"This retribution-class battleship was constructed in the 221st year of the 38th Millennium and has long served the Solar Fleet."
"Its keel is in good condition, the machine spirit is stable, the armor has been completely replaced, and the ram has been maintained."
"Its Void Shield array consists of four triple Void Shield emitters, and its sub-light engine is Mars' unique multi-barrel plasma engine, capable of matching the speed of conventional cruisers."
"Its firepower primarily comes from macro cannon arrays on its broadsides and a series of torpedo tubes concealed beneath the heavily armored prow, capable of destroying a cruiser in a single volley."
"Of course, we still installed a lance array on the ship's spine. These lances have been specially tuned and are mainly used to precisely finish off ships heavily damaged by macro cannons."
A female Adeptus Mechanicus priest, half a head taller than Reyna, with her lower body replaced by treads, explained the condition of the retribution-class battleship to Reyna in a voice mixed with mechanical sounds.
This Adeptus Mechanicus priest was clearly a little nervous; sweat continuously streamed down her face, which still retained human flesh.
Before the Mars Fabricator-General departed for Terra, their instructions were merely to repaint the battleship and make it presentable.
However, after the Fabricator-General arrived on Terra, urgent communications returned, demanding that they immediately and swiftly carry out a comprehensive and detailed refit of the retribution-class battleship, replacing everything from the armor and Void Shields to the weapon arrays with the highest quality models, without delay.
But time was short; a few dozen days were barely enough for the Adeptus Mechanicus priests to complete the task. Although the new armor, Void Shields, and weapon arrays were installed, much of the painting was unfinished, and cables were crudely exposed, making it look somewhat unsightly.
The female Adeptus Mechanicus priest nervously watched Reyna, who was responsible for inspecting the ship, fearing that she might be dissatisfied with the retribution-class battleship and report their inefficiency to the Fabricator-General.
But Reyna paid no attention to the exposed steel plates and cables, merely reaching out to caress the wall a few times.
the machine spirit within this retribution-class battleship seemed to catch the scent of a Saint Doraemon follower from Reyna, actively revealing its presence and letting its joyful will flow through the battleship.
Reyna's powerful psyker strength perceived that machine spirit, feeling its power and its docility.
Reyna couldn't help but extend a tiny bit of psyker power, caressing the machine spirit.
Hmm, just a little, just a little bit...
Boom!!!!
The entire retribution-class battleship shook as if it were a kitten that had been struck.
The female Adeptus Mechanicus priest's expression turned to panic.
Although the retribution-class battleship was rushed in its refit, its functionality shouldn't have issues; it shouldn't be shaking so violently!
Reyna awkwardly withdrew her hand.
the machine spirit of this retribution-class battleship curled up, trembling piteously, its gaze towards Reyna like that of a kitten that didn't know what it had done wrong.
But the machine spirit quickly regained control, stopping the retribution-class battleship from shaking.
Seeing the female Adeptus Mechanicus priest's terrified expression, Reyna became even more embarrassed.
"Uh, good ship!" Reyna hesitated for a moment before speaking, trying to break the awkward atmosphere: "It's truly a good ship!"
The female Adeptus Mechanicus priest let out a huge sigh of relief.
Although it was to break the awkward atmosphere, Reyna truly felt it was a good ship.
the machine spirit was docile and powerful, which indicated that this battleship was extremely strong, and Reyna liked this strength.
She remembered when she was young, her mother, who worked at Ashford's inter-stellar trading company, would occasionally take her to work.
On lucky days, Reyna could see massive cargo ships taking off from the starport.
The flames spewed by those plasma engines were so dazzling, and the mechanical roar was so deafening, as if the entire world was roaring.
Reyna was deeply captivated by this power at a young age.
Her devout mother would then pick up Reyna and quietly tell her that this was the great power of the Emperor, also known as the Omnissiah by the Adeptus Mechanicus.
No, Mother, it's not just the Emperor's great power, but also Saint Doraemon's...
Reyna walked with the female Adeptus Mechanicus member through this castle woven from steel, adamantium, and cables, feeling a sense of joy.
Who would have thought that an illegal psyker born in a hive city would one day walk within such a starship?
Reyna had witnessed too many mythical figures and sights on her journey; sometimes she truly wondered if it was all just a big dream.
When she woke up, she would still be in the hive city of Ashford, in the Ark Gang's stronghold, worrying about the Tyranids invasion...
Hmm?
"This is the lounge reserved for the Astartes, and also one of the refit points for the battle barge," the female Adeptus Mechanicus priest continued to explain beside Reyna.
