The fall of the Great Angel was seen as a symbol, signifying that the good and beautiful side of humanity was completely destroyed during the Horus Heresy.
The death of Sanguinius symbolized the passing of light and beauty.
Many heroes and Librarians in the history of the Blood Angels Chapter had pondered one thing: how to resurrect Sanguinius.
But after in-depth research, the conclusion they reached was always despairing: there was no possibility of Sanguinius being resurrected.
"Saint, are you joking?"
Dante looked at the holy sarcophagus, then turned to Alex.
He had intended to point out that resurrecting the Great Angel was an impossible task,
but the Saint standing before him was the embodiment of miracles itself.
Realizing this, Dante found himself unable to speak his mind.
Denying another potential miracle in the face of one miracle felt inexplicably foolish.
"I'm not joking."
Alex turned to look at Dante and Mefiston.
"The Great Angel's soul is shattered. His existence has been completely erased by Horus," Mefiston said in a low, sorrowful voice. "There's no way to resurrect him."
"You should all have met Saint Geleno, right?" Alex asked.
After the Battle of Baal concluded, Saint Geleno and the Cursed Legion quietly departed, just as they had arrived without warning.
There were still too many ongoing wars in the galaxy.
Saint Geleno and the Cursed Legion needed to go to those battlefields to help humanity achieve victory.
"We have," Dante nodded, acknowledging it.
Not to mention distant events,
Saint Geleno had appeared in the recent Shield of Hades campaign and the just-concluded Baal campaign.
He had even personally met Dante in the Hades system.
Mefiston also nodded.
As the Chief Librarian of the Blood Angels, he had witnessed Saint Geleno's manifestations many times.
Alex extended his hand, and a golden radiance slowly emerged, outlining the appearance of Sanguinius.
"You should know Saint Geleno's origin. He is Sanguinius's chosen one. It was his noble qualities and his spirit of self-sacrifice for the Great Angel that allowed him to ascend."
"If Sanguinius had truly perished, how could Saint Geleno continue to exist?"
Mefiston stared intently at the Great Angel floating in the air. "But how can we resurrect Sanguinius?"
The image of Sanguinius in Alex's hand shattered, turning into hundreds of specks of light.
"On the Avenging Spirit, Horus not only shattered the Great Angel's body, but also his soul."
"These soul fragments were swept by the storm into various times and spaces. We must collect all the fragments to resurrect the Great Angel."
"Then what should we do?" Expectation flickered in Dante's eyes.
"Currently, there is only a general idea," Alex explained. "I still need to delve deeper into this matter to find a feasible method."
"If you are willing, I hope to summon Spirit Race prophets to Angel Keep to discuss this matter together."
"They are xenos." Dante frowned, somewhat indecisive.
"They are also our allies. Their involvement was crucial in Guilliman's resurrection. The power of the God of Death can reverse life and death, and will surely contribute to the resurrection of Sanguinius," Alex said. "Will the Great Angel's current state get even worse?"
Mefiston looked at Dante.
Although he was the Chief Librarian, Dante was the Chapter Master.
Such a decision had to be made by Dante.
Dante showed a look of struggle.
A moment later, he nodded.
"Alright, I agree to let those xenos enter Angel Keep."
Alex smiled and put away the projection of Sanguinius.
"You won't be disappointed, Dante. One day, Sanguinius will return to us, just like Guilliman."
"Now, let's go back to the ground and discuss the next steps we should take."
After Alex finished speaking, he turned and looked at Sanguinius's shattered remains again.
The Emperor really gave him a difficult task!
Resurrecting Sanguinius was no simple matter.
Before leaving, Dante and Mefiston once again saluted Sanguinius's remains.
Then, they turned and left.
As the footsteps faded, the crypt once again became silent and dim.
A faint sigh sounded,
as if it came from a distant, savage era, passed through Reality, and drifted towards the distant future, gradually becoming ethereal, and finally vanishing without a trace.
… … … …
The Spirit Race prophet Kasareth arrived in the hall of Angel Keep at Alex's summons.
After entering, he surveyed his surroundings, his gaze sweeping over Alex, Dante, and Mefiston in turn,
then turning back to gaze at Alex and saluting him.
"Saint, is there something you summoned me for?"
"Some questions require your expertise to answer." Alex gestured towards the long table in the hall.
"This will take a while to discuss. Please find a seat first."
Dante opened communications and had servants bring food and wine.
The Blood Servants were very fast,
and soon, they arrived with an abundance of food and drinks.
"Just set the things down. I will personally entertain the guests."
When the servants tried to uncork the wine bottles, Dante stopped them and instructed, "Also, do not let anyone disturb us."
The servants bowed and left.
"Please be seated first."
Alex motioned for everyone to sit down, then looked at Kasareth with an apologetic gaze.
