Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1609 1609: One Chance

Adam had anticipated the challenges within the inner realm. He understood it served as the core of his strength and a chance to surpass the upcoming obstacle.

He'd accomplished this feat repeatedly in the past and felt prepared to tackle it once more.

Ultimately, forming the Second Grand Star required confronting the Silver Weaver, among his toughest battles.

However... No prior experience could have braced him for the sight that greeted him.

Rather than a fearsome beast from the First Star or a grueling test, right in the heart of the infinite emptiness, Silvana herself stood waiting.

'No, this feels off.'

Adam shook his head, examining Silvana more intently.

She wasn't the genuine Silvana. Rather, it was an eerie glass figure mimicking her appearance perfectly, every feature intact.

"Hey, can you talk?"

No reply came.

The Dark Silvana gazed toward the black flame yet refrained from reaching for it.

In its place, a lengthy weapon materialized in her right hand, instantly familiar to Adam.

It differed from the scissor blade he wielded in their recently acquired joint power. Without that ability, Adam likely couldn't have overcome Vaarh. On that occasion, numerous spectral blades dealt severe injuries to the arrogant dragon.

Dark Silvana trailed her fingers along the flat edge of her blade, then directed it straight at Adam.

No guidelines existed, nor any hints. Adam grasped only that overcoming Dark Silvana was essential.

'Okay, so the First Star chose to turn my key partner against me? Fine. She's not the true Silvana; she's merely a shadowy duplicate! I must beat her and handle that black flame!'

Though Adam often charged in without thought, he recalled the warnings from Zargos and the Evolution Tree.

Both trusted in Adam, yet they didn't conceal the peril involved, even if Zargos remained far more hopeful.

Step.

Dark Silvana advanced gradually.

The guidelines and risks stayed straightforward, for the moment at least.

At once, Adam extended his hand, aiming to call forth his needle—his primary weapon—but... an issue arose.

"Agh?" Adam's eyes widened as he looked aside.

Somehow, summoning his needle proved impossible. His power failed to activate.

'Does this stem from the Silver Weaver's missing left arm, or some other cause?'

Whooooosh.

Adam leaped backward, widening the gap while shifting into a defensive pose, ready to invoke his Nexus.

Yet the Staff of Defeat, much like his silver needle, hesitated to manifest in his hold.

Next, Adam attempted his remaining powers, but none answered his summons.

All his abilities were sealed, and Dark Silvana drew near, looming above him.

"W-What…?"

In Adam's gaze mirrored the shadowy blade slicing the void, descending upon him fiercely.

Guided by pure reflex, Adam evaded it just in time.

Whoooooosh!

A gust from a single swing by Dark Silvana sliced ahead.

Adam felt both awe and confusion simultaneously.

This solitary strike sufficed to show him Dark Silvana was far from a typical foe.

"Agh... Agh... Agh..." Adam panted heavily.

Fear gripped him, uncertain of the consequences should Dark Silvana strike him.

What if Adam failed? Would a retry await? Perhaps he'd merely drain some vitality and tire out?

Or... Could far graver outcomes unfold?

The First Star tolerated no failure or frailty, a trait embodied in Dark Silvana.

'Fine, she's swift and powerful, but I match that. Abilities are locked, yet my energy remains?'

The instant the idea struck Adam, white energy enveloped his hands. None could strip him of his energy. Such loss would require the total ruin of the Evolution Tree, which hadn't occurred.

"Come on, attack!"

Dark Silvana wasted little time, charging ahead with her prior blinding velocity.

Slash. Slash. Slash.

Strike followed strike as Dark Silvana sought to fell Adam, who narrowly avoided each.

'Damn! The actual Silvana couldn't move at that pace! What's puppeteering her?'

A pair of rapid strokes carved a profound X across Adam's face. Blood poured forth, yet his eyes showed only terror, not agony.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

Dark Silvana lifted her other hand, where a massive white spire coalesced from countless pristine threads.

Since Dark Silvana wielded their initial combined skill effortlessly, mastering the next posed no challenge.

Channeling energy fully to his legs, Adam vaulted aside abruptly, evading the quivering spear by a hair.

A plume of white mist billowed in the gloom, concealing Adam's form.

Dark Silvana pivoted, searching for Adam's location, but her senses failed to pinpoint him.

Abruptly, Adam's arm burst from the mist, with five small energy spheres at his fingers and a bigger one in his palm. He condensed his energy to its utmost.

Tap.

Dark Silvana glanced downward, finding Adam's hand clamped firmly to her chest.

"You may be strong and fast, you are just like me, which means... You have no way to protect yourself!"

BLAST!

A tremendous surge of white energy hurled Dark Silvana away.

Fissures spiderwebbed her glassy frame, her right arm fragmenting into shards from shoulder down.

Unhesitatingly, Adam surged toward the black flame, eager to grasp the First Star's lingering will that had awaited him so long.

'Now! I'll claim it!'

Adam thrust his hand toward the black flame.

Sparks of electricity crackled in the void as an unseen force repelled Adam.

"What the—!"

He halted upon hearing approaching steps, weighty and assured, unlike Dark Silvana's.

Adam's pupils contracted in disbelief.

The Silver Weaver loomed before him, the authentic entity, not a copy.

"Yo!"