Dante and Vergil began their descent into the city's vast complex. Vergil surveyed their surroundings, noting the imposing Gothic architecture that dominated the skyline. Dante, fully focused, accelerated their Jetbike towards an immense, looming palace. As they sped through the streets, Vergil observed the inhabitants—many bore crude augmentations, their flesh interwoven with mechanical parts. Occasionally, they passed groups of what seemed to be clergy, but upon closer inspection, their bodies were almost entirely mechanical, a fusion of man and machine.
Here is the continuation of the translation in the Warhammer 40K style:
"Where is this?" Vergil inquired.
"Welcome to the Imperial Palace. The Captain-General is most curious about you," Dante replied.
"Captain-General? Is that the title of the leader here?" Vergil asked, his curiosity piqued further.
"More precisely, the Captain-General is the head of the Adeptus Custodes. The Imperium of Mankind is still led by the Emperor of Mankind," Dante explained.
"Hopefully, Lord Guilliman has returned as well. There are matters I wish to discuss with him," Dante added.
"Lord Guilliman... who is he?" Vergil asked, his curiosity deepening.
"Lord Guilliman, you ask? He is one of the 18 Primarchs created by the Emperor of Mankind. Currently, he serves as the High Lord Commander of the Imperium of Mankind. You might even get the chance to meet him," Dante replied.
"Created??? What..." Vergil began, his curiosity growing.
"The 18 Primarchs were crafted by merging the DNA template of the Emperor and a Perpetual named Erda. Perpetuals are a race of immortals human," Dante explained.
Swiftly, Dante and Vergil arrived at a massive gate. Dante provided a code, and the gate creaked open. Vergil observed the guards stationed there, clad in heavily enclosed armor and wielding unfamiliar weapons. Dante accelerated the Jetbike towards a smaller palace, where someone was already waiting.
"I'll return the Jetbike now. The Captain-General is expecting you," Dante said, assisting Vergil as he dismounted.
"Thank you, Dante," Vergil replied, watching as Dante sped away.
"You must be Vergil. The Emperor himself has requested your presence," intoned Trajann Valoris, his voice resonant with authority.
"Dante must have informed you of my arrival," Vergil responded, curiosity and anticipation in his tone.
"More accurately, the Emperor conveyed it through his Emissaries," Trajann Valoris clarified, his gaze intense. "Now, let us proceed swiftly to the Inner Sanctum," he continued, turning with a flourish of his ornate cloak and striding into the Hall of Leng.
Vergil followed, his footsteps echoing through the vast, dimly lit hall, its walls adorned with ancient tapestries and the flickering glow of lumens. The air was thick with the scent of incense and the weight of millennia of history. As they moved deeper into the sanctum, the presence of the Emperor seemed to loom ever larger, a silent guardian over his Imperium.
Vergil followed Trajann Valoris and soon they arrived in a grand garden. The garden was meticulously maintained, teeming with a myriad of flowers and plants. Vergil was momentarily captivated by its beauty but kept his focus on Trajann Valoris. Trajann paused briefly and turned to face Vergil.
"So, what have you been told about this world?" Trajann Valoris inquired.
"Dante didn't tell me much, only about the Grey Knights," Vergil replied.
"In truth, much has transpired, but let us leave that for your training sessions," Trajann Valoris said, resuming their journey.
Vergil walked alongside him, the path winding through the lush garden, the scent of blossoms mingling with the cool, crisp air. Despite the serene surroundings, an undercurrent of anticipation charged the atmosphere, hinting at the challenges and revelations that lay ahead.
Vergil nodded thoughtfully as they continued through the Hall of Heroes, the echoes of their footsteps mingling with the weighty silence of the ancient artifacts that surrounded them. The sculptures seemed to whisper tales of battles fought and victories won, their stoic faces and imposing forms a testament to the valor and sacrifice of those who came before.
As they walked, Vergil couldn't help but feel the weight of history pressing down upon him. The Adeptus Custodes moved with purposeful determination, their presence a reminder of the ever-present threats that loomed over the Imperium. Each step deeper into the hall seemed to bring them closer to the heart of power, where the Emperor's will shaped the fate of worlds.
"I have heard tales of your vigilance and valor," Vergil remarked, his voice echoing softly in the cavernous hall.
"Our duty demands unwavering vigilance," Trajann Valoris replied, his gaze unwavering ahead.
They passed by a particularly striking sculpture, depicting a heroic figure wielding a mighty blade against a horde of grotesque creatures. The craftsmanship was exquisite, capturing the ferocity of the battle and the indomitable spirit of its protagonist.
"What lies ahead for me, within these halls?" Vergil asked, his curiosity tempered with a hint of apprehension.
