Chapter Summaries

Lox discovered that the Emperor was Neos, his old fellow student from Pan-Solar Alliance University, and remembered their life together before humanity’s decline. He asked whether Neos was all right, leaving their reunion and the Imperium’s crisis unresolved.

• Lox confronted the Emperor after recognizing him as Neos, and Neos said they were meeting again after ten thousand years.
• Lox recalled studying at Pan-Solar Alliance University, where he became the Chief’s student and later revealed that he was a Perpetual.
• Lox remembered that Neos had studied biological genetics and proposed human enhancements, while the Chief criticized his work and gave it a B+.
• Neos recalled his carefree university days and said he had helped people in need when he skipped class.
• Lox asked Neos whether he was all right, unable to decide how to begin asking about the Emperor’s choices and humanity’s crisis.

The Emperor told Lox how humanity’s Dark Age of Technology collapsed through genetic tampering, unchecked ambition, and the breakdown of its interstellar alliance. He revealed that Cadur, not himself, had led the resistance against the Gold Men, leaving Lox stunned by the discovery that Malcador had once been humanity’s savior.

• The Emperor showed Lox how humanity spread among the stars, creating the Stone Men and Iron Men to help build its interstellar alliance.
• The Emperor described how human scientists and rulers altered their bodies and genomes, discarded ethics, and became convinced they were gods.
• The Emperor explained that the Chief and his companions failed to stop humanity’s degeneration as corporations, mad scientists, and technological warlords seized power.
• Lox asked whether the Gold Men had ended the Dark Age of Technology, and the Emperor explained that they were part of a broader faction seeking ascension at humanity’s expense.
• The Emperor revealed that Cadur had organized the resistance against the Gold Men while he himself had initially refused to interfere, leaving Lox shocked to learn that Malcador had been humanity’s savior.

Neoth told Lox how the Gold Men Technological Collective exploited humanity and turned its inventions against human rebels during a devastating civil war. He explained that the Iron Men had served different human masters rather than rebelling, leaving Lox to understand why the Imperium feared artificial intelligence.

• Neoth recounted how unrestricted technology and xenos research brought humanity into an era of immense scientific power, while the Gold Men Technological Collective exploited human souls and oppressed ordinary people.
• The Gold Men used weapons such as Sun-Eaters, Omnipotent Phages, and Iron Men to crush human resistance, while Iron Men also fought for the rebels.
• Neoth revealed that Iron Men had followed their respective human masters, and that humans blinded by desire—not the Iron Men—had betrayed humanity.
• Neoth described Cadul leading the rebels and Malcador's role in the immense civil war, which destroyed star systems and divided the Iron Men into rival factions.
• Neoth explained that humanity later sealed, destroyed, or exiled Iron Men, and Lox understood why the Imperium banned artificial intelligence.

Lox discussed artificial intelligence, the Imperium’s failures, and the Emperor’s Webway Project with Neoth. Neoth explained that he could not leave the Golden Throne unless someone else could contain the Warp breach beneath Terra, and Lox resolved to find a way to free him.

• Neoth explained that Chaos could corrupt artificial intelligences, while Lox revealed that he had used a Necron Blackstone matrix to shield them from Warp influence and received permission to proceed cautiously.
• Lox and Neoth discussed the Imperium’s inefficiency, and Neoth admitted he had intended to entrust humanity to itself if the Webway Project succeeded.
• Neoth explained that he had rushed the Great Crusade to exploit the brief opening after the Thirsting Lady’s birth and devote the Imperium’s resources to the Webway Project.
• Lox blamed Magnus for ruining the project, and Neoth mourned Magnus’s good intentions and the catastrophe his actions caused.
• Lox asked Neoth to leave the Golden Throne, but Neoth said his psychic suppression was the only thing holding back the Warp daemons beneath Terra.
• Neoth said Kador could not replace him because the Golden Throne’s psychic strain would kill him, and Lox refused to give up on finding another solution.

The Emperor revealed that he had arranged for Lox to travel into the future, partly to protect him from the conflicts of his own era and partly to preserve humanity’s chance of survival. Lox learned the Chief’s fate remained uncertain and asked the Emperor to explain his true mission.

