Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1734 1734: Catching the Sound (Part 2)

The belief of powerful monsters in Adam was inconsequential; the outcome rested solely upon him and his adversary.

The commencement of the battle wasn't ideal for Zin, yet he found it workable.

His objective, after all, was to access and sense the flow of Queen Elisa's blood that resided within Adam's inner space.

To achieve this, severely wounding Adam was necessary. Killing him was out of the question, as Leerna, serving as the judge, would intervene.

"This..." Es'aha gasped, witnessing the sudden, bright flash in Zin's eyes just before the strike.

She then smiled, placing a hand over her chest.

"Excellent. If he's resorting to such tactics, this fight will conclude within the first five minutes."

As Zin prepared to unleash his attack, Es'aha raised her arm, and nine white cubes materialized above her.

"I, Es'aha, stake nine land cubes on Zin's victory!"

A subtle nod from the assistant confirmed her bet, and her name was inscribed on the stone board.

Typically, under such circumstances, a torrent of bets would erupt from all directions. However, at that precise moment, all auditory focus converged on a single point.

Clap!

Zin's thunderous clap echoed, causing the entire arena to freeze. A transparent wave of sound propelled itself towards Adam.

'Wait, isn't this similar to...?' Adam's eyes widened as he observed the vibrating space.

The resonance of Zin's clap and the subsequent sound wave evoked memories of his theoretical cut. While the effects differed, the similarities were undeniable.

'No, I must concentrate on the present,' Adam admonished himself internally, regaining focus after two missed opportunities.

His eyelids grew heavy, his vision blurring as he turned his attention to his inner ally:

'Can you sever this?'

'Hah, do not underestimate my abilities!'

A voice brimming with confidence resonated from within him. 'From the very beginning, even predating my existence, your paramount ability has been to cleave through anything! You were capable of it two years ago, and you possess that power now!'

Adam acknowledged this with a slight nod as his black needle materialized in his hand.

'Excellent.'

Whooooooosh!

With a swift, fluid motion, his black needle met the sound blade, sending tremors through the very fabric of space.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

A shower of sparks erupted from his blade, momentarily dazzling his intensely focused blue eyes. Though a slight tremor coursed through his body, the Silver Weaver's words proved true.

Adam possessed the ability to cut through anything, and this wave of sound was no exception.

SLASH!

With a subsequent swing, Adam obliterated the sound blade, reducing it to countless dispersed waves. Though still imbued with energy, they no longer posed a threat.

His feet soon found the ground as he directed his needle towards Zin.

"You know, even though you are not a Fang, you bear a Hollow Mark, just like every other formidable monster here, correct?"

Zin commenced a slow perambulation around the arena's perimeter.

"Assume that is true. What is your point?"

"I wish to ascertain the location of your tattoo."

Zin paused, his hand making contact with the wall.

"Hmm? What significance does its location hold? Regardless of where it rests, its power remains."

Adam's grip tightened.

"That statement... it's a falsehood, isn't it?"

Zin offered no response. He simply lowered his gaze and closed his eyes, appearing to disregard Adam's query.

However, at that very moment, a more critical development unfolded within Zin's consciousness.

He could perceive every inhalation, every hushed murmur amongst the spectators, and every subtle vibration resonating from the ground due to Adam's potent aura.

"Hey! Answer when someone addresses you!" Adam exclaimed, his face contorted in a grimace.

"Agh?"

Zin blinked as he suddenly vanished from sight.

Ordinarily, Adam would anticipate observing the subtle tremors of his opponent's form, or at the very least, a blur indicating a high-speed movement. This time, however, there was nothing of the sort.

Acting on pure instinct, Adam spun around, keenly aware of an impending threat.

Zin's silhouette materialized in Adam's wide-open eyes. In mid-air, with eyes as frigid as glaciers, his fist descended upon Adam.

BLAST!

The impact was direct, infused with the formidable power of sound and Zin's own energy. Adam lacked the chance to evade or block the assault. He couldn't even shift his torso to mitigate the force of the oncoming blow.

He was utterly defenseless against a speed that bordered on instantaneous teleportation.

Crack!

A sharp cracking sound reverberated as Zin's fist impacted Adam's jaw. A tooth dislodged, accompanied by a spray of blood, and a shockwave of pure force radiated across his face.

A cloud of dust billowed, yet something caused the steely resolve in Zin's expression to falter.

"Ah?"

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Adam's legs quivered uncontrollably, his torso violently recoiling from the force of Zin's punch, yet he miraculously remained upright.

The reason for his stability became apparent: his black needle was firmly lodged in the ground, acting as an improvised support. Without it, the sheer impact would have sent Adam flying, much like at the battle's outset.

"Wait..." a spectator whispered. "He actually managed to stay on his feet?"

"That... That is simply astonishing!" the young woman beside him exclaimed, her hand flying to cover her mouth.

They exchanged bewildered looks, their minds filled with uncertainty. Who would emerge victorious? The tension mounted, and time was rapidly slipping away.

Curiously, just as the onlookers realized it, Zin also sensed his attack had failed to land.

"Damn it! I need to escape this place!"

Alas for Zin, Adam had already anticipated this very move.

Clutch!

With his free hand, Adam seized Zin's wrist with an unyielding grip, his knuckles turning white from the sheer force.

"Argh..."

A pained groan escaped Zin as Adam lowered his head, his gaze locking onto Zin's. Their eyes met, while crimson blood trickled from Adam's nose.

"You possess not only incredible speed but also remarkable elusiveness. What else could one expect from something as fleeting as sound, however?"

Gradually, a sinister, almost demonic smile crept across Adam's face.

"However, unlike mere sound, you can be apprehended. You failed to consider that crucial point!"

Step!

Adam advanced, craning his neck back.

Before Zin could react and evade, his forehead violently collided with Zin's with a sickening crunch.

CRACK!

Zin's vision blurred momentarily, his knees buckling beneath him. In that fleeting second, his concentration wavered, a lapse that would prove to be his undoing.

"Hah, that feels much better!"

Adam retrieved his needle, a dark purple flame now licking along the black blade before he executed a sweeping, powerful arc.

SLASH!

The wide blade sliced through Zin's chest, unleashing a torrent of blood that soared high, some droplets even spattering Leerna's cold, stone throne.

The second bout concluded, and it too belonged to Adam, this time through sheer physical prowess.