Chapter 70: Self-Service Small Beverage
Raldoron still remembered his childhood, encountering a terrifying xenos whose long tentacles continuously drained his blood. If the Imperial Guard hadn't arrived, he wouldn't be in this world anymore.
At this moment, his entire life flashed before his eyes. If he could choose his life again, he would definitely fight for other rooms.
"Hey! Wake up! Are you okay? It's time to get up and take your medicine."
Francis's hand waved continuously in front of him, and finally Raldoron emerged from the memories of his life replaying.
He struggled to look up and found that Francis wasn't carrying that huge blood pump. At this moment, he showed a long-lost smile.
"Fin... finally, the experiment... is it over?"
Francis stroked his head and said very gently, "Not yet, but don't be afraid. I'll install something on you, and you'll be fine immediately."
As he spoke, Francis produced a dark green piece of flesh from his hand. It had many small suckers and a short spike, and it was still wriggling.
"No! No! What are you doing! Ah ah ah ah ah ah~" Raldoron wanted to raise his hands to resist, but he had no strength.
Soon, a shot of anesthetic was administered, and he fell into unconsciousness.
"This gene enhancer, these are all treasures extracted from your blood."
"You'll thank me when you wake up. I'm doing this all for your own good."
Francis felt misunderstood at this moment, but it didn't matter because he was kind.
As for the warriors in the first three rooms, he had already released them. Overcoming the Red Thirst with willpower alone was indeed not something ordinary people could do. At least this Blood Angel before him had failed.
After settling the three, Francis quietly waited for Raldoron to wake.
A day later, when Raldoron woke, he felt as if a power hammer had struck his head.
"Arghh ~ What..is..this!" Raldoron's eyes suddenly widened as he looked at himself in the mirror, utterly shocked. "I...I also have wings of an angel!"
"So I really am the Father's closest descendant!"
He suddenly stood up, flapped his wings, and immediately flew into the air.
Just then, Francis walked in, looked at him hovering, and immediately held up a cup of crimson blood.
Instantly, Raldoron's bloodthirsty craving was ignited. Just as he was about to go berserk, a sweet taste of blood suddenly appeared in his mouth.
"Hmm?!"
Raldoron, who was flying in the air, immediately descended. Although he was still in a violent and warlike state, and his muscles were even enlarging, he was no longer bloodthirsty, because fresh blood just appeared in his mouth, clear as water.
One could see a green lump of flesh on Raldoron's neck. It was constantly throbbing, continuously spraying blood through the blood vessels connected to his mouth.
"This is an external bio-armor. It can release blood by consuming a small portion of your anger and warlike emotions."
"This way, you don't have to drink blood, and you can still maintain the combat power of the Red Thirst. Moreover, it can support different flavors, various fruits, bitter wine, and so on."
Francis even kindly listed the genetic composition and advantages of this armor.
However, he didn't mention that this thing was like a miniature xenos organism, a living organ. He didn't know if they could accept it.
Raldoron: "..."
Raldoron felt as if his brain was being ground into the floor. This was clearly not a complete solution.
So he hesitated and said, "But we want to completely rid ourselves of the Red Thirst, not become bloodthirsty beasts."
Hearing this, Francis sighed. He didn't understand why others resisted bio-armor, then continued, "I understand, but to completely solve your Red Thirst, you need to modify your gene-seed. This requires Sanguinius to consider carefully before it can be done."
"If you don't want to modify the gene-seed, then you can achieve the conversion of blood-drinking emotions by altering your brain's sensory area, but this cannot be inherited."
"Or you can use the gene enhancer I made. It restores a portion of the Primarch's genome, which can not only gradually weaken the Red Thirst but also strengthen your connection with the Primarch."
"However, it requires long-term consumption, gradually transforming the body. It should be effective after about a year."
"You can choose for yourselves."
"But you know what? I used so much of your blood to restore a portion of the Primarch's genome finally. It's quite complex."
As he spoke, Francis couldn't help but shake his head.
Hearing this, Raldoron almost broke down. "If you want the Primarch's genome, you can find the Primarch directly. Why are you extracting so much from me?"
"I even saw my great-grandmother!"
