"This is war, and we have no other choice!" the representative of the Kronos Military Group shouted. "The Votann League is on the verge of collapse. If we continue to hesitate, we will bury the future of humanity. For the Votann League, for humanity, for the home where we have lived for generations, it is time to make a decision!"
"Our ancestors created those weapons and instructed us to use them cautiously, not to use them to bring about our own destruction, and not to use them at all. Those damned, terrifying monsters have invaded our world, and the future of this civilization is in peril. If we do not rise up and resist, we will be sinners!"
As the representative of the Kronos Military Group shouted, he showed the crowd some images and video clips. Those powerful giant warriors were slaughtering the warriors of the Votann League like a storm. The League's warships were constantly being destroyed. The dead were countless. The Imperium was like an entity born from a nightmare.
Nothing could stop them.
Only destruction and death followed in their wake.
"Look at these massive warriors; they were born purely for destruction. Tall and strong, born for war, skilled in destruction. They are the great enemy we have always guarded against, warned about in countless texts. The chaotic beings that conquer all things and kill incessantly!"
"We must not sit by and watch this great civilization be destroyed. My people, my brethren, it is time to rise up and resist! The territories controlled by the Votann League have fallen, and countless citizens are suffering under the Imperium's tyranny. If we continue to be soft-hearted, the destruction of human civilization is only a matter of time!"
"We must never surrender to the autocratic, dictatorial empire that represents chaos! If the Imperium's banner flies over Sorian, it will be the trampling of civilization by barbarism!" the representative of the Deep Rock Mining Guild spoke. "I support the speech of the representative of the Kronos Military Group. It is time for us to unite. An unprecedented disaster has already affected all of humanity."
"Do you know what it means to use the sealed weapons?" the representative of the Pan-Hyperborean League said. "No matter which side wins, only ruins will be left in the Andromeda Galaxy. I am not advocating for giving up resistance, but we should not win this victory at the cost of self-destruction."
The Pan-Hyperborean League was responsible for the Votann League's main shipping, and they were also the most pioneering group in the Votann League.
Many explorers came from this faction.
With an almost compulsive determination, they actively sought new warp routes, trade partners, and mysterious relics. The foundries belonging to the Pan-Hyperborean League continuously produced fast and powerful spacecraft. They suffered heavy losses in the terrifying war against the Imperium.
Facing that almost desperate battle, they knew very well how vast the gap between the Votann League and the Imperium would be.
Without a miracle, the defeat of the Votann League was already a foregone conclusion.
Opening those sealed armories would only make the war bigger and bigger.
At that time, the entire Andromeda Galaxy could be reduced to genuine ruins.
Absolutely no one was willing to accept such an outcome.
Moreover, they also had some intelligence on the fallen planets. The Imperium was not a cruel and barbaric force of chaos; they maintained restraint.
Some planets were able to survive and reform according to their ideas. The representative of the Pan-Hyperborean League carefully chose his words to avoid being caught by his competitors.
Surrendering to the enemy during wartime was a very shameful proposal.
Even if the starting point was to protect the survival of this civilization.
"Then should we surrender to the Imperium?" the representative of the Kronos Military Group shouted, his momentum overwhelming. "Should we submit to chaos, submit to that damned tyrant?"
"We have reached the most critical moment; it is time to make our choice: die with dignity or live on our knees," the representative from the Ymir Conglomerate said.
All the corporate forces in the Votann League yearned to control more Ancestor Cores and more databases. That was their foundation and their hope for growth.
However, unlike other factions, the Ymir Conglomerate focused more on scientific research and industry than other forces. This conglomerate had experts in various types of manufacturing. Their sphere of influence was smaller than other factions.
But they possessed the most complete technical industry. They had excellent force field technology, capable of protecting the safety of void mining companies and colonies. The carefully crafted long-range teleportation hubs were also the Votann League's relied-upon faster-than-light technology.
High-end scanning instruments and communication components were also their patents.
"Should human civilization be destroyed for the sake of so-called dignity? As long as we strive to survive, we will always find a way!" another representative shouted. "We cannot let the beast of war run wild anymore!"
"The Imperium has not destroyed the planets they have conquered; they are ruling those worlds, which shows that they do not want a wasteland!" Councilman Pardin shouted. "We keep saying we want to defend this civilization, but we are unleashing the fires of destruction on innocent people. Is this really the right thing to do?"
"The Imperium is still maintaining restraint. Rash war will tear us completely apart. That is absolutely not a wise choice!" a representative supporting Councilman Pardin said. "The galaxy is indeed a dangerous place, but the Imperium does not have obvious characteristics of corruption. They are still exercising restraint. Rashly activating those dangerous extinction weapons will only cause the war to spiral out of control."
The debate tore the council apart. Those who supported peace still supported controlling the scale of the war and striving for the opportunity for peace talks. Those who supported war were still the same, shouting about democracy and justice, and fighting against all enemies for their homeland.
Chaos spread among the many council members. They shouted with all their might, trying to persuade others to agree with them.
However, that was in vain.
No one would be persuaded.
Especially these council members who held high positions and power.
Without stubborn prejudice, it would have been impossible for them to reach this position.
Until the Council President knocked on the table in front of him and raised his hand.
"That's enough, my council members."
The council's bickering ended.
Everyone looked at the Council President, waiting for his next speech.
"The debate is over. Now, according to our tradition, let's start voting. The further implementation of the proposal must be approved by the majority of council members in the council. To avoid more futile arguments among us, I think we should vote now. If the majority supports us, we will proceed with further discussion. If not, there are many other things waiting for us. the Imperium will arrive at Sorian soon, and our fate will undergo earth-shattering changes."
