Warhammer: Don't Call Me the God of All Machines

Chapter 833 Return to Macurag
After Makado told Rosie and the others about his experiences during his disappearance, Rosie also shared her unexpected gains with Makado.

"I really didn't expect this. The surprise you gave me is no less than the surprise I gave you."

“The net way, the net way…” Makado repeated the two words, a touch of sadness appearing on his face.

Behind these two words once lay the hope of humanity's path to transcendence. Countless people, including emperors, devoted their efforts to creating a network that belonged to humankind.

If Project Netway succeeds, then even if all Primarchs perish and the Empire of Man is destroyed, all the sacrifices will be worthwhile.

The Emperor created the Empire and the Primarch, essentially to serve the Network Project.

"It's too late, really too late. If only you had developed this technology during the Great Expedition era!"

"The Webway Project has failed, and the fact that Magnus is still powering the Golden Throne to prevent those warp creatures from flooding Terra is the best proof of that."

Marcado's tone was full of sadness and nostalgia. Humanity was once so close to success. If it weren't for that fool Magnus, things might be very different now.

“One failure doesn’t mean you’ll always fail, does it?” Rose asked rhetorically.

"Moreover, with the experience of failure and the information obtained from the ancient sages, we are even more confident in restarting the Internet Dao Project."

Macardo stroked his beard, and he suddenly felt that humanity's future seemed to be brightening, at least not as bleak as before.

Many of these lights were lit by Roxi, which deeply moved the Seal Bearer.

In times of human crisis, there will always be many selfless and fearless individuals who step forward to pave a new path for the race.

"This green-skinned planet has been largely looted. Its core reactor is damaged, and even the original Waaagh gate has stopped operating."

"But it is, after all, the sacred homeworld of the Ork people. This planet contains many unique technologies of the Ork people, so it would be a pity to destroy it like this."

“I plan to take it back to Altrama and have my foundry director disassemble and study it slowly.”

“Barker Dylan, the director of the foundry, has always hoped that Losi could return to Mustafa to see that after a century of effort, they have built a paradise for the Cult of Mechanism in the Far East.”

"Mars' glory is no longer unique; it has encountered many powerful competitors. If it does not strive to make progress, it may be overtaken."

Guilliman took the opportunity to express his stance to everyone, and his request was met with their approval.

The Primarch homeworlds closest to the Ghoul Stars are Nostramore and Maclag, and Maclag is undoubtedly stronger.

Entrusting Guilliman with the safekeeping and research of the Orc Empire's homeworld is indeed a reasonable choice.

“Staying in this godforsaken place, Ghoul Stars, is really awful,” the Macurag suddenly complained.

"This already incredibly barren land will become even more difficult to inhabit after this war, because we will eliminate any possibility of the Ork people rising from the ashes."

"We're not just targeting the Orcs, but also all those other monsters and demons entrenched in the Ghoul Stars. We'll sweep them all away to eliminate any future troubles in the entire Far East Star Region."

"Of course, that's all for later. Now, why don't you all come and sit in my Macurag and continue to discuss how to resolve the state religion and how to advance the Emperor's grand plan?"

Guilliman, more than any other Primarch, longed for his brothers and friends to visit his homeworld.

This was an honor and a reward for him, and he could take full advantage of this opportunity to show how prosperous his territory had been.

Compared to a monarch, Guilliman's mentality was more like that of a farmer skilled in farming and management.

The Great Otlam 600 worlds are his farm, and the humans living on this farm, as well as the planets where industrial production takes place, are the crops he has painstakingly cultivated.

If you don't show off your bountiful harvest to others, you'll undoubtedly miss out on a lot of the joy.

"Then you'd better host a good banquet for us," Luo Xi joked.

……

With the destruction of the Orc Empire, the war in the Ghoul Stars is also coming to an end.

This massive war drew in almost all the Astartes legions loyal to the Empire.

This was the most united effort the entire empire had made since the outbreak of the Horus Rebellion, except for the High Lords Council, which kept causing trouble in the rear.

The Dark Angels volunteered to leave a squadron in this chaotic space to burn those planets to glass one by one.

Someone always has to take on the task of cleaning up the darkness, and dark angels are particularly good at it.

Lothie and the Primarchs agreed to the First Legion's request and allowed the Ultramarines and the Midnight Lords to each allocate a portion of their forces to Astram for unified command, in order to completely eliminate the threat posed by the Ghoul Stars.

