I have reduced the powerstones goal so that every 100 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter but it will increase next week so continue donating; this week's total goal is 1000 Powerstones which means 10 Bonus chapter + 2 daily chapters.
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"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Zeke flipped open the Resident Manual and found the entry for Weaponsmith.
Weaponsmith was Level 0. Upgrading him to Level 1 would allow him to use various metals more flexibly and forge unique weapons.
"This isn't your problem at all; it's mine," Zeke muttered.
Zeke used the Emeralds collected from Kasr Kraf, along with experience points, to level up the Weaponsmith. A light, visible only to Zeke, merged into the Weaponsmith's body, causing him to tremble.
"I feel... like I understand how to converse with it," the Weaponsmith murmured, looking at his rough hands.
"So, what do you plan to make with this metal?" Zeke asked about the Weaponsmith's ideas.
The Weaponsmith spread out a schematic, which prominently featured a chainsword.
"The weapons in the Tinkers' Construct manual are a bit too low-level. I'm not saying this is your fault, Mr. Zeke, but that this guidebook is somewhat behind the times," the Weaponsmith explained. "I intend to apply the metal known as Manyullyn to a chainsword".
"The Tinkers' Manual states that due to Manyullyn's 'Insatiable' trait, it is particularly suitable for fast-attacking weapons. This fits perfectly with a chainsword".
The Weaponsmith explained the characteristics of the chainsword to Zeke. When a chainsword is activated, the chain rotates at high speed, driving the teeth to cut. Therefore, a single attack from a chainsword is equivalent to over a dozen small strikes from the teeth, which can quickly stack the 'Insatiable' trait to its maximum level.
"And look at this, Mr. Zeke," the Weaponsmith said, pulling out another blueprint.
"This armor—I call it Manyullyn Power Armor," the Weaponsmith said with a tone of pride. "Thanks to Wolf Lord Bloodhowl's generous sponsorship and technical exchange, we were able to modify the Space Wolves' power armor".
He pointed to the structural breakdown on the blueprint: "We cast Manyullyn into outer plating and attach it to the exterior of the Ceramite Power Armor. This can imbue the power armor with the 'Kinetic' attribute, increasing the wearer's strength after taking damage".
"Go for it, Weaponsmith," Zeke said solemnly. "I believe in you; you will definitely succeed".
With the point allocation from the Resident Manual, the Weaponsmith's forging session was a complete success.
The Chainsword was fresh out of the furnace. Tests showed that as long as the chainsword hit an enemy twice, it would reach the maximum value of the 'Insatiable' trait. At that point, the chainsword's power would be roughly double its initial output; even armored tanks could not withstand it and would be sliced directly open.
Naturally, Zeke had a share of the latest batch of these weapons.
Zeke remembered that standard Tinkers' Construct weapons could not be enchanted, but this version, magically modified by the Weaponsmith, could be.
Zeke specially created a batch of Enchanted Books at the Enchanting Table. He applied a series of enchantments to the chainsword, including Sharpness V, Unbreaking, and Fire Aspect, raising the base damage from 15 to 18. Combined with the Insatiable trait, Strength potions, and the Kinetic attribute, the damage could exceed 50, making it the highest-damage weapon in Zeke's arsenal.
There was also the Power Armor. Zeke tried it on; with 30 defense points and Protection IV, it provided a great sense of security. This set of equipment became Zeke's primary loadout.
He then invested the remaining Emeralds into Karmine's potion brewing research, successfully unlocking the 'Potion Refining' capability. To put this into practice, he headed to the camp's medical area to find her. Inside, aside from standard medical equipment, he noticed her laboratory was mostly filled with Cow's milk.
"Long time no see, Karmine. I've found a new research subject for you," Zeke said, dispensing a bottle of every potion type he had and handing them to her.
Karmine accepted the potions. Research on Cow milk had stagnated, yielding nothing of value, which had been a significant blow to her. However, she was never one to give up easily and accepted Zeke's new task with pleasure.
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Back at Kasr Kraf, the atmosphere was frantic. Creed had issued a total recall order, pulling Cadian soldiers and allied factions back to the bastion. The reason was clear: following Cawl and Zeke's strike against the Black Legion in the ancient city, Abaddon had retaliated with an offensive even more ferocious than before.
