Damn, I'm About to Ascend the Throne!

The human colony planet, Prospero.

In orbit, several Astartes of the Space Wolves Legion were transmitting a message down to the Thousand Sons on Prospero.

"By order of the Emperor, Primarch Magnus von Bilderhofen of the Thousand Sons Legion and all Librarians are to return to Terra immediately."

The message pierced through the clouds, gradually descending upon Tizca, the City of Light on Prospero.

It was a city filled with dazzling silver towers, towering obelisks, and majestic pyramids.

The information surged toward the pyramid of light at the heart of Tizca.

Finally.

Magnus awoke from his meditation, and as he stepped out of his chamber, he saw a group of Thousand Sons Astartes standing outside.

"My sons, you have heard it; this is the Emperor's command." A trace of sorrow flickered across Magnus's brow, and his voice lacked conviction.

"Primarch, we cannot go back!" Ahzek Ahriman stepped forward, standing before Magnus with a troubled expression.

He wore power armor dominated by red, adorned with gold trim and emerald scarabs, and his head was crowned with a headdress resembling that of an Egyptian pharaoh.

Ahzek Ahriman, Chief Librarian of the Thousand Sons and Captain of the First Fellowship. He was also the man with psychic power second only to Magnus within the Thousand Sons.

"Primarch, have you considered what will happen if we return?"

"It is because our warriors have used psychic powers for so long that physical mutations and genetic instability have occurred."

"And what of the Second and Eleventh (Francis's Legion), who suffered from these same changes?"

Faced with Ahriman's questioning, Magnus closed his single eye and pursed his lips slightly. Did he not know?

No, he knew.

He not only knew, but he knew very clearly.

They had been purged by the Space Wolves Legion led by Leman Russ!

Likewise, now that the Space Wolves Legion had arrived here, what did that mean?

Magnus refused to believe that his father, the Emperor, would purge his children—the Thousand Sons.

He loved his father, and he loved his children just as deeply.

To solve the flesh-change caused by psychic powers, Magnus had even paid the price of one of his eyes.

Facing Magnus's avoidance, Ahriman continued, "Therefore, Primarch, you cannot go back!"

"But this is the Emperor's command; we cannot defy it."

"Otherwise, we will be branded as traitors."

Magnus understood all of this, yet he could not make a decision. He could not defy the Emperor's command, but he could not betray his own children either.

"The Emperor's command mentioned not only the Primarch but also the Librarians."

"I will go with them, as long as you, Primarch, remain on Prospero!"

This was the best solution Ahriman could conceive.

"Let us go, Primarch!"

"Let us go, Primarch!"

Magnus looked at the resolute warriors before him, his eyes turning faintly red, his lips trembling.

"Then so be it!"

Ahriman and the others saluted Magnus and walked outside.

As they reached the door, Magnus could not help but say, "No matter what, you must return safely."

Ahriman and the others at the doorway paused for a moment, then continued walking out.

Thus, half of the Librarians of the Thousand Sons left Prospero and boarded the ships bound for Terra.

This was equivalent to removing half of the top combat strength of the Thousand Sons!

One must know that Librarians were superior to standard Librarians and initiate Librarians. They were the elite among the Astartes, the symbols of wisdom and power within the Legion.

"So? You mean to say Magnus and the other half of the powerful psykers didn't come?"

Francis summarized the content of what Leman Russ had just said.

"Uh, that's right!" Leman Russ had not expected that his eleventh brother's comprehension would be so much sharper after waking up.

"So, no matter what you said, they insisted that only they would come."

Francis couldn't help but stroke his chin. Although the situation was special, at least it was better than Magnus making a "phone call" and blowing up the Webway.

Moreover, it seemed that Magnus had not yet foreseen the betrayal of Horus.

In this light, there was plenty of room for him to maneuver!

"Exactly! Even when I proposed that the entire Thousand Sons Legion return to Terra and let the children of the Space Wolves protect Prospero in their stead, they refused! That is why I received Father's order to come and ask you what to do!"

Leman Russ also wanted to know what methods Francis might have.

To think he could earn such great trust from their father.

Francis paced back and forth in the room, deep in thought.

Finally.

He hit upon a good idea—a good way to get himself out.

"Sixth Brother, you should know about the problems facing the Thousand Sons, right?"

Hearing this question, Leman Russ was clearly taken aback, then replied with a hint of guilt.

"I know. They are the Legion most adept at psychic powers. At the same time, they have also manifested varying degrees of flesh-change."

After all, it was for this very reason that he had destroyed Francis's Legion not long ago.

"Exactly, for that reason. Having already destroyed one Legion, they are naturally afraid that they will end up on the same path."

Francis stared straight at him, seizing the moment while the other was still in a state of guilt to quickly propose his plan.

"So! Wouldn't it be enough to just let me out to invite him?"

"When he sees me, he'll think, 'Oh~~ so I was just taken back to Terra by the Emperor to recover from an illness and purge some of the heavily mutated warriors.'"

"Tell me, wouldn't he lower his guard?"

"And if I could even bring members of my own Legion with me, wouldn't it be even easier to succeed?"

At this moment, Leman Russ was still immersed in the guilt of having turned against his own brother, and with Francis's logic sounding perfectly sound, he instinctively said, "That makes sense!"

Suddenly.

Leman Russ snapped back to his senses, his eyes gazing gloomily at Francis as he said, "This is not something I can decide. Only Father can decide!"

"Tsk, so close." Francis felt a pang of regret; he had been just a hair's breadth away from hoodwinking him.

However, at this moment, a benevolent voice echoed in his mind once again.

"Very well. There is currently no way to separate you from the unknown substance."

"However, there will be others accompanying you."

Francis raised an eyebrow, thinking it would be more direct to just say they were monitoring him instead of beating around the bush.

"Father, just me alone seems..."

Before Francis could finish, the Emperor's voice echoed in his mind again.

"The Soul Drinkers Legion still has loyal warriors; they will accompany you as well."

Oh ho!

Francis felt as if ten thousand Gretchin were stampeding in his heart; this was truly fantastic.

Through his unremitting efforts, he had finally achieved freedom of movement!

However, he still had to keep up appearances.

Francis put on a serious expression and said, "I will definitely complete the mission!"

At the same time, Leman Russ seemed to have received some information, looking at Francis in surprise.

"Father said he's letting you out! Wait a moment, someone will come to unlock the psychic barrier for you shortly."

Francis: "..."

Seeing Francis looking at him with disdain, Leman Russ actually blushed, a rare sight, and said, "I... am not very good at psychic powers."

That was true.

Among the twenty Primarchs, not everyone was adept at psychic arts, such as the Primarch of the Space Wolves Legion standing before him.

If those who drew power from the Warp were like mages who violated the laws of physics, then Leman Russ was a pure, unadulterated melee warrior. With those bulging muscles, Francis even felt that the other's psychic power was just muscle enhancement!

Meanwhile.

On Prospero, Magnus had a dream while in meditation.

He saw himself sitting upon a massive golden throne, surrounded by Adeptus Custodes clad in golden power armor.

Magnus woke up with a start, cold sweat beading on his forehead, his eyes darting around as he muttered, "I usurped the throne? That can't be!"

"Could it be that Father is abdicating to me?"

"That's not right! What about Horus?"

"He is Father's most beloved son!"

Just as Magnus was puzzled by the meaning of this prophecy and prepared to use his psychic powers to contact his father, the psychic energy in his hands suddenly came to a halt.