Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1517 1517: Is this the way? (Part 2)

A single strike from the massive stone golem was all it took.

That impact provided Adam with a crucial realization.

‘I didn't receive that blow correctly...’ He mused, examining his palms. ‘There was a fleeting moment of connection, but then something blocked my progress.’

Adam understood exactly what was stopping him from perceiving the ancient energy saturating the Head Golem’s frame.

The explanation was straightforward: his own internal energy was the obstacle.

He compared himself to a connoisseur attempting to savor the nuances of a rare, unknown ingredient, yet forgetting to clear away the heavy spices and sauces before taking the first bite.

The quality of the ingredient was irrelevant. To experience its untainted essence, all external interference had to be eliminated.

"I understand now," Adam whispered, his gaze fixed on the frost. "Silvana, we are dropping down to zero..."

Silvana arched an eyebrow in confusion. She couldn't grasp his meaning, but a crushing pressure suddenly descended upon her in the following heartbeat.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Adam erupted with his full aura, tapping into every reservoir of strength he possessed. The surge didn't just affect Adam’s own energy; it rippled through Silvana, the Silver Weaver, Lone Blaze, and even the Evolution Tree itself.

‘Dammit! What is he thinking?!’

Seized by alarm, Silvana retreated into the inner consciousness to investigate the source of the upheaval.

Her eyes stretched wide at the sight of a spectacle that defied logic.

The Evolution Tree was radiating light like a celestial body on the verge of a supernova due to energy overload. Violent torrents of darkness poured from the peak where the Silver Weaver resided, while obsidian flames flared from the core occupied by Lone Blaze.

The Evolution Vein, the vessel for Silvana’s own essence and capabilities, was equally turbulent.

Adam was pushing every ounce of power to the surface, and the manifestation in the physical realm was even more terrifying.

"What in the...?" Alexia stood frozen, her mouth agape as she stared at Adam.

The youth, his right arm and shoulder soaked in blood, stood amidst the frozen wasteland as pillars of energy erupted from his frame like uncontrollable pyres.

Eventually, the density of the energy reached a breaking point, causing the flames to condense into a stream that flowed down his body and into the earth.

The Head Golem and Alexia watched in silence as ripples of dark and light energy surged across the ground, the very fabric of space vibrating from the concentrated power Adam held.

Even the seal guarding the abyss began to quiver, seemingly recognizing the looming threat of the Phantom standing before it.

‘Wait, what happens if he directs that force at the seal?’ Alexia wondered, glancing back. ‘Does he possess enough might to shatter the barrier? If he had unleashed this against the worm, he could have decapitated it with his bare hands!’

Alexia was formidable in her own right, but she doubted her ability to conjure such a display of raw power.

Adam’s current aura was bone-chilling, even to an ally of her caliber.

Yet, this display wasn't the final objective; it was merely the groundwork.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

With another shudder, his overwhelming aura began to vanish at an incredible speed. He wasn't simply masking his presence; he was purging his energy entirely.

He suppressed his cultivation just as he had during training or at the gambling hall, but on a scale far beyond anything he had previously attempted.

Within minutes, a sharp pang of dread hit Silvana as she looked toward the Evolution Tree again.

It stood hollow.

The vast reservoirs of white energy that had defined Adam’s power since the beginning were gone, replaced by a translucent, dark void that signaled total depletion.

Deep within the core, a tiny ember remained that might eventually rekindle the fire, but for now, Adam was effectively stripped of his strength.

To Silvana, it felt like a sickening freefall.

She had been cast from the mountain's peak to the ocean's depths in a single, unannounced moment.

"Adam..." Silvana reached out toward his mind. "What are you trying to do?"

...

After a brief silence, Adam inhaled deeply, but the environment was no longer merciful.

Bitter, freezing winds lashed at him, and frost began to crystallize on his skin and fingertips.

Without his protective energy, he was as vulnerable as a common mortal. Under these conditions, a normal human would have frozen solid in less than sixty seconds.

Step. Step. Step.

Adam trudged forward, the piercing cold biting into his very marrow with every movement.

For the first time, the Head Golem’s expression turned solemn.

Though even a low-level White Threat Monster could now kill Adam with ease, the Head Golem no longer viewed him with mere curiosity or disdain. He sensed a genuine threat from this Phantom who was willing to take such a desperate gamble after only one failure.

Alexia moved out of the way, watching as Adam approached, the wound on his shoulder already sealed by a thick layer of ice.

With a tranquil expression, Adam looked up, meeting the Head Golem's gaze with absolute serenity.

"Once more. Throw another punch."

The Head Golem let out a low rumble.

"Young Master... This is suicide. You will perish before my knuckles even graze you... The sheer pressure of the impact will disintegrate your physical form..."

In response, he saw only Adam’s eyes—clear and steady like ancient permafrost—while the youth’s heartbeat slowed to a rhythmic crawl.

"I understand..." The Head Golem gave a slow nod, pulling his massive arm back. "Since this is your choice, I cannot deny you... I will honor your resolve by striking with my full power!"

The Head Golem tightened his fist, gathering immense quantities of energy before launching a strike at Adam. This blow was vastly more devastating than the first.

Adam, however, made no move to evade or strike back.

He simply lifted his hand, palm facing outward.

He had no other options; his feet were already fused to the frozen ground, making any movement impossible.

‘Show me what you are truly made of, ancient energy,’ Adam thought, as swirls of grayish-purple light reflected in his pupils.