Energy Feedback
Source: StarCraft Universe
Effect 1: Extracts energy from a single target and releases it in violent form. The more energy extracted, the greater the damage dealt to the target.
Cooldown: 1 minute
Note: We are the Light of Khala!
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This marked Marcus's first skill acquisition—an active ability unlike passive enhancements such as "Combat Instinct."
While Marcus maintained an outwardly calm expression as he studied the Energy Feedback skill display, internally he celebrated. If memory served, this ability originated from the High Templar psionic units in StarCraft 2.
His current arsenal lacked effective countermeasures against psychic opponents, and Energy Feedback would perfectly address this deficiency. Had he possessed this ability during their earlier encounter with the Lictor, Marcus and his companions would have avoided their dire predicament entirely.
A single Energy Feedback discharge would significantly diminish the Lictor's psychic capabilities while inflicting substantial direct damage.
Furthermore, given the inevitable confrontation awaiting him with Chaos traitors—specifically the Thousand Sons—this skill would prove invaluable. As the Chaos faction most notorious for their psyker units, the Thousand Sons commanded numerous Chaos Sorcerers.
Energy Feedback would dramatically reduce the pressure Marcus faced when confronting those warp-touched practitioners of forbidden sorcery.
Without prolonged deliberation, Marcus selected the learning option.
Upon confirmation, the Energy Feedback skill card transformed into soft white luminescence—visible only to Marcus—that gradually merged with his chest.
Finally, it materialized as a golden Protoss symbol, perceptible solely to his sight, imprinted beneath his skin's surface.
Closing his eyes, Marcus carefully examined this mystical marking.
He sensed he could channel the Energy Feedback ability through this imprint's power.
Though eager to test the skill's practical effects, Marcus recognized the inappropriate timing.
He could hardly experiment on Titus and his battle-brothers.
Moreover, according to the system's parameters, only targets possessing substantial internal energy reserves would suffer Energy Feedback's effects.
Since Titus and his companions weren't Librarian-class psykers, they remained immune to the ability's influence.
After suppressing his experimental urges, Marcus began strategizing his next moves.
His contemplation was interrupted by subtle vibrations throughout the Thunderhawk's hull.
Moments later, the gunship's passenger compartment door began opening slowly.
Their destination—the Ultramarines Second Company's battle barge, the Unyielding—had been reached.
Following Titus and his companions through the exit hatch, Marcus discovered they now stood within the Unyielding's massive hangar bay.
Standing upon the hangar deck, Marcus gazed at the battle barge surrounding them with profound appreciation.
Imperial warships had always adhered to one fundamental principle: bigger meant better, more meant superior.
The Unyielding, serving as the Ultramarines Second Company's flagship, exemplified this philosophy perfectly.
As a colossal space battleship measuring nearly ten kilometers in length, the Unyielding resembled a mobile fortress rather than a conventional vessel.
Externally, ultra-dense alloy composites formed the primary structural framework.
Massive quantities of ceramite plating covered this framework, creating protective barriers hundreds of meters thick.
Combined with ablative armor systems, the battle barge's defensive capabilities ranked among the Imperium's finest.
The dozens of large-caliber macro cannons lining the vessel's broadsides demonstrated its devastating offensive potential.
Yet in reality, a battle barge's most dangerous asset wasn't its lance batteries or macro cannons, but rather its lethal crew complement.
Each battle barge carried at minimum one hundred Astartes warriors, responsible for boarding actions, planetary assaults, and specialized tactical operations.
Beyond the Space Marines, the vessel housed tens of thousands of mortal serfs, servitors, and Adeptus Mechanicus Tech-Priests.
Many mortal serfs spent their entire existence—from birth through death—aboard this single battle barge, as did their children and their children's children after them.
Numerous positions throughout the vessel operated under hereditary systems.
If a crewman maintained responsibility for loading a particular macro cannon, his descendants would inherit that exact duty.
Countless souls lived and died within this battle barge's hull, all dedicated to maintaining the ship's operational status.
After a moment of reflection, Marcus followed Titus and his companions toward the hangar bay exit when two approaching Astartes intercepted them.
Despite their helmeted faces, Marcus identified these Space Marines by their shoulder markings as the pair Titus had previously assigned to assist Astra Militarum defensive consolidation.
"Sergeant Titus, Captain Acheran has issued new orders," announced one of the Astartes—Lyrio—after rendering proper salute.
Titus nodded acknowledgment.
Gadriel, standing nearby, noticed something amiss. "Where is Elian?"
"The xenos attempted to overwhelm our position, and we became separated during the engagement. By the time we eliminated the attackers, Elian was already deceased—his helmet had been completely punctured," Lyrio reported in subdued tones.
Upon hearing this news, Gadriel paused momentarily before responding equally quietly, "I should have remained with you."
"Unfortunate that he couldn't witness that Hive Ship's destruction," Lyrio observed.
Chairon interjected, addressing Lyrio directly: "What of his gene-seed? Was it preserved from xenos contamination?"
"We've already reported to Captain Acheran. An Apothecary will retrieve Elian's gene-seed shortly."
Titus nodded, his expression remaining unreadable.
After issuing temporary