In an open space outside the Imperial Palace, two golden figures clashed like lightning, the sound of metal on metal ringing out as densely as a rainstorm.
“I’ve lost.” The Custodian looked at the blade less than a centimeter from his faceplate and withdrew the spear he was about to thrust.
“Good game, Mr.
Custodian.” Morningstar sheathed her sword and patted the Custodian’s shoulder.
“Your Highness’s swordsmanship is already very strong; I can no longer continue to teach Your Highness.”
“No, no, I’m still far from it, but thank you anyway, Mr.
Custodian.”
The Custodian looked at Morningstar, who was clad in golden armor, with eyes that seemed to be looking at a monster.
No matter how beautiful her appearance or how respectful her words, it couldn’t change the fact that she was a monster.
In just one morning, she had grown from a novice who didn’t even know how to hold a sword into a powerhouse who could easily defeat a Custodian.
The Custodian remembered that day again, the day the Emperor told the Custodians about the Primarch Project.
At that time, almost all Custodians opposed the so-called Primarch Project, but the Emperor still insisted on his own way.
The Custodian suddenly felt some trepidation.
Over twenty Primarchs, each one a similar monster—if they were to turn against the Emperor, how would they protect their master?
Morningstar ignored the strange looks from the circle of Custodians surrounding the training ground and instead waved to them one by one.
“Um, Father asked me to learn martial arts from you.
Since one can no longer beat me, how about a few more?”
The Captain-General of the Custodes, Valdor, stood in the distance, still holding that Apollonian Spear.
He gestured to two Custodians beside him, and they stepped forward immediately.
“What do you think?”
A voice sounded behind Valdor.
Valdor didn’t look back; since the owner of the voice didn’t want to be noticed, Valdor wouldn’t show anything unusual.
“Terrifying.” Valdor spoke softly, looking at the golden figure in the center of the training ground who was still handling herself with ease against three opponents.
“My Lord, do you really count on such monsters to save humanity?”
“Valdor, humanity indeed needs them.”
“So you don’t deny that they are monsters, do you?”
“…”
Valdor took a deep breath.
“You are the Emperor; you always see further than anyone else, so I will unconditionally support your decision.”
“…”
There was no response; Valdor knew the Emperor had already left.
He looked at Morningstar, who had just knocked down three Custodians, and stepped forward.
“Alright, step down.
I’ll play with Her Highness for a bit.”
Morningstar looked at Valdor, her Primarch body feeling a surge of excitement—the kind of excitement one feels when facing a strong enemy, shivering from her heart to the tips of her wings.
Morningstar understood that the Custodian before her couldn’t be anyone else; he was definitely the ‘First under the Primarchs’—Constantin Waldo.
She understood that only by winning against him would she truly have stepped into the combat power of a Primarch and be qualified to change the desperate situation of the future.
So Morningstar smiled, raising the longsword in her hand.
It was a longsword the Emperor had bestowed upon her this morning, along with the golden armor on her body.
“Please.”
Without many words, the battle began in an instant.
The longsword and spear collided with a powerful shockwave, and every Custodian present was surprised.
The exchange between the two made them feel dread; with their abilities, they could only barely see the duo’s movements, but they knew in their hearts that they would have no way to resist such strength and speed.
With a heavy strike that pushed Valdor back, Morningstar smiled and twisted her wrist.
If it were just a matter of technique, she indeed couldn’t compare to the seasoned Valdor.
But the most terrifying thing about a Primarch was never speed or strength, but learning ability.
Valdor’s gaze sharpened.
In less than a minute of fighting, the opponent had adapted to his attack rhythm and made effective counterattacks.
Truly worthy of the Emperor’s bloodline.
Since the Emperor wanted him to help the other grow as much as possible, as the Captain-General of the Custodes, he had to go all out…
“Uncle Malcador, do I really have Psychic Powers?”
Inside the palace at night, Morningstar’s tall frame was curled up in a chair as she asked the old man drinking tea in front of her.
“Of course.
We discovered you that day precisely because of the psychic fluctuations on your body.
And since the Emperor hopes you will lead the Unification Wars of Terra, having an extra means is always a good thing.”
That’s right.
Early in the morning, while Morningstar was sleeping soundly, the Emperor had plucked her up.
In a daze, Morningstar received a set of golden armor and a longsword.
Before she could speak, the Emperor spoke directly.
“We’ll talk about the project plans later.
Today, go directly to the training ground to train with the Custodes.
In the evening, find Malcador to learn Psychic Powers.
In a few days, I will announce that you are the commander of the Unification Wars of Terra.”
After hearing this, Morningstar woke up instantly.
The Unification Wars of Terra?
At this moment, the Unification Wars of Terra was just past the halfway mark.
Centered on the palace in the Himalayas, half of the scattered small forces on the Eurasian continent had been cleared, but there were still many heavyweight contenders.
As the saying goes, the first step is always the hardest; the most difficult part of the Great Crusade was indeed the Unification Wars of Terra at the beginning.
Terra truly lived up to its name as a strategic prize, never playing low-stakes games.
All sorts of forces that could occupy several star systems elsewhere were huddled on Terra as local warlords.
Gene-freaks, remnant Men of Iron, dark technology, Chaos Sorcerer—all kinds of big shots were in this small patch of land on Terra.
Compared to them, the Thunder Warriors seemed remarkably human-like.
In the original story, the Emperor completely washed his hands of things in the late stages of the Great Crusade, but he personally handled the Unification Wars of Terra from start to finish.
And now, this four-meter-tall golden big guy in front of her actually said she should lead the Unification Wars of Terra.
Who are you?
Are you really the Emperor?
Morningstar got straight out of bed and sat on the floor, hugging the Emperor’s thigh.
“Daddy, actually your cute daughter is a loser.
Please don’t say such scary things to your daughter, okay?”
Morningstar looked up pitifully at the Emperor.
She wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but she seemed to see…
veins popping on the Emperor’s face?
“No, it’s not up for discussion.
Go now.”
The Emperor grabbed Morningstar by the collar, lifting her up like a pet, and directly opened a spatial gate to disappear from the spot.
“Tsk, black-hearted old geezer.” Morningstar sat on the floor and curled her lip.
“I can hear you.” A voice sounded directly in Morningstar’s ear.
“You heard wrong.”