Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 640 The eerie, deep trench; the shadow of order that sees itself as an alien.
Upon learning the news, Ning Lu fell into deep thought.

He knew that for ordinary people who stayed on Sonim VIII for more than ten days, it was almost certain death.

Even if you try to avoid the ghosts, you will be tormented to death by the psychic phenomena of the entire planet.

Everyone who lands on the surface will break down within ten days due to insomnia, terrifying nightmares, and the constant whispers of ghosts.

Almost no one's will can withstand such torment, yet even if they do, they will be driven mad by psychic visions of aliens that once lived in this place.

As their hallucinations deepen, they will see themselves as aliens, deluding themselves into believing that everyone around them is a member of an enemy race who wants to kill them.

An individual driven to madness will attack everyone around them.

Ninglu recalled that the various factions of the future empire were not deterred after discovering that the world, filled with ghosts, contained rare mineral deposits.

A brief but bloody battle erupted between dozens of merchant ronin families and various powers within the empire.

The winning interest group immediately began exploration and mining.

However, the prospecting team's camp was destroyed by ghosts, and everyone was brutally dismembered and torn to pieces.

The ghosts will vent their resentment on them.

Interest groups attempted to hire psychics to protect the workers, but this only worked temporarily. Eventually, the psychics succumbed to the persistent psychic visions and became aliens in their minds.

One traveling merchant even sent out untouchables.

He remained undisturbed, which brought peace to the mining area for a time, but he eventually died in an "accident".

As arriving staff went insane and facilities were destroyed, operating funds were rapidly depleted, ultimately forcing the company to cut its losses and leave.

But Astartes possess a will far beyond that of ordinary people, and the daily routine of the Shadow of Order uses the Thelema state of mind that Nimrod created specifically for them to temper their will.

In the current legion, new recruits have at least mastered the first level of Thelma's mental state, while those in the think tank must master all three levels.

Veterans who have served for more than 30 years are also constantly honing their skills and mastering three levels of mindset.

Their will will not yield, much less will it do so in a dozen days.

Ning Lu, filled with doubt, reviewed the report.

Isidore, born into a working-class family in Necromonda... officially became the shadow of order in 849.

During his first ten years, he demonstrated an extraordinary aptitude for technology, which led him to travel to Mars in 860 to receive training as a technological sergeant…

Abilities: Possesses "subspace vision," a third level of Thelma's mental state, decent mechanical affinity, and repair speed 15% above average...

Ninglu examined Isidore's file and discovered that, unsurprisingly, Isidore had mastered the third level of Thales's mind. Furthermore, due to his outstanding performance, Isidore had been included in the consideration for the Fourth Warband Honor Guard. Ninglu became increasingly suspicious.

He then began Isidore's logbook and noticed the last entry.

[...last night, at 21:49 Standard Time, the vein reached its end, with the shortest straight-line distance to the equatorial trench being 508 meters.]

Today, after returning to camp, his six follower servants disappeared, and he launched an attack on his combat brothers 3 minutes and 7 seconds after entering the camp.

...]

Ninglu leaned back on the throne, lost in thought.

He arrived at the beach and then went mad.

[In the future, psionic illusions of submission and untouchables suffering "accidents".]

Could there be something strange about Sonem 8 besides the ghost?

The equatorial trench region.
Nimrod turned on his communicator and gave orders to Pastor Pat.

“You and Martin will be in charge of interrogating Isidore,” he continued after a pause of one second.

"He might be under some kind of interference."

“My lord, even so, his will is not firm enough.” Pat’s tone was filled with burning anger.

After disconnecting the communication, the Primarch leaned back on the throne, his mind racing as he recalled more information about Sonem VIII.

[Hmm... It's strange that the floating churches are falling into the sea.]

The sea area is not large, and without supernatural interference, it's impossible for the churches to have all fallen there.

Even more strangely, the trench was so deep that it seemed like a bottomless pit, swallowing up so many churches.
Ninglu then thought that most natural psionic materials exist in the form of crystals, and there are also similar psionic crystals. The only natural psionic metal he knew of was diamond gold.

The materials used by the master swordsmiths of Kasser are not natural; they are alloys forged from materials such as psionic crystals.