In addition, the Ash Claws Chapter, which was present throughout the entire war, also requested to remain in the Ghoul Stars.

The destruction of Ash Claws marked the beginning of this grand war, and its rebirth now signifies its end.

"Our chapter has been wandering this space for hundreds of years. Perhaps we were stubborn and violent in the past, so the Primarch chose to banish us, but now, I think we have made changes."

"We are human beings, and that will never change. Our loyalty has been tested."

Zoe Slick, the current Chapter Master of Ash Claws, expressed her true thoughts to Lothie.

Even if the empire sweeps away the ghouls and wipes them out, this godforsaken place has never lacked the ability to rise from the ashes.

"Based on our accumulated experience, the races in the Ghoul Stars may have been wiped out more than once in the long past, but they will eventually come back. Therefore, we need a cleaner, we need a watchman."

"The Ash Claws have become accustomed to the perilous environment, and we would actually find it difficult to adapt to other places."

Therefore, let us safeguard this perilous cosmic region for the Empire, so that if a second catastrophe were to strike, we could issue another warning.

"Please tell Lord Kovacs Corax that the Ash Claws have been reborn and are no longer as repulsive as they once were."

“If he’s willing to believe us, he can come and see us in the Ghoul Stars.” Zoe’s tone turned somber as she said the last sentence, as if she were a little embarrassed.

Guilliman, of course, would not refuse Zoe's earnest request.

He ordered the transfer of one thousand veterans from his Ultramarines Legion, belonging to the 22nd Chapter, to the Ash Claws.

The 22nd Ultramarines are mostly veterans of Terran descent. Their fighting style is extremely brutal and violent, and they are skilled in using phosphine, radiation, and chemical weapons.

Although Guilliman did not particularly like his brutal and extreme offspring, he still treated them with sufficient respect and care.

Wild beasts cannot be kept in cages forever; perhaps they are better suited to remain in the savage lands of the Ghoul Stars than within the Legion.

"These Ultramarines have a fighting style that is quite similar to yours. The task of guarding the northeastern gate of the Ultramarines cannot be placed entirely on the Ash Claws. The Ultramarines should also contribute."

"It is our duty."

Guilliman waved his hand and handed over a thousand offspring to Zoe for command. This was not only an affirmation of the Ash Claw commander, but also a worthwhile experiment.

"In this war, I have witnessed the excellence of the legion's coordinated operations and the professionalism you have demonstrated in dealing with the alien enemy."

"I think we should take this opportunity to select elites from various legions who are good at dealing with aliens, and use them to form a special force to attack the alien race."

"How about we call it Death Watch?"

Guilliman's proposal was endorsed by the other Primarchs and the Legion Commanders.

Roger Dorn, Vulcan, Macarion, Luther, and others also agreed to draw troops from their own legions to jointly form the Deathwatch.

Even Danteok responded to the call and sent a thousand of the Reborn Steel into the Deathwatch.

Zoe never expected her request to turn out this way.

Almost every Astartes Legion agreed to establish this new organization called Deathwatch.

With so many different Space Marines diluting the Ash Claws, the original name seems to have become somewhat misleading.

But Zoe is not a rigid person; the vicious ghoul stars will not hesitate to devour those who do not know how to be flexible.

Perhaps the Ash Claws will gradually fade from the historical stage, but the Deathwatch will begin to take center stage, making the Empire's frontiers even safer, and everything else will seem insignificant in comparison.

After leaving the newly formed Deathwatch team behind in Ghoul Stars, Lothie and the others finally embarked on their journey home.

Their first stop was Makula, just as Guilliman had wished.

Even several corps on the Western Front were invited by Guilliman to go to Mackrag for supplies.

Luther and the others originally wanted to decline, intending to return to their home planet with the main fleet immediately after the war to rest.

However, the Lord of Altera promised to provide equipment supplies and repair services free of charge, which immediately dispelled Luther and the others' concerns.

There was no other way; although their own fiefdom wasn't exactly poor, it still required a lot of resources in every aspect.

You don't know the cost of firewood and rice until you're in charge of the household. Not all Astartes Legions and Primarchs are as good at managing internal affairs as Guilliman, or as good at developing agriculture as the Ultramarines.

Creating is always more difficult than destroying; this is a truth that only those who have experienced it can truly understand.

Compared to a behemoth like Ultraman 600, everyone here seems to be quite poor.

"In that case, there's no need to be polite anymore. With Guilliman backing us up, we can just focus on resting and regrouping our legion."

