Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1634: Another Solution

Crunch.

Silana bit into a chocolate cookie, her eyes fixed on the forest in front, which appeared both tangible and illusory simultaneously.

'By the way, regarding that farm and the house over there.' Silana glanced at Tron and Riska. 'Do you reside here? Is that house yours?'

Tron shook his head.

'All of this belongs to the government and falls under the Dark Order's control. But yes, usually it's just Riska and me staying in that house. The others live in different spots or take on other roles.'

He gestured with his hand.

'In my view, this spot is calm and pleasant. Consider it: the Second Ring stands as the sole location across the entire world for maintaining a serene farm.'

He spoke truly. For a person like Goen, establishing a farm amid the Dead Lands would prove nearly impossible.

'I understand. How much time do you estimate for this training, Adam?'

Tron shrugged his shoulders.

'Hard to say? His situation stands out, as usual. Typically, Phantoms first encounter the Ancient Energy, much like you did, following a trip to the Primal Lands. They come back to the Citadel, start training, and spend the coming months refining their command over this force.

'Afterward, as a Phantom approaches the peak of his evolution, the time arrives to grasp the Dark Energy. Yet Adam has not only uncovered two forms of energy inside him during one mission, but he's also landed in that uncommon circumstance of gaining the Dark Energy right at his present level.'

He pivoted, observing Adam's repeated failures. 'Even so, that won't bring issues he can't handle. He may simply require extra time.'

Riska rose from the table, gathering the empty glasses.

'I'll fetch more juice.'

Before she could depart, Silana called after her:

'Hold on!'

Riska spun back. 'What? Need anything?'

'Y-Yes...' Silana replied hesitantly, dropping her eyes. 'About that pie you baked for our arrival. If feasible... I'd like to learn its recipe for Adam. He surprised me nicely lately, so I want to repay him.'

Riska's eyes tightened into sharp lines.

'Ah, got it. Of course, but brace yourself. Regarding meals for our Phantoms, I turn quite demanding.'

Tron flicked his hand. 'She's telling the truth. Even I dread entering the kitchen during her sessions—it's a frightening domain.'

The edges of Silana's mouth curved upward.

'Alright. I'm set.'

Tron observed their departing figures, drew in a deep breath, and walked toward Adam.

'What? Not as straightforward as you'd imagined?'

Adam turned to find Tron looming above him.

Oddly, the response differed from what Tron anticipated.

'No, I've already worked out the method.'

'Oh?' Tron arched a brow. 'Then why haven't you cleared this test yet?'

'Watch.'

Adam pressed his palm to the glass cube, directing his ancient energy inside.

Tron's energy attempted to push back as previously, yet Adam easily countered the initial surge.

At this point, two energy masses floated within the glass cube, confronting one another.

'I realized it's about density. It required some effort to master compressing the Ancient Energy. Ha, next to ordinary energy, it's far tougher—like the gap between copper and steel in toughness—but still achievable.'

Tron nodded firmly. These matched the precise phases he'd foreseen for Adam. They formed key elements of his training regimen.

'Well done, but what's holding you back? Now you just have to pour in more of your energy and expel my energy from the glass cube. I intentionally put in just a bit so our power gap wouldn't block your insight into this.'

Adam grinned.

'I could force your energy out of the glass cube, but I aim to shatter it. That's tougher, way tougher. See.'

Tremble.

Adam's energy quivered while nearing Tron's. His own energy sought to fight back, but Adam's mass prevented the assault and shoved it straight against the glass barrier.

'If I push further, your energy will merely leak away. That's not my goal.'

Tron nodded.

'Understood. So, if you're choosing the harder route, here's one tip. Divide your energy, dispatch a tiny portion into my mass, then form your energy encircling that piece. Thus, you'll dismantle my mass internally. But that demands superior energy mastery.'

Without pause, Adam clenched his hand while his energy mass divided into numerous tiny bits and, at blazing velocity, collided like soaring asteroids.

Beneath the force, the fist-sized energy mass morphed into a squeezed sphere barely larger than a nail clipping.

Tron's eyes expanded as his stare dropped.

Drip.

A thin stream of blood trickled from Adam's mouth edge while his breaths turned labored. Executing such an action taxed him more than deploying his skills.

'And now... I've got a different strategy.'

'What?' Tron looked puzzled as the energy sphere quaked.

Resembling a small yet lethal star, the energy sphere launched ahead. Its immense force sufficed to rip Tron's energy to pieces and burst the glass cube into fragments.

Whoooooooosh!

The energy sphere continued, carving a rough furrow in the soil, demolishing nearby stones and harming the closest trees by stripping bark from stems and breaking limbs.

Finally, the energy sphere halted, shook, and, from energy depletion, disintegrated.

'Wow...' Tron felt admiration. 'Impressive, truly impressive. Perhaps aiming to challenge you with fine maneuvers was misguided. You invariably discover ways to tackle issues via raw power.'

'Hey! My control over energy has improved!' Adam objected.

Tron rubbed his ear casually.

'Sure, but you pulled it off so swiftly that it now feels insufficient to me.'

A new glass orb materialized beside him as Tron reflected. He had to devise something basic but demanding for Adam.

'Anyway, I've got a notion.'

With a hand motion, the air rippled as seventy enormous steel slabs materialized in the forest's center. Each one's mass alone made the earth quake.

Tron grinned.

'Your next challenge—inflict damage on every one with just one punch.'

'AGH?'