Recaps

Han Mingxuan chose Lion El'Jonson as Warmaster and argued that choosing an heir by merit could drive the Primarchs into conflict. After Han left Terra, the Emperor discovered that the Shard of Miracle had vanished and confronted Tzeentch, who denied taking it.

• Han Mingxuan named the Dark Angels and Lion El'Jonson as his choice for Warmaster, rejecting Curze and Horus as unsuitable.
• Han Mingxuan warned the Emperor that the Primarchs were human and that choosing an heir by merit risked plunging the Imperium into civil war.
• The Emperor gave Han Mingxuan a blank Letter of Appointment and advised him to keep Futia by his side during the Great Crusade.
• The Emperor discovered that the Shard of Miracle had disappeared from its guarded box and entered the Warp to confront Tzeentch.
• Tzeentch denied stealing the Shard of Miracle and accused the Emperor of taking his authority, but neither could explain where it had gone.

The Emperor persuaded Tzeentch to gamble for survival, while Tzeentch sought advice from Klein and Khorne before leaving to prepare for his choice. At the Great Crusade’s front lines, Han Mingxuan joined the Primarchs, who welcomed him with a custom military uniform as he prepared to command the campaign.

• The Emperor told Tzeentch to join the Gambling Table or face certain death, and Tzeentch agreed to consider the gamble.
• Tzeentch visited Klein, who said the world’s fate was sealed and mocked him for refusing to act despite knowing the solution.
• Tzeentch warned Khorne about accepting his other half, but Khorne said he would face it even if it cost him his life.
• Tzeentch offered Khorne a key in his Labyrinth to use if the universe fell into despair, then left to prepare for the choice of whether to sit at the table or be eaten.
• Han Mingxuan arrived at the Great Crusade’s front lines, where the Primarchs presented him with a custom blue uniform and red cloak before he took command.

Han Mingxuan launched the Glory Expedition to recruit noble armies for the great crusade, while Lion El'Jonson confronted the First Legion’s hidden corruption beneath its glory. The chapter ended with Lion eager for Nostraman recruits to join the legion and begin changing it.

• Han Mingxuan announced the Glory Expedition, prompting nobles on Terra and at the front lines to rush to enlist.
• Han Mingxuan told Lion El'Jonson to recruit corrupt nobles as soldiers and placate them with medals, then advised him to enlist candidates in stages.
• The nobles disputed who deserved to join and sent petitions accusing one another of past misdeeds.
• Lion El'Jonson realized that the First Legion’s secret, unrecorded glory had twisted its members and hoped new recruits would bring change.
• Lion El'Jonson ordered the Apothecary to proceed immediately with the next gene-modification stage for the Nostramo recruits.

Han Mingxuan tested the large-scale use of Micro-Exterminatus in the Damocles Gulf, glassing planets in the sector where the T'au Empire would later arise. The Adeptus Mechanicus found the devastated worlds more efficient to mine, though Luther questioned the method’s ruthlessness.

• Han Mingxuan argued to Luther that Micro-Exterminatus could make the Great Crusade more efficient while reducing Astartes casualties.
• Han Mingxuan took Luther and Lion El'Jonson to the Damocles Gulf to test the weapons, then ordered every Micro-Exterminatus weapon deployed.
• The bombardment glassed the planets across the sector, and Han Mingxuan ordered plate-destroyer missiles to smash the glass shells and shift the planets’ orbits.
• Han Mingxuan directed the Adeptus Mechanicus to take over the mineral-rich planets, whose ruined surfaces let them begin extraction and refining directly from crustal ore deposits.
• Luther acknowledged the efficiency of the test but called the approach ruthless.

Han Mingxuan explained his ruthless view of war to Lion El'Jonson, including the Imperium’s future use of stars as weapons, while Lion struggled with the implications. Five years later, Nostramo recruits helped improve relations between Astartes and mortal armies and made the Military Reform unexpectedly successful; Han then asked Futia for an update on an investigation.

