Wang Zhong stood atop the repaired watchtower, looking down at the crowd gathered below.
The players had just completed their basic enhancements, and each was getting used to the changes in his body:
Some bounced around to test how high they could jump, while others arm-wrestled.
Every face wore the same exhilarated look: I'm stronger now!
"Brothers!"
Wang Zhong's voice rang out over the base.
The players fell silent and looked up at him.
"We've built houses, built a base, and strengthened our bodies, but this is only the beginning!"
Wang Zhong spread his arms wide, his enhanced muscles stretching his clothes tight.
"In this godforsaken Warhammer universe, going it alone means a quick death. Stick together, and you'll live longer!"
"So today, I announce—"
He took a deep breath. With everyone watching, he brought up the system panel, found [Chapter System], and clicked [Create Chapter].
[Chapter Name: Crimson Dawn]
[Initial Level: Recruit (Level 1)]
[Maximum Capacity: 1,000]
[Creation Cost: 1,000 Imperial Coins]
[Confirm?]
"Confirm!"
[Imperial Coins deducted: 1,000]
[Chapter "Crimson Dawn" successfully created!]
[You have been appointed Chapter Master]
[Chapter Channel, Chapter Storage (50 slots initially), Chapter Contribution, and Chapter Mission modules have been activated, along with the Chapter's basic command hierarchy, Chapter Achievement Medals, and Chapter Honor Shop]
[Ways to gain Chapter experience and Honor Points: Complete game system missions, achieve major milestones, and participate in and influence regional events]
[Current Chapter experience: 0/1,000 (to reach Recruit Level 2)]
A brand-new interface unfolded in Wang Zhong's field of vision.
Simple and practical.
Almost at the same time, a crimson beam of light shot into the sky from the top of the watchtower!
The light wasn't physical, but some kind of visual effect, strikingly vivid against the dim dusk.
It gathered thirty meters above the ground and took shape, finally forming an emblem:
A crimson sun rising over a dark horizon, its rays piercing the clouds and illuminating a wasteland of steel below.
Beneath the emblem, two bold characters appeared—Crimson!
"Crimson Dawn!"
Wang Zhong shouted, his voice trembling slightly.
"Our Chapter has been founded today!"
"This is our First Founding Chapter, our banner, the first fire we've kindled in this dark galaxy!"
The players below erupted into earthshaking cheers and chatter!
"Crimson Dawn! That's badass!"
"That emblem looks awesome! Way better than the Alru Group's crappy Gene Helix!"
Once the cheers had died down a little, Wang Zhong continued:
"But Crimson Dawn is the First Founding Chapter, and it can only hold one thousand people!"
"We've got five thousand brothers! What do we do?"
His gaze swept across the crowd. "Split up?"
"No, form separate Chapters!"
"Under Crimson Dawn, we'll have different branches, each following its own path!"
"Some want to be musclebound bruisers, some want to be Psyker wizards, and some want to be Mechanicus Oil-Guys—"
"To each their own, and let everyone play to their strengths!"
"So—"
He looked at the familiar figures standing near the front of the crowd.
"Tax Brother! Xue Brother! Oil-Guy! White Scar! Create your Chapters now, just like we agreed!"
"Our Crimson Dawn will flourish in a hundred different ways and develop in every direction!"
[Even If the World Ends, the Emperor's Tax Must Be Paid] grinned and climbed onto the mound beside the watchtower.
He had just completed his Type I enhancement. Already a hulking man, he was now built like a bear, his work-shirt sleeves stretched so tight by his muscles they looked ready to burst.
"Brothers!"
Tax Brother's voice was rough.
"I don't like all that complicated stuff! Psykers, machines—just hearing about it gives me a headache!"
"This is what I believe in!"
He raised his fist, the size of a wok, and pounded his chest with a dull thud.
"Flesh! Strength! Fists!"
"Beat the enemies down, take back the resources, and build up our base. That's our way!"
He brought up the system panel without hesitation.
"Chapter name... Hmm..."
Tax Brother scratched his head. Coming up with a name had him stumped.
A player beside him shouted, "Call it Khorne's Chosen Reserve Squad!"
"Get lost!"
Tax Brother glared. "I'm the Emperor's tax—no, I'm a loyal subject of the Emperor!"
He thought for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up.
"I've got it!"
"Crimson Fist!"
"Our Chapter will be the hardest-hitting fist of Crimson Dawn!"
"Anyone who dares stand in our way gets their head smashed in with one punch!"
[Chapter "Crimson Fist" successfully created!]
