Chapter 886 Second

886 Second

Khan's smile didn't vanish while the doctors patched him up. His body hurt all over, but his expression didn't change.

From the outside, Khan looked intoxicated, almost mental, but most of the audience couldn't even begin to understand his state. He had spent months and years struggling to find a smoother path forward, and a viable method had finally appeared.

Nevertheless, Monica wasn't like Abraham or the doctors. After calming down, she compared her previous impression to the current Khan. She had seen him both happy and ecstatic, so she knew something was off.

Monica waited for the doctors to deal with the injuries and for Abraham to depart with the samples before approaching Khan. He was sitting in a corner, his bright eyes illuminating the toxic pool, but Monica's arrival shifted his attention to her.

"If you are going to punch me," Khan joked, "Wait a few hours. I don't want to lose this feeling."

Strangely enough, Monica didn't feel the urge to vent her worry on Khan. She didn't even want to scold him. She sat at his side, carefully reaching for his chin to turn his head toward her.

The bandages had almost covered the entirety of Khan's face, barely leaving holes in his nose, mouth, and eyes. The rest of his body was in a similar state, with his hair as the only exception. The dark green liquid didn't affect those blue strands at all.

Still, Monica didn't focus on the bandages. Her inspection went deeper, searching for a truth only she could see. Khan's dilated pupils, strange smile, and different vibe were details she could pick up due to their long time together, but an explanation for those symptoms escaped her.

Monica initially couldn't accept that conclusion. She was an expert in Khan and knew him best. Yet, it soon became clear that the issue exceeded her skill set. That wasn't about Khan. It was about his mana.

"You look different," Monica announced. "You feel different."

Khan would have usually disregarded any evaluation, especially after undergoing an experimental training method. However, he trusted Monica and her judgment enough to accept her words. He stopped smiling, taking a look at himself before closing his eyes to delve deeper into his body and mind.

Khan had every reason to be happy and believed that feeling to be genuine. Yet, a closer inspection of his state revealed something else. His immersion inside the pool didn't last long enough to bring significant changes, but temporary effects could still be in action.

The ointments under the bandages had appeased the pain and facilitated the healing process, but Khan noticed something else in his flesh. It felt freer and unstable like an untraceable tremor ran through it.

That sensation didn't only apply to the flesh. Khan also noticed his thoughts manifesting a higher intensity. He didn't find anything foreign. Everything was simply enhanced as if fueled by newfound energy.

Of course, the pool didn't add energy to Khan's body. Actually, most of his mana was hard at work to aid the healing process. Still, he felt spirited and unrestrained, as if the barriers around his reasonable side had shrunk.

Unlike Monica, Khan's knowledge about himself perfectly paired his expertise with mana, quickly bringing answers. Monica was right. He was off, which wasn't necessarily a problem. Actually, Khan could see it as an additional confirmation that the pool had worked as intended.

"Then," Khan exclaimed, "What's the problem?"

"I-," Monica muttered. "For a second, just a second, I couldn't recognize you."

Khan didn't answer. That problem had been consistent throughout his relationship with Monica. The two had always been open about it, but its effects were finally showing.

"Is it a problem?" Khan wondered, a tinge of sadness inevitably seeping into his voice.

"No!" Monica promptly shouted, pulling Khan's hand and looking at him. "No! Absolutely not! I'm just worried about your dumb ass because you never worry about yourself!"

Watching Monica's angry outburst reassured Khan, creating his normal, loving smile. He didn't care about himself but dreaded what his dark sides could do to his loved ones. Monica's evident support saved him once again, reinforcing a belief she was bound to hate.

"Then, it's settled," Khan said, "I'll have Abraham and Garrett study this thing and keep track of my changes, but I won't stop."

Monica opened her mouth but quickly closed it. She had been raised for that role, but watching her man hurting himself for everyone's sake was akin to torture. No matter how much Monica's status changed, she couldn't get used to that sight. Honestly, she didn't want to.

"What-?" Monica asked before adjusting her words. "Who will you become?"

"I don't know," Khan admitted. "Considering that I'm already pretty monstrous, there's only one conclusion."

The slap finally arrived. Monica delivered the blow straight to Khan's right cheek, uncaring about the bandages there. Her angry expression also unfolded in Khan's vision, broadening his smile.

"Never feel bad about your power," Monica scolded. "Never apologize for what you become. No one can see as much as you do, so don't even bother to look for our approval."

Monica closed the distance with Khan, placing her palm on the cheek she had just slapped. Her touch was loving and careful now, but her expression remained resolute.

"We are just humans," Monica declared, "Or Scalqa, or Thilku, or Ef'i. You are more, so don't limit yourself for fear of losing us. If we can't stay with you, we never deserved you in the first place."

Monica waited for Khan to get the message before lowering her eyes, leaning forward to place her forehead on his bandaged chest.

"However, if you could do me a small favor," Monica announced. "No matter how much you change, keep holding me like you always do."