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

Chapter 958 Kane's Arrival
With Mortalian's killing of Typhons, the war that broke out on the End has come to a complete end.

The Nurgle demons, fighting individually, could no longer organize an effective resistance and could only be divided and eliminated one by one by the Eldar army.

Mortalian kept her promise: she granted eternal peace to all the Death Guards on the End, whose souls were severed from Nurgle by Aisha's divine power and utterly perished in this universe.

For them, death is an extremely luxurious ticket that leads to peace of mind.

When the last Nurgle demon fell to the blade of the Silent Scythe, Mortalian unhesitatingly used her powerful psionic energy to create a black hole, completely destroying the End's engines and reactors, causing the ancient battleship to disappear in the flames of the explosion.

Before the warship was completely destroyed, Mortalian had already teleported all the Eldar legions back to the cruiser Breath of Life. Then she stood quietly by the porthole, watching the flames of the End's explosion illuminate the dark void before her.

"My past is over."

"From this moment forward, there will be no more Mortarian of the Death Guard, only Mortarian of the Adarin."

"I will fight for myself, for the continuation of the Eldar, and for this troubled universe."

Having killed Typhons, who had corrupted the Death Guard, and redeemed his children who had been forced into corruption, Mortalian's mind was now clear, and the obsession that had been weighing on her heart was gradually dissipating.

When she thinks back to her past self, she can't help but laugh at her stubbornness and prejudice.

Regardless of humanity or the Eldar, humanity can no longer accept them, so staying with the Eldar seems like a good option.

"I never imagined war could be fought so easily, Mortalian, it's all thanks to your command."

"Our casualties are low. Praise, Aisha, for bringing these children back safely."

Beside Mortalian, the Ark Prophet Camille Neil had just finished counting the number of returning personnel.

The three Phantom Titans did not suffer major damage. Of the fifteen Shadow Knights, three were destroyed, but the good news is that the pilots were not lost and they can continue to serve after repairs.

The number of Eldar warriors who followed Mortalian did not exceed five hundred, and the vast majority of those who died were Eldar warriors skilled in close combat, such as Assault Scorpions and Ferocious Avengers.

They died gloriously in the war, and their souls were recovered by the Soul Stones. The Prophet will place their Soul Stones into the Ark's Infinite Circuit, where they will live on in another form and continue to contribute to the continuation of their race.

Hearing the prophet's praise, Mortalian's face also lit up with a bright smile.

"We've only just joined this war, so don't be too happy yet. Typhons and his men have simply misjudged our strength; otherwise, winning would not have been so easy."

"If the Nurgle army hadn't chosen to disperse its power because of Aisha's presence, we would have been battered and bruised by them."

Mortalian showed no pride in her victory, knowing full well that such a localized victory had virtually no impact on the overall situation.

This is a grand war waged by the four Chaos Gods, along with a large number of Chaos Demons lured in, against the human empire, the Eldar, the green-skinned orcs, and even the Necromancers of space.

The only war that could be larger and more devastating than this one was probably the War of Heaven.

What the Eldar reinforcements can do is to help humanity share the burden as much as possible, especially against Nurgle's army. With Aisha's protection, they are far more effective at dealing with Nurgle's minions than with other demons.

"By the way, has there been any major developments on the Laughing God's side? As one of the only two complete gods remaining in the Aidaling race, even Aisha, who isn't good at fighting, is trying her best to exert her influence. Higoki can't just sit idly by, can he?"

"In fact, the God of Laughter has already taken action."

"While you were attacking the End, He had already sent messengers from the Jester's Troupe to take away all of Kane's fragments, as well as our bishops, from us."

Upon hearing this, Mortalian immediately understood what the Laughing God was planning to do.

"Is He planning to summon Kane? Not that weak Kane avatar that would break at the slightest touch, but a Kane who is almost identical to the original?"

The prophet nodded slightly, tacitly agreeing with Mortalian's guess.

"All Ark worlds will contribute their Kane fragments. The Laughing God claims that this trump card of His can greatly change the course of the war, and at least severely damage the Chaos Demon Army."

Mortalian had learned about Kane, the Eldar war god, while she was in the Black Library, so she naturally knew what the so-called Kane avatar was all about.

To summon the Avatar of Cairne, a Spirit Archbishop must be sacrificed. Their soul will die completely during the ritual, and they will dedicate everything to the newly born Avatar of Cairne.

"Do not grieve for the bishops. To become the embodiment of Kane is their ultimate honor. They have honed their skills and will throughout their lives, just to burn themselves out for this moment."

The prophet thought Mortalian was grieving for the bishops who had sacrificed their lives, so he offered a special explanation.

"That's not what I meant. I am also a soldier, and I know that dying for honor is the best end for a soldier."

