Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1431: The Hunt (Part 1)

Today was the day Adam Vinter left Izardo. He walked through the eastern gate under the moonlight, nodding to the guards one last time. It is unknown if any of them knew what was about to happen, but either way, they would not have interfered.

The guards’ job was to watch who entered and left the city, anything outside of Izardo was not their concern.

Step. Step. Step.

Adam walked slowly along the stone path, fully aware of what was happening. The hostile monsters didn’t need anything special from him, just his blood, energy, and his life.

Despite everything that had happened at Izardo, humans and monsters were still natural enemies. However, everyone was enemies with each other at the same time. Monsters hunted monsters. Humans killed other humans.

The ultimate goal was different, some did it for money and career, some for energy or their own safety, but the motive was the same: they wanted to become stronger, to climb higher.

In fact, Adam wasn’t even angry that some monsters decided to hunt him when he just wanted to go home. He understood why they did it. Perhaps, in their place, he would have done the same, but he would have turned it into an honest fight rather than a hidden hunt.

“I don’t know how many there will be. Because of my plans and battles in the arenas, I’ve attracted a lot of attention, a lot. Although I’m even glad that this is happening now.”

Adam clenched his fist as his eyes filled with a dark and deep thirst for blood.

“First Ureyn, then Beatra, Anelez, and Erada. Not counting the long training sessions, I went through several battles against worthy opponents. However…” He bit his lip. “I didn’t kill any of them. Damn, I even died once if you count my fight against the Silver Weaver!”

Strangely enough, it was true.

Adam went to the Tarnished Lands to find the Dark Heart, the Connected Heart, and the Desire of Beyond. In none of the three situations did he have to kill anyone.

Moreover, he didn’t do it even when he had the opportunity. He defeated Erada and Ureyn in fair combat, but it was a duel to the death, everyone understood that.

But…

“Things will be different now, huh?” Adam grinned as he looked toward the east.

Beyond the line of hills lay a plain that merged into a great canyon. By traveling along this canyon, Adam would be able to cross the Blighted Scar Lands, the line of the Forgotten Mills, and ultimately approach the Dead Lands.

Someone would surely try to stop him, to kill a Phantom in the middle of the canyon. It would be a quiet, inglorious death that would be a great boon to any dangerous hunter.

Whooooosh.

As soon as Adam was a kilometer away from Izardo, several shadows hiding near the city walls began to move. Some of them worked together, others had already noticed each other and were thinking about how to get rid of their competitors, but so far, no one had dared to act.

If someone attacked another right in Izardo, it would take less than ten seconds for one of the overseers from the Renegades to arrive at the scene of the fight. After that, none of them would be able to escape punishment.

Adam couldn’t know for sure what was going on, but he felt it in his gut.

“Good.” He turned his head over his shoulder, looking at Izardo. “I think we can speed up now, don’t you?”

Without hesitation, Adam sprinted forward as fast as he could. He remembered Xander’s advice, so until there was only one hunter left, the strongest one, Adam would keep running.

“What do you say?” Adam asked. “Have they shown themselves yet?”

Silvana, who had appeared beside him, nodded slightly. Her eyes reflected several shadows that flew out of Izardo in different directions, but it was obvious to everyone that Adam was their target.

“Yes. I don’t know how they’ll catch up with you, but they’ll probably find a way. After all, all these monsters are about equal to you in strength, otherwise, there would be no point in them hunting you.”

Xander warned Adam about this. He understood better than anyone else how these situations worked, and right now, he could watch everything from the top of his mansion in the southern part of Izardo.

“The hunt has begun,” he muttered, keeping his hands behind his back. “Agh… Fools. None of them understands what they’ve just signed up for.”

“Hmm?” The woman standing in the doorway, leaning against the wall, raised her eyebrow. “You think none of them will succeed? From what I can see, there are at least a dozen of them, maybe even more.”

Xander shook his head.

“They watched his fight against Beatra at the Red Eye Arena. I assume they bet on his fight against Anelez and Erada. They learned everything they could about him and decided they were strong enough to defeat him.”

“But?” The woman narrowed her eyes.

Xander grinned. “They don’t understand that the Adam Vinter who arrived at Izardo a few days ago no longer exists. Now he’s a completely different beast who hasn’t yet shown his new fangs.”

“Don’t you think you’re spending too much time on him? What interests you about this young man? After all, he’s not the first stellar phantom.”

She glanced away with a carefree expression.

“They appear, achieve a few impressive triumphs, and then hit the barrier of the Second Rank and remain at the same level forever, like extinguished candles. That’s the best-case scenario. In the worst-case scenario, which happens to most of them, they simply die.”

“Of course. The same is true for monsters, only there are more of us, and the chance of a monster becoming a Lord is also greater. So, the difference between monsters and Phantoms at the Second Circle is enormous. But… the difference in threat is also significant.”

The woman wanted to add something, but she stopped abruptly as a grim aura emanated from Xander.

“Just imagine what he’ll be capable of when he reaches the Second Rank. We have to be prepared for that. What’s more, we’re already late.”

“W-What? What are you talking about?”

Xander’s eyes deepened.

“Norax. He gave Adam his token. You know very well what that means, don’t you?”

The woman gulped with a slight tremor.