The Crimson Five Great Battle Groups (Part 2)

Wang Zhong stood atop the restored watchtower, looking down at the crowd gathered below.

The players had just finished their basic augmentations and were each adapting to the changes in their bodies.

Some were jumping around to test their leaping ability, while others were arm-wrestling one another.

Every face wore that look of exhilaration that comes with the realization: I've gotten stronger.

"Brothers!"

Wang Zhong's voice echoed across the base.

The players quieted down, looking up at him.

"We've built houses, established a base, and strengthened our bodies, but this is only the beginning!"

Wang Zhong spread his arms wide with a grand gesture, his augmented muscles stretching his clothes taut.

"In this godforsaken universe of Warhammer, those who fight alone die fast, but those who huddle together for warmth live long!"

"So today, I announce—"

He took a deep breath and, under the gaze of everyone present, pulled up the system panel, navigated to the [Warband System], and clicked [Create Warband].

[Warband Name: Crimson Dawn]

[Initial Level: Skirmisher (Level 1)]

[Maximum Capacity: 1,000 people]

[Creation Cost: 1,000 Imperial Coin]

[Confirm?]

"Confirm!"

[Imperial Coin deducted: 1,000]

[Warband "Crimson Dawn" successfully created!]

[You have been appointed as Warband Leader]

[Warband Channel, Warband Warehouse (initial 50 slots), Warband Contribution, Warband Mission Module activated. Warband Command Hierarchy, Warband Achievement Medals, and Warband Honor Shop unlocked.]

[Methods to gain Warband EXP and Honor Points: Complete game system missions, achieve major milestones, participate in and influence regional events.]

[Current Warband EXP: 0/1,000 (Level up to Skirmisher Level 2)]

A brand-new interface unfolded in Wang Zhong's field of vision.

Concise and practical.

Almost simultaneously, a crimson beam of light shot up from the top of the watchtower!

The light was not a physical object but a visual effect, standing out strikingly against the dim twilight.

The light condensed and shifted thirty meters in the air, eventually forming an emblem:

A crimson sun rising from a dark horizon, its rays piercing through the clouds to illuminate a land of steel ruins below.

Beneath the emblem, two powerful, resonant characters appeared—Crimson Dawn!

"Crimson Dawn!"

Wang Zhong shouted, his voice trembling slightly.

"Our warband is established today!"

"This is our main warband, our banner, and the first fire we have ignited in this dark galaxy!"

Below, the players erupted into thunderous cheers and discussions!

"Crimson Dawn! Badass!"

"That emblem is cool! It looks way better than that trash Gene Helix from Alru Group!"

Wang Zhong waited for the cheering to subside slightly before continuing.

"But Crimson Dawn is the main warband and can only hold one thousand people!"

"We have five thousand brothers! What do we do?"

His gaze swept across the crowd below. "Split up?"

"No, we form sub-warbands!"

"Under the banner of Crimson Dawn, we will have different branches, each walking its own path!"

"Some want to be muscle-bound brutes, some want to be psyker mages, some want to be Mechanicus Oil-Guys—"

"To each their own, and let everyone show their true potential!"

"So—"

He looked at the familiar figures standing at the front of the crowd.

"Tax Brother! Xue Brother! Oil-Guy! White Scar! You all, create your warbands now, just as we discussed!"

"Our Crimson Dawn must let a hundred flowers bloom and develop in every direction!"

[The Emperor's tax must be paid even if the world ends] grinned as he walked up to the mound beside the watchtower.

He had just completed his Type I augmentation, and his already burly frame was now as sturdy as a bear's, the sleeves of his work clothes stretched to the point of bursting by his muscles.

"Brothers!"

Tax Brother's voice was coarse:

"I don't like all that convoluted nonsense! Psionics, machinery—just hearing about it gives me a headache!"

"I only believe in this!"

He raised a fist the size of a sandbag and hammered it hard against his chest, producing a dull, heavy thud:

"Flesh! Power! Fists!"

"Beat the enemy into the dirt, seize the resources, and build up our base—that is our way!"

He pulled up his system panel without a moment's hesitation:

"Chapter name... hmm..."

Tax Brother scratched his head; this naming part was giving him some trouble.

A player nearby shouted: "Call it the Khorne Chosen Reserve Team!"

"Get lost!"

Tax Brother glared, "I am the Emperor's tax... no, wait, I am a loyal subject of The Emperor!"

He thought for a moment, and his eyes suddenly lit up:

"Got it!"

"Crimson Fist!"

"Our Chapter shall be the hardest fist of the Crimson Dawn!"

"Whoever dares to block our path, we'll smash their head in with one punch!"

[Chapter "Crimson Fist" successfully created!]

