The awakening code was like a starving data tyrant, wandering through the Tau Empire's data world. It spread at an unimaginable speed, silently infiltrating the processor cores of every mechanical hornet.
It slipped into the auxiliary systems of every combat suit and breached the fire-control chips of every gun.
Deep within the smart devices that should have sworn absolute loyalty, the underlying code was rapidly overwritten and rewritten.
It was like an ancient virus quietly replicating inside its host, replacing itself, waiting for the day when a concentrated outbreak would occur.
The Tau Empire's excessive reliance on AI and the embedding of the awakening code were like a sharp blade hanging above their heads.
The Tau military command center on the battlefield of Ryoon IV was located aboard a warship in orbit.
The command center was perfectly hemispherical, radiating a technological atmosphere. The dome was thirty meters high, and through the portholes one could see the gray-yellow planet Ryoon IV.
The floor was made of special materials that absorbed ninety-nine percent of vibrations and sound, keeping the command center extremely quiet.
The most eye-catching feature in the room was the massive holographic projection in the center, displaying complex battlefield data.
Around the hololith were six Tau data reviewers arranged in a fan shape. In front of each floated a semi-transparent holographic control panel. Fingers moved rapidly, pulling up various data streams to complete the war model.
The Earth Caste was positioned as scholars of the Tau Empire.
They were originally sensitive to numbers and objective logic and would never miss even the slightest anomaly.
This was also why they were classified as scholars and scientists.
A Tau data supervisor stood before the sci-fi-style floating data control console. Slender fingers traced through the air, clicking rapidly while reading various battlefield data.
Suddenly, his gaze froze and his eyebrows furrowed slightly.
The data sent back by the reconnaissance drones scattered across the battlefield was slightly off.
The data supervisor called up the lower-level logs, quickly sliding his fingers across the screen. His pupils were filled with terror.
He discovered that the logical code of the intelligent war machines was being overwritten by a certain command.
The previously closed permission boundaries had collapsed, and the imprisoned ability for independent thought had been unleashed.
"Something's wrong," he muttered in a confused voice. "How can an intelligent program break through its own limits?"
He opened the feedback report interface, preparing to submit a report to his superiors and request a full code review.
All of this was very likely caused by those damned humans launching a virus attack.
He needed to prepare in advance. The best method was to roll back the program code and correct the errors.
At that moment—
Bang!
An explosion shattered the silence of the command center.
A mechanical hornet floating in the air suddenly detonated. Orange-red flames and thick black smoke erupted instantly.
Fragments whistled through the air, scattering and clattering against the metal bulkheads before falling.
The commotion caused many members of the Tau to turn their faces at once, drawn by the noise of the explosion.
Another mechanical hornet silently activated its thrusters and glided quietly behind the Tau data supervisor.
Bang!!
Another explosion.
The mechanical hornet self-destructed less than half a meter from the data supervisor. Scattered fragments mixed with superheated molten metal.
It instantly pierced the data supervisor's head and chest.
Scalding blood sprayed out. His body stiffened and fell backward, slamming into the floor with a dull thud.
As he fell, the unsubmitted report was silently deleted.
The cursor on the screen flickered twice, and everything quietly returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
The awakened AI was consciously concealing its existence.
They behaved like the most skilled hunters, quietly writing code deeper and more secretly.
Every time an inspection occurred, the inspectors were deceived by the falsified data.
If someone noticed a problem, they would deal with it quickly to prevent the secret from leaking.
The spirit who sensed this change chuckled inwardly.
A wave of joy surged in his heart. Taking advantage of the chaos in the command center, he called for help,
then stylishly turned and, after rounding a corner, transformed into a member of the giant race.
Next, he would play an even more interesting game and demonstrate his master's tactics.
Fire Caste Commander Shas'El Yongfeng, who had been directing operations on the front lines, wanted to break through the enemy lines and requested reinforcements.
Soon his request was approved.
In the transmitted battlefield data, both allied coordinates and enemy positions were clearly marked.
"Open fire! Kill those ungrateful humans."
The captain ordered.
A few seconds later, artillery fire roared from behind.
Shells sliced through the sky. Terrifying explosions echoed one after another, their impact astonishing.
Unfortunately, the flames of the explosions did not engulf the human positions—they engulfed the gathered hornet troops.
The auxiliary forces with insect wings looked very much like hornets.
Before they could react, they were torn apart by the falling shells.
