Chapter 467: Yvraine's Plan. The Emperor's Return! Restoring Glory!
Everyone present had their own vested interests and demands, all hoping Guilliman would stay and first deal with the troubles at hand.
Among them, the most insistent was naturally Celestine, who had come carrying the Emperor's mission.
The Imperium of Man had only just regained a glimmer of hope—must they once again watch that faint light of dawn be extinguished?
Celestine had traveled all the way to Macragge, risking her life to resurrect Guilliman, all for the sake of bringing him back to Terra to take charge of the situation.
This was the mission entrusted to her by the God-Emperor, one she had no choice but to fulfill.
Guilliman cast an unintentional glance at the Emperor standing beside him. The Emperor remained completely motionless, standing in place just like the other Astartes—still as stone statues.
It seemed the Emperor intended to let him handle these troubles on his own.
"I did not summon you here to negotiate, but to inform you!"
At that moment, Guilliman's face darkened, his tone resolute as he addressed everyone. He had to enter the Warp, and no one could stop him.
"As for what I am going to do and where I am going, I can only tell you this—it is the Emperor's command. I simply carry it out. You need only obey."
Guilliman's uncompromising stance left the crowd shocked. They could not fathom what had happened to make him so determined to leave Macragge.
"Honored Primarch, I must again stress this—I came bearing divine mandate. Regardless of any misunderstanding, you must first return with me to Terra to meet the God-Emperor."
Celestine was as unyielding as a nail driven deep, refusing to give ground. Her mission was to bring Guilliman back. Until she completed it, she would not relent.
Seeing the Living Saint still clinging to him, Guilliman's brows furrowed in irritation. His expression hardened as he rebuked her sharply:
"I do not know you, nor do I recognize any so-called divine mandate. I know only the Emperor's will. If you claim you bear such a mandate, then show it to me!"
Guilliman knew Celestine could produce no proof of her divine mandate. Otherwise, she wouldn't have wasted so much time quarreling with Calgar earlier.
What's more, the Imperium's governing structure had long since collapsed. Each human world ruled itself, and the Emperor's word of command extended only to very limited regions.
Yet, just as Celestine could not prove her mandate, Guilliman likewise could not prove he truly carried the Emperor's will.
Faced with Guilliman's near-unreasonable demand, Celestine gazed deeply at him. Of course she felt anger, but she betrayed not the slightest trace of dissatisfaction.
On the contrary, her expression grew even more reverent and humble. "Primarch, I must confirm whether you are truly fully recovered, whether there remain any traces of Slaanesh's poison within you."
Her words came just short of accusing Guilliman directly of being corrupted by the Ruinous Powers, his mind clouded by Chaos.
That infuriated Guilliman completely. To be accused of Chaos corruption was an extremely grave charge—more so when he was a Primarch. How could this obstinate Celestine cling to him like tar, refusing to let go?
"Impudent—!"
Calgar could no longer contain himself. He drew his chainsword and leveled it at Celestine. He had already been displeased by the Living Saint's relentless pressure, but now this interloper dared question Guilliman's sanity?
If Guilliman were not fully healed, then how could he have commanded their forces with such brilliance just now?
Celestine's accusation was nothing less than an insult to the entire Ultramarines Chapter!
At once, the twin handmaidens by Celestine's side also drew their blades, standing protectively before her.
Having just received the Emperor's blessing and empowerment, the Living Saint and her attendants were all the more resolved to carry out His command. If they could not complete the mission, they would rather die here.
Click—!
A squad of Ultramarines raised their weapons, bolters swiftly loaded and leveled at the Saint. In the confined space of the study, the tension thickened to near suffocation.
Archmagos Cawl and the others made no move to mediate. This clash was a personal conflict between Guilliman and Celestine—it did not concern them directly.
Realizing that neither side could persuade the other, Celestine let out a quiet sigh and shook her head. She took a step back and said: "Primarch, I bear you no ill will. I only wish to carry out the Emperor's will—that is my duty."
