2nd Primarch

Duker sat on the ground, recounting a story he had carefully embellished, one that occurred thousands of years ago.

It was the Golden Age of Humanity, a time when the Primarchs were invincible heroes. Amid the thunderous march of the human army, heretics and xenos fled in terror, and the empire's glory illuminated every corner of the galaxy.

More and more Ultramarines gathered around, soon forming an impassable crowd. Their alert eyes betrayed their attentiveness, even those confined to their beds by grievous injuries listened intently, straining to catch every word.

The scene resembled an elder recounting the family's past glories to their children—tales that might be exaggerated or only partially true. For many mortals, such moments are commonplace and often irksome, filled with a sense of exaggerated nostalgia. Yet, for these Astartes, it was a rare and cherished moment, something they had never experienced in their centuries of service.

Time seemed to flow differently during this storytelling. Hours passed unnoticed.

Even Duker, who was typically reserved, found himself at a loss for words as he exhausted his repertoire of tales. The great demigod realized one thing: coaxing children is truly exhausting.

As dusk fell, Duker excused himself, preparing to leave. However, an Ultramarine stepped forward from the crowd. His expression was solemn, as though bearing a sacred mission.

The Marine knelt on one knee and performed the double-headed eagle salute.

"Your Highness Duker, Gray of the Ultramarines reports to you!" His voice was firm and resolute.

"Please accept our loyalty. We pledge to obey your will, follow your footsteps, fight to the edge of the galaxy, and restore the glory of the empire!"

The Captain's fiery determination ignited a chorus.

"Please accept our loyalty. We pledge to obey your will, follow your footsteps, fight to the edge of the galaxy, and restore the glory of the empire!"

Even the injured soldiers struggled to rise, presenting Duker with the highest respect they could muster. The unified declaration reverberated through the air, an overwhelming display of loyalty.

This moment left Duker stunned. It was the first formal pledge of allegiance he had received from an Astartes chapter since his resurrection. Most chapters had reacted to his return with fear and suspicion, aligning themselves with Guilliman instead.

After a brief silence, Duker placed a reassuring hand on Gray's shoulder.

"You are not fighting for me, Captain. You are fighting for humanity," he said.

"One day, Guilliman and I will meet again beneath the Throne. Since you wish to follow my crusade, I will lead you—and reunite you with your Gene-Father. I promise you this."

Gray's eyes reddened as he nodded vigorously.

Later, Duker returned to his quarters. Despite his solitude, he did not rest. Since his resurrection, he had never felt the need to. His psychic abilities continuously replenished his strength, making physical or mental exhaustion a foreign concept.

Seated at his desk, he resumed his work, using the computational power of the Heart Network to design and refine new technologies. Many of the tools and weapons employed by his expeditionary force were derived from his research—upgrades of Golden Age innovations, tailored for this era.

However, progress on two critical enhancements, Spiritual Cultivation Technology and Biomagnetic Field Technology, had stagnated. Both seemed to veer into realms of idealism rather than science, defying purely logical advancement.

"It seems we need to capture some Orks for research," Duker muttered. Their unique genes, imbued with ancient technological remnants, might provide a breakthrough.

Meanwhile, Sister Efilar had returned to her own quarters. Following her usual routine, she knelt to pray. Yet tonight, her thoughts wandered. The jubilant faces of the people, the laughter of children, and the loyalty of the Ultramarines replayed in her mind.

Unable to focus, she found herself silently praying:

"Great Highness Duker, Son of the Emperor, leader of warriors, protector of the Empire's people...

Your mercy is radiant, your compassion boundless. Bless the weak, heal the wounded.

May you sweep away humanity's darkness, and may no god dare threaten you."

Her prayers were heartfelt but different from any she had spoken before.

Suddenly, a chime interrupted her meditation. A translucent panel appeared before her closed eyes, displaying text she immediately recognized as uniquely tied to Duker—a fluctuation within the Heart Network.