11 The Crystal Throne.
As Justinian and his new servants continued through the pitch-black tunnels of the Martian underground he began to sense a massive gathering of Psychic Energy.
'Here it is.'
The Elite who said that it was a kilometer forward was correct as very soon Justinian, his 16 Elites, and 100 Martian soldiers emerged from the tunnel into a massive hollowed-out space.
When they did so, they were spotted by some Martian Guards who seemed to be of the Soldier Cast. When the Patriarch left to kill Justinian along with 30,000 of his army they all expected victory.
However, seeing that not only that out of 30,000 only a few hundred returned paralyzed them. It was even worse when the 16 Elites surrounding Justinian spread out and it was revealed what he held on his shoulder.
The Psychic Weapon of their Patriarch their King was held in his hands. They got out of his way because no one could say they could defeat the Patriarch. If Justinian could not just kill him, and almost 30,000 what hope did they have?
The guards at the entrance of the tunnel only numbered 30, but he spent Psychic probes to each one.
Inside their minds, he showed them all the Psymagic Flame Rubric and made them feel as if they were there when he cast it. These Martians all fell to their knees in screaming fits of terror as they tried to push him out of their minds.
Sadly for them, Justinian was just starting to unlock the genetic inheritance of the Emperor. Without the warp, The Emperor's Psyker talents were converted to Psychic talents. The sheer weight of his mind which was constantly growing stronger as his soul did.
When it came to souls no baseline human could compare to a regular Custodes. He with two Heavenly Dragons was beyond even the Custodes.
'In moments your Patriarch and almost 30,000 of your number were reduced to nothing. Think what will happen if I cast that spell once more, but down here. Step aside and don't even think of fleeing.'
Each of the 30 guards had families in this city so they all stepped aside while shaking in terror. Seeing that made Remnosh glance back up at him.
'What was that?'
'I just showed them my memory of casting the Rubric. Told them that if they tried to fight I would cast it again, but in the heart of their city.'
Even she who had been forced by him to stand in front of a raging fire for hours felt all her training was for nothing when faced with the flames he used.
'You won't right?'
'No, I would lose my City State.'
She shivered as she knew that her Master was going to make a terrifying warlord. However, her White Martian upbringing made her begin to gaze at him how she would as a Patriarch.
A true ruler, but there was only one title for now that was worthy. He had made a new title for himself, the Adeptus Dracones. Once Mars was under his command only then could he think to call himself an Emperor.
As they continued to move forward he began to see buildings. Everything was carved from stone with psychic might and by hand. Each stony building had several glowing plants growing from them.
There was very little light down here as the Martians did not use fire. Fire could not burn on Mars normally since combustion needed oxygen. Mars didn't have oxygen to burn only Carbon Dioxide so they used psychic alternatives.
Crystals were treated by a shaper to glow with a golden light and plants gave off a natural glow in the dark. Remnosh squinted her eyes as she pointed to what Justinian could only call a pyramid.
"That is where the ruling family stays and where the location of the cities Crystal Pillar resides."
"Advance to the Pyramid, prepare for battle."
His enslaved troops did not want to fight their own kind of city, but they were under contract. Their own bodies moved against them preparing for battle as he instructed. The deeper they moved into the city the more Martians he saw.
They all had expected the Patriarch and his warriors to return with his head, but the opposite happened. The Patriarch was nowhere to be seen and his prized Psychic Glave was in his hand.
Against Justinian, they had sent 30,000 soldiers, 20 Elites, and a few War Shapers. The unfortunate thing was that he had not even delayed and directly cast the Rubric. He had wiped out the forward army with ease.
The remaining population of the city now consisted of a majority of Laborers, left behind Soldiers who had lost the biggest amount to their population, and Shapers who had not lost many. As for Elites, 20 was not a big loss, but having them be enslaved against their families was.
As before Justinian used his Psychic Might to press onto the minds of every Martian he passed. They all were fed images of him casting the Rubric and the knowledge that he could cast it with even more power.
