Endless Evolution: Last Star - Chapter 1437

Chapter 1437: Dark Evolution (Part 1)
Menax was no ordinary monster, and Adam already understood that. His opponent was not only talented but also possessed an unusual element and complex abilities.

Sure, Adam was just the same.

Never before had Adam fought a monster that used its energy to create a golden burning light as well as bone arms, palms, and skulls that could easily kill weaker opponents with their attacks.

Menax was in the same situation. Unlike Adam, he knew his opponent’s abilities. However, until that moment, he had never fought a Phantom that used threads, needles, and many other things in battle.

Even the monsters from the Forgotten Mills did not possess all of Adam’s abilities. Menax understood that it would not be easy, because he saw in Adam an equal in talent, one who would be difficult to defeat, but definitely worth it.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

A multitude of golden arms burst from the ground as a dozen eyes opened on their palms, staring at Adam.

It was both an impressive and terrifying sight, especially for Adam, who found himself at the center of this complicated but devastatingly powerful attack.

‘Adam! Hurry! Dodge!’ Silvana’s voice rang out in his mind.

“Agh…?”

She understood what was happening faster than he did.

However, Adam had no way to defend himself, except from the golden rays that were already flying in his direction.

All he could try to do was avoid the attack.

Acting on instinct, he changed the form of the Dual Demon Sword again as two black lightning wings unfolded on his back.

With a speed bordering on the speed of sound, he made a powerful leap upward, as the flap of his wings left behind a crater full of cracks.

TREMBLE! TREMBLE! TREMBLE!

The ground shook, engulfed in dark golden flames as the golden arms turned in his direction, following his every move.

‘Hah! I made it! Did that bastard really think that would be enough to defeat me?!’

Adam dodged the attack. He managed to do it.

But…

That was exactly what Menax wanted.

Clutch.

He appeared right in front of Adam as he grabbed Adam’s neck with all the power of his grip.

“What now, Adam Vinter?”

Menax’s low voice rang out while golden flame moved along his arm.

“You think I’m afraid of you? That I can’t find a way to deal with your abilities? You have the same talent as me, but you don’t know how to use it!”

The flame approached Menax’s wrist, causing Adam’s eyes to flicker with fear. He couldn’t escape Menax’s grip, and Menax chose the best possible moment to attack him.

“Still…” Menax growled. “No one can deny that your victories, your triumphs, are impressive. That’s good, really good. When I defeat you, I’ll know that this one achievement will overshadow all of yours!”

Menax roared as the flames reached his fingertips, touching Adam’s neck.

At the same moment, a bright flash lit up the great canyon as a devastating explosion rang out.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Space shook as one shockwave after another rippled through the air with gusts of wind.

BAM!

Adam collapsed onto one side, wisps of black smoke rising from his body, while Menax continued to hover in the air, surrounded by flames left over from the explosion.

Silence.

For a few moments, silence hung in the air, and even the gusts of wind tried to be quiet, and then—!

“GRHA!”

Adam spat out a mouthful of blood, flooding the ground in front of him.

A severe burn covered his right shoulder and half of his neck, while blazing pain filled his body.

He had dodged one attack, but could do nothing against the other. From the beginning, Menax had simply wanted to create the right moment to attack.

‘Shit!’ Adam slammed his fist into the ground. ‘He did that on purpose. He knew the rays couldn’t hurt me much. Instead, he decided to just blow me up!’

Silvana had nothing to say. She was very far away as her eyes darted from one place to another. She was supposed to warn Adam if Menax decided to attack, and he didn’t notice.

But, at that moment, another voice rang out in his head:

‘Hey, you can do this…’ The Silver Weaver whispered. ‘It’s almost over… All you need to do is buy yourself some time. Make that bastard believe that you’ve played all your trump cards in a few attacks. His arrogance will be his downfall.’

Whoooooosh!

Menax landed on the ground as a tremor ran through the earth. Only a few shreds remained of his black cloak as his white and gold coat, reminiscent of a military uniform, came into view.

He looked like a prince of the golden sun: arrogant, talented, and cruel.

