Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1678 1678: Board Game

Tap.

The playing card landed face-up on the table.

"Ha! Now you can't beat me! It's my turn next, too!" Gladius shouted, eyes burning fiercely as he seized the dice.

A vast map of the fantasy realm dominated the huge table. This board game blended figurines, dice-driven steps across squares, and cards that acted as skills or special passes for distant travels. Cards marked with unique icons also worked as weapons, armor, or gear.

Gladius simply had to get a 4 or better from the two dice gripped in his fist. His eyes stayed glued to the chest rumored to hold the rare treasure.

"Now!" With a toss, Gladius hurled the dice, confident in his chances. Failure was impossible!

Tap. Tap.

Both dice hit the table, each displaying a 1.

Gladius's triumphant face drained of color instantly, leaving him ghostly pale. He refused to accept this cruel twist.

Xyrea, seated to the left at the table, flashed a sly grin.

"Well, well, fortune's not favoring you today." She glanced at Silvana. "Your turn, Miss Operator?"

Silvana chewed her lip, eyes scanning the board. Her choice loomed: send her character to the blacksmith for gear upgrades, or chase the enigmatic merchant?

"I'm enjoying way better luck than normal today."

Oddly enough, with Adam trapped in the Hollow Lands, Silvana hung out with Gladius and Xyrea like old pals.

True, Silvana yearned to aid Adam, yet his location remained a mystery. Gladius and Xyrea insisted on silence until Adam reached out. Unbeknownst to her, that required his exit from the Hollow Lands.

It began with Gladius's casual pitch for online shopping. Pizza followed, and he even dashed to the store.

His board game idea drew a deep sigh from Silvana before she relented.

What other option existed?

She'd endure the wait for Adam's comeback, no matter the duration, and sticking near Gladius and Xyrea might yield swift intel.

Yet slowly, the game ensnared her focus, pushing aside worries about Adam. It proved an excellent diversion from the gloom swirling in her thoughts.

"Agh."

Silvana drew a steadying breath, dice at the ready.

Thump!

Suddenly, her eyes bulged; she stiffened. Gladius and Xyrea shared knowing looks, as if anticipating the interruption.

Moments passed, then Silvana's face softened into a warm smile, a glow filling her heart.

"Adam… He… He's used one of our abilities!"

Joy sparked in Silvana's eyes as her fists balled in delight. In this context, it screamed that Adam lived—and to her, nothing mattered more.

Overwhelmed, she whipped toward Gladius.

"That's great news, isn't it? Isn't it?!"

Gladius grinned.

"Absolutely. He's battling hard, brimming with power. Plus, someone spotted and aided him. Credit Xyrea—she arranged his delivery there as part of her duties."

Silvana paused, then nodded thankfully at Xyrea.

"Thank you… I don't get your schemes yet, but Adam's safety is all I care about!"

Xyrea reclined in her seat, sipping icy beer—curiously supplied by Gladius.

"Your distrust makes sense, but Adam's there solely to grow stronger."

Gladius agreed with a nod. "Yeah, claiming Queen Elisa's blood ain't simple. We could've picked another's, but hers maximizes gains—and that demands a perilous, unique spot…"

"Huh?"

Silvana's features twisted in bewilderment, Gladius's revelation ringing in her ears.

"Was Queen Elisa's blood Adam's sole option? Would others have triggered his state?"

Gladius stroked his chin pensively.

"Probably. Still, securing it would drag on forever, making Queen Elisa's the top pick."

His eyes sharpened like daggers for a beat.

"You get that no common blood substitutes for Queen Elisa's, yeah? Picture the beast Adam'd need to hunt for an equivalent."

Silvana swallowed hard. Only then did the truth hit: Gladius's help might be their fastest path to meeting that need.

Finding a fitting monster could take ages, and extracting its blood would still demand aid from Gladius or some other Second Rank Phantom.

Clap.

Gladius clapped sharply, breaking the heavy air.

"Okay, Silvana, your go! Best support for Adam is prepping for his arrival—stay sharp and occupied to fend off drowsiness!"

Silvana offered a wry smile, rattling the dice.

"Fine, your secrets stay hidden, but I'll crush you in this game!"

…

Tremble! Tremble!

Twin fire pillars erupted from the earth, incinerating the giant glower's bisected corpse. Its veins struggled to reconnect for regeneration, but Vyora's blaze denied them.

Sarka touched down, surveying the scene.

Ash from incinerated roots blanketed the ground, yet her attention snagged on the massive gash splitting the battlefield.

"Could you have pulled that off right from the start?" Sarka asked Adam.

"I wasn't certain. Notice my Operator and I are cut off now. But results exceeded expectations."

Whooooosh.

Loargh materialized beside Adam in a blur, nodding approvingly repeatedly.

"I just evaded it. Impressive strike. Rumors painted that skill as feebler for you."

Adam shrugged casually.

"Don't we all power up eventually?"

Vyora descended nearby. "Next step?"

Loargh gestured dismissively, eyeing the amber energy draining from the second servant's husk.

"Next, we hunt the final servant's hideout and behold the Frenzied Shard!"