Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1594: Ice Path (Part 1)

Crackle. Crackle. Crackle.

From the massive bonfire, sparks danced wildly in front of four individuals, including two young ones who had witnessed astonishing events earlier that day.

Those succulent ribs, coated in zesty sauce and paired with crisp veggies and a mug of ale, proved irresistible to everyone.

Arika fell right into that category.

Even with her refined look, she devoured her food with the same gusto and pace as the bold Alexia, sparking what looked like a quiet rivalry between the girls over who could consume the most.

Once Goen disclosed the entity behind the squad's control, the World End, their chat came to a sudden halt.

Arika and Goen went all out to convince Adam and Alexia that no further details would be shared.

The sheer amount Adam and Alexia grasped at their current stage already sparked worry.

Phantoms discovered this world's truths bit by bit for good reasons, and certain mysteries stayed off-limits until higher levels.

That might explain why Adam and Alexia held back from digging deeper. As K4-Phantoms, they had uncovered plenty of secrets along their path that would have shattered them in the past.

'Hmm, curiosity burns in me, but I get where Arika's coming from,' Adam mused while ripping meat off a bone. 'Right from the start, realizing you're eternally tied to your Operator hits hard. Imagine dropping that on top of World Wipe and the rest?'

Indeed, Adam's thirst for knowledge burned bright as always, yet he knew when to pull back.

'The King?' Adam shut his eyes briefly. 'So he's real and kicking. What's your take on it?'

Silvana let out a deep sigh.

'We always figured the King could be out there. Now it's confirmed, but... he might be trapped like Queen Elisa.'

'Hmm?' Adam's brow arched. 'You reckon the King's sealed in a crystal too? Man, that's some tyrannical setup. But if so, what's the point?'

Silvana's gaze sharpened.

'What are you getting at?'

'Look, we know Queen Elisa's role. It stings that she's basically a barrier against the World Wipe, but we've got no alternatives. So... if the King's in the same boat, what's his job?'

Silvana stayed silent, and so did Adam.

'We could speculate forever,' Silvana grumbled. 'Perhaps the King's encased in a crystal, or maybe he's an ordinary guy at the Citadel, or hidden in a forbidden zone.

'Either way, for K4-Phantoms like us, it's a puzzle way above our level.'

Adam gave a firm nod.

Silvana nailed it.

No matter their efforts, some truths remained locked away until they grew powerful enough. Even glimpsing so much ahead of time didn't unlock everything.

All Adam could focus on was pushing ahead, securing the last two requirements, and forging the Third Grand Star.

"So, what's the plan from here?" Adam inquired, eyeing Goen.

"Well, isn't it clear? You and Alexia head back to the Citadel. I'll stick around here, enjoying my quiet life without those Lords from the Befallen Crown messing things up."

Alexia polished off her ribs and turned to Arika.

A sudden realization hit her, leaving her confused.

"Hold on! Why are you even here?"

Arika shot her a quick look.

"Huh? What're you talking about?"

"We hung out with Goen for two full days before those beasts ambushed us, and you were nowhere in sight! So why pop up now when you skipped out before?"

Arika blinked a few times, not catching Alexia's frustration right away.

"Oh, got it—you're wondering why I only showed during the battle, even though I could manifest in the real world anytime?"

"Exactly!" Alexia burst out, gesturing wildly. "If Louis could join me in the flesh, not just as a ghost, I'd never let him out of my sight!"

Oddly, Adam nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, totally get it. Mental chats are fine, and Silvana popping up beside me helps, but a ghostly presence and distant voice aren't like real, tangible contact."

He eyed Goen, who kept munching away without a care, and figured he'd let his Operator handle this one.

"Look, some details I can't share, but basically, Goen and I go way back—years upon years, centuries even."

Arika leaned in closer, gazing into the leaping bonfire flames.

"No matter how vital you are to one another or how deep the bond runs, everyone craves some alone time now and then. Surviving countless fights side by side doesn't mean we're glued together nonstop."

"Right..." Goen chucked an empty rib bone away and grabbed another. "But there's more to it, huh? Spill it. After all they've witnessed and picked up, it won't shock them."

Adam and Alexia faced Arika, steeling themselves for a bombshell as huge as the Manifest Nexus, World End, or the King.

"It's straightforward."

Arika's eyes tightened.

"I can't stand being cut off from cities and all the conveniences."

Adam and Alexia's mouths hung open in disbelief. They had braced for anything except such a trivial reason.

"Out here in the Primal Lands, it's decent for a break if you view it that way, but not for settling down long-term. Foraging, angling, grilling over flames, splitting logs, and the like... Goen digs that stuff way more."

Alexia blinked in stunned silence, struggling to process it, but Adam...

"Hahahaha! Makes perfect sense."

He shook his head and glanced at Goen.

"Kinda figured you'd say that. You're individuals with your own tastes, after all."

Goen shrugged casually.

"That's just how it is."

Adam's face turned grave in an instant.

"Alright. So how do we make it back?"

Goen's piercing stare landed on him.

"We've got choices. What about the Ice Path?"

Adam recoiled in surprise.

"The Ice Path?"