Chapter 1267: Favor

Khan could have pressured Muhsin even further. He could unleash an unending barrage of attacks and go beyond that, but the last exchange revealed a curious detail that made him retreat.

The kick and two slashes finished unleashing their power when Khan reappeared at some distance from the alien. Actually, he had been fast enough to witness the clashes’ last moments, seeing exactly what Mushin had done to counter them.

The first mostly blue dust had isolated and destroyed the slash, but the second black and blue one directly dispersed it, seemingly having learned from the previous clash.

As for the metal barrier facing the condensed entropy, its liquid fabric cracked and bent for a brief moment before dispersing the destructive force through harmless tremors.

Many different events had unfolded during the three attacks, but the exchange had barely lasted a couple of seconds. Everything had happened and ended in no time, but both Khan and Muhsin gathered valuable data from it.

Khan couldn’t possibly know what Muhsin’s holographic screen was saying, but his mind was too busy reviewing and feeling surprised about his own realizations to think about the alien.

‘What a crafty liar,’ Khan couldn’t help but think.

From start to finish, Muhsin had refrained from revealing how quickly he could alter his technology. Theoretically, Khan should have caught him by surprise at least once, and something even told him he did, but the Kros had immediately reacted anyway.

Moreover, Muhsin didn’t simply react. His technology had adapted to the type of attack, altering itself to counteract it while retaining knowledge of that change. It even improved itself in the following instance, delivering a better counter.

That had been nothing short of incredible and revealing. Khan believed some of the technology’s functions were automated, not requiring Muhsin’s inputs. That included processing and reacting according to the data it gathered, allowing Muhsin to unleash immediate countermeasures.

When paired with the speed at which the machines rearranged themselves, that ability made Muhsin virtually perfect as a warrior. He could react and adapt to anything his opponents threw at him, improving his countermeasures at each exchange.

Chances were Khan’s previous techniques would be completely ineffective now since he had given Muhsin time to process more data. His next countermeasures might even feature proper counterattacks, which might take into account the physical prowess Khan had shown before.

Of course, perfection didn’t exist in the world. Khan also had vast battle experience, so his mind had already devised two countermeasures.

The most straightforward way to deal with an opponent who learned from each exchange was to end the battle in a single blow, not giving him the chance to rely on his processing skills and adaptability.

The second method was slower, but the previous exchanges had vouched for its viability. Muhsin’s metal didn’t come out completely unscathed. Khan’s attacks had destroyed a small part of it while the Kros learned about their properties. That resource wasn’t endless, so Khan could gradually wear the alien down, removing his technology piece by piece.

Nevertheless, that was a spar, not a deathmatch. Also, the second approach could work to prove Khan’s worth to the Kros, but he had finally gotten his hands on a sturdy training dummy. Khan didn’t want to waste it relying on tactics he had perfected long ago.

“You know,” Khan announced, inspecting his scarred arms, his attention briefly lingering on the blue tattoos on his right. “Martial arts are inherently weaker, especially in the evolved realm. One’s element becomes too powerful for mere techniques to be a match.”

The topic was more complicated and deeper than that, but Khan’s summary remained accurate. Evolved warriors embodied their element, becoming singular existences that carried and empowered its effects. Naturally, spells that relied on it would be able to express far more power than simple punches and kicks.

Bruno had confirmed that truth, too. Khan was in possession of one of the best martial arts on the market and had even worked hard on mixing his chaos with it. Yet, his spells were just better. The battles against Lord Mighty and the Great Old One had proven as much.

However, Khan had transformed since then. A mighty bloodline had tainted him again, adding new power to his cells. His body had become a weapon on par with his element, and his martial arts could make use of both.

“The Kros are aware of that classification,” Muhsin responded, wanting to add something but ultimately holding back. Both his hunches and simulations told him Khan had more to say about the topic.

“But,” Khan continued. “I am quite a unique existence. How did my wife call it? I welcomed ancient horrors inside me or something.”

That was something Muhsin couldn’t understand. The Kros could only guess what Khan meant, and his simulations connected those words to the instant healing from before. Khan’s body was definitely odd, and that opened many possibilities.

“Remember the kick from before?” Khan asked, pointing at Muhsin but not waiting for an answer. “That was the foundation form of my martial art. Admittedly, I held back a little, but I’m sure you would have been fine anyway.”

“The name foundation form implies the existence of superior forms,” Muhsin pointed out.

“Exactly,” Khan nodded. “The Kros are indeed as smart as everyone says. My martial art calls them advanced forms, of which it has six.”

Khan shot forward, maintaining a decent speed before stopping a few meters from Muhsin. He wore a smile, instinctively performing a Niqols’ bow while keeping his face pointed at the alien.

“So,” Khan said, “May I ask another favor since I really want to try these attacks?”

“My answer will depend on the request,” Muhsin responded.

“Can you please not die?” Khan requested.

Muhsin picked up something, so his machines transformed again, turning into nine vast spheres that hovered above, below, and beside him. He seemed ready to face anything that came his way but didn’t expect Khan to speak again.

“This is the fifth advanced form,” Khan announced. “Speed.”

Muhsin was ready, but the nine spheres suddenly crumbled into a rain of metal shards despite Khan’s figure still floating before him.