NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 50: Chapter 050 - Birth Imperium Of Man
The Imperial Palace was still under construction, rising majestically in the heart of Terra Aeterna.
Armed with the Emperor of Mankind's memories and the technological knowledge salvaged from the remnants of the Dark Age of Technology, Reuel immediately relocated the entire population from the Resident Evil world to nearby planets. He understood one thing very clearly: rebuilding the Imperial Palace without the ruins of ancient civilizations like in the Warhammer 40,000 universe was an almost impossible task.
In the Warhammer universe, the Imperial Palace wasn't merely a building—it was a colossal megastructure stretching from Eurasia to Africa, the ultimate icon of mankind's supremacy. The palace served as a government fortress, spiritual center, and symbol of power, constructed from the remains of obliterated continents, ancient city ruins, and strongholds from humanity's golden age. The entire structure was supported by macro-pillars said, according to legend, to pierce into the planet's mantle. Its very existence stood as a metaphor for the weight of the Imperium it bore.
Even the Emperor needed centuries to begin its initial construction. After the Horus Heresy, the work never ceased—constantly reconstructed and expanded for over ten thousand years. The Imperial Palace was a symbol of power that was never truly finished—just as the Imperium's rule itself was never truly complete.
Now, under similar circumstances but in a different universe, Reuel had to be patient. He realized that rebuilding the Imperial Palace wasn't merely a matter of stacking stones—it was about reviving the symbol of mankind's glory, the pillar of the Imperium of Man he intended to forge with his own hands.
Construction began in the Himalayas. The main pillars were planted using the ruins of Constantinople, then expanded outward into the surrounding regions.
Although he didn't have the artisan masters of the Masonic Guilds like in Warhammer, Reuel had one unexpected advantage: the Universal Bulin from the Azur Lane universe. This absurd little loli being was ridiculous in many ways, but her abilities were extraordinary. Give her a sketch, and she could build anything—machines, buildings, even orbital towers.
She worked alongside the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Legio Cybernetica, tasked with designing and overseeing the creation of construction automata, graviton cranes, and energy-based materiel fabricators.
The primary materials used included:
Adamantium
Plascrete
Photonite glass
Void-field structural supports
Anti-gravity alloys
These materials were currently being gathered and reverse-engineered to match the future structural designs.
Reuel was rebuilding the heart of the Imperium of Man from scratch—with a vision and ambition no less grand than that of the Emperor himself.
He decided to construct the palace in a techno-arcane gothic style, hovering partially above Terra Aeterna's atmosphere. Beneath it, the reclaimed ruins of Constantinople would serve as the western wing of the palace complex—a residence for the shipgirls.
The construction progressed vertically and downward into the earth, following the megastructure pattern of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Towers soared into the upper atmosphere—visible from orbit. Meanwhile, the foundations were driven deep, reaching the planet's mantle. Inside, there would be labyrinthine underground networks, catacombs, and psionic chambers designed to resemble the space that once housed the Golden Throne.
In orbit, void shields, orbital bastions, and shipyards were being built in parallel, mostly constructed from space downward. The architectural design fused megalomaniacal brutalism, baroque gothic, and techno-magical elements from the Imperium of Man.
But Reuel wasn't blindly copying. He adapted.
The Golden Throne would not become an "eternal golden toilet."
"I'm not going to sit on a golden toilet," he declared flatly.
Instead of making the Golden Throne a one-way psionic amplifier, he designed it as a shared throne chamber—where he would sit beside the Empress of the Imperium. A woman chosen not by blood, but by the strength of her mind and charisma—enough to face off against the hard-headed titans of the Warhammer universe. She would eventually become stepmother to the Primarchs, if they ever returned.
Reuel had already imagined their expressions—especially Angron and Horus—when introduced to their "new mother."
"You have a stepmother now," he said in his mind, barely holding back laughter.
Would they cry at finally feeling a mother's love?
Meanwhile, the Astronomican Chamber was under construction but not yet activated. Reuel knew that, in the original universe, the Astronomican consumed thousands of psyker souls daily to maintain. His Imperium wasn't ready to bear that cost.
