"Lord Dante, what is this—"
Everyone looked at the holy light surrounding them, thinking that Sanguinius's corpse had been desecrated.
Several were on the verge of erupting into the Black Rage right then and there, but when they saw the young woman with pure white wings appear before them, all their fury vanished.
As the Black Rage was suppressed in that moment, the sight of this magnificent mother standing before them stirred a different hunger — a craving for blood.
As if a single drop would solve all their problems. Just one drop of blood — and they could become true Angels.
"So this is what my children have become?"
"To have fallen to this state, and yet still serve your father."
"Even I am in awe of your loyalty."
When Sanguinius perceived the worsening genetic flaw in his children, he had feared they would fall into the Abyss.
But the voice from the Empyrean's heights had told him that his children had not fallen to Chaos — that despite the terrible side effects, they had remained loyal to the Imperium all along.
Many had even learned to restrain their desires, refusing to let themselves fall.
"Pr— Primarch!"
"It's Lord Sanguinius — our gene-father is alive!"
"We have a Primarch again!"
The Blood Angels cried out as one. Though the hunger for blood burned in their hearts, not a single one stepped forward to demand it.
"Yes — this is our Primarch. I can feel it, I'm certain of it!"
"The Primarch's return has freed us from the Black Rage!"
"Merciful Primarch — you never forgot our loyalty~"
As Dante's words faded, many warriors who had endured long torment wept openly.
They had been tormented by the thirst for blood for so many years. Many had been worn to the point of death, barely clinging to sanity.
Now their Primarch had returned, soothing their wounds — and with it came hope, the hope that their affliction might finally be cured.
[Caleb: Your blood can resolve their problem right now, but I'd suggest not rushing it — your body's blood production capacity is limited.]
[I have a technique for ascending to godhood here. Maybe... you could become the next God-Emperor of the Second Imperium?]
[Sanguinius: Huh???]
Hearing her father's sudden words, even the usually sardonic Sanguinius broke into a cold sweat.
Wait — why is Dad doing the same thing those two always do, putting me on the fire like this?
Making her the God-Emperor of the Second Imperium — wouldn't the conservative factions of the Imperium tear her apart?
Sure, there were a fair number of temples to her across Imperial space, but her following was nowhere near the Emperor's.
"Dad, stop pulling my leg — that's not funny at all. I'm not a god!"
But just as Sanguinius thought the Emperor was joking —
A torrent of faith energy began flowing toward her body.
What had been a frame as frail as any mortal's was restored in an instant to Primarch-level combat capability.
At the same time, Sanguinius could feel her damaged body beginning to mend.
[Campaign Mission: Use the power of faith to repair Sanguinius's shattered psychic essence.]
[All Chaos factions will dispatch their armies to assault Baal. The Host's mission is to hold Baal —and allow Sanguinius to develop the potential to ascend to godhood.]
"Oh wow!"
Caleb had not expected that this move would immediately trigger a campaign mission.
The enemies this time would be very, very numerous. Beyond Chaos, the Aeldari would likely interfere as well.
"Primarch!" Dante called out, snapping the dazed Sanguinius back to the moment.
Though the Primarch had now become a fully mature... motherly figure, she was still somewhat shorter than her sons.
"Ah, is that you, Dante~"
"Don't worry — the good-morning kiss I promised you, I'll deliver on it. No need to rush~"
With that, Sanguinius spread her wings and launched herself skyward at supersonic speed, trailing a succession of sonic booms around her — soaring all the way to the high heavens before finally stopping.
"Why do I have a very bad feeling about this?"
Dante looked down to find the rest of the assembled warriors glaring at him with expressions of deep resentment — even his Blood Guard, faces hidden behind their helmets, radiated a palpable sense of wounded betrayal.
As if every effort he had made over the years had been nothing but an elaborate act, a ploy to win Sanguinius's favour.
Dante: "No — my reputation!"
This wasn't the first time he'd been set up like this, and yet Dante still had absolutely no defence against his mother's scheming. Every word Sanguinius spoke was delivered with the utmost gentleness — but the trouble that came after was always his to deal with.
"Dante — I never thought you were that kind of Angel!"
"Tell us — what exactly did you do?!"
"You shameless wretch, going to the great Sanguinius herself and asking for a good-morning kiss!"
"Clearly Lord Dante took advantage of the situation!"
"I just heard Dante playing the victim in front of the Primarch — that's the only reason she agreed to such a request!"
"So that's the kind of person you really are!"
