The evolution was a dangerous process that every warrior had to undertake seriously, after countless preparations.
After all, the process was meant to elevate and transform the very nature and composition of someoneâs existence. Failure would almost always lead to troublesome and potentially deadly mutations, which would prevent the warriors from attempting the evolution again in the best-case scenario.
Colonel Norrett was one of the best-case examples. His failed evolution didnât kill him, but it left him internally scarred and partially mutated, a state that humankind didnât know how to tackle.
If it werenât for Khanâs discovery of the toxic substance on Baoway, Colonel Norrett would have probably never gotten the chance to attempt the evolution ever again, let alone succeed at it.
The Niqols relied on a different, more organic approach, but the process was no less dangerous. Khan didnât know the details, but attempting the evolution on a random, isolated planet with no external support was simply reckless, even for a Shaman of Liizaâs caliber.
Still, Khan could never change Liizaâs mind, and she was already inside her frozen pillar. Moreover, she wasnât the type to leave such important matters to chance. If she had decided to attempt the evolution now, she had to have been confident.
Also, Liizaâs reasons werenât hard to understand, especially for Khan. The war was coming, so she had to get as powerful as possible for her husband, her daughter, the Niqols, and the universe.
Besides, not evolving had never been an option for Liiza. She had already planned to do so when the Niqols wanted her to become an Elder. Now, she needed strength to remain at Khanâs side and help against the Scarlet Eyes, and any place would do. Her surroundings hardly made any difference to her.
Khan stared at the white pillar, inspecting its half-transparent insides while his figure kept floating mid-air. Some worry manifested itself when he recalled Liizaâs vows, but unshakeable trust quickly replaced it.
That trust didnât waver even when Liizaâs figure grew paler inside the pillar, her skin mimicking the iceâs fabric. She was transforming in ways only she could understand, and Khan could just continue to believe in her, which he did.
Actually, there was something else Khan could do, something that was quite compulsory for himself and the universe as a whole. He lingered a few more seconds in his inspection of the frozen pillar before turning, his gaze growing stern as his eyes fell on the spinning sphere.
Khanâs big boasts and casual manner didnât make the spinning sphere any less dangerous. That item threatened to charm and capture his very being by merely existing. Its knowledge promised more than mere salvation and answers. It embodied something that bordered on godhood.
Khan had to thank his grudge against the Nak for his relative innate tolerance toward those appealing sensations. His general curiosity tried to work against him, but that feeling wasnât strong enough to make him waver.
Yet, Khan didnât have to stare at the spinning sphere or merely fly in its presence. He had to absorb it, and that could cause problems that his innate tolerance and general resilience might be unable to fix.
âThis will be like the Great Old Oneâs memories all over again,â Khan considered, âWonât it?â
The process promised to be far worse than that, but Khan had a vague solution in mind. He was only after the spinning sphereâs energy, not its knowledge. Despite being a waste, he had to give up on that unavoidable series of enlightenments to protect his sanity.
âHow do I even want to tackle this?â Khan wondered, his figure rising higher, crossing his legs once he stopped above the whole valley. âThe [Blood Vortex] will probably work, but itâs about time I improve it. I have to absorb a whole planet this time, too.â
Improving the [Blood Vortex] wasnât strictly necessary, but Khan had no reason to hold back on it, especially due to the assignmentâs magnitude. It wouldnât even take any significant time since his new version would use his understanding of the Niqolsâ runes.
âAbsorption is too vague,â Khan considered. âI donât really have any emotional connection with it, either.â
Theoretically, the Niqolsâ runes couldnât express complex meanings, and the [Blood Vortex] fell into that category. Even Khanâs version relied on an intricate arrangement of lines that carried specific functions, giving birth to quite a tangled symbol.
However, Khan didnât use the Niqolsâ runes. He relied on the theory behind them, but his application was highly personal. The intended meaning didnât have to be simple in general. It only had to be simple for him.
The [Blood Vortex] had accompanied Khan for over a decade. His ability to translate and improve it through the Thilkuâs runes vouched for his mastery over the technique. It was natural to him, so his mind saw it as simple despite its various functions.
Khan only had to find a word, or a specific expression that conveyed what he wanted to do in its entirety now.
âMeditation feels too boring,â Khan brainstormed. âWhat about eating? No! Hunger! Hunger is cool.â
Khan didnât hesitate to summon his mana, his gaze growing lost as he focused on filling his energy with a specific, profound, and complete meaning so that it could assume the required shape.
The hallucination on the Scarlet Eyes had given one of Khanâs spells a peculiar shape, and the same went for the [Blood Vortex]. His mana gathered before his torso, creating a stylized, triangular head, which opened its mouth to show its long fangs.
The external influence was evident there. Khanâs mana had reacted to his genes and his awareness of where his issues with increasing his attunement with mana came from.
Khanâs body wasnât even close to being human now. The Great Old One had changed his genes forever, showing its face now that he had to fix that problem.
That peculiar shape caught Khanâs attention, but he mostly focused on its functioning. Pieces of the valley immediately broke down into raw energy and flew in his direction, creating brighter azure trails that converged into that reptilian mouth.
When the energy reached the purple-red head, its fangs shattered it even further, allowing Khan to absorb it as soon as it entered his body. His very cells helped the process, greedily devouring that mana, almost preventing its storage due to their efficiency.
That already was an improvement from the upgraded [Blood Vortex]. Still, Khan only acknowledged his success when the reptilian headâs suction force started affecting the spinning sphere, making a white-azure trail of that energy escape it and fly toward him.