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

Chapter 954 The Elven Clan Reinforcements Arrive
As the Primarch addressed all human warriors, inspiring their morale, deep within the Infernal Web, the Eldar reinforcements promised by the Emperor were also en route to the Eye of Terror.

The strength mobilized by the Eldar this time is unprecedented in the declining era following the fall of the Eldar Empire.

Not only have the Laughing God Xi Gaoqi and the Goddess of Life Aisha participated, but even the Eldar Arks scattered throughout the galaxy, who are used to working alone and not communicating with the outside world, have responded to the call.

For these wandering arks, even a god like the Laughing God, who exists in the legends of the Spirit Race, does not actually have much deterrent power or influence.

The Laughing God rarely shelters Ida except for the Clown Eldar. He is always mysterious, and only a few lucky ones have the opportunity to meet him.

For the Eldar, who wander the galaxy in order to perpetuate their race, there is no need to obey the command of a god who cannot protect them.

They might revere the laughing god, but that's about it.

However, the God of Laughter brought them an opportunity: a chance to completely break free from the Dark Prince's curse and allow the Eldar to be truly free and liberated.

The Laughing God declared that as long as humanity closes its Eye of Fear, the influence of the warp on the galaxy will be reduced to a relatively safe level in a short period of time, and the difficulty for the Dark Prince to plunder the Eldar souls will also increase significantly.

At that time, even without the need to borrow the Dao Path and Soul Stone, the Spirit Race can protect the safety of their souls and will not have to worry about being kidnapped and tormented by Slaanesh for eternity.

This promise shattered the seclusion and isolation of those Eldar arks. In fact, the Eldar were well aware that their days of wandering the galaxy in their arks would one day become unsustainable.

Since the Great Fall, the Eldar have been steadily declining.

Their birth rate is decreasing, their arks are aging, and their inherited knowledge and technology are becoming increasingly fragmented. Even if they can barely survive now, they will be completely wiped out in the near future.

A civilization does not perish only when all its individuals die out. When its population declines to the point where it can no longer even pass on basic knowledge, the civilization is truly finished.

As descendants of the Ancient Spirits, these Aidas, though long since degenerated, still retain a sense of pride from the Ancient Spirits in their bones.

Rather than a slow death, it's better to fight for a possibility and seek a spectacular ending.

In the heart of the Usvi Ark world, beside the ancient Infinite Circuit, Eldrad Uslan strolls side by side with the incarnation of the Laughing God.

The Infinite Circuit is the most important area in the Ark world. It is essentially the spiritual framework of the Ark world, storing the soul stones of all the deceased Ark Eldar, allowing them to rest in peace here.

Conversely, all the deceased in the infinite loops exist as a collective consciousness, capable of providing the Ark with spiritual power and even guiding their descendants at times.

As the Ark Prophet, Uslan's status was naturally far inferior to that of the Laughing God, but Higoki very naturally let Uslan stand shoulder to shoulder with him, abandoning all the so-called etiquette of hierarchy.

During this time, Uslan has been working tirelessly to unite all the Ark Eldar to resist Chaos. Laughing God has made great contributions to being able to rally so many Eldar Arks.

Higoki had a good impression of this prophet, and therefore got along with him very easily.

"Lord Xi Gaoqi, this time we have gathered almost all the strength of the Ark Eldar."

“Usvi, Aletok, Bietan, Iyanden, Samhan… these are the most important and powerful Ark worlds, and they have all sent out most of their available forces.”

"But I would say that this is not enough, at least not enough to have a decisive impact on the war of the Eye of Fear."

"Since we have chosen to support humanity in winning this war, we, Ada, must abandon our old habit of wavering between sides and even betraying our allies at crucial moments. This is something we need your supervision and restraint in doing."

"I know you possess the secrets of the Black Library. Now that a major battle is imminent, shouldn't you reveal some more trump cards that we don't know about?"

Uslan's words would instantly enrage any Eldar, who would denounce him as a complete Eldar traitor.

However, Hiccupy's exaggerated oil paint makeup remained unchanged, and he still had a mysterious expression.

“I understand, Aldrad, I understand your thoughts.”

“It has been a long time since anyone has dared to speak to me like this, but I must say, being able to lay things out clearly and explicitly is a rare and precious quality for an Ada.”

"You can say these things to me, but don't say them to other Eldar. I'm worried that you'll be killed by the other Eldar."

"After all, your stance has almost completely sided with humanity, and the other Adas will only accuse you of being a traitor," the Laughing God teased.

“Them?” A smile appeared on Uslan’s lips. “Excuse me for speaking frankly, sir, they don’t have that ability.”

"As you know, I am an absolute anti-chaosist. My starting point is not my race, nor is it humanity. I only care about whether our universe can escape the encroachment of the warp."

