Chapter 792 - Exchange

Osiris's optical sensors locked onto him: "Explain. How did you locate this ship? What does this so-called 'cooperation' point to?"

"I have foreseen fragments," Zeratul slowly said, his emerald gaze seeming to gaze into the distant void behind Osiris, "I saw the Dark God open his eyes in the void, and saw his shadow devour the stars."

"I followed the threads of prophecy because they pointed to a variable that might change the trajectory of destruction—you, and her."

He looked once more at Kerrigan in the incubation chamber: "You must stop this process. Awakening her now is not the correct path."

"Your basis?" Osiris remained unmoved, but its internal Logic Core was rapidly analyzing the information in the other's words, "Kerrigan's re-transformation is part of the protocol, her own autonomous choice, and a necessary preparation to counter Amon's threat."

"An autonomous choice based on incomplete information," Zeratul took a step forward, "You believe that letting her regain the power of the Queen of Blades will allow her to control The Swarm to fight Amon."

"That is not wrong, but it misses the most crucial link: returning to the source and reclaiming that power before it was tampered with and corrupted."

This word instantly elevated Osiris's data retrieval to the highest priority.

According to the memory data from before his transmigration, the birthplace of the Zerg, Zerus, truly existed, and legend had it that it preserved the most primitive essence of life of the race, untainted by any external forces.

"Continue," Osiris commanded.

"The Queen of Blades controls The Swarm by relying on the forced suppression of the Overmind's residual neural nodes and her own powerful psionics," Zeratul explained, "However, the root of this power itself has already been contaminated by Amon's will."

"To truly sever the shackles, she must go to the source where the Zerg were born—Zerus."

"There, she must face and integrate with the most primitive essence of The Swarm preserved by that world, which existed before Amon guided its evolution."

"That is not a simple 'authentication,' but a retrogressive refinement."

"Only thus can the power she acquires truly belong to herself and The Swarm itself, rather than being a distorted product under Amon's control architecture."

"Otherwise, everything she regains could be eroded or even reversed by him through the backdoors deeply embedded in her roots when he truly descends."

Inside the incubation chamber, although Kerrigan's consciousness was in a semi-isolated state, Zeratul's words vaguely penetrated into her perception. Zerus—the source of the Zerg—the primitive essence—

These words stirred a strong, near-instinctive resonance and yearning in the depths of her Zerg genetic memory, a primitive call for "return" and "wholeness."

"Your proposal?" Osiris asked directly.

He had quickly evaluated the potential logical authenticity of Zeratul's words.

"Cooperation," Zeratul repeated, "I know the path to Zerus and how to find the location of the primitive essence in that ancient and dangerous world. I can guide her."

"And you, you need to provide the technical support to ensure this process can proceed and allow her to safely return with the power that truly belongs to herself."

"The three of us—the Dark Templar pursuing the ancient ways, the outsider pursuing knowledge, and the key target who must break free from her shackles—intersect at this moment."

"We must ensure that Amon's creation reclaims its appearance before it was distorted, so that it is no longer the perfect tool of destruction in his hands."

His emerald gaze burned brightly: "This is not a request, but an inevitability based on foresight. I have seen two futures: one where she is reborn here, powerful yet still bearing invisible chains, ultimately consumed by the darkness."

"And another where she undergoes refinement at the source, returning with a truly pure and autonomous power to become a sharp blade piercing Amon's heart."

"I have chosen the latter and come here. Now, it is your turn to choose."

The laboratory fell silent.

Inside the incubation chamber, Kerrigan's vital sign readings fluctuated.

Osiris's optical sensors shifted between Zeratul, the incubation chamber, and the data screens, performing high-speed calculations.

Seconds later, he made a decision.

"Pause the incubation program. Maintain stable vital signs."

With the order issued, Osiris turned to Zeratul.

"Provide the precise coordinates of Zerus, environmental parameters, the specific definition and potential risk analysis of the primitive essence, and the functional model of the refinement process. All information will be verified."

"If verified, and if an action plan with a controllability exceeding seventy-five percent can be formulated," the red light in Osiris's optical sensors steadied, "the cooperation can be established."

He added the most crucial condition: "However, Kerrigan's safety and the ultimate initiative of the action still belong within the framework of this transaction. Her going to Zerus is to acquire a more perfect and purer tool attribute, rather than engaging in an uncontrollable adventure."

"You, Zeratul, shall become the guide and advisor, but not the decision-maker. Accept these conditions, and the cooperation begins."

Zeratul gave Osiris a deep look, his gaze containing a cold understanding of machine logic and the compromise he had to accept to achieve a grander goal.

"I accept," the Dark Templar slowly nodded, "Now, let us awaken her. Some paths require her to see clearly for herself and choose whether to tread upon them."

The incubation chamber's drainage program initiated, and the pale green liquid rapidly receded.

The pale green nutrient fluid of the incubation chamber quickly emptied, and the cold air wrapped around Kerrigan's drenched body.

She coughed violently, breaking free from the semi-conscious state filled with data streams.

The burning sensation in her lungs and the heaviness of her limbs reconfirmed her physical existence.

She lay prone at the bottom of the chamber, gasping, shaking off the dark red wet hair plastered to her forehead that still retained the textural residue of Zerg genetic modification.

She raised her head, her vision gradually focusing from blurriness.

Through the transparent bulkhead covered in water droplets, the first thing she saw was not Osiris's dark red mechanical body, but an unexpected, deep green figure draped in a tattered cloak.

Zeratul.

Kerrigan's movements froze instantly, and her coughing stopped abruptly.

Her pupils suddenly constricted, and an extremely complex storm surged within her azure eyes—shock, disbelief, instinctive vigilance, and a trace of heavy palpitation deeply buried and originating from those obscure prophecies.

How could Zeratul be here?

On Osiris's ship?

At the moment when she was about to step back onto that dark path?

Countless thoughts flashed through her mind like lightning: Is this Osiris's conspiracy?

Protoss interference?

Or—

That damned prophecy had once again manifested in a way she could not understand?

Her intersections with this Dark Templar were limited to fragmented warnings about doom and salvation, as well as vague hostility and scrutiny on the battlefield.

He had never been her ally, acting more like a messenger bearing ominous truths.

She braced against the slippery bulkhead, standing up somewhat unsteadily, paying no mind to her current disheveled state.

Her gaze locked firmly onto Zeratul's emerald eyes, attempting to read the answer from them.

She did not speak, but her tensed body and instantly sharpened gaze clearly conveyed her questioning and guard.

The appearance of this Protoss abruptly thrust her newly made, hard-bitten, calculated, and icy decision into new, completely unknown variables.

The orbit of her fate, at the very moment she thought she had made her choice, was once again pushed by an incomprehensible force, veering into an even more unfathomable and unpredictable fog.

The pale green nutrient fluid in the incubation chamber drained completely, and Kerrigan braced herself against the slippery bulkhead, standing up somewhat unsteadily.

Droplets of water dripped from her dark red hair tips, sliding down the old scars on her pale skin.

Her gaze swept past Osiris's dark red mechanical body and locked firmly onto Zeratul, her eyes surging with shock, vigilance, and profound doubt.

"Zeratul." Her voice was hoarse from inhaled liquid, yet it carried the icy texture left over from her time as the Queen of Blades. "Is this some new prophetic trick, or has the Protoss finally decided to meddle in human internal affairs?"

She deliberately used the word "human," both to remind herself of her current status and to probe.

"Not a trick, Sarah Kerrigan." Zeratul's emerald-green gaze calmly met her scrutiny, holding the heaviness of insight into destiny without direct hostility. "Nor is it simple interference. I followed the fissures of prophecy because the source of that fissure points directly here at this moment, pointing to you."

He turned slightly, looking at Osiris, before shifting his gaze back. "This—Sage, has told you part of the truth, regarding Amon, regarding the shackles."

But the truth is like moss; it has surface nutrients available to be nibbled on, and it also has foundations buried deep beneath the rock layers that determine the entire ecological cycle. He told you what is, and a path based upon it.

"And I have come here to tell you why it must be so," and the indispensable "foundation" before the starting point of that path.

Kerrigan did not leave the incubation chamber; the damp and cold air made her tremble slightly, but her spine remained straight. "Speak." She was succinct, her gaze moving between Zeratul and Osiris.

Zeratul began his narrative.

He did not use complex metaphors; instead, like a scholar presenting archaeological findings, he calmly recounted the picture he had pieced together from various Xel'naga ruins, ancient Protoss literature fragments, and his own void psionic explorations.

He described how Amon wove his own will like a poisonous vine into the evolutionary blueprint of the Zerg, creating a race that appeared to grow wildly, but whose underlying code had long since been inscribed with absolute obedience commands.

He mentioned the Overmind as an accidentally generated sprout of rebellion, and why the Overmind chose her—not only because of her psionic potential, but even more so because of her human essence, a "variable" completely outside of Amon's initial design.

