After returning from the Emperor's dream, Aaron stood at the center of his Divine Realm, speechless for a long time.
He felt betrayed.
He was the Emperor's favored general, or at least he once had been. He was the Tribune personally appointed by the Emperor. When the Emperor decided to sacrifice himself, he entrusted his most important responsibility to Aaron. Through spoken instructions and inherited memories, he had effectively passed his lifelong ideals and convictions on to that member of the Adeptus Custodes-Ra-Endymion.
In the end, Ra-Endymion left the 30K universe bearing Drach'nyen, just as the Emperor had commanded.
Everything had gone according to the Emperor's plan. Aaron had done it all.
The final outcome was also just as the Emperor had envisioned. Aaron became the Fifth Chaos God. Not only had he helped the Emperor reclaim the Webway and helped the Master of Mankind cement his story across the course of history, but he had also drawn away the attention of the Chaos Gods.
Yet after all of it was over, the Master of Mankind remained the same cold Master of Mankind.
Kill me if necessary.
Aaron smiled helplessly, thinking that this was someone who could sacrifice even himself, who could include even himself in his schemes. How could he possibly show a tender, affectionate side?
You are a useful tool.
The Emperor had not said it outright, but anyone who understood knew.
Fine. We were always just using each other anyway.
Aaron closed his eyes, and the golden figure flashed through his mind one last time.
"Last time, I failed, but that failure can surely be put to use next time."
At the very beginning of 1372 Dalereckoning, Aaron and his lovers and subordinates made their preparations.
When the stars aligned in the correct positions, when the