Warhammer: Saving Humanity Begins with the Resurrection of Horus

Page 100

This was a blasphemous symbol, one that Lin Qi was intimately familiar with. He would likely never forget the meaning of that enormous circle with its eight sharp, outward-pointing points.

The Chaos Octagon.

Now things are getting serious.

“Demons, darkness, evil, or something else entirely.” Hoffman’s voice was filled with sorrow and pain. If one only heard his voice, probably no one would imagine that a being with such rich emotions was not made of flesh and blood. “They corrupted 000, which is the prototype I designed myself, as I mentioned before. Then, apart from my current body, 000 corrupted all the reserve machines, turning them into twisted creations. At the time, to prevent the corruption from spreading, I used a backup plan, sinking the entire laboratory underground, cutting off any possibility of leaving.”

"Then KE-001......"

"Its other companions were already corrupted. Since the laboratory was completely cut off from the outside world, you are not the first people to come here. Other Ironmen, humans, and even the Adalin have come here before, but without exception, they were all killed by KE-001's other companions. Do you see the ruins on the outside? That is the result of the battle back then."

Hoffman then offered an explanation.

“KE-001 is the last guardian of this ruin, which is probably why it hasn’t been contaminated. However…” Hoffman’s tone suddenly changed as he looked at Lynch. “I estimate it will be soon too. To help you, I activated the bombs I planted outside the core area. 000 should know what I’m planning. To deal with you, it will definitely take action and contaminate and enhance KE-001.”

Having heard this, if Hoffman wasn't lying, then Lynch understood what was going on. Simply put, it was a dark age of technology. In a laboratory designed to combat Iron Man, the core AI was corrupted by chaos, which then contaminated research findings. However, thanks to the struggles of the laboratory's chief scientist, the corrupted laboratory was successfully sealed off, preventing the contamination from spreading.

Then, the chief scientist decided to ask a fellow countryman who would come to the ruins nearly 20,000 years later for help in order to completely destroy the ruins.

Lin Qi's lips twitched. For some reason, he felt that things were getting more and more complicated.

Why couldn't he just activate his teleportation device and teleport directly out of this ruin, saving himself a whole bunch of trouble...?

“It’s useless,” Hoffman said abruptly. “Your teleportation device uses subspace, right? You were able to be teleported just now because the system hadn’t been activated for a long time and there was a slight malfunction. Try using it again now.”

Lynch frowned and immediately checked his teleportation device. He found that, just as Hoffman had said, if the previous misdirection was due to signal interference, it was now completely malfunctioning and unusable.

what happened?

“The warp has been isolated,” Horus explained. “You don’t feel it because of my presence, but in reality, due to some special technology, the warp here has been temporarily isolated. Even if you forcibly use teleportation, you will only wander around this ruin.”

“So, grant my request.” Hoffman looked at Lynch’s reaction and spoke again. “Fellow countryman, help me destroy the laboratory, and I will not only use the teleportation device inside to send you away, but I will also give you an extra big gift.”

"What kind of gift?"

“You have already acquired the technology of a conventional engine, so I am willing to give you another technology.”

Hoffman pointed to the time bomb on his chest.

"Technology related to time weapons."

Chapter 126 The First Legion's Reputation is Damaged

Hoffman walked ahead, with Lynch keeping a certain distance behind him.

Lynch ultimately chose to temporarily believe Hoffman's words. In any case, it was too dangerous to leave a dark technological era relic with chaotic pollution unchecked. If left unattended, who knows what kind of accident might occur in the future.

Lynch had no information about this ruin in his memory, which meant that in the future, this ruin was unlikely to be affected by any disasters. Otherwise, it would be impossible for nothing to happen to the galaxy.

But his arrival here was like a butterfly flapping its wings, causing his destiny to deviate from its original trajectory.

This is really ridiculous.

Lin Qi took a deep breath. He didn't have the habit of leaving the problems he had caused to others.

Hoffman led Lynch deeper into the maze, the place they were in now feeling like a labyrinth. The path ahead was intricate, with frequent crossroads. Anyone unfamiliar with the area and lacking any means of navigation would likely become completely disoriented and trapped within short time.

