The First Man Under the Early Primarchs of the Great Crusade

After reaching an agreement with Ferrus Manus to cooperate in the development, Nimrod returned to the ancient ruins and found Gabriel.

"I have decided to send you to lead a contingent of Tech Sergeants to remain in Medusa, and then follow the 10th Legion."

"There are things we can learn from them."

"Yes, Father," Gabriel said.

Three hours later, a transport ship from the Shadow of the Throne delivered the armor that Primarch had originally worn from his private armory, which he had kept as a souvenir.

The armor that Wojciech Berek made for him could not compare to that of the top master blacksmith Malevolus, but it was fine to wear for a period of time.

Nimrod controlled the golden armor, a mixture of C'tan Essence and Necrodermis, which flowed from the rest of his body to the golden wings on his back.

Gabriel then used the Mechanical Arm on his back to adjust his armor, allowing his wings to move freely.

Nimrod then went to the site of Manus's clan assembly to participate in the celebration in which he proclaimed his return to the Imperium to the Medusan and pledged allegiance to the Old Man in Yellow.

Instead of flying at top speed, he folded his wings and carried Gabriel and Arsena Dunn aboard the Stormbird.

As the Gunships arrived at the clan assembly site, Gabriel looked down at the densely packed, endless Iron Carriage and exclaimed in amazement.

"The Medusan's Iron Carriage, even the smallest ones, were at least 100 meters long. Their families, machinery, and belongings were all stored inside."

"They are a nomadic tribe that drives Iron Carriage."

The "Deduction Cadets" looked down with deep blue eyes.

"Medusa's skies are perpetually dark due to pollution; the planet's geological structure is extremely unstable, with earthquakes and volcanic eruptions constantly creating and destroying mountains and oceans."

"This world reminds me of Fenris. Without a doubt, Medusa, according to the Administratum's classification standards, should also be classified as Death World."

With her long silver hair flowing, the Primarch's Attendants asked in confusion.

"What I don't understand is that Lord Manus was called Gorgon by the various clans and regarded as a demigod. He could have ended the conflicts and placed the whole world under a unified regime, but he didn't do so."

"His approach is unlike that of Primarch."

Nimrod spoke up, clearing up the confusion for the Primarch's Attendants.

"This is Manus's philosophy; he believes that limited competition is beneficial to overall development."

"This is the result of his calculations; the sacrifices made in this process are an acceptable cost."

"Most of the time, the decisions he makes after careful calculation yield the best results."

Manus threw Storm Walkers into Medusa to reshape him, and the common conflicts between Terran-born and native races in other legions were resolved under his Thunder and decisive actions.

This is similar to Nimrod sending "Lawyers " and "Arbiter" to the Luna training and terraforming center, starting with basic training, though the methods differ, the underlying idea is the same.

They all used the Legion 'Homeworld culture to change the mindset of Terran-born recruits.

The end result is the same: only a very small number of people still hold onto their old beliefs, but they are all loyal to the Legion and the Primarch.

"Manus's cold and hard exterior is merely a facade; a passionate side lies hidden within him."

"Gabriel, you will see in the future 10th Legion that Manus will treat his sons with near-harshness, yet will defend them on every occasion."

"This is also something you need to be mindful of. When you interact with the 10th Legion, maintain respect and learn from their mechanical and computational Mystery."

"Father, I understand." Gabriel noted down the Primarch's reminder.

Gabriel had no doubt about the words of the Primarch, and believed that the Primarch shared the same attitude as Manus in protecting offspring.

The Stormbirds descended slowly, Nimrod walked toward Manus's Iron Carriage.

"Lord Nimrod," Gabriel Santor greeted him respectfully in his newly learned High Gothic.

Nimrod smiled and greeted him before opening the door.

After the hissing of Steam and a wave of dry heat, the entrance to the Iron Forge opened.

Nimrod stepped inside and saw a relief sculpture occupying the entire other side, depicting a heavy hammer striking an anvil, with the cracks caused by the impact outlined by silver veins.

On one side of the gate are Mythical Creatures of Medusa, such as Garuda.

Santor led the way to a gate made of shimmering Diorite, white marble, and steel.

The guards at the gate bowed respectfully and then opened the gate.

As Nimrod entered the gate, he saw Manus standing before his personal banner in the steel hall.

It was a work created with velvet and a great deal of silver, depicting his defeat of a silver dragon named Arsinos.

The Imperium's Aquila banner stood in the center, Alpharius beside the banner, and in front of him, the Emperor stood in the center.

On the left side of the platform, Nimrod saw banners forged from velvet and gold, depicting the scene of his slaying of Garuda.

The banners are vividly depicted, clearly the work of Manus. Among the Medusan, only his silver eyes could pierce through the flames of the Burning One.

Manus looked at Nimrod, and his coin-sized eyes instantly turned liquefied.

In a flash, he recorded Nimrod's physical data in his mind for use in forging armor.

Nimrod ascended the high platform and stood before his banner.

He saw that Azek Ahriman and his brother Ormuzd Ahriman, along with his friend Apophis, were also attending the celebration as representatives of the Fifteenth Legion.

