Warhammer: Don't Call Me the God of All Machines

Chapter 852 The Martian Dragon and the Imperial Guard Purge

After Rosie and Dorn split up, they immediately made a secret trip to the rusty red planet.

Mars is the cradle of cutting-edge human technology during the Dark Ages. It has fallen countless times and risen again countless times.

Mars has now emerged from the shadow of its past civil war.

Countless tech priests and sages devoted themselves to repairing vital facilities such as the Forging Temple, the Orbital Shipyard, and the Research Center, which had been destroyed during the retreat of the Dark Mechanicus.

If you could look down at the planet from the ecliptic plane, you would see giant docks and space factories scattered in near-Earth orbit, forming a unique gear-like shape with the Martian body itself.

Countless transport ships are exchanging resources at Mars' orbital dock: precious metals and special products from across the galaxy feed this primordial behemoth, while Martian industrial products are transported back to various worlds via these ships.

When Rosie and her group boarded the merchant ship, it was indistinguishable from any other merchant ship.

After docking their merchant ship at the trade port, Losi and his party immediately changed their mode of transportation, renting a transport ship capable of supersonic movement on the planet's surface.

The place they were going to was called the Labyrinth of Eternal Night, or the Labyrinth of Noctis, a special area located between Mariner's Canyon and the Tharsis Plateau.

It was impossible to reach that area directly using psionic means. When the Emperor sealed the Void Dragon Magladros, he locked down the spacetime of the entire area.

Any psychic divination, witchcraft prophecy, or instrument scanning becomes mere wishful thinking, leaving third parties with no choice but to resort to brute-force methods to locate the labyrinth of eternal night.

Want to find a maze that changes spatial coordinates in this region known for its intricate and deep canyon system with your own eyes?

That would take far too much time.

The area covered by the Labyrinth of Eternal Night is a rare place on the entire surface of Mars, without any forges or casting temples.

Because of the emperor's contingency plan, any metal or flesh found here will quickly decay, leaving only endless yellow sand blown ceaselessly by the storm.

Such a place, which was of no use to the Mechanics, naturally became a wasteland.

However, these contingency plans left by the Emperor were of little use to Rosie and her entourage's impressive lineup.

With Makado leading the way and Danteok using his instincts to sense the aura of the Void Dragon, the group quickly found an underground passage buried in the yellow sand, sealed off for an unknown period of time.

To be honest, this underground passage looks like the tomb passage of a nobleman from some feudal era, and it doesn't look grand or luxurious at all.

However, Macardo confirmed that this was the place where the Emperor, displaying his divine power, single-handedly destroyed the Void Dragon fragment that came from space on Earth and then sealed it on Mars.

"When this happened, humanity was still in the Middle Ages."

“Even Roxi was not born for hundreds of years, so the history of this site is older than ours.”

Makado sighed, then led everyone into the tunnel.

The tunnel wasn't very spacious; when the original body entered it at its height, it even felt cramped and oppressive.

Traces of original excavation remain on the rock walls on both sides, suggesting that the emperors of the past may have used their swords to carve a passage through the Martian rock layer, one stroke at a time.

As for why the emperor didn't use his magical psychic powers to dig out an underground palace with a flick of his finger, you'd have to ask the Lord of Humanity himself.

"I still don't quite understand why you buried Draconian at the entrance to the Labyrinth of Eternal Night."

"Since our goal is to deliver this warp demon to Abaddon, why not just be direct?"

Guilliman's personality was more straightforward, and his style of doing things was always simple and decisive, which made him seem somewhat slow when he was carrying out certain schemes and tricks.

"If you were Abaddon, would you believe that the Draconian you've been searching for was just casually placed somewhere within easy reach?"

Macardo turned around and looked at Guilliman.

"Although Abaddon is now bold enough to venture out of his burrow to explore, he will immediately retreat back into his mouse hole if he hears any commotion or discovers anything amiss."

"Draconion, the end of the Empire, the nemesis of mankind. Even if we find it, we will surely hide it in a safe place."

"And in this safe enough place, there should be a strong enough guard protecting Draconion."

"Is there any safer or more secluded place on Mars than the Labyrinth of Eternal Night? The Void Dragon is trapped in the labyrinth and cannot escape; he is the evil dragon guarding the treasure."

Guilliman suddenly realized, and cursed inwardly that the one who held the seal was indeed black-hearted and filthy.

"Only by doing this will Abaddon believe it and muster the courage to seize Draconian."

