"I personally witnessed the Iron Hands Primarch's exceptionally tight posterior. It was truly magnificent."
In one of the surviving historical records, Fabian Guelph, president of the Logos Historica Verita, recorded this historic moment with a light-hearted tone that would remain etched in the memories of countless people.
As a result, many scholars who later studied the history of this era often overlooked the brutal background of the time when reading about it. Instead, they learned one very important fact: Ferrus Manus's posterior was indeed exceptionally firm and well-toned.
…
Vigilant System – High Command.
The return of Ferrus Manus caused a massive sensation. Crowds surged toward the scene, turning the area into a chaotic press of bodies. Everyone wanted to catch even a single glimpse of the newly resurrected Primarch.
After Kardan and the other brothers of the Iron Hands Chapter expressed their deep longing and affection for their Primarch, they suddenly realized that Ferrus Manus was completely naked.
Ferrus Manus himself was still reeling from the shock and had not yet recovered his composure. The last clear memory he possessed was of the battle on Isstvan V. He had dueled Fulgrim and ultimately been beheaded by him. Now he had suddenly been resurrected and thrust into this strange place. Even the original author would have found it difficult to fully accept everything at once.
Only when even more people arrived and cries of astonishment filled the air did Ferrus Manus finally notice his own naked state.
The King of Medusa felt a moment of embarrassment, but after a brief thought, blazing golden flames erupted across his entire body. The flames swirled around him and transformed into black armor plates that covered his chest, shoulders, and limbs. Golden patterns spread across the plates, forming intricate aquila motifs, the Iron Hands chapter symbol, and a flowing cloak.
Within seconds, Ferrus Manus was clad in a complete set of power armor. The black base with gold accents radiated unyielding strength.
Even though the Cursed Legion had been resurrected, its power remained intact. Ferrus Manus could still summon his Legion to turn the tide of battle and manipulate flames to repair his own armor. Perhaps summoning the Cursed Legion and wielding its cursed power was part of his twisted nature.
At that moment, a figure in deep-blue power armor rushed in.
The visitor was Roboute Guilliman.
The Armour of Fate shone brilliantly under the lights, and his magnificent cloak fluttered behind him. The face of the Lord of Macragge was filled with shock and disbelief, tears of emotion welling in his eyes.
Guilliman rushed straight to Ferrus Manus and, without a word, spread his arms and pulled him into a powerful embrace.
Thud…
A dull, heavy sound echoed through the hall. That single sound was enough to confirm it was a genuine bear hug. The Regent in full power armor poured every ounce of his strength into holding Ferrus Manus tightly. Had Ferrus Manus not been wearing armor himself, several bones would surely have been broken.
Ferrus Manus smiled and, instead of pushing him away, teased, "Roboute, this is the first time I've ever seen you so sentimental."
"Ferrus Manus…" Guilliman said excitedly. "Ferrus Manus, I'm truly glad to see you again."
The moment Guilliman released him, Sanguinius rushed forward from right behind. When the Great Angel saw Ferrus Manus, tears also welled up in his eyes. His great wings trembled slightly as he struggled to contain his overwhelming emotions.
"Ferrus Manus, my brother," Sanguinius's voice was gentle yet trembling. "Welcome back."
"Sanguinius, I'm truly glad to see you again."
Fragments of memory still lingered in Ferrus Manus's mind—remnants of his soul that had persisted even after death. Upon resurrection, he had inherited these soul fragments. Before the final battle, a fragment of Ferrus Manus's soul had appeared before the arriving Sanguinius. He had accompanied the group all the way to the gates of the Wolf Council where Horus resided.
Hearing Ferrus Manus's words, Sanguinius smiled. That smile was like sunlight breaking through the clouds, bringing happiness to everyone who witnessed it.
The third to enter was Lion El'Jonson.
Ferrus Manus stared blankly for a moment at the Lion King with his white hair and white beard.
"Brother, why do you look so old?"
Lion El'Jonson's lips twitched slightly. He waved a hand and replied, "It's nothing. Just a few wrinkles from getting older."
Ferrus Manus carefully examined Lion El'Jonson, studying the marks left by the passage of time—the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes, the deep furrow between his brows, and the even more complex depths in his gaze.
