Suddenly, a semi-transparent notification box appeared in Datch's vision.
["Delicious beans with a variety of flavors will leave a long-lasting impression on your heart."]
[The former chairman of the Ministry of Magic Wizarding Union, a member of the Merlin Knights, the greatest mage of the Wizengamot, and the greatest headmaster in Hogwarts history wholeheartedly agreed.]
The moment Datch saw the notification, his pupils contracted. Looking at this achievement filled with terrible humor, his lips twitched uncontrollably, and the veins on his forehead throbbed.
He gathered the remaining multi-flavor beans and immediately deleted the corresponding item. He had sworn in his heart that he would never repeat the same mistake.
In his mind, he raised countless thick, hard middle fingers toward the game development team.
This was utterly inhumane—a completely conscienceless act. Designing an item purely to torment players and then giving it out as a quest reward was outrageous. Not only did they trap people, they even gave a sense of accomplishment while doing it.
Once he cleared the game and returned, he planned to write a 20,000-word scathing review and post it on Forum.
"Does anyone know about this…?"
Datch took a deep breath to calm himself and tried to turn his attention to the other props.
His gaze swept across the various items and finally settled on an inconspicuous square object in the corner.
The Infinity Gauntlet without any gems.
This was the reward for his contribution in supporting Regent Guilliman's victory in the Ax Battle. Once all six gems were collected, one could make a wish. It was an extremely powerful item.
The only problem was that the points required to exchange for the gems were far too many. For now, all they could do was complete more tasks and check whether future quests would reward gems.
Datch took it out. The gauntlet had a dull, dark golden color. Where the Infinity Stones should have been installed, there were only six cold, rough sockets.
He stared at it for two seconds, then gently slipped it onto his right hand. The originally slightly oversized gauntlet shrank and fit perfectly around his palm.
Then Datch pinched his thumb and middle finger together and spoke toward the empty space in front of him:
"I am inevitable."
The moment he finished speaking, he snapped his fingers.
Click.
The sound was crisp, with even a slightly melodious quality.
Nothing happened. Because it was not the gauntlet with the Infinity Stones — just an ordinary glove.
"That guy is quite the show-off. If he did this in front of Old Man Emperor, Old Man Emperor would probably have to ask his godfather for help."
Datch smiled and decided to either grind missions relentlessly to obtain the Infinity Gems or wait until he had accumulated enough points to exchange for them.
He removed the gauntlet and returned it to the game inventory.
After checking the other items and confirming everything was fine, Datch closed the warehouse interface.
The moment he looked up, he saw Celestine, Dysorian, Sister Levinia, and several Imperial officers and Mechanicus members standing in a semi-circle around him. They were all positioned three to five meters away, staring at him with eyes full of curiosity and awe.
The scene resembled people studying a rare animal or waiting for an important figure to deliver a speech.
"Venerable Nameless One…"
Celestine saw him raise his head and immediately stepped forward half a pace. Her perfect face showed just the right amount of respect, ready to express the words of gratitude and questions she had prepared.
She had only just begun to speak.
Datch's body suddenly flickered without warning. In the next instant, he appeared three or four meters away from the entrance of the passage. Only faint ripples remained in the space.
Clang! Crash!
He happened to land in a spot where he knocked over a pile of metal supply crates filled with spare parts and food. The crates toppled, their contents spilled across the ground, creating an extremely loud noise.
Datch seemed accustomed to such situations and didn't even glance at the mess he had caused.
Under the shocked gazes of Celestine and the others, he first bounced in place a few times, as if adjusting his rhythm. Then he suddenly leaned forward and executed a textbook-perfect tactical slide, scraping his body across the polished deck.
In an instant, he rushed toward the direction where the beacon had been set up.
"…"
Captain Sandray of the Faithful Blade was leading the Imperial fleet at full speed toward the Mandeville Point, preparing to jump out of the battlefield and escape.
