Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1016: Fifth Gate (Part 1)

After his victory over the first strongest monster, the Prime Stone Goliath, Adam would take something from the monsters he defeated to add to his collection - a trophy. This applied to some other important memories as well, but mostly monsters, because he was a Phantom.

He fought against monsters. Thatʼs how he survived, and thatʼs how he became stronger.

Even though the Crimson Monarch was his greatest opponent up to that point, Adam couldnʼt get anything out of him. The Crimson Monarch died without leaving anything behind except Moira.

Adam couldnʼt put Moira in his storage, not because he didnʼt want to, but because she didnʼt have a physical body.

He didnʼt think about it too much, considering that Moira was to the Crimson Monarch what Lone Blaze was to him.

On the interaction side, he wasnʼt wrong, they helped each other, and shared energy and abilities, just like Phantom and the External Artifact.

However, there was a huge difference in their origins. Only now, when Arnoth explained it to him and he saw Lost Light - Arnothʼs External Artifact, did he realize that Moira and the Crimson Monarch were no common thing.

Moira wasnʼt an External Artifact. In fact, she was going to die. Only the Crimson Monarchʼs mastery of energy control, which amazed even Arnoth, helped Moira survive, if only as a shell with energy in its inner space.

Now, he recognized that Moira had been in danger all along. So far, her shell was strong enough, but as soon as Adam became stronger, Moira would die. Her mind and soul, which the Crimson Monarch preserved, would become mere energy for Adamʼs evolution.

Nothing more.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Adamʼs coat shuddered, as it lost its form, turning into energy clots.

Somewhere deep inside his inner space, Moira huddled in the corner, clutching her knees tightly to herself. Her teeth clattered as her eyes twitched in wild fear.

”Hey...” Lone Blaze tried to walk over to help her.

Without the teamwork between Moira and Lone Blaze, Adam couldnʼt use his Initial Gene. That was the price for giving her some of his Initial Gene.

”You need to calm down. That monster, Arnoth, is probably lying!” She tried to touch the frightened Moira.

Thump.

In a clumsy attempt, Moira roughly threw Lone Blaze off of herself.

”Donʼt touch me! Itʼs... Itʼs true! Every time Adam got stronger I could feel how harder it was for me to breathe in this damn place!”

Tears rushed from her eyes, combining bitterness at the Crimson Monarchʼs death and anger at him. He asked Adam to protect her, even though only he knew she was doomed to die.

”I thought I was just imagining things! That Iʼd just have to wait a little while and Iʼd get used to the pressure, but.... Whatʼs the result? Now I find out that as soon as Adam gets stronger, Iʼm going to die?! FUCK!”

Lone Blaze gulped. She was smart enough to realize that Arnoth wasnʼt lying.

It made her look at Moira with pity.

”Fuck, donʼt you dare look at me like that! Youʼre in no danger, you stupid artifact!” Moira shouted. ”Yes, I made a mistake! I almost died, and... now I have to go through this again? Why did you even bother saving me in the first place?!”

Lone Blaze had nothing to say.

Neither she, nor Adam, nor even the Evolution Tree could realize that Moira shouldnʼt be alive to begin with.

The Crimson Monarch did a trick that no one could understand. Arnoth knew what the Crimson Monarch did, but it was obvious from his words that even he couldnʼt do it again.

That meant only one thing - no one could save Moira.

To do so, Adam would need to have the same knowledge of energy that the Crimson Monarch had, but... that was impossible unless he became stronger.

If Adam became stronger, K4-Level, or even higher, his energy would kill Moira.

It was a vicious circle that neither Adam nor Moira had a way out of.

And no one could help them. Especially not now, in the middle of a battle against a powerful enemy.

Step.

Arnoth stopped, peering into Adamʼs inner space again.

”I see. So you all only found out about this now. It makes me feel bad...”

Lost Light shook her head. ”Donʼt be. You couldnʼt know what the Crimson Monarch did, and neither could they. But... We can offer everyone here eternal peace - just silence and quiet darkness.”

”Yes.” Arnoth clenched his fist tightly, golden energy running down his arm. ”As long as you see the light, you must fight. Itʼs a reminder that youʼre alive.”

Despite everything that had happened, Adam had not lost his will.

He used all his abilities, his Initial Gene was unavailable due to Moiraʼs crisis, his path couldnʼt lead him to victory. But, that didnʼt mean he had to stop.

”No matter what happens...”

Adam wheezed, slowly rising from the ground. Blood stains covered the ruined column.

”Youʼll always be with me, until the end, right?”

Somewhere far away, but simultaneously close, Silvana smiled.

”Sure. Iʼll take on your pain if I have to. Iʼll give you all my energy. Iʼll become a part of you.”

Step.

Adam stepped forward, the first needle struggling to appear in his right hand. His strength was only enough to do so.

The Evolution Tree was completely drained after Adam used the path. The only reason Adam was still conscious and could even continue fighting was because of Silvanaʼs energy from her Evolution Sprout.

She immediately channeled the energy to Adam as soon as she saw that Arnoth was still alive, even after what Adam had done.

”Oh, do you still want to fight?” Arnoth was genuinely amazed, his eyes wide open.

Lost Light smiled weakly. ”Donʼt forget. Just like you, heʼs not alone. Even if he doesnʼt have Moira... even if he doesnʼt have his External Artifact. He always has his Operator.”

”Right...” Arnoth stammered. ”In that case, Iʼll show you my highest respect, Adam. For you and your Operator!”

At the same moment, streams of golden energy headed upward, turning into bright spots passing across the ceiling.

Soon, dozens of pillars of light would rain down on the throne room, destroying the castle as it had been for decades.