Chapter 3: "Raphael, what the hell are you doing?"
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Kardia deftly dodged the incoming attack by taking a calculated half-step to the side. His reflexes were so finely tuned that it felt as if he had trained for countless years or fought in endless battles.
That feeling was strange to him.
He knew he had never fought in wars before, so the feeling for him was really strange, yet his actions were smooth.
The enemy's strike whistled past him, mere inches away from his face. Not only did he evade the blow, but he also maintained his energy and momentum, positioning himself perfectly for a swift counterattack.
Without missing a beat, Kardia unleashed his own assault. The demonic sword, Moralltach, pulsed with cold energy in his grasp, its crimson blade gleaming ominously in the dim light.
As he swung the sword with precision, the Tyranids that fell under his attack were sliced into tiny pieces.
This was Kardia's perfected sword style, enhanced by his incredible strength. A fighting style that was created by Raphael for his body build, and perfectly tuned to feel natural.
A combination of the experiences and hard work of multiple people in fiction.
However, as soon as his attack ceased, he paused to survey his surroundings.
Hundreds, possibly thousands, of the Tyranid filth lay slain, many cut into tiny fragments.
These alien creatures, notorious for killing and devouring everything in their path, were now experiencing the suffering they had always inflicted on others.
After taking a few more glances at the scene, Kardia stopped observing.
It was not even worth his time to take the time to observe in detail.
It was not worth his gaze.
It was not ego, and surely it was not superiority.
But what was certain for Kardia was that he didn't like these creatures, and he didn't want to even look at them.
But if it wasn't for what was going to happen just about now, he would never look at them.
Kardia raised his right hand and later uttered a simple sentence.
"Devour it all, Azathoth!"
As that word escaped his words, it was as if the world began to enter a cataclysm.
A black substance that was sparking with black and white lightning, which seems to be malleable, appeared from the palm of Kardia, and like a giant snake, that black substance began to attach itself on the corpses of the Tyranids.
As the corpses of these Tyranids began to get sucked inside that black substance, the same black substance began to change shape, and after changing shape in the form of a ball, it began to alter the gravity. And as the center of that gravity, as if it had transformed into a black hole, everything began to get sucked in.
Yet, despite everything seeming to be trashing everything around, Kardia had controlled Azathoth's power to only attract things like the blood, toxins, and even cut body parts of the aliens he killed.
This was Kardia employing the Ultimate Skill "Azathoth, God of the Void."
Once he had finished, Kardia simply sat down on a throne that apparently appeared out of nowhere.
This throne was the stone throne that Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes from the world of Fate, was sitting on when he was first summoned onto the Fate/Strange Fake Snowfield Holy Grail War.
Kardia, as someone who has the Gilgamesh template integrated into him and possesses the Gate of Babylon of Gilgamesh, could sit on "his" throne.
Kardia decided to sit down on this throne because he was waiting for the next wave of Tyranids that he sensed approaching.
He could feel them coming, but it would take time for them to arrive.
So to save energy, he decided to sit down.
...
Kardia let out an exasperated sigh.
He later leaned his face on his fist.
As he settled down, he closed his red-golden eyes and began to think.
Ten hours have passed since he first reincarnated, or transmigrated into this world.
Ten hours.
Yet, in these ten hours, he felt the weight of the universe pressing down on him.
He finally understood why this world was so chaotic.
An unsettling twinge gnawed at his gut—an inexplicable discomfort that sharply contrasted with his lethal efficiency.
This left him questioning the source of his unease as he prepared for his next move.
Yet, Kardia was acutely aware of the reason behind his discomfort: it was the world itself.
He had not even fully reincarnated into the Warhammer 40K universe, and already he had encountered the devouring Tyranid race.
The Warhammer 40K universe was defined by war, and now he knew this firsthand.
In less than half a day, he found himself engaged in an all-out battle with the Tyranids.
In fact, he was almost killed at the start by them.
This situation prompted Kardia to reflect on his beliefs and circumstances.
He was certainly not a pacifist; however, he came from a time when wars were uncommon, and he personally did not engage in them.
The most recent conflicts he was aware of, prior to arriving in this universe, included the tensions between China and Taiwan, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, as well as some minor conflicts that largely went unnoticed.
Overall, Kardia had been fortunate to avoid participating in any wars.
But now, he found himself fighting a battle all alone.
His battle against the Tyranid was not filled with bullets flying everywhere or airplanes overhead; rather, it was reminiscent of ancient times.
A man wielding a sword—well, more accurately, a man who wielded twin swords and had golden portals shooting weapons at his enemies—but you get the idea.
He was fighting in a manner that felt remarkably medieval, all while facing a powerful alien race that sought only to destroy and consume.
Kardia understood that the reason for his exceptional performance against this formidable alien race, which was not easily defeated by regular humans or even by the Space Marines known as the Astartes, stemmed from the extensive battle experience that he gained ARTIFICIALLY, his refined fighting style, and his unwavering determination to continue fighting.
Although you can argue that his Divine Protection of the Weapon God allowed him to become a God of War in terms of combat, it actually didn't do much.
Don't get Kardia wrong... the divine protection of the Weapon God granted him almost infinite information about fighting styles with several types of weapons, but it was just that... information.
Information that was badly placed.
Just given to him, but not organized.
Thankfully, Kardia had Raphael to grab the information, organize it, and later further perfect it, and combine it with the information they already had from his integrated templates.
All of that combined allowed Kardia to survive and to also become stronger the more he fought.
But the same question popped up.
How the hell was Raphael able to do that?
He did not pay attention to the core question at the beginning, mostly because he was worried about the incoming Tyranid attack, but now... he wanted to know.
He asked the question.
The response?
Raphael explained that she possessed a powerful sub-skill called "Perfect Data Conversion."
This ability allows her version of Raphael to instantly convert numerical data into various types of data—and vice versa.
For example, turn biological information into spiritual information.
Something like that.
Kardia knew that this skill was not a skill that the original Ultimate Skill "Lord of Wisdom, Raphael" possessed, but instead, it was the skill that Kardia's version of that Ultimate Skill had.
Yet, unlike the original Ultimate Skill, "Lord of Wisdom, Raphael," Kardia's version of Raphael is not limited at all.
She can apply her sub-skills to memories, energy, souls, experience, matter, antimatter, ideas, concepts, abstract concepts, information, and even the physical, metaphysical, and spiritual laws of the Universe.