Ten thousand years ago, Lion El'Jonson had been so powerful and majestic! Now his hair was completely white.
The gazes of everyone who had rushed in were fixed on Ferrus Manus. The Primarch of the Iron Hands—the man who had been beheaded, dismembered, and believed impossible to resurrect—had now returned.
Praise the Nameless One. Praise the Emperor.
…
After a brief conversation, Ferrus Manus was led by his three Primarch brothers toward the strategic hall.
Inside the strategic hall, a low hum emanated from various mechanical devices. Holographic projections constantly flickered, displaying the real-time battle situation across the Vigilant System. Dense clusters of red dots represented the Chaos fleet.
Ferrus Manus looked around the operations room. A familiar notification sound reached his ears as he turned his attention to the complex battlefield data. At first, an overwhelming wave of nostalgia washed over him. It felt as though he had returned to the era of the Great Crusade.
Suddenly, Ferrus Manus noticed a small figure. She appeared to be no more than eleven or twelve years old, wearing a bright yellow cloak. Her short golden hair was smooth and lustrous, and her golden eyes seemed filled with vast amounts of information.
Ferrus Manus paused for a moment, then turned to Guilliman, who was standing nearby, and asked, "Why is there a little girl here?"
"Whose child is she among the three of you?"
This was the battlefield command center—the core of the entire Vigilant Star defense system. It was a place where the lives of countless people hung in the balance. Only officers, soldiers, and commanders belonged here. Children had no place in such a location—unless, of course, this child held some special status.
The only possibility Ferrus Manus could think of was that one of his Primarch brothers had a daughter.
Guilliman: "..."
Sanguinius: "..."
Lion El'Jonson: "..."
All three Primarchs wore hesitant expressions, unsure how to explain the girl's true identity. They had been greatly shocked when they first learned who she was. The Nameless One possessed the ability to transform warships into human form and could even change forms during battle. This power rivaled that of the Creator himself.
Seeing the expressions on his three brothers' faces, Ferrus Manus frowned even more deeply.
Is this child their sister—the Emperor's actual daughter? Even the Emperor, paralyzed and bound to the Golden Throne, still managed to be so improper as to father a sister for the Primarchs?
At that moment, Kardan approached from behind and leaned close to the Primarch's ear to reveal the truth.
"Lord Ferrus Manus, this girl is the avatar of the Mountain Array's ship-spirit."
Ferrus Manus's eyes widened as he turned sharply toward Kardan. This truth was even more terrifying than the idea that the girl was a Primarch's sister!!
"What do you mean the Mountain Array has turned into a cute little girl?! If that stubborn Dorn ever returns, won't the world end?!"
"You're joking, right?" Ferrus Manus said.
"I'm not joking, Lord Ferrus Manus," Kardan repeated in a lower voice. "The girl standing before you is the ship-spirit of the Mountain Array. Through some unknown method, the Nameless One has manifested its will and shaped it into the form of a young girl."
"According to the Nameless One, she is a ship-girl born from the Mountain Array. She can freely switch between human form and warship form, and her combat power is extremely high."
Ferrus Manus stared in disbelief, eyes wide. He turned his face and looked at the girl once more.
The Mountain Array? That colossal moving fortress that could once house an entire Legion had become this tiny girl standing before him?
The Mountain Array girl also noticed Ferrus Manus. With her skirt fluttering in the wind, she skipped over to him. She circled the Primarch several times, scrutinizing him from head to toe with eyes full of curiosity.
"This is Ferrus Manus, Primarch of the Iron Hands and King of Medusa. Next time you appear, remember to put some clothes on first."
Ferrus Manus's lips twitched. A sudden wave of despair washed over him.
Guilliman, Sanguinius, and Lion El'Jonson all pressed their hands to their foreheads with expressions of utter despair upon hearing the Mountain Array girl's words.
"You… you really are the avatar of the Mountain Array?" Ferrus Manus asked, struggling to keep his emotions in check.
The girl nodded, her golden hair swaying with the motion.
"Yes, I am the avatar of the Mountain Array!" she declared proudly. "Don't underestimate me just because my body is small. I'm extremely powerful. I can transform into a gigantic warship, carry lots of warriors, and fire super-powerful beams!"
As she spoke, she even made dramatic gestures as if firing something.
