Chapter XVIII: Building the first craft.

In a remote and forgotten ruin on level 03, lost within the near-endless maze of streets and housing blocks that filled that tier. A place avoided like the plague due to old legends passed from mouth to mouth, where the ferrocrete walls had been blackened for decades from the fires they once contained, was where Gino had decided to build his first ship.

Although the second and third floors of the abandoned ruin had long since collapsed, the space they once occupied now gave Gino confidence that this spot could both house and hide the ships he planned to summon from the factory of reality.

Even though silence reigned in the gloomy ruins, Gino's ears were filled with the melodic, almost heavenly chime of the system.

Ding!

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[•Are you certain, Forge Lord, that you wish to consume the following materials; Ferrosteel <2 tonnes>

Plasteel: <0.7 tonnes>

Ceramite: <0.3 tonnes>

Adamantium: <0.1 tonnes>

Duralium: <0.2 tonnes>

Quartz: <0.05 tonnes>

Gold:< 0.02 tonnes>

Platinum: <0.02 tonnes>

Promethium: <0.1 tonnes>

To construct <1 > [Arvus Lighter - Tier I Civilian Cargo Ship] for a total of 4.5 tonnes of raw material?]

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Staring at the screen, Gino forced himself to take a deep breath and calm the excitement rising in his chest, threatening to burst out at any moment.

With a focused gaze, he replied mentally with a simple 'Yes.' Immediately, [The Forge System] deducted the materials from his inventory and projected the ship's construction process in a system window.

A realistic 3D model appeared before his eyes as Gino watched each material transform into the necessary parts to assemble the ship. Gold and platinum shifted from ingots into thin cables that stretched across the ship's body like a nervous system. Plasteel formed layers across the hull, made from ferrosteel and reinforced with adamantium. Meanwhile, layer upon layer of ceramite, along with duralium, shaped the ship's exterior, giving the cargo vessel a look reminiscent of a wild boar.

The process might have taken only a few seconds, but for Gino, it stretched into minutes as he watched the ship's assembly, mesmerised and exhilarated.

Only when the chime from the system announced the completion of the construction did Gino feel time return to its normal course as he read the message.

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[•Tier I Civilian Cargo - Basic Arvus Lighter has been successfully constructed! Please bestow upon it the name and official designation of the ship!]

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'A name…' Gino stroked his chin as he pondered. Although the Arvus Lighter represented his first step with the Forge System, he understood that it wouldn't be a ship of great importance in the future. Still, it deserved a name worthy of the momentous occasion and what it would signify for his own destiny.

'… I think Brilliant Dawn is a good name for the ship. I want it to represent the bright beginning of something grand.' As he settled on this name, pleased with how it sounded in his mind, Gino watched the letters appear alongside the name on the system's screen.

Then he saw the name engraved in gold at the bottom of the Arvus Lighter, as well as on its cockpit.

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[• Do you wish to summon the 'Brilliant Dawn' to your current position? Remember to always summon ships in a safe location.]

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As soon as he saw that message, Gino accepted and summoned his first ship.

However, to his surprise and horror, a visual and physical phenomenon began to unfold in that forgotten ruin on level 03.

Sparkling, strobe-like lights and flashes heralded the onset of a process that, under any other circumstance, would signify a grim and apocalyptic event on the surface of Aurelian Prime.

Reality began to tear as a thick cloud of purple, magenta, pink, and reddish hues swirled around him, causing Gino to step back, nearly terrified. Before his eyes, a circular portal nearly 20 meters in circumference ripped open between the fabric of reality, while a tense, deafening silence filled the air, witnessing as the Immaterium gradually expelled the Arvus Lighter from its depths.

'No, no, no! Wait! No, no, this can't be happening, please no!' Gino's mind pleaded in terror, hyperventilating as he begged anyone who could hear his cries, feeling his heart race to a thousand beats per minute while his breath quickened. His body began to sweat as he prayed that the portal wouldn't unleash any sort of demon or beast from the Immaterium into reality.

His blood felt as if it were igniting while he witnessed that beautiful yet unsettling phenomenon. His insides resonated with the pulsing lights and bolts escaping from the portal, seemingly leading to hell, and yet, they brought him a divine gift from the past, present, and future.

It was only when the nearly nine meters of the ship settled before him in the most unsettling calm that the phenomenon vanished as abruptly as it had begun, and Gino's mind processed that no infernal or horrific remnant of the Immaterium remained.

Just the 'Brilliant Dawn' stood gleaming in front of him, its imposing, robust frame occupying his vision as Gino's eyes darted around, expecting to catch sight of some monstrous beast from the abyss lunging at him.

