-M29. 671. Terra. Imperial Palace-
The Imperial Palace is the most complex planetary building in the entire Imperium. Its maze-like structure is designed to be not only a trap for intruders but also serve as a marvel of human and Silica Intelligent. Filled with nearly infinite psychic wards, the Imperial Palace connected directly with the Golden Throne. Thus, the purified Warp energy born from the Anathemathic power of the Emperor finds its way across Terra.
It was an ever-present power of the Emperor, a reminder of his strength and might.
Within this encompassing benevolent light, the Imperial Citizen can sleep peacefully. Their soul shall be protected like countless others in the Sea of Souls by the Emperor's light.
It was also the warm presence felt by the Imperial's guests. It was a gentle embrace that shielded them from horrors that haunted them in darkness.
Tuka, Lelei, and Rory felt the presence even further, given their status as the most warp sensitives in the group.
"The light... It fell warm." Lelei remarked, glancing at her palm.
"It would be the light of Astronomicon, Lelei Lelena," Malcador said; keep walking forward.
"Astronomicon?" She asked, feeling intrigued.
"The light of the Emperor's psychic might," Malcador said slowly. "It was a beacon that shines in every human's soul, protecting them in the form of Anathematic power."
Lelei was only left with questions in her head, unable to find answers to satisfy her thirst for knowledge.
"You want an answer. Am I wrong, Lelei Lelena?" The ancient psyker asked.
"Yes, Lord Malcador." The blue-haired mage answered bluntly.
"Be patience, Lelei Lelena. Your journey to Prospero will answer that question." The High Lord smiled under his hood.
"I want to ask, Lord Malcador," Pina asked.
"Ask anyway, Princess."
Pina swallowed her saliva, strengthening her mental fortitude. "With my humblest intention, may I know what kind of man the Emperor of Mankind is?"
It was a nearly suicidal question. Pina is utterly aware of this fact, but he decides to ask it. She might be foolish, as this foolishness shall answer her curiosity.
"Curiosity kills the cat. But the satisfaction brought it back." The ancient man said with a hearty chuckle.
Only the Japanese can understand the idiom; others titled their heads in confusion.
"Soon, your answer will come, Princess," Malcador said, slightly turning his head to the red-haired Saderan.
As they walk deeper into the Imperial Palace, the sheer presence of Anathematic energy becomes denser.
Unlike others, Rory can feel her connection with her god dwindle. It did not take her a long time to realize the unknown energy of the Emperor caused this.
The vast presence who is capable of slowly grinding her divine connection.
"Rory, are you okay?" Tuka asked the Apostle.
"I-I'm fine." She replied, smiling weakly.
There is no power this mighty that can burn another god's power. Something about this Emperor seemingly did not fit with the Apostle—Anathema, a name that brought shivers to her spine.
"I think now would be safe," Malcador said, stopping his step.
"Lord Malcador?" Aizawa asked about the sudden change by the old psyker.
"Imperial Palace is an intricate place. It was designed to be a place where humanity's mastery over architecture stands at its finest. Therefore, Imperial Palace held countless mysteries that my own mind couldn't imagine," Malcador tapped his staff at the metal floor. "One such thing is nearly endless passages hidden inside the Master of Mankind's house."
The golden wall in front of Lord Sigilite seemingly melted, forming a bright light of a teleporter. The power emitted from this teleporter is vastly different from the Prometheus Arcology.
It felt warm and embracing, lacking any uneasy sentiment from an ordinary teleporter.
"It will lead us directly to the Senatorum Imperalis. It is where we, High Lords and the Emperor, held judge." Malcador informed them neutrally. "Mind your words wisely, as your species' fate is on your shoulders."
They steeled their hearts and minds. One step forward will lead to either their damnation or salvation.
"I guess it is our journey for tomorrow," Itami remarked.
The group nodded their heads in determination. With one step and their future will be unfolded. The fate of millions of people marks the burden of their resolve.
Malcador can peer into their minds using his psychic power, like when he read countless ancient scriptures in the Library Sanctus. Their innocents and ingenuity made the ancient man smile genuinely.
"I will be the first, then." Malcador stepped into the teleporter, vanishing in a trace of golden light.
Without further ado, the rest followed the Sigiliate to the teleporter. With a bright brilliance, they are blinded.
