Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1700: A Shiver in the Blood

Crack!

Somewhere in a distant part of the world, a wounded knight emerged from the darkness, falling onto the gray earth covered in a thin layer of dust.

All he had with him was his cape, his sword, the remnants of his armor in the form of a few plates on his legs, and a piece of flesh from the young Phantom he had just fought.

"Grh!" The Dark Knight groaned, clutching his shoulder and bracing himself on the ground with his elbow.

He struggled to stay conscious, while blood flowing from his wounds flooded the ground beneath him.

His eyes were ready to go blank and sink forever into darkness, but he clenched his fist tightly, refusing to let himself fall asleep.

"Rgh, it’s still too soon!"

BAM!

The Dark Knight slammed his fist into the ground as his gaze fell on the piece of flesh in his hand.

Adam’s blood trickled through the Dark Knight’s fingers, bringing a faint smile to the Dark Knight’s face.

"So I was right after all? Now I can feel it. It’s her blood. It’s the queen’s blood! Hahaha! Now I don’t just see it, but feel it! No wonder he ended up here, only a Phantom like him could be entrusted with something like this!"

The first doubts arose in the Dark Knight when Adam launched his final attack using his wings.

The speed he reached at that moment was beyond the Dark Knight’s expectations.

"At first I thought it was all just his desire to win, but... not only was he very fast, but everything else slowed down - including me."

If the Dark Knight hadn’t activated his full power, that attack would have been the last. Adam’s needle would have severed his head, for there would have been no crimson darkness to protect him.

When the Dark Knight saw Adam’s trembling veins and his blood forming a puddle on the ground, the Dark Knight’s doubts began to fade.

It was at that very moment that he decided he had to try. It was his only chance, and he couldn’t let it slip away.

"Huh..."

As if it were a treasure, the Dark Knight lifted the piece of flesh upward. The red chunk was the only splash of color against the backdrop of the empty sky.

"I didn’t get the second Hollow Mark and left the battlefield. My opponent survived, just like me, but... Does that mean I lost? Of the two of us, I’m the one who obtained the most important treasure. I’ll be able to move forward, which means I’ve won!"

Clutch!

The Dark Knight clenched the piece of flesh, slowly bringing it to his mouth.

"Let’s see what can be done with one step forward and an entire infinity at my disposal!"

He took the first bite, closing his eyes.

"Thank you, Adam. You gave me what I lacked so much - time."

Thump!

Immediately after that thought, the Dark Knight collapsed to the ground. His body and mind had reached their limit, but Queen Elisa’s blood was already inside him.

...

"Kha... Kha... Kha!"

Loargh coughed up blood, struggling to regain consciousness. Everything before his eyes was blurring, but he was still alive, and that was what mattered most.

Gradually, Vyora came to as well, and the four of them exchanged glances.

Sarka had woken up a little earlier than the others, so she had seen everything that had happened on the battlefield.

"That knight..." Loargh muttered as his eyes darted from side to side. "Where is he?"

Step.

Sarka stood before him, holding out her hand.

"That coward ran away! Adam won!"

Loargh turned to Adam, who was standing before the Frenzied Shard.

Without saying a word, Loargh got up from the ground, and he and Sarka helped Vyora to her feet. The three of them were badly wounded, as was Adam, but compared to what had happened to the Dark Knight, it was nothing.

In a few days, the most serious wounds would heal, and very soon they would be back at the peak of their strength.

Well, right now they were moving with difficulty, limping along, but this wasn’t the first time for them.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

The Frenzied Shard trembled. It tried to find even a single monster willing to come here and protect it, but that was not to be.

There was no one here who would dare to do so.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Adam turned around and looked at Loargh.

"You said that once we defeat all the servants, we’ll have to fight for the right to absorb this shard. A 2-on-2 battle, right?"

Loargh shook his head with a bitter smile.

"You can’t be serious."

He waved his hand, surveying the battlefield.

"If it weren’t for you, Adam, he would have killed every one of us. Damn, I can barely stand here. My legs are shaking, and my head is splitting."

Vyora, who was standing next to Loargh, nodded with a sad expression.

"He’s right. That servant possessed terrifying power. I don’t want to fight you, Adam, and even if I were willing to face you," she looked at him, "what chance would I have against you?"

Adam smiled. He had expected that answer.

After the grueling battle they had just endured, he saw neither enemies nor rivals in these two. Loargh and Vyora both told him so much about both the Pit and the Hollow Lands.

But... Adam must never forget the greatest threat within their own ranks.

"Me!"

Sarka jumped up as she clenched her fists.

"I’m ready to fight you! Come on! I’ll beat you with one hand if I have to!"

Loargh and Vyora exchanged wide-eyed glances. They couldn’t believe this was actually happening.

"Hey, Loargh." Adam turned to him.

"Y-Yes?"

Adam put his hands on his hips.

"According to the rules, two teams are supposed to fight, not members of the same one, right?"

Loargh froze for a moment, crossed his arms with a knowing look, and began to nod deeply.

"Yes, that’s right. A battle between you two would be against the rules."

Strangely enough, Sarka reacted instantly.

"Damn it!" She stamped her foot. "What kind of stupid rules are those?! Alright, Adam, you’ve earned this shard!"

Adam sighed inwardly.

’I can’t believe people like her exist.’

Then, he turned to the Frenzied Shard and took a step forward.

"You’ll be my first step toward devouring all the blood, but first I’ll devour you!"