Since experience is essentially another form of data that can be processed in multiple ways, like adjustments of movement when fighting against certain enemies, or different decisions in combat, or changing the rhythm of combat to a more passive or aggressive one, or different bio-electric signals, Raphael was easily able to use her skill to transfer that information to Kardia's body.
In fact, for her, it was as easy as drinking water or breathing air for a normal human to gather the information and make it useful.
...
Kardia also began to confirm something important.
From his theoretical experience, gained by reading and watching Lore videos and audiobooks about Warhammer 40k, he understood that the Tyranids were often referred to as a plague.
A plague that not even the Plague Lords of Nurgle could fight against. Not because they lacked the strength, but because the Tyranids are a swarm that never stops coming.
However, now that he was actively fighting against them, he realized that this comparison fell short.
The Tyranids were more than just a plague; they were a terrifying force that Kardia wouldn't wish upon anyone, not even his worst enemies.
They were your worst nightmares made flesh.
For the first hour, he was a bit scared of them, but he kept his resolve to survive, and he did manage to survive.
And now? The initial fear of the Tyranids was gone, and it was now replaced with... indifference.
He has seen the Tyranids face-to-face for too long to even care. This indifference grew bigger when Kardia began to get stronger.
"My mind and body have also been growing stronger and stronger."
But... hey, at least, they were making him stronger.
Yes, stronger.
During the initial wave, right before the end of the previous chapter, Kardia felt overwhelmed.
EXTREMELY OVERWHELMED.
To the point that he thought that he was going to die because they were going to swarm him.
Even if he was using his special ability, the "Gate of Babylon" from his Gilgamesh template, even his "Psychic Perception," which allows him to see attacks from all angles, or even when he started to use his skill "Eye of the Mind" (True and Fake) rank EX, he was overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of Tyranids, and he thought he was going to die.
After all, numbers do matter in a war.
It was evident that even if he had the countless years of experience of heroic spirits, gods, angels, demons, and peak-human level humans, including a perfected fighting style that was probably unheard of, he did not have the strength to battle against an army by himself.
After all, he had software, but he didn't have the hardware.
It was as simple as that.
It was arrogant of him to think he could, but... he had no further choice.
He had to survive, and that meant he needed to fight.
Even if it meant that he needed to win an impossible battle that not even the finest warriors of this universe could actually win.
He needed to perform a divine feat, not to impress anyone, but to survive.
Kardia used everything he had in his arsenal.
The one technique that ACTUALLY helped the most was the "Total Concentration Breathing" technique.
The same technique that Yoriichi Tsugikuni created in the anime and manga of Kimetsu no Yaiba, also known worldwide as "Demon Slayer."
It is a technique that involves expanding one's lungs to intake as much air as possible, accelerating one's blood flow and heartbeat while increasing their inner body temperature, resulting in their bones and muscles becoming more excited.
Due to this, the individual who uses this technique will gain superhuman strength, speed, stamina, endurance, and even superhuman reaction times.
The original technique was named "Sun Breathing," and it is the most powerful and the most "perfect."
Because everyone is not the same in this world, various "Breathing" styles of this technique exist. Such as the "Wind Breathing," "Water Breathing," "Stone Breathing," "Flame Breathing," and so on.
Wind breathing is effectively the result of an all-powerful assault.
The best attack is attack, and the best defense is attack.
Water breathing is meant to resemble water, to be fluid, to be ever-changing, and to be a pretty well-balanced breathing style.
It represents the motto of the "ultimate" defense.
This is why in Demon Slayer, Water Breathing is the largest breathing style used.
But just like it was explained, the pinnacle of this technique is Sun Breathing, the one that Yoriichi Tsugikuni created.
Yet, the true pinnacle of this technique is the "Breathing" style that Raphael created for him: Eclipse Breathing.
Eclipse Breathing is meant to embody ALL the good qualities of Sun Breathing and Moon Breathing.
The speed, the agility, the flexibility, the coordination, the control, the strength, and the hotness of the Sun, while at the same time, it retains the lethality, the sharpness, the brutality, the precision, and the platinum gaze of the Moon of Moon Breathing.
Eclipse Breathing keeps Kardia's muscles in an ideal and perfect metabolic state, reducing lactic acid buildup to practically zero, which is the acid that forms fatigue. Meaning his body doesn't get fatigued.
Maintains constant, rapid blood flow that doesn't jeopardize the functions of the body, maintains body temperature, and keeps the heart in an ultra-high-efficiency rhythm.
This allowed Kardia to move like those legendary ancient heroes from Ancient Greek like Heracles, Chiron, Achilles, and many others. Or at least, that is how he felt. Not that he was on their level as of yet.
This allowed Kardia to move faster than the eye could track, and also allowed him to generate huge gusts of wind with a single sword swing with ease.
This also increased his reaction speed to the extreme.
But...
Even with his new abilities and time, Kardia also felt that the Tyranids were getting annoying.
The initial terror and fear of the Tyranids was gone, and it was now replaced with... indifference.
Yes... indifference.
His strength has grown too much to even care about the Tyranids anymore.
But how did he increase his strength?
In the simplest way of doing it, simply... eating.
He just used Azathoth.
As the corpses of the Tyranids were absorbed by Azathoth's Soul-Gluttony skill, they were decomposed and turned into energy.
After separating the impurities and negative influences, Raphael separated this energy into two types: Mental energy to strengthen his mind and mental defenses, and to further increase his mental energy reserves.
The other type of separated energy turned into physical energy that his body can intake to strengthen itself, or more like Raphael manipulates that energy to make his body stronger perfectly and equally, permanently.
This was why, after countless hours of fighting, absorbing, purifying, and channeling energy, his body and mind had grown stronger, and he didn't feel as tired as he should after ten hours of constantly fighting.
With his mind and body stronger, his senses were stronger than ever, and they allowed him to feel everything around him.
He could go as far as to see atoms if he really wanted to, but because there is no need to do that, he didn't do it.
But that was the level of perception that he now had.
This level of perception also helped him in combat.
Kardia now could also claim to possess greater raw physical strength than the Emperor's Space Marines, the Adeptus Astartes.
Well... It is not hard to obtain that level of strength if you have the right skills.
After all, after devouring five large Tyranid warriors, Kardia's strength had already grown exponentially. Now, imagine the level of strength he has after ten hours.
