Chapter 500: People

Meeting the descendants after achieving that new status gave Khan a broader perspective on the amount of wealth they actually held. Calling them worlds apart almost didn't fit the description. No one could accumulate that sum in a single lifetime, especially without a background.

The situation appeared hopeless, but Khan could find a positive side. The reality check made him give up trying to match the descendants in that field. He would never achieve that, so he had to prioritize the only thing they lacked, which involved the Global Army.

When the last weekly lesson ended, Khan jumped on his ship with a newfound resolve. The lack of alternatives made the path toward his goals easier to pursue, and his body reacted to that mindset, allowing him to fly faster than before.

Induna was farther than Abora and Honides. A cheap ship would generally take two full days to cover the distance that separated it from the Harbor, but Khan saved twelve hours due to his incredible resilience.

After one and a half days of flight, a pale-blue planet appeared in the ship's scanners, forcing Khan to endure the deceleration procedures. Calls also arrived to coordinate his landing, and it didn't take long before the vehicle pierced Induna's atmosphere.

A bluish landscape unfolded on the canopy's windows. Ice spread everywhere, creating frozen mountains, plains, and canyons. Pale-blue snow fell from grey clouds that covered the entire planet, making it hard for Khan to spot the outpost with his eyes.

The ship obviously had scanners for the task, and the autopilot had also coordinated with the targeted outpost, so Khan could let go of the steering wheel. His eyes wandered to the windows as Induna's details ran through his thoughts. Still, the scenery confirmed that there wasn't much to know about that planet.

According to the reports, Induna was a lifeless planet that the Harbor mostly used to dig out water. Valuable metals and minerals existed under the ice, but nothing was vital to the Harbor's survival.

The findings hidden in the ice were the only exception to Induna's otherwise plain environment. Fossils and much more coming from before that ice age filled the planet, and many scientists were interested in them. Yet, their retrieval could be troublesome and expensive, which explained Khan's presence.

The autopilot led the ship behind a huge frozen mountain and toward its base. Something moved there, and a black building became visible once the gate at its center opened, making the snow above it fall.

The ship crossed the gate and landed on a vast hangar, mostly featuring small terrestrial vehicles. Soldiers wearing long black coats and thick hats waited in the area, and the usual military salutes unfolded when Khan appeared in the open.

"Sir, please, wear these," One of the soldiers left the welcoming party to approach Khan and hand a coat and a hat.

The temperature in the hangar was strangely low, and the gate's opening had made it fall even further. Khan had no problem enduring that cold, but his mission would involve the outside world, so he wore his new clothes.

"I'd rather hurry," Khan announced since the soldiers had yet to break their military salute. "Is everything still as stated in Headmistress Holwen's report?"

The trip had taken a while. It was early morning of the last day of the week, making it impossible for Khan to return for the first lessons. Yet, he could still save a few hours if the mission didn't feature problems.

"Yes, sir!" The soldier that had handed the winter clothes responded while leading Khan into a different part of the hangar. "The snow never stopped, but we have machines that keep the area clean."

"Let's see this cave then," Khan ordered, and the hangar began to move to start the mission.

The soldier led Khan to a closed jeep that could hold up to eight people. However, only five entered it to leave Khan alone on the backseats.

That preferential treatment was nothing unusual after Madam Solodrey's announcement. The soldiers didn't know whether to see Khan as a Captain or a descendant, so they did a bit of both in their manners.

No one spoke unless called. No one turned unless Khan's requests required that. Everyone in the vehicle acted like the slightest mistake could lead to a death sentence, and the symphony conveyed their tension.

Khan played along with that treatment. He preferred silence anyway since it let him study the environment in peace, but Induna didn't offer much in that field.

The Global Army had dug multiple roads that stretched from the outpost to the various extraction plants. Small and big automated vehicles filled them to deliver any retrieved goods, mainly consisting of blocks of ice. Induna didn't have anything else. Khan could only enjoy the cold piercing into the jeep and wait.

Almost half an hour had to pass for the jeep to reach a small plain. An encampment made of metal tents filled it, and a vast path divided it in half, leading to a big opening in the wall of ice in the distance.

Pale faces, drooling noses, and tremors unfolded in Khan's view. The encampment's welcoming team had more than twenty soldiers, and snow had covered them. Those warriors were freezing, but no one dared to move.

"At ease," Khan announced as soon as he left the jeep. Induna's cold reached him at that point, threatening to make his entire body shake. Snow also fell on his face, attempting to hinder his vision.

