Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1555: Blood from the Neck (Part 2)

Any beast from the Frost Ridge in Vaarh's spot would have perished ages ago under Alexia's relentless assaults.

Activating her second Evolution Vein power transformed her momentarily into a lethal warrior who didn't just wield frost but fused it into her very being.

Alexia saw that Vaarh could deflect her strikes endlessly, forcing her to collect every ounce of this power's leftover strength and surge ahead.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

The ground quivered as a vivid azure gleam raced toward Vaarh with blistering velocity.

"Your last attack?"

His booming voice echoed over the battlefield while he swept his spear before him.

"Show me what you’ve got! This is your finest effort right before your doom!"

He remained utterly certain that Adam and Alexia's downfall was set in stone, unavoidable.

Nothing infuriated Alexia quite like that attitude.

"Then shut up and face my blow!" She shouted, slamming into Vaarh like a shooting star.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

The iron spear vibrated wildly, and even Vaarh's firm hold failed to keep it steady amid the chaos.

Frost energy erupted outward in every direction from Alexia, her resolve fixed on dealing maximum harm to Vaarh.

Step.

Alexia advanced as the full surge of energy momentum barreled into Vaarh.

'NO!' He screamed inside his mind while the freezing surge mirrored in his bulging eyes.

A heavy coat of ice encased his chest and hands, the impact flinging his spear from his grasp and rendering him weaponless for that instant.

"Agh... Agh... Agh..."

Alexia ended up on the opposite side, her breaths coming in heavy gasps.

She looked back over her shoulder as the ice on her hands and feet shattered away.

Twitch. Twitch. Twitch.

Vaarch's fingers jerked, signaling he was on the verge of breaking free from the frozen bonds. He'd shielded himself from real harm, yet Alexia's chill still gripped him tightly, hindering his movements.

This marked the exact opening Alexia had mentioned from the start, and Adam had no intention of letting it slip.

The white needle rested in his grip, and in the instant that followed, a route opened up between him and Vaarh.

It stood as the swiftest strike Adam could unleash. Plus, aiming not to slay Vaarh but merely to injure him for his blood, Adam forged his path quicker than ever before.

So, even without the freeze and with full awareness of Adam's power, Vaarh couldn't have responded fast enough.

Up to that point, Adam had never resorted to his path solely for wounding a foe, but this presented the perfect chance.

"Agh...?" Vaarh's eyes bulged in bewilderment.

All he caught was a white streak charging directly at him. Moments later, Adam materialized right before him, needle's long edge poised.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

Despite the dire straits, Vaarh shattered the ice and twisted his upper body aside, dodging a slash that would have severed his head.

He had no clue that Adam sought a different prize.

THRUST!

Pain surged through Vaarh like a tidal wave, raw astonishment etching his features.

He stared as Adam, feral as a savage predator, drove his teeth deep into his neck. Blood rich with primal power sprayed forth, splattering Adam's face while he bit down harder.

Vaarch didn't grasp Adam's intent, but he refused to let the gash worsen. He lifted his arm, iron claws extended to shred Adam apart.

Yet Adam moved swifter.

Crackle!

With a sharp snap, Adam ripped away a piece of flesh from Vaarh's neck as the path propelled him dozens of meters onward.

Vaarch's swipe met empty space.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Crimson droplets fell from Adam's lips as he ejected the flesh morsel, his mouth overwhelmed by a foul flavor.

Blood soaked the snow nearby, and his savage deed made the distant monsters tense up, retreating even farther. They had zero desire to challenge this Phantom's limits.

Vaarch, of course, topped the list of those stunned.

He couldn't fathom Adam's motive.

'An effort to end me?' Vaarh pondered. 'No, that's not it. He targeted my neck. That must have been their scheme from the outset—for whatever reason, he craved my blood. He'd stoop to acting like a rabid animal for it...'

Vaarch blinked, spotting a detail.

He caught the spark in Adam's gaze and the hint of a grin forming. He recognized that look intimately, having worn it countless times.

When the truth hit Vaarch, he leaped backward, fingers spasming. The iron spear, lodged in the earth from its drop, shuddered and flew back to his hand, kicking up snowdrifts along the way.

He brandished his spear, poised for battle once more.

'So my blood served as his evolution trigger? Cursed Phantoms! They'll exploit anything or anyone to gain power!'

Vaarch was aware Alexia had evolved prior to their clash. He'd accepted that loss to shatter the barrier. But allowing Adam to grow stronger? That was off the table.

His gut screamed that Adam posed a deadlier danger than Alexia.

"Huh! You're done for now, you smug fool!" Alexia crowed with delight, jabbing a finger at Vaarh.

She expected that in mere seconds, a massive energy surge would explode from Adam, mirroring her own burst after taking in the Ancient Frost.

"Hmm?" Alexia cocked her head, puzzled.

For some odd reason, even after thirty seconds, nothing stirred.

Gradually, Adam faced her, her eyes growing wide.

Rather than triumph, his expression held only bafflement and bewilderment. He'd taken Vaarh's blood, yet the Path Construct showed no response. Not even his aura twitched.

At that point, all three grasped a basic truth:

The Blood of God had never served as Adam's requirement at the Frost Oasis.