Kardia has grown so strong that Kardia himself has become what the humans of this world call a "Primarch." Or at least, that is what he thinks.
....
Aside from his now pure physical strength, his mental powers are also very incredible, and they have also grown even more powerful, even though he is not actively using them.
After all, he has integrated the templates of MULTIPLE Omega-level psionics, psychics, and espers.
That is where another question came into existence.
How was he using psychic powers?
When a Hive Fleet of Tyranids arrives in a star system inhabited by psychics, those psychics often find themselves unable to use their abilities due to a phenomenon known as the "Shadow in the Warp."
The "Shadow in the Warp" is a massive psychic null-field generated by the Tyranid Hive Mind.
It overwhelms opposing psychics, disrupting their communication, divination, and sorcery.
The "Hive Mind" operates both in the material world and within the Warp. It gives direct directions to the Tyranid members of the race, and also gives them an immense advantage against psykers.
This "Shadow in the Warp" phenomenon, created by the Hive Mind, allows the Hive Mind to consume the psychic energy and souls of the affected individuals.
This is because as soon as a person tries to use Pyschic abilities, the reflection of the Hive Mind in the Warp will notice a change in the warp, and will block it, or even try to eat it, just like they do in real space.
However, Kardia was not affected at all.
Which brings them to the same question: how was he using psychic energy?
It should be impossible, as he was under the Shadow in the Warp.
Now that he remembers, he had used abilities like psychokinesis, an ability that allows him to move matter and all types of energy with his psychic energy and mental power.
At first, he hadn't given much thought to this because he had been focused on surviving, but it felt strange that he was still able to use his psychic powers.
After all, he knew the lore, and if the Hive Mind was present on this planet or in the vicinity of this unknown star system, psychics in this sector should be completely powerless.
So what was happening?
What Kardia didn't know was that this was thanks to his unique identity as some kind of "higher-dimensional being," like the system of reincarnation said.
Although when Kardia heard the system of reincarnation say that, he thought it was just to protect him from the Gods of this world.
But he didn't know it was also going to work even in circumstances like this.
He can use the powers of the Warp without problem, even when the Shadow in the Warp is right above him, which is a big yes for him right now.
...
"Alright, it seems that the break is over. Here they come," Kardia said as he opened his eyes.
As he did, a pair of beautiful red-golden eyes stared at the devastated world around him.
Kardia felt a mix of anger and helplessness at the scenery he observed. This was the devastation that constant war and chaos had done to such beautiful creations of the universe.
Rising from his throne, he watched as it disappeared in a shimmer of golden dust.
Focusing his gaze on a specific area, his red-golden eyes narrowed as he was mentally "zooming in" to assess the situation.
"They're at least ten miles away," he noted.
This was the extent of Kardia's perception—it allowed him to hear, see, feel, and perceive anything within a ten-mile radius.
This marked the lowest point of his ability; as his strength grew, so would the range of his perception.
He believed that one day he might even be able to perceive the entire galaxy, much like the Chaos Gods and the Emperor of Mankind could with their powers.
"Alright, I can try to do this," he said with determination.
With a single thought, a large flying ship, adorned with wings that seemed to be made of emeralds and gold, appeared from a golden portal that rippled as if it were water.
This was the "Vimana," the vessel owned by Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes.
The name of this golden ship means "Vimana: Throne of the Heaven-Soaring King."
This is the very same flying throne that the likes of Indra, King of the Devas, and even God Arjuna in the Fate Grand Order Fourth 'Lostbelt' possessed.
Now that Kardia had integrated the Gilgamesh template into himself, he effectively became the "Gilgamesh" of this world, granting him the right to use the flying ship.
The Vimana was linked to Kardia's spiritual energy, and it can obey every command he gives it.
This also means that this ship belonged solely to him and would respond only to him.
With another thought, Kardia made the ship ascend at a rapid pace.
With a slight flex of his legs, he executed an incredible jump, soaring into the air.
In the air, Kardia looked towards the area where the Tyranids were coming from.
As the gravity did its job of pulling everything down, he landed safely on the golden deck of the Vimana.
As the ship ascended higher through the clouds, Kardia opened a golden portal from his Gate of Babylon above his outstretched palm, as if awaiting something to descend. And indeed, something did land.
The craftsmanship of the object that landed in Kardia's hand was unmatched anywhere else.
It appeared like a sun being held by a divine thread.
This was a bow.
This was Vijaya, the personal bow of Karna, the Hero of Charity.
Karna is the spiritual demigod son of the Sun God, Surya.
Surya, the Sun God, is the brother of the King of the Devas, Indra, the God of Thunderstorms.
Karna is also the half-brother of the Hero Arjuna.
Vijaya is a stunning bow.
It curves like a crescent blade, its dark metal body adorned with faint crimson script that glows as if it remembers the hand that forged it.
Golden fittings grip the frame with sharp, purposeful edges—elegant yet never gentle.
At its core lies a sealed crimson center, steady and oppressive, as if the sun could be held by a single string.
The bowstring is a line of light—clean, unyielding, and eternally drawn. It doesn't feel like a weapon meant for casual use, but rather one bestowed to determine when destruction is warranted.
This is the bow that the God of Destruction and also sometimes known as the God of Creation, Shiva, gifted to Parashurama.'
(I know, I know. Shiva is the destroyer, while Brahma is known as the Creator, and Vishnu as the "preserver." But bare with me here.)
Parashurama later passed it down to Karna, recognizing his prowess and skills as his best student.
This is the EX-Rank Bow that Karna would possess if summoned as an Archer-class servant. With the Karna template integrated into him, this meant that Kardia also found this bow in his hands.
As Kardia cradled the bow in his left hand and extended his right hand once more to summon the arrows belonging to this divine-like bow, he felt a wave of familiarity wash over him.
It seemed that the bow was recognizing him as Karna, or something akin to that.
As the arrows landed on his hand, Kardia grabbed one, and with precision and care, he placed the arrow on the string, and he later aimed at a distance.
With a bit of spiritual power, the arrow that was on Kardia suddenly began to burn with an intensity and brightness that made even Kardia surprised. Gathering the necessary strength, Kardia quickly was ready to shoot.
As soon as he released the arrow, the arrow, like a spear flying at lightning speeds, it quickly flew miles in seconds. The force of the rapidly piercing arrow began to create massive air and sound waves that shook everything as it passed.
