Warhammer 40k: Melee Warriors

Awakening psychic powers? No...

Psychic resistance? None...

Koken understood that he needed more experiments and more professional equipment. Now that the demons had been defeated and the Ark had been taken over, it was time to properly organize his gains.

He instructed Phitia to send a message to the Exterminator, indicating that he was safe and sound and that they should wait outside.

Three weeks later, Komi walked out of the makeshift research room. His face did not show the fatigue and dejection of working day and night. On the contrary, he was radiant and full of energy.

During this period, he explored the function of the soul clusters. First, he discovered that these soul clusters could be mixed with his own blood to form a spiritually rich blood broth, which could then be infused into other blood to make craft beer.

In terms of the original brewing recipe, a cubic meter of Beast Brew requires the blood of a Beastman or a Sub-Beastman, along with a drop of Komi's blood. Now, with the Soul Guild, Komi can first use this drop of blood to create a considerable amount of Blood Essence, and then collect a drop from the essence to make Beast Brew.

This undoubtedly greatly reduced the burden of blood collection for Komi. The blood supply for the two regions of Flawless City and Punisher was already stretched thin. The emergence and use of the Soul Group will undoubtedly take the production of Blood Brew to the next level!

Secondly, Komi discovered that the Soul Cluster could react with the inactive Spirit Bones of the Ark. He tried to collect the Spirit Bones that had been scattered on the ground during the battle, and then crushed them into powder, mixed them with alloys and Soul Clusters to reshape them. In the end, Komi obtained a new material that emitted a misty fog, which he called Soul Steel.

Unlike spirit bones shaped by drawing power from the subspace, soul steel's self-repair ability depends on the soul cluster's instinct to maintain a complete structure and its spirituality. When the soul cluster's spirituality is exhausted, it will no longer emit mist, and its immortal surface will quickly develop rust, making it easy to crush with a finger.

To maintain the Soul Steel, it is necessary to replenish its spirituality. The most direct way is of course to infuse it with a soul, or to have a psychic charge it with their spiritual energy. However, Komi found a solution that was more suitable for the Exterminator's situation.

[Sadistic Core]

This is a masterpiece combining orc engineering, demonology, and curses. Komi controlled Markars several times to seek advice from Sharon and Antoine in order to create this thing, and even wrote several more letters to Vashtor.

In the end, all the hard work paid off. The sadistic core, which looked like a heart riddled with nails, was born. It was made entirely of soul steel and contained a power engine riddled with holes. Its structure was extremely complex. Without Vastor's detailed manufacturing manual, Komi would never have been able to imagine that a machine could be made like this.

So what is the purpose of this device?

At least in the case of the Redemption Combat Suit, when the pilot says the words the machine spirit wants to hear while hammering the damaged parts of the combat suit, the sadistic core will be activated. Long nails will fall one by one, causing the sadistic core to make a thumping sound, and then the damage to the combat suit will slowly heal amidst the thumping sounds.

Just like some games Komi had played before, in order to ensure gameplay, the game character he controlled could fix toilets and space stations with a wrench, which was just as absurd.

Charging the sadistic core is not a complicated issue. As long as the weapon user and the machine spirit have a close connection, an inexplicable spirituality is infused into the core, waiting to be activated.

In terms of utility, the sadistic core is indeed very useful. It reduces the burden of maintenance and even allows soldiers to carry out battlefield repairs better and faster. In a sense, the survivability of a machine modified with Soul Steel is comparable to that of a space necromancer made from living metal.

But the principle behind their operation left Komi speechless; he couldn't accept that the machine spirits around him were all potential masochists.

Who would have thought that this war machine with its square, solid outline has a fiery machine spirit? She longs for you to peel off her shell, to boldly scan her circuit boards, to use a screwdriver to tighten her loose screws, and to smash her dented metal plates with a sledgehammer!

During the test, Koji didn't believe that the creaking sound was from metal being dented, but rather from the machine spirit singing happily.

It's better to act crazy towards machines than crazy towards people...

Komi comforted himself with these words, then accepted the sadistic core and prepared to mass-produce it to arm the entire army.

Finally, and what Komi considers to be his most important technological product, is the Soul Beacon made of Soul Clusters and Soul Steel.

This is a round, spherical object that can be held in one hand and has a surface covered with threads. The user needs to hold the upper and lower hemispheres with both hands and twist them open. When activated, the soul cluster inside will shoot straight into the sky and establish a connection with the Soul Path. Then, Fitiya and Koken will need to adjust the direction and size of the Soul Path to provide support for the fighter jet.

However, Gu Jian did not want to keep a close eye on the activation of the Soul Path. Now that the Soul Path beacon has just been put into use, he still has the capacity to control it for a few or dozens of air raids. But what if the war expands in the future and a battlefield calls in thousands or tens of thousands of air raids in half an hour? He would probably be exhausted to death.

This job can't be entirely done by Fetia; she needs some helpers, people who can be permanently bound to the Eye of the Faraway Fortress and who won't give Komi any psychological burden.

