Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1563: Hail of Blades (Part 2)

Alexia had many abilities, as did any Phantom of her level. But frost was always with her, for it was her primary element.

Thus, if she had enough energy for it, she could turn a simple breath into a violent blizzard.

Well, Alexia would probably never reach that level of power, but after the appearance of the ancient energy, new possibilities opened up for her.

Vaarh was aware of the ancient energy; after all, one of the conditions for passing through the barrier was to possess this power.

Still, he couldn’t predict all of his enemies’ actions, especially when it was someone like Alexia.

This was the first time she had used ancient energy in battle. She used it not for an ability or attack, but for a simple breath that became critical in Vaarh’s situation.

"GHA!"

Alexia directed her frosty breath at Vaarh, and before he could leave the area of effect, his feet froze to the ground.

The ancient energy in her breath and her element were enough to achieve this effect. It was like using star energy on an ordinary human who had no chance to defend himself.

"You... Bitch!" Vaarh’s eyes filled with rage as he looked at the smirking Alexia.

"Ha! I knew you couldn’t stay calm for long, you are just—!"

CRACKLE!

The iron shaft slammed into her jaw, throwing her aside. Vaarh was not going to put up with this anymore.

"Tsk, I should have dealt with you at the very beginning. You can’t defeat me, but you’re surprisingly troublesome!"

Vaarh grumbled before looking down. His legs were covered in a thick layer of ice up to his knees. If it were normal ice, Vaarh would have broken it in an instant, in one motion, but now he struggled even to make the first cracks appear.

"Huh..."

Alexia tried to get up from the ground, but blood continued to flow from her nose, and two teeth lay on the ground in front of her.

"You still don’t understand that this isn’t where you should be looking, do you?"

"Agh?"

The realization struck Vaarh when he looked up.

Adam, who had been preparing to attack for some time, stared at him. His blue eyes were deeper than ever, seeming to surpass even Vaarh’s grim tone.

The imaginary blades were still in his firm grip, but something made Vaarh’s eyes fill with terror.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

One after another, the imaginary blades appeared in the air, their tips aimed at Vaarh as their sole target.

At will, Adam created twenty floating blades at once. These were not short daggers, but great blades of imaginary scissors, each large enough to cut a powerful beast in two.

That was the real power of his new ability.

A strong enough opponent could dodge or even block a single cut, but not dozens of blades, each possessing the same power.

"Remember that, Vaarh."

Adam’s voice echoed deeply as he raised his hand. The blades trembled, ready to respond to his command.

"The attack that led to your defeat was a simple cold breath."

He lowered his hand.

Whoooooooosh.

At the same moment, twenty imaginary blades simultaneously descended, cutting through the wind currents.

"AAAAAAARRRRRRRHHHH!!!"

With a wild roar, Vaarh attempted to destroy the ice binding his legs. He knew what would happen to him if he didn’t succeed now.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

With cracks, fragments of ice flew off to the sides, but it was already too late.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

One blade after another pierced Vaarh’s body, piercing his chest, back, and shoulders.

The blades went through, coming out the other side with bloody tips.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

The crimson drops rolled down the blades, falling onto the snow-covered ground.

No cold could compare to what Vaarh was feeling at that moment. This mortal wound was different from the one that had brought him here to Frost Ridge.

The blades had damaged many of his muscles, bones, and organs. In a matter of minutes, he would lose too much blood and ultimately lose consciousness.

"It’s..." Alexia gulped. "It worked."

Adam watched as Vaarh’s eyes slowly closed. The wide blade in his neck prevented him from even saying his last words.

Vaarh’s eyes shut.

His breathing stopped, but something prevented a joyful smile from appearing on Adam’s face, unlike Alexia, who was already preparing to celebrate victory.

’Something’s wrong.’

Adam looked back just to confirm his fears.

The energy from the Winding Fragment was still wandering around. Adam still had to find the condition for the Third Grand Star.

Alexia had already received the Ancient Frost, so she didn’t see it.

But... Could anyone other than Vaarh give Adam such an opportunity?

He didn’t believe it.

Clutch.

Adam gripped his blades tightly as he stepped forward. He couldn’t let Vaarh somehow miraculously get out of this situation.

’Last time, that bastard walked away with his head severed from his body. Until I cut him into pieces, I can’t be sure he’s dead!’

Step!

Adam took a step forward as his entire body froze in primal fear.

Twitch. Twitch. Twitch.

Vaarh’s eyelids fluttered as his eyes slowly opened.

The first thing Adam saw was a bright light, as dazzling as a cluster of myriad stars.

His blue eyes looked through Adam, wanting to peer right into his soul.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

The gray aura burst from Vaarh’s body as cracks ran through the imaginary blades piercing his body.

The beasts watching from afar shuddered and backed away. Now, all they felt toward Vaarh was wild fear.

But...

Soon, every monster, Adam, and Alexia felt another emotion: awe.

Amidst the gray aura familiar to Vaarh, something else began to appear.

The blue flows, at first sparse and slow, then fast and dense, formed the magnificent blue eye that cast its piercing gaze upon them.

’Azure Eye...’ Adam thought, remembering Vaarh’s title. ’So, he recovered only now?’

With the appearance of the Azure Eye, there were no more secrets left for Vaarh.

Now, he saw everything.