Chapter 358: Space

Space dwarves are essentially a branch of humanity.

It could even be said that at the most primitive genetic level, they are human.

However, thanks to the reckless actions of humanity in the Golden Age, post‑Golden Age humans, even when compared to the tyrants of the bio‑hazard crisis, are still considered purer‑blooded humans.

Thus the gap between space dwarves and 40K humans has become immeasurably vast.

This has even given rise to a social structure and culture wholly different from that of humans.

From the human side, the most immediate perception of space dwarves is this group of 'short ones': their technology surpasses that of humans, they are extremely obstinate, and they love partnering with intelligences!

Putting aside the first two points, their attitude toward intelligences directly ensures that humans and space dwarves will never truly unite.

Not to mention humans also hope that space dwarves will provide some Golden Age human technology.

Yes, Golden Age technology!

Space dwarves differ from 40K humans; their ancient intelligent devices called Ancestor Cores store vast amounts of complete Golden Age STC technology.

The breadth of their technology even led the Mechanical Church to once believe that these space dwarves possessed the entire suite of Golden Age tech.

It was only after increasing contact that the Mechanical Church realized the dwarves' technology also has many limitations.

First, the 'Furnace‑born'—a mining‑specialized creation of Golden Age humans—are the only mining and industrial STC templates stored in the space dwarves' Ancestor Cores, with only a small amount of defensive military tech beyond that.

Even so, the technological level of space dwarves far exceeds that of humans.

Space dwarves wield ion technology that even Dead Spirits find astonishing.

Unlike the Empire, which can only cobble together extremely high‑rate‑of‑fire, single‑shot ion guns.

Dwarves not only regularized ion weapons, but also developed ion cannons and even ion axes!

Thus even the lowest‑rank Furnace‑born warriors can, with their standard gear, inflict real damage on all foes, including the Great Demon.

This is far more effective than the flashlight the Star Realm Army carries!

Beyond that, they possess 'Weave Shield' shielding tech and 'Resonance' offensive tech.

Combined with the exaggerated output from the full suite of industrial STC and the dwarves' relatively few numbers, space dwarves achieve per‑capita Power Armor.

Although dwarves' physical combat power is inferior to Astartes, with Power Armor they can mass‑produce Furnace‑born warriors far stronger than ordinary soldiers, though slightly weaker than Astartes.

If paired with the ultimate mining black‑tech 'Matter Reconstruction', a top space dwarf clan chief could spar hand‑to‑hand with the Great Demon or even a Star God Fragment!

This explains why, despite their modest numbers—rare among other factions—space dwarves still appear extremely formidable.

Now, when Xisi sits on the black‑gold Throne and declares he will attack the space dwarves to seize their mining and industrial tech, everyone below wonders if Xisi has gone mad.

The crowd exchanges puzzled looks, not because they doubt the Empire can't take a space dwarf Ancestor Core; after all, dwarf tech is odd—there isn't just one Ancestor Core, many dwarf clans possess them, so a raid on a single one could still net a few units.

But the problem is each Ancestor Core has a personality; it would rather die than obey a human master, so even if you seize it, what use is it?

Otherwise, if taking a single Ancestor Core granted the whole tech suite, humans would have already turned space dwarves into a 'short‑person' sub‑species!

Facing the crowd's doubts, Xisi simply raised his hand and waved toward the space behind him.

A surge of iron‑colored divine light rose, accompanied by constantly fluttering gear wings; under the increasingly stunned gazes, Washituoer slowly emerged from behind Xisi's black‑gold Throne!

"If you won't heed our words, will you also ignore Om Messiah's?"

After Xisi finished speaking, he immediately pressed his raised hand downward:

"Launch an attack on the nearest space dwarves; at the crucial moment, I will pilot the black spear to arrive!"

On the Imperial Holy Frontier, near the Silver Core, lies the Misty Star Region.

This place is far from Tyran and Dead Spirits, making it one of the least harmed areas.

Of course, the original Misty Star Region wasn't a great place either; after all, the galaxy is a universal cesspool.

The farther you are from Tyran and Dead Spirits, the nearer you are to other things.

However, the entity that once heavily plagued the Misty Star Region has been considerably calmer lately.

Because the main danger of the Misty Star Region, 'Chaos', is currently in a honeymoon phase comparable to humanity's Great Expedition.

Thus the situation in the Misty Star Region is more stable than in the Peaceful Star Region, Eastern Star Region, or even the Solar Star Region.

So many Star District Governments, aside from small anti‑pirate patrol fleets, haven't seen any large Imperial Navy forces in a long time.

Thus when Fuergan was chosen as the commander to campaign against the dwarves and arrived in the Misty Star Region with the newly reconstituted Imperial fleet,

the surrounding Star District Governments were instantly shocked, wondering if Chaos was about to cause trouble again.

At this moment, a Star District capital near the Silver Core.

An almost brand‑new fleet spread across the void, docking en masse.

Though not the tens‑of‑thousands scale of Xisi's showdown with Tyran, a force of two thousand ships still qualifies as a main fleet.

Yet standing on his Radiant Queen flagship, the 'Flame Refined', Fuergan's expression was far from confident.

Ninety‑nine percent of the view from the Bridge consisted of stripped‑down, plain Sword‑class escort ships and Cobra destroyers after the cathedral decorations were cut.

The fleet comprised at most a mix of specialized Sword‑class and Cobra variants, and Fuergan's face remained unappealing.

"There are only about thirty Moon‑class ships; the rest are assorted light cruisers."

"Even if this fleet could breach the space dwarves' space defenses, it certainly couldn't stop subsequent reinforcements."

Sakan, wearing a fire‑lizard company‑leader insignia, had gone from Fuergan's initial suspicion to complete trust regarding the heir Xisi forcibly recommended.

Watching Sakan analyze the situation, he was curious—Xisi truly has his ways; if he can fight, that's fine, but he recommends people who all seem protagonist‑level impressive.

Listening to Sakan's concerns, Fuergan, though absolutely confident, had little worry.

"We are merely the vanguard; the First Saint and Divine Emperor have already made clear that the Empire's subsequent warships will be prioritized to us."

"And we only need to ensure the outskirts are cleared; the rest will be left to the First Saint."

Fuergan didn't mind; after all, the Empire's current warships, though lower in tech and class, are as Kiriman said.

At least Sword‑class…

Take as many as you need, as many as you want!