[At the end of the mineral vein, beside the trench.]

Perhaps the diamond-gold formation wasn't naturally occurring, but rather a result of some unknown force following the occurrence of the Sonem 8 psionic anomaly.
At the same moment that Ninglu was pondering, in the interrogation room on the upper deck.

Pat and his deputy, Martin, who had just been promoted to "Sun Priest," walked into the interrogation room together.

Upon seeing the two, Isidore's eyes immediately flashed with a fierce light.

He growled in a sharp, alien language, trying to pounce on the two beast-like enemies in his line of sight.

He was tightly bound to the electric chair by a set of fine gold chains that surrounded his entire body.

The fine needles, soaked in Catachan venom and piercing his collarbone and wrist, paralyzed his body. Pat stared coldly at Isidore, then raised his hand and placed a candle made from hallucinogenic plants extracted from the dense forests of Cradle of the Serpent I on the table.

After the candles were lit, a fresh and tranquil scent filled the air.

The cold interrogation room became warm and comfortable in the gentle light.

The hypnotist's eyes changed from black to gold and then stood upright.

The "hypnotist" leaned forward, placing his palms on the black iron table, his golden vertical pupils staring into Isidore's crazed eyes.

As his spirituality spread, he gave himself a "psychological suggestion."

“Look at the candles.”

Isidore's bulging, hateful eyes involuntarily shifted to the candle.

Pat stared at Isidore, his eyes gradually narrowing as he relaxed and leaned back in his chair.

The "hypnotist" spoke again, "Tell me, what did you encounter at the beach?"

Isidore's eyes were glazed over, as if he were lost in memories, and he spoke slowly after a few seconds.

"After arriving at the end of the mine with my machine servant and completing the record, I stood by the sea and gazed into the deep trench."

"I saw buildings submerged in water, covered with green seaweed..."

"I don't know how much time passed, but suddenly a deep black liquid surged into my vision, containing countless numb faces. I immediately sensed danger and tried to ascend into the Terema Mind..."

Isidore was stunned for a moment. "Countless ghosts roared in my ears, and aliens with sharp beaks surrounded me."

"I walked with them and lived with them."

“I have become…” A hint of doubt and guilt flashed in Isidore’s eyes, “I have become a part of them.”

Pat and Martin exchanged a glance, a flash of anger in their eyes.

"We were attacked, and I killed the enemy."

"I charged toward the enemy camp and launched a counterattack."

"Do you know what's affecting you?" the hypnotist asked calmly, suppressing his anger.

“Impact…” Isidore repeated, puzzled, “No, I fought alongside my people…”

Pat slammed his fist on the table; he knew he wouldn't get any more information.

"enough!"

"Martin, cleanse him, bring him to his senses."

“Alright.” The newly appointed “Sun Priest” walked up to Isidore, opening his arms as if to welcome something.

A sacred, clear light descended from the sky, its brilliant, warm rays falling upon Isidore.

Black flames immediately erupted from Isidore's body, and he let out a heart-wrenching scream.

The screams lasted for more than ten seconds before stopping after the black smoke dissipated.

Isidore looked around blankly, "I..."

"You've been controlled; you attacked your fellow fighters."

Pat's golden eyes stared at Isidore, emanating a dragon-like aura.

Although Isidore was caught off guard and didn't have time to enter the Thermal state of mind before being controlled by the unknown force, it also exposed his lack of willpower and skill.

“I…” Isidore’s eyes widened in panic as he tried to recall what he had done.

He lowered his head and said in a low voice, filled with remorse, "I..."

Pat interrupted him: "You were the first to attack your brothers in arms, and we all feel ashamed and disgraced by your weak will."

"You will be punished."

Pat and Martin turned and walked out the door.

A moment later, an "interrogator" entered the interrogation room.

Martin said to Pat as he edited the report.

"Isidore will hone his unwavering will in the trials to come."

Pat's eyes were deep. "Unwavering faith is the strongest shield of will."

Ning Lu received the report twelve minutes after the interrogation ended.

After reading the report, he became even more convinced that there was something wrong with the trench.

Ning Lu immediately decided to personally lead a team to investigate.

(End of this chapter)