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

Chapter 961 Tarachin: I desperately want to improve.
Perhaps it was because he had been beaten enough, or perhaps the power he had pieced together within his body was becoming unstable during the continuous high-intensity confrontation, Kane's avatar's movements became noticeably slower, and the crimson flames burning around his body dimmed considerably.

It let out a defiant roar, but temporarily halted its offensive and adopted a defensive stance. The Doomsday Wail was placed in front of it, and its blood-red eyes were fixed on Brother Gao Mao, still full of ferocity, but more so with a hint of fear that had been forcibly awakened.

Just then, Brother Mao suddenly stopped.

"That's boring, that's boring!" Gao Ge picked at his ear, as if the earth-shattering battle just now was just a warm-up. "This red-skinned guy can't take a beating, he went soft in a few hits."

Mao Gejian laughed and chimed in, "That's right, that's right! We need to save our energy for beating up those bastards! Vulcan has gone far away, we need to go check on him, so those scoundrels don't bully our kids!"

As they spoke, the two orc gods, without even glancing at the dumbfounded Xi Gaoqi, began to rapidly become ethereal and transparent, merging into the subspace currents as if the tide were receding.

The God of Laughter remained where he was when he suddenly heard a voice transmission from Brother Mao.

"Hey Gaoqi, stop arguing! We know who deserves to be beaten. Those cowards from Chaos, we'll send them all flying one day!"

"That old bastard Kane deserved a beating. He dared to mess with the kid we're protecting, and this is what happened to him! As for fighting Chaos? Don't worry, wherever there's a fight, we'll definitely be there."

"We beat up Kane for you, so he shouldn't be so brainless as to go and fight Khorne. That would be suicide."

Higgins' expression beneath his mask was incredibly complex. Everything he had meticulously planned and sacrificed was nearly destroyed by Tzeentch's scheme and Kane's rampage.

However, the matter was ultimately resolved in a way that He never expected, a way that was distinctly orcish.

This twist and contrast left even the self-proclaimed embodiment of wisdom and cunning feeling a deep sense of helplessness and frustration.

"Never mind... as long as it works..."

Higoki rubbed his temples, forcing himself to accept this reality, and then turned his gaze to the Kane avatar that had begun to quiet down.

"Yeah, what could possibly quiet Kane's avatar down compared to a good beating?" Laughing God remarked.

At this moment, after being brutally beaten by the combined forces of the two brothers, Kane's divine body, forcibly assembled from Kane fragments and ritual power, was indeed much weaker.

The previously raging bloodlust seemed to have been temporarily quelled by the depletion of its power. At this moment, it was more like a destructive machine following some kind of logic, rather than a mad avenger who was determined to find Khorne himself and fight to the death.

Xi Gaoqi dared not delay and immediately used his divine power to depict the grand and tragic scene of the main battlefield of Kadia in front of Kane's avatar.

Countless demons surged against humanity's defenses like a tidal wave. Battle Planet and Blackrock Fortress stood like impregnable walls, keeping all the demons out of Kadia, while the banners of Khorne and Slaanesh fluttered amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

"Look! Kane!" Higgoch shouted, "There is endless blood to spill, and countless enemies waiting to be reaped! That is your true hunting ground, God of War and Slaughter!"

"Go! Go there and prove that you are the true master, and make Khorne's lackeys tremble at your feet!"

Guided by the God of Laughter, Kane's avatar finally changed direction. Ignoring the departed Brother Gao Mao, its massive body turned around and, like a rekindled crimson comet, charged toward the main battlefield of Kadia.

Higgins finally breathed a long sigh of relief. Kane had returned to his original form, and Gomao the Second had also joined the battle with the return of Vulcan and the other Primarchs. The situation seemed to have improved all of a sudden.

Although the Chaos army still commands a formidable force, with endless demons surging forth from the depths of the Eye of Terror amidst the warp storms created by the four evil gods, they are no longer able to advance further toward Kadia.

