"They haven't returned yet?"
Yuki was uneasy; it was the first time he had been away from his base of operations for this long. Eleven and Elia had received very little education, even by the standards of Underhivers who dropped out before birth. Their Tyranid digestion pools, culture vats, and laboratories were all hidden beneath the processing plant. It would be a disaster if they were discovered.
"What are you thinking about?"
Yuno was wearing only a white nightgown, her black hair falling loosely over her shoulders. Yuki reached out and pulled her into his arms, holding her against his chest.
"I was wondering if some idiot would try to attack my territory while I'm away."
"If you're saying that, then it's bound to happen."
"Why?"
"Just like the stories written by those dropout writers for Warhammer; when they can't figure out how to move the plot forward, they resort to this. It's a cliché for web novelists."
"Hahahaha! Then I'd better be a little more careful."
Yuno suddenly blushed. "It seems you need a bit more special service. This time, don't press down on my hair."
Well, it looked like they were going for another round. Yuki didn't particularly mind.
...
After another intense battle, Yuki's million-strong offspring charged into the Hive Mother Ship, engaging in a tragic and fierce struggle before ultimately falling in defeat.
As they lay in bed, Yuki began to wonder if he should start considering moderation. If this continued, he might run into trouble one day because of "going for another round." He thought about it and decided to raise the issue seriously with Yuno.
Turning his head, he saw Yuno's shy face, half-hidden behind the blanket.
"Another round?"
"Let's go."
...
By the time Yuki finally finished the "battle," it was already the afternoon of the third day. This planet had three hundred days in a year, and each day was twenty-five hours long. Although the sun was invisible in the Underhive, one could roughly track the time based on biological clocks and information trickling down from the Mid-spire and Hive City.
Yuki and Yuno were huddled on the sofa watching anime. Yuno had downloaded a lot of resources back when she still had internet access, which greatly surprised Yuki—especially the presence of some ancient, bizarre horror anime.
"Mmph, mmph."
Yuno's mouth was stuffed with bread. Yuki knew this was her way of telling him to play the next episode. Feeling the movement and warmth of the person in his arms, Yuki felt for a moment as if he hadn't come to the Warhammer world at all. If he could have a small house of his own in the future and huddle with the one he loved to watch TV, that would be the greatest happiness.
"Yuki, we can build a small house in the future."
"Stop reading my thoughts."
"Your heart's desires are written all over your face."
As they joked around, the doorbell rang.
"Hopefully, it's Steff and her squad back."
Yuki stood up. The person at the door was not the Battle Sister squad he expected, but a member of a local gang.
"Lord Yuki, we are here to inform you that your alliance with the Raziel Brotherhood appears to have collapsed."
Yuki froze for a second, and then his gaze turned fierce. "And you people...?"
"We hope you can return quickly to take command."
Yuki recalled what he had said to Yuno at the very beginning. Once he had a firm footing, he would kill that guy Raziel. He might not be a hero, and he might be a third-rate character, but he kept his word. Today was the day to make those words a reality!
"Let's go, Yuno. You were right; every time I leave the house, these unlucky things happen. He'd better give me some interesting resistance. And that 'Iron Face' woman—she'd better behave herself."
...
"Elia, you two guard the main gate. Don't let them get near me."
In an instant, the employees left behind in the factory had begun a defensive battle. This wasn't surprising; Yuki hadn't placed much defensive strength in his core territory. Usually, he stayed there himself, and it didn't matter how many people came. Now that he was absent, the temporary reinforcements were naturally unable to fill the void.
Eleven was the final resort, but once she used her psychic powers, it would attract unnecessary trouble. Everyone knew that would bring enemies far more troublesome than gangs.
"The entrance!"
The two heavy swords in Elia's hands impaled the first enemy to rush up, piercing through from both sides before she sliced outward with force. Various tissues and organs spilled across the floor.
"How disgusting."
"Sister, we've seen more disgusting things, haven't we?"
Iliya held two guns. The advantage of being conjoined twins was fully displayed in this moment. Working under Yuki, the treatment might be uncertain, but food was plentiful. It wasn't all corpse-starch either; they frequently ate high-end meat and plants. Every person stationed at the processing plant was physically robust.
Elia, who had spent a long time carrying half of her brother on her back, had continued to grow. She was now nearly two meters tall. Counting Iliya, who couldn't stand straight, the entire entity was nearly three meters tall. Standing there, they covered both long-range and melee combat. With others supporting them, they managed to hold back the swarming enemies.
Eleven tried to find something useful within the factory. She had been trying hard to control her psychic powers under the guidance of the God-Emperor. Scanning the entire plant, Eleven discovered a blank zone—an area her psychic senses could not penetrate. There was surely one of Yuki's trump cards hidden there.
"I cannot use it without his permission."
Eleven withdrew her improper thoughts. For now, Elia and the others could still hold out; there was no need to take risks. Unless...
Eleven sensed something. Within the ocean of the Warp, a tide was approaching. The wave was so massive and terrifying, carrying immense power and despair as it surged toward her. From just the stray energy of this wave, Eleven felt a heart-shattering pain.
"Dammit."
Eleven chanted the Emperor's name and expanded her psychic shield. Beneath the crushing weight of that tide, this pathetic barrier had no way to hold for long. Eleven spat out a mouthful of blood. This was only the prelude to the prelude; there were less than thirty seconds before the true psychic wave hit.
In real-space, this psychic tide would breach Elia's defense line in an instant. Eleven had to hold this place. Suddenly, she felt a hand rest on her shoulder.
"Do not be afraid, child."
It was a glow. It was the Emperor. It was supreme power.
Eleven reached out her hand. Golden flames erupted across her body, sweeping away the cold and the sinister.
"In my name, carry out my will."
A psychic spear pierced through the towering giant wave.
"Whew!"
Eleven knelt on the ground. The sudden explosion of power left her bewildered, and the stinging pain of the burns pulled her back to reality.
Was the God-Emperor calling for me? Has the God-Emperor finally dropped His disguise and shown me His true power?
Eleven prayed fervently until the "Envoy" of the God-Emperor she worshipped contacted her via a psychic link.
"Eleven, how long can you hold out over there?"