Chapter 808 Seed
"Finally," Khan thought, suppressing the urge to shout in excitement. That was the development he needed. The Global Army still didn"t know it, but the game changer had just fallen into Khan"s hands.
Discovering the blue plants" beneficial properties had turned Baoway into a gold mine, which the a.s.sa.s.sination attempt had put into Khan"s hands. His political maneuvers with the Thilku Empire had also secured his authority, basically sanctioning the current expansion.
Khan had engaged in those practices for multiple reasons, but the Global Army mainly cared about one, and Abraham"s lab had just confirmed its existence. Khan"s scientists had created something humans could use to improve their growth, and he had a monopoly over it.
Moreover, that resource didn"t belong to the broad market. Only wealthy parties would purchase it since the infusions remained a requirement. It was a high-tier product, and Khan could pump up its price to insane levels for that exact reason.
Things didn"t end there. Educating and raising powerful descendants was almost mandatory for the wealthy parties. They needed stronger a.s.sets to retain their superiority over the weaker organizations. It wasn"t only a matter of raw strength. The matter was heavily political, granting Khan access to a currency that could turn every enemy into an ally.
The Global Army enforced order, but everyone knew who truly stood at the top. The n.o.bles decided, controlled, and managed everything without ever sharing that power with anyone. That ensured their authority remained unchallenged, and Khan could finally join their game.
The n.o.bles had to meet even harsher expectations than the wealthy parties. Their Princes and Princesses had to be far superior to other descendants. They would beg Khan for a piece of the pie as soon as the supplement became known.
Securing deals with the n.o.ble families would affect the entire political environment. Khan was mainly hated and feared, but everyone would bow their heads if humankind"s true leaders began dealing with and depending on him. He would become essential, giving him far more benefits than his incredible strength could ever achieve.
Still, everything came down to one simple detail. The supplement had to work as intended, and Khan forwarded a message to initiate that process.
The news acted as a bright light in the darkest night. Khan finally saw a plan that didn"t involve compromising himself. He had the chance to do good for himself and his companions. Yet, the worst part had to come first.
Busy days pa.s.sed as Khan"s inner circle handled multiple jobs. Huge metal structures reached the sea station, and ships picked them up to place them in the appointed quadrant.
Teams of soldiers worked day and night on those structures, bringing everything online and testing every function. Humankind demonstrated its technological superiority, stunning any Scalqa who witnessed the process.
Buildings taller than Baoway"s trees rose in a matter of days, and a sea of smaller habitations surrounded them in no time. Vast streets also appeared among them, splitting everything into blocks and districts. Nature submitted to the power of technology, giving birth to something that could make the Harbor envious.
Khan had initially aimed for a proper city, but the Scalqa"s primitive minds forced him to compromise. The result was closer to a glorified military encampment built out of metal and machines. Of course, the place"s central areas had taller structures with advanced functions, but none were meant for the Scalqa.
The fated day eventually arrived. Khan was inside one of the new encampment"s central buildings, alone in a hall he had designed himself. Multiple layers of ground stood above the metal floor, allowing the six blue bushes planted there to thrive. That was his special training room, and the plants" constant influence seemed to intensify his heavy aura.
Khan didn"t look at the plants. His eyes were on a mirror created through the wall"s menus. His eyes were on his clear reflection, but he looked past it. He knew how he had to appear that day, and what he saw simply wasn"t it.
Khan"s hands reached for his uniform"s b.u.t.tons, opening it and letting it fall to the ground. He slowly but smoothly moved to his pants, and his shoes followed.
Soon, Khan ended up naked before the mirror. The soil dirtied his feet, but that natural touch steadied his mind. Still, a pungent stench a.s.saulted his nostrils, eventually bringing his eyes to a metal basin under him.
A dark red liquid filled the basin, and Khan knew exactly what it was. He had collected it himself from the fauna nearby. The newly gathered Scalqa had slightly different cultures, but that would stop them from recognizing the blood of Baoway"s monsters. That was a universal language, and Khan would soon have to speak to all of them.
Khan bent down, immersing his fingers in the liquid before bringing them to his face. He started with his forehead, drawing war paint that quickly stretched to his neck. His torso followed, and even his legs didn"t escape the process.
A door opened and closed while Khan added the finishing touches. Slow steps resounded on the ground until a figure appeared in the mirror. Monica stared at Khan"s reflection, her expression conveying sternness and sadness. She wanted Khan to seize that authority but knew how much it weighed on him.