"I apologize, human wine is not as delicious as yours, but this is the highest standard of Angel Keep. I hope you don't mind."
"The master's hospitality surpasses all delicacies." Kasareth showed no arrogance in front of Alex, his tone very humble.
Dante and Mefiston were somewhat surprised.
It was well known that these pointy-eared beings were not like this when facing them.
Their eyes would always be looking up at the sky,
calling them 'monkeys' and 'crude' with every other word.
Just thinking about it made them furious, wishing they could grab a gun and blow their brains out.
Dante took advantage of their conversation to uncork the wine bottle,
and filled the goblet with crimson wine.
The Red Scar, deep in the heart of the Ultima Segmentum, spread a blood-red curtain, enveloping many worlds,
forming an interstellar desert harmful to humans and difficult to survive in.
According to some secret legends, this scar was torn open by humanity using mysterious weapons to fight against the abominable intelligence that betrayed them.
But there was also another theory: the Red Scar was a trace left by the battles of ancient gods.
No one knew the truth. The only certainty was that deadly radiation poisoned every human colony, including Baal.
Due to the influence of the Red Scar, Baal was a thoroughly barren death world.
Such a place could hardly produce decent fruits.
Only with careful nurturing in greenhouses could bitter fruits be obtained.
Grapes used for winemaking, like other fruits, could not survive in the harsh environment of Baal's wilderness.
They could only survive in the monasteries of Baal, under the careful care of many servants and the protection of high technology.
However, the grapes produced had hard shells, with only a thin layer of flesh attached to the seeds.
This resulted in very bitter wine.
Its only advantage was that these wines were very red and very rich, not like wine at all, but rather like the blood of the world of Baal.
Alex took a light sip, feeling his tongue go numb from the bitterness.
When he hosted banquets in the Calixis Sector, he would also drink some wine,
but none of those wines were even a thousandth as bitter as Baal wine.
On the contrary, Kasareth showed a look of surprise.
"This wine is quite good."
At these words, Dante and Mefiston immediately looked surprised.
For a moment, they couldn't tell if the other person was being sarcastic.
Perhaps sensing their doubt, Kasareth took another small sip, showing an expression of enjoyment.
"What you humans call fine wines are, in my opinion, mere dregs, but this one has a unique flavor."
"I will consider recommending to the Usve Council that they purchase Baal wine. Only such bitterness can make the Spirit Race constantly remember the pain brought by the Great Fall of the past."
As soon as this was said, Alex immediately understood what the other party was thinking.
As expected of someone whose ancestors were once prosperous, they had enjoyed too much comfort and now simply wanted to experience some hardship.
"You didn't come to me just for wine tasting, did you?" Kasareth put down his wine glass and looked at Alex.
"Of course not." Alex opened a projection, showing the figures of Guilliman and Sanguinius. "I want to inquire about how to resurrect Sanguinius."
"Resurrecting Sanguinius, that is indeed a good question." Kasareth took another sip of wine.
"Kasareth, the Spirit Race is much older than humanity and possesses more knowledge. You even had a Pantheon. If you are willing to share your knowledge and wisdom, we can surely find a good method," Alex said.
"Yes, we are far older than you. My race has witnessed the Warp go from calm to chaotic, and we possess Warp knowledge beyond your imagination."
"Resurrecting Sanguinius is a very difficult task, but it is not impossible."
Kasareth's words caught the attention of Dante and Mefiston.
Could it be that the Great Angel could truly be brought back from the world of the dead?
"Share your insights," Alex said.
Kasareth mentally organized his thoughts before speaking. "The Great Angel's soul is shattered and lost in the past, and even the future. This is the biggest challenge to his resurrection."
"As long as this problem can be solved, the resurrection of the Great Angel becomes possible."
"Collecting the Great Angel's fragments?" Alex muttered to himself, looking thoughtful.
Kasareth's explanation was similar to what he had in mind.
To resurrect Sanguinius, one must first find all his soul fragments.
Without a soul, even if the body's injuries were healed, the true Sanguinius could not be resurrected.
Kasareth continued, "I once heard a legend on Baal about the King of Angels. It's an ancient parable."
"The noble King of Angels revived from death, commanded his throne to ascend to the sky, and became an eternal god."
"Does the resurrection of Sanguinius have anything to do with this story?" Mefiston asked with a frown.
"Of course it does. If Sanguinius is the protagonist of this story, how could this story exist if he doesn't resurrect?" Kasareth tasted the red wine.
Dante frowned, scrutinizing the xenos sorcerer, a look of doubt on his face.
"How could my Lord be the Lord of Angels in this myth? Yet, this legend was already circulating among the xenos even before humanity arrived at Baal."
