"Outsider, you claim you can save us?"
The nine Masters sat around an oval table. Caelan and Magnus were also present, signifying equal status among all.
One of the Masters, clad in a blue robe, was the first to speak, his questioning tone clearly laced with hostility.
"Not claim," Caelan said, glancing at the nameplate before him, which read 'Mephia'.
"Then, please tell us, how will you save Prospero?"
Caelan calmly looked at the questioner. "That's not the attitude of someone asking for help."
The chamber fell into a brief silence.
After a moment, Mephia took a deep breath and inclined his head slightly. "Forgive my rudeness. The threat of the Psychneuein has kept us in constant fear for decades. That pressure has indeed affected my words and actions."
Caelan surveyed the nine. "The Psychneuein have ravaged Prospero for decades. Have you ever considered why they exist?"
Another Master, Vennakar, spoke up.
"Some among us have proposed similar hypotheses, but we are trapped in Tizca, unable to verify them further. Outsider, you seem to have a deep understanding of the Warp. Can you enlighten us, what exactly are the Psychneuein?"
Caelan explained, "Psychneuein are Warp entities. And nothing belonging to the Warp can exist in the material universe for long."
"Everything originating from the Warp is bound by the laws of the material universe."
"The reason they can infest Prospero is that someone opened a hole to the Warp, and that hole remains unclosed to this day."
A psyker's physical body can exist long-term, but the body's constraints also limit the expression of their power.
Once a psyker's power leaves their body, it often struggles to have any effect, like casting a stone into the sea.
This is the material universe's laws at work, spontaneously repairing the anomalous damage caused by psychic powers.
A full-fledged psyker is like a fired clay ox entering the sea, capable of stirring waves in the shallows, but still crushed by the deep sea's pressure.
The most powerful psykers, however, can not only walk freely in the deep sea, hunting whales, but could even evaporate the ocean itself.
This is due to the significant difference in a psyker's manifestation between the material universe and the Warp.
In the material universe, bound by physical laws, a psyker's upper limit might only be enough to destroy a city.
Once in the Warp, they might unleash enough terrifying energy to destroy a star.
If a psyker could destroy a star in the material universe, their performance in the Warp would be even more terrifying.
The Emperor is like this. His power is simply unimaginable to ordinary people.
This limitation applies to Warp entities as well.
Even if a demon condenses a physical form in the material universe through a sacrificial ritual, its power is greatly constrained.
In the Warp, a Greater Daemon can command the elements, second only to the four Gods.
Whether a Greater Daemon is powerful in the material universe depends entirely on how large a hole the sacrificial ritual can open.
The larger the hole, the more power it can seep into reality.
If the sacrificial ritual cannot maintain the hole, causing it to shrink, the demon's power is also suppressed.
When the hole completely closes, weaker demons, cut off from the power source on the other side, are banished by the material universe's laws.
Greater Daemons can last longer because their materialized forms still have residual Warp energy to sustain them.
And they themselves can act as new holes, continuing their existence through bloody slaughter and sacrifice.
Since Psychneuein are Warp entities, they naturally cannot escape this limitation.
There must be some kind of hole maintaining their existence, allowing them to still rampage.
Amon asked, "So if we can close the hole, we can eliminate the Psychneuein?"
Caelan shook his head. "Not eliminate. Banish."
Caelan wasn't being pedantic. There is a significant difference between the two.
Mephia asked, "How do we find the hole?"
Caelan answered, "Under normal circumstances, the hole is wherever the disaster originated."
"There are abnormal circumstances?"
Magnus said, "Although Psychneuein have low intelligence, the probability of them planning such a conspiracy is small."
"But the Psychneuein may not be the only enemy. Perhaps someone is controlling them. We cannot rule out that possibility."
"Vennakar, do we have a detailed understanding of the disaster's origin?" Amon asked the most learned Master among them.
Vennakar answered, "When the disaster struck, no one had a clear understanding of it. The survivors we took in mostly came from towns around Tizca and knew nothing about the origin."
"When we tried to find the root cause, the entire world was already in chaos due to the Psychneuein's rampage."
"Contact with other cities was completely lost twenty years ago."
"Based on available records, we can only roughly infer that the disaster originated somewhere west of Tizca."
Mephia frowned. "Does this mean we must leave the safety of Tizca and venture outside to explore?"
Caelan said "If you want to end Prospero's calamity rather than wait for death, you must take risks."
The Masters fell silent. Finally, Amon broke the silence.
"I propose forming an expeditionary force to explore westward. If he is right, it is indeed our only option."
Mephia questioned, "Outsider, can you guarantee this will end the disaster?"
"I cannot guarantee it. This is my first encounter with Psychneuein. My understanding of them is limited to inference."
"These inferences are based on my knowledge of the Warp. For a Warp entity to breach the barrier to reality, it must use a specific medium or ritual."