He also hadn't forgotten the construction of The Eternity Gate—the main entrance to the throne chamber—forged from adamantium and auramite. Beyond it, hundreds of steps ascended toward the throne, creating a sacred atmosphere that divided the mortal world from the divine.
---
The palace complex was divided into two primary layers:
1. Outer Palace – the military and civil administrative zone. It included spaceports, factories, garrisons, and noble cities enclosed within the palace walls.
2. Inner Palace – the spiritual and psionic core. It housed meditation chambers, warp chapels, and metaphysical rooms channeling energy into the Astronomican.
---
Reuel also designed a planet-scale underground network—millions of kilometers of corridors, bunkers, and catacombs spanning beneath Terra Aeterna. Some areas were affected by warp distortions and pre-Imperium tech, causing unstable flows of time—similar to the effects of the Webway or the Black Library.
The Sanctum Imperialis was also being constructed, but not as the place where Sanguinius and the Emperor fell, as in the Warhammer universe. In this world, it would serve as a pilgrimage site for martyrs and fallen heroes—a sacred temple to mankind's sacrifice.
The Senatorum Imperialis, the central control hub of the Imperium, was also established—a gathering place for leaders from every conquered universe, alongside the Primarchs and legendary generals.
---
There were still many more elements to be built—modifications of the original designs adapted to Reuel's resources and philosophy. But the intent was clear:
Terra Aeterna would become the new heart of human civilization.
The Imperial Palace was not a mere replica. It was a total reinterpretation of mankind's supremacy, built atop the ruins of an old world beneath a new sky.
After all, Terra Aeterna was once Earth from the Resident Evil universe.
And Reuel intended to make it more than a world saved.
He would make it the throne of mankind—for the next thousand universes to come.
Because the Imperial Palace was built atop colossal pillars that pierced the atmosphere, Reuel utilized the vast space beneath the megastructure—including the remnants of Terra Aeterna's surface—to construct a network of sub-layered cities.
Inspired by the architectural grandeur of great civilizations from the universes of Star Wars, StarCraft, HALO, Stellaris, Gundam Series, Mass Effect, and of course, Warhammer itself, Reuel created a planet-scale vertical settlement system stretching from the deepest crust to the feet of the Imperial Palace towers. It was there that the people of his version of the Imperium of Man lived—billions of souls who worked, studied, and worshipped beneath the shadow of a heavenly palace. A place where power was not only displayed through military might, but also through structures that immortalized symbols of protection, stability, and hope.
---
Today, History is Reforged
Today is a special day.
The official induction of a new generation into the Imperium.
At the Grand Plaza—a titanic plain still under construction, stretching from the foot of the Eternity Gate, the monumental portal marking the outer boundary of the Sanctum Imperialis—thousands of young students stood in precise and respectful formation. The morning air was still thin amidst the ruins of megastructures slowly being resurrected, but their spirits burned brightly, igniting hope for the future.
They came from all corners of the galaxy, representing the legacy and the hope of humanity in a new era:
— Orphans from the Schola Progenium, future commanders, bureaucrats, and frontline leaders.
— Young psykers, brought from the black ships of the Adeptus Astra Telepathica—chosen, not born, to touch the Warp.
— Aspiring engineers, technicians, and craftsmen, trained by the tech guilds of Forge Worlds, heirs to logic in a universe ruled by dogma.
— Girls from Adepta Sororitas orphanages, destined to become the shield and sword of faith.
— And a handful—so few they could be counted on one hand—who would be trained in secret by the Officio Assassinorum. They wore no uniforms today. They were not recognized. They did not need to be known.
This young line stood alongside military forces and interstellar delegations, reflecting the multiverse unity now being forged:
— Shipgirls from Azur Lane—including Bulin and Manjuu—normally rowdy and chaotic, now stood calm in parade formation. Even Bulin, though still unable to hide her distinct round ears, wore an official black gown, following protocol half-heartedly, but with full respect.
— Astra Militarum soldiers, standing firm in flawless rows.
— The Terran contingent from the Koprulu sector: Firebats in their heavy armor, weapon-laden Marauders, and Medics standing among them like angels of war.
