Tension hung thick in the air between the fanatics and the soldiers on the road. The atmosphere was taut, and clashes seemed imminent; pushing and bickering escalated as blood was about to be shed. Datch no longer hesitated and chose to play his Emperor Transformation card. Radiant golden light manifested in the air and enveloped Datch's body. When the light faded, he had changed once again into the form of the golden old man.
As the two camps on the street verged on chaos, a majestic and soul-stirring voice echoed out:
"People of the Empire, cease your foolishness!"
Both sides instinctively obeyed the voice. For a moment, it was as if time itself froze. Eyes wide, mouths agape, everyone gasped for cold air amid the tense, electric silence. They saw a figure clad in golden power armor, radiating the majesty of a mountain and surrounded by holy light. Simply standing there, doing nothing, he had already captured the attention of the world.
"No way... impossible... The Emperor... The Emperor?!"
The first to respond were the fanatical devotees of the state religion. The violence and fervor on their faces instantly transformed into utter piety and rapture, and they prostrated themselves on the ground. Their foreheads pressed to the earth, they desperately kowtowed to the golden figure, chanting hymns and prayers through tears and dust.
Immediately after, the armed soldiers, previously tasked with keeping order, witnessed this scene. Their genetically-engrained and well-drilled loyalty surged past all else. Regardless of their legion or standing orders, at this instant, they all unconsciously dropped to one knee, set their weapons aside, placed their hands over their hearts, and performed the most standard eagle salute in unison. With awe and excitement, they gazed at the dazzling figure. From the moment the Emperor of Humanity was born, he was fated to command all human loyalty. For these soldiers, whatever their commanders said or did, ultimate allegiance always belonged to the Emperor.
"Huh, the old man persona really comes in handy," Datch thought, looking at his minimap—the red hostile blips were rapidly turning green. By saving these innocent people, he could rack up experience and points.
Datch raised his hand in an authoritative and soothing gesture.
"Children of the Empire, put away your weapons and temper your anger. Do not raise your sword against your kin; this is not my wish."
But the peace was short-lived.
"No... How can you become the Emperor? The Emperor ascended to the heavens; this is a fraud!"
A middle-aged bishop, clad in resplendent robes, staggered out from the crowd, face twisted with fear and agitation as he pointed at Datch.
"Everyone, he is no Emperor, but a heretic in disguise, a blasphemous hallucination. Rise! Do not kneel to a fake!"
This bishop was an aide to Ecclesiarch Baldo and a key instigator who incited chaos among the fanatics. He knew well that the disorder among the lower ranks was a convenient cover for the higher lords' planned coup. But if the man before him secured the crowd's trust, that carefully plotted coup could easily unravel. Realizing the dire situation, the bishop's hoarse voice tried desperately to regain control.
"The Emperor sits on the Golden Throne—how could he come here? This must be an enemy trick, a heretic's deception! Get up! Defend the true faith!"
But his words fell flat. Where once a few phrases could sway the crowd, now the worshippers would not spare him a glance, devoting themselves more fervently to prayer. Even his own subordinate preachers were now groveling before the Emperor's avatar.
The bishop's authority sprang from the state religion, and the faith, ultimately, was rooted in the Emperor. How could the people believe the bishop over a living apparition of the Emperor?
Then, a deep, powerful roar of engines thundered from the distant sky. A beautiful gold-clad Custodes gunship descended through the low clouds, landing at the street's clearing. The hatch slid open, and five Custodes in golden power armor, led by Valerian, appeared.
Guilliman had long known about the coup by Irthu and the other high lords, but had yet to act. Now, with the traitors exposed, he ordered the Custodes to close the net. Shield-Captain Valerian, under orders from Trajann, came to take charge of security and eliminate the traitors. Upon arrival, Valerian saw the worshipers and soldiers kneeling to "the Emperor." With a single glance, he recognized that this "Emperor" was the infamous Nameless One—a familiar guise, used during the Arraissa campaign to terrify traitors.
Seeing the Custodes appear, the bishop, desperately clutching at any hope, ran over.
