"Guilliman! Get up already! and you've got overtime work to do!"
Axis's actions stunned everyone present. No, surely not! Was this confirmed to be a standard awakening protocol?
Even Marneus Calgar and Tigurius stood frozen in place, looking at Axis with expressions of utter bewilderment, helplessness, and rising anger.
This bastard, this bastard was simply too atrocious!
Even Kratos couldn't bear to watch, the corners of his mouth twitching as he looked at his father. It was just too cruel.
However, a miraculous scene unfolded. After enduring two harsh slaps across the face from Axis, Guilliman's eyebrows actually twitched. He looked as though he was on the verge of waking.
Axis nodded with satisfaction and delivered two more heavy slaps.
This time, Guilliman woke completely. He looked around with a blank expression, his face clearly conveying the confusion of the newly risen: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
"Is this for fucking real?" Yvraine of the Aeldari, standing to the side, could not suppress her shock and swore aloud.
Was this some kind of mistake? He just went up and slapped him a few times, and that actually woke the Primarch? What kind of game was this? What kind of joke was being played?
Even Guilliman's sons, all the Ultramarines present, looked on in blank confusion. Some even dropped their bolters, their mouths hanging open in disbelief.
Had the world gone mad? Their Father, who had slept for ten thousand years, had miraculously, and absurdly, awakened after receiving a few slaps.
What kind of medical treatment was this?
"Do you see? When someone has slept for too long, this is how you have to wake them up," Axis said, spewing nonsense with a perfectly serious face. "You have to slap him a few times before he'll wake up. Do you know why your dad slept for so long? It's because none of you dared to go up and slap him. If you had just smacked him twice, he would have gotten up ages ago. Honestly! It serves you right that your dad slept for ten thousand years."
In reality, the reason Guilliman woke was that Axis had begun transferring Life Energy into him the moment he picked him up. Simultaneously, Axis used his God Ki to purge the energies of Slaanesh and repair Guilliman's body.
As a god, Axis felt he was entitled to be willful and arrogant.
Wa-was that the reason? The Astartes thought. The reason the great Father hadn't awoken was that we didn't go up and slap him, or perform this kind of wake-up service?
Although Axis's method was absurd, it had undeniably worked.
While Tigurius and Calgar felt that Axis's words were ridiculous and nonsensical, the facts were right in front of them. They had no choice but to believe it!
However, Lord Axis, they thought, couldn't you let our Father put on a pair of pants? His backside is currently bare!
"Who are you?" Guilliman asked, now fully lucid, as he glanced at Axis.
As a Primarch, Guilliman only needed a moment to observe the situation to gain a general understanding of his predicament.
"Um, Lord Guilliman, I... I... I have forged the Armor of Fate for you. If, if you don't mind, please wear this!" Belisarius Cawl, the Archmagos of the Adeptus Mechanicus, stammered as his electronic eyes flashed rapidly.
His Armor of Fate was originally designed to resurrect Guilliman. But since Guilliman's awakening apparently only required a few slaps, what was the point of this armor he had spent so much effort creating?
"I thank you for saving me, but shouldn't you put me down? My current appearance is somewhat undignified," Guilliman said.
"Sure! Sure! Man! you really are something. Sleep if you must, but why not wear clothes? At least put on a pair of pants!" Axis said, clapping his dust-free hands after setting Guilliman down.
Guilliman did not reply to Axis.
Instead, he walked over to the Archmagos. With Cawl's assistance, he donned the Armor of Fate and accepted the weapon gifted to him by the Emperor: the Emperor's Sword.
While Guilliman was donning the power armor, his mind was racing. Who was this man who had awakened him?
Why did the man feel familiar? Judging by his physique, he was merely the size of a standard Space Marine. Yet, the power he possessed made even a Primarch feel threatened. When he had been lifted by the neck, Guilliman realized he couldn't have resisted even if he wanted to.
The stranger's strength was terrifying.
"Introduce yourself, stranger," Guilliman said.
"Hmm, I'm a Primarch of the new era, and also, your brother-in-law," Axis said with a smile.
Guilliman frowned upon hearing this, looking at Axis with confusion, then glancing at Kasha and the child, Kratos, by her side.
"I do not recall having a sister. And if you are a new Primarch, has Father stepped down from the Golden Throne? Or were you not created by Father?" Guilliman asked.