"Whether in the material universe or the Warp, no entity can freely travel between the two realms without limits."
"Even when psykers travel the Warp, their bodies remain in an unprotected, unconscious meditative state."
"I can only tell you that my inferences are highly likely."
Mephia argued "It's not that we don't believe you, but this is a major matter. We need more than just theoretical foundations; we need concrete evidence!"
Caelan said, "I understand your concerns. But similar events have happened in history."
Amon asked, "In the Golden Age?"
"Much earlier. Tens of millions of years ago."
Regarding the War in Heaven tens of millions of years ago, the accounts of the Aeldari and the Necrontyr differ.
But Aeldari history contains much embellishment and artistic interpretation, making it less reliable than the Necrontyr's records.
The initial War in Heaven was version 0.5: the Old Ones vs. the Necrontyr.
The Necrontyr narrowly lost to the Old Ones and were driven back to their homeworld.
To turn the tide, the Necrontyr aligned with the C'tan and became the Necrons through biotransference.
The War in Heaven officially entered version 1.0: the Old Ones vs. the C'tan and Necrons.
Led by the C'tan, the Necrons launched a full-scale counterattack against the Old Ones. To counter the C'tan threat, the Old Ones created numerous psychic races, including the Aeldari. Their powerful psychic abilities could effectively counter the C'tan.
The War in Heaven thus entered version 2.0: the Old Ones and Aeldari, etc., vs. the C'tan and Necrons.
In version 2.0, the cruelty of the war was unprecedented.
All the psychic races created by the Old Ones were born for war. In some versions, the Aeldari gods themselves were Warp entities created by the Old Ones.
Their existence was similar to the Primarchs, with the Aeldari being the Astartes born from those gods.
The War in Heaven destroyed countless worlds and lives. The death, pain, and destruction it generated, along with the primal emotions and collective unconscious worship emanating from the psychic races created by the Old Ones, all projected into the Warp.
The original order of the Warp was completely changed from then on. Chaos and malice became the entirety of the Warp.
Those once harmless psychic entities were ultimately twisted into greedy, evil predators. The three Warp Gods began to gestate.
While the three Gods were being born, the Warp itself also began to invade the material universe in force. Enslavers and Primordial Annihilators joined the great melee.
The War in Heaven officially entered version 3.0: the Old Ones vs. the C'tan vs. the Warp.
In the final version, the material universe fought against the Warp while also fighting within itself.
Internal conflict occurred not only between the Old Ones and the C'tan, but also between their subject races.
To fight the Warp, the Old Ones created new races: the intelligent warmongers Orks and the technologically mimetic Jokaero.
But it was too late. The Warp had already invaded the material universe.
The Old Ones were utterly defeated in their struggle against the Warp. The Aeldari, supported by their gods, broke free from Old One control.
And although the C'tan inexplicably and completely defeated the Old Ones, the Necrons then stabbed the C'tan in the back.
Ultimately, both the Old Ones and the C'tan perished. The main actors of the War in Heaven became the Necrons and the Aeldars.
But they had no reason to fight, as neither had masters left, and there was no need to continue the War in Heaven.
Since Warp entities were still ravaging the material universe, they even briefly allied against the Enslavers and Primordial Annihilators.
Even when fighting the Old Ones and C'tan, they might have been secretly plotting to betray their respective masters.
For example, the Blackstone Fortresses are a perfect combination of Necron Blackstone technology and Aeldari psychic technology. There must have been cooperation between them during this period.
The Enslavers back then were even more terrifying than the Psychneuein. They could possess and control all life, turning possessed victims into new 'holes', summoning even more Enslavers into the material universe.
So history is always strikingly similar.
Whether it's the Imperium of Man or Prospero, their experiences coincidentally mirror those of the Old Ones.
The Emperor creating the Primarchs and Astartes mirrors the Old Ones creating the Aeldar gods and the Aeldari.
The Psychneuein invasion of Prospero mirrors the Enslaver plague of the War in Heaven.
Although the Old Ones failed, humanity is still trying.
"Stop hesitating! We must try!"
"I support the expedition. The Psychneuein will eventually invade Tizca. We cannot wait for death."
"But the expedition is too dangerous. We must face the Psychneuein directly. We need enough people."
"What about the people? If we all leave, who will protect them?"
Inside Tizca's council chamber, the Masters argued endlessly, but couldn't reach a consensus.
They couldn't completely trust Caelan, yet couldn't afford not to.
Because Caelan was right: they couldn't remain trapped in Tizca. If they took a risk and took the initiative, they might have a chance.
But even if they all approved the expedition,
Someone still had to stay behind in Tizca to protect the people.
Who exactly should go? How should they go? How many people? How many resources? All this needed discussion.
"Everyone, take the leap! Don't let the opportunity slip away!"
Amon's gaze rested on each person in turn.
"Even if destruction awaits us, taking the initiative is at least more glorious than dragging out an existence!"