Ferrus Manus fell silent, countless thoughts racing through his mind. The girl standing before him who called herself the Mountain Array had completely overturned his understanding.
What on earth had happened to the Imperium? How had the Mountain God become such a cute loli? Damn it, I told you mechanical methods were the right way!
"Ferrus Manus," Sanguinius said, interrupting his thoughts. "There is still much you need to learn. In the past ten thousand years, truly many things have happened."
Ferrus Manus nodded. "Indeed. I need to relearn the current state of the Imperium."
"First, let me explain the current situation of the Imperium," Guilliman said. "Time is of the essence. The Chaos fleet could launch another attack at any moment."
The Primarchs walked to a corner of the strategic hall. Guilliman was the first to speak, beginning to recount the history of the Imperium to Ferrus Manus.
"Let us begin from the moment you fell during the massacre at the landing fields…"
Guilliman spoke of how devastating the Isstvan V massacre had been to the Imperium. He explained how Horus had used that massacre to win over the Emperor's Children, World Eaters, Death Guard, Iron Warriors, Thousand Sons, Word Bearers, and Alpha Legion. He recounted a series of battles, including the Battle of Calth and the Signus Campaign. The book detailed the major engagements of the galaxy-spanning rebellion that had lasted more than ten years.
When the story reached the Siege of Terra, Sanguinius took over. Guilliman had been on campaign and could not arrive in time. Sanguinius described in a calm tone how the once-glorious Palace had been reduced to ruins. The Astartes warriors who had once ruled the galaxy fell one after another. Every corner of Terra was stained with blood; every stone bore witness to death.
When the story reached the final battle, Sanguinius paused to collect his thoughts before continuing. He recounted how he had confronted Horus and how he had been torn apart by him. The tale then moved on to how the Emperor had personally slain Horus, how the Emperor had been gravely wounded, and why he now sat upon the Golden Throne. It continued with the departure of the Primarchs. Some had been gravely injured and placed within stasis fields. Others had gone missing or vanished without a trace.
In the era after the Primarchs left, the High Lords had become the de facto rulers of the Imperium. With the alien threats and Chaos diminished, the Imperium enjoyed two thousand years of prosperity—until the Orks with green skin built a massive War Moon and invaded Terra. The War of the Beast had continued from there.
During the Age of Apostasy, the Imperium fell into chaos and depleted its resources. It inevitably entered a period of decline, and radical religion rose to power. Abaddon had inherited his genetic father's legacy and become the new chosen of the Four Gods. For ten thousand years, the enemy had relentlessly sent Black Crusades, attempting time and again to destroy the Imperium. On the thirteenth expedition, they succeeded. The destruction of the Cadian Gate caused the Eye of Terror to expand, tearing a massive rift across the entire galaxy.
And then the Nameless One had appeared. He had rescued the Primarchs, resurrected lost heroes, constructed a unified star system for the Imperium, supported reforms, and lived through the daily slaughter of Chaos.
The Mountain Array's transformation had also been the work of that mysterious person…
"The Nameless One is truly a terrifying existence," Ferrus Manus murmured. "With him here, victory is certain."
"You could say that," Lion El'Jonson agreed. "The fact that he brought you back clearly means he wants your help to balance the scales against the traitors."
Ferrus Manus was about to say something more when suddenly an alarm blared. Red warning lights flashed violently, bathing everyone's faces in flickering crimson.
"Report!" the comms officer shouted. "The Chaos fleet has launched another attack!"
"It seems our reunion will have to wait a little longer." Lion El'Jonson rose and returned to the command platform, immediately issuing orders.
Guilliman and Sanguinius also moved out with their bodyguards toward the locations where they were needed. Only a Primarch could truly face another Primarch. They had to confront their fallen brothers to prevent the people from following them into rebellion.
"The time has come to settle the score with Fulgrim—my old rival from ten thousand years ago."
Ferrus Manus was not idle either. He extended his hand, and golden flames intertwined to form a massive black warhammer. He led Kardan and the others toward the place where support was needed.
Because the Imperium and Chaos had clashed once more, Datch was also extremely busy. He found a room filled with all kinds of miscellaneous items, cleared everything out to create space, then took out his newly acquired magical item—the Lost-and-Found Fishing Pool and Rod.