None dared to move against him until they reached the foot of the Pyramid. At the steps leading up to the peak, he saw several Martian Elite standing a few steps between each other.
In total, he saw about 20 which was the same amount that he had been sent to kill him. He grinned as he moved forward to the front of his Elites and Soldiers. When the 20 Martians saw him with the weapon of their leader they all felt rage enter their hearts.
They all began to move down the steps with their giant spears ready to kill him. However, he just opened his right hand which was currently free, and conjured more of Ddraig's deadly flames.
'One fire ball and example should do it.'
He pulled his arm back and launched the fireball at one of the first Elites who had been on the floor. In front of his team which had been trained never to falter did this time. The fire was already bad enough since the Guardians themselves had instilled in them a fear of fire.
However, seeing Ddraig's soul-destroying flames strike near them froze them in their place. They all watched as the White Martian Elite Guard who was struck began to scream as the flames burned through his protective gear with ease.
In his pain, fear, and irrationality he rushed at his partner and grabbed him.
"HELP ME!"
His partner was just dragged alongside him to oblivion as their bodies, minds, and souls burned away. Justinian opened his right hand once more to create a second fireball, this time 10 times larger.
"That was just a warning, I can produce far worse than a tiny little fireball. These flames, don't just destroy the body my friends, but the very soul. If you do not wish to face oblivion, sign this."
He activated his Contract Spell once more giving the 18 Elites a chance.
"Place a drop of your blood on the page or be destroyed soul and all. Your choice?"
These Elites were trained to be absolutely loyal, never betray their master or even defect, but that was when they thought they would join their god H'ronmeer in the afterlife. If Justinian's flames could prevent that they all instantly tossed away any honor they may have held.
The fear of total nothingness was a fate worse than death so they placed their blood on the page. With that simple act, Justinian now held 35 Elites under his control which he took full advantage of.
"Lead me forward to the peak. I shall be taking the Crystal Pillar for myself. Soldiers, stand at the bottom and prevent anyone from rising to stop me."
The 100 Soldiers all gathered at the bottom of the stairs as his 35 Elites led him up the stairs. As he moved, Remnosh who made 36 turned to him.
"Do your flames really destroy the soul?"
"They do. I try to not use them as much as possible because of that, but I felt forced to."
This of course was a lie as he could have just used regular Dragon Fire. It would have been much easier for him then, but he wanted to place the fear of oblivion in his enemies. If they knew they had an afterlife they would be less afraid to die.
However, if they found out that their afterlife was not possible if they died to his true flames they would think twice before facing him. Remnosh shivered as that could have been her if she had not signed.
Feeling her thoughts he brought a hand out and patted her shoulder. Just now was he starting to realize it, but his Apotheosis into a Custodes was slowly making him more like them. His mind was his to control, his emotions were there, and he held no loyalty to the Emperor.
However, his emotions were slowly going through two extremes. As a possessor of two Heanely Dragons, his emotions were going in the direction of extremes, but as a Custodes they were starting to weaken.
He would need to find a delicate balance to not fall into either extreme. No emotion was not what he wanted and unstable Draconic Rage was also not on the table.
"Are you upset?"
She shook her head.
"No, just terrified. How often will you use those flames?"
"Not often, they are dangerous after all. But remember that I have an even scarier ability. A poison that destroys all organic matter and the soul. If I feel the need to fuse both nothing will live."
He didn't speak more as they made it to the very top of the Pyramid. From what he could tell the ruling family lived in the pyramid that could only be entered from the massive hollow opening at the peak.
When he entered the peak, he saw another large Martian who he assumed was the Mother of Remnosh. She was around 25 Feet tall and she was currently on her knees in horror. She had felt her mate's last moments and the link had fed her his last thoughts.
Even now all she could see were those dark red flames that seemed to have taken over her mind. Seeing her Mother like this just made Remnosh scowl.
"Get up, your daughter is here."
