Guilliman, thank you for giving Tai Ritian to me, I will

Be kind to him

In the Empyrean, the Impossible Fortress of the Crystal Labyrinth stood silent.

"Nimrod has obtained the Blackstone Fortress..."

The face growing from Tzeentch's right arm repeated in a low voice, "Nimrod has obtained the Blackstone Fortress..."

"Change..."

The face on his right arm flickered out, and a face grew from his waist. "Change..."

As eyes appeared and vanished, the Threads of Fate trembled one after another.

"Horus fails... a chance for submission... everything is within my grasp..."

The face growing from Tzeentch's left leg was delighted. "Horus fails... a chance for submission... everything is within my grasp..."

"Blackstone Fortress... Segmentum Pacificus..."

Fateweaver's hands turned over and over, and the face on his back opened wide. "Blackstone Fortress... Segmentum Pacificus..."

960.M30.

Ultima Segmentum, Macragge.

In the panoramic chamber of the Inner Court overlooking the city of Macragge, papers and Data Slates covered the heavy marble table.

Golden sunlight shone through the narrow windows and fell upon the ancient cogitator.

The Cold Gestalt Cogitator had not come here with the Expeditionary Fleet from Terra. It was the legacy of Guilliman's adoptive father, Konor.

An ancient relic of the "Dark Mechanicum Era."

The great warrior-king Konor had once used it to govern Macragge.

By day, he was in the High Council.

By night, the Inner Court was the center of his authority.

Every twenty-five seconds, the antique emitted a faint, strange synthesized alert.

Beep beep beep beep...

Guilliman sat up straight and checked the message on the Cold Gestalt Cogitator.

The message came from Marius Gage.

```Lord Guilliman, regrettably, I was unable to complete the task you entrusted to me.

After careful investigation, I was unable to find a suitable world to serve as the northern center of the Five Hundred Worlds.

Espandor lacks sufficient potential, and Sotha