Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1588: Forbidden Nexus (Part 1)
Previously on Endless Evolution: Last Star...
"You." Liliane's voice echoed sharply toward the Old Horn. "Strike alongside me when I give the order."
The Old Horn meant to respond, but a surge of intense energy exploded from Liliane before he could utter a word.
Before her, the circle hovered high, packed with countless stars. It gleamed far steadier and more radiant than those of the rest, proving its edge over every member in the fifth team.
Outshining her comrades remained her role as captain.
Her locks whipped wildly, while her steady eyes burned with icy fury, locking onto the most brilliant star within her circle.
Goen displayed only his usual smug indifference toward her. No matter his effort, he couldn't recall the count of Lords who had challenged him using this power, only to perish under his strikes.
"Azure Pulse: Myriad Thrusts."
From the glowing star, a wave rippled outward as the remaining ones faded away, her pale rapier glowing with blue radiance.
The domain had already expanded across scores of meters, all in less than a heartbeat for Liliane.
And then... she vanished.
Confusion flickered in the Old Horn's eyes. He needed to trail her for backup, yet he had no clue of her direction. Not until the instant that followed.
Wheeeeze!
In a bolt of swift motion, Liliane reappeared behind Goen, her rapier stabbing toward his throat.
The protective energy shield enveloping Goen's form halted the initial blow. Liliane had anticipated as much.
Besides, though Goen suffered no real harm, the force proved strong enough to force his emerald gaze downward, throwing off his footing.
"That was just the opening blow!!!" Liliane bellowed in furious battle cry, launching another assault.
All onlookers held their breath in suspense. This strike seemed certain to land on Goen.
Whooooooosh.
Goen whirled around in a flash as the gleaming rapier sliced mere inches from his neck, failing to mark his skin.
His gaze remained vibrant, emerald and chill as ever.
His palm shot out toward Liliane. Should his fingers clamp her throat, her fate would seal. She understood that well.
Thus, her sole option lay in darting at maximum velocity for someone of her caliber.
Wheeeze! Wheeeze! Wheeeze!
Through burst after burst, Liliane materialized and faded, raining down as many as ten blows each second upon Goen.
Without activating her power, she couldn't have mustered even a fraction of such velocity. This moment marked her sole shot at toppling the beast ahead.
STEP!
Goen advanced with a single stride, evading her onslaught. On this occasion, he nearly seized her, clutching a strand of her pale tress in his fist.
"Yo!" The Old Horn's shout boomed as Goen pivoted.
Frosty energy coated the Old Horn's axe while he swung it broadly right at Goen.
Though Goen had slipped past countless of Liliane's jabs, no escape presented itself now.
All he managed was raising his forearm to block the incoming strike.
Blood sprayed wildly as the keen edge buried itself deeply into his limb.
Whooooooooosh!
A chilling blast rippled outward past the blow, encasing the distant river in a solid sheet of frost.
"Keep it up!" Liliane cried out, thrusting her rapier downward. Spotting Goen's blood fueled her hope for triumph.
"You got it, captain! Let's finish this!" The Old Horn bellowed, syncing his moves with hers.
The other members of the fifth team stood helpless on the periphery. They realized matching Liliane and the Old Horn's pace would only hinder them.
Except for a single exception.
Tap.
The youth descended to the brink, flashing a broad smirk.
"Time for me to step in." Farko popped his knuckles, then tilted his head skyward.
He shot a look at Adam and Alexia.
"Apologies, friends, but regardless of this Phantom's might, he can't endure what's coming."
Adam and Alexia puzzled over Farko's words, yet the revelation came swiftly.
"FARKO!!!" Liliane called, summoning her ace. "Make your move!"
He let out a laugh.
"As you wish, captain."
Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.
A golden ring materialized in front of him as he swiftly selected a single star. The golden zone unfurled over hundreds of meters, engulfing Goen's dwelling and the riverside expanse.
Goen's eyes tightened as, abandoning his pursuit of Liliane, he spun to target Farko.
"Face me!" Liliane declared, materializing in his path and unleashing a flurry of swift stabs.
"Move aside!"
Goen swiped his arm, but rather than Liliane, the Old Horn leaped into view.
"Not happening. You're staying put, you fiend."
Quickly, amber glow gathered in Farko's palm, forming a quivering blade.
In his free hand, a tome etched with shining symbols emerged as he fixed his stare upon it.
"Amber Shackles: Bring the Divine Punishment!"
TREMBLE! TREMBLE! TREMBLE!
A massive tear split the morning heavens, allowing the point of a colossal blade to descend, beaming with golden brilliance.
"RETREAT!" Liliane yelled in alarm while the Old Horn sprang back at once.
"You won't flee!" Goen pursued her, but golden rays mirrored in his vision.
Out of thin air, chains materialized to snare his ankles and arms, halting even his formidable strength.
Farko's eyes blazed as he directed his focus at Goen.
"Now!"
Cleaving the dawn airspace, the enormous sword plummeted from above, obliterating all in its descent. Goen stood at the heart of the chaos, powerless except to witness the ruinous tool meant as his doom.
BLAST!
The explosive force ripped the earth apart, hurling debris everywhere. Liliane and her allies shielded their sight, desperate to learn if the strike had felled Goen.
Whoooooooosh.
A fresh wind gust dispersed the smoky haze, exposing Goen's silhouette.
He loomed over the devastated terrain, shards of the golden sword scattered around his boots, broken against his unyielding frame.
Yet... not even he proved utterly unbreakable.
"Did... we succeed?" Liliane swallowed hard.
The Old Horn squinted closely.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Crimson droplets fell from the savage gash on Goen's shoulder while his eyes slitted, glaring upward.
His left limb dangled feebly from his torso, the injury stretching to his side, nearly severing him entirely.
"Forgive me..."
Goen's raspy tone broke the silence.
'Huh?' Liliane's eyes widened. 'To whom is he speaking?'
"I'll need to impose on you."
'No need to fret.' A woman's voice echoed in his thoughts. 'I'm by your side always. You understand that.'
Goen grinned faintly.
"Right... I do, my love."
Adam would etch the ensuing sensation into memory for life.
A torrent of fearsome aura erupted from Goen, buckling the Lords' legs, while his hold warped reality itself, as though summoning a force too immense from beyond into this realm.
His Nexus. The rare variant that lowly K4-Phantoms could never comprehend. It stood as a taboo mystery beyond their rank.