Chaos Heir

Chapter 1399: Experimental fuel

The issue with the True Chaos wasn’t something easy to solve, far from it. One of the many species inside the joint front would have already fixed it otherwise.

Some species had ways to partially ignore or directly overcome the True Chaos’ annihilating effects, but those feats were limited to exceptional individuals. They also involved relatively unique methods that couldn’t be applied to ordinary troops and the main bulk of the joint army.

Those methods couldn’t be taught to ordinary warriors, either. After all, they were part of the difference between regular and elite troops.

The only viable and potentially general solution the joint front seemed to have found came from the Great Old One’s blood, which had produced some results.

However, the Niqols had been in charge of that research, and they were pretty terrible with technology. Their experimental product was for individuals to use, but Rodney seemed to have extended it to mana-based tech.

Since the Niqols couldn’t have possibly achieved that, only one name remained in George’s mind. He belonged to Khan’s inner circle, so he knew that Raymond Cobsend had joined that research. His involvement should have been relatively limited, but the scene proved that point wrong.

Rodney clearly had access to technology that could survive and face the True Chaos, and George’s thoughts went to Raymond Cobsend.

"The alien-lover did it," Rodney claimed, "So can I."

Rodney diverted his gaze from the apocalyptic scenery for the first time. Nukes had stopped falling, but their mushroom-shaped, blinding pillars were still rising to the sky.

"And this is no solution," Rodney continued, looking at the fleet on the other side of the city. "All these ships will go to the scrapyard in an hour or so."

George was no scientist or mechanic, but he understood what Rodney meant. Still, he explained himself anyway.

"Humankind needed a solution and needed it fast," Rodney declared. "Mister Cobsend’s experimental fuel will ruin the ships beyond saving, but it was the only way to give Aynor a fighting chance."

As a descendant, George belonged to a different faction inside the Global Army. He had never needed to pursue ranks or promotions, but didn’t ignore what they implied.

Rodney was a new General who had seized his promotion rather forcefully, publicly relying on Khan’s forces’ support to achieve that rank.

Generals had authority over most of humankind’s troops, but those procedures took time, and the Global Army was bound to have hindered Rodney due to his alien affiliations.

Rodney’s decision to employ criminals instead of official troops had partially fixed the issue, but the fleet was another matter. George could guess how Rodney had paid for those ships out of his own pocket, probably engaging in all sorts of deals and slow accumulation to build that force.

Nevertheless, when Aynor had been attacked, Rodney had deployed his painstakingly arranged fleet without hesitation, knowing he would lose it.

"What did you have to give away to get Raymond Cobsend’s help?" George asked, inevitably experiencing some goodwill toward Rodney after understanding his sacrifice.

"Mister Cobsend is eager to return to the alien-lover’s good side," Rodney explained. "He gave the fuel away freely as long as I put it to use and shared where it came from."

"That guy doesn’t know when to stop," George cursed.

"He is a valuable asset in a war larger than all of us combined," Rodney commented. "Even that traitor acknowledged that compromises were necessary to win."

"Are you talking about yourself?" George sneered. "Khan will kill you if you do something to Monica."

"For all his power," Rodney muttered, refocusing on the apocalyptic view while showing no traces of fear, "He is powerless against a man who is only pursuing his feelings."

George arched his slim eyebrows in surprise. That had almost sounded like a confession, which his wife would pay anything to hear. Yet, Rodney didn’t give him the chance to investigate further.

"I’m sharing all the data from this battle with your emotional leader’s forces," Rodney reassured. "I also sent a sample of the experimental fuel to Baoway, so you can be at ease. For humankind’s sake, I’ll play ball."

George was about to throw another tease at Rodney when his right arm moved on its own, slashing his silver sword behind him.

A dark silhouette suddenly landed on the silver sword, releasing a clinging noise and changing direction. It dodged George and Rodney but kept advancing, crossing the two men to fly deeper into the city.

The world was slower than George, but eventually reacted to the event. Several mushroom-shaped pillars split apart, and the same went for the streets and buildings the black silhouette had crossed, including the terrace where the two men were standing.

A narrow cavity that had cleaved through entire blocks widened, splitting the blinding pillars, streets, and buildings apart. A chunk of the terrace also fell off, alongside almost half of the ship resting on it.

The disorganized soldiers inside the ship immediately jumped off, crashing on the terrace, while a corner of the building and the severed part of the vessel fell down the widening gap.

George and Rodney didn’t bother inspecting the soldiers since the other side featured far more concerning scenes. The cavity kept expanding, almost creating an artificial street that cut through the city diagonally, revealing a troublesome sight on its melted, burning source.

Two black figures became visible in the distance, standing in the middle of a severed mushroom-shaped pillar. The evolved warrior George had fought now wielded a sword in each hand, and one was stretched toward him.

Nevertheless, that stance could hardly catch George’s attention when other features were visible. Both black aliens now had thick smoke blowing from their foreheads, where their horns had been. Moreover, their eyes weren’t dark anymore. White sclera had appeared, as well as red irises.

"Did you happen to bring evolved warriors with you?" George asked, doing his best to make light of the situation, but failing due to his unavoidable stern tone.

"The Global Army’s rotten upper echelon was ready to sacrifice Aynor to gather data," Rodney revealed. "Humankind won’t deploy any evolved warrior for now."