While traversing the Warp, the Emperor had already used his psychic powers to contact the Imperial Chancellor, Malcador, and give him a brief update about Axis.
Malcador was also extremely curious about this unusual child.
To be able to rival a Primarch in childhood, what kind of concept was that?
He himself had participated in the creation of the Primarchs, so he knew just how powerful those children the Emperor had crafted truly were.
"This is the child I mentioned. He's surprised me more than once on the ship. The combat power he displayed when we first met, and the unique abilities he's demonstrated since boarding the vessel, have all left me astonished," the Emperor explained, recounting all of Axis's feats to Malcador.
This old friend was the one person he trusted above all others, more than any Primarch, more even than the 'Mother' of Primarchs, Erda.
"You're not joking, are you? He can perfectly withstand ten times Earth gravity, and without wearing power armor, he was able to fight the Custodes hand-to-hand and win?" Malcador felt like the Emperor was messing with him, sure, he'd played pranks before, but nothing like this!
If you said the boy could just barely match a Custodian, fine, he'd accept it.
But to beat a Custodian so badly the man lost the will to train? That was just unbelievable!
"I'm not lying. If you don't believe me, you can check the surveillance footage. There's a full recording of Axis's match with Caesar. Even though Caesar wasn't wearing all his power armor, he still fought with everything he had," the Emperor replied.
"How interesting. I'll definitely take a look. So, this special energy you called 'ki', are you saying it really can enhance a being's physical abilities?" Malcador asked.
"Yes. Take a look at Caesar, his physical stats have improved a bit compared to before he left Holy Terra. And I also found Subject Six; his physical abilities are about ten percent higher than we originally projected," the Emperor said.
Malcador nodded.
The value of this boy was simply immeasurable!
This was a power level on par with, or even exceeding, the Primarchs themselves.
If trained well, Axis could be of immense importance to humanity. Right now, mankind was sorely lacking in such top-tier warriors.
"So what's your plan? Do you intend to hand his Custodes-level enhancements over to the bio-alchemists?" Malcador inquired.
"I plan to bring him to the underground labs beneath the Imperial Palace in the Himalayas and personally oversee his modifications, with you at my side," the Emperor said.
"...You're not serious? That's where the Primarchs were created!" Malcador frowned.
As the Emperor's closest friend and confidant, he'd been involved throughout the creation of the Primarchs.
He naturally understood how many secrets were buried within that laboratory.
"I'll speak with you in detail soon. This time, I've brought back quite a few valuable things, most notably a biological healing pod and a prototype FTL Ship," the Emperor conveyed telepathically to his old friend.
The Emperor hadn't mentioned the FTL engine over psychic communication while he was in the wrap.
Conversations held in the Warp could sometimes be overheard by certain Chaos entities, so he kept the information about Axis vague and ambiguous as well.
As he walked, Malcador suddenly froze in place, even trembling a little as he looked at the Emperor, who only returned his gaze with unwavering confidence.
Malcador gradually composed himself, then accompanied the Emperor deep into the palace, instructing the Custodes to settle Axis in the Imperial Palace for now.
Standing off to the side, Axis couldn't help but pout.
Those two were obviously communicating telepathically. What on earth was the Emperor telling old Malcador? He was curious.
The two of them entered a hidden chamber within the palace, and then used their powerful psychic abilities to isolate the room, blocking out any external surveillance.
They wanted to ensure the absolute security of their upcoming conversation. No third party could possibly eavesdrop.
"All right, my old friend, now let's talk as we always have. Tell me what you've gained this time," Malcador said, pouring the Emperor a cup of tea.
The Emperor nodded and told Malcador everything he'd acquired during his journey, as well as his new Human Restoration Project.
Where before it was just the Webway, now it was the Webway plus a faster-than-light starship.
"My friend, I never would have imagined this! This is an FTL engine! And not just any FTL drive, but one capable of thousands of times the speed of light! we actually have one now!" Malcador murmured in awe.
"That's exactly why I dared not mention any of this to you while I was in the Warp. Even when it came to Axis, all I told you was that he was a remarkable child," the Emperor explained.
"If I said any more, Chaos would've taken notice for sure."
"I understand, old friend! I'll do everything in my power to help you, just as I always have," Malcador promised.
"I plan to use every genetic enhancement technique available on him. Except for lacking a Primarch's warp-essence, his entire augmentation process will follow the Primarch template," the Emperor said.
"You intend to raise him as a Primarch? That's not realistic! You know what makes a Primarch's warp-essence special. Without those soul fragments of the minor gods from the Warp, it's impossible to create another true Primarch. And any Primarch has a fifty-fifty chance of falling to Chaos," Malcador replied.
The critical factor of the Primarchs was that a part of them came from the Warp. Their human bodies were just vessels, their true nature was that of minor gods from the Warp.
Every Primarch was a fragment of a minor Warp deity.
The Emperor had hunted down and captured these fragments in the Warp alongside the Four Chaos Gods, then brought them out.
As for how he'd managed to bring them out, only the Emperor himself knew.
Then, using the pinnacle of human technology and mixing in Erda's genes, he created bodies for them.
Thus, the Primarchs were born.
"He doesn't need a soul fragment from a Warp demigod. I only intend to perform the physical augmentation procedures used for Primarchs," the Emperor said.
"So, a 'half-Primarch' with Custodes enhancements, is that it?" Malcador asked.
"Exactly. He'll have no power from the Warp," the Emperor replied.
Without any warp-based power, there was no chance of corruption by Chaos.
This made the boy much safer than a true Primarch.
"That's an utterly insane idea. In that case, why not just extract his genetic material and use cloning to make a new Primarch? Wouldn't that be even safer and more controllable?" Malcador suggested.
"This child is unique. This 'ki' is his alone, it can't be inherited through blood. His descendants won't inherit ki.
"He is one of a kind," the Emperor said.