Canned Upgrade Guide

Emperor's Dream, operating room.

In the austere operating room, an operating table stood in the center, bathed in stark white light from above.

Countless precision instruments surrounded the table. Several pumps rose and fell, fluids churning ceaselessly within them.

The researchers opened a small sealed nutrient canister. A set of living organs throbbed endlessly in the fluid.

Compared to the implanted organs of ordinary Space Marines, these organs were clearly larger, stronger, and more vigorous.

This set of organs had been precisely adjusted to suit Hades's current age and physique.

Moreover, fragments of the Emperor's genes had been added to this nutrient canister—

First, to make Hades's physical capabilities after the modification even more exceptional.

Second, to cultivate this set of enhanced organs specifically designed to suppress an outsider's physique.

But as the organ transplant succeeded, the rejection between the two would grow weaker and weaker. Eventually, this suppressive effect would fade away entirely.

That was precisely the result the Emperor wanted.

After genetic treatment, Mortarion's blood had also been added. This blood would further strengthen the connection between Primarch Mortarion and Hades.

Generally speaking, Primarchs possessed a hierarchical, commanding influence over the descendants who used their genes.

Because of that influence, Space Marines would actively submit to their own Primarchs, deliberately imitate some of their personality traits and behaviors, and some would even come to resemble their Primarchs more and more.

But because Hades's modified organs contained fragments of the Emperor's genes as well as a large amount of Mortarion's blood, that commanding influence would be weakened.

This was more like an equal relationship than one of command.

Still, that was their own business. The Emperor had no interest in it.

Adding Mortarion's blood and strengthening the bond between the two of them was merely an extra layer of insurance.

The Emperor himself was not present for this surgery. Other matters demanded more of his attention.

The technical personnel aboard the Emperor's Dream were all elite researchers who had followed the Emperor for years, so naturally they would reduce the risks of this operation to the absolute minimum.

As the instruments activated one after another, the Space Marine enhancement surgery began.

[Gene-seed]

An organ generally implanted during adolescence. It could alter the human body, allowing it to adapt to the series of modifications that followed.

[Secondary Heart]

A powerful blood-pumping organ that supported Space Marines' far greater height and tremendous explosive strength.

It also ensured that a Space Marine would not die immediately even if one heart was blown apart.

[Ossmodula]

It resembled a short, thick tube. Within two years of implantation, it could accelerate bone growth while drastically increasing bone density and hardness.

The Space Marine's individual ribs would gradually grow together into a thick bone plate, protecting the organs inside the chest cavity.

[Myomer]

It greatly enhanced the Space Marine's muscular strength.

[Haemastamen]

It altered the Space Marine's blood composition, vastly improving its oxygen-carrying capacity and circulation.

[Larraman's Organ]

It generated blood platelets, rapidly stopping bleeding.

[Catalepsean Node]

It regulated sleep. When severely sleep-deprived, it could put different regions of the brain into dormancy.

[Preomnor]

Located above the original stomach, it could process poisonous or otherwise inedible food.

[Omophagea]

Located within the spinal cord, it allowed the Space Marine to obtain relevant information and memories from other creatures by consuming them.

[Multi-lung]

It processed toxic gases and prevented gas poisoning.

[Occular Implant]

Located in the brain, it provided hormonal and genetic stimulation, greatly enhancing vision and allowing the Space Marine to see at night.

[Lyman's Ear]

It enhanced hearing, expanded the audible range, improved the sense of direction, and prevented dizziness.

[Sus-an Membrane]

It placed the Space Marine into a state of suspended animation when near death, increasing the chance of survival.

[Melanchromic Organ]

It regulated the skin, allowing it to resist different degrees and types of radiation.

[Oolitic Kidney]

It improved the internal circulatory system, accelerating detoxification and blood circulation.

[Chemosensor]

It allowed the Space Marine to identify the components and substances contained in food.

[Magnificat]

It altered the composition of sweat, turning it into a natural cleanser that provided a certain degree of protection.

[Betcher's Gland]

It made a Space Marine's saliva toxic and corrosive.

[Progenoid Gland]

Over time, it produced Gene-seed.

A Space Marine could produce two mature Gene-seeds, each containing the combat experience accumulated throughout his life. Each Gene-seed could also cultivate a complete set of Space Marine organs.

[Black Carapace]

The final organ, located beneath the skin. In the months after implantation, it would gradually grow into a subdermal "black shell."

It allowed Space Marines to connect directly to Power Armor with their brains and was an essential organ for wearing Space Marine Power Armor.

All nineteen organs were implanted in orderly succession. The various organs that should originally have been implanted in stages were all implanted in a single operation.

The reason was simple: this surgery took far too long.

The operation lasted for several months.

Because Hades's body rejected these organs, their integration had to proceed slowly and carefully enough.

Every time a blood vessel was connected, every time a nerve was linked, the readings on the alarms attached to Hades's body would surge wildly.

Even with a sufficient dose of anesthetic, Hades's body kept breaking out in cold sweat from the rejection, and his eyelids twitched without pause.

When the final organ had been safely implanted and the last piece of skin safely sutured, every researcher present breathed a sigh of relief.

The task the Emperor had given them had been successfully completed.

Hades was now submerged in darkness.

At first, he merely felt that his skull hurt. Hades wanted to raise a hand and rub his head, but discovered that he could not move at all.

The left side of his brain felt as though it were about to explode, and his left eye hurt terribly as well.

Hades had thought that was already painful enough, but reality proved him wrong.

An enormous force was crushing him. Hades tried to break free, only to find that it was like a giant hand blotting out the sky—nowhere to hide, nowhere to escape.

The instant the giant hand was about to press down—it mercifully stopped. Hades's brain trembled. It was like a bomb on the verge of detonating, yet he could never know when it would explode.

His organs began to burn. Hades felt as though his viscera had grown hands and feet and were beating him from inside his own body.

This agonizing process seemed to have lasted a very, very long time. Months? Years? Centuries? Or perhaps only an instant?

Hades only knew that it had lasted a long time. So long that, at the moment he believed he was about to die—

The pain suddenly vanished.

Hades could no longer hold on. His consciousness sank back beneath the water.

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