Chapter Summaries

Han Mingxuan asked to undergo the Rejuvenat Treatment, signaling that the next stage of the Anti-Corruption campaign could begin. Lion El'Jonson was invested as the Imperium's second Warmaster, receiving the Emperor's laurel and humanity's ancient token of command.

• Han Mingxuan asked the Emperor and Malcador for the Rejuvenat Treatment, and they agreed to proceed with the next step of their plan.
• The Primarchs jointly recommended Lion El'Jonson as Warmaster, and the Emperor's investiture ceremony began.
• The Emperor named Lion El'Jonson Warmaster and placed a laurel wreath on his head.
• Han Mingxuan presented Lion El'Jonson with the oldest Primeval Seal, a bone fragment symbolizing the trust and responsibility of command.
• Lion El'Jonson accepted the seal, completing the ceremony, and Han Mingxuan attended only the opening of the ensuing celebration.

Han Mingxuan spent a quiet day with Futia and Konrad before hosting a joyful dinner for the Emperor and the Primarchs. As they prepared for the coming meeting on psykers and the Imperium’s future, Han Mingxuan asked to see the Emperor’s true appearance, and the Emperor revealed himself as an ordinary middle-aged man.

• Han Mingxuan declined to attend the parade, and Futia helped him prepare dinner while sharing her wistfulness about how much had changed since they first met.
• Konrad visited Han Mingxuan and admitted he feared the Warmaster’s fate would repeat itself, but Han Mingxuan urged him to face the future calmly.
• The Emperor and all the Primarchs joined Han Mingxuan for a warm dinner, and the gathering ended with the Primarchs staying to review their legions’ psyker records.
• Han Mingxuan told the Emperor he would use his own methods to manage psykers and asked him not to force a change of approach; the Emperor agreed to let him proceed.
• Han Mingxuan asked to see the Emperor’s real appearance, and the Emperor dropped his psychic disguise to reveal an ordinary middle-aged man.

Han Mingxuan rushed to Solemnace after learning that a Necrontyr couple was expecting a child, and he confirmed the newborn was healthy and free of the C'tan curse. As the Necrontyr celebrated their first descendant in the current era, Han Mingxuan announced that he would undergo Life-Extension Surgery after the meeting on Ullanor.

• Han Mingxuan received urgent news from Trazyn and hurried to the Peaceful Star System, using the Silent King's Living Metal body to open a faster phase-transfer route.
• At Solemnace's hospital, Trazyn explained that one Necrontyr couple had carried their pregnancy for two years, while most other couples were infertile.
• After waiting two days, Han Mingxuan examined the newborn boy's soul and found it stable, with no C'tan curse.
• The Silent King, Trazyn, and Orikan celebrated the birth, while Orikan resolved to protect the child's future and Imotekh led a sweep around the Peaceful Star System.
• Han Mingxuan congratulated the Necrontyr and told Trazyn he planned to receive Life-Extension Surgery from the Emperor after the meeting on Ullanor.

Han Mingxuan explained how Trazyn and his partner’s souls had become complete enough to conceive a child, whom he named Continuum as a symbol of the Necrontyr’s future. After returning to Ullanor, Han presided over a meeting about the Imperium’s plans for Psykers, where Mortarion reserved the XIV Legion’s position and another speaker challenged the Emperor’s stance.

• Han Mingxuan confirmed that he had decided to undergo Life-Extension Surgery, while Szeras arrived at the hospital hoping to study the newborn.
• Han Mingxuan explained that the couple’s reading had strengthened their souls, allowing their excess soul energy to fuse and produce a child with a complete soul.
• Han Mingxuan named the child Continuum and set off for Ullanor, where he waited several months for the Imperium’s parade to end.
• Han Mingxuan presided over a meeting on the future of Psykers as Administratum officials called for strict control and the abolition of Legion Librarians.
• Mortarion said the XIV Legion reserved its opinion on Psychic Power, and an unnamed speaker accused the Emperor of hypocrisy.

