In a realm beyond reality, a vast, ancient gate loomed amidst swirling clouds of gray-white mist. Its surface was etched with cryptic runes that pulsed faintly, as if alive with secrets older than the stars. The space around it thrummed with an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional ripple of mist, like waves lapping at an unseen shore. This was the Fog Realm, a liminal void where time and space held no sway.
The raven materialized before the gate, its black feathers gleaming under an otherworldly light. It shook its wings, muttering to itself with a mix of bravado and unease. "Hope I didn't come off as too much of a fraud back there," it said, its bright eyes darting nervously. "Goldie didn't seem to notice, but man, that was close."
Despite its confident facade before the Emperor and Valdor, the raven—known as Raven to itself—was no cosmic deity. In its past life, it had been an ordinary human, driving down a quiet road until a 120-mile-an-hour juggernaut of a truck had crushed its mortal body. When it awoke, its soul was trapped in this strange Fog Realm, bound to the form of a raven. Over countless years, it had mastered the realm's mysteries, gaining a body and powers that defied comprehension: the ability to bend the laws of reality, trace the echoes of a universe's history, and slip through the multiverse's many timelines, even those tangled in multidimensional chaos.
The ancient gate at the heart of the Fog Realm was its key to the multiverse, a portal to countless realities. But there was a catch: Raven could only cross its threshold by binding itself to a Protagonist of Fate, a figure destined to shape their world's course. By altering a universe's predetermined path, Raven could feed on the origin force it released—a sustenance that strengthened its essence. Without such a bond, it was trapped in this desolate void, condemned to an eternity of boredom and isolation.
"Tricking the future Dark King himself," Raven muttered, chuckling nervously. "My poor little heart nearly gave out. Here's hoping I sold it well enough."
The Fog Realm was a maddening place, a prison of endless gray where nothing changed and nothing lived. Raven yearned for freedom, for the thrill of new worlds and new challenges. If the Emperor refused its offer, it would have to seek another Protagonist of Fate—a daunting task that could mean eons more in this dreary limbo.
"I dropped the Webway card, though," Raven said, pacing midair before the gate. "That's gotta hook him. It's his whole game plan, after all."
The Webway was the Emperor's ultimate ambition, the linchpin of his grand design to save humanity from annihilation. The fall of the Eldar Empire had birthed Slaanesh, one of the Four Chaos Gods, and torn a wound in reality—the Eye of Terror. In the near future, humanity would evolve into a psychic race, their souls shining like beacons in the warp, drawing the hunger of daemons and gods alike. Without the Webway—a network of safe, superluminal pathways free of the warp's corruption—humanity would fall, devoured in a cataclysm far worse than the Eldar's doom.
To avert this fate, the Emperor had waged the Unification Wars, planned the Great Crusade, and forged the Imperium. All were steps toward gathering the resources needed to construct the Webway. It was a goal for which he would sacrifice anything—his Primarchs, his allies, even himself. Raven knew this, and it had played its trump card with surgical precision.
It recalled the final moments of the Terra campaign, when Horus, the Warmaster, had wielded warp-fueled power to block Guilliman's reinforcements. As all seemed lost, Malcador's sacrifice had allowed the Emperor to leave the Golden Throne briefly, confronting Horus in a duel that shook the heavens. To defeat the Chaos Gods' champion, the Emperor had unshackled his full might, devouring warp energy until he stood on the brink of godhood. In that moment, he was a heartbeat away from becoming the Dark King of prophecy, a being capable of crushing the Four Gods and flattening their realms.
But godhood came at a cost: humanity's extinction. To preserve his people, the Emperor had relinquished that power, facing Horus as a mortal and paying a terrible price. Raven knew the Emperor's willingness to sacrifice himself for humanity was its greatest leverage. "Heh," Raven cackled, mimicking a villainous tone. "Oh, shiny Golden Titan, you wouldn't want humanity to go extinct, would you?"
It paused, wincing. "Okay, that's way too blasphemous. I'd be skewered by a Custodes' spear for a millennium."
The Emperor's strength was undeniable. As a Protagonist of Fate and the potential vessel of a fifth Chaos God, few beings in any universe could match him. A long-term partnership with him promised rewards beyond imagination. "Gotta pick the perfect world to sell him on this multiverse gig," Raven mused, its eyes gleaming with scheming delight.
It approached the towering gate, its body dissolving into a stream of light that merged with the runes. Using the Fog Realm's power, Raven projected its consciousness across the multiverse, scouting potential destinations. It couldn't enter without a Protagonist, but it could observe.
