Night slowly fell upon Terra, but the Imperium's core world never truly slept. The Imperial Palace remained brightly lit, countless searchlight beams cutting through the darkness like swords. Patrols of Custodian Guards marched with their eternally precise steps, their Golden armor reflecting a cold gleam in the light, like the never-resting nerve endings of this colossal palace.
Gaius stood on the balcony of his assigned bedroom, gazing at the sacred yet oppressive night view. His cerulean power armor had been removed and placed carefully on a stand in the room. He was currently wearing a slightly loose silk pajama set, quite ill-fitting for his burly, scarred, and power-armor-interface-covered physique. The night wind blew, carrying the low hum of distant machinery and the faint chanting of hymns.
His thoughts were a jumble. Although he was in the absolute safety of the Imperial Palace's core, the unknown 'purification' ritual he would face tomorrow hung over his heart like a heavy cloud. He subconsciously sensed the direction of the room next door, almost able to imagine that Dorian wasn't asleep either. He was probably pulling the unlucky Draculas aside, spouting boasts like, 'If it weren't for these lousy pajamas, I could definitely beat three Custodian Guards to a pulp.'
Thinking of his reckless but loyal brother, Gaius's lips couldn't help but curve into a slight smile, and the tension in his heart seemed to ease a little.
He turned, facing the direction of the Imperial Palace's depths—where the Emperor's Golden Throne was located. Despite countless thick walls and wards, he could still vaguely sense the vast and painful psychic fluctuations. He placed his right hand over his chest and performed a deep, reverent Aquila salute.
"Thank you for Your protection," he prayed silently in his heart. "Thank You for Your previous manifestation, which helped me repel the daemon. Please... continue to guide me, and grant me strength to face tomorrow's trial."
He was genuinely grateful for the Emperor's intervention, the source of which he didn't know. Otherwise, he would have long since been annihilated by Kairos Fateweaver, or worse. But beyond gratitude, there was more confusion. What would the Grey Knights do? What methods would these legendary silver giants, who specialized in daemon purification, use to 'cleanse' the mark of the Chaos God deep within his soul? Would it be searing psychic flames? Or some forbidden banishment ritual? Would the process be painful? Would it damage the essence of his soul?
He couldn't help but think of Grand Master Silver Shield. He was Luna's benefactor, having helped her cleanse the mark of corruption from Karlos. But that contamination was completely different in nature from this one. This was a direct mark from a Chaos God himself. Could Grand Master Silver Shield... truly be trusted? Would he really try his best to preserve him as promised, or... under the pressure of the Inquisition, would he ultimately choose the 'safer' option of complete purification?
Countless questions swirled in his mind, unanswered.
Despite having no desire to sleep and his mind in turmoil, Gaius took a deep breath and forced himself to leave the balcony. He firmly remembered Primarch Guilliman's instruction—he must face the challenge in the best possible condition. He needed rest; he needed his body and mind to fully recover.
He lay on the bed, which was a bit too delicate for his size, closed his eyes, and tried to clear his mind, guiding himself into a meditative state of rest. Whatever awaited him tomorrow, he had to remain clear-headed and resolute.
Everything would be known at dawn.
Meanwhile, in the Regent's office.
Roboute Guilliman rubbed his slightly aching temples, looking at the mountain of data-slates and files piled on his desk, almost reaching his height, and felt a deep sense of exhaustion.
He had only left Terra for Ultramar forty-odd standard days ago, and during that time, he had clearly instructed Lion El'Jonson to temporarily handle state affairs. But now, it seemed his brother, who was focused on hunting Fallen Angels, hadn't spent a single minute on these tedious Imperial matters!
These documents covered all aspects: distress reports from various star systems, resource allocation requests, jurisdictional disputes between departments, petitions from countless planetary governors, friction between the Ecclesiarchy and the Adeptus Mechanicus, the aftermath of the Inquisition executing some important figure... Each one required the Regent's personal review, deliberation, and approval. Their sheer number and complex content were enough to instantly collapse any mortal bureaucracy.
Even Guilliman, with his Primarch's superhuman brain and processing capabilities, felt a sense of powerlessness facing this 'paper mountain.' He could almost see the Imperium, this vast and decaying machine, spinning its wheels in countless meaningless squabbles, inefficiencies, and internal attrition, slowly but surely sliding into the abyss.
He sighed and resignedly picked up the top report—an urgent document about another large-scale gang war erupting in the underhives of Necromunda, affecting the production of important military factories.
Rapid reading, thinking, making annotations... His speed was extremely fast, almost skimming, but the documents on his desk seemed not to diminish at all.
After an unknown amount of time, he felt a mental fatigue. He needed a change of pace.
He stood up, pushed aside the heavy office chair, and walked out of the office.
Outside the office door, two Victrix Guard warriors, like Golden door gods, immediately turned, their visors looking at him.
"Walk with me," Guilliman said simply.
"Yes, Primarch," the two Victrix Guard warriors replied in deep voices, silently following him a step behind.
Guilliman had no specific destination, merely pacing slowly along the quiet corridors within the palace. The towering vaulted ceilings, the cold murals, the silently gliding servo-skulls... all of it made him feel an invisible constraint. He missed the open skies and efficient administrative system of Macragge, not being trapped in this huge, musty Golden cage.
He needed to think, to think about Gaius's handling plan, to think about how to balance the Inquisition and the Grey Knights, to think about how to revitalize this Imperium... there were too many things to think about.
Meanwhile, in the living quarters assigned to Golden and the others, the atmosphere was relatively relaxed due to its proximity to the Victrix Guard barracks, which meant extremely high security and primary vigilance by the Victrix Guard.
Ailas, wearing her hastily custom-made, slightly smaller pajamas, slipped out of her room like a nocturnal kitten. She glanced left and right, finding only a single Victrix Guard warrior on duty in the distance. So, she tiptoed, familiar with the route, to the Victrix Guard Captain's bedroom door.
She hesitated for a moment, then gently knocked on the door.
The door slid open silently. The sight behind the door made Ailas pause.
The Victrix Guard Captain had clearly removed his ornate and heavy Golden power armor, wearing only a black, form-fitting combat suit. He certainly no longer looked young; he was at least five or six hundred years old, with somewhat grey hair and a face etched with the ravages of time and countless battles. Yet, his eyes were still sharp as an eagle's, and his body was as straight as a pine, filled with a restrained yet powerful sense of strength. When he saw the little one peeking in at the door, a fleeting, almost imperceptible hint of helplessness crossed his stern face before he regained his composure.
"Tech-Sergeant Ailas, it's quite late. Is something the matter?" His voice was slightly softer than when he wore his armor, but still carried the characteristic crispness of an Astartes.
"Captain!" Ailas immediately squeezed in, showing no formality. "I can't sleep; it's so stuffy in here."
The Captain looked at her and sighed: "It's very safe here, but you still need to be careful and not wander off. The nights on Terra... are not always peaceful." He cautioned her again. For this unique little xenos, he always felt a strange sense of responsibility and... a slight headache.
Ailas paid no attention to this. She plopped down on the edge of the Captain's impeccably neat bed, dangling her two little legs, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him: "Captain, tell me a story! Tell me some interesting things about you and the Primarch? Is the Primarch usually serious? Does he secretly snack?"
The Captain: "..."
If the Victrix Guard Captain were to face hordes of Bloodthirsters or Chaos Terminators, he would charge without hesitation. If he were to undertake the most dangerous and complex assassination missions, he wouldn't even frown. But to deal with this whimsical, persistent little girl... he felt it was infinitely harder than getting Lord Guilliman to change his signature hairstyle.
He kept a straight face, trying to make her retreat with his gaze.
But Ailas's bright green eyes were full of anticipation and curiosity, showing no fear at all; instead, she leaned closer.
After a moment of stalemate, the Captain seemed to give in. He sighed, walked to a chair in the room, and sat down, pondering for a moment. Interesting things? With the Primarch? His long career of service seemed to consist more of battles, vigilance, and silence.
Finally, he seemed to remember something and slowly began to speak, his voice low and tinged with a hint of recollection:
"Interesting things... perhaps not. But I can tell you how I... was chosen for the Victrix Guard."
Ailas immediately perked up, nodding vigorously, assuming a posture of serious listening.
The Captain's gaze became distant, as if spanning centuries of time.
"That was during… a reconquest crusade. Our company was surrounded by Ork greenskins and suffered heavy losses. The Primarch himself led reinforcements to the battlefield… I was just… a regular Ultramarines Sergeant back then…"
His voice was steady and concise as he began to recount the sealed past that had determined his fate. Ailas listened, captivated, temporarily forgetting the oppression of Terra and her worries about tomorrow.
As night deepened, in various parts of the Imperial Palace, different people, with different concerns, awaited the arrival of dawn.
