[ Congratulations, you have gained experience, your level has increased.
LV18 -> LV19
Skill Learned: Combat Precognition
Ordinary precognition allows one to see many fragments of the future, but Combat Precognition can only see combat-related outcomes.
However, Combat Precognition is more accurate and targeted.
Of course, if you encounter an enemy with the same Combat Precognition ability,
it will depend on who is better at scheming and whose combat intuition is sharper.
Skill Learned: Summon the Dead
As long as they are loyal to Humanity and loyal to the Empire, even after death, they can be used by you.
After using this skill, you can summon the deceased spirits.
You can request them to provide the information you need,
or transform them into Heroic Spirits to continue fighting for you.
]
"Finally, level 19! It wasn't easy, it wasn't easy at all."
Alex looked at the level-up notification, feeling a little excited.
The last time he leveled up to 18 was right after he finished fighting Baal.
Many diligent Players had already caught up to his level,
although their equipment, skills, and combat power were far inferior to his.
"Combat Precognition!"
Alex carefully read the description of this skill.
He originally had a precognition skill,
which allowed him to see fragments of future destiny through dreams or hallucinations.
Combat Precognition is different from ordinary precognition; it does not predict other scenes, only things in combat.
For example, the enemy's moves and their next action,
it's similar to the highest level of Observation Haki in One Piece.
Before the enemy even attacks, you can predict them and make corresponding preparations.
It is said that some members of the Thousand Sons Legion are very fond of this combat style.
They often anticipate the enemy, choosing the most favorable outcome for themselves in battle, thereby defeating the enemy.
"It's simply a divine artifact for showing off when dealing with those weaker guys."
All of the opponent's attacks can be predicted in advance and easily dodged.
Occasionally, he can even straighten his clothes and trash talk a bit; just thinking about it feels satisfying.
"Summon the Dead! This skill is also good."
Many things that the living do not know,
the dead hold the truth.
The Inquisition has unique sorcery that can summon the souls of the dead,
but this summoning has great limitations:
First: the person must have died recently.
Second: the spell must be cast next to the person's corpse.
Alex's Summon the Dead is much simpler.
As long as the target is loyal, he can use the skill to summon them.
He can interrogate them for the truth, or directly transform them into Heroic Spirits to fight for him; it looks very practical.
"Saint."
A devout call pulled Alex's thoughts back to Reality.
He looked up and saw a man dressed in Inquisitor robes, along with his servants.
"I am Inquisitor Rostov, serving the Ordo Xenos."
"These are my servants, Lacrant, and Kilke of the K'Chanti race."
Inquisitor Rostov introduced himself and his subordinates in a devout tone.
Alex nodded and said with a smile, "Thank you for your devotion to the Emperor, Inquisitor Rostov. You have performed very well, and He is very pleased."
"It is my duty, Saint." Inquisitor Rostov's voice was choked with sobs; being recognized by the Emperor was his lifelong wish.
"You are Kilke of the K'Chanti race created by the Old Ones."
Alex looked behind Inquisitor Rostov, at the K'Chanti, who somewhat resembled lizardmen.
"Yes, Human Saint." Kilke tried her best to maintain her composure.
"It is evident that the wisdom and technology of the Old Ones reached the pinnacle of perfection." Alex scrutinized Kilke from head to toe. "Not only could they create the Aeldari, but they could also create you."
"The Old Ones are beings of myth. If they were still alive, the Warp would certainly not have become so terrifying."
Kilke's words made Alex somewhat curious. "Why do you say that?"
"The Old Ones possessed some special means to control the Warp. According to my ancestors, if crises had not erupted simultaneously in both Reality and the Warp, they would never have failed."
Kilke recounted the ancient history that the elders of her tribe had told her.
"I see!" Alex showed a thoughtful expression.
No wonder Yellow Old Man was so anxious; he must have known something.
"You promised my kin that as long as they could reclaim your homeworld for you, you would allow them to enter the ancient library to search for clues to the Old Ones' relics."
"Yes, Human Saint." A tense expression appeared on Kilke's face.
She knew that xenophobia was prevalent in the Human Empire and worried that the other party was one of them.
"I am not a xenophobe." Alex saw through her thoughts and reassured her, "As long as you do not threaten Humanity, I am very willing to cooperate with you."
"We have no intention of opposing Humanity." Kilke quickly guaranteed.
"Words are meaningless; actions are what matter most."
Alex did not care about the other party's solemn promises.
"My kin will help you reclaim your homeworld, and I hope you will also fulfill your promise, otherwise, you know the consequences."
Cute little lizard people, you wouldn't want to be sent into the hands of the A3s, would you?!
So, please work hard and help Humanity find the relics of the Old Ones.
For the current Empire, tracing and replicating the genes of a certain race is not difficult.
With a single command, within a month, one hundred thousand A3s could be cultivated in growth pods.
