16: Chapter 16 First Encounter with Subspace

The effects of the enfeoffment were immediate; Aria handed over the complete method for entering Warp right away.

It turned out that for a fleet like Cheng Yu's, which lacked psychic talent and navigators, one could tear open a rift between reality and Warp by using a specific operational mode for high-power engines.

Aria specifically emphasized that it didn't matter how dilapidated the ship itself was, but the Geller Field had to be kept intact; without that protection, for a human to enter Warp was equivalent to embracing the most painful and desperate suicide.

Cheng Yu currently lacked a Geller Field because that old man, Drake, refused to hand over the core password, meaning he couldn't use the central console of the Imperial warship.

However, he didn't need that thing for the time being.

After Aria left, Cheng Yu selected some of the more obedient captives, bestowed official ranks upon them, and clarified their duties and benefits.

For instance, former Imperial Navy non-commissioned officers who were diligent and responsible in training the Cheng Yus Clones were promoted three ranks above their original status.

Those who reached the rank of field officer through these promotions would independently command one to three battle groups of Cheng Yus Clones.

Technical sergeants who were effective at equipment maintenance and instruction would be assigned a large number of Cheng Yus Clones as apprentices and guards, making them look very imposing as they came and went.

"We know that the Empire currently has no money, no women, and cannot bring your families over to enjoy life for the time being."

"However, the Empire possesses infinite power that can be used to conquer this rotting galaxy; when that time comes, there will be steak, and there will be wine."

"What you are doing now is a righteous cause, a work of purification. We shall shatter the chains of the Chaos Gods and the throne of the fallen Corpse Emperor, creating a new galaxy that is prosperous, stable, and free from worry and fear!"

Cheng Yu stood before the Throne of Thorns, delivering a speech to his newly promoted human subordinates. His tone was impassioned, his gestures rich, as if an old friend had returned.

"Long live! Long live! Long live!!!"

These people were, in truth, fickle opportunists most likely to defect, but that didn't matter; it was a symbolic gesture to attract more talent.

Cheng Yu simply wanted to send a signal to those who hadn't surrendered yet, and to those who would be captured in the future.

"Our Cheng Yu Empire is not composed of cannibals or savages, nor are we cruel destroyers; we are saviors, builders, and models of self-sacrifice."

"As long as you are willing to cooperate, your rank will be determined by your talent, and your benefits will be distributed based on your effort."

"Abandon the old hell, and embrace a new home."

...

On Zhao Zhen Planet, the Cheng Yus Clones used the Imperial Navy's high-power engines to tear open a small rift between Warp and reality.

"For the Empire!"

One clone immediately jumped into the rift.

Cheng Yu, the main body, felt a very faint and eerie thought.

This clone entered a vast, white space; there was nothing in this space, only eternal void.

The clone snapped its own neck.

"For the Empire!"

Another clone jumped into the rift.

This time it was completely different; the clone saw nothing, and was instantly torn apart by a violent flow of energy.

"For the Empire!"

The Cheng Yus Clones jumped into the rift one after another, and almost everyone saw a different scene.

Some clones saw the silent, deep space; some saw dense, pink fog; and others traveled to a battlefield of slaughter.

Some even traveled to the past, arriving in a classroom from Cheng Yu's previous life in high school.

But the main body knew those were all hallucinations.

Warp was a sea of pure souls, and souls could not be replicated.

Therefore, as long as a clone did not feel the usual mental pressure of being about to "divide from two into four, and four into eight," it proved that everything seen before them was fake.

The core function of the golden finger—replication—would fail in Warp... but the aspect of thought-sharing remained unaffected.

This was the most important intelligence Cheng Yu had obtained after his initial exploration.

Drake was invited to the scene by the Cheng Yus Clones, and he frowned as he watched them jump into the rift of Warp one by one.

It was just like livestock voluntarily jumping onto a slaughterhouse assembly line; it was too cruel.

As a relatively decent aristocrat, Drake could not bear to watch this scene of queuing for suicide, and he finally couldn't help but reveal the most critical intelligence.

"The Geller Field and the startup password are in the hands of an Ecclesiarchy monk; I will take you to find him."

The Cheng Yus Clones quickly followed Drake's description, tracking down and pinning down the Ecclesiarchy priest who was busy tamping the foundations of the Hive City.

"Ecclesiarchy Priest Cassius Holt, you have hidden yourself well."

"I don't know who you are talking about; I am just a slave laborer on the ship."

The gray-haired old man was still trying to quibble; his figure was thin and hunched, and his hands were covered in calluses.

That was why the Cheng Yus Clones had not identified him when distinguishing between non-commissioned officers and slaves at the beginning.

"A deck cleaner using a rosary, are you? You're acting pretty bold for a slave laborer!"

The Cheng Yus Clones quickly found a large amount of evidence on him, including a gold-plated, hardcover copy of the lectitio divinitatus and a small jar of holy oil.

The Cheng Yu Empire was very civilized and would not seize the personal property of captives, but they had to truthfully declare it during identity verification.

"I will not surrender; give up on that idea."

Cassius was very strong, and it was nearly impossible for several Cheng Yus Clones to hold him down.

"Who asked you to surrender? Throw him into the rift and see if the Corpse Emperor can protect his believer."

"What rift?"

Before Cassius could figure out the situation, he was dragged away from the construction site by the Cheng Yus Clones.

Another clone stood on a high platform at the construction site and said to the stubborn elements below:

"Is there anyone else hiding their identity? This is your last chance to admit it voluntarily; otherwise, you will end up like Priest Holt... sent to feed the demons of Warp!"

The stubborn elements looked at each other, but no one made a sound.

The depth of the Corpse Emperor Empire's brainwashing was evident.

...

Priest Cassius was brought to the forward base on Zhao Zhen Planet.

The Cheng Yus Clones wasted no time and carried him toward the rift of Warp.

"No, no, no! I don't want to go! I don't want to go!"

The skinny, bony old man erupted with astonishing strength, suddenly flipping over the seven or eight Cheng Yus Clones holding him, and attempted to escape.

One clone raised a Gauss rifle sponsored by the Necrons and fired a shot at the ground at Cassius's feet.

The ground was instantly decomposed into a large chunk, forming a hemispherical pit. Cassius fell hard into the pit, and one of his front teeth was knocked out.

"Will you surrender or not? Will you surrender?!"

Dozens of Cheng Yus Clones kicked Cassius in the pit; there was no need for gentle methods when dealing with such an old fox.

"How do they have Necron weapons... Sigh!"

Cassius let out a sigh, "I... surrender!"