Warhammer: I don't want to become a stinky can!

Page 546

…………

The mist churned, and Mortarian could no longer hold on; his form dissipated.

What he said was true; only the awakened Robert Guilliman could politically rival that newly born demigod.

Makhado...

...Is that being still Makado?

------------

“You’re just having your negative emotions amplified by the warp, my dearest friend,”

Neos said he looked calmly at Macado, appearing confident, but only on the surface; he couldn't even stand up.

Makado also calmly looked at Neos.

"So what is your plan, Neos?"

“I have given them a chance, for thousands of years, for tens of thousands of years. The empire we once built is rotting. I see no hope in this race.”

“This galaxy is decaying,” Macado said. “It’s not humanity’s fault. The Old Ones, the Deathbringers, the Eldar, the Orks… humanity… all races are declining. You can’t build an empire on a collapsing desert.”

"We can rebuild our glory."

The first rays of dawn shimmered on the crown of the Lord of Mankind, and he “saw” the Ministry of the Interior beyond saving… the empire’s largest bureaucracy reduced to ashes, which Macado used to threaten him… with the administrative system of a vast empire.

Beyond Terra, the Emperor's spies have likely infiltrated the management systems of countless Nexus planets as well.

Nios remained silent... Only Macardo would choose this method... So complicated, so hidden in the shadows, those other aspects that go unnoticed... He never directly tackles the war.

Or rather, war was never Macado's first choice.

He knew what Makado wanted to do... He knew it from the fallout of the First Legion... But he also knew... This was normal behavior for someone who had become a so-called "demigod".

He satisfied Macardo's selfish desires; aside from ideals and hopes, he hadn't paid Macardo's salary for a long time.

But Makado did not escape the corruption of the warp.

...Is Mortarion the only one...?

The golden sun burned silently.

He knew what Makado wanted to do...

Having devoured a portion of the authority of the Desire God, as well as the authority of the other three gods, including a part of the imperial authority, the emperor currently holds the position of [Fifth].

He desires to ascend to Godhood.

This is instinct, a kind of subconsciousness; no being tainted by the subspace is spared.

This is the desire one must bear to sit in that position.

But despite being corrupted by it, Makado still retains his own consciousness and goals... The Marksman still harbors the hope of saving humanity... Two emotions and desires mixed together... forging the current [Emperor].

Every step Makado takes starts with the intention of doing good, but is accomplished through a mixture of desire and malice.

The Emperor knew what Macardo wanted.

Whether it's "ascension to godhood," or more than just "ascension to godhood"...

He hopes for a "restart".

The chaos in the subspace also follows the laws of the subspace, first [nine], then [eight], [seven], [six], [five]...

This is the countdown to utter chaos and complete depravity.

The outbreak of the War of Heaven began this countdown: nine, eight, seven... The fall of the Eldar accelerated its progress, six; the Great Rebellion forced him to release Macado, five.

As the countdown to the High Heaven begins, everything in the physical universe declines, and with each additional false god, the spirit of all things becomes more chaotic.

As the newest being, the Emperor wishes to end all of this.

His insane plan.

The Emperor hopes to climb back to where he started, step by step.

Five, six, seven, eight, nine...

Reverse the countdown, and finally [reboot] the two worlds to rebuild humanity.

Liberate humanity from its very roots.

And what He desires to do... is to devour, starting with the fifth, devouring the Heaven of Lust, then the Heaven of Decay... Neos glanced subtly at Macado's right arm, and finally the Heaven of Usurpation.

He ascends step by step to the ultimate godhood and then restarts the entire universe.

……it's out of the question.

Because no one knows what will happen when the count reaches nine.

It could be a reboot, or it could be complete destruction... or it could even be utter chaos and disorder.

At the same time... no being can withstand the power of multiple gods, which would drive him into complete madness and chaos.

More power is never necessarily better.

This is nothing more than a murmur sung by the desires of the subspace.

Blinded by the warp, Makado could no longer see this. Neos, his eyes filled with sorrow, believed he was trying to save humanity, but was simultaneously driven by his desires... all the way to the abyss.

“Humanity can no longer return to the level of technology it once had,” Makado said. “...that’s a fact.”

"Iron Man is destined to be a dead end. Humanity has been on a dead end for too long, but now we no longer have the capital to make mistakes. Humanity is dead."

Even if the current human ruler rises again and commands the empire once more, can this race prosper once more?

They had already done something similar ten thousand years ago.

The Lords of Man developed Primarchs, Thunder Warriors, Space Marines... but it was still a drop in the ocean. The technology that truly liberated productivity had not yet appeared, and human thought remained ignorant in the Middle Ages. The most efficient method was still archaeology.

