"Yvraine, how did you come into conflict with this individual? Ahriman's psychic power is immense. It could be said that he stands at the very peak of what a mortal can achieve. He does not lose out to Tigurius by much and, relying on ten thousand years of experience, is arguably stronger than him," Guilliman asked, looking at his wife.
"There was indeed a slight misunderstanding," Yvraine replied. "Back when the Ynnari had just been established, we received a task from the God of Death to gather the five Crone Swords to allow Ynnead to be born and destroy Slaanesh.
"One of the swords was located within the wraithbone skeleton of Craftworld Biel-Tan. My act of drawing the sword precipitated the birth of the Yncarne, the Avatar of Ynnead, but it also resulted in the destruction of the entire Craftworld. But do not worry, that is all ancient history now. With the God of Death resurrected, we no longer need to collect the five Crone Swords."
"And after that? How did you forge this feud with Ahriman?" Guilliman asked with a hint of curiosity. The internal politics of the Aeldari that his wife had just mentioned were not of particular interest to him at that moment.
"We had just returned to the Webway when we were ambushed by Ahriman. He wanted to use us to find the legendary Black Library because many among our Ynnari forces were members of Harlequin Troupes. Ahriman's power was formidable, and the Ynnari were suffering from heavy casualties at the time, so I decided to make a deal with him. I used my then-immature power of the Death God to resurrect several of his battle-brothers, those empty suits of armor whose souls were bound to their plate without physical bodies," Yvraine explained.
Marneus Calgar, standing nearby, interjected. "Oh, I know of this, great Father. Those empty suits are called Rubric Marines. The sons of Magnus suffered significant mutations. The flesh-change was severe. To save his brothers, Ahriman cast a highly dangerous sorcery, but he failed spectacularly, turning them all into soulless empty husks known as Rubricae."
Ahriman was one of the greatest enemies of the Imperium of Man. His threat level was second only to the Chaos Warmaster Abaddon. He was a legendary existence, a top-tier Chaos Space Marine who had lived for ten thousand years.
"I see. Your power of the Death God only performed a superficial resurrection. It could not truly bring them back completely, correct?" Guilliman looked at his wife and asked.
"It seems you have guessed it, my dear. You are correct, things are exactly as you imagine," she admitted.
At that time, she had used her undeveloped power of death to revive the souls trapped within the armor, but it was merely a false resurrection created by divine power. If she truly possessed the power of true resurrection, she would have long ago revived her fallen Ynnari warriors. Why would she waste it reviving empty human cans from ten thousand years ago?
"I revived his brothers from ten millennia past, but it was a false life intended only to buy time," Yvraine told the group the entire story from beginning to end. "Ahriman agreed to release us, and while his guard was down, I ordered a Wraithknight to tear open a rift into the deep Webway. Then I sent all his falsely resurrected brothers into the rift. Ahriman, in his desperation, chased in after them."
She had been forced into that corner. Ahriman's combat ability was too high, and he could have wiped out the Ynnari at that moment. She had no choice but to resort to such a strategy.
"I can guess the subsequent outcome," Guilliman said. "Those resurrected brothers of his, even if found, would likely die very quickly and revert to being empty suits, right?"
"They would indeed die, but not revert to empty suits. They would die completely and utterly. My mastery of the Death God's power was lacking. I could only grant them a false life. Once that time ended, their souls would find no way to rebind to their armor," Yvraine said.
This was the reason her feud with Ahriman was irreconcilable. she had truly made him suffer a terrible loss.
"There is no need to worry, Yvraine. The one who should be concerned for his safety is him. Truly, they do not know the meaning of death. A group of Chaos Space Marines daring to appear before me," Guilliman grunted dismissively.
Ahriman led a Chaos Warband numbering several hundred, along with his Rubric Marines, but totaling perhaps five or six hundred, not even the size of a standard Chapter. In other places, such a force might be a terrifying power, but in front of Guilliman's current fleet, they were insignificant.
Ahriman had dared to rush forward and attack Guilliman's fleet because he did not know it was filled with Space Marines and a Primarch. Under normal circumstances, a fleet of that size would have a massive crew of mortals with perhaps only one or two thousand Space Marines. To Ahriman, one or two thousand regular Astartes were not enough to stop him.