Kasareth chuckled, "This is the beauty of the Warp. When a demon or a god is born, they simultaneously exist at all points in time."
"We only need to ensure that Sanguinius transforms into the King of Angels in the future, and then this mythical prophecy will naturally complete its loop."
"Then how do we ensure Sanguinius becomes the King of Angels?" Mefiston asked.
Kasareth swirled the wine in his goblet, the blood-like liquid forming a vortex.
"This is very simple. The myth has already revealed the answer: the Golden Angel and the Black Angel return to their positions, kneeling before the King of Angels."
"When the King of Angels gives the command, the two angels will work together to lift the magnificent throne, ascending to the Kingdom of Heaven."
"Will my Lord become a god of the Warp?" Dante asked with some concern, "If so, would the resurrected The Great Angel still be the The Great Angel?"
"With all due respect, if we don't do that, Sanguinius will still return, but in a form you cannot comprehend."
Kasareth spoke a chilling truth.
"What does that mean?" Mefiston asked.
Kasareth did not play coy as he had before.
Instead, he seriously answered Mefiston and Dante,
"Faith is the most powerful force in the galaxy, there is no doubt about that. A spiritual will closely connected to the Warp can distort the laws of the Reality."
"What kind of impact would billions, hundreds of billions, trillions of souls all believing in one thing have?"
"Most Human Empire planets have festivals commemorating Sanguinius. For ten thousand years, people have been praying to him and chanting his name."
"What kind of impact would such a vast belief cause? It would probably be enough to turn the concept of Sanguinius into a god."
"Resurrecting Sanguinius first might still anchor his humanity, otherwise I can hardly say what he will become!!"
"This is alarmist!!" Dante glared at Kasareth, "Xeno, do you know the price of fooling the Blood Angels Chapter?"
"I am only responsible for providing advice," Kasareth said, "As for what to do, that's up to you."
"Let's not talk about things so far away. Let's first discuss how to resurrect Sanguinius." Alex brought the conversation back, "The primary issue is to retrieve Sanguinius's soul."
"What should we do?" Mefiston asked.
"Retrace the path the The Great Angel once walked. Soul fragments will appear on planets where significant events occurred, such as Signus, Davin, and other places."
Alex paused before continuing, "And most importantly, the Avenging Spirit."
"..."
After some discussion, Alex, Dante, Mefiston, and Kasareth devised an effective resurrection plan.
The first step: The Blood Angels and God Chosen would collect the soul fragments.
The second step: Use the authority of the God of Death and the power of the Infinity Key to reshape Sanguinius's physical body.
The third step: Use the power of Baal to resurrect Sanguinius as in the mythical legend.
Ending the discussion, Kasareth finished the last drop of wine and walked out.
Spirit Race guards, dressed in black armor and wearing embedded bone-white masks, were waiting outside.
Once away from the humans, Kasareth revealed a smile that indicated everything was under his control.
This made his companions curious, and they asked him why he was so happy.
"That Emperor saint is even more cooperative than we imagined."
"He actually wants to resurrect Sanguinius. You should know that a portion of Sanguinius's soul is firmly controlled by the Chaos Gods."
"Thus, there is no possibility of compromise between humanity and the Chaos Gods. The two sides will definitely fight to the death over Sanguinius, until all their strength is exhausted."
"Even if humanity has the guts to invade the Chaos Gods and snatch Sanguinius's soul, we can also take the opportunity to reclaim the Crone Swords and truly revive the God of Death."
"The Spirit Race Empire will draw nourishment from the corpses of Human Empire civilization and the Chaos Gods, complete its great revival, and once again rule the galaxy."
The other Spirit Race members were overjoyed upon hearing Kasareth's words.
The greater the conflict between humans and Chaos, the greater their chances of profiting from it.
"Then we must help them resurrect Sanguinius well."
"I can't wait to see humanity and Chaos start a large-scale war."
"Just like the Paradise War countless years ago, the Spirit Race will be the biggest winner."
"..."
...
Atoma,
As this world became the capital planet of the Calixis Sector, it became increasingly prosperous.
Magnificent skyscrapers pierced the clouds, and transport spacecraft, like schools of fish, shuttled back and forth between the surface and the sky.
And today, the eleventh batch of Players landed.
The Cardinal had cleared out the clergy in advance to allow the Emperor's kin to descend into the Reality.
When the church tower rang its thirteenth bell, dense flashes of light appeared in the open area of the church.
Each flash represented one of the Emperor's kin.
Soon, the entire cathedral was packed with people.
"Holy crap, holy crap, it's really virtual reality!!"
"It's been shocking me for ten thousand years."
"I'm going to blow up Slaanesh, screw Khorne, kiss Nurgle to death, by blood I swear, if it can't be realized, then it can't be realized."
