Chapter 52 – The Emperor Revealed
The Ancient One's calm words lingered in the chamber, still hanging heavy in the air.
"I was expecting you, Gaius. And the Emperor of Mankind."
The room fell silent. Even Fury, who rarely showed surprise, raised an eyebrow. Natasha's sharp eyes flicked between Gaius and the bald woman in the simple robes. Coulson's pen froze above his tablet. Only Tony leaned back on his heel with a faint smirk, muttering, "Emperor of what now?"
The Ancient One's gaze swept across the group. She let the silence stretch a moment longer before speaking again, her voice soft but clear.
"And Tony Stark, Director Nick Fury, Agent Phil Coulson, and Natasha Romanoff."
That simple statement made everyone's eyes widen, except Tony's. He already knew he was famous. Coulson looked shocked, Fury stiffened, and even Natasha's calm mask cracked for a heartbeat. None of them expected their names to be spoken so casually in this strange, mystical place, as they were agents.
But the weight of the Ancient One's first words still hung over them. Emperor of Mankind. What did that mean?
The Ancient One's eyes returned to Gaius. She lifted a hand gracefully toward the space before her.
"Sit, Gaius. You are my guest here."
A massive wooden chair slid forward across the floor as if moved by unseen hands. A low table appeared as well, and with another wave, a steaming pot of tea and several cups floated gently into place.
She poured one cup and slid it toward the giant. "Tea?"
Gaius looked down at the small cup, then back at her. His deep voice was steady. "I don't like tea. I prefer coffee."
The Ancient One tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "I see."
She let the teapot drift back into her hand, then with a flick of her fingers, the pot dissolved into glowing sparks. The sparks reformed into a massive mug, large enough to fit comfortably in Gaius's hand. Dark liquid poured into it endlessly, filling to the brim.
She set it before him with the faintest smile. "Infinite coffee."
Gaius blinked once, then reached out. He lifted the mug and drank deeply, tilting it back. The rich liquid poured into him for a long thirty seconds straight, yet the coffee never ran out. Finally, he lowered it and studied the still-full mug with quiet surprise.
He placed it on the table, then lowered himself onto the wooden chair. The furniture creaked but held.
Before anyone else could speak, the Ancient One looked directly at Gaius again. Her words were calm, but they struck like a bell.
"Why don't you come out… Emperor of Mankind?"
Everyone stiffened. Even Tony's grin faded. Natasha and Coulson stood straighter, their instincts screaming. Fury tensed as if expecting a fight.
And then it happened.
A glow began to build around Gaius, golden light shining through the seams of his armor. It grew brighter and brighter until it spilled into the room like the dawn. The light burst forward, shaping itself into a towering figure.
He appeared in full, taller even than Gaius, clad in radiant golden armor. A massive sword rested in one hand, and a clawed gauntlet gleamed on the other. The Emperor of Mankind stood before them, shining like a living sun.
Everyone stared in awe.
Without hesitation, Gaius dropped to one knee. His head bowed, not out of fear, but out of respect. This was his Emperor, the one who had carried the weight of humanity even in death and fight against chaos even in his state.
The others didn't know what to do. Should they kneel? Should they stand their ground? They glanced at each other, awkward, unsure. In the end, they stayed standing, frozen in place.
The Ancient One remained calm. She didn't move, didn't show fear. Only the Eye of Agamotto at her chest glowed faintly with green light.
For a long moment, the chamber held its breath. As if they had done their talk privately that others can't hear, Then, slowly, the Emperor's massive weapons dissolved into golden particles, vanishing into the air. He stood unarmed. He stepped past Gaius and seated himself in the same chair his son had just used, his golden presence filling the room.
The Ancient One raised her tea, sipping slowly. She studied the being across from her. "I have seen the future. Your influence here. And especially the influence of your son." She nodded toward Gaius, still kneeling. "He is a thread woven tightly into this world."
The Emperor's deep voice rolled through the chamber, calm but absolute. "Gaius is indeed special. I have observed him for a long time."
Gaius lowered his head further, silent.
The others shifted uneasily. Coulson's knuckles tightened around his tablet. Natasha's sharp eyes flicked between the two figures. Fury crossed his arms, though the set of his jaw gave away his unease. Tony only muttered, "Yeah, no pressure," under his breath.
The Emperor's gaze swept the room before returning to the Ancient One. "I can feel the same echoes of the Warp in this world. There are many, most weaker. But some… stronger than the Warp itself."
The Ancient One nodded once. "Indeed. This world has many dimensions. The Dark Dimension, the Hell Dimension, and countless smaller realms. Some hunger for this world. That is why we shield it."
The Emperor inclined his head slightly. "I see. I sense the shield. It is strong, woven from mystic threads unlike the Warp. That is why I came, to understand it."
No one else dared speak. Fury, Natasha, and Coulson felt like children listening at a door they weren't supposed to open. Even Tony, curious as ever, stayed quiet.
The Ancient One only sipped her tea calmly. "I know."
The Emperor rose to his full height. His golden presence seemed even larger now. "Then I have completed my task. I have seen how this world protects itself from the endless dark. I will return, and I will try to build the same protection for Terra and many worlds."
He turned, stepping toward Gaius. The giant still knelt, unmoving.
"Rise, son of Guilliman."
Gaius rose to his feet, looking up into the Emperor's glowing face.
For a heartbeat, no one moved. Then the Emperor's golden body began to break apart, his form dissolving into radiant particles. They swirled upward into the air, gathering together into a miniature sun that hovered between them. It glowed brilliantly but gave off no heat.
Slowly, the sun drifted toward Gaius and sank into his chest. The light faded, leaving him standing alone once more.
The room fell utterly silent.
Fury's hands tightened behind his back, his one eye fixed on Gaius. Natasha's sharp gaze lingered on him as if searching for answers. Coulson swallowed quietly, his mind racing to record what he had just seen. Tony raised his eyebrows and muttered, "Well, that was something."
The Ancient One set down her empty cup, calm as ever. She simply said, "It seems your Emperor trusts you greatly, Gaius. And now, so must we." 'Especially you will greatly change the fate of this universe and many others.' but she didn't said the last sentence as she kept that to herself.
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