Warhammer [512-514] (Patreon)

Chapter 512: Guilliman's Decision, Strategic Deployment

Just a dozen days earlier, Rhodes had already detected movements from the Chaos fleets: a massive Plague Fleet under Typhus's command had swept grandly into Ultramar.

Truly ill-fated! The Ultramar 500 Worlds were invaded during the First Tyranid War, and afterward were frequently harried by Orks.

No sooner had Guilliman awakened than Abaddon sent a Chaos fleet to raid Macragge—Guilliman's domain really is beset by misfortune!

 "You're saying Macragge is under attack by a Chaos fleet? Rhodes, you're not joking? I've seen nothing here—Calgar hasn't reported anything either." Guilliman asked, shocked and alarmed.

"I've no reason to lie. Calgar definitely wouldn't have reported it yet because the Plague Fleet hasn't reached Macragge proper—they've just entered the periphery. By the time he gets the news and notifies you, some time will have passed," Rhodes said.

The Imperium's standard communications can't match the speed of Rhodes's transmission methods, and the Imperium's monitoring systems are nowhere near as fast. To counter the Plague War, Rhodes had Tartarus on constant overwatch.

Thus, Rhodes knew the Chaos fleets' every move like the back of his hand. Tartarus's twin eyes could survey the entire galaxy with little trouble—such is the overbearing nature of an ultimate lifeform.

If the Absolute Kingdom existed, Tartarus's eyes could even observe events across countless parallel universes.

"Rhodes! I can't leave Holy Terra right now. Please help me deal with this incident," Guilliman said.

Even if he departed Terra for Macragge immediately, it would take months; by then, the war would already be underway.

And on Terra, he had to manage the Imperium's myriad affairs; as Lord Regent, his workload was immense.

So with his own realm under attack, Rhodes was the fastest possible reinforcement. Their domains were practically adjacent, and Rhodes's territory could even dispatch troops.

"Now that Chancellor Malcador has been resurrected, have him handle some of the work," Rhodes said.

Reviving Malcador greatly eased Guilliman's burden. The old man was a political talent; managing Imperial domestic affairs, he was little inferior to Guilliman—perhaps even more seasoned.

He had over 6,000 years of lived experience, whereas Guilliman, though over 10,000 years old, had actually been awake less than a thousand years—indeed, not even 500.

"Chancellor Malcador has to handle many internal matters, and I have much to do as well. Magnus is involved too. Now that the Senatorum Imperialis is dissolved, all Imperial affairs, large and small, rest on us.

You have no idea how massive this workload is, Rhodes—this is an interstellar empire with over a million Imperial worlds, each with issues that require our attention," Guilliman said.

Honestly, he sometimes envied brothers who could fight at the front: he envied Sanguinius, Vulkan and Lion El'Jonson.

Those brothers could wage war abroad, commanding a fleet—their workload was far lighter than his.

Hearing this, Rhodes rolled his eyes. In the original timeline, Guilliman launched the Indomitus Crusade, doing everything personally—was it because he didn't want to stay on Terra buried under mountains of paperwork?

 "I understand. I'll go relieve your worlds. Also use astropathic messages to inform your gene-son Calgar and have him prepare the defenses," Rhodes said.

"Thank you, Rhodes. How are things on your side? Besides the Chaos forces heading for Macragge, are there other large Chaos armies?" Guilliman asked.

As long as Rhodes was willing to act, his domain would be fine. Even if the Daemon Primarch Mortarion came, he would die without a doubt.

"Two Chaos fleets have sallied from the Eye of Terror toward the Imperium—one toward your home, one toward the First Fleet of the Indomitus Crusade, which is mine.

Aside from that, no other large Chaos fleets detected, but many small flotillas are striking other Imperial worlds.

I've already detached forces from the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Crusade Fleets to suppress these Chaos squadrons," Rhodes said.

"What! Rhodes, who commands the main Chaos fleet attacking you?" Guilliman asked.