However, after several minutes, during which his heart galloped, nearly bursting and almost giving him a heart attack, it finally calmed down. He realised, with relief, that nothing terrible had occurred and that this was simply how the system constructed ships and brought them into reality.

'Okay, so ships are built in the Immaterium? Will this happen every time I build a ship?' Gino wondered, genuine doubt and concern creeping in. If this was the case, it meant he would have to be careful each time he constructed his ships, defence platforms, space stations, fortresses, shipyards, and refineries.

The potential problems this could create if witnessed by the wrong people would be immense. Not to mention the terrifying future awaiting him for producing such a phenomenon without permission to create a portal to the warp. After all, there were far too many questions this could raise.

Approaching his ship with hesitant steps, a smile began to form beneath Gino's mask as his calloused fingers made contact with its exterior. Before him stood the manifestation and irrefutable proof that his system would provide him with countless ships and flotillas in the future; that his actions so far in Vandalor were worthwhile.

Feeling a warmth in his nose, Gino's eyes soon became glassy as he fought back tears of joy. A sense of fulfilment and pride erupted from his chest explosively, like a geyser. Even though he had obtained the materials by stealing from a warehouse, Gino felt he had been working hard for nearly an entire month to stand before that ship. He had laboured from dawn to dusk, hauling loads and traversing kilometres across levels 03, 04, and 05, and he felt that the fruits of his effort were finally being rewarded.

As he stroked the ship's body and approached the rear hatch where he would enter the cargo vehicle, Gino heard another chime resonating from the system. It briefly distracted him from the emotional moment that reigned within, prompting him to open the system tab, where his eyes widened in astonishment.

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[• You have received <5 > experience points. Current total <17 100> for the next level.]

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Gino felt briefly confused and dazed, not understanding why building that ship had granted him experience points. After all, from the system's explanation, he knew he had to do something significant to alter the course of events and destinies.

At no point had it been made clear to him that constructing any type of object through the system would yield experience points. His mind began to wonder, 'Could it have something to do with the materials I used? Since they were stolen, perhaps I altered some kind of fate by using them in the construction of the Brilliant Dawn...'

To test this theory, Gino would need to obtain materials honestly in the future, so he soon pushed the thought aside and immersed himself once more in the exhilaration of having built his first ship as he stepped inside.

The interior space of the [Arvus Lighter] was about the size of a moderately small room. The metal and plastic floor felt solid and sturdy beneath Gino's feet as he inspected every detail within.

The ship's lights were cold yet well-lit, and the interior appeared simple but robust, which made sense given that it was a cargo vessel.

As he entered through the narrow hatch into the cockpit, Gino had to duck slightly due to his height. Once inside the pilot's cabin, he gazed wide-eyed at his surroundings. Four transparent panels offered views of the front, both sides, and the top, while the ship's controls appeared different and more modern than those of the craft Carrack had shown him when teaching the basics of piloting theory.

Sitting in the pilot's seat, Gino felt it yield and adjust to his form as his hand rested on the control stick. His other hand lightly glided over the various instruments in front of him, which were powered off across the different consoles. 'I'll need to familiarise myself with these controls later; after all, this is the ship that will earn me a fortune,' he thought with a smile.

As he sat there, happily contemplating from the cockpit, Gino decided to disembark and store the ship in his inventory.

Touching the exterior of the vessel once more with his palm, he watched as it vanished quickly and silently, while an image of the ship appeared alongside the seven other vessels lying dormant and waiting in his inventory.

'Right, I suppose it's time to see what a Thunderhawk looks like. I think I need to move a bit further back to make room for it,' he said, feeling a touch of trepidation at the thought of the [Thunderhawk] being much larger and bulkier than the [Arvus Lighter]. Gino positioned himself near the entrance of the ruin, hoping that the space would be sufficient to accommodate the Emperor's angels—the Astartes' transport.

Opening the [•Blueprints•] tab again, Gino selected the [Thunderhawk]. After accepting the confirmation from the system, he watched once more as the construction of that ship began to unfold before him.

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[•Are you sure, Forge Lord, that you wish to consume the following materials: Ferrosteel <6 tonnes>, Plasteel <9 tonnes>, Ceramite <3 tonnes>, Adamantium <6 tonnes>, Titanium <2 tonnes>, Quartz <3 tonnes>, Gold <1 tonne>, Platinum <1 tonne>, Promethium <5 tonnes>

To construct <1 > [Thunderhawk gunship Tier I Military Craft] for a total of 36 tonnes of raw material?]