When the Nameless Man arrived on the bridge, Sandray rose from the command throne and saluted him.
"Great Nameless One, we sincerely thank you for your immense support! The Duty Blade and all its survivors will never forget you!"
He had already heard about the surface of the planet Sadrika. Without this mysterious Nameless One, they would never have been able to safely retrieve the beacon.
The other crew members on the bridge also expressed their gratitude for the timely intervention that had prevented their destruction by the fleets of Khorne and Slaanesh. The ship's religious personnel were devoutly chanting the name of the Nameless One.
Datch paused for a moment, then walked along the path that had automatically opened between them. He headed straight for the temporary sanctuary set up at the rear of the bridge — the Beacon Sanctuary.
The sanctuary was bathed in soft lighting and filled with the scent of incense and ozone.
Kaleb, who had sworn deep loyalty to the Imperium, sat on a simple makeshift throne hastily constructed from the ship's materials, covered in pure white cloth and golden bands. His eyes were closed, his face haggard, yet extraordinarily serene. A constant white light radiated from within his body.
The light, focused and amplified by a special lens above the sanctuary, formed a single beam. It pierced through the armor of the Duty Blade and relentlessly advanced into the chaotic abyss of the Warp outside.
Like a small but unwavering lighthouse standing in a dark, raging sea.
This was pure psychic power emanating from the Emperor himself. By its very nature, most daemons instinctively loathed and avoided it.
Just as Datch approached within a few steps of the throne, Kaleb, who had been silent as a statue, suddenly spoke.
"Nameless One, praise be to you."
The voice did not come from the mouth of a devout believer but resonated directly with the air of the sanctuary. It was deep and solemn, layered like a choir of billions of pious souls, filled with inhuman sanctity and majesty.
And, as Datch knew, it carried Old Man Emperor's unique aura and voice.
Uh… it seems Old Man Emperor has possessed someone again and is trying to fool people.
Kaleb's sudden outburst sent chills down the spines of everyone in the sanctuary — from the Ecclesiarchy staff and battle sisters to the tech-priests performing their duties. They suddenly looked up, their faces filled with shock and fanatical reverence.
They all gazed at the great figure and began chanting a holy, solemn hymn.
From Kaleb's unique perspective, the world appeared in a different light. Every subject of the Emperor within the sanctuary was enveloped in halos of varying colors and intensities. Their pure souls overflowed with the glow of beautiful scriptures and hymns.
Like exquisitely crafted gears made of gold and crystal, they worked together to produce a sublime and sacred chorus.
The most magnificent were the battle sisters. Kaleb could see ethereal wings of condensed light spread behind them, with burning halos floating above their heads. At their feet hung phantom golden blades symbolizing the Valkyries.
Moreover, his vision revealed even more — endless, semi-transparent Imperial spirits. They stood densely packed around him in quiet, resolute silence. These brave souls had given their lives to protect him while alive, and even after death, their souls continued their duty without fading.
They formed an invisible but solid barrier around the area, quietly blocking any spies or malicious entities attempting to approach through the Warp.
Of course, he could also see the evil light of the traitors. They would use every means to corrupt and erode the holy radiance and souls. Kaleb felt sorrow whenever he looked at them.
In Kaleb's eyes, Datch also emitted light — extremely bright, like the sun. When he appeared, light radiated from him and entered the bodies of those who had sworn loyalty, nourishing their souls. Such brave souls would then sing ancient melodies that no one could understand.
Datch ignored the Emperor's followers around him and walked straight toward the throne.
Once again, he took out the glowing golden Golden Hammer. With a light flick of his wrist, a casual yet precise metallic sound rang out. It struck the armrest of the throne where Kaleb sat.
Gentle golden ripples spread from the point of impact, instantly covering Kaleb's entire body and the whole sanctuary. The light inside Kaleb's body, which had been fluctuating like an overloaded engine, visibly stabilized.
A faint expression of relief appeared on his haggard face.