Still, he knew that the young man before him was dangerous, that at any moment the tide of their battle could turn.

“Get up, Adam Vinter.” Menax narrowed his eyes, slowly stepping forward. “Are you saying that one explosion is enough to defeat a Phantom of your caliber?”

Adam spat a clot of blood onto the ground as the Dual Demon Sword shattered into fragments, disappearing along with the lightning bolts.

“Hah, is that really what you think of me?” Adam smirked as he waved his hand. “Look at our battlefield. You possess such powerful abilities, and you have wounded me severely. Maybe I should just surrender right now?”

Menax frowned, Adam’s mocking smirk irritating him to the core. But he was good at controlling his emotions.

“If you surrender, I will accept it. Before you do so, I want you to know that in case of defeat, there is only one outcome in our fight — death.”

“Well…” Adam dusted off his pants and stretched his neck. “What can I say? I don’t want to die today.”

“Hmm? Why so?”

“If I die, it will be against someone truly strong, not you! Hahaha,” Adam chuckled.

The veins bulged on Menax’s face as he clenched his fists, trying to suppress his growing rage.

It took him less than a second to realize that this was another provocation.

But…

Crack.

That was enough time for Adam to move on to his plan.

He appeared in front of Menax, whose eyes noticed five rings connected by chains on Adam’s arm.

“It’s time for a change, don’t you think?” Adam exhaled cold air before clenching his fist as the first ring glowed brightly.

At the last moment, Menax created a golden barrier in front of him, similar to the bone palm, to block Adam’s strike.

The crimson blast unfolded in full force as the impact threw him high into the air.

Adam had no intention of stopping there as the second ring already glowed.

Menax’s eyes widened as the energy ray headed his way. He couldn’t dodge. There was too little time, but he had another way.

“That’s not enough!” Menax exclaimed as two golden hands appeared behind him, blocking the ray.

Whooooooooosh.

Flying through the cloud of flames, Adam rushed past Menax, momentarily finding himself significantly higher than his opponent.

“That’s not all!”

Before Menax could react, the crimson chains bound his arms and legs, pulling him in all directions.

The crimson cross cut through the clouds, as Menax could do nothing.

Whether he wanted to or not, he had to use one of his trump cards if he didn’t want the crimson cross to cut him to pieces.

In a heartbeat, the golden mantle covered his shoulders and descended to his back as his power increased significantly.

For a split second, his aura became as bright and powerful as the sun itself, completely engulfing the great canyon to its edges.

BLAST!

With an explosion of golden flame, Menax broke the chains and shot upward at tremendous speed. The crimson cross no longer bothered him.

“Get out of my way!” He roared like a beast as four golden arms tore the crimson cross to pieces in a single swing. All that remained of the cross were a few red clots that would soon disappear in the wind.

Adam’s pupils narrowed when Menax appeared right in front of him — his golden mantle shone brightly, giving him an air of majesty and danger.

“This is where it ends, Adam Vinter.”

The runes lit up on the fifth ring, and Adam tried to use the last ability of his Nexus.

Unfortunately, his time had come to an end.

Tap.

Menax folded his palms together as his previously rage-filled eyes became as calm as ancient ice.

“This canyon will be a fitting grave for a warrior as great as you, Adam Vinter. You can be proud that you became a bright star in this world, even if only for a short time.”

The Nexus was about to shatter into pieces when the shadow engulfed Adam.

The giant golden palm, brighter than any before it, crashed down on Adam with overwhelming speed.

Incredible pressure passed through Adam’s body as he found himself back on the ground.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

His back broke through several meters of earth, leaving a broken line on the surface, made up of cracks and his blood.

“Gha…” Adam sighed heavily as he looked at the golden glow towering above him.

Menax nodded respectfully as his palm began to move.

The next attack would end his life.

Tremble.

At that moment, a tremor was heard, but it did not come from the real world, but from Adam’s inner space.

Nothing remained of the Dark Heart — it had been completely absorbed, and the Second Grand Star shone brightly, casting its light on the Evolution Tree.

Just before his death, the corners of Adam’s lips turned upward, realizing that this was not the end, at least not for him.