[Role: Melee Assault/Heavy Fire Support]
[Recruitment Preference: Prioritize players who have completed basic physical enhancement, want to continue down the path of bodily enhancement, and enjoy charging straight into a fight]
The emblem blazed to life: a metal fist thrusting out against a crimson background, its surface pitted with dents and studded with rivets. Energy conduits glowed along its knuckles.
Brutal and packed with raw power.
"Anyone who wants to join me!"
Tax Brother swept out his arm.
"Sign up now! There's only one requirement: be reckless enough, not afraid to die, and willing to charge again after you respawn!"
"Our goal—"
He grinned, baring a row of gleaming white teeth.
"Max out our basic enhancements! Then save up and buy Gene-Seed!"
"I checked the shop. I can't see it yet, but it's gotta have stuff related to Astartes conversion surgeries!"
"Someday, every member of the Crimson Fist will be a Space Marine!"
"Who's in?!"
"We are!!!"
At least fifteen hundred players answered in unison!
They were all the kind of reckless idiots who just liked picking fights with people whenever they played a game.
The second Chapter was Did White Scars Speed Today.
"My turn, my turn!"
White Scar practically leaped onto the mound. He had just completed his enhancement and felt so light he could fly.
"If Tax Brother's gonna be the fist, then I'll be—"
His gaze was resolute.
"Crimson Wind!"
"Fast! Precise! Deadly!"
"We're not going to tank hits in heavy armor. We're going to focus on mobility, surprise attacks, and speed!"
"We'll ride motorcycles... Though we don't have any yet, so we'll start by running!"
"Once we've got the money, we'll outfit everyone with jump packs, hoverbikes, and high-speed assault vehicles!"
"We'll be Crimson Dawn's dagger, the blade that strikes the enemy's heart fastest!"
[Chapter "Crimson Wind" successfully created!]
Emblem: A streak of crimson light carved a sharp trail through the darkness, ending in a bloodied dagger.
"Recruitment requirements!"
White Scar spoke at breakneck speed.
"Quick reflexes! Fast runners! Not afraid of heights! Love a thrill!"
"Our enhancement path will be similar to Tax Brother's, but we'll focus more on neural reflexes and heightened senses!"
"Once we've got the money, we'll also pick up the Danger Sense psychic talent. It's not enough to run fast—we need to know where to run!"
"Our tactical doctrine is simple: When the enemy advances, we retreat. When the enemy retreats, we pursue. When they stop, we harass them. When they tire, we attack!"
"Who's with me?!"
"We are!!!"
Another thousand or more people raised their hands.
The third Chapter was Schrodinger's Loyalist.
Xue Brother climbed onto the mound calmly, a stark contrast to the two men before him.
"Everyone."
Xue Brother's voice was steady.
"In the Warhammer universe, psychic powers are a curse, but they're also one of the most powerful weapons."
"The Emperor himself is the most powerful Psyker, though he hasn't taken his seat on the Golden Toilet yet..."
"My idea is simple."
He brought up the system panel.
"Crimson Spirit."
"Wisdom, knowledge, psychic powers—things that seem intangible can be more useful at a critical moment than a hundred tanks."
"We won't follow the path of brute force. We'll follow...the path of the mind."
[Chapter "Crimson Spirit" successfully created!]
Emblem: An open book, glowing psychic runes appearing across its pages, with a faintly luminous brain hovering above it.
"Recruitment requirements."
Xue Brother paused.
"First, patience."
"Psychic training can't be rushed. Get it wrong, and people die—in the literal sense."
"Second, you can't be afraid of the unknown."
"Psychic powers involve the Warp. We all know what's in there."
"Third, it'd be nice if you had...well, a certain amount of knowledge."
"Physics, mathematics, philosophy, the occult—anything goes."
"I'll start by testing psychic talent in a bit."
"Anyone with a potential rating of C or higher is welcome to join."
"Those with lower potential can still train, so you're welcome too."
"Our goal for the Crimson Spirit—"
A glint flashed in Xue Brother's eyes.
"To build Crimson Dawn's own Psyker corps, responsible for reconnaissance, communications, countering psychic threats, and providing spell support when it matters."
"And...unraveling the mysteries of this universe."
"After all, knowledge is power."
Fewer people raised their hands this time, around seven or eight hundred.
The last Chapter was Mechanicus Oil-Lover on the Run.
He had been looking down and fiddling with his Dataslate ever since the speeches began.
Now it was his turn.
He climbed onto the mound, and the Oil-Guy's voice rose slowly.
"Four Chapters cover melee, mobility, and psychic powers. We're still missing a technical and logistics branch."
"I'll create the Crimson Machine."
[Chapter "Crimson Machine" successfully created!]
