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

Chapter 906 Guilliman's Stubbornness
Escorted by the orc guards under Vulcan's command, Apostle Magnus's lightship traveled smoothly and at high speed through the network.

As they drove along, the Primarch clones witnessed firsthand the various changes that occurred within the network.

Although they couldn't disembark from the lightship and meet face-to-face with the Imperial army that was expelling warp demons and rebuilding the stability of the network due to their journey, this was enough to comfort them and make them more convinced that the future of the Empire would be better.

The Apostle Magnus even led the Primarch clones to stay for several hours in Comoros, humanity's most important enclave, allowing Dorn and Perturabo, who were stationed there, to meet their clones.

Contrary to the expectations of the Primarch clones, the originals they have encountered so far have all shown a relatively friendly attitude and have not shown any malice towards them, who were clones created using blasphemous technology.

The Primarch clones could all see that when the original Roger Dorn and Perturabo saw their clones, there was a slight embarrassment on their faces.

But this awkwardness quickly dissipated as the two sides communicated.

The Primarch's superbrain was able to decipher a great deal of information from language and micro-expressions. Dorn and Perturabo quickly confirmed that the clone before them was indeed, in a sense, "themselves" from a certain point in the past, rather than just a mere shell.

"This is not your fault. It was that arrogant and blasphemous Fabius who brought you into this world."

"You are fortunate. When you were born, the Empire and humanity had already passed through the most difficult period and entered a completely new era."

"You don't need to feel guilty about yourselves. You can choose the life you want, as long as you're not foolish enough to be enemies of humanity."

The original Dorne, unusually, managed to utter many words, offering these words of advice to the clone Dorne before him.

Klondon didn't offer any grand promises; he simply extended his right hand to his original body, and their hands clasped tightly together, merging into a fist.

"Keep up the good work and don't go astray like I did."

Conversely, the original Peturabo, who is usually quite talkative, only said one sentence when facing his clone.

The clone Peturabo had no idea what his original self had gone through, but he still dutifully remembered the other's advice.

This was not out of fear, but because he had 100% confidence in "himself". If his clone was so outstanding, how could the original be weaker?
Just as Peturabo turned to leave and continue inspecting the progress of Comoros's defense system, the Primarch suddenly stopped and added.

“You are me. I know what you’re thinking and how proud and arrogant you are. Dorn is my brother. Don’t hate him over trivial matters.”

"When you look back at the past from the perspective of the future, you will find that all you have in your memory is hatred, which is a very sad thing."

"That's it. If you ever don't know where to go in the future, you can come find me."

After meeting briefly, the originals left, leaving only the clones behind to ponder.

"Alright, we don't have much time to waste, let's head back to Terra now."

Upon seeing this, the apostle Magnus immediately urged.

His mind was constantly filled with the prayers and longings of countless mortals for the God Emperor. As the God Emperor's apostle, he was like a transit station, constantly being subjected to the erosion of faith.

Once he had escorted these clones to Holy Terra, he would immediately have to deal with the important matters that had piled up, and he simply did not have time to waste.

But Magnus is content with his current life. Compared to his previous life of studying obscure and ancient spells and knowledge amidst mountains of books, what he is doing now is undoubtedly more meaningful.

The group boarded the lightship again and headed towards Holy Terra at top speed.

The network route from Comoros to Terra is noticeably busier than the previous routes. Huge warships and transport ships can often be seen sailing back and forth within the network, using it to travel across the galaxy.

Of course, the Internet has not yet been opened to mortals outside of the Imperial government; they can still only travel by space bridge.

When Magnus piloted the lightship and appeared from the net tunnel exit in Terra's near-Earth orbit, Lothie and the others who had been waiting on Terra immediately noticed their presence.

"They're here! They've finally come!"

Inside the palace, Guilliman, wearing a crown symbolizing the power and status of the regent, paced back and forth in his office.

"You really want to see your own clone that much?" Losi teased from the side.

"I thought you would reject those clones. After all, according to the uncanny valley effect, humans tend to like individuals who are similar to themselves, but if a certain threshold is crossed, the higher the similarity, the higher the rejection rate."

"Are there any clones in this world more similar to you, or even more similar to you in the past than you are now?"

However, Guilliman simply shook his head and then replied.

"This is just anxiety caused by blurred boundaries, a self-protective mechanism of the human psyche, and my rationality can easily overcome this."

