After a few days of rest, Pierce and Harry received a notification to collect their equipment from the Quartermaster.
They were bewildered but followed the order and found the Quartermaster.
The Quartermaster checked the list, and after confirming everything was correct, he had their equipment brought out.
"This is for us?!"
Pierce looked at the exoskeleton armor in front of him, somewhat disbelieving.
The exoskeleton armor was equipped with shoulder cannons featuring an automatic targeting module,
a life support system capable of surviving in various harsh environments, and medical devices for emergencies.
Such sophisticated equipment should not be available to low-ranking soldiers like them.
Normally, they would only receive a flak armor and a laser rifle, jokingly called a 'flashlight'.
"Yes, this is standard issue equipment; every soldier gets one."
The Quartermaster waved his hand impatiently,
"Now, it belongs to you, and what you need to do is wear it and throw your lives onto the battlefield."
"Also, this is your pay. Currently, finances are tight, so we can only issue two months of Aquila coins. For the rest, you'll get vouchers, and any unpaid wages from before will be compensated later."
The Quartermaster's rude attitude did not deter Pierce; instead, it excited him immensely.
"With this thing, I reckon killing those traitors will be as simple as killing rat pups."
Pierce caressed the exoskeleton armor assigned to him, unable to tear his hands away.
His eyes were like a pervert seeing a beautiful and sexy young woman, drooling with desire.
A Living Saint is indeed a Living Saint, unlike those corrupt bureaucrats.
They provide good equipment and sufficient pay.
Finally, someone has come who doesn't just talk about risks and faith but also offers benefits.
"No matter what, I'm entrusting my life to the Living Saint. Wherever he says to go, I'll go. Whoever he says to point my gun at, I'll point it at them."
Pierce shed his usual cynical old soldier persona, his tone serious and earnest.
Harry, looking at the Aquila coins and vouchers in his hand, also nodded in agreement.
If the commands of those idiotic bureaucrats ever conflicted with the Living Saint's orders,
they would absolutely dismiss the bureaucrats' words as nonsense,
and then resolutely execute the Living Saint's orders.
...
Planet Atoma is still producing military supplies in large quantities.
An endless stream of cargo ships transports the manufactured goods to low orbit, where they are loaded onto large cargo vessels and shipped to the front lines.
In addition to conventional weapons and ammunition, the supplies sent to the front lines this time also include a batch of newly developed Hound-class AI-controlled mechs.
These are brand-new AI-controlled mechs created by Father Tina using her accumulated knowledge and controlled factories.
They are inexpensive, cost-effective, use wetware control cores, and have reception ports, allowing them to be controlled by the Skitarii.
Their sole purpose for creation is to be used as cannon fodder.
Batch after batch of Hound-class AI-controlled mechs stepped into the transport ship's cargo hold,
then shut down their systems and went into hibernation, awaiting activation upon arrival at the front lines.
At Dora Workshop's orbital factory, ten kilometer-long frigates were docked at the port.
After the successful sea trials of the Natural Selection, Dora immediately ordered mass production.
These ten frigates were the result of that period's efforts.
Planet Atoma itself possesses a complete shipbuilding industry.
After the Players optimized the production chain, added Cogitators, and increased the proportion of automated production, efficiency greatly improved.
According to calculations by Dora and other Players, production capacity can continue to explode. They only need to build more void factories and optimize the industrial chain,
and they will be able to continuously build warships, overwhelming any enemy with sheer numbers.
Sage Kaska was responsible for inspecting the warships,
and etching gear marks in various areas, bestowing machine blessings.
After confirming everything was in order, these warships would be handed over to the Imperial Navy.
Of course, Dora Workshop not only takes orders from the military but also from Players, and they even perform special modifications, adding more automated equipment,
allowing Players to operate them with fewer personnel.
Imperial warships are high-performance, sturdy, fast, and less susceptible to Warp incursions, but they are expensive.
For Players with limited funds, purchasing warships from Dora Workshop offers better value.
For them, as long as the ship can fly, fire cannons, and has a shield, it's good enough.
As for the rest, it's not important.
...
Macragge
A magnificent fleet had gathered here.
Guilliman had already decided to embark on a journey to Terra.
He selected a group of elite battle-brothers from the Ultramarines to accompany him to Terra, including Sicarius, who had many legendary achievements.
Grand Master Woldaes of the Grey Knights also joined, bringing the Third Brotherhood.
In addition, various successor chapters of the Ultramarines, the Emperor's Champion Amaric, Living Saint Celestine, Inquisitor Greyfax, and Fabricator General Cawl, all requested to join the expeditionary force.
Meanwhile, the remaining Ynnari announced their departure at this time, heading to rendezvous with Eldrad Ulthran, Yncarne, the avatar of the Ynnari, and other high-ranking Aeldari.
Although Cadia Fortress had fallen, many worlds still retained complete Obsidian Monoliths.
The Ynnari would travel to these planets to protect those devices, ensuring they remained safe.
After a brief and polite farewell, Guilliman bid farewell to Yvraine, the Ynnari emissary.
"I wish you a smooth journey and victorious success in showing our common enemy a thing or two."
"And I wish you prosperity in your martial path, Roboute Guilliman." Yvraine bowed. "One day, our destinies will meet again—until then, you absolutely must not die."
