"So the Death God wants to erase your consciousness?" Rhodes asked.
"I don't know. He just wants me to give him my body, so he can descend into realspace," Yvraine shook her head.
"Is this Death God actually female?" Rhodes joked.
"Please! Don't joke! The Death God is male," Yvraine said.
"Oh! Then his tastes are… interesting. So he wants to be a woman?" Rhodes grinned.
Yvraine wasn't lying—when Rhodes rescued Isha from Nurgle's garden, Isha had wanted to fully possess Lelith's body, too.
A super life-form's flesh was priceless to a Warp god, letting them manifest full power in realspace.
But back then, Rhodes had absolute control and refused Isha's attempt.
"I don't know what he's thinking. Maybe Death Gods have weird quirks. When he asked me, it scared me! He said we could share the body, and his deathly power would make me stronger, but I never trust gods—even as his emissary," Yvraine said.
The more you knew about the gods, the more you feared them—they weren't all noble and selfless!
Eldar gods were born from the race's own psychic power, with some Old Ones' tampering. In myth, the Eldar were created by the Goddess of Life and her husband—but that was nonsense. The true creators were the Old Ones!
"You're the emissary, your power is linked, so he asked you instead of taking your body by force," Rhodes said.
"I think he's wary. The cosmic beast inside me is from you—maybe he's afraid. Plus, my psychic strength is high, and with the beast in my soul, if he tried to take my body, who'd win isn't certain!" Yvraine said.
Voluntarily letting a god share your body versus being forcibly possessed were very different. Your body was your domain—you had the home advantage.
"I get it! Of course I'll help you. Why not just give up the Death God's power and break free completely?" Rhodes suggested.
Yvraine was basically his side-chick—he wouldn't let her be bullied. If Ynnead wanted a vessel, he'd better look elsewhere.
"No! I can't give up the Death God's power. Without it, the Ynnari wouldn't exist, or he'd just pick a new emissary and take over all I've built," Yvraine said.
Abandoning the Death God's power was out of the question. Only those who had it knew how terrifying it was.
Plus, she'd worked hard for her reputation and army—how could she give that up?
"If you're no longer his emissary, as a super life-form in realspace, your power won't be much less. With the cosmic beast, you'd be even stronger after absorbing C'tan shards. You could live hundreds of thousands of years, maybe longer," Rhodes said.
Don't underestimate the cosmic beast—its potential was unlimited. Eldar were already strong psychically, and the beast made souls stronger. She'd only lose some special powers from the Death God, and might even become stronger in the future!
As for the Ynnari—were they really so impressive? Only the monster warriors and Ynnari provided by Rhodes were truly powerful. Without his help, the Ynnari were hardly top-tier.
"If you think so… but would this offend the Death God?" Yvraine asked after thinking.
Rhodes was right—staying with him offered more power than following Ynnead. At first, she'd created the Ynnari to save the Eldar and gather the five Croneswords, but even if Ynnead was born, without the sacrifice of the whole race, he couldn't match Slaanesh.
He'd just be a slightly stronger Eldar god, about on Khaine's level. An incomplete Death God couldn't threaten Slaanesh. But on Rhodes's side, there was Isha, and soon a divine child.
Add Rhodes himself and the Emperor, and clearly, Rhodes's side had the advantage. Maybe they couldn't defeat the Chaos Gods, but at least they could stand as equals, or even banish them from reality.
Plus, if Khaine was revived, the Ynnari's position would be awkward—would her troops obey Khaine or her? Khaine was a true god, after all—much higher status than Yvraine.
"You're thinking right. To be honest, the galaxy will be in turmoil for a long time, and your God of War will be at the center. As for the Death God, don't worry—I'll talk to him," Rhodes said.
If the Death God were fully born, he'd be on the same level as the Chaos Gods, even inheriting some of the Dark King's power. But right now, he wasn't there yet. Even when Rhodes was weak, Cegorach dealt with him politely—if Ynnead had complaints, Rhodes would be happy to negotiate.
After upgrading his system shop, Rhodes was waiting for a ten-pull opportunity. Soon he'd have enough system credits! Then he could further empower Yapool, and his own strength would increase again.
"Okay. I'll pray and summon the Death God, and you can negotiate with him," Yvraine decided.
She'd once had grand ambitions, fighting all over the galaxy, risking her life countless times, but her power grew slower than Lelith, who stayed by Rhodes's side. The contrast was stark.
Rhodes nodded, and for safety, summoned Tartarus for backup.
Yvraine drew a complex ritual circle in Rhodes's room, stabbed her Cronesword into the center, and began to chant an ancient song.
Powerful psychic waves spread out, and a blurry figure appeared in the center.
"My servant, what has caused you to summon me?" a commanding male voice came from the circle.
"It's me—I asked Yvraine to call you. Pleased to meet you, Death God Ynnead. My name is Rhodes, currently a Primarch of the Imperium, and soon to be the Supreme God of the galaxy, perhaps even the universe," Rhodes said.
This wasn't arrogance—it was his destiny.
Ynnead frowned. What bold words! The future's Supreme God? This human was only on par with a minor order god.
He wanted to scoff, but seeing Tartarus at Rhodes's side, and feeling the invisible pressure from the Golden Throne, he held his tongue.
"So, Rhodes, why have you called me through my servant?" the Death God asked.
"Nothing major. I'm about to resurrect your God of War. As the Eldar Death God, would you like to attend the ceremony?" Rhodes asked.
"If you invite me, of course. But I cannot remain in realspace for long—unless my servant is willing to offer her body," Ynnead said.
"Oh, sorry! Her body is reserved for me," Rhodes said, going to Yvraine's side.
This body—only I get to touch! Anyone else tries, it's their life on the line!