No Centaur Gold Ring, No Horus Heresy!
The final choice for Warmaster was Fulgrim.
It was an unexpected choice, but upon closer reflection, it wasn't so unexpected after all.
Checks and balances.
Horus and Philus were both very competitive Primarch, and their legions were naturally unwilling to submit to each other, which led even their close Primarch to take sides.
Perturabo and Mortarion sided with Horus, while Vulkan and Corvus Corax were closer to Philus.
Khan has fled, and Alpharius and Omegon are now locked in a fierce battle.
Even if someone says they don't care who wins the final Warmaster, once the seeds of doubt and conflict are sown, it will be difficult to resolve the underlying issues.
This is equivalent to directly putting the two strongest and most meritorious legions in the Imperium on the opposite side.
As the Warmaster, after the Emperor officially withdraws from the Great Crusade, he will have the most direct control over the legions.
Horus and Philus
They all have a history of using friendly forces as human shields to withstand the first wave of attacks.
During the Battle of Gardinal, Philus's decision to send the Ultramarines to the front lines drew the ire of Guilliman.
As for Horus, his actions towards the Raven Guard caused Corvus Corax to angrily curse him on the spot.
Everything was done.
The intense competition between the two has made the Primarch on the other side worry whether his Legion will suffer the same fate in the future.
Despite all fighting for the same goal, rifts and factions have emerged within the legion.
If any one of them becomes Warmaster, it will not be good news for the future Great Crusade.
A third path must be explored.
As Emperor, the best choice is to abandon the two whose struggle has reached a fever pitch and choose a third trustworthy Primarch who is capable of becoming Warmaster.
He/She must be able to coordinate the two factions, the Dutch and the Philippine, while ensuring that he/she is well-liked by both the Primarch and the Imperium.
Furthermore, they need to possess the political skills to coordinate various forces, their legions must be of a certain size, and their own strength must be able to play a decisive role.
Due to multiple factors, almost no Primarch can meet the Emperor's requirements.
The Lion El'Jonson King has a very poor reputation and is not well-liked.
Angel are too soft-hearted; although they are very charming, their political skills are too weak.
She is better suited as a ruler than Warmaster.
After much deliberation, the Emperor decided to have Fulgrim participate in the Uranus campaign as well, to test her suitability.
The result was very satisfactory to him— Fulgrim not only did an excellent job of assisting the other two legions, but even killed the Orks warlord leader of Ullanor on his own.
Now even his personal strength has reached Old Man Huang's standard.
Most of the planets conquered by Fulgrim were recaptured through diplomatic means, and the facilities on those planets were all preserved intact.
Even their relationship with the Adeptus Mechanicus was valued by the Martian Forge Master because the Emperor's Children Legion frequently developed useful gadgets and Fulgrim himself possessed forging skills that were also very strong.
A near-perfect candidate.
Moreover, in the Emperor's eyes, she also had Kasgar protecting her.
Whether it was the Emperor or the remaining Primarch who were willing to travel to Ullanor to participate in the celebration, they all supported Fulgrim's assistance to the Primarch during the Great Crusade over the past two hundred years, whether it was helping them successfully heal the Legion's internal flaws or allowing them to escape the doom they were destined to suffer.
In short, with Kasgar's help, Fulgrim's reputation among the Primarch has long surpassed that of Philus and Horus, becoming the greatest common denominator among all Primarch.
Even those who are indifferent to the position of Warmaster will choose to cast their vote for Fulgrim after experiencing the help of the Emperor's Children Legion during the Great Crusade.
Even Philus was no exception.
Although she felt that her Iron Hands Legion was indeed stronger, without the assistance of the Second Captain of the Sons of the Emperor, they might be much weaker in terms of intelligence gathering and main assassination tactics.
The highest good is like water.
Although the Emperor's Children Legion is not outstanding in any aspect, their perfect coordination allows them to cooperate with all other legions during expeditions, achieving a synergy greater than the sum of its parts. This level of coordination is something that the mechanized forces of the Iron Hands cannot achieve.
With her versatile support abilities, like a perfect puzzle piece, coupled with the dedication she displayed in the Battle of Ullanor, it seems that, though she is reluctant to admit it, Fulgrim and her Legion are more trustworthy than she and the Iron Hands.
