Chereads / The Adeptus Custodes(DC) / Chapter 2 - Mars

Chapter 2 - Mars

As Justinian flew through the Atmosphere, his suit which had all the functions the regular Custodes Plate Armor did began to feed him information. Unlike the Astartes Black Caparase, Custodes integrated with their Plate in a much more sophisticated manner.

Every Custodes had sinew links, fiber-bundles, and synapse jacks that interfaced perfectly to the individual Custodes. As large as he was, his organs were all the same as a regular human. 

Just so efficient that he did not require extra organs or gene-seed. As Constantine Valdor put it 'For all practical purposes, they became one unit, a seamless amalgam of gene-bred muscle and lab-wrought nanotechnology.'

It was true as Justinian could feel that his armor was more of a second skin. He could move unencumbered and operate even in the void of space. His helmet along with his suit fed him constant information on atmospheric pressure, temperature, and different sensory equipment. 

What made it all better was that this was a suit bound to his soul so he didn't have to risk someone taking it. On another note, now that he was here high in the Atmosphere he decided to speak to his two silent companions. 

'While we are here, introductions are in order. I am Justinian formerly known as Marcus. Nice to meet you two.'

The first to speak was Ddraig.

[Likewise Justinian, I would like to say we were kind of confused about what just happened. Our souls were just ripped out of the Heaven System before we were going to be sent out to have new hosts. 

Then we find ourselves in much better Sacred Gears because they lack any of the seals or limitations placed on them by God. I think the White One will agree with me that finding out that in your world we were just a Light Novel is world-shattering.]

{Honestly, it might be for the best because I can see it in your memories. You Red One would have been known as the 'Grabbin Dragon' and I would have been known as the 'Butt Dragon'.}

He shivered as he said that which made Justinian chuckle. 

'Trust me, we won't be having any of those foolish titles. Now, I know that you have some kind of rivalry going on, but that can't continue if we are to share the same headspace. Let us have a truce for our sakes because this reality is beyond dangerous.'

[Fair. What do you say White One? Truce?] 

{Turce. I have been reading through your memories and I can safely say this reality is going to be fun.} 

Justinian grinned behind his helmet. 

'We will get along swimmingly my friends. Now then, to test this out.' 

He focused on his left gauntlet which came equipped with a Lastrum Storm Bolter. As he flew he analyzed the new Boosted Gear which melded seamlessly into the black and purple armor he wore. 

It went from a large Bulky Gauntlet to a streamlined Custodes-worthy Power Fist. The Purple Gems in it also looked rather beautiful. 

'How are the new gears?' 

[Better. My soul is not chained down and I feel freer than ever. All my powers are for you to use. Since you are traveling through space, so use this chance to train it.]

'Right then. Go eas-' 

Before he finished Justinian ignored him. 

[Boost, Boost, Boost, Boost, Boost, Boost, Boost, Boost, Boost, Boost.]

Without the pesky 10-second restriction placed on the Gear, he went for it. Boosting 9 times meant that his power was doubled up to 1024 times his original power. If a weakling like Issei Hyoudou could handle this kind of power, to him it was seamless. 

As he felt the Dragon Aura of Ddraig surge into his body, he felt all his attributes increase rapidly. He grinned as he transferred this power to the Divine Dividing causing him to blast through space like a comet. 

[Never mind, I think you could go further.] 

'This is plenty.' 

Vali in his first appearance moved so fast that he was described as moving at Light Speed. That was not a major feat in DC, but he was moving faster than any human vessel had any hope to move. 

As he broke free of the Atmosphere he saw the League Tower, but he ignored it. He continued on his flight path to Mars. Albion started to feel that maybe their new host was going to be the best they ever had. 

{If all the seals are removed then this means that you can use even the powers we lost.}

'If you mean Ddraig's Blazing Inferno of Scorching Flames and your Reduce Venom, then I believe so. They will be crucial to our continued existence in this reality with their Soul Destroying Abilities.' 

[We sealed them away for a reason Justinian.]

'That doesn't sound like something a Dragon should say, Ddraig. Here I will hold nothing back against anyone.' 

Both Ddraig and Albion went quiet as he flew through space. At the blinding speeds he was flying he managed to reach Mars in only 12 hours. Thanks to his perfect gene-forged body, holding this kind of power didn't even stress him out. 

One of his plans was to draw out the strength of the Emperor's blood that was used to make every Custodes. If he could have the Psychic Might of the Emperor of Mankind on top of his Sacred Gears he would become a big player plenty quickly. 

For now, though, it was better to just get a feel for his abilities. When he arrived on the Red Planet he flew through the atmosphere causing the outside of his armor to start burning on reentry. 

Though the Auramite not only endured the heat but even began to disperse it as he entered the thin Martian Atmosphere. When he entered he flew around the planet until he saw Olympus Mons the biggest Mountain in the Solar System. 

He dived down toward the Mountain and at the last possible second, he flew up to slow his momentum. He released the Power he had gathered and stabbed his spear into the ground. 

The Auramite spear blade dragged on Justinian and used the Divine Dividing to thrust against his momentum which caused him to drag along to a stop. He breathed out as he dragged his Guardian Spear out of the rock and hefted it onto his shoulder. 

"Welcome to Mars." 

[So this is Mars? I always wondered what kind of foes there were in space, but I never was blessed with such a foe.] 

"They will be commonplace in this universe. Albion, you are rather quiet. Overwhelmed?" 

{No, I am just impressed at how quickly you got a hang of the Boosted Gear.}

"Don't compare a baseline human to a Legio Custodes. The difference between a Demigod Hero and a regular human is sky high." 

