Titus said nothing, just nodded to Rhodes.
"Let's fight then—don't think your size will let you win!" The Space Sharks' captain scoffed.
He didn't hesitate at all—Space Sharks never backed down from a fight.
Even against the infamous Badab Tyrant Huron Blackheart, they attacked without hesitation and even raided the Dark Eldar's main city, Commorragh.
Every Space Shark is a battle-hardened veteran—their recruitment is a battle royale.
They fence off an area, everyone fights to the death, and the last survivor becomes a Space Shark.
Only one or two Space Sharks emerge from hundreds of thousands of would-be recruits. The worlds they recruit from are death worlds and edge-of-the-galaxy places—the people there are tough as nails.
Rhodes smiled and led everyone to a huge training ground. Titus stood there with just a monomolecular knife—no explosives, no chainsword, no power sword.
"One-on-one is fine, I don't need my dozen brothers," said the Space Sharks' captain, stepping into the arena.
He had his pride.
"You'd better fight with your brothers—otherwise, you won't last a single round," Titus replied.
As a top veteran, Titus knew how tough the Space Sharks were, but he had never feared anyone in terms of combat experience. Even as a classic Astartes, he'd have taken this captain, and after being upgraded with Primarch gene-seed, he was on a whole new level.
Even the Custodian who once fought him to a tie—now Titus was confident he could crush.
"Enough talk!" Andaris raised his chain axe and swung.
Andaris instantly went flying, crashing into the wall and sticking in a comically spread-eagle pose.
"Cough! Your speed…" he muttered, climbing to his feet in shock.
Titus's speed was insane—he hadn't even reacted, just saw a blur, and then he was airborne.
Seeing their captain dropped in one round, the other Space Sharks drew their weapons and closed ranks, eyeing Titus and Rhodes warily.
"You and your dozen brothers together would only last another round or two. We're simply not on the same level," Titus said.
Why bother? The power of a Primaris is just beyond their comprehension—strength, speed, reflexes, endurance, resilience—they're just in a different league.
"Everyone, attack!" Andaris shouted, charging with his brothers at Titus.
Titus just shook his head, turned his knife around to parry only, and proceeded to one-punch each of them.
In just a few dozen seconds, every Space Shark was down.
Andaris lay on the ground, questioning his entire life. How could you even fight this? The gap was just too big—even their brutal Chapter Master couldn't defeat them this easily.
"You guys did well—you're stronger than the average original Astartes, especially in experience. But the raw difference is just too much. Get up," Titus said, helping Andaris up.
"Hmph, if you're this strong, why do you even need us? I saw at least a Chapter's worth of you here.
Just one of your companies could handle us Space Sharks. Why call my Chapter Master?" Andaris asked.
"You got it wrong! This isn't a Chapter, it's a Legion—my new Legion," Rhodes replied with a smile.
"Your Legion? Who the hell are you?" Andaris's face changed.
"Hahaha! Good question! My name's Rhodes. I'm not just the Emperor's Chosen, I'm a Primarch. All these warriors are super Astartes made from my gene-seed," Rhodes said.
"You—a Primarch? Impossible!
Primarchs are at least as tall as my Chapter Master—taller than that guy next to you!" Andaris shook his head.
Don't treat us like fools. We may be warlike and broke, but we're not blind.
"By the Emperor! Lord Rhodes is not lying. He truly is a Primarch—there's no need to doubt it!" A Custodian, 3.3 meters tall in golden armor wielding a power glaive, walked over.
This Custodian had been enhanced by Rhodes—biological muscle implants, super-beast tech, even new ranged abilities. He was now 20 cm taller, at 3.3 meters, and stronger than even a Primaris.
Seeing the Custodian, the Space Sharks were stunned.
Are you kidding me? That's a Custodian!
An actual Emperor's Custodian!
The Custodian handled the rest of the persuasion, while Rhodes explained the benefits of his gene-seed.
Things like surviving in space, special berserk combat forms, and Titus even demonstrated a terrifying transformation.
"This good, huh? New gene-seed, new surgery, and you get Terminator armor?" Andaris asked, half-convinced.
"I have no reason to lie. The Custodian wouldn't lie. You Space Sharks know how rough things are in the Imperium.
Guilliman and I are determined to change things. That's why I want to recruit your Chapter.
You'll get the new Astartes surgery, new power armor, my gene-seed, and become part of my Legion," Rhodes said honestly.
"So, you're just tricking my Chapter Master?" Andaris asked.
"How is it tricking? Your Chapter Master and all your brothers will benefit. Real, tangible benefits. So, you're calling him here to enjoy life!" Rhodes laughed.
"Hahaha! Lord Rhodes, you're funny. I think our Chapter will get along with you.
You're right—it's for their good to call the Chapter Master and the others," Andaris said, shaking Rhodes' hand.
Rhodes then contacted Guilliman, got the Space Sharks' coordinates, and had Guilliman relay them to the Chapter Master, telling him to head to Baal.
"Alright, all of you head to the surgery suite for your upgrades," Rhodes said, waving for the apothecaries to take them for Primaris transformation.
Titus nodded at Rhodes and left to train new recruits.
After everyone else left, Rhodes turned to the Custodian.
"Have you decided? Will you accept my ultra-beast fusion proposal?"
Rhodes had been planning for weeks, picking a suitable monster template to turn this Custodian into an ultra-beast. He'd already asked for the Custodian's opinion.
The Custodian was fine with more power but wanted to consider it. Now that the fusion material was ready, Rhodes was asking one last time.
"Lord Rhodes, will I become inhuman? What is this ultra-beast fusion?" the Custodian asked.
"I promise you won't. You'll be like that veteran Ultramarine—able to switch forms at will.
And you'll be fused with the Emperor's avatar—this is the Emperor's blessing," Rhodes said.
The Custodian's fusion material was the Emperor's avatar—absolutely the best match.
"If it's the Emperor's power, then I'm honored. Lord Rhodes, I accept your blessing," the Custodian said.
If it's the Emperor's power, that's fine.