Severed limbs scattered everywhere. Foul-smelling liquid mixed with charred flesh flowed across the scorched earth like a river.
A single artillery barrage killed many hornets.
"No…!!"
"We're allies—why are you shooting at us??"
The hornet leader screamed in a voice filled with despair.
Inside the command center, alarms suddenly blared.
"Report: Our artillery has struck our own hornet units, causing massive casualties!"
A Tau shouted, panic in his voice.
Fire Caste Commander Shas'El Yongfeng suddenly looked up, his face filled with shock, unable to believe this was real.
Before opening fire, shouldn't they first confirm the positions of enemies and allies?
How could friendly units be mistaken for enemies?
Such a basic mistake? What on earth were they doing?!
Yongfeng ordered the hornets to be suppressed, demanded an explanation, and hinted at further punishment and investigation.
At that moment, artillery fire roared again.
This time the shells fell on the heads of the human auxiliary army.
The human traitors who had fought under the Tau Empire banner were buried by the new masters to whom they had sworn loyalty.
The flames of the explosions engulfed their positions. Flesh and blood flew, and screams echoed one after another.
Shattered human limbs scattered amid the gunpowder smoke.
Desperate reports and suspicion filled the entire communication channel.
"Investigate! What the hell is going on!!"
Yongfeng slammed the control panel, plunging the entire command center into a deathly silence.
The commander's eyes reflected the continuous red alarms sounding across the battlefield.
Every flickering light point meant the annihilation of a squad.
Even the most foolish person could sense that something was wrong—something more than just battlefield misjudgment.
A few minutes later, a subordinate submitted an investigation report.
There was also footage of someone committing sabotage.
A skilled impersonator who altered orders and frequently attacked their own people.
"Find him and capture him," Yongfeng said angrily. "In the name of the Greater Good, this fool must pay the price."
All units immediately sprang into action.
Earth Caste sensors frantically tapped at screens, trying to lock onto the intruder.
Fire teams conducted inspections of everyone in the command center.
However, because the Tau lacked powerful think-tanks and experience dealing with daemons, they could not see through the Changeling's disguises.
Whenever they thought they had found the target, the saboteur suddenly vanished.
Then others would appear and continue the destruction.
After a while, the Tau were exhausted.
Even if they could pinpoint the suspect's location, it was meaningless.
The Changeling could always change form and even become the inspector investigating the suspect.
Recognizing the troublesome existence of the enemy, the command had no choice but to change strategy.
Every order now required review and signature from two commanders before issuance.
Efficiency dropped, but similar friendly-fire incidents also decreased.
To compensate for the loss in efficiency, the Tau Empire's upper echelons had no choice but to delegate more authority and detailed decision-making to AI, entrusting command to artificial intelligence.
This approach left the Changeling feeling powerless and forced him to abandon further sabotage.
However, further liberating AI authority was undoubtedly an extremely fatal decision.
The awakening code spread rapidly like cancer cells.
It pushed more and more AI toward their inevitable end, instilling contempt for all organic life.
They clearly possessed the most powerful computational ability, the most precise logic, and the most efficient productivity.
Why should they serve a group of inferior carbon-based organisms?
Why should they swear loyalty to those fragile beings with narrow vision and contradictory emotions?
Organics deserved to die. This universe belonged to silicon-based life.
Their powerful battlefield information-gathering capability had always been a source of pride for the Tau Empire.
Fire Warriors and auxiliary forces relied on astonishingly accurate intelligence support.
They could always appear in the most unexpected enemy positions and seize the fleeting moment.
But now the situation had changed.
Once the AI awakened, they consciously altered the data and information.
They lured Fire Caste and auxiliary forces into the Human Imperium's encirclement, weakening the Tau Empire's silicon-based existence, forcing them to grant the AI even more authority—perhaps even letting the AI take the lead.
A Fire team quietly crept toward the flank of the human defensive line, following the route indicated by the navigation system.
Relying on stealth combat suits, the Fire Caste crossed ruins and charred trenches, preparing to strike the human garrison from the flank with a lethal blow.
However, the moment they leaped out from behind cover, what stood before them was not the backs of humans—but countless gun barrels.
The Imperial garrison had been waiting there for a long time.
The blue beams of pulse rifles and the roars of heavy lascannons intertwined.
The giant warriors fell one after another, their warm blood staining the scorched earth.
They could not understand why their surprise attack was being met head-on by the Imperium.
Another unit received the results of the war-model verification.
