Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1666 1666: Special Fight

Step. Step. Step.

Larth walked slowly across the white stone floor, passing through the entrance in the blade pillar. Adam and Kaernoʼs figures were far ahead.

Usually, he wouldnʼt have fallen a step behind Kaerno, but now, there was no light in his eyes like there used to be.

”Well, well, looks like youʼve finally lost?” The smug voice came from the shadows.

Larth turned around only to see Sarkaʼs two large blue eyes.

”What do you want? Iʼm sure you enjoyed the show to the fullest.”

”Of course!” she exclaimed joyfully. ”K4-Phantom, wielding Dark Energy? Hah! Iʼd crawl at Master Kaernoʼs feet if heʼd let me fight that Phantom!”

Larth sighed heavily.

”Sarka… Youʼre one of the strongest Fangs in our pillar, and even overall, you hold a high rank. Yet there isnʼt a shred of pride or dignity in you… How is that even possible?”

”Huh! None of what youʼre saying matters! Only strength and victory matter to me! If you thought the same way, you wouldnʼt have lost to him!”

On any other day, Larth would have said Sarka was talking nonsense, but not now.

”Yeah, maybe youʼre right. I thought I could participate in the next battle if I defeated that Phantom, but… Adam turned out to be much stronger than I thought.”

With those words, Larth walked further down the hallway, heading toward his chamber.

Before his figure had completely disappeared into the shadows, Sarka stood in the middle of the entrance and shouted with all her might:

”NEXT TIME YOUʼLL WIN!”

Larth stopped, leaning against a pillar. A smile formed on his face.

ʼYou fool. Why embarrass me like that in front of everyone? It was just one loss among many, but… it was a damn tough one.ʼ

…

The blade pillar was under Kaernoʼs complete control. He ruled this place, and everything here obeyed his will.

To some extent, each pillar was a small kingdom, or rather, an estate. In the Hollow Lands, no awakened monsters were living outside the pillars, since these were the only complex structures here.

Naturally, aside from the Fangs, Thorns, and the Elders with Black Threat Level monsters, there were many others here, as long as they were among the awakened ones.

Tap.

The girl acting as the maid placed a glass in front of Adam before pouring him a strange-looking gray wine with a faint purple hue.

Adam looked around, taking in the hanging chandeliers, the candles burning on the table, and even a few paintings next to the carved columns rising from the floor to the high ceilings.

”When I saw this place from the outside, I thought it was empty inside, divided into bare concrete halls.”

Apart from Kaerno, there was no one else with him at the enormous table laden with food and drink. They were served by four silent maids. Adam wasnʼt sure exactly what their power level was, but he sensed they were somewhere at the beginning of the Black Threat Level.

Kaerno glanced around his hall.

”What can I say? Once upon a time, long, long ago, everything was exactly as you said. But when you spend tens, hundreds of years among bare walls, when new people appear in your empty castle, even the emptiest corner gradually fills with details.”

”Hmm… It sounds both romantic and sad. Although thatʼs the whole point of the Hollow Lands, right? This place is so empty, but Iʼve already learned so much, so many things that werenʼt in other lands.”

Adam glanced at Kaerno.

”When we first met, you mentioned something called the Pit… What is that? Is that the place where Larth attacked me?”

Kaerno shook his head.

”No, the place where Gladius and Xyrea left you is called the Hail Passages. There are quite a few of them, scattered throughout the Hollow Lands, and the one you ended up in is roughly in the middle of all the others.”

In an instant, Adamʼs expression grew serious.

”In other words, I ended up in the middle?”

”Something like that.”

Kaerno picked up his glass, took a sip, and closed his eyes.

”I know you want to get out of the Hollow Lands, but the barrier wonʼt let you through. You wonʼt be able to leave our lands until you win a battle, a very important one.”

Adam was confused.

”Huh? Didnʼt I just do that? Larth was strong. If I hadnʼt had the Dark Energy, I wouldʼve had to use my other trump card against him.”

”Well… As I said, this is an unusual battle. If you want to leave the Hollow Lands, you must do the same thing every Elder here does to prove their strength.”

”Hmm?”

Kaerno raised his hand, channeling dark energy with a purple flame into his fingertips.

”You must become a Fang. Then, these lands and the monsters here will recognize you, meaning the barrier wonʼt stand in your way.”

”Wait, wait, wait! Isnʼt that a rank for monsters? Larth is one of the Fangs!”

”Correct. Almost all beings here are monsters, but according to the rules, nothing prevents a Phantom from becoming a Fang. After all, itʼs just a rank. What truly matters is your strength.”

Hearing this, Adam frowned even more.

”Larth is a Fang. I defeated him in fair combat in front of spectators. Shouldnʼt I now have the right to claim that rank? That would be pretty logical, you know?”

The corners of Kaernoʼs mouth turned up.

”Youʼre only saying that because you donʼt know the rules. Iʼll explain everything to you later, when youʼre ready. For now, itʼs still too early for you to return to the Hail Passage. First, you have to earn the right to fight in that match.”

Everything Kaerno had said was pretty confusing to Adam. He didnʼt understand why there had to be so many rules for a simple fight. Besides, heʼd already defeated one of the Fangs!

Soon, Adam took a deep breath and looked at Kaerno.

”Alright. So I have to win a special battle, but Iʼm not even allowed to participate in it yet. What the hell do I have to do to earn my ticket to the arena?”

Kaerno raised his chin.

”Thatʼs the right question, Adam. Tell me, have you ever heard of the Frenzied Shards?”