Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1608 1608: First Star's Wish

What Adam was certain of during his first visit to the Primal Lands was that they were more like chaotic lands, a name that suited them much better than the original.

In just two days, Adam had experienced a long series of events, almost none of which he had any control over. It all started with a random anomaly, monsters in the forest, and Vaarh, and ended with Goen, Ramilo, and a bunch of Lords from the Befallen Crown hunting him down.

But... even after everything that had happened, he wasn't ready for this:

Crunch.

A piece of fresh fruit resembling a pineapple crunched. The sweet and sour juice spurted out when Adam swallowed it.

"Hey! I told you that a break wouldn't hurt, didn't I?" Zargos winked as he sat on a deck chair opposite Adam.

Like Adam, Zargos had a cocktail in his hand, thick and red, made from vegetables resembling tomatoes.

Unlike the Frost Ridge, there was no trace of frost here, only warm breezes, hot air, and the sun beating down on them with all its might to the sound of the jungle.

Adam and Zargos were wearing only shorts, relaxing in front of an impressive bamboo pool.

'Damn, it seems Goen isn't the only one who likes comfort at the Primal Lands, though...' Adam remembered Norax, who not only furnished his tower, but also brought a gaming console there. 'If you have the resources, why give them up, right?'

Behind them stood a two-story building that resembled a resort cottage, beautiful and peaceful. It was the dream of anyone who wanted to relax after a hard day's work.

Still, there was one more detail that Adam still couldn't believe.

Step. Step. Step.

Footsteps sounded from the side, high black heels tapping on the stone tiles. The girl with black hair tied in a ponytail and blue eyes was approaching them.

She was dressed in a black and white uniform, and in her left hand, she held a tray with various snacks, mostly fruit, and a variety of cocktails.

"Mr. Zargos. I brought your drinks and snacks," the girl said respectfully.

She reminded Adam of Narica, who served Norax.

"Oh, Merra! You're just in time!" Zargos said happily as he smiled predatorily. "Would you like to join us? Your swimsuit collection is impressive."

Strangely enough, Merra reacted calmly.

"Sure, but..." She looked at Adam. "I don't want to embarrass our guest. Besides, you have more important things to do than relax by the pool, don't you?"

Zargos shrugged.

"Yeah, you're right."

Then, he turned to Adam.

"Sorry, buddy, vacation's over."

"Agh?"

BAM!

Before Adam could react, Merra's palm touched his forehead as his eyes were covered with a black veil.

The next time Adam opened his eyes, he found himself in front of a lone Evolution Tree that had been waiting for him for some time.

Merra had forcibly immersed him in the inner space, but in an unusual one, a dark one, where there was only one source of light — his tree.

"What should I do now...?"

In this small space, there was no Path Construct or other parts of its power. Only the Evolution Tree looked a little unusual.

Its bark, always bright and full of energy, was not like that now. The bark at the edges was shallow, with darkness inside, and only the outlines retained their light.

Moreover, at the very base of the Evolution Tree, where its great roots should have been, there was a gate.

The gates of dark glass, broken at the edges, released white energy, whose sole purpose was to lure Adam here. His energy showed him the way to new power.

"Merra, did she send me here?" Adam looked at his hand. "How did she do that?"

Then, he shook his head.

"No, I shouldn't be thinking about that right now."

He looked up at the Evolution Tree. Even though its appearance was different from what he was used to, Adam felt that this was his inner space and his Evolution Tree.

"Don't you want to tell me anything?"

Adam frowned.

"All this time, I had access to a powerful force, and you didn't even hint at it? Even if it's dangerous, it doesn't matter. I'm ready for any trial, even if it comes from the First Star itself!"

However, there was no response. The evolution tree ignored Adam, and only the dark gates trembled once.

"I see... So part of the First Star has been stored here all along? At the very bottom of the Evolution Tree?"

Adam sighed heavily and moved forward.

The First Star's energy was found in many objects, but there was a big difference between them. The energy he received from the Twilight Crystals, for example, was significantly different from the energy that remained after the black flash.

The Twilight Crystals were just fragments of the First Star, while the black flash contained its will. Adam ended up at the Dark Shore precisely because of the First Star's wish, not because of a random anomaly.

Thus, beyond the gates, he was awaited not just by a cluster of energy that he could easily absorb and obtain the Dark Energy, but by the trial from the First Star.

Step.

Adam stopped in front of the gates, about to touch the glass edge.

[Sorry...]

Suddenly, the Evolution Tree spoke.

"Agh?"

[I didn't want to hide this from you, but even now you are barely ready for this trial... At the K3-Level... When you left the Dark Shore, only one outcome awaited you — fall and death.]

Adam nodded deeply as confidence filled his eyes.

"Do you believe that I can now obtain the Dark Energy?"

After a long pause, the Evolution Tree replied:

[I believe in you... but... I can't promise you that. That bastard from the clan... He should have kept his mouth shut.]

That was enough for Adam.

When he heard about the Dark Energy, he had already made up his mind.

"Good, then I'll do it right now."

Adam opened the gate as darkness greeted him inside. The outlines of the Evolution Tree, leaving only endless emptiness.

Still, in the middle of the emptiness floated a cluster of black flames, before which even the darkest night would seem bright.

But something else made Adam shudder, and a chill ran down his spine.

"W-What?"

His eyes reflected a familiar silhouette standing behind the flames, staring directly at him with a calm glare.

"S-Silvana?"