|3rd POV|
Change was sweeping through Romania.
The first and most visible transformation unfolded in the mundane world. A single company, Imperium, had begun reshaping the country's economy, and with it, the course of history. It started as a small, privately owned enterprise, first diving into the energy sector. What made Imperium extraordinary, however, was its revolutionary plasma technology—a method of energy production unlike anything before it.
It grew at an unprecedented rate.
Within weeks of its first public demonstrations, the government approved its technology. No bureaucratic hurdles, no drawn-out negotiations. After a mere seven days of testing, Imperium's Plasma Reactor—a machine capable of generating enough power for an entire nation—was officially sanctioned.
The world took notice.
Countries flocked to Romania, eager to tap into the cheap and abundant energy Imperium provided. Moldova was the first, followed closely by Serbia and Bulgaria. Within a single year, Imperium became the largest energy supplier in all four nations.
But its ambitions didn't stop there.
Soon, Imperium expanded into the automobile industry, producing highly efficient electric cars that were both stylish and affordable. With electricity prices hitting record lows, people began considering a shift. Those buying their first cars gravitated toward Imperium's sleek, modern designs, eager to embrace a future free from rising fuel costs.
In a mere twelve months, Imperium had become one of the most powerful companies in Romania.
Yet, what the world saw was only the surface of a much greater plan.
Behind the curtains of the mundane world, another transformation was underway.
Imperium was not merely a corporation—it was the beating heart of a revolution.
Nathan and Liliana had built it not for wealth or prestige, but to fund a war against the supernatural.
The two had slaughtered vampires and rescued countless human captives from their underground lairs. The survivors, many of whom had endured unspeakable torment, swore allegiance to their cause. Some decide to support them from behind. Desperate for strength, others willingly underwent a transformation that reshaped them into something greater.
They became the first generation of Space Marines.
Under Nathan's hands, their bodies were rebuilt and strengthened beyond human limits. Towering 2.5 meters tall and built like living tanks, they could punch through steel with nothing but their bare hands.
And with their new power, they marched into battle.
Their first true test came in the form of another fortress of vampires, this time belonging to the Carmilla Clan. Liliana led them herself. What followed was not a battle but a massacre, a violent purge of creatures that had ruled from the shadows for far too long.
Their legend grew.
In the dark corners of the supernatural world, Nathan and Liliana were whispered about in fear. The vampires called them the Monsters of Humanity—creatures more terrifying than any creatures the blood-suckers ever encounter, a threat to their very existence.
Yet, among the people they protected, they were known by different names.
Heroes. Saviors. Humanity's greatest champions.
They never turned their backs on their fellow humans as they waged war. Nathan ensured that Imperium not only funded the rebellion but also provided jobs for those he rescued, especially those unwilling to take up arms.
He left nothing to chance.
His psychic abilities allowed him to manipulate those in power, ensuring that Imperium's rise was unobstructed. Even the government, blinded by unseen influence, did nothing to interfere. They are nothing but a puppet to him at this point.
And that is the reason why, in only a year, Imperium became a colossus, a titan in the world of industry.
Its wealth provided Nathan with all he needed. Beneath the company's headquarters, he constructed a vast underground base, a place of constant innovation and progress. Weapons, armor, vehicles, and technology—each crafted with one singular purpose: the destruction of the supernatural.
He even created new metals and elements, forging materials more advanced than anything found on Earth. His crowning achievement was Cullidium, an element that allowed him to create better armor and a key component in limitless energy production.
It was the dawn of something greater.
His inspiration came from Iron Man. He can create a better machine that lets him get an endless supply of energy with the help of STC (Standard Template Construct) from the Apex of the Dark Age of Technology of the Warhammer 40k universe, but he lacks the raw material to create them.
So he forged his own with the thing he had.
He uses that element to create a new power source that produces limitless, renewable, and clean energy for all the tech his faction uses.
With every passing day, his faction grew stronger. Nearly two hundred Space Marines now stood under his command, each clad in armor that made them unstoppable juggernauts.
And soon, they would march again.
Nathan sat in his office, the glow of holographic displays illuminating the darkened room. Reports flickered before his eyes—enemy locations, supply lines, combat readiness. A soft knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.
"My lord, we are ready to depart."
Liliana stood at the entrance, her adornment and determination gaze landing in his eyes. He can feel her eagerness for this battle.
Nathan rose, adjusting his coat before making his way toward the underground base. They had work to do.
Below, an army awaited them.
Rows of Space Marines, their armored forms gleaming under the artificial lights, snapped to attention as Nathan and Liliana entered.
"My lord! The Sword of Humanity is ready!"
Angela Ganea stepped forward, her right hand clenched into a fist over her chest. She was Liliana's captain, her second-in-command, and the first to undergo the transformation into a Space Marine.
Nathan's gaze swept over them.
"Then we shall march."
His voice carried a weight of authority that could not be denied. The enemy had fortified their stronghold deep within the Făgăraș Mountains. But that would not save them. They knew the Imperium was coming, but no amount of preparation would stop the storm that was about to descend upon them.
His psychic power began to ripple through the air, an unseen force that wrapped around every soldier in the chamber. The image of a mighty conqueror took shape—an image that burned itself into their minds.
He was larger than life, clad in golden armor that shone like the sun, standing as a beacon of strength and victory. His presence was absolute.
To them, he was no mere leader.
He was the harbinger of humanity's ascension.
His voice resonated through the chamber, unwavering and powerful.
"This is your first deployment as the First Legion. Show them the fear of humanity. Let them remember it until their dying breath."
A deafening battle cry erupted from the Space Marines.
Behind them, three towering mechs, each standing 25 meters tall, came to life. Weapons systems hummed, their immense firepower capable of leveling entire cities.
And tonight, those weapons were aimed at the vampires.
Nathan took the first step forward, his voice carrying the weight of destiny itself.
"March."