The Great Rift tore the Imperium apart.
Countless creatures of Old Night and daemons appeared in the material universe, harvesting human souls and flesh with insatiable hunger.
The emergence of the Great Rift caused immeasurable suffering across the Imperium's worlds.
Raging storms made warp travel extremely difficult, and many star systems unable to contact the Imperium were as vulnerable as marine life stranded on a beach.
Mutants and psykers also increased dramatically; if not suppressed in time, an entire world could fall into the abyss, becoming a world ruled by those abominable mutants.
But for the enemies of the Emperor, it was a welcome boon.
The servants of Chaos reveled in an unprecedented etheric tide.
The etheric winds caused large numbers of humans to mutate, granting them powerful magic and extraordinary abilities without training, and making them increasingly radical and evil.
They recklessly absorbed and wielded this power, constantly attempting to shake the order of various planets, seeking to seize the right to rule humanity, causing numerous rebellions and bloodshed.
None of this was the most terrifying.
In the void, large numbers of sorcerers, wild psykers, and mutants were all heading towards one place.
Their destination was a planet that should not exist in the material universe - the planet of Sorcerers.
Sheets of distorted energy tore through the night, enveloping the planet of Sorcerers in a dark purple glow.
Black clouds rolled across the sky, and giant tornadoes connecting heaven and earth appeared on the planet's surface, rumbling forward, engulfing everything.
This planet was inhabited by daemons, abominations, and the cursed.
Creatures born from Tzeentch's mad fantasies thrived on this planet.
Herds of horrors hunted among razor-sharp cliffs and jungles formed by the twisted forms of failed devotees.
Wandering daemon Engines traversed the storm-ravaged crystal plains.
Rampaging Flamers, Horrors, and Screamers casually stepped into reality or appeared through naturally reopened portals, causing unimaginable slaughter before vanishing as quickly as they arrived.
Amidst the countless chaos on the planet of Sorcerers, there was one place that seemed exceptionally tranquil, strikingly different from everything around it.
A giant crystal pyramid sat on the planet's surface plain, magnificent, like a colossal mountain range resting on the land.
The violent lightning and storms circled the pyramid as if driven by some mysterious force.
Those malicious, twisted creatures also never dared to act recklessly near this crystal high tower.
This was because a being they could not provoke resided here.
On the throne within the giant pyramid sat a fearsome being radiating a sense of oppression and terror.
Blue and pink flames burned on his limbs.
His mighty, enormous body was covered in armor with huge barbs.
Behind him, raging daemon flames, like a pair of giant feathered bird wings, surged incessantly.
This terrifying being, seated on his throne, with eyes closed, his soul soaring through various parts of the warp, seeking lost ancient knowledge.
When he opened his sole remaining eye, strange blue light flowed from his pupil.
The warp energy surrounding the entire planet became violent as he awakened.
"Guilliman."
He softly uttered a name, and then streaks of thunder appeared in the oppressive, dark clouds.
If the Imperial Grey Knights, the Inquisition, or the Space Wolves were here, they would surely recognize the identity of this abominable being instantly.
The Crimson King, the Sorcerer King, the former Master of Prospero, the Red Cyclops, the eternal curse of the Imperium, the Primarch of the Thousand Sons Legion, Magnus.
This is a name forever cursed, and its owner should be abhorred by every Imperial citizen loyal to the Emperor.
Using the screams of a billion dying souls, Magnus leveraged the planet of Sorcerers, located within the Eye of Terror, bringing it together with his former home, Prospero, which was burned by the Space Wolves Legion.
A giant crystal ball appeared before Magnus, showing him scenes of Macragge.
The prosperous sight brought a hint of mockery to his face; he easily guessed what Guilliman was doing.
The other was attempting to rebuild that small kingdom, and then rely on that small kingdom to rebuild the order of the Imperium.
Watching in the crystal, Guilliman issued various reform orders, demanding his subordinates create entirely new technological constructs.
He was conscripting enough soldiers from every world, striving to balance war and civilian life.
"As foolish as ever."
Magnus scoffed.
"This is my era; humanity will be elevated in my hands."
The Emperor's Webway project had failed; humanity was destined to be unable to escape the warp.
Magnus decided to unleash humanity's potential without restraint; he would prove to others how foolish it was to prohibit the use of psyker powers.
Psyker power was humanity's only way out, and embracing Tzeentch, the master of change, was the best choice for all beings in the world.
The Imperium was collapsing; humanity was about to usher in a great age of psyker power.
Nothing could stop the intelligent, wise, all-seeing Magnus.
He sent a message along the warp currents, summoning those gifted with psyker abilities; he would establish a world on the planet of Sorcerers solely for psykers, sorcerers, and mutants.
Large numbers of sorcerers and psykers, moved by Magnus' promise, came from all corners of the Imperium, gathering on the planet of Sorcerers.
Magnus planned to forge them into a fearsome army.
An army capable of destroying his father's Imperium.
To realize his ambitions since the Great Crusade.
To crown humanity with psyker power, allowing them to evolve to a higher state.
Centered on the Prospero system, the warp barriers in over a dozen star systems were rapidly weakening.
Daemon incursions became easier, and the use of psyker power became simpler.
When his plan was complete, these star systems would become the core of his psyker empire, constantly producing psykers and ushering humanity into an age of universal psyker ability.
"Perhaps I should give my brother something to do, to make him understand his foolishness."
Magnus looked at the developments on Macragge; he was dismissive of Guilliman's return.
He had already used his precognitive abilities to predict the future of the galaxy.
The future of the galaxy was dark, with no possibility of salvation.
Only psyker power was the best path.
The galaxy would head towards destruction in chaos and war; everyone would embrace psyker power and those ancient forbidden arts.
Magnus stood up, used his staff to open a portal, and walked through it.
Foolish Guilliman, how angry would he be when he realized he had become a plaything to be fooled?
Truly something to look forward to.
The Natal system.
Hive City.
Guilliman sat in his luxurious mansion, reviewing the interrogation reports submitted by the Inquisitors.
Worshiping Chaos, selling neural stimulants, withholding pensions from retired soldiers, using power to protect family businesses, seizing over ninety percent of the wealth in the Natal system...
Even though he was prepared, seeing the evidence against these nobles firsthand still made Guilliman's heart tremble.
The Imperium was like a terminally ill patient; digging anywhere would reveal foul, rotten flesh.
A group of fearless warriors were striving to maintain the Imperium's existence, while a group of leeches were clinging to the Imperium, constantly sucking blood and growing fat.
Chaos was constantly growing stronger, while the Imperium was constantly weakening.
"Look at what these fools have done!"
Guilliman suppressed the anger in his heart, preventing his loss of composure from being seen, but the rage in his tone was difficult to hide.
The Natal system was still within the Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar, and the situation was already this bad; wouldn't other places be even more terrifying?
Coupled with the Great Rift, which caused numerous daemon invasion events.
Taking such an Imperium to fight the tyranids, necrons, and chaos.
Guilliman even wondered if the Imperium would collapse halfway through the fight.
"Execute those damn bastards, and send their children to penal legions to atone for their fathers' sins until death."
Following Guilliman's order, large numbers of nobles with conclusive evidence of their crimes were brought out and executed in front of the populace.
Their children were sent to penal legions, where they would participate in battles against xenos and traitors in the future, until the moment of their death, which would be considered redemption.
Related news was also sent out by Astropaths, shaking the entire Imperium.