Kasha widened her eyes in disbelief, staring at Axis as if she had just heard something unimaginable.
Then, with a sudden snort, she burst into laughter and even rolled around on the bed uncontrollably.
Axis actually dared to give her father a nickname!
He actually had the guts to do something so audacious!
She had thought that calling Magnus 'Magic Pony' back in the day had already been bold enough, but Golden corn?! The Emperor?
"Hahaha, haah, as hilarious as that sounds to me, you'd better not let the other Primarchs hear you say it.
"You cold be in some serious trouble if word of it got out," Kasha said, holding her stomach as she sighed.
Whenever she was with Axis, there was always this sense of ease.
This guy was nothing like the other grim, serious Imperial high command members.
"Come on, It's just a nickname, what's the big deal? And what if the other Primarchs find out?
"Which of them can beat me? What they gonna do? Gang up on me? Even then, I could take them all out with this one hand," Axis said with a smirk, holding up an arm and flexing his biceps.
Unless a Primarch awakened their Warp essence, none of them truly posed a threat to Axis.
"Don't get overconfident.
"Primarchs aren't as simple as you're made believe. Don't assume they're just freakishly strong physically," Kasha warned.
Primarchs possessed Warp essence, after all.
But even so, Axis definitely had the right to be arrogant.
After mastering the standard Super Saiyan transformation, his overall power level had increased fiftyfold.
He had every right to look down on the Primarchs.
Just what kind of monster race were the Saiyans? Had they some connections with the old ones?
"Let's be serious now, Axis.
"Don't you want to do something about your gene-seed problem? This concerns an entire Astartes legion," Kasha said, now sitting formally on the bed.
The status of a Primarch was on a completely different level from Axis's current position as a Wolf Lord.
Becoming a Primarch meant entering the true upper echelons of the Imperium, second only to the Emperor himself.
Axis already had more than enough combat strength; one could even say he was the second strongest human after the Emperor.
But without a proper Astartes legion, his Primarch status would never be recognized.
At best, he'd just be treated as the Emperor's son-in-law.
"Well, here's the thing: my gene-seed can only survive if it contains Ki. So, the best approach is to create some Saibaman for the transformation.
"During the Astartes transformation process, we'd infuse their gene-seeds with Ki. That way, they might adapt and inherit Saiyan physiology without depending on Ki to survive," Axis explained.
The reason the candidates died of organ failure was precisely because Saiyan cells lacked the nourishment of Ki.
But if the gene-seeds were infused with Ki during implantation, they could retain some of that Ki, allowing the Astartes to survive.
While they still wouldn't be able to use the powers of Ki, at least their lives wouldn't be in danger!
"Saibaman huh. I think you need to find the right opportunity to talk to my father," Kasha said.
"I will. But it need to be at the right circumstances," Axis replied.
A Saiyan-based Astartes legion, even if it only possessed physical power, would still be absolutely terrifying.
"So, what about the Great Ape transformation?" Kasha asked.
"If they possess my Ki, then transforming into a Great Ape shouldn't kill them.
"As for controlling the transformation... I haven't figured that part out myself, let alone expect them to.
"But there's one simple way.
"Just cut off the tail," Axis said.
The simplest and most direct method of preventing a Saiyan from transforming into a Great Ape was to cut off their tail.
Those Astartes created using his gene-seed would likely grow tails as well.
Without them, they wouldn't be able to absorb Blutz Waves and transform.
So it was better to be crude and efficient, cutting the tail before the problem arose.
"Huh... I do remember you mentioning that," Kasha admitted.
Honestly, half the problems in the Imperium came from poor communication. If her father had simply explained things to Axis, they might have found a solution ages ago.
But no, he insisted on keeping everything secret.
Just like with her mother in the past.
If he had just told her the whole truth about what was really going on in the Warp, then she wouldn't have done what she did.
It could've all been resolved with a single conversation.
And yet, it had to be made so much more complicated.
"Once we've dealt with the Rangdan, I'll bring it up at the summons," Axis said.
Actually, Russ already knew that the tail was a weak point for Axis's Great Ape form.
Axis had told him directly.
And the Emperor could have easily learned that from Russ.
