Aurelian IV, the plaza in front of the Kent Hive Governor's Mansion.
Sixteen thousand new players tilted their heads up, staring at the golden figure standing upon the high platform. The 3.88-meter-tall Aquilon Terminator armor gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight, the five stars within his dark golden irises slowly revolving, like some ultimate symbol of divinity.
[How Many Floors Can You Carry a Sack of Rice]... real name Ivan, a senior college student in reality... stood with his mouth hanging open. It took him a long time to finally stammer out a sentence: "Are... are you the Emperor? Or the Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes? Didn't we join Crimson Dawn??"
Standing next to him, Tax Bro burst out laughing. "You sure have a lot of questions, kid." Clad in his Imperial Fists power armor, Tax Bro reached out and patted Ivan on the shoulder. He pulled his punch, but the sheer force still made the rookie stumble. "Just listen up for now."
Up on the high platform, Paul slowly removed his golden helmet. It revealed the face of an Asian man. He looked to be around thirty, with sharp, chiseled features and a gentle smile playing at the corners of his lips. It wasn't the face of the Emperor. Nor was it the face of any Primarch. It was the face of an ordinary, mortal man.
"I am Paul," his voice echoed across the plaza through the vox-amplifiers. "Just like you, I am a player. Or rather... I used to be." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the dense sea of new players below. Those faces—etched with confusion, shock, curiosity, and a faint glimmer of anticipation—reminded him of the original batch of players who had awakened in Workshop No. 7 twenty-three years ago.
"Twenty-three years ago, myself and four thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine other players woke up right here... on Aurelian IV. We were unarmed, penniless, hunted by local factions, and forced to survive in a hostile wasteland. We founded Crimson Dawn. At first, it was purely just to keep everyone alive."
Paul raised his hand, gesturing toward the sprawling cityscape surrounding the plaza... the spotless streets, the meticulously planned architecture, the patrol airships cruising overhead, and the towering vertical farms in the distance. "Later, we wanted those who survived to live with dignity. And after that, we wanted dignity to become a fundamental right for everyone. I spent twenty-three years transforming a desolate mining world into what you see today. A population of thirty billion, all residing in surface-level cities. An eight-hour workday, nine years of free education, universal healthcare, a comprehensive industrial complex, and a formidable military. We still pay our tithes to the Imperium, and we still recognize the Emperor's ultimate authority... at least, on paper. Because right now, in the year 000.M31, while the Imperium of Man still rules the galaxy, this camouflage is an absolute necessity."
Paul lowered his hand, the five stars within his dark golden irises spinning faster. "But our goal was never to become a model world for the Imperium. Our goal is to preserve a different kind of possibility for humanity in this grimdark universe. A possibility where order isn't maintained through fear, oppression, and blind obedience. A possibility where everyone can earn their dignity through honest labor, and where hope guides the future. We at Crimson Dawn were the first players to set foot here, and through our suffering, we brought a different kind of dawn to this universe. We took a hive world that was essentially a ruined, living hell and transformed it into the idyllic, prosperous paradise you see before you. We have successfully cultivated thirty billion Imperial citizens who stand fiercely behind Crimson Dawn. And perhaps it is precisely because of this that the Crimson Dawn Chapter, founded by our first generation of players, has actually become a standalone faction you could choose from. It has earned us a fighting chance to compete against the Imperium, Chaos, the Loyalists, and the Traitors."
The plaza fell dead silent. As the new players listened to his speech, the confusion on many of their faces shifted into deep thought, and finally, morphed into something akin to... profound inspiration.
[Crimson Zealot], whose real name was Chris, a graduate student majoring in modern history in the real world... sent a message in the regional chat. "I get it now. The 'martyrs' and the 'ideal world' mentioned in the Door of Dawn's description... this is what it meant. Back in our world, there was once a group of people just like this. They paved the road with their flesh and blood, and used their ideals to illuminate the darkness. I learned about the immense suffering they endured through my studies. And now... it seems you guys are doing the exact same thing here."
This message struck a chord with the crowd.
[You Ashe I Soraka]: "+1. I picked the Door of Dawn because the lore description sounded incredibly unique. Looks like I made the right choice."
[Optimus Lemme Pilot You Real Hard]: "So what are we supposed to do now? Help build the planet, too?"
[How Many Floors Can You Carry a Sack of Rice]: "Build a planet? Bro, I don't even know how to use AutoCAD..."
