"The will of humanity spreading across the planet?"
The Astartes were puzzled, especially Calgar, who, helmetless, looked at Samuel Young with wide eyes. "The will of humanity?"
"Precisely," Samuel replied, no longer leaving them guessing. He continued, "Once the Pure Flower reaches a certain level of growth, it will do more than improve the atmosphere or enrich soil and landforms to assist our colonization. Its primary effect, once it has grown sufficiently, is to give rise to a 'will' similar to artificial intelligence."
"You are all familiar with Pandora, the planet in Universe Zero-Two, aren't you?"
"Yes," the Astartes, including Calgar, responded in unison, some nodding as if absorbed in a story from an elder.
Leading them through the forest, Samuel explained, "Pandora is the location of the second space gate, and the local flora, fauna, and civilizations are hostile to both the Company and Humanity in Zero-Two. Pandora is home to a bio-will called 'Ewa.' Like a supercomputer, Ewa influences local organisms to maintain ecological balance."
"But Ewa lacks self-awareness and operates solely on 'instinct.' When humans from Zero-Two threatened Pandora's ecosystem, Ewa instinctively calculated that an 'expansion' strategy was needed to defend itself."
"Your Majesty," Calgar interjected, seizing the pause in Samuel's speech, "are you suggesting that, had Atlas not intervened, Ewa could have tried to seize human spacecraft to counter-invade Earth?"
"That's correct." Samuel nodded lightly. "That's why I dealt with Ewa decisively. I also restructured Ewa's logical framework, creating the Pure Flower, imbued with the will of humanity."
Seeing the Astartes listening intently, Samuel continued, "The Pure Flower isn't crude or invasive like Ewa; it doesn't alter plants, animals, or intelligent beings with unpleasant, tendril-like connections. Instead, it monitors activity on the planet on our behalf. If it detects xenos, heretics, or other threats, it will alert us through special channels."
The Astartes immediately realized that the Pure Flower functioned like a "camera" planted within nature itself.
"I see," Calgar said in dawning comprehension, and the other Astartes nodded.
Given their often blocky, "▼皿▼" or "囧" helmets, the Astartes almost looked comical in their understanding expressions, lacking their usual intimidating presence. After all, in Samuel's eyes, they were still "kids."
Most of what Samuel told the Astartes was true, and he referred to psychic power as "divine power." Access to detailed information on "psychic powers" and "the Warp" was restricted to core members. Generally, supernatural phenomena were treated as "anomalies."
The Company did not erase the memories of New Mombasa's residents regarding the Chaos incursion. Instead, under Samuel's directive, the Bio Division's techs, along with minor gods from the Supernatural Control Division, discreetly monitored the population to mitigate Chaos's influence.
According to Samuel's vision, excessively concealing existential threats would ultimately backfire. Thus, he planned to issue a Codex of Humanity, a set of edicts with "purification" and "protection" effects, upon establishing the Human Empire, akin to The Imperial Truth from Warhammer 40k.
Over the past century, Samuel had spent time writing this Codex, which, like The Imperial Truth, upheld unity and a scientific, anti-superstitious worldview to foster an all-encompassing human community.
In his Codex, however, Samuel acknowledged the existence of "gods," "demons," and "Chaos" as products of the Warp. Souls were also real. Humanity, he wrote, should neither overly fear nor rely on them but understand them appropriately.
Further, his Codex contained his purified psychic energy, offering passive protection against minor Chaos corruption for those who read it.
This represented "the will of humanity" Samuel had spoken of. The crystalline peony truly was crafted from his psychic energy, with the effects he described. This wasn't entirely his own innovation; he had gained insights from Ewa after confronting Pandora.
After enveloping Pandora with his psychic energy and overpowering Ewa, Samuel communicated with it. As expected, Ewa, merely a bio-supercomputer driven by survival instincts, lacked true intelligence. Ewa initially resisted and attempted to brainwash him with notions of "nature is beautiful" and "the ideal state is a return to the primitive." Samuel dismissed these ideas as nonsense and was immune to Ewa's attempts.