"You planned to use your own death to coerce the Primarch into submission — despicable!"
Egged on by several of his Blood Guard, the Blood Angels gleefully erupted into chaos.
Out of respect for the Primarch they didn't go full force — but the inexplicably mobbed Dante still had a rough time of it.
[Caleb : Sigh~]
Watching Dante get beaten onto a stretcher again, even Caleb felt a pang of sympathy for this champion of the Imperium.
This honour-bound hero had given everything for the Imperium, had fought and bled for Sanguinius his whole life — and the moment mother came back to life, she'd turned around and thrown him under the Rhino.
"Pfft—"
High above, Sanguinius only smiled, and said nothing more.
Sanguinius was a schemer — but that didn't mean she lacked a conscience.
The next morning on Baal, she really did come to the medicae ward and make good on her promise.
She gave Dante a proper good-morning kiss — in front of everyone.
"Rest well, Dante dear. The Imperium still needs you~"
"I know that after all these sixteen-hundred-odd years, you're exhausted. Don't worry — from now on, Mother will make sure you get plenty of time to rest."
"...Waaah—"
Dante wept openly, genuinely moved.
But inside, a part of him had died.
The moment his Primarch kissed him, he had felt something warm.
But then her gentle words followed — and he felt as though he had been dropped into an ice bath.
"Mother — please stop. If you keep talking I won't survive this — those apothecaries are all watching, and I still want to live!"
"That's more like it~"
Seeing Dante in tears but visibly full of spirit, Sanguinius smiled brightly and clapped her hands together.
She turned her gaze to the several red-faced apothecaries, produced a small vial, and bestowed upon each of them a few drops of her sacred blood.
"Don't worry, children — I care about all of you."
"It's just that, in my memories — even before I was revived — Dante had done a great deal for me. More than anyone."
"Take this blood. Once you have drunk it, you will be able to overcome your affliction."
"We thank you, Lord Sanguinius — we will not dishonour Sanguinius's glory!"
And Sanguinius, ever well-timed, reached out and gave each of them a pat on the head. That single gesture dissolved every last trace of their resentment.
Well. It was just a good-morning kiss, wasn't it? They'd been patted on the head by their own Primarch!
Lord Sanguinius still loved them!
It was simply that Commander Dante had worked harder than all of them, back in those years.
"Phew — this is going to be the death of me."
"I'd better just keep working. I genuinely cannot afford to retire now."
Dante lay back in his medicae bed, staring at the ceiling with hollow eyes.
His Primarch's soft blades were truly something else. Every word she spoke felt like a warm breeze on the skin — and yet somehow, after each one, he knew he was in serious trouble.
He couldn't figure it out. He just wanted to rest. At least now that the Primarch had returned, he wouldn't have to put in quite as many extra shifts.
"By the way, Dante dear — tell me about the current state of the Imperium."
"You must know it better than anyone. I've heard you've fought against every single enemy the Imperium has ever faced."
Dante sat up, feeling dizzy.
Has Sanguinius been watching him all this time? She even knows he'd fought against virtually every type of enemy the Imperium has.
"Primarch — who told you that?"
"I'm nowhere near that impressive. Whoever said that must have gotten it wrong — I'm sure there are aliens or enemies out there I've never encountered."
"Pfft!"
Sanguinius leaned against the door frame, one finger pointing lazily at the sky.
Then she said two words — and Dante's blood ran cold.
"My Dad."
Two simple words, and Dante felt a chill crawl down his spine.
The only one his mother could call "Dad" was the Emperor.
"It's over." Dante managed weakly.
He'd insulted the Emperor — indirectly — to his face. It looked like he was never going back to the Golden Throne.
"I have to stay alive — I can't go back to the Golden Throne now!"
"Before I've atoned — I absolutely must stay alive!"
Watching Sanguinius set her traps one after another, neatly ensnaring her own son, Caleb was almost compelled to say something.
This Sanguinius — the scheming ran deeper than he'd imagined. Beloved by all, gentle in all things — and yet beneath that warmth lay a truly ruthless streak. Every seemingly harmless word she spoke managed to thoroughly wrap her children around her finger.
[Caleb: Brace yourself — a fair number of Chaos factions are about to come after you.]
[Right now, the faith of much of the materium is flowing toward you. Take a guess at how bright you're shining in the Warp right now~]
What goes around comes around. Caleb supposed he qualified as "what goes around" in this case.
While Sanguinius was still busy ensnaring her children, the Chaos Gods were already plotting how to snare this inexplicably resurrected Primarch.
