Chaos Heir

The reason behind George's shame became evident.

As much as George pretended to be, he was no idiot. He had joked about it but had also fully realized the gravity of Khan's curse and the mission it entailed. His nightmares revealed the existence of a universal threat, something that could end life as they knew it.

That wasn't a simple war. That probably would be the greatest war the universe had ever faced, and George was asking Khan to fight and win it. He wanted to send his best friend into his most perilous challenge yet, something that could easily kill him, and the sole idea put shame into the very core of his soul.

However, George had to make that request. He had to for his future child.

One of the small forest's giant trees suddenly snapped. A vast chunk of its trunk exploded, releasing a rain of wood shards that turned into dust before touching the ground. The damage was too significant to support the weight, so the plant tilted sideways, crashing down and lifting a cloud of soil.

A nearby patch of terrain suffered from a similar fate. Its surface cracked and exploded outward, creating a brown flare. Similar events happened everywhere, giving birth to a more violent version of what Khan had caused during his training session.

The sudden event startled George, but a firm hand fell on his shoulder as soon as he diverted his gaze. His body couldn't move under that palm's ethereal but unbreakable weight. Only his eyes could, and they returned to Khan to meet his glowing irises.

Khan didn't understand what a family was, not in the normal sense. His Father's sacrifice had given him some hints, and Princess Rebecca's unilateral love deepened them, but Khan remained unclear about that seemingly ordinary concept.

Nevertheless, George was different. He had been at Khan's side since Istrone. George had even accompanied him on Nitis and all its problems before deciding to join him in the Harbor, doing something he loathed to be with him.

Thinking back on it, Khan couldn't help but realize how constant and important George's presence had been in his life. Even when they weren't together, they updated and advised each other through long calls. His support had been bottomless, eventually culminating in the current alliance.

Khan didn't know what a family was but believed he understood what it felt like to have a brother. Even if he didn't, given the choice, he would pick George. Khan couldn't think of anyone else for that role.

And now, that brother was about to become a father.

Khan could see how deeply George cared about him. His request to put him in danger wouldn't make him so ashamed otherwise. If anything, it revealed how deeply George already loved his future child, and Khan's desperation inevitably resonated with that feeling.

The scarlet eyes were truly unforgivable. Khan's brother should have been ecstatic at the news, but that looming threat had forced him into such a shameful act, and Khan couldn't let it stand. His dark sides had always been terrifying, so he had no idea what he would be capable of doing to keep George's child's future safe.

Khan only knew it wouldn't be for the fainthearted.

"George," Khan eventually said, a faint growl seemingly accompanying his usual voice. "I swear. There are no people or planets I won't destroy to give your child a peaceful future."

George stared deep into Khan's eyes, slowly absorbing his words before diverting his gaze and nodding a few times. Khan also retracted his hand, offering the remaining booze back to him.

"Thank you," George muttered, seizing the bottle.

"Don't mention it," Khan replied, the destruction around him finally quieting down.

The two remained silent for a while. Khan watched the forest while George gazed at the ground, seemingly still busy absorbing the recent interaction. However, the bottle eventually ended, forcing a less dramatic line out of him when he placed it on the ground.

"You know," George coughed. "You should work on your delivery. I thought you wanted to kill me for a second."

"With you," Khan exclaimed, "I would have warned you beforehand. I owe you that much."

"Should I be grateful for that?" George wondered.

"Who knows?" Khan chuckled. "I guess there are worse things to be grateful for."

"That you should know," George agreed.

Silence fell again, but the atmosphere was far calmer now. George had also raised his head,

joining Khan in his absent-minded inspection of the damaged forest.

"I suppose you won't be here to be my best man," George eventually announced.

"Does everyone already know I'm leaving?" Khan asked.

"It's not official," George revealed, "But rumors are already spreading."

That didn't surprise Khan. His preparations happened on classified levels on the quadrant's network, but every system had leaks. Moreover, many could draw a similar conclusion after learning about Khan's exit from the political environment.

"Besides," George continued. "That's the same face you had before going to Ecoruta."

Khan glanced at George before refocusing on the scenery. His face shouldn't have any trace of ordinary emotions, but it seemed his close friends could still see through him.

"So," Khan sighed, "I can still make such faces."

"You have always been quite expressive," George pointed out.

"When was I ever expressive?" Khan scoffed. "Most soldiers in the Global Army would say otherwise."

"Most soldiers didn't see you before your eyes became lamps," George mocked. "Even then, they would go on and off depending on how you felt."

"I used to be so good at lying," Khan cursed. "It would drive Martha crazy."

"She let you do it," George commented.

"Wait," Khan exclaimed. "I had two secret relationships, and everyone thought I was together with Jenna. I'm a master of lies."

"I will give you Liiza," George conceded, "But everyone knew about Monica. People simply believed she'd be smart enough to keep her distance."

Khan couldn't argue back. Monica's status had been their relationship's greater shield in the Harbor. No matter what the couple did, no one would believe they actually had gone that far.

"And," George continued, "Are you really pulling Jenna into this? Didn't the two of you spend more time naked than dressed up?"

"But we weren't in a relationship," Khan pointed out. "That has to count as a lie."

"That's more of a relationship than most married men experience," George scoffed.

"You make marriage sound worse than my nightmares," Khan teased.

"Old habits," George cursed. "On that topic, I can survive not having you as my best man, but

what about being the godfather?"

"I think you are too old to have me as your godfather," Khan joked.

"I take it you accept," George stated, ignoring the joke.

"Are you sure?" Khan asked. "What would I even teach that kid? How to go against

humankind?"

"How to pull alien chicks would be a good start," George considered. "But well, at least he

would be safe since there's no safer place than with you."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!