The throne stabilized, Kaleb's breathing calmed, and once it was confirmed that everything was fine, a deep vibration and low hum echoed from the ship.
The surviving Imperial fleet, led by the Dutyful Blade, successfully evaded enemy pursuit and the destructive turbulence of the Warp, reaching the Mandeville Point.
A powerful Gellar Field fully deployed, enveloping the ship and diffusing the surrounding Warp energy. Using the Warp, they escaped this living hell of a galaxy.
The moment the jump began, another notification appeared in Datch's vision, indicating the completion of another task.
[Congratulations on completing the mission: Support the defense forces of planet Sadrika and protect the beacon.]
[Quest Rewards: 1500 EXP, 1500 Points, +150 Reputation with the Imperium/Blood Angels, 1 Lightbringer Magic Gun]
"A new toy!"
Datch's eyes sparkled slightly. For a moment, he pushed everything else out of his mind.
He couldn't wait to take out the newly acquired Lightbringer Magic Gun. The gun had a refined design, with a beautiful harmonious paint job in red, blue, and gold. The grip featured a sun-like relief that felt warm to the touch.
He immediately opened the mini-map, zoomed in, and found a suitable uninhabited planet. Then he took out Rick's teleportation gun and activated it.
Use the magic gun on a vast uninhabited planet to summon the powerful Lightbringer.
"One strike to cleave in two."
"..."
By the time Celestine, Dysorian, and the others arrived at the sanctuary, what they saw was a powerful hymn echoing inside and Kaleb still sitting on the throne with his eyes closed, though the light around him had become more stable.
The Nameless One had already left.
Captain Sandray looked around with an incredulous expression. "We are currently operating the Gellar Field at full power, advancing deep into the Warp! How did he escape? Did he jump into the Warp?"
After the Nameless One departed, Sandray wore an expression of existential doubt. This completely contradicted the common knowledge of physics and Warp navigation that he, as a senior captain, understood.
Dysorian, Sister Levinia, and the other Imperial heroes also displayed looks of confusion and bewilderment. They stared at each other in puzzlement.
Only Celestine remained calm, as if she had expected this. She spoke to the stunned crowd:
"This is a manifestation of the Nameless One's immeasurable power. He is not bound by geographical constraints, nor by the boundary between reality and illusion. He appears and departs without following any physical or Warp laws that we know."
The others listened with shocked expressions. Even the most powerful beings in the Realm of Chaos were bound by physical laws! The Nameless One could ignore them all. The Emperor was truly too mighty.
Celestine's gaze swept across the entire sanctuary and finally rested on Kaleb. Deep in her eyes, complex emotions flickered. The Emperor's blessing toward this Nameless Man had truly reached such a level.
This living saint couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration as she secretly wondered why she had not received such a powerful blessing herself. It must be because my faith is not pure enough and my deeds are not perfect enough that the Emperor did not grant me the same blessing as the Nameless One. I must work harder.
Celestine murmured in her heart.
(Emperor: Please don't think that way. I don't have that kind of power either. I also want the Nameless One's blessing.)
...
The grand strategy room aboard the Blood Angels' flagship Bloodcaller was as magnificent as a cathedral. Beneath the huge dome, holographic star maps flowed like a waterfall of stars, illuminating the solemn or exhausted faces gathered around the central table.
Sanguinius sat at the front. His perfect face carried an indelible trace of anxiety. His long, slender, perfectly sculpted fingers occasionally traced the star map, issuing orders to dispatch limited support forces to planets engulfed in the flames of war.
At the same time, he had to coordinate resources from all factions and work to prevent the leaky ship that was the Imperium's dark side from sinking immediately.
Reports of support requests, information leaks, betrayals, and xenos invasions piled up on the data panels like snowflakes.
Suddenly, in a corner of the strategy room near a supply delivery station, space distorted. A rotating green portal of light opened. In the next instant, Datch slid out from the light portal!