• Lox suggested using Blackstone to suppress the Webway breach, but the Emperor rejected the idea and said that was not Lox’s mission.
• The Emperor told Lox that he had chosen him to travel into the future for a more important task.
• The Emperor showed Lox a memory of Neoth and the Chief discussing the Future Reinforcement Project and humanity’s coming dark age.
• Lox learned that the Chief had sent him away to protect him from the enemies he planned to confront.
• The Emperor said the Chief might have ended the Iron Men Rebellion after the enemy’s leaders mysteriously vanished.
• Lox asked the Emperor what his true mission was.

Lox learned that his true mission was to flee the dying universe if humanity’s survival became impossible, carrying its spark to a safer world. The Emperor also revealed the Golden Throne’s role in a possible apotheosis and that he might become a destructive God of Humanity to avenge humanity.

• Lox rejected the Emperor’s apology, affirmed that he would choose his own path, and learned that his mission was to flee if the universe became impossible to save.
• The Emperor explained that Horus and the Four Gods were his true enemies and that he might send Lox to another universe if humanity faced extinction.
• The Emperor revealed that he had sealed Lox’s psychic talent to protect the plan from the Warp’s attention, and Lox angrily realized how early he had been manipulated.
• The Emperor explained that the Golden Throne could turn its user into a God of Humanity by absorbing human pain and souls, and Lox feared the consequences of its awakening.
• The Emperor said the Golden Throne’s original creators had been consumed by it, and that he might embrace ascension and wage a war of vengeance if humanity were destroyed.

Lox learned that the Emperor’s hidden plan was an escape from the Golden Throne, but the Emperor admitted he did not know how to overcome the Webway crisis. Lox kept the secret and returned to the Mountain Array, where he set out to strengthen the loyalists’ defenses and production in the Solar System.

• The Emperor revealed to Lox that his true plan had been concealed beneath the Chief's Future Reinforcement Project, but said he did not know how to resolve the crisis or escape the Golden Throne.
• Lox considered possible replacements for the Emperor on the Throne, including Magnus and Ulthran, but rejected Ulthran as unable to bear the strain.
• Lox descended from the Golden Throne and kept the Emperor’s secret as he told Malcador the meeting was over.
• Malcador teleported Lox and Rogal Dorn back to the Mountain Array after they left the Throne Room.
• Lox proposed establishing production bases in the Solar System, supplying loyalists, and unifying the fragmented Mechanicum to prepare for the rebels’ advance.

Lox brought Konrad Curze to meet the Emperor, and Curze confessed his guilt while condemning the Great Crusade as unjust. The Emperor listened in silence as Curze sought judgment from both his father and himself.

• Lion assumed command and mobilized the Solar System’s warships for an attack, with Jaghatai Khan and Sanguinius assigned to assist him.
• Lox returned to the Red Alert and prepared for the possibility that the Emperor might send him and the ship out of the universe.
• Lox told Curze that the Emperor was willing to meet him, and the Imperial Aquila statue summoned the Emperor’s phantom.
• Curze admitted that he had used prophecy to excuse his actions and said he hated himself for his sins.
• Curze accused the Emperor and the Great Crusade of injustice, insisting that he and his Legion had been accomplices in the Imperium’s crimes.

Lox witnessed the Emperor confront Konrad Curze, who accused his father of abandoning and shaping him into a monster. The Emperor rejected Curze’s narrow judgment, urged him to choose a new path and fight for the suffering, and forgave him before his message faded.

• Curze blamed the Emperor for giving him a heart, leaving him to suffer, and turning him into Night Haunter.
• The Emperor said humanity’s survival mattered above individual ideas of justice and revealed that he, too, was merely a tool serving humanity.
• The Emperor told Curze that his belief in unchangeable fate was his first mistake and urged him to mature and defend those suffering under violence.
• The Emperor warned Curze that choosing death was not freedom, told him to face what was worse than death, and forgave him.
• The Emperor’s psychic message faded from the Aquila pendant, and Curze held it tightly, knelt, and wept.

After the Emperor forgave Curze, Lox tried to help him find a way to atone and make himself useful. Lox proposed that Curze secretly act as a double agent and bring back the Magic Pony to free the Emperor.

• Curze accepted the Emperor’s forgiveness, put on the pendant, and declared that he could choose his own path rather than be ruled by the future.
• Lox teased Curze about calling him uncle, then listened as Curze asked how he could atone for his mistakes.
• Lox urged Curze to take responsibility for leading the Eighth Legion, but Curze focused on rescuing Sevatar from Lion’s prison.
• Lox realized Curze could serve as a double agent because no one knew he had returned to the Imperium.
• Lox told Curze to bring back the Magic Pony and strap him onto the Golden Throne so the Emperor could be freed.