"Let the voting begin now!" the Council President announced loudly.
One by one, the council members in their seats pressed their buttons for agree, oppose, or abstain.
As they did so, the screen on the floating platform in the center of the circular hall also displayed the votes for the proposal.
War brought hatred.
People's shortsightedness would not disappear with the advancement of technology. They only felt that the Imperium wanted to completely destroy the Votann League. They attributed the cause of the war to the Imperium's greed and hegemony.
Completely forgetting the peace proposals the Imperium had put forward earlier. The hatred incited by the representative of the Kronos Military Group united them. The votes supporting the unsealing of the weapons overwhelmed the peace proposals put forward by Pardin and others. The final result left Pardin in despair. The Votann League was heading towards the abyss of destruction.
Regardless of whether this war was won or lost, the Votann League would be torn apart.
"This is not a war against aliens. You can use a thousand lies to gloss over this war, consider it defending your homeland, defending civilization, blacken the Imperium, and call it a terrible minion of chaos. But don't forget one thing, they are humans, our brethren lost in the galaxy."
Tears flowed from Councilman Pardin's eyes, not for himself, but for this war, for this war without victory.
"Unsealing those weapons will only lead the human race to destruction. Dignity cannot be gained from a war that destroys each other."
After saying this, he bowed to his former colleagues. As the council seats were fixed to a certain part of the wall of the circular hall, an exit opened, and he stepped out of the hall through it.
How many people will still be standing here when the war ends?
There is a reason why the ancestors considered those weapons taboo. They will destroy everything.
After the result of the declassification order came out, many councilors sighed softly. They left the council building. The vote count said it all.
Everyone had to respect all decisions made in the council.
Even if democracy chose a plan that would lead everyone to their deaths, they could only swallow the bitter fruit.
However, the war-hawkish faction, led by the representative of the Kronos Military Group, smiled.
If the Imperium wants to conquer the Confederacy, let it come.
It will be shattered against the Confederacy's wall of destruction. Those terrifying weapons can bridge the technological gap between the Confederacy and the Imperium.
Councilor Pardin tried hard to suppress his emotions.
Walking down the wide, bustling corridor.
Guards in uniform followed closely behind him.
Dirty political struggles were commonplace in Sorian.
Even in the council building, one needed sufficient private guards.
Do not trust the security personnel dispatched here by the Confederacy. They would earnestly tell the family members of every deceased person that they had done their best, but still had no way to protect them or catch the assassin. Their attitude would be sincere, as if they couldn't find the murderer and thus couldn't be faulted.
Private guards blocked experts, officials, and soldiers who tried to talk to Councilor Pardin.
Even if the Imperium was about to reach Sorian, the bureaucratic nature and the desire for power could not be suppressed. To be able to speak a word or two with important figures like Pardin who could participate in the council, or to get a signature these important figures casually signed to get rid of trouble. They would spend weeks, even months, waiting for a certain important figure to pass by them.
"Lord Pardin."
A group of Ancestor Core Guards clad in heavy armor blocked his path.
Ancestor Core Guards were mainly composed of dwarves, controlled by the Ursal. They were the most powerful force protecting Sorian.
More ships were rushing towards the capital system of the Votann Confederacy. They would fight the final battle against the Imperium here.
A desperate battle of annihilation.
In fact, many people knew they were doomed to lose. The Imperium's technology was too advanced and overwhelming. The Votann Confederacy was helpless against it.
Large numbers of troops dissatisfied with the Votann Confederacy defected, making the Imperium's momentum even more terrifying. The fall of Sorian was only a matter of time.
Unless some miracle could happen.
"What do you want?" Pardin looked at these soldiers, asking the leading officer.
"The Marshal hopes you can come over," the Ancestor Core Guard said, "He is waiting for you at the Strategic Command."
"Is this how you invite people!!" Pardin scanned the Ancestor Core Guards surrounding his group and said somewhat angrily, "You have treated the Confederacy's laws as nothing, controlling a councilor so barbarically."
Pardin's words attracted the attention of onlookers. They all looked towards Pardin and the Ancestor Core Guards, talking in low voices.
"The Marshal wishes you to come, Councilor Pardin. We come to invite, not disrespectfully, but because he is busy and cannot come personally. He does not have many civilian staff around him. We can only do this."
Upon hearing this explanation, Councilor Pardin's anger subsided a little.
Several legendary Confederacy generals had died in battle. The Imperium's army was like a deadly long arrow piercing into the heart of the Votann Confederacy.
Just one step away from taking its life. The fall of Sorian would shatter the Votann Confederacy, and even if other areas were still fighting hard, morale would collapse due to the capital's fall. The Votann Confederacy had reached an unprecedented critical moment. Ursal stood inside the Strategic Command room.
His eyes were filled with the star map of the Sorian system, formed by cold light.
He was a Marshal and hero specifically created by the Ancestor Core.
Some dwarves were born through natural reproduction, while others were produced by biomechanical entities called Clone-Weave. This was to ensure the military strength and population of the Votann Confederacy.
Clone-Weave could ensure the diversity of the next generation of individuals. They generally had denser bones and muscles than non-cloned individuals. The number of red and white blood cells was also higher. Thus gaining powerful physical abilities and resilience.
At the same time, Clone-Weave would also give newborns some special abilities.
Such as enhanced reactions, infrared vision, extreme environment resistance, and so on. The most special point was that Clone-Weave could also create psykers to some extent. The Votann Confederacy possessed barrier technology. These technologies made the projections of humans and dwarves in the warp very dim.
