Chapter 3: Chapter 02 – Battlefront

“This procedure is an information-path life-alteration surgery to transform your physique into a Body of Information. The next time you wake up, you’ll no longer be a human, but a variant human called Datenmensch, or we like to call them 'Players'… According to the Tiered Citizenship System of the Imperium, you’ll instantly be elevated from Tier-4 ‘Mortals’ into Tier-3 ‘Cultivator’.” The doctor who’s responsible for the procedure inquired. “Are you ready?”

“Yes.” Licht nodded as he sat on the bed despite not understanding what information-path or  life-alteration surgery are.

Right before the doctor started the procedure, there was a commotion outside the operating room that made him pause. Men and women, doctors, nurses, patients or cultivators in general are opening their way to let a man pass through them. They were unnaturally afraid of the man, as if he’s a plague. Or rather, their expression reveals fear, as if not wanting to offend this man in any possible way.

The handsome man casually opened the door of the operation and entered. “It hasn’t started yet. Pünktlich.” The man muttered. His head is covered by a messy red-hair, his eyes are crimson blood red that rested on top of black sclera. He wore casual military apparel which was covered by a white lab coat. “I will take care of this personally.”

The original doctor bowed to the point where his aged spine reached 90 degrees. “Yes, Your Majesty.” A hint of fear laced his tone.

The red-haired man then began barking some orders that made the other doctors move as if they were injected with chicken blood, not even daring to make the man wait.

While watching the sight of old doctors being casually ordered by the young-looking red haired man, Licht tugged Akira’s martial apparel, who had also become tense after the red-haired man’s appearance. “Akira, who is that person?”

“Licht-sama, you need to be mindful of your tone. Be respectful to everyone in this facility.” Akira whispered, panic was painted all over her face. “His Majesty is the leader of one of the Seven Pillars. He is the Supreme Commander of Astrales Militär!”

“Licht Jäger von Rosenthal, correct?” the red-haired man, the presumed Supreme Commander of Astrales Militär inquired as he read a file on his left hand.

“Correct, Your Majesty.” Licht answered.

“Hmm, you smell delicious.” The Supreme Commander took a light sniff at Akira before focusing back at Licht. “If that little girl did not tell you, you wouldn’t know anything about me at all, so there’s no need for formalities between us.” The man simply waved his hand.

Despite being casual about it, such words actually put Akira into the edge. She’s having cold sweat, her body is shaking, absolute dread plastered on her face. 

“Ah- alright, Supreme Commander.” Licht tried his best to be respectful.

The man shrugged, his eyes locked onto Licht’s eyes. The man’s red eyes seemed to undulate in various colors, but it was merely an illusion in Licht’s perspective. “Hahah, dear little brother, you cheeky bastard… So this is your scheme.” He muttered to himself under his breath, almost inaudibly. “After the life-alteration surgery, you’ll be sent into one of the nine battlefronts. Do you have any plans regarding which battlefront you’d pick?” He asked, the tone he used was so casual that it doesn’t sound like it came from the highest officer of the Astrales Militär.

“I… have no plans.” Licht candidly admits. “I am not aware of what a battlefront is or what my mission is.”

“Oh, the contingencies against karmic retaliation…” The Supreme Commander whispered to himself once more, touching his chin. He then got close to Licht’s ears and whispered. “The Black Desolate Heaven might be your best choice.”

“Wh-” Before Licht could properly react, the red-haired Supreme Commander suddenly pulled his head back and waved his hand in a casual way. 

“This is a minor hypnotism that I picked up from the psykers of Adeptus Psykana. Do not resist, it’ll be more beneficial for you…” the Supreme Commander’s words in Licht’s ears suddenly turned melodious, making his eyelids heavier with each passing second. 

The last thing that he saw with his sleepy eyes was Akira who shuddered like a pet being scolded by its owner. The expression of her face quickly changed from absolute dread to reluctance until it finally turned into indignance. Unfortunately, Licht wouldn’t be able to know what happened next or why she made those expressions in the first place.

 

…

 

Licht’s vision can only see an endless tunnel made out of prismatic pixels, his mind is traveling at high speed. The spectacle was quite similar to the loading screen when he booted up a game in his favorite console. Unlike the outdated consoles in the underground shelter however, this loading screen seemed endless. Perhaps, it was because he had lost the sense of time, so time feels like it has progressed far longer than it actually is.

Perhaps it has been days, or weeks, or probably even months before his consciousness suddenly arrived in a white, boundless room with pastel pink mist filling the area. He tried to see his own hands only to see a pure white light in the form of his hand. 

Before he could try anything, a portal made out of countless prismatic pixels suddenly manifested, and a lump of white-pink light having the figure of a feminine human passed through it. With a wave of her hand, the portal is dispelled and she gains texture that reveals her enchanting figure. The woman has long, silky pastel pink hair that reaches her back. The apparel that draped her sexy, voluptuous body was quite similar to the martial outfit of Imperial Sword Sect, but it was more focused on ergonomics and aesthetics rather than for combat.

