Chaos' Heir

845  Training grounds

Both groups couldn't help but stare at the figures in the sky. The Thilku had grown used to Khan's unfathomable strength, but the Ef'i had yet to witness his improvements. That sudden sprint told them everything they needed to know. Their initial impression of Khan was spot-on.

Khan slowly descended to the ground, dropping the two fighters. Mezmac and the Thilku quickly found stable footing and straightened their backs, seemingly ready to resume battle stances. However, the azure light shining on them interrupted that desire. Khan watched them closely, and everyone could hear the silent threat behind his cold face.

"[Reattach your fingers]," Khan ordered in the Thilku language before switching to the Ef'i's one. "[If your Embassy doesn't have a medical bay, I'll provide one]."

"[The Thilku carry wounds of battle with pride]," The Thilku claimed in his language.

"[Onia's stars burn hotter]," Mezmac snorted in her language.

Khan could sense a headache trying to form inside his mind. Mezmac and the Thilku had spoken in their respective languages, but both warriors seemed to have understood their opponent's words. That was the price to pay for putting two alpha-dog species on the same planet.

"Did you mishear me?" Khan asked, a hint of a clicking cry resounding at the bottom of his throat. "Were my accents wrong?"

Khan's eyes were still bright, and his abruptly heavier presence conveyed his mental state. He had no time to waste in those petty arguments. Moreover, his orders were absolute on his planet. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

It turned out that the only way to force two alpha dogs to behave was to be an even bigger dog. Khan had also chosen his words well. His accents were perfect, preventing Mezmac and the Thilku from complaining any further.

Khan nodded at the Thilku group before eyeing the severed fingers on the charred ground. Some aliens immediately stepped forward to retrieve them while Khan reunited with the Ef'i. Mezmac walked with him, but he added one last announcement before departing.

"[Tell Lord Exr that the guests are here]," Khan stated. "[We'll have a feast once he gets here]."

Grins broadened among the Thilku, but Khan ignored them as he drew his phone. For now, he had to focus on the Ef'i, which implied a series of mandatory political pleasantries.

"[They'll pick us up soon]," Khan revealed once a reply arrived on his phone. "[I'll show you my main city after dropping Mezmac back to the Embassy]."

"[I can handle the tour]," Mezmac claimed, but a pair of bright eyes promptly shone in her vision. She forced herself to match Khan's gaze, but Tlexicpalli intervened.

"[Return to the building]," Tlexicpalli ordered. "[Much must be prepared, and our superiors will want a report of your battle]."

Tlexicpalli's order silenced any remaining complaint, forcing Mezmac to accept her fate. The group continued walking toward the Ef'i's Embassy, but cars eventually reached it, providing more comfortable transportation.

One jeep headed for the Ef'i's building while the others rode toward the vast encampment. The trip didn't last long, and the aliens eventually found themselves at the city's entrance. The immense sea of tents surprised the Ef'i, but the figures inside them triggered more intense reactions.

The Thilku were big, but the Scalqa were bigger. Lieutenant Dyester's training regimen had also turned them into proper soldiers, and their serious and orderly stances vouched for their preparation. That army seemed ready for war, and the Ef'i couldn't help but feel excited watching it.

Anyone could see that the Ef'i wanted to test the Scalqa's strength, but no one got the chance to request a friendly spar. Khan's eyes had grown dark, but his cold gaze didn't lose any power. He glared at any Ef'i about to utter questions, stopping them before they could gain any voice.

Khan's behavior enforced a silent march, which still entertained the Ef'i. The city contained a mixture of different architectures and species, something the aliens found interesting. Khan had definitely achieved something praiseworthy on Baoway, and the Ef'i had only seen a tiny part of the planet.

"[I have suitable training areas ready for you]," Khan revealed once the city's main building's gates drew close. "[As for the fights among species, you must ask my permission first. I'll grant as many as possible]."

The Ef'i understood that Khan wanted to get the political part over with first and didn't complain. However, Tlexicpalli accelerated, reaching Khan's side and matching his walking speed to make a more private request.

"[Prince Khan]," Tlexicpalli called, resolve brimming in her aura. "[I know you must be busy, but …]."

"[You can spar with me]," Khan stated before adding a word. "[Once]."

