Chapter 457: Restart the Stargate! Parallel World! Ten Thousand Years Later!
According to the established trajectory of the Warhammer universe, once the Great Crusade ends, Horus will inevitably fall into corruption under a series of influences, ultimately launching the Horus Heresy.
The newly reborn Imperium of Man collapses once again.
But with the emergence of the Universal Megacorp, that trajectory was forcibly bent back toward the better path. Even the wicked Chaos Daemons and Dark Gods of the Warp were forced to retreat into their own lairs, their influence upon the material realm drastically diminished.
Originally, Li Ang had intended to completely eradicate the threat lurking within the Warp. Yet now, with the Warhammer universe already tending toward stability, employing the Aether Resonance Engine to drain the Warp could trigger disasters no one could predict.
Still, Li Ang wished to extend his reach into the Warp, to reduce the cost of governing the Warhammer universe. After all, the constant preparation of supplies and troops to guard against daemonic incursions was no small expenditure.
If he could install one of his own "deities" within the Warp—just as he had manipulated Amon and Kerrigan in the StarCraft universe—then vast resources could be saved.
Only magic can defeat magic. By the same logic, only a god can oppose the Dark Gods.
But to manufacture a new deity within the Warhammer universe and send it to contend with the Ruinous Powers was fraught with risks far too great—even the Emperor himself could not guarantee success.
Thus, they required experiments. And experiments demanded the proper environment. Since this timeline was unsuitable, they would open a "copy" of the Warhammer universe—its parallel worlds—to use as testing grounds.
They would travel to the timeline after the Horus Heresy, when the Emperor was bound to the Golden Throne, and install a god upon that seat!
The first step is always the hardest. But if they succeeded even once, then the Megacorp could thereafter place its own gods into the Warp, balancing the four Chaos Powers.
From then on, even the Chaos Gods themselves would become employees of the Megacorp. What were so-called "evil gods" but higher-dimensional entities addicted to emotions? Feed them a controlled amount now and then, and they would not be unmanageable.
When Emperor heard Song Zhaomei's proposal, his expression showed undisguised shock. He was certain now—Li Ang, the Megacorp's Supreme Executive, was a man with an extreme lust for control.
To orchestrate deities and manipulate the very balance of the Warp? Such a notion had never crossed his mind. It was utterly inconceivable.
"So you mean… next, we are to enter another Warhammer parallel universe, one where Chaos daemons run rampant, and seek out a means to seize control of the Warp's balance?"
The Emperor summarized Song Zhaomei's instructions in his own words. After a moment of deep thought, he realized: if this worked, it truly could achieve control over the Warp at the lowest possible cost.
The Warp was not entirely evil. There were benevolent entities as well. The problem was simply that the Dark Gods vastly outweighed the so-called "good gods." If a champion could be placed in the vanguard, there was hope the scales might be tipped.
How does one rule at the lowest cost for the greatest return? By ensuring there are loyal agents both in light and in shadow.
Illicit dealings are not impossible—but they must remain beneath the watchful eye of authority, never disrupting the order. As long as all obey the rules, there will always be bread on the table.
"Correct. That is exactly what our Supreme Executive intends."
Song Zhaomei nodded. She had to admit, the Emperor was perceptive. Though he had long dwelt in the feudal-medieval Warhammer universe, his ability to grasp the heart of a problem remained sharp.
Times may change, but wisdom is universal.
The Emperor fell silent, lost in thought.
Truthfully, he had considered apotheosis himself—becoming a god to stand against the Four—but the cost was unbearable. Without a wise leader, humanity would still be doomed to ruin.
Thus, unless forced to the brink, the Emperor would not ascend lightly.
"…Very well. Let's do it."
The Emperor gave his assent. He too wished to see what the Warhammer parallel worlds were like, and what fate awaited humanity in those alternate histories.
---
Main Universe, Ideal City.
Li Ang reviewed reports arriving from across the myriad worlds and finally allowed himself a breath of relief. These days, besides watching over the Warhammer universe, he had been tracking the progress of many others.
On Pandora, Eywa had advanced with the times, guiding the Na'vi into developing a technological civilization. These lithe and agile warriors now contributed their own strength to the Megacorp.
In the Pacific Rim universe, the Jaegers had evolved to heights of two hundred meters, their agility drastically improved. Though their use cases were limited, their popularity among humanity was unmatched.
Among the Megacorp's many intellectual properties, Jaegers now stood shoulder to shoulder with Transformers as the hottest brand of the era.
Meanwhile, under Lady Jessica's intensive exploitation, the spice melange of the Dune universe had become the most expensive, sought-after psionic resource across all worlds.
By contrast, the StarCraft universe's vespene gas, still plagued with side effects, lagged behind in price and sales. Yet even so, countless cash-strapped buyers scrambled for it as a cheaper substitute for spice.
Such was the prosperity under Li Ang's dominion. Some pursued the perfection of the flesh, others longed for cybernetic ascension, and still others dreamed of immortality.
