Horatio sat up and saw the Servitors divided into two groups; the first group was wiping the blood from his body, while the other was cleaning the bloodstains from the ritual altar.
From the amount of blood, it was clear the surgery had been quite extensive.
"Is it done already…?" He clutched his somewhat groggy head and saw his naked body.
Indeed, he was sitting completely nude on the operating altar, with the beautiful Goddess Priest standing beside him, holding the machine gods axe, her eyes burning with intensity as she smiled and appraised him, as if admiring her perfect creation.
Horatio's previously somewhat slender body had now transformed into a robust, muscular physique; it was hard to imagine how this Tech-Priest had achieved it.
[Ugh… never mind, she's an adult, and a Goddess Priest at that; she's seen everything there is to see, both what she should and shouldn't, especially during the surgery.]
Horatio gave up trying to cover his simultaneously enhanced "special features" and stood up, stretching his limbs.
Neural plugs, compatible with the Imperial Navy's command chain, had been implanted from the back of his head down to his upper spine.
This is a mandatory implant for every Naval Officer in the Imperial Navy, used to transmit the officer's will in the form of bio-electric signals to the various command hubs of the battleship as quickly and accurately as possible, which is crucial for determining the life and death of everyone on the ship.
Since Horatio was a student in a command department like the Fleet Maritime Department, this connection slot device would be implanted early, at the age of 16.
The device installed for him was very light, replacing some of his original bones and tissues, yet he felt nothing particularly different; only from his brainstem to the middle of his spine was it covered by a bionic skin that was almost identical to his own skin.
A large Imperial Two-Headed Skyhawk emblem was laser-tattooed onto the center of his shoulder blade by a Servo-skull, and directly below it, down to his buttocks, was tattooed the Imperial Navy's rudder emblem.
The IV tube in his natural arm was disconnected, and a few drops of blood flowed out, but the wound quickly clotted at an extraordinary speed.
Perhaps due to the residual effect of the pain pump, Horatio did not feel much pain in his body; on the contrary, he felt a surge of strength that he wanted to unleash.
"Please move around to test the results."
Horatio threw a swift straight punch forward, the punch whistling through the air; if it hit a person, it could break bones with a single blow.
Whoosh—
A Servo-skull suddenly rushed towards Horatio; he reacted instantly, flipping off the platform, achieving a frontal response within 0.2 seconds, and his natural, flesh-and-blood arm delivered a heavy, wind-breaking punch, sending the skull flying.
The speed was so astonishing that Horatio himself was truly surprised.
"Thank you for your hard work. But, did you move this bionic limb during the surgery?" Horatio asked, looking at the milky white lubricating fluid residue on the fingertips of his iron hand, which contained synapses, as he moved his fingers and various rotating joints.
"Just added some lubricant and coolant. Such a wonderful mechanical creation, of course, needs careful maintenance." The Goddess Priest walked forward, and the bionic limb on her back quickly wiped away the remaining milky white liquid.
[The stat cap increased, wasn't that her doing...?] Horatio looked at the Goddess Priest, who was constantly appraising his body, feeling a bit confused.
"It seems the surgery was absolutely perfect! I have witnessed the emergence of a future strongest mortal warrior here. Ah, truly worthy of being my creation!"
Lati excitedly cupped her face with both hands, stepping back to examine Horatio's entire body with a gaze mixed with admiration and doting.
"However, you are not yet in your most perfect state. You seem to have suffered from chronic malnutrition for many years. Even with my most advanced research results, you temporarily cannot unleash your full potential. However, I believe the Navy Academy's diet and training will quickly remedy this."
"Congratulations on successfully passing the first trial to become a Childer of Loyalty, Mr. Horatio Kirkland."
Horatio adjusted his brand-new military uniform in the mirror.
The uniform, which had previously been a bit loose, now fit perfectly; in just these two or three short hours, the person in the mirror had transformed from a somewhat slender, scholarly staff officer into a capable, simply dressed young warrior.
"Thank you."
Horatio gratefully saluted the Goddess Priest and turned to walk towards the door.
"What an interesting individual, hehe." Lati-EB2A1 spun around in place, watching Horatio's receding back, and chuckled meaningfully.
Horatio pushed the door open, and both leaders were standing outside, conversing and waiting for him; seeing Horatio's completely transformed appearance, they were silent for a while.
"I don't recall the Navy Childer of Loyalty surgery being able to make one stronger?" Lieutenant Stirling looked Horatio up and down.
This kid's demeanor had done a 180-degree flip from when he went in to when he came out; he looked much more like a valiant Imperial Army soldier now.
"Perhaps it's new technology," Horatio evaded.
"Father Lati is an exceptionally outstanding young Priest. In recent years, she has won multiple Imperial honors through her inventions and improved designs. Many in the Navy seek her out to customize and modify weapons, equipment, and vehicles; she is very reliable."
"She's that amazing, huh?"
