Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1593 1593: Manifest Nexus

"Manifest Nexus...?" Adam whispered, his voice laced with utter astonishment.

Arika gave a firm nod in response.

"This is an ability that both Goen and I hold. Yet, in typical situations, knowledge of it shouldn't reach you yet. You're meant to discover this particular Nexus only after advancing through three or perhaps four stages."

Goen lifted his shoulders in a casual shrug.

"We were left with no alternatives. Those foes came fully armed and ready. Even with just a sliver of my strength, I couldn't overpower them."

"Exactly." Adam swallowed hard. "You didn't unleash a single skill. And those rings with the glowing stars within—what are they?"

Alexia bobbed her head repeatedly. Her curiosity burned just as fiercely about this mystery. For Adam, witnessing such a force from beasts marked the second occasion.

Arika and Goen shared a quick look between them.

They grasped that these pair of K4-Phantoms standing before them held far too much insight.

"Regrettably, we can't reveal that to you," Arika replied while shaking her head. "You'll need to uncover it on your own, much like the Manifest Nexus itself. Learning these terms prematurely isn't ideal. It might derail your journey, so for now, we'll conceal the true nature of these abilities from you while possible."

Indeed, Adam and Alexia yearned desperately to grasp every detail. Still, they recognized the risk of such knowledge bringing greater damage than benefit.

In usual cases, K4-Phantoms like them wouldn't have glimpsed or understood what unfolded. This revelation stemmed solely from the Befallen Crown's scheme to eliminate Adam before he could pose a genuine danger, even to the mightiest horrors.

"Understood... So, you're advising us to etch this fight into memory but shift our attention elsewhere, correct?" Adam inquired.

Arika's smile widened gently.

"Precisely. Listen, young ones, suppose we gathered and spilled all our wisdom about this realm and its forces—you'd still lack the means to wield them. Jumping to advanced concepts like nuclear physics holds no value when basic arithmetic remains your focus."

They creased their brows while Arika let out a light laugh.

"Naturally, that's an overstatement, yet you catch my drift. Pressing duties await you both at this moment, including heading back to the Citadel."

"Hold on!" Alexia burst out. "Alright, skip explaining these odd powers and the Nexus if you must, but how is this possible? Why have you shown up in physical form instead of as ghosts?"

Arika shot a seeking glance toward Goen this time. He merely flung his arms out broadly. He anticipated these probes and stood ready to address them.

"Alright, it boils down to energy," Arika started explaining. "You've witnessed it yourself—Goen wields immense might. As a Second Rank Phantom, his essence sets him apart from you or any First Circle Phantom."

She lifted her palm, where a misty vapor began to hover.

"Think of your energy as mere pigment. It lets you sketch and shape, yet it can't forge true existence. Such material belongs to the world already; you didn't birth it. However... reaching the Second Circle transforms it all. There, energy isn't just a tool—you become its maker and absolute master."

Confusion clouded Adam's expression.

"Pigment? Does that mean our energy lacks authenticity? After all, my aura and skills strike true against the beasts I battle."

Arika's mouth curved into a subtle grin.

"All things carry boundaries. Like the earlier matters, set this aside for now—no need to dwell on it. Your Operators have no cause to shift from ghostly states to more intricate, superior forms."

Her words signaled an end to probing deeper. Arika intended to share only what she saw fit. Beyond guarding mysteries, her caution aimed to shield these promising young Phantoms from potential ruin.

"Got it, then—for my last plea." Adam fixed his eyes on Goen. "What's the meaning behind that title?"

"Eh?"

"First Knight of the World End." Adam paused briefly in thought. "Being the First Knight implies others exist, doesn't it?"

Goen rubbed his cheek with unease. Adam's notice of that nuance caught him off guard. Arika pressed a hand to her brow. In part, her slip—voicing Goen's moniker before the creatures—bore the fault.

"You're correct on that." Goen's abrupt answer made Arika whirl toward him.

"Goen! You can't—!"

With a raised hand, he silenced her and advanced a pace.

"Others serve as knights too, though I won't disclose their identities, numbers, or locations. Frankly, your awareness of even me was unplanned. What transpired here chained together mere coincidences. Yet, reality stands as it is."

Adam dipped his head solemnly. He sought no further revelations. Even Arika would withhold such truths.

"The World End—does it function like a group, similar to the Free End?"

"No, it operates on another level entirely. Calling it a squad comes closest. That's the extent of what I'll share."

Still, Adam refused to yield. One final query burned in him, demanding clarity. For reasons unclear, instinct told him Goen wouldn't brush it aside.

"A squad with unique titles suggests loyalty to a leader, true?"

Arika's eyes flared wide. Her stare implored Goen to stay silent, yet his view diverged.

"Spot on. We haven't taken directives or united in ages. Our combined strength last proved vital years back. Then, we truly formed a unit under a leader—for humanity's sake. These days, we're merely scattered elite fighters, pursuing individual paths."

Goen swept his view over his dwelling, the waters, then upward to the heavens.

"This query from you... but deep down, you sense the reply, or at least a piece of it, yeah?"

Adam remained quiet under Goen's steady, unflinching stare.

"You figure we serve the Queen—and you'd be right. However, in the present, our official head has shifted."

His tone grew grave and resonant.

"The King."