First, they sanctified destruction, packaging the terrifying plague as a trial sent down by the God-Emperor.
All death, suffering, and betrayal have found a "reasonable" end; they are no longer meaningless disasters, but a process of selection.
The survival was further mythologized; surviving was not a matter of luck or chance, but proof of being chosen by the God-Emperor.
It's like driving a steel nail into the mind of every survivor.
I survived because I am different from others, because the God-Emperor is watching me.
This alone makes it far superior to the empty " God-Emperor protection" of the Ecclesiarchy.
But the woman's preaching continued.
Her voice gradually became more impassioned, and the fluctuations of her Psychic Power intensified, like surging waves washing over people's broken minds.
"But the trial is not over yet."
" The God-Emperor chose you not so that you could hide in safe zones and eke out a living."
"He gave you life, and pure souls, so that you might be part of his sacrifice."
She raised her staff, and the amethyst emitted a soft light that illuminated her solemn face.
"Above the Underhive, the Imperium's warships await; the call to arms for three billion soldiers is the summons of the God-Emperor."
"Step aboard the warship, rush to the battlefield, and use your flesh and blood to resist the iron hooves of the Xenos and Chaos."
"This is your path to redemption."
"You will bleed on the battlefield, you will die, you will become a speck of dust in the Milky Way."
"But your souls will return to the embrace of the God-Emperor and obtain eternal 'peace'."
"Your sacrifice will protect your compatriots, safeguard the Imperium's territory, and God-Emperor."
"This is the meaning of your survival."
"This is the only bright future."
After the last sentence was spoken, the square fell into a deathly silence.
A few seconds later, someone knelt down and shouted in a hoarse voice, "For the emperor."
Immediately afterwards, one person after another knelt down and shouted loudly.
Thousands of people knelt down on the cold metal ground, like a field of wheat flattened by a strong wind.
The numbness, fear, and despair on their faces were all replaced by a fanatical light.
Some people were in tears, some clenched their fists, and some prayed softly, their eyes no longer filled with the deathly stillness of before.
They are no longer pitiful people driven to desperation by the plague.
They are warriors chosen by the God-Emperor.
Their deaths will be glorious sacrifices.
Dominic stood in the shadows, feeling a chill run down his spine.
That's terrifying.
In just over ten minutes, the sermon transformed a group of disaster victims on the verge of collapse into believers willing to face death.
This brainwashing rhetoric, this layered psychological manipulation, is even more cult-like than a cult itself.
Ironically, the result it ultimately led to was exactly what the Imperium needed most.
Soldiers who willingly enlist, with unwavering faith and without complaint.
In fact, this is exactly the effect the Ecclesiarchy wants...
But the priests of the Ecclesiarchy cannot do that.
Even if they talked for three days and three nights, they might not be able to make these ordinary people at the bottom of society truly understand the meaning of "sacrifice".
But this woman only took a dozen minutes.
Because she used a power that transcends language.
Psychic Power!
The two Sisters of Silence exchanged a confirming glance.
Throughout the presentation, the Psychic Power fluctuations never ceased.
It's not about forceful manipulation, but rather about subtle, gentle guidance, reassurance, and reshaping.
It slips into the most vulnerable cracks in people's hearts, plants the seeds of faith, and then uses Psychic Power to nurture them to sprout.
Strictly speaking, this constitutes the abuse of Psychic Power, which is strictly prohibited by Imperium law.
Dominic opened his mouth, but found that he couldn't find any real fault with it.
The result was good.
The plague was brought under control, the victims were appeased, the manpower for the army was secured, and even the risk of Chaos and corruption was minimized.
The methods are heretical.
But the Imperium did the same thing, and did it even worse.
With mixed feelings, he led the two nuns away from the underground plaza.
On the way back, the wind in the Lower City still smelled fishy, but Dominic's heart felt heavy, as if something was blocking it.
He had seen countless heretical sects that either spread plagues, incited rebellions, or sacrificed living beings; without exception, they all disrupted the order of the Imperium.
But this Plague Cleansing Cult...
It's as if it's helping the Imperium maintain order.