[Khorne: You lot are useless. Don't anyone dare compete with me — this SSR is mine, and if any of you touches her I'll make you regret it~]
[Tzeentch: Coo coo gah gah — brute. That's not your call to make. I see this woman's scheming ability is quite formidable.]
[I believe Sanguinius and I have a certain... affinity. She would make an excellent piece on my board.]
[Nurgle: Oh bloody hell, you're all here already!]
[She carries a shard of the Law of Life — I want to capture her and bring her home to keep my wife company!]
[That Isha has been spending far too much time near Cegorach lately~]
[I need to find a lovely new child to keep her company!]
[Slaanesh: What does Sanguinius have to do with any of you? Look at her — so beautiful, so perfect!]
[This is clearly someone who was born to be a Prince of Slaanesh — this is clearly my lost Prince!]
[Khorne: You degenerate — where's your shame?]
[Slaanesh: When did I ever need shame!]
The Four Chaos Gods hadn't even begun to actually scheme yet, and they were already nearly at each other's throats.
In the end they agreed: each would rely on their own abilities and find their own way to claim Sanguinius.
Caleb broadcast the echoes of their Warp-conversation directly into Sanguinius's mind.
Now Sanguinius could not only hear Caleb speak — she could even hear the murmured plotting of the Chaos Gods in the Warp.
"No no no, this is bad!"
"What do you mean all four of them are coming for me at once?!"
"What do you mean I'm glowing like a miniature sun in the Warp?!"
"Dad — you're not just putting me on the fire, you've thrown me directly into the furnace!"
Sensing the malice of the Chaos Gods closing in, the previously nonchalant Sanguinius suddenly went very pale.
In the instant of her death, she had felt their machinations — Horus had been nothing but a pawn. She understood, all too well, what kind of force had truly killed her.
The memory of being butchered was still vivid. If the Chaos Gods ran another gambit like that, would she end up back as infant Sanguinius again?
That won't do. Dad worked so hard to bring me back — dying again immediately would be absurd.
She needed reinforcements. She needed to get these Chaos traitors cleared out first.
"Blood Angels — all hands, assemble! I have something important to say!"
"Also, have the Astrotelepathica broadcast a message — summon reinforcements from other Imperial worlds, the Titan Legions, and allied Chapters!"
"Baal is about to be engulfed in a firestorm!"
"We must prepare before this evil force arrives!"
"Yes, my lord!"
No one questioned a Primarch's command.
Though the Inquisition viewed the suddenly resurrected Primarch with suspicion, they had no time to react before she had already completed all her deployments.
The authority of a founding Primarch was beyond question.
And even setting aside whether this was truly the Primarch, the divine radiance of the Emperor's light radiating from her was proof enough that this being was, at minimum, a living Saint.
If it was the Emperor's command — or the Emperor's will — there was no defying it.
Even the handful of hotheads who wanted to investigate first found themselves faced with nothing but the fury of the Blood Angels.
Emergency edicts went out to the surrounding systems.
A call to all Blood Angels successor Chapters to return to the fold.
And within that signal of return, a message of far greater importance:
Sanguinius is alive.
He will lead the Blood Angels once more — toward a brighter future.
In an instant, the Imperium was shaken to its foundations.
The High Lords had only just received word that Guilliman was on his feet again — and now Sanguinius was back too?
The question of Lion's possible treachery was still unresolved, and yet one after another, Primarchs thought lost forever were returning. The High Lords felt threatened.
A coalition of six formed almost immediately, its singular purpose: how do we deal with the return of the Primarchs?
"Something is very wrong here. It looks like I'll need to dispatch some Venenum and Callidus operatives to investigate."
"The matter of the Dark Angels may have to wait — we have no idea where those warriors have gone."
"But the sudden return of the other two Primarchs should be easier to look into. At the very least, I feel the timing of all these Primarch returns is far too suspicious."
So said Fadix, Grand Master of the Officio Assassinorum — and he was exhausted. There was simply too much going wrong at once.
First, rumours that the Lion might be turning traitor. Then Guilliman stood up, followed immediately by reports that a Primarch might be colluding with the Tyranids. Then Sanguinius returned from the dead, and the Ministorum sent word that something strange was happening with the faith surrounding Sanguinius.
There were even prophecies being whispered — that Sanguinius's resurrection would shake the foundation of the Emperor's faith.
Words like those, spoken within Imperial space, amounted to heresy. Anyone who said them openly would be put to death.