"Return to your tents," Khan continued. "I only need my escort."

Sighs of relief followed Khan's order. Many soldiers in the welcoming line split to hurry back to their tents. Only a few remained outside, and the team from the jeep joined them to create Khan's escort.

"This way, sir," One of the soldiers in the team announced while pointing at the opening in the distance.

To Khan's surprise, the plain's ground wasn't slippery. A layer of snow had covered it, but finding stable footholds wasn't a problem. The Global Army had probably done something to the ice below, which made the walk toward the cave more comfortable than he expected.

That changed as soon as the team crossed the cave's entrance. The Global Army had dug through the ice to create a vast descending path that could fit a jeep. There was even a metal staircase on its left side, but Induna's cold had made its steps slippery.

The escort's soldiers knew their way around that environment, so they supported themselves on the staircase's handrail to avoid losing their balance. As for Khan, mere ice couldn't affect his feet, so he waited for his companions to advance.

The staircases went on for hundreds of meters and even turned a few times. Rocks eventually appeared on the various surfaces, leaving the job to fend off the darkness to the many electric lamps hanging from the ceiling.

On the fifth turn, the staircase ended in a narrow and dark crevice that could barely fit a full-grown man. Khan peeked through the gap, but his heightened eyes couldn't see much. He only noticed that the hole stretched quite deeply.

"The scanners on the surface show an underground room in a branch of this hole," One of the soldiers explained. "Sir, the fossil shouldn't be bigger than a fist."

"Remind me why you didn't enlarge this opening," Khan ordered.

"The cave isn't stable enough for that," The soldier responded, "And we don't have the best probes on Induna."

"There isn't much to probe," Khan commented. "I'll need a bag."

"Sir?" The soldier asked. He had just explained how small the fossil was, so Khan's request didn't make sense.

Khan only needed to look at the soldier to make those doubts useless. The team was carrying a couple of backpacks, but they were full, so they emptied one on the spot to complete Khan's request.

The warm coat and hat fell on the ice with the backpack's contents. Khan undressed to make the passage through the hole more comfortable and even shook his head when one of the soldiers tried to give him a torch.

"It won't take long," Khan announced, suppressing the tremor the cold tried to trigger.

Khan jumped into the hole and let the cold seep through his uniform to reach his skin. He slid through that dark cavity for tens of meters until the space grew big enough to fit a whole jeep.

Khan kicked the icy surface behind him to stop sliding and freefall. Of course, his feet promptly moved to slow him down, and he even lifted a finger to release some mana and illuminate the area.

The symphony and the mana's illumination allowed Khan to find the mentioned branch quickly. He only had to descend a bit longer before finding himself before another narrow passage that led into a vast underground room.

The cold began to get to Khan at that point. The temperature had dropped even further, threatening to affect his ability to move. He had to activate the kinetic barrier to keep himself warm, which began to melt the ice around him.

Khan believed that the cave would survive that little warmth. Still, he was no expert, and facing pointless risks wasn't ideal at those depths. Also, he wanted to hurry back to his ship, so he put his senses to work and scoured the area.

The underground room was uneven, with many hidden corners and small cavities. Yet, the surfaces were made of simple rocks and ice, so Khan easily spotted unusual items. Anything that didn't properly reflect the membrane's purple-red light could contain something valuable.

Khan used his technique's warmth to melt those surfaces and retrieve the items inside but often ended up with mere rocks. However, a few exceptions existed. Khan found three rectangular shells that the ice had preserved quite nicely, a few broken ones, and what looked like bones.

Khan's latest finding completed his mission. The wall at the end of the room hid a blue crystal containing a mosquito-like creature. That was what the scanners had picked up, and Khan dug through the ice to retrieve it.

A second inspection of the room didn't reveal anything, so Khan left and flew back to the initial cavity. The escort team was still waiting for him, and surprise spread when the soldiers saw Khan returning so soon.

Some doubts inevitably appeared, but Khan silenced them by taking out the blue crystal from the backpack. A soldier used one of the tools on the ground to inspect it, and confirming its authenticity marked the mission's success.

Khan wore his winter clothes again and climbing the staircase warmed them up. The encampment eventually appeared, signaling his return to the surface. It seemed he could prepare for his departure immediately, but the arrival of a small triangular ship hinted at problems.

In theory, Induna had ships flying from outpost to outpost. Yet, many were automated and mostly meant for transporting cargo. Instead, the vehicle that had descended toward the encampment could barely fit a small team.