Mortalian shook her head and said.

"I just want to see just how powerful the Kane restored by the Laughing God really is."

"You will see it. When Kane returns from hell, all the people of the galaxy will witness His power," the prophet replied confidently.

……

The atmosphere in the oldest and most sacred domed sanctuary of the Usvi Ark was already incredibly solemn and dignified.

There was no clamor of war outside, only the flickering light of psionic torches, casting shadows on countless resolute and fanatical faces.

Eldrad Uslan stood to one side, his gaze fixed on the center of the sanctuary with a complex expression.

There, the most distinguished and devout bishops from the various Ark worlds—Iyanden, Samhan, Bietan, Aletok, Usvi… gathered.

Each of them represents the pinnacle of their respective Ark's path in warfare, a role model that countless Eldar warriors look up to.

They have gathered here not to hone their skills, but to fulfill an ancient and sacred mission: to become the cornerstone for summoning the incarnation of the God of War, Kane.

Before the bishops floated fragments of Kane, which their respective arks had guarded for generations.

These fragments come in various shapes and sizes; some resemble bloodstained dagger fragments, others look like a shattered piece of a crown, and still others are simply metal blocks containing endless killing intent.

Without exception, they all emitted a chilling crimson glow and an ominous hum, as if the will of an ancient deity, which had been dormant within them, was stirring restlessly.

And the one who presided over all of this was one of the few remaining complete gods of the Spirit Race: the Laughing God Xi Gaoqi.

He did not appear in his usual comical form today; instead, an unprecedented solemnity emerged from his painted mask.

“Warriors of Ida,” Higoki’s voice echoed in the silent sanctuary, “you are all the bravest and most devout warriors of our people. You have nurtured generation after generation of warriors, continuing the last bloodline and glory of Ida.”

"But at this moment, I must remind you again that once the ritual begins, once you drink the holy blood, your souls, your will, your very existence... will be completely consumed, becoming the fuel to awaken that ancient war god."

“Your souls will not return to the Soul Stone, nor will they enter the Infinite Circuit. Kane’s will will devour everything, and you… will cease to exist.”

His gaze swept across the face of each bishop, his sharp eyes piercing through their eyes, as if he could see into their deepest thoughts.

"Now, if anyone has any thoughts of backing out, I swear in the name of the God of Laughter that I will not stop you, and no one will laugh at your choice."

“Our race still needs you. Living and contributing to the race is also a good choice.”

However, what responded to the God of Laughter was a deathly silence of unwavering resolve.

A moment later, a bishop from Samhan Ark stepped forward first.

He removed his long helmet, revealing a face covered in battle scars but with burning eyes, and his voice was as sharp as a drawn sword.

"Lord Xi Gaoqi, there is no need for further words. From the day of the Great Fall, we have been ready to dedicate everything to the revival of the Spirit Race!"
To be able to awaken the God of War and reforge the glory of Aida with our blood and souls on this battlefield that will decide the fate of the galaxy—this is the highest honor, the ultimate destiny we have so desperately sought! What is there to fear?!

"For Ida!"

"For the future of the galaxy!"

"We have no regrets."

The other bishops echoed their sentiments, their voices converging into a resolute torrent, their eyes filled with unwavering fervor and a serene acceptance of their ultimate mission.

Xi Gaoqi gave them a deep look, then made no further hesitation.

"In that case... let the ceremony begin."

There was no excessive mourning, no lengthy farewell; the moment that would decide their fate had arrived.

The bishops entered the center of the sanctuary in an orderly fashion, into the vast and complex psionic array that had already been drawn.

They removed their elaborate armor, revealing their lean or rune-covered bodies.

The God of Laughter conjured a scimitar made of spiritual bones in his hand and walked towards the bishops.

The God of Laughter swung his blade, striking precisely on the back of each of those who had been transformed from bishops into "young kings."

Blood gushed out instantly, but instead of flowing freely, it was guided and poured into the ancient Creel's chalice.

The golden cup pressed tightly against the wound, greedily drawing in the blood that contained powerful will and the essence of life.

The pain was palpable, yet every bishop gritted their teeth, some even letting out low growls that mingled with agony and ecstasy. Their eyes grew increasingly vacant, their individual will being forcibly stripped away by the intense pain and the power of the ritual.

The bishops' blood pooled together and merged into the Holy Grail, after which the Laughing God handed the Holy Grail back to one of the bishops.

The young king, covered in blood, solemnly raised the golden cup filled with blood, took a large gulp, and then handed the cup to the next young king.

After drinking the blood from the golden cup, they made a pact with their souls to summon the gods.