Up on the platform, Paul saw their discussion... He chuckled, his voice ringing out once more. "Don't worry, we won't be making you draft blueprints. I know exactly what you all need most right now: Imperial Coins, enhancements, gear, and the capital to survive. So, I've prepared a little welcome gift for you."
Paul glanced over at Cogboy standing near the edge of the stage. Cogboy nodded, his mechanical optic sensor pulsing with blue light. A second later, a notification popped up on the system interfaces of every single new player simultaneously.
[You have received a transfer from the Crimson Dawn Chapter: 3000 Imperial Coins.]
[Accept?]
Sixteen thousand players froze in sheer disbelief. Three thousand Imperial Coins?! In the shop, a Tier I Basic Physique Enhancement only cost 100 Imperial Coins! A Tier I Basic Neural Reflex Enhancement was just 100! A Tier II Basic Physique Enhancement was 500! Basic Psychic Awakening Guidance was 500! Three thousand Imperial Coins was enough to buy a full suite of base enhancements!
"I... I accept!" Ivan was the first to shout out loud.
Immediately after, waves of players scrambled to accept the transfer. Excited chatter and euphoric cheers erupted across the plaza.
Paul waited a few seconds for the noise to die down before continuing. "Of course, these Imperial Coins aren't just free handouts. By accepting them, you will invariably be integrated into the Crimson Dawn Chapter and its various successor branches. By completing quests issued by the Crimson Dawn Chapter, you will be rewarded with even more Imperial Coins. One month from now, we will select the first batch of one hundred top performers—those who have completed the most quests and shown exceptional dedication. They will be granted the opportunity to become Astartes, fully subsidized by Crimson Dawn with a funding of over six and a half million Imperial Coins. Yes, you heard me right. True Astartes. As long as you can prove your dedication to Crimson Dawn, you too can possess this kind of power. But comrades, please remember: power is never the end goal. Power is merely our tool. It is the means by which we protect what we hold dear... the smiles of these thirty billion people, the dawn of this planet, and... that ideal—one that may seem unreachable, but is absolutely worth chasing for the rest of our lives."
Paul paused for a moment before speaking again. "We veteran players will do everything in our power to help you acclimate to this brutal universe. Because very soon, crises and storms will descend upon us. The Imperium, Chaos, and the other player factions. We must become strong enough before that happens. Strong enough to defend this land, and strong enough to spread our ideals across the stars. Strong enough so that... when the galaxy burns, we won't just be ashes drifting with the wind, but the embers that ignite a new spark of hope in the dark. Welcome to Crimson Dawn, comrades. May labor earn dignity, and hope guide the dawn."
Below the stage, sixteen thousand players... regardless of whether they were students, office workers, freelancers, or anything else in the real world... simultaneously raised their right hands. Mimicking the salute the veteran players had taught them, they tapped their right fists lightly against their left chests. The new players were incredibly fired up right now. Who knew if it was because of the six-and-a-half million Imperial Coin sponsorship to become an Astartes, or something else entirely...
"For the Dawn!" a Crimson Dawn veteran shouted.
Immediately, more and more voices joined the chorus.
"For the Dawn!"
The voices swelled into a tidal wave, rolling out far beyond the gates of the Governor's Mansion. Whether it was the Dawn Royal Guard stationed nearby or the ordinary citizens walking the streets, everyone who heard that rallying cry silently raised their right fists, echoing the sentiment deep in their hearts: For the Dawn.
--
The Warp, Unnamed Domain.
Lucian was laying on the sofa at the top level of the Spire of Hope, with three holographic screens hovering in the air before him.
The left screen displayed a real-time feed of the Emperor's Children fleet... The war council in Heliopolis had just concluded, and the officers were filing out. Vance followed Stanton out of the Phoenix Gates, while the four Chaos players departed behind their respective commanders.
The center screen showed the scene on Aurelian IV... Under Cogboy's guidance, the new players were currently undergoing their first round of enhancements.
The right screen showcased the free-wheeling Chaos players, filled with their villainous, maniacal laughter as they plotted.
Lucian gently swirled the cup in his hand... The liquid inside was condensed purely from emotional energy, tasting exactly like the cola from his memories.
"Excellent. They're all highly motivated," he murmured to himself, divine golden light flowing deep within his irises. "Then I suppose I'll issue a quest for every faction! Let's see if you can create some unexpected variables in your drive to complete these tasks. Go on and fight for it! No matter which faction you chose! As long as you are tenacious and resourceful enough. Regardless of your original motives. You all have a bright future ahead."