"You are one of the Old Ones," Mazdamundi stated calmly, gazing at the figure of the Emperor standing before him.
"..." This time, the Emperor did not refute. He stood there quietly, a rare occurrence.
"But you are not the Old One we expected. You are not our master," the Slann Mage-Priest continued, shaking his head. "You are merely an improbable Messiah."
An improbable Messiah? Fugen frowned. What was Mazdamundi implying?
"...What I am does not matter," the Emperor finally spoke, uninterested in arguing. "But I believe we need to communicate."
"Come with me, young Old One," Mazdamundi's expression remained inscrutable as he spoke.
The massive doors of the golden pyramid opened before the Master of Mankind…
Inside the ancient and deep pyramid, Mazdamundi elevated his sacred seat, gazing at the magnificent and mystical structure, the Sun Stone, and the Moon Stone, remaining silent.
The Emperor's gaze, however, was fixed on the clear pool beneath him.
Underneath the water, a pattern of stars was visible.
In the dark galaxy, a black fissure split the Milky Way in two.
A figure, crowned and bearing the "U" symbol on his shoulder, wielding a sword ablaze with golden fire, proclaimed his return.
"Roboute Guilliman?" Fugen initially found it hard to believe, but then he saw the image of the Eldar's Reaper Avatar, Yvraine, on the mural at the pool's bottom.
If Father had not returned due to Ryan's efforts, would Guilliman have been resurrected by the power of the Eldar's Reaper?
The Primarch of the Emperor's Children pondered this deeply.
"Young Old One, what is your purpose in returning to this world?" Mazdamundi showed little interest in what the Emperor might do, and his words lacked even the basic respect. "What can you contribute to the Great Plan?"
"Your plan?" The Emperor frowned, seemingly accustomed to the Slann's indifference.
These beings were the servants created by the Old Ones, the true cold-blooded races.
What does it mean to be cold-blooded?
If useful, they are kept; if not, they are discarded. Commands are executed without question, devoid of sentiment or relationships. Their entire existence is to fulfill the "Great Plan" left by the Old Ones. Anything not aligned with this plan must be destroyed.
For this, these servants of the Old Ones had spent tens of thousands of years.
But why execute the "Great Plan"? What is its significance?
These were not questions for the cold-blooded to ponder. They allied when necessary, waged war when required, and did not let past alliances or enmities dictate their actions.
"The Great Plan is our mission. When the star gates were destroyed, and our masters departed, the duty of protecting this world fell to us. This is the will of the Old Ones, and we are bound to execute it," Mazdamundi spoke slowly, sensing the power of the being behind him — a light capable of illuminating entire galaxies. "You have inherited the legacy of the Old Ones."
"What is the Great Plan?" The Emperor's response seemed to skirt the question.
Mazdamundi did not answer.
In truth, despite thousands of years of debate, the Slann had never reached a consensus on the Great Plan. The prophecy slabs left by the Old Ones were often unclear, and each Slann had its own interpretation.
The Old Ones who knew the true purpose of the Great Plan had long departed, and the first generation of Slann had all perished.
Behind the brief exchanges lay countless psychic communications, as the Slann employed their terrifying powers to converse with the Master of Mankind. They seemed utterly unafraid of the Emperor's power or indifferent to it.
No one knew what the Emperor and Mazdamundi discussed.
After a long silence, Mazdamundi spoke again, "If what you say is true, young Old One, then this is a matter of great concern. After thousands of years without the Old Ones' guidance, no one has been able to decipher those ancient slabs or the technology left on the shelves."
"If your kind, the servants of the Old Ones, allow it, I can help decipher those slabs and recover and interpret the lost technologies," the Emperor's eyes shone with a sharp light. "This is not a request; it's a demand."
After connecting with the Slann's mind, the Emperor understood the sacrifices these Sons of Order had made to combat evil.
The once numerous Lizardmen armies were now a faint echo of their former glory. The Great Vortex now depended on the life force and energy of hundreds of Slann, who had bound themselves to obelisks and pyramids, sustaining the Vortex with their very lives.