"One reason why mortals fear those who are too similar to themselves is that they are afraid of having their uniqueness replaced."

Guilliman pointed to himself, especially gesturing towards the laurel wreath.

“I’m not afraid of being replaced, I even hope to be replaced. Only those who sit in this position know how unbearable it is. I feel like I’m sitting on a live volcano that could erupt at any moment. It’s not a pleasant feeling.”

“So…” Loshi took a few steps closer to Guilliman thoughtfully, then stared at the Macurag’s micro-expressions with a suspicious look.

"You wouldn't be thinking of having your clone take on your responsibilities so you can have time to do other things, would you?"

Guilliman: ...

A few drops of cold sweat trickled down the back of the regent's neck.

After quietly activating the body fluid circulation system on his power armor, the sweat dripping from Guilliman's back disappeared without a trace.

"Hehe, how could I?"

The Imperial Regent rubbed his hands together, then subtly rubbed his nose with his fingertip.

"Honestly, you don't lie. In this respect, you are far inferior to your brothers."

"They can tell lies with such a straight face that they even fool themselves."

Guilliman sighed in frustration and said casually, "Was my performance that obvious? I thought I could at least make you believe me a little."

"How about we do it again? I'll cooperate a bit this time?" Luo Xi said leisurely, arms crossed.

"Never mind, that's not necessary."

“I have very important things to do personally, and I can’t be completely at ease even if I entrust them to Gage or Auguston.”

Roche knew Guilliman far too well.

This regent, who could handle thousands of complex political affairs at the same time and remember the names, backgrounds, and even the likes and dislikes of everyone he had come into contact with, was actually not a very complicated person.

His political acumen stemmed not from a love of political maneuvering, but from necessity, nothing more.

"So you want to personally destroy the cult and seize the technology for creating immortal beings from them?"

"Believe me, anyone who knows your idea will do their best to dissuade you, even Ms. Euton herself."

The regent of the mighty empire, bearing the heavy responsibility of serving billions of humanity across the five major star regions of the galaxy, actually dared to personally risk his life to lead the charge and wipe out the secret cult, a cult of alien beings hiding in the shadows.
"Even if you tell Ryan or Ruth and ask them to help you with this, it's better than you doing it yourself. You don't think the other Primarch brothers will slack off or do nothing, do you?"

Rose tried to dissuade him, and regardless of whether it worked or not, she naturally had to make her stance clear.

“Yes, my reason tells me you are right,” Guilliman nodded affirmatively.

"but."

“This matter concerns my mother and Ms. Euton’s life. No one but me can give me complete peace of mind.”

“My emotions told me I had to go. I had to personally destroy the esoteric sects and take the technology I needed from them.”

"I want to save my mother with my own hands!"

“Even if my father stood in front of me and tried to stop me, I would never give in.”

Rosie sighed slightly; this was indeed the Guilliman he knew.

Although he remains calm most of the time, when it comes to certain crucial moments, his mind becomes stubborn and he won't give up until he hits a wall.

"Furthermore, I understand that with the end of the Comoros War, the Web has completely fallen into human hands. The remaining task is to systematically expand the Web and space bridges throughout the galaxy."

"The erosion and corruption of our universe by the subspace will end in the foreseeable future. Before that day comes, you, my father, or other brothers will choose to leave our universe and venture into the wider multiverse."

Guilliman's tone suddenly changed, revealing a faint trace of melancholy, as he spoke of his true sorrow.

As the regent of the empire, he could see even the slightest changes within the empire and naturally could also deduce the emperor's will.

"We are not the only universe threatened by chaos. As you said, many other universes have been affected by chaos to varying degrees."

Rosie nodded. When he first went to the X-Men universe and the Transformers universe, he once thought they were separate universes.

But it wasn't until later that he realized these worlds were simply the result of the powerful race of gods using their dimensional technology to divide a complete universe into parallel universes that do not affect each other.

They use parallel universes to cultivate the warriors they need, thereby continuously acquiring consumable resources to resist invasions from chaos, or to invade other universes.

Besides the Celestial Universe, there must be many other universes, and the situation in these universes is probably not much better.

"We can never be passively defensive; staying confined to the Warhammer universe will only make the environment worse," Guilliman said passionately, waving his fist.

"Therefore, after the crisis in the Warhammer universe is resolved, humanity's power will be divided in two."

