In the Grimdark Sector with a System

Author Notes:

Shout out to Corporal Kasey Sordy and Private Marius Lunde for joining the ranks and help supporting our glorious effort!

This chapter though... Well, it's a foreshadowing chap, tehe~?

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[Debuff Immunity:

Grants complete immunity to any ill-effect.

Things like mind control, mental manipulation, soul or physical poisoning, sickness,... As long as the effect is detrimental to the bearer of this skill, the bearer will not be affected. The bearer will be able to survive and thrive with an indomitable spirit and body, completely free from influences of the negative kind.

Mitigate fatigue, pain, and negative emotions.

This skill has little to no room for improvement.]

[Battle meditation:

A skill that boosts the morale, stamina, and overall battle prowess of the user and an individual's allies while reducing the opposition's combat-effectiveness by eroding their will to fight.

The buffs are applied to allies under the command of the skill bearer. It also exists as an aura, with those directly under the command of the skill bearer receiving the largest benefits. Debuffs are applied to the enemy in the radius of this aura.

The buffs, debuffs, and aura radius scale with the power and understanding of the skill bearer in the way of warfare.

Warning! Overdrafting the skill will induce mental burdens on the skill bearer. The effect is mitigated by the skill Debuff Immunity.

Acclimating with the skill for a prolonged period will reduce the mental load. Please train hard, skill bearer!]

[Psychic Null passive:

Immune to direct psychic effects. Immune to Demonic possession and spiritual corruption by the forces or agents of Chaos.

Projects an aura that dampens any psychic or Warp-related powers occurring within the aura's area of effect. (Aura radius scales with the skill bearer's willpower and can be increased by actively deploying the skill to full effect.)

Passively deal damage and increase damage dealt to beings composed of pure psychic energy such as entities native to the Warp like Daemons.

Psychic Nulls Active:

Massively improve the passive effects.

Induced mental burden on the skill bearer. The effect is mitigated by the skill Debuff Immunity.

Acclimating with the skill for a prolonged period will reduce the mental load. Please train hard, skill bearer!

Psychich Nulls special modifier:

The skill bearer does not impart discomfort on non-hostile entities unless the skill bearer is willing.]

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Those are the notable skills and perks that I've acquired ever since I found myself in the 40K universe. Granted, there are other self-explaining, minor skills like Instinct and CQC Mastery, but I can't exactly list them all because there are an awful lot of them. Most of the time, the System offered status improvements or rarer skills and perks. Other than the surprising Psychic Null perk, I don't think I have ever received anything that detracts me from the basic human genome. In other words, I never acquired a Login Reward that grants me something a human in 40K shouldn't be capable of, transhuman or not. That is until I receive this mind-boggling enigma.

[Abyss Totem stigmata:

Error: The bearer needs to explore the benefits of the stigmata themselves. Please contact the nearest System Administrator for more details.]

Having received this... Perk? Stigmata? Let's just go with Stigmata for clarity's sake. Anyway, having received this Stigmata for a few days, I can confidently say that the Error in the description is, in fact, an actual Error. Despite subtly exploring the Stigmata's effects, the description stays the same even when I unlock some potential uses and information for the Stigmata. And unlike what the System is advising me to do, I don't have a Panic Button to call Nicolae the Shoggoth or the Bartender for a System Update. The System is still in Closed Alpha testing, if I recall correctly? It's been a while and the information was not really as important as well... Me being reincarnated, you know? Regardless, I am expected to test-run everything and only report back when I die...

Though I guess I will be able to meet them at a certain point in the future? The Omniverse is truly vast, after all, but I digress.

So, for the past few days, in between crafting some holy badges and sigils for Mama's Order, I investigated the Abyss Totem Stigmata clandestinely. I can say for sure that the Stigmata is not Warp-based despite its magical benefits. And yes, in my tentative analysis, Abyss Totem Stigmata offers me the ability to do supernatural feats naturally, albeit in a limited scope as of now. Though it sounds weird, it's not as weird as the rest of the 40K universe. Anyway, instead of giving me physical strength, I can apparently create and manipulate elements now. However, I find myself having a much better affinity for water and its derivatives. Fitting, considering the name of the Stigmata.

By the look of it, pulling on the power of the Stigmata will induce the same mental fatigue as Battle Meditation or Psychic Null. The fatigue level is dependent on my mastery over the usage of the Stigmata, the scale of what I am trying to do, the effects I want to achieve, and the element I decide to manipulate. Due to the Stigmata not running on Warp energy, I have been successful in covertly training my control over it these last few days. To verify that the Stigmata wouldn't be detected accidentally, I risked running in front of a sensitive energy detector that the Order of Our Martyred Lady had in their basement, with a magically chilled mug of recaf... The end result was the machine was none the wiser, though I shouldn't be overt in using the Stigmata overtly nonetheless.

