Conqueror from the stars in Warhammer

**Governor's Palace**

Valadares stared at the hologram as if the very tool had insulted him somehow. Beside him stood one of his many loyal servants—this one, specifically, one of his most competent administrators—silent in cold observation.

"Tell me, Lazur, how are our food reserves?"

"We have enough for half a century, my lord. If we reach an agreement with Dar-Arshen, our resources could last up to a century and a half."

"Good. Very good. Summon Gael for me. Our plans will soon come to fruition. All we need is more time."

"Yes, my lord."

---

**(Inner Tower)**

In a stark, gothic hall much like any other on this world, a woman and a boy sat in lotus position.

They hovered mere inches above the ground, their minds forming against the chaotic and ever-shifting currents of the Warp, which manifested within their consciousness.

"Understand this well, William: just because you have power does not mean you are invincible—or even the strongest. Do you know why?"

"Because there will always be something stronger?" William, her son and student, responded.

"Yes. But strength is relative. A man can be physically strong but mentally weak. A warrior might be a master of the sword yet fall to a single sniper's shot." Eleonora taught as small stones circled around her.

"With this understanding, you must always prepare for the worst circumstances. I can teach you the ways I know, the gifts that would see us hunted for good reason, yet are too valuable to be left in peace."

"I understand, Mother. I will ensure I don't neglect my lessons."

"Excellent. Now, onto your next phase. While you are adept at meditation, your offensive abilities remain... fragile, at best."

When William opened his eyes, he saw his mother already standing.

Sparks of electricity danced between her fingers as she levitated her staff.

"Electricity, or elemental control, is a mid-tier skill in our records, though many of these have been lost over the centuries."

Channeling his inner strength, William mimicked her, feeling the hum of electricity resonate in his hand.

Eleonora smiled proudly as she unleashed bolts of lightning across the room.

"This skill can be useful against humans and even semi-humans, my son. But remember—there will always be those who can shrug off such attacks."

"Then how should I fight them?"

"You should never enter the battlefield without careful thought. But if you must, consider strategies that don't rely on something so conspicuous."

"I don't understand, Mother. Why show me a skill I shouldn't use?"

"You must learn to wield it but also know when to use it. For instance, telepathy, telekinesis, and the ability to sense others' emotions are far more versatile. These powers will take you far, but only if you master them."

"I see."

Smiling, Eleonora's eyes glowed with the unnatural light of the Warp. Her power seemed boundless, and the very air around her felt charged.

Her voice echoed, as though two people spoke in unison:

"Now... let us test your abilities!"

For the first time in both his lives, William felt existential fear as his mother unleashed a lightning bolt seemingly capable of destroying a battle tank.

Instinctively, he deflected it, pouring all his psychic energy into creating his own bolts of lightning. His aura flared with the semi-luminescent glow of the Warp, his blue eyes shining but not yet the abyssal depths of his mother's.

"Shit..."

It was all he could manage as he watched her levitate, both hands radiating psychic energy. His reflection distorted in the air around her.

Without hesitation, he channeled his psychic power into telekinesis. His body grew lighter, but he didn't float. Instead, he decided a sword was a better option and infused his blade with psychic energy.

"I see you already understand the basics of enhancement. However, they remain rudimentary. Allow me to show you some of our house's more secret techniques."

Before he could respond, his mother appeared in front of him. Psychic energy collided as, for a brief moment, he thought he heard the maddening whispers of the Warp. But his will held firm, and he counterattacked with a fist crackling with electricity.

She stopped it with a mere thought, pushing him back across the floor.

"Your resilience is still lacking. We will continue another time."

As the power left her, she reverted from a near-godlike sorceress to a noblewoman of an ancient house.

"That... was a test?"

His body felt like jelly, and he doubted he could have survived had his mother truly wanted to fight.

"Your endurance needs improvement. Never heed the whispers, William. Your resolve must always prevail. We will return to this training soon."

She departed, leaving William to contemplate just how small he was in the grand scheme of things.

"Understood, Mother..."

He retreated, knowing that the days ahead would be grueling and filled with relentless training.

Here is the adapted and corrected version in American English:

---

His free time was spent between study and prayer—something he wouldn't neglect, as even faith could be a weapon in this universe.

William found himself far removed from anything that could be called a normal or pampered life. His body was often half-broken, and his mind teetered on the edge of collapse under the weight of his endless responsibilities.

However, not everything was a sea of relentless training.

---

**(William)**

I moved through the winding, ominous corridors of gothic design, reminiscent of the ancient cathedrals of my old time.

