Chapter 199: The Archaeologist

Rosicky Cech signaled for everyone to stop advancing; he walked to the base of the giant spider statue and gently stroked the characters and patterns on it with his fingers.

He had learned the Spider language from the Data Crystals of the Steel Lords.

The "Archaeologist" discovered that the characters on the base's inscription, while slightly different from the Spider language, belonged to the same language family.

He immediately began analyzing the text with sixteen "Knowers."

"We will first use the glyph and symbol analysis method to compare the morphological evolution of the letters, then calculate the distribution patterns of the symbols."

The "Knowers" dispersed to read the words and sentences in their respective assigned areas, memorizing every word and sentence they saw.

They gathered together to compare all the letters, mapping the ancient and modern Spider language one by one.

The 【C】 on the base and the modern 【】...

The "Knowers" then calculated the high-frequency letter combinations and terminal symbols, determining the frequency of each letter's appearance in specific positions to infer its grammatical function.

The Order Shadows were the first to identify articles and pronouns, and subsequently, verbs and names.

Finally, the "Knowers" deciphered the words and determined the meaning of the sentences.

The results were gathered in the hands of the "Archaeologist," who, after sorting them, grasped the meaning of the entire inscription.

Rosicky briefly summarized the results over the communication channel.

"The Spider Alliance worships spiders, viewing them as the embodiment of Death, calling them Death Spiders, and erected statues for them."

"There are eight burial chambers underground, housing the corpses of the Steel Lords and the tech-nobility; they believed the Death Spiders would protect them."

The "Archaeologist" finally stated the judgment he had made based on the relic's knowledge.

"In the center of the underground burial chambers, there should be an Altar."

"Only through the Altar can the protection of the Death Spiders, their blessing, be bestowed upon the dead."

"Does the graveyard have guardians?"

Since receiving the power bestowed by the Gene-Father, Adams had developed an interest in the culture of the dead; he collected numerous books and ornaments during his campaigns.

He knew that the dead did not like to be disturbed, so the core graveyard should have guardians.

The "Archaeologist" nodded slightly, acknowledging the "Gravedigger's" judgment.

"I discovered on the base that, besides spiders, there are also canine creatures; the inscription calls them the watchdogs of Death."

"The local mechanical hounds of Necromunda are one meter in length and are modified semi-mechanical creatures."

"I think we will encounter some kind of special dog in the tomb, perhaps even more powerful mechanical constructs."

The "Gravedigger" nodded slightly, his tone remaining as usual.

"Since that is the case, let us go to the burial chamber."

The "Archaeologist" caught a hint of hidden interest in the "Gravedigger's" nearly cold voice.

The Order Shadows immediately walked toward the underground burial chamber; just as they reached the gate, Rosicky spoke.

"Stop."

The Lord of the Forge had deep eyes as he stared at the gate; he raised his left arm and activated the multi-functional scanner mounted on it.

A few seconds later, the scan results confirmed the Lord of the Forge's naked-eye judgment.

"The alloy gate is a technological relic made of various metal materials using ancient technology."

The Techmarine beside him did not, unlike other Legions, paint his power armor red to signify his connection to Mars.

The Order Shadow's Techmarine's power armor remained black, with only the shoulder pads painted in the red of Mars.

After scanning with his mechanical ocular, the Techmarine exclaimed.

"The alloy gate is integrated with the burial chamber; using a melta bomb to blow up the gate might bury the entrance."

"Not only that."

The Lord of the Forge retracted his left arm and raised his right; dense mechanical probes extended from his gauntlet, tapping on the alloy gate like tentacles.

The surface arithmetic mean roughness identified by the tactile probes was 0.52 microns, and the thermistor identified by the thermal probes was negative 4.1 percent per degree...

Ten seconds later, the Lord of the Forge summarized all the parameters and spoke.

"The alloy gate employs special ancient technology, connected to the entire graveyard through a special Fu-rezhmin Dianzu Zhenlie."

"The frigid burial chamber is equivalent to an ammunition depot."

"Once violently detonated, it will bury the entire graveyard."

Upon hearing this, Adams gasped; the owner of the graveyard was more ruthless than he had imagined.

To prevent tomb raiders from entering, they would not even hesitate to turn into ashes along with those who disturbed their slumber.

"Rosicky, can you open the gate?"

The Lord of the Forge did not speak immediately; the mechanical probes in his hand tapped with a rhythmic ticking, and twelve seconds later, he spoke.