"If I cannot bring you back, I would rather die here on Macragge."
Celestine had no desire to escalate the conflict further. She knew she could not force Guilliman to go with her, and if they fought, she would be the one to suffer most.
She would both fail her mission and lose her life.
"You dare threaten the Primarch? Do you truly think the Ultramarines fear some so-called Living Saint?" Calgar shouted furiously—but still, he did not strike. With Guilliman present, he would not act without direct orders.
Confronted with Celestine's willingness to die rather than yield, Guilliman felt deeply troubled.
Of course, he could not truly drive Celestine to her death—such an act would be impossible to explain to the Emperor. Yet if he went with her back to Terra, valuable time would be lost.
After much deliberation, Guilliman gestured to his Astartes to lower their weapons. He then said to Celestine and the others:
"Whatever you wish to say, say it all now. I will settle everything at once. The reason I called you here today was precisely to remove these hindrances."
However many debts were owed, he would repay them all now, rather than leave a mess behind for the Ultramarines.
At this, Yvraine stepped forward without hesitation. She directly explained her purpose to Guilliman and the price of his resurrection.
Her main demand was an alliance with the Ultramarines—that they must aid her in times of war.
This request was not excessive, and Guilliman readily agreed.
Yvraine's beautiful eyes glimmered as she gazed at Guilliman, a strange thought stirring in her heart. If she could unite with him, then half of all Ultramar and the Ultramarines might also belong to the Aeldari…
"Honored Primarch, our request remains unchanged—we ask that you return to Terra to see the Emperor. This is His one and only command. I am certain there is no mistake."
Celestine remained steadfast, still urging Guilliman to leave with her. Of all those present, she alone was the true immovable obstacle.
"Return now. Guilliman has more important matters to attend."
Just then, the Emperor—still disguised as an Ultramarine—finally spoke. He knew if he did not step in now, Celestine truly would drag Guilliman off to Terra.
The moment an ordinary Astartes dared address the Primarch by name, Calgar glared at him in outrage. He was about to chastise this insolent warrior when the Emperor continued speaking:
"Celestine, I'll return to Terra with you. Whatever urgent matters there are, leave them to me."
In that instant, the already cramped study was filled with an oppressive and eerie atmosphere. Everyone present, including Archmagos Cawl, turned their complicated gazes toward the Emperor.
Had this Astartes suddenly gone mad, or was he truly that mysterious figure from Terra…?
But soon, as the Emperor released his own mighty force field, a surge of overwhelming power and majesty instantly enveloped them all. They felt a divinity beyond words.
That uncanny sensation rushed from the soles of their feet straight to the tops of their heads, making their bodies tremble involuntarily. They could hardly stop themselves from kneeling before this Astartes.
The next moment, Living Saint Celestine suddenly dropped to her knees. Her heart recognized him before her eyes did—this man she had yearned for day and night. Who else could possess such peerless grace and crushing majesty?
Tears welled in her eyes as she desperately longed to pierce through the Astartes' mask and see his true face.
At the same time, the others too could no longer withstand the Emperor's pressure, one by one collapsing to their knees at his feet. They were bewildered at their own strange actions.
The slow-witted still bristled, thinking the Emperor had cast some humiliating spell on them. But the quick-minded already understood, trembling as they bowed in reverence, unable to speak through their excitement.
The Emperor's innate grace and authority had long since been seared into the hearts of all. Anyone who had received his blessing or witnessed his miracles knew exactly what this power was.
And now, the strength this Astartes displayed was without doubt the Emperor's alone.
Sure enough, having revealed himself, the Emperor removed his armor completely, replacing it with a set of radiant golden power armor. His height and build swelled in an instant.
Before them, he revealed his true form.
The twin-headed eagle emblazoned on the golden armor, the exquisitely detailed engravings—Archmagos Cawl recognized them at once, and his heart leapt with joy. Who else could this be!
