Guilliman's account plunged the bridge into a heavy, deadening silence.
At last, the two Primarchs, Karl and Perturabo, managed to compose themselves. There was no time for grief, for a new and pressing war was imminent.
"Once this conflict is over, we must return to Holy Terra to see Father," Karl said with a profound sigh.
Perturabo, standing beside him, nodded in agreement. They felt as though they had been completely excluded from the war that had shaken the Imperium to its core, dispatched to this fringe of the galaxy to hold back the Rangda while even the Lion and the Wolf had returned to take part in the final, decisive battle.
"Karl and I were of no help in that fight," Perturabo stated, his voice laced with regret, "That is our sin."
"You held the line against the Rangda's pressure," Guilliman countered. "That was the greatest possible contribution to the Imperium. Now, tell me about the situation here." He needed to understand the course of this war so he could lead the nascent Imperium to victory.
"The war has reached a stalemate," Karl explained. "The Rangda Empire is slightly more technologically advanced, but our warriors are more courageous. In a direct engagement, we actually have the advantage. The problem is their war moons and those C'tan weapons of theirs. We have no way to counter them."
The C'tan shard-weapons were the Rangdan's ultimate trump card. It was a terrifying tactic that involved sealing a shard of a C'tan within an ordinary host.
Once created, these living weapons had a lifespan of little more than a decade. During that brief time, they could fully unleash the power of the C'tan shard, commanding a horrifying level of destructive force.
They could shatter entire fleets with their bare hands or obliterate planets without issue. The only reason the Imperium had managed to hold its ground was because Leman Russ and Lion El'Jonson, before their departure, had left behind the Ki-empowered scions Axis had entrusted to them.
Together with one of Magnus's own scion, the three of them had worked in concert to hold back the Rangda's monstrous living weapons.
"Those shard-weapons are what we fear most," Lion El'Jonson said with a heavy sigh. "Otherwise, during the Third Rangda War, with the shard of the Void Dragon in our possession, we would have already turned the tide and utterly destroyed this xenos civilization."
Axis, who had been standing quietly to one side, nodded in thought.
Had he not crossed over into this universe, the Rangdan would never have developed such potent weapons. His own display of overwhelming Super Saiyan power during the Second Rangda War had single-handedly annihilated their expeditionary fleet, securing an easy victory for the Imperium.
War, however, was always the greatest catalyst for technology and weaponry. It was only to counter him that the Rangdan had been forced to create something as formidable as the shard-weapon.
"Do not worry," Axis announced, cracking his knuckles. "I am here now. Let me handle these so-called living weapons." He was confident that no matter what C'tan shard they were made from, he would smash them all to pieces. Before the absolute power of a Super Saiyan, everything in the physical universe was a paper tiger.
"You cannot have all the fun for yourself, Axis," Magnus declared, brandishing his staff, "I also wish to test my latest power and see if they are effective against these C'tan shards."
Beside him, Sanguinius began to radiate a brilliant golden energy, his two pairs of immense, feathered wings spreading wide.
His intention was clear without a word. One had mastered the Power of the Holy Light, the other Arcane Power, and both were eager to test their newfound mettle against a worthy foe.
"Hahaha! It seems everyone is brimming with confidence," Guilliman laughed, "Then, Karl, can you tell us how many of these weapons the Rangda have deployed?"
"A total of four," Perturabo answered gravely. "They have thrown nearly all of their strength into this assault. It appears they intend to annihilate human civilization in a single, decisive stroke." He knew that if not for those Ki-empowered scions, even the Primarchs would have been powerless against such weapons.
The enemy could move freely in the void of space and possessed enough destructive force to tear warships asunder, a feat beyond the capabilities of a Primarch.
"It looks like there are just enough for us to share," Sanguinius said, turning to Axis. "You and Magnus can each take one. How about you leave the other two to me?" His control over the Power of the Holy Light had matured greatly, and he was impatient to find a powerful opponent to unleash it upon.
"That will not do, Sanguinius," Axis replied with a grin. "I will not be giving up my prey. In fact, I intend to take on all four of them." One did not simply try to claim a worthy opponent from a Saiyan.
"This is not a game," Karl interjected, his tone serious. "The weapons created from the C'tan shards are incredibly powerful. In my opinion, we should leave them all for Axis to handle."