The tunnel was deep and oppressive, with only the echoes of footsteps and the sound of breathing intertwined in the narrow space.

Ancient dust filled the air, along with an indescribable metallic rust smell, as if time itself had frozen and decayed here.

After walking for an unknown distance, and even as Rosie gradually lost her sense of space, the group finally reached the end of the passage.

It was a huge door, forged from some unknown dark metal.

The door is etched with intricate geometric patterns and ancient runes that have long been lost, and its surface is covered with a thick layer of rust that looks like congealed blood.

"This is the true entrance to the Eternal Night Labyrinth. The space behind the door has been completely sealed off by the Emperor's power, isolating it from both the inside and outside of time and space."

Makado stopped, his withered fingers tracing the cold door, feeling for the barely perceptible psychic imprints remaining on it.

"The Emperor's seal remains secure, and the Void Dragon Magladros still slumbers within it. All we need to do is place the 'key' on its most prominent 'doormat'."

Macardo opened the pocket-shaped space constructed of psionic energy, where the Dark Eldar Bloodling who had served as Draconion's vessel was now nothing more than a withered shell.

His soul and flesh had been mostly devoured by Draconian, leaving only a faint trace of life force.

"It has to be the Bloodlust people, they're so resilient," Macado exclaimed. "If it were any other race, they would have been drained dry by Draconion long ago."

"Please bear with it a little longer. Once Abaddon arrives, you can die a long time."

There was no longer hatred or pain in the eyes of that bloodthirsty man; all that remained was utter numbness and deathly silence.

The Blood Man of Macado and Draconion were placed at the entrance of the gate, and the gate was pushed open, causing it to crack slightly.

A dark light seeped out from the crack in the door, writhing and tumbling as if it were alive, exuding an ominous aura.

"No, how did you open this door so easily?"

“Even if the Eternal Night Maze is hard to find, it’s not impossible to find it if you spend the time and effort. Your door can be opened with a gentle push, so isn’t it completely unsafe?”

When Rosie saw Makado's actions, she felt for a moment that they had deviated from her expectations.

"Security?"

Makado shrugged and turned to say.

"When you say 'safety,' do you mean the big guy locked inside, or some reckless person outside who either accidentally or deliberately barged in?"

"If it's the former, then you don't need to worry at all. The Void Dragon is bound by the 'chains' left behind by the Emperor."

The labyrinth of eternal night is undergoing countless changes every second; there is absolutely no way He can escape unless the entire labyrinth is destroyed.

"If it is the latter, then since they have violated the prohibition and entered the labyrinth, they have committed an unforgivable crime."

"Those who venture in either die trapped inside or are eaten as snacks by passing Void Dragons."

"The Void Dragon originally came to Terra to devour human souls, but it never expected that such a small solar system would have a monster like the Emperor, and it unexpectedly backfired."

"The Void Dragon has been imprisoned in the Eternal Night Labyrinth for so many years. Sending it a few offerings occasionally will at least keep it a little quiet."

"That's why there's no need to lock this door at all. Anyone who goes in against advice will just be a sacrifice to the Void Dragon."

After listening to Makado's description, Rosie suddenly felt that it made a lot of sense.

Just then, Loxi, who had been silently staring at the huge door, suddenly trembled slightly.

The previously calm psychic light in his eyes suddenly became deep and bright, like two ignited stars.

He stepped forward and gently placed his palm on the cold, rusty door.

An indescribable thrill instantly pierced his soul.

He sensed a rhythm that shared the same roots.

The thought exploded in his mind like a thunderclap.

Beyond the door, in that labyrinth isolated by the Emperor's might, lies not merely a perfectly intact fragment of a Star God.

Loshi clearly sensed that a material primordial power, extremely similar to his own authority yet far more ancient, vast, and... cold and pure, was slowly surging behind the door.

That power was like the unchanging core of a star, a manifestation of the rules of the material universe, and a symbol of the concept of "existence".

It lacks the chaos and madness of the subspace, possessing only an absolute, inhuman, and icy will that pursues eternal order and the ultimate laws of physics.

"You felt it?" Makado's cloudy gaze turned to Rosie, seemingly unsurprised.

“Magladros, a fragment of the Star God Void Dragon, is the embodiment of the physical universe's order, the weaver and destroyer of the laws of matter... In some ways, his form of existence does indeed bear a resemblance to the source of your power.”

"He is also the true God of all machines, the supreme being worshipped by countless believers of the Mechanicus. However, He is now just a prisoner, and even the power of faith has been intercepted and transferred into you."

