Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Warp Link, A Special Genetic Offspring
That address caught both Axis and Russ off guard.
Had the Saibaman already learned to speak so quickly?
But then again, it wasn't too surprising.
Even in Dragon Ball, Saibamen could understand Vegeta's orders right after hatching, and in the original series, creatures like Cymbal and Drum could talk right after being born.
"Axis, is it calling out to you?" Russ turned to Axis and asked.
"No, it's calling you," Axis shrugged, "I only provided a bit of Ki. The real genetic material came from you."
Axis tapped the scouter on his glasses.
Beep beep beep!
Combat power: 5000.
Axis's eyes widened! A combat power of 5000!
Even among Saiyans, that counted as a mid-level warrior.
The potential here was enormous.
The newly-born Saibaman quickly ran up to the Wolf King and bowed deeply, joyfully calling him "Dad."
Russ's jaw dropped.
He looked at Axis, then back at the cheerful, childlike green humanoid standing before him.
This method of birth, it was just like an Ork! Grown from the ground, green-skinned... The resemblance was simply uncanny.
Russ couldn't help but wonder: was there some connection between these green creatures and the Orks?
Yet, deep down, Russ sensed an inexplicable bond with this unique being, much like the connection he felt with his other children.
It was a vague, indescribable feeling.
"Axis, so I've gained another genetic offspring, and a rather... alien one at that!" Russ exclaimed.
"This special Saibaman grew from your blood. At least half its genes come from you, while the other half are pure Saibaman," Axis explained, "Strictly speaking, he is your genetic child. According to the New Imperium's laws, he'd count as an abhuman.
"And just look at its power, 5000, and it can use Ki!
"Honestly, even in your power armor, you might not be able to beat it."
The amplification from Ki was just too great.
With a power level of 5000, it couldn't quite destroy a planet's core, but razing an entire continent wouldn't be a problem.
"Alright then."
Russ sighed and reached out to pat the Saibaman's head.
According to the current Imperial laws, this green fellow really did count as an abhuman.
At least it was better than those mutant types, no four arms, no weird horns or antennae, and, most importantly, a properly rounded skull.
The Saibaman grinned happily, exposing four big canine teeth, just like Russ's other Children.
"Let's give you a name. From now on, you'll be called Duo," said Axis.
"Yes, Master! I am Duo!" Duo turned and addressed Axis.
His "father" had provided the genetic material, but Axis was the one who gave him life through Ki.
His bond with Axis ran deep.
"Axis, I'll keep him with me, and he'll pretend to be just another abhuman. In the future, I'll use his Ki to empower my own Children," Russ said.
This was definitely a cut above that scrawny green little creature from before.
Axis just gave Russ a knowing look.
Russ immediately got the message and ordered the two freshly-hatched Saibamen to stay in the room and not go outside.
Then he and Axis slipped away to another chamber for a private conversation.
"Axis, did you need something?" Russ asked.
"It's fine for you to keep the first Saibaman by your side. As long as you're there, it won't dare act out of line.
"But the second one must stay with me, at least whenever I'm among the Space Wolves.
"If you want to use its Ki to strengthen your troops, that's fine while I'm around, but I can't allow you to be alone with it," Axis said.
"Axis, you mean these things might not listen to me?" Russ asked.
He remembered what Axis had told him about Saibamen before, they obey the commands of the strongest person present, even if ordered to self-destruct.
But if they're stronger than you, they could rebel.
"That's right! The second Saibaman is extremely powerful, far stronger than you, maybe even with your power armor.
"One casual blow from it is like a macro cannon blast; its shockwave could destroy a Titan in an instant. Numbers mean nothing in front of it," Axis said.
A combat power of 5000 really was that terrifying.
Russ nodded at this.
After almost two years spent with Axis and all their sparring matches, he knew firsthand how destructive Ki could be.
But some things weren't so clear-cut.
"I get what you're worried about, Axis.
"But even if you're not there, Duo will still obey my orders.
"There's a very special bond between us. I can feel it, he would never harm me," Russ said confidently.
"A special bond? What sort of bond?"
"It's a kind of unique connection, just like the one I have with my other Children."
Actually, Duo shared a connection with Axis as well.
But Axis didn't yet understand what it really meant.
A mysterious Children' bond, could it be some kind of link through the Warp between Russ and Duo?
How bizarre!
The Warp in the Warhammer universe really was unique.
If that's the case, could there be some kind of Warp link between himself and Duo, too?
Maybe because his own soul was just too weak, so insignificant within the Warp that he couldn't sense it at all.
"I think we'd better observe for a while. I'll keep myself hidden and watch from the shadows the next time you're alone with him. Let's see how he behaves," Axis said.
"Alright, we'll do it your way. So, what's your plan for tomorrow's battle with the Second Primarch?" Russ asked.
There were still nearly sixty thousand Astartes left on that planet. It was no easy force to handle.
Tomorrow's fight would be a tough one.
"It'll just be the two of us and those two inside, four of us in total.
"That way you'll get to experience the true power of Ki firsthand, and we'll minimize any casualties among the Space Wolves," Axis said.
The Second Legion had sixty thousand Astartes, plus another eighty thousand from the Space Wolves, over a hundred thousand Space Marines in total.
If those numbers started fighting, the losses would be enormous.
So if an all out battle could be avoided, it should be.
"Good! The four of us will go," Russ agreed.
He didn't want the Space Wolves suffering heavy losses either.
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