The Eldar would be a good choice.

Honestly, Koken wanted to kill all the knives and ears, but these guys are unreliable and always manage to pull off some serious mess.

However, considering the practical benefits, he also wanted to spare the lives of the Eldar. They possessed a great deal of psychic knowledge, and what was a divine book to human psychics was as easy for them to understand as children's books.

In addition, Koken needs the Spirit Race to offer even more.

Chapter 507: A Pale Explanation

Koken needs the blood of the Spirit Race. He wants to use it to make Soul Brew to enhance the power of psychics, and even to help those without psychic talent awaken.

Gu Jian still needs the Spirit Clan to submit to him, because only in this way can the Soul Cluster's main body be continuously replenished.

This is similar to the human concept of animal protection. Some animals are protected not because they are cute, but because their existence can guarantee human interests in the long run.

The soul cluster formed by absorbing the souls of an entire ark was astonishingly large, but the production of soul beacons and soul steel was destined to be a bottomless pit. Koken felt itchy all over whenever he thought about how the soul cluster could not replenish itself over time.

Currently, Koken only has two ways to replenish the lost soul clusters: one is to find a new ark and bring back all the souls from its infinite circuits together.

Secondly, by feeding them to the spirit race's soul clusters, transforming them into half-spirits, the separated portion of their spirituality is extracted and then infused back into the soul clusters.

Therefore, if Komi wanted Novia's services, this Eldar must know the locations of the other Arks, and even have found a Webway gate leading to Comoros.

For the souls of the Ark, becoming expendable resources for the Komi Project might be somewhat cruel, but for the sadists of the Comoros, it was the best ending for them.

In the prison, Komi stood before Novia, scrutinizing the spirit and contemplating how to control her mind and body and make her serve him.

"Who exactly are you...?"

Novia asked in a trembling voice, her tone filled with more fear than hatred towards Komi. She was utterly shocked by the madness and methods Komi had displayed; this was something that no imperial saint could possibly accomplish.

“I am Otto, the protector of Wuding Port, a traveler bearing the will of the Savior,” Komi replied calmly, clearly showing that Novia did not believe his words.

"I have never seen a saint who would secretly raise a demon."

"So what if you see me? You're just a deadly alien. Even if you can leave here and accuse me in front of everyone, your words will be considered the ravings of an alien madman."

"Ha... How pathetic. Those people trusted you so much, were willing to give their lives for you, yet they never realized that their leader was a demon who controlled other monsters." Novia shook her head and sighed for the fate of the Exterminator's crew. It was utterly hypocritical of her to start caring about the lives of humans at this moment.

Komi narrowed his eyes unhappily, pinched Novia's cheek and pulled her drooping head up, saying, "They are willing to give their lives for me, and I am willing to protect their souls, but only you aliens cannot find forgiveness and redemption here."

Novia, who had long foreseen her fate, smiled sadly, "Since that's the case, then what are you waiting for? Just kill me."

“Kill you? No, no, no, you don’t seem to realize the value of an Eldar, even if you are no longer pure and have become a half-elf like Fuda.”

The fact that Komi casually mentioned made it difficult for Novia to remain calm. She struggled in Komi's hands like an enraged beast, but she could not get rid of the shackles on her neck, wrists, and ankles.

Komi slapped Novia, then flexed his wrist and pushed a small spiritual bird divination device he had made in front of Novia.

What is this?

Novia was puzzled by the machine's barbaric and crude appearance. However, when Koji started the machine and the Eldar inside were stirred up and let out miserable screams, Novia's expression immediately changed.

"You are using this machine to torture my people!"

"Your people?" Koken scoffed. "I don't think the Ark Eldar and the Dark Eldar living in the Comoros have anything in common. They deserve their fate because of their depraved deeds."

"No! That's not what you think. Although our people are unruly, they..."

Knowing how Novia was going to explain, Komi interrupted her by raising his hand and speaking first, "But they torment other beings just to ensure that their own souls are not devoured by Him? You want to explain that their actions are self-salvation, actions that conform to the way of nature?"

"Why...why not?" Novia's voice was somewhat weak, as if she realized that her explanations for her fellow Dark Eldar were too weak, but her mind still found an example that was similar.

"Isn't that how nature works? Do you know about the Victoria amazonica? It's a giant lotus with leaves that can grow up to two meters in diameter. Its leaves are sturdy and strong, with sharp thorns along the edges. When it takes root in a body of water, countless leaves will float to the surface and grow. Their enormous leaves completely cover the water's surface, preventing the aquatic plants below from getting any sunlight..."

“Yes.” Komi nodded. “The way of nature is cruel like this, so isn’t it reasonable for the prey to resist? Your people have plundered countless worlds, billions, even hundreds of billions of people, who were either tortured to death on the spot or smuggled onto slave ships to the Comoros. Now I’m just repeating the crimes your people committed on them, and you can’t accept that?”