From a certain point of view, she’s similar to a fairy that came from dreams.

“Greetings, Licht Jäger von Rosenthal… this is the last station before you’ll be sent into the battlefronts: Pink Dream Heaven! I am one of the officers in this station and will be assisting you to make the best judgment, you can call me Fairy Qing Meng.” She cupped her fist, revealing the method of paying respect of the Illusory Pink Butterfly Sect’s members.

“Ah, yes.” Licht imitated her, but it was clear that his cupped fist was sloppy. 

“Since you’re a Chosen One, things are more complicated than usual.” She did not waste time. “What do you know of Project [Nine Heavenly Realm]?”

“I know nothing, I was not even a soldier during the first contact war, just a survivor in one of the Shelters underneath Crimson Mars’ iron soil. The only reason I am picked as a Chosen One is because it is the arrangement of the Imperium…” Licht wanted to name the Dark Forest, but it seems like the Dark Forest is infamous. During his brief presence in Manufactorium Primaris, he could see myriad cultivators from the Seven Pillars with the exception of the Dark Forest.

From there, he deduced that perhaps freely saying his presence is thanks to the Dark Forest is not wise.

“Ah, the standard anti-karmic retaliation protocol.” Qing Meng nodded. “Then, let me tell you about the current situation.” She waved her arms as holographic screens manifested, showing different scenes of battles. There are scenes of space battles, planetary battles between armies, or even small combat between two groups within an urban area. 

“I can’t tell you the specifics as it is a secret that even I am not qualified to know, but the Nine ‘Heavenly Realms’ refer to the strategic points that the Imperium had paid in blood to take a hold of. The ‘Players’ are the reinforcements that were sent to reduce the burden of Astrales Militar in maintaining these battlefronts as well as a method to slowly militarize our mortals. These ‘battlefronts’ held extremely high strategic value in the eyes of the Imperium, that if they were lost, the consequences would be far worse than the First Contact War.”

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“Does that mean the First Contact War is still ongoing?” Licht inquired, shocked.

“Hahah.” Qing Meng chuckled as if hearing a funny joke. “Let’s put it this way. The Imperium found a space gold mine that was free to take, so we sent one of the Seven Pillars to take it. However, against all expectations, the extraction group which was tasked to simply take the gold mine away was murdered by an unknown party. Wouldn’t that make the Imperium send more forces to investigate what really happened? 

Then, after knowing that the gold mine is protected by a primitive race that couldn’t even achieve proper space travel, wouldn’t the Imperium just simply send more men to take it down?

To answer your question, no. This is no longer a First Contact War. We are now a part of a cosmic war on a scale that you won’t be able to imagine, which determines the very survival of our human race.” Qing Meng paused before continuing. “The only reason why the Imperium has yet to be obliterated despite our relatively primitive technology and culture, is because of the might of the Sovereign Magi of Holy Terra.”

“Our enemy… what are they?” Licht asked, finally realizing the severity of this matter.

“In our human tongue, they are called the Infinite Universe Alliance.” Qing Meng slowly elaborated. “In terms of numbers alone, we absolutely have no chance to fight against them. The number of races subjugated under their tyrannical rule is no joke. But as I said before, the only reason why we are not forcefully taken into one of their slave-races is because of the Sovereign Magi of Holy Terra.”

“Our miniscule ‘Imperium’ is like a porcupine. Our juicy flesh is covered by the spikes known as the Sovereign Magi. Anyone who wants a piece of us will have to get through them first.” Qing Meng added.

“So each of the Seven Pillars are led by a Sovereign Magus of Holy Terra…” Licht slowly recalls to ensure his understanding of the Imperium is correct. “If I recall correctly, the ranks of Adeptus Psykana are filled with psykers with special discipline and supernatural abilities, which includes soothsayers. Are their roles not sufficient in the war?”

Qing Meng smiled. “Your citizenship of the Imperium has been elevated into Tier-3, so I can divulge more information.” She paused. “One of the core races of the Infinite Universe Alliance is Lakramos, a winged humanoid race with an extremely sensitive sense towards Tachyons. If you’re not aware what tachyons are, it is a faster-than-light particle that our human science has not completely aware of. Perhaps, the Mago of Machine Cult have already grasped what they are, but their research has yet to be released in public.”

“In other words, unlike the extremely rare soothsayers of the Adeptus Psykana, every single Lakramos is a soothsayer, capable of peering into the secret of time.” Qing Meng added. “How do you think our Imperium would fare against such an opponent?”

“Im- impossible.” Licht’s shoulders dropped.

“That’s right, but we have the Emperor protecting us. Put your trust in the Emperor and Sovereign Magi.” Qing Meng did not want to set the mood this heavy, but there was a need for Licht to understand the position of the Imperium. “Continuing where we left off, there are a few decisions that you have to personally make.”

“I’ll be making decisions for myself?” Licht replied in amazement. All this time, he was left up to the machinations of the higher ups. 

