Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 975: Return to the Beginning (Part 2)

All Adam knew about the fourth lesser gates was that he needed to return to his beginning. It was a vague statement, but in his long interaction with his Evolution Tree, Adam had become more aware of the mysteries of his faithful ally.

ʼHmm... In my early days, I can only describe myself in three words,ʼ Adam muttered internally. ʼI was weak, lost, and... delighted. I realized what lay ahead of me if I survived.ʼ

Then, Adam stepped forward, making his first attack.

In a heartbeat, he found himself between Vorx and Heret, who were waiting for his charge.

The crimson sword reflected in Heretʼs eyes, forcing him to expose his block. The flames condensed in front of him, forming a dense barrier.

Yet, it wasnʼt enough.

”What...?”

Heretʼs eyes went wide in disbelief as the impact threw him aside. A few drops of blood hovered in the air, immediately going up in flames.

Without a momentʼs hesitation, Adam spun around as the purple wave traveled down his body.

Under Vorxʼs surprised gaze, he smoothly swept his palm from top to bottom, leaving a short white line in the air.

All of Vorxʼs instincts screamed, causing his body to jerk sharply to the left, dodging the barely visible blade at the last moment.

Slash.

A surge of blood rushed from his right shoulder, shallow, but his scales and sturdy body couldnʼt hold the blade even slightly.

Adam stepped forward, the ground cracking as he pointed his sword at Vorx, about to finish off the first opponent.

At the same moment, a shadow fell over him as Heretʼs hand gripped his head firmly. In a sharp plunge, Adamʼs face slammed into the ground.

Before he could recover, Vorx bounced back and folded his palms together, storing energy in the tiny gap between his hands.

Whoosh.

Adam swung his sword, throwing Heret off of himself, but this time Heret was ready for it. He did a somersault in the air, bouncing off the red pillar to come at Adam like a projectile again.

Sure, Adam was able to block Heretʼs attack, but it gave Vorx the time he needed.

”Adam, look here!” Vorx exclaimed, drawing his attention.

In a heartbeat, a flaming ray was launched towards Adamʼs side, causing his eyes to go wide.

Even with all the amplification, he didnʼt have time to dodge. Everything was happening too fast.

The only thing Adam was left to do was tense his legs and thrust his crimson sword out in front of him.

The flaming ray pushed him back dozens of meters, two long furrows left on the ground from his feet while the destructive energy tore the fire apart piece by piece.

”Gha... Gha... Gha...”

Adam was breathing heavily when Heret and Vorx returned to their starting position. They ran their hands over their forearms, pressing the scales tightly together as if lighting matches. The flames ignited with renewed vigor as they released more energy.

They tried to hide it behind a stoic expression, but this brief exchange of attacks took as much energy from them as from Adam.

Risha, Grita and Torz standing on the sidelines couldnʼt believe in what they saw. The serpents were especially shocked.

Grita gulped. ”No way... I had hopes that Vorx and Heret together were strong enough to stand up to Arnoth, but... Now I realize how stupid I was.”

”Yeah... Looks like it,” Torz nodded weakly. ”That guy didnʼt hold back when he hit me, itʼs going to hurt for a long time. Our two leaders canʼt beat some Phantom fast enough. Hmm, maybe thatʼs good news.”

Oddly enough, Grita agreed with him.

”Indeed. If he gets stronger, they can defeat Arnoth.”

Risha stepped forward, pressing her palm to her chest. ”But, Arnoth isnʼt the only problem, is it? Thereʼs also Kreyna.”

”Sure,” Grita smiled weakly. ”Thatʼs why you should watch their fight closely. Once theyʼre done, and Adam gets back to our plan, then weʼll continue training.”

There was no other choice. Risha herself wanted to see how the strongest of the resistance fought.

Her brother had always told her to keep an eye on the strongest. It was the only way and through battle that one could become better.

ʼHah, Orel is right as always. I donʼt know if itʼs true, but I already feel like Iʼve become better.ʼ

Crackle.

At the same time, Adam gripped his sword tighter, leaning forward. He was ready for another surge, unafraid of the two serpents.

The wreath on his head was already half full. True, they had only made a few attacks, but one Vorxʼs ray contained arrays of energy.

Quiet and still, Silvanaʼs voice echoed in Adamʼs head.

ʼI donʼt know what youʼre up to, but it looks like youʼre going to fight until you win as always, right?ʼ she smiled weakly.

ʼNo.ʼ

Adamʼs sharp reply stumped her.

