The air in the Underhive headquarters had turned very cold and silent in an instant. As the Sisters of Silence closed the distance between them, the very concept of "breathing" became an ordeal for Gerhard. To a soul-bearing creature, especially one with an active connection to the Warp and a growing one at that, the proximity of a Blank was an unhealthy assault. It felt as though a black hole had appeared next to his soul and was slowly sucking it away from his body.
Gerhard collapsed, and a set of weapons was aimed directly at his face and throat. Instead of the weapons, though, he felt the "Wrongness." It was a psychic void that physically and spiritually seemed to hurt him, but didn't really register with his health bar.
Sister Atarine Hestia had stepped forward, her movements and facial features showing her great rage and sadness at losing two of the people she worked so hard to save. Their chamber was 9 strong. Seven of them had taken the vow, and two more were undergoing the trials. Now that two had died, they had lost almost a third of their strength. And naturally, that made her mad.
She did not speak. Her fingers signed in the air, weaving the sharp, aggressive version of Thoughtmark.
"She asked: What are you, anomaly?"
Gerhard moved his head to the side. The person he couldn't see, only the name, had just talked. His voice sounded through his vox-grill, which came across as cold as a glacier.
-
Lencillus - Lv. ???
| ???
-
Gerhard tried to focus. [Gamer's Mind] was working overtime, forcing his thoughts into logical boxes even as his soul seemed to be sucked in, as if trying to flee his body.
[Warning: Extreme Anomalous Spiritual Pressure Detected]
[Warp Connection: 99% Suppressed]
[Status: Existential Nausea]
"I... am an uncorrupted... citizen..." Gerhard wheezed.
[Analysing]
[Comparing energy systems]
Hestia's hands flashed again, faster this time, as if urgently trying to convey her thoughts.
The man, Lencillus, shifted his spear.
"She sees the lie in your energy. You hold the taint of the Immaterium. You are a psyker, yet you do not break like a common one. She asks: What Master do you serve in the shadows of your mind?"
Behind Gerhard, the heavy thrum of machinery spiked. Magos-Datasmith Hans saw his Master collapsing and reacted with the cold logic of his existence.
> Biological distress detected! Subject Gerhard requires immediate medical intervention!
Hans still kept true to his new role in the presence of these people. Sera Vahl had also been detained, holding up her hands disarmingly and watching everything unfold.
Hans' mechandrites activated, and the massive Kastelan Robot beside him hummed lightly as its combat protocols engaged following Hans' command. The phosphor blasters whirred, and the Power Fists were activated and ready for action.
"Stand down, Priest of Mars," the man commanded, his spear levelled at the machine's sensory dome.
> Negative
Hans countered, his voice a binary screech of defiance, still fully in his element, but worried for his Master.
> My directives are clear! You are not to harm the Omnissiah!
Lencillus didn't argue. He moved. With a blur, he disappeared, slamming the butt of his spear into the Kastelan's chest, the sheer force of the blow sending the multi-ton machine skidding back across the room.
Simultaneously, two Sisters moved toward Hans like a well-oiled machine, noticing the danger he presented. Their presence affected the Tech-Priest's soul, despite its artificial nature, and scrambled his sensors.
"The machine is tainted by the association," the man stated. "And you are compromised."
Gerhard watched through a haze. His mind was clear, as Gamer's Mind still forced it to be, but his body felt strange. He could feel the Mana inside him frantically activating in response to the new situation.
[Analysing Energy Divergence...]
[Warp Energy: Nullified]
[Mana Energy: Stable]
[Mana is outside the influence of the Null-Field]
[A new skill has been created through a special circumstance]
Blank Resistance (Omega-Minus Resistance) (Passive) Lv. 1
| EXP: 0.00%
| The body and mind adapt to the presence of anti-psychic entities (Blanks/Pariahs), reducing the negative effects of null-fields over time.
Effects:
| Reduces discomfort caused by Blanks
| -10% suppression effect on Warp-based abilities
| +10% spiritual stability in anti-psychic zones
| Allows partial function under psychic-null influence
[Blank Resistance has levelled up]
"Get... back!" Gerhard roared.
