Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1652: Up or Down? (Part 1)

Between the ongoing ordeal with Gladius and Xyrea, Adam was pushed to his absolute limit. Now, stranded in a hostile and mysterious region with zero information, the pressure was mounting.

However, the true crisis unveiled itself in a sudden prompt:

[The Blood of God demands your cooperation. You are required to integrate the Blood of God into your Evolution Tree to transcend your current Nexus.]

Queen Elisa's blood offered no room for negotiation. Adam had no choice; he had to comply, or face complete annihilation.

"What? Is this essence simply too potent?" Adam muttered, hands clenching. "Damn it! Of course it is! It’s the blood of Queen Elisa! Shouldn't that be a boon? It’s the only substance that sparked a reaction from my internal reserves!"

Yet, howling into the void accomplished nothing.

"Am I expected to just absorb this?" He scowled. "Give me something more substantial! This is barely a hint at all!"

Adam’s rage simmered. First, Gladius appeared out of thin air, followed by the unexpected arrival of the Blood of God, and now he found himself abandoned in a wasteland, staring down an immediate death sentence.

Tap.

A touch on his shoulder forced him to pivot, where he found the Silver Weaver wearing his usual placid expression.

"Looks like you’ve stumbled into some trouble again? Then again, isn't that your natural state?"

"Tsk. Unfortunately, you're right." Adam spat. "I’ve obtained the Blood of God, but I have no idea how to properly integrate it!"

The Silver Weaver cocked his head, scrutinizing the fluid currents trapped within the bubble.

A flicker of hope ignited in Adam’s chest, believing the truth was about to be revealed.

"I’m in the same boat," the Silver Weaver concluded with a slow shake of his head. "I don’t have any answers."

Seeing his infuriatingly calm demeanor, Adam tightened his fists. If he could, he would have planted a fist directly on the Silver Weaver’s face.

'Why are you even here then?!'

Step. Step. Step.

A rhythmic, light footfall echoed from the side.

Lone Blaze approached. Her waist-length hair smoldered with an amber glow, much like the intense fires of her arduous evolution. Her monochrome attire clung to her form, the fabric rippling with unseen threads of her design.

She observed the blood in silence—the life force of a being that dwarfed them all by many orders of magnitude.

Finally, she locked eyes with Adam. "I might be misinterpreting, but could the solution be simpler than we’re making it?"

"What do you mean?" Adam squinted.

"The Path Construct suggests your Evolution Tree lacks the clearance to harbor this blood. Perhaps your current power level is a bottleneck, or maybe the Tree is hitting its capacity. Either way, there is simply no space for Queen Elisa’s essence to settle."

Her amber gaze burned into him, almost hypnotic in its intensity.

"You must force a breakthrough. As we know, true evolution or the temporary shattering of one's limits only occurs under the shadow of a life-or-death confrontation."

Adam groaned, rubbing his temples.

"Hell, I should have realized that myself." He looked toward the Silver Weaver. "What do you think?"

The Weaver nodded. "It could work. However, if this requires risking your life again, I’d prefer to exhaust other options first."

Adam and Lone Blaze exchanged a look of mutual confusion.

Step.

The Silver Weaver moved forward, a razor-sharp needle manifesting in his palm.

Before Adam could interject, a tremor shook the air as the Silver Weaver stood directly beneath the hovering blood sphere.

SLASH!

With a clean, lethal arc, the Silver Weaver carved a deep rift into the Evolution Tree, right beside the bubble. Had it been a standard liquid in a normal vessel, the spill would have flooded the vacancy.

"Blast! What are you doing!" Adam shouted as blinding light seared his vision.

A torrent of dense, concentrated Qi erupted through the fissure, the force and velocity turning it into a destructive blast.

The Silver Weaver stood nearby, observing the dissipating energy and the blood bubble, which—despite the apparent opportunity—remained entirely unmoved.

"Shit," the Silver Weaver hissed, slamming his palm against the Evolution Tree to mend the gash he had just created.

He was forced to burn his own energy to plug the hole he had cut.

Adam shoulder-checked him, giving him a look of pure exasperation.

"Well? What was that? Do you have any idea how precious my energy is right now? Why waste it on such a reckless gamble?!"

The Silver Weaver waved a hand dismissively, like shooing away a fly.

"I had a theory and needed a trial. What’s the harm? I thought clearing space would compel the blood to flow into it, but it seems there’s more complexity here than I anticipated. Lone Blaze is likely right; you need to fight."

The Silver Weaver fell silent, his eyes fixed thoughtfully on Adam’s Nexus.

"Try using your Nexus, will you?"

Adam blinked, confused, but obliged.

He reached outward to summon his weapon, but absolute silence followed.

He wasn't surprised. He understood the gravity of the situation.

"Perfect. I’m stuck, surrounded by nothing, facing death, and my Nexus is completely unresponsive. Could it get any better?"

Lone Blaze remained composed, her gaze fixed on the circulating blood.

"Isn’t it magnificent?"

Adam raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"

"It will be arduous, but it was inevitable given your status. I can sense the sheer power radiating from that flow. I’m equal parts terrified and fascinated to see what your Nexus will become once it finally assimilates that strength..."

Her voice trembled faintly, drawing Adam’s focus.

"Hmm? Don’t tell me you’re envious?"

Surprisingly, Lone Blaze didn't mask her intent, offering a sly smile.

"What if I am? We all strive for higher levels of power, don’t we?"

Adam sighed, his gaze drifting back toward the horizon.

"Yeah... I suppose. But it falls on me to plunge into that abyss, yet again."