"The reversal of the keystone does not turn you back into 'the human of the past.'" Zeratul looked straight into Kerrigan's eyes. "It is more like a—formatted reboot. It clears away the outermost control protocols of Amon's will that are strongly bound to the Queen of Blades form, allowing you to break free from his direct control."

However, this does not touch the shackles belonging to the racial origin buried deep at the very bottom of the Zerg's genetic code. The key to those shackles is not within any artifact, but at the origin of the Zerg's birth—Zerus.

What he said astonishingly coincided in core logic with the conclusion Osiris reached based on data analysis—that she had broken free of the shackles and might become an interface for reverse control—only differing in perspective.

One originated from ancient knowledge and psionic foresight, while the other originated from cold scanning and logical deduction. This mutual corroboration greatly enhanced the credibility of the information.

"Zerus—" Kerrigan repeated in a low voice. This vocabulary stirred ripples deep within her residual memory of The Swarm, a strange summoning mixed with primitive desire, cruel competition, and a certain—"home."

"The power there has nothing to do with Amon?"

"Before Amon cast his gaze upon that primordial soup and began his guidance, the life of Zerus had already evolved for countless years following its own barbaric and pure laws of survival," Zeratul said. "Amon's power covered and distorted it, but failed to completely replace its foundation."

"What you must seek is not some specific 'weapon' or 'energy,' but to reconnect with, understand, and ultimately master that primitive essence belonging to the Zerg itself before it was covered and distorted."

Only by fusing with that essence will your regained power truly originate from The Swarm itself, rather than being a gift from Amon.

"By then, you will not only be an individual who has broken free from the shackles, but you will also become the 'guide' and 'protector' for the entire race to return to its pure nature, and Amon will no longer be able to manipulate them through their racial roots."

Kerrigan fell silent, digesting this information.

This explained many of her past confusions—the Overmind's contradictory will mixed with despair and anticipation, and the sense of incompleteness she occasionally felt when controlling The Swarm, as if separated by a thick layer of glass.

What Osiris provided was technology and a transaction—a pragmatic path that was clear but potentially implied unknown costs.

What Zeratul provided was the fundamental reason why this path must be walked in this manner, as well as a grander yet even heavier "mission."

She looked at Osiris: "Does his statement match your data?"

"The logical chain consistency exceeds eighty-seven percent." Osiris's optical sensors flickered. "The 'primitive essence' hypothesis can perfectly explain why Amon's control architecture is so deeply entrenched at the racial level, and why intervention targeting the root of this architecture is theoretically the optimal solution."

"Traveling to Zerus for tracing and fusion can be regarded as a key preparatory optimization step for the existing 'tool reforging scheme,' which can significantly enhance the autonomy, stability, and counter-control potential against Amon's control of the final product. Evaluated from a technical benefit perspective, it is worth investing in."

His phrasing remained cold and precise, but he had already endorsed the direction proposed by Zeratul.

Kerrigan closed her eyes, taking a deep breath of the cold air carrying the scent of ionization. A few seconds later, she opened her eyes; the waves of hesitation and struggle within them had subsided, replaced by the chilling clarity after making a decision.

"I will go to Zerus." She said to Osiris, then turned to Zeratul. "You lead the way."

The foundation of the transaction still existed—power, The Swarm, revenge.

It was just that a crucially important link had been added to the path to achieve the goal, and the goal itself had been endowed with a deeper meaning.

However, just as Osiris was preparing to retrieve the data of the Zerus stellar region and begin planning a specific action plan, a communication request from the deepest layer using a special encryption protocol was triggered within his massive information processing network.

The source identifier of the request was not any known sector code, but the exclusive beacon he established at the Death World Base in the Warhammer Universe for emergency cross-dimensional communication.

"Plan suspended." Osiris spoke suddenly, interrupting the forming action atmosphere. His mechanical body turned to one side, as if all his attention was instantly concentrated on a high-priority thread internally.

"I need to handle an emergency communication. Zeratul, Kerrigan, you can discuss the details of Zerus here preliminarily. Valerie will host you temporarily."

Without over-explaining, his figure moved, quickly leaving the bio-adjustment chamber and heading toward his master communication node. Leaving Kerrigan and Zeratul beside the gradually drying incubation chamber, the atmosphere for a moment became somewhat stagnant.

At the master communication node, Osiris activated the highest-level shielding force field.

Deep blue light rose from the complex annular device, forming a stable spatial distortion point in the center of the room.

Moments later, a stable data stream bearing ripples with distinct extra-dimensional physical characteristics was received and decoded.

The holographic image emerged, displaying the standard Adeptus Mechanicus document format and the insignia of the Forge Temple of Mars.

An authorized synthetic voice began to play the message contents: "To Magos Osiris, the internal Technical Review Committee of the Adeptus Titanicus has reviewed the preliminary concept document of the 'New Titan Guardian Soldiers Collaborative Combat System' you previously submitted."

The committee recognizes its potential tactical value and research direction.

Accordingly, the Adeptus Titanicus formally issues an invitation for you to visit the headquarters of the Forge Temple of Mars in person at your convenience to participate in a specialized academic symposium of indefinite duration.

The meeting aims to deeply discuss the multiple technical interface standards and resource synergy feasibility involved in the system, and preliminarily negotiate possible technical verification and cooperation frameworks.

Awaiting your itinerary arrangements and reply. May the light of the omnissiah guide your path of seeking knowledge."

After the message playback finished, the holographic image switched to a pending confirmation state.

Osiris's optical lenses steadily analyzed this piece of information.

The academic exchange invitation directly issued by the Mars headquarters and the Adeptus Titanicus far outweighed ordinary technical consultations in weight.

He quickly made an evaluation and decision.

The other party specially emphasized the last part.

Technical authorization and joint development meant that the Adeptus Titanicus was not only interested but also willing to bring out substantial cooperation chips, likely involving some of their treasured Titan manufacturing and maintenance technologies, or even access permissions to certain restricted STC fragments.

This was a proposal that could not be refused, and its potential value far exceeded a simple "academic exchange".

"When is the symposium expected to be held?" Osiris inquired.

"Archmagos Zor hopes to initiate the preliminary meeting within thirty standard days. Considering the cross-galaxy itinerary and your other research arrangements, the Adeptus Titanicus understands that you may need time to coordinate, but still requires you to head to Mars as soon as possible." The representative gave a clear and urgent time window.

Osiris's Logic Core calculated at high speed.

Thirty days: returning from the current coordinates through dimensional shipping lanes back to Death World Base, even at the optimal speed of the Eternal Seeker, plus necessary preparation and transit time, would require almost all that time, and might even be slightly tight.

This meant he could not go to Zerus in person.

The Zerus operation carried unknown risks and uncertain time consumption, which severely conflicted with the timeline of returning to Death World to participate in important technical negotiations.

However, the Zerus operation was equally critical, relating not only to the final shaping of Kerrigan as an important "tool/ally", but also involving the collection of core data on Amon and his creations.

Giving up or indefinitely postponing it was not advisable.

A win-win solution was generated in an instant.

"I accept the invitation." Osiris responded, "The Eternal Seeker will adjust its itinerary and return to Death World Base. I will attend in person. Regarding the Guardian Soldiers system, I have prepared more detailed phased data and test concepts."

"The Adeptus Titanicus looks forward to your arrival and sharing." The representative nodded slightly, "Specific agendas and security protocols will be communicated in detail after your arrival. Transmission ended."

The cross-dimensional connection was interrupted.

Osiris stood in place, the light of his optical lenses adjusting slightly. He needed to arrange a suitable execution team for the trip to Zerus, as well as a reasonable and logical excuse for why he could not go in person.

When he returned to the bio-adjustment chamber, Kerrigan and Zeratul had already moved to a temporary discussion room equipped with basic infrastructure.

Valerie stood quietly to the side.

"The plan needs adjustment." Osiris cut straight to the point, "An emergency has occurred at the core level of the Far Star Union. I must depart immediately to return to—the Earth Sphere to handle it, and cannot participate in the Zerus operation in person."

He used terminology that Kerrigan and Zeratul could understand without digging too deep, concealing the cross-dimensional reality.

Kerrigan frowned: "You're leaving? What about our deal?"

"The deal continues, the execution plan remains unchanged, only the Commander changes." Osiris quickly chimed in, "The Zerus operation will proceed as planned. I will equip you with an independent-capable Perseus-class warship to serve as an action base and support platform."

At the same time, I will dispatch a capable technical representative and an operation coordinator to accompany you, ensuring technical support and logistical backing for the operation, and representing my interests.

"Technical representative? Who?" Kerrigan asked, not trusting any unknown insertion.

As if to answer her question, the hatch slid open, and a figure rushed in tempestuously.

It was a teenage-looking girl wearing a red plug suit-like tight outfit, covered by a short black jacket, with striking orange-red long hair tied into twin tails that swayed lively with her movements.

Her face wore an excited expression of finally being released after being suppressed for a long time, and her azure eyes flickered with belligerent and curious light.