He chose to believe his nightmare.
Since he saw Prospero being destroyed in flames in his dream, at least Prospero won't be destroyed by the Psychneuein!
They could overcome the disaster!
Mephia said in a low voice, "If we're going to take the leap, we can't split up."
"Others are too weak to resist Psychneuein parasitism. Only we can contend with them!"
"Tizca has the psychic arrays for protection. Even without us, others can maintain them."
"But if we want to close the hole, we will inevitably face a bitter fight against the Psychneuein. We must concentrate everyone's strength!"
Magnus watched them argue quietly. He would not interfere with whatever decision the council made.
Magnus would save Prospero, but he would not pay for the council's mistakes.
If they insisted on staying in Tizca to drag out their existence, Magnus was confident he and his father could handle the crisis alone.
But such cowardly Tizcans would not earn Magnus's respect. He would only find them hopeless.
His father had already gone to great lengths. Why wouldn't they believe?
Fortunately, they were not ignorant or weak.
The world cannot accommodate ignorance and weakness. Psykers, especially, must keep a clear head.
What they contend against is far more dangerous than ordinary people face.
Magnus approved.
…...
Vennakar returned to his dwelling and summoned his most outstanding disciple.
"Iskandar, in two days, I and the other Masters will leave Tizca for an expedition westward. It will take at least a month."
The young man's pupils contracted, his voice tense. "You've always warned me that the outside world is very dangerous. Why are you taking this risk now? Teacher, what are you going to do?"
Vennakar's expression was serious as he instructed him. "Because hope is also outside. Only by finding and closing the 'gate' can Prospero be redeemed."
"You just need to remember: if we succeed, you don't need to do anything."
"But if we fail... we might not come back."
"You must inherit my legacy and continue to lead the Tizcans. As long as the psychic arrays are still there, hope will not completely die!"
"During our absence, you must be careful of the freedom faction. Don't let them take advantage."
Iskandar Khayon nodded, his mood heavy. He understood that his teacher might never return.
His teacher was taking risks for the Tizcans. He must not bring shame to his teacher!
A gratified smile appeared on Vennakar's face. "Iskandar, don't worry about me. Our chances of success are high."
"Teacher, do you truly trust the outsider so much? What if he is wrong?"
Khayon had heard of Caelan. He and Magnus were the talk of Tizca, as they were not Prosperines.
Vennakar asked, "A year ago, Magnus's gestation pod fell from the sky. How did the outsider get here?"
Khayon couldn't answer. No one knew how Caelan had arrived on Prospero or how he had entered Tizca.
And that was Vennakar's answer.
In common understanding, since he could reach Prospero, he must have a starship capable of interstellar travel.
And since he could cross Tizca's wilderness, unafraid of the Psychneuein threat, he must be a powerful psyker.
Even if their expedition failed, Caelan could still save some Tizcans.
Vennakar said, "The outsider's theories about the Warp and psykers are novel, breaking our usual understanding."
"But this theory is logically rigorous and can explain many of our questions."
"We have all seen Magnus's talent. The outsider, as his father, is definitely not as simple as he appears on the surface."
"We have been trapped in Tizca for decades, have lost all hope, even our courage has been worn away."
"Since the outsider has brought hope, the only thing we can do is seize it at all costs!"
Khayon asked, "But teacher, what if you fail?"
Vennakar said, "Everything has risks. No one can guarantee a 100% success rate."
"We are all old. Even if we stay in Tizca, we won't live much longer."
"We might as well take the leap, use our lives to gamble on a bright future for you young people!"
Khayon clenched his fists, his knuckles white from tension. "I can go with you!"
Vennakar questioned, "If you go, what about Izara? Can you bear to leave her alone in Tizca?"
Khayon fell silent. His sister still needed care.
Vennakar placed his hand heavily on Khayon's shoulder. "Don't worry about me. Take care of Izara."
Khayon bowed his head. "I understand, teacher."
…....
"Teacher, are you looking for my father again?"
Outside the room's corridor, Magnus and Amon met unexpectedly and both stopped.
"I was looking for you."
His gaze didn't linger on Caelan, but fell on Magnus.
Magnus knew Amon must have a question, and he waited quietly for him to ask.
Amon asked, "Will we win?"
Magnus promised solemnly, "We will win. This is my home world. I will not stand by and watch her be destroyed."
Amon smiled, relieved. "I always thought you didn't like it here."
"Why would you think I don't like her?"
"Because you've always seemed gloomy and withdrawn, never interacting with outsiders, lacking a sense of belonging to Tizca."
"Teacher, I don't think you're in a position to say that about me."
Amon fell silent. He did have that personality.
Magnus answered "The galaxy is vast, but Prospero is the only world that would accept me. She never abandoned me, and I won't abandon her."
.....
30 Chapters [email protected]/DaoistJinzu