Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 962: Rock Worms (Part 2)

Adam didnʼt have time to recover from his long and somewhat sad conversation with his Evolution Tree before he found himself amid an intense scene.

Risha was the first to act. She jumped up, tightly clutching the hilt of her axe. At the same time, Vorx stopped abruptly to move his great body to the right side of the river.

Otherwise, the massive jaws of the worms would descend directly upon him.

Adam, who didnʼt realize what was happening, had to jump up to avoid falling off Vorxʼs back right into the lava.

Sure, normally a monster like the Inferno Serpent wouldnʼt have to dodge the Rock Wormsʼ attacks, but Vorx was badly injured after the battle against Adam. Many of his scales were broken or missing, revealing vulnerable flesh.

Tap.

In a deft somersault, Adam found himself on a protruding rock, a burst of lava passing before his eyes but not touching him.

ʼAnd... Whatʼs going on here?ʼ Adam asked his Operator.

Silvanaʼs voice boomed out. ʼIʼm sorry. I tried to get to you, but even with a shared voice, I failed. Youʼre too deep in thought.ʼ

”Well...” he scratched the back of his head awkwardly. ”I had an important conversation with my tree. Anyway, what the hell is going on here? What did I miss?”

Slash.

Rishaʼs axe plunged into the flesh of one Rock Worm, a surge of blood rushed outward, but it wasnʼt enough. She had to back away when the second worm tore toward her, its hundreds of teeth spinning in its jaw like a meat grinder.

Adam was ready to rush to the rescue, but Vorxʼs tail came down on the worm, knocking the huge creature to the ground.

ʼThe Rock Worms, the S3 monsters. They are considerably weaker than you or Vorx, but... As you can see, there are quite a few of them,ʼ Silvana gave him the first piece of information. ʼThey unexpectedly attacked you, since you were busy, you noticed it too late.ʼ

Silvana coughed. ʼI suggest you help them. The longer the battle against the Rock Worms goes on, the more your path at the Fallen Ring Castle will be delayed.ʼ

”Hmm...”

Soon, a slight smile appeared on Adamʼs face.

”I have a better idea.”

Whoooooooosh.

Adam jumped forward and turned into a flash. He didnʼt use his trump cards, the Wreath and the Power Gene were left for a more serious opponent.

ʼOne needle and the Global Gene will be enough,ʼ he thought before whizzing alongside the three Rock Worms.

In flashes of crescent light, the silver needle swept through the Rock Wormsʼ tough armor, slicing the numerous but weak monsters apart.

Chunks of flesh collapsed beside Adam, some rolled down the slope, disappearing into the bottom of the lava river.

Bam. Bam. Bam.

Vorx wasted no time as well. He didnʼt need to use his powerful abilities, the Rock Worms were a far cry from Adam in the power matter.

With each swing, his tail like a whip turned the Rock Worms into chop steaks, shattering their stone layer with ease.

”Damn, same thing again...” Adam shook his head, watching Risha, who was struggling against the two Rock Worms.

In fact, those were the last worms all the others Adam and Vorx had already dealt with.

Twitch.

A shiver went through Vorxʼs tail, he was going to help Risha. One sweep would be enough to break the worm in two.

At the last moment, Adamʼs hand touched his tail, throwing it into the lava in a sharp motion.

Then, Adam found himself on a rock, in front of Vorx, who stared at him in bewilderment.

”Why? I donʼt argue, that girl can be annoying sometimes... but do you dislike her so much that you want to kill her?” he looked at the Rock Worms. ”We could kill them in a heartbeat. Thereʼs no point in spending more than a few minutes on it.”

”Youʼre wrong.”

”Hmm?” Vorx was confused.

Adam pointed at Risha, she swung her axe fending off one worm, but a second one immediately attacked her from the side.

”I want her to get stronger. Right here and now.”

Vorx snorted irritably. ”Thatʼs too naive of you. You wonʼt succeed.”

”Hah, maybe, but I still want her to try,” Adam leaned on his hand, a sly smile playing across his face. ”I donʼt know if you saw our fight against the lizards in detail or just sensed our auras, but she had trouble against the S3 monster. Those worms are just as much S3 monsters as that lizard, but so far, sheʼs holding her own.”

His words failed to change Vorxʼs mind. He wanted to kill the Rock Worms.

Adam chuckled. ”Sheʼs a resident of the Lower Ring, Iʼm sure itʼs humiliating for her to realize that Iʼve already overtaken her. Sheʼs willing to do anything to get stronger and all she needs to open the third lesser gate is energy. Energy straight from her Evolution Tree.”

”And?”

Vorx glanced at him.

”Whatʼs your plan? How long are you going to wait for her progress?”

”Not that long,” Adam shrugged nonchalantly. ”When we arrive at the castle, weʼll have a safe place, so healing her wounds wonʼt be a problem.”

Then, his gaze grew darker, overlooking Rishaʼs desperate attempts to win.

”Hereʼs the deal - weʼll only help her when sheʼs in mortal danger. Until then, we will observe. If the wormʼs attack doesnʼt kill her and sheʼs still breathing, then weʼre nothing more than mere observers.”

”Tsk...” Vorx grunted irritably. ”I donʼt like the idea... but... I agree.”

”Good.”

...

Ten minutes later, Risha was full of blood, her own and the worms continued to fight. Their sharp teeth and lunges left numerous cuts on her body.

Clots of blood falling from her axe indicated heavy worm wounds, but she was already at her limit.

”Fuck...”

With a heavy breath, Risha wheezed.

”These two freaks are just smirking and waiting for me to die here! But... I have to win or else Kreyna will just crush me like a bug!”

Crackle.

At the same moment, a bright light burst out from her Evolution Tree as the energy channeled toward the two parts of her power.

The red, bloody root and the eerie, hovering skull in the distance trembled.

This only caused Risha to have smile full of happiness.

”Finally...”