Chaos Heir

The scientists didn't stay idle during the month of battles. Some monsters were processed to retrieve food and valuable materials, but the rest went to the interactive desks, falling under the scrutiny of those specialists to uncover eventual weaknesses.

Much had been discovered in that period. It turned out that Senerth's monsters could theoretically grow infinitely. They were hunting machines, only held back by their diet. The richer it was, the bigger and stronger those creatures would become.

The monsters' hungry nature and their ability to reproduce quickly worked against that incredible factor. Even in Senerth's richer areas, food was scarce, probably vanquished after decades of famished raids.

Cannibalism was still an option but had clear limits. A single alpha often couldn't deal with a rebellious pack, and the monsters' hunger facilitated instances of bloody revolts. Even if the leader survived, its injuries would prevent it from creating a new pack or winning another battle for leadership.

Hence, Senerth's packs lived in a frail balance, rarely abandoning their secure domains and relying on enemy attacks to bolster their food source. They would migrate and go on the offensive only when their hunger got the best of them, leading to conflicts that left their population weakened.

That constant state of disorderly balance worked in Khan's favor. The overpopulation limited the monsters' power, making his army more than capable of subduing them. Yet, his arrival and expansion were bound to break that brittle equilibrium, opening the path for unforeseen variables.

Killing many packs in a single battle would give Khan time to secure the entire quadrant and move to the next. However, lowering the number of mouths to feed would allow the other packs to grow stronger.

A swift conquest would solve the problem. As fearsome as the monsters were, they still needed time to adapt and grow. However, both humans and Scalqa had limits, and sending them into continuous, harsher battles could make them reach the breaking point. Even if they didn't, exhaustion and accumulated injuries were bound to increase the number of casualties. Khan watched the holograms, unsure of how to proceed. On the one hand, finally securing the quadrant would give the army time to breathe. It would also create a proper headquarters, expand the outpost, and retrieve additional buildings.

The toxic pool was one of those buildings. Khan had delayed that debilitating training since the battlefield needed him, but a moment of peace would allow him to resume it. His army also needed a break, but that came at a cost.

'Stopping means giving the other packs time to adapt and grow,' Khan summarized. 'Continuous advance means more casualties.'

The limited number of Scalqa and Khan's reticence in letting them die pushed Khan toward the first option. The army would have to face stronger enemies in the future, especially during the conquest's final phases. Still, he believed he could compensate for the additional danger if The went all-out.

"Simulations?" Khan eventually asked, and Garret promptly tinkered with the interactive desk, altering the holograms.

The images zoomed in on the red dot, limiting the view to the areas right outside it. A series of red triangles joined the holograms, converging toward the conquered zone. They marked the predicted attracted packs, and Khan counted four of them.

'I can deal with one,' Khan thought, 'Maybe two packs before they reach the outpost. The turrets will also weaken the others, and there are still a bunch of my spears.'

Khan crossed his arms, watching the holograms deep in thought. In the past month, he had always jumped headfirst into the enemy pack, attracting as much attention as possible to diminish the pressure on his army. Still, those battles had only involved one front, while the simulation predicted there would be three.

'Splitting the army isn't ideal,' Khan considered. 'The same goes for wasting spears so early in the campaign. Problems, problems...'

The giant lab didn't stay still during Khan's pondering. Scalqa reached the building, carrying dead monsters for the scientists to study or turn into food. Lieutenant Dyester also arrived, reaching Khan's side to inspect the holograms.

"Is the pheromone ready?" Lieutenant Dyester asked. He was Khan's second in command on Senerth, so he was aware of the lab's plans.

Khan nodded but didn't add anything. He tinkered a bit with the interactive desk, giving birth to different simulations. He could alter some factors, but the result didn't change.

"Can the army handle this?" Khan eventually asked. The simulations now featured two fighting fronts, implying splitting the army to occupy them.

"What about the other packs?" Lieutenant Dyester questioned, and Khan's empty glance revealed what he had in mind.

Lieutenant Dyester snorted, almost planning to berate Khan there. Yet, the strategy of throwing Khan in the middle of the packs was working, and that public environment wasn't the place for complaints.

"It can," Lieutenant Dyester revealed. "Two lines of rifles, one of spears, and the Scalqa will only deal with injured survivors."

Lieutenant Dyester approached the holograms, moving some red marks. The two fighting fronts ended up closer to the turrets with his arrangement, and an explanation quickly followed.

"The turrets can flank without you in the middle of the packs," Lieutenant Dyester explained. "That should still be in line with what the Empire wants, right?"

The Thilku pride didn't have an exact definition. It wasn't vague, but it wasn't precise, either. Theoretically, Khan's army had to prove itself superior to the beasts before gaining access to the wonders of technology, but that had already happened multiple times in the past month. Besides, the spears were an extension of Khan's power, and the rifles were no different than other ranged weapons. The turrets bordered that blurry line, but Khan didn't have to answer to anyone anymore. If he decided they were fine, they were fine.

"When will the next natural attack occur?" Khan asked.

"In two days, Prince Khan," Garret responded. "Three if we are lucky."

"Study these simulations," Khan ordered, nodding. "You have one day to perfect them. We'll

use the pheromone once the first pack is almost upon us."

Khan was about to leave, but Lieutenant Dyester cleared his throat, claiming his attention and interrupting his departure.

"We would obtain better results if we knew all the details," Lieutenant Dyester stated. "Mainly, those involving your role in the imminent battle."

Khan exchanged a long look with Lieutenant Dyester before reapproaching the holograms. He expanded on the simulations, zooming out to show the packs projected to fall prey to the

pheromone.

"The closest and most distant pack can be isolated from the main conflict," Khan explained. "I'll dispatch the first and deal with the last, leaving the remaining two to the army."

"Your initial battle will attract the other packs, Prince Khan," Garret pointed out, highlighting two red triangles. "These two will converge on you as soon as you spill blood."

"Keep track of their movements," Khan ordered, "And activate the pheromone once they get

too close."

"The pheromone's efficiency is purely theoretical, Prince Khan," Garret explained. "We

haven't tested it thoroughly enough to know whether it will distract these creatures from

food in their immediate vicinity."

"This battle will be the test," Khan declared. "Besides, I trust you wouldn't have mentioned it without being certain of its validity."

Some pressure fell on Garret. Khan wasn't even looking at him, but he knew that his reputation was on the line there. A more inexperienced and gutless scientist would have demanded a delay, but Garret was no ordinary figure. He was his family's genius, so he had long since gotten used to the weight of expectations.

"The pheromone will work, Prince Khan," Garret promised. "Chances are it will distract the creatures fighting against you."

"We are set then," Khan concluded, but Lieutenant Dyester had more to say.

"Wait," Lieutenant Dyester called. "It's my job to arrange the army and account for every

variable. Khan, you are part of the army."

"Your point?" Khan wondered, looking at the Lieutenant.

"I can't agree to a plan with so many holes," Lieutenant Dyester explained. "At best, everything will go well. At worst, you'll be submerged by four packs."

"How is that a variable?" Khan questioned.

"That's more than a thousand monsters," Lieutenant Dyester pointed out. "It's a big fucking

variable."

"There is no variable there," Khan declared. "If everything goes according to plan, I'll kill five hundred monsters. If it doesn't, I'll kill a thousand."

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