Tower of Eternity

Beside the Tower of Eternity is the enormous Solar Forum.

That was the location of the Imperial Parliament, the place where the Destiny of humanity was decided.

The building of the council chamber is circular, symbolizing equality and unity.

The dome is inlaid with countless gems, forming a star map of the Milky Way.

Whenever the council convenes, the gems glow, bathing the entire chamber in starlight.

Closer still, there is the famous Emperor's Gate.

That is the main gate of the palace, a sacred place in the hearts of countless pilgrims.

The gate is 100 meters high and is made of pure gold. Its surface is engraved with magnificent scenes of Emperor' expeditions to the Milky Way.

Two Adeptus Custodes always stood in the square in front of the gate, their golden armor gleaming like statues in the sunlight.

Passing through the Emperor's Gate, you enter the core area of the Imperial Palace.

There are the residences of Emperor, the palaces of the Primarch, and the locations of countless secret departments.

The buildings varied in style—some were solemn, some were ornate, some were simple, and some were eccentric—but they all exuded the same ancient and majestic aura.

Deepest within lies the sacred temple where the Golden Throne resides.

That is the most sacred place in the Imperium of Man, the place where Emperor sat in meditation for thousands of years, and the ultimate goal of all pilgrims.

The grand hall soared into the clouds, its entire structure cast in gold, and shone like a burning mountain in the sunlight.

Lion gazed at the grand hall, remaining silent for a long time.

Guilliman stood beside him and said softly:

"My father is right there."

Lion nodded.

"I know."

He said there was a complex emotion in that voice:

I'll go see him soon.

The floats finally arrived at the main gate of the palace.

Lion stepped off the float and onto the golden square.

Before him stood the Emperor's Gate.

Behind him, there was a chorus of cheers.

His heart was filled with endless complex emotions.

He took a deep breath and strode into the room.

Passing through long corridors, past countless rows of Adeptus Custodes, through layers upon layers of palaces—

He finally arrived at the inner sanctum.

There, several figures were waiting.

Angron.

Magnus.

Sanguinius.

Malcador.

And then there's Guilliman —he'd somehow gotten to the front and was now standing among his brothers, smiling at Lion.

Lion's gaze immediately fell on Angron.

That crazed warrior once tormented by the Butcher's Nails, that Khorne Primarch once slaughtered on the battlefield, that—now the Lord of the Red Sands.

The madness was gone from his eyes.

Instead, there is a peaceful, almost gentle light.

Lion looked at him, and many things came to mind.

I think back to the days ten thousand years ago when they fought side by side.

I recalled the pained and crazed look in Angron's eyes after he was controlled by Butcher's Nails.

I think of that former gladiator, how Destiny tormented him into a beast.

He knew it wasn't Angron's fault.

The Butcher's Nails, even he admitted—was something that brought too much torment to people.

Anyone controlled by that thing will go insane.

It's a miracle that Angron has lasted this long.

Lion strode towards Angron.

Angron watched him approach, a slight smile playing on his lips, as if preparing to say something.

Then, Lion's fist slammed into his face.

The force of that punch sent Angron flying, crashing heavily into a pillar behind him and cracking the massive stone pillar.

Everyone was stunned.

Angron slid down from the pillar, rubbed his chin which had been knocked askew, and looked at Lion.

Lion stood in front of him, looking down at him.

"After this punch--"

Lion's voice was deep, yet it echoed throughout the inner sanctuary:

You are still my brother.

Angron paused for a moment.

Then he smiled.

That smile contained relief, gratitude, and a touch of warmth.

Thanks, bro.

He said.

Lion reached out and pulled him up from the ground.

The two looked at each other and nodded simultaneously.

That look held a thousand words, yet needed no words.

Then, Lion's gaze fell on Magnus.

At that moment, his eyes changed.

It became cold.

He became angry.

He became—filled with murderous intent.

"Magnus--!"

His voice boomed like thunder, and he charged forward.

Magnus didn't even have time to react before Lion kicked him to the ground.

The next second, Lion was already on top of him, his fists raining down like a storm.

"You bastard--!"

"Do you know what you've done?!"

"You ruined Father's plans--!"

"You've given Horus an opportunity—!"

"You--!"

Every punch carries the rage of millennia.

Every punch was an outpouring of pent-up emotions.

Magnus lay on the ground, his hands covering his head, letting the fists rain down on him.

He did not resist.

There was no explanation.

He didn't even utter a groan.

He simply endured it all silently, bearing the anger from his brother.

Because he knew Lion was right.

Of all the rebellious Primarch, his sins were the greatest.

If he hadn't acted so stubbornly at the Council of Nikaea, if he hadn't ignored his father's warnings, if he hadn't forcibly contacted his father using his Psionic Energy—

The Terra Shield cannot be broken.

Horus will not have any opportunity to take advantage of this.

Countless people will not die.

Even Sanguinius will not die.

Although Sanguinius has now been resurrected, the ten thousand years of void, the lost years, and the regrets that can never be made up for—all of this is his fault.

So he endured it.

He endured each punch, endured millennia of rage, endured this—deserved punishment.

"Enough!"

Guilliman finally rushed over and grabbed Lion.

"Enough, Lion!"

That's enough!

Lion, panting heavily, stared at Guilliman with bloodshot eyes:

You're protecting him?!

"Have you forgotten his crimes?!"

Guilliman shook his head:

"It's not about protecting him."

yes--"

He took a deep breath, looked around to make sure no one was around, and then lowered his voice to say:

"Magnus's betrayal was orchestrated by my father."

Lion was stunned.

"What?"

Guilliman nodded:

"His father sent him to the Chaos realm to infiltrate."

Researching methods for humans to combat Chaos.

All his crimes were an act.

Lion turned his head and looked at Magnus.

Magnus got up from the ground, dusted himself off, and wore a wry smile.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say: Guilliman, we're family, no need to hide anything...

But before he could speak, he felt something punch him hard in the waist.

That was Guilliman's hand.

It was done secretly.

The force was considerable.

Magnus's expression stiffened slightly.

He looked at Guilliman, at the glint in his eyes, and instantly understood what it meant.

He took a deep breath, and then—obediently nodded.

"Right."

He said there was a hint of difficulty in his voice, "It was Father... who arranged it."

Lion looked at him, noticing the slight unease in his eyes, the bitter smile on his lips—

He felt something was off.

But Guilliman had already pulled him toward the next goal.

"Let's go, let's go, stop worrying about it."

Sanguinius is waiting for you.

Lion was being dragged along by him, still thinking about what had just happened.

But soon, his attention was drawn to another figure.