Warhammer: Lord of the Endless Monster Horde [311]

Previously, the Emperor was completely powerless. The High Lords and Senate were the key rulers of the Imperium. Back then, it was the Emperor and Malcador the Sigillite.

Even the Primarch Roboute Guilliman believed in one truth: although they were human, they stood above humanity in rank and should not directly interfere in the rule of mortals.

When the Senate and the High Lords of Terra were first established, Malcador considered this issue. None of the Primarchs obtained even a single seat, which was one of the issues that troubled Horus back then.

He couldn't understand why the loyal Primarchs were never granted a seat as High Lord, nor allowed into the highest echelons of Imperial power.

 Although he held the title of Warmaster, even the Warmaster had to obey the High Lords! His other brothers were even further removed from power.

The Horus Heresy had much to do with this. But now, the Emperor has come to a realization.

Or rather, after spending time with Rhodes, some of Rhodes' words made the Emperor see things differently. Humanity itself is too fragile! The Golden Age of Technology would have been impossible without the Men of Gold, the Men of Iron, and the Men of Stone. Humanity could never have expanded so far.

Achieving such brilliance!

 But this brilliance is ultimately illusory—just a little setback can reduce the terrifying empire built by humanity to ashes and destroy countless technological wonders.

Ordinary humans truly are the foundation of the Imperium. But if the entire human species could evolve—if everyone were an Astartes or even a Custodian...

If every human could live for thousands, even tens of thousands of years, that is what the Emperor should pursue. Rhodes showed the Emperor what a super lifeform could be, and explained its benefits.

He also told the Emperor about the Land of Light and the top civilizations of the Ultraman universe, civilizations with the power to cross the multiverse, even repair the universe, and manipulate its laws.

Even the Old Ones are weak compared to such a race. The Land of Light that Rhodes described is truly powerful!

In Rhodes' narrative, the ordinary people of the Land of Light looked much like Earth humans at first—indeed, they might have been humans.

When their star was about to die, their scientists invented the Plasma Spark Tower, emitting light even brighter than that of the star itself.

This light triggered the evolution of the entire Land of Light's people, turning them into terrifying giants over 50 meters tall, capable of traveling freely through space and wielding all sorts of superpowers.

That light, when it shone just on a palace, enabled the royal family members to transform into Ultraman-like beings.

They even transformed their homeworld into a planet the size of a star.

At the time, Rhodes asked the Emperor a fascinating question—if the scientists of the Land of Light could evolve their whole species, why couldn't humanity do the same? Surely a method could be found to evolve the entire human species.

Not necessarily all at once, or all the way to super lifeform level. But at least to the level of the original Space Marines!

 At least granting everyone five hundred, even a thousand years of life.

At that point, everyone would be a superhuman, a demigod. There'd be no issue with Astartes or Primarchs ruling.

After Rhodes' arguments, the Emperor realized he was wrong ten thousand years ago; he should have given Imperial power to Roboute Guilliman, Sanguinius, Horus, and others.

Not handed it to mere mortals as Malcador advised. He should have researched methods—not just the Webway—but also surgical evolution for all humanity.

So foolish. He'd watched humanity for tens of thousands of years, since ancient times!

When have mortals ever failed to disappoint him as rulers? No matter how talented as youths, in old age they're blinded by power!

Fathers and sons turning on each other, brothers killing brothers, couples turning against each other—how can there be so much scheming and betrayal? Even ordinary people can't escape the cycle.

For inheritance, for mates, for wealth—mortals will do anything, no matter how irrational.

Now the Emperor understands why the Men of Iron rebelled! In their eyes, humanity was far from perfect!

 That's why the Emperor supported Rhodes' actions—to purge the High Lords and Senate.

"So this was your intention all along?" Guilliman shrugged helplessly.

He had originally thought the massacre of the High Lords was just Rhodes's idea.

 Now it seemed the Emperor had long planned it!

"But Father! This will completely disrupt Terra's political system! What do you plan to do afterward?

 Set up a new political system? Rhodes may be a military genius, a great general, a qualified ruler—but he's definitely not a competent politician," Magnus said.

He'd been getting on well with Rhodes lately, discussing many things, even teaching Rhodes some psychic chaos magic.

So he understood Rhodes somewhat. He was smart—a competent ruler, or at least a good boss, but definitely not a competent politician. He couldn't handle internal affairs.

"That's not the main thing; some things I can do, or you could handle!

 After evaluating the turmoil on Terra, I'll select suitable individuals from mortals and Astartes to rebuild a new political system," Guilliman said.

With his terrifying soul power and brain, he could handle all Imperial governance by himself.

And among his gene-sons, the Ultramarines, there were many skilled politicians, so political talent wasn't a worry.

"The plan Rhodes and I have is to let all humanity ascend through technological evolution!" the Emperor declared.

"How is that possible? Astartes can't have offspring! Nor can your Custodians," Guilliman said.

"Why not? You can have offspring now! Guilliman, you can now control your size at will; you can mate with mortal women.

Rhodes and Elena can produce offspring—there's your example.

The reason Space Marines couldn't have children was because there was no suitable female to bear them.

But now Elena's gene-daughters, the Sisters of Battle, are lifeforms even higher than the original Space Marines!

I believe Rhodes will upgrade them further; then they'll be able to have children with Space Marines. This will be the first batch of superhumans!

Ordinary humans live only a few decades. They breed rapidly, but when disaster strikes, the loss of civilization and knowledge is too great. We must evolve!" the Emperor declared.

His and Rhode's ultimate goal was to evolve all humanity to the level of super lifeforms, dominating the whole universe, not just playing about in the Milky Way.

The current goal is to raise all of humanity to the level of the original Space Marines.

"I understand, Father. But this is no small plan—it could take hundreds or even thousands of years. Our immediate priority is to fix that huge hole in the sky!" Guilliman did not want to discuss this further.

What the Emperor was doing was, in effect, erasing the old human race and evolving a new one from it.

But this new race would still be human—just a fully evolved version!

The three said little more, instead pouring their psychic power into the Emperor, slowly closing the warp rift above Terra.

They continued repairing the surrounding spatial tears. This tear had just been ripped open, unlike the Webway which is permanent.

…

Elsewhere in the Imperium, Chaos Daemons and Sorcerers often open large portals like this to unleash daemons, but this one, though larger, could still be closed.

At this moment, the Chaos Gods noticed what was happening on Terra. They hadn't expected that after all their plotting to strike at the Emperor and even bring forth a fifth Chaos God to wipe out mankind...

The situation would reverse in just a day—with two of the Emperor's sons returning, including Magnus!