Universe 07 – Terra, on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital.
It was noon on the northern plains of Terra, with clear skies and pleasant, warm sunlight for March. Along the edges of the dense forests on the outskirts, vibrant flower fields were in full bloom, and many local creatures frolicked among them.
Among these creatures were large bee-like insects, resembling common honeybees but the size of falcons, busily collecting nectar and pollen.
"Ha-ha~"
"Yay~"
A pair of female fairies, with transparent butterfly wings and wearing loose-fitting clothing, chased and played among the flowers. These fairies looked almost identical to humans, though much smaller—smaller even than the large bees flying nearby.
The two fairies flew over the flower field, heading toward the expansive grasslands. From their perspective, they could see the enormous Imperial Capital in the distance, comparable in scale to New Akra City.
Smooth, well-maintained roads stretched across the plains, connecting nearby towns, villages, and even far-off cities, hundreds or thousands of kilometers away. The capital remained a bastion of classical grandeur, its towering walls protecting the residents inside.
Magical towers capable of generating protective barriers were spaced every thousand meters along the walls, but these defenses weren't the traditional magic arrow towers or turrets. Instead, they featured modern close-in defense systems and large-caliber plasma cannons, marked with the distinctive red-and-white "Λ" logo.
The soldiers patrolling the walls and guarding the gates were clad in heavy armor resembling traditional knights, but they carried Atlas-produced Gauss rifles. Closer inspection would reveal that their armor was actually full-body exoskeletons. The gleaming silver finish, red cloaks draped over their backs, and the faint red glow from their helmet visors gave the imperial soldiers an intimidating, almost villainous appearance.
However, the local citizens showed no fear. They continued their daily routines, smiling and chatting as they passed through security checks at the gates.
If you traveled with a hovering cargo truck carrying enchanted weapons and armor through an automated checkpoint scanner and entered the capital, you'd witness a striking blend of the modern and the ancient.
Soaring skyscrapers towered over the bustling urban districts. Modern apartment buildings, shopping malls, and old-style inns and taverns coexisted, creating a cityscape that seemed out of place yet harmonious.
Holographic signs, advertisements, and signal lights dotted the streets, while pedestrians in medieval-style clothing mingled with holographic projections, creating a strong sense of dissonance for first-time visitors. Among the crowd, you'd see not only humans but also dwarves, elves, and even beastfolk with cat ears, tails, or canine features, living alongside them.
For the people of Terra, who had long since adapted to this transitional period, the coexistence of "advanced" and "traditional" was entirely natural. At the heart of the city stood the Imperial Palace, an opulent structure deserving of the phrase "gilded and resplendent."
At this moment, inside the Governor's Office within the palace:
"Hmm."
Dorn, dressed in his Atlas uniform, sat behind a wooden desk, reviewing a private email on the screen. He was no longer the young man he once was, now sporting short white hair, a resolute face, and an imposing, muscular physique typical of a gene-primarch.
Under his leadership, Terra had gradually developed into an important stronghold after Earth (from Edge of Tomorrow), supplying stable resources and military personnel. Though Dorn was not as skilled in governance as his brother Guilliman, he was still far beyond the capabilities of any mortal politician. Having spent so much time with his father, fighting alongside him in many battles, Dorn had learned much.
Knock-knock.
Hearing a knock on the office's wooden door, Dorn waved his hand to dismiss the holographic screen and said, "Come in."
Creak—
The old door opened with a slight creaking sound from its hinges, revealing a tall, slender female elf dressed in a white gauze gown with a golden olive wreath atop her head. She stepped into the office.
The elf glanced at the source of the noise—the door hinges—and with a hint of irritation in her voice, said, "Governor, why haven't you replaced this door with a bio-sensor one? It would avoid the annoying noise and save me from knocking every time."
"I've grown used to it," Dorn replied with a smile. Having spent so much time with his father, he had developed a fondness for traditional items.
The elf approached the desk and stood before Dorn, who asked, "What's the matter, Aoi? What business requires you to report in person rather than through the usual channels?"
"Nothing particularly urgent," Aoi replied, her eyes flickering briefly though her expression remained aloof. "I just wanted to inform you that the Astartes candidates have been deployed to the ruins base, with Director Angela Ziegler Cage from the Biologics Division overseeing the next steps. It won't be long before we have the first batch of Astartes composed of Terra's citizens, which I felt was worth reporting to you directly."
"Indeed," Dorn nodded.
While his Legion of Fists of Humanity had already grown to a thousand members, they were ultimately all recruits from the Doom universe. Every candidate's gene-seed implantation surgery and subsequent military training had been overseen by his brother, Lion. Dorn had little emotional attachment to these "sons" of his.
After their formation, Dorn had only met the young recruits once before they were sent to the Avatar universe by Horus to carry out large-scale consolidation missions. Later, due to the Halo universe's vast demand for manpower and resources, the seven cadet legions, including the Fists of Humanity, had been deployed to Shield World 0459's core base.
Fortunately, the company had already issued a second wave of recruitment calls for young Astartes candidates across all territories except for the main universe and the Halo universe. Dorn had entrusted the meticulous selection process to Aoi, who was not only a close friend but someone he had experienced many adventures with, including battling evil cultists and exploring tombs.
However, the candidates were strictly limited to human boys around fourteen years of age. No matter how talented elven or dwarven youths might be, they were ineligible to become Astartes, as only human candidates could safely undergo the gene-seed implantation and physiological modification.
After a brief silence, Aoi broke the stillness, saying, "Dorn, the Dawn Moon Flower Field in my homeland is about to bloom."
