The Empire's First Gene Engine

The Emperor spent a long time in the laboratory.

When he emerged, a rare look of joy graced his face.

As Malcador and Waldo came to report on their work, the Emperor showed them his achievement.

The first Gene Engine of the Imperium.

It was an optimized version of the Super God Universe's base Gene Engine.

Once implanted, it would enhance all of the user's physical attributes across the board.

"It really worked."

Malcador flipped through the data the Emperor had given him, his voice filled with excitement.

With the Gene Engine combined with the original Astartes project, the Imperium of Man would possess a cadre of powerful warriors.

The entire starry sky would be within humanity's grasp.

Conquering the galaxy was just around the corner.

"All of this is thanks to Mr. Raven."

The Emperor attributed the credit to Raven, who stood on his shoulder.

"This is all your own effort, big guy."

Raven shook his head repeatedly.

He dared not take credit.

The Emperor smiled and changed the subject, inquiring about the preparations for war.

"Everything is ready, Your Majesty."

Malcador opened a holographic projection interface.

Although Terra had been in chaos for years, some spaceports still operated normally.

The main routes were within the Sol system and a few remaining secure interstellar passages.

Malcador, under the name of the Senatorum Imperialis of Terra, had requisitioned all usable vessels.

A massive fleet had been assembled to launch an assault on Luna.

"Since we are ready, let us begin."

The Emperor looked up at the sky. Luna hung in the heavens, its cratered surface clearly visible.

The Gene Cult must be subdued and made to serve him.

Under the Emperor's command, the Thunder Warriors were assembled.

They were exaggerated in size, clad in crude, heavy bronze power armor.

They wore crimson crests, and their cloaks billowed in the wind.

Lightning banners were flown high, snapping in the gale.

Raven, standing on the Emperor's shoulder, saw Wushoutan, the Thunder Lord.

He wore a bronze-colored power armor.

The edges of the armor were painted blood red, and it was covered in battle scars.

The helmet was adorned with heavy decorations, its mouth grille shaped like a grotesque face.

At his waist, he wore a heavy broadsword and a bolter.

A scale-like hauberk hung over his thick chest plate.

The lightning symbol of the Thunder Warriors was etched onto his pauldrons.

The Thunder Legion had once been the vanguard of the Great Crusade, the embodiment of the Emperor's unified will.

Children played games, mimicking their heavy armor with toys, pretending to capture gene-witches and mutants.

Poets sang their legendary tales with reverence and gratitude.

Raven felt sorrow for the fate that awaited these valiant warriors.

But he soon realized the Emperor's cruelty was a necessary measure.

The Thunder Warriors' rampancy had reached a critical point.

If they were allowed to continue to exist, they would inflict irreparable damage upon the Imperium.

"Death, slaughter."

A Thunder Warrior in the ranks went berserk without warning.

He was consumed by rage and memory, unable to distinguish reality.

He swung his weapon at imagined enemies.

Several ordinary people assigned to serve the Thunder Warriors were killed on the spot.

Flesh and blood flew, a horrific scene.

The others, unsurprised, subdued the berserk Thunder Warrior and dragged him away.

It was clear this wasn't the first time; it happened frequently.

The Thunder Warriors' mental state was deteriorating.

As time passed, more and more members lost control.

The Thunder Warriors' past achievements and honors still earned them widespread admiration and affection.

The casualties caused by their loss of control couldn't be treated like ordinary incidents.

If they caused a massacre due to their instability, no matter how it was handled, it would be a heavy blow to the Imperium.

Raven reflected, asking himself if he, in the Emperor's position, would hesitate to abandon the Thunder Warriors.

No one could have it both ways; sacrifices had to be made.

When the Emperor appeared before the assembled armies, many wept with emotion.

The Thunder Warriors beat their chest plates in unison, a salute to the ruler of the Imperium.

"The unification of Terra is not an end, but a beginning. Humanity will once again shine among the stars."

The Emperor pointed to the moon in the sky. "Our first target is Luna. It has been lost to us for too long. In the name of unification, it must return to the Imperium's grasp."

"..."

The Emperor's speech was highly inflammatory, quickly driving the crowd into a frenzy.

"Let us fight for unification, let us fight for humanity."

The Emperor's final words pushed the atmosphere to its peak.

"Unification!"

"Unification!"

Deafening cheers erupted, echoing through the heavens.

The horns of war sounded.

