Chapter 899 Stump

899 Stump

Colonel Norrett was properly excited now. He had almost accepted that his chances to aim for the extreme induction were gone, but Khan was giving him hope, and the bright eyes in his view reinforced it.

"Besides," Khan continued. "I need someone able to deter my family's attacks until I can do it myself. A simple evolved warrior wouldn't do."

"I heard you were still a fourth-level warrior," Colonel Norrett commented.

"Do I look like a fourth-level warrior to you?" Khan asked.

Colonel Norrett had many answers, none befitting his new position. Nevertheless, his silence satisfied Khan, who stood up and began returning to the ship.

"Khan," The Colonel called, remaining on the ruined pool's edge. "Would it be possible to meditate here for a while?"

Khan had crossed the Colonel but turned to inspect him. Some eagerness had filled the man, and his eyes often fell on the pool, revealing the target of his interest.

"Do you even need to meditate anymore?" Khan wondered.

"I have a training method suitable for the natural induction," Colonel Norrett explained, raising his hand to study it. "However, I mainly want to get accustomed to this strange substance."

Khan couldn't help but feel slightly happy. The Colonel's failed evolution had still changed him, granting him a superior sensitivity level. He lacked proper heightened senses but had still opened a window into the world only Khan could see.

Needless to say, that was heartwarming for Khan. His spiritual loneliness wavered for an instant before regaining full power. Yet, that moment remained priceless.

"My first evolved warrior won't train with ruined equipment," Khan announced. "Come. I have something better."

Khan didn't have to ask twice. Colonel Norrett followed Khan to the ship, waiting as he flew them back to the city. The two soon landed on a building, and crossing a few corridors and elevators revealed the incredible destination.

Colonel Norrett found himself inside a dim room with soil as the floor. The place had nothing but a series of blue plants growing from seemingly random spots. Even while inside a mostly artificial area, that vegetation was thriving, creating an atmosphere that matched what the Colonel had experienced near the pool.

"This is my private training area," Khan explained. "You can meditate here tonight. I'll have something else prepared by tomorrow."

Colonel Norrett was too focused on his body's reactions to muster proper words. He limited himself to a nod, slowly diving inside the room. He looked lost in that small environment, and his legs stopped when he reached its center.

"I'll leave a few soldiers outside for anything you might need," Khan said, recognizing the Colonel's mood. "Good night."

Khan didn't wait for the Colonel's answer. He exited the room, sealing it while summoning soldiers. Usually, he would never allow outsiders in his private training area, but Colonel Norrett was a special case, and he wanted everything to go smoothly.

Once the soldiers arrived, Khan hurried to the first available balcony. The morning was close, making sleeping pointless. However, he owed Monica some regular bedtime, and the idea of watching her rest on him soon turned into a powerful urge.

"I'm guessing this is only a testing prototype," Khan said, using the human language to make sure everyone understood him. "You want to check whether the General's flesh can accept the implants, right?"

"Exactly," Sen-nu proudly stated. "Humans aren't strong enough for our implants, so Sen-nu has to see what works first."

"I keep telling you that I can work with far more than this," Major General Arngan snorted, waving his stump again. "Are your scanners broken? Did you really think this was suitable for me?"

"Our scanners studied you perfectly," Sen-nu claimed. "We knew exactly how much you could bear right now."

"You are wrong," Major General Arngan declared. "I can bear something a hundred times better than that."

"If you are in a hurry to lose what's left of your arm," Sen-nu uttered, "Sen-nu will comply."

"Silence," Khan ordered. "Both of you."

Khan's mood was still intense due to the training in the pool, so his words carried unmistakable weight. Sen-nu was only a third-level warrior, so he shook under their pressure. Meanwhile, the General noticed something but left those topics for later.

"General," Khan called. "This field is revolutionary. Its first phases are bound to be slow. Besides, Sen-nu is the lead scientist here, so his judgment is paramount."

Sen-nu began to snicker and nod, but Khan had words for him, too.

"Sen-nu," Khan called, pointing at the metal stump. "This prototype is a failure. The General's mana can't flow into it."

"Sen-nu knows," Sen-nu admitted. "Sen-nu had another prototype ready, but this brute started complaining as soon as he saw its design."

"Because it was the same thing as this piece of trash," Major General Arngan explained. "It won't work like this one."

"Sen-nu amped the muscle density and power output ten times," Sen-nu claimed. "That's already dangerous for the first phase."

Major General Arngan snorted, and mana flowed into his right arm while he spun on himself, jumping off the interactive desk to plunge his stump on the floor.

An earthquake invaded the lab. Equipment shook and tilted over while the various scientists did their best to remain on their feet. The same went for Garret and Sen-nu, who failed to retain their balance and fell butt-first onto the floor.

Screeching noises echoed as the metal screamed in pain. The General's descending punch had bent the floor, creating a vast cavity in the lab. His previous interactive desk fell into it while Sen-nu and Garret managed to cling to its edge. Only Khan remained unaffected, hovering in the same position, using air as his new foothold.

The floor had bent without breaking, vouching for its resilience. Yet, the General had only delivered a simple punch, and the damage demonstrated his sheer physical strength. The lab had survived, but the General clearly required more than weak prototypes.

"Piece of crap," Major General Arngan scoffed, straightening his huge frame and showing his stump. The silver-blue metal had cracked, and shards were falling from his arm.