Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1651: Powerful Blood

Silvana didn’t like what was happening. The whole situation with Gladius, Xyrea, and Queen Elisa’s blood sent a chill down her spine, but there was nothing she could do to change it.

The best she could do right now was to try to learn as much as possible about the situation.

She didn’t want to admit it, but despite what Gladius had done, she truly didn’t see him as an enemy.

’His methods are rough and unpredictable, but... he turned out to be the only one who helped Adam with this problem. We still have six years ahead of us, but how long would Adam have been searching for the Blood of God? What if Queen Elisa’s blood is the only substance that would work for him?’

Click.

Gladius snapped his fingers right in front of Silvana, snapping her out of her reverie.

"Hey, are you with us?"

Silvana nodded.

"Yes... I was thinking. If you really want to help Adam, couldn’t you have done it differently?"

She frowned.

"You could have explained everything to us, told Adam about your plan, the risks, and so on. I’m sure if Adam knew more and understood that in return he’d get the Blood of God, one of his conditions, he would have agreed to do it!"

Sip.

Xyrea took a sip, listening but not interfering in the conversation.

"I’m not going to make excuses or explain anything to you, Silvana."

Gladius waved his hand dismissively. "Everything I did was the result of my desires. Nothing else. I’m not going to give a presentation of my plan like an instructor for the Phantoms’ rookies. All I wanted was for Adam to get the full experience of his new powers. I did that."

"B-BUT!" Silvana jumped up, slamming her palm on the table. "You won’t even tell me where he is! Where the hell did you send him?! What... What if he dies..."

Gladius’s smirk widened.

"What? You don’t believe in him?"

"Agh?"

"Whether you like it or not, deep down you’ve already admitted that I’m no enemy to either you or Adam. So you admit that I didn’t send Adam to his death. I sent him where he belongs, to the Dead Lands, to harness his new powers.

"So... If I’m not trying to kill him, but you think he might die. Does that mean you don’t believe in him?"

Silvana’s lips trembled.

"You... You sly bastard! You twisted my words! I never said that! I’m just worried about him, and that’s it!" She slammed her fist on the table, making the dishes rattle.

Gladius didn’t get angry, on the contrary, he slowly picked up a cookie and took a bite.

"In that case, join us for tea and wait for Adam’s return. When you make contact with him next time, he’ll be much stronger. That is, if you believe in him and know he’ll survive."

True, that answer didn’t satisfy Silvana, but Gladius was right. All she could do now was wait and hope for the best.

Tap.

Silvana sat down in a chair and folded her arms across her chest.

"Fine, I’ll wait. But tell me something! Where did you send Adam? How dangerous is it there? What are his chances of surviving?"

Crunch.

Gladius took another bite, a particularly slow one that made Silvana’s eyebrow twitch in irritation.

"Too many questions. Way too many. All I can tell you is that Adam always has a chance to win. He can survive if he wants to, and that would be the best outcome for all of us. As for where I sent him... Let’s say it will be a new, unforgettable experience for him."

"I see." Silvana nodded deeply as she looked at the cookies and coffee. "I can’t do anything to stop your cunning plan, but you’re in my house! I want you to pay for everything you’ve taken!"

Strangely enough, Gladius smiled cheerfully.

"Of course!"

In a heartbeat, he was standing to Silvana’s right. In his hand was a phone with the website of one of the most popular online stores already open.

"We can buy everything we need right now, on my tab, of course!"

Silvana was shocked. She didn’t understand how Gladius could switch so quickly from such a serious topic to something as casual as shopping.

The final blow was that Xyrea joined him.

"When Adam comes back, he’ll be exhausted. You need to come up with a shopping plan, Miss Operator."

Silvana touched her temples.

’This is some kind of nightmare... Adam, shit, I hope you’re okay. Gladius is acting like a fool, but in reality, he’s far from it.’

...

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Almost an hour had passed since Adam woke up. But, instead of exploring the mysterious caves and the abyss leading to the very depths of unknown territory, he slept.

He lay leaning against the same column, his eyes closed and his heart beating slowly.

Next to him on the ground was an empty vial and a smudge of blood at the corner of his mouth.

His body needed time to begin absorbing Queen Elisa’s blood. He didn’t know what the consequences would be, but he had no other choice.

Soon, his eyes opened, but instead of vast caves, he saw his Evolution Tree.

"Agh? Did I fall asleep?" Adam muttered, confused.

Whoooooosh!

At the same moment, streams of blood rushed past him on both sides. In the vial, there had been barely enough blood for a single sip, but now rivers of it were flowing right beside him.

"W-What?"

If this had been ordinary water instead of blood, such a volume would have been enough to fill a small lake or flood a village.

"Queen Elisa... was her blood condensed to this state? Just how much energy is in her blood!"

Unlike other substances that awaited Adam’s permission or decision, the crimson blood flowed in a single stream straight toward Adam’s Nexus.

The moment the empty vial hit the ground, the crimson blood decided which of Adam’s power parts would be altered.

Adam realized this as well.

"Wait!" He reached out, rushing toward his Nexus, which was located at the very center of his Evolution Tree.

However, Adam couldn’t get any closer.

The crimson blood gathered in a bubble around his Nexus, while currents inside moved rapidly.

[Blood of God not absorbed.]

[The blood you drank is too powerful.]

[You must find a way to absorb this blood before it destroys your inner space.]