Chaos Heir

Chapter 1325: Contraction

Khan isolated himself inside the dome, spending all his time inside the outpost’s main structure, sitting on a simple bed with a cold figure sleeping on his lap.

The outside world didn’t stay still. Daily reports reached the simple room where Khan was staying, confirming his predictions. Zalpa also visited him and the sleeping beauty on his lap on an hourly basis, attending to tasks only she could handle, echoing the soldiers’ concerns.

However, Khan didn’t move or address any of that. Nothing was more important than his wife, especially during that crucial phase of her pregnancy. There was much to be done, but the universe itself had to wait now.

Khan mostly spent his time meditating or thinking. Training like that wouldn’t achieve much, and the same went for those isolated brainstorming sessions. Still, that break felt necessary and owed, and a pleasant change eventually disrupted it.

About a week after the outpost’s landing, a change happened in the room’s synthetic symphony. Khan interrupted his mediation, opening his eyes to illuminate that dark environment with their blue light, and a white glow soon joined them.

Liiza inhaled slowly, but the difference in her breathing was impossible to miss. Her unfocused eyes shone on the room’s black ceiling before awareness flowed into her gaze, aided by the warm sensations spreading from her head.

Khan mustered a faint smile when Liiza looked at him. He caressed her hair while she matched his expression and glanced at the dim red symbols all over her. Liiza touched her belly, finally relaxing when she confirmed that the baby was fine.

"[How long have I slept]?" Liiza asked, whispering while sitting up, accepting Khan’s help and leaving a quick kiss on his lips before settling between his legs.

"[Two weeks]," Khan replied, leaning past Liiza’s shoulder to point an admonishing finger at her face. "[I warn you. You pull another stunt like that, I’m getting that harem]."

Liiza looked on the verge of laughing when something about Khan’s hand caught her attention, adding sweetness to her smile. She took his wrist, pulling it to her mouth to place her cold lips on his now-intact skin.

Khan couldn’t even pretend to be angry after that. He merely watched as Liiza left a slow, deep kiss on his hand before pulling his wrist even more, adjusting herself on Khan’s torso to wrap his arm around her.

"[Thank you]," Khan muttered, laying his head on Liiza’s shoulder. "[But really, no more freezing time]."

"[I didn’t freeze time]," Liiza explained, leaning her head on Khan’s. "[I froze our time]."

That explanation didn’t explain anything at all, but Khan forgot about it when a cold hand rose to his head, diving into his hair to cling to it.

"[And when could you ever tell me what to do]?" Liiza teased.

"[I’m going to spend the rest of my life losing to you, am I not]?" Khan sighed.

"[You are just too cute]," Liiza giggled, half-turning to kiss Khan’s cheek before lowering her gaze, caressing her belly. "[But yes, and not only to me]."

Khan showed no hesitation when reaching for Liiza’s belly, too. She took his hand, and their fingers intertwined, remaining on her cold skin and the warmth under it.

"[She is almost here]," Liiza revealed. "[She wants to come out]."

"[Isn’t still too soon]?" Khan wondered. According to his calculations, the pregnancy should last another week, and that was according to human standards.

"[Maybe it was your blood]," Liiza explained, obviously knowing what the dim red marks on her contained. "[I know that she feels ready]."

The idea that the baby could be born sooner than expected put a pleasant pressure on Khan’s shoulders. Liiza shared that sentiment, making her lift her blushing face to show a timid but eager smile.

Khan couldn’t even try to hold back. His free hand went on Liiza’s nape, and she pulled his hair to trap him into a kiss. It was truly happening. Their child was about to be born, and the couple could hardly contain their happiness.

"[Khan]," Liiza whispered when she managed to interrupt her passion, closing her eyes and laying her forehead on Khan’s. "[Talk to me]."

"[I’m very hungry]," Khan admitted, also closing his eyes.

"[The other thing]," Liiza commented.

"[I’m so horny I might ignore Zaza’s warning]," Khan stated. "[The fact that I didn’t do anything while you slept should tell you how much I love you]."

Liiza giggled but scoldingly pulled Khan’s hair, retracting her face to look meaningfully at him. Khan sensed her white light and also opened his eyes, knowing it was time to address that other topic.

"[Those two said they were just scouts]," Khan revealed. "[The warriors and Kings will follow, paving the way for their God]."

Liiza diverted her gaze in thought, instantly realizing how serious the situation was. She and Khan had barely held their own against mere scouts. The situation had changed now, and they both had drawbacks during the battle, but that didn’t make the problem any less grave.

However, Khan wasn’t done with the troublesome revelations.

"[They said they wield True Chaos]," Khan added, "[And that their God will devour mine. I believe they were talking about the Nak]."

That unfounded theory had only grown louder while Khan stayed with Liiza. He didn’t have any definitive proof, but everything fit too perfectly not to be at least slightly correct.

"[I think the Scarlet Eyes might be a twisted version of the Nak’s mana]," Khan concluded, "[Something similar to what the Nak want to create, something similar to what they want me to become]."

"[Then the Nak will die first]," Liiza coldly exclaimed, refocusing on Khan. "[Because no one but me tells my husband what he has to become]."

"[And what does he have to become]?" Khan asked.

"[That stupid boy who couldn’t stop cracking jokes despite all his pain]," Liiza replied, letting go of Khan’s hair to lower her hand to his chest. "[Or whatever makes him happy]."

"[Your husband couldn’t be happier]," Khan claimed, "[Or feel luckier to have found his wife. He is even grateful to his mana for that]."

The tease hid a more profound meaning. Liiza seemed to have always known what Khan’s problem was, and that statement reassured her. He had finally understood what he had lost and had partially retrieved it. Khan wasn’t fixed yet, but Liiza had never planned to stop so soon.

Nevertheless, a bump both Khan and Liiza felt distracted them from that loving, meaningful moment. Liiza even grunted in pain, squeezing Khan’s hand on her belly tightly.

"[She is coming]," Liiza gasped, furrowing her brow while enduring the pain she was in. "[Khan, I’m going into labor. Call Za-]."

Liiza couldn’t complete her request since a violent contraction made her lean forward and hide her face on Khan’s chest.