safety protocols. If he hadn't let go, his brain truly would have exploded.
[You have unlocked All-Discipline Psionic Spells.]
[Initial activation of "The Rubric's Redemption".]
[You have obtained a Rubric Marine (Damaged).]
"..."
Kenmyo had processed too much in one night. He didn't want to look at any more descriptions; it made him feel physically sick. He knew he needed to go out and kill a few Cursed Spirits to settle his complicated emotions.
Walking down the street with his hood up, Kenmyo remained silent. His mentor, Ahriman, had fallen completely to the Chaos God Tzeentch after the Burning of Prospero, and the remnants of the Thousand Sons Legion had been turned into mindless husks by his Rubric. What was meant to be a hope for salvation had turned into a deeper despair.
Sensing something, Kenmyo turned into a small alley with his hands in his pockets. He soon saw a skeleton-shaped evil spirit gorging on something in the narrow passage. Flesh and blood were scattered everywhere—a gruesome murder scene.
"Am I too late?"
Kenmyo merely glared at it. The Cursed Spirit, still mid-meal, was suddenly struck as if by a heavy truck coming from the left, smashed violently into the wall.
BOOM.
The concrete wall dented inward, cracks spreading four or five meters outward. The spirit was pinned in the center, limbs splayed, letting out a pathetic shriek but unable to move.
[Your Talent "Spirit Devourer" activated. Recovered 8 Mana points.]
Just as Kenmyo was about to increase his psionic output to crush the spirit entirely, a refined, gentle voice sounded from behind him:
"Pardon me, pardon me... but could you leave that Cursed Spirit to me?"