But the old man was always so secretive, always hiding things for no reason!
All this excessive caution might actually lead to problems instead of preventing them.
"Are you planning to reveal your Super Saiyan transformation this time?" Kasha asked.
"The Legendary Super Saiyan form? Definitely not, that would overkill.
"But I do plan to use the mimicry transformation and a partial release of Super Saiyan power,
"Of course, if it really came down to it, I could still use the regular Super Saiyan transformation," Axis said.
In his estimation, no one in the real universe could force him to reveal that form, not even with the standard Super Saiyan transformation.
None were worthy.
As for the matter of secrecy, the Emperor's decision to send the First Legion had already made the message clear.
The First Legion was known for keeping their mouths shut.
When the time came, Axis wouldn't even have to say much, and the Lion would not question a thing.
He might even take the initiative to help Axis cover it up, making sure everyone stayed quiet.
That sort of work was something the Dark Angels excelled at.
Kasha layed down on the bed, looking up at Axis.
"Hmm, Chancellor Malcador taught you for many years. Your relationship with him must be pretty good, right?
"Do you think you can tell him about that?" Kasha asked.
"And how exactly am I supposed to bring it up with him?" Axis replied, laying down beside Kasha, "Of course without your father knowing you immediately broke the promise you made with him?"
Telling Malcador would be the same as telling the Emperor.
"I thought your relationship might help," Kasha sighed, "It's not like your Astartes legion absolutely must be formed right this moment. Let's just take our time with this."
She had originally planned to discreetly pass the information along herself, but if she spoke up now, the Emperor would immediately know she had just warned Axis, and then gone and told him everything right after.
What would her overly suspicious father think of that?
So, it was better to follow Axis's plan and wait for the right moment to inform the Emperor.
"Get some rest," Axis said, planting a kiss on Kasha's forehead.
"Mhm."
The night passed uneventfully.
…
The next day, Russ gathered all of the Space Wolves' fleet and led them into the Warp, setting course toward the region where the Rangdan had emerged.
…
At the same time, on Holy Terra, after finishing his communication with Kasha, the Emperor immediately summoned the First Primarch, Lion El'Jonson.
Soon, a brawny man clad in green power armor with thick golden hair strode in and knelt on one knee before the Emperor.
"Father, me and my sons are prepared. The Dark Angels are ready to fight for you at any time and to eliminate all enemies of the Imperium," Lion declared.
"Lion, aside from helping with the Rangdan this time, I have another task for you.
"I will be requisitioning a new Gloriana-class battleship from Mars.
"You are to deliver it to the Space Wolves and hand it over to the commander of their 14th Grand Company, Axis.
"That battleship will serve as his flagship," the Emperor instructed.
Lion was visibly confused
"?? Father, why are you giving a Gloriana-class battleship to a mere company commander of the Space Wolves?"
In his eyes, this was utterly incomprehensible.
Gloriana-class battleships were standard issue for Primarchs.
If it had been meant as a reward for Russ, he could've understood, after all, the 6th Legion under Russ had advanced far faster than any of the others over the years, even becoming a role model for the rest.
But to give one to an ordinary commander? That made no sense.
"Because he is your brother… and a Primarch," the Emperor said.
"What? Father, if he's a Primarch, then why is he serving under Russ?" Lion asked.
"His gene-seed has a minor defect. His Astartes legion hasn't been formed yet, which is why I had him remain at Russ's side.
"In fact, neither Russ nor Axis knows his true identity," the Emperor explained.
"Father… is this brother somehow… flawed?" Lion asked cautiously.
Was the Emperor ordering him to eliminate this brother? But that couldn't be right, if so, there would be no reason to deliver a Gloriana-class battleship.
"He is different from all of you in some ways.
"This time, I want you to test him. Test his strength," the Emperor said.
"I understand, Father," Lion El'Jonson nodded.
"After your're done testing him, I permit you to reveal some of the truth to him. Ask him about his Great Ape transformation and the power of Ki.
"But after that, you must ensure that Axis's use of Ki does not leak out," the Emperor instructed.
"Yes, Father."
...
...
POWERSTONES!!!!