Chương 2: To Hide a Supernova

I took deep breaths, trying to collect myself. Now more than ever, it was difficult to keep my mind clear, but it was absolutely vital. The power begged to break free, and controlling it was incredibly difficult. If I only wished it, I could channel colossal currents of the Warp through myself. I felt as though there was nothing I was currently incapable of. Time and space had become mere soft clay to me, malleable and easily shaped. With a mere thought and a snap of my fingers, I could alter them.

The only question was what I was willing to pay for it... No! I grimaced, using every ounce of willpower I possessed to subjugate my abilities. Right now, the most important thing was to conceal myself in the Warp and stop shining so brightly. I didn't know for sure, but I suspected that the stronger a soul's psychic potential, the brighter it shone in the realm of psychic energy. This was likely what Astropaths and witch hunters keyed in on when searching for unsanctioned psykers.

And I, Emperor preserve me, was glowing very brightly indeed. Closing my eyes, I instantly plunged into the Immaterium. It was terrifyingly easy to do. I immediately saw a myriad of lights, each shining like a candle in the dark. These were the souls of ordinary people devoid of psychic talent. But I only needed to focus to see the psykers as well. From the weakest, possessing merely latent powers that passively boosted their luck, to what I suspected was the local choirmaster of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica.

The latter blazed like a massive bonfire, hundreds and thousands of times more intense than a normal human. Except, compared to them, I was a supernova. And I needed to veil myself as quickly as possible. My power moved effortlessly the moment I thought of altering it. It took only a minute to pull in the prominences of my light and "compress" myself tightly. This didn't diminish my actual power level, and I still shone quite noticeably, but nowhere near as blindingly as before.

I breathed heavily, mentally maintaining the shield. It was akin to constantly forcing myself to think about a wall surrounding me. Not particularly difficult, but if I lost control for even a second, it would be the end for me. Inquisitors and daemons alike would come for my soul. Letting out a heavy sigh, I finally calmed down and began to think about my next move. The option of going to the Astra Telepathica could immediately be discarded. I was clearly more powerful than what was permitted.

They wouldn't train me; they would just put a bolt round through my head. And they would be completely right to do so. Power of this magnitude should not belong to any human. Not a single one. One particular phrase, perfectly suited to this situation, kept spinning in my mind. Power corrupts. And absolute power corrupts absolutely. If I only wished it, I could dominate the minds of thousands, if not millions, of people. A simple snap of my fingers, and the entire orphanage would be reduced to atoms.

But I could also use this power for good. Heal the terminally ill and eradicate hunger. Stop wars and eliminate crime...

"An unknown psychic phenomenon has been detected. Conclave intervention and further investigation are required." An unfamiliar voice suddenly echoed in my mind. I immediately shot up from the bed, my head on a swivel, but I found no one. Yet the voices did not cease. Their numbers only grew.

"There are suspicions that this incident is connected to the underhive cults..."

"Contact was made with an unknown psyker of immense power. Kalh'Hae'Dabel transmitted information about him to me. There is a chance we are dealing with..."

"Gathering information from the subject. All psykers must be accounted for prior to the upcoming procession. The Black Ships are scheduled to arrive in..." By concentrating and simply willing it, I realized where these voices were coming from. Right before each transmission, a random flame of psychic power would flicker in the Warp. I suspected this was how the telepathic abilities of other psykers manifested. They were speaking almost simultaneously, making it difficult to decipher all their words.

However, I knew they were incredibly important...

"... Devour... Burn... Destroy... Dissolve... Repent... Weep... Submit..." One voice differed drastically from the rest. It sounded like thousands of people whispering in unison. And every single one of those people... was weeping. It was as if they were begging for mercy, knowing full well they would never receive it. Listening closer, I realized there was a sort of music accompanying the message. Like a choir of unnatural voices, accompanied by the Warp itself.

The music was achingly beautiful, yet there was something fundamentally wrong with it. It felt profoundly incorrect. And yet, so alluring... I snapped back to reality and reinforced my mental defenses, severing my connection to all the voices. Eavesdropping on classified intelligence was incredibly tempting, but it wasn't worth my sanity. Right. I needed to focus and come up with a solid plan. In essence, I had several paths before me.

The ones that involved elaborate ways of getting myself killed were immediately discarded. I could flee into the underhive. The Astropaths wouldn't be able to reach or find me there, giving me time to develop my abilities and at least attempt to learn how to control them. I wasn't deluded by my perceived omnipotence; I understood perfectly well that I could be dealt with. At least while I still lacked control. Down there, deep and far away from the law, I could at least learn something.

It was beneath the surface, among the collapsed ruins, where the majority of mutants and rogue psykers lived. I might even find teachers. Except there was an equal chance I would encounter maniacs and cultists who would wage a war for my body and soul. Given my powers, I had a good chance of surviving and killing them all, but it still wasn't the best option. The underhive is literally the worst place on the entire planet. The deeper you go, the more dangerous the horrors that dwell there.

