Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1498: Frost Lands and Portals

Capítulo 1498: Frost Lands and Portals

For a brief moment, Adam and Alexia stood in silence, exchanging looks of pure bewilderment. They were completely disoriented, unable to grasp their current location.

Their memories were clear up to a certain point: they had been approaching Queen Elisa, standing just a few paces from the pressure of her aura, when suddenly… Damien had shoved them forward without a single word of clarification.

"Damien!" Alexia barked, her fist shaking in the air out of sheer irritation.

Adam let out a heavy, weary sigh. "It wasn't just him. I am certain Beth knew he would pull something like this. She didn't give us any warning, though. At the very least, she could have explained what we were walking into."

A few seconds passed before a vibration rippled through the distant Wandering Fragments, almost as if the objects were calling out for their attention.

Alexia lifted an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Are those the fragments Beth mentioned? From here, they look exactly like portals!"

"Hmm, I suspect they are linked to the Path Construct in some way. Without the influence of Queen Elisa’s aura, reaching this specific state would likely have taken us a significant amount of time."

In response, Alexia tilted her head back, peering upward as if trying to locate her own inner space from within the confines of this shadowed chamber.

"Tsk. Even if that is true, I don’t plan on relying on the queen every time I need help. Would it have been so hard for them to teach us the method?"

Adam remained quiet, his focus shifting toward the fragments drifting in the void. They were scattered at various intervals—some hovered nearby, while others were lost in the distance.

These fragments drifted through the darkness, each radiating unique colors, elements, and paths. One shard flickered with a fierce, brilliant flame; another was enveloped by the serenity of flowing water; a third contained a menacing storm, its lightning trapped safely within the portal's edge so as not to interfere with the others.

After a short while, Alexia’s frustration cooled, and she shook her head.

"We are caught in that weird time dilation again, aren't we?"

"Yeah, most likely. We can't see Damien, Beth, or the rest, but I’m sure a mere second in the outside world feels like half a minute to us right now. Though, there’s no telling how long we’ll be searching for the correct fragment," Adam noted with a calm expression.

He understood that panic was useless. Their only objective was to find the path forward.

However, one specific detail continued to bother Adam.

"If these truly are the Wandering Fragments Beth described… why were we sent here together?"

Alexia gave a casual shrug.

"Isn't this better? If there is a single location where you can find the Blood of God and I can claim the Ancient Frost, I have no problem handling both tasks at once."

She then gestured toward a blue portal far off in the distance. It was surrounded by swirling currents of a peaceful blizzard, with jagged ice crystals suspended in the air around it.

"You felt the pull from that one immediately too, didn't you?"

Adam gave a slow nod of confirmation.

"But why? Ice is your element, and it aligns perfectly with the Ancient Frost you seek. It makes sense for you to be drawn to that fragment. But what does it have to do with me?"

She turned to face him, arching an eyebrow.

"Hmm? What did you expect? What exactly do you think a fragment belonging to the God of Blood is supposed to look like?"

Adam found himself without an answer.

He scanned the horizon, but out of the hundreds of shimmering fragments, none stirred his interest—except for the frost-bound one.

Step.

Alexia began to walk. Her internal energy was pulling her toward the frost portal, and she saw no reason to wait. She was eager to identify her next objective and return to the Dead Lands. Her period of recovery in the Citadel had lasted long enough for her to crave the thrill of battle and the sight of monsters once more.

Tap.

Before she could take another stride, Adam’s hand landed firmly on her shoulder.

"Don't be in such a rush. Time is on our side here, especially under the protection of Queen Elisa’s aura. We should examine each fragment before making a final choice."

Alexia, however, did not share his cautious outlook.

"Are you serious?" She pointed toward the sea of fragments. "There are thousands of them! We can't possibly inspect every single one, especially when the answer is already right in front of us!"

Adam knit his brows.

"Fine, we won't check them all. Let's just look at a hundred, alright?"

Alexia puffed out her cheeks in a childish pout, but she eventually relented with a nod.

"Fine, but I get to pick most of them!"

It was a minor point. Ultimately, their energy was guiding them toward a specific destination.

Nevertheless, Adam felt a need to investigate the others. He sensed that this pull wasn't just his own energy; it was a resonance between himself, Alexia, and their respective Path Constructs.

