Aboard the Ninth Chapter's flagship, the relic-class vessel Wave.
Five levels of the lower decks had been opened up, initially three, now five.
Two figures "flew" through the air of the training area, like large black birds with wings on their backs.
Their black armor was much lighter than standard power armor. The wings on their backs were crafted by Vulkan based on the Yeld-pattern Dominum Armor.
The armor was made of lightweight yet tough metal composites, but to reduce energy consumption, the adaptive camouflage ability was omitted. Stealth was not their combat style.
Neither used the built-in wing assist. This was a pure "flight" contest.
Fierce winds, welling up from within the "Wind-Blessed," enveloped their bodies, howling loudly.
Nicholas, recently elevated to "Wind-Blessed," "flew" through the air, weaving between pylons.
The pylons swayed as the gale swept past them.
Position runes flashing on his helmet display showed Szczesny high above, nearly touching the ceiling.
Szczesny not only flew higher but also maintained a lead of over a hundred meters.
'He has fully mastered the power bestowed by Our Lord. He is a true "Wind-Blessed."'
Suddenly, Nicholas felt the gale around him subside. His body dipped, plunging sharply downward.
The "Wind-Blessed" felt like a Stormbird diving.
Dust in the air ducts was blasted by the strong wind towards the fairings at either end, then sucked away by filters before impact.
Nicholas glanced at his helmet display. The position rune for the finish line showed 210 meters away, and his descent was accelerating.
He strained to straighten his body, ensuring his "flight" trajectory was forward, not down.
Through his helmet's visual layer, he saw Szczesny ahead, descending calmly. The gale around him instantly subsided.
His body, neither forward nor back, landed steadily on the finish line.
Nicholas's speed decreased. He glided forward a distance, straining to maintain his posture.
Finally, as the wind died, he lost control and landed.
Nicholas glanced at the position rune. The displayed number was 58.2 meters.
"Storm Lord, I lost."
"Your progress has exceeded expectations," Szczesny said, walking towards him. "And you didn't use your expertise in storm-based psychic powers."
"This was a pure contest of "Wind Blessed," a way to master the power bestowed by Our Lord."
Nicholas wasn't too concerned about the outcome. He felt his psychic energy become lively, enjoying the daily "flight" experience of a "Wind-Blessed."
"Indeed," Szczesny nodded, speaking with feeling.
"I used to think mastering the power bestowed by Our Lord would get harder each time."
"But the "Wind Blessed" is different. The direction for mastering this power is clear. You just need to use the wind."
He shared his insight with Nicholas: "Of course, letting yourself get angry occasionally helps you master it faster."
"It's the same for the 'Folk of Rage.'"
"As you say," Nicholas agreed. "I think this is why Our Lord gave us the path of the Aeldari's Howling Banshees."
"Fury holds immense power, but it can also make one lose control. Our Lord wouldn't want that," said Szczesny, who had followed the Black Emperor since Vostroya.
"We've already explored two directions. We need to practice this on Bergenheim."
"I will lead the Honor Guard, using the 'War Mask' also derived from the Aeldari Aspect of the Warrior, channeling fury into power, using it as a weapon."
"You will lead the Librarians and selected warriors, entering the meditative state created by Our Lord, releasing the power of fury."
"I will call them Stormers." Nicholas's eyes deepened. After receiving the Black Emperor's command, he and Szczesny had begun to practice the path of the Howling Banshees within the Ninth Chapter.
As a Librarian, he integrated this meditative state, seeking the storm of power.
Szczesny was about to speak when his helmet's internal comm chimed.
He activated it. The Master of the Vox's voice came through.
"Storm Lord, the fleet has arrived at the Mandeville point. We can transition to the real space of the Bergenheim system."
"Begin the transition," Szczesny ordered, then said to Nicholas, "Back to the bridge."
"As you will." Nicholas followed Szczesny to the elevator.
The elevators on the Ninth Chapter's ships were quite different. The composite crystal was decorated with seashells and corals from oceanic worlds.
Through the crystal, one could see, deck by deck, the Shadows of Order immersed in water tanks.
Most were already "Folk of Rage," but like the "Sailor," they enjoyed the churning within the water.
The elevator rose rapidly. The moment the hatch opened, the Librarian's eyes flickered. He felt the unmistakable change as the ship traveled the barrier.
They went straight to the tactical table before the command throne.
The "Archaeologist" overseeing the Chapter's Simulus Chamber had already compiled the scan results, presenting the tactical data as a hololith before his Lord.
Szczesny gazed at the tactical table. Red and blue forces seemed evenly matched.
He turned his gaze to the right, reviewing five operational plans submitted by the "Student of Ratiocination" acting as Shipmaster.
"Enlarge Plan Two."
At Szczesny's command, a screen with a blue border expanded.
"Execute Operational Plan Two. Codename: Tide-9."
"As you command." The Shipmaster's response came through the vox channel.
Over a million servants and crew, under direction, activated weapon systems and energized power conduits.
The Punisher-class reactors powered the drives. Almost simultaneously, every void ship in the Chapter increased engine output.
Frigates and destroyers surged forward first, like the crest of a wave, crashing into the Rangdan ship formations.
Like tides scouring rocks, they scattered the xenos ship formations.
Beams and shells crossed in the stellar sea, illuminating the void.
Lances from the relic-class ship pierced the entire Rangdan formation, slamming into the hull of the flagship, bristling with spikes and flails.
Battleships and cruisers followed, wave after wave battering the enemy line.
Across the vast stellar sea, silent explosions dotted the flagship's hull. The glowing skeletal remains of destroyed void ships radiated blazing light.
Szczesny stared at the screen, filled with signals, gradually calming like an ebbing tide. He issued the order.
"Prepare for planetary assault."
In the water tanks aboard the Ninth Chapter's ships, the internal comms of the Shadows of Order chimed with assembly orders.
One thousand nine hundred and fifty "Folk of Rage" and three thousand two hundred and ninety "Sailor" surfaced, stepping out of their tanks.
Water droplets fell from them, collected by the recycling systems.
Drop pods rained down like a storm upon Bergenheim Prime.
.....
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