Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1711 1711: Single Fighter (Part 1)

In less than ten minutes, the command from Kaerno, relayed by Valleyn, had disseminated the news that Adam Vinter would be contending in the Grim Court. This revelation swept across the Hollow Lands like a gale.

While several Pillars were already aware of his arrival in the region and his current safeguarding under Kaerno's watch, for the majority, this information was entirely novel, and the announcement of the Grim Court's proceedings caught them utterly unprepared.

A surge of desire to confront him naturally arose in many, but this initial fervor quickly dissipated, leaving their expressions vacant for a fleeting moment.

The realization dawned that this was no ordinary skirmish, but the Grim Court, an event exclusively for unranked monsters.

However, the vast majority of these unranked monsters understood the futility of facing Adam, acutely aware of his past duel with Larth and the formidable reputation he carried far beyond the confines of the Hollow Lands.

Following Valleyn's declaration of Adam's participation, his name echoed with exponential speed. Every monster, from every hidden corner to the most remote pillar, became privy to his presence and his documented triumphs.

Eventually, this word reached the very unranked monsters Kaerno had referenced.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

A colossal fist repeatedly impacted a robust steel column, gouging deep impressions with each strike.

A towering man, his shoulders broad and his back powerfully built, executed the same motion relentlessly, driving his punch into the steel before him. His torso was bare, and loose-fitting trousers adorned his legs.

His emerald eyes, resembling those of a wild creature, complemented his light-hued hair, which cascaded down his back in sharp spikes, reminiscent of a lion's majestic mane.

Notwithstanding his outwardly ferocious demeanor, the man maintained a composed and tranquil state. Time and again, he settled into his stance, preparing for the subsequent blow.

Step.

A soft footfall sounded behind him, prompting the man to pivot around.

A woman, draped in an elegant white robe, stood adjacent. The sheer power emanating from her aura clearly indicated a strength far exceeding the man's. Yet, she regarded him not as an inferior, but as a warrior on the cusp of his fated moment.

"Batar, have you heard the latest?" the woman inquired with measured calm.

Without immediate reply, Batar took a step back, delivering another forceful punch.

Bam!

He inhaled deeply and gave a confirming nod.

"Indeed. Adam Vinter. He has graced our territories and intends to compete in the Grim Court. I understand the arbiter has been informed, and the Hail Passage has been designated?"

The woman inclined her head, her hands clasped demurely before her waist.

"Precisely. The only remaining task is to secure a contender."

"I grasp… Esteemed leader, have you resolved that I shall be among the chosen volunteers?" Batar inquired, a faint, wry smile touching his lips before he swiftly landed another punch.

The woman's expression remained impassive, her certainty resolute.

"Am I mistaken?"

Batar turned, a broad, exultant grin spreading across his face.

"Certainly not. It is Adam Vinter! Hahaha, I can scarcely believe it remains true. However… I do have one query for you."

"Hmm?"

"Following his departure for the Primal Lands, little has surfaced regarding his exploits. While I am aware he assimilated a potent Frenzied Shard, I merely wish to be absolutely certain before committing."

Batar's verdant eyes seemed to deepen in intensity.

"Is he sufficiently potent to offer a challenge worthy of my mettle?"

Before responding, the woman's gaze swept over the expanse dotted with well over a hundred steel columns before Batar.

"Yes. While you afford every adversary a measure of respect, you simultaneously harbor the conviction that none can prevail against you. This is bordering on hubris, and it precisely explains why you have never once participated in the contests held within the Hail Passages."

Batar emitted a soft chuckle and offered a noncommittal shrug.

"Well, it appears my intuition was correct. I have been anticipating the arrival of the very best. I highly doubt any individual comparable to Adam Vinter will set foot in our lands until the subsequent World Wipe."

Subsequently, Batar stretched languidly, contemplating the impending confrontation.

"Say, leader, when is the engagement scheduled?"

"At the break of dawn. But, Batar, you comprehend the implications, do you not?"

Though her words were veiled, Batar grasped their meaning with ease.

At that precise instant, his gaze drifted sideways, as if anticipating an imminent arrival.

They were presently situated in a remote expanse of the Hollow Lands, a locale so remote that even the distant silhouettes of the pillars were indiscernible. It served as an ideal sanctuary for silent training, or… for more clandestine undertakings.

Whooooooooosh!

As if conjured from thin air, a swift, dark silhouette materialized in the distance, traversing a hundred meters in an instant to arrive directly before Batar.

A smirk playing on his lips, Batar tilted his chin upward, deftly evading the long blade aimed at his chest, intended to sever his head in a single, decisive stroke.

Had the woman perceived the assailant? Assuredly, she possessed strength far exceeding both Batar and the fleeting shadow. However, this confrontation lay beyond her purview; she had neither the right nor the perceived benefit in intervening. Such an action would only result in detriment to all parties involved.

"Well, well, Narha, I had a premonition you would be the first," Batar declared with a grin as the maiden with dark, cascading hair recoiled.

Her form was encased in form-fitting black attire, reminiscent of an assassin's deep-cover garb. A mask concealed the lower portion of her face, amplifying the intensity of her striking blue eyes. In her right hand, she brandished a long katana forged from white bone, a blade so exceptionally sharp it appeared capable of felling even a formidable opponent like Batar with a single, decisive strike.

"Leave," Narha stated curtly, her voice devoid of warmth. "This battle is mine to win."

Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.

Batar ran a hand up the back of his neck, a gesture of mild irritation.

"Are there no other possibilities? Perhaps we could pursue a more... romantic endeavor?"

Narha elevated her katana, its lethal point aimed directly at Batar's chest.

"No. This Grim Court must be won by me, and only me."

"Agh."

A heavy sigh escaped Batar.

"What a regrettable response. Though, I suppose I ought to have anticipated such a declaration, shouldn't I?"