But Reyna herself suddenly stopped, extending her hand to signal the female Adeptus Mechanicus priest to be quiet, and slowly turned her head to look behind her.
Due to the tight schedule, only temporary lighting was installed inside the ship, and many parts were still shrouded in shadow.
Those shadows were deep, dark, floating lightly like mist, like living things, like... like blurred boundaries...
"Who's there?!" Reyna roared, her psyker power unleashing like lightning.
Her psyker glow illuminated her surroundings, but it could not illuminate that deep shadow no matter how hard it tried.
Vaguely, Reyna heard the roar of a lion.
Ascending to Godhood?
Becoming a true Omnissiah?
Alexander listened to the brown-haired boy beside him, and goosebumps immediately rose on his skin.
What did this inherently evil brown-skinned brat want to do?
He actually wanted him to become a god?
Alexander pulled away from the brown-haired boy, creating some distance.
He probably understood what the Emperor meant.
The Emperor meant that Alexander could sell the Dragon of Mars using his four-dimensional pocket.
Judging by the incident of devouring Ynnead, it seemed that when Alexander sold an existence using his four-dimensional pocket, on the Warp level, it was equivalent to Alexander devouring it.
Everything of the Dragon of Mars, or rather, the Omnissiah, in the Warp would be received by Alexander.
And Alexander was different from the Dragon of Mars; Alexander himself did not reject or isolate the Warp. The faith of the Adeptus Mechanicus, the emotions directed at the Omnissiah, would all converge on Alexander.
"This way I can occupy the position of Malicious Art?" Alexander asked with a frown.
"No, without enough sacrifices, without strong emotions, devouring the Dragon of Mars is not enough for you to ascend directly."
"But it will bring you incredibly close to that position; you will be irresistibly set on the path of ascension, truly beginning to contend for the great throne of Malicious Art."
The brown-haired boy slowly said:
"By then, I think the Warp will be clearly divided into two factions. One part of existence will support your ascension, helping you continuously approach apotheosis."
"The other part will support your opponent, Vashtorr, the Creator, trying to hinder your ascension and cultivate Vashtorr to occupy the great throne of Malicious Art."
"Vashtorr represents a future of more chaos, more change, more war and slaughter. Khorne and Tzeentch will support him."
"Nurgle and Slaanesh will favor you. The future you represent is more constant, gentler, more capable of satisfying human desires, and can bring a better life to the galaxy."
"Of course, I will also support you, so your chances of winning are actually very high."
As the Emperor said, indeed, the chances of winning were very high.
Even if the Emperor's current state was subject to many restrictions, even if he had not yet truly ascended to become the Dark King, a three-on-two situation still favored Alexander.
Not to mention, excluding the gods, Alexander also had Sanguinius and Guilliman, two Primarchs. Counting the Emperor, Nurgle, and Nurgle, he had even more.
And on the Greater Daemon side, Alexander had Greater Daemon and Emperor Nobita, which was a complete victory.
Against the current Alexander, Vashtorr's chances were very small.
But the real question was, why would Alexander want to ascend to godhood? Was he bored?
"You will not truly ascend to godhood. As I said before, sacrifices, you don't have enough sacrifices."
"You need a high-level, soulful, powerful race as a sacrifice to complete your ascension."
The brown-haired boy continued to explain:
"Even if you had sacrifices, you wouldn't become a god, because I have not yet become a god."
"There is no time in the Warp. Those great positions have existed since the beginning; they will eventually descend in order. Everything in the real universe is only inducing their arrival, unable to hinder their descent or disrupt the order of their descent."
"The Dark King is the fifth. As long as I refuse to descend as the Dark King in the Warp, there will never be a sixth, seventh, or eighth."
"So even with sacrifices, you would only become an existence similar to me, stuck at the last moment before ascension, descended but not born, infinitely close to completeness yet never truly complete."
"But you will be freer than me. I will bear the pressure of ascension; you can freely wield your authority, contend with the gods, and protect humanity."
The brown-haired boy stared intently at Alexander, seemingly waiting for Alexander to make his choice.
Alexander couldn't help but frown.
The Emperor spoke well, but becoming an existence infinitely close to a god, would there truly be no cost?
Just look at the Emperor's current state to know...
"I won't say there's no cost."
The Emperor seemed to read Alexander's mind:
"The faith and emotions of all living beings will affect you; the souls that belong to you will affect you."
"But you are freer than me. You can freely shape the form of your faith, minimizing this influence as much as possible."
"This is indeed a way that can be achieved now, that can quickly give us an advantage and make the entire galaxy a better place."
"I give the Dragon of Mars to you. You make your own judgment."