• Han Mingxuan and the Grand Master returned to the First Legion’s flagship after discussing the destruction of xenos.
• Lion El'Jonson investigated Luther’s condition and confronted Han Mingxuan about the efficiency test and his methods of war.
• Han Mingxuan explained that stellar weapons would detonate stars to destroy systems and create rare minerals, and urged Lion to update his ideas about war.
• Five years later, Nostramo recruits joined the Legions and helped improve the Astartes’ reputation among mortal armies, advancing the Military Reform.
• Aboard the Unyielding Truth, Han Mingxuan reviewed the reform’s positive results and asked Futia about the investigation he had assigned.

Han Mingxuan investigated a slight rise in Psykers and visited the First Legion, where Calibanite recruits resented the success of Nostramo-descended recruits. He asked the Calibanites to reconsider the ideals behind their knighthood, leaving them to reflect on Lion El'Jonson's use of meritocracy to unify Caliban.

• Futia reported that Psyker numbers in the Imperium had begun to rise slightly and that the Thousand Sons had the most Psykers among the legions.
• Futia told Han Mingxuan that Calibanite recruits were clashing with Nostramo-descended recruits, while Lion El'Jonson favored the Nostramo recruits.
• Han Mingxuan and Futia visited the First Legion's training ground, where Calibanites repeatedly challenged the stronger Nostramo-descended recruits.
• Han Mingxuan dismissed the Nostramo-descended recruits and asked the Calibanites why they had become knights.
• Han Mingxuan recounted how Lion El'Jonson unified Caliban and said meritocracy had been the most important factor.

Han Mingxuan encouraged the Calibanite recruits to see the Imperium’s dangers as a new forest where knights still had a duty to protect others, then discussed how the First Legion’s recruits might learn from one another. Afterward, Vulkan contacted him about an unusually large Ork operation, leaving Han Mingxuan wondering whether the threat had emerged ahead of schedule.

• Han Mingxuan asked the Calibanite recruits why they had become knights and reminded them that civilians and great beasts still existed beyond Caliban.
• Han Mingxuan described the universe as a forest and the stars as a hunting ground, urging the recruits to reclaim their purpose as protectors.
• Han Mingxuan told Futia that the Nostramo-descended recruits could help the Calibanites become more flexible, while the First Legion had already begun to change.
• Han Mingxuan compared Futia to the Emperor, prompting her to warn him to watch his words.
• Vulkan contacted Han Mingxuan about the Great Crusade and reported that the Orks were undertaking an operation on a massive scale.

Han Mingxuan learned that Ulg’s Ork forces were moving toward the Eighth Legion and searching for the First Legion, so he began organizing the Great Crusade to counter them. He returned to Terra with Curze to seek the Sisters of Silence’s help from Malcador.

• Vulkan reported that Ork forces in the Ullanor Sector had passed the Salamanders’ defenses and were heading for the Eighth Legion while searching for the First Legion.
• Han Mingxuan concluded that Ulg led the Orks and warned Curze that their movements could involve the First, Eighth, Ninth, and Thirteenth Legions.
• Han Mingxuan ordered Curze to return to Terra with troops and directed the Great Crusade to focus on the Orks, restricting the Glory Expedition’s forces to melee weapons.
• Han Mingxuan traveled to Terra with Curze and asked Malcador for the Sisters of Silence’s help.

Han Mingxuan prepared to fight the powerful Orks in the Ullanor Sector by gathering Blank resources, Blackstone equipment, and weapons disguised as Ork teeth. The chapter ended as six Legions received orders to deploy and launch his first large-scale military operation since the Great Crusade.