— The holy ranks of the Adepta Sororitas in ceremonial armor—radiant with authority, cold, and unshakable.
— Tech-Priests, Skitarii, and automata from the Adeptus Mechanicus—humming softly in binary, observing all in the silence of logic.
All stood in silence. No music. No choir. Only silence—a sacred stillness.
Today, Reuel would speak.
For the first time since the founding of this Terra Aeterna version of the Imperium of Man, the Emperor's voice would not come from a throne or filtered through the lens of dogma, but from his own mouth—alive, real, and undeniable. Before his people. Before history.
---
The morning crept in slowly.
Terra's first sun rose from behind the oceanic horizon now encircling the empire's megastructure. Its golden light reflected across the sea's surface and climbed the flanks of the palace towers, casting a heavenly silhouette into what was once a dark sky.
At the orbital naval base, the shipgirls stood in parade formation. In pairs, in threes—they marched on the deck of the spaceport orbiting Terra Aeterna. Their uniforms were glossy black, pristine, and nearly identical, as if their usual chaotic personalities had been suppressed by the gravity of authority.
Bulin was still Bulin. But today, even she looked like a part of the honor guard.
The parade whistle sounded—long and deep. Its vibration cut through the air, reaching all the way to the base of the towers.
The procession had begun.
Today, the Imperium would speak.
And the entire galaxy would bear witness.
---
During that moment of preparation, a quiet conversation unfolded among the shipgirls. Though they were weapons of war, they still held on to a human side—or at least, something resembling one.
"When the Resident Evil world fell... we didn't even have enough materials to make decent clothes," Javelin muttered, adjusting the sleeve of her new uniform.
"But now... with the rise of the Imperium and the presence of the shipgirls... everything feels more heroic. Weird. I changed clothes, but it feels like... I've become someone else."
"Is ritual really that important?"
Essex, standing beside her, nodded firmly. "Uniforms are a fundamental part of military management," she said with conviction. As a natural-born soldier and weapon of war, she fully understood Reuel's philosophy: that appearance was not just a symbol, but a reflection of discipline and collective identity.
Not long after, Reuel appeared in his golden armor, flanked by Richelieu and Saint Celestine. They stepped out from the base building in full military dress.
Richelieu wore a black military uniform. Her face was young and beautiful—like that of a true general. Compared to just a few days ago, her aura was now more commanding; the maturity of her leadership had begun to show in her posture and gaze.
The morning sun bathed Reuel in light. The shipgirls fell silent, as did everyone present.
"That's... our Commander..."
"The God-Emperor has arrived."
The long formation came to an immediate halt. No more whispers. Silence hung in the air.
The inauguration ceremony of the Imperium of Man, along with the first-ever raising of the double-headed eagle flag in the history of this new world, had begun.
"Play the music!"
In an orderly fashion, grand and stirring military music began to echo through the plaza. The shipgirls from the front-line fleets—those with musical talent—joined in, playing the rhythm with their instruments. Not to be outdone, the members of the Ecclesiarchy began to sing a sacred hymn: Hymns to the God-Emperor.
Accompanied by choir and booming march music, a massive flag bearing the golden double-headed eagle—against a black backdrop—slowly rose to the peak of the tallest mast atop the Imperial Palace, fluttering beneath the morning sun.
"The Imperium of Man is hereby officially founded," Reuel declared with a resounding voice that echoed throughout the plaza.
Though only a fraction of the human population—numbering in the trillions—was present, and just a few hundred shipgirls among them—including Universal Bulin, standing in formation holding a wrench as tall as her body and a drill bit in hand—the moment felt vast. Sacred.
This was a good beginning. The beginning they needed. A ritual of civilization.
From today on, this place would no longer be just a small settlement or a trial colony.
It would stand as a true civilization—ready to compete with other powers across the multiverse. But unlike pluralistic societies that celebrated diversity, this Imperium recognized only one dominant legacy: humanity. All alien lifeforms would be eradicated without mercy.
Of course, if there were species from other universes that Reuel favored, they would have no choice. Refusal would not be an option.