The fishing pool resembled an ordinary inflatable circular pool whose size could be freely adjusted. It was filled with clear water, yet it had no bottom, as if it connected to an endless abyss. The fishing rod was quite ordinary, with transparent line and a silver hook.
Datch set the fishing pool in the empty space, quietly chanted the name of the Raven Lord, Corvus Corax, and cast the line into the water.
The hook sank into the water and disappeared into the endless depths.
A few seconds later, ripples began to appear on the surface. At first, they were only tiny concentric waves spreading outward. As time passed, the ripples grew larger and faster, eventually becoming surging waves. The waves struck the walls of the pool, sending up sprays of water as if something was struggling to crawl up from the depths.
Datch held his breath and stared at the surface. He gripped the fishing rod tightly and began pulling upward with all his strength.
A blurry shadow gradually rose from beneath the water. As Datch reeled it in, the shadow grew larger and clearer.
A sudden burst of force bent the fishing rod into a deep arc, the line pulled taut and straight.
Crash!!
A massive figure burst out of the pool, traced an arc through the air, and landed lightly on the ground.
It was a giant clad in jet-black power armor. The armor's design was sleek and sharp, reminiscent of a bird of prey about to strike. The shoulder guards bore the emblem of the Dark Raven Guard. His cloak was also black and fluttered even without wind, making a rustling sound.
This giant was none other than the Raven Lord—Corvus Corax.
Corvus Corax looked around with eyes full of suspicion and unease. He had only just helped an Imperium repel an invading alien force. He had been preparing to depart for the next world when a mysterious pool of water suddenly appeared above his head. A fishing hook shot out, caught him, and yanked him upward without warning.
Corvus Corax had struggled, but the hook had not budged. The surrounding space had frozen solid; it was impossible to shake. He could only watch helplessly as he was dragged into the pool, passed through endless darkness, and arrived here.
"Who are you?" Corvus Corax looked around, saw the double-headed eagle banners, and deduced that he must be inside some Imperial fortress. The strange man standing before him was clearly the one who had summoned him.
Datch ignored the Primarch NPC's question and simply packed away the Lost-and-Found Fishing Pool and Rod. He then circled Corvus Corax once, observing him appraisingly, and nodded in satisfaction.
Good. Now the daemon Primarchs and loyalist Primarchs are five against five. Battle can begin soon.
"Go, Raven Lord. Hurry and help your brothers fight the enemy."
As Datch spoke, he pushed Corvus Corax out of the room.
Corvus Corax looked completely bewildered; he had no idea what was happening. After being pushed outside, the Raven Lord simply fluttered his cloak and vanished into black smoke.
If this mysterious person refused to speak, then Corvus Corax would uncover the truth himself.
Datch watched Corvus Corax disappear without much concern. Since he had already been summoned, he would surely go help the other loyalist Primarch NPCs.
Now I need to continue my quests and clear out the remaining hive districts…
…
Meanwhile, on the Chaos side aboard the Vengeful Spirit…
Perturabo was commanding the Chaos forces led by the Black Legion in a fierce assault against the Imperial lines.
Lorgar, standing nearby, felt a vague sense of unease. His eyelid kept twitching uncontrollably. He tried to peer into the future, but the existence of the Nameless One blocked his efforts. The Nameless One had twisted all destinies. Not only could Lorgar no longer see the future, but even his ever-changing master, Tzeentch, could no longer glimpse what lay ahead.
"Something feels wrong," Lorgar said to the daemon brothers beside him.
"You're overthinking it," Magnus replied. "Roboute and his team may have gained one extra player in Ferrus Manus, but we still have five. Five against four—we hold the advantage."
"I agree with Magnus," Fulgrim nodded. "Come, let's take action and end this war as quickly as possible."
"If we board the enemy ships, the Imperial garrison forces will surely be annihilated. Fools like Roboute will be caught completely off guard."
Even Astartes and Imperial Guard could not stop a boarding Primarch. As long as they launched the attack, everything would go smoothly.
Seeing the other daemon Primarchs looking so confident, Lorgar frowned slightly and wondered if he was indeed overthinking things.
Five against four—they held an overwhelming advantage. As long as the Nameless One did not intervene, victory was certain.
…
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