Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1563: Hail of Blades (Part 2)

Alexia possessed numerous powers, just like any other Phantom of her caliber. Yet, frost remained her constant companion, serving as her core element.

Therefore, provided she had sufficient energy, she could transform an ordinary exhale into a ferocious snowstorm.

Of course, Alexia might never attain such immense strength, yet the emergence of ancient energy had unlocked fresh potentials for her.

Vaarrh knew about the ancient energy well, since holding this force was one key requirement to breach the barrier.

However, he remained unable to foresee every move from his foes, particularly from a figure like Alexia.

This marked her initial use of ancient energy during combat. Rather than channeling it into a skill or strike, she infused it into a mere breath that turned pivotal for Vaarrh's predicament.

"GHA!"

Alexia unleashed her icy breath toward Vaarrh, and prior to his escape from its reach, his legs became encased in frost on the spot.

The ancient energy within her breath, combined with her elemental affinity, sufficed to produce this outcome. It resembled deploying star energy against a defenseless regular person.

"You... Bitch!" Rage surged in Vaarrh's gaze as he glared at the grinning Alexia.

"Ha! I figured you wouldn't keep your cool for much longer, you're just—!"

CRACKLE!

The metal rod crashed against her chin, hurling her away. Vaarrh had reached his limit with her antics.

"Tsk, I ought to have taken you out right from the start. You can't beat me, but you're annoyingly persistent!"

Vaarrh muttered irritably before glancing downward. A heavy coat of ice sheathed his legs up to the knees. Were it ordinary frost, Vaarrh could shatter it instantly with a single effort, yet now even initial fissures proved elusive.

"Huh..."

Alexia struggled to rise from the earth, but blood kept streaming from her nostrils, with two teeth scattered before her on the ground.

"You still fail to grasp that this isn't the spot you ought to be eyeing, huh?"

"Agh?"

Sudden insight hit Vaarrh as he lifted his gaze.

Adam, who had been gearing up for his assault for a while, fixed his stare on him. Those azure eyes burned with unprecedented intensity, outmatching even Vaarrh's somber demeanor.

The ethereal blades stayed clutched in his steadfast hold, but an element sparked sheer dread in Vaarrh's eyes.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Successively, ethereal blades materialized in the sky, all points directed solely at Vaarrh.

Through sheer intent, Adam summoned twenty hovering blades simultaneously. These weren't mere daggers, but massive ethereal scissor blades, each capable of bisecting a formidable beast.

Such was the true might of his freshly acquired power.

A sufficiently robust adversary might evade or parry one slash, but facing scores of blades, each with equal potency, proved impossible.

"Remember that, Vaarrh."

Adam's voice resounded with profound depth as he lifted his arm. The blades quivered, poised to obey his directive.

"The strike that sealed your downfall was merely a chill exhalation."

He dropped his arm.

Whoooooooosh.

In that instant, the twenty ethereal blades plunged down together, slicing through the air streams.

"AAAAAAARRRRRRRHHHH!!!"

Letting out a savage bellow, Vaarrh tried to shatter the frost locking his legs. He understood the dire fate awaiting if he failed right then.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

As fissures formed, chunks of ice scattered outward, but time had run out.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

Blade by blade, they stabbed into Vaarrh's form, impaling his torso, spine, and upper arms.

The blades penetrated fully, emerging opposite with gore-smeared edges.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Crimson droplets trickled along the blades, splashing onto the icy terrain.

No chill rivaled the agony Vaarrh endured in that instant. This fatal injury differed vastly from the prior one that had drawn him to Frost Ridge.

The blades had ravaged numerous muscles, bones, and innards. Within moments, blood loss would overwhelm him, dragging him into oblivion.

"It’s..." Alexia swallowed hard. "It worked."

Adam observed as Vaarrh's eyelids drooped shut gradually. The broad blade lodged in his throat barred even final utterances.

Vaarrh's eyes closed.

His respiration ceased, yet an uneasy shadow kept any triumphant grin from Adam's features, in contrast to Alexia, who geared up to revel in triumph.

’Something’s wrong.’

Adam turned his head to verify his suspicions.

The power from the Winding Fragment lingered in the vicinity. Adam still needed to uncover the requirement for the Third Grand Star.

Alexia had gained the Ancient Frost already, so it escaped her notice.

But... Could possibly anyone besides Vaarrh offer Adam this chance?

He refused to accept it.

Clutch.

Adam seized his blades firmly while advancing. He wouldn't allow Vaarrh any improbable escape from this peril.

’Last time, that scum escaped despite his head being lopped off. Only by hacking him to bits can I confirm his demise!’

Step!

Adam advanced a pace, only for his frame to seize in instinctive terror.

Twitch. Twitch. Twitch.

Vaarrh's lids quivered as his eyes gradually unveiled.

The initial sight for Adam was a radiant glow, brilliant as a constellation of countless stars.

His azure eyes pierced through Adam, seeking to delve into his very essence.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

A gray aura erupted from Vaarrh's being as fractures spiderwebbed across the ethereal blades embedded in him.

The distant beasts recoiled in shivers. Toward Vaarrh now, they harbored only primal dread.

But...

Before long, every creature, along with Adam and Alexia, experienced a new sentiment: reverence.

Within the familiar gray aura of Vaarrh, another presence began to emerge.

Blue streams, initially thin and languid, then swift and thick, coalesced into the grand blue eye that fixed its intense stare upon them.

’Azure Eye...’ Adam pondered, recalling Vaarrh’s moniker. ’So, his revival happens only at this point?’

The manifestation of the Azure Eye stripped away all mysteries for Vaarrh.

At last, he perceived it all.