The Son of Axis gazed at the resolute expressions of his two primarch uncles. His throat tightened. He had never imagined that his uncles would push him to become the emperor of a new Imperium.
He had never envisioned himself standing at such a historical crossroads.
His father had been missing for a century, his mother was lost in a comatose slumber, and now even the fate of his grandfather was unknown.
The weight of human civilization had suddenly been thrust upon his shoulders.
He was not yet a hundred years old and still looked forward to his mother awakening in a little over a year to give him his formal name.
His father had been gone for a century, and whether he would ever return was a question with no answer.
"I don't even have a formal name," he said with a wry smile, touching the golden markings on his forehead, a manifest sign of the Emperor's own bloodline.
"The Emperor called me Grandson. Lord Malcador referred to me as 'Your Highness', and the Legion warriors privately call me the True Golden-Blood, the mightiest Son of Axis. But I never wanted to inherit the Imperium of Man. Grandfather is an immortal. He has no need for an heir," the Son of Axis said with a sigh.
Who could have predicted that his simple mission away from his home world would coincide with such a terrifying civil war engulfing the Imperium?
It was Horus, so deeply trusted by his grandfather, so beloved by the other primarchs and even himself.
His uncle had launched the Great Betrayal, and the number of primarchs who had joined him was staggering.
They had learned of the news from a ship that arrived by chance.
When Guilliman, Sanguinius, and he had first heard it, they could not believe it. The notion seemed too absurd. How could Horus possibly betray the Emperor?
"A name has never been the most important thing," Guilliman said, activating a holographic star-chart. The territory of the 500 Worlds of Ultramar swirled in blue light.
"What matters is the responsibility that flows in your veins. You are of the Emperor's true bloodline; your claim is legitimate. Furthermore, your psychic talent is second only to Magnus and is not much less than your mother's."
"Guilliman is right. We will be your right and left hands and help you defeat Horus. Besides, by our estimates, it is highly likely that Holy Terra will fall to the traitors. Your mother may be in grave danger. So perhaps, it is time you chose a name for yourself," Sanguinius added.
The boy was nearly a century old, but he had always been unwilling to take a name for himself, waiting for his father and mother to return.
He dearly wished for his immediate family to witness that moment.
"But Uncle Guilliman, Uncle Sanguinius," Kratos began, "how are we to navigate ships through the warp? The entire Immaterium is wracked by violent storms. Let alone the whole of the Imperium, even linking the 500 Worlds of Ultramar is a challenge. We cannot just establish an empire in name only, with Macragge as our sole planet."
"I have already thought of that," Guilliman explained, "During the Great Crusade, I discovered a most peculiar ancient device. With some modifications, it can serve as a beacon, similar to the Astronomican on Holy Terra. Once we raise this beacon, it will illuminate the warp and protect the Imperium's ships. We can carve out a safe region encompassing at least the 500 Worlds and the surrounding several hundred light-years."
Long before the Great Betrayal erupted, he had already come into possession of this marvelous device. It was not a creation of ancient human technology, however, but a xenos artifact. In this critical hour, he could not reveal that truth.
"So this system, this device that can guide the Imperium's ships through the warp, is the key to establishing our Imperium Secundus, isn't it?" Sanguinius asked.
No wonder Guilliman had proposed establishing a second Imperium. With something like the Astronomican in his hands, coupled with the true heir of the Emperor's bloodline, they truly possessed the cornerstones for founding a new empire.
"Soon, I will announce your identity to all," Guilliman said, "Like you, nephew, I was raised by Lady Euten. You have received the education of Macragge, and I believe you will become a great emperor, a great leader. I will aid you in this."
This nephew of his was, in some ways, almost like a brother.
Guilliman understood perfectly that only the bloodline of the Son of Axis could grant the Imperium Secundus true legitimacy.
"I understand, Uncle Guilliman, Uncle Sanguinius," Kratos replied, taking a deep breath before nodding in agreement with Guilliman's plan, "If someone must step forward, then I am willing. I will bear the burden of my grandfather and my father."
