In his current, ghastly state, Sanguinius could not possibly appear on the front lines to bolster the morale of the troops. The soldiers of the Imperium yearned to see the Great Angel they knew, clad in golden armor, bathed in holy light, his white wings soaring across the sky. If an ordinary mortal soldier were to witness Sanguinius's present form, they would likely mistake the primarch for one who had fallen to Chaos.
Guilliman even secretly speculated whether Sanguinius, if caught in the heat of battle…
He had heard whispers of the Blood Angels' curse, a truth that was no longer an absolute secret among the highest echelentropy of the Imperium.
Hearing Guilliman's concerns, a bitter smile touched Sanguinius's lips. It was already a struggle for him to maintain his clarity of mind.
He could not predict what might happen if he were thrown into the carnage of a battlefield. The thought had even crossed his mind to simply return to his homeworld of Baal and seal himself away in a stasis crypt, to sleep for all eternity beneath the rust-red sands.
"Of course, that won't be a problem! Leave it to me. I will find a way to return Sanguinius to his former self," Axis declared, promising with confidence.
Strictly speaking, Axis bore a significant share of the responsibility for the Great Angel's transformation.
He had, after all, made Sanguinius consume four Fruits of the Tree of Might in succession. Including the two he had eaten previously, the Great Angel had now ingested a total of six.
This immense power had pushed Sanguinius's physical form to its absolute limit, causing his true soul, his intrinsic Warp nature, to awaken completely.
The only way to resolve this was for Sanguinius to fully and completely accept his Warp essence, thereby gaining mastery over this transformed state. He absolutely could not resist this power, for it was an inherent part of his very being.
Only when Sanguinius truly accepted himself, truly evolved into a deity of both the Warp and the material universe, could he freely switch between his form as the angelic primarch of mankind and this monstrous blood-fueled state.
"How long do you think it will take?" Guilliman asked with a nod. If Axis was certain, he was more than willing to see it through.
"A year at most. If the plan goes smoothly, it could be done in just a few months," Axis said with a shrug.
"Thank you, Axis," Sanguinius nodded gratefully.
If he had to remain in this form forever, he doubted he would have the courage to go on living.
"I see. Then it appears Sanguinius will be unable to participate in the counterattack against the Rangdan. Axis, will you be able to join this battle?" Guilliman inquired.
If Axis could join the fight, they might not even need the other primarchs.
"I can help deal with those weapons of the Rangdan. As for the main front, I will let Kratos go," Axis replied. "With his strength, plus the assistance from the other primarchs, I believe this war should not be too difficult."
"Father, you should remain on Holy Terra and focus on your mission. Leave this war to me," Kratos interjected suddenly. He knew his father had more important matters to attend to.
He could now transform into a Super Saiyan 2 and still held his trump card, the form of the Divine Psyker Great Ape. Dealing with the Rangdan's special weapons would not be a problem for him.
"You're quite confident, you brat," Axis said. "However, I am rather interested in those Star-God weapons, so I will go with you."
"If both you and your son join the war, that would be the best possible outcome," Guilliman agreed.
He then turned his gaze to Lion El'Jonson and Leman Russ. "Now, Russ, Lion, I need you two to report on the situation at the front."
The Lion and the Wolf King nodded in acknowledgment.
"This began several years ago, just after Horus launched his great rebellion," Leman Russ began to explain. "I was originally on my way to Prospero under the Emperor's orders, but I was caught in a Warp storm conjured by the Chaos Gods and thrown to the galactic fringe. It was there that we clashed with the Rangdan.
"The Lion later arrived with his legion to reinforce me, and afterwards, the Sons of Tomorrow and the Iron Warriors also reached the front. This time, the Lion and I have only brought small detachments of a thousand men each to aid Terra. The bulk of our forces are still holding the line against the Rangdan."
The Wolf King gave a simple summary of the war's status. They were currently fighting to a bitter stalemate.
The only reason they had been able to hold back the Rangdan's formidable Star-God weapons was thanks to the Saibamen offspring that Axis had previously cultivated for them.
Without them, their lines would have likely already broken.
Even so, the casualties had been horrendous. The war had raged for years, claiming the lives of at least two hundred thousand Space Marines.
As it stood, five full Legions were understrength, having lost at least a third of their fighting forces.
