Upon the Golden Throne, the Corpse Emperor was in a state of utter disbelief. What had he just heard? The Eldar Goddess of Life was this man's daughter!
"Are you teasing me? Are you quite certain you aren't jesting?"
The Goddess of Life, Isha, was born sixty million years ago during the War in Heaven.
That was the most ancient era of the universe. Most importantly, gods of the Warp did not have parents in the biological sense; they were deities coalesced from the power of racial belief.
So, how could Axis possibly be the father of the Goddess of Life? What kind of joke was this?
"You wish to ally with the Eldar? There is no need to fabricate such a ridiculous reason," the Corpse Emperor stated.
The excuse was simply preposterous to the extreme.
"I really am not joking. Biologically speaking, I am effectively her father, because I am her creator," Axis replied with a smile.
"Impossible. Warp entities cannot be created in such a manner. Only a complete species can bring them into existence through collective belief. Furthermore, I can see that your physical body is not even a thousand years old. How could you have created the Goddess of Life?" the Corpse Emperor countered.
"Haven't you noticed? Look at Sanguinius. Is he still the same Primarch you originally created?" Axis asked. "He has already become a god. Moreover, he is an entity that possesses a true form in the Warp and a physical form in realspace, a physical god."
Axis's greatest asset and trump card was his true divine physique, something purely Warp-based gods lacked.
Only then did the Corpse Emperor abruptly realize that Sanguinius's physical constitution was far more perfect than the Primarchs he had originally designed.
It could fully contain the soul of a Warp god without strain, unlike the desperate measure of forcing the soul of a powerful Warp deity into a Primarch's shell.
Axis, standing before him, was even more formidable.
His body had evolved into something more perfect than even a Primarch. The Emperor had initially assumed this was a gift he had brought from another world entirely, but now it seemed matters were far more complex than he had imagined.
"Just as you suspect, I call this method of elevation the 'Apotheosis' And its creator is someone you know well. Magnus," Axis said, offering a brief explanation of the ritual's benefits to the Emperor of this universe.
"You mean to say you can help Guilliman, correct? You can allow Guilliman to become a true Warp god while retaining a human body?" The Corpse Emperor's voice trembled slightly with excitement.
The return of a Primarch could indeed boost the morale of the Imperium and allow it to linger on a little longer.
But if a Warp god were to return... the significance would be entirely different. One Warp god was worth ten Primarchs; in fact, no amount of Primarchs could equal a true Warp god.
"Correct. I can do it. I have indeed done so before, and I used a method to create a physical vessel for the Eldar Goddess of Life, which is why I became her father in name," Axis explained.
Although he had used all the original Tree of Might seeds in his home universe, that did not mean Axis couldn't plant more.
He still possessed many second generation seeds, as well as a surplus of the fruit from the Tree of Might.
"I see. I understand. If you insist, I can sanction a marriage alliance between Guilliman and the Eldar. However, are you certain the Eldar of this universe will heed your arrangements?" the Corpse Emperor asked.
It was just a political marriage.
He had done such things before. If necessary, he could certainly see it through. However, while he found it acceptable, would the Eldar accept it?
"Rest assured. Leave this matter to me. I will ensure they agree to it quite happily," Axis said confidently.
For him, this was all too simple. Whether dealing with Cegorach the Laughing God, or Ynnead, the God of the Dead who, like the Dark King, was currently in a semi-birthed state, Axis had methods to handle them.
If all else failed, he could simply storm Grandfather Nurgle's Garden again and snatch the Goddess of Life.
He had already stolen one; stealing another wasn't out of the question. Besides, having two Life Goddesses guarding his tree for him would be quite efficient.
"Very well. I agree to this matter. However, regarding the candidates for this alliance, I feel we should discuss it further. It would be far more appropriate to use your son, my…grandson. Guilliman is, after all, a Primarch; his physique might not be entirely compatible or suitable for that Eldar Farseer."
The Corpse Emperor's psychic gaze shifted toward Kratos, who stood behind Axis.
If there was to be a marriage alliance, naturally, it should involve his true bloodline.
Although from another universe, the boy was undeniably of his lineage.
"Don't get any ideas about my son. We intend to leave your world eventually. How could that possibly work?" Axis retorted.
This old corpse is bad news, Axis thought. Wicked indeed. He actually has designs on my son. Though, come to think of it, Kratos was over four hundred years old.
He wouldn't turn out like the other Primarchs and be asexual, would he? No! I need to pay close attention to this matter in the future.
"Guilliman is not particularly fond of Eldar women. Furthermore, this marriage is merely a temporary cooperation. If he admire the Eldar, you can let your son—my grandson—step forward. It would show greater sincerity," the Corpse Emperor argued.
In truth, it didn't matter to him either way. His Imperium was desperate for manpower. If he could convince Axis's son to stay, that would be acceptable too; he would absolutely treat him as his own grandson.
"You are overthinking it. To be worthy of my son, his partner must be a god at the very least. I think your Living Saint, Celestine, is quite good. Why not let your Living Saint be my son's wife?" Axis said with a playful look.
You want to freeload off my son? Then it is only fair I freeload off your Living Saint.
"My Living Saint... She is akin to a Greater Daemon of the Warp. They possess no physical bodies and are constituted purely of Warp energy. If your son does not mind, it is not impossible for me to marry her off, but they will not be able to produce offspring," the Corpse Emperor explained.
"Are you misunderstanding something? Do you think I can create a body for the Goddess of Life, but I cannot for your Living Saint?" Axis countered.
Even before becoming a Super Saiyan God, Axis had created a divine body for the Goddess of Life using Saibamen seeds.
