Upon arrival in the Solar System, the Eldar fleet was greeted by the Imperial fleet.
The Eldar's telepaths had already contacted the Imperium, so the fleet was not attacked, but escorted to Holy Terra.
They were received by the Custodian Guard. Returning to the Solar System, about to step onto Holy Terra, Vulkan felt like a stranger in a familiar land.
After ten thousand years, he was back where he'd been created. Father! What has happened to you, Guilliman, Magnus? And my new brother and sister—were you created after we disappeared?
Vulkan had endless questions—he couldn't wait to ask them all!
Back on an Imperial ship, he reunited with familiar Custodians—so comforting.
"Lord Vulkan! I never thought you'd be the next returning Primarch. Your return is a blessing for the whole Imperium," Custodian Ultraman bowed.
Of all the Primarchs, none had a better reputation than the Lord of the Salamanders. Even Sanguinius's reputation didn't quite match his.
He truly cared for every Imperial citizen—even ordinary people. Other Primarchs might abandon a rescue, but Vulkan never would.
"I remember you. I think I saw you on Terra, but Custodians don't live ten thousand years. How did you survive?" Vulkan asked.
This Custodian was no weakling—though not as strong as the Death Prophet, he was close, with a violent energy within!
"I survived because, on a secret mission from the Emperor, I was captured by a shameful Necron Overlord and imprisoned for ten thousand years.
Two years ago, Lord Rhodes rescued me and kept me by his side. I only just returned to Terra, and I felt just as out of place as you," Ultraman said.
"I see! The Necron Overlord—must be the collector of human relics!" Vulkan replied.
That Necron had a terrible reputation, even among his own kind—a notorious thief.
"Yes! That despicable Necron Trazyn. If not for a last-minute betrayal, we wouldn't have lost the Battle of Cadia," Ultraman said, furious.
He'd been released for that war, before meeting Rhodes. In that battle, two Emperor Avatars appeared and the Imperium was turning the tide.
With their lead, the Black Legion was being crushed—there would have been no Dark Imperium, Cadia wouldn't have fallen, so many brave warriors wouldn't have died.
But that despicable Necron snatched the Emperor's Avatar!
He even kept clone Primarchs in his laboratory!
Now, everyone in the Imperium hates Trazyn and wants him dead.
"So despicable! If there's a war, I'll join and make him pay," Vulkan vowed.
Recently, the biggest event in the galaxy was the Warp rift spanning the galaxy, bringing untold disaster to the Imperium.
"Lord Vulkan, the Emperor is awake—he can communicate directly with Primarchs.
With strong souls and bodies, he can speak directly; with others, he needs an Avatar," Ultraman explained.
"I understand. Take me to my father and brothers—I can't wait."
Ultraman nodded, bowed to Yvraine, and the Eldar delegation.
"Honored Eldar allies, please follow me. The Emperor will meet you, and Lord Rhodes is waiting."
"Thank you! Let's go!"
Yvraine, her followers, and others followed to the Imperial Palace, escorted by golden-armored Custodians, to the presence of the Master of Mankind.
Every time he saw his father, Vulkan felt deep emotion. Back when he went into seclusion, the Emperor was still human—but now, after ten thousand years, he was a dried corpse.
Beside the Emperor stood Guilliman, Magnus, Rhodes, Elena with a baby, Lelith, and Captain-General Trajan.
"Long time no see, Father, brothers, and my new sister." Vulkan sighed, stepping forward, and realized he was now the tallest of them all.
He'd always been tall, but now Guilliman, Magnus, and the new siblings had all shrunk!
They were all around two meters tall—barely matching a Primaris Astartes.
But the psychic and physical power they radiated was staggering—these two were far stronger than even Yvraine.
"Vulkan, my child! Your return gladdens me and all humanity," the Emperor's voice echoed in Vulkan's mind.
"Father! Clearly much has changed—Guilliman and Magnus are stronger, and can control their size."
"Our forms have changed, but don't worry—since you're back, you'll soon be upgraded as well," Guilliman laughed.
"Seems I've missed a lot! I never thought, Father, you'd become like this. Or that Magnus would truly return," Vulkan said.
"The Emperor's condition has improved a lot. Two years ago, before the Golden Throne's upgrade, Magnus couldn't help; back then, the Emperor was just a skeleton," Guilliman explained.
"If only, a thousand years ago, you could have replaced Father, maybe things would have been different. Maybe he'd still be leading us on the Crusade, saving humanity!" Vulkan said.
Now, Magnus sat on the Throne, but it was too late—ten thousand years too late.
Even knowing Magnus had returned, Vulkan's resentment wasn't gone. If it were Russ or Lion El'Jonson, they'd have punched Magnus by now.
Rhodes stifled a laugh—every Primarch still resented the traitors.
If Lion hit Magnus, he'd take it. If Russ tried, Magnus would hit back!
Magnus opened his mouth, then gave a bitter smile, saying nothing.
"Magnus has completely escaped the Chaos gods' control and fully returned to the Imperium. You can be assured—the Grey Knights are his gene-sons," Guilliman signaled to Vulkan.
Family matters weren't for outsiders—let's discuss them after greeting our guests.
"So, these are my new brother and sister?" Vulkan greeted Rhodes and Elena, warmly embracing them.
Rhodes also felt deep affection—Vulkan was the most caring of all Primarchs.
After the hug, the three exchanged names, then Vulkan looked at the baby in Elena's arms.
"This child is my kin too—I can sense great power. A young Primarch?"
Such a powerful baby reminded him of his own youth—this one was even stronger. Could it be a second-generation Primarch?
"The baby in Elena's arms is indeed a Primarch—the Imperium's newest. But he's not your brother—he's your nephew," Rhodes said.
"You two? He's your child? But—can Primarchs have children?" Vulkan was stunned. Could Primarchs reproduce?
"Rhodes and Sister Elena aren't blood relatives, nor do they carry Father's gene.
Their life level was raised to Primarch by a cosmic beast," Guilliman explained.