As Loxi sensed the aura of the Void Dragon, an instinct urged him to completely merge with this fragment of the Star God.

"Now is not the time. Even if we are to take action against the Void Dragon, we must wait until the Emperor is completely free. Otherwise, if a problem arises, I'm afraid no one in the entire solar system will be able to stop the Void Dragon."

Lothie had already witnessed just how powerful the Star God Shards were. Even Danteok, who possessed the Zarahush Shard, had power that was in no way inferior to the Primarch, and perhaps even surpassed it.

The Overlord is just an ordinary nobody in the entire Star God system, while the Void Dragon is a terrifying being who ranks among the top three in power among all Star Gods.

He possesses absolute overwhelming power over any technological civilization, and Loxi has no desire to experience what it would feel like to clash head-on with this guy.

"Let's go first. The bait has been completely laid out, and we're just waiting for Abaddon to come and get it."

"With so many schemes and plans, I don't believe Abaddon could resist the temptation and not take the bait."

After witnessing the Void Dragon's situation, Loxi and the others temporarily withdrew from the Eternal Night Labyrinth.

Of course, before leaving completely, they also cleaned up any traces of human activity, trying to keep the place in its natural state as much as possible.

"Hopefully, Abaddon and his men won't be too curious after they get Draconian."

"Things are going to get interesting if they're curious about what's behind the door."

A mischievous glint appeared in Rosie's eyes, and she turned and left.

……

Meanwhile, before landing, Waldo, who had just returned to Terra, contacted the Imperial Guards who were on duty through their unique communication channels.

Although the Imperial Guards were delighted that Marshal Valdor had finally returned and the Ten Thousand Men had welcomed back their leader, they did not show the slightest sign of anything unusual after receiving Valdor's order to "remain calm and as usual."

Dorne, Perturabo, and the others followed Waldo into the underground palace through a secret passage unknown to them.

"These palace guards always keep something in reserve; I just don't know how many more passages like this there are."

Dorn calmly observed his surroundings, and every route his eyes took was recorded in his brain, which was comparable to a supercomputer, leaving a backup and a three-dimensional model.

"If I had known there was a secret passage here, I might have been able to storm into the throne room."

Peturabo looked at the hidden weapon defense systems and misleading obstacles and barriers around him, and immediately began to feel an irresistible urge to get started.

Dorn and Waldo stopped in perfect unison, then turned to look at Peturabo.

The Olympian chuckled awkwardly, feeling countless threatening gazes sweeping over him from all directions; clearly, the hidden Imperial Guards were scrutinizing him.

"Just kidding, I don't have those silly ideas anymore."

"However, are you sure you don't want to invite me and Dorn to help you build the Terra defense system?"

"I saw at least seven vulnerabilities that could be exploited."

However, neither the Grand Master of the Terra Guard nor the Marshal of the Guard paid any attention to Peturabo. Waldo led a few men into a secret meeting room known only to the Guards.

The high command of the Imperial Guard, led by Diocletian, the tribunal for the protection of the people, had been waiting there for some time.

The atmosphere inside the secret meeting room was as heavy as lead.

The power armor, made of shimmering gold, gleamed with a cold luster in the dim light.

Each Imperial Guard stood as still as a statue, with only the faint light gleaming behind their helmet visors indicating their vigilance.

Valdor stood in the main seat; his return should have brought hope, but at this moment, the aura he exuded was colder than ice.

“Diocletian.” Waldo’s voice broke the silence, without pleasantries or greetings, each syllable like a cold hammer striking the golden floor.

"Marshal." Tribunal Diocletian stepped forward, his posture impeccable.

But Waldo's sharp gaze seemed to pierce through the ornate feathered helmet, looking directly into the eyes beneath it.

"Take off your helmet," the marshal said.

Although Diocletian was a tribune of the plebs, he was no different from the other guards in front of Waldo and could only obediently remove his helmet to show his true face.

"I am leaving Terra, entrusting you with the heavy responsibility of guarding the throne room, and with the Ten Thousand Men." Waldo spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but containing an indescribable sense of oppression.

"But what did I see? Terra, sacred Terra, under your protection, has become a breeding ground for a colossal lie."

You are fully aware of the unrest within the State Religion. Don't tell me that a riot broke out in the Shadow Prison at a crucial moment; that's not an excuse for you to absolve yourself of all responsibility.

His gaze swept over every member of the Imperial Guard present.

"Yet you have become the most silent accomplices in this lie!"

