The dome of the Meditation Hall was silent and still, with psychic crystals embedded in the arched ceiling casting down a gentle yet majestic radiance.
As Ap's proclamation reached outside the hall, the heavy doors slowly parted, like ancient mountains shifting.
Rumble—Rumble—!
The two massive doors forged from planetary core and pure flowers slid outward along their tracks, revealing the solemn corridor beyond.
A heavy atmosphere surged in from outside, as if accompanied by steel and blood and fire.
Thud—Thud—!
Steady, heavy footsteps immediately followed.
These were not steps that mortals could bear, but belonged to the power of a Primarch, each footfall causing the hall to tremble slightly.
The Custodians stationed on both sides, their Terminator armor gleaming metallic cold light under the radiance, stood immobile like sculptures, their faces stern, unmoved in the slightest by the tremors.
The Primarch entering the Meditation Hall was none other than Sui Meng.
Sui Meng at this moment was fully armed, his frame towering over five meters, his armor reflecting steady majesty in the light.
The specialized armor he wore was not simply an imitation of the Empire's common power armor, but incorporated obvious Chinese style elements.
The chest and abdomen of the armor were carved with cloud patterns and taotie reliefs, the flowing, domineering patterns seeming to breathe.
The shoulder guards were broad, extending into wing-like contours, resembling ancient bright armor reborn, gleaming under the psychic energy it radiated.
His helmet hung quietly at his waist, his exposed face showing resolute lines, his brow bearing unshakeable killing intent.
The cape behind his armor resembled ancient battle banners, red fabric swaying with his steps, giving an impression of cold, solemn oppression.
In his hand, he gripped an extremely special weapon—
A power spear longer than his own frame.
The spearhead was curved, its edge like a crescent moon, with small seal script runes inscribed on the black alloy, the blade's edge constantly flickering with light, faint energy pulses swirling around it.
The spear shaft was heavy, its surface covered with red-gold patterns and dragon carvings—this was not merely an instrument of killing, but a symbol given by the Emperor to Sui Meng to represent his legion.
Thud, thud!
As his steps gradually approached, Sui Meng walked to the very center of the Meditation Hall, directly before the Golden Throne, which sat high atop steps, its magnificent radiance making Samuel Young upon it appear like an invisible deity.
Sui Meng halted, exhaled deeply, knelt on one knee, placing the power spear horizontally before him, his voice low and firm:
"Father."
In the vast hall, this call echoed between dome and walls, weighty and sincere.
Samuel Young slowly nodded, his voice steady and heavy, resonating like a great bell:
"Rise."
Hearing this, Sui Meng stood, spear blade lowering, his posture straight as an iron tower.
After a moment of silence in the hall, Samuel Young spoke, his tone calm yet carrying irresistible authority:
"Sui Meng, since your coming of age, you have devoted yourself entirely to the construction and discipline of your legion. You have forged military discipline with iron law, honed warriors with sharp edges. Now, your legion has become one of the Empire's most solid blades."
At this point, Samuel Young's voice paused slightly, his gaze turning to the holographic projection floating nearby.
The projection gradually revealed a vast star chart, marking unknown universal territories.
"It can now be confirmed that the human forces on the other end of Universe-02 have expanded to interstellar levels. Since this is so, it is time for you and your legion to march forth.
Go, execute the unification mission for the Empire, bring order to that star sea."
His tone was utterly steady, like an imperial decree that could not be changed.
Hearing this, Sui Meng's eyes flashed with fierce light. He bowed slightly, his tone equally firm and unhesitating:
"Father, please rest assured, leave it to me and my legion—we will not fail this mission."
The light of the Meditation Hall reflected off his armor, red-gold flowing, like a living ancient war god.
Samuel Young gazed for a moment, then slowly nodded again.
As Sui Meng turned to leave, he suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a meaningful reminder:
"Sui Meng."
The Primarch stopped and turned back, his expression solemn.
"I have transmitted preliminary data on Universe-02 to the intelligence department. Before departure, you must take time to review it thoroughly, familiarizing yourself with the local power structures and potential threats.
In addition"
Samuel Young's gaze narrowed slightly, his voice slow but weighted, "If necessary, you may request assistance from the Greek minor gods. Though they are not human, they are ultimately extensions of the Empire's military might—use them wisely."
Sui Meng's expression showed no change, his tone remaining firm but with added thoughtfulness:
"I understand, Father."
With that, the Primarch lightly struck the ground with his war spear, producing a low, powerful echo, then turned and walked toward the hall doors with steady drum-like steps.