They open their eyes, and now they have appeared in a grand hall. It was utterly massive, decorated with artistic beauty. The golden Aquila of the Imperium is carved proudly on the wall.
Then, they realized something.
"Where is Lieutenant Itami?" Tuka asked, scanning her surrounding.
Speaking of that, only Itami and Aizawa are missing. They realized they were standing on the podium as they became aware of their surroundings. Scanning further, they are several meters above the floor.
"There they are," Kuribayashi pointed.
The group followed the brunette's finger. At the center of the room, Itami and Aiza stood. Though, they still seem confused by their current state. Then, dozens of overwhelming presences emerged from the highest podium in the room.
Thirteen figures, two of them are metal giants that eclipsed the Imperial Knights.
The High Lord of Terra had made their appearances.
"I welcome you to the Grand Hall of Senatorum Imperialis, Japanese representatives." The booming voice of the person near the giant broke the silence. "With my authority of Lex Chancellor, I hereby declare this meeting started."
The declaration brought a heavy atmosphere across the chamber. Itami and Aizawa tried to conceal their distress and the invisible weights on their shoulders.
"You may speak first, honored Japanese." The Chancellor speaks fluent Japanese, causing Aizawa to breathe in slight relief.
"Greetings, High Lords of Terra. My name is Koichi Aizawa. My presence here is to create a mutual relationship with your country." Aizawa stepped forward, bowing to the High Lords with his utmost respect.
"My name is Youji Itami, Lieutenant of the JSDF. Currently appointed as commanding officer of 3rd Recon Team." Itami said with confidence, smiling like his usual self.
"The one who makes the first contact with our team. We are pleased with that, Lieutenant. I'm Gallius Atel, Lord Commander of the Imperium. As the supreme leader of all military sections within the Imperium, you are a decent soldier, despite your lack of discipline." One of the golems said gently.
"Thank you, Lord Atel," Itami bowed his body slightly.
"What do you want to discuss with us, diplomat Aizawa?" The Chancellor asked, taking over the conversation.
"Your representative, the 5th Recon Team, had delivered your intention to us. Japanese parliament and the entire world were shocked by it. The fact your nation is us 27.000 years in the future only adds more uproar." Aizawa said slowly, scanning the High Lords to find their facial response.
"That was fully predictable, Koichi Aizawa. Technology with this scale is something that a nation would dare to enter a conflict to acquire." The man with the red robe answered.
"May I know why your nation insists on this endeavor?" The Japanese asked professionally.
"It is our duty to cultivate and elevate every human civilization. In fact, it became our policy." The Lex Chancellor said firmly.
"That is something that would need significant resources, honored High Lord. Is there a reason the Imperium put that policy in the highest order?" The question did not immediately answered, leaving room for the Japanese diplomat to prepare himself.
"It would be our history, diplomat Aizawa." It is a new voice echoing through the room.
It speaks of authority and power—Regal and dominating as if the primal sentiment was engraved deep into the human's gene code.
The presence demanded submission, warm like the sun that shall give them life. Yet, it is also the bringer of destruction to anyone it deems to be destroyed.
Above the High Lord's podium exist the most grandeur one. Wordlessly, the group could assume for whom it was created.
An explosion of vast golden light washed the chamber. Anathematic power filled the room, blinding the mortals inside the room. The warp-sensitive human began to sense their soul slightly bonded to the aura.
Rory felt her connection with Emroy suddenly vanish for a moment.
The presence is unmistakable.
The light slowly faded from their view, revealing a giant golden man. A human would fail to describe the marvelous figure that stands regally before them.
He is a god. Nothing can describe him other than that.
A mighty sword rested on his waist, a great golden talon became his left hand, and a mighty ornament of Aquila spread its wing on his head.
His presence is something to behold, encompassing every single soul inside the chamber, expanding across every material and immaterial sense in their body. It burned corruption, the savior of the powerless grace in the cosmos.
He is the Emperor every Imperial Citizen adores, the sole ruler of millions of worlds.
He is the Emperor of Mankind.
"My apologies for my late arrival. I have a certain assignment to do," The Emperor spoke in a language that made no sense to the group.
"Did you hear that?" Rory asked, "I have listened to countless dialects and even new languages in nine hundred years. But this Emperor speaks in nearly extinct dialogues back in my age. In the same dialect when I was just a mortal. No one should know about it."
