Endless Evolution: Last Star

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

After Adam absorbed the blue sphere and obtained the Nova Blast, his aura grew stronger and stronger.

At first, everyone assumed that the Nova Blast itself was the cause, even though it was usually just a brief burst of energy. Lamor, Kamora, and Frida knew this because they had seen it happen several times.

However… Adam’s aura was growing stronger and stronger, and with every passing moment, it looked less and less like his usual aura.

This made Frida frown.

“Something’s wrong… This isn’t supposed to happen.”

Silvana looked concerned.

“Has something happened to the Nova Blast?”

Frida shook her head.

“No, not exactly. It seems like something is happening inside Adam’s inner space, or even deeper. If his aura keeps getting stronger, it could end badly.”

Silvana didn’t know what to do as she hurried into Adam’s inner space. She had to find out what was happening there.

But… When she went there, she didn’t see anything unusual.

“W-What?” Silvana looked around, confused.

All she could see was the Evolution Tree and the passage to the dark space left behind by the Path Construct. That was where the Gran Barrier was located.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

From time to time, a tremor ran along the white path, indicating that Adam was right there. Silvana could also sense it through his aura.

However, Silvana couldn’t go there. Unlike the Silver Weaver, who had done so with ease, she didn’t have that option, all she could do was look at the path and wonder what was happening there.

Tremble…

After a while, the last tremor subsided as the white path calmed down. The same thing happened with Adam’s aura, which was no longer as active as before.

Still, Silvana hadn’t received any answers. She only realized that it was all over, and for her, that wasn’t enough.

Clutch.

She clenched her fists tightly as her gaze filled with determination.

“I have to find out what happened there!”

Before leaving, Silvana glanced at the Evolution Tree, but neither it nor Lone Blaze and Lakma were in any hurry to make contact. Like Silvana, they knew nothing.

Blink.

Silvana blinked as she returned to the real world in her spectral form, hovering next to Kamora, Lamor, and Frida.

Kamora turned to her, her hands clasped behind her head in a relaxed manner.

“Did you do this, or did it happen without your involvement?”

Silvana frowned.

“I don’t know what happened there, but it seems like it was somehow connected to the Grand Barrier, or… could it be related to the Anchors?”

Frida nodded.

“Yes. Most likely, Adam was testing the power of all his Anchors. After all, he now has all five, though he still has to activate the Frenzied Flame.”

After a while, Adam opened his eyes.

For a few seconds, Adam stared ahead with a deep yet empty gaze.

Then, he turned to the others and looked first at Silvana. He smiled, but something in his smile made Silvana’s heart beat faster, and she didn’t know why.

“Well, looks like he’s okay.” Kamora shrugged.

She glanced at Frida.

“You’re going to talk to him now, right?”

Frida nodded.

“Yes. Should I tell him you’ll be at the Radiant Branch?”

“Sure, why not? After all, this is the last Radiant Branch in this World Wipe, maybe something interesting will happen this time, especially if Adam and all the other newbies are there.”

Kamora turned to Lamor.

“What do you think? Unlike me, you must know about all the newbies and the progress of the Twelve Branches.”

Lamor didn’t try to hide it. It was true. Kamora, like Goen, could spend decades focused on a single task without paying attention to what was happening in the world or the Citadel.

For her to take action, something truly significant had to happen.

In fact, the fact that a True Lord had attacked Adam wasn’t enough. Kamora acted only because she happened to be nearby. If it had happened in another part of the Gray Sea, she probably wouldn’t have helped Adam.

“Sure, there are a few interesting newcomers, both from factions and from the great families. However, most of them won’t be able to show their potential until the next World Wipe. At least, that’s what their seniors are hoping for,” Lamor explained with a casual wave of his hand.

Kamora yawned.

“Mhaw. I see… Well, in that case, see you in a week, Frida. Good luck, though… why do you even need luck?”

Before Frida could answer, Kamora and Lamor vanished.

Silvana blinked, looking around.