The Primarchs agreed to restrict psychic power, retain certain Legion traditions, and sign Han Mingxuan’s stabilizing contracts before the Imperium accelerated the Great Crusade. Han Mingxuan then entered the Webway with the Emperor to undergo Rejuvenat Treatment, leaving the future of the Imperium in the Emperor’s hands.

• Magnus argued that psychic power was dangerous and should be controlled, and the Primarchs agreed to prohibit Legion Librarians while retaining culturally rooted roles such as Rune Shamans, Storm Seers, and Legion Sorcerers.
• Han Mingxuan presented contracts forged with his blood and soul to stabilize Psykers’ powers, and the Primarchs and Emperor agreed to sign them.
• The meeting ended successfully, and the Imperium deployed nearly every Astartes Legion to the Great Crusade while the Emperor returned to Terra and left Malcador in charge.
• The Imperium reclaimed worlds at more than three times its former speed as Han Mingxuan accompanied the Emperor into the Webway.
• Han Mingxuan warned that the Emperor’s plan would bring events forward, but the Emperor said the Great Crusade could not wait, and Han Mingxuan began his Rejuvenat Treatment hoping to wake to a brighter future.

Han Mingxuan underwent a month-long procedure to become a Perpetual, with the Emperor, Malcador, and Tzeentch trapped in the secret chamber until the surgery was complete. Han Mingxuan and the Will of Earth watched from the Warp as the plan entered its next phase.

• Han Mingxuan agreed to the Rejuvenat Treatment, and the Emperor began a procedure intended to make him a Perpetual.
• Malcador discovered Tzeentch was involved, and the three found they could not leave the chamber until the surgery was done.
• Han Mingxuan and the Will of Earth watched the chamber from the Warp, agreeing to stick to their plan and not go soft on Huangpizi.
• After more than a month, the surgery was completed, and Han Mingxuan looked like he was in his twenties again.
• Malcador sent the legions a video of Han Mingxuan, and the Emperor and Tzeentch prepared to begin Phase Two.

After Han Mingxuan vanished, Malcador and the Emperor tried to conceal his disappearance while Han returned to Earth for a break and watched events in the Warhammer World through a video. Tzeentch also vanished, leaving the Warp’s other gods sensing that hope itself had disappeared.

• Han Mingxuan disappeared, and Malcador despaired while the Emperor promised to find him and proposed telling the Imperium that Han was merely slow to awaken.
• Tzeentch vanished, and Malcador retrieved the Evernight Secret Edicts Han had entrusted to him as a contingency.
• In the depths of the Warp, Han asked the Will of Earth to send Tzeentch to the other universe first, then persuaded her to let him return to Earth for a vacation.
• Han returned to his rented apartment, checked that less than a week had passed, and watched a video from the Will of Earth showing events in the Warhammer World.
• The Will of Earth ignored the Emperor’s summons, while Khorne and Nurgle sensed that Tzeentch’s disappearance had left hope vacant in the Warp.

Tzeentch, who called himself Sinleech, arrived in the Warhammer 40,000 Warp and was seized by the Emperor before he could find Han Mingxuan. After learning how the Imperium survived the Age of Apostasy, Sinleech was left appalled by humanity’s history.

• Tzeentch discovered that he was in an unfamiliar Warp and met another version of himself, who invited him to merge their power in the Crystal Labyrinth.
• The Crystal Labyrinth caught fire, and Khorne, Slaanesh, and the other Chaos Gods attacked Tzeentch after sensing his Positive Authority.
• The Emperor appeared as a black sun and took Tzeentch away from the four gods, despite their resistance.
• Sinleech learned that Guilliman and the Lion were dormant, while the Imperium was ruled by mortals and the Ecclesiarchy’s power grew.
• Vandire seized control of the Daughters of the Emperor, renamed them the Brides of the Emperor, and plunged the Imperium into the Age of Apostasy.
• The Emperor summoned the Brides as the Sisters of Battle, who brought Vandire’s rule to an end; Sinleech questioned the Emperor after reviewing humanity’s history.

