BANG--
Gerahrd's Mana-reinforced fist smashed into Hestia's face. Her head shot to the side, blood splattered, and she flew a short distance before falling to the ground hard. Seeing this, the other two suddenly rushed forward and attacked, but they were bound by Mana ropes and then dropped to the ground.
"That's for stabbing me."
Gerhard wasn't going to kill them, not after all of the new monstrous amount of compassion for humans he had been imbued with. This was the effect of Gamer's Mind; he was capable of seeing logic and reason, despite how displeased he was right now. He knew their worth, all of theirs.
He looked at his messages.
[Since your INT has surpassed 200, you will gain an ability related to your brain functions.]
[New Skill 'Elite Magic' has been created]
Elite Magic (Passive) Lv. 1
| EXP: 0.00%
| A skill possessed by those born with naturally more powerful Magic, even than those who effectively use Magic.
Effect:
| +30% Magic Attack Power
| -30% MP consumption
-
[Since your WIS has surpassed 100, you will gain an ability related to wisdom]
[New skill 'Sage's Wisdom' has been created]
Sage's Wisdom (Passive) Lv. MAX
| Those who consider wisdom a virtue have a different way of thinking. Their thoughts also affect their mental strength.
Effects:
| +300% increased MP recovery
| +300% increased Magic defence
---
------------------
|Name: Gerhard
|Class: The Gamer
|Level: LV42
|Title: Emperor's Chosen (Unique)
|Race: Psyker-Blank-Hybrid
------------------
|HP: 2820/2820 (3780/3780)
|MP: 5972/5972 (8114/8114)
------------------
STR: 85 (+31)
VIT: 90 (+32)
DEX: 76 (+27)
INT: 237 (+85)
WIS: 153 (+55)
LUK: 40
------------------
|Points: 181
|Money: 0
------------------
Derived Stats:
HP / MP Totals
→ Passive HP: 2820 / 2820
→ Active HP: 3780 / 3780
→ Passive MP: 5972 / 5972
→ Active MP: 8114 / 8114
HP Regen
→ Passive: 359.38 / min
→ Active: 653.80 / min
→ Passive + Iron Will: 718.76 / min
→ Active + Iron Will: 1307.60 / min
MP Regen
→ Passive: 24258.60 / min
→ Active: 44076.24 / min
→ Passive + Iron Will: 48517.20 / min
→ Active + Iron Will: 88152.48 / min
MP Cost
→ 47.25% of normal
------------------
"Well, that's just ridiculous," Gerhard said to himself.
His Mana regeneration was 6 times larger than his total Mana Pool. But that wasn't all there was to it. He felt that his Mana pool was slowly growing, as his powers adapted to the new and most mysterious title he had. Not the Emperor's Chosen, the other one.
[**** ***** - Lv. 1]
What was strange was that the title had a level. He could feel the energy flowing inside him, how it had affected his soul, and how it still did. His Mana was slowly adapting and changing, becoming denser and more powerful.
He couldn't see the title's name, but he realised it wasn't because it was some entity more powerful than the system mechanics. There was some information, but it was only bits and pieces. It seemed the Gamer's system was protecting him... and the level... so the skill/title wasn't at its full power and already had such profound effects.
He also knew that this title was what caused the Emperor to look at him and send his blessing, along with the other title: [The Emperor's Chosen]. The mysterious skill wasn't from the Emperor at all. Otherwise, why would he get an additional title? And it also wasn't one of the Ruinous Powers, as he felt four immensely powerful gazes and their bloodlust.
No, something had fused with him in some way. The question was what that was and how it would affect him. Right now, he didn't feel anything bad about it. And the system confirmed it to be non-malicious.
'Divine-Class Soul Influence' is what the system said. The term "soul influence" was very broad and unclear. But there was this one thing... Gerhard put it out of his mind for now. The Emperor of Mankind's positive reaction had granted him his blessing and made him a Living Saint.
One thing was certain: he would have an easier time now when moving through the Imperium. At least somewhat. And another bonus was that he could openly use his Mana and Magic, and simply call it a 'miracle'.
Gerhard looked to the side, where the man called Lencillus still knelt. That, in and of itself, should not have happened, and it told Gerhard that whatever had truly fused with him and had saved his life was enough to make this man kneel.
[Observe]
Lencillus (...) – Lv.88
|Eye of the Emperor
|HP: 24,000/24,000
|MP: 1200
|A former Custodian who has stepped away from direct service. Though no longer at peak physical perfection, they remain among the deadliest individuals in the Imperium, operating as shadow agents and watchers.
|STR: 165
|VIT: 145
|DEX: 115
|INT: 120
|WIS: 130
|LUK: 28
-
"Lencillus," Gerhard said.
