"I will address that matter once I have returned to the Legion," Axis said. "As of now, I do not even know the full extent of our assets."
After all, a century had passed since he had been gone. When Axis had last been present, the Golden Legion possessed only its homeworld and a few mineral-rich planets within its home system.
"Lord Father, I have a complete record of your assets," Solus Prime reporte, "You hold taxation rights over a total of eighty-one star systems. Among these are thirty-six Hive Worlds, eleven Forge Worlds, and thirty-four Agri-Worlds, all located no more than fifty light-years from our homeworld. Additionally, nearly every uninhabited terrestrial planet within these systems has been developed for mining operations. Other suitable planets are currently undergoing terraforming to become habitable or otherwise usable worlds. I only require two or three mineral worlds for my purposes."
"Then select three such worlds for yourself to serve as your supply source. The choice is yours," Axis replied.
"Understood, Lord Father. Vice-Legion Master Khârn has already been notified of your return. Do you wish to proceed to the homeworld?" Solus Prime enquired.
The moment Axis had returned, the ship's spirit had broadcasted the news of the Gene-Father's return across the entire planet of Nuceria.
Captain Khârn, who was responsible for commanding the garrison, had received the message and was now overcome with emotion.
He was marshalling the entire Legion and the planet's populace to prepare a grand welcome for the glorious Primarch Axis.
"First, prepare a vessel for me. I need to inspect my collection. Also, have Grandu ready. I wish to see this Necron. After I have tended to these matters, I will return to my homeworld," Axis commanded.
"At once, Lord Father. I will begin the arrangements. Please follow me."
Guided by Solus Prime, Axis made his way to his private vault to examine the items he had stored there.
Inside were a device containing the energy of a God of Destruction, original Saibamen seeds from the Dragon Ball world, seeds from the Tree of Might, and newer seeds harvested, alongside a large quantity of its fruit. These were all assets that could now be used to elevate the strength of his Legion. Without hesitation, Axis decided to take all the Tree of Might fruits with him.
Several hundred remained, enough to brew into draughts that could fortify his Golden Legion once more.
As for the device holding the God of Destruction's energy, Axis still did not dare attempt to absorb it.
The gods of the Dragon Ball world had a clearly defined hierarchy. There were ordinary planetary gods, like the Guardian of Earth, one for nearly every planet with intelligent life. Above them were the Kais and the Grand Kai, and higher still were the Supreme Kais.
In theory, a Supreme Kai was equal in rank to a God of Destruction, but in terms of sheer power, the Gods of Destruction were superior. Their power was far beyond that of ordinary divine energy. Axis's own Super Saiyan 4 was the pinnacle of a mortal state, a form that pushed a Saiyan's power to its absolute limit, yet it remained mortal.
The energy of a God of Destruction could still effortlessly erase him from existence. To achieve a true transcendence, he understood he still had to walk the path of godhood.
Then there were the Tree of Might seeds.
After inspecting his personal effects and taking what he needed, Axis proceeded to a hidden chamber aboard the vessel.
The door slid open to reveal a green metallic skeleton, which bowed deeply to Axis.
"My heavens, Lord Axis, you finally remembered me. It has been nearly a hundred years, has it not? And all that time, you have paid me no mind," Grandu spoke.
In the near century of his confinement, he felt he had practically begun to rust. Aside from his research duties, there was little for him to do.
"Lord Father, I did not inform him of your disappearance," Solus Prime whispered into Axis's ear through an encrypted channel, "He has believed you were simply aboard but chose not to visit him."
"You have done well over these years," Axis said, addressing the Necron, "I am very pleased with the phase-teleportation bracelets and rings you developed."
"I thank you for your praise, Lord Axis. However, if I may be so bold, without me, the research into the faster-than-light engines would have also stagnated," Grandu stated bluntly, "On its own, Solus Prime would have been fortunate to develop a ship capable of thirty times the speed of light. As for mass-producing new models, I believe ten to twenty times would have been its absolute limit."
This was no idle boast.
The fact that Solus Prime was now equipped with a hyper-engine capable of sixty times lightspeed, powerful enough to propel the colossal, celestial-scale warship, was a testament to his peerless technical skill.
Its creation had consumed all their efforts.
The subsequent mass-produced version, capable of forty times lightspeed and adaptable to any Imperial warship, also owed its success to his designs, which incorporated a considerable amount of Necron technology.
"Is that so? Then continue your good work. I look forward to the day you create an engine that surpasses one hundred times the speed of light," Axis said.
He knew that the FTL drives used by the Necrons achieved speeds of several hundred, even a thousand times that of light. Without such technology, they could never have traversed the galaxy as they did. Grandu would have to strive harder.
"Lord Axis, the prototype engine you provided could, at best, propel the smallest class of frigate. Adapting it for use on a celestial-scale vessel required me to implement a great deal of Necron technology, and even then, I had to slightly downgrade its performance to make it feasible.
"The design of that prototype was exceptionally advanced, but it was miniaturized. Scaling it up presented an immense technological challenge. If you wish for faster progress, you must procure some of the galaxy's other foremost scientists," Grandu said with a shrug of his metallic shoulders.
Though he was a top-tier Necron specialist, he was not omnipotent. An engine capable of sixty times lightspeed was the current limit of his abilities; building one that reached a hundred was a far more difficult prospect.
Axis nodded and conversed with Grandu for a short while longer.
"I will grant you a measure of freedom to move about this ship," Axis declared. "From now on, you may roam the lower decks as you please."
