Custom Reinforcement, Adeptus Custodes!

"Child! Your strength is formidable. Even the Primarchs I created did not possess your current power in their youth. Your existence fills me with wonder.

You may not grasp how extraordinary the Primarchs I created are, but I can tell you that they represent the pinnacle of humanity in every conceivable aspect. Yet, you are able to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them in combat prowess, or even surpass them. This is truly rare." Emperor crouched before Axis and spoke.

"Thank you for the praise!" Axis replied.

Axis did not deny this. If there was one thing a Saiyan could bring to the table, it was combat power—it was absolutely top-tier!

However, beyond raw combat ability, he really couldn't compare to the Primarchs in other areas. Even when it came to natural aging, the eldest Primarch, Lion El'Jonson, only had graying hair after ten thousand years.

And Vulkan, the Lord of Drakes, possessed the constitution of a Perpetual; theoretically, as long as his soul remained intact, he could be reborn infinitely.

Every Primarch was irreplaceable, for the materials used to create them were derived from shards of minor gods from the Warp—they were the Emperor's perfect masterpieces.

"That is why I intend to provide you with a custom-tailored genetic enhancement surgery. I will perform a comprehensive genetic reinforcement on you without compromising your original genes," the Emperor stated.

Axis's current combat power was already on par with, or even slightly stronger than, a Primarch of his age. If he were to fully mature, his future would be limitless.

Moreover, his genes were highly unique. After only a brief observation, the Emperor had discerned some clues: implanting gene-seeds into this boy to turn him into a mass-produced Astartes would do nothing to aid his growth.

On the contrary, it would destroy his future plasticity and significantly diminish his combat potential.

His inherent genetic strength far exceeded that of a standard Astartes, so what this child required was a bespoke genetic enhancement procedure.

The Adeptus Custodes were his future. Emperor decided to personally oversee a custom-tailored set of genetic enhancements for Axis.

"I have high hopes for your future. I will make you an Adeptus Custodes. You may not know what the Adeptus Custodes represent, so let me put it this way: in terms of raw physical power, aside from myself and the Primarchs, the Adeptus Custodes are the most powerful—there is no 'one of' about it. And every single enhancement surgery for an Adeptus Custodes is custom-tailored," the Emperor said with a look of pride.

The Astartes were merely mass-produced soldiers; in his heart, the most perfect form of humanity was, in fact, the Adeptus Custodes.

By his estimation, once Axis reached adulthood, his combat power should be able to rival the Primarchs. If he underwent the Adeptus Custodes transformation, his power would skyrocket!

Emperor did not intend to train Axis merely as a common Adeptus Custodes or a Shield-Captain; he envisioned a future where his Adeptus Custodes included someone capable of suppressing a Primarch. He was grooming him to be Valdor's successor, the next Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes.

Emperor's gaze toward Axis grew fervent, as if he were looking at a future commander of the Adeptus Custodes, a Grand Master whose combat prowess could transcend that of the Primarchs.

Holy crap! I didn't expect to have no connection to the Astartes, but my enhancement is actually to become an Adeptus Custodes!

These guys were the ceiling of combat power in the Warhammer universe. Furthermore, the Adeptus Custodes didn't have other genes or foreign objects implanted; they refined their own existing genes.

Saiyan genes were incredibly strong. Enhancing them would effectively elevate Axis's potential.

And in terms of lifespan alone, the Adeptus Custodes were far superior to the Space Marines. This was a massive win; the Adeptus Custodes were a perfect fit for him.

"Are these Adeptus Custodes much stronger than the Space Marines? If so, why not mass-produce them?" Leman Russ asked, rubbing his chin.

Listening to his cheapskate father's description, the Adeptus Custodes sounded incredibly powerful! If that were the case, why not mass-produce them instead of the Space Marines?

"They are my most perfect masterpieces. Also known as the Legio Custodes, they are the most powerful combat force in the entire Empire, bar none. The cost of creating each one is equivalent to thousands of Space Marines. Ten thousand is already the limit, so it is impossible to mass-produce them like the Space Marines," the Emperor explained.

Every Adeptus Custodes was raised from childhood, not to mention the cost of their bespoke genetic enhancement surgeries.

The later stages of training, as well as their armor and weaponry, were incomparable to those of the Space Marines. Take their power armor, for example.

The power armor of the Adeptus Custodes was not forged from ceramite or adamantium; the armor of every Adeptus Custodes was made of the even more formidable Auramite.

Auramite was a metal that was completely inert at the quantum level, possessing extremely high resistance to psychic powers and other forms of energy. His own weapons and armor were crafted from this very material.

Not to mention their other weapons and equipment; the value of a single set of armor was equivalent to that of an entire world.

"I see, I understand. In other words, one Adeptus Custodes is ridiculously expensive, right?" Leman Russ remarked.

The Adeptus Custodes were indeed more perfect than the Astartes. This little wolf cub undergoing the Adeptus Custodes surgery was the best possible outcome.

"The two are simply incomparable. Enough! Go and consolidate your tribe. I have prepared several transport shuttles for you. My flagship is currently stationed in orbit above your planet. Come see me once you are ready. I have also prepared a Gloriana-class Battleship for you to serve as your flagship," the Emperor said.

The Adeptus Custodes were his pride, while the Space Marines were merely a mass-produced, weakened, and stabilized version of the Thunder Warriors!

Comparing the Astartes to the Adeptus Custodes was an insult. The combat power of an Astartes could never exceed that of an Adeptus Custodes, and the Adeptus Custodes possessed unimaginable combat techniques; every one of them was a master of battle strategy.

The Adeptus Custodes could fight individually, in coordination, or command entire legions; they possessed almost every advantage.

The only thing the Astartes had over the Adeptus Custodes was the technology for mass production. The Adeptus Custodes represented not just power, but the legitimacy of the Empire itself.

Leman Russ had regained his strength by now. He climbed up from the ground, nodded at the Emperor, and left with Axis, the two wolf brothers following closely behind him.

"Russ, even after I undergo the Adeptus Custodes transformation, I will still recognize you as my adoptive father. Once I complete my training and transformation, I will return to join you in the Great Crusade," Axis said.

The battlefield was the true home of a Saiyan. Even as an Adeptus Custodes, he had no intention of spending his days hovering around the Emperor or hiding away on Holy Terra.