New Dream had fallen ill.
This threw Yuki and Yuno—who had zero parenting experience—into a complete panic. Here were two beings who had commanded countless fleets across the stars, who had never so much as flinched in the face of absolute death and destruction.
Now, they stood gathered around a tiny incubation vat, entirely at a loss, looking for all the world like two children who had lost their keys. Yuki's fingertips hovered over the control console, constantly pulling up her vital signs—data he already knew by heart, yet which now seemed utterly hollow and meaningless.
Yuno clenched her fists so hard her nails dug deep into her palms, hoping the physical pain might relieve even a fraction of the agony in her heart.
The entire Aether and Chronos Fleets possessed an astronomical number of individual organisms.
Yet not a single bio-entity knew how to handle a situation like this: a unique child born of love and miracles was undergoing a structural breakdown that defied every standard medical protocol.
Even the sole "outsider" in the fleet—the Void Dragon, who had pushed science into the realm of the gods eons ago—was completely out of ideas.
When Yuki and Yuno, near despair, patched a comms channel through to its domain, the Void Dragon simply opted to play dead: "I don't know. Have you tried restructuring her?"
"We tried. It didn't work."
The Void Dragon fell silent. A faint, almost human static crackled across the signal—a sound that resembled perplexity, or perhaps a signal that further communication was pointless.
Inside the vat, New Dream's tiny body seemed to have turned into a cruel battlefield. Her translucent skin was slowly dissolving and flaking away under an ominous, dim light, like a sandcastle weathering in a storm.
Meanwhile, a continuous influx of biomass, driven by a primal survival instinct, frantically synthesized new flesh and capillaries, trying to fill the expanding gaps.
This visible tug-of-war—pouring water into a vessel while it constantly leaked—maintained a heartbreaking, gruesome balance, suspending New Dream in continuous torment.
She was growing weaker by the second. Occasionally clawing her way back to partial consciousness from a semi-comatose state, a thread-thin psychic wave timidly reached out, brushing against the two beings she cherished most: "Mommy... Daddy... it hurts... so much..."
That faint, trembling cry pierced deeper than any volley of heavy naval fire, stabbing through every nerve in Yuki and Yuno's bodies.
The oppressive atmosphere choking the chamber, combined with the near-physical rage and sorrow radiating from their two masters, forced the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse—who had rushed to the scene only to prove utterly useless—to keep their distance outside the corridor.
The fleet had long since changed course, shutting down all non-essential systems to bare minimums. The Narwhals pushed their speed to the absolute limit, hurtling at a suicidal pace toward the most bizarre, dangerous, and yet perhaps only hopeful destination in the known universe.
The Immaterium.
Yuki stood before the observation viewport, staring out at the stars stretched into streaks of light, a cold, ruthless flame burning deep within his eyes. Yuno placed her palm gently against the outer wall of the incubation vat, as if cradling her daughter's pain-wracked, curled-up form across the glass.
Such a bizarre, intractable affliction, such an insidious and targeted attack—this was no natural illness.
Aside from that Warp saturated with infinite malice and twisted forces of creation, they couldn't conceive of anyone who could, or would dare, lay such a vile hand on a child so small and precious.
Whatever lurked in those shadows, they would hunt it down and make it pay a price beyond imagination.
Driven by absolute fury, the Aether and Chronos Fleets located a suitable vector and constructed a massive bio-conduit capable of channeling psychic force.
Standing at the vanguard of the fleet, Yuno spread her hands—one high, one low—and drew directly upon the psychic reservoir of the primary Hive Fleet, forcibly tearing a tear between realspace and the Warp.
No additional forces were needed; in a situation like this, even Yuki felt somewhat superfluous. Yet in the end, Yuki held New Dream in his arms, using his own biomass to continuously patch her failing body, and stepped into the Immaterium right alongside Yuno.
"Nurgle! Get out here!"
Stepping into that strange garden once again after so long, a surge of deep irritation washed over Yuki. The lively, energetic Nurgle daemons scurrying about now felt as though they were mocking them.
