Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1557: Eternal Cold (Part 1)

The Iron.

Vaark had revealed nothing more than that up to this point, except for several fierce cuts delivered by his claws—also forged from iron, much like the spear he wielded.

Adam and Alexia remained uncertain about the full extent of their foe's abilities, yet every move Vaark made revealed he wasn't confined to a single element, unlike typical beasts.

The gray gusts served as his companion, and now bolts of white lightning joined forces with him too.

Rumble. Rumble. Rumble.

Thunder boomed through the heavens while Vaark's spear crackled with surging white lightning.

His gaze held no mercy as he thrust the spear straight toward Adam, who was still reeling from the prior strike.

Vaark's motive for targeting Adam was straightforward.

Eliminating Adam on the spot, before he could devise a plan, would leave Vaark in a one-on-one duel with Alexia—a matchup where defeat seemed impossible for him.

"ADAM!" Alexia cried out, white mist swirling around her form.

A massive ice axe materialized overhead just in time to shield Adam, designed solely to soak up the incoming white lightning's fury.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

The ice axe burst apart in shards as Adam leaped away at the final instant.

The thunderbolt churned up snow in violent surges, carving a massive pit into the earth.

"Damn, that packed a punch!" Adam shouted, staring up at the imposing figure of Vaark looming over them.

Vaark hadn't hurled his spear; he merely directed it at his mark, summoning the white lightning to obey his command.

Desperation flickered in Alexia's eyes as she scanned frantically left and right.

With the adversary positioned so distantly, she lacked any effective means to counter. Her skills simply didn't measure up.

Of course, she might attempt launching ice blades at Vaark or bounding toward him via energy platforms, but even for a bold Phantom like her, such tactics screamed danger and futility.

She hesitated far too much.

Storm energy surged back into Vaark's spear as he locked onto Adam once more.

Yet this round, Adam refused to evade.

He had no clue about fulfilling the required condition or even what it entailed.

Right now, though, that took a backseat.

'Why bother with whatever trial lies ahead if his next blast reduces me to cinders?!'

White gloves enveloped his fists while a white spear materialized in his grip.

'No dodging needed. I'll just shatter his spear using my own!'

Whooooooooosh.

Adam launched the white spear headlong into the lightning bolt. Both white streaks hurtled at equal velocity, smashing together halfway.

A blinding glare swept over the frozen ridge, trailed by a ferocious blast of raw fire.

Gusts whipped outward in all directions, but Vaark's piercing stare stayed fixed and unwavering.

He had anticipated Adam countering his assault. What's more, Vaark sensed the tide turning against him in this fight.

'Channeling lightning at him drains a massive reserve of my power. Meanwhile, he summons his spear with effortless ease. Hmph...'

His eyes scanned the vast snowy field, noting the dormant beasts scattered across the battleground and peaks.

'For assured triumph, I need to shift my approach.'

Vaark swept his hand, redirecting the thunder's path. Rather than striking Adam and Alexia, the bolts now hammered the borders of Frost Ridge.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Each hit sent shudders through the monsters, compelling them inward toward the core.

Through these maneuvers, Vaark compressed the combat zone into a tight ring. His lightning artfully avoided every creature—by design.

He aimed not to slay or wound them; he sought only to bend them to his will. That was all.

Suddenly, quiet descended.

The thunder faded, but Vaark swiftly advanced to his following tactic.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

His presence quivered as enormous energy wings sprouted from his back, vast enough to draw every monster's gaze without fail.

Wolves, beasts, lizards, snow bulls, and countless others fixed their stares on Vaark, compelled to heed him.

He uttered not a word. Words were unnecessary; he understood that.

All it took was aiming his spear at Adam.

That sufficed.

The beasts couldn't predict the consequences of defiance.

Reward for compliance, or Vaark's thunderous rage unleashed upon them?

They chose not to gamble.

Regardless of Adam's prowess, facing hordes of Black Threat Monsters offered no hope. Even slaying dozens or a hundred would exhaust him eventually, leaving the pack to shred him apart.

"Grh!"

"RGH!"

"Rark!"

Ferocious snarls erupted from every angle, widening Adam's eyes in shock.

Before comprehension dawned, shadows lunged at him en masse. Fear propelled some, ambition to impress Vaark drove others.

None of it signified anything, for Vaark had succeeded—every monster drawn here post-barrier collapse now assaulted Adam.

"ADAM!" Alexia yelled, materializing in front of him amid a chilling gale.

Whoooooosh.

Her ice sword flung the initial monster surge backward, though none perished. Alexia had merely granted Adam a brief reprieve.

Clang!

Alexia spun around, her eyes bulging. Adam's needle clashed against a snow beast's fangs, igniting sparks everywhere.

Two white wolves flanked from the side, their claws gouging into the icy terrain.

The enemy numbers overwhelmed them, and Alexia couldn't repel them all from Adam.

'Louis, we must act immediately!' she urged in her mind.

Louis gave a firm nod without pause, channeling his full essence into Alexia.

Her eyes blazed with light, hints of an emerging force gleaming within the shadows.

The moment had arrived to unleash the might of Ancient Frost, the gift bestowed upon her.