Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1753: Sound and Heart

At the Grim Court, causing the death of an opponent was strictly prohibited, a paramount rule.

However, rarely did confrontations escalate to the point where a fighter’s life was genuinely at risk.

When a significant disparity in power existed between combatants, duels concluded swiftly and without peril, with outcomes resolved efficiently.

Even among equally matched adversaries, fatal blows were exceedingly uncommon, and should such a strike occur, the presiding judge would intervene instantly to halt the fight.

But… this contest unfolded differently.

Zin and Adam were engaged in their climactic final attacks, moves destined to determine the victor. Leerna, despite her urgent desire, was powerless to interfere until both combatants had unleashed their strikes; her role was solely to manage the aftermath.

Given the extraordinary abilities Adam had recently displayed, Leerna had logically anticipated he would first need to charge his blood orb before unleashing a catastrophic blast.

Her prediction proved incorrect.

Tap.

The instant Adam’s palm made contact with Zin’s chest, the confrontation ended.

Although Leerna propelled herself to Adam’s right in less than a blink, preparing to intervene, even her speed was insufficient.

She grasped the lethal nature of the attack only after Adam had already delivered it.

Precisely before her eyes, and in the view of a hundred onlookers, a portion of Zin’s chest ceased to exist, replaced by an unnerving void, mirroring the absence of his heart.

His chest cavity was now hollow, with only fleeting glimmers visible before his eyes.

Yet, instead of succumbing to panic or the dread of mortality, a subtle smile graced Zin’s lips, his gaze profound, as if he had comprehended the universe’s deepest secrets in that single, fleeting moment.

This ephemeral span, lasting less than a single breath, was sufficient for Zin to perceive the resonant echo of his own demise.

For one who pursued sounds, finding value in the rarest of auditory phenomena, this was truly a singular endowment. Without Adam’s unintended assistance, Zin might never have discovered this profound sound.

THUD!

Zin’s body impacted the ground with a muffled thud as he collapsed.

A trickle of cold sweat beaded on Leerna’s brow, her gaze unfocused. Such an outcome was entirely unexpected, virtually impossible.

“ZIN!!!” Es’aha shrieked in sheer terror, her formidable aura erupting outwards with unrestrained force.

In an instant, four shadowed figures surged towards the combat arena, arriving at Zin's side and dedicating all their efforts to preserving his life.

Es’aha lacked any specialized healing abilities potent enough for such a grievous wound, and her sole focus shifted to a singular, burning objective: the utter destruction of Adam.

Whoooooosh!

She materialized before Adam in the blink of an eye, her fist poised inches from his face.

The resulting shockwave, a forceful gust of wind, rustled his hair and the fabric of his coat.

Remarkably, Adam remained composed. He had anticipated such a reaction, and despite Es’aha’s capacity to end his life with a single blow, he felt an unwavering certainty that she would not succeed.

Clutch.

A hand firmly clasped Es’aha’s wrist, halting her forward momentum, her fist frozen in mid-air.

Her eyes blazing with fury, Es’aha spun around, fixing Kaerno with a venomous glare.

“Release my hand, Kaerno!!!” she bellowed, the very arena trembling from the force of her enraged command.

Witnessing the monstrous Es’aha consumed by rage was itself a catastrophic development. Should she engage in battle without restraint, the consequences could be fatal for everyone present, save perhaps for the Thorns.

“No,” Kaerno responded evenly. “The rules dictate that no fighter should perish. I believed you adhered to such principles. Or have I misjudged you?”

Es’aha snarled, baring her teeth.

“He killed Zin! How can you speak of rules after an atrocity like that?!”

Clutch!

Es’aha’s other hand clenched into a fist, preparing to strike again, undeterred by any potential repercussions.

Leerna’s eyes widened in alarm as she rushed to intervene, her resolve to save at least one of the fighters unwavering.

However, it seemed nothing could impede Es’aha’s current trajectory, especially considering she was renowned as one of the most formidable entities within the entirety of the Hollow Lands.

“W-Wait…”

Suddenly, a weak, rasping voice emerged from behind, sounding as if it originated from the very brink of the afterlife.

Es’aha froze, realization dawning as she identified the speaker. With a face drained of color, she slowly turned her head, her gaze falling upon Zin, who was arduously attempting to rise from the ground.

“No! It's far too soon!” exclaimed one of the individuals tending to him, but Zin paid no heed.

Swiftly, all attention converged on the gaping void within his chest.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Waves of sound pulsed rhythmically, propagating outwards and propelling blood through his veins. These sonic vibrations effectively mimicked the function of the heart he had so recently lost.

Admittedly, this was merely a temporary solution. Without immediate, specialized medical intervention, Zin would succumb within minutes as his limited energy reserves depleted, and his blood was crucial for more than just sustaining a fabricated heartbeat.

Nevertheless, under the prevailing circumstances, this improvised measure was more than adequate.

The combined efforts of the four specialists, possessing the most advanced healing talents amongst the assembled hundreds, were already yielding tangible results.

Zin’s bleeding ceased. Minor lacerations emitted a soft green luminescence, mending at an accelerated pace, yet considerable effort was still required, particularly for reinstating his severed left arm and repairing his heart.

Es’aha swallowed hard. "Z-Zin… Are you still breathing?"

Swiftly, she pivoted towards Kaerno, her gaze filled with astonishment and fury.

"You… When did you figure out he was alive?! Reply to me!"

Kaerno grinned. "Almost instantly. Unlike your focus, I was observing the consequences of the final assault instead of being occupied with eliminating one of the combatants. Mind you, I wasn't the very first to grasp the situation."

He gestured towards Adam, who remained positioned exactly where he had been during his attack.

"This fellow understood what transpired before any other. Hmm, why do you suppose he appears so composed?"

Es’aha found herself without words.

"A-Adam, is this accurate?"

In reply, he glanced at Zin and offered a subtle nod.

"Affirmative. I provided the echo of his demise, and he meticulously crafted the resonance of his survival. The sequence of events unfolded precisely as ordained."

With that, their battle had officially concluded.

A single victor, and a solitary vanquished foe.