Chaos' Heir Chapter 952: Rules

Chapter 952: Rules

Garret and Lieutenant Dyester were both smarter than Khan in their specific fields. Their reputation was well-earned and proven in many instances. Their strategies and ideas reeked of pure wisdom born from experience, but Khan couldn't stick to their methods.

As always, Monica was right. Khan had never played by the rules, and they had never applied to him, either. He had often pretended to abide by them to retain a degree of connection with the rest of the world, but that time was long behind him.

Lieutenant Dyester's strategies were perfect. Garret's suggestions were brilliant, but Khan saw a different path. Strength was everything on the battlefield, and he wielded enough of it to enforce his own rules. An entire planet was too much for Khan, but the remaining quadrants were within the range of his abilities.

Khan made a short stop to seize some provisions before setting off. His phone was connected to the Headquarters' network, so he could summon Senerth's map anytime. Receiving updates on the situation would require him to return inside the perimeter, but he had given a precise timeline and planned to make the most of it.

The Headquarters moved before and after each battle to remain relatively close to the next fighting front, so Khan didn't take long to cross the defensive perimeter. He flew past the tall turrets, diving into the unconquered territory.

Khan relied on the map on the phone and symphony to navigate those quadrants. At times, he would spot roaming packs, with a few engaged in battles. Still, he ignored them and focused on reaching his destination.

The remaining quadrants weren't exactly uncharted territory. The Leviathan had mapped them, providing a precise scan of their layout. He knew where the best resources were, and conquering them was bound to bring the monsters' attention to him.

It took a while, and the symphony eventually had to step in to add details to the phone's map, but Khan eventually spotted his destination. A short, smooth hill grew from a barren plain, creating a stark contrast with the ground. The night had descended, covering the area in darkness, but light existed in Khan's eyes.

The smooth hill was murky, reflecting the absence of illumination, but Khan saw it as blinding dark blue. The mineral was nothing short of a ma.s.s of mana, albeit its energy wasn't entirely pure.

The mineral wasn't alone. Khan saw similar lights around it, s.h.i.+ning from under the barren ground. Also, hundreds of smaller auras encircled it, making it their lair. A powerful, numerous pack had settled on the hill, ready to defend it against attackers.

Khan was flying high enough to avoid the monsters' sharp senses, and the huge mineral also provided interference. The pack remained oblivious to Khan's arrival, allowing him to study it without alarming the creatures.

The location was extremely valuable. The hill and the underground mine could probably supply the pack for years, and their benefits didn't end there. Their appeal would attract other hungry beasts, providing a stable food source as long as the monsters in charge kept winning. The area's priceless nature justified the presence of a powerful alpha. Khan didn't have scanners, but his senses were sharper than machines. The huge creature lazily resting on top of the hill was as strong as a fifth-level warrior, and its physical features confirmed the existence of mutations.

The alpha was far bigger than any specimens encountered in the previous months. It looked almost four meters tall with black skin instead of fur. It resembled a boulder while crouched, and its long claws released metallic noises when they sc.r.a.ped the mineral underneath them.

Wisdom said Khan had to submerge the place in spears, raining fire until each monster turned into charred fur and gore. His ability to fly was his greatest advantage against those monsters, and ruining the hill wouldn't affect him. Those goods would go to the other Excellencies anyway.

However, a different drive took over Khan. He began to descend, unleas.h.i.+ng the full might of his aura. The dark sky seemed on the verge of turning purple-red under his influence, and the power he radiated completely overwhelmed the mineral's interference.

Only part of the pack patrolled the mineral's perimeter. The other monsters were either sleeping or resting around the hill, but the arrival of Khan's aura alerted everyone. Hundreds of hungry heads rose toward the sky, and growls and howls welcomed the arrival of two blue lights.

The alpha also jumped to its feet, firmly planting its paws on the mineral. It was ready to defend it with its life, but its hunger was boundless. After confirming that Khan was alone, the creature released a low growl that suppressed the nearby noise. The other monsters looked angry but still lowered their heads, accepting their leader's claim over that food.

Khan didn't bother checking the pack's behavior. He didn't need to, either. The symphony told him everything he needed to know. The other monsters wouldn't interfere with the imminent battle.

Khan didn't accelerate and kept his descent's speed low. Meanwhile, the alpha followed him with its four eyes, waiting for the right moment to strike. Eventually, Khan entered its leap range, but the monster remained still.

The alpha moved only after Khan's feet touched the mineral. The creature lunged forward, its ma.s.sive front claws closing on Khan. A loud cry accompanied the a.s.sault, but Khan's sudden acceleration cut it short.

Khan advanced, dodging the closing claws to slam his right hand on the monster's head. His fingers clawed onto it, immobilizing the beast while trying to push it back. However, the strength of a single arm couldn't suppress a creature as strong as a fifth-level warrior.

The monster lowered its head and pushed Khan back, bringing its sharp paws on him again. He would typically need to escape in the air, but that confrontation was happening under the rules he had decided.

Khan suddenly released the monster's head, slamming his arms to his sides. He caught the alpha's paws before they could touch him, and his fingers squeezed them, unleas.h.i.+ng all the strength they could carry.

The monster's skin resembled a tough alloy under Khan's touch. The best his body had to offer couldn't break it, but the creature didn't have it any better. Khan was locking down its front legs, keeping himself outside its maw's range. The alpha couldn't overpower him, entering a contest of pure physical strength.

Khan kept the monster still while the latter tried to put power into its rear legs to push him away. The alpha didn't succeed, and the pressure from Khan's fingers gradually increased. His body innately radiated an invasive energy, weakening the creature's skin until cracks opened

under his fingertips.

The alpha immediately abandoned its pride, howling to prompt the pack to move. The monsters heard the order and rushed toward the hill, climbing it to deal with the formidable opponent. Khan sensed everything but remained unfazed. Actually, a strange smile formed on

his face.

"Too late," Khan whispered. "You are already broken."

The alpha obviously couldn't understand Khan's words, but its body began to feel odd. Something was amiss, and consequences quickly arrived. Cracks spread through its front legs, reaching its body and head. Its skin turned into gory shards that began falling apart, creating a b.l.o.o.d.y waterfall that tainted the smooth mineral.