Ailas listened to the Captain's low and steady narration, about the wars of centuries past, about the Primarch's heroic bearing, about the cruel selections and trials… These stories, too weighty and distant for her, initially piqued her interest, but as she listened, the steady tone became like a lullaby. Combined with her excitement the previous night that kept her from sleeping well, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Her little head nodded, then finally slumped onto the Captain's bed, which was as wide as a plaza to her, and she fell into a deep, even, and soft sleep.
The Victrix Guard Captain's narration stopped. He looked at the small, defenseless figure curled up on the bed, and a rare, almost helpless softness appeared on his stern face. He gently rose, took a thin blanket, and carefully covered Ailas. Then he returned to his chair, watching the sleeping girl silently, like a sentry guarding an important mission, while maintaining absolute vigilance against the outside world. For him, sleep was no longer a necessity; meditation and short rests were enough to restore his energy.
When the first ray of artificially simulated light of dawn streamed through the high windows of the palace and spilled into the corridor, Luna was the first to wake. She habitually checked her surroundings and immediately noticed Ailas's bed was empty. Her heart sank, but she quickly calmed down. This was, after all, the Victrix Guard's station, so safety was assured. She immediately reported the situation to the Victrix Guard warrior on duty outside the door.
Soon, the Captain's bedroom door slid open. The Captain, who had been awake all night but whose eyes were still sharp, appeared at the doorway. He shook his head slightly at Luna, who had come to inquire, and Golden and others, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, signaling them to be quiet. Then he stepped aside to let them see Ailas, who was sleeping soundly on the bed inside.
Luna breathed a sigh of relief, while Golden shook his head helplessly. The Captain said in a low voice, "Let her sleep a little longer. The ritual is about to begin; prepare yourselves." His gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on the direction of the Regent's Palace.
At the same time, Gaius had already woken up. He changed out of his ill-fitting pajamas and put on a sturdy Imperial Fists standard training uniform prepared for him—the bright yellow fabric was somewhat incongruous with his Ultramarines identity, but no one would care about such details at this moment. He carefully stretched his body, feeling the surging power and resolute will within him.
He knew the time had come.
He pushed open the door and strode towards the main hall of the Regent's Palace, under the grave gaze of several Victrix Guard on duty.
Outside the main hall, the atmosphere was extremely solemn.
Guilliman was already waiting there, dressed in his Regent's robes, his face calm, but a subtle tension hidden deep in his eyes. Beside him stood the three Inquisitor representatives, like black shadows. Their gazes, like cold probes, instantly locked onto Gaius, filled with undisguised "hostility," scrutiny, and extreme distrust, as if they were looking at a Chaos bomb that could explode at any moment.
Grey Knight Grand Master Silver Shield and the two Grand Masters behind him stood silently like three silver-grey iron towers, with cold psychic fluctuations swirling around them. Mephiston of the Blood Angels stood a little further away, his scarlet Chief Librarian's robe like a burning dark flame, a contemplative expression on his handsome and pale face.
Even more chilling was that in the vast courtyard outside the Regent's Palace, ten fully armed Grey Knight warriors stood like statues, forming a tight psychic array. They were the insurance for the worst-case scenario; if the ritual went out of control and the Chaos God's mark within Gaius fully erupted, they would extinguish it there at all costs, even if the price was Gaius's life and the entire palace.
Grand Master Silver Shield stepped forward, his ancient and cold voice breaking the silence, directly explaining the upcoming ritual to Gaius:
"Sergeant Gaius. From this moment, I and the two Grand Masters, using psychic power as a bridge, will link our minds and delve deep into your consciousness to search for and locate the core of Tzeentch's taint."
His words were like a cold surgical knife, precise and devoid of emotion: "This process will constitute an extreme test of your willpower. Our psychic power will be like a blazing flame; you must strive to maintain your self-awareness, guide us, and not resist. Once the taint perceives a threat, it will retaliate with madness, temptations, pain, illusions… Tzeentch's cunning will be beyond your imagination."
The Grand Master's tone became even graver: "Should your will falter, and you are consumed by or assimilated with the taint… the worst consequence would be the Lord of Change's power using this as a conduit to forcibly manifest, transforming you into his Daemon Prince, directly appearing on Holy Terra. This consequence, no one can bear."
He concluded: "Therefore, the key to the ritual's success lies half in our methods, and half in the fortress of your heart. Do you understand?"
The gazes of the three Inquisitors became even colder, as if they were already preparing for that "worst consequence."
Guilliman looked at Gaius, a complex emotion in his azure eyes. He slowly sighed and asked in a deep voice, "Gaius, are you ready? If you want to back out now, there is still time."
All eyes were focused on Gaius.
The pressure was palpable. He knew that once he nodded, there would be no turning back. Either he successfully eliminated the hidden danger and gained a new life; or his will would collapse, he would become a Daemon Prince, be purified on the spot, and possibly even bring disaster to Terra; or his soul would be damaged during the process, rendering him a cripple… He was silent for a moment, and in his mind flashed the sunlight of Macragge, the faces of his brothers, the Primarch's trust, the Emperor's faint light… and the persistent whispers of Tzeentch.
Finally, he suddenly raised his head, his eyes like tempered steel, devoid of all hesitation and fear, leaving only absolute determination and resolve. His voice was steady and powerful, echoing clearly in the silent hall:
"I am ready."
For the Imperium, for the Primarch, for the deceased Elisa, for all the brothers who trusted him, and for himself—he had to win.
Guilliman gazed at him for a few seconds, then slowly nodded, saying no more. He raised his hand and ordered in a deep voice, "In that case… let the ritual officially begin!"
Grand Master Silver Shield turned and motioned for Gaius to follow. The two Grey Knight Grand Masters followed closely behind.
Guilliman and Mephiston exchanged a glance and also stepped forward, they would monitor closely from the side, ready to provide support or intervention if necessary.
The group passed through heavily guarded corridors and arrived at a special room that had already been prepared. The room was exceptionally spacious, with incredibly complex and ancient psychic runes and containment arrays inscribed on the floor and walls. The air was filled with a rich psychic aura and the scent of incense; a power field that was both calming and secretly alarming enveloped the space.
"Take your position in the center of the room, maintain a clear mind," Silver Shield commanded.
Gaius obeyed, walked to the center of the room, took a deep breath, then knelt on one knee, closed his eyes, and began to regulate his breathing, striving to sink his mind into the calmest state.
Grand Master Silver Shield and the other two Grey Knight Grand Masters each moved to three pre-set positions, forming a perfect equilateral triangle with Gaius in the center. All three also knelt on one knee, planted their psychic weapons on the ground, clasped their hands over the hilts, bowed their heads, and began to chant low and obscure psychic prayers.
As they chanted, the runes in the room lit up one by one, emitting a soft silver glow. Powerful psychic energy began to converge, swirling around Gaius in the center like an invisible vortex.
Guilliman and Mephiston stood at the observation points on the edge of the room, their expressions exceptionally grave. Their psychic senses were heightened to the extreme, closely monitoring any subtle changes within the field.
Outside the room, the Victrix Guard Captain had quietly returned. He led all the Victrix Guard warriors, along with the ten Grey Knights in the courtyard, to completely surround the entire ritual area. Golden armor and silver armor intertwined, forming a double-layered bulwark, both physical and psychic.
They had only one mission: if the ritual failed and a demon manifested, they would hold this place at all costs, never allowing any blasphemous entity to step half a pace out of the room!
All preparations were complete.
All eyes were focused on the blue figure kneeling on one knee, eyes closed in contemplation, in the center of the room.
The perilous ritual to cleanse the Mark of Tzeentch had finally begun. Gaius's battle for his soul entered its most crucial stage.
Within the room, the low hum of psychic energy echoed as if substantial. The triangular formation comprised of Grand Master Silver Shield and two Grey Knight Grand Masters radiated an increasingly powerful aura. This pressure wasn't directed at the physical body, but rather a cold, pure force of order that directly acted upon the depths of the soul. The runes on the walls and floor glowed brightly, and silver light wove into a net, firmly enveloping Gaius at its center.
Grand Master Silver Shield slowly raised a hand covered in silver-grey armor, a psychic halo pulsating around it, causing a sense of dread. He pressed it steadily onto Gaius's tightly closed eyes and slightly furrowed brow.
"Sergeant," Silver Shield's cold, rigid voice, as if piercing directly through the skull, resonated in the deepest reaches of Gaius's consciousness, "Remember: no matter what sights you may behold, what whispers you may hear, or what changes you may encounter, hold fast to your identity, engrave your battle will, and anchor your true heart."
His words were like a stabilizing needle cast into Gaius's turbulent sea of consciousness.
