In the low-lying white cornfields of Barbarus, a pale-faced boy with a tiger-like appearance was laboriously tilling the soil with a hoe. His name was Hades. In his previous life, he was a reclusive Earthling named He Shi. While painting a GW Death Guard Plague Marine miniature, his consciousness faded. When he awoke, he found himself reborn on the deadly planet of Barbarus.
Initially, he was clueless. All he knew was that he had reincarnated into a world hostile to humans. It wasn't until his gaunt-faced parents taught him to speak that he learned he was on Barbarus.
By the Emperor! Barbarus?! This was the world of Warhammer 40K! Hades felt like he could cough up blood on the spot.
Barbarus, a notorious Death World in the Warhammer universe, was the homeland of Primarch Mortarion. The planet was filled with deadly miasma. Humans could only survive in the lowlands where the miasma was less concentrated. The true lords of this world, grotesque alien overlords, resided in fortresses atop mountains enveloped in the thickest miasma.
Humans were not the masters here; they were mere livestock. When the brief daylight ended, the miasma would seep into the lowlands. Eerie pale creatures, laughing, played in the fog. They surrounded villages, selecting their future slaves. Without resistance, humans, paralyzed by fear, hid and prayed they wouldn't be chosen. Some were killed on the spot, while others were dragged to the mountain fortresses. There, countless sorceries and experiments awaited these guinea pigs. Humans were mere materials, dissected and magically reassembled into eternal slaves for the overlords.
Hope was a luxury in this world, mirroring the eternal darkness of the Warhammer universe. Hades wished he could just end it all and start over. As a transmigrator, he felt cheated. Where was his overpowered protagonist advantage? Even the weakest alien could crush him.
Aware of the world's trajectory, Hades realized that thoughts held power here. The physical world and the Warp (subspace) coexisted. Human souls had a flame-like projection in the Warp. Those more connected to the Warp were called psykers, wielding its power. But being a psyker was a double-edged sword, as their souls shone brighter, attracting malevolent Warp entities.
Hades tested himself and found no psyker abilities. He was relieved. As a transmigrator, he knew forbidden knowledge. If his thoughts attracted a powerful Warp entity, the consequences would be dire. From the moment he realized he was in the Warhammer universe, he forced himself not to think about the Chaos Gods.
But unbeknownst to Hades, his "transmigrator" nature and the planet he landed on barely kept him off the gods' radar. For now, he could only recall early Imperium knowledge.
Humanity once thrived, colonizing countless galaxies. But after the Men of Iron revolt (AI rebellion) and other calamities, humanity was on the brink of extinction. Then, the Emperor emerged, uniting Terra and launching the Great Crusade with his Space Marine Legions, led by the Primarchs.
Hades had to stop himself from thinking too much about the later betrayals and tragedies. For now, his focus was on Mortarion, the Primarch of the Death Guard, who was raised on Barbarus. Hades' short-term goal was to survive until Mortarion's rebellion against the alien overlords and then join the Death Guard. He also hoped to gain Mortarion's favor.
But becoming a Death Guard wasn't necessarily a blessing, considering their tragic fate in the Heresy. For now, Hades was content with surviving on Barbarus, where the average lifespan was 30 years. He lived in the small village of "Helle's Pass." His parents were killed by the aliens when he was very young. Every day, he worked the fields and crafted tools and weapons at night. His proudest creation was a small crossbow.
Suddenly, screams echoed. The village was under attack by the pale aliens. Hades quickly prepared, hoping to survive the night.