Geared up in his new equipment, Angar felt a profound sense of wholeness restored, as if the Lord's gaze had once more aligned the fractured remnants of his purpose.

The weight of the armor settled upon him like a Divine blessing, its hydraulics and servos grinding as he broke it in, getting accustomed to it, reveling in the extra space the larger frame allowed.

His new maul, being fully a masterwork of custom craftsmanship, granted an additional mod slot, allowing him to reinstall the one stripped away on Tribute's gloried soil.

He hefted it, feeling the graviton core pulse in his grip, a righteous fury coiled like a beast ready to pounce, ready to shatter the impure, the profane.

The weapon bore sacred runes etched into its surface like scars, stamped in the cold efficiency of corporate sanctification, hardening it, bolstering its bite against infernal flesh.

Not nearly as powerful as sanctification bought with Glory Points, or wrought by a Technovex priest's fevered incantations over altars slick with Holy blood, but sufficient enough for his grim work.

As the requirements to ascend to the second Realm included learning and employing two sacred rites, his initial desire fixed on self-sanctifying his hammer and armor.

But the non-System rites were a brutal craft, an art honed in the forge of years and decades, demanding great dedication. Without that grinding toil, his efforts would yield feeble results, far inferior to corporate sanctification.

Crusaders could perform a handful of sacramental and liturgical rites without attending Seminary's halls, but those were useless things, offering no edge in slaughter.

The useful rites fell into the categories of Initiation, Battlefield, Purification, Sanctification, Devotional, Sacrifice, and Esoteric.

He had no desire to haul around rods, relics, and cumbersome arcana, so the two rituals Stek drilled into him demanded only components carried at all times, those being his own blood and spittle.

Stek's instructions were progressing well, and he eagerly anticipated an opportunity to employ them for real.

He put that out of mind and focused on his gear.

His new armor itself was a beautiful marvel, a heavily customized Armiger set, with a recess for his Psy Crystal, gauntlets that retracted with a thought, and a dorsal compartment for storage.

Like his previous suit, it was alloyed with kryonadic vanadiumite and tempered in a crystalline lattice of axion condensate crystals, bestowing enhanced Toughness and an additional Body point, all cloaked in the same unyielding dull-matte sheen as his Tier 2 Armor.

Being weary of ceaseless breaches and wounds, he filled the two fresh slots with a mind toward fortifications.

One mod to solidify the armor's integrity, bolstering Toughness by 6, the maximum mod increase to a Stat, and another to provide a kinetic shield against physical assaults, complementing the radiant damage ward.

He'd also elevated his hacking module to Tier 3, as he had plenty of mod points, the tally swollen from his windfall from the Hoxha crime family on the Lerig Imperial Megastation.

In total, his Tier 3 armor and hammer were significant upgrades, as was the Sanctapex Trivux implant installed along with his missing Infernus Oculus, increasing all his Attributes by 3.

The new cybernetic brought his body mass loss from 24.09% to 24.11%, as it should. He had hoped it'd eat away more mass and perhaps provide more Attributes, but the Lord had not willed it so.

The implant, unlike any of his others, applied the cascade of his Capstone. If he had to guess, this was due to its type.

The two others he recalled with Tier mandates, the Sanctum Cor and the Oculus Sanctus, functioned as veneers upon the flesh, working regardless of other installed cybernetics, such as having a bioware heart or two cybernetic eyes.

These Tier-restricted implants were of a divergent and indelible sort, irremovable, woven permanently into the fabric of a body, which would explain the cascade.

And with the Sanctapex Trivux, his natural Power Level score was pushed over 100, which had granted the following message.

A Glorious Achievement!

Glorious Crusader, your Power Level Stat, a sacred characteristic honed through relentless valor and the forge of righteous combat, has surpassed the benchmark of 100 in natural score, amplified for the cataclysmic clashes and infernal skirmishes that lie ahead.

Your essence, infused with Holy might, surges as a devastating force to shatter the profane, the blasphemous, the legions of Hell. In this unending war, you are empowered anew in the Divine chorus of devastation, clad in the fury of the faithful, channeling Divine Energy as a cudgel to eradicate the unholy, taking a resonant step along the Glorious Path.