Yuki was furious, yet he forced himself to maintain restraint. Yuno, however, exercised no such control. She extended her hand, unleashing a wave of overwhelming psychic force that threw the already dilapidated Garden of Nurgle into absolute chaos.
The sudden eruption of such power naturally drew Nurgle's attention instantly.
Before long, Mortarion, Ku'gath, and several other Great Daemons of Nurgle rushed to the scene, only to encounter a furious Yuno and Yuki holding the sick child in his arms.
Moments later, Nurgle himself manifested.
Evidently understanding what had occurred, he had donned a white lab coat, posing as a physician.
"What happened to little New Dream?"
"You have the nerve to ask?!"
"Calm down, my dear. This is not my doing. Hand the child to me—I shall examine her alongside Isha."
Yuno took a deep breath. She was burning with rage, but the absolute priority was stabilizing New Dream's condition. As for what this affliction was, or who had orchestrated it, those questions could wait.
Yuno followed Nurgle carrying New Dream into Nurgle's mansion. Yuki moved to follow them inside, but Mortarion stepped forward and blocked his path.
"There is no need for such anxiety. If even the Grandfather cannot resolve this, then there is truly no need to worry anymore."
That remark earned Mortarion a full-force punch straight from Yuki.
Blasted backward by the blow, Mortarion snapped his wings open to stabilize himself. He said nothing further—anyone could see the dark, volatile state Yuki was in.
"My apologies... but entering now will not aid her; it will only add unnecessary distraction. Though the Great Devourer did not say it aloud, she noticed you did not enter, yet she neither voiced anger nor called for you. Does she not share that exact thought?"
"Dammit, Mortarion."
Yuki knew he was right, but hearing it stated so bluntly still stung.
Mortarion offered a seat, but Yuki refused, leaving them both standing in the heavy silence.
"Do you have any leads? Who could have done this?"
"None. Why would this happen? We have shielded New Dream constantly. How could anyone reach past our fleets to harm her?"
Mortarion listened to the details, his expression gradually shifting to one of genuine perplexity.
By his understanding, no disease or pestilence in existence could escape the Grandfather's domain. Yet why was this specific affliction proving impossible for the Grandfather to cure on the spot?
There was only one logical explanation.
"This may not be a disease, Yuki. It could be a spell—or perhaps a curse."
"Are you implying Tzeentch did this?"
"It is a possibility, though I cannot make a hasty judgment. Still, he is indeed the most likely culprit. Perhaps you should question Magnus or Ahriman first."
"Whoever it is," Yuki growled, a terrifying chill in his voice, "the bastard who dared do this to my daughter will regret ever coming into existence!"
Mortarion could clearly feel the killing intent radiating from Yuki. Seeking to ease the man's tension, he brought up a completely different topic.
"Life in this universe rarely proceeds smoothly. Not long ago, I made a mistake and was severely reprimanded by the Grandfather."
"Hmm?"
"A minor mishap, really," Mortarion said, recounting the incident casually. "I inadvertently let the Emperor of Mankind slip past our lines, which resulted in the Grandfather's garden being set ablaze. As you can see, scorched marks still remain across the grounds, though under the Grandfather's supreme power, most of it has been restored."
Had this been any other time, Yuki would have been deeply intrigued by the account of Guilliman becoming a vessel for the God-Emperor and burning the Garden of Nurgle. Right now, however, he could not care less.
"Save the embarrassing story of how Guilliman humiliated you for someone else," Yuki replied coldly.
Mortarion promptly pivoted the conversation.
Since Yuki had no interest in Imperial affairs, Mortarion turned to the Necrons—a race currently locked in absolute opposition to the Tyranid swarms.
"The Immaterium has been rather restless lately. A massive Necron fleet unexpectedly breached the Warp, numbering well into the tens of thousands of vessels. They've caused us a great deal of trouble, to the point where even Khorne has scaled back his operations in realspace. Truth be told, when we first detected them, we assumed the Necrons were launching a full-scale campaign against the Warp—"
Noticing Yuki's expression growing darker by the second, Mortarion wisely shut his mouth.
