Bang!
Kahn’s bolt pistol snapped upward, its massive barrel aimed directly at Roya’s forehead.
The remaining Ultramarines immediately raised their boltguns, while the surviving Imperial Guardsmen leveled their lasguns.
Dozens of red targeting beams converged upon Roya’s blocky iron armor.
The atmosphere instantly froze.
Then— Without warning— A blinding golden radiance erupted from Roya’s body.
This was no ordinary light.
It carried a pressure that reached directly into the soul—warm, majestic, supreme, and utterly inviolable.
The dark underhive was illuminated as brightly as daylight.
The Orks’ blood and corpses scattered across the battlefield sizzled beneath the holy radiance before dissolving into ash.
Faintly, a solemn choir echoed through the air.
Kahn’s pupils contracted violently.
The hand gripping his pistol began to tremble.
Every Space Marine would recognize that power.
It was engraved into their very gene-seed.
The divine presence of the Master of Mankind.
“…The Emperor…” Kahn’s voice quivered.
Without the slightest hesitation, he holstered his bolt pistol before dropping heavily onto one knee.
Thud.
His actions became a signal.
The surviving Ultramarines immediately followed.
Nearby Imperial Guardsmen fell to their knees one after another like a line of collapsing dominos.
Many wept openly.
Weapons were discarded.
Hands crossed over chests.
Every pair of eyes was filled with reverence as they bowed toward the figure standing at the center of the golden light.
Roya remained expressionless.
Outwardly, he looked solemn and dignified.
Internally, however…
“So…
the old man on the Golden Throne finally noticed me.” Only one being in the Imperium could release such overwhelming psychic light.
The Emperor Himself.
Whether this was acknowledgement…
A warning…
Or simply a test…
Roya couldn’t tell.
But regardless of the reason— It was exactly the endorsement he needed.
The holy radiance lasted barely a dozen seconds before flowing back into his body.
Darkness once again reclaimed the ruins.
Yet the atmosphere had completely changed.
Every soldier now looked at Roya with burning devotion.
Reverence.
Fanaticism.
Absolute trust.
“Sir!” Kahn stood and saluted.
His voice rang like a great bell.
“Sergeant Kahn of the Ultramarines Ninth Company, reporting for duty!” Beside him, Titus immediately knelt on one knee.
“Scout Titus, awaiting your orders.” Roya merely nodded.
His gaze swept across the kneeling soldiers.
“Stand.” “Report the current situation.” Kahn rose immediately.
“The outer defensive line has completely collapsed.” “Approximately twelve thousand Imperial Guardsmen remain combat-effective in this sector.” “Behind us lies an underground shelter housing nearly five million civilians.” “The Orks destroyed the communications relay.” “We’ve completely lost contact with the fleet in orbit.” “Our ammunition is nearly exhausted.” “We’re out of medical supplies.” “And no reinforcements are coming.” Twelve thousand exhausted soldiers…
Holding the line for five million civilians…
Against an endless Ork Waaagh.
Roya rubbed his chin.
His tone remained calm.
“Then we’ll solve the problem ourselves.” Just then, something caught his attention.
Above the corpse of the dead Ork Boss floated two metallic blue fragments.
They slowly rotated in midair, emitting a faint purple glow.
Roya immediately walked over.
At the same time— Titus stared at the exact same spot.
Shock flashed across his face.
“…You can see them too?” Roya looked back.
“Yes, sir.” Titus pointed toward the floating objects.
“Those two metal fragments…” “What are they?” Roya smiled faintly.
This was one of the privileges granted to Villagers.
After being converted by the system, Titus’s perception had become synchronized with Minecraft’s mechanics.
Like a player, he could now see dropped items.
Everyone else remained oblivious.
Roya reached out.
Pop.
The fragments disappeared into his inventory.
Opening the interface, he examined the new item.
[Damaged Mk VII “Aquila” Power Armor Fragment] Rarity: Epic A fragment of an Imperial Mk VII Aquila Power Armor Standard Template.
Collect 3 fragments to synthesize: [Mk VII Aquila Power Armor Manufacturing Blueprint] Once unlocked, the blueprint can be used with a Crafting Table to manufacture complete suits of Mk VII Power Armor.
Roya’s eyes lit up.
“Excellent.” A grin spread across his face.
“One more fragment…” “And we’ll have a complete manufacturing blueprint.” “…Blueprint?” Titus immediately caught the key word.
His gaze slowly shifted toward Sergeant Kahn.
More specifically— Toward the battered Mk VII power armor covering Kahn’s body.
“Lord Roya…” Titus lowered his voice.
“If the blueprint can be reverse-engineered…” “…then Sergeant Kahn’s armor should count as another fragment, shouldn’t it?” Kahn stood there completely bewildered.
He couldn’t see the dropped items.
Nor did he understand what Roya and Titus meant by fragments or blueprints.
But seeing Titus stare at his armor with the same expression someone might reserve for valuable salvage…
The veteran frowned.
“Scout…” “What exactly are you looking at?” Before Titus could answer, Roya spoke first.
“Kahn.” He pointed toward the Space Marine’s armor.
“I need your power armor.” Kahn froze.
For an Astartes…
Power armor was more than equipment.
It was their second skin.
Their honor.
Their identity.
To surrender it…
Was almost unimaginable.
“…Sir…” His expression immediately became conflicted.
Roya calmly explained, “I don’t need it permanently.” “I need it as the final reference needed to complete a manufacturing blueprint.” “It functions similarly to an STC.” “…STC?!” Kahn’s voice nearly cracked.
A Standard Template Construct.
The greatest technological treasure in the Imperium.
The Adeptus Mechanicus had spent ten thousand years searching for lost STCs.
Even a partial discovery could trigger wars across entire sectors.
“And that’s not all.” Roya smiled.
“Once the blueprint is complete…” “I’ll be able to manufacture Mk VII power armor whenever I want.” He looked directly at Kahn.
“So don’t worry about losing this damaged suit.” “If everything succeeds…” “I can make you a brand-new suit.” “As many as you need.” Kahn’s throat bobbed.
He swallowed hard.
A brand-new suit of Mk VII power armor…
Whenever he wanted?
That promise was so absurd…
That even a veteran Space Marine found it difficult to believe.