They were currently on the bridge of an Emperor-class Destroyer belonging to the Word Bearers, looking out at the endless, star-filled void packed densely with Word Bearers warships.
With so many colossal warships, they could undoubtedly fight a major campaign.
In the distance was that solitary crimson planet, the Forge World [KDW-567], where Kenmyo's original body, Belisarius Cawl, had been stationed for over seventy years.
The crimson planet stood alone in the starry sky, appearing incredibly desolate and lifeless.
"All preparations are complete."
When Khor-Pharon removed his Power Armour helmet, he revealed the face of a kindly-looking middle-aged man.
But it would be disastrous to be fooled by his appearance; this old man was utterly ruthless and sharp-witted.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to manipulate Lorgar Aurelian, the Primarch of their Word Bearers Legion, into overriding all objections and appointing this fellow, who wasn't even a Space Marine initially, as the Captain of the First Company.
Khor-Pharon's Space Marine implantation surgery was arranged by Lorgar Aurelian to the highest specifications, as was his Power Armour.
To a certain extent, Lorgar Aurelian was completely obedient to and trusted his adoptive father, Khor-Pharon, the most.
Lorgar Aurelian himself was currently with his elder brother, Warmaster Horus.
Khor-Pharon, the smiling tiger, handed Kenmyo a button-like object, seemingly expecting him to press it.
"Venerable Belisarius."
Kenmyo took it without hesitation, immediately pressed the central red button, and waited quietly for something to happen.
In the core region of the corpse-strewn Forge World—the planetary core that supplied all energy to the entire planet—was now densely packed with special equipment resembling black briefcases.
Upon receiving the signal, the previously calm black briefcases instantly went haywire, emitting countless blue lightning bolts.
The resulting energy immediately began to collapse inward, starting from the core and subsequently affecting the entire planet, as terrifying flames instantly consumed all the magnificent mechanical structures.
Even aboard the Word Bearers warship, they could see the flames erupting from the Forge World, spreading from the inside out, indicating that the planet's destruction was irreversible.
Soon, there would be a massive explosion, shattering both the core and the crust.
The Word Bearers intended to completely destroy this Forge World and erase all traces of the rebellion that they had left behind.
After all, the call to rebellion had only just sounded. Now was not the time for the Word Bearers and other rebellious Legions to commit their full forces.
Khor-Pharon hoped that having the Adeptus Mechanicus's original Fabricator-General, Venerable Belisarius Cawl, destroy this city-Forge World would ensure he irrevocably committed to the same path as them.
"Boring."
Kenmyo watched coldly as the entire Forge World was consumed by flames, collapsing from the inside out, causing the whole planet to begin breaking apart.
For Kenmyo, who had already witnessed several planets destroyed before him, this was nothing more than a small, symbolic firework display.
"Thank you very much for your assistance."
Khor-Pharon placed his hands in front of him, bending his knees slightly in a gentlemanly bow.
"The cooperation between us, the Word Bearers, and you, the Adeptus Mechanicus, will continue enduringly."
"Next, there will be a performance—our revenge—and we hope you will attend the viewing on time."
Just now, Khor-Pharon's testing of Belisarius Cawl, which began with initial suspicion, was finally complete.
After all, watching him kill his own Tech-Priests and personally destroy his own Forge World—if that didn't make him one of them, what would?
"I understand."
These dogs.
Kenmyo walked straight out of the warship's control room without looking back. As he reached the doorway, two Servitors immediately followed him as his guards.
Kenmyo was, after all, a high-ranking official of the Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars, giving him a high degree of freedom even aboard the Word Bearers warship; there were virtually no restricted areas for him.
Therefore, Kenmyo headed straight for the heart of the warship, the engine room. Unlike the old Imperial engines he saw when he served as a Big Mek technician for the Orks, what lay before him now was the latest Imperial engine model.
The majestic Imperial Double-Headed Eagle looked awe-inspiring, and everything was consistent with his understanding of Adeptus Mechanicus design philosophy.