Khan's escort team shared his surprise, especially since the ship never completed its descent. It stopped a few meters from the ground to hover above the metal tents.

The situation was so unusual that some soldiers left their tents to inspect the ship. Still, the vehicle didn't make any official announcement. It only rotated to point its back at the cave's entrance and open its backdoors.

'No fucking way,' Khan cursed when a familiar figure appeared at the center of those open doors. Wayne stood there with his usual smile, ignoring the snow that fell on his military uniform.

'How did he even get here so soon?' Khan wondered.

Wayne had attended Khan's last lesson, and the latter had left the Harbor right afterward. His ship's speed theoretically made it hard for anyone to reach Induna as fast as him, and his dive into the cave lasted less than an hour.

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Khan and Wayne kept their eyes on each other while the rest of the soldiers remained confused. The two young men were the only ones with a vague idea of what was happening, but neither moved.

"You keep these," Khan eventually announced while handing his backpack to the nearest soldier, "And prepare my ship."

The escort team was confused, but the idea of contradicting Khan never crossed their minds. They simply performed military salutes, but he ignored them before leaping toward the ship.

A few jumps through the snow made Khan reach the ship and land at its entrance. Its passengers' area was empty and devoid of any tools. Only Wayne and the seats stood there.

'I should have brought my knife,' Khan thought while Wayne continued to show his excited smile. The man appeared happier than usual, and no darkness tainted its presence.

"I thought you wouldn't have come," Khan commented.

"I didn't expect it either," Wayne laughed. "They only told me to hop on this ship."

"From the Harbor?" Khan questioned.

"I can't reveal that," Wayne replied.

"Who told you that?" Khan pressed on.

"I can't reveal that," Wayne responded.

"What can you reveal?" Khan directly asked.

"Nothing, really," Wayne laughed. "I know as much as you from now on."

"And what does this now stand for?" Khan wondered.

"You coming with us," Wayne stated. "I don't know why or where."

Khan kept his eyes on Wayne, but his senses reached for the environment. The backdoors were still open, and Khan could feel the many eyes on him. More soldiers had come out of the tents, and he had become the main attraction.

As for the ship, Khan couldn't sense anything strange. The cabin had a wall that separated it from the passengers' area, but Khan could still feel the second-level warrior in the pilot's seat. The vehicle had only that.

"Why would I come?" Khan asked.

"I don't know," Wayne admitted. "They only told me that you would."

Khan had long since suspected Wayne of being part of a larger conspiracy involving Mister Chares and possibly the Hive. Still, in the weeks since Wayne's arrival, Khan had been unable to find a single clue about his identity or goal.

The Headmistress and Lucian were in the same situation, and the other students were no different. No one seemed to know where Wayne had come from. His grades were good, but the lack of background and meaningful connections made him suspicious.

Realistically, Khan had no reason to follow Wayne. His duties lay elsewhere. He was a student, so it was in his interest to return to the Harbor as soon as possible.

Yet, Wayne seemed to know something about Khan's family, and events with Monica had added fuel to his curiosity. That might have been a coincidence, but it still happened.

'Why do I feel like I won't learn anything if I don't follow him?' Khan wondered. Somehow, he knew that he had to face risks to uncover truths. Luckily for him, he was no coward.

"Lead the way," Khan eventually gave up.

"Wonderful!" Wayne exclaimed before slamming his fist on the ship's side. The pilot understood the meaning of that gesture and closed the doors to begin the flight.

"You are happier than usual," Khan commented, inspecting anything he could sense.

A lot of snow had entered the ship due to how long its backdoors had remained open. Khan was wearing a coat and a hat, but even he felt cold. However, Wayne appeared perfectly comfortable without winter clothes.

"It's nice to be just the two of us," Wayne responded. "Isn't it?"

"It would be nicer if I knew who you really were," Khan uttered.

"I'm not at liberty to reveal that," Wayne laughed.

'Predictable,' Khan thought before opting for a different approach. "What about the raised-in-the-dark stuff? Can you tell me about that?"

"Oh, that's easy," Wayne exclaimed. "I was promising, so they did everything they could to make me the best."

"What do you mean?" Khan asked.

"I'm like you," Wayne stated, "Modified and enhanced. Just, I could never gain any glory from my successes."

"An incident mutated me," Khan pointed out.

"I guess yours was a coincidence," Wayne admitted, bringing a hand to his chin and diverting his gaze. "Mine wasn't. I lost count of the injections and trials they put me through to give me this strength. You sure are lucky."

