Zeke stood atop the repaired watchtower, looking down at the gathered crowd.
The players had just completed their basic enhancements and were all adapting to their bodily changes:
Some were jumping to test their vertical leap, others were arm wrestling.
Every single face wore the hyper-excited expression of someone thinking, I just got stronger!
"Everyone!"
Zeke's voice echoed over the base.
The players quieted down, looking up at him.
"We've built houses, established a base, and enhanced our bodies, but this is only the beginning!"
Zeke spread his arms wide, his movements exaggerated. His newly enhanced muscles stretched his jumpsuit taut.
"In this dog-shit Warhammer universe, fighting alone means dying fast. Huddling together is the only way to live long!"
"So today, I announce—"
He took a deep breath. Under the gaze of everyone present, he pulled up his system panel, navigated to the [Chapter System], and clicked [Found a Chapter].
[Chapter Name: Crimson Dawn]
[Initial Level: Skirmisher (Level 1)]
[Maximum Capacity: 1,000 personnel]
[Founding Cost: 1,000 Imperial Coins]
[Confirm?]
"Confirm!"
[Imperial Coins Deducted: 1,000]
[Chapter "Crimson Dawn" Founded Successfully!]
[You have been appointed as Chapter Master]
[Chapter Comms Channel, Chapter Vault (Initial 50 slots), Chapter Contribution System, Chapter Mission Module activated. Chapter Basic Command Hierarchy, Chapter Achievement Medals, Chapter Honor Store Unlocked.]
[Methods to acquire Chapter EXP and Honor Points: Complete System Missions, achieve Major Milestones, participate in and influence Regional Events.]
[Current Chapter EXP: 0/1000 (To reach Skirmisher Level 2)]
A brand-new interface unfolded in Zeke's vision.
Concise and practical.
Almost simultaneously, a pillar of crimson light shot into the sky from the top of the watchtower!
The light wasn't physical, but some sort of visual effect, strikingly prominent in the dim twilight.
The light coalesced and transformed thirty meters in the air, ultimately forming an emblem:
A crimson sun rising from a dark horizon, its rays piercing the clouds to illuminate a ruined wasteland of steel below.
Beneath the emblem, two forceful, resonant characters materialized: Crimson!
"Crimson Dawn!"
Zeke shouted, his voice carrying a trace of a tremble.
"Our Chapter is founded today!"
"This is our Main Chapter! It is our banner! It is the very first fire we are lighting in this dark galaxy!"
Below him, the players erupted into earth-shattering cheers and discussions!
"Crimson Dawn! Badass!"
"That emblem is sick! Looks way better than that broken genetic helix of the Aru Group!"
Zeke waited for the cheers to die down slightly before continuing:
"But Crimson Dawn is the Main Chapter, and it can only hold a thousand people!"
"We have five thousand brothers! What do we do?"
His gaze swept over the crowd below. "Split up?"
"No, we branch out!"
"Under the banner of Crimson Dawn, we will have different branches walking different paths!"
"Some want to be muscular meatheads, some want to be psychic spellcasters, some want to be Mechanicus Cogboys—"
"Everyone has their own preferences and talents!"
"Therefore—"
He looked at the familiar figures standing at the front of the crowd.
"Tax Bro! Schrödinger Bro! Cogboy! White Scar! Following what we discussed earlier, found your Chapters now!"
–
[Emperor's Taxes Must Be Paid Even If The World Ends] grinned widely as he stepped onto the dirt mound next to the watchtower.
He had just completed his Type I enhancement. His already burly frame was now as massive as a bear's, his jumpsuit sleeves stretched so tight by his muscles they looked ready to burst.
"Brothers!" Tax Bro's voice was gruff.
"I don't like all those twists and turns! Psychics, machinery—just hearing about it gives me a headache!"
"I only believe in this!"
He raised a fist the size of a clay pot and slammed it hard against his chest, producing a dull thud.
"Flesh! Power! Fists!"
"Beat the enemy down, snatch the resources back, and build our base up! That is our way!"
He pulled up his system panel without hesitation.
"Chapter name... hmm..."
Tax Bro scratched his head. This naming part was a bit difficult for him.
A player nearby shouted, "Call it the Khornate Chosen Reserve!"
"Fuck off!" Tax Bro glared. "I am the Emperor's Tax... I mean, I am a loyal subject of the Emperor!"
He thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up.
"I got it!"
"Crimson Fists!" (A/N: Wait, no, copyright infringement... let's tweak it)
"Crimson Strike!"
"Our Chapter will be the fist of the Crimson Dawn!"
"Whoever dares block our path, we'll smash their heads in with one punch!"
[Chapter "Crimson Strike" Founded Successfully!]