"I understand. The situation is indeed critical," Guilliman stated, "My Ultramarines can be the first to depart for the front. My legion did not suffer any major blows during the Heresy, and our numbers have now reached four hundred thousand."
He knew the other legions garrisoned on Holy Terra were in no shape for a major campaign. The Iron Hands, Salamanders, and Raven Guard had been shattered in the preceding conflicts. It was doubtful they could even muster a thousand warriors between them.
The Imperial Fists had also been bled white in the War in the Webway and the Defence of Terra, their numbers reduced to less than twenty thousand. The Blood Angels and the White Scars had also suffered grievous losses defending the Throneworld and now numbered less than one hundred thousand each. They desperately needed time to rebuild.
The only large-scale Space Marine forces the Imperium could currently deploy were his own Ultramarines, Axis's Golden Legion, and Kratos's Sons of Axis.
"I can deploy one hundred and twenty thousand men," Axis offered.
His forces currently numbered one hundred and thirty thousand, but with a little more development, he could expand that number further.
"Uncle Guilliman, I have one hundred and fifty thousand warriors ready for battle," Kratos added.
"Good. I have a clearer picture now," Guilliman said, "The relief force for the front will consist of the Golden Legion, the Sons of Axis, and my Ultramarines. A combined army of six hundred thousand should be sufficient. The other legions will remain here for now to recover."
The remaining primarchs and their sons were simply too battered. It was better to let them rest and rebuild. In truth, if it were not for this sudden war with the Rangdan, the very first proposal Guilliman had planned to make that day was not about fighting an external foe, but about military reform.
He intended to break down the vast and unwieldy Space Marine Legions into smaller, more flexible Chapters to prevent another rebellion on such a massive scale.
However, proposing such a thing now would likely draw the ire and collective opposition of his brothers. It was a discussion for another time.
He would first have to approach Axis privately about the matter. This war also presented an excellent opportunity for Guilliman to solidify his authority as the Lord Regent of the Imperium.
"Our Legions need to rebuild, but that does not mean we need to rest," Ferrus Manus said, his voice a low growl.
"Take us with you, Guilliman. We can be of help in this war," Corvus Corax insisted.
"The White Scars may have lost many warriors, but my Legion still numbers seventy thousand. I can still lead a portion of my forces to war," Jaghatai Khan declared.
"Those xenos attacked us while the Imperium was embroiled in civil war," Vulkan boomed. "For such a dishonorable act, they must be made to pay a thousand times over."
"I have my own plans, brothers," Guilliman replied calmly, his authority resonating in his voice. "By my estimation, this battle will not be as difficult as you imagine."
With Axis and his son present to destroy the enemy's deadliest weapons, two or three legions would be enough to annihilate the Rangdan empire.
"Furthermore, I still need commanders to hunt down the remnants of the traitors. This is a task I can entrust to you," Guilliman added, giving them a vital mission of their own.
The heretics could not be left to fester.
After further discussion, the primarchs came to an agreement. In three days' time, Guilliman, Axis, and Kratos would lead the three legions to war.
The remaining primarchs would stay on Holy Terra to maintain order and lead their own forces in pursuit of the scattered traitor warbands.
When the council concluded and the primarchs had departed, Axis led Sanguinius back to his private chambers. Magnus, Kasha, and Kratos accompanied them.
"Axis, do you truly have a way to return me to normal?" Sanguinius asked, his voice tight with impatience.
"I know you are anxious, but you must listen carefully to every word I am about to say," Axis began. "Sanguinius, the reason you have become this way is because your Warp nature has fully awakened, a fact you yourself should understand."
"Yes, you are right, Axis," Sanguinius said, "So, I need to seal this nature away again to revert to my former self. Perhaps you and Magnus can use your Ki and powerful psychic abilities to help me."
"No, Sanguinius. That would only treat the symptom, not the cause. You would forever be tormented by this curse," Axis said, shaking his head, "You cannot simply suppress your true nature. Even if you succeeded temporarily, it would only erupt with greater, more painful force in the future."
"Then do you have a better solution?" Sanguinius asked, his brow furrowed.
"Of course I do. You must accept yourself, completely and without reservation," Axis declared. "You are still four Fruits of the Tree of Might short of completing your ascension. You will consume the remaining four, and then, you will finally ascend to true godhood."
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ps?