"I find it strange as well," Sanguinius said with a hint of resignation, "I am supposed to be the Archangel, yet my sons transform into these bloodthirsty monsters."
"Let me take a closer look."
Axis nodded.
He reached out, and Ki locked onto the afflicted Blood Angel before them, pulling the marine through the air towards him.
The legionary let out a terrified scream as Axis seized him by the throat and lifted him into the air.
Using his Ki, Axis meticulously examined the marine's physical structure, his brow furrowing in concentration.
"His genetic structure has been completely altered," Axis stated.,"He can no longer be considered human. Abhuman or even mutant would be a more fitting description."
This mutated Blood Angel was now so divergent that he was reproductively isolated from humanity, no longer a man but a creature driven by a thirst for blood.
"Axis, can my children be saved?" Sanguinius asked his voice laced with a bit of desperation.
"No," Axis replied, shaking his head, "My Ki can resist the corruption of the Warp, but what has happened to your sons is a change on the genetic level. Once they have become these creatures, there is no way to save them."
Although Ki energy was wondrous, it was not omnipotent.
He could use its power to fend off the influence of the Warp, but he was helpless when it came to matters of fundamental genetics.
"Is that so?" Sanguinius sighed in resignation, "Then let us try to improve my gene-seed. Perhaps that is my only chance."
Axis nodded.
He knocked the mutated Blood Angel unconscious and handed him back to Sanguinius.
He then approached a large iron cabinet that housed the gene-seed. Sanguinius stepped forward and unlocked the mechanism, revealing rows upon rows of tubed filled with translucent liquid.
Axis placed his palm flat against the iron cabinet and infused it with his Ki. The energy flowed into the tubes and began to purge them of any Warp influence.
If one were to disregard the bloodthirsty afflictions, Sanguinius's gene-seed was actually close to perfect, and the combat prowess of the Blood Angels was undeniable.
Several minutes later, Axis completed his work. All of the gene-seed had been purified. Although it outwardly remained hte same both the primarchs could feel the purity emanating from them.
"It is done," Axis announced. "In theory, they have now reached their most perfect state and will be immune to any corruption from the Warp. You can test them on your new recruits."
Sanguinius's gene-seed was peculiar. Unlike the gene-seed of Magnus, it was not corroded or cursed by Warp energies. During the purification, Axis had discovered very little Warp contamination within it, far less than he had found in the Thousand Sons' stock.
The flaw in the Blood Angels' gene-seed was more akin to that of the Space Wolves. It was an inherent defect, or perhaps an intentional but flawed design choice.
The Space Wolves' Canis Helix greatly enhanced their strength. In a similar way, the Red Thirst of the Blood Angels also significantly boosted their combat effectiveness. It was a genetic flaw, or perhaps, a failed attempt at optimization.
"Axis, will the perfected gene-seed remove the Red Thirst, or will it only reduce the probability of it occurring?" Sanguinius asked.
"It will greatly reduce the probability of the Thirst manifesting, but it will never eliminate it entirely, not unless they cease to be your sons. This is a problem within your own genetic markup, not some curse from the Warp," Axis explained.
The perfected gene-seed he created with his Ki could minimize the onset of the bloody rage, but it could never remove it completely.
Hearing this, an expression of deep pain crossed Sanguinius's face. His final hope had been dashed.
"It is not a total loss, Sanguinius," Magnus said, stepping forward to pat his brother on the shoulder reassuringly. "At the very least, the chances of your sons succumbing to this affliction will be far lower from now on."
"Axis, did you not also say that you could assist during the Astartes implantation surgeries with your Ki?" Sanguinius recalled.
"Of course, that is also possible. However, that is merely treating the symptom, not the cause. It would still only reduce the chance of the affliction manifesting. The problem with your gene-seed, Sanguinius, does not stem from a Warp curse or some form of infection. The flaw is inherent to the genetics themselves. Do you understand what I am saying?" Axis explained, sounding somewhat apologetic.
It was similar to the situation with his own adoptive father, Leman Russ. Over the years, the number of Space Wolves who had degenerated into Wulfen could be counted on one hand. This was the effect of perfect gene-seed bolstered by Ki; it drastically reduced the chances of the transformation into Wulfen, but the Canis Helix remained within their genetic code, continuing to grant the sons of Russ their immense strength.
"This is still an improvement," Sanguinius said, "At least my legion will appear somewhat more stable. I will have to find another solution in the future."
To be able to greatly reduce the manifestation of the Black Rage and Red Thirst was a significant victory.
At the very least, the ranks of the Death Company would not grow as quickly. He knew that all of his sons wrestled with the Thirst; it was merely a question of whether they could control it.
With this new, perfected gene-seed, and with the son with Ki that Axis had promised for him, the problem could be substantially mitigated.
He now owed Axis a great debt, one that he would have to repay someday.
"Sanguinius, I may actually have a way for your gene-sons to be rid of this affliction entirely," Magnus suddenly interjected from the side.
His words shocked both Axis and Sanguinius into silence.
Axis raised an eyebrow.
What solution could Magnus possibly have for the Red Thirst and the degeneration of the Blood Angels?
Sanguinius was just as surprised. Magnus had previously told him he was powerless to help, that only Axis could make a difference. Why had he suddenly changed his tune?