'The Path Construct possesses a unique energy. It differs from the power that circulates through my Evolution Tree. It belongs to me, yet I lack direct command over it. For now, it simply assists in carving my route toward the Second Rank...'

The first fragment they inspected during their brief search was overflowing with fire. A gentle warmth radiated from the flames, though it wasn't intense enough to cause pain.

Up close, the fragment matched their initial impressions. It appeared as a rift, nearly sealed, yet standing taller than both of them. Its perimeter was dark, while the core glowed with intensity.

Step.

As they moved closer, the rift expanded into a wide, shimmering portal, revealing the true nature of the Wandering Fragment.

Adam and Alexia’s eyes widened as a vista of volcanic terrain unfolded. Lakes of molten magma peppered the scorched, dark earth, while pillars of fire erupted into the sky, bathing the world in a crimson glow.

Shadowy figures moved through the inferno, drifting toward a massive mountain at the center of the realm. Above its summit hovered a rotating ring of pure flame.

The moment the portal opened, they felt a strange urge to step through. Perhaps it was a lingering desire to return to the Dead Lands and resume their journey, or maybe it was the instinct of their internal energy.

They had no way of knowing where this fiery land was located—it could be in the Tarnished Lands, the deepest reaches of the Dead Lands, or even the Dark Shore.

Regardless, both Adam and Alexia knew this wasn't their destination. They stepped back, and the portal snapped shut.

"That fragment..." Alexia whispered. "What would have happened if we chose it? Would we have been transported there instantly?"

"Don't be silly. We are still inside our inner space. Neither of us has the power to teleport, so that’s doubtful. But if that fragment wasn't the right fit for us, what exactly is waiting for us in the blue one?"

"That is exactly my point! We should have just gone there from the start!"

Adam ignored her complaints as he moved toward the next fragment, which glowed with a green light.

"We still have ninety-nine to go. You agreed to this."

"FUUUCK! Why did I say yes to that?!"

"Hahahahaha," Adam laughed, clearly amused by her reaction. "Come on, aren't you even a little curious to see what the surrounding lands look like?"

"Pffft!" She snorted, crossing her arms defiantly. "We don't even know if these places are actually real!"

Adam shrugged.

"I bet they are. Let's keep moving; we have plenty to see."

Alexia rolled her eyes but followed behind him.

Though she was often boisterous and impulsive, she was a woman of her word, even when she immediately regretted giving it.

...

Surprisingly, as they continued their tour, Alexia’s mood began to shift. Over the next ninety-nine portals, they witnessed a vast array of landscapes: from desolate volcanic wastes and frozen tundras to tranquil flowery plains, floating archipelagos, dark chasms, and ancient forests teeming with hidden mysteries.

It was clear to them that these wild regions were far removed from the Citadel. These were certainly not the outskirts of the Dead Lands; such environments were far too lethal for the average Phantom, even for the newer K4-Phantoms who had yet to form their Grand Stars.

Eventually, they returned to the blue fragment, proving Alexia had been right from the beginning.

Despite the thousands of other fragments surrounding them, none had exerted the same magnetic pull as the blue one they now stood before.

They traded a quick look and moved forward, causing the portal to manifest.

A sudden, freezing gust of wind slammed into them, turning their skin red from the biting cold. None of the previous fragments had produced such a physical reaction.

As the blinding light faded, they saw a range of magnificent mountain peaks draped in thick ice and snow. This massive ridge partially enclosed a vast frozen plain, where energy anomalies drifted through perpetual snowstorms.

Alexia’s pupils contracted as she spotted a colossal spine stretching across the mountain ridge—massive, ancient bones frozen into the landscape, claiming the territory as their own.

But the true source of their attraction wasn't the carcass of the ancient beast; it was a yawning abyss at the center of the plain. It plummeted into the darkness, leading to whatever it was they both sought.

A brilliant blue radiance pulsed from the depths of that bottomless pit, an aura so potent it seemed to repel even the most ferocious monsters in the area.

"Is this the place?" Alexia asked, swallowing hard.

Adam let out a grin.

He could sense the immense potential—and the equally immense danger—hidden within that frozen ridge. He didn't know what entity slept in the dark of the abyss, but he was certain that conquering this trial would grant him the strength he needed to reach his goals.

"Yeah, this is it. The Ancient Frost is within reach, so prepare yourself... If my theory is right, we’re going to have to shed some blood for the god!"