Luther, Bjorn, Mel and the others thought to themselves, and all their concerns were dispelled.

The friendship forged in the crucible of life and death is the strongest bond, and the Astartes who fought side by side in this war developed a much closer relationship with each other.

The journey back to Macragge from the Ghoul Cluster wasn't long, and even the warp was exceptionally smooth.

Faced with this unprecedentedly massive expeditionary fleet of humanity, even the greedy and cunning warp creatures would avoid it at all costs.

Even if some fools blinded by greed manage to infiltrate the fleet, the Space Marines who have just fought countless battles in the Ghoul Cluster will show them what cruelty truly is.

In just over a month, the massive human fleet arrived at the star system where the Ultramarines' homeworld, Macragge, was located.

Even with the capacity of the Macurag system, it would be impossible to accommodate such a massive war fleet at the same time.

The combined human fleet, in all its forms, has long since surpassed the terrifying number of ten thousand ships.

Add to that the battle dwarf that shone brightly in the battle to destroy the Greenskins, and the Orc homeworld that Guilliman ordered to be towed back, and Macragge was under immense pressure.

Fortunately, Guilliman had anticipated this situation and made preparations in several galaxies around the Macurag galaxy.

Mustafa Forge Worlds is exceptionally proactive in showcasing its strength, striving to provide fleets and Space Marines from various legions with a more comprehensive and meticulous service than they would on Mars.

They have what Mars doesn't, and theirs are more advanced than Mars's.

The casting director personally gave instructions to take advantage of this rare opportunity to build good relationships with these different Astartes legions and establish their own reputation.

Building good relationships now will lay the foundation for close cooperation in the future, making it a sure-fire deal in the long run.

After instructing the legions on rest and resupply, Guilliman enthusiastically led each legion's Primarch or commander to Macragge aboard a specially arranged transport ship for distinguished guests.

Since returning, Guilliman has never stopped smiling.

He had his legion servants carefully groom his face and style his hair, transforming him once again into the meticulous Archon Macurag.

Primarch even changed into ceremonial armor, the material of which was no different from the original power armor, but the design was undoubtedly more gorgeous and flamboyant.

The power armor, a blend of cobalt blue and gilded gold, is adorned with embossed carvings handcrafted by the most skilled artisans, and runes symbolizing holiness, courage, and fearlessness are cleverly placed on every inch of the armor.

Even standing alongside Primarchs like Roger Dorn or Vulcan, Guilliman was the most dazzling and eye-catching figure.

Perturabo's identity was rather sensitive. He was only wearing a set of ordinary power armor, and given his short stature (besides Alphareth) among the Primarchs, he appeared quite unremarkable.

“Look at this proud Macurag man, he’s dressed himself up like a flamboyant peacock,” Peturabo muttered, but his eyes betrayed his envy.

"He's picked up about 80% of Forgrim's bad habits, which is terrible news." "Are you sure it's not because you want to be as dazzling as him?" Dorn asked doubtfully from the side.

“You’ve always wanted to be the brightest one among your brothers, Peturabo, I understand you.”

The Lord of Iron chuckled awkwardly, then shut his mouth.

Peturabo himself was well aware of this.

Ever since he embarked on that wrong path, all this glory has been irrelevant to him, at least until his lyrical sins.

"You haven't arranged another victory parade or welcoming ceremony, have you?"

As the transport ship was about to land, Rosie suddenly recalled a familiar feeling.

It seems that they had staged a similar welcoming ceremony when they welcomed Ryan Johnson's fleet back then.

"He truly is my old friend; he understands me perfectly."

"Hahaha, that's absolutely right."

“I have had Gage and the others prepare a welcoming ceremony, which will be much larger than when they welcomed Ryan.”

Loxi sighed and rubbed his forehead in exasperation. This guy had invited representatives from all the legions and was going to flex his muscles in front of everyone. Was he really not afraid that some people would think he had ulterior motives?

Anyone with a modicum of sense would likely associate Guilliman's display of military might after his victory with the idea that the Lord of Macragge is consolidating his position as the leader of his legions.

Everyone knows how enormous the contribution of the Ultramarines was in this war; conservative estimates suggest that at least 600,000 Sons of Guilliman participated.

The reputation and achievements of the Ultramarines are impeccable, even those who dislike the Thirteenth Legion have to admit it.

However, Rosie knew that Guilliman really didn't have that many tricks up his sleeve.

