After ending his conversation with the daemon.
Guilliman dismissed the two of them.
Before they left, he cautioned them not to speak of it casually.
At present, this information could not be revealed lightly.
People now paled at the mere mention of daemons.
Any rumors would be detrimental to the current state of the Empire.
After receiving their affirmative answers, Guilliman instructed them to proceed to the deck and take a gunship back to the spaceport in Vitoria's capital.
At the Primarch's suggestion, both decided to participate in the celebration parade before leaving.
Ventris decided that he would not only participate in the celebration parade but also record it.
He would bring the news of the Primarch's victory and the footage of this parade and celebration back to the Ultramar Sector.
This would be enough to calm the fearful people once more.
It would let the many citizens of Ultramar know that they were not alone, and that the holy Primarch was still protecting the Imperium.
Preparations for the celebration parade were still underway in full swing.
Every department was cooperating to the best of their ability.
The governor's Palace.
"So perfect," Anna exclaimed, looking at the flowerbed before her with an expression of extreme excitement.
Each flower was so enchanting, so perfect.
Her eyes grew increasingly hazy.
She looked at the enchanting flowers, a hint of morbid excitement on her face.
Servitors carefully tilled the soil according to pre-programmed routines.
They ensured that the flowers in this bed would survive until the day of the Primarch's celebration parade, as their mistress wished.
The automated system was detecting the temperature and moisture in the air, making real-time adjustments to ensure optimal conditions.
Anna was very satisfied with her results.
Her attendants and advisors dared not offer any opinions.
Those who had voiced opinions had already been shredded and used as fertilizer for the flowers.
planetary governor Anna had become increasingly insane, not hesitating to use living people as flower fertilizer to obtain what she called 'beautiful petals'.
Everyone could see that Anna had gone mad.
To gain the Primarch's praise and pave her future path, she had resorted to any means necessary.
Perhaps, she had always been a person who would stop at nothing.
It was only after gaining power that she became even more deranged.
Unfortunately, no one dared to report her.
The fact that the Primarch's bodyguard had personally designated her to present the wreath of honor was a great honor in itself.
In the eyes of the officials, Anna had become a favored figure in the Primarch's presence.
She had become a sought-after woman with unlimited potential for the future.
A rising star in the political arena.
Offending her would undoubtedly be a very foolish thing to do.
Appropriate flattery might yield unimaginable rewards in the future.
The grand parade soon began.
Numerous statues of Imperial heroes had been erected in the vast Triumphal Plaza.
These massive statues were built specifically for today's celebration.
Following thirteen cannon shots.
The sound of massive horns followed.
Like the roar of ancient mythical beasts, they echoed through the hive city before slowly fading among the towering skyscrapers.
A magnificent road from the Triumphal Gate to the Triumphal Plaza had been completed.
Thousands of war engines and millions of warriors stood in grim array.
Space Marines, painted in various colors and exuding a magnificent aura, were all ready and waiting.
Vitoria was completely empty, with citizens pouring out of their homes.
They gathered at the road intersections and in the plaza to watch the ceremony unfold.
The cheers of tens of millions of people converged into a hymn of praise for Guilliman.
Deafening and unending.
As the bells chimed.
Heavy footsteps sounded, and the first to appear before the people were the Space Marines who had undergone Primaris upgrade.
They were the vanguard of this parade.
Throughout the Imperium, no matter how remote a world, its inhabitants knew of the existence of the Space Marines.
They were the Emperor of Mankind's sword, slaying all enemies of humanity.
The Imperium had survived in the darkness thanks to their sacrifice.
They wore heavy power armor of various colors, arranged in different formations.
Yet they possessed the same fervent heart.
Their gaze was resolute, ready to make the ultimate sacrifice at any moment.
Dreadnoughts belonging to various Chapters stood at the center of their formations, moving in unison with their Chapters.
Following closely behind were regiments from various star systems.