“‘Sometimes fate has your life arranged, sometimes, you’ll have to find your own fate.'”  Qing Meng quoted. “You’re special even among Chosen Ones as your mission isn't set in your dossiers. This meant that even I, a Tier-2 citizen of the Imperium and an officer of Pink Dream Heaven, are not qualified to know. In any case, choosing random will also work for me.” She waved her arms, the holographic screens began showing nine different scenes. “The Nine Heavenly Realm, or rather, the nine battlefronts… you’ll have to pick which one you’re going to descend into.”

Red Scorch Heaven, Orange Savage Heaven, Yellow Fortune Heaven, Green Verdant Heaven, Blue Frost Heaven, Azure Mist Heaven, Purple Virulent Heaven, White Celestial Heaven, and Black Desolate Heaven. With the addition of Pink Dream Heaven as a command hub for ‘players’ to safely retreat, or ‘log off’, there are ten heavens in total.

“Red Scorch Heaven is a planet similar to Mercury, extremely close to its system’s star. The volcanic planet is extremely hot and unpleasant, its atmosphere is heavy and toxic that mortals would carbonize the moment they sat their foot on its sulphuric soil.” Qing Meng elaborated. “The other eight heavens wouldn’t be too much of a difference. All of them possessed their own unique planetary features and environmental hazards that would kill mortals.”

“However, every single ‘player’ would’ve gotten some type of resistance ‘skills’ after completing the ‘tutorial’ of their ‘beginner town’, so there’s nothing to worry about.” She let Licht ponder as he read the introductory intel regarding each heavens.

“Blue Frost Heaven… an ocean planet turned rogue after being thrown away from its original celestial vector due to unknown reason, therefore floating aimlessly in dead space. The planet’s watery crust has been frozen as cold as the vacuum of space, the ice is as tough as bedrock. However, underneath the frozen surface, life can be found. Civilization thrived through utilizing geothermal vents and the Imperium has found an extremely rare resource that heightens the potential of psykers in Blue Frost Heaven…” Licht muttered as he skimmed the information regarding one of the nine heavens.

He quickly finished reading all nine heavens’ characteristics and derived some information from them. “So this is what you mean by the ‘Nine Heavens’ are battlefronts, we are fighting against hostile races everywhere!”

“If they are precious resources to us, then they are naturally precious for our enemies.” Qing Meng then added. “Of course, the White Celestial Heaven and Black Desolate Heaven is a special case among the Nine Heavens. The two are the most brutal battlefront where the main forces of the Imperium are stationed. In fact, you can even consider the seven heavens as the ‘Barracks’ or ‘tutorial’ zone for the ‘players’ to eventually outgrow.”

“The White Celestial Heaven is the main battleground where the Imperium defends against Lakramos’ main army that approaches our Homeworld, whereas the Black Desolate Heaven is one of the planets directly under the control of the Infinite Universe Alliance…” Licht raised his eyebrows.

“In the perspective of players, those two heavens are level-restricted areas that couldn’t be visited unless you’re level 400 and above.” Qing Meng’s eyes glow in respect and adoration, “The White Celestial Heaven is a meat grinder that recycles flesh and blood of Imperium and Alliance’s soldiers back into the ecosystem. It was a miracle how the Astrales Militar still maintained the defensive line for this long. As for the Black Desolate Heaven… well, almost all information regarding it is a secret, not even us are allowed to know more than we should.”

“So, which one is your pick?” Qing Meng asked again after letting Licht ponder for quite some time. This decision is the most important amongst all other decisions that can be made because for a Chosen One like him, he cannot retreat to Pink Dream Heaven for respite, or in a more familiar terms, ‘log off’ at all.

“Black Desolate Heaven.” Licht made his decision. He recalled the moment where the Supreme Commander of Astrales Militar whispered to his ears and gave him guidance. If his deduction was correct, then the Supreme Commander must be one of the Sovereign Magi of Holy Terra. A person of that caliber wouldn’t suddenly visit him without a clear purpose. Perhaps, he was the hands of fate that will guide him.

Qing Meng raised her eyebrows. Just as she said before, both the White Celestial Heaven and Black Desolate Heaven is a level-restricted area that couldn’t be accessed unless one is level 400 and above. The moment she was about to explain this once more, she suddenly received a transmission from the higher ups.

“Huh…” Qing Meng shrugged. If this is the arrangement of the higher ups, then she won’t be qualified to know. She understood why the Imperium’s information network and clearance was designed as a tiered system like this. When the xenos have the natural ability to peer into the future, information warfare has become far more important than physical warfare, especially since the Imperium is on the weaker side. “Your clearance is now elevated into Tier-2, and you are now clear for Black Desolate Heaven”. 

“Okay, I’m ready.”

“Don’t be hasty, Sir Licht.” Qing Meng stopped him. “You are no longer a mortal, but a player. In fact, you’re a chosen one amongst players, so it is best if you understand your power better.”

“Powers… like the Psykers of Adeptus Psykana?” Licht was curious.

“Even better.” Meng Qing reveals an enchanting smile, befitting of a fairy. “But first, you’ll have to understand what a [Class] and [Branch] are. We are going to the next phase: Character Creation.”

 

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