Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1716 1716: Red Apple

Batar was an unfortunate opponent for Narha, as his defense was too high, but the same could be said of Narha.

He couldnʼt catch up to Narha. She was too fast and agile. All that was left for Batar was to hope that one of his heavy attacks would land on Narha, but that was unlikely to happen anytime soon.

Sure, if they had used their trump cards and Hollow Marks, their fight might have changed drastically and quickly reached its conclusion, but they wouldnʼt do that - it was a condition of their battle.

Clash!

After another clash, Batar and Narha stepped back, staring intently at each other for a moment.

They both realized they were evenly matched, and that wasnʼt good news for either of them.

If they couldnʼt even defeat each other, what chance did they stand against Adam?

”Tsk.” Batar brushed his mouth with the back of his hand. ”Looks like weʼre both better than we thought, huh?”

Narha swung her katana.

”Or worse. Maybe I shouldnʼt have set conditions for our fight.”

Batarʼs expression grew serious as he leaned forward.

”Are you ready to use our trump cards? Do you think itʼs worth it?”

In response, Narha assumed a fighting stance, drawing her hand back and pointing her katana at him.

”Who knows? But, at this rate, weʼll keep fighting until the very start of the Grim Court. We canʼt let that happen.”

”Hah,” Batar grunted. ”Youʼre right. I have to be in the arena today, otherwise, whatʼs the point of my training?”

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Their auras grew significantly stronger as they prepared to move on to the next phase of their battle.

But, for some reason, the woman standing off to the side wasnʼt looking at them. Her gaze was directed upward.

THUNDER!

Suddenly, a clap of thunder ripped through the dark sky, stopping Batar and Narha at the last moment.

A chill ran down their spines, as if they knew what had caused that thunder.

Slowly, they raised their heads only to see Kelya. Her lightning-like wings were spread wide, trembling with power.

She glided down to the ground as they stared at her blood-stained form, especially at her fists, which were covered in a thick layer of dark blood all the way up to her elbows.

Batar gulped, and Narha instinctively took a step back. They both realized that this wasnʼt Kelyaʼs blood, but that of other monsters, unranked ones just like them, who had wanted to participate in the Grim Court.

”Well, well.” Kelya clicked her tongue, looking first at Batar and then at Narha. ”How much time has passed since the announcement? Two hours? And you still havenʼt decided which of you is stronger?”

Batar frowned. ”I knew youʼd come, Kelya. To be honest with you, I thought youʼd join us right from the start. But it seems you decided to deal with the others first.”

Step.

Narha stepped forward, a glint flashing across her blade.

”How many fighters have you already crossed off the list?”

Kelya shrugged nonchalantly.

”A dozen? Maybe more? Who knows? They all went down in one or a few blows. From the start, they shouldnʼt have wasted their time hoping they were worthy opponents for Adam Vinter. Against him, they wouldnʼt have lasted a single round.”

Then her amber eyes deepened, filling with arrogance and a touch of madness.

”What about you? I expected that when I came here, I would fight the winner, but it seems that since our last meeting, you have achieved far less than I expected.”

Batar shook his head, flexing his powerful neck.

”Sure, your thunder wings are formidable, but are you sure of victory if we fight at full strength?”

Narha ran her katana through the gusts of wind, preparing for a dangerous battle.

”Either way, only one of the three of us is worthy of todayʼs fight. We must find out who it will be, and as quickly as possible.”

At that very moment, all three of them released their auras. They understood that there was no one left in the Hollow Lands worthy of this Grim Court.

Or… were they all wrong?

…

Racing through the wind currents, Esʼaha moved toward the far reaches of the Hollow Lands, or more precisely, toward the dark corners of the Pit.

She rarely left her pillar, just like any Finger, and right now she had no business at the Pit.

However, she hadnʼt come here to get or find anything. She had to meet someone.

”Itʼs been a long time since I last saw him. I wonder if heʼs changed even a little?” Esʼaha thought, looking at the thousands of chaotic objects scattered across the Pit.

She flew over the vast territory, moving into an area that was far too dangerous and gloomy even for the Fangs.

Moreover, not all Thorns were allowed to enter here. There were no official laws forbidding it, but this part of the Pit was far too dangerous even for monsters like them.

Esʼaha hadnʼt seen any servants or Frenzied Shards for several minutes, which, at her speed, was equivalent to dozens of kilometers of ground - only ruins and a heavy, gloomy aura filling these lands.

This continued until everything was shrouded in darkness, as the black mist passed by the ruins.

”Here!” Esʼahaʼs pupils dilated as she saw a bright light in the distance.

Soon, she approached a place rare for the Pit. Unlike other spots, there were no ruins here, only an empty field with short black grass and earth steeped in darkness.

In the rock receding into an endless wall, there was a source of bright light.

The amber flame emanated from a core, from the edges of which black roots extended, spreading along the wall and the ground. Some of the roots served as supports, while others were directed forward like blades.

From time to time, the roots trembled as the amber pulse ran through them when the core quivered.

It looked like the entrance to a cave, but the core filled the space.

Opposite the mysterious core, a young man in a tattered long coat sat on a flat rock. His black hair fluttered in the gusts of wind, and his calm eyes seemed not to notice Esʼahaʼs presence.

His gaze was fixed on only one thing - a fresh, red apple resting on one of the black roots. Perhaps the only thing here that was full of life.