#530 - The Supreme Primarch Savior will rule over his loyal Holy Terra today!
In the psychic vision.
The Hope Primarch, Savior, wearing a dazzling crown, stood shoulder to shoulder with the Emperor, so sacred and majestic.
Since the founding of the Imperium, this was the first time someone could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Emperor, a supreme recognition.
It also meant that the power of the Imperium had a true successor.
"Lord Devourer..."
The silver-haired angel, Saint Celestine, stared blankly at the Hope Primarch, Savior, a faint smile appearing at the corner of her lips.
She saw that being again.
Perhaps she was the only one in the Imperium who addressed the Savior with such intimacy.
But the silver-haired angel's gaze inevitably noticed the Hope Primarch, Savior's body, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Those pure white wings gently gathered, shielding her face.
At this moment, the Saint's Twin Handmaidens, two pure and flawless angel maidens, also received the psychic vision.
They both exclaimed in surprise, as if recalling some memory they wished to keep hidden, becoming even more shy.
Dang, dang, dang—
On the Himalayas.
Engines buried deep within the mountains roared in unison, the palace's heavy chimes shattering the silence, and one after another, adamantine gates engraved with reliefs opened.
The Adeptus Custodes in golden armor, fully armed, marched out in solemn silence.
Captain-General Trajann Valoris gathered all the Custodes who could be present, arriving at the Plaza of Heroes.
This was perhaps the first time in ten thousand years that so many Custodes had gathered.
Buzz!
The golden power spears ignited their force fields, slamming heavily into the ground, emitting a crisp metallic tremor.
"As the Golden Throne bears witness—
We shall become the blades in your hand, our spears guided by your will.
Whether it be heretical aliens who dare to desecrate humanity, or demonic evils lurking in the abyss of Chaos, none can shake the loyalty of the Custodes.
For the Emperor... and the Savior!"
The Captain-General, along with all the Custodes warriors, knelt on one knee facing the Hope Primarch's statue, even the Custodes Dreadnoughts lowered their heads.
They obeyed the Emperor's will, swearing allegiance to the Hope Primarch, Savior.
The Custodes had no objections to the Hope Primarch, Savior, becoming their leader.
It was as if it were destined to be so.
In fact, even before the Emperor officially announced this appointment, the Custodes had already been working under the Savior's orders.
Now, they were simply gaining true and legitimate authority.
"We shall usher in a new mission..."
Captain-General Trajann Valoris looked up at the Savior's statue.
He knew that the Custodes would participate in more of the Imperium's affairs in the future, ushering in more wars.
The Emperor's Silent Sentinels, who had been dormant for so long, would once again wage war in the galaxy, just like the Great Crusade ten thousand years ago.
Sunlight from the palace dome shone through the stained glass, scattering onto the Hope Primarch, Savior's statue, covering it with a layer of golden gauze.
At this moment, it wasn't just the Custodes.
The Ecclesiarchy priests, Adeptus Mechanicus tech-priests, and tens of millions of devout pilgrims throughout the palace area all offered their worship to the great Emperor and the Savior in various forms and rituals.
Many pilgrims who had visited the Savior's territories and revered the Savior knelt down piously.
Especially a group of pilgrims with gray hair, wearing the Savior's badge, were extremely respectful.
They were fortunate enough to receive the psychic vision, seeing the appearance of the Hope Primarch, Savior.
Centuries ago, the ancestors of the 'Pious' pilgrims exhausted their planet's resources to build the ship, embarking on a pilgrimage to Holy Terra.
However, the path of pilgrimage was so rugged and arduous, testing the fate and will of the pilgrims.
Generation after generation, they were born and died on the ship, known as the Children of the Void.
They were subjected to exclusion.
Every journey was accompanied by death and suffering.
Decades ago, they were even corrupted by Chaos due to encountering warp storms, and everyone was on the verge of destruction in pain.
Fortunately, the Hope Primarch, Savior, rescued the 'Pious' and mercifully allowed them to enter the Holy Land of Urs, witnessing the Emperor's relics.
From that moment on, the fate of the 'Pious' pilgrims changed.
The Hope Primarch, Savior, bestowed generous supplies, freeing them from the torment of disease and hunger.
