Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1430: Road of Escape

“Can someone hunt me down?” Adam asked.

Erada nodded.

“Look, after defeating me, you became much stronger. In the end, you obtained the Dark Heart, and even I know that it was the last condition before you could break your next barrier.

“Every strong Phantom is a walking treasure trove, a sea of concentrated, dense energy that allows a monster or Hybrid to become stronger and move on to the next stage.”

Adam understood that everything was exactly as Erada had said. The effect became especially strong after a Phantom revealed its Path Construct, as the attention monsters paid to it increased several times over.

Obviously, the fact that many monsters knew who Adam was and that the First Star had turned its attention to him made the situation more complicated for him.

Unlike the Phantoms, who had to break through their barriers time and time again, overcoming obstacles, the monsters had a slightly different path. If a monster reached its limit, found itself at a dead end, and could not move forward, then using a huge amount of energy, a monster could simply destroy its limit with force.

It was a kind of last resort for monsters that had already used all other methods and desperately wanted to become stronger.

In fact, if Erada had not reached the next stage through the evolution of her Solar Form, she could have done so by defeating and killing Adam, absorbing all the energy he had gathered during his long journey.

Erada bit her lip. “Here, at Izardo, no one will dare attack you. The powerful monsters who keep order in the city simply won’t allow it to happen. However, when you return home, I think someone will definitely decide to attack you.”

“Do you think so, or are you sure?” Adam asked, his gaze serious.

“I’m sure of it,” Erada replied without hesitation. “If you don’t believe me, ask Helasa or Xander or someone else. They will all confirm my words. Although you’ve probably thought about it too, haven’t you?”

Adam rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“Yeah… I’ve had some thoughts about it. Well, I have no other way to get home, so I guess I’ll figure it out somehow.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Do you have any advice? I’m leaving Izardo tonight. However, I haven’t thought about which route to take.”

“Well…” Erada turned northward. “I know you came from the Forgotten Mills. You could try to get there, but you’ll probably be attacked while you’re at the Crimson Peaks. I don’t think that’s the best option. Moreover, it’s one of the longest routes if your goal is to get out of the Tarnished Lands.”

Adam closed his eyes, thinking.

‘She’s right. All I need to do is get close to the border of the Tarnished Lands, where I can get to a spire and be safe. Silvana, what do you think about this?’

Almost immediately, her voice rang out in his head.

‘You don’t have to plan your route to a specific spire. Once you’re at the borders of the Tarnished Lands, no monster will dare attack you.’

‘It’s all about Frida, right?’

Silvana nodded. ‘Sure. Here, in such a distant part, even she can’t help you, but near the Dead Lands, on the surface, nothing can stop her from destroying any target.’

‘Hah, it’s good to have someone like her in our ranks. The Second Rank Phantoms… Damn, each of them has enormous influence.’

“Hey!” Erada exclaimed, waving her fists. “Are you listening to me?!”

“Agh? Yeah, sure. I was just thinking.”

“Anyway. I think you should go through the canyon, west of Izardo. That way, you’ll bypass the Crimson Peaks, the Forgotten Mills, and head straight for the border of the Tarnished Lands. It’ll be a direct path, probably the fastest one.”

True, Adam wasn’t going to make that decision right now. He needed to consult with others, but he couldn’t help but appreciate Erada’s support.

“I see. Thank you. I appreciate it.”

Adam patted her on the shoulder in a friendly manner as Erada blushed slightly.

“Tsk. If some cunning bastard kills you on your way home, we won’t be able to fight in the future. I’m just protecting my interests, nothing more.”

“Hah, say what you want.” Adam chuckled. “I know you did it because you’re a good person.”

“NO! I’m bad, very bad! I’m a monster!”

“Hahahah!”

…

Thus, Adam began to prepare his plan to return home. Silvana, who was working on the route with Helasa, helped him a lot, but he also got some advice from Xander:

“Someone will definitely decide to hunt you down. When you notice that someone is following you, don’t show it right away. You should get as far away from Izardo and any territory in the Blighted Scar Lands as possible.

“In this way, you will force the hunters, if there are several of them, to fight each other first, and they will have to decide which of them is most worthy of killing you. They will see you not as Adam Vinter, but as a Phantom with a huge amount of energy that will help them become stronger when they consume you.

“Then, when you have fulfilled all the previous conditions, you will most likely be left alone with the strongest of the hunters. If you run as fast as you can all this time, by this point, you should already be between Izardo and the border of the Tarnished Lands.”

Xander grinned as his black eyes deepened.

“All you have to do is kill that hunter and return home. I’m sure you’ll have no trouble with that part of the plan.”

That’s what Xander said, and Adam remembered every word.

Step. Step. Step.

Step by step, Adam headed toward the eastern gate with a satisfied smirk on his face.

‘So, now I’m someone else’s prey? Alright, I’m ready!’

He knew someone would attack him, but he wasn’t going to be afraid. That wasn’t his style. He would accept the fight, win, and find out what he was now capable of.