"Your mission is to find the root of the Mark of Tzeentch and sever its connection to your soul. If it resists stubbornly… we will intervene."
The moment his words fell, Gaius felt his consciousness being violently pulled from his body by an irresistible torrent! The world spun, senses were lost, as if he had fallen into a bottomless abyss of nothingness, completely losing his perception of time, space, and self.
After an unknown period, the intense sensation of detachment and falling abruptly ceased.
Gaius suddenly "awoke," only to find himself in an absolute, chilling darkness. He couldn't feel his body, couldn't feel his breath, only a pure consciousness of "existence."
He tried to "open his eyes," attempting to see something, but everything around him remained pitch black. However, gradually, he found that he seemed to have regained the ability to "see," not with his eyes, but with a pure spiritual perspective, perceiving his own form.
He "looked down" and saw a "himself" that astonished him.
It was no longer the genetically enhanced, muscular, scarred, and power armor-interfaced Astartes giant. Instead, it was a relatively slender, young body wearing coarse linen work clothes, with slightly calloused hands—the appearance he had as an ordinary fungus farm boy on his home planet, Kronus IV!
"Is this… my inner world?" Gaius, or rather, his current consciousness, looked at this familiar yet strange self and the endless darkness around him with surprise and uncertainty.
He attempted to take a step. Beneath his feet was not emptiness, but a solid surface, equally black as ink, yet when he stepped on it, it rippled with faint, glowing waves, as if stepping on water, then returned to calm, incredibly firm.
He recalled Silver Shield's instructions: hold fast to your true heart, and find the Mark of Tzeentch.
Without hesitation, he chose a direction and began to move forward in this endless dark abyss of the heart. Each step he took caused faint, glowing ripples beneath his feet, becoming the only source of light and sound in this desolate darkness.
As he walked, he continuously and repeatedly recited in his mind, reinforcing his self-awareness, like chanting a protective spell:
"I am Gaius."
"I am Sergeant of the First Squad, Third Company, Ultramarines Chapter."
"I am a son of Roboute Guilliman."
"I am the Emperor's Angel of Death."
"I am a guardian of Ultramar."
"I fight for humanity, I fight for the Imperium." …These identities and beliefs, like the light of a lighthouse, guided him and resisted potential invisible erosion in this dark ocean representing his subconscious and the essence of his soul.
Time lost its meaning here. He didn't know how long he had walked; it could have been an hour, or a day. Just when he thought this darkness would be endless, a faint, flickering light suddenly appeared in the far distance.
The light was extremely weak, like a candle in the wind, yet it stubbornly persisted.
Gaius's heart tightened, and he immediately cautiously moved towards the light. As he drew closer, the light became a bit clearer. It seemed to be a constantly twisting and flickering fragment suspended in the darkness, like a broken memory image.
When he finally approached the glowing fragment and tried to discern the scene within—
Crack!
A faint but extremely sharp, electric-like sting suddenly shot through his consciousness! It was as if he had touched a forbidden node with a protective mechanism that shouldn't be touched.
He endured the discomfort and concentrated, looking into the fragment.
What appeared in the fragment was a blurry yet incredibly familiar memory scene:
A familiar farm, permeated with the smell of damp earth and fungal spores… a young "himself," wearing worn work clothes, was bent over, carefully digging for something in a field of oddly colored fungi… Then, the scene focused—he had dug up nine unusually shaped blue fungi. Their stalks were slender, but their caps were exceptionally plump, displaying a deep, cosmic azure. Even more astonishing, the natural patterns on the caps eerily converged and outlined a lifelike eye symbol, as if it were gazing!
The young Gaius in the memory was clearly captivated by this peculiar discovery. He curiously examined these fungi, his face showing the simple surprise of a farmer discovering a rare crop. He carefully picked them, placed them in the wicker basket beside him, and even cushioned them with soft moss, seemingly intending to take them back to study, or… sell them?
Upon seeing this, Gaius felt as if struck by a cold lightning bolt! His entire "body" froze, and an unspeakable chill surged wildly from the deepest part of his consciousness!
He remembered!
This happened over a month before he was conscripted into the Ultramarines! At the time, he only thought these fungi were very peculiar and beautiful, and he had never seen them before, so they might fetch a good price. The next day, he indeed took them to the town market, and they were quickly bought by a cloaked, faceless foreign merchant for a price far exceeding his expectations. He had been happy about it for several days!
At the time, he only thought he was lucky, having found a rare mutated species.
But now… combining this with everything he had encountered since—being "unexpectedly" chosen by the Ultramarines, the long-dormant mark on his left arm, the covetousness of the Daemon Prince Karlos, and even the direct intervention of the Chaos God itself… blue… eye patterns… nine… he had dug up exactly nine such fungi!
A terrifying conjecture that made his soul tremble, slithered into his mind like a viper:
Could it be… could it be that from that time… from when he was still an ordinary farm boy… Tzeentch's gaze had already pierced through the veil of fate and fallen upon him?
Those nine eerie fungi, bearing the symbols of Tzeentch… were not accidental mutations at all! They were very likely a small manifestation of Tzeentch's power, or rather… a "mark," a "seed"! And that mysterious merchant who bought the fungi… was probably no ordinary individual!
All of this was not a coincidence of fate at all, but the beginning of a meticulously planned conspiracy spanning decades, or perhaps even longer!
The Lord of Change had already woven his web, and he, Gaius, had fallen into it long ago, unknowingly, becoming a pawn chosen by that cunning Chaos God!
Immense shock and fear overwhelmed Gaius like a tide. He had always thought that Tzeentch had targeted him after he joined the army due to some special potential. But he never expected that the root of the disaster had been planted when he was still a mortal! The Mark of Tzeentch, perhaps, had been lurking all along, just waiting for the right moment to truly manifest!
Just as his mind was violently shaken, and his consciousness fluctuated intensely due to this terrifying truth, almost unable to maintain stability—
The surrounding darkness began to change.
The originally desolate darkness, like a pond into which stones had been thrown, began to ripple with more, and more bizarre, waves. Some twisted, blurry shadows began to coalesce in the nearby darkness, as if something was being drawn by his emotional fluctuations, emerging from the deeper reaches of his heart's abyss.
Whispers began to faintly sound.
No longer Silver Shield's cold guidance, but countless mixed, seductive, and deceitful hisses, as if innumerable voices simultaneously spoke different lies and promises in his ear, attempting to penetrate the cracks in his conscious defenses.
The trial, from this moment on, truly began. He had to steady his mind, face this terrifying truth from the past, long buried, and continue forward to find the root of the Mark.
Gaius's mind was violently shaken by the terrifying truth, almost beyond his control. And this dark abyss of the heart, which mirrored his inner world, immediately reacted to this.
The originally desolate darkness began to writhe like a living thing, and more twisted shadows emerged from all directions, as if countless prying eyes opened in the darkness. The whispers around him suddenly amplified, no longer vague static, but becoming clear and malicious, like countless cold needles trying to pierce his consciousness:
"Look… you were chosen long ago… from your humble beginnings…"
"Fate? There is no fate… everything is cleverly woven…"
"Embrace change… embrace true knowledge… you will perceive all things…"
"Resistance is futile… all your efforts are part of the script…"
"Think of Elisa… she wouldn't have had to die… if you had accepted earlier…"
"Dorian… Luna… Golden… do they truly trust you? Or… are they watching you?"
All sorts of temptations, provocations, doubts, and whispers that picked at old wounds surged wildly, attacking every weak point in his beliefs. Gaius felt his consciousness was like a small boat in a storm, liable to be swallowed by these treacherous sound waves at any moment. He gritted his teeth, desperately repeating his identity and vows in his mind, trying to stabilize the collapsing defense line.
As he struggled to resist, he instinctively looked up.
The next moment, he saw a sight that completely froze his soul.
Above the endless dark firmament, an incomparably colossal object silently emerged.
It was… something difficult to describe precisely with words, composed of countless flickering blue energies and ever-changing geometric patterns… feather-like? Or eyelid-like? Or some constantly shifting rune-like object symbolizing "knowledge" and "trickery"?
It was so vast that it exceeded Gaius's cognitive limits, like a blue star, or even larger, suspended above the "sky" of this heart-abyss, casting an suffocating, invisible pressure. Compared to it, Gaius's current consciousness was not even a tiny speck of dust!
A primal fear, stemming from life's instinct in the face of a supreme being, instantly seized him! At the same time, he immediately understood what this was—
This was not some "trace" or "mark" at all!
This was the Mark of Tzeentch itself! It was the materialized manifestation of Tzeentch's power in the depths of his soul! It was not a scar to be found, but had already entrenched itself in the core of his inner world, like a colossal celestial body parasitizing a planet!