The Tyranids, who were quickly moving through the landscape, rapidly moving towards where they were told to move by the Hive Mind, suddenly felt a massive terror gnaw at their very shared souls.
One of the Tyranids, stupid enough to look, sensing the danger, looked up, and once he did, the next second, he was dead as some kind of projectile pierced his head like it was nothing.
Not just that, Tyranid died, but also the Tyranids near that Tyranid died.
And that was because not even a second later, as the arrow made impact, an explosion as big as the explosion of an entire city block shook the earth and scorched it.
The explosion was as if one of the miniature suns of Surya, the Sun God, was sent by him to punish those who had committed the greatest sins of this universe.
"Interesting..."
Kardia said as he watched the explosion, and he later smiled as he inspected the divine arrow that he had in his left hand. This bow was truly something of the divine.
Of course, what made the shot so deadly was not the bow, but his skill, precision, control, and strength that he used when using the bow.
This level of technique and skill was something he got from his integrated templates of Hercules, Arjuna, Karna, Gilgamesh, and Orion, which Raphael combined and made available to him.
These are the greatest archers in human history.
But what surprised him about the bow was that no matter how much strength he used, the bow would not break in his hands.
Kardia feels that if he had to constantly shoot arrows as if this bow were a submachine gun, the divine red string of the bow would never break.
"It seems that when I pour my spiritual energy into these arrows, the bow and the arrows begin ignite in flames to cleanse and destroy anything on its path. I like it..."
Kardia was truly happy.
"This is true craftsmanship."
Kardia glanced at the bow in his left hand once again, and he later summoned more arrows to his right hand.
This time, he was going to shoot multiple arrows.
As the arrows were prepared, tensed, and later energy was poured into them, the arrows were suddenly shot at lightning speeds. Not even a bullet could come to replicate that level of speed.
As the arrows were shot, Kardia smiled as he saw the explosion in the distance.
"Not even their ashes could survive that."
Kardia was now using the distance advantage to shoot them down.
But to continue to grow stronger, he needed to devour the corpses of the tyranids with Azathoth, so Kardia, at the end, simply decided to put away Vijaya and later sat down on the golden throne in the middle of the Vimana.
As he did that, he simply used the most well-known "Gilgamesh" tactic ever, which is to bombard everything and anything away.
As he controlled Vimana to fly towards the area where the Tyranids were coming from, Kardia simply used his Extra Skill "All-Seeing Eye," alongside his skills like "Eye of the Mind (True and Fake) of the EX rank, and his "Psychic Perception" to have a COMPLETE view of the battlefield below him, so he can better control the Gates of Babylon to kill the Tyranids.
Unlike Gilgamesh, Kardia was going to use his abilities the right way.
After all, he was in a personal war, and in a war, you use everything that you have to win.
....
The Ultimate Skill, "Lord of Wisdom, Raphael," or known by everyone as "Raphael," glanced around her, taking in the chaotic landscape sprawling before her.
From the memories of her Master, she recognized this dreadful place.
This nightmarish realm could only be described as "Hell."
The atmosphere was suffused with an unsettling red-purplish hue, and a swirling tapestry of violent storms roiled overhead.
In the distance, the echoes of demonic laughter mingled grotesquely with anguished screams. Yet, even after hearing the gruesome sounds and feeling the extent of corruption surrounding her, Raphael felt no fear.
She didn't care.
She didn't give a fuck.
Unless it involved her Master, Kardia, Raphael wouldn't give a fuck at all.
Raphael would never care about the screams and voices of the tormented souls trapped in this eternal torment, forever clawing for a freedom that would never come.
Nor would she ever care about the demonic souls that were whispering to her.
In fact, she simply turned off her hearing ability and ignored the Demons altogether. Not that they can actually corrupt her, but that is how much she didn't give a fuck.
Nonetheless, she continued to observe.
She saw how some souls experienced endless and distorted pain, their essence twisted and consumed by the insatiable hunger of this realm.
The very corrupted energy of the Immaterium pulsed like a living entity, a malevolent force seeking to devour all semblance of identity and hope.
Yes, you guessed it.
Raphael was now inside the Immaterium, the Sea of Souls, or, as the inhabitants of this accursed universe referred to it, the Warp.
Each heartbeat of this realm resonated with the chaotic rhythm of the dimension, a constant reminder of the thin veil separating madness from clarity in a world that thrived on despair.
But...
How the hell did Raphael enter the Immaterium?
The answer lies in a sub-skill of hers known as "Infinite Parallel Calculation and Division."
This sub-skill allowed Raphael to divide her mental capacity into an infinite number of threads. Each thread could handle separate tasks independently without ever running out of capacity or efficiency.
In essence, it functioned like cell division, with the main Raphael still controlling all the mental threads.
Of course, Raphael maintained complete control over every single thread she created. Once a thread completed its task, she would close it or reclaim that mental thread.
Did this affect her computational power?
Actually, no.
This is a perfected skill; her efficiency and capacity remained unchanged, regardless of how many threads she created.
Another way to think of each divided mental thread is as a perfect clone of Raphael, meaning she did not lose any efficiency while utilizing this ability.
With this skill, Raphael created multiple mental threads to manage every aspect of the battle that Kardia, her Master, was engaged in within real space.
Meanwhile, the main consciousness of Raphael, "Raphael" herself, successfully found a way to connect to the Warp.
It wasn't difficult to do.
In reality, she connected to the reflection of Kardia's soul in the Warp and took control of it, and that is how she can see inside the Warp.
Upon making this connection, the first thing she perceived was a vast expanse of infinite energy—energy that could be harnessed.
However, she also noticed a massive shadow looming above them, standing out.
This immense shadow was what people referred to as the "Shadow in the Warp."
This was the reflection of the soul of the Hive Mind.
The collective force of the Tyranid race.
It was truly formidable, but, in the eyes of Raphael, it looked... small.
Somehow.
And this even confused Raphael.
Raphael also realized that the "Shadow in the Warp" had placed its disgusting eyes on the reflection of her Master.
It seems that the "Shadow in the Warp" recognized the energy used by her master in real space during his battle, and traced it back to their reflection here in the Immaterium.
Raphael entered a defensive mode.
If she couldn't stop this shadow from attacking her Master, she wouldn't forgive herself.
To tackle this issue, Raphael devised a surprisingly simple plan.
