Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1798: Operator or Nexus?

Every Phantom had an Operator. Every Phantom and anyone associated with the Dead Lands knew this, whether they were a scientist, a military officer, a department employee, or a government agent.

However, this was true only in the Upper Ring. At the Lower Ring, events unfolded along the same path, but a little later, starting at the K2 Level.

It was at this level that an Operator ceased to be merely a Phantom’s eyes and ears for gathering information and became something greater, something unique.

Silvana went through this as well.

When Adam’s Evolution Tree became strong enough and offered Silvana its energy, everything changed.

The moment an Operator received its energy marked a turning point. It was no longer a human, but something greater, a being bound to a Phantom and possessing its own energy.

After that, with every new stage for a Phantom, with every subsequent level, an Operator grew stronger, gained more control over the energy, and also gained access to abilities.

Silvana had long since become significantly stronger and faster than any ordinary human, simply because of how much energy was in her body and the fact that she was connected to Adam’s inner space.

No, some time ago she had become part of Adam’s inner space, and thanks to the events at the Primal Lands, she knew that this was not the limit. One day, their connection would become even stronger.

Thus, despite differences between the Upper Ring and the Lower Ring in how progression worked for the Phantoms and Operators, in the end the only difference was the starting point, where energy was not involved. Everything else remained the same.

But... what about Sano and Natta?

Why did Adam and Silvana decide that they didn’t have Operators?

At first glance, this was impossible and illogical.

An Operator was not just a partner to a Phantom, but a requirement for further progression.

If Adam didn’t have Silvana, he might have been able to win the battles where she was with him. In theory, he might have had enough strength or luck. But he wouldn’t have been able to overcome several barriers and meet all his conditions along the way without her.

Monsters could evolve on their own. They didn’t need partners for that, but with the Phantoms, everything was different.

The maximum power level for a Phantom without an Operator was K2-Level. Further progression was impossible solo.

Sano and Natta were in the middle of the K4-Level. Two stages below Adam, who was just a few steps away from the Second Circle.

There was no way a Phantom could reach the K4-Level without an Operator.

At least, Adam and Silvana were convinced of this until the events at the Morton Observatory.

When they learned about the Monster Nexus, and Sano poured all her strength into her final attack, that’s when Adam and Silvana understood everything.

"They don’t have Operators. It sounds like nonsense, but it’s not a mistake..." Adam muttered, staring at a single point.

Silvana nodded. As an Operator, she could sense the difference in auras better than Adam or anyone else.

Throughout the entire battle between Adam and Sano and Natta, she hadn’t sensed any other auras accompanying them.

The only exception was the moment when Sano unleashed the full power of her sword. Only then did Silvana see something else appear in Sano’s aura.

Silvana looked up at Adam. Her eyes were stern.

"You’re thinking the same thing I am, aren’t you? You’ve also concluded that their Operators are the monsters in their Nexuses?"

Adam nodded deeply. That was exactly what he was thinking.

"Yeah, I just don’t have any other explanation. What’s more, at the last moment before Sano’s attack, I saw some kind of silhouette in the dark orb inside her sword. When we asked Aiden what happens to the Monster Nexuses if a Phantom reaches the Second Circle, his answer was vague, but now..."

"I think I understand what he meant. Phantoms can’t progress on their own. We know that better than most. I, and any other Phantom, need an Operator, but ’Operator’ is just a title that can mean many different things."

Silvana sighed heavily. She was glad she hadn’t been wrong.

Then, her expression grew more serious as she agreed with Adam’s words.

"If we go to the academy or any military base right now, we’ll see hundreds of Operators. I’m an Operator too, but are we really alike? I’m not sure we can even be considered members of the same species at this point."

Adam smiled bitterly.

"I felt the same way when I became a Phantom. There’s nothing unusual about that. But you’re right, you’re very different from the weaker Phantoms."

A few moments later, Adam looked at his hand and slowly clenched his fist.

"The whole point isn’t about someone sharing information about the monster with you through an earpiece during battle, but about the transfer of energy, connection, and complete trust. If you look at the role of an Operator from that perspective, you can come to one terrifying conclusion."

Silvana already knew what Adam was going to say.

"Aiden said that the Monster Nexuses can devour their owners and even revert to their monster nature afterward. So even in the Nexus form, a monster that has died retains its mind, though it’s very weak and clouded at first."

Adam turned his gaze to Silvana. His eyes were deep.

"If your weapon has a mind, technically it’s a living being and can store energy, so what’s stopping your weapon from becoming your Operator?"

With a brief pause, Adam glanced to the side, closing his eyes slightly.

He had come to that conclusion some time ago, but he still couldn’t believe how such things could be connected.

"If someone had told me this before, I would have called it nonsense. But now, now that we know about the Monster Nexus and one more thing..."

Adam turned to Silvana, a slight smile on his face.

"If an Operator can become a Nexus, then a Nexus can become an Operator. Sounds logical, doesn’t it?"