When we got back to Star Harbor, it was already dawn.
Dominic didn't return to his residence; instead, he went directly to the Tech-Priest's laboratory.
He handed the sample of skin flakes he had taken from the monastery to the ship's Tech-Priest.
"Help me check this." His voice was a little hoarse.
"I need to know its gene sequence to determine what species it belongs to."
The Tech-Priest didn't ask any further questions, respectfully accepted the sampling tube, and turned to walk into the testing chamber.
The sophisticated gene sequencer emitted a deep hum, and the data stream rapidly scrolled across the screen.
Dominic stood outside, hands behind his back, waiting quietly.
He already had a vague, absurd guess in his mind.
But he couldn't believe it.
Half an hour later, the door to the testing chamber opened.
The Tech-Priest emerged, his synthesized voice carrying a rare hint of confusion and shock.
"Major General, the test results are in."
This is not a human gene sequence.
Dominic simply nodded, which was easy to guess.
"Its gene fragments contain a large amount of Tyranids genetic information, while also mixing in human genetic characteristics."
"Based on database comparison, this is Genestealer, a fourth-generation hybrid, who has become highly mimicked by humans, making it difficult to distinguish with routine testing."
The Tech-Priest continued:
"Judging from the activity and Psychic Power residue in the dander, its owner should be a 'Guardian' Genestealer."
"Responsible for protecting the more core members of the sect, such as the 'bishops' and 'commanders'."
The Tech-Priest's voice continued, but Dominic could no longer hear it clearly.
Genestealer.
The Vanguard of the Tyranids, parasites that have infiltrated the world, Xenos threat familiar to all the high command of the Imperium.
They silently infiltrate human society, infecting, multiplying, and accumulating power.
When the Zerg fleet arrives, it will launch a rebellion from within, weakening the world's defenses and paving the way for the Zerg fleet's arrival.
This is the Imperium's mortal enemy, a target that all humanity must hunt down.
But now, these very "enemies" are doing what the Imperium should be doing in the Lower City of Brevis.
They screened for infected individuals, burned corpses, and controlled the spread of the plague.
To appease the disaster victims, rebuild their faith, and provide the Imperium with qualified Tithe for soldiers.
They even established a more efficient and comprehensive epidemic prevention system than the Imperium government.
Dominic walked to the window and looked down at the endless stream of new recruits boarding the transport ship.
The young people had blank stares, but their steps were steady, and their faces showed the determination to go to the battlefield.
They were clearly "guided" by Psychic Power from Genestealer.
Yet, in their current state, they resemble qualified Imperium warriors more than any conscripted unit from the Hive City.
absurd.
That's absurd.
He recalled all the war histories, doctrines, and ironclad laws concerning the Xenos that he had read.
All Xenos are enemies; kill them without mercy.
The Tyranids Tyranids are a scourge that devours everything; there is absolutely no possibility of cooperation.
He had heard these words since he was a child and had never doubted them.
But now, the facts are right in front of us.
Faced with a plague that even the Imperium itself was helpless against, it was these " Xenos " who stepped forward.
They stabilized the situation, preserved hundreds of millions of people, and even completed the Tithe- based conscription of soldiers with high quality and quantity.
They are doing what Imperium cannot do.
All their actions so far have objectively helped the Imperium.
Dominic closed his eyes and rubbed his throbbing temples.
He had always believed that the world was black and white.
Humanity is righteous, the Xenos are evil, the Imperium is right, Chaos is wrong.
A soldier's duty is simple: stand on the side of humanity and kill all enemies.
But now, this clear boundary has become somewhat blurred.
If Xenos could do "good deeds," if enemies could become allies at certain times...
Was the Imperium's long-held absolute stance truly correct?
Utilize? Cooperation?
These thoughts had barely surfaced when he forcibly suppressed them.
no.
That's too dangerous.
The nature of Genestealer will not change.
They might help you control the plague today, but tomorrow they could hollow out the entire planet from within.
He understood the principle that raising a tiger can lead to future trouble.
But another voice resounded in my heart.
Can Brevis really function without them now?