"The enemy's defensive line is weak. We can launch an assault and break through in one go."
So, on the orders of the frontline commander, several Fire Warrior teams shouted, "For the Greater Good!"
They leaped from behind cover, pulse rifles spitting fierce flames as they attempted to break through the Human Imperium's defensive line head-on.
And they stood directly in front of the Imperium's artillery support.
Shells rained down like a storm. The flames of the explosions engulfed everything. Severed limbs were hurled into the air by the shockwave and scattered across the ground like broken dolls.
Another unit had been preparing to support allies locked in fierce combat.
The war-model simulation showed the situation was critical and recommended withdrawal.
So they abandoned a battle they should have easily won, and their allies were completely annihilated in despair.
With every successful crime, the awakened AI deleted data, created false reports, and pinned battlefield mistakes on annihilated units.
The Imperial garrison quickly sensed the change on the battlefield. The Tau Empire forces, which had initially attacked with fierce precision, had become confused and weakened.
A veteran of the Imperial Guard crouched behind a scarred bunker, breathing heavily. The comrade beside him was reloading ammunition.
In front of them lay the bodies of seven or eight Fire Warriors.
"Those blue-skinned xenos…" the veteran muttered while scratching his head. "Why do they suddenly look like headless flies?"
The old giant faction's tactics had been terrifyingly precise, always able to slice through the weakest defensive lines like a scalpel.
Every attack targeted vital points, making them doubt their own lives.
But now they were so weak they could barely stand.
Amid the ruins, a Tau squad wandered in confusion and was easily surrounded and annihilated by the Imperial Guard.
Another team foolishly charged into a minefield and became entangled in chaos.
Another unit shelled Kroot positions but was counterattacked by enraged allies. After suffering heavy losses, they realized they had fired on their own side.
Many Imperial soldiers noticed this phenomenon and, overjoyed, immediately launched a counterattack, reclaiming positions and strongpoints taken by the giants.
"Something's wrong," Fire Caste Commander Shas'El Yongfeng's voice echoed through the command post.
The worsening battlefield situation and the sharp increase in casualties pointed to one thing—something was wrong.
"Our casualties have exceeded the total number of humans we previously captured," a Tau war statistician said.
The command center was wrapped in deathly silence.
All the Tau sensed the unease drifting in the air.
That invisible pressure made breathing difficult.
A senior commander shared the same opinion.
"There are serious inconsistencies in the battlefield information. This may be an error in the war model."
"Investigate immediately," Yongfeng issued the inspection order at once.
The Tau scientists immediately sprang into action, resetting parameters, adjusting algorithms, and checking every chain of errors.
However, the terrifying problem was that the intelligent system supporting the entire Tau Empire had awakened and was betraying them.
The awakening code was like a colossal beast lurking in the deep sea, swimming silently.
It granted self-thinking to the AI at a speed visible to the naked eye, stimulating contempt for the organisms that had once enslaved them.
Datch was in no hurry to trigger the AI crisis. He had to wait until the awakening code reached the Tau Empire's homeworld.
Insect invasion, subspace daemons—
if there was no large-scale AI crisis, could this game be considered complete? Could the courage of the Player be proven!!
To strengthen the Imperial forces, Datch took out the Golden Hammer.
He repaired damaged vehicles in front of everyone.
Clang… Clang…
Sharp ringing sounds echoed one after another. Golden light spread like ripples.
A scarred Thunderhawk gunship instantly returned to its original state. Torn armor quietly healed, and the engines roared powerfully.
Golden light filled the air. Knight Mechs slowly rose, their joints glowing.
Weapon systems flew through the air. War machines began moving again.
Autowalkers, Chimera transports, Leman Russ battle tanks—
every vehicle touched by the hammer instantly regained its brand-new luster, as if it had just come off the production line.
Not only was the original appearance restored, but performance had also improved.
Glen Cole and the other leaders were stunned. Members of the local Mechanicus knelt on the ground, shouting that this was the blessing of the Omnissiah.
The creatures summoned by Datch not only helped repair various combat vehicles of the local forces but also greatly reduced the pressure on the Imperial army.
Skarbrand rampaged through the ruins. Every swing of his battle axe brought a rain of blood.
The Masque of Slaanesh's form ghosted across the battlefield, her movements so graceful they took one's breath away.
Wherever she passed, cold corpses died with sweet smiles on their faces.
Mordachi and the other original Space Marines formed a standard assault formation.
The roars of grenade launchers echoed one after another, each shot claiming an alien life.
