C617 Respect
The medicine did wonders for Khan's condition. His internal injuries stabilized in a matter of days before healing completely by the next week's weekend.
Khan's injured state wasn't a secret, so the building avoided deploying him during his recovery. It also held back from doing anything reckless since reinforcements were needed. Onp was actually ready to lose some ground, but Cegnore sent far fewer monsters in the nights after the big battle, making that period easier to endure.
That relative peace created a more relaxed atmosphere, but the main hall turned silent whenever Khan joined the feasts. He still sat and ate with his team, but the past friendliness never returned. He didn't do anything special, but his companions couldn't treat him in the same way as before.
Confirming the power of Khan's voice wasn't the only issue. He had also shown overwhelming battle prowess and the will to disobey orders. The Thilku were stuck between awe and worry whenever he was around, leaving no room for social interactions.
Part of Khan wanted to delve into a celebratory mood, but he respected his companions enough to avoid forcing their hands. Moreover, his improving health drew Onp's plan close, making him focus on perfecting his new techniques.
The inevitable change happened a day after Khan fully recovered. He had limited the interactions with his team until then, and his companions had done the same. Yet, a few hours before the night, a call reached his room, forcing him to come out.
Khan appeared in the corridor, already geared for the battle. He had donned his military uniform and a new sheath provided by the building. His knife was inside, so he didn't need anything else.
Naoo was waiting for Khan in the corridor, but her mana faltered when their eyes met. That instinctive reaction had become the norm due to the intensity filling Khan's gaze, and the event never stopped angering her.
"[We have new orders]," Naoo announced, instinctively hiding her anger to avoid setting Khan off. "[We must depart now]."
The fact that Khan's passive pressure could force Naoo to show some respect was the best proof of his new status. He felt slightly sad about that huge wall between them, but pride also arrived. Even if Khan preferred a more friendly environment, his mana cheered at that silent recognition.
Questions didn't have the time to appear since Khan's mindset went battle-ready. He nodded before fixing his gaze ahead and marching forward. He didn't wait for Naoo, but she promptly moved to lead the way.
The second corridor was strangely empty, but the reason for that became clear once the two entered the main hall. Many troops already arranged into multiple teams were waiting in the area, leaving a large path open for Khan and Naoo.
The general atmosphere didn't change in those days. Khan sensed awe and worry among the many glances at his figure. Still, a newfound resolve had joined them. The soldiers knew a big battle was imminent and were ready to fight it.
Naoo didn't stop at the teams. She strode forward, aiming directly for the main gate, and Khan followed her. The two quickly entered the decontamination area, and a surprising scene unfolded once the process was over.
Hordes of soldiers stretched past the trench, creating a sea of red capes that hid the horizon. An army of third-level warriors that Khan didn't see in past battles had filled the immense plain, showing how much the Empire was willing to invest in the planet.
Moreover, two three-story-tall nigh-spherical machines stood at the building's sides, walking on four metal legs that put a few meters between their bases and the ground. Their shapes reminded Khan of the bomb, but the runes on their various flat surfaces hinted at far different purposes.
The army and the machines advanced simultaneously, but the latter were slower and sent faint red beams at the ground, scanning its composition. Reaching the trench brightened their glow, which memorized the channel's structure and taught those robots how to replicate it.
Khan was obviously unaware of those details, but reading the runes and inspecting the machines' behavior brought clarity. Those robots were probably excavators meant to dig the next trench. The Empire was ready to advance, and he was the key aspect of that plan.
'Can they scan their surroundings?' Khan casually wondered. The scanners of mere excavators couldn't have much range, but underestimating technology never ended well.
·ƈθm That doubt was short-lived since more pressing matters arrived. Naoo didn't stop before that huge deployment and led Khan past the trench, walking far faster than the other troops. They were probably meant to be on the frontlines, and their pace eventually attracted the soldiers' attention.
The heavy seriousness of the area temporarily faltered as curiosity and other emotions flared. Naoo wasn't a problem, but most Thilku had never seen Khan. Still, they had been briefed about the mission and him, which led to different reactions.
Most Thilku were curious about Khan. They had received reports and heard rumors, but it was hard to evaluate someone's strength from a simple inspection, especially from far away.
Those who happened to be nearby could experience instinctive reactions caused by Khan's heavy presence. However, they were hard to put into words or understand. A few Thilku even blamed Khan's element or blue hair to avoid considering fear or similar feelings.
Instead, other Thilku openly mocked Khan, spreading murmurs or proper shouts that involved his stature or other physical aspects. Humans were far smaller than the Thilku in the end, so it made sense to question the validity of Khan's feats from that scene alone.
Khan noticed everything and changed direction as soon as urges popped into his brain. He quickened his pace, crossing Naoo to show where he was going. He was still walking toward the frontlines, but a specific group of Thilku ended on his path now.
The Thilku were already looking at Khan, and broad smiles appeared on their faces when he approached them. There were five of them in the area, and most had been the source of mocking comments. Those aliens had also laughed loudly, which had triggered Khan's urges.
"[Move]," Khan announced as soon as he stopped before the group of Thilku. In theory, everyone there was advancing, but those aliens also halted their steps at his arrival.
The sudden request made the Thilku directly in front of Khan inspect his surroundings. Khan could easily walk around them, but his unwavering face revealed his intentions. His actions were a statement meant for the entire army.
"[The human doesn't know how to walk]," The Thilku before Khan laughed while searching for his companions' approval. "[What should I tell him]?"
Naoo was right behind Khan, and her first instinct was to defuse the situation. As much as she didn't like Khan's actions, the current plan had him at its center. She would normally side with her companions, but her orders prevented her from doing so.
Still, another instinct arrived when Naoo looked at Khan's back. The sight of that small figure silenced any word in her throat. She couldn't speak, and the fear of what would happen if she intervened froze her.
"[You move because I ask so]," Khan calmly added, his gaze fixed on the first Thilku.
The group tried to laugh again, but Khan's eyes were magnetic. They attracted the Thilku's gazes, forcing them to lose themselves in those azure irises. The aliens didn't have Khan's senses, but their minds became able to read his thoughts, and their instincts did the rest.
Most animals knew when to run and fight. That behavior was a core part of their survival instincts, and intelligent species were no strangers to that trait. Actually, in some cases, mana enhanced it, especially when it came to soldiers who knew the struggles of the battlefield.
The Thilku didn't know why, but sweat began to accumulate on their wrinkled foreheads. Something told them that refusing Khan would lead to their deaths. That wasn't even a mere possibility. Khan's eyes clearly stated the depth of that certainty.
Before anyone could realize that, the Thilku stepped aside, opening the way for Khan. He walked right among them, slowing down his pace on purpose to convey the difference in their statuses. He was far beyond everyone else, and it was time for the world to learn that.
Naoo could only follow Khan, also walking among her companions. She didn't refrain from looking at them, and helplessness invaded her mind when she noticed those sweaty faces. She knew exactly what had happened to the Thilku, and blaming them wasn't an option. Khan truly was terrifying.
The murmurs continued, but the event eliminated any possible insult. No one dared to shout mocking comments anymore and moved away whenever Khan happened to be on their path. It was demeaning for an entire army to respect a fellow third-level warrior so much, but the matter wasn't rational. There was no reasoning with a monster.
To be continued