He did this simply to share the joy of victory with everyone and celebrate humanity's glorious moment together.

But Guilliman's emotional intelligence was unusually lacking at this moment, and he was completely unaware that his behavior would only solidify his reputation for being "ambitious".

“In the past, I also worried about Guilliman’s loyalty, after all, the power he wielded was really hard to feel at ease with.”

Seeing Rosie's helpless expression, Makado chuckled softly.

“When Neos sent Guilliman to punish Luojia, causing the two legions with the largest numbers to become enemies, this was one of the considerations.”

"After all, Emperor Punishment usually sends out Space Wolves, Extinction usually sends out Dark Angels, so what's the point of sending Ultramarines?"

"So what if many people think Guilliman is ambitious? You and I both know that although Guilliman is impulsive and easily angered, he will not make mistakes of principle."

“Guilliman should now solidify his image as an ambitious man, and with the support of the legion behind him, he will have the ability to deter all ambitious men.”

"After all, he has more than just ambition; he also possesses formidable strength."

"Then, I'll push him up again..."

Makado's voice suddenly became softer; he used his psionic powers to encrypt the conversation, so that no one except Loshi could hear it.

Loshi's eyes widened suddenly, her gaze towards Macado filled with shock, as if to say, "Are you even human?"

"What's wrong? I think you mentioned me."

The imposing Lord of Macragge turned his head curiously, staring at Loshi and Makado.

“We are indeed talking about you,” Macado replied.

“We’re already looking forward to the welcoming ceremony in Macurag,” Losi chimed in.

While Makado was indeed very unethical, if Guilliman didn't go, were they supposed to go?
"Haha, that's for sure. Look at those people who spontaneously responded; they all came to celebrate this glorious moment with us."

Guilliman stood before the transport ship's wide, transparent porthole, where he saw millions, even tens of millions, of mortals densely packed on the planet's surface.

Looking down from this height, mortals appear as insignificant as ants, and when they gather together, they resemble a surging river, countless in number.

All the ordinary people participating in the triumphal procession were dressed in uniform and held up colorful flags or huge, eye-catching banners.

Thanks to the efforts of the planetary defense forces and Macurag police, the crowd maintained a high degree of order, forming a grid-like modular structure to prevent stampedes caused by large gatherings.

"Look! That's the Primarch's spaceship!"

"They're back! They're back!"

"Our pride has returned in triumph!"

The ordinary people, who had been able to remain calm, immediately began to scream with joy when they saw the ceremonial barge appear in the sky.

The people holding the flags waved them vigorously, while the people operating the cannons began to fire in an orderly manner, and a large number of brightly colored ribbons fluttered in the wind.

Whether man or woman, old or child, civilian or soldier, all paid the highest tribute to the return of the Primarch.

The rise of the Orcish Empire was no secret, and in fact, the human empire did not choose to suppress the news.

Firstly, such things cannot be contained, and secondly, the human empire hopes to use this news to inspire all of humanity to unite and face the threat together.

Now, with news of the Greenskins' victory reaching the rear, the emotions built up earlier instantly reached their peak.

Humans can proudly declare that the Orcs have once again been defeated, just as they did more than a hundred years ago when humans first defeated the Orc Empire at Ulanor.

Humanity's confidence and sense of honor have soared to unprecedented heights. Nothing can stop humanity, not even the Ork or other alien races!
The Ultramarines' warbands held a grand procession on the surface, joined by mortal auxiliary forces, the knightly families of the Mechanicus, the Titan Legion, and representatives of the traveling merchants.

The group of wandering merchants greatly alleviated the empire's logistical burden during the war. Although they did not directly step onto the battlefield, they still played a significant role.

Anyone who has made a contribution is eligible to join the victory parade.

Besides them, there was also a group of church members dressed in priestly robes and carrying the flag of the Church of England walking in the procession.

At the very front of this state church procession, Euphrates Kilo, dressed in missionary robes, led all the believers with a resolute expression.

All those who believed in the emperor stared intently at Qi Le's figure, watching this somewhat slender pope lead the team forward with unwavering determination.

Instead of shouting wildly, people silently joined the group and followed Qi Le's steps.

From the perspective of ordinary people, it is difficult for them to understand the complex political struggles within the state religion.

After all, both Qile and Elfreda, representing the state religion, strongly accused each other of being the betrayers of the imperial faith.

Furthermore, this mutual barrage of public opinion is escalating as friction between the two sides intensifies.

