Chaos' Heir

Khan opened his eyes at the sound of soft snores and crackling noises. The room's illumination flickered in his view, and a warm body rested on his chest.

The couple's passionate outburst didn't bode well for the meeting room. Eight months of separation and Khan's new strength made simple technology and brittle equipment unable to survive. The two's strange desperation also intensified those aspects, leaving scars on that expensive area.

Somehow, a crack had opened on the interactive desk, almost splitting it into two. Exposed wires and mana conduits rose from the injury, releasing sparks and synthetic energy into the air.

The artificial illumination had also suffered permanent damage. Khan didn't know how or why, but the room's light seemed unable to stabilize.

Unknowingly, Khan had become too heavy for those artificial environments. The situation was unusual, and Khan could have held back, but the room's state still spoke to some of his newfound worries.

Khan didn't care about the room's damage. He would have taken some pride in it in the past, but the harm didn't stop at the equipment.

Monica slept comfortably on Khan while the two were on the floor, using the thick cape as a makeshift bed. The unreliable artificial illumination didn't prevent him from studying his Fiancée, quickly spotting traces of his touch that she had yet to recover from.

Monica's thighs had slight bruises where Khan's fingers had squeezed them too tightly. The same went for her forearms from when he had pinned her down to indulge in kinkier positions. Khan could also sense that Monica was sore all over, exhausted from the recent performance.

Of course, Monica didn't mind those bruises. She was more than willing to pay that price due to the pleasure that preceded them. Still, Khan had always hated hurting her, and his experiences on Senerth put those superficial injuries in a different perspective.

Khan had learned how to feel the world's entropy. He had mastered harnessing that invisible universal desire and had even applied it to living beings.

In Khan's eyes, Monica wasn't just blood, flesh, and love. He saw the flaws in her tissues. He almost heard her cells desire to fall apart. Breaking her would take him a bit more than a thought, highlighting the vast gap in their existence.

Monica claimed she didn't mind being broken by Khan, but he had never agreed. Khan would rather suffer untold torture than hurt the woman he loved so deeply. However, he couldn't help but see how frail she was, and that feeling had tainted the previous frenzied passion.

The synthetic mana leaking from the broken interactive table didn't sweep away that feeling. A faint but deep bitterness lingered in the air, and Khan wasn't its only source. Monica had also noticed his mental state and her sadness joined it in affecting the symphony.

Khan didn't want to disturb Monica's rest but still straightened his back, lifting her. He sat on the cape, adjusting Monica on his lap while hugging her tightly. Khan clung to her desperately, fearing that letting her go could change their relationship forever.

Monica woke up during that change of position and was almost about to say something when she felt something odd in Khan's hug. Glancing at his face told her everything she needed to know, so she clung to his torso, silently trying to reassure him.

Sadly, that didn't work. Monica was also in a similar state, so her hug was no different from Khan's. The two clung to each other, silently hoping that whatever was happening would disappear. They had gone through so much, but a wall seemed to have appeared between them, and even their passion failed to pierce it.

'When did this distance appear?' Khan wondered. 'Did I go too deep into my training?'

'Why can't I reach him?' Monica worried. 'Have I become unfit to be at his side?'

Both sides blamed themselves for the problem, but neither spoke. That wasn't the time for words. Too much was happening, and the couple wasn't sure how long they had stayed in the room. The outside world was calling, and the two needed to return to it.

Monica mustered her courage and decided to abide by her role, breaking the silence. "Khan, check your phone."

Luckily, the device was nearby, buzzing at the cape's side. Khan could reach it without breaking the hug and unlocked its screen before Monica. Countless notifications had arrived, and the network was aflame.

The attempt to peacefully solve Brigadier General Meadrey's attack was gone after Khan's announcement. As unwilling as Prince Thomas and Monica were, Khan had the last word in the matter, so they relayed his war declaration.

That simple order had unleashed an unfathomable mess that almost involved every important party inside humankind. The Global Army's Generals, the nobles, the families in the alliance, and the Nognes Excellencies wanted to have a word with Khan, pursuing different interests. Still, he had disappeared for almost a day.

Khan showed no emotions at the various messages and invitations. He knew what each party wanted but couldn't be bothered with politics just yet, especially now that he had the lower hand.

Brigadier General Meadrey's actions had affected all of Khan's business partners. The trade routes were unsafe or closed now, so the nobles and the Nognes Excellencies wondered how and whether Khan would fulfill the previous agreements. Even the three Thilku planets lost value when those parties couldn't export their resources.
Stay connected through empire

Luke and the others had milder approaches but still requested a proper meeting. That was the norm in those environments, and Khan knew his allies would trust his words. He only had to speak to them.

Also, the news was out now, so the Global Army would want proper explanations. Knowing about the Thilku military planet would put Khan on the spot, allowing Generals and soldiers to establish new arrangements. They couldn't punish or imprison Khan, but increasing the trade tariffs was a goal within their reach.

No matter how Khan handled it, his relationship with humankind was scarred, and its consequences would affect all his businesses. He was in a lose-lose situation, with his new strength as his only leverage.