Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1498: Frost Lands and Portals

Capítulo 1498: Frost Lands and Portals

For a long duration, Adam and Alexia exchanged silent looks, gripped by a profound confusion regarding their current location.

Their last coherent memory involved nearing Queen Elisa. They had been merely a few paces from the pressure of her aura when Damien, offering zero clarification, abruptly shoved them forward.

“Damien!” Alexia barked, shaking her fist in a fit of irritation.

Adam let out a heavy, weary sigh. “It isn't just him. I am certain Beth anticipated this behavior. Yet, she provided no warning. At the very least, she could have briefed us on what to anticipate in this place.”

Shortly after, a vibration rippled through the distant Wandering Fragments, as if the objects were vying for their notice.

Alexia lifted an eyebrow in curiosity.

“Are those the fragments Beth mentioned? They appear much more like portals to me!”

“Hmm, I suspect they are linked to the Path Construct. Without the influence of Queen Elisa’s aura, entering this particular state would have likely required a significant amount of time.”

In response, Alexia tilted her gaze upward, attempting to peer out of the dark chamber and back toward her inner space.

“Tsk. Regardless, I have no intention of relying on the queen’s assistance every single time. Would it have been so difficult for them to explain the process?”

Adam remained silent, his mind occupied as he observed the fragments scattered across the void. They were positioned at varying intervals; some were within arm's reach, while others drifted far in the distance.

These fragments roamed through the darkness, manifesting as various elements, colors, and paths. A single fragment might radiate intense flames, while another remained encased in tranquil waters. A third took the form of a menacing thunderstorm, its bolts contained strictly within the portal's edges so as not to interfere with the others.

Eventually, Alexia’s frustration cooled, and she shook her head.

“We are caught in that peculiar time dilation once more, aren't we?”

“Yes, that seems likely. Though Damien, Beth, and the rest are invisible to us, I’m confident that a mere second in the outside world translates to thirty seconds here. It remains to be seen, however, how long our search for the correct fragment will last,” Adam explained with composure.

He understood that panic was useless. Their only objective was to discover the way forward.

Yet, one specific detail continued to nag at Adam.

“If these truly are the Wandering Fragments Beth described… why were we sent here together?”

Alexia gave a casual shrug.

“Is this not a better arrangement? If there exists a single location where you can claim the Blood of God and I can obtain the Ancient Frost, I don't mind handling both tasks simultaneously.”

She then gestured toward a blue portal far off, where swirling currents of a peaceful blizzard circled the opening amidst floating shards of ice.

“That one caught your eye immediately too, didn't it?”

Adam gave a slow nod of affirmation.

“But why? Ice is your domain, perfectly aligned with the Ancient Frost you seek. It is logical for you to be drawn to that fragment. But what connection does it have to me?”

She pivoted toward him, questioning him with a look.

“Hmm? What were your expectations? What did you imagine a fragment belonging to the God of Blood would look like?”

Adam found himself without an answer.

He scanned the hundreds of available fragments, yet none resonated with him or stirred his intuition, save for the one radiating frost.

Step.

Alexia moved forward. With her energy pulling her toward the frost portal, she saw no reason to linger. Her goal was to identify her next objective and exit the Dead Lands; her period of recuperation in the Citadel had lasted long enough for her to crave combat and monsters once more.

Tap.

Adam’s hand landed on her shoulder before she could take another stride.

“Wait a moment. Time is on our side, particularly while we are beneath Queen Elisa’s aura. We should examine each fragment before committing to a choice.”

Alexia, however, did not share his cautious outlook.

“Are you serious?” She pointed toward the horizon. “There are thousands of them! We cannot possibly inspect every single one, especially when the solution is already obvious!”

Adam’s brow furrowed.

“Fine, we won't check them all. We will look at one hundred, how about that?”

Alexia pouted like a disgruntled child but eventually conceded with a nod.

“Very well, but I get to pick the majority of them!”

It was a minor point. Ultimately, their energy was steering them toward a singular destination.

Nonetheless, Adam felt compelled to investigate the others. He sensed that this pull originated not just from his own energy, but from the synchronized resonance between himself, Alexia, and their respective Path Constructs.

