In the Great Crusade Era, before Sanguinius returned to the Ninth Legion, this unit was a cruel and loosely structured organization.
Due to the brutality and unique nature of the ghouls at the time, the Ninth Legion was restricted and supervised by the Administratum, and its Commanders were more akin to self-proclaimed warlords than glorious Space Marine Commanders.
All of this changed after Sanguinius's return; the benevolent The Great Angel could not accept his sons behaving like a group of twisted, mutated monsters.
But he did not forcibly change his sons; instead, he taught them what honor and mercy were.
Sanguinius also did not simply preach; he established an effective system to regulate the Ninth Legion's behavior, hoping to curb their craving for blood and violence.
The system The Great Angel created for the Ninth Legion was called the Triple Heavenly Spheres, and he personally used it to issue commands and plan strategic objectives for the entire Ninth Legion.
This system gradually allowed the Ninth Legion to shed its past ghoul-like image, eventually becoming the glorious Blood Angels.
Each sphere was independent and distinct from the Legion's existing company structure and the constraints of the basic codex astartes, forming a clear organizational hierarchy that allowed the warriors of the Ninth Legion to focus their hunger and rage on a single purpose and overcome it.
This was not a clumsy tool, but an elegant and ingenious plan to improve the Legion's quality while providing them with a more fundamental outlet for release.
This was The Great Angel's masterpiece, and his fulfillment of a promise and redemption for his sons.
The outermost sphere of the Triple Heavenly Spheres consisted of the Legion's warriors who fought on the battlefield, wielding blades and Bolters.
The second sphere was composed of the Legion's Commanders and leaders, who bore the responsibility of command and were to execute Sanguinius's will with keen and wise judgment.
The first sphere was the final tier Sanguinius established within the Ninth Legion; these warriors would stand by the Primarch's side when he appeared, not participating in combat within companies, but serving as The Great Angel's personal guards and attendants.
Every warrior selected for the first sphere would abandon their original mortal name, shed their old identity, and serve the Primarch in an unblemished state.
They were Sanguinius's rage, unyielding will, and all-seeing eyes, and Sanguinius relied on these most steadfast and loyalty warriors to execute the most dangerous missions.
Battles and missions that would defile their noble souls and trigger Blood Thirst.
(Holy Blood Guard, the old version was much more magnificent than Primaris)
(Tears of the Angel, the black gloves of the first sphere, specialized in dirty work)
(Crimson Paladins, The Great Angel's bedroom guards)
The warriors of the first sphere enveloped themselves in the names and armor bestowed by the Primarch; only then could they remove the blood-stained mask after completing the mission entrusted by the Gene-Seed Primarch and return to the Legion with a clean slate.
And the Crimson Paladins were part of the first sphere during the Legion era; they were Sanguinius's inner court guards.
When these elite warriors donned Terminator armor and took on the name of the undying, stepping onto the battlefield, they were like a barrier against enemies and a shield protecting Sanguinius's sons.
They formed the unwavering anchor of the Blood Angels—an unshakeable fortress of swords and shields.
It was through their sacrifice and indomitable resolve that the Blood Angels Legion was able to unleash their noble fury.
The reappearance of such a unit, specifically to defend Rostov, made Luka fully feel the Blood Angels' emphasis on this matter and their determination to protect the production of sanctus wine.
After all, historically, the only one protected intimately by the Crimson Paladins in the Blood Angels Legion was The Great Angel himself.
Therefore, the deal between him and Mephisto was quickly reached; the Blood Angels could obtain approximately five thousand bottles of sanctus wine from Luka each year.
It wasn't a large quantity, but for a Chapter that, according to the codex astartes, only had a thousand Space Marines, this much was more than enough, provided it wasn't actually drunk as table wine; it would certainly suffice.
However, Sanguinius's sons were not just the Blood Angels themselves, but also a large number of successor Chapters.
During the Battle of Baal, Dante called upon all Blood Angels successor Chapters to return to Baal, gathering approximately thirty thousand of Sanguinius's sons; for this number, five thousand bottles of sanctus wine would only be just barely enough if used sparingly.
Yet, Mephisto had no dissatisfaction with this; on the contrary, he accepted another suggestion given by Luka.
"Blood Thirst and Black Rage don't always manifest. Your use of sanctus wine is either to alleviate Blood Thirst or to awaken Black Rage. If that's the case, why not learn from the Imperial Fists' approach and hold a gathering similar to the Feast of Blades periodically, bringing all of Sanguinius's sons together to alleviate Blood Thirst by drinking sanctus wine?" Luka's suggestion combined the Imperial Fists' Feast of Blades with the practice of a certain Blood Angels successor Chapter.
"Controlling Blood Thirst by collectively drinking sanctus wine periodically, and dealing with anyone who falls into Black Rage separately, is indeed a good method." Lemartes was very supportive of this suggestion, as it would allow Sanguinius's sons to reconnect closely.
Although the Blood Angels are not like the Ultramarines, who scatter like stars, they also find it difficult to gather like a single flame.
After all, the father who maintained the Blood Angels' unity is dead; the fact that the Blood Angels haven't turned into something like the Iron Hands is proof that The Great Angel's teachings were successful enough.
And precisely because of this, after the Blood Angels were split, the former Ninth Legion ceased to exist.
Even if Dante could gather all Blood Angels successor Chapters under the banner of defending Baal, how united they truly were is a matter of opinion.
After all, among the Blood Angels' line of Chapters, those who violated Sanguinius's teachings and crossed that line were not few; Lemartes clearly knew that several successor Chapters had either already been declared traitors or were on their way to becoming traitors.
As for the Chapters that were excommunicated and sent on penitent crusades, that's even harder to say.
Therefore, if there could be a gathering to reunite all of Sanguinius's sons, that would naturally be excellent.
Even if it's just hugging each other and crying for their father?
Especially Luka's last sentence made it impossible for Lemartes and Mephisto to refute his suggestion: "A new millennium is about to arrive, and the Imperium will face the deepest darkness. In despair, we need to rebuild the Legion, and the Son of God will eventually return."
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