Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 7: Natural and Artificial

"Damn Prime..."

"Crap... Everything was going so smoothly..."

"This can't be happening... All that effort, and we have nothing to show for it..."

Both Phantoms and Harvesters grumbled with grim expressions. Some were stressed over the vanished profits, while others mourned the comrades they had lost.

Adam stood apart from the gloom. Unlike the others, seeing the Prime Lizard slaughtered by the Phantom had filled him with a deep sense of inspiration.

"Hah, that wasn't half bad," the man remarked, casting a glance at the dozens of fleshy fragments littered across the ground.

The shockwave that leveled the Nest had also obliterated the few lizards that managed to survive the initial onslaught.

It was a brutal demonstration of the power gap; occasionally, one massive strike could resolve a crisis that hundreds of others couldn't handle.

"Is the job done? Can I pull out now?" the man asked, tapping the communication device in his ear.

'Not quite. It deviates from the original plan, but there is a specific location I need you to investigate,' a grave female voice responded from the Citadel.

"Huh? You realize the higher-ups are going to be pissed, right? A Second Rank Phantom shouldn't be wasting this much time on some random task." The man scratched his head, looking hesitant.

'Just shut up and trust me!' the girl snapped. 'If I’m mistaken, you’ll be back in no time. But if I’m right... we’ll be making a new entry in the Red Book!'

"Wait... You seriously think a Red Book monster is lurking in the Scorching Desert? Even if it exists... I'm not interested in photographing a corpse. Send someone else."

'Damien, why are you being so difficult?! Any contribution to the Red Book is a massive career boost! You’re obsessed with rewards, aren't you? I bet you could squeeze out a few extra vacation days for a find like this.' The girl shifted her tactics to negotiation.

Damien’s eyes brightened, and a cunning grin stretched across his face.

"Oh, playing your trump card now? Well, that actually sounds tempting. Fine, give me the coordinates," Damien said, stroking his chin.

Beep.

A notification flashed on his wrist display, followed by a map featuring a pulsing red marker.

"Tar Lake...? The private dump for the Morton Observatory? Damn it, I shouldn't have agreed to this." Damien’s expression soured.

'Stop complaining and move,' the girl commanded.

"Yeah, yeah, I don't really have a choice now." Damien shook his head before sprinting forward.

A massive plume of sand erupted behind him as he accelerated to the speed of wind, crashing through any obstacle in his path. Even if some Lizards remained hidden beneath the dunes, none dared to challenge him. His sheer momentum and power were enough to shred a Lizard mid-run without slowing down.

Whoooooooooosh.

Within minutes, Damien reached his destination, leaving a trail of dust in his wake. Before him lay a metal container on the banks of the Tar Lake, surrounded by dozens of monster carcasses already being reclaimed by the sand.

Damien’s brow furrowed as he sensed an immediate wrongness in the air. Approaching the container, he discovered a bizarre, mangled creature, a shattered lance, and the headless body of a naked man.

"Beth, I’ve transmitted the images, but..." Damien trailed off, his gaze fixed on the Silver Weaver.

'That creature... it isn't listed in the Red Book...' Beth’s voice was a trembling whisper.

Damien frowned. "The payout for this kind of intel is going to be huge, isn't it?"

'Yeah... without a doubt...'

"Still, I have a bad feeling about this. Besides, there's a dead Phantom on the ground." Damien walked over, knelt down, and unfastened the bracelet from the corpse's wrist.

"Torsten Seiden... First Rank Phantom..."

'Was he killed by the monster?' Beth inquired.

"Hmm... The monster definitely finished him, but it looks like a third party was involved." Damien narrowed his eyes, inspecting the tattered, discarded clothing lying near the body.

'Another Phantom?'

"Maybe, but I'm skeptical. Would another Phantom show up in rags, slay an unknown beast, and then take the clothes but leave the bracelet behind? Only someone in a state of shock—someone who doesn't understand the value of the bracelet—would do that. In other words, not a Phantom." Damien mused, sliding the device into his pocket with a pensive look.

'...'

Beth fell silent for a moment, clearly stunned by his deduction.

'Wait... if you're right, does that mean there's a Naturalborn wandering around somewhere?' Beth’s voice shook as if she were discussing an impossibility.

Damien gave a nod. "That’s assuming my theory is correct. Hah, today turned out to be far more interesting than I expected. A Naturalborn who integrated the gene of an unidentified monster... Well, time to head back. We'll let the brass and the lab coats figure out the rest."

Damien hoisted the Silver Weaver and tapped a command on his bracelet. Shortly after, the same fighter jet arrived to retrieve him.

