Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1661 1661: Hollow Lands

Every Phantom eventually faced the day they stepped into the Dead Lands for their inaugural mission. Countless Phantoms came back repeatedly, powering up and snatching victories.

Of course, some met grim or silent ends, yet in this realm, numerous Phantoms routinely launched into Dead Lands missions.

Yet, just a tiny portion of Phantoms grasped the secrets beyond their frontiers. After all, awareness of the World Wipe dawned only at K4-Level, or for the mightiest K3-Level ones.

This marked the pivotal moment when Phantoms discovered the other realms stretching past the Dead Lands.

Usually, a Phantom needed to first arrive at the Tarnished Lands, the zones nearest the spires. This didn't occur right after hitting K4 level, but somewhat afterward.

Phantoms claimed their initial steps and secured their Grand Stars in the remote edges of the Dead Lands, adjacent to foreign territories.

Beyond the Tarnished Lands, Phantoms plunged further into those areas or pushed toward the Primal Lands, just as Adam and Alexia did to meet the requirements for the Third Grand Star. In a way, both pulled it off, although Adam didn't obtain what he'd hoped for.

By this point, Phantoms were aware of the Dark Shore, the hunting ground where Befallen Crown pursued risky Phantoms. This mattered greatly. But heading there prior to K4 level proved far too perilous. K4-Phantoms had to steer clear of such zones entirely.

Therefore, the journey of most K4-Phantoms circled the fringes of the Dead Lands, the Tarnished Lands, and the Primal Lands. For the last two, solely the closest or central sections remained somewhat safe. Anything further spelled extreme danger.

Landing in the Dark Shore posed massive peril for any Phantom, often triggered by unforeseen twists, precisely what befell Adam.

In general, most K4-Phantoms knew of the Tarnished Lands and the Dark Shore, picking up info on the Primal Lands shortly after.

But now, Adam caught wind of yet another unfamiliar name.

"H-Hollow Lands?" Adam stammered.

Kaerno nodded.

"Yes. The Primal Lands, judging by your aura, you were there recently. These lands are in the north, the Tarnished Lands to the west, the Dark Shore to the east, and we, the Hollow Lands, in the south of our world."

Adam blinked repeatedly as the world's map reformed in his thoughts. Suddenly, it all clicked.

"So the Citadel sits smack in the center?"

"Yes, you humans chose a prime location for yourselves. Perilous yet not overly so, brimming with resources but nothing spectacular. Still, we're not discussing your base now, but mine."

Adam swallowed hard.

Truth be told, while trailing Kaerno and Larth to the blade pillar, Adam had started sensing this very possibility.

The expanse around him stretched enormously and stood apart from everything he'd witnessed before. He just wasn't prepared to acknowledge another enormous territory in this world, fresh lands untouched by his steps.

"Why…? Why did Gladius send me here? How did he pull it off? Damn… What's his scheme?"

Kaerno dropped the subject. He shifted to a new topic.

"The Gray Watchers."

"Agh?" Adam blinked multiple times, bewildered.

In reply, Kaerno gestured toward the horizon, at a gray beast boasting one amber eye, soaring across the boundless Hollow Lands. It mirrored the exact one Adam had faced at the start, though this might have been a tad larger.

"They roam the Hollow Lands. One detected you emerging from that cave. That's solely how I learned of our guest."

Kaerno eyed Larth. "Who knows the outcome if I hadn't intervened? Your clash with Larth was nearing a hazardous stage for you both."

Adam stroked his chin in contemplation.

"Hold on… So our encounter was pure chance? Meaning, any Gray Watcher might've spotted me, correct?"

Kaerno nodded.

"Precisely. Then, a different monster would've headed there. It might've mirrored my actions, or opted to assault you or capture you. Maybe Gladius and Xyrea directed you there knowing my Gray Watchers patrolled that zone."

Right then, realization struck Adam.

'Ah? So it wasn't some random Gray Watcher? They're like Kaerno's sentinels, but… how does he wield such authority?'

Just one path led to uncovering that answer:

"Mr. Kaerno, may I inquire about your role in this pillar and the hierarchy in the Hollow Lands? I mean, I know of the Elders and Lords. Elders remain Black Threat Level monsters, but typically far stronger.

"Yet, during my bout with Larth, he skipped calling himself an Elder and claimed to be an honored Fang."

Larth nodded affirmatively.

"Hmm, I figured you'd pieced it together already." Kaerno paused. "Regardless, no issue in revealing it all. That's precisely why I escorted you here."

Next, he gestured broadly over the expansive terrain before halting at the pillar.

"This pillar, Adam, is mine. Every other monster—Larth, that girl observing you, and the rest—they're all my direct underlings, loyal followers, or present by my leave. As you grasp, no ordinary monster claims a pillar, and even across the Hollow Lands, few of us exist."

Adam gulped. Now confirmed: he'd crossed paths with yet another monster vastly outmatching him.

"Then… Larth, you take over. Brief him on the ranks."

"Yes!" Larth barked like a soldier. "Monsters here hold three primary ranks: Fangs, Thorns, and the supreme ones—the Fingers!"

Adam's eyes bulged as he gawked at Kaerno.

"And you are-"

Kaerno grinned.

"Yes, I am one of the Fingers."