• Han Mingxuan learned that the Orks in the Ullanor Sector wielded a powerful Waaagh! Field, so he requested Sisters of Silence and their ashes to help suppress psychic power.
• Han Mingxuan arranged for Archmagos Herbert to produce Blackstone Combat Suits and ordered War Moon One prepared for possible activation.
• Jia showed Han Mingxuan staffs containing supernovas and transformed them into pairs of red and blue teeth, which Han named the Tooth of Gork and the Tooth of Mork.
• Curze mobilized the Sisters of Silence and their ashes on Terra while Han Mingxuan brought the teeth weapons to the front lines.
• Han Mingxuan ordered the First, Eighth, Ninth, Thirteenth, Sixteenth, and Eighteenth Legions to set out for the Ullanor Sector and attack the Orks.

Steeltoof sent a Blood Axes Gretchin to Ullanor to seek reinforcements by spreading claims that the human Astartes were extraordinarily powerful. The Gretchin was brought before Warboss Ulg, who asked whether he could truly bring a super big waaaagh.

• Steeltoof ordered a Gretchin to join a clan settlement and claim he was the most waaaagh Gretchin so he could find help.
• The Gretchin spread rumors about the Astartes, saying they were powerful and that he had seen Gork and Mork behind them.
• An Ork took the Gretchin to the settlement’s largest tent after deciding his survival proved he was waaaagh.
• The Ork presented the Blood Axes Gretchin to Warboss Ulg as the most waaaagh Gretchin who might bring a super big waaaagh.
• Warboss Ulg asked the Gretchin whether he was sure he could bring them a super big waaaagh.

Ulg decided to lead a great Waaagh against the forces on Ullanor while the Emperor and his companions arrived to ask Han Mingxuan to make him Warmaster. Han Mingxuan welcomed them home, then heard the Emperor's request.

• Steeltoof backed a Gretchin's claim that the tin cans were waaagh, and Ulg decided to start a great Waaagh.
• At the Sleepless Night Tavern, the Emperor told Oll Persson he wanted to become Han Mingxuan's Warmaster, and Xiulikas accused him of endangering Han and humanity's fate.
• Klein arrived and said their plan would proceed as usual, while Oll Persson eventually agreed to accompany the Emperor to see Han Mingxuan.
• The Emperor, Oll Persson, Klein, and Xiulikas arrived at the Ullanor front, where the Father of Night had mobilized six Legions for war.
• Han Mingxuan welcomed the visitors home, and the Emperor told him he would become his Warmaster.

Han Mingxuan and the Emperor assigned Warmaster duties and prepared a plan to destroy the Orks at Ullanor. After distributing Jade Tablets to the Evernight Legion, Han Mingxuan returned to his quarters still feeling watched.

• The Emperor named Oll Persson his Warmaster for the Ullanor Crusade and told Lion El'Jonson and Horus to command and coordinate the other legions.
• Han Mingxuan ordered Curze and the Thirteen of the Council of the Long Night to spread rumors that the Red Teeth and Blue Teeth would destroy the Orks, while the Eighth and Twentieth Legions watched for Ork thought control.
• Han Mingxuan gave Curze and the Evernight Legion Jade Tablets for protection and told Curze he would have Huangpizi make him a new body after the campaign.
• Han Mingxuan returned to his quarters aboard the battleship, still unsettled by the feeling that someone was watching him.

Xiulikas visited Han Mingxuan to warn him about the danger of becoming Neoth's Warmaster, but Han explained that he chose to share the burden of humanity's fate and help Neoth. Xiulikas left him a dagger that could cut through fate, then approached Dante aboard the Red Tear and asked whether his dream was pleasant.

• Xiulikas appeared before Han Mingxuan and warned him that serving as Neoth's Warmaster could bring him the same fate as Neoth.
• Han Mingxuan explained that the Father of Night's responsibilities belonged to him too, and that he wanted to help Neoth for humanity's sake.
• Xiulikas praised Han Mingxuan, bowed to him, and gave him a dagger that could cut through fate.
• Xiulikas left Han Mingxuan's residence feeling at ease, then went to the Blood Angels' flagship, the Red Tear.
• Xiulikas found Dante in his quarters and asked whether his dream was a pleasant one.

