Gouda slightly opened his mouth.
Just this extremely simple action sent shivers down Roboute Guilliman's spine.
His superhuman senses instinctively detected danger, and his body produced a sense of fear as if in an emergency.
Sanguinius, standing nearby, also had a sudden change in expression.
"No, this is —"
"I!!!"
Before Sanguinius could finish his sentence, a short, sharp note burst from the Greater Daemon's mouth, embedded in the word "I"
Guilliman, who was closest, felt a sharp pain in his head, his internal organs cried out, his blood seemed to flow backward through his body, his breathing became difficult, and the reality and Warp intertwined, becoming indistinguishable.
"AM!!!!"
The second note erupted.
That note, like an irresistible blade, pierced his body. The sound was mixed with bone-chilling intent to kill, blood-stained tyranny, and an infinite yearning for music, as if the Emperor, Khorne, and Slaanesh were singing at the same time.
In an instant, Guilliman seemed to witness the end and destruction of the entire universe, seeing billions of stars annihilated across the galaxy.
He saw the scarlet brass longsword pierce through the galaxy, leaving a burning Scarlet Scar.
He saw the Dark Prince's first cry at birth, tearing apart the entire galaxy.
Blood flowed from his eardrums, and he clenched his teeth, barely staying on his feet.
"Gou!!!"
When the third note sounded, even Sanguinius struggled to hold on. He maintained his strength as much as possible, trying to prevent the song from spreading.
Then…
"Da!!!"
A roar, as if proclaiming his birth, rang out. Guilliman was directly thrown backward, rolling several times on the ground, barely managing not to faint.
Sanguinius also let out a muffled grunt, his knees buckling as he knelt on the ground. The Psyker barrier he formed blocked most of the song, but a significant portion still leaked out.
He could sense the Warp nature of this song; its propagation was not only on the physical plane but also in the Warp. Almost all sentient beings on Macragge with a soul heard this sharp, piercing song at the same time.
"Lady Yvraine, please help, ask your Death God to speak up, ask the Laughing God to save me."
Inside the embassy on Macragge, which Guilliman had arranged for the Aeldari,
Sylandri Shadowseer pleaded with Yvraine.
But the Red-Armored Lapdog – oh no, the Red-Armored Warrior – always stood in front of Sylandri Shadowseer, guarding Yvraine's side.
Both looked at Sylandri Shadowseer with vigilance. During the time of the Guilliman Codex, it was she, under Alexander's control, who injected Yvraine with an anesthetic from the Dark Eldar.
Although Sylandri Shadowseer always insisted that she was still loyal to the Aeldari and Cegorach, and was merely controlled by the Lockheart Scarab, Yvraine and Thousand Faces still grew wary. Even if what she said was true, the possibility of her being controlled again couldn't be ruled out, could it?
Sylandri Shadowseer was a master among the Harlequin, and she also carried several items given by the human Death God. If she suddenly launched an attack, even the two chosen by the Death God would suffer.
"Shadowseer, you have more freedom than us, why seek our help?" Yvraine asked in a low voice, her tone as cold as a tomb.
Sylandri Shadowseer's mouth twitched. She couldn't tell if it was Alexander's malice or Guilliman's political maneuver. Humans were now strictly guarding Yvraine and Thousand Faces, forbidding them from leaving the embassy district.
However, Sylandri Shadowseer was given great courtesy by humans, with no supervision, allowing her complete freedom of movement, and even not hindering her as long as she didn't leave the Macragge System.
She knew in her heart that this was both to lure out Cegorach's rescue and because Sylandri Shadowseer was controlled by the Lockheart Scarab, also to divide the Aeldari internally.
"Cegorach has been ignoring my messages. I really need your help to contact him." Sylandri Shadowseer said with a bitter expression: "He should at least try to save me. If he doesn't, I'll be worthless, and who knows what Alexander will do."
Upon hearing this, Yvraine's vigilance intensified. Even the Laughing God abandoned you, and you still have the nerve to emphasize your loyalty to the Aeldari?
