Chaos' Heir

Chapter 1434: Wrong answer

The big, diverse platoon had ended up vanquishing the bloated-backed monsters before Khan could finish his battle. After all, they were better-equipped elite warriors, and their opponents seemed to stand at the bottom of the Scarlet Eyes’ food chain.

Defeating the bloated-backed monsters didn’t solve that predicament. Technology still didn’t work, and the limited experimental fuel Khan’s forces had managed to produce after obtaining Rodney’s sample had to be split carefully, leaving little of it for evacuation vehicles.

Nevertheless, the evacuation proceeded. Part of the platoon took care of filling and moving the few available vehicles away, while other soldiers dealt with securing a defensive perimeter.

A last group of soldiers headed for where Monica’s jeep had stopped, only to discover that everything was being taken care of.

That partial resolution allowed the soldiers to focus on something else, especially those in the last two groups. The violent shockwaves resounding in the distance remained too eye-catching despite the defensive dome. A battle between monstrous entities was unfolding deep into the desert, and everyone’s fate seemed to depend on its outcome.

That truth was clear to the frightened citizens, too, driving many to want to evacuate as soon as possible. Yet, few of them ended up gazing past the white dome, almost falling into a trance as they prayed for their side’s champion to come out victorious.

The announcement didn’t come in any drastic or dramatic way. Silence did indeed spread into the distance, but the soldiers and citizens understood who had won only when the technology all around the remaining blocks resumed functioning.

The generators resumed sending energy throughout the surviving streets, buildings, and defensive walls. Artificial illumination, banners, and menus lit up as sizzling noises resounded from the broken and destroyed areas. Even a few crashed vehicles turned on, announcing the mana’s victory.

Tenuous, timid excitement spread as more and more people noticed those changes happening all around the surviving blocks. Still, that feeling exploded into roaring cries and chants when two unmistakable figures appeared in the distance, walking down the sky to approach those areas.

Of course, the unmistakable part was mostly due to the blue light one of the two figures radiated. That glow had almost become iconic on the network, declaring a clear winner.

The cheering intensified as a few warriors from the big platoon advanced, planning to greet the descending figures at their targeted landing spot. The respective leaders of that diverse team shot through the desert, reaching Monica’s group, and Khan couldn’t help but recognize them.

Lord Rsi of the Thilku Empire, Ni-Kri of the Scalqa, Tlexicpalli of the Ef’i, and Lieutenant Dyester or Baoway had been the ones in charge of those reinforcements for obvious reasons, and Khan was pleased to see that they were all in the fifth level now.

Despite Khan being the main attraction, the white-haired figure holding his hand claimed a fair share of attention. Liiza had been to Coravis, but her stay there had been short, preventing her from meeting all the key members of Khan’s force.

That meeting could have happened under better circumstances, but Liiza didn’t shy away from it. Her face radiated its usual cold and detached vibes while staring down at the group, but unmistakable pride also reverberated inside them.

Earlier, the situation had been too messy to allow any meaningful inspection, especially from the four team leaders. Still, nothing could stop the group from assessing Liiza in terms of simple beauty and power now, leading to a clear conclusion.

Liiza wasn’t only the second-most powerful warrior currently in the desert. She also matched Khan in ways the audience couldn’t really explain but couldn’t doubt, either. Those two belonged together. Actually, they were already one.

Khan stopped his descent when he was a few meters above the group. Other soldiers were still converging toward that position, planning to join their respective leaders and witness the scene first-hand. Still, Khan’s inquisitive, piercing gaze forced everyone to freeze, as if he had uttered a silent order.

Then, Khan let go of Liiza’s hand, only to slam his fist on his chest.

Needless to say, the Scalqa who saw the gesture exploded in a joint battle cry that evolved into rhythmical stomps and fists on their chests.

That renewed excitement affected the other team leaders and their respective soldiers. Lord Rsi performed a traditional bow with his cape, which the Thilku who had joined the scene echoed.

Lieutenant Dyester rolled his eyes but followed that trend, performing a stiff military salute, which the soldiers behind him imitated. As for Tlexicpalli and the few Ef’i on the scene, they limited themselves to neutral bows.

