Seeking Cooperation

"Yes, I came from another universe. The All Universes are vast and boundless; yours is not the only universe. As a traveler, I possessed the ability to move between different universes."

As Raven explained, he raised his head and opened his beak.

In an instant, beams of light burst from his mouth.

The beams intertwined in the air, forming countless images.

Some were clear and bright, playing like films.

Others were intricate and chaotic, with multiple scenes that occasionally flickered and kept jumping back to the beginning.

This was because most universes had one-dimensional timelines. When displayed, they advanced continuously like films.

Yet some universes possessed multidimensional timelines. Not only could they form multiple parallel dimensions, but they could also travel through the past and future.

When displayed, they appeared exceptionally chaotic.

"The wonders of the All Universes surpass your imagination. If you are willing to cooperate, I can help you travel to other universes and obtain the power and knowledge of those universes."

The Emperor asked, "And what do you stand to gain? Don't tell me you desire nothing."

"When you alter the predetermined fate of those universes, the universes themselves release unique Origin Power, and I feed on Origin Power," Raven explained. "This is a mutually beneficial transaction. Neither side will lose out."

"I do not cooperate with things of unknown origin," the Emperor refused once again.

"When you cooperated with the Four Chaos Gods to steal the secrets and essence of Chaos, you did not say the same thing."

Raven's words brought a trace of gravity to the Emperor's face, which had never shown any change before.

"How did you know about that?"

Raven closed his beak. The light ceased pouring forth, and the many images vanished with it.

"Everything that has ever happened leaves traces in the universe, and I possess the ability to read those traces. The moment I entered this universe, I began receiving its information."

"On Morthos Planet, you entered the Warp and reached a deal with the Four Chaos Gods. With their aid, you stole the power and knowledge of Chaos to achieve your own goals. You even deceived them. They are quite furious with you now."

The Emperor looked at Raven before him and narrowed his eyes slightly.

There was no trace of Warp corruption on the other's body, so he should not have been a creature of the Warp.

As for his claims of being a traveler from the All Universes, they required verification.

Beside him, Waldo looked around vigilantly. The guardian spear in his hand had been activated, brilliant arcs of light enveloping its razor-sharp tip.

He was using his helmet's sensory modules and his own keen senses to search for an invisible target.

After the Emperor touched that strange sculpture, it had turned into light and disappeared.

Then the Emperor had begun talking to himself and even drawn his sword, apparently intending to attack something.

Waldo had been right beside him, yet he had seen nothing.

No matter what methods he used to search, he found nothing.

"What happened? Who is Your Majesty speaking to?"

"Who is the enemy? Those dark gods?"

"Where are they? Why can't I see anything?"

Waldo held up his spear and looked around, utterly bewildered.

Watching the Emperor converse with empty air, he felt confusion and helplessness rise within him.

"Your Majesty, are you all right?"

The Emperor emerged from his thoughts and looked at Waldo.

"I am fine."

"Then why were you talking to yourself?" Waldo asked with concern. "Should I summon a physician to examine you?"

The Emperor glanced at Waldo, then at Raven, who was pacing through the air.

"You cannot see him?"

"See what?" Waldo looked around, but saw nothing at all.

"He cannot see me. Only those acknowledged by the Primarch of Fate, or those who have received the Primarch of Fate's permission, can see me. It is a protective mechanism for the Primarch of Fate, ensuring that transactions are not discovered by third parties."

Raven paused briefly, then added another sentence.

"Of course, you do not fall within that category. After all, there are few in the physical universe who could defeat you. But the protective mechanism still applies."

The Emperor asked, "Can you let him see you?"

"Of course, if you are willing."

The Emperor nodded. "Let him see you."

The utterly bewildered Waldo saw a raven appear out of thin air before him.

It even greeted him in a friendly manner.

"Hi, Waldo, esteemed Imperial Custodes Commander. Want to go down to the docks and grab some fries?"

Waldo did not hesitate for even a second.

He moved so quickly that only an afterimage could be seen.

The guardian spear in his hand instantly leveled at Raven.

Protecting the Emperor was not the Adeptus Custodes' duty. It was the reason for their existence.

