Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1499: New Lands (Part 1)

Adam and Alexia stood in silence for a time, their gazes fixed upon the frozen ridge. Though their field of vision was limited, the sight before them provided enough clarity to recognize that they had reached their destination.

The dangers lurking within that icy expanse remained a mystery. Nevertheless, it was undeniable that if they intended to satisfy the requirements for the Third Grand Star, they were obligated to venture into that frost-bound territory.

Out of all the Winding Fragments they had encountered, this was the solitary one that caused their internal energy to vibrate, instantly seizing their focus.

They attempted to verify if this was merely a fluke, yet none of the other hundred fragments elicited even a faint shadow of the same reaction.

"Listen... I am fully prepared to dive into a fight and everything, but..." Alexia trailed off, her expression one of confusion. "What is our next move? I seriously doubt Louis, Silvana, or anyone else could identify this location just because we describe some snowy mountains and a massive spine."

Adam remained silent, reflecting on the words Beth had shared and the actions Damien had taken.

"That will certainly be a help. However, your point is valid. A single image won't get us very far. Well, I do have one potential solution."

Alexia arched an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Hmm? You actually have a plan? Then quit stalling and—!"

Before her sentence could be completed, Adam shoved her forward, launching her from the boundary of shadows directly toward the frozen realm.

Alexia’s eyes went wide with alarm as she tumbled, only to witness Adam following suit. He leaped into the portal behind her, a grin of satisfaction playing on his lips.

There was no time for Alexia to vent her fury before the familiar sensation of biting frost gripped her. Adam experienced the exact same phenomenon.

It appeared as though the distant icy domain had sensed their arrival, beckoning them to either integrate into its lands or, at the very least, explore its borders.

Yet, neither Adam nor Alexia were destined to set foot upon the physical ground just yet.

"Argh?" Alexia’s features stiffened as she witnessed a bizarre transformation.

Fissures began to spiderweb across the frozen landscape, shattering everything from the dense snowdrifts to the jagged peaks, the deep chasms, and even the cloudless blue sky where only frigid winds howled.

In the blink of an eye, the frost ridge disintegrated into countless shards, resembling broken glass drifting through the void of darkness.

Adam and Alexia traded looks as they realized these floating fragments held glimpses of the territory from every conceivable angle—even regions beyond their initial sight. They were now being granted a vision of what had previously been hidden from them.

They didn't have a chance to drift further into the unknown void, for the swarm of fragments surged toward them like a shower of falling stars, embedding themselves into their consciousness.

Under the weight of this massive influx of data, the eyes of both Adam and Alexia glowed with a brilliant light before they were finally pulled into unconsciousness.

...

When they next opened their eyes, they found themselves in a peculiar dimension encircled by portals.

From their position, they could clearly observe Queen Elisa hovering above, her form draped in a pale cyan aura. Nearby, Damien, Beth, Silvana, and Louis remained stationed outside the queen’s tree.

"Is it over?" Adam muttered, clutching his head. His mind was flooded with so many distinct images it felt as though he had spent days meticulously studying geographical charts.

Alexia was in a similar state of disorientation. While she felt no physical pain, her mind was so preoccupied with the fragments of information that concentrating on anything else was a struggle.

"Tsk, I guess that explains the name 'Winding Fragments,' doesn't it? But... do you actually recognize this place? Even though I can see the layout as if I’m staring at a map, I have no clue where this actually is."

Adam gave a slow, deliberate nod in agreement.

"Yeah... It bears no resemblance to the Dead Lands or the Tarnished Lands. It might be a remote sector of the Dark Shore, but something feels off. The Dark Shore is oppressive and terrifying, but this place feels like a challenge—a place meant to test strength rather than political dominance."

While the Dark Shore was widely considered the most perilous region, Adam found it hard to believe there were places where monsters surpassed those of the Shore. He couldn't conceive of anything rivaling the Befallen Crown or the Free End, with the sole exception being the Renegades of the Tarnished Lands.

"Well, since we've finished our business, we should leave. I'm done with this place. This time-dilation effect is making me nauseous."

Adam took a deep breath, attempting to process the whirlwind of events.

Moving together, they exited the radius of Queen Elisa’s aura. A ripple of gray-blue energy washed over them as they descended from the platform, returning to the world they knew, where the flow of time was constant.

Damien, who had been checking his watch, looked up with a smirk.

"There they are. You finished quite quickly; only a few hours have passed. I assume you located the specific fragment you were searching for?"

Adam and Alexia both nodded.

"We did, but the coordinates of the location remain a mystery. I’ve dealt with this before—energy guided my path, and Silvana identified the spot based on my description. However... after my time in the Tarnished Lands, I've realized that approach isn't reliable anymore."

Damien gave a casual shrug, understanding Adam’s point perfectly.

"The further you stray from the Citadel, the more uncharted the world becomes. There aren't enough high-level Phantoms to map out every micro-region. Besides, the landscape shifts naturally every few decades, and the World Wipe essentially resets everything."

He continued:

"But that shouldn't stop you. You’ll have to forge your own path to that territory. Regardless, I’d like to hear what it looked like. You know," Damien said, gesturing toward Beth, "she possesses a great deal of knowledge—perhaps too much."

Beth rolled her eyes, her gaze shifting to Adam and Alexia.

"Stop talking and just tell us what you saw."

They didn't hesitate, quickly recounting every detail of their vision.

After a few minutes of explanation, Damien let out a short laugh, tilting his chin up with an air of arrogance.

"It sounds like it's time to venture into new lands, doesn't it? Hah, you’ve both grown powerful at an impressive rate. That is good—very good indeed."