Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1705: He is ready

Typically, completing missions meant Adam would head back to the Citadel. This was the standard progression for any Phantom venturing into perilous, faraway territories to enhance their abilities.

However... Adam was currently too distant to even consider returning to the Citadel as an option.

His other recourse was the Blade Pillar, also known as Kaerno’s Pillar.

Only the Fingers wielded the authority to possess such pillars, commanding power that surpassed even that of the Lords.

In reality, Adam was fortunate that Kaerno had taken him under his wing. There had been nothing to stop Kaerno from acting hostilely or even eradicating Adam with a mere gesture.

Nevertheless, the likelihood of such an outcome was minimal. Beings like Kaerno craved novel occurrences, as their exceptionally long lifespans often became dull and uneventful. This was an inherent drawback of immense power, and as the world drew closer to the next World Wipe, such events dwindled further.

Step. Step. Step.

A short while after departing the Pit, Adam and Sarka arrived at the vicinity of the blade pillar.

"Hah," Adam smirked, tilting his head upwards. "This structure is truly colossal."

Its grandeur remained as striking as ever. The only discernible change was the increased presence of Gray Watchers, now swarming the spires and the apex tower of the pillar.

"Hmm? Is something significant taking place?" Adam inquired, glancing at Sarka.

"Who can say?" Sarka responded with a shrug. "More than likely, they're hungry. Master Kaerno, much like any proprietor of a blade pillar, must contend with a greater number of Gray Watchers than those found at dome pillars. Consequently, he'll need to address the situation."

Adam raised an eyebrow.

"Address it how?"

Instead of a verbal reply, Sarka gestured forward, indicating the expanse of gray clouds obscuring the perpetually dim sky of the Hollow Lands.

Adam felt a sense of bewilderment, but soon detected something. An entity was approaching, or more accurately, approaching the blade pillar.

Whoooooooooosh!

Abruptly, a colossal form materialized from the cloud layer, dispersing the mists with powerful, trailing gusts of wind.

Adam's eyes widened as he beheld the immense serpent, its form adorned with scales of deep blue and black.

The serpent's sheer size was such that it could have easily encircled the golden clock found within the Pit or encompassed the uppermost level of the blade pillar.

However, Adam soon observed a peculiar detail: the serpent's eyes were vacant, lacking any spark of life.

'This serpent is deceased?'

At that precise moment, Adam noticed another element – a minuscule black speck positioned beneath the serpent. This speck revealed itself to be Kaerno, who was actively restraining the gargantuan creature.

"He... Was he out hunting?"

Sarka nodded, crossing her arms resolutely. "Ughum, Master Kaerno typically handles these tasks personally.

Occasionally, he entrusts these duties to our Thorns, but such instances are infrequent. I believe it serves as a means for him to relax."

"Wait, are you implying that Kaerno keeps Gray Watchers as pets? Akin to how humans keep dogs and cats? Even if that were the case... isn't this serpent rather excessively large?"

As if in response to his query, Kaerno executed a swift aerial maneuver to his side, firmly grasping the serpent's tail.

Adam had no precise gauge of this monster's cultivation level, but judging solely by its emitted aura, he discerned it to be at the weak Lord level. This serpent was certainly not on the Black Threat level.

'Damn it, when will I possess sufficient strength? What arduous path did this serpent traverse to attain such power? No...' Adam inwardly shook his head. 'Even if it originated at a comparable level, its current state is still remarkable. And a being of such magnitude becomes... sustenance for lesser creatures?'

Whooooooosh!

Through the exertion of his power, Kaerno propelled the colossal serpent forward, causing more than fifty of the Gray Watchers to come to an immediate halt.

Their large, amber eyes fixed upon the airborne carcass as their predatory instincts intensified.

In a flash, every Gray Watcher propelled itself forward.

Then, Adam comprehended something crucial.

"Hold on, they lack jaws. How precisely do they intend to consume it?"

"Pfffft!" Sarka let out a snort. "What makes you believe they require jaws? They possess an alternative method."

The Gray Watchers' forms quivered as four distinct sets of arms manifested from their sides, each brandishing elongated, needle-sharp claws resembling surgical syringes.

Thrust. Thrust. Thrust.

Like a ravenous school of piranhas, the Gray Watchers plunged their specialized claws directly into the serpent's immense body.

Admittedly, they lacked the sheer force to rend such a colossal creature asunder, but this was precisely where Kaerno's intervention became necessary.

With a simple wave of his hand, invisible blades materialized in the air, expertly cleaving the serpent into hundreds of manageable portions of meat.

Whooosh. Whooosh. Whooosh.

The Gray Watchers moved with increased alacrity, each striving to secure as many meat fragments as possible with their multiple arms, driving their needle-like claws into the morsels.

They wasted no time; even as they actively hunted, their impaling needles were already diligently extracting the serpent's vital fluids and life essence from the chunks, swiftly desiccating the flesh, which rapidly began to shrink.

With a twitch of their limbs, they released the desiccated remnants and soared towards the subsequent morsels. Despite their diminutive stature in comparison to the colossal serpent, their capacity for blood consumption was truly astounding.

The only remnants left upon the earth were fragments of dark flesh, scattered scales, and the serpent’s severed head. The Gray Watchers showed no inclination to consume these parts.

Meanwhile, Kaerno remained stationary at the precipice of his towering structure, a subtle grin gracing his features as his hands rested behind his back. He observed the unfolding spectacle with the detached air of a human tending to the inhabitants of an aquarium.

In a mere span of under five minutes, the gargantuan serpent was virtually annihilated, and each Gray Watcher had undergone a significant increase in size. Their forms were distended, engorged by the copious amounts of blood they had ingested.

"Astonishing... From whence do they derive such voracious appetites?" Adam voiced his doubt, his tone tinged with incredulity.

Following this, Kaerno directed his gaze towards them and advanced a single step.

Whooooooosh!

Accompanied by powerful gusts of wind, he materialized instantaneously before them.

"Well now, Adam. It appears you have joined our ranks, would you not agree?"

Kaerno perceived the subtle shifts within Adam’s aura, signals that indicated his readiness to rejoin the Hail Passage.