2nd Primarch

After learning that Evelyne was about to arrive, Dukel brought Efilal to the hall of the Ecclesiastic Temple to wait.

Soon, he met the legendary Eldar female warrior of the Warhammer universe.

The so-called legend, of course, extended beyond the tales of the Thirteenth Princess. Evelyne's rise from obscurity to become the commander of the Death Army had left an indelible mark, creating stories that reverberated across the galaxy.

As an Eldar, Evelyne's appearance bore similarities to the elves of ancient human myths—tall, slender, and graced with pointed ears. Despite her status as a commander and her formidable combat skills, her delicate features exuded a surprising refinement.

The Eldar were the unwitting creators of Slaanesh. Their race had once succumbed to hedonistic excess, drowning in the pursuit of unrestrained desires. This unchecked indulgence birthed the Chaos God Slaanesh, whose catastrophic arrival drained the lives and psychic energy of most Eldar in an instant. Thus, the dreaded Eye of Terror was born.

The remaining Eldar scattered across their Craftworlds, tirelessly seeking to restore their former greatness.

Dukel observed Evelyne carefully. The Primarch's intense gaze seemed to scrutinize her, but it was more a reflection of his taciturn nature than suspicion. For a moment, he struggled to find the right words.

It was Evelyne who broke the silence, unable to bear the Primarch's oppressive stare.

"Great Son of the Emperor, Evelyne of the Death Army sends you her greetings," she said, bowing gracefully.

"Hello," Dukel replied with a curt nod.

Evelyne was unsurprised by the Primarch's cold demeanor. As a demigod, Dukel's aloofness was to be expected. Guilliman had forewarned her that among the Primarchs, the Second was particularly serious and reserved.

She quickly moved to the purpose of her visit. "I am here to carry out the instructions of His Highness Guilliman. He asks if you are ready for an expedition to Terra."

"That aligns with my own plans," Dukel responded.

"Then you must act quickly. The power of Chaos expands unchecked, and the Warp storms grow ever more violent. Soon, your fleet may find it impossible to navigate through the Warp. If Terra is your goal, the time is now."

Dukel nodded but offered no further comment.

Evelyne continued, her voice calm but earnest. "I hope your preparations are swift. Guilliman considers himself fortunate to have your cooperation."

Like many Imperials, Dukel harbored little goodwill toward xenos. The Eldar, with their unique Warp Webway and deep understanding of the Immaterium, were among the few non-human races capable of communication. Yet, deep-seated enmity lingered between the Eldar and humanity.

While Dukel appreciated Evelyne's bravery in delivering Guilliman's message, he remained wary. His gratitude did not preclude the possibility of future conflict.

"I also hope that His Highness Dukel can launch an expedition as soon as possible," Evelyne pressed. "Once Chaos fully corrupts the Imperium, there will be no return."

Seeing Dukel's hesitation, Evelyne stepped closer—but found herself staring down the barrel of Efilal's bolter.

"You're too close, Eldar!" Efilal barked, forcing her back with the weapon.

Evelyne raised her hands in surrender, taking a step back. "I mean no harm," she said, her tone even. Then, she delivered Guilliman's final message: "May we meet again under the throne."

With a graceful bow, she departed, leaving Dukel to contemplate her words.

An expedition was no trivial matter. It demanded more than military might—it required resources, planning, and a commitment to the lives of his soldiers and the Imperium's citizens. Dukel had the strength to lead, but he refused to waste lives on a futile mission.

While pondering, he reflected on the subspace navigation issues that plagued the Imperium. Warp travel was fraught with peril, with many fleets lost to storms and daemons. A solution was imperative.

Returning to his chambers, Dukel conceived an idea. Spiritual practitioners, stationed among the fleets, could form a psychic force field to shield against the Warp's turbulence. However, such a system required practitioners of exceptional skill, capable of manifesting externalized psychic power.

Hours later, a notification appeared on the Heart Network:

[Force Field: Mind Matrix – A collective psychic field formed by trained practitioners to resist Warp storms. Cost: 0 (Prerequisite: Completion of Fetal Breathing-level psychic training).]

Dukel distributed the technology freely, recognizing its critical value. This innovation would become standard for the Second Legion.

The announcement ignited fervent discussion among Heart Network members. For the first time, a technology demanded collaboration between psychic practitioners, marking a pivotal moment in the Second Legion's development.