Diocletian's body tensed almost imperceptibly: "Marshal, we have always followed the Emperor's will..."

"The Emperor's will?" Waldo abruptly interrupted him, his voice rising sharply, filled with a rare sense of loss and anger.

"Tell me, what is the Emperor's will? Is it to make you watch helplessly as a monster built on lies and fanaticism takes root under his throne, steals his name, and ultimately drags all of humanity into the abyss of destruction?"

“Monster? Stealing?” Diocletian’s voice showed obvious wavering and confusion for the first time. “Marshal, what are you saying? We are protecting the Emperor’s sacred authority…”

“Holy?” Waldo let out a short, cold sneer.

"Let me guess, did that pope and the so-called living saint persuade you by having the emperor manifest himself?"

"Arrogance has blinded you, making you believe that you can see through and perceive all warp magic."

“That is not our leader, but a terrifying being inseparable from the Emperor, known as the Dark Lord.”

Diocletian's handsome face immediately turned cold, and even began to lose its color due to panic.

"Open your eyes and look with your hearts. Emperors spent their entire lives fighting against religion and superstition."

He established an empire with Imperial Truth as its core ideology. Even when Imperial Truth ultimately failed, forcing him to implement an Imperial State Religion as a fallback to salvage the situation, it was still Guilliman's version of a rational state religion.

"And who does the current state religion, with its endless prayers, its fanatical sacrifices, and its distorted doctrines, nourish?"

It was precisely that monster that had usurped his throne and twisted his will that was being nurtured!

The cruel truth, like cold venom, instantly seeped into Diocletian's soul.

Diocletian staggered back a step, his breathing rapid.

He tried to refute Waldo's accusations, searching for any evidence that could disprove them, but he couldn't.

The increasingly distorted reality of the state religion on Terra and the long-standing doubts in their hearts overlapped perfectly.

The Imperial Guards were not without suspicion, but they chose to turn a blind eye because of their unconditional trust and obedience to the Emperor.

But at this moment, Waldo revealed the truth: the madness of the state religion, the internal strife of the empire... everything had the darkest and most reasonable explanation.

"We...we've been deceived?" Diocletian's voice was hoarse, filled with immense pain and bewilderment. "Used...?"

“Yes, Tribunal Diocletian.” Waldo’s voice lowered, filled with heavy sorrow.

"The Emperor is trapped on the Golden Throne, engaged in an eternal struggle with the Dark Lord, while we, his sharpest spear and strongest shield, have been of no use whatsoever."

This is our disgrace, the greatest defeat for the entire regiment!

"What exactly have we protected?"

"I cannot tell you the secrets of the Dark Lord in advance, but I believe that the Ten Thousand Men should be able to use their eyes and experience to detect some clues."

"But unfortunately, that didn't happen."

He paused, his gaze sharpening as he surveyed each of the Imperial Guards, who were gripped by immense shock and anguish.

"During my absence, Diocletian, the supreme commander of the Legion of Ten Thousand, you failed to detect this deadly anomaly and failed to stop the erosion of the State Church."

You even tacitly condoned the existence of lies to some extent. You have seriously neglected your duties, betrayed the Emperor's trust, and betrayed my trust as well.

Diocletian lowered his head in silence, unable to refute.

As one of the people closest to the throne, he did sense something inexplicable, but he chose to attribute it to the unfathomable power of the Emperor and the limitations of human understanding.

He chose to maintain "necessary tolerance" of the expansion of the state religion in order to preserve the stability of Terra. This "tolerance," in retrospect, was a fatal oversight and a betrayal of loyalty.

"Therefore," Marshal Valdolf's voice echoed in the silent chamber like a final verdict, "in my name as Marshal of the Imperial Guard and Commander of the Ten Thousand Men, I hereby announce the removal of Diocletian from his position as Tribunal for the Tribes. Effective immediately!"

There was no fierce resistance, no angry explanation.

Diocletian simply knelt down slowly and heavily on one knee, placing the long-handled power halberd, which represented the power of the tribunes, horizontally on the ground in front of Waldo.

This action itself symbolizes the most complete obedience and confession; he relinquishes not only his position, but also his dignity and honor.

Waldo didn't look at the weapons on the ground; his gaze fell on another guard who had remained silent, yet whose eyes were unusually firm and sharp: "Nerva."

"Marshal!" The Imperial Guard named Nerva straightened his body.

"I appoint you as the new Tribunal. Your duty is to set things right and lead the corps to rediscover our true mission."

