The auxiliary AI provided Guilliman with detailed information about the Warp local area network.
It also took the opportunity to give him a rundown on the Warp itself. The
Warp is a dimension unbound by time and causality.
It is an abstract concept, manifesting through the turbulent emotions of living beings.
It is unrestrained by any laws, a random and unstructured realm composed of pure energy and errant consciousness.
The mysteries it contains are infinite and constantly shifting.
This is true chaos, unburdened by physical limitations and unguided by rational goals.
It is perpetually in a state of turmoil and conflict.
Mortal minds cannot fully comprehend this wondrous realm.
It lies on the side of dreams and nightmares, with boundless extent but no form or structure.
Since the birth of the universe, this mysterious realm has accompanied the real universe.
The souls and emotions of living beings have become a torrent within it, leaving an unending echo in the Warp.
The fear, hope, ambition, and despair of life in the real universe collectively form this maddening realm.
Evil entities nurtured by countless lives also constantly push this space to encroach upon the real universe.
However, this mysterious realm also brought humanity another different world.
Psykers can draw power from this mysterious realm and use it to achieve supernatural feats.
All the mystical powers humanity can imagine can be realized through the Warp.
Sending messages across the vast universe to other targets.
Peering into the future through the soul, prophesying events to come.
Gaining immense power by utilizing the Warp.
Controlling the elements of nature like gods.
The magic and immortal arts humanity fantasizes about are all closely related to this.
And the Chaos Gods born within it possess power and wisdom beyond human comprehension.
Ordinary people, tempted by the allure of extraordinary power and the promise of eternal life, willingly serve the Chaos Gods.
Guilliman knows how fragile people are when faced with the temptation of extraordinary power.
Phrases like 'My fate is my own, not heaven's' or 'A man is not a man without being ruthless'.
Those ordinary people will transform into daemons with a clear conscience, resorting to any means necessary for their path to power.
Humanity is already deeply intertwined with the Warp.
Starting from the sacrifices of the barbaric era and early religious beliefs.
Human fear, anger, desire, or sorrow all cause faint ripples in the Warp, becoming a small part of those terrifying entities.
To completely break free from the Chaos Gods, the only path is to break free from the Warp.
Only pure machines, like the necrons, can achieve this.
The problem is, once fully mechanized, humanity will lose its soul.
And the soul makes humanity dependent on the Warp.
Just as a person needs to breathe, the soul needs to be nourished by the Warp's aether.
This is also why the Emperor's many plans during the Great Crusade were fraught with contradictions.
He destroyed religious temples everywhere, prohibited psyker exploration, and forbade superstitious worship.
Yet he had to rely on special psyker variants like astropaths and navigators.
Humanity cannot leave the Warp, just as the Warp cannot leave the real universe.
The two are interdependent.
The Emperor's Webway Project also arose for this reason.
He yearned to build a barrier through the Webway, isolating humanity from the Warp's influence while still allowing human souls to be nourished by the Warp.
Unfortunately, the Webway Project ultimately failed.
Now, the auxiliary AI has given Guilliman another path: using his power of command as a foundation to build a firewall.
To create a barrier between human souls and Warp entities, establishing a relatively safe zone, and blocking the harmful information brought by the Gods.
Humans can explore within it.
Once the true strong ones are ready, they can cross the barrier, enter deeper, and face the true threat directly.
"Is this plan risky?" Guilliman asked the auxiliary AI.
**Compared to other plans, this plan has the lowest risk. Of course, the Chaos Gods will also realize what you are doing and will make corresponding plans and attacks, but as long as the host can resist corruption, the success rate of the plan can reach 98%.**
Guilliman was silent for a moment before speaking, "Is there no 100% plan??"
**The universe is merely a mad place created by God rolling dice, host. Nothing is 100%, everything can only be infinitely close, but never absolutely certain. Not only is life evolving, but the universe itself is also evolving. Even gods who can glimpse time dare not guarantee that the past, long since concluded, is 100% certain; anything is possible.**
"In that case, once the matter in the Naflia Sector is concluded, I will make a trip to Terra," Guilliman said. "Currently, my reforms have begun to show effect, and the forces at my disposal are sufficient to deal with the challenges from the High Lords of Terra and the Adeptus Mechanicus of Mars."
With that, Guilliman stood up and walked onto the balcony, looking down at the ruined city outside.
Construction teams were working hard to repair the damage caused by the war.
People were tending to the wounded and salvaging their meager possessions from the ruins.
Servitors were carrying heavy building materials.
Smiles were on the faces of both men and women.
Seeing Guilliman standing on the balcony, they would spontaneously let out cheers.
They were children of this dark age.