"Finally! There is work to do!" The girl—Asuka—almost skipped in, her gaze swiftly sweeping over Zeratul in the room (she raised an eyebrow), Kerrigan (she took a few extra looks), and finally landing on Osiris, "Are they the ones? Going to that hometown full of bugs? My big guy is already ready!"

Her appearance and tone were completely incompatible with the originally heavy and suspicious atmosphere in the room.

"This is Asuka, the limited pilot of the evangelion unit-01." Osiris introduced calmly, ignoring Asuka's whispered emphasis of "It's evangelion unit-01! Red! Special Edition!", "She will join the Zerus operation as the main technical representative and tactical fire support unit. Her mecha has significant advantages in dealing with high-threat biological targets and complex terrain environments."

Asuka puffed out her chest, looking like "I am amazing, praise me quickly," but her eyes held more anticipation for the upcoming novel battle.

"And this one," Osiris pointed to the quietly standing Valerie, "Valerie will serve as the overall coordinator and my direct liaison officer for this operation. She is responsible for navigation management, resource allocation, communication with the Eternal Seeker and myself, and ensuring that the operation overall aligns with the scheduled goals."

He deliberately glanced at Asuka: "Asuka must accept Valerie's overall coordination during the operation."

Asuka curled her lip, but did not voice an objection, seemingly having anticipated this arrangement long ago, or at least, being able to go out and move around was more important than being locked up.

Kerrigan scrutinized Asuka, then looked toward Valerie.

One was a strange girl who looked unrestrained yet might hide huge combat power, and the other was Osiris's subordinate, whom she was relatively familiar with and who was always calm and efficient.

This combination, plus Zeratul, constituted a quirky but perhaps feasible team.

"How long do you need to prepare?" Zeratul asked, caring more about the actual progress.

"The warship and basic supplies are on standby. The final adaptive modification and testing of the evangelion unit-01 will take about ten standard hours." Osiris replied, "You can use this time to further exchange intelligence on Zerus and formulate preliminary action steps. Valerie will assist you in boarding the ship and getting familiar with the facilities."

He finally looked at Kerrigan: "The core terms of the transaction remain unchanged, Kerrigan. This trip is a crucial step for you to gain power and retake The Swarm. I wish you—a successful tracing of your origins."

He said no more and turned to leave the discussion room.

He needed to head to the bridge immediately to issue orders for the Eternal Seeker to turn and prepare for dimensional jumps, and to arrange the final departure preparations for the Perseus-class warship "Pathfinder", which served as the action base for Zerus.

The technical authorization negotiations with the Adeptus Titanicus at Death World Base concerned the foundation of his long-term foothold and technological advancement in the Warhammer Universe.

Meanwhile, Zerus was a key move to deal with Amon, a potential cosmic-level threat, and to complete the transaction with Kerrigan.

He had to play both games of chess at the same time.

Inside the hangar of the Pathfinder, the red-painted evangelion unit-01, with an exaggerated unicorn-like structure on its head, was undergoing final checks surrounded by Tech-Priests and servo-robots. Asuka had impatiently crawled into the Entry Plug simulation pod for warm-up adaptation.

Meanwhile, Valerie calmly reviewed the system manifest of the Pathfinder and the limited data on the Zerus sector, beginning to plan the route

and material allocation.

Kerrigan and Zeratul stood inside the corridor of the warship that was about to belong to them, watching the massive hull of the Eternal Seeker outside the window slowly begin to turn, its main engines emitting a low roar of energy accumulation.

Their respective journeys were about to begin.

On the bridge of the Eternal Seeker, the navigational star map was recalibrated.

The route representing the return to Death World Base was highlighted, a complex path that required passing through several unstable gravity wells and ultimately activating the dimensional jump device.

Osiris stood in front of the main control console, his crimson optical sensors sweeping across each set of jump coordinates and energy budget data.

The ship's internal broadcast system was announcing to the entire ship with a steady synthesized voice that a "long-term scientific research cruise" was about to take place, and all non-essential positions were entering a rotation standby state.

"Route locked. Main engine output increased to sixty-five percent. Arrival at the dimensional jump activation point is expected in forty-seven standard hours." The navigation Priest reported.

"Approved for execution." Osiris issued the command.

The massive hull of the Eternal Seeker traced an elegant and firm arc in the void, heading in the opposite direction from the Perseus-class warship "Pathfinder" not far away—which had just completed separation, being smaller yet still formidable—and sailing into a completely different deep space.

On the bridge of the Pathfinder, the atmosphere was much more complicated. Valerie sat in the coordinator's seat beside the captain's chair, multiple screens in front of her respectively displaying the navigation status, fragmented intelligence maps of the Zerus sector, and internal monitoring of various areas of the ship.

Her expression was as calm and professional as ever, as if this were just another ordinary dispatch mission.

Kerrigan stood before the observation window, watching the mountain-like silhouette of the Eternal Seeker gradually shrink and finally be swallowed by starlight.

The cold touch of the suppressor on her wrist constantly reminded her of her current situation and the challenges she was about to face.

She held complex emotions regarding Osiris's departure: a hint of relaxation from the removal of direct surveillance, but more importantly, a solemnity regarding the unknown path ahead and doubts about whether the support he promised was reliable.

However, Valerie's presence was like a fixed anchor, connecting the validity of that transaction.

Zeratul stood quietly in a corner of the bridge, like a sculpture melting into the shadows. His dark green gaze stared fixedly at the heading pointer, which pointed to Zerus, the legendary place of origin of the Zerg.

What he carried was not only ancient star map fragments, but also a heavy sense of mission.

Leading the Queen of Blades (or rather, the former Queen of Blades) back to the source of The Swarm was an act that seemed close to blasphemy and madness in the eyes of the Protoss, but in order to fight against Amon's all-encompassing shadow, he was willing to embark on this untrodden, perilous path.

The most active one was none other than Asuka.

She almost occupied an area at the back of the bridge, tapping away on a tactical terminal connected to some systems of the evangelion unit-01,

occasionally making meaningless "tsk" sounds or chuckling, obviously simulating or reviewing some kind of combat scenario.

She was full of curiosity about Zeratul as an "alien", trying several times to strike up a conversation asking about the Protoss' combat methods, only to be rebuffed by the other party with silence or extremely brief answers.

Toward Kerrigan, she maintained an observer's attitude, and the occasional glances she cast carried more evaluation than anything else.

Only Valerie could make her rein in her overly outgoing emotions a little bit.

"Course has been set, optimal interpolation calculations performed based on the coordinates provided by Lord Zeratul." Valerie's voice broke the silence, "During the voyage, we are expected to pass through two minor spatial turbulence zones, and the impact on the hull is negligible."

"It is expected to take one hundred and twenty standard hours to reach the outer edge of the Zerus sector. It is recommended to use this time to improve action plans and make necessary adaptive preparations."

"Adaptive preparations?" Kerrigan turned her head.

"Environmental data for Zerus is extremely scarce, but based on characteristics such as 'origin planet' and 'high biological activity', its atmospheric composition, gravity, and microbial environment may deviate drastically from standard human habitable indicators, and it may even be actively bio-corrosive." Valerie brought up some general biological models, "Although your current physical state has undergone preliminary enhancement, it is still mainly based on human basic physiological structures."

"Lord Zeratul, being a Protoss, also has a different physiological structure."

"We need to prepare corresponding environmental protection, medical support, and potential basic material synthesis plans in advance. Miss Asuka's evangelion unit-01 features a fully enclosed cockpit and internal ecological circulation, making it relatively the least affected by the environment."

"I know my own body." Kerrigan said indifferently, but she did not object to the preparations. She understood the terrifying nature of Zerg environments better than anyone else, and Zerus, as the source, would only be even more so.

"I need a quiet place to conduct psionic meditation and further analyze the Zerus fragment information I know." Zeratul spoke, "Some foreseen visions need to be combined with real-time star maps for positioning."

Valerie nodded: "A dedicated meditation room has been prepared for you, equipped with basic psionic wave dampers to avoid interfering with ship systems. The relevant information port has been docked to the terminal in that room."

Zeratul silently nodded and left the bridge like a shadow.

"What about me? What do I do?" Asuka leaned over, pointing at her own nose, "I can't just stay in the simulation pod all the time, right? My synchronization rate needs to be maintained, but it doesn't need to be maintained all the time!"

"Your training plan has been arranged, including routine physical maintenance, neural reaction exercises, and familiarization with the internal structure and emergency evacuation routes of the Pathfinder," Valerie said calmly.

"In addition, Magos Osiris instructed before leaving that you may have limited access to the non-core database of the warship to learn about the basic biological characteristics and common tactics of the Zerg, so as to make more efficient responses when encountering them."

"Zerg database? Sounds a bit interesting." Asuka rolled her eyes, "Is there any combat footage? The really intense kind?"

"It contains partial live-action image records, mainly from combat data between the Terran Dominion and the Protoss, which have been desensitized," Valerie brought up an access directory. "Please note that viewing such content may cause discomfort."

"Ha! What hasn't this young lady seen before!" Asuka was unimpressed, but she finally found something to pass the time and rushed happily to her terminal to start operating.