‘The Path Construct possesses a unique energy. It differs from the power circulating through my Evolution Tree. While it is still my own, I lack direct command over it. For the time being, it serves as the guide for my Cultivation toward the Second Rank…’

The duo began their short journey at a fragment overflowing with fire. A mild warmth radiated from the flames, though it lacked the intensity to cause burns.

Up close, the fragment mirrored their distant observations. It appeared as a rift that was nearly sealed, yet it stood taller than either of them. Its perimeter was shrouded in shadow, while the core glowed brilliantly.

Step.

As they moved closer, the rift expanded into a wide-open portal, revealing the true nature of the Wandering Fragment.

Adam and Alexia’s eyes widened as a vista of volcanic terrain unfolded. Lakes of molten magma drowned the scorched earth, while pillars of fire erupted toward the sky, bathing the world in a crimson glow.

Vague silhouettes moved within the shadows of the flames, trekking toward a massive mountain at the center of the realm, which was crowned by a hovering ring of fire.

Inexplicably, the moment the portal opened, an urge to enter seized them. It might have been a natural desire to return to the Dead Lands to finish their quest, or perhaps the instinctive pull of their Qi.

The location of this volcanic region was a mystery; it could be hidden within the Tarnished Lands, the far reaches of the Dead Lands, or even along the Dark Shore.

Regardless, Adam and Alexia recognized this wasn't their destination. They retreated a step, and the portal vanished.

“That fragment…” Alexia whispered. “What would have happened if we picked it? Would we have been transported there instantly?”

“Don't be absurd. We are still within our inner space. Neither of us possesses teleportation abilities, so that is doubtful. But if that fragment wasn't the right fit, what does that imply about the blue one?”

“Exactly my point! We should have gone there from the start!”

Ignoring her protests, Adam walked toward the next fragment, which glowed with a green light.

“We have ninety-nine to go. You gave your word.”

“FUUUCK! Why did I agree to this?!”

“Hahahahaha,” Adam chuckled, finding amusement in teasing her. “Come now, aren't you even a little curious about the geography of the world around us?”

“Pffft!” She crossed her arms and snorted. “We don't even know if these places are real!”

Adam gave a noncommittal shrug.

“I suspect they are. Let’s keep moving; we have a lot of ground to cover.”

Alexia rolled her eyes but followed behind him.

She was often loud and impulsive, but she was a woman of her word, even when she instantly regretted giving it.

...

Surprisingly, as they peered into more fragments, Alexia’s mood shifted. Over the next ninety-nine portals, they witnessed a vast array of landscapes: from frozen wastes and volcanic pits to serene flowered fields, sky-islands, dark chasms, and ancient forests teeming with hidden mysteries.

They were certain these wild lands were far removed from the Citadel. These were not the outskirts of the Dead Lands; such environments were far too lethal for the average Phantom—even for the newer K4-Phantoms who had yet to manifest their Grand Stars.

Eventually, they returned to the blue fragment, proving Alexia’s initial instinct correct.

Despite the thousands of other portals nearby, none had exerted the same magnetic pull as the blue one now standing before them.

They swapped a final look and stepped forward, triggering the portal to open.

A blast of freezing wind hit them, turning their skin red from the sudden drop in temperature. No other fragment had produced such a physical reaction.

As the blinding light faded, their eyes settled on a range of majestic mountain peaks, all buried under heavy snow and thick ice. This mountain chain partially enclosed a massive frozen plain filled with energy anomalies and perpetual snowstorms.

Alexia’s eyes sharpened as she noticed a titanic spinal column stretching across the mountain ridge—massive, ancient bones frozen into the very earth, claiming the land as their grave.

However, their true destination was not the remains of the beast, but a Great Abyss at the heart of the plain. It plunged into darkness, housing the very things they both sought.

A radiant blue glow pulsed from the depths of that bottomless pit, a light so potent it seemed to ward off even the most predatory monsters.

“Is this the place?” Alexia asked, her voice tight.

Adam’s lips curled into a grin.

He sensed both immense opportunity and lethal danger within that frozen ridge. He didn't know what entity slept in the dark of that abyss, but he was certain that surviving this ordeal would elevate his power and bring his goals within reach.

“Yeah, this is it. Obtaining the Ancient Frost should be straightforward… but if my theory holds, we’ll have to offer blood to the god!”