Should I Go Erase the Second Primarch?

"..." Axis.

Are you kidding me! I just woke up and opened my eyes, and the first mission you give me is to take out a Primarch—and the mysterious Second Primarch at that!

Axis could feel the immense power within his current body, but at this moment, even standing up was a struggle.

His brain felt completely out of sync with his physique. Although he had remained conscious and studied various subjects within the virtual space, his physical body in reality had been in a deep slumber for a full twenty-four years.

Axis felt that he would need at least a period of rehabilitation training to regain his mobility and master his current form.

"Emperor! Could we perhaps reconsider this matter?" Malcador, standing to the side, coughed softly and spoke.

Axis had only just awakened, and to have him carry out such a daunting task—the erasure of a Primarch—felt slightly inappropriate to Malcador.

However, he also knew that the Emperor was currently in a fit of rage; otherwise, he wouldn't have decided to dispatch Axis without consulting him first.

The Rangdan xenos had truly provoked the Emperor, inciting the wrath of the Master of Mankind.

"Emperor! Are the Primarchs not your sons? Why would you want to kill your own son?" Axis asked.

At this moment, Axis's voice was no longer the delicate tone of a child, but the deep, resonant voice of an adult.

"The Second Primarch has betrayed the Imperium and betrayed us, humanity. Therefore, he must be eliminated. This is the first mission I have entrusted to you, and I expect you to complete it perfectly. As an Adeptus Custodes, you are to obey orders, not question them," the Emperor stated.

There was, naturally, a reason for sending Axis; this was a perfect opportunity to test his combat prowess. According to the Emperor's estimations, Axis's potential had increased significantly following the completion of his augmentations, and his lifespan had broken through its limits, reaching the level of a Primarch.

The addition of various superhuman organs would grant him immense durability and blistering speed. Beyond that, Axis's combat power had increased by at least twenty-fold.

Using that power known as ki, killing a Primarch who had not yet awakened his Warp essence would be incredibly easy. This battle should be devoid of any suspense.

Axis found this rather strange. In the original timeline, the disappearance of the Second and Eleventh Primarchs was officially shrouded in ambiguity, often hinted to be related to his "cheap" father, the Wolf King. So, the Emperor wasn't planning to send his father to purge the target, but was sending him instead?

"Since it is the Emperor's command, I shall obey," Axis replied.

Axis had wanted to ask why he couldn't return to the Wolf Legion. Back then, Russ had made an agreement with the Emperor that once he finished his modifications, he would head to his Legion to join the Great Crusade. Being sent to execute the Second Primarch instead—what kind of situation was this?

But after a moment of thought, Axis decided not to ask. Emperor was currently in a foul mood; some things were better left unsaid.

"Every mission you execute this time will not be recorded; it is a secret mission of the Adeptus Custodes," the Emperor said.

Axis nodded, signaling his understanding.

"Emperor, Axis has only just awakened and needs time to adapt to his body. I fear there may not be enough time," Malcador said.

"I am giving Axis one month to adapt to his body. The voyage from Holy Terra to the target planet requires two months of travel through the Warp. He can adapt to his body on the spaceship; there is plenty of time," the Emperor replied.

He had calculated everything. Three months was enough for Axis to reach the Second Primarch.

"For this mission, who will be accompanying me? Other Adeptus Custodes?" Axis asked.

"No! I will arrange a special Imperial spaceship to transport you, but you will be the only combatant. You are to go alone to eliminate the Second Primarch, and all of his genetic progeny within his Legion must also be erased," the Emperor commanded.

"..." Axis.

You really think highly of me, you old geezer. I don't even know what my current combat power is, but if it can break ten thousand, this mission should be relatively easy.

I don't know what kind of grave error this Second Primarch committed, but besides purging him, I have to wipe out his genetic progeny as well!

"Malcador will explain the mission details to you. Prepare to depart in one month!" Having said this, the Emperor turned and left the laboratory without looking back, offering no further explanation to Axis.

Axis could clearly sense that the Emperor was exceptionally stern today, perhaps even cold.

"Teacher, the Emperor is acting a bit strange today!" Axis turned to look at his teacher, Malcador.

"He is in a foul mood. The matter of the Second Primarch has dealt him a heavy blow," Malcador said.

There was a fifty-percent chance that any Primarch might betray the Emperor, so theoretically, out of twenty Primarchs, ten or even more could turn traitor. Emperor had prepared for this, but he had not expected the day to come so soon—and it wasn't even due to Warp corruption!

It was the special abilities of another xenos race that had put the Emperor in such a foul state.

"Teacher, what exactly is the situation with the Second Primarch? Why did he betray the Imperium?" Axis asked.

"This matter begins with the Rangdan xenos. These creatures possess a form of mental control. They relied on this method to forcibly dominate the Second Primarch, compelling him to obey their commands and controlling many Space Marines as well," Malcador explained.

"If that is the case, wouldn't it be better if I just captured the Second Primarch alive and broke his mental control?" Axis suggested.

"It is not as simple as you think. The Imperium has been at war with the Rangdan for a year now. During this time, we have rescued some human soldiers controlled by their special means, only to discover that it is something even more terrifying than the Butcher's Nails. Once they are controlled, there is basically no escape—save for death!"

"If the Second Primarch hadn't been beyond saving, Emperor would never have ordered his erasure," Malcador said.

"Master! The Second Primarch betrayed Emperor, but must all of his gene-sons be wiped out as well?" Axis asked.

He could obey Emperor's commands, but he would not act as a mindless executioner.

Axis had intended to head to the Wolf Legion; it was one thing to be an executioner alongside the rest of the Wolf Legion, but it was quite another to do it alone.

"Axis, there are some things you are better off not knowing," Malcador said with a sigh.