Rhodes was stunned.
Tartarus, didn't you say there'd be no problem?
By now, most of Daram's body was gold, his screams echoing. To others, it looked like success, but Rhodes knew how bad things truly were.
"Master! Horus's soul can barely hold on. Without him as a buffer, if my soul touches the Emperor's light directly, I'm finished," Daram said.
Rhodes sighed.
Fine, have the Emperor stop! If needed, he'd do a hundred draws for a miracle to save them.
Just as Rhodes was about to speak, Tartarus appeared.
"Master! Trust Horus and Daram. Since merging, they've never faced a life-or-death crisis.
But only in such a crisis, when both souls trust each other completely and act as one, can they unleash their true power."
"You—" Rhodes was speechless. Was this the time for a pep talk?
But it was true—Ultramen and giants often grew strongest when their bonds were tested.
"Master, giants' power is beyond your imagination. Their souls already trust each other. Right now, Horus bears it all; Daram does not.
Daram must step up and help Horus—only then can their souls truly unite," Tartarus said.
"Are you sure? Daram's body is falling apart; Horus's soul is on the verge of shattering," Rhodes said.
"Trust me, Master! I've watched countless Ultramen, studied their battles and relationships.
In desperate times, when host and giant are united in heart, their power explodes," Tartarus insisted.
"Master, what now?" Daram asked anxiously. His body was riddled with holes, Horus's soul at its limit.
"Daram! Do you trust Horus—the comrade who's fought with you all along? If you do, don't fear. Release your soul and face the light together," Rhodes said.
Daram was silent for three seconds, then his soul resolutely left the mind-space and joined Horus, together facing the power of light.
Of course, Master! I trust you and Horus unconditionally. Let's do this!
"Rhodes, Horus's soul is at its limit. Should I stop?" the Emperor asked from the Throne, noticing something was wrong.
"Emperor, don't stop. Right now only Horus's soul is enduring. Trust me, and them," Rhodes said, taking a deep breath.
At that moment, Horus's soul, on the brink of collapse, touched Daram's. The light damage was now shared.
The pain Daram felt was indescribable—a soul-deep agony! But instead of destroying him, it began to transform him. Horus's battered soul stabilized with Daram's help.
"You're crazy, Daram! Go back to the mind-space—you're dark, you can't bear this light!" Horus cried.
"My friend, if I don't, you'll be torn apart, and so will I.
So, for both our sakes, let me bear this light with you! Trust me, as I trust you," Daram replied, gritting his teeth.
"Daram! You're right—I must trust you completely!
Let's embrace the light together! If we fail, we die as heroes!
Let's open our souls completely," Horus shouted.
"Let's do it, partner!"
Their souls finally united and faced the baptism of light together. They established a mystical connection, an energy even the Emperor couldn't understand.
A force strong enough to destroy two souls was blocked; a light that could tear apart the Dark Giant's body was absorbed; the impossible was happening!
Their roars were no longer screams of pain, but calls of mutual trust.
Their hearts became one—the true power of the giants was unleashed.
"I must save my brother! I must atone for my sins!" Horus's soul, together with Daram's, burst into dazzling light.
This was the power of belief—the power to turn the impossible possible, the miracle triggered by the Light of Humanity!
A light different from the Emperor's gold radiated from Horus and Daram, filling the entire palace, then spreading out.
A gentle warmth illuminated Terra, lighting a spark of hope in this dark universe.
It was a warmth that melted the soul!
At that moment, countless human prayers flowed into the minds of the Emperor, Daram, and Horus.
"Great Emperor, protect your people."
"Praise you, Emperor! Please keep my family safe."
"We only want to live!"
"Praise the Emperor. I am dying; I return my soul to the Golden Throne."
All across Terra, Astartes, Custodians, and ordinary citizens alike felt an indescribable hope.
The entire palace was bathed in gold, so bright even the Primarchs couldn't open their eyes.
Even Sanguinius, wrapped in bloody darkness, felt a warmth he hadn't known for ten thousand years.
All the best memories flooded back—his brotherhood with Horus, their unreserved trust.
What a warm light! How could power be so gentle?
"We pray—" Endless prayers became pure light.
"What is this? Damn you, what are you doing, my other self?" The Dark Emperor, dormant within the Emperor, suddenly emerged.
He couldn't comprehend this radiant light—brighter and warmer than his hated counterpart.
It was devastating to his darkness, evaporating much of his power.
Having just regained some strength, he was about to cause trouble, but this ruined everything.
The Emperor's body had regained some flesh—no longer a desiccated corpse, but still thin, now more alive than dead.
"Who'd have thought Rhodes's light could be so powerful? Other me, why not embrace it?" the Emperor said playfully to his dark side.
This healing was deeper than that of the goddess of life, restoring him to something like a living man.
"You damned fool! You can't win. The Dark King's power is beyond your imagination—the ultimate darkness of the universe!" the Dark Emperor raged.
"Maybe. But before, I tried to bear everything myself. Now I choose to put hope in the younger generation," the Emperor replied.
For the first time, he truly felt hope.
In the palace, the ritual was complete. Everyone heard a hymn.
As the light faded, a new figure appeared, about sixty meters tall. The terrifying mask was gone, the dark red armor vanished.
His body was a perfect streamlined form, with a golden crystal on his forehead, a diamond timer on his chest, and skin of red, silver, and gold, radiating dazzling light.
Though smaller, his power was incomparable.
The system now showed Daram's profile as:
[Born from the Light of Humanity, a miracle sparked by two powerful souls clashing.]
[Ultimate Radiant Form, Giant of Light Daram.]
"This— this is impossible. Sanguinius!" Lion El'Jonson exclaimed in shock.
The blood-red angel in the sky was gone, replaced by immense golden wings shining brilliantly.