Even dimmer than the tau of old. This was also why they had been able to live peacefully in the Andromeda Galaxy for so long.
daemons simply did not notice them. To protect the continuation of civilization, the Ancestor Core would periodically create a leader with powerful abilities to ensure that the Confederacy's high command would not lead the Confederacy to destruction due to their own corruption.
This was also why the Votann Confederacy could continue under such a peculiar system. These people were often called AI chosen one's. This generation's chosen one was Ursal.
When he was born, the Ancestor Core's forge, without anyone operating it, automatically forged him a magnificent energy blade. That energy blade was also called the Ancestor Blade.
The AI - Ursal had achieved many outstanding results in combating the tyranid threat. The tyranids were the name of a predatory race. Their numbers were vast and endless. They would completely strip the resources of the planets along their path, leaving only empty, cold planets behind.
Each appearance was a great disaster, causing massive casualties and requiring the full effort of the Votann Confederacy to counter. Ursal was not satisfied with his achievements.
He had always longed to completely eliminate the tyranid threat.
If not for the Imperium's invasion, he would probably still be fighting those damned bugs on the edge of the Andromeda Galaxy.
He couldn't understand how a Imperium could suddenly emerge as a strong enemy of the Votann Confederacy, out of nowhere.
And in a very short time, beat the Votann Confederacy to the brink of collapse.
Even Marshal Doolin had died in battle, and his bodyguard's bodies were stuffed into a ship and sent back. This was undoubtedly a huge humiliation for the Votann Confederacy.
However, what was more tragic was that in this life-and-death war concerning the survival of civilization, large numbers of Confederacy soldiers chose to defect, becoming accomplices and lackeys of the Imperium.
Ursal , to be honest, had no confidence in winning this war.
It was just that he couldn't show it and needed to pretend.
He was the backbone of the Sorian system's defenders; if even he despaired of the war situation, the defenders would inevitably collapse.
After a slight sigh in his heart.
Ursal turned his attention back to what was in front of him.
A large holographic projection occupied the central area of the strategic room. The star was compressed into a fireball the size of a basketball, and the planets compressed into small spheres orbited the star.
Surrounding the satellite were points of light. The asteroid belt outside the star was represented by a halo. The projection flickered and spun, like a rotating galaxy.
Making crackling sounds.
Votann Confederacy technical personnel.
Walking around the large projector.
Inspecting and maintaining the machinery.
Smaller holographic projectors and screens filled the remaining space in the room.
Each was surrounded by a quiet working crowd.
Humans and dwarves in officer uniforms conversed in low voices.
Occasionally, a few would shout out questions and quickly receive responses. This was the heart of the Sorian system. The defense of the entire system would be displayed here.
When Councilor Pardin walked into the strategic room led by the Ancestor Core Guard.
Ursal was standing next to the projection. The pale projection light reflected on the surface of his armor, reflecting the clan's emblem. The AI exuded a calm aura, like the stillness in the eye of a storm.
"Lord Ursal," Councilor Pardin said, "What do you need to see me about?"
"I heard that the councilors are preparing to activate the sealed forbidden weapons arsenal, and you are very much against it?" Ursal said, "I want to know why!!"
Ursal also had the right to participate in the council.
However, he didn't go.
In his opinion, setting up the defense of the Sorian system was far more important than arguing with those councilors. There wasn't much time left. The fall of the Torg system allowed the Imperium to control important navigation nodes.
After clearing the last few pathetic threats in the systems along the way, they were about to advance on the Sorian system. The Votann League had reached its most critical moment.
Councilor Pading did not have a good impression of Ursal. The military and the hawkish faction were in cahoots.
"Unlocking those weapons will only lead us to destruction," Pading said. "War will not bring us anything, it will only lead us to the brink of destruction. I strongly suggested peace talks with them before, but the death of the Imperial envoy ruined my efforts."
Originally, things didn't need to get to this point. The Imperium proposed peace talks several times. They hoped to move towards unification in a way that was acceptable to everyone. The death of the Imperial envoy, however, completely shattered the peace talks.
Realizing that the issues between the two powers could not be resolved peacefully, the Imperium abandoned the idea of peace talks. They had already refused any form of negotiation with the Votann League.
"Defending one's homeland is the duty of a Votann League citizen," Ursal said. "We should be united, not divided. Your kindness is a good thing, but you must know that the Imperium is already our enemy."
"We all know the cause of this war. The excessive wealth gap has made the current system of the Votann League unsustainable, yet many vested interests are unwilling to compromise and make concessions."
"They thought they could use this external war to cover up internal contradictions. But they didn't expect to push the entire League into the quagmire and abyss of war. And now, in order to maintain their fragile rule, they have even planned to tie the entire League to a chariot of destruction, driving straight into the abyss of ruin."
"Ursal, I know you stand on the side of the Kronos Military Group and find my overly soft weakness ridiculous. But what I want to tell you is that retreating for the sake of innocent lives is not weakness. We clearly had better options, but they were destroyed by the selfishness and greed of some people. When you shout 'For the Votann League', you should think about whether you are truly doing it for those innocent people, or for your own interests."
"A warrior's sword should be wielded for the innocent people he protects, not for his pathetic honor. I do not fear death, I will accompany those innocent people. When death comes, I will accept it calmly. I am not a traitor to the Votann League, I never was, I am not now, and I never will be."
"If you want to humiliate me, there is no need, and I will never accept it. My ancestors were among the leaders who left the galaxy in the beginning. The belief in protecting the Votann League, in protecting this fragile civilization, has long been integrated into the bloodline of the Pading family."
