"Legion? Grand Master, do you mean that we... we are going to restore the legion system? We won't just remain a single Chapter, and will even stand openly in the Imperium?".
For ten thousand years, ever since the Emperor created the Grey Knights, their missions had always been secret, living forever in the shadows.
Within the Imperium, even among the Space Marine Chapters, only the Chapter Masters knew of their existence—planetary governors were unaware of them.
"And Grand Master, do you mean we're going to restore the legion system, and our numbers will no longer be kept at a thousand?" In truth, the Grey Knights had never strictly kept to the 1,000-man rule.
All members of the Grey Knights were top-tier psykers, each equivalent to a chief librarian in a normal Chapter.
All wore Nemesis Terminator Armour, enchanted versions no less, so their numbers always hovered around 1,000, sometimes even dropping to just over 800.
But was restoring the legion system really feasible? The Imperium had been running the Chapter system for over 10,000 years!
"That's right. We used to need to hide in the darkness to protect the Imperium, but now, our Primarch has finally returned!
Lord Magnus has spent ten thousand years as a double agent within the forces of Chaos—it's time to wash away his stains. He joined Chaos for the sake of all humanity.
Now, Lord Magnus will return as Chancellor of the Imperium, and we will be his legion.
As for the legion's restoration, it's not a problem—the Emperor has personally decreed the legions be re-established.
And Lord Roboute Guilliman, who once wrote the Codex Astartes, has also returned and agreed to amend or even abolish the Codex," Drajgo said.
"This reform was supported by Lord Magnus, Lord Rhodes, Lord Guilliman, and Lady Elena—all four Primarchs, as well as the Emperor himself. So, it was a reform that had to be carried out."
Hearing this, the other Grey Knights silently nodded. The return of the legions was indeed good news, especially since the Imperium was in such chaos.
The enemies they faced now were far stronger than those of ten thousand years ago. Restoring the legion system would surely strengthen the Imperium's military might.
And with four Primarchs returned, at least four legions would have their true masters.
"What will our new legion be called? Still the Grey Knights?"
Other Grey Knights nodded and looked to their gene-father, Magnus.
"Lord Magnus, do we remain the Grey Knights Legion, or become the Thousand Sons?" Draigo asked Magnus.
During the months on the ship, he had learned much chaos sorcery and anti-daemon skills from his gene-father, growing more respectful.
Draigo also knew Magnus cared deeply for his gene-sons, especially the Thousand Sons. Magnus had once made pacts with Chaos for them, sacrificing even an eye and triggering later events.
Even to the very end, Magnus had wanted to save his gene-sons. If the legion's name remained Thousand Sons, Draigo would try to convince the others to accept it.
"No need! The Thousand Sons have thoroughly betrayed us. Their gene-seed was cursed by Tzeentch's vile sorcery.
When Father saw there was no hope for them, he created you Grey Knights. Your creation was closely tied to father.
So your name must be preserved. From today, you are the Grey Knights Legion," Magnus declared.
The current Thousand Sons have fully embraced Chaos, and even Magnus as their father can't change that. In a way, their true father is Tzeentch—the Changer of Ways has tainted all his children.
If any still had bodies, uncorrupted, they might be healed with some cosmic beast's energy and return to the Imperium.
But the Thousand Sons are beyond hope; even their bodies are lost, leaving only empty shells.
As their former father, all Magnus can grant them now is a swift death!
"Grey Knights, if you meet any Thousand Sons in the future, don't hold back.
Death may be mercy for them. I'll teach you a new method—to destroy not only their metallic shells but their souls as well," Magnus said.
Hesitation always brings harm!
He himself had fallen to Chaos for ten thousand years because he ignored his father's warnings.
"We obey, great gene-father."
"Next, we'll increase our legion's numbers. Soon, the Black Ships will arrive, and I'll help you select new members.
You'll also undergo a new Space Marine enhancement surgery—the current process is outdated," Magnus said.
With his psychic power, he could boost some psykers' abilities to meet Grey Knight standards.
"That's right, and the new surgery—I've undergone it myself. I'm now stronger than ever," Draigo said.
On board Rhodes's ship, Draigo had undergone full Primaris enhancement, the complete version.
He now stood 3.3 meters tall, with much greater strength, speed, and endurance. He could even defeat several Custodians in single combat.
While Space Marines were usually weaker than Custodians, some could defeat or kill several, such as the legendary Sigismund.
Some Chapter Masters and top warriors could also defeat Custodians.
After handling his gene-sons, Magnus left other legion-building tasks to Draigo and went before the Golden Throne to fulfill a ten-thousand-year-old duty.
Ten thousand years ago, the Emperor had wanted Magnus to sit on the Golden Throne to help suppress the Warp, but Magnus, blinded by Chaos, had refused.
Now, he would fulfill his duty. The Emperor needed a full month to recuperate, but the Astronomican needed to stay lit.
If it went out for a month, the damage to the Imperium would be immense—plus, there was a Webway world beneath the Throne.
Last time, Rhodes and the Emperor had cleared out some daemons, but in six months, the rift had torn open again.
The Emperor needed to rest, so Magnus would take his place for the month!
Rhodes, Guilliman, and Elena also stood before the Golden Throne, waiting for this historic moment: Magnus would relieve the Emperor for a month.
They nodded to each other.
"Are you ready, Magnus? It's only a month, but it will be hellish," the Emperor asked his son.
"I'm ready, Father! This should have been my duty. When you created me, it was so we could use the Golden Throne together to open the Webway and free humanity from the Warp," Magnus replied.
"Then come sit beside me! I've made a place for you. I'll rest fully for the next month.
Everything else is up to you!" the Emperor said.
Magnus nodded and walked to the Throne. The Custodian Guards knelt, arms across their chests, saluting the Primarch.
Magnus took a deep breath and sat beside his father.
The instant he sat, his soul trembled, and his enhanced body was wracked with pain.
It was an indescribable agony—his psychic powers were amplified hundreds of times!
He could sense half the galaxy, and his life-force was drained into the Throne to power the machine.
Father, what torment have you endured?
He'd only just taken the seat and already suffered unspeakable pain. His father, the Emperor, had endured this for over ten thousand years!
Beside the Emperor's mummified body, Magnus trembled violently, but held on.
The Astronomican's light shone once more.
"Magnus, for the next month, it's all on you," the Emperor said.
"Leave it to me. I won't let you down again, Father!" Magnus replied.
He'd come too late—even now, seated here, his father would never rise again.
The Emperor's corpse, at last, got a moment's respite.