Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1667 1667: Frenzied Shards (Part 1)

"Frenzied Shards?" Adam blinked repeatedly, utterly baffled.

Kaerno nodded in agreement.

"Aside from a handful of rare cases, it's these that enable monsters in this place to acquire our distinctive ability, the Hollow Mark. If you wish to join the fights at the Hail Passages, you must locate these shards. And to achieve that, you have to venture into the Pit."

Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.

"You know, your explanations sound crystal clear, yet I'm still completely clueless. Why does everything have to be so twisted and baffling? Why can't I simply head outside, clash with a mighty foe, and escape this spot?"

Kaerno flicked his hand in dismissal.

"Because a plain monster has no spot in the Hail Passage battles. They're welcome as watchers, of course, but not as contenders aiming to join the Fangs at that caliber."

Some moments passed, and Adam stroked his chin in deep thought.

"I believe I'm beginning to grasp it. Does a monster need the Hollow Mark to enter a battle at the Hail Passage, obtained solely via these Frenzied Shards?"

A spark ignited in Adam's gaze. He believed he'd at last unraveled the system here.

Yet upon glancing at Kaerno, that spark dimmed instantly.

"Not exactly, though you're nearly there." Kaerno shook his head. "The Hollow Mark isn't required to join the battle. Still, it must be said that in the Hollow Lands, lacking a mark means, to say the least, slim odds of rising as a Fang."

Next, he gestured toward the maids.

"These maids lack Hollow Marks, yet every one is a skilled fighter. They visited the Pit and came back alive. They made contact with Frenzied Shards yet couldn't forge their Hollow Marks. Maybe one will try again someday, and luck will favor them this time—who can say?

"The key here is that by enduring the Frenzied Shards' energy, they qualify for combat at the Hail Passage. True, at their strength without Hollow Marks, they'd be no match for a figure like Larth, poised to claim the next Fang position. However, they can enter the arena—unlike you."

Adam nodded slowly, mulling over his explanation.

"Got it. So everything kicks off at the Pit with the Frenzied Shards? If I snag one and endure its energy, I can join the arena fights, correct?"

Kaerno flashed a sly grin.

"Correct. But don't assume it'll be simple. Countless venturers to the Pit end up gravely injured or dead. Some come back with nothing. Even those who discover Frenzied Shards frequently succumb to their overwhelming force, plunging into feral insanity. Needless to say, no bright future lies ahead for them. Eventually, another will terminate their frenzy.

"Just two favorable results exist. One mirrors what befell my maids: they secured a Frenzied Shard, resisted its might, but failed to convert that power and ambition into more. They couldn't claim a Hollow Mark. The other? You gain a Hollow Mark. Ages back, Larth followed that very path."

Having heard him out, Adam shook his head, a wry smile on his lips.

"Hey, no need to frighten me so. You could've just said: seek the Frenzied Shards and handle their energy. I won't earn the Hollow Mark, but I'll gain entry to arena battles. Is that right?"

Kaerno propped his head on one hand.

"For local monsters, this is old news, but it's fresh to you. We others know it well, but you didn't, so I laid it all out. True, no Hollow Mark for you, but I suspect the Frenzied Shards could still benefit even someone like you."

"Hold on… I get my objective, but suppose I find a Frenzied Shard and survive its energy. How will you and the rest of the monsters learn of it? How did you know your maids succeeded with the Frenzied Shards?"

Kaerno brushed it off with a wave.

"Simple enough. It's due to its energy. Not like Ancient Energy or Dark Energy as a distinct kind, yet it imprints your aura indelibly. You sensed something odd at your first glimpse of Larth's Hollow Mark, right?"

Adam nodded, memories of their initial encounter flooding back.

Right then, Kaerno lifted his hand, commanding the maids.

"Demonstrate it to him."

The four maids promptly unleashed their auras without pause. Vibrant hues flooded the chamber while Adam's gaze fixed on their fiery displays.

Straining his sight, he perceived delicate currents quivering in their auras, all while the maids stayed serene, eyes shut, merely obeying their lord.

"Yeah, it's like they possess a mere sliver of energy that could open to them later upon growing mightier. I detected a likeness from Larth's mark, though his was vastly more potent."

Kaerno dropped his hand, and the maids retracted their auras.

"That captures the essence. Were any to rival Larth, they wouldn't merely gain a Hollow Mark—they'd ascend as a Fang."

Adam reclined in his seat, eyes tracing the chandelier's gentle swing.

"Hierarchy exists in every realm, but in the Hollow Lands, you've pursued this with special fervor, haven't you?"

He remarked, then shifted his view to the maids.

"The Black Threat monsters, Elders, survivors of the Frenzied Shard's force, bearers of the Hollow Mark, and finally the Fangs… You know, this whole setup reeks of total nonsense!"

The pair of maids widened their eyes in shock, glancing at each other. They could scarcely credit someone addressing their master thus.

"Hahahahaha!" Kaerno burst into hearty laughter. "I didn't invent any of it! Still, you're not entirely wrong."

Suddenly, a sharp glint sparked in his eyes.

"But now, let's discuss the Pit. I've got a intriguing offer for you."

"Hmm?"