Judging by the ship's route log, all Word Bearers warships were currently converging on a single planet. Their menacing posture suggested a tough battle ahead.
Kenmyo took one last look at the burning Forge World on the screen. He estimated that actions like this were playing out across the vast territories of the Imperium every single moment.
The supreme rulers of the rebellious Forge Worlds were all taking action against their own planets. As for the civil war on Mars, the headquarters of the Adeptus Mechanicus, it would only be more severe.
This was not only the fracturing of the Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars but also a sign that the galaxy would remain eternally ablaze, just like this planet.
The Galaxy Will Burn!
This was unavoidable, like the destiny of the Imperium and the Emperor; the decline of the Imperium of Man began here.
It was evident from the fact that the least likely individuals had betrayed them.
This was true not only of the Word Bearers, once the most loyal and least likely to rebel Legion, but also of Kenmyo's current body.
Kenmyo saw an object on the original owner Belisarius Cawl's desk that resembled the Inquisitor's Rosette he used to wear when he served as an Inquisitor, revealing Cawl's past experiences.
Holding this metallic triangle allowed his consciousness to merge with his mechanical body. Besides the winged gray hornet depicted on its surface, a phrase was also inscribed on the base.
"Seek the easy path, or forge one if none exists!"
Just by holding this thing, Kenmyo could feel a continuous scorching sensation emanating from it, as if he were grasping a blazing inferno.
Belisarius Cawl did not achieve his high position in the Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars merely because of his superior background; primarily, his military achievements were exceptional, having participated in countless battles, large and small, during the Great Crusade era.
As a Venerable of the Adeptus Mechanicus, he once served in the Fire Hornet Legion, one of the three most famous Titan Legions of the Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars, known collectively as the "Iron Trident." He made significant contributions during the initial liberation of Mars and was awarded various distinguished medals for his achievements.
The Fire Hornet Legion is a Super-Legion within the Imperium, classified as Tier One (Supreme) in military strength, renowned for its absolute loyalty. It is currently still stationed on Mars, the headquarters of the Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars, protecting the planet.
However, when Kenmyo occupied the body, the original owner had already killed all his loyalist Tech-Priests and completely defected to the side of the traitors.
Kenmyo suddenly heard a sound and immediately became interested.
Work had arrived.
It was similar to the previous C-rank Simulation, where a mission had been triggered, and completing the mission meant acquiring substantial resources.
Just as Kenmyo expected, the warhammer simulator had refreshed with a new mission. He promptly opened the page.
[Host has arrived at the timeline of the Great Betrayal era and is familiar with and has mastered all characteristics of the current story character.]
[Therefore, the Faction War Mission is starting.]
[Main Mission Activated - Faction Selection]
Mission Summary: Join the Traitor Horus Faction, the Dark Mechanicum of Mars Faction, or the Imperial Loyalist Faction. Choose one.
Mission Hint: Faction choice will affect subsequent missions. (Host, please consider carefully, very carefully.)
Mission Duration: One natural day.
Mission Reward: 2000 points.
Mission Penalty: All attributes -3, and forced Simulation termination.
Countdown begins now: 23.59.11
Hint: If no choice is made after the countdown expires, the mission will fail immediately.
Since this was the first round of missions, it was extremely simple. He only needed to choose his faction, and the mission would be considered successful.
Kenmyo first ruled out the traitors. Although the Imperium won a Pyrrhic victory and the loyalists suffered heavy losses, it was undeniable that the rebellious Legions suffered even greater casualties.
Horus and the other Primarchs were purely courting disaster, being used as sacrificial lambs by the Chaos Gods in the Warp to charge ahead.
In this situation, if Kenmyo were to side with these doomed fools, it would likely affect his mission score.
Without the aid of the Chaos Gods, even if Kenmyo knew ways to change the tide of battle, he could not save the traitors from their ultimate fate.
After all, the Emperor was far too powerful; even though he was severely wounded by the equally powerful Horus, none of the four great masters of the Warp dared to step out, fearing repercussions.
As for the Dark Mechanicum of Mars, it was a splinter faction that separated from the original Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars during the Great Betrayal era, making them traitors within the Mechanicum.
