Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1514: Abyss Guards (Part 1)

The Frost Ridge stretched across a boundless horizon, yet for Adam and Alexia, the path was singular—a direct descent into the waiting abyss.

Their previous encounter with the ice worm had left a lasting mark on their spirits. It served as a grim testament to the lethality of the Primal Lands, making them both realize that their journey had only just begun.

Step. Step. Step.

Setting a deliberate pace, Adam and Alexia moved down the incline, leaving the safety of the peaks behind. They navigated toward the open expanse where the massive worm’s carcass now rested.

Unsure of what lay ahead, they remained braced for any threat. Their mission had escalated in danger the very moment they crossed the mountain’s threshold.

“Well, well…” Adam remarked, scanning the area as they reached the lower slopes. “It’s quite desolate here, isn’t it?”

For hundreds of meters in every direction, there was nothing but ground buried under heavy snow, jagged frozen rocks, and ancient, fossilized bones. Though many conflicts had once stained this soil, such battles were now a rare occurrence.

“Yeah, looks like no one’s died here in the last few years.” Alexia gave a somber nod. “This worm was the first.”

Narrowing his gaze, Adam stared toward the abyss, drawn by the faint, shimmering blue light emanating from its depths.

They had anticipated an ambush in this wide-open space, considering the abyss was the region's primary treasure.

Instead, the only sound accompanying them was the rhythmic crunch of snow beneath their boots.

“Agh…” Adam let out a long sigh. It had been a significant amount of time since he had set foot in such wintry terrain.

Curiously, despite the lingering threat of the ice worm, a sense of peace washed over him. Each inhalation of the crisp, frigid air seemed to expand his chest and settle his racing thoughts.

Standing there, he felt like a city-dweller who had finally escaped the concrete jungle to find solace in the high mountains.

While most regions of the Dead Lands—excluding the monster cities—were untamed and devoid of technology or urban clamor, this place felt unique.

The difference wasn't merely the plummeting temperature or the physical sensation of the cold.

The true reason lay within the energy itself.

“Hah, Silvana, can you feel it?” Adam asked, his eyelids fluttering half-closed.

Silvana offered a subtle nod. This was a rare moment where she preferred being at Adam’s side in these perilous lands rather than remaining in her comfortable office at the Citadel.

She shared Adam's sensation, though she couldn't grasp its full depth since she was only experiencing a fraction of it through their connection.

‘Yes, this energy, it’s unlike anything else. Even the Midnight Crystal and Twilight Crystal don’t have the same depth. But… where does this energy come from?’

It had become clear to them that this specific energy permeated the entirety of the Primal Lands; its concentration fluctuated, but it saturated the whole region.

It wasn't a matter of how dense the energy was. Rather, its quality was distinct—more profound and ancient, reminiscent of the gaze of a sage who had witnessed centuries of history.

“So this is the ancient energy Beth was talking about?” Adam hypothesized, his eyes catching the reflection of faint energy currents drifting nearby.

Unlike the pale blue essence found elsewhere in the world, the energy here possessed a grayish hue with a subtle purple tint. To a Phantom as powerful as Adam, it was barely perceptible, yet in areas of high density, the distinction became undeniable.

“Hmm, we should have asked Beth more about this.”

Silvana’s brow furrowed. ‘I tried. She… she’s not the easiest person to have that kind of conversation with. Unlike Damien, she’s very strict and watches everything she says. I don’t know if she acts that way because she doesn’t trust us or doesn’t want to harm us with additional information, but it made me wary.’

Adam turned his head to observe Alexia, who appeared to be lost in similar contemplations. She clearly recognized the foreign nature of the energy, yet like him, she remained unable to pinpoint its exact essence.

Step. Step. Step.

The eerie quiet persisted until they drew near the edge of the abyss.

The moment they reached the primary fissures, the earth began to vibrate violently.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Adam and Alexia leaped backward, instantly assuming combat stances. They braced for the emergence of another giant worm or perhaps a different predator lying in wait.

However, the unfolding reality was far different.

The boulders, encrusted in ice, began to shift and rise from the earth, assembling themselves into more than a dozen massive golems.

Their stature was so immense that a single one could easily swallow Adam and Alexia within its towering shadow.

Adam’s gaze swept over the golems' frames. Their stony bodies were patched with ice and snow, but the glowing blue lines etched across their forms drew his focus. These channels pulsed with frosty energy, causing the ambient temperature to plummet further.

In the center of each golem’s head sat a core flickering with blue flames, resembling a solitary eye that stared down at the two wandering Phantoms.

The constructs were largely identical, save for the massive leader standing at the forefront.

Adam and Alexia traded looks while Silvana and Louis prepared for an engagement. They were confused by the golems' passivity as the giants simply watched them.

“H-Humans…”

A raspy, grating voice suddenly erupted from the lead golem.

“Why have you come here…?” The entity paused for a long duration before speaking again. “Are you just passing through, or… or… is the Frost Oasis your destination?”

‘Frost Oasis?’

The name echoed in Adam and Alexia’s minds simultaneously. They had heard no mention of such a place during their preparations.

Nevertheless, they quickly surmised that the golem referred to a location hidden deep within the abyss—the very place their energy senses were guiding them toward.

“Yes, we want to get to the Frost Oasis,” Adam declared.

The lead golem gave a slow nod.

“In that case… I must make sure you are ready…”