A long, heavy silence fell between them before Mortarion asked cautiously:
"Yuki... what does a child truly mean to you?"
"A child..." Yuki looked up, his tone softening slightly. "Mortarion, do you have children?"
"Neither I nor my brothers do."
"A child... a child gives life meaning. In a universe like this, to hold someone bound to you by blood—someone for whom you know you are the absolute center of their world... You know that love requires no justification. You can love her without reserve, and she will love you unconditionally in return, simply because she was born from the purest, most selfless love imaginable. As long as I love Yuno, I cannot help but love her with all my heart."
Mortarion was entirely incapable of comprehending such sentiment.
In his mind's eye stood another figure—a towering, glorious entity whose golden brilliance commanded pure awe and dread.
"Why ask me that?" Yuki continued, glaring at Mortarion. "Do you not love your own sons deeply as well?"
The words struck Mortarion like a physical blow. He raised his head and looked around at his nearby Death Guard battle-brothers, including his First Captain.
"What I have done..."
He trailed off into a lengthy silence.
After an agonizing wait, Yuno's psychic comms link finally reached Yuki's mind.
"New Dream's condition has stabilized!"
The moment he heard those words, Yuki sprinted toward Nurgle's cottage. Fearing a sudden outburst, Mortarion hurried after him, only to be blocked at the threshold by a swarm of Nurglings.
Yuki stepped inside, guided down into the subterranean levels by several small Nurglings.
The scene below was entirely unexpected. Unlike the chaotic, writhing garden above—teeming with energetic Nurgle daemons, squirming flora, and deadly microscopic horrors—the lower level presented a completely different atmosphere.
Passing through a small doorway, Yuki found himself stepping into a pristine, untouched forest. A gentle stream trickled nearby, the air was crisp and pure, and tall, elegant trees towered over lush grass and blooming flowers. Butterflies fluttered through the fragrant air—real butterflies, not playful Nurglings in disguise.
Deep within this secluded sanctuary stood a spotless wooden cabin. Paying no mind to his surroundings, Yuki burst straight through the front door.
Four figures were inside: Nurgle, Yuno, and Isha.
In a small cradle nearby lay New Dream, her breathing smooth and steady as she slept peacefully.
A massive weight lifted from Yuki's chest. Once his heart settled, his focus immediately shifted to the core issue.
"What actually happened?"
New Dream's illness had manifested without a single warning sign. Mortarion had even speculated it might not be a biological virus at all, but a psychic spell or curse.
Nurgle looked somewhat perplexed as well.
"I cannot say for certain. It was definitely not a conventional pathogen. However, looking at the pattern of her physical breakdown, it closely mirrored the mechanics of the Rubric Curse. Beyond that, I cannot be sure. For now, I have rewritten her core essence using a combination of psychic power, Warp energy, and the primordial biological data Yuno provided, barely stabilizing her condition. If you wish to uncover who crafted this affliction or cast the curse, you should consult Tzeentch. Even if he wasn't the culprit, he likely holds useful information."
"There is another possibility, everyone," Isha added softly from the side.
"This child is uniquely extraordinary. She was born from the Tyranid Hive Mind, yet inherited an independent consciousness from her father. That fundamental contradiction is far more intense within her than it is in her father. In other words, a clash of fundamental essences caused her physical structure to break down. We have temporarily stabilized her using the Warp, but that alone will not solve the root issue."
"So New Dream needs to master her own psychic potential?" Yuno asked, a trace of frustration in her voice.
"In my plans, New Dream was meant to become a formidable psyker, but not now. The Immaterium is far too cruel for a child her age—and as for what you creatures are truly like, you know better than anyone."
Yuki scoffed, "Khorne and Slaanesh have been trying to drag me into their mess since day one."
