Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 787 787: Choosing Sides (Part 1)

The Phantoms were preparing a plan to help Adam bring the Crimson Monarch down to earth, which had to be accomplished by any means necessary.

However, before the Phantoms could split into groups and come to a decision, Adam made his move.

Whoooooooooooooosh.

With a wide sweep of his flaming wing, Adam flew high up. The fire blast spread across the ground, leaving no chance for the high snow to retain its frosty form, sand mixed with embers whipped to the side.

The Phantoms raised their heads following the bright red flash aiming high up.

In a few swings, he was level with his opponent, aiming his gaze at the Crimson Monarch, wonder evident on his face.

”Khm... I wonʼt deny it, Iʼm impressed. It seems the External Artifact inside you though as cowardly as a rabbit, is savvy. Controlling so many threads, each saturated with your energy, now Iʼm curious to take a closer look at it.”

Adam swung the needle, a fiery trail for a moment left in front of him.

”Didnʼt you say enough talk? I will bring you down to the ground and thatʼs where our fight ends!”

Without hesitation, Adam tore forward, quickly closing the distance.

The Crimson Monarch nodded deeply.

”Youʼre right. I should be ashamed to waste so much time on a mere servant, but... If youʼre strong enough, thereʼs nothing wrong with being a warm-up for me.”

At the same moment, thick energy covered his hands, dark blood mixed with red electrical discharges, forming two battle gauntlets.

Even though this was his ability, the gauntlets looked like the real thing, forged by a master blacksmith from solid metal. The fingertips were sharp and long, more suited to tearing through enemy flesh like claws than to holding a weapon.

Adam narrowed his eyes. He had recently had gauntlets too, he felt that the Crimson Monarch was very different from what his past Nexus was capable of.

The Crimson Monarch slowly raised his right hand, his index finger bent slightly.

Adamʼs eyes reflected a shuddering flash - red lightning flew out in his direction moving in a jagged trajectory.

Whoooooooosh.

Before Adam could do anything, his wing was in motion, moving out of the lightningʼs range.

Adamʼs corners of his lips went up.

ʼGood job. I wasnʼt wrong to make the pact with you after all.ʼ

Lone Blaze snorted unhappily:

ʼPfffft! As if you had a choice! If it wasnʼt for me, my power, youʼd still be crawling around on the ground like an insect!ʼ

Laughing deep inside, Adam shook his head. He didnʼt know why, but Lone Blaze reminded him of Trici, sweet and whimsical, only the adult version.

”Hah, maybe youʼre right, but Iʼm the fighter and youʼre just the sidekick!”

Lone Blaze wanted to say something back, not wanting to be demoted to a mere assistant, but Adam was already attacking. Though Lone Blaze controlled the threads, he could use his wing like any other ability.

The Crimson Monarch turned his head, following the flame flash surrounding him from the side.

Then, in one swift swing, Adam found himself in front of the Crimson Monarch, following the sharp needle bearing down on him.

Tap.

The Crimson Monarch gripped Adamʼs blade tightly with his left hand, his gauntlet was strong enough to withstand the sharpness of the silver needle.

Adamʼs eyes went wide, he felt he was close to cutting the Crimson Monarchʼs arm, but he lacked the necessary force.

”Argh...” The Crimson Monarch took a deep breath as he watched the confused young man, ”Adam, you were not born to fly. You have the drive in you to climb to the top, but your place is at the bottom.”

Crackle. Crackle. Crackle.

Thick electric shocks came out of his fingertips on the second gauntlet, quickly covering Adam like a net.

He tried to get out, but the electricity wasnʼt trying to hurt him, its main purpose was to contain him like some kind of beast.

Turning around, the Crimson Monarch swung his arm high up, lifting Adam caught in the electric cage.

”This sky is just for me.”

Under the majestic declaration, the Crimson Monarch threw Adam downward, bringing him down to the ground faster than a cannonball.

Through the gaps in the electric net, Adam only saw the Crimson Monarchʼs calm gaze. No matter what Adam did, the Crimson Monarch did not doubt his victory.

Adam sensed that his opponent did not believe in his defeat, to him it was bad news. It wasnʼt harmful arrogance, it was faith in his powers.

Thump.

With a thud, Adam crashed into a clump of snow. The electric net nailed him to the ground, preventing him from moving.

Then, the Crimson Monarch swung his arm, scattering drops of his blood across the ground. He had some limits on how much he could reinforce monsters, but a dozen drops were less power than a single clot for the Frost Maiden.

The monsters watching the brightly colored blobs moving towards the ground quickly rushed forward. Each saw what happened to the Frost Maiden, they sensed from the Crimson Monarchʼs energy and unique power that would allow them to surpass themselves.

The Overlord Type was a combination of the other two types, with improvements and special features.

The Conqueror Type was capable of making other monsters stronger, but only in one way and with restrictions.

The Overlord Type monsters had many more options in this field, the Crimson Monarch was free to choose how he would make monsters stronger, whether it was just his energy, a drop of blood, a clot, or even something more.

He didnʼt see the point of wasting clots on mere monsters unable to match the Frost Maiden, but he was willing to sacrifice drops of his blood to defeat Adam with quantity over quality.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

One by one, the monsters flashed bright auras, their energy quickly growing allowing them to reach levels beyond their limits.

Satisfied, the Crimson Monarch nodded deeply and pointed at Adam trapped under the electric grid.

”Go ahead. Tear off his arms and legs, but donʼt hit any vital organs. I need him alive.”

Then, the Crimson Monarchʼs voice grew louder, thundering across the serpent lands.

”Whoever brings me Adam Vinter alive will receive a special reward from me, and...”

The Crimson Monarch turned his gaze toward the fortress.

”Itʼs not just monsters that have a chance at my reward...”