Cegnoreās natives might have accepted their cursed fate, but that didnāt necessarily apply to Chuweiās strange lifeforms. Khan could see their struggle against their infection with his bare eyes and didnāt know where it would lead.
Usually, Khan would show no mercy toward anyone who attempted to be a threat. However, he was biased toward those who shared his curse, and his destructive element agreed. Ideally, Khan would avoid fighting Chuweiās Tainted lifeforms. He simply didnāt know whether that was an option.
The lifeforms on and inside the underground chamberās surface remained silent, absorbing Khanās words. Something inside those masses of energy told them to comply with Khan, acknowledging him as a superior entity they had to help.
Yet, another intense emotion raged inside those lifeforms, opposing their dutiful, foreign resolve. Their unwillingness to submit to their cursed fate filled the symphony with a dark desire that had Khan as its target.
Still, nothing abrupt happened. As unstable as those lifeforms were, Khan was no weakling. His aura passively surrounded his body, conveying his mighty prowess and triggering instinctive reactions in those masses of energy. The latter were confused, but the threat Khan posed brought a modicum of clarity and hesitation.
The situation seemed to descend into a stalemate, but a mass of energy eventually moved. That lifeform was denser than its companions, conveying superior strength. Still, its differences didnāt stop there, and Khan soon learned about them.
The mass of energy flowed down from the ceiling, crossing a wall and part of the floor to stop before the ship Khan was standing on. The ground moved, fusing with the lifeform to rise into the air. The process also involved part of the metal shards, giving birth to a strange but familiar figure.
Rocks, metal, and soil condensed on the graveyardās floor, assuming a shape Khan couldnāt help but recognize. He saw two legs, two arms, a thick cape, and long hair kept down by a crown. The lifeform couldnāt imitate colors, innate abilities, or tiny details but did a great job replicating his appearance.
Khan felt no discomfort standing before a copy of himself. Instead, he performed a Niqolsā bow, hoping the gesture would convey his pure intentions. He knew the creature that had approached him was no ordinary lifeform, so he tried to show it the respect it deserved.
Initially, the copy made of debris didnāt move, but its figure eventually replicated Khanās gesture. The denser lifeform performed a perfect bow, straightening its rocky back to face Khan again.
"[Potential heir]," The copy spoke, opening its fake mouth, only for tremors to run through its figure to convey its words. "[Iām the leader of this colony. You are our first visitor in a long time]."
The denser lifeform seemed far more articulate than the previous. At least, that was how Khanās brain translated its tremors. Still, the ability to convey more intricate meanings had to vouch for its superior intelligence and control over the Nakās language.
"I came to this planet to look for Nakās traces," Khan announced. "Iām grateful for your hospitality and help. With this, I might be able to find the Nak and inherit their legacy."
The lifeform studied Khan. It didnāt use its fake eyes, but Khan still felt its gaze on him. It tried to pierce his flesh to look at something deep inside him, but his aura prevented it from reaching his skin.
"[The Nak attacked us a long time ago]," The copy said. "[We repelled their attack, but our planet was destroyed in the process]."
"My planet also suffered greatly from the Nakās invasion," Khan commented.
"[The Nak changed us]," The copy stated, ignoring Khanās replies. "[So, we transformed to pursue their task, only to end up in our current state]."
Khan had to do a little interpretation and guessing there. The transformation the denser lifeform had mentioned could resemble the evolution, which was part of the Nakās quest. After all, the Nak wanted the infected species to surpass them, overcoming their bottleneck.
However, none of the lifeforms in the underground chamber were even close to that power level. Khan could guess they had attempted something similar to what he had done, but his imagination reached its limits there.
Yet, Khan could spot more details after that revelation. The Nak embodied mana, while Chuweiās lifeforms were masses of energy. There was a vague resemblance there, albeit the latter were clearly inferior.
"Iām sorry," Khan uttered, speaking from the bottom of his heart. He knew the desperation those lifeforms must have felt far too well and couldnāt help but relate to their current situation.
"[How did you transform to match the Nakās task]?" The denser lifeform asked.
Khan opened his mouth, only to immediately close it. He had no easy way to explain how he had succeeded in resisting the Nakās nightmares. His genes played a part, but he also received a lot of help from his Father and other different species.
Eventually, Khan could only come up with a short line he hoped the lifeform would understand. "I was saved."
Of course, Khan poured many feelings into those few words. His line didnāt carry specific meanings but could give an idea of his many trials and struggles, vouching for how harsh his journey had been.
The denser lifeform took time to absorb that short line, and the same went for its companions on and inside the chamberās surfaces. Their silence lasted far longer now, but the leader eventually broke it.
"[Potential heir]," The leader called. "[You hold the key to complete the Nakās task. Let us learn it]."
"I would," Khan replied, "But I donāt know how."
"[We know how]," The denser lifeform announced. "[Our kind will absorb you and learn from your kind, transforming once more, this time successfully]."
The desire in the symphony intensified, seemingly reflecting the leaderās decision. Khan knew he was in danger but didnāt move. Only his sad smile deepened at that undesirable development.
"Iām afraid I canāt let you do it," Khan politely declined.
"[We suffered for too long, potential heir]," The leader exclaimed. "[We will transform once more and claim the Nakās inheritance for ourselves]."
"You canāt," Khan sighed. "You are too weak."
Truthfully, Khan was willing to help, but his evaluation was on point. Chuweiās lifeforms were weak, and weakness was a sin, especially when the goal was as grand as the Nakās mission.