Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1556: Two of Three

The Winding Fragments.

This method allowed the Phantoms to discover the locations of their requirements for the Third Grand Star.

Adam and Alexia followed this pattern without fail, making full use of it. They embarked on the mission side by side since a single Winding Fragment indicated that the Third Grand Star's conditions lay in that very spot.

However...

The Winding Fragments failed to reveal exactly which conditions could be met at the Frost Oasis.

Every Winding Fragment merely revealed the treasure chest's position, offering zero clues on the treasure's true nature.

Indeed, upon spotting the thick ice layers and peaks blanketed in snow, they figured the Ancient Frost must be hidden precisely there.

Aware they headed toward the Primal Lands with a mighty foe lurking at the Frost Oasis's conclusion, Adam persuaded himself this spot held the Blood of God for him to claim.

The sole idea in his mind was that it came from some ancient, mighty beast. Such a fit matched the creatures of the Primal Lands and Vaarh perfectly too. He'd surely dwelled in this realm for ages, possessed a potent bloodline, and wielded immense strength.

Yet right from the start, Adam had chased after something absent from this place entirely.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

His heart pounded fiercely while his pupils constricted sharply.

At last, Adam grasped the reason why, in contrast to Alexia who could follow her energy's clear path, he had nothing solid to hold onto.

His energy merely signaled that one condition awaited him exactly here, within the Frost Oasis.

That was all.

"If the Blood of God was my condition and it turned out to be Vaarh's blood, then my energy should've guided me straight to him, correct?" Adam whispered inwardly, gradually shifting his eyes toward Vaarh.

Va arh lacked the full story, yet Adam's bewildered expression let him seize the core of what was unfolding.

This struck Adam like a crushing defeat; it seemed he'd let himself down completely.

But the true shock lingered ahead.

What among the two leftover conditions was meant for him in this place, if not the Blood of God?

The Highest Bliss, or perhaps the Bottomless Void?

What opposite force lay in wait for him right here?

No one—not him, not Silvana, not anybody—held the key to that riddle.

All Adam realized in this instant was that Vaarh himself wasn't the goal, but rather the entire battlefield before them.

Step.

Va arh advanced a pace, aiming his spear toward Adam, though not for an assault. His intent ran deeper.

"What happened?"

Alexia scowled. "Do you seriously believe we'll spill answers to your queries, you scum?!"

Yet Adam lifted his hand, halting her outburst.

"Alexia, odd as it sounds, I'll respond to him anyway."

"W-WHAT?!" She shot back in protest.

Adam drew in a steadying breath.

"He struck first, so we'll simply repay the gesture."

With a quick tilt of his head, Adam wiped the blood from his lips and fixed his stare on Vaarh.

"Your blood was meant to boost my power. That's what I thought. We'd journeyed here to grow mightier. Alexia uncovered her requirement, and I figured you—or more precisely, your blood—served as mine."

Va arh's face stayed composed.

"It seems you were quite convinced. Plenty of factors backed that belief, didn't they?"

Adam gave a nod.

"Yes, it all lined up flawlessly aside from that single flaw."

"What about now?"

Adam merely shrugged in reply, flashing a grim smile.

"Now, I haven't got a damn clue how to proceed."

Va arh refrained from taunting or jesting. He simply inclined his head, embracing the reality.

"Understood. I can't claim I've faced anything identical, but setbacks mustn't halt your path. So long as you haven't yielded to your own doubts, victory remains within reach."

"Huh," Adam let out a grim laugh. "Isn't it a bit off to offer such wisdom right after declaring you'd slay us with no turning back?"

Still, Vaarh's look revealed his differing view from Adam's.

"Of course, these words hold no weight for you. Your end is set in stone. Yet by sharing insight at this pivotal juncture, I'll recall to do the same in a future moment when it truly counts."

"Tsk!" Alexia huffed. "This mix of calculation and mercy exhausts me. Haven't you a shred of killing intent left?!"

Va arh whipped toward her suddenly. Briefly, an icy chill masked his features, a shadow in his gaze that chilled Alexia to the core, though normality soon resumed.

"I possess the drive to battle and triumph, much as you do. Lacking that, I'd have perished ages past, years upon years ago."

His tone deepened further.

"I'll honor my vow and deliver a battle worthy of you. This stems not just from honoring the offering you'll provide for my strength, but for my own sake too. To reclaim the pinnacle, I need to rekindle the thrill of victory."

Instantly after, swirling gray winds enveloped Vaarh while a mighty blast propelled him skyward.

Lacking wings or overt energy, guided by the gales, Vaarh ascended several hundred meters into the heights.

Alexia shielded her vision with her palms against the fierce winds.

Upon unveiling her eyes, she beheld Vaarh hovering far above the frosted summits, with the heavens overhead turning somber as heavy clouds gathered.

This spectacle unfolded through his command and raw energy.

As ruler of these territories in might and name alike, he intended to demonstrate it undeniably.

"What does he plan next...?" Alexia's words quivered while she scanned her surroundings.

The beasts once charging toward the chasm now fled the conflict zone at top speed. They shunned crossing Vaarh's path, implying they steered clear of Adam and Alexia as his foes.

All had witnessed the ice worm's grim fate.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

White lightning bolts streaked across the brooding clouds, the initial flash striking his spear and infusing it with tempest's fury.

True to form, Vaarh's blow would land unerringly, leaving Adam and Alexia scant moments to react.