They traveled to Holy Terra in a dignified manner.
Finally, the 'Pious' arrived at Holy Terra, the throne world surrounded by countless legends and glories.
Under the grace and protection of the Hope Primarch, Savior, they were fortunate enough to enter the Imperial Palace, stepping into the sacred land that countless ancestors had dreamed of but could hardly reach.
The pilgrims, with incomparable reverence, performed their pilgrimage.
At that moment, they seemed to be connected to the souls of their ancestors, completing their sacred mission, ending the hundreds of years of expectation from their homeworld and ancestors.
After the pilgrimage, many pilgrims from the 'Pious' made a major decision—they chose to stay on Holy Terra, dedicating their remaining lives to the Emperor without reservation.
They knew that this was the most glorious choice of their lives, the best response to the Emperor's protection.
So, in the following decades, they measured every sacred site on Holy Terra and near the Imperial Palace with their feet.
They knelt down devoutly, each kneeling filled with infinite reverence for the Emperor.
They left their marks in every corner of the sacred sites, their souls sublimated in their devotion to the Emperor.
Over the years, many of the 'Pious' pilgrims quietly passed away due to old age, and some went from youth to twilight, their hair gray.
They witnessed the changes that the Savior brought to the throne world.
This once barren land, the heart of the Imperium, was restored, the fog of industrial pollution in the atmosphere was dispelled, and precious water resources were adequately supplied.
The difficult paths in various sacred sites were repaired, and the food distributed by the Ecclesiarchy was no longer unpalatable corpse starch or moldy wood-shaving bread.
More security measures were also established.
These allowed the pilgrims to better offer their devout faith, rather than dying on the way due to hunger and accidents.
The 'Pious' pilgrims also saw more and more smiles on the faces of the Terran residents, instead of pain and numbness.
Many pilgrims who arrived at the throne world also brought more news about the Hope Primarch, Savior.
Praising the generosity and kindness of that being.
Although they did not know what kind of changes the Savior becoming the ruler would bring.
But they vaguely felt that it was a good thing.
The Human Imperium would become better.
A gray-haired 'Pious' pilgrim tidied the patched white robe on his body and carefully wiped the Savior's badge on his chest.
Those were all gifts from the Savior.
There was a hint of worry on the pilgrim's devout face.
According to the news brought by other pilgrims, heretics were causing trouble in the frontier area of the Halo Stars, and even traces of Necron aliens had appeared.
The Great Emperor's Dark Angels had already gone to strike.
His homeworld was also in that area, and he only hoped that his homeworld would not be affected, as that exhausted planet could no longer withstand the disaster of war.
The white-haired pilgrim devoutly pressed his forehead to the marble floor, praying for the protection of the Great Emperor and the Savior.
Gradually, Holy Terra became noisy.
The news that the Great Emperor had chosen the Hope Primarch, Savior, as the new ruler of the Imperium spread throughout the throne world, causing an uproar.
The Emperor's announcement was too sudden, so that the Imperium's administrators had no time to react.
This was a subversion of the existing political system, meaning that the Imperium would return to the centralized rule of ten thousand years ago, when the Emperor was alive.
In the past, Regent Guilliman and the Savior's seizure of power to serve as First Citizen were essentially relying on the highest power institution of the Imperium—the Senate.
But now, everything had changed.
The Senate was no longer the highest power institution of the Imperium, and all supreme power would be concentrated in one person's hands.
That was the Hope Primarch, Savior.
Such a change was equivalent to someone suddenly jumping out and announcing the restoration of the monarchy after the republic had been implemented for countless years.
This was unacceptable to many of the Imperium's High Lords and high-level administrators.
Even if the person announcing this decree was the Emperor.
Some of the Imperium's administrators could not help but worry that this matter would once again cause waves in the long-peaceful throne world, leading to bloodshed.
In short, the Hope Primarch, Savior's, coronation would not be so easy.
Inside a secret room.
Several High Lords concealed their figures and appearances, secretly discussing how to deal with this sudden change in the Imperium.
These high-ranking officials were afraid that they would lose their existing power.