"Whew! Clang! Crash!"
He accurately knocked over a metal crate placed nearby, which was filled with data boards or logistics supplies. The crate toppled, and its contents spilled onto the floor once again.
The unusually sharp and loud noise echoing through the quiet, solemn strategy room jolted the exhausted people awake.
The blood thralls nearby, responsible for recording and transmitting orders, widened their eyes, their hands trembling as they nearly dropped their quills or data tablets. The laborers carrying supplies turned their gazes toward the scattered goods on the ground and the Nameless One who had casually stood up.
The Blood Angels guards stationed in the strategy room reflexively straightened their posture the moment they saw Datch appear. They struck their right fists against their chests with perfect timing and gave a quiet yet solemn military salute to this allied figure of special status and numerous achievements.
The ambassadors, high-ranking commanders, and chapter masters from various surviving sectors and important planets of the Imperium's dark side, who were seated around the long table, also turned their eyes away from the complex star maps and grim battle reports. Curiosity, inquiry, and awe were directed toward this Nameless Man who did things in his own unique way.
Datch seemed completely unaware of the surrounding gazes and commotion. He stood up, bounced twice, and slipped past the Imperial heroes who were trying to speak to him or show respect. He walked straight to the front of the strategy table, directly in front of Sanguinius.
"The safety of the Sadrika beacon under the Imperial regency has been confirmed. The surviving fleet is currently en route to evacuate."
After Datch finished speaking, the golden exclamation mark above Sanguinius's head disappeared and slowly transformed into a rotating golden question mark, so he continued:
"Regent of the Imperium's dark side, are there any other missions you wish to assign me?"
The faint wrinkles on Sanguinius's perfect face, caused by the heavy workload, suddenly softened. A warm, sincere, yet slightly tired smile appeared on his lips. That smile brightened the entire operations room, which had been shrouded in the shadow of war.
Sanguinius suddenly understood. Back on Baal, when he heard that the Thirteenth Prince had refused to accompany him because the Nameless One chose to stay and support the Blood Angels, that brother — known for being rational and patient — had worn such a complicated expression.
Why had he shown such extreme disappointment and resistance while forcing himself to maintain a smile and composure? Who could possibly dislike a diligent and terrifyingly capable anonymous person?
A flicker of joy crossed Sanguinius's heart, but he maintained the dignity and mercy befitting a regent. He nodded lightly and spoke in a clear, calm tone:
"Nameless One, your efficiency remains as impressive as ever."
"Indeed, an urgent situation has arisen that must be addressed immediately. The once-prosperous agri and light industry world of the Lontian System has suffered catastrophic damage due to the passage of a Tyranid main fleet."
"A long-dormant Genestealer Cult has seized this opportunity to launch a large-scale rebellion, massacring the local Imperial Guard and Planetary Defense Forces with astonishing organization and brutality."
"They continue to send guiding signals into the void toward the remaining Tyranids fleets. Could you go to Lontian, eradicate these abominable xenos, and suppress the rebellion?"
[Mission: Travel to the Lontian System and suppress the rebellion of the local gene-thieves. The world of Lontian has been deeply infiltrated by a Genestealer Cult, triggering a bloody uprising. These xenos infiltrators have not only caused massive destruction but have also attempted to summon destructive swarms of insects once more. Regent Sanguinius of the Imperium's dark side hopes that you will act swiftly and decisively to root out this cancer and save the innocent survivors in the region.]
[Rewards: 1200 EXP, 1200 Points, +120 Reputation, 1 Rejuvenation Ray Gun]
Datch checked the reward details.
[Item: Rejuvenation Ray Gun. Function: The fired beam reverses the aging of body and soul, restoring a youthful appearance. Description: "Rejuvenating the body alone is not enough. The biggest problem is the aging soul."]
Whoa, the rewards for this mission are pretty good. If given to older individuals like Dante or Eisenhorn, it could restore the energy of their younger days.