"It's currently undergoing reverse analysis, which will take some time."
As Cortana spoke, an information interface appeared before Alex.
[Analysis Model Established, Current Progress 35.123453%... 35.12533%...]
[Estimated Time Remaining: 322H51min]
"With your current computing power, it still takes nearly three weeks to complete the analysis. It seems this conversion technology is indeed quite difficult."
Alex was a bit surprised.
Cortana was no ordinary AI.
She was a Star God, the most powerful being in this universe.
Once she reached her peak, she could contend with the Chaos Gods.
In a sense, she was the embodiment of Reality's laws.
"The theoretical design of this technology is extremely advanced; being able to analyze it at all is quite remarkable," Cortana replied. "It only requires a little time; the cost is negligible."
"I understand." Alex rubbed his chin and closed the analysis interface.
"Speaking of which, the Battle of Baal is over. Once I finish what I'm doing, I'll be heading to Terra."
"While I'm gone, you should upgrade first. The colonies within the Red Scar are full of radiation, but they are rich in mineral reserves."
"I'm sure it won't be long before enough minerals are mined for you to upgrade."
"Cortana understands. Cortana will find time to issue tasks and have them transport the ore here." Cortana nodded. "Master, how long do you plan to be on Terra this time?"
"It's hard to say, but I'll need to stay there for at least a month or two to complete the deep reform mission."
Alex wasn't quite sure how much time he would need.
Terra was a bottomless pit.
Every ambitious individual in the entire Empire was there.
Those who had survived there until now were all incredibly shrewd.
He would definitely need to monitor them for a long time to ensure they didn't mess things up.
Of course, Alex wouldn't stay on Terra indefinitely.
He had a skill granted by the Emperor, allowing him to descend to the Players' side.
As long as he sent all the Little Alpaca out, he could use them to travel throughout the galaxy.
This way, he wouldn't have to worry about being tied down by Terra's bureaucracy and unable to accomplish anything.
"You must help Master watch over things here. If there are any problems, tell me immediately." Alex reached out and patted Cortana's head.
"Don't worry, Cortana will watch over the Calixis Sector," Cortana said, clenching her fist confidently.
"Master trusts you. Oh, right, help Master send a message to the top Players of the Emperor Niuma Battle Group and tell them to prepare to accompany me to Terra," Alex said.
"Okay." Cortana quickly followed Alex's instructions and drafted the escort mission.
[Escort Mission: Accompany the Guide to Terra.
The Guide has received a commission from Guilliman and is preparing to go to Terra to promote reforms.
This is an extremely dangerous task. In the years since the Emperor sat on the Golden Throne and the Primarchs disappeared, various forces have built a shocking network of interests on Terra.
If the Guide promotes reforms, he will inevitably anger these forces, who will view him as a thorn in their side and wish to eliminate him quickly.
There is a high possibility of retaliation, assassination, and targeting at various levels.
The Guide needs some trustworthy individuals to accompany him to Terra, assist in clearing out enemies, and complete the reforms.
Basic Reward: 150,000 Contribution Points, 35,000 Honor Points, 110,000 Faith Points.
Bonus Reward: Awarded based on mission performance.
]
After editing, Cortana sent it out.
At this moment, the Players of the Emperor Niuma Battle Group were gathered in the mess hall of the Exemplar Saint Fist, celebrating their acquisition of the eagle medal.
The mess hall was massive, 130 meters long, 50 meters wide, and more than twice its width in height.
Unlike the typical Western palace-style long tables used in other Imperial warships,
the Exemplar Saint Fist was distinctively Chinese in style.
Within the vast mess hall, numerous solid hardwood Eight Immortals tables were arranged.
The tables were laden with various delicacies, fruits, and beverages.
In the center of the mess hall, several individuals were grilling.
In a circular charcoal basin three meters in diameter, charcoal blocks burned red-hot, emitting waves of intense heat.
The Players sat around, grilling winged squirrels, an alien creature they had purchased from a merchant.
Although this creature was called a squirrel, it only bore a slight resemblance to Terra squirrels in appearance.
Its temperament, size, and anatomical structure were vastly different; it was not the same species.
Winged squirrels, like Terra squirrels, had bushy tails,
but the tails of these alien creatures concealed sharp barbs capable of easily tearing off large chunks of flesh.
Winged squirrels had three-toed hands and feet,
but the ends of their fingers grew into sharp, hooked claws, so keen that they could leave alarming scratches on steel.
Their entire arms and thighs were connected by membranes, like a flying squirrel, allowing them to spread out and glide through the air.
Their ears were pointed, and their mouths contained sharp fangs.