Khan's mana shook a bit at those words. No one truly knew how desperate the nightmares had made him, and being labeled as "lucky" felt like an insult. Still, Wayne had revealed something that made him ignore that anger.

"Did they experiment on you?" Khan questioned.

"Oh, yeah!" Wayne laughed, reaching for his uniform's buttons to uncover his chest. "I still have scars from those procedures."

Khan had to hold back a frown. Wayne's muscular body carried cross-shaped scars, and Khan could only see those on his chest and shoulder. They also looked like old wounds that had started to fade, but missing them was impossible.

"Why?" Khan couldn't help but ask.

"Talent, I suppose," Wayne wore his innocent smile while buttoning his uniform.

'Maybe,' Khan thought as a random idea popped into his mind.

"You said we are like brothers," Khan reminded. "Does it mean you are half noble?"

"I can't reveal that," Wayne laughed.

Khan couldn't find more questions, but his mind continued to run. George's hypothesis of a loaned descendant appeared in his thoughts and made him create shocking scenarios.

Wayne had to have powerful backing. His sudden arrival at the Harbor alone could confirm that, but better clues existed. It simply didn't make sense that the Headmistress and the other descendants couldn't find anything about him.

That left Khan with three options. Wayne could be a member of a secret organization, a wealthy family, or a noble family. Only those forces had the power to create such a convincing fake identity.

Wayne's words made Khan inclined toward the nobles since he suspected his mother had a similar status. Moreover, it would sound more reasonable for forces at the peak of humankind to achieve all of that.

Of course, Khan knew that those options could blend. Wayne could be part of an illegal faction of the Hive built by the very nobles. The edges weren't too clear on that topic, and Khan couldn't find answers just by thinking about the matter.

The lack of other available topics created a lasting silence. Khan and Wayne remained on their feet, staring at each other in a stalemate that involved a cold face and the embodiment of happiness.

The flight lasted longer than Khan expected. He didn't check the time but could feel that at least twenty minutes had passed before the ship began its descent.

The ship eventually landed, and its backdoors opened into a snowy environment. Wayne directly jumped out, while Khan took a few seconds to inspect his surroundings. He couldn't find anything strange. He actually didn't find anything at all. The vehicle had reached another frozen plain that lacked any trace of technology.

Wayne didn't say anything. He simply looked at Khan with his usual smile, eventually making him jump out too. The two ended up in that frozen desolation, and the ship's doors closed behind them.

Khan glanced at the ship when it set off. He could intervene, break its doors and take control of it but held back. That dangerous development confirmed the importance of the event, and he wanted to get to the bottom of it.

The ship quickly disappeared among the snow, leaving Khan and Wayne seemingly stranded on Induna. The two didn't know where they were, but something else happened before any of them could speak.

A whooshing noise fused with the snow blowing when warm air seeped from a nearby frozen spot. Black lines appeared on the ground to create a square that descended to reveal a metallic structure underneath.

"I think it's for us," Wayne announced, heading directly for that new opening.

Khan inspected his surroundings once more but eventually followed Wayne. The two reached the opening and found a descending metal corridor equipped with staircases and electric lamps. The place reeked of synthetic mana, and its entrance closed as soon as Khan left its range.

Wayne and Khan's steps on the metal staircase echoed through the corridor, revealing its size. The two had to descend for a while before finding a change in the environment. A door eventually unfolded in their view, and its opening revealed its purpose as an elevator.

'Even deeper,' Khan took a mental note while entering the elevator with Wayne. The machine's entrance closed on its own before moving down, but the descent didn't last long.

Khan didn't know what to expect from that underground structure, but the opening of the elevator didn't disappoint. An immense hall filled with piles of boxes, long assembly lines, and workers unfolded in his view. The area was crowded, and many eyes fell on him.

Wayne stepped out of the elevator, and Khan waited a few seconds before following him. He knew he was walking into a trap, so escape plans formed and broke inside his mind.

Khan glanced at the tall ceiling before feeling forced to lower his gaze. Some workers ignored their assembly lines to show pure awe at his arrival. Proper reverence also filled the symphony, and neither of those feelings targeted Wayne.

'Do I know these people?' Khan wondered while going through the vast path at the hall's center.

The workers weren't wearing military uniforms, but their bodies radiated mana. Khan mostly sensed first-level warriors, but a few powerful auras existed somewhere. The symphony carried traces of people as strong as him, but he seemed unable to recognize anyone.

The awe and reverence weren't isolated cases. Every worker showed those emotions as soon as they recognized Khan. A few dropped their boxes or posts on the assembly lines to step toward the path. No one approached him, but a group began to form around him.