"One of them will maintain the empire's rule and operation, ensuring that humanity has a stable rear area."

"The greatest threat remaining in the Warhammer universe is the slumbering Necrons, but it will be a long time before they fully awaken."

"Moreover, the Space Necromancers are not a monolithic entity. The Silent King and the Storm King have always been mortal enemies, and a large-scale civil war between them is inevitable. Before that happens, humanity should remain objective and neutral to avoid provoking the Space Necromancers to unite again."

“We can either sit back and watch the fight, or we can support a representative and use human power to help him become the final victor. I guess in your plan, that person will be that greedy thief overlord, Tarasin.”

Rosie's lips twitched, but she didn't deny it.

"With the Web, the Eldar, and the Orcs, humanity no longer fears the Necromancers of space. I believe that humanity will be the ultimate ruler of this universe."

"Could it be that there are enemies beyond the Milky Way? That's unlikely."

Guilliman looked directly into Losi's eyes and continued.

"And that second force, which is also the most elite and pioneering force of mankind, will inevitably start from the Warhammer universe and march into other universes."

“I guess my father will lead the team himself, and my brothers will follow behind. They will conquer the universe wherever they go, just like the Great Crusade that the Emperor launched. They will drive out and destroy any beings that might be hostile to humanity.”

"This will be an expedition a hundred times, ten thousand times greater than the Great Crusade. It has no time limit and no boundaries. The diverse universe will be a stage even greater than the small Milky Way. But I also understand that I may not have the opportunity to participate."

Guilliman pointed at himself with a hint of grief and indignation, as if pointing at the most miserable person in the world.

"I am the unlucky guy who is most suitable to stay in the Warhammer universe. Only I can maintain the stability of the Empire and provide you expeditionary forces with support in all aspects."

"You've all left, leaving me all alone. Is that fair?"

Roche hadn't expected Guilliman to think so far ahead, but his predictions were remarkably accurate.

The Emperor has already shared his idea of ​​an intercosmic expedition with Lothie, but it is still in the planning stage.

The Emperor and Lothie will not leave the Warhammer universe until they have dealt with the Void Dragons on Mars and completely sealed off the Eye of Terror threat.

But this future is inevitable. Only by venturing out can humanity acquire more power, unite with more potential allies, and fight off enemies that have not yet arrived.

Today, humanity must broaden its horizons. To confine ourselves to a single universe is short-sighted, like a frog in a well. If future enemies come from beyond the universe, and humanity is trapped within one, it's no different from a slow death.

If humanity doesn't occupy the highlands of the multiverse, the enemy will.

“I know that someone will stay in the Warhammer universe, and that person is most likely me, so until then, I will seize every opportunity to unleash my true nature.”

Guilliman has cast off the shackles of reason and allowed his emotions to completely dominate everything.

In other words, the imperial regent has made it clear that he intends to indulge himself, and he is certain that no one else will stop him.

"Sigh, I've already tried to persuade you. Do whatever you want."

“If you are willing to make the destruction of Tantric Buddhism the end of your war career, then I will fully support your wishes, my friend.”

Guilliman's sadness instantly turned into excited joy.

"A word is settled!"

The Apostle Magnus and his party, who arrived in Terra via the network, were directly teleported to the largest square in front of the palace using psionic energy after passing the verification and inspection of the defense system.

"We have arrived. The Emperor, the God Emperor, and the other Primarchs are all waiting for you in the palace."

"Although I don't know how they will treat you, from my personal point of view, I still want to say: Welcome home, brothers."

The Apostle Magnus's heartfelt words dispelled the last trace of unease and hesitation in the hearts of the Primarch clones.

Yes, they have gone through so much hardship and finally escaped from the Eye of Fear back to Holy Terra. Could things get any worse than they did at the beginning?
Kon Horus walked at the very front of all the Primarchs, only following behind the Apostle Magnus.

He removed all his weapons and armor and neatly arranged them on the gleaming marble of the square.

This clone of the Wolf God was dressed simply in a linen robe, remarkably plain and simple.

Seeing this, the other Primarch clones also removed their weapons and armor, an attitude that should be maintained when paying homage to the Lord of Man and the God of Man.

"Let's go. No matter what, we have to face reality."

Horus smiled, his face radiating a gentle light similar to, yet somewhat different from, that of the past.

Following Horus, the clones who had chosen to betray Horus also entered the grand archway of the palace hall.