Novia opened her mouth, wanting to agree with Koji's statement. As an Ark Elf, she also disapproved of the Dark Elf's ways.

But she was, after all, an elf, and it was more reasonable for her to help her distant relatives than to help outsiders of a different race.

Therefore, Novia closed her eyes, shook her head, and whispered, "That's different... We are superior, more advanced than you. We are the eldest sons chosen by the ancient sages, while you are nothing but ignorant beasts..."

"The eldest son?" Koji raised an eyebrow. If Novia brought up this topic again, he wouldn't be sleepy anymore.

It's important to know that the Ancient Saint Novia met was an imposter. Novia had witnessed firsthand how depressed she was after hearing her own ramblings.

Since you think the scar heals too quickly, I'll just tear it open again for you.

Gu Jian thought to himself, then sneered a few times, "Are you sure you are the eldest sons of the Ancient Saint? But my experience tells me that the orcs were born much earlier than you."

Novia's face turned even paler at Komi's words. She began to tremble, terrified that Komi would reveal even more unbearable aspects of her past on the spot.

Whether or not her pleas were heard by the gods devoured by Slaanesh, Koji indeed did not continue to dwell on the question of whether the orcs or the spirit races were the eldest son of the ancient saints. However, what Koji was about to say made Novia feel that she would rather listen to the orcs' stories.

"Furthermore, even if the Spirit Race is truly the eldest son of the Ancient Saint, do you think you are qualified to discuss this issue with me now?" Koken produced a thin, long stick from somewhere and pressed it against Novia's body, tapping her up and down.

The unprecedented feeling left Novia stunned for a long time; she couldn't believe her body had become like this.

"No! That's impossible! You performed the surgery on me! You performed the surgery on me, right!"

"Surgery? Why can't it be something natural?" Koji really liked Novia's tearful expression, and he added with great pleasure, "A half-spirit, Novia."

Chapter 508: I also have the power of corruption?

Although the Eldar look somewhat similar to humans, their subcutaneous structure is quite different.

Their bodies are almost entirely filled with dense tissue resembling muscle, possessing exceptional elasticity and resilience. Fat, which is ubiquitous in the bodies of humans and other living beings, is nowhere to be found in the Eldar.

Their skeletons are even more bizarre, almost like a solidified liquid, capable of combining with muscle-like tissues to allow the Eldar to perform actions that humans cannot.

But now, as Komi poked Novia with the short stick, she felt the fat that had grown on her body, which was a burden. Because of its backwardness, it could not integrate its functions and instead differentiated into low-level organs in various parts of the body, as well as the connective tissue that surrounded these organs and had no resilience, which humans called bones.

What have I become?! What am I really?!

Novia wanted to scream, but her heavy breathing choked her throat, leaving her only able to cough.

"It seems you finally understand what a half-spirit means, that's good." Komi sheathed his short stick. He had no interest in teasing Novia, but he had a lot of ideas on how to break down her psychological defenses.

Now it's time to move on to the next step. Komi placed his hand on Novia's face and with a quick grab, pulled Novia's soul out of her body.

This is one of the advantages of half-spirits who are transformed from the spirit race. Their souls are strong, but their bodies are no longer tough, which allows Koga to pull their souls out without killing them or performing rituals.

Holding the soul in his hand, Komi turned and entered the pure white hall. He sat on the throne and left Novia's soul on the ground.

If demons are terrified by the existence of a pure white hall, then an Eldar walking on the path should have a similar reaction.

Komi believed that Novie would fear her as much as she feared Slaanesh, and that this deep fear would teach her humility and obedience, and that she would be loyal to him.

Once such a beginning is established, the remaining Spirit Race will be easier to deal with. They will be transformed into half-spirits, and like crops, their spirituality will be periodically harvested by the Ancients, who will then spend their lives working in the Eye of the Faraway Fortress to adjust their soul paths.

If they absolutely refuse to comply, then we'll just have to kill Zhuzhu; he can't escape anyway.

Ah, what a wonderful idea!

Komi recalled Khorne sitting on the throne, looking arrogant. He leaned against the throne, his eyes slightly open, revealing only a hint of indifference to the suffering of the mortal world, leaving Novia enveloped in an unpredictable silence.

Novia stared blankly at her surroundings. After a long while, she looked up at the throne and saw Komi sitting there, his face obscured by a hazy light, making it impossible for her to see his true appearance.

Who are you? What am I? Where am I...?

Even when making a complex prophecy, Novia had never had so many questions in a single day. She pursed her lips, trying to understand everything around her through her senses alone.

Everything in the pure white hall was so calm and understated; even the resting place for souls in the Ark couldn't compare to the tranquility here.

The atmosphere here is similar to the pale white passage I encountered during my exploration of Blackrock Fortress! And this Sage Otto's knowledge is at a level I can hardly match...

That ancient sage once said: "Eldest son of the ancient sages? How laughable! Who allowed you to call yourselves that? You are not even as perfect as the orcs."