Two immense hands clasped together, and Blazkowicz, after careful consideration, finally agreed to join the Imperium's Great Crusade. Facing their common enemy, the Chaos Gods, they decided to unite and resist them.
The inclusion of the Nur Stars was Blazkowicz's recognition of the Imperium of Man, establishing an equal relationship between them. Now, Blazkowicz endorsed the Emperor's plan and was willing to help him refine it, thereby realizing the plan to save all of humanity.
Their relationship never changed; their cooperation remained equal. Blazkowicz's participation in the Great Crusade did not require him to obey the dictates of the Imperium's War Council; the Emperor granted him a very high degree of freedom.
"I have a gift for you."
After confirming their partnership, the Emperor seemed somewhat emotional and excited. He took out a rectangular box and presented it to Blazkowicz.
"What's inside?" Blazkowicz did not accept it, but instead asked the Emperor what was in the box. The Emperor gave too many things; Blazkowicz needed to deliberate. He pondered the Emperor's motives and intentions, as well as his relationship with his other brothers.
"Eating with someone means you owe them; taking from someone means you're beholden to them." This proverb from Old Terra always proved its worth.
"Don't overthink it." The Emperor saw Blazkowicz's apprehension and opened the black, carved box, revealing an object resting on red silk. The moment Blazkowicz saw it, his eyes widened, and a surge of excitement filled him, as if he had met an old friend after many years.
"Do you like it?" The Emperor naturally saw the excitement in his eyes and handed the box to Blazkowicz: "It was specially crafted for you by me. I went through a lot of trouble for it."
Blazkowicz caressed the object in the box, feeling its texture. He did not refuse the Emperor's kindness and greatly cherished the Emperor's gift: "I like it very much!"
It was an ancient, double-barreled shotgun, seemingly tailor-made for him, filling his heart with affection and familiarity.
It was a primitive embodiment of an ancient weapon, with matchlock mechanisms on either side of its massive barrels, a wooden foregrip beneath the stock, and a body and grip forged from wootz steel.
The two barrels had massive-caliber chambers, each as thick as a Space Marine's arm, joined together in a savage and overbearing manner. Ancient script was engraved on its body, etched into the seemingly rough steel, giving it a mysterious and ancient charm.
Blazkowicz held the gun in his left hand, constantly flipping it, unable to put it down.
"Grip it tight, inject your fury!" The Emperor raised his hand, clarifying the shotgun's extraordinary nature to Blazkowicz. Blazkowicz tightened his grip, injecting his spirit into the shotgun—an immortal will imbued with endless fury.
The runes on the gun body glowed faintly, and as fury was injected, the gun body cracked with sparks, burning with an unquenchable rage all around it.
"The Super Shotgun! That's what I call it." The Emperor was very pleased with the pairing of the shotgun and Blazkowicz; he felt as if the man stood before him. "It uses your fury as ammunition, possessing infinite power."
"Look at its chambers." The Emperor, like a craftsman introducing his masterpiece, gradually unveiled its mysteries. Blazkowicz's finger rested on the trigger.
He spun the gun in a graceful flourish and then sharply flicked it, causing the shotgun to break open at the handle, revealing two large-caliber chambers. His eyes lit up. Two golden bullets appeared out of thin air and loaded into the chambers.
"Bullets personally inscribed with runes by me!" Under Blazkowicz's questioning gaze, the Emperor's voice held a deeply buried pride: "They provide physical ammunition for firing from another dimension, delivering immense firepower!"
"How many bullets?" Blazkowicz operated it with one hand, closing the barrels with a born-like familiarity.
"It depends on how many you want." The Emperor played coy, a mysterious smile on his brown-black face.
Blazkowicz nodded in satisfaction, hanging the shotgun on his belt, a joyful smile on his face, which rarely showed emotion.
"Want to test its power?" The Emperor kindly reminded him, seeing his impatience.
"Do you have a firing range here?"
"No firing range." The Emperor slowly shook his head, a mysterious smile on his face, and pulled out a projection device from his robe: "This is more suitable for you."
Blazkowicz narrowed his eyes, looking at the Emperor's slightly smiling face, and suddenly felt the weapon in his hand was scalding. The proverb from Old Terra once again proved its worth: "There is no such thing as a free meal."
"Psychneuein?" Looking at the Emperor's projection, Blazkowicz saw a giant lizard with scales shimmering with psychic energy, brandishing its claws.
"Xenos occupy thirteen star systems, claiming them as their inherent territory, and are rapidly expanding outwards."