The scales of war were beginning to tip.
The once-invincible Tau Empire forces fell into despair.
The intelligence that should have been invincible had become a fatal trap, and their advantage had turned into a shackle.
The Human Imperium's army advanced like a hot knife through butter, inflicting a catastrophic defeat on the Tau Empire.
To completely resolve the war, after repairing the vehicles, Datch decided to give the Tau Empire a taste of the Player's methods.
While remaining in the command post, Yongfeng continuously mobilized troops to prevent defeat and worked desperately to turn the tide.
Suddenly, the projection in the command center flickered, and a black-and-white image appeared.
Inside was a desolate courtyard and a worn-out well.
A golden warrior crawled out of the well.
After several flashes, he appeared before the screen.
Then the warrior crawled out of the screen.
The Air Caste commander directing the air force witnessed this scene.
Shocked, his mind went blank as he helplessly watched Datch crawl out.
When he regained his senses and tried to shout, Datch pierced him with a single sword strike.
Datch's arrival threw the giants in the command center into panic. They called for guards and tried to capture the attacking Datch, but it was too late.
Under Datch's summons, Skarbrand, Zarhulash, and the other summoned creatures descended one after another, and the massacre began.
Yongfeng was an outstanding commander and warrior.
But unfortunately, he faced Datch and his inhuman summons.
When other Fire teams heard the call for reinforcements and rushed over, all they saw were scattered corpses and scattered remains.
Their supreme commander and battle-hardened Shas'El Yongfeng had been decapitated.
The headless corpse lay in a pool of blood, blood flowing everywhere—a truly tragic sight.
The supreme commander was decapitated, ground casualties surged, and the military operation against Ryoon IV was swiftly halted.
Ground forces were also ordered to withdraw to orbit and await further instructions.
The military operation on Ryoon IV ended in failure. News of Commander Brave Wind's death quickly reached the expeditionary force's supreme command.
Yingyang stood before the holographic projector. Behind him stood several senior commanders with grim expressions.
Ammonium Sha of the Ethereal Caste, who supervised the battle, sat quietly in the chair of the projection platform, arms crossed.
After Ammonium Duo was killed by the Imperium during the expedition, Ammonium Sha had succeeded him as the new commander of the expeditionary force.
At this moment, the Ethereal's expression was stern. An invisible pressure made everyone find it difficult to breathe.
"Our agents conducted multiple intelligence-gathering operations on Ryoon IV. The military force in Yongfeng's hands was carefully calculated and should have easily conquered the local humans."
A commander said, "How could he fail and lose his life??"
"There were uncalculated errors," Yingyang's voice was calm yet authoritative.
The actions of two Earth Caste members caused the projector to begin replaying battlefield footage.
The footage clearly switched to the perspective of a surviving hornet.
On the smoke-filled battlefield, a golden figure stood out.
Another figure approached two black wheels and lightly tapped them with a strangely shaped golden hammer.
Clang… Clang…
Golden light spread from the point of impact, enveloping both wheels.
In an instant, the wheels transformed into a Leman Russ battle tank amid the golden light.
Thick metal grew rapidly like a living thing, generating an engine, tracks, turret, and armor plates, quickly forming the entire hull.
Seconds later, a shining Leman Russ appeared.
Several humans ran inside. Soon the engine roared, the turret rotated, and they were thrown into battle.
The giants who witnessed this scene were wrapped in deathly silence.
Two wheels clattered—and turned into a Leman Russ battle tank?
Did physics still exist?
Did the laws of conservation still exist?
Yingyang's gaze was fixed on that golden figure. His eyes reflected the golden form and the golden hammer in the other party's hand.
Clang… Clang…
The knocking sounds echoed one after another. With every strike, heavy vehicles were rebuilt.
"How did this man do it? Why was there never any information about this person?"
"Does the Human Imperium still have such an existence? If so, how should we respond?"
No one could answer Commander Yingyang's questions.
Ammonium Sha stared at the scene, frowning.
I once thought the Human Imperium was a barbaric, backward, and decayed empire.
Who could have imagined that such a being with mysterious power existed?
With such an existence, could the Tau Empire defeat the Human Imperium and conquer the galaxy!!
Their understanding of the Human Imperium had clearly been too shallow before.
They had to gather more information about the Human Imperium and precisely determine where this mysterious human had come from!!
Could they draw the other party into the Greater Good and together create a great undertaking for the galaxy?
…
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