Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1703: Late Dinner and a Right Partner

Clasp!

The oven door opened as hot steam billowed out.

Xyrea stepped aside and, like an ordinary person, used oven mitts to pull out the baking sheet, where, amidst the well-roasted vegetables, a juicy turkey sat right in the center.

Silvana stood to the left, preparing the sauce and a fresh salad.

It was the middle of the night at the Citadel, but their appetites were higher than ever since they’d been playing board games for the past few hours.

Whose idea was that?

Tap.

One lime wedge after another fell into a tall glass, while Gladius, with great attention to detail, prepared several cocktails for the three of them.

"Agh...?" Silvana’s eyes widened as she froze in place, her knife having cut the cucumber only halfway.

Xyrea noticed her unusual reaction.

"It seems something happened?"

"Hmm?" Gladius turned over his shoulder, chewing on an orange slice.

A few moments later, Silvana smiled and placed her hand on her chest.

"Yes. I’m not sure exactly what, but I felt it, changes have occurred within Adam’s inner space. He..." Silvana paused, trying to make sense of what she was sensing. "It seems he tried to become stronger. He took a step forward, but it wasn’t enough..."

At that moment, her smile faded as she turned to Gladius. Concern was etched on her face.

"What could this mean? Could he have failed?"

For the first time in a very long time, Silvana didn’t have access to everything Adam was going through. Usually, she always knew where he was, what he was feeling, and what challenges he was facing, but not now.

He was too far away, and the nature of the Hollow Lands prevented them from establishing contact.

To Silvana’s relief, Gladius shook his head.

"Nah, everything’s fine. I’d even say he’s on his way to victory."

Hop!

He tossed a lime wedge and caught it with his mouth. His face twisted from the intense sourness, but then he nodded contentedly.

"Damn, now that’s what I call a lime. We made a great purchase. Hah, eating a few slices is harder than defeating some Lord!"

Strange as it may seem, but considering it was Gladius, those words might very well be true.

Silvana gasped. "Ah? Is he on his way to victory? What does that mean?"

Gladius smirked, leaning against the kitchen island.

"Exactly what I said. Most likely, he hasn’t absorbed Queen Elisa’s blood yet, but he’s already in the process. You know we can’t draw power directly from resources like monsters do, but if a resource is a requirement for the Evolution Tree or a Path Construct, the rules change."

"So..." Silvana lowered her gaze. "He did something that was supposed to help him absorb her blood, but he couldn’t do it in one go?"

Gladius shrugged.

"Yeah, like I said, that’s a good sign. I’m sure Adam will be back home very soon, and you’ll meet up soon. He doesn’t have much time. The blood I gave him possesses great power, but things happen rather quickly when necessary."

Silvana narrowed her eyes. She wanted to know where Adam was, but Xyrea and Gladius pretended they knew nothing about it, even though that was clearly not the case.

They answered all her other questions, but not this one.

"Gha. I just hope he’s okay."

Step.

Xyrea stood before Silvana. She was significantly taller, and her eyes were still cold despite the fact that they had spent several hours together.

"Do you doubt him?"

"No, I am..."

"You shouldn’t."

Xyrea leaned forward as the shadow of her frame fell over Silvana.

"Adam is a talented Phantom, and you have to measure up since you’re his Operator. Being strong is the only option if you want to be a partner to another strong person. It works for both humans and monsters."

It was obvious that Xyrea’s presence alone was intimidating to Silvana, but she found the courage to reply:

"I know that, but what about you?" Silvana pointed at Gladius. "Are you saying you possess the same power as he does? That would be a huge lie to say, wouldn’t it?"

Xyrea blinked before nodding.

"Of course not. No Operator can possess the same power as their Phantom. It’s impossible, but there’s no need for that, since you aren’t enemies. I’m not talking about physical strength, but about your mind."

She straightened up, giving Silvana one last intense glare.

"Every time you doubt the power of your Phantom, you insult him and yourself, because you were Adam’s choice, not the other way around."

Silvana gulped. She had nothing to say because Xyrea was right, and that was the worst part.

The monster that Gladius had literally forced to become his Operator understood the relationship between a Phantom and an Operator far better than she, a human, did.

She could get angry, but it was useless.

’Agh...’ Silvana sighed inwardly, coming to her senses. ’I see. So this is a test for me? I don’t know where Adam is, but he’s still fighting. All I have to do is believe in him. That’s not a difficult task at all compared to what he’s going through.’

Tap.

Xyrea set the tray with the turkey on the table, and steam was still rising from the vegetables.

"Anyway, let’s eat, or the food will get cold."

Gladius picked up two glasses with ready-made cocktails.

"Great idea! The night is just beginning! I’m sure it’ll end just as unexpectedly as it began!"

Silvana remembered how Gladius and Xyrea had come to them, that’s how it all started, and Adam was still fighting to get stronger and return home.

"I see. I can’t help you right now, Adam, but when I have the chance, I’ll do whatever it takes!"

Silvana picked up the salad and sauces and headed to the table, sitting down across from Xyrea with a confident expression.

Gladius, who was watching them from the side, smiled slightly.

’Good job, Xyrea. I have no doubts about that little brat, but she could have been a problem. However...’ He glanced at Silvana. ’It looks like Adam didn’t make a mistake in choosing his partner.’