As of now, excluding the Prime Universe, the territory of the Human Empire has expanded into seventeen parallel universes.
Among them, Universe 01—Edge of Tomorrow—stands as the most successful colonial model.
After nearly half a century of development, this civilization, once confined to the solar system, has undergone a stunning transformation under the governance of Primarch Roboute Guilliman.
With technological support from Atlas, human expansion in Universe 01 has extended throughout the Orion Arm.
Through massive terraforming projects, the Empire has transformed over 500 terrestrial planets into habitable worlds.
Each colony features standardized cities and towns, alongside rural villages and agricultural zones, with a towering blue fortress of the Ultramarines standing at the heart of every core region.
With assistance from unmanned machines and various intelligent systems, citizens on agricultural planets no longer need to toil day and night. These automated systems ensure sufficient food supply for Universe 01's population of 200 billion.
This number already far exceeds the peak population of the former United Earth Government (UEG) from the Halo universe.
Moreover, as the spiritual "homeworld" of the Ultramarines, Universe 01 had already implemented five successive "Ten-Year Development Plans" even before the formation of the Human Empire. It is now not only fully self-sufficient but also a critical resource exporter.
Its military factories produce 15% of the Empire's total arms and equipment output, making it the wealthiest universe outside the Prime Universe.
The Ultramarines Legion now includes four million Astartes—not counting the auxiliary forces, engineers, pilots, and other mortal divisions.
These four million power-armored Astartes are deployed at all strategic locations, ensuring that Universe 01 has never suffered a large-scale Chaos incursion.
Though Universe 01 still contains Mimics and other hostile species, none have been able to pose a significant threat in the face of the Ultramarines' relentless force.
This four-million figure is no accident—Guilliman calculated it precisely to maintain strategic deterrence while avoiding overconsumption of resources.
Once a suitable gene-seed candidate is confirmed, they are sent to the Tactical Academy on Earth of Universe 01 to undergo specialized training for various environments.
Every October 1st, Guilliman personally instructs and tests the most outstanding recruits.
Gene-seed cultivation follows a streamlined process, and strict quality control keeps mutation rates below 0.0001%. In fact, there have been no reported mutations or wastage of gene-seed thus far.
Among all the Primarchs, none match Guilliman in organizational and developmental ability. His gene-seed is also the most efficient for mass production.
Special attention must be paid to Universe 01's administrative structure.
Guilliman implemented a tiered governance model across the 500 worlds: each colony system is overseen by a ruling council of three Ultramarine captains, supported by mortal bureaucrats for daily affairs.
This system balances military control with administrative efficiency.
The latest census reports a literacy rate of 99.8% among adults and the highest citizen satisfaction index across the entire Empire.
Next is Universe 02—Avatar—governed by Sanguinius.
After a similar half-century of development, Universe 02 had initially boasted a much larger population than Universe 01, but Guilliman's superior management led Universe 02 to "only" reach 140 billion people.
Sanguinius' leadership style contrasts sharply with Guilliman's. The "Great Angel" focuses on quality over quantity.
On the major colony worlds, within the Gene Shrine called the "Crown of Blood," advanced screening machines operate day and night. Only youths with 99.997% gene compatibility are accepted into the Blood Angels.
As a result, the Blood Angels number "only" about 500,000 Astartes, far fewer than the Ultramarines.
However, their individual strength is remarkable.
Tests show their muscular output exceeds the Astartes average by 18%, and their neural reaction time is faster by 0.07 seconds.
In the latest inter-legion exercise, a company of 100 Blood Angels breached a simulated fortress defended by 300 Ultramarines.
Pandora, the hub of Universe 02, has undergone extensive ecological restructuring.
Atmospheric processors, each five kilometers wide, tower along the equator, expelling purifying clouds that neutralize the planet's toxic gases nonstop.
But what truly transformed the planet were the golden-glowing "Pure Flowers," imbued with the Emperor's psychic essence.
These miraculous plants grew across carefully planned ecological corridors, forming a planetary-scale psychic filtration net.
They seem intelligent, preserving docile life while reducing aggressive species to harmless dust.
Post-transformation, Pandora now exhibits a harmonious balance: industrial emissions are biologically processed into nutrients for the jungle.
Recent evaluations show 83% of the native ecosystem remains intact, with only 17% of truly dangerous species removed, making Pandora the Empire's most renowned "garden world."
Then there is Universe 03—DOOM (film)—a story of shocking resurrection.
