Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 4: Reflexes

The past was immutable, and Adam knew it; the artifact had already merged with his essence, integrating into his power alongside the Evolution Tree and Initial Gene. His only path forward was to embrace this relic and utilize its strength for his own growth.

"It is what it is... I am a Phantom now," Adam muttered. "I can earn a living by hunting monsters, and this artifact will be the key! I shouldn't fixate on a quick payday like selling it; playing the long game is far more beneficial."

Turning his attention back to the Electric Eel, Adam summoned Revolve. Though he had the Silver Weaver, this marked the first time he would actually absorb genes from a fallen beast.

Vibrant blue runes, crackling with electrical energy, were pulled into the vortex. They transitioned into his internal space, dragging his consciousness along with them.

"Wait... what is this?" Adam asked, feeling bewildered as he observed the Evolution Tree and the shimmering Electric Eel runes floating before him.

From a cloud of cosmic dust, a massive white tome bearing an atomic symbol manifested. The book flipped open, and the genes of the Electric Eel settled onto the very first line of the opening page.

[The Electric Eel gene has been placed in the Vault!]

[You can open the file of any of your genes for more information.]

"The Vault...?" Adam mused, staring at the book that served as his personal database and collection—a manifestation of his growing power.

Driven by curiosity, Adam stepped toward the Vault. The book shrank in size until it fit perfectly in his hands. With a sense of wonder, he tapped the first entry containing the Electric Eel gene.

Immediately, a vivid image of the creature appeared. It was so detailed it looked like a high-resolution photograph taken during the heat of their battle.

[Anomalous Electric Eel (X1) - First Circle, Green Threat Level.

First stage in cognition - Access primary information about the monster and a photo.

Second step in cognition - ??? (10 Neutral Genes required.)]

"Ten Neutral Genes? And what exactly is a Green Threat Level?"

His questions remained unanswered, hanging in the silent air. The only certainty was that the potential of a Phantom was far more vast than he had ever imagined. He needed more genes; he needed to evolve.

'I'll figure that out later. First, I need to trigger the artifact,' Adam thought, moving toward the False Orb that drifted near the Evolution Tree.

[False Orb (First Rarity Level)

First Trait - ??? (Any gene is required. Given the artifact's rarity level, only genes from monsters of green threat level and above will do.)]

"I actually have one of those!" Adam noted, selecting the Anomalous Electric Eel gene.

Whoooooooooooooooooooosh.

The rune shot out from the Vault and was swallowed by the False Orb. The artifact shuddered violently, appearing as if it might shatter, but as blue sparks danced across its surface, it stabilized and began to glow with renewed intensity.

[First Trait - Lightning Reflexes

Electricity has become a part of you, you may not be able to create lightning at will or cause a cascade of thunder, but with your new reflexes you can dodge them as easily as you dodge a throwing ball]

Having expended his gene to awaken the artifact, Adam prepared to leave. He cast a final glance at the Evolution Tree, the False Orb, and the Ball of Thread. With a small smile, he closed his eyes and exited his mental realm.

When his eyes opened, he was once again greeted by the desolate dunes of the wasteland.

The anomaly was dissolving; without the artifact acting as its core and power source, the lightning vanished and the heavy clouds began to break apart. The heart of the storm was gone.

"Well, it seems my luck has finally turned," Adam remarked with a smirk, spotting a convoy of vehicles descending a distant ridge.

Even with the artifact gone, the remnants of an anomaly were a magnet for attention. The value of such relics was common knowledge, and many would travel far just for a glimpse of one.

"Hey! You over there!"

A girl sporting a long red braid and piercing green eyes called out from the lead truck. She wore the typical loose, layered clothing of the wasteland to keep the biting sand at bay.

Adam turned his head but didn't move toward them. He remained stationary, observing the approaching caravan with a wary eye.

He had once seen a caravan from the heights of a ruined tower in the slums, but this group was far more impressive. Each armored transport was emblazoned with a menacing red fox head. Tucked between the combat vehicles were heavy trucks laden with supplies and the butchered remains of various monsters.

Crackle.

The red-haired girl hopped down from her vehicle and walked toward him. She glanced at the carcass of the Electric Eel, gave a curt nod of approval, and came to a halt.

"I'm Lisa, leader of the Fire Fox Squad and a First Rank Phantom," she introduced herself briskly, offering her hand.

Adam took it, shaking briefly.

"Adam... just a loner who had the misfortune of being out here."

"A loner? How did you end up out here by yourself?" Lisa's brow furrowed in skepticism. "The Scorching Desert is the last place anyone should hunt without backup."

Adam offered no explanation. Instead, he looked toward the distant, towering walls of the city.

"When are you heading back? I'd like to travel with you for a while."

Lisa tapped her chin thoughtfully. "You aren't very talkative, are you? Tell me, did you take down that monster yourself?"

Adam gave a simple nod.

"Hey! Quit stalling! What's the hold-up?" a booming voice interrupted. A burly man with a massive broadsword strapped to his back climbed out of a vehicle.

"Ignore him, that's Jacob. He's our first captain and a total grump," Lisa said with a wave of her hand.

"I'm not being grumpy, I'm being careful. I don't want the squad in unnecessary danger," Jacob grumbled, scratching his head. "The anomaly was already fading before we even pulled up. Let's move."

Lisa looked back at the site of the anomaly. "Did you manage to retrieve the artifact? If you want a ride, we'll need a three percent cut of its market value."

Adam shook his head slowly.

"What? You think we give out free rides in the desert?" Jacob snapped, scowling.

Adam looked toward the fading center of the storm. "I didn't 'collect' the artifact. I absorbed it. There is nothing left to give you."

The revelation left Lisa and Jacob stunned. Their eyes widened in pure shock, a reaction Adam didn't quite understand.

"Hah! Hahaha! Kid, you are incredibly lucky!" Lisa burst out laughing. "You go hunting alone in the Scorching Desert, stumble onto an anomaly first, and find an artifact that actually matches your Evolution Tree and Initial Gene? I'm exhausted just thinking about that streak of luck!"

Adam’s eyes flickered with a brief light before turning cold and dark.

"Every bit of good fortune was paid for by a massive disaster..." he whispered. For a moment, the memory of the laboratory and the face of the lead scientist burned in his mind.

Lisa shrugged, dismissing the tension. "Fine then. We'll take twenty percent of the materials from that eel instead. We'll handle the butchering and the sale, and we'll throw in food and water. Deal?"

"Deal," Adam agreed. "I just want to get back. Nothing else matters."

Adam turned away, his gaze locking onto a silhouette on the horizon—the Morton Observatory. Somewhere inside was the man who had become his true target. One of them would not survive their next meeting.