"What are you talking about, Rory? He speaks fluent elvish," Tuka pointed, staring at the Apostle in confusion. "In fact, he speaks in the same dialect as my forest."
Pina stared at them with a ludicrous look. She seemed lost in their conversation as she could not hear the Emperor speak in the same language as the elf and Apostle had described. Even his lips speak a fluent Imperial.
Then, she wants to make sure something. "Miss Kuribayashi. The Emperor, what language does he use to speak?"
"Well, it was Japanese. It is the same dialect back in my home." The female JSDF replied, blinking in confusion.
It only made the Saderan stare at her in a loss.
Due to her sharp hearing, Rory heard all of their conversations. For a moment, she pondered for an answer. Without any warning, the realization struck her like lightning.
The truth became more apparent when her mind recalled her moment with Emroy.
It is blasphemous thought that only serves as a heretical answer. Now, her skin turned white as fear consumed all of her beings.
It was the nature of every god to make their own existence comparable to their followers. The Emperor performed the same thing on a larger scale, down to their origin as a being, touching their essence in magical osmosis.
The Emperor spoke to her very soul. At first, it was invisible, but as Rory deepened her sense, she saw it. It was invisible, not because it was too small or masterfully crafted to be unseeable. The answer is much more straightforward yet terrifying.
The Emperor's presence is infinitely larger than even anything she had witnessed. It was infinitely more powerful to the point she could comprehend, exceeding the finite concept of the material realm.
"I think I'm going to be sick," Rory exclaimed.
Emperor tells the Japanese some of humanity's history back to the podium. Then, he reached the answer to the diplomat's initial question.
"At the M18, humanity suffered. We faced dire circumstances when the Aeldari Domonion's folly ruptured space, causing us to lose hundreds if not thousands of colonies." The mighty Emperor closed his eyes. "Even after thousands of years, we still couldn't find them all."
"I assume that will become Imperium's responsibility to unite and elevate them," Aizawa concluded.
"Indeed. Even since Federation Age, this policy has saved dozens of lost colonies." The Emperor nodded in confirmation.
"But, it did not entirely answer the question, Your Highness."
"Young spirits always amuse me in their own ways indeed," The Emperor chuckles in amusement. "Cosmos filled with horrors, diplomat Aizawa."
"Horrors. The Solar Guardian speaks of that. May I ask, what kind of horror lurking in the shadow, Your Highness?" The answer made the room's temperature drop significantly.
"I want to reveal it when I meet with the UN, but I will show you a small fragment of it," After the Emperor finished his sentence, Aizawa trembled as colors disappeared from his face.
"Wha... What... It... No." Tears flowed from Aizawa's eyes, and his voice died in his throat. Fear made his hand tremble as terror filled his eyes, clouding his sense. Aizawa felt his chest bursting with pain as the screams of thousands plagued his mind.
"Aizawa!" Itami holds the diplomat by his arm. "Are you okay?"
"Innocents... Why..." the diplomat mumbled wistfully, holding his head. "They did not have to die like that. Why?"
The Emperor closed his eyes. His face filled with emotion, a sentiment that held true. "They are abominations that seek our weakness, prey on us when we are vulnerable. Those beings that want us to bleed, killing innocents and enslave billions."
Itami stared at the Emperor, who still kept his composure. He saw the Emperor's eyes, eyes of wistfulness and sorrow.
Pina and Bozes did not see the Master of Mankind as Itami does. They see a steadfast man with a burning determination.
The rest of JSDF saw a man with undying loyalty to his nation and species.
To Lelei, she saw a man who knew the secret of the universe—the wisest among the wise.
Tuka, as her nature as an elf, saw something drastically different from the Emperor. She saw the burning destruction of an uncaring god-like human
But to Rory, she saw something else.
It was something that was beyond inhuman and even gods. Rory could not describe the emotion of the golden man. It was love that exceeded even the Falmartian gods.
Uncaring but pragmatic.
No, it would not be correct. The love of the Emperor is genuine in its purest form. It is disturbing as it makes her frown.
"That love," Rory murmured to herself. "Loving no one but love the entire humanity. How is that possible?"
The golden Emperor opened his eyes, eyes filled with determination. "As the Lord of the Imperium, I wouldn't let that happen. Imperium is created to serve as our mighty bastion against the darkness. We forged this country to become their safe haven. We are destined to be ascended species, achieving our birthright. This is why we want to help you, my child."
