Datch led Ferrus across the desolate deset.
The air was filled with the scent of dry dust. Occasionally, a few stubborn thorny shrubs grew from cracks in the rocks. Twisted branches swayed in the wind, producing faint whistling sounds.
The distant mountains had a strange rusty-red color, gleaming dully under the midday sun, as if the entire land was asleep.
The auras emanating from Datch and Ferrus kept the wild animals at a distance. They didn't even dare to howl, fearing they might disturb the two strangers from afar.
After leaving the uninhabited zone, Datch stopped and took out two sets of ordinary clothes and the Infinity Gauntlet from his game inventory.
The ordinary clothes were two simple robes made of coarse grayish-brown fabric that Datch had previously picked up from a trunk, with slightly frayed edges.
Using the power of the Reality Stone in the Infinity Gauntlet, Datch snapped his fingers and instantly changed their outfits.
Power armor was far too conspicuous. Wearing it in a crowd would only cause unnecessary panic and hostility.
After changing clothes, the two began walking along a road paved with densely packed stones.
The farther they went, the more people they encountered.
Occasionally, livestock-drawn carts passed by. The wheels creaked, the animals panted heavily, and the carts were piled high with goods tied with coarse hemp ropes.
People stared at Datch and Ferrus.
It was simply because their clothing did not match Olympia's style.
"Where are you from? Why are you dressed like that?"
An old man by the roadside called out to them. His beard was white, and his face was etched with wrinkles like deep valleys. He leaned on a well-worn wooden staff.
Though his eyes were cloudy, there was an intelligent gleam in the way he scrutinized the two strangers.
Datch ignored the NPC's question and walked straight ahead.
Ferrus stopped and spoke to the old man while trying to figure out where he was.
"We come from a very distant place."
The old man narrowed his eyes. "Very distant? How far? Beyond three mountains? Or from the coast?"
Ferrus didn't answer the question. Instead, he asked one of his own.
"Where is this place?"
The old man frowned and looked Ferrus up and down.
"You don't even know where you are? That's quite unusual. It seems like you're hiding something."
"This is Olympia, the territory of the city-state of Lochos. The road you're walking on right now is the main road leading to that city-state."
Ferrus looked surprised.
He knew for certain that Olympia was the home planet of Perturabo, the Primarch of the Iron Warriors.
Around the time the Horus Heresy was beginning to take shape, this man had issued an extermination order against Olympia on the grounds of betrayal.
What on earth was the nameless one trying to do?!
Ferrus was confused, but he still thanked the old man and hurried to catch up with Datch, who had already gone far ahead.
Countless questions swirled in his mind. There were many things he wanted to ask the nameless one, but he remained silent.
Because he knew very well that the nameless one would not answer any questions.
In the distance, the city-state came into view.
The walls towered high, made of massive sandstone slabs. Each slab was smoothly polished, perfectly flat, and fitted together flawlessly.
Sunlight poured down, dyeing the grayish-yellow stone walls a warm golden color.
Occasionally, towers protruded from the walls, from which patrolling soldiers could be seen.
The city gate was tall and wide. On either side of the gate's opening stood two magnificent statues.
They wore heavy robes, had dignified features, and held scepters and longswords as they looked down upon everyone entering the city-state.
The pedestals of the statues were densely engraved with text recording the glorious past of the city-state of Lochos.
The gate itself was made of thick wooden planks covered with a layer of bronze, secured firmly to the wood with dense iron nails.
The tips of the iron nails were cast in the shape of lion heads, neatly arranged, serving both decorative and defensive purposes.
Two massive towers stood guard over the wooden gate. At their bases were firing slits for archers.
Using a small trick, Datch easily brought Ferrus into the city.
The scene before them instantly came to life.
The streets were bustling with people.
Farmers from outside the city skillfully wove through the crowd carrying large quantities of fresh vegetables and fruits.
Workers covered in iron dust and oil stains emerged from the factory district after their shifts, fatigue visible on their faces.
Merchants from afar led caravans loaded with goods, guided by local guides toward the market district.
Shops lined both sides of the street.
In the blacksmith workshops, the sound of hammers striking and sparks flying echoed through the air. The atmosphere was filled with the smell of rust and coke.
Long lines formed outside bakeries. The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted out, golden crusts sprinkled with sesame and salt.
At the entrance of textile workshops, colorful fabrics hung, gently swaying in the breeze like vibrant flags.
Pottery shops were crammed with all kinds of jars and vessels — some simple and practical, others decorated with intricate patterns.
Countless street stalls selling goods lined the way.
Some sold exquisitely crafted baskets of various sizes.
Others sold small cloth bags filled with various spices that emitted spicy or sweet aromas.
There were also vendors selling strange and unique trinkets said to have been brought from distant lands. Children gathered around, staring at them with sparkling eyes.
This was the city-state of Lochos on the planet Olympia.
This city-state was ruled by the tyrant Dammekos VIII, who was also Perturabo's adoptive father.
"This is the 30K era, during the Great Crusade."