Thud, thud
As his figure receded, the magnificent atmosphere of the Meditation Hall returned to silence, leaving only Samuel Young seated upon the Golden Throne, his gaze profound, as if peering through layers of cosmos to observe that yet-unconquered star sea.
As for his currently youngest offspring—
Sui Meng lived up to his name.
Since Sui Meng's coming of age, he had displayed a rare purity and sharpness, that fierceness and determination like ancient battlefield generals, most fond of gripping weapons and personally standing at the front lines, charging into battle.
Unlike his brothers who preferred strategy or psychic powers, Sui Meng's strength was displayed in the most direct manner.
This approach could maximize the morale of the entire legion, though it would also place himself in dangerous positions.
However, if this were all, this Primarch would merely be an unparalleled warrior, or perhaps just a "brute."
What truly made Sui Meng formidable was the strategic vision he had gradually honed under Athena's long tutelage.
That grasp of situations and overall coordination already rivaled the Empire's most calm and rational Guilliman.
Only Sui Meng's temperament remained sharp as a war spear.
Outwardly steady, but inwardly blazing like flames ready to erupt at any moment—this personality would cause Sui Meng to lack patience in certain situations and be more easily ignited by blood and fire.
Samuel Young knew well this was both advantage and hidden concern.
However, his gaze falling on the projection, Samuel Young's inner judgment was extremely calm.
Though the Dead Space universe was strange and terrifying, from current intelligence, it was insufficient to threaten a Primarch's life.
Whether the alien-like necromorphs or the mental pollution emanated by the Markers had not yet reached levels capable of shaking Primarchs or even Astartes.
This expedition was more like "training exercises."
On one hand, letting Sui Meng and the newly established legion hone their edge on a real interstellar battlefield;
On the other hand, incidentally rescuing the human compatriots of that universe, freeing them from heretical and mad corruption.
Unifying the universe was both the Empire's mission and a trial the father left for his son.
Samuel Young withdrew his thoughts, his expression remaining calm as before, and seated upon the Golden Throne, he seemed to reflect the entire Empire's will.
The scene shifted to reveal the palace's aerial corridor.
This place suspended hundreds of meters above, the corridor paved with alternating golden and obsidian bricks, its towering pillars carved with reliefs symbolizing war and history.
Breezes rose from beneath the firmament, sweeping across the corridor, bringing an atmosphere both expansive and solemn.
Thud, thud.
Sui Meng's footsteps echoed in the corridor.
He walked from the Meditation Hall, his stride composed, expression calm.
In the distance, a figure already waited quietly—the Primarch's mother, Athena.
The goddess of war and wisdom, now wearing flowing golden battle armor forged from light, displaying elegance alongside restrained power.
She bore the Spear of Victory on her back, her eyes calm and sharp, as if capable of peering into fate's abyss.
Her very presence was a balance of majesty and tranquility.
Athena waited in the corridor's center. The moment Sui Meng opened the Meditation Hall doors, she stepped forward.
The five-meter-tall Primarch's silhouette cast a magnificent shadow in the radiance, his golden and dark red armor refracting brilliant light.
"How did it go?"
Athena spoke, her voice steady yet carrying a mother's particular concern.
Sui Meng stopped, his tone calm but unable to conceal the surging battle spirit within, answering respectfully:
"Father indeed, as you predicted, entrusted the unification operation of Universe-02 to me and my legion. Additionally, Father reminded me that I could requisition support from some Greek minor gods."
His words contained no boasting or dismissiveness, only the resolve of one given weighty responsibility.
That composure was exactly like a true Primarch who viewed war and duty as part of life itself.
Hearing this, Athena's eyes flashed with subtle contemplation.
She did not immediately respond, but narrowed her gaze slightly, as if weighing some unspoken "concern."
The corridor's breeze brushed her hair and the armor plates on her shoulders, bringing subtle tension.
After several breaths of silence, she finally spoke: "The galaxy on Universe-02's end is no peaceful territory. Though current intelligence is limited, I worry it may harbor enemies like heretics. Responding with steel and blade alone may inevitably have gaps."
Her voice was cold, carrying certainty.
"Therefore, I will deploy a group of war maidens skilled in psychic powers to accompany you, assisting you in suppressing potential threats on mental and spiritual levels. Though they are not as formidable as Primarchs, they can fill gaps where your attention may not reach."
Hearing this, Sui Meng first fell silent, then nodded respectfully.