The four gods are confined by the veil, and can only create warp storms in the High Heavens and forcibly project their power through the Eye of Terror, a rift in the real universe.

On the Order side, Lothie, who has mastered the power of the Void Dragon, is amplifying the rules of the real universe, while the Lord of Humanity is doing everything he can to help Lothie fight against the interference of the warp.

The God Emperor is launching a frenzied attack on the Four Gods' stronghold in the subspace. Every second the war lasts, more of the Four Gods' divine realms are burned to ashes by the Cursed Legion.

Not to mention that with the Eldar and Greenskin Orcs joining the war, Blackrock Fortress, Cairne's Avatar, and the second brother of the Golem have all joined the war. With the Four Gods unable to take action personally, the advantage of high-level combat power has gradually shifted towards the Order faction.

Since its birth during the War of Heaven, the God of Laughter has been hiding in the Black Library, viewing the development of the universe with a detached perspective.

However, whether it was the chaotic battle between the ancient saints and the star gods, the duel between the ancient spirits and the space undead, or the later rise of the human empire, in His view, none of them were about looking at the issues from the perspective of the universe.

The Ancient Saints were indeed the most far-sighted and gentle among these beings, but they encountered an enemy like the Star God, who was extremely selfish and incredibly greedy.

Star Gods are born from the rhythm of the universe's rules, but they are only driven by instinct and primal desires, without any awareness of giving back to the universe or the real world.

The Ancient Eldar and the Necromancers are obsessed with "dominating the galaxy," but they fail to realize that the real threat comes from outside the universe, not from these enemies within it.

The premise of dominating the galaxy is that the universe still exists. If even the universe is destroyed, what is the point of dominating?
Humans, needless to say, have a very short history, having lived in the ruins of the War of Heaven since their very beginning.

Although humanity miraculously established a glorious golden age amidst the ruins of the universe.

However, this golden age vanished almost in the blink of an eye, and humanity rapidly degenerated, with an Iron Man rebellion and a warp storm ravaging the land, ultimately sending human civilization to its grave.

The God of Laughter thought the universe would continue in this vicious cycle until the end of time, when it would be completely corrupted and devoured by the warp, and everything would fall into its final moments.

However, what the God of Laughter did not expect was that everything seemed to take a turn for the better in a very short time. The human empire launched a military operation called the Great Expedition, and within just two hundred years, it recovered the homeland of the galaxy and completed the unification.

Then, humanity survived the Horus Rebellion and established extremely close relations with the Eldar and the Orcs.

At this moment, humanity has launched a grand plan to repair the Eye of Fear, which is undoubtedly intended to completely stop the process of chaos engulfing the universe and directly reverse the fate of the universe.

The God of Laughter had also considered achieving this goal, but neither He nor the Spirit Race possessed sufficient power.

Therefore, despite possessing the ability to restore Kane's avatar and hiding the Blackrock Fortress, the Laughing God has never revealed them to the world.

A trump card only has the greatest effect when it is kept secret.

"Now that the Eldar, humans, and orcs have all entered the fray, the only ones still observing from the sidelines in the entire galaxy are the Necromancers..."

The thought of these space undead caused Laughing God's head to start throbbing again.

However, what the God of Laughter did not know was that while He was grappling with the problem of the undead in space, a lobbying campaign concerning the future fate of the galaxy was underway on the other side of the real universe.

……

The Crown World of the Nihirak Dynasty, Gordon.

This is not a planet in the conventional sense, but a strange world that has been partially sunk into a pocket dimension by ancient dimensional technology.

From the outside, it may appear as a distorted play of light and shadow or an inconspicuous spectacle of space dust, but inside it is vast and boundless, filled with the cold, magnificent, yet deathly atmosphere of the undead.

The massive black stone obelisk stands like a silent forest, its surface covered with dense, eerie green energy runes that form a complex matrix of interlocking rings.