He had thought only his Ultramar 500 Worlds were under attack; he hadn't expected Rhodes's Indomitus First Fleet to be struck as well!

 If so, Rhodes couldn't be spared to reinforce Macragge—this would likely require Sanguinius, or Vulkan, or Rogal Dorn.

"Mortarion is attacking me, leading a Plague Fleet. A small fry; I can handle him—don't worry," Rhodes said nonchalantly.

His bait-and-switch plan had worked; Chaos now believed that the ones with the First Crusade Fleet were the true bodies of himself and Elena.

"Don't take it lightly, Rhodes. In the last assault, Chaos likely gained gigantification abilities. If Mortarion has them too…

Then be careful. If necessary, you don't need to reinforce Macragge. I'll notify Sanguinius or Rogal Dorn to make the trip," Guilliman said.

"No need. Leave it to me. Have them lead the remaining fleets to continue the Crusade," Rhodes said.

These two Chaos fleets meant heaps of system coins—he couldn't waste them. Rhodes intended to annihilate both main fleets.

Over with First Fleet, Barbarue and Zarab playing the roles of himself and Elena could handle one Mortarion with little trouble.

If they couldn't hold, he could remotely dispatch the Angel Zog for support.

In this Plague War, Nurgle wouldn't be the only one moving—other Chaos powers were itching as well.

First, Rhodes was certain Khorne would act. With Sanguinius resurrected, Khorne's obsession with the Great Angel rivaled the Aeldari god Khaine's—

Perhaps even surpassed it. The Blood Angels as a whole were Khorne's favored target. Sanguinius could handle his side; if he couldn't, the Great Angel would naturally request aid.

Then have Rogal Dorn stealthily join him—two Primarchs together. Since Khorne cannot enter realspace, his Greater Daemons, Daemon Princes, and chosen champions wouldn't be able to take Baal.

As for Tzeentch, Rhodes couldn't guess his schemes!

 Magnus had returned to the Imperium, and he had been well and truly played by the Emperor and Rhodes. With his vengeful nature, he would not let it go.

"Do you plan to split from Elena? If so, I'll depart now for Macragge," Guilliman said.

This war's burden couldn't be placed entirely on Rhodes; the Primarchs weren't freeloaders.

"Don't worry. Sit tight on Terra. I'll split my forces—leave it to me. Those two Plague Fleets are mine. If I spot other Chaos fleets, I'll notify you immediately." Rhodes cut the link.

After ending the call with Rhodes, Guilliman sighed, then immediately entered the noosphere and contacted his Chapter's Chief Librarian Tigurius, informing him that a Plague Fleet was about to assault Macragge.

"Rest assured, great gene-father—we will prepare at once. We already have several Dreadnoughts capable of gigantification, and with Calgar now able to enlarge as well, even if a fallen Primarch arrives, we have confidence to defeat him," Tigurius pledged.

"Do not grow complacent. Last time, a single Khornate chosen left Calgar unable to care for himself. It's now certain Chaos has mastered gigantification.

I've already notified Rhodes—he'll reinforce you," Guilliman said.

"I understand, gene-father. Hold firm on Holy Terra—we will defend Macragge with our lives."

Guilliman nodded and ended the call with his gene-son. Sanguinius was likely to be targeted by Khorne, so the only ones who could be spared were Vulkan and Rogal Dorn.

He did not intend for Rhodes to shoulder the entire burden alone.

Rogal Dorn was on Crusade and didn't get along with him, and Guilliman didn't want to ask him. That left the Lord of Fire.

Given Vulkan's character, once he knew, he would not hesitate to lead his Chapter to the rescue.

And indeed, as Guilliman expected, upon receiving his call for aid,

Vulkan agreed without a second thought, pounding his chest and promising that as long as he lived, Macragge would not fall.

So long as even one of his sons lived, the citizens of Macragge would not suffer the depredations of Chaos.

The Salamanders' Third Fleet, under Vulkan's command, swung about and set course for Macragge.

After ending the call with Guilliman, Rhodes began strategic deployments for the two fronts.

