?'What now?' Khan wondered.
The shuttle's scanners were inferior to those of the ship. Khan's senses outclassed their limited range, even if most details remained unclear.
Khan couldn't directly sense the Scalqa, but the symphony carried their influence, allowing him to get a general idea of the situation. There were ten to fifteen aliens around him, and that number only indicated those strong enough to leave a lasting trace.
'Their settlement isn't too close,' Khan calculated. 'And we barely wasted a few minutes between the landing and multiple scans. They can't be so fast.'
After pondering briefly, Khan concluded that the Scalqa nearby didn't come out due to the flashy landing. That alien team was probably already in the area and had changed direction after noticing the event.
'A hunting party?' Khan wondered. 'They are a bit too strong for that. Maybe there are problems with the nearby tribes.'
Hypotheses surged into Khan's mind, spreading and expanding into different simulations, but part of his thoughts remained on his mental state. To his surprise, he didn't feel any annoyance toward the nearby threat. Even the usual paranoia had quieted down. He was strangely calm and at ease.
That feeling didn't come from experience. Khan was more than used to similar situations, but his current calm was different. His paranoia was still there. He was slightly annoyed at the Scalqa's lack of acknowledgment of his strength. Yet, none of that had any effect on his mind.
'I see,' Khan realized. 'I'm having fun.'
The Harbor basically was Khan's home, but he knew the truth. That array of domes and buildings had no value in his eyes. He respected it because of his life with Monica, but nothing else.
Instead, Baoway represented something Khan had lacked in the last period, and his interactions with the Thilku couldn't fill that gap. The wilderness and mana in his surroundings made him aware of a simple truth. He was on a battlefield, his real home.
Of course, the realization didn't distract Khan from the impending problem. The Scalqa were distant enough to remain unseen, but their stance felt more than evident. Wariness filled the symphony, but no one seemed willing to advance.
'They won't give up the higher ground,' Khan accepted. 'What should I do?'
Ideas flowed in Khan's mind. He had interacted with many species, learning different customs and behaviors. He had to convey cordiality and peace, and his thoughts inevitably converged on one specific gesture.
'Where's the strongest one?' Khan asked himself before closing his eyes and focusing on his senses. The symphony sang in his ears and brain, creating strands of different colors and intensity, adding details only he could hear.
Khan opened his eyes and turned his entire body to his right when he found the target. He glanced at a precise spot past the trees before wearing a simple smile. Then, he joined his hands before his chest and performed a Niqols bow.
"[I offer myself with nothing but respect]," Khan whispered in the Nele language, conveying his intentions to the symphony. His mana fused with the environment, creating a strand of energy that stretched toward the Scalqa he had targeted.
Amy stayed silent, but her eyes didn't miss a single detail. Khan's calm was commendable, proper of a true pro, but greater events distracted her from that stance.
Khan had pointed his whisper at the target in the middle of the forest, but his words resonated with his surroundings, affecting the symphony. A kind, peaceful aura had fallen in the landing aura, echoing Khan's intentions.
Amy had read reports and studied Khan as much as possible, but witnessing his power with her eyes left a completely different expression. That wasn't a human skill. Mana had allowed humans to perform spells, but Khan wielded actual magic.
Khan could sense Amy's feelings, but they were the last of his priorities. He wouldn't know what to do if his gesture failed to produce the desired effect, and his other options were risky. The Scalqa could easily misunderstand them and opt for violence.
Tense seconds passed, but Khan didn't break his polite bow. Still, his head wasn't completely lowered, and his eyes remained on the powerful presence hidden by the enormous trees. As much as he wanted to convey peace, the Scalqa needed to understand he wasn't playing around.
Amy had frozen in an odd position, and cramps began to afflict her neck, but she endured them. Something bigger than her was at play there, and nothing had to ruin it.
The tense seconds turned into a minute and then five. Khan's gesture and words seemed to have no effect, but the forest eventually responded. Crunching noises spread among the trees, signaling steps landing on grass and leaves, and shadows soon appeared under the dim yellow light that managed to cross the crowns far above.
The shadows grew bigger and slowly gained more details. The forest's faint darkness stopped hiding those figures, which turned out to be quite impressive. They were larger than any image could possibly convey, and their numbers couldn't be underestimated either.
Amy had plenty of experience in the field, so she realized how dangerous the situation was even without heightened senses. Twenty Scalqa had peeked past the trees from three directions, almost encircling the landing area. Most had their spears lifted above their shoulders, ready to throw them.
Those extremely muscular beings wore stern faces, radiating clear enmity. Even inexperienced explorers would recognize that stance, and their huge frames only enhanced the chilling vibe.
Theoretically, an escape route existed. The Scalqa were wary of the shuttle, so they had avoided going behind it. Khan and Amy could probably run away if they left their equipment behind. That was a tough but acceptable trade for their lives.
Yet, Amy noticed something odd. The twenty Scalqa were completely ignoring her. The shuttle attracted some interest, but most eyes remained fixed on Khan for no apparent reason.
The issue could easily be explained by sexism. However, most Scalqa had long hair, either kept wild and free or split into small braids. They probably didn't even notice Amy was a woman. Besides, they had female specimens among their team, too.