[Role: Melee Assault / Heavy Firepower Support]
[Recruitment Preference: Prioritizes players who have completed Basic Physique Enhancement, lean toward the physical augmentation route, and prefer head-on combat.]
An emblem lit up: A metal fist thrusting out from a crimson background. The knuckles were studded with rivets and dented from impact, with glowing energy conduits woven between the fingers.
Brutal, brimming with a sense of raw power.
"Anyone who wants to run with me!" Tax Bro waved his massive hand.
"Sign up now! There's only one requirement: Be reckless enough! Don't fear death! Dare to charge right back in after respawning!"
"Our goal—" He grinned, revealing a row of stark white teeth.
"—Is to max out all the basic enhancements! Then save up money and buy Gene-Seed!"
"I've checked the store! Even though we can't see it yet, there are definitely items related to Astartes modification surgeries!"
"In the future, our Crimson Strike will be composed entirely of Space Marines!"
"Do you have the balls for it?!"
"WE DO!!!"
Below, at least fifteen hundred players responded in unison!
They were all the reckless types who played games just to fight people without using their brains.
–
The second was [Did the White Scars Speed Today?].
"My turn, my turn!"
White Scar practically leaped onto the dirt mound. Having just completed his enhancement, he felt so light his body could fly.
"If Tax Bro wants to be the fist, then I will be—"
His eyes were resolute.
"The Crimson Wind!"
"Fast! Accurate! Ruthless!"
"We don't play that heavy armor tanking game! We play mobility! We play ambush! We play speed!"
"We ride motorcycles... well, we don't have motorcycles right now, so we'll practice running first!"
"When we have money later, we'll outfit everyone with jump packs, hoverbikes, and high-speed assault vehicles!"
"We are the scalpel of the Crimson Dawn! The fastest blade to pierce the enemy's heart!"
[Chapter "Crimson Wind" Founded Successfully!]
Emblem: A streak of crimson light cutting a sharp trajectory through the darkness, ending in a blood-dripping dagger.
"Recruitment requirements!" White Scar spoke rapidly:
"Fast reflexes! Fast runner! Not afraid of heights! Loves thrills!"
"The enhancement route is similar to Tax Bro's, but we focus more on neural reflexes and sensory acuity!"
"When we have money later, we'll spec into the 'Danger Precognition' psychic talent! You have to know where to run to run fast!"
"Our tactical philosophy is one sentence: The enemy advances, we retreat; the enemy retreats, we pursue; the enemy camps, we harass; the enemy tires, we attack!"
"So does anyone wants to run with me?!"
"WE DO!!!"
Another thousand-plus people raised their hands.
–
The third was [Schrödinger's Loyalist].
Schrödinger Bro walked onto the dirt mound with unhurried, measured steps, a stark contrast to the previous two.
"Gentlemen," Schrödinger Bro's voice was calm.
"In the Warhammer universe, psychic power is a curse, but also one of the strongest weapons."
"The Emperor Himself is the most powerful Psyker, though He hasn't sat on the Golden Throne yet..."
"My idea is very simple."
He pulled up his system panel.
"Crimson Spirit."
"Wisdom, knowledge, psychic power—these seemingly intangible things are, in critical moments, more useful than a hundred tanks."
"We won't take the path of brute force. We will take... the path of the mind."
[Chapter "Crimson Spirit" Founded Successfully!]
Emblem: An open book with glowing psychic runes floating off its pages, and a faintly glowing brain hovering above it.
"Recruitment requirements." Schrödinger Bro paused.
"First, patience."
"Psychic cultivation cannot be rushed. Messing around will get you killed—literally."
"Second, no fear of the unknown."
"Psychic powers involve the Warp, and we all know what's in there."
"Third, it is best to have... well, a certain foundation of knowledge."
"Physics, mathematics, philosophy, occultism, anything goes."
"I will conduct Psychic Talent Screenings shortly."
"Those with C-tier potential or higher are welcome to join."
"Those with lower potential aren't barred from training, and are equally welcome."
"The goal of our Crimson Spirit—" A glint of light flashed in Schrödinger Bro's eyes.
"—Is to establish the Crimson Dawn's own Psyker corps. Responsible for reconnaissance, communication, anti-psyker defense, and critical spell support."
"And... to unravel the mysteries of this universe."
"After all, knowledge is power."
Fewer people raised their hands this time, roughly seven to eight hundred.
–
The last was [Fugitive Cogboy of the Mechanicus].
He walked onto the dirt mound, his synthesized-sounding voice speaking slowly:
"Four detachments. Covering melee, mobility, and psychic powers. We are missing a technical logistics direction."
"I am founding: Crimson Machina."
