*Sniff*Yeah, I got cold, must be those wretched damned from warp, who couldn't handle, Emperor's growing dominance.
*Sniff*Oh, also, here are bonus chapters ~again~
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"This constitutes dishonorable deception, Raven."
"What purpose does a contest serve if victory remains perpetually beyond reach?" Lion El'Jonson stepped forward, his voice carrying the righteous indignation of the First Legion.
"This is fate, my noble lion," the Raven tilted its head with philosophical detachnt. "If it were not sufficiently cruel, how could it truly be called fate?"
Rogal Dorn stepped forward to support his brother Primarch with characteristic directness. "You mock us with these manipulations, Raven."
The Raven consud a portion of fried sustenance before responding with deliberate calm. "The ga serves as a battlefield, and I fulfill the role of your adversary."
"Which enemy does not employ every available ans to secure victory? I rely perform the duties of a qualified opponent."
"Ruthlessly guiding you toward the predetermined outco I have orchestrated."
"In this contest, I rely deprived you of triumph, but true enemies seek far more devastating prizes."
The Raven's gaze fixed upon Curze with penetrating intensity. "Tell them, Night Haunter, in those dark futures your visions revealed, did humanity's enemies not employ similar deceptions?"
The lancholic Primarch nodded slowly, his obsidian eyes reflecting terrible knowledge.
"By any reasonable definition, those enemies certainly employed what mortals would consider cheating in their wars against humanity."
The Raven shook its feathered head with mock disappointnt.
"I originally intended rely to educate the Night Haunter, but who could have predicted you would all demand participation? Therefore, I possessed no alternative but to demonstrate the crushing power wielded by higher-dinsional entities."
"Temporal manipulation technology possessed initial applications during humanity's Golden Age, manifesting in fundantal fields such as ti dilation and chronological loops."
"Not exclusively within technological domains, certain unique psychic constructs could also manipulate temporal flow. The future remains complex and ever-changing, perpetually uncertain in its manifestations."
The assembled Primarchs maintained contemplative silence. The Ravens' demonstrated abilities transcended their previous understanding of possibility.
They forced recognition of their own relative insignificance despite their transhuman capabilities.
The intellect and physical prowess possessed by the Primarchs far surpassed ordinary human limitations, yet when asured against the vast cosmos, their power remained insufficient.
The Raven continued with growing solemnity.
"This card ga existed simply to demonstrate that abstract concepts like fate should not be mystified or accepted as immutable law."
"If you acknowledge that fate cannot be altered, it indicates more powerful forces are actively shaping its course."
"The purpose behind your creation remains leading humanity to defeat such entities and forge a genuine future free from predetermined outcos."
"Defeat enemies capable of shaping fate itself?" Sanguinius displayed subtle confusion, his perfect features reflecting uncertainty.
He also possessed prophetic abilities, though his visions remained frustratingly unclear compared to Curze's detailed foresight.
"If we cannot achieve victory in a simple card ga, how can we bear responsibility for such a monuntal mission?"
The Raven consud several more pieces of fried sustenance, savoring the flavor before continuing its discourse. "When the appropriate ti arrives, you shall also receive a precious gift, a blessing that will grant you power to reshape the universe according to your will."
"What you must accomplish now is proving yourselves worthy of this gift through deed and character."
"You must always rember, we stand here not for personal honor, political power, or other illusory pursuits."
"But for a higher calling: the ultimate transcendence and liberation of the human race from all forms of bondage."
"When you truly comprehend this truth, it signifies your qualification to wield power capable of overturning universal order."
The Raven spread its wings and took flight, circling the chamber's vaulted do with graceful precision.
As the creature disappeared from direct sight, the Primarchs subconsciously began disregarding mories of its presence.
Gradually, they ceased focusing on the Raven's existence, instead resuming communication amongst themselves as they had before its intervention.
They retained mories of the card ga and its accompanying revelations. They rembered the profound words spoken during their gathering.
