Axis made a dazzling entrance, and his sudden appearance startled everyone present. The manner of his arrival was simply too flashy.
However, with a unified clattering of metal, almost everyone at the scene, with the sole exception of the Living Saint, Celestine, aimed their weapons directly at Axis.
"Who are you? Why have you appeared here?" Chief Librarian Tigurius of the Ultramarines held his force staff tight, eyeing Axis with extreme vigilance.
Danger. He sensed overwhelming danger.
The man before him exuded a sense of peril that was unparalleled, giving Tigurius the sensation that if the man merely moved his hand, the Librarian's head would be separated from his shoulders in the next instant.
"Impudent madman! Release Chapter Master Calgar at once!" The High Marshal of the Black Templars drew his power sword and roared.
Simultaneously, all the Ultramarines present drew their bolt rifles and took aim at Axis.
"Father! Could you perhaps move your foot slightly?" Kratos spoke to Axis using a psychic transmission.
"Please, Father, did you really not feel that you were stepping on something? That is their Chapter Master!"
"What does a brat like you know? This is called a show of dominance! I have to crush these guys in terms of momentum first," Axis replied. "I need to give Guilliman's brood a little shock and awe, otherwise these blue boys won't listen very well."
"Stop clowning around, Axis. Hurry up and get to business. I feel like they are about to attack you any second now," Kasha communicated through the psychic link, looking exasperated.
Just as the tension reached its breaking point, Axis's body erupted with a burst of golden light, emitting the aura of the legendary Super Saiyan.
A terrifying pressure descended upon everyone.
The crowd felt their breath stifle and their heads spin. One by one, they involuntarily dropped to their knees, their bodies trembling as cold sweat poured down their faces.
This affected everyone: Inquisitor Greyfax, the High Marshal of the Black Templars, the Ultramarines, Chief Librarian Tigurius, and even the Aeldari delegation including Yvraine, the Emissary of Ynnead, and the Visarch.
Everyone knelt uncontrollably, their bodies shaking.
The female Inquisitor and some of the Space Marines tried to grit their teeth and stand, but an invisible pressure pinned them firmly in place.
Among them, only Tigurius could truly sense just how terrifying Axis was.
It felt like the moment Axis first transformed into the legendary Super Saiyan. Just as Kasha and Mader could sense Axis's terrifying aura, Tigurius now understood the depth of this power.
The Chief Librarian's face was pale as death, his body shivering. He looked at Axis with pure fear, his expression suggesting he was staring at a Chaos God in the flesh. His mind was filled only with terror and the certainty of death.
He knew that if he dared to resist, he would be obliterated without mercy.
"Lord Axis, please stay your hand! They do not know your identity," Saint Celestine sighed.
Was this really the new Primarch the Emperor had spoken of? His physique certainly did not look the part. Although he was tall, he was only the size of a standard Space Marine, perhaps even slightly shorter.
The other man, Kratos, was also about the height of an ordinary Space Marine, though incredibly muscular and burly.
That must be Kratos, she thought. My... my future husband.
"Since my daughter has spoken, I will spare your lives for now! Be grateful for my immense mercy." Axis laughed and deactivated his aura.
Why did he call Celestine his daughter?
Axis felt that since she was entering his family by marrying his son, she was effectively his daughter. He found no fault in this logic.
The crowd instantly felt a wave of relief.
They remained kneeling on the ground, gasping for air, before looking up at Axis with collective fury.
"You scoundrel, this is heresy! You have blasphemed against the God-Emperor and the Holy Living Saint. What did you mean by 'daughter'? The Living Saint has only one father, and that is the glorious God-Emperor!" shouted a Battle Sister accompanying Celestine.
To the Sororitas, they were all daughters of the Emperor. For this man to claim to be the Living Saint's father was the highest form of disrespect and blasphemy.
But just then, a pure, white hand pressed down on the Battle Sisters' bolters.
"I am his daughter. Saying that isn't entirely wrong. It is a complicated matter, so allow me to explain," Celestine said, rolling her eyes at Axis. "This gentleman is named Axis. He is the new Primarch created by the Emperor."
She had originally intended to introduce him as the Second Primarch, as that was what the Emperor had told her.
However, Axis had informed her through a powerful psychic message that he was now claiming the title of a newly created Primarch, and that his son Kratos was the son of the Emperor's daughter Kasha, making him the grandson of the Emperor.
The Living Saint could only agree helplessly. He was the boss; what he said went.
Axis had temporarily altered their cover stories.
Pretending to be brothers—the 2nd and 11th Primarchs—with his own son felt awkward to him.
It was better to establish the identity of a brand new Primarch and an Imperial Grandson. It couldn't be helped; Saiyans were willful by nature.
"What? A new Primarch? Lady Celestine, are you joking?" Inquisitor Greyfax looked incredulous.
The Emperor had been interred on the Golden Throne for ten thousand years. When would he have had the time to create a new Primarch?
Furthermore, this man did not look like a Primarch. Primarchs stood over three and a half meters tall. Even if he were a new creation, as a Living Saint, Celestine held a station only slightly lower than a Primarch; she should not be calling herself his daughter.
The others wore expressions of bewilderment.
They could not understand what madness had taken hold of Celestine. The more radical factions, represented by Greyfax and the Black Templar Marshal, began to suspect that Celestine had been corrupted by Chaos and betrayed the Emperor.
As for the Aeldari, Yvraine watched with an amused expression, acting entirely like a spectator enjoying the show. This was getting interesting.
