Chapter 922: Price

Chapter 922: Price



Khan had always known he was unique, and Bruno's comment further confirmed that thought. Humankind had a limited understanding of mana, but the evolved warrior was one hundred and fifty years old. Giving him a first had to be worth something.

The urge to dive into Bruno's knowledge invaded Khan, but he temporarily suppressed it. As curious as he was, he didn't trust the evolved soldier.

"I never understood something," Khan announced. "The evolved warriors are humankind's highest fighting power. Why do they serve families or Generals?"

Bruno's brown eyes showed a hint of surprise before understanding the issue. He had studied Khan's life. The latter was a man with no flag or home. His family name was nothing more than something picked up alongside his many achievements. He had never relied on a single source of support, either, making his confusion reasonable.

"Young Prince," Bruno called. "As you surely know, the evolution's price is steep. The process requires humankind's best knowledge and resources, and even then, it's far from a certainty. No evolved soldier got where they are on their own."

Khan couldn't disagree with that statement. Even he was abusing Baoway and the Nognes family's resources to get stronger. Yet, humankind was no stranger to betrayal, so he found it hard to believe every evolved soldier accepted subservience.

"Debts aside," Bruno continued, "What would evolved soldiers achieve by engaging in politics? We are free to do as we wish, and the families we serve fulfill our every demand. Rebelling or claiming positions of power is beneath us."

"Is that it?" Khan wondered, disappointed. "Is this the limit of your ambition?"

Khan and Bruno had very different perspectives on life. Khan's mindset had always been broader due to the nightmares, and becoming aware of the scarlet eyes' threat had given him a purpose that involved the entire universe.

Meanwhile, Bruno was a proper human, a soldier who had built his strength inside humankind's systems until he reached his current lofty stage. His view of the world was

narrower but deeper, allowing him to provide wise pointers.

"Young Prince, you have good eyes," Bruno commented. "You can see the wonderful world of mana. What purpose would it have for someone like us to focus on such material things?"

Khan suppressed the urge to open his mouth. He didn't want to admit it, but the spiritual loneliness had been an annoying curse in his mind. Still, even if it made him unable to relate to ordinary people, it didn't cut him away from the real world.

"Besides," Bruno continued, "And forgive my bluntness, but you are young. Very young. Material pleasures lose appeal as the years flow, especially after attuning to our elements. There are exceptions, but I'm sure you understand what I mean."

Khan didn't reply. He couldn't compare his life experience with Bruno's, but the same went for him. Bruno was limited to narrow human ways, while Khan's mindset had enveloped multiple alien theories.

Bruno let go of Monica and turned, inspecting the cracks on the floor and the air above them. His influence had never wavered, but Khan's aura had pierced it during that outburst. Bruno wasn't trying to suppress him or anything, but that outcome still shocked him. After all, Khan was a fourth-level warrior. His mana should have been powerless against his mere passive

existence.

Small flares could slip by, especially considering Khan's violent element. However, the terrace's state was nothing close to that. Khan could pierce Bruno's symphony when he was serious, and that wasn't even a proper attack.

"Let us speak in private, young Prince," Bruno announced, calmly crossing Monica and heading inside the building.

Khan followed Bruno, but his eyes met Monica's when he was about to cross her. She was worried, and he could only caress her cheek while walking by. Bruno noticed the affectionate gesture but remained silent, and the two soon disappeared inside the building.

Bruno walked ahead of Khan, but the latter quickly reached his side. That was Khan's building, Khan's home, so he wouldn't let someone else escort him. Bruno accepted that subservient position, but his mouth didn't hold back from uttering sharp comments. "Quite the powerful element, young Prince," Bruno commented. "Troublesome but

powerful."

Khan didn't reply. His mind grew unstable as his aura intensified. He was in the presence of an evolved warrior, so the entirety of his concentration went on his senses, almost preparing for

a battle.

"I hope you know I mean no harm to Miss Solodrey," Bruno continued, "Or anyone, really. I'll merely act as a witness and report back in the instance of problems."

Khan kept ignoring Bruno, leading him into specific areas of the building. Soon, the two arrived inside a reinforced training hall, which Bruno inspected with a smile.

"It must worry you, young Prince," Bruno exclaimed, his eyes lingering on the training hall before focusing on Khan's distancing figure. "Your dangerous element isn't for the weak. There's a price to evolving through it."

"Monica can pay it," Khan muttered, stopping near the hall's center.

"I hope she can, young Prince," Bruno stated. "Though, the problem usually is elsewhere. You should know. You have good eyes in the end."

Khan snorted, suddenly appearing before Bruno. The same violence as before unfolded, opening cracks in the hall's floor. Still, the destruction only spread around Khan. Bruno's figure acted as a wall, blocking that influence and keeping the metal surface behind him

intact.

"Prince Khan," Bruno called, his face still showing a genuine smile. "I have nothing against testing me, but a training hall isn't suitable for our battle."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om