"Cease!"

The Astartes, every single one of them, fell to their knees and bowed their heads as a pillar of golden light erupted around us, accompanied by an overwhelmingly powerful presence that seemed to ring in my ears and cause the very air around us to distort, shuddering. My eyes widened as I turned and looked around me, only to see only gold and bright shimmering ghost lights. Even the Astartes had disappeared, gone as though they were never there. A trillion stars wheeled overhead, a giant, wreathed in fire, turning its blazing eyes towards me. Great another enemy.

This day just keeps getting better and better.

Did one of the guild members send it, I wondered. Or if my admin really just wanted me to die.

It didn't matter. The gap in power was massive, but I was a guardsman; we were all trained to fight and kill things that were so far above us as to be gods in their own right. I wouldn't retreat. I was done. I was exhausted and utterly drained. If it meant my death, then so be it. I've sacrificed enough – died once already. I shouldn't even be alive. Did I do enough to turn the tide against the dark? I don't believe I'll ever truly know. I'd failed to deliver the STC to a Tech-Priest and the Hive City of Kuresh was already corrupted by the time I reached it.

The one thing I did know, however, was that I'd fight to my dying breath!

I was a Guardsman! Born to serve and die!

And I've already faced death once.

With a single thought, I summoned the [Mask of Death] right into my grasp and prepared to don the artifact. Only the Reaper Form could possibly stand a chance against whatever this thing was. I'd still probably lose and die. This.. entity before me was many times stronger than the Balrog and I wasn't even sure if my Reaper Form could defeat that creature. Did it matter? Not really. I'd fight and keep moving forward. No quarter was to be given to any enemy, just as I'd expect none be given to me.

Keep moving forward. Keep fighting. Even if it ends in my death.

At the very least, I'd be satisfied by the fact that I died in service to mankind. There was no nobler death than that.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" I wasn't sure why I roared in defiance. Perhaps, I was roaring against fate itself, roaring against the inevitable. I wasn't afraid. [Gamer's Mind] ruined my ability to feel fear, replacing it with a cold sense of self-preservation. Perhaps, this was exactly that; I was roaring against my instincts, telling me to run away and live to fight another day.

The [Mask of Death] was mere centimeters from my face when a booming voice echoed around me, golden waves of warp energy lashing out and passing over my very being. It was... warm and comforting, like the embrace of my parents, the voice of my mother, telling me that everything was going to be alright, and the assurance of my father, keeping me safe.

"Be not afraid, Perry Anatinus; I am not your enemy."

I fell to my knees and bowed my head.

I didn't know how or why, but I knew – without a shadow of a doubt – that this presence and this presence alone belonged to the God Emperor of Mankind, whose eyes, it seemed, were now fixed upon me. With a single thought, I sent the [Mask of Death] straight into my Inventory. I felt ashamed at that; I'd raised my hand against the Emperor, even thought about killing him – heretical. But, I'd chastise and punish myself later.

"Come, walk with me." I blinked and looked up and I saw... the God-Emperor, clearly, standing right there, but in a much smaller form, human, like myself. He was clad in simple robes, long black hair dangling down the side of his face, and eyes cackling with golden energies, a veritable ocean of [Warp Energy] behind them. It was surreal. He looked human, but the God-Emperor's presence was unmistakable... undeniable.

He was smiling down at me. I did not deserve such a thing.

I looked upon the God Emperor of Mankind himself, the Lord and Master of all of humanity. Who else could claim such a thing? "Stand, Perry Anatinus. There are things we must discuss."

I nodded, unsure of what was going on and what my liege and god wanted of me. But, the God-Emperor himself bade me stand and that's exactly what I did. His word was law. I stood up, but otherwise kept my head down, and followed the Emperor as he began walking into the endless chasm of golden lights and phantom flames.