The palaces, constructed of black stone and living metal, stretch endlessly, their geometric lines precise and cold, as if they have existed since time immemorial and will continue to exist forever.

The faint sound of metal rubbing together echoed in the air, the sounds of the Netherworld constructs moving about.

These servants, who possess little wisdom, will toil tirelessly day after day, monitoring, repairing, and maintaining the normal operation of various systems in the tomb world, ensuring that the space undead slumbering here can enjoy the highest quality service.

Most of the members of the Nihirak dynasty had not yet awakened, so the vast Crown World appeared somewhat deserted.

In the deepest part of this silent kingdom, in the throne room of King Christophe of France, Tarasin stood before the throne that symbolized supreme power and status.

“Your Majesty the Emperor,” Tarasina’s vibrant voice echoed in the empty hall, “I reiterate my point: whether our race is friend or foe to the human Empire in the future, our interests are aligned in confronting the fundamental threat of the Warp.”

On the throne, the living metal body of Emperor Christophe remained as still as a sculpture, with only the eerie green light flashing in the sensors of his eyes indicating that he was listening to the advice of his subordinate, who was known for his "collecting obsession".

Chris Peck does indeed have a certain fondness for Tarachin, an emotion extremely rare among the emotionally detached Necromancers of space.

The Hierophant did this perhaps because Tarachin always managed to bring him some unexpected "fun" and new experiences during the endless, tedious time.

“Taracin, my old friend,” the Hierophant’s voice was steady, “the logical chain you have described is indeed clear and unambiguous.”

"The Eye of Fear is indeed a festering wound in the real universe. The fall of Kadia will lead to the complete formation of the Great Rift, which will then tear the entire galaxy apart."

This was undoubtedly a huge disaster for the burial world of many dynasties that were still asleep.

Even if our exorcising dead zone can temporarily isolate the whispers of the warp, if the very structure of reality continues to collapse, one day, the Blackstone Obelisk will be unable to hold itself up alone.

He paused slightly, his eyes gleaming as if he were considering how to respond to Tarasin more tactfully.

"However, political realities are often more complex than the laws of physics, both in the age of the death-fearing and now."

"You want more support from me, including the World Engine, the Dead Zone, and more fleets, but that means we have to openly support humanity, and we will be standing against both Silent King Szalak and Storm King Imotek."

"Although Szalak has had some contact with the human emperor, he will never sit idly by and allow a human empire that is too powerful, even capable of repairing the Eye of Terror, to emerge. That would completely disrupt the balance of power in the galaxy."

"And Imotek... he sees all organic life as filth that must be cleansed, and to him cooperate with humans is tantamount to betraying our noble nature as undead."

Tarachin keenly caught the ambiguity in the Hierophant's tone.

The French emperor did not directly refuse, but instead stated the difficulties, which meant that he was weighing the options and considering the possibilities.

As the French emperor of the Nihilarchian dynasty, Christophe could not act as arbitrarily as a ruler, saying whatever he pleased. His every word and action was recorded by historians, and if it were to be spread, it would have unknown consequences.

Taracin observed that those in high positions of power were more likely to use riddles for their subordinates to decipher. This was true of Crispec, but Szalak went even further, refusing to speak and having his two ever-present viziers speak for him.

"Your Majesty, why does the Nihirak dynasty care about the attitudes of Szalak and Imotek?" Tarasin's voice rose a few decibels.

"Our dynasty has always maintained neutrality, not because of weakness, but because of our independence and strength!"

Whether it was Szalak trying to restore order or Imotek wanting to replace the Silent King, who wouldn't want Nishrak's support?

The initiative has always been in your hands, not theirs!

He stepped forward and pointed to a huge star map next to the throne that was monitoring the battle situation in Qadi in real time.

Above, the crimson tide representing demons clashed violently with the points of light representing the forces of order.

Although the Necromancers have not yet entered the fray, it doesn't mean they are indifferent to the war taking place in the Cardia region.