Perhaps Fulgrim herself is indeed a bit too much like a peacock who likes to show off, but it must be said that her impressive battle record and legion management ability are enough to give her the right to be proud.
While pride can sometimes be a flaw, well-founded self-praise is not pride, but rather confidence.
It could be said that while he was busy traveling back and forth in Kasgar, making unimaginable contributions to the Imperium's Great Crusade, he had transformed Fulgrim's arrogance into humility.
Basically, the Emperor's proposal to appoint Fulgrim as Warmaster was supported by almost everyone.
Except for Horus.
"If Fulgrim becomes Warmaster, then my Centaur gold ring, my Centaur gold ring!"
That's all!
With a snap, Horus fell to the ground and did not get up for a long time.
"My Centaur gold ring."
He remained locked in his room on the Vengeful Spirit and did not come out.
The Ullanor Festival opened smoothly as expected.
At the Emperor's request, Ullanor was transformed into a trophy world, designated as the laureate star on all star maps and tax records. It would become a place of glory and wonder, not only commemorating the conquest of humanity's enemies but also serving as a grander symbol of the Great Crusade itself.
(Hopefully they don't know this place will one day become Hakimidon.)
This symbolized the beginning of a great era for the Imperium of Man, naturally attracting countless warships of the Imperium of Man to dock near the main star system of Ullanor. The massive fleet returning from the Great Crusade thus gathered for the first time on this incomparably glorious planet.
If it weren't for concerns that the flagship's excessive mass would disrupt the gravitational tidal forces of the Ullanor main star, the evacuated void ships, if all remained in near-Earth orbit, would have been enough to blot out the sun over Ullanor.
Humanity, a race that has endured countless hardships and traumas, a civilization that once created something even more glorious, but which was ultimately scattered and gradually declined and perished in the Warp Storm, can finally proudly declare its revival today!
Under the unification of the great the God-Emperor of Mankind who appeared out of nowhere, they were reunited; with faith in the future and the future, humanity, under the Emperor's great leadership, finally broke free from the oppression of the Xenos and reclaimed one lost world after another in the galaxy.
They will be strong again, they will be strong forever!
Until death, until the end of the galaxy, humanity will no longer be oppressed or driven by other races. From then on, humanity will stand forever in the galaxy!
The intricately patterned pavilions, forged from black marble and heavy granite, were constructed modularly in Terra and other Forge World before being transported here by envoys across the void.
This is a great masterpiece from the Sage of Adeptus Mechanicus.
Pillars adorned with Xenos Orks stood scattered along the main road, with smokeless Promethium braziers placed in front of them, their blue-white flames illuminating the entire thoroughfare day and night without ceasing.
After the Adeptus Mechanicus had completed their work, the Imperial Guard and the Titan Legion, who had fought on all sides during the Great Crusade, participated in the assembly.
As the cannons roared and colorful ribbons fluttered, everyone's attention was drawn to the parade ground, which was as wide as the foundation of a city.
The first thing to appear is a sea of armor and uniforms.
The number of the Imperial Army troops composed of mortals is countless.
Their procession was so large that even the city-wide reviewing stand seemed somewhat cramped.
At the very front of the procession, those soldiers who proudly stood tall and accepted the inspection were all warriors who had participated in the Battle of Ullanor —they were selected for their heroic deeds and awarded a unique honor—the Triumph Medal made of agate and gold worn on their uniforms.
This medal, forged from melted shell casings retrieved from the battlefield, serves as proof of a family's glory for a thousand, even ten thousand years.
Behind them, the Titan Cult's massive War Machines stood tall beneath the sky torn apart by the contrails of a thousand close-in weapon fighters, and above that, an overwhelming array of fighter jets—flying left and right in the parade, leaving magnificent contrails in the sky with superb skill.
Above that, in the thin air of Ullanor, the Void Ships were gliding past on near-Earth orbits at a speed that appeared as slow as possible, but was actually very fast, displaying their beautiful hulls in a gesture of loyalty, eliciting another gasp from the visitors who had never seen such magnificent warships before.
Then came the most powerful and accomplished legion of the Imperium of Man in the expedition.
Leading them were ten of the most powerful demigods among humans.
Primarch.
There are eighteen Primarch the greatest army in history by human hands.