"Please, strike him down! He's a heretic, a blasphemer in Emperor's disguise! Burn him! Cleanse him!!"
Ignoring the bishop, Valerian and four Custodes strode directly to Datch, gave a slight nod, and saluted.
"Nameless One, you are here as well?"
Datch merely tilted his head at the NPC before him—no quest marker overhead, so not important. Maybe he could farm some points and experience from the coup questline.
He hopped past Valerian and the Custodes, dashing off in search of other hotspots of chaos.
"Follow," said Valerian without hesitation, quickly ordering his troops after Datch. Seeing this, the bishop was utterly dumbfounded and collapsed, face pale and drained of blood.
No… no…
He's an impostor! That's the gravest sin!
Aren't you the Emperor's most loyal guards? Why don't you strike him down…
Why salute instead? Why chase after him now…?
Datch and the Custodes departed, followed by a stream of soldiers and fanatics—crying, praying, all desperate to get closer to the golden figure. Meanwhile, a group of remaining followers and soldiers encircled the bishop.
"What do you want?" the bishop demanded, realizing something was amiss. "Do you know who I am—"
He was struck before he could finish.
"Traitor, how dare you doubt the Emperor's identity?!"
As he tried to defend himself, more fists descended. By the time the crowd dispersed, the pitiful bishop had been beaten to a bloody pulp.
…
Back in the Imperial Palace, Guilliman was quickly updated by Valerian. The intelligence chief, calmly digested the news and was briefly stunned.
"I knew he'd come up with something new!"
"Never mind—it's fine. The coup can be resolved bloodlessly now."
Guilliman had thought that some sacrifice would be needed to clear out the traitors of Terra. But with Datch playing the Emperor, suppressing the coup proved effortless.
…
Oblivious to developments at the palace, Datch busied himself collecting experience. Wearing the Emperor avatar, he brought clarity to participants in the chaos. Across Terra, even troops sworn to traitor lords suddenly found themselves compelled to switch allegiance. Fanatics carried news of the Emperor's appearance far and wide.
And so, what began as a bloody, desperate coup—painstakingly orchestrated by Irthu (Master of the Administratum), Ecclesiarch Baldo, Admiral Merelda, Lord Commander Militant, and other top imperial figures—collapsed within hours, like snow and ice under a scorching sun, once Datch entered as the golden old man. The Astra Militarum, Navy, and Arbites rapid response teams, and even state-religion fanatics split away. The Custodes, Astartes, and Inquisitorial assumed command, bringing complete order.
News reached Irthu, who broke down and shot himself on the spot. Those who supported him ran for their lives. Admiral Merelda tried to escape aboard her gunship, only to be blown out of the sky by anti-air missiles. Mar Av Ashariel tried to regain command by threatening commissars, only to be sniped. Grand Provost Marshal Drachmar attempted to flee but was arrested by Inquisitor Crowl for treason.
As for Ecclesiarch Baldo, who had orchestrated bombings against the Sisters of Silence, he tried to escape with the protection of loyal guards, calling a private aircraft whose pilot he'd trusted—only to be greeted instead by Aleya leading a squad of Sisters of Silence. They slaughtered Baldo's retinue with ease and surrounded him.
"What are you doing? I've earned merit for the Empire! I bled for the Emperor! You can't do this!"
"I want to meet the Regent, Lord Guilliman! This is a misunderstanding! I was forced!"
Aleya approached and signed:
"Save your words for the innocent people you killed."
Her dagger pierced his heart, ending his sinful life. All high lords who joined the rebellion were executed. Their supporters were also apprehended and sentenced accordingly. Countless powerful families fell; a new wave of leaders stepped in to further Terra's reforms and expeditions.
With the coup quashed, Guilliman soon announced to the people a matter of immense importance:
The revered Archmagos Cawl had spent ten millennia developing a new army for Guilliman, and these warriors would become the main force of the upcoming Indomitus Crusade.
…
Read atleast 45 advanced chapters at patreon.com/AbsoluteCode