Yet they forgot who had organized the contest and who had delivered those transformative truths.
In the end, only Curze could perceive the Raven's voice continuing its private counsel. "Night Haunter, when you face an existence capable of constantly reversing temporal flow, do the prophetic visions you witness truly retain their aning?"
"In this cold universe, where even ti itself can be manipulated by sufficiently advanced entities, will the futures you observe necessarily co to pass?"
"Possessing foresight constitutes a unique gift, granting expanded possibilities, but what the future truly holds depends upon every individual who actively creates it."
"Integrate with your brothers. One day, you will encounter enemies who intend for you to accept a predetermined fate as inevitable. Your fellow Primarchs, who share your genetic origin, will prove your most valuable allies."
"Only when you achieve true unity will you possess opportunity for victory in the great war approaching."
The Raven's words brought Curze's tornted soul its first sense of relief since his awakening.
The dark illusions flooding his mind remained terrifying and tragic in their scope. Yet Curze no longer experienced the sa overwhelming despair as before.
Facing illusory futures and manipulated fate, humanity was not without power to resist such influences.
"One additional matter, Curze. The world of Nostramo has been governed exceptionally well under your guidance. Although your thods proved sowhat extre, the ultimate outco serves the greater good."
"However, I offer this suggestion: fear alone proves insufficient for lasting governance. Those who have lost their way also require hope to sustain them."
The arrangents for the three newly returned Primarchs followed established protocols identical to those implented for their recovered brothers.
They would attend the Imperial Academy to acquire advanced knowledge of Imperial doctrine and gradually integrate with their respective Legions.
For the subsequent period, the expeditionary fleet addressed matters concerning the newly compliant star systems.
Standard Template Constructs left behind from humanity's Golden Age were being copied and researched by the Adeptus chanicus, then transferred to the sacred Omnissiah's Vault for preservation.
After completing these essential tasks, the grand army prepared to resu their crusade through the stars.
At that mont, the Imperial fleet received an urgent transmission from the depths of space.
"By the Emperor's grace."
The communications officer aboard the Emperor's Grand Design turned pale as he processed the translated ssage, his augtic implants whirring with stress-induced activity.
He imdiately contacted the Adeptus Custodes, instructing them to report this developnt to the Emperor without delay.
Within the laboratory chambers of the Emperor's Grand Design, the Emperor conducted experintal research while discussing future plans with the Raven.
"The temporal manipulation technology of the Golden Age remained ultimately superficial in its applications, and much knowledge was lost during the Machine Spirit Rebellion and the Age of Strife, leaving our understanding incomplete."
"The Super Gene Universe and Three-Body Universe have not delved sufficiently deep into temporal studies. For our next journey, I desire access to a reality where advanced ti technology can be acquired."
The Raven considered this request carefully. "There exists an excellent universe for such purposes, though it carries relatively significant dangers."
"If all proceeds according to plan, we can acquire profound knowledge of temporal chanics, allowing us to traverse different points in ti with complete freedom."
"Minor dangers pose no concern," the Emperor replied without hesitation, His divine will undaunted by risk.
"Then we shall proceed to, "
The Raven's words were interrupted as Constantin Valdor entered the chamber with obvious urgency, his auramite armor gleaming under the laboratory's illumination.
"Your Majesty."
"What transpires?" the Emperor inquired without lifting His gaze from His work.
"The fleet has received a transmission from Battle Group Thirty-One. They are suspected to have suffered complete annihilation."
Valdor's words caused the Emperor to cease His activities and look up with divine attention focused entirely upon the report.
"Explain the circumstances."
Valdor's expression remained gravely professional. "Analysis of the received ssage indicates they suffered attack by the Dark Eldar of Commorragh."
"The entire battle group has been destroyed, and the enemy conducted a series of horrific massacres among the civilian populations they encountered."
The Emperor's golden eyes burned with cold fury as the implications of this news settled upon the chamber like a shroud of impending retribution.
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