Chaos' Heir Chapter 1000: Zedekiel

Chapter 1000: Zedekiel

Khan felt stupid for not considering that detail. The Empire's domain was gargantuan, so how could a mere city act as its Capital?

Only a whole planet could suffice, and Khan was now staring at it. Zedekiel was enormous, far bigger than Earth. Pairs of giant pillars encircled its...o...b..t, and harsh winds seemed to afflict its atmosphere, preventing the scanners from studying part of its surface.

The pairs of pillars weren't the only structures...o...b..ting the planet. Giant telescopes, scanners, and heavy weaponry of various kinds hovered around Zedekiel, almost resembling metal belts of asteroids. Besides that, Khan couldn't see much else. Still, that narrow but majestic scene remained priceless.

The Global Army would be willing to go broke to obtain a fraction of what Khan had witnessed during the trip. The teleport had made him lose track of his location, but he had still learned much about the Empire's layout and Capital.

Moreover, all of that was cla.s.sified information the Global Army had sought since the early stages of its relations.h.i.+p with the Empire. Khan would be forgiven of everything and even receive a promotion if he shared his new findings. Of course, the idea never crossed his mind. Lord Rsi stood up, crossing his arms to stare at the red screens depicting Zedekiel. His proud stance resembled a salute of some sort, and Khan felt the urge to imitate it. He also left his seat, silently paying respect to the Thilku Empire's Capital.

"[You know, Blue Shaman]," Lord Rsi revealed, reverence invading his stern face. "[I had the privilege and honor to train here in my youth]."

The crew continued dealing with their consoles, but some stole occasional peeks at Lord Rsi, admiration s.h.i.+ning in their tiny eyes. Clearly, training on Zedekiel was no small matter, and Lord Rsi's revelation only emboldened Khan's curiosity.

"[Is Zedekiel a training ground]?" Khan asked.

"[The Empire's Capital is many things]," Lord Rsi explained. "[It indeed has training grounds for its most promising and accomplished soldiers]."

Promising and accomplished didn't go well together, but Lord Rsi seemed to sense Khan's confusion.

"[I once dreamed of becoming one of the Emperor's Royal Guards]," Lord Rsi shared, "[But the Emperor had different plans for me. Fulfilling his vision is my life's purpose]."

Lord Rsi had already shared part of his history with Khan, and his words added important details. He didn't specifically explain it, but it seemed Zedekiel had two types of training grounds: One for promising soldiers and one for those wanting to become Royal Guards.

Khan started to feel impatient. The Empire was different from the Global Army. Its leaders had strength as their basic requirement, so the Emperor had to be an unfathomable warrior. Learning that part of the Capital's purpose was to train soldiers to protect such a powerful existence only increased Khan's antic.i.p.ation.

The s.h.i.+p eventually dived toward the planet's...o...b..t, occasionally stopping next to floating scanners to undergo intricate security measures. The process inevitably slowed down the otherwise simple landing, but Khan barely noticed the delay.

When the s.h.i.+p entered Zedekiel's atmosphere, Khan could finally lay eyes on its surface, and the sight shook him. He had seen heavily industrialized and militarized planets, but the Empire's Capital put all of them to shame.

Continents of arrays of gigantic, rectangular buildings, entire quadrants of heavy weaponry, and city-sized warehouses filled the s.h.i.+p's screens. Khan had already seen similar structures, but Zedekiel seemed to have pushed them to the extreme, recreating far bigger versions capable of covering the seemingly waterless planet.

Distant, immense factories also appeared in the screens' corners. Their shapes were unclear due to the storms afflicting those quadrants, but Khan was knowledgeable enough to draw some conclusions.

Those structures probably were the planet's energy source, and the winds' size and intensity seemed to provide enough fuel to keep Zedekiel functioning day and night. The extensive light pollution made the sky red anyway, so Khan couldn't even try to understand what time it

was.

The s.h.i.+p didn't linger in a sightseeing tour. It pierced the red sky, flying past that cl.u.s.tered display of technological might to head toward a specific, more open area.

A giant palace eventually appeared on the horizon. Its rectangular and una.s.suming shape made it look simple, but its size and immense balconies told a different story. The place didn't seem to have any specific purpose, which conflicted with the rest of the planet, so Khan could only guess someone important lived there.