"It seems the nameless one brought me here to find the young Perturabo."
Ferrus looked around in surprise.
He had heard about how Corax had traveled to the past with the nameless one and saved Angron.
Not only had the nameless one stopped the slave owners of Nuceria, but he had also removed the Butcher's Nails into Angron.
They had also conquered Nuceria's world and handed it over to the other side to rule.
And now, the nameless one had appeared in Olympia thirty thousand years in the past.
They must have come to find Perturabo, witness his fate, and change it.
There was no way to predict how the other party would react!
The city-state of Lochos was built upon a mountain. Buildings were stacked layer upon layer from the foot to the summit.
The walls of these houses were coated with white lime, reflecting dazzling light under the sun.
Red terracotta tile roofs were arranged like fish scales, one after another.
The streets wound up the hillside, sometimes steep, sometimes gentle, connecting various parts of the city at different elevations.
The mountaintop was completely occupied by a magnificent palace.
When the setting sun cast its slanted light from the west, the entire city was bathed in golden and red hues.
The white walls turned a warm orange, the red roofs looked like blazing flames, and the winding roads traced graceful curves along the hillside.
At the highest point of the palace, several flags swayed slowly in the evening breeze, their emblems glittering in the setting sun.
It was truly beautiful.
Datch led Ferrus to the city-state's main square.
There was a massive reservoir made of smooth stone slabs. The water was crystal clear, and it was bustling with commoners carrying water jugs on their heads.
"This is it." Datch looked around and nodded with satisfaction.
This square had an excellent location with easy access in all directions and constant foot traffic.
Whatever happened here would soon spread throughout the entire city-state.
Perturabo's childhood was very different from Angron's.
Angron had originally been kind-hearted, but his circumstances had driven him to madness.
Perturabo, on the other hand, had grown up amid praise and was recognized as a genius in the city-state of Lochos.
He was the proudest adoptive son of the tyrant Dammekos.
Everyone acknowledged his talent. Everyone praised his achievements.
They desperately craved recognition but pretended not to care.
They thirsted for praise yet maintained a cold attitude.
They desperately wanted to be loved yet rejected all love.
He was a twisted, pathological person.
You couldn't confront a yandere's personality directly. When they met, it would only stir up the other party's wariness and disgust.
If you weren't careful, your yandere tendencies could escalate into extreme behavior and lead to even worse outcomes.
Therefore, they could only be drawn to each other.
"What exactly are we supposed to do?" Ferrus looked around and asked in a confused voice.
"Show off your mechanical talent to those ordinary citizens," Datch said, turning to Ferrus. "Make a name for yourself."
Ferrus thought for a moment, then guessed Datch's intention.
"You want to draw Perturabo's attention this way?"
"Yeah," Datch nodded. "Hurry up and do it."
Ferrus's lips twitched.
They brought me all the way here just to bully a child?
How utterly shameless of the nameless one to do something like this.
But I like it.
Heh heh heh heh, Perturabo — savor despair to your heart's content.
For the next ten thousand years, I'll make sure you never forget me.
Ferrus stopped in the middle of the bustling market and reached up to remove his hood.
The moment his captivating face was exposed to the sunlight, the surrounding air seemed to freeze.
Short hair, sharp and handsome features, deep-set eyes, and those distinctive metallic arms…
The surrounding crowd was drawn in. They stopped walking and instinctively turned their gazes toward the Primarch.
Ignoring the surrounding stares, Ferrus found scrap iron, copper plates, and wires by the roadside. Using his natural charm, he even managed to borrow the neighboring blacksmith's workshop.
Passersby were extremely curious about what this strangely dressed stranger was doing.
Ferrus began working. The scrap metal in his hands was heated, forged, and shaped into precise components.
Copper plates were cut, bent, and welded into complex structures.
Wires were wound and braided into part of a transmission mechanism.
Eventually, an exquisite mechanical creation took shape in his hands.
It was a mechanical bird, almost the same size as a real one, made entirely of brass and steel.
The onlookers were disappointed. While it was impressive that he could make a mechanical bird in such a short time, it wasn't particularly unusual.
However, when Ferrus lightly pressed a switch on the bird's back, the mechanical bird — which shouldn't have been able to move — came to life.
It flapped its wings, took off from Ferrus's palm, circled in the air, and let out bird calls.
This sight instantly shocked the disappointed crowd. Gasps of amazement escaped their lips.
The mechanical bird landed on a girl's shoulder, tilted its head, and looked at her curiously with ruby eyes.
Then it took off again, performed a somersault in the air, and landed firmly back on Ferrus's palm.
"It's a miracle!!!"
"How did they do that?"
"How did that scrap metal turn into something like this?"
"He must be an envoy sent by the gods!"
Amazed voices rose from the crowd.
People who heard the commotion gathered around.
They stared at the silver-haired stranger with disbelief.
Ferrus didn't stop. He continued creating all kinds of strange and wonderful things.
Each one was exquisite — a masterpiece of craftsmanship.