Kerrigan also left the bridge and headed to the cabin assigned to her.

She needed to sort out her thoughts, further adapt to this "fragile" body, and prepare for the upcoming "trace-back" that might change everything.

The voyage progressed in silence and respective preparations.

The Pathfinder was like a sharp sword, piercing into the area on the edge of the star map marked as "unknown / high-risk".

The afterglow of otherworldly dimensional tunnels flickered for the last time on the heavy hull armor of the Eternal Seeker, and then completely went out.

The warship smoothly broke away from that unnatural space-time tremor, silently sliding into the cold void at the edge of the Death World System.

Outside the porthole, the familiar outlines of desolate planets and orbital facilities appeared in the dim light of the star.

"Dimensional traversal complete. Hull structural integrity 100%, all systems operating normally. Returned to the Death World System, coordinate error less than the acceptable range."

The synthetic voice of the navigation Priest sounded.

Osiris's Main Body's crimson optical lens swept across the local environmental parameters rapidly refreshing on the main data screen.

Gravitational gradient, background radiation, space beacon response — everything matched the baseline data recorded before departure.

"The entire warship enters standard return-to-port procedures."

"Establish a secure connection with the Death World Base master control tower, requesting port entry guidance."

The main thrusters at the stern of the Eternal Seeker adjusted their injection angles, pushing the huge hull to slowly turn and sail towards the giant berth belonging exclusively to it in the low orbit of the Death World.

Several encrypted data links completed handshakes with the base tower first, synchronizing berthing parameters and fairway information.

The warship approached at precise speed control, and finally docked smoothly with the physical interface of the berth.

The sound of heavy mechanical locks closing came through the structure, and the energy and data pipelines were automatically connected.

Docking procedure complete.

Osiris's Main Body left the bridge and stepped onto the alloy deck of the Death World Base.

Inside the base, preset response protocols were activated due to his return, and the Tech-Priests and servo-servants began routine basic ship maintenance and replenishment operations.

He returned straight to the main research room located in the core area of the base.

The indoor lighting lit up step by step as he entered, and a constant, cold white light filled every corner.

Everything in the research room was as usual; various Cogitator terminals, analysis arrays, and environmental control units were all in a low-power standby state, and several main data screens were dark and lightless.

He walked to the curved master console, and the data interface on the back of his mechanical body automatically docked with the reserved access point on the tabletop.

Massive data streams began to pour in: the system operation logs automatically recorded by the base during his departure, inventory change reports of various resource warehouses, circulation efficiency data of the global life support system, and basic scan records of the peripheral sensor array.

His Logic Core quickly filtered the information torrent: the energy core output stability was maintained above 98.7%, the raw material reserve consumption matched the preset model, no pollution or leakage was detected in the life support cycle, all key indicators were in the green standard range, and there were no abnormalities.

After confirming the basic status, he retrieved the file in the independently encrypted storage area — an encrypted invitation received shortly before facing the Warhammer Universe direction through a high-privilege cross-dimensional connection, from the Mars Adeptus Titanicus headquarters, signed by Archmagos Dominus Castian Zor.

The deep blue holographic projection unfolded again, and he reviewed word for word its wording, format, and nested verification spirit-codes, confirming its authority and the tamper-resistance of its content.

Subsequently, he accessed the deep archive area of the base's central database, and began screening and organizing data according to the scope of topics hinted at in the invitation: "Technical interface standards, resource synergy feasibility, and verification frameworks for the new Titan Guardian Soldiers collaborative combat system".

The process lasted for several hours, involving retrieving and cross-referencing all physiological enhancement datasets of the Guardian Soldiers project, preliminary compatibility reports between the EVA Puppet System and the Imperial standard Titan data-link, and relevant ancient collaborative combat protocol fragments parsed from STC fragments.

Finally, these materials were strictly classified, packaged, and subjected to multi-layer psy-mechanical encryption in accordance with security levels and topic relevance, forming several logically clear and hierarchically distinct independent data modules.

Then, through the internal security link, he sent a series of clear instructions to the base logistics and warship maintenance system.

The core of the instructions centered around the Eternal Seeker itself.

Osiris requested the ship maintenance team to immediately conduct a round of the highest standard combat readiness inspection and maintenance on the ship, focusing on the calibration of the main plasma propulsion array, detection of the Geller field generator, joint debugging tests of all weapon systems, and the update of navigation star charts and Warp route data required for cross-galaxy navigation.

Meanwhile, the instructions required the logistics department to prepare a full set of ceremonial robes, identity verification spirit-talismans, and specific Adeptus Mechanicus emblems representing his faction and achievements, meeting the specifications of an Adeptus Mechanicus high-ranking Archmagos going to the Mars headquarters to attend an academic conference.

In addition, a small accompanying support team was designated and entered standby mode, including two Tech-Priests proficient in Titan-related data protocols, four low-ranking Priests responsible for ceremonial affairs and clerical work, and a squad of Skitarii as ceremonial guards; they will be deployed on the Eternal Seeker and act with the ship.

All instructions were quickly confirmed and executed with feedback by the system.

The maintenance process of the Eternal Seeker was prioritized into the queue, and designated team members received standby notifications.

He disconnected from the master console and walked to the observation window of the research room.

Outside the window were the regular corridors of the base and the servitors marching according to procedures, and further away was the real starry sky directly presented through high-strength transparent alloy.

He stood quietly, his optical lens stably emitting a dark red shimmer, and his internal Logic Core maintaining the basic monitoring cycle.

The trip to Mars was ready, awaiting only his final activation.

The Eternal Seeker concluded its final Warp journey, smoothly breaking free from the tremors that transcended conventional physical laws.

The distorted streams of light outside the portholes returned to normal, revealing the gigantic, rust-red planet ahead—Mars, the holy site of the Adeptus Mechanicus, the center of the God of All Machines's faith, and the headquarters of the Adeptus Titanicus.

The warship's Warp Drive Engine slowly shut down, and conventional thrusters took over, pushing the hull into Mars synchronous orbit.

"Entered the Mars orbital control zone. Guidance signal received from the Olympus Mons main control tower, frequency confirmed." The communications Priest reported, his synthetic voice rarely tainted by an imperceptible wave of awe.

Even for a Tech-Priest, arriving at Mars held a pilgrimage-like significance.

"Send the identity authentication code." Osiris stood before the bridge main console, commanding calmly.

His crimson optical lenses reflected the crisscrossing giant architectural outlines and twinkling myriad lights on the surface of the planet ahead.

Shortly after the authentication code was sent, a response came.

Not only coordinate data guiding the berth, but also a high-priority welcome message from the Adeptus Mechanicus headquarters ruling council, formal in phrasing and carrying obvious regard.

"Berth coordinates locked. Located at the thirty-sixth advanced ship dock on the east side of Olympus Mons, this berth is usually reserved for the supervising Archmagos of various Forge Worlds to dock their forge arks." The navigation Priest reported, his data processing core seeming to accelerate slightly due to this unconventional reception specification.

Osiris made no comment on this. This was within his expectations.

Warp Drive Engine technology—this revolutionary breakthrough that completely bypassed the Warp and achieved faster-than-light navigation through purely physical means—had been no more than a few years since he proposed the theoretical framework and gained Rogal Dorn's full support for prototype testing and small-scale deployment.

However, its impact was already revolutionary.

In the early stages of promotion, the first batch of Imperial merchant fleets retrofitted with the Warp Drive Engine had already proven its value with irrefutable data.

Interstellar cargo transport, which originally took months or even years and relied on unstable and dangerous Warp navigation, was shortened to being calculated in weeks or even days.

Freight logistics efficiency did not grow linearly, but leaped exponentially.

The circulation speed of certain critical supplies increased by over a thousand times.

This not only meant the activation of the economy, but also represented a potential strengthening of the Empire's control over its vast territories, especially at a time when Warp storms were frequent and traditional routes were interrupted.

As the proposer, core developer, and promoter of this technology, Magos Osiris's influence on Mars had long surpassed the ordinary Archmagos level.

Although the Adeptus Mechanicus was faction-ridden and conservative forces were deeply rooted, faced with such tangible and massive technological dividends and strategic advantages, even the most stubborn traditionalists had to remain silent in the face of facts, or at least maintain a facade of a cooperative attitude.

Strength, especially technological strength that could bring universal benefits, was always the hardest currency in the Adeptus Mechanicus, a group that worshipped knowledge and power.

Under the traction of the guidance beam, the Eternal Seeker smoothly sailed toward the designated berth.

As the distance closed, the details on the surface of Mars became increasingly clear.

That was not a naturally healthy planet, but a gigantic machine thoroughly remodeled, with every inch of land serving industry and faith.

Massive forge cities adhered to the earth like metal tumor lumps, and countless towering chimneys spat out various exhaust gases day and night, forming a permanent turbid atmosphere.

Crisscrossing pipelines, tracks, and skybridges connected various areas like blood vessels and nerves, and the never-ending mechanical roar could be captured by precise sensors even in space.

