Chapter 53: Warhammer: Lord of the Endless Monster Horde [53]

After severing the psychic communication, Rhodes immediately made his way to the mothership's hangar. Inside, he had arranged some old-model Pedan weapons that had been preserved from previous upgrades—these would be the weapons for the Space Marines. The power of these Pedanium rifles far surpassed that of melta weapons, bolters, or plasma weapons, rivaling even the Gauss weaponry of the Necrons. In the last battle against the Tyranid swarm, these weapons had fully demonstrated their superior performance and formidable power. Just as Rhodes was busy organizing the weaponry, a series of hurried footsteps approached from behind. Elena rushed out from the captain's quarters, looking for Rhodes. "Lord Rhodes! I finally found you! I feel that the great Emperor has once again blessed this ship! I saw a golden light, and then... the entire layout of the room changed, and the ship has grown significantly larger!" She had been asleep in her quarters when she suddenly felt the ship shaking violently in her dreams. At first, she thought something had gone wrong. When she got up to look for Rhodes, golden light flooded the room, and then... drastic changes took place. Her once small room had become much more luxurious, with its space expanding several times over. Even her modest bed had transformed into an enormous double bed. Stepping out of her quarters, Elena discovered that the entire ship had undergone a complete metamorphosis. Its size was no longer comparable to before—it had been just a medium-sized transport ship. But now, it had completely reached the scale of an Imperial barge. While searching for Rhodes, she had almost gotten lost. What on Terra had happened while she was asleep? This transformation was so drastic that Elena couldn't help but wonder if she had slept for centuries rather than mere hours. "Calm down, Elena. Are you fully awake now? I was just about to wake you myself! Do you like our new ship? It's much bigger now, and far more beautiful." Rhodes smiled as he spoke. "I—I think I'm awake! But... but that's not the point! Our ship—it's completely changed! L-Lord Rhodes, what... what exactly happened?" Elena was stammering in shock. "Oh, you mean this? Don't worry, relax. Here's what happened: the great Emperor and the Machine God have both blessed this ship. That's why it has undergone such a dramatic transformation." Rhodes spread his arms and smiled. "W-What?! T-The Machine God?!" At this moment, Elena's brain seemed to freeze. Lord Rhodes... wasn't he the Emperor's chosen, practically a half-Primarch? How... how was the Machine God involved now? "Elena, in addition to being the Emperor's chosen, I am also the chosen vessel of the Machine God. The great Machine God has blessed me as well. Now, I am the recipient of the blessings of both gods." Rhodes coughed lightly before explaining. What exactly had changed about this ship? If an explanation was necessary, then simply put— This was the miracle of the Machine God. And in the future, if anyone questioned the origins of his mechanical monstrosities, he had a perfect answer. Everything was a blessing from the Machine God! That was the universal answer! Especially when dealing with the followers of the Adeptus Mechanicus—it would work perfectly every time! What? Does someone doubt my identity? Then, heretic, explain this—who else but the great Machine God could manifest powerful, massive war machines out of thin air? Who else but the Machine God could produce endless technology from the Golden Age of Humanity? If you don't believe me, then you're a heretic. And heretics are to be purged. "I-I see... L-Lord Rhodes, y-you are also blessed by the Machine God?" Elena stammered, barely able to process the revelation. By the Emperor... enlarging a ship a hundredfold—only the Machine God could accomplish such a feat. And the golden light in her room had flashed twice... Which meant that both the great Emperor and the Machine God stood behind Lord Rhodes! Elena suddenly felt that no matter what divine miracle occurred around Rhodes in the future, she wouldn't be surprised anymore. She was already... accustomed to it. "So, Lord Rohdes! Should I now address you as the Emperor's chosen, the great Primarch, and the blessed of the Machine God?" Elena's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Ahem! No need for that, I'm still me. Just call me as you always have." Rhodes felt he might have overwhelmed the young sister. Though... that title did sound rather imposing. Perhaps in the future, when introducing himself, should he add something even grander. Maybe titles like "Dark Emperor of the Void," "King of the Dark Titans," "Supreme Overlord of Space-Time Daemons," "Great Beast Lord," "Transdimensional God," or "Ultimate Lifeform" would work. "I-I understand... Lord Rhodes, have we arrived?" Elena asked as she looked around. "Yes, we arrived about three hours ago. This planet has been ravaged by the Tyranid swarm—more than half of its surface has already fallen. But don't worry. Before the divine machines gifted by the Machine God, all enemies of the Imperium will be reduced to cosmic dust. I already repelled the first wave of Tyranid attacks. Now, only some remaining ground forces are resisting, and we've also detected some surviving Deathwatch. I was just about to go support them." Rhodes explained the current situation, including the battle and the discovery of the remaining Deathwatch forces. "Lord Rhodes, the divine machines of the Machine God are truly powerful!" Elena's eyes sparkled with excitement. As expected of the chosen of two gods—he had single-handedly repelled the Tyranid swarm's assault. By the Emperor... I must serve Lord Rhodes diligently! "Alright, enough talk. We have work to do. Get your armor on, grab your weapons—we're going to rescue the Deathwatch Space Marines." Rhodes smiled. "Understood, Lord Rhodes! I'll get equipped right away." Elena nodded before turning back to her room to don her gear. She put on the Pedan armor that Rhodes had given her, layering her hospitaller sister's carapace armor over it. A chainsword and a Pedanium pistol were secured at her waist, and she carried a Pedanium rifle as her main weapon. It all felt like a dream. She had been just an ordinary trainee Hospitaller Sister... and now she was about to go rescue the mighty Astartes! PS: hmm, I need to find a good reference for Elena's picture.