Glory Points bestowed: 3

For God and Empire!

He had also claimed his new sidearm, a pistol fused with an energy-blade emitter, a complicated custom fabrication that eschewed Tier designations for the broader category of the first Realm.

Like the one he had first laid eyes on at the Lerig's bazaar, the grip was shaped like a hilt, tilted at a shallow angle so the barrel and grip formed a soft L, nearly a straight line.

It was large, a fusion-cell powered handgun, which suited his needs decently well. Its discharges were potent up to mid-range, though its bite dulled across greater distances.

As the infused blade's ravenous need for energy demanded a fusion cell to sustain it for any length of time, he had little choice in pistol-type anyway.

Hidetada had failed to procure a Tier 3 Reliquary of Wrath ring, but had acquired one rated for High-Saints, unusable until Angar ascended to the second Realm.

And upon achieving that threshold, he could redeem the token for Legacy Armor, receiving suit crafted by the Divine.

He'd given plenty of consideration to reclaiming Zhaeryn Vexn's Olcinator ring, and discarding the Auspex, but prudence stayed his hand. It'd be an unwise choice amid Holy Theosis' unfair and unjust vendetta.

Had he not just demonstrated the potency of pride by enduring the Hyperalgesicator for so long? It was a formidable ally when bent to the will of the God-fearing and righteous.

Like Spirit, Theosis would eventually see reason, and relent.

With all matters settled, Angar summoned his Annals with a flicker of intent, focusing on Attributes and armaments in the ethereal ledger.

ANNALS OF SIR ANGAR MECIA (SAINT KRAKUS, ERIM, ZANAYA, EENGURRA)

Age: 16

Social: Holy Knight, Private, Lay Rank - Baron (liege lord of the planet Tribute, consisting of 42 fiefs. Direct ruler of one fief, Mecia, the other 41 sworn as vassals. Tribute has less than 6 million subjects and a negative income. For a detailed breakdown of the nominal ledger, tap here.)

Chapter: The Smallest Spark

Tier: 3

Rank: Knight-Master

Level: 67

XP: 0%

Glory Points: 114

Voluvicas Credits: 19

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ATTRIBUTES, STATS, AND ADROITNESS

(Each Attribute Point increases all Stats governed by that Attribute by 1. Applying 4 Stat Points to the same Stat will increase the governing Attribute by 1. Numbers in (parentheses) include increases from items.)

BODY (Physical Attributes): With 17 AP applied – 62 (75)

Physique (Size/Strength): With 17 SP applied – 91 (103)

Endurance (Stamina/Health): 78 (91)

Toughness (Physical Durability/Resistance): 87 (188)

MIND (Non-Physical Attributes): 50

Competence (Skills/Insight): 56

Cognizance (Awareness/Perception): 64 (70)

Resilience (Non-Physical Durability/Resistance): With 67 SP applied – 128 (135)

SPIRIT (Metaphysical Attributes): 35 (38)

Power Level (PL) (Ability Damage and Effectiveness): With 67 SP applied – 103 (106)

Energy (Resource for Powers shown as Energy Points equal to 3 + (Energy Stat x 3)): 35 (38)

Charges (Increases the number of times certain Abilities can be used per combat): 35 (38)

ADROITNESS (Finesse/Reaction/Speed): 9 (10)

RESOURCES

Current/Maximum Energy Points: 99/117

Current/Maximum Charges: 30/38

SKILLS

(10 Skill Points available)

Acrobatics 3

Armor, Heavy Armor, Power Armor, Crusader Armor 3

Blocking Tactics 3

Close Combat 3

Close Weapons, Blunt Weapons, Hammers, Power Hammers 3

Close Weapons, Hand-to-Hand, Strikes, Clawed Weapons 3

Disarming Tactics 3

Electrokinesis 3

First Aid 2

Mechanical Repair 2

Meditation 3

Melee Mastery 3

Psionic Energy Manipulation 3

Psychic Defenses 3

ITEMS

Primary Weapon: Custom Trivident Maul, VS1.0M6/6, Graviton x7 Power Hammer, Tier 3.

Mods:

Counterbalanced Core – Optimized weight shift boosts both damage and swing speed.