Moreover, with the appearance of entities like Blackrock Fortress, Kane's Avatar, and Gomoku the Second Brother, which make the Necromancers of space feel like they have a thorn in their side, their level of attention is constantly rising.

"Look, Your Majesty, the situation has changed! Humans, Eldar, and even those savage greenskins are all fighting for survival."

They may be foolish, or even despicable, but the power they are burning with at this moment is trying to reverse the fate of this universe sliding into the abyss.

Are we going to let this only chance slip away because of the Silent King's overly cautious political maneuvering or the Storm King's obsessive hatred?

This isn't about helping humanity; it's about the future of us space undead!

Tarachin's words were passionate and stirring, carrying an excitement that was lacking in the space necromancers.

Chris Peck was quite moved by the "sense of life" emanating from his subordinate.

Seeing that the French Emperor did not interrupt, Tarachin knew that the most crucial moment had arrived. At this time, it was necessary to strike while the iron was hot and completely persuade the French Emperor.

"Moreover, Your Majesty, by helping humanity close the eyes of fear, we will receive sufficient rewards. Loshi promised me that he could unconditionally help all members of the Nishirak dynasty to give birth to souls."

The word "soul" was like a pebble thrown into a still lake, creating ripples in the calm and undisturbed mental matrix of King Christophe.

The restoration of the soul is one of the few remaining desires and pursuits of countless undead beings in eternal life.

Even if they now possess eternal life and immortal bodies, the emptiness and alienation resulting from the loss of their souls cannot be fully filled by any logical circuit.

In fact, this was not the first time that Tal Rashin and the Emperor had discussed the issue of restoring souls. Long ago, when Lothie and Tal Rashin had just returned to the Warhammer universe, Chris Peck already knew about the existence of the AllSpark.

However, King Silent Szalak has strictly forbidden any attempt to restore souls, and it is precisely because of King Silent's attitude that Chris Peck has been patient until now.

Chris Peck also knew very well what the Silent King was worried about: Szalak believed that the earth-shattering news of the birth of souls would cause violent turmoil and division among the undead in space, and might even trigger a large-scale civil war.

After all, many space undead yearn to restore their souls and bodies, while many others have fully accepted the status quo, and the contradictions and differences between them are almost irreconcilable.

Therefore, before ensuring the situation was completely under control, Szalak intended to keep the news completely under control, and even the Nihirak dynasty was not allowed to attempt it, in order to avoid leaks.

As the French emperor of the Nihilarchian dynasty, it would be impossible for Christophe not to feel resentment towards the Silent King's forceful orders, but he needed to consider the bigger picture and thus needed to temporarily tolerate and compromise.

Tarachin keenly observed the subtle changes in the French emperor's mood.

"The Silent King forbids us from pursuing souls because he is afraid—afraid that more dynasties will completely lose control, afraid that we will remember that it was his decision that led us all down this...path to immortality."

Tara-Sin was alluding to the fact that the Silent King chose to believe the deceitful man's promise, leading all those who feared death to accept the transformation into living beings.

"The General Control Agreement has been destroyed. He has no right to forever imprison our desire for completeness! Must the Nihirak dynasty forever live within the boundaries drawn by the Silent King?"

A long silence fell over the throne room.

Only the deep hum of the black stone energy flowing through the obelisk base and the constantly shifting points of light on the star chart prove that time has not stood still.

After a long while, the eerie green light in Emperor Christophe's eyes stabilized.

He did not directly answer Tarachin's suggestion about the soul, but instead let out a low murmur that was almost a sigh.

"Tarasin, you always manage to bring me...surprises."

His tone was complex, making it impossible to discern whether it was approval or helplessness.

"Your advice, like the most dangerous relics in your collection, contains both immense opportunities and the seeds of destruction."

He slowly rose from his throne, his tall, metallic body casting a huge shadow. The Emperor walked toward the star map, gazing in the direction of Kadia.

