Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1515: Abyss Guards (Part 2)

The sudden appearance of the golems took Adam and Alexia by surprise, yet there was currently no sign that this confrontation would be as lethal as their struggle with the ice worm.

Instead, it was the mention of the Frost Oasis and the cryptic statements of the Head Golem that piqued their curiosity.

“Are you certain we are prepared?” Adam questioned, feeling a sense of bewilderment.

Though his body was primed for a fight, he felt conflicted about this meeting. He couldn't quite decipher the nature of these golems: were they foes, comrades, or merely neutral parties watching from the sidelines?

“Indeed… I shall not inquire as to why you seek to disturb the Frost Oasis… It matters little to me… However… I must be certain that the sacrifice you offer will be meaningful…”

Alexia lifted an eyebrow, her expression one of indignant disbelief.

“Sacrifice? Pfffft! What is that supposed to mean? We aren't planning on dying!”

The Head Golem fixed his gaze upon her before turning his attention back to Adam. He recognized their sincerity.

Nevertheless, his perspective remained unchanged.

“Your bravery is commendable… You are neither the first nor the last to commit such an error… But is that not the very core of your nature, the nature of all humans?”

The Head Golem tilted his head upward, as if searching for the distant silhouette of the Citadel.

“You persist in repeating the same blunders… clinging to the empty hope that you can reshape reality…”

Alexia opened her mouth to snap back at the Head Golem, viewing his words as a direct provocation, but Adam intervened. For some reason, he felt a strange affinity for this monster; it felt as though he were conversing with a machine that had only just begun to grasp the cruel mechanics of this world.

“Why?” Adam asked, a faint grin appearing on his lips. “Isn't that the primary advantage of humanity? Our ability to adapt to any circumstance?”

To his surprise, the Head Golem shook his massive head in disagreement.

“Young man, you are mistaken… Though I do not fault you. Your time in this world has been too brief to realize that these desolate lands are the only things that have truly adapted to the laws of this existence…”

The Head Golem swept his heavy, stone arm through the air:

“Everything else—the darkness on one side, the chaos on the opposite… and the fusion of both in the center… You are all merely attempting to rewrite the existing laws rather than adapting to them…”

Alexia scowled, fighting the urge to scream at the stone creature.

‘What is this pile of rocks even rambling about?!’ she shouted in her mind.

Adam, however, grasped the Head Golem’s meaning.

‘I understand. He’s referring to the Dark Shore, the Tarnished Lands, and… the Citadel?’

Adam exhaled slowly, steadying his breath.

“So, you will only permit us to reach the Frost Oasis if we prove our worth, yet you are convinced that doing so will lead to our demise. Do I have that right?”

The Head Golem gave a slow nod.

“Yes… young Phantom. I can feel the craving for combat within your heart… You journeyed here to increase your strength… Nevertheless, regardless of what happens, I will not bar your path. If you prove worthy, you earn the right to advance.”

In response, Adam gestured toward the fallen carcass of the ice worm behind them.

“Do you see that? We finished off that monster without taking any major damage. I believe that serves as sufficient proof of our capabilities.”

Adam anticipated that the Head Golem would move aside or acknowledge his point, but the reaction was quite different…

“Haha… Hahaha!” The Head Golem let out a booming laugh, while the subordinate golems behind him shook their heads in unison.

It was clear that Adam was missing a fundamental concept.

“You assumed that I was the one meant to test your power? If the matter were that simple, I would have had no reason to stop you… Even though your auras are tranquil and suppressed… that alone is enough for me to gauge your level of Cultivation…”

“Huh?” Alexia made a face. “Then why the hell are you blocking us? We slaughtered that worm just so we could keep moving!”

Refusing to wait for a reply from the slow-moving Head Golem, Alexia marched forward. She felt no fear that the golems would strike; even if they did, she was prepared for the clash.

“Pffft! I’m done wasting time. I’m just going to go in there and—!”

Thump!

Suddenly, Alexia slammed into an unseen obstacle with such velocity that she collapsed to the ground, clutching her throbbing, reddened forehead.

“Ouch!” she cried out before blinking her eyes open.

A ripple shimmered across an invisible wall that protected the abyss. The golems stood just beyond its boundary.

“What? Where did this barrier come from?!”

Adam’s eyes sharpened as he observed the phenomenon.

“It has been here the entire time.”

“Agh?”

Adam turned his gaze toward the Head Golem.

“Am I correct?”

The Head Golem gave a heavy nod of confirmation.

“It was invisible to you before… This is what I was referring to… Until you can surpass this wall, the Frost Oasis will remain out of your reach.”

“What? You should have led with that!” Alexia shouted, scrambling back to her feet.

Without a moment's hesitation, she balled her hand into a fist and struck the barrier with every ounce of her strength. She was certain that such a powerful blow would shatter the seal.

However…

Whooooooosh.

The force of the impact rebounded, sending Alexia tumbling backward. She flew past Adam like a gust of wind, while he watched her with a look of mild curiosity.

It was painfully obvious that brute force would not break this seal.

“So, if we can't smash through this barrier, how exactly are we supposed to cross it?”

The Head Golem leaned his head forward, staring directly into Adam’s eyes.

“You already perceive the solution, do you not, young man?”

Adam nodded solemnly.

“The ancient energy?”

The Head Golem gestured toward the barrier, a section of which now glowed with a pale blue light and a faint purple tint at the edges.

“I shall be honest… If your power was significantly higher, you could potentially crush this barrier through raw might… However, at your current level, you must utilize the ancient energy—or more accurately, you must accept it…”

Adam let out a sigh.

“And? How do we manage that?”

The Head Golem raised his hand.

“You may attempt it on your own, or you… young man… can endure a strike from me and experience the ancient energy firsthand…”