The Visarch, clad in crimson armor, looked at his student with worry. Surely the Aeldari gods would not actually ally with humans and force Yvraine into a political marriage? was his secret crush doomed?
"Lord Axis is indeed a Primarch engineered by the Emperor. His gene-seed alone could be used to create a new Astartes Legion," Celestine continued quickly, fearing bloodshed if she hesitated.
"And Lord Kratos is the son of Lord Axis and the Emperor's daughter, the Imperial Princess Kasha. He is the Emperor's grandson and the true inheritor of the Emperor's bloodline. He is also my betrothed. In the name of the Emperor, I shall wed the Emperor's grandson, Kratos."
Kratos, standing beside Axis, sighed.
His body erupted with golden light, his hair turning gold as a sky-piercing aura emerged.
A sacred and powerful psychic force washed over the crowd. This holy psychic power caused everyone's expression to change drastically.
Unlike the golden aura Axis had emitted, the energy radiating from Kratos possessed the unmistakable psychic signature of the Emperor, enhanced by the Super Saiyan bloodline.
After transforming, the fifty-fold power increase made Kratos's psychic presence rival the Emperor's power from the days he walked among mortals.
When this holy energy appeared, it resonated with every human present. No explanation was needed; they knew intuitively where this power originated.
Kasha also cooperated, releasing her own sacred psychic power.
"I am the Daughter of the Emperor of Mankind. I was born during the Unification Wars on Holy Terra. I am the Imperial Princess, Kasha." She revealed her identity.
"Impossible... this... this is heresy! You must have used some sorcery to steal the God-Emperor's power!" Inquisitor Greyfax cried out in disbelief.
The great God-Emperor was a god, and gods did not have biological offspring in the mortal sense, only the Primarchs.
He certainly did not have normal descendants!
Axis snorted coldly and flicked his finger.
Greyfax instantly flew backward, smashing heavily into a pillar before crashing to the floor. She lay there, breathing shallowly.
"Watch your tongue," Axis said.
"My Lord... are you truly a Primarch of this new era? Please, you must verify your identity to us somehow!" Chief Librarian Tigurius spoke through gritted teeth.
The strength this man displayed was simply too great. Even if everyone attacked at once, they would not last a single round.
Furthermore, the Living Saint vouched for him, and the psychic power displayed by the other two was undoubtedly from the Emperor. Tigurius was beginning to believe.
Axis grunted and infused Ki into his cells. His bones and muscles began to grow rapidly. In the blink of an eye, he expanded into a giant standing nearly 3.8 meters tall.
The pressure generated by this physical form commanded the awe of everyone present. This was what a Primarch should look like.
This was the imposing presence a Primarch should have.
Simultaneously, an even more holy golden energy descended upon the room, illuminating Kasha and Kratos with divine radiance. Celestine also unfurled her pristine white wings.
This time, everyone believed. Axis was the new Primarch, and Kratos and Kasha were the Imperial Princess and the Imperial Grandson. The Emperor's true bloodline had appeared.
"Great Primarch, please tell us your name," Tigurius stepped forward and asked.
"My name is Axis," he replied.
"Then, Lord Axis, could you please move your foot so that our Chapter Master may rise?" Tigurius pointed to Calgar, who was still pinned beneath Axis's boot.
"Oh! I really didn't notice I was stepping on someone. Is he your Chapter Master? I didn't see him earlier." Axis moved his foot without blushing or skipping a beat, allowing Calgar to crawl up from the ground.
Calgar's face was livid as he glared at Axis. This bastard. He claimed he didn't notice him while stepping on him?
Tigurius quickly grabbed the furious Chapter Master.
Now was not the time for an outburst, or else they would need a medicae team to carry him to the ICU.
"Our Chapter Master has a bit of a temper. Lord Axis, please do not take offense!" Tigurius quickly smoothed things over and pulled Calgar aside.
"It's fine, it's fine. I am the bigger man, I won't hold it against him. Why would an adult bicker with a child?" Axis waved his hand dismissively.
Kratos looked at his father silently. Uncle Guilliman, he thought, the biggest mistake you ever made was quarrelling with my dad.
Axis's comment made Calgar furious all over again. Damn it! He really wanted to swing his Power Gauntlet into that face.
"Now, let's get to business. Take me to see Guilliman. I'm going to wake that guy up," Axis said.
Calgar let out a disgruntled snort but led the group to the deepest part of the Fortress of Hera.
It was the most sacred and secure place of the Ultramarines, the resting place of their Father, Roboute Guilliman.
"We have arrived. This is where our great Father sleeps. Lord Axis, how do you intend to save Lord Guilliman?" Calgar asked.
"Leave this matter to me," Yvraine said, drawing her weapon.
"This is humanity's business; we won't trouble you outsiders. Wait until Guilliman wakes up! You two can spend some time alone, have a chat, and develop some feelings. I think you two will get along; he's just a big boy at heart," Axis said.
"I have received no such oracle," Yvraine retorted.
Was this a joke? The God of Death had never given her an oracle regarding marriage.
"Don't worry. After I beat this kid Guilliman awake, I'll go have a nice chat with your death god and settle the matter. You just get ready to be a bride."
After speaking, Axis walked toward Guilliman.
Then, right in front of everyone, he pulled the unarmored Guilliman out of the stasis field and slapped him twice across the face with resounding force.
"What are you sleeping for? Wake up already, It's time for party!"
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ps?