"Warhammer has been a long night for ten thousand years, now I'm here."
"I am the Emperor, now I'm accidentally a Player. Who will V me five hundred contribution points? When I return to Terra, I'll make him a Solar Admiral."
"..."
The cathedral was as noisy as a morning vegetable market, with the voices of Players everywhere.
After letting the new Players make noise for a while, Cortana's projection appeared, quieting them down.
But Cortana disappeared after completing the opening storyline, and the church instantly became very noisy again.
The Warbands then came out one after another.
They released servo-skulls, and loudspeakers roared recruiting slogans.
The Academy of Agriculture Battle Group also started recruiting, but their method was somewhat unique.
They set up a huge barbecue grill, put skewers of Mushroom, eggplant, and other vegetables on it to grill.
"Recruiting, recruiting! As long as you join The Academy of Agriculture Battle Group, grilled Mushroom, grilled eggplant, and grilled pumpkin are all you can eat!"
One Player from The Academy of Agriculture Battle Group shouted while turning the grill and sprinkling spices.
Soon, the aroma filled the air, attracting countless drooling Players who crowded around the recruitment stall.
"Just fill out the form, and you can eat all the vegetarian barbecue you want."
The Player at the stall also shouted enthusiastically, distributing membership forms to the Players.
Several new Players couldn't resist, filled out the form, and started eating grilled Mushroom.
"This Mushroom tastes really good. It has both the tender and smooth texture of Mushroom and the chewiness of meat."
"I've lived this long, and the most delicious Mushroom I've ever eaten was in a game."
"Your grilled Mushroom is so fragrant, do you have some secret recipe?" Someone approached the barbecue stall and asked the Player in charge of grilling.
"Secret recipe? No, maybe the ingredients are good, so the taste is good," the Player said.
"What kind of Mushroom are these?" the person continued to ask.
"These Mushroom slices are unformed Orks, and the eggplants and pumpkins are also vegetable embryos currently under research."
The Player's words stunned the new Players who were happily eating.
To enter this game, they had all researched information about the Warhammer Universe.
The fierce, large, and WAAAGH-ing Orks had actually become their grilled skewers??
"Damn it…"
"These guys must be from Paradox Interactive."
"Orks barbecue, a replica of the Sea Star canned food??"
"What a novice!! What kind of Warhammer 40K version of the Demon Sect is this??"
"Demon Lord: Sorry, I took the wrong path. I am a good citizen of the Human Empire, a great good citizen."
"..."
The Academy of Agriculture Battle Group's Ork cultivation technology was not yet sufficient to cultivate truly controllable Orks. Most of those vegetable-people were also failed products.
In a sense, these things were still vegetables.
The Ork barbecue was ultimately just a small interlude.
Because other Warbands saw that The Academy of Agriculture Battle Group's antics generated so much traffic, they also started their own.
Things like Genestealer soaked in wine, Deep One fish soup, and multi-eyed octopus barbecue all appeared.
The Hunter Demon Battle Group even caught a few minor demons, made them wear overalls, and had them sing, dance, rap, and play basketball there.
New Players passing by silently pitied those demons, who had actually become members of the Kun Kun sect just like that.
Sector Governor Feng and Cardinal Hyderak observed this new batch of God Chosen.
Then they had people follow the previously established plan,
To send these God Chosen for basic training, assign them tasks, and help them level up as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, on the Imperial Glory,
Alex, who had returned from Angel Keep, also learned about the eleventh batch of Players going online.
After confirming that no major trouble had occurred, he let them be.
Taking advantage of his free time, he awarded eagle medals to Scalp, MC Dynasty, and Emperor Niuma Battle Group.
Before, he was either fighting or on his way to fight, extremely busy.
Occasionally, when he had free time, Scalp was out on missions, making it difficult to find a suitable time.
Now that he had time and everyone was present, he awarded them all at once.
Scalp acted as an undercover agent, not only obtaining intelligence from the rebels but also acquiring Star Gate information, allowing the Human Empire to master Star Gate technology, for which he was awarded a gold eagle medal.
MC Dynasty developed beast taming and mount gameplay using mind controllers, earning a silver eagle medal.
The Players of the Emperor Niuma Battle Group found BR01 Base, allowing the Human Empire to acquire a toaster with transformation technology, for which they were awarded a gold eagle medal.
After awarding the medals, Alex also had Cortana announce it in the game world and publish the Player IDs in the Hall of Fame on the official website, including the Players who received the eagle medal.
For a time, this sparked heated discussions among Players and filled them with fighting spirit.
They vowed to earn an eagle medal for themselves and become influential figures.
As soon as Alex finished these tasks, Guilliman sent a communication,
Hoping that Alex could return to Terra as soon as possible to preside over the major reform and show those Terra bureaucrats a thing or two.