After finishing the system details that required meticulous refinement for the official version, Medici's consciousness hovered slightly in the creation space, like a magician about to reveal the final mystery.
The "Death Hive City" in the advancement round had demonstrated the darkness and grandeur of the Warhammer universe, but in his heart, the most core, most iconic symbol of that universe (the sharpest and heaviest blade) had not yet truly been unsheathed.
It was time.
The finals stage needed an explosive point that could ignite everything.
It needed to let those audiences who had already grown accustomed to Servitors, Genestealers, and even Titans experience another entirely different kind of shock, one stemming from humanity's own limits, a perfect fusion of the sacred and the violent.
"Cortana, retrieve the gene-seed database, initiate the 'Angel' protocol."
Medici's voice echoed through the space, carrying a solemnity approaching ritual.
On the light screen, the folder representing "Adeptus Astartes" lit up, and countless encrypted data streams began unlocking and reorganizing.
The first thing that came into view was not combat models, but complex biological transformation flowcharts, neural interface diagrams, and power armor structural analyses.
"The Emperor's Angels... the ultimate sublimation of the human form."
Medici murmured softly, his gaze sweeping across the data.
He didn't plan to throw out all the Chapters at once in the finals. That would be too bloated.
What he needed was the most classic, most representative symbol that could best embody the Astartes' "superhuman" qualities and tragic heroic colors.
"Selection: Ultramarines Chapter."
He made his decision.
Blue armor, golden insignia, synonymous with discipline and tactics, the most "standard" and widely known Astartes image in Imperial propaganda. Most suitable as the "calling card" for their debut.
Next was the map setting.
For the Astartes' debut, the opponent couldn't be too weak, or it wouldn't demonstrate their power; nor could too many other xenos forces be revealed too early, lest the focus be diluted.
Medici pondered briefly, and an enemy most entangled with the Astartes in the Warhammer universe, with the greatest dramatic tension, surfaced in his mind.
"Map name: Sisyphus III."
"Background: The planetary governor has openly declared secession from the Imperium and brazenly displayed worship of so-called 'new gods.' Signs indicate he has completely turned toward the dark powers of the Warp. This is an open betrayal and corruption."
"Astartes side: A tactical strike company belonging to the Ultramarines Chapter, totaling 20 battle-brothers. They are not aboard a dedicated battle barge, but rather traveling on a converted, relatively low-profile fast vessel, executing a covert decapitation and purification mission."
"Mission objectives: Intelligence indicates the traitors are establishing blasphemous altars across the planet, attempting to perform a large-scale ritual to tear the veil of reality and trigger a massive Warp entity invasion."
"The Astartes company's mission is to destroy all major altars with the speed of thunder before the ritual is completed, and purify the core traitors. The mortal traitor forces and possible Chaos cultists on the planet are assessed as 'secondary obstacles.'"
Medici rapidly constructed the scenario: an industrial world that from orbit appeared shrouded in ominous dark red psychic mist, its surface faintly revealing twisted spires that violated Imperial architectural aesthetics.
The Astartes vessel like a silent dagger, quietly cutting into planetary orbit, twenty blue figures silently awaiting in drop pods, their helmet lenses flickering with cold blue light.
"Gameplay specifics."
Medici began setting the core rules, which would differ from all previous modes.
Player Count and Lives: Only 10 players may play as Adeptus Astartes (the other 10 slots filled by advanced AI to ensure squad completeness).
Each player character has only one backup life (i.e., after a maximum of one death, that character is permanently removed from this battle). This simulates the preciousness of Astartes and the extreme danger of the mission.
No Massive Armies: No Servitor seas, no infantry tides. The Astartes are the army themselves. They operate in elite squads (players can temporarily team up, but there's no fixed chain of command).
Superhuman Attributes: Players will experience physical capabilities far exceeding ordinary soldiers: greater strength (capable of tearing light armor with bare hands, moving heavy objects), faster speed and reaction (short-distance burst sprints, rapid targeting), higher damage resistance (power armor provides comprehensive protection, nearly immune to light weapons), and special sensory and tactical equipment (low-light vision, motion tracking, various grenades and special ammunition).
Tactical Core: Gameplay will heavily emphasize squad coordination, environmental utilization, lightning assaults, and precision decapitation.
Players need to leverage their superhuman qualities for high-speed maneuvers, vertical climbing, wall-breaching entries, destroying key targets before enemies can react, then quickly withdrawing or advancing.
Frontal confrontation with large armies is not optimal (though they are indeed capable of doing so briefly); wit and a quick resolution are the Astartes' way.
"As for their opponents..."
A cold arc curved at the corner of Medici's lips as he paused further refinement of the Astartes side.
Chaos.
This enemy, sharing the same roots as the Astartes yet having walked toward a completely opposite abyss, was the true opposing pole of this finals drama.
Chaos's power, the manifestation of corruption, and the "surprises" they had prepared for the Astartes required dedicated depiction.
He wanted the audience to fully appreciate the majesty and power of the "Emperor's Angels" before suddenly crashing into the twisted and terrifying malevolence from the deepest depths of the Warp.
On the light screen, the blue data streams representing the Astartes slowly converged.
Beside them, a brand new folder marked with dangerous crimson warning icons quietly generated, with a label containing only one word:
[Chaos]