Dante agreed to become an anchor in a plan to ensure the Warmaster rose even if the Emperor’s and Warmaster’s fates could not be avoided. The Will of Earth warned Han Mingxuan that the Emperor’s plan could leave him a living corpse, then proposed a dice bet over Huangpizi’s fate.

• A shadowy stranger offered Dante an irreversible death in exchange for his fate, and Dante agreed to become an anchor that would push the Warmaster into his destined position.
• The Will of Earth told Han Mingxuan that taking on the Emperor’s fate could leave him a vegetable on the Golden Throne while the Father of Night took the Emperor’s fate.
• Han Mingxuan complained that Huangpizi had schemed against him, and the Will of Earth explained that Huangpizi expected it to intervene if Han Mingxuan was harmed.
• The Will of Earth proposed a dice bet: if Han Mingxuan won, it would help Huangpizi get a happy ending; if it won, it would leave Huangpizi to handle the mess alone.
• Han Mingxuan asked whether the Will of Earth wanted him to take the bet, and it told him to use his cleverness.

Han Mingxuan arranged to disappear for a long time as part of the real master’s plan, warning the Silent King to prepare for the War in Heaven and keep Curze from killing the Emperor. He returned to Terra with Urtana and told Malcador that the Emperor had become his Warmaster, leaving Malcador furious and alarmed.

• Han Mingxuan learned that the real master would send him, Curze, and Dante to the Official History’s 40K timeline while Xiao Huang carried out his plan.
• Han Mingxuan warned the Emperor to take care before leaving for Nostramo.
• Han Mingxuan told the Silent King that he would disappear for a long time and asked him to prepare for the War in Heaven and stop Curze from killing the Emperor.
• The Silent King agreed to protect Nostramo, and Han Mingxuan left with Urtana for Terra.
• Han Mingxuan told Malcador that the Emperor was serving as his Warmaster, and Malcador angrily questioned whether the Emperor understood what the role meant.

Han Mingxuan prepared secret instructions for the Imperium’s allies, then traveled to Slaanesh’s palace to entrust her with his collected Positive Authority. He left her to become the strongest god in the Warp, while hinting that he was preparing to start over.

• Han Mingxuan swore Malcador to secrecy and wrote the Evernight Secret Edict, with instructions for the Primarchs, the Perpetuals and Human Mystery Cult, the Necrons, and Trazyn.
• Han Mingxuan went to the Palace of Slaanesh, where Xarathi tried to stop him from crossing the Six Rings, but he passed through them unharmed.
• Slaanesh welcomed Han Mingxuan at the Temple of Pleasure and sensed his worry and sorrow for the future.
• Han Mingxuan gave Slaanesh a letter warning her to protect the Positive Authority she had obtained, along with the Positive Authority he had collected.
• Han Mingxuan urged Slaanesh to fuse with the authority and become the strongest god in the Warp, then spoke of having the courage to start over.

Han Mingxuan stayed with Slaanesh to write five thousand letters for the Evernight Legion before setting out to meet Khorne. Khorne explained that the Black King grew stronger through chaos, then blessed Han Mingxuan with armor and a crown for his coming plan.

• Han Mingxuan told Slaanesh that she was growing and entrusted her with the letters he planned to write for the Evernight Legion.
• Han Mingxuan spent more than half a year writing five thousand detailed letters and asked Slaanesh to deliver them after his plan began, giving her his glasses so Curze would trust her.
• Slaanesh blessed Han Mingxuan, gave him the Crone Sword, and escorted him to the edge of Khorne's domain.
• Han Mingxuan gave Khorne a letter, and Khorne explained that he had balanced his powers and that order weakened the Black King while chaos strengthened him.
• Khorne blessed Han Mingxuan and fused the War God Weapon's power into armor and a crown for his coming plan.