"Yes, and she's the only Tech-Priest in Abyss Port who will work for you if you pay her, which is uncommon in the Adeptus Mechanicus. Although Father Lati has attracted much criticism and been ostracized by many colleagues because of this, it doesn't affect her loyal service to the Imperial Navy."
"She looks more like the daughter of a wealthy merchant than a Tech-Priest, and I don't know why she joined the Adeptus Mechanicus. Let's go, your sword anointing ceremony is about to begin."
Rear Admiral Edward put his arm around Horatio's shoulder, and a small booklet containing vows and prayers was slipped into his hand.
Led by a Ecclesiarchy monk, the three walked together into the chapel-style auditorium of the Loyalist Academy.
The auditorium was filled with incense, and a red-robed Cardinal stood on the pulpit, holding a crozier inlaid with various gems in one hand and an exaggeratedly large Ecclesiarchy holy book in the other.
On either side of him stood a row of monks in gray robes, chanting prayers, and two white-robed Priests.
"This is the first important ceremony in your service career, so perk up, my boy."
Rear Admiral Edward patted Horatio's shoulder, then he and Lieutenant Stirling walked ahead to the right side of the pulpit, taking their places from the Acolyte, who held a redwood box on a velvet cushion, standing perfectly straight, forming a part of the ceremony.
"Step forward, my child. Receive the glory bestowed upon you by the God-Emperor." The Bishop's voice boomed like a bell.
Horatio took a deep breath, adjusted his bicorne hat, straightened his chest, and advanced slowly with steady steps.
The assisting Priest, twirling a laurel branch, chanted the holy name of the God-Emperor and sprinkled holy water upon Horatio's body.
A hot wax seal dripped onto a slender parchment, stamped with the Imperial Two-Headed Skyhawk emblem, solidifying into a pure mark on an amulet.
As Horatio passed, a Ecclesiarchy deacon directed an Acolyte to attach it to his coat tails and shoulder sleeves.
With the choir's singing as the main melody and the monks chanting solemn and sacred prayers as the harmony, Horatio felt himself entering a transcendent and pure spiritual world.
He walked to the front of the pulpit and, with solemn reverence, performed an impeccable, standard aquila salute towards the colossal death angel statue, approximately 30 meters tall, before him.
"Childer of Loyalty, do you wish to devoutly make your vows in this sacred place?" The Cardinal raised his crozier.
"I wish to make my vows here." Horatio knelt on the ground, facing the death angel statue.
"From this moment forth, I dedicate my life to the God-Emperor, in prayer for His favor."
"I wish to dedicate it to Him."
"From this moment forth, I dedicate my strength to the God-Emperor, to fulfill His will."
"I wish to dedicate it to Him."
"From this moment forth, I dedicate my passion to the God-Emperor, to glorify the purity of humanity."
"I wish to dedicate it to Him."
"From this moment forth, I dedicate my wisdom to the God-Emperor, to perfect the glory of the Empire."
"I wish to dedicate it to Him."
After completing his oath, Horatio clasped his hands together and bowed his head. The Cardinal closed the holy book and straightened his chest.
"As a servant of the God-Emperor, by His authority, I hear and witness your vows. As His sword and shield, you shall become a warrior beneath the Throne, and I promise you glory."
The crozier gently tapped his shoulder, as solemn as a medieval knight's investiture.
"Now, please rise."
At the Cardinal's words, Horatio stood upright.
"Today, in the name of the God-Emperor, I bestow upon you the Sword of the Navy Childer of Loyalty. May your future be one of diligent duty, sworn to protect His sacred boundless domain until death."
As soon as he finished speaking, Captain Stirling reverently carried the sword box, taking three dignified goose steps forward, and stood beside Horatio.
Commodore Edward Peru, wearing a dignified and elegant white-plumed, gold-trimmed bicorne hat, walked to face Horatio.
From the sword box before Lieutenant Stirling, he ceremoniously presented the 60-centimeter-long Navy Childer of Loyalty cadet short sword with both hands.
Its scabbard was carved with magnificent void warfare engravings, and the wooden structure of the scabbard was painted black, reinforced and decorated with gilded copper fittings.
It possessed a gravitas that transcended a cadet's status, silently affirming its full qualification as an officer's short sword.
"Horatio Kirkland, heed this order: As the appointed Commodore of the Gothic Fleet, I now bestow upon you the Navy Childer of Loyalty short sword.
Effective today, you are officially a member of the Imperial Navy. The God-Emperor expects you to diligently fulfill your duties."
"I am honored."
The Commodore nodded solemnly and placed the short sword in Horatio's cupped hands.
Horatio bowed his head, took a step back, then performed the aquila salute to the front, back, and all personnel present at the ceremony.
Clang—Clang—
The heavy bells atop the auditorium rang out, echoing across the sky, proclaiming to the world the birth of a God-Emperor warrior.