"Harry Potter versus Voldemort?" Raven snorted. "Nah, he'd squash poor Voldy with one hand. And magic? He's already got psychic powers out the wazoo."
"A cultivation world?" It shook its head. "Immortality, psychic might—he's already got that. No need to meditate on a mountain for a thousand years."
"Captain America's super-soldier serum?" Raven tilted its head. "Kinda weak compared to Astartes gene-craft. Not tempting enough."
"Star Wars' Death Star tech?" Its eyes lit up. "Now that's got potential. A planet-busting superweapon? He'd have aliens crying for mercy. But… Terra's barely unified. He doesn't have the resources to build one yet."
"SuperGod Academy?" Raven grinned. "Bingo. Even the basic Gene Engine tech would supercharge his armies. That's the ticket."
---
Meanwhile, on Terra, the Navian Peninsula was a hive of activity. The Moransen Federation lay in ruins, its leaders executed, its fanatical remnants purged. The Imperium's newborn bureaucracy absorbed the innocent survivors, folding them into humanity's fold. Malcador, the Emperor's closest confidant, arrived with supplies and officials to rebuild the peninsula, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon for threats.
In a makeshift command tent, the Imperium's three pillars—the Emperor, Valdor, and Malcador—gathered to discuss the raven's offer. The air was heavy with the weight of their decisions, the canvas walls flapping in the cold wind.
Malcador, his robes adorned with subtle sigils of psychic power, leaned on his staff, his weathered face etched with concern. "Majesty," he said, his voice low and measured, "do you trust this… creature? A mysterious bird claiming to traverse universes, tempting you with promises of power?"
The Emperor stood like a golden monolith, his presence filling the tent. "It knows too much," he said, his tone grave. "The Primarchs' survival, the Webway plan—it sees through us. If it serves the Chaos Gods, we're already lost. If not, this may be our only chance."
Valdor, his mica-gold armor gleaming, gripped his halberd tightly. "We can devise a new plan, Majesty. We don't need to trust an unknown entity."
The Emperor's gaze softened, a rare flicker of weariness in his eyes. "Time is against us, Valdor. Every step of our plan—every war, every sacrifice—has been calculated to the finest detail. To start anew, to rebuild before humanity awakens as a psychic race… we won't make it."
He turned to Malcador, his oldest friend. "The Moransen Federation is broken. The remaining warlords pose no threat. The Unification Wars are over. I entrust Terra to you, Malcador. Guide the Imperium in my absence."
Malcador's grip on his staff tightened, his voice urgent. "Majesty, reconsider. Even if this creature can send you to other universes, how can you ensure your safety?"
The Emperor's lips curved into a faint, confident smile. "Old friend, nothing in any universe can truly kill me."
He faced Valdor. "Assist Malcador in governing this newborn empire. If I return, we'll forge a new path to conquer the stars. If I don't, make Terra the cradle of humanity's rebirth."
---
A day later, as the appointed hour arrived, Raven reappeared in a flash of mist, its wings flaring dramatically. Valdor stood at the Emperor's side, his halberd ready, joined by Malcador, whose robed figure radiated restrained psychic power. Raven's sharp eyes sized up the newcomer, sensing the immense psychic energy coursing through him. "Well, well," it muttered. "That's gotta be Malcador, the Sigillite himself. Nobody else has that kind of psychic juice next to the big guy."
It turned to the Emperor, its tone brimming with anticipation. "So, what's the verdict? I'm all juiced up and ready to roll. Say the word, and we're off on a multiversal joyride."
The Emperor nodded, his expression resolute. "The deal is tempting, but I have one concern. If I travel to another universe, will Terra still be as I left it? If time slips away and all is lost, what use are foreign powers and knowledge?"
Raven's eyes sparkled with mischief. "No worries there, big guy. I can anchor time. No matter how long you spend in another universe, only a single day will pass here. Your empire will be waiting, safe and sound."
The Emperor considered this, his mind racing through possibilities. "One day," he said at last. "Acceptable. I agree to the bargain."
"Contract sealed!" Raven crowed, its voice alight with glee. "Alright, Golden Titan, let me show you the multiverse!"
Its body dissolved into a radiant vortex, swirling with cosmic energy. The vortex expanded, engulfing the Emperor in a flash of blinding light. Valdor watched, a flicker of worry in his stoic eyes, his duty to protect his lord warring with his inability to follow.
"What happened?" Malcador demanded, his sharp gaze sweeping the tent. "Where's the Emperor?"
To him, the Emperor had been speaking to thin air before vanishing. The Sigillite's psychic senses, keen as they were, had detected nothing of Raven's presence.
Valdor's jaw tightened, his voice low. "He's gone… to another universe."