Warhammer: In the Name of Ashes

"Be yourself..." This is probably the sentence that Calvin has said most frequently recently.

From time to time, he thought of the advice "Alfaris" gave him, and what he also thought of repeatedly was the warning his cheap brother gave him before "dying":

"You have to be vigilant, be vigilant about my other brothers. Although some of them have become slaves who gave up their ideals and succumbed to chaos.

But you have to know that these guys who think highly of themselves, after getting used to their own failures, the most inconceivable thing is your possibility of success. "

oh? Calvin actually thought that one day he would get to know those traitors from back then. But this day came so early, he didn't expect it.

"Who do you think will be the first?" Calvin recalled his question to Alpharius in the flame-filled cabin of the Lost Truth.

"I don't know. Maybe it's Perturabo, or maybe it's Mortarion. You have no grudge against them, it just depends on who can't help it first...

But what you need to know is that you are not enough to defeat them now. "

Alpharius interrupted Calvin's attempt to speak and continued:

"I don't deny the power you hold, but you have to know that there may indeed be strengths and weaknesses among my brothers and I, but no one has the absolute upper hand when facing each other.

Of course you can die with one of them, and I believe you have the ability.

But then what?

What about your legion?

What about your career?

What about the hope 'he' left in you?

To die impulsively? "

Calvin fell silent. When faced with Alpharius's merciless questioning, he woke up from the absolute strength and passion of a soldier.

Yes, he is no longer alone.

Think of the hope that those veterans of the Chapter have in him, think of those legionnaires who rely on him;

Think about the Inquisition's career that is just getting off the ground, think about the Order of Omen and the thousands of Astartes warriors in the Krieg system...

"You (I) must be strong!"

The two said in unison after a long silence, and what corresponded to Alpharius' expectant eyes was Calvin's firm will.

"be yourself……"

Calvin murmured as he watched the priests of the Mechanicum in the experimental area slowly place the sacred object, the Bell of Gerstal, into the huge machine after completing the sacred machine soul blessing ceremony.

After being reassembled, the huge machine, which was more than ten meters high, fell into an eerie silence after the Holy Bell returned to its position.

"Failed?" Calvin waited patiently for a few minutes and subconsciously looked at Constantine, who had not seen him for a long time.

The technology contained in this "Bell of Erebus" from the golden age is also an extremely valuable harvest for the Order of Omen.

On the way back to Terra, Calvin discussed repeatedly with the technicians here, and finally decided to awaken Constantine's main consciousness from his slumber.

"Don't worry, my friend. Look there..." Following Constantine's fingers, Calvin looked at the power supply device of this giant clock.

In the corner of the test area hall, a metal cable as thick as Calvin's arm was emitting bursts of steam.

That is the effect caused by the violent evaporation of coolant.

But no matter how many times he saw it, Calvin still found it ridiculous that the technology of this universe was so advanced that it was beyond comprehension, and on the other hand, the details were so crude that it made him laugh.

"Energy is still being injected, which proves that the mechanical energy circuit is not damaged. It has been sleeping for too long, give it more patience..."

Constantine's green eyes sparkled with a hint of ridicule. It had been a long time since we had seen him, but this young man's character was still so impatient.

When Constantine woke up again, he had a different look. He was already as tall as Calvin, and there were very few parts of his original body under the dark red robe.

Calvin didn't know whether this was good or bad for the personnel of the Mechanicum, but judging from Constantine's current state, it seemed to be pretty good.

"Well, you are always right..." Calvin shook his head with a smile and turned the topic to Constantine.

"How long can I stay this time? I'm going to see 'him', come back with me.

I remember you said that your hometown is also Terra..."

"Sorry...I'm afraid I have to disappoint you." Constantine was silent for a few seconds, but still rejected Calvin's proposal. It's not that he doesn't want to return to Terra, but that his body can't carry his consciousness for a long time.

The self-destruction of personality caused by the loss of memory is like a curse engraved in the souls of all Mechanicus personnel.

Even Constantine, who had the entire Inquisition and Krieg Industrial Manufacturing behind him, still couldn't resist the fate of soul death.

"Isn't it still possible?" Calvin hesitated.

"Eternal life is a gift and a destiny..." Constantine sighed in a low voice.

The disintegration of personality and consciousness is a fate that all Mars-forged generals of all generations cannot escape. How can he, Constantine, overcome this barrier at the end of his life?

"Hey, you know I hate fatalism the most. If I really believed this, I wouldn't be able to stand here..." Calvin tried to liven up the atmosphere.

"Even if you fail in the end, you can still..."

"I can't!" Constantine raised his head and looked at Calvin beside him, seriously rejecting the former's seemingly unintentional proposal.

"Know that we are servants of the Emperor, but we are also believers in the truth!

I will never hand over my soul and faith to anyone for the continuation of my life! "

"...Even if it's me?" Calvin asked bitterly.

"...Even if it's you." Constantine replied firmly.

The observation room on the top floor of the test area was quiet again. Behind the thick protective glass, only the mechanical servo on the two people was humming quietly and steadily in the cold space.

The technicians below were still nervously observing the huge device in the center of the laboratory.

The members of the Order of Omen and Father Stowan of Mars stood directly in front of the Bell of Erebus, looking from time to time between the giant clock and the data pad in their hands...

"Well, my friend. There is no need for you to be upset about this."

This time it was Constantine who broke the silence. At this point in the conversation between the two, it was he, the dying man, who was comforting.

"I know that your power is enough to protect my soul, but if I entrust my soul to you, it will be equivalent to me denying the truth of the empire and betraying my ideals.

That way I will no longer have a bottom line and can do whatever it takes to keep my life alive.

That way I will no longer be me..."

"Understood." After a long silence, Calvin reluctantly admitted Constantine's opinion.

His deep voice sounded in the observation room, and the depression contained in it was almost beyond words.

"Don't worry, my friend," Constantine said to Calvin.

As his words fell, the huge device in the test area below finally changed.

After absorbing a huge amount of energy that was enough to support the operation of the battleship for several minutes, this ancient device called the Bell of Erebus finally began to slowly make the sound of mechanical operation amidst the tension and anticipation of the technicians. .

“You see, like it is, the future always holds surprises for us.

Maybe my future is not here, but who can say that it is not in the future? "

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