Before coming here, Malcador had imagined the Emperor's current appearance countless times.
He knew that after holding up the Imperium for ten thousand years, the Emperor could not have had it easy.
After all, he himself had once sat upon that golden toilet for only a few days, and the price had been his permanent disappearance. Even now, the agony of having psychic power forcibly drained from him still terrified him.
Yet the Emperor had sat upon the Golden Throne for a full ten thousand years.
The pain the Emperor had endured over those ten thousand years was something Malcador could never imagine.
And now, the Emperor was still bearing that pain, with no idea how many more years he would have to endure it.
Behind the Emperor stood the Golden Throne, this trap of Chaos.
The Golden Throne was based on the Webway technology the Emperor had once researched. Once successful, humanity's ships could avoid the dangers of the Warp and travel directly through the Webway. The Imperium would not encounter so much Chaos, and the speed of Imperial expeditions and regional responses would increase countless times over.
However, Magnus's psychic message had directly shattered the Webway, forcing the Emperor to sit upon the Golden Throne.
In truth, there had still been a chance to salvage the situation.
If they could bring Magnus over and have him sit upon the Golden Throne again, the Emperor had the ability to ensure Magnus would not die, even to preserve his physical health.
But those Chapters that had conflicts with Magnus slaughtered the Thousand Sons on a massive scale, driving Magnus into rebellion. Thus, the Imperium completely lost its chance.
They could only have Malcador sit upon the Golden Throne, while the Emperor and Horus went to their final battle.
After that