She decided to use the Ultimate Skill "Azathoth, God of the Void."
Yeah... as simple as that.
Right now, in terms of energy reserves, which in the chaotic depths of the Immaterium means power, Kardia and Raphael cannot defeat the Hive Mind, as they are too weak.
So... If you can't defeat it, just eat it.
Exactly.
Use the same tactics of the Tyranids against the Tyranids.
For that, Raphael was going to use Azathoth within the Warp.
How could Raphael, Kardia's loyal servant, utilize Azathoth within the Immaterium?
In the world of Tensura, Unique and Ultimate Skills represent a person's individuality. Essentially, these skills embody the experiences that have shaped an individual's soul.
For this reason, no two people in Tensura can possess the same skill.
Skills are a direct REFLECTION of the soul, and since no one shares identical experiences or souls, duplication is impossible. Unless you have special skills that allow you to steal, copy, or acquire skills from a person.
Moreover, in the world of Tensura and now the Warhammer 40,000 universe, after Raphael analyzed how it works, figured out that skills can be utilized even in a soul-like state
This means that Azathoth can be used in the Warp.
Utilizing Azathoth in the Warp would represent the most significant advantage imaginable to Kardia.
Not just to Kardia, but to anyone who possesses Azathoth, or even to anyone who has the Ultimate Skill "Beelzebub, Lord of Gluttony," the skill that came before Azathoth.
Should Azathoth be allowed to roam freely in the Warp, which is now possible, Kardia could quickly become a being comparable to the Chaos Gods.
Well... That is true, but Kardia and Raphael know that things aren't as easy.
The Chaos Gods consist of pure psychic energy, thoughts, emotions, and the spiritual and metaphysical concepts they embody.
Although absorbing pure psychic energy can also make them stronger, belief and worship are what TRULY make the Chaos Gods so powerful.
After all, energy is energy, but the metaphysical power of belief is what can make anyone stronger.
After all, all races use belief as a way to concentrate and better themselves.
This is why Raphael thinks that while her Master can absorb the energy of the Immaterium, he won't be able to compare to the Chaos Gods until he has his own followers.
You know what is even funnier...?
Despite their immense power, the Chaos Gods cannot absorb the energy of the Warp.
Ironic, isn't it?
This is ironic as their entire existence is shaped by that principle; THEY ARE GODS of the Immaterium, the Sea of Souls.
But why can't the Chaos Gods absorb energy from the Immaterium?
The answer is simple: their own existence.
There are four Chaos Gods and one being—the Emperor of Mankind—who refuses to ascend to godhood. Together, these five forces cancel each other out.
If Khorne were to begin absorbing the energy of the Immaterium, he might unintentionally take in the essence of Nurgle, Slaanesh, or even Tzeentch.
This could lead to complications, as even gods that absorb the essence of another can be influenced by them.
Like Slaanesh controlling Khorne's actions.
This concept has appeared in comics, manga, and various other forms of media.
If we now consider that fictional worlds are real, then the idea of one god manipulating another becomes likely.
The four Chaos Gods and the Emperor of Mankind are aware of this. That is why they choose not to absorb energy from the Immaterium; instead, they rely on followers throughout the galaxy to gain power and channel that energy.
An example of this is the following:
Khorne, who harbors a deep hatred for Slaanesh, would never allow Slaanesh's energy to infiltrate his spiritual body. The same for Slaanesh with Nurgle. Or Tzeentch with Slaanesh.
However, this does not apply to Kardia.
Kardia cannot be influenced by the concept of Chaos, nor the Chaos Gods whatsoever, as his identity is that of a higher-dimensional entity. This is contradictory, as he is still too weak to be considered one.
But... Azathoth also has Kardia to absorb any kind of energy and make it its own.
...
Raphael looked up.
The "Shadow in the Warp" seemed to have "noticed" her master's reflection below them. It seems it wanted to attack.
Raphael, ready for any sudden attack from the "Shadow in the Warp," accelerated her thoughts a million times to anticipate the incoming threat.
After a brief moment, Raphael spotted it.
The immense "Shadow in the Warp," resembling a giant kraken limb, directed a large black tentacle toward Kardia's soul, which was under Raphael's control.
At the perfect moment and after careful calculations, Raphael activated Azathoth to counter the incoming attack. She also used the black tentacle as a starting point for Azathoth to begin its feeding.
The "Shadow in the Warp" soon realized it had made a grave mistake attacking Kardia's soul reflection.
The black energy in the form of a tentacle attempted to move and escape from Azathoth's grasp, but it was futile.
It was as if the space around it had been locked, rendering the entire "Shadow in the Warp" unable to move.
The "Shadow in the Warp" discovered something terrifying: the more it tried to escape or fight back, the more energy it inadvertently fed into Azathoth's black hole.
With each passing moment, the growing energy only amplified Azathoth's devouring power.
The "Shadow in the Warp," a manifestation of the collective soul of the "Great Devourer," was now being consumed.
How ironic. How poetic.
However, Raphael was indifferent to this; in fact, she didn't care at all. She intensified Azathoth's ability to devour the energy and souls within the Shadow in the Warp.
According to her calculations, it would take only about Six Months for the entire Shadow in the Warp to be consumed—if Raphael restricted Azathoth to drawing energy solely from it.
But there is infinite energy in the Warp and boundless energy surrounding the soul of her Master, Kardia.
So why not utilize that energy?
That is exactly what Raphael began to do.
To improve efficiency, something needed to change, and Raphael started making that change right away.
Suddenly, the reflection of Kardia's soul, controlled by Raphael, began to transform. Yes... This was the change that was necessary.
The form that Raphael chose to manifest was that of Kardia.
Since this was Kardia's reflection in the Warp, it was designed to resemble Kardia in the most perfect form, which was how Raphael perceived it. After all, her master was, indeed, her master.
Raphael drew inspiration from the Aeon of Abundance, Yaoshi, and also from the mythological gods like Surya, Buddha, Athena, Odin, Zeus, and "Buddha" to recreate Kardia's reflection in the Warp.
However, unlike Yaoshi, who was genderless, Kardia was genderfluid in this world. Nonetheless, Raphael knew that Kardia preferred to present as male.
For this reason, Kardia's reflection embodied the most beautiful and handsome male god.
It represented perfection made manifest.
Kardia's reflection was both beautiful and handsome.
While these qualities might typically suggest a more "feminine" aesthetic, Kardia was anything but that.
