Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1671 1671: Quiet Servant (Part 1)

Step. Step. Step.

Adam and Sarka were walking forward after their brutal descent. Adam was brushing the dust off his shoulders as they hadnʼt yet entered the Pitʼs territory, though they were very close to it.

”What did you mean when you said we had to lure out the Frenzied Shards? Are they alive?”

In response, Sarka waved his hand from side to side.

”Something like that. The Frenzied Shards possess a will on par with that of powerful artifacts, though they have no mind. The Frenzied Shards fill the Pit, and as youʼve realized, they possess immense power.”

Adam tilted his head.

”Isnʼt even getting close to a Frenzied Shard dangerous?”

”Of course it is, but has that ever stopped you?”

She looked at him with a smirk on her face.

”Weʼve only known each other for a day, but itʼs obvious that you gained your power at such a young age, not through long meditation and practice. You fought, time and again, putting yourself in life-or-death situations. Well, considering that youʼre standing here before me now, when your life was on the line, you always won.”

Adam didnʼt reply. He had nothing to say since Sarka was right. After all, she was exactly the same, which was precisely why she had chosen the Blade Pillar as her home.

”Monsters crave this power, and even though only a tiny fraction of them have a chance to withstand the power of the Frenzied Shard, let alone use it to create the Hollow Mark, thereʼs still a chance.”

After thinking for a moment, Adam touched his chin.

”Are you saying that the Frenzied Shards are hiding somewhere or even protecting themselves?”

Sarka snapped her fingers as her eyes lit up.

”Exactly! However, the Frenzied Shards canʼt protect themselves, so they use other monsters for that. They form a sort of contract with particularly powerful monsters. Those monsters obey their orders and protect them.

”Itʼs a win-win, because through this bond, the Frenzied Shard shares its power with all the monsters under its control. Sure, itʼs only a small fraction of what a monster could gain by devouring the Frenzied Shard, but there are no risks involved.”

Adam grinned. ”Huh, I think youʼre wrong about that.”

”Hmm? What the hell does that mean? Are you saying you know this place better than I do?” Sarka frowned, her cheeks puffing out. ”Donʼt forget, youʼre a stranger! Pfffft!”

ʼSheʼs acting like a child, no doubt about it.ʼ

”No, thatʼs not what I meant.” Adam pointed at himself, then at her. ”You said there are no risks for these monsters, but what about you and me? If I were in their shoes, I wouldnʼt want to run into someone like us.”

Sarkaʼs expression changed in an instant.

”Oh, yeah, youʼre right!” She smiled widely. ”Everyone here will be afraid of us because weʼre strong!”

”So, to get to a Frenzied Shard, we have to find one of these monsters?”

”Frenzied Servants.”

”Agh?”

Sarka nodded to the side.

”Thatʼs what we call them. We need the Frenzied Servants. Every Frenzied Shard has at least a few servants, and they donʼt just stand next to the shard, they act like professional guards.

”The weaker and faster ones are stationed far from the shard. Their job is to report threats and prepare for defense. Though more often than not, they strike at the right moment and get rid of the problem right away.”

She was about to continue talking about the Frenzied Servants. It was a topic she knew well, but something made her stop.

Instead of listening to her, Adam pointed to a large, broken mirror in the distance. Its massive frame stood out even among the rest of the debris and objects.

”Someone like this one?”

”W-What?”

Sarka spun around sharply as her eyes widened.

A monster sat on the edge of the mirror, its knees bent. Its arms and legs were unusually long, as was its torso. Its entire body was covered in thick armor made of hundreds of dark-blue, metal, petal-like plates.

The same plates covered its head, where the monsterʼs eyes peered through narrow gaps. However, instead of the usual color, its eyes burned with an amber flame, a distinctive trait of the Frenzied Servants.

At that moment, Adam didnʼt know this, but a single glance was enough for him to understand.

ʼVaguely, but I sense the same thing from its aura as I do from Larthʼs Hollow Mark. So is this actually one of the servants? Thatʼs good. It means we wonʼt have to waste time searching.ʼ

Sarkaʼs teeth were chattering. She hadnʼt expected them to stumble upon a Frenzied Servant so quickly.

”H-Hah, weʼre really lucky, you know?”

Adam shook his head. ”So this is one of those servants?”

”Yeah, but donʼt forget what I said. If we ran into one right here, then this Frenzied Shard has a lot of servants. Otherwise, weʼd have to go much deeper into the Pit.”

Feeling the tension, Adam stared at the monster. The servant was studying them just as they were studying him.

”So out of all that Frenzied Shardʼs servants, this one must be the weakest and fastest?”

In response, Sarka nodded as her fangs bared.

”Yeah, but donʼt forget that theyʼre all strong, regardless of their position in their small circle. Though you should be able to sense everything by its aura. Hahaha, looks like a remarkable Frenzied Shard awaits us!”

”Sheʼs right,” Adam grew wary, sensing the servantʼs aura. ”If Iʼm not mistaken, this is on the level of Kaernoʼs maids. But… he said that each of them managed to return from the Pit and retained their sanity after contact with a Frenzied Shard. Why the hell is this monster so strong?”

”Hey, Adam.”

”Hmm?”

Sarkaʼs fingertips were trembling.

”As soon as we release our auras, that monster will run for help. I think you understand that we canʼt let him get away.”

”Wouldnʼt it be better to follow him?”

”Donʼt worry, I know how to get information.”

A dangerous gleam flashed in her eyes.

”Tell me, are you ready for the chase?”

Adam leaned forward, staring at the servant who knew exactly what was about to happen.

”Yes.”

”Great.”

With a smile on her face, Sarkaʼs aura intensified as their chase began.