Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1787: The Desire to Win vs. the Desire to Kill (Part 1)

When Adam returned to the Citadel from the Hollow Lands, he certainly didn’t expect that, upon meeting Aiden, he would have to fight against his two servants, Sano and Natta.

But after Adam learned a little more about them, he realized this wouldn’t be an easy battle, at least, he hoped not.

If he had known the full story of these two, he might even have begun to be wary of them, though that was unlikely. Most likely, his desire to fight them would have been even stronger. Sano and Natta were definitely not good people, far from it.

At the beginning of his journey, this would have mattered to Adam. He would have been horrified if he’d known what Sano and Natta had done long before they met Aiden, and after they started working for him, things got much worse.

But now? Adam wouldn’t care about any of that.

He had fought countless monsters who had killed hundreds or even thousands of others in their lifetimes. All that mattered to him in moments like this was whether his opponent was strong enough, and that’s it.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Sano and Natta’s auras were activated at full power. Sano had a light flame, while a terrifying crimson fire emanated from Natta. Their auras were strong enough to send vibrations through the sturdy concrete walls.

Adam merely nodded slightly. There was no fear in his eyes.

”Hey, Aiden, that’s not all, right?”

Aiden nodded.

”As you can see, if you were to fight them now, you’d defeat them with ease. After all, even though they’ve reached the K4-Level, they still need time to reach your stage.”

That was true. Back when Sano and Natta first showed Adam their auras, he realized that even though they were at the K4-Level, they were weaker than Adam in terms of energy. At the time, all his attention had been focused on the fact that they had attained that power in just a year.

”No matter how highly I rate their abilities, they’ll need help against you. Although, if you’d met a month or two ago, your powers would have been equal. In the Primal Lands and Hollow Lands, you made two powerful leaps forward. Sano and Natta need about the same amount of time to catch up to you,” Aiden explained with a calm expression.

His opinion of Sano and Natta hadn’t changed in the slightest. He knew better than anyone how difficult it was to make progress at the end of the K4-Level.

Even if it were Sano and Natta whom Aiden and Gladius were helping, this task couldn’t be accomplished in a couple of days.

Like Adam, they were the Phantoms, which meant they had their own Conditions and the Grand Stars they had to create.

The higher a person climbed toward true power, the more difficult the path became.

Aiden turned to Xyrea.

”Make them strong enough. Let this fight go until a fatal wound.”

Xyrea nodded calmly. She had known Aiden for a long time and often worked with him. Who knows, maybe if she weren’t a monster and Aiden weren’t a mysterious scientist, they could have become good friends.

Tap.

In a single step, Xyrea appeared beside Sano and Natta as she placed her hands on their shoulders.

”Hmm?” Adam watched the scene unfold with a curious look.

Even though Xyrea had taken him to the Hollow Lands, he didn’t know what abilities she possessed.

”I’ll make you strong enough to be on his level. Of course, only temporarily,” Xyrea declared as her eyes shone brightly.

With a purple flash, a surge of energy coursed through Sano and Natta, covering their bodies with light, flexible armor that protected their shoulders, waists, forearms, backs, and legs.

It wasn’t heavy armor, but rather resembled fabric, with certain parts reinforced by flat, protective plates resembling scales.

However, that was not as important as the fact that Sano and Natta’s auras immediately became two levels stronger, comparable to Adam’s power.

Tap.

With a light touch, Xyrea released two energy pulses that formed a symbol on Sano and Natta’s chests.

”If you face mortal danger, this mark will activate and save your lives.”

Xyrea looked at Aiden.

”I suppose in that case, we can say this fighter is out of the battle, right?”

Aiden nodded.

”That’s a good idea. Sano, Natta, as soon as your two signs fade, that will mean your defeat.”

Adam, for his part, just shrugged.

He didn’t want to kill Sano and Natta, but he wanted to see their abilities, which even Aiden acknowledged.

”So, are there any other rules besides that?”

Aiden shook his head.

”No. You, Sano, and Natta can do whatever you want to win. But I think I should warn you, Adam.”

”Hmm?”

”Sano and Natta won’t be fighting you like sparring partners in a competition. Though... I don’t think I need to explain this. Just look at them. Your experience should be more than enough to understand what I’m talking about.”

Adam didn’t ask any more questions and heeded Aiden’s advice.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Out of impatience, Sano and Natta’s auras trembled. Their expressions were calm, they had learned to hide their true emotions many years ago. This was necessary for their work in the army and as government agents.

But they couldn’t hide the bloodlust in their eyes. They looked at Adam not as an equal opponent, but as their prey.

”Huh, I see. Well, that’s interesting.”

Adam tilted his head back as a glint flashed in his eyes.

”Go ahead, attack. I’m ready to take all your brutality, and I won’t stop until you’ve both lost. Maybe you have years of experience, but unlike you...”

A satisfied smirk spread across Adam’s face.

”I didn’t grow stronger within the walls of a lab, but among the dead lands.”

Sano and Natta said nothing. They merely smirked as their Nexuses appeared in their hands with a bright flash.

”As you wish, Adam Vinter.” Sano licked her lips.