Amidst the chaos of mobilization, Creed pulled Zeke aside to finalize the plan. They would utilize Wolf Lord Bloodhowl's ship, the Firemane's Fang, to launch a direct assault on the Blackstone Fortress. However, the objective had changed. They weren't just attacking; they were establishing a beachhead.
"The goal is to open a Portal connecting Cadia directly to the interior of the Blackstone Fortress," Creed explained.
"It's possible," Zeke replied, immediately setting to work. He began placing obsidian blocks on the ferrocrete floor, constructing a frame large enough for soldiers to march through. "As long as the portal's interior turns into a transparent, watery film, it means I've successfully connected the coordinates."
Creed nodded solemnly. The success or failure of the entire war depended on this single night.
Soon after, Zeke boarded the transport ship that would ferry them to orbit. The interior was crowded; this time, the strike force was twice the size of the previous mission, a coalition of every faction available.
In the cockpit, Wolf Lord Bloodhowl sat at the helm. He reached forward and flipped a switch, opening the fleet-wide vox channel.
A familiar, gravelly voice crackled over the speakers, resonating through the hull.
"Please imagine, my friends, the shape of a fist."
Down on the ground, Creed stood atop the massive Leviathan Command Vehicle. The mobile fortress, which Zeke had once brought down, had undergone extensive repairs and was finally back in service. From this high vantage point, the Lord Castellan addressed his troops.
"Attacking an enemy with an open palm might hurt their pride, but it cannot take their life," Creed's voice boomed over the radio. "Only by clenching into a fist, with five fingers tightly connected, can you deal significant damage to the enemy."
"And there are five factions upon the continent of Cadia."
As Creed spoke, Zeke looked out through the transport's thick viewport, watching the army assembled below.
"The Army of Cadia," Creed announced.
Zeke spotted a familiar face among the ranks—Danse. The soldier looked up and smiled at Zeke. Beside many of the young troopers stood towering Iron Golems, the silent guardians born of Project Titanfall.
"The power of the noble Astartes Chapters."
Wolf Lord Bloodhowl, fully armored and eager for battle, revved the transport's engines in response, beginning the ascent.
"The wisdom and technology of the Mechanicus."
Though Archmagos Cawl was absent—still deeply engrossed in his study of the Blackstone—his presence was felt in the advanced weaponry wielded by the troops.
"The holy zeal of the Sororitas!" Creed's voice rose in volume.
Scanning the lines of Battle Sisters, Zeke's eyes locked onto a dazzling, radiant figure hovering above them. His HUD displayed her name and health bar: Saint Celestine.
"And the Imperial Navy."
"But for a long time, we have fought separately. It is equivalent to attacking the Despoiler with a slap rather than a fist," Creed concluded. "We must form a single fist. This fist will clench here at Kasr Kraf, and tonight, we deliver a resounding blow to Abaddon on the Blackstone Fortress. We will tell them one fact!"
Creed turned the external speakers to the crowd below. In unison, countless voices erupted in a deafening roar that shook the earth:
"CADIA STANDS!"
With that war cry ringing in their ears, the engines ignited. Wolf Lord Bloodhowl pulled back on the yoke, and the transport ship shot skyward, piercing the clouds to reach the Firemane's Fang in orbit.
"Phew. The Blackstone Fortress," Bloodhowl muttered, looking at the viewscreen. "Took a big detour, but we can finally attack it."
He glanced sideways at his passenger. "Nervous, kid?"
Urgh.
Zeke let out a burp. "No," he said, rubbing his chest. He was just thinking about the Wyvern Egg in his inventory; it felt like it was about to hatch soon.
Bloodhowl adjusted their course—not that he really needed to. The Blackstone Fortress was so massive that he wouldn't miss it even with his eyes closed.
There it hung, suspended in the void near Cadia.
Confronting this fortress of death was the golden light of the Imperium—the Phalanx.
Sandwiched between these two titans were countless small assault ships and frigates, darting through the void like a school of sharks swimming around giant whales.
"Sit tight," Bloodhowl growled, pushing the throttle to the max.
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