Korkas Dynasty.
An underground tomb. A high-ranking Necron Dynasty. Its Necron Overlord had once commanded great influence and held a place even among the Necrons.
He slowly awakened.
At the heart of the dynasty's tomb behind him, data inscribed with the Soul Return Protocol seemed to have received an activation signal from the terminal protocol of the Triarch.
After slumbering for many years, he seemed finally to have waited for a chance to return.
The finest Living Metal processed streams of data within his skull. They were merely dull data, yet at the place where his simulated but utterly useless heart rested, they barely stirred a ripple of emotion—a taste of nostalgia.
Even that heartbeat was only an imitation achieved through technology. Creatures without flesh or souls could never experience their own coldness, endless emptiness, and hopeless pain.
"Resurrection Protocol activated!"
"Protocol One activated!"
As Protocol One came online, the crystal stasis field before the undead Overlord, whose hands were crossed over his chest, slowly receded. Once the field withdrew, several Canoptek Scarabs brought him brand-new, flawless components he had prepared for his awakening.
Once the field scepter was in his grasp, he planted it upon the ground.
Like a key, it immediately activated the resource pool of the entire tomb world.
Countless protocol systems came online.
Large numbers of dynasty nobles, slumbering in pyramid-like chambers on the first, second, and third levels, awakened in succession. They promptly replaced the outdated components that had decayed with time and fitted themselves with brand-new parts.
Before long, they felt the earth tremble. The Titans of the Necron Dynasty were also reviving one after another, while the ordinary civilians unqualified to slumber in the pyramid stasis tombs emerged from some sort of biochemical pools outside.
On the planet.
Chaos soldiers massacring the world