"This… is…" Gaius felt his consciousness trembling. Silver Shield told him to "find" and "sever" the connection? How could he "find" it? And how could he "sever" it, facing such a behemoth? This was like asking an ant to sever its connection to the sun!
As the colossal "Mark of Tzeentch" appeared, the whispers in his ears reached their peak, almost turning into tangible screams. Gaius felt his consciousness being violently torn apart, and the surrounding scenery began to undergo even more drastic, maddening distortions and changes!
He "saw" his body uncontrollably and rapidly shifting in form:
In an instant, he reverted to the new recruit who had just received gene-seed implantation, his body undergoing violent changes, filled with pain and anticipation;
The next second, he became the Astartes sweating profusely on the training ground, muscles bulging, full of power;
Immediately after, he transformed into a fully armed Ultramarines Sergeant, clad in azure power armor, roaring and fighting on the battlefield;
Then, the image flashed violently, and he even "saw" himself clad in bizarrely ornate, blue-glowing demonic armor, curved horns sprouting from his head, a scepter forged from lies and lightning in his hand, and shrieking as he trampled over the corpses of his brothers—that was the future illusion of becoming a Daemon Prince that Tzeentch's whispers showed him!
Various forms, various memories, various true and false future possibilities, like a kaleidoscope, wildly switched and flashed within him! Pain, power, glory, corruption… countless sensations and memory fragments surged into his core consciousness like a tide, attempting to tear him to shreds, to make him utterly lost among the myriad possibilities, thereby dismantling his resistance and making him willingly embrace the giant blue entity in the sky.
"No! I am Gaius! Ultramarines!" He let out a silent roar, desperately fighting against this erosion of form and memory, but to little avail. The massive Mark of Change rippled slightly, as if mocking his futility.
Just as he felt his consciousness was about to be completely overwhelmed by this endless flux and whispering, on the verge of collapse—
Everything suddenly stopped.
It was as if a pause button had been pressed.
The wildly flickering form changes instantly solidified, then receded like a tide, settling into the appearance of the farm boy he had been when he first entered.
The deafening, treacherous whispers ceased abruptly, vanishing without a trace, as if they had never existed.
Even the colossal Mark of Change above his head, emanating endless pressure, stopped all fluctuations, as if it had become a static, gigantic decal pasted onto the dark firmament.
The entire Heart Abyss fell into an absolutely bizarre, unsettling dead silence. Time and space seemed to be frozen.
Karlos stood in place, startled and uncertain, cautiously surveying the sudden calm around him. He didn't know what had happened, but this could absolutely not be a good sign. Tzeentch's tricks could never end so easily.
Sure enough, in the darkness not far in front of him, space quietly split open like glass. The crack rapidly expanded and twisted, eventually forming a "door" that emitted a soft yet eerie white light, its edges constantly shifting subtly.
Light flowed within the door, obscuring the scene beyond.
Immediately after, a figure slowly walked out from within that luminous door.
When Karlos clearly saw the appearance of that figure, his consciousness was once again greatly impacted, even more violently than when he saw the Mark of Change!
Stepping out of the door was a "Gaius" identical to his current form, dressed in the clothes of a Kronus IV farm boy!
The same appearance, the same build, the same clothing, and even the hint of childishness on his face was identical!
The only difference was the eyes of that "Karlos."
In those eyes, there was no doubt, no fear, no steadfastness. There was only a bottomless, seemingly all-knowing yet playful calm, and a hint of… extremely subtle, inhuman cunning.
He stood quietly before the luminous door, looking at the real Karlos, a faint, elusive smile seemingly playing on his lips.
Two "Karlos" stood silently confronting each other in this dead silent dark Heart Abyss.
Without any words, the real Karlos instantly understood—this was Tzeentch's true test! This door and this "self" were the key to "severing the connection," or rather… the entrance to a deeper trap!
The Lord of Change had sent his most difficult enemy—himself.
The two "Karlos" confronted each other in the endless dark Heart Abyss, the air seemingly congealed. The real Karlos was tense, vigilantly staring at the mirror image, identical to himself, that had emerged from the luminous door, preparing for any form of attack or seduction.
However, the mirror image "Karlos" did not attack, nor did he immediately begin with sweet-talk and temptation. He merely looked at the real Karlos calmly, even with a hint of pity, then slowly raised his hand.
As he raised his hand, the surrounding darkness was peeled back like a curtain, and scene after scene of crystal-clear images emerged like holographic projections, surrounding the real Karlos:
He saw within the Ultramarines Chapter, the "dark histories" of other Chapters that were deliberately hidden, known only to veterans and officers—the Dark Angels' almost obsessive, no-holds-barred pursuit and cover-up of the Fallen; the Space Wolves' almost uncontrolled savagery displayed in certain extreme situations; and even… some tragic records of the Blood Angels during their Black Rage… Any one of these secrets, if leaked, would be enough to cause a huge uproar in the Imperium, even inviting the Inquisition's most ruthless "purification."
The mirror's voice spoke calmly, as if stating facts: "Look, how many unspeakable secrets do your 'brothers,' for whom you pledge allegiance and sacrifice, hide? How many lies and filth are buried beneath so-called loyalty and glory? You are merely a link in maintaining this colossal system of lies."
The scene changed again. This time, it was images of Terra and countless other Hive City worlds' lowest strata: countless emaciated, numb-eyed civilians struggling to survive in a foul, reeking environment. They prayed day and night to the Emperor's effigy, only to be met with the exploitation of tax collectors, the suppression of the Adeptus Arbites, or the indifference of noble lords. Ultimately, some of these people, driven to extreme despair, upon hearing the whispers of Chaos, chose to embrace the darkness, because at least… it promised change, it promised power, even if the price was their souls.
"Look at these people you swore to protect." The mirror's voice carried a hint of mockery, "What has the Imperium given them? Besides suffering and oppression, what else? Have your prayers ever been answered by your 'God' sitting high on his throne? When they choose Chaos, is it truly because of evil? Or is it because… the Imperium abandoned them first?"
The images continued to flash, showing the bloated inefficiency of the Imperial bureaucracy, the infighting between internal factions, the fanaticism and corruption of the Ecclesiarchy, the abuse of power and terror of the Inquisition… The entire Imperium seemed like a huge, decaying shell, barely held together by the blood and sacrifice of countless loyal warriors like Karlos on the front lines.
"Karlos," the "mirror's" voice became more direct, even tinged with a sense of "disappointment," "the Imperium has long been rotten from within! It is a hollow shell shattered by Horus and then barely glued back together! You Astartes are the pathetic pillars supporting this empty shell from completely falling apart! Look at those civilians! They see more clearly than you! They have already made their choice! Are you, a genetically enhanced superhuman warrior with a longer lifespan and greater wisdom than mortals, even more foolish and stubborn than they are?!"
This barrage of questions struck Karlos's heart like heavy hammers.
He wanted to retort, to loudly denounce the other's fallacies, to reaffirm his faith in the Emperor and the Primarch… But… he opened his mouth, only to find his throat seemingly blocked.
Because what the other said… to a large extent, was true.
He had personally witnessed the dark side of the Imperium, he knew that the Chapters were not a monolithic entity, he was deeply aware of the suffering of the lower-class civilians, and he understood that the Imperium's rule had countless problems. Those who turned to Chaos, while hateful, often indeed had a desperate necessity behind their choices.
This twisted questioning, based on truth, was far more lethal than mere lies and temptations! It directly shook the foundation of Karlos's belief—was what he was protecting truly worth everything he sacrificed? Was his loyalty merely an indoctrinated, blind fanaticism?
A huge wave of confusion and wavering instantly engulfed Karlos. He felt his steadfast will rapidly disintegrating, and Silver Shield's admonitions became increasingly distant and blurry.
And as his inner turmoil intensified, this Heart Abyss also underwent a terrifying change!
Above, the originally static, colossal Mark of Change, as if injected with vitality, began to slowly fluctuate, emitting an even more intense blue glow. Streaks of blue, lightning-like energy tendrils began to descend from the massive Mark of Change, like living things, coiling around the wavering Karlos below!
Karlos's body began to emit a faint blue light uncontrollably. His coarse farm boy clothes began to twist and deform in the light, gradually revealing the phantom of cold, blue armor adorned with bizarre runes! Subtle, twisted protrusions even began to faintly appear on both sides of his forehead!
A cold and vast power, filled with endless knowledge and treachery, was attempting to surge into his consciousness, to completely transform him and merge him with the Mark of Change in the sky!
Was he… truly going to surrender here… and become what he detested?
In the real world, inside the ritual chamber.
Grand Master Silver Shield and the two Grey Knight Grand Masters, seated at the triangular array, suddenly looked up almost simultaneously! Under the helmets covering their faces, their gazes abruptly became incredibly sharp!