Manus looked down at the representatives of the various clans below, his voice as heavy as lead.

"Warriors of the Medusa clans, today we gather here to usher in a new era."

"My Father, Master of Mankind, descended from the eternal night."

The furnace roared, and flames flashed.

"I, Ferrus Manus, in the name of my Iron Hands, with the furnace and flames as witnesses, vow to serve the Emperor forever!"

Members of the Medusa clans, led by Gabriel Santor, knelt on the ground.

"We follow Gorgon, to serve the Emperor forever, the forge and the flames bear witness to my oath!"

The Emperor smiled and said, "I accept your allegiance. Rise!"

After the banquet began, Manus spoke to Nimrod.

"I made this banner for you, to commemorate the scene of you slaying the Golden Garuda."

Nimrod was not surprised at all. Manus had a cold exterior but a warm heart. Many of the weapons he created were given as gifts to other Primarch, not just those he was on good terms with, such as Fulgrim.

"Manus, it's a work of art. Thank you. I will take it back to my palace and hang it in the highest place."

He gestured for Gabriel to come forward and introduce him to Manus.

"My son, Gabriel, only my Lord of the Forge, Rosicky Czech, surpasses him in mechanical skill!"

Gabriel stepped forward and said respectfully.

"Gorgon of Medusa, Gabriel salutes you."

Manus gazed at Nimrod's offspring before him, noticing the servo arm behind him, the chainsaw mounted on it, and the various tools assembled there.

They were all meticulously forged, their craftsmanship no less than that of the tools made by the Iron Fathers he had carefully trained.

"Gabriel, you are an excellent craftsman. You will be welcomed in my legion."

On the tenth star day after the end of Medusa's celebration, the fleet of the 10th Legion, the Storm Walkers, arrived at Medusa.

Nimrod accompanied the Old Man in Yellow back to his flagship Bucephalus.

The Emperor's flagship held a grand welcoming ceremony for yet another Primarch.

The scribes, without permission, boarded the spaceship and passed through the dangerous ring surrounding Medusa.

They stood in the welcoming crowd, taking careful notes.

"822. M30, the Emperor, accompanied by Primarch Nimrod, retrieved the Tenth Primarch..."

"The Monarch of Vostonia, representing the Master of Mankind, engaged in a contest with the Gorgons of Medusa to excavate ancient ruins."

"The two Primarch, having ultimately discovered ancient ruins of similar value, joined forces to develop them in the name of the Emperor..."

Nimrod stood with the Emperor in the circular observation deck surrounding the restaurant's dome.

Nimrod looked down and saw Medusan sitting in the restaurant, unlike the unruly, playful Space Wolves.

They sat down meticulously, scrutinizing everything around them.

The Emperor's eyes flickered, and he spoke.

"Storm General Amad DuCaine has arrived, and he has pioneered the 'Storm and Hammer' tactic, which I believe will become a valuable military asset for the Imperium."

Nimrod looked down; it was the first time he had seen DuCaine. In his memory, Du Kane was the number one person below the Primarch of the Great Crusade.

DuCaine wore a sturdy MK I Thunder- type Power Armour, covered with inscriptions of the team and battle.

Platinum was etched onto the cheek guards of his towering helmet, bearing the emblem of the Eye of Horus, which he was very proud of.

Nimrod knew that DuCaine, who hailed from Terra, had fought thousands of battles before finally creating the Imperium's classic tactic—"Storm and Hammer"—during the "Battle of Rust Star."

He ordered the Storm Walkers to remain stationary, while he personally led the Auxilia as an anvil to stir up the storm, waiting for the Ork to come out in full force.

DuCaine's forces resisted the onslaught of the Orks with unwavering resolve, until the last Orks burst out of the fortress and dispersed sufficiently before finally unleashing a devastating blow upon the Storm Walkers.

The 10th Legion's limited armor and air power swiftly scattered the Ork forces, achieving victory with minimal casualties.

They supported other battlefields, earning the respect of many legions, with the Fourth and 13th Legions spontaneously learning from them.

After that, the Old Man in Yellow personally led the 10th Legion into battle.

Horus greatly admired DuCaine and bestowed upon him the emblem of the Eye of Horus.

He also sent Ezekyle Abaddon temporarily as DuCaine's squire to learn from him.

Nimrod recalled what he knew of DuCaine.

"Storm and Hammer" is a tactical system that looks simple but is actually extremely complex and sophisticated. It is also the source of the future "Iron Hands" tactics. Manus further developed this tactic.

He was appointed commander of the corps, a position First Company Captain to that of company commander Santor, who was also the highest-ranking commander under Manus.

The previous Reapers disdained such tactics and did not learn from the 10th Legion. I can propose to Manus that we conduct joint military operations.

While Nimrod was pondering, DuCaine and Manus stared at each other for ten seconds before Du Kane knelt down to pledge allegiance to his Primarch.

The Old Man in Yellow nodded in satisfaction and spoke.

"Come with me. It's time for me to see the series of brilliant achievements you've made on the Wheel of Fire."