Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1709: The Judge and Unranked Fighters

Adam indeed had a chance to find himself in the Grim Court immediately after arriving in the Hollow Lands with Gladius and Xyrea. He only needed to choose a downward path instead of heading towards the surface.

It remains to be seen if it was luck or if Gladius and Xyrea had foreseen that Adam would not dare to venture deeper into the caves. Nevertheless, this might have been the most crucial decision Adam made while in the Hollow Lands.

Now, he was all set. All that was left was to understand precisely what awaited him at the Grim Court.

Kaerno took a deep inhale.

"Alright, you are aware that a battle lies ahead in the Hail Passages, but the situation is more complex than it seems. Venturing too deep into any Hail Passage will only lead to an encounter with a guard who will escort you back to the surface."

Adam's eyes widened as he remembered a detail.

"Hold on, when I first awoke, I saw several monsters traveling through a Hail Passage, riding a colossal serpent! However... they seemed so preoccupied that they didn't even notice me. I recall their auras felt quite serene."

Kaerno gave a nod.

"It's highly probable they were en route to the Grim Court."

"But what exactly is this Grim Court?"

Valleyn gestured with her hand. "They are official confrontations staged between members of the Blade Eclipse and the Dome Eclipse. While battles do occur between members of the same faction, it's far less frequent than when two monsters from different pillars face off."

Kaerno corroborated. "As you know, despite the Blade Pillars and Dome Pillars employing distinct strategies for combat and evolution, we are not adversaries but rivals. Consequently, the Grim Court battles are conducted officially, complete with spectators and a designated judge tasked with intervening if the fight escalates."

"Hmm? Why would the judge step in to halt the fight?"

Sarka scoffed. "Pffft! Because you are forbidden from killing your opponent! Even if you attempt it, the judge will intervene, and you'll stand no chance against their authority."

Adam turned his gaze towards Kaerno.

"Is this judge one of the Fingers?"

Kaerno flashed a smirk. "Precisely. Each Hail Passage is overseen by a judge responsible for that specific passage. The sole prerequisite is that the combatants engaged in the arena must have no affiliation with that particular judge; in other words, neither fighter can be a member of the judge's pillar."

"So, if Sarka or Larth were to compete at the Grim Court, you wouldn't be permitted to officiate as their judge?"

Kaerno shook his head.

"Correct. That would constitute a breach of the regulations. There's no hidden agenda here. This rule ensures the judge maintains impartiality towards both contenders. You are not a monster, nor are you an official member of my pillar, yet it is evident to all that your allegiance lies solely with me and my pillar at this moment."

Adam thoughtfully stroked his chin.

"I comprehend. This implies that the Hail Passage you oversee, and the passage where the judge is the boss of my adversary, are subject to these restrictions."

"Indeed. However, the Hollow Lands contain considerably more Hail Passages than just two."

A few moments passed before Adam narrowed his eyes.

"Will I be able to compete in the Hail Passage where I originally awoke? I hope you are not serving as the judge there?"

"Nah," Kaerno replied, shaking his head as a cunning glint flickered in his eyes. "But who knows who your opponent might be? It's possible it could be the master overseeing that particular Hail Passage, though that's rather improbable. You'd have to be exceptionally unlucky for such a scenario."

"Speaking of which," Adam looked upwards. "Who will be my opponent?"

Valleyn and Sarka exchanged knowing smirks.

"Now that is a most intriguing question, isn't it?" Vallen chuckled, her lips curling slightly. "Battles at the Grim Courts transpire for two primary reasons: either there's an existing conflict between two monsters, or these monsters aspire to claim a specific rank for themselves."

Adam clasped his hands together. "Hmm, if a monster desires to ascend to the rank of Fang, they must proceed to the Grim Court and achieve victory, correct?"

Sarka and Valleyn nodded in unison.

"If the objective of the battle is specifically to elevate your standing, rather than resolving a dispute, then your adversary must hold the same rank as you. In fact, this is the sole condition for the judge's approval of the bout. Certainly, they should be monsters from differing factions, but that isn't a rigid requirement."

Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.

"Wait... I went to the Pit to devour the Frenzied Shard and gain the privilege to partake in the Grim Court. But... my opponent will be a monster that hasn't even achieved the Fang rank yet? Is that right?"

Adam appeared perplexed.

His very initial confrontation was against Larth, who held the esteemed position as one of the Fangs within Kaerno's pillar. While Larth was less formidable than Sarka, his attainment of that rank signified he had rightfully earned it.

Therefore, to secure his departure from the Hollow Lands, Adam would be obligated to overcome an opponent whose rank was inferior to Larth's. This notion seemed entirely illogical.

Kaerno nodded.

"I grasp your bewilderment, but those are the established rules. Typically, the monsters encountered here do not confront Frenzied Shards possessing power comparable to yours. Nevertheless..." His voice lowered in intensity. "That fact alone does not guarantee your adversary will be a simple adversary. The reason is quite straightforward: you are a Phantom."

"Huh? What exactly does that imply?"

Valleyn gestured dismissively. "It’s quite clear, Adam. Ordinarily, your combatant must belong to a separate faction. However... you remain unaffiliated with any established group. While you currently reside under Master Kaerno’s designated area, you are intrinsically a lone entity."

Sarka's dwindling patience erupted as she declared:

"This signifies that every monster below the Fang rank within the Hollow Lands is entitled to challenge you!"

Kaerno let out a soft chuckle.

"She speaks the truth. And as you’re already aware, Adam, our two primary factions are locked in bitter rivalry. The opportunity to vanquish a Phantom such as yourself? For such a chance, even the most conceited and enigmatic individuals will emerge from their hidden lairs. Those who previously dismissed the Grim Court as insignificant will reconsider, spurred by the prospect of facing you."

He leaned forward, his gaze already fixed on the exhilarating conflict that lay ahead.

"Not all beings comprehend the significance of the ranking system, particularly beneath the Lord Level. Such powerful monsters prioritize sheer dominance. A triumph against you would serve as the ultimate proclamation of that raw might."

Adam swallowed hard. The stark reality began to dawn on him: the Grim Court was decidedly not going to be a stroll in the park.