"The reason I care so much about and value humanity is because only humanity can achieve this goal, and I must ensure that humanity is not betrayed or interfered with."

"If the Spirit Race had this ability, I would stand on their side without hesitation. But the reality is that we don't, so we should accept reality and be pragmatic."

“Uslan.” The God of Laughter looked at the prophet before him, who, even when facing him, was still firmly and clearly expressing his thoughts.

“You have something that the current Adarin race lacks, and that is a clear and well-defined overall perspective.”

"What you're worried about has already been taken into account by me. The trump cards I've prepared for this war are not just these Ark Eldar that I've summoned."

“I am well aware of the fighting strength of the Ark Eldar. Even if you all fill the battle lines, it won’t really help the war much. After all, your troop strength and fighting power are far inferior to those of humans.”

Uslan was immediately filled with intense curiosity, but he did not press for further details.

As the number one riddle-maker of the Spirit Race, the God of Laughter cannot be forced to explain things he is unwilling to say.

However, the God of Laughter seemed to have seen through Uslan's thoughts and spoke in the opposite direction.

"Val Amulet, what do you think of this trump card?"

Uslan's eyes lit up when he heard the name of the Val's Amulet.

The Vaal Charm, known to humans as Blackrock Keep, is a powerful void fortress that was active during the War of the Heavens.

More important than the combat power of these ancient creations is Blackrock Fortress's powerful anti-subspace capabilities.

In this grand war against the counterattack from the subspace, this ability is far more valuable than mere destructive power.

"During the Horus Rebellion, Azeroth Abaddon found a dormant Blackrock Fortress in the Pacific Sector, and that Blackrock Fortress did indeed demonstrate powerful dominance."

Uslan then asked another question.

"How much of Blackrock Fortress can you produce? These ancient relics were either damaged in that great war or hid themselves before falling into slumber."

Aside from Abaddon's Blackrock Fortress, I haven't found any other Vaal Amulets so far.

"Of course you can't find it."

The Laughing God's sharp fingers tapped back and forth on the surface of the Infinite Circuit, causing ripples to spread across the faint halo.

"Because after the war ended, I have been collecting those Blackrock Fortresses that were not damaged. Most of the Vaal Amulets that are still intact in the entire galaxy are hidden in the Black Library."

"This is, after all, the creation of my friend Val. After he was devoured by the Dark Prince, I took care of it in his place."

"From any perspective, I am the first in line to succeed him."

Uslan immediately understood everything. The Blackrock Fortress had been hidden by the Laughing God, which was at least much better than falling into the hands of Chaos.

It's important to understand that Blackrock can not only suppress the warp, but also amplify it, making it a double-edged sword.

"How much of Blackrock Fortress can you offer?" Uslan asked nervously.

"Six of them are relatively well-preserved and can be used directly, while the others have suffered varying degrees of damage over a long period of time, and their self-awareness is no longer sufficient to withstand such a brutal war."

Upon hearing this good news, Uslan excitedly paced back and forth in the open space in front of the Infinite Circuit.

“Six,” Uslan repeated the number, “six well-preserved Val amulets…enough to turn the tide of battle at a crucial moment.”

"If their anti-spirit energy fields are used in combination, they may even temporarily suppress the subspace erosion in a region, creating a valuable opportunity for us."

He stopped and looked intently at Higoki: "Where are they now? When will they arrive in Kadia?"

A sly glint flashed across the Laughing God's face, which was covered in paint.

"My dear prophet, at my command, the most loyal and skilled members of the clown troupe have long since mastered these six ancient relic fortresses, traversing the hidden paths of the net."

Judging by the time... they should have already left the network and are now in the real universe, heading towards the battlefield that will determine the fate of the galaxy.

This answer reassured Uslan. Although the God of Laughter was known for his mystery and drama, His promises were always reliable in matters of great importance concerning the survival of his race.

However, Higoki's words did not end there.

He gently raised a finger and waved it in front of Uslan.

"But this is still not all I have prepared for this grand theatrical performance. Eldrad, what power do you think, in the dwindling arsenal of the Eldarin, can truly inflict a profound and unforgettable blow on those malevolent beings from the warp?"

Uslan frowned, his mind racing through the various forbidden knowledge and powerful relics possessed by the Eldar.

Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, he tentatively replied:
"Is it Kane's avatar? The best way to deal with the warp is to use psionic energy, and Kane's avatar is undoubtedly the best choice."

Higoki's expression turned slightly serious, and he nodded firmly. "That's right, it's Kane incarnate."

"Bloody Hand, God of Murder, God of War, these are all Kane, and also the most powerful beings in the Pantheon besides Phoenix King Asuyan."

A trace of reminiscence and solemnity flashed in Xi Gaoqi's eyes, as if he had returned to that incredibly dark day.

"In that catastrophe that led to the complete depravity of our race, Kane was one of the few gods who truly fought against the Slaanesh's devouring.

