Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1547: Ancient Frost

The Ancient Frost and Blood of God was what Adam and Alexia had come to the Frost Oasis for. The Winding Fragments, or rather the only one that responded to their energy, had led them here.

They didn’t know what their goal looked like or even what they needed to do to obtain it. As Beth had said, the name of the condition did not always reflect all the details and was unique to each Phantom, although sometimes two conditions with different names could turn out to be the same.

Now, they were approaching one of the two conditions.

The Ancient Frost was right in front of them, or at least Alexia hoped so.

Step. Step. Step.

Alexia stepped forward toward the azure tree, leaving Adam behind.

"Hmm... Come to think of it, it seems we’ve seen everything the Frost Oasis has to offer." Adam looked around.

They had killed all the monsters. There was no doubt about that, as the azure tree was no longer spawning new ones.

However, the Ancient Voice was in no hurry to appear and tell them that they had completed the last trial.

’It wasn’t about the rules or the reward for passing the trials, it was the tree, it was just trying to get rid of us by any means necessary.’

Adam narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the azure tree. The dragon head had been dead for a long time, there was no doubt about that, so Adam decided that the azure tree was the other side of the contract with the Ancient Voice.

Although Adam was glad that Alexia was going to make progress in her power, he couldn’t help but frown.

’Blood of God. It’s here, but where...?’

He was lost. He had only one idea, which Silvana voiced:

’When Alexia is done, we need to examine this dragon head. Maybe there is blood left somewhere in its flesh?’

In response, he just smirked.

’Huh, do you think this dragon was so powerful that it could be considered a god?’

Silvana rolled her eyes.

’Tsk, you know that’s just a name! Maybe this dragon was very old or did something significant in its life! In any case, this is our only option.’

Adam bit his lip because it was true.

If there was no blood in the dragon head, he would be at a dead end.

Clutch.

At the same moment, Alexia gripped the tree tightly, with such force that its thin bark cracked.

Her energy led her straight here, so she wasted no time and began to absorb the azure tree.

"You can’t escape me. I advise you not to resist," she hissed in a dangerous voice. "You put us through many trials, now it’s your turn to give me my well-deserved reward!"

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

The blue energy burst out of the azure tree in an attempt to throw Alexia off, but she stood her ground confidently, and her grip only grew stronger.

Gradually, bright cracks ran through the azure tree as it could no longer withstand the pressure.

It had lost.

CRACKLE!

With a loud crack, the azure tree shattered into mirror-like fragments that flew past Alexia’s wide-open eyes.

All that remained in place of the azure tree was a deep chasm, a faint light, like mist, emanating from it.

Alexis gulped as she stepped forward.

Whooooooosh.

Some object flew out, soaring in front of Alexia.

To their shock, it was nothing more than a dark gray heart covered with a thick layer of ice. The heart itself looked like a carved statue of a fierce beast or monster, menacing and gloomy.

It did not beat, hovering statically in the air and emitting a frosty energy so dense that even Alexia felt cold.

A shiver ran down her skin while her fingertips were covered with a thin layer of ice, but there was no fear in her eyes, only awe.

"So this is what you look like..."

Her voice trembled as she took a step forward despite the cold.

"Ancient Frost, now, you are mine!"

Alexia reached out, clasping the ice heart in her embrace.

As soon as she did, the frost ceased to affect Alexia as a dense wave of energy ran through her body like a wandering mist.

Gradually, more and more energy flowed out of the ice heart as Alexia closed her eyes, focusing on absorbing it.

"It happened..." Adam clenched his fists. "She found her condition, right?"

He got his final answer a moment later, when nothing remained of the ice heart but gray fragments that shattered right in Alexia’s hands, falling through her fingers.

Slowly, Alexia turned as her eyes made Adam’s heart ache.

Her blue eyes, usually deep, now resembled two star nebulae, bright and mysterious.

It was only for a moment, as when Alexia blinked, only a small part of the former light remained, but it was enough to give Adam all the answers.

"Adam." Alexia’s calm voice rang out. "I know how you feel right now. Like you, I always want to be first, which is why we must not waste any time. We must find out where the Blood of God is."

Adam narrowed his eyes.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded deeply.

"Yeah... Although I must admit I feel a little strange. I’m too calm... Don’t worry, soon I will absorb all of the Ancient Frost."

PULSE!

As if echoing her words, an impulse ran across the ground and reached the barrier protecting the pond and dragon head.

The dome shattered, deprived of its source of energy. Without the azure tree, there was nothing left to protect the Frost Oasis.

"Come on," Alexia tapped him on the shoulder. "There must be at least one drop left in that giant head."

"Sure." Adam followed her, watching the pond closely.

He didn’t know what to expect, but regardless of what happened, the shining pond remained intact.

It was unknown whether it was just a source of energy or if something was hidden behind it.

In the end, Alexia stopped at the pond, staring intently at the Frost Oasis itself, while Adam moved on, heading straight for the dragon head.

The fact that this head was here was a surprise to them, but it was the best option for Adam to fulfill his condition.

"Alright, let’s see if there’s anything in you." Adam placed his palm on the dragon head, feeling the old scales.

He was about to bend down and pull the hide aside when something made him freeze in horror.

The giant blue eye with a vertical pupil was wide open.

"W-What the...?"

The dead dragon was staring right at him.

And its eye, it didn’t look old, unlike the rest of its body.