"Psychic readings are rising sharply!"
"Target consciousness is fluctuating violently! Stability is rapidly decreasing!"
"High-intensity Chaos energy reaction detected! Direct infusion from the deep Warp!" one Grey Knight Grand Master reported urgently via internal comms.
They could clearly feel that the "mark" within Karlos was no longer a passive presence, but had been completely activated! A terrifying, transcendent will, originating from the Lord of Change himself, was attempting to breach the barrier between reality and the Empyrean, forcibly manifesting here!
"Warning! Target's soul barrier is about to collapse! Daemon Prince transformation protocol initiated!" Grand Master Silver Shield's voice was cold as iron, no longer able to maintain his previous stoic calm, "Prepare for forced intervention! No more waiting!"
Brilliant silver psychic energy burst forth from the three Grey Knight Grand Masters. They were prepared to recklessly tear apart Karlos's psychic defenses and directly confront the descending will of the Chaos God! This was extremely dangerous, likely to severely wound or even destroy Karlos's soul, but it was better than having a Daemon Prince born in the Terra Palace!
Guilliman, standing at the edge, his face changed drastically. He clenched his fists, his azure eyes filled with anxiety and determination. The psychic flames burning in Mephiston's eyes also intensified abruptly. He stepped forward, raising both hands, and powerful crimson psychic energy began to gather, preparing to assist the Grey Knights, or at least preserve the core of Karlos's soul from being completely torn apart.
Outside the room, all the Victrix Guard and Grey Knights simultaneously felt the sudden, heart-stopping surge of Chaos pressure! Alarms blared piercingly!
"Maximum alert! Prepare for battle!" The Victrix Guard Captain's roar penetrated the walls.
Golden energy fields and silver psychic arrays were instantly activated to their maximum! All warriors drew their weapons, loaded their guns, and aimed at the closed ritual door. They knew that the worst might be about to happen!
Inside and outside the ritual chamber, the atmosphere instantly tensed to the extreme! Everyone's hearts were in their throats!
And just an instant before the Grey Knights' psychic energy was about to pierce Karlos's consciousness like a surgical blade—
Deep in the desperate Heart Abyss, his body largely enveloped in blue light, Chaos armor on the verge of solidifying, Karlos's unfocused eyes, in their deepest depths, suddenly flashed with an extremely faint, yet incredibly stubborn light.
That light came from… a promise he had made to his brothers. A promise he could never break.
Just as Gaius's consciousness was about to be completely devoured by the cold blue energy, and his last vestiges of self were about to dissipate into the vast trickery of the Lord of Change's domain—
Some fragmented, yet incredibly warm, images, like the last breath of air a drowning person takes, suddenly broke through the dense fog and flashed into the core of his sinking consciousness:
He saw Ailas, slender-figured, who had just become a Tech-Sergeant apprentice. Because of her xenos identity and introverted personality, she was often bullied by some prejudiced individuals. Then the scene shifted: Draculas's massive body, clad in heavy Ironclad Pattern Terminator armor, stood like a reliable wall in front of Ailas, letting out deafening roars and threats at the troublemakers, scaring them away in a panic, while Ailas hid behind him, secretly making faces… He saw himself as a regular sniper, and how Sergeant Golden patiently guided him through tactical movements, how he sternly but fairly criticized him when he made mistakes, and how he showed a relieved smile when he made progress. Later, Golden was promoted to Lieutenant, but still cared for and trusted him as always… He saw Luna, who transformed from a somewhat green Tech-Sergeant into a silent, calm, and reliable one. Her eyes, always focused on data and machinery, would only reveal a rare hint of softness when she looked at them, her brothers who had faced life and death together… These images were ordinary, trivial, yet filled with real emotion and weight. They did not belong to the grand narrative of the Imperium, nor to the fear of Chaos Gods, but only to the purest bond between them.
"No… I can't…" A faint but incredibly stubborn thought, like a spark erupting in the darkness, struggled out from the depths of Gaius's almost extinguished consciousness, "I promised… to go back… I can't become a monster… I can't let them down…"
This faint struggle, born of brotherhood, seemed to touch upon a deeper power.
The mirrored "Gaius" who was about to admire his "masterpiece," his playful and cunning expression suddenly froze! It seemed to sense something extremely dangerous being stirred!
"This is bad!" The mirrored "Gaius" suddenly changed its expression. Its worst fear seemed to be coming true—if this fellow were to recall those strong emotions capable of anchoring a soul, and if the attention of that being, seated on the throne, still possessing unfathomable power even when near death, were drawn over, its mission would be a complete failure!
It immediately tried to increase its energy output to completely annihilate Gaius's last bit of consciousness!
However, just a second before it made its move—
A pure and unadulterated silver psychic energy, as if composed of the firmest will and the concept of order, suddenly burst forth from the depths of Gaius's consciousness, like the dawn breaking through chaos! This did not come from external sources, but originated from Gaius's own final resistance, pushed to the limit, resonating with the guiding psychic energy previously implanted by Silver Shield!
This pure psychic light was not vast, but it shone with precise accuracy upon the mirrored "Gaius"!
"No—!" The mirrored "Gaius" let out a shriek filled with shock, anger, and unwillingness. Its body, constructed by Tzeentch's trickery, rapidly melted and disintegrated like snow in sunlight under the psychic energy that represented absolute order and the negation of chaos, turning into wisps of smoke and completely vanishing without a trace! The light door also collapsed and disintegrated with it.
To its dying breath, it did not understand why a soul on the verge of complete damnation could, at the last moment, unleash such pure power that perfectly countered it.
With the dissipation of the mirror image, the cold energy attempting to forcibly transform Gaius paused. Gaius felt the pressure drastically decrease, the sensation of being devoured receded significantly, and his consciousness became clearer.
However, the crisis was not over!
The enormous Lord of Change's domain still hung overhead, and though the descending blue energy tendrils had slowed, they had not stopped! More importantly, the brief transformation process had already largely completed!
Gaius discovered with horror that his blue-glowing body had not returned to its original state; instead, the blue daemon armor, covered in Chaos runes, had become even more solid! On both sides of his forehead, the twisted daemon horns had fully grown out, flickering with an ominous, eerie glow!
The transformation… was complete?
He was now… a genuine Tzeentch Daemon Prince's body!
But strangely, he could still clearly feel his thoughts, his will, his memories! He could still control every movement of this new body! As if… his consciousness had been stuffed into the shell of a Daemon Prince!
This feeling was incredibly strange, full of contradiction and discomfort. He could feel the unimaginable, terrifying power of Chaos contained within this body, a power full of temptation, calling him to use it, to unleash it. But at the same time, his core consciousness still belonged to Gaius, the Ultramarines Sergeant.
Just then, the space behind him violently rippled, as if three openings were forcibly torn apart!
Amidst flashing silver light, three figures radiating intense psychic energy of order forcibly breached the abyss's barrier and descended here!
It was Grand Master Silver Shield and the two Grey Knight Grand Masters! They had, after all, forcibly intervened in Gaius's inner world through spiritual projections!
Even with Silver Shield's mind, which had weathered countless daemon wars and was long as still as an ancient well, when he personally saw the despair-inducing, enormous Lord of Change's domain suspended in the dark sky, his face beneath the helmet couldn't help but twitch slightly, revealing a hint of undeniable shock.
"Such… a massive source of defilement…" His deep voice carried an unprecedented gravity. He had initially thought it was just a mark branded into the soul, but he never expected it to be such a terrifying, star-like entity! This was completely beyond the scope of conventional "cleansing"!
Immediately after, his gaze fell upon Gaius, who had already completed his Daemon Prince transformation, and his heart sank even further!
"The worst-case scenario…?" The Grand Master instantly entered the highest combat state, the psychic weapon in his hand erupting with brilliant silver light, and the other two Grand Masters also immediately adopted combat stances, ready to purify this nascent "Daemon Prince" at all costs.
However, the next second, Silver Shield keenly sensed an anomaly. Although this Daemon Prince's body exuded dense Tzeentchian energy, its core consciousness fluctuations… were not chaotic consciousness filled with trickery and malice, but instead still carried the frequency of the Sergeant named Gaius's will, though chaotic, yet still resolute?
"Hmm?" The Grand Master let out a surprised query. What was going on? The body was transformed, but the consciousness was temporarily not devoured? This bizarre situation was unheard of even in his long career of daemon slaying!
Before they could investigate further or communicate with Gaius—
A more terrifying, more vast will, as if capable of dominating the entire abyss space, suddenly descended!
In the endless dark void behind the three Grey Knight Grand Masters, silently, six colossal eyes, composed of blue energy and feathery patterns, slowly opened!