The palace stood on top of a ma.s.sive, brown-red mountain with its bottom covered with a metal floor. The s.h.i.+p landed there, and each crew member stood up to perform traditional bows. Lord Rsi merely nodded at them before glancing at Khan and heading for the exit. Khan understood the silent order and followed Lord Rsi. The two reached the metal ramp, and Zedekiel's atmosphere immediately hit them. The air felt heavy, heavier than anything Khan had ever experienced. His body was in a similar situation, probably hinting at higher gravity, but both he and Lord Rsi didn't let it affect them. After all, they were powerful mana- enhanced warriors.

'These natural conditions are harsh,' Khan realized while following Lord Rsi. 'No wonder the Thilku use it as a special training ground.'

The Thilku were huge and wielded great physical prowess, while Khan was a unique being. Zedekiel couldn't do much against him, but he could imagine the benefits of training there, especially while growing up. The previously explained division suddenly made more sense. Nevertheless, different thoughts showed up in Khan's mind while Lord Rsi led him to the vast metal staircase at the mountain's base. The structure connected the metal floor to the palace, and various runes shone on its smooth rails. Its size was awe-inspiring, linking the ground to the sky, but Khan's attention inevitably moved elsewhere.

The symphony told Zedekiel's history. The thick stench of synthetic mana reflected its heavily industrialized state, but Khan's senses went deeper, searching for more details. He felt traces of life coming from the palace at the top of the mountain, but nothing similar reached him from other locations.

"[Does Zedekiel have citizens]?" Khan asked, confused. The s.h.i.+p had crossed a vast series of tall buildings before reaching the mountain, so Khan was sure he would have sensed traces of

life from there.

"[Only the Emperor and his Royal Guards can live on Zedekiel]," Lord Rsi explained, unable to divert his wors.h.i.+ping eyes from the mountain's top. "[Soldiers have the honor of training here every year, but only a chosen few can stay]."

'What were those cities for then?' Khan wondered. 'Were they actually cities?'

A faint tremor suddenly disturbed the symphony and interrupted Khan's thoughts. His eyes snapped upward to look at the sky in time for the arrival of a vast presence.

A tall Thilku had appeared in the red sky. The alien wore no iconic red cape and lacked the Lords' silver crowns, but his power was undeniable. Lord Rsi couldn't even compare to him. At once, Khan saw his first evolved Thilku.

The evolved Thilku slowly descended through the air, perfectly controlling his levitation. That was actual flight, different from what Khan performed but also unlike birds or similar animals. The alien's body looked one with the air, freely moving inside it without requiring

specific techniques.

"[Lord Envoy]!" Lord Rsi shouted as soon as he followed Khan's gaze. He promptly performed a traditional bow, and Khan imitated him, making sure his burned cape didn't fall

from his shoulders.

The evolved Thilku landed on the staircase a few steps above Khan and Lord Rsi. He was tall for the average Thilku but far less muscular. He was also completely bald, and wrinkles almost covered the entirety of his head, speaking for his age. Still, his red eyes were full of vitality and remained fixed on Khan.

"[Our records took note of your perception, Blue Shaman]," The evolved Thilku said, his voice calm but emotionless. "[It seems they won't need any update]."

"[You honor me, My Lord]," Khan responded, straightening his back. He was curious beyond reason, but the evolved Thilku didn't give him time to study him.

"[The Emperor is waiting]," The evolved Thilku announced. "[He ordered me to transport the Blue Shaman into the Royal Palace]."

"[I wish to prove my worth by climbing the mountain, My Lord]," Lord Rsi stated, still

bowing.

"[Your wish shall be granted]," The evolved Thilku stated, stretching his six-fingered hand toward Khan. "[Blue Shaman, your hand]."

Khan knew he couldn't refuse and didn't really plan to. He took the evolved Thilku's hand, bathing in the experience. The latter did the same, and a tinge of surprise joined his emotionless eyes. However, that reaction was short-lived, and the world in Khan's eyes suddenly transformed.

A strange, foreign energy surrounded Khan, cutting off his senses and distorting the s.p.a.ce around him. He instinctively wanted to oppose it but suppressed the urge. That probably was the Lord Envoy's ability, and fighting it didn't sound wise.

A teleportation unfolded. Khan landed straight on a metal floor again, but its surface was red now. His surroundings had also changed, replacing that open, vast staircase with a giant hall supported by metal pillars.

Those details reached Khan's senses, but he failed to pay attention to them. The Lord Envoy's strange presence was still before him, and more arrived. Khan didn't need to lift his eyes to know that the hall had four more evolved warriors.