The Temple of Omniscience is one of the most majestic structures on Mars, dwarfing even the largest forged temples in the Gamma World Complex.
The smoke-belching iron tower pierced the dusky sky, the blue stone dome towered into the clouds, the majestic pilasters formed the open door, and millions of mathematical formulas and proofs were engraved on the pink marble.
The moment he got out of the car, the boundless shadow of the temple engulfed Rogris, and he was shocked by the huge structure - although this was not his first time here.
He then walked along the electrical passage, still many miles away from this pilgrimage site.
This area of Mars is protected by a vast dome, enough to form an independent climate. The golden and red flags are flapping in the wind. The sky is filled with huge prayer ships. The golden airships play continuously from the brass loudspeakers.
Speaking machine language, the yellowed parchment with prayers written on it swayed behind it.
Thousands of pilgrims marched along the stone streets, which were grooved by the sandals of countless supplicants.
Techmarines are surrounded by monotonous and tall buildings, mechanical temples, technological temples, and engine shrines—all dedicated to worshiping and glorifying the God of Machines.
Although he is an Astartes, he is not particularly noticeable here, because the pilgrims who come here are far more bizarre than the Astartes.
For example, a hundred meters away on the right, there is a technician without limbs riding on a multi-legged sedan. Surrounding him are a group of incredibly tall tripods, which are walking with strange strides.
Fifty meters away on the left, a body of gathered consciousness floats in a glass tank, escorted by a team of combat robots under its control.
A cacophony of robots, floating skulls and gold-plated suspended vehicles carried passengers and protected sacred objects to the temple. The few people who had just emerged from the temple looked relaxed as they had fulfilled their wishes, obviously not having come to such a magnificent and extraordinary place in vain.
Here all Mechanicus will find solace and answers.
When Logris walked through the gate, he raised his head and looked up at the scowl-faced Predator Titan. Its powerful weapons pointed directly at the sky, which contained the dual meanings of symbolism and inspiration.
The Adeptus Mechanicus are capable of creating the deadliest war machines imaginable, but they take no responsibility for their work.
Being so obsessed with what you can create that no one first considers whether it should be created.
Finally, Rogris approached the entrance of the temple. The majestic pilasters were dizzyingly high, and a warm wind blew from it, carrying the smell of musk.
He stopped, took a deep breath, and walked inside.
After seeing the immortal majesty outside the temple, it is easy to be disappointed by its interior - the exterior is magnificent beyond imagination, but the interior fails to repay this expectation.
The front hall has bare metal walls, with connection ports lined up. Penitents kneel on the ground, connected to the mechanical heart of the building, sharing the same pulse. There is a fence with hollow copper chains behind it to connect the entrance to the temple.
Separated from the main altar.
Rogris moved carefully through the crowd of penitents, each of their bodies shaking and convulsing with pain from the electric shocks of purification.
Behind the fence, dense layers of metal benches were lined up from the altar into the main hall. A mechanical priest rode on a suspended lectern and preached sermons with mechanical holy words from a high position.
The venue was packed with seats and thousands of people moving around. Wherever the priest passed by, the believers in long robes all bowed their heads.
Although Roglis was not a formal believer of the Mechanicus, he also lowered his head and raised his left hand. He did not know whether he could reach such a state of unity with the Machine God in the future.
"The humblest among us knows that giving up our mortal body cannot be done with a single blow."
Suddenly, a voice sounded behind him, as if he had guessed his thoughts.
Rogris turned around and found a priest standing opposite, so he bowed his head in greeting.
The priest's face was blacker than basalt, and his holy garments shone like molten gold, reflecting iridescent colors like anointing oil.
Under the priest's robe, Rogris saw a gleaming skeleton, which was composed of brass armatures, buzzing gears and ornately decorated cables.
The priest's head is very long, resembling a giant dragon in ancient Terra paintings. There is a pyramid-shaped object in the center of the dragon's head, with a sphere that emits soft light embedded in it. It is not like the twisted shape of a human head at all.
Reflecting the image of Rogris himself.
This priest is also an acquaintance of Rogris, and he is also his guide on the road to understanding the machine soul.
"You praise me too much."
Rogris said, bowing deeply.
"You are so close to the Mechanicus, and I am just
A layman, Master Boban Hayden."
"You're in trouble."
The senior priest's voice was still emotionless, but his appearance caused all the believers around him to worship in unison, for no other reason than that——
Master Boban Hayden is the oldest and highest-ranking priest in the Temple of Omniscientity. He is also the only person in the temple who has experienced the Horus Heresy and is still alive, although he was only an apprentice who had just started.
.
And his mentor was the previous generation chief priest of the Temple of Omniscience.
"Your biosensory readings go up and down, and by all measurable parameters, I
I can tell you're here to get answers."
"Yes, I'm here for that."
Rodrigos admitted.
"I'm about to leave the temple and go to the forge to study. I hope to benefit from your guidance for the last time."
Master Boban Hayden nodded.
"Come with me and I'll listen to your dilemma and offer a conceivable solution."
Then, he stepped on the liquid metal platform and glided in the air, with Rogris following behind him, and together they headed towards an archway lined with jagged skulls and fiber optic nerves.
Behind the arch is a corridor made of polished steel and glass, which is eerily quiet, with only a crackling energy field protecting a shimmering door.
This energy field, called the Confessor's Force Field, can isolate the protected area from the rest of the temple. No one outside the force field can hear or see what's going on inside.
The moment Roglis entered the chapel, he felt a faint sting.
Indoors, the priest's chapel has no decorations. There is only a metal high stool placed in the center of the room. There is a dimly lit niche on the bare wall, which contains input and output ports and data readers.
each one.
The priest began to walk around the room, the glowing ball rippling on the stone face.
"You can start."
Later, Roglis told about the difficulties he had in studying during his time in the Temple, as well as his confusion about the teachings of the Mechanicus, especially his understanding of the relationship between the Emperor and the Mechanicus. In this regard, the Astartes had a close relationship with
The Adeptus Mechanicus had a completely different view.
Roglis believes that perhaps it is this conflict of ideas that prevents him from making greater breakthroughs in knowledge.
"Before leaving, I hope to gain enlightenment from the master."
After listening, Master Boban Hayden responded gently and slowly:
"Mr. Rodrigos, you know, I always thought that Astartes should be like servitors, pure and without the need for emotions."