The moment the Custodes departed, Dain felt it shift again.
It was subtle—a flicker of sensation, a ripple beneath the surface of his mind. Like a heartbeat that was not his own, something pulsed within him. He had ignored it before, rationalized it as the residual effect of the artifact, but now?
Now, it was growing.
Dain took a slow breath and stepped away from the ruins. The distant sounds of Imperial forces regrouping filled the air—vox chatter, the clanking of armor, the low hum of servitors scavenging battlefield remains. Life moved on, indifferent to whatever battle raged inside him.
But Dain could not ignore it any longer.
[System Notification: Unread Data Detected]
There it was. That same damned text, appearing in his vision like an afterimage burned into his mind.
He hesitated. He had refused to acknowledge the system before, refused to interact with it in any meaningful way. It was not of the Emperor. It was not part of the Imperium's will. It was a trick.
And yet…
His fingers twitched.
One command. One thought.
He gave in.
[System Interface Opening…]
The world around him dimmed.
It wasn't real darkness—it was a separation. Like stepping into another layer of reality that existed just beneath the surface of the one he knew. The camp still bustled around him, the ruins still loomed, but now he saw something else.
[Status: Sergeant Dain]
- Designation: Imperial Guard, 121st Battalion
- Rank: Sergeant
- Allegiance: Imperium of Man
[System Integration: 9%]
Dain frowned. Nine percent?
He hadn't agreed to anything. He hadn't accepted the Archivist's offer. And yet… something was still happening.
His eyes moved down.
[Abilities Unlocked: 2]
He inhaled sharply.
This was new.
Before, the system had been a looming presence, but it had not done this. It had not changed him.
His heart pounded as he focused on the entry.
The moment he did, new text unfolded before him.
[Ability: Tactical Cognition]
- Your mind processes battlefield data at an accelerated rate. Patterns emerge faster. Calculations become instinct. Reaction time is increased by 18%.
Dain clenched his fists.
This… wasn't psychic power. This wasn't warp-sorcery. This was enhancement. Cold, calculating, like the machine-spirits of the Mechanicus.
His breath came shallow as he forced himself to look at the second ability.
[Ability: Will of the Chosen]
- Your presence influences those around you. Allies feel steadier in your command. Fear holds less sway. The weight of duty becomes lighter.
Dain exhaled slowly.
This… this was something else. It was subtle. Not the corrupting power of Chaos, not the soul-warping madness of the warp. This was precise.
It wasn't twisting his mind.
It was making him better.
A dangerous thought crept into his mind.
What if this wasn't corruption?
What if this was… something else?
A tool. A weapon. A gift.
Dain shut his eyes, inhaling deeply.
No.
I am a soldier of the Imperium. I do not question. I do not falter.
He had to purge these thoughts. He had to reject this. He had to—
[New Objective: The Path Unfolds]
Dain's eyes snapped open.
Another objective. Another step forward.
His fists tightened.
Something was happening. Something far greater than himself.
And whether he accepted it or not…
The system was moving forward.