Chapter Nineteen: Conversation Aboard the Sword of Honor

“What exactly is your relationship with that Emperor’s son, the Primarch?” In a chamber aboard the Blade of Honor, Cawl and Wang Ming were deep in conversation.

“I’m just someone the Emperor pulled over to work for him. As for Fulgrim, he is a clone of Fulgrim,” Wang Ming replied, explaining both his own origins and those of the cloned Fulgrim.

“A cloned Primarch?” Cawl stared at Wang Ming in astonishment, finding the idea nearly inconceivable. “How could a Primarch possibly be cloned? Each one is a masterpiece of the Emperor’s genetic engineering.”

“It was done by Fabius Bile, the former Apothecary of the Emperor’s sons. He managed to clone a Primarch, though I don’t know the exact methods,” Wang Ming explained, noticing that Cawl’s voice trembled with surprise. He quickly clarified the origin of the cloned Primarch.

The two continued their discussion for a long time within that room, ranging from the current state and future prospects of the Imperium to various technologies of the 40k universe. As he was about to leave, Wang Ming handed Cawl a chip.

“This contains some technologies from the Golden Age. I hope you can help me understand them and eventually apply them within the Imperium.”

The chip contained technology Wang Ming had acquired from the “Marketplace”—research from the Golden Age, particularly regarding individual power armor. He entrusted it to Cawl, hoping he could decode and utilize it.

Wang Ming’s intention was to use this technology so that Cawl could eventually design mass-producible power armor for regular humans, laying the groundwork for Wang Ming’s future plans.

After seeing Cawl off, Wang Ming instructed someone to bring Fulgrim over. He felt Fulgrim needed some psychological guidance.

Ever since Wang Ming had given Fulgrim the replica of the “Blade of Fire,” Fulgrim had often been found staring at the sword in silence, seemingly lost in thought. Wang Ming believed it necessary to counsel him.

Soon, Fulgrim was brought in by one of the traversers.

“Sit down. Let’s have a proper talk,” Wang Ming said, gesturing toward a makeshift “chair” fashioned from metal crates, sturdy enough for a Primarch.

Fulgrim sat as indicated, looking at Wang Ming and waiting to hear what he had to say.

“I’ve noticed you often sit alone, gazing at the ‘Blade of Fire’ as if deep in thought. Would you tell me what’s on your mind?” Wang Ming asked directly. He wanted to know Fulgrim’s psychological state; after all, the mental well-being of a Primarch was crucial. The Dark Gods might exploit any weakness to corrupt a Primarch.

“It’s nothing. I was just remembering some of the deeds my corrupted self committed,” Fulgrim replied after a moment’s silence, his tone tinged with sadness.

“Do you possess all the memories of your original self?” Wang Ming nodded, then asked Fulgrim curiously.

Fulgrim nodded in response.

“In those memories, do the experiences with Chaos affect you?”

“No. When I look at those memories, they only strengthen my resolve for vengeance against the traitors.” This time, Fulgrim’s answer was decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

Wang Ming regarded Fulgrim seriously, then conjured a golden orb of light and pressed it into Fulgrim’s forehead.

“This is a fragment of your father’s soul. It will protect your spirit from corruption by the Chaos Gods,” Wang Ming explained as Fulgrim gazed at him in curiosity.

“Father…” Fulgrim touched his own forehead.

This soul fragment had been given to Wang Ming by the Emperor’s avatar, Niels, back aboard the Iron Soul. Niels had instructed Wang Ming to embed the fragment within Fulgrim, to guard the Primarch’s soul against the corruption of the Ruinous Powers.

It was, in effect, a firewall for Fulgrim’s soul.