The Thunder Warriors and other troops marched in formation into the shuttles.

They were first transported to Terra's orbit, then boarded transport ships at the spaceport to reach the moon's low orbit.

Soon, a massive army was ferried above the moon.

The Gene Cult quickly realized Terra's invasion.

Cities raised their shields, and orbital defense systems activated.

Countless plasma beams and railgun shells were fired, illuminating the dark, cold void.

Some ships were hit, their plasma energy cores detonated, shining as brightly as newborn stars.

Ships were torn apart by explosions, their crews either consumed by the blast or flung into the void.

However, these losses were insignificant compared to the Imperium's assembled forces.

They didn't even cause the Imperial commanders to flinch.

"Begin," the Emperor commanded.

Drop pods were released, piercing Luna's thin atmosphere and plummeting to the surface like meteors.

Boom!

Boom!

The drop pods landed with fire and immense force, kicking up dust.

Bang!

The hatch flew open.

The Thunder Warriors roared and charged into battle.

"For unification, for humanity."

Wushoutan, the Thunder Lord, raised his greatsword and shouted.

The other Thunder Warriors responded with their own cries.

They lunged at the creatures, a fusion of metal and flesh, tearing them to shreds.

The war was brutal and savage.

The Thunder Warriors quickly secured a beachhead.

Using this foothold, subsequent vessels continued to land.

Reinforcing the troops, assisting the vanguard, and expanding the front line.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Hundreds of missiles flew through the sky, heading for the landing zone.

Most were detonated, raising bright mushroom clouds one after another.

The remaining ones struck the newly deployed shield, causing ripples.

The enemy attempted to destroy the landing zone with a devastating strike.

It was a shame their plan was doomed to fail as the shield generator had already begun operating.

After securing the landing zone, the Thunder Warriors began their advance.

The first line of defense fell quickly.

Inside a palace littered with enemy corpses.

Wushoutan, the Thunder Lord, and his retinue gathered to discuss the next tactical arrangements.

"The Adeptus Custodes haven't descended. This situation is highly irregular. They always suspected us, sending people to monitor us on every battlefield, yet this time, they haven't."

The blood-soaked guard, Vizula, spoke, his voice filled with rage.

"Doesn't that just prove we've earned their trust?"

"Kaibu, the Thunder Legion wasn't even recognized by the Adeptus Custodes under normal circumstances. Now, with more and more of our personnel out of control, they actually recognize us? This isn't a funny joke."

"Enough, Vizula. His Majesty has his own plans. We just need to follow orders."

Wushoutan interrupted Vizula, not allowing him to speak further.

"Lord, self-deception is meaningless. We have been betrayed. The Emperor wants us to be depleted here."

"He abandoned us like a useless tool."

"We gave everything, only to end up like this."

Vizula was highly agitated.

This was betrayal, a betrayal of the Thunder Warriors.

"I've said enough, Vizula. Don't say such things anymore. You once swore an oath of loyalty, vowing to fight for him until death. If any of you intend to break that oath, do not blame me for showing no mercy."

Wushoutan suppressed his subordinates' doubts with a firm stance.

"Continue to operate according to the plan and seize Luna."

Vizula was furious, but he still obeyed the order.

The others also remained silent, each acting according to the plan.

When everyone had left, Wushoutan opened a private communication channel with the Emperor.

"Is this your will, Your Majesty?"

The Emperor did not respond, which was a form of cold acknowledgment.

"We always knew something was happening, knew you were trying to create new warriors to replace us, but we always held onto illusions."

"Now, it seems, the illusions are shattered."

Wushoutan chuckled at his own naivety.

He knew the Thunder Warriors would eventually be replaced.

They were powerful, but not stable enough.

If the Emperor's ambition was merely Terra, the Thunder Warriors would have had a good ending.

But Wushoutan had followed the Emperor for so long; he knew this man would never be satisfied with just one planet.

"I will not break the oaths I once swore. The Thunder Warriors will seize Luna for you. It's the least we can do now."

Wushoutan closed the private communication without waiting for the Emperor's reply and switched to the legion's communication channel, shouting to his brothers.

"For unification, for humanity, advance."

The timeline has been slightly adjusted. The Thunder Warriors were annihilated once before the Emperor's attack on the moon. Later, the Astartes rebelled, and the Thunder Lord also participated in the rebellion. The First Legion made its debut, and the Thunder Lord was also killed by Constantin.