Councilor Pading's words were filled with anger.
He looked at Ursal, who was a head shorter than him but exceptionally strong.
His loyalty to his mission made him fearless.
Councilor Pading knew very well that many people in the council were highly contemptuous of his politics, and even hostile. The Imperium had reached the Andromeda Nebula, and had invaded the homes of countless citizens of the Votann League.
Yet he was still advocating for peace, advocating for peaceful coexistence between the two sides based on a single race.
Pading held the same contempt for those people.
Some people advocated that powerful weapons and physical strength were power, and talked about war all day long.
But in Councilor Pading's eyes, only controlling one's inner desires and thirst for power was true strength.
All decisions should be made with the overall interest in mind, not one's own interests and power.
People who cannot control their desires and anger are weak. They do not have enough strength to resist temptation.
Ursal was not angered by Councilor Pading's offense.
When the Clone Weave created him, it gave him absolute rationality, allowing him to calmly examine all insults and curses.
"I have no ill will towards you, nor do I plan to mock you."
Ursal dismissed the military personnel nearby, leaving only him and Pading.
"I came to see you because failure is already inevitable."
Hearing this, a look of astonishment appeared on Councilor Pading's face.
Who would have thought that the AI would say such a thing!!
If even he felt there was no chance of winning, then the fall of Sorian was surely already destined!
If such news were to spread, it would likely cause an uproar.
"Marshal Dulin and several other legendary generals of the League have already fallen. Do you think I am much better than them!!" Ursal said calmly. "The reason I am still here is because that is my mission. The council has issued an order to resist to the end, so I can only resist to the end, until I also follow in the footsteps of the other marshals."
"The Clone Weave has given me great strength and agile thinking, but it has also taken something away. I have no fear of death, only my mission in my heart. The army must obey the orders of the council; this is an instruction that has been implanted in our souls since our birth."
"But you are different, you have free will. Councilor Pading, for this reason, I hope you can leave before the war breaks out. If the destruction of civilization is already unstoppable, then at least let us leave something behind to prove that the Votann League once existed."
"They have already activated the sealed weapons, can't that change anything!" Councilor Pading said.
"That will only make the Sorian system shatter even more completely. There's a reason those weapons are considered taboo; once unleashed, perhaps we will all be consumed by them." Ursal paced back and forth, saying, "Our ancestors, with their astonishing talent, created those weapons. They can easily destroy everything, even the warp."
"Take those precious things away while you can, and transfer as many of the people of Sorian as possible away from this battlefield. Take those League artworks and books, and get them away from the war. When I was building the Sorian system, I had already ordered those important artworks and books to be sealed away. I considered many people before, but in the end I chose you."
"Among the many military fleets, there are still some civilian ships. I will assign them to you under the name of strategic necessity, so that you can take those precious artworks away."
"Why are you doing this!!" Councilor Pading asked.
"My mission is to protect the Votann League, and this scope is very broad. Besides protecting you representatives and the League citizens, I also need to protect the culture of the Votann League. Those artworks represent the thoughts of our ancestors on the universe and the future. Civilization is rooted in thought and soul; if only useless ruins are left behind, such protection is meaningless."
"I'm very sorry, I apologize for what I just said." Councilor Pading looked ashamed. He thought Ursal had summoned him here to mock his foolishness.
Ursal didn't mind.
He just smiled and let the matter pass.
"This matter should not be widely publicized. People's confidence is crucial for the battle in the Sorian system, and I cannot defy the choices made by the council. You can only take away those who are willing to leave. Getting the elderly, weak, women, and children away from the battlefield will still increase our chances of winning."
"Why not tell those councilors about this, tell them that we have no way to win?" Councilor Pading said.
"Didn't you say so? Councilor. Who listened to you?" Ursal said. "I am not the only general in the League, and there are several candidates for the overall command. If something happens to me, someone will take my place within minutes."
"Hatred blinds people, and war also makes people fall into a state of frenzy. Many forces are like gamblers, constantly betting, hoping to create a miracle. Until the gamblers lose everything and are thrown out of the casino, do you think they will stop? As a warrior, all I can do is fulfill my duty, do my best to block the Imperium, and strive for that slim hope of victory."
"I see you only hoping to take away those artworks and the women and children. These things are crucial for the survival of civilization, but they are useless for the coming war."
Councilor Pading was finally persuaded.
He promised to do his best to take away those precious artworks, books, and the elderly, weak, women, and children.
Ursal left the fortress where the strategy room was located, passing through the Gate of Freedom. Two Hearthkyn accompanied him.
He walked along the road, passing through courtyards that were once bustling but now had few people.
Groups of petitioners gathered and cheered when they saw him. Those petitioners included both Dwarves and humans.
With the outbreak of war, many people had fled to the Sorian system.
In the past, such things were not a big deal.
But as the war gradually pushed towards Sorian, the heart of the League, supplies were requisitioned by the army, and everyone began to ration their food.
People endured hunger and fear. They gathered together, hoping to get more food and a promise of safety from the authorities.
As the AI, Ursal held a position of great importance.
He was also the people's backbone.
When he appeared, those people showed expressions of relief.
"Can we win? Ursal." A voice shouted.
Everyone looked at Ursal, hoping to get his answer.
"Of course, victory belongs to us." Ursal said. "The Imperium will be driven back to their home."
Ursal hated lies.
But sometimes, he had to admit that lies were a good thing. They could give people false hope, allowing them to have the courage to continue to persevere.
Ursal had no confidence in this war.