Apart from the seven Primarch who are currently serving the Imperium elsewhere in the galaxy, the remaining eleven have arrived with their legions.
(The original story has nine Primarch, but Guilliman is not included. Although it is unclear why Guilliman fought the entire match in Ullanor but did not attend the ceremony, it is likely that the story was retconned and Guilliman was not included here. In addition, there are eleven Primarchs in total, including the random Senior Sister.)
(Perhaps it's because they were too ambitious.)
Mortarion and his silent, olive-green Death Guard led the way; behind them was Horus, the Shepherd of Wolves, though he seemed to be giving a wry smile; Magnus, the Crimson King, the enigmatic and towering Primarch, followed closely behind with his legion.
Then came Lorgar Aurelian, a quiet and profound fanatical believer; Angron, on the other hand, did not seem very happy, as if he questioned the extravagance of the ceremony—something he often did after his return.
But no matter how much he protested, Dorn remained steadfast. The Imperial Fists, with its unwavering will and focused dedication, always obeyed orders and remained steadfast in its duty. Behind him stood the Steppe Eagle Khan, his robes adorned with furs, his magnificent armor inscribed with the legendary tales of the White Scars Legion in bold, flowing calligraphy.
The Iron Hands Legion of Philus has a mechanical beauty to it—they've always been popular among the Martian sages, sometimes even rivaling the toaster in popularity.
The largest legion, led by Roboute Guilliman Ultramarines, followed meticulously behind; then came the Sanguinius, surrounded by Blood Angel, their white wings fluttering amidst the Golden Armor honor guards of the Sanguinary Guard.
At the very end of the procession stood the glorious, purple-gold perfect warriors, led by Fulgrim.
They fought alongside almost all the Primarch Legions during the Great Crusade, cooperating with them in perfect tactical coordination.
A great legion that disregards fame and fortune in order to achieve its expeditionary goals.
It was thanks to their assistance and coordination that Horus and Philus were able to compete for the position of Warmaster on Ullanor.
At the same time, it was the Primarch's own powerful strength that brought an end to this sibling rivalry.
Fulgrim will be bestowed with a brand new honor, a title never before granted to any of its kind.
A title that will forever bear the mark of her name.
From the moment the parade grounds of Ullanor were illuminated by the starlight until they reached midday, the grand military parade continued.
Meanwhile, in the very center of the palace, which was surrounded by the great Primarch, Emperor, and the Adeptus Custodes, the celebrations were taking place outside.
The moment when Fulgrim was crowned Warmaster was forever captured in the paintings of the greatest artists from all of Terra, and even the entire galaxy.
Amidst the praise and agreement of almost all the Primarch (except Horus!), Fulgrim stepped forward with a smile to receive the golden laurel wreath bestowed upon him by the Emperor.
As for Kasgar, he was standing behind Fulgrim, trailing the gold and red cloak that symbolized the honor of Warmaster.
"You should strive to unite with your brothers and sisters to plan great things together."
"Never let arrogance or spoiling grow."
The Emperor spoke in a booming High Gothic as he placed the golden laurel wreath on Fulgrim's head.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After donning the magnificent golden crown symbolizing the Warmaster, Fulgrim once again took the platinum chain from the Emperor and hung it around his neck, upon which rested a sapphire cut in the shape of the Eye of Terra.
This medal is a symbol of military rank and status.
In this glorious moment, accompanied by Kasgar's wry smile, Fulgrim officially became the Imperium Warmaster who could control everything in the Great Crusade.
"Well, that's fine too. At least I won't have to see the Emperor put the Centaur gold ring on Horus's finger!"
Kasgar consoled himself with this thought.
Although the shift in the timeline was unexpected, sometimes misfortune can turn into a blessing in disguise.
But he didn't expect that Fulgrim's coronation Warmaster would not mean the end of the celebration ceremony.
After the chroniclers had all left satisfied, only Emperor Primarch Adeptus Custodes and Malcador remained during the entire celebration.
Horus.
The Emperor's words were filled with helplessness. "Come forward."
"Huh? Me?"
Horus stepped forward, somewhat bewildered.
He had been worried that the Emperor might give his Centaur gold ring, which he had treasured for countless years, to Fulgrim as a gift from the Warmaster.
If that's really the case, then he'll literally spin into the sky and explode on the spot.
