บท 173: Chapter 164 Please Don't Kneel to Me
Broken walls and ruins, the land filled with craters. Savage scars spread across this battlefield.
After following the main force and watching Mortarion lead the team to watch the spectacles for a few days, when Apothecary Leo was no longer paying much attention to Hades, Hades decisively took a squad to return to the region with the Necron tomb complexes, intending to dig out the things the Eternal Collector Trazyn promised him.
Hades led the squad to approach the tomb complexes, avoiding the personnel of the Adeptus Mechanicus. He stood before a Blackstone, looking thoughtfully at the lightning crater before him.
The out-of-control scene from the other day seemed to replay before his eyes. Hades first had the Death Guards with him go to the side to wait. He needed to recall...
Scythe in hand, Hades stretched out a hand and stared blankly at it.
Back then, it seemed like he could briefly wield the Void Dragon's power?
Green lightning rent the black and white space. The god who controlled physical laws had skimmed across the surface of reality for an instant.
The Void Dragon could control the Blackstones. And he...could probably borrow that power? Hades inclined his ear to listen. These rocks were resonating with him.
But how did he bring out that power?
Hades looked at his hand, trying to imagine himself as one of those mages who could rub out spheres with their bare hands. What did it feel like...There seemed to be a stream of air on his hand—
Hades tried holding his breath for a while, attempting all kinds of mystic arts with no results.
Uh. Should he should consult the repositories? But this power was completely different from psychic might.
Oh well. He'd try again himself. The Death Guards waiting for him over there to dig graves were getting impatient.
However, just as Hades lifted his foot, about to leave—
[Great One!!!]
From the broken wall beside the tomb complex, a Tech-Priest draped in a blood-red robe directly popped out!
Hymns sounded, incense billowed forth. That Tech-Priest from Graia directly kneeled towards Hades with a thump—
What the f*ck!
Tech-Priest why are you doing this?!
Although as a Legionary, moreover one of the Death Guard elites, generally his standing would be quite high.
But there's no need to straight up kneel! Moreover, this Tech-Priest's posture wasn't an ordinary kneel of respect! It was that kind with religious meaning!
Hades reacted quickly to hurriedly help that Tech-Priest up. Although the Tech-Priest's appearance was nothing special, his strength wasn't small. Hades almost couldn't get him to stand.
Hades silently looked upon this Tech-Priest from Graia. This sudden situation gave him no idea whether to say "Sir you have the wrong person" or "Sir there is no need for such grand courtesy."
But the one thing he completely forgot was to cut off this Tech-Priest's communication channel.
[Praise be to the Omnissiah!]
The Tech-Priest's ecstatic voice exploded from the communication channels. In an instant, within Hades' sight appeared no less than ten red figures—
Every one of them were acolytes crying out verses, broadcasting hymns.
They were the Tech-Priests who witnessed Hades' epiphany before he lost consciousness that day. They were also considered the faction who rather believed in the doctrines.
What nonsense was happening now?! Hades felt his hair stand on end.
Hades watched with widening eyes as a bunch of acolytes suddenly popped up from the flat ground. Seeing him, these Tech-Priests immediately kneeled, preparing to worship.
"No kneeling."
Although Hades maintained the posture of propping up that Tech-Priest, his spoken words were calm and low, as if he already grasped everything.
But Hades was screaming internally. What's this situation?! The frantic Hades could only start by saying no one should kneel first.
Compared to the screaming Hades, those Tech-Priests were ecstatic.
The avatar of the divine was truly magnanimous! He even personally helped up the first believer who found Him. His calm words that contained wisdom were direct orders.
Those previously kneeling, preparing to kneel, all stood up, gazing at this Great One curiously and devoutly.
In principle, the Omnissiah was that Great One on Mars, the divine would descend among the world when the red rain fell on Mars.
But for other Forge Worlds, Mars did not have absolute dominion. The various major Forge Worlds were actually independent of Mars.
Not just the forges, but the faith as well.
Compared to the Cult Mechanicus on Mars, the faiths on other Forge Worlds were greatly diverse, though the general doctrines and core would not change.
But His Majesty on Terra was far away. The miracle of the Emperor descending on Mars, traveling through the endless layers of space and time, no longer held the same earth-shattering impact.
