The moment the Warp Maw appeared, a thought flashed quickly through Kei's mind. But instead of resisting or destroying that force of spatial concept, he went along with its momentum and reached the area marked by the spatial concept.
In front of a star whose nuclear fuel was about to be exhausted, on the brink of a supernova explosion. The surrounding space concepts had already been distorted beyond recognition. No known spatial algorithms in the Warhammer universe could function properly here.
"The Dying Star near the edge of the galaxy's rim?"
He glanced at the star in front of him, on the verge of explosion, and the surrounding cosmic environment. Using data from the Black Library, he immediately understood where he was.
Compared to the star that would take Yvraine offline in this timeline, this one was closer to Terra and had a larger mass. Once the fusion fuel inside the star was completely depleted and the core collapsed due to gravity, the resulting supernova explosion would be even more powerful than that previous star!
Unfortunately... It was useless against him.
He chuckled, turned, and looked at the projected figure of Cegorach standing nearby. Behind him, stellar energy converged, and in the blink of an eye formed a throne that looked like molten lava. Stellar energy was forcibly bound within the throne, not emitting even a hint of heat.
Even though he wore only ordinary clothes, they remained completely unharmed.
On Cegorach's enigmatic face appeared a faint smile, as if he had already anticipated this scene.
As the Dimension God who wielded the power of reality and transcended dimensions, he should have possessed strength far beyond any known entities in the galaxy.
"It seems that a supernova explosion poses no threat to you. The power of a Dimension God is truly... amusing." Cegorach gave a slight theatrical bow, showing no sign of frustration or panic at the failure of his gambit.
Instead, his expression beneath the domino mask was full of calculated interest.
"Since you are so obsessed with studying reality manipulation, why insist on standing against me?"
Kei tilted his head, scrutinizing Cegorach. His form was tall and elegant, entirely in sync with the ancient power he must possess. No harshness, no gloom, but definitely the theatrical charm usually associated with cosmic manipulators.
More like... A master performer, full of curiosity and hunger for the perfect jest? Such an appearance and demeanor really didn't match the typical villain characters he was used to seeing.
"You are an entity who wields dimensional power, but not the reality I seek. Your existence only disrupts the arrival of the true cosmic jest into this galaxy."
Cegorach remained theatrically indifferent.
"Tch, got it. You're one of those mad tricksters who merged with the cosmic joke."
Kei's eyes showed a flash of realization. But on the side, Lelith could no longer hold back. Controlling floating asteroids in the cosmos, she hurled them fiercely at Cegorach.
When his figure was struck, it merely flickered and instantly reformed.
She spat in annoyance.
Hands on her hips, she stomped back and forth in space, furious.
"Cegorach! I said you weren't trustworthy, and you still won't admit it! What the hell is this?! You can't lock onto him, so you lock onto me? You trying to take me out with him?!"
She saw clearly, just now, the warp transference had clearly marked her as the coordinate. It was obvious: while Cegorach had managed to some extent to control the power of reality manipulation, he still couldn't pinpoint Kei's exact location.
All that talk of upgraded wraithbone bodies, enhanced Warp Apertures, total bullshit!
His real goal was to use her as the spatial anchor point.
The moment she came into contact with Kei, he triggered a massive warp transference, tossing them both here to be annihilated by the supernova.
The wraithbone body tech was supposed to make one immortal, but only if you had enough energy! If they were truly blown apart to the atomic level by a supernova, the amount of energy needed for recovery would be astronomical.
That would be no different from death.
"The power of reality manipulation does not fear supernova explosions. Even if an accident occurred, I already backed up your essence on the Torture-class Raider and prepared the energy source needed to restore you. With the Dimensional Aperture's algorithm, you'll reassemble soon enough."
Cegorach turned his gaze to Lelith, his expression now noticeably more theatrical than before.
"Well, damn, thanks a lot!"
Lelith was furious. Still not satisfied, she used warp energy to hurl another asteroid at him. To be used and manipulated like that, she wished she could rip him apart on the spot!
Jain Zar and Kyganil exchanged glances. They quickly relayed everything happening here back to Yvraine in the Craftworld through the Eldar psychic communication network.
Cegorach's methods and strength were now clearly enough to pose a threat to their Emissary.
"No need to thank me. You know I'll always find use for you in the grand performance."
Cegorach pursed his lips, a faint theatrical flourish like that of a master manipulator appearing in his gestures.
"Ugh, I beg you, stop being so damn theatrical!"
The veins on Lelith's forehead bulged in fury. She had finally figured it out, when it came to being utterly manipulative, no one could outdo Cegorach.
"One question: as far as I know, the Dimensional Aperture doesn't have the ability to directly power a star into supernova."
Kei gestured to Lelith to calm down, then turned to ask Cegorach again.
He had just scanned the Dying Star system using [Wanderer of Countless Worlds] but found no trace of Saint Celestine.
Yet this star was continuing to accelerate toward fusion collapse.
"Originally, I planned to capture the Living Saint. But it seems you altered the genetic restrictions on her, so I had to make a small arrangement with Lord Guilliman of the Frateris Templar."
Cegorach did not hide his schemes. Or rather, in his view, there was no point in hiding them, Kei would discover the truth anyway. Better to reveal it, and have the Frateris Templar draw away some attention, giving him more preparation time.
"Mm. So, did this little test of yours achieve anything?"
Kei nodded slightly.
Since Cegorach failed to capture Celestine and ended up making a deal with the Frateris Templar, Celestine had likely returned there by now.
Lord Guilliman, that calculating primarch, would never let his Living Saint get caught up in the chaos of a shifting era.
As for Cegorach's hastily improvised gambit, it looked threatening, but the more you examined it, the more rushed and theatrical it seemed.
"Thank you for your cooperation. I will do everything I can to usher in the arrival of the perfect cosmic jest. I hope that brings you some... entertainment as well."
Cegorach smiled faintly and gave another theatrical bow.
Then his warp energy projection vanished before everyone's eyes.
"Is that... a reality tear?"
Jain Zar's eyes reflected the collapsing star. She turned to where Cegorach's projection had just disappeared, and now a swirling warp vortex had appeared beside the Dying Star.
Cegorach... Had he mastered the power to artificially create reality tears?
"Told you so."
Kei observed the interaction between the collapsing star and the artificial warp tear. He waved the others behind him.
The supernova explosion alone wasn't Cegorach's real test.
This was.
When a supernova and a warp tear interact, the resulting explosion releases power that exceeds the tolerance threshold of this dimension.
It can not only generate Warp particles, but also unleash forces capable of annihilating dimensional lifeforms in an instant.
"Enough talking, do something! If I really get blown up, I'll be stuck working with that theatrical freak Cegorach for eternity!"
Lelith quickly ducked behind Kei. Jain Zar and Kyganil also stood their ground, suppressing the fear in their hearts.
"Now you see I'm more reliable than Cegorach, right? Relax, no one's dying today."
Kei chuckled softly. Using the power of the Primordial Realm, he shielded the three behind him. Then he raised one hand, aiming at the interaction point between the Dying Star and the artificial warp tear, at the moment of the explosion, he activated [Supernova Devourer]!