The onlookers were surprised to discover that these warriors who had campaigned across the galaxy were not superhumans like the Space Marines.
They were just ordinary people, like themselves.
The difference was that they wore military uniforms, while they did not.
They had traversed the perilous warp, entered one meat grinder battlefield after another, and become the foundation stones of the Imperium.
There were never any born heroes in this world.
It was merely another group of ordinary people who donned military uniforms, took up arms, and went to protect another group of innocent people.
Astra Militarum regiments marched in perfect step, weapons in hand, their eyes filled with determination.
They were unsung heroes.
Even their names were unknown to the world.
But at this moment, their eyes were filled with pride, standing beneath the fiercely flapping battle standards.
They fought for a great figure.
They fought for a grand ideal.
This alone was enough to fill them with passion and enthusiasm.
Behind the Astra Militarum regiments were the war machines of the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Accompanied by the sound of heavy footsteps.
Noble Knights, piloting their mechs, strode down the parade avenue in perfect unison, as if they were one.
tech-priests holding censers led the way.
Hovering servo-skulls roared out hymns to the Omnissiah.
Halfway through.
The Knights all raised their melta cannons and massive chainswords in unison.
To express their indomitable will to wage war.
In the name of the Knights, upholding Guilliman's great will, they would forever protect humanity, forever protect the Imperium, until death.
Behind the Knight Titan formation were the colossal Titans of the Collegia Titanica.
Every Imperial civilian who saw the Titans entering instinctively covered their mouths.
The sight they witnessed was so shocking.
Three towering steel figures first appeared on the Triumphal Avenue.
As they drew closer, it was revealed that they were three Emperor-class Titans.
They were like noble gods of war.
Even in silence, their terrifying aura was undeniable.
They marched in perfect unison, leading the Collegia Titanica's parade.
The order of appearance was carefully arranged, aiming to give the people the greatest psychological impact, to make them understand the power of the Imperium, and to reassure them.
Following were Warlord-class Titans, Reaver-class Titans, Alpha-class Titans, Warhound-class Titans, and many other war engines, each making an appearance, showcasing the might of humanity.
These terrifying gods of war walked past the crowds.
Everyone who witnessed them had to admit.
Absolutely no enemy could withstand these terrifying war beasts.
Any enemy attempting to stand before a Titan was merely seeking their own destruction.
Following them were the Skitarii of the Adeptus Mechanicus.
Leading the way were the Skitarii Rangers.
These somewhat strange-looking bipedal walkers possessed unimaginable flexibility and mobility, making them the Adeptus Mechanicus' primary mobile force.
Servitors wearing red robes were fixed onto the Skitarii Rangers.
They were silent, controlling the Skitarii Rangers to form formations as they walked past the onlookers.
Behind the Skitarii Ranger formation was the Legio Cybernetica.
Cybernetica Battle-Automata were built entirely of steel bodies and possessed formidable combat power.
These Battle-Automata possessed only cold logic.
They had no souls or desires, existing only to carry out the Adeptus Mechanicus' kill orders.
Following them were heavy artillery, missile launchers, tank formations, super-heavy tanks, and so on.
In the sky, formations of Imperial aircraft flew in perfect unison.
Their supersonic flight created trails of white contrails in the air.
But after all Imperial forces had entered the Triumphal Plaza from the Triumphal Avenue.
On the highest Triumphal Platform, numerous high-ranking officials of the Imperial expeditionary force made their appearances one by one.
Even Calgar, who had been severely wounded, stood among the high-ranking officials who appeared, enjoying the cheers and reverence of the world.
Subsequently, the music and roaring sounds gradually softened, and the voices of the populace also slowly subsided.
Everyone's gaze turned towards the high platform.
Servo-skulls and Cherubim also aimed their recording equipment at the high platform.
In cities all over the world, and on every warship, the footage was being broadcast simultaneously.
Under the gaze of anticipation from millions.
