Reborn as Humanity’s Emperor Across the Multiverse

With her words spoken, Hera, taller than the average human by more than a head, surveyed the area surrounding Vienna's palace. She observed the streets, brimming with disarmed captives, before tilting her head skyward.

Her eyes began to glow with a soft red light.

BOOM—!

Accompanied by a sound like a sonic boom, a wave of red-hued psychic energy radiated from Hera's body, spreading rapidly to envelop all of Vienna.

The humans of the "13" universe who were caught in this psychic wave felt an inexplicable pang of dread.

The poor, confined to their slums, involuntarily recalled memories they had buried deep—instances of petty theft, stealing food, plotting vengeance, or even fantasies of assassinating the untouchable nobles and officials.

For these people, every day was a struggle to survive, to find a meal to stave off hunger. Like the family of Christopher Loran in the border town, they lacked the luxury to devote themselves to faith.

Of course, many among them, seeing no hope in their lives, had turned their entire beings over to God and Heaven. They believed that enduring suffering and hardship while maintaining piety and reverence would secure their ascension to Heaven's eternal rewards.

But that did not make them fanatics devoted to God.

When humans are starving, cold, and barely alive, they are incredibly susceptible to being brainwashed by promises of a "better life."

The Church exploited this vulnerability to manipulate and control the population of "13."

If the Empire gave these people the rights they deserved and ensured they had food to eat every day, they would abandon God in an instant.

As seen in the border towns under the Empire's rule, the citizens initially appeared pious and reverent toward God. But once their towns were rebuilt and modernized, and their bellies were filled with meat, they quickly started seeing the Emperor and Athena as their true deities.

Even the uneducated poor know one simple truth: follow whoever feeds you.

In contrast, those who directly served the Church—such as knights of the elite orders, merchants engaged in lucrative trades with the Church, and the families of these individuals—were more deeply entrenched in their loyalty and faith.

These middle classes had learned to survive the hellscape of the "13" Earth by currying favor with the Church, securing privileges and advantages unavailable to the masses.

For these privileged classes, life under the Empire was a bitter pill.

Suddenly stripped of their privileges, they longed for the days when their wealth and power granted them access to indulgences and special treatment. These individuals, bitter and resentful, secretly conspired with the Church to sabotage the Empire.

The Investigation Division, however, had monitored their every move. After the Horseman of War was summoned to the border town and subsequently slain by Lion El'Jonson, the Division moved swiftly to arrest all those with ties to the Church.

Now, nearly a thousand such collaborators were being transported to the outskirts of Vienna to serve as sacrificial offerings.

Back in Vienna, the psychic wave from Hera's powers continued to wash over the city.

Her influence revealed the true allegiances of its people. While many in the impoverished classes were opportunistic converts, the middle class—knights, clergy, and affluent merchants—showed an unshakable devotion to the Church.

In just a few seconds, Hera identified over 60,000 individuals who fit the conditions for sacrifice. However, according to Celine's intelligence, at least 100,000 fanatics were required to open a portal to Heaven.

Thus, Hera extended her scrutiny to Vienna's knights, nuns, and military forces, selecting additional candidates from their ranks.

Lion had deliberately spared some knights, nuns, and soldiers from the initial purge, as many among them had fought genuinely to protect humanity and their homes, using their faith as a shield against the corruption of Hell. These individuals were exempted from sacrifice.

But the rest—those thoroughly brainwashed into becoming the Church's tools—were fair game.

After a meticulous screening process, Hera had her 100,000 sacrifices.

To prevent resistance or riots, Hera released another, stronger burst of psychic energy. This time, the light was visible to the naked eye. Tens of thousands of bodies, now under her control, began moving toward the eastern outskirts of Vienna without the need for escort by the Dark Angels.

The Empire had already prepared a sacrificial platform there, a crude structure hastily constructed from wooden planks and stone blocks.

"Why can't I control my body?!"

"She's a witch! A devil!"

The sacrifices screamed in terror as they marched, their minds overwhelmed by pain and panic. Prolonged exposure to Hera's powers could fry their brains entirely, turning them into hollow husks.

Noticing Hera's strain, Lion issued an order through his communicator, instructing clone soldiers and T-800 terminators to take over escort duties.

The sacrificial platform was soon surrounded by 100,000 individuals—all identified as fanatics with unwavering loyalty to God and Heaven.

Carved into the platform's surface by Hextech robots were intricate inscriptions, a mixture of elements:

The Ten Commandments from the "13" Bible Text from "Summary of the Sacraments" Symbols tied to Heaven, derived from Hell's archives

The inscriptions had been verified through interrogation and psychic examination of fanatical captives. Even bio-labs had extracted memories directly from the brains of prisoners to ensure accuracy.

However, it remained uncertain whether this patchwork of symbols would successfully open a portal to Heaven.

Hera's sacrifice was the most perilous element of the ritual.

Lion, unfamiliar with the intricacies of psychic rituals, had entrusted her with the task. If the attempt failed, Hera would bear the full brunt of the backlash—a potentially fatal consequence.

But Hera faced the risk without hesitation. She had lived for tens of thousands of years and no longer feared death.

Floating to the center of the platform, she unleashed a massive surge of psychic energy. The inscriptions glowed brighter and brighter until the light eclipsed the sun, enveloping all of Vienna.

The sacrifices, sensing their imminent demise, thrashed and screamed.

But there was no escape. Bound by Hera's powers, they could only watch as their souls were torn from their bodies to fuel the portal.

At the ritual's climax, a golden flame consumed the sacrifices' remains.

This divine fire was unmistakably the work of the Emperor himself. Unable to resist, he had subtly intervened to ensure the portal's success while sparing Hera from harm.

As the light faded, what remained was a portal—77.7 meters wide, shimmering like a gateway to another world.

Lion observed silently, his sharp eyes taking in every detail. When the time was right, he issued the order:

"Commence the assault on Heaven. Execute God."

The Dark Angels erupted in thunderous battle cries.

"For the Emperor!"

"Kill! Kill!"

Led by Lion, the Astartes charged into the portal, weapons at the ready. Behind them, the Empire's most elite forces prepared to invade Heaven itself.

[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! Only $5 per novel or $15 for all!!] [[email protected]/Mutter]

[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]

[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]