"I can."

The Servo-arm behind the Lord of the Forge extended, its mechanical claws opened, and mechanical probes reached out.

Each tap of the mechanical claws was accompanied by the tapping of several mechanical probes.

The Servo-arm moved at high speed, crackling and popping.

Thirty minutes later, the Servo-arm retracted, and the mechanical parts sparked due to the high-speed operation.

Accompanied by a booming sound, the alloy gate slowly opened.

Rosicky walked into the burial chamber first, with the other Order Shadows following behind.

After walking through two passages, accompanied by the trembling of the ground, numerous mechanical hounds nearly two meters in length appeared around them.

Ordinary mechanical hounds were only one meter long, but those in the burial chamber were nearly two meters long.

Not only were mechanical hounds attacking from the ground, but some mechanical claws were also climbing rapidly on the walls and ceiling.

The eyes of the mechanical hounds lit up with red light simultaneously, launching an attack on the Order Shadows.

More than a dozen mechanical hounds were above and around, charging toward Rosicky Cech.

Luoxiji is no longer the technical expert he once was; he possesses the superhuman body of an Astartes, and after being promoted to "Archaeologist," he gained another minor Physical Enhancement.

He drew his Power Axe and swung it diagonally from bottom to top, smashing the mechanical hound to pieces.

The Order Shadows brandished their Power Axes like Windmills, smashing over a dozen mechanical hounds to pieces.

Although Adams was not wearing power armor, he had successively undergone "Corpse Collector" and "Gravedigger" enhancements, making his body increasingly robust and his movements more agile.

He slung his Atomic Disintegration Weapon onto his back and drew his Power Sword.

The "Gravedigger" moved with swift agility, dodging the Lasers fired from the mechanical hounds' eyes, and swung his Charged Blade to slash and pierce.

The Disruption Field tore through the alloy bodies, scattering parts all over the ground.

The Order Shadows pushed forward all the way until they reached the front of a tomb chamber.

Under the cover of the Order Shadows, the Forge Master used his servo-arm to crack the gate.

After the gate opened with a boom, Luoxiji saw that the interior was filled with funerary Data Crystals and peculiar mechanical creations.

After leaving behind two Techmarines and four "Corpse Collectors" to process the corpses, the Order Shadows continued onward.

After they sped through four corridors, the Order Shadows arrived at the center of the tomb chamber; the moment they saw the Altar, all the Order Shadows narrowed their eyes slightly.

The entire Altar was constructed from Data Crystals, each one more dazzling than any found previously, and the light they radiated was blinding even to an Astartes.

"This is a Data Altar; it is a treasure."

The Forge Master sighed in admiration and led the Techmarines toward the Data Altar of the "Dark Age of Technology."

After the "Gravedigger" led the "Corpse Collectors" in clearing out the mechanical hounds, they excavated the other seven tomb chambers.

After excavating all eight tomb chambers, Adams felt stars exploding within his body; he had fully mastered the power of the "Gravedigger."

While the "Archaeologist" was researching the data stored in the Data Altar, the fleet led by the Primarch arrived at the rendezvous point and joined up with the fleets of the Second and Seventh Legion.

Before Ninglu issued the order to attack, images he had obtained from the mind of Slao Da could not help but flash through his mind.

Standing before Slao Da was the Farseer Ruoze of the Futa-ruisi Craftworld.

"Slau, fate has revealed to me that the Master of Monkeys will gift the Spear of Dionysus to Ninglu."

"If Ninglu obtains that cursed artifact, it will hinder our great cause; he must die!"

Ninglu's gaze was profound as he thought to himself.

【Should I slow my pace and intentionally lose to the Wolf King?】

As soon as this thought arose, he dismissed it.

【No, Huang Laohan never said he would bestow the Spear of Dionysus and Wolf Keep upon the Primarch who participates in the "War of the Fire Wheel."

This is merely my own speculation based on memory.

Huang Laohan never said whether he would give the Spear of Dionysus to the Primarch who obtains the head of the Ork Warlord, or to another.

If he has chosen me, then regardless of whether I win or lose in the hunt, he will give the Spear of Dionysus to me.】

Thinking this, Ninglu decided to strive for victory, as that was the only way to obtain Malcador's gift.

The Primarch then issued the order, "Execute the plan, attack!"

(End of chapter)