Samuel Young's gaze swept over these empty flesh shells that had lost their soul resonance, with neither joy nor sorrow in his eyes.
He turned his head and gave a deep command to Lion, who had been waiting quietly on the side, his voice restoring the Emperor's unique, unquestionable calmness and decisiveness: "Lion, order the accompanying Bio-Division to immediately and properly recover these leftover colonial tissues.
Utilize the most original human biological information they retain to begin cloning and cultivating healthy, normal human bodies.
These bodies will be the vessels prepared for those warriors who chose to return."
"As you will, Father."
Lion bowed and accepted the order without hesitation, and immediately transmitted this crucial task through the internal communication network.
"And, Lion."
Just as Lion accepted the order and was about to turn around to execute it, Samuel Young's voice sounded again.
This time, his tone was noticeably heavier, every syllable seemingly bearing a massive weight. The suppressed anger within was like magma surging beneath the crust; though un-erupted, it made the surrounding air stagnate and distort.
Those eyes, which had just calmed their golden light, were now as sharp as eternal ice, firmly locked onto his sons.
"Remember."
Samuel Young's voice was deep and slow, as if every word was squeezed through his teeth. "The culprit that caused the compatriots of our human race in this universe to endure such... desecration and suffering is the civilization named Qu."
He raised his hand and pointed at the remnants of the meat blanket, now completely dead after the souls were extracted, as if also pointing at the entire scarred galaxy.
"Their sins are too numerous to record.
In this galaxy, there must remain traces of their activities, their creations, and their filthy marks.
Based on current intelligence deductions, after completing this modification atrocity that swept the galaxy, they have highly likely already left this star sector, like rats that quietly slipped away after spreading a plague."
Samuel Young paused his words. That suppressed anger almost materialized into a physical coercion, causing all the Custodes and Honor Guards present to feel their breathing stifle.
"Find them."
Samuel Young's command was incredibly clear, carrying a cold killing intent. "No matter which corner of the universe they flee to, or what dark abyss they hide in, they must be dragged out! And then..."
A cold glint capable of extinguishing stars flashed in his eyes. "Exterminate.
Thoroughly erase them from the very foundation of existence.
I want this civilization, along with their abominable modification ideology, to disappear forever in the dust of time.
Understood?
It is extermination, tearing them out by the roots, leaving not a single one behind!"
Lion bowed deeply. He could clearly feel the monstrous anger surging beneath his Father's calm words.
This was not a momentary impulse, but the deepest and most absolute will of judgment erupting from the guardian of humanity when facing the ultimate suffering of his compatriots.
"Understood, Father." Lion's voice was as firm as steel. "Swearing upon the honor of the Dark Angels, this command will be fulfilled, making the Qu civilization pay their blood debt in blood."
Samuel Young nodded slightly, his anger retracting a bit, but his majesty undiminished: "I will remain in this universe and oversee things here.
But the command of the integration war remains in your hands. You are still the Warmaster of this operation, and there is no need to have any concerns or hesitations because of my presence.
I only have this one request—
As quickly as possible!
At all costs and with the highest efficiency, thoroughly exterminate all the Qu for me."
"Yes!"
Lion responded resonantly once again.
Having finished his instructions, Samuel Young said no more and simply waved his hand.
The four Primarchs—Lion, Mortarion, Perturabo, and Curze—simultaneously bowed to their Father, and then led their respective Honor Guards with heavy footsteps, sequentially boarding the transport crafts waiting nearby.
The cabin doors slowly closed, and the engines started, spewing scorching airflows that propelled these steel giant birds to break free from the gravitational pull of Grum IV. They ascended toward the massive fleet cluster in orbit, preparing to execute the Emperor's edict filled with destructive will.
Watching his sons leave, Samuel Young pulled his attention back to the present.
Through the communication link of his power armor, he directly contacted the accompanying Imperial Bio-Division. His voice returned to that calmness of controlling everything, yet carried an urgency that allowed no delay: "Accelerate the recovery progress of the leftover colonial tissues. At the same time, mobilize all resources to speed up the cultivation of clone bodies based on the biological information of these tissues with the highest priority.
I need a sufficient number of healthy, complete human physical bodies."
A response quickly came from the other end of the communication: "Following Your Majesty's decree! The recovery teams are already operating. The exclusive biological research fleet and mobile clone factories are rushing at full speed to your coordinates. They are expected to arrive and commence full operations within half a standard time unit."
Ending the communication, Samuel Young stood tall on this land where desolation and rebirth intertwined, gazing profoundly into the distance.
He could sense that those souls who chose to return were waiting in the Heavenly Domain, and granting them a true second life would be a delicate and grand undertaking.
To be able to perform soul extraction, pacification, and precise anchoring to new bodies on such a massive scale and with such high efficiency...
Samuel Young spoke silently in his heart, noting that currently within the Empire, apart from him, only Magnus was capable of handling this relatively safely. Of course, Lorgar...
Thinking of that son who focused on spreading and amending the doctrines of the Imperial Cult, a trace of approval flashed in Samuel Young's mind. His subtlety and proficiency in the use of psionics was second only to Magnus among the Primarchs.