As the last young king drank his blood, a two-handed greatsword, Doomsday Howl, burning with inextinguishable crimson flames, slowly emerged from the center of the magic circle.

This Doomsday Howl is not the weapon originally wielded by the God of War, Kane, but a replica created by the Laughing God himself. It may not be as powerful as the original, but it is enough to last through a war.

The flames from the Doomsday Wail spread out, engulfing all the young kings. Their bodies were covered in flames, but none of them struggled or resisted; instead, they allowed the flames to spread.

Each bishop seemed to be inspired by Kane, pouring their last will and the essence of their soul into it without reservation.

The psionic energy of the entire Usvi Ark was frantically converging on the Sanctuary, and the Infinite Circuit emitted an unprecedented hum, as if the souls of countless ancestors were trembling.

This ceremony was far larger in scale than any single ceremony for a young king, and the energy fluctuations it released were like a star being cast into the warp, even reaching the Emperor and Lothie on Kadia.

Xi Gaoqi stood at the core of the magic circle, his divine power acting as an invisible support, preventing the violent ritual from collapsing.

The ceremony has gone very smoothly so far, but Higoki knows that the most important step is still missing.

Without this step, the summoned Kane avatar would be nothing more than a shell.

He closed his eyes and unleashed his deceptive power.

The God of Laughter is the God of Deception, and lying is His instinct, but His lies are not exactly the same as other lies.

If necessary, Higgins could, to some extent, turn his lies into truth.

He dug deep into his own memory, unearthing every single memory about Kane, and meticulously extracted them, waiting to be used.

Subsequently, He implanted these ancient memories deep within the soul of every young king who was sacrificed.

Only after the implantation was completed did Higoki truly begin his plan.

The so-called Ceremony of the Young King, in the eyes of many of the Aedalin, is to have their best bishop warriors sacrifice their lives to awaken the last trace of the God of War's consciousness remaining in the fragments of Cain.

During the sacrifice, they would praise and worship Kane, but few people knew that Kane didn't actually need these things.

Kane was indeed the Eldar's God of War, but he was no saint either. His violence and neuroticism gave even the Phoenix King a terrible headache.

To awaken Kane's greatest power, one must plunge Him into the deepest, purest rage.

The best way to enrage a war god who is so petty is to constantly insult, ridicule, and provoke him. The more sharp and vicious the insults, the more powerful and magnificent the power released by Kane's avatar will be.

Higoki chose to bring up the conflict between Aidanesh, the former hero leader of the Eldar, and Kane in front of Kane.

Long ago, when the Pantheon was at its zenith, Lilith, the Eldar goddess of prophecy, told Kane that one day in the future she would be torn apart by Eldar mortals.

Upon learning the news, Kane did not doubt that Lilith would deceive him, so he began to slaughter the Eldar indiscriminately and unleash the wrath of God upon his followers.

As the nominal leader of the Eldar, Erdanish could not tolerate Cairne's genocidal massacre of his race. Therefore, he gathered all available forces and launched a sacred and fair duel against Cairne.

The God of War responded to Aidanish's challenge, but Aidanish managed to defeat the arrogant Kane even when Kane suppressed his power and they were at the same level, which undoubtedly made Kane lose face.

Kane immediately broke the agreement and used the power of the God of War to forcibly suppress Eldarish. Even after doing this, Kane was still not satisfied. He wanted to reshape this Eldar king so that he would kill for the sake of killing and enjoy the pleasure of violence.

Adanesh rejected Kane without wavering and despised his shamelessness and weakness. Afterwards, Adanesh was murdered by Kane, which became the most hidden but indelible scar in Kane's heart.

Now, times have changed, and almost all Adas don't remember such a thing, but Hiccup Gooch, as the God of Laughter and the protector of the Black Library, naturally knows it very well.

That's why he was so adept at provoking Kane's anger, showing no signs of awkwardness whatsoever.

"Look, Kane!" Higgoch's divine thoughts uttered a venomous whisper that echoed among all the sacrificed young kings and fragments of Kane.

"Is this your power? Is this the way of war you're so proud of? You can't even completely conquer an Aidanish, what kind of war god are you? You're just a pathetic loser who craves blood and attention!"

"You were shattered by the aftermath of the battle between Slaanesh and Khorne, turning from a complete madman into hundreds or thousands of madmen, and you were powerless to resist or seek revenge."

"Wake up, Kane! You have failed the Eldar, you have failed the Eldar. Your failures and despicable acts are forever etched on the pillar of history!"

"Now I'm giving you a chance for revenge. The tentacles of the four Chaos Gods are at hand. What will you choose?"

"boom----!!!"

Like the Big Bang at the beginning of the universe, the entire sanctuary was completely engulfed by indescribable pure blood light.

