Lion's iron fist landed heavily on Magnus's face, sending Magnus, still in his wheelchair, flying.
Russ was watching the show from the side, while Chagatai, anxious, immediately wanted to intervene and break up the fight.
But just as Lion was about to mount Magnus and begin a 'continuous barrage of punches,' Magnus, despite his paralyzed body, dragged himself to embrace the book that had been knocked away.
This made Lion instantly confused: "Magnus?"
Hearing Lion call his name again, Magnus subconsciously covered his head in defense, but Lion's iron fist did not fall.
Lion's fist, carrying the hurricane of a thousand years of resentment, suddenly froze the moment it was about to touch Magnus's nose.
Lion's pupils contracted violently; the traitor who should have counterattacked with psychic powers was now using his left arm to desperately protect the philosophical enlightenment book given to him by Uncle Kaiser, Tolstoy's 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich,' which he held in his embrace.
"You..."
Lion's Adam's apple bobbed up and down; the scenes of betrayal etched in the history of the Great Heresy were fading, replaced by images from the Great Crusade: Magnus using his flesh and blood to block xeno artillery, his silhouette rescuing ancient texts from library ruins, and now, the ridiculous, shrimp-like crouched posture of this red-skinned giant.
Chagatai's arm suddenly locked Lion's elbow: "Calm down, big brother! He needs help just to pee now!"
Magnus clutched the book to his chest, curled up on the ground like a sinner awaiting a cleansing storm.
His left arm still tightly protected Tolstoy's 'The Death of Ivan Ilyich,' his scarlet skin covered in hideous scars; the once proud Red Giant, who had looked down on all, was now utterly disheveled.
The arrogant flame in his single eye was gone, replaced by a thousand years of regret and weariness.
His past arrogance, his past fearlessness, had long been worn away by endless self-reproach.
"Lion..." Magnus's voice was low and hoarse, carrying an indescribable pain.
He didn't look at Lion but kept his head bowed, as if reminiscing, or perhaps confessing.
"I was wrong... I truly was wrong." His voice trembled, as if he had used all his strength to speak.
"I destroyed Father's Webway back then... but I truly didn't mean to.
I wanted to warn Father, I wanted to save the Imperium, I... I thought I was right."
His fingers trembled, gripping the pages tightly, seemingly seeking some solace from the book, or perhaps fearing that even this last remaining possession would be taken from him.
"But in the end, I was just a foolish child." Magnus gave a self-deprecating laugh, a faint and bitter sound.
"Ten thousand years ago, I was too arrogant, too conceited.
I thought I held the truth, but I didn't see the destruction right before my eyes.
I not only harmed myself, but also my Space Marine Chapter, my children... and Father."
He closed his single eye slightly, letting tears stream down his scarred face.
He took a deep breath, as if to swallow all his regrets, then looked up at Lion, his eyes filled with resolve.
"I am already a cripple." His voice was soft, yet it held an unshakeable firmness.
"Now I can do nothing; I rely on a wheelchair even to walk, and I lack the strength to even wield a staff.
I no longer have the right to speak of ideals, nor the right to influence the direction of this world."
His palm slowly opened, revealing the dust clinging to the book, as if narrating the heavy burden deep within his heart.
"I just want to return to Terra and let Father judge me personally." His tone carried a hint of relief.
"Whether it's burning at the stake, imprisonment, or beheading... I am willing to accept it.
I bear too many sins; I can no longer escape."
The courtyard fell into a deathly silence; everyone was shocked by this scene.
Russ no longer smiled, Chagatai released his arm from around Lion, and even Celestine, who had been watching the whole time, frowned slightly, showing a complex expression.
Lion's fist still hung in the air, but it could no longer fall.
He gazed at Magnus's weary yet resolute face; a thousand years of hatred, anger, and doubt, at this moment, transformed into an unspeakable heaviness.
He knew that Magnus was not a heartless monster.
No matter how great the crimes he committed, the suffering he endured was equally profound.
He had once been wild and unrestrained, but now, he had been worn down by the years, covered in scars, with nothing left but endless repentance.
Lion slowly withdrew his fist, looked deeply at Magnus, and said in a low voice: "Do you truly believe that returning to Terra and accepting Father's judgment will atone for your sins?"
Magnus was startled, a hint of confusion flashing across his face.
Lion didn't wait for his answer but slowly stood up and turned to leave, leaving behind a meaningful silhouette.
His voice was low and firm:
"Atonement is not achieved through punishment, but through action."
At this moment, Lion walked up to Kaiser.
He didn't know how to address Kaiser now, but he had heard Russ and Chagatai both call Kaiser "Uncle Kaiser," so:
"Uncle Kaiser, what are we going to do now? Go to Malcador? Or return to Terra?"
Facing this old man calling him 'uncle,' Kaiser was truly a bit overwhelmed.
However, Kaiser immediately told Lion:
"Next, we are going to Malcador to wake up Guilliman.
I remember you two had a very good relationship, didn't you?"
Hearing Guilliman's name, Lion painfully closed his eyes.
But at this moment, Celestine walked over with Kaiser's phone...
"Kaiser, you have a call... It's the Emperor."
Hearing it was the Emperor, Lion's eyes instantly widened, his gaze fixed on the strange, mini data-slate in Celestine's hand...
Kaiser took the call and went into the house.
Meanwhile, outside, Lion, Russ, Khan, and Magnus all perked up their ears, trying to overhear the conversation between Father and Uncle Kaiser.
"Hello, old man?"
"Have you met Lion yet?" At this moment, the Emperor on Terra's Golden Throne spoke into a small microphone on speakerphone.
"Yes, he's gotten old.
He looks like an old man in his sixties or seventies."
The Emperor: "Alright, before you go to Malcador, let him complete my last trial.
You all stay out of it."
"Why?"
The Emperor: "You saw his sword, didn't you?"
"Uh huh?"
The Emperor: "That's one of the pieces of equipment I gave my good son, and there's a shield hidden in another trial.
Hurry up and let him get that golden gear; that stuff is super expensive."
"Why don't you just give it to him directly?"
The Emperor: "Tsk! This is a trial! How can one see a rainbow without experiencing hardship?"
...The children listened for a long time, but couldn't hear what was being said inside the room.
Soon, they heard Kaiser's footsteps approaching from inside, and they instantly pretended as if nothing had happened, standing by the door.
At this moment, Kaiser came out from inside, putting his phone back into his pocket.
Lion, unable to wait, immediately walked up to Kaiser and asked:
"Uncle Kaiser! What did Father say?"
Kaiser looked at Lion and said: "Your Father has given you a task."
Hearing it was a task, Lion immediately knelt on one knee: "I will not disappoint you."
And the Dark Angels behind Lion immediately knelt and said: "My Lord, we will..."
"Stop, stop, stop!" Kaiser immediately pointed at the Dark Angels and said: "You can't go.
The final task can only be done by Lion and the Lions Guard; you can cheer them on from the side."
The Dark Angels: "Why?!"
Kaiser shrugged helplessly: "The Emperor is a man of ceremony.
He said that Lion and his group should go, and no one else can help."
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