Eye of Mentality– Grants a 25% chance psionic energy expenditure will not lower Resilience.

Personalized Grip – Custom haft-handle boosts accuracy and control.

Plasmatic Infusitron – Graviton enhanced strikes integrate plasma to add searing energy damage.

Weighted Head – Adds mass to increase striking force and damage.

Weighted Pommel – Stabilizing endcap mass improves balance, follow-through, and control in close-quarters handling, usable for secondary strikes.

Secondary Weapon: Custom Modified Pistol w/Energy Blade Attachment, NL MNA, Fusion Handgun, First Realm.

Armor: Crusader Armor, Armiger, Tier 3, 6/6 mods, w/customizations (+1 Adroitness, +13 Body, +3 Spirit, +82 (88) Toughness, +6 Cognizance, +4 Resilience).

Mods:

Omnivis Interface – Provides Ammo Count, Biomechanical Feedback, Customizable Widgets, Dynamic Crosshair, Enhanced Vision Modes, Environmental HUD, Gravity Indicator, Hacking Overlay, Loot Notifications, Map/Radar, Overheat Gauge, Ping System, Proximity Alerts, Range Finder, Reload Prompt, Stealth Meter, Suit Environment Auto-tuning, Target Lock Indicator, Team Status, Timers (Clock, Cooldown, Status Effects), Trackers (Injury, Resource, Motion, Objective/Task), Universal Translator.

Phasorax Core – Phase through 3 meters of solid matter once daily.

Armatura Solida – Increases armor's Toughness by 6 points.

Scutum Kinetic – Consumes one Charge every 12 hours providing additional shielding against physical attacks.

Scutum Radians – Consumes one Charge every 12 hours providing additional shielding against radiant attacks (non-physical-Ability, energetic, and thermic).

Hacking Module S3 Prime – Skill Level 3 Prime-rated Hacking Semi-AI, with full hacking kit.

Back: Vitalulum, Tier 3 – Auto-treats 9 worst injuries post-combat based on First Aid Skill, using items from a superior medkit, accruing 3 minutes of credit towards First Aid training per use; at 50 hours, substitutes a Skill Point for higher Tier First Aid System training (currently advanced medkit. Will increase to stated value with equivalent Skill level for kit).

Neck: Vinculeparo, Tier 3 – Requires connection with Vitalulum to function. Auto-repairs 9 worst defects in armor or cybernetics post-combat based on Mechanical Repair Skill, using items from a superior repair kit, accruing 3 minutes of credit towards Mechanical Repair training per use; at 50 hours, substitutes a Skill Point for higher Tier Mechanical Repair System training (currently advanced repair kit. Will increase to stated value with equivalent Skill level for kit).

Ring 1: Reliquary of Wrath, Tier 2 – Increases duration of channeled Abilities by 20%.

Ring 2: Auspex – Gird thy faith and don.

Trinket/Accessory: The Unspoken Way – Enhances psychic power effectiveness and increases Resilience by 3 points. The wind blows where it wills, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.

Heading back to his quarters from the engineering bay, where Harc had transferred and installed the mods himself, Angar had hoped to cross paths with a crewmate.

A chance to speak on his new gear, perhaps eliciting a nod or grunt of approval, maybe even an acknowledgment of his amazing endurance under the Hyperalgesicator's merciless grip.

But the passageways lay empty, silent save for the eternal mechanical hymn of the ship, and no souls stirred to witness his armored triumph before the door to his cell clanked shut behind him.

He propped his maul on the ground with a thud, then removed his helm, setting it aside with reverent care, retracting his gauntlets.

From the weathered chest at the foot of his bunk, he retrieved Fella's missive, the pink envelope a bright and warm anomaly amid the austerity of his confines.

Holding it to his nose, he inhaled deeply, the perfume's sweet allure flooding his senses like a witch's elixir, stirring a treacherous heat in his chest.

He eased the letter free with deliberate gentleness, opening its scented folds, and read it once more, the words etching themselves anew into his mind like scripture on sanctified vellum.

Satisfied, he placed the parchment on the dresser, connected the typer to a data-slate, forgoing paper output. He dragged the stool closer with a scrape and began composing his reply.

