Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 640 The Real Side

The Phantoms.

Everyone knew about the Phantoms, but not everybody had encountered them, even if they were people from the First Ring.

Sure, there were always Phantoms around Adam since he himself was a Phantom and the same was true for anyone who was associated with Dead Lands.

Thus many people could hear about the Phantoms a thousand times, see them in the media, and watch videos involving them, but never meet one.

It was mostly just a matter of luck, compared to ordinary people, there were very few Phantoms.

So for a 14-year-old girl to meet a Phantom was a great deal of luck, especially considering that this restaurant was in an area far away from big cities.

”Come in again...” Silvana muttered as she watched Ceska and Evor leave the restaurant. The rain had stopped by then, giving way to a calm evening.

From that moment on, Silvana began to study Phantoms, monsters, and Dead Lands more intensely.

Watching her memories, Adam saw that Silvana spent hours on the computer doing nothing more than searching for information about the Phantoms. Finding different things about the Phantoms, reading countless forums, and scrolling through videos.

Naturally, Silvana soon learned not only about Phantoms and monsters but also about Operators, Military, Harvesters, Blacksmiths, and so on.

Like everyone in Silvanaʼs place, for a moment she had a thought:

ʼWait... Maybe I can become a Phantom like Evor?ʼ

Her eyes lit up with excitement. Anyway, all the common people had heard and knew too much about the capabilities and powers of the Phantoms to want to become one.

However, Silvanaʼs cold temper and calculating mind quickly brought her back to normal. Well, in this case, it was a few weeks.

Silvana continued to study the materials and every few days Ceska and Evor came to their restaurant.

She waited for them, so she always managed to be the waiter who took their order. Every time the situation was the same: Ceska would take one drink and a dessert, and Evor would make half the kitchen work for him to satisfy his appetite.

The first time Silvana was taken by surprise, but now she realized that it was normal.

ʼThey always come closer to evening, perhaps after training or even a mission... Phantoms need a lot more energy than normal humans, so Evorʼs appetite is understandable.ʼ

That same evening, sitting in her room, Silvana sighed heavily and shook her head.

ʼNo, being a Phantom is definitely not for me. The powers and unique abilities are certainly enticing, but... I just canʼt help but think of the risks. Phantom life has a downside...ʼ Silvana muttered, opening one of the videos.

However, these werenʼt the popular clips from the website everyone knew, where the Phantom was colorfully destroying monsters under a professional edit.

Silvana went to the Mission Department website, where anyone could find most of the footage in its original form, without editing, and... with real fights rather than specially selected ones.

Three hours later, Silvanaʼs face was as pale as a sheet of paper, her lips trembling and her eyes deeper, much deeper than a 14-year-old girlʼs should be.

”Fuck... How could anyone want to be a Phantom after that...?”

In those long, very long three hours, Silvana had seen what happened in normal missions instead of incredibly successful ones and what resulted when Phantoms couldnʼt defeat monsters.

She saw how the monsters tore the Phantoms apart, how they screamed and begged for help, the hellish pain on their faces, and the pleas of their Operators.

At the Dead Lands not only Phantoms were dying, it was a shock to Silvana to see how many military and Harvesters were dying even in missions that were labeled as successful.

Silvana realized that it was a tragedy for everyone, but... for some reason, she felt sorry for the Phantoms the most.

”I canʼt believe it...”

She whispered pressing her palm to her chest.

”Phantoms... We mere humans think their life is paradise, that they enjoy a luxurious life in the Citadel and, in excitement, with wide smiles on their faces fight against monsters killing them effortlessly thanks to their powers. But... this is only the smallest and brightest part of the dark reality.”

Back then, Silvana was alone in her room, but since it was a memory, there was now one Phantom standing next to her.

None of this was new or unexpected to Adam, as he himself was the Phantom who had survived several times in similar situations that most ordinary people would never know about.

Anyone, even a child, could go to the Mission Department website and see the missions uncensored, but who would do that?

To find out, one should take the time to study and watch several long missions with their boring parts.

Most people just want to watch the colorful combat along with other videos while coming home from work or in the evening to some snack like a short movie.

Therefore, only a person wanting to be a part of some department and be associated with Dead Lands would dive so deep into their studies.

Since that day, something about Silvana changed. She no longer looked at the Phantoms as heroes or super beings, to her they became unfortunate souls that were forced to fight, each time putting their lives at risk.

It also became apparent to Silvana rather quickly that anything not related to Dead Lands was things of secondary significance.

ʼIt doesnʼt matter how much experience you have or how many years youʼve spent studying... If the Departments and Phantoms fail, if the monsters break through to the Citadel, then thereʼs no point.ʼ

Immersed in thought, Silvana stood at the counter, waiting for the next customers to arrive at the restaurant.

And... she waited. Your next read awaits at

Crack.

The door opened as a tall man walked inside, followed by a girl, this time Ceska was calm and quiet.

”Fuck...”

Evor muttered, holding the cigarette with two fingers and exhaling a thick puff of smoke.

”You canʼt smoke in here...”

Silvanaʼs eyes went wide staring at Evor whose body was covered in blood and only half of his left arm was left above the elbow, clots of blood from the torn flesh one by one falling to the ground.