Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1494: Azure Island (Part 1)

The long evening was finally drawing to a close, and everything was reaching its conclusion.

“Take care of yourself,” Leona said with a smile directed at Adam, before shifting her gaze toward Silvana. “I wish you the best of luck.”

Nodding softly, Silvana felt a faint flush creep into her cheeks.

“Bye, bro!” Trici shouted, her hand waving enthusiastically. Despite the late hour deep in the night, she remained incredibly energetic. It might have been the excitement of everything she had learned that day, or perhaps it was because Damien had secretly given her an energy drink instead of a regular soda.

Adam offered a smile in return.

“See you soon. I’ll try my best to visit you again!”

With that, Leona, Gary, and Trici stepped into the elevator. The doors slid shut as they descended toward the ground floor of the massive skyscraper. A car was already staged downstairs to meet them; they would be back home in less than an hour.

For Adam and Silvana, however, the night was far from over. This was merely the prelude to something much more significant, involving more than just the two of them.

Tap.

With a grin of satisfaction, Damien set his half-finished beer bottle back on the table.

“You’ve got a great family, Adam. You’re a lucky man, you know?”

Approaching the table, Adam gave a heavy nod. For a brief moment, a shadow crossed his expression.

“Yeah, I need to prioritize time with them. There are only six and a half years remaining before… before that final meeting.”

Damien remained silent, though a faint twitch touched the corners of his mouth.

‘Who can say what the world will look like by the next World Wipe?’ he mused, casting a glance across the table. ‘Maybe it is time to snip the two brightest lights of this era. Or… perhaps I should wait a few centuries.’

Alexia, looking visibly disinterested, turned her attention to Beth. Her ear still retained a slight reddish tint.

“So, what is the plan?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Beth asked, raising an eyebrow. “We are heading to Heaven Island. I don’t care when you plan to start your next mission, but this is your prime opportunity to reach Heaven Island.”

She went on to explain:

“Even with your new status as K4-Phantoms, you can’t just stroll into Heaven Island like it’s a local coffee shop. You’re going to need official clearance.”

Louis folded his arms across his chest. “But I assume someone of your standing doesn't require permission?”

“Naturally,” Beth confirmed with a nod. “Rules and permissions are meant for the weak. Surely you understand that, Louis.”

He didn't offer a rebuttal. While such a blunt and domineering philosophy didn't sit well with him, he recognized the truth in Beth’s words.

The strong dictated the laws, and the weak obeyed them. It was a grim, almost tyrannical reality, yet it was the foundation upon which societies were built.

Without rules or people to follow them, only absolute anarchy and chaos would remain.

To ensure cooperation, people needed more than just good intentions; they needed to understand the weight of the consequences. To instill fear in those with bad intentions, there always had to be a power capable of enforcing that fear.

That was the purpose of the police, and the Phantoms were no different.

Hundreds of Phantoms arrived at the Citadel daily. Naturally, a few would attempt to exploit their new wealth, authority, and power for selfish ends. They could desire whatever they wished, but regardless of a Phantom's strength, there was always a higher power to keep them in check.

Though… Damien might have disputed that particular claim.

Within the Citadel’s hierarchy, Frida held a rank equal to his. Yet, despite her insistence on following protocol, she was powerless to stop Damien whenever a wild impulse took hold of him.

“Can we leave right now?” Adam asked.

Damien’s grin widened. “I like that attitude! Give me one second and I’m ready!”

He stepped over to the fridge, pulled a frost-covered beer from the freezer, and took a deep, refreshing gulp.

“Aah… Perfect. Nothing beats a cold drink.”

Step. Step. Step.

Beth walked toward the balcony and, while the others watched in confusion, she simply jumped off the edge.

In an instant, a violent surge of wind caught her. With a casual wave of Damien’s hand, the rest of the group found themselves swept up as well.

The transition was so sudden that no one had time to brace themselves.

“Oh! What in the—!” Silvana cried out, scrambling to find her footing in the air.

While this was somewhat familiar to Adam and Alexia, it was a brand-new experience for Louis and Silvana. They felt as though they might plummet at any second, yet the howling gusts continued to carry them higher.

The only ones relaxed were Damien, still sipping his beer, and Beth, who had already latched onto his back like a tired panda.

Tap.

Adam reached out to steady Silvana, pulling her into a firm embrace from behind.

“Damien isn't exactly the type to give fair warning, is he?”

Silvana swallowed hard, watching the skyscraper rooftops and urban streets shrink into miniatures as they ascended.

“True, though… I feel a bit ridiculous. At least it's better than when he just tossed you and Alexia off the balcony.”

Adam gave a slight shrug.

“You think I’ve let that go? Once I’ve gained enough power, I’ll find a way to pay him back. Maybe I’ll drop him off a skyscraper, or maybe I’ll just smash a tomato in his face.”

The sheer silliness of his "revenge" made Silvana burst into laughter.

“Hahahaha! You're going to need a massive amount of patience for that!”

Adam nodded in agreement. He was well aware of the gap between himself and Damien, but he had never been closer to that level of power than he was now.

‘I’ve transitioned from a normal human to a K4-Phantom. Is there anything that can stop my progression? The battles and trials are getting far more brutal, but my strength is growing too. All I require is time…’

Meanwhile, Louis attempted to maintain a stoic front, but he couldn't suppress a smile when Alexia took his hand. He was, after all, an Operator—not one of the legendary Phantoms who served as the vanguard of the human race.

Whoooooooosh.

A final, powerful burst of wind propelled them through the cloud layer. Suddenly, a magnificent floating island materialized before them. The surface and jagged edges of the island glowed with the radiance of cyan crystals. At its heart resided the most vital individual in the entire Citadel—Queen Elisa.