Waldo would never allow any dangerous factor near the Emperor.

"That is too rude. I kindly invited you to grab some fries, and this is how you treat me?"

Raven put on an exaggerated expression of sorrow.

Waldo remained completely unmoved. "Daemon, get out of this world."

"Waldo." The Emperor pressed down Waldo's guardian spear. "It is not a daemon."

"It is deceiving you," Waldo said. "Your Majesty, daemons of the Warp are always skilled at deception."

"I can see that it bears no corruption of Chaos," the Emperor said.

Only after seeing the Emperor's resolute attitude did Waldo put away his weapon.

The Emperor looked at Raven again. "You said you could help me travel to other universes and obtain power and knowledge. How can you guarantee this is not a trap?"

"I cannot offer you a definite guarantee, but this is your only chance to win," Raven said. "The Primarchs you intended to use as anchors for new warriors have already been stolen by the gods, yet you have not abandoned the plan. You are still carrying it out in secret."

Waldo's eyes widened. This matter was classified at the highest level, and very few people knew of it.

Yet Raven before him could speak of it so easily.

If the other had been sent by those dark gods, then perhaps everything they had done had never escaped their notice.

"I can tell you clearly that none of the Primarchs you created are dead. They are scattered across various places, undergoing fate's trials. When you begin your conquest of the stars, they will return to your side."

The Emperor looked at Raven before him and fell increasingly silent.

The other knew far too much.

"You have planned a beautiful future for humanity, but you are destined to fail. For no matter how hard those caught in fate's torrent struggle, they cannot alter its course."

"Everything you do is leading toward a predetermined fate. You possess the ability of prophecy. You should be able to see many futures, and most of them are dark and hopeless."

"In the end, you will lose everything: the empire you painstakingly built, the Adeptus Custodes you personally cultivated, the friends who have always helped you, and the humanity you have always sought to protect. All of it will ultimately walk toward a slow death."

"You are being alarmist," Waldo said.

"Am I really being alarmist?" Raven smiled. "You should ask the sovereign you serve whether he believes my words are lies. Or do you simply not believe in his greatness and foresight?"

The Emperor said nothing.

That amounted to acknowledging Raven's claims.

Opposing the gods was far from as simple as imagined.

Once they failed, humanity's fate would become incomparably dark. There would be only war, with no salvation left.

Waldo stared at Raven, gripping his guardian spear tightly and making no effort to conceal his killing intent.

Raven continued strolling through the air without the slightest sign of tension.

He knew Waldo would not act without the Emperor's command.

The Adeptus Custodes would never question the Emperor, nor would they disobey his orders.

Waldo was the perfect embodiment of that ironclad rule.

"If you are willing, I will send you to the first world of trial. Once you complete the task, you can return with your reward. I guarantee that reward will greatly aid your plans."

Waldo looked at the Emperor. From his expression, Waldo knew he was considering Raven's words.

"Your Majesty, do not believe its honeyed words. What if this is a trap? If you cannot return, all our plans will come to nothing."

Raven said, "Even taking the worst-case scenario, even if I am a liar, Terra has already been unified. Even if the Emperor leaves, this place will still become a new cradle of human civilization."

"You have not even mastered complete Webway technology. If something goes wrong, all humanity will be doomed beyond redemption. A gambler's all-or-nothing wager would be worse than giving up; at least then the situation would not become even worse."

Every one of the Emperor's plans was built around the Webway.

Whether it was the unification of Terra, the Primarchs, or the Great Crusade, they were merely means, not the ultimate goal.

The Webway, which could allow humanity to travel faster than light without risk while remaining isolated from the Warp, was the ultimate purpose of the Emperor's entire series of plans.

The Emperor and Waldo heard Raven's words.

Their expressions changed. They had always been unflappable and absolutely calm.

The Webway was top secret. Only three people in the entire empire knew the complete plan.

"Only from beyond the universe can you acquire the power and knowledge to change this universe. If you are willing to cooperate, I can also help you obtain complete Webway technology in other universes."

"I need one day to replenish the energy required for traveling between universes. You may think it over some more and give me a definite answer at this time tomorrow."

After Raven finished speaking, he vanished with a bang, turning into billowing white mist.