Sol System, space near the Elysian Gate. Within the three-thousand-kilometer radius, the drifting grey substance generated over centuries by void ship passages had diminished by nearly half. The entire space appeared clearer.
Over fifteen days, the "Listener" had mastered the ability offered as bait by the unknown C'tan.
On this day, while "Listening," he heard entirely new content.
"I am the Silent Cry, Kalugura."
The "Listener" focused his thoughts, thinking to himself:
'The Silent Cry isn't one of the C'tan mentioned by Father.'
'Silent Cry and Siren's Dust are two terms that could be related.'
'Mortals touching Siren's Dust lose interest in other things, which could be seen as a form of silence.'
"I am the true god, the living embodiment of this universe."
"You shall go here. I shall bestow supreme power upon you there."
"You will free me. I shall traverse the galaxy, reuniting with my various parts."
As the "Listener" heard this, he felt as if stars shattered within him. Countless voices echoed in his ears.
"Hehe, a lost, pitiable being, presuming to call itself a god."
"It can grant you powerful strength. What will you do?"
"…"
As if hearing his thoughts, a majestic voice resounded in his ears.
"The Warp is mere illusion. I am the form and manifestation of existence in this universe."
"I am the Silent Cry, Kalugura. I am a C'tan. I am the tide of stars and time."
"I am a god, and you shall serve me. Free me!"
The "Listener" did not respond. He elevated to the third layer of the Thelema mindstate, making the voices in his ears vanish. He ceased "Listening."
Although "Listening" to the Silent Cry's voice granted him "Silent Ravings," the power bestowed by the Black Emperor was stronger.
"Silent Ravings" was the name he gave to the ability after learning the mysterious entity was the C'tan called Silent Cry.
More crucially, he would never betray the Black Emperor to become a slave of a C'tan shard.
Ramsey opened his eyes. He was astonished to see rows of fine particles spreading before him, forming an image.
He felt the pathway before him seemed familiar. After a moment of stunned silence, he realized it somewhat resembled star charts he recorded as a scribe.
'The Silent Cry manipulated the Siren's Dust to show me the star system where it is imprisoned.'
"What is that?"
A "Mystery Pryer" stared in astonishment at the void. The dust in the void arranged itself in bizarre, rapidly shifting patterns, forming an image, as if manipulated by a giant hand.
Ramsey offered no explanation but gave an order.
"Record it."
The Librarians simultaneously entered the first layer of Enumeration, etching the Siren's Dust-formed image into their minds.
As the grey substance scattered, beginning to drift again, Ramsey issued the command to cease.
He ordered all Librarians to sketch the star charts they saw. After comparing for accuracy, he ordered the return to the Shadow's Sovereignty.
Ramsey swiftly completed ritual preparations. After offering the sacrifice to the Black Emperor, he clasped his hands in an inverted grip, praying.
"My Lord, the unknown entity revealed its true identity to me."
Black mist swallowed Ramsey. When he regained his senses, he was in the mysterious realm.
Nareth sat upon the throne, questioning Ramsey.
"Who is it?"
"The Silent Cry, Kalugura."
Hearing Ramsey's answer, Nareth nodded slightly.
'The Silent Cry indeed has some similarity to Siren's Dust.'
'I recall the Silent Cry is special. After being shattered, the Silent King Szarekh decreed no Necron Dynasty could use it.'
'It was imprisoned on a planet. Later, that planet became an Imperial prison world called St. Atina's Penance. Future "Black Templars" warriors visited that world.'
As Nareth pondered, Ramsey produced a data slate.
"My Lord, the Silent Cry showed me the star chart leading to its imprisoned world. Please review."
Nareth's telekinesis extended, bringing the data slate before him. After browsing, he thought to himself.
'Not St. Atina's Penance.'
'The location where the escaped shard was sealed after the great battle at the Elysian Gate?'
After concluding, Nareth instructed.
"Record it in a data crystal."