After he said this, Francis slapped his hand and said in shock, "That's right! I should directly find Sanguinius; that would make it so much easier for me!"
Hearing this answer, Raldoron wanted to kill Francis, but he was a Primarch, and he couldn't defeat him.
He could only grit his teeth and stop thinking about it. It was just a little hardship.
However, he dared not choose such a significant matter as modifying the gene-seed. This could only be decided by the Primarch.
Thinking of this, Raldoron continued, "Then we will return to the Legion and ask the Primarch."
"Okay."
Ultramar Sector
Giant space beacons guided the navigators. The beacons, like stars hanging in the darkness, emitted the blue-white glow of Ultramar, providing precise coordinates for those entering.
On one of these planets, the Lord of Ultramar—Roboute Guilliman, Primarch of the Thirteenth Legion of the Imperium—was methodically dealing with the numerous problems that had erupted due to the warp storm.
A mountain of decrees surrounded him, and his two hands were constantly writing on different documents. Around him, staff officers continuously reported the current situation verbally.
When the question of "Is it too early to establish the Second Empire now?" was mentioned for the seventy-second time, Guilliman sighed helplessly.
"Horus has many ways to destroy the Imperium. He can do it overtly, using force to tear apart the galaxy and the Imperium, but he can also do it through stealth and subterfuge."
"For example, he could declare the establishment of his own empire before the Imperium is even destroyed."
"So I want to tell you that I am not doing this to establish a separate empire, but to preserve a spark for the Imperium of Man."
"And I am not interested in any position in the Imperium—not even the Emperor's."
"On the contrary, I am preparing for the worst-case scenario for the Imperium."
"I am operating with the intention of being the Emperor's last surviving son, letting everyone know that this place is a rallying point for the Imperium of Man."
"To unite the current Ultramar, I must do this!"
The staff officers present felt Guilliman's sincerity. Although they were eager to avenge the Imperium, they also understood that Guilliman was right.
"The Primarch is right! At this time, we need to unite all our strength."
"That's right, the Primarch is not Horus. He will always be loyal to the Imperium!"
"That's right! We should establish the Second Empire!"
"..."
Although Guilliman was pleased they understood when he heard them say this, he still couldn't relax. If this matter truly came to pass, as a Primarch, he would have to avoid consolidating power.
He was still not at ease with the Lord of Macragge, because the man was very enthusiastic and supportive of this proposal, which inevitably made him wonder about the true thoughts of these people.
Just then, an Ultramarine ran in. "Reporting, Primarch, the fleet of the First Legion of the Imperium, the Dark Angels, has arrived here."
"They request to meet with you."
Hearing this, Guilliman immediately put down his work, stood up, and shouted excitedly, "Excellent! Quick! Let's go see him now."
Before he finished speaking, he rushed out.
In the blink of an eye, he arrived at the spaceport where the Dark Angels were docked.
One could see countless carvings of angels, swords, and daemons embedded on the exterior of the Dark Angels' battleship. Many of the angels' expressions were stern and compassionate, symbolizing the secret burden and mission of the Chapter.
However, this was not the time to observe the battleship. His eyes were fixed on the vessel's hatch.
The moment the hatch opened, the majestic Dark Angels Primarch, Lion El'Jonson, emerged like a knight.
The moment he saw the Lion, Guilliman's hands trembled with excitement. The two met, their eyes locking. Although no words were spoken, everything was understood.
Although he wasn't very familiar with the Lion and found the Primarch somewhat mysterious, meeting him at this critical juncture made Guilliman feel incredibly reassured. Before this, he had been silently bearing everything alone.
Now it was different, his brother had arrived!
He specifically invited the Lion to the conference room he had specially built for the Emperor and the Primarchs.
The door closed, leaving only the two brothers in the room. The Lion was not good at expressing himself to begin with. At this moment, the scene was eerily quiet. Even though Guilliman kept giving him meaningful glances, the Lion still didn't speak.
Finally, Guilliman took a deep breath, his mind constantly calculating how to begin. He thought of many opening lines, all of which felt strange.
But he had already decided that there must be a result today.
Then he said to the Lion with extreme seriousness, "I want to establish the Second Empire!"
[End of Chapter]
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