846 See
The Ef'i lacked the Thilku's heavy and limiting pride. They only cared about their battle prowess and how to improve it. It didn't matter if the opportunity didn't come from their planet or species. As long as a path toward power existed, they would walk it.
Khan wasn't only offering the Ef'i the incredible supplement. He was also promising better training grounds. Topping Onia's harsh environments wouldn't be easy, but Khan's power gave weight to his words, forcing Tlexicpalli to believe him.
Tlexicpalli fell silent. Truth be told, the Ef'i could settle the matter in a few weeks. Their scientists could study the supplement inside the Embassy on Baoway, and Khan's teleports could send that resource to Onia afterward.
Once the supplement's efficiency was confirmed, the Ef'i could send young, promising warriors to Baoway through the same teleports. The first batch would test Khan's training grounds, and the Ef'i could bring more troops if the trip proved itself worthwhile.
Khan noticed Tlexicpalli's interest and didn't question it for one second. He had been in the same situation years ago. The Global Army had sent promising soldiers to Nitis before choosing a few representatives for its academy. The training in [The Pure Trees] had been highly beneficial, and Khan was offering a similar treatment now.
"[Have these training grounds been tested]?" Tlexicpalli felt forced to ask since Khan had mentioned "building" them.
"[I have one in my quarters]," Khan explained, "[For personal use only]."
Khan used himself to vouch for the training grounds, but Tlexicpalli seized that change to fulfill her desire. The political aspect seemed over, so nothing could stop her from obtaining what she wanted.
"[In that case]," Tlexicpalli announced, "[Can I test its results]?"
Khan felt the urge to roll his eyes. The Ef'i truly had nothing but battles in mind. Still, he would eventually get that matter over with, and the request gave him the chance to test something.
"[Give me two hours]," Khan responded. "[I'll have everything ready by then]."
"[Excellent]," Tlexicpalli exclaimed.
The Ef'i language was more popular overall than the Thilku's, but not in that context. Monica had started to learn it since she knew about their arrival, but her preparation didn't allow her to understand the conversation fully. The same went for Prince Thomas and Princess Rebecca. As for Lieutenant Dyester, he didn't get a single word.
Still, Khan's following orders broadly explained the development. "Contact Gordon. Have him get the arena ready for a test run. Meanwhile, entertain our guests."
Monica's elegant smile didn't waver, but Khan sensed the glare hidden behind it. Yet, he ignored it, promptly departing from the control room to head outside.
Khan reached the nearest balcony and set off, flying toward the incomplete arena. Soon, messy scenes unfolded in his vision, and heated arguments reached his ears as he descended toward them.
One familiar figure stood before a crowd of angry workers. Gordon heard every complaint, but his stern expression remained unmovable. He had received an order and would do everything he could to fulfill it.
"What's the holdup?" Khan asked when he got close enough to the crowd.
Every eye on the scene shot up, following Khan's graceful landing at Gordon's side. His arrival silenced the complaints, but Gordon made sure to summarize them.
"It seems the arena isn't ready for a test run, My Prince," Gordon explained, bowing his head in respect. "The crews are unanimous in requesting another month before any battle."
Three figures among the workers muster the courage to look up, meeting Khan's cold gaze. The experience sent chills down their spines, but the idea of remaining silent before Khan's straightforward question sounded terrifying.
"The arena is incomplete, My Prince," One of the figures revealed. "A battle might destabilize and destroy entire sections, wasting weeks of work."
Khan was no expert in construction, so he had to believe the worker's evaluation. Those weren't even random crews. His family had hired them, which vouched for their expertise. Nevertheless, he had promised a battle, and his word had to mean something.
"Is the mana barrier functional?" Khan questioned.
"It is," Another figure confirmed. "However, we never tested its shock absorption due to the unstable structures around it."
"I'll test it now," Khan declared. "Activate the barrier."
Khan didn't wait for a reply and set off again, flying above the arena's tall stages to dive into the vast barren area at its center. Reinforced tiles were supposed to cover that space, but the workers had yet to get to that part.
Standing in the middle of the arena felt completely different from watching it from outside and above. Khan was surrounded by stages as tall as hills, and even taller towers occasionally interrupted them. The building could block Baoway's star far earlier than the sunset, and the battlefield at its center could hold hundreds of warriors.
'It's coming out well,' Khan thought. 'Not that I know much of these things.'