He summoned every ounce of his remaining strength and activated the skill [Mana Reinforcement].
[Blank Resistance has levelled up]
Blue light erupted across his skin as his body was reinforced with Mana. For a second, he fought the vacuum of the Sisters' presence, even managing to stand up, shocking them.
He lunged at Hestia, his fist empowered by the Mana. But the transition was jarring. The "Void" of the Sisters and its effect on his soul acted like a thick syrup, dragging at his movements and strength, jumbling his energy control.
[Warp Sensitivity is evolving under suppression]
[Warp Sensitivity has levelled up]
Warp Sensitivity (Passive) Lv. 20
New Effects:
| Improved detection of suppressed Warp fluctuations
| Can perceive "void zones" (Blank presence)
| +50% effectiveness of mental-type skills
| +20% resistance to Warp-based effects
-
Hestia didn't flinch, though. To her, this blue light was just another proof of sorcery. A clear and unmistakable proof that Gerhard was under the influence or even under a contract with one of the highest forms of heresy... Tzeentch.
Hestia's anger intensified. She had lost two of her Sisters because of this endeavour, only to turn out then to have been a trick by the God of Change himself. She was livid.
She stepped inside his guard, her movement, unlike Gerhard's, a masterpiece of martial arts. She easily avoided his sluggish punch.
She spun, her Executioner Greatblade slashing through the stale air and...
SHINK.
The six-foot blessed steel pierced through Gerhard's back and went right through where his heart was supposed to be, coming out on the other side.
The blade, designed to kill Warp filth, should have ended him instantly. He hung there, skewered like a piece of meat about to be roasted.
'No blood,' Hestia thought.
It was true, there was no blood. Gerhard was the Gamer after all, and because of that, he had a [Gamer's Body], meaning there was no blood to be seen.
Again, another proof that he was of Chaos.
Hestia pulled out her blade and looked Gerhard in the eyes, expecting to see the light vanish from them, while the Kastelan and Hans were being taken out, and even Sera Vahl had been punched unconscious.
...
..
.
BbbbBBbBBRRrrrrRRRRooOOOOMMM--
The secret holdout was suddenly bathed in a very bright golden light that blasted the Sisters' null-field back, shocking all four newcomers. It wasn't the blue of Mana, nor the purple-red or other colours of the Warp.
It was Gold. Gold and white.
It was a glow and that particular feeling that especially the man, Lencillus, was most familiar with.
A series of notifications flashed across Gerhard's eyes, but he didn't notice anything. He was far too absorbed by that insane heat and power flowing through him at this moment.
[Divine-Class Soul Influence Detected]
[Source non-malicious]
[New title and status gained: **** *****]
**** ***** (Passive) Lv. 1
| A peculiar divine energy source has @#§§# with Gerhard, the Gamer.
| @#§¢¢°¢#° @#### °°°###@@@°°°§§§##**%*ç% ç%"çç+ ç42çç
[Fusion initiated]
...
...
[Detect Presence]
[New title granted: Emperor's Chosen]
...
[Detect Presence]
[Detect Bloodlust]
[Detect Presence]
[Detect Bloodlust]
[Detect Presence]
[Detect Bloodlust]
[Detect Presence]
[Detect Bloodlust]
Gerhard's eyes suddenly opened again. The light didn't fade from them; instead, it now glowed with a bright golden light. They became miniature stars with a streak of golden lightning escaping from Gerhard's left one.
His entire body began to hiss. The Greatblade, held by one of the currently most powerful Blanks in the Imperium, began to glow hot. Hestia was forced to release the hilt as the metal began to burn.
[Title: Emperor's Chosen (Unique)]
|Title: Emperor's Chosen (Unique)
Effects:
| +100 INT
| +80 WIS
| +100% total MP
| +100% MP regen
| +100% mental/psionic effectiveness
| +20 LUK
Psychic Effects:
| [Chaos Resistance]
| Cannot act as Warp gateway or anchor
| + 60% resistance to Warp-based attacks
| + 40% resistance to mental attacks
| Warp signature becomes stable and controlled
[Bastion of Hope]
| Passive buff to all allies: +30% Mental Resistance and +20% Morale.
