Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1928: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

The battle between Midgar and Adam was inevitable.

It seemed clear who would emerge victorious, since this was a battle between a Viscount and a K4-Phantom.

But… Over the past 16 hours, Adam’s situation had changed.

Now he was no longer a K4-Phantom with two steps left to the next level. Now, it was just one step, and that was more than enough to make him significantly stronger.

Even so, no one would have bet on a K4-Phantom.

Experienced K4-Phantoms could defeat the Barons, but… a Viscount was an entirely different matter.

…

At the same time, just before the battle was set to begin on the rocky plain, a young man let out a heavy sigh at the Fallen Amber Sun.

“Agh…”

Kalyso exhaled as he lay among the shattered rocks. The stones were covered in his blood as his eyes were half-closed.

“Did he really do it? Did he find that thing from the Vibrating Stone… Fuck… I really wanted to fight him before this happened.”

Disappointment was etched on his face. It had been his genuine desire for a long time, and he had almost gotten what he wanted.

Then, a bitter smile appeared as Kalyso let out a hoarse laugh:

“Hah… Hahaha… That bastard from the Befallen Crown beat me so badly that I can’t even move. But… Even though I couldn’t become your opponent, Adam, I ended up becoming your ally. It’s not all that bad, right?”

With great effort, Kalyso grabbed the edges and raised himself slightly to sit up from his lying position. His back rested against the stone as he now looked not at the sky but toward the territory to the north.

Warm gusts of wind swept past him, ruffling his hair as he awaited only one thing – Adam’s victory.

Tremble!

A few moments later, two pillars of energy appeared in the distance, one gray and the other blue.

The tremor caused by the power of their auras spread for hundreds of meters, drawing the attention not only of Kalyso, who had been eagerly awaiting this, but also of everyone who happened to be nearby at that moment.

Well, neither Midgar nor Adam were concerned about the consequences at that moment.

They pursued different goals, but they shared a single method for achieving them – victory in battle.

…

“Before we begin, Adam Vinter, I’d like to know how you managed to escape from the Dark Field?”

Midgar asked, as his aura grew stronger. Several dragon heads appeared beside him, formed from his gray energy. Their eyes burned with an amber flame, ready to attack Adam at any moment on his command.

“Why?” Adam raised his head, maintaining the carefree gaze that filled Midgar’s heart with rage.

In response, Midgar narrowed his eyes with a cold glint.

“This will be useful information for the Befallen Crown. It would be better if you told me this now rather than when you’re being tortured.”

“I see.” Adam nodded. The threat didn’t faze him. “Do you still hope to capture me alive?”

Midgar extended his hand as the dragons beside him trembled.

“I know I can do it. After waiting 12 hours, I was ready to leave, but… my intuition told me things couldn’t be that simple with you, so I kept waiting.

“And… I was right. You managed to return from the Dark Field, but you won’t be able to defeat me, Adam Vinter! I will be your final opponent.”

Once again, Adam gave him nothing more than a simple nod.

“Go on, Midgar, show me what you’re willing to do for the Befallen Crown.”

Clutch.

Midgar clenched his fist as the dragons sprang into action. Like gray lightning, they crashed down on Adam, leaving him almost no time to react.

But Adam had already done everything necessary.

Whoooosh!

He swept his arm as blue waves surged upward, meeting the gray dragons like a massive tidal wave.

In the blink of an eye, the energy emanating from the blue threads tore the gray dragons to pieces, as if they had collided with an impenetrable mountain.

Midgar’s eyes widened, but he already knew what to do in this situation.

‘So these threads are much stronger than all his previous ones? Fine, I have a solution for that.’

Tremble!

The black energy covered his hands, and soon it became a protective barrier for his dragons, just like at the Dark Field.

With a wave of Midgar’s hand, the dragons attacked again, bringing a puzzled expression to Adam’s face.

“Hmm? Don’t you realize this won’t work?”

Whooooosh!

At Adam’s gesture, the blue threads stopped a dragon, squeezing its body and ready to crush it just as before.

But that was exactly what Midgar was aiming for.

“You’re a fool, Adam!” Midgar exclaimed as four more dragons, protected by a barrier, attacked him.

Adam’s pupils dilated as he realized he didn’t have enough blue threads to stop all the shielded dragons.

“Damn it!”

Step!

Adam took a step and leaped to the side, moving at great speed. He flew over the rocky plain, cutting through the gusts of wind while the four dragons pursued him.

No matter what Adam used or how he tried to dodge, nothing could help him in this situation.

“Hahaha! My dragons are faster and stronger than you! The fact that you’ve advanced to the next stage means nothing! You’re still nothing compared to me!” Midgar laughed mockingly, sensing his impending victory.

Adam’s eyes widened as he stretched out his hand in an attempt to stop the dragons, but it was already too late.

BAM!

The dragons crashed into Adam, causing a deafening explosion of gray-and-black flame.

Midgar’s smirk widened as gusts of wind from the shockwave swept toward him, billowing his cloak.

He stared intently at the flame, which soon dissipated, revealing Adam’s silhouette.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Crimson drops fell from the tip of Adam’s finger, while a stream of blood trickled down his right arm. The dragons had left a deep wound on his shoulder as a shadow fell across Adam’s face.

“Gha…”

Adam’s hoarse voice rang out as he slowly raised his head.

“So that’s what you were after. Not bad, but Midgar, you’ve misunderstood who you’re fighting against.”

Midgar blinked, confused.

“What? What do you mean by that?”

The corners of Adam’s mouth turned up in a bitter smile.

“I took one step forward by moving on to the next stage, you’re not wrong about that. But the truth is, all this time, I’ve been two steps behind my usual state.”

Midgar didn’t understand what Adam was talking about, but soon he saw something that made him realize.

Tap.

The pale, feminine hand touched Adam’s chest, as a girl with long black hair and green eyes appeared behind him.

Adam reached out his hand as his blue eyes shone brightly.

“Now, I’ve got my full powers back, Midgar.”

SHIVER!

A chill ran down Midgar’s spine, and acting on instinct, he raised his head.

At that very moment, the massive crystal blade, capable of cleaving a hill in two, sliced through the sky and crashed down right on Midgar.