But now, after completing the coronation ceremony of Fulgrim, the Emperor has turned to himself. Does this mean...?
Could it be that—?
The Emperor sighed.
"This is a reward for your two hundred years of glory and diligence."
He reached out and removed Horus's left-hand armor, pulling out the ancient gold ring he had hidden in his palm.
The Golden Centaur design on the ring has not deteriorated with age; it remains lifelike.
Then, the Emperor placed it on the little finger of Horus's left hand, who was speechless with shock and emotion.
Horus had longed for the Centaur gold ring for countless years.
Can he refuse to give it to him?
The Emperor had long understood Horus's character perfectly.
If they don't give it to us, we'll Horus Heresy!
"Philus, I have deciphered the Dark Age technology we discussed last time, and I have already transferred its data to your Iron Fist array."
"Magnus, this book."
Unlike the glorious and solemn coronation ceremony just now, it was as if a father was distributing long-awaited Christmas gifts to his children, and each Primarch received his own share.
It's like a kind old father who, after the real expedition has ended, has put down all his burdens and is giving gifts to his children.
As the Emperor reluctantly bestowed gifts upon the Primarch, Malcador, standing beside him, grinned from ear to ear, his wrinkled face crinkling into amusement, seemingly enjoying the lively moment.
If anyone was unhappy about this, it would most likely be Constantine Valdor, the Captain-General standing behind the Emperor. His expression was somewhat subtle; he seemed to be trying to appear happy, but the occasional hints of dissatisfaction at the corners of his mouth revealed his inner envy.
"Father, how could you really give the Centaur gold ring to Horus?"
"Lunar Wolves's hysteria will probably get worse in the future, sigh."
"Fulgrim, I remember you should have the most powerful team of Apothecary, do you think you could—"
Kasgar was still dragging Fulgrim's cloak behind him, watching the Primarch laughing and joking with each other after receiving their gifts.
The most jokes are about Horus's Centaur gold ring.
But the latter didn't seem to care, maintaining that simple and honest smile no matter what the other person said.
Joke!
What does having Centaur gold ring signify?
This shows that he is the Emperor's most cherished son. Even though I disappointed the Emperor in the Battle of Ullanor just now, he was still willing to give me the Centaur gold ring!
They're not even going to act anymore!
Given the current situation, who cares whether he's Warmaster or not?
Hehe. Hehehe
In short, Horus was in high spirits.
This is hardly a coronation ceremony for Fulgrim!
Isn't this clearly a wedding ceremony with Horus?
"Well"
"Well."
Kasgar laughed out loud at Horus's drooling expression.
Perhaps the world has indeed undergone a tiny change because of his efforts.
Kasgar thought to himself, especially as he looked at the bald-headed Angron whose head no longer bore the Butcher's Nails.
At this moment, he seemed to be infected by the joyful atmosphere around him and also became happy.
Not much, but at least there has been some real change.
"Perhaps this is the best moment of the Great Crusade."
Although no one recorded this moment through painting or video, in Kasgar's heart, this scene was far more memorable than the moment when Fulgrim was crowned Warmaster.
Perhaps it's all too beautiful to be real, but for now, let's enjoy this moment of peace.
Several days later.
Night fell over Ullanor, but the feast of victory continued.
The ships in the sky shimmered like jewels, and in the center of several fireworks displays in the square below, the sound waves of soldiers' chorus swept back and forth like ocean waves.
At this moment, humans and the Superman Astartes felt both celebratory joy and shared sorrow. They cheered for the Emperor and his newly appointed Supreme Commander of the Imperial Army, and grieved for the Emperor's impending departure from the Great Crusade to return to Terra to continue his work.
From this point on, the great Emperor will be far removed from them.
The soldiers will have to rely on their own strength to complete the Great Crusade.
Their drunken, carefree songs echoed far and wide in the silent night of Ullanor.
As the celebration drew to a close, the Pride of the Emperor had moved to a distant orbit.
Before long, the Emperor will lead his flagship away, never to return to the galactic expeditions. He will return to the Solar System, while the rest will go on to continue the expeditions.
As the revelry drew to a close, a long-forgotten and unbearable sadness welled up in Kasgar's heart.