This faction could not be chosen either.
When the Great Betrayal failed, these members of the Dark Mechanicum similarly retreated shamefully back to the domains of the Chaos Gods in the Warp; they were all ignominious failures.
Therefore, associating with these traitors offered no future.
That left only one choice.
The Loyalists.
Kenmyo reached up to touch his beardless chin, but his hand met only a cold, mechanical module, completely lacking any realistic sensation.
The current situation was that he was physically with the enemy but mentally loyal to the Imperium. If he wanted to join the Loyalists, he needed a token of allegiance.
Kenmyo's mechanical mouth could not curve, otherwise his lips would definitely be upturned slightly.
The image of that large bald man, Khor-Pharon, appeared in his mind.
It seemed the Word Bearers would make an excellent token of allegiance.
[You have selected the Loyalist Faction.]
[Current Faction: Loyalist.]
[Main Mission One, Faction Selection] (Completed)
Hint: Faction has been determined and cannot be changed.
[Mission Reward has been issued.]
[Faction Store is now open.]
[Main Mission Two currently triggered: The Burning Galaxy!]
Mission Summary: After the Great Crusade ended, the accumulated issues between the Emperor and his sons finally erupted all at once. The rebellious Primarchs raised their banners, seeking to overthrow the Old Emperor.
An unprecedented great war that will burn the entire galaxy has arrived!!!
Hint: Preserve the strength of the Loyalist Faction as much as possible. The mission reward level will be determined by the degree of loyalist preservation after the Great Betrayal.
Mission Hint: The Adeptus Mechanicus played a crucial role in the Great Betrayal, both for the traitors and the loyalists.
Whichever side gains the most support from the Adeptus Mechanicus will suffer the least losses.
Mission Duration: Settlement occurs immediately upon the host's death or the Emperor sustaining irreversible injuries.
Mission Reward: Unknown
Hint: Calculated entirely based on the host's completion level. Changing the fate of important figures is considered a super bonus.
Mission Penalty: Determined by mission completion status. For example, if the host dies before the Great Betrayal fully begins (Siege of Terra), 3 million points will be deducted and B-rank authority will be revoked.
Kenmyo looked at the Main Mission that popped up. The degree of freedom was very high; it didn't tell him where to start, only giving the hint to unite the forces of the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Kenmyo was nothing but scrap metal, yet he had to seek a sliver of survival sandwiched between these behemoths, reduce losses for the Loyalists, and, during this time, he had to survive until the grand finale to avoid massive point deductions resulting from mission failure.
Furthermore, while his starting position actually came with quite a lot of usable resources, they were outside his service area. His identity could only truly be utilized once he reached the headquarters of the Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars.
Besides his own people, who would give him face?
Especially in such an urgent situation, everyone was busy looking out for themselves.
[Side Mission Ring One: Activated]
[Blue Can Protection Plan!]
Mission Summary: Due to disagreements between the Ultramarines Legion and the Word Bearers on the Planet of Perfect, most Word Bearers harbor intense hatred for the Ultramarines.
Finally, the Word Bearers found their chance!
Hint: Minimizing the losses of these Blue Cans might be your first step toward breaking free from this evil faction and quickly getting ashore.
Mission Reward: Gratitude from Papa Smurf (Ultramarines Primarch Roboute Guilliman), Imperial Loyalty +30000.
Hint: The above rewards are basic rewards. Since the high-end combat unit "Roboute Guilliman" from the Warhammer World is involved, there is a possibility of obtaining bonus rewards.
[Side Mission Ring Two: Not yet activated]
Kenmyo had just been wondering who to present the Word Bearers' main force as a token of allegiance to, when this mission immediately refreshed.
However, it was roughly what he expected. After all, the only enemy important enough for the Word Bearers to load so many devastating weapons from his Forge World and focus on dealing with was their most hated target.
The entire Legion of Space Marines, the colossal blue cans, the Thirteenth Legion of the Imperium, the Ultramarines—Kenmyo's chance to get ashore lay with them.