Witch of Mars

As a newly appointed Arch-Magos, Kragg did not cling to convention like the other Mechanicus. Rather than hole up in a laboratory conducting research, she preferred to follow the Omnissiah's warriors on expeditions across the stars, exploring the fascinating technologies buried in the river of history.

With her peerless tomb-raiding skills, Kragg's technological knowledge grew at breakneck speed. On her hundredth birthday, she officially made her debut by killing the teacher who wanted to control her with a single Collapse Bomb, earning herself the title of Arch-Magos.

Since the Mechanicus was divided into countless factions, disciples murdering their masters was practically an everyday occurrence. Kragg's patricide was nothing worth mentioning—in fact, it even earned her the title of Witch of Mars.

By Kragg's estimation, once she was free from her teacher's control, she would inevitably soar to the heavens. She might even have a chance of ascending to the throne of Forge Lord.

Yet just as Kragg was congratulating herself, reality gave the Arch-Magos a vicious slap in the face. The hundred-year-old little Mechanicus simply could not compete with those old oil-heads. In barely half a year, she was divided up by various factions, falling from a star of tomorrow to a stray dog by the roadside.

By then, Kragg finally understood why her teacher had refused to let her strike out on her own. Compared to handing over technology and being manipulated by her teacher, academic competition outside was far more brutal. One careless move meant dying without a burial place—and they really could erase you physically.

"Croak~ Don't take me apart! I don't want to die!"

But there was always a way out. Just as Kragg had been completely picked clean and was being placed on the Operating Table to be dismantled into parts, news of the return of Mordred, Primarch of the Second Legion, reached Mars.

At the same time came the Emperor's order summoning an Arch-Magos to the Second Legion.

Although the Mechanicus believed the Emperor to be the incarnation of the Omnissiah, the Omnissiah was the Emperor—what the hell did that have to do with the Primarch? The Mechanicus and the Imperium were equals!

There were only four Primarchs who had returned to the Imperium. Aside from Ferrus of the Iron Hands, who was well versed in technology and could earn the oil-heads' heartfelt approval, the other three received only their respect.

Not to mention that this latest-returned Lord Mordred came from a primitive world, just like those savage Space Wolves. Only an idiot would go provide prenatal education and childcare for barbarians.

But military orders could not be disobeyed. No matter how unwilling they were, Mars had to send an Arch-Magos over. So who was the most suitable candidate?

Driven by her desire to survive, Kragg volunteered, declaring that as long as they spared her life, she guaranteed she would complete the mission.

To be fair, Kragg had indeed grown after being beaten down by society. Without anyone forcing her, she had even preserved a shred of dignity for herself.

And so, at only a hundred years old, Kragg was promoted on the spot to become the youngest Arch-Magos of the Mechanicus on Mars. On the very day she received the title, she was exiled at light speed and kicked toward Serene World in the Extreme Sector.

"Honestly, I really was stupid. If I'd known I'd end up like this, I definitely would have developed my own faction before killing that old bastard instead of making my debut so hastily."

Looking at the red-robed Arch-Magos Kragg before him, Mordred nodded from the bridge of the Exemplar. After a brief pause, he asked the question he most wanted answered.

"So, although you're nominally an Arch-Magos, you're fundamentally not qualified yet. Mars sent you here as a form of recycling waste, just to fob me off."

Hearing the Primarch's assessment of her, Kragg's endocrine hormones immediately rose by five percent. But after realizing that Mordred was right, she fell into a state of self-abandonment again, and even the several tentacles extending from beneath her robe drooped.

"Yes, Your Highness is right. I'm just trash!"

Whether Kragg was trash remained to be seen. Mordred continued asking, "Then you came to join me this time. Did you bring any followers or resources?"

Kragg waved her tentacles, the living skin on her face pulling into an expression uglier than crying. "Your Highness, you know what my situation is.

"Aside from the supplies allocated to you by the Arch-Magos and the Early Education Machine given to you by the Emperor, my entire fortune was already picked clean. Even this body was cobbled together from whatever parts I could find."

Perhaps to prove that she was telling the truth, Kragg lifted her hooded robe, revealing the fleshly body beneath, covered in stitching scars. There was barely any metal augmetics on her from head to toe. Anyone who did not know better would have thought she belonged to some biological flesh-ascension faction.

"Fine. Since that's the case, follow me from now on. Not that I ask for much—as long as you're willing to obey and offer me your Fealty, I definitely won't use you up and throw you away like other people would. After all, you're my teacher!"

"Really?"

After the extreme ups and downs of life, and nearly being turned into a Servitor, Kragg had developed a trauma response. She desperately needed a little nest that could shelter her, and this Second Primarch seemed exceptionally gentle.

The word "gentle" was not an appropriate one to use in describing a Primarch, but it was the first word that came to Kragg's mind.

"Absolutely. I, Mordred, have never deceived anyone in my life. Follow me, and I guarantee you won't lose out!"

Along with the promise came Mordred's perfect smile. An indescribable force swept through the Arch-Magos's mind, and it seemed as though the sound of dice rolling echoed through the void.

"Uwaah! Your Highness, I, Kragg Izaris, hereby promise that no matter when or where, I will always be your most reliable gear. I absolutely won't harm you like my teacher did.

"Actually, I lied just now. I still have a junior disciple on the Ryza Forge World. I'll send a message and call him over right away."

Life was like a boomerang. Half a month earlier, Mordred had still claimed that Old Man Huang's charm was completely useless. Now, all he wanted to say was, "I take it all back!"

In response, Mordred reached out, grabbed Kragg's mechanical tentacle, and activated the indispensable skill of a virtuous man: Walking Arm-in-Arm.

"Don't belittle yourself like that, Kragg. From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were my best teacher. We can improve together. You've come at just the right time—I just got a wonderful treasure, and I've been waiting for you to help me with it."

Without giving the Arch-Magos a chance to react, Mordred dragged her away from the bridge and toward the engine room.

Ten minutes later, as she looked at the Master Computer core tightly sealed off by a group of Atlas soldiers, Kragg's tentacles trembled wildly, and she let out a sharp binary shriek.

"My heavens! I've never seen such a perfectly preserved data core, not in all the ruins I've excavated! Your Highness, with this, I could even establish an entirely new academic faction."

Without waiting for Mordred to speak, Kragg had already rushed over of her own accord to participate in the decryption work, her entire body shining with the radiance of a tireless workhorse.

Just as the Arch-Magos was bent over her work, Joseph, the 9th Company Captain, appeared behind Mordred. "Father, I've investigated this Arch-Magos's background. It's essentially consistent with what she told us.

"However, her teacher didn't actually die. He faked his death and escaped. His current identity is precisely that junior disciple of Sage Kragg's. Should we..." The 9th Company Captain made a throat-slitting gesture. Its meaning was self-evident.

"Tsk! JOJO, I know you spent several years in the Twentieth Legion, but you can't be this dark!

"As the Second Brother of all the Primarchs, the Second Legion has to set an example from now on, so..."

"So I should kill him openly?" Joseph's reply made Mordred sigh again. He slapped him and grabbed his ear as he lectured him:

"How the hell can this kind of thing be done in the open? What I mean is, do it cleanly. Ideally, get the evidence too. Don't let our Arch-Magos feel uneasy. Understand?"

"Understood." The 9th Company Captain nodded rapidly. "Father, don't worry. I have a full nine ways to make him vanish from the world. Nine!"

"Hahaha, go on, go on. Remember the motto of our Atlas—Nothing is true, everything is permitted!"