Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 375 Holy Terra (First Update)
The fleet continued to approach the core world of the human empire.

As the sphere of Holy Terra completely filled the main view of the "Eternal Expedition," Chen Yu stood silently watching from the observation window of the bridge.

This was not the first time he had seen Terra, but each time he witnessed it, it still triggered a complex data stream deep within the processing core that was difficult to fully analyze.

The world before our eyes has been almost completely covered.

The colossal hive cities, like sprawling metallic moss, cling to every usable inch of the planet's surface, stretching all the way to the polar ice caps—if there are any ice caps at all.

The atmosphere was murky and had a sickly brownish-yellow hue, interspersed with the shimmering reflections of the ever-burning city lights and railway infrastructure.

The area that was once called the ocean is now reduced to scattered, murky dark patches, cut off and surrounded by massive man-made dikes and reclaimed land.

His database retrieved images of a planet from his distant memories, dating back to before the Old Night Era, or even earlier.

That blue gem, covered by a vast blue ocean and white swirling clouds, shares the same name with this world before us, which is almost suffocatingly enveloped in metal, concrete, and pollution, yet it is a completely different entity.

He also recalled seeing Earth-like planets in other dimensions that were still full of life and had clear water.

An emotion that does not belong to mechanical creations, a human emotion originating from the depths of its essence, quietly emerges.

It wasn't anger or disgust, but a quiet, profound sadness.

The planet bears the weight of its own civilization, a weight that has almost crushed it, and the azure blue that once represented life and nature, seen in memories and in other worlds, has nearly vanished here.

Sigismund's voice broke the silence: "Prepare yourselves, sage. We are about to land."

Chen Yu withdrew his gaze, the crimson optical lens shifting away from the scene on Terra.

That momentary emotional fluctuation was quickly suppressed and archived.

He responded simply, his voice calm and steady: "Understood."
-
Inside the hangar of the "Eternal Expedition," two cargo items had already been loaded onto a Thunderhawk gunship. After Chen Yu, Sigismund, and a squadron of Black Templar warriors boarded the Thunderhawk gunship, it flew towards Holy Terra under the escort of several mortal-piloted fighter jets.

The Thunderhawk gunship pierced through Terra's thick, polluted atmosphere and, under the tight escort of the Imperial Guard aircraft that had taken off from the ground, landed in the region known as the heart of the Empire.

Outside the porthole, the palace complex gradually came into view. It was not a collection of beautiful buildings, but a colossal fortress and defensive works built up layer upon layer and constantly reinforced. It was a behemoth formed after thousands of years of war and expansion, and its scale was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

The gunboat eventually landed smoothly in the designated area.

The hatch opened, and Chen Yu's mechanical feet and Sigismund's power boots stepped onto Terra's ground almost simultaneously.

The air was filled with the complex aromas of ancient rocks, fragrances, and an indescribable mix of scents from the massive population gathering.

A troop of imperial guards had already been standing silently waiting.

Clad in gleaming golden power armor, they stood silently, holding Guardian Spears, their sensors beneath their helmets scanning the arrivals with utter indifference.

Without exchanging words, the leading officer of the Imperial Guard simply nodded slightly to Sigismund before turning away in a gesture of guidance.

The entire operation was streamlined, efficient, and carried an unquestionable authority.

At Chen Yu's instruction, two technical priests carefully guided the machine servants to carry the two specially made packaging boxes and follow behind.

Sigismund and Chen Yu walked side by side, the Supreme Marshal of the Black Temple and the Sage of Exploration, escorted by the golden giant, heading deeper into the palace.

Their route was clearly meticulously planned, traversing relatively remote but heavily guarded passages. However, news traveled just as quickly through the imperial heartland.

Just as the group was passing through a magnificent hall connecting different fortresses, another group of people quickly emerged from an archway on one side.

These people were dressed in magnificent robes that signified their status as members of the High Lords' Council, and were accompanied by scribes and well-dressed officials.

The elderly man at the head of the group, with a formulaic seriousness on his face, raised his hand, trying to attract attention.

“Lord Sigismund, Sage Chen Yu! Please wait.” His voice echoed in the empty hall. “The Highlord Council needs to know the details of the Terra items you brought this time.”

According to procedure, any major technology that may affect imperial policy must first undergo a preliminary assessment by the parliament…

His speech was fluent, clearly a prepared statement.

However, neither Sigismund nor Chen Yu paused in their steps, nor did they slow down.

The imperial guards who were protecting them completely ignored these remarks, as if the air itself was speaking.

The golden procession maintained its precise pace and continued forward, leaving the representatives of the Highlord Council directly behind.

The elderly man who had spoken was still holding his hand in mid-air, his serious expression turning into astonishment, followed by a barely concealed anger.

But he ultimately dared not stop the imperial guards' escort team, and could only watch helplessly as the dark red mechanical body, the black power armor, and the golden guards disappeared at the end of the passage.

“They…they dare to disregard the authority of Parliament!” an official behind him exclaimed in a low voice.

The old man lowered his hand, his face grim as he looked toward the passageway. Finally, he managed to squeeze out a single sentence through gritted teeth: "...It's Dorne's idea. And...the Emperor's Guard."

He realized that this matter was far beyond the usual jurisdiction of the High Lords Council.

Chen Yu was not surprised by this.

Sigismund remained expressionless, as if nothing had happened.

In the face of absolute power and a higher will, the procedures of the bureaucratic system appear pale and powerless.

After passing through several massive portals that required special permissions to open, and feeling the invisible pressure emanating from the surrounding scanning arrays and hidden weapon systems, they finally arrived at their destination—the iconic, enormous main gate of Terra Palace, which made them feel small.

The massive doors, cast from an unknown alloy and engraved with the history and mythology of the empire, were now tightly closed, exuding an aura of timelessness.

The Imperial Guard officers stopped and turned to Sigismund and Chen Yu.

"The Primarch awaits in the audience hall," the tribunal's voice came through his helmet, still completely calm. "You may bring in your 'goods.' We will guard this place."

Sigismund took a deep breath and looked at Chen Yu.

Chen Yu's mechanical face was expressionless, but his scarlet optical lens flickered slightly, indicating that he was ready.

A low, rumbling sound of machinery emanated from within the heavy door. A crack appeared on the massive door panel, then slowly opened inwards…

(End of this chapter)