Han Mingxuan visited Nurgle, who recognized that The Accursed planned to sacrifice him and gave Han a staff to support his preparations. At the Maze of Tzeentch, Han revealed he had given his Positive Authority to Slaanesh, leaving Tzeentch panicked and begging for a way out.

• Khorne escorted Han Mingxuan to Nurgle's Garden, where Nurgle explained that The Accursed's letter contained a plan to sacrifice Han.
• Han told Nurgle he would make the universe's inevitable despair come true, and Nurgle prepared for the coming events and wished him success.
• Nurgle gave Han a staff representing part of his authority before Han left for the Maze of Tzeentch.
• Tzeentch tried to bargain for Han's authority, but Han revealed that he had given his Positive Authority to Slaanesh.
• Han explained that his choice would bring Slaanesh's future power into the present and leave Tzeentch facing certain death, prompting Tzeentch to beg Han for a way out.

Han Mingxuan persuaded Tzeentch to keep following the Emperor’s plan while he considered a dangerous way to restore Tzeentch’s authority. Back at the Ullanor Crusade, he learned that psykers were awakening in the legions and agreed to manage the change and speak with the Emperor.

• Tzeentch begged Han Mingxuan for help, and Han told him that restoring his authority would require a dangerous journey with only a slim chance of survival.
• Han Mingxuan returned to the Ullanor front, where the Emperor said the forces were using small-scale infiltration to limit the Orks’ Waaagh! Field and protect the system.
• Curze told Han Mingxuan that psychic talents had begun growing among the legions while he was away.
• Han Mingxuan assigned Xiao Ma to teach the legions to regulate and record psykers, and promised to handle the Emperor.
• The Primarchs reported that the Alpha Legion had completed its assigned task, allowing them to begin the next step.

Han Mingxuan detonated two Teeth of Gork and Mork, unleashing supernova explosions on the Orks in the Ullanor System. He left the Emperor and the Primarchs to monitor radiation and prepare the next stage of the crusade, while they struggled to absorb his ruthless lesson in warfare.

• Han Mingxuan told the Emperor that one final step remained in the first stage of the Ullanor Crusade and led six Primarchs to the flagship.
• Han Mingxuan pressed a remote, triggering alarms across the fleets as the Teeth of Gork and Mork began producing catastrophic readings.
• Han Mingxuan revealed that each Tooth contained a star on the verge of going supernova and confirmed he had detonated two of them in the Ullanor System.
• Han Mingxuan told the Primarchs to spare no cost for humanity and ordered radiation monitoring before ground forces and the Sisters of Silence deployed.
• Sanguinius asked whether Han Mingxuan feared being branded a war criminal, and Han Mingxuan said only defeated enemies were called war criminals.
• Curze, Roboute, and Horus agreed to proceed according to the Code after Han Mingxuan left the command room with Urtana.

Ulg’s Ork army was vaporized by Han Mingxuan’s star-based attack, and Han discussed the aftermath with the Emperor. Their conversation turned to the Warp, the Primarchs’ knowledge of it, and the Emperor’s plans for humanity’s psychic awakening, leaving the Emperor aware that Han knew about his deal with Tzeentch.

• Ulg mobilized his forces to prove the Orks of Ullanor were sufficiently waaaagh, but Han Mingxuan destroyed them with a blaze of white light.
• Han explained to the Emperor that he had chosen the most efficient way to eliminate the Orks and that the surviving planets would provide valuable mineral resources.
• Han accused the Emperor of hiding the truth about the Warp from the Primarchs, and the Emperor revealed that Mortarion had told his brothers what he knew.
• Han demanded a clear answer about humanity’s psychic awakening and told the Emperor he knew the details of his deal with Tzeentch.
• Han used the Emperor’s continuing hemorrhoid pain to confirm that he knew about the deal, and the Emperor acknowledged his knowledge.

