Modification Surgery

Fu Qinghai had fallen unconscious, but the work in Master Kunto's hands did not stop.

It was still the 31st Millennium, the era of the 31st millennium, and the Imperial Truth, which opposed feudal superstition, remained the core mainstream value of the Imperium of Man. Aside from those fanatics in the Word Bearers, it was not yet fashionable for the Mechanicus to stamp purity seals on machinery, nor were there any pre-operative prayer rituals; once prepared, Master Kunto began the surgery immediately.

He pressed a button on the side of the incubation tank, and the open tank tilted into a horizontal position. Fluorescent yellow nutrient fluid began to creep upward from Fu Qinghai's feet, gradually submerging his body.

From beneath his robes, Master Kunto extended a withered left hand, its fingers replaced by a series of liquid injectors. His intricate mechanical right arm skillfully twisted on a needle, methodically injecting various drugs into Fu Qinghai's chest one by one.

Another mechanical arm extended from beneath his left armpit, gripping a scalpel. With a single stroke, it precisely laid open Fu Qinghai's entire chest cavity.

Blood surged out, staining the fluorescent yellow nutrient fluid, and a nearby servitor promptly handed over a transparent canister.

Inside floated a vigorously beating red heart.

Surgery Phase I: Secondary Heart.

This was the first implant for becoming a Space Marine and the most fundamental one; only upon the foundation of the Secondary Heart could subsequent modifications proceed.

This heart could continue to supply blood to the body when the other was damaged, acting as a backup to the primary heart, strengthening adaptation to low-oxygen environments, and increasing battlefield survivability. When both hearts operated simultaneously, they provided the Space Marine with a surging and inexhaustible source of power.

After the heart was implanted, Master Kunto inserted two small, complex biological organs into Fu Qinghai's chest cavity in sequence.

They were:

Surgery Phase II: Ossmodula.

Surgery Phase III: Biscopea.

The former would secrete corresponding hormones to stimulate bone regrowth and promote healing, while absorbing ceramic compounds from the specialized Space Marine rations to participate in the formation of new bone.

This was incomparable to the calcium hydroxyapatite bones of ordinary humans.

At the same time, under the influence of this organ, the ribs of a Space Marine would gradually grow and fuse together, forming a shutter-like, airtight bone plate to better protect the chest cavity.

The function of the latter was similar to the former; this small, spherical organ secreted hormones to stimulate muscle growth and also served to regulate human hormones.

Under the influence of the drugs and the brand-new organs, Fu Qinghai's body produced a violent stress and rejection response. His limbs twitched constantly, his eyes were shut tight, and the veins on his forehead bulged and relaxed.

Kunto stopped his work and silently observed Fu Qinghai's performance.

The sharp left eye beneath his hood, which contrasted with his aged face, and his mechanical right eye, which emitted a ghostly green light, were both carefully examining Fu Qinghai's body.

The mechanical ocular implant continuously transmitted data readings to his brain for the Tech-Priest to analyze.

The twitching Fu Qinghai suddenly stopped. His chest retracted slightly, then expanded violently, spraying a large mass of black, foul blood from the unhealed wound.

After expelling the black blood, Fu Qinghai's chest rose and fell slightly. The fluorescent yellow nutrient fluid churned as Fu Qinghai began to breathe normally.

Master Kunto heard the strong, powerful, and synchronized beating of the two hearts.

He felt relieved and raised his hand to continue with the next stage of the operation.

Normally, after implanting these three organs, one would need to wait one to two years for them to grow and develop before beginning the next phase of organ implantation.

But Kunto did not want to wait. Firstly, this subject was already 17 years old and had no more time to slowly wait for the organs to develop. Secondly, facing the battles that could be encountered at any moment, one extra Space Marine meant one more possibility of victory.

Kunto Anastasio had the confidence to make Fu Qinghai's surgical modification both fast and effective!

He immediately began—

Surgery Phase IV: Hemastamen.

This organ, resembling a tube of liquid, was injected directly into the entire blood circulation system. It increased the hemoglobin content in the subject's blood, improved oxygen-carrying capacity, and more effectively transported oxygen and nutrients, while simultaneously monitoring the operation of other organs.

Surgery Phase V: Larraman's Organ.

As mentioned earlier, Ogedei relied on the Larraman cells—commonly known as platelets—secreted by this golf-ball-sized, liver-like organ to quickly form scabs and heal wounds.

Surgery Phase VI: Occulobe.

Also known as the nerve node, this bean-sized organ implanted behind the brain was responsible for regulating the brain's rest functions, allowing Space Marines to execute combat missions for long periods without sleep, achieving ultra-long standby times.

At the same time, it allowed them to quickly enter deep sleep when they could rest, achieving rapid recharging.

Furthermore, through relevant training combined with this organ, one could even achieve what dolphins and whales do: artificially controlling one region of the brain to work while another rests, alternating in this manner. It could be called a godsend for the 996 or even 007 lifestyle.

