Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1555: Blood from the Neck (Part 2)

Any beast originating from the Frost Ridge, if positioned where Vaarh stood, would have perished ages ago beneath Alexia's onslaughts.

By activating her second Evolution Vein power, she transformed momentarily into a lethal combatant, one who didn't merely wield frost but fused it seamlessly with her own form.

Alexia saw that Vaarh could deflect her strikes endlessly, leaving her with no option except to channel every last bit of this power's strength and charge ahead.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

The ground quaked violently while a vivid azure streak rocketed toward Vaarh with astonishing velocity.

"Your final strike?"

His commanding voice thundered over the field of battle as he swept his spear protectively before him.

"Reveal your full potential! This marks the peak of your efforts right before your end arrives!"

He remained utterly certain that Adam and Alexia's downfall was fated, an unavoidable outcome.

Scarce few matters could provoke Alexia as intensely as that belief.

"Then quit the chatter and receive my blow!" She shouted while slamming into Vaarh akin to a blazing meteor.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

The metal spear vibrated fiercely, and not even Vaarh's firm hold could keep it stable amid such chaos.

From Alexia, a surge of frozen energy erupted outward in every direction, her resolve fixed on dealing maximum harm to Vaarh.

Step.

Alexia advanced as the full force of the energy collided with Vaarh.

'NO!' He screamed in his mind while the glacial surge mirrored in his bulging eyes.

A heavy coating of frost encased his torso and arms, the impact dislodging his spear from his grasp and rendering him weaponless for the instant.

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

Alexia positioned herself on the opposite side, her breaths coming in labored gasps.

She looked back briefly, as the frost encrusting her limbs shattered and crumbled away.

Twitch. Twitch. Twitch.

Vaarch's digits spasmed; he was on the verge of shattering his frozen bonds. Though he had shielded himself from real harm, Alexia's chill still gripped him directly, hindering his movements.

This marked the precise opening Alexia had mentioned from the start, and Adam had no intention of letting it slip.

The pale needle rested in his palm, and in the instant that followed, a route opened up directly from him to Vaarh.

It represented Adam's swiftest assault possible. Furthermore, aiming not to slay Vaarh but merely to injure him for his blood, Adam forged his route far quicker than normal.

Therefore, even without the frost immobilizing him or prior knowledge of Adam's power, Vaarh couldn't have responded adequately.

Up to that point, Adam had never resorted to his route solely for inflicting a wound, yet this presented the ideal chance.

"Agh...?" Vaarh's gaze expanded in bewilderment.

All that registered was a pale gleam hurtling directly toward him. Moments later, Adam materialized before him, needle's elongated edge poised.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

Despite the dire circumstances, Vaarh succeeded in fracturing the ice and twisting his upper body aside, ensuring the edge missed severing his head.

He remained unaware that Adam sought a different objective.

THRUST!

An onslaught of agony engulfed Vaarh, true astonishment etching across his features.

He observed Adam, feral as a savage predator, embedding his "fangs" deeply into his throat. Blood rich with primordial power sprayed forth, splattering Adam's visage as he bit down harder.

Vaarch grasped not what Adam intended, yet he refused to allow the gash to worsen. Lifting his arm, his metallic talons poised to shred Adam apart.

However, Adam moved with greater speed.

Crackle!

Accompanied by a sharp snap, Adam ripped away a piece of flesh from Vaarh's neck while the route propelled him scores of meters onward.

Vaarch's strike met empty space.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Crimson droplets trickled from Adam's lips as he expelled the flesh fragment, his mouth overwhelmed by a foul flavor.

Blood stained the surrounding snow, and his savage deed prompted the distant monsters to grow wary, retreating even farther. They harbored no desire to challenge this Phantom's prowess.

Vaarch, without doubt, stood as the most stunned of all.

He failed to comprehend Adam's motive.

'An effort to end me?' Vaarh pondered. 'No, something different. He targeted my throat. That formed their initial scheme; for whatever cause, he craved my blood. To obtain it, he stooped to acting like a feral creature...'

Vaarch blinked upon detecting a detail.

He caught the spark in Adam's stare and the hint of a grin forming. That look felt familiar, as he'd worn it countless times before.

Comprehension hit Vaarch like a blow, prompting him to leap backward while his fingers jerked. The iron spear, lodged in the earth from its drop, quivered and flew back to his hand, kicking up snowy gusts along the way.

He brandished his spear, fully primed for battle.

'So my blood served as his evolution trigger? Cursed Phantoms! They'll exploit any means or being to grow mightier!'

Vaarch recognized that Alexia had undergone evolution prior to their clash. He had accepted that cost to dismantle the barrier. Yet he harbored no wish to permit Adam's strengthening too.

His instincts branded him a deadlier foe than Alexia.

"Huh! You're done for now, you overconfident fool!" Alexia cried out in delight, gesturing toward Vaarh.

She anticipated that within moments, a mighty energy surge would erupt from Adam, mirroring her own experience upon taking in the Ancient Frost.

"Hmm?" Alexia cocked her head, puzzled.

Strangely, even after thirty seconds passed, no change occurred.

Gradually, Adam faced her, her eyes growing wide.

Rather than elation, his expression held mere bewilderment and bafflement. Though he had taken Vaarh's blood, the Path Construct showed zero response. Not even his aura stirred.

At that juncture, all three grasped a straightforward truth:

The Blood of God had never served as Adam's requirement at the Frost Oasis.