Chapter 1508: Spin
No number of evolved warriors would ever be enough when it came to a threat that put the entire regulated universe at risk. However, Khan had to admit he had a fair share of those at his disposal now.
The Royal Court, the evolved representatives, those ten special assets, and Khanâs own soldiers made for quite a big group, especially when he included himself, Liiza, and potentially Ilman.
That probably still wouldnât suffice against the True Chaos, but it started to become too much for Khan alone to handle and arrange.
After all, different evolved assets would have different jobs. The True Chaosâ Kings were the main threat, but their underlings were plenty troublesome already, also demanding a certain level of attention.
Deciding who had to face what technically was Khanâs job. As the universeâs leading expert in the True Chaos, only he could make those arrangements with any degree of confidence.
Yet, Khan couldnât exactly spar with anyone who joined him to evaluate their battle prowess and assign them to a specific group. Actually, he could, but also had bigger problems to handle, namely preparing himself for his fight against the God.
But there was something else Khan could do at the moment, something that could be more meaningful than sheer battle prowess.
âWell, I should at least thank you for coming,â Khan announced, his figure descending toward the sand, landing before the group.
Liiza followed behind, only sparing the group a single glance before refocusing on Khan and the small figure still on his head. Yeza couldnât really balance herself on her own, and her fatherâs hands might become busy soon.
âStill, letâs make a few things clear,â Khan continued. âThis isnât a show. This battlefield will have little room for glory and fame. If you are here to earn some political points for the nobles, I suggest you join a different group.â
Khan didnât care if he sounded disrespectful. He would accept any kind of help, but the battles he had in mind would be crucial to the universeâs survival, so he couldnât accept half-baked resolve.
However, the group of evolved warriors ended up surprising Khan. Despite the wariness toward him, no one faltered. If anything, the general seriousness that spread through the group vouched for something else.
âPrince Khan,â Kodwa, the grey old man, called. âWe understand your distrust, and even respect it, but we wouldnât be here if we didnât believe in the mission.â
âWhy the games, then?â Khan wondered, opting to avoid pretenses of any kind. âWhy not send the entire evolved force in your familiesâ possession?â
The evolved assets werenât exactly family members. They were no nobles, but that didnât make them worthless. They were those familiesâ true nuclear deterrent, meaning they wielded actual, incorruptible power, something that mere politics couldnât sway.
âOh, young Prince,â Airrak, the old, crooked-backed woman, softly chuckled. âThe noble families didnât send anyone. We are the ones they couldnât stop.â
Another wave of surprise washed over Khan, even if he hid it well. The high number of evolved warriors immediately felt incredibly small now. Khan knew few would have been willing to risk their lives in the war, but ten was lower than he expected.
After all, there was another truth to Airrakâs statement. Realistically, the noble families had no way of stopping evolved warriors in a meaningful way. The truth was that those assets had simply refused to come as reinforcement.
As for the codenames, they were a political spin the nobles had applied to salvage a situation they couldnât control. Since their evolved warriors were set on joining the fray, they might as well earn their families some fame.
âI see,â Khan muttered. âThen, I guess Iâm sorry for having the party yesterday. I would have wanted you to attend it.â
âIâm not good with crowds,â Perac, the bald, hairy middle-aged man, growled.
Khan blinked, scratching his head, only for it to snap on Yeza since she was about to fall. He kept her secured inside his crown, but his mind didnât forget the current issue.
âAnd what are you good at?â Khan questioned. âDid you all see the footage of my battle? Do you think you can face a True Chaosâ King?â
Khan knew the answer when it came to Bruno, but couldnât be sure about the others, some of them, at least. The three who had stood out, especially, seemed promising, but he wanted to hear it from their mouths.
âIs the information about the mutagen reliable?â Kodwa asked.
âWe donât know whether it will work on us,â Airrak added, âOr if we can work on the True Chaos.â
Tests were indeed impossible until the True Chaos reappeared, which wasnât the plan. The Thilku Emperor had decided to attack, whatever that meant, so the allied front would follow. Everything to defeat that enemy had to be ready before that, including the elite teams.
âMy element should work,â Perac claimed. âMy mana is hardly mana anymore.â
âIs there a specific point when the mana stops suffering from that weakness, Prince Khan?â Bruno questioned before moving his attention to someone else. âPrincess Liiza?â
Liizaâs cold expression didnât waver, but Khan could sense the surprise in her mind. She still had to get used to being a Princess. She actually didnât know what it meant yet. As for Brunoâs question, Liiza had an answer instead.
âExplaining it to humans would be pointless,â Liiza exclaimed, switching language. â[Husband, those three might be something].â
â[You sensed that, too],â Khan commented, knowing Liiza was talking about the same evolved warriors, but heaving a sigh nonetheless.
Truth be told, there was only one way to form an elite team in those circumstances. It would also serve to reveal everyoneâs powers, as well as a much-needed stretch before the war.
âAh!â Khan cried. âYou all come with me. Iâll settle you with the Thilku before announcing the good news.â
âPrince Khan?â Bruno called, questioning.
âIsnât it my Prince for you?â Khan casually asked, waving his hand dismissively. âDid I ever tell you this? I honestly canât remember.â
Khan lost himself in his memories for a second, only to shrug his shoulders and explain himself. âAnyway, weâll have a tournament. The winners get to risk dying more than the others.â