“Nishrak’s neutrality should not be misunderstood as cowardice. Szalak wanted to maintain a balance, while Imotek craved pure destruction…”

Perhaps we should seek a different path, a path that can ensure the continuation of the dynasty, and even propel it to a higher level.

The Hierophant turned around and looked at Tarasin, his eyes sharpening.

"Cooperation with humans requires caution. We cannot openly defy Szalak's authority, at least not at this stage."

But in the name of eliminating the threat of warp contamination and protecting the still-unawakened dynastic world, sending an observation and peacekeeping fleet to the Cardia region, and assisting in stabilizing the real structure if necessary, sounds like a logical choice, doesn't it?

Tarasin was almost overwhelmed with joy; he knew he had succeeded and the French king had been persuaded.

"An extremely wise decision, Your Majesty! This is entirely in line with the Nihirak dynasty's consistent attitude of caution and responsibility."

Furthermore, to prepare for potential extreme situations, I believe it's necessary for us to carry some sufficiently compelling equipment, such as the World Engine and our Star God Fragments.

Emperor Christophe of France let out a hissing sound that resembled a soft laugh.

“Your preparations are always so thorough, Tarasin. Go, mobilize resources in my name.”

“Remember, the name of the action must be impeccable, as for the source of the spark and the nurturing of the soul…” He paused, his gaze deep.

“I’m entrusting it to you as well. After all, you have a close relationship with that Rosi, and I believe you won’t let Nishirak down.”

"Your Majesty, I will obey your command!" Tarasin bowed deeply.

He knew that the Emperor had made a decision, a decision that could change the fate of the Necromancers of Space and even the entire galaxy.

The Nihilarchian dynasty, this colossal ship that had always sailed in neutral waters, was finally about to carefully steer its wheels toward an unknown but potentially treacherous course.

……

Having obtained authorization from King Christophe, Tarasin felt his own embers leaping joyfully.

He left the Emperor's magnificent and silent throne room with a light step that seemed out of place for a space necromantic overlord, heading straight for the military command center of Gordon Star, the command fortress of Crowned General Claudius.

Claudius's command fortress is also located in the heart of Gordon, but its style is completely different from the French emperor's throne room.

This place is more like the interior of an extremely sophisticated war machine, where countless holographic star maps flow with data like waterfalls, showing energy fluctuations and spheres of influence throughout the galaxy, especially the Cadia star region, which is highlighted and magnified.

The cold metal walls were inlaid with various tactical analysis interfaces, and the air was filled with a tense, grim atmosphere belonging to soldiers, even though this soldier was also a metal skeleton.

General Dai Guan stood on the central command platform, his imposing metallic body like a mountain cast in steel, his eye sensors flashing with a calm and focused light.

He had received a direct order from the French royal palace via encrypted data stream, learning of the dynasty's decision to "limitedly intervene" in Kadia, and his arrangements to cooperate with Tarasin's operation.

When Tarasin's slightly mocking footsteps echoed in the command room, Claudius's sensors shifted slightly, and his cold gaze fell upon Tarasin.

His internal logic circuits experienced a negligible disturbance: a complex feeling mixed with helplessness and disapproval, yet he had to obey orders from his superiors.

When Claudius assisted humanity in fighting the orcs of the Ghoul Starfield, he had limited contact with humans and witnessed firsthand their astonishing resilience, terrifying growth rate, and terrifying potential in the war.

In his sober strategic assessment, the human empire was a more potentially threatening entity than most alien races.

"Ah, my dear Claudius!"

Tarasin's voice was filled with undisguised smugness. He walked to the command platform and deliberately scanned the sophisticated military facilities around him with the same look he would give a collector.

"It seems you have received His Majesty the French Emperor's supreme instructions. From now on, I will be fully responsible for the equipment allocation and preliminary deployment of this peacekeeping operation."

All you need to do is obey my orders, mobilize your fleet, and ensure that the forces of Nihilak are present in the most appropriate way and in the most suitable location.

"Now, do you have any further comments?"

(End of this chapter)