Descending by elevator to lower levels of the governor's inner tower, my footsteps were not the only ones echoing. My guard surrounded me, their vigilant eyes darting to every shadow, scanning for threats to my life.

"Sixth son, Young Lord William Wimbledon, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

The tech-priest regarded me, his body enhanced by an absurd array of cybernetics. His eyes locked on mine, as if analyzing his next experiment.

"Tech-priest, it's a pleasure to see you again. I'd like to know the status of the project I assigned."

"Object 08 is still in the final stages. Its body requires time, but it will be ready soon."

The project in question was a slave given to me by my older brother. The boy had been fused with advanced cybernetics, designed to induce extreme violence. I had decided that, as I would one day command my own guard, I could use him to create a prototype for my personal generation of bodyguards.

This thought was unprecedented for me, but it was far from strange in the nobility of this world—a class that, after completing their studies, often drowned in the highest levels of depravity.

I saw it exemplified in how my older brother treated the slaves under his dominion.

I didn't want to become like him. Yet, even if I removed the devices from the poor slave, what life would await him? A grueling existence in the mines? At least here, he was treated with relative care.

"I see."

"I must admit, my lord, your way of thinking surprises me. The augmentations for this slave will differ from the usual design."

"You managed to do exactly what I asked?"

"Enhanced nervous system, reinforced bones, reconstructed muscles, increased testosterone production for greater strength, heightened physical endurance with minimal side effects, removal of the cerebellar implant… cognitive reduction minimized."

"I understand. Could the cognitive reduction be avoided with further cybernetic implantation?"

"The blessings of the Omnissiah extend far beyond flesh. There is a 67% chance of success."

"A risk, but one with many benefits. Proceed."

"It will be done, young lord. Now, if you'll excuse me, other matters demand my attention."

I nodded, stepping aside to let the cybernetic priest continue his work. As I left, I realized I hadn't had a moment of peace, and I was certain the coming months would only bring more demands.

Taking a deep breath, I felt a faint fatigue—both mental and physical.

"Time to get back to training."

---

**(Upper Tower)**

The governor's palace was an immense cluster of megastructures known as towers. They loomed as high as the surrounding industries that mined the rich minerals buried beneath the planet's surface.

These towers housed tens of millions, though only a fortunate few might ever see daylight. Most of the population lived in the darkness, suffocated by the black smoke of the factories and stalked by death during the night when Kronvar's savage beasts emerged.

The planet's landscape could easily be mistaken for something out of a post-apocalyptic film or an ancient myth's depiction of hell. Yet, even in this distant world, the Empire's power and influence persisted.

I knew this because this world had been colonized thousands of years ago, and my house had ruled it since that time.

But none of that mattered now. What mattered was the massive spaceship in orbit around our planet, partially obscured by the black clouds.

The ship was at least 2.5 kilometers in length, and I was absolutely certain it wasn't even a warship. Despite its colossal size and cathedral-like structure, it was nothing more than a transport vessel.

"I've never seen anything this large in my life," I said aloud, gazing at the sky.

"It's not the largest, I assure you. Your brothers were taken away by battlecruisers far larger than this," my mother commented impassively.

I glanced at her, sensing a faint ripple of emotion on the surface before her demeanor returned to its usual calm.

"You've never spoken much about them."

"There's nothing to say. They're gone, and they likely died, as is the fate of our lineage."

"And me? Will I also be sent to fight and command my own army?"

"No. The tithe has already been paid with our blood and resources. You, however, have a different path ahead."

That was all she said before leaving.

---

**(Room)**

Lying on my bed, I felt my body relax—if only slightly—as I read a notification delivered by a servo-skull.

[Young master, I regret to inform you that Experiment 08 failed during augmentation and was discarded per regulations. If you wish, new candidates will be selected for enhancement.]

Part of me wanted to feel guilty for condemning a child to death. But the truth was that, even if it hadn't been me who indirectly caused his demise, that boy would likely have died in a fight anyway. In the end, he was still a slave.

"What kind of monster am I becoming?"

I wanted to object, but after more than a decade in this world, I had learned that we cannot always be good. Even if we could, we cannot change the world.

"Recruit new individuals and assign them for genetic enhancements and cybernetic augmentation."

[It will be done.]

The servo-skull floated away to who-knows-where, leaving me to sigh. Just another day.

I took a deep breath and fell asleep, knowing tomorrow would bring even more tasks to complete before I was declared an adult.