Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1717 1717: Who is he?

A faint mist ascended from one of the Bone Lakes, drifting past Adam's composed and tranquil gaze.

Oddly enough, circumstances had led him to this very spot with Sarka, who was thoroughly reveling in the locale's hot springs.

Rather than merely lounging by the edge, she was immersed in the lake's center, completely unashamed despite her nudity.

However, had Adam not possessed Silvana and been in search of a romantic partner, this spectacle wouldn't have warranted his attention.

For what felt like several minutes, his focus had been drawn to his reflection on the water's surface, which would occasionally ripple as Sarka's arms cut through the water in wide, sweeping motions.

"Hey! What's on your mind? If you head into battle with that kind of headspace, it won't end well for you! Hahaha!" Sarka chuckled, floating on her back before him.

Adam then drew a deep breath, shaking his head in response.

"Kaerno is gone, just like Valleyn," he stated, looking towards Sarka, meeting her exceptionally large blue eyes. "Do you happen to know of anyone who could serve as my opponent?"

"Hmm… Let me ponder that," Sarka replied, tapping her chin in contemplation.

She moved languidly back and forth for a spell before beginning to curl her fingers.

"There's a formidable individual named Batar. He hails from the dome pillar. I've only observed him in combat a handful of times over the past few years, but he commands immense physical power. Each of his strikes carries enough force to trigger an explosion or flatten an entire hill!"

Adam offered a nod, contemplating her description.

"So, he possesses strength and resilience, but I imagine his speed isn't particularly remarkable?"

Sarka affirmed his assumption with a nod. "Indeed, speaking of speed… there is another female. I believe her name is Narha. She is akin to Batar from the dome pillar, but conversely, she excels in swiftness and rapid assault tactics."

"Are those two the only ones?" Adam inquired, a touch of bewilderment in his tone.

From Kaerno's earlier statements, Adam had gathered that the Hollow Lands harbored at least a dozen formidable unranked monsters, none of whom seemed hesitant to challenge any Fang.

Sarka fell silent for a moment, her pupils suddenly widening.

"Right! That wretched woman!"

'Hmm?' Adam raised an eyebrow. 'Is she referring to Narha?'

Sarka turned her attention back to him, her gestures becoming more animated, enhancing the clarity of her thoughts and emotions.

"Kelya! She is likely the most potent unranked monster within the Hollow Lands! However, I detest her! She carries herself with an air of superiority over everyone else, and I am incapable of defeating her! Tsk! Her strength is overwhelming!"

Sarka's visceral reaction served as the most compelling testament to her words.

"Kelya… Hmm," Adam mused quietly.

He then directed his gaze back towards Sarka.

"If Kelya, Batar, and Narha were to engage in a battle, who do you believe would emerge victorious?"

Sarka responded without a moment's hesitation:

"Undoubtedly, Kelya. While Batar is powerful but sluggish, and Narha is swift but lacks significant destructive capability, Kelya encompasses both attributes. To the best of my knowledge, her sole vulnerability lies in the rate at which she depletes her energy reserves."

Adam's eyes narrowed. "Elaborate further."

"Well, she cannot sustain combat for extended durations. Her situation is rather peculiar; her innate abilities and energy far surpass the capacity of her physical body. Consequently, twenty, perhaps thirty minutes, represents her absolute limit. Yet, I have never heard of her engaging in combat for longer than five minutes."

Having absorbed Sarka's explanation, Adam stroked his chin thoughtfully. He had finally acquired tangible information, moving beyond mere conjecture.

'So, one of these three will become my adversary? It is probable that numerous other beasts could offer a challenging confrontation, but Sarka has highlighted only the three most powerful.'

A smile began to form on Adam's lips. Victory was not yet assured, and the battle loomed ahead, yet he felt a sense of satisfaction knowing the identity of his potential opponent. This foreknowledge would enable him to prepare and anticipate the challenges.

'Wait…'

Suddenly, his expression shifted, and he became motionless.

Every word Kaerno had imparted, every utterance, surged through Adam's mind like a powerful, unstoppable torrent.

'Even if they are the strongest, I cannot fathom any among them warranting such a high estimation from Kaerno. He suggested I would require multiple lifetimes, but if Kelya is the pinnacle of these three, that simply does not compute!'

Adam touched his temple, his pupils betraying a slight tremor.

'Our confrontation will conclude within twenty minutes, perhaps even ten! Why would I possibly need several lifetimes in such a scenario?'

It was conceivable that Adam was overthinking the situation, and Kaerno had merely intended to intimidate him or perhaps share a jest. However, Adam dismissed this possibility; he was convinced it was a deliberate hint, the solitary clue Kaerno had provided.

"Sarka!"

She whirled around abruptly, a look of confusion crossing her face. "Y-Yes? Has something occurred?"

"You singled out Batar, Narha, and Kelya because you regard them as the most powerful among all unranked monsters, is that correct?"

Sarka nodded affirmatively. "Yes. I had presumed that was evident from the outset."

Adam pressed his lips together. "Understood. If you were to face them in combat, would you be defeated? Could you put up a respectable struggle against them? Please answer truthfully."

Normally, Sarka would have been boasting about her ability to defeat all three opponents with a single hand. However, even she knew when to adopt a serious demeanor.

"Agh… I would have lost. Are you satisfied now? But! I would have battled them like a true warrior! And," she huffed, her cheeks puffed out, mumbling, "if it holds any significance for you, I would have endured longer against Batar and Narha compared to Kelya."

Suddenly, her expression shifted dramatically as she punched the water's surface.

"One day, I will undoubtedly surpass every single one of them! I'll attain the Lord Level before they do, you just wait and see!"

A faint smile touched Adam's lips.

"Thank you."

Yet, for reasons unknown, Sarka felt a growing sense of unease. Adam's gaze intensified, his eyes darkening as he posed another question to her.

"Batar, Narha, and Kelya. I shall commit those names to memory. However, Sarka, is there perhaps another individual you have overlooked? A warrior of mystery, perhaps? Someone capable of instilling in you an overwhelming sense of dread, completely crushing your will to win from the outset?"

In that precise moment, Sarka's face drained of color, her heart commencing a frantic rhythm, overcome by the wave of fear that engulfed her.

That reaction was more than sufficient for Adam.

'So, that individual will be my adversary. This development is not favorable.'