"Ultramarines inside, listen to me! Hand over that woman immediately and I will spare your lives," Ahriman roared over the vox.
He recognized that the ships before him belonged to Macragge and the Ultramarines. There were even ships from Ultramarines successor chapters. Unlike ordinary chapters, First Founding chapters had to be treated with caution. If conflict could be avoided, he preferred to avoid it. Although he was a Chaos Space Marine, in truth, his loyalty to the four Chaos Gods was nonexistent.
"What an arrogant fool. Calgar, lead a team personally to capture that wretch and bring him before me," Guilliman said, turning to his Chapter Master.
Such a minor character did not require him or Axis to act. Calgar would be sufficient.
"Yes, great Father. I shall bring him back." Calgar nodded and prepared to depart with his Honor Guard, but Yvraine stopped him.
"Wait, Guilliman. That man is not as weak as you think. His psychic power is arguably the strongest existence in this universe. I have fought him, and I know how terrifying he is," Yvraine warned.
"In that case, Tigurius, go with Calgar. With the two of you combined, you should be able to handle him," Guilliman suggested.
"No, I think you misunderstand. I mean to say that my own strength has increased significantly, and I intend to handle him personally," Yvraine said, a playful smile appearing on her lips.
The last time she met Ahriman was only a few months ago. After that battle, she had gone to Macragge to resurrect Guilliman. Although only months had passed, her power had undergone a world-shaking transformation. The current Yvraine could handle ten of her former selves simultaneously without suffering a scratch.
"You really are willful. However, the opponent is a Chaos Space Marine, so I shall accompany you. It just so happens that I wish to see the sons of Magnus after ten thousand years," Guilliman said.
"Then I'll go join in the fun as well," Axis smiled. Along with Guilliman and Yvraine, he boarded a small transport gunship and flew toward a platform in the Webway.
When Ahriman saw the Ultramarines' fleet halt and dispatch a single Thunderhawk transport, he assumed his intimidation had worked. It seemed the Ultramarines did not wish to conflict with his Warband either. They likely had an urgent mission to execute, though he wondered why these loyalists would appear within the Aeldari Webway.
"You have made the correct choice. We need not come to blows. In fact, if you require it, I can join forces with you to find a way out of the Webway," Ahriman broadcasted.
Soon, the blue transport arrived in front of Ahriman. A giant clad in blue power armor was the first to emerge before him.
The moment he saw this giant, Ahriman's mind froze. His brain went into a state of shock, his mouth fell wide open, and he stared in disbelief at the blue figure.
How was this possible? How could this be? What was he seeing? He was looking at a Primarch. A living Primarch.
Wait, that was not the main point. The point was, why would a Primarch appear here?
Next to step out was the Aeldari woman, the executioner who had murdered his brothers, whom he hated to the bone. Following her was a man wearing a strange combat uniform, roughly the same height as an ordinary Space Marine.
At this moment, Professor Ahriman did not know he was facing the most terrifying combination in the entire universe. Axis's power was now invincible in real-space; perhaps only the main body of a certain Great Devourer could challenge him.
"Traitor, do you not kneel before me?" Guilliman huffed coldly.
"Impossible. Guilliman... you... how could you be awake? You should be in stasis on Macragge. What has happened?" Ahriman retreated warily, already calculating how to escape. As a veteran of ten thousand years, he knew deeply how horrifying a Primarch was. These beings were veritable demigods and monsters who tore Greater Daemons apart as if they were toys.
"We meet again, Lord Ahriman. You left in such a hurry last time that I forgot to tell you. My power over death is not yet fully mastered. Your friends only experienced a brief, false resurrection," Yvraine waved at Ahriman.
This action made Ahriman grit his teeth in hatred.
"I do not wish to conflict with you, Primarch. I only want that woman. Hand her over to me, and I will leave immediately," Ahriman bargained.
"That will not do. First, I will not let you leave, for you are a traitor. You are a Chaos Space Marine who betrayed the Imperium and the Emperor. Second, the woman you want is my wife. How could I possibly hand my own wife over to you?" Guilliman replied.
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ps?