As the surgery progressed, Fu Qinghai was suspended in the nutrient fluid, with dense metal tubes and transparent IV lines inserted into his back.

Master Kunto stared at the data on the screen at the workbench, which monitored Fu Qinghai's physiological status in real-time.

The Tech-Priest muttered to himself, "Hmm... the rejection response is a bit severe. Let's put him in the cryo-incubation chamber for a few months first."

Following his order, a servitor pushed the incubation tank containing Fu Qinghai into a chamber.

After the tank went in, Kunto stood before the workbench, thinking and hesitating for a long time.

Finally, he pulled a tube of liquid glowing with a blood-red light from a hidden compartment beneath the workbench.

He named this reagent: Blood of Kunto.

This was a product Kunto had refined and extracted over hundreds of years of anatomical research on various xenos species and cosmic monsters, possessing many miraculous effects.

One or two tubes of miraculous medicine were useless for the vast territory of the entire Imperium; Kunto had originally intended to create a mass-producible reagent.

But the replication of active compounds from many cosmic monsters had failed.

Experimental materials were limited, after all. After many failed experiments, he had refined and extracted this single tube of reagent from the remaining materials.

Kunto wanted to use this reagent to accelerate Fu Qinghai's cultivation and growth process.

The reason for his hesitation was not because he was reluctant to part with this vial of serum.

It was because he worried that using this serum might cause Fu Qinghai's Gene-seed to mutate, indirectly contaminating the White Scars' gene-stock.

If such a thing were to happen, let alone Ogedei, even Jaghatai Khan would not let him off lightly.

Yet, he was intensely curious to know what would happen after the serum was used.

Kunto's delicate mechanical hands toyed with the vial of liquid, muttering to himself:

"Mutation... what a fascinating mutation, what a magnificent mutation. Humans were born from mutation, Orks were born from mutation, Aeldari were born from mutation... the origin of all life stems from mutation, so why do the ignorant masses fear it so much..."

"Praise the Omnissiah, mutation in nature is mutation, and mutation in the laboratory is also mutation."

"The Machine God will permit me to do this."

Five months later.

"Hiss—" Accompanied by a burst of white mist, the stasis pod containing Fu Qinghai was dragged out of the chamber by a servitor.

Master Kunto had been waiting at his workbench for a long time.

Ogedei's words had stung him more than a little; like many scientific researchers, Kunto possessed a touch of perfectionism.

He wanted the youth he had personally modified to become one of his many exquisite masterpieces.

Not just another product off an assembly line.

Only products are judged by pass rates; masterpieces are judged by their artistry.

Failure was absolutely not an option.

Kunto looked at Fu Qinghai beneath the transparent glass cover; he had grown significantly taller and larger since he first underwent surgery.

Kunto had used his unique technical means to accelerate this process.

After opening the pod and observing the situation for a while, the scalpel once again precisely sliced open Fu Qinghai's abdominal cavity.

Modification Surgery Stage Seven: Preomnor.

This is a stomach implanted between the native stomach and the esophagus, used to detect toxic substances entering the esophagus, either neutralizing and absorbing them or wrapping them in secretions to be vomited out.

Master Kunto cut through the skin and muscle of Fu Qinghai's back, exposing the stark white spine.

Modification Surgery Stage Eight: Omophagea.

This organ is placed in the spinal cord and connected to the native stomach. By digesting and absorbing the genetic material of other lower organisms through the stomach wall, it "analyzes" some of the creature's genetic-level memories and instincts to enhance the Space Marine's survival capabilities in the wild on alien planets.

It is important to emphasize "genetic-level memories and instincts" here; this organ does not mean a Space Marine can learn someone else's knowledge and skills by eating them, as those are not genetic instincts but acquired learning. At most, this organ can perceive and learn some survival skills of alien creatures and grasp basic information about the natural environment when facing an unfamiliar planet.

Modification Surgery Stage Nine: Multi-lung.

This additional lung allows a Space Marine to survive in low-oxygen or toxic gas environments, including underwater, enabling the Space Marine to adapt to various alien atmospheric conditions.

Master Kunto made an incision in Fu Qinghai's eye socket and, using a pair of tweezers, gently removed Fu Qinghai's eyeball.

Modification Surgery Stage Ten: Melanochrome.

It does not modify the eyeball directly, but adds an organ at the connection between the eyeball and the brain to release hormones that regulate the regrowth of the eyeball, enhancing the Space Marine's vision in both normal and low-light environments.

After reinstalling the native eyeball, Master Kunto cut off Fu Qinghai's ears.

Modification Surgery Stage Eleven: Lyman's Ear.

This ear completely replaced Fu Qinghai's original native ear, including the ear canal, eardrum, and cochlea within. Externally, it looked no different from a native ear, but it enhanced resistance to vertigo—including nausea caused by loss of orientation and dizziness from concussions—and allowed the recipient to autonomously filter certain sounds while amplifying others.

