House Vicstrix Refuses to Submit
"Father, after I left Vostonia, I successfully gained control of the Zenith System, where I obtained a star map."
Bukayo retained his complete memories from before the modification surgery, but he quickly accepted his new identity and became more accustomed to calling Nimrod that.
He felt immensely honored to be a descendant of Nimrod's genes, and he cherished this new bond.
"This star map has given me information about two new galaxies."
"After studying it with the Navigator, we discovered that it contained records of a world ruled by knights."
Nimrod looked at Bukayo approvingly and praised him.
Your discovery is exciting.
"Now, tell us about this galaxy."
Upon hearing the praise from the Primarch, Bukayo couldn't help but smile.
He strode to the strategy table, took out the Data Slate he carried with him, and connected with the Logis-Engine in the strategy room. A green holographic image of a galaxy appeared.
"Just as this galaxy is named after the Gemini planets, Daxos Alpha and Beta Planet, which orbit the galaxy's star."
They are on the same orbit, relative to each other.
"The other galaxies in this system are unremarkable and not habitable."
Nimrod nodded slightly and said with a smile.
"The value of the Daxos Gemini system lies in this, which is why I immediately set off after receiving your report. We must reclaim this system."
"Yes, Father, the entire value of this galaxy lies above Gemini."
"After a long period of conquest, the House Vicstrix has become the rulers of Daxos Alpha, and in recent years they have expanded into Beta."
Nimrod his fingers lightly on the back of the chair before asking the crucial question.
"I assume you've already had contact with them. What is their strength? What is their attitude?"
"Father, as far as I know, the House Vicstrix possesses at least seventy-nine Knight Mech, possibly more, but probably less than a hundred."
"I met with their Knight King Campbell and told him about the rise of the Terra Imperium of Man, but he had no interest in it."
"When I mentioned that Mars swore allegiance to the Emperor after signing the Treaty of Olympia, he immediately became enthusiastic and asked me more than a dozen questions."
Nimrod nodded; this did not surprise him, as it matched what he knew about the House Vicstrix.
In his memory, when the Mars Explorator Fleets discovered this world, the House Vicstrix's bloodless surrender became a legendary tale, and they thereafter only followed the personal will of the Fabricator-General.
But the Primarch came all this way not to be a pawn for the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Nimrod decided to conquer the family and make them loyal to him, but considering the situation of the House Vicstrix, it could be done in two steps.
After thinking for a few seconds, he asked again.
"How are their Knight Mech in condition?"
Bukayo was prepared and answered immediately.
"From what I've seen, it's quite bad."
"Although from what I understand, they once deployed seventy-nine Knight Mech at once, that was during the process of unifying the world nearly a thousand years ago."
"Their colony ships were dismantled upon landing to provide the settlers with basic materials, which meant they couldn't rely on sacred templates for maintenance, and their number of Sacred Maintainer was dwindling."
The lord of the Third Legion said with a smile.
"When I met Knight King Vixatrix, he only led thirty-five Knight Mech."
"Even if it's not all they can use, it should be close enough."
"Very good, you have gathered all the necessary intelligence for me. Now send him a message to inform him of my arrival."
Nimrod paused for a moment, realizing that the purpose of this trip was to absorb rather than destroy, and decided to give the House Vicstrix ample time to think and prepare.
"I will travel to the ground in one day to meet with Campbell Vixatrix."
"After you reach ten standard ship points, come to my office, and I will give you a reward."
Upon hearing this, the "Midnight Poet" was deeply moved, not only because it was the third time he had received this gift, but also because he had gained Nimrod's approval.
Bukayo chose to undergo the reconstructive surgery so that he could better serve Nimrod, and now their relationship has taken on a new layer of meaning as father and son.
A moment later, the shielding device was activated in the Primarch's private office.
The "Midnight Poet" took a vial of medicine from the Primarch, tilted his head back, and poured the dark, deep, jewel-like gelatinous medicine into his mouth.
After Bukayo his overflowing power, he looked at the Primarch.
"" Nightmare "?"
Nimrod slightly and sent a Thought Impulse to Bukayo.
"That's right," "Dream Manipulation" can Forced Dream Induction, and it's the core ability of the power system I bestowed upon you.
"Becoming a 'Nightmare' is also the moment when you undergo a qualitative change."
Nimrod knew that Pathway Sequence of potions would undergo a qualitative change in ability at Sequence 7 or Sequence 6.
This node in the "Dark" Pathway is Sequence 7 "Nightmare," which grants the core ability "Dream Manipulation."
His "Black Emperor" Pathway node is Sequence 6 "Baron of Corruption," and the "Distortion" ability he gains is the essence of this Pathway.
Those Beyonder the "Black Emperor" Pathway appear to abide by the rules, but in reality, they profit from them.
"Distortion" represents a further step for the Beyonder, moving from utilizing existing rules to actively Distortion them.
The "Justiciar" Beyonder on Adjacent Pathways are dedicated to maintaining order and revising rules differently.
The Beyonder of the "Black Emperor" do not follow the rules; they Distortion them to serve their own purposes.
Simply put, "My rules are the rules, and only rules that serve my purposes are the rules."
However, he is still a long way from being able to Distortion the rules according to his own will.
As Nimrod pondered, the newly minted "Nightmare" bowed respectfully.
"Father, I will certainly make good use of the power you have given me."
The following day, as the starlight illuminated the Vixssox family palace atop Daxos Alpha, Nimrod, Bukayo, Arsena, and Gabriel boarded a landing craft and headed to the surface.
As the landing craft passed through the atmosphere and was still far above the ground, the Primarch's gaze passed through the windows and looked down.
At the aircraft parking area, the Vixsocks family's Knight Mech lined up to welcome them.
Its gray metallic body is made of striking green paint, which is prominently displayed on the top cockpit hatch, shoulders, and outer legs.
Nimrod glanced at it and confirmed the total number of Knight Mech: forty-seven.
[This must be all the mechs the House Vicstrix can deploy; some of them probably lack sustained combat capability.]
The Primarch also noted that, apart from the Knight Mech, he was greeted only by armed vassal troops, but there were no civilians, no flowers, and no other corresponding ceremonial preparations.
This shows that Campbell did not respond with a submissive attitude.
The Honor Guard's landing pod landed first, and Warrior in black armor stepped out, forming neat ranks and standing opposite the Knight Mech.
Subsequently, the Primarch, surrounded by the Third Legion Lord, Primarch's Attendants, and Tech Sergeant, stepped out of the landing pod and walked toward the central Knight Mech.