Even if in such a numerically small fashion, those soldiers waved Khan’s flag. They belonged to his force or core of his interspecies alliance, featuring some of the most elite warriors he had access to.

The chants went on for a minute, then for two. They seemed ready to continue for days, mostly due to the Scalqa’s unending excitement, but something managed to put an end to such deserved celebrations.

A trace of synthetic mana touched the edge of Khan’s perception, moving his gaze in a direction he didn’t expect reinforcements to arrive from, especially in such large numbers.

A small fleet of black military human ships appeared on the horizon on Khan’s left, rapidly getting closer to his location, only to land on the sand a few hundred meters from him.

Various soldiers jumped off the military ships, wearing tidy uniforms that highlighted their warrior level and wielding firearms. Nevertheless, Khan only looked at the four figures that soon led that small company forward, recognizing them all.

One man was rather young, with long blonde hair and a bright face. He was Brigadier General Joseph Seycomb, the former youngest General in humankind’s history before Rodney stole that title. Khan had dealt directly with him more than once before leaving those matters to his Uncle and Colonel Norrett.

Another man was quite old, but his firm steps and straight back conveyed nothing but strength, which the five stars on each of his shoulders deepened. He was Major General Creseul, whom Khan had never met personally, but whom his family had long suspected to be behind the battle against General Meadrey.

Actually, it was more than a suspicion. Raymond himself had leaked clues about that secret collaboration, almost making that old General’s involvement in the event that had ultimately pushed Khan away from the Global Army a certainty.

Raymond obviously was an unreliable informant, but Brigadier General Seycomb and Rodney seemed to have brought additional clues that ultimately confirmed the news.

Of course, Khan was behind more than a few briefings, but the Major General’s aura was quite telling about his overall hostile stance toward him.

The other two leaders, a man and a woman, were also old and of a similar status, but Khan couldn’t remember their names. He only knew they were Generals from the occasional sightings on the network. Still, their respective five pairs of stars made them relatively inconsequential to that war.

The situation immediately turned tense, with Khan’s forces glaring at the incoming company. Yet, the four incoming Generals opted for a polite approach, stopping at some distance from the group to perform joint and orderly military salutes.

It seemed that Khan’s decision to sever ties with humankind wouldn’t exempt him from those formalities and the respect his power and actions deserved. Still, politeness didn’t imply peacefulness, especially since Khan was involved.

“Prince Khan,” Major General Creseul called, being the first to break his military salute and step forward, placing himself before his fellow Generals. “Allow me to express the Global Army’s gratitude for your prompt intervention. Your help saved countless lives.”

Khan didn’t answer. He limited himself to staring at the General and his three companions, seemingly emotionless. The event was scary enough, but Liiza worsened it, adding her chilling glow to that silent inspection. Her distrust was evident for everyone to see, filling the four leaders with anxiety.

“Humankind is willing to host a negotiation table with whomever force you are willing to bring, Prince Khan,” Major General Creseul continued, hoping his polite words could improve that mood. “Your troops’ trespassing will obviously be ignored. Actually, the Global Army owes you.”

Khan’s organization didn’t belong to humankind, so his soldiers’ arrival on Earth was technically unsanctioned. Khan didn’t know the details and honestly didn’t care. Those matters were too small for someone at his level anyway.

“Why did the Global Army send reinforcements only now?” Khan ended up asking. “Why didn’t it send evolved warriors even now?”

Major General Creseul half-expected that question, but dodging it was easy enough. After all, the Prince couldn’t inquire about foreign political matters, and Rodney Semmut technically counted as humankind’s reinforcements anyway.

“I’m afraid our technology didn’t allow it, Prince Khan,” Major General Creseul spouted a blatant lie. “We attempted everything we could, but ultimately failed. Our evolved warriors were deployed far away, so that problem affected their arrival, too.”

The technological malfunction caused by the True Chaos was a perfect excuse. It didn’t justify the current absence of the Global Army’s evolved warriors, but Major General Creseul knew that politics would compel Khan to accept that explanation.

Still, the General miscalculated, failing to realize that Khan wasn’t playing politics anymore.

“Wrong answer,” Khan uttered, and some discomfort invaded Major General Creseul, making him frown before his whole figure crumbled into a puddle of gory shards.