Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1507 1507: Anomaly Grid

The Detached Mountains were undoubtedly a comfortable location. This fact was undisputed by Adam, who was visiting for the first time, as well as by the Phantoms who occasionally utilized the area for their own objectives.

However, he had no justification for lingering here for long.

He and Damien were awaiting one final companion before they could eventually depart for the Dead Lands—specifically the Primal Lands, a region he had never previously stepped foot in.

Crack.

The door swung open as Alexia entered the coffee shop. Her gaze swept the room until she spotted Damien and Adam tucked away in a corner.

"Here you are!" she cried out, rushing toward their table.

Rather than discussing their objective, the first thing she felt compelled to address was something else entirely.

"Damn it, those gates! I struggled so much just to get them open! I drained so much energy!"

"Hahaha!" Damien let out a laugh. "That was the entire point. You see, if you couldn't force them open, Adam would have proceeded with the mission by himself. That wasn't merely a gate; it was a test that you successfully passed. Congratulations."

One could see from Alexia’s face that she was pleased to learn it was a trial, though her pride prevented her from showing it openly.

"Pffft! I knew I could do it. No gate can stop me! I have to get the Ancient Frost if I want to get stronger, and I want to get stronger!"

"Huh, I don't doubt it," Damien chuckled.

He finished the last of his coffee and rose to his feet.

"Alright, Adam is already aware of our destination, but for you, Alexia, it will be a surprise."

"Agh?"

Her eyes grew wide as she looked back and forth between Adam and Damien.

"Wait, wait, wait! Tell me about it now!"

"Nah," Damien replied, walking right past her toward the door. "It isn't far, just be patient."

Adam remained silent; he simply finished his waffle and followed behind them.

Before long, despite the constant pleading from Alexia, they arrived at the center of a plaza. Damien pointed his finger toward one of the five towering peaks.

"Since your destination is the Primal Lands, this is our mountain. We could drive a truck, but I believe walking would be more appropriate, don't you think?" Damien said with a grin.

Adam and Alexia traded looks.

They still lacked enough knowledge about the Detached Mountains to grasp the significance of his words.

"Damien, you mentioned the Anomaly Grid. Is it located there? In this mountain?"

Damien gave a slow, deep nod.

"Exactly. But don't misunderstand. The Anomaly Grid is everywhere. Every anomaly you perceive around you, whether perched on a peak or hidden underground, is part of a singular massive grid. It serves as the very foundation of the Detached Mountains."

Alexia folded her arms across her chest.

"And? How do anomalies help us? We didn't come here to watch weak Artifacts being born! I want to go to the Primal Lands!"

Damien gestured with his hand as he began to walk forward.

"You will. These aren't simple anomalies. More precisely, all these anomalies are of the same type."

Adam had already figured this out, or at least, he had suspected it to be the case.

"These are the spatial anomalies, right?" He inquired with a grave expression.

Damien smirked briefly as he continued through a tunnel carved beneath the mountain.

"Yeah, that's exactly right. There are several thousand distinct spatial anomalies located here. Unlike the spires, which rely on artifacts to regulate entry and exit points, the system here is far more chaotic. However, for our purposes, that is an advantage rather than a flaw."

"How so?" Adam asked, feeling confused.

He was familiar with the mechanics of the spires. They provided a nearly flawless mode of travel. Their sole weakness was their placement on the borders of the lands, as the inner regions were infested with monsters that were far too dangerous.

"Well, a spatial anomaly is essentially energy with unique properties that drifts unnoticed within a confined area. They are nearly impossible to eliminate. If a spatial anomaly doesn't manifest directly inside the lair of a mighty monster, it will persist in that spot for hundreds or even thousands of years."

Damien added as he picked up his pace slightly:

"Therefore, if you identify where a specific spatial anomaly leads, it functions just like a portal. Granted, it isn't as secure, easy, or precise as a spire, but unlike spires, spatial anomalies can transport you deep into the heart of the lands or to the very edges of the territories."

