Chapter Twenty-Three: Robert Kiriman

At last, Cawl and his "cargo" were finally brought before Guilliman, who rested within the stasis field.

Within the resplendent Hall of Truth, a solemn and sacred atmosphere filled the vast chamber. Countless reliefs and murals adorned its walls, each depicting Roboute Guilliman’s illustrious deeds among the stars and his valiant form locked in battle. Upon the dais above, Guilliman slept quietly, preserved in the stasis field.

He remained unchanged from ten thousand years ago—an imposing figure, yet the grievous wound on his neck, inflicted by the daemon primarch Fulgrim, was horrifying to behold. The Emperor’s Sword lay at his side, silent and at rest.

“Archmagos Cawl, can you now reveal the specifics of this resurrection?” Calgar stood below the dais and voiced the question that weighed on everyone’s mind.

Cawl nodded and gestured to the "cargo" behind him.

“Contained here is a specially-crafted suit of power armor I have designed for the Primarch, the ‘Armor of Fate.’ Once he dons it, his wounds will be healed,” Cawl declared.

His words astonished everyone present. Could a suit of power armor truly heal a gene-primarch who had slumbered for millennia? Was it possible they were about to witness the resurrection of a Primarch with their own eyes?

At that moment, however, the Eldar emissary, Yvraine, spoke, casting a shadow over everyone’s hearts.

“In addition to this armor, the resurrection also requires the power of the Aeldari’s Death God. The wound upon him was inflicted by the forces of Chaos and can only be healed by the Death God’s power. However, he has not yet truly died. The stasis field must be deactivated, allowing him to die in truth, so that the Death God’s power may heal him,” said Yvraine.

Her words caused the assembled Ultramarines to raise their guns once more, fury burning in their eyes. They understood Yvraine’s meaning—she intended to kill their Primarch. Rage overwhelmed them.

Calgar’s face turned ashen as he glared at the audacious Eldar before him. He was tempted to activate his power fist and strike her down where she stood.

“So long as I draw breath, no vile xenos witch will be allowed near the gene-primarch!” Calgar spat, his words directed at Cawl and his companions.

To him, these sudden arrivals were nothing less than assassins intent on murdering the Primarch.

In an instant, the tense atmosphere that Wang Ming had managed to steady erupted once more. Within Cawl’s party, the Black Templars and the Inquisitor immediately led their factions to the Ultramarines’ side, their actions a declaration of loyalty.

“Calgar, trust my prophecy—this is an opportunity, a chance to bring the Primarch back to life,” countered Tigurius, who stood by Cawl’s side. His eyes shone with psychic light as he stared at Calgar, willing him to believe in his prophecy of hope.

“This is a necessary step in reviving the gene-primarch,” Cawl explained, trying to impress upon Calgar the inevitability of this process.

Saint Celestine also tried to persuade Calgar, insisting that all of this was the Emperor’s will.

But the Ultramarines, their hearts aflame with anger, ignored all explanations. They leveled their weapons at Cawl, the Armor of Fate, and the two Eldar, ready to destroy these so-called "enemies" who threatened their Primarch.

“What now, boss?” Behind Cawl’s group, Wang Xiaofa turned to Wang Ming, his voice tense as he surveyed the scene on the verge of violence.

At Wang Ming’s side, Fulgrim and the Custodians also looked to him, awaiting his decision.

“It’s almost time, isn’t it?” Wang Ming said, lifting his left hand to examine the empty wrist where a “watch” should have been. Then he glanced up at the ceiling of the Hall of Truth.