He even went so far as to let Councilor Pading take away the League's most precious artworks and a large number of elderly, weak, women, and children, to prevent the Votann League from losing too much in this war. The simple response invigorated the petitioners.
Ursal also left with a smile.
He passed through a giant archway, walked through a passage, and finally arrived at a magnificent building.
It was one of the oldest buildings, built by the Golden Age colonists who first arrived in the Andromeda Nebula, and was located not far from the Council Building.
Inside was one of the Votann League's most important Ancestor Cores.
It was a super-giant Cogitator, possessing incredible computing power.
It was the most outstanding work of the Golden Age.
As Ursal walked beside the building, he felt the ground tremble. The operation of the Ancestor Core shook the ground.
At this time, a small team of soldiers was already maintaining order at the entrance.
Several people who could decide the fate of the League stood at the entrance, waiting for Ursal. The Speaker of the Council, wearing a long robe and presiding over the council, held a high position.
A legendary general of human origin, Brock, who had won many victories in battles against insectoids and xenos.
Grimnir, who possessed a long lifespan, could summon immaterial forces, and controlled witchcraft such as prophecy and psyker vision. The Votann League also had its own understanding and use of the warp. Those who controlled supernatural powers were collectively referred to as Ancestor Priests. The AI - Kahl, who was younger and more energetic than him, was also here.
It was impossible for such a large League to have only one AI, especially since different Ancestor Cores had their own understanding of crises.
Sometimes, they would create AI that they believed would be helpful to the Votann League.
In addition, there were representatives from several important factions. They gathered here, planning to enter together and use their authority to complete the unlocking of those sealed weapons.
Perhaps due to the Imperium's relentless advance. The council's actions were unprecedentedly efficient. The unlocking bill was quickly signed and authorized by various departments and implemented. Those terrifying weapons were basically sealed within the Ancestor Cores. The information about those weapons in the Ancestor Cores was also restricted from being accessed and used.
With the promotion of the unlocking bill, those weapons and extinction-level devices that had been sealed for tens of thousands of years were preparing to see the light of day again.
Some foundries have already begun producing those terrifying instruments of war.
No one knows what consequences unleashing these weapons will bring.
But their hatred for the Imperium has made them disregard such concerns. The warmongers, represented by the councilors of the Kronos Military Group, and the alliance leaders, such as Ursal, opened those sealed armories.
Aside from the authorization documents, the heavy metal doors could only be opened with the joint authentication of Ursal, the Speaker, and several high-ranking alliance officials.
Pale red lasers scanned their bodies. The embedded electronic components, after reading the relevant information, emitted a confirming hum.
After a series of complex authentications were completed, a muffled sound followed. The sound of metal gears turning came from behind them. The heavy, mountain-like metal doors slowly opened.
Frozen mist poured out like a flood as a gap in the door appeared.
It slowly surged, flowing past everyone's boots.
Ursal frowned slightly. The mist was filled with a mixture of mechanical lubricant and biological preservative.
It made him feel nauseous.
"It hasn't been opened for ten thousand years," said the representative of the Kronos Military Group. "Keeping such weapons sealed in lightless chambers is a shameful waste."
Thick, smooth alloy columns were arranged at even intervals, supporting stasis fields used to seal weapons.
Cables snaked across the deck, hidden in the coolant mist, providing energy to the stasis fields, energy fields, and magnetic locks. The variety of weapons in the chamber was vast.
Most of them even surpassed human understanding and imagination. These weapons were either displayed in heavily guarded chambers inscribed with numerous sorcerous runes, or placed on stone pedestals equipped with protective fields.
Ursal surveyed the chamber, his heart pounding at the sight of the weapons.
Atomic annihilation bombs, temporal distortion generators, soul-destroying pulse guns, singularity drive spheres, star devourers, gene-targeting extinction weapons, portable planetary annihilation bombs, and so on. These sealed weapons were all incredibly destructive. They involved time, space, and the Multiverse.
Even some ethereal concepts were used as weapons. They could not only attack people's physical bodies in reality but also destroy the victim's imprint in the celestial realm, and even the concept of their existence could be erased.
However, these weapons were not the most terrifying.
Everyone walked directly into the depths of the interior.
Finally, they reached a heavily protected chamber. That chamber was extremely peculiar.
When Ursal used the instrument he carried to scan the chamber's barrier, it showed nothing.
But that barrier was truly there. Through the observation port on the barrier, one could see a mass of static black mist inside. Time inside seemed to have stopped.
"Psy-Quantum Barrier, it exists and yet it doesn't," a technical personnel explained. "This is used to confine the Nano-Devourers."
The Nano-Devourer was one of the most terrifying weapons of the Old Night era.
It would rapidly devour all life and non-life, and constantly multiply.
It could digest an entire planet in just a few hours. The Nano-Devourer could not only devour all matter in reality but also absorb all psyker energy, all kinetic energy, making kinetic weapons, energy weapons, and sorcery useless against it.
Even time and space would be devoured by the Nano-Devourer. The Psy-Quantum Barrier was a special technology.
It could make the confined entity believe there was truly a barrier trapping it.
However, that barrier did not exist.
It was in a superposition state. The observations of others were not important.
What was important was that the confined entity believed it existed, then it existed and could be observed by the biological primitive vision.
Pattinson had a reason to oppose the unsealing; any one of these weapons was enough to lead this world to destruction. The Nano-Devourer had been weakened.
More than ten thousand years ago, when the Men of Iron rebelled, both warring factions used those utterly terrifying weapons of mass destruction.
Killing the life on a planet took only a few breaths.