The reflection also embodied masculinity, as he was male.
Kardia's form featured perfect muscles, defined and well-proportioned. Even the largest and most muscular men would envy Kardia's physique.
This physique was crafted for strength, durability, and endurance, while also enabling extreme speed, agility, and flexibility.
It was the "perfect" size—not too small to be labeled a "twink" and not too large to be seen as a brute of muscles.
A God martial artist's physique.
(Think of Hades from the Record of Ragnarok.)
Just simply... perfectly balanced.
Just like Yaoshi, this reflection of Kardia was dressed in white robes, adorned with gold accessories, and had six arms—three on each side of the body, like a Buddha of six arms.
The clothing evoked Greek and Roman mythologies, creating a living reflection of both a newborn and a mature deity. In some places, a vibrant red-golden color adorned the place.
Although this reflection, or avatar, mirrored Kardia's image, it also had distinct differences. Raphael perfectly crafted this visualization to embody the duality of life—light and darkness.
It represented the duality of existence.
Creation and destruction. Harmony and chaos. Justice and injustice. Angels and demons.
Ultimately, Kardia embodied hope.
That was his true essence, though he remained unaware of it; only Raphael understood.
Humanity was the most versatile race.
It could harbor saints and demons in human form. It could create but also destroy.
In this new life, Kardia embodied that duality.
To reflect this, Raphael designed Kardia's avatar with both golden white and black colors. This aesthetic was so pronounced that it extended to the skin.
If you have heard of the character Arlecchino from the video game Genshin Impact, you may know her for her striking hand design.
From her hands to her elbows, a black color gradually fades into the natural tone of her skin, contributing to her fame.
Raphael took inspiration from that reference, as well as from the symbolism of Yin and Yang.
The hands on the right side embodied light, appearing as golden with white as the purest essence of the universe, adorned with black markings for decoration.
Conversely, the three left hands were as black as the darkest corners of the universe, illuminated by white and gold markings.
Kardia, who had multiple templates integrated into him, actually embodied both light and darkness, not just one concept. He was both.
Kardia was hope, and hope is neutral.
Thus, the aesthetic that Raphael chose fit perfectly.
For the six arms: two extended upward, and from their palms, a black substance filled with sporadic sparks of lightning flowed toward the Shadow in the Warp above them.
If you have seen the anime "Tensura," you would recognize this black substance as Beelzebub's predation sub-skill, now functioning as Azathoth's sub-skill under the name of "Soul-Gluttony."
These two upward-facing arms, reaching for non-existent stars in the sky, were actively performing Azathoth's sub-skill, "Soul-Gluttony."
Their work was to continue to devour the "Shadow in the Warp."
The lower arms moved to create symbols that contributed to the aesthetic of a divine being. At certain intervals, those hands changed symbols, as if conducting a grand symbolic ritual.
However, the pair of arms in the middle was the most significant.
These hands were extended outward, as if holding something of great importance. And indeed, they were grasping something crucial.
They were holding a literal black hole, comprised of swirling black and white.
Yes, a black hole.
And just like that... the black hole began to operate.
As the insanely gravitational pull began to work, the vast and infinite energy that is mostly unused began to rapidly get attracted towards the Black Hole.
...
Some demons, observing from a great distance, sensed a shift in the Immaterium and began to look towards the source of the change.
Though they were far away, they were still close enough to see but not be affected by the massive "Shadow in the Warp" above them.
Once they reached a relatively "safe" distance, they caught sight of a divine figure that was growing ever larger. This figure was performing actions never before witnessed in the Sea of Souls.
The laughter of some demons gradually ceased. Their expressions shifted from amusement to sheer horror and terror.
It was impossible.
In the Immaterium, the physical laws of realspace did not apply, so how had a black hole suddenly appeared in the spiritual realm?
What was even more terrifying was what the entity was doing. This male god, with six arms—an unprecedented sight—was actually holding the black hole.
They could sense that the more energy the black hole absorbed, the larger the figure became. They witnessed something that seemed impossible.
This entity was consuming vast amounts of the infinite energy from the world of thoughts, emotions, and psychic power as if it were nothing. It possessed a capability that others could not replicate.
Some even dared to speculate that not even the gods they worshipped could achieve such a feat.
After all, in a world filled with emotions, souls, and the taint of corruption, absorbing energy that is mixed with various essences could likely lead to one's own demise.
It could result in an inability to remain loyal to the god they worshipped, as another god might begin to exert control over them.
But... this entity was... actually eating away the energy of the Immaterium like it was nothing, like a God that accepted the gifts of its followers.
Despite the nearby demons being the first to notice the unfolding events, it didn't take long for other powerful entities within the Warp to become aware of what was happening.
After all, there was an entity gaining power at an astounding rate—so rapid that even some of the mightiest beings, who had been striving to increase their own power for thousands of years, now paled in comparison to this burgeoning force.
...
Tzeentch, the Changer of Ways, known as the Lord of Change and the Lord of Sorcery, bore an oddly serious expression on his face as he surveyed beyond his dominion, known as the Realm of Sorcery.
As a god embodying change, Tzeentch thrived on the constant flux of reality, relishing the subtle manipulations of fate and the conspiracies spun against his fellow chaos gods.
It was, however, an irony that gnawed at him—despite his obsession with alteration and upheaval, he found himself increasingly perturbed by a recent, radical shift in the Immaterium.
An enigmatic entity had emerged, one that eluded even the keenest of his arcane perceptions.
This presence, once hidden within the shadows of the warp, had now become a glaring, vibrant white and black sun, a reality for all within this chaotic dimension.
It was executing miraculous feats of power that even Tzeentch, at the zenith of his strength—before being forcefully subdued by the combined might of the other three chaos gods—could only dream of achieving.
This unknown force was voraciously consuming the boundless energy of the Immaterium. This phenomenon flummoxed even Tzeentch himself, who had long been the master of such ethereal energies.
It was happening.
The echoes of its actions reverberated through the warp, causing ripples of unease among the denizens of chaos.
Tzeentch couldn't help but wonder: was this entity the C'tan's version of the Immaterium, a being that held the power to consume the infinite power of emotions, thoughts, and souls?
The implications of this were staggering and threatened the delicate balance of power in the cosmos, setting the stage for a new and perilous game of manipulation where even he might be a mere pawn.
