The newly rebuilt Imperial legions all sent congratulations to Rhodes!
Rhodes brought Elena to his secret lab, instructing Yapool and Balt to enlarge themselves and cook the prepared monster meat.
As for cooking methods, the best ingredients need only simple preparation—just sprinkle on spices and roast!
Elena transformed into a 50-meter giant, sat at a huge table, grabbed a chunk of Red King tail, and started chewing, her face lighting up in delight as she swallowed the meat.
On the table were not only Red King tail, but also Gomora tail and other Earth and cosmic monster meats.
"How does it taste?" Rhodes asked.
He was the only one who could afford to feed a super lifeform—feeding alone would break most people. Ordinary food couldn't satisfy them; cosmic energy was an option, but Warhammer cosmic energy was dangerous.
"Oh! I never imagined monster meat could taste this good," Elena said after swallowing.
"Which monster meat is best?" Rhodes asked.
"Golza's meat is too dry and tough, Melba's is like chewing a stick.
The best is Red King's tail, then Gomora's tail—Earth monster meat is far better than cosmic monster meat, which is barely edible and should be off the human menu!" Elena wiped her mouth.
She never thought Rhodes would feed her monster meat, but it was delicious—especially Red King's tail, with a bit of crunchy bone.
Of all the monsters, only the Earth ones were suitable for food; cosmic monsters were out.
"So, Earth monsters taste better—they're native, after all," Rhodes nodded.
"I'm full. After this meal, I probably won't need more nutrition for a long time."
Each time, she ate tens of thousands of tons of food—she couldn't believe she could digest it all!
Now, she felt full of power and energy.
"Eat more—once a day. You need enough milk for Stark, and don't forget he has a cosmic beast inside!" Rhodes said.
"Don't worry, I'll eat my fill. I'll head back now," Elena smiled, waving goodbye.
She needed to rest, enjoy her gene-daughters' care, and then help Rhodes deal with the Void Dragon C'tan shard.
"Master, the lady's condition is excellent. Your eldest son is growing very well," Yapool said, wiping his hands.
The monster meat they'd painstakingly cultivated, meant for making super beasts, was now all for the mistress' table.
"You'll be busy for a while," Rhodes smiled at his subordinates.
"Serving you is our honor, Lord Rhodes!"
After comforting his staff, Rhodes found Tartarus. For convenience, Tartarus had been traveling constantly.
He had to visit Rhodes' territory, report to Holy Terra, and observe the Octarius warzone.
"Tartarus, what's the situation in the Octarius sector?" Rhodes asked.
"Master, the Ork army is still marauding, liberating Ork worlds in Octarius. Regular Tyranids are no match for the Ork super-beasts.
Only the new Hive Tyrant Titans and giant motherships pose a threat, but Mefilas will help handle those," Tartarus reported.
He didn't know much about the future—his master in the future summoned him, gave no info, then sent him back in time using a time-travel ability fueled by the master's energy.
The last time-travel felt like a permanent loop.
"I might not have time to go to Octarius for years. Tartarus, keep an eye on things there with the Mefilas," Rhodes instructed.
Now he had to start preparing for the Indomitus Crusade. Originally, it should have happened a year after Guilliman's return to Terra.
But Rhodes' presence delayed it, as his scientists improved the Golden Throne, extending the Emperor's psychic light.
Although there was still an Imperial Dark Side, the front-facing Imperium was still under control, and some worlds on the edge were relit.
The Dark Side wasn't totally cut off, either—Horus occasionally sent information to Rhodes.
After fusing with the Black Giant, Horus could use the system space to communicate, sending real-time intel from the Dark Side.
Horus had taken over the Red Corsairs and was reclaiming human worlds, but not giving them to Chaos—just protecting them from Abaddon's forces.
The Imperium was gathering armies; only after the legions were rebuilt, the new armies upgraded and re-equipped, would the crusade begin.
This crusade would mainly target the Dark Side—on the front, as long as worlds could contact Terra, they stayed loyal.
Any rebellious worlds would be swiftly crushed by the newly rebuilt legions.
Some front worlds were under Tyranid invasion, or attacked by Xenos—these were Rhodes' real threats.
The Tyranids had tendrils beyond Baal and Octarius—other new Imperial regions had huge Leviathan tendrils.
Preparations for the crusade didn't need Rhodes' attention—Guilliman handled it. He just had to lead the army when the time came.
Another matter was also on the agenda: after Elena recovered, Rhodes, Elena, Guilliman, Magnus, and several Emperor avatars would go to Mars to fight the C'tan shards.
After defeating the C'tan, the cosmic beasts would devour its power and purify the dark energy.
"Understood, master. The Octarius sector isn't core—I'll keep watch," Tartarus replied.
…
Meanwhile, on a barren planet, a giant in green power armor stood five meters tall, with black skin and red eyes.
"My deal with the Emperor is done. Vulkan, you're resurrected. Now, the Emperor must keep his promise to revive our Eldar War God," said a Harlequin.
The Harlequin was being possessed by Cegorach, the Laughing God. After stealing Vulkan's soul from the Ork gods, he'd kept it safe.
Only recently did he take it to a human world and let Vulkan's soul re-enter a new clone body.
Such immortals, unless their souls were utterly destroyed, were undying—even if their bodies perished, they could resurrect in time.
Moreover, the Emperor gave him a primarch's clone body, fusing soul and flesh.
The Salamanders' primarch was finally reborn.
"I know. I haven't been back to the Imperium for millennia—I want to see it. I'll pass on your message to Father," Vulkan replied.
The Beast Wars ended seven or eight thousand years ago. After so long imprisoned by the Ork gods, he was finally free.
"I'll have my people take you to meet Eldar god Prophet Yvraine. They've gathered all of Khaine's soul fragments. Hopefully, this goes smoothly," said Cegorach.
Afterward, the Harlequin's eyes went dull—Cegorach's spirit had departed.
"Please, Lord Vulkan, I'll take you to meet Lady Yvraine and the other Farseers," said the Harlequin.
"Alright. Can you tell me about the current state of the Imperium?"
"Oh, things have changed a lot. Let's start from the beginning…"