However, in this ultimate industrial landscape, the traces of the civil war that tore Mars apart not long ago also clearly remained.

In some areas, obvious scorch and melt marks could be seen, and huge impact craters had not been completely filled, looking like unhealed scars.

Occasionally, at the edge of the forge cities or in the wilderness, collapsed, half-buried super-giant metal structures could be seen—those were the remains of Titans, the tombs of the machine gods of the past, silently recounting the bloody conflict that occurred in the heartland of the Adeptus Mechanicus.

The Eternal Seeker precisely docked into the thirty-sixth ship dock.

This was a semi-enclosed gigantic structure, and its internal space was large enough to accommodate several cruiser-class ships.

The heavy alloy gates slowly closed after the warship entered, isolating the hustle and bustle and radiation of outer space.

The inside of the dock was brightly lit, and all kinds of maintenance robotic arms and servo units had long been on standby, but even more conspicuous was a welcoming contingent lined up beside the berth.

At the head was a high-ranking member of the Adeptus Mechanicus draped in deep red robes and whose body had undergone highly mechanized modification; his complex robotic arms and the data pipeline array behind his back indicated that his status was at least at the Priest level.

Behind him were two rows of junior Priests dressed in ceremonial red robes, holding scriptures and data pads, as well as a small squad of ornately dressed and well-equipped Skitarii, their armor engraved with the insignia of the Mars headquarters.

When Osiris's majestic mechanical body stepped from the gangway of the Eternal Seeker onto the soil of Mars—to be exact, onto the alloy deck of the dock that had been reinforced countless times—the welcoming contingent simultaneously paid standard Adeptus Mechanicus courtesy, the sounds of countless mechanical joints turning and servo systems buzzing merging into one.

"Welcome to Olympus, Magos Osiris." The leading high-ranking Priest stepped forward, his precisely modulated synthetic voice carrying just the right amount of respect and formality, "I am Kabang-44, the Chief Priest of the ruling council's foreign affairs department.

By order of the ruling council and the Adeptus Titanicus, I am here to respectfully welcome your arrival. The arrival of you and the Eternal Seeker has already attracted attention from various parties at headquarters."

Osiris nodded slightly, his crimson optical lenses sweeping across the welcoming contingent and the interior of this grand dock. "Thank you for the reception, Chief Kabang-44. May the wisdom of the omnissiah endure forever."

"Your itinerary has been preliminarily drafted. Given your travel fatigue, please rest today in the VIP accommodation designated by headquarters. Archmagos Dominus Zor of the Adeptus Titanicus hopes to meet with you in the main hall of the fraternity headquarters tomorrow after standard time morning prayers, and conduct preliminary discussions on the early agenda of this academic exchange conference." Kabang-44 reported fluently, while turning sideways to gesture guidance, "Please follow me, the vehicles are ready. Your entourage and ship maintenance needs will be assisted by our personnel throughout the entire process here."

Osiris nodded again, signaling the other party to lead the way.

His Logic Core rapidly processed this information.

Directly staying in the area designated by headquarters, and meeting with Archmagos Dominus Zor the next day—the specification and efficiency of this arrangement demonstrated the other party's emphasis on this trip, and indirectly confirmed the influence brought by the Warp Drive Engine technology as well as the other party's urgent interest in EVA Titans.

Under the guidance of the Supervising Priest, Osiris left the dock and boarded a spacious, quiet, enclosed large vehicle whose interior was covered with data interfaces and Cogitator terminals.

The vehicle started smoothly and drove into the intricate, hierarchically distinct transportation network on the surface of Mars.

Through the observation window of the vehicle, Osiris was able to observe this holy city of the Adeptus Mechanicus at a closer range.

The towering gear-shaped buildings, the ubiquitous giant omnissiah icons, and the endless stream of various working mechs and transport fleets formed a bizarre world that was extremely busy, orderly, and filled with religious fanaticism.

The air (filtered by the vehicle) was filled with a unique mixture of machine oil, ozone, molten metal, and burning incense.

The ubiquitous chanting of binary prayers drifted faintly through the external speakers, intertwining with the roaring of various machinery operations into the eternal background sound of Mars.

However, the wounds of war were likewise visible everywhere.

On the outer walls of some buildings, there still remained charred marks left by energy weapon bombardments.

Standing in certain plazas were not holy icons, but war wreckage intentionally preserved as warnings or memorials, including twisted tank turrets and huge, lifeless mechanical limbs.

Maintenance teams continued to work in some areas like worker ants, trying to repair or cover up those deep scars.

After traveling for about half a standard hour, the vehicle finally drove into a relatively quiet and heavily guarded area.

The buildings here were more magnificent and ancient, and the decorations were even more gorgeous, heavily using dark metals, dark red rocks, and glowing crystal inlays. The solemn style clearly indicated the location of Mars's core power and high-ranking clergy.

"This is the resting place arranged for you, adjacent to the Relic Gallery and the High Sage Research Area. It is quiet, fully equipped, and directly connected to the headquarters' core data network for your convenience in handling affairs." Kaban-44 introduced as the vehicle stopped in front of a building with heavy metal doors and stern exterior lines.

Osiris stepped down from the vehicle, looked up at the building, and then glanced around at the sternly standing, well-armored Skitarii guards on duty. "Thank you for your trouble."

"Please rest at ease. Before tomorrow's morning prayers, I will personally come to guide you to the Adeptus Titanicus headquarters." The Supervising Priest completed the handover, saluted, and left with his entourage.

Osiris stepped into the interior of the building. The interior space was vast, and the decoration likewise conformed to the aesthetic of the Adeptus Mechanicus, combining functionality.

He did not rush to access the data network or perform other operations. Instead, he walked to an observation window and quietly gazed at the unique and eternal scenery of Mars outside the window.

Tomorrow, he would face the supreme leader of the Adeptus Titanicus directly and step into the core of the strongest armed institution of the Adeptus Mechanicus.

And the eva titans he brought, those giant gods that integrated different world technologies with the imperial industrial might, would become the most important chips and topics in this meeting.

The Adeptus Titanicus, baptized by the fires of war, urgently needed to replenish its strength, and he happened to have what they urgently needed in his hands.

The scarlet optical lens flickered slightly, and countless data streams surged silently at the bottom layer. Everything was advancing according to plan.

Standard Martian time, the moment of morning prayer.

The low, loudspeaker-amplified binary hymns rang through the entire Olympus Mons region on schedule, and countless gear clocks struck simultaneously, emitting heavy and regular metallic impacts.

This mechanical holy city awoke amidst prayers, or rather, it had never slept.

Osiris was already standing in the lobby of his residence.

He had not carried out traditional "rest"; his mechanical body only required periodic energy replenishment and system self-checks.

During the past standard hours, he mainly accessed part of the public data network of the Mars headquarters, reviewed recent unclassified engineering communiques, resource dispatch briefings, and some publicly available ceremonial activity records of the Adeptus Titanicus, to update his understanding of the current Martian situation.

The information flow showed that reconstruction work was proceeding methodically, but the demand list for high-quality metals, rare crystals, and advanced tech-thralls was extremely lengthy, reflecting the massive losses caused by the civil war.

Supervising Priest Kaban-44 arrived on time, his posture as respectful and rigorous as yesterday.

"Good morning, Magos Osiris. The Adeptus Titanicus headquarters is ready, and Archmagos Dominus Zor is waiting. Please follow me."

This time, waiting outside the door was not an enclosed vehicle, but a more massive and ritualistic transport.

A land cruiser that had been gorgeously modified, featuring multi-layered armor and complex religious reliefs.

It resembled a moving small shrine, suspended above the ground by multiple sets of anti-gravity devices, escorted by Skitarii motorcycle formations in front and back.

Stepping onto the cruiser, the interior space was similarly luxurious and filled with Cogitator terminals and communication equipment.

The cruiser started smoothly, driving toward the depths of Olympus Mons along a dedicated passage that was obviously cleared and heavily guarded.

As it penetrated deeper into the core area, the surrounding scenery gradually changed.

The towering administrative and temple buildings were replaced by more massive, more rugged structures filled with heavy industrial aesthetics.

Huge pipelines crossed the sky like giant dragons, transporting unknown energy fluids or cooling media; from a distance came rhythmic, ground-shaking heavy impacts—that was super-heavy forging hammers at work.

The concentration of metal dust in the air seemed to have also increased; even after being filtered by the cruiser, that peculiar pungent scent could still be smelled.

"We are crossing the boundary between the core forge district and the maintenance area directly subordinate to the Adeptus Titanicus." Kaban-44 explained in a timely manner, "The Adeptus Titanicus headquarters is located inside an independent, specially reinforced mountain. Its periphery consists of Titan maintenance hangars, weapon testing grounds, and new pilot training facilities directly subordinate to the order."

The cruiser drove past a towering giant archway cast from a single piece of adamantium, etched with the insignia of the Adeptus Titanicus.

Passing through the archway, the terrain began to rise, and the cruiser drove upward along a wide alloy road built along the mountain.

