"Follow the guidance of the Emperor's light!"
Loken's voice roared through the fleet communications channel, carrying unbelievable excitement and reverence.
In the ancient Space Marine's mind, scenes of fighting alongside the Emperor surfaced uncontrollably. They had been the brightest days of his memory.
But later, the Emperor had left the front lines of the Great Crusade and transferred his authority to Horus. That soul-stirring feeling, that sensation of one's very soul bursting into flame, had become a thing of the past.
Though Horus had been outstanding enough, he had never been the Emperor.
But now, that feeling had returned. As Qile parted the Warp storm and led the fleet toward Terra, Loken clearly sensed the presence of the Lord of Humanity.
He knew that although the Emperor sat upon the Golden Throne, he had never truly left.
The Emperor's Light, the warship shrouded in golden radiance, was like a colossal vessel cleaving through raging waves as it became the first to sail into that sacred passage.
Behind it followed hundreds of vessels of every size.
From battered battleships to crude, enormous transport ships, they followed with incomparable devotion and awe like a people led by Moses, sailing down this miraculous road forged from faith and divine power in search of their promised land.
The fleet sailed through the golden passage. It was not silent within, but echoed with the devout prayers of countless believers.
They were the resonating souls of the millions of believers evacuated from Dimarmar, along with those of others across the galaxy who believed in the Emperor.
Their faith, their hope, and their courage converged into an invisible torrent, flowing ceaselessly into Qile before being transformed through her into the power that sustained this sacred passage.
"The Lord of Humanity is with us!"
"The Emperor protects us!"