Her Mother did not speak for several seconds before looking up at Justinian. She began to shake in place before she started to drag herself back.
"NO! STAY AWAY!"
He saw her lunge for the wall where she had hanged a dual-bladed Psychic Force Weapon. He just squinted his eyes as he attacked her mind with his Psychic pressure.
Since her mind was already unstable she could barely hold him off. While he fought her psychically he spoke to his Elites.
"Subdue her."
He saw 10 of them rush toward her and they began to pin her down. Since Martians could phase through solid matter they had means to prevent it. Justinian watched as they brought out some chains from their pouches.
From what he could feel they were treated with Psychic Energy. They were made to stop prisoners from phasing out of prison, but the chains were used to stop them. Once her body was held down and and he beat her in the psychic duel he passed out.
Once she was taken care of he turned to the biggest thing that was held up here. It was a gigantic crystal that was glowing with Psychic Energy. Nearly every Martian in this city-state was linked to it and one of the Psychic Nodes of the Noble families.
Now, he was going to take over and the first step was to take over the pillar.
"Remnosh how do I do this?"
"If the previous patriarch is overthrown, you just use your own Psychic Energy to place your own imprint showing your right to rule."
He hummed as the crystal was even taller than he was. Almost three times taller, so he reached out and placed a gauntleted hand on the crystal. He took a deep breath before he surged his Psychic Energy into the crystal.
He began to force out the imprint of the previous patriarch and his mate causing her to shake at the broken link. After that, the glow of the crystal died down, but he was just getting started.
Once it was dim, he began to surge an ungodly amount of Psychic Energy. Slowly, the crystal began to glow from a dirty yellow to the brightest of gold in the center. Around it, a dark purple glow began to form as Justinian took control of the pillar.
However, he was unsatisfied and he slowly began to change the shape of the giant crystal. Under the eyes of the Elites and Remnosh, the Psychic Pillar of their city began to shrink and grow out until the entire crystal formed a glowing crystalline throne made for Justinian.
Once the Psychic Crystal Pillar had transformed into a throne Justinian took his rightful place and sat down. The moment he sat, he closed his mind as his control over the Psychic Pillar surged through the different nodes the Nobles controlled.
Their own pillars also began to change to suit his colors. In moments Justinian was inside the Psychic Net formed by the White Martians over the city. The sheer weight of his Psychic Might pressed on the minds of Laborers, Shapers, Soldiers, and Elites all the same.
This was just the effect of unlocking the power held in the Emperor's blood. His Psychic Might had already reached this point, but it still did not compare to the Emperor yet. Though it was good for now.
'I am Justinian Arcadius Valoris Valdor and this is now my city. Your Patriarch is dead, your army is exterminated, and your Elites are under my control. Any who refuse the new order shall face the same fate as your army.'
Suddenly inside the minds of every Martian in the city, they were faced with the images of the Rubric. 90k Martians started to scream as those terrible flames entered their minds. They could swear they felt them burn even as memories.
'I can cast that spell at any time, but I am a merciful ruler. I will bring you prosperity or death. Pick.'
When he left the Psychic Net he left a slimmer of connection feeding him information. In the coming months, things were going to be hectic for the White Martian race. Now that they had him to deal with.
He just had to get some technology which he would get from any of the billionaires he knew of. If Bruce wouldn't do it, then Lex Luthor, Oliver Queen, or Simon Stagg. The villains, they would of course are bound in some serious enslavement contracts, but for Bruce Wayne and Oliver, simple diplomacy would due.
'Who knew I would become a warlord?'
[You never thought about it?]
'No, after graduation I was going to become an entrepreneur and make my own business. Guess I still can.'
{You plan to show that corporation between Mars and Earth is possible?}
'Correct, slowly, I can take over Earth until I own Mara and Earth. From there, who knows, maybe a Great Crusade is in order. In a few decades or centuries from now of course.'
He was not playing in years as he would never die of old age. If he managed to become a Perpetual very little would kill him.
