Warhammer: Lord of the Endless Monster Horde [288]

Horus, Guilliman, the Emperor, and Magnus immediately put on a show in front of Rhodes.

No wonder they're family—their acting skills are top-notch!

Luckily, everyone else had just been sent away, otherwise, the Emperor's performance would have shocked the Custodes, Mephiston, and Elena!

The Emperor's method of whitewashing Magnus was truly brilliant—so much so that even Tzeentch might believe he was fooled, thinking Magnus was a real undercover agent!

Rhodes' original plan was to capture Magnus alive, bring him to Holy Terra, and display him as a warning to boost morale.

But the Emeperor's approach both inspired morale brought in a powerful ally and further united the Imperium.

This is what you'd expect from the Emperor, who's lived for tens of thousands of years.

"Father, how soon can the Grey Knights arrive? If Tzeentch finds out I've betrayed him, he'll immediately take back my power," Magnus asked the Emperor's avatar.

If his betrayal of Chaos was revealed, Tzeentch would angrily reclaim his powers.

"Don't worry! This area is completely sealed off by my psychic power. Magnus, you should sense it—I have fully awakened the God-Soul.

Right now, I'm equivalent to a lesser god. While I can't rival the four Chaos Gods, I'm only a step below them," Guilliman said.

He dared ambush Magnus and try to persuade him only because he now possessed lesser-god-level power.

"My power can also shield us somewhat from Chaos's gaze!" Horus added.

After fusing with the Dark Giant, his dark power originated from the Dark Emperor—the true fifth Chaos God.

He could also provide some shielding, preventing the Chaos Gods from seeing what's happening here.

"You all stay in this area for now. Wait a bit before contacting the Supreme Grand Master. By then, Magnus can retrieve his soul fragment. Rhodes, can I trouble you with the body issue?" the Emperor asked, very satisfied.

The Imperium was finally saved! Rhodes had brought him a surprise—without him, Magnus might never have returned.

"No problem! I'll clone a body for him, then fuse it with some of the Emperor-avatar's flesh, creating a perfect vessel," Rhodes said.

Guilliman used the cosmic beast; Horus used the Dark Giant; Magnus, you'll use super-beast technology!

"Just use the surgery we did on that ancient Custodian ten thousand years ago. It's perfect for Magnus," the Emperor-avatar said.

"Father! How will you contact the Grey Knights? You can't communicate with ordinary mortals," Guilliman said.

The Emperor was powerful, but he couldn't talk to his subjects—unless they had extremely strong innate souls.

He could speak through the Emperor-avatar, but the Grey Knights might not trust the message. They might think it's a Chaos trick, especially since it involves Magnus.

"If it were before, I couldn't. But now don't worry! The Emperor has a way to contact the Grey Knights," Rhodes shrugged.

There's an original Emperor-avatar among the Grey Knights—his power level had been greatly strengthened.

After being away from Rhodes for seven or eight months, the avatar had followed the Grey Knights on crusades, destroying many daemons, and gradually earned their trust.

If the Emperor wanted, he could use Rhodes as a link to transmit orders to the Grey Knights.

"Rhodes's right. There's an avatar of mine over there. This requires Rhodes's help," said the Emperor.

"There's still risk. Magnus's situation can't leak out," Guilliman shook his head.

"What's your suggestion, Guilliman?" Rhodes asked.

Anything could be tainted by Chaos—Guilliman wouldn't gamble, so they needed 100% safety.

"Rhodes, can you locate your Emperor Avatar? Let's go meet the Grey Knights' Supreme Grand Master directly," Guilliman said.

"No, we can't make another Warp jump. If we do, with our psychic power, we definitely can't protect Magnus—he'll be spotted by the four Chaos Gods instantly," the Emperor said.

It's fine in realspace, but not in the Warp.

"Let's find a reason to get the Supreme Grand Master to come here quickly. I think his name is Kaldor Draigo," Horus said.

No matter what, just trick Draigo over. With the three of them vouching, there'd be no problem.

"Leave it to me! I know how to get him here at once," Rhodes said.

The Emperor's avatar happened to be with the Grey Knights' Captain on a mission. Rhodes could use his monster-recall ability to bring him back remotely.

The method was for the Emperor-avatar to release his current human host, then fuse with Draigo, and then Rhodes would use monster recall to bring the daemon-slayer back.

Rhodes explained his plan—they couldn't wait too long, or the Grey Knights would take too long to arrive.

"Then we'll use your method, Rhodes!" Guilliman said.

Rhodes nodded, sat cross-legged, and contacted the original Ace Killer via the system space.

"Master, you finally contacted me! Is there a task for me?" The Daemon Slayer responded at once.

"Yes, there is. Are you with the Grey Knights' Supreme Grand Master on a mission?" Rhodes asked.

"Yes, master!

 Since I joined the Grey Knights, I've always acted as their top force. According to the current Grand Master, I have to stay with him for 100 years before I can undertake solo missions," the Daemon Slayer said.

If not for the fact that Emperor-avatars have been appearing all over the Imperium, proving he's an extension of the Emperor's will, he'd be monitored even more closely.

"Now, immediately sever all ties with your current human host, and transfer yourself to the Grey Knights' Supreme Grand Master, Kaldor Draigo," Rhodes instructed.

The Emperor Avatar wasn't a giant or a human host. After fusing for half a year, the fusion didn't improve combat power—just experience. They could separate anytime.

The Ace Killer wasn't a giant, so couldn't level up with a human host.

"Alright, master! But how do I explain this to the Grand Master?" the Daemon Slayer asked.

"First, return to your true form. I'll link your mind to someone who'll persuade Draigo," Rhodes said.

The Daemon Slayer—the original Emperor-avatar—nodded, and in the Grey Knights' ship, radiated golden light, severing his bond with Captain Kadris.

The Emperor Avatar suddenly appeared on the Grey Knights' ship.

"Emperor-avatar! What's going on? Why did you suddenly appear?" Draigo, the Grand Master, walked over with a frown.

"I must convey the Emperor's order. I've regained all my power. It's time to part from Kadris. Now you will temporarily serve as my human host. The Emperor summons us, and you must come with me," the avatar said.

Draigo frowned in confusion.

At that moment, an overwhelming golden will descended—all present Grey Knights felt an indescribable awe.

The avatar shone with golden light, becoming even more majestic, his armor more ornate.

"Draigo! I have a task for you.

Immediately fuse with the giant before you. Then, by special means, I'll bring you to my side. You will meet your true gene-father," the Emperor's will descended through the avatar.

"You—you are the Emperor? You want us to meet our gene-father? Isn't that you?" a Grey Knight Grand Master asked in confusion.

All Grey Knights believed the Emperor was their gene-father, their gene-seed coming from him.

"No! Your gene-father is someone else! No time to explain—Draigo, come at once," the Emperor ordered.