Each eye was as vast as a world, and cold, infinitely wise, and indifferent gazes, like solid matter, focused on the three uninvited guests! It was the true master of this Lord of Change's domain—the manifestation of Tzeentch's will! He felt a distinct displeasure towards these three silver "insects" that had intruded into his "workshop."
Under the gaze of these six giant eyes, space was easily torn apart like cloth! A colossal teleportation gate, its edges constantly twisting and writhing, emitting a dizzying blue light, suddenly opened!
Immediately after, a massive, deformed figure, exuding suffocating psychic pressure, slowly emerged from the teleportation gate.
It was a Lord of Change!
It possessed a tall, slender avian body similar to Kairos Fateweaver, covered in ever-shifting feathers, its talons and wings emitting energy fluctuations that could disintegrate anything. But unlike Kairos, it had only one head, which was covered in cunning eyes, and it did not hold the crucial Book of Fate in its hands. Despite lacking a head and an artifact, the terrifying oppressive aura it exuded still far surpassed that of an ordinary Greater Daemon; it was an undoubtedly powerful Daemon Lord under Tzeentch!
As soon as this one-headed Lord of Change appeared, its single, compound-eyed head immediately locked onto the three Grey Knight Grand Masters, letting out a sharp, piercing shriek filled with mockery and malice, and powerful warp energy began to gather in its talons!
Clearly, Tzeentch believed that dealing with these three annoying "silver insects" did not require the deployment of an important avatar like Karlos, but the one sent was by no means an easy opponent!
Gaius was still struggling to adapt to this powerful yet utterly unfamiliar body, trying to make sense of the current situation.
Meanwhile, Grand Master Silver Shield had no hesitation! He knew that fighting a Lord of Change in its own domain was extremely disadvantageous, but there was no turning back now!
"Purge them!" Grand Master Silver Shield issued a cold command!
Three Grey Knight Grand Masters erupted with towering silver psychic energy, like three scorching swords, piercing through the surrounding chaotic darkness, and fearlessly charged towards the descending Lord of Change!
The decisive battle deep within the Heart Abyss erupted instantly!
Grand Master Silver Shield and the two Grey Knight Grand Masters, truly the Imperial elite forces born specifically to combat daemons, displayed seamless coordination. Their silver psychic energy intertwined and burst forth as if precisely calculated, forming scorching and pure waves of ordered power that fiercely struck the one-headed Lord of Change.
Their attacks were not merely destructive energy; they also contained properties of negation and purification specifically targeting the essence of Chaos. The Lord of Change's shifting feathered armor charred and shattered under the searing silver light, emitting painful shrieks. It attempted to cast cunning psychic spells, but these were often interrupted by the Grey Knights' superior psychic resistance and counter-techniques.
Under the Grey Knight Grand Masters' relentless, storm-like combined assault, this powerful Daemon Prince was completely suppressed in a short time, only able to parry and dodge clumsily, constantly accumulating new wounds. It seemed that its purification was only a matter of time.
However, neither the Grey Knights nor Gaius had noticed a crucial fact—this was not the real universe, but Gaius's Heart Abyss, the place where the Mark of Tzeentch manifested. In a sense, this was an extension of Tzeentch's will!
The six giant eyes suspended in the dark sky watched the battle below with indifference. There was no ripple of emotion in their gaze regarding the Grey Knights' strength, as if they were merely observing an interesting experiment.
Then, a minuscule amount of pure chaotic energy—perhaps a drop in the ocean for Tzeentch himself, but like a vast ocean for mortal beings—silently flowed down from the massive Mark of Tzeentch and infused into the struggling Lord of Change!
Buzz—!!!
The Lord of Change's body suddenly expanded! All its wounds instantly healed, its shattered feathers regrew, becoming even more vibrant and bizarre! The countless eyes on its single head erupted with an unbearable blue light, and the psychic pressure it exuded suddenly increased by several levels!
"Roar!!!" It let out a deafening roar, no longer a painful shriek, but one filled with power and rage!
Even more terrifying, with the direct infusion of Tzeentch's power, the cunning whispers that had been blocked by the Grey Knights' strong willpower now became pervasive, even beginning to echo directly in the minds of the three Grey Knight Grand Masters! They sought to disrupt their spellcasting focus and twist their combat judgment!
"False Grey Knights... your order will eventually collapse..."
"Your so-called purification is merely another form of destruction..."
"Look at the Imperium you protect... it is already riddled with holes..."
"Join us... acquire true knowledge..."
These whispers, like maggots clinging to bone, caused even the Grey Knights' tempered wills to falter slightly, and their offensive became momentarily disorganized!
The reinforced Lord of Change seized this opportunity, fiercely swinging its claws, and a powerful reality-distorting psychic shockwave slammed into one of the Grand Masters! The Grand Master hastily blocked, but was sent reeling back by the immense force, and even tiny cracks appeared on his silver armor!
The tide of battle instantly turned! The Lord of Change, empowered by Tzeentch's own strength, had surpassed the combined limits of the three Grey Knight Grand Masters!
Meanwhile, Gaius, in his Daemon Prince form, was caught in another kind of immense torment.
He could clearly feel an indescribable, boundless power flowing and surging within this new body. That power was full of infinite possibilities—he seemed to glimpse countless fragmented images of the future, vaguely perceive hidden truths of the past, and even... had the illusion that if he wished, he could subtly tug at the threads of fate, altering some minor outcomes!
This was Tzeentch's supreme power! The ultimate knowledge and power that mortals would madly pursue!
However, his consciousness remained exceptionally clear. He knew how evil the source of this power was, and he knew that once he actively touched and used it, it would be like opening Pandora's Box. His last remaining self would be completely overwhelmed and devoured by this torrent of power, utterly becoming Tzeentch's puppet.
He watched the three Grey Knight Grand Masters, who were struggling fiercely and facing grave danger against the reinforced Lord of Change nearby, his heart filled with struggle. He wanted to go help; he possessed theoretically the strongest power at this moment. But... he dared not! He feared that merely using the Daemon Prince's power would be equivalent to opening his last line of defense to Tzeentch.
This contradictory feeling of possessing destructive power yet being afraid to use it was almost driving him mad.
In the real world, inside the ritual chamber.
The atmosphere was as tense as a taut bowstring.
Mephiston's eyes, burning with psychic flames, were fixed on the center of the room—Gaius's body knelt on the ground, trembling slightly, while above his forehead and shoulders, a hand each from Grand Master Silver Shield and the two Grand Masters hovered, powerful silver psychic energy forming a bridge connecting both sides. The Grey Knights' physical bodies also remained motionless like stone statues, clearly, their entire consciousness had been invested in the battle within the Heart Abyss.
Mephiston's brow furrowed deeper and deeper. He said in a grave voice to Guilliman, who stood beside him with a solemn expression: "Your Grace, the situation is very grim. Sergeant Karl Horn's internal energy readings are rapidly escalating, and their nature is becoming extremely... chaotic and vast. The Lord of Change must have detected our intentions and is fiercely retaliating! Grand Master Silver Shield and his companions are likely in great trouble."
He paused, his tone growing heavier: "If... if the worst outcome occurs... I will do my best to try and peel away and protect Sergeant Karl Horn's remaining soul core, but... whether it will succeed is unknown."
The three Inquisitors nearby, upon hearing this, instantly turned extremely pale. The representative of the Ordo Malleus immediately stepped forward, saying in a sharp voice: "Your Grace! We cannot hesitate any longer! The energy readings are already off the charts! The Daemon Prince conversion is almost complete! We must immediately terminate the ritual and let the Grey Knights outside come in for a thorough purification! Otherwise, if it fully manifests, the consequences will be unimaginable!"
"Silence!" Guilliman sharply turned his head, and terrifying pressure erupted from his azure eyes, impacting the three Inquisitors as if it were a physical force. "Until the final outcome is determined, no one is to touch him! Otherwise, I won't mind letting the Dark Angels treat you three as accomplices of the Fallen!"
The words "Fallen" pierced through the Inquisitors' tough facade like cold daggers. They knew all too well how "enthusiastic" and unscrupulous the Dark Angels were about purging their own. If the Regent truly used this as an excuse... although they had the Inquisition behind them, they would likely not escape their doom. The three turned pale and instantly fell silent, not daring to say another word.
Guilliman ignored them and quickly ordered the Victrix Guard Captain: "Immediately bring Lieutenant Golden, Dorian, Luna, Draculas, and... that little Aeldari! Quickly!"
"Yes!" The Victrix Guard Captain did not hesitate, immediately turned, and rushed towards the residential area at top speed.
Guilliman's idea was clear: since the Grey Knights' and Mephiston's methods had encountered immense resistance, perhaps Gaius's most trusted brothers, the deep bond between them, could become the strongest force to awaken him and anchor his consciousness! This was the last chance!
