CHAPTER 97 — Steel That Breathes
Days passed aboard the Oath of Rectitude.
Gaius spent the time without his armor.
It wasn't damaged, his new reward repaired any small cracks or scratches automatically, but he still sent it to maintenance. Not because it needed it, but because he wanted it clean, polished, and checked. Auramite armor deserved proper care. A warrior should respect the tools he fought with.
So he trained in the conditioning hall.
He wasn't alone. Six figures trained beside him. Titus, Metaurus, two Bladeguards, and one Primaris. Their armor was undergoing repairs, so they trained without it, wearing only their reinforced undersuits. The Primaris, whose armor are not damage or needed maintenance was only here to train, was in the same attire.
The huge room felt like a giant metal gym. It wasn't made for comfort.
Everything was built for efficiency, weights, racks, pain rigs, reinforced floors, and wide open space for drills.
Gaius was lifting metal blocks that no ordinary forge could have produced, each one was the size of a small ground vehicle, forged from condensed ceramite-steel dense enough to withstand orbital weapon tests. One block alone weighed more than a Land Raider battle tank. Dropping one from even a few meters would crush a Baneblade.
He lifted two of them.
One in each hand.
Up. Down.
Up. Down.
The floor beneath him was reinforced adamantium plating, yet it groaned faintly each time he lowered the weights. His arms bulged with corded muscle, every fiber thick as bundled steel cables. His chest expanded with each breath, plates of muscle shifting under skin that glistened with sweat, sweat that sizzled and vaporized the moment it hit the floor from the sheer heat radiating off his body.
He passed his 1,200th rep without slowing.
Veins stood out along his forearms like molten lines, pulsing with strength that eclipsed even the most enhanced Primaris Astartes. He was Blessed by the Emperor, of course he was stronger. It was as natural to him as breathing.
His grip crushed the reinforced alloy handles a little more with every repetition, metal groaning softly between his fingers. The air around him trembled from the force he generated, each smooth rise and fall of the massive weights sending out a steady pulse of pressure. Loose tools rattled on nearby benches. Dust shook free from the ceiling in faint drifts.
Gaius didn't notice.
He simply kept lifting, body moving with the calm rhythm of someone performing an ordinary morning exercise, even as the facility strained to withstand the power he released with each rep
Gaius did not strain.
He did not grunt.
He did not even pause.
He moved with the calm, smooth rhythm of a man lifting nothing more than weighted sandbags.
Twin hearts pounded.
His reinforced veins carried oxygen faster.
His enhanced metabolism burned through energy like a furnace.
Yet he kept going.
Across from him, Titus trained with calm discipline, pushing through a strength cycle of his own. Metaurus practiced heavy striking drills, fists bruising dents into training pillars that normal humans would break their bones on.
The two Bladeguard veterans worked on controlled power swings, adjusting their stance without their heavy armor.
Only the Primaris rookie trained differently.
He sat cross-legged inside an open pain stimulator rig, exposed metal arms latched to his shoulders and back, pumping controlled shocks into his nerves.
It wasn't torture.
It was training.
The pain was so intense even a trained soldier would scream instantly.
But the rookie didn't move.
He didn't shout.
He didn't even clench his jaw.
He only breathed slowly, eyes closed in meditation.
The pain increased again, levels rising slowly until the metal around him hummed.
A low groan escaped his throat, but his posture didn't break.
The others didn't need pain tolerance training anymore, they had surpassed this long ago. But rookies had to master pain, until pain became nothing more than another signal to ignore.
Gaius finished his two-thousandth lift.
He lowered the huge block gently onto the ground.
He sat on a heavy metal chair, breathing out, steam rising faintly from his body. His skin glowed with heat, his breath came out in warm clouds.
Titus gave him a short nod.
Metaurus continued his striking drills without pausing.
The Bladeguards switched positions.
The rookie held strong in the pain rig, unmoving.
Gaius watched for a moment, letting his heart rate slow.
He stood up, pushed the sweat from his forehead, and left the conditioning hall.
The corridor outside was busy.
Serfs moved quickly and respectfully aside when they saw him. Some bowed. Others pressed themselves against the wall to give him space.