There were... figures around us, Astartes in black armor, covered in fire and ashes, bones and skulls adorning their forms. There were...thousands upon thousands of them – innumerable. And among them was a tall figure, arms of silver, bearing a flaming sword, headless, but crowned by a wreath of blazing laurels.

What was this place?

"It is not everyday I meet one whose thoughts I cannot hear, see, or read; it is... refreshing." The God-Emperor chuckled as he glanced at me from over his shoulder, his hands at his back.

"Forgive me, my lord." Was all I could say. "I do not know how to... lower my defenses."

And that was true. [Gamer's Mind] wasn't something I could just toggle on and off; it was there to stay, permanently. The God-Emperor shook his head. "There is nothing to forgive. In truth, it's better that way. Your mind is an iron-clad fortress that not even the Forces of Chaos can breach; be proud, my child."

"You sent me a gift..." The God-Emperor continued as he turned and raised his right hand, showing me the shining ring upon his middle finger, gleaming like starlight. The God-Emperor smiled as he breathed in and let out a breath. "It has been... of immense help; without it, I would not even be capable of communicating with you as I do now. I cannot thank you enough for it, Perry."

I bowed my head. "I only did what anyone in my place would've done, my lord. I do not deserve your thanks."

The God-Emperor was silent for a moment, before he turned and continued walking. I followed closely behind him. In the presence of the God of Mankind, I kept my head down and my eyes low. Unworthy. I was unworthy to be here, to bask in the presence of my lord. But I was here, nonetheless, which meant the God-Emperor himself had a task for me.

"Humility does not suit you." My lord said, before he sighed and shook his head. "You remind me of someone... a companion of mine... from long ago. His achievements were legendary, but he never acknowledged any of it; to him, he did all he did, because it was his duty. He was a hero, who saved the Imperium – a dear friend."

I stayed quiet – not quite knowing who the God-Emperor was even talking about. There were plenty of heroes who saved the Imperium, I figured. It could have been any of them. But, I wasn't a hero. All I did, I did because I loved mankind. I loved the Imperium. And I would give all that I am and all that I had to preserve it, just as any other loyal citizen would do. There really wasn't much else to it.

"Your abilities, Perry," The Emperor said. "Can you tell me exactly what you're capable of? At least, as much as you're aware."

I nodded. "I can... control my own body, my lord. I can assimilate DNA and other physical traits from other living creatures, and store biomass... somewhere. I'm not sure how it works, but I can even transform into an Astartes and easily change back into my usual human form. Lately, I've gained the power to splice and combine genetic traits. I can also control technology to a very limited degree; I can fix broken things if I touch them and store them somewhere only I can access, just like biomass. I can also absorb and store warp energy, but I can't do anything with it, I think."

The Emperor looked genuinely surprised. "A very fascinating set of abilities. Yours seem to be a very specialized form of Biomancy and Technomancy – a very odd combination, but not unheard of. I used both when I conquered Terra, during the conquest. The ability to absorb and hoard the powers of the Immaterium is... strange, but – again – not unheard of. What else?"

"I can... summon objects of power, my lord." I said. Though, I wasn't sure if that was the most accurate way to describe the Gacha System. "Every time I achieve a notable thing, I am able to summon items, though I am not able to choose what items are summoned."

"Enuncia... I believe it is – the Language of Creation. You seem to have an... innate connection to it." The Emperor spoke as though he was already expecting that answer. I didn't know what Enuncia was, but... my understanding of the System told me that it... wasn't far off; it was, in essence, the power of creation, but given a very specific form with very specific rules and limitations enforced to make sure that I, the host, developed under very specific paths and circumstances. "When did you first begin manifesting these abilities of yours?"

"We charged the enemy lines... I... I died, my lord. I died and then I... was alive again. Something brought me back. And, when I awoke, I wasn't... normal anymore. I could scarcely consider myself human, to be honest." I had a System, and a whole host of interdimensional gods watching me for entertainment. The power I wielded came from them. But I couldn't tell anyone that... not even my god.