ʼAgh...?ʼ

ʼItʼs different this time,ʼ he narrowed his eyes. ʼNow Iʼm going to fight until I lose. Thatʼs exactly what I lacked at the beginning of my path.ʼ

Silvanaʼs lips parted quickly, asking questions, but Adam didnʼt hear her anymore, he threw himself back into the fight with no intention of stopping.

Time after time, he swung his sword, attacking the two strongest serpents left after the sad death of the king and queen.

Treating Adam as a mortal enemy, Vorx and Heret fought to the limit.

All the power of their massive real bodies was compressed into human forms, offering them impressive speed and strength. Like shadows wielding flames, they circled Adam in a violent dance.

A hail of blows rained down on him, but the Stellar Resonance, his vast experience, and the Second Order helped him avoid most of their punches.

Then, Heretʼs silhouette shuddered when Vorx appeared in front of Adam alongside him.

”Well lad, after opening the third gate, youʼre much stronger now, but I know what to do against you! I have experience! Hahaha!” Vorx pounced on Adam with one hand clutching his sword tightly and with the other plunging his fist into Adamʼs stomach.

Adam gasped in pain.

”Gha!”

Yet, there was nothing he could do to stop Vorx. The serpent wouldnʼt let the sword touch him, continuing to attack in one spot.

Adam frowned, trying to get out of Vorxʼs grip, but all was to no avail. Adamʼs trump card, petrification was useless against Vorx, he tried it out.

And...

At the same moment, all the thorns on his wreath shone brightly. His artifact gathered enough energy to unleash a force of lightning at Vorx.

”Thatʼs it!” Adam exclaimed furiously, raising his left arm upwards.

All the energy from the wreath, in two spinning streams, headed towards his tightly clenched fist.

As was the nature of Adamʼs Foundation Artifact, it could release its power in any form Adam desired, without strict limitations. If need be, the core of the lightning could be a simple fist.

Gritting his teeth, Adam looked Vorx up and down. ”You almost died from that attack last time, but now... Iʼm much stronger!”

The purple electric discharges shuddered as he brought his fist down on Vorx.

With a fleeting, slight smile, Vorxʼs figure shuddered as he let go of Adamʼs sword. In a heartbeat, he bounced back, dissipating in the light of distant crystals.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

The lighting blast shattered the ground in a spreading purple sphere, electrical discharges destroyed the crystals and struck the ground covering the surface with smoking cracks.

Shards flew off to the sides, one passing close to Rishaʼs cheek, a light cut opening on her dazed expression.

A crater several meters in radius was left by Adamʼs fist, rocks rolling off the edges under his heavy, ragged breath.

Thump.

Vorx dropped to one knee, blood gushing from an open wound on his right side. One of the discharges grazed him, yet his gaze was confident, almost serene.

”Adam...” his low voice boomed out. ”Before itʼs too late, look to your right.”

”W-What...?” Adam flinched, turning his head in a twitch.

Green flames shone in a sparse, dark spot at the Magma Plateau. Heret stood among the shadows, while his fierce flames condensed around his hands thrust forward like spears.

The time that Vorx won him was more than enough to prepare.

”Boy, youʼve caused a lot of trouble, but Iʼm grateful to you,” Heret wheezed, his aura raging like a wild beast. ”Itʼs been a long time since Vorx and I had such good practice, but itʼs time for you to go back to the original plan!”

Faster than Adam could imagine it, Heret stepped off, transforming into streams of emerald flame demolishing everything in its path.

He stepped backward, trying to dodge the inevitable.

Crackle.

Heret swept through Adam, leaving two burning lines on his chest and a rapidly emptying gaze.

Wind currents mixed with green sparks tossed Adam aside to lie amongst the shattered crystals.

Hot blood poured down his back while the fire quickly extinguished, leaving no burns but deep cuts.

”Gha...” he wheezed as the crimson sword shattered into pieces.

One ability after another was canceled under Adamʼs slow heartbeat.

But, he had something else left.

It wasnʼt his trump card, but his beginning - the first power he had gotten to fight monsters and survive.

He entered his inner space, looking at the first branch of the Evolution Tree, the one containing his First Order.

”All thatʼs left is you, right?”

A spectral replica of his needle appeared in Adamʼs hand but in its original form.

”Either Iʼm right, or Iʼll have to listen to them and go back to the plan... Hah,” Adam smiled bitterly. ”If the needle isnʼt my beginning, then what is?”

Then, he opened his eyes, slowly rising from the ground. Blood dripped from his body but his grip around the needle was tighter than ever.