Dante was confused.
Hadn't his soul returned to the Throne? How could he still hear voices?
He ignored it and sank back into silence, savoring that rare peace and quiet.
This time, he was retiring. No one was stopping him.
Knock, knock, knock.
Suddenly, another knock rang beside Dante's ear. The voice that followed grew clearer, and it sounded very familiar.
A faint, blazing radiance seemed to spread over him as well.
"Huh? Dante, you old slacker, you're here too? Wake up."
That familiar voice belonged to the Savior.
Dante drew in a deep breath.
He slowly opened his eyes and saw the Savior in a white robe, wearing a laurel crown, with a golden halo shining behind his head.
Behind the Emperor of the Imperium, Dante could even see the Golden Throne, wreathed in luminous mist, sacred beyond description.
More importantly, the Savior had also appeared in the form of a soul.
Dante's pupils shook violently.
The Savior, the Emperor of the Imperium, had descended here as well?!
Fear gripped him. His voice turned hoarse.
"Your Majesty, why... why have you come to the Throne? Who killed you?
"Did the Imperium lose the war?!"
He could not believe it. The Savior had died and returned to the Throne, just like him.
For the galaxy and the Imperium, that would be a catastrophe beyond imagining.
"Hey, don't say something that unlucky. I'm not dead. I just came over to see what was going on.
"I heard you were trying to skip work and retire?"
Eden frowned and waved a hand.
He had merely sensed the souls of the Blood Angels fading away, so he had used his authority over the Warp to protect them, preventing those loyal souls from being exploited by the Chaos Gods.
Everything happening now was only an illusory exchange deep within their souls and consciousness.
Besides, he had only just arrived to check the situation, and this old salted fish Dante was already raising death flags for him.
That was very inappropriate.
Still, Eden did not dwell on it. As the Savior and King of Hell, he had already touched the steps of apotheosis.
Although he could not merge into the Warp's timeline and exist eternally like the Chaos Gods, killing him was not exactly easy.
At most, the Chaos Gods could devour his authority, then seal him completely in some corner of the Warp.
From there, they could imprison him forever or inflict endless torment upon him.
"Hiss...
"Actually, that sounds even worse than dying outright."
Eden sucked in a breath as that thought occurred to him. "Sure enough, the higher-dimensional a life-form becomes, the less it can afford to lose.
"No wonder the Chaos Gods fight each other so desperately, constantly seizing authority to secure their own power.
"They don't dare lose. They can't lose. Once they lose their power, what awaits them is eternal torment.
"I'm the same."
Eden could imagine exactly what kind of tragic fate would await him if the Chaos Gods caught him, the Savior.
For example, he might be hung from the walls of the Brass Citadel and burned again and again by raging flames. He might be soaked in the stew of Nurgle's Garden and suffer the worst plagues imaginable.
Or perhaps he would go mad in the ocean of knowledge within the Crystal Labyrinth. Or, in the Palace of Pleasure, surrounded by the most beautiful beings in the galaxy and the Warp, he would be flicked in the crotch for ten thousand years.
And that was the most conservative estimate.
Given the Chaos Gods' hatred for him, they would certainly exhaust their imaginations to impose the cruelest torments in the galaxy and the Warp upon the Savior, the King of Hell.
And that torment would never end. Once he lost his power and was jointly sealed away by the Chaos Gods, he would never have another chance to turn the tables.
"I have no way back now. I don't even have the right to die."
Eden sighed.
In this world, perhaps dying peacefully was itself a rare luxury. Otherwise, the people of the Imperium would not regard returning to the Throne as the highest reward.
But a higher-dimensional existence like him had no choice. Even the Emperor was the same.
The old man could not die even if he wanted to. He could only continue bearing that burden.
No wonder the Emperor had been so careful and protective of him when he first arrived. Eden would have done the same in his place.
Having another trustworthy being to share that burden was extremely pleasant.
That was also why Eden had come to find Dante. A loyal existence like him could not be allowed to clock out halfway through.
He had to keep accompanying the Savior and lead humanity toward prosperity and glory.
Of course, only a portion of Eden's consciousness, or will, had descended into this area. At most, he could try to persuade Dante to stay.
If Dante had truly made up his mind, Eden would still consider the situation and respect his decision.
His true body was still fighting the Dark Emperor and the Chaos Gods. With the support of his Primarch brothers, he had gained even more of an advantage.
"Blessed be the Imperium."
Only after Dante heard that the Savior had not returned to the Throne did his tense emotions finally ease.
But when he realized what was happening, he almost jumped up in panic.
Dante subtly retreated two steps, roaring inwardly.
What did he mean, "I'm fine, I just came to see what was going on with you"?