"Magnus, did we not discuss this before? You said there was no way to solve the hereditary flaw in my children."
"There was no way before, but things are different now," Magnus replied, "Axis himself said that the problem lies within your genes. Therefore, to truly solve this, we must address the source of the genetic code itself. And that source is you, Sanguinius."
"Me? But I have no symptoms of this Red Thirst!" Sanguinius protested, "To say that I carry this affliction and might turn into a vampire would be one thing, but I am an Archangel. I even have these wings. By all rights, my successors should be inheriting my sanctity, perhaps even growing wings of their own. Yet they turn into vampires, and you tell me the problem lies with my genes?"
Axis, too, was now curious. What solution could Magnus have for his brother's plight?
"Sanguinius, I believe Father has already told you about the Chaos Gods and the truth of the Warp, has he not?" Magnus asked.
"He has," Sanguinius confirmed with a nod, "Horus told me, and Father has also revealed part of the truth to all the Primarchs. He told us that there are deeply malevolent gods in the Warp who constantly seek to corrupt humanity and are our greatest enemies."
On Holy Terra, after the identities of Axis and Kasha were made public, the Emperor had confessed a portion of the truth about the Warp to all his Primarchs, revealing the existence of the four Ruinous Powers.
He did, however, conceal other facts, such as the story of Erda, the Primarchs' mother. Only Horus and Rogal Dorn knew of her, and Horus had been sworn to absolute secrecy on pain of the Emperor's severe punishment.
Therefore, Sanguinius and the others knew nothing of Erda, nor did they know that the Primarchs were, in essence, beings of the Warp.
"Yes, Father spoke the truth," Magnus continued, "They are indeed exceptionally evil gods. One of them nearly corrupted me. The flesh-change that afflicted my Legion was a result of that god's curse. I once believed you were in a similar situation, but now I see that is not the case."
Previously, Magnus had used his powerful psychic abilities to observe Sanguinius and had noticed a particular Chaos God showing immense interest in him.
This god, a being of bloodshed, rage, war, and slaughter, seemed the likely culprit behind the curse that caused the horrific mutations in Sanguinius's sons. But now, with his psionic power enhanced, Magnus could see clearly that while Sanguinius was indeed being watched by that dark god, he was not under its curse.
Magnus then glanced at Axis.
From his perspective within the Warp, he could see the power of Khorne ceaselessly attempting to corrupt Axis's soul. But the Ki and Axis's own impeccably pure soul formed an impenetrable barrier, preventing Khorne from cursing his gene-seed at its source. His own situation was much the same. Though his father had helped him with his psychic might, as his own power grew, he realized the Blue bastard had not given up on him. Tzeentch was always trying to corrupt him; it was only his own strength that allowed him to resist.
"So you also believe the problem lies with me?" Sanguinius asked.
"No, Sanguinius. What I am telling you is that a Chaos God has indeed taken an interest in you, though perhaps less so now than before. With Axis's Ki, you need not worry about that in the future. What I must tell you now is the truth about us, the Primarchs."
"The truth?"
"Yes, the truth," Magnus affirmed, "We were indeed created by our father, but he only created our physical forms. By blood, we are his sons. But our souls are another matter entirely. We are, in fact, powerful entities from the Warp. We are beings formed from the fragments of other Warp deities," Magnus said, taking a deep breath.
Though their father had never admitted it, Magnus had slowly pieced together the truth.
They, the Primarchs, were lesser gods from within the Immaterium.
At these words, Sanguinius's expression hardened, and he rebuked his brother in a stern tone. "Enough, Magnus! We may be close, but some things should not be spoken of. You know we are human, truly and utterly human, not some monsters from the Warp. I do not wish to hear such words again."
"You are only deceiving yourself, Sanguinius!" Magnus countered, "What kind of human grows so tall and strong? What man is a master of all things? You even have a pair of wings!"
"There are mutants with all sorts of strange forms! They are still human. To say such things is tantamount to betraying our father. Magnus, speak no more of this," Sanguinius said, shaking his head.
That the Primarchs were human was a tenet he had always held.
While the Imperial Truth contained deceptions for the masses, he believed they were benevolent lies.
"I have no intention of betraying Father. I respect him deeply and will serve the Emperor forever. I am merely trying to tell you our true origins.
"We cannot even produce offspring with ordinary humans. Those we call our sons are but crude copies of ourselves. Whether you accept it or not, we are beings from the Warp. We are lesser gods. The flaws in our sons originate from us. But if we become stronger, more perfect, then would the problem not solve itself?"
"Magnus, you are not suggesting that Sanguinius should ascend to godhood with you, are you?" Axis asked, looking pointedly at Magnus.
"That is exactly what I am suggesting!" Magnus declared, turning his gaze to Axis with a meaningful look, "And you, Axis, do you not desire it? Do you not wish to obtain the power of a god?"
He had known Axis for many years, and through their frequent psychic conversations, he was certain that Axis was deeply interested in the concept of godhood.
"What are you two talking about?" Sanguinius asked with a frown, a feeling growing within him that he had been drawn into something far more dangerous than he had imagined.
"Our physical bodies do not match our souls," Magnus explained, his face alight with excitement, "Our souls are far more powerful and perfect. If we can elevate our bodies to the same level as our souls, we will attain an unprecedented level of power. I call this 'apotheosis'."
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please? ps?