In the past, they could tolerate the Hope Primarch, Savior, because no matter how the situation changed, the Senate would always exist, and the High Lords could still fulfill their duties.
But now, with the Emperor's announcement, the power structure had undergone earth-shaking changes.
That Savior had become the new "Emperor," who would completely rule the Human Imperium, and no one knew what kind of adjustments he would make, whether he would abolish the Senate?
"Gentlemen, now may be our last chance to object..."
The red High Lord phantom said in a hoarse voice: "Once Holy Terra implements this appointment, no one will be able to stop that monster from Ursch taking over the rule.
Are you willing to lose everything?!"
That High Lord was obviously somewhat disgusted with the Hope Primarch Savior, comparing him to a monster.
The pink High Lord phantom nodded in agreement, with a female voice: "Yes, that unspeakable Demon King is approaching the supreme power step by step.
He will devour all the power in our hands."
"Perhaps, that despicable and shameless power-stealing thief used the Emperor's corpse; the Emperor cannot wake up.
He deceived us, deceived all the citizens of the Empire, and must be spurned by everyone.
Can we attack him from this direction?"
The blue High Lord phantom put forward his own suggestion; he did not believe in the gods and was even more skeptical that the Emperor would wake up.
Or unwilling to believe.
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The Emperor is nothing more than withered bones on the throne; as long as that being cannot leave the Imperial Palace.
Everything is still up to others.
The right to interpret the Emperor rests in the hands of the Ecclesiarchy and many other forces; whoever can grasp power and public opinion has the final say.
"But... the Ecclesiarchy and the Custodes are firmly controlled by the Savior; how can we bypass them and deny the Emperor's divine decree?!"
The yellow High Lord phantom gave a fatal and threatening answer, being very cautious about the situation.
Regarding this point, the other High Lord phantoms present also knew.
For a time, the atmosphere in the secret room stagnated.
But they were obviously still unwilling to give up.
"So what?"
The black High Lord phantom was somewhat unconvinced, with a hint of anger.
But his address for the Savior unconsciously changed: "The Hope Primarch has seized a portion of the power of the Ecclesiarchy and the Custodes, but the Ecclesiarchy and the Custodes are not his slaves!"
"That's right, we are here to find a solution, not to proclaim the power of the Hope Primarch.
Are we just going to sit here and wait for that being to take everything away step by step?!"
The pink High Lord phantom's voice lost its previous sharpness and lacked much confidence.
Even her breathing became uneven.
She stared at the yellow High Lord phantom: "As the organizer of the Secret Brotherhood, are you also frightened by the Savior?"
The yellow High Lord phantom was the initial founder of the secret organization, but in this organization, everyone's status is equal.
They were somewhat dissatisfied with the timidity of this initial organizer, even if that guy was just telling the truth.
In the current situation, they need more courage and find a way to oppose that Savior, at least to limit his power to some extent.
That was the last hope.
"I am just rationally analyzing the possible dangers; don't forget, the Savior has placed many Redemption Titan Engines on Holy Terra..."
The yellow High Lord phantom did not care about the other party's words and continued.
He raised his hand and pointed upwards: "Whether it is the Imperial Ecclesiarchy, the Department of Internal Affairs, the Department of Military Affairs, or the Inquisition and the Astropaths, there are Redemption Titan Engines stationed; those things are above everyone's heads.
Nothing can stop those war behemoths; even the most solid fortress will be crushed to dust.
No one wants to repeat the fate of the former Minister of Internal Affairs, Violetta, right?!"
These words gave the atmosphere in the secret room a hint of solemnity.
Everyone on Holy Terra knew the tragic end of the former Minister of Internal Affairs, Violetta; initially, the Hope Primarch Savior said he would use the Titan Engine to squeeze out the brains of the traitors.
Then the brains of those traitors were squeezed out.
The High Lords present had witnessed that execution, and the memory was deeply etched; Violetta's screams before her death still seemed to echo in their ears.
They recalled this incident, feeling a trace of fear.
These beings did not want to become traitors and suffer the same fate as the former Minister of Internal Affairs.
They were contemplating whether to risk their lives and fortunes to retain that captivating power.
For power-mongers, this was undoubtedly a difficult choice.