A trace of childish annoyance surged in Khan's mind as he recalled some of Monica's teases. He was genuinely awful with technology, and his only efforts in the field had focused on the ships' architecture. Still, his level was almost shameful, especially compared to his genius father.
'That old drunk won't even check the blueprints,' Khan cursed. 'Maybe I should just go ahead and bring some Fuveall crews here.'
Khan had pondered this idea for a while, and Ef'i's arrival reinforced it. Khan could keep Ef'i and Thilku at bay, so the Fuveall shouldn't be a problem. He even had a special role he wanted them to perform.
The sudden stench of synthetic mana that reached Khan's nostrils interrupted his pondering. The event was invisible, but nothing escaped Khan's vision. He clearly saw a circular, bright wall rising from the stage's bottom, stretching into the sky to create a half-spherical barrier.
The barrier wasn't limited to the sky. Khan lowered his gaze, and his eyes pierced past the barren ground, spotting traces of synthetic mana underneath him. That defensive mechanism was actually spherical, meant to prevent anything from reaching the stages.
The barrier density also felt sound, but Khan wouldn't limit that evaluation to his senses. A spear grew in his relaxed palm, and his fingers closed once the spell took form. His arm performed a sharp movement, sending the attack upward, making it fly until it touched the synthetic mana.
Ripples appeared high above Khan as the spear transformed into a scorching pillar. The mana barrier trembled as cracks tried to appear in its ethereal fabric. The sky grew blurry as the defensive mechanism became visible to the naked eye, but no holes opened.
The purple-red pillar eventually dispersed, and the mana barrier regained its invisible stability. Khan inspected its fabric before moving his attention to the stages. Nothing seemed broken, and the same went for the incomplete parts.
A call suddenly reached Khan's phone, which he picked up to hear Gordon's update. "The arena endured the attack. Everything is stable."
"My Prince," Gordon continued. "Prince Thomas asks whether he should spread the news through the quadrant."
"What does the crew say about the stages?" Khan asked.
"They say they should hold," Gordon explained. "Emphasis on should."
"Have them overload the mana barrier," Khan said. "I don't care if it breaks. We'll just make another one. Just don't let the stages fall."
"It will be done, My Prince," Gordon stated, closing the call.
Khan stored the phone in his pelts before looking at his surroundings. He would prefer to avoid destroying the arena and setting the tournaments back by many months. Yet, Tlexicpalli was a fifth-level warrior, so holding back wasn't an option.
'I wonder,' Khan thought, sitting on the barren ground and crossing his legs. 'How strong will she be? How strong am I?'
Khan closed his eyes, meditating to sort out part of the excessive mana inside his body. He was still full from his last training session inside the cave, and the blue plants couldn't quicken the absorption past a certain limit. Khan could shorten the process, but his flesh still needed time.
The world around Khan changed while he meditated. New lights appeared in the symphony past the mana barrier, slowly filling the available stages. The news of the battle had spread like wildfire, and many parties had hurried to attend to it.
Eventually, a figure crossed the mana barrier, forcing Khan to open his eyes. Tlexicpalli had entered the arena, donning a brown tracksuit with a hole for her tail. She had also removed her shoes, exposing her clawed feet.
Khan stood up and inspected the stands. Many Ef'i had reached the arena, and Khan wasn't surprised to spot the bandaged Mezmac among them. A group of Thilku had also arrived, but the human component remained predominant.
Soldiers from different quadrants and businesses had hurried to the arena to watch the battle. Many of them weren't even on Khan's payroll. They came from structures belonging to other families, which didn't hesitate to give the order as soon as they heard the news.
As for the Scalqa, Khan's Uncle, Aunt, Cousins, and fiancée had brought some to the arena. Lieutenant Dyester was among them, probably ready to explain aspects of the battle to the aliens.
"Prince Khan," Tlexicpalli eventually called, interrupting Khan's inspection. "Let's enjoy ourselves."
Tlexicpalli smiled, lifting her arms and pointing her claws forward, but her legs suddenly kicked the ground, sending her flying away. She helped herself with her tail to stop her momentum and land, but her four eyes immediately went to her previous position.
Khan had teleported into Tlexicpalli's previous position, his eyes looking at the ground. The sudden jump had left two clear marks on the surface, hinting at the strength it had carried. Still, Khan noticed more details from that short exchange.
"[You can see me]," Khan said, lifting his head and showing his bright eyes.