His battle with the Dark Prince was so fierce that it attracted the attention of the Blood God Khorne. The two evil gods clashed over the essence of this God of War, ultimately leading to Kane's shattering.

Uslan was naturally aware of the legends surrounding the destruction of Kane.

He also knew that the “Young King Ritual” held in various Ark Worlds was essentially using the tiny fragments of Kane that had been preserved to summon an extremely unstable Kane avatar with vastly different power.

A powerful avatar of Kane might be able to rival the most powerful demons, while a weaker one might even be defeated by a well-equipped Astartes combat squad.

This uncertainty makes Kane's Avatar appear to many Eldar commanders as a dangerous double-edged sword, to be used only in the most urgent moments.

“Kane’s avatar…” Uslan’s tone was filled with undisguised doubt.

"Lord Laughing God, please forgive my bluntness, but we have all witnessed the avatars of Kane summoned by the Young King's ritual. Their power fluctuations are too great and extremely unstable. Is it too risky to place our hopes on them?"
Even if we gather all the Kane fragments held by the Ark, how much stronger can the summoned avatar be compared to one summoned by a single Ark?

Does it truly possess the capability to intervene in battles of that caliber? After all, this time we don't need to contend with a single Chaos Demon, but rather an countless army of Chaos Demons.

Uslan’s concerns were not unfounded. Kane had been broken for too long, and now only some vague ancient texts and oral epics remain about the extent of his power during his complete reign, the authenticity of which is difficult to verify.

Faced with Uslan's questioning, Higoki did not get angry, but instead let out a low and meaningful chuckle.

The laughter echoed beside the silent, infinite loop, carrying a hint of mockery and sorrow.

“Uslan, my prophet…” the voice of the God of Laughter rang out, answering Uslan’s question.

“Kane has been broken for too long, so long that even His people have forgotten what the name ‘Bloody Hand’ once meant.”

"Everyone has forgotten that in those ancient times, when He brandished His Doomsday Wail, even Slaanesh, the nemesis of all Eldar gods, had to fight with all his might, and even the warlike Khorne cast a covetous glance at Him."

The ancient epic described by the God of Laughter made Uslan involuntarily hold his breath.

"What you have summoned is merely a faint echo emanating from the shattered godhood of Kane, but this time it is different."

"I will forcibly fuse all the known major fragments of Kane through an ancient and powerful ritual, awakening the dormant, undying will belonging to the complete Kane within them!"

Uslan's heart pounded. What would happen when all the Kane fragments were combined?
Does this mean they briefly resurrected this ancient Eldar war god?

"But even if we succeed, how can we control an existence so close to a complete God of War? The rage and bloodlust of a typical Kane avatar are already extremely easy to get out of control, let alone the highly complete form you mentioned..."

“Control?” Higgoch interrupted Uslan. “We don’t need to control Kane, Uslan. We just need to point out the enemies to Him. At least those demons belonging to the Dark Prince will definitely attract Kane’s attention.”

“Kane is a vengeful Eldar god. He had a very unpleasant falling out with several other gods back then, and he was shattered by the Dark Prince. I don’t believe he will forgive this nemesis.”

"Furthermore, Kane's essence is killing and war, and what could attract His full attention or allow His bloodlust to be vented to its fullest extent more than an ultimate battle that would decide the fate of the galaxy?"

Uslan took a deep breath, and the cold psionic energy of the Infinite Circuit surged into his lungs, calming his boiling thoughts slightly.

It must be said that although the God of Laughter often seems quite unreliable, he can surprise people at crucial moments.

“I understand, Lord Higoki. If this is the script you have prepared for the endgame, then the Usvi Ark is willing to offer up all the Kane fragments we have preserved and devote all the power of the Infinite Circuit to support this summoning.”

With the Blackrock Fortress fleet as a solid bulwark, and a nearly complete Eldar war god as the spearhead to tear through the enemy lines...

Uslan seemed to have already seen that in the burning star field of Kadia, the power of the Adarin would no longer be a dispensable supporting role, but a crucial weight that could truly tip the scales.

……

As the elegant and massive skeletal vessel of the Usvi Ark, accompanied by a silent ripple of energy, slowly sailed out of the vortex-like portal of light that the Infinite Network had opened in the real universe, Uslan stood on the observation deck and felt a tremor that almost shook his soul.

He understood that the great cause he had been pursuing might soon come to an end.

The prophet hoped for a good ending; they had already paid too high a price, and there was no second chance.

As far as Uslan could see, in the cold void of the Cardia system, one after another, ark worlds, each with its own unique style, yet all embodying the ancient wisdom and artistic achievements of the Aedarin race, emerged from the portals of the Infinite Web, revealing their magnificent forms like colossal beasts awakening from a long slumber.