Chapter 513: Massive Upgrades, Opening an Extradimensional World

Within his own territory, Rhodes ordered Mefilas and Huron to muster 200,000 gene-sons and roughly 20 million mortal auxiliaries.

Hundreds of Imperial battle barges, destroyers, cruisers, and escorts—these forces would reinforce Macragge.

Knowing Guilliman's cautious nature, even with Rhodes's promise, Guilliman would likely seek additional help since Rhodes was fighting on two fronts.

Sanguinius couldn't move from Baal; he had to deal with Khorne. Guilliman and Dorn weren't on great terms, and barring necessity, Guilliman wouldn't ask him.

That left the Lord of Fire, Vulkan. With Rhodes's army plus the Salamanders under Vulkan,

Macragge and the Ultramar 500 Worlds need not worry for now!

Even a few giant-sized foes wouldn't make many waves—Rhodes had plenty of mecha-kaiju.

As for the Indomitus front, Rhodes had already laid a heaven-and-earth snare, just waiting for the fallen Primarch Mortarion to deliver himself.

On the other Mortarion front, Rhodes planned a round of enhancements. He first spent 20 million system coins to upgrade the Advanced Enhancement Shop.

The Angel Zog and the Alien Empera could now be enhanced. First up: height and mass—both could be boosted to the 10x limit.

Maxing height and mass cost only a few hundred thousand coins—pocket change to Rhodes.

Then came the Dark Emperor's assorted skills and Zog's binding and energy-replenishment abilities—about another million coins.

The real expense lay in the Alien Empera's dark-energy upgrades and Zog's light-energy upgrades.

First, the Alien Empera. His dark energy could be upgraded three times: first tier 1 million coins, second 10 million, third a full 100 million.

Each upgrade massively boosted his dark energy.

It comprehensively amplified his power, allowing freer control of dark energy.

After the first upgrade, he could dark-energy-infuse ordinary lifeforms.

After the second, he could gigantify ordinary lifeforms, turning them into dark-aspected monsters.

The third mirrored those Ace Killer: a core would form within— a Dark Universe Energy Core—further empowering his soul and allowing entry into the Warp.

In realspace, he could freely wield black holes—darkness would be his power.

His combat strength would exceed sub-gods but remain weaker than the Four Chaos Gods. The price was eye-watering.

Rhodes could only afford the first and second dark-energy upgrades for him; the third, at 100 million coins, would have to wait.

Perhaps later he could speak to the Emperor and have the Alien Empera siphon some of the Dark Emperor's power, further weakening that old schemer and curbing his dreams of ascending as Dark King.

A shroud of black mist wrapped the Alien Empera; his armor transformed in quality, energy levels spiked, and a terrifying darkness radiated from him.

His height reached the 100-meter class—a colossal figure.

"Great master, my power is at least twice what it was! If I complete the ultimate upgrade, I'd like to rematch the Great Devourer—this time I'll strike his true body," the Alien Empera said.

"Don't get cocky, Empera. I know your confidence, but even at max upgrade

You'd only be about twice stronger than now. The gap between you and the Great Devourer remains vast," Rhodes said.

The Alien Empera was indeed powerful now. Unless the Chaos Gods could enter realspace, he would have virtually no peers in realspace.

Perhaps when the Necrons' Star Gods strode realspace, they could match him; not anymore.

Though Rhodes couldn't guarantee the Necrons had no other terrifying weapons.

The strongest known is the Celestial Orrery, which can detonate every star in the galaxy—an ability so excessive it inspires sheer despair.

"I understand, great master," the Alien Empera nodded.

After finishing him, Rhodes enhanced the Angel Zog: height and mass first, then her skills—

Charm, light-healing, and energy replenishment, all maxed—about 2 million coins.

Zog's Primordial Light Core also had three tiers, same prices as the Dark Emperor: 1 million, 10 million, 100 million.

It greatly boosted light-aspect energy, fully elevating Zog's power. First tier doubled her internal light reserves and enhanced beams and other abilities.

