Chaos' Heir

Chapter 1378: Grin

Little could surprise Liiza at that point. Her knowledge had always been vast, and her time with Khan had expanded it, paving the path toward a world where only beings far superior to the average evolved warriors could stand tall.

That expansion had reached the critical point after facing the white-azure spinning sphere and standing under the suffocating pressure of the huge scarlet eyes. Liiza had basically just evolved but had already witnessed the realm of actual divinity.

However, sensing and watching the Thilku Emperor’s arrival managed to trigger some surprise again, albeit slightly.

Just by virtue of aura alone, the Thilku Emperor clearly stood one or a few levels above ordinary evolved warriors. If anything, he felt closer to the spinning sphere and the giant scarlet eyes in terms of magnitude of existence.

Nevertheless, the Thilku Emperor was also entirely different from those more divine beings. Despite his grandness, he remained an individual existence, a being with no intrinsic profound wisdom or godly appeal.

Previously, Liiza would have struggled to identify, understand, and describe those differences, but she had seen enough to comprehend them now. The man holding her hand also helped with that since he fell in the same category as the Thilku Emperor.

Khan and the Thilku Emperor were beings that strived for the same realm as the spinning sphere and the huge scarlet eyes, albeit through a different path.

Liiza knew about the Thilku Emperor’s element through Khan’s descriptions. That being had expanded his existence by wielding the Thilku Empire like a weapon, using it to wage countless wars that fed his might.

In a way, the Empire’s power was the Emperor’s power, which seemed to lean toward the path the True Chaos’ God had taken. Yet, the Emperor’s connection with his Thilku remained somewhat human, enforcing no deeper level of control or authority, differentiating him from that grander being.

Meanwhile, Khan dived deeper into the individual side of that path, building no connections at all. His superior power came from a chaotic mixture of different arts, personal innovation, foreign genes, and legacies. He was even more human than the Thilku Emperor, and neither of them was right or wrong about their approach.

The possible paths were countless. The spinning sphere embodied impersonal improvement. The True Chaos dealt with desire and hunger. The Thilku Emperor needed a domain built on wars to intensify his influence, while Khan contained everything in his being.

Each version was valuable, and they all had the potential to reach that higher, divine state. The spinning sphere and True Chaos had already succeeded. It simply was Khan and the Emperor’s turn now.

The Emperor became visible while Liiza was still studying his existence. That Thilku’s huge, caped frame displaced the very air and made the ground tremble through his mere methodical moves. His rhythmic steps caused earthquakes, and his simple advance pushed the symphony away.

It seemed the Emperor carried the entire might of his Empire inside his existence, forcing everything and everyone to hold firm to endure the suffocating pressure radiated by his faintest moves.

However, the area only contained beings that could withstand the Emperor. One of them could also move freely under the weight of his presence. Khan knew it could be disrespectful to interrupt that ceremonial arrival, but his legs moved anyway, prompting Liiza to follow him.

Khan’s existence acted as a shield for Liiza, fending off the heavy, ethereal blows the Emperor couldn’t avoid launching during his advance. The married couple could calmly step into the air, jumping from the hill’s elevated slope to walk over the arena.

The four Royal Guards were sitting on the side of the arena closer to Khan and Liiza, so the married couple ended up walking above them.

The two didn’t stop, but silent interactions unfolded. Khan and Liiza looked down, engaging in a mutual inspection with the Royal Guards.

Lord Mighty grinned at Khan, showing his canines, seemingly wanting to laugh but refraining from doing so.

Lord Blind Sword also looked in Khan’s direction, the strip of cloth covering his empty sockets failing to prevent an exchange of glances. The Thilku’s calm grin slightly broadened, but the figure walking at Khan’s side ended up claiming his attention soon enough.

Despite Khan being the main attraction and featuring profound but evident changes, Lord Envoy and Lord Enforcer temporarily disregarded him to study Liiza, joining Lord Blind Sword in that inspection.

Lord Blind Sword had the best perception among the Royal Guards, so Liiza’s unique existence interested him. She felt both weaker and stronger than him, somehow messing with his senses, which deepened his curiosity.

Lord Enforcer was as inscrutable as always, his machine-like, emotionless red eyes betraying no precise intent. Yet, Khan could guess that the Royal Guard was merely recording that new existence, adding Liiza to his personal records.

Meanwhile, Lord Envoy had already seen Khan and Liiza, so he couldn’t help but focus on the latter. That was mostly due to the vague affinity of their elements. Liiza didn’t exactly deal with space, but could affect it, earning herself some instinctive kinship from the bald Royal Guard.

That mutual inspection was inevitably short. Khan and Liiza didn’t stop even once, eventually crossing the four Royal Guards to head toward the other side of the arena.

The Emperor had also continued his advance. Still, his methodical, slow steps had allowed the married couple to reach him before he could arrive at the red floor filled with food.

Therefore, the Emperor halted his steps, remaining as still as possible to suppress his heavy existence’s repercussions, almost turning into a statue. Meanwhile, Khan and Liiza descended toward him, landing right in front of his huge frame.

"[Lord Blue Shaman]," The Emperor called, his mere voice making the whole arena tremble, even breaking a few bowls and bottles. "[Lord Envoy said you completed your mission]."

"[The war I promised is upon us, Emperor]," Khan calmly declared, unaffected by the heavy pressure slamming on him, even refraining from speaking words of allegiance. "[The Empire might have fought species in the past, but I give you the gift of facing an energy superior to the mana]."

The Thilku held their military superiority in high regard. Their customary pride was basically built upon it, so the idea of getting the chance to test themselves against a theoretically stronger enemy had to stir their excitement. The Emperor embodied those traits of his species, so he was no exception.

Traces of excitement indeed flowed through the Emperor’s aura, turning into a contagious force that tried to affect Khan and Liiza. It partially did, but both sides remained utterly calm on the surface.

"[The Empire will deploy its troops]," The Emperor stated. "[Lord Blue Shaman, sit with me at the Feast. We must discuss our armies’ arrangements]."

"[We’ll need more than armies, Emperor]," Khan made sure to mention before the Emperor could get the wrong idea. "[The regulated universe will need you on the battlefield]."

The Emperor didn’t initially react to those words. Khan could have also sounded impolite since he had interrupted the Emperor’s invitation to sit down with him immediately, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

The Emperor’s red eyes slightly widened, and the long white hair flowing down his nape started fluttering in a gale of his own creation. The whole area resumed shaking, crumbling apart when a grin appeared on that fearsome existence’s face.