Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1744 1744: Strange Helmet (Part 2)

Clearly, Zinʼs ”Sound Order” didnʼt work on Adam. It was a tactic designed for weaker opponents, a sort of area-of-effect attack that allowed Zin to eliminate everyone who was merely a nuisance to him all at once.

However, this time he used his ”Sound Order” for a different reason.

He wanted to test what he was capable of.

Zin rarely fought, and even more rarely did he fight at full strength with the intent to win. Since reaching the Black Threat Level and deciding to spend most of his time at the Pit, he had only had a few fights, most of which ended within the first few minutes.

He couldnʼt remember the last time heʼd used his Hollow Mark and golden headphones, when his voice possessed the power to force hundreds of monsters to their knees at his command.

However, he took no pleasure in watching the monsters on their knees. They were merely a simple test.

Now, only one person deserved his full attention.

”What do you say, Adam? Are you ready for the final round? I saw your expression earlier—were you really afraid Iʼd decided to kill myself?”

Adam smiled bitterly, running a hand through his hair.

”What can I say? Iʼve never seen anything like this. You know, headphones are pretty common at the Citadel, right?”

Unlike the confused monsters, Zin nodded.

”Yeah, I know what you call them. I donʼt know if itʼs a coincidence or not, but thatʼs what my Hollow Mark looks like.”

Suddenly, Adamʼs expression changed. His eyes grew colder.

”Still, you havenʼt achieved your goal yet, have you?”

Zin shook his head.

”No. Iʼm afraid thereʼs no turning back now. I made my decision when I stepped into the arena, and now Iʼve shown you everything Iʼve got.”

Tremble.

Without hesitation, imaginary blades appeared in Adamʼs hands. Two transparent blades trembled in his hands, and only purple outlines defined their shape.

Without saying a word, Adam pointed one of the blades at Zin.

”I see. In that case, itʼs time to end this, isnʼt it?”

At the same moment, the space above warped as several imaginary blades appeared out of nowhere. Their tips were aimed at Zin, who, with a slight smile, was ready to meet them.

At Adamʼs command, the four imaginary blades spun at tremendous speed before crashing down on Zin, slicing through the wind.

The spectators held their breath, waiting for Zinʼs reaction. But, despite the threat, he remained in his spot, continuing to look at Adam.

THUD!

Instead of piercing Zin, the imaginary blades hovered in the air, unable to reach him. Something was preventing them from touching him, a barrier of wandering sound waves surrounded him in several layers.

Adam frowned as he put more energy into his attack, channeling power through his blade.

The four blades moved a little closer, but the sound waves grew stronger as well, stopping the blades once again.

The closer the barrier was to Zin, the denser it became. Thus, even if Adam used twice as much energy, it still wouldnʼt be enough to scratch Zin.

Zin, in turn, closed his eyes and nodded contentedly.

”So this was one of the abilities you hadnʼt shown me yet?”

Step.

Zin stepped forward as he raised his hand.

”If you had used those blades at the very beginning, I might have had trouble, but now...”

Tap.

Zin touched the tip of the imaginary blade.

”They wonʼt be able to reach me no matter how much they want to.”

A slight ripple ran through Zinʼs finger as the sound blast sent the imaginary blade flying in the opposite direction.

Crack!

The blade slammed into the ceiling, smashing through the emerald clock with such force that it shattered into fragments like a mirror.

The remaining blades met the same fate.

Click.

Zin snapped his fingers, and immediately a dozen sound waves spread out from him, passing through the imaginary blades and damaging them with every ripple, until nothing remained of them.

Adamʼs jaw tightened. He could create a few more imaginary blades, or even dozens, but what was the point?

Step. Step. Step.

Zin stepped forward, unhurriedly. After he activated his Hollow Mark, a lightness appeared in his gaze, something he had lacked before.

”You know, Adam, I know quite a bit about the Phantoms. By my calculations, you should have already shown me all your main abilities. Maybe you have one or two tricks left up your sleeve, but no more than that, and if it were anything significant, you would have used them by now.”

Darkness filled Adamʼs gaze.

”What do you mean by that?”

In response, Zin smiled kindly, leaned forward, and snapped his fingers as if heʼd caught Adam off guard.

”Your Nexus? Where is it?”

Adamʼs pupils narrowed, which only confirmed Zinʼs theory.

”So I was right after all. At first, I thought that needle was your Nexus, but I was wrong. It was one of your abilities, just like everything else youʼve shown me.”

A few moments later, Zin asked:

”Why? Why havenʼt you used your Nexus yet?”

There was no answer. For Zin, that was more than enough.

”I see. You have secrets just like I do, right? Well, either youʼll have to show what youʼre hiding, or youʼll lose, because Iʼm going to win, and thatʼs all there is to it!”

Adam grew wary. He braced for an attack, expecting another roar, clap, or something similar, but to his surprise, Zin remained in place.

He raised his single right arm high into the air. Before, he had held his apple in that hand, but now he could fully concentrate on his power.

Ripple. Ripple. Ripple.

A tremor rippled through the air, distorting space with a multitude of sound waves heading toward his palm.

Very soon, there were so many sound waves that, due to their density, a purple, transparent blade formed, extending from Zinʼs palm and reaching the highest point of the arena.

Crack.

The emerald clock created by Leerna stopped when the sound blade severed its third part.

”We donʼt need time anymore. Am I right, Adam?”

His eyes shone brightly as his palm slammed down with the full force of the sound blade.

”Weʼll decide for ourselves when itʼs enough!”