Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1617 1617: Fire and Ashes

Intense sparks danced in front of Morok's eyes while he glared sharply at Zargos, as though facing a longstanding foe.

Truthfully, Morok had never clashed with Zargos, not even a year prior or a century back. Nevertheless, Zargos's demeanor grated on the stern Morok profoundly.

"You've chosen to shield this young Phantom? Aren't too many monsters attempting to do just that?" Morok snarled.

Zargos shrugged nonchalantly.

"I could ask you the same thing. Isn't it odd that he arrived here to battle a foe on his level and triumphed, only to discover two distinct teams from the Befallen Crown pursuing him?"

He cast a glance at the five of them.

"First, a squad from the Crown team. Now you... from the Sword Squad. I have to say, this surprised even me. Normally, you're dispatched to eliminate unwanted Lords, not a mere K4-Phantom."

Morok snorted dismissively.

"Don't be absurd. You're guarding him for the exact reason our superiors wish him dead. But, Zargos, before we start, I have a personal query for you."

"Go ahead, fire away!" Zargos responded with cheer.

A shadow darkened Morok's eyes.

"Didn't you attempt the trial and try to join one of the squads years ago?"

Silence.

Morok's companions appeared confused. They recognized Zargos as the heir apparent to the Flaming Eye Clan. But details of his efforts to join their ranks were unknown to them, essentially.

Yet, Zargos offered no reply; his radiant smile faded, nearly vanishing.

"I get it. You refuse to respond? Then, no reason to proceed further." Morok gestured with his hand.

Following his signal, the four monsters adopted combat poses, with three summoning their Arcs.

A katana materialized in the young man's sole left hand. The girl beside him gestured, causing white disks to hover over her wrists, topped by white orbs.

Their auras radiated strength yet serenity, wind swirling around the young man and water currents enveloping the girl.

However, across from them, a fiercer, more hostile aura surged forth.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

Yellow lightning bolts crackled before the woman's gaze as a lengthy black staff, pulsing with thunderous energy, ascended behind her.

Without pause, she charged ahead, obeying Morok's unspoken order.

Like a bolt of lightning, she bridged the gap instantly, positioning herself directly before Zargos.

But...

"Agh?" Astonishment showed on her features.

For unknown reasons, her hand failed to reach Zargos's torso. Regardless of her staff's quivering or the force she exerted, Zargos's scarlet aura barred her approach.

Tremble.

Zargos leisurely lifted his hands, donning black gloves tipped in red.

During his bout with Ramilo, deploying his Arc hadn't been necessary.

"Yes, indeed."

Zargos answered without glancing at the woman. His eyes remained on his gloves, evoking memories of bygone days.

"In that trial, I viewed a chance to grow mightier, acquire fresh knowledge, and ascend to greater peaks. It's a basic drive, yet it propels us all following our initial brush with death."

"What occurred with your arm, eh? Did somebody chomp it off?"

Gradually, he tilted his head up, directing his gaze not toward the woman but solely at Morok.

"Do you recall what transpired at the initial phase? It's combat, as you know. The objective is to overcome every adversary."

Morok's brow furrowed. This confirmed Zargos's genuine attempt to integrate with them, or at least endure a comparable ordeal.

"What? You were thrashed and fled in terror?"

Tap.

Without pivoting, Zargos pressed his palm against the woman's chest.

Abruptly, Zargos's expression shifted. The smile vanished from his face, the warmth in his amber eyes chilled to shadow, and amid the inferno encircling him, he exuded pure iciness.

An aged blue cat shuddered then. He wouldn't wish to stand opposite Zargos in that instant.

"Rather than a honorable duel, all I received was..."

The woman's eyes bulged as scorching heat emanated from Zargos's palm. Illumination struck her visage, but reaction came too late.

The explosive inferno, trailed by a searing beam, struck the woman, while a surge of red fire engulfed a jungle section dozens of meters distant.

The young man and girl whirled in shock. Being marginally inferior to their team's other trio, they hadn't anticipated such swift dispatching of the woman.

Crack.

Dark, burned fragments scattered aside as the woman rose from beneath the incinerated tree.

Dozens of meters of blackened ground now separated her from Zargos. No trace lingered of the vibrant jungle here, save for embers and ash.

Dark tendrils of smoke ascended skyward. This eruption's might could have reduced a whole settlement to cinders.

"You..." The woman swallowed hard, blood trickling from her lip's edge. "Bastard... What was that?"

She glanced downward. Her vitality and robust form had shielded her from fatal harm, though the chest burn throbbed with persistent warmth.

Zargos's gaze remained unchanged. He perceived nothing remarkable in the strike.

"You stayed upright? Impressive, you're surely tougher than those scum. You can endure several more blows."

"Tsk." She hawked a blood lump with a scowl. "Don't you dare belittle me!"

"Boss." The burly man addressed Morok. "Should we intervene now? I detect two presences afar. One's likely Adam Vinter."

Morok inclined his head.

"Affirmative. Three of us ought to suffice against him." He eyed the girl and young man. "Locate Adam Vinter for me."

"Y-Yes!"

They chorused and dashed off, yet a column of red flame obstructed their way.

"Hey, where do you think you're headed?" Zargos's voice murmured softly.

Shine!

With a dazzling, searing glow, the golden fire formed a gateway within the fiery column, swallowing the young man and girl rapidly.

Zargos shifted his attention to the burly man, noting the golden aura quaking around his frame.

"I see. We're similar, right?"

Then, Zargos haughtily raised his chin, his stare icy and disdainful.

"I'm sorry to say, you probably don't grasp what true fire truly entails."