“That’s none of your ,” Marneus replied curtly. His focus thaurned back to the arena, “Who is he?”

  "Standing in the arena is the neter Master—a hero from the Great Crusade, preserved for turies in stasis. Though his curse makes him appear as an ordinary man, his skills and instincts remain those of a warrior fed in the Emperor's service."

  "Just like Lord Roboute?"

  Roboute Guilliman, the Avenging Son, was the Primarch of the Ultramarines and one of the Emperor’s twenty gene-fed sons. During the Horus Heresy, he remaieadfastly loyal to the Emperor, leading his legion to victainst the traitor forces. After the war, Guilliman uook the moal task of rest the shattered Imperium, bringing order to the chaos that threates colpse. He was the architect of the Codex Astartes, a sacred tome that redefihe structure and doe of the Adeptus Astartes, and oversaw the Sed Founding, dividing the vast legions into smaller, indepe Chapters to safeguard against future rebellion.

  But his story was not without tragedy. During a battle against the traitorous Emperor's Children, Roboute Guilliman was gravely wounded by Fulgrim, his brother-Primarch, who used a bde tainted with dark, unnatural power. The wound to his throat was severe, and the poison from the bde was too deadly for even the Imperium's best healers to treat. His body now rests in stasis, preserved within a life-suspending mae in Macragge’s Temple of Corre.

  "Although Mr. Kayvaan isn’t on the same level as Lord Roboute, I must admit he is a hero of the Empire," Jacob expined. "He survived the legendary era and carries a reersonally granted by the Emperor himself—an appoio establish a new Space Marine chapter. But today, for someone like him, such a responsibility feels too heavy. That’s why I see this as an opportunity."

  "So, your pn was to scare him into giving up and, and then vince him to hand the reins over to you?" Marneus smirked. "That’s a foolish strategy. Astartes don’t fear humiliation. We don’t even uand fear."

  "I didn’t mean to humiliate him—"

  "Don’t bother denying it," Marneus interrupted, his tone icy. "Tradition dictates that three neophytes challenge a captain to prove their worth. But you sent in three veterans against an unaugmented human. That wasn’t a trial, Jacob—it was aion."

  "It wasn’t meant to go that far!" Jacob stammered. "Please, Lord Marneus, believe me! I never wao kill him. I just thought... if we scared him, he’d realize he isn’t fit to lead a chapter. Without the geic modifications, without the surgeries, he ’t truly and a Space Marine chapter. This is an opportunity tthen our forces. Surely you uand the precarious position the Space Marines are in right now."

  "But instead, it’s your veterans who were humbled," Marneus said, his gaze shifting to the arena as a fourth Space Mariered, his steps heavy with fury. "And now you’ve disgraced yourself."

  The newer’s voice thundered across the arena, den with anger. "What treachery is this? What heretical trickery did you use?"

  Kayvaan blinked in surprise befnizing the man approag him. It was the same Space Marine he had fro the gate earlier. "You’re...?" Kayvaaured toward the pale-faced Marine lying on the ground nearby. M was clutg his own aorta, trying to stem the arming flow of blood. "You’re Captain Adams, right?"

  "That’s right," the Marine growled. "The three men you just defeated—those are my soldiers. Veterans. Tested by war. A you, a mere human, brought them down. What sorcery is this?"

  "No sorcery," Kayvaan said calmly, shrugging. "If you watched the fight closely, you’d see my victory was fair."

  "Fair?" Adams’s voice rose in disbelief. "I watched every sed. When Jack accused you of using witchcraft, you didn’t even deny it. And how in the Emperor’s name could you hurt a Space Marih your bare hands?"

  "M’s leg was injured," Kayvaan expined casually. "He had surgery retly, and probably to treat Residual Ossification Syndrome(a rare dition ieran Space Marines where their bones bee too hardened over time due to their enhanced physiology. This cause stiffness in joints, reduced flexibility, or minor pain during rapid movements, making them slightly less agile in bat). While he’s mostly recovered, there’s still a subtle imban his movement. It’s not hard to spot if you know what to look for. His ihigh has a slightly differeure, which suggests ret scarring. By targeting that area, I could tear his muscle and expose his aorta. From there, the rest was easy."

  Kayvaan g the searihe one fell because of his two hearts. I noticed a hesitation in his movements—a sign of lingering trauma from a previous battle. Likely scarring or damage to his Haemastamen from an old wound. And the st one? He wasn’t ready for the fight. A veteran, yes, but rec from spinal surgery after a serious injury. A scar along his lower back gave it away. His Ossmodu protects him, but that area hasn’t fully healed. A precise strike disrupted the here, paralyzing him momentarily. It’s not magic—just observation and uanding of Astartes physiology."

  "That makes sense," Adams admitted, still processing everything, while half of him still in disbelief.

  Kayvaan shrugged, his tone casual. "Then why are you still standing there? The fight is over. Shouldn’t you be calling the Apothecaries? A momentary cardiac disruption be stabilized, a ruptured artery needs proper sealing, and even a spinal shock will recover with time. These are manageable issues."

  Adams snapped back to reality. "Of course!" He quickly sighe Apothecaries, who hurried into the arena moments ter, moving chaotically as they administered first aid.

  From the sidelines, Marneus watched the se unfold with a grim expression. "His observation, judgment, and bat skills are unbelievable," Marneus muttered, gng at Jacob with a mix of pity and disdain. "And you thought you could question his worth? Really, Jacob? As an advisor to the Chapter, your aake me doubt your judgment."

  Jacob stammered, "I—I was only thinking about what’s best for the Ultramarihe current situation is dire. We must strengthen our position, and —"

  "Enough," Marneus interrupted, sighing deeply. "I know your s. The Imperium is besieged on all fronts, and we face stant challeo our dominance. But never fet who we are: the Emperor’s chosen, the sword and shield of Humanity. The Adepta Sororitas may burn with zealotry, and the Astra Militarum may bring overwhelming o bear, but we are the scalpel that cuts through the heart of the enemy. Redundano. Our purpose is clear, as it has always been. Do not let fear cloud your loyalty."

  Jacob hesitated, his voisteady. "I—I just ’t shake this fear. If the Adepta Sororitas and the Astra Militarum outshine us, what is our purpose? Where do we fit in?"

  Marneus pced a heavy hand on Jacob’s shoulder. "Do you know what truly makes us strong? It’s not just our power—it’s uanding our purpose. The records in the Librarium hold the history of every battle since our founding. If you’ve studied them, you’d know reatest challenge was not being too weak, but to. At our peak, the Legions were a force even the Imperium feared. That’s why Guilliman himself decreed our numbers must be limited. We are not here to rule; we are here to serve."