The Emperor's son, the Lord of Ultramar, slowly made his appearance.
In an instant, it was as if the whole world fell silent.
That majestic blue figure captivated everyone's attention.
People kilometers away from the parade center stared intently at the towering display screens connected to the servo-skulls.
The Primarch walked onto the high platform, entering people's field of vision, and stood before the many Imperial heroes.
Many were moved to tears by this scene.
What a glorious and memorable moment this was.
"Humanity shall be victorious, every enemy of humanity shall be utterly annihilated, and humanity shall usher in a new era, an era of light and hope."
Guilliman spoke to the people.
His voice was powerful and resonant, transmitted across the world through the servo-skulls.
People cheered and shouted for this, and wherever there were people, the name of Guilliman echoed.
Those who had previously held dissenting opinions about the Primarch wept bitterly.
They felt remorse and unease for having defiled a noble figure.
That would be a mistake they could not redeem with their lives.
The parade ceremony proceeded in an orderly manner.
Under the gaze of anticipation from millions, planetary governor Anna, holding a beautiful wreath of honor with a solid gold base and adorned with enchanting fresh flowers, walked forward.
According to the ceremony protocol, she would personally place this crown of honor upon the Primarch, representing the blessings of the people of Vitoria.
"It is my honor to do this for you," Anna said.
Her voice had a cloying sweetness to it.
Guilliman vaguely sensed that something was amiss.
But he had never met this governor before and was unsure if this was how she always spoke.
He was too busy, dealing with matters of the expeditionary force every day.
He had only paid slight attention to the reconstruction work in Vitoria.
Perhaps, this was just how the woman's voice sounded.
Confusion flickered in Guilliman's mind, but he dismissed it as being overly sensitive.
"It is truly a fortunate thing to have such a beautiful and noble lady bestow this wreath upon me," Guilliman said with a smile.
He leaned forward slightly, and with the assistance of others, Anna slowly ascended a temporary platform to place the wreath of honor upon the Primarch.
Vordius, standing nearby, frowned, sensing something was wrong.
There was a daemon's aura.
He turned his gaze towards the noble lady presenting the wreath to the Primarch.
She was dignified and polite, her clothes were luxurious, and her demeanor was impeccable, showing no signs of anything amiss.
The moment the wreath was placed, Guilliman's eyes immediately became somewhat hazy.
In an instant, Guilliman's mind was filled with countless thoughts, fleeting glimpses of various scenes.
Each scene showed him a brilliant future.
Compared to the monumental achievements he was about to gain,
The small victory before him was insignificant.
He would possess hundreds of colossal structures like the Nemesis Dreadknights.
Commanding an army of unprecedented might.
Effortlessly completing the Unbending Crusade.
Planting the banners of victory in every corner of the galaxy.
His statues would stand on every world.
Every citizen would speak of his deeds.
The warriors' love for him was so profound,
That to die for the great Lord of Ultramar would be the highest honor for each of them.
Countless worlds, star systems, and even sectors liberated by him would be renamed after him.
The ancient eldar, who prided themselves on their nobility, became his vassals, relying on humanity to survive in the universe.
Many noble eldar even became servants attending to him.
Even the leader of the Death Guard, Yvraine, was among them.
The arrogant necrons were like wild dogs with broken spines before humanity.
They had no choice but to flee and hide in disarray.
Even the ravenous tyranids were like mere playthings before him, utterly destroyed.
Even the Hive Mind, capable of threatening the Chaos Gods, was in a state of panic, fleeing the radiance of the great Primarch.
The mysterious and unpredictable warp became humanity's backyard.
The powerful Chaos Gods, who claimed to be eternal, hid like stray dogs, living in constant fear.
The warriors' love for him was so deep, that to die for him became everyone's highest honor.
Countless worlds, star systems, and even sectors liberated by him would be renamed after him.
Statues praising Guilliman were erected in every corner of the Imperium.
