"Yes, I come from another universe," Raven declared. "The multiverse is vast, far beyond your single cosmos. As a traveler, I can cross between these realms."
As it spoke, Raven opened its beak, and beams of light poured forth. The rays wove together in the air, forming countless flickering images.
Some scenes played clearly, like a film unspooling in sequence. Others were chaotic, splintered into multiple perspectives, jumping erratically or looping back to their start. Most universes followed a linear timeline, advancing like a story. But some had multidimensional timelines, spawning parallel realities or allowing travel between past and future, resulting in a disorienting jumble of visions.
"The wonders of the multiverse surpass your imagination," Raven continued. "If you agree to work with me, I can guide you to other universes, granting you their power and knowledge."
The Emperor's eyes narrowed. "And what do you gain? Don't tell me you seek nothing."
"When you alter a universe's destined path, it releases a unique essence—its origin power," Raven explained. "I feed on that essence. It's a fair trade, beneficial to us both."
"I don't ally with unknowns," the Emperor said, his voice firm, rejecting the offer again.
"You weren't so cautious when you struck a deal with the Four Gods, stealing Chaos's secrets and essence," Raven retorted.
The Emperor's ever-stoic face flickered with a trace of unease. "How do you know that?"
Raven closed its beak, and the radiant images vanished. "Everything that happens leaves a mark on the universe. I can read those traces. When I entered this cosmos, I began absorbing its history. You ventured into the Warp on Mordor, made a pact with the Chaos Gods, and used their aid to siphon their power and knowledge for your own ends. You deceived them, and now they burn with rage against you."
The Emperor studied Raven, his gaze sharp. The creature bore no taint of Warp corruption, suggesting it wasn't a denizen of that realm. Its claims of being a multiversal traveler remained unproven.
Nearby, Waldo scanned the room, his war halberd humming with activated energy, its tip crackling with bright arcs. His helmet's sensors and keen instincts searched for an unseen threat. Since the Emperor touched the strange statue, it had vanished in a burst of light, and now his lord seemed to converse with the air, sword drawn as if to strike an invisible foe.
Waldo, standing mere feet away, saw nothing. No matter how he strained his senses, he found no trace of an enemy.
"What's happening? Who is His Majesty speaking to?" Waldo muttered, gripping his halberd. "Is it the enemy? The Dark Gods? Where are they? Why can't I see them?"
Confusion and powerlessness gnawed at him as he watched the Emperor address the void.
"Are you alright, Your Majesty?" Waldo asked, concern lacing his voice.
The Emperor snapped from his thoughts, glancing at Waldo, then at Raven, who paced casually through the air. "I'm fine."
"Then why are you speaking to the air?" Waldo pressed. "Should I summon a medic to examine you?"
The Emperor looked at Waldo, then back at Raven. "You can't see it?"
"See what?" Waldo scanned the room again, finding nothing.
"He can't see me," Raven interjected. "Only those I acknowledge or those permitted by the Protagonist of Destiny can perceive me. It's a safeguard to keep our dealings private from third parties." It paused, then added, "Of course, you're an exception. Few in this reality could challenge you, but the mechanism still applies."
"Can you make him see you?" the Emperor asked.
"If you wish," Raven replied.
The Emperor nodded. "Show yourself."
Waldo blinked as a raven materialized before him, greeting him with a friendly chirp. "Hey, Waldo, noble Commander of the Custodes! Fancy hitting the docks for some fries?"
Waldo reacted instantly, his halberd snapping to point at Raven, its tip a mere breath from the creature. Protecting the Emperor wasn't just his duty—it was his purpose. No threat, however small, would be tolerated.
"Rude!" Raven exclaimed, feigning an exaggerated pout. "I offer fries, and you point that thing at me?"
"Demon," Waldo growled. "Leave this world."
"Waldo," the Emperor said, pressing down the halberd. "It's not a demon."
"It's deceiving you," Waldo insisted. "The Warp's fiends are masters of lies."
"I see no Chaos corruption in it," the Emperor countered.
Reluctantly, Waldo lowered his weapon, trusting his lord's judgment.
The Emperor turned back to Raven. "You claim you can guide me to other universes for power and knowledge. How do I know this isn't a trap?"
"I can't offer ironclad proof," Raven admitted. "But this is your only chance to win. The gene-primarchs you crafted to anchor your new warriors were stolen by the Gods, yet you persist with your secret plans."
Waldo's eyes widened. That was classified information, known to only a handful. For Raven to speak of it so casually was alarming. If it served the Dark Gods, their every move might already be exposed.
"I can tell you plainly," Raven continued, "your primarchs aren't dead. They're scattered across the stars, tempered by destiny's trials. When you launch your conquest of the galaxy, they'll return to your side."
The Emperor's silence deepened. Raven knew too much.
"You envision a glorious future for humanity," Raven said, "but you're doomed to fail. No matter how you strive against the tides of fate, you cannot alter its course. Your foresight shows you countless futures, most shrouded in darkness and despair. In the end, you'll lose everything—your empire, your Custodes, your closest allies, and the humanity you swore to protect, all sliding toward a slow death."
"You're fearmongering," Waldo snapped.
"Am I?" Raven's beak curved into a sly smile. "Ask your lord if he thinks I'm lying. Or do you doubt his power and foresight?"
The Emperor said nothing, his silence a tacit acknowledgment of Raven's words. Defying the Gods was no simple task. Failure would plunge humanity into an abyss of endless war, with no hope of salvation.
Waldo glared at Raven, his halberd gripped tightly, radiating unmasked killing intent. Raven, unfazed, continued its airy stroll, confident that Waldo wouldn't act without the Emperor's command. The Custodes' loyalty was absolute, and Waldo was its epitome.
"If you agree," Raven said, "I'll send you to a trial world. Complete its challenges, and you'll return with rewards that will greatly aid your plans."
Waldo looked to the Emperor, reading the contemplation in his expression. "Majesty, don't trust its honeyed words. What if it's a trap? If you can't return, all our plans will collapse."
Raven countered, "Even if I were a fraud, Terra is unified. Your absence wouldn't undo that. It's the seed of a new human civilization. But without mastering the Webway, any misstep could doom humanity. Gambling everything on a flawed plan is worse than doing nothing."
The Emperor's plans hinged on the Webway—a means for humanity to travel faster than light, shielded from the Warp. From Terra's unification to the primarchs and the Great Crusade, all were steps toward this ultimate goal.
At Raven's mention of the Webway—a secret known only to three in the entire Empire—the Emperor and Waldo's calm facades cracked.
"Only from beyond this universe can you gain the power and knowledge to change its fate," Raven said. "If you cooperate, I can help you acquire complete Webway technology from another cosmos."
"I need one day to recharge the energy required for multiversal travel," Raven concluded. "Think it over, and give me your answer tomorrow at this time."
With a pop, Raven vanished in a swirl of white mist.