Warhammer: Saving Humanity Begins with the Resurrection of Horus

Page 125

"It shouldn't be. We took the elevator here last time we came, and wasn't that elevator the same as the one we have now? Why wasn't it stuffy then but it is now?"

"Alright, let's stop talking. We won't need it anyway."

"No, we will use it."

"You should sell everything in the cart first."

The chatter ended, and the elevator stopped running at that moment. A large "3" on the elevator's display panel told the figure its current location.

Ordinary people filed out of the elevator, their figures able to hear sounds from the outside world. He took a deep breath and stepped forward, but before he could even place his foot on the ground, a slightly mocking voice suddenly appeared behind him, traveling through the air like a tiny insect burrowing into his ear.

The figure immediately felt a strong sense of oppression, and his expression changed drastically. At this moment, he no longer cared whether he would be exposed by the noise of his next move.

The dagger, which was located at his waist, was swiftly drawn from his waist. The dagger gleamed with a cold light, flashing through the air in a bright silver crescent shape.

Click!

The dagger struck its target, but contrary to expectations, the target didn't immediately fall to the ground and become a corpse. Instead, sparks and cables shot out from the spot where it was hit.

what? !

The figure was terrified, and the cloak it was wearing was lifted up to reveal a monster symbol with three hideous heads underneath.

If Lynch were present at this moment, he would certainly know that this is an Alpha Reis.

However, compared to the appearance of an AlphaReis, the opponent who fights AlphaReis is obviously the most outrageous.

The skeleton, made of a metallic-looking material, moved about, sparks and cables erupting from the spot on its head where it had just been struck. Its facial features shimmered with a green fluorescence, outlining a face that was both comical and terrifying.

Necron.

This is the race to which the skeletons belong, a race even more ancient than the Eldar. When it appeared, the ancient saints who created the Eldar were still prosperous, leading the entire galaxy, or rather the entire universe, on a path of great progress.

If this path continues, perhaps in the future, the entire Milky Way will become a true whole, with no hatred between different races, only cooperation and progress together.

Unfortunately, due to numerous issues, the War of Heaven eventually broke out. The culprits of the war, the Necromancers of the Space, successfully defeated their archenemies, the Ancient Ones and the Star Gods, but they themselves paid a heavy price. After careful consideration, the leaders, the rulers of many dynasties of the Necromancers, entered various tomb worlds, shut down their master programs, and entered a long period of slumber.

As a result, they slept for tens of thousands of years. Until the ruler of the galaxy changed, and humanity entered a dark age. This time, they slowly began to awaken, turning incomprehensible ancient technology into warhammers, smashing it down on everyone's heads.

However, although most of the undead slept for tens of thousands of years, some of them would occasionally leave their tombs during those tens of thousands of years to pursue their own "little hobbies".

The Endless One, Tarasin, tossed the small ball in his hand. He had only come to watch a military parade, but he hadn't expected to have such an unexpected gain.

As the ruler of an ancient crypt world, the Endless Tarachin, after becoming a space necromancer, dedicated himself to the preservation of the galaxy's history, artifacts, and time. Over countless years, he amassed a vast collection of things he deemed valuable, not only inanimate objects but also numerous living things.

For example, like Alpharex inside the small ball in his hand, he witnessed history, or was simply a participant in a certain period of history.

Ripples shimmered across his body, making him appear to outsiders as nothing more than an elderly mortal warband servant. He walked silently until he came to a huge floor-to-ceiling window, where he stopped and gazed at the now empty square outside and the viewing platform above it, lost in thought for a moment.

Logically speaking, the appearance of the Endless Tarasim must mean that he considers something to be of great value and worth collecting.

At this very moment, what is the most valuable person or object to collect on Badab?

Without a doubt, it was the Star Claws captain named Lynch.

This was also Tarasin's original goal. Although protected by the Royal Guard, Tarasin remained confident in his actions before officially arriving in Badab. Of course, more importantly, this body was merely one of his many spare bodies; even if it was damaged, he wouldn't feel bad, nor would it affect his life.

but.........

When Tarachin officially arrived in Badab, or rather, after witnessing some "things" firsthand, his thinking changed from "collecting" Lynch to "observing".

