Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1763: A Reminder of the Future (Part 1)

Adam was aware that Zin would soon attain the Lord Level, a fact Zin himself had confirmed. However, Adam had not anticipated this ascension would occur so swiftly.

Mere minutes remained before they reached the boundary of the Hollow Lands. Daar’ax's swiftness was remarkable; they traversed the expansive terrain like streaks of obsidian lightning, their pace consistently accelerating.

"Zin... If only you knew the difficulty in declining your offer," Adam mused, seated in a cross-legged posture atop Daar’ax's head. "But I cannot afford to delay. My path lies forward, and the realization of you surpassing me would become yet another obstacle in my journey."

Daar’ax narrowed his amber irises. "We are nearly there, human. Upon reaching the boundary, the task will fall to you. You must first compel the barrier to release you from the Hollow Lands, after which we shall proceed directly to the nearest Spire."

Adam inclined his head in acknowledgment.

"Indeed, I grasp the workings of the Hollow Lands. Yet, before we arrive at the boundary, might I pose a question?"

"Hmph? If the inquiry displeases me, I shall simply disregard it. We are not companions, human. I am merely fulfilling my duties."

A wry smile touched Adam's lips.

"I realize that. However, for me, the events of two years prior would have seemed truly miraculous. I merely wish to understand why you maintain your monstrous form and why you pledge allegiance to Kaerno?"

"Ah, perhaps you perceive it as beneath a creature such as myself to be his subservient companion. However, if you were privy to his capabilities, such notions would surely vanish. Among the entirety of the Hollow Lands, where hundreds of Lords reside, only two command true prominence."

Adam's brow lifted, a spark of curiosity igniting in his eyes.

Daar’ax elaborated: "Kaerno stands as the most formidable among all Lords and Fingers within the Hollow Lands. The sole entity rivaling his might is Es’aha. I presume you are acquainted with her."

"Yes, technically she is Zin’s superior, as he falls under her dominion, correct?"

With a shake of his head, Daar’ax responded, "In essence, yes. Though Zin's circumstances are unique, your general premise holds true. Therefore, only Es’aha can contend with Kaerno in sheer power. Yet, there exists a secret known only to the highest echelons of the Hollow Lands."

For a brief interval, Daar’ax grew silent, his gaze darkening with unspoken thoughts.

"It would have been preferable had this never come to pass, but were these two to engage in a battle to the death, Kaerno would undoubtedly emerge victorious. He is cunning and treacherous, ruthless yet intelligent. He harbors no apprehension in disregarding conventions or making profound sacrifices in pursuit of triumph. Es’aha operates differently. For every strength Kaerno possesses, she harbors an equivalent vulnerability."

Adam stroked his chin, contemplative.

"I comprehend. One excels as a ruler, the other as a warrior."

"Precisely. However, much like with both monsters and humans, the quality of one's leadership or political acumen is relevant only during times of peace. For periods of tranquility to commence, eras of conflict must first conclude, and in such times, raw strength reigns supreme." Daar’ax's voice bore a harsh edge, as if he had personally navigated such trials numerous times and spoke from firsthand experience.

An ironic smile graced Adam's features.

"Well, well, even with the Hollow Lands' peculiar power dynamics and the existence of merely two rival factions rather than outright adversaries, at their core, the dynamics here mirror those found everywhere else."

Daar’ax prepared to interject, but Adam preempted him, a slight shake of his head accompanying his words.

"Nay, the situation here is even more straightforward. Considering your revelations, it is accurate to state that your most potent warrior is Kaerno, is it not?"

Without a hint of hesitation in his gaze, Daar’ax affirmed with a nod.

"Undoubtedly. Should the Hollow Lands face a threat, the conviction of victory would prevail as long as Kaerno remained alive. Thus, I take pride in serving alongside him."

Subsequently, Daar’ax's expression softened, the subsequent subject holding less importance for him than Kaerno's esteemed position.

"Regarding the initial part of your inquiry, the truth is that my being is imbued with a substantial reserve of ancient energy. Judging by your aura, you originated from the Primal Lands, correct?"

Adam responded with a nod.

"Then you must have observed that only a select few monsters assume human form. The majority retain their true, natural shapes. This phenomenon is directly dictated by the energy distribution within their bodies. The greater the quantity of ancient energy one possesses, the more challenging it becomes to adopt and sustain a human guise for extended durations.

Furthermore, due to the higher concentration of ancient energy within creatures like myself compared to others, this also impacts our combat prowess. When confronting a suitable adversary, I and others of my kind are demonstrably more powerful in our monstrous forms than in our human ones, which is the typical outcome."

He paused briefly. It was indeed true that in the Primal Lands, monstrous beings adopting human form were exceedingly rare, with Vaarh being one of the few exceptions to this general rule.Meanwhile, across the Tarnished Lands, Hollow Lands, and Dark Shore, circumstances presented a distinct contrast. The majority of formidable monsters maintained their human guises. This strategy enabled them to concentrate their might into a more compact form, enhancing their agility and consequently, their combat prowess. The sole divergence between these regions and the Primal Lands lay in the sheer abundance of ancient energy. "Understood. All has become clear now. Thank you." "Hmph," Daar’ax let out a chuckle. "You are most welcome. It is always a pleasure to witness the younger generation still valuing wisdom, not solely fixated on raw power." "I shall accept that as praise." "You ought to." Whoooooosh! Daar’ax accelerated his pace. Before long, the once-gray landscape deepened into shadow. The ground was no longer draped in gray sand but coated in a substance akin to ash. A conspicuous demarcation stretched across the terrain, extending for countless kilometers in both directions. It gave the impression of an unseen barrier, and indeed, that was precisely its nature. Adam had ultimately arrived at the threshold separating the Hollow Lands from the wider world. This marked his ultimate stride before his return to the Citadel.