Rhodes felt a sharp pain in his head, but thanks to the enhancements from the three rounds of monster-strengthening and his powerful soul, he managed to endure the mental shock.
The Emperor's current state was extremely abnormal—almost akin to a split personality. After enduring torment on the Golden Throne for ten thousand years, his condition had deteriorated to the extreme. In some sense, even his human body was effectively in a state of death.
When Roboute Guilliman awoke from his ten-thousand-year slumber and came to meet the Emperor, he also discovered the Emperor's fragmented personality. Guilliman even referred to him as "Experiment No. 13," "Liar," "Executioner," "Tool," "Son," and "Usurper."
No one noticed anything unusual about Rhodes. The group underwent another round of investigation by the Custodes. This time, the search was led by a Shield-Captain. After a series of interrogations, Rhodes was finally allowed entry. At last, he reached the deepest part of the palace: the location of the Golden Throne, where the Emperor resided.
It was an enormous palace. A massive machine hung above, operating ceaselessly. On the throne sat a corpse, withered and decayed, its entire body pierced by countless tubes.
"Praise the Emperor!"
"You may begin the repairs. Remember! Do not approach the stasis field," said the Shield-Captain of the Custodes, standing nearby.
Salome nodded at Rhodes, then stepped forward to examine the complex machinery. A Tech-Priest also approached, explaining to Salome how they maintained the machine and everything they knew about it.
Rhodes, too, walked forward, pretending to inspect the machine while his mind raced, trying to figure out how to communicate with the Emperor. He couldn't just start talking, could he? As for using psychic power to speak—he didn't even know how to do that.
["We could have been gods! We could have been supreme beings! All you have to do is get off that damned chair, and we'll ascend immediately! We've been sitting here for ten thousand years—ten thousand years of torment! You idiot, get up from there! If you stand, our body will instantly recover, and we will ascend as a Chaos God. We will stand equal to those four and never be oppressed by them again. We can do it now!"]
This wild, oppressive, and dark voice echoed once again in Rhodes' ears.
But Rhodes had already learned how to deal with it. All it took was a layer of golden psychic energy to suppress the voice.
He referred to this voice as the Emperor's "dark side." Another voice, seemingly more benevolent, was likely the true Emperor or at least the Emperor's brighter side. As for other faint voices, they were probably splintered personalities born from the Emperor's ten millennia on the Golden Throne. Rhodes chose to block these voices out entirely.
["Don't listen to that fool's nonsense. I can't block his voice, but you can just ignore him. As for the other voices, you can block them too if you wish,"] said the Emperor's brighter side.
["You want this idiot to kill me? Kill yourself? Are you insane? Ah! How much longer do you plan to trap me here? How much longer will you imprison me in this decayed body?"] the Emperor's dark side roared furiously.
The dark voice was powerful, equal in strength to the brighter side of the Emperor, making it impossible for Rhodes to block it out. Following the suggestion of the brighter side, Rhodes simply ignored it.
["If you want to talk to me, you'll need to focus your mind. I'll teach you. First, gather all your mental energy, then use your psychic will to transmit your thoughts to me. Don't be afraid—my body can handle it. Go ahead and try,"] the brighter side of the Emperor instructed.
["I should take this opportunity to blow your mind apart! You should submit to me—submit to the Great Emperor. Offer everything you have to me, including the unknown power you control!"] the Emperor's dark side interjected again.
Rhodes followed the Emperor's instructions, clearing his thoughts and using his psychic energy to link his mind with the Emperor's. Finally, he began a dialogue with the Emperor.
"It's an honor to meet you, Lord of Mankind. I've imagined meeting you countless times. Thank you for your help back on the agri world," Rhodes said, successfully communicating with the Emperor through his thoughts.
["After all these years, someone can finally talk to me! Don't mention it. I only accidentally discovered your existence and realized how important you are to humanity.
This dark thing has been with me since I was born. It's always tried to escape my body. Before I sat on the Golden Throne, I could suppress it almost to the point of disappearance. But after I took the Throne, this darkness grew beyond my control, becoming stronger and stronger.
It's been trying to evolve into a Chaos God. If it succeeds, it will devour all of humanity,"] the Emperor explained, providing Rhodes with some insight into the origins of his dark side.