{I can see that, a normal host of the Boosted Gear would struggle to Boost more than 5 times, but you made 10 look easy. Do you feel any pain?}

"None, any discomfort I might have felt vanished as my natural regeneration adapted. Now, then, between the both of you, there are several abilities to master. The Boost, Penetrate, and Ddraig's Flames. 

From you, there is the Divide, Reflec, and your venom. Each ability by itself is powerful, but with someone to use it like me we are in some new extremes."

[In that case, where will you start?]

"I will begin with the Boosted Gear powers since they are the best without an opponent. When I get a good feel for them I will move on to the Divine Dividing. Though, the ability to fly is extremely useful. 

My question is what will happen with the Balance Breaker?" 

Neither Ddraig nor Albion knew what would happen, but it had to be powerful. Just one Balance Breaker granted extreme levels of power. Justinian knew that when he did find his Balance Breaker he would be an absolute beast. 

"Well then, I did lie about the 12 weeks to Barry. I will stay as long as I need so let us begin. This will be my base of operations, if any White Martians show up I will treat them as I do any Xenos. With brutal efficiency." 

Ddraig did bring up one concern. 

[What about food?] 

'My body can subsist without substance for over a century. If I need to eat I shall consume one of the Martians. Now, time to train.' 

He took a deep breath behind his helmet and began to Boost up again. 

[Boost.] 

He did it only once as he wanted to feel the power. When he Boosted, he felt Dragon Aura surge into his body and with it power. His strength, speed, reflexes, senses, and instincts all doubled. 

He gripped his spear and he began to picture he was surrounded by thousands of Green Skins. Justinian began to move his body with the ingrained instinct of a Member of a Legio Custodes. 

Strangely enough, by Boosting he felt the supernatural 6th Sense that Custodes were blessed with also increase. It made him feel as if he was right there in the middle of a Waagh of Orks. 

As his Guardian Spear swung through the air the sound of the wind being sliced apart sounded over and over. In his mind, he cleaved the heads off Orks, removed limbs, and avoided their weapons. 

He weaved and dodged against nonexistent enemies that his mind conjured up. He kept this up for 5 minutes as he replaced the Orks in his mind with Tyranids. 6 Custodes had wiped out over a million Tyranids and 1 even survived. 

That was what he pictured, his glorious last stand against uncountable Tyranid Bioforms. As he continued to battle against the endless swarm of Tyranids, he Boosted again. 

[Boost.] 

Now he was 4 times as powerful which also meant his 6th sense grew more pronounced. He didn't notice it before, but he knew what this was. This was the Psychic imprint left by the Emperor in each of his Custodes. 

He had removed the ability for the Custodes to be Psykers because of the dangers it brought. However, the Warp was not a thing here. The Boosted Gear was increasing the power of this imprint which started to make Justinian feel he was locked in battle against a Hive Fleet. 

He knew it was fake, but his instinct was feeding his mind with what he wanted to see. Ddraig and Albion watched on as the way he fought got cleaner, more refined, faster, and more deadly. 

He went from fighting on raw instinct to fighting as he described. The Apex of Humanity, but at the 10-minute mark he did it again. 

[Boost.]

Now, 8 times stronger, faster, and with the boost to his 6th sense he started to feel the battle even more real. He dodged a swing of a Hive Tyrant before he pointed his Guardian Spear at the face of the nonexistent creature. 

He pulled the trigger and fired a Bolt Shell formed of Dragon Aura. It flew through the air, but in his mind, it blew up the head of the Bioform and everything behind it. 

[Justinian, how do you feel?] 

'Amazing.' 

He did a black flip to avoid the charge of a giant Carnifex and smashed his boot into the ground. His natural Custodes strength when multiplied by 8 caused a massive fissure to smash into the mountain. 

He grinned as he continued his training. 

[Boost.] 

Now 16 times mightier he moved like a supernatural purple blur. No baseline human would ever be able to face in direct battle. The best aspect of his Soul Bound Armor is that as he Boosted, its functions were also Boosted. 

By now, his 6th sense was starting to burn as the power flowed through his body. All of his cells were surging with Draconic Power and he continued his training the entire day. He got a pattern and he fought for 30 minutes to get a feel for the strength before Boosting. 

In the end, even with all his innate power, he had to stop Boosting after 13. By that point, his power had been increased to 8,192 times his base ability. At that point, he was a giant pillar of Emreld Energy as he started to fly with the Divine Dividing as he fought a war in his mind. 

Each swing of his Guardian Spear caused blades of Dragon Aura to slice through the air. He moved faster than ever and each of his punches, kicks, and moves caused the Red Planet's surface to form giant fissures. 

The biggest thing was his Supernatural 6th sense which was burning like a star. He roared as his mind started to hurt so he released his power. 

[DRAGON BLASTER!]

He punched into the sky and launched a giant Crimson Asteroid of Dragon Aura into space. He started to pant as all his energy was spent causing him to fall onto his ass. 

"How was that?" 

He took deep recovery breaths which made Ddraig impressed. 

[Ok, you are going to be a monster.]

{Makes me want to see what you will achieve in the Balance Breaker.}

For now, he wiped out and fell on his back as he allowed his body to recover from the stress he put it through. Though, the biggest thing was his 6th sense that was making his mind burn like a motherfucker. 

Maybe he had broken the restrictions the Emperor placed on the Custodes. For now, he closed his eyes as he needed to be prepared for the White Martians comming to mess with him.