Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1646 1646: The Vial

A man with flowing black hair reaching his shoulders, striking blue eyes, and an impeccably tailored suit, stood calmly before Adam and Silvana.

The two of them recognized him, though certainly not in the capacity he usually occupied.

Gladius had acted out of curiosity, intervening to assist Adam during the ambush at Osana's wedding. He had ensured those two powerful noble houses adhered to The Rule of Power, preventing them from murdering Adam on the spot just to keep their existing arrangements from falling apart.

Gladius possessed more than enough authority for such a feat.

Outside of that instance, however, Adam and Silvana remained completely ignorant of his true purpose. They viewed him as a potent, enigmatic Phantom, and unlike those from the prestigious noble families, they felt no dread regarding the aura of shadow that constantly surrounded him.

They had no inkling that Gladius served Aiden Henk, serving as a primary reason the scientist commanded such vast influence across the entire Citadel.

Indeed, even the leaders of the Twelve Branches could not afford to ignore such an individual.

Regardless, neither this awareness nor any underlying suspicion crossed the faces of Adam and Silvana.

They were simply caught off guard.

"G-Gladius?" Silvana breathed, her voice filled with disbelief. "Whatever brings you here?"

Adam swallowed hard. He shared the exact same query.

They had not laid eyes on Gladius for quite a while—many months had passed. In truth, nearly a year had elapsed since that day, considering every whirlwind event that had marked Adam’s recent life.

It was true that Alexia found herself in a similar predicament. While they had only shared a single major assignment until recently, that had not prevented them from journeying to the Primal Lands together to pursue their objectives.

Yet, unlike Alexia, who they had encountered by sheer chance during their time at the First Ring, Gladius had tracked them down of his own volition.

Somehow, he had discovered their residence. For some unknown motive, he had appeared now, and his friendly expression looked less like a companion's gesture and more like the smirk of a cunning serpent.

Almost immediately, Adam’s gaze darted toward the heavy black case clutched in Gladius’s hand. The presence of a white glove solely on his right hand provided further evidence that the contents held great significance.

"Why? What is your reason for coming?" Adam asked, shaking his head. "Better yet, how did you even locate our home? This feels rather suspicious..."

Gladius simply rested a hand against his chest, remaining entirely unruffled.

"I realize you are wary, but I promise, you will be pleased by my arrival before long. I believe I can provide a solution to your current dilemma."

His eyes narrowed as he fixed his stare on Adam.

"Your aura makes it quite obvious that you’ve been struggling to identify the next step in your path, have you not?"

Adam gulped. He couldn't fathom how Gladius learned of the Winding Fragments.

'Perhaps it was only my imagination?'

Regardless, they could not remain standing in the doorway.

"Well, in that case, please come in. Though I must confess, we have nothing to serve with tea. We weren't anticipating visitors."

Gladius stepped inside. "Do not trouble yourself. That is unnecessary. I expect our discussion will prove far more engaging than any refreshments."

Adam and Silvana exchanged a quick look. They were uneasy about this unexpected encounter, but they were left with no options.

There was no logical reason to drive Gladius away.

Tap.

Gladius set the black case down on the table, nudging it slightly to the side. He chose not to open it instantly. The proper moment had not yet arrived.

He then crossed his legs, interlaced his fingers, and settled into the seat facing Adam.

"I assume you are finding it difficult to proceed along your path? Just how many requirements remain?"

Adam blinked, yet chose to be forthcoming.

Perhaps they might not even require the assistance of Damien and Beth after all. The man sitting before him was, after all, a Second Rank Phantom of considerable power.

"Two. And… the Winding Fragments. They have simply stopped functioning. Not a single one appears, despite the fact that hundreds used to guide me."

Gladius gave a sharp nod.

"Such occurrences are uncommon, though they do happen. I understand. While other paths remain clear and filled with potential moves, you find yourself with nothing left."

Silvana studied him intently. "Do you know of a way to rectify this? How can Adam reclaim these lost fragments?"

Instead of offering a direct answer, Gladius merely shook his head, effectively striking down their hopes.

"Regrettably, I cannot intervene in that specific matter. Adam must discover how to fulfill his remaining requirements on his own. These struggles are unique to every individual Phantom. Not everyone faces such hurdles, as it largely depends on one's Path Construct, yet it happens periodically."

Crack.

Adam slammed a fist onto the table, his brow furrowed deeply.

"Damn it! Why am I the one dealing with this? Even if I uncover the remaining two criteria, they are bound to be impossibly difficult, especially since the Winding Fragments cannot even point me in the right direction!"

Gladius smiled thinly.

"That is true. However, I was under the impression you enjoyed a challenge. Or was I mistaken?"

Adam let out a weary breath, settling back into his chair.

"That isn't the point. It is just… from the beginning, I had a feeling the final two conditions would be troublesome, but things have spiraled into something far more intricate than I expected."

"Speaking of which, I believe I may have a solution."

Shock flickered across the faces of both Adam and Silvana.

"Wait, what?"

"What are you talking about?"

With a sly grin, Gladius rose to his feet and, much like an auctioneer unveiling a priceless relic, pushed the black case forward with both hands.

He methodically entered a complex 16-digit code, causing the lid to hiss open as a thin veil of mist evaporated.

Adam leaned forward expectantly, but instead of some grand treasure, he only found a pitch-black cube nestled within.

"Hmm? What is that supposed to be?"

Without haste, Gladius pressed his palm against the object, and his aura flared.

Tremble! Tremble! Tremble!

An intense discharge of his power washed over the black cube, causing it to vibrate so violently that it shattered into a myriad of floating shards.

At the center sat a single vial, filled with a deep, crimson liquid.

The second Adam laid eyes on it, every instinct in his body screamed, and his heart hammered against his ribs.

"Is this not precisely what you have been hunting for?"

Gladius’s smile widened, appearing almost demonic.

"Allow me to introduce the Blood of God—or, as others might call it, the blood of Queen Elisa."