Warhammer 40K in a box

Chapter 692 The Emperor Wants a Daughter
Following the Horus Rebellion, Imperial Regent Guilliman implemented the Astartes Codex, which broke down the massive Astartes Legion into smaller, more manageable warlords to prevent the recurrence of warlords wielding excessive military power like Horus.

However, Chen Xi's use of the term "legion" at this moment clearly carries a certain implication, pointing to a threat that the empire may currently face that requires a larger military force to deal with.

"As for the other Primarchs," Chen Xi added, "Lord Robout Guilliman, the ruler of the five hundred worlds of Alteramar, is currently still in the stasis field of Macragge, in a state of technical slumber, and has not yet returned."

Korak, Vulcan, Dorne, the Khan… their whereabouts remain a mystery. Imperial records state that they either perished at the end of the rebellion or disappeared during the subsequent millennia of warfare, with no confirmed reports of their return to date.

Chen Xi then steered the conversation toward the Lion King's own return.

“My coming to ‘The Rock’ and my attempt to awaken you ahead of time is under the Emperor’s guidance.” Chen Xi’s tone was solemn and unquestionable. “The Emperor sits on the Golden Throne, observing the fate of the Milky Way with his supreme will.”

He foresaw a massive upheaval was about to occur, a cosmic catastrophe far exceeding any previous Black Expedition was about to tear apart the real universe.

Originally, according to some ancient prophecy or imperial plan, your return should have occurred after the 'Great Rift' unfolded.

However, the urgency of the situation exceeded expectations, and the Emperor believed that the Empire must gather all available forces in advance.

"You, Lord Leon Eljonsson, and the power of the Dark Angels and their followers that you represent, are an indispensable pillar for the Empire in weathering the impending storm."

He reiterated that phrase: "What the Empire needs is not just the Dark Angels who are currently operating in a fragmented warband mode, but the First Legion that, during the Great Crusade and the Great Rebellion, served as the Emperor's Death Angels, possessing overwhelming power and unified command."

Fragmented chapters may be effective in dealing with regional threats, but in the face of a catastrophe sweeping across the entire galaxy, only the iron fist of a legion, reunited, can play a decisive role.

The Lion King listened silently, his emerald eyes gleaming with thoughtful consideration.

Chen Xi's words undoubtedly touched something deep within him.

The glory of the First Legion and the unparalleled power brought by unified command were things he had once been familiar with and in control of.

He spoke slowly, his voice low and deep: "I understand. The Dark Angels... the First Legion, have never forgotten their duty. To consolidate our forces and address the threat is the only option."

However, immediately afterward, the Lion King frowned slightly, raised his hand wearing a power armor glove, and slowly clenched it, as if sensing something.

He raised his head, looking directly at Chen Xi with a hint of confusion and questioning: "Judge, during my awakening, did you... sense anything unusual? Or rather, did you do anything to me?"

He paused for a moment, then chose a relatively accurate word, “I feel that my body… seems to be not as good as it was before I fell asleep.”

The power remains immense, but a certain... sharpness from its peak seems to have diminished. Is it the wear and tear from the awakening process?

Faced with the Lion King's question, Chen Xi showed a helpless expression. He shook his head, his tone calm but carrying a cruel truth: "Primarch, I assure you, the awakening process followed the path guided by the Emperor in the most thorough way, and did not cause any additional burden or damage to your body."

Meeting the Lion King's probing gaze, he said frankly, "What you are feeling is not caused by external forces. The reason is perhaps simpler and more natural—you are just getting old."

He slowed his speech slightly to make the fact more palatable: "Ten thousand years is not without its traces, even for a Primarch like you."

Your body has spent many years in stillness, and the passage of time itself brings about a certain degree of... sedimentation and change.

This is not weakness, but the mark left by time. You need time to reacquaint yourself with this body that has spanned millennia. This explanation seemed to plunge the Lion King into a moment of silence.

He looked down at his hands, as if for the first time truly realizing the imprint that the time scale of "ten thousand years" had left on him.

He did not show anger or frustration, but rather a calm acceptance of the established facts.

As a prototype known for his rationality and pragmatism, he quickly adjusted his mindset.

Then, the Lion King's gaze turned to Leona, who had been standing quietly beside Chen Xi, her face hidden by a hood.

Despite her silence, the Lion King's powerful perception clearly captured the unique essence of that power, which shared the same origin as his own and stemmed from the Emperor's might.

That kind of blood-related resonance cannot be faked.

However, a female version of "himself," whatever its nature, gave him an unprecedented and indescribable sense of acquaintance.

"Then, regarding her," the Lion King gestured to Leona with his eyes, his voice filled with obvious inquiry, "what is your explanation, Inquisitor? I can feel her connection to me, and the power she carries is essentially from the same source as mine."

But such a form… could the Emperor's 'grand plan' also include… such a creation?

Even the well-informed Lion King was somewhat perplexed.

In his mind, the twenty Primarchs created by the Emperor were all male, and were perfect demigods used to command the human empire's army and govern its territory.

Chen Xi seemed to have already prepared an answer to this question, but he also seemed unable to give a definite explanation.

He shrugged slightly, indicating that he was not omniscient: "Leona's existence is also part of the Emperor's grand plan, that much is undeniable. You have personally sensed her essence and power."

With the Empire facing unprecedented threats and most Primarchs still missing, it needs to gather all possible forces.

Every entity at the Primarch level is a priceless strategic asset and a cornerstone of stable human civilization.

He paused, seemingly considering his words, before continuing, "As for why her outward appearance is female... I have no right or ability to comment on the Emperor's ultimate intentions. The Emperor's wisdom and schemes far exceed the comprehension of us mortals."

At this point, a subtle, almost teasing expression even appeared on Chen Xi's face. He lowered his voice, as if stating a not entirely unfounded conjecture: "Perhaps... after the Horus Rebellion, and the seemingly endless internal strife and external threats over the past ten thousand years, the Emperor simply felt that his twenty sons... were sometimes too 'troublesome,' so much so that when planning new powers, He would occasionally think, 'Perhaps trying daughters would be better?'"

The answer carried a rare, almost offensive bluntness, yet strangely fitting a certain dark humor. Upon hearing this, the muscles in Leon Alderson's face seemed to twitch almost imperceptibly.

He didn't respond immediately, but instead looked deeply at Chen Xi with his deep, dark eyes, as green as the Caliban forest, and then glanced at Leona, who was as quiet as a statue.

In the end, he said nothing, but turned his gaze back to the treacherous territory of the empire on the tactical star map and fell into deep thought.

The burden of millennia has been lifted, but the road ahead remains shrouded in mist and war.

(End of this chapter)