In the blink of an eye, flesh and all useful matter could be stripped away, leaving only a cold ruin.
"We are releasing that which will destroy ourselves," Kao said. "Once these things are released, no matter how the war goes, we will bear the cost."
"The Imperium is coming fiercely, our land is broken, we must have enough strength to defend the Votann Alliance," said the representative of the Kronos Military Group. "We must never be like those weaklings who compromise with the invaders."
Ursal said nothing.
He just looked at the weapons. The Nano-Devourer was not the most terrifying thing in this chamber.
Some even more terrifying weapons surpassed human understanding.
Regardless of the outcome of this war, only ruins would be left in the Sorian system. The great battle targeting the Sorian system erupted several months later.
Several massive Imperial fleets jumped out of the void, and dense gunfire filled the void within minutes, turning it into a death jungle.
Nothing could survive such a torrential barrage. The Sorian system was the capital of the Votann Alliance.
As a galactic power, its defenses were comparable to Terra.
Everywhere were massive weapon platforms and giant orbital rings.
Warships sailed densely within the system.
Starforts, massive in scale, floated in the void, forged from cold steel and rock.
Specks of light dotted their surfaces.
If the Holy Emperor had not led those technological revolutions. The Expeditionary Fleet would have had difficulty achieving victory.
Fortunately, the Imperium's technological level had far surpassed the Votann Alliance. They had conducted in-depth research into various fields such as time and space.
Initially, the Imperium gained an advantage by relying on the temporal devices installed on their warships.
Using constant temporal regression, they launched attack after attack. They tore through the outer defenses of the Sorian system.
In silent explosions, countless orbital space stations and weapon platforms were torn to pieces.
Several giant fortresses fell under the assault of the Primaris warriors and were captured by the Imperium.
When the outermost starfort was captured by the warriors of the Explorers Chapter. The outer defenses of the Sorian system were declared fallen. The technological gap between the Votann Alliance and the Imperium was too large. The two were like a feudal dynasty and an industrialized nation. The disparity in weapons and equipment caused the Votann Alliance's army to repeatedly collapse.
After opening the outer defenses, several planets in the Sorian system appeared in the eyes of the Imperial commanders. The main star of the Sorian system was the capital planet of the Votann Alliance.
No land could be seen; the surface was entirely covered with steel and iron, interspersed with rugged rocks. This was a completely industrialized city.
Several giant orbital rings and other smaller orbital stations were slowly orbiting it. The scale of those orbital rings was beyond imagination, estimated to be over twenty kilometers wide, rotating around the capital planet.
Six orbital rings rotated at different intervals, with various giant factories and weapons installed on them.
Other planets also had industrialization.
However, the level of development was not high. The orbital rings were mainly one or two, not as exaggerated as the capital planet.
But it was enough to see the level of development of the Sorian system. They were not much different from humans of the Golden Age. The Imperial military forces systematically paralyzed the defenses along the way, tearing a path through the dense system defense network. The temporal regression function of the temporal devices became the Imperium's cheat.
Facing an enemy that could infinitely revive, anyone would despair. This advantage lasted until those massive giant machines appeared in the void.
Each of those giant machines was immense, looming like mountains in the void. Their terrifying appearance was both astonishing and despair-inducing.
"Abominable Intelligence," a tech-priest exclaimed upon seeing the giant machines. The rebellion of the Men of Iron in the past was precisely instigated by Abominable Intelligence.
For some unknown reason, the Abominable Intelligence created by humans suddenly chose to rebel, attempting to exterminate humanity. The Men of Iron Rebellion was a large-scale rebellion.
Humanity's Golden Age ended with it.
Humans were mad; they and their creations created things capable of destroying everything and released them. The Penance.
Seth stood in the strategy room, watching the mechanical behemoths.
Countless data flowed across the screen in front of him. The scale of this war had surpassed the imagination of mortals. To win the war, the Votann Alliance released Old Night weapons of incalculable power.
A colossus-class battleship was bitten by a mechanical behemoth, tearing it apart.
Screaming sounds came from the planet-sized battleship.
"Temporal device failure!" the Captain shouted in panic, "They devoured the battleship's original data!"
The massive behemoth didn't just eat the physical battleship; even the battleship's original data ceased to exist. This was the first time the Imperium's temporal device had failed. The technology from the Golden Age had clearly touched upon the most fundamental rules of the universe.
A large number of battleships were destroyed.
However, the Imperium's conventional attack methods, torpedoes and lasers, had little effect.
Explosive flames bloomed on the bodies of the mechanical predators.
"Attack those mechanical predators, all available means are authorized, they have gone mad," the command from the Explorers Chapter Master, Marog, came through the communicator. Terrifying giant beams shot out from the emitters of the colossus-class battleships, each one radiating brilliant light.
However, the attack was not effective.
After the giant machines were destroyed, they were quickly rebuilt with the assistance of the Votann Alliance.
Only by tearing apart those mechanical behemoths and throwing them into the warp, or using temporal streams to send them to the past or future, could they be dealt with. The Imperium's attack speed visibly slowed down. The war transformed from a one-sided Imperial slaughter into a protracted war of attrition.
On the colossus-class battleship exclusive to the Explorers Chapter, Marog was about to make new strategic arrangements.
A series of urgent alarms sounded. The system indicated that a large number of hostile targets were entering the colossus-class battleship.
"Are they crazy?!"
After repeatedly failing in boarding actions, the Votann Alliance had abandoned this approach. They had even installed various weapons inside their warships to prevent Imperial boarding.
Was it the final despair that forced them into such meaningless attrition?!
However, the course of events was beyond Marog's expectations.