"Even Ynnead is not allowed to enter the Black Library now; the Laughing God has declined his visit." Yvraine said flatly.
This slightly surprised Sylandri Shadowseer. She hadn't returned to the Black Library after Ynnead's initial awakening, and the Laughing God had also rejected her messages, so she knew nothing about this.
"Why is the Laughing God avoiding Ynnead ah ah ah ah ah ah —"
Before Sylandri Shadowseer could finish her sentence, her voice suddenly elongated, like a cat's claw scratching a blackboard, gradually turning into a scream.
Her legs gave out, and she fell to her knees.
Yvraine was first stunned, and then, a song echoed in her ears.
"I! AM! GOU! DA!"
That song was filled with primal violence, an intense craving for musical art, and the deathly stillness from the end of the galaxy, a song that seemed to tear apart Yvraine's soul, the planet beneath her feet, the entire galaxy, and even all of reality.
That song, strongly declaring his birth—
In this sound, Yvraine felt a frequency similar to that of the Dark Prince. This awakened Yvraine, and also awakened the ancient memories within Thousand Faces and Sylandri Shadowseer.
Those were not their memories, but the racial memory of the entire Aeldari, a memory etched into the flesh, soul, and existence of every Aeldari, the deepest trauma of the Aeldari.
Yvraine's head throbbed, but the mental torment was even more painful.
This song made her recall the fall of the Aeldari, recalling the Dark Prince's first cry at birth.
The Astartes, wearing Blind Spot Star and cloaked to monitor the Aeldari, endured their headaches, looking bewildered as the three Aeldari lay on the ground, arching their backs, twitching and trembling as if electrocuted or in an emergency, frothing at the mouth and wailing in an unknown language.
On the Peak of Macragge, Reyna almost directly took the brunt of that sharp, piercing song. Every muscle and nerve in her body trembled and shook, and an intense feeling of suffocation assailed her brain.
At the same time, she could feel the song lingering in the Warp, making it almost impossible for her to channel Psyker energy.
This was still under the circumstance that Gouda only wanted to beat them up, not kill them.
Reyna could feel that if Gouda had wanted to, her entire nervous system would have been shattered the moment he uttered the first note.
In contrast, the two physically stronger Primarchs endured more of the song.
Guilliman's skin cracked under the song, blood constantly oozing from beneath his Fate Armor, and the Emperor's Sword was obliquely plunged into the ground, supporting the Primarch's body.
Sanguinius' body showed no obvious damage. He was further away from Gouda, and as a Primarch with Psyker powers, his resistance to Warp damage was clearly higher, but the white feathers on his back were constantly falling.
But what terrified the three present was that Greater Daemon suddenly slowly stood up from the marble floor, his body, which Roboute Guilliman had inflicted many wounds upon, straightened, and he slowly opened his mouth again.
Ripples once again spread through the Warp; he wanted to continue releasing the same kind of song as before.
The three people on the Peak of Macragge simultaneously showed expressions of terror, their bodies shuddering.
Roboute Guilliman suddenly rose, the Emperor's Sword in his hand tracing a scorching arc in the void, striking towards Gouda like a solar corona.
Gouda dodged and raised the club transformed from Sang Ni Ab Rui in his hand, also stirring up an undying bright flame to collide with the Emperor's Sword.
Burning sparks flew everywhere in the thin air, as the club and the sword clashed.
Guilliman was clearly superior in strength. He gritted his teeth and swung the Emperor's Sword heavily, the scorching undying bright flame directly knocking Gouda's club aside.
The club in Gouda's hand uncontrollably smashed to the side.
But Guilliman's expression changed slightly, because Gouda's club was smashing towards the statue of King Konor on the edge of the Peak of Macragge.
This statue, and that of Lady Uton, were carved by Guilliman himself ten thousand years ago to commemorate two elders who were like parents to him.
The statues of the Emperor and himself were erected by the Ultramarines after his death.
Guilliman instinctively moved, sliding to the side to block the club, pushing it to the other side.
The sound of marble cracking echoed as Gouda's club grazed the statue of King Konor, smashing into the Emperor's statue, instantly shattering fragments.