He clenched his fists tightly, his gaze returning to the violently trembling figure in the center of the room, silently thinking: "Hold on, Gaius! Your brothers are coming soon!"
The battle within the Heart Abyss grew increasingly perilous, and rescue in the real world was racing against time. Gaius's fate hung by a thread.
Within the Mind Abyss, the battle took a sharp turn for the worse. The Lord of Change, empowered by Tzeentch's true strength, had surged in power and was now completely suppressing the three Grey Knight Grand Masters.
Twisted psychic spells and deadly claw attacks rained down like a storm, constantly shattering and repelling the silver psychic energy of order.
One Grand Master's shoulder guard was torn, another's arm was scorched by eerie blue flames, and even Grand Master Silver Shield's usually imperturbable state of mind was rippling under the increasing pressure.
The pervasive whispers of Tzeentch were like venom, continuously eroding their wills, attempting to carve fissures in their solid mental bulwarks.
"Profane abomination... how dare you be so brazen here!" Grand Master Silver Shield's cold voice, for the first time, carried a clear note of anger.
As a Grey Knight Grand Master, the Emperor's purest daemon-slayer, he would never tolerate a Daemon Prince running rampant at the Emperor's feet!
He leaped back abruptly, temporarily disengaging from the battle, and slammed his force halberd into the ground.
His silver-armored body crouched slightly, as if accumulating some kind of power.
"In the Emperor's name!" he roared, a deep yet thunderous cry, "All defilement shall be purged!"
The next moment, an unimaginable, ocean-vast surge of pure psychic energy erupted from his body!
This was no ordinary psychic power, but the ultimate force condensed from centuries of his faith, will, and extreme hatred for Chaos!
Brilliant silver light instantly enveloped him, making him seem to transform into a burning silver sun!
The light was so intense that it temporarily dispelled the surrounding darkness, causing the Mark of Change, suspended high above, to ripple slightly!
The Lord of Change, who was attacking the other two Grand Masters, also felt this terrifying power, letting out a startled shriek, and its movements involuntarily paused!
"For the Emperor!!!" Grand Master Silver Shield roared, transforming into a silver meteor, wielding his halberd—now glowing as if forged from light due to the immense psychic energy infused within it—and charged towards the Lord of Change with speed beyond visual comprehension!
The Lord of Change frantically tried to unleash its strongest defensive spells; countless blue runic shields instantly coalesced before it!
However, against Grand Master Silver Shield's mightiest blow, imbued with his life's cultivation and fueled by his wrath, all defenses were as fragile as paper!
Crack—!!!
The silver force halberd, like a hot knife through butter, effortlessly tore through layers of psychic shields, then precisely and forcefully plunged into the Lord of Change's chest!
Time seemed to stand still at this moment.
The countless eyes on the Lord of Change's single head instantly widened to their extreme, filled with incredulous terror.
It opened its mouth, but no sound escaped.
Immediately after, incomparably pure, intensely hot silver psychic energy erupted from within its body, outward!
"No—!!!" It only managed to let out a brief, mournful wail before its massive, twisted body, under the frantic expansion and purification of the silver light, rapidly disintegrated and vaporized like a snowman thrown into a furnace, ultimately disappearing without a trace, leaving not even a speck of dust!
One blow! Just one blow!
The dramatically powered-up Lord of Change was utterly purged by Grand Master Silver Shield's full-power attack, at the cost of burning his own psychic essence!
After unleashing this earth-shattering blow, the silver light around Grand Master Silver Shield visibly dimmed significantly, and his figure even swayed slightly, clearly indicating immense exertion.
But he still stood tall, head held high, his cold optical lenses seemingly piercing through endless darkness, gazing directly at the six indifferent giant eyes high above the sky, delivering a vow-like declaration that echoed throughout the entire Mind Abyss:
"There may be eternity in the world, but only the Emperor is true eternity! Your false eternity... today, here, shall be ended by us!"
This was a direct challenge to Tzeentch's true will! Filled with the Grey Knights' uncompromising, purifying resolve!
However, at the same moment Grand Master Silver Shield purged the Lord of Change, another, more perilous and silent battle was fiercely unfolding within Gaius's daemon prince form!
Just as the external battle was at its most intense, a cold, vast power, filled with an endless, insidious will, like a long-dormant viper, suddenly awakened from the deepest recesses of the daemon prince's body, launching a frenzied attempt to seize Gaius's remaining consciousness!
This power was Tzeentch's true trump card! The Lord of Change was merely a diversion to attract the Grey Knights' attention!
The Chaos God's true objective had always been to completely devour Gaius's consciousness and fully control this carefully cultivated and crafted daemon prince body!
"Get out! This is my body!" Gaius roared in the depths of his consciousness, desperately resisting the intrusion of the alien will.
The will was indescribably powerful, like an amalgamation of all the Warp's shifting cunning, each impact as vast as a tsunami, filled with endless lies and temptations, attempting to dismantle his perceptions, twist his memories, and make him willingly surrender.
Gaius felt like a small boat in a storm, liable to be completely swallowed at any moment.
His consciousness was shattered and scattered by the impact, almost giving way several times, and the cold will nearly took over control of his body!
But he was, after all, an Ultramarines Sergeant tempered by countless battles; his willpower was equally as strong as steel!
Especially in this desperate situation concerning his own survival, and whether he would become a tool for the destruction of his brothers, he unleashed unprecedented potential!
He fiercely guarded the last core of his consciousness, like the most stubborn reef, enduring wave after wave of frantic assaults!
A silent yet extremely perilous tug-of-war fiercely unfolded within the daemon body!
Amidst this fierce struggle of possession and counter-possession, perhaps influenced by Tzeentch's immense power and his own intense emotional fluctuations, fragmented visions of the future began to flash before Gaius's "eyes":
He saw a scene—he had failed, his consciousness completely devoured.
The blue daemon prince body opened its cold, merciless eyes and let out a sharp laugh.
Below, the three Grey Knight Grand Masters, exhausted from purging the daemon prince, were submerged and torn apart by countless blue daemons appearing out of thin air...
Immediately after, a massive Warp Gate opened at the Terra Palace, and more Tzeentch daemons swarmed out...
"No!!!" Gaius let out a desperate roar in his consciousness, "I will not allow it!!!"
This terrifying vision of the future was like a bucket of ice water poured over him, making him resist even more fiercely!
Immediately after, another distinctly different, warm yet heavy memory, like an anchor, firmly gripped his fading consciousness:
He saw his impoverished and ailing mother, upon learning that her son had been chosen by the Ultramarines and was about to become an "Angel of the Emperor," a look of immense relief and peace spread across her wrinkled and sickly face, and then she slowly, calmly closed her eyes, never to wake again...
That was her last and only solace in a lifetime of hardship.
He saw himself as a new recruit, when a training error led to him being confined by a strict instructor, without food for two whole days.
Late at night, the door to the confinement cell was quietly pushed open a crack, and Dorian's large head peered in, furtively handing him a hard piece of synth-bread, whispering, "Eat quickly! Don't let that old man Talos find out!"
His mother's dying relief... his brother's risky delivery of bread... these insignificant yet incredibly weighty fragments of memory became his most powerful weapons against the will of the Chaos God at this moment!
"For Mother... for Dorian... for Golden, Luna, Ailas... for everyone who trusts me..." In the core of Gaius's consciousness, which was on the verge of collapsing, the last and strongest cry erupted: "I absolutely cannot... absolutely cannot give up here!!!"
This power, stemming from the deepest emotions, acted like a Golden bulwark, temporarily blocking the cold will's frantic assault!
Real world.
Bang! The room door was flung open!
The Victrix Guard Captain rushed in, bringing Golden, Dorian, Luna, Draculas, and a bewildered Ailas, who was being held tightly by Luna!
They immediately saw the strange and terrifying scene in the center of the room: Gaius knelt on the ground, his body trembling violently, an eerie blue light emanating from beneath his skin, and even two distinct protrusions on his forehead!
The three Grey Knight Grand Masters stood around him like statues, their palms hovering, silver light flickering.
"Gaius!" Dorian exclaimed, about to rush forward.
"Don't go over there!" Guilliman immediately stopped him, "Their consciousnesses are fighting internally! Now you need your voices! Call him! Pull him back with your bonds!"
Golden instantly understood the Primarch's intention.
He immediately stepped forward, ignoring the pervasive chaotic aura, and shouted with all his might: "Gaius! Hold on! You are an Ultramarines! You are the pride of the Third Company! Do you remember when we fought side by side on Brust?!"
Luna also stepped forward, her voice still clear and cold, but with an unprecedented urgency: "Gaius! Control it! Your will is far stronger than that filth! Ailas is still waiting for you to teach her how to adjust her sniper rifle!"