"You are most generous, Lord Axis, but what I truly desire is to venture outside. I have been cooped up in this vessel for a century," Grandu said.
"The galaxy is not a safe place at present," Axis replied coolly. "A large-scale war will soon erupt."
The Horus Heresy would ignite the entire galaxy in the coming years. If this Necron wandered off, who knew what might happen to him?
Hearing this, Grandu shrugged again in resignation.
He knew it would be so. Even after being converted into a sentient machine-form with a soul, he was still not fully trusted by Axis.
"However, travel within this system is permissible," Axis relented before departing, "Solus Prime, arrange a small vessel for Grandu. He may use it to travel freely within this star system. If he wishes to visit a human settlement, ensure he is properly disguised to avoid any unnecessary complications."
After a century of diligent and fruitful labor, Axis was not without compassion. If not for the critical timing of the Horus Heresy, he might have expanded the Necron's permitted range even further.
"I offer you my deepest gratitude, mighty Lord Axis," Grandu said, bowing low.
Axis nodded and left the chamber without looking back. It was time to return to his homeworld and see his sons.
Soon, Axis and Kasha were aboard a transport bound for Nuceria.
By then, the entire Golden Legion was in a state of fervent anticipation. Upon receiving Solus Prime's notification, a thrilled Khârn had immediately assembled all stationed captains, mustering an honour guard in record time.
"Lord Father is returning!" Khârn roared, brandishing his power axe. "My battle-brothers, prepare to welcome him! Our Great Father has returned. He has carved a bloody path out of the Warp, vanquished the daemons, and returned to realspace!"
"Hail the great Primarch! Hail Axis! Hail the King of the Golden Legion! Welcome the return of Our Great Father!" a host of one hundred and thirty thousand members of the Golden Legion, assembled in the planetary capital, erupted in a thunderous cheer that shook the very foundations of the world.
Over the past century on Nuceria, Axis had become a figure of myth.
He was the Imperium's strongest warrior, the greatest of the Primarchs. In the center of the capital stood a thousand-meter-tall statue of Axis, depicting him in his Super Saiyan form, its hair painted a brilliant gold.
Looking upon the colossal monument built in his honour, a sense of pride swelled within him. His entire Legion, indeed his entire world, worshipped him as a god.
Besides this gargantuan statue, countless other hundred-meter-tall likenesses of Axis dotted the planet, all depicting him with his hair standing on end in his golden Super Saiyan state.
Upon his return to his sons, Axis made a suitably grand entrance. He transformed into his three-meter tall, power-charged form and then activated his Super Saiyan state.
Blazing with a golden aura and crackling with lightning, he levitated out of the landing craft and ascended into the skies above the capital, his arms outstretched.
"My sons," Axis's voice boomed, amplified by his ki, a sound so immense it reverberated across the heavens, "your father has returned!"
As Axis descended upon Nuceria like a golden deity, the planet erupted.
Countless mortals cheered, while his sons collectively ignited their own golden transformations, their bodies shimmering with light, just like their father.
The finest warriors of the Golden Legion stood in formation, their power armour glinting under the starlight, a flowing sea of gold. Vice-Legion Master Khârn knelt on one knee, his power axe held horizontally before him. Behind him, one hundred and thirty thousand Space Marines chanted as one.
"Great Father! Golden King! Long live Axis!"
The roar of the Golden Legion's Space Marines was a thunderclap that rolled across continents and made the very atmosphere tremble.
Billions of citizens from the Hive Worlds knelt in the streets, squares, and rooftops, as countless hololiths projected towering images of Axis's galactic conquests across the sky.
Khârn looked up, his voice trembling with emotion.
"Great Father, we have not failed your trust! For a century, the Golden Legion has campaigned, unconquered and invincible. We have been worthy of your golden blood. You have at last returned to your throne! The Golden Legion has never faltered. Your will is our destiny!"
Axis hovered in the air, his golden aura twisting the clouds into a magnificent vortex.
Suspended above the planet, he shone like a golden god, bathing the world below in his light. The mortal inhabitants of the planet fell to their knees in profound awe, offering their sincerest prostrations to their planetary lord.
"My sons, I have fought in the Warp for a hundred years," Axis's voice echoed across the planet, carried on psychic currents, "I defeated countless powerful foes, slew innumerable daemons, and even vanquished a mighty Chaos God to finally return to you. But the galaxy is not at peace. It is not safe."
"The malevolent forces of Chaos have corrupted the Imperial Warmaster, Horus. That despicable traitor has betrayed the Emperor and has launched a rebellion against the Imperium."
At these words, a collective shock rippled through every Space Marine on the planet.
None of them could have imagined their Father's return would bring such world-shattering news. Horus, the Warmaster of the Imperium, had betrayed them all.
"The Imperium is engulfed in the flames of betrayal, but the Golden Legion will be the blade that tears through the darkness!" Axis roared, "My sons, you will follow me, and we shall show these traitors the meaning of true power!"
His voice resounded like thunder in the skies of Nuceria, golden ripples of energy expanding with his words as if the planet itself was responding to his will.
"Horus has betrayed the Emperor! Death to traitors!"
"For the great Father! Annihilate the enemies of the Imperium! Death to Warmaster Horus!" Led by Khârn, the sons of Axis fell to one knee, pledging their fealty to their father.
Axis nodded, thoroughly satisfied. The next step was to strengthen his Legion.
"Prepare for war, my sons. The Word Bearers are coming."
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