More Uncontactable Than the Uncontactable, More Demonic Than the Demon

Veil walked over to Gao Yi's side, leaned in, and whispered.

"Captain, everything's ready. The families of the selected soldiers have served the Dynasty for generations—they're reliable."

Gao Yi nodded silently.

"Scott, put down your work for now. I need to ask you something about the Lower Deck."

"I'm on my way, Captain!"

Hearing Gao Yi's call, Scott had no idea danger was coming. He hurried over from the corner's Thinker toward Gao Yi.

But the moment he stepped onto the central aisle of the Bridge, the soldiers in Combat Suits struck without warning.

They rushed forward, instantly locking Scott's arms and slamming him to the ground. Even though Scott was a battle-hardened soldier with some genetic enhancement, mortal flesh was still no match for a Combat Suit's strength.

Then several gun muzzles aimed directly at Scott, pinned to the floor. The sudden shift drew gasps from the Bridge crew.

"In the name of the Acting Captain, I'm arresting you, Scott! Everyone else, clear the Bridge!"

Scott struggled beneath the restraint.

"Why! What did I do wrong, Captain? Didn't you say punishment would wait until after the riot? Chief Steward Veil, say something for me! I've served the Dynasty for years—why are you doing this?"

"Speak for you? You know full well you've served the Dynasty for years. The Dynasty pulled you out of the Lower Deck, gave you wealth, gave you honor, even made you Master of Discipline on this flagship. But what did you do? Don't you know in your own heart?"

"I'm loyal! I did nothing!"

"Then why did you hide the fact that you went to the Bottom Hold with Lord Ludwig? What exactly were you looking for?" Veil was genuinely furious. His loyalty to the Dynasty surpassed even his loyalty to the Imperium, even his faith in the God-Emperor.

And Scott's actions before him were unforgivable.

"You don't have to talk now, but I'll make you talk soon enough." Veil drew the Chainsword from his belt and stepped toward Scott, planning to sever his limbs first—as long as he could still speak.

But Scott, who had been so agitated, suddenly went cold.

Looking at Veil's expression, he knew no amount of explanation or concealment would work anymore. Veil and that detestable Acting Captain had already decided he was guilty.

"Gao Yi. It's all you. All because of these soldiers who suddenly appeared at your side. They never should've had a chance to counterattack the Lower Deck, and I wouldn't have been exposed!"

Scott's face twisted with rage.

Hearing Scott's confession, Veil lunged forward in fury, but Gao Yi stopped him.

"Veil, calm down! The most important thing is to find out from him what's hidden in the Bottom Hold and where the Rogue Trader went!"

Gao Yi stepped down from the Captain's position and walked toward Scott.

But as he descended the steps, he sensed something wrong. He noticed his breath condensing into mist—the temperature on the entire Bridge was plummeting.

Scott, still pinned, lowered his head and muttered something even the nearby soldiers couldn't make out.

But Gao Yi, whose Psykers perception had awakened to terrifying levels, heard every word.

"Gods of Chaos... I offer my soul to you as a sacrifice..."

As Scott whispered, a surge of psychic energy erupted from him.

The soldiers holding him were shocked to find their brand-new Power Armour rapidly decaying. By the time they tried to pull their hands away, it was too late—the decay crawled up their arms, spreading not just through the Combat Suits but into the flesh beneath, which withered and rotted.

Then a psychic shockwave rippled outward, catching the nearby soldiers off guard. The Machine Gunner in CMC-400 Combat Suit toppled to the floor; only the Marauder kept his footing, though the force still churned his insides. A psychic shield formed around Scott.

"You're a Psykers?!" Veil shouted in shock. Scott had hidden his identity as a Psykers all these years? And never once suffered a psychic meltdown?!

Freed from restraint, Scott raised his arm and aimed at Gao Yi.

A blast of destructive energy shot toward Gao Yi. Scott grinned savagely—the sacrifices he'd made, the soul he'd offered to some unknown entity in the Warp, had bought him this power. In his mind, he already saw Gao Yi torn apart by his psychic might. If Gao Yi died, his own death would be worth it.

"Captain, watch out!"

Veil tried to shove Gao Yi aside, but he could never match the speed of psychic power.

Seeing the psychic spell hurtling toward him, Gao Yi's face went pale.

"Damn it! I got careless!"

He strained to dodge, but he was still a fraction too slow.

The destructive psychic energy slammed straight into Gao Yi.

Just as everyone thought he was dead, the unthinkable happened—the force that could tear apart Adamantium didn't harm Gao Yi at all.

"How is this possible?!" Scott stood frozen. Through his soul-sacrificed power, he now saw behind Gao Yi a monstrous shape with countless tentacles—a creature devouring every bit of psychic energy he'd released.

That form was Gao Yi's Warp projection, the image of a Xel'Naga from the stars.

Scott felt the thing drain all psychic energy from the surroundings, yet it remained unsatisfied—it coveted his soul.

This was more demonic than any demon.

"My Warp projection makes me immune to psychic spells?! Even more than an Uncontactable?!" As the psychic energy was completely consumed, Gao Yi gained a thousand Psionic Crystals in one go.

This was way faster than grinding mobs!

"Monster—you're not human. What the hell are you?!"

Scott stumbled backward. In his eyes, Gao Yi was now more terrifying than a Chaos God.

And Veil stood there, stunned by everything he'd witnessed.

"Sir! What in the world is going on?"

"The God-Emperor protects me!"

Just as Scott was about to flee, the soldiers regained their footing.

The Marauder aimed his K-14 grenade launcher at Scott.

A full twenty Quad Launchers opened fire in a saturation barrage against Scott.

In an instant, Scott was swallowed by a sea of flames.

The deafening explosions continued unabated until Gao Yi ordered them to stop.

As the smoke and dust cleared, Scott's psychic shield had long been shattered, and his body was covered in gruesome wounds—clearly on the verge of death.

Gravely wounded, Scott couldn't utter a single word, coughing up mouthfuls of blood.

Gao Yi strode toward Scott. Veil tried to stop him, but was stunned to find Gao Yi's speed terrifying—he couldn't even intercept him before Gao Yi was already at Scott's side.

Unbeknownst to him, as more and more of the purified Warp energy accumulated, Gao Yi's physical capabilities were also rising in tandem.

It wasn't just Scott who sensed the hunger of Gao Yi's Warp projection—as the projection's master, Gao Yi felt it even more acutely. He bent down and approached Scott.

When he drew near, Scott's soul, already corrupted by the Chaos God, became fodder for Gao Yi's projection.

As that vile soul was devoured, a flood of Scott's memories poured into Gao Yi's mind.