Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 955: Unwanted Authority (Part 1)

A few minutes ago, on the middle floor of the Red Zone, the sounds of battle had been thundering, the tension was at its peak.

Now there was silence, but the battle had no results. In the beginning, there were three participants and as many remained, not counting the dozens of dead spiders - the Inferno Serpentʼs servants. They proved too weak to do Adam anything, even before he opened the third lesser gates.

It seemed that either Adam or the Inferno Serpent, one of them had to die, but they were both breathing, for now.

Oddly enough, of the three of them, Risha wanted to finish what they started the most. She was ready to cut off the serpentʼs head at any moment but had no right to do it without Adamʼs permission.

After all, she had done nothing to defeat the S4 monster. If not for Adam, the Inferno Serpent would have crushed her with his tail like a bug.

”The Fallen Ring Castle?” Adam muttered looking at the wounded but still full of strength monster.

He thought about a lot of things, for the battle against the Inferno Serpent and the Crimson Monarch was different from anything that happened before.

ʼHmm...ʼ Adam internally hummed. ʼIt feels like Iʼm fighting against humans instead of monsters... I mean, they are monsters, but itʼs nothing like the battle against the Plague Reaper.ʼ

The deep fear of the Plague Reaper was still lingering in Adamʼs heart. He didnʼt try to get rid of it, instead, he sought to keep that feeling no matter how much stronger he became from that moment.

After a few minutes, Adam nodded deeply.

”An S5 monster? Arenʼt you afraid Iʼll refuse and just kill you?” he asked, his voice low.

The Inferno Serpent chuckled. ”Ghaha... Why? Arenʼt you afraid of facing an opponent stronger than me? I thought you were ready for anything, human...”

”Yes.”

Adamʼs sudden reply baffled the Inferno Serpent.

”How odd...” the monster muttered in disbelief. ”Considering how eagerly you fought I thought this was exactly what you were looking for. Was I wrong...? Thatʼs too bad, it means I wonʼt be able to fulfill my assignment.”

”You were a strong opponent,” Adam stated firmly. ”If I didnʼt get more powerful during the fight, thereʼs no telling if I would be able to defeat you. Obviously, youʼre one of the strongest S4 monsters at the Red Zone, arenʼt you?”

With a heavy sigh, the Inferno Serpent nodded. ”You can say it like that. So... If youʼve already made your decision, letʼs end things here and now. Even if I want to I canʼt escape.”

As soon as his words were spoken, a bright flash lit up his head - Risha smashed the Revelation Ring summoning her Nexus.

However, before she could even take a single step Adam raised his hand, gesturing for her to stop.

”Wait, I havenʼt made a decision yet.”

”WHAT?” Risha shouted in mild anger. ”Youʼre seriously injured! Are you really going to go to some castle where an S5 monster is waiting for you? You could barely handle the S4 one! I donʼt know what kind of S5 monster it is, but my brother wouldnʼt even let me think about fighting them! Theyʼre the strongest!”

Risha wasnʼt going to stop. She continued to list reason after reason why Adam had to go back to the Red Tower and kill the Inferno Serpent right here and now.

Strangely enough, not only Glen and Silvana agreed with her, but even the Inferno Serpent. He realized that the Phantoms had no choice. He lost, so they had to kill him. Thatʼs how things worked all over the world, not just at the Lower Ring.

Only when Risha ran out of energy, under her heavy breathing did Adam decide to speak.

”Youʼre right.”

Rishaʼs eyes shone brightly, a happy smile appearing on her face. ʼHe finally listened to me! Itʼs happened!ʼ

”I had to make an effort to defeat an S4 monster, and Iʼm not satisfied with that,” Adamʼs stern tone broke out.

”Agh...?”

The Inferno Serpent lifted his head from the lake of lava, bemused.

”Risha, you may leave. I came here to the Lower Ring to get answers to my questions. From what Iʼve realized, I need the power for this man to listen to me and tell the truth.”

Risha gulped, fidgeting nervously. ”B-But...! Youʼre going to die! Youʼre much weaker than any S5 monster!”

Without fear in his eyes, Adam nodded deeply.

”Yes, just like before this fight. Sooner or later, Iʼll have to fight an S5 monster if I want to reach K4-Level, wonʼt I?”

”Thatʼs...” she stammered. ”You say all the right things, but weʼre not talking about training, weʼre talking about a deadly battle. It would be much better to go back, heal your wounds, and prepare for the next battle!”

Adam shrugged nonchalantly, seemingly not taking Risha seriously.

”Furthermore, I have no desire to kill him,” Adam pointed at the serpent.

The Inferno Serpent and Risha glanced to one side for a moment.

”WHAT?”

”Yeah... I want to take him up on his offer not only because I believe that fighting against the S5 monster is the best and fastest way to fully open the Crystal Gates, but also because I can see that heʼs lying.”

The Inferno Serpent flinched. He didnʼt know what Adam figured out, but it made his heart beat faster before panic set in.

Adam lifted his chin. ”You said the S5 monster at the Fallen Ring Castle is your master, right?”

The Inferno Serpent nodded.

”At first, I thought you were just a monster who obeyed a stronger monster - nothing strange. However, remembering your aura, your words and actions... You serve this master out of your own free will, right?”

With a dryness in its throat, the Inferno Serpent ajar his mouth. ”How did you guess that?”

”Just a lucky one, for the most part.”

Whoooooosh.

Before the Inferno Serpent could answer anything, Adam was on his head looking off into the distance. From the lake came a lava river disappearing into the darkness, flowing farther than Adam could see.

”Come on, letʼs swim straight to the castle. Iʼm sure we have a long way to go. Youʼll tell me the whole situation in detail on the way.”