Chaos Heir

Chapter 1269: Bias

Muhsin’s processing power couldn’t keep up with that speed. His scanners had captured the scene, but time had to resume flowing for him to study the gathered data.

Khan could guess what the Kros was going through, so he didn’t interfere with the process. Once he completed his attack, he stayed still, hovering in the air and awaiting the alien’s response.

Meanwhile, the three spheres’ destruction finally unfolded in Muhsin’s scanners. The Kros deactivated the slow motion and retook control of the crumbling metal while his other machines rearranged themselves into a vast control desk.

Muhsin also rebuilt his chair while completing the control desk and connecting it to the seat. Multiple holograms soon emerged from the machine, illuminating the reptilian face while the yellow vertical eyes darted left and right to study them.

Khan could read the symbols and numbers on the screens but obviously couldn’t understand them. Yet, the sole happening of the event confirmed his partial success. His lightning bolts had scored him forty-five points, and the latest attack should have at least doubled that evaluation.

Moreover, Khan also revealed the number of the Transcendent Step’s advanced forms. Muhsin couldn’t have possibly forgotten that Khan still had five more of those, which probably matched his latest demonstration’s power.

Of course, the spar wasn’t to compare Khan to a fellow evolved warrior. The Kros were taking his entire force into consideration, putting it side by side with humankind to decide the best course of action.

The odds were even against Khan since an alliance with him was riskier. Besides, he couldn’t instantly improve his force as a whole. He could only show how strong he was, and his mind planned more potentially shocking demonstrations during the wait.

It took an uncharacteristically long amount of time, but the holographic screens eventually disappeared, allowing Muhsin to look at Khan. Of course, that study had merely lasted a few minutes, but that was akin to an eternity for an evolved warrior with such incredible processing speed.

“I can’t stop that technique,” Muhsin announced, showing no shame in his admission. That was the scientific truth, and he wouldn’t shy away from it.

Khan held back a smirk, focusing on and mentioning the issue’s core. “Is that enough for the Kros to consider allying themselves with me?”

“It is,” Muhsin confirmed. “The Kros have expressed praise and interest in your strength, Prince Khan of the Nognes family. Your military prowess vastly surpassed our most positive simulated evaluations.”

Khan felt a “but” coming, and his hunches ended up being correct since Muhsin made his chair speak again.

“However,” Muhsin continued. “The Kros don’t want to take roles in internal feuds. We are aware of Prince Khan’s history of clashes with the Global Army. The Kros don’t care for them.”

The veiled request was reasonable, albeit slightly disappointing. Muhsin was basically claiming that an alliance with Khan wouldn’t lead to support in suppressing the Global Army. That wasn’t the end of the world, but the opposite would have been ideal.

“Do the Kros plan on allying with both the Global Army and my force?” Khan questioned.

“It is the most beneficial course of action,” Muhsin confirmed again, almost making Khan sigh helplessly.

Smart political entities were always a pain to deal with. The Kros’ decision was obviously the best course of action. By negotiating deals with both Khan and the Global Army, they could start a bidding war, reaping immense benefits.

The benefits would still be somewhat aligned with the Kros’ overall prowess, but that approach would allow them to maximize them. It might also surpass what they would have otherwise secured since Khan had to make up for the insult.

Khan didn’t mind entering a bad deal to secure a decent relationship with the Kros. He needed all the potential allies he could get to face the Scarlet Eyes, and his selfless side would accept pretty much anything to save Liiza from her guilt.

However, the situation had another critical variable, and Khan didn’t forget to mention it.

“What about the Niqols?” Khan asked.

“The Niqols broke their agreement and betrayed the Kros’ trust,” Muhsin stated. “Their political value is null now.”

The Kros didn’t say it, but Khan knew that was his fault. By solving the feud and making up for the insult, the Niqols lost their value as a potential ally. Despite Khan’s claims, the Kros saw how Liiza had left the arranged marriage willingly, worsening her species’ image.

“What about my wife?” Khan questioned, ignoring the previous issue for now.

“The Kros will show Liiza of the Nognes family unbiased respect,” Muhsin responded, “If the negotiations with Prince Khan of the Nognes family are satisfactory.”

That political move was so blatant that Khan didn’t even need to summon his expertise to understand it. The Kros were willing to overlook Liiza’s misdeeds by treating her as a member of Khan’s family instead of her species.

That was far from ideal. Actually, Khan didn’t like it at all. As much of a free spirit as Liiza was, she loved her species. She was also a proud follower of its ways and customs, which had saved Khan more times than he could count.

Moreover, Liiza was pregnant. No one knew what would come out of that, but chances were Khan’s child would inherit some of the Niqols’ genes, and he couldn’t let that bias stand.

Truth be told, the sole idea that someone could see Khan’s child’s genes negatively enraged him to no end, but he only showed a fake smile that did little to hide the fury in his presence.

“May I ask another favor since the situation allows it?” Khan wondered.

“My answer will depend on the request,” Muhsin repeated his previous reply while his control desk sent warning signals.

“It’s rare for someone like me to find a worthy sparring partner,” Khan exclaimed, choosing his words carefully. “I was wondering if Muhsin of the Kros would be so kind as to let me test another advanced form.”

The Kros had already agreed to hold negotiations, so the additional demonstrations were superfluous. Actually, they would be damaging to Khan’s figure since he would reveal more of his battle prowess.

Yet, Muhsin didn’t care about the adverse impacts on Khan. He had the opportunity to gather more valuable data for free and couldn’t possibly miss it.

Muhsin dismantled his control desk and part of his chair to recreate the array of scanners, but Khan interrupted the process.

“Ah, I apologize,” Khan called, seemingly just recalling something. “This isn’t something I should do in a vacuum. Could you provide me with a barrier to break?”

Abiding by the request would partially hinder Muhsin’s inspection, but the alien had already silently agreed with the favor, so he complied. Most scanners broke apart to rearrange themselves into a thick liquid wall that hovered between Khan and the Kros.

Some details were also implied. Khan didn’t specify it, but Muhsin made the wall according to the previously gathered data, building it as sturdy as possible while retaining properties that could counter the chaos element.

Theoretically, piercing the wall was impossible. The structure could almost bend endlessly before breaking and could disperse any tremor. Yet, a fist-sized hole suddenly opened on that surface, and a cold, wet sensation expanded on Muhsin’s right cheek.