Han Mingxuan and the Emperor discussed the Imperium’s psychic awakening and the Astartes’ future, with Han agreeing to take responsibility for stabilizing the Legions. Before the Emperor’s plan began, Han also arranged safeguards involving Curze and the Legions’ Gene-seed, leaving the Emperor uncertain about what Han’s role would mean for the Imperium.

• Han Mingxuan refused to let the Emperor dispose of the Astartes and agreed to regulate psychic awakenings and stabilize the Legions’ Gene-seed in exchange for the Emperor treating them well.
• Han Mingxuan asked the Emperor to create a Primarch-level body for Curze’s other consciousness, and the Emperor agreed after Han warned him never to harm Curze.
• Han Mingxuan told the Emperor he needed contingencies for the Imperium while he was occupied with the plan.
• Han Mingxuan requested the Gene-seed of every Legion, and the Emperor agreed to provide the underlying design codes.
• Han Mingxuan told the Emperor to watch the front and notify Lorgar and Magnus, while he planned to visit Old Ma.
• The Emperor left Han Mingxuan’s quarters feeling glad of his help but uncertain about the consequences for the Imperium.

Han Mingxuan tried to persuade Malcador to establish the Grey Knights, but Malcador rejected his plan to recruit from the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Legions. Han Mingxuan instead arranged a secret pact with Magnus and Lorgar to prepare their legions for a future Warp threat.

• Han Mingxuan met with Malcador on Terra to discuss creating the Grey Knights as a safeguard against future Warp threats.
• Malcador objected to recruiting from the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Legions, and Han Mingxuan left without his approval.
• Han Mingxuan brought Magnus and Lorgar to his residence and explained his plan to combine their legions against the Warp when danger emerged.
• Han Mingxuan instructed Magnus and Lorgar to establish Warrior Lodges with members from both legions and recruit other Space Marines, limiting each lodge to thirteen members.
• Han Mingxuan gave the brothers copies of an agreement and halves of a Tiger Tally, then signed the Dawn Protocol with them.

Han Mingxuan discussed the coming appointment of a Warmaster with the Emperor, then took Curze to Luna to prepare a new body for the Night Haunter. The Emperor had backup Primarch bodies ready, and Han Mingxuan ordered his guards to return to Nostramo with someone he planned to add to their group.

• The Emperor warned Han Mingxuan that the appointment of the Warmaster would soon bring a turning point, and Han Mingxuan reminded him of his promise about the Space Marines.
• Han Mingxuan and the Emperor agreed to travel to Luna with Curze, where the Emperor would prepare a body for the Night Haunter.
• Han Mingxuan checked that Curze had gathered the Teeth of Gork and Mork, then explained that most of the six Legions could leave Ullanor while the First Legion and the XVI Legion stayed behind.
• Curze worried that the First Legion and the XVI Legion might compete for Warmaster, but Han Mingxuan suggested the Administratum would keep Horus too busy to do so.
• Han Mingxuan ordered Old Kamon to take his guards and an unnamed person back to Nostramo after they left Luna.

On Luna, the Emperor began examining the Night Haunter while Dante struggled with the knowledge that he would soon leave the Great Crusade era. After Sanguinius gave him a crown and his blessing, Xiulikas took Dante to a chamber where they planned to alter fate and protect Han Mingxuan.

• Han Mingxuan brought the Night Haunter before the Emperor, who recognized him as another soul and began the procedure in chamber eight.
• Dante told Sanguinius that he had dreamed of a future filled with war and despair, while concealing that his contract would soon send him back to his own time.
• Sanguinius fashioned a crown from his feathers, placed it on Dante’s head, and assured him that he would always be with him.
• Xiulikas led Dante through a teleportation formation to a rune-covered chamber where they planned to correct the fate that had brought Dante there and protect the Father of Night.
• Aboard the Red Tear, Sanguinius woke from a nap and ordered the fleet to continue its march after Ullanor.