-
[All Stats Increased Significantly]
[New energy has fuelled Mana]
Gerhard stood up. He had a new golden radiance rolling off him in waves, which mixed with the strong blue of his Mana. The Sisters stepped back, their hands shielding their eyes, a sensation they had likely never experienced, since they hadn't been on Terra in forever. Lencillus, on the other hand, dropped to one knee, his spear lowered in total submission.
"The Master of Mankind... has touched and blessed this anomaly," he whispered.
Gerhard looked at his hands. The blue Mana and the golden glow were seemingly shaking hands, and the golden glow fuelled his Mana. He looked at the System interface, which was now scrolling at speeds he couldn't keep up with.
[Minor Warp Manipulation has evolved]
Intermediate Warp Manipulation (Active) Lv. 1
Warning:
| Use may attract attention from Warp entities
| Increased usage raises detection probability
-
[Conflict detected: Warp vs Non-Warp Energy Systems]
[System attempting separation]
[A new skill has been created through a special circumstance]
Dual Energy Cognition (Passive) Lv. 1
| EXP: 0.00%
| The ability to distinguish, separate, and utilise different energy systems without interference.
Effects:
| +15% efficiency when using non-Warp abilities in Warp environments
| Prevents energy interference between Mana and Warp
| Improves Mana-Warp synergy by 100%
| +10% control over hybrid (psionic/mana) skills
-
[Severe mental pressure detected]
[External authority-class presence detected]
[Gamer's Mind responding]
[Iron Will responding]
[Skill synergy triggered]
[Iron Will has levelled up]
Iron Will (Passive) Lv. 3
| EXP: 3.39%
| You will never stop, you will never give up. You would rather die than give in. There is no obstacle you can't climb. This skill activates as soon as either HP or MP drops below 50%.
Effects (Updated):
| +100% HP regeneration (below 50%)
| +100% MP regeneration (below 50%)
| +20 VIT (Permanent)
| +25% resistance to mental suppression
| +15% resistance to fear and coercion effects
-
[Skill Synthesis: Chaos Resistance + Null Field + Emperor's Chosen]
[A new skill has been created through a special circumstance]
Blank (Active/Passive) Lv. 1
| EXP: 0.00%
| A rare and unnatural trait that allows the user to generate a localised anti-psychic field, just like that of natural born Blanks.
Passive Effects:
| -100% incoming psychic / Warp damage
| +100% resistance to mental interference
| Disruption of nearby Warp-based abilities
| Reduces Warp presence visibility
Active Effects:
| Generates a localised null-field around the user
| - Weakens enemy psychic abilities and powers
| - Disrupts Warp constructs, spells, and psykers
| - Reduces the effectiveness of Warp-based entities and psykers
Cost:
| 40 MP per minute
Limitations:
| Blocks your own Warp-based abilities by 100% while active
| Causes discomfort to others who aren't Blanks when used
-
Gerhard turned to Sister Hestia. The agonising "Wrongness" was gone. In its place was a newfound comfortable clarity. His perception, his mind, and his connection to the Warp had changed enormously.
He was now like the Yin and Yang of a Psyker-Blank-Hybrid. If he wanted, he could use the Warp as a psyker did, and thanks to his new title, he would grow stronger and more skilled at an unimaginable pace.
Or, he could turn into a Blank with a thought and snuff out the Warp. Right now, both the Warp manipulation and the Blank skill were weak, but when one grew, the other would grow as well, since they balanced each other out.
In a way, it was a restriction, and in a way, it was the ultimate cheat. Because what Gerhard didn't know yet was that what saved him was something he didn't know about and was not familiar with. It would have made him shine like a sun similar to the Emperor of Mankind, but thanks to his dual core and the [Blank] skill, he returned to being 'grey'.
"Shall we start again?" Gerhard asked and walked towards Hestia.
"Hans, stand down. You too, Kastelan. Get off him now!"
Gerhard arrived before Hestia and didn't flinch this time. The new titles and skills had changed him, making him into a new man. Literally, the system even had a special race classification for him.