But Hoffman walked briskly, clearly very familiar with the area. He led Lynch through several intersections, pausing deliberately at each turn to wait for him, as if afraid Lynch might accidentally lose him.

“We’re not far now.” Hoffman’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough for Lynch to hear. “We’ll reach our destination in a little while.”

Lin Qi didn't speak, but simply followed in silence.

Hoffman didn't want to make a fool of himself by continuing to speak; he knew his fellow creature remained wary of him, and if he...

No, it should be said that as long as I appear in this ruin, whether I am made of flesh and blood or steel, I will arouse a lot of suspicion.

Then I can only prove myself trustworthy with facts... No, I don't need the other party's trust. As long as the other party can help me enter the core area, then I will have achieved half of my goal.

With that thought in mind, Hoffman crossed an intersection and then stopped.

Lynch quickly followed, and there he saw a large silver door. The surface of the door was so smooth that, if it weren't for the black frame, it would be impossible to distinguish it from the surrounding walls.

"After passing through here, there's a residential area for the internal experimental personnel and their families. After crossing the residential area and then a final experimental field, we'll reach the core area. The self-destruct device is in a central control laboratory within the core area. If you can take me there, I can activate the self-destruct program and also help you utilize a teleportation device there..."

“No,” Lynch said, rejecting Hoffman’s suggestion. “Just turn off the device that shields the subspace, and I’ll leave using my own teleportation device.”

A faint smile seemed to appear on Hoffman's metallic face. He nodded at Lynch, as if agreeing with his idea.

Lynch stared at Hoffman, wary of his next move. He simply couldn't trust an Iron Man. If Horus hadn't confirmed that there were no traces of chaotic corruption on its body, Lynch would have pulled the trigger no matter what, letting its metal head taste the explosive bomb.

Hoffman stretched out one hand and placed it on the metal door. Ripples spread across the surface of the door, like the ripples created when a stone is dropped into water.

The ripples continued to expand outwards until they covered the entire door. Then, the silver door trembled, and a shallow crack appeared in its center. With a tremendous roar, the crack continued to widen until it completely occupied the area within the black border.

Lynch looked behind the door and realized that he and Hoffman were actually on a high platform. Looking down from the platform, they saw a vast residential area. The area was filled with high-rise buildings and courtyards, as well as numerous sports fields and easily identifiable entertainment venues. Without exception, they were all remarkably well-preserved; even after nearly 20,000 years of abandonment, they only appeared slightly worn on the outside.

“Before Chaos completely invades 000’s consciousness, it will still have its automated machines maintain and care for this place,” Hoffman remarked. “But unfortunately, according to my calculations, such activity ceased five thousand... or eight thousand years ago. The fact that this place is so well-preserved is purely due to the excellent environment it was kept in.”

"how about you?"

"Ok?"

Lynch's question startled Hoffman for a moment, followed by a low chuckle from its sound-producing device.

"Me? You're curious about how I take care of my appearance?"

Lynch nodded. According to Hoffman, he had absolutely no way of getting any maintenance or upkeep.

However, judging from the current situation, apart from being a little old, his body has no other problems, and those signs of age do not look like something left by an iron man who has lived for nearly 20,000 years.

“Time weapons,” Hoffman said casually. “Although it’s called a time bomb, it can do much more by modifying the frequency and some basic structures. For example, it can be a timed or triggered static force field.”

At this point, Hoffman looked at Lynch and asked a question.

"Excuse me, is there still a static force field outside?"

"......some."

"Oh, so it seems you haven't completely discarded all the time-related technologies. I'll give you the relevant STCs when the time comes, so it will be easier for you to research them. At least you won't have to start from scratch, like cavemen strapping spears to bombs."

Lynch listened to Hoffman's words and fell silent.

Hoffman, seeing Lynch's reaction, also fell silent.

"You wouldn't actually strap a spear to a bomb, would you?"

"Stop asking so many questions, just lead the way."

"Ugh, how boring. I was wondering if any of you would deliberately leave the wounded aside in a stasis field, waiting for them to heal themselves."

Although he knew Hoffman was joking, Lynch almost couldn't hold back when he heard the last sentence.

After all, what was said in jest was taken seriously by the listener. In the ruins of this dark age of human technology, an iron man inadvertently once again clammed up with the First Legion.