Tarasin looked out the window, his thoughts drifting back to countless years ago.

Back then, the Space Necromancers weren't called Space Necromancers, nor did they have the metallic bodies they have now. They were known as the Fearful Ones, a short-lived race living within the Milky Way due to various reasons.

Tarachin was neither a ruler of the tomb world nor a collector. At that time, he was a librarian whose favorite thing to do every day was to organize the books on the shelves that recorded ancient knowledge. Occasionally, he would go to the second-hand market to find some antiques of unknown authenticity and keep them at home as a hobby.

But later, everything changed.

First, the foolish Triune Council waged war against the Ancients in order to unify, and then the Fearless were defeated as expected. Then, in order to gain power and immortality, the mad leader made a deal with the Star God, allowing the Fearless to abandon their physical bodies and become immortal space undead.

Relying on their powerful physique and strength, the Space Necromancer defeated the Ancient Saints and even their former allies and superiors, the Star Gods. However, the price they paid was far more than just a severe loss of vitality.

The Fearful Ones no longer have their own souls. The Star God's deal is a scam, essentially just a way to get the Fearful Ones to offer up their souls as food.

Is a being without a soul still considered a living being?

Tarachin lowered his head. But time didn't allow him to come up with an answer. Someone reached out, patted him on the shoulder, and then tossed him a mop.

"Don't just stand there, hurry up and get to work with me."

"The warband servant said, then strode forward and took the lead.

Tarasin watched the retreating figures of the warband servants, remained silent for two seconds, and then followed them.

He thought of the armored vehicles and equipment in the armory, filled with acquired mechanical spirits.

He really, really wanted to know how that was done.

Chapter 153 Grand Parade

In fact, Lynch had no idea what the parade was about until he actually saw it begin.

For the military parade, he and his men took off their formal attire for the welcoming ceremony and put on power armor instead.

Lynch also equipped himself with a power sword, which he wore at his waist, making him look even more like a dignified leader.

At the time, he jokingly told Asford that he looked like a sculpture.

After all, according to his preconceived notions, the military parade would probably involve various troops marching proudly across a prepared square. Dozens of cannons would fire simultaneously, shaking the earth and sky. Neatly arranged aircraft would pierce the clouds with long contrails, their engines roaring into everyone's ears.

All he needs to do is stand in the stands like a statue, watch, and then say a few inspiring words at the end.

However, when he actually saw the parade up close, and was the one in charge of it, the intense excitement he felt—completely different from watching from the stands or elsewhere—made his heart tremble violently.

Before him lay a still empty square, but after the hours-long parade, it would be filled with elite troops from various planets and regions belonging to the Empire.

Behind him stood a series of Astartes Chapter Commanders, Foundry Directors, Astral Army and Naval Admirals, heads of merchant ronin families, Titan pilots, and representatives from the Freeblade.

These people were undoubtedly of noble status, and within the empire, they were undoubtedly at the very top of the pyramid.

But now, these people and their forces are being called upon, directed, and united under the same banner by Lynch.

What does this feel like?

It's a feeling of power, a power that transcends the mundane, making even ordinary people believe they possess a power comparable to that of gods.

Horus looked at Lynch and thought to himself.

Many, many years ago, when he was first brought from the surface of Kosonia into the golden dream of imperial power, when he first met the nascent institutions of the empire with his father in the palace, when he was proclaimed the Son of the First King among countless people...

At that time, Horus felt the same way Lynch does now.

However, in the end, he got used to it and became immune to it.

Lynch is the same, or rather, he has to get used to it and become immune to it.

Because power is a poison; people can use it, but they must never become addicted to it, otherwise they will do many irrational things.

What consequences would result if people like them acted irrationally?

Although Horus was not consumed by power, he did do things that were similar to the irrational behavior that would occur if he were consumed.

"Calm down," Horus said in a deep voice. "You'll get used to it."

Lynch knew Horus was doing it for his own good. After nodding almost imperceptibly, he took a deep breath, straightened his back, and looked at the server skull that was broadcasting live in front of him, looking like a solemn sculpture.

"The military parade shall now begin."

