The Alliance of Many Races

Cordelia felt as if she had been trapped in a long, winding dream.

In the haze, she found herself on a battlefield where boundless monsters were being pierced and dissolved by tentacles erupting from the earth. Just as a colossal figure was ensnared by those tentacles, dark red electricity began to decompose its body. A scream that tore through the heavens shattered her eardrums. Just as Cordelia continued to drift through the dream, a voice jolted her awake.

"Ultra Man, open your eyes. I am Zoffy." A startled Cordelia saw Hogg in the room, speaking in a bizarre tone she couldn't comprehend.

"My Lord, who is Zoffy?" The bewildered Eldar Warrior asked the question she most wanted answered.

Unable to find a straight man for his act, Hogg could only pine for his old internet friends, wishing his brothers could be there to keep him company.

"Zoffy is an incredibly powerful life form. I once fought him for three days and three nights. Thanks to my superior skills, I fused the faith of all the children on Terra to achieve a sublimated form, defeating him with a single Ultra Slash. But such a hero should not remain unknown, so I often tell my progeny about him—to teach them that when fighting, one must never duel, but always gang up."

"Ah... My Lord, you are truly humorous."

Helpless, Cordelia could only offer a compliment; after all, Hogg had become her direct superior.

For some reason, waking up and seeing Hogg, she felt he was different—somehow kinder, and she felt a strange urge to stand beside him, hug him, and... Ah! Cordelia, how could you have such thoughts? It must be from sleeping too much. Shaking off the bizarre fantasies in her mind, she rose and followed in Hogg's footsteps.

As his first and most thoroughly modified experimental subject, Hogg was very attentive to Cordelia's changes. After a series of tests in the laboratory, he concluded: the experimental sample was highly stable, and everything was developing according to the enhancement system he had set.

"Cordelia, do you remember that drink I gave you? It contained my blood. That blood is strengthening your body. Just as I promised, after your Eldar Warrior kin accept the enhancement, they will gradually shake off the gaze of the Chaos Gods and truly become my progeny." Pointing to the data on the monitor, Hogg explained one by one.

"Thank you for your grace, Holy Father."

Understanding the reason for her changes made Cordelia feel much more at ease, but what she did not know was how much trouble the enhanced Eldar would cause in the future.

The two arrived on the surface of Aiers. During the month Cordelia had been asleep, many things had happened.

First, Yack had established the Blacklight Cult, and all members had undergone G301 enhancement; they were now working overtime to print the Blacklight Scripture and begin proselytizing.

Secondly, the small Eldar craftworld had docked at the Aiers starport, and a large number of Eldar civilians and soldiers had begun to integrate into the local construction efforts.

To the sheltered human colonists, if the Primarch said these slender "bean sprouts" were allies, then they were allies. After all, the people who had suffered so much could finally eat their fill here.

Although the bean sprouts were initially cold and spoke a different language, after spending time together, they could be found at the bar after work, sharing a Nuka-Cola.

At the same time, Yack's Blacklight Cult was flooded with a massive influx of tech-priests, whose superb religious literacy immediately made them the backbone of the cult, a group of people who would dance awkwardly around Hogg's figurines whenever they had free time.

Candice Laza, as Hogg's secret number one fan, hit it off with Yack. The two strictly regulated the cult's dances, and a hooded cloak outlined with scarlet stripes became the signature attire of the Blacklight Cult.

Following Hogg, the two arrived at a training ground surrounded by warriors of both races. Three Space Marine and two Eldar Warrior were divided into a squad, and a total of 10 squads armed with special signal guns (non-lethal) began a grand melee in the ruins left by the war.

The Primarch's arrival drew cheers from the Blackwatch below. The oblivious Eldar, infected by the atmosphere, cheered along as well. "Look! My idea isn't bad, right?" The two sitting on the high platform faced a giant screen live-streaming the battle.

"My Lord, what is this?"

The sheltered Cordelia watched as a Banshee from Squad 9 on the screen used a psychic shriek to disrupt the opposing squad's movements. Several Space Marine armed with bolters burst from the ground, firing fiercely, while a cloaked Striking Scorpion circled around for an ambush. Soon, the devices on the backs of the opposing squad members emitted white smoke, and they were declared out.

"Battle Royale! This is a training method from ancient Terra. Back in the day, I was known as the 'King of Landing and Gunfighting,' a master of close-quarters combat. I don't know how many youths' esports dreams I crushed." Hogg, acting as a bloodthirsty spectator while eating snacks, would even stand up to grab the commentator's microphone to provide analysis when things got exciting.

"Let's look at the current situation. Squad 7 is fully equipped and beginning to encircle. A mistake by Squad 3's assault trooper leads to them being taken out immediately. No! It wasn't a mistake! Squad 3's Warp Spider actually snuck over; the assault trooper perfectly used himself to draw fire! Squad 7 is in a precarious position; it looks like they are about to be eliminated.

"My god! What happened? There's a master player! It's the surviving Space Marine from Squad 9. He actually survived! Let's watch the replay to see how the final champion did it."

The broadcaster switched the screen. It turned out that during the initial exchange, a Farseer from Squad 9 had used a psychic teleport to send the only person who hadn't been spotted to the upper floors of the ruins. While the others were engaged in combat, he had sniped the kills with a laser gun to become the final survivor.

The 10 squads that had finished the exercise gathered in the center, and the victorious Squad 9 stepped onto the stage. Hogg, as the Primarch, presented the awards to the winners, with Cordelia accompanying him. At this moment, the two races cast aside their prejudices and cheered for the victors on stage.

As an Eldar, Cordelia finally understood the meaning of the alliance Hogg had spoken of. Before the great enemies of the Warp, only by developing alongside the Blackwatch was there any path forward for her kin.

"Little one, do you understand?" Hogg asked Cordelia upon returning to the bridge.

"My Lord, I see it now. You have fulfilled your promise. My kin can develop alongside humanity, and in the future, we will contribute our own strength to your cause. However, my kin are very weak compared to others of our kind. We can join the Blackwatch, but what about the others? For example, my cousins."

Cordelia, who understood the behavior of her own kind well, sensed the problem. How would Hogg deal with those who did not join the Blackwatch?

"The others? You mean the Dark Eldar? Remember, Cordelia, the right to speak is always held by the strong. If they do not join our banquet, then they are xenos, stumbling blocks to the greatness of the Eldar. I do not like to reason or persuade others; physical tranquility is their final destination.

"If this world cannot move forward according to my will, Cordelia, then let the galaxy burn and all life be extinguished."

Hogg, who usually lacked any seriousness, revealed a bloodthirsty smile, as if his usual demeanor had been nothing but a disguise.