Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1015: Crimson Monarchʼs true mastery

As soon as Arnothʼs words were spoken, Adamʼs eyes went wide.

All his battles ran through his mind in a single stream, hundreds of fragments, until he stopped at the Crimson Monarch.

Why?

Because he was also one of the two higher types?

Because Kyros had a title as well as Arnoth?

No.

It was much simpler than that.

They both had a partner. For the Crimson Monarch, it was Moira, and for Arnoth, it turned out to be the mysterious maiden - Lost Light.

The difference between the two was that Moira was a monster like the Crimson Monarch. She was lucky that he saved her, keeping her mind, letting her live inside his Evolution Tree, just like Adam did.

But... Lost Light?

She wasnʼt looking to Arnoth for salvation. She was his partner, part of his power and himself.

Adam was left with only one question.

Who was Lost Light in his world? Was it Lone Blaze because they were both the External Artifacts?

Or... was it Silvana because she was his main partner and the most important person in his life?

Slowly, Adamʼs pupils returned to normal when he first saw Lost Lightʼs lips come into motion, yet her eyes remained closed.

”Arnoth...” she whispered. ”You must finish what you started... We must finish what we started... But, no cruelty or harshness. We must be grateful to our adversary - for meeting again on the battlefield.”

Without a hidden thought, Arnoth nodded deeply. It seemed that, other than Adam, Lost Light was the only being he was willing to listen to.

Ally or foe. They could both be equally important to a great warrior.

However, an enemy was to die, and an ally, his partner, was to stay together until the very end.

”Adam Vinter. No, just Adam.” Arnoth shook his head with a bitter smile. ”Do you have anything to say?”

After a while, Adam gulped as he leaned forward.

”Yes... You and me. After Lost Light appeared, once you unleashed your power as a Crucible Type monster.”

His throat went dry.

”Do I still have a chance of defeating you?”

It didnʼt take long for the answer to come.

”Unfortunately for both of us - no. Itʼs over. For both you and the serpents. I must regain my strength, bring Kreyna back to life, and destroy this place that became my home for a few months.”

Arnoth turned, looking at the destroyed Fallen Ring Castle with a bright smile.

This place was another battlefield for him. It was one more step on the path to power and to accomplishing his task as a monster who was far older than the young, clueless serpents and Adam.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Adamʼs aura trembled as a black coat covered his body.

As a last resort, he decided to use one of his trump cards. He knew that petrification didnʼt work to its full potential, even against Vorx.

But what else could he do?

He could only hope for his Initial Gene, Lone Blaze, and Moira.

However, there was no hint of hope in his eyes. His path had failed - it couldnʼt kill Arnoth and only allowed him to show his true nature.

This was an unfair battle from the beginning.

”Oh, is that...?” Arnoth reached out a hand when the two amber eyes on Adamʼs collar opened wide.

A wave of petrification traveled through the throne room, quickly sweeping over Arnoth.

A thin layer of stone covered his fingertips, but with the next shudder of his aura, the stone shattered into tiny fragments.

”Wait, Adam... Youʼre hiding not one essence, but two? This...” Arnoth narrowed his eyes, the bright light flaring. ”Itʼs a monster... but without a physical body... Itʼs inside you?”

Adam didnʼt know how, but Arnoth had just one look to see what was happening in his inner space.

Then, something in Arnothʼs posture changed. He staggered backward, touching his head as if he were trying to put the puzzles together into a coherent picture.

”You fought against the Crimson Monarch, didnʼt you?”

Adam didnʼt answer anything, but there was no need to. Arnoth already had it all figured out.

”Sure, you mentioned it. Only a monster like him could save another... Adam.”

Arnoth stared at him, about to say something impossible even for him to say.

”Youʼre too young to realize that, but... Do you have any idea what kind of energy control it takes to save a creature even though it lost its physical body? What mastery does it require to keep a physical being alive in the form of energy?”

True, Adam never really thought about it. He knew that the Crimson Monarch saved Moira a long time ago. It made them partners, but even after talking to Moira he couldnʼt find out too many details.

”Hah, and... still that monster inside you. The Crimson Monarch did an incredible job. Itʼs a masterpiece... so far, nothing has happened to you or that monster inside you.”

Confusion covered Adamʼs face as he stepped away from the column. ”Wait! What are you talking about? That monster, her name is Moira... And, I did the same thing Kyros did. I took her into my inner space and sacrificed a part of myself so she could stay here!”

In response, Arnoth only shook his head, showing that Adam knew too little about both Moira and Kyrosʼs true mastery.

”Moira, then, right? Look... Adam. Her shell was created by the Crimson Monarch. He put her life into a form of energy, so he saved her. But youʼre not the Crimson Monarch, youʼre not capable of what he was. At least not now.”

He looked at Adam with a serious expression as if he wanted to warn him of imminent disaster.

”Your power is growing, your Evolution Tree is getting stronger, but not Moira. You donʼt know how to change her shell, because you didnʼt create it. Eventually, when you take a few more steps forward, your power will just crush her inside your inner space. Your power will destroy her form and consciousness - turning her into an energy that will greedily consume your Evolution Tree.”

Step.

Arnoth stepped forward confidently, Lost Light hugging him tighter.

”But, donʼt worry. I wonʼt let that happen. Like I said - I will take your soul, Adam, and with that, I will free Moira. Sheʼs the only legacy left after the Crimson Monarch.”