Over the following month, Guilliman immediately seized full command, and the counteroffensive from Ultramar officially commenced. With his peak strategic genius, the Primarch keenly perceived every flaw in the enemy's defensive lines. Subsequently, every warrior poured out from Fortress Hera; under Guilliman's direction, they reclaimed territory with such speed that half of Macragge was liberated within just two weeks.
Alexei was, of course, included in this effort. He and Cawl's group were gathered by Guilliman to serve as the Primarch's powerful advisory council. The formidable vessels brought by Governor El effectively filled the equipment gap between the Ultramarines' space-faring warships and their atmospheric fighters.
Leading several thousand El guards and a small contingent of vehicles, Alexei was more than capable of holding a front alongside the Astra Militarum. Along the way, they feared no foe. If they encountered an "impregnable" iron fortress, they simply sent Ghosts to infiltrate and sabotage the void shield generators—followed by a barrage from the Yamato Cannons! Armored spearheads? Blast them! Chaos Titans? Blast them all the same! Before the might of the heavy plasma axial cannons, the enemy's ground units appeared utterly laughable.
What did the desperate naval battles in Macragge's orbit have to do with my air force inside the atmosphere? Whether it was Heldrakes or Daemon Engines, the Ultramarines' interceptors weren't exactly standing by as idle spectators.
With this relentless advance, the progress of the El military far exceeded the Primarch's estimates. Guilliman expressed intense interest in the warships capable of entering the atmosphere to support ground forces while possessing the firepower of a capital ship.
Currently, Alexei stood before the final grand fortress on Macragge. Built within a canyon between two massive mountains, its tiered iron walls had blocked all who attempted to seize it. This strategic stronghold, which should have been used by the Ultramarines to repel invaders, had fallen into the hands of the Night Lords following a sneak attack.
On the front lines, Astra Militarum artillery and siege tanks continuously bombarded the fortress, yet the shimmering, transparent void shields flickered, intercepting all incoming fire.
"My Lord, the second Ghost squad has still not responded," Brand reported to a frowning Alexei inside the forward command post.
Another failure. As expected of the "Bat-spawn," they were masters of the sneak attack. The recently formed Ghost squads were not yet a match for them. *But what should be done now?* Alexei scratched his chin, deep in thought.
Just then, a towering figure entered the command post. Alexei immediately stood and saluted. "It seems our frontline commander has quite the headache," Guilliman remarked. He was highly satisfied with the Governor of El's performance; Alexei's presence represented another path for humanity—showing that even without the aid of the Astartes, the enemies of Chaos could still be defeated by mortals.
"But there is no need for excessive haste; we have already won this war," Guilliman reassured the mortal commander. Through his deliberate efforts, news of the Primarch's return had spread throughout the Imperial domains. Fleets from surrounding sectors were braving the risks of Warp tides just to reinforce Macragge.
With the Imperial Navy arriving in a steady stream, the defeat of the Chaos fleet was merely a matter of time. When that happened, a small ground fortress could be erased in the blink of an eye.
Guilliman then explained the reason for his visit. At the suggestion of the Lord Consul of Macragge, the Primarch had agreed to hold a grand triumph during the troops' reorganization. While such an act seemed overly extravagant to a pragmatist like him, it served as an opportunity to solidify the morale and confidence of the people and the military. He hoped the Governor of El would attend the ceremony.
Alexei naturally agreed, though he hadn't expected the Primarch to value him so much as to deliver the news in person. However, he suspected Guilliman also wanted to use the opportunity to witness the El military's capabilities with his own eyes.
Half a month later, the Chaos fleets within the Macragge system had been reduced to void wreckage with the support of the Imperial Navy, and the ground forces had completely surrounded the final fortress.
The Chaos Astartes inside had run out of ammunition. Finally, after several rounds of precision orbital strikes from the fleet, the fortress's void shields were completely overloaded. With the roar of a Yamato Cannon, the ancient stronghold vanished into a massive crater, leaving a look of regret in the Primarch's eyes for the loss of the architecture.
Guilliman gazed deeply at the scorched earth in the distance. Having learned more during this period, he placed increasing value on the equipment used by these mortal troops and that small warship. He believed this mortal Governor would bring him even more surprises.
Leaving the Chapter serfs to clear the battlefield, everyone else returned to Fortress Hera. Five days later, a grand victory parade was to be held, and Alexei would stand beside the Primarch to witness the ceremony that represented the hope of the Empire.
Alexei knew exactly what would happen at the end of this ceremony. Guilliman's brother, fallen to Chaos, would offer a first "gift" for his rebirth—and Alexei didn't mind earning another boost of favor in the Primarch's eyes.
---
Five days passed in an instant. In this short time, Fortress Hera had been completely transformed. The scars of war were covered by magnificent decorations, and a grand triumphal route had been prepared from the Titan Gate to the fortress itself.
Thousands of engines of war stood ready; millions of soldiers stood tall and proud, prepared for the march. The streets of Macragge were packed; citizens who survived the war had poured out to line the roads and squares. Fathers hoisted young children onto their shoulders, and girls stood on their tiptoes to catch a glimpse of the magnificent ranks. They cheered with all their might, praising the Emperor's Angels in a deafening roar.
The Primarch and the Ultramarine officers stood atop a high platform carved from marble. Guilliman rested his hands on the railing, his deep eyes reviewing the parading troops below. He occasionally raised an arm to acknowledge the cheers of the people. Alexei and Cawl's party stood not far behind the Primarch, watching the parade.
Looking at the high-spirited demigod, Alexei whispered to himself: *"A true man should be exactly like this..."*
Several hours later, the victory parade neared its end. The Lord Consul of Macragge knelt before the Primarch, holding a laurel wreath, pleading for the Primarch to don this exquisite crown.
Amidst the cheers of the crowd and Alexei's silent gaze, Guilliman put on the laurel. His heart was filled with visions of a magnificent future; he would achieve unprecedented feats, and with the help of those behind him, he would secure every victory, planting the Imperial flag in every corner of the galaxy. Eventually, he would sit upon the Golden Throne that belonged to his Father...
**"Clang!"**
With a sudden rush of wind, the laurel wreath was violently struck from the Primarch's head by Alexei, who had lunged forward. Everyone was stunned by the sudden turn of events. The faces of the Ultramarine officers turned livid; they were about to rush forward and pin this madman to the ground for daring to insult their Father.
However, Guilliman suddenly bellowed, "Seize him!" He pointed with boundless rage at the Lord Consul of Macragge. Everyone froze for a split second before realizing the truth: there was something wrong with the crown. The Grey Knights Grand Master instantly lunged forward and grabbed the "Consul" by the collar.
The moment he touched the clothing, a searing hiss erupted. A hideous, scaly, distorted, and muscular body—wailing in agony—appeared before everyone.
The Primarch and his commanders looked with disgust at this foul creature of Chaos. Around its neck hung a necklace, the cord clearly made of human skin. As Guilliman scanned it, a familiar voice echoed in his mind—a voice he would never forget, one that cut to his very marrow.
Fulgrim first congratulated Guilliman on his return to his beloved Empire. The fallen Phoenix expressed regret that his gift had been ruined and stated he would prepare an even larger "gift" for Guilliman later.
Finally, the Daemon Primarch's gaze turned toward Alexei, who stood nearby. "I remember you, little creature."
Accompanied by the Primarch's roar of fury, he tore the desecrated body and the necklace apart. After a long moment, he slowly turned around, looking at the Governor of El with a complex expression, and offered his gratitude.
Alexei shook his head. "This was merely a test. The true danger is yet to come."