The situation was strange, but that feeling transformed into coldness once Khan noticed something familiar. Huge shelves became visible after crossing a few assembly lines, and the items on them made Khan stop in his tracks.

Body armor, visors, and rifles Khan had seen wielded by the kidnappers on Nippe 2 filled the shelves. Their numbers were in the hundreds, and workers stuffed them into boxes before sealing those containers. A shipment appeared in motion, and Khan couldn't even begin to guess its recipient.

Wayne noticed that Khan had stopped and imitated him. He even followed his gaze but found nothing familiar in that military equipment. The man only felt curiosity, which was his general feeling toward almost everything.

"Where are we?" Khan felt forced to ask, even if he knew his question was pointless.

"I wouldn't know," Wayne replied. "It looks like a warehouse."

"An illegal warehouse," Khan corrected.

"And who deemed it to be illegal?" A familiar voice resounded behind one of the shelves, and Khan and Wayne turned toward its source.

Khan had kept track of the symphony, so he felt no surprise when a third-level warrior, a tall man with a sword hanging from his waist, became visible. Yet, the worker was carrying a rectangular device that radiated holograms, and the face in those images made Khan instinctively reach for his missing knife.

"Mister Chares," Khan saluted. "It has been a while."

"Almost five weeks," Mister Chares said through the holograms. "I told you I couldn't wait that long, Captain."

"You should have contacted me sooner," Khan suggested.

"The change in your status got in the way," Mister Chares explained. "By the way, congratulations. Miss Solodrey looks like a lovely girl."

A tremor ran through Khan's mana, but he remained calm enough to continue the conversation. "To answer your previous question, I've seen this equipment during a kidnapping attempt on Princess Edna. Owning a warehouse full of it tells me it's illegal."

"I never said I owned it," Mister Chares pointed out. "I'm not even there."

"And where are you?" Khan asked.

"That's not important," Mister Chares stated. "What's important is my schedule. I must make a delivery soon, which still lacks a pilot because of you."

"You can have illegal warehouses on Induna," Khan commented. "You can find a replacement for your incompetent nephew."

"Sadly, this business requires trust," Mister Chares sighed, "And clearance in the Harbor's system. That's not easy to find with Headmistress Holwen reinforcing her security with each passing day."

"It seems you are too late," Khan uttered.

"On the contrary," Mister Chares declared. "I have the perfect replacement right here."

"Why would I help you?" Khan questioned.

"Because it's your legacy," Mister Chares responded. "Look around you. These are your people."

Khan kept a straight face but still diverted his gaze. A big group had formed around him, and a few took Mister Chares' words as the signal to step forward.

"Captain Khan," A middle-aged woman announced when she left the group. "It's wonderful to meet you. You truly represent the best of us."

"Who is this us?" Khan asked.

"People wronged by the families, obviously," The middle-aged woman revealed.

"Captain, sir!" A man called while also leaving the group. "I'm from the Slums, like you. The Global Army left me to die, but the organization saved me."

"Me too, sir!" A second man called. "My family was destroyed long ago, but the organization took care of all its descendants. They have mana now."

The first calls caused a chain effect. Khan soon found multiple people in the group searching for his attention through stories of how they had escaped the Slums of bad situations thanks to the organization's help.

"Why do they call it organization?" Khan questioned among the shouts. "Is Hive too hard to remember?"

"The Hive is a terrorist faction," Mister Chares explained. "This organization has a different purpose."

"Which is?" Khan pressed on.

"Giving a chance to those abandoned by the Global Army," Mister Chares continued. "You are living proof that commoners have the same or more talent than any descendant."

Khan began to understand the situation. His background had turned those workers into fans since they saw the realization of something impossible in him. After all, Khan had touched the nobles while coming from the Slums.

"I don't do charity," Khan eventually said, "And I definitely don't work in the dark."

"You only need to name a price," Mister Chares repeated the words he had used during their first meeting.

"When is the delivery?" Khan asked.

"I'll tell you if you join," Mister Chares replied.

"What should I deliver?" Khan continued.

"I can't say until you accept," Mister Chares stated.

"What's the purpose of the delivery?" Khan pressed on.

"Join," Mister Chares voiced, "And the answers will come."

Khan didn't like that. He had already been a pawn in someone else's game, and the experience had been far from enjoyable. Besides, collaborating with a criminal organization wasn't ideal in his current political situation.