Khan ignored Monica. He studied his reflection, making sure everything was in order before immersing both palms into the basin. Blood fell from his hands as he brought them to his hair, digging inside it to pull it back.
The blood acted as hairspray, keeping Khan"s long hair in check and exposing his face. It also added dark shades to its blue color, further changing his appearance. Few would recognize him now, but no one would underestimate him. Even the more advanced humans would hesitate to disrespect him when looking like that.
"It suits you," Monica couldn"t help but comment.
"I know," Khan said, noticing her strange tone. His voice carried a similar feeling, and the couple didn"t need to express it to understand each other. They had talked extensively about that topic, and the answer never changed.
Khan looked perfect for authority. Monica had always known that. However, spending years with him had forced her to understand a sad truth. The Global Army"s military uniform was too tight for him, and no number of stars on his shoulders would make it fit.
Instead, mere war paint perfectly matched Khan"s aura and oddities. Khan couldn"t see past the weight of the duty, but Monica noticed it. That primitive, alien look suited him more than any uniform or shirt could.
"I"m ready," Khan eventually announced, looking to the basin"s right. A set of pelts and bones lay on the ground, waiting to be donned.
"I"ll warn the others," Monica nodded, stepping back before focusing on the reflection again. She could see past Khan"s cold expression in the mirror, reminding her of her role.
Monica stepped forward, seizing Khan"s hand to make him face her. She said nothing but reached for his chin to keep his head still. Her eyes studied the war paint for a second before leaning forward and kissing him.
A rea.s.suring smile blossomed in Khan"s vision when Monica retracted her head. The two didn"t need to say anything. She was only conveying her support. No matter how Khan looked, Monica would be at his side, and she wanted to give him a reminder that day.
Monica hurried outside afterward, leaving Khan alone with his thoughts and tasks. He briefly stared at the exit before addressing the pelts and bones. He quickly donned the primitive armor, and one last glance at his reflection told him everything was in order.
Khan closed his eyes before slowly reopening them. A blue light invaded the hall, filling the mirror and adding power to his presence. His irises shone, joining his attire in that alien look. Khan couldn"t look more distant from a human now. He actually barely looked like a mortal.
Doors and corridors went by Khan"s vision as he made his way through the building. He crossed a few soldiers during the walk, but no one spoke. Everyone limited themselves to military salutes since they knew the pressure awaiting him.
The walk ended when Khan crossed a huge metal door. The pa.s.sage opened into a ma.s.sive terrace, and reaching its edge granted a perfect view of the entire encampment. He saw the sea of metal tents spreading in every direction, almost reaching for the horizon, while the floor"s menus recorded his every move.
Khan tapped the floor with his bare foot, and holographic screens popped out in multiple locations of the encampment. Similar images materialized on the central buildings" surfaces, depicting Khan in all his shining glory. His bright eyes tried to mess up with the recording, but the menus were ready for that.
Some Scalqa were already roaming the encampment streets, but the screens" appearance made everyone else exit their tents. Soon, the entire encampment peeked in the open, captured by the holograms" pictures. Khan"s face was more than known by that point, and his firm voice eventually echoed throughout the settlement.
"[The Sky Tribe is stronger than any Tribe]," Khan announced, speaking slowly to make every word as clear as possible. The encampment already counted many dialects, and he wanted to avoid misunderstandings.
"[And you are weak]," Khan continued, not surprised by the few scornful cries that rose into the air. "[But, Ka-Han is strong, and Ka-Han can make you strong]."
Khan spread his arms, and the symphony moved. A series of purple-red spheres appeared above the settlement in four locations before transforming into spears. Those spells quickly exploded, giving birth to scorching pillars that shone over the sea of tents.
"[Ka-Han Tribe will be the strongest]!" Khan shouted as his spells continued to burn in the air. "[Ka-Han is the strongest! Follow Ka-Han to take the Sky]!"
Blue lights lit up everywhere. Every tent, street, and building started glowing. Khan"s allies had timed that with the end of his speech, and the Scalqa inevitably connected the event to him. Technology helped Khan appear omnipotent, and the Scalqa bought it since excited cries filled the encampment.
Khan"s gaze continued to glow, but his eyes looked past the sea of aliens. The symphony told him a complete, unfiltered story. He could see the seed of faith spreading among those primitive minds. Khan only had to nourish and make it bloom now.