Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1767: I’ll be home soon (Part 1)

The emergence of any new Lord was an event of grand consequence throughout the monster world, irrespective of its location.

Even if the monster in question was relatively unknown, all significant organizations within this realm would take notice. While this rarely led to direct intervention, it served as a crucial source of intelligence.

However, Zin’s ascension was distinct. This was not only due to his potential to become one of the exceedingly rare True Lords, but primarily because he had previously been vanquished in a direct confrontation by Adam Vinter.

During the recovery period for both Adam and Zin following their intense clash, the news of its outcome reverberated across the entirety of the monster world.

From the desolate Primal Lands and the barren Tarnished Lands to the profound depths of the Dark Shores, word of the fate of these two titans had undeniably spread.

On one hand, this development was heralded as positive news – a new Lord had indeed arisen among the monsters. Yet, on the other, it signaled a dramatically heightened level of threat emanating from Adam.

If he possessed the might to defeat one of the most formidable Black Threat Level monsters, what unimaginable power would he wield upon breaching the First Circle's barrier? What would his capabilities be as a Second Rank Phantom?

Admittedly, no entity would dare to confront Adam at this precise moment. It was widely understood that he was under the stalwart protection of Kaerno and Es’aha. Furthermore, should he face peril after crossing the barrier, Frida would undoubtedly intervene, as his destination was the perilous Dead Lands.

Yet, before Adam could finally return to his home, the immediate hurdle of the barrier remained.

Zin’s dramatic evolution to Lord Level had served to momentarily divert Adam’s attention, but it also functioned as a potent source of renewed motivation.

Step.

Adam pivoted, his steps now directed toward the imposing barrier. Daar’ax’s gaze swept over the colossal pillars before settling back upon Adam.

"Proceed, young one. Despite my assurance of its ease, this barrier can prove quite recalcitrant at times. Let us observe its reaction to your presence."

Recalling Daar’ax’s enigmatic words, Adam positioned himself directly before the barrier, placing a hand against its surface.

He perceived nothing – no discernible cold, no radiating heat. Yet, an unshakeable certainty settled within him: a single step forward was utterly impossible. Before him stood an unyielding monolith, and his current strength was woefully insufficient to even budge it.

’Very well, I have absorbed energy from the Frenzied Shard; my aura possesses a distinct quality now. But... is that truly what holds significance?’

Adam tilted his head upward, addressing the barrier as if it were a sentient entity.

"I have emerged victorious," Adam proclaimed with unshakeable confidence. "Countless monsters bore witness to my duel with Zin. I accomplished what others could not, and in doing so, I now stand among the Fangs. This grants me the inherent right to depart the Hollow Lands and to return at my own volition."

To Adam’s profound surprise, the barrier remained utterly inert. It spanned hundreds of kilometers, an unbreachable expanse encompassing the entirety of the Hollow Lands.

Presently, Adam’s expression underwent a noticeable transformation, darkening and becoming markedly more serious.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

A formidable aura erupted from Adam’s very being; ethereal flames of black and white billowed outwards, expanding relentlessly.

Daar’ax’s eyes narrowed perceptibly as he meticulously scrutinized Adam’s surging aura.

’Hmm... With considerable effort, yet I can discern it...’ Daar’ax mused internally, observing the intricate currents of energy. Unlike the smooth, powerful flows radiating from others, these were distinctively unstable and jagged.

This unique energy bore a striking resemblance to the auras emanating from both the Frenzied Shards and the enigmatic Hollow Marks.

Undeniably, Adam would never receive his own Hollow Mark, for he was not a native monster and had not been birthed within the Hollow Lands. However, his absorption of the Frenzied Shard had irrevocably imprinted his aura with a singular, permanent alteration.

Ripple! Ripple! Ripple!

Successive waves cascaded across the barrier, eliciting a faint, almost imperceptible smile from Adam.

Without encountering any resistance whatsoever, the segment of the barrier directly before Adam erupted in a brilliant luminescence, instantly forming a clear passage for his advance.

"Excellent," Adam smirked, taking a decisive step forward.

Daar’ax, observing from a considerable distance, offered a subtle nod of approval.

’Not inadequate, not inadequate at all. I have witnessed Barons and even mightier Lords expend far more time breaching this barrier. Intriguing... could it be that Adam Vinter is indeed among those Phantoms capable of vanquishing a substantially stronger opponent?’

It was a known fact that not all power level designations accurately reflected the true strength of a monster or a Phantom. Nevertheless, instances of a weaker entity defeating a superior one remained exceptionally rare.

Daar’ax’s gaze drifted towards the edges of the slowly regenerating barrier before he turned, commencing his pursuit of Adam.