Guilliman's eye twitched slightly as he watched the marble head of the Emperor's statue fall at his feet, his movements slowing for an instant.
"I!!!!"
And in that brief moment, Gouda suddenly opened his mouth wide, and a note once again burst from his mouth.
Guilliman hastily turned and swung the Emperor's Sword to block —
"I'm back."
This sentence was uttered simultaneously from's mouth and Alexander's mouth.
The sword in Guilliman's hand suddenly stopped. He panted, looking at Alexander.
"Finally found the right time point."
Alexander and complained in unison, as if the same will resided in both bodies.
During his not-so-long time in this material universe, he had visited various objects that could navigate in the Warp, such as the Pharos Lighthouse, the Tyranids Lighthouse, the Canticle Engine, and so on.
Alexander even planned to go directly to the large, bright Astronomican in the Warp and ask the Emperor for directions.
Of course, this would carry some risk, as the Emperor's condition was still unknown.
Fortunately, at the last moment, he found the light Sanguinius had emitted, allowing him to return to his material body on Macragge.
"Hmm?" Alexander paused slightly. He looked at Roboute Guilliman, who was covered in blood and panting heavily.
Roboute Guilliman gasped, seemingly wanting to say something, but he seemed to have exhausted his energy and couldn't speak.
Then, on the Peak of Macragge, under the bewildered gazes of the three people and one Greater Daemon, Guilliman fell straight down, his Fate Armor colliding with the marble floor with a clang.
".."
There was a moment of silence on the Peak of Macragge, and then —
"Stretcher team! Quick, stretcher team!"
"The invincible Lord Guilliman has fallen again!"
The good news is that Guilliman's condition was not too bad.
When the Apothecaries saw Guilliman, bathed in blood and lying on the summit of Macragge, they were so frightened that they brought out the Static Field from the Codex Astartes.
However, after examination, they were convinced that Guilliman had only sustained a certain degree of damage to his skin, muscles, and internal organs. This damage would have been fatal for a mortal or even an Astartes, but Guilliman's own repair mechanisms were rapidly healing him, making the Apothecaries' intervention unnecessary.
The reason for Guilliman's unconsciousness was also more complex. Although the high-intensity battle with Gouda consumed a lot of the Primarch's physical strength, the true cause of his collapse was actually more mental.
The psychological impact of facing the current Imperium after his resurrection, the exhaustion from the complex and numerous administrative duties, the pain from old wounds, and the inconvenience of the Fate Armor—all these accumulated fatigue and pain within the Primarch were triggered by's singing, directly leading to his unconsciousness.
Therefore, for a short period, all of Macragge's administrative affairs were handed over to Sanguinius until Guilliman recovered and awoke.
But Guilliman awoke in barely half a day. Although Sanguinius urged him to rest longer, the Lord of Ultramar stubbornly took back all the administrative duties.
Sanguinius was then able to free up time to test Gouda's power with Alexander.
Alexander's control over Gouda was incredibly smooth, like manipulating his own fingers or an organ extending from his own body.
However, without using the method of 'yours is mine, and mine is still mine' to seize the power of all Astartes and mortals on Macragge, Alexander could not defeat Sanguinius in a direct confrontation.
Sanguinius judged that Greater Daemon's strength in the material universe already surpassed that of a Chief Greater Daemon under normal circumstances, but it would still suffer against some daemon Primarchs.
However, if the chilling singing was unleashed as a sudden assault, even a daemon Primarch could be caught off guard and defeated by it.
Moreover, Gouda also possessed all the characteristics of a daemon; after death, it should be reborn in the Warp, but how it would re-enter reality was still unclear.
Perhaps after being killed, it might directly emerge from the four-dimensional pocket?
But Sanguinius and Alexander naturally would not use this valuable combat asset for testing.
They were still waiting to use Gouda to ambush Fulgrim.
Having completed their rest, the Ultramarines and Blood Angels quickly began operations to reclaim Ultramar. The nearby core star systems were swiftly recovered under Sanguinius' leadership.
