Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1504: Thousand Anomalies (Part 2)

As Adam approached the perimeter of the Citadel, his movements were tracked by several sentries on the fortifications and Phantoms lurking in the distance.

Some observers recognized his figure, while others were merely baffled, wondering why a solitary youth would venture into territory teeming with monsters.

Although none of the local beasts could threaten Adam now, these lands remained lethal for commoners or K0-Phantoms. It had only been eighteen months since he himself had been hunting in these parts, frequently finding himself in life-or-death struggles.

In fact, Frida had once rescued him within these very borders, a memory that remained hazy because he had collapsed from sheer exhaustion at the time.

Step. Step. Step.

The earth vibrated under his stride as he moved past the dune-filled desert, entering a monotonous expanse of gray terrain.

Adam squinted, noticing a dusting of snow beginning to coat the rocky plains ahead. It was a massive territory spanning hundreds of kilometers, yet it appeared entirely vacant—nothing but a stone plateau and falling snow.

‘Hah, it’s true. If I wasn’t aware they were stationed here, I’d never visit this place by choice. It’s relatively close to the Citadel, yet isolated enough that stumbling upon it by accident is impossible,’ he thought, maintaining his pace.

For a K0 or K1 Phantom to reach this sector, they would need to requisition a fighter jet and be assigned a specific objective.

Naturally, the mission department never issued orders for this particular zone.

Consequently, even though the location of the Detached Mountains could be spotted with binoculars from the Citadel walls, the site remained undiscovered by the public.

Of course, even if a breach of secrecy occurred, the Gamma Division and the elite Phantoms possessed numerous methods to rectify the slip-up.

“Hey, I’m closing in, aren't I?” Adam questioned, watching the snowflakes whip toward him on the wind.

Monitoring Adam’s coordinates, Silvana gave a nod. On her blue 3D map, he appeared as a luminous speck. A few kilometers ahead lay a much larger marker: the Detached Mountains.

Seconds later, Adam’s speed intensified. He lunged forward, his movement kicking up a gale that swept the snow aside and revealed the bare earth beneath.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Suddenly, a ripple of blue energy surged through the seemingly empty air. Adam’s eyes tracked the complex, multi-layered barrier he had just breached.

He felt every individual stratum of the ward against his skin, the atmospheric pressure intensifying with every beat of his heart.

Then… the crushing weight evaporated, replaced by a wave of crisp, fresh air.

The barrier vanished from his mind the moment he saw the panorama unfolding before him.

“What the…?”

True to its name, the site consisted of several massive peaks—specifically, five primary mountains surrounded by smaller formations that linked them together like a chaotic ring of stone.

As was typical for such frigid heights, the summits were buried under heavy ice and snow, a sight that reminded him of the destination he and Alexia planned to visit in the Primal Lands.

Buildings were visible nestled against the slopes and carved directly into the rock faces. These small outposts were fully operational, with light glowing from numerous windows.

Furthermore, much like the Citadel, the main path was obstructed by colossal gates that seemed to have fused with the two mountains flanking them over time.

Beside the entrance, two giant gears turned with perfect precision despite the frost-covered metal. It was a sophisticated, indestructible mechanism powered by pure energy rather than fuel or electricity.

Adam suspected many more architectural wonders awaited within, but that wasn't what caused his jaw to drop.

Scattered across the Detached Mountains were countless shimmering lights of various hues—every single one was an anomaly.

“Hey, those are anomalies, right?” Adam asked, his voice thick with skepticism.

Silvana paused before nodding solemnly. Like him, she was struggling to process the scene.

“Yes, it seems so. Damn, Adam, I can count over a hundred already, and we’re only looking at the front!”

Adam swallowed hard, his focus narrowing.

“No, it’s more than that. Look at the perimeter—look how far the barrier extends from the mountains.”

“Hmm? What are you getting at?” She tilted her head in confusion.

Adam’s brow furrowed.

“Maybe I’m overthinking it and the barrier is just large to hide the peaks better, but I suspect something else. The Gamma Division wouldn't risk anyone stumbling onto these anomalies. Most of them aren't at the top; they’re at the base, hidden from view.”

Silvana’s eyes widened as the implication hit her.

“Shit, you’re right. If there are anomalies beneath the surface, then we aren't talking about hundreds—there must be thousands!”

Adam had encountered anomalies a few times back when he was a novice Phantom. Over time, such phenomena stopped being a threat to high-level Phantoms, replaced by the danger of External Artifacts and Ancient Artifacts.

Still, Adam vividly recalled the two times he had blundered into an anomaly and nearly lost his life, a fate that befell many Phantoms daily across the Dead Lands.

“But why are they gathered here? No…” Adam shook his head. “That’s not the only mystery. Why are there so many in one spot? They aren't drifting; they’re staying in fixed zones. Don't they ever collide?”

Questions swirled in Adam’s mind, but neither he nor Silvana possessed the answers.

That wasn't a dead end, however, as they both knew someone who could provide the truth.

Whooooooosh.

Accompanied by a particularly biting gust of wind, Adam came to a halt before the massive iron gates.

He scanned the area, expecting a greeting or at least a radio transmission, but not a single member of the Gamma Division appeared. He was certain they were the custodians of this secret facility, a place unknown even to K3-Phantoms.

Slck!

A peculiar noise from above drew Adam’s gaze upward. He found Damien perched casually on top of the gate.

While the world around them was encased in ice and heavy snow, Damien was staring intensely at a serving of strawberry ice cream.

Eventually, Damien looked down at Adam and flashed a wide grin.

“Yo! You finally made it!”

Adam felt a chill that had nothing to do with the weather.

‘There’s definitely something wrong with his head.’