"I have answers that might truly interest you too," Mister Chares showed a knowing smile. "I know the names your parents were forced to abandon."

Khan's expression tried to flicker, but he suppressed any reaction. He embodied detachment, even if curiosity had already filled his mind.

"Out of curiosity," Khan said. "What if I refuse?"

"Captain, let's not do this," Mister Chares retained his smile, but his tone went cold.

"Answer me," Khan ordered.

"Very well," Mister Chares uttered, and part of the holograms changed to depict a familiar scene. Khan saw himself in the device. The hall had recorded his arrival.

"Linking me to illegal organizations?" Khan wondered. "No one will believe that."

"Are you sure?" Mister Chares asked. "Doubt is a powerful weapon. It might break even the most powerful bond, especially when so much is around it."

Khan's mana shook again. Mister Chares was clearly hinting at his relationship with Monica. His friends and trusted superior would never believe random claims, but the Solodrey family might decide to distance itself due to such dangerous rumors.

"I think I'll leave," Khan turned toward the elevator.

"Violet forty-six," Mister Chares promptly said, and Wayne's eyes lit up. He performed a long jump to land between Khan and the elevator, and his excitement explained his stance.

"I'm afraid I can't let you leave," Mister Chares declared.

"Do you think you can stop me?" Khan scoffed, lifting his hand to make mana flow out of it. "Do you know who I am?"

"Captain," Mister Chares said as his smile disappeared. "We are a few hundred meters underground. You might destroy the ceiling and escape, but what would happen to the rest of the people here?"

Mister Chares' words hit the mark. Khan kept his eyes on the holograms, but his senses ran through most of the hall. More than a hundred people had to be down there, and the symphony didn't flag them as ill-intentioned terrorists. Actually, many felt completely innocent.

"Captain, don't endanger your people," Mister Chares continued. "They respect you so much. It's only proper to fulfill their feelings."

Those emotional tricks couldn't work on Khan, but he had similar problems to handle. Mister Chares was right. If he went wild, he risked submerging most workers in the rubble.

"I'll just use the elevator," Khan announced, retrieving his mana and stepping toward Wayne. "Move."

"Make me," Wayne laughed, and Khan didn't hesitate. The synthetic mana in the area moved toward his legs to create an inhuman sprint.

Khan delivered his fastest kick at the center of Wayne's chest. Yet, to his surprise, Wayne managed to react to it. He lifted his arm in time to intercept Khan's foot, and the impact made him slide on the smooth metal floor.

Wayne slid for a few meters, and his smile broadened once he stopped. Instead, Khan felt stunned. Wayne didn't only endure his best kick. An ordinary third-level warrior would have a few bones broken after that impact, but Wayne didn't even lose his balance.

"You definitely are faster than me!" Wayne exclaimed, seemingly unable to contain his excitement.

"Captain, I only need to keep you here," Mister Chares spoke again. "If I release this recording now, you'll be on the clock to prove your innocence. In half a day, the Solodrey family will have retracted its acknowledgment."

'You should really stop mentioning my girlfriend's family,' Khan cursed in his mind as his dark sides grew louder and louder. He could almost hear the clicking growl rising through his spine, but sanity still prevailed.

"Evacuate," Khan whispered as a hand reached his temple to massage it.

"What did you say?" Mister Chares asked.

"Evacuate!" Khan shouted, turning his head left and right to look at the crowd. "Evacuate now if you want to live."

"Captain, be reasonable," Mister Chares pleaded.

"Reasonable?" Khan chuckled, pointing his intense gaze at the holograms. "I'm ready to paint this planet red."

"Cap-," Mister Chares tried to call, but Khan spoke before he could complete his line.

"Please!" Khan shouted at the crowd. "Leave now! I beg of you! Don't make me do it!"

"You are surrounded, Captain," Mister Chares stated as more strong auras joined the group. "I don't know what you have in mind, but you can't escape on your own."

Khan had to admit that the situation didn't look good. There was a total of four third-level warriors in his surroundings and tens of weaker workers. Wayne was also an annoying variable, and Khan didn't even consider the many weapons on the shelves.

'On my own, he says,' Khan thought as the clicking growl inside his mind grew louder. He had already decided what to do but retained enough sanity to speak one last time. "I'm really sorry for what's about to happen."

Khan stretched an arm at his side, and mana gathered into his palm. That mass of energy expanded until a clicking growl began to resound in its fabric. The cry grew loud enough to make some shelves tremble, and a gust of wind blew through the hall when that purple-red mass left Khan's hand.