The two Brothers sat down, and Rick began to tell Ryan about his experiences after becoming an Astartes.
He glossed over the hardships of the screening, modification, and training processes, clearly unwilling to let his family know the painful details.
"I encountered Ork Beasts in my second Campaign," he said, sinking into the past. "Those barbaric Creatures are stronger than the most powerful Enemies you can imagine."
He then described the Battle: the Ork army surged out like a tide, and their squad was cut off and surrounded.
"In the final moments, I picked up one of their Bombs." His voice was calm, as if narrating someone else's story.
"Then I rushed near the Ork Leader and detonated the Bomb."
Ryan's face turned pale upon hearing this.
Rick then gently tapped his Armor, producing a metallic clanging sound, and continued his story.
"The Explosion destroyed most of my Body, leaving only half an Arm and the upper Torso. It was my Self-Healing Ability that saved me."
Ryan's Father closed his Eyes in pain, while his son stared wide-eyed, filled with both Fear and Reverence.
"Normally, a New Recruit isn't qualified to enter a Dreadnought," Rick explained, "But the Battle was critical, and my Self-Healing Ability was exceptionally strong, so I was exceptionally stuffed into the Dreadnought."
"I was supposed to Fight inside the Dreadnought until Death; that is our Destiny. But every Lethal Injury, I miraculously survived."
"It wasn't until recently that I was taken out of that rusty tin can. New Modifications allowed me to be Reborn."
Rick's expression suddenly became severe and excited.
"Brother, I came here not just to visit my family, but to bring News that can change the Destiny of the Galaxy. The Emperor and our Primarch have both Resurrected."
Upon hearing this, Ryan and his family abruptly stood up, then all knelt down and began to pray.
"Long Live the God-Emperor!"
Rick reached out and helped him up, then continued.
"Not only that, all the missing Primarchs have returned, and the Imperium has been restored to its Glory of ten thousand years ago!"
He then described the recent massive Military Deployment and unprecedented War preparations.
"Our Ultramarines Legion will be personally led by the great Primarch Guilliman."
"A few days ago, he piloted several War Planets to the front lines where we are fighting the Orks."
He paused, then added, "Every one of them is larger than the Planet we are standing on."
"Bigger than our Village?" Ryan's Daughter couldn't help but ask.
"Child, it is much, much bigger than our Village! It's tens of thousands of times bigger than our Village!" Rick answered her patiently.
"Wow, that must be huge!" The little girl didn't really understand how much ten thousand was, but she understood that it was bigger than their Village, and the Village was the biggest thing she could imagine.
Rick patted his Niece's Head, then looked at Ryan and continued.
"You cannot imagine what kind of Weapon that is, my brother. The entire Planet was enveloped in Light, and the surrounding Environment instantly changed."
"The Light had no effect on us, but those abominable Orks," Rick made an exploding gesture, "dense blue Mushrooms suddenly grew on their Skin. The Mushrooms devoured their entire Bodies, and then they dissipated like Dust."
Allen gasped in astonishment; even Ryan's Daughter stopped playing and listened intently.
"This is the God-Emperor's Technology," Rick explained. "He is a God from another Universe, now fighting side-by-side with the Emperor."
"This Weapon not only kills the Enemy, but also transforms the entire Planet's Terrain into a Mushroom Zone. From Space, the entire Planet turned a faint Blue."
Then Rick took out a few faintly glowing Blue Mushrooms from his Portable Backpack.
"These Mushrooms contain magical Power. Eating them directly can Heal Injuries, and their effect is intensified after processing them into a Potion."
Rick handed the Mushrooms to the family, signaling them to try.
Ryan took a Mushroom, ate it in one bite, and the Taste was incredibly sweet. Then he felt a strange Energy circulating in his Body.
The Back Pain that had plagued him for years disappeared in an instant.
"This... this is simply a Divine Object!" Ryan exclaimed.
"The Pinnacle Era of Humanity is about to return," Rick stood up, his Head almost touching the Ceiling, "We will no longer retreat in defense, but will embark on the road of Conquest."
Rick turned to Allen, his gaze assessing.
"I hear my Nephew inherited the family's Bloodline Talent?"
Allen straightened his back, trying his best to look like a Warrior.
"I train every day, Uncle! So that one day I can Fight for the Emperor like you!"
Rick smiled, which looked exceptionally warm on his Scarred face.
"Very good. It seems our family will have a new Warrior joining the Ultramarines Legion."
Then Rick finished the last bite of the Blue Mushroom, and he looked at Ryan and his younger Brother.
"Ryan," he began slowly, his voice deep and firm, "Would you both like to join the Ultramarines?"
Ryan's Eyes widened, his Mouth slightly open but unable to make a sound. His Brother, Dane, stood up directly from his Chair, his face full of Incredulity.
"But we have the Gene Defect!" Ryan almost shouted.
"And our Age..." Dane added, "is far past the suitable age for Modification."
Rick caught the Yearning and Doubt flickering in their Eyes. He reached out and placed a hand on Ryan's Shoulder.
"That is the other reason I came today."
"The Imperium has now received unprecedented Technical Support. Our Gene Modification Technology has undergone a Qualitative Leap."
He took a small Metal Disc from his Waist and lightly pressed it. A Holographic Projection unfolded in the room. In the image, dozens of Adults were receiving a Blue Light irradiation; their Bodies were undergoing visible changes in the Light.
"See? These People all have similar Gene Defects. Now we have the ability to make it Re-Awaken."
Ryan stared fixedly at the images.
"And Age is no longer an issue," Rick continued to explain, tapping the Holographic Projection. The image switched to another Modification site.
"Today's Gene Modification Technology can ignore Cellular Aging. As long as the Basic Physique is qualified, people of any Age can withstand the Modification."
"Furthermore..." Rick turned his gaze to his younger brother's wife, "Female Astartes Modification Programs have now been developed."
Ryan's wife, Tina, held her young Daughter tightly, a flicker of Surprise and Yearning in her Eyes.
"Female Warriors?" she whispered.
"That's right," Rick nodded.
The image changed again, showing several Female Warriors wearing modified Power Armor. Although their Figures were not as massive as the Male Warriors, they were still powerful.
"Although Female Astartes are generally less strong than males, they excel in Speed, Flexibility, and certain Special Abilities."
Rick looked at Ryan's wife, "Tina, if you are interested, you can also try."
Ryan's wife Tina bit her lower lip and did not answer immediately, but the Light burning in her Eyes betrayed her inner Desire.
Ryan's son jumped up excitedly. "This is great! Our whole Family can become Astartes!"
Ryan, however, frowned.
"But what about Home? What about the Children?"
Rick smiled. "That's exactly the other thing I have to tell you."