11: Chapter 11 The Necromancer's Meat Grinder

The outpost on Zhao Zhen Planet had turned into a massive meat grinder. Every Terra standard hour, hundreds of thousands of Cheng Yus Clones fell near the entrance of the Necron tomb.

Their sacrifices were not in vain; massive amounts of data flooded into Cheng Yu's shared consciousness network like a tide.

Every time the Necron Warriors raised their weapons to fire, every flicker of energy, was recorded and analyzed by countless eyes.

"Phase Blade effective range is fifty meters; energy attenuation is significant beyond this distance."

"Gauss weapons have a 0.5-second recharge interval after firing."

"Their reaction speed to attacks from behind is 0.3 seconds slower than from the front."

"Prioritize attacking the fastest moving targets."

Cold tactical details were continuously refined.

Cheng Yu sat in the combat command room of the "dont eat cilantro".

His consciousness burned like a supernova, processing the endless stream of information.

The senses and thoughts of any normal human would have long since been overwhelmed by such a massive torrent of data.

"Adjust tactics: execute Scheme 72-B."

New orders were issued instantly, and the movement patterns of the clones on the front line changed immediately.

They no longer charged blindly, but instead advanced slowly in a looser formation, crawling forward and using the terrain near the tomb as cover.

A portion of the clones intentionally moved quickly in open areas to draw fire.

The casualty rate began to drop slowly.

Although still staggering, the efficiency of trading numbers for data had increased.

"Still not enough."

Cheng Yu's consciousness swept across the death feedback that kept coming in.

He needed more effective means.

"Weapon testing grounds, prioritize testing Gauss weapon countermeasures."

Tens of thousands of clones were busy in the testing grounds on the surface of Cheng Yu Planet.

They used captured Ork steel plates and fragments of Aeldari shield generators to cobble together various makeshift armors.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Improved Ork shootas fired at these armors.

Sparks flew, and shrapnel scattered everywhere.

Most of the armor was torn apart like paper.

But a few combinations successfully withstood the fire.

"Record: Alloy ratios 3, 7, and 11 are effective."

"Reverse-charging the Aeldari shield generator can deflect small projectiles, but the energy consumption is massive."

Data was likewise compiled in real-time.

Every clone's death and every failed test became the cornerstone of the Empire's progress.

Aria stood on high ground, silently watching all of this. Cheng Yu had specifically sent her to the front lines of Zhao Zhen Planet to observe the battle.

She saw those identical faces walking expressionlessly toward the center of the explosions.

She saw the clones silently dragging away the remains of their companions after failed tests, casting them into the promethium fermentation pits.

A cold chill crept up her spine.

These monkeys... they were not only cruel to their enemies but even more cruel to themselves.

She even began to feel that the palace of Slaanesh might not be so bad after all; at least there, there was extreme emotion and pleasure.

Rather than this cold, absolute hell of rationality before her eyes.

"Aeldari, you are afraid."

A voice suddenly sounded behind her; it was Cheng Yu, who had shifted over.

Aria started, instinctively gripping her dagger.

"I am not."

"Your emotional fluctuations are intense, like a torch in the darkness." Cheng Yu's voice carried a hint of amusement. "Very interesting."

"What exactly do you want to do?"

"Survive, and then become stronger." Cheng Yu's answer was simple and direct. "Your knowledge might accelerate this process, for instance, knowledge about those metal fragments."

He was referring to the fragments of the Aeldari shield generator.

Aria was silent. Leaking her people's technology was a grave crime.

But she glanced at the busy land of death beneath her feet, then looked up at the grey, hazy sky of Cheng Yu Planet.

"That is a type of energy conduction rune that requires psychic power to be fully activated." She finally spoke, her voice dry. "Without psychic power, it is just a slightly sturdier decoration."

"Psychic power..." Cheng Yu mused.

His clones were all ordinary humans with no psychic talent.

At least, not yet.

"The information is useful. In return, you may receive a whole flatbread every day, instead of powder."

Cheng Yu's voice vanished.

A while later, a clone walked up carrying a compressed, slightly baked starch block.

Aria looked at that "flatbread," which had absolutely no aesthetic appeal, and gave a bitter smile.

This was probably the monkey Emperor's version of mercy.

She took the flatbread and took a small bite; it still had no flavor, but at least the texture wasn't as terrible.

Just then, a piercing alarm sounded across Cheng Yu Planet once more.

It was not from the front lines of Zhao Zhen Planet.

But from the depths of the distant starry sky.

The clones responsible for deep space surveillance transmitted an extremely strong signal.

A massive fleet was exiting Warp jump point.

Its scale far exceeded that of the previous Rogue Trader and Red Corsairs.

The ship style was cold, solemn, and carried an unquestionable sense of authority.

The hulls were emblazoned with the massive Imperial Aquila.

The information reported by Colonel Gohl had finally attracted the real guests.

The Imperial Administratum's audit fleet had arrived.

Cheng Yu slowly opened his eyes.

In his shared vision, that massive fleet was surging forward like a torrent of steel.

Carrying the majesty of judgment and destruction.

He had finally come.

A cold arc appeared at the corner of Cheng Yu's mouth.

"Attention everyone, it's showtime."

"Let us welcome our distinguished guests from Terra."

His consciousness spread throughout the entire network.

All construction, all fighting, and all testing paused at this very moment.

Hundreds of millions of Cheng Yus looked up at the sky simultaneously.

As if welcoming a grand celebration.

...

The majesty of the Imperial fleet pressed down on the atmosphere of Cheng Yu Planet like a physical force.

Twelve cruisers formed a standard battle array, the macro-cannon batteries at their bows flashing with cold energy light.

In the center was an even more massive battleship, with the Gothic inscription "Wrath of the Emperor" engraved on its hull.

"Communication request detected." The clones transmitted the information.

Main Body stood on the bridge of the "dont eat cilantro", adjusting the "Governor's uniform" he had cobbled together from Ork furs.

"Connect the communication."

The communication screen flickered, revealing a stern, rigid human face.

Graying hair, sharp eyes, and that iconic high-collared Administratum uniform.

"This is the Imperial Administratum tax audit fleet. I am Senior Auditor Marcus Inquisitor von Drake."

The voice on the other end was as cold as a machine.

"According to the report from the Cadian 88th Regiment, this planet has been registered as an inhabited world. Please provide the census data immediately; we need to assess the tithe rate."

Cheng Yu put on a stylized smile.

"Welcome, welcome! I am the Governor of this planet, Cheng Yu. We have always been looking forward to the Empire's care! Everything is already prepared, just waiting for you to inspect it!"