Draculas heavily pounded his own chest, making a dull thud, expressing his support through action.
Dorian, even more anxious and sweating profusely, yelled at the top of his lungs: "Gaius! You bastard! Don't you dare disgrace me! We promised to drink together when we got back! If you turn into a bird-man monster, I'll be the first to smash your bird head with my Power Fist!"
Although Ailas didn't quite understand what was happening, feeling the tense atmosphere and Gaius's suffering, she cried out, "Lord Gaius! What's wrong? Wake up! Lady Luna and Lord Dorian are calling for you!"
These calls from his closest brothers penetrated the barrier of reality like a trickle, seeping with difficulty into the violently turbulent Mind Abyss, reaching the depths of Gaius's struggling consciousness.
Inside the Mind Abyss, Gaius, who was engaged in a brutal struggle for possession with Tzeentch's will, suddenly heard those familiar voices!
Though faint, they were like a torch lit in endless darkness, instantly illuminating his almost lost consciousness!
"Brothers..." His consciousness body trembled violently, and his will, which had been gradually weakening from continuous resistance, solidified and became firm again, as if injected with a potent stimulant!
He felt that the cold will, frantically trying to possess him, seemed to have a very slight... disturbance due to this sudden external interference?
A chance!
Gaius seized this fleeting opportunity, gathered all his conscious power, and launched a counterattack against the invading will!
"Get out of my body!!!"
The desperate shouts of his brothers from the real world, like sunlight piercing through thick ice, though faint, accurately shone on the core of Gaius's consciousness, which was almost consumed by cold chaos. This power, born from the purest bond, gave him unprecedented support, allowing his nearly collapsing will to miraculously re-coalesce and strengthen!
"I'm not alone... they're waiting for me to go back!" This thought was like the strongest shield, resisting the erosion of Tzeentch's will. He could even feel that his control over this Daemon Prince's body was slowly being reclaimed, and the cold, alien will seemed to be temporarily suppressed!
However, just as this spark of hope had just ignited—
The six giant eyes suspended high above the dark firmament suddenly blinked! What they revealed was no longer indifference or curiosity, but a cold fury born from being repeatedly provoked by an ant!
"Stubborn..."
A thought, whose origin was indescribable in words, as if it resounded directly on the soul level, a mix of countless tones yet exceptionally clear, descended like the ultimate judgment!
The next moment, the massive Mark of Change suddenly fluctuated violently! Endless, pure to the extreme chaotic energy, like a bursting galaxy, poured down from the huge blue celestial body, ignoring any obstacles, brutally and madly gushing into Gaius's body!
"Ugh ah ah ah —!!!"
Gaius felt as if his consciousness had been thrown into a swirling storm of pure energy! This power was so vast, so overbearing, far beyond what he could bear or comprehend! His senses were instantly overwhelmed; the scene before him was no longer the Mind Abyss, but countless bizarre, indistinguishable illusions forcibly crammed into his mind:
He saw a larger, more majestic version of himself, clad in exquisitely ornate blue daemon armor, standing at the crest of the Warp's tides. With a wave of his scepter, an endless tide of Tzeentchian daemons—Pink Horrors, Flamers, Fateweavers, and even other Lords of Change—surged forth, clashing fiercely with another vibrant and eerie army composed of Slaaneshi Horrors, Noise Marines, and Keepers of Secrets! It was the eternal war between Tzeentch and Slaanesh, and he had become the commander of Tzeentch's forces!
The illusion flashed, then became the moment he was promoted to Sergeant, the Chapter Master personally pinning the Sergeant's insignia on him, the congratulatory gazes of his brothers around him, that feeling of pride and responsibility filling his heart... But this beautiful memory was quickly twisted, the insignia turning into a distorted symbol of Chaos, his brothers' gazes becoming envious and malicious... The massive influx of energy and the onslaught of insane illusions made Gaius's hard-won consciousness blur and dissipate again. Tzeentch's will, which had just been suppressed, returned with a vengeance, as if supported by a million-strong army, launching its possession with even fiercer momentum!
At the same time, that thought, a blend of countless voices, filled with desolation and anger, resounded again, this time clearer and more targeted:
"Gaius... Your struggle merely adds to the amusement... but the game must end."
"Today, you shall be crowned king, become My Prince... equal to Magnus..."
"As for these three flies... let them become the dust of your ascension here!"
The moment the words fell, the six giant eyes in the sky slowly closed, as if unwilling to gaze upon the "farce" below any longer.
But then, under the extremely solemn gaze of the three Grey Knight Grand Masters, the dark void before them was torn open again! A figure far more terrifying, far more despair-inducing than the previous Daemon Prince, slowly descended from the rift!
It was still the form of Kairos Fateweaver—two-headed, with a gaunt body adorned with destiny talismans, one hand empty, the other holding the massive Book of Fate, radiating an aura of endless mystery and lies!
However, the oppressive power and sense of might emanating from this "Karlos" were tens of thousands of times greater than that of the Great Daemon they knew! That was no longer a level of power a Great Daemon could possess! It was a terrifying sensation... of being above all things, of knowing the past and future, as if it were a part of the very rules of the universe!
Grand Master Silver Shield's heart sank to rock bottom.
This was not Kairos Fateweaver... This was Tzeentch himself, using the form and shell of his most beloved Great Daemon, personally manifesting a portion of his essence here!
While it might not be his full power, this already far exceeded the limits of what they could handle!
Facing this terrifying entity, almost equivalent to a Chaos God's direct presence, the three Grey Knight Grand Masters did not retreat in the slightest! The silver psychic energy on their bodies ignited again, and though much dimmer than before, it remained incredibly resolute!
"For the Emperor!" Silver Shield let out a desperate war cry. They knew their chances of victory were slim, almost zero, but behind them was the symbol of Terra, and they had nowhere to retreat! Only to fight to the death!
And at this moment, Gaius, after enduring the massive infusion of chaotic energy, underwent a terrifying transformation in his Daemon Prince body:
His physique became even more massive, more inhuman, filled with a sense of twisted power. The blue Chaos armor on his body became incredibly ornate and complex, covered with constantly opening and closing eye patterns and flashing eight-pointed stars of Chaos, emitting a dizzying psychic glow. The daemon horns on his head became more ferocious and curved, like a crown. Surging, treacherous energy flowed around him, making his mere existence enough to Warp the surrounding reality.
Outwardly, this was already a perfect, powerful body of a Tzeentchian Daemon Prince!
However, beneath this magnificent and terrifying exterior, a brutal tug-of-war continued! Gaius's consciousness had not been completely devoured! He was like a prisoner trapped in his own body, madly fighting against Tzeentch's will, which sought to fully control this body, relying on that last shred of faith born from the bond with his brothers!
In the real world, Golden, Dorian, Luna, Ailas, and Draculas could not see the shocking changes within the Mind Abyss, but they could see the drastic changes in Gaius's body and the increasingly dense chaotic aura! They could feel Gaius's pain!
"Gaius! Hold on! You're the toughest motherfucker I've ever seen! Don't lose to this damn thing!" Dorian's eyes were red with anxiety, wishing he could rush up and smash that cursed blue light.
"Sergeant! Remember your oath! For the Emperor! For Ultramar!" Golden's voice was still steady, but with a hint of tremor.
"Lord Gaius...嗚嗚... Please come back..." Ailas's crying was heartbreaking.
Luna said nothing, but she held Ailas's hand tightly, while her other hand rested on her Power Fist, her cold eyes fixed on Gaius, as if conveying silent support.
Draculas pounded his chest heavily again, each impact like a war drum, beating in everyone's hearts.
Their voices, their beliefs, their invisible bonds, penetrated the barriers of space and the interference of chaotic energy, reaching the chaotic Mind Abyss again and again, reaching the depths of Gaius's consciousness, which was about to be submerged by the Chaos God's will.
Each time, when Gaius was about to get lost in the endless illusions and cold possession, a voice would always pull him back to reality—
Perhaps it was Dorian's crude but caring curses... Perhaps it was Golden's steady and reliable encouragement... Perhaps it was Luna's silent but firm gaze... Perhaps it was Ailas's tearful cries... Perhaps it was Draculas's heavy chest-pounding... These voices, these emotions, became his only compass in the chaotic storm, his most powerful weapon against the Chaos God!
"For... them..." Gaius's scattered consciousness re-coalesced again and again, like the most tenacious wild grass, raising its head again and again under the Chaos God's crushing force!
His struggle caused the perfect Daemon Prince body to sometimes move stiffly, sometimes with chaotic energy, preventing Tzeentch's will from fully controlling it smoothly.
This also bought the three Grey Knight Grand Masters, who were about to face the Chaos God's avatar, a slight... insignificant, yet crucial moment of respite.
The final battle within the Mind Abyss was about to erupt!