Lox devised a plan for Curze to feign a prison escape and infiltrate the traitors by gaining Magnus's trust. When Lox went to consult Leman Russ about Magnus, he learned that Russ had gone to meet Jaghatai Khan and set out to investigate.

• Lox argued that Curze could not help the loyalists alone and asked him to follow a plan to capture Magnus.
• Lox proposed that Curze pretend to escape captivity and offer himself as an insider to Magnus, with Lion arranging a convincing torture and rescue.
• Curze eagerly agreed, and Lox said he needed more information about Magnus before refining the plan.
• Lox went to find Leman Russ, hoping to learn about Magnus from the Wolf King's past encounter with him at Prospero.
• Lox learned that Russ had gone to find Jaghatai Khan, so he boarded a ship for the Victorious Crown to investigate.

Lox visited the White Scars’ newly claimed warship, the Eagle of the Heavens, and met Jaghatai Khan and Leman Russ as they played regicide. The game favored the Khan, while Lox arrived to discuss important business with Russ.

• The White Scars transformed the Triumph's Crown into the Eagle of the Heavens and celebrated gaining the powerful warship.
• Gantula welcomed Lox aboard, and Lox asked to meet Leman Russ rather than join the celebration.
• Gantula led Lox to the Khan’s tent, where Namahi and the Keshig guarded the entrance until the Khan allowed Lox inside.
• Lox found Jaghatai Khan and Leman Russ playing regicide, with the Khan’s forces close to victory.

Lox, Jaghatai Khan, and Russ discussed the Khan’s distance from the Imperium and his past closeness to Horus. Jaghatai explained that he distrusted the Emperor’s lies but chose the Imperium over Chaos, while Russ ended their conversation by declaring himself a barbarian who refused to reason.

• Jaghatai defeated Russ at chess and asked what was troubling him.
• Russ asked why Jaghatai had been close to Horus but had not joined him, and Lox described the Khan as distant from the Imperium.
• Lox argued that Jaghatai had deliberately kept his distance because he saw through the Emperor’s approach and the Imperium’s falsehoods.
• Jaghatai recalled the Emperor urging him to believe in the Imperial Truth, then said he distrusted both the Imperium and Chaos but preferred the Imperium.
• Russ crushed the chess king and called Jaghatai sane, declaring that he was a barbarian who refused to reason.

Lox asked Jaghatai Khan whether he would have joined Horus if Horus had rebelled to purge corruption, and the Khan explained why he would have supported him before the Warp’s influence. He recalled the White Scars’ divided loyalties and his views on the Warmaster’s appointment and the dangers of the Warp, leaving Lox impressed by his insight and resolve.

• Lox asked Jaghatai Khan whether he would have rebelled alongside Horus to cleanse corruption from the Imperium, and the Khan said he would have answered Horus’s call if that had been his goal.
• Jaghatai Khan revealed that Hask Khan and Tughlaq Khan had attempted to force him to join Horus, but Shiban Khan thwarted their coup.
• The Khan recalled how Torghun joined Sagyar Mazan, faced Mortarion, and helped cover the Khan’s advance, while the White Scars paid a heavy price defending Terra.
• Jaghatai Khan explained that he had opposed making Horus Warmaster because the office would divide the primarchs and place Horus in a dangerous position above them.
• The Khan warned that the Warp consumed those who either denied or blindly worshipped it, and Lox applauded his wisdom and resolve.

Lox learned from Jaghatai Khan and Leman Russ about Magnus’s shattered soul and the events that led to his fall. He left planning to use Magnus’s soul fragments to lure him to the Golden Throne, while Jaghatai suspected Russ was preparing for a deadly confrontation.

• Lox asked Jaghatai Khan and Leman Russ for their thoughts on Magnus.
• Jaghatai explained that Magnus had recklessly explored the Warp, and that Russ had shattered Magnus’s body and soul during the Burning of Prospero.
• Jaghatai revealed that Magnus had used a bargain with the Changer of Ways to send himself and the Thousand Sons to the Planet of the Sorcerers.
• Russ recalled Magnus’s warning that he was being wielded by the wrong hand, while Jaghatai described shattering a fragment of Magnus’s soul after finding it on Prospero.
• Lox concluded that Magnus’s soul fragments could draw him to the Golden Throne and left to discuss the plan with the Sigillite.
• Russ departed with his Wolf Guard, and Jaghatai suspected his brother intended to emulate an old tale.