Gaius didn't mind them, he simply walked through.
As he moved, he opened the Multiversal Chat interface only he could see.
Lines of casual conversation appeared:
[Saeko]: The zombies in Tokonosu City are almost cleared. Only a few are left in locked rooms or outside the city. But the streets are safe now.
[Tony]: That's good. How many survivors are there now? I need the number before I send supplies.
[Saeko]: Over 600. We're stable. Food is fine, we've started farming and we cleared the mall. We only need weapons. Thank you, Tony.
[Tony]: Perfect. Hey, Naruto, how are things on your side?
A new message popped up.
[Naruto]: I'm training at Mount Myōboku! I'm getting stronger! But the food… it's insects.
Mindy jumped in immediately.
[Mindy]:HAHAHA! why is the food insects anyway?
[Naruto]: Because the people here are frogs!
Gaius stared at the chat.
He blinked once.
Then closed it without a word.
He walked toward his private chambers. The door opened automatically, and he stepped inside. Another room led further in, his bedroom.
His room wasn't luxurious, it wasn't meant to be. It was functional.
Metal walls, organized shelves, a prayer alcove, and a heavy-duty bunk designed for a warrior much larger than any human.
Ceramite-reinforced frame.
Rigid, layered padding.
Fire-resistant sheets.
Temperature panels inside the frame to stabilize heat or cold.
It wasn't soft, but it supported his enhanced body perfectly.
Despite having the Catalepsean Node, which meant he barely needed sleep, Gaius found himself liking the bed. It was simple. Quiet. A place to sit and think without noise.
He lay down, letting the frame adjust to his weight. He closed his eyes and breathed steadily.
These quiet days continued.
Training.
Routine.
Maintenance.
Silence.
Until the door chimed.
A serf entered, bowing low.
"Captain Gaius. We have received an encrypted vox transmission. It seems to be a mission request."
Gaius sat up instantly.
"Then bring me there."
"Yes, my lord."
The serf led him through the ship's corridors toward the command section. Gaius walked with long, calm strides, still in his undersuit, not in armor.
When he entered the command room, Metaurus was already there, armored and prepared. Beside him stood the Techmarine, the red-armored Ultramarine, clusters of mechadendrites hovering behind him.
Both turned and bowed slightly when Gaius approached.
Gaius nodded back, then spoke.
"Show me the encrypted vox."
The Techmarine extended a data-slate with mechanical precision.
"This is the message, captain. I have decrypted it."
Gaius took the slate.
The mission details unfolded before him:
System: Aurex PrimarisPlanet: Vexilaris — Forge World
A world full of manufactoria, giant production lines, orbital defense hubs…
…and a Warlord Titan.
Planet Vexilaris is under full Tyranid assault.
A splinter fleet from the Hive Fleet Kraken has breached industrial zones and urban areas.
Defenses are failing.
Casualties rising.
A note flashed:
Warlord-Class Titan "Reaper"
Currently unmanned, operating on servitor control only.
At risk of being overrun.
Primary Objective:
Deploy to Vexilaris immediately and secure the Warlord Titan Reaper until the Princeps arrives with the reinforcements.
Secondary Objectives:
Stabilize manufactoria.
Secure relay points.
Slow Tyranid advance for reinforcements.
Threat Level: HIGH
Gaius lowered the slate.
He didn't hesitate.
"Mission accepted."
Metaurus straightened immediately.
The Techmarine prepared to issue commands.
Gaius turned toward them.
"Prepare for deployment," he ordered, voice firm and steady. He looked directly at Metaurus. "Arm your squad."
Then to the Techmarine:
"Coordinate the ship. We leave as soon as possible."
"Understood," the Techmarine replied, metal tendrils clicking as he turned to activate the ship's command systems.
Gaius held the data-slate for another moment.
A Forge World under attack.
A Warlord Titan at risk.
a splinter fleet from the Hive Fleet Kraken pushing through industrial zones.
He handed the slate back and walked toward the arming deck.
A new war was waiting.
And he would meet it head-on.
END OF CHAPTER 97
PS: Finally, the exams are done! I think I did well. Now, I just need to finish the remaining requirements.
Updated : School is Now Done.
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