Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1523 1523: Her Way

Thump!

Alexia was sent reeling, her back crashing violently against the stone as blood sprayed from her lips. She had already withstood over thirty strikes from the Head Golem, who was showing no mercy in this encounter.

"Young lady... your perseverance and ambition are truly noteworthy... however, there are obstacles in this world that cannot be overcome by sheer willpower alone. Repeating the same failure will not lead to success... You must contemplate the actual solution..."

This was profound wisdom, applicable not only to Alexia but to every inhabitant of this world, be they a Phantom, a beast, or a common mortal.

Nevertheless... Alexia barely registered a fraction of his words.

Scowling, she forced herself up while a crimson smear ran down her brow, and she leveled a finger at the Head Golem.

"You."

"Hmm?"

Alexia’s expression darkened.

"You're useless, aren't you?"

Throughout the centuries the Head Golem had stood watch in this domain, such a question had never been posed to him. Even an entity as ancient and seasoned as he was found himself at a total loss for words.

"Tsk, I knew it!" Alexia snorted disdainfully. "You weren't the one who taught Adam the secrets of ancient energy; he figured it all out himself! You serve no purpose here whatsoever!"

Infuriated by the wasted hours and the physical toll of the beating she had taken, Alexia stomped her foot against the earth with aggression.

The Head Golem was left speechless, questioning the mental state of the girl standing before him.

"Tsk. To comprehend ancient energy, you simply need the energy itself. Adam mastered it the moment he laid eyes on it!"

With an air of absolute certainty, Alexia marched directly toward the barrier.

The Head Golem began to realize her intentions.

"Hold on, you have attempted this before. You failed... The barrier will do nothing but repel you once more..."

But instead of charging the ward or striking it as she had done previously, she halted right at the edge and inhaled deeply.

"I'm aware of that, you blockhead. That is why I am proceeding slowly this time. This barrier is composed of ancient energy, is it not?"

The Head Golem gave a slow nod.

"Indeed, in part."

A smirk played on Alexia’s face.

"Perfect, that is exactly what I require. I told you I would find my own path!"

Step.

She moved forward, making contact with the shimmering wall.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

The barrier vibrated intensely. Just like before, it sought to eject Alexia, but because her movement was gradual and lacked aggressive force, the ward could not generate enough counter-momentum.

Alexia’s eyes grew wide as her face partially submerged into the barrier. It felt as though she were pushing through a thick, viscous current of water that desperately tried to wash her away. It was pure energy, not a solid wall of steel.

For the first time, she witnessed the reality of it—swirling flows of gray and purple. She was submerged in their center.

'Just one more step... then another, and I'll be through,' she told herself, yet her limbs felt heavy and resistant.

Furthermore, her features soon twisted in agony as the ancient energy began to envelop her from every direction.

She could feel the foreign energy attempting to invade her internal space.

"Tsk, so that's the reason Adam purged his own energy... Hah, I already declared I wouldn't follow his lead!" Alexia ground her teeth together and forced another step, bringing the majority of her body into the barrier.

The pain intensified, becoming a searing brilliance that made her pupils quiver.

"GHA!" She coughed up a spray of blood and dropped to one knee, but she refused to let consciousness slip away.

She knew the finish line was within reach. Especially given what occurred next.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Alexia’s Evolution Tree began to vibrate violently, as if the surrounding pressure were about to shatter it into pieces.

Any logical person would have retreated to analyze the danger, but Alexia already grasped the situation.

"Hah, so you've got nowhere else to go, right?" She grinned even as she prepared for the final movement. "Come on then, be my guest... take whatever seat you want!"

Stomp!

As her foot slammed down, the crushing force became so immense that a fracture split the center of her Evolution Tree.

A portion of her original energy bled out, vanishing into the void, while the gray-purple currents rushed in to fill the newly opened space.

Alexia wore a look of satisfied triumph as she watched her Ancient Flux take shape.

It had taken her far longer than Adam, but she took pride in achieving it through her own unique method.

"I told you I could do it!" Alexia shouted as she emerged on the far side of the barrier.

The Head Golem scratched his head in confusion. He couldn't deny her success, yet he couldn't accept it as a proper technique.

"Young lady... That was nothing but luck... Had your constitution been less resilient or your spirit less formidable... you would have collapsed and perished under that immense pressure..."

The Head Golem moved his hand through the air in a slow gesture.

"What you did is the equivalent of fixing a broken bone with a sledgehammer... simply hoping the impact forces the bone back into place..."

Alexia glared at him, her eyes narrowing with fury.

"You truly are useless! Is it that difficult to admit you were mistaken? It wasn't luck! I executed the plan perfectly, and that’s that!"

The Head Golem watched her in silence for a long moment. She tapped her foot impatiently, awaiting a concession, but the Head Golem eventually just turned his head, acting as if she didn't exist.

"WHAT?! Don't you dare ignore me! You asshole!"

Step. Step. Step.

The sound of approaching footsteps caused both the Head Golem and Alexia to turn. They stood frozen, watching Adam as he returned from his hunt.

His face was partially streaked with blood, a faint grin on his lips, and draped over his shoulder was a massive white wolf. The beast's shattered claws had managed to leave three jagged gashes across Adam's chest.

Adam spotted Alexia on the other side of the boundary and gestured toward the carcass.

"Hey, I've secured dinner. It looks like this will be our final feast before we reach the oasis!"