Tzeentch negotiated with the Emperor to help the Imperium in exchange for protection until Han Mingxuan arrived, then began serving as Chancellor under the name Sinleech. On Nostramo, Trazyn suddenly became gravely ill and told the Silent King that his soul was crying out over what had happened to Han Mingxuan.

• The Emperor questioned Tzeentch about his origin and the Father of Night, and Tzeentch blamed the crisis on the broken agreement with the Chaos Gods.
• Tzeentch agreed to help the Imperium through its crisis in exchange for the Emperor's protection until Han Mingxuan arrived.
• Tzeentch became Chancellor Sinleech and began learning how the Adeptus Administratum worked.
• On Nostramo, Trazyn suddenly spat blood and lost the strength to move, so Orikan helped him home.
• Trazyn asked Orikan to summon the Silent King and Curze, then wept and said his soul was crying out in anguish over Han Mingxuan.
• The Silent King rushed to Trazyn's home, where Trazyn began to tell him what had happened to Mr. Han.

After Trazyn lost his connection to Han Mingxuan, the Silent King ordered Nostramo to prepare for war and Jia recalled Curze and the Thirteen. Trazyn told Curze that Han had disappeared and might no longer be alive, leaving Curze stunned.

• Trazyn’s Staff stabilized him, and he told Jia that Han Mingxuan had vanished and could no longer be sensed.
• The Silent King ordered Futia confined, Nostramo’s Old Council purged of the Tattoo-faced Earl’s allies, and the population prepared for war.
• Jia returned to the Nightfall, recalled Curze and the Thirteen, and ordered Curze to mobilize the Evernight Legion and as much of his own force as possible.
• Curze told Trazyn that the Emperor had reported Han needed a long recovery, though a recent recording showed him alive and young again.
• Trazyn examined Curze’s recording and said Han had disappeared, prompting Curze to ask whether his father was dead.

After learning that Han Mingxuan had disappeared but his soul remained stable, Curze secretly prepared the legions to gather strength and seek him on Terra. He enlisted support from his brothers and Lady Euten, while Mortarion told Angron that Han was in serious trouble.

• Trazyn told Curze that Han Mingxuan was absent from this world but his soul was stable, and Curze ordered the Council of the Long Night to recruit as many soldiers as possible.
• Curze asked Perturabo and Mortarion to secretly mobilize their legions, and both agreed to prepare their forces.
• Curze asked Corax and Alpharius to check on Han at the Throne Room; Corax began mobilizing, while Alpharius spread the news to the Thousand Sons and the Seventeenth Legion.
• Curze told Lorgar and the Thousand Sons to gather troops in secret and wait for his signal to go to Terra.
• The Night Haunter asked Lady Euten to tell Roboute to stand aside while they sought Han, and she agreed to act as though Curze had never visited.
• Mortarion contacted Angron and said Han's situation was serious, and Angron offered to help without asking for details.

After learning that the Emperor was missing, Curze gathered his allies on Nostramo while several Primarchs arrived to discuss what had happened. An Evernight Secret Edict ordered Sanguinius to move Baal and keep the Ninth Legion neutral, while Lady Euten told Roboute to come home.

• Curze counted the forces allied with him and allowed Roboute and Sanguinius to land on Nostramo.
• The Khan arrived with Fulgrim and Ferrus Manus; Fulgrim punched Curze for keeping the Emperor’s disappearance from him.
• The Khan said Dorn had revealed the news to show that Terra must remain safe, while Vulkan had withdrawn to Nocturne after receiving a secret edict from Malcador.
• Raldoron read the Evernight Secret Edict, in which the Emperor ordered Sanguinius to move Baal to the Peaceful Star System and keep the Ninth Legion neutral unless Chaos invaded.
• Curze relayed the Night Haunter’s warning that Lady Euten wanted Roboute to avoid foolish actions, and Lady Euten sent Roboute a message telling him to come home.