"We will begin from Terra Aeterna, cross the seas, run toward the stars, and plant the double-headed eagle flag on every world across the multiverse.
We will cooperate with friendly worlds to build a shared future—and crush all enemies that stand in our way. Let our allies admire us, and our enemies tremble. Build a human civilization that spans the entire universe."
With a firm voice, Reuel announced his ambition and vision to all in attendance. A prototype of a super-civilization—on a scale and with dimensional depth beyond comprehension—had been born within him.
"Wow..." the shipgirls whispered, in awe of the courage and magnitude of his vision.
Cadia Shock Troopers, Astra Militarum, and the civilians present roared with enthusiasm, ignited by a spirit they had never before experienced.
Ayanami, Belfast, and the other senior shipgirls looked at Reuel with eyes that sparkled.
They had seen many leaders. Many flagships. But never had one exuded the sense of dominance and momentum like the one they had just witnessed.
"Run to the stars... and chase them down," someone murmured.
Though this was only the beginning, and their strength was far from enough, a flame of loyalty and determination had ignited in their hearts. They were ready to help the commander—Reuel—realize that grand dream.
Dafeng couldn't hide her feelings. Her gaze shifted. Into love.
The Astra Militarum soldiers and Terran Marines from the StarCraft universe were already growing impatient, eager to be deployed to other worlds. The Tech-Priests as well—they longed for technologies from other dimensions.
At this moment, one dimensional portal linking to the world of Azur Lane had been completed. Another was being prepared—for an invasion world, where all types of forces and warships would be deployed.
A third world was being designated as a pan-dimensional logistics hub—interconnected by a network of megastructures that linked the conquered worlds of the Imperium.
Although key materials like Mind Cubes were not yet fully gathered, the Adeptus Mechanicus remained patient. Meanwhile, the Adepta Sororitas, Ecclesiarchy, and Administratum could hardly wait to spread the doctrines of the God-Emperor Reuel to every corner of the cosmos.
Many institutions within the Imperium had already begun drafting their own plans.
"Ah... Commander..." Dafeng whispered gently.
"I really didn't choose the wrong person... I'll bring you victory with my own hands. In any world... as long as you desire it... Dafeng will deliver it to you...."
"Thank you. I look forward to your performance."
Reuel nodded toward Dafeng from the stage.
"Ah..."
The carrier Chongqing was so overjoyed she nearly fainted.
Richelieu and Enterprise couldn't help but exchange glances.
With an ambition that vast, they knew: as weapons of war, they needed a commander like this.
"I have a feeling... we're going to witness many different sights in the future."
The two carriers locked eyes.
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Return to the Palace
After the ceremony, Reuel returned to his office in the Golden Imperial Palace, accompanied by Claire, Alice, Jill, and Ada Wong.
In these early stages of the Imperium of Man's founding, countless issues still demanded resolution.
Although the Imperial Palace was still under construction, its original legacy—built between M29 and M31—could not yet be fully replicated. It would take years to perfect. Thus, the development proceeded in phases.
The shipgirls gradually changed out of their uniforms into casual clothes and resumed their usual activities. Uniforms were reserved for military expeditions or important ceremonies; everyday attire was based on personal preference.
"The momentum was excellent, Commander."
Richelieu, now in her casual wear, spoke while brushing her long blonde hair. There was admiration and gentleness in her eyes—a side she rarely showed.
"I feel... like I'm no longer just a shipgirl from Azur Lane, but a part of the Imperium of Man."
"How could that be? That's your home, and you still need to return there to face the Sirens in the future," Reuel replied with a smile.
"But we can talk about that later. Just integrate the Minato port region into the Imperium," he added casually.
"The human heart isn't strong enough to swallow an elephant," Richelieu sighed softly.
"Why not bring the Sirens along while you're at it?"
"It's not impossible."
If the Sirens possessed intelligence, could be reasoned with, and had a sense of sanity, Reuel saw no reason why they couldn't join the Imperium of Man.
What was the point of endlessly fighting on the same planet alongside the shipgirls? Wouldn't it be better to move on to other worlds—and defeat aliens together?