Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 928: Simple Puzzles (Part 2)

”You know,” Adam smiled, taking Silvana by her hand. ”After living my whole life at the Upper Ring I never really thought about it. I didnʼt become a Phantom very long ago, but Iʼm glad I had the time to get to know Silvana better and stay with her forever.”

The embarrassed Silvana said nothing but turned aside with a red face and nodded deeply.

”Hmm?” Orel raised an eyebrow. ”You became a Phantom not too long ago? Wait... How many years ago did you get your Spark?”

In an instant, all eyes went to Adam, three interested and one concerned from Silvana. Risha, Misa, and Orel were curious to know when Adam became a Phantom.

”What?” Risha frowned. ”My brother has told you so much and you canʼt share that kind of information with us? Just tell us when it happened!”

Adam scratched the back of his head, smiling awkwardly. ”Well, I donʼt mind, but Orel asked the wrong question.”

”Hmm? What does that mean?”

”From the moment I became a Phantom, the moment I killed my first monster, it hasnʼt even been a year yet. Itʼll be one year in a couple of months, but for now, the situation is as it is...”

Misa and Rishaʼs eyes went wide ready to fly out of their orbits.

”W-Wait!” Risha jumped up slamming her palms on the table. ”Youʼre lying! How the hell is that possible?! I couldnʼt lose to a Phantom who isnʼt even one year old! We consider such people to still be rookies!”

Now, Adam was baffled. The reason was that Risha looked young. She wasnʼt younger than Adam, but the difference between her and Misa or Silvana was noticeable.

”Take your time,” Adam stopped her with a wave of his hand. ”How many years ago did you become a Phantom? You look my age, maybe one year younger and Iʼm not sure about that.”

Risha narrowed her eyes, staring at Adam.

”Five years ago! I killed Phantom five years ago when I was twelve!”

Now, a wave of shock covered Adam and Silvana while Misa, Orel, and Risha appeared confused.

Silvana tilted her head. ”So... Risha is the Natural Phantom, just like Adam, right?”

”Agh? What the hell is she talking about?” Risha snorted.

Everyone turned to Orel who was still holding the puzzles. He seemed to be the only one who could explain everything.

”I see... You, the Light Phantoms are unaware of this,” Orel smiled bitterly, shaking his head. ”However, my stupid little sister doesnʼt know about it either.”

Then, Orel folded back in his chair folding his hands together.

”At the Lower Ring, the Artificial Phantoms are practically nonexistent.”

Risha opened her mouth in confusion. ”The Artificial Phantoms? Brother, what the hell is that?”

How stunned Silvana and Adam were was hard to convey. Even though it was a secret at the Upper Ring, the nobles, high-ranking military officers, and the government knew about the Artificial and Natural Phantoms.

It was not uncommon for it to be the dividing line of potential and opportunity between one Phantom and another. Being the Artificial Phantom was not the end, Katrin proved that and many other capable fighters, but it had its advantages and its price.

Orel looked at Risha. ”To answer your question, at the Upper Ring, they divide the Phantoms into two categories. One for most, is the Artificial Phantoms. These are the Phantoms who got the Spark, then the government helps them kill their first monster and they become Phantoms - receiving their Evolution Tree.”

If Rishaʼs jaw could it would crash to the floor.

”WHAT? The government is helping them? They just wait and become Phantoms?!” she slammed her palms down on the table. ”How is that even a thing?!”

Her shocked voice echoed around the room. If there were other Phantoms from the Lower Ring here, they would share her reaction.

”Well...” Orel tapped the table. ”Being the Artificial Phantom has its drawbacks. The chances of a natural appearance of the Spark are pretty low, and in many aspects, the Artificial Phantoms are inferior to the Natural Ones.”

”The Natural Phantoms?” she muttered.

”Basically itʼs you, me, and 99% of all Phantoms of the Lower Ring. Nothing new for you here Risha. Unfortunately or not we have no such division.”

”But...” Adam stammered. ”How is that possible? Are almost all of the Phantoms at the Lower Ring the Natural Ones? That sounds crazy.”

”Yeah, to you. But itʼs true. When I learned of the difference between our rings in this matter I was as dazed as you are. We people at the Lower Ring donʼt have time to wait for the 16-18-year period when the Spark might appear. Thatʼs too long.”

With a heavy sigh, Orel put one foot on the other.

”Only the children of the few wealthy families at the Lower Ring can afford to become an Artificial Phantom. They are not members of the Four Beasts, it is forbidden here.

”Rich parents take care of their children and donʼt send them into deadly battles against monsters. Apparently, because of the small odds, only some people get the Spark. It happens the same way you do, at the Upper Ring.”

Orelʼs eyes grew deeper as if he were looking somewhere far beyond their room.

”It happens extremely rarely and it is well hidden. For this reason, at the Lower Ring, very few people know that there are two different kinds of Phantoms. We only have one kind, with no special term. We are simply Phantoms, but in fact, almost all Phantoms at the Lower Ring are the Natural Phantoms.”

”So...” Adam muttered in a quiet voice. ”You, Risha, and the other Phantoms, even those three thugs, killed your first monster before you were sixteen. When you were teens, right?”

”Indeed,” Orel nodded deeply. ”You look shocked. You did the same thing, didnʼt you?”

”Yeah, but...” Adam scratched his cheek. ”At the Upper Ring, itʼs a great mystery and rare. Hah, it turns out that although there are fewer Phantoms at the Lower Ring, youʼre stronger on average, even on a genetic level.”

Orel spread his hands to the side.

”Thatʼs a complicated and long conversation. Maybe youʼre right, maybe youʼre wrong, but...” he held out his hand taking the puzzles, ”This... Weʼre not done with them.”

”Then...” his eyes flashed. ”I have a deal for you, Adam Vinter.”