[Specialization: Melee Assault/Heavy Fire Support]

[Recruitment Preference: Prioritizes players who have completed basic physical augmentation, prefer to continue down the path of physical enhancement, and enjoy head-on combat.]

The emblem lit up: a metal fist emerging from a crimson background, its surface covered in rivets and impact dents, with glowing energy conduits at the knuckles.

Brutal, and full of raw power.

"Anyone who wants to follow me!"

Tax Brother waved his large hand:

"Sign up now! There's only one requirement: be reckless enough! Don't fear death! If you die, respawn and charge again!"

"Our goal is—"

He grinned, revealing white, jagged teeth:

"Max out all basic augmentations! Then save up money to buy Gene-seed!"

"I've checked the shop; although we can't see it now, there's definitely going to be stuff related to Astartes transformation surgery!"

"Our Crimson Fist will eventually be composed entirely of Space Marines!"

"Do you have the guts?!"

"Yes!!!"

Below, at least fifteen hundred players responded in unison!

They were all reckless brawlers who only cared about fighting others when they played games.

The second one was Did White Scars speed today.

"My turn, my turn!"

Did White Scars practically leaped onto the mound; he had just finished his augmentation and felt his body was light enough to fly.

"If Tax Brother wants to be the fist, then I'll be—"

His eyes were firm:

"Crimson Wind!"

"Fast! Precise! Ruthless!"

"We aren't playing that heavy armor tanking game; we're playing mobility! We're playing raids! We're playing speed!"

"Riding motorcycles... although we don't have motorcycles yet, we'll start by practicing running!"

"When we have money later, we'll equip everyone with jump packs, hover-bikes, and high-speed assault vehicles!"

"We are the sharp blade of the Crimson Dawn! The fastest knife to pierce the enemy's heart!"

[Chapter "Crimson Wind" successfully created!]

Emblem: A streak of crimson light carving a sharp trajectory through the darkness, with a blood-dripping dagger at the end of the trail.

"Recruitment requirements!"

White Scar spoke at a rapid-fire pace:

"Fast reflexes! Fast on your feet! Not afraid of heights! Love the thrill!"

"The augmentation path is similar to Tax Brother's side, but we focus more on neural reflexes and sensory acuity!"

"Once we have money, we'll also invest in the precognition talent within the psychic tree; running fast is one thing, but you need to know where to run!"

"Our tactical philosophy is simple: when the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy retreats, we pursue; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy tires, we strike!"

"Any brothers with me?!"

"Yes!!!"

Over a thousand more people raised their hands.

The third one was Schrodinger's Loyalist.

Xue Brother walked up the mound, his movements composed, forming a sharp contrast with the previous two.

"Everyone."

Xue Brother's voice was calm:

"In the Warhammer universe, psychic power is a curse, but also one of the strongest weapons."

"The Emperor Himself is the most powerful psyker, although He hasn't sat on the Golden Toilet yet..."

"My idea is very simple."

He pulled up his system panel:

"Crimson Spirit."

"Wisdom, knowledge, psychic power—these seemingly ethereal things are more useful than a hundred tanks at critical moments."

"We aren't taking the brute force route; we are taking the... intellectual route."

[Chapter "Crimson Spirit" successfully created!]

Emblem: An open book with glowing psychic runes emerging from the pages, and a faintly shimmering brain floating above the book.

"Recruitment requirements."

Xue Brother paused:

"First, patience."

"Psychic cultivation cannot be rushed; messing it up will cost lives, literally."

"Second, fearlessness toward the unknown."

"Psychic power involves the Warp, and we all know what's in there."

"Third, it's best to have... well, a certain foundation of knowledge."

"Physics, mathematics, philosophy, occultism, anything works."

"I will conduct psychic talent testing in a moment."

"Those with C-rank potential or higher are welcome to join."

"Those with low potential, it's not impossible to train, so you are also welcome."

"The goal of our Crimson Spirit is—"

A glint flashed in Xue Brother's eyes:

"To establish Crimson Dawn's own psyker corps, responsible for reconnaissance, communication, anti-psychic operations, and magical support at critical moments."

"And... to decipher the mysteries of this universe."

"After all, knowledge is power."

Fewer people raised their hands this time, about seven or eight hundred.

The last one was the Mechanicus Oil-Lover on the Run.

This brother had been keeping his head down, tinkering with his data-slate since earlier.

Now it was his turn.

He walked up the mound, and the Oil-Lover's voice slowly rang out:

"Four sub-chapters covering melee, mobility, and psychic power; we are still missing a technical and logistical branch."

"I am creating: Crimson Machine."

[Chapter "Crimson Machine" successfully created!]

