These young child-recruits would receive Sterne's gene-seed in five years, becoming a new Astartes legion.
Every one was carefully selected from excellent families across Imperial worlds—near the peak of human genetic purity and physical quality.
By then, the youngest would be no more than fourteen. Following his older brother's example, Sterne greeted his future gene-sons. When he came of age, he would name his legion.
"Hail to you, great gene-father!" countless youths cried to Sterne.
"Praise to you, new primarch!"
"Praise to you, son of the High Princess!"
"Blessings upon you, son of the Warmaster!"
"Shine forth and light the Imperium!"
"Salute to all Imperial citizens, and to my gene-descendants. I will live up to your trust. In the future I will light the dark galaxy and illuminate the Imperium," Sterne shouted.
The citizens and officials applauded warmly, delighted by the child's achievements.
A young primarch symbolizes a renewed Imperium—new hope, a new future.
Afterward, the Emperor instructed Sterne and then formally invested him as another primarch of the Imperium.
Sterne bowed in thanks and came to Rhodes's side, face flushed with excitement.
"Father! Mother! Brother! Did you see? I have my own gene-sons now. I'll found my own Astartes legion," Stark said.
"We saw. But for them to receive your gene-seed, it'll take five years; to form up fully, another ten. So at least fifteen years before you can lead them," Rhodes said, smiling and ruffling his younger son's hair.
In the Imperium's martial culture, it's easy to be eager for the front lines—but war is no playground.
If not for overwhelming strength, Rhodes would never let his sons go to war. Home would be best.
After investing two primarchs, the Emperor presented an eighteen-year-old, 4.2-meter-tall new primarch: the former Aeldari Wargod, now human primarch—Khaine.
Compared to Rhodes's sons, Wargod Khaine looked even more robust—explosively muscular, radiating oppressive power.
"Next is a new primarch—not naturally born, but created by me: the twenty-first primarch. His name is Khaine," the Emperor's avatar announced to the people.
He omitted Khaine's past as the Aeldari Wargod.
"So this is the newest primarch made by the Emperor? Another divine son?"
"He looks so strong!"
"The great Emperor's son!"
The people buzzed. Until today, they had no idea this primarch existed. The Emperor had secretly created another.
"I am the Imperium's twenty-first primarch. I will fight for humanity. I will fight for the Imperium," Khaine declared from the stage.
And you will fight for me.
His voice boomed like a sonic wave through every corner, laden with psychic force, echoing in every ear on Holy Terra.
As a true divine Wargod, Khaine's mastery of psychic power was unimaginable—even beyond primarchs awakened with a divine soul.
To put it simply, Khaine at this moment was somewhat akin to the Emperor before He took the Golden Throne.
Clap, clap, clap!
Thunderous applause rolled. When it subsided, 30,000 handpicked boy-recruits, selected by the Emperor and Guilliman, came before Khaine.
These youths were similar in age to Stark's—mostly under fifteen.
It was clear the later primarchs got fewer recruits than Stark.
Stark had 100,000. Khaine and Sterne each had only 60,000; even combined, they were fewer than Stark's.
That was deliberate by the Emperor and Guilliman. Khaine could be a human primarch, but would not occupy the mainstream.
"I will grant you courage—the courage to fight. With my gene-seed, you'll gain unimaginable power," Khaine told his recruits.
His gene-seed had been tested; implantation induced a berserk-like combat state—immense strength, no pain, ferocious rage.
Somewhat like Rhodes's berserk transformation, yet different: this was more like a stimulant state. After it ended, there would be a period of weakness. Rhodes's transformation, by contrast, was a form-state that didn't leave one powerless afterward.
Khaine could also use his psychic power to vastly amplify soldiers on the battlefield—even project blessings via the Warp to Imperial worlds, empowering their troops.
Giving them much greater fighting power.
"Great gene-father! We follow you. We follow war!"
"My children, war is your birthright. Battle is your destiny. To die on the field is your best end. After death, your souls will be with me," Wargod Khaine roared with arms wide.
This wasn't just talk. His gene-sons' souls would indeed join him after death, becoming part of his divine war-power.
He could even use these pure warrior souls to form a demon-host akin to the Emperor's cursed warriors.
His legion size being limited didn't matter. As long as they died fast enough and recruits flowed in, warriors would come to him endlessly.
"My children, our legion is called the Sons of War. You are the children of war," Khaine declared.
"Sons of War! Sons of War! Sons of War!!" the recruits bellowed.
"Hahaha! War! War!!" Khaine howled in excitement. As a human primarch, he could feel war empowering him.
Though born from Aeldari worship, the Aeldari don't love war; they aren't a warlike species. Humans and Orks fit him better.
The Eldar gods thought Khaine a fool for pledging to the human Emperor and becoming a human primarch—but who understood his designs? As humanity's Wargod, he could aspire to the rank of the Chaos Gods.
See how the Emperor grew so mighty through humanity's faith!
In the crowd, Elana frowned, nudged Rhodes with her elbow, and spoke via the phantom-beast's secret channel.
"I don't think this Aeldari Wargod truly fights for humanity. I feel he wants to use humans—maybe even steal the Emperor's faith, and yours," Elana said.
"He needs faith, yes—but not overt worship. He needs the Imperium at war. As long as humanity wages war, his power grows. His rising divinity in turn will empower all human fighters and soldiers," Rhodes said.
Among the Aeldari, Khaine is the first god beneath Asuryan, second only in battle to the four Chaos Gods—for a reason.
Anything tied to combat strengthens him—which is why Khorne covets him.
If he dedicates himself to humanity—shielding and blessing human warriors—the Emperor will keep him. But if he crosses the line—like devouring vast numbers of human souls to boost himself—the Emperor will move against him.
Just like He once purged the Second and Eleventh Primarchs—on such matters, the Emperor shows no mercy.
"Enough. Khaine, withdraw with your gene-sons.
"You will be cast into the Imperium's wars. Fight for humanity, for the Imperium, for me," the Emperor's avatar said.
Khaine turned, nodded to the Emperor, then knelt on one knee.
"To fight for you, my father."
After Khaine's investiture ended, the Emperor's avatar raised His golden greatsword again.
"My subjects, all humanity, let me tell you a story—a story from ten thousand years ago.
"Of a perfect city, and the origin of the state church," the Emperor said.
All were puzzled. Apart from a few who knew, no one understood what the Emperor was about to do.