Winged squirrels were highly aggressive.
If an ordinary person were bitten, they would be severely injured, if not killed.
However, their meat was excellent—chewy yet tender.
After removing the fur, gutting, applying spices, and marinating for two hours,
then placing it on a grill and cooking over low heat until golden brown on both sides,
the Little Astra Militarum and priests next door would be salivating.
Besides grilling,
the Players' tables also held steaming hot pots.
The ingredients were also marine creatures from other planets, each with a bizarre appearance.
These ingredients were all fresh, purchased from merchants who traveled with the fleet.
"This thing isn't related to Cthulhu, is it?!"
Tenjiro used his chopsticks to pick up a seafood item that resembled a small octopus in body but had a pair of fleshy wings on its back.
"It's probably a Cthulhu larva." The Warmaster next to him scooped up a slice of fish, dipped it in sauce, and put it in his mouth, showing an expression of enjoyment. "The texture is even better than crispy carp."
"I suspect this fish might be a Deep One descendant; it even has muscles. It doesn't look like a proper fish at all."
"Cthulhu's whole family is lucky to meet us," Twisted person joked while eating. "They'll all be neatly boiled in a hot pot."
"Cthulhu is at least an Old One; he wouldn't be reduced to being boiled in a hot pot, would he?" Tenjiro tossed the seafood into the boiling hot pot.
"Haha, who can say! There are so many strange and powerful beings in the Warhammer Universe, often hidden big shots who have lived for millions, even hundreds of millions of years. Cthulhu getting into trouble isn't a rare occurrence."
"Old Ones might be rare on Earth, but in space, if you set a spaceship to fly straight, you'll hit seven or eight along the way."
"The Lord of Dust and Ash we fought last time seemed to be an ancient god."
"It's a pity it escaped. Otherwise, if we caught it and stewed it, just by its appearance, we'd know it definitely had aphrodisiac effects."
"No rush, no rush. The monk may run, but the temple won't. That guy will definitely return to the Calixis Sector."
"The officials will probably continue to advance the Calixis Sector's storyline then, after all, there are a bunch of terrifying things there that haven't been dealt with yet!"
"Don't always look at the Calixis Sector; broaden your horizons. The Halo Stars and Ghoul Stars—aren't they both chaotic with demons and monsters? Never mind Old Ones, even lower-ranked gods don't make the cut."
"What do you think other galaxies are like, since the Milky Way is already so chaotic?"
"Didn't they say that humans from the Golden Age traveled to other galaxies? Maybe in later plot developments, they'll be brought out and given a fixed storyline."
"Who knows, maybe there are a bunch of strange things out there too!"
"......"
Gabe put a hot Mushroom slice into his mouth.
"Do you think Cthulhu might be captured by an Ork boss and forced to breed baby Cthulhu for the Orks to fight?!"
The Warmaster almost choked on Gabe's outrageous statement.
"No, brother, how can your thinking be so outrageous?!"
"Warhammer OL's official story shouldn't go down the vulgar route of Warcraft, right?! Just thinking about the majestic Red Dragon Queen being reduced to a breeding tool makes me feel like the Dragons' prestige has plummeted."
Tenjiro took a bite of barbecue and said, "Don't say that, the official really could do it. Don't forget what happened in the Middle Ages: a Chaos God was actually imprisoned by the Great Horned Rat to play cosplay!"
"I'm curious, if Cthulhu is taken as a breeding tool, who will be responsible for mating?" Twisted person showed a thoughtful expression. "Could it be the Ork boss??"
"I think it might be the Gretchin?"
"Can a Gretchin complete such a task? Is stirring a pond with a toothpick really meaningful?"
"The problem is, Orks are fungal organisms, right? They just look that way; it doesn't mean they have those parts."
"Stop, I'm already imagining it. If you say any more, I'll puke." The Warmaster waved his hands repeatedly, signaling for these guys to stop talking about such outrageous topics.
"......"
The Players feasted, enjoying the food, while chatting wildly.
They talked about everything, from the T'au of the Far Eastern Frontier to Father Nurgle's Garden in the Ghoul Stars, and even the war with the Old Ones beyond the galaxy.
They just talked about whatever came to mind!
Their topics were nothing short of shocking.
The servants nearby occasionally heard strange gibberish and couldn't understand what they were saying at all.
The Gods also didn't notice the situation here; otherwise, if they listened for a while, they would probably immediately act and instantly refine these God Chosen.
These guys knew far too much.
Even demons would probably be horrified to hear it.
"This is great; Warhammer's food is actually quite good," the Warmaster said.