They closely resembled the works created by the genius of the city-state of Lochos, but were more refined, more complex, and more perfect.
The news spread throughout the city in an instant.
"Did you hear? Two outsiders have arrived in the city-state!"
"That silver-haired man can turn iron into gold!"
"The mechanical bird he made can fly and sing. It's more lifelike than a real bird!"
"He must be a great craftsman from a distant land!"
Eventually, the name of this outsider spread to every corner of the city-state.
Standing among the crowd and listening to the discussions, Datch's smile deepened.
He knew their goal was close to being achieved.
As expected, the news quickly reached the palace and caught the attention of the tyrant Dammekos VIII.
"An outsider more skilled than Perturabo?"
Dammekos's tone was somewhat contemptuous.
He had seen countless self-proclaimed geniuses come to the city-state of Lochos to challenge his adoptive son.
But none of them had ever defeated Perturabo.
Dammekos turned to look at Perturabo standing beside him. Perturabo was much taller than Dammekos, and his face showed clear displeasure.
This was clearly born from dissatisfaction with the claim that an outsider was more talented than them.
"What do you think, Perturabo?"
Dammekos asked.
After their previous argument, the conflict between father and son had intensified.
To ease the tension between them, Dammekos decided to only accept the visitor's challenge if Perturabo agreed.
Perturabo raised his head, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
"Two arrogant fools. I'll expose their lies."
Dammekos nodded and waved his hand. "In that case, I'll order my subordinates to bring them here. Regardless of the outcome, the city-state of Lochos will support you."
...
It was dusk when Datch and Ferrus were brought into the palace by the guards.
Datch and Ferrus followed the guards through the palace gates and into the interior.
It was a massive hall. The floor was paved with white marble, each slab polished to a mirror-like smoothness.
On both sides of the hall stood rows of guards holding long halberds. The blades gleamed coldly in the light, pointing precisely upward at an angle toward the ceiling.
At the far end of the hall was a throne. On either side of it stood two massive humanoid statues made of iron.
A middle-aged man in luxurious attire sat on the throne, wearing a uniquely designed crown and holding a golden scepter.
This man was Dammekos VIII, the tyrant of Lochos and Perturabo's adoptive father.
Nobles and officials stood on both sides of the throne.
Perturabo stood to Dammekos's right, closest to the throne.
As the most outstanding genius in Olympia, he was treated better than Dammekos's own children.
Ferrus recognized his brother at a glance and showed a complicated expression.
Dammekos looked down at the two outsiders from his throne, a sense of unease creeping into his chest.
He could tell that these two were no ordinary humans.
"Are you the outsiders who have been making headlines recently?"
"It is said that you know the secrets behind how everything works."
Datch nodded.
"Yes, we do indeed hold the secrets to how everything works."
The hall fell into an eerie silence, broken only by the low hum of mechanical equipment.
Everyone in the hall was stunned.
No, no — I was just praising you, and you actually accepted it so readily.
If you really know the secrets behind how everything works, why don't you try rubbing the sun with your bare hands and see for yourself?
Dammekos was also somewhat surprised.
What an arrogant outsider!
"What do you think, Perturabo?"
Perturabo's gaze had initially been fixed on Ferrus.
Due to the other party's physique and an inexplicable sense of familiarity, he suspected there might be some unknown connection between them.
The moment he heard his adoptive father's question, a flash of irritation crossed his gloomy face.
"I'll teach these conceited fools what humility means."
Perturabo descended the steps and stood before Datch.
"You claim to understand the secrets behind how everything works."
"Shall we compete?"
Datch grinned. "It would be far too unfair for you to compete against me."
"How about you compete against the person next to me instead?"
Perturabo's face instantly turned red. His gloomy expression was torn apart by rage.
What do you mean by competing against him? Are you bullying me?
This is humiliation — blatant humiliation.
"Are you scared? Or do you think you're not suited for this task and need to ask this person to take your place?"
Datch didn't argue. With a single thought, he took out the Infinity Gauntlet.
Then, using the stars in his game inventory, he fused and compressed them, creating a fireball the size of a basketball in his palm.
The moment the fireball appeared, the surrounding temperature rose sharply and the air began to distort.
The surrounding nobles and officials instinctively stepped back.
Dammekos also showed a look of terror. He could sense that this fireball possessed enough power to destroy the city-state of Lochos.
"If you can create a sun as easily as I just did, then I'd be happy to compete with you."
The anger on Perturabo's face froze, then turned to shock.
How did he do that?
Is this man even human?
Ferrus's lips also curled up slightly.
Why challenge the Nameless One of all people?
Surprised, my dear brother?
Datch put away the fireball and said with a grin, "Face reality, you pitiful fool. In front of me, both your wisdom and your power are insignificant."
Perturabo's face turned deathly pale. He wanted to retort but didn't know what to say. He could only stand there in silence.
"Alright then, compete against the man next to me." Datch pointed at Ferrus. "If you can't even beat him, then you no longer have the right to call yourself a genius."