Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1494: Azure Island (Part 1)

The long night was finally drawing to a close, and everything was reaching its conclusion.

“Be careful,” Leona said with a smile toward Adam before shifting her gaze to Silvana. “I’m rooting for you.”

Nodding slightly, Silvana felt her cheeks begin to burn with a flush.

“Later, bro!” Trici shouted, her hand waving enthusiastically. Despite the late hour, she remained incredibly energetic. This was perhaps due to the fascinating things she had discovered today, or more likely because Damien had surreptitiously given her an energy drink instead of a soda.

Adam returned the smile.

“I'll see you soon. I’ll try my best to visit again!”

With that, Leona, Gary, and Trici stepped into the elevator. The doors slid shut as they descended the massive skyscraper. A vehicle was already parked below, and they would be back at their residence within the hour.

For Adam and Silvana, however, the night was far from over; it was merely the prelude to something far more significant, involving more than just the two of them.

Tap.

With a look of satisfaction, Damien set his half-finished beer bottle down on the table.

“You’ve got a great family, Adam. You’re a lucky man, you know?”

Adam gave a solemn nod as he walked toward the table, his expression briefly clouding over.

“Yeah, I need to prioritize time with them. There are only six and a half years remaining until… until that final meeting.”

Damien offered no verbal reply, but a faint smirk touched his lips for a fleeting second.

‘Who can say what the world will look like by the next World Wipe?’ he mused, looking across the table. ‘Maybe it’s time to snuff out the two brightest flames in this world. Or… perhaps I’ll wait a few centuries.’

Alexia, looking visibly disinterested, turned her attention to Beth. Her ear was still a bit red.

“So, what’s the plan?”

“Isn't it obvious?” Beth asked, raising an eyebrow. “Our destination is Heaven Island. Regardless of when you choose to start your next mission, this is the perfect opportunity to reach it.”

She went on to explain:

“Even with your new status as K4-Phantoms, you can't just waltz onto Heaven Island like it's a neighborhood cafe. Authorization is required.”

Louis folded his arms. “But a person of your standing doesn't need authorization, do they?”

“Naturally,” Beth agreed with a nod. “Rules and permissions are meant for the weak. You should realize that by now, Louis.”

Louis remained silent. While he understood her logic, such a blunt and tyrannical philosophy didn't resonate with his personal values.

The strong dictated the laws while the weak obeyed. It was a grim, autocratic reality, yet it was the very foundation of how societies were structured.

Without obedience or established rules, there would be nothing but total anarchy and chaos.

For rules to be followed, people needed more than just good intentions; they needed to fear the penalty of defiance. To instill that fear in those with bad intentions, there had to be an individual powerful enough to enforce it.

This was the purpose of the police, and the Phantoms were subject to the same logic.

Hundreds of Phantoms were processed at the Citadel daily. Inevitably, a few would seek to exploit their new wealth, authority, and power for selfish ends. They were free to try, but no matter the strength of a Phantom, there was always a higher power to keep them in check.

Damien, however, might have disputed that particular point.

Within the Citadel's ranks, Frida held a rank equal to his. Yet, despite her insistence on following protocol, she was powerless to stop Damien whenever he decided to follow a reckless whim.

“Can we head out right now?” Adam suggested.

Damien’s grin widened. “I like that attitude! Just give me a second!”

He crossed over to the fridge, pulled a frost-covered beer from the freezer, and took a long, refreshing gulp.

“Aah… Nothing beats a cold drink.”

Step. Step. Step.

Beth walked toward the balcony and, to the bewilderment of the onlookers, simply stepped off the edge.

Suddenly, a violent surge of wind caught her. With a casual flick of Damien’s wrist, the rest of the group found themselves swept up as well.

The transition was so sudden that no one had time to prepare.

“Wait! What the—!” Silvana cried out, scrambling to find her footing in the air.

Adam and Alexia were somewhat accustomed to this, but it was a terrifying new experience for Louis and Silvana. They felt as though they might plummet at any second, even as the wind currents carried them higher into the sky.

The only ones relaxed were Damien, still nursing his beer, and Beth, who had already latched onto his back like a tired panda.

Tap.

Adam reached out to steady Silvana, pulling her into a firm embrace from behind.

“Damien isn't exactly the type to give fair warning, is he?”

Silvana swallowed hard, watching the skyscraper spires and the glowing city streets shrink into miniature as they soared upward.

“No, he isn't… I feel a bit ridiculous, though. It’s not as terrifying as that time he tossed you and Alexia off the balcony.”

Adam gave a small shrug.

“You think I’ve let that go? Once I’ve gained enough power, I’ll get my payback. Maybe I’ll drop him off a skyscraper, or just chuck a tomato at his face.”

The sheer silliness of his revenge plan made Silvana burst into laughter.

“Hahahaha! You’re going to need a lot of patience for that!”

Adam nodded. He was well aware of the gap between himself and Damien, but he was currently closer to that level of power than he had ever been before.

‘I’ve evolved from a mere human into a K4-Phantom. Nothing should be able to block my path now. The battles and trials are getting deadlier, but my strength is growing too. I just need a bit more time…’

Nearby, Louis tried to maintain his composure. However, when Alexia took his hand, he couldn't suppress a smile. He was, after all, an Operator—not one of the elite Phantoms who served as the vanguard of the human race.

Whoooooooosh.

Piercing through the cloud layer with a roar of wind, a magnificent floating island suddenly came into view. The surface and jagged edges of the island were bathed in the glow of cyan crystals. At its heart resided the most vital figure in the entire Citadel—Queen Elisa.