A Living Saint was, at best, on the level of a Greater Daemon. Axis wouldn't even need the original seeds; a second-generation Saibaman seed would suffice to cultivate a suitable vessel for Celestine.
"I had forgotten. Your ability... Very well. Two marriage alliances. One between Guilliman and the female Eldar Farseer, and the other between your son, and the Living Saint," the Corpse Emperor agreed.
He didn't care about the first alliance; the Eldar were merely tools to be used, never to become truly one of his own.
But Axis's son was different. In a sense, the Living Saint was also a daughter of the Emperor. If this union succeeded, he would effectively establish a tangible link with another universe.
This boy, Axis, though seemingly shrewd, is a bit careless. I actually preferred your son marrying Celestine all along.
"Done. It's settled then. I will head to Macragge immediately," Axis said, rubbing his chin.
His son picking up a Living Saint for a wife was a fantastic deal.
After discussing a few minor details, Axis cut the connection with the Emperor of this universe.
"Axis... you... you were just speaking with the Father of this world? He is so powerful," Sanguinius said, his face a mask of shock.
The Father of this world was like a blazing star. Merely standing at the periphery, barely hearing the dialogue, Sanguinius had felt his very soul tremble.
"The Emperor of this world is incredibly powerful. He has sat on the Golden Throne for ten thousand years, absorbing the faith of all humanity for an aeon. He is far stronger than he was in the 30k era," Axis explained.
This Emperor had the true bearing of a God-Emperor, more akin to the divine figure Axis knew of in lore.
The Emperor of the 30k era had been more human, possessing more human emotions.
However, while this universe's Emperor was more familiar to Axis's lore knowledge, emotionally, Axis still preferred the Emperor of his own world.
That one was his father-in-law, and the ties of blood and kinship there were heavier.
"Father, since we have destroyed the Dark King, should we not return now?" Kratos asked, looking at Axis.
Sanguinius and Kasha nodded in agreement. This world was not theirs. Although there was an Emperor here, they felt they ought to return to their own reality.
"Why go back so early? The threat of the Dark King is resolved, and the Emperor can sit more comfortably on the Golden Throne. We can tour—cough!—help this universe for a while. The Emperor and the Imperium of Mankind here are far more tragic than in our world. They are on the brink of destruction. We should help where we can," Axis said.
Sanguinius narrowed his eyes, his expression clearly saying: I don't believe you. You definitely just wanted to tour the place.
"Please, Axis, we have many matters to handle..."
"Handle what? It's not like I don't know that Magnus already organized the succession of work for you. You could be gone for a few thousand years and it wouldn't be an issue, let alone a few decades.
"besides, in this world, your genetic sons are on the verge of extinction. A massive hive fleet of Tyranids is bearing down on your home world, Baal. Barring any surprises, your home world is about to be consumed by bugs, and every single one of your sons in this universe will die," Axis stated.
"My home world is about to be conquered by Tyranids? Wait, what are Tyranids? On what grounds could they conquer my home world?" Sanguinius asked, visibly displeased.
"They are a race more savage than Chaos Daemons, colder than Necrons, more numerous than Orks, with strategic capabilities surpassing humanity and biological engineering that rivals the Old Ones," Axis replied.
The Tyranids were a horror even greater than the daemons of Chaos.
"Anyway, see for yourself. If you are in a rush to get back to work, no problem, I'll send you back right now. Of course, all your sons in this world are dead men walking—not one will survive."
"Where is the 'me' of this world?" Sanguinius asked.
"Dead as a doornail."
"..." Sanguinius fell silent.
It seemed the Sanguinius of this world had been killed by Horus just as the prophecies foretold.
If Axis hadn't appeared, that would likely have been his fate as well.
"I understand. I will go reinforce my sons. And coincidentally, I shall see just what level these 'Tyranids' you speak of really are," Sanguinius declared.
"No problem. You go save your sons; I will go save Guilliman," Axis said.
"Guilliman... It seems the development of this universe matches what that man, Khârn the Traveller, spoke of. This must be Khârn's world," Sanguinius mused.
He finally understood where Axis had brought them: the universe of that traveler, the Khârn from ten thousand years later.
"Correct. And this time, I've arranged a fine match for him. The Ynnari High Farseer, Prophet of the God of Death," Axis said.
"Guilliman merely displeased you slightly, and yet you are planning prank on him like this," Sanguinius shook his head helplessly.
Just because Guilliman had argued back a few times during the Primarch council, Axis held a grudge?
"Don't put it so harshly. What do you mean 'prank him'? I found him a super beauty for a wife, didn't I? He should be thanking me!" Axis protested.
What kind of talk was that? Was Yvraine not beautiful? How could this be revenge?
"As you wish," Sanguinius said, too tired to argue further. He slashed open the fabric of reality, spread his wings, and flew into the Warp toward his home world of Baal. As a Warp god, he could move freely through the Immaterium.
"Hahaha! You really are something, Axis," Kasha laughed heartily, slapping her husband on the shoulder after Sanguinius left.
"Father... this... is really... really a bit much," Kratos said, looking somewhat uncomfortable.
"What's wrong with it? You, boy, don't you dare learn from those Primarchs; every one of them is practically impotent. Oh! And I found a wife for you as well," Axis said.
"What! Father, are... are you saying she is an Eldar as well?" Kratos immediately wore an expression of disbelief. Had the joke come round to land on his own head?
When Father gets ruthless, he doesn't even spare his own son.
"Relax! She is a human, and a great beauty at that. A Living Saint," Axis assured him.
"What the hell?! How come you decided our son's marriage on your own?!"
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ps?