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Though Gino felt a slight pang of regret at the thought of the materials being spent, his mind quickly became captivated as the 3D model of the ship began to materialise before his eyes in the system.

The frame was constructed of plasteel and adamantium, while layers of ceramite, titanium, and ferrosteel formed the outer shell, enclosing a spacious interior nearly two levels high. Gino watched in awe as the vessel took shape and colour, Imperial Aquila logos adorning various parts of the interior, showcasing the craftsmanship of this engineering marvel.

A name formed instinctively in Gino's mind as he witnessed the visual manifestation of Astartes power within the ship. A beast, grey and armed to the teeth.

'Garuda Gris'—the name sprang to his thoughts.

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[•Tier I Military Craft - Basic Thunderhawk Gunship constructed successfully! Please name and designate the ship!]

"[Garuda Gris] has been successfully assigned"

[•Would you like to summon the 'Garuda Gris' in your current position? Remember to always summon ships in a safe location.]

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Taking a deep breath, Gino summoned the 'Garuda Gris' into reality, once again witnessing the portal to the Immaterium open amidst the fabric of reality, forming hellish clouds that were eerily silent and calm. Soon, the front of that long and robust ship emerged, and Gino craned his neck to behold it as it settled silently yet imposing before him.

The entrance hatch, reinforced with thick armour, was the first thing that caught Gino's attention, and his mind flickered with concern about the phenomenon of the Immaterium.

'I don't know if the ruins of this place can withstand more portals. This one nearly destroyed the ceiling and walls!' He observed the debris falling as the portal expanded, worried about the structural integrity of the space around him. Gino prepared to store the Thunderhawk and make a hasty exit if the situation took a turn for the worse.

Soon enough, the entire body of the Thunderhawk stood before Gino as the portal to the Immaterium vanished, the silence returning to the ruins.

With a unique gleam in his eyes, he gazed up at the towering 10-metre height of the Thunderhawk, feeling a sense of intimidation in the presence of such a beast. His eyes wandered over the fins and the ship's turbofan engines, as well as the formidable weapons mounted on either side.

"Is that a bolter machine gun?" Gino muttered in disbelief, catching sight of the large gun emplacements on either side of the entry ramp.

A familiar sound echoed in his ears, causing his eyes to lose their shine momentarily as a notification appeared in his vision.

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[• You have received <15 > experience points. Current total: <32 100> for the next level.]

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Reading the notification, Gino clenched his fists, a wide grin spreading across his face. He silently celebrated the fast and substantial rise in his experience.

Shaking his head to refocus, he decided it was time to explore his new ship. Soon enough, he opened the entry ramp, marvelling at the thickness of the armour and the sheer size of the thing, watching it lower until the heavy metal clanged against the floor of the ruin. His eyes were immediately drawn to the bright lights of the assault deck, illuminating motifs of the Imperial Aquila both on the floor and at the far end of the compartment.

Next, his gaze settled on the side of the assault deck, where rows of bolters, jetpacks, ammunition, bolt pistols, and chainswords rested neatly on racks, alongside other various pieces of equipment.

Hurrying over, Gino grabbed one of the massive bolters in his hands, gazing at it in fascination. The weapon seemed far too large even for his formidable physique. "... That's an actual bloody bolter! Christ Almighty!" he muttered under his breath, as his eyes continued to sweep across the expansive assault deck. He noticed the seating along the sides, as well as the access panels leading to the four doors of the ship—one at the front for battlefield incursions, a rear door, and two more along the sides.

Leaving the bolter on the same rack where he'd found it, Gino made his way to the back of the assault deck, climbing five steps to find another spacious area. More stairs appeared to lead him up to the upper fuselage. However, it was here that Gino was struck dumb. In the space where rations and other transport equipment were usually stored, his eyes fell upon the imposing figures of two suits of heavy combat power armour, known as Terminator armours of the Astartes. There they stood, two pieces of that type of armour surrounded by crates upon crates of ammunition, weapons, and lasguns, alongside dozens of other items.

"...Oh my God... this is really..." he stammered to himself, breaking into loud laughter inside the Thunderhawk as he finally let loose his feelings.

"FINALLY, BLOODY HELL! I'M DONE BEING A HIVE RAT!" he exclaimed with relief and jubilation, dropping to his knees in front of the two Terminator armours as he picked up a lasgun to examine the weapon.

With optimism and the firm belief that life was finally beginning to smile upon him, Gino explored everything the Thunderhawk had to offer, his mind racing with plans for the near future.

It was time to start recruiting his first crew and loyal subordinates.