But this came at a cost. The Slann, created by the Old Ones, could not reproduce. Though they were ageless, constant wars and demonic invasions had gradually dwindled their numbers.
Yet, they persisted. They didn't know why they guarded or why they sacrificed everything to fight Chaos demons, but they remained steadfast, following the Old Ones' orders.
In a way, their situation was much like the Emperor's, seated on the Golden Throne.
This did not stop the Emperor from seizing the Old Ones' technology and knowledge. However, understanding their plight, he was willing to grant these pitiable yet honorable beings some space, as Chaos was their mutual enemy.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Moreover, the Emperor's revival was partly thanks to the Old Ones' legacy.
In a sense, this was also a transaction.
"It's not enough. Our masters' legacy is not something you can replace with shared knowledge," Mazdamundi shook his head. "In ten thousand years of sleep and thought, I have learned much. If you are unwilling to stay and fight alongside us against our formidable foes, we will not relinquish what we hold, even if it means our destruction."
"My son will stay," the Emperor turned his gaze to Fugen. "He will lead human armies to fight alongside you."
"That's not enough," Mazdamundi remained unmoved. "That is the master's legacy."
"I can re-sanctify your polluted incubation pools," the Emperor offered a second condition.
"Still not enough." The Slann's attitude softened slightly. "Under those terms, we could allow you to access three pyramid vaults."
Outwardly calm, Fugen was inwardly filled with confusion and frustration. He thought these servants of the Old Ones were incredibly stubborn.
The Emperor, noticing Fugen's emotional shift, sent a simple psychic message instructing him to stay composed.
"The Old One's offspring are indeed mighty beings, but they are not invincible. Having you here slightly increases our chances in the eternal war against our enemies. It is far from enough… As for humans, they are too young, too naive, and often very immature. They are also easily corrupted by Chaos. I believe the most significant reason the Great Plan remains unfinished is that these young races have not been eradicated, giving Chaos many pawns to use." The golden seat slowly settled on the pyramid's altar, and Mazdamundi's words were slow and deliberate. "You need to offer more to persuade me, young Old One. This is my duty and mission, and I will pursue it until the Great Plan is realized."
"How pathetic," Fugen sneered. "And yet, even now, you do not understand what the true Great Plan is."
"Old One's offspring, you are also part of the Great Plan. The master foresaw everything. Four of the Old One's offspring exist in this world, like faint lights of order amidst endless chaos — purple, red, silver, and blue," Mazdamundi continued. "But it is not enough, not nearly enough."
The Emperor fixed his gaze on the Slann, weighing the pros and cons.
Due to the perpetual Warp Storms, the Master of Mankind could not easily teleport armies over. The Emperor suspected that without his power to navigate the Warp Storms, nothing could pass through them to reach this world.
No wonder the Old Ones chose this world as their playground, laboratory, and final refuge.
The Old Ones' last legacy must not fall into the hands of Chaos!
After careful consideration, the Emperor decided to reveal his final card.
The Master of Mankind stood before the Slann. On his majestic, miraculous visage, he uttered a few words.
For the first time, Mazdamundi displayed a look of astonishment. He lifted his head in disbelief.
But the Emperor remained calm, nodding slightly. The terms were laid out; it was up to the Slann to accept them.
If they refused, the Emperor would have to risk detection by Chaos and take action himself.
The atmosphere grew tense in the grand pyramid of the City of the Sun. Amid the numerous clear pools and long staircases, surrounded by sacred runes and ancient markings, beneath moss-covered paintings on the ceiling, the Emperor, Fugen, and the Slann on his golden throne fell silent.
In an instant, hundreds of communications flew through the sacred council. Each sleeping Slann received Mazdamundi's message and responded.
As his consciousness returned to his body, Mazdamundi faced a painful choice. Logic dictated that the master's legacy should not fall into the hands of these young races. But logic also suggested that this might be one of the few chances to avert the end times. The origin of the being before him was unknown, his existence mysterious. When Mazdamundi closed his eyes, letting his soul wander between the realms of Chaos and the material world, he sensed the cold sun of order standing before him.
