The Imperium's devoted populace devoutly gazed at the God-Emperor, the figure of an unremarkable middle-aged man bound to the Golden Throne.
Then, a sight they could neither comprehend nor had ever imagined appeared before them. The Custodes appeared, bearing a second, identical Golden Throne, which they placed directly alongside the first.
Only then did the Imperium realize a second individual, Zeke, was standing beside the Emperor. His identity was a mystery—even the Ecclesiarchy was uncertain. It was clear he was no mere scion; the Primarchs Guilliman and Rogal Dorn stood respectfully nearby, making any such claim preposterous.
Before the watchful eyes of the High Lords, the Primarchs, and all of humanity, Zeke slowly took his seat on the matching relic. A collective gasp echoed across the galaxy as they beheld a second man enthroned beside the Master of Mankind.
Who is he?
The question was galactic, yet unanswerable. Wild speculation seized the masses. Could this be the Omnissiah? A dual-reign—two masters enthroned—perfectly mirroring the Imperial Aquila's two heads. The religious chaos of the Imperium's faith, which preached both the God-Emperor and the Machine God, allowed for myriad, self-serving explanations.
Unlike the masses lost in theological debate, the citizens and members of House Yaeger watched Zeke with clear understanding. He was the heir, and his presence, seated on a throne equal to the Emperor's, was self-evident: the second head of the Aquila had openly arrived. House Yaeger was ready to step out of the shadows.
This was more than a mere appearance. In truth, House Yaeger was the external designation for the Terran Dominion, the true inheritors of humanity's Golden Age technology.
Zeke's father, Grisha Yaeger, seized the moment. As Zeke ascended the throne, Grisha jumped into a localized broadcast aimed at the Dominion's star sectors and citizens.
"From today, the position of House Yaeger Patriarch, leader of the Terran Dominion, will be inherited by my son," Grisha announced. "He shall become the new governor of Segmentum Obscurus, for humanity's manifest destiny!"
Grisha had engineered this succession perfectly. Zeke, confined to the Throne for the galactic broadcast, was utterly unable to object to his sudden promotion. Grisha mentally patted himself on the back.
Across the Dominion's advanced, aesthetically pleasing planets and cities, the genetically pure-blooded human citizens erupted in cheers. A new leader had emerged, one willing to lead them out onto the galactic chessboard to fulfill humanity's manifest destiny. They were celebrating the end of their long role as hidden guardians.
Zeke, still on Terra, was oblivious to his new Patriarch status. He remained seated, focused on the coming ceremony. This was not just an ennoblement; it was the Emperor's grand maneuver to publicly reveal Zeke as a co-Emperor and Master of Mankind.
The Emperor's goal was simple: delegate much of his burden, continue to maintain the Astronomican (thus avoiding direct apotheosis), and buy time for Zeke to purify his essence. The prospect of retiring to watch humanity's revival delighted the original Master of Mankind, who saw the relief in having a capable successor willing to take charge.
When both the Emperor and Zeke gave the signal, the Ecclesiarchy Pontiff stepped forward, all cameras focused on him. After the mandatory background introductions in the many local Gothic dialects, the Pontiff advanced toward the two figures.
He first knelt before the original Master of Mankind and proclaimed loudly: "Praise be to our God, Master of Mankind, Emperor of Mankind, Immortal Ruler, Arch-Enemy of Chaos, Eternal Guardian of Terra, Lord of Light. Your humble servant bows before you, privileged to behold your true visage today."
Across the galaxy, humanity knelt in affirmation.
Then came the second shock. Supported by the Emperor's psychic grace, the Pontiff rose. He then turned, moving past the Master of Mankind to kneel before Zeke.
"Praise be to our God, Master of Mankind, Lord of Technology, Emperor of the Dominion, Master of Stellaris, humanity's greatest protector and guide, God of the Omnissiah, it is you who commanded humanity's civilization to bravely advance, and now you have returned."
This time, the masses hesitated, but seeing the highest religious authority kneel, they followed suit.
The Emperor, to ensure the success of this plan, had utilized a second psychic entity from Zeke, temporarily sealing the Throne and allowing him a brief, free period. He then rose from the Throne, walked to Zeke, and extended his hand in a clear sign of acknowledgment and legitimacy before all of humanity.
At that same instant, the psychic entities of both the Emperor and Zeke surged forth on Terra, manifesting as two powerful golden manifestations—a true miracle embodying the two heads of the Imperial Aquila.
With the miracle before their eyes, the faithful knelt in unison. The Pontiff then announced the final, most shocking news:
"To celebrate the Omnissiah's return, the Imperium will waive the entire next year's Imperial Tithe." He commanded the funds be used by Governors to distribute enough food to ensure every citizen, even those in the underhives, could eat one full meal."
Zeke and the Emperor nodded, confirming the decree.
In the abstract reality of the Warhammer universe, an entire interstellar civilization was essentially bought with a single meal. If the initial kneeling was based on faith and the spectacle of the psychic entities, this final announcement cemented Zeke's status from the bottom of their hearts. For the underhives, who were promised a full meal, their devotion reached a zealous peak.
While joy and piety reigned across the Imperium, in the Warp, Lorgar, the Daemon Primarch of the Word Bearers, crushed his cup. His eyes, spitting fire, watched the proceedings with profound agony.