"[I'll look forward to it]," Tlexicpalli thanked.

The Ef'i behind the two couldn't help but feel excited. Their leader had mustered the courage to challenge Khan, and the battle was bound to be a fantastic spectacle. Many had grown curious about Khan's prowess after his previous sprint, and Tlexicpalli was the only one among them who could bring out more of his power.

Rows of human soldiers welcomed the group inside the building, but Khan dismissed any escort while leading the aliens inside. For now, he avoided the complete tour and went directly to one of the structure's control rooms, where an interactive table and his inner circle were already waiting for him.

"[Tlexicpalli, friends]," Khan called before nodding at his allies. "[These are Prince Thomas, my Uncle, Princess Rebecca, my Aunt, Master Carl, my former Master, and Monica Solodrey, my fiancée]."

Except for Lieutenant Dyester, the human group performed polite bows. Still, Tlexicpalli advanced toward the inner circle, shaking its hands. That was part of the Ef'i's customs, so Prince Thomas and the others complied.

Still, no one missed how the handshake with Monica lasted longer. Tlexicpalli seemed to take an interest in her, but that feeling only existed due to her relationship with Khan.

"[She looks like a suitable partner]," Tlexicpalli announced after the round of handshakes.

"[She is]," Khan confirmed.

"[We must spar with her, too, then]," Tlexicpalli requested. "[As well as with your Master and troops]."

"[We can discuss all of this during tonight's dinner]," Khan said, approaching the interactive table. "[Now]."

The table was already online, and Khan only needed to press a few labels to create a hologram of the entire planet. More tinkering added different lights and descriptions to the picture, summarizing Baoway's domains, activities, and opportunities.

"[The planet has tight trade agreements with the Empire]," Khan explained, "[But new trading routes can be opened if needed. Of course, the Global Army is open for business, too]."

Khan tapped on the desk again, bringing up a list of available resources. He had sorted them out personally, highlighting what he thought the Ef'i could desire. However, no interest appeared in Tlexicpalli's aura.

"[We appreciate the offer]," Tlexicpalli exclaimed, "[But Onia already provides us with what we need. The Global Army covers our other interests already]."

Unlike the Thilku, Khan didn't have any leverage over the Ef'i. The latter didn't even care about altering the status quo. They were satisfied with their current situation, and Khan couldn't force them to change everything to prioritize deals with him.

The issue didn't only involve resources. Baoway wasn't a suitable dock and destination for eventual trade agreements. The teleports could compensate for the distance from the Ef'i's domain, but that plan wasn't worth the hassle.

"[However]," Tlexicpalli continued, "[We heard about something that might interest us. You even mentioned it in your messages]."

Khan was not surprised by Tlexicpalli's words. He had expected her to bring up the topic. He had mentioned that point on purpose, too, and his hunch turned out to be correct.

Khan stretched his hand past the interactive table, and Lieutenant Dyester put something inside it. Khan then retracted his arm, lifting a flask in Tlexicpalli's four eyes. The holograms' light shone on the item, revealing the clear green liquid inside.

"[Is this it]?" Tlexicpalli asked, carefully seizing the flask to study it closer.

Khan didn't answer but tapped on the interactive desk again. He had to navigate a few menus, but the right file eventually popped out. Data about the supplement's effects and other tests filled the holograms, explaining anything Tlexicpalli could ever ask.

Tlexicpalli looked at the holograms before focusing on the flask again. Her mana showed clear interest now, but some confusion lingered inside her. She was no scientist, so she couldn't understand much from inspecting a seemingly harmless liquid and a series of graphs.

"[I can forward this to your building right away]," Khan said. "[You can bring that with you, too]."

"[Are you sure of its properties]?" Tlexicpalli questioned. "[Can this tiny thing truly make the Ef'i stronger]?"

As a battle race, the Ef'i only cared about making their species stronger. They also lacked interest in technological advantages and firearms, mostly focusing on improving their bodies, martial arts, spells, and training regimens. Khan could provide that with the supplement, but his offer had something else.

"[Once your scientists get back at you]," Khan exclaimed, "[Confirming that what I'm saying is true, we can talk business]."

"[What can you add]?" Tlexicpalli asked, intrigued.

"[I can build entire training grounds with the same properties as the item you are holding]," Khan declared.