Having confronted a Supreme C'tan directly, Nareth assessed his own strength. Currently, he lacked confidence to secure it.
Although also a Supreme C'tan, the Silent Cry might be considerably weaker than the Void Dragon, but it was still a powerful entity.
Data crystals produced by the Araneus Continuity and Crystal Mirage allowed the Shadows of Order to record all important information.
Star charts naturally belonged to important, high-value information, recorded and stored within the Librarium.
Nareth now had four confirmed assets awaiting acquisition.
He predicted the lowest difficulty to obtain, and most impactful for the Second Rangdan War, was the doomsday weapon on Vigilus, the Void Claw.
On Necromunda, the giant octopus worshipped by the fishmen. Although confident to deal with it, its immense size might cause ecological damage during combat. Nareth would act only when possessing the ability to kill it swiftly.
The two Supreme C'tan: the Silent Cry, whose location he just obtained, and the Void Dragon within the Ymga Monolith. Both were powerful. He currently lacked confidence.
Nareth reined in his thoughts, looking at the "Listener" before him. Seeing his unified dark crimson aura, he spoke.
"You have mastered the new power I bestowed. I am pleased."
Remaining at "Listener" for extended periods was dangerous. He required Ramsey's daily prayer reports to ensure his safety.
Now that Ramsey had digested the potion, he needn't worry.
"Later, I shall bestow new power upon you."
"Thank you, my Lord." Ramsey offered devout thanks, then reported. "My Lord, I named the ability obtained from the Silent Cry 'Silent Ravings.'"
"I wish to offer this ability to you."
"Begin." Nareth leaned back on the throne, speaking casually.
If in the real space, he would cautiously elevate to the second layer of the Thelema state. But within the Kingdom of Disorder, Ramsey using the ability posed no threat.
The "Listener" took a deep breath. His throat vibrated, emitting supernatural ravings.
Wind, chaotic, and irrational sounds echoed in Nareth's ears.
His thoughts froze, as if everything around him fell into silence. Because of this silence, he briefly lost consciousness.
Immediately, Nareth's consciousness recovered. Looking at the "Listener," he praised.
"An excellent ability. Against most enemies, it will be more useful than your biomancy."
"Perhaps even stronger than the ability I am about to bestow upon you. But your current spirituality can only sustain this ability briefly. You must grasp the timing for its use."
In Nareth's mind, he recalled the ravings just now.
'When a C'tan uses this power, it originates from its own essence.'
'When I or Ramsey use it, unlike the C'tan, we use spirituality to replicate and simulate this ability.'
'Though perhaps not as potent as when Kalugura, master of silence, wields it, it is still a powerful ability, even surpassing my current Sequence 6 level beyonder abilities.'
'Moreover, by continuously replaying it in my mind, I can master "Silent Ravings."'
"My Lord, I understand." Ramsey felt that in mere moments, his spirituality was exhausted.
He wasn't disheartened that "Silent Ravings" had no effect on the Black Emperor.
In his heart, the Black Emperor was the most powerful being.
Since the Black Emperor said "Silent Ravings" was a powerful ability, he held no doubt. He thought to himself.
'Powerful, but I can only use it briefly. Must use it at the right moment.'
After returning Ramsey to reality, Nareth proceeded to the first layered space.
He ordered the Jokaero to prepare the potion for Sequence 7 "Shadow Ascetic" using materials like Shadow Worms.
Moments later, Ramsey received a potion bottle.
The potion was black-red, reflecting numerous faces.
The faces seemed shrouded in shadow, indistinct.
As Ramsey drank the potion, advancing to "Shadow Ascetic," simultaneously, at the Martian starport.
Archmagos Arkhan Land boarded his ship.
Information sent back by the first Mechanicum members confirmed a perplexing truth.
The Squat League possessed numerous technologies similar to but more advanced than sacred Standard Template Constructs.
Land was heading to the Galactic Core to uncover its mysteries.
....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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