Second tier granted Light Bestowal: she could grant a mortal powerful light and gigantify them.

This was gigantification, not transforming them into a Giant of Light, akin to Mefilas's temporary growth—

Except both the Dark Emperor and Zog could make the gigantification permanent.

Third tier would form a Light Core within Zog, allowing her to enter the Warp,

Becoming a god-tier entity, on par with the Eldar pantheon in rank.

But with a physical body and unique light abilities, she would surpass the Eldar gods in combat power.

Additionally, at tier three, Zog could manipulate stellar energies; overall, she'd surpass typical C'tan.

She could even, together with a Giant of Light, guide a planetary will and manifest a Giant of Light.

As with the Dark Emperor, Rhodes gave her two energy upgrades, spending 11 million coins.

A white radiance enveloped the Angel Zog; a sacred goddess-visage appeared. Her height rose from over 100 meters to over 200. An unimaginably holy light poured from her.

Just feeling that energy bathed one in warmth, as if standing in sunlight.

In her second, draconic form, she was no longer an ugly tyrant lizard but a thousand-meter long Light Dragon with white wings and a pure white body.

Zog was very pleased—her old dinosaur form was so ugly she hated using it.

After the upgrades, the Angel Zog took the form of a beautiful woman, 1.8 meters tall, in a white gown, and bowed to Rhodes.

"Thank you, great master, for your blessing," she said, kneeling.

"No need for courtesy. You're the main force against Nurgle this time. Don't disappoint me—teach Chaos a lesson," Rhodes smiled and nodded.

Upgrading the two powerhouses cost 26 million system coins.

Watching the process, Aisha gained a new appreciation for Rhodes's methods.

This enhancement capability was astonishing. These two had previously been around the level of orderly gods, stronger due to their bodies; now they had half a foot into the Chaos-god domain.

And there would be more like them under Rhodes in the future!

 How terrifying that is!

 The others likely had no idea what sort of being they had provoked!

Aisha felt fortunate to have joined Rhodes, to possess the Cosmic Phantom Beast, to evolve Chaos energy and reclaim Order energy.

Her Slaanesh shard had already half-separated; with a bit more effort, she could discard it completely and reclaim her godhood of art, beauty, and love.

Once Slaanesh left her, it would pick a new host, and she would be free.

Slaanesh must die—that foul god must be destroyed! The Chaos gods should all be destroyed.

The Warp had once been a limpid pool; after the four gods were born, it was as if four lumps of excrement were thrown into the clear water, staining it a fecal yellow.

If a fifth god were to arise, the stench would worsen, and there would be no hope of restoration.

After finishing the two, Rhodes performed an ultimate extradimensional upgrade on his scientist, Yapool, spending tens of millions more.

With the ultimate upgrade, Yapool's extradimensional ability reached its zenith. With Rhodes choosing him for monster-enhancement,

The two together could use immense extradimensional energy to open a new pocket dimension, to gradually grow thereafter.

Rhodes would gain inexhaustible extradimensional energy; all super-beastifications would no longer be a problem, and annual output would no longer be so low.

After all enhancements, Rhodes eagerly spent 100,000 system coins to redeem a monster-enhancement use.

He chose Yapool. A terrifying energy rose within Rhodes, coursed through him, and formed a core inside him—extradimensional energy.

Extradimensional energy is a wondrous power. It can crystallize into extradimensional crystals, refine extradimensional metal, make super-beasts, and even Ace Killer.

His Mefilas-derived psychic abilities also improved.

Rhodes's extradimensional energy let him better manipulate extradimensional forces and even teleport within a certain range—not just planetary or system-scale, but across light-years.

For his entrance, he adopted Yapool style: opening a hole in the sky and making a radiant appearance.

After the upgrade, Rhodrick and Yapool joined forces and entered the interstice between realspace and the Warp.

They released their tremendous extradimensional energy together and began to create a small extradimensional world.