His fingers hunted across the keys, forging sentences with rapid clacks like blaster-fire.

When finished, he saved the missive in transfer format, then cursed under his breath.

In total, its size was a bloated indulgence that would devour over three hours to transmit, not the seven minutes he had vowed to Hidetada.

He scanned the words again, seeking fat to trim, but every phrase stood essential, an absolute necessity. He cursed once more, sharper this time, using a harsher profanity.

In the end, he resolved that he'd rather face the lash than withhold his reply.

Punishment was fleeting, the sanctity of his response eternal.

He would transmit it and accept the consequences afterward.

Before striding to the comcap compartment to commit a crime of passion, he perused his reply once more, ensuring its content aligned with his goal, and the likelihood of it being interpreted correctly.

September 24th, 4186

My Esteemed Fella,

May this letter find you and young Firkar enveloped in the boundless grace of the Holy Trinity, bathed in the radiant light of our Lord, whose Divine wrath ever guides the God-fearing faithful to tribute Him blood and war unending.

It heartens my spirit to learn that you are doing well within the exalted halls of imperial instruction, and that our sacred homeworld still calls to your soul with unyielding fervor.

As you have bared the depths of your heart with unflinching candor, so shall I unveil my own, sparing nothing in the revelation of truth.

A strong stirring seized me when our gazes first entwined upon the blood-soaked fields of Tormina, amid the thunderous clamor of righteous slaughter. I cannot proclaim it the hand of Providence itself, but in that brief moment, I beheld you as the pinnacle of beauty forged upon our glorious world, a fierce and unbowed daughter of its unmerciful hammer.

Were I a man enslaved to the whims of the flesh and the fleeting joys of this temporal existence, I would beseech you daily to forsake the profane allure of imperial decadence and return to Tribute.

If swayed by your radiant beauty, your indomitable spirit, your fiery audacity, or the myriad virtues you possess in abundance, then upon bended knee would I grovel, imploring you to bind your fate to mine in the solemn Sacrament of the Warrior Covenant.

If happiness in this mortal realm were my guiding star, I would choose you above all, for you alone could kindle such a flame in my heart.

Alas, as one who has consecrated this momentary existence as a perpetual oblation unto the Three, forsaking all earthly delights for the resplendent bliss and glories of the hereafter, I must weigh my choice in partner with the cold precision of an executioner's axe.

Thus, I must select not for personal rapture, but for she who shall advance my aims most effectively.

I harbor a fervent hope that my grim calculations shall discern you as the one forged for this bitter mantle, that perchance this life of sacrifice need not be utterly barren of solace and joy.

But steel yourself against disappointment. Assume we shall not be partnered, for presumption invites the harsh sting of regret. It would be wiser to cast such fancies into the void, lest they chain you to false hope.

Therefore, I implore you to revel in the diverse wonders of imperial existence while you dwell off-world. Indulge in its comforts, its ease, its abundant temptations and pleasures.

Explore without restraint, savor the vanities, and return to Tribute solely for the glory of your immortal soul and the sacred fury of Holy War, not for some imagined future entwined with mine.

Furthermore, I beseech you to forswear this illegal channel of communion henceforth. Your missive, though well-intentioned and uplifting of spirit, has wrought me much trouble, monopolizing the Imperial Command comcap station aboard the Zephuros for a grievous sixty-seven hours.

Such extravagance cannot be repeated. Should exigency demand further words in this manner, confine them to short, unadorned text alone, which would transmit in minutes, for your scented package and lengthy missive consumed nearly three days of a vital station.

I depart for the hallowed fields of Crusade, plunging into the infernal maw of Abyssalhome to confront the abominable legions of Hell. For nearly half a year, I shall be beyond the reach of such dispatches, my days consumed in the righteous effusion of unholy blood, so put further communiques out of mind.

Remember your charge to embrace your off-world sojourn with abandon, returning only for reasons of faith and glory, and no other.

In solemn vigilance and the unyielding service of our Lord, the King of Kings,

Angar Mecia, Holy Knight, Baron of the planet Tribute, Bellator Summus of the Lord Hungers, a fine cult of unrelenting glory

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