"Hrm... trauma-induced awakening is not uncommon, especially when exposed to the energies of the Immaterium." The God-Emperor shrugged. "I suppose the cause is not as important. What do you plan to do with your abilities, Perry?"

"I... I'm going to serve the Imperium as I've always done, my lord. And I'd follow your will." I said. And, this time, it was the full truth. "I would give all that I have and all that I am, until there is nothing left of me. Or until there are no enemies left for me to fight - whichever comes first."

"Good." The Emperor nodded, smiling. Tears sprung from my eyes. I'd received the Emperor's approval... who else could claim the same? "Then, I shall use you, Perry Anatinus. I shall turn you against the enemies of mankind. I will send you to the darkest and the most horrifying of places. And you shall fight – day by day, again and again, until you die or until you've slain all the enemies of the Imperium."

I knelt. "I will gladly be your weapon, my lord. Command me. I am yours."

"Rise, then, Perry Anatinus, my servant." The Emperor said. "You shall be my blade in the darkness, my weapon to wield against my enemies. And I shall make use of you until you are spent."

"I am your tool, my lord, now until there is nothing left of me."

"That is good. You will need a team, of course. For all your gifts and your powers, you are but one man and one man cannot change the fate of my Imperium" The Emperor continued. There was an odd amusement to the Master of Mankind. "You'll need advisors and guardians, people you can trust. Ah, this reminds of me the days before I formed the Imperium, when life was simpler."

"You will be given instructions and tomes to better guide you in harnessing your power. I still have plenty of those in my private library." And then, the God-Emperor's flaming eyes blazed brighter and he snapped his fingers, smiling. "I will not allow you to be just another guardsman, Perry, and have you waste your potential here. No, you're meant for greater battles and for greater purposes."

"I will do anything you ask of me my lord... but... what of Praxtor?"

"You're more valuable to me than the planet you're fighting to protect." The God-Emperor said, plainly. "Still, I know you'd never abandon this world – not to the forces of Chaos – and neither would I. Thus, I have sent a detachment of Aquilan Shields to relieve this entire planet, alongside the Carcharodons Astra. A Mechanicus Fleet is coming as well – I suspect, for the STC you hold. Worry not, dear Perry, Praxtor will not fall."

"But, I don't think that will be enough to deal with the true threat." The Emperor continued. "You know of what I speak, do you not? A creature of fire and shadow and malice – not quite a Daemon, but not alive either. If anything, its existence has more in common with the ring I now wear – physical and spiritual at once. What a curious thing."

"It won't be enough, my lord." I said. Truth be told, I felt... oddly conflicted about the Balrog. There was something about it that struck me as... pitiful. Its existence was one unfortunate thing after another, and whatever semblance of its original self lay buried underneath a mountain of fire and shadow. "It's... too powerful. No weapon can hurt it. But... I've felt the entity's soul, my lord. It... it wasn't always evil. It wasn't always full of malice. If... if it can be brought back, somehow. Maybe... maybe we don't have to kill it."

The God-Emperor seemed pensive for a moment, golden eyes shining brighter than any star in the sky, before he nodded. "I see. A spirit of spring, eh? How far gone it is from what it used to be; and yet, I sense... hope... perhaps, you're right, dear Perry. That... creature will be a powerful boon, I imagine, if turned to our cause."

"Leave that entity to me." He stopped walking and turned to me. "We shall speak again once this business has been dealt with. For now, your task is to keep yourself safe. You must understand that your presence – your powers – present an unprecedented boon to the Imperium, my child. I will not allow you to die here; you are NOT allowed to die here."

That was... easy enough, I suppose. Though, a stream of amusement, followed by a host of disappointing whines told me that the guild members, who were watching, did not like this turn of events. However, seeing as nothing was happening, I could only assume that my Admin didn't mind too much. I bowed my head and closed my eyes. "I will do as you command, my lord."