Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1737 1737: Silent Void

Anyone who had seen Zin fight seriously even once knew that he always carried the red apple with him.

On the one hand, it was just a piece of fruit. Its shape, color, scent, and even the crunch when bitten were the same as those of a fresh apple you could buy at any store.

However, everyone knew that part of Zinʼs powers was hidden within that apple. Every time he bit into it, something significant happened, something that could help him win.

The emerald clock continued ticking, counting the time that had passed since the start of the battle, but for the first time during their fight, complete silence hung over the arena.

No one could place any more bets. Sure, many wanted to, but there were no fools here willing to risk incurring Leernaʼs wrath. Neither she nor her assistants would accept a single more bet. Now the spectators could only watch the progress of the fight just like in any other arena.

”Hmm? What is that?” someone muttered, confused.

His buddy leaned forward, squinting at Zin. ”Is that… Is that an apple in his hand?”

”Yeah, looks like it. Wait, has he been carrying that apple with him all this time? In his coat? But… why?”

The spectators exchanged glances, confused. Only a small fraction of them knew the answer to that question.

Apparently, Kaerno was one of them.

”Well, well, itʼs time to start the real fight, isnʼt it?”

”Agh?” Sarka tilted her head, baffled. ”Boss, whatʼs that apple?”

Kaerno smirked. ”Oh, so you donʼt know? I thought youʼd seen Zin fight a couple of times.”

She puffed out her cheeks.

”Yes, but back then it was all over in a few hits! I didnʼt even know he could roar that loud! Now heʼs pulled out some kind of apple! Whatʼs he going to do with it, eat it?”

Strangely enough, Sarka had answered her own question correctly.

Tap. Tap.

Adam tilted his head left and right, trying to shake out all the blood that hadnʼt yet drained from his ears.

His hearing was gradually returning, but hadnʼt yet reached normal levels.

ʼYou can come back to me,ʼ Adam thought as the two dark arcs covering his ears trembled, transforming into his black needle.

ʼI donʼt mind, but Adam…ʼ The Silver Weaver grew wary. ʼThat wonʼt be enough. Youʼll have to use something else if you want to keep winning. Thereʼs something wrong with that apple.ʼ

Adam nodded.

ʼI know. Though given his abilities, Iʼm surprised he has something like this. If this is his weapon, wouldnʼt it make more sense for him to have a violin, a flute, or maybe a harp? What is he going to do with this apple?ʼ

Step.

Zin stepped forward, holding his apple in his hand.

”Are you ready to continue, Adam?” Zin asked with life in his voice.

”Huh, looks like someone finally woke up?” Adam pointed to his chest and shoulder. ”It took you getting two serious wounds to do that. I thought youʼd start taking our fight more seriously sooner.”

Zin shrugged as he glanced at Esʼaha over his shoulder.

”I have more reasons to win now. Someone important has placed a big bet on me. You know, I just canʼt let her down.”

Adam smiled bitterly. ”But your goals are still more important, right?”

Zin nodded.

”Of course. After all, it was precisely to achieve those goals that I agreed to participate in the Grim Court for the first time.”

”Donʼt you want to tell me what those goals are?”

”I do.”

Strangely enough, Adam hadnʼt expected that answer.

Then, Zin sighed heavily.

”But I canʼt. Maybe youʼll figure out what I want on your own soon. After all, itʼs to some extent connected to you, Adam.”

Zin blinked as he looked at his apple, at his reflection in its red, smooth surface.

”But thatʼs not what this is about right now. Right now, we have to keep fighting. Thatʼs what we want, and what everyone who came to watch our fight wants.”

At the same moment, Zin brought the red apple to his mouth.

Adam tensed, gripping his needle tighter.

ʼWhat will happen next? Will this be the beginning of some transformation?ʼ

Slowly, Zin opened his mouth before taking a big bite of the apple.

Crunch!

As soon as the loud, distinct crunch sounded, silence hung over the arena.

It wasnʼt that the spectators were silent, no, absolutely all sounds had vanished, even the slightest breath.

Adam, who was closest to Zin, felt strange.

ʼItʼs as if Iʼve been thrown into the void… How quiet, no… Itʼs too quiet.ʼ

He lowered his gaze to his chest. He could hear his heart beating strongly and loudly. Even in a very quiet room, achieving such a result was impossible. It required special, scientific chambers.

ʼADAM!ʼ The Silver Weaverʼs voice echoed in his mind, but it was already too late.

”Agh?”

Adam gasped as he realized that Zin had vanished.

Tremble!

With a tremor, the black flash appeared to his right, Zin with a bitten red apple.

”What? Are you unaccustomed to being without sound? Come on, Adam, what could be better than silence?” Zin said calmly before his leg turned into a blur.

CRASH!

Zinʼs foot slammed straight into Adamʼs jaw at tremendous speed, but this was no ordinary physical kick.

Purple ripples ran across Zinʼs foot, sound waves, fast and powerful, making his kick far more dangerous.

CRASH!

The impact sent Adam flying to the side as the shockwave tore through the void hanging over the arena.

However, before Adamʼs back could hit the wall or the floor, Zin bit into his apple once more.

Again, Adam could no longer hear anything.

All he could see was Zinʼs figure, which vanished right before his eyes the next moment.

”Where is he?!” Adam exclaimed inwardly as his gaze instinctively shot upward.

First, he saw the emerald clock, then someoneʼs silhouette blocked the green light coming from above.

Clutch.

Zin clenched his fist as the sound waves ran along it, gathering all the power of the sounds he had absorbed.

”Letʼs see if you can survive this punch, Adam.”