Warhammer 40: Doom

Chapter 256 What exactly happened to him?
"I declare you innocent, and I declare myself innocent."

These powerful and forgiving words, spoken by the Primarch, placed him on equal footing with the Space Marines.

Guilliman showed magnanimity, using his skill to forgive the unwitting offense of his genetic offspring.

The emperor was very satisfied with this outcome. Although he did not express his opinion explicitly, his eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a satisfied expression.

The Lord of Mankind was surprised; Guilliman's displayed personality was contrary to his true nature.

He should have been a raging son of war, but due to later influences, he became the rational King of Macragge.

“Brother,” Vulcan turned to Doom, bowed slightly, and asked in a low voice, “is this what you wanted?”

The kind and benevolent giant wore a gratified smile, moved by Guilliman's magnanimous spirit and understanding of Doom's petty tricks.

Regardless, both were great rulers who were broad-minded and considerate of others.

Doom nodded and replied in a low voice, "Some things must be discussed in public to get a clear answer."

He admitted that he had indeed orchestrated the meeting, in the presence of the Emperor and Vulcan, to bring together the soldiers of the Thirteenth Army with Robert Guilliman, the father of genetics.

By placing their encounter in the public eye, Guilliman is forced to consider the presence of his brother and father, and to make a promise.

At the very least, those Space Marines who attacked him will no longer face unjust retribution.

If these warriors are suppressed within the legion, Guilliman will have broken his promise and damaged his own prestige.

But Doom saw through Guilliman; his brother was politically astute and wouldn't hold a grudge later.

Conversely, the King of Macragge would favor the fourth boarding warriors to cultivate his reputation and win over the hearts of his people.

In the eyes of a competent politician, personal grudges are insignificant.

They value their stance more, and what benefits their current actions can bring in the present or future.

Guilliman won the hearts of the people; the soldiers of the Fourth Company and the boarding party members were moved to tears, with tears streaming down their faces.

If the atmosphere hadn't been so solemn, they would surely have embraced and wept, creating a touching scene of filial piety.

"Stand tall, Space Marines!" Guilliman's gaze swept across the four-man phalanx.

The legionary warriors who met his gaze responded to the father of genes' scrutiny with upright and proud posture.

Under the ardent gaze of his children, Guilliman felt their heartfelt respect and love.

He let out a deep, lion-like roar, a powerful howl that dispelled the gloom that lingered in the hearts of the legion's warriors: "Let the guilt in your heart vanish, it does not belong to the son of Guilliman!"

"Praise be to the Lord of mankind! Praise be to the Great Primarch! Praise be to the Father of the Gene!"

The legionary warriors roared in low voices, then knelt down in droves, their excitement overflowing.

Just then, the Legion warriors felt an irresistible force preventing them from kneeling.

"Arise, son of Guilliman." A majestic voice echoed throughout the garden as the Emperor spoke slowly.

His words contained power; his simple words were like truth, making it difficult for the legionary warriors to move.

The scene of filial piety and parental love was touching, but it needed an ending, and the emperor spoke up at just the right moment.

He used his authority and power to show Guilliman and the Legion that the time did not belong to the Legion.

The Emperor is here, the Primarch brothers are here, and time should be given to the Father and the brothers.

"My lords, please follow me." A court attendant slowly stepped forward, a gentle and friendly smile on his face, to lead the way for the legion's soldiers.

Not far from the Emperor and Primarch, a banquet was prepared to entertain the warriors of the Thirteenth Legion.

Doom was very grateful for their help and, while exonerating the Legion warriors, treated the Space Marines to a feast.

Despite the reluctance in their eyes, the legionary soldiers obeyed orders and quickened their pace to leave.

In a human empire, the emperor is the embodiment of the law, and no one dares to question or disobey him.

Even a single sentence is equivalent to law.

Guilliman watched his offspring leave, his golden eyebrows relaxed, and he strode toward the Emperor, simultaneously reviewing how the events had been handled in his mind.

His gaze involuntarily drifted to Doom Norwick, his brother who appeared calm and harmless.

Guilliman added another label to him: “skilled in using methods”, and after a moment’s thought, he added “benevolent and just”.

Guilliman was not angry that his brother had tricked him.

