Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 278: Midnight Crystal (Part 3)

Adam looked baffled at the medium-height girl with shoulder-length gray hair and a cold, perpetually disgruntled gaze.

The first time they met was quite a long time ago when they were caught in a spatial anomaly and found themselves in a distant, snowy region.

After that, they were once on a joint mission that ended in tragedy... Still, they saw each other from time to time and were friends to some extent.

”Hey, didnʼt expect to see you here. Did you want something? I havenʼt seen any messages from you.” Adam said with a slightly awkward expression on his face.

He thought that Katrin wanted to meet him, but he hadnʼt noticed any messages from her. Yesterday, he had some pretty important things to do.

”I didnʼt text you.” Katrin said irritably, ”I would have to write to your official account, so... Silvana would have seen those messages.”

Adam tilted his head puzzled. He understood what Katrin was talking about, but she could have just written to his personal account, the way all people communicated.

However... There could only be one explanation for her actions. If she couldnʼt write to Adamʼs personal account, then she wanted to offer him to go on some kind of mission. According to the rules, Phantoms were supposed to write such offers to the official accounts of other Phantoms.

This was done for security purposes, quick communication, getting easy approval from the missions department, and so on.

Usually, though, the Phantoms forgot about this and made things official after talking to their Operators.

Thus, Katrin had come here because she didnʼt want anyone other than Adam to know about her request. To her, it was something shameful.

”Agh... Iʼve been waiting for you for hours. What the fuck are you doing sleeping for so long?” Katrin snorted irritably.

Adam scratched the back of his head puzzled. He had only just woken up, but someone had already managed to take offense at him. This was putting him in a difficult position.

Realizing that Adam didnʼt know what to say, Katrin sighed heavily and casting a deep look at him, said:

”Are you busy? Thereʼs something I need to talk to you about. Itʼs very important.” Katrin uttered, biting her lip.

Adamʼs expression changed as she slowly shook her head.

”Nah, I was going to discuss something with Silvana, but itʼs not urgent. Iʼm willing to hear you out.” Adam said while simultaneously texting Silvana that he would be late.

”Good. Letʼs go to some cafe, preferably in some quiet neighborhood.”

...

Twenty minutes later, Adam and Katrin were sitting across from each other, in the very corner of a half-empty cafe. It was early morning now, so most people were at work, and the Phantoms were on missions or training.

”So...” Adam decided to begin, trying to break the wall of silence that radiated only awkwardness.

”Adam.” Katrin beat him to it, folding her hands together with a serious stare, ”Weʼve worked together a few times, so you know my abilities and also that I donʼt quite like them.”

”Hmm?” Adam tilted his head in confusion.

ʼShe doesnʼt like her abilities? What does that mean?ʼ

Katrin rolled her eyes as if reading Adamʼs thoughts.

”I knew you wouldnʼt understand me. Look, you remember when we ended up in Desolate Forest, right?”

Adam looked away trying to recall the event in detail. Back then, they were fighting against strong monsters in the far area - Desolate Forest, saved by the fact that Damien had come to them in time. .net

”Yeah... Your abilities were quite useful. Your roots were able to slow down monsters, and your seeds can make your mates stronger, canʼt they?” Adam asked with a slight wave of his hand.

Katrin smiled slightly as she nodded.

”You said it right, although my abilities are useful, I donʼt like them.” Katrin crossed her arms over her chest unhappily, leaning back in her seat.

”Itʼs like...?” Adam lost the gist of the conversation again.

”Tsk! Because my powers make me support! Iʼm like an NPC from a game whose main purpose is to help cool guys like you!” Katrin exclaimed, pointing at Adam as if he was the cause of her problems.

Adam blinked a few times as his pupils went wide. He finally realized what Katrin had been talking about all this time.

”But, whatʼs wrong with that? I canʼt say that holding off monsters and helping your mates fight makes you a bad Phantom. On the contrary, if I were the leader I would make sure that my squad would have as many Phantoms like you as possible.” Adam said confidently.

Silvana was explaining to him that not all Phantoms were the same. She wasnʼt just talking about abilities, but also roles. Some could withstand damage well, some were fast and could do critical injury to monsters, and some could help and heal others.

Adam realized that a good squad needed balance, and it didnʼt make sense that all Phantoms could only kill monsters. Phantoms like Katrin were needed for balance.

However... did Katrin herself agree with this?

”God, youʼre so stupid! I canʼt believe it!” Katrin rolled her eyes, ”I donʼt want to be the support. I want to be strong! I want to kill monsters with my own hands! I want power! I want people to help me, not me!

You understand?”

Katrin practically screamed as her face turned redder. Eventually, she calmed down and turned away with a slightly guilty look.

If it had been anyone else, Adam would have been angry or demanded an apology, but in Katrinʼs case, he realized that there was no need. She had a complicated temper.

”I see... But, what does this have to do with me? You want me to train you?” Adam asked, scratching his cheek.

Recently, Katrin had become much stronger and more experienced. When she was at the party after Fall Hill Prison, she had already become a K1-Phantom. However, Adam was clearly much stronger.

”Nah, no amount of training is going to make me someone as strong as you. No matter how hard I try, my abilities wonʼt allow me to defeat Thunder Demon or North Keeper like you or Alexia did.” Katrin muttered.

Then, she looked intently at Adam and said:

”I want you to help me change my Initial Gene.” Katrin said seriously.

Adamʼs eyes went wide. He knew that such a thing was possible, but he had never been interested in the details because he was completely satisfied with his Initial Gene.

However, it was not an easy process and Katrin knew that better than most.

”Well, I donʼt mind, but I donʼt know much about it and why did you decide to choose me?” Adam swung his arm slightly.

Katrin bit her lip, she didnʼt want to say it.

”Because youʼre the strongest K1-Phantom I know. Well, thereʼs also Alexia, but Iʼm scared to go out with her in Dead Lands. She does what she wants.” Katrin inhaled heavily. It looked like theyʼd been on a joint mission once since the party.

Adam nodded.

ʼK1-Phantom, is that one of the conditions, or does she just not have any stronger Phantoms from the people she knows?ʼ Adam thought for a moment.

Then, he asked:

”So, which monster gene do you want to get? It seems like youʼve already made up your mind.”

”Sure.” Katrin smirked as she clicked on her NEP. A hologram of the monster appeared above the screen, making Adamʼs eyes go wide.

[Elemental Scarlet Pyromancer, Purple Threat Level, Red Book, Top-8]