Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1527 1527: Pearl and runes

As they plunged into the depths, Adam and Alexia braced themselves for ferocious beasts and brutal slaughter in the moments ahead. To reach this point, they needed to acquire fresh power and advance further in their evolution.

Yet, the reality unfolded in a way utterly unlike their anticipations.

Besides a pair of spiders lurking at the entrance—who were already slain—Adam and Alexia sensed they had entered a meticulously designed and intricate military drill, complete with AI and tech integration, where all proceeded as scripted.

Still, Adam realized this was nowhere near the actual beginning; the real challenge lay ahead.

'During my battle with Erada, the contract formed without any oddities. But upon her defeat, when it came time to grant my desire, the Ancient Voice revealed its might. My request was rather trivial, yet... had another stood in my shoes, she would have been compelled to obey any command.'

This served as a clear sign of the Ancient Voice's formidable influence, with the Rule of Blood offering merely a fleeting preview.

Step. Step. Step.

Through the cavern they advanced, Adam and Alexia trailing the glowing path. Adam possessed greater familiarity than Alexia, who faced the Ancient Voice for the very first time, yet both remained ignorant of what lay in store.

'Silvana, what's your view? Those spiders seemed quite feeble. If pushed, I could take down hundreds without issue.'

After a short pause, her response echoed in his mind:

'I doubt it'll prove so straightforward. Why demand a pearl? Why not just order the spider nest's destruction?'

'So, you believe it won't merely involve hunting spiders?'

Silvana shook her head.

'I suspect it'll be a task too tough for even the two of you combined. I could be off base—my understanding of the Ancient Voice is quite sparse—but that's my intuition.'

"I see."

Alexia shared her thoughts with Louis too, who arrived at similar deductions.

Regardless, their only option was to pursue the light trail until arriving at another section of the caves.

Step.

Emerging from the tunnel, Adam felt blue illumination wash over his features, his gaze expanding in astonishment.

He anticipated cramped tunnels draped in webs and teeming with skittering arachnids, but instead, a vast lake greeted them, its surface faintly glowing in azure hues.

Stone spires dotted the lake's edges, numbering eight altogether, with two per quadrant. Dense webs and crystalline formations cloaked these spires, as blue spiders darted sporadically over their surfaces.

These matched the spiders that had earlier assaulted Adam and Alexia, though now they merely fixed their stares toward the intruders.

Hundreds of spiders lurked there, their green eyes gleaming from the darkness, observing the pair of Phantoms who adhered to the light path. Their arrival, guided by the Ancient Voice, prompted the spiders to hold back—for the moment, at least.

Alexia's gaze lowered upon spotting a broad stone walkway skirting the lake like tree limbs, from which eight additional routes extended toward the spires. In this way, roughly 20% of the lake's expanse lay under stone pathways.

Near the primary route's terminus stood a massive cyan crystal set into the rock face, enclosing a diminutive gray sphere edged in faint purple.

This was the Pale Spider Orb. To satisfy the initial requirement, obtaining it became essential, no matter the method.

"Hey, that's it!" Alexia cried out, dashing ahead without delay.

"Wait!" Adam called to halt her, yet Alexia had already leaped onto the stone route.

Adam readied himself for combat, expecting a swarm of spiders to descend on Alexia. Though individually feeble, in their domain and vast numbers, they posed a threat—particularly with Alexia charging impulsively.

However...

"Agh?"

Not a single spider lunged at Alexia. They simply observed as the Phantom hurried along the path toward what they viewed as their prize.

"How strange," Adam murmured while scanning the surroundings. The glow from the vivid crystals atop the spires drew his focus. "These crystals—they differ from the rest. What role do they serve?"

Typically, crystals sprouted in disorderly patterns, drawing ambient energy. The sole shared trait among those from one region was hue; all else—form, scale, intensity, even shade—varied wildly.

Yet the eight crystals crowning the spires twisted in spiral shapes. Adam had encountered no such peculiar forms before. Clearly, their configuration held purpose.

Meanwhile, Alexia arrived at the cyan crystal.

Without hesitation, she channeled a surge of energy into her palm. Then, gripping her hand into a firm fist, she unleashed a powerful punch against the crystal.

BAM!

From her impact, a shockwave surged outward, the cavern trembled, and waves spread over the lake's face.

The strike landed squarely, with no apparent shield like the one encircling the abyss that had repelled Alexia's prior attempts.

Or so it seemed at first.

"Hmm?" Alexia blinked repeatedly, eyeing the blue runes materializing before her.

These rune patterns created an unseen barrier separating Alexia from the cyan crystal. It functioned as a shield, but solely to block damage to the crystal itself.

"What the hell is that?!" Alexia shouted, swinging once more.

Blood sprayed from her knuckles, yet the barrier stood unmoved. A ripple passed through the runes, but they held firm, as though the very laws forbade her advance.

"I see." Adam nodded thoughtfully. "So we can't claim this pearl without meeting the conditions first?"

"But."

He bit his lip.

"Maybe we just need more power?"