Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1654: White Fang (Part 1)

Rather than working out his location or seeking a route back home, Adam encountered a nearby sentinel that detected him instantly.

He never anticipated such an occurrence, leaving him without a moment to respond.

The gray beast fixed its gaze on him a second longer, then blinked and darted off, vanishing with the same rapid elegance as its arrival.

"What the hell was that?" Adam muttered, scanning his surroundings.

This area bore no resemblance to a military outpost or a heavily defended fortress; in fact, it stood as its complete antithesis.

Consequently, Adam couldn't grasp the creature's objective or predict what might follow.

"Maybe I should go back there?" Adam eyed the cave ring. Inside it, he'd felt equally disoriented as he did now, though at least he'd been secure.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Prior to reaching a choice, the earth quaked beneath him. From the flank, a massive bull-like creature advanced steadily, sporting a pair of elongated, curved horns and rugged black hide. Gray sand grated under its sturdy hooves with each stride.

Its standout trait was the bony mask encasing the bull's skull—not merely a covering, but fused as a innate shield. Scalding vapor billowed from its nostrils with every exhale, while vivid green eyes gleamed through the openings like spectral lamps.

Adam arched a brow, eyeing the beast with interest.

'Hmm? Has that amber eye already alerted others about me? No... Events unfolded too fast. Probably, this bull noticed me the instant I emerged, much like the flying eye. It merely bided time until the amber eye departed.'

Even at this juncture, Adam could dodge combat. He felt confident escaping the bull would prove simple, yet that wasn't his ultimate choice.

Step.

Adam retreated a pace, dropping into a combat pose.

"Alright, come at me, little guy. Show me what you're capable of."

'Its aura matches Black Threat Level monsters, but... it doesn't reach Elder rank. So... a few punches should suffice to drop it, right?'

Elsewhere, Adam would harbor no hesitations. He'd judge purely by the foe's aura and looks, and he'd be correct.

Yet the bull's bone mask sparked caution in him, as did the entire surroundings.

PFFFFH!!!

The bull snorted loudly, then pounded a hoof into the earth before barreling toward Adam.

Adam braced for a straightforward, speedy rush typical of such beasts, but an unexpected sight widened his eyes.

A sheath of faint green energy trailed the bull, enveloping its enormous form in swift-flowing currents.

'Oh, so it combines raw strength with energy even for a basic charge? That alone renders this bull far deadlier than typical black threat monsters.'

Thump!

The bull loomed directly before Adam, horns thrusting toward his throat.

'Still, even fresh from evolving to K4-Level here, I wouldn't flee from a foe like this!'

Step.

Adam advanced as the twin horns grazed past his neck.

Instantly, he whirled with explosive force, his fist crashing into the bull's bone mask amid a deafening boom.

A shockwave coursed through the bull's frame while fierce winds erupted from the strike's power.

Crack!

The initial fracture split the bone mask, hurling the bull rearward. Its hooves gouged twin furrows into the gray sand.

"Gpphh!" The bull bellowed, fixing Adam with a furious stare. No human should have halted its assault, it seemed to think.

Thump!

The bull slammed its hooves down, coiling for another onslaught. Adam mirrored the action, a faint grin curling his lips.

Engaging a foe he comprehended and could overpower lifted his spirits now.

He understood his actions perfectly. Battle diverted his mind from the mysterious terrain and odd creatures encircling him.

Victory alone would propel him forward. He desired nothing else.

"Come on, attack!" Adam shouted eagerly, surging energy into his fists.

The bull poised to oblige, yet... an unseen force rooted it motionless. Its eyes bulged wide. Dread pierced even past the bone mask.

The formerly bold, ferocious beast now quivered, primal urges screaming to flee this spot at all costs.

Obeying instincts had preserved it thus far. Without pause, the bull wheeled and bolted, abandoning Adam amid the vast gray wasteland—or was solitude already lost?

Grasping the shift, Adam pivoted sharply to confront two gray eyes locked upon him.

Unlike the earlier oddities—the flying eye or the bull—this opponent felt intimately recognizable.

A towering figure, reaching three or four meters tall, floated midair above Adam.

His flowing white hair cascaded to his ankles. Lean of build, he donned only a pale-blue cloak that draped his form, baring his chest.

No curiosity or battle-lust filled his stare, unlike the bull's. Upon spotting Adam, his intent solidified instantly.

"Phantom? Here? With your level of power...?" The giant queried, posing to himself rather than expecting Adam's reply. "It must have been a mistake. Still, you shouldn't be here."

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Space shuddered around the giant as he lifted his hand.

A colossal white spear, surpassing the man's own stature, materialized in his hold. Its point whirled as his eyes sharpened.

"Let’s see... One shot should be enough."