By the Emperor, I'm dead. Dead! And you still chased me all the way to the Throne?
Dante truly had not expected the Savior to follow him here. Was His Majesty too concerned about an old warrior of the Imperium like him?
This was the retirement in death he had longed for across a thousand years. Now it seemed like it might be ruined.
He felt like a man who had waited bitterly for years to finally get vacation time, only to be dragged back for unpaid overtime.
Even his soul turned into a bitter melon face.
Somebody put me out of my misery.
Dante prayed to the Throne, hoping the great Emperor would stop the Savior.
Let him, a loyal soul returned to the Throne, remain here and enjoy eternal peace.
Yet nothing happened.
He and the Savior stared at each other, and both fell into a long silence.
"I should be beyond saving, shouldn't I? Perhaps this is the end of my fate, the moment my soul returns to the Throne..."
Dante finally broke the silence and spoke awkwardly.
Watching the silent Savior made him uneasy.
The old warrior was tired. He had already fulfilled his final mission. Why was retiring so hard?
Over the years, he had already died several times, yet each time, the soul of his gene-father, Sanguinius, had saved him.
Each time, he had been sent back to shoulder unimaginable war, suffering, and sacrifice.
Now, his life had finally run dry, and the Great Angel had not appeared. Surely he could die once, couldn't he?
This responsibility should be handed over to the newly reborn warriors of the Legion. They would follow the Savior and continue the war.
If he insisted on dying, the Savior would not forcibly fish him back out and make him continue bearing the duties of the Blood Angels, would he?
Dante felt tears welling up.
In the past, it had been Sanguinius who would not let him die. Now that his gene-father was absent, the Savior had replaced him.
There would never be a time to retire.
He also did not want to keep living while bearing the miserable guilt of standing by helplessly, allowing Sanguinius to die.
"You've worked hard."
Eden stayed silent for a while, then raised his hand and patted Dante on the shoulder. What followed was a speech full of leaderly, fatherly nonsense.
"I understand your concerns. If you're facing difficulties, we can sit down together, study the matter, and overcome them.
"You know the Imperium's situation. It needs steady, hardworking warriors like you holding the line. Only then can I feel at ease.
"I hope you can hold on a little longer. Once we get through this stretch, everything will get better."
Dante was moved, but he also hesitated.
He had to admit, His Majesty the Savior truly treated the Blood Angels very well. He was also arguably the most merciful and approachable ruler the Imperium had ever had.
But Dante still wanted to fight for his right to retire and return to the Throne.
Seeing Dante hesitate, Eden understood something and continued.
"You don't need to worry. I came to find you this time not only to understand your difficulties, but also because I wanted you to meet someone."
As Eden spoke, he stepped aside, allowing Dante to see the golden figure behind him. It was a being of near-perfect beauty.
When Dante saw that golden figure, he did not feel joy at first. Instead, he instinctively trembled.
He had been traumatized.
After that came even greater shock. He stared, dumbfounded.
That was... Sanguinius.
The soul of their gene-father still existed!
At this moment, the Great Angel wore a laurel crown. There was no filth upon him at all. A faint golden radiance surrounded him, and the wings behind his back shone with pure white light.
He was so immaculate.
Combined with his handsome, noble face and long golden hair, he was simply an angel made manifest in the galaxy.
Even Eden had to admit that the Emperor's genes were excellent. With that appearance, Sanguinius could almost stand evenly beside the Savior himself.
Sanguinius first looked at the Savior and revealed a grateful expression.
He bowed with grace and solemnity, then spoke his first words after awakening.
"Lord Eden, I am Sanguinius, Primarch of the Ninth Legion, the Blood Angels.
"Although I cannot yet offer you a gift of thanks, allow me first to express my gratitude for saving my life."
The Great Angel's words were sincere. He always observed etiquette. Noble and humble, he was nearly the best-tempered among the Primarchs.
Sanguinius knew that if the Savior had not destroyed that corrupted body and protected his soul, he never would have broken free from the prison of corruption constructed by the Chaos Gods.
"I only offered a small amount of help. It was your will that resisted the corruption of Chaos and expelled the filth of the gods."
Eden said this and stepped forward, familiarly slinging an arm around the Great Angel's shoulders with an air of brotherly loyalty.
"Besides, we're close brothers. Why would family need gifts of thanks?"
This was one of the Savior's two great social techniques: claiming someone as a brother. The other was becoming their adoptive father. They were almost unbeatable.
Eden was mostly sincere in saying this.
He truly did not need any gift of thanks. Besides, over the years, the Blood Angels' sons had treated him as their adoptive father. He was not their biological dad, but he was close enough.
Rounding it off, they were practically his closest people.