The most frustrating aspect for Tzeentch, the God of Change, was that he couldn't obtain any information about a certain entity.
Every attempt proved futile.
Even the once-omniscient Tzeentch found himself unable to peer into the past, present, and future of this rapidly growing being.
While he could not uncover its origins or access its memories, he could discern the identity of the individual.
"A human...? Another son of the Anathema?"
"No... that shouldn't be possible. If it were another of the Anathema's progeny, I would have known."
Tzeentch was perplexed.
If this human possessed such power, how could he remain unaware of its existence?
The ever-changing heart of Tzeentch began to race.
"Wait... could it be... a human from the beyond?"
That was the only explanation Tzeentch, the God of Change, could conceive—The Well of Eternity.
The Well of Eternity is considered the deepest known point in the Warp, a place where time, space, and causality cease to function normally.
Tzeentch believed it to be the path beyond the universe; however, even he was hesitant to venture there and investigate.
The only individual known to have returned from the Well of Eternity was Kairos, the Fateweaver.
Kairos had somehow survived but had been fundamentally altered in the process.
Yet, the notion of this human emerging from the Well of Eternity seemed impossible. Tzeentch had sealed the Well, and occasionally, out of curiosity, he would send demons into it to see if something would occur.
But at that moment, it remained closed.
So, what was this human?
Tzeentch quickly arrived at a conclusion: much like the Emperor of Mankind, this human, who was rapidly gaining power, was born to become what he was destined to be.
"I guess... we only have to wait. Interesting... extremely interesting."
Tzeentch, after calming down, simply sighed and later laughed.
A sinister smile was on his face.
This was an unknown change, one that might even threaten his entire existence, but one that could actually bring some joy to his boring existence.
...
In the dimly lit chambers of the Mansion of the Plague Lord, a sinister fortress drenched in decay and festooned with vibrant, clinging fungi, Nurgle paused his grotesque experiments.
His bulbous eyes turned toward the horizon, where an ominous presence stirred in the shadows.
Just like Tzeentch, the Changer of Ways, Nurgle was acutely attuned to the fabric of the Immaterium.
Still, this time, an unsettling gravity weighed upon him. He felt a profound, visceral urgency—more intense than any he had ever experienced.
While Tzeentch danced in the realms of flux and possibility, Nurgle was gripped by an icy fear.
This unknown entity loomed as an embodiment of myriad concepts: destruction and abundance twisted together in a diabolical dance; order and chaos collided in an unholy union.
It was a catalyst for both creation and annihilation, a force that mirrored the sun's blinding brilliance and the ruthless fury of lightning strikes.
Lust and greed pulsed within it, powered by a relentless hunger that threatened to consume everything in its path.
This enigmatic being encompassed the duality of existence—life, death, and the cycle of rebirth intertwined, revealing the stark reality of mortality.
It harbored the raw power of war and knowledge, and within its essence lay an incomprehensible mastery over space and time.
For the first time in his grotesque, immortal existence, Nurgle felt the cold, clammy grip of fear tighten around his heart.
The potential of this entity sent waves of dread coursing through him, a stark reminder that even the Plague Lord, master of disease and decay, could one day be reduced to nothingness.
The very thought of being erased from existence by this unfathomable force brought an unsettling chill that permeated the air of his decaying mansion.
Nurgle, who had stopped, noticed something. He checked his hands. They were trembling.
"I-is this fear...?"
Nurgle, who watched his hands in shock, later felt an uncontrollable rage.
How could he, the lord of decay and plagues, feel fear of a human?
Yes... Nurgle knew that Kardia was a human. A somewhat rare human.
Just like Tzeentch, Nurgle could see how this special human was the one growing in power. He also thought that this was another human created by the Anathema, but that idea went away.
This human was not like those human primarchs. He was not like his Mortarion.
Yet... he didn't understand. It was something that was beyond his reach.
Beyond his comprehension. It terrified him and also angered him.
It angered him as he was a Chaos God. A being of extreme power, a being that invokes fear into others, not that others invoke fear into him.
For the time being, Nurgle decided not mess with that human. Maybe it was out of fear, but he also knew that if he did something, it was going to turn bad for him.
Of course, it didn't mean that Nurgle was not going to attack the human. Nurgle decided to allow his demons to deal with the human.
If they couldn't handle it, unless it was a big moment, Nurgle wouldn't intervene.
...
However, unknown to him, in the "Garden of Blight," near the "Mansion of the Plague Lord," where Nurgle kept the Aeldari Goddess of Life, Isha, someone else was seeing the changes in the distance.
Isha, the beautiful Goddess of Life, looked at the horizon beyond the Garden of Blight with her green emerald eyes filled with hope.
In ten thousand years, since the fall of the Aeldari Empire and Pantheon, Isha had never experienced hope
She didn't have hope of getting away from the domains of Nurgle.
She didn't have hope of running away from the other Chaos Gods.
She was simply there.
Yet, after ten thousand years, Isha felt hope once again.
She always hoped to escape Nurgle's grip, and now, after thousands of years, she saw that beautiful golden and black light; she saw the embodiment of hope with her own eyes.
As a goddess of life, Isha could see and detect other concepts related to life.
The concept of Hope was deeply enrooted with the concept of Life. It was as if the concept of life and hope were meant to be together.
For this same reason, when she saw that figure in the distance, she knew that the God of Hope had been born.
For that, Isha began to feel hope once again.
"I hope... he can save me."
Isha murmured to herself as she watched on the horizon.
Her eyes, after so many years, weren't so dull anymore.
...
In the Palace of Pleasure, Slaanesh also watched towards the distance, but not even seconds later, she simply moved on.
Unlike Tzeentch and Nurgle, Slaanesh couldn't care less about anything.
Slaanesh was that type of god.
A God that didn't actually care for the existence and rise of other Gods.
As the literal embodiment of excess, lust, and pleasure, for her/him, if a new god came into play, she wouldn't care.
Of course, she would fight to keep her place in the realm of chaos, but in reality, she wouldn't care.
For her, everything was a game. Everything was a pleasure.
Unless what happened with Tzeentch happened, when he grew too powerful, and they had to drag him down to their level, Slaanesh wouldn't care.
Although she does think that the unknown entity is growing extremely fast, and it kinda worried him/her, in the end, she actually didn't care.
She just attributed this as a fact. After all, she/he was considered a "New Generation" God, and the new generation grows in power a lot faster than the old ones.