The man in question widened his eyes as he heard the first part of his name spoken after such a long time. But he explained it as the Emperor's blessing, who had told him so.
"The Master of Mankind whispers to those He deems worthy," Lencillus murmured, his voice like the grinding of tectonic plates. "It is His grace that has placed my name upon your tongue, Champion."
"What does a member of the Eyes of the Emperor want in this Hive?"
"I was--"
"What are you doing? Rise. I'm a normal man like you, and I hate to see such an esteemed man bend your knees."
...
Words spoken millennia ago echoed in Lencillus' mind.
Still, he stood, his massive frame towering over the others. His breathing apparatus hissed, a rhythmic reminder of the wounds that had forced him to lay down the golden armour. Despite the missing eye, which had been replaced by an industrial bionic, the sheer authority radiating from him was stifling.
"The Captain-General himself, the Honourable Trajann Valoris, set this path before me," Lencillus began. "A vision visited a Shield-Captain of the Palaiologian Chamber. In the depths of his meditations, the Emperor deigned to unveil a tapestry of this very sector, a convergence of shadows where a flicker of golden light struggled to ignite. I was commanded to venture into this squalor, to discern the veracity of the omen, and to determine if this 'light' was a beacon of salvation or a sophisticated mask for the most insidious of heresies."
"Wait, when did that happen?" Gerhard asked.
"From what the Captain-General told me, a few Terran Months ago."
Gerhard looked at Hans, who had taken care of Sera Vahl and now stood at his side again.
> I believe you are correct, Master. It was during that time that you added to your LUK stat.
So it was true. On the one hand, luck affected Gerhard himself; on the other, it affected all of reality. It had to have been that moment, Gerhard thought, that the Emperor 'noticed' him for the first time. And realising how 'useful' and powerful he was for the Imperium, he notified the Custodes.
Gerhard was right. The luck stat, on the one hand, made his life more 'interesting' in the sense that it offered more opportunities, which were dangerous, but brought with them great benefits if he survived.
The Emperor realised, after he had most definitely witnessed what had happened to Gerhard, just how he had underestimated him and even sent his blessing across the galaxy. Gerhard would have to ask him face-to-face what had happened.
And this situation was the proof thereof. He had basically been killed, only to gaze into the endless darkness of the Warp and come in contact with the thing that saved and fused with him.
Gerhard turned to Hestia, who was holding her damaged face and looked at him with a complicated expression. He was no longer angry with her; that would be stupid, as she was right in her ignorance. His Mana was blue, and that did seem like the colour of one of the Ruinous Powers.
"Might I ask why you are here?" he asked.
She started to sign using Thoughtmark. Lencillus translated.
"She says that the Astropath of her enclave had a vision coming from the Emperor himself. But the meaning hadn't been clear. It could have meant that they were meant to come and eliminate a great threat. Which was why we reacted the way we did."
"I don't blame you," Gerhard said, surprising them. "If I were in your place, I probably... well, I have a special ability to recognise the truth of things, but I would have probably done the same thing."
Hestia narrowed her eyes, surprised that Gerhard reacted so nonchalantly to having been stabbed and almost killed. Truthfully, he wouldn't have been able to react this way if he didn't have [Observe] to see her information, Gamer's Mind, incalculable gains and... well, another reason, he wasn't willing to admit yet.
Then, Gerhard did something that shocked Lencillus and the Sisters even more.
"I'm sorry that you had to go through this and lost two of your sisters. I vow that we shall avenge them and that I will help you and the rest of your Sisters to find your way back to the Imperium, as you deserve. However, if you so much as think of touching me and mine again, I will destroy you and all you hold dear with the utmost ruthlessness you can imagine. Are we clear?"
Hestia looked at Gerhard and then at Lencillus. She was bitter about the death of the others, but she saw that it wasn't Gerhard's fault, since this was the reality they existed in. She also saw his sincerity and the seriousness of his words and finally nodded.
Gerhard smiled, leaving the seriousness.
"Well then, I think it is time that we introduced ourselves."
.
All across the galaxy, sporadic reports of a man with flashing, radiant eyes of light began to appear on Astropathic relay networks, starting in Segmentum Solar. And one dark group in particular, calling themselves Wordbearers, took those visions seriously enough to consider them an immense threat.
So they went out to search and destroy this new threat.
.
"Here," Gerhard said.
"What is this?" Lencillus asked, as he looked at the red fluid of the healing potion, Gerhard offered.
"It is a healing potion. Through this, Hans and I created several serums and concoctions for healing and treating illness. Only this is its purest form, created by my power. So there is no need to worry about corruption."
