Primarch Sixteen Horus Returns

Chapter 33: Primarch Sixteen Horus Returns

The Emperor summoned a select group of individuals.

Among them were Shi'ens, Luo Ji, Vand, Zhang Beihai, and others.

Facing the powerful Three-Body civilization, these individuals remained steadfast in the face of desperation, exhausting every possible means to find a sliver of hope for humanity.

Their personal charisma, their loyalty to humanity, and their dedication to protecting it were the key reasons for their recognition by the Emperor.

"Your Majesty."

"Leader."

Everyone was overjoyed when the Emperor emerged.

Although they didn't know why the Emperor had summoned them, seeing him was always a cause for happiness.

The Emperor looked at them and smiled, "There's no need to be so reserved, everyone."

"I have gathered you here because my mission is complete, and you are to accept a new mission: to safeguard human civilization and guide its path."

"What do you mean?"

A bad premonition welled up in Luo Ji's heart.

The Emperor said, "The Three-Body are no longer a threat to humanity. Victory will belong to humankind. My duty is finished, and it is time for me to depart."

"No!" Shi'ens cried out, "How can you abandon us?"

Vand's eyes showed shock and disbelief.

"You've done so much to help humanity reach its current height, and now you're going to leave everything behind?"

With the development of human civilization, the title of Lord of the Empire would be an unparalleled honor.

Yet, the Emperor was about to relinquish supreme power that countless people dreamed of.

"My only pursuit is for humanity; power and wealth are but dust to me."

The Emperor surveyed everyone, his voice calm.

"You do not need to be sad. Parting is for a better reunion in the future."

"One day, I will reappear and lead humanity towards transcendence."

"The duty of the Guardians is of utmost importance. We cannot expect the populace to remain rational indefinitely."

"When the Empire strays from its path, you must steer it back."

"Even after defeating the Three-Body, the expansion must not cease. In this dark universe, only proactive expansion grants the right to survive."

"Before I leave, I will bestow upon you one final gift."

The Emperor implanted the Gene Engine into Shi'ens, Luo Ji, and the others.

"You possess long lifespans, keen intellects, and strength beyond that of ordinary mortals. In return, you must cast aside personal gain and fight for humanity's interests until the very last moment."

"One day, we will meet again. I hope you will not disappoint me then."

"There is also something very important: you must plant tomatoes and potatoes throughout the universe and research different flavors of ketchup and fries."

Hearing the Emperor's final instructions, Raven gave a thumbs-up with its wings.

Waldo, standing nearby, rolled his eyes almost imperceptibly.

He suddenly worried that one day the Empire's warriors would charge into battle shouting, "For more delicious ketchup and fries, we shall defeat our enemies!"

After assembling the Guardians, the Emperor publicly announced his impending departure and the establishment of the Guardian organization to the entire Empire.

"As promised, I will return the democracy, human rights, and other things I once demanded you surrender."

"Use them wisely. Love your fellow humans, not abstract ideals you deem beautiful."

When this news was made public, it caused unimaginable shock.

No one had expected the Emperor to relinquish such a tempting position and power at this time to depart.

Many wept the moment they received the news.

Countless people flocked to where the Emperor was, hoping to make him stay.

In this cold and cruel universe, they were like children, yearning for their father's protection.

However, they ultimately could not persuade the Emperor to stay.

Before the crowds could arrive, the Emperor and Waldo had already departed through a wormhole opened by Raven.

In the months that followed, people were immersed in grief over the Emperor's departure.

On the streets, cries of sorrow could occasionally be heard.

Those who could not control their emotions would inevitably shed tears when they saw the Emperor's sculptures and portraits.

Many had once believed the Emperor to be merely a despotic ruler obsessed with power.

The Emperor's departure shattered the conspiracy theories and the self-proclaimed clear-sighted arguments of the past.

It made everyone realize that all the Emperor had done stemmed from his love for humanity.

As time passed, people slowly recovered from the grief of the Emperor's departure.