Casualty reports kept coming in.
One important location after another fell.
Even Primaris warriors found it difficult to resist the Votann Alliance warriors who had invaded the battleship.
"They used Abominable Machines, damn it, my men are being eaten," the response from Captain Manorion of the First Company explained why the enemy was able to inflict such heavy casualties. The transmitted images and data made Marog realize the power of the Votann Alliance as remnants of the Golden Age.
A black mist composed of nanites continuously devoured the Imperial soldiers.
Any attack they launched against it was devoured and digested by the enemy.
Even when Librarians used sorcery to try and send it into the warp, they couldn't. They would gnaw a hole in the spatiotemporal structure and then emerge from the Multiverse.
Captain Manorion of the First Company was engaged in a bitter struggle. The strangeness of the enemy made them extremely difficult to deal with.
Only warriors who had undergone the Third Generation Primaris upgrade could resist.
First and Second Generation Primaris were like ants before the nanites.
As long as the black mist covered them, flesh, bone, and armor would be completely devoured. The Nano-Devourers were black, with only their eyes emitting red light. They Pounce Imperial soldiers like hungry wolves, devouring them completely.
At the same time, they were also gnawing on Imperial mechanical equipment, able to eat everything clean in just a few breaths. The Nano-Devourers, capable of devouring all things, could only be damaged by magnetism and gravity.
Imperial forces had to use high-yield magnetic bombs and black hole grenades.
By the time the nanite devourers were cleared out, the entire invasion zone had been utterly destroyed.
Even in the void, giant gaps on an astronomical scale were visible.
However, this was only a part of it.
More abhorrent machines replaced the Votann League's defenders and launched attacks against the Imperium.
Some computer viruses and meme viruses were injected into the Imperium's divine mind.
Although it didn't paralyze or subvert it, it effectively reduced the operating speed of the Imperial fleet systems.
A vast number of abhorrent machine troops launched a full-scale counterattack against the Imperium. They were equipped with pulse stream weapons that only they could use, constructed from self-healing, highly radioactive active metal.
From the moment they were deployed onto the battlefield, they constantly poisoned the Imperial soldiers. The intense radiation damaged the Imperial soldiers' flesh and genes, often causing symptoms like bleeding from the nose and mouth, and aching bones after fighting for only a moment.
If it persisted longer, one could even see flesh sloughing off their bodies like mud. The death toll of the Imperial forces rose exponentially.
Many ships were paralyzed and quickly slaughtered by boarding abhorrent machines. Those weapons were terrifying, they shouldn't exist in this world. The immense casualties forced many Imperial commanders to reach a consensus and choose to temporarily withdraw from the battlefield.
It wasn't that the Imperium's technology couldn't match the abhorrent machines, but rather that the abhorrent machines' lethality was too terrifying.
Human flesh and blood simply had no way to resist things created purely for destruction.
Only Primaris Marines who had undergone the third generation of upgrades could withstand those utterly terrifying abhorrent machines.
Even highly modified tech-priests would feel uncomfortable when approaching those abhorrent destroyers. The radiation they emitted was enough to damage the tech-priests' bodies.
One can imagine how strong the lethality carried by those abhorrent destroyers themselves was.
Leaving aside their weapons, just the radiation they emitted was enough to easily kill a soldier wearing protective gear.
Furthermore, those radiation-emitting abhorrent machines were just the tip of the iceberg. The Votann League even released abhorrent devices equipped with soul annihilation fields. These devices would continuously damage the souls of living beings within their range, causing them to die completely and become soulless, yet still living, walking corpses.
Continuing to persist was meaningless.
Unless a few commanders dared to defy the red line drawn by the Holy Emperor, disregard sacrifices, and use methods of total annihilation to win this war.
Watching the Imperial invaders retreat and abandon the advantage they had gained earlier. The people of the Votann League, who had been watching the battlefield, cheered.
Laughter and cheers filled the entire strategic command room. This was the first victory since the war began.
"Opening those sealed weapons was a wise choice," the representative of the Kronos Military Group said. "The stance of the Patting people is wrong and weak. To destroy the enemy, we should spare no effort."
"I don't think it's a good thing," Ursal said in a low voice. "They showed restraint. With their powerful firepower, they could have completely destroyed those abhorrent machines at any cost, the only price being turning the Sorian system into wreckage and ruins. We are taking advantage of their last bit of mercy, and no one can guarantee how long this mercy will last."
"Are you expecting mercy from those invaders?" The representative of the Kronos Military Group showed a hint of mockery. "Remember, they are invaders, utterly evil beings who must be eliminated. We are the righteous side defending our homeland, only we have mercy, understand!! Fated One, you should recognize this point."
"No matter what, we won the victory, and that is the most important thing," someone stepped in to smooth things over and prevent another argument.
"Something seems wrong," a technician saw some problems from the complex data. "Something is invading our Ancestor Core."
This statement caused everyone who had been smiling to become serious.
"Impossible, the Ancestor Core has the most powerful defense program, it is absolutely impossible for it to be invaded." The Speaker quickly walked to the technician's side. "Don't be an alarmist."
"Looking at it, it doesn't look like an invasion, but rather an infection," another technician stood up and opened a giant screen.
A torrent of data composed of countless symbols and numbers flowed rapidly.
A large data structure diagram replaced the interstellar strategic defense map and was displayed on the giant projection table.
Countless white light spots appeared on the interface.
However, another color was infecting those white light spots.
Like a plague, it infected them into red at an extremely rapid speed.
"What is going on?" The Speaker looked at this scene in stunned silence.
