This true grand celebration was held in Magna Macragge, the largest city and capital of Macragge.
The city, nestled beneath the seven towering mountains that bore Hera Fortress, amidst the majestic peaks of Macragge, had been the most prosperous city in the surrounding star systems ten thousand years ago.
And ten thousand years later, this city was a magnificent, sacred, and vast metropolis within Ultramar.
Those Roman-style buildings had stood on the planet's surface for ten thousand years, stubbornly burning like the embers of ancient times in this dark galaxy; though no longer able to be lighthouses, they still allowed one to see the glorious remnants of the Great Crusade era.
This city had not merely lingered in past glory for ten thousand years; under the planning of the Ultramarines and the rule of successive governors, the city had continuously expanded in an orderly fashion. Newly built arches, pavilions, and domes sparkled in Macragge's bright sun, while small gardens covered with glass between the marble buildings shimmered like dewdrops.
All of this was arrayed along the sides of wide roads. The straight Limit Avenue shot out from the Titan Gate like a sharp sword, passed through the Lion Gate, pierced through the Archangel's Arch, and reached directly to the steps of Hera Fortress.
The historians chosen by Guilliman had always been curious about the urban planning of Magna Macragge.
For instance, why were the Lion Gate and Archangel's Arch built on Limit Avenue, the widest avenue in the city?
Lions and Archangels were indeed common imperial symbols, but combined with Limit Avenue, it inevitably led one to believe that Lion King and Archangel Sanguinius had visited Macragge ten thousand years ago. Could it be that the two Primarchs had visited Macragge ten thousand years ago?
Furthermore, a renowned historian also discovered a marble slab inscribed with "Here lies the coffin of the Fire Dragon" in a semi-buried underground area of the city. Could it be that Vulkan, the Fire Dragon, also visited Macragge? Why would the immortal one have a coffin here?
However, it was a pity that the historian who discovered this was drawn by a piece of information in Inquisitor Greyfax's hand, declaring that he would leave Macragge to search for traces of history in more distant star systems.
This caused the historians to sigh repeatedly. What was even more regrettable was that the repair work on the Ptolemy Library had not yet finished, and Chief Librarian Tigurius was constantly immersed in it, working tirelessly day and night on the restoration.
But soon, the sighs over the inability to restore history were overshadowed by the excitement of witnessing history.
Never before had so many Battle Groups visited Macragge.
These Battle Groups came at Macragge's call for aid and were surprised midway to learn of the return of two Primarchs.
Finally, at the beginning of Ultramar's reconquest, they arrived at Macragge and were able to participate in the grand victory parade that followed.
Several successor chapters of the Ultramarines arrived almost in full force, their eyes welling with tears at the return of their gene-father, as they swore allegiance.
The Dark Angel and Raven Guard, on the other hand, sent small delegations to visit Macragge to confirm the authenticity of the Primarchs' resurrection.
In addition, the Space Wolves, White Scars, Black Templars, and many more Battle Groups also visited Macragge.
Even the Blood Angels, those Blood Angels stationed on Baal, came.
Historians privately circulated that it was the great power of Saint Doraemon that allowed them to cross the Great Rift.
These historians and chroniclers also bravely suppressed their fear and questioned the visiting Astartes about history.
Some Battle Groups were relatively friendly, and upon learning that they were appointed by the Primarch, they briefly recounted their Battle Group's history.
Others, like the Dark Angel, refused with a hint of menace; the Space Wolves laughed heartily, demanding they first drink a cup of Fenrisian Mead before speaking; the White Scars pretended not to speak Macragge's local low gothic and high gothic; the Black Templars never left their Heretic's Bane.
As for the Blood Angels, some historians couldn't help but cast their gaze towards the nearby high platform, looking at Chief Librarian Mephiston of the Blood Angels, who exuded a chilling aura.
This was the leader of the Blood Angels contingent. His skin was as pale as a corpse, his hair more white than golden, making him look terrifying, like a ghoul.
Even the boldest historians dared not approach him, and among the Blood Angels he brought were the Flesh Tearers and a new Battle Group that inherited the name of the extinct Blood Knight Battle Group.
The reputations of both these Battle Groups were somewhat ominous.
Mephiston evidently noticed the historians' gazes. He smiled gently and nodded towards them.
The historians instantly froze in place, terrified.
Alexander, standing beside Mephiston, couldn't help but twitch his lips slightly.
Mephiston tried his best to maintain a gentle smile, but at least from Alexander's perspective, he smiled a little frighteningly.
Mephiston's shoulder pads were also painted blue, meaning he was now one of Alexander's twenty-two personally chosen doraemons.