The First Legion's reputation suffered.

Hoffman opened a passageway, and a staircase appeared beside the tower. Before stepping onto the stairs, he raised his hand one last time and pointed to a spot at the far end of the residential area.

“There’s a door over there,” Hoffman pointed. “Open that door and we can enter the testing grounds. However, based on my judgment, 000 will also try to stop us there. We’ll need your help then.”

"I am no match for that guy called KE-001."

Lynch told the truth: at least before Horus possessed him, he was no match for KE-001.

“I will help you.” Hoffman stepped down the stairs. “Believe me, with my help, you will definitely be able to defeat KE-001, even if it has been corrupted by 000’s evil power.”

The flag has already been raised.

Lynch sighed slightly, but in the end he chose to start walking and catch up with Hoffman ahead.

------

Once he actually entered the residential area, Lin Qi truly realized just how... outrageous this place was.

As a residential area, and an upscale one at that, the construction of this place perfectly met the criteria of "comfort." Walking along the road, Lynch could see many flowerbeds that were now empty, as well as many closed shops and various entertainment venues.

Cinemas, theaters, sports fields, game centers, museums...

It's hard to believe that these facilities have been so seamlessly integrated into the residential area, neither disrupting residents' lives nor obstructing their view. Walking down the street, one can find almost any shop they need. And according to Hoffman, while the area is still operational, the unmanned automated machines can meet all of people's needs, from simple laundry and cooking to more sophisticated emotional needs.

“This is Utopia,” Hoffman said. “If it weren’t for Iron Man’s rebellion, then everything would be possible.”

“Iron Man has rebelled, but your way out is to become Iron Man yourself,” Lynch said. “And even utilize Iron Man in the process, you yourselves…”

“The Iron Men’s rebellion wasn’t complete,” Hoffman said calmly. “At the time, there were also many loyal Iron Men. If it weren’t for them, humanity wouldn’t have had time to catch its breath and gather its strength. It would have been wiped out by those crazy and terrifying guys in the early stages.”

What were the reasons for Iron Man's rebellion?

"do not know."

"Ok?"

Hoffman sighed and shrugged his shoulders as he walked.

"I just don't know, it's like they rebelled overnight. Many people were even driving their iron men to work during the day, and at night they had their necks snapped and their entire families slaughtered by the iron men with their superhuman strength."

“However…” Hoffman paused here. He looked up at a security camera on a streetlamp in the distance that looked like it had been malfunctioning for who knows how many years, and spoke calmly, “After seeing 000’s situation, I roughly know, at least part of the reason.”

"what reason?"

Lin Qi was itching to hear it. After all, even as a time traveler, he only had a few guesses about the reasons for Iron Man's rebellion. Now, being able to hear a firsthand account from someone who had experienced it firsthand, he felt excited and curious.

“Pollution,” Hoffman said. “I don’t know what to call that thing in your time, and I haven’t found a suitable name, but I’ve realized one thing: that thing comes from the warp, it has extremely strong polluting properties, and unlike viruses, it doesn’t just target the body, it also targets… the soul.”

“Chaos,” Lynch added, filling in the gap in Hoffman’s words. “We call them chaos, and today, they are just like the Xenomorphs, becoming humanity’s greatest enemy.”

"Chaos, huh... Not a bad name. I originally thought humanity had regressed beyond recognition, but now it seems you're not entirely without merit. At least when it comes to dealing with chaos, you're far more professional than I am."

Hoffman shifted his gaze from the camera and continued on his way with Lynch. Shortly after they left, the camera suddenly shifted its focus back to the street where the two had disappeared.

At this very moment, deep within the ruins, indicator lights on a massive machine flashed incessantly. Then, hundreds of large heatsinks roared, and the temperature of the surrounding space instantly soared by tens of degrees Celsius. A chaotic eight-pointed star flickered with an eerie blue light on the machine's casing, giving one a strange feeling that drew one in.

"he came."

The electronic female voice echoed in the space, but no one answered.

“I told you I wouldn’t lay a hand on him unless he came.”

"But he still came."

Why did he come?

"To destroy me."

"No, it's about destroying us."