Still, the Stigmata does offer me the flexibility to use long-range attacks in lieu of a lasrifle. I can even incorporate the Stigmata's power into my CQC attacks, making them even more deadlier while still being subtle. A small, molecular blade made from water should be the last thing anyone would think of checking.

"Ein, you there?" I am called out of my musing by my Patrol Sergeant. "Damn girl, you keep spinning your tanto like that, you'll scare off all of your suitors."

Rather than stopping, I manipulate my yoroi-doshi, having it dance on my gloved hand. "Pretty darn sure I have no one asking me out, yet. Even then, it's not like I am straight, Sergeant Johnson."

"Eh, you'll get some of them real soon if you go out and network more, instead of cooping up in this tin-can Chimera with us." The Sergeant says, earning a few chuckles and smirks from the rest of the squad.

I shrug. "Nah, I don't want to complicate my life more than it already is. Besides, I have been taking it easy these past few days in the church. Figured I may as well get back into the grove with you all, shaking off the rust and all that."

A female Private, apparently a newcomer to the Squad, chimes in. "Ehm... Aren't you supposed to be at that marksman competition, Corporal?"

"True that." I nod in her direction. "Your name is Weiss, right?"

The Private, Weiss, nods back slowly. Despite being a Cadian, she's one of the more... Normal recruits, meaning she is not as confident as she could be. Now I see why Johnson is keeping her next to him.

"Well, Weiss. The competition is not as important as making sure my unit makes it back home as intact as it can be." I add simply.

Sergeant Johnson laughs before patting Weiss' shoulder. "And that's her way of expressing love for us fine mud stompers. How about this, you pair of young'uns stick close to each other for a short while? Weiss can learn the ropes from you, Ein, while you can have a battle buddy whenever you're on your sniper escape."

I shrug, not minding the task. "Given the thing that we're about to step into, I don't see why not. Still, this is really not a suitable day to break the newbie in, ain't it?"

Weiss shakily smiles while the other Guardsmen and women can only chuckle wryly. On his part, Johnson shrugs.

"True that, but what can we do? We're the only free QRF unit available on such short notice to investigate the anomaly. If it turns out to be all bogus, then we head back in time for chows with no waste of taxpayers' money. However, if we're to encounter something weird, then we're to call it in and wait. I was hoping that we might receive some additional intel before we arrive at the anomaly site, but so far..." Johnson sighs with a shake of his head. "Best bet is to recon everything while keeping close contact with each other. I am reassured that we can call down heavy firepower if needed, but any reinforcement will take some time due to the distance involved and the presence of other anomaly sites."

Weiss tentatively raises her hand. "We have two Squads and two Chimeras. Surely we can count on us having enough firepower as a guarantee?"

I smile lightly. "That is true if it's just for normal patrols. However, Cadia is a prime incursion target due to its strategic location. It's unknown whether the anomalies are the prelude to an invasion or are ultimately harmless. This is why we're using Chimeras to travel instead of aircraft, there's no telling what will happen to us when we fly above the anomalous site. At least with the Chimeras, we can disembark and have the IFVs cover our approach."

Weiss lets out an 'Oh' of appreciation while nodding at me for the explanation. It's at this moment that Sergeant Johnson speaks into his vox, communicating with the Commander of the Chimera.

"How close are we till the drop-off, Amtrak?

"30 seconds out. Check your gears, people."

"Copy that." Johnson nods at the rest of us, prompting me to say on his stead.

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen, you heard the man. Check your equipment and supplies. We have no idea what we're heading into so make sure your gas masks are secured, just in case. Most important of all, stick to your battle buddies so that help is always near you. Weiss, you're with me on this round. I am the Sergeant's stand-in for a markswoman and forward observer, so I am usually the safest to be around. Unless shit hits the fan real fast, you will find it easier to learn the tempo of this unit around me. Expect me to delegate you the responsibility to handle vox communications with that backpack you're carrying."

Grabbing her lasrifle securely, Weiss answers with all the seriousness she can muster. "Yes, Corporal!"

In response, I give her a thumbs up while sheeting my tanto. Expertly, I also check the things on my body, unloading and reloading the energy packs for my weapons with clicks and clacks.

Seeing our interaction, Johnson smirks. "Well, can't say it any better than what the Corporal here said. So here's a tip, little Weiss. More often than not, listening to Ein's advice pays good dividends. Keep that in mind and you'll fit in just fine."

Though she isn't answering, Weiss takes Johnson's words to heart. A short moment later, the Chimeras stop, and with that, it's boot on the ground time.