"What I want to teach you is not just the technique of controlling power, it is also a fighting philosophy and a concept."
Thor pointed to the line of text he had written.
"They are focus, humility, self-control, and last but not least, tolerance."
"Are these the necessary qualities of a warrior, instructor?"
Farzad suddenly spoke. Although Armin on the side poked him hard, he blocked the opponent's hand with his arm.
"Why should we show tolerance to our enemies? Those who seek to erode the Empire deserve neither tolerance nor mercy."
Thor smiled at Farzad. He was like an abandoned church. Although there was only a sacred void, it still retained part of its former glory.
"You will fight many people and slaughter entire worlds at the behest of your Chapter Master, and you will do so willingly... Eventually, you may want to kill every living thing, but you You also have to know when to stop.”
He seemed to recall something and sighed slightly.
"But on the other hand, you are right, child. No one who dares to resist the Emperor of Man deserves our forgiveness!"
"Why, then, should we show tolerance to our enemies?"
"You are still too young and too naive, and you always take things for granted. Tolerance is not reserved for our enemies, but for ourselves."
Thor then raised his voice.
"In the past, the art of war taught by your instructors will save your own lives and the lives of millions of others, but the skills I will teach you will save your souls... through the control of details, the writing of the brush Skills with which you will fight against the beast that lurks within you.”
Some warriors already understood the concept that Thor wanted to convey, and their expressions became solemn instead of the previous confusion.
"You all look like warriors, but inside you are still just children who have mastered the power of the gods. Without strong self-control, the gift given to you by the Emperor will be useless because you cannot control it! Therefore, these courses It will be as important as the combat skills you will learn later, or even more important to some extent, do you understand?"
The recruits nodded in reply.
"Good, now, pick a seat, and choose well, because you will be sitting in the same seat for a long time... The first class is always the most difficult, and if you don't pass it, then you Nor will he be able to pass any subsequent courses.”
The recruits chose their seats at random, and there was really no reason for them to prefer any particular seat.
Sol waited for them all to sit down and then said:
"Class begins now."
He said, picking up the pen from before.
Time flies so fast, a month has passed in the blink of an eye, and the battleship is still sailing through subspace.
Four weeks after the pen practice class, the recruits began the combat course.
They eagerly learned the skills taught by Sol, but most of them still preferred wielding the tip of the knife to practicing calligraphy, with only one exception.
Ustad, the team leader who has always been unknown, showed that his favorite thing is still the pen practice course.
He has a deep interest in the control of this subtle power.
At first his practice was formal, but as his mind gradually mastered the new technique, he was soon given permission to play freely.
The squad leader's font became different from other soldiers, more independent and unrestrained, just like the waves hidden in his calm heart.
His handwriting became flowing, eclectic, and even a bit out of line.
But since the combat course started, he suddenly became very depressed and his writing became messy.
"Ustad."
Hearing someone calling him, the squad leader raised his head.
He was so deep in thought that he didn't even notice that Thor had walked up to him.
"Why are you sitting so still?"
"I originally planned to silently write the first volume of the Codex Astartes, but... for some reason, I always get upset when I write the tenth word."
Thor picked up Ustad's tablet and then made a sound of approval.
"Well written. You have talents. They will gradually emerge with the training you receive."
"Talent..."
Ustad's voice deepened.
In fact, even if no one said it, he knew very well that he was the worst among the three team captains. He had no extraordinary skills and no outstanding record. Everything was just because he served earlier.
If there was a better choice, he would never become the squad leader.
This thought has troubled him since a long time ago.
He also wanted to show his strengths to others, but found that there seemed to be nothing to show. He was such a person with a weak sense of existence.
Not that gregarious either.
"No, recruit, I see your potential. Your self-control and humility are above all others. This is a valuable asset. It may not allow you to defeat the enemy on the outside battlefield, but it can allow you to defeat the enemy in the outside world. To gain the upper hand in the inner battle.”
Thor looked around, and after confirming that no one was paying attention to them, he whispered to Ustad:
"Come with me, now."
Although he was a little overwhelmed, Ustad followed Thor towards the church on the upper deck.
After entering the church, he was taken to a cubicle. From the observation hole, which was only one palm wide, he could see the gorgeous void outside.
Geller's stance enveloped the entire battleship like a layer of soap bubbles, separating it from the sinister subspace outside.
Through the light-colored shield, Ustad looked at the twisted nebula and the wriggling asteroid belt.
Suddenly, the door behind him opened with a sound.
Ustad's strengthened eyes immediately adapted to the dark environment in the room. The Holy Fearless Brother Said was standing in the middle of the door, Chapter Master Soshyan stood on his right side, and Priest Yazdan Shahinian was on the other side. To his left.
The two high-level leaders of the war group were both wearing a silver-gray cloak for some reason, with a burning black sun printed on it, which looked a bit mysterious.
"Ustad, come to me."
A voice came from the Dauntless speaker.
Ustad immediately walked up to him and knelt down on one knee.
"Your Majesty."
"Ustad, you need to make an oath. Everything you hear and see today will remain an eternal secret until we think we can bring it to light."
"If you have any doubts, please leave now."
"I swear, my lord! Everything I have seen and heard, I will take with me to my grave."
Ustad raised his head, and the priest stepped forward and placed his heavy gauntlet on his head.
"I believe you, get up and follow me."
Ustad followed a Dreadnought and two Chapter Leaders through the center of the church to the cross-shaped room at the top of the church.
The end points of the four branches of the room were made in the shape of the back of a skull. In the middle of the room was an altar with a human-faced monster emblem with wings on it. The dome above it was a hundred meters high.
Other than that, there is nothing else in this vast space.
"Ustad, you better prepare to witness the future of the Chapter."
Following Brother Said's voice, a secret emerged from the altar, and the young recruit's body immediately began to tremble uncontrollably...