Seeing Lencillus still a bit wary, Gerhard uncorked the potion and took a sip from it. Seeing that he wasn't dying, Lencillus gladly took the potion and drank.
As he did so, he suddenly felt the healing prowess take effect. His many hidden injuries were healed, his lungs regenerated, and even his optical nerve regrew, and from it a new eye emerged. Lencillus was standing at the peak of his efficiency and health.
He took off his breathing apparatus and the bionic eye, which had fallen out, and stared at Gerhard.
"This..."
"Let's see," Gerhard said.
[Observe]
Lencillus (...) - Lv. 92
|HP: 30,000/30,000
|MP: 1500
|A former Eye of the Emperor restored to full biological perfection. Retains the experience and mindset of a watcher while regaining the physical prime of a Custodian.
|STR: 190
|VIT: 180
|DEX: 170
|INT: 120
|WIS: 135
|LUK: 28
-
"That looks better at least. How do you feel?" Gerhard asked.
"I feel marvellous, like I did at my peak. What was that, Lord Gerhard?"
"A healing potion, I can acquire thanks to my special powers," he explained.
"The Warp created this?" Lencillus asked suspiciously.
"No. My power is separate from the Warp entirely. I call it Mana. It is free from corruption and insanely versatile. It is what allowed me to survive until now and remain free from corruption."
"He's telling the truth."
Sera Vahl said that. She stood to the side, now that she was awake again, but not yet feeling comfortable. Still, she felt the need to make sure that Gerhard wasn't suspicious. During her time with him, she observed his potential for ruthlessness and compassion. She knew that he had four infected people whom he used to experiment on and find a way to cure them. She also saw how he worked on improving himself in all aspects.
The Sisters looked at the 'mortal' woman and only observed. Hans had gone to attend to his things, repair the Kastelan Golem again, and keep busy, while Gerhard broke the ice with the guests.
Gerhard had a way with words that was peculiar to those who paid attention. The former Custodes, especially the one who was very well educated, noticed this. It wasn't malicious or born from Chaos or the Warp in general. Gerhard had a genuine interest and an honesty that bordered on stupidity to most, but was rather endearing to those who bothered to spend time getting to know him.
It also helped that they were on the same side.
Gerhard asked them questions about their lives, their situations, how they got here, the situation of the Imperium and the wider galaxy. But he wasn't unwilling to explain himself either.
He held almost nothing back, keeping only the existence of the Gamer system, most of his hidden aces and abilities, and the truth about Hans secret. Everyone listened, even Hans and Sera Vahl, who didn't know his full story. Hans knew more than most, but not all, since it was never important. But now, Gerhard felt it was important to be somewhat honest, since there was a bond with most of these people.
He couldn't explain it just yet; it would become clearer in the future, but for now, he chose to trust his gut. He did, of course, make sure that they had this talk inside one of his Instant Dungeons. He wouldn't hand out secrets to Chaos, even if some of them might be known already.
The expression of those around changed as the story progressed. Hans was the only one who didn't look different. For one, he was now mostly mechanical parts, and for another, he knew that his Master was a badass and had been through hard times to get where he was and wasn't surprised about it.
What were a few months of isolation, training and talking with yourself, when you had already faced an entire Genestealer Cult on your own and took it down? In the eyes of Hans, not much.
The others, though, their perception of Gerhard changed as he told them what he had been up to—even Hestia's, the most stern among them.
"So you have been on your own for most of a standard year, hid yourself, trained, did research, advanced engineering by centuries, took out an entire Genestealer Cult and now challenged the entirety of the Ork Waaagh?"
"Yes?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"What?"
"That is..."
One of the sisters used Thoughtmark to finish Sera Vahl's sentence.
'...hard to believe.'
"What did that mean?" Gerhard asked.
"The Sisters converse in sign language called Thoughtmark. She said that it was hard to believe."
Gerhard raised his eyebrow at the Eye of the Emperor and then at the Sisters.
"I find your lack of faith... disturbing," Gerhard said, addressing Hans. "Hans, release the four pods."
> Affirmative.
On the other side, where Gerhard usually performed his biological and chemical research, a wall extended, revealing four pods with surgical tables. On these tables lay the four 4th-generation Genestealers, which had undergone different stages of experimentation by Gerhard.
They didn't look well, but they had long been placed under narcotics powerful enough to block any of their senses and at least made them numb to what he did to them.
"That's--"
"Before you all shout heresy, those are 4th-generation Genestealers, as you can see. I have been working on a way to reverse the process and have come up with a solution that I believe might not only solve that, but could also remove Chaos corruption, if I'm right."
""Huh?!""