Nurgle corrected gently, "Khorne wants to drag you into endless battle, whereas Slaanesh wants to entice both you and the Great Devourer into joining her games."
"It makes little difference," Yuki replied. "Exposing New Dream to the Immaterium at this stage requires serious consideration."
Nurgle nodded in understanding, though he offered a firm warning: "There is no telling when the next relapse might strike. My personal advice is that you come to a decision as soon as possible. The child's physical form and soul remain fragile—you had best act quickly."
Ultimately, Yuki and Yuno brought New Dream back into realspace. The situation was grave.
"Yuki..." Yuno spoke softly, looking at him. "If possible, I want you to take New Dream into the Immaterium. Let her learn to master her own power and safeguard her life within the Warp environment."
"What do you mean?" Yuki asked, brow furrowing. "Are you not coming with us?"
Yuno shook her head gently.
"I cannot linger in the Immaterium for too long, lest those entities take advantage of my presence to target the fleet. As you know, behind those polite, agreeable facades, they are venomous serpents waiting to strike."
She looked at Yuki and the child cradled in his arms, her eyes filled with rare vulnerability.
"I finally understand what it feels like to be truly powerless. This little darling has given me an extraordinary weakness... I will visit you both as often as I can. For now, rest and recover in Nurgle's domain."
Without giving him a chance to object, Yuno waved her hand, sending Yuki and New Dream safely back into the Immaterium.
"I mean... I was completely prepared for a long separation, and yet here you are?"
In the Warp, time and space lost all conventional meaning, making it difficult for Yuki to gauge exactly how much time had passed.
However, bound by Yuno's psychic power, the fleet's spatial coordinates seemed synchronized with the Garden of Nurgle.
And now, Yuno sat right beside Yuki, quietly watching New Dream play with a pack of Tyranid Termagants and a swarm of Nurglings.
Hearing Yuki's grumbling, Yuno offered an embarrassed laugh. "Well... I over-estimated the resistance of the Immaterium. I didn't expect crossing over to be this effortless."
"Hey, hey, hey! These are unprecedented times," Nurgle chimed in, shuffling over with a platter of fruit. "We are all quite busy expanding in realspace or dealing with that invading Necron fleet. In short, resources are tight for everyone. If any of us cross the Great Devourer and lose ground in the Great Game, it's over for us."
Nearby, New Dream snatched a Nurgling out of the air and squeezed until it popped with a wet burst. Delighted by the burst of colorful fluid, she let out a bright, ringing giggle.
Witnessing the display, Nurgle couldn't help but sigh.
"Are you two not going to discipline her?"
"These daemons can't be truly destroyed inside your garden anyway," Yuki replied casually. "What are you worrying about?"
"Is this any way to raise a child?"
"In Warhammer, receiving any form of upbringing at all is a luxury."
Nurgle found himself forced to agree.
Mortarion had taken a particular liking to the little girl. He allowed New Dream to clamber all over him, remaining entirely indifferent even when she tried to pluck out his massive, decayed wings.
After all, at her current strength, New Dream was nowhere near strong enough to tear Mortarion's wings off anyway.
"When will New Dream actually awaken her psychic potential?" Yuki mused.
"For an entity like her, you must not rush, nor should you forcibly guide her," Nurgle explained. "Her very nature dictates that she must feel and awaken it on her own. It is just like Sanguinius and Magnus in their early days—even without mentors, they naturally grasped the secrets of the Warp."
"My daughter truly is extraordinary," Yuki said softly, his eyes brimming with affection.
It had been a long time since Yuno had seen Yuki in such high spirits.
He had always been brooding over endless, weightless anxieties. Now that they had a daughter, he finally possessed a true family in this universe.
Yuno had never asked Yuki to conquer or change the galaxy for her—she was more than capable of handling the entire universe on her own. Yet Yuki had always plagued himself with unnecessary worries.
Sigh...
As if overhearing the silent sigh in Yuno's heart, Nurgle remarked softly, "That is what it means to be truly alive."