From here on, the traces of war presented themselves in a more shocking and direct manner.

On both sides of the road were not neat landscapes or buildings, but large areas of battlefield ruins that had not yet been completely cleared.

The charred earth still maintained a glazed form that had melted and then cooled.

Huge craters were like wounds of the earth, bottomless.

And most eye-catching of all were those giant wrecks that collapsed, half-buried, or stood in the ruins like metal mountains.

Those were the Titan remains.

Osiris's cruiser slowly drove past an area where the upper body wreckage of a Warlord-class Titan lay horizontally.

Its head sensor array was completely destroyed, and its breastplate was torn apart by some terrible force, revealing the charred pipelines and structural skeleton inside.

The huge arm had broken off to the side, and the fingers still maintained a grasping posture, as if they still wanted to grip the long-nonexistent weapon.

The painted colors on the wreckage had long been mottled, but some legion markings could still be vaguely distinguished.

Servo-skulls and small cleaning robots circled and operated around the wreckage like scavengers, attempting to salvage valuable components or render them harmless, but they looked so tiny compared to this giant.

Further away, a warhound-class titan was forever frozen in a kneeling position, with a penetrating large hole in its rear engine compartment.

There were even more piles of twisted metal whose original forms were unrecognizable; they might be fragments of larger Titans, or terrifying combinations fused together from the wreckage of multiple mechs.

"This used to be one of the core engagement zones." Chief Priest Caban-44's voice was calm and waveless, as if stating a fact unrelated to himself, "The Death Skull Legion and the Fire Bee Legion committed more than thirty Titans of various classes here. The battle lasted for seventeen standard days.

Ultimately, this plain was completely reshaped, and more than two-thirds of the participating Titans were permanently destroyed.

Some of these wrecks could not be recovered temporarily due to excessive radiation or structural risks, while others were deliberately retained as a warning against the stupidity and destructiveness of the civil war, as well as a materialized goal to inspire younger generations to restore glory."

Osiris's crimson optical lenses slowly swept across this tragic iron graveyard.

His sensors could capture the faint and stubborn radioactive residues inside the wrecks, the subtle ripples of psychic pollution (troubles left behind after certain Chaos-affected Titans were destroyed), and the groans of metal's slow stress fatigue over the long years.

This was the cruel price behind Adeptus Titanicus's glorious military might, and the most intuitive reason why they were so eager to replenish fresh blood nowadays,

and why they had developed a strong interest in "foreign" yet efficient new choices like the eva titan.

The cruiser continued upward, driving away from this core ruins area.

Ahead appeared a relatively "neat" area; huge hangar doors were built against the mountain, some open, revealing lights and moving giant robotic arms inside, with the faint sounds of maintenance operations drifting over.

This should be a maintenance facility still in operation.

Finally, the cruiser arrived at the destination of this trip—a massive building that hollowed out the entire mountain from the inside, reinforced on the outside with countless giant metal skeletons and armor plates, and an entrance resembling the abyss's giant mouth.

This was where the headquarters grand hall of Adeptus Titanicus was located.

The entrance was guarded extremely heavily, featuring not only dense automated turrets and energy force field generators, but also whole squads of Skitarii wearing special coatings who were clearly Adeptus Titanicus's direct guards, as well as several combat servo-robots larger than standard models and better equipped.

Chief Priest Caban-44's administrator permissions seemed to be barely sufficient here.

After multiple tedious identity verifications, psychic scans, and physical checks, the cruiser was finally allowed to drive into the deep, brightly lit entrance corridor.

The interior of the corridor was unusually spacious, large enough to allow large vehicles and even small Titans to pass through.

The walls on both sides were unadorned, rough rock walls, but embedded with countless light-guiding crystals emitting a steady white light, illuminating the magnificent murals carved on the walls.

The air here became drier and cleaner, carrying a fresh scent of coolant and high-grade lubricant, completely different from the burnt smell of the external battlefield.

The cruiser drove in the corridor for several minutes and finally stopped at the edge of an incomparably vast underground space.

This was like a giant underground square, or rather, a carefully planned "antechamber".

The square's ground was spliced together from huge alloy plates, polished to a mirror finish.

In the center of the square stood an extremely magnificent holographic projection of an Emperor-class Titan, slowly rotating to display its every detail and armament, exuding a silent majesty.

Around the square, especially near the entrances leading to different corridors deeper inside, Osiris saw one of the things he cared about most on this trip.

The eva titans deployed at the Adeptus Titanicus headquarters.

Osiris's crimson optical lenses locked onto an area on the flank of the square.

Three eva titans were parked neatly there.

Slightly different from the prototypes he saw at the Death World Base or Neksum production line, these three mechs had been painted in the iconic colors of Adeptus Titanicus.

And on prominent positions such as shoulder armor and chests, they sprayed the emblems of their respective Titan Legions (judging from the heraldic styles, they seemed to belong to two different legions).

Their armor surfaces had undergone additional treatment, covered with a layer of matte protective coating to reduce reflection and enhance resistance to harsh environments.

The sensor arrays and weapon interface covers all over the mechs flickered with the dim green light of standby status, showing that they were in a state ready to be activated at any time.

Two of them were relatively standard general-purpose configurations, carrying Volcano Cannons on their shoulders and equipped with large power claws on their arms.

The armaments of the third one were slightly different: its right arm was retrofitted with a uniquely shaped multi-barrel missile launcher, and its left arm was a heavy shield with energy cutting blades, seemingly a specialized model targeting specific tasks (such as air defense or area suppression).

Even more noteworthy was their surrounding environment.

Beneath each eva titan's feet was an exclusive power and data interface platform integrated with the floor; thick pipelines extended from beneath the platform, temporarily disconnected, but the interfaces remained clean and ready for rapid connection at any time.

Beside them were dedicated maintenance servo-flock brackets, with several multi-armed maintenance robots in a dormant state, fixed on the brackets.

Clearly, Adeptus Titanicus was not merely "storing" these eva titans here as foreign weapons, but had already integrated them into its own combat and maintenance systems.

Judging from the maintenance status of the mechs, the completeness of peripheral facilities, and the deployed locations, not only were they accepted, but

they were also given a rather important status, likely serving as a rapid reaction force or high-level guard unit directly subordinate to the headquarters.

Just as Osiris was observing, a heavy and regular sound of footsteps came from the other side of the square.

It wasn't the footsteps of a human, but the sound of some large powered footwear stepping on the alloy ground, though a bit lighter and more agile than a Titan's footsteps.

Osiris shifted his gaze.

A small team was seen walking towards his direction.

At the lead was a member of the Adeptus Mechanicus whose body had undergone an extremely high degree of modification, leaving almost no trace of original flesh and blood.

He was draped in a deep purple-to-black robe, the hem decorated with golden gear and lightning patterns, which was the typical attire of a high-ranking Tech-Priest of Adeptus Titanicus.

His head was replaced by a complex hemispherical metal sensor array, in the center of which was a huge, azure-glowing compound-eye-like optical lens, below which were multiple sets of precision communication and scanning antennas.

His body was tall, with several mechanical tentacles extending from behind for precision operations, currently coiled up quietly.

This high-ranking Priest's pace was steady, carrying the composure unique to technological authority. Behind him followed four junior recording Priests draped in simple red robes and holding data slates and measuring instruments, as well as two fully armed Skitarii officers whose armor bore the insignia of the Adeptus Titanicus guard.

The procession stopped a few meters in front of Osiris.

The leading high Priest raised a meticulously modified, metallic-lustered mechanical hand, executing a standard Adeptus Mechanicus greeting. The light in his compound lens shifted and focused on Osiris.

"Magos Osiris, welcome to the Adeptus Titanicus headquarters. I am Forging Priest Tal Solan, Chief Technical Supervisor of the Adeptus Titanicus."

His synthesized voice was deeper than Chief Priest Caban-44's, carrying a unique magnetic resonance born from long-term dealings with heavy machinery, as well as an unquestionable sense of professional authority. "Archmagos Dominus Zor is currently handling an urgent matter in the inner sanctum and has specifically ordered me to receive you first, guiding you through some of the public areas of the headquarters, especially the deployment status of the 'eva titans' units that have been commissioned into our Adeptus Titanicus, which you are concerned about."

Tal Solan—Osiris's Logic Core instantly retrieved the relevant records.

This was precisely the Forging Priest who had been sent to the Neksum Forge World months ago to supervise the production and acceptance of the first batch of ten eva titans.

His report had played a critical role in bringing about this academic exchange and subsequent orders.

Having him responsible for the initial reception was entirely reasonable, reflecting Zor's meticulous arrangement.

"Magos Solan, a pleasure to meet you." Osiris returned the greeting in kind. "Thank you for the reception. I am deeply impressed by your order's efficiency in accepting and effectively integrating the eva titans." His optical lens sweepingly indicated the three red giant gods standing quietly at attention.

Tal Solan's compound eyes also turned toward the eva titans, their blue light flickering slightly as if conducting a rapid scan or data retrieval.