Once he confirmed Ewa's lack of utility, he unleashed his psychic power to destroy and assimilate it. As his psychic energy expanded, he received a cold message:
"Successfully assimilated bio-will Ewa. Humanity's will now allows for the terraforming of Earth-like planets."
With this newfound power, Samuel withdrew his psychic energy from Pandora and crystallized "humanity's will" into the form of the Pure Flower. Within two months, this Pure Flower had fully replaced Ewa on Pandora.
Pandora's atmosphere, under the Pure Flower's influence, began to shift toward Earth-like conditions without Atlas's terraforming devices. Creatures once hostile to humans, like the Na'vi and Thanators, gradually displayed friendliness.
To preserve biodiversity, the Pure Flower adapted local species' physiological structures to survive in an Earth-like atmosphere. Harmful microbes and parasites were selectively filtered to protect humans without destabilizing the ecosystem.
When the Pure Flower detected threats to humans, it not only alerted human forces but mobilized native creatures to defend against invaders.
If Samuel wished, he could wield this will to push a planet toward self-destruction. Without direct orders, however, the Pure Flower would autonomously transform a terrestrial planet into a "second Earth."
——
At that moment, Samuel, along with Calgar, the Thunder Warriors, and other adult Astartes, exited the forest to the clearing near the shipyard.
Ahead of them, additional company forces had gathered. Pelicans, Silver Gulls, and Luna transports continued to deliver troops, engineering teams, and numerous Hextech robots to secure the shipyard as Atlas's asset.
Meanwhile, two Elite armies, totaling over ten thousand troops, converged on the company forces.
Upon Samuel's arrival—
"Argh?!"
"My lord!"
"Greetings, my lord!"
The Elites dropped to their knees, their expressions fervent, almost ready to obey any command from Samuel, even one as extreme as "Die here."
Samuel had implanted the Elites with psychic suggestions of "loyalty" and "kinship with humanity." After Samuel exposed the Prophets' lies and signed the Human-Sangheili Alliance Pact to restore their homeworld's environment, their devotion equaled that of the Astartes and veteran Company soldiers.
Moreover, Samuel's display of a firestorm obliterating an entire Covenant force had solidified his image as the "savior" in their eyes.
Having tried several times to stop the Elites' ceremonial kneeling, Samuel finally gave up. He raised his left hand, armored in the Emperor's Claw, signaling them to rise before speaking through his armor's communication channel:
"Our next target is the planet's largest mining site. Move out once all preparations are complete."
He turned his gaze to a Gold-armored Elite closest to him and continued, "Elites will take the lead."
"Yes, my lord!" The Gold-armored Elite raised a clenched fist to his chest in salute.
Samuel nodded in acknowledgment.
With him leading on the ground, they could secure all high-value targets on the planet within three or four days without a "planet-busting" strategy.
As for the Terminator and Gears of War universes, there was no cause for concern. Selene and the others, along with Perturabo and five thousand young Astartes, could handle Skynet, the Orks, and the Locusts.
Likewise, Samuel saw no need to focus on the Godzilla universe.
If Ghidorah emerged from the alternate dimension, Magnus, who was supporting the Godzilla universe operations, could capture or kill it.
Thus, Samuel's focus remained on dismantling the Covenant and planning the Empire's foundation.
May 6th
In the Godzilla universe, designated "Twelve," Earth retained its blue atmosphere and oceans under the sun's light. However, the land appeared shrouded in a faint gray, with hardly any greenery, indicating that this Earth was no longer suitable for human life.
Descending into the atmosphere, over the former southern Asia region, the Atlas frontline base lay concealed within a metallic forest.
The base remained undisturbed by local life forms or colossal monsters, shielded by the space gate and optical camouflage shelters.
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