Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1588: Forbidden Nexus (Part 1)
Previously on Endless Evolution: Last Star...
"You." Liliane's words echoed sharply toward the Old Horn. "Strike alongside me when I give the order."
The Old Horn opened his mouth to respond, yet no chance came as a mighty surge of power exploded from Liliane.
Before her, the circle ascended, brimming with countless stars. It gleamed far steadier and more radiant than those of the rest, proving its edge over every member in the fifth team.
Outshining the others remained her role as captain.
Her locks whipped wildly, and with a steady stare laced with icy fury, she locked onto the most luminous star within her circle.
Just like earlier, Goen displayed only lazy disdain for her. Even if he bothered, he couldn't recall the number of Lords who'd attempted to overpower him using this power, only to fall lifeless under his blows.
"Azure Pulse: Myriad Thrusts."
From the glowing star, waves rippled outward while the remaining ones faded away, and her pale rapier glowed with a blue hue.
The domain had already expanded across scores of meters nearby, all in less than a heartbeat for Liliane.
And then... she vanished.
The Old Horn blinked in bewilderment. He needed to trail her for backup, but he had no clue of her direction. Not until the instant that followed.
Wheeeze!
In a bolt of swift motion, Liliane materialized behind Goen, her rapier stabbing into his throat.
The protective energy shield enveloping Goen's form halted the initial blow. Liliane had anticipated that.
Furthermore, though Goen suffered no real harm, the force proved strong enough to drop his emerald gaze, throwing off his footing.
"That was just the opening blow!!!" Liliane bellowed like a furious fighter, launching another assault.
All onlookers stood rigid in suspense. This strike seemed certain to land on Goen.
Whooooooosh.
Goen whirled around abruptly while the gleaming rapier sliced mere inches from his neck, failing to mark his skin.
His gaze burned with vitality, emerald and chill as ever.
His palm lunged toward Liliane. Should his fingers clamp her throat, the fight would end. She understood that fully.
Thus, her sole option lay in darting at maximum velocity for someone of her caliber.
Wheeeze! Wheeeze! Wheeeze!
Through burst after burst, Liliane flickered into view and out again, raining down as many as ten jabs every second upon Goen.
Without activating her skill, she couldn't have mustered even a fraction of such pace. This moment marked her sole shot at toppling the beast ahead.
STEP!
Goen advanced a step, evading her onslaughts. On this occasion, he nearly seized her, clutching a strand of her pale tress.
"Yo!" The Old Horn's shout boomed as Goen pivoted.
Frosty power infused the Old Horn's axe while he swung it broadly right at Goen.
Though Goen had slipped past countless of Liliane's lunges, no escape presented itself now.
All he managed was raising his forearm to block the strike.
Blood sprayed forth as the keen edge sank deeply into his limb.
Whooooooooosh!
The blast wave unleashed a chilling wave far beyond the blow, encasing the distant river in a heavy frost sheath.
"Again!" Liliane cried out, thrusting her rapier downward. Seeing Goen's blood fueled her hope for triumph.
"Right, lass! Count on me!" The Old Horn bellowed, syncing his moves with hers.
The other members of the fifth team remained mere spectators. They realized they couldn't match Liliane and the Old Horn's rhythm and would merely hinder them.
Except for a single exception.
Tap.
The youth descended to the brink, flashing a broad smirk.
"Time for me to step in." Farko flexed his knuckles before tilting his head skyward.
He shot a look at Adam and Alexia.
"Apologies, friends, but regardless of this Phantom's might, he can't endure what's coming."
They had no idea what Farko meant, yet the revelation arrived swiftly.
"FARKO!!!" Liliane called, summoning her ace. "Make it happen now!"
He let out a laugh.
"Of course, Captain."
Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.
A golden ring materialized in front of him as he swiftly selected a single star. The golden zone unfurled across hundreds of meters, enveloping Goen's dwelling and the riverside expanse.
Goen squinted his eyes, shifting from Liliane to target Farko instead.
"I'm your foe!" Liliane declared, materializing in his path and unleashing a flurry of swift hits.
"Move aside!"
Goen swatted his arm, but rather than striking Liliane, the Old Horn instantly positioned himself in front.
"Nope. You're staying put, you scum."
Quickly, amber glow gathered in Farko's palm, forming a quivering blade.
In his free hand, a tome etched with shining symbols emerged as he fixed his stare upon it.
"Amber Shackles: Bring the Divine Punishment!"
TREMBLE! TREMBLE! TREMBLE!
A massive tear rent the sky, allowing the point of a colossal blade to descend, beaming with golden radiance.
"RETREAT!" Liliane yelled in alarm while the Old Horn responded without delay.
"You won't escape!" Goen pursued her, but golden brilliance mirrored in his vision.
From thin air, chains materialized to snare his ankles and arms, halting even his movements.
Farko's eyes flared with intensity as he focused on Goen.
"Now!"
Cleaving the dawn heavens, the enormous blade plummeted from above, obliterating all in its descent. Goen stood at the heart of the chaos, helpless but to witness the ruinous tool meant as his doom.
BLAST!
The power explosion ripped the earth apart, hurling debris everywhere. Liliane and her allies shielded their sight, eager to learn if the strike had felled Goen.
Whoooooooosh.
A fresh wind gust dispersed the haze, unveiling Goen's silhouette.
He loomed over the devastated terrain, shards of the golden blade scattered around his boots, broken upon his formidable frame.
Yet... not even he proved unbreakable.
"We... succeeded?" Liliane swallowed hard.
The Old Horn squinted.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Crimson droplets fell from the horrific gash on Goen's shoulder while his eyes thinned to lines, glaring upward.
His left limb dangled feebly from his torso, the injury stretching to his ribs, nearly severing him completely.
"Sorry..."
Goen's raspy tone broke the silence.
'Huh?' Liliane's eyes widened. 'To whom is he speaking?'
"I'll need to impose on you."
'No trouble.' A woman's voice echoed in his thoughts. 'I'm forever by your side. You realize that.'
Goen grinned.
"Yes... I do, love."
Adam would etch the ensuing sensation into memory eternally.
A torrent of fearsome aura erupted from Goen, buckling the Lords' legs, while his hold warped reality, as though summoning a force too immense from beyond into this realm.
His Nexus. The variety that lowly K4-Phantoms could never comprehend. It stood as a taboo mystery beyond their rank.