Mortarion adored the little girl. She was so pure, and he was under no obligation to impose any harsh expectations on her. Ever since falling to Chaos, his sole duty and instinct had been to spread Nurgle's rot; caring for a child in this manner was an experience he had never known.
Mortarion watched her with rare gentleness. This little girl was warm and innocent, completely free of sorrow or burdens since the day she entered the world.
How wonderful that was.
"Uncle Mortarion! Teach me!" New Dream chirped, running up to him.
"Teach you what?"
"I don't know!"
"How am I supposed to teach you if you don't even know what you want to learn?"
"Mommy said that as soon as I learn how to use magic, she'll take me away to see the stars."
"Do you not like it here?"
New Dream shook her head. "The world outside is bigger!"
"Hahaha! Very well! Then I shall teach you my ultimate craft—numerology!"
Yuno stood up and dusted off her robes. "I'll leave her in your hands for now. I must head back to realspace."
Yuki sighed as she turned to leave. "Why do I feel like a parent stuck in a waiting room while dropping his kid off at school?"
"Would you rather she not learn?" Yuno teased. "Besides, while you two are here, I can clean up our surrounding sectors in realspace."
With Yuno's departure, Yuki felt a sudden, hollow absence in his chest.
Nurgle offered a playful scoff. "You two have been together for how many years now, and you still act like star-crossed lovers? Eternally young at heart, aren't you?"
Yuki felt a flush of mild embarrassment, offering a faint smile. "Perhaps."
"Daddy!"
New Dream came dashing back as if she had uncovered a monumental discovery, shouting at the top of her lungs.
"What is it, sweetie?"
"I just learned an awesome trick!"
"Oh? What kind of trick?"
New Dream looked up earnestly. "Daddy, what's your favorite number?"
"Thirteen."
"Thirteen! Thirteen is the sacred number of the Emperor of Mankind! That means Daddy will definitely grow up to be even stronger than the Emperor!"
Yuki turned his gaze toward Mortarion, whose face was currently a picture of sheer awkwardness. Mortarion took immense pride in his numerology, but it was abundantly clear that New Dream had failed to grasp its finer nuances.
New Dream was still chattering away, babbling about three days and four years, or six cycles and one turn.
"Mortarion... what on earth did you teach my daughter?"
"Numerology, Yuki!" Mortarion insisted defensively. "You must understand that everything in this universe can be calculated and predicted through my craft!"
"I am going to beat you senseless."
Yuki rolled up his sleeves and stepped toward Mortarion.
Meanwhile, New Dream hopped over to sit beside Nurgle. The Grandfather leaned down and teased her softly, "Little New Dream, your daddy is about to fight my champion. Aren't you going to stop them? Fighting is bad."
Coming from a Chaos God, such words carried zero moral weight, bordering on outright hypocrisy. Yet to a child possessing immense Warp potential, such framing held a strange influence.
After all, both Ahriman and Magnus had once believed the Immaterium to be fundamentally benevolent.
Naturally, Nurgle framed it this way in the hope that New Dream might develop a peaceful mindset. After all, if the Great Devourer went on an absolute rampage, no one in the Immaterium would enjoy the fallout.
If New Dream could eventually alter or soften the Tyranid swarms' ultimate objective, it would be the finest possible future for everyone. And even if she couldn't, fostering goodwill with her remained an undeniable win.
Compared to his three siblings, Nurgle was far more temperate.
New Dream blinked her large, bright eyes, suddenly jumping to her feet and pumping her fists.
"Go, Daddy! Go, Uncle Mortarion!"
Nurgle froze, entirely dumbfounded.
This kid... does she actually align more with Khorne?!
Looking back at Mortarion and Yuki, both were already radiating intense battle spirit.
"Well," Mortarion grinned, drawing his massive scythe and spreading his wings into the air, "since little New Dream called for it, it seems this duel is unavoidable!"
"She cheered for you too?!" Yuki growled through gritted teeth. "You really have some nerve!"