But in the end, Slaanesh didn't care.
In fact, her mind began to think of something else entirely.
...
Khorne was... furious.
Well... That is not something new.
The Blood God, revered as the God of War and the Lord of Rage, seethed with uncontainable wrath.
From his infernal realm, he surveyed the Sea of Soul in the far distance, sensing the ripples of an unfamiliar entity stirring in the distance—one whose power echoed the very essence of violence and chaos.
Yet, amid the familiarity of his furious thoughts, there was an unsettling strangeness.
This intruder wielded a godhead infused not only with the concepts of wrath, war, and destruction but also with an array of other enigmatic powers that eluded Khorne's grasp.
It was a blend of energies that transcended his understanding and challenged his dominance.
What ignited Khorne's fury further was the realization that this being possessed the ability to siphon the boundless energy of the Immaterium, growing stronger at an alarming rate.
Not even he had that ability. Well... he had it, but it was not reliable.
The speed of this ascent was reminiscent of the tumultuous birth of Slaanesh. Yet, it surpassed that, promising a threat Khorne had yet to fully comprehend.
The thought of this entity eclipsing his own might, fueled in the distant future, ignited the fire of his rage.
It ignites a desire not only to battle but to obliterate the source of this challenge to his supremacy.
Yet, Khorne was not stupid.
He knew that something was extremely wrong here. A being like that couldn't appear out of nowhere. Also, that growing rate was something he never heard of.
The entity already had the power level of a minor God.
Also, how the hell did he manage to create a black hole in the Immaterium? And how was he devouring a sub-Hive Mind of the Tyranid Race at the same time?
So many questions left unanswered.
So, just like Nurgle and Tzeentch, Khorne didn't act right away.
But this inaction made him even madder, and there was nothing he could do about it.
He was just acting cautiously because of the circumstances. Still, once he found a weakness, Khorne was going to exploit it and kill that entity and absorb it.
...
The Emperor of Mankind, often revered as the "God Emperor," floated serenely above the Astronomican in a transcendent form, resembling a colossal, cold sun.
His luminous presence cast a dim, ethereal light over the vast expanse of the Sea of Souls in the Immaterium, illuminating the tumultuous currents of psychic energy swirling around him.
Gazing out towards the distant horizon of the Immaterium, where the chaotic tides of warp storms surged and receded restlessly like the restless waves of an infinite ocean.
As he observed, a palpable surge of energy drew his attention, an echo of a presence in the distance growing stronger with each fleeting moment.
He could feel its power pulsing with the fervent rhythm of ambition and untamed determination, like the heartbeat of a newborn star igniting in the void of space.
A flicker of satisfaction ignited within the Emperor's core, sending warmth through his being.
It thrilled him to witness a fellow human emerging from the shadows, ascending to prominence amidst the vast and chaotic tapestry of the universe.
Yet, much like the other deities of chaos who roamed the Immaterium, the Emperor's countenance was marred by a tumult of uncertainty.
While he reveled in the emergence of another human being claiming their rightful place in the cosmos, he was acutely aware that this newfound power was something he could not directly control.
The Emperor's love for humanity eclipsed even his own ego, a profound devotion shaping his every action across millennia. Nevertheless, as the sovereign of mankind, it was intrinsic to his nature to seek dominion over his subjects.
His primarch sons, the genetically-engineered progeny who embodied the diverse facets of his will, had often remarked upon this inherent duality: the Emperor sought humanity's flourishing while simultaneously wearing the heavy mantle of a tyrant, resolutely unwilling to relinquish control over what he deemed his sacred empire.
The very prospect of another ruler—one capable of challenging his sovereignty, of daring to defy him—gnawed at his consciousness like a persistent, unwelcome whisper.
The rise of this new human, who gathered strength with alarming speed and fervor, eclipsing even the once newly-born Slaanesh of Ten Thousand Years ago, and, to some extent, himself, stirred an unsettling mix of anticipation and trepidation within him.
"Perhaps this is not entirely a negative turn," the Emperor mused quietly to himself, a glimmer of cautious hope piercing through his otherwise resolute thoughts. "Maybe engaging in dialogue with him could lead to a mutually beneficial alliance."
Deep down, he recognized that this emergent being, steeped in ambition and likely resistant to any form of submission, would probably rebuff any overtures of allegiance directed at him.
Yet, he clung to the faint possibility of collaboration; perhaps together they could forge a united front against the encroaching darkness threatening humanity, a force that loomed, ravenous and patient, just beyond their collective horizon.
This seemed the most prudent course of action.
If he could not convince this individual to kneel before him, then perhaps he could inspire them to work alongside him for the greater good.
The Emperor of Mankind had taken on many forms throughout history, embodying both powerful men and women across the ages.
If it required the ultimate sacrifice, perhaps even marrying this new rising monarch to further humanity's cause, he would not hesitate. He would do it willingly, guided by his unwavering commitment to the future of mankind.
The Emperor, although mostly appearing as male, could easily turn female if he wanted.
"For now... I will observe him," he murmured softly, the weight of his resolve echoing in the emptiness around him.
"I will watch his actions, weigh his decisions, and note how he develops in the times to come. Should he outpace my expectations, I could create another avatar—some reflection of my will—and seek a conversation with him."
With that thought, the Emperor continued to survey the figure in the distance, a being so powerful that he was quite literally holding a black hole in his hands, a swirling mass of energy entering that hole.
Not just his reflection, but also the human version that was fighting the Tyranids on that empty planet.
The Emperor had to admit that said human being had a fighting style that he never seen; it was efficient. It combined strength, speed, agility, and the flexibility to adapt to all scenarios in a combat scenario.
The Emperor even thought of wanting to replicate it, but... the speed needed to pull it off was out of his range. Not because he wasn't fast, but because that style of fighting was designed for that man's physique.
The Emperor is technically a giant, and while he can replicate the same level of speed, his massive size would be too disadvantageous. Of course, this was the Emperor thinking that if he had to fight against Kardia.
If he replicated this fighting style against other enemies, it was obvious that the Emperor could replicate at least ten percent of its efficiency.
However, he simply didn't do anything; he just... watched in silence, while he kept his job of lighting up the Astronimican.
...
Kardia, who didn't know what was going on, but if he knew about it, he would say...
"Raphael, what the hell did you do?!"
But he didn't know.
...
End of Chapter.