After the Primarchs learned that Han Mingxuan had vanished, they reacted to the uncertainty surrounding his fate and the Emperor’s silence. Alpharius received Han’s warning about the Human Mystery Cult and left to act, while Malcador questioned what was real.

• Roboute assigned the Nostramo-descended recruits to Curze, then returned to Macragge as Sanguinius departed for the Baal System.
• The Khan and Ferrus Manus stayed behind to await news from Alpharius, who had gone to Terra.
• Dorn stopped Alpharius from entering the Terra Throne Room and said he was remaining neutral, though he admitted Han’s fate was unknown.
• Dorn ordered Alpharius to take the Nostramo-descended recruits to Nostramo for Curze to train.
• Alpharius visited Malcador, who gave him an Evernight Secret Edict from Han warning him not to trust the Human Mystery Cult.
• Alpharius left after telling Malcador that Han’s presence had changed his brothers, while Malcador wondered whether events were real.

Malcador concealed the Legions’ mobilization from the Emperor while questioning whether his bargain with the Lord of Change had caused Han Mingxuan’s disappearance. On Nostramo, Curze tortured the Perpetuals for answers and learned that a plan to sacrifice Han had involved the Emperor, the Warp, and Klein.

• Malcador ordered Imperial departments to ignore the Legions’ maneuvers unless major Xenos or Chaos invasions threatened the Imperium, then went to question the Emperor.
• Alpharius told Curze that Han had disappeared and suggested the Human Mystery Cult might know what happened, so Curze delayed any march on Terra.
• Curze had Orikan bring the Perpetuals to a cell and threatened them, then ordered the Night Haunter to torture them.
• After Alpharius returned a week later, Curze questioned the Perpetuals, killed one with a weapon that prevented resurrection, and heard that a plan to sacrifice Han had involved the Emperor, the Warp, and Klein.
• Curze ordered the Night Haunter to find the Prince of Pleasure in the Laer System to continue the interrogation.

Malcador learned that the Emperor had failed to contact the Will of Earth and intended to wait for the fate he hoped for. On Nostramo, Curze restored the tortured Perpetuals and led the Eighth Legion toward Terra to demand answers about Han Mingxuan’s disappearance, while Malcador let the Primarchs come and ordered Terra to suppress the rebellion.

• The Emperor admitted to Malcador that he had made an unwise choice by working with the Chaos Gods and decided to wait for the fate he hoped for before facing what came next.
• Trazyn confronted Curze over his torture of the Perpetuals, and Curze used a Temporal Reset Device to restore them before setting out for Terra with his forces.
• Curze issued a statement demanding answers about Han Mingxuan’s disappearance and reserved the Eighth Legion’s right to use all possible means; other Primarchs followed with similar statements.
• Malcador read the Primarchs’ demands and told the Administratum personnel to let them come, noting that the Great Crusade’s front lines were secure.
• Terra’s internal documents labeled the situation a rebellion and ordered it suppressed.

Renato tried to rally support to uncover what had happened to his teacher, but Dorn stopped him and knocked him unconscious. Dorn was left to handle the crisis alone while the other Primarchs stayed away or were occupied.

• Renato learned that the rumors about suppressing a rebellion were true and planned to use secret channels to keep the legions from interfering while he gathered allies.
• Renato went to the Administratum, where Sigismund blocked his way until Renato drugged his tea and knocked him unconscious.
• Renato entered the room and demanded that Dorn explain where his teacher was, declaring that he would rebel if necessary.
• Dorn knocked Renato unconscious before he could act, then reflected that the other Primarchs had left him to shoulder the crisis alone.