As New Dream cheered and bounced, Isha stepped carefully out from the inner sanctuary, offering the child a small platter of fresh fruit.
"Thank you, Big Sister Isha!"
"What a sweet tongue," Isha smiled warmly, stroking her hair.
Isha was well aware that Yuno had placed New Dream in the Warp to study and grow.
Under normal progression, she would learn fundamentals from Nurgle, sorcery from Tzeentch, arts and sensation from Slaanesh, martial prowess from Khorne, and from the Emperor of Mankind... well, surely she would pick up something useful there as well.
Gazing down at New Dream's radiant smile, Isha felt a surge of pure, maternal warmth.
She was the Goddess of Life, after all—how could anyone fail to cherish a life so precious?
"Mortarion, it feels like I've never actually had a serious spar with you, have I?"
"Saying you weren't being serious just because you haven't won—you're quite something, Yuki. Let's see if you truly possess a Primarch's combat prowess now!"
Mortarion lunged toward Yuki, his leathery wings casting a massive shadow that blocked out Yuki's line of sight. The toxic haze belching from his scythe was lethally corrosive to any living creature.
Yuki could only rely on his body to tank the damage directly. Even then, simple endurance was not enough; he had to regulate his internal reserves of biomass second by second, carefully balancing tissue regeneration against sloughing off necrotic flesh.
It went without saying that Mortarion was pulling his punches by holding back the God-Blight and his full sorcerous potential.
Yuki recognized the gesture. After trading several blows and realizing there was still a tangible gap between his current vessel and a Daemon Primarch, he gradually relaxed his form.
The duel degraded into a theatrical spar. Anyone watching could tell they were merely putting on a show—everyone except little New Dream, who was bouncing up and down, cheering passionately for her father.
And precisely because New Dream was watching, neither Mortarion nor Yuki could bring themselves to call a halt first.
"Hey, Mortarion... do me a favor and fake a defeat, will you?"
"Throwing a fight in front of little New Dream? I have my pride to consider."
"She's my daughter, for goodness' sake! If you want one so badly, go adopt a child from a human world!"
"I wouldn't dare adopt a child capable of standing in my presence for an hour without dying."
Mid-sentence, Mortarion's scythe sliced through Yuki's facial tissue. Yuki pressed a hand against his torn cheek, swinging his opposite fist straight into Mortarion's jaw with brutal force.
BOOM!
Mortarion's face caved inward.
To an ordinary mortal, such injuries would be fatal, but here were two absolute damage sponges—a Daemon Primarch of Nurgle and the Vice-Master of the Hive. Even without holding back, a battle between them was not ending anytime soon.
Warp energy swirled continuously around the pair. Nurgle narrowed his eyes slightly, casually suppressing the surrounding Immaterium forces with a thought.
Yuki is adapting?
Nurgle pondered the phenomenon carefully.
Yuki possessed an extraordinarily high capacity for cellular and spiritual adaptation, but that potential had rarely manifested before—likely because Yuno had always shielded him from genuine harm.
Now that Yuno had stepped back, leaving him to rely on his own strength to resist the Warp's corruption while fighting a Primarch, both his physical body and his soul were undergoing rapid refinement through trial by fire.
As one of the four supreme entities of the Immaterium, Nurgle's perception of fate and the tapestry of the future was by no means inferior to that of his siblings.
Yuki was destined to leave an indelible mark upon the galaxy; such a destiny ensured his life could never remain mundane.
Even if he had never met Yuno, even if he had been consumed by the swarms or tossed into the Immaterium, he would have eventually forged his own power within this universe, ascending as a Greater Daemon or something equivalent.
"Alright, how long do you two intend to keep up this embarrassing brawl? It's utterly unseemly, and there is a child present," Isha chided.
Nurgle chuckled softly. "The little one seems to be enjoying it well enough."
"Little New Dream's origins are unique to begin with, and here you are instigating her further," Isha replied, stepping forward. "Come, little New Dream, let me take you to find something delicious."