"We will never break our oath." Kilke felt a little uneasy after hearing the Human Saint's words.
After chatting with Inquisitor Rostov and others for a while, Alex heard the roar of engines.
Several gunships slowly landed not far away.
As the hatch opened, Asagaai, the commander of the Saint Ast Battle Group, arrived with a group of fleet high-ranking officers.
They humbly saluted Alex, swore their loyalty, and reported their battle results to him.
At this time,
Zigman and others were chatting in the chat channel.
With Skarbrand's defeat and the Blackstone Device being reversed, their war points instantly soared, making them first place.
Warmaster: "I'm so mad! How did you guys get ahead again?!"
Tenjiro: "Damn it! No wonder even Spring of Terra didn't want to participate; turns out there was a big fish!"
Little Fatty: "(╥╯^╰╥)"
Little Alpaca: "(へ╬)"
......
Zigman: "Standard operation, standard operation, nothing to mention."
"Actually, I'm not interested in war points at all, and even less so in MVP. I don't know why you guys compete for this."
Tenjiro: "(╯>д<)╯┸┸)`ν)┻━┻"
Little Fatty: "(╬◣д◢), show-off."
Da Hai: "@Zigman, the Empire should pass a law that all show-offs are tied to the bow of a ship and then thrown into the sun."
......
......
The original Blackstone Device was destroyed, and the reborn Blackstone Device reversed the obelisks, beginning to repair the wounds of Reality and strengthen the veil between Reality and the Warp.
Related news was sent to Cassandra, the Commander-in-Chief of The Third Fleet, within ten minutes after the battle ended.
A cheer erupted on the Bridge of the *Noble Discipline*.
Cassandra, with a smile on her face, reached out her hand, signaling the cheering officers to calm down.
"Now, it's our turn to strike. The Slaughter Expedition will be shattered against the iron will of the Imperial forces."
"We kill in the Emperor's name, we kill for the dead, we kill for the living."
"Now issue orders to the entire The Third Fleet: all forces attack! All Battle Groups launch an offensive and end this."
As the Saint Ast Battle Group achieved victory, other Battle Groups quickly switched from defense to offense.
The Slaughter Expeditionary Force was cut off by the well-prepared Imperial Army, falling into an isolated and helpless predicament, and was annihilated in despair.
The fallen planets were also recaptured one by one, and the traitors who failed to escape were all executed by the Imperial Army in the name of vengeance.
In the Warp, Khorne was enraged by the failure of the Slaughter Expeditionary Force, yet he was powerless.
The strengthening of the Reality's barrier greatly weakened the power he could project.
"Damn The Cursed ones."
Khorne roared in anger once more, but that black sun remained utterly cold, never responding.
...
Not long after Alex bid farewell to Inquisitor Rostov and the high-ranking commanders of the Saint Ast Battle Group and returned to Reality, news of The Third Fleet's great victory spread, causing an immediate sensation.
Countless people took to the streets and alleys, cheering for The Third Fleet.
With the promotion of new laws and the popularization of the network, the public's sense of ownership was slowly awakening.
The victory of the Third Crusade Fleet was a victory for the entire Human Empire.
It was a fatal counterattack launched by humanity against the Chaos Gods, and this battle fought by The Third Fleet was not for anything else, but for the continued existence of humanity and for the better lives of those who would come after.
The newly established network was incredibly boisterous.
Some approved videos from The Third Fleet were released and received immense praise.
"We should fight like this! Our taxes aren't for buying bullets, are they for buying coffins?"
"I'm not saying anything more, I'm joining the army immediately. I want to go fight those bastards too."
"For the God-Emperor."
"For the God-Emperor."
...
Alex also paid attention to the public opinion on the network.
Many people were happy about this victory, but there were also some discordant and even rebellious voices.
"What's the use of fighting? So many people died. It's better to use the money to improve people's livelihoods."
"Is this true? I'm also an Imperial soldier. I'm stationed in Hydraflor, why don't I know about this battle?"
"Obviously fake. It must be false propaganda from the Human Empire."
...
Such remarks once made people think that the speakers were brainless idiots.
But after investigation, it was found that these people were either Cultists or conservatives who had lost their vested interests and were dissatisfied with Alex.
Seeing the Human Empire slowly crawling out of the quagmire, they felt uncomfortable and desperately slandered and spread rumors.
"The network still needs real-name registration, one account per person."
"And a grading and review system needs to be established."
Upon seeing these comments, Alex also thought of some deeper issues.
Do not underestimate the Chaos Gods, thinking that the network can resist their corruption.
On the contrary, the network, to some extent, might even exacerbate the Chaos Gods / The Four Gods' corruption and even cause their destructive power to increase exponentially.
If a galactic-level network is built in the future, a large-scale public opinion war or rumors could cause a fatal blow to the Human Empire.
