Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1688 1688: Wings and Flame (Part 2)

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

The atmosphere quivered from the scorching heat pouring off the blazing beam. Vyora's strike appeared visible way past the sword domain, climbing over the barrier and defying the shadows.

A few beasts lurking in the Pit, plus minions from other Frenzied Shards, caught sight of the vivid glow—a rare phenomenon not just in this spot, but all across the Hollow Lands.

Certain ones traded puzzled looks, while others squinted in suspicion, aware of which Frenzied Shard occupied that location.

Whenever a mighty Frenzied Shard faltered, upheavals rippled through the entire Pit. This signaled the start of a power shift, though the reverse held true too if the Frenzied Shard triumphed in brutal combat.

To the Frenzied Shard, it simply meant a new surge of power, yet the shifts carried much greater weight for its followers.

Nearly all the creatures spotting Vyora's assault recognized the guardian of that Frenzied Shard.

Should the Dark Knight claim his prize at last, the fallout would spread beyond the Pit, turning into major buzz across the Hollow Lands.

Adam and his companions remained oblivious to all this. In their eyes, the Dark Knight was merely an extraordinarily strong minion and nothing else.

Who could say? Maybe they'd overcome him, and that would wrap everything up.

Step.

The Dark Knight advanced toward the Frenzied Shard.

Just seconds remained before the fiery beam slammed into the Frenzied Shard.

Indeed, one strike from Vyora wouldn't shatter the Frenzied Shard, yet any harm inflicted edged the Dark Knight nearer to loss.

"Is he using his cape again?" Adam squinted. That was the sole idea popping into his head.

Oddly, Adam proved correct and incorrect simultaneously.

Positioned beside the Frenzied Shard, the Dark Knight lifted his arm without unsheathing his blade. He might cleave a meteorite, but halting a blazing beam lay beyond him.

Twitch!

One of the three crimson eyes on his cape jerked. It blinked repeatedly before pulling back, vanishing into the shadowy cloth.

Sarka snarled, "Agh? Where did that thing go?!"

Right then, the third eye emerged on the back of the Dark Knight's hand. His armor panels separated, forming a niche for the third eye.

'So this eye belonged there from the start?' Adam observed intently.

"GGGGRRRR!!!"

With a mighty roar, the Dark Knight shoved his hand ahead, spreading his fingers wide.

The crimson eye's pupil contracted, veined with black, serrated streaks. The Dark Knight drove the third eye to its utmost limit, right on the verge of breaking down.

Suddenly, a beam of shadowy light erupted from his hand in a widening cone, shooting skyward.

"N-No…" Vyora's voice quivered as she grasped the impending doom.

Like plunging into a void portal, the fiery beam got swallowed by the dark cone. It wasn't a shield or wall. The fiery beam encountered zero opposition, simply disappearing into the Dark Knight's grasp.

Adam bent closer. "But it's not as straightforward as it seems on the surface, is it?"

"Gha! Gha! Gha!"

The Dark Knight hacked up blood. Crimson sprayed through his helmet's gaps, splattering the earth in front of him.

The third eye on his hand shut, sheathing itself in minute panels—dragon-like protective scales—until fully healed.

Sarka flashed her fangs. She prepared to ignite her Hollow Mark and charge the Dark Knight.

'He's vulnerable now—I can rip him apart! This is my moment!'

Yet before her aura could pulse once, an unseen force halted her cold.

Step.

The Dark Knight pressed on, still frail from devouring the fiery beam. His gait wobbled, his posture shaky, but something icy gripped Adam's spine.

'Hold on, what's off? Why this urge to flee as far as I can? What's that fiend planning?!"

"Gha…" The Dark Knight exhaled deeply, his aura warping the air around them. "That was a striking blow. Still, it looks like you'll need ages to fire it off again, right?"

Vyora swallowed hard, retreating a step. The Dark Knight had instantly grasped her Hollow Mark's weaknesses.

Her powers boasted devastating might, but frequent use would ravage her own body with grievous wounds.

"Well, us old folks have to aid the young ones. I'll recharge your skill, miss."

At those words, the third eye reopened. Now its pupil gaped wide, brimming with frenzy.

Spark!

A shadowy spark burst before his palm, instantly blazing into a fierce torrent of dark fire.

The Dark Knight hadn't just taken Vyora's strike. Now, he wielded her own fiery beam right back at her.

And… his version of the fiery beam held vastly more horrifying might than hers.

"No, no, no!" Vyora screamed as the dark flame threatened to swallow her whole.

Terror shone in her staring eyes while she scrambled backward toward safety, yet her speed fell short.

Her white robe's borders ignited, dissolving into dark flickers, and the same fate loomed for her body next.

WHOOOOOOSH!

A brilliant white glow burst right in front of her.

Luckily for Vyora, a far swifter ally stood by her side.

Tap.

Loargh scooped her up in his embrace, wings beating fiercely. Amid a bolt of lightning, he rocketed skyward, halting precisely between the sword points and the encroaching darkness.

The dark beam vaporized the black blooms and lofty weeds, smashing headlong into the colossal swords that bore the entire assault.

"Agh?" Vyora blinked in confusion, tilting her head upward.

Loargh's serene gaze and warm smile locked with hers. His mighty wings, forged from lightning and brilliance, proclaimed his immense strength.

"Don't worry. You did a great job. Now, one of his three eyes is gone. Only two remain."

A flush crept over Vyora's face, reddening her cheeks momentarily.

Whooooosh!

Without a chance for her to speak, Loargh blinked out of sight and materialized beside Sarka and Adam, abandoning Vyora there.

He gave Adam a quick nod before turning his attention to Sarka.

"Are you ready to show what the monsters from the blade pillars are capable of?"

Sarka flashed a toothy grin, baring every fang.

"Of course!!!"