"It's actually quite troublesome to explain. Here, let me have you speak with the Emperor personally." Axis smiled and placed his hand directly on Guilliman's shoulder.
He activated his potent divine power, instantly establishing a connection with the Emperor far away on the Golden Throne.
Sometimes, when you are powerful enough, you really can do whatever you want.
Upon connecting to the Emperor's psychic might, Guilliman felt a searing pain in his soul.
However, Axis's divine power immediately shielded Guilliman, allowing the Primarch to withstand the sheer pressure emanating from the Emperor.
"My son.
"The Empire's only hope.
"Test Subject Thirteen.
"Shameful Traitor!"
"Alright, enough, Old Man. Don't bring out those dark, negative personalities. Your main personality is still there, and you retain your full consciousness," Axis huffed coldly, directly dispelling the Emperor's negative personas that surged forward.
Sitting on the Golden Throne for ten thousand years, accepting the daily sacrifice of a thousand psykers, had caused the Emperor to develop many dark and fragmented personalities.
"Your power truly exceeds my imagination. Perhaps you should come to the Golden Throne; we could have a good talk," the Corpse Emperor said.
Axis's power had shocked him once again.
If it were ten thousand years ago, before he sat upon the Golden Throne, he would be no match for the man before him.
"Father... is it truly you?" Guilliman looked in shock at the giant projection shining with golden light before him.
Although the giant face was blurred, he could vaguely recognize it. It was his father.
"My son, I have a task to entrust to you. You must save this rotting Imperium. You must guide this empire back to the correct path. You are the only hope the entire Imperium has left..."
"I place everything upon your shoulders. You are the Imperial Regent. Return to Holy Terra immediately." After giving Guilliman a brief overview of the current situation, the Emperor urged him to return to Terra with haste.
"I understand, Father. But what of this existence named Axis? Who exactly is he? I can sense his power," Guilliman asked.
"He was indeed modified by me, though his method of birth differs from yours. He was not modified as an embryo, but was a human child whom I transformed into a Primarch."
"I will tell you his specific identity later. For now, you only need to know that he is worthy of trust." The Corpse Emperor personally vouched for Axis, completely dispelling Guilliman's doubts.
"Then, do I truly have a sister? Is she also a Primarch created by you?" Guilliman asked.
"Kasha is not a Primarch created by me, but she is indeed my daughter. She is the daughter born of myself and Erda.
"Her son, Kratos, has inherited my sacred psychic potential and his father's bloodline. He is my grandson." The Emperor confirmed the identities of Kasha and Kratos.
"So be it. I understand. I have no further questions, Father." Guilliman nodded and severed the communication with the Emperor.
Although he had only communicated with the Emperor for a few minutes, Guilliman's soul still felt a stinging, burning sensation.
Furthermore, his father had clearly been very abnormal at the start, possessing many personas that seemd to drift around aimlessly.
It was only when Axis intervened that those dark fragments were driven away.
In the eyes of the bystanders, Axis and Guilliman had glowed with golden light, and a massive, blurred golden figure had appeared before them, seemingly speaking!
upon seeing this colossal golden silhouette, every human present, even including Kratos and Kasha, dropped to one knee.
They paid homage to the man who had endured ten thousand years of torture for humanity. They paid homage to the God-Emperor!
They paid homage to their grandfather, their father!
"I have confirmed your identity, Axis. It is my honor that you have returned to the Imperium in this dark era to aid me," Guilliman said, nodding to Axis.
"Don't mention it. The chaotic traitor forces outside still need you to deal with them. You can go stretch your muscles first," Axis said.
A freshly awoken Guilliman was in dire need of some punching bags to vent his rage on.
"Damned traitors. I will deal with them personally. All Ultramarines, with me! Axis, and sister Kasha, Kratos, you come as well!" Guilliman hefted the burning Sword of the Emperor and let out a roar.
"Kasha and Kratos can go help you. I have something else to handle. I need to meet with the Aeldari God to discuss your wedding with Yvraine," Axis said, waving his hand dismissively.
Axis had absolutely no interest in fighting those chaotic Space Marine small fry. Even a few Greater Daemons or Daemon Princes wouldn't be enough for Axis to defeat with a single finger.
"??? My wedding? Aeldari?! Axis, what is the meaning of this?"
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ps?