Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1548: The Dragon and the Egg

Right from the outset, all indications suggested that Alexia would be the initial one to achieve her goal.

In her quest to gain more power and restore a section of the Third Grand Star, Alexia had to secure the Ancient Frost along with the Winding Fragment, which guided them directly to this Frost Oasis.

Adam realized that this location and their entire path were mainly designed for Alexia. Every aspect here—from the chilling energy and the surrounding environment to her skills and connection to these frozen territories—fit her far better than it did him.

This didn't bother Adam at all.

Lately, he had spent time at the Forgotten Mills, a region teeming with creatures whose powers mirrored his own. That had been his personal path, tailored just for him.

So, if heading to these icy realms alongside Alexia was necessary for him to grow stronger and claim the Blood of God, with her taking the lead, he had no issue with it.

At this point, they had overcome every challenge, the Ancient Voice had gone quiet, Alexia had claimed the Ancient Frost, and only the Blood of God was left to acquire.

How could Adam possibly find the Blood of God anywhere other than from the dragon's severed head positioned beside the radiant pool?

That spot was the sole area they hadn't investigated yet, and it stood out as the most probable source.

Whatever this dragon had been in its lifetime, only its head remained now. There was nothing to worry about from it. It had perished ages ago.

Yet.

"Agh?"

So what exactly caught Adam's gaze in that instant?

Why was that massive blue eye fixed so sharply on him?

Did that mean the dragon was still alive?

What in the world was occurring?

Questions flooded Adam's mind without a single resolution. But one sensation gripped him undeniably—terror.

The dragon's eye regarded him like prey, showing a hint of acknowledgment but clearly not viewing him as a worthy rival.

"Adam!" Alexia cried out, moving with quicker reflexes.

A surge of icy flow carried her to his side, where she grabbed his arm and leaped them both back a good distance.

She assumed the dragon's head would spring into action and strike at them right then, yet the eye kept its intense focus locked on Adam.

"W-What the hell...?" Alexia swallowed hard. Even with the fresh strength surging through her, she couldn't stop the chill racing down her spine.

Of course, she still required some moments to completely integrate the Ancient Frost, though its core abilities were already at her disposal as part of her advancing evolution.

"It’s alive, or...?" Alexia squinted her eyes.

"YOU..."

Right then, a deep, gravelly tone echoed from the dragon's head. Nothing shifted except for its eyes. The sound appeared to emerge from the swirling energy currents encircling the head.

"You made it to the finish and shattered the barrier... Remarkable... and the tree..." The dragon turned its gaze to Alexia. "You took it in... right?"

Twitch. Twitch. Twitch.

Alexia’s fingers jerked as she retreated a step.

She couldn't explain it, but ever since the dragon's eye had revealed itself, a sense of being ensnared washed over her, as though their whole adventure had built toward this exact instant.

On top of that, they soon witnessed something bizarre.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

The symbols that once adorned the walls, entrances, and formed the various shields throughout the Frost Oasis all merged into one flowing current and vanished.

Next, Adam and Alexia caught the Ancient Voice one final time during their expedition.

[The contract has been severed. Every shield encircling these territories is now gone. The force of energy holds no sway over this area anymore.]

In an instant, Adam grasped the implications.

He recalled the ice worm that had assaulted them at the start. Not a single similar beast had appeared since.

Maybe there weren't many of those ice worms, or maybe the shields had kept them and all other creatures from nearing the Frost Oasis.

A rumble echoed from afar, though it would require time for the surrounding monsters to notice that entry to the Frost Oasis was now unrestricted.

"Who are you?" Adam tightened his fists.

The blue eye fluttered once.

"Isn’t it obvious?"

The slit-shaped pupil constricted.

"I rule this domain. I am the one who endured the wait... I lingered for ages and prepared to linger even more... However... Your arrival is fortunate; it spares me further delay..."

With no more words, the dragon shut its eye.

Adam and Alexia shared a look. They remained baffled by the events, their pulses still pounding with dread.

They were prepared to battle any foe or endure any ordeal. The unknown shadows held more dread than any direct confrontation.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

The Frost Oasis quaked, and the luminous pool brimming with thick energy stirred for the first time.

Unsure of what might come next, Adam and Alexia backed away further.

Maybe the pool itself was a snare, or perhaps the dragon's head intended to unleash its raw energy against them.

All that Adam and Alexia managed in that tense moment was to hold their ground and observe.

They had no clue what the ultimate challenge held—not from the Ancient Voice, but straight from the Frost Oasis's true master.

Nevertheless...

"Agh?" Alexia let out a sharp breath.

Thankfully, none of their darkest suspicions came true.

The liquid in the pool started to withdraw, slowly emptying until just a shadowy egg with jagged edges sat exposed at the base.

Alexia’s eyes grew wide, her mouth quivering at the ominous presence radiating from the egg.

"What the hell is that?"

"The egg? But... why?" Adam felt utterly perplexed. He was truly straining to make sense of the situation.

After all, his success in securing the Blood of God hinged greatly on this development.

’My energy,’ he pondered. ’It hasn’t revealed the precise spot yet. What the...’

Crack!

A abrupt split cut through his musings as an arm burst out from the egg, cracking the tough exterior.

If the Frost Oasis served as the objective for Adam and Alexia, then they themselves were the objective for another.

There was forever a predator fiercer and more perilous.