"I get it now!" Rhodes nodded.
As Buffalo said, strength and life level are related but not absolute.
There's a range of power among super lifeforms! Strong ones can even beat ultimate lifeforms—the classic example is the oft-beaten Ultraman Taurus.
"As long as you understand, Master. The soul is the key. To evolve to a final lifeform, the soul is most important. With your talent and special powers, you can surely become the highest being," the Buffalo encouraged.
"I see, Buffalo. Lend me your power now! Do you also merge into my body like Baton?" Rhodes asked.
"I'll inject part of my energy, Master. This will let you use the super lifeform-level Buffalo punch. As for me, after you merge with my new kin and further raise your level, you'll be able to fully bear my power," the Buffalo said.
"Understood. Go ahead, Buffalo."
"Yes, Master! Don't resist, I'll inject my power now," the Buffalo replied, pouring energy into Rhodes.
Now, even when giant, Rhodes could use the Buffalo punch at the normal Taurus level.
…
For the next while, Rhodes spent time on Baal Prime with Elena, meeting local nobles from across the region.
Since they'd lost contact with the Imperium, Rhodes wasn't worried about his identity leaking.
A few days later, Yapool and Balt brought good news: their improved brain cores could suppress the blood transformation.
After transplanting the new organs, the two Blood Angels previously lost to the Red Thirst regained their sanity, and Rhodes returned them to Dante.
Dante was overjoyed at his comrades' recovery, warmly welcoming them back and encouraging the entire chapter to receive the new procedure.
In recent days, Dante and others had also undergone the Primaris Super Space Marine upgrade.
Sanguinius's gene-seed enhancement was now fivefold, with a new black carapace implant.
After about ten days in the Baal system, Rhodes finally met his other target: Shark Chapter Master Tyberos.
Tyberos was confused upon arrival. He'd expected to find endless Tyranid fleets and embattled Astartes and guardsmen.
Instead, he found peace. There was no sign of war or Tyranids anywhere in the system.
He even wondered if he had come to the wrong place, not the Baal system.
Only when he met his company captain did he realize the truth. The captain now stood 3.7 meters tall, barely half a head shorter than Tyberos himself.
"Captain, you've finally arrived, though a bit late. The Baal battle ended ten days ago. The great Primarch led us to victory," said 7th Company Captain Andaris.
"Andaris! How'd you get so huge? You weren't even three meters before! Now you're almost as tall as me," Tyberos exclaimed.
He'd brought his entire chapter, over 2,000 strong, except for a few companies who couldn't make it.
If the battle was already over, would they still get the promised reward? Guilliman himself had arranged this—surely he wouldn't go back on his word.
"Not only have I grown, but my strength and speed have soared! You might not even beat me now," Andaris laughed.
"Oh? Did you change your gene-seed?" Tyberos asked.
Such a sudden power boost could only mean a new gene-seed—had he switched like 3rd Company Captain? But whose gene-seed could make him grow so much? None, loyalist or traitor, had this effect.
"You're half right, Captain. I did get a new gene-seed, from the great Primarch Lord Rhodes. I've also had the new-era Astartes surgery. I'm now a Primaris Super Space Marine!"
"Primaris Super Space Marine? A new Primarch? What's going on?" Tyberos was shocked.
"Captain, here's what happened," Andaris grinned, describing his adventure and the Baal war in detail.
"So, you tricked me here just to get me to join this new Primarch's legion, right?" Tyberos rolled his eyes.
"That's not fair. I invited you and the brothers to enjoy the good life. Look at my new gear—Terminator armor, and far stronger than the usual kind. My strength now matches the Custodes—I've even sparred with one!" Andaris said, patting his new armor.
He'd had a great time, mostly sparring with a Custodian. Though he always lost, his skills improved quickly.
Tyberos now noticed Andaris's new armor—it wasn't the old junk but a Terminator model he'd never seen.
"Your strength improved that much?" Tyberos asked.
"If you don't believe it, let's spar," Andaris grinned.
He used to get beaten by this battle maniac captain—usually needing all the other captains to gang up on him.
"All right, you've got guts. Let's do it!" Tyberos agreed.
Andaris smiled and led his captain to the training ground—for a one-sided beatdown.
Tyberos was a powerhouse, a 4-meter giant wielding twin power claws; on the battlefield, he could slaughter Khorne daemons, Hive Tyrants, and Ork warbosses. Among Space Marines, he was top-tier.
But after the new Primaris surgery and gaining a furious transformation, Andaris's strength was unimaginable. According to the Custodian Ultraman, regular Custodians weren't his match.
The duel lasted three minutes. In front of the whole chapter, Tyberos was thrown down three times, unable to see Andaris's moves.
"How about that, Captain? Not bad, eh?"
"You!" Tyberos was annoyed.
"Don't be mad, Captain. Primaris Super Space Marines are on another level. My new gene-seed also lets me survive in space and gain an extreme berserk transformation. I haven't even used it yet. If I did, my strength would double," Andaris explained.
It was this berserk mode that let the Custodian spar with him; using it, he could barely hold a few rounds against a Custodian.
All the sparring had rapidly improved his skills.
At that moment, Rhodes arrived, clapping. Tyberos was indeed strong, as good as Dante or Calgar.
"Well done, Tyberos. You're far above ordinary Marines. With the new Primaris surgery and my gene-seed, you'll be even more powerful—your future is unlimited."
"You're Lord Rhodes? The new Primarch? Are you really a new Primarch?" Tyberos asked, getting up. This Primarch seemed a bit small—shorter than a regular Marine! But as a top warrior, he sensed something terrifying about Rhodes—this man could easily kill him.
"Yes, I'm a Primarch. Perhaps this will convince you," Rhodes said—and instantly grew from two meters to a four-meter giant.