The resurrection ritual to follow was not for outsiders to see; after all, Yvraine needed to kill Guilliman first, then revive him with the power of the Eldar Death God.
If Calgar and the Ultramarines saw this, they would attack without hesitation.
"Lord Rhodes is right—we must hurry out and defend against the invading Chaos forces! We should guard the gate and not let anyone disturb the Primarch's resurrection," said Black Templars Marshal.
The entire planet Macragge was under Chaos fleet attack. Reviving the Primarch was crucial, and Chaos would do anything to stop it.
"I agree, Chapter Master Calgar. Lead us against the Chaos assault, and let the Living Saint, the Emperor's Chosen, and the Archmagos conduct the resurrection," said Grey Knights Grand Master Voldus.
"Chapter Master Calgar, let me stay and witness the resurrection of the Gene-Father!
You must return to the battlefield at once," said Chief Librarian Tigurius.
From his visions, he knew the ritual would be… peculiar.
He understood why the Emperor's Chosen had sent Calgar away, and he supported it—he could explain to the Chapter Master later.
"No! I must be present for the resurrection of our Gene-Father," Calgar insisted.
He had already retreated this far—he would not give more ground. He had to be there for the Primarch's return.
Rhod didn't waste words. He posed, then struck with his Steel Bull Fist.
A red, bull-shaped shockwave caught everyone off-guard—Calgar was blasted skyward, his power armor shattering instantly.
He spun through the air, crashed to the ground, and fell unconscious.
Grand Master Voldus and Marshal Avarich were stunned—Rhodes struck without hesitation, knocking out Calgar with a bizarre attack. It was neither a weapon nor psychic power.
"You stubborn fool, why so much nonsense? Do you have to force me to use my fists?" Rhodes said.
With fewer people in the hall now, Rhodes could act decisively—he subdued Calgar first.
"You… Chapter Master, you—" the remaining Ultramarines tried to resist.
But the Custodians moved faster, instantly disarming the Ultramarines who had come with Calgar.
The original Space Marines were helpless against the Custodians.
The Sisters of Battle, led by Sister Elena, also acted—subduing the Ultramarines easily.
"You really are here to harm the Primarch."
"You'll never succeed. The Ultramarines will never surrender."
"For Ultramar!"
"Knock them all out and throw them with their Chapter Master," Rhodes ordered, tired of explaining.
He understood now—in this world full of fanatics, actions spoke louder than words. Reasoning was pointless—you had to use force.
The Custodians and Sisters nodded, knocking out the Ultramarines and leaving only Chief Librarian Tigurius conscious.
"At least you're reasonable, unlike your Chapter Master. He forced me to use physics," Rhodes said to Tigurius with a smile.
Boom! Boom!
Violent explosions rang out—the Chaos fleet's attack was intensifying outside.
"Grand Master Voldus, Marshal Avarich—organize the defense and tell the Ultramarines outside that Chapter Master Calgar is here overseeing the resurrection and cannot command. Have them follow your lead for now," Rhodes instructed.
"Lord Rhodes, let me help defend as well!" Titus volunteered.
"Good. Custodian, you too—just in case the two Masters can't handle the Ultramarines," Rhodes said.
He had a high opinion of this Custodian—unlike the rigid gatekeepers in the Imperial Palace, this one knew what was right and when to act.
"Leave it to me, Lord Rhodes. I guarantee, unless I fall, no one will enter this room. Complete the Emperor's task in peace," the Custodian assured Rhodes, leaving with the Templar Marshal and Grey Knights Grand Master.
"Elena, go help as well. If needed, I'll unleash the Emperor's avatar to support you. During the resurrection, no Chaos forces must break in," Rhodes said.
He also contacted his space fortress, ordering all his gene-sons to land on Macragge and attack the Chaos forces outside—none must remain.
With his gene-sons participating, the war's outcome was certain—the Chaos Astartes were all system currency to him, after all.
Aboard the ship, another Primarch, Horus, transformed into his Dark Giant form and began attacking the Chaos fleet, racking up more kills for Rhod's system.
"I understand, Lord Rhodes! Leave it to me," Elena said, heading outside.
Elena, the Custodian, and the Emperor's avatar were the final barrier, ensuring Guilliman's resurrection would not be disturbed.
Now only the unconscious Guilliman, Rhodes, Living Saint Celestine, Magos Belisarius Cawl, two Eldar women, and Chief Librarian Tigurius remained.
With all threats cleared, they began the procedure. Cawl used Rhodes' teleporter bracelet to bring over the Armor of Fate and a modified giant med-pod, custom-made for a Primarch's size.
Cawl, with his giant mechadendrites, stripped Guilliman down completely.
Guilliman was then placed in the med-pod, to be healed before donning the Armor of Fate.
He'd slept for ten thousand years—he deserved a bath first.
Inside the pod, the Primarch's wounds began to heal far more effectively than with the armor alone.
"I'm ready!" Yvraine nodded to Rhodes, drawing her sword—an ancient witchblade imbued with the Death God's power.
"Do it!" Rhodes nodded.
Yvraine leapt atop the med-pod and stabbed Guilliman in the neck, killing him and plunging him fully into death.
Then a mysterious force enveloped Guilliman, bringing new life to his corpse—the power of the Eldar Death God at work, purging Slaanesh's influence.
The med-pod healed the neck wound. Guilliman's eyelids fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes.