Chapter 81: Night Sentinels
After witnessing the power of the Divinity Machine, Lucan looked at his remaining 380,000 Psy-crystals. If 50,000 could create one such warrior, then Lucan felt he could make several more "DOOM Guys."
His conventional ground forces were no longer lacking; what he needed were soldiers capable of high-intensity special operations.
Lucan couldn't replicate the modification process or gene-seed of the Space Marines right now, so using the Divinity Machine to modify his own warriors' bodies was the perfect solution.
And the Praetor Suit's ability to constantly grow stronger, constantly recover, and even replenish ammunition with a chainsaw-like function seemed tailor-made for operations behind enemy lines, far from the main army.
And after Lucan conducted tests with Damon wearing the Praetor Suit, he discovered another absurd use.
At this moment, Damon was holding a bolter and a C-14. When he placed the C-14 on his back, the large firearm actually merged directly into the Praetor Suit.
And when he put the bolter on his back, the bolter also disappeared.
When Damon wanted to retrieve one of the weapons, he only needed to think of the firearm, and he could quickly pull it out from the armor.
This was almost exactly like in the game. It looked like I wasn't carrying any weapons, but in reality, I was carrying all the weapons.
You think all I have is a lasgun, but actually, I can pull out an anti-tank cannon for you.
And when these heavy weapons, which were difficult to carry spare ammunition for, ran out of ammo, he could use a chainsword to directly replenish it.
It was hard to imagine the kind of psychological trauma such a special operations team would inflict on the enemy.
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At this moment, within the barracks of the Dynasty Guard.
That group of loyal servants of the Dynasty who had protected Lucan while wearing adamantium combat suits were currently training.
Clad in their combat suits, they performed precise marksmanship and engaged in nearly brutal close-quarters combat with each other.
Two Medics were always on standby nearby. With these rapid-healing personnel available, these soldiers trained with even greater abandon.
Injury was irrelevant; as long as they weren't killed instantly, they could be saved.
Verre led Lucan into this training ground.
Seeing the Rogue Trader arrive in person, everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and stood in formation before Lucan.
Looking at Lucan, everyone's eyes revealed adoration, an emotion that previous Rogue Traders had never received.
For other Rogue Traders, it was loyalty and awe.
Before, they had fulfilled their duties out of loyalty to the Dynasty.
But this Rogue Trader, Lucan, had truly won them over, heart and soul.
Not only did he equip them with unheard-of adamantium gear, but he also saved the entire Dynasty, and his personal strength was unprecedented.
Staying by Lucan's side, it was said that they were protecting Lucan, but who was protecting whom was not so certain.
That incredibly powerful Genestealer Patriarch had been easily killed by their Rogue Trader.
"All of you, listen up! Lord Lucan has an important announcement to make!"
Hearing Verre's words, everyone pricked up their ears.
And standing before this group of guards, Lucan also sensed something different from them.
Although it wasn't like with Pavian and his group of Tech-Priests, who had completely converted to a new faith, there was indeed a subtle change occurring in the adoration this group of Dynasty loyalists held for him.
"The Dynasty is about to conduct a further selection to form a special unit.
And your loyalty has already stood the test. Therefore, only the strongest are qualified to join this force.
However, for now, there are only five slots. These five slots will be filled from among you!"
Hearing Lucan's words, the emotions of the crowd were all stirred up.
None who had made it this far didn't want to continue climbing higher. Only those who pursued greater strength could have the conviction that supported them to this point.
"My Lord! How can we become one of those five!"
"That, of course, will be through combat! I don't need one-on-one duels. Without your combat suits, the last five of you standing will earn this qualification!
One more thing, you are not permitted to kill your opponents! Your deaths are a loss to the Dynasty!"
Hearing this, all the guards began to shed their combat suits.
These comrades who had fought together were now once again competitors. Their eyes were all filled with fighting spirit.
A chaotic battle began without warning in the training ground.
Everyone here was enhanced, so their fighting was exceptionally ferocious.
The Medics watched everyone with intense focus, afraid that one slip-up might lead to one of them accidentally killing a comrade.
One by one, individuals were taken down and lost their qualification.
And Lucan was also observing each person.
"Verre, what are the names of those two?" Lucan said, pointing at two warriors in the training ground who were fighting together. Lucan had not forbidden cooperation.
"Abraham and Abram. They also possess the blood of the Mongorte family. They are a pair of biological brothers. It seems they have some kind of telepathic link, a type of benign mutation. They are also quite famous within the Dynasty."
Lucan then pointed to another person.
"He is named Ryan. He is the captain of this guard unit. This man is terrifying. At the age of seven, he took out a gang leader in the underhive. Later, he joined the PDF and rose through the ranks entirely on military merit. He is also the only non-noble member of the guard!"
Everyone gave almost everything they had. When only the last five were left standing on the field, the Medics immediately rushed in to begin emergency treatment. There were no deaths, but severe fractures, external trauma, and ruptured internal organs were everywhere.
If it had been an un-augmented person, they would have died long ago.
And the remaining five were not in much better shape. They gasped for breath, covered in wounds, their gazes fixed fervently on Lucan.
"You have done well. Congratulations, you have successfully joined the Night Sentinels!"
The Night Sentinels, who had once charged into Hell alongside DOOM and destroyed it – Lucan directly plagiarized the name of this group of warriors.
They too had once used Argent Energy, derived from souls, to strengthen themselves, though they later abandoned it.
And after receiving treatment from the Medics, the remaining five guards also began to undergo modification in the Divinity Machine.
To be honest, they had thought it would be another painful modification. After all, conventional gene-enhancements and modification surgeries required the subject to endure unspeakable pain.
Those whose will was not strong enough to endure might die directly on the operating table.
But within the Divinity Machine, there was only the purest enhancement, without any pain, and it even felt a little comfortable…
As the Psy-crystals transformed into the purest form of power and were infused into their bodies, five powerful warriors, as if reborn, appeared before Lucan.
After a preliminary examination of their strength and various states, these already enhanced individuals were further strengthened.
Lucan hadn't yet encountered a loyalist Space Marine, but he felt that in terms of physical attributes, they were already nearly on par.
After exchanging for a Praetor Suit for each of them, Lucan had no doubt they could grow to become beings even more powerful than Astartes.
And this Night Sentinel unit would be responsible for protecting Lucan and, when needed, accomplishing tactical objectives that others could not.
(End of Chapter)