They gazed at the stars, determined to fulfill that man's wish: to make humanity the most powerful and glorious race in the universe.

The order to crusade against the Three-Body was issued.

The magnificent fleet began to set sail.

Under the gaze of the people, thousands of suns instantly appeared in the pitch-black space, illuminating the cold and dark universe.

They advanced in standard tactical formations, like a magnificent giant wall.

They solemnly advanced into the depths of space with the momentum of thunder.

Showcasing humanity's dignity and invincible power to the entire universe.

The fleet slowly accelerated, eventually reaching seventy percent of the speed of light, heading for the Three-Body System.

It was expected to meet the first fleet dispatched by the Three-Body in three years.

At that time, the first war between humanity and the Three-Body civilization would break out.

Misty Space.

The returning Raven saw a light orb representing the Three-Body Universe appear in the Misty Space.

Glowing threads penetrated the Misty Space, continuously providing primal power.

The rolling mist showed more changes, sometimes outlining grand structures, but they quickly dissipated.

"We need more."

After observing for a while and confirming the changes, the Raven detached from the Misty Space and returned to the Emperor's Grand Plan, which was heading towards the Mandeville Point in the Petacanas System.

The Emperor and Waldo had returned ahead of schedule.

They had stayed in the Three-Body Universe for a long time, from the Great Depression to the crusade against the Three-Body civilization.

Yet, only one day had passed in the native universe, causing no adverse effects.

The fleet sailed towards the Mandeville Point, where they would tear through the spacetime barrier, enter the Warp, and begin a new round of conquest.

The magnificent fleet, the Titan mechs hailed as gods of war, the Adeptus Custodes and Astartes implanted with the Gene Engine, and a vast auxiliary army.

Many human colonies in decline were no match for the Empire.

Even those who wanted to prevent the Empire's unification could not.

However, most of the colonies isolated in the sea of stars welcomed the Empire's arrival, gladly joining the Empire and working together to restore humanity's glory.

During the crusade, some star systems that still had fleets dispatched them to join the expedition, causing the expeditionary force's scale to expand rapidly.

As the fleet's size increased, the Emperor decided to split the expeditionary force into different fleets.

Allowing them to simultaneously travel to other regions of the galaxy to reclaim lost colonies.

However, Warp travel was a major problem.

The Emperor also had some alternative methods for faster-than-light travel.

But their cost and efficiency could not compare to the Warp.

Until a disruptive technology emerged, Warp travel would remain the mainstream for the Empire.

In the early stages of the crusade, he personally led the navigation, so the fleet naturally had no risk of getting lost in the Warp.

But not every navigator possessed his strength.

Without an anchor point, fleets could easily become lost in the Warp.

During the Golden Age, humanity built navigation beacons throughout the galaxy.

But with the Iron Men rebellion and the Eternal Night conflict, most of the navigation beacons were destroyed or became inoperable due to long-term lack of maintenance.

Fortunately, good news arrived from Terra at this time.

The Imperial Palace of Terra, built on the Himalayas and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, achieved critical progress.

With the assistance of the Adeptus Mechanicus and substantial support from the Empire's resources, several magnificent structures were completed.

Among them was the Astral Beacon, which the Emperor initially planned to use for guiding Warp coordinates and navigation.

The Astral Beacon integrated numerous technologies from the Golden Age, and combined with the Emperor's psychic power, it could illuminate any corner of the galaxy.

Anyone with psychic abilities could observe the Astral Beacon.

Following the guidance of the Astral Beacon, Warp travel would become very simple.

The massive fleet was split into over a dozen units, each heading to different destinations.

Some members of the Adeptus Mechanicus also boarded their Explorer Ships, using the Astral Beacon to travel to various parts of the galaxy, embarking on a grand adventure and exploration journey.

As everything was proceeding in full swing.

An Adeptus Mechanicus Sage exploring the cosmos sent good news.

"We have found the sixteenth Primarch. He calls himself Horus."