According to the Chaos Gods / The Four Gods' abilities, they will certainly be able to create popular galactic-level internet celebrities in batches, and then use them to incite the Imperial populace, which would absolutely be an easy task.
Therefore, this situation must be suppressed at the source.
Only Imperial heroes who have passed loyalty verification should be able to use the network to become cross-stellar famous figures.
"It's time to formulate a network management plan. We must prevent the network from becoming a tool for the Chaos Gods / The Four Gods."
Alex muttered to himself.
Now is the best time to implement control.
The control of the Lighthouse is fully in hand, and with Cortana's assistance, formulating management laws and building firewalls against the Chaos Gods / The Four Gods will not encounter too much resistance.
No sooner said than done,
Alex asked Cortana to assist him in drafting the network management bill.
...
Hydraflor Fortress World.
A Battle Barge left the port and flew into the vast void.
Upon reaching Mandeville Point, it opened a Warp entrance and entered Immaterium for faster-than-light travel.
"Take the hero home and let him be buried where he wishes."
Zigman, standing on the Bridge, recalled the scene before their departure.
Inquisitor Rostov handed him the ashes and belongings of the sacrificed mid-level Navigator, Skoloros, while earnestly entrusting him.
This Navigator had bravely volunteered for the mission to find the Blackstone Device and ultimately sacrificed himself.
According to his promise before his death, the Inquisition was to send him back to the Everhard Family family's burial ground and clear his name, letting those who had mocked him know that he was a great Imperial hero and not the traitor they called him.
Skoloros's belongings were not many: a few sets of clothes, some precious treasures, and a notebook recording his poignant past.
After reading the diary left by the Navigator, Zigman and the Players were all heavy-hearted.
Due to his mutation, Skoloros had been discriminated against and suppressed since childhood.
His peers called him a freak, snatching his food and toys.
In fact, those toys were also ones others had discarded and he had secretly picked up after they were thrown away, because no one would buy him toys.
Even though the Everhard Family family was very wealthy and his parents had a high standard of living, Skoloros had never received any gifts.
His parents also beat and scolded him in every possible way, viewing him as a disaster and a potential traitor.
But those children still came to snatch, not wanting the toys, but simply to bully him.
They would snatch the toys and crush them in front of Skoloros, then beat him.
Skoloros possessed psychic powers. When he was bullied too severely, his psychic powers would erupt out of control due to his emotions.
And at this time, the family members who had been invisible when he was bullied would reappear, accusing him, calling him a traitor, a freak, a bad seed who harmed his kin, pushing all the blame onto him.
Skoloros was suppressed and bullied again and again, and eventually, he became gloomy and silent.
And the only light in Skoloros's life was a lowly slave serving the Everhard Family family—Effie.
Perhaps their equally tragic fates brought them together.
This girl of the same age became Skoloros's only friend, giving him the only care and friendship he had in his life.
She even gave him a kiss the night before he was sold, which was the only kiss Skoloros ever received in his life, even if she only kissed his cheek.
And the task of Zigman and the Players was to bring Skoloros's belongings back and clear his name.
Of course, his diary also contained a wish: to give his belongings to Effie, the only person who had ever shown him care.
Although Skoloros didn't say it, Inquisitor Rostov still decided to fulfill his wish. In the Players' mission, he solemnly mentioned Effie, hoping that the Players could find her and treat her as kindly as possible.
Skoloros's sacrifice was worthy of the Inquisitor's mercy.
This poor Navigator suffered greatly yet still clung to his faith and loyalty.
If such a person could not have a good end, then everything they fought for would be meaningless.
Warp travel was very smooth.
Two days later, they arrived at Skoloros's home planet—Ocmel, a Hive City world.
Reality's reform decrees had not yet reached this place, and the Lighthouse network had not yet been deployed here.
The people here were unaware of the victory achieved by the Third Crusade Fleet,
Players' battle barge reported according to regulations and entered the planet's port.
Immediately after, Zigman and others took a transport shuttle to the surface Hive City.
Upon learning that they were envoys of the Inquisition, the Planetary Governor brought a group of local nobles to greet them.
After a brief exchange, Zigman directly asked the plump Planetary Governor,
"We have come for Everhard Family. Are there any members of this family among your retinue?"
"Patriarch of Everhard Family, come out quickly! The envoys are here for you!" the Planetary Governor shouted towards the nobles.
As his words fell, a man in luxurious robes emerged with seven or eight men and women.
"Envoys, Governor."
The man stepped forward, bowed respectfully, his expression somewhat anxious and uneasy.
Zigman noticed that the other party's forehead was covered with a silk scarf.
Clearly, this fellow was also a Navigator.
"We have come for Skolos of your family," Zigman said.
The man frowned, "Envoys, that mutant has no relation to Everhard Family anymore. If he has committed any crime, just take him alone to be judged."