Horrific crimson energies wove between Warp and realspace, tearing the two realms and gradually forming a vacuum zone.

Vast energies were drawn out; a tiny seed point appeared, then collapsed and expanded, forming a bizarre space.

Once it formed, Yapool ceded control, granting Rhodes perfect mastery of the realm—he became its sovereign.

After more than thirty days, they stabilized the space.

It was currently only one-tenth the size of a stellar system, but with time and Rhodes's growth, it would self-develop.

"It's done, great master. From now on, at least within one star system, you can teleport freely," said Yapool.

Opening this realm was exhausting, but worth it. It was like his homeland.

"From now on we'll have inexhaustible extradimensional energy. Let's go back—I'm a bit tired," Rhodes nodded and returned to realspace.

When the realm is large enough, it could rival the Old Ones' Webway. Humanity would no longer need the Webway; it would have its own extradimensional corridor.

Its speed would be comparable to the Webway.

…

Back in realspace, Rhodes had Tartarus send Yapool back to Holy Terra's secret lab.

"How stands the war?" Rhodes asked.

Opening the extradimensional space had taken a full month; the two fronts should be engaged by now.

"Master, Mortarion has already engaged the First Fleet, and Macragge's battle began half a month ago."

Chapter 514: Plague Cure, Life-Light Energy Amplification Megastructure

Tartarus said. He had kept his eyes fixed on both fronts throughout, missing no detail.

"Is that so? Tell me the details," Rhodes said.

"Great master, both Chaos fleets have reached their targets and begun their attacks. Macragge is in a stalemate.

The Lord of Fire's forces and your reinforcements have greatly bolstered the Ultramar 500 Worlds' confidence; Guilliman's sons are fighting to the death.

Vulkan is aiding in the battles. Though Typhus is powerful and has gigantification, and there are giant Nurgle Greater Daemons and Daemon Princes assisting, they still can't gain the upper hand," Tartarus reported first on Macragge.

Macragge's defense was strong; the Ultramarines weren't pushovers, and they were among the first to receive Rhodes's Primaris-forging and gigantification.

And Guilliman's sons were the most numerous in the galaxy. There were over 400,000 Ultramarines on Macragge alone—only half the Chapter's total; the other half had joined the Indomitus Crusade.

Add in Vulkan's 100,000-plus and Rhodes's reinforcements, and the Imperium was even on the offensive.

After fusing Golza, Vulkan's strength had grown. Typhus had boasted that the age of Primarchs was over, echoing Abaddon's slogan—

But facing the Imperium's upgraded Primarchs, he was inevitably crushed.

In just a few exchanges he was hammered senseless by Vulkan. The confidence he'd built on Mortarion evaporated.

He couldn't understand how, as a Chosen of the Gods, gifted by Grandfather Nurgle, aided by a sub-Chaos deity and granted gigantification,

He could still lose to an old-era Imperial Primarch. The foe's flames and terrifying psychic might were beyond his ability to counter.

And his vaunted plagues and Warp energies were nothing before Vulkan, who possessed a Cosmic Phantom Beast!

With the fusion, a Primarch's body perfectly housed his soul; his warp-nature fully awakened—sub-god tier. Mere gigantification couldn't match that.

Even as a Chosen, Typhus was far inferior to a Primarch. He might bully a fallen daemon Primarch of the old era,

But against the new-era Primarchs he was outclassed. Khorne's champion had slain a Custodian and defeated Calgar before only because multiple Chaos Gods blessed him with undying resilience.

At that time, Khârn's combat power lagged even behind a giant Custodian; without immortality, he'd have lost.

Typhus lost to Vulkan and then lost again to Calgar. As for Mefilas, they weren't even in the same weight class. A fully enhanced Mefilas could tug planets at will.

With terrifying psychic power alone, he could pop the skulls of entire worlds' worth of Chaos Astartes and Daemons, banishing them to the Warp.

It worked better than psyker powers, which needed Warp energy channeled through the body.