It was not that he looked down on his other brothers, but he believed that even Sanguinius, a Primarch mighty enough to single-handedly challenge an Emperor-class Titan, could not stand against the shard-weapons.
As he spoke, however, his eyes fell upon his brother and widened in surprise. When had Sanguinius's wings turned gold? And what was this incandescent golden aura that radiated from his very being? He then glanced at Magnus. Why did the Crimson King now have a third, golden eye upon his forehead?
"Hahaha! Karl, Perturabo, my brothers, you may be underestimating me," Sanguinius said, his voice resonant with newfound power. "My current strength is beyond anything a mortal could imagine. I have grasped the mighty Power of the Holy Light, a force that allows me to vanquish any foe."
He was not jesting. Since his ascension, his physical might, even without invoking the Light, was sufficient to easily shatter planets.
"The Power of the Holy Light? What is that?" Karl asked, completely baffled.
"It is a new form of energy that Sanguinius comprehended after he ascended to become a Warp God and obtained a physical form to match," Axis explained. "It is a synthesis of psychic and physical energies. It can heal and restore, attack and bless allies, and pass judgment upon enemies."
Karl and Perturabo were speechless. Such a miraculous power could exist?
Sanguinius, understanding their confusion, offered a faint smile.
His two pairs of immense golden wings unfurled gently, and a pure, warm light instantly flooded the entire bridge. It was not a light in the physical sense, but a soothing, invigorating force that touched the very soul.
All the weary officers and guardsmen felt their spirits lift. The deep fatigue from countless days of battle seemed to lessen, and even the ache of old wounds and lingering pains felt strangely soothed. The change was so profound it seemed unbelievable to the two observing Primarchs.
"What an incredible power," Perturabo said, his face a mask of astonishment. "I feel my heart filled with courage. All my fatigue and discomfort have simply vanished."
"It truly is remarkable," Karl added with unconcealed admiration after feeling the effects of the Holy Light. "I feel as though my own strength has been augmented."
"Do not worry, my brothers. I can allow you to wield the Holy Light as well," Sanguinius said with a benevolent smile. "I am its source. If I wish it, anyone can use this power." He realized then that among the loyalist Primarchs, only Karl and Perturabo had not yet received the seed of the Holy Light and the chance to grasp its power.
Disbelief was written all over their faces. Warp God? The Power of the Holy Light? What were these things?
How had Sanguinius become a god of the warp? How had his physical form evolved so drastically? It seemed the changes were more than just superficial. He had truly ascended. Yet the very word "god" was a taboo within the Imperium.
Axis gave a small, resigned sigh and proceeded to explain the circumstances of Sanguinius's transformation and the Ascension Plan first proposed by Magnus.
"It began when Magnus conceived of the plan," Axis summarized. "After receiving the Emperor's approval, I travelled to several worlds and planted the seeds for the Tree of Might. Once a Primarch's body is baptized in the power of Ki for a century and they consume over ten of the tree's fruits, they can obtain a new physical form capable of containing the full might of their soul."
"I see. So, we Primarchs can become even stronger," Karl said, his voice filled with awe and a hint of longing.
He wondered if he and his brother would ever have the chance to undergo such a ritual and become like Magnus and Sanguinius.
"Does this Ascension Ritual grant every Primarch control over a unique type of energy?" Perturabo asked, his pragmatic mind seeking clarity.
"Not necessarily," Axis explained. "Sanguinius gained the Power of the Holy Light because he was already the Great Angel and evolved into a holy being. Magnus gained his because he commands the arcane arts and his psychic might was the strongest among us all.
"Take my adoptive father, Leman Russ, for example. He underwent the same ritual but did not gain a new form of energy. However, his combat prowess is in no way inferior to the other two."
After this war with the Rangda was over, Axis thought, there would be a period of peace. He could return to Holy Terra and offer this enhancement to any of his brothers willing to accept it.
Just then, a mortal soldier rushed onto the bridge from the main entryway. "Report to the Lord Primarchs! We have detected the Rangda xenos fleet! They have initiated an attack!"
"Hahaha, it seems our friends are getting impatient," Axis said, a cold, predatory smile touching his lips.
"Well then, shall we go and greet them?"
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ps?