His face beneath the armor remained angular and defined, his eyes showing relief.
"Mother's foresight, I will remember. With the war maidens' assistance, I will complete this expedition more securely."
That fierceness and determination bursting from blood and bone was no longer exposed sharpness at this moment, but transformed into reliability worthy of cosmic trust.
Seeing this, Athena's gaze softened.
She knew this son appeared fierce outwardly but was not merely a brute who overwhelmed enemies with force. Under her tutelage, he had learned to examine the overall situation, understanding how to transform an expedition into a trial that was both conquest and training.
"Go."
She ultimately said only this, yet it was like a blessing granted to a divine son.
Sui Meng respectfully bowed again, then walked alongside his mother along the aerial corridor, slowly departing.
Sunlight from the dome illuminated their retreating figures, one tall and one shorter, but both carrying unshakeable majesty.
Their steps were steady until they vanished into distant light and shadow.
On the corridor, only wind sounds and distant Custodians standing at attention remained.
Soon after, on the Universe-02 space gate side:
A massive vessel five kilometers long slowly emerged from the portal.
Its hull lines were heavy and majestic, like a giant dragon from ancient myth traversing the firmament. Chinese characters embedded in the bow constantly flickered like whispered imperial decrees, while the surface armor reflected cold radiance between starlight and energy flows.
It did not advance rapidly, but maintained a slow posture, steadily sailing toward the near-orbit of the planet where the Universe-02 space gate was located—Shield-7.
Following closely was a ten-kilometer-long Emperor-class battleship tearing through "void," its mountain-like massive shadow obscuring the sky.
Its bow bore imperial crests forged from gold and white jade, symbolizing unshakeable military might.
Countless broadside gun turrets flickered coldly under energy shield protection, like they could turn entire star systems to ash at any moment. Further behind was an orderly fleet—
Cruisers arrayed like spear points,
Destroyers circling like falcons,
Frigates racing like arrows.
These warships bore highly distinctive paint schemes.
White as base, symbolizing purity and faith, supplemented by interwoven gold, red, and blue—displaying both glory and conveying the Empire's iron blood and order.
Particularly striking were the "Martial" characters carved in small seal script across the hulls, imposing and atmospheric, inspiring unquestionable awe.
Such symbols were not mere decoration, but the spiritual brand of the entire legion, or rather the symbol of the entire legion.
Undoubtedly, this vast fleet was led by Sui Meng's legion.
When the fleet formed up in Shield-7's near orbit, the massive engineering ship first reached designated altitude.
Its hull was not equipped with exaggerated firepower systems, but embedded with layered ring platforms and energy crystals, like giant machinery "born" specifically for planetary transformation.
As the engineering ship's bay doors opened, countless diamond-shaped metal pillars were slowly released, each about five hundred meters long, their surfaces covered with complex energy pathways, emanating deep blue cold light.
These metal pillars autonomously adjusted orientation in vacuum, like giant beasts slowly stretching limbs.
Then they began accelerating along precise trajectories, rapidly traveling along Shield-7's equatorial orbit.
Each turn was millimeter-perfect, as if calculated and deduced countless times. Soon, hundreds and thousands of pillars distributed evenly, their spacing perfectly consistent, forming a massive network beyond complete visual grasp.
Hum————!!!
A soundless yet heart-shaking energy pulse suddenly released.
Instantly, countless blue-green light beams burst from the pillar tops, interweaving and entangling until condensing into a massive energy matrix covering the equator.
In that moment, the void seemed illuminated, the darkness around Shield-7 split by radiance, like deities carving unbreakable chains in nothingness.
The matrix gradually stabilized, complex runic pulses flickering between light beams, as if the entire planet had been brought under some transcendent order.
Shield-7, originally on the verge of disintegration, like a patient experiencing either "final lucidity" or "recovery from grave illness," now gradually restored balance.
Crack-covered crust slowly calmed, energy eruptions in the mantle were contained, planetary rotation and trajectory returned to stability.
Through warship observation screens, that shocking scene was clearly visible—
The planet had been constantly collapsing and tearing like a dying beast with broken, intermittent breathing, but under the matrix's power, its posture gradually calmed, pulled back to life's edge.
Within the fleet, many legion soldiers observed this scene.
Aboard the flagship, Sui Meng stood quietly at the command platform's center on the bridge.
His towering frame was clad in heavy armor, the armor's surface reflecting light from below, while his eyes beneath the helmet remained cold as ever.
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/Mutter
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.