The Legion must purge the corruption from Terra and clear the way for the Emperor's ultimate return. Are you willing to shoulder this heavy responsibility?

"For the Emperor! For humanity!"

Nerva's voice was firm and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

He stepped forward, picked up the power halberd from the ground, his movements solemn and powerful.

This is not just a weapon, but also a heavy responsibility and a vow to return to the right path.

“Very good.” Waldo nodded.

“I know the truth is painful, that the loyalty of the Imperial Guard has been deceived and blinded, but now is not the time to wallow in regret.”

A civil war within the State Religion is imminent. Qile's Alliance of Light is en route to Terra to determine the victor in their battle against Elfreda's State Religion. The Ten Thousand Legion must act immediately.

He turned to the new tribune Nerva and Dorn and Peturabo, who had been listening in.

"Activate the Silent Eye Protocol, mobilize all hidden monitoring nodes, and monitor the every move of Pope Elfreda of the State Church."

As the order was given, one of the walls in the room slid open silently.

Two skilled Imperial Guards rapidly tapped their fingers in the void, operating a psionic projection array filled with complex runes and crystal interfaces.

Soon, a series of real-time images, encrypted and counter-surveillance processed, were projected onto the center.

In the scene, the prayer hall deep within the state temple slowly emerges.

Faced with the incredible technology of the Imperial Guard, even the state religion would find it difficult to keep secrets.

Alfreda remained alone, without any servants attending to her.

Her face no longer held its usual compassion or majesty, but only a frozen, chilling calm.

"Christine is dead. The warp storm she caused with her life could not stop Qile's arrival."

"For the sake of the God Emperor, I have no other way out."

Elfreda closed her eyes and prayed devoutly before the statue of the God Emperor.

Shortly after, a fully armed combat nun entered the prayer hall.

"My lord, just as you predicted, those high-ranking bishops have begun to stir."

"They hastily destroyed evidence of their corruption and extravagance, and once again disguised themselves as honest and devout."

"Many bishops have even begun to make preparations to secretly contact Qile's Alliance of Light in order to avoid possible future reckoning."

"After all, many people now believe that our chances of winning are far less than those of the Light Alliance, which has assembled a large army and is backed by the Space Marine Legion."

This battle nun was Elfreda's confidante, and she had already detected the shifting winds within the State Church.

"They will side with others in the same way they sideed with me in the first place."

The Pope showed no anger, remaining completely calm.

"What will you and your sisters choose?" Elfreda turned around and looked at the nun kneeling on one knee in front of her. "Speak freely, I won't blame you. I just want to know your true thoughts."

The battle nun was immediately drenched in sweat, and she said with unwavering determination:
“We still trust you unconditionally. You are the agent of the Emperor’s will, and all Emperor believers should obey your orders.”

"That being the case..."

Alfreda stepped forward slowly and helped the kneeling nun to her feet.

"Just like before, become my sharp blade to sweep away heretics once again."

"Sisters of the Sisters, our loyalty to the God-King cannot tolerate any betrayal or compromise."

The battle nun stood up, the sound of her power armor's electronic muscle bundles whirring as she moved.

"my pleasure."

Meanwhile, in the secret meeting room of the Imperial Guard, Waldo, Dorn, and others witnessed the Pope's secret conversation with the Battle Sister.

“She’s about to make her move.” Dorn’s voice was deep and cold, “faster and more ruthless than expected.”

“Christine’s death became her best weapon, allowing her to filter out those who were not firm enough and began to waver.” Peturabo snorted. “This woman’s use of power is quite direct.”

"She can continue to purge from within the country in the same way she launched the armed coup back then."

The newly appointed tribunal Nerva looked at Waldo: "Marshal, should we intervene? They might create a new chaos on Terra."

Waldo stared at Elfreda's distorted face in the image and slowly shook his head.

"No, since they're going to fight amongst themselves again, let them fight. We just need to keep the situation under control and prevent it from getting out of control."

"At the same time, ensure the absolute security of the core area of ​​the palace, the Shadow Prison, and the Star Torch control nodes."

"Yes, Marshal!" Nerva solemnly accepted the order, and his golden figure immediately began deployment.

The sky above Terra was still illuminated by the light of the star torches.

But beneath this light, a storm woven from faith, lies, betrayal, and ambition is brewing within the sacred temple, threatening to tear apart the entire Holy Terra.

The Imperial Guard, a sharp blade that had remained silent and observant until now, has finally sharpened its edge and is ready to strike at the deepest and most deadly darkness.

(End of this chapter)