Magnus's mind spun—a legion with strong psychic powers, his gene-sons, a new legion?
There was such a chapter in the Imperium—a nightmare for all daemons. Some lesser daemons are so terrified they collapse at the mention of their name.
"You mean the Grey Knights? Impossible, their gene-seed comes from the Emperor himself," Magnus immediately denied.
All signs pointed to the Grey Knights being his gene-sons, but Magnus never felt that connection, and it's widely believed their gene-seed is pure because it comes from the Emperor.
That's why, in 10,000 years, not a single Grey Knight has been corrupted by Chaos.
"You're not stupid—you must have guessed. The Emperor told you himself he prepared a new legion for you.
Think about it: a legion created under those circumstances. The Grey Knights are the Emperor's last gift to humanity—created with Malcador to resist Chaos. Legend says their gene-seed comes from the Emperor.
But do you believe the Emperor's gene-seed is compatible with ordinary humans?
Even the strongest psykers couldn't handle it. You know your father best.
If his gene-seed could create Astartes, there'd be no need for twenty legions.
He would've used only his gene-seed, with twenty Primarchs as leaders—no gene-sons for you. The Emperor would've made all humanity Custodians if he could.
A legion with such psychic ability and Warp resistance—who else but your sons? Who else but you, Magnus, can wander the Warp so freely—so much so that not even the Chaos Gods can corrupt you, only tempt you," Rhodes snorted.
Whether the Grey Knights are Magnus's sons, Rhodes could only guess!
Even after months on Terra, the Emperor never revealed the gene-father of the Grey Knights, nor did Rhodes ask.
But according to some official books, the first Supreme Grand Master of the Grey Knights does contain a fragment of Magnus's soul.
And anyway, what mattered was whether he could fool Magnus! Why should Chaos daemons be the only ones allowed to lie?
Sometimes, if a lie is repeated enough, it becomes the truth. And Rhodes's guess wasn't necessarily wrong.
Rhodes's first Emperor-Avatar, his Ace Daemon Slayer, had long infiltrated the Grey Knights.
Their gene-seed is indeed related to the Emperor, but it's not directly from him—Rhodes was certain of that.
If he could persuade Magnus to surrender, the Emperor would be delighted.
After Rhodes's extreme reasoning and analysis, even Guilliman and Horus were thoughtful.
Having followed the Emperor, they knew his personality. If his gene-seed could make Astartes, he'd have done so long ago.
Psykers are rare on each planet, but across the Imperium, all those Black Ships aren't a joke.
With just the resources of the Solar System, the Emperor could launch the Great Crusade—after conquering half the galaxy, there's no reason to lack psykers.
"This—so, you're saying Tzeentch has been lying to me all along?
Originally, my gene-seed was perfect, and the warriors it produced should have all been like the Grey Knights?" Magnus asked excitedly.
At this moment, Magnus was secretly jubilant—his gene-seed was perfect, not defective after all.
Since the birth of the Thousand Sons, they'd been criticized. Other legions had their gene-seed flaws, but Magnus was obsessed with fixing his, desperately seeking knowledge in the Warp—until he met that being.
Tzeentch, the Changer of Ways—far surpassing even the Emperor. So wise, so powerful, mastering the ultimate secrets of the universe.
At first, their contact terrified Magnus, but gradually he realized this Chaos God wasn't as evil as Father said.
Magnus kept dealing with Tzeentch, even sacrificing his eye in exchange for magical knowledge.
"There's a high chance of that, Magnus—you know Father's character," Horus said.
"If the Emperor's gene-seed could produce Astartes, they would've fought in the Crusade. They were created for you," Guilliman added.
"So… are you saying the Changer of Ways lied to me? He's been deceiving me since the beginning," Magnus hesitated.
"Think about it, Magnus—your gene-seed's problems weren't serious at first.
But the more you explored the Warp, the worse it got. Didn't you notice?
What is Tzeentch's nature? What does he love to do? You've known him for ten thousand years—haven't you figured it out?" Rhodes's words exploded in Magnus's mind.
It was true: Tzeentch was no saint! He loved schemes and playing with lives.
"Magnus, haven't you realized? Your biggest blunder was blowing up the Webway beneath the Imperial Palace.
You forced Father onto the Throne. But think—your psychic message alone blew up the Webway?
Even if it was powerful, could it really destroy the ancient Webway? Built sixty million years ago by the Old Ones!
The Eldar used it for ages without issue—why would your one message destroy it?
You overestimate yourself. Only Tzeentch could do that, using you.
It was all Tzeentch's scheme—even the spell you used to send your message was taught by him, right?
He wanted you to use it, so when you contacted the Emperor, he and the other Chaos Gods could destroy the Webway—and pin the blame on you.
He made everyone believe it was your fault, forcing you to rebel.
Tzeentch made you a scapegoat, a clown for his amusement—delighting in your pain, your shame," Rhodes declared.
He shamelessly dumped all the blame on Tzeentch. With a schemer, it's easiest to blame them.
Because everyone believes a schemer would do just that.
"Damn it! Damn it! Changer of Ways, you bastard! You made me your clown!
You lied to me from the start! Played me, used me, made me your slave!" Magnus roared, face twisted with rage.
The more Magnus thought, the more he felt he'd been deceived by Tzeentch!
Sometimes, so many coincidences add up that even the most skeptical must accept them as truth.
He had only wanted to warn Father, to tell him Horus had been corrupted and was rebelling.
How could he and his thousand sorcerers alone destroy the Webway?
A plot! It was all Tzeentch's plot!
All his gratitude to Tzeentch turned to hatred.
Even Horus and Guilliman looked at Rhodes with strange expressions—his analysis was so convincing.
Could it really be that Magnus was innocent? That it was all a plot by the Chaos Gods?
"This is something the Emperor himself can confirm. It's time you learned the truth, Magnus," Rhodes said, summoning the Emperor's avatar.
Using psychic power, he linked up with the Emperor on the Golden Throne, relaying everything he'd just said.
["Emperor, shall we frame Tzeentch for once? The stage is yours."]
["My friend, leave this to me."]
Seeing the Emperor's avatar, Magnus was overwhelmed—he could sense the psychic resonance, the familiar figure, the armor—it was Father!
"F-Father! Is it you?" Magnus exclaimed at the towering golden giant.
"Yes, Magnus. It was all Tzeentch's plot. He deceived you, and me—it was much later that I discovered the truth," said the Emperor.