Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1513: The Ice Worm (Part 2)

Adam gained a moment to analyze the battlefield and piece together their situation while Alexia handled the second phase of the engagement.

The primary realization he had reached concerning the Primal Lands was the sheer tenacity of its inhabitants. These creatures possessed an incredible level of endurance; as long as their physical forms weren't utterly annihilated and they maintained enough energy, they could persist in combat regardless of the severity of their injuries.

This fact was cemented in his mind when Alexia’s ice spear impaled the worm’s skull. Even after sustaining a lethal wound to the head, the beast recovered almost instantly, preparing to strike back at her.

Adam remained uncertain if this vitality was a universal trait for all monsters in the Primal Lands, or if this specific ice worm was one of the entities Beth had mentioned—monsters saturated with a massive amount of ancient energy.

While his knowledge regarding ancient energy and the distinction of ancient monsters was limited, he was slowly beginning to grasp the underlying truth of this world.

There was no time for idle contemplation, however; Alexia required his assistance. Failure to act meant the ice worm would swallow her whole, just as it had done to him previously, and he doubted she could liberate herself from its gullet quite so easily.

"Alright... It’s time to finish this," Adam muttered, exhaling as he thrust his hand forward. Silvana manifested beside him without delay, sending the spectral scissors soaring into the air before them.

The clash between Alexia and the ice worm was unfolding several hundred meters away. In a battle involving a creature of such magnitude, even a gap of several kilometers could be crossed in a matter of heartbeats.

Click.

The blades of the scissors snapped shut. An invisible line of force surged ahead, cutting through the atmosphere until it reached the ice worm just as it prepared to lung at Alexia.

The sequence of events was far too rapid for Alexia to even register a reaction.

The ice worm fared no better, as its massive head was cleanly severed from its torso in an instant.

Thump!

The colossal head and the rest of the carcass slammed into the earth, tumbling down the mountain's incline. From the edge of the slope, Alexia watched with wide eyes as the decapitated head and the winding body left a dark, crimson streak across the white snow, pulverizing boulders and the frozen remains of long-dead monsters during the descent.

Despite being impaled by a spear and losing its head, the creature’s skull continued to twitch with life for a few moments, though even its monstrous vitality had reached its limit.

Nevertheless, the headless trunk continued to thrash violently from side to side, a desperate and mindless attempt to maintain control while blood sprayed from the stump.

"Shit... Are you serious?" Alexia gasped, swallowing hard.

If there had been houses in the worm's path, the sheer volume of blood erupting from the wound would have been enough to wash them away like a torrential flood.

Step. Step. Step.

Adam walked up beside her, prompting Alexia to turn her head.

"It seems we’ve secured the win, haven't we?" Adam remarked with a strained smile.

A shiver ran through Alexia as the intensity of the fight replayed in her mind.

"Brrrrh! What the hell was that? Damn! The thing is still moving!"

Adam looked down at the writhing remains, his expression turning neutral. He observed that the spasms were gradually subsiding. Regardless of how formidable a monster from the Primal Lands might be, it could not survive indefinitely without its head.

"No, it won’t be a threat anymore. But I wanted to ask you something."

"Hmm?"

"Back in the forest, did you have the sensation that we were being followed? I’m not talking about birds or common predators, but a bizarre aura emanating from beneath us—from the ground itself."

To his surprise, Alexia gave a nod. She had experienced the same feeling but had dismissed it as paranoia, especially since their long trek up the mountain had been largely undisturbed until now.

"But..." Adam’s brow furrowed. "Was it this worm? Or did it simply ambush us at the summit rather than stalking us from the woods?"

Alexia squinted as she turned her attention toward the gaping abyss ahead.

"I follow your logic, but I don't think it changes our path. We are compelled to enter the abyss regardless; our energy is pulling us there. If it wasn't this worm, then whatever was tracking us will be waiting down there. There’s no doubt about it."

Adam found himself agreeing. Both the Ancient Frost and the Blood of God were hidden within the lowest depths of the Frost Ridge, according to the visions provided by the Winding Fragments.

"Hey, Silvana, Louis, what’s your take on this?" Adam inquired.

A ripple in the air occurred.

Silvana and Louis appeared at their side in an instant.

Louis’s spectral appearance differed significantly from Silvana’s. While her form was composed of flickering purple and gray energy, Louis was defined by shades of brilliant blue and pristine white.

Every Operator of a certain caliber could manifest a spectral form, though the visual representation was unique to the individual, shaped by both the Operator and their specific Phantoms.

"That..." Louis said, staring at the fallen ice worm. "That was quite a fight. Outside of specialized regenerative monsters, I’ve never seen anything this durable. Usually, regenerative types trade offensive power for survival, but this creature was overwhelmingly powerful in every aspect."

Silvana nodded, echoing his sentiment.

"If you hadn't arrived, or if their Phantoms were any weaker, this beast would have wiped out an entire squad of K4-Phantoms with ease. Furthermore, what would its classification even be?"

It was clear to all of them that this was a Black Threat Level entity, yet they couldn't distinguish if it was an Elder or a High Elder.

Adam scowled.

"Tsk. These power rankings are useless. I’ve fought plenty of Elder Level monsters in the Tarnished Lands, and not one of them could have even left a mark on this titan!"

As the three continued their debate, Alexia’s gaze drifted upward toward the massive spine that loomed over the landscape.

The realization that a single rib of that skeleton was as large as the ice worm they had just killed filled her with a sense of dread.