An even more terrifying question was, could they still find a stable solution, and was there still hope for victory?!
The secret room became silent, and the atmosphere was heavy.
The yellow High Lord phantom did not care about his colleagues' emotions and continued:
"In fact, even this secret gathering is extremely dangerous; the Savior has established the Department of Surveillance and completely controls the Inquisition through this department.
Our High Lord colleague, Grand Inquisitor Deville, is the Savior's most loyal subordinate and has placed endless eyes and ears in the Throneworld.
Nothing can escape his eyes.
I even worry that that guy already knows about this gathering and that the Department of Surveillance and the Inquisition are on their way."
Hearing this, the High Lords present became even more worried and were more vigilant about the movements outside.
Everyone knew that Grand Inquisitor Deville was the Savior's loyal dog and evil slave, a ruthless figure.
Over the years, countless heretics and traitors had died at his hands.
Even more terrifying were the eyes and ears he had set up, which almost grasped every move of the Throneworld; even the High Lords could not completely avoid surveillance.
At this moment, the High Lords in the secret room did not have much interest in discussing countermeasures, worried about whether that Grand Inquisitor had really monitored them and discovered this gathering.
That would be an extremely dangerous mistake.
They were in fear.
The blue High Lord phantom took a deep breath, trying to ease the tense atmosphere: "Everyone, we don't need to worry too much; that Savior's hound is not an omniscient and omnipotent being.
We are acting so secretly; he couldn't possibly know."
He chuckled and tried to be clever: "No one can know what we have discussed unless that hound is lurking among us at this moment, in this secret room."
Over the years, they had been secretly contacting each other, using many methods to avoid being tracked.
They had held about a dozen secret meetings in this form, forming cliques and engaging in secret transactions.
They had never been discovered.
The words of the blue High Lord phantom eased the tense atmosphere in the secret room.
The High Lords breathed a slight sigh of relief.
However, before everyone could laugh.
The High Lord with the yellow phantom spoke:
"You're right; I am Deville, lurking among you... for a long time."
The yellow High Lord phantom turned off the virtual simulation device, revealing a terrible figure wearing a restrained black windbreaker with a red armband.
He stared closely at everyone present with hawk-like, bloodthirsty eyes, as if he would devour them alive in the next second.
The secret room fell into a deathly silence.
Those High Lords could hardly believe that the initial founder of the Secret Brotherhood was actually the Savior's loyal dog, Grand Inquisitor Deville?!
Such an extreme act of entrapment terrified them.
The High Lords' minds, which had been clouded by power, had now recovered.
Didn't this mean that their every move over the years had been under the other party's nose, and would these things be known to the Hope Primarch Savior, who would then punish them?!
Although Deville could not directly deal with the High Lords, he could report the relevant information to the Savior, who would then order them to be dealt with.
The only consolation was that the secret gathering was conducted in the form of virtual images, so at least they would not be caught on the spot.
The next second.
One by one, the virtual images went out, and they all hurried offline to make arrangements.
To avoid a tragic end.
However, one virtual image remained in place; it was the blue High Lord phantom.
"Why haven't you left?"
Grand Inquisitor Deville looked at the other party and asked with a playful tone.
"I will leave immediately."
The blue High Lord phantom was very tough, standing up straight.
His tone was very firm, but his attitude towards the Savior had changed 180 degrees:
"Lord Deville, please allow me to take my leave.
The Supreme Hope Primarch Savior will rule his loyal Holy Terra today, and I must prepare the ceremony for that being..."
The blue High Lord phantom controlled the trembling of his body, bowed slightly, said goodbye with elegant etiquette, and extinguished the virtual projection.
...
Pilgrim's City, Central Avenue.
The news that the Savior was about to rule the Empire still inevitably caused waves, and a large crowd gathered on the street.
Some unwilling high-ranking officials of the Empire knew that they could not resist the Savior, but they still secretly promoted some things, wanting to disgust the Savior.
To make the sacred coronation ceremony of that being flawed.
After receiving the news, the Solar Auxilia were also fully armed and urgently dispatched, and large tanks and armored vehicles appeared on the street.
For them, any attempt to desecrate the Great Emperor and the Savior was unforgivable!