"Boss, this is a risk assessment from Director Jack Wells. He judges the Warhammer universe stable enough now—we can launch the next multiversal unification campaign at any time."
At that moment, Lucy entered with a front-line report.
From saving Magnus from corruption, to steering Horus back from the brink, to seizing control of the Imperium through the New Navigators' project—
not to mention recruiting the Emperor himself into the Megacorp's service—none of it could have been achieved without Li Ang's intricate, strategic maneuvering.
Now, the Warhammer universe was nearly consolidated. The next conquest lay just ahead.
"I see."
Li Ang responded briefly. His attention was not yet on the next universe. Until the Warp was dealt with, he would not be at ease expanding further.
Seeing his lack of interest, Lucy made a note to relay this back to Jack Wells later.
"Boss, the Emperor has been in the Science Nexus for nearly three months. You really don't intend to meet him?"
Lucy finally asked the question directly.
Everyone knew the Emperor had long sought an audience with Li Ang. But Li Ang deliberately withheld it. Lucy feared such delay would spark resentment.
With his influence, the Emperor could at any time reclaim the Warhammer universe the Megacorp had so carefully consolidated.
"The right people will always meet at the right time. There's no need to rush."
Li Ang smiled. He trusted the Emperor deeply. If the Megacorp lacked a vice president, that position could only belong to him.
For his ability, wisdom, and moral integrity were worthy of such a throne.
But no matter how great a man, true transformation of fate and station required repeated trials.
Just as Sun Wukong had to endure exile, apprenticeship, humiliation, divine punishment, and finally eighty-one tribulations to achieve enlightenment—so too must the Emperor undergo many tests before ascending to his destined place.
From resilience under strain to adaptability in crisis, Li Ang meant to examine it all.
Especially now, as the Emperor was about to venture into a parallel Warhammer universe—one that was nothing less than a hell without respite.
"Send word to V and Morgan Blackhand: tell them to prepare in advance for the next unification campaign."
Already, Li Ang sensed it—
the next universe they would enter would be the most perilous yet.
And the one closest to the ultimate truth.
"Yes, sir." Lucy acknowledged, then turned and left.
---
Elsewhere, Science Nexus.
"Your Majesty, the Stargate is about to activate."
Led by Alt Cunningham and Dr. Halsey, the research teams assembled before the Emperor. After countless experiments, they had finally located the optimal parallel timeline of the Warhammer universe.
As he gazed at these brilliant, tireless scientists, the Emperor felt both admiration and a tinge of envy.
The Megacorp's technological power dwarfed the Martian Mechanicus.
More scientific, more advanced by orders of magnitude.
Those madmen of Mars, those zealots of the Omnissiah, so often gambled with blind faith—forcing new creations into existence through little more than blood-fervor and sheer "I reckon" energy.
Sometimes such methods could lead to unexpected creations, but far more often, the Martian Mechanicus wasted their time tinkering with useless trinkets.
Within the scientific nexus of the Megacorp, however, every line of research followed a rigorous process, precise and methodical. Here, efficiency was everything, and every effort was bent toward extracting the maximum result.
The speed at which the Universal Megacorp climbed its technological tree owed no small debt to the contributions of this department.
"Yes, I am ready. We can begin whenever you wish." The Emperor gave a slight nod. Though he had witnessed countless monumental events, traveling through parallel universes was a first even for him. Inevitably, a trace of unease lingered in his heart.
"Very well, begin."
At Alt Cunningham's order, the AI systems controlling the Star Gate responded instantly. The colossal spacetime engine roared to life, and in an instant, a tunnel of time tore open across the nearby starfield.
[Warhammer Parallel Universe — Transition Zone: M30 to M41.]
The Infinite Machine announced the designated temporal coordinates. Their destination this time was a Warhammer universe set ten millennia later—a parallel realm where all existence boiled and churned, where life and death intertwined in ceaseless torment.
[Warp-Field Projector Active. Protective effect stable.]
To shield the Universal Megacorp's personnel from corruption by the warp-spawned horrors of that universe, Alt Cunningham had prepared the most powerful and reliable warp-field generator ever constructed.
This voyage was fraught with danger, yet they were determined to succeed.
The Emperor kept a wary watch on his surroundings. The instant the warp-field projector faltered, he was prepared to intervene personally, to hold back any warp entities that might attempt to push through the gate.
Half an hour passed. The barrier still held, unbroken. No incident occurred. Slowly, the Emperor allowed the tension in his mind to ease.
The technology of the Universal Megacorp, it seemed, was indeed trustworthy. This warp-field was strong—its boundaries pushed the sea of the Immaterium a full 0.01 light years away.
"From here, it's up to you." Alt Cunningham's eyes turned to the Emperor. They would not follow him into the heart of this parallel universe.
Only select AI assistants would accompany him to record data, along with a handful of researchers to provide support. Even the vessel entrusted to the Emperor was no grand warship, but merely a five-hundred-meter-long cutter.
"Understood."
