Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1639 1639: Glare of Final Determination

Adam had witnessed the true potential of Dark Energy firsthand. He saw it from Zargos, who brandished the force to bolster his own strength, and from Tron, who—true to his status as a high-level K4-Phantom—was expected to wield such power.

Yet, he encountered an unforeseen complication. A choice had to be made, as the Dark Energy could only be applied to a single ability.

Adam approached this dilemma with the weight the situation demanded. For ten minutes, he remained rooted at the table, lost in deep, contemplative silence.

The issue lay in the fundamental nature of the upgrade. Unlike Ancient Energy, which grants a universal enhancement to both mundane strikes and ultimate techniques, Dark Energy fashions a twisted, shadowy iteration of the specific power it infects.

His current stage of power forbade any reversal of this decision, and he remained oblivious to what strange properties his chosen dark ability might manifest.

Furthermore, several queries still lingered in his mind:

"You mentioned I could modify any ability—does that extend to my Nexus?" Adam inquired.

Tron offered a slight shake of his head.

"Not exactly. While your Nexus contains a primary ability, channeling Dark Energy within will only mutate that specific power, leaving the Nexus itself untouched. Essentially, the Dark Energy cannot forge a dark facade of your Nexus."

"I see…" Adam murmured, his eyes flickering with thought. "So, unless there is a specific exception, the process isn't particularly efficient."

Tron gave a confirming nod. "Precisely. I would consider it a squandering of such potent energy to achieve a half-measure."

Adam then gestured toward Silvana.

"What about her? We share several abilities. Am I able to influence those?"

Tron dismissed the concern with a wave. "Of course. Regardless of origin, all those abilities reside within your inner space and are integral to your Evolution Tree."

"Adam, are you planning to alter one of our shared powers?" Silvana looked at him with curiosity.

"Yes. Out of everything in my arsenal, I believe this particular one is the optimal candidate. Not the primary one, but the secondary technique."

She inclined her head, immediately pinpointing which ability he meant. It was the technique she had developed while fine-tuning his Energy Axis during the heat of a death-defying confrontation.

"If that is the case, I recommend acting immediately. You will likely require multiple attempts to fully calibrate the new ability. Dark Energy necessitates a long recharge period, so efficiency is paramount."

Adam looked to Tron, a flash of unwavering resolve glinting in his gaze.

"Agreed. This is my best opportunity."

He shut his eyes, plunging his consciousness into the depths of his inner space.

The previous time, Silvana had made the selection, modifying a power within the Evolution Vein. Now, it was Adam’s turn to step forward.

Step. Step. Step.

He traversed the void, moving toward the Evolution Vein, which pulsed with intense, vibrant radiance reflecting both his and Silvana’s signatures.

"Very well. Let us see what is forged here."

With one hand, he pressed against the surface of the Evolution Vein, stretching his other hand out into the surrounding ether.

The Dark Energy, suspended at the summit of the Evolution Tree, shuddered and fractured into two distinct segments—one substantial, the other minuscule.

While the smaller portion continued its orbit around the white orb, the larger mass settled over Adam's palm.

"Future of the Past… it is a potent ability, effective even now. Yet among all that I possess, it is the only one with such latent potential."

Adam did not choose this to simply amplify his energy spears or to learn the art of manifesting hundreds with a mere gesture. He sought something singular, an edge that would guarantee triumph even in his darkest hour.

Perhaps he was misguided, but the true outcome would remain veiled until the end. That was the toll demanded by the Dark Energy.

Tap.

As Adam pressed his second hand to the Evolution Vein, the Dark Energy surged forward, a streak of black lightning racing toward the second cluster of energy-saturated roots.

Instantly, Adam's eyes inverted, becoming as black as the midnight sky, and the transformation spilled outward from his inner space into the physical world.

…

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

As the Dark Energy leaked from his frame, Tron’s eyes narrowed sharply.

"It is beginning. Silvana, retreat. Even for an Operator, a stray pulse could prove disastrous."

She complied without protest. Dark Energy was their most potent card, yet one fraught with peril for friends and foes alike.

Fortunately, no cataclysm occurred; Adam’s aura gradually smoothed out. The dark vapors coated his form in a translucent layer before being absorbed entirely.

