Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1745 1745: Blood and Sound (Part 1)

Adam possessed an exceptional talent for slicing through and piercing any obstacle in his way, a skill honed since his very first moment as a K0-Phantom. This formidable power had only intensified over time, growing more potent and deadly with each passing battle.

There were rare occasions when Adam encountered adversaries whose defenses were so robust that even his signature path proved insufficient. Yet, each of those instances represented an anomaly, a pivotal juncture in Adam's ongoing chronicle.

But what occurred when confronting an opponent wielding a blade far sharper than anything Adam possessed?

Certainly, swords, blades, and general slashes constituted common weaponry and abilities.

Still, Adam's needle-like attacks and his path had consistently held the advantage in every conflict he'd faced.

However, in this moment, that certainty began to waver.

"How much power did that single strike consume?" Adam gasped, his eyes widening in sheer astonishment.

He had personally experienced the perilous nature of a mere sound wave, generated by the snap of Zin's fingers.

Within the sonic blade conjured by Zin, more than a dozen such waves coalesced, becoming so concentrated that the previously invisible edge shimmered with a distinct purple hue.

'Adam.' The Silver Weaver's voice resounded in his mind. 'I cannot ascertain the full capabilities of this blade, but we must brace for any eventuality. Evasion is our best course of action. I doubt my ability to block it.'

Indeed, this cautious sentiment from the Silver Weaver was the most unnerving aspect for Adam. The Silver Weaver had always exuded confidence and a degree of arrogance, a manifestation of Adam's memories of the first monster vanquished under the First Star's influence.

If even the Silver Weaver was adopting a wary stance, the gravity of the situation was unmistakable.

Adam gave a slight nod, immediately adopting a combat posture.

'Understood. I will give it my all.'

Blink.

In the span of an instant, Adam found himself reacting to Zin's lowered hand, his palm now aimed like a menacing spear directly at him.

WHOOOOOOSHHH!!!

Simultaneously, with astonishing velocity, the sound blade carved through the arena, evoking a stark comparison to Adam's own 'Imaginary Cut' ability.

However, if Zin's sonic blade and Adam's Imaginary Cut were to collide at this juncture, the victor would be unequivocally clear.

Against such an unyielding blade, Adam's cut would appear as inconsequential as a mere breeze.

"Damn it! I need to evade! Now!" Adam inwardly urged, his upper body instinctively leaning to the right.

The moment his foot met the ground, he sensed a fleeting brush against his shoulder, as if something had grazed past him.

His gaze instinctively snapped to his left, his pupils constricting in reaction.

For a fleeting moment, it seemed as though the entire world had slowed to a crawl, though in reality, it was Adam's mind processing the unfolding events at an accelerated rate.

For a few subjective seconds, he was fixated on the sound blade, now poised at his shoulder, slicing through it with the effortless grace of a hot knife through butter.

The initial gush of blood erupted from his wound, and then, abruptly, the world resumed its normal pace.

In truth, those few seconds of observation were less than a heartbeat. The sound blade's speed was so immense that Adam's sideward step, though swift, was barely enough to save his life.

Yet, Adam was not the sole target of the sonic blade; he merely occupied a position within its devastating trajectory, along with a significant portion of the arena and its surrounding walls.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

With a thunderous roar, the sound blade tore through the arena's foundation, impacting the wall behind Adam's location.

Even their most potent offensive maneuvers had previously failed to inflict significant damage on these formidable walls, but the current reality was starkly different.

SHAKE!

The sound blade breached the outer protective layer, advancing towards the more resilient inner stratum composed of black stone. This inner layer was further reinforced by a protective barrier, erected to shield spectators seated near the arena.

Unfortunately for those in attendance, even the most robust safety measures are not infallible.

"What the…?!" a young man exclaimed, leaping from his seat in alarm.

Wave after wave of sonic energy emanated from the blade, exerting immense pressure upon the barrier.

Inevitably, the first fissures appeared across the barrier's surface, prompting a multitude of monsters to abandon their seats and hastily retreat from the encroaching danger zone.

Crack!

The barrier finally gave way, shattering into countless fragments as the sound blade continued its relentless advance, slicing through the elevated seating tiers.

Only upon reaching the outermost sections of the Hail Passage did the sound blade finally expend its momentum, coming to a halt and leaving an immense gash in the cavern wall.

All attention immediately converged on the scene of the destruction. Many understood that given the blade's incredible speed, casualties were an unavoidable consequence. Adam had narrowly escaped with his life; the significantly weaker monsters, it was assumed, would have stood no chance.

"Agh…?"

"Wait, how is this possible?"

Yet, instead of expressions of horror, their faces were etched with bewilderment and sheer surprise.

The spectator stands were violently torn asunder, mirroring the arena's foundational stone block, which thrummed with latent energy.

Yet, not a single drop of blood stained the torn edges of the stands or the seats; only tattered remnants of clothing were strewn about from the sudden chaos.

Miraculously, no one suffered any injuries.

It was evident that those caught in the path of the devastating sound blade were the most astounded. They exchanged wide-eyed glances, struggling to grasp their survival.

"How…?" the woman murmured, examining her hands, finding them completely unmarked.

Their unanswered questions were soon addressed.

Tremble!

Previously unseen outlines began to solidify as the surviving spectators' faces turned chalk-white with profound shock.

Countless maws, with eyes glowing like spectral lanterns, materialized all around them, forming an inescapable barrier. Numerous maws converged upon each monstrous entity, shielding their vulnerable points.

Whoooosh.

A faint smile gracing his lips, Kaerno gestured dismissively. The maws quivered, then vanished in a single, fluid motion.

One by one, the monstrous beings succumbed, collapsing onto their knees. Terror filled their eyes, though a few cast grateful nods towards Kaerno.

"BOSS!!!" Sarka shrieked, her face alight with a broad grin. "That was so incredibly cool!"

"Hah, at least someone here appreciates the show. Thank you, Sarka," Kaerno chuckled, his gaze shifting towards the blood-drenched figure of Adam.

His attention then fell upon Zin.

'It appears you are on the cusp of achieving your objective, aren't you? Proceed, Zin; Queen Elisa's blood lies directly before you. You are but a single step away from your goal.'