The Emperor boarded the ship. In truth, curiosity burned within him—what shape would this alternate Warhammer universe take? If there was no Imperium of Man, would humanity truly fare so poorly?
Was mankind forever doomed to fall without his guiding hand?
Carrying these thoughts, the Emperor crossed the Star Gate aboard the cutter. Behind him, Ideal City vanished into nothing, replaced by the Infinity dark of unfamiliar stars.
…
Warhammer 40,000 Parallel Universe
"Almost there."
A massive vessel surged across the void at blistering speed. At its command throne sat none other than the Archmagos Dominus of the Adeptus Mechanicus—Belisarius Cawl himself.
Archmagos was the highest rank of the Mechanicus priesthood, and Cawl had held it for ten thousand years. In the aftermath of the Horus Heresy, he had borne two sacred charges:
First, to devise a way to resurrect the Primarch Roboute Guilliman.
Second, to create the Primaris Space Marines, and restore the Imperium to its former glory.
Now, he was on the verge of completing the first.
Before him lay the task of reviving the greatest son of the Emperor, Lord of Macragge, Primarch of the Ultramarines—Roboute Guilliman himself.
Cawl worked calmly at the command dais. His hands did not scramble across switches and dials—instead, he murmured in the binary cant, his voice resonating in Machine-Litanies that strengthened the systems of the ship.
The pleased resonance of the ship's machine-spirit drove the engines ever faster, accelerating to near-light speeds. With this method, Cawl ensured he would reach his destination quickly, where the Ultramarines still guarded their fallen Primarch's body.
Guilliman was not dead. Not entirely.
In this universe, during the cataclysm of the Horus Heresy ten millennia past, the Warmaster had brought his corrupted brothers against Terra. Amid the slaughter, Guilliman had faced the debased Fulgrim, who drove the Blade of Slaanesh through his throat.
The wound was mortal, its blade tainted with corruption that threatened not only flesh but also soul. Only the Emperor's psychic intervention preserved Guilliman's spirit from being consumed.
His body, near death, was borne back to Macragge by his sons. There they sealed him within a stasis field, sustained by that field and by the prototype "Armor of Fate" Cawl had crafted.
For ten thousand years Guilliman had slumbered. Now, at last, Cawl had discovered a way to awaken him.
"Let us pray our efforts are not in vain."
At that moment, a slender figure approached—Yvraine, emissary of the Aeldari, her expression shadowed with worry.
"If this fails, the galaxy itself will burn in the furnace of Chaos. We have witnessed too many worlds already drowned in fire, too many souls extinguished."
Yvraine was the leader of the Ynnari, the faction devoted to awakening the long-slumbering Eldar god of the dead, Ynnead. Under her command, the Reborn formed the most battle-hardened of their kind.
To stand here, beside a human Archmagos—such a sight would have been unthinkable in the days of the Great Crusade. But these were no longer those times. Common cause bound them now.
Yvraine's quest for Ynnead required the shattered fragments of the Croneswords. Yet in gathering them, she inevitably drew the ire of the Chaos Gods' legions. To survive such trials, she needed powerful allies.
And who better than a resurrected Guilliman?
If he rose again, the Ultramarines would rise with him—and Chaos would at last find its advance checked. That alone could buy the Aeldari a chance at survival.
"We have no choice," Cawl said simply. "To remain passive is to invite Infinity torment at the hands of the Ruinous Powers. Even if we fail, I accept the cost."
He fell silent after that. Soon they would reach Macragge. Soon, science and sorcery alike would be tested. His armor would preserve Guilliman's flesh. Yvraine's necromantic gift would recall his spirit.
"May this journey not be in vain." Yvraine's words faded to a whisper. Standing beside the towering, machine-wrought form of Belisarius Cawl, her lithe Eldar frame seemed fragile. Beautiful and alien, she was a living temptation to the Prince of Excess, a reminder of her people's eternal curse.
It was precisely this torment—the Infinity hunger of Slaanesh—that had driven the Aeldari to such desperate measures.
Mankind longed to drive back the Chaos legions and reclaim their Imperium. The Aeldari longed to steal their souls back from damnation. Two peoples, one desperate gamble.
[Explorator Ark "Zar Quaesitor " approaching Mandeville Point. Transition imminent. Expect turbulence.]
The deep, resonant voice of the acting shipmaster rolled across the vox.
The Zar-Quaesitor was Cawl's flagship and mobile laboratory—a vast fusion of cargo-ark and forge-ship, capable of carrying whole armies.
Though it lacked the advanced artificial intelligences banned by the Mechanicus, Cawl had devised his own hybrid network—a lattice of minds bound through the communion of Tech-Priests. In its own way, it was not unlike AI.
Boom. Boom-boom—!
The deck quaked violently. The ship plunged through the Mandeville Point. Once, twice, leaping forward toward Macragge.
Yet scars marked its hull. Chaos warbands had ambushed them during the voyage, and the Zar-Quin, no vessel of war, had paid the price. It had survived, but damaged.
Thus the jolts of translation now rattled its bones as it neared the end of its journey.
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