Chapter Summaries

The Primarchs competed to recruit young men, using promises of home visits, arenas, books, and racing to attract them. The Thirteenth Legion struggled when recruits pointed out that its Primarch’s noble background made them wary of joining.

• Mortarion recruited for the XIV Legion by promising that its members could return home to Barbarus in the Peaceful Star System.
• Russ built an arena to demonstrate his legion’s strength, while Guilliman set up a stall promoting the Thirteenth Legion’s history.
• A group of young men joined the White Scars after Jubal raced them and proved his motorcycle skills.
• A recruit refused the Thirteenth Legion, explaining that Nostramo’s hatred of nobles made Curze’s noble background a problem.
• The Primarchs realized that Nostramo’s people distrusted the Thirteenth Legion because Curze and his Scions carried the influence of nobility.

Legion recruitment on Nostramo drew crowds with vacation benefits, impressive pitches, and high standards, while Fulgrim struggled to attract recruits because his Legion had too many nobles. He tried a new approach at the Eighth Legion’s station, where Nova Spes presented an exceptional transcript.

• Talos’s vacation benefits drew recruits away from the Ultramarines and toward the Salamanders.
• Sanguinius welcomed a highly capable recruit to the Ninth Legion, while Horus, Magnus, the Word Bearers, and the Raven Guard also attracted applicants with their specialties.
• Khârn’s battle music drew curious recruits to other Legions, and Roboute joined recruitment efforts to improve his Legion’s reception.
• Fulgrim struggled to recruit Nostramo’s people because they distrusted the many nobles in his Legion, despite his own working-class background.
• Fulgrim visited Curze’s Eighth Legion recruitment station, where Nova Spes submitted a transcript with SS grades across the board.

Nova Spes asked to join the 800-Person Group and proved himself in a fight against Aequus and Cyrion, revealing an unusual Psychic Power talent. Curze accepted him into the Evernight Legion and planned to take him to see Dad, but Nova collapsed from exhaustion.

• Nova Spes told Curze he wanted to join the 800-Person Group and claimed he could fight the 13-member Council of the Long Night.
• Fulgrim recognized Nova and offered him the chief commander position in the Phoenix Guard, but Nova chose to continue the assessment.
• Nova challenged Aequus and Cyrion, fighting with a greatsword and catching Cyrion's attack from behind.
• Aequus pushed Nova into a corner and revealed his mind-reading ability, but Nova briefly blocked him and escaped the two fighters using a Psychic Power fluctuation.
• Curze declared Nova had passed, asked about his talent called A Sliver of Life, and told him to rest before they went to see Dad.
• Nova collapsed unconscious in the ring, while Curze told Fulgrim that Nova was now their little brother.

Han Mingxuan personally recruited for the Alpha Legion, then helped Lion attract elite recruits to the First Legion by comparing its knightly traditions to a society. The First Legion gained thirty thousand S-ranked recruits, leaving Lion pleased but worried that the Legion might fall apart under the change.

• The Legions recruited thousands of candidates, but the Dark Angels had only ten recruits and Alpha had none before Han Mingxuan stepped in.
• Han Mingxuan recruited for the Alpha Legion, drawing the day's candidates to its station and filling its preliminary quota.
• Han Mingxuan challenged Lester's assumptions about the First Legion, and Lion backed him by describing the Legion's traditions as a respectable public face.
• Lester and others formed the New Nostramo Society and followed Lion, bringing thirty thousand S-ranked recruits to the First Legion.
• Lion felt conflicted about the recruits' impact on the Legion, and Han Mingxuan addressed him.

Han Mingxuan arranged to help manage the First Legion’s recruits and later negotiated with the Emperor over Exterminatus and the Great Crusade’s next phase. The Emperor accepted Han Mingxuan’s proposed division of responsibilities, then asked whom he supported as Warmaster.

• Han Mingxuan offered to oversee the new recruits and Calibanites, and told Lion to prepare for the first Glory Expedition after recruitment ended.
• Fulgrim asked Han Mingxuan to help with Nova, and Han Mingxuan agreed to take Nova to the Third Legion once he had made something of himself and Han Mingxuan had finished with the First Legion’s affairs.
• The Legions implanted Gene-seed in the Nostramo recruits, achieving a success rate above seventy percent while every recruit survived, including those who became Simplified Astartes.
• Han Mingxuan met the Emperor and Malcador on Terra and demanded authority to use Exterminatus at his discretion, arguing that resistance to Imperial rule justified it.
• Han Mingxuan proposed making Micro-Exterminatus production public and issuing it to every Legion within three years, and offered the Emperor two choices for dividing responsibility; the Emperor accepted the plan that left him to work on the Webway.
• The Emperor asked Han Mingxuan whether he still wanted Horus as Warmaster, leaving Han Mingxuan’s recommendation unanswered.

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.