Cegnore’s natives might have accepted their cursed fate, but that didn’t necessarily apply to Chuwei’s strange lifeforms. Khan could see their struggle against their infection with his bare eyes and didn’t know where it would lead.
Usually, Khan would show no mercy toward anyone who attempted to be a threat. However, he was biased toward those who shared his curse, and his destructive element agreed. Ideally, Khan would avoid fighting Chuwei’s Tainted lifeforms. He simply didn’t know whether that was an option.
The lifeforms on and inside the underground chamber’s surface remained silent, absorbing Khan’s words. Something inside those masses of energy told them to ply with Khan, acknowledging him as a superior entity they had to help.
Yet, another intense emotion raged inside those lifeforms, opposing their dutiful, foreign resolve. Their unwillingness to submit to their cursed fate filled the symphony with a dark desire that had Khan as its target.
Still, nothing abrupt happened. As unstable as those lifeforms were, Khan was no weakling. His aura passively surrounded his body, conveying his mighty prowess and triggering instinctive reactions in those masses of energy. The latter were confused, but the threat Khan posed brought a modicum of clarity and hesitation.
The situation seemed to descend into a stalemate, but a mass of energy eventually moved. That lifeform was denser than its panions, conveying superior strength. Still, its differences didn’t stop there, and Khan soon learned about them.
The mass of energy flowed down from the ceiling, crossing a wall and part of the floor to stop before the ship Khan was standing on. The ground moved, fusing with the lifeform to rise into the air. The process also involved part of the metal shards, giving birth to a strange but familiar figure.
Rocks, metal, and soil condensed on the graveyard’s floor, assuming a shape Khan couldn’t help but recognize. He saw two legs, two arms, a thick cape, and long hair kept down by a crown. The lifeform couldn’t imitate colors, innate abilities, or tiny details but did a great job replicating his appearance.
Khan felt no disfort standing before a copy of himself. Instead, he performed a Niqols’ bow, hoping the gesture would convey his pure intentions. He knew the creature that had approached him was no ordinary lifeform, so he tried to show it the respect it deserved.
Initially, the copy made of debris didn’t move, but its figure eventually replicated Khan’s gesture. The denser lifeform performed a perfect bow, straightening its rocky back to face Khan again.
"[Potential heir]," The copy spoke, opening its fake mouth, only for tremors to run through its figure to convey its words. "[I’m the leader of this colony. You are our first visitor in a long time]."
The denser lifeform seemed far more articulate than the previous. At least, that was how Khan’s brain translated its tremors. Still, the ability to convey more intricate meanings had to vouch for its superior intelligence and control over the Nak’s language.
"I came to this planet to look for Nak’s traces," Khan announced. "I’m grateful for your hospitality and help. With this, I might be able to find the Nak and inherit their legacy."
The lifeform studied Khan. It didn’t use its fake eyes, but Khan still felt its gaze on him. It tried to pierce his flesh to look at something deep inside him, but his aura prevented it from reaching his skin.
"[The Nak attacked us a long time ago]," The copy said. "[We repelled their attack, but our planet was destroyed in the process]."
"My planet also suffered greatly from the Nak’s invasion," Khan mented.
"[The Nak changed us]," The copy stated, ignoring Khan’s replies. "[So, we transformed to pursue their task, only to end up in our current state]."
Khan had to do a little interpretation and guessing there. The transformation the denser lifeform had mentioned could resemble the evolution, which was part of the Nak’s quest. After all, the Nak wanted the infected species to surpass them, overing their bottleneck.
However, none of the lifeforms in the underground chamber were even close to that power level. Khan could guess they had attempted something similar to what he had done, but his imagination reached its limits there.
Yet, Khan could spot more details after that revelation. The Nak embodied mana, while Chuwei’s lifeforms were masses of energy. There was a vague resemblance there, albeit the latter were clearly inferior.
"I’m sorry," Khan uttered, speaking from the bottom of his heart. He knew the desperation those lifeforms must have felt far too well and couldn’t help but relate to their current situation.
"[How did you transform to match the Nak’s task]?" The denser lifeform asked.
Khan opened his mouth, only to immediately close it. He had no easy way to explain how he had succeeded in resisting the Nak’s nightmares. His genes played a part, but he also received a lot of help from his Father and other different species.
Eventually, Khan could only e up with a short line he hoped the lifeform would understand. "I was saved."
Of course, Khan poured many feelings into those few words. His line didn’t carry specific meanings but could give an idea of his many trials and struggles, vouching for how harsh his journey had been.
The denser lifeform took time to absorb that short line, and the same went for its panions on and inside the chamber’s surfaces. Their silence lasted far longer now, but the leader eventually broke it.
"[Potential heir]," The leader called. "[You hold the key to plete the Nak’s task. Let us learn it]."
"I would," Khan replied, "But I don’t know how."
"[We know how]," The denser lifeform announced. "[Our kind will absorb you and learn from your kind, transforming once more, this time successfully]."
The desire in the symphony intensified, seemingly reflecting the leader’s decision. Khan knew he was in danger but didn’t move. Only his sad smile deepened at that undesirable development.
"I’m afraid I can’t let you do it," Khan politely declined.
"[We suffered for too long, potential heir]," The leader exclaimed. "[We will transform once more and claim the Nak’s inheritance for ourselves]."
"You can’t," Khan sighed. "You are too weak."
Truthfully, Khan was willing to help, but his evaluation was on point. Chuwei’s lifeforms were weak, and weakness was a sin, especially when the goal was as grand as the Nak’s mission.
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