Adam and Alexia looked at each other again.

Now they understood why the Detached Mountains had never been mentioned to them before. There had simply been no requirement for them.

It wasn't just a matter of lacking the strength to open the iron gates. The spires had been perfectly sufficient for their needs until now.

"But how do we know which anomaly to use?" Adam questioned. "I mean, Alexia and I know where we need to go. We saw the Winding Fragments, and only one of the hundreds was right for us."

Damien came to a stop where over a dozen paths branched out into different sections of the mountain. Each passage was outfitted with a paved road and artificial lighting.

"Well, you have two choices. Nearly every spatial anomaly in this region has been cataloged. That means we have a rough idea of which area each one leads to. As I said before, each spatial anomaly anchors itself to a specific region and never drifts beyond those borders. So, if the records say an anomaly leads to the ash forest, you will certainly arrive there or somewhere close by."

Before Adam or Alexia could respond, Damien turned around and held up two fingers.

"Or you can use the Winding Fragments to sense exactly which spatial anomaly will transport you to the correct location. Go ahead, you can do it right here. Focus, and soon you will feel where your energy is pulling you."

If Adam and Alexia weren't currently pursuing the requirements for the Third Grand Star, they wouldn't have been able to utilize their energy as a compass.

They would have been forced to depend on the Gamma Division's database regarding the Detached Mountains. However, because the Path Construct required them to grow more powerful, their own energy could guide them.

It had functioned with the Winding Fragments, and it would work now. Their energy would signal which spatial anomaly among the thousands was the one they required.

The Primal Lands were a massive region containing hundreds of different territories, but the total number was still finite.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Moments later, the auras of Adam and Alexia flickered as they opened their eyes.

Both witnessed the same phenomenon: a glowing trail of white and blue energy stretching forward through the tunnel before veering right into one of the branching paths.

"It seems you know the way now, don't you?" Damien said, his eyes narrowing.

Adam gave a firm nod.

"Yes, I see it. Regardless of the priority—the Evolution Tree or the Path Construct—the energy will always assist us in finding what is necessary, right?"

Damien shrugged his shoulders.

"That's the idea. But it won't always be this simple. Talent, luck, and meeting all the requirements aren't enough to reach the Second Rank. If it were that easy, there would be many more Phantoms like me in this world."

Adam’s expression grew somber. He understood the sentiment, but he couldn't yet fathom the hurdles waiting for him on the road to the Second Circle—the place where most K4-Phantoms stalled, unable to take the final step in their evolution.

"Alright, now that the destination is settled, it's time to get moving."

Adam and Alexia exchanged a glance. When they had met at the casino, they had no idea they would be here just days later, yet they were prepared to advance toward the creation of their Third Grand Stars.

Step. Step. Step.

Following the thread of energy, they soon arrived at a hall deep within the mountain where numerous spatial anomalies hovered above the floor.

Each one existed on the thin line between stability and chaos, maintaining an unbreakable equilibrium.

As long as they remained undisturbed, they would stay in this state—shimmering clusters of gray, blue, and purple energy that looked like trembling gusts of wind.

"Here we are. Which one is it?" Damien asked, turning to his companions.

They employed the same sensing method again, coming to a halt before a distant anomaly near the wall. It floated higher than the others; a normal human wouldn't even be able to reach it.

"Is there any data on where this specific anomaly leads?" Adam inquired.

Beth immediately transmitted all relevant data to Damien.

"Yeah, it's Spatial Anomaly 113PL. It exits near the Frost Ridge territory. Based on your description of the winding fragment, that is exactly where you need to be."

Alexia looked at Damien, her expression betraying a hint of nervousness.

"What... What are we supposed to do now?"

Damien gave a wide grin.

"Just jump. If you need a hand, I can help you out. Hahaha, I have plenty of experience with this!"