Eating in the Warhammer OL game was a very enjoyable thing.
You didn't have to worry about getting fat, getting a stomachache from food, or a hangover from drinks.
"Actually, the nobles in the Warhammer Universe live pretty well," Tenjiro said. "It's just the lower classes that have a hard time."
"No matter where you are, it's only the lower-class people who have it difficult."
"The people at the bottom of the Hive City work more than fourteen hours a day, while the upper echelons indulge in debauchery and enjoy life. No matter how humanity develops, it will always be unfair."
"The Imperial cesspit is a major reason why Chaos has grown so strong."
"..."
"Forget it, don't talk about those things, let's have a drink." Twisted person raised his glass, "Let's just drink today, no more talk about that stuff."
"Right, let's have a drink."
"Cheers."
The Players raised their glasses and clinked them together, then drank them down in one gulp.
The cold, spicy liquor flowed down their throats into their stomachs, giving them a unique kind of enjoyment.
Servants stood by, clearing away empty plates and bottles, then bringing them new ones.
Just as the Players were drinking heartily, a Cherub flew over.
Its internal anti-gravity suspension device hummed, and the wings on its back clicked.
Its emerald-like eyes emitted a bright glow, scanning everything along the way, constantly calculating the route to the mission objective.
Finally, it came before the Warmaster and Tenjiro, its mouth opening to emit a bright beam of light, outlining a luminous information interface out of thin air.
What was displayed inside was the newly released escort mission.
The Players, tipsy from drinking, gathered together and looked at the information interface.
"Another mission."
"The Guide wants us to accompany him to Terra."
"This time it's different from before. It looks like we're going to seriously deal with those guys on Terra."
"Reform has never been an easy thing. As the saying goes, blocking someone's path to wealth is like killing their parents. Once the foundations of those established Terra powers are touched, there will definitely be a fierce backlash."
"What else can those bureaucrats do?"
"Don't underestimate those guys. You know, during the Great Crusade, those people even dared to assassinate the Emperor."
"Assassinate the Emperor? Isn't that an exaggeration?"
"Do you think the Custodes are so powerful just for show? Those who want to kill the Emperor are as numerous as carp crossing a river."
"..."
The Players discussed from the mission to the Terra bureaucrats, then talked about the Custodes, and finally lay sprawled in the mess hall, sleeping soundly.
Only after waking up did they rush to report, preparing to head to Terra.
......
As the Battle of Baal concluded and reconstruction began,
the Players in the Calixis Sector were still busy clearing out the remaining Xenos forces and Chaos minions.
The Battle Rose Warband, led by Little Alpaca, did not participate in the Battle of Baal.
They were still completing the mission to clear the Space Hulk – Twilight.
"Are you ready?"
Sergeant-Chaplain Agamo, responsible for overseeing the Twilight, looked at the God Chosen before him.
Agamo is a Space Marine who has served the Inquisition in the Deathwatch for nearly thirty years.
He wore an ancient black Power Armor adorned with holy prayers, with the electronic skull gear mark of the Adeptus Mechanicus on his left shoulder and a pair of crossed thunder hammers on his right.
He was ordered to guard the Twilight and was authorized to immediately execute a destruction order if any signs of loss of control were discovered.
Space Hulks are extremely dangerous.
It is not just a single ship; due to the Warp, large numbers of derelict ships are twisted and fused together, forming a gigantic structure comparable to a large Hive City.
This Twilight is also like this. Years of drifting in the void and the Warp have made its volume incredibly bloated. No one knows what dangers are hidden within!
According to normal procedure, it should have been immediately destroyed,
but a biological signal from a legendary Inquisitor was detected inside.
This forced them to choose to send people in to explore.
"Yes, we are ready." Little Alpaca saluted the Sergeant-Chaplain.
"I wish you good luck. The teleportation beacon is still working. The Tech-Priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus will send you to the entrance of the Hulk."
"May the Emperor protect you."
Agamo cleared the way for the Players, allowing them to walk towards the teleportation deck.
"We can't fail this time!" Little Alpaca looked around at everyone.
The last time they entered the Space Hulk, they were unexpectedly wiped out, losing a pile of equipment, which made them almost want to vomit blood.
This time, no matter what, they had to clear out the monsters inside, obtain the legendary holy relic – the Daemon Codex, and the weapon named 'Light's Duty' to make up for the losses of this dungeon raid.
A flash appeared on a platform somewhere in the Twilight Hulk, and then the Players descended onto that platform.
The leading few, wearing heavy exoskeleton armor, served as the vanguard, immediately activating their shields and shoulder cannons.
