Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1534: It’s Not That Simple

"Agh... Agh... Agh..." Adam panted roughly while gazing at the golden particles breaking apart right in front of him.

Within a mere one and a half seconds, his needle pulverized ten golden spiders. Their velocity proved astonishing, yet that fleeting moment dragged on endlessly for Adam.

With every jab, he sensed the force rippling through his frame, and had he retreated even slightly, stumbled off balance, or let go of his needle, one of those golden spiders might have easily torn right through him, striking like a blazing fast missile.

Yet the spiders and spiral crystals weren't what caused Adam to scowl—it was the trial itself that troubled him.

"Damn it, so everything sticks to the rules until it suddenly doesn't?"

Alexia grasped this as well, her eyes fixed sharply on the platform where just three shining sockets still glowed. The rest had dimmed completely, and mere seconds now stood between them and total failure in this trial.

"This situation is far from ideal. We figured we'd get several chances to try again, to devise a strategy and plan our next moves, to refine our approach—but turns out, it was all a setup against us!"

Her words rang true. They had nearly failed because the Ancient Voice had withheld key details, though the real issue lay deeper.

"Tsk, that Ancient Voice..." Adam rasped out. "It's no friend to us, nor a foe. It merely observes from afar, enforcing the rules for all. But should the rules demand abrupt shifts in trial conditions, the Ancient Voice finds no fault in that."

Tremble.

With a quiver, Silvana and Louis materialized beside them. They had cleared this trial, yet advancing further required grasping how to handle such twists.

"Perhaps we ought to bombard the Ancient Voice with as many queries as we can?" Silvana proposed.

Louis shook his head. "Adam already attempted that. If it's not permitted, the Ancient Voice will just brush off the inquiry. We need to concentrate on the trials themselves, not on the Ancient Voice."

"Hmm?" Alexia cocked her head, puzzled.

"I could be off base, but it feels like every following trial hides some snare or surprise element. The Ancient Voice won't reveal it since it falls outside the set rules. Therefore..."

Adam cut in:

"We need to anticipate the absolute worst that might befall us, correct?"

Louis gave a nod.

"Exactly along those lines. Here, your biggest hurdle was the time limit. Ten minutes felt tight, but you believed you'd eventually succeed because retries were endless. Then abruptly, the limits tightened, wiping out your edge completely."

After a brief silence, Adam brushed the dust from his shoulder and faced the cyan crystal.

The real spiders lurked in the cave's shadows, eyeing them steadily, but just like earlier, they showed no rush to strike. There was no call for their involvement.

Oddly, this realization sparked a thought in Adam that he'd missed until now:

"Huh, it didn't hit me before, but they clearly aren't pleased their nest got dragged into this trial. So they're not tied to the Frost Oasis—some mighty force arrived and imposed its own order here."

"Agh?" Alexia arched a brow. "Why here? This spot's smack in the middle of nothing!"

Louis squinted his eyes.

"I beg to differ. This chasm draws in beasts with its potent aura. Plus, descent demands ancient energy, turning it into a snare that lets only the mightiest enter, squeezing every drop of value from them."

Silvana glanced toward the Pale Spider Pearl.

"Whatever rules this domain, it's got the clout to command the Ancient Voice's service."

Step. Step. Step.

Adam advanced swiftly, brushing past Silvana to position himself before the cyan crystal.

The amber stars on his arms lifted high, curving into a semicircle directed at the crystal. But that formed only part of the formation.

"Alexia, get in here. We can't afford delays—we have to press forward."

Alexia drew in a sharp breath.

"Yes!"

She dashed ahead, her own amber stars springing to life.

Moments later, sixty amber stars encircled above the cyan crystal. They quivered with energy and, all at once like a swarm of razor edges, slashed directly into the crystal's surface.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

Fissures spiderwebbed across the crystal, which then burst apart in front of Adam and Alexia.

Right on cue, the gray pearl sat untouched in the middle, perched on the single fragment that endured the chaos.

"Perfect, that's ours for the taking."

Adam grasped the Pale Spider Pearl. He wasn't sure what might happen, but it turned out to be a simple, chilly sphere, resembling nothing more than a basic trinket.

[You have obtained the Pale Spider Pearl.]

[Bring the orb to the gate to complete the first pattern.]

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Scores of blue spiders clambered down to the lake's borders, fixing their gazes on the group with intense focus.

Hisses echoed from them, urging Adam and Alexia to vacate the area without delay.

"Tsk, aren't you lot relieved we pulled you out of this trial mess?" Adam scowled as he strode onward. "Come on, Alexia, they're showing us the door."

"Pfffft!" She let out a scoff. "They ought to thank their lucky stars I'm not in the mood to crush puny foes like you!"

Silvana and Louis shared a quiet look before trailing after them.

No matter Alexia's bold front, her injuries couldn't escape their notice. Should the upcoming trial prove tougher, who knew the ordeals awaiting them?

The blue spiders held back from chasing as Adam and Alexia's figures vanished into the tunnel; instead, they turned toward the cyan crystal, seeking to claim its lingering power.

Too bad for the spiders—they'd outlived their purpose here, much like the Ancient Voice.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

The spiral crystals quaked violently before exploding and unleashing their final surge.

In that instant, every blue spider halted dead and burst apart like overripe fruit.

Not a single one endured.