[Chapter "Crimson Machina" Founded Successfully!]
Emblem: A precision gear assembly with a crossed wrench and welding torch in the center, set against a crimson background.
"Recruitment requirements." Cogboy was succinct:
"One: Interest in at least one of the following—mechanics, electronics, engineering, or programming. Willing to spend Imperial Coins purchasing Mechanicus knowledge from the store."
"Two: Not averse to bodily augmentations."
"The primary developmental direction of this Chapter is the mechanical augmentation route. Starting from basic neural interfaces, gradually aligning toward the Mechanicus Tech-Priest doctrine."
"Three: Patience and steady hands. Modification surgeries and precision repairs both require meticulous operation."
"Four: Clear logical reasoning. The Omnissiah despises chaos."
"Chapter Goals:" He raised his right hand, tapping the empty air.
"Establish the technical logistics network for the Crimson Dawn. Responsible for equipment repair, vehicle modification, base facility construction, and new technology R&D."
"Short-term: Repair and upgrade current base defense systems; manufacture crude weapons and tools."
"Mid-term: Establish workshops; attempt to reverse-engineer Xenos-style equipment purchased from the store."
"Long-term: Develop our own hybrid technology tree—merging Imperial, Xenos, and Unknown technologies."
"Furthermore, members of this Chapter must undergo regular logical self-diagnostics to prevent mechanical minds from being corrupted by Chaos. There is historical precedent for this."
Even fewer people raised their hands this time, around four to five hundred.
–
Five Chapters, distinct styles.
Crimson Dawn (Main Chapter): Led by Zeke. Role: Comprehensive command and strategic planning. Recruits the most core players with the best big-picture thinking. Capped at 1,000, instantly full.
Crimson Strike (Branch Chapter): Led by Tax Bro. Gathering spot for muscular meatheads. Currently recruited 1,600 personnel—over capacity. Tax Bro scratched his head and said, "The extras will be the reserve."
Crimson Wind (Branch Chapter): Led by White Scar. Speed supremacists. Recruited 1,119 personnel. The extras were also reserves.
Crimson Spirit (Branch Chapter): Led by Schrödinger Bro. Psyker spellcaster reserves. Recruited 813 personnel.
Crimson Machina (Branch Chapter): Led by Cogboy. Home for tech-otakus and Servitors. Recruited 468 personnel.
Exactly five thousand people. Not one more, not one less.
The entire base was re-zoned according to the Chapters:
The brutes of Crimson Strike occupied the east side, using their newly acquired strength to haul the heaviest building materials.
The speedsters of Crimson Wind occupied the west side, discussing where to go scavenge tomorrow.
The Psyker reserves of Crimson Spirit gathered in the central tent, where Schrödinger Bro was organizing the first batch of Psychic Talent Screenings.
Cries of "Holy shit, I'm D-tier!" and "Haha, I'm B-tier!" could be heard intermittently.
The tech-otakus of Crimson Machina burrowed into the prefabricated building serving as their workshop. They began researching the various materials needed to be purchased for the subsequent base expansion, as well as the specialized facilities required for each Chapter's quarters.
And most importantly, all the foundational knowledge regarding mechanical manufacturing available in the store!
Zeke looked at the bustling, fiery scene with a smile on his face.
He issued the first official announcement in the Main Chapter channel:
[Crimson Dawn Chapter Announcement]
Brothers, the Chapters are founded, and our paths are chosen.
Next, we have three things to do:
1. Complete Phase One base construction within three days. We must have at least dormitories that block the wind and rain, a cafeteria, latrines, and basic defensive fortifications.
2. Each branch Chapter will begin targeted training and preparation based on their developmental direction. Strike trains physique and melee; Wind trains mobility and marksmanship; Spirit studies psychic foundations; Machina handles technical construction.
3. After three days, we organize our first large-scale exploration operation.
Target: Resource nodes, human settlements, and ruins within a 100-kilometer radius of the base. Anywhere we can score Imperial Coins.
Remember, we are no longer miners. We are warriors, we are pioneers, and we are... the Crimson Dawn that is going to show this world what we're made of.
Now, dismissed! Get to work!
The channel flooded with a neat row of "Copy that!"
–
The setting sun sank completely below the horizon.
Night descended on Aurelian, but inside the ruined base, lights burned brightly.
Not electric lights, but simple glow-rods bought from the shop and homemade torches.
And the faint glow of an old-model generator—purchased collectively by the Crimson Machina Chapter for research purposes.
The light pierced the darkness.
Though it was faint, it was indeed shining.
The Crimson Dawn, this spark of daybreak, was preparing to start a prairie fire.
--
Goal = 600 Powerstones.