Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1493: Red Ear

“Assistance from the queen?” Adam blinked in surprise, wondering if his ears were playing tricks on him.

To Adam, Queen Elisa remained the most enigmatic Phantom he had ever encountered. Despite sharing the same human origins and Phantom nature, he found it difficult to grasp that a being of her caliber truly existed.

She wasn't just the savior who allowed the Citadel—or at least the First Ring—to endure the World Wipe; Adam was convinced Queen Elisa was a founding pillar of the very civilization he and millions of others called home.

Beth gave a firm nod.

“The technique I’m about to explain is applicable at any moment, regardless of the circumstances, but ignoring Queen Elisa’s aid when it’s available would be pure idiocy.”

Adam recalled that Queen Elisa had actually provided support once before during the forging of his Second Key. Under normal conditions, aligning every star to manifest the key's form would have spanned a millennium.

While Adam had discovered his own methods to accelerate the task, the situation shifted dramatically once he entered the sphere of Queen Elisa’s aura.

In that state, time seemed to freeze. By reliving battles against past foes like the Plague Reaper, Adam had managed to complete the Second Key in a relatively short period.

He wasn't certain if it was a specific Cultivation technique or merely the passive influence of the aura she radiated at the heart of Heaven Island. Regardless, he had spent years locked in combat with monsters within that space until the Second Key was finalized.

Now, Beth was advising a return to Queen Elisa to seek her guidance once more.

“Hold on a second!” Alexia shouted. “You expect me to enter that bizarre state again? When I finally walked off Heaven Island, I looked like a withered mummy! I had to gorge myself like a beast for a month just to get my weight back!”

Adam’s gaze sharpened as he processed this.

“So, Alexia endured a similar trial? Douglas mentioned that the physical toll isn't usually that severe. But if she had to link thousands of stars like I did, and knowing her stubbornness… well, I don't blame her for taking that path. I’d make the same choice again if necessary.”

Beth shook her head in disagreement.

“As I mentioned, the Queen’s help isn't mandatory; it never was. However, it will drastically reduce your timeline and simplify the process. Listen, you’ve both grown significantly since our last encounter. I acknowledge your progress. But…”

Her green eyes grew cold as a terrifying aura flickered around her like a shadowy flame.

“Do you truly comprehend the chasm between yourselves and Queen Elisa? If she stepped onto a battlefield instead of serving as the Citadel's ultimate shield, she wouldn't even need to strike. Just walking past you, her aura would shred your flesh and bone into a crimson pulp.”

Adam and Alexia looked at each other. They weren't frightened by the description; they knew Queen Elisa was a protector and a friend to humanity. Without her, the First Ring would have crumbled during the World Wipe.

“Ahem,” Louis cleared his throat to intervene. “If I’m following correctly, Adam and Alexia have to identify the source of their conditions themselves, and they possess the necessary tools to do so, right?”

Beth nodded her head.

Louis went on. “To achieve this with speed and precision, the Queen’s involvement is ideal, but they are capable of doing it alone if they have to.”

Beth nodded once more, gesturing toward Louis.

“He’s a sharp one. That’s the logic you two dimwits are failing to grasp.”

“Pffft!” Adam grunted, folding his arms. “I got it immediately. I was just hoping for a different path, but this works. How much time will it take to pinpoint our conditions?”

Beth hesitated, her eyes shifting between the two of them.

“Without the Queen, it could take anywhere from several days to a few weeks. But with her? You’ll have your answer in heartbeats.”

Tap.

Silvana reached out, placing a hand on Adam’s.

“Heaven Island seems like the right choice. We need to save time, and passing up an advantage like this would be a mistake.”

Beth gave a casual shrug.

“It’s a dull place. Believe me, it’s just the Queen and some Gamma Division squads acting like they’re busy.”

“Huh!” Alexia let out a mocking laugh. “Maybe it's boring for you. Just how many times have you been there? For that matter, how old are you really?”

She leaned in close with a provocative smirk, towering over Beth.

“I bet you’re old enough to be my great-grandmother!”

While Damien might have laughed off the insult, Beth was not so forgiving.

Cling.

Beth lunged forward, snatching Alexia by the ear and yanking her down as if she were a bratty child lacking discipline.

“Ouch! Hey! Dammit! Let go!”

Alexia struggled to pull away, but Beth only tightened her grip, twisting the ear until it was a bright crimson. Alexia gnashed her teeth against the stinging pain, but she didn't dare retaliate. She knew better than to actually fight Beth.

Whoooooooosh.

Suddenly, a chilly breeze swept in from the balcony, blowing across the dining table.

Beth looked up as Damien and Adam’s family arrived. Damien, Leona, and Gary were weighed down with bags of groceries, primarily packed with beverages and spirits. Trici followed behind, carrying several containers of candies and sodas.

Leona usually restricted Trici’s sugar intake, but she stood no chance against the combined persuasion of Trici and Damien.

“Hey! We’ve returned!”

Damien waved, completely unfazed by the sight of Beth holding Alexia in a painful ear-lock.

“I assume the explanation is finished?”

Beth nodded.

“Yes. Everything is handled,” she answered, though she kept her iron-like grip on Alexia’s ear. She was determined to let the girl stew in the pain for a few moments longer.

Damien beamed. “Perfect!”