For example, the stun grenades commonly used by counter-terrorism SWAT teams on Earth in his previous life would be ineffective against Fu Qinghai.

Furthermore, Fu Qinghai's ears were like wearing the active noise-canceling headphones often used by special forces on Earth in his previous life, capable of actively filtering out background white noise and amplifying key sounds like footsteps.

It felt like using a cheat code in CS.

After implanting the Lyman's Ear, Master Kunto took out an exquisite, compact power saw.

Regardless of the era, craniotomy surgery must always be performed with caution.

Modification Surgery Stage Twelve: Sus-an Membrane.

This organ is implanted in the upper part of the brain and fused with brain tissue. After special training, a Space Marine can enter a state of suspended animation, allowing them to go without food or water for decades. It is a self-preservation measure for when they cannot receive timely medical treatment on the battlefield; once in this state, the assistance of a Legion Apothecary is required to wake up.

Modification Surgery Stage Thirteen: Melanochrome.

This organ resists high-intensity sunlight or other forms of radiation damage by controlling the melanin content of the skin.

The Melanochrome of different Legions' Gene-seeds varies, which also leads to the skin and hair colors of Space Marines within the same Legion being very similar.

For example, the skin color of the XVIII Legion Salamanders warriors turned jet-black after the implantation of this organ.

After closing the skull of the truly "brain-opened" Fu Qinghai, Master Kunto cut open Fu Qinghai's lower abdomen.

Modification Surgery Stage Fourteen: Oolitic Kidney.

Like the native kidneys, the Oolitic Kidney controls the body's entire fluid circulation system and possesses a more powerful detoxification function than the native kidneys.

Kunto sliced open Fu Qinghai's tongue.

Modification Surgery Stage Fifteen: Mucranoid.

Enhance the taste buds of a Space Marine, granting the ability to identify and track targets through taste.

Kunto sliced through the skin bit by bit.

Sixteenth stage of the transformation surgery: Mucranoid.

This allows a Space Marine to secrete a protective sweat that coats the skin in extremely cold or hot environments; this sweat can even allow a Space Marine to survive briefly in a vacuum, while also possessing certain antibacterial and self-cleaning properties.

Seventeenth stage of the transformation surgery: Betcher's Gland.

Also known as the acid-spitting gland, this organ is located in the same position as the salivary glands and allows a Space Marine to secrete toxic saliva. This saliva is not only blinding, but constant spitting can even corrode metal.

At this point, the transformation surgery was nearing its final stages.

Eighteenth stage of the transformation surgery: Progenoid Gland.

This organ is the key to the continuation of the Space Marine Legions. The gland concentrates and stores the hormones produced by the other implanted organs, forming two Gene-seed samples. The Gene-seed requires five to ten years to mature, after which the Legion Apothecary can harvest it to expand the Legion.

As an aside, recovering Gene-seed from fallen warriors and maintaining the Legion's Gene-seed repository is also the duty of the Apothecary.

After Fu Qinghai's vital signs stabilized, Master Kunto adjusted the dashboard on the workbench and retrieved a large, dripping, black, sheet-like substance from a culture vat held by a servitor.

From a distance, it looked like a plastic sheet; up close, it resembled the chitinous shell of an insect.

Nineteenth stage of the transformation surgery: Black Carapace.

The final stage of transformation is the most iconic and recognizable implant of a Space Marine, aside from their giant-like physique. Once these sheets are inserted under the skin, they grow and spread, extending nerve bundles into the Space Marine's body. Once the organ is fully mature, these nerve bundles can be connected to neural sensors fixed to the surface of the Space Marine's skin, which in turn connect to the interfaces of their power armor.

This allows the Space Marine to manipulate the power armor directly through their own neural signals, as easily as moving their own limbs, effectively turning the sturdy, massive power armor into a second skin for the Space Marine.

At the same time, these neural sensors provide real-time feedback of the Space Marine's physical condition to the power armor.

Without the Black Carapace, a Space Marine cannot wear power armor.

Black Carapace, implantation complete.

Transformation surgery, entirely complete.

A rare trace of fatigue appeared on Master Kunto's face; the implantation and transformation of nineteen superhuman organs in a row was no easy task, even for him, especially while ensuring both speed and quality.

"Push him into the incubation chamber, fill the tank with ceramic compounds, increase the nutrient solution concentration by 275%, add... concentration... add... concentration... monitor his vital signs and development status at all times, and alert me if there are any issues," Master Kunto instructed the servitors.

Two sturdy servitors obeyed and dutifully pushed Fu Qinghai's incubation tank away.

PS: In the original lore and LEX translations, the Omophagea is not mentioned as [only] being able to "taste" the habits and environmental knowledge of lower animals. I have added this patch myself; otherwise, simply taking a bite of an enemy's flesh to learn their skills and understand their memories would be too overpowered, and it is also scientifically unsound, as acquired memories are not stored in one's genes.