Titus looked steadfastly at his former Chapter Master, Calgar—a man he once admired greatly.
Calgar frowned and slowly stepped down, coming face-to-face with his former subordinate, now changed almost beyond recognition.
"Titus, it looks like a lot has happened to you over the years! Why have you become so tall?" Calgar asked.
It was only now that he realized Titus's current height, and the power armor he wore was not from the Deathwatch.
Even Deathwatch members would display their original Chapter's insignia on their shoulder pad, but Titus wore no Chapter badge, only the Aquila.
Unless… he had joined the Blackshields, completely severing ties with his parent Chapter—a shameful act utterly unacceptable to most Astartes.
"A lot has happened, Chapter Master Calgar. I was imprisoned for a full century, and during that time, I received no word from my parent Chapter.
I once would have died for this badge, this color," Titus said, pointing to the blue armor and the Ultramarines insignia on Calgar.
It would be a lie to say he held no resentment towards his parent Chapter—otherwise, he wouldn't have joined the Blackshields.
Even so, he still wanted to do one last thing for his former Chapter: revive their Primarch.
Once Roboute Guilliman was brought back, Titus would owe nothing more to his parent Chapter—instead, the Chapter would owe him.
"Believe me, I submitted countless requests to the Inquisition to recall you, but they all vanished without a trace.
But now, what you're asking for is truly unbelievable. Titus, tell me, can I trust you?" Calgar asked.
As the former Second Company Captain, Calgar had valued Titus highly—he had even groomed him as a potential successor to the Chapter Master! Otherwise, by his age and credentials, Titus would not have become Second Company Captain so young.
The Second Company Captain is second only to the Chapter Master, the First Company Captain, and the Chief Librarian.
"This is the Emperor's will, Chapter Master Calgar. I am certain—the Primarch of the Ultramarines will return," Titus declared.
"We cannot be so rash, Chapter Master Calgar. As a Chaplain, I must remind you that this Living Saint also exudes a warp presence.
He returned just as the Chapter was besieged by Chaos, and claims he can resurrect our Primarch.
Moreover, Titus has repeatedly violated the Codex Astartes. That is an undeniable fact. All the Second Company members do not want their former Captain to return," a Chaplain-armored Space Marine spoke up.
"I never intended to come back! I am here today only to resurrect Roboute Guilliman," Titus replied.
Of the entire Ultramarines Chapter, only the old veteran who once recruited him, and Chapter Master Calgar, had ever truly cared about him.
Apart from those two, he had nothing to miss in the entire Chapter.
And the Imperium was about to undergo great change! Soon, the Codex Astartes would be abolished.
"I heard the Ultramarines added the rank of Tyrannic War Veteran. But wait—that's not in the Codex, is it? Isn't that a violation too?" Rhodes, standing by, spoke mockingly.
To hell with this so-called Codex Astartes—everyone was sick of it. Only fools still clung to it.
And this Chaplain, Rhodes recognized him as the one who had once reported Titus to the authorities.
It's understandable to suspect your superior of Chaos corruption in a world where Chaos is omnipresent.
But the right thing to do would have been to report it up the Chapter chain of command—to Calgar, the Chaplain, or the Librarius, so the Chapter could investigate first.
Rhodes had spoken with Titus many times, and Titus harbored great anger toward the recruit who reported him.
If you suspect me, at least report it to our own Chapter first, let them investigate.
But to report directly to the Inquisition and have them take me away—that truly is despicable.
"Even if you are the Emperor's Chosen, you cannot question the Codex Astartes. This minor change is indeed a flaw—a desecration of the Great Codex. But it cannot be helped. The Primarch and the Emperor will forgive us," the Chaplain said.
"No, no! Believe me, the Emperor will not condemn me or Titus—he will only condemn an idiot like you," Rhodes retorted bluntly.
At that, a mass of Ultramarines raised their weapons at Rhodes.
The Custodian standing next to Rhod drew his own weapon, shielding Rhodes.
"You are defying the Emperor's will! Ultramarines, are you planning to betray the Imperium? We are here by the Emperor's command," the Custodian declared.
Rhodes sneered, snapped his fingers, and with a thunderous boom—a gigantic 50-meter-tall avatar of the Emperor appeared in the hall, clad in golden armor and wielding a massive golden sword, radiating terrifying psychic light.
"By the Emperor! How is this possible?" The Chaplain who had just questioned Rhodes stared in disbelief at the colossal figure.
"It's the Emperor's avatar! Where did you get this? Or rather, who summoned it?" Grey Knights Grand Master Voldus asked with a frown.
He knew this figure well—a few months ago, a squad of Grey Knights on a mission encountered a terrifying Slaaneshi champion with immense power, who could slaughter an entire squad of Grey Knights with ease. At that time, a warrior bathed in the Emperor's light and clad in golden armor appeared.
He helped the Grey Knights defeat the Slaaneshi champion, and even merged with the Grey Knights Captain present.
After returning to the Fortress-Monastery, the Captain underwent rigorous scrutiny—no trace of warp corruption was found.
On the contrary, the golden giant's aura had a mysterious connection to the Grey Knights' gene-seed.
From then on, the Grey Knights believed this was the Emperor's blessing—the golden avatar was sent to help them hunt daemons.
This event was classified as one of the highest secrets of the Chapter.
But now, to see another avatar here, and to feel the same resonance in their gene-seed—a shock.
"There is more than one Emperor's avatar. On Cadia's battlefield, there were two. We were about to defeat Chaos when a cowardly Necron ambushed the avatar.
Soon, word will spread throughout the Imperium, Grand Master. Don't be so shocked!" Living Saint Celestine briefly recounted the events of Cadia.
"I can testify for the Living Saint. We Black Templars fought on Cadia. The Emperor's avatar appeared and helped us, until it was ambushed by the Necrons. Then the Emperor's Chosen appeared and saved us all," said Marshal of the Black Templars, nodding in agreement.
"These despicable xenos will pay sooner or later. Chapter Master Calgar, if the Emperor's avatar is here, then there's nothing to question.
With the Emperor's Custodian, his avatar, Living Saint, and Chosen—this is authority enough," Grand Master Voldus declared.
This was tantamount to the Emperor himself being present. If Calgar still refused, Voldus might even side with them—declaring the Ultramarines traitors. No one could challenge the Emperor's authority.
"Chapter Master Calgar, I tried to reason with you.
But now, there's no room for doubt—this is not a request, it's an order!
Now! Immediately! Take us to the Primarch, or I will consider you a traitor—to the Imperium and the Emperor," Rhodes shouted.
All the Ultramarines turned to look at their Chapter Master.
"Chapter Master! This truly is the Emperor's will. If you won't believe others, won't you believe me?" said Chief Librarian Tigurius.
"I understand. Everyone, follow me. I'll take you to the Primarch. He's in the lowest level of this monastery.
Without my authorization as Chapter Master, you could never reach him," Calgar finally relented.
There was no room for refusal—the Grey Knights and Black Templars had sided with the other party!
He didn't want the Ultramarines, a founding Chapter, to be branded as traitors.
Rhodes nodded in satisfaction, and the group followed Calgar to the deepest part of Hera Fortress.
At the core, within a stasis field, lay a giant in blue armor nearly 3.8 meters tall, beside a golden sword blazing with fire.
"You have made the wise choice, Chapter Master Calgar!
Chaos is attacking. All Black Templars and Grey Knights—go and aid Calgar in defending against Chaos. The resurrection of the Primarch must be conducted in secret," Rhodes said.