In short, it was an option where I'd likely survive, but I would absolutely hate the life. I could also try to leave the planet. Except that was a remarkably stupid idea, because escaping the Inquisition is no simple feat. The Inquisition is an incredibly dangerous organization that deals with humanity's greatest adversaries across the entire galaxy. Daemons, xenos, time travelers, heretics, and the like.

The threats are so numerous and deadly that an Inquisitor possesses the authority to destroy an entire world if they deem it necessary. They can also requisition aid from the Astra Militarum and the Imperial Navy if a threat proves too immense. One day, I would definitely leave this planet. But first, I needed to learn how to better control my powers. I might be able to hide on a planet, but out in the middle of the cosmic void? Absolutely not.

And finally, the most dangerous, risky, idiotic, and outright insane option—which I found myself heavily gravitating towards. Pretend nothing happened, suppress my powers to the absolute maximum, and attend the noble gala tomorrow. There was a high probability that some Inquisition agent, or perhaps even a representative of the Ordos themselves, would be present. Someone I could tell about the daemon. The fact that the daemon had reached me so quickly could mean it had strong ties to this world.

And that was a glaring sign that a cult of the Ruinous Powers was growing on the planet. If I was right, and it was an envoy of the Prince of Pleasure himself, then the aristocrats were most likely involved. Hedonists were most commonly found among their ranks, easily falling for the deceptions of the God of Excess. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. Therefore, I could try to sense the taint within them and pass that information to the agents.

That would drastically increase my chances of survival. The only problem was that it was a massive gamble. Everything depended on what specific kind of Inquisitor I stumbled across: a Radical or a Puritan. The chances of me being burned as a heretic were exactly equal to the chances of me being heard out. I couldn't just look for any random Inquisitor. I needed to find one who possessed psychic abilities themselves.

Such an individual would almost certainly be more open to my reasoning and far less likely to put a bullet in my head. Though the probability still remained... But seriously, securing the backing of an Inquisitor was my chance to change everything. Literally everything. I knew so much about the potential future—knowledge capable of saving trillions of lives, if not the entire galaxy—that keeping these secrets to myself would be a true betrayal of humanity.

My knowledge could easily be passed off as psychic foresight and visions from the Emperor, so I wouldn't even have to reveal the truth about my past life. Furthermore, this was just about my only ticket to a somewhat happy life where I wasn't being hunted by everyone and their mother. And, possibly, a chance to stop a Chaos cult from doing whatever unspeakable things they were planning for the planet. If a daemonic incursion happened here, there would be nowhere left to hide.

I was currently choosing between a safe option that practically guaranteed me a long but miserable life, and a lunatic scheme capable of giving me everything I needed for my own survival—and the survival of humanity as a whole....

"You cannot even imagine how pleasant it is to see such a promising younger generation. Throughout its entire history, our house has relied upon bright young minds with fire in their eyes, just like yours. It makes looking upon such prodigies all the more delightful." I stood alongside the other children, looking up at the man before us with a smile. At a single glance, it was obvious we were in the presence of true nobility.

Powdered skin as white as marble, a matching white wig, and an elegant suit worth more than our entire orphanage. It featured embroidery woven from gold and other precious metals, with a collar adorned in rubies. His facial features were sharp, precise, and flawlessly symmetrical. His voice was velvety and composed—the kind of voice used to issue commands and rule entire empires. Most aristocrats purchased specialized genetic refinement and purification procedures for their offspring from the Adeptus Mechanicus.

As a result, they looked like a new, improved breed of humanity. Tall, athletic, and devoid of any superficial flaws. However, these physical perfections were often offset by internal defects, which were frequently far worse than any physical deformity. I smiled at the man, and it was only thanks to the acting skills I'd honed over my years in this new world that I managed to maintain my composure. The fact was, standing this close to him, I sensed an incredible rot.

It felt as though he had decayed from the inside out, leaving behind nothing but a beautiful, hollow shell. Worst of all, the sensation was remarkably similar to the aura of the daemon. The aristocrat's presence was an order of magnitude weaker, of course, and I couldn't detect any psychic potential in him. It was likely he was just a bored noble who had tired of ordinary life and decided to spice things up with something more "exotic."

I didn't even want to imagine what exactly he had been doing to reek of such abomination. It clearly wasn't out of the goodness of his heart that he sponsored an orphanage, skimming children from it every few years... I kept up the charade, restraining my powers while already calculating in my head how I would deal with him. Retribution would catch up to him, but now was not the time. He was the final push that shattered my doubts.

If I dropped everything right now and fled into the underhive, the entire orphanage would be left in his clutches. I could not allow that under any circumstances. I might not be the greatest person in the world, but abandoning children? There are some things you have to fight for, no matter the cost.

"Why are we just standing here! The best part is about to begin! Watch closely, children; an event like this happens but once in a lifetime." He swept his arm to the side, gesturing toward his escort. The noble had arrived in an expensive grav-car, hovering a meter above the ground and painted in crimson and purple. It was an incredibly rare vehicle, the likes of which I was seeing for the very first time.

