Khan stood quietly to one side, observing the expressions on the faces of Karkullis, Samuel, and Phoros.
Only now did he fully grasp what Roya intended to do.
This technology was incredibly cruel and dangerously unstable.
More importantly, this brutal method of mass-producing Space Marines directly violated the Codex Astartes, personally written by Primarch Roboute Guilliman.
If news of this ever reached Terra, the High Lords of Terra would undoubtedly brand the Lamenters as heretics and order their immediate extermination.
Khan opened his mouth to object.
But when his gaze fell upon Roya’s calm expression…
The words died in his throat.
He had personally witnessed the Emperor’s divine light descending upon this man.
The Codex Astartes had been written by a Primarch.
Yet the man before him carried the Emperor’s own blessing.
Khan silently chose the latter.
“Phoros.” Roya paid no attention to Khan’s internal struggle.
“The large-scale cultivation of gene-seed will be entrusted entirely to the Lamenters.” “If you require materials, take whatever you need from the storage chests beside the mob farms.” Phoros immediately knelt.
“My lord!” “The Lamenters will forge an invincible army of Adeptus Astartes for you!” Roya nodded before turning toward Titus.
“One more thing.” He pointed toward Titus’ neck.
“Titus hasn’t completed all nineteen implantations yet, but his cervical progenoid gland should already be fully mature.” “Samuel.” “Harvest it.” “It will become the first cultivated gene-seed.” The corner of Khan’s mouth twitched.
Using an Ultramarines gene-seed to expand the Lamenters…
Normally…
That suggestion alone would have started a civil war between Chapters.
He instinctively wanted to protest.
Instead…
He merely sighed.
Phoros and Karkullis noticed Khan’s silence.
Seeing that even the Ultramarine veteran no longer objected…
Their final hesitation disappeared.
The Apothecaries immediately began preparing the surgical equipment.
After arranging everything, Roya stepped outside.
Titus immediately approached and presented seven gray-white fragments.
“My lord.” “These dropped from the Contemptor Dreadnought.” “Excellent.” Roya’s eyes brightened.
He opened his inventory.
The seven newly acquired fragments merged with the three obtained earlier.
Ding!
The ten fragments fused together.
A dark golden blueprint appeared.
[Blueprint Acquired: Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought] Roya immediately examined the crafting recipe.
Required Materials4 Iron Blocks — Main chassis6 Obsidian — Reinforced armor plating5 Iron Ingots — Structural joints2 Observers — Neural sensors and visual systems2 Redstone Blocks — Core power source4 Pistons — Hydraulic actuators2 Dispensers — Weapon mounting systems2 Iron Nuggets — Precision mechanical components Roya stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Iron…
Redstone…
Iron blocks…
Those were plentiful.
But one ingredient immediately caught his attention.
Observers.
As an experienced Minecraft player…
He knew exactly what they required.
Nether Quartz.
And Nether Quartz only existed in one place.
The Nether.
“It looks like…” “It’s time for a trip.” He closed the interface before glancing toward Magos Hades, who was still lying on the ground, endlessly broadcasting corrupted binary.
Roya turned toward Tech-Priest Cape Town-3.
“Cape Town.” “Help your colleague recover.” “He’ll be useful later.” “Yes, my lord!” Cape Town-3 immediately rushed over.
Roya turned toward several Imperial Guardsmen who had already been converted into villagers.
“Start digging.” “Dig straight down until you reach lava.” “Collect every bucket of lava you find.” Without hesitation…
The villagers became efficient mining machines.
Protected by Minecraft’s mechanics…
They had no fear of cave-ins or death.
Soon…
Buckets of bubbling lava were carried back to the surface.
Rather than constructing the portal underground…
Roya deliberately chose the center of the fortified camp.
The Nether would become a permanent resource zone.
A surface entrance would be much easier to defend.
He alternated lava and water with practiced efficiency.
Steam hissed into the air.
Blocks of deep purple-black Obsidian appeared one after another.
Within minutes…
A massive obsidian frame stood proudly in the middle of the ruins.
Ten blocks high.
Ten blocks wide.
Even before activation…
It radiated an overwhelming sense of mystery.
Returning to the workbench…
Roya combined an iron ingot with a piece of flint.
Click.
A Flint and Steel appeared in his hand.
Nearby…
Titus…
Khan…
And Sister-Captain Ilya silently watched the enormous obsidian gateway.
Even they felt an inexplicable pressure.
“My lord…” Ilya unconsciously gripped the pendant hanging around her neck.
Her voice carried both reverence and unease.
“What lies beyond this magnificent black gate?” Roya smiled mischievously.
“The entrance…” “…to Hell.” The words had barely left his mouth.
“What?!” Ilya’s expression changed dramatically.
She immediately drew her power sword.
The six Battle Sisters behind her instantly entered combat stance.
“Hell?” “Do you mean the Warp?” “The realm of Chaos?” Titus and Khan likewise raised their grenade launchers.
Their eyes remained fixed upon the massive obsidian frame.
As though a Greater Daemon might emerge at any second.
Seeing everyone’s reactions…
Roya burst into laughter.
“Relax.” “I’m joking.” “This isn’t the Warp.” “It’s simply another dimension.” “A place filled with lava…” “…and valuable minerals.” Only then did everyone finally relax.
Roya raised the Flint and Steel.
Click.
A shower of sparks ignited the inside of the frame.
The next moment…
A deep, resonant hum echoed across the ruins.
The empty gateway instantly filled with a slowly rotating curtain of violet energy.
Purple ripples flowed endlessly across its surface.
A faint scent of sulfur drifted through the air.
The Nether Portal had been activated.
“Titus.” “Khan.” “Bring three more Space Marines who have already been converted into villagers.” “Full equipment.” “We’re going in.” Roya drew his Iron Sword.
Without hesitation…
He stepped into the swirling purple portal.
Titus followed immediately.
Khan came next.
Behind them…
Three Lamenters wearing Indomitable Terminator Armor entered the portal in silence.
The violet surface rippled like water.
One after another…
The five figures disappeared.
Outside the portal…
Ilya and the Battle Sisters remained on guard.
Although Roya had assured them this wasn’t the Warp…
The scorching heat and strange energy radiating from the gateway still made every instinct in their bodies scream with warning.
Without lowering their weapons…
They silently stood watch over the mysterious portal like statues.