Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1444: The Last View

Menax remembered his first victory well. Like most monsters, it was a battle against another monster.

Like many in such a deep part of the world, Menax was born an Awakened Monster, so he didn’t have to start from scratch and obtain his human form and free mind.

Nevertheless, his path was more difficult and bloodier than that of most monsters, there was no doubt about that. In his first battle, he almost died, the teeth of the great beast piercing his shoulder and leaving deep scars, but his golden blade was able to pierce the beast’s throat a little earlier.

Menax never forgot this key moment in his history, nor did he forget the many battles that made him stronger, allowing him to stand here now and fight against Adam Vinter.

In this, he and Adam were alike. Each of them had faced failure many times, for different reasons, but each time they found a way to win.

But… Now everything had changed.

Blood flowed from Menax’s mouth in a powerful stream as his heart desperately tried to keep beating, but Adam’s palm prevented that from happening.

Those who had never lost in deadly battles before clashed on the battlefield. Obviously, only one of them could continue on his path.

Each of them believed in their victory, just as before, but reality proved cruel, at least for one of them.

“Gha…”

Menax’s hoarse voice rang out as he lowered his gaze to Adam’s calm eyes. They were gradually regaining their natural blue color.

Slowly, Adam withdrew his hand from Menax’s chest, covered in blood up to his wrist. Menax struggled to stay on one knee, but his life was coming to an end.

He remembered every important battle he had fought before, and this would be the last in his history.

He saw Adam disappear as the purple flame engulfed Adam’s frame and then…

‘Then it was all over…’

Menax thought, slowly raising his gaze.

“You… Adam… You won…”

There was no pity or anger toward Menax in Adam’s gaze, only respect and even gratitude. This was a fight he hadn’t prepared for, unlike his duels against Ureyn and Erada. He didn’t know that the hunters would come after him when he left Izardo, nor that Menax would be the strongest of them.

Still, it was the battle Adam desperately needed. His heart wanted it. It was a brutal fight, full of blood, wounds, and power, against an opponent who was truly his equal in strength and spirit.

“Menax, I don’t know how much longer you can hold out, but we both know you only have a few breaths left.”

Adam lowered himself to eye level.

“Do you have anything to say? Do you have a last wish?”

“Hah… Shut up… you arrogant bastard…” Menax croaked as blood flowed from his mouth with every word, several crimson drops falling onto Adam’s face.

Then, Menax smiled bitterly as he nodded slightly.

“My body…”

“Hmm?”

Menax stared into Adam’s eyes.

“Don’t let anyone get my body… They’ll pounce on my flesh like vultures… like pathetic scavengers! Don’t let them do that!”

Adam nodded deeply.

“I see. I’ll do that.”

“G-Great, at least one piece of good news… before… before I rest…”

Silence.

No one else said anything, and even the gusts of wind rushing along the canyon did not disturb the peaceful silence.

Adam watched as Menax’s eyes slowly closed until darkness engulfed him.

Thump.

He fell at Adam’s feet. The great warrior had been defeated, a stellar monster who, in the future, several hundred years from now, could have become a powerful Lord.

Adam was at his limit as well. There was almost no energy left in his body, and his Evolution Tree resembled a dried-up river where only a few drops remained from the great flow.

However, he couldn’t allow himself to close his eyes. Not only because it was dangerous, but also because he had to fulfill Menax’s last wish.

“Shit… I should have just watched him die in silence…” Adam shook his head and threw Menax over his shoulder.

Tremble.

His knees trembled, even such a weight now seemed enormous to him. But he moved forward, step by step, toward the slope of the canyon.

“Well, you say that, but you would never have done it, would you?” Silvana asked as she appeared next to Adam.

She wanted to help him, but she couldn’t. All her energy had gone into their last clash and Adam’s last dash.

But, even though she didn’t have the physical ability to help Adam and couldn’t give him energy, she could always support him with her words and presence.

“Now, you feel better than ever, don’t you?” Silvana smirked.

Adam smiled bitterly.

“Hah… Even though I feel like I’m about to collapse from exhaustion, you’re right… Ureyn and Erada were worthy opponents, but Menax was not. Huh, that bastard actually almost killed me.”

Adam knew full well that if his last attack had failed, Menax’s spear would have pierced his chest in return. They both had the same goal, but Adam was a little faster.

“In the end, the Path Construct created exactly the weapon you needed. Although when I first saw that you had lost your sword and Nexus and received a simple black staff in return, I thought it was a disaster.”

In response, Adam just shrugged.

“Well, I didn’t have time to think about it. If I had hesitated, the golden palm would have crushed me.”

Their walk continued as they occasionally talked about something, whether it was the past battle or the dangers that might await Adam further on.

But, at that moment, Adam had only one goal — to get out of the canyon and fulfill Menax’s wish.

He usually didn’t do this, but this time, for some reason, he decided he had to find out what he could do, what Menax would want at the end of his path.

‘I wonder, what about me? What would I do if I were in his place? Would he grant my wish?’

Adam shook his head.

‘That’s not what I should be thinking about. I won… which means it’s time to go home!’