"From the moment he was born, I determined he was not a good person. Look at his ugly, monstrous appearance; he was bound to be a bad seed who would betray the Emperor's glory."
"If not for the Navigator Act requiring him to be raised, we would have choked him to death long ago."
The people behind the man also spoke up, one after another.
"Yes, sir, no matter what that bad seed did, it has nothing to do with us."
"That bad seed was bad from a young age and didn't learn well as he grew up. He must have caused big trouble."
"Envoy, our Everhard Family has already severed ties with that fellow."
"..."
Listening to their slander of Skolos, Zigman suppressed the anger in his heart.
He suddenly felt that merely burying Skolos in Everhard Family's cemetery,
was far from truly making up for the harm he had suffered.
Skolos was a hero and deserved the applause and flowers befitting a hero.
"Envoy, have you heard the voices of the many members of Everhard Family? Skolos is an out-and-out bad seed. We have long since expelled him from the family, so please..."
While the man was prattling on,
Zigman clenched his fist and then smashed it hard into the other's face.
"If you continue to insult an Empire hero, I don't mind executing all of you."
"I am here by order to deliver the relics and remains of the Empire hero, Skolos. As a hero who sacrificed everything for the Emperor, his dying wish was to be buried in his homeland, so we personally escorted him back."
This sudden truth caught the Governor and the many nobles completely off guard.
The many members of Everhard Family were even more shocked, all dumbfounded.
Skolos, whom they despised, had actually become an Empire hero,
and was personally escorted back by the Inquisition. What an honor!
"This is impossible! He's just a bad seed! He's destined to become a traitor..."
A middle-aged man shook his head, refusing to believe Skolos was an Empire hero.
Zigman had no intention of wasting words on such a person.
He drew his sword, walked over, and pinned the man to the floor with a single thrust.
This was something he had wanted to do ever since he met the members of this family.
Now, with his wish fulfilled, he felt inexplicably satisfied.
The fellow let out a pig-like shriek, and crimson blood gushed out, staining the floor in moments.
The Governor and other dignitaries turned pale with fright at this scene.
"This is the price for insulting an Empire hero."
Zigman's tone was calm as he turned to look at the Governor.
"Skolos's contribution was great. I believe he should have a statue to be remembered by all."
Before the Governor could speak, the Patriarch of Everhard Family interjected,
"Not difficult, not difficult at all. We will erect a magnificent statue for Skolos, for all to admire."
His tone was extremely excited,
as if he wasn't the one who had just said Skolos was destined to be a traitor.
"How disgusting," White Wolf said over the comms channel.
Zigman looked at the Patriarch of Everhard Family and sneered, "Skolos has no relation to you whatsoever. He merely wished to be buried on his homeworld. His honor is something you will never get to claim even a shred of."
"I will make public everything you once did to him, letting the world see your shameless faces."
"You're going too far!" a man said indignantly, "We might have treated Skolos badly in the past, but you can't treat us like this, can you?"
Zigman looked at the speaker and grinned,
"I am going too far. What can you do about it?"
"I am the Emperor's chosen, representing the Emperor's will. Even if I kill you, I will bear no blame. But if you dare to lay a hand on me, that is defying the Emperor, that is intending rebellion."
Zigman's words turned those fellows' faces pale.
"Skolos is an Empire hero, a martyr who saved humanity. Erect a statue for him, listing his achievements and past."
"Anyone who has an objection, let him come find me. I guarantee I'll open a big hole in his head."
"Every so often, I will return here to check on the statue's condition. If I come back and find the statue damaged, I guarantee someone will lose their head because of it."
This time, no one dared to voice any opposition.
After instructing about the statue, Zigman set off to find the woman named Effie.
Time flew by; the once young woman had long since entered middle age.
Due to some accidents, Effie had lost her ability to bear children.
Thus, she had remained alone until now, living a very desolate life.
When she learned that her old friend Skolos had passed away, she wept in sorrow.
Perhaps she was the only one who shed tears for Skolos.
Zigman abolished Effie's slave status and handed Skolos's inheritance to her.
After ensuring Skolos would have a statue and be remembered, and that Effie would be able to live a good life, Zigman then departed.
...
Calixis Sector,
MC Dynasty Research Headquarters,
Excited voices emanated from a fully equipped, high-security laboratory.
"It's done! It's done this time!"
"The first generation of bio-brains has been successfully researched. Humanity will once again possess the computing power to analyze the universe."
Players like MC Myth and MC Legend looked excitedly at the gigantic brain immersed in the nutrient tank, thrilled beyond measure.
This was a massive bio-brain specifically cultivated through human gene modification, considered an improved version of the Cogitator Servitor.
After testing, the bio-brain's computational power was in no way inferior to that of cutting-edge silicon-based chips of equivalent size.
Humanity's biotechnological era would begin with this super bio-brain.