However, most of the technologies discovered through archaeology need to be either censored or abandoned due to the Iron Man rebellion and the corrosion of the subspace.

Humans today are not the same as they were back then. After a long period of darkness, countless tech fanatics have turned their scalpels into the human genome—humans today are more "subspace-like," more ignorant, and more extreme...

Humanity is dead.

"You're too pessimistic."

Nios said, staring calmly at Macado.

Even so, humanity remains the dominant species in this galaxy, and time will prove our success.

Macado gave a mocking laugh.

"The Fear of Death is about to awaken, and Tyrande is about to arrive in the galaxy... Do you really think humanity can stand against them?"

“He’s back,” Neos said. “The Primarchs will also return to the Imperium. It may be difficult, but humanity will prosper forever.”

Macado gave a bitter smile and took another sip of tea.

"In the end, we still have to rely on those few beings from ten thousand years ago. You should admit that no more heroes have emerged among humankind."

“Ten thousand years,” Neos said, “The Empire has never lacked heroes—but you seem to have taken most of them away?”

"It wasn't me who took them away; I just took in heroes who had nowhere else to turn."

Makado said the bracelet on his wrist was radiant, each gem sparkling with the light of a noble soul.

“The empire we’ve built,” Macado said, “can’t even accommodate a few aging heroes. You should know how many were driven to their deaths by their own kind—”

Macado spread his hands. "Let me make it clear, I'm not targeting them. This is just a natural occurrence."

“I believe you,” Neos said, staring into Macado’s eyes, but seeing only a fleeting, illusory light.

"With such a vast territory, we must admit that things cannot be perfect, and I am not omnipotent."

“But these things happen far too often,” Macado said. “This is not accidental, it is inevitable… Neos, you know this. Stop protecting this race that hides under your wings. They may still seem to be shining, but that is only because they are using your light.”

“No,” Neos shook his head, “my power comes from them, my light is a gift from them.”

Makado stared at Neos and said, enunciating each word clearly,

"But if humanity is destroyed, you will not die, Lord of humanity."

"You will only ascend to godhood, Neos."

Neos laughed, then shook his head.

“There is no necessary connection between the two, Makado. If I am destroyed, humanity will not perish.”

“No,” Macado said, “humanity will perish. They will destroy themselves, consuming each other, dying out—every time it’s you or the Primarch who step forward. Stop playing this futile and useless game, Neos. We have the opportunity to end this process directly.”

“There is no one-size-fits-all solution here,” Neos closed his eyes. “There is no perfect solution, no clean and simple end… at least not for you and me.”

Makado laughed.

"Therefore, introducing the term 'deceased' is feasible."

“He won’t choose you,” Neos said. “He won’t approve of you, Macado. Your plan will fail in the end. You’ve just been deceived.”

A meaningful smile appeared on Makado's lips.

"Why should I tell it my plans, Neos?"

"Only you know my plan. Perhaps even the dull-witted Killieman has sensed something—but I think... you won't tell him."

Neos gazed calmly at Macado.

"You're threatening me."

"I'm threatening you."

The emperor said, laughing, "Otherwise, why would I light this fire?"

If the Emperor disagrees, even Hades himself would be unable to completely paralyze the Empire's administration under the Emperor's forceful intervention.

But at this stage... if Macardo wants to realize His plan, then the Empire must maintain the status quo.

However, the absolute prerequisite for Macardo's plan to be implemented is that he gains Hades' trust.

Pluto cannot be fooled by the warp; ordinary methods never work on him.

Neos remained silent, gazing at Macado.

The trust he once had betrayed him.

This is not the first time.

At least this time... the Emperor "looked" at the Nirvana System that was approaching Terra.

He had some measures to salvage the situation.

"...At least for now, we're on the same path, Makado."

Nios said, "Neither you nor I want to see the empire fall now."

"But I will not utter a single testimony for the lies."

"I will earn its trust."

"It's here," Macado said.

Yay, it's gone!

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My back has been hurting terribly these past few days... It hurts whether I'm sitting, lying down, or standing... and I keep having to go to the bathroom... to make matters worse, I have a physical exam tomorrow...

I really can't take it anymore.

I'm starting to question the meaning of life.

Life can be really tough sometimes (sigh) T_T

Red bean paste.

I'm also sorry that as a lowly writer, I can only manage four words a day TAT. I envy those who can write 10,000 words a day, but I really can't squeeze out that many words.

Because I'm so exhausted from writing every day that I can barely breathe, I haven't spoken much in a long time...

T_T

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