This time, Aoi addressed him more informally, dropping the "Governor" title. Though her tone remained cool, the conversation shifted to a more personal topic.
"Oh? Are you inviting me to go see it?" Dorn asked.
"Yes," Aoi answered without hesitation.
"Big sis," Dorn said with a sigh as he stood, his massive frame towering over Aoi and even blocking the view of the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him. Looking down at Aoi, who was a full two meters shorter than him, Dorn chuckled, "You're inviting me as if you're reporting official business. That's really not the way to get someone excited."
"Um..." Aoi glanced away, unsure how to respond.
"Don't worry, I'm used to it," Dorn waved his hand dismissively as he began walking toward the door.
"Wait, are you agreeing to go?" Aoi quickly caught up, her voice revealing a hint of uncharacteristic anticipation. She explained, "The Dawn Moon Flower Field only blooms under the full moon, and it's a sight unique to Losria. Only those we... recognize are invited to see it."
As they exited the office into the corridor, Dorn replied, "I don't really know much about flowers, but a flower field blooming under moonlight... sounds tempting.
Unfortunately, I won't be able to go."
At the last part, Dorn deliberately shook his head in mock regret.
Aoi felt a pang of disappointment but didn't let it show. Instead, she asked, "Is the Halo universe in need of your support?"
"No, it's Universe 09," Dorn said frankly. "Aoi, assemble five knight orders from the capital and one Owl Strike team from the elves. We need to deploy to the ruins base immediately.
Father has ordered us to arrive at the front-line base in Universe 09 within five days. It looks like the situation at Division 09 requires a more direct intervention, possibly even forced consolidation if necessary."
"The Emperor's command?" Aoi asked.
"Yes," Dorn confirmed.
With that, Aoi tilted her head slightly, recalling the data files on Cyberpunk 2077. Her expression became serious, and any thoughts of personal matters vanished.
"I understand," she replied.
Without another word, Aoi sped up, disappearing silently into the hallway.
Dorn continued walking, heading for the throne room to meet with the officials and generals assisting him in governing Terra. Among them were his old comrades, the dwarf Soroyan and the veteran human soldier Pietro Bomil, who had both joined Atlas' New Human Empire after the war.
Dorn intended to hold a quick meeting with his trusted advisors to finalize any pressing matters before departing for the Cyberpunk universe.
Meanwhile...
In Universe 09 (Cyberpunk 2077), at the Atlas Division building in the Westbrook district of Night City, the sound of rapid punches echoed throughout the mid-level training room.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Fists cut through the air as they were swiftly thrown, followed by the dull thud of impact as punches connected with bodies.
Around thirty teenagers, dressed in
black training uniforms, sat cross-legged on the soft mat, watching as their classmate sparred one-on-one with their instructor.
The instructor was Jill Valentine, a seasoned investigator. She wore loose black training pants, paired with a white sports bra and a sleeveless blue top.
Her opponent was David Martinez, his usual spiky hair now cut into a crew cut.
"Ahhh!!"
Standing to Jill's right, David swung a fierce punch at her ribs.
Whoosh—!
The punch was powerful enough that if it had connected, it would have surely broken a normal person's ribs and damaged their lungs.
But Jill, genetically enhanced, easily dodged the strike with a graceful backflip, landing behind David. In a swift motion, she wrapped her left arm around his neck, locked her right arm under his chin, and secured a standing chokehold.
"Urgh!"
David gasped for breath, struggling to escape. He desperately tried to pry Jill's fingers loose and twist out of the hold using brute strength.
But as a novice, he stood no chance. Jill anticipated his every move, pulling him down to the floor and locking her legs around his waist, tightening the chokehold to the point of inescapability.
After struggling for a while longer, David, his face turning red from lack of air, had no choice but to tap the mat with his right hand, signaling his surrender.
Only then did Jill release her grip and stand up. "Remember, everyone, never expose your back to your opponent in close combat. And don't go on the offensive unless you're absolutely certain of your victory," she instructed.
Turning to the coughing David, Jill continued, "Martinez here is the perfect example of what not to do, so take note."
Ding-ding!
Just as Jill finished speaking, the end-of-class bell rang throughout the training room.
Jill glanced out the window, noting that it was getting late. She addressed David and the other teens, "That's it for today's lesson. Review what you've learned on your way home. Dismissed."
She turned to leave the room, heading toward the bio-sensor doors.
"Goodbye, Instructor Valentine!"
The group of teens, including David, called out in unison.
"Don't forget to pick up your pay and food rations for the day," Jill said with a wave over her shoulder as she exited through the open door.
The students began packing up their gear, some heading for the showers, while others went straight to the cafeteria to indulge in a well-deserved meal.
David, however, sat alone on a bench, resting and listening to his classmates' idle chatter about whether or not Instructor Valentine had a boyfriend. "Even if she doesn't, there's no way she'd go for you!" they joked.
David and the others were all part of the same group of "intern security trainees."
But after attending the weekly training sessions, David had begun to realize that Atlas wasn't just offering lessons—it was practically running a school. And not just any school, but one hundreds, if not thousands of times better than Arasaka Academy.
At least here, he wasn't subject to bullying or harassment for no reason. The instructors treated everyone equally, without favoritism, making David seriously consider quitting Arasaka Academy altogether.
A while later, the training room was nearly empty, leaving David sitting alone on the bench.
With a sigh, he shook his head, setting aside thoughts of dropping out of school. He picked up his bag and was about to head for the elevator when he heard a voice:
"Hey, kid. Got time for a chat?"
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