Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1595: Ice Path (Part 2)

Adam and Alexia arrived at the Primal Lands through a Spatial Anomaly. It was the fastest and most efficient way for Phantoms like them, but now it was time to return.

”Ice Path? Is that some kind of road in the Primal Lands?” Adam asked, his head filled with confusion.

Goen waved his hand.

”Nah, it’s more like a tunnel running through the entire Primal Lands. This tunnel has several branches, so if you want, you can get to the nearest spire in the Dead Lands and teleport to the Citadel, or go straight to the Citadel.”

Adam and Alexia exchanged glances. They had never heard of such Paths.

”First the Detached Mountains and now this?” Adam asked.

Goen shrugged.

”If you don’t want to use such a convenient method, you can always go the old way. Nothing is stopping you from turning around and walking straight to the Citadel.”

”Hell no!” Alexia exclaimed, slapping her palms on the ground. ”That would take forever! Shit, why can’t we just teleport wherever we want?”

”Hahaha, even if you had that ability, I assure you, there would immediately be many who would be unhappy about it, and they would find a way to limit your ability to do so.”

Adam glanced upward. Somewhere in this area wandered the Spatial Anomaly that had brought them here, but no one, not even Goen, knew where it was at the moment.

Only at the Detached Mountains were the Spatial Anomalies in a stationary state. It was strictly forbidden to disturb the anomalies there because they were all in a delicate balance with each other.

”That’s why we used a natural Spatial Anomaly, right?” Adam asked.

Arika’s expression became more serious as she smiled faintly. ”Well, well, you figured it out right away? Yeah, the Detached Mountains are not only a fast but also a safe way to travel around our world. No one can predict where you will appear next.”

This conversation did not interest Alexia much as she rested her cheek on her hand.

”So? Where is this Ice Path? I know how Adam returned from the Tarnished Lands. Are you suggesting we run in a straight line for hundreds of kilometers?”

Adam’s eyes showed that he had the same question.

If he had a safe route from Izardo to the nearest spire, he would definitely use it. The hunters, and especially Menax, were a deadly threat to him. He barely won that time.

”Nah, it’s much simpler than that. The Ice Path is a tunnel deep underground. One of the entrances is not far from my area. There you will meet my friend, Ramilo. He... Let’s just say he’s an unusual conversationalist. You won’t have to run, and the whole trip will only take a few hours.”

From Goen’s words, it was clear that this was unlikely to be a peaceful road trip, but it was much better than trying to reach the Citadel via the surface.

”When do we leave?” Adam glared at Goen. ”You said you’d give us a couple of days, but I understand that after your fight, that time has been reduced?”

”Hah, yeah, you’re right. You can leave right now or, at the latest, tomorrow morning.”

Adam and Alexia exchanged glances. They didn’t need words to make a decision.

”Alright, then we want to leave right now.”

Alexia nodded. ”Ughum. Thanks for the food and sleep, it was a cool experience. But Adam’s right, we’ve achieved our goals here and even more.”

Goen’s face showed that he was surprised by this decision, but how could he refuse?

After all, he had chosen to live here, in the Primal Lands, because he preferred peace and quiet.

”Good. In that case, follow me. We’ll be there in ten minutes.”

Alexia glanced at Arika.

”Will you come with us? And... Am I correct in understanding that you can just turn into a sword and wait for Goen to carry you?”

The corners of her lips turned upward.

”Yeah, I can. All options are available to me. Goen can carry me in his arms as well if I want, but tonight is too good an evening to miss.”

Thus, they left Goen’s house, moving toward the river below the slope.

Only a few hours had passed, but there were almost no traces left of Goen’s battle. The wind and snow had done most of the work, hiding the bloody traces and craters, while various scavengers had torn the fifth team’s bodies to pieces.

Adam and Alexia didn’t know what to expect, but they ended up stopping in front of an inconspicuous cave between the rocks.

If Goen hadn’t pointed out this place to them, they would never have guessed that there was anything here, especially something as important as the Ice Path.

Step. Step. Step.

They descended along the cave, which gradually turned into a grand staircase carved out of stone. It was a deep descent, made so that no events on the surface could affect the Ice Path.

”Wow, who did all this?” Adam looked around, touching the rough edges of the walls.

Goen shrugged.

”It’s the same as how these things always happen. A long time ago, someone like you needed a quick and direct way to get from one place to another. Then, someone saw the potential in it, and several people started working on a common goal, adding and removing things, setting rules, and so on.

”If most people see the benefit in something, then sooner or later, it will inevitably appear and be in demand, just like the cars at the Citadel.”

Their footsteps echoed off the cold walls as they finally descended, it took almost ten minutes.

Ahead, there was a huge flat area that ended abruptly in an abyss, like the edge of a subway.

Someone was sitting on a stone bench to the right.

It wasn’t a Phantom or monster in human form. That one looked more like the Old Horn.

”Is that him...?” Adam was confused as he looked at the anthropomorphic creature.

”Yeah, that’s Ramilo.”

It looked like a human, except it was a huge, fluffy, blue cat!