A solemn atmosphere permeated the meeting room, where representatives from six Battle Groups sat upright.
Representatives from the Blood Angels, Flesh Tearers, Blood Knights, Heavenly Lion Battle Group, Black Templars, and Imperial Fists each occupied a seat at the conference table.
Chapter Master Annukai Jolandiel of the Heavenly Lion Battle Group had a composed expression, High Marshal Mordred of the Black Templars had a stern face, Captain Tor Garadon of the Imperial Fists' Third Company had resolute eyes, Captain Erasmus Tycho of the Blood Angels' Third Company was deep in thought, Chapter Master Gabriel Seth of the Flesh Tearers had a grave expression, and Amit, the new Chapter Master of the Blood Knights, remained silent.
This meeting was of extremely high Specification, with the Flesh Tearers, Blood Knights, and Heavenly Lion Battle Group all represented by their respective Chapter Masters. The Blood Angels and Imperial Fists sent senior Captains as their representatives, and the Black Templars were represented by a High Marshal.
Beside Alex, a warrior in golden armor stood silently, his presence making the entire room's atmosphere even more solemn.
No one spoke first, and the meeting room fell into a brief silence.
The heavy silence in the meeting room was broken by the hum of machinery as the thick adamantium door slowly opened, driven by hydraulic devices.
Archmagos Cawl stepped into the room with steady strides, the large forging axe embedded with Adeptus Mechanicus runes in his hand thudding dully against the floor with each step.
His mechanical eye glowed with a calm blue light as he slowly took a seat directly opposite Alex, his metal joints emitting a faint rubbing sound.
"Alex!" Cawl was the first to break the silence, his mechanical voice carrying a unique metallic quality, and his tone was unprecedentedly grave: "Are you sure you want to disclose this to them?"
Alex's gaze swept over every Astartes Warrior present, and he slowly nodded: "Time is running out."
His voice was not loud, but every word carried immense weight.
"I must ensure the Imperium is prepared…" After a brief pause, Alex added: "At least, the most loyal warriors must be prepared."
The expressions of the six Astartes representatives immediately became even more severe.
Amit, the new Chapter Master of the Blood Knights, unconsciously tensed his body, and High Marshal Mordred of the Black Templars frowned deeply.
Cawl remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded in understanding.
"Alex," Chapter Master Seth of the Flesh Tearers finally could not hold back, his voice slightly hoarse from suppressed emotion: "What exactly is so serious?"
He turned his gaze to the golden-armored warrior standing silently beside Alex: "And why is this Custodian here?"
The golden-armored Imperial Custodian stepped forward, his masterfully crafted golden armor gleaming under the meeting room lights, every pattern signifying the Emperor's supreme authority.
His heavy footsteps were exceptionally clear in the silent meeting room.
"I am merely here as a witness," the Custodian said slowly in a deep, resonant High Gothic, each word carrying an undeniable weight, as if bearing the weight of ten millennia.
"And to endorse everything Alex says and every decision he makes." He paused, letting the last sentence fall heavily: "All of this is the Emperor's will."
Captain Galadon of the Imperial Fists frowned deeply, his sharp gaze turning to Alex: "Alex, is this related to the prophecy you spoke of?"
There was a hint of urgency in his voice.
As one of the few who had heard Alex reveal future prophecies, Galadon keenly realized that for Alex to gather representatives from two founding Battle Groups, it must be of paramount importance.
The only thing he could think of was the prophecy about the return of the Son of God.
"Yes, it has a great deal to do with the return of the Son of God I once mentioned," Alex affirmed with a nod, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, finally resting on the three sons of Sanguinius.
Seeing their gloomy expressions, he specifically added: "You also need not be disheartened, for according to the prophecy, even The Great Angel is not without a chance of returning."
"Wait!" Captain Galadon suddenly raised his voice, an incredulous expression on his face: "Alex, didn't you say last time that only two Primarchs would return?"
Cawl's mechanical eye glowed red, turning curiously to Alex, his mechanical voice carrying a hint of inquiry: "Alex, I am very curious, did you really prophesy that two Primarchs would return?
As far as I know, there is only one Primarch who will return."
The atmosphere in the meeting room instantly became restless.
The Chapter Masters exchanged shocked glances, and low murmurs rose and fell.
The contradiction between the prophecy and the information revealed by Cawl plunged every Astartes present into complex emotions—both unease about the unknown and an uncontrollable anticipation.
The news of a Primarch's imminent return was already shocking enough, and the identity of the returnee was even more crucial.
However, what was embarrassing was that the Gene-Seed Primarchs of the two founding Battle Groups present had both met with misfortune—Sanguinius of the Blood Angels had long been confirmed dead, his body even desecrated; and Rogal Dorn of the Imperial Fists had only a severed hand remaining, with the rest of his body still missing.
Facing the fervent gazes of the six Astartes, Alex slowly nodded in confirmation: "Indeed, ten thousand years ago, Roboute Guilliman only entrusted you to seek a method of resurrection after he encountered danger.
And in these ten thousand years, you have found a solution, and now it only awaits the awakening of the Lord of the Thirteenth Legion."
Although Alex had previously been vague, only hinting at the possible return of a Primarch with a few words, this time he not only explicitly confirmed that a Primarch was about to return but also directly stated the name Roboute Guilliman.
This unequivocal declaration greatly enhanced the credibility of Alex's words.
When they learned that it was the Gene-Seed Primarch of the Ultramarines who was about to return, an undisguised sense of loss appeared on the faces of the six Astartes Warriors.
While this Primarch of the Thirteenth Legion was certainly worthy of respect, he had no direct connection to their respective Battle Group traditions and could not resolve the pressing issues plaguing their Battle Groups.
The atmosphere in the meeting room immediately became subtle, with the initial excitement of hearing about a Primarch's return intertwined with the current disappointment, forming a complex and oppressive atmosphere.
"So, who is the second returning son?" Chapter Master Seth asked, still unwilling to give up.
There was a hint of hope in his voice—since the first returning son was out of reach, a second returning son was still better than none, especially since Alex had just clearly stated that even Primarchs like Sanguinius and Dorn were not entirely without the possibility of returning.
"The second returning son…" Alex paused briefly, his gaze sweeping over the expectant faces of everyone present, and finally decided to tell the truth: "It is the Lion of Caliban."
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