Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1503: Thousand Anomalies (Part 1)

As Adam stepped through the opened gates of the Citadel, he was greeted by a vast desert landscape defined by rolling dunes.

He vividly recalled his initial day as a Phantom; strangely, the more time that passed, the more his bitter memories of that era seemed to fade.

It might have been simple nostalgia, or perhaps Adam had come to realize that despite Aiden Henk’s true motives—and the high probability of his death that day—it remained the most pivotal turning point for his future.

Unlike many gifted individuals who became Phantoms and received training at the academy before their debut missions, he had never possessed the Spark.

For him, the transition had been brutal and instantaneous.

He lacked a potent bloodline or the high-ranking connections necessary to ease his path into becoming a Phantom.

In many respects, Aiden Henk was the sole reason he had reached his current heights.

“Ah…” Adam let out a long sigh, watching the wind whip through the open gateway. “Aiden, what words should I even say when we finally meet? Have I truly slipped your mind, or are you still weaving some scheme for me?”

Despite gathering significant information about Aiden Henk from others, Adam had never actually encountered the man face-to-face.

He wasn't sure why, but circumstances had never aligned for a meeting on either side.

Beyond wanting to discuss the events of that fateful day, Adam had no real motivation to seek him out.

Adam sensed that Aiden Henk would eventually approach him, though the timing and the reason remained a mystery.

Indeed, there were many things Adam remained unaware of—such as his prior encounter with Gladius, Aiden’s primary confidant and a powerful Phantom who operated outside the major factions.

They were observing him, waiting for his Cultivation to reach a level where Aiden could finally execute a plan known only to himself and Gladius.

Not even Wilfred, Frida, Damien, or the highest-ranking officials in the government were privy to what he was plotting.

Even so, Aiden Henk wasn't entirely certain that Adam was the one he needed. He was merely one candidate among several, and Aiden wasn't even sure if any of them would ultimately fit his requirements.

This cycle of waiting persisted from one World Wipe to the next, with Aiden remaining patient, biding his time to fulfill a desire that had burdened him for centuries.

Regardless, Adam’s focus was currently elsewhere.

He couldn't afford to dwell on Aiden Henk’s secrets when a far more critical objective lay ahead: the Primal Lands.

His first goal was to reach the Detached Mountains. Unlike most Phantoms who were kept in the dark about this location, Adam knew exactly where his destination lay.

Step. Step. Step.

Adam began a slow ascent up the dunes, scanning the horizon and taking in the scenery surrounding the Citadel’s outer walls.

The area was largely barren; anomalies were a rare sight, and powerful monsters or nests were quickly eradicated by the sheer volume of Phantoms who hunted in these parts.

“Hah, to think I managed to slay a monster, become a Natural Phantom, and immediately secure an Artifact. I’m only just realizing how much luck was on my side back then. It’s truly remarkable.” Adam smirked as he gazed into the distance.

Far off, a line of transport trucks moved across the sands. It was a caravan, similar to the one that had once rescued him. It consisted of both Phantoms and Harvesters—the latter being a group Adam hadn't seen in quite some time.

‘Harvesters, huh? They are just ordinary folk; they can't survive in the Tarnished Lands, let alone the Dark Shore. Then again, the Citadel doesn't exactly require such high-grade materials from them, does it?’

Typically, K0, K1, and K2 Phantoms embarked on missions alongside Harvesters to facilitate the collection of monster components and resources.

However, once a Phantom’s strength increased, such companionship became unnecessary. Not only did it become too hazardous for the Harvesters, but the Citadel also reached a point where it no longer required the excess resources.

In truth, the Citadel only continued to harvest materials from the mines and monsters of the Lower Ring to maintain economic stability and social order.

The truly vital supplies were kept within the Zero Day Vault, a classified storage site unknown to the public—and one they would never live to see, as they would likely perish the day before the Citadel ever needed to open it.

“Well, it would be fun to see what the rookies are up to, but I only have about two hours left, right?” Adam asked, glancing toward Silvana.

She gave him a solemn nod in response.

“I understand these lands hold sentimental value for you, but we must keep moving. We can't afford to linger here for too long.”

Adam rubbed the back of his neck, a faint grin appearing on his face.

“Yeah, you’re right. My apologies, I got caught up in my thoughts.”

Silvana let out a sigh. “Don’t worry about it. I could never have endured what you did. Besides… after being discarded like rubbish, killing that beast, and returning to the Citadel, you chose someone as perpetually grumpy as me to be your partner. That… was easily your smartest move.”

“Hahahahahahah!”

Adam’s laughter rang out before he shook his head and shifted his weight forward.

“So that’s how you see it? Fine, I hear you.”

Whoooooosh.

A moment later, his body blurred as he accelerated to an incredible speed, kicking up a massive trail of sand and dust in his wake.

The display caught the attention of several Phantoms hunting nearby.

“Look! What on earth is that?!” one man shouted, his eyes widening in shock.

Their first instinct was that a high-level monster was on the loose, but they soon realized it was a young man with glowing eyes, charging toward the empty horizon just a few kilometers away.

The Detached Mountains were finally within reach.