Dorn struggled to contain the crisis on Terra while the Primarchs’ forces mobilized, and Horus reluctantly ordered the XVI Legion back to Terra. On Nostramo, Trazyn learned how Han Mingxuan had disappeared and that the Fate Assassin Xiulikas might be the key to activating the Klein bottle.

• Dorn faced Malcador’s absence, the Emperor’s isolation, and the Adeptus Custodes’ restrictions as Terra’s authorities sought help from the legions.
• Horus weighed his duty against his Scions’ interests, then ordered Sejanus to mobilize the XVI Legion and return to Terra while waiting for his discussion with Dorn.
• Klein explained to Trazyn and Oll Persson that the plan involved sending Mr. Han through a Klein bottle to gather enough weight to stabilize Nostramo as a new Terra.
• Klein revealed that the Emperor had used the bottle’s energy to bring Dante to this world, and that an unknown deal with a Warp God may have caused Mr. Han’s disappearance.
• Trazyn learned that Klein did not know how to activate the bottle, until Orikan proposed using fate and identified the missing Fate Assassin, Xiulikas, as their lead.

Trazyn and the Perpetuals responded to Han Mingxuan’s disappearance in different ways, while the Silent King kept the truth secret and watched over the Warp. Xiulikas refused to help find Han, and Han enjoyed his vacation on Earth before discovering something amusing about Tzeentch.

• Trazyn recruited Klein and other Necrontyr to join the Eighth Legion and set off for Terra to recover the Klein bottle, while the Silent King told Orikan he believed Han was alive and that his task was to watch the Warp.
• Klein led one group of Perpetuals toward Terra, while Oll Persson led another to search for Xiulikas and proposed visiting the place where the Mother of the Primarchs had been sealed.
• Xiulikas appeared on the barren planet, explained that he was guarding an anchor point of fate, and refused to help find Han, telling the Perpetuals to let him rest.
• Han Mingxuan relaxed on Earth, opened the Will of Earth’s dialog box to check on Tzeentch, and laughed at what he saw.

Sinleech forced the Emperor to assign Adeptus Custodes to the Department of Internal Affairs, threatening to destroy the Golden Throne if refused. He ordered Trajann Valoris to bring the Custodes to work, then demanded that the Emperor visibly confirm the order.

• Sinleech blasted into the Throne Room, berated the Emperor and the Custodes, and demanded personnel for the Department of Internal Affairs.
• The Emperor agreed to send Adeptus Custodes to Sinleech after he threatened to destroy the Golden Throne.
• Tzeentch learned of Sinleech’s threat and ordered Kairos to send unqualified subordinates to the human Department of Internal Affairs.
• Trajann Valoris returned to the Throne Room and Sinleech told him to bring the Custodes to work overtime.
• Trajann accused Sinleech of falsely invoking the Emperor’s will, so Sinleech kicked the Golden Throne and demanded a sign confirming the order.

Sinleech manifested the Emperor and was treated as a possible Living Saint, while Han Mingxuan learned that Tzeentch’s divinity was draining in 40k and that this was worsening 30k’s situation. The Will of Earth gave Han a week to prepare before sending him to 30k, and Han asked to see what Dante was doing.

• Sinleech summoned the Emperor, and Trajann Valoris knelt before him and asked whether he could communicate with the God-Emperor.
• Sinleech ordered Trajann and his Custodians to come with him after the Emperor manifested.
• Han Mingxuan laughed at the thought of Tzeentch becoming the Imperium’s Chancellor and a possible Living Saint, then explained that Curze had only just begun moving in 30k.
• The Will of Earth told Han Mingxuan that Tzeentch’s divinity was rapidly draining in 40k and that the 30k situation was worsening as a result.
• Han Mingxuan agreed to prepare for a week before the Will of Earth sent him to 30k, and she told him that Xiao Huang’s surgery had made him a Perpetual.
• Han Mingxuan asked to see Dante’s delicate situation, and the Will of Earth warned him not to laugh himself unconscious.