Mefilas's power came entirely from himself. Combined with light beams, he inflicted immeasurable losses on Chaos.

Macragge's front needed no intervention; unless the Plague Army had a hidden hand, their defeat was only a matter of time.

"The Chaos army doesn't worry me. I've prepared enough over the last decade to make them pay.

Even if they doubled their numbers, they'd have no chance. What truly concerns me is an antidote to the plague," Rhodes said.

Chaos forces could be destroyed easily enough, but the god-plague that slaughtered civilians was terrifying.

The Imperium was relying on Sisters' prayers, Ecclesiarchal sermons, and medicae to barely hold the line—but casualties were huge, with tens of thousands of humans turned into plague-zombies daily,

Dying horribly to Nurgle, swelling his ranks.

Rhodes's own realm needn't worry as much, since Zog's dual upgrades in light could effectively defend against the god-plague.

But even she could only shield part of it, not even guarantee the outer worlds of Rhodes's domain.

"Great master, I'm not in charge of that—Lady Isha is," Tartarus said.

Isha, standing nearby, smiled, radiating a verdant light, and handed Rhodes a small vial.

"I wouldn't dare neglect your orders. Rest easy.

I've been working nonstop and have ingested the god-plague many times. I've now successfully developed an antidote.

I've put it in this little bottle," Isha said.

Once the plague broke out, she secured the pathogen and swallowed it, parsing it with life-energy within her body.

A few days ago, she cracked it and created a corresponding cure.

"How is it used? Can we replicate it in realspace?" Rhodes asked.

"This bottle is a divine artifact I crafted. I infused some of Zog's light into the antidote—its effect is extremely powerful.

Just pour a little, release it over a planet to merge into its water supply; once the populace drinks it, the god-plague will be purged," Isha said.

The special artifact, made with help from Rhodes's subordinates, didn't contain ordinary liquid but pure life-energy and light-energy.

As long as she and Zog were around, they could produce the antidote endlessly,

Effectively dispersing Nurgle's god-plague.

"Understood. Distribute the antidote across the Imperium—one dose per world, then seed it into the planet," Rhodes nodded.

He immediately ordered his people to package the life-light antidote and ship it to Imperial worlds.

"Rhodes, the god-plague is likely more than this. Nurgle prepared for over a decade—he won't be defeated so easily.

I suspect there will be a second wave," Isha said.

After being imprisoned by that green monster for over 10,000 years, she knew Nurgle's evil well; his plagues were never simple.

"We can only defend passively right now—we can't just storm the Warp and kill Nurgle, can we?" Rhodes said.

If the Emperor ascended as the Dark King and Rhodes had a Grand Mystery Four-O level ally, they could perhaps kill Nurgle—

 But unfortunately, their strongest could not stand in the Warp. Those four monsters were born of a world's essence,

Unlike the C'tan in realspace.

"I mean you could build a special device, like the Astronomican the Emperor built—an immense energy amplification array.

Then Zog and I could enter it and spread our light and life-energy across the galaxy, shielding it," Isha said.

With the Astronomican, the Emperor's psychic light illuminated most of the galaxy.

If they made a similar device, with her and Zog's power, they could create a vast life-light barrier to snuff any outbreak.

"That's feasible, master! I can provide some Absolute-being knowledge to build a powerful amplification device," Tartarus said.

"How long to build?" Rhodes asked.

"With one billion servitors, about a year and a half—three years at most," Tartarus said.

"Approved," Rhodes nodded.

The Imperium never lacked labor. A billion servitors was nothing. Rather than passively defend, it was better to build a robust defense.

Rhodrick signed an executive order, drawing immense labor from his domain to raise a sky-piercing energy amplification megastructure on the Phantom Beast world.

"Tartarus, how is the Indomitus First Fleet?" Rhodes asked.

"According to plan, great master. Barbarue and Zarab are keeping Mortarion occupied," Tartarus said.

"I see. Since I'm back, let's start the net-closing plan. This time, we capture Mortarion alive," Rhodes said with a confident smile.