Monument (1)

Segmentum Obscurus, Nostramo, one year later.

By now, the Hive City had been reduced considerably in height, and the polluted atmosphere and ravaged environment had begun to recover.

The enormous mine pits had also disappeared.

Over the past year, Archmagos Angrak had fully demonstrated his absolute capabilities as an Archmagos of the Evolutionists.

It could be said that he was not restoring a planet's ecosystem.

He was using his technology and the superplants of 30K to replicate Terra's history of biological evolution as quickly as possible.

Using the extraordinarily active algae and mosses collected from Catachan as a foundation, he had covered the entire planet's surface with a thick layer of oxygen conversion factories.

He had also regenerated the oceans formed from wastewater that could not be recycled.

Drawing on Nostramo's already abundant mineral resources and chemical industry, he had carried out extensive modifications to most of the planet's surface.

At last, the first phase of planetary reconstruction was complete. Sixty percent of Nostramo's land was habitable.

After the previous rounds of the Scouring, Nostramo's population now stood at less than two billion, so the original plan to demolish the Hive City was also being carried out gradually.

This time, of course, Curze had taken the advice of professionals.

Rather than tearing down the entire Hive City, he had modified it as appropriate.

The changes brought vitality to what had once been a filthy, smoke-choked Hive World.

At the very least, people standing on the surface could now bask in the sunlight.

This was a special day.

It was Nostramo's Day of Salvation.

Nostramo had undergone earthshaking changes compared to a year ago.

At its core, Nostramo remained an unmistakable mining world, but its people were no longer numb. Their eyes shone with the light of humanity.

Han Mingxuan and Curze now stood in a square, wearing the same formal attire they had worn a year ago.

This was Light-Bathed Square, the largest square on Nostramo.

It commemorated that day a year ago, when Curze's artificial light source had brought light to linger over Nostramo's land and people.

Now, nobles, officials, commoners, members of the Adeptus Mechanicus, and merchants from other planets stood in the square.

The merchants had happened to arrive on the Day of Salvation and had come to watch the ceremony.

Han Mingxuan stood beside Curze, with the two leaders of the Evolutionists of the Adeptus Mechanicus behind them.

Archmagos Angrak and Priest Herbert.

They were the foundations and guides of Nostramo's construction.

"Go on, Curze. The glory of this day belongs to you."

"Father, this glory belongs to you too."

Curze looked at his father, who had taught him how to conduct himself and taught him the law since childhood, and had helped him establish order.

He had brought Nostramo step by step to what it was today.

A Primarch's senses were keen. Although Han Mingxuan was only twenty-eight, in the prime of his life,

Curze's nose tingled as he looked at him.

For in Han Mingxuan's eyes, Curze saw Han Mingxuan's kindness and resilience as a father.

Of course, beyond that, what he saw most was himself.

He could clearly see what he looked like in his father's eyes.

Confident, gentle, steady, learned, cheerful, and resilient.

Just like his father.

Curze understood that when his father had always said he believed in him, those had not been empty words.

His father never lied.

"Go on, Inquisitor of Evernight."

"Go on, master of Nostramo."

"Go on, your father's proudest son."

"Go on, my noblest and wisest brother."

"Today, Nostramo will witness this moment."

"Today, the entire universe and the entire Warp will witness your success."

"You have proven your greatness and wisdom to the world, and your excellence and gentleness to your father."

"You will be the master of this day."

The Night Haunter had left the throne. He had changed into a black robe that displayed his nobility and majesty.

He paced before the throne, encouraging Curze and praising him.

He was proud of Curze, and proud of himself as well.

At this moment, Curze from another world saw true order, the order he had dreamed of.

At this moment, he was just as Han Mingxuan had told him when they first met.

Sheltering his brother from wind and rain, and giving his own soul salvation.

Curze held back those emotions and finally walked to the platform that belonged to him alone.

He stood there, a hardbound copy of the Evernight Code at his side.

Curze placed his hand on the Code, and his voice spread across the square through the loudspeakers.

Then, relayed through Nostramo's broadcasts, it reached every Light-Bathed Square on the planet.

"People of Nostramo, I am Konrad Curze."

"This is Nostramo. Years ago, even centuries ago, this was a planet abandoned by a dying star, its corpse wrapped in poisonous fog and thick smoke."

"Thus we were born in eternal night and raised in decay. From the day of our birth, we had never seen true light."

"The sky above us was forever a gloomy black. The dimness of noon was no brighter than midnight."

"Factory fumes mingled with bloody filth, turning this land into the foulest prison in the galaxy. It was darkness like an abyss."

None of those present had ever forgotten those dark years.

Curze's words were deeply stirring, reminding everyone present of those sunless days.

Even the nobles could only use the energy they monopolized to install a damned oversized light bulb on the dome.

But Curze's arrival had changed everything.

He had made a sun for Nostramo.

It gave off light and heat, ending Nostramo's eternal night.

It let everyone enjoy the light equally.

Curze continued speaking, and likewise, the Night Haunter in his mind was moved.

At this moment, their voices spoke as one.

"We will not forget the suffering of eternal night. We will not forget the pain of decay, much less repeat the mistake of betraying the light."

"Darkness gave birth to us, but it could not confine us."

"Decay corroded us, but it could not destroy us."

"Rebirth does not mean wiping out darkness completely, but letting light overwhelm it."

"It does not mean eradicating decay completely, but letting new life triumph over it."

"Years ago, I stood atop Quintus Hive City and called upon you to take up arms."

"Today, I stand here with my hand on the Code, and I declare to you all, to Nostramo:"

"On this land, we will rebuild our home and forge our glory anew."

"We will make the name of Nostramo a byword no longer for sin and darkness,"

"but a symbol of rebirth and defiance!"

"Nostramo's glory endures forever!"

"Nostramo's glory endures forever!"

"Nostramo's glory endures forever!"