Even the Golden Throne on Terra would be vacated for him.
His father's legacy would not be enough to reward this great and wise holy Primarch.
In the end, Guilliman's gaze extended beyond the galaxy.
Leading his unparalleled legions, he conquered far and wide, gaining more galaxies.
He even looked upon other universes through the veil of the warp.
Everything would bow at his feet.
Whether it was the universe or the Creator, both would yield to the true Lord of Humanity.
Even immortal gods, eternal beings, or unspeakable ancient gods would kneel and swear allegiance to the Lord of Humanity.
He would surpass everything, achieving a grand vision unimaginable to all.
Anna smiled at Guilliman's appearance.
It was not her own smile at all.
It was more like a more powerful will had taken control of the woman's body, seeing Guilliman through her eyes.
Meanwhile, a sound of excitement came from the depths of the warp.
"My brother, you are so arrogant, attempting to rise above everything. Unfortunately, you will never be able to achieve those things. From now on, you will become a plaything of the God of Pleasure, existing for his will."
As the laughter in the warp grew more triumphant, the smile on Anna's face became more radiant.
But suddenly, the laughter in the warp vanished.
The smile on Anna's face froze.
Her eyes showed disbelief.
Guilliman reached out and took off the Crown of Glory, his eyes becoming clear.
"The thing is well-made, but unfortunately, it cannot shake me. These are achievements I am bound to obtain, just as 1+1=2 is certain. What kind of temptation is this?"
Guilliman slightly guided the power within him, and golden flames rose, burning the wreath to ashes.
"How is that possible!!" Anna faced this scene with disbelief, staggering back two steps, her eyes filled with terror.
"A daemon?" Grand Master Vordius finally confirmed the confusion in his heart.
Vitoria's planetary governor had been corrupted by the warp.
She had become a beacon for daemons, a lighthouse for those warp entities to enter the material universe.
He stepped forward and grabbed her.
As the Grey Knight's blessed gauntlet touched her body, a hissing sound followed.
Anna, dressed in a luxurious robe, began to twist and deform.
The illusion that had blinded their senses was dispelled,
Anna's true form was revealed.
Her former noble and elegant appearance had vanished.
Her inhuman form was chilling.
It was a loathsome body covered in tentacles and scales, with fangs and a tail.
Guilliman stared at this disgusting creature of Chaos, a familiar whisper echoing in his mind.
A serpentine hiss, heard only during the Battle of Thessala.
"Fulgrim," Guilliman said, "You have possessed this traitor's body?"
"Guilliman, it has been ten thousand years. You have become more eloquent," Anna's long tongue flicked out, hissing, "These mortal bodies are easily deceived. As long as they have desires and pursuits in their hearts, they can be easily tricked into becoming puppets on my fingertips."
"However, I am quite surprised that you could break free from the vanity brought by the Crown of Vanity."
Guilliman said expressionlessly, "Nothing is impossible. Your vision is too narrow. You cannot think about problems from the perspective of someone at my level."
"Your temptation is like a farmer fantasizing about giving an emperor a golden hoe, thinking it would make him so greedy he loses his mind. Ten thousand years have passed, and your imagination is unbelievably poor. Go learn from Angron."
"No!! You were just lucky," Fulgrim shouted through Anna's body. Guilliman's arrogant attitude greatly displeased him. How could a defeated foe be so arrogant?
He even mocked his imagination for not being as good as Angron's!!
It was too humiliating.
"This is just a small part of my countless plans. Unless you never enjoy the joy of victory, you will eventually be corrupted. I have countless time to wait and plan. I am immortal and indestructible, while you are ultimately just a mortal."
"To be honest, I suggest you take the initiative. Otherwise, when I become powerful enough to enter the warp, I will definitely come looking for you, Fulgrim," Guilliman said with a smile, "I will cut off your head, step on your headless body, and then have artists sculpt this scene to display on Terra and your homeworld, Chemos. At that time, everyone will admire my perfect combat prowess and your pathetic ugliness."