“Ah? Where did they go?”

Frida shrugged, keeping her hands behind her back.

“If I know Kamora well enough, which I probably don’t, they’re already at some bar, and Kamora’s going to drink on her own first and then make Lamor do the same.”

Silvana gave a wry smile.

“Huh… They’re both so different. Have you ever wondered how they ended up together?”

Frida slowly turned to face her, giving her a piercing look.

“Hmm? If you understood the path these two have walked, how many battles they’ve fought together, you wouldn’t talk like that. Some Phantoms and Operators are similar to each other, others are very different, but if they’re together, there’s a reason for it.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“Also… I’d say you and Adam are different, too, quite a bit.”

Silvana was caught off guard by her statement.

“This… That was true at the very beginning, sure, but a lot has changed since then! Now I understand him better, and his desire to fight and take risks?” Silvana replied with a fire in her eyes.

Frida raised an eyebrow.

“Really? It seems to me that you’re still worlds apart. You shouldn’t try to become just like him. You should try to become the version of yourself that best suits your dynamic.

“Sure, in some cases the right approach is to change yourself drastically, but quite often all you need to do is be yourself and understand your role. Adam is ready to accept you just as you are, Silvana – the rest is up to you.”

Adam took his time approaching. He could see that Frida and Silvana were talking about something. From Silvana’s expression, he could tell it was something important, and he could also sense her emotions.

Also… He needed to think about what had happened at the Grand Barrier as well.

‘The Silver Weaver… He released his aura, said those things, and left… But what did he mean by saying he would be my main weapon?’

Adam was confused not because that was the Silver Weaver’s desire, but because the Silver Weaver wasn’t opposed to Silvana becoming the Manifest Nexus.

Could the Phantom possibly have a weapon more powerful than the Manifest Nexus?

Adam didn’t know the answer to that question, and he doubted that the Silver Weaver’s plan could work at all.

‘Well, I doubt I’ll be able to change his mind, and Silvana must become my Nexus. No one but her deserves it. Especially after her training…’

Silvana hadn’t told Adam what had happened between her and Aiden Henk while he was in the Tarnished Lands and the Gray Sea. However, he understood that she had been training to become stronger, so she could stand on equal footing with him when he reached the Second Circle.

Silence.

After Frida’s words, Silvana was silent for a while.

She realized that even after everything that had happened between her and Adam, Silvana still felt she hadn’t done enough for their pair.

“What about you…?” Silvana whispered.

“Hmm?” Frida crossed her arms over her chest, looking sternly at Silvana. “If you want to ask me something, just say it straight out. I’m ten times your age, girl.”

Silvana met her gaze.

“You and your Operator. How much are you two alike?” Silvana asked.

She was sure Frida wouldn’t answer that.

But in fact, Frida didn’t mind.

“Oh, him?” Frida blinked. “He doesn’t look like me. He’s even more different from me than you are from Adam, or Lamor from Kamora.”

“Agh…?” Silvana was confused.

“What? Did you expect my Operator to be just as stern and calm as I am?”

Silvana gulped.

“A-Actually… yes…”

Frida sighed heavily.

“I only resemble him when I’m angry. But neither you nor anyone else should ever see me when I’m in that state.”

A flash crossed her blue eyes.

“You must find your own path, Silvana. Every Second-Rank Phantom Operator has done so, so you must as well.”

Step.

Adam stepped forward as he appeared beside her.

“Are you finished?”

Frida nodded.

“Yes. Now, I’m ready to talk to you. Congratulations on obtaining the Fifth Anchor, and I invite you to the Radiant Branch.”

“Radiant Branch?”

Frida smirked.

“An event for all the talents, and something tells me you’ll be one of the brightest stars.”

She pointed at him as the corners of her mouth turned upward.

“You’re the newest Present Star, Adam Vinter. Some will admire and respect you, but others, especially the nobles, will envy you.”

A sly grin immediately spread across Adam’s face.

“Huh, sounds interesting!”