Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1969: A Desperate Chase and Punishment for Failure

After a long time, Adam finally found out where Breydar was. It was Island A215, and it was much farther away than he had expected.

“So, A215, huh? How dangerous is it there for someone like me?” Adam asked. ” Prasyx said I’d be able to operate confidently even on Island A200.”

In response, Haworg nodded deeply.

“Indeed. If you defeated a Viscount from the Befallen Crown, then I think your limit is Island A250. Perhaps you could even operate freely on Island A299, provided, of course, that you’re careful there.”

“A299? Why not A300?” Adam was confused as to why Haworg had specified that particular island.

Haworg smiled bitterly.

“Well… If you ever end up there, you’ll understand everything. Let’s just say, the difficulty level increases significantly there. Maybe you killed a Viscount, but you’re still a First Circle Creature. That matters.”

Adam didn’t argue. He understood that Haworg knew far more about the Gray Sea than he did.

“I see. So Breydar is currently on Island A215, and the Veiled Souls Clan is heading that way? They’re preparing to attack him, right?”

“Yes. I don’t know how long it will take them to attack him there, but he’s ready for it and is waiting for them. However, as I already said, his chances of success are slim, even considering that he’s now a Viscount too.”

“Huh…” Adam gave a wry smile, shaking his head. “It looks like the crystal he stole from them turned out to be quite useful to him.”

Haworg spread his arms wide.

“The Crystal of Hollow Souls is a rare resource, but not everyone can use it to become stronger, not even among monsters.”

“Hmm? Why?” Adam raised an eyebrow.

Usually, the Phantoms were the exception when it came to absorbing energy from resources. Monsters had no such restrictions. They could freely absorb energy from any resource.

“Well, it all comes down to its name. First, these crystals accumulate energy from the environment and grow like ordinary energy crystals. Then, they’re moved to areas with active elements, be it flame, fire, wind, or something else.

“But those are only two stages. There’s still one more to go, the third and final one. These crystals are brought to the battlefield, where as many creatures as possible must die. Their level isn’t particularly important, in this case, quantity matters more than quality.”

Adam’s eyes widened for a moment as realization struck him.

“I see… This is a crystal that goes through three different stages, imbued with unique properties and special power. That’s exactly why it’s so valuable.”

“Yes.” Haworg nodded deeply. “But you need the right energy type to absorb this crystal. It could be a simple matter of luck, I think that’s exactly what happened with Breydar, but any member of the Veiled Souls Clan could absorb this crystal.”

“Huh.”

Adam chuckled, now fully understanding what Breydar had done.

“I’m sure they put a lot of effort into creating that crystal, but he just went and stole it. On top of that, he turned out to be one of those monsters who can absorb it. Hahaha! I’m sure the Veiled Souls Clan was beside themselves with rage!”

Haworg let out a similar grin.

“Yeah, I think that’s exactly how it went. As you know, they’re going to kill Breydar no matter what it takes. I think they’re hoping to take some of his energy for themselves. After all, every time the Veiled Souls Clan uses the Crystal of Hollow Souls, it means they want to help one of their own evolve.”

“Hmm…” Adam hummed. “Do you think that monster is among the group that went after Breydar?”

“Yeah, I’m sure of it, otherwise, how would you absorb his energy?”

Adam nodded. “Sure, that makes sense. So… Do you know how many clan members are here? How many monsters are trying to kill Breydar and are heading toward Island A215?”

He took a few moments to think before waving his hand.

“About five. Two of them are Viscounts, and three are Barons. Most likely, one of those three Barons is the one this crystal was meant for.”

Adam blinked a few times. He hadn’t expected the clan team to be so powerful.

“Wow… Five Lesser Lords just to catch a single Viscount who was recently a Baron? Is it just me, or is that a bit much for a task like this?”

In response, Haworg spread his large arms wide.

“As you can see, they still haven’t been able to catch him. What’s more, they have to defend their clan’s honor and kill him. If they don’t, they’ll be in big trouble.”

“Why?” Adam asked. He was curious to learn more about the Veiled Souls Clan, since he already understood that they would be his enemies as well as Breydar’s.

“Well, it’s pretty simple. They’re located at the Dark Shore. Their leader isn’t one of the Neutral Lords and, naturally, isn’t one of the Free End either. They’re loyal to the Befallen Crown.”

Adam nodded. Krador had already told him that.

“And? What’s the problem?” Adam was still confused.

“Huh, you really don’t get it? Well… Considering how young you are and the fact that you’re a Phantom, it’s not surprising. The Befallen Crown cares more about its reputation than anything else. They don’t tolerate the weak in their ranks.”

Cough.

He coughed before continuing:

“The Veiled Souls Clan aren’t servants but full-fledged members of the Befallen Crown, so they’re under heightened scrutiny. Any conflict they get involved in on his side also reflects on the Befallen Crown. It’s inevitable.”

“Got it.”

Adam stared at a single point, mulling over Haworg’s words.

“If the Veiled Souls Clan can’t punish Breydar for what he did, if they can’t kill him and show it to the whole world, then the Befallen Crown will unleash their wrath upon them.”

“Huh. Something like that. To put it bluntly, at best, the Befallen Crown will kill everyone who was in any way connected to this, and most likely, they’ll just wipe out the Veiled Souls Clan.”

A few moments later, Adam nodded before looking at Haworg.

“Looks like I’ll have to head out soon, so… how about another cup of coffee?”

Haworg smirked.

“Sure.”