As such, for the Cult Mechanicus on other Forge Worlds, some believed greatly in the propaganda from Mars and the Imperium, some only had a vague faith — the related education system wasn't actually prevalent at all.
Therefore, for matters of faith in the Cult Mechanicus, it was like the acolytes's own understanding towards the cable layouts within their bodies — exotic and unique, each having special characteristics.
But no matter how exotic, the members of the Cult Mechanicus still commonly believed one thing — the avatar of the Motive Force shall descend in a sign of divinity.
Clearly, the Tech-Priests had interpreted Hades' near-death outburst to be a miracle from God.
If looking deeper for the reason, the initial birth of the Cult Mechanicus itself came from within the Void Dragon's dreams. Their so-called truth was actually the laws controlled by the Void Dragon. And Hades was force-fed a bite of the Void Dragon by His Majesty.
Scrutinizing strictly, Hades actually could be called a *False Omnissiah to some degree.
And after suffering the mental shock of suddenly having a bunch of people kneel before you, Hades had a change in perspective as well.
He recalled his last memory before losing consciousness. Could it be these Tech-Priests saw him wield the power of the Void Dragon?
Hm. But Hades most likely can't replicate that scene now.
But seeing how devoutly these Tech-Priests were looking at him, plus the Death Guard just happened to lack a closely cooperative Forge World...
Hades sucked in a breath. He really wasn't cut out for this, but still had to keep up the act.
And he wasn't actually lying to them! In a certain sense, he was the avatar (took a bite out of) of the Motive Force (Void Dragon).
Hades looked towards the Tech-Priest he was propping up. After confirming this guy wouldn't kneel anymore, he let go.
"Why have you come looking for me?"
Now it was the Tech-Priest's turn to be astonished. He hadn't thought that much about it. Seeing someone display divinity, he went to worship. Was he supposed to need a reason?
The Archmagi taught that this should be done!
But now the God asked him. His logic engines whirled in thought. He stutteringly responded.
"We believers have come seeking the truth of the world, compelled by Your summons."
Soft gasps arose from the other Tech-Priests craning their necks in anticipation. They marveled at their companion's audacity and directness, while also curious of the God's response.
Hades fell silent. He suddenly recalled that pretentious preaching wasn't his forte.
Hades started trying hard to remember how Auntie from the flea market preached, as well as those theology lessons back on Mars.
For a time, the only sound across the open space was the ticking cog sounds from the Tech-Priests.
Hades deeply inhaled, speaking as solemnly as he could.
"I'm gratified to know your persistence towards pursuing truth."
"But unfortunately, I only wield a fraction of His power. Moreover, the times have declined, truth is obscured, chaos watches. Thus I need to conceal myself from the world, unable to directly lead you all."
What Hades said was all true! He wasn't lying to them! None at all!
The solemn, low voice echoed. All of the Tech-Priests listened silently.
The God said He was weak, but in everyone's mind replayed the seemingly heaven-piercing epiphany, that feeling of being wrapped in knowledge.
So this was weakness?
How powerful must the true divine be?!
The people became immersed in the recent teachings, engines dutifully recording and disassembling each word, hoping to decode more valuables from this speech on their own.
Seeing it go silent again, Hades started breaking out in cold sweat from awkwardness. F*ck, don't tell him he got exposed. His social life would be completely dead.
In the end, it was still the Tech-Priest before Hades who broke the silence. Hades sincerely thanked him from the bottom of his heart —
"Great One, please pardon my impudence."
Hades nodded. That was permission enough.
"Are you currently concealing Yourself within the XIV Legion?"
Hades blanked for a second, but still nodded.
That Tech-Priest heavily lowered his head, seemingly performing a strange bow.
"Then please allow us to think about what we can do for Your Legion."
Hades rejoiced wildly. He took the bait!
The logic engines of the Tech-Priest across from him were also whirling excitedly. In truth, a mere Tech-Priest couldn't reach the top administrative layer that decided a Forge World's partnerships with Legions.
But the Tech-Priest knew his superiors were already discussing partnering with a Legion.
Graia originally wanted to cooperate with the similarly mechanically-skilled Iron Warriors, but Perturabo's attitude towards the Archmagi dashed Graia's intentions.
Some Magi suggested the Death Guard, while other Magi advised waiting instead.
But looking at Hades...The Tech-Priest knew — his chance for promotion came.
O God, please pardon my tremendously impudent thoughts.
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