"That remains to be seen," Trajann Valoris said cryptically, his expression unreadable beneath the shadow of his helm.
They continued their march through the Hall of Heroes, the air thick with the scent of incense and the weight of duty. Vergil's mind raced with questions, his journey now inexorably intertwined with the destiny of the Imperium and the enigmatic figure of the Emperor himself.
"Then what sets the Grey Knights apart?" Vergil asked as they entered the Inner Sanctum.
"They are specialists in hunting daemons, most of them are Psykers. The power of Psykers comes from the Warp, but unlike other Sanctioned Psykers, Grey Knights undergo rigorous training that makes them highly resistant to corruption by Warp entities," Trajan explained as they entered a vast chamber.
Inside, Vergil beheld a colossal pyramid-shaped structure. Though open to the sky at its peak, the pyramid housed an immense throne, upon which sat a colossal skull. Vergil noticed a myriad of life support cables connected to the throne and the skull.
The chamber exuded an aura of ancient power and reverence, its walls adorned with arcane symbols and holographic displays depicting celestial maps and battlefield data. Servitors, their forms a grotesque fusion of flesh and machine, moved silently about their tasks, attending to the chamber's maintenance.
"This is where the Emperor resides," Trajan continued solemnly, his voice echoing in the hallowed space. "His eternal vigilance sustains the Imperium and guides our every action."
Vergil approached the throne cautiously, feeling a mixture of awe and trepidation in the presence of such immense power. The skull, a relic of the Emperor's enduring will and divinity, seemed to gaze upon him with an unyielding intensity, as if judging the very essence of his being.
"Here, within the Inner Sanctum, the destiny of galaxies is decided," Trajan remarked, his voice tinged with reverence.
Vergil nodded silently, overwhelmed by the gravity of his surroundings and the knowledge that he now stood in the presence of the Emperor of Mankind, the immortal ruler of the Imperium and beacon of humanity's hope in the darkness of the 41st millennium.
"Welcome to the Golden Throne... The Emperor awaits us," Dante announced.
Vergil could see someone standing beside Dante—a towering figure, though Vergil estimated his height to be only half that of the skull seated upon the throne, if not less. This man had short blond hair and a false halo ornament behind his head, adorned in heavily armored regalia featuring a double-headed eagle emblem on his chest and inverted Omega symbols embellished like royal insignia. Vergil noticed a name inscribed on the ornament—Guilliman.
"Lord Guilliman, this is the individual," Dante introduced.
"He does bear a resemblance to you, when we first met," Lord Guilliman remarked, ascending towards the apex of the pyramid.
"Vergil, come, let us ascend," Dante urged, following Lord Guilliman.
Vergil hurried after Lord Guilliman and Dante, sensing something distinctly different emanating from the skull seated upon the throne. As they approached a platform close to the throne, Vergil began to discern the formidable power radiating from the skull.
"The skull... could it possibly be..." Vergil muttered, ascending the steps as he gazed at the skull.
"You're correct. This is the original body of the Emperor of Mankind that we encountered in the Warp," Dante confirmed.
"Which means that place..." Vergil started.
"You and I met in the Warp. The Warp is like a mirror world to our physical reality. It's where all thoughts—positive and negative—manifest. Everything you believe or disbelieve, both conscious and unconscious thoughts, good and bad intentions, they all exist there," Dante explained as they approached a location near the throne.
Vergil's mind raced with the implications of what he was witnessing. The sheer presence of the Emperor's true form, sustained by arcane machinery and the power of the Warp, filled him with a mixture of awe and reverence.
"Why then can we only speak within dreams?"
"Dreams act as a bridge between the Warp and the physical world... You've surely heard of that," Lord Guilliman asked as they walked.
Vergil could only nod. He had experienced this phenomenon himself, even meeting his twin sibling.
Upon reaching a place very close to the Golden Throne, Dante and Lord Guilliman immediately knelt. An emissary appeared, already waiting.
"You must be Vergil, the twin sibling of Custodian Dante," the emissary said.
"That's correct," Vergil replied.
"The Emperor of Mankind has ordered us to prepare to take you to Titan, on Uranus," the emissary said.
"Titan...?" Vergil questioned.
"I forgot to mention, the primary headquarters of the Grey Knights is on Titan," Lord Guilliman added.
"It seems you are eager. The reasons behind this and the history of the Grey Knights will be revealed during your training with them," the emissary explained.
"I'll take care of the rest," Dante interjected.
"Vergil... I'm sorry I have to do this..." Dante said softly.
"Do what...?" Vergil began to weaken and drifted off to sleep.
Dante stood and swiftly administered a medium dose of sleeping medication to Vergil, catching him off guard as he began to doze.
"Now, let's discuss the important matters..." Dante said as Vergil fell into a deep sleep.