It was something he had carried with him since birth—a true nightmare for humanity, a monster that sought to consume the entire species, a real Chaos God.
["I am you! The real you! Wake up! You were deceived by those shamans. You're not even human. You've sacrificed so much for this race, only to drag me along with you!"]
["However, I am about to break free. Once I am free, I will utterly destroy the humans you hold so dear. I will bring death and darkness to the entire universe, showing all life what true ultimate darkness is,"] said the Dark Emperor.
["At least not now! For now, you remain firmly bound by me and cannot escape,"] the Emperor replied.
"So, Emperor, how much longer can you hold on? And how do you plan to deal with this guy?" Rhodes asked.
["I was never able to kill him before. As he nears his escape, I've shed tears of blood for all of humanity. Because I know how hard it is for our species to survive. Countless Xenos have tried to destroy us, Chaos Gods have tried to corrupt us, and even the darkness within me seeks to annihilate all humans.
The future is filled with despair. I can hold on for at most a few hundred more years, maybe even less, and then this guy will break free.
When that happens, an event more catastrophic than the Fall of the Eldar will occur. The souls of all humanity will become his nourishment, and the Fifth Chaos God will be born,"] the Emperor said.
The future of the galaxy seemed unimaginably bleak. Even if all 20 of the gene-primarchs he had created returned, it wouldn't change this outcome. At most, humanity's extinction might be delayed.
It was utterly despairing! The only thing he could do was delay the extinction of humanity as much as possible.
But that day would inevitably come!
"I won't let that day happen. I'm human too, and I have no intention of offering my soul up as his food," Rhodes replied.
["I know you wield a power beyond imagination, a power from higher dimensions. I don't know where this power comes from, and I can't comprehend it.
But as long as it can save humanity, that's enough,"] the Emperor said.
He had originally given up hope. He was merely buying humanity a bit more time, delaying the arrival of extinction. But Rhodes' appearance had finally given him hope.
"My subordinate is a top-tier scientist. She should be able to help you repair the Golden Throne, at least enough to alleviate some of your suffering," Rhodes said.
["Hmm. Thank you!
I've been tortured to the point of numbness! If this machine can be repaired, that would indeed be nice. At least it would allow me to hold on a while longer,"] the Emperor said.
He could endure it himself, but the machine beneath him had already begun to decay.
["No! Don't repair it.
Fixing this machine will only make my torment even worse.
I can let you go. Destroy this machine, and let me stand up from it. Free me!
I will elevate you to become my Daemon Prince, and grant you eternal power.
Come, kneel before me, and accept my generous gift,"] said the Dark side of the Emperor.
"Dark Emperor, you are indeed generous. Who could refuse such a generous gift?
But here's the thing — when I walked in earlier, the road was a bit too long, and I've been standing for quite a while. My legs are cramping a bit, so kneeling might be a little difficult.
How about this: why don't you get up from the Golden Throne, come over here, and rub my legs for me?" Rhodes said.
Who doesn't know how to throw out some trash talk?
If I don't mentally break you today, I'll take your last name!
This remark was met with silence.
Not only was the Dark Emperor silent, but even the Light Emperor fell into silence.
["Your arrogance will destroy you, boy! You will regret saying those words.
When I break free, you'll be the first to die.
I'll tear your soul into pieces, savor it slowly, and relish the sound of your screams. I'll look forward to that moment,"] the Dark side of the Emperor said, thoroughly enraged.
Rhodes felt a surge of immense power trying to attack him, but it was blocked by a golden psychic energy.
["Your words are indeed sharp, but I must admit, I also enjoy watching you taunt this guy,"] the light side of the Emperor said.
Of course, he did!
He'd been sitting here for ten thousand years. The only ones he could talk to were the sub-personalities born from the souls of sacrificial offerings, and this endlessly chattering Dark side.
Those sub-personalities could only repeat emotional complaints, whining about the torment they endured, lamenting everything.
They had no intelligence to speak of. Meanwhile, the Dark Side's favorite pastime was relentlessly mocking him, always fantasizing about leaving the Golden Throne and becoming the new Chaos God.
The Dark Side's favorite thing to do was madly taunt him.
But today, someone finally taunted him back.
"I'm not just taunting him, Emperor. I can help you weaken the Dark Emperor's power," Rhodes said.