The golden hull of the Iyndon Ark, resembling a phoenix spreading its wings, gleamed under the starlight; the Aletok Ark, on the other hand, appeared more angular, its hull scarred by war and adorned with various powerful weapon arrays…

Many more names of the Ark that he was familiar with or had only heard of were gathered here at this moment.

This is an unprecedented scene since the fall of the Eldar Empire and the catastrophic consequences of the Great Fall forced the people of Eldar to flee their homeland on arks and drift alone in the galaxy.

Almost all the remaining major forces of the Eldar race on the Ark have answered the call and gathered here for a common goal: to close the Eye of Terror and break the curse of Slaanesh.

Dense psionic signals filled the void, indicating that people from various Ark worlds were communicating and exchanging ideas with each other.

The Eldar of the Ark are no longer isolated and wary of each other; communication and exchange are melting away the barriers and suspicions between them.

Uslan took a deep breath of fresh air and saw an ark in the distance, bathed in a soft emerald light—the sanctuary of the goddess of life, Aisha, and her followers.

He could even vaguely sense that on that ark, a divine power, full of warmth and vitality yet tinged with a faint sadness, was soothing all the souls weary from the war.

“Look, Eldrad,” Higoki’s voice rang out beside him, “this is our people. When they learn to set aside their pointless pride and divisions and rise up for the same hope, the power they can unleash can still shake the stars.”

Uslan nodded heavily, feeling his eyes well up with tears, but those tears were quickly replaced by determination.

Soon, this expeditionary fleet, composed of numerous Ark Worlds and arguably the largest in the Eldar's declining era, began to adjust its course and head towards the Kadia defense line.

Like an elegant yet deadly school of silver fish, they marched in formation through the dark ocean of space, their spirit bone engines gleaming with an eerie light, leaving long, dreamlike energy trails behind them.

Meanwhile, in the command center at the front lines in Kadia, Ryan Johnson had just repelled an attack led by the Tzeentch Demon.

He stood before a holographic star map filled with tactical data, his deep-set face showing a furrowed brow.

A technical priest in charge of remote detection and communications suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

"Large-scale unknown signal detected, energy signature is being matched... It's the Adarin, a massive fleet not in the identification sequence, approaching our defenses from the rear."

A commotion broke out in the command center. They all knew about the Eldar reinforcements from the Primarch's speech, but they didn't expect them to arrive so quickly.

Ryan raised his hand, signaling for everyone to be quiet.

His sharp gaze was fixed on the cluster of yellow dots on the star map that were rapidly approaching, representing the Eldar fleet, and he said in a deep voice.

"Send a communication invitation to the other side, and add these Eldar warships to the identification sequence, but avoid friendly fire."

"But the defense system must remain vigilant and not let its guard down. If the other side makes any offensive move, it must immediately launch a full-scale counterattack."

The Lion King remained as cautious as ever. He didn't fully trust Ada, at least not until these pointy-eared aliens paid a real "blood tax." He would maintain a prudent and vigilant attitude to avoid a lot of trouble.

A moment later, as communication was established, a voice with the elegant intonation unique to the Eldar resounded throughout the high command nodes of the human defense line, reaching the ears of the human commanders.

"To the Supreme Commander of the Cardia Defense Line, Sir Ryan Johnson, and all human warriors who fight for the galaxy."

"This is the prophet of the Usvi Ark, Eldrad Uslan. In accordance with the alliance agreement made with the Emperor and Lothie, the Adarin reinforcements have come to fulfill our promise and fight alongside humanity."

Ryan's heart was also beating slightly faster; his heart was not as calm as it appeared.

He pressed the communication button, his voice steady and powerful, echoing in the communication channel between humans and Eldar.

"This is Ryan Johnson, the prophet Uslan. On behalf of all the human soldiers of the Kadia Line, I acknowledge and welcome the Adalin as allies in this war."

He paused, then said in a more serious tone, "Your current behavior is different from the impression I have of that race that was obsessed with past glories and acted in a secretive manner."

"Prove your worth, Eldar! Use your power to mend the gaps in our defenses and show those vile creatures from the Warp the true might of the ancient Eldar tradition!"

Ryan's words were direct and blunt, but this actually gave Uslan on the other end of the communication, as well as Higgoch and Aisha who were listening through the psionic network, a special sense of reassurance.

This straightforward style is far more suitable for the battlefield than insincere pleasantries.

“As you wish, Your Excellency Johnson.” Uslan’s voice carried a hint of amusement. “Behold, our first offering for this grand feast.”

The moment he finished speaking, behind the human defense line, in the previously empty void, space began to distort violently like ripples on water.

Immediately afterwards, six enormous, suffocating black creations silently appeared in the real universe.

These are the trump cards brought by the Laughing God Xi Gaoqi—six complete Vaal Amulets, an ancient war fortress known to humans as Blackrock Fortress.

(End of this chapter)