These heavy exoskeleton armors were specially customized, composed of active nanometal and ceramite layers, capable of withstanding the most severe damage.
Little Alpaca closed his eyes and prayed to the Emperor. After completing the ritual, he opened his eyes and ordered the action.
The interior of the Hulk was very dim, with scattered faint red lights on the corridor floor, but all the functional lights were working normally.
Logically, after such a long time, these lights should have broken down or extinguished due to lack of energy, but they were still on.
Little Alpaca and the other Players ignored the abnormal lights and followed the path they had cleared last time into the depths.
Along the way, they could still see the bodies of the enemies they had killed last time.
Accompanied by the hum of the servo systems and the sighing of the fiber bundles on their armor, the Players' heavy boots stepped on the cold floor.
The sound echoed in the silent passage, like wandering spirits in an abandoned graveyard in hell.
The Players activated their auspex scans, and the helmet's HUD panel displayed the scenes in the dark corners.
Suddenly, a chilling aura struck.
The purity seals attached to the armor surface began to burn.
"Here it comes again." Little Alpaca raised his boltgun.
Several Battle Sisters nearby activated their weapons.
"What is it this time? Ghosts? Or Daemons?"
The female Player with the game ID: Yuzu Jiang, holding a Power Sword covered in a ghostly blue force field glow, looked around.
Her voice sounded quite cute,
and it contrasted with the heavy combat armor she was wearing.
"Probably ghosts."
Another Player named 'Gray Baby' activated a chainsword etched with scriptures.
Amidst the roar of the servo motors, the sharp teeth were rotating at high speed.
Strange roars sounded,
and the enemies hidden in the darkness appeared before the Players.
Their faces were hideous and rotten, wearing stained and tattered uniforms of some kind.
They held crude weapons in their hands, and their broken mouths continuously emitted incomprehensible roars.
"More Ghouls!!" Little Alpaca pulled the trigger.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Blessed bullets shot out, landing on the bodies of the ghouls, causing their rotten bodies to explode and release their trapped souls.
Other Battle Sisters also rushed towards the ghouls and began to fight.
Several Ecclesiarchy Players, meanwhile, chanted scriptures praising the Emperor, seeking the blessing of the Emperor's power.
The power of faith could Purify those ghouls, allowing them to escape the servitude of the Space Hulk and achieve salvation.
"Times have changed, you poor wretches who surrendered to hell." A Ecclesiarchy Player shouted, "Let me show you what Warhammer-style exorcism is."
He chanted scriptures praising the Emperor while wielding a ritual staff, sweeping away the ghouls.
A ghoul lunged at him, but he swung his staff and sent it flying, crashing heavily in the distance and breaking into pieces.
Just as its shattered body was trying to reassemble itself to continue attacking the Players,
that Player stood before the ghoul and prayed to the Emperor.
An ethereal glow emanated from his hands, falling upon the ghoul and causing it to shriek.
Soon, the power of the Warp was expelled, turning it completely into a corpse.
Little Alpaca and the others were not entering the Twilight for the first time.
They were already immune to the fear brought by these ghouls lingering in the ship.
They knew the ghouls' weaknesses.
This little interlude ended very easily.
After confirming the elimination of all ghouls, they continued deeper, heading towards the interior of the ship, which had been abandoned for hundreds of years.
There were many monsters inside the ship: wandering ghouls, twisted flesh-mutated creatures, and Warp natives – Daemons, all sorts of them.
"Ever since I started playing Warhammer OL, I suddenly feel that even Chu Meiren is fair-faced and delicate."
"Just recording this and running through the Space Hulk, then putting the footage out there, would be a super horror movie surpassing Silent Hill and The Ring."
Gray Baby punched a monster that crawled out of the wall, and started complaining.
"If it weren't for this game automatically locking the fear cap, the first moment I saw these ghosts, I would probably be screaming and my legs would turn to jelly."
Yuzu Jiang shot a terrifying monster wriggling on the ground in the distance with her bolt pistol.
The horror of the Space Hulk was far more exaggerated than the ghost movies the Players had seen in Reality.
Thanks to their enhancements and the Emperor's blessing, they were able to face those terrifying monsters with composure.
Their mutual banter diluted the surrounding eerie atmosphere and made the Players more adept at clearing these monsters.
After dozens of rounds of engagement, the Sisters carved out a path and arrived at the location where the legendary Inquisitor – Adokin's biological signal was emitted.
Unfortunately, they did not see the legendary Inquisitor, only a massive, tentacled and eyed flesh monster.
And the Daemon Codex, which the Players had been longing for, was on a high platform behind the monster, emitting a pure glow.