章 7: Different Of World
Deep within Kayvaan Shrike's spirit, a different scene played out. Joe sat in the ethereal world of pure thought, surrounded by shelves filled with Kayvaan Shrike's memories. Here, every event of Kayvaan's life existed as a book. Whenever Joe opened one, he opened a window into Kayvaan's past.
The human mind is a strange thing. Knowledge is never truly lost—it's simply misplaced, hidden in the labyrinth of thought. In this spiritual realm, Joe had access to it all.
With nothing else to do in this timeless space, Joe spent his days reading. At first, he delved into books about the galaxy and its history, driven by curiosity about this strange new place. He didn't know if he'd ever wake up in Kayvaan's body, but if he did, he wanted to understand the galaxy he'd find himself in.
The books were written in beautiful but unfamiliar characters. Strangely, though he couldn't recognize the script, the knowledge flowed into him effortlessly, as if the words spoke directly to his soul. Each page revealed wonders, horrors, and complexities of a universe far beyond his imagination. Through Kayvaan's memories, Joe explored a new galaxy—and in doing so, began to see his own existence in a different light.
If humanity in Joe's original world was like a toddler just learning to walk, then in this universe, humanity had grown into a war-hardened veteran, bearing the scars of endless trials. In Joe's world, human civilization had barely scratched the surface, boasting only 5,000 years of recorded history. But here, humanity carried the weight of a staggering 40,000 years of existence. Such an overwhelming span of time, brimming with triumphs and tragedies, made Joe marvel at its gravity.
In this galaxy, humanity had once been the dominant force. During its golden age, humans unlocked the secrets of Warp navigation, enabling them to traverse vast distances at unimaginable speeds. Their colonies stretched across the stars, spreading the mark of humanity throughout the galaxy. Yet this golden age was short-lived. The universe soon revealed its horrors—a catastrophic series of Warp storms swept across the galaxy, severing the vital pathways of interstellar travel.
The storms shattered the grand human empire in an instant. Isolated colonies, cut off from civilization, began to regress. Some were destroyed by alien predators, while others vanished entirely. The galaxy descended into chaos. Civil wars erupted, rebellions flared, alien invasions threatened humanity's survival, and it teetered on the brink of extinction.
Then, everything changed with the arrival of the Emperor of Mankind. This marked the dawn of a new era, one of unity and resurgence. The Emperor, a figure of unparalleled charisma, vision, and power, united Terra under his rule and forged an alliance with the Mechanicum of Mars. The Warp storms subsided, and the pathways of interstellar travel reopened. Under the Emperor's guidance, humanity rebuilt its colonies and expanded its reach across the stars. The Great Crusade, a 200-year-long campaign, began, with the Emperor leading humanity to reclaim its lost glory.
It was a time of legends. Lost colonies were reclaimed, alien empires were subjugated or annihilated, and humanity's dominion reached heights unseen since the golden age. The Emperor's victories were celebrated on countless worlds, his achievements immortalized in towering monuments and endless proclamations. This was the Imperium's renaissance, heralded by the Emperor's vision and unyielding will.
At the forefront of this age were the Primarchs—the Emperor's genetically engineered sons, each a paragon of human potential. These Primarchs commanded the Space Marine Legions, elite transhuman warriors capable of defeating entire armies. Thousands of Space Marines marched under the banners of their respective Primarchs, waging war in the Emperor's name.
Among them, Horus Lupercal stood above the rest. Known as the Warmaster, the Emperor's chosen general, and the most trusted of his sons, Horus commanded half of the Imperium's military might. He was a peerless warrior, a masterful strategist, and the architect of countless victories. But his name would forever be entwined with rebellion and treachery.
Joe, deep in thought, couldn't help but question the Emperor's decision. "Why did the Emperor entrust so much power to Horus?" he asked. "Even with the utmost respect for the Emperor, wasn't this a mistake? Shouldn't the Emperor have implemented some kind of safeguard for such a massive force?"
Kayvaan Shrike, who had seen the glory and despair of those days, sighed. "It's not as simple as it looks, Joe. The Emperor trusted his sons, and Horus was the one he trusted the most. But you need to understand—wars in the Imperium are nothing like wars on Earth. They don't happen on a single planet or even in a single star system. They're expeditions spanning the galaxy, with frontlines so far from Terra that central control is practically impossible. Decisions on the battlefield can't wait for orders from home. It's like the old days of Earth's cavalry warfare, where generals had to act without waiting for messengers to return from the capital."
Kayvaan paused, letting Joe absorb the comparison, before continuing. "Now, replace those horses with starships traveling tens of thousands of light-years. That's the reality of interstellar war. Trust in the generals becomes paramount, and Horus was the Emperor's most capable and trusted general."
Joe nodded thoughtfully. "I see. But did Horus's rebellion succeed?"
"Of course not!" Kayvaan's voice was firm, his expression resolute. "His Majesty the Emperor is invincible. You doubt this because you haven't seen what I've seen. When you witness the memories of my battles, you'll understand. The Emperor's presence on the battlefield is enough to end any conflict. No force in the universe can stand against him—not even the so-called gods of Chaos."
Kayvaan's gaze grew distant, his voice softer yet filled with pride. "The days when the Emperor led us were unlike anything you can imagine. Victory after victory, glory upon glory—we crushed every alien race in our path. We extinguished every threat before it could take root. Humanity was destined to rule the galaxy. To serve the Emperor wasn't just an honor—it was the greatest privilege any warrior could hope for."
Joe leaned closer, intrigued. "Is there any proof beyond just stories of how powerful the Emperor really was?"
Kayvaan smirked, as if the question amused him. "Proof? Joe, the Emperor himself is proof. His strength, his will, his vision—those were the pillars that rebuilt humanity. Once you see for yourself, there won't be any room for doubt."
"Of course, if Horus had won in the end, we wouldn't even be having this conversation."
"Why?"
"Because a normal human body—even mine, with all the surgical modifications—can't last thousands of years without falling apart. If my body hadn't been preserved in the Sanctum of the Honored Dead, we'd have been doomed long ago." Kayvaan Shrike paused as if to gauge Joe's reaction. Noticing Joe's lingering curiosity, he continued before Joe could ask another question. "As for knowledge about the Sanctum, you'll have the chance to look into it yourself later. Right now, let's put the books aside and focus on something that actually matters."
"Something that matters?" Joe tilted his head in confusion.
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