Once Isha ushered New Dream away, Mortarion and Yuki finally lowered their weapons.
"Numerology will prove immensely beneficial to little New Dream in the long run. Just you wait and see."
"Shut your mouth, you stinking tin can."
---
"Big Sister Isha, why do Mommy and Daddy have to fight Uncle Nurgle and the others?"
Isha looked down at New Dream, somewhat caught off guard. Why would a child ask such a question?
The war between Yuno, Yuki, and the four Ruinous Powers was an ongoing reality, accompanied by casual banter on the surface. By all logic, neither of her parents should have introduced such heavy concepts to a five-year-old yet.
"Well..." Isha began softly, "because they harbor mutual hatred for one another, yet lack the means to utterly destroy each other."
"Why do they hate each other?"
"It is an absolute truth of this universe," Isha answered, a quiet sadness lacing her voice. "You are still too young to understand, New Dream. The forces of fate are something none of us can truly withstand—and your mother and father are no exception."
Isha wondered if imposing such heavy realities on a small child was overly cruel. New Dream tilted her head, clutching the sweet treat Isha had given her without taking a bite.
"Then my fate will always follow Mommy and Daddy. Whatever they do, I will do too."
It was a remarkably profound statement for a child to make.
Isha tried her best to maintain her composure, while New Dream's gaze turned resolute.
"I am going to stay by Mommy and Daddy's side, so I need to master the Warp quickly to help them."
What a thoughtful child...
Isha felt a wave of maternal warmth, yet from another perspective, the implication was faintly chilling.
What kind of entity would a child harboring such absolute determination grow into?
Isha gently stroked New Dream's hair, reassuring herself, It is fine. The present moment is peaceful enough; there is no need to dwell on dark possibilities.
Suddenly, a tiny organism materialized within New Dream's palm.
The Garden of Nurgle was teeming with microscopic life, every strain inherently lethal, and Isha was intimately familiar with all of them. Yet the organism resting in New Dream's hand seemed to originate from an entirely different reality—it looked distinctly like a creation of the Tyranid Hive Mind.
"Big Sister Isha, what is this?"
New Dream cradled it gently in her hands, looking up with expectant eyes.
Unsure of its nature, Isha led her back to Nurgle. The Grandfather was still watching Yuki and Mortarion converse, but upon learning of New Dream's development, he immediately called the two over.
"Yuki, your daughter appears to have made a significant breakthrough. Come look."
Yuki and Mortarion hurried inside the cabin. New Dream was still turning the little creature over in her hands. Nurgle leaned down, needing only a single glance to render his verdict.
"This is a native Warp construct. Your daughter possesses remarkable latent talent—she actually forged this entity directly out of raw psychic energy."
"What does that imply?" Yuki asked.
Nurgle squatted down to look New Dream in the eye.
"Her next stop should be Tzeentch's domain. Her psychic aptitude is extraordinarily high—and fraud prevention is best taught from a young age."
---
Realspace.
The Aether and Chronos Fleets.
Yuno returned from the Immaterium.
War stood waiting, gazing at her silently as an instantaneous exchange of data transpired between them.
To afford Yuki a fuller sense of involvement, Yuno habitually used the most inefficient, verbal forms of communication whenever he was present.
Now that Yuki was in the Immaterium guiding New Dream's psychic awakening, Yuno reverted to her primordial state.
"We must secure a far vast living space for them," Yuno commanded.
"Understood," War replied.
"The primary threat in realspace currently stems from the Necrons. The emergence of the Pariah Nexus indicates that Szarekh's ambitions can no longer be contained. We shall manipulate the Imperium of Man into launching an offensive against that sector."
"Understood."
"Order the swarms pushing deeper into Imperial territory to maintain their advance. Apply continuous pressure."
"What is our core priority?"
"A dual-front strategy," Yuno declared coldly. "We shall suppress the Necrons while systematically consuming the Imperium of Man. Whichever front yields faster progress will receive the full support of our reserve bio-fleets."