Chapter 782 Reaction
Chapter 782 Reaction: Resurrection
Chapter 782 Reaction
Khan hit two more space stations, one for Kirk and Marcus and the other for Fergus' two teammates, before flying to the nearest teleport. The hunt had taken almost a week out of him, but his last target was finally in sight.
Nevertheless, the last target's location was troublesome. Unlike Celeste, Margaret, and the others, Randall had returned to Earth, establishing himself inside a private academy near a training camp.
The location could spell trouble for Khan for multiple reasons. First, Earth was humankind's heart. Attacking a building inside a legal zone was nothing short of terrorism, which would destroy what little remained of his general favor.
The attack could also force the Global Army's hand. After all, the soldiers had to maintain peace, especially on Earth. They couldn't let Khan bring war there, no matter how justified he felt.
The nearby training camp could even provide the troops the Global Army needed. Theoretically, the higher-ups could deploy an entire battalion to prevent the attack or defend the structure if the fight were unavoidable.
In addition, the academy had many wealthy backers. Its structure was similar to the Harbor in almost every field, including prestige. Although its lessons were more targeted toward specialized and advanced fields, that didn't make it any less influential.
Thanks to the embassy, the Harbor remained one step above, but that didn't change the facts. The many families behind the academy were bound to pressure the Global Army to take action, but the result was an underwhelming promise.
Baoway's mission had been a secret, and the same went for those involved. Yet, the Nognes family's deployment of ships and troops to corner the targets had revealed the teammates' identities, telling the entire network where the following attacks would e.
The academy was no different, but its unique location and timeline granted the Global Army enough leverage to force concessions out of the Nognes family. After blowing up multiple space stations, Khan had run out of favor, so the Nognes family allowed a partial evacuation. Except for Randall, everyone could leave the building.
Khan didn't voice his opinion on the matter. Prince William informed him about that development, but he feigned ignorance and indifference. Of course, his mind was far from quiet, but his Cousin didn't need to know about his internal conflict.
On the one hand, Khan was partially relieved that his predicted kill count had been shortened. Baoway's information had already flown past his reach, and his previous attacks had conveyed the intended message. He didn't need more pointless slaughters to make his point.
However, the development also showed the limits of the approach. Even with a noble family's support, Khan wasn't omnipotent, especially when parties with similar power opposed him.
Admittedly, Khan only had the support of one faction of the Nognes family, but his conclusions remained sound. Between Luther's payment and the damage inflicted upon the Global Army, Khan had contracted a debt his superiors would want to see repaid.
Khan didn't linger on those thoughts for too long. His unique situation and goals prevented him from engaging in the usual give-and-take with the Global Army. He would reinforce his relevance inside humankind, but that could e only after he finished sending his message.
The Nognes family had everything ready by the time Khan appeared on the training camp's teleport. Soldiers escorted him to a protected ship that set off as soon as its doors closed. In a matter of minutes, the scanners saw the building in all its prestige.
The place was truly beautiful. The academy consisted of a tall, rectangular building surrounded by green. Multiple streets adorned with ground lamps ran through those vast gardens, creating a peaceful and pristine atmosphere that reeked of luxury.
Khan couldn't help but pare the academy with the Harbor. The latter was limited by its location, so it was forced to opt for a purely artificial vibe. Instead, the structure in the scanners could benefit from Earth's atmosphere and peace, adding natural touches and enhancing its overall beauty.
Sadly, Khan couldn't appreciate that marvelous scenery. He didn't take any breaks between his attacks, so his mind had turned into a bottomless pit of coldness and killing intent. He only saw what would bee of the academy after his passage when watching the scanners' screens.
The area was strangely empty, and the ship landed right outside the gardens. Only Khan stepped outside, diving into the place's calm and clean streets. His military uniform had gathered a lot of dust, sweat, and some blood during the previous attacks, making him the sole sore spot in an otherwise wonderful environment.
Khan only looked ahead, but his auras had grown too intense by then. The many lives he had taken weighed on his mind, turning his presence into a toxic, destructive influence. The gardens' frail grass couldn't hope to survive it, and plants crumbled at his mere passage.
From the outside, the scene looked highly mystical and eerie. At Khan's passage, the green disappeared, replaced by brown ground. His mere steps left significant traces on the areas, telling everyone which streets he had crossed.
The building was already open, and Khan crossed the entrance, immersing himself in its vast environment. The structure prioritized height over width, but limiting the number of rooms on each floor still created spacious areas.
The symphony guided Khan's steps, making him cross a vast but short corridor to reach an immense hall. A sea of interactive desks filled the room, culminating in two black pillars beside a bigger table. Randall was there, leaning on its edge, seemingly waiting for Khan.
Khan let his steps make sounds as he advanced through the hall. Metallic noises spread throughout the hall, echoing due to its emptiness. Randall could learn about Khan's arrival even with his eyes closed, and his crossed arms went to his sides when Khan got close enough.
"I'm not like the others," Randall announced, slightly bending his legs to prepare for an evasive maneuver. "I won't go down easy."
Randall truly believed that claim. He knew he wasn't even close to Khan's level but wanted to show some backbone during his last moments. Ideally, Randall would love to hit Khan once before parting from that world.
Nevertheless, even the wildest estimates couldn't prepare Randall for Khan's growth. Two stretched fingers instantly replaced the scenery reflected in his eyes. Khan had teleported before him, and his hand was ready to deliver a deadly blow.
Randall had seen Khan fight on Baoway, but the current display of power was way above that. It wasn't even close to human. He shared Khan's level, but the difference in their strength was simply immense. It was so vast Randall couldn't help but find it unfair.
"Are you giving me the time to say my last words?" Randall wondered, his eyes fixed on the fingers before him.
"Who planted you on my team?" Khan asked.
"I'm already dead, aren't I?" Randall questioned.
"Yes," Khan confirmed.
"Then," Randall sighed, "Go fuc-."
Randall didn't get the chance to finish his curse since mana shot from Khan's fingers. The Divine Reaper dug a hole into his brain, killing him on the spot.
Khan remained still while Randall fell dead to his side. His eyes lingered on the pillars next to the vast desk, but their details didn't interest him. He could only think about his quest and what was left of him after pleting it.
Khan lowered his head, inspecting his open palms. Not a single drop of blood had fallen on his hands, but they looked drenched in it nonetheless. His series of attacks had finally ended, but he didn't feel any lighter.
The coldness radiated by Khan's aura intensified once again as he lowered one arm and lifted the other. His mind fused with the symphony, prepared to give orders and release mana. He was ready to take down the entire building, but something distracted him.
Khan had left the building open, so the symphony from the outside world flowed inside carrying updates. The heavy stench of synthetic mana and countless different colors manifested themselves in the world only Khan could see. Something big was happening, and his feet moved to face it.
Exiting the building confirmed what Khan had already suspected. A few hundred soldiers had filled the garden, splitting into multiple teams to point their rifles at the entrance. Ships also stood behind them, but their purposes weren't battle-related.
The ship from the Nognes family was still there, and Khan could hear plaints ing from it. His team leader was fighting with the man in charge of the battalion. Threats flew, but Khan quickly disregarded them.
The hundreds of rifles pointed at Khan didn't stop his advance. He walked forward, ignoring the barrage of bullets that could fly in his direction. His stance and aura filled the battalion with tension, and many soldiers began to sweat at his approach. They had the order to hold their fire, but many fingers started to twitch on the triggers.