Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1868: Stop, Nukra!

BAM! BAM! BAM!

For over a minute now, all Nukra had been doing was raining punches down on Adam’s face. He couldn’t defend himself because he was too exhausted.

Despite Adam’s condition, Nukra didn’t ease up on her strikes, continuing to attack him as if they were in a life-or-death battle.

Amelia believed that Nukra’s method would work, but… something made her step forward.

“No, this can’t go on. Adam’s aura has practically vanished. If they don’t stop right now, he’ll just die!”

Step!

“Nukra, you have to stop, or else-!”

Before Amelia could finish her sentence, something made Nukra’s pupils contract in shock. She completely ignored Amelia, intent on finishing what she’d started, but a new obstacle appeared before her, and it was far from certain she’d be able to overcome it.

“Gha…”

Adam’s hoarse voice rang out as his eyes opened amid his blood-soaked face.

A shiver ran through Nukra as Amelia’s face turned pale.

Adam’s eyes were no longer blue but gray, like thick fog on one side and an endless abyss on the other.

It was a gaze meant to reflect the full depth of his aura, which had merged with his energy and was now capable of filling his body with its power.

This was the first sign that Adam had learned to use the Soul Stance.

The point was that when the Soul Stance was used for the first time, every fighter, without exception, faced a single problem.

Now, Nukra and Amelia would have to face this problem. To some extent, it would be the consequence of their own actions.

Slowly, Adam raised his hand, and before Nukra had time to realize it, his palm touched her chest.

“Agh?” Nukra was confused. She hadn’t noticed his movement, even though Adam wasn’t moving any faster than an ordinary human.

BLAST!

A deafening blast of gray energy erupted from Adam’s palm, sending Nukra flying to the side.

“GHA!”

A stream of blood gushed from Nukra’s mouth while she was still in midair, and part of her clothes was torn to shreds, exposing her shoulders and sides.

She was an experienced fighter, so Nukra clenched her jaw and landed on her feet, immediately assuming a fighting stance.

“Amelia.”

Nukra didn’t need to explain anything to her sister. Amelia knew what had to be done.

“Sure, we can’t let him fight in this condition.”

Amelia narrowed her eyes as her aura activated in a powerful, icy surge.

‘I’m surprised he can even stand after the barrage of blows he took from Nukra. He has an incredibly sturdy body, especially for a K4-Phantom. But right now, he doesn’t even realize what he’s doing. Every one of his attacks puts additional strain on his body.’

Every fighter, whether a Phantom or a monster, could act solely on instinct at a critical moment. Amelia, Nukra, and Adam had gone through this state countless times.

But what Adam was experiencing now was different from Resonance or fighting on instinct.

He was driven solely by his aura and energy, which, together with his body, formed the Soul Stance.

“This was to be expected. I should have had more faith in Nukra’s method and Adam’s desire to become stronger. Fortunately, I have a suitable way to stop him.”

Amelia stretched her arms forward. She turned her palms so that a square gap remained between her hands, through which she could see Adam, as if through a sight.

Her eyes shone brightly as the ice energy covered her palms.

In a moment, Adam was about to turn into a block of ice.

“W-What?” Amelia’s eyes widened as Adam vanished.

She didn’t see a thing, not even the blur of his movement. Nothing. He simply disappeared from her field of vision.

Tremble!

A tremor echoed from behind. Amelia sensed it only because of the ripples that ran through the air.

She spun around abruptly, only to see Adam’s fist, shrouded in a purple veil, hurtling straight at her.

SLAM!

With a shockwave rippling through the training hall, Adam’s punch slammed Amelia straight into the ground, shattering the wooden floor.

Even considering that Amelia was currently at the Baron Level, Adam would never have been able to land such a powerful strike under normal circumstances. But with the Soul Stance and the Ancient Energy, it proved possible.

Step. Step. Step.

In a blue flash, Nukra darted across the hall, appearing to Adam’s right the next moment.

She acted faster than Adam could react. She knew that.

“Damn, if he were two, no… even one stage stronger, we’d be in trouble. But, given his power level, I’ll end this right now!” Nukra clenched her fist and attacked Adam.

Suddenly, Adam jerked his head back while his torso remained facing forward.

Nukra was in disbelief, but even if he had managed to react, it wouldn’t have changed anything.

He didn’t have time to dodge or block her fist.

For a moment, a green light flashed across Adam’s eyes, and for a split second, Nukra saw someone else instead of Adam.

A tall man with pale skin, black hair, and green eyes looked at her as a slight smirk formed on his face.

Whooooosh!

Adam’s left hand shot forward in a smooth, precise motion, striking Nukra on the wrist.

That was enough to send her fist flying over Adam’s shoulder instead of crashing straight into his head.

Step.

Adam stepped forward as he grabbed Nukra by the shoulders with such force that her face contorted in pain.

“Grh!” She clenched her teeth.

‘What’s going on? He’s going to break my bones just with his grip!’

Before that could happen, Adam spun 360 degrees around his axis and slammed Nukra right onto Amelia, who was still lying on the ground after Adam’s punch.

TREMBLE!

A shockwave rippled out, shaking the training hall as the two sisters groaned in excruciating pain.

However, Adam wasn’t about to stop there either.

He couldn’t stop.

As long as his body could move, he would fight. Such were the consequences following every first awakening of the Soul Stance.

Gradually, Amelia and Nukra came to their senses as they opened their eyes, only to have horror wash over their faces.

The dark matter hovered above Adam’s palm.

He was about to attack them using the Dark Energy, and it was by no means certain that, even at the Baron Level, they would be able to withstand it.