...

This was a secret kept from the public, and even many Phantoms remained oblivious because the Citadel government suppressed the information.

It was the distinction between Naturalborn Phantoms and Artificialborn Phantoms.

It was common knowledge that a Spark was required to become a Phantom. However, the government and high-ranking Phantoms knew there were two paths: inherent talent or a life-or-death 1-on-1 duel.

The first path relied on possessing a dormant Spark; these were the Artificialborn. They were assisted in their first kill to ignite their Spark and trigger the growth of their Evolution Tree. In truth, 99% of Artificial Phantoms were unaware of their status or the existence of Naturalborns.

The authorities were desperate to hide the second method of awakening the Spark.

Their reasoning was pragmatic. If the masses learned of the second path, countless people would throw their lives away trying to become Phantoms. If Phantoms knew about Naturalborns, the next generation would refuse the artificial process, leading to unnecessary deaths of those who otherwise had bright futures.

The core difference between the two was simple: potential.

A Spark forged in a 1-on-1 duel burned brighter and more intensely. An Evolution Tree that took root during a lethal crisis grew far more robust. Since the Initial Gene wasn't contaminated by outside genetic material, it channeled all its energy into the Evolution Tree.

This created a massive divide in future growth, separating the Natural Phantoms from the Artificial ones like geniuses from the mediocre.

Furthermore, Natural Phantoms possessed a unique advantage: high Artifact compatibility. Their Evolution Tree and Initial Gene rarely rejected external power, making it much easier for them to find a perfect Artifact match.

...

While Damien transported the unknown beast to the Citadel, the Fire Fox Squad was nearing Fort Norton, the primary military installation on the Citadel’s northern perimeter.

"Is everyone okay?" a uniformed officer asked, walking toward Jacob.

Jacob nodded as medical personnel moved Lisa onto a stretcher. He felt relieved knowing she would receive proper care and would likely be back on her feet soon.

"Douglas, you were a lifesaver. If you had arrived a minute later, the outcome would have been catastrophic," Jacob admitted, scratching the back of his neck.

"Don't mention it. Assisting Phantoms is my job; the Citadel would have crumbled long ago without you. Even if our missiles can't scratch monsters like that lizard, they kept you alive, so they served their purpose," Douglas replied with military stoicism.

Douglas then took a breath and produced a tablet.

"Now for the bad news... The Prime Lizard took the lives of 23 Harvesters. Three more Phantoms are injured, but they'll recover. And..." Douglas turned his attention to Adam, pointing at his empty wrist. "I see your NEP is missing. Give me your name or ID so I can process a replacement."

Adam tilted his head, looking lost. "NEP...?"

He had never heard the term. Unlike the other Phantoms, his existence wasn't in the database yet.

"Hmm? Are you injured?" Douglas asked, confused by the reaction. "Did you take a hit to the head?"

Jacob’s eyes widened as a realization struck him.

"Wait... You didn't have an NEP to begin with!"

Douglas shot a sharp look at Jacob. "Wait a second... Is he not part of your team?"

Jacob shook his head. "An anomaly popped up near us. We rushed to the scene and got there in five minutes, but he was already standing over a dead anomalous creature. He also absorbed an artifact."

Douglas’s eyes sharpened as he scrutinized Adam, his suspicions clearly rising.

Adam gave a nervous, awkward smile. "I blacked out during a medical trial and woke up in the desert next to a dead Phantom. I guess I just got really lucky!"

It was a flimsy lie that few would buy, yet Douglas simply nodded as if he understood.

"I see... That’s happened a few times before... Fine, follow me. We need to get you officially registered."

Adam nodded and hurried after Douglas, praying he wouldn't face consequences. To him, the world of Phantoms was entirely foreign.

Jacob remained behind, scratching his head in confusion. "Well... I guess I should go check on Lisa."

...

Step. Step. Step.

Adam and Douglas walked through a long, deserted corridor. Adam had expected the place to be swarming with Phantoms waiting for their equipment.

Douglas opened a door and gestured for Adam to sit in a stark, dimly lit room containing only two chairs and a single table.

"Young man, it’s time for some honesty. You don't need to lie to me. Jacob is too worried about Lisa to realize how ridiculous your story was," Douglas said, his tone turning cold as he crossed his arms.

"How did you actually become a Phantom? Why were you really in the desert? And... did you truly absorb that artifact without any issues?"

Adam swallowed hard. This wasn't what he had anticipated. He felt less like a recruit and more like a prisoner under interrogation.

While Douglas’s questions were logical to anyone else, to the uninformed Adam, the situation felt increasingly dangerous and uncertain.