He Called Him Father
"Father."
Voldus eventually called him that.
He called out hesitantly, unsure of himself, but the word that rolled out from between his teeth was still clearly heard in every inch of the cell.
After he finished speaking, his tense shoulders suddenly relaxed, and a sense of relief welled up in his heart, as if an invisible mountain that had weighed on him for seven hundred years had been lifted off his shoulders.
Magnus was stunned.
It's not just that offspring resonate with their Gene-Father on a bloodline level; Gene-Father, who have endless affection for their offspring, can also feel their children's calls across time and space.
Magnus had not experienced such a sensation for nearly ten thousand years.
That warm current exploded from the depths of his soul, flowing through his veins and throughout his body, making his already red eyes even more moist.
"Thank you... my child... thank you."
Magnus's voice was choked with barely suppressed sobs as he slowly stood up from under Guilliman. Guilliman didn't stop him, but simply took a half-step back with his leg crossed, watching the scene with amusement.
The Emperor continued to watch silently, the golden Psionic Energy avatar remaining completely still.
Magnus walked step by step to Voldus, and then, to the latter's astonishment, he slowly bent his knees.
Just as ten thousand years ago, Sanguinius knelt on one knee before his offspring.
Magnus had despised Sanguinius's actions countless times in his heart.
He also loved his children, with a passionate and pure love, but he always believed that a father should have the dignity of a father, and that kneeling before his children was a disgrace to his Primarch dignity.
But at this moment, he genuinely understood and even respected that deceased angel.
He could hardly imagine the extent of Sanguinius' tolerance and love that led him to bow his head before his own child.
Because his kneeling was an expression of guilt and remorse accumulated over millennia, a belated redemption and repentance;
Sanguinius's kneeling was purely out of his father's noblest and most selfless love.
"I've done so many wrong things, child... I've made far too many mistakes."
Magnus's voice was deep and hoarse, each word seeming to be ground out of his throat:
I am not even qualified to be your father, let alone call you my child.
But I want to make amends... Thank you for giving me this opportunity to do so.
"In this world, the people I have wronged the most are first my father, then the entire Imperium of Man, and then... you."
He looked up, his bloodshot eyes reflecting Voldus's bewildered face. "Although I only just found out about this, I already regret it immensely."
I failed to fulfill my responsibilities as the Gene-Father. I should have led you to fight bravely against the enemy and brought hope to humanity.
But all of this must be done by you alone, and it will take you ten thousand years.
This is my fault... Thank you for giving me this chance to atone."
Voldus remained silent.
The fact that he could call this "traitor" "father" was already the result of being pushed to the limit by the combined impact of a century of doctrine, blood ties, and the dual impact of Guilliman and the Emperor.
He felt a long-lost sense of embarrassment, standing there helplessly, not even knowing where to put his fingertips.
Magnus did not continue to torment his child.
He knew all too well the struggle behind that silence, and he understood that he had no right to ask for more.
He slowly turned around, facing the direction of the Emperor and Guilliman, and slammed his knees heavily onto the cold alloy floor with a dull thud.
"Father, brothers."
His voice was solemn like never before. "I declare once again that I am willing to atone for the sins of the Imperium, with the rest of my life, with everything I have!"
He knelt down willingly.
The former Lord of Dawn, the incomparably arrogant Red Demon, has now completely abandoned all pride and prejudice, and bowed his head from the bottom of his heart.
In a true sense, he held himself to the standards of a subject and held himself to the stern scrutiny of a criminal.
"For the rest of my life, everything I think, do, and act will be for the Imperium, for humanity, and to atone for the sins I have committed!"
The Emperor remained standing there silently, his golden figure appearing like an emotionless sculpture in the Psionic Energy light of the cell.
Guilliman's brows furrowed instantly, and he muttered a curse:
"Damn it, the fact that Xiao Ma is kneeling down to you and speaking to you obediently is already the result of my desperate efforts!"
What are you doing standing there so smugly, you son of a bitch?
Before he finished speaking, Guilliman had already rushed forward and delivered a precise kick to the side of the Emperor's golden statue.
The Emperor grunted, his golden Psionic Energy staggering several steps, almost falling to the ground, staring at Guilliman in astonishment.
No, buddy?
"I forgive your sins once again. Get up, my brother."
Guilliman completely ignored the Emperor's shock, raised his chin at Magnus, and said in an undeniably domineering tone, "We won't repeat the mistakes you made before."
Wasn't there a saying that used to circulate?
Things shouldn't happen more than three times; this is only the first time.
I, the next agent of the Imperium, the next leader of humanity, unilaterally forgive you.
After saying that, he suddenly turned to look at the Emperor, his eyes almost radiating threat. "Old Deng, you don't want me to become a traitor too, do you?"
If you disagree with this, you're disrespecting me, and then I'll have no choice but to become a rebel.
"Don't try to portray rebellion in such a virtuous and sophisticated way!"
The Emperor frowned, his Psionic Energy fluctuations carrying a hint of exasperation, but in the end he nodded helplessly.
What else can we do?
They're all my sons, so I'll spoil them.
It was a huge effort to pull out such a legendary SSR from the "guaranteed pool" of twenty Primarch.
In this crumbling Imperium, only one person could single-handedly sweep away millennia of dust and raise the banner of human revival once more.
Deep within the Warp, in Khorne's blood-soaked palace, came the Warmaster's heart-wrenching screams:
"No! Zhanzi! My Zhanzi!"
Tzeentch's enigmatic Whisper also carried a deep sense of regret:
"Little Horse, Little Horse~ Why did you turn around like that?"
"Spend the rest of your life atoning for your sins."
The Emperor's voice finally rang out, still majestic and calm, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, as if he were issuing an Imperium decree.
"Then I'll assign you a specific position."
Guilliman immediately chimed in, a calculating smile playing on his lips, "How about going back to the Grey Knights as a Primarch?"
Or I can arrange something else for you.
My guess is that the Imperium should still have some of your genetic offspring.
I can take you there.
He knows it inside and out.
That "dirty-handed" Chapter is most likely Magnus's son.
Tell me, whose Chapter's Battlecry is "For the Knowledge"?
Moreover, the number of Psyker is outrageous, and their Chapter paint schemes bear a striking resemblance to the Thousand Sons from ten thousand years ago. Who else could they be but Magnus's offspring?
It's a pity, though, that it's become somewhat "mutated".
He even developed a habit of petty theft.
Guilliman was furious when he recalled Calgar's report.
These guys even steal from Ultramarines!
The fallen soldiers, they just ripped off their Power Armour, sprayed it with red paint, and dared to claim it was their own!
They even dared to paint the Dreadnought red, insisting it was their elder.
When facing the Blood Angels, there's no need to pretend anymore!
Even though the Power Armour were similar in color, they dared to grab onto a Blood Angels's Power Armour and solemnly declare that it was theirs!
This infuriated a Blood Angels so much that he almost unleashed both Black Rage and Red Thirst simultaneously!
He was later taken to a meditation room and meditated for several days and nights before he recovered.