Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1690 1690: We must run! (Part 2)

Loargh's relentless assaults imposed surprising strain on the Dark Knight.

Indeed, unlike Adam or Vyora, his blows lacked the same devastating force. Yet in under a minute, Loargh delivered more than fifty strikes against the Dark Knight, who could only deflect a tiny portion of them.

Yet Loargh reached his boundaries. His iron boots overheated severely; the metal glowed red-hot, and shortly, they would buckle under the strain and burst into fragments.

Luckily for Loargh, he didn't face the Dark Knight by himself. He understood Sarka awaited the perfect opening from him, and now that opening had come.

Crack!

With a mighty bound, Sarka propelled herself ahead. The flames normally enveloping her shaped into a savage creature, its maw stretched wide in a savage bellow.

For the first time in ages, she went all out, her attention locked solely on her foe.

A chill filled her eyes while a gleam flashed over her claws.

"I don't have time for this!!!" The Dark Knight screamed inside, pivoting to face Sarka.

In an instant, he gauged the level of danger she presented. Her muscles strained to their utmost. Though she floated above it, the earth below her fractured from her overwhelming aura alone.

Next, the Dark Knight understood he must not allow her to reach him. That might mark the beginning of his downfall, which he needed to prevent no matter what.

Clutch!

The Dark Knight seized his sword firmly with both hands, hoisting it overhead.

"Get away from me! You are still too young to bear your fangs at me!!!"

With a swift motion, he drove his sword into the earth, unleashing dark flames that billowed outward around him.

Loargh's eyes flicked to the shadows briefly, but soon he ascended higher, readying his next onslaught.

'That's bad, but I can help Sarka from here. I must do everything to make her attack as effective as possible and-'

All at once, his eyes bulged as the shadows blanketing the ground near the Dark Knight quivered.

Immediately, over a dozen jagged spears erupted skyward, poised to impale anything in proximity.

Just in time, Loargh ascended further, though one spear scraped his leg, carving a profound gash.

'Shit! It only scratched me!'

His sight shifted to the chaos below, panic flooding his eyes.

'Wait…'

Loargh observed the spears multiplying ceaselessly, their count swelling rapidly.

'No! There are too many of them! He… He didn't use that ability to attack!'

Indeed, the Dark Knight lifted his gaze toward the oncoming Sarka.

He spotted her amid the spaces between the dozen spears before him, yet moments later, pure blackness dominated.

Those spears formed an impenetrable barrier, one even Adam or Vyora's flames would struggle to shatter.

'Good, I've gotten rid of those two, at least for now.' The Dark Knight thought with a nod. 'Now, I have to deal with this Phantom and the fire girl, or-'

Crack. Crack. Crack.

A piercing crack yanked him from his reverie, pounding his heart.

Dark fragments shattered sideways in succession, while blue flames flickered amid the spears.

Regardless of the barrier's toughness, with her flames blazing fiercely, nothing could halt Sarka anymore.

Too late did the Dark Knight grasp this fact.

'This girl…'

That last notion crossed his mind as he advanced to retaliate, yet pitting swordplay against a feral beast proved his gravest error.

Whooooooosh!

Like a ferocious tempest, Sarka barreled through the lingering spears while the Dark Knight thrust forward, targeting her heart directly.

Her pupils expanded as she contorted at an odd angle to evade his blade.

SLASH!

The Dark Blade plunged deeply into her shoulder, tearing her flesh. Blood sprayed forth, yet Sarka's expression betrayed no pain or feeling whatsoever.

He injured her, but far worse savagery awaited him from her.

CLUTCH!

Sarka clamped onto the Dark Knight's head, her claws raking his helm as her full power rushed back into her frame.

"You're finished, old man."

Her raging stare was the final sight for the Dark Knight before he tumbled into an inferno of torment and suffering.

CUT! CUT! CUT!

With blinding velocity, Sarka slashed furiously at the Dark Knight, her claws descending like those of a hunter intent on ripping its quarry to shreds.

Owing to her powers and the Hollow Mark, the Dark Knight stood no chance against her. Her speed overwhelmed him, and her talons rent his robust armor with ease.

"AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!"

An agonized howl burst from the Dark Knight as blood sprayed alongside dislodged armor segments. His form bristled with slashes, gashes, and mangled tissue.

Sarka aimed to finish him off then and there. To honor her promise.

But…

TAP!

Right as her claws were on the verge of shredding his helmet, her hand came to a sudden halt.

Her whole body convulsed violently, not even a fingertip able to budge.

Sarka's eyes bulged wide in shock and terror.

Her mind and spirit burned for combat, yet her body betrayed her.

"Rha…" The Dark Knight sneered. "Looks like a feral beast has hit its limit?"

BAM!

The Dark Knight's fist slammed deep into Sarka's belly, bending her double.

Blood spurted from her mouth while the blow flung her across the arena.

A streak of white flashed, and Loargh seized her, eyes locked in fury on the Dark Knight.

"Gha… Gha… Gha…"

His breaths came in ragged gasps. Less than 30% of his armor clung to him, helmet riddled with fissures.

"That's enough, young generation…" The Dark Knight croaked, barely managing to stand straight.

Adam hunched ahead, shadows veiling his vision.

'The Dark Energy. If I unleash it now, can I bring him down?'

Crack. Crack. Crack.

But prior to that, cracking noises erupted.

The Dark Knight's helmet exploded into fragments, baring his face and ebony hair.

Next, he hoisted his sword upfront and beamed broadly with a sorry expression.

"Sorry, guys, but you forced my hand."

Crack. Crack. Crack.

Shard by shard peeled from his sword as dazzling amber radiance erupted.

Truth be told, his sword featured a razor-sharp amber edge pulsing with the formidable might of the Frenzied Shard.

However, another feature snagged everyone's gaze.

A symbol akin to the Hollow Mark adorned the sword.

"No… This can't be…"

Loargh's visage turned ashen at the sight, a single notion consuming his thoughts:

'We must run!!!'