The heavy atmosphere in the dueling arena froze as Sanguinius's words fell.
Liang Bing held Pandora in her arms and smacked her lips, seemingly still savoring the dramatic "sisterly affection" brawl from moments ago.
Guilliman, Dante, and the others hurried forward to check the two "sisters" for injuries.
Luke and Obi-Wan released gentle healing Force energy. Fortunately, both had only suffered external injuries. Though they looked battered and bruised, with several broken ribs, their superhuman recovery, aided by the healing, rapidly faded the purple swelling. Their fractured bones realigned and rejoined amid faint crackling sounds.
Sanguinius refused Dante's support and slowly rose by bracing herself against the wall.
She moved her still-aching body slightly. Her golden eyes had regained their calm, yet seemed capable of seeing straight into one's heart as they settled directly on Guilliman.
"Robert," she said, her voice slightly hoarse from battle but exceptionally clear. "Who made the decision to resurrect me... in this form?"
Her gaze swept over the body that so clearly belonged to a woman. There was no anger in her tone, only a question so calm it made one's heart tremble, as though she were asking about something that had little to do with herself.
Here it comes! Guilliman's heart tightened, and his expression beneath his Adamantium faceplate became exceedingly grave.
He knew the reckoning had arrived.
This returned "sister" clearly had not fully accepted the change in her body.
He took a deep breath, his mind racing as he instantly prepared his explanation. Drawing upon the Emperor's decree and the current situation, he spoke in the most solemn tone possible:
"Sanguinius... sister," Guilliman carefully chose his form of address. "This decision was a difficult choice I made as Imperial Regent, guided by the Emperor's will and after weighing the unprecedented crisis facing