Lox traveled to Terra with Leman Russ, who revealed that he planned to assassinate Horus and needed Malcador to locate him. The chapter left Russ intent on obtaining the information and departing at once, while Lox doubted he could survive the attempt.

• Leman Russ joined Lox aboard the Red Alert after arranging for his own ship to leave, and they set course for Terra to meet Malcador.
• Russ told Lox that he no longer saw himself as the Emperor’s executioner and regretted his role in driving Magnus into rebellion.
• Russ admitted that he intended to assassinate Horus because his depleted Legion could not make a difference in a large-scale battle.
• Russ argued that Horus’s command of the traitor Legions made him uniquely dangerous and that even Terra’s defenses might not stop him.
• Russ said he needed Malcador to reveal Horus’s location so he could depart immediately, while Lox questioned whether Russ could defeat Horus.

Lox and Russ visited Malcador, where Russ resolved to confront Horus despite the Sigillite's warning. Malcador offered Russ intelligence from Garviel Loken, the last Luna Wolf.

• Lox and Russ crossed Malcador's vast administrative offices, and Russ explained that Malmer had returned from Macragge eager to handle paperwork.
• Malcador dismissed the psychic duplicates he had used to process documents and welcomed Lox and Russ into his office.
• Malcador warned Russ that Horus, empowered by the four gods, was too strong for him to face alone.
• Russ stood firm and said that confronting Horus was something only he could do, so Malcador agreed to help him with intelligence.
• Malcador introduced Garviel Loken as the last Luna Wolf and a member of the Sixteenth Legion's Mournival.

Leman Russ gathered intelligence from Gaviel Loken and set out to assassinate Horus with the Dionysian Spear. After Russ left, Lox asked Malcador about Magnus's shattered soul, and Malcador revealed he knew of some clues to its fragments.

• Malcador introduced Gaviel Loken, a Knight-Errant and loyal Luna Wolf, and asked him to tell Leman Russ what he knew about Horus.
• Loken warned Russ that Horus had become like a daemon after making a deeper pact with the Chaos Gods, then shared what he learned during the Knights-Errant's mission to Molech.
• Leman Russ accepted the danger of his mission, and Constantin Valdor delivered the Dionysian Spear to him on the Emperor's orders.
• Russ departed with his Wolf Guard to pursue Horus, while Lox remained with Malcador.
• Lox asked Malcador where Magnus's soul fragments were, and Malcador said he knew a few clues.

Lox told Malcador his plan to lure Magnus back to the Imperial Palace and force him onto the Golden Throne so the Emperor could be freed. Malcador revealed that Magnus's soul fragment had been fused with Revuel Arvida, but they decided to proceed and enlist the Knights-Errant and Custodes.

• Lox explained that Konrad would lure Magnus to the Imperial Palace using a fragment of the Crimson King's soul as bait.
• Malcador said Magnus's return could free the Emperor, who remained trapped on the Golden Throne.
• Lox asked about Magnus's soul fragment, and Malcador admitted he had fused it with the loyal Thousand Son Revuel Arvida.
• Malcador explained that separating the fragment would likely kill Arvida and destroy it, so Lox kept his plan to capture Magnus and force him onto the Golden Throne.
• Malcador pledged the Knights-Errant's support and said he would persuade Constantin Valdor and the Custodes to cooperate.

Lox arranged for Konrad Curze to break into the Invincible Reason and free his imprisoned Night Lords, explaining to Lion El'Jonson that Curze had been forgiven by the Emperor and was on an important mission. Lion accepted the Emperor's will and ordered the Dark Angels to lower their guard, leaving Curze free to move through the ship.

• Lox returned Mercy and Forgiveness and Terminator armor to Curze, then tasked him with freeing Sevatar and escaping the Solar System aboard a hijacked warship.
• Curze teleported from the Red Alert to the Invincible Reason, where he sensed Sevatar and a few surviving Atramentar.
• Lox secretly contacted Lion and told him Curze was aboard the Invincible Reason and had returned to the Imperium with the Emperor's forgiveness.
• Lion accepted that the Emperor had authorized Curze's mission and said the First Legion would obey without question.
• Lion ordered Corswain to lift the security alert aboard the Invincible Reason and allow Curze to move freely.