316 Cultural exchange 5

Making first contact with two other newly discovered translocated species from another plane of existence, Dax made his best effort to appear cordial, only for that approach to spectacularly backfire.

"Hmph, so a foot mere soldier? Got my hopes up for nothing…"

"We don't speak with people beneath us, go back and get your superior."

(... It seems we have some sort of translation error.)

While the centaur appeared disappointed with meeting someone who was just a 'mare foot soldier', the dark elver seemed to just be blatantly looking down on Dax, something he didn't let slide. 

"My direct superior is the minister of special war affairs, while I'm sure his academic background means he would love to meet a newly discovered tribe of savages, he's too busy for that. I have full command and authority of not only this system and the current situation, but as commander of the 125th special ops orbital wetwork battalion I can do as I please, even stomping on a few primitives shouldn't be an issue."

"Hou~ Interesting…"

While the centaur warmed up considerably to Dax when he openly insulted him, the dark elver and his kin didn't take so kindly to it as his bloodlust flared. Seeing that reaction from the two representatives, Dax decided to not back down either as he let his own bloodlust flare, first directly competing against the dark elvers before completely overwhelming it.

"I'm sorry for initially underestimating you, Dax. My name is Goran, let's talk in my village."

While it appeared Dax had entirely antagonized the dark elver with his attitude, the centaur on the other hand warmly introduced himself before starting to walk away, prompting Dax, Solaris and Ke to follow.

"What do you know about these people?"

Keeping his voice down Dax approached Ke for information while they walked towards the centaur village, at the same time IMI started translating for Solaris, allowing her to follow along with the conversation.

"I've only heard rumours about these races, as my tribe used to live very isolated from everything, but the centaurs are pride filled warriors, they seemingly only listen to people who are stronger than them. The other ones are dark elvers, up until just now I believed them to be a myth, so I don't really know anything about them other than the fact that it was widely believed they were wiped out a long time ago."

"Is it the norm for lamia to live isolated?"

Picking up more than enough useful information about the centaurs and dark elvers, Dax switched the conversation to Ke's own race.

"I think we are the exception? Again, while my knowledge on the subject is limited I believe lamias have broadly integrated themselves in empires and kingdoms all over the place."

"Do you think they came from the same dimension as I did?"

Speaking in her native language to make sure others couldn't follow along with what they were saying, Solaris approached Dax with a serious tone in her voice.

"Unlikely. Samples I've collected also contain isotypes not naturally occurring to mine or your world, also, although they seemingly share mana and magic with your world, it seems different somehow.."

"... It does feel different now that I think about it."

While she hadn't consciously recognized it before Dax pointed it out, there was something different about the mana saturating this world, as well as the magic she had seen so far. Continuing to talk with Solaris and Ke while guided by the centaurs, Dax eventually arrived at what seemed to be their village which was home to about 50 centaurs of all ages hidden inside a black forest. Glancing around Dax noticed that a lot of centaurs had injuries which most likely stemmed from combat and as he located a pile of destroyed drones the reason became quite apparent.

(So Emergence's presence on this planet is widespread… In that case, why hasn't it taken it over yet?)

While the Emergence wasn't that predictable in its actions, its disdain for all forms of life was overwhelming, so there was something strange about this planet inside its territory containing life which it hadn't assimilated for so long.

(I could be that the ability to use magic is proving enough to push the Emergence back? In the case of Ke's village, it appears to have worked up until now, but the situation is clearly different here. Although they look to be hanging in there, they only look one offensive away from being overrun...)

"Welcome to my village, Dax of the Galactic Empire. Let's talk here."

With Goran laying down his lower body on a prepared rug, Dax imitated him and sat down with his legs crossed facing the centaur while Solaris and Ke sat down behind him."

"This is my subordinate Solaris, and Ke from a lamia village also located on this planet."

Introducing his companions to Goran, Dax then got to the matter at hand and explained he had been tasked with investigating this world as several anomalies had recently been discovered. With Goran proving cooperative and answering Dax's questions, it seemed that the centaurs' circumstances mostly lined up with what had happened to Ke and her village, having been unknowingly moved to this land one day before suffering numerous raids from the Emergence. Due to those raids, Goran had reached out to the village of dark elvers which had also appeared nearby, striking an alliance against their mutual threat.

"When you arrived we thought that it was those things attacking again, that's why we attacked."

"Understandable, the Emergence demands such a response."

With Dax naming the creatures which had attacked their villages numerous times, both Goran and the dark elvers' attention peaked as Goran further inquired about them.

"The Emergence? Could you please elaborate and explain what it is exactly."

As Dax explained what exactly the Emergence was, the faces of all who listened darkened considerably, while the dark elvers and centaurs had realized the severity of their situation and even formed an alliance because of it, their current situation now appeared hopeless.

"My subordinates are already in the process of evacuating the lamia village from this planet, I'm willing to also offer these two villages refuge as a representative of the Galactic Empire."

Taking a second to look around to his people who surrounded him, Goran furrowed his bows.

"While I would love to accept that offer, my people's culture demands we only listen to those which have proven themselves stronger than us. With that being the case, I, Goran, challenge you, Dax Alpha 4 to a duel."

It appeared that as the village leader, Goran would love nothing more than just accepting Dax's offer as it stood, but the way of his people prevented him from simply doing so.

"Sure, it's been a while since I've had a chance to exercise properly."

Not expecting Dax to just accept his request so openly, Goran appeared surprised, but as he saw the expression on Dax's face he quickly understood.

It would seem that Dax valued strength just like the centaurs.

Having agreed to the duel, Dax called over he CAS-7A so he could use it to change out of his XMRA armour, as he once more appeared from the craft he wore his usual pair of black shorts and t shirt, this openly displayed the numerous bright white scars all over his body. The arena for the duel was a 50 metre wide empty field, as Dax arrived Goran showed a confident smile as he walked into the field on the other side with a pair of blunt spears in hand. Discarding the brown leather vest he had been wearing on his upper body, Goran put his chiselled and scar riddled body on display as he explained the rules to Dax.

"This bout is simply, just knock me out and you win."

As Goran attempted to hand over one of the spears to Dax, the qiton raised his hand in refusal as he also took off his t shirt, showing off even more of his scars.

"No need, my own body is all I need in a duel. The pride of my clan dictates I beat my opponents without any assistance."

Explaining his reasoning as he also took off his eyepatch and removed his cybernetic eye before handing it over to Solaris, Dax showed a confident smile.

"His clan?"

Hearing something she had no idea about, Ke turned to Solaris and questioned her.

"Alpha-4 is the clan of highest authority in Dax's race, if it became known he beat someone weaker than himself in a duel by using a weapon he would be disgraced."

Reluctantly explaining the circumstances to Ke, Solaris was confident in Dax's absolute victory as the duel started.

After all, there was no way her Dax could lose against anyone.