These were the colors of his noble house, which I was sure symbolized something deeply important and significant, though to me they just looked tacky. But I couldn't let my true feelings show under any circumstances. I had a performance to put on. I took a step forward and smiled, looking the aristocrat directly in the eyes.

"Greetings. My name is Gabriel, and from the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you, my lord, for your support of us and the entire orphanage. It is because of good people like you that we are able to live so well." I had to fawn over him to gain his trust and draw all his attention to myself. The other children just exchanged embarrassed glances, clearly unsure of what to do, which ensured he was looking only at me. Admittedly, I already stood out the most.

I was particularly meticulous about my hygiene and engaged in light physical training. I was also significantly taller than the other kids and the most well-built among them, with clear, slightly tanned skin and long red hair. As much as I missed my old life, I had to admit I looked vastly better in this one. My psychic nature was likely involved somehow, but I doubted it was a malignant side effect. The nobleman smiled softly, looking at me with a sort of paternal warmth.

I had to hand it to him, his acting was superb. Then again, no one else would be able to hide right under the Inquisition's nose for so long. It even created a bit of cognitive dissonance in my mind. I could see quite clearly that he wasn't currently entertaining a single criminal or immoral thought, yet his aura... it betrayed his true nature. He was overflowing with emotions that almost made me gag.

"There's no need for that, no need at all. You may address me by my name—Frederick. House Machenko was founded by a simple Guardsman who personally served Lord Militant Golgenna Angevin himself. We know better than anyone that aiding the destitute is the duty of every true aristocrat. We must help those less fortunate than ourselves, so that our ancestors may look upon us with pride, and our descendants may remember us with reverence."

"I could not agree more. We will be judged by our actions." After our brief exchange, we were quickly rounded up and accompanied him to the transit elevator that would take us to the upper levels. During the ascent, we were able to admire the city, transformed for the festival. For the first time in decades, the streets had actually been somewhat cleaned, the building facades restored to a marginally acceptable state, and the presence of Arbitrators had noticeably increased everywhere.

Usually, they kept to the upper levels of the hive, but now they were maintaining order down in our backwater. Nobody wanted to cross them. An Arbitrator doesn't hesitate; they beat down all suspects first and figure out who is guilty later. That was why the streets were currently devoid of any undesirable criminal or mutant elements, who had temporarily slinked down to the lower levels. I wondered if they celebrated such an important day down there.

Given the sheer number of cultists, I seriously doubted they even believed in the Emperor. I myself only pretended to be a zealous follower, though that was relatively easy, considering I held a deep respect for the man. But the most beautiful part of it all, to me, was the elevator ride itself. It was a monumentally massive chamber ascending at breakneck speed. The view from it was simply fantastic.

The chthonic essence of the mid-hive blurred together, and we finally witnessed the true scale of what ancient humanity had built. The spires of the towers stretched upward for kilometers, and millions of people could reside in a single one. It was an entire country encased in steel. And yet, the human touch remained visible. Decorations and genuine street art could be seen on the hab-blocks, turning otherwise faceless structures into something unique and almost alive.

"Look, children, and remember this well. It is your home, and the entire mid-hive, that forms the foundation upon which the Imperium stands. Myriads of worlds like ours provide the greatest influx of recruits for the Astra Militarum, who fearlessly defend humanity from terrible threats. The vast majority of industry is focused here—the very flesh and blood of any army. But most impressive of all, it is from places just like this that many legendary Chapters of the Adeptus Astartes draw their initiates."

The nobleman spoke as though he were imparting the deepest secrets of the universe to us. Still, I had to admit, he did it well. Even I felt a surge of pride for my home. It was just that, right before my eyes, it was still a metallic hell where billions of people were imprisoned. Closing my eyes for a fraction of a second, I instantly saw billions of lights. The souls of the people shone in the Warp, and I could feel their excitement.

Holidays were one of the few ways for people to escape their grim reality, so many looked forward to them with bated breath. Their emotions blazed in the realm of psychic energy, and a fraction of it washed over me. I felt the anticipation of a manufactorum worker, grinding fourteen hours a day, finally planning to spend the weekend with his family. The weary smile of a young mother who had finally scraped together enough Thrones to buy a toy for her daughter.

The anxiety of a young lad who had just enlisted in the Imperial Guard, saying goodbye to the girl he would most likely never see again. The relief of an old man, watching the youth and rejoicing in their possibilities. The excitement of a child, waiting for their first festival, during which their parents might finally smile. And passing through every single one of these people was a pure, warming light. It shone not in the material world, but in the Warp.

A brilliant, blazing spear of light, piercing through every soul and banishing every shadow. I had never paid attention to the light of the Astronomican before, but now I couldn't tear my gaze away from it. The power of the Emperor flowed through every human being, enveloping and seemingly protecting them. So many different people, and just as many different perspectives, destinies, and lives. Each one like a precious gemstone. And each one worth fighting for, no matter what.