"Efficiency stems from demand and recognition." He spoke bluntly, his tone carrying the pragmatism of a technician. "The losses caused by The Great Rebellion are systematic. The fall of Warhound, Reaver, and even Imperator-class Titans means not only the loss of top-tier combat power, but more importantly, a fracture in the corresponding pilots, crew members, maintenance Priests, and technological heritage."

"The production cycle of traditional Titans is counted in decades, and the cultivation of skilled crews requires the accumulation of generations. We cannot wait that long."

He strode toward the three eva titans, and Osiris naturally followed. The remaining personnel kept a certain distance behind.

"Your eva titans—" Magos Solan stopped in front of a standard-configuration chassis, raising a mechanical tentacle to gently trace the seams of its leg armor. His movement carried the precision and caution of appraising a piece of art. "Their design philosophy is vastly different from our order's traditional Titans: lighter structures, extraordinary mobility, and—a unique bio-mechanical fusion core."

"In the early stages, the controversy was immense. Conservatives denounced them as xenos tricks, doubted their reliability, and worried about their departure from pure STC traditions."

His compound eyes turned to Osiris, the blue light steady.

"However, the actual combat reports from the Steel Hound Legion are irrefutable. Subsequently, the staggering manufacturing efficiency demonstrated by the Neksum production line, along with the quality stability of the first batch of delivered chassis, further overwhelmed the criticism." He paused. "Most importantly, they can fight and effectively fill the current combat power vacuum of our order, especially in high-speed assaults, rapid deployment, and hunting missions targeting high-value point targets."

"At a time when the fires of war are burning across the Imperial frontier and the threats of Chaos and xenos are pervasive, pragmatism must take precedence over dogmatic disputes."

Magos Solan pointed to the specialized model of the eva titan: "We are not blindly accepting them. Based on preliminary usage feedback and our tactical needs, we have already begun limited adaptive modification trials."

"This 'Rioter' model enhances suppression capabilities against clustered light targets and aerial units, aiming for planetary suppression."

"Although we do not yet fully understand the growth and adaptive characteristics of its biological core, let alone replicate them, adjustments to its external mounts and weapon platforms have already proven its good modular expansion potential."

His tone carried a complex attitude mixed with appreciation, inquiry, and a caution that had not yet completely dissipated.

"They are like—new blood injected into ancient veins. The composition is unfamiliar, but it brings much-needed vitality and new possibilities."

"His Lordship Archmagos Dominus believes it is worth deeply studying deeper ways of integrating them with the existing Titan system. This is also one of the core topics of this academic exchange."

Osiris listened quietly. Magos Solan's attitude well represented the thoughts of a group of pragmatic technical elites within the current Adeptus Titanicus.

Vigilant yet open, questioning yet willing to verify, on the premise of ensuring that the general direction does not deviate from the fundamentals of the Adeptus Mechanicus, maximizing the use of all available forces to recover and cope with crises.

"Being able to see them properly utilized and inspiring new tactical thinking is precisely what I expect." Osiris responded with a steady tone. "For any technology, its ultimate value lies in its ability to solve practical problems."

"The initial performance of the eva titans gaining the order's recognition is an affirmation of their design path."

"I look forward to in-depth discussions in the upcoming exchanges on how to further optimize their synergy with Imperial Titans, and even explore deeper technological complementarity."

The blue light in Magos Solan's compound eyes seemed to brighten a fraction: "Archmagos Zor shares the same sentiment. He expects the urgent matter to be concluded shortly. Please follow me; let us proceed to the reception hall to wait. The Archmagos will arrive in person very soon."

He turned, leading Osiris away from the flank of the plaza displaying the eva titans, walking toward a more magnificent wide corridor flanked by statues of famous Titan Commanders through the ages. Osiris glanced back one last time at the three silent giant gods.

Standing in the ancient and solemn Adeptus Titanicus headquarters, they were both outsiders and had already become a part of this steel holy land, symbolizing the quiet advent of change and the preliminary integration of old and new forces.

Crossing the corridor, ahead was an even grander circular reception hall.

The hall was extremely high, with star maps and mythological scenes of the Machine God depicted on the dome.

The furnishings inside were simple and solemn. servo-skulls had already presented exquisite food and beverages, along with lubricant and energy blocks for Osiris to use. Magos Solan motioned for Osiris to take a seat.

Just as Osiris's mechanical body and the interface of the special alloy seat completed preliminary docking, on the other side of the reception hall, the tallest giant door, engraved with the Archmagos Dominus's staff insignia, emitted a heavy mechanical operational sound from within and slowly slid open to both sides.

An even more powerful and profound mechanical coercive pressure permeated from behind the door.

Sage Tal Solan immediately stood at attention, and all the attendants simultaneously adopted a respectful posture.

Archmagos Dominus Castian Zor was about to appear.

And Osiris's trip to Mars this time, his direct dialogue with the highest power of the Adeptus Titanicus, would also officially kick off.

Archmagos Dominus Castian Zor stepped into the reception hall.

His presence instantly became the focus of the entire space.

That was not merely massive physical size—although his mechanical body was indeed more magnificent than Magos Solan's, with countless thick pipelines and auxiliary robotic arms swaying slowly behind him like living creatures—rather, it was a mixed aura condensing supreme authority, vast knowledge, and cold power.

His main torso presented a deep dark golden color, etched with dense data scriptures and Titan heraldry that seemed to flow on their own.

His head was a hemispherical structure surrounded by a multi-layered ring-shaped sensor array, with a huge, dark red compound optical lens in the center that seemed capable of discerning the essence of all things; its light was not dazzling, but carried a heavy sense of scrutiny.

"Magos Osiris." Archmagos Zor's voice sounded directly, not through a loudspeaker, but like some sort of precision psionic-mechanical resonance echoing in every corner of the hall, steady and deep, carrying the vicissitudinal texture of countless years and wars. "Welcome to the sanctuary of Adeptus Titanicus. After a tiring journey, may the radiance of the omnissiah dispel your fatigue."

"Archmagos Zor, thank you for your invitation and hospitality." Osiris stood up and responded with etiquette matching the other's status.

His optical lens briefly intersected with the other's deep red compound eyes, both being external manifestations of highly mechanized thinking, requiring no redundant pleasantries: "It is my honor to step into the core of Adeptus Titanicus and discuss the boundaries of knowledge and power."

"Knowledge shines through exchange, and power grows through sharing." Archmagos Zor walked slowly toward the main seat at the head of the hall, his mechanical feet making heavy and regular muffled sounds as they landed on the alloy ground.

Magos Solan and other Priests immediately retreated to both sides to wait.

"Let us get straight to the core. Solan's report, as well as the combat data of the Steel Hound Legion on Verdan III, have fully demonstrated the tactical value of the eva titan you created."

"Today's meeting aims to discuss how to more deeply and broadly integrate this value into the warfare system of Adeptus Titanicus."

He sat down, his deep red optical lens locking onto Osiris.

"First, please allow me to represent Adeptus Titanicus in expressing initial recognition of the ten eva titans you have already delivered."

"They have been incorporated into the headquarters' rapid reaction sequence and have begun adaptive deployment tests in specific combat zones, with positive feedback."

"However, ten units are merely a drop in the bucket for the current needs of Adeptus Titanicus."

Osiris's optical lens flickered slightly, indicating that he was listening.

"The Great Rebellion caused structural trauma to Adeptus Titanicus." Archmagos Zor's voice lowered, stating the cold facts, "We have not only lost countless war Titans, from the foundational Warhounds, Reavers, and Nemesis classes, to the backbone Warlord class, and even the Warmaster and Imperator classes that serve as the legion's symbols and strategic pillars."

"We have also lost the matching crew elites that cannot be quickly regenerated, maintenance traditions, and production facilities."

"Traditional Titans, especially models above the Warlord class, have lengthy construction cycles, involve complicated rituals, and have near-harsh demands on resources and artisans."

"The manufacturing of a Warmaster-class Titan easily takes dozens of standard years, and an Imperator-class requires the efforts of multiple generations of a Forge World. We cannot afford to wait."

He leaned forward slightly, his mechanical structure making a slight adjustment sound.

"And your eva titan, according to Neksum's production data, has a manufacturing cycle for a single non-biological structural component that can be compressed to within ten months. Combined with your unique biological core cultivation, the overall time from order to delivery is also far shorter than traditional Titans of the same level. More importantly, the combat power it displays—"

Archmagos Zor brought up a holographic comparison chart.

On the left were the silhouette and performance parameters of a standard Warlord-class Titan, and on the right was the data of the eva titan.

"A size exceeding eighty meters, although slightly shorter than the Imperator class, has surpassed the vast majority of Warmaster classes. The strength and resilience brought by its unique bio-mechanical fusion structure, combined with its astonishing supersonic mobility, enable it to exert battlefield influence far exceeding its paper size in actual combat."