How can ordinary people who can only passively accept propaganda possibly unravel the hidden truth?
They can only use their own eyes to distinguish right from wrong and discern truth from falsehood.

At this moment, in their eyes, a pope like Qile, who was willing to appear on the front lines of the war and personally call on the people to unite against the Orc invasion, was naturally much better than that "pope" who sat in the luxurious palace of Terra and called on humanity with just words.

Don't look at what important people say, look at what they do. This principle has remained true throughout history.

The transport ship slowly descended and moved above the military square. Then, deep blue plasma vortexes shot out from the bottom of the behemoth and slowly fell to the ground from high altitude.

Alloy supports extended from below the barge, firmly suspending the hull above the ground. The heavy hatches opened amidst the sounds of mechanical coupling and the depressurization of the air doors.

The first person to appear before the public was naturally Robert Guilliman.

The Primarch, exuding an aura of nobility and power, whose every move radiated an overwhelming presence, had tears welling in his eyes when he saw his people.

He left Macgrass and led the Ultramarines across half the galaxy to aid Terra.

But no one expected that after the war, he would stay in Terra and become the so-called Imperial Commander. He seemed to be high and mighty, but in reality, he was just a prisoner on the throne of power.

His people bid farewell to their monarch, but never saw him return.

More than a hundred years have passed, and even though the average lifespan of Macragge is far greater than the Empire's average, the vast majority of the mortals who witnessed Guilliman leading his army to Terra are still not alive today.

"My people... I have returned!"

"I, Robert Guilliman, am back!"

Guilliman raised his right fist high, and then a thunderous roar burst from his mouth, which could be heard by mortals within tens of kilometers.

Guilliman used a little psionic skill; otherwise, even the Primarch wouldn't have been able to make so many mortals hear his voice.

"Guilliman! Guilliman!"

"By the Emperor, the monarch of Macurag has returned!"

He has returned in triumph!

Countless people shouted themselves hoarse, and many knelt on the ground, expressing their excitement in the most devout way.

Some parents lift their children high above their heads, allowing these naive newborns to witness the original's splendor firsthand.

Some people even fainted from excitement, but they were carried out for emergency treatment by the prepared PDF team and medical nuns.

With the Primarch's return, all the Macragans instantly felt their backs straighten, as if no terrible enemy could frighten or subdue them.

Behind Guilliman, Rosie, Vulcan, Dorn and others landed one after another, while Luther, Bjorn and others stood at the back.

Four Primarchs arrived in Macragge, a spectacle comparable only to the Shadow Crusade era.

At the very front of the procession of mortals, a woman with a full head of silver hair and many fine wrinkles on her face, holding a bouquet of blooming triumphal flowers, walked up to Guilliman under the gaze of countless people.

Although she looked quite old, she still possessed a graceful and elegant demeanor, exuding a gentle yet dignified aura.

"Welcome home, Rob."

This is what Guilliman’s Lady of the House, who was also his foster mother, Tarasha Ewton, said.

This Primarch foster mother had aged considerably compared to a century ago, but her cobalt blue eyes, so similar to Guilliman's, remained clear and bright.

Guilliman stood frozen in place. The mighty commander who was invincible on the battlefield and whose achievements were praised by countless people, the son of the emperor, seemed like a timid and helpless child in front of Ms. Tarasha Yotton.

Guilliman missed Mrs. Yotton countless times, and even wanted to abandon his responsibilities and return to Macurag to embrace his mother many times.

However, he ultimately restrained his emotions with willpower and buried this longing deep in his heart.

“If you don’t take it, it will be tiring for me to hold it.”

Ms. Eudon smiled and winked at the young man in front of her.

Guilliman seemed to wake from a dream, and immediately accepted the light bouquet of triumphal flowers. Then, Mrs. Euton placed a laurel wreath symbolizing victory on her son's head.

"The monarch of Otlamah has always protected his people and all of humanity. We praise and worship you, and we hope that you will not forget your original intentions and will remain cautious and restrained."

I am proud of you.

Eudon encouraged her, extending her right hand, and Guilliman readily bent down so that his mother could touch his face.

Guilliman had expected Ms. Yotton to say something more encouraging, or perhaps to express gratitude on behalf of the people of Macurag, but he was wrong about everything.

“Robo, I see you have gray hair.” Mrs. Euton’s voice was tinged with sadness.

Suddenly, Guilliman heard a sound of something shattering coming from within his own mind.

(End of this chapter)