Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1645 1645: Smiling Guest

The Winding Fragments served as a specialized mechanism that enabled the Phantoms to pinpoint their necessary conditions.

Previously, Adam and Alexia were required to travel to Heaven Island to utilize this technique. It necessitated the aura of Queen Elisa, but now, he had successfully entered that realm on his own, without even realizing he had done so.

However… instead of celebrating this discovery, Adam’s expression appeared lost, his complexion fading to a pale hue.

"Are you certain about this?"

Adam nodded, his brow deeply furrowed.

"Yes. When Alexia and I performed this, the experience was entirely different. We witnessed them—hundreds of fragments—each providing potential paths, though only one was suitable for us both. Now? There is nothing but darkness."

Moments like these left Silvana feeling utterly powerless, a sensation she despised. She lacked any deeper understanding of the Winding Fragments than Adam, and this deficiency stung her pride.

"Tsk." She grit her teeth and collapsed onto a chair in front of him with a heavy thud.

Her grip tightened around her coffee cup, causing it to tremble.

"Let's refrain from jumping to conclusions, though I certainly do not like the sound of this. If we cannot devise a solution ourselves, I shall summon Beth; she will have to explain exactly what is going on here!"

A thick, oppressive silence blanketed the room.

It persisted until Silvana cast an uncertain glance at Adam, whose frown had not eased in the slightest.

"Hey..." Silvana’s voice broke the quiet. "I have a theory, though it is far from encouraging."

"Hmm?" Adam looked up at her. "What do you imply?"

"What if there is nothing wrong with the Winding Fragments at all, and they have been this way since the very beginning?"

Adam looked puzzled.

"Agh? But Silvana, what would be the purpose of that? When I conducted this with Alexia, we encountered no issues! We were presented with thousands of options!"

"Were there really?" She fixed him with a sharp, piercing stare.

Adam felt blindsided, unable to identify what he might have overlooked.

"You were only given one true choice. We settled on it because, at that moment, it was the only location in existence where you and Alexia could acquire the Ancient Frost and the Blood of God."

"While we were mistaken regarding the Blood of God, you still fulfilled one of your conditions there, exactly as the chosen fragment had promised."

Adam blinked. "So?"

Silvana’s expression hardened.

"What if the Highest Bliss was actually the only condition the Winding Fragments could ever have specified for you? In that case, everything aligns. It wasn't the Winding Fragments adapting to the two of you—it was Alexia who adapted to your constrained choices."

Adam intended to protest immediately, but he froze. In his heart, he already knew she was correct.

"But... if your assessment is accurate, then the situation is dire. Truly dire."

She bit her lip until a droplet of blood appeared.

She understood the implication. If the Winding Fragments could not guide him toward his requirements, it highlighted just how unattainable his goals had become.

Adam rubbed his temples.

"It seems we have run out of alternatives. We must reach out to Damien and Beth… they surely hold the answers."

Silvana’s eyes went wide as if a sudden realization dawned on her.

"The Queen! Perhaps we require her assistance!"

For a heartbeat, Adam stared at her with shock, thinking she had found the key.

"No," he disagreed, shaking his head. "I hadn't considered it, but if I accomplished this without Queen Elisa, there is no reason to inconvenience her. Perhaps her powers fundamentally altered me, or perhaps this is the result of the Dark Energy..."

Silvana slowly sank back into her seat, the glimmer of hope vanishing from her face.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Lost in thought, she drummed her fingers against the table, searching for any potential resolution.

"Damn it! Why do these crises always manifest at the worst possible time!"

Brushing off her frustration, Silvana walked toward the sink, noting her empty cup.

"I will attempt to contact Beth. Tsk, they should have provided us with a warning that something like this was even possible!"

Adam rubbed the back of his neck.

"And what if even that fails?"

"Agh?"

"What if the Winding Fragments are our only method? If my conditions remain hidden from them, we will need to engineer an alternative. Perhaps if I travel to the Dead Lands, I might uncover more information?"

Silvana raised a stern eyebrow.

"You have only just returned, and already you plan on departing? What? Do you expect to find answers in Izardo or some other godforsaken place?"

Adam threw his hands up in a gesture of resignation.

"Who can say? Maybe there, or maybe elsewhere. Though..." He rested his chin on his palm and leaned forward. "You are right. First, we must connect with Damien and Beth. They must know something."

DING!

Without warning, the doorbell rang.

Adam and Silvana exchanged a quick look. They were not expecting any visitors.

Adam initially smirked. "Hah, has that arrogant bastard been eavesdropping on us again?"

He assumed it was Damien, but their expressions quickly stiffened as they realized that if it were him, Damien would have simply materialized on their balcony and walked in without notice. That was simply his character.

"Perhaps it is a courier, or some advertisement?" Silvana speculated, running through possibilities.

"Would the building security allow just anyone up here? Damn, shouldn't we have been notified?"

Ding!

The bell rang a second time. Their unknown guest showed no signs of impatience or urgency.

Typically, they would have nothing to fear, yet given the suspicious timing, both Adam and Silvana felt their heart rates climb.

Trading a meaningful nod, they approached the door as the chime sounded for a third time.

Ding!

Adam reached out, slowly swinging the tall door open.

As the kitchen light spilled out to meet the gleam of the elevator foyer, a silhouette familiar to them both appeared.

"Good evening. I trust I am not interrupting anything of great importance?"

Gladius wore a warm smile as he gripped a surprisingly large, black case in his right hand.`}`` `json` ```[{