899.M30.
Ultima Segmentum, Loki Sector, Rynn System, Death World Blackwater.
The Eleventh Chapter had smoothly secured the native population's acceptance, incorporating them into the Legion, and then arrived in orbit around Blackwater, a world in the same system.
Heavy transports descended from the black ships, landing slowly.
Second Company Captain Kirkland recalled the remarkable experiences of the past few months.
He had traveled through the Kalium Gate to the remote northwestern galaxy in late 898.
In early 899, he, along with Chapter Master Pell, First Company Captain Gibbs, and Third Company Captain Chambers, had become Perpetuals on the third planet of the Serpent's Cradle under the night sky.
Kirkland felt the surging vitality within him, like his Father's own hand caressing him.
Scan results from the auspex matrix scrolled across his helmet display, rousing him from his reverie.
He quickly reviewed the key information: Blackwater's gravity was 1.61 times Terra's. 49.83% of its surface was covered by black water, the rest primarily by forests.
As the ground trembled, Kirkland led his Command Squad down the ramp.
As he walked, his magnetic boots automatically adjusted, adapting to the world's higher gravity.
He looked at Kerri, her serpentine hair waving, as she bent to touch the black earth.
Kerri's bronze skin was smooth, no longer as dry as before.
The journey to the Serpent's Cradle felt like a dream. In the blue light, she had received Lord Nareth's gift, gaining eternal life.
Immortality.
In the myths of the Symphony of the Sea, only gods were immortal.
Now, she knew it was not that gods were immortal, but that gods could grant immortality.
She could only repay this gift by serving the divine.
After having several newly promoted "Harvest Priests" assess Rynn's situation, she had volunteered to accompany the Eleventh Chapter to Blackwater, hoping to contribute.
The "Biologist's" psychic energy seeped from her fingertips. After a dozen seconds of careful discernment, she rose and said to Kirkland.
"This soil looks like Rynn's fertile black earth, but it's very different."
"In fact, it's the opposite. This land is entirely unsuitable for farming."
"That's not surprising," Kirkland nodded. "My Father said this world would be classified as a death world by Imperial standards."
Death worlds were harsh, resource-scarce, and lacked development value.
"Then the forests covering the planet are quite strange." The "Biologist" frowned, walking to a tree and placing her hand on its massive trunk.
"They look like Ironwood, but they're not."
"Ironwood is rich in iron, one of the most valuable tree species." Kirkland walked over.
"If this were a world covered in Ironwood forests, it would be classified as a forestry world, a type of agri-world."
"Though not Ironwood, it is rich in some unique element..." The "Biologist" carefully discerned.
"This tree is rich in a special compound. It's similar to heavy water, dense and containing radioactive toxins."
Kerri recalled Lady Marlena Skala's teachings and speculated.
"Perhaps it's related to the black water here."
Kirkland nodded. As a newly promoted "Baron of Corruption," recently granted power by his Father, he saw threads of rainbow light emanating from the black trees.
'Radioactivity.'
'If there is life on this harsh world, it must be affected.'
As the "Baron of Corruption" concluded through his vision of threads of law, his psychic intuition stirred.
"Alert!" He raised his incendiary cannon, aiming at the dark forest.
The ground shook. Black giants charged.
Kirkland's eyes flickered with surprise. The black giants were extraordinarily tall, matching his own height in Saturnine-pattern Terminator Armor.
He had grown significantly as a "Barbarian," a head and a half taller than before, and was wearing Terminator armor. Yet these giants matched his height.
His Honor Guard aimed their Bedrock-pattern bolters at the black giants. With a dull, rapid roar, they unleashed dense barrages.
Amidst the roar, the giants' flesh flew, but they did not fall. They roared, covering their faces with their arms.
'Thick hides.'
As he thought, Kirkland raised his arm. The incendiary cannon spat a blazing stream of fire, engulfing a black giant.
With a roar, flames consumed it. The heat wave spread, igniting another giant.
'Father would be interested in these giants.'
He lunged, his fist swinging at the foremost giant.
The wind howled. The giant instinctively swung its club.
With a crash, fist met club.
As splinters flew, his gauntlet dented, his arm numb.
'Tremendous strength.'
The "Baron of Corruption" clenched his fist. His muscles bulged. He twisted his back, swung his arm, and his fist slammed into the giant's chest.
CRASH!
The giant was thrown back, its knees sinking into the black earth.
The "Baron of Corruption's" psychic energy surged. The splinters of the shattered club rapidly re-formed into 'ropes' of chains.
Black ropes wrapped around the giant, binding it tightly.
In the fourth layer of the Kingdom of Disorder, amidst the black mist, Nareth sat enthroned high.
The "Mentor of Disorder" examined the black giant bound in black ropes. He immediately identified it as potion material for Sequence 5 "Guardian" on the Twilight Giant Pathway. He continued listening to Pell's report.
"Kerri determined the black water has high density and is rich in heavy metals, thus highly radioactive."
"This affects the entire world's environment, including the soil and trees, and has made the native xenos race exceptionally tall and robust."
Nareth nodded slightly, thinking to himself.
'When humans colonize this world, they will also be affected by the radiation.'
'Most will die at birth or be deformed. A few will slowly adapt, growing taller and stronger.'
'This is likely why the future Crimson Fists used Blackwater as a recruiting world.'
After this deduction, he said to Pell.
"Blackwater will be a penal world. Criminals guilty of major crimes from all territories will be exiled here."
"All Chapters may recruit neophytes from this world."
Nareth would not colonize a harsh world like Blackwater, but he could offer convicts a chance at life.
As the number of territories and population grew, crime inevitably increased.
He felt it was time to establish the first penal world to punish their crimes.
"Capture the black giants. Offer them to me." He instructed.
After Pell acknowledged, black mist churned, sending him back to reality.
Nareth then extended his psychic energy, touching the orb of Thierry Viera, Knight Lord of the Eigth Chapter.
With a thought, he formed the information to convey in his mind and transmitted it to the orb through a subtle connection.
"You are to immediately choose a target, a person or group to protect. Declare it in Dunnic. Then faithfully perform your duty for at least one and a half years."
The "Guardian's" advancement ritual, as in his memory, required faithful service for at least one year. But to prevent failure, considering he would use the largest of the black giants, he increased the requirement.
"Prepare a weapon you have used for a long time. Offer it to me in one and a half years."
This was the supplementary material required for "Guardian," matching his memory and fitting the concept of guardianship.
Just as he was about to return to reality to arrange the next Perpetual conversion, he heard a prayer echoing.
He extended his psychic energy, touching the expanding orb.
An illusory scene appeared. In the flickering candlelight, Gahlan Surlak, Chief Apothecary of the War Hounds, wrapped in a black robe,
knelt before an altar, hands clasped, speaking in Vostroyan.
"My Lord, the Emperor has found my gene-father, Angron, on Nuceria."
"The fleet has arrived at Nuceria. The Legion's high command will assemble to meet our father."
"Angron, Nuceria, War Hounds." Nareth's eyes flickered. He pulled Gahlan into the Kingdom of Disorder.
.....
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