Countless clones deployed their powerful forcefields, completely isolating this area from the rest of the Warp.
The golden radiance of the power armor on Ian's body began to dim. The golden light on the surface receded like flowing water, revealing the deep, profound Infinity Armor beneath—a set of gear that seemed to contain the secrets of the entire universe.
He extended his hand, and the Sword of the Cosmos slowly materialized in his grip. Countless stars circulated along the blade, reflecting a literal universe. In his left hand, the Ultimate Star floated quietly, emitting an indescribable fluctuation of energy.
Then, Ian began to release his infinite power.
This power transcended understanding and boundaries, rapidly infecting and spreading throughout the entire Warhammer universe. This was the first time Ian had unreservedly displayed his true power since obtaining the Avaritia and Equivalent Exchange expansion modules.
At this very moment, his mere existence exerted a profound influence on this universe, and his 'weight' within its reality skyrocketed. Simply by standing there, his interference with the world surpassed the sum of all biological entities in the history of the Warhammer universe.
Directly across from him, Tzeentch's ever-shifting form froze for an instant. The Master of Change clearly perceived the terrifying force that could crush everything and reshape reality.
Panic—an emotion that almost never appeared on the face of the Architect of Fate—was now laid bare.
As Ian's power fully unfurled, the Tzeentch of this universe felt its own power being stripped away. It wasn't being suppressed; rather, its power was melting away like snow in the sun. Tzeentch's vision, which could see through countless futures, suddenly collapsed. Tens of millions of fate-threads that had previously existed were forcibly twisted and merged by an irresistible force.
All possibilities, all variables, and all conspiracies were collapsing into a single outcome. Tzeentch could not see the final image clearly, but sensing the vast, boundless power radiating from Ian—a power as immense as the universe itself—it could guess.
In that singular ending, the victor would absolutely not be the Chaos Gods.
However, not all Dark Gods felt fear like Tzeentch. In sharp contrast to Tzeentch's rapid decline, the power of Nurgle and Khorne had actually shown a significant increase since Ian's arrival in the Warhammer universe.
Nurgle—the ancient Dark God who governed disease, decay, death, and corruption, while simultaneously holding the power of life and cycles. His power was rooted in the cycle of birth and death within the universe. Ian's descent and the subsequent Great Crusade had indeed brought unprecedented death as countless lives withered in war. But this had also spurred the growth of many powerful lifeforms. The expansion of the Ultramarines and the stimulation of human potential caused Nurgle's power to grow amidst the intertwining of death and rebirth. He felt this power and let out a satisfied grunt.
Khorne, meanwhile, felt as if he were bathing in a fresh spring. His power was growing wildly, almost out of control. Because of Ian's support, the entire Imperium of Man was mobilized on an unprecedented scale. A grand war sweeping the entire galaxy was underway. Its scale was so vast and its intensity so terrifying that it surpassed any previous era.
Blood! Skulls! War! Never had a war been so bountiful and delicious. Khorne's domain was boiling.
Yet, beneath this ecstasy of wild growth, deep within Khorne's heart lay a trace of indescribable anxiety. He was not stupid. He realized that this current explosion of power was like draining a pond to catch the fish or drinking poison to quench thirst. This power came from the Imperium's war of unification. Once the Imperium completely unified the galaxy and wiped out all xenos and Chaos, wars in the universe would become scarce—perhaps even non-existent.
At that time, deprived of the nourishment of war, his power would inevitably plummet. He would surely become a lamb to the slaughter. This brief, unprecedented strength felt more like a Damocles sword hanging over his head, making him restless.
The most shocking change, however, occurred within the Slaanesh of the prime universe. Her original form was ineffable, a body fused from the twisted desires of countless sentient beings. She was the Dark God of extreme pleasure and indulgent ruin. Every soul could glimpse its deepest cravings within her. Consequently, her true self was a jumbled, indescribable mess.
But now, everything was different.
The moment Ian's boundless power was fully unleashed, Slaanesh's form underwent a fundamental transformation. The twisted tissues on her body retracted, and the chaotic light and shadow condensed, becoming closer and closer to a specific form. A... human form.
Ultimately, those mutated features almost completely vanished. All that remained were a pair of twitching animal ears and a fluffy tail. Her face was now exquisite beyond compare, her figure graceful and alluring. Every detail seemed as if it were designed to cater to the aesthetic of a specific supreme being.
Simultaneously, Slaanesh could clearly feel an unprecedented amount of power wildly flooding into her body. Her strength was skyrocketing at a speed that far surpassed Khorne or Nurgle.
The reason was simple: Ian's existence and his influence on the universe's reality now outweighed the sum of all things past and present. Therefore, his will and his preferences were silently reshaping reality. Over ninety percent of Slaanesh's current image was derived directly from Ian's subconscious preferences.
The reason Khorne and Nurgle's power hadn't changed as drastically was twofold: first, Ian did not view the current standoff as a 'battle'—a crushing game doesn't count as combat. Second, Ian's essence—originating from the blocky world—meant he wasn't fully defined by the biological rules of this universe. Does a block man even count as a biological organism?
A flash of realization crossed Slaanesh's soul-capturing eyes. She understood. She understood completely.
In the next instant, without hesitation, her silhouette blurred. She blinked through space and appeared directly behind Ian. Her soft arms wrapped around Ian's neck, her entire body clinging to his back like a vine in an intimate, daring, and seductive posture.
Slaanesh, the Dark God of extreme pleasure and corruption, had surrendered without a fight! One could even say she had proactively defected!
Ian, who had fully released his power, realized the reason for Slaanesh's change in the blink of an eye. Sensing the warm, soft touch against his back and looking at this 'Slaanesh' who perfectly matched—and even exceeded—his own aesthetic, a playful smile curled on his lips.
He did not hesitate, nor was he polite. Under the gazes of the Emperor and the other eleven Dark Gods—eyes filled with shock, bewilderment, and disbelief—Ian tossed the Ultimate Star with his left hand to hover above his head, then reached out to wrap his arm around Slaanesh's slender waist, pulling her into his embrace.
Then, he raised the Sword of the Cosmos held in his right hand. The blade pointed directly at the remaining eleven Dark Gods of the Warp.
"Speak! How do you want to die?"