Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1563: Hail of Blades (Part 2)

Alexia possessed numerous abilities, just like any other Phantom of her caliber. Yet, frost remained her constant companion, being her core element.

Therefore, provided she had sufficient energy, she could transform an ordinary exhale into a ferocious blizzard.

Of course, Alexia might never attain such immense strength, but the emergence of ancient energy had unlocked fresh potentials for her.

Vaark knew about the ancient energy well, since holding this power was one key requirement to breach the barrier.

However, he couldn't foresee every move from his foes, particularly from a cunning figure like Alexia.

For the first time in combat, she employed ancient energy. Rather than for a skill or strike, she channeled it into a mere breath that turned pivotal in Vaark's predicament.

"GHA!"

Alexia unleashed her icy breath toward Vaark, and before he could escape the zone, his feet became encased in frost on the ground.

The ancient energy within her breath, combined with her elemental force, sufficed to produce this outcome. It resembled deploying star energy against a defenseless regular human.

"You... Bitch!" Fury blazed in Vaark's gaze as he glared at the grinning Alexia.

"Ha! I figured you wouldn't keep your cool for much longer, you're just—!"

CRACKLE!

The iron rod crashed against her jaw, hurling her away. Vaark had reached his limit for tolerance.

"Tsk, I should've taken you out right from the start. You can't beat me, but you're annoyingly persistent!"

Vaark muttered irritably before glancing downward. A heavy coat of ice gripped his legs up to the knees. Were it ordinary frost, he could shatter it instantly with a single effort, yet now even initial fissures proved elusive.

"Huh..."

Alexia struggled to rise from the dirt, but blood kept streaming from her nose, with two teeth scattered before her on the ground.

"You still fail to grasp that this isn't the spot to fix your attention on, huh?"

"Agh?"

Dawning hit Vaark as he lifted his sight.

Adam, who had been gearing up for an assault for a while, fixed his stare on him. Those blue eyes burned more intensely than before, outshining even Vaark's ominous demeanor.

The phantom blades stayed clutched in his steady hold, but an element sparked sheer dread in Vaark's eyes.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

One by one, phantom blades materialized in the sky, all points locked on Vaark as their exclusive mark.

On command, Adam summoned twenty hovering blades simultaneously. These weren't mere daggers; they were massive phantom scissor blades, each capable of slicing a mighty beast apart.

Such was the true might of his fresh technique.

A formidable rival might evade or parry one slash, but facing a barrage of dozens, all with equal potency, proved impossible.

"Remember that, Vaark."

Adam's tone resonated profoundly as he lifted his arm. The blades quivered, poised to obey his signal.

"The strike that sealed your downfall was merely a chilly exhale."

He dropped his hand.

Whoooooooosh.

In that instant, the twenty phantom blades plunged down together, slicing through the air streams.

"AAAAAAARRRRRRRHHHH!!!"

Letting out a savage bellow, Vaark tried to shatter the frost locking his legs. He understood the dire fate awaiting if he failed right then.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

As fissures formed, ice shards scattered aside, but the moment had already passed.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

Blade by blade, they stabbed into Vaark's form, ripping through his torso, spine, and arms.

The blades pierced clean through, emerging opposite with bloodied edges.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Crimson droplets trickled along the blades, splashing onto the snowy terrain.

No chill rivaled the agony Vaark endured in that instant. This lethal injury differed vastly from the prior one that drew him to Frost Ridge.

The blades had ravaged countless muscles, bones, and innards of his. Within moments, blood loss would overwhelm him, dragging him into oblivion.

"It’s..." Alexia swallowed hard. "It worked."

Adam observed Vaark's eyes gradually shutting. The broad blade lodged in his throat barred even final utterances.

Vaark's eyes closed.

His breaths ceased, yet an odd unease kept any triumphant grin from Adam's features, in contrast to Alexia, who geared up to revel in triumph.

’Something’s wrong.’

Adam turned his head to verify his suspicions.

The power from the Winding Fragment lingered in the vicinity. Adam yet needed to uncover the trigger for the Third Grand Star.

Alexia, having gained the Ancient Frost, remained oblivious to it.

But... Could any besides Vaark offer Adam this chance?

He refused to accept it.

Clutch.

Adam seized his blades firmly while advancing. He wouldn't allow Vaark any improbable escape from this peril.

’Last time, that fiend escaped despite his head being lopped off. Only by hacking him to bits can I confirm his end!’

Step!

Adam advanced a pace, only for his frame to seize in instinctive terror.

Twitch. Twitch. Twitch.

Vaark's lids quivered as his eyes gradually reopened.

The initial sight for Adam was a radiant glow, brilliant like a swarm of countless stars.

Those blue eyes pierced through Adam, seeking to delve into his very essence.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

A gray haze erupted from Vaark's being as fractures spiderwebbed across the phantom blades impaling him.

The distant beasts recoiled in shivers. Toward Vaark now surged only primal dread.

But...

Before long, every creature, along with Adam and Alexia, sensed a new sentiment: reverence.

Within the gray haze known to Vaark, another presence started to emerge.

Blue streams, initially thin and languid, then swift and thick, coalesced into the grand blue eye that fixed its intense stare on them all.

’Azure Eye...’ Adam pondered, recalling Vaark's moniker. ’So, his revival happened just now?’

The Azure Eye's manifestation stripped away all mysteries for Vaark.

Now, everything lay bare to his view.