Time flowed like water, slipping away in silence.
Sanguinius, Horus, and Angron temporarily set aside their thirst for real combat and devoted themselves wholeheartedly to absorbing the Hilling Empire's vast body of knowledge.
Like the thirstiest of sponges, they frantically studied energy transmission, shield-generation principles, engine output simulation, the fundamentals of materials science, and other knowledge they had once considered "trivial side matters."
As theory gradually merged with practice, their use of Mind Cubes was no longer limited to creating simple weapons.
As Helena had taught them, they could now instantly construct efficient miniature energy shields around their bodies, briefly manifest miniature warship engines for extreme mid-battle turns, and even apply the principles of detection equipment to their own senses.
This systematic improvement in understanding brought comprehensive and solid growth in strength.
They had yet to awaken their exclusive core abilities, but their basic combat power, survivability, and tactical flexibility had already undergone a qualitative leap.
Meanwhile, Guilliman, Lion, and the other primarchs had also successively completed the new enhancement procedures that could only be described as "a complete rebirth."
The process had been nerve-racking, but the results were exhilarating.
Each of them now possessed an optimized, perfect human form close to Guilliman's, with physical strength, speed, and defense far beyond what they had possessed before, along with unique emerging abilities of their own.
They had also completed the implantation of their personal intelligence cores and the final certification of their Imperium identities, ultimately receiving Crystal Cross badges of their own from the research institute.
Through the Hilling network, both groups had remained in contact.
Once they confirmed that everyone had completed their initial "rebirth," they discussed it and decided to gather on the Arbitration Mechanism's headquarters world, preparing to embark on the next stage of their journey—exploring and attempting