Zeke was busy studying the petrified statue of Magnus. After running a series of tests, Zeke had confirmed that Magnus was indeed still alive inside the stone. He possessed consciousness and could even perceive the outside world.
Digging deeper into the mechanics, Zeke discovered a terrifyingly useful feature: the statue could be held in the off-hand like a Totem of Undying. But instead of saving a life, it acted as a battery.
Magic mods like Iron's Spells 'n Spellbooks relied on a mana system. Casting spells cost mana. But with the "Magnus-Brand Power Bank" in his off-hand, Zeke effectively had infinite mana regeneration.
What a treasure. Zeke was happily poking Magnus's single stony eye when he glimpsed a flash of green in his peripheral vision.
Hiss... hiss... hiss...
A Creeper?!
In an instant, Zeke's life flashed before his eyes. Countless "happy" memories flooded his mind:
The time he finally found diamonds after hours of mining, only to turn around—Creeper.
The time he finished building his dream home, only to open the door—Creeper.
PTSD kicked in. With lightning speed, Zeke unleashed everything he had—Splash Potions of Harming, his Manyullyn Chainsword—hurling them frantically at the green figure behind him.
Then, he dove onto the statue, shielding Magnus with his own body.
Don't blow up my battery!
But the earth-shattering BOOM never came. The Creeper swelled to its limit, then deflated with a pathetic pfft before vanishing into thin air.
Zeke was left hugging the stone statue, looking foolish.
It was Kairos's scheme!
The Daemon was mobilizing the power of the Warp to harass the ship, projecting the crew's deepest fears into their minds to drag them into an abyss of despair.
But why did I see a Creeper? Is Zeke, a dignified master of blocks, actually afraid of Creepers?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
Zeke stowed the statue, steadied himself against the wall, and made his way to Guilliman's sanctum. He knocked on the door.
Guilliman's condition was far worse. Compared to Zeke's jump-scare, the illusions the Primarch faced were soul-crushing.
He witnessed Macragge put to the torch, humanity's fortresses reduced to dust in a torrential rain of blood. He saw the Golden Throne turned into a blazing pyre, with the Emperor's charred corpse bound to it, burning for eternity.
His rage was becoming impossible to contain, his focus fraying at the edges.
"You're here, Zeke." Guilliman sounded indecisive. He was actually considering giving up the pursuit of Kairos to escape the Maelstrom and save his sanity.
Seeing a demigod tormented by illusions, Zeke felt that his fear of Creepers wasn't so shameful after all.
Guilliman confided in Zeke, describing the visions that had plagued him for days.
"There's an old saying in my hometown: the best way to conquer fear is to face it," Zeke said eloquently. "You see images of Macragge burning? Why not look at the real Macragge with your own eyes?"
Zeke constructed a Nether Portal, linking it directly to the Ultramarines' homeworld.
Through the shimmering purple veil, Guilliman looked out. He didn't see fire. He saw a renaissance.
The Cadian soldiers, having settled their own affairs, were now following Zeke's standing orders. They were supporting Calgar with full force, rebuilding the capital.
Macragge was urbanizing at an unprecedented speed, surpassing even the memories of glory Guilliman held in his heart. Advanced planting techniques and automated chicken farms flourished. The Schematicannon roared, printing infrastructure directly from blueprints.
Macragge was Guilliman's home. Seeing it thrive, the Primarch felt a weight lift from his soul.
His heart, after all, was made of flesh.
"Take a break," Zeke suggested. "And let the crew members suffering from mental strain take a rotation, too. Let them breathe clean air."
Guilliman stepped through the portal. The disgusting whispers of the Warp and the acrid smell of ozone vanished. The accumulated pressure dissolved.
He didn't just find rest; he found hope.
If we can do this here, he thought, we can do this for all of humanity.
As they strolled past a newly constructed architectural wonder—a massive "Water Cube"—Zeke proposed a new logistical strategy: The Two-Shift System.
Any crew member on the Macragge's Honour who had worked more than 12 hours would rotate back to the planet for rest. Simultaneously, a fresh, well-rested team from Macragge would replace them.
The system was implemented immediately.
Energetic, eager crew members replaced the listless and the haunted. With the logistical might of Macragge behind them, the ship operated at peak efficiency.
And then, the enemy attacked.
A warband of the Red Corsairs, traitors loyal to Chaos, launched a boarding action. They breached the hull, expecting to slaughter a tired, demoralized crew driven mad by the Warp.
"Fresh meat, brothers!"
What they found was a ship full of wide-awake, hyper-aggressive Ultramarines who had just come off shore leave.
The Red Corsairs were wiped out in less than ten breaths.
Guilliman captured the leader of the boarding party but then suddenly, the traitor's body convulsed, and Kairos's voice spilled from his throat.
The Daemon looked at Guilliman. The Primarch's aura was bright, his mental state unshakeable. Kairos couldn't believe it.
I haven't slacked off at all! I've been broadcasting Warp-screams 24 hours a day! How is he completely fine? Is this the same Guilliman with zero magic resistance?
Kairos cursed and abandoned the host body. The captured Red Corsair regained consciousness, trying to act tough.
"I won't tell you anything! Aaaaah!"
Zeke administered a "Cactus Foot Massage" followed by some "Obsidian Suffocation Therapy." The Red Corsair broke immediately.
Based on the confession, the fleet locked onto a Daemon World made of black marble.
On the surface, another garrison of Red Corsairs was feasting, celebrating their perceived victory, when a drop pod of "Smurfs" descended from the sky.
"Just you wait! Big Brother won't let you get away with this!" one Corsair shouted at Guilliman before slitting his own throat to avoid capture.
The trail continued.
Following the suicide-corsair's final clue, Guilliman's fleet discovered a Blackstone Fortress hidden deep in the Maelstrom.
Abaddon the Despoiler had gifted this fortress to the Red Corsairs as payment for their alliance with Kairos. This explained the constant harassment.
The Blackstone Fortress was a formidable stronghold, difficult to breach. But as Guilliman and Zeke planned their assault, an unexpected ally emerged from the shadows.
A Fallen Angel, completely hidden in a hood, with twin ancient pistols and a massive sword on his back.
Cypher.
He brought with him a troupe of Eldar Harlequins. They offered no explanation, simply joining the crusade against the Fortress.
These Eldar again. Guilliman couldn't fathom their motives, but he resolved that if they tried to betray him, he would show no mercy.
The alliance stormed the Blackstone Fortress. Guided by Eldar prophecy, they bypassed the main defenses and found a secret Webway gate within the structure.
It led directly to the Terran System.
Amidst Kairos's distant, furious roars, Guilliman and his party stepped through the gate.
The cold, damp atmosphere of the Warp vanished instantly. They emerged on the surface of Luna.
Above them, a landing craft of majestic specifications descended from high orbit. It shone with blinding gold light. The Adeptus Custodes and the Sisters of Silence had received the news.
The ramp lowered. The first person to stumble out was a man with large ears and a potbelly. Overcome with emotion, he tripped and fell to his knees.
"Lord Guilliman..."
Tieron, the Chancellor of Terra, looked up at the demigod he had prayed for day and night. Tears squeezed out of his eyes.
Under Tieron's weeping welcome, Zeke and Guilliman stepped onto the shuttle.
Next stop: Holy Terra.
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Goal = 500 powerstones.
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