The Emperor remained silent, as though intentionally allowing them to take a good look. In this moment, all could clearly see his face—
The very same visage carved into countless temples, murals, reliefs, and statues throughout the Imperium!
Celestine's tears blurred her vision as she knelt. Yvraine, meanwhile, shook uncontrollably, aghast. She had indeed hoped to cooperate with the Ultramarines—
—but never for this man to leave the Golden Throne!
Chapter Master Calgar stood rigid, saluting with unwavering, devout resolve, like a statue.
Only Archmagos Cawl, amid his shock and excitement, noticed something unusual about the Emperor's armor. He recognized it.
Imperial records stated that during the Horus Heresy, the Emperor himself had ordered this very armor melted down to forge the Terminator's Crux Terminatus, bestowed upon loyal heroes.
If the armor had been melted, then what was this set? Could there have been a spare? Strange.
Cawl longed to speak, but the words stuck in his throat. What could he say? Question the Emperor's identity? Who could possibly impersonate Him?
With so many witnesses here—from Primarch to Living Saint—all kneeling in worship, the Emperor's identity was beyond doubt.
The Chaos Gods of the Warp could not descend into realspace directly. Even if this were some deceitful vision wrought by Tzeentch, it could never deceive a Living Saint like Celestine.
But hadn't the Emperor long since been grievously wounded, doomed to perish the moment He left the Throne? The figure before them showed not the slightest sign of injury.
What on Terra was happening…?
Seeing the atmosphere ripen, the Emperor no longer bothered with pretense. He declared to all:
"From this moment on, I shall return to Terra and once more take command of the Imperium of Man."
His voice rang steady and powerful. Chapter Master Calgar and Living Saint Celestine wept with joy, while only Yvraine and the crimson-armored warrior Larrien at her side trembled with unease.
For only a half-crippled Imperium held any value to the Eldar as a partner. An Imperium ruled by the Emperor Himself would be their mortal threat!
Yvraine had once dreamed of binding herself to Guilliman, seizing some portion of Imperial resources to aid in Ynnead's ascension as the Eldar god of death.
But now, that plan was ruined.
"Guilliman has an important task to complete. All of you will accompany me back to Terra—including you."
The Emperor's eyes fell upon Yvraine. Of course He could not permit this seductive Eldar leader to forge deep ties with the Imperium.
Though the Emperor had seen the Universal Megacorp weave a vast system of integration across myriad alien races, that did not mean He Himself would accept such things.
This time, bringing Yvraine to Terra was a move to draw Ynnead, the Eldar god of death, under His banner. After all, finding a candidate to ascend as a true Warp god opposed to Chaos was no easy feat.
If one already existed, all the better.
The Emperor's command left Yvraine stiff with dread. That suffocating aura made it clear she had no right to say "no."
Any resistance, and the Emperor could end her with the flick of a finger.
"…Yes," she whispered humbly.
Satisfied with her compliance, the Emperor ignored her further. He turned to Cawl and said, "Archmagos, I have a new task for you as well."
Archmagos Cawl bowed deeply. "Cawl of the Martian Mechanicus, Archmagos Dominus, offers his service to You."
The Emperor nodded, but did not yet reveal the specifics of Cawl's mission. Instead, He continued addressing the others, issuing orders.
All straightened at once, hanging on His every word.
The Emperor's return would reshape the political order of the galaxy. Lost Primarchs might return. The daemons of the Warp would stir anew.
Clearly, a storm was coming—one that would sweep across all civilizations and powers. Whether it would be the Emperor's vengeance upon the Chaos Gods, or the Imperium's resurgence sweeping the stars once more, none could yet know.
One thing, however, was certain: the Imperium's decline would be reversed. The glory of ten millennia past was beginning to shine once again!
(Show your support and read more chapters on my Patreon: [email protected]/psychopet. Thank you for your support!)