The difference between male and female was also evident. The Scalqa were half-naked, with only strands of pelt falling from their shoulders. Anyone could see the presence or absence of breasts.
Amy didn't know what to think, so she joined the Scalqa. She slowly turned her head, staring straight at Khan. Everyone was waiting for his move, but he was still bowing.
Khan ran his eyes across the Scalqa before focusing on his initial target. The three-meter-tall Scalqa was the only one wearing a different attire. Simple bones adorned his shoulders, acting as armor that protected part of his torso.
The targeted Scalqa felt as strong as a fourth-level warrior, but Khan sensed something was off. The alien had the pressure and killing intent of an experienced soldier but lacked a certain spark. He appeared closer to a wild beast than an intelligent being.
'Did the Global Army overestimate them?' Khan wondered, carefully breaking his bow and straightening his back.
Khan's movements were graceful enough to avoid a reaction from the Scalqa, but the situation didn't change. Spears were still pointed at Amy and Khan, and the aliens weren't even close to lowering them.
"Ku ga ra ka ka tsu da!" The targeted Scalqa eventually shouted in a tone that resembled a war cry. Still, his companions didn't move, so Khan could only conclude he was talking to him.
Khan did his best to read the symphony and the alien's aura, but the language barrier was too high to climb with mere senses. He couldn't understand what the Scalqa wanted, so he wore a helpless smile, hoping his facial expression could be somewhat recognizable.
"Tru zu ku za ze!" The targeted Scalqa shouted again, but Khan was still clueless. He scratched his head in defeat, and the aliens allowed that gesture.
'Maybe something simple,' Khan thought, touching his chest. 'Khan. I am Khan.'
Surprise spread through the symphony and in some expressions. It seemed the Scalqa were still unclear about Khan and Amy's nature, which was understandable. The concept of aliens probably was too much for that primitive species. They might actually think Khan and Amy came from a different continent rather than a place many star systems away.
"We come in peace," Khan continued since his words were causing reactions. He imbued his voice with the same feeling as his previous whisper, and his hands joined again to perform another bow.
A sense of peace spread through the area, and a few Scalqa lifted their heads to inspect the air. They appeared sensitive to the mana, and Khan noted that detail down.
The targeted Scalqa didn't look too impressed with Khan's performance. He continued to study him with his big yellow eyes, and some hesitation finally tainted his mana. The alien appeared unclear on what to do.
"Kru-gru-xa!" The targeted Scalqa eventually said, and whispers spread among the alien team. Most Scalqa looked surprised, but some started echoing their leader's words, triggering a chain reaction.
Soon, the entire team began chanting "Kru-gru-xa", patting their broad chests with their free hands. The event resembled a tribal custom of rhythmic noises and words, which wasn't far from the truth.
One of the Scalqa lowered his spear and stepped forward, shouting "Kru-gru-xa". His companions echoed the word, beating their chests harder. Some even began stomping their feet before also advancing.
Amy kept her survival instincts in check and remained still, watching the Scalqa leave the trees and form a large half-circle around Khan. As for the alien who had advanced first, he didn't join that battle formation. Instead, he walked toward Khan, stopping a few meters from him before planting his spear into the ground.
"Kru-gru-xa!" The alien shouted again, lifting his huge arms into the air and letting the pelts fall from his shoulders. He was basically naked at that point, having only a strand of fabric covering his lower waist.
Unlike the previous words, Khan perfectly understood what the Scalqa wanted to do. The battle intent was so intense and dense he could almost taste it. That probably was a famous custom in the tribe, and he had every intention of respecting it.
"Kru-gru-xa," Khan uttered, smiling as he unbuttoned the upper part of his military uniform. The clothes soon fell to the ground, revealing his muscular body.
Amy had first-row seats at the event, and her mind inevitably made comparisons. The Scalqa before Khan was simply enormous. Standing bears would pale before him. The alien's muscles were massive and firm, giving him the appearance of a god of war.
Instead, Khan was the definition of perfection. His body lacked any trace of fat, and dense but smaller muscles occupied every inch of his exposed skin. His frame was nowhere near as impressive as the Scalqa's, but no one would underestimate it.
Khan continued to smile, but the Scalqa eventually lowered his eyes toward the knife hanging from his waist. The alien said nothing and quickly looked up, but that was enough for Khan.
Khan swiftly unfastened the sheath, dropped the knife to the ground, and crossed his arms to convey his readiness. The Scalqa in the half-circle understood that stance and began shooting glances at their leader. The latter was only one step behind that offensive formation, but his tall frame allowed him to see everything.
"Kru-gru-xa!" The leader shouted, and Khan's opponent released a loud battle cry. He also spread his huge arms before charging forward.
The fighter had the strength of a third-level warrior, but his physical prowess was probably scarier than that. Yet, Khan couldn't feel any danger. Only one word existed in his mind while that mountain of muscles charged at him.
'Slow,' Khan thought, willing mana into his feet.
Everything ended so quickly that everyone struggled to understand what had happened. The situation had changed in less than a second, and its conclusion almost made Amy hang her jaw in surprise.
The Scalqa was sitting on the ground, terrified about the two fingers pointed at his forehead. Meanwhile, Khan stood before the alien, his face conveying their immense difference. Still, there was no value in scaring away a fighter who had already lost, so his eyes soon rose toward the leader.