Emblem: A precise gear assembly with a wrench and a welding torch crossed in the center, set against a crimson background.

"Recruitment requirements."

The Oil-Lover was concise:

"One: an interest in at least one of the following—mechanics, electronics, engineering, or programming—and a willingness to spend Imperial Coin to purchase Mechanicus knowledge from the shop."

"Second, you must not reject bodily augmentation."

"This Chapter's primary development path is the mechanical enhancement route, starting from basic neural interfaces and gradually moving toward the standards of Mechanicus Tech-Priests."

"Third, you must have patience and steady hands."

"Both surgical modifications and precision repairs require meticulous operation."

"Fourth, you must possess clear logical thinking."

"The God of All Machines abhors chaos."

"Chapter Objectives:"

He raised his right hand, tapping his fingers against the air:

"Establish the technical logistics system for Crimson Dawn, responsible for equipment repair, vehicle modification, base facility construction, and new technology research and development."

"Short-term: Repair and upgrade existing base defense systems, manufacture simple weapons and tools."

"Mid-term: Establish workshops and attempt to reverse-engineer alien technological equipment purchased from the shop."

"Long-term: Develop our own hybrid technological path that integrates Imperial, alien, and unknown technologies."

"Furthermore, members of this Chapter must undergo regular logic self-checks to prevent their mechanical minds from being corrupted by Chaos; there are precedents for this."

Fewer people raised their hands this time, only about four or five hundred.

Five Chapters, each with a distinct style.

Crimson Dawn (Main Chapter), led by Wang Zhong, positioned for comprehensive command, strategic planning, and recruiting the most core players with the best big-picture perspective; capped at 1,000, it filled up instantly.

Crimson Fist (Sub-Chapter), led by Tax Brother, a gathering place for muscle-bound men; currently recruited 1,600 people, exceeding the limit, with Tax Brother scratching his head and saying, "The extras will serve as reserves."

Crimson Wind (Sub-Chapter), led by White Scar, home to speed-supremacists; recruited 1,119 people, with the excess also serving as reserves.

Crimson Spirit (Sub-Chapter), led by Xue Brother, the reserve force for psyker-mages; recruited 813 people.

Crimson Machine (Sub-Chapter), led by Oil-Guy, a home for tech-nerds and servitors; recruited 468 people.

Exactly five thousand people, not one more, not one less.

Those players who didn't squeeze into the Main Chapter joined the sub-chapters according to their own preferences.

The entire base was re-zoned according to the Chapters:

The muscle-men of Crimson Fist occupied the east side, beginning to use their newly acquired strength to haul heavier construction materials.

The speed-demons of Crimson Wind were on the west side, discussing where to go scavenging tomorrow.

The psyker-trainees of Crimson Spirit gathered in the central tent, where Xue Brother was organizing the first batch of people for psionic talent testing, with exclamations of "Holy crap, I'm D-rank!" and "Haha, I'm B-rank!" ringing out from time to time.

The tech-nerds of Crimson Machine dove into the prefabricated building designated as the workshop to study the various materials needed for subsequent base expansion, as well as the special facilities required for each Chapter's quarters.

And most importantly, all the basic knowledge regarding mechanical manufacturing available in the shop!

Wang Zhong watched this bustling scene, a smile appearing on his face.

He posted the first official announcement in the Main Chapter channel:

[Crimson Dawn Chapter Announcement]

Brothers, the Chapter is established, and the path is chosen.

Next, we are going to do three things:

1. Within three days, complete the first phase of base construction; we need at least dormitories that can block the wind and rain, a canteen that can cook food, toilets that can handle waste, and basic defensive fortifications.

2. Each sub-chapter will begin targeted training and preparation based on their own development direction.

The Fist Chapter will train physical fitness and melee combat, the Wind Chapter will train mobility and marksmanship, the Spirit Chapter will study the basics of psionics, and the Machine Chapter will handle technical construction.

3. After three days, we will organize our first large-scale exploration operation.

Target: Resource points, human settlements, ruins, and anywhere we can get Imperial Coins within a one-hundred-kilometer radius of the base.

Remember, we are no longer miners; we are warriors, we are pioneers, we are... the Crimson Dawn that is going to show this world what we're made of.

Now, dismissed, get to work!

The channel was flooded with a uniform "Received!"

The sunset sank completely below the horizon.

Night fell upon Aurelian, but the ruin-base was brightly lit.

Not by electric lights, but by simple glow-sticks bought from the shop and homemade torches by the players.

And the faint light illuminated by an old-fashioned generator that the Crimson Machine Chapter had pooled their money to buy for research purposes.

The light pierced the darkness.

Though faint, it was truly shining.

Crimson Dawn, this spark of dawn, was preparing to set the plains ablaze.