This new brother really understood him. Rhodes was right: Sanguinius usually acted gentle and kind, but in battle he was ruthless.
His favorite thing in war was to charge ahead, sword in hand, using his agility to take on Emperor Titans.
If he could grow giant and fly freely, Sanguinius imagined he'd do crazy things—like flying into Tyranid territory to wreak havoc, seeking out Orks to slaughter, hunting Chaos forces, or even challenging a dozen corrupted Chaos Titans at once.
Training would require giant opponents, too. In terms of fighting ability, Sanguinius was proud.
He considered himself the best among the Primarchs; even though he usually played the good guy, his inner nature was much like the Lion's.
Sanguinius, Lion El'Jonson, and Horus all believed themselves the top fighters among the Primarchs.
He wanted the power of a Giant because it promised greater potential than a phantom beast. With it, he could compete with Horus for the title of strongest.
With a phantom beast, he'd be just like his other brothers—always a step behind Horus.
But circumstances left him no choice. Only Rhodes had a Giant; he had no better option.
He had to settle for a cosmic phantom beast. The good news: phantom beasts could absorb C'tan power and grow, so he still had a chance to rival Horus one day.
Though the two had reconciled, deep down Sanguinius still wanted to compete with his brother.
"Baton's power is still great—especially against Tyranids, with unimaginable killing power. Its fire can attack and heal itself and allies—a real all-rounder. I hope you and Baton get along," Rhodes said.
Baton had absorbed C'tan fragments and stellar energy, making it much stronger than an ordinary phantom beast—almost as strong as a high-level one.
"I will get along with it," Sanguinius said.
After chatting a while, Rhodes returned to his palace. He needed his two scientists to clone a new body.
He also had to swap out his own phantom beast.
Sanguinius and the other Primarchs stayed with the Emperor—they'd been apart from their father too long.
In the following days, Rhodes had his scientists make a suitable body for Sanguinius.
The new body used full Primarch tech, with modifications by Yapool, Balt, and even Zett.
"Master! We upgraded this body with advanced super-beast technology. Its physical strength is at least double other Primarchs—already at the limits of mortal life," Balt said.
"Very good. I trust your work—I'll take this body.
That Necron female scientist—how is she? Has she behaved lately?" Rhodes asked, storing the clone.
AsanethAyu had been allied for a year. In that time, she'd perfected living metal extraction and provided Rhodes with living metal.
Large amounts of living metal had replaced regenerative metal for Rhodes's super Astartes, allowing them to install special tendon coils.
With these, the Astartes' physical strength—especially explosive power—was massively improved.
Rhodes's gene-sons were now being re-equipped. Once they were all upgraded, other legions would receive allocations.
Living metal was scarce; only main companies of other legions could get it for now.
"Master! She's been well-behaved, researching continuously and even starting new projects.
For example, adding tendon coil upgrades to super-beast Custodes, and fusing regenerative and living metals—she's helped mass-produce special regenerative metal," Balt said.
This species was timid but had exceptional brains—their research skills were top-tier.
But their own flaws limited their development. After becoming Necrons, they lost much of their research ability.
As Necrontyr, their civilization was brilliant—second only to the Old Ones.
They could control stars, manipulate black holes, suppress the Warp. Even among their own universe, they were a powerful species, at least as strong as Balt.
But, after becoming metallic skeletons, their emotions were erased—they became cold, programmed war machines.
"Seems you're interested in this species?" Rhodes asked.
"Master! As living Necrontyr, they're the most worthwhile to recruit.
But as Necrons, they're total lunatics. You should destroy the Necrons and preserve the Necrontyr," Balt said.
He'd learned a lot talking to his female subordinate, learning much about Necrons.
Only some high-level soldiers and researchers kept their minds—the rest lost all emotion when converted, becoming cold war machines.
All Necron warriors were like that.
"So, you're saying I can recruit other Necron techs?" Rhodes stroked his chin.
"Master, let AsanethAyu report this to you herself," Balt said.
Rhodes nodded, and with him, visited the secret lab to see the now-reverted Necrontyr, AsanethAyu.
She looked much better—her complexion restored, no longer the cold, lifeless Necron.
"Lord Rhodes! I'm honored by your visit," AsanethAyu bowed, performing a Necrontyr gesture.
"No need for courtesy. You finished the living metal project in a year—I'm pleased," Rhodes said.
"You flatter me, Lord Rhodes! You are the key to our race's salvation, our hope to escape the Necron curse. I hope you can save my people," AsanethAyu said.
The Necrontyr were simple—they just wanted to escape their short lifespan. If that was solved, they'd do anything.
They'd once asked the Old Ones for help, whose lifespans stretched tens of thousands of years.
But the Old Ones looked down on them, leading to the War in Heaven, where the Necrontyr were outmatched.
Until the C'tan found them, persuaded them, and turned them into sly, vicious Necrons.
Now, as a Necrontyr again, AsanethAyu had a new outlook on life. Her cold, cruel personality was gone.
Those traits, to some extent, were imposed by the C'tan—they suited war against the Old Ones.
Originally, the Necrontyr were famous for trade, skilled at negotiation.
Only as Necrons did they start exterminating other galactic species—looking back, she realized how terrible that was.
"So, you want me to bring over other Necron techs for conversion?" Rhodes asked.
"Yes, Lord Rhodes. Balt and Yapool have helped greatly, working to fix our genetic flaws.
I hope my entire race can serve you," AsanethAyu said.
After following Rhodes for a year, she knew his potential.
"You already have a plan, I see," Rhodes smiled.