"Youngster, are you prepared to proceed?"

Adam surveyed his surroundings. The ground before them was still obscured by a layer of soot, yet he could already perceive a profound and significant alteration in the ambient atmosphere.

’Astounding...’

Adam breathed the word, his gaze fixed upon his own hand. He observed the faint, pale-blue currents of energy coursing dynamically through his fingers.

’I had not previously registered it, but the concentration of energy within the Hollow Lands far surpasses that of the Dead Lands. It is no wonder so many potent monsters inhabit those regions. Moreover, the Pit presents an even greater challenge.’

It was true that Adam lacked precise knowledge of the Pit’s nature, recognizing it only as a remote and forbidding territory. However, he harbored a strong suspicion that the Frenzied Shard he had encountered was not the pinnacle of such power.

"Hey, boy, are you ready to move on?" Daar’ax inquired, surveying his surroundings. Venturing beyond the Hollow Lands wasn’t a common occurrence for him. Such errands were infrequent, sparking his curiosity about whether the Dead Lands had undergone any transformations during the intervening years. A moment of silence followed. Adam paused briefly before giving a nod. "Sure, let’s move on. I’m uncertain about the location of the nearest Spire, but very soon, I will be reconnecting with someone of great importance to me." Daar’ax grasped the unspoken sentiment in Adam’s tone but offered no comment, merely nodding and inclining his head. *Tap.* Adam found himself positioned atop the colossal serpent’s head, his heart commencing a rapid beat. "Huh, that’s right. With all that’s been happening here, I’d completely forgotten I had already returned to the Dead Lands. There isn’t much left now." *Tremble!* Daar’ax’s form quivered, and a flash of light traversed his scales as he propelled himself forward with astonishing velocity. The Hollow Lands were characterized by a perpetually dark sky, where a white disk, the moon eclipse, was a constant fixture. However, the farther Adam and Daar’ax journeyed from the Hollow Lands, the brighter the sky grew. Initially a deep blue, the moon eclipse disappeared, followed by a shift to gray. After traversing a few more kilometers, Adam finally beheld it: "Agh..." Adam gasped as the sun’s rays bathed him and Daar’ax. In place of the moon eclipse, the familiar, bright sun shone down. "Daar’ax, how do you endure living in the Hollow Lands?" Adam inquired with a gentle smile, relishing the warmth. "It’s perpetually night there while the rest of the world is just beginning its day!" "Huh, I’ve resided there my entire existence, Adam; one becomes accustomed to it over time, especially after hundreds of years. I’m certain you won’t share my sentiment, but if given the choice between night and day, even a day as pleasant as this one, I would invariably select the night." Adam offered a shrug. "I won’t dispute your preference, but I am accustomed to experiencing half the day in darkness and the other half in light. It has always been the norm for me." For the ensuing few minutes, a quietude settled between Adam and Daar’ax. The Hollow Lands were situated at the extreme northern edge of the world. Within the Hollow Lands, owing to the terrain’s nature, neither cold nor ice prevailed, but the Dead Lands presented a starkly different environment. *Whoooooooosh!* The sun’s warmth was soon supplanted by biting gusts of icy wind, yet Adam found himself welcoming the change. In the Hollow Lands, neither extreme cold nor heat was present. This place, profound in its essence and power system, was, on the surface, practically nothing but gray sand and desolate pillars, with the Pit and the Frenzied Shards being the sole exceptions. "Hey, Adam." Daar’ax’s resonant voice cut through the air as they traversed the frosty valley. He did not make contact with the ground, but the sheer pressure emanating from his aura left an imprint upon the thick blanket of snow beneath him. Adam, with his eyes still closed, smiled. "What? Is there an issue?" Daar’ax gently shook his head. "We will soon be entering the domain ruled by Frida. I’m confident you know whom I’m referring to." "Do you believe she will perceive you as a threat?" Daar’ax’s gaze sharpened. "Yes. She possesses the power to obliterate both of us with a single strike. While she likely knows it is you, I prefer not to court unnecessary risks." He awaited a response, but before it could be articulated, Adam heard the voice he had been yearning for: ’A-Adam?’ A gentle, feminine voice, achingly familiar to Adam, resonated within his mind. "Yes," Adam responded simultaneously through his thoughts and aloud. "I can finally hear you, Silvana. We have finally succeeded in reestablishing our connection." The barrier within the Hollow Lands had been impeding the link between them. Had Adam been at the Second Circle, their auras would have possessed sufficient strength to bypass it, but that was not the case at present. "Are you here?" Silvana’s voice carried a note of worry. Adam nodded. "Yes. Wait for me, I will be home very soon, and then... we shall confer with Gladius and Xyrea."