Emblem: A precision gear assembly, with a wrench and a welding torch crossed at its center against a crimson background.
"Recruitment requirements."
Oil-Guy was brief and to the point.
"One: Be interested in at least one of the following: mechanics, electronics, engineering, or programming. Be willing to spend Imperial Coins to buy Mechanicus knowledge from the shop."
"Second, you must not be averse to bodily modification."
"Our Battle Group's primary focus is mechanical enhancement. Starting with basic neural interfaces, we'll gradually move toward the level of the Mechanicus Tech-Priests."
"Third, you need patience and steady hands."
"Augmentation surgery and precision repairs both demand meticulous work."
"Fourth, you need clear logical thinking."
"The God of All Machines despises chaos."
"Battle Group objectives:"
He raised his right hand and made a small gesture in the air with his finger.
"Establish a technical and logistical support system for the Crimson Dawn, responsible for equipment repairs, vehicle modifications, base construction, and developing new technologies."
"Short term: repair and upgrade the existing base defenses, and manufacture simple weapons and tools."
"Mid term: establish a workshop and try to reverse-engineer the Xenos technology equipment bought from the store."
"Long term: develop our own hybrid technological path, combining the Imperium, Xenos, and unknown technologies."
"Also, members of this Battle Group must perform regular logic self-checks to prevent their mechanical minds from being corrupted by Chaos. We have a cautionary example to learn from."
Even fewer people raised their hands this time, around four or five hundred.
The five Battle Groups each had a distinct style.
The Crimson Dawn (main group), led by Wang Zhong, focused on comprehensive command and strategic planning. It recruited the most capable players with the broadest perspective, with a limit of 1,000. It filled up instantly.
The Crimson Fist (subgroup), led by Tax Brother, was a gathering place for muscle-bound tough guys. It had already recruited 1,600 people, exceeding its limit. Tax Brother scratched his head and said, "The extras can be the reserve force."
The Crimson Wind (subgroup), led by White Scar, was made up of speed fanatics. It recruited 1,119 people, and the extras would likewise serve as reserves.
The Crimson Spirit (subgroup), led by Xue Brother, was a reserve force of psyker mages. It recruited 813 people.
The Crimson Machine (subgroup), led by Oil-Guy, was a home for tech-obsessed Servitors. It recruited 468 people.
That made exactly five thousand people—not one more, not one less.
The players who hadn't made it into the main group had all joined subgroups according to their preferences.
The entire base was divided into zones according to the Battle Groups.
The tough guys of the Crimson Fist occupied the eastern side, where they began using their newfound strength to haul heavier building materials.
The speed freaks of the Crimson Wind gathered in the west, discussing where they'd go scavenging tomorrow.
The reserve psyker mages of the Crimson Spirit crowded into the central tent. Xue Brother was organizing the first group to undergo psyker aptitude tests, and every so often, shouts rang out.
"Whoa, I'm Grade D!"
"Haha, I'm Grade B!"
The tech fanatics of the Crimson Machine had burrowed into the prefabricated building serving as their workshop. They were studying the materials needed for future base expansions, as well as the specialized facilities required for each Battle Group's quarters.
And most important of all, every bit of basic knowledge about mechanical manufacturing in the store!
Watching the bustling scene, Wang Zhong smiled.
He posted the first official announcement in the main group channel.
[Crimson Dawn Battle Group Announcement]
Brothers, the Battle Group is established, and we've chosen our path.
Next, we have three things to do:
1. Complete the first phase of base construction within three days. At a minimum, we need dorms that can keep out the wind and rain, a cafeteria where we can cook, toilets where we can take a dump, and basic defenses.
2. Each subgroup should begin targeted training and preparations according to its own focus.
The Fist Group will train fitness and close combat, the Wind Group mobility and marksmanship, the Spirit Group will study the basics of psyker powers, and the Machine Group will handle technical construction.
3. Three days from now, organize our first large-scale exploration.
Objective: resource sites, human settlements, ruins, and anywhere else we can get Imperial Coins within a hundred-kilometer radius of the base.
Remember, we're not miners anymore. We're warriors, pioneers, and... the Crimson Dawn, here to show this world a thing or two.
Dismissed. Get to work!
A uniform chorus of "Understood!" scrolled through the channel.
The setting sun sank completely below the horizon.
Night fell over Aurelian, but the ruined base was ablaze with light.
Not electric lights, but simple glow sticks bought from the store and torches the players had made themselves.
And the dim light of an old generator the Crimson Machine Battle Group had pooled their funds to buy for research.
Its glow pierced the darkness.
It was faint, but it was there.
The Crimson Dawn—the spark of dawn—was ready to set the world ablaze.
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