Guilliman primarily remained in the rear, guarding Macragge and handling administrative duties. Their cooperation was highly efficient.
To express his apology for Gouda injuring Guilliman, Alexander even specially sent Guilliman an item called 'High-Efficiency Pill'.
Taking this pill could increase a person's efficiency in tasks, allowing Guilliman to handle even more administrative duties.
Guilliman's mouth twitched as he thanked Alexander.
Inside Macragge's command center,
Alexander watched with interest as Guilliman handled administrative duties almost frantically.
"Inform my Third Company to move to the deep forest one hundred and fifty meters from their current position."
"Macragge's Glory's macro cannons are to elevate twelve points and commence bombardment."
"The Holy Blood Angels First Company is to be equipped with Superpower Hats. There is a squad of Raptors on the cliff near them; use telekinesis to lift them five centimeters and attack."
The Battle Group servants quickly recorded each of Guilliman's commands, then formed queues and continuously passed through the red-and-pink wooden door in the center of the command room.
With the resources of Macragge, Alexander directly exchanged for two more anywhere doors, one for Sanguinius and one for Guilliman.
Sanguinius used his as a tool for rapid movement and launching surprise attacks, while Guilliman developed a different usage.
He placed the anywhere door in the command center and, with well-trained Battle Group servants, used the anywhere door to quickly micro-manage each company.
Just now, Alexander had already witnessed an incredibly masterful command.
Guilliman ordered the Ultramarines Third Company to move one hundred and fifty meters away, forcing a squad of Chaos Raptors to start moving. He then used macro cannon bombardment to force the Raptors onto his planned path. Finally, the Holy Blood Angels First Company launched a Psyker attack at just the right moment, causing the cliff to collapse and ambushing the Raptors.
Guilliman was practically commanding his enemies.
"I apologize for the wait," Guilliman quickly recorded and archived the battle, then looked up and said to Alexander.
"It wasn't that long," Alexander had received an invitation from Guilliman, who said he had something to discuss with Alexander.
When Alexander arrived, he was just finishing up this battle, barely making Alexander wait.
Alexander even suspected that this was also calculated in Guilliman's mind.
Guilliman nodded slightly in greeting to Alexander, then quickly said to him:
"Three things. First, the core star systems of Ultramar are returning to Macragge's rule, and the resources we can mobilize are continuously increasing."
"I have mobilized as many resources as possible, and the transfer to Macragge will be completed within this month. This is the first batch of resources, and according to the price list you gave me earlier, I estimate it to be around 4.5 billion."
Upon hearing this, Alexander's mouth involuntarily curved into a smile.
"As expected of Ultramar, so rich!"
This would be his largest single income ever, enough to achieve what he, Guilliman, and Sanguinius had discussed earlier:
Expanding the Doraemon Company into the Doraemon Battle Group, and equipping a thousand individuals with items.
Of course, this would only spend a portion of it, estimated at around 1.5 billion previously.
The remaining 3 billion would be enough to exchange for three Time Wrapping Cloths, or directly purchase some incredibly powerful items.
"The second thing is about the Doraemon Battle Group Commander we discussed earlier. He is now rushing from various parts of the galaxy with his support fleet. My sub-groups, of course, are a given; I will select five elite companies from them for you."
Guilliman continued, "For the rest, I hope you can make a trip to Baal, both to ascertain the situation on the other side of the Great Rift and to replenish the Battle Group with five companies of Blood Angels."
Alexander nodded slightly, agreeing with Guilliman's plan. Half Ultramarines and half Blood Angels was very reasonable, but what Alexander wanted more was...
"Grand Master Voldus was frightened by your proposal. He does not have the authority to separate the Third Brotherhood from the Grey Knights and assign them to the Doraemon Battle Group." Guilliman shook his head with a touch of helplessness.
A look of regret flashed across Alexander's face. He really wanted a company of Grey Knights. Given the current situation, he would have to find a way after going to Terra.
"And also... as you predicted, the governor of Magna Macragge city proposed that I hold a victory parade."
"Fulgrim has begun his moves."