Their entire lives had seen nothing but hardship, suffering, and endless war and conflict.
Even though fate was so cruel, they still fought back unyieldingly.
In the dark galaxy, surrounded by enemies, they remained indomitable, struggling hard, and leaning on each other to resist the terrible suffering that their soft shoulders could not bear.
The Imperium of Man needed his help, only then could it be reborn from the ashes, move towards transcendence, and end this eternal war.
"Humanity will be victorious," Guilliman said softly, looking at the excited, cheering people.
**********
The governor's Mansion.
Anna let out a frantic laugh; her plan had succeeded.
A Warlord named Phicris, a Primarch's Guard and the person in charge of the celebratory parade, sent someone to inform Anna.
He was arranging for her to personally place the wreath of honor on Guilliman.
This would demonstrate the gratitude of the people of Vitoria towards the Primarch.
A tremendous sense of satisfaction made Anna extraordinarily excited and extremely pleased.
The feeling of having her desire for power fulfilled further strengthened Anna's belief in climbing higher.
She wanted to become part of the core of the Empire's power, step by step, wielding terrifying authority that the world looked up to.
To satisfy her ever-hungry desire for power.
To become someone second only to one, and above ten thousand.
"I want to use the most beautiful petals to make the Primarch's wreath."
Anna instructed her attendants and think tank.
She told them to find the most beautiful petals.
She wanted to complete this task perfectly, to leave a deep impression on the Primarch and many high-ranking expeditionary officials.
However, the subsequent preparation work quickly ran into difficulties.
The attendants and think tank brought petals from Vitoria and even several nearby star systems.
But Anna was not satisfied at all.
These flowers were too ordinary, completely unworthy of the Primarch's noble status.
Anna was worried sick about this, unable to eat or sleep.
She had to find perfect petals to complete this task; only then could she gain Guilliman's approval and thus obtain more power.
Anna's temper grew worse and worse.
She constantly yelled at her attendants and think tank, calling them all useless.
They couldn't even find a petal worthy of the Primarch.
Anna was racking her brain over this.
She even offered a huge bounty.
Many void mercenaries brought out their stock, but none could satisfy Anna.
As time grew shorter and the other preparations for the celebration were nearing completion,
Anna's heart became increasingly anxious.
Until one day, a man in a long robe walked into the governor's Mansion and presented her with a stunningly beautiful, enchanting petal that seemed to gather all the beauty in the world.
"What kind of flower is this?" Anna was deeply captivated the moment she saw the flower.
This flower was so perfect.
There wasn't a single flaw to be found.
From the roots, petals, to the green leaves, there were no issues.
It was so perfect it didn't seem like something from the real world.
"A wild flower found in the underhive, it's just that it was watered with the blood of those filled with desire, so it appears exceptionally beautiful and enchanting," the man said.
"Watered with blood?" One of Anna's advisors frowned, a bad feeling in his heart. "My Lady, such a flower must not be accepted. The Primarch's status is noble and sacred, a lord Primarch, the savior of humanity; how can such a thing be used to desecrate him?"
"Are those ordinary flowers not desecration??" the man said. "It's the most absurd thing in this world that those vulgar things are deemed worthy of being associated with the Primarch."
"It's just a flower; what it was watered with is not important, what's important is that it is beautiful enough, perfect enough. It is worthy of the Primarch's noble status."
Several other advisors were about to object, but unexpectedly, Anna spoke at this moment.
"Indeed, it's just a flower, the method used to cultivate it is not important. The most important thing now is how to perfectly complete this task. As long as we can leave a deep impression on the Primarch, our future will be smooth sailing."
"But, My Lady, if it leaks out, I'm afraid it will bring punishment," one advisor said.
"This matter is easy to resolve, as long as it doesn't leak out," Anna said, looking at everyone present. "During the cultivation of this flower and the celebration, your wives and children will be specially looked after. They will regain their freedom after this celebration is perfectly concluded and the Primarch leaves Vitoria."
Anna had killed her own husband.
She had also sent people to hunt down the daughter of the mistress.
To maintain secrecy, she had instructed her loyal killers to assassinate the detective.
For someone like her, who was single-mindedly focused on climbing the ranks, there was nothing she wouldn't do.
The many members of the think tank and the attendants present, upon hearing this, all showed looks of fear.
But before they could voice their objections, a group of gene-enhanced men in black walked out from the side, each exuding a chilling aura, holding daggers and plasma pistols.
It was clear that anyone who dared to say a word of opposition would immediately go to meet the Emperor.
"Anyone who dares to delay the Primarch's great matter should be prepared to be torn apart by me," Anna said, standing up.