2nd Primarch

desire hope one-week limited-time mission soon came to an end.

Based on this, Dukel selected 10,000 reserve members of the Second Legion from the Heart Network and converted the limited-time mission into a long-term mission.

In the following expedition wars, the top 100 Heart Network members who earned points each time would automatically be selected as reserve members of the Second Legion.

As a reserve member, to become a true member of the Second Legion and Dukel's descendant, one must also fuse with the gene-seeds.

However, the gene-seed of the Second Primarch has very serious flaws.

The Grand Magus of the Mechanicus still possessed a batch of Second Legion gene-seeds but was stopped from using them by Guilliman, who feared their inherent defects.

Lian Kaul had retained the seed of the Second Legion, and Gris, who had been by Dukel's side for millennia, likely did as well.

By now, Dukel had a rough understanding of the flaw.

He sat at his desk, sketching potential solutions to resolve the genetic defects.

Efilar and the Grand Sage entered the Primarch's office together. The Grand Sister held a thick dossier of names in her hands.

"Your Highness Dukel, this is the file you requested," Efilar said, placing the document on the desk. She hesitated before speaking again.

"However, these individuals have not undergone rigorous special training and come from different chapters. Their loyalty cannot be guaranteed. I fear it will be difficult to manage them."

Dukel smiled as he took the dossier.

"Do not worry. These individuals have all undergone my special training and are guaranteed to be competent."

"Ah? But... when?"

Efilar stared in disbelief. As one of the few who frequently interacted with the Primarch, she knew his habits well.

Since his resurrection, Dukel had spent most of the past year deep in thought within his chambers, seldom venturing out. How had he managed to train so many people?

"There is no need to doubt, Efilar. Hold firm in your faith. The future will reveal its answers."

Dukel's calm tone reassured her. Both Efilar and Gris were staunchly loyal to the Imperium, yet their high-ranking positions required a degree of autonomy, preventing them from being fully integrated into the Heart Network.

"Very well," Efilar said, bowing to Dukel before leaving.

After she departed, Dukel turned his attention to Gris.

"Your Highness, how may I serve you?" Gris asked, his artificial eyes flickering red as they analyzed Dukel's expression.

"Gris, I need your assistance," Dukel said, straightforwardly.

"For ten thousand years, you labored to awaken me from my madness. Surely you knew there was no possibility of my recovery?"

"This..."

Gris froze, uncertain how to respond.

The Primarch's words struck a nerve Gris had long buried. As the closest ally to the Second Primarch, Gris knew better than anyone the depth of his flaws.

Gris saw Dukel as an unstoppable force, perpetually moving forward. This trait had made him formidable, but once astray, nothing could bring him back on course.

Yet here he was—resurrected, seemingly free of those flaws. For the past year, Gris had found no signs of instability in Dukel. The phenomenon was so extraordinary that even Gris, with his insatiable thirst for knowledge, dared not delve too deeply.

"This is all the Emperor's blessing," Gris finally said.

"You are mistaken, Gris," Dukel replied, shaking his head.

"This is not the Emperor's doing. I have found a way to repair the flaws myself."

Dukel tapped his forehead, initiating a mental link with Gris.

"Do not resist, Gris. The truth you seek lies here."

Gris opened his mind completely, his curiosity aflame.

A soft chime echoed, and a translucent panel appeared before him.

"What is this?" Gris asked, astonished.

Dukel smiled. "This is the Heart Network—an ability I developed based on my unique traits. It enables me to resist the emotional toll of absorbing faith, thus shielding me from madness."

Through the network, Dukel transmitted a wealth of knowledge directly into Gris's mind.

Gris was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the insight.

"Your Highness, your wisdom is truly boundless," Gris said in awe.

Dukel dismissed the praise with a wave. "You possess the gene-seeds of the Second Legion, correct? Use this knowledge to modify them. Create a mechanism akin to the Heart Network within the gene-seeds. I will call it the Psychic Engine. This will preserve psychic capabilities while mitigating genetic defects."

"When the Psychic Engine is complete, the Second Legion will officially be reestablished. Begin your work aboard the Fire of the Heart. I want results as soon as possible."

"As you command," Gris said, bowing deeply before leaving.

The days that followed were consumed with preparations for the grand expedition. Just as everything was nearly ready, an astropath delivered an unusual report.

"Your Highness, a fragment of a distress signal has been detected in the warp. Its origin is a lost world within the Nanlis Galaxy, on the edge of the Storm Star Region."

Dukel's expression grew contemplative.

"A distress signal at this precise moment? Intriguing."

In the volatile warp, where subspace storms often sever communication entirely, receiving such a message at this exact time was highly unusual.

"It could be a coincidence," Dukel mused. "Or a provocation from Chaos."

Regardless, he intended to investigate.

"So, the Chaos forces think me prey?" Dukel said, a bloodthirsty smile spreading across his face.