Everything before my eyes was still so familiar; time seemed to have left no trace in the human palace.

However, Horus still noticed something different: on the wide walls and sky of the palace, there were many more murals and statues of human heroes and great men who emerged during the Great Rebellion and the years that followed.

The artists who served the emperor for generations would spend their entire lives, sometimes just sculpting a statue or completing a mural, and all of these would end up in the palace, becoming a snapshot of history.

As they walked into the corridor closest to the throne room, the scroll of the various Astartes legions' founding and conquests slowly unfolded. As expected, apart from the second and eleventh legions being erased, the legions that chose to betray them also disappeared without a trace.

The Empire acknowledges their existence, but erases their traces in the Terran Palace—an invisible punishment, a stripping away of their glorious history and sublime honor.

From the initial plaza entrance to the radiant golden doors of the throne room, it took even the Primarchs a full half hour.

As the fully armed Imperial Guards slowly opened the gate, dazzling light shone from the throne room.

Clone Horus did not choose to hide; he stared directly at the figure behind the light with his own eyes.

Even by instinct alone, Horus could pinpoint the Emperor's location, and his heart was pounding at an alarming rate.

Even the other Primarchs could hear the pounding of Horus's heart in his chest, though they were just as nervous.

The light slowly faded, and the emperor's figure appeared on the open ground in front of the golden throne.

Meanwhile, Lothie, Marker Macardo, Grand Marshal Waldo of the Imperial Guard, Regent Guilliman, and others were positioned on either side of the Emperor, watching together as the Primarchs arrived.

Horus looked up at the towering golden throne. At the edge of his vision, a giant golden pillar of light, radiating infinite holiness, completely suppressed another black pillar of light, radiating a terrifying aura of destruction. Both pillars exuded an aura that instilled fear in the heart.

It wasn't until they actually saw the Emperor that the Primarch clones realized that all their previous imaginings of the current Emperor were wrong. Compared to the Emperor in their memories, the Lord of Mankind was completely different.

Past emperors were sometimes majestic like gods, sometimes tender like fathers, but they always carried a sense of ambiguity, like "a thousand faces in a thousand people," making it impossible to tell whether it was the emperor's true feelings or just a facade he created.

The emperor before them now exuded a more restrained yet more authentic aura.

Clones Horus's breathing stopped abruptly for a moment.

His gaze was fixed on that figure, the father he once worshipped like a god, but who had later betrayed him and caused him immense pain.

A thousand words were stuck in my throat, yet I couldn't utter a single one.

A massive surge of emotion overwhelmed him, breaking down all his psychological defenses. His legs gave way, and he involuntarily knelt forward.

He did not stand, but instead knelt and prostrated himself with each step towards the emperor.

Father... Am I still worthy to call you that?

His heart was screaming, filled with endless regret and pain.

When you see me, do you see the leader of the traitors who plunged humanity into terror and darkness, or a pathetic clone?
Am I, this body bearing the name of a traitor, worthy to breathe the air of Terra again and stand before you?
How I wish time could turn back, how I wish I wasn't the one who went astray... But everything is beyond redemption.

I returned not to seek forgiveness, but perhaps simply to tell you in person... how I feel excruciating pain and shame over this...

Klonhorus's shoulders trembled slightly, his head was raised, but he dared not look the emperor in the eye.

Finally, he knelt down to the emperor's feet, bowed his head deeply, his forehead pressed against the cold floor, like a prisoner awaiting final judgment.

The entire throne room was silent, all eyes were fixed on the unusual father and son.

The emperor lowered his gaze and placed it on Clone Horus.

That gaze contained incredibly complex emotions: deep sorrow, indelible scars, scrutiny, and a hint of extremely subtle pity.

Horus, his most beloved son, was also his deepest pain.

The clone before me carries Horus's genes and some of his memories, yet it is a completely new, independent individual who has not yet committed those crimes.

After a long silence, the emperor finally spoke.

"Get up."

The emperor neither directly forgave Horus nor imposed new punishments; this simple statement seemed to contain immense weight and profound meaning.

Clone Horus shuddered, hesitated slightly, and it took him almost all his strength to slowly raise his head and stand up, but he still humbly bowed his body.

The Emperor's gaze shifted from him, slowly sweeping over the other Primarch clones, and finally settled on the clone Forgrim.