All the bishops who offered sacrifices melted and vanished in the light like wax figures, and their souls burned away instantly like moths drawn into a raging fire.

They all merged into the apocalyptic wailing, and Kane's weapon emitted a soul-rending scream.

The next moment, a will filled with extreme anger, violent killing intent, and a thirst for revenge erupted like a volcano that had been dormant for millions of years, descending upon the world once more.

The crimson light emanating from the Doomsday Wail slowly receded, and a terrifying figure clad in flowing blood-flame armor and wearing a shattered crown slowly stood at the center of the original magic circle.

On the surface of Doomsday Wailing and Bloodflame Armor, ancient runes writhe and struggle, as if scorched by the heat emanating from Kane's avatar, desperately trying to break free of their restraints.

Even Kane's equipment and weapons trembled in fear of this dark and evil god of war.

He is Kane, an incarnation of Bloodhand Kane who was awakened by the endless humiliation and mockery of the God of Laughter, and whose power level is infinitely close to that of the original Kane!
His eyes, burning with blood-red flames, opened, devoid of reason, filled only with the most primal and fervent desire for blood, revenge, and destruction.

Seeing that the ritual was complete, the God of Laughter immediately turned and fled. His figure disappeared from the sanctuary of the Usvi Ark and appeared in the dark and cold void of the Cardia Starfield in the blink of an eye.

Witnessing the birth of Kane's avatar, a pure terror originating from the soul instantly gripped the hearts of every Eldar prophet within the Sanctuary.

Uslan felt his breath almost stop, his blood turn cold, as if he would be crushed by that indiscriminate killing intent at any moment.

They had no doubt that this ancient war god, driven by rage, would relentlessly tear them, the bystanders, apart and fill them with his endless bloodlust.

Kane only ever cared about bloodshed and murder; whether the blood flowing was that of enemies or his own people made no difference to him.

However, extreme anger needs the highest priority for release. At this moment, in Kane's burning eyes, there was only the laughing god who had blasphemed Him with the most vicious words and hurt His scars.

As for those insignificant Eldar like Uslan, they weren't even worth a single swing of His blade.

"Hi-Gao-Qi!!!"

A roar that seemed to contain boundless resentment and savagery shattered the sanctuary's spiritual dome.

Kane's avatar didn't even glance at the surrounding Eldar. His massive body transformed into a crimson streak of light that tore through reality, plunging directly into the cold outer void and chasing after the Laughing God who was fleeing at an astonishing speed!
Higoki had anticipated this scene. His figure flickered and leaped through the starry space, like an elusive phantom, shuttling between the ruins of the human battle planet and the towering Black Rock Fortress.

He wasn't simply fleeing; he was deliberately guiding the enraged Kane behind him.

Wherever Kane went, the void itself seemed to wail and burn.

He did not ride in any vehicle; His very existence paved a blood-red avenue across the starry sea behind him, composed of pure crimson psionic flames.

This avenue stretches for thousands of kilometers, with an inextinguishable war raging in the void. Wherever this crimson flame sweeps across, even the finest cosmic dust and asteroid fragments are instantly ignited and vaporized.

Some unfortunate Imperial warships that were on this path did not even have time to avoid it and were melted and disintegrated the moment they came into contact with the blood flames.

"Come on, come on, my dear brother! Get angry, get even angrier!"

As he fled, Higoki used his mocking psionic broadcasts to provoke the latter.

Like a top-notch bullfighter, the God of Laughter teased the most dangerous bull in history behind him, leading it towards the core of the battlefield composed of countless chaotic warships and demons.

Finally, after traversing several layers of human defenses and leading Kane into an area dominated by Khorne demons, Higgoch's figure vanished completely in a dazzling flash of light, leaving only a string of mocking screeching laughter echoing in Kane's senses.

Having lost his primary objective, Kane transformed into a furious rage that had reached its peak, enough to incinerate galaxies, and instantly found a new target to vent his anger on.

When Kane faced Slaanesh, he was not devoured without any resistance like other Eldar gods. Instead, he fought back and forth for a long time.

If the Pantheon had not fallen and the Eldar faith had not waned, Kane might have been able to defeat Slaanesh and completely overwhelm this destroyer of the Eldar.

But Khorne, showing no regard for martial ethics, brazenly attacked and forcibly seized Kane. The two Chaos Gods clashed continuously, neither giving way, until Kane was finally shattered.

Now, the warp demon army, swarming in like locusts and exuding an aura of terror, is repeatedly jumping around on Kane's trigger points.

"Roar--!!!"

Another roar that shattered the galaxy erupted, but this time, it contained no hatred directed at a specific target, but rather a declaration of indiscriminate slaughter against all that was desecrated before it!

(End of this chapter)