Chaos' Heir

Chapter 1508: Spin

No number of evolved warriors would ever be enough when it came to a threat that put the entire regulated universe at risk. However, Khan had to admit he had a fair share of those at his disposal now.

The Royal Court, the evolved representatives, those ten special assets, and Khan’s own soldiers made for quite a big group, especially when he included himself, Liiza, and potentially Ilman.

That probably still wouldn’t suffice against the True Chaos, but it started to become too much for Khan alone to handle and arrange.

After all, different evolved assets would have different jobs. The True Chaos’ Kings were the main threat, but their underlings were plenty troublesome already, also demanding a certain level of attention.

Deciding who had to face what technically was Khan’s job. As the universe’s leading expert in the True Chaos, only he could make those arrangements with any degree of confidence.

Yet, Khan couldn’t exactly spar with anyone who joined him to evaluate their battle prowess and assign them to a specific group. Actually, he could, but also had bigger problems to handle, namely preparing himself for his fight against the God.

But there was something else Khan could do at the moment, something that could be more meaningful than sheer battle prowess.

“Well, I should at least thank you for coming,” Khan announced, his figure descending toward the sand, landing before the group.

Liiza followed behind, only sparing the group a single glance before refocusing on Khan and the small figure still on his head. Yeza couldn’t really balance herself on her own, and her father’s hands might become busy soon.

“Still, let’s make a few things clear,” Khan continued. “This isn’t a show. This battlefield will have little room for glory and fame. If you are here to earn some political points for the nobles, I suggest you join a different group.”

Khan didn’t care if he sounded disrespectful. He would accept any kind of help, but the battles he had in mind would be crucial to the universe’s survival, so he couldn’t accept half-baked resolve.

However, the group of evolved warriors ended up surprising Khan. Despite the wariness toward him, no one faltered. If anything, the general seriousness that spread through the group vouched for something else.

“Prince Khan,” Kodwa, the grey old man, called. “We understand your distrust, and even respect it, but we wouldn’t be here if we didn’t believe in the mission.”

“Why the games, then?” Khan wondered, opting to avoid pretenses of any kind. “Why not send the entire evolved force in your families’ possession?”

The evolved assets weren’t exactly family members. They were no nobles, but that didn’t make them worthless. They were those families’ true nuclear deterrent, meaning they wielded actual, incorruptible power, something that mere politics couldn’t sway.

“Oh, young Prince,” Airrak, the old, crooked-backed woman, softly chuckled. “The noble families didn’t send anyone. We are the ones they couldn’t stop.”

Another wave of surprise washed over Khan, even if he hid it well. The high number of evolved warriors immediately felt incredibly small now. Khan knew few would have been willing to risk their lives in the war, but ten was lower than he expected.

After all, there was another truth to Airrak’s statement. Realistically, the noble families had no way of stopping evolved warriors in a meaningful way. The truth was that those assets had simply refused to come as reinforcement.

As for the codenames, they were a political spin the nobles had applied to salvage a situation they couldn’t control. Since their evolved warriors were set on joining the fray, they might as well earn their families some fame.

“I see,” Khan muttered. “Then, I guess I’m sorry for having the party yesterday. I would have wanted you to attend it.”

“I’m not good with crowds,” Perac, the bald, hairy middle-aged man, growled.

Khan blinked, scratching his head, only for it to snap on Yeza since she was about to fall. He kept her secured inside his crown, but his mind didn’t forget the current issue.

“And what are you good at?” Khan questioned. “Did you all see the footage of my battle? Do you think you can face a True Chaos’ King?”

Khan knew the answer when it came to Bruno, but couldn’t be sure about the others, some of them, at least. The three who had stood out, especially, seemed promising, but he wanted to hear it from their mouths.

“Is the information about the mutagen reliable?” Kodwa asked.

“We don’t know whether it will work on us,” Airrak added, “Or if we can work on the True Chaos.”

Tests were indeed impossible until the True Chaos reappeared, which wasn’t the plan. The Thilku Emperor had decided to attack, whatever that meant, so the allied front would follow. Everything to defeat that enemy had to be ready before that, including the elite teams.

“My element should work,” Perac claimed. “My mana is hardly mana anymore.”

“Is there a specific point when the mana stops suffering from that weakness, Prince Khan?” Bruno questioned before moving his attention to someone else. “Princess Liiza?”

Liiza’s cold expression didn’t waver, but Khan could sense the surprise in her mind. She still had to get used to being a Princess. She actually didn’t know what it meant yet. As for Bruno’s question, Liiza had an answer instead.

“Explaining it to humans would be pointless,” Liiza exclaimed, switching language. “[Husband, those three might be something].”

“[You sensed that, too],” Khan commented, knowing Liiza was talking about the same evolved warriors, but heaving a sigh nonetheless.

Truth be told, there was only one way to form an elite team in those circumstances. It would also serve to reveal everyone’s powers, as well as a much-needed stretch before the war.

“Ah!” Khan cried. “You all come with me. I’ll settle you with the Thilku before announcing the good news.”

“Prince Khan?” Bruno called, questioning.

“Isn’t it my Prince for you?” Khan casually asked, waving his hand dismissively. “Did I ever tell you this? I honestly can’t remember.”

Khan lost himself in his memories for a second, only to shrug his shoulders and explain himself. “Anyway, we’ll have a tournament. The winners get to risk dying more than the others.”