"As for your so-called glory corruption, it is ridiculous in my eyes. As the most perfect being in the Imperium, the next Lord of Humanity. Those scenes I constructed are simply things that are bound to happen. What kind of glory is that?"
"Only incompetent people like you, small characters who crave attention, care about glory to cover up your incompetence. True strong individuals only bestow glory upon others."
Fulgrim was stunned by Guilliman's words.
What arrogant remarks.
How dare he claim to be the most perfect being.
Calling himself a small character.
"What right do you have to say you are the most perfect?" Fulgrim accused angrily.
"Because I am the unique Primarch, I am the Emperor's most intelligent, most perfect, and most outstanding Primarch," Guilliman said with a smile.
"Don't forget what happened at the Battle of Thessala. You were almost killed. Guilliman, you are the truly incompetent one."
Fulgrim's voice came from Anna's mouth.
Mocking Guilliman with events from ten thousand years ago.
Guilliman, however, didn't care at all. He smiled, "That historical record has been deleted and rewritten by me."
"I can tell you how the new history records the Battle of Thessala. The despicable and shameless Fulgrim was struck down by Guilliman and was about to be executed.
Fulgrim wept and begged Guilliman for mercy, claiming he was misled by the Chaos Gods and committed heinous crimes out of jealousy of Guilliman's perfection and nobility."
"Guilliman, kind-hearted, heard his former brother wailing and pleading profusely. His anger disappeared, and his heart softened, but unexpectedly, the other party was playing a trick.
While Guilliman bent down to help him up, he stabbed Guilliman with a sword and then fled in panic."
"How about that? Is the new historical record close to historical fact? I am the most perfect, most outstanding Primarch of the Imperium, while you, Fulgrim, are just a villain who was jealous of my perfection, eventually defected from the Imperium, and was pursued by me all the way."
Guilliman looked at Fulgrim with a half-smile, speaking calmly.
Through Anna's eyes, Fulgrim showed a hint of shock.
You can play it like this??
So openly distorting facts, praising himself, and belittling others??
"No one will believe you," Fulgrim said.
"Who won't believe me? I am a Primarch of the Imperium, the Emperor's most perfect son, the most strategic being in the universe. The Imperium is under my control. I can do whatever I want. What I want is historical truth. Who will oppose it?"
Guilliman looked at Fulgrim, "Look at you, exhausting your efforts, and in the end, you are neither human nor ghost, while I have become the most legitimate ruler of the Imperium, holding supreme power over the galaxy."
Fulgrim had intended to mock Guilliman but was made to tremble with rage by Guilliman's few words.
"After sleeping for ten thousand years, you have become so arrogant, Guilliman. Just wait, I will come for you. By then, the entire Imperium will see your true face," Fulgrim said.
"With you? Just rest," Guilliman said mockingly, "You are no longer worthy of a duel with me. The only ones worthy of dueling with me are your masters. This is a duel between masters, and you are just a slave. What right do you have to interfere??"
"YOU! I'm going to kill YOU!!" Fulgrim roared. What right did a guy he defeated, who had slept for ten thousand years, have to call him a slave?
"Yes, I am looking for death. Unfortunately, you cannot kill me. Stay in your lair, and then wait for me to take you down, Fulgrim. I will summon the best sculptors in the entire Imperium to create a sculpture of the scene where I killed you on your homeworld, Chemos, and then publicize my achievements and your baseness."
"I will also post big character posters to publicize it throughout the warp and the material universe. By then, I will attach the identity of a despicable, shameless, cowardly, and incompetent clown to you, so you can never wash it clean."
Guilliman drew the Emperor's Sword, revealing a mocking smile.
In terms of trash-talking and infuriating others, how could Guilliman, the Keyboard Emperor, be inferior to a trash Primarch like Fulgrim?
Fulgrim was only asking for humiliation.