Ahriman could never forget that war in the Webway. He'd promised to spare those special Eldar, but that woman dared deceive him!

But she also gave Ahriman hope—the Rubric Marines could be restored. Though they'd lost their bodies, their souls bound to armor and stripped of self-awareness, they could be revived.

After three Rubric Marines were revived, they called his name, "Is that you, brother Ahriman?"

He'd jumped into the Warp after them, but never found them again.

Then that woman did worse—she restored many Rubric Marines to flesh, then cast them into the Warp's chaos.

Hundreds of ancient brothers died for good—Ahriman's hatred burned deep.

He swore to make that Eldar woman pay. After finally escaping the Warp, he received a mysterious psychic message: the Eldar Goddess of Life was free and had summoned her children for a special mission. Among them was the Ynnari's High Prophet.

Without hesitation, Ahriman gathered his Warband, recalled some Chaos Marines and sorcerers, and came for revenge.

"Ahriman, we've received troubling psychic broadcasts from the Imperium. Our Primarch has really returned!"

Magnus's betrayal of Tzeentch was hard for many in the Legion to accept—or even believe.

Magnus was the Thousand Sons' leader, but he'd never managed them closely. In fact, many in the Legion revered Ahriman more—he was Tzeentch's champion.

But Ahriman never saw himself as Tzeentch's servant, just as Abaddon refused to serve Chaos. Still, his actions pleased Tzeentch, who rewarded him.

"So it's all true. Our gene-father betrayed us long ago on the Sorcerer's Planet," Ahriman said.

Recent Imperial news had shaken the Legion; some ancient warriors were breaking down.

Back when their homeworld was attacked by the Space Wolves, many Librarians and psykers should have foreseen it.

Yet, strangely, none did. Some were even mysteriously killed.

"No need to discuss it further—we foresaw this, didn't we?"

Ahriman later learned Magnus himself suppressed all psychic visions, hiding the future from his Legion.

Those who did foresee the future were silenced by their Primarch.

When Leman Russ brought the Wolves to Prospero, Magnus hid—Ahriman and his brothers took up arms.

To reveal the truth, Ahriman drew a Space Wolves Librarian into the Warp and revealed everything about the Horus Heresy.

But when they returned, it was too late. Russ had slaughtered most of the Thousand Sons.

Ahriman then had two choices: kill the Wolves' Librarian in rage, or release him to spread the truth.

Seeing his brothers slaughtered, Ahriman lost control, torturing the Wolves' priest. Magnus appeared and dueled Russ, ultimately losing. The two Legions lost their last chance for reconciliation.

The surviving Thousand Sons fled into the Warp, but their mutations and gene-curse continued.

Ahriman was given the Book of Magnus and created the Rubric spell—intending to save his brothers, but turning them into soulless automatons, leading to his exile.

But Magnus, you bastard, now you say it was all part of your and the Emperor's plan? You sacrificed the entire Legion because the gene-seed was too corrupted by Tzeentch?

Now you have a new Legion—the Grey Knights, all my gene-brothers.

No wonder the Grey Knights resist Chaos so well; each is a powerful psyker, matching our Librarians.

Now it all makes sense. Our Primarch was behind it all—the war had countless chances for peace.

Magnus, when Russ arrived, couldn't you show him the truth? With your psychic power, couldn't you show him the future? Even if Russ couldn't understand,

the Wolves' Librarians could! If I could show them the Heresy, surely Magnus could do even more.

Instead, Magnus hid at the war's start, only appearing to duel Russ at the end, and losing.

So our gene-seed was doomed—a laughable excuse.

Now, knowing the truth, Ahriman's revenge had a new target: Magnus, and his new Grey Knights.

After killing the Eldar woman, Ahriman would rebuild the Thousand Sons and lead them.

Tzeentch promised him daemonhood and greater power, but Ahriman refused—he would not abandon his humanity, even for revenge.

"Ahriman, there's another Primarch and the Eldar Goddess of Life on this planet. We must act secretly. If the enemy discovers us, we're finished."

"I know. All sorcerers, set up wards and defenses. We must hide and find that Eldar woman!" Ahriman ordered.

…

Meanwhile, aboard Rhod's cruiser, Yvraine was chatting with her close friend Lelith.

"So the Goddess of Life possessed you after being rescued? How is that possible—how did you bear a goddess?" Yvraine asked, incredulous.

Lelith's body had been enhanced by the Cosmic Beast, but she was still mortal—nothing compared to Yvraine, the Ynnari's High Prophet.

Even Yvraine couldn't bear a god's soul, but her friend did—perfectly.

Yvraine noticed Lelith now radiated endless life energy and incredible vitality.

"Did the Mother Goddess enhance you, or did you have another adventure?"

"I did have some fortune. Remember our Cosmic Beast Fist technique?

It was developed by special cosmic creatures to enhance the body using their energy.

There's another way—fusion with a cosmic beast, evolving into a super lifeform," Lelith explained.

"No wonder Guilliman suddenly grew to 60 meters tall that day.

So both you and Rhodes can turn into 60-meter giants!" Yvraine said, slapping her thigh as if everything made sense.

"Yes, we both have giant forms. We even found an asteroid to spar on!" Lelith said proudly.

"Are you showing off? Some friend you are!" Yvraine said, mock-annoyed.

"I told Rhodes about you—and since you're close, if you want to stay with him, he could give you a cosmic beast, too," Lelith said.

"No thanks. I've already gained Death God's power. Another cosmic beast might conflict with my own strength," Yvraine declined.

The excuse of conflicting powers was just a pretense. She owed Rhodes too much already—a small cruiser, super-serum, the Cosmic Beast Fist, and Gomora.

All she had to give in return was to spend the night with Rhodes. If she accepted the cosmic beast, she'd have to bind herself to him.

Though she liked Rhodes, they were of different races!

"Yvraine, I'm pregnant."

"???"

Big question marks popped up over Yvraine's head.

PS: Wait, I made a mistake. That unknown goddess was not Lileath. I keep searching, but Isha doesn't have a sister. It's probably an original character by the author.