Chapter 57: I Won't Sit on the Golden Toilet, but I'll Be a Living Saint
Chapter 57: I Won't Sit on the Golden Toilet, but I'll Be a Living Saint
"So does that mean I don't have to sit on the Golden Toilet?"
"You do not."
Hearing the definitive answer, Lucan also breathed a sigh of relief.
"Emperor, if you could give me more resources, I could develop even faster! I'm currently lacking people, money, food – I'm lacking everything. Could you perhaps send a dream, have someone deliver a little something over to me?"
However, this time Lucan did not hear the answer he wanted.
"I cannot. I do not yet know you well enough; more observation is required. You and your Warp projection… this projection is very special. It can purify the energy in this Warp, and it does not belong to this world at all.
Furthermore, if I were to grant you too much assistance now, the Chaos Gods of the Warp might notice you sooner, which would bring you no benefit.
If I can find you in the Warp, then the Four Gods can as well. Only when your Warp projection is at least strong enough to evade their detection can I grant you more aid.
For now, I will do my best to diminish your presence in the Warp, to reduce the possibility of the Four Gods discovering you.
And I also sense that you have gained the faith of a portion of the Adeptus Mechanicus? Do the Tech-Priests who believe in you also possess the power to purify and resist corruption?" the Emperor asked Lucan.
"It seems so, at least for now. But there must be a threshold eventually, I suppose."
Lucan hadn't tried it either, but if his System was not mistaken, those Tech-Priests led by Pavian, who could now be sensed like his warped-in units, should be impossible to betray or corrupt. Even if they couldn't withstand it themselves, Lucan could mobilize the power of his Warp projection to provide them with a blessing-like assistance.
"A wondrous ability. You need to grow stronger as quickly as possible, at least to a point where you can protect yourself. I can sense that your soul will not be corrupted, so you must hold onto that technology for non-Warp travel tightly.
I cannot guarantee that others within the Imperium will not be corrupted; even my own sons face the same risk. If Chaos were to obtain such technology, it would be a disaster for the Imperium as well.
The followers of Chaos can retreat into the Warp, but the countless worlds of the Imperium and the humans upon them cannot. At that time, the Imperium will be dragged into an even more terrifying quagmire."
Hearing this, Lucan, although a little disappointed, felt it was still good. This cold sun was enough to conceal Lucan's presence within the Warp.
What he lacked was time to develop. Once he loaded more game programs, such as technology from Stellaris to restrict jump travel, even if Chaos obtained jump capability, he would have ways to counter it.
However, Lucan felt the Emperor wasn't being that benevolent… This sun remaining here was probably not just to protect him. If he had any thoughts or actions that would endanger humanity, he suspected the Emperor would devour him without hesitation.
It was both protection and a threat.
"But you should have absorbed a great deal of my psychic energy just now, correct? You, who have already begun to absorb the power of faith, may borrow this portion of power. I permit you to act within the Imperium under my identity as a Living Saint. This should also bring you much convenience.
And this identity is not enough to draw too much attention from the Ruinous Powers. I will send a dream to the Bishop on your planet. With the Ecclesiarchy's intervention, things will be more convenient for you."
"I won't sit on the Golden Throne, but I can still be a Living Saint!"
Lucan was very satisfied with this result.
And at this moment, within the great cathedral of the Ecclesiarchy in the uphive of Agathos.
Bishop Holter was lying on his bed. Suddenly, his eyes flew open, and he leaped up from the bed.
He had dreamed. In his dream, he had finally dreamed of the great God-Emperor! For the first time in his life, the God-Emperor had responded to him. On the Golden Throne, the God-Emperor was no longer a decaying figure but appeared before him in His most perfect state.
A lifetime of piety had finally received the Emperor's response at this moment.
And the God-Emperor on the Golden Throne told Holter that Lucan Mongorte was His chosen one, that he would bring new hope to Agathos and to the integration of the Koronus Expanse.
And what he needed to do was to venerate Lucan as a Living Saint and assist him in the name of the Ecclesiarchy.
Hearing this, Holter changed into his most solemn bishop's robes with the greatest speed.
