"Cough—sorry, Great Wolf, I lost. The opponent's strength deserves our respect,"

said Ragnar, shaking off the pain.

His defeat had been shockingly swift.

"Don't lose heart, you're still young; you'll be stronger in the future,"

Great Wolf Grimnar clapped his shoulder.

The opponent had shown mercy—just knocking him out. If Dres had meant to kill, Ragnar wouldn't just be unconscious.

"You're already excellent. Sorry for breaking your weapon. If you don't mind, I'll give you mine,"

Dres laid his power sword before Ragnar.

"You want to give me this weapon?"

Ragnar was shocked.

He'd tasted its power—the Frostblade was no match, breaking on contact.

If they'd fought to a draw and swapped weapons, he'd accept. But being gifted it after defeat left him uncomfortable.

More importantly, Dres' reputation among the Space Wolves wasn't good—he'd been exiled from the pack.

Losing was shame enough; accepting the opponent's weapon would be even worse.

"Sorry, I can't accept your weapon,"

Ragnar shook his head.

Dres sighed, pulling the sword from the ground and taking it back.

Sometimes a single mistake means a lifetime of consequences, but this was his fate—he didn't blame anyone.

"I'll accept it for Ragnar. I can see you've changed a lot over the years. That incident wasn't entirely your fault; all our brothers sometimes fall to the same rage,"

Grimnar stepped forward.

After 700 years as Great Wolf, he'd seen much; sometimes too much rigidity isn't good. Besides, Ragnar was his choice for next Great Wolf.

Dres nodded and handed over his sword to the veteran Great Wolf.

"Ragnar has great potential. If he receives the new Primaris surgery, his strength will be transformed. The procedure has a 100% success rate. He'll only benefit,"

Dres said.

"I understand. This surgery won't replace our gene-seed or change our wolf genes, right?"

Grimnar asked as he took the weapon.

"No need. The Ultramarines, Imperial Fists, Black Templars, White Scars—none had to change their gene-seed,"

Rhodes explained.

"Then, the Space Wolves accept the Emperor's gift. We accept the new surgery,"

Grimnar said.

As long as their gene-seed wasn't changed, the Space Wolves could compromise. By Fenrisian custom, he had no reason to refuse.

"Very well! When I leave, I'll provide new medical pods and teach you the new Primaris surgery,"

Rhodes said.

"Lord Rhodes, please continue with your terms,"

said Grimnar, as the two sides reached preliminary cooperation.

"Let's discuss the third matter—your feud with Magnus ends here. Magnus acted on the Emperor's orders; this was a secret between the Primarchs and the Emperor,"

Rhodes said.

"I'm sorry, Lord Rhodes, but we cannot comply. We have too many grudges with the Thousand Sons,"

Grimnar replied.

"Even if it was the Emperor's own order? The Thousand Sons do have problems. Their gene-seed was corrupted by Tzeentch during the Great Crusade. Magnus's true genetic sons now are the Grey Knights,"

Rhodes explained.

"Lord Rhodes, the Emperor has sat on the Golden Throne for 10,000 years. How could he suddenly awaken? Did you witness it yourself? I heard he speaks through an avatar,"

Grimnar said.

He knew about the Emperor's avatar. The Wolves had sent two Great Companies to Cadia to assist.

Those fleets had evacuated early and had not met Rhodes himself. But they'd reported seeing two Emperor's avatars display divine power.

But what if those avatars were controlled by something else? Was it truly the Emperor's command? The Emperor shouldn't be able to speak.

"I understand your doubts. The Emperor can communicate, but ordinary people cannot withstand his psychic might, so he uses avatars.

This is my last attempt to persuade you, and your last chance. I can let you send someone to Holy Terra to confirm. If you refuse, I'll show you what true power is,"

Rhodes said.

As he finished, an invisible force enveloped all present Space Wolves. They found themselves unable to move, floating upward.

The Space Wolves in the sky struggled frantically, but it was as if a giant hand held them tight—no matter what, they couldn't break free, veins bulging with effort but utterly powerless.

"Lord Rhodes, what did you do?"

Grimnar was shocked, incredulous.

Was this psychic power? He'd just immobilized their entire Chapter—over 3,600 brothers! Even the Librarians had their powers sealed.

For mortals, there was no resistance before Rhodes. This overwhelming power was crushing.

Since arriving on Fenris, Rhodes had given the Space Wolves plenty of face. Now it was time to show his strength—would they be Space Wolves, or Space Huskies?

"Will you now accept the Emperor's command? You are a First Founding Chapter; your gene-father Leman Russ is the Emperor's divine son.

That's why you have this chance. Frankly, you're no threat. If I wished, I could exterminate you all with a snap of my fingers,"

Rhodes declared.

"Lord Rhodes, we understand. We will obey the Emperor's command. The Space Wolves have always been the Emperor's loyal warriors,"

Grimnar said, taking a deep breath.

"That's right. You made the right choice. If a First Founding Chapter were wiped out over a small misunderstanding, it would be a loss for the Imperium and mankind,"

Rhodes said.

The Space Wolves really should thank Guilliman. Though they distrusted him, it was Guilliman who bought them this chance.

Rhodes might not have bothered otherwise—he'd just let the new Primaris Astartes replace them.

"The Space Wolves are forever loyal to the Imperium and the Emperor,"

Grimnar stated.

This time, they'd truly run into a wall—even if the whole Chapter attacked, they'd be no match for Rhodes.

This new Primarch was already being very polite—anger him further, and the sons of Russ could be exterminated.

If one day Russ returned to find his sons dead, he would surely rage, and there would be another civil war—something the Imperium could not afford.

"That's right! Soon, I'll launch an Indomitable Crusade across the galaxy—to reclaim worlds lost to Tyranids, Orks, or Chaos. All Chapters must contribute,"

Rhodes announced.

"Understood, Lord Rhodes. I'll send Great Companies and battle barges to join your crusade,"

Grimnar replied.

"Additionally, I have a reward for you. The first Great Wolf, Bjorn the Fell-Handed, who fought alongside Leman Russ—I will restore him,"

Rhodes said.

He'd restore Bjorn like the Dreadnoughts of the Ultramarines, but using Fenrisian monster flesh—Rhodes looked forward to this new kind of super-beast.

"Lord Rhodes! You can revive Lord Bjorn?"

Grimnar said, shocked.

To revive him? His life was nearly at an end—unless it was an emergency, he'd never be awakened.

"Yes! I will revive him and grant him even greater power,"

Rhodes said.

Sometimes, carrot and stick is best—a big stick and a sweet date win respect.

"Lord Rhodes, please return to the Fang with me. Let me treat you and your guests with the finest mead,"

Grimnar said.

Rhodes was invited to the Fang and welcomed with the highest honors and Fenrisian mead.