The Phoenix Reborn stood there, the two deep cross-shaped scars on his face had healed, but left permanent marks, ruining his flawless appearance, but adding to his resolute and decisive temperament.

The Emperor's gaze lingered on Forgrim's face for a moment, a subtle, almost imperceptible tremor flickering in his eyes.

Clone Forgrim sensed the gaze, stepped forward, placed his right hand on his chest, and bowed deeply to the Emperor, his voice clear and filled with sincere remorse.

"Your Majesty... Father. I offer my deepest apologies for the pain and shame that my... true self has brought to you and the Empire due to my fall from grace."

I was once lost in the pursuit of illusory perfection, thus straying from the path of true excellence and loyalty.

This scar is a vow I made to break with the past, a reminder of the mistakes I made, and the path I must adhere to in the future.

He didn't offer much explanation, but simply admitted his mistake and expressed his determination.

The emperor listened quietly, and then nodded slightly.

"External perfection will eventually decay with time or be destroyed by war."

The emperor's voice rang out again, not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"Only the light forged by inner faith and will can truly be eternal. You have found something more precious than pale perfection, Fugrim. You have grasped the true meaning that Rellano interpreted with his life. This path is not easy, but you have already embarked on it."

The Lord of Mankind did not mention whether the sins of the original were inherited by the clone, but affirmed the awareness and transformation that the clone Forgrim was showing at this moment.

This brief assessment relieved the immense pressure on clone Forgrim, and a flicker of excitement and determination flashed in his eyes.

He knew that this was not the end, but the beginning of the true path to redemption.

“My lord…” Fugrim gritted his teeth and continued to ask.

"I want to know, Rellano, where did his soul go?"

In the crypts of Istvan III, Rellano detonated a viral bomb, perishing along with the Primarch. His physical body was completely annihilated, but his soul might still have a glimmer of hope.

Now, nothing else mattered to Forgrim but the fate of this loyal son of the emperor.

Was it a complete annihilation, or... did it fall into the hands of the subspace?

If it is the latter, Fulgrim swears with his life and soul that he will spend the rest of his life reclaiming Rellano's soul and granting him eternal rest.

The Emperor gazed into Forgrim's eyes, saw into his soul, and confirmed that he was not asking the question to create a perfect persona of loving offspring.

“Rellano was a loyalist. He was loyal to me and to humanity. Therefore, after his death, his soul was accepted by the God-Emperor and slumbers in the human soul home.”

"He can choose eternal slumber, or he can recuperate and be reborn to fight for humanity once more."

Upon hearing this answer, the huge weight that had been hanging over Fugrim's heart finally lifted.

That's good, that's good!
Rellano found peace; he was too tired, and Forgrim wished him to rest in peace forever.

The Emperor's gaze swept over all the Primarch clones once more, his eyes lingering briefly on Saint Gilles, Mortarion, Angron, and others, as if he were reading their complex inner thoughts and the possibilities of their destinies.

"Your return is an accident, a variable." The Emperor's voice echoed in the magnificent throne room. "The Empire is no longer what it used to be. It is struggling to rise from the mud and is trying to move towards a broader, but also more complex future."

"Your existence is also like that."

"The past cannot be changed, but the future depends on your choices and actions at this moment. The Empire may no longer need twenty Primarchs to lead the army, but it will always need loyal guardians, wise minds, and a will that will never yield to darkness."

"Stay in Terra, or go where the Empire needs you. See with your own eyes, judge with your own hearts, and then make your choice and take on the corresponding responsibility."

Having said that, the emperor said no more.

He slowly turned around, his consciousness clearly already focused on a more distant and arduous level, a level concerning the survival of humanity, the eternal war against the warp, and the blueprint for the upcoming expedition across the universe.

The audience seemed to have ended there. There was neither the expected thunderous anger nor a relaxed, happy ending; there was only a calm after the storm and an unknown future.

The clones felt a mix of emotions, but they also secretly breathed a sigh of relief; at least, the most difficult first step had been taken.

Regent Guilliman stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over each of his clone brothers, his tone becoming pragmatic and steady.

"As Father said, the choice is in your hands, and we have enough time for you to understand this new era of empire."

After that, whether you wish to remain in the solar system or travel to any other place, the Empire will make appropriate arrangements for you.

"By the way, Guilliman, stay behind. I have something important to discuss with you," the Regent said, looking at the clone who looked exactly like him but was a little younger.

(End of this chapter)