Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 480 Arkham Rand Appraises Forbidden Weapons

March 862, Mars.

In the dark catacombs, Arkham Rand moved with a brisk pace.

His monkey perched on his shoulder, yet his steps were swifter than those of a technical priest performing some mechanical modifications.

During his two-year journey exploring the Great Library of Mars, Arkham has become a true "archaeologist" and recently became an "appraiser".

In addition to numerous blueprints, the "archaeologists" also used their historical knowledge to locate the tomb of a Martian sage from the "Dark Ages of Technology."

The records are incomplete, as if they had been deliberately erased.

Even with the best efforts of archaeologists to reconstruct lost history, all they can know is that this Sage Amas-41 conducted some kind of dangerous experiment.

He caused the deaths of many people, especially several great sages, and was therefore ostracized by everyone.

Arkham believed that only the Om Messiah was qualified to wield this dangerous power.

He used his knowledge of the site to open the tomb.

In his previous excavations, Arkham discovered data tablets from the "Dark Ages of Technology," enriching his knowledge.

Now, he has arrived at the main burial area.

Akahan arrived at a closed stone chamber. He first walked around the chamber and found that it was supported by twelve adamantite pillars and divided into four areas.

[This is the highest-ranking burial chamber, and it is important for the sage Amas-41 who is buried here.]
Aqah returned to the entrance of the tomb and looked at the sentries guarding the door.

That's an automated device created by modifying human brain lobe after it's been removed.

The sentry turned his head toward him, and a scarlet iris shone in one of his eye sockets.

Akahan examined it closely and found that the synthetic materials used to make the mechanical parts were very strange, some of which he was not even familiar with.

Relics of the "Dark Ages" have allowed him to faithfully guard this stone chamber for thousands of years.

He was the only obstacle standing in my way.
Aqahan slowly approached the sentry, and the body on the door moved, making a harsh, metallic clanging sound.

It moved forward, accompanied by a piercing shriek, and the right-hand video screen lit up, displaying a series of mysterious symbols on a green background.

As an experienced Martian "archaeologist," Arkham realized that he only had one chance if he entered the rune incorrectly.

The sentry will then activate the defensive array and launch an attack on his troops.

Arkham didn't believe he had the same luck as the Om Messiah's powerful cat; he had to rely on his own abilities to find the rune that would open the gate.

Entering "archaeologist" mode, he stared at the 0 to 9 numeral keyboard, his brain racing.

[From the books of Amas-41 and the architectural structure of the tomb, it is clear that the sacred number 12 of the god of all machines was very sacred to him.]

The password has twelve characters.

The composition of 3 and 4, as well as the binary 0 and 1, are important to him, and 41 is the personalized number he chose...
The "archaeologists" found a series of numbers in historical relics and arranged them according to AMASI-41's personality.

Standing in front of the rune keyboard, he raised his hand and began to rapidly type on it.

The Thinker's video screen kept flashing, and Arkham breathed a sigh of relief when he heard the hum of the servo motor starting and the mechanical pump turning.

The door hummed open, and Arkham immediately went inside. On the laboratory table, he found the dangerous experimental subject.

The "appraiser" carefully examined the glass-structured grenade, not reaching out to touch it, and a subtle spiritual energy began to emanate from it.

As his spiritual energy rapidly depleted, the "appraiser" recalled images of glass grenades and felt something dissolving within his body.

The "appraiser" stared at the glass grenade, intuitively sensing the subspace brain worm lurking within it.

These forbidden weapons, created at the height of humanity's mastery of the laws of physics, are designed to specifically target the soul.

It can not only obliterate the physical body, but also destroy its image in the celestial realm.

Three days later, Akahan returned to the rail dock with dangerous glass grenades.

As soon as Arkham stepped off the deck of the Skyhawk shuttle, he noticed a large number of technical priests dressed in red robes.

He frowned slightly, but didn't pay it any mind. He had always been an anomaly on Mars, and these people couldn't possibly be looking for him.

As Arkhan was heading to the escort ship that Om Messiah had given him, a tech priest in a red robe suddenly turned around and saw him, and he shouted excitedly.

"Sage Akahan Rand!"

His shouts startled the nearby technical priests, who gathered around.

Akahan was instantly surrounded by hundreds of people. His expression changed, and he nervously stared at the box in the servant's hands. "Don't come any closer!"

Fearing the disaster, Aqahan spent a long two minutes figuring out what had happened: these technical priests were either unmentors or outcasts.

His four standard construction templates shocked the Empire and many casting worlds, including Mars.

These technical priests found the Radiant One of Om Messiah and wanted to follow him.

Arkham also learned from these people that the forge master and numerous secret meetings had decided to build him a mechanical ark.

He scanned the hundreds of fanatical tech priests. In the past, he wouldn't have accepted these people, but now he couldn't help but have new ideas.

[Perhaps they can be used by the Om Messiah.]
Akahan, having thought of this, spoke up.

"Come with me."

Aqahan boarded his escort ship, surrounded by a group of tech priests.

After settling the technical priests with his entourage, he directed his servants to move boxes of glass to his residence and place them on the altar, whereupon he offered a devout prayer to the Black Emperor.

"The Black Emperor of the Shadow of Order,"

In Arkham's mind, the Black Emperor was Om Messiah, just as he had mistakenly regarded the Emperor as Om Messiah in the past.

Om Messiah is one with the Black Emperor and is the god he worships.

"...

I pray for Your watchful gaze.

I pray for Your favor.

I offer you a sacrifice.

......"

When Aqqhan recited it for the fifth time, the black mist swallowed him and the boxes of offerings.

In the fourth level of the "Disorderly Kingdom," after listening to Akahan's report, Ninglu turned his gaze to the glass grenade.

Several of these dangerous weapons are found in the forbidden vault of the "Dark Angels".

Unexpectedly, Arkham not only found forty-one, but also acquired the technology to manufacture them.

Other conventional weapons could be licensed to Mars and other forging worlds, but this forbidden weapon clearly cannot be forever confined to the standard construction template; it can only be manufactured in secret.
Ninglu looked at Akahan approvingly, "Well done."

"All glory belongs to my Lord!" Akahan said devoutly.

“Continue your exploration of Mars. By identifying ancient artifacts, you will master the power I have bestowed upon you,” Ninglu instructed.

"The technical priests who follow you will first learn from you and assist you in receiving the Mechanical Ark."

"The negotiation team will assist you in negotiating with the world of foundries."

"As you wish." After Akahan accepted the order, Nimrod sent him back to the escort ship.

Upon returning to the real world, Ninglu immediately sent a message to the Master of the Forge.

A moment later, Rosicky Cech entered the Primarch's office.

Ninglu pushed the data crystal in front of the Forge Master and pointed to the box.

"Take a box of glass grenades as a reference and secretly manufacture glass grenades in the fortress ship."

"The rest, as well as the finished products, are sealed in the Shadow of the Throne and the flagships of the various warbands."

"This forbidden weapon can only be used with the authorization of at least the chapter leader and another royal baron."

“Yes, my lord.” The Forge Master immediately obeyed Om Messiah’s command and dealt with the glass grenade.

Just as Ning Lu was about to handle other official business, he suddenly received a request to see Arsène Dunn.

A moment later, the Primarch's attendant entered the Primarch's office.

"My lord, the Emperor has summoned an emergency war council."

"The world of Shana is under siege. The enemy has breached the orbital defenses and landed on the surface."

Upon hearing this, Ninglu knew that the "Second Randan War" had begun.

(End of this chapter)