Dukel and Guilliman's legions formed an immense fleet, with the Inner Fire and Macragge's Glory sailing side by side through the turbulent currents of the Warp. Their course was set for the Baal system—homeworld of Sanguinius.
"Your Highness, you wished to see me?"
Navigator Varo entered the Mechanicus workshop. He now possessed a healthy body, a gift following the successful trials of the mind-transmission device. Having been granted access to the psychic network, he was now learning its intricacies and assisting in identifying individuals with strong souls—potential candidates to wield these devices to aid those corrupted by Chaos.
Upon returning to the Mindfire, Dukel's first order of business was summoning Varo to prepare for an experiment—the use of the mind-transmission device on a Primarch.
Hearing of this, Guilliman abandoned his endless statecraft and hurried to the workshop.
"Brother, can this truly restore Sanguinius's broken soul?" The Regent of Terra's voice carried a rare note of hope. Sanguinius had once been the pinnacle of Primarchs, embodying all that was noble in humanity.
Though the bonds between Primarchs were often strained, Sanguinius had been a rare exception—respected by nearly all his brothers.
"I don't know." Dukel adjusted the instrument, his back to them. "That's why we must conduct the experiment."
Guilliman showed no disappointment, merely asking, "Then can we access past memories through the psychic realm?"
"Do you still wish to delve into my mind? Brother, the knowledge within would drive you mad in an instant!" Magnus, restrained upon the table, spoke with a strange smirk.
"That's fine." Dukel glanced at Guilliman. "But what exactly do you seek?"
Guilliman turned his gaze to Magnus. "I want to see what truly happened ten thousand years ago—what errors led the Imperium to this grim fate."
"Brother, I did nothing wrong!" Magnus snapped.
"Silence." Dukel tapped Magnus's head. "This experiment may allow us to establish psychic contact with the Emperor himself. You know as well as I that he remains bound to the Golden Throne, locked in perpetual battle against the horrors of the Warp. Contacting him is no simple task."
"Brother, after ten millennia, do you not wish to hear his words? Whether they be curses or condemnation, do you not long to know?"
"I do not!" Magnus shouted—then fell into silence.
Soon, the device was fully calibrated, and Varo linked with it. Dukel channeled his own psychic strength into Guilliman.
"I will show you the past through Varo's perspective. Do not resist—the power of the mind is distinct from psychic energy. It is drawn from the purest will of humanity and bears no corruption."
Guilliman hesitated, then gave a slow nod. "Very well."
Their surroundings dissolved into Magnus's psychic domain—a vast, chaotic library, its books forming mountains stretching beyond sight. In this realm, Varo seemed as small as a firefly, his soul flickering within the grand network. Though his psychic strength had grown, he was insignificant compared to Magnus's boundless mindscape.
As he searched for fragmented souls lost within this realm, visions of the past began to manifest.
Finally, Guilliman saw what he sought.
"What can I do? The outcome seems inevitable." Magnus's voice trembled in the memory. "I tried to save Horus, yet every effort failed. But hope remains—I must warn Father before catastrophe strikes. There is still time. I can still save them all!"
His eyes burned with desperation as he stared at the towering wall barring his path.
Guilliman studied it, frowning. "Is this the Webway my father was constructing?"
"Indeed," Dukel confirmed.
In the vision, Magnus was deep in contemplation when a grotesque, eldritch entity materialized beside him. Its form was beyond mortal comprehension, yet its voice dripped with feigned sincerity.
"A wise man, troubled? Tell me, wise one, what burdens you so?"
Magnus recoiled. "You again! Begone! I need no 'help' from you!"
Guilliman's expression darkened. "Is this the dark power of the Warp? Disgusting. How could Magnus be deceived by something so vile?"
Dukel said nothing, merely reinforcing the psychic barriers. Even a mere illusion of Tzeentch could draw the entity's gaze if unprotected.
They watched as Magnus succumbed to the deceiver's whispers and shattered the Webway's walls. A rift tore open, unleashing an unending tide of daemons into the Emperor's sacred passage.
Guilliman paled. "One end of the Webway connects to Terra's palace… This horde could consume the throneworld entirely. Is this why Father can never leave the Golden Throne?"
In the vision, Magnus beheld the disaster unfolding yet pressed on, reaching out through the Warp.
"Father! A great calamity is upon us!"
The Emperor's wrath ignited, his presence blinding.
"Magnus!" His voice rang with fury.
At that moment, Dukel seized the opportunity, using the Emperor's image as a psychic medium to establish contact.
Golden radiance flooded the mindscape as a burning sun rose over the boundless sea of books.
Magnus gasped. "Corpse-King?! You actually appear before me!"
The golden light pulsed, conveying its will.
"Yes, yes, it's me. Stop shouting, you fool of a sorcerer."
"You always look down on me! But I did nothing wrong!" Magnus seethed.
"Magnus, you are always certain you're right—until you ruin everything. Then you weep like a child and blame others for your folly."
Enraged, Magnus shouted, "When Russ laid waste to my world, you did nothing! But my power is recognized by the Changer of Ways. My master will grant me vengeance a hundredfold!"
"That creature covets all you have and offers you nothing in return. I never ordered Leman Russ to destroy your world—I merely commanded your capture, offering you a chance for redemption."
"Lies! Deceptions!" Magnus roared.
"Enough." The golden light flared. "I cannot maintain this link for long. Dukel will bring you to Terra. Only then will you understand."
The Emperor's presence vanished.
Varo successfully retrieved fractured soul shards from Magnus's realm. Their consciousnesses returned to reality.
The experiment was a success.
But while Dukel smiled in satisfaction, Guilliman and Magnus remained silent, deep in thought.
After a long pause, Guilliman spoke first. "Dukel, what did Father mean by 'time is running out'?"
Magnus followed shortly. "Is this why you spared me and Fulgrim?"
Dukel chuckled. "Who can say? Perhaps it's like the horror stories claim—when Father's time is up, he'll rise as a monster to unmake the galaxy."
Guilliman's expression hardened. "That is no jest."
Dukel turned to Magnus. "You are right about one thing—you and your fallen kin deserve no forgiveness. But I am not the greatest victim. The 'Corpse-King' is. I am not the one to pass judgment upon you. You should be grateful."
Magnus said nothing.
A sudden shift in Dukel's expression broke the silence.
"The battle has begun."
Both Primarchs turned toward him.
"Lorgar and… Corvus," Dukel murmured. "Lorgar dares emerge from the blockade of the Raven Guard."
Magnus, still shielded from the Warp's flow, could sense nothing. He and Guilliman exchanged uneasy glances.
…
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