"It can execute high-speed breakthroughs and deep strikes that are difficult for Warlord classes to reach, can replace some of the assault and firepower pillar functions of the Warmaster class to a certain extent, and even share some of the high-value target hunting tasks that the Imperator class needs to deal with through its mobility and point-kill capabilities."

"It is not intended to replace any traditional model, but it can effectively fill the huge void in our combat power system caused by the shortage of high-level Titans."

The red light in his compound eyes grew stronger.

"Therefore, Adeptus Titanicus has two core demands. First, expand orders."

"We hope that Neksum Forge World can list the production of eva titans as the highest priority, further expand production capacity on the existing basis, and steadily provide us with no less than fifty eva titans of various models within the coming cycle."

"Correspondingly, Adeptus Titanicus will open up some strategic resource procurement channels and prioritize the supply of key raw materials required by Neksum."

"Second," Archmagos Zor's tone deepened, carrying an inescapable implication, "technical authorization. We hope to obtain the complete production blueprint and technical license of the eva titan, allowing Forge Worlds directly under Adeptus Titanicus or other loyal Forge Worlds certified by us to produce such Titans under the supervision of Adeptus Titanicus."

"Only by diffusing production technology can we truly accelerate the recovery of the entire Titan Legion system."

"In exchange, Adeptus Titanicus is willing to provide generous rewards, including but not limited to research permissions for high-level STC fragments, certain blueprints for Titan-exclusive weapon platforms, and political support from Adeptus Titanicus within Adeptus Mechanicus."

There was silence in the hall, save for the low hum of the servers.

Magos Solan and others were like sculptures. All the pressure converged onto Osiris.

Osiris was silent for a moment, as if processing this massive information flow.

Then, his synthesized voice sounded steadily: "Your Excellency Archmagos's affirmation of the value of the eva titan and the analysis of the current status of Adeptus Titanicus are thorough and pragmatic. Deepening cooperation is in the common interest of both parties."

He changed the subject: "Regarding expanding orders, Neksum expanding capacity based on existing production lines is feasible under the premise of sufficient resource supply."

"However, capacity enhancement means that inputs for rare alloys, high-purity energy crystals, specific catalytic enzymes, and—the special environment required for biological core cultivation—grow geometrically."

"This requires a long-term, stable, and massive resource guarantee agreement, the specific terms of which require detailed verification by the technical teams of both sides."

"As for technical authorization," Osiris's optical lens steadily faced Zor's deep red compound eyes, "involving core intellectual property rights and unique technical paths, its sensitivity is self-evident."

"The biological core cultivation technology of the eva titan is its performance cornerstone and our core competitive advantage. Directly authorizing the complete blueprint is not the best choice."

He did not directly refuse, but drew a clear boundary.

"I am more inclined to propose a tiered cooperation model. Neksum, serving as the core production base, will be responsible for the cultivation of the most critical biological cores and final general assembly."

Meanwhile, the cooperative Forge World designated by the Adeptus Titanicus can be responsible for producing standardized non-biological structural parts, general weapon platforms, and external armor modules.

These components will be shipped to Neksum for core integration and final debugging.

In this way, it can both accelerate production with the help of multi-party industrial capabilities and ensure the controllability of core technologies.

"In support of this model, our side is willing to provide detailed production specifications and interface standards for non-core structural parts."

He paused slightly, throwing out his own bargaining chip: "Of course, to reflect the sincerity and mutual benefit of cooperation, Neksum's own strength also needs to be strengthened."

"For example, the Steel Hound Legion stationed at Neksum has also suffered losses in The Great Rebellion and subsequent battles, and its Titan formations are in urgent need of replenishment, especially high-end combat forces such as Warmaster-class and even Emperor-class."

"If the Adeptus Titanicus can provide support in these areas, it will undoubtedly greatly enhance Neksum's stability and production capacity guarantee as a core production base, thereby more efficiently serving the recovery needs of the entire Adeptus Mechanicus."

Osiris's response was clear and orderly, acknowledging the opponent's demands while explicitly protecting his own core interests, while proposing a compromise cooperation plan and cleverly bundling in his own demands (fighting for higher-level Titans for the Steel Hound Legion).

This was a typical Adeptus Mechanicus-style negotiation—technology, resources, political support, and the balance of power intertwined.

Archmagos Zor's crimson compound eyes stared at Osiris, as if a torrent of data was surging inside.

He did not respond immediately; within the huge hall, only the tension of two different mechanical minds colliding silently permeated the air.

Before Archmagos Zor could respond to Osiris's proposal, a completely different voice came from the shadows on one side of the hall.

The voice was sharp and rigid, full of undisguised rejection and questioning.

"Absurd! Blasphemy!"

Unlike the majestic and grand modification style of Archmagos Zor and the professional and precise modification style of Magos Solan, this Priest's physical modification leaned more toward a nearly ascetic sense of "pure" machinery.

Most of his limbs were replaced with simple, sturdy metal structures lacking superfluous decoration, and his robes were a dim dark reddish-gray, embroidered with countless tiny gears and sacred scriptures in faded silver thread.

His head was covered by an angular metal mask, the eye sockets of which were two crystal lenses emitting cold white light, with a grille-like vocoder underneath.

"Lord Archmagos Dominus! And you, Sage from Neksum!"

Judging from his robes, this conservative Priest was a high-ranking doctrinal explicator. He walked straight to the center of the hall, ignoring proper etiquette, his white lenses fixed dead on Osiris before turning to Zol.

"What you are discussing is by no means any new-style Titan! That is a monster pieced together from filth, flesh, and alien tissue! It is a distorted imitation that desecrates the sacred creation of the God of All Machines!"

His voice carried a metallic grinding hiss due to excitement: "The God of All Machines granted us the sacred STC templates, granted us bodies of steel and pure logic!"

Titans are the supreme masterpieces of the Machine God, the perfect combination of pure machinery and sacred machine spirit!

Every rivet, every weld, and every engine roar of theirs is bathed in the glory of the omnissiah!

And this—

He abruptly pointed to the structural cross-section of the eva titan in the holographic projection, especially zooming in on the fuzzy outline of its biological core, "This thing! What is the source of its power? Is it a beating heart? Is it writhing muscle? Is it savagely growing nerves?"

"This is simply not machinery! This is a beast in metallic clothing! It is a heretical creation utilizing the taboo knowledge of the Dark Age of Technology!"

"Accepting it, and even wanting to mass-produce it, is a betrayal of the faith in the God of All Machines, an insult to all the predecessors who sacrificed themselves to defend the pure path of machinery!"

The conservative Priest's fierce attack was like pouring cold water into a pan of boiling oil.

The already tense atmosphere in the hall instantly became even heavier.

Magos Solan and the others frowned slightly but remained silent, clearly not unfamiliar with such controversies.

The attending Skitarii officers slightly neared their weapons, but dared not act rashly without orders.

Osiris's crimson optical lenses turned toward this impassioned opponent, while his internal Logic Core rapidly analyzed the religious roots behind his words.

He did not immediately retort, but chose temporary silence, leaving the initiative to deal with this to the local host, Archmagos Zor.

Sure enough, Archmagos Zor's crimson compound eyes slowly turned toward the conservative explicator.

His voice remained steady, but the coercion contained within it suddenly increased, like ten thousand tons of water pressure.

"Explicator Malcador-33. Your piety and defense of the pure path of machinery have never been questioned by the Adeptus Mechanicus," Zol's voice echoed in the hall.

"However, your vision is obscured by the iron curtain of dogma, failing to see another possibility revealed by the omnissiah."

His huge mechanical arm raised, pointing to the image of the eva titan, especially the microscopic diagram of the close combination of biology and machinery.

"You only see 'flesh', and denounce it as filth and heresy. But have you ever pondered why this 'flesh' can collaborate so seamlessly with 'machinery'? Why it can erupt with kinetic energy and adaptability that make traditional Titans pale in comparison?"

Archmagos Zor's compound eyes burned with fierce red light, as if burning.

"Because it is not the barbaric flesh of your understanding. It is a biological matrix meticulously designed to achieve perfect resonance with the mechanical structure! Every rhythm of it strictly follows the optimal equation of energy transfer; every fraction of its growth responds to the stress demands of the mechanical framework!"

"This is by no means accidental, Explicator! This precisely proves that what drives this war machine is not a low-level biological instinct, but a deeper and greater force!"

"That which impelled the operation of the first machine in the universe, planned the principles of all things, and allowed matter of different forms to achieve supreme coordination under its will—"

He paused, spitting out that term word by word: "The Motive Force."

As soon as these words were spoken, a slight commotion arose in the hall.

The white lenses of the conservative Explicator Malcador-33 flickered violently, evidently impacted by this explanation pointing to a completely different dogma.

Osiris understood in his heart.

There are three mainstream belief branches within the Adeptus Mechanicus: those who worship the specific deity the God of All Machines, those who worship the abstract cosmic origin "The Motive Force", and those who worship the Emperor as the "God of All Machines" (the incarnation of the God of All Machines).

Archmagos Zor was clearly defending the "biologized" nature of the eva titan using the dogma of the "The Motive Force" faction at this moment.