[The Dark Energy has fashioned a version of your skill – Future of the Past.]

[The dark iteration – Glare of Final Determination.]

Tron gazed at him expectantly.

"Are you prepared to test this new ability of yours?"

Adam gave a solemn nod.

"I am. Let us begin. But… since I am ignorant of its specific functions, how can we construct an appropriate target?"

Tron offered a nonchalant shrug.

"I shall handle that. Here is the plan: I will act as your test subject. First, demonstrate the common version of the ability, then the dark version. This approach will reveal your current capabilities while ensuring the target is sufficiently durable."

A slight smirk touched Adam's lips.

"Perfect. That is exactly the challenge I needed."

Beyond its title, Adam knew nothing of the new ability. Usually, knowledge arrived in a sudden influx, but this time, he was left in the dark.

Step.

Tron and Adam occupied the space between them. The distance was appropriate for a sparring match, though Tron had no intention of a true engagement. Even so, he maintained his power level, his aura as formidable as ever.

"Commence." Riska commanded with a wave of her hand.

Adam sprang upward instantly, his energy coalescing in his palm. A massive white spear materialized, its purple tip radiating brilliance while a golden flame left a luminous wake in the air.

He drew upon every drop of star energy the technique could handle.

Tron kept his eyes locked on the ripples in the atmosphere.

"Prepare yourself!" Adam roared before launching the spear.

The white spear tore through the Sky Cube at blinding velocity, hurtling toward Tron with immense force.

Tron stood his ground, eschewing any attempt to evade. His goal was to benchmark Adam’s strength with his foundational skills.

'Let us witness what he can truly do.'

Tron shoved his palm forward, conjuring a barrier of dense, crystalline energy.

Normally, such a barrier would shatter against the white spear, but not this time.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

White sparks sprayed as the spear assaulted the glass-like structure. Cracks spider-webbed across the surface, yet Tron reinforced them instantly, refusing to let the spear penetrate even an inch further.

Finally, the spear exhausted its reserves and dissipated, leaving shimmering trails in the air before Tron’s eyes.

"Not bad. Not bad at all."

He waved his hand to clear the debris.

"Had any K4-Phantom of slightly inferior rank been in my stead, this strike would have been a significant threat. Now…" His gaze darkened. "Show me the dark version."

Silvana and Riska turned toward Adam. Curiosity burned in their expressions, particularly Silvana’s, as the architect of the original technique.

"As you wish."

Adam stepped back, kicking up dust, and braced himself.

The white gloves upon his hands shuddered, bleeding into a deep black. While it initially appeared to be a mere shift in pigment, the awakening of his dark aura caused the gloves to shift further.

A crimson eye symbol manifested upon the gloves. At present, the eyes remained shut in a dormant state, though that would not last.

"New equipment?" Tron asked, raising his chin. "But to what purpose?"

Adam swung his arm back and leaped high into the air once more.

Thin, frayed threads of dark energy trailed past his fingers—seemingly fragile compared to his star energy. Yet, they coalesced into a black spear; it trembled, manifesting more like a shred of nebulous void than a physical weapon.

Adam’s pupils constricted. As his muscles coiled to throw, the eye symbols upon his gloves snapped open.

Crimson rays lashed out, locking onto Tron as the singular objective.

Whooooooosh.

Adam released the black spear, which traveled at a velocity far outstripping the white variant.

Tron stepped forward silently, erecting his glass-like barrier as he had done previously, his expression masked in calm.

'Is that the extent of it? Merely increased velocity?' he pondered. 'Even so… he could not have anticipated the effect the Dark Energy would yield.'

Crack.

The black spear collided with the crystal barrier. Everything seemed to end in an instant.

Tremble.

The black spear shivered and vanished, atomizing into nothingness.

"W-What…?" Silvana whispered, bewildered.

In the heartbeat that followed, Tron’s eyes bulged as the black spear manifested anew—right before his face.

'Wait? When did that occur?!' he shouted internally.

The projectile tore toward his neck. At this range, dodging was entirely impossible.

The red eyes burned with a fixated gaze. Tron was trapped in their unwavering focus.