Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1541 1541: Gate is not real

During the initial trial, the rules shifted dramatically midway through, yet Adam and Alexia now needed to endure two separate challenges to advance.

Unsure if they'd have chosen to descend here without the urgent requirement for the Third Grand Star, they were left with no option except to uncover the mysteries beyond the gate.

"We pulled it off, didn't we?" Alexia inquired, gazing at the Red Demon, who was evidently done for good in these trials.

Adam gave a solemn nod while scanning the surroundings.

"Hmm, that's odd."

"Huh?" Alexia looked puzzled. "What are you saying? Do you doubt that I took him down in a single blow?!"

Adam simply shook his head in reply.

"No, that's not the issue. I ought to have realized this back when we battled the Stone Demons, but it's hitting me now—this marks the utmost extent of these trials' design."

Alexia blinked repeatedly, failing to grasp Adam's point.

"See, back in the first trial, without those rule alterations, none of the competitors, including us, could have inflicted harm on the trial elements. There, we clashed with ghost spiders, but in this one, all it took was batting away the cannonballs.

"We could have cleared each trial a dozen times over, and the overall outcome would stay the same. Yet after we shattered every stone demon, particularly the red one, no other soul can get through this challenge now."

Suddenly, Alexia's eyes grew wide as the meaning dawned on her.

"Got it, you're saying the one who imposed these rules and compelled the Ancient Voice to alter them fears us?"

Adam nodded. "Well, 'fear' might be a stretch, but our experience here in the Frost Oasis is far from the norm."

Tap.

He rose to his feet, dusting snow from his knees, and approached the Red Demon.

"Regardless, we need to claim this horn and press forward. Can you manage on your own?"

"Pfffft!"

Alexia rolled her eyes and stood up from the ground. Her legs shook briefly, but she quickly steadied herself.

"I burned through plenty of energy, sure. But!" She burst out. "Don't you dare look down on me! Give me a moment, and I'll recover just fine."

Adam merely nodded without a word. Given what he'd witnessed, he saw no cause to question Alexia's strength.

"Fine, let's snag this horn and head to the gate!"

With both hands, he seized the horn and yanked it free using every ounce of his power. Pulling it proved far tougher than Adam anticipated; it wasn't like the Stone Demons at all.

But...

Crackle. Crackle. Crackle.

Slowly, the dark horn detached from the crimson hide and fell into Adam's hands.

"Agh... Agh... Agh..."

Gasping for breath, he examined the black horn. It appeared unique, yet something nagged at Adam.

'Why the silence?' He wondered. 'The Ancient Voice never specified our reward for completing this trial. And when we secured the Pale Spider Pearl, it acknowledged us. But now... zilch.'

Turning to Alexia, Adam saw she shared his unease. It felt like they'd been booted from the game for rule-breaking, despite not being the culprits.

"Should we keep going?" Alexia wondered.

Adam shrugged.

"What other path do we have?"

Briefly, they concentrated and spotted the energy stream that had guided them to the gate before.

Exchanging nods, they dashed ahead.

....

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Adam's pulse quickened with each beat. He yearned to learn the perils lurking past the gates and if he could claim the Blood of God essential for his evolution.

Yet first, one key task remained: unlocking the gates.

"W-Wait..." Alexia stammered, lifting her eyes up the gate's height. "Am I seeing things, or is there no spot to place this horn?"

She was spot on. Unlike the left flank with its obvious slot for the Pale Spider Pearl, the right side lacked any fitting recess.

Furthermore, rather than the expected curved slot for the black horn, a round indentation mirrored the left one on the right.

Clearly, the black horn wouldn't match.

Tremble.

In a quiver, Silvana materialized beside Adam, her expression full of confusion.

"Did we overlook something in the mirror hall? Perhaps a unique cannonball lingers in one of those arches?"

Louis arrived too, offering a couple of theories, though confusion reigned among them all.

On top of that, the blue fairy embodying the Ancient Voice stayed absent. It had either vanished or was deliberately shunning them.

"Damn it!" Alexia slammed her fist into the wall. "What was the point of all our efforts? Just so they could slam the gate shut and deny us any shot at progressing?! Who the heck devised these idiotic rules?!"

Though less heatedly, the others echoed her frustration, save for Adam, who spotted an oddity from his prior experience.

Tap.

He set the black horn down, deeming it useless now, and strode ahead with composure.

"Huh?" Alexia snapped her head around. "What's that about? I busted my ass for that cursed horn!"

Ignoring her, Adam halted before the gate, directly at the sealed seam.

"The gate."

He murmured softly.

"It's ajar. I can tell."

Before reactions could form, Adam leaned into the gate, and astonishingly, it swung open like an ordinary portal.

No mystical force, no glowing runes, no regulations blocked Adam now—only the chilling, icy gust welcomed him.

In the distance, the luminous pond shimmered like countless gems, and the massive structure—undeniably the source of their ordeals—gleamed once more.

At last, the way forward lay clear.

The Ancient Frost and Blood of God beckoned to them.