The concept of cloning flesh and consuming it to gain physical abilities rivaling the Emperor's genetically enhanced elites or injected Inquisitorial serums intrigued Chris.
"Hmm... an impressive biotechnology."
After confirming Isabella's statement, a thought emerged in Chris's mind: to completely seize and exploit all of Universe 13's valuable technology.
Chris hadn't always been like this. But now, as long as it benefited humanity—especially the Human Empire—he was willing to pursue any means.
Ideally, the people of Universe 13 would integrate into the Human Empire.
Yet, as Isabella described, their biotechnology was contingent upon a profound and unwavering faith in God. Without such faith, simply consuming the flesh of saints or paladins wouldn't yield the extraordinary results.
Click.
The parallels between this process and the blessings demons bestow upon their followers were unmistakable to Chris.
Faith and offerings were prerequisites for accessing supernatural power. Universe 13's Heaven seemed similarly distant in its interventions, providing only the bare essentials for humanity to resist Hell.
Chris found this frustrating. Why hadn't Heaven sent armies of angels or divine warriors to decisively end Hell's incursion?
Comparing this to his own Emperor, Chris knew that if a Warp portal appeared in the Prime Universe, the Emperor himself would lead the charge alongside his Primarchs and Astartes.
Chris recalled how the Emperor, during the conquest of Terra, personally led his forces to slay demonic entities to minimize casualties.
By contrast, Universe 13's Heaven appeared to be "playing games," just as Warp demons fed on mortal emotions, using fear and excess as sustenance. Hell's overt campaign to corrupt and enslave humanity paralleled Heaven's manipulative provision of biotech to sustain humanity's devotion.
Heaven and Hell both seemed self-serving to Chris, and he silently concluded that Universe 13's Heaven might also be a threat to the Human Empire.
Still, the immediate priority was eliminating Hell. The matter of Heaven could be decided later, once intelligence was presented to the Emperor.
After a moment of silence, Chris addressed Isabella, who was growing visibly impatient.
"Thank you, Lady de Kairuel, for your cooperation. Your intelligence has provided us with a comprehensive understanding of your universe, sparing us much trouble."
"Our universe..." Isabella murmured, momentarily stunned.
She had long wondered about the origins of these strangers and their advanced technology, as well as the speed of their ships like the Shadowrunner and Luna transports.
But she quickly composed herself and asked urgently,
"Now that you understand, it's time to let us go! The Hell Army is mobilizing, and we must notify my Empire and humanity at once—"
"One moment."
Chris raised a hand to interrupt, deftly manipulating his tablet. A holographic screen materialized on the metal table, playing a video.
Chris continued,
"Lady de Kairuel, rest assured. If the Human Empire from the Prime Universe intervenes, we will resolve the Hell threat swiftly and decisively.
With our military strength, Hell is of no concern. Humanity will be under the Empire's protection, so you need not worry about your Empire or your world.
Now, allow me to explain what the Human Empire is and what the Prime Universe entails."
As Chris's words concluded, the video shifted from an epic prologue to a detailed presentation. It used clear language and visuals to introduce the Human Empire and its mastery of interdimensional gates.
Though skeptical of Chris's claims, Isabella had witnessed the Shadowrunner's missile barrage obliterating thousands of demons and heretics in an instant. If there were even fifty such ships, her Holy Roman Empire could repel Hell's armies.
But as the video revealed that the Empire possessed over 40,000 warships, her mind reeled.
What she had initially envisioned as a few dozen Shadowrunners turned out to be outdated vessels—decommissioned due to their lack of warp travel and inferior endurance compared to the Selene-class transports.
Meanwhile, in the Prime Universe, Emperor Samuel Young was reviewing the Intelligence Department's detailed report on Universe 13.
His expression remained calm as he digested the information.
Universe 13's blend of medieval, religious, and early 20th-century elements, coupled with the existence of paladins, saints, Heaven, and Hell, reminded him of a pre-transmigration tabletop game: Trench Crusade.
Before his transmigration, Samuel had only heard about Trench Crusade, a game inspired by Warhammer 40k, known for its grotesque miniatures and bleak settings.
Although he hadn't delved deeply into it, Samuel saw clear parallels between Trench Crusade and Universe 13's setup.
Samuel pondered whether Heaven thrived on humanity's emotions—despair, supplication, and faith—just as Warp entities did.
In the Prime Universe, Samuel wouldn't hesitate to close a Warp portal immediately. Yet Heaven in Universe 13 hadn't acted decisively to seal Hell's gates.
From a game design perspective, this balanced factions for player engagement. But in reality, it made Heaven's motives suspicious.
Samuel also recalled his disdain for the Biblical notion that humanity existed solely to glorify and please God, and that deviation from this standard warranted punishment.
"Why should we?" he thought. Humanity in the Prime Universe wasn't created by God. Even in fictional settings like Halo, the Forerunners—true creators—never demanded such worship.
He concluded that Universe 13's Heaven exploited Hell's invasion to deepen humanity's reliance on divine power, harvesting "faith energy" akin to psyker forces in the Warp.
Yet, Universe 13's humanity was deeply intertwined with Heaven. Isabella had described how paladins and knights were created through religious rituals resembling alchemical or magical biotechnology.
Samuel recalled that, in Trench Crusade, knights underwent four grueling rituals:
1. Acceptance of Faith
Candidates endured months or years of indoctrination, absorbing doctrines and oaths through specialized devices.
2. Chemical Baptism
Candidates soaked in a sanctified chemical bath, their bodies enhanced with extraordinary strength, speed, and endurance. The chemicals, however, damaged their lungs, necessitating respiratory equipment.
3. Armor of God
Candidates endured a painful surgery where golden, sacred inscriptions were etched directly onto their bones. These curses would ensure death if the knight betrayed their oaths.
4. Healing and Respite
Exhausted physically and mentally, knights were sent to recover in specialized wards for 3–6 months, during which they ingested mind-enhancing drugs and experienced divine visions.
Some knight orders rejected these rituals, choosing independence or even defecting to Hell's forces. This flexibility mirrored the diverse loyalties of Warhammer 40k chapters.
Samuel considered these details carefully. If Heaven's curse killed knights who betrayed their faith, the Empire couldn't easily recruit them.
Changing Universe 13's faith would be challenging, but perhaps an expert like Lorgar Aurelian could be of use—he was unparalleled in religious manipulation when loyal to the Emperor.
After a moment of thought, Samuel turned to his adjutant, Ap, and said,
"Inform Athena. I need to speak with her."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
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