Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1512: The Ice Worm (Part 1)
Previously on Endless Evolution: Last Star...
Most of the confrontations Adam endured within the Tarnished Lands resembled disciplined duels rather than chaotic brawls.
Alexia found herself in an identical predicament.
Whenever an Elder intended to strike, the duo sensed it immediately; the enemy’s aura was as blatant as their malice.
Whether it was a sanctioned bout against the likes of Ureyn and Erada, or a sudden clash with Menax, the dynamic remained constant: a human facing a monster wearing a human mask.
However…
The Primal Lands operated under a vastly different set of rules.
Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.
The ground shuddered violently as a massive ice worm surged upward, leaving Alexia paralyzed by the suddenness of the assault.
She stared in sheer disbelief.
‘I sensed nothing! How could a creature of that magnitude ambush us? How can it move with such speed?!’
Though she hadn't realized it yet, the sensation washing over Alexia was one she hadn't felt since the dawn of her journey, back when she first transitioned into a Phantom.
The behemoth before her was a genuine threat—unforeseen and lethal. Worse still, she was gripped by indecision.
Should she strike the ice worm directly? Should she attempt to restrain the colossus? What strategy would ensure Adam’s survival?
Crack. Crack. Crack.
Rending sounds echoed from above as a long white blade, wreathed in shadows, manifested. With a savage, spinning motion, Adam ripped through the creature’s underbelly.
Ichor sprayed in every direction. As he escaped, his eyes—burning with a mixture of terror and ferocity—met Alexia’s gaze.
One of Adam’s eyes shifted to a vibrant green as he pushed the power of the Silver Weaver to its absolute limit.
While Alexia had been stunned by the initial visual, Adam had experienced a nightmare.
One second he was admiring the majestic Frost Ridge and the sapphire depths of the abyss; the next, he was swallowed by total darkness.
Hundreds of jagged teeth had closed in around him, vibrating like a massive industrial grinder intended to reduce him to pulp.
Adam couldn't recall the last time his mind had worked with such frantic speed. Even the grueling struggle against Menax, his most taxing fight in recent memory, hadn't provoked this level of anxiety.
Whooooosh.
Executing a final burst of acceleration that left a crimson trail in the air, Adam touched down in the snow beside Alexia.
“Agh… Agh… Agh…” He gasped for air, his attention darting to his shoulder. A jagged, deep laceration marked the spot where several teeth had snagged him, despite his rapid reaction.
The two exchanged a brief look before Adam spun around to face the threat above.
He had been certain the ice worm would succumb to the massive internal damage he inflicted, but the sight before him made his expression turn to stone.
Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.
The ice worm’s musculature spasmed and tightened, effectively sealing the wound. Faint ripples of energy surged toward the torn edges, knitting the hide and flesh back together.
While it was merely a makeshift fix rather than true regeneration, it provided more than enough stability for the beast to persist.
“What? It neutralized a wound that severe using nothing but raw physical power and energy?”
“Adam!” Alexia screamed as the ice worm snapped its head toward them with predatory precision.
A cluster of blue eyes lining its flanks locked onto them. The beast unhinged its massive maw.
Luminescent blue light danced across hundreds of fangs as a sphere of concentrated energy formed between its jaws.
Both Adam and Alexia recognized the buildup immediately; they had encountered similar techniques throughout their Cultivation journeys and knew the danger that followed.
A beam of annihilating energy roared toward them, forcing the pair to dive in opposite directions.
Wheeeeze!
The ray tore through the earth, flash-freezing the mountain peak under a thick, unnatural crust of ice upon contact.
Adam glanced at Alexia, knowing a coordinated plan was their only hope for victory, but she had already reached the same conclusion. She was already moving.
“Gha…”
A heavy breath escaped her as her aura began to vibrate. Her eyes grew luminous and piercing, taking on the clarity of primordial ice.
In an instant, a swirling white haze composed of countless microscopic ice crystals enveloped her. The phenomenon looked less like a simple fog and more like a shimmering celestial nebula.
Adam realized immediately that this wasn't a manifestation of her raw energy, but a specific ability.
Tremble.
Alexia’s body blurred as she vaulted into the sky. She ascended higher and higher, kicking off the very air itself and leaving patches of frost beneath her feet with every leap.
Before the ice worm could track her movements, Alexia was hovering directly in front of its face. She pulled her fist back, targeting the creature’s lower jaw.
‘Does she really intend to finish it with a basic punch?’ Adam wondered, unaware of the transformation taking place.
Within Alexia’s gaze, numerous silhouettes resembling shadowed armaments flickered rapidly. Despite their dark coating, the nature of the weapons was unmistakable.
The moment Alexia locked onto a specific form, the surrounding white mist surged. Thousands of ice crystals converged, reshaping themselves into the tool required to bring down the titan.
As her fist impacted the ice worm’s jaw, a colossal ice spear erupted forth, skewering the monster’s skull and emerging through the other side in a shower of gore.
The spear’s dimensions completely dwarfed Alexia—it was merely one of the many options her ability provided.
Adam swallowed hard, staring at the massive pike that had impaled the giant. He was finally witnessing a true glimpse of Alexia’s current level of power.
The light in the ice worm’s many eyes began to fade, until…
“Agh?”
Suddenly, the pupils within those eyes twitched. They rolled erratically before snapping back into a focused, hateful glare.
The color drained from Alexia’s face. She was stunned that the ice worm remained standing and ready for combat even after having its head pierced.
“RRRRRRROOOOOOGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!”
A thunderous howl, echoing the fury of a mountain storm, washed over Alexia. The ice worm’s body coiled, tensing for a lethal lunge.
Then…
Whoooooosh.
An unseen blade whistled through the air, shearing through the ice worm’s neck. Its head was severed cleanly, finally extinguishing the life of the great beast.
Blood flooded the terrain as Alexia struggled to process the swift conclusion of the hunt.