Primarch

Tzeentch smiled smugly at Bona's shocked expression.

If the existence of the Warp had made Bona think the Imperial Truth only needed a few minor adjustments, then the Imperium ten thousand years later had practically ground the Imperial Truth beneath its heel.

"Did Father's Great Crusade fail? Why did the Imperium become so ignorant?"

"Your father, the Emperor of Mankind, was very successful in his Great Crusade. You could even say he pulled humanity out of the abyss."

"But... someone betrayed him."

"Your father, the Emperor of Mankind, created twenty powerful beings to accomplish the great undertaking of the Great Crusade."

With a gentle wave of Tzeentch's hand, they arrived on the bridge of a warship.

A towering figure stood there, a power claw on his left hand and a heavy hammer in his right, clad in black Power Armour adorned with a crimson eye.

Opposite him stood that majestic figure-the Emperor, radiating golden light.

The two roared and charged at each other. The bloody power claw plunged into the Emperor's body, sending blood spraying, yet the Emperor still refused to strike to kill.

"No! Stop!-" Bona all but screamed.

But the vision shifted, revealing countless warships hanging over Terra, raining down bombs.

Countless Astartes and Titans slaughtered one another on that glorious soil. The flames of war had all but destroyed everything.

"The Emperor's sons betrayed his wishes. Nine rebel Legiones Astartes raised their blades against him without hesitation, burning all his efforts to ash."

Finally, as Bona watched the Emperor tremblingly take his seat upon the throne, his heart nearly shattered. He reached out helplessly toward the phantom on the throne.

Bona sank weakly to his knees.

Uncle Malak was right after all. Those Big Corn Cobs were right. Those Astartes didn't deserve to be trusted.

This was the fatal mistake Father had made.

Even the ordinary human soldiers who died before the War Fortress were far nobler than they were.

A large, heavy hand settled on Bona's shoulder. He looked up and saw the warrior in heavy red armour.

"But you still have a way to stop all this."

Bona nodded.

That's right. There was still time to prevent this disaster.

He looked at the black figure within the vision.

Yes. All he had to do was kill him.

He nodded and stood up.

"Can you... help me?"

Tzeentch adjusted his glasses and smiled kindly.

"Of course, child."

"We can teach you many things and grant you great power."

Bona lifted the golden Aquila pendant around his neck.

His hand clenched into a fist.

He had to stop all this, no matter what price he had to pay.

He nodded.

The Four Powers slowly rose, surrounding Bona.

He could feel how powerful they were.

With these powers, he could prevent those disasters, couldn't he?

The Aquila on his white robe shone with golden light, but it was soon submerged beneath the raging tides of the Warp, without causing so much as a ripple.

This feeling was very... strange?

It was as though many new voices had appeared in his mind. Some clamoured to hack apart anything that moved. Some dreamed up countless ways to have fun that Bona had never encountered. Some felt the world was too full of suffering and wanted to bring it loving kindness. Others devised all manner of bizarre spells.

Though the voices were rather noisy, Bona could still suppress these strange thoughts.

What intrigued Bona more, however, was why a golden power had been dwelling inside him all along without him ever noticing.

Bona thought it resembled his father's power, yet it felt somewhat unfamiliar.

When had they gotten in?

And why had they started fighting the moment they met???

"All right, child. Next, you'll need a little training so you can defeat your terrifying enemies."

Tzeentch was just about to lure Bona into the Crystal Labyrinth when he suddenly remembered.

His Crystal Labyrinth.

...apparently, possibly, perhaps...

Had just been smashed up by Khorne's army.

"Hahaha! Come with me, child. The Lord of Justice and Courage will teach you the art of combat."

He wanted to join forces with the other two, only to find Slaanesh giggling vacantly at something, face flushed and drool spilling out.

Nurgle still looked as guileless as ever. He apparently did not care in the slightest who went first.

How could he ever defeat Khorne with these vermin at his side?

Terra-

"My father, I will fight for the Imperium of Man and humanity's highest ideals, faithful unto death."

The Emperor lovingly helped his beloved son-Horus-to his feet.

"Rise, my child. You've already done very well."

He gently patted Horus on the shoulder, regarding him with great satisfaction.

Horus treated worthy people with respect, was clever and quick-witted, and, according to the Adeptus Mechanicus's reports, seemed to possess considerable talent for command as well.

"It is not enough, my father. I will do everything in my power to fulfil your wishes."

The two walked side by side as the people in the distance cheered with all their might.

Nearby, God-Machine Titans strode slowly past, while armoured formations that seemed vast enough to fill mountains and seas stood assembled in orderly ranks.

After allying with the Adeptus Mechanicus, the Imperium's strength had grown dramatically and visibly. It had become an unstoppable force.

The opening ceremony of the Great Crusade.

"My child, the Great Crusade ahead will be a long and arduous undertaking. You will have many difficult tasks to accomplish."

"Of course, my father. I will win you victory."

"You also have many brothers scattered across the stars. They are spread throughout every corner, and while I search for them, you will temporarily oversee military and civil affairs."

A flicker of displeasure crossed Horus's face, but it quickly became a genial smile. This was an indispensable skill he had learned during his long years of gang life.

"I can hardly wait to meet them."

The Emperor's steps suddenly faltered, startling Horus.

"If... you meet..."

But then he waved a hand.

"Never mind. Forget I said anything."

Horus was rather baffled, unable to understand why his beloved father was acting this way.

The celebration ended. The Emperor still had some matters to discuss with the Adeptus Mechanicus. Those red-robed fellows always liked to get hung up on the most absurd things.

Once Horus had some free time, the first thing he wanted to do was find out what had troubled his father so much.

After a considerable period of investigation, Horus finally used his exceptional conversational skills and personal charisma to extract a few clues from the taciturn Thunder Warriors.

It turned out that his father had already had another son before him.

Learning this stirred a trace of resentment in Horus's heart.

He searched frantically through the relevant records, gradually discovering what sort of person that son was.

Kind, intelligent, hardworking, friendly-almost every word of praise could be applied to him. Even the exceptionally demanding Malcador and the Adeptus Custodes held him in high regard.

Even those arrogant Thunder Warriors, who sometimes disdained the Adeptus Custodes, treated Bona with the utmost respect. They did not even mind patiently proclaiming His Highness's greatness to mortals, over and over again.

Though neither Bona nor the Emperor had ever acknowledged the title "Crown Prince," most people had accepted it.

Crown Prince.

Horus clenched his hand into a fist. That title irritated him immensely.

I should be the son Father was proudest of.

Fortunately, however, Bona was now missing. No one knew why he had disappeared, though many believed he had gone to carry out a secret mission for the Emperor.

Horus smiled faintly.

I would prove that I was the one Father was proudest of.