The Emperor's overwhelming psychic power utterly shocked both Leman Russ and Axis.
Psykers forge a link to the Warp through the sheer strength of their own souls, channeling its energy into the material universe, that was psychic power.
In the Warhammer universe, psychic power is the most "broken" force. Everything in the real world is bound by the laws of physics, except psychic power, which alone stands as a truly supernatural force.
Its uses are numerous: a powerful psyker can foresee the future, instantly control the will of every living being on a planet, peer into someone's mind, or even alter their memories.
Within a certain area, a psyker can reverse the flow of time, summon avatars to fight in their stead, or wield a dizzying array of other abilities.
Axis grit his teeth. Saiyans would never admit defeat so easily.
Once again, he flared up his ki, this time focusing all his power into his fist. His entire body shot toward the Emperor like a cannonball, his punch howling through the air as if to tear it apart.
"Haaaah!" With a roar, Axis threw his whole strength behind a punch at the golden-armored man before him.
Yet the Emperor merely lifted one hand, palm facing Axis, and unleashed a surge of psychic energy, a formless barrier instantly materialized.
Axis's fist stopped less than an inch from the Emperor's palm, unable to advance even a fraction further, no matter how much strength he poured into it.
The Emperor remained standing where he was, a faint smile on his face. "A good attack, but still far from enough."
Axis suddenly leapt back, twisting in midair to launch a spinning kick at the Emperor's head, but again, he was blocked by an invisible force.
He unleashed every move he knew, attacking from every angle, but could not break through the Emperor's defenses.
"Your power is impressive, but in the face of my psychic might, it's simply too weak," the Emperor said calmly.
His tone was placid, but the look in his eyes changed as he regarded Axis. A tenacious will to fight, and such tremendous strength!
If he were just an ordinary seven-year-old, or even a Primarch, any child facing this kind of setback would have stopped attacking by now.
But what the Emperor saw in this boy's eyes was pure hunger for battle, as if he was born for it.
Axis felt a crushing pressure close in on him from all directions, threatening to pulverize his body.
Gritting his teeth, he fought desperately against the force, but no matter how he struggled, he couldn't break free from the Emperor's psychic restraint.
So this… this is the Emperor's power?
Axis was deeply shaken.
He knew the Emperor was strong, but he hadn't expected him to be this overwhelming.
The power of Saiyan he'd always prided himself on was completely outmatched, but that just made things more exciting!
It was only by having such an insurmountable mountain to climb that a Saiyan could feel truly thrilled.
'Someday, I will surpass you! I will defeat you, no matter what!!' His mind, his blood, screamed.
"Axis! Use your ki! Show him the true power of ki!" Russ shouted from the sidelines.
"AAAAAAAH!" Axis roared, his body erupting in crimson-white ki flames.
The Saiyan bloodline broke through its limits once again, and Axis's combat power rose even further.
Seeing the surging waves of ki erupting from Axis, the Emperor was genuinely astonished.
'What was this power? It wasn't psychic might, yet it wasn't something of the physical world either.
'Interesting. Could there truly be another kind of power in this universe, one even I do not know of?'
At that moment, Axis shot up into the sky, spreading his arms wide and aiming both hands at the Emperor. An invisible white energy wave gathered in his palms.
"Kikoho!" Axis shouted, pouring all his strength into this single attack.
A massive white beam of energy blasted down toward the Emperor. Instantly, a golden barrier of energy formed around the Emperor, firmly blocking the attack.
Even Axis's strongest ki wave could not penetrate the Emperor's psychic shield, and not once did the Emperor take a single step back.
After a full minute, Axis exhausted all his energy and fell from the sky.
The Emperor immediately turned his psychic might into an invisible hand, catching Axis before he hit the ground and gently lowering him.
He had promised not to let Axis get hurt, and he kept that promise.
"All right, that's enough for this match. I've seen just how strong you are, child." The Emperor withdrew his psychic power, and Axis felt the pressure disappear from his body, collapsing to the ground and gasping for breath.
Seeing this, Russ's smile faded.
He jogged over to Axis, clapped him on the shoulder, and asked, "You all right, my little wolf cub?"
This kid's combat power had grown again since their fight just days ago, but even so, he still couldn't defeat this man?
Axis shook his head, managing a strained smile. "I'm fine, Russ. It's just…he's too strong. So strong it's unimaginable."
The Emperor had fought him with pure defense the whole time, he hadn't even been serious!
Russ lifted his head, looking at the Emperor with a complicated expression. "You really are much stronger than me. Even so, I still want to fight you. Do you need a break first?"
He wasn't the type to take advantage of an opponent. Even though the Emperor looked completely unruffled after fighting Axis, he still suggested a rest.
"There's no need at all. My stamina is still in perfect condition. Go ahead, give me everything you've got." The Emperor smiled.
It really was nothing!
If you underestimate the stamina of an immortal, you'll have a hard time.
"Hahaha! Good! If you say so, then I won't hold back!" Russ laughed, his voice echoing like thunder across the frozen wasteland.
"Be careful, Russ. If you really can't win, just surrender," Axis called out.
'Seriously, looks like I'll be watching you get your butt kicked next.'
"Haha, little wolf cub, just watch me as I avenge you!"
Russ gave Axis a nod, then turned to face the Emperor, wild fighting spirit gleaming in his eyes.
He grinned, revealing sharp fangs, his muscles tensed like a beast about to spring.
Even though he had seen the Emperor crush Axis with ease, the pride and fighting instinct in his bones would never let him retreat.
'If I back down now, I'm no Fenrisian Wolf.'
The clash between the two was about to begin.