Alexander took advantage of this time to make a trip to Baal and met Dante. Remembering the scene when he met Dante, Alexander couldn't help but shiver.
Dante sat in the Red Great Hall, amidst mountains of stacked papers, his face gaunt, not like an Astartes, but rather like a dying old man.
The Blood Angels, following Sanguinius' orders, began to expel the Tyranids from the Scarlet Scar sector and reclaim the worlds that had once been abandoned.
Dante therefore had to bear a large amount of complex political and military affairs. When Alexander arrived, Dante had not left the Red Great Hall for over a week.
Alexander expressed his concern for this, instantly offering Guilliman's high-efficiency pills.
Then Alexander took several successor chapters of the Blood Angels from Baal, as well as some refugees from Ashford, most of whom would undergo training to become soldiers of the 184th Regiment.
"My Lord, the selection for the Doraemon Battle Group is basically complete," Mephiston said, watching the victory parade unfolding before them.
Alexander nodded slightly, and together with Mephiston, he turned his gaze forward.
Although the two Primarchs, Dante, and even the entire Ultramarines and Blood Angels, and even Alexander himself, had become busy,
It was clear that being busy had its benefits; everything was getting better.
The Scarlet Scar and Ultramar were being reconquered, the Ultramarines and Blood Angels were gradually recovering their strength from ten thousand years ago, the two Primarchs had returned to the mortal realm, Alexander had the support of an entire Ultramar. He had even just received news that the ships transporting supplies for him had also arrived in Macragge's orbit at this very moment.
Alexander looked up.
The voidship engines in the sky burned with fire, shining like dozens of stars, dazzling enough to obscure the sky on any world, no matter how many suns that world had. Among them was the fleet transporting goods for Alexander.
And above Macragge, millions of mortal troops had assembled on the planet, accompanied by tens of thousands of war machines, their combined vibrations causing even the city's avenues to tremble slightly.
As the light of the sun gradually climbed to the mid-point of the firmament, cheers began to resound in every corner of the city.
That was the allied army, composed of millions of mortal troops, tens of thousands of war machines, several magnificent Titans, and tens of thousands of Astartes, entering through the Titan Gate and marching through the Lion Gate.
Saint Celestine flew high in the sky, chanting sacred songs, followed closely by several Battle Groups waving their battle standards, while the Seraphim scattered holy incense.
Countless praises rose, extolling the great Lord of Ultramar.
Their only regret was that Sanguinius was still fighting on the front lines and had not yet returned.
Of course, what they didn't know was that this was part of the plan by Alexander, Guilliman, and Sanguinius.
They were creating space for Fulgrim to act, as Sanguinius now had an anywhere door given to him by Alexander and could return to Macragge at any time.
A platform carved from a single block of marble, filled with statues depicting Guilliman's deeds and words of praise, slowly appeared, pulled by war machines.
Roboute Guilliman, standing on the high platform, was clad in blue and gold Fate Armor, his golden hair swaying in the wind, his gaze as majestic as a tiger's, seeming even taller than usual.
With his appearance, the fervent atmosphere in the city reached its peak.
"I am the Lord of Ultramarines, I am the ruler of Ultramar, I am the Emperor's most excellent son."
A magnificent and solemn voice rang out from Roboute Guilliman's mouth, deafening:
"Whether mortal or Astartes, be filled with hope! For I have returned!"
Guilliman's voice brought tears to the eyes of all the mortals and Ultramarines present, who cheered loudly.
However, the words "Emperor's most excellent son" made the sons of the other Primarchs frown slightly.
In their hearts, they recalled the evaluations of Roboute Guilliman in their Battle Group records:
Ambitious, the most cunning and ambitious Primarch, even his brothers could not discern his innermost thoughts.
Now it seemed, this evaluation might not be wrong.
Even Roboute Guilliman himself was displeased with the words "Emperor's most excellent son" spoken by the person on the stage.
"That sentence was superfluous," said Roboute Guilliman, standing beside Alexander, his figure concealed by the Blind Spot Star.
"You, old man, aren't going to let that one sentence affect your reputation," Alexander chuckled softly, saying, "Besides, acting a little arrogant makes Fulgrim relax his guard, didn't we discuss this beforehand?"
With that, Alexander composed himself and turned his gaze to the "Roboute Guilliman" on the marble platform.
He slowly opened his eyes, and his entire being had transformed into the "Roboute Guilliman" in Fate Armor on the high platform.
Alexander couldn't help but twitch his tongue in his mouth; he was already a little impatient to show off his singing in front of Fulgrim.
He had to let him see what a true Noise Marine was!