"Let us begin the preparations for founding our state," Guilliman declared, "We will light the beacon of our Imperium Secundus, the Pharos, and establish the Second Human Empire with the 500 Worlds of Ultramar at its heart."
Under the two primarchs' direction, three months passed in the blink of an eye. The Pharos was successfully ignited.
A brilliant beam of light shot forth from Sotha, illuminating the vast emptiness of the warp, becoming a colossal beacon in the Immaterium, much like the one on Holy Terra.
This brilliant light shone across the entire galaxy, even attracting the attention of a swarm of monsters from beyond the galactic fringe. A being of insatiable hunger took notice of its glow.
But the Pharos of the Imperium Secundus attracted more than just a certain Great Devourer from beyond the galaxy.
Within a radius of several hundred light-years around Macragge, Imperial ships and worlds re-established communications with the capital of Ultramar. This tremendous flare in the warp even caught the attention of the Emperor and Magnus. They had previously been unable to contact Macragge because of the direct interference of the Chaos Gods.
But now that a beacon blazed above Macragge, they could achieve a precise location. Without a moment's hesitation, the Emperor and Magnus relayed this information to Axis.
By this time, Axis had already planted the Fruits of the Tree of Might on four planets, and the number of fruits stored aboard his ship had reached three thousand.
At Axis's instruction, Kasha had begun to consume more of them to further enhance her own power.
"Axis, I have found Macragge," the Emperor's voice echoed through the power of the warp, "They have lit a warp beacon of their own. That must be the Pharos you spoke of. It is impressive indeed."
Ordinary Navigators and psykers could only perceive the Pharos beacon from within a few thousand light-years.
But for psykers of immense power, like himself, Magnus, or Kasha, the beacon burning in the direction of Macragge was clearly visible even from tens of thousands of light-years away.
"That is excellent news. Macragge is not too far from our position," Axis replied, "Kasha and I will go there directly. She should be able to see the light from their beacon."
Solus Prime, a colossal warship, finally had a destination. At last, he could go and see his son.
"Father," Kasha said, "I can see the silvery-white light. It is different from the golden light of Holy Terra, and though dimmer, it is clearly a guiding star."
"You should go. Do not worry about matters in the Sol System for now," the Emperor instructed, "Ferrus Manus, Vulkan, and Corax have successfully returned to Holy Terra. The defenses here are secure. Go and bring back the remaining three Legions."
Only when he confirmed that Axis was not on Terra would Horus dare to launch his attack.
"I understand," Axis said with a nod, "We will depart for Macragge at once."
After some deliberation, Axis decided to take his two prisoners with him and set forth aboard Solus Prime to meet his son.
With the beacon of the Imperium Secundus to guide them, Axis could finally lead his grand army.
Solus Prime carried a full one hundred and thirty thousand of Axis's sons, leaving only a few thousand as a garrison on their home world. Axis even brought neophytes aboard his ship to undergo the final stages of the Space Marine augmentation surgery en route. They were the Legion's reserves, lacking only the Black Carapace and combat experience.
With a look of excitement, Kasha took her place as Navigator, guiding the fleet toward Macragge.
At the same time, the White Scars fleet, which had been adrift in the warp for months, also noticed the brilliant beacon, one that shone as brightly as the Astronomican on Terra.
The moment he sensed its light, Jaghatai Khan knew that this must be the Pharos beacon that Axis had told him to find.
"Great Khan! The beacon in the warp shines with immense light. That must be what we are searching for."
"Indeed," Jaghatai Khan affirmed, "Order all fleets to proceed at full speed towards that white light. We must bring this beacon back to Holy Terra."
Combining the two would surely unleash even greater power.
The Pharos system was a key to the Imperium's future victory. After being lost for so long, a path had finally appeared. The fleet of the White Scars rapidly set course for the planet Macragge.
Once the beacon was lit, Guilliman began broadcasting the news of the Horus Heresy to all of Macragge and every surrounding Imperial world he could contact. He also announced the imminent founding of the Imperium Secundus.
On the very day of the new Imperium's founding, at the very moment the Son of Axis was being crowned Emperor, a terrifying warp fluctuation ripped through space. A tremendous warship tore into realspace above Macragge.
Solus Prime had arrived.
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