When Atlas scouts first crossed the gate, they found Earth in utter ruin.
Once-thriving human civilization had become a blood-soaked abattoir. Mutated and insane gene-aberrants had imprisoned the last 500 million survivors in steel cages, conducting unspeakable experiments. Humanity was on the brink of extinction.
Without Atlas' intervention, humanity might have perished entirely.
Once threats were purged, Atlas launched the first-ever "Humanity Restoration Project" in Universe 03, setting a precedent for the Empire.
Decades later, the once-doomed civilization now thrives with a population of 70 billion.
Not just Earth—every colony world now has major cities, with quality of life rivaling that of New Akla.
Key cities on Earth and all colony capitals feature Gothic spires and holo-scrolls recording the reconstruction.
Current data shows 93% of adults meet imperial educational standards.
The Dark Angels also number around 500,000 Astartes.
After surgery, new initiates are sent to a Trial World, where they must survive 30 Earth days against beasts and banished xenos using only melee weapons.
Though such trials result in rare casualties, they forge the Empire's finest close-combat specialists.
In last year's Legion Tournament, Dark Angels held 73 of the top 100 spots in swordsmanship.
They are unmatched in solo combat. A Dark Angel claiming to be second-best is bold—no other legion would dare claim first.
Holo-recorders show a typical Dark Angel can draw their blade, charge, and behead an enemy in just 0.3 seconds—a bit faster than other Astartes.
This superhuman prowess is tied to the genetic strength of Universe 03's people.
The initial survivors were those who resisted madness and corruption, enduring slavery and torture with unyielding faith and will.
Thus, they're genetically superior—nearly immune to Chaos corruption and physically resilient.
Their heritage passed down through gene-seed creates perfect warrior stock.
Dark Angels inherit not only Lion El'Jonson's decisiveness but also his "fierce valor"—or, less charitably, "reckless aggression."
Why proceed cautiously when brute force works?
This tendency sometimes undermines the Dark Angels' strategic performance, despite their superior personal strength.
Their impulsiveness is a cautionary tale studied by Ultramarines.
At Universe 03's military academies, simulation exercises often show that Dark Angel units rush into offensives, causing 18% more casualties than their Ultramarine counterparts.
Biologis archives reveal the root: Universe 03 adaptors with Lion's gene-seed experience 2.3x higher adrenaline surges during combat due to faster synaptic transmission.
This grants them unmatched melee power but reduces patience.
Astartes aren't perfect. Every legion has its traits and tradeoffs.
Following that are Universes 04 (Spectral Realm) and 05 (World War Z), governed by Horus.
When Atlas scouts arrived, both universes' human civilizations teetered on collapse.
One was being eroded by quantum-state entities, the other overrun by a tidal wave of billions of undead.
Both civilizations were near extinction, but Atlas restored order across all fronts.
Earth in World War Z was once a notorious "Blood Training Ground."
After Atlas developed a vaccine, the infected (zombies) posed no threat. Thus, missions to clear the infected became ideal training for Astartes and new auxiliary troops (former ABCS forces).
The infected are confined in secure zones. Recruits undergo several days of field training: clearing ruins by day, defending by night.
A memorial at the training center lists kill records of top graduates. The highest: 11,409 infected by a Shadowmoon Wolf recruit in a single mission.
The Spectral Realm universe contributed significantly in technology.
Bose–Einstein condensates led to breakthroughs in quantum computing and superconductors for Atlas.
Combined, both universes hold about 200 billion people. The Shadowmoon Wolf Legion has 2.7 million Astartes—the second-largest force after the Ultramarines.
Horus emphasizes holistic development, and in team battles, the Shadowmoon Wolves rival the Ultramarines.
Next come Universes 06 (Pacific Rim) and 07 (Fantasy World Terrailla), governed by Magnus and Dorn.
Before Atlas' intervention, Pacific Rim's human population had barely surpassed 200 million. Earth's only habitable zone was Antarctica.
Though total population is now just 20 billion, per capita wealth is the highest among all universes—without exception.
Magnus' universe inherited heavy industry and exports advanced goods, especially Titans and Knights.
Yet the Scourged Sons number fewer than 100,000 Astartes, unable to match other legions numerically.
Fortunately, their mastery of psychic powers offsets this. They usually serve in support roles rather than front-line shock troops.
As for Dorn—he is, notably, the first Primarch to enter into a political marriage.
(End of Chapter)
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