As Guilliman embarked on his journey home, Qin Mo returned to his research facility, immersing himself once more in his work. During Guilliman's brief stay and subsequent departure, Qin Mo had been tirelessly working on refining the Waygate hijacking technology. The Burner, as the sole Star God who understood this elusive art, served as a reluctant consultant, offering its expertise grudgingly.
When Qin Mo materialized back at the facility, the Burner was adjusting a prototype of its newly crafted Waygate. Catching sight of Qin Mo, it immediately grasped that Guilliman had departed.
"That psychic bipedal ape's abomination has finally left," the Burner sneered.
"What nonsense are you spouting now? How is he an abomination?" Qin Mo's response surprised the Burner, who had assumed Qin Mo harbored disdain for the Warp-touched Primarch.
The Burner raised a metallic brow, clearly taken aback. Qin Mo, too, was somewhat puzzled. Despite his extended interaction with Guilliman, he felt no discomfort. That is, barring the peculiar incident involving Celestine joining their bath session...
"You mean to tell me you don't dislike him?" the Burner asked skeptically.
Shaking his head, Qin Mo replied, "No, I don't. Perhaps because he adamantly rejects his Warp-based essence?"
If there were any reason to explain Qin Mo's neutrality, it lay in Guilliman's refusal to accept his Warp-born nature. The Primarch was pragmatic, wise, and endowed with an advantage his siblings lacked—he had a mother. His flaws, if they could be called that, were his penchant for creating states within states and a touch of self-delusion.
For instance, his disbelief in the Emperor's divinity in the 41st Millennium or his refusal to acknowledge his Warp-touched nature. However, these quirks were hardly dealbreakers.
Clearing his mind, Qin Mo refocused on the task at hand.
"Our collaboration has been quite fruitful," the Burner said, gesturing toward the flickering Waygate surrounded by flames. "It's more stable now."
Qin Mo nodded, stepping closer to the portal. "I want to venture inside. Perhaps I'll find Commorragh."
The Dark Eldar had launched another raid just last night. They seemed unyieldingly fixated on the Talon Gate's inhabitants, employing their swift vessels for relentless suicide strikes. Though their attempts to abduct captives had failed, allowing their raids to continue was unsustainable.
"Don't get your hopes up about finding Commorragh until we create more precise Waygates," the Burner muttered, stepping halfway into the portal. "But we need to go in anyway—to collect data. Burn... collect data."
Qin Mo agreed, following the Burner into the Waygate.
The passageway was far more spacious than previous iterations, resembling a vast underground tunnel wide enough for a dozen people to walk abreast. The Burner wielded an ancient spiritstone device, harvesting data from the Waygate. It had acquired the relic millennia ago from a long-dead Aeldari.
Side by side, Qin Mo and the Burner advanced, soon arriving at a bend.
Waygates were not always bustling with activity. Qin Mo had assumed this one had been long abandoned until the sound of approaching footsteps shattered the silence.
Moments later, a group of Aeldari emerged from around the corner.
Both parties froze, staring at each other in mutual bewilderment.
"Governor of Talon?"
"Eldrad?"
The brief pause was enough for Qin Mo and one of the figures—a Farseer among the group of ten spear-wielding Aeldari warriors—to recognize each other. Qin Mo recalled encountering Eldrad Ulthran via holo-communications before. However, the Farseer now appeared different, cradling a crystallized Aeldari in his arms—another Farseer, judging by the attire.
A crystallized Seer.
Qin Mo remembered tales of Aeldari prophets who, at moments of great crisis or sacrifice, would willingly transform into crystal. These revered figures were sacred relics, zealously guarded by their kin.
"Governor?" One of the Aeldari warriors removed his helmet, revealing his face.
"Saal?" Qin Mo recognized the warrior who had once helped him destroy a Blackstone Fortress.
They were familiar faces.
Before Qin Mo could inquire about their sudden presence, Eldrad dashed past him, clutching the crystalized Seer.
"No time to explain! Help me!"
Barely had Eldrad spoken when another group of Aeldari appeared from the bend. They were more numerous, their ranks bolstered by elite Warp Spiders. Their armor bore different markings, indicating they hailed from a different Craftworld.
Seeing the Star Gods in the Waygate momentarily halted the advancing Aeldari, but their priorities lay elsewhere.
"Return the Seer to us!"
"Is this how you honor your oaths, Eldrad? He entrusted himself to me, and now I must fulfill his will, even in death!"
"&@(*@#%!"
Their argument dissolved into incomprehensible shouting before the opposing Farseer gave an order. The warriors behind him raised their weapons and opened fire on Eldrad's group.
The scene made Qin Mo understand why Eldrad was being pursued. The infamous Farseer had infiltrated another Craftworld and stolen their crystallized Seer. The fact that he managed to flee into the Waygate unscathed spoke volumes about his combat prowess—or perhaps sheer audacity.
The Burner had been silently observing the farce until a stray shuriken struck its metallic body. Irritated, it raised a hand, unleashing a torrent of flame that surged through the corridor, consuming the attackers entirely.
"Why did you kill them?" Saal exclaimed, aghast. He had assumed the Burner was merely another manifestation of Qin Mo's living metal avatar. These Aeldari had shown humanity kindness, even assisting in the Blackstone Fortress campaign. Yet this metal being had incinerated them without hesitation.
"They could have been sent elsewhere with a mere thought!"
Eldrad, more seasoned in such matters, recognized the Burner's true nature. Silencing Saal with a wave of psychic energy, he hastily expressed his gratitude to Qin Mo while retreating with his group. "Thank you for your assistance."
Without waiting for a reply, Eldrad and his companions bolted. However, after running for half a minute, they realized they had not advanced an inch. Clearly, the two Star Gods had no intention of letting them leave.
"If I recall correctly," Qin Mo said, pointing to the ground beneath them, "this Waygate connects the entire Talon Sector. Your presence here must mean more than merely fleeing your kin."