If he were here, he could also share a lot of the burden.
However, at the thought of the root cause of all this tragedy, that forcibly suppressed fury became restless once again.
This species, the Qu...
A hint of near-destructive desire flashed in Samuel Young's eyes.
Not only did he want them to perish, he even desired to personally crush them to death.
To let them personally experience what it felt like to be modified and disposed of amidst the most extreme fear and pain.
The biological modification technology level demonstrated by the Qu civilization was extremely high, and their individuals seemed to possess the innate ability to cross interstellar space in the flesh, which was extremely rare among known universal lifeforms.
Evaluated from a strategic level, they indeed counted as a very formidable race.
No wonder Tinas had reminded him that the aliens or heretics faced in the 22nd Universe could be considered strong enemies.
But compared to the power the Human Empire of the main universe now possessed, the Qu were, at best, a strong enemy that needed to be taken seriously, but far from being a true challenge.
And these compatriots transformed into colonies before his eyes, their star system had once successfully repelled two large-scale invasions by the Qu civilization, only falling in the third attempt.
This in itself proved that human technology in this universe once possessed the capability to confront the Qu head-on and even secure victories, rather than being completely powerless.
The reason the Qu civilization ultimately defeated the human defenders of this star system was mainly due to their unimaginable mobility and speed, which far exceeded humanity's understanding at the time.
Presumably, they utilized ultra-high-speed harassment, cutting, and encirclement, like executing a kite-flying tactic, exhausting the defenders' defensive resources and counterattack forces, ultimately leading to the collapse of the defense lines.
However, the Human Empire of the main universe, setting aside his overly heaven-defying existence, also possessed the power to reshape
the ecology and physical rules of the entire galaxy.
How could the technological level and destructive philosophy involved in ultimate weapons capable of rebooting the galaxy like the Halo Array be matched by the Qu civilization's tech tree, which was confined to biological modification and high-speed mobility?
The crimes of the Qu civilization must be repaid with their thorough extinction.
But before that, there were more important things to do.
Samuel Young prepared to allow all human compatriots in this universe who had suffered the Qu civilization's poisoning and were still struggling in misery to obtain true liberation and happiness.
This would be his promise, as well as his salvation.
He would personally reclaim those
twisted and imprisoned souls, liberate them from endless pain, and then grant them the right to choose.
Whether to stay in the forever peaceful Heavenly Domain, wash away their memories to step into a brand-new cycle of reincarnation, or bearing clear memories and the desire for a new life, regain complete and healthy human bodies to witness the downfall of their enemies and embrace their lost-and-found dignity and lives.
And the Empire and his wrath would be brought as destruction by his sons; the Empire's mercy and power would pass through his hands to soothe the deepest scars in this galaxy...
With the transmission of his will and the issuance of his commands, deep within the Imperial Palace of the main universe, the temporary attribution of the Golden Throne, which maintained the balance and stability of countless dimensions, also required arrangements.
Samuel Young's psionic power crossed the boundaries of universes, and an incredibly clear edict echoed directly in the depths of Magnus's mind.
Without needing much explanation, that Primarch, who was well-versed in psionic mysteries and possessed the most profound knowledge, already understood his Father's will and temporary entrustment.
The Primarch bowed slightly to signify his acceptance of the order.
Not long after, he sat upright upon the Golden Throne, which contained endless power and responsibility, taking his Father's place to temporarily shoulder the heavy burden of maintaining the stability of the Empire's core.
With Magnus holding the fort, Samuel Young could focus on the salvation and conquest of the 22nd Universe before him without any worries behind him.
As for the universe of Half-Life 2 designated as Number 21, the development of the situation had already entered the right track, and there was no need for Samuel Young to divert his energy to pay excessive attention to it.
According to the combat reports and intelligence summaries regularly sent back by Vulkan, Leon, and others, the joint operation between the Salamanders Legion and the Investigation Division was progressing smoothly.
Not only had they successfully stabilized the situation on Earth, but more crucially, they had found the exact spatial coordinates leading to the dimension where the Combined Empire was located, as well as a preliminary physical constant model, from the mouths of captured high-ranking Combined Empire officials and the decrypted database.
The relevant cross-dimensional strike plans were being intensely formulated and rehearsed, and the massive fleets and war machines were undergoing final assembly and adjustments.
It was expected that after fifteen standard Earth days, a full-scale offensive embodying the wrath of the Human Empire would crash through the dimensional barriers of the Combined Empire like a bursting flood, delivering a devastating blow to those who attached themselves to alien rulers and their accomplices.
The situation on Earth-21 itself had also tended toward stability.
The Bio-Division purification troops belonging to the Salamanders were sweeping the various alien creatures entrenched in the city ruins and wilderness with extremely high efficiency. Surviving civilians were systematically settled and rescued, and a new order was firmly being rebuilt upon the ruins.
However, the reports still lacked the whereabouts of someone who could be considered a key figure to Samuel Young—
That legendary Doctor Gordon Freeman, who wielded the holy sword of physics and had repeatedly created miracles.
