Chaos Heir

Chapter 1505: 99.99%

There was plenty of truth in Raymond’s statement. Khan’s relationship with humankind had always been complicated, to say the least, but even he couldn’t deny that claim.

Most accomplished species in the regulated universe had mana since birth or had possessed it for millennia.

Meanwhile, humankind had obtained the mana a mere five centuries ago, paying a steep price for it on top of that.

Five centuries weren’t a long time in the grand scheme of things, and humankind couldn’t have had a worse starting point, either. The First Impact had mangled Earth and its population beyond recognition, almost pushing the entire species toward extinction.

Nevertheless, humankind hadn’t only risen from the ashes of that global catastrophe. It had also expanded far farther than other species, achieving an unquestionably superior status in the regulated universe.

That wasn’t solely about mere expansion, either. Humankind had indeed stretched everywhere, but had also developed in ways other species couldn’t really match.

Humans had a crude and cynical understanding of the mana, but used that energy in far more diverse ways compared to other species. They could learn anything and repurpose it to their specific needs, obtaining simple but undeniable results.

That approach wasn’t out of xenophobia or narrow-mindedness. Those traits existed among humankind, but weren’t the main driving force behind how it decided to tackle mana-related issues.

Humans knew they were playing catch-up with the rest of the universe, so they had to prioritize immediate results, only absorbing the easier and more straightforward aspects of different arts into their own methods.

The fact that the allied front’s first official meeting had happened on Earth proved that approach right. Of course, Khan had played an essential part in that, but humankind’s home world was shaping itself to be that diverse organization’s headquarters.

No other species could claim that. The Global Army and humankind as a whole were now the center of the regulated universe, so much so that the fight for its very survival would start from there.

But Khan had to admit his own bias. He had never felt truly human since he had memory, and his journey had only pushed him further away from his origins.

Besides, even if Khan somehow found the strength to build pride in a species he had never considered his own, he wouldn’t know what to do with that feeling.

Mana truly worked in mysterious and magical ways, but developing pride wouldn’t change Khan’s situation. Getting tainted by a foreign force for the third time would still be dangerous, and a single failure would spell doom for him.

Still, a scolding sensation seeped through the mental barrier as Khan began to delve into the more profound aspects of that idea. His eyes also snapped toward its source, matching the opening of the flat’s elevator.

"I leave you alone for a few minutes," Liiza reprimanded, stepping out of the elevator to join that classified meeting, angry that Khan’s worst habits had resurfaced so soon.

Khan could hardly focus on the reprimand since his wife came with far more appealing and welcome surprises. Liiza had changed, donning a traditional grey Niqols’ robe, adjusted to expose her left arm. Moreover, their daughter was in her arms.

"Hello, you," Khan called, dramatically gasping, reaching for the happy child with her arms stretched toward him. "Do you want to come to Papa?"

"My Princess, my Princess," Abraham, Garret, and Raymond said simultaneously, performing polite salutes while Liiza handed Yeza to Khan.

"Look at how cute you are with your new dress," Khan praised, genuinely happy about Yeza’s white clothes, before frowning. "Wait, weren’t you lighter yesterday?"

Khan kept frowning while waving Yeza up and down, trying to feel any difference from the previous night. He couldn’t see any noticeable change. Reason also wanted that babies couldn’t just grow overnight, but that odd hunch never left.

Of course, Yeza took Khan’s tests as a game and never stopped voicing happy noises, waving her arms up and down to match her father’s gestures.

Meanwhile, Liiza spared the two a smile before glaring at the three scientists, inevitably focusing on the one she had marked for eternal slavery.

"[What happened]?" Liiza asked, switching to her native language to have a private conversation despite the public setting.

"[Raymond thinks I should just trust my human genes to welcome the new mutations]," Khan summarized, placing Yeza’s to the left side of Liiza’s face, trying to look for comparisons. "[Do you think she is bigger than yesterday]?"

Liiza suppressed a laugh, wanting to dismiss the matter, only for her curiosity to flare, bringing her attention back to Yeza. She didn’t see any actual size difference, but her hair felt somewhat off. It wasn’t longer by any stretch of the imagination, but it did look more plentiful.

"[Zaza said she ate a lot when she woke up]," Liiza muttered, "[And she ate again with me]."

"[Maybe it’s poo]," Khan guessed, bringing Yeza back to him, sniffing her, but not smelling anything similar to the chemical weapons of mass destruction she usually created.

That explanation didn’t convince Khan or Liiza, but the latter put the matter aside for now, recalling to address the previous issue, even if she disliked what she needed to say.

"[He is right]," Liiza revealed, sticking to the Niqols’ language to avoid telling Raymond that she agreed with him.

Khan couldn’t help but put the hunch about Yeza’s sudden growth aside, too, pulling her on his chest while shooting a questioning look at Liiza.

"[You have completed the Nak’s mission thanks to your father’s sacrifice, your efforts, and your openness to different arts]," Liiza declared. "[But your genes were a factor. Your human foundation made you suitable]."

"[Plenty of humans are tainted beyond saving]," Khan pointed out.

"[Plenty of beings]," Liiza corrected, "[With only one success. You are unique, meaning that everything about you played a part]."

Khan knew better than to contradict Liiza on those matters. She would always know more than he did, but that didn’t apply to his scientists.

"Abraham, Garret," Khan called. "What’s your take on this?"

Dwelling on the plan’s dangers was superfluous. Khan had to be aware of them, which left Abraham and Garret with nothing to say. After all, Raymond was the leading expert when it came to mutations. His mastery over the subject was the sole reason Khan had even accepted his help.

Besides, Raymond’s suggestion had been genuine and with no ill intentions. His tattoo would have flared otherwise, forcing Khan to consider its validity.

"We could perform tests, my Prince," Garret eventually said, "But everything would be theoretical and inconclusive."

That answer didn’t come as a surprise. It couldn’t. Khan’s being was already beyond what science could comprehend, and he wanted to push it even further. The trio of specialists couldn’t possibly have answers they were confident in.

"Very well," Khan sighed. "Let’s go for those tests, but prioritize checking my current attunement and finding out how much I’d need to fulfill it."

The order confused the scientists, and Abraham didn’t hesitate to voice that sentiment. "My Prince, didn’t you want to fulfill your attunement through the True Chaos?"

"To keep the variables to a minimum," Khan announced, "I should leave that for the last possible moment."

The answer didn’t disperse the confusion, but Khan wasn’t done.

"Let’s see," Khan muttered, tilting his head. "One percent is probably still too much, so I’d say my attunement should be at ninety-nine point nine-nine percent before putting this plan into action."