Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1742 1742: Golden Rod (Part 2)

Zin's left arm was gone, and he was covered in numerous other grievous wounds from their clash. Although Adam had also endured a severe beating, his ultimate strike had decisively altered the battle's momentum. Now, Adam stood as a wounded combatant prepared to press on, while Zin could barely remain upright.

Not only had Zin lost his left arm, but a significant amount of blood and his vital Qi had also been depleted. Like Adam, he had exhausted all his Ancient Energy. However, unlike his adversary, Zin did not possess Dark Energy. He had not been fortunate enough to confront the formidable power of the First Star.

In truth, had Zin been a common monster, his ordeal would have concluded then and there.

Yet, Zin was far from ordinary; he hailed from the Hollow Lands, a distinction that set him apart from all others.

Only the Hybrids and the Lord-level monsters possessed capabilities resembling weapons for combat. For Hybrids, this manifested as the Solar Form, where they transformed into their own weapons. Lords, on the other hand, wielded the Arcs, serving as their equivalent to the Phantoms' Nexus.

But, like every potent monster dwelling in the Hollow Lands, Zin possessed something comparable. No, it surpassed mere comparability; it was an amalgamation of distinct powers exclusive to monsters of his kind.

The Hollow Mark.

This tattoo, pulsating with immense power, was required to be visible on a monster's body. Zin was no exception to this rule, needing it in an easily accessible location...

Clench!

The instant Zin's fist tightened around his apple, a brilliant crimson light erupted, as if a miniature sun had ignited within his grasp. The apple, much like Zin himself, bore the scars of the fierce battle, yet it remained an integral component of his strength.

"ADAM!" Zin bellowed at the peak of his voice.

"Know this: I would not resort to this if I had any alternative!"

Adam, uncertain of what was to come, nodded profoundly, comprehending the gravity of the situation from Zin's determined gaze. "Proceed. I never anticipated victory without a cost. I am prepared to witness the culmination of your power, for I shall reciprocate in kind."

With unwavering resolve, Zin nodded and raised the apple to his lips.

Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!

Abruptly, Zin began consuming his red apple with voracious intensity, as if he hadn't eaten in weeks. His haste was palpable, not ceasing even as he reached the core, typically discarded with the stem. Unlike previous instances where biting his apple produced a shockwave, this time, only the distinct sound of crunching was audible.

As he actively devoured the fruit, Zin ingested large, coarse fragments, causing his features to contort momentarily with discomfort. This continued until only a single seed remained in Zin's possession. This particular apple yielded but one seed, which Zin now clutched firmly between his fingers, holding it aloft.

The onlookers exchanged bewildered glances. "Huh? Why is he showing that to Adam?" "Is that seed significant?" The woman quirked an inquisitive eyebrow. "Hmm, perhaps it's his weapon, or something similar?"

While a select few monsters in the spectators' stands grasped the unspoken communication, they maintained their silence. Kaerno offered a wry smile. 'He desires Adam to deduce it himself. Well, who are we to deny a combatant his preference?'

Adam's gaze fixed upon the seed, his pupils widening in astonishment. 'What in the...? With great effort, he discerned a simple pattern etched onto the dark seed. Unlike other intricate markings, this one resembled a sound wave with an elongated object traversing it.

'Could this be... his Hollow Mark?!' Adam's inner exclamation was one of sheer disbelief.

From Adam's reaction, Zin discerned that his adversary had indeed understood. 'Excellent,' Zin's smile widened broadly before he opened his mouth and deftly swallowed the seed.

Gulp!

He swallowed, and for a fleeting moment, his eyes glazed over. Suddenly, Zin's body convulsed, his hand flailing outwards. He straightened his posture and looked upward, his movements resembling those of a person experiencing a seizure.

Adam grew apprehensive. He had witnessed the activation of the Hollow Mark in other monsters before, yet no one had ever exhibited such a reaction. 'Did something go awry?' Adam furrowed his brow. 'Wasn't his tattoo supposed to manifest?'

At that precise moment, a brilliant light emanated from Zin, concentrating in his throat, precisely where a man's Adam's apple would be. The identical tattoo that had adorned the apple seed now appeared on his skin, bestowing upon Zin the very power wielded by every monster who had acquired the Hollow Mark through consuming a Frenzied Shard.

However, the subsequent event was utterly unprecedented in Adam's experience. Zin's hair did not surge with energy, no orbs of power materialized around him, and his Hollow Mark merely pulsed with a subdued glow instead of radiating potent Qi. It seemed that unless Adam witnessed it firsthand, the phenomenon would be imperceptible, as no sound accompanied it.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

The very fabric of space warped as a long golden rod, tipped with sharp points at each extremity, materialized before Zin. This rod bore a striking resemblance to a polished needle, roughly the length of two palms.

'Could this be his weapon from the Hollow Mark?' Adam pondered internally. 'But why does it possess this specific form? Aren't his powers intrinsically linked to auditory phenomena?'

Adam harbored no monopoly on this confusion; indeed, everyone present would soon have their questions answered.

Tap.

Zin rose with an air of unshakeable confidence, his gaze slowly pivoting towards Adam. He observed him through the golden rod, which floated steadily in the space before him.

He grasped the golden rod with a resolute grip, yet his movements struck Adam as peculiar, prompting a frown. 'Ah? What sort of grip is that? I had assumed he would wield it as a spear, or perhaps in a manner similar to how I employ my needle… What on earth does he intend to do?'

Zin's pupils quivered slightly as he elevated the golden rod to the level of his head. For a fleeting moment, it appeared as though he hesitated, but swiftly, all traces of uncertainty evaporated from his eyes.

In that precise instant, his hand executed a decisive movement.

THRUST!

With an incredibly swift action, he impaled his own head through the right ear using the golden rod, the sharpened tip emerging cleanly from the same ear on the opposite side.