There were no reliable sighting reports or clues.
Samuel Young was well aware of this.
It seemed that the mysterious existence hiding behind the scenes, jokingly referred to as the G-Man by Samuel Young and the players of his pre-transmigration world, still chose to detain Doctor Freeman in some unknown alternate spacetime after observing such a forceful intervention from the Human Empire.
The G-Man seemed to be plotting something or waiting for a specific timing.
However, in Samuel Young's view, no matter what purpose the G-Man had or what dimensional technology he possessed, he could not stir up any decisive waves in the face of the Human Empire's absolute power today.
Samuel Young's grand aspiration was to allow all human compatriots sharing the same blood across parallel universes to break free from the shackles of oppression and suffering, and pursue and possess happy lives according to their own wills.
This was a salvation that transcended a single universe and belonged to the entire human race collectively.
If the G-Man was sensible enough not to interfere with the Empire's grand integration undertaking, Samuel Young might temporarily ignore his existence.
But if the other party dared to intervene, attempting to hinder humanity from gaining their rightful happiness and dignity in any form, then Samuel Young absolutely wouldn't mind casually exterminating this secretive existence, along with the entire civilization or dimension that might exist behind him, from the map of the multiverse once he finished clearing the primary targets.
The Empire's mercy was limited only to compatriots and absolute submitters; for enemies, there was only thorough purification.
Temporarily suppressing these complicated thoughts, Samuel Young gathered all his focus back onto the current 22nd Universe.
His vast psionic perception had already captured that a massive Imperial Bio-Division fleet, consisting of dozens of special ships, had completed its warp jump and entered the low orbit of the planet Grum IV.
These ships were not meant for combat; their streamlined designs, various biological incubation pods, environment simulation units, and precise scanning arrays indicated their pure scientific research and medical missions.
Now, it was the moment for him to fulfill his promise.
Since the Qu civilization had used their blasphemous wisdom and cruel art to twist his cherished human compatriots into various inhuman forms, then now, it would be up to him, the Emperor of humanity, to personally correct all these wrongs.
This was not just a display of power, but also a defense of the dignity of life, the most direct response to the suffering of his compatriots.
He would personally heal these scars and reshape the twisted forms back into the glory humanity rightfully deserved.
Meanwhile, aboard the Invincible Truth.
Lion stood before a massive star map, listening to the intelligence officer's urgent report.
The efficiency of the Dark Angels and their brother legions was extremely high. During the time the Emperor personally visited Grum IV, they conducted in-depth scanning and reverse-engineering analysis on multiple giant pyramid-like structures left by the Qu civilization within the galaxy.
"Warmaster."
A Techmarine clad in a red robe gave the report, "Through traceability analysis of the energy residues inside the pyramids and the calculation of their structural directionality, combined with fragmented information from partially damaged logs, we have made a major discovery.
All signs point to the same conclusion—the main force of the Qu civilization, after completing their modification engineering in the major human settlement areas within the galaxy, migrated and left the galaxy entirely about 0.3 standard millennial cycles ago."
The star map shifted accordingly, zooming out to the scale of the Local Group.
A slightly blurry trajectory line formed by countless light spots extended from the tip of the galaxy's spiral arm, crossing the vast, void intergalactic space, and ultimately pointing toward another slightly sparse cluster of stars.
"Their final destination, based on trajectory calculations and comparisons with star map fragments built into the pyramids, has a 99.8%
probability of being the Triangulum Galaxy (M33), about three million light-years away from the Milky Way."
Lion's gaze instantly became incomparably sharp, like a male lion locking onto its prey.
The Triangulum Galaxy, three million light-years...
This distance was a despairing chasm for civilizations that had not yet mastered faster-than-light technology, but for the Imperial fleets possessing mature FTL engines, it was an expedition that required careful planning but was still executable.
Without any hesitation, Lion, in his capacity as the Warmaster, issued a clear, cold command to the four legion fleets: "Order: Dark Angels, Dusk Raiders, Iron Warriors, Night Lords. All legion frontline combat vessels, especially Imperator-class and Imperial-class capital ships, immediately check warp engine status, replenish dark matter energy, and enter maximum combat readiness!
Target, the Triangulum Galaxy!
We shall cross the sea of stars and execute the Emperor's edict of purification!"
His voice transmitted through the communication network, echoing across the bridge of every warship, stirring the minds of every warrior.
"At the same time!" he added, "Each legion will detach a portion of company-level ships to form search fleets and continue meticulous sweeps within the Milky Way galaxy.
Our mission is not only to destroy the enemy but also to search for human compatriots who might survive or be suffering in other forms, ensuring not a single subject of the Emperor is left behind.
Now, execute the orders."
The massive Imperial war machine began to operate efficiently once again.
Thousands of capital ships began to adjust their postures. The new models of warp engines started charging, and deep blue energy vortices gradually formed and expanded in front of their bows, preparing to swallow these steel behemoths bearing the wrath of humanity and rush to the battlefield of vengeance three million light-years away...
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