To him, this little scheme was merely a convenient way to take over the legion and showcase his magnanimity. He also saw a side of his brother: beneath his powerful strength lay a kind heart that cared for others.

This compassionate heart is not the kind of benevolence that Vulcan could see through at a glance, but rather a more rational and thoughtful kindness hidden deep within.

Guilliman respected this and silently labeled his brother.

The legion was an interlude in the father-son-brother exchange. Guilliman sat down again, cross-legged on the lawn, and chatted with the Emperor and his brothers.

The more he learned, the more shocked he became.

The glorious expedition of the human empire is in full swing, with hundreds of worlds returning to the empire's embrace every day, renewing their civilization.

Tens of thousands of alien species worthy of being recorded in history were wiped out by the expeditionary fleet, and there were also a large number of weaker alien species whose demise is not worth remembering.

Doom and the Emperor drank and ate meat; they had no interest in recounting history.

Instead, it was the Imperial Guard that described the grand battlefield scenes of Guilliman and Vulcan, depicting the important achievements of the forty-year expedition.

The two listened with rapt attention, deeply moved by the eternal glory.

The Primarch was born for war. No matter how kind and rational its personality may be, it has an instinctive longing for war and gunpowder.

Finally, the Imperial Guard spoke of Randan, the greatest enemy of the human empire at this stage.

Guilliman pricked up his ears, his face extremely serious, and listened intently as the golden-armored warrior described the terrifying alien.

He must remember well the great enemy whose very name inspired the legion's warriors to attack without hesitation.

Like Guilliman, Vulcan also straightened up; he needed to understand why the Xenomorphs were so powerful and how to defend against them.

Vulcan knew that after he left Nocturne, a simple decision and strategic prediction would involve the life and death of tens of thousands of people.

He had to be extremely cautious and put in far more effort than his brothers to protect his life.

As the Imperial Guards continued their narration, a holographic projection popped up among the seated group, showcasing Ran Dan's formidable combat power.

Guilliman and Vulcan frequently exclaimed in amazement that the war that was taking place in Morse was far larger than they had imagined.

In the holographic projection, thousands of warships clashed in the starry sky, with millions of people losing their lives on the stars every second.

The roar of humans, the screech of aliens.

Both sides exerted all their strength to eliminate the other, paying an extremely heavy price in order to completely annihilate the other.

The commander of the Battle of Randan, their brother, Doom, sat expressionless to the side, drinking with the Emperor.

"Blasphemy!" Vulcan growled with hatred after learning about the Randan, feeling a burning rage in his chest: "The Randan aliens, their very existence is a blasphemy against human life!"

Seeing the holographic projection of the fanatical, zombie-like Randan slaves, the black giant clenched his iron fists, veins bulging on his forehead, and his red eyes turning even more bloodshot.

"Randan has enslaved other civilizations with its spirit; it must be destroyed! It deserves to be destroyed!"

“I salute you, my brother.” Vulcan raised his glass generously to Doom: “Under your leadership, Randan’s plot has been thwarted.”

Guilliman also raised his glass to express his highest respect to his brother, praising him repeatedly: "I saw a contest of patience and determination, and in the end you emerged victorious."

“This victory cannot be attributed to me.” Doom’s face was tense and very serious. “The victory was made possible by the sacrifices, and Ruth’s support was a timely help.”

Doom's speech was unvarnished, explaining the cost of victory and the key to its success.

This genuine and unpretentious frankness earned Guilliman and Vulcan's approval, who fully recognized his character.

The three men looked at each other, silently drank their wine, and commemorated the victory in the Battle of Randan.

"What happened to Solas?" Doom asked the Emperor, putting down his wine glass.

The father of the Second Legion's genes, the mysterious Primarch brother, is a thorn in Doom's side.

I hadn't had a chance to ask before, but now that Randan was mentioned, Doom just happened to raise his question:
"Where is Mauribas Solas from? What happened between you and him?"

Upon hearing this, the Emperor remained expressionless, but his psionic radiance trembled slightly, revealing that he was not at peace.

Guilliman and Vulcan, who were standing nearby, perked up their ears, put down their glasses, and waited seriously.

Mauribas Solas. Their most mysterious brother.

Whether it's the Emperor himself or the Imperial Guard's accounts of the Empire, there are only a few words about Solas.

(End of this chapter)