"The Regent's wife is leaving already? At least it's a new marriage, why not stay a few more days?!" The Bald Donkey showed a look of regret.
An old Player with the ID Pig Head Strong, one of the second batch to enter the game, chuckled.
"It's been so long since the wedding, the novelty has worn off. They definitely need to be apart for a while, and when they reunite, it'll be like a reunion after a long separation, even better than a honeymoon."
Chou Guanto shook his head, disagreeing with Pig Head Strong.
"I think Guilliman is going to see the Emperor and can't bring Yvraine home, so they had to temporarily separate."
Bald Donkey chuckled.
"When you put it that way, I suddenly thought of a melodramatic family drama about the Emperor that could easily span fifty episodes."
The other Players all looked at Bald Donkey, urging him to continue.
Bald Donkey also became interested and began to describe it vividly.
"Years later, the Emperor awakens and learns about Guilliman and Yvraine. He immediately becomes furious and orders the Custodian Guard to bring Yvraine to him.
The Emperor sees her and fiercely throws a pile of land deeds at her, saying to Yvraine, 'Woman, here are five hundred planets. Leave my son.'
Yvraine shakes her head, 'No, we truly love each other. I will never leave him for these things.'
At this moment, Guilliman rushes in. He grabs Yvraine's hand, pulls her behind him, and with a look of fury in his eyes, stares directly at his father—the great Lord of Humanity.
Guilliman shouts, 'Father, Yvraine is different from other Eldar. We truly love each other. You cannot cruelly tear us apart like this.'
The Emperor angrily says, 'If you stay with this xenos, then don't ever call me your father again.'
A few days later, the Emperor sees a letter left by Guilliman.
For love, he has abandoned his identity as the Thirteenth Primarch and eloped with Yvraine.
Just as the Emperor is saddened, Slaanesh embraces the Emperor from behind.
'Brother, don't be sad. Your concubine is still by your side. Your concubine will never leave you.'
The Emperor feels somewhat comforted and is about to enjoy a moment of tenderness,
but then hears footsteps nearby. The Mother of Primarchs—Erda—has arrived, unnoticed.
She sees Slaanesh embracing the Emperor and is both shocked and enraged, shouting, 'You said you would only love me! You said it! But you tricked me into having children, and then you found a mistress!'
After yelling, she rushes forward and starts wrestling with Slaanesh.
…"
Bald Donkey's vivid storytelling made the other Players' eyes widen.
Uh!!
This plot is indeed melodramatic,
but for some reason, they want to know what happens next?!
"No books, no shop, understand?" Pig Head Strong glanced at Bald Donkey.
Chou Guanto shook his head, "Bald Donkey, if the Emperor wakes up, you'll definitely be sitting at the same table as Abaddon. Such heresy is unforgivable."
"…"
Guilliman glanced at the bickering God Chosen.
Seeing them laughing hysterically, he knew these guys were probably up to no good again.
Of course, after spending this time with them, he had long become immune to their antics.
If they ever acted normal, then that would probably be a big problem.
…
Days after the Pilgrimage Crusade plan was announced, Guilliman set sail with a massive Imperial Navy fleet.
Countless engines roared to life, sweeping through the starry void, heading towards the human homeworld.
The Warp boiled in response, the gods roared.
The storms of Immaterium were unusually turbulent.
The pilgrimage fleet's journey was extremely difficult; with every jump, there were reports of disappearances.
The Pilgrimage Crusade faced unprecedented challenges,
but they remained steadfast and unafraid, pushing through the storms towards Terra.
On the other side of the galaxy,
after the Battle of Fenris, Magnus used the ritual fueled by the deaths of a billion souls,
successfully warping the Planet of Sorcerers from the Eye of Terror to the star system where Prospero once was.
In addition, more than a dozen nascent Daemon Worlds were also brought back into Holy Terra (Earth/Reality), circling the Planet of Sorcerers.
These planets were covered in corruption factories, either gifts from the Dark Mechanicum or seized through the Warp from burnt Forge Worlds.
They produced wave after wave of siege daemon engines, spewing black smoke into the auroral atmosphere.
And in the City of Light, the magnificent Tizca, the Daemon Primarch—Magnus—was watching Guilliman.
When he learned that he had set sail, he grinned.
The foolish and arrogant Guilliman would become his plaything.
…
Meanwhile, on another side,
a world was destroyed, Khorne's daemon armies slaughtered all living things,
crimson blood flowed through the once-prosperous cities,
and the roars of suffering and despairing souls turned into whistling winds in the air.
Angron's original plan was to destroy the Pharos Lighthouse.
That light made him increasingly angry and unbearable.
But the Blood God's will forced him to change course.
The master of the Brass Citadel needed more blood to flow in Holy Terra (Earth/Reality), needed more war and slaughter.
Guilliman was the best target.
Angron obeyed the Blood God's will. He took his fleet and chased the pilgrimage fleet, planning to launch a massacre.
…
Somewhere in the Warp,
through the whispering daemons around him, Fulgrim also learned that Guilliman was heading to Terra.
He let out a strange laugh, then licked the sharp blade of his sword with his tongue, and with a cold tone, made a vow.
"Guilliman, pay the price for shaming me. You will never reach our foolish father."
PS: Sorry late for the chapter, I will include the bonus as well