To Itami and Aizawa, they see the Emperor's radiance and kindness—a man born to protect mankind with unparalleled power. He is the one who is worthy enough to bear the title of Master of Mankind.
"Your Highness... We Japanese would more than love to make a concrete bond with your Imperium," Aizawa stated with burning determination. It was genuine that he momentarily forgot his diplomat demeanor.
"That would be a wise choice, young Aizawa. Your nation and ancestor would be proud of you." The Emperor of Mankind said with a fatherly smile.
"Young Itami, your pain on your own species. I assume you have felt that too haven't you?" The Emperor addressed the man beside the diplomat.
"I think I can't follow, Your Highness," Itami said, blinking several times.
"You had faced the dark truth of humanity when they faced pressure and near-death experience. They must persist. But it only leads them to break. They shall fall." The Emperor pressed his tone deeper, causing the male JSDF to widen his eyes in shock.
"Your Highness... How," Itami took a step back, petrified by fear and realization.
The implication, the way Emperor spoke it with a personal demeanor, made Itami recall one of his nightmarish pasts. The moment when his mother killed his father, losing her mind afterward.
"This world is indeed unfair, Itami Youji. But you still live until this day. That was the reason why you helped those men and women. Even risking to save Xenos, taking ire from your superiors." The Emperor waved his hand in affirmation. "To my own personal amusement. That was something worth my praise."
It was something that shocked the entire room except the High Lords.
"T-thank you, Your Highness. M-My apologies that I can't provide you with anything," Itami said softly.
"I just want to ask from you one thing, my child." The Emperor smiled warmly. A warm smile that is worth thousands of stars. "Keep that spirit as long as you live."
"Yes, Your Highness," Itami said gratefully, bowed his body to the golden man.
The Emperor looks upon his court, nodding his head in affirmation. Malcador stepped forward from his podium, clearing his throat.
"In his Majesty Emperor of Mankind's kindness, you have proven your worthiness, Japanese people. As it was dictated inside the fundamental rule of the Imperium, we shall live hand by hand to face the horrors in this universe. As our sign of friendship, we offer you diplomatic gifts." Malcador said proudly, tapping his staff on the metal floor.
After the sound vanishes, the floor opens as two female servants hold a flawlessly crafted artistic case. One of the servants opens it, revealing a master-forged sword.
"A sword?" Itami muttered.
"It was not an ordinary sword, young Itami. It is a Power Sword. It is forged from Alpha-grade adamantium, and the weight would make even a five-year-old can swing it. It is a monomolecular blade that can cleave into the thickest metal in your world, like wet paper." Malcador explained.
Aizawa reached for the sword, inspecting it with his sharp eyes.
"This is amazing," He said out loud. "My family is a collector of swords. I've seen dozens upon dozens of swords from many different cultures. Yet, nothing can match this."
"Press the ruby on the hilt," The old High Lord asked softly.
The diplomat complies, pressing the magnificent jewel with his thumb. A crackling noise echoed in the room. An ethereal blue aura enveloped the sword.
The Japanese rendered silence, allowing Malcador to open his mouth and speak. "That is a matter disruption field. It is capable of disturbing any molecular structure of an object it comes in contact with. No matter how dense or solid the armor, it can cleave through it like butter."
"A-amazing," Aizawa said in astonishment. The diplomat presses the ruby once again, deactivating the disruption field. He puts it back in the case as Itami holds it. "We greatly appreciate your gift, Your Highness."
"I hope your scientist will love it, diplomat Aizawa." The Emperor's statement made the diplomat raise an eyebrow.
"Your Majesty. Is that mean..." Aizawa could not speak as his mind raced with speculation.
"That sword and its technology are yours. Mind that that wasn't the only gift Imperium would give your nation, young Aizawa." The Emperor said softly.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"You may leave, diplomat Aizawa and Lieutenant Itami." The Emperor said, smiling.
Thus, the Japanese teleported back to their initial place.
"Now, let's move to the elephant in the room," Emperor stated as the aura changed drastically, becoming heavier and dense. "Pina Co Lads and Bozes Palesti, I demand your present right before me." The thunderous declaration broke the mental fortitude of the Princess.