Heaven's Decree Made Manifest

The land of Baal was ravaged, and the smoke and blood had not yet completely dissipated.

But a complex atmosphere of relief, a mixture of grief and hope, began to permeate this ancient homeland.

The Blood Angels began collecting the remains of their fallen comrades and healing the wounded, while the Ultramarines assisted in clearing out the last remaining Tyranids and establishing a temporary defensive line.

In a relatively tidy area that was temporarily designated.

Dante, the Chapter Master the Blood Angels, dragged his still exhausted body, though he had regained some strength thanks to the "Sea Overlord Paste".

In an attempt to pay the highest tribute, on behalf of all the surviving guardians of Baal, to the Lord Regent who descended and turned the tide of the war.

He struggled to stand up and bow in a manner befitting Imperium etiquette and the supreme ruler—even though the action would aggravate his numerous injuries.

However, a gentle, calm, yet authoritative voice emerged.

Like a gentle yet irresistible tide, it resonated directly in his mind, and seemed to gently vibrate throughout the world:

"There's no need to stand up, Dante."

Guilliman's voice came through clearly, his tone carrying the understanding of an elder for a weary junior, but on a deeper level, it was a natural sense of control belonging to a king.

"If you kneel down in front of me..."

Guilliman paused, a barely perceptible, almost mocking seriousness creeping into his voice, "I'm afraid I won't be able to face my brother later."

This sound is not merely received through hearing; it seems to act directly on the soul, carrying a strange sense of peace and comfort.

It was not a simple Psionic Energy soothing, but rather a power originating from something deeper and more essential.

That is the pure and fervent human faith and expectation accumulated over time by the millions of people in the Five Hundred Worlds of Ultramar, and even more Imperium subjects who have heard of his return.

Through the unconscious tempering and bearing of Guilliman's unique Lesser God status, a second layer of divine essence, uniquely his own, was shaped—

The embodiment of "hope" and "order".

At this moment, Guilliman could do so without even using his Psionic Energy or atomic authority, if he so desired.

This naturally radiant personal aura and the brilliance of his beliefs alone are enough to reach or even surpass the level of influence and persuasiveness displayed by Emperor who once walked among mortals!

For humanity, which has suffered greatly and yearns for light and strong leaders.

Regardless of age or gender, Robert Guilliman at this moment is practically a walking symbol of ultimate trust, capable of directly igniting the fire in one's soul.

It's practically a walking aphrodisiac for everyone!

Enveloped by the gentle power contained in the voice, Dante involuntarily relaxed his tense muscles and abandoned his intention to rise and kneel.

He bowed his head respectfully, his heart filled with sincere admiration and awe.

Thank you for your understanding, sir!

He truly thought so.

This Primarch of the Ultramarines, the only remaining Primarch of the Imperium, the Emperor's undisputed rightful heir... how great he was!

This is not just about strength, but also about magnanimity and breadth of mind!

A thought naturally arose: this must be the Emperor's favor and guidance...

Otherwise, after ten thousand years of darkness following the Horus Heresy and the successive falls or disappearances of the Primarch.

How could such a near-perfect Primarch have survived to this day, and now return at this moment?

If... if our Primarch, Lord Sanguinius, were still alive...

He will surely treat his offspring and all loyal humans with the same kindness and compassion as Lord Guilliman...

Thinking of this, Dante felt a deep sense of regret and sorrow.

Only he, and a few extremely ancient Blood Angels, had the privilege of "seeing" a vague image of the Primarch in records or legends.

The vast majority of brothers in the Chapter never saw the face of the Gene-Father in their lifetime, and could only feel that distant holiness through the throbbing in their blood and the Chapter's relics.

He looked up at Guilliman and said apologetically, "Lord Guilliman, I'm sorry... I'm afraid you won't be able to see the Primarch of Sanguinius's Primarch in person."

The Primarch body... has been permanently sealed away by us in the most sacred manner.

That coffin... won't open, and... can't be opened."

He naturally assumed that Guilliman had come to the core holy site of Baal to pay homage to or mourn his brother's remains.

Dante smiled bitterly to himself; Lord Sanguinius ' body had already been placed in the coffin, and all that was left was the sauce.

How can I show this to others? And how can I open it?

"Hahahaha--!!!"

Dante was met with a loud, cheerful laugh, brimming with unparalleled confidence and a sense of "revealing the mystery"!

The laughter was not mockery, but rather the joy of seeing a long-awaited scene about to come true.

It pierced through the hushed conversations of the crowd and the echoes of the battlefield, reverberating in the shattered valleys and temples of Baal.

Guilliman laughed, his gaze sharp as he swept over the bewildered Dante and the group of Blood Angels. His voice suddenly rose, carrying the unwavering certainty of announcing a truth:

"I will not do anything so disrespectful as merely paying my respects to the deceased!"

I said it before—today, I will see my brother!

And you will see your father!

He took a step forward, his imposing presence rising like a mountain:

"Now that I've said it, it must be reality!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Guilliman suddenly raised one arm towards the sky and extended his index finger.

It pointed straight at the sky above Baal, which was dyed an eerie and magnificent red by smoke, radioactive dust, and the faint afterglow of Psionic Energy!

"Look at the sky, for it will bear witness now!"

He will return!

Just like the unstoppable rotation of the heavens themselves!

He will become my most capable and outstanding brother!

He will stand shoulder to shoulder with me, leading human civilization back into that long-lost, true Golden Age!

"This statement has been made, and the world bears witness!"

The last six words, like a heavy divine hammer, struck the laws of the Realspace!

"Buzz--!!!"

An indescribable sense of vibration, originating from the very foundation of existence, spread silently yet with unparalleled clarity from Guilliman's center!

That wasn't a surge of Warp Psionic Energy, nor an explosion of physical energy.

Rather, it was the entire Material Universe itself that seemed to be responding to the solemn declaration of its newly ascended "god," creating ripples of recognition at the level of rules!

Dante, and all those present with a certain level of sensitivity, whether they were Blood Angels or Ultramarines, clearly sensed this change.

That was a deeper, more fundamental "change".