It's like that feeling of frustration when you lie in bed on a Sunday night, wondering why the weekend is over so quickly and why tomorrow is Monday.
As Kasgar looked down at the people still reveling in the afterglow of victory, Kasgar sat quietly on the lawn on the hillside behind the arched castle, lost in thought.
Will this place—no, I should say the Imperium of Man— remain as peaceful as it is now in the future?
Especially since the inevitable Horus Heresy was about to begin.
Kasgar does not believe in fate—he has broken the shackles of fate before, whether on Curze's home planet or facing Khorne Brass Lord, with Angron. Kasgar proved with his actions that fate is not unchangeable.
But the deep-seated worries in my heart will not lessen as a result.
This is Warmaster!
The title of Warmaster, which had once betrayed the Emperor and once betrayed him, fell to Fulgrim by some strange twist of fate.
He was betrayed by Oll Persson, and betrayed by the Lord of the Second Legion.
When the Great Crusade comes to an end and all those monsters and demons of the Warp unleash their power, will he be able to protect them with his current strength?
He was somewhat worried.
If Fulgrim were to suffer the same fate as the Warmaster, being forced to endure the same fate as the Four Gods, how would he be able to rescue her?
Etc--
Kasgar had a very serious question on his mind.
If Fulgrim were to become the Imperium Warmaster, then as the Sons of the Emperor, he would be the Chief Lord Commander after the Primarch.
"Then wouldn't I become Abaddon?!"
Kasgar felt the top of his head getting pointed.
"Kasgar!"
At that moment, he heard a call from behind.
That was the Phoenix Lord, Man of Radiance, the Purple Court Golden Phoenix —and now, of course, she was also the female Primarch with the title of Imperium Warmaster.
Fulgrim.
"I've been looking for you for a long time!"
Seeing that he wasn't carrying any communication devices, the new Warmaster was now looking at him with a mixture of curiosity and delight.
"Great Warmaster General, you finally have some free time?"
Kasgar said with a smile.
"Don't even mention it," Fulgrim said, scratching his head in frustration. "I haven't had a single happy day since I took on the role of Warmaster."
Managing the entire legion was already a huge headache, and now she has to coordinate and command almost all of the Expeditionary Fleet. This is no easy task, especially since her orders sometimes involve the lives of hundreds of billions of people.
If not handled properly, it could lead to unimaginable consequences for her.
Then look at Horus, who had fought tooth and nail for the position of Warmaster.
Now he's happily taking his Lunar Wolves on a joyful vacation to a new star system!
She was left to handle all matters, large and small, during the expedition, along with Fulgrim and the Sons of the Emperor.
It's really unfair.
There were only two moments that brought Fulgrim joy after he had taken on the role of the Imperium Warmaster.
The first is the moment she was officially crowned.
Secondly, it was the moment she stepped down.
"Hey, it's alright, it's alright." Kasgar smiled and hugged her tightly. "I'll handle the affairs within the legion for you. You just need to focus on being Warmaster."
"Um."
"Kasgar, let me take a puff to perk you up."
In Kasgar's embrace, Fulgrim turned and hugged him tightly in return.
"Why do you seem so gloomy? We should be happy to see our hard-earned Imperium of Man getting better every day."
"Kasgar, did you foresee something?"
No. That's the real problem.
"I can't see a future."
Kasgar's last words seemed to have a hidden meaning.
It is precisely because he could not predict anything that he now feels extremely lost.
He was already used to a future that could be predicted.
"Rest assured, any difficulties and dangers will be easily resolved under the great Imperium Warmaster Fulgrim!"
She sat down next to Kasgar with a smile, her head resting gently on his shoulder.
"Trust me, Kasgar."
She whispered, "Whether you see a terrible future or not, I will take care of it for you."
After the air in Ullanor was cleaned up by the Adeptus Mechanicus, the sky full of stars twinkled before their eyes.
The starry sky at this moment shines just as brightly as it did over two hundred years ago at Chemos.
At that time, they also faced the same starry sky and made a vow to fly into space in the future.
No matter what dangers we face in the future, we will confront them together.
This is our agreement.
Fulgrim smiled and extended her hand, adorned with Centaur gold ring.
However, the Centaur gold ring that the Warmaster this time was crafted and gifted to him by Kasgar.
"Um."
"Let's pinky swear."