Chapter 1371: Ancient horror

Khan had technically inherited the mana but had also rejected the position it had planned for him.

Therefore, Khan had lost access to some of the abilities he would have otherwise gained. That was the price he had to pay for choosing his individuality over the emotionless fate the mana had in store for him.

However, Khan wasn’t the only one with a connection to the mana. One Nak was still there, and Khan had yet to absorb the entire planet. Theoretically, the alien had the energy and ability to create a better escape route.

The partial unfreezing of the Nak didn’t immediately bring answers. The energy Liiza had granted it moved toward the surrounding mana, attuning with it to restore its connection with its maker, bringing the same awareness that had hit Khan.

“The enemy found the mana again,” The Nak exclaimed, making the air around it tremble to convey that message. “The mana can’t escape any longer.”

“[Yes, yes],” Khan said, continuing to use his wife’s language while employing the Nak’s language’s theories. “[The mana is doomed. What about my request]?”

The Nak did hear Khan the first time and was already processing his request. Blowing up the place wasn’t a problem. Almost every defensive mechanism had similar functions as ultimate trump cards, but the part about the teleport featured issues.

“The mana must use part of its heart for the teleport,” The Nak explained. “The heir won’t be able to seize the entire legacy. Khan Sodsi won’t be able to complete his evolution with the remaining energy, either.”

“[That’s fine],” Khan reassured. “[We both know that’s not the best way to defeat the Scarlet Eyes anyway].”

Khan had achieved that realization through the mana’s broader perspective, so the Nak had to be aware of that, too. Merely completing his attunement wouldn’t be enough. He lacked a vital piece, something the mana hoped to obtain through him, but that he couldn’t find in that energy.

“If that’s the heir’s will,” The Nak responded. “The mana will comply. It only requires a destination now.”

Khan couldn’t give a straight answer. Broader perspective or not, he didn’t know a solution to the issue. No matter where he went, the Scarlet Eyes were bound to follow, specifically chasing after him due to the very energy he was absorbing.

So, running away meant putting others in danger. It was an unavoidable consequence that escaping in the opposite direction of the regulated universe wouldn’t solve, either. After all, the Scarlet Eyes would just send their main force after him while deploying other troops against his allies’ other iteration of mana.

No one was safe as long as they wielded mana, and those forces needed Khan’s directives to hope to survive or even win. He had to be around and able to communicate without acting as a beacon that would make the Scarlet Eyes destroy anything on their path to reach him.

“[Is there a place that can hide us]?” Khan asked, the meaning spoken through the Nak’s language conveying exactly what he truly meant.

“The defensive structure’s explosion will delay the enemy,” The Nak revealed. “Does Khan Sodsi want additional delay?”

“[Yes]!” Khan exclaimed. “[Somewhere with mana where the Scarlet Eyes won’t immediately find us].”

Hiding was never the plan or the solution. Khan only wanted to mislead the Scarlet Eyes long enough to coordinate with his allies and prepare for battle. The mana had already done that once, so there was a chance it had created a place with similar qualities elsewhere.

“There is no place like that in the universe,” The Nak promptly destroyed Khan’s hopes, “But there is a celestial body with a being with mana powerful enough to create an interference if Khan Sodsi joins it.”

Khan frowned before his eyes widened in understanding. He didn’t know how to feel about meeting that being again, but it was far from the worst option. If anything, it would give Khan the chance to give him a proper update.

“[Fine],” Khan declared. “[Take the energy you need for the teleport there and give me everything else. I’ll finish this before the Scarlet Eyes breach through].”

“The heir won’t finish in time at the current-” The Nak began to say, only for violent gales to invade the area, seemingly ready to give birth to a series of hurricanes.

The planet was flowing toward Khan. Currents of boulders, bright air, and ethereal energy were converging onto the ten snake heads all around him, already putting the area at the center of intense gales.

Nevertheless, those gales suddenly grew more violent, accelerating and dragging more energy with them, compelled by the stronger suction force the snake heads radiated.

“[Stay with me],” Khan whispered. “[I don’t have much time].”

Learning about the imminent teleport made Liiza worry about Yeza. After all, she wanted nothing more than to reunite with her daughter, which reaching that unknown location would probably delay.

Yet, Liiza knew Khan shared those worries. His decision had actually taken their daughter into consideration, planning the safest course of action for her. If he believed the teleport was their best option, she would support him.

As for why Khan had spoken those words, Liiza didn’t have to think about it. She stopped caressing Khan’s hair to hug him tightly from behind again, making sure he felt the entirety of herself, knowing he would need that for what was about to come.

Khan let the cold sensations from his back spread over and into him before closing his eyes, focusing on them and something else.

The snake heads widened their maws, their suction force intensifying even more as their mouths grew vertical. More purple-red mana also flowed toward them, adding parts of a scaled body to their backs.

Proper giant snakes took shape. Their bodies grew more ethereal near Khan, not gaining any distinctive detail, but that more direct connection did wonders for his absorption speed.

What Liiza had previously only been able to spot through intrinsic aspects of her existence became evident for everyone to see. The planet started shrinking at an unfathomable pace, sucked dry by Khan’s training technique, which ironically abided by the birthright of the beings that powered it.

Even in the shape of a man, Khan behaved like an ancient horror, devouring a celestial body as if it were a mere bowl of food.

Yet, a black patch appeared far past the orbit during the process, expanding until its influence reached the planet’s surface, making Liiza lift her gaze at the darkening sky.