"How many people do I have? My Legion is still training and recruiting." Blazkowicz coldly watched the star systems occupied by the xenos, where humans were enslaved, building magnificent palaces for them to worship gods and for live sacrifices.
"Russ and his Legion will go with you. The Warhounds of the Twelfth Legion will follow your command; they are the best assault troops."
"Alright." Blazkowicz nodded, accepting the task. Two Primarchs in command, two Astartes Legions, plus their attached Mortal Auxiliary Army.
"I also need to transfer members from the Fourth, Seventh, and Fifteenth Legions." Watching the constant influx of intelligence, Blazkowicz's thick brows furrowed slightly, understanding why the Emperor sent two Legions, and even a Primarch. The Psychneuein was no simple xenos.
The Emperor listened to Blazkowicz's request but did not immediately agree. He walked to the desk and quickly wrote on a parchment, stamping it with his exclusive seal. "Tomorrow, this order will be known throughout the Imperium of Man."
Blazkowicz took it and looked, casting a surprised glance at the Emperor. After a moment of thought, he accepted the gift. It was an extremely authoritative order, granting Blazkowicz "Military Conscription Authority," allowing him to summon any Imperial unit to cooperate with his various military actions.
Such an order would surely cause an uproar, but Blazkowicz resolutely accepted it. The reason was that the Twenty-First Legion currently had too few members, and the training of Noor combat personnel had just begun. He was now a bare-bones commander, and indeed needed other units to cooperate in combat.
Blazkowicz gave the Emperor a deep look, then strode out of the room, heading to the Sixth Legion's garrison to discuss the battle plan with Russ.
Watching Blazkowicz leave, the Emperor couldn't help but raise his right hand and clench it tightly, making an encouraging gesture to himself. He had gained a powerful external ally. As he had just said, he could execute his plan more boldly and put the Webway project on the agenda as soon as possible.
Participating in the Great Crusade was merely icing on the cake; the Emperor's true goal was for Blazkowicz to guard the Webway in the future. The Emperor couldn't help but hum an unnamed tune, standing before the obsidian wall, continuing his detailed planning.
Blazkowicz strode forward. Space Marines who saw the Primarch's figure knelt on one knee, showing respect for the Gene-Father's kin.
When he arrived at the Sixth Legion's garrison, Leman Russ stood on a platform, addressing his gene-sons who remained on Terra. Blazkowicz stopped in a shadow, quietly waiting for Russ to finish his address. At this time, Russ had changed greatly; his demeanor was no longer savage, but like a wise king, passionately speaking to his subjects.
As the Primarch's speech reached its climax and faded, Blazkowicz appeared at the opportune moment, striding towards Russ. Seeing his brother arrive, a hint of pleasant surprise flashed in Russ' beast-like eyes, but more was understanding; he knew why Blazkowicz had come. He had a good impression of Blazkowicz and was willing to deepen their acquaintance. Russ felt that he and Blazkowicz, having returned to the Imperium one after another, should learn from each other in terms of Legion integration.
He had split his Legion into thirteen Great Companies, each corresponding to Fenrisian culture, preparing to integrate the Legion with their homeworld's culture. He renamed the Sixth Legion to the more savage—Space Wolves. Before Russ could make a move, his two wolf-brothers ran swiftly, darting out with a whoosh and heading straight for Blazkowicz.
"Great Primarch!" The warriors of the Space Wolves all knelt, welcoming the arrival of the Gene-Father's brother.
"Rise." Blazkowicz stroked the head of a giant wolf, his voice calm and powerful, clearly reaching the ears of every Space Marine.
"Brother!" Russ and Blazkowicz embraced warmly.
"You know why I'm here; it's time for us to embark on our journey!" Blazkowicz went straight to the point, stating his intention to Russ.
"The Space Wolves await the hunt!" A fierce glint flashed in Russ' eyes, his wild face becoming grim, revealing his sharp canine teeth: "To tear apart the xenos with my brother!"
Blazkowicz took out the projection device and told Russ about the Emperor's early arrangements: "The Twelfth Legion is gradually assembling in the Ultima Orientis Sector, awaiting you and me."
"Tomorrow, astropathic messages about the operation will be transmitted to every participating fleet; this is a massive joint operation."
"We must depart now, to rendezvous with them before the Legions in the fleet complete their assembly."
"Yes!" Russ was equally serious. This was his first battle since returning to the Space Wolves, and the Imperium's first joint operation involving two Primarchs.
"Blazkowicz, please board my Gloriana Queen-class flagship; we will travel together to the rendezvous point." Russ extended his most sincere invitation to his brother.