Chapter 1348: Arrival
The calculations ended up being correct due to the absence of delays. No one was chasing after Khan and Liiza anymore, and no darker-than-black ellipses opened in space during the flight, allowing them to reach the final outpost in under six weeks.
The married couple restocked on supplies and fuel before setting off again to complete the last stretch of their travel. The spherical array of asteroids was under two weeks away from the final outpost, and the day when the ship would reach it had finally arrived.
Of course, the trip hadnât been completely uneventful. Nothing came from outside the ship, but the married couple had their reasons to keep a few dates in mind.
Khanâs birthday fell before reaching the final outpost, while Liizaâs birthday happened just a few days ago. They turned twenty-eight and twenty-nine respectively, using the events as another excuse to kill time through what they did best.
The sorrow from leaving Yeza with Zalpa turned into mindless passion, which became raging during those special events. At times, the heartache of being without the baby returned, but the couple dealt with it by abiding by the Niqolsâ ways.
Still, now that the spherical array of asteroids was almost in sight, somber seriousness filled the shipâs atmosphere, prompting Khan and Liiza to deal with some final preparations. The point of no return was straight ahead, and the couple had to make sure they would come back from it.
Khanâs glowing eyes darted left and right on the control desk while he hovered cross-legged above the broken pilotâs seat, checking and rechecking anything that could go wrong.
The ship gave Khan the all-clear on virtually everything. Except for the paint job, the vessel couldnât have been in a better state, but perfection wouldnât necessarily be enough in the imminent struggle.
The problem wasnât with the danger zone. Now more than ever, Khan felt confident he could cross the blue storm ricocheting among the spherical array of asteroids.
However, what awaited the married couple inside that defensive mechanism was unclear, and Khan had to preserve his only way out. No matter what, the ship had to survive.
Meanwhile, Liiza was in Zalpaâs previous quarters, which had become a proper lab now. Even Khan didnât know what she was concocting, but the many supplies depleted during her isolation vouched for its usefulness.
Khan remained immersed in the check-ups until the ship spotted something. His vesselâs scanners were quite terrible, but that only applied to their range. Due to the questâs nature, Garret had mainly focused on their reliability, allowing them to remain up and functioning despite the interference radiated by that nearby location.
That final confirmation from the control desk inevitably triggered something inside Khanâs mind, which the mental connection didnât fail to convey.
The living quartersâ door opened, releasing some dark smoke that the shipâs filtration system quickly got rid of. Liiza also came out, crossing the bridge, carrying a cup in her hands while her glowing eyes stared at the screens above the control desk.
The scenery in the scanners was initially empty, only featuring the blackness of space and faint stars far in the distance.
However, the images quickly changed. Something bright appeared at the screensâ center, growing closer and larger until it filled the entirety of the captured scenery.
Khan had already gazed upon that landscape, even doing that with his own eyes, but the sight wasnât any less shocking.
An immense, vaguely spherical array of asteroids hovered in the middle of space, seemingly fixed in its place. Lightning bolts also ricocheted among those celestial bodies, creating an artificial danger zone that promised to obliterate anything that dared to approach it.
The picture on the screens had a more profound impact on Liiza. She had heard Khanâs descriptions multiple times, and her poor understanding of technology prevented her from getting an exact idea of that danger zoneâs size.
Yet, the scene was simply undeniable. Liiza only needed one look to accept that nothing could cross that blue lightning storm unscathed. Moreover, her deep understanding of the mana updated her on the danger zoneâs artificial nature, making her feel small before that breathtaking structure.
No one had ever questioned the Nakâs prowess, but that immense defensive mechanism served as a reminder of what they had been able to achieve at their apex.
The Thilku Empire had space teleports that could send entire ships and fleets from one side of the universe to another, but the danger zone was worlds above that technology.
The Nak had been able to alter the very universeâs landscape, and Khan was now tasked to seize their legacy to defeat an opponent even that mighty species was powerless against.
The more resilient scanners still fell prey to the stormâs interference as the ship continued to approach it. The pictures on the screens flickered but remained somewhat reliable.
Nevertheless, Khan activated the shipâs special function. The holes all over the bridge and cargo areasâ surfaces opened, enabling the channels that cut through the hull, connecting the vessel to the outside world.
The presence radiated by the massive danger zone immediately invaded the ship, but neither Khan nor Liiza faltered. He had never stopped feeling that blinding landmark, eventually growing used to it. Instead, Liizaâs mind only had room for chilling coldness, preventing her from experiencing any surprise.
The final step in Khanâs mission was once again before him, and there wouldnât be any postponing it now. Liiza handed him the cup, which he quickly emptied before turning it into a pile of dust.
Afterward, Khan exchanged a glance with Liiza, but the two didnât utter a single word. There was nothing else to say. They just kissed before Liiza secured herself on Khanâs floating figure, knowing it would be firmer and safer than any safety belt.
Then, Khan turned off any superfluous function, redirecting all the additional energy to the shipâs engines. He pushed the steering wheel forward, accelerating to reach a speed that could match the ricocheting lightning bolts, focusing the entirety of his brain on his perception.
Just like that, the ship entered the array of asteroids, crossing its edge to dive into the deadly blue storm.