That had also been the main reason the Blood Angels had previously fallen into such deep Black Rage. Their adoptive father had brutally killed their true father right in front of them.
That had plunged them into extreme conflict and pain.
Fortunately, it had been a misunderstanding, and that misunderstanding had now been resolved. Eden and Sanguinius would do everything they could to save all of the Blood Angels.
Sanguinius was somewhat unused to the Savior's overfamiliarity, especially when the other man so crudely hooked an arm around his shoulders.
It was not exactly proper etiquette.
But he showed no impatience. Instead, he accepted it all. No matter what, the Savior was the one who had saved him and the Blood Angels.
"You are correct, Lord Savior."
Sanguinius nodded and agreed with him. He already understood the Savior's relationship with the Emperor and the Primarchs.
He also knew how much that being had helped the Imperium and humanity. The Savior had saved countless lives.
He deserved every measure of respect.
Eden patted Sanguinius on the shoulder so hard it made solid thumping sounds.
"Come on, no need to be so distant. Call me brother."
"Bro... brother."
Sanguinius paused, but he still accepted the Savior and seriously called him brother.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
He did not dislike it. In fact, he felt somewhat happy.
The Great Angel faintly sensed that the Savior possessed a special quality of leadership, one that made people instinctively obey. Yet he did not dislike that either.
That was the quality an Emperor of the Imperium ought to possess. Only someone like that could unite all the Primarchs instead of causing tragedy like Horus had.
Eden finally released Sanguinius and turned toward the dazed Chapter Master of the Blood Angels, the famous salted fish of the Imperium.
He wore an expression that seemed to say, "Why are you being so slow, kid?"
"Dante, your father is here. What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and greet him."
When they had gone out fooling around before, he and Dante could each use whatever seniority they liked. But now, at a time like this, the family hierarchy could not be allowed to fall into disorder.
He was Sanguinius's brother from another mother and another father. Naturally, he had to carry himself like an elder.
"Fa... Father?"
After recovering from his initial trauma and stupor, Dante quickly became emotional.
Once again, he felt the pure soul and power of his gene-father. He was seeing Sanguinius standing before him with his own eyes.
At that moment, there was no Chaos filth upon the Great Angel, only sanctity.
Their gene-father had escaped the corruption of the Chaos Gods and crawled out of the abyss.
What loyalty. What holiness.
It meant the Blood Angels no longer had to bear the humiliation of their gene-father falling into darkness.
It also meant they had regained their spiritual pillar.
"Father!"
Dante burst into tears. With a thud, he dropped to his knees and began sobbing in agony.
"Father, we finally see you again. We did not fail your expectations!"
"My lord, I have done enough. Please let me rest. Let me follow you, serve you. Take me with you!"
"Sob... my mission is over. Will you grant my wish?"
He spoke in broken fragments, begging Sanguinius to allow him to retire, to allow him to serve his gene-father after returning to the Throne, and thereby gain eternal slumber.
Every time this warrior saw Sanguinius, he said something similar.
And every time, he was refused. The Great Angel would say the Imperium still could not do without him, this loyal warrior and leader of the Blood Angels.
His mission was not yet complete.
Dante looked at Sanguinius and waited for his answer. He did not have much expectation in his heart, because he had been rejected too many times.
Yet this time, Sanguinius, his gene-father, nodded and agreed.
"My son, you have won a thousand victories.
"You have always been a light in the darkness. I will grant you any reward. I will bring you to my side and free you from your heavy responsibilities..."
???
Dante froze again, utterly stunned.
Then he was overcome with wild joy.
"Yes! Please, I beg you, take me with you!"
Dante remained kneeling on the ground, excitedly reaching up toward Sanguinius, who had floated into the air like a devout believer.
Sanguinius took his hand. Brilliant golden light filled his entire vision.
Bathed in sacred radiance, Dante felt all his burdens lift away. A trace of peace appeared on his face.
He had retired...
But very soon, something felt wrong.
It seemed someone had pulled him up.
Dante opened his eyes in confusion.
Before him stood Sanguinius. Behind his gene-father were the Savior, Lion El'Jonson, Rogal Dorn, and the others.
They were so real.
The roars of the Chaos abominations and the terrifying shadow of the Dark Emperor were just as real.
Dante, the old salted fish, closed his eyes in pain.
Good news: his request had been granted. The Great Angel had agreed to take him away and keep him at his side to serve him.
Bad news: the Great Angel had revived, and Dante had been dragged back with him.
At that moment, Dante was torn between joy and grief.
The Savior came over, patted him on the shoulder, and told him to get up for overtime.
Sanguinius, meanwhile, tightened his grip on his blade and looked into the distance at Horus, that detestable Dark Emperor.
(End of Chapter)
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