The greatest and most intelligent mind currently in existence pondered the pros and cons of the offer. Mazdamundi's magical power intrigued the Emperor, who rarely encountered such
pure and powerful beings unaffected by Chaos.
After what might have been a minute, an hour, or even a whole day, Mazdamundi finally nodded. "This is an offer we cannot refuse, young Old One, but we must see you keep your promise."
Negotiations succeeded.
New World, Lustria, City of the Sun, the Great Pyramid of Itza, the first city established by the Old Ones.
A bright, pure light of order unlocked the complex combination of technology and magic on the pyramid's doors. Under Mazdamundi's guidance, the Emperor and Fugen ascended the long steps, marveling at the Old Ones' wondrous creation. Countless empty corridors and vertical passages led to the Great Pyramid's apex.
Along the way, golden tablets depicted various Lizardmen deities. Their forms were similar to the Slann but clearly more warlike. Chief among them was the sun god, Chotec, a deity bathed in light, symbolizing the sun's power or the might of the sun. Chotec was the principal deity of the Lizardmen's faith.
Then there was Sotek, the serpent god. This newer deity emerged from the millennium-long war between the Lizardmen and the Skaven, representing bloodshed, vengeance, and the resolve to destroy the Great Horned Rat.
Fugen's white hair fluttered despite the lack of wind. He felt the Serpent God's gaze upon him, a deep sense of recognition and joy. Yet, when he tried to focus on Sotek's image, it seemed to vanish.
That feeling of being chosen…
The chamber door opened to a vertical ascending passage. Mazdamundi dismissed the temple guards who came to protect him. He turned, indicating for the Emperor and Fugen to approach the pedestal.
On the pedestal sat a corpse, long deceased.
This was Lord Kroak, the guardian of Itza, the first Slann Mage-Priest, the strongest and greatest of them all. Kroak had helped the Old Ones reshape the world alongside his first-generation colleagues, built the polar gates (later known as the Chaos Wastes), and taught the Elves magic. His destiny was to witness the end of the universe. Kroak had made the ultimate sacrifice during the Great Catastrophe, but his indomitable spirit remained, making him the first of the Lizardmen's sacred mummies.
Covered by a golden burial mask, Kroak could no longer speak, but his soul could interact with the material world, his power resonating through the air like a distant echo. His former glory had crumbled, yet even the remnants of his power could still destroy his enemies. In critical times, his spirit would return through his master's undying will, aiding the Lizardmen to victory once more.
After Kroak's valiant sacrifice in defending Itza, the Lizardmen painstakingly collected every fragment of his remains, piecing them together and wrapping them in resin-soaked paper.
Thus, the first sacred mummy of the Lizardmen was born. Many other Slann were mummified in the same way. The Lizardmen discovered these Slann were so powerful that even after death, their souls lingered in the world, these ancient relics once again guiding the Great Plan to completion.
The mummy sat quietly atop the Great Pyramid. In every sense, it appeared utterly dead, yet its decayed body still housed its soul, its spirit still observing the world.
Kroak had witnessed the Old Ones creating new races, building splendid cities in Lustria, and enduring countless Chaos invasions. He would also witness the world's end, using his final strength to protect the Old Ones' creation when the last moment came.
The Emperor nodded gently. He sensed a similar sacrifice in the mummy before him. These noble beings sacrificed everything to guard the world, just as he did.
The Master of Mankind was not moved by Kroak's sacrifice, but he respected it, prompting him to act.
Golden light began to emanate from the Emperor, enveloping the pyramid's apex. A beam of pure gold shot from the Emperor's heart into the body of the long-dead sacred mummy.
This was the Emperor's unique power.
Gradually, under Fugen's puzzled gaze and Mazdamundi's hopeful watch, a light appeared in the jade eyes adorned with yellow topaz beneath the golden burial mask.
Something was happening within the sacred corpse.
Slowly, the mummy's arms rose. The supposedly dead figure opened its mouth and uttered an ancient phrase. The power came from beyond the universe, embodying the hope of creation itself. The stars shimmered, and the Old Ones' creative force manifested within him.
"For the Great Plan!"
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