He said this, and his soft voice was quickly amplified by the loudspeaker, echoing throughout the square and beyond.

The sound echoed within the royal court, but vanished within seconds. However, its disappearance served as a signal; thirteen seconds later, steady, massive footsteps resounded, and a column of mortals clad in green armor and wielding light guns appeared, marching in unison towards the front of the stands.

"First formation!"

The leader of the formation walked at the very front, a middle-aged man with a resolute face. His clothing was similar to that of the soldiers behind him, but he was equipped with a laser pistol and a chainsaw sword for ordinary people.

"The First Mortal Infantry Regiment of Badab! Salutes Lord Lynch!"

All the soldiers tilted their heads slightly upward, looking with their eyes at the tall figure standing on the high platform, scrutinizing them.

"For the Emperor! Loyalty!"

"loyalty!"

The voices of the mortal soldiers came together, moving the Astronaut generals in the stands.

Beforehand, they already knew that the order of the parade formations was first the mortal army, then the Astartes troops.

The vanguard of both the mortals and the Astartes consisted of the native forces of Badab, the host nation—the Claws of the Stars and their mortal auxiliary army.

As for Star Claw, everyone has witnessed its achievements. After all, it has a considerable reputation and has made significant contributions to maintaining trade routes in recent years.

However, everyone only knows the name of the mortal auxiliary army under Star Claw but never sees them. Although they know that Star Claw will regularly send its soldiers to the auxiliary army for training, many people still have doubts about the actual combat power of the auxiliary army.

And now, judging from the momentum and formation just displayed by the formation...

Even among the numerous Astronautical Army, this infantry regiment is considered a first-rate elite force.

One of the Star Guard colonels thought to himself, and secretly resolved to take the opportunity during the battle to ask his colleagues for advice on how such a force was trained.

The first formation marched across the walkway in front of the platform and stopped on the right side of the center line of the plaza in front of the platform. The second formation appeared quickly, but unlike the orderly footsteps of the first formation, the second formation's footsteps were accompanied by the sounds of animal limbs moving forward.

A gray, shadowy army came into view, silently marching past the high platform, the cavalry standing out prominently. Lynch recognized them almost instantly—a Krieg Death Legion. They had been defeated in a siege by the Red Scorpion Legion, and later, their political commissar, representing the legion, had joined the Great Vortex Alliance.

The Kriegs did not respond. Their leader silently bowed to the platform in respect, and Lynch returned the gesture, watching them leave the aisle and take their places in the square.

The mortal armies arrived in droves, dozens of people from different regions of the Empire gathering here. Among them, besides the Kriegs, were the Kadians, Alicias, Harakaus, Katachans…

There are many types of troops. Even the most common infantry regiment is further subdivided into heavy infantry, light infantry, line infantry, siege infantry, and so on. In addition, there are a considerable number of armored regiments and artillery regiments. The roar of heavy vehicles echoes between the earth and the sky, much like the roar of a dragon in mythology.

Even if these are just ordinary people, they are enough to start a war of sufficient scale.

However, once the scale reaches a certain level, they will inevitably not be the only ones present on the battlefield.

The Astartes began their entrance, with thirteen Astarte chapters appearing at the start of the corridor. The three leading chapters were Starclaw, Lamenters, and Mantis Warriors—the three guardian chapters of the Maelstrom, the closest of all, appearing together first, a gesture that earned them the unanimous approval of the other chapters.

The veterans of the first company from the three battle groups were dressed in full uniform, their MK7 power armor gleaming brightly in the starlight. They gripped explosive pistols, their steps synchronized, the sound of their footsteps like war drums, booming like thunder.

First came the battle cries of their respective factions, followed by a unified slogan.

"For the Emperor!"

The veterans of the three battle groups roared in unison, drawing the attention of the crowd on the high platform. If the shock they felt just moments before came from the mortal legions, then the impact from Astartes was now far more visually striking.

Behind the three warbands was a phalanx composed of several other warbands from the original Great Vortex Alliance: the Man-Eating Sharks, the Red Scorpions, the Minotaur, and the Firehawks. These four veterans of different colors walked side-by-side, exuding a dense, malevolent aura, enough to drive those with weak constitutions to tears and madness.