"Quick! Quick! Someone! Arrange a hovercar for me! I must see Lord Lucan right now!"
Holter's voice echoed throughout the great cathedral. The few remaining priests of the church immediately made arrangements; they had never seen Bishop Holter so agitated.
And at this time in the Warp, Lucan's conversation with the Emperor was nearing its end.
Lucan disconnected the link with his Warp projection, and his consciousness returned to his body.
But as soon as his consciousness returned to his body, Lucan's psychic senses detected an anomaly.
With the strengthening of his Warp projection, Lucan's psychic senses had become ever more acute.
As his psychic senses projected outwards, he detected a life signature in the reception room outside his bedroom, and it was approaching his chamber.
This was the Rogue Trader's palace, mind you. Raiders were stationed outside the palace.
Inside, there were also numerous Dynasty guards and attendants for protection.
Those selected to enter the palace were all the most loyal people of the Dynasty.
And besides the normal guards within the palace, two guards were permanently stationed at the door to Lucan's bedroom.
They were responsible for protecting Lucan and for relaying his commands at a moment's notice.
Yet, they hadn't issued any warning at all?
Lucan slowly rose from the bed. In his perception, the other party was getting closer.
Lucan's hand reached for the power sword placed by his bed.
Closer… ever closer… Lucan sensed the other party had already reached his door.
When the figure reached Lucan's door, Lucan attacked first.
Against such a sneaky individual, striking first was never wrong! This person was definitely not on his side.
Even without wearing his combat suit, Lucan's strength was already terrifying.
Lucan charged directly, bursting through the door, then activated the disruption field of his power sword and swung at the figure.
When the door was shattered, Lucan finally got a look at the other person.
A tattered trench coat and hood, worn-out tactical goggles from who-knows-where.
The pale purple skin beneath the figure's hood told Lucan their identity.
"A Genestealer? A Sanctus from the cult?"
These were the specialized assassins from among the Genestealer Cults.
They wouldn't mix with their "brothers and sisters" like other Genestealers but would stay aloof by the Patriarch's side. When needed, they would eliminate anyone who stood in the way of the Day of Ascension.
The power sword slammed heavily onto the floor. Lucan's full-power strike actually missed?
The opponent's speed was unexpectedly fast. And after dodging Lucan's blow, this Genestealer immediately counter-attacked with its dagger.
Every stab was aimed at a vital point.
Looking at the sickly green dagger, Lucan didn't want to get hit even once. This dagger was crafted by the Genestealer Patriarch from its own chitinous talons. The blade was imbued with a potent liquid psy-fluid composed from countless sacrificed cultists and the Patriarch's own cursed power.
If it so much as scratched the skin, the victim would suffer unbearable pain and lose their ability to fight.
The Sanctus was not only fast, but its combat skills were also formidable.
But the current Lucan was someone who could go toe-to-toe with a Possessed Marine; the Genestealer had also underestimated Lucan's combat strength.
It immediately discovered it couldn't take down Lucan quickly. Lucan's fighting technique was a complete mess, but his speed, strength, and reflexes were absurdly fast; he was a pure "stat monster."
The commotion of the fight here also attracted the attention of others in the palace.
A shrill alarm was sounded! Fighting sounds were coming from the Rogue Trader's room?
All guards rushed towards the Rogue Trader's bedchamber.
The nearby Raider garrison also deployed in full force.
At this point in the fight, the Genestealer knew its assassination had failed.
Once surrounded, even one as skilled in stealth as itself would have no chance of escape.
The Sanctus no longer lingered in combat. It retreated rapidly, then threw a frag grenade at Lucan.
The massive explosion blocked Lucan's pursuit, and the Sanctus fled swiftly towards the doorway.
However, who would have thought that as soon as it reached the door, it would be met with a massive power maul.
"No one may harm the Living Saint! Die! I, Holter, sentence you to death in the name of the Ecclesiarchy!"
The gravity hammer directly struck the panicked Sanctus, pulverizing it into a shower of shredded meat.
Pale purple blood splattered everywhere.
"Holter?"
"Lord Lucan! I have received a divine oracle from the God-Emperor!"
(End of Chapter)