Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1577 1577: How about fishing?

Though Adam hadn't ascended to the peak yet, his strength had grown potent enough to venture into the remote borders of the Dark Shore, the stronghold of the Befallen Crown's primary troops.

"A-Adam Vinter?" Liliane's voice quivered. "But if he's just a K4-Phantom, isn't our team way too advanced for such a task?"

The man crossed his arms behind his back.

"He's accompanied by another Phantom of equal strength. Moreover, both are worn out from a recent fierce clash. By the time you arrive, they won't have recovered at all."

The hammer-wielding man furrowed his brow. "So what's the issue then?"

"A hunter's with them. We don't know the exact identity, but it's probably a Phantom at the peak of K4-Level or just entering the early Second Rank. Either way, the seven of you should suffice to eliminate them all."

"But!"

The man lifted his hand.

"You may eliminate the hunter and the girl, but capture Adam Vinter alive at any cost. His powers intrigue certain commanders. They think he could prove valuable to our cause."

Liliane squinted her eyes.

"You always claim that about every noteworthy Phantom. Yet in the end, they turn into mere slaves or playthings for some mighty beast."

The man grinned cunningly.

"Even supposing that's accurate, does it bother you?"

"No."

No feelings showed on Liliane's face.

"If it's a command from the miss, we'll execute it. That's our duty."

The man nodded firmly.

"Excellent. Then depart without delay. The shorter the recovery time he gets, the simpler your task becomes."

Afterward, the man spun around and exited the training hall with steady steps, abandoning the fifth team to themselves.

"Liliane... Why does this feel like some kind of penalty?" The girl with blue hair inquired.

The pale man beside her nodded. "Indeed. I sensed the same thing."

The young man scowled.

"Tch. They're dispatching all seven of us to seize a single K4-Phantom? This has to be a prank! I figured we'd finally landed a challenge fitting our skills. I got my hopes up for nothing!"

The rest of the group echoed his sentiment. From the details shared, the assignment didn't appear challenging enough for their caliber.

"Quiet!" Liliane snapped. "This comes straight from the miss. Remember, the observers misjudged him before, leading to over ten Lords' deaths!"

The axe wielder rubbed his cheek.

"Sure, but... Liliane. Back then, he had two True Lords and a Second Rank Phantom by his side. We can't gauge this hunter's power, but unless it's a force like Wilfred, the Blighted Wanderer, we've got no cause for concern."

Liliane dismissed it with a wave.

"Doesn't matter. We've received the orders, so we'll follow through! Seize Adam Vinter and crush anyone else who blocks our way!"

"YES!"

...

At times, a fierce beast, monstrous creature, or battle-hardened fighter could detect looming danger from a distance.

One such as Adam, forged through countless savage fights along his journey, surely perceived that a pursuit had been unleashed against him.

Or perhaps not...?

"Ghmha!"

Adam let out a yawn, gradually fluttering his eyes open.

"Damn... How much time passed while I slept?"

He rose, scrubbing at his eyes.

"Has Alexia already departed? Where could she head with that injured leg? And..." He scanned the area, fixing his gaze on the cauldron that remained partly unfilled. "Did she skip eating in the end?"

All at once, the enticing aroma of grilled meat wafted to Adam's nostrils, seizing his complete focus.

He'd only dozed for several hours, yet it sufficed to leave him ravenous. The confrontation with Vaarh had drained every ounce of his energy and beyond.

"What's that aroma?"

Without a second thought, Adam stepped out of the dwelling, his eyes bulging wide.

Only glowing embers lingered from the massive blaze, above which a large serpent rotated steadily, pierced by a branch holding a few tiny fish.

Goen observed the roasting intently, making sure the serpent browned uniformly and developed a crunchy exterior.

The serpent lay in segments rather than intact. Prior to placing it over the flames, he'd sliced it into uniform portions and applied his own blend of seasonings.

Alexia perched close by, fixated on the serpent like under a spell. Drool trickled from her lip's edge. Hunger gnawed at her fiercely, yet Goen forbade her from sampling it until fully prepared.

"Ah, you're up at last?" Goen shot a look at the astonished Adam.

Adam nodded slowly.

"Yes... Your soup wasn't just tasty; it weighed down my eyelids like lead. I had no choice but to give in. Still." He gestured toward the serpent. "That has to taste even better, doesn't it?"

Goen gave a sly grin.

"Naturally. I typically settle for plainer fare, but with visitors present, this qualifies as a feast."

"Adam!" Alexia called out, gesturing toward the mountain. "You won't believe what's inside! He's got this enormous ice cavern stocked with heaps of provisions and slain beasts! Damn! Just two hours back, that serpent was frozen solid in a massive ice chunk!"

For whatever reason, Adam accepted it instantly. No evidence required.

'It adds up, doesn't it?' Adam mused. 'Even if Goen favors a hunter's existence, he can't always be in the mood to track prey. Occasionally, he craves idleness. For those moments, stockpiles are essential.'

Adam doubted he'd ever opt for Goen's lifestyle, but he grasped the reasoning behind it.

"Ha, in his shoes, I'd do the identical. " Adam settled onto a stone beside Alexia. "Plenty of beasts out there would overpower me without question."

Goen lifted his shoulders.

"What to say? The tougher the foe, the more satisfying the triumph. Sadly, that doesn't always hold for the flesh, though I'm confident this serpent will delight the palate. I've sampled its kind previously."

Adam eyed the warm coals, extending his palms to soak in the heat.

"What's your next move, mighty hunter?"

"Ha, skip the title. But I've got a plan."

Goen's eyes shifted to the river.

"Ever tried fishing?"