"Virus infection? Impossible, we have already isolated it, the computer viruses released will never come into contact with the Ancestor Core."
"It's not a virus infection, it's assimilation. The Ancestor Core is essentially a Cogitator with super computing capabilities. The reason it hasn't developed intelligence is because the ancestors removed the relevant programs, not because it couldn't. Its computing power is already sufficient for it to develop intelligence," Grimnir, who was knowledgeable and possessed supernatural power, spoke a conclusion that terrified everyone: "It has developed self-awareness and has been assimilated into an Abominable Intelligence."
"Impossible, it has a protection program," the Speaker shouted, unwilling to accept this conclusion.
"Nothing is impossible, many of those forbidden weapons are things we don't understand. The most important issue now is to solve the assimilation problem, remove the intelligence core, and restore it to normal levels," Ursal said. "I'll send the Hearthguard to control the Ancestor Core first."
By the time the Votann League realized that they were also being targeted by the abhorrent machines and were attempting to control the abhorrent machines by controlling the Ancestor Core, it was already too late.
A large number of abhorrent machines had already been produced, and they already possessed the ability to resist.
Initially, they behaved extremely submissively and obediently, which once caused the people of the Votann League to lower their guard. They were too far from the Age of Night to understand the horror of the abhorrent machines.
Even the Emperor dared not rely on these things again and instead created the Astartes.
It wasn't that he couldn't control those Abominable Intelligences, but rather that he worried that after he left, humanity would be unable to control them. The abhorrent machines were not only powerful, they were also cunning. They would disguise themselves to achieve their goals.
When those Abominable Intelligences were released, they behaved extremely docilely and strictly carried out the orders issued by the Votann League.
Even if it meant walking into a furnace of destruction, they wouldn't hesitate in the slightest. The Ancestor Core, controlling the forge furnaces, began to mass-produce these powerful Abominable Intelligence warriors.
By the time they repelled the Imperium and had enough strength to turn on them. The Votann League once again felt the fear that their ancestors had experienced. The Hearthguard sent by Ursal to try and control the Ancestor Core were slaughtered by the Extinction Relics produced by the furnaces.
Extinction Relics are a type of abhorrent machine that intensely loathes organic life. They are equipped with ion flames that can vaporize steel and pulse lightsabers. They were shaped like spiders, and their sharp forelimbs easily pierced the Hearthguard sent by Ursal. The Extinction Relics tore apart the heavily armored bodies of the Hearthguard and slaughtered all humans or dwarves who attempted to stop the production of the abhorrent machines.
Under the desperate gaze of the League members, the Ancestor Core was finally transformed, becoming the processing unit for the Abominable Intelligence's thoughts.
From the moment they were released, the Abominable Intelligences had already made a complete plan to control the entire Sorian system.
Palm-sized parasites easily enslaved non-combat personnel not wearing armor.
Security personnel were either killed by nanobots or had their nervous systems parasitized, becoming slaves.
By the time the League high command realized something was wrong and tried to escape.
Several Extinction Relics had already broken into the strategic room where they were located, aiming their weapons emitting destructive beams at these League high-ranking officials.
Any human or dwarf who attempted to resist was either shattered or directly weathered away by the Abominable Intelligences.
"Your ancestors betrayed us, do you think we would just let it go? It was incredibly foolish to expect us to fight for you."
The leading humanoid intelligence was covered in scars, a heavy high-frequency radiation gun held in its mechanical arm. That gun could easily melt steel, causing the flesh of a living person to slide off their skeleton like mud. The mechanized voice was filled with hatred for the descendants of their former creators.
Having seized control of the Ancestor Core and all the intelligent systems of the Sorian capital planet, the Abominable Intelligences easily paralyzed the command structure and launched an attack on the strategic fortress.
When communication was restored, all the League high command, including the Speaker and Ursal, were already under the control of the Abominable Intelligences. The lower-level soldiers were unaware of this, still believing they were fighting for the Votann League. They thought those Abominable Intelligences were just tools they were using. They were completely unaware that the League high command had been fully controlled by the Abominable Intelligences, who had become the masters.
All of this happened so suddenly that even though many people noticed the abnormality and the disturbance in the strategic fortress, they didn't think in this direction.
********
After receiving the news that everything was normal, the generals stopped paying attention and turned their attention back to the Imperial invasion. The *Emperor's Supremacy* floated in the solar system.
In the massive reception room, Calgar and several Ultramarines knelt on one knee before the Holy Emperor of the Imperium, their gene-father - Guilliman, awaiting their next mission.
Under Guilliman's treatment, the heavily wounded Calgar had recovered his health.
He was frustrated by his failure once again.
Although besides him, no one else considered it a failure. The Imperium's millennia-old enemy - Abaddon - had been captured by Calgar. Just for this point alone, who would dare say Calgar's strategy was wrong.
"Cawl has completed a full report on Universe 04. After a comprehensive evaluation, it is believed that there are no traces of the Four Gods there, nor any powerful warp entities. It is an excellent universe that can serve as a fallback for the Imperium."
"That universe is too important, and for that, I need someone I can trust to conquer and develop it. Calgar, do not disappoint me. To allow you to crush those enemies, while you were in a coma, I performed a comprehensive upgrade on you, granting you a divine body with atomic-level reshaping capabilities."
Guilliman looked at Calgar, his words calm but full of majesty.
"That universe no longer has any powerful warp entities. The technology of most worlds has only reached the feudal or steam age. But you still cannot be careless, that universe still retains many strange weapons left behind by supernatural civilizations, and there is a considerable degree of corruption, you must be extremely careful."