Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1810: The Path to the Deep Ring (Part 2)

Crackle.

The iron gates closed as Aiden and Silvana were left alone on the training grounds. Unlike Silvana, whom he had made wear a tracksuit, Aiden remained in his white coat.

Silvana looked around. They had come here immediately after the events at the Void Transit.

"Are we starting training right now?" Silvana asked uncertainly.

Aiden nodded.

She was ready for sparring or something similar. She had seen Adam train countless times, so she thought she would have to go through something similar.

"Judging by your expression, you were expecting something else. Later, you’ll go through battles, the active part of training, but right now you’re not worthy of it," Aiden said coldly.

Silvana frowned.

"Can you ever stop acting like a cynical bastard?"

Aiden shrugged.

"Sure, but only with those I deem worthy of it. As you understand, you’re not one of them yet."

What annoyed Silvana most wasn’t what Aiden was saying, but how he was saying it.

’Tsk, sometimes I feel like if it weren’t for Adam, he’d have more respect for an ant than for me.’

"So, if we’re not going to fight, what should I do? What’s your plan?"

Instead of answering, Aiden asked a question.

"Tell me, Silvana, you know that you and Adam share certain abilities, right?"

Silvana nodded deeply.

"Of course. It’s proof that we’re connected and that I’m part of his inner space. I’m proud of the abilities we created together. Thanks to them, Adam has won countless battles."

"Well, I wouldn’t say everything is that great, but your shared abilities are actually pretty good."

Aiden waved his hand before staring intently at Silvana.

"But, judging by your answer, you still don’t know that."

"Agh?" Silvana was confused. "Don’t know what?"

Aiden lifted his chin.

"That you can activate these abilities just as well as Adam."

"W-What?"

Silvana was speechless. She had never thought about it that way. She had always believed that when they created their combined abilities, her role was to give Adam a portion of her energy so he could use the abilities.

"Gha..." Aiden sighed, a cold breath passing before his face. "Now you’ll begin to understand why I said those things earlier. Very soon, you’ll agree with every word I say."

Step.

Aiden stepped forward, holding out his hand. His fingers tensed as if he were holding something.

"Think about it, Silvana. If it takes the energy of both of you, what’s stopping you from using these abilities? What’s more, these abilities appeared in the first place because of you, not Adam."

He clenched his fist.

"Go ahead, try using one of your abilities. Do what Adam has done dozens of times in the midst of dangerous, bloody battles."

Silvana gulped as she quickly made her choice.

’The Imaginary Blades, I should be able to handle this.’

Since Silvana had seen Adam do this and her energy had been involved, she knew what conditions needed to be met.

Her eyes shone brightly as she used far more energy than Adam usually needed. She did this to ensure the result.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

Gradually, the glass blade began to take shape in her hand, one fragment after another forming until half the blade was already complete.

But... Something went wrong.

Crack.

The glass blade shattered into shards, causing Silvana’s eyes to widen.

Aiden looked at the shards.

"Pathetic. You couldn’t even create a single blade."

"N-No! I can do it! I need one more try!" Silvana exclaimed, though her trembling lips showed she wasn’t sure of that.

Aiden spread his arms wide.

"If you think so, then go ahead. Do it."

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Silvana tried to create the imaginary blades many times, but she kept failing.

A few minutes later, Silvana fell to her knees, staring at the glass shards scattered across the floor. She couldn’t believe it.

"H-How?" Her voice trembled. "This is our shared ability. We use each other’s energy... Adam can create dozens of blades of different sizes and control them, but I can’t even make a single one."

Sure, it might have seemed like it was all about practice. In part, that was true, since as Adam grew stronger, he began to use his abilities more effectively, but that was just a minor bonus and nothing more.

Silvana knew that from the very beginning, Adam had been able to use the Imaginary Blades. That ability had helped him defeat Vaarh, a formidable opponent in the Primal Lands.

Step. Step. Step.

Aiden walked forward as the glass shards crunched under his boots.

"That’s exactly why you’re trash, Silvana. But, since we’re here, it means you can become something better."

Slowly, she looked up.

"How? That’s impossible... I don’t have the same combat experience as Adam or his talent. Has using abilities always been this hard?"

"Try again."

"Agh?"

Silvana was confused.

"You’ll keep trying until you don’t have a single drop of energy left. Even if it hurts, you’ll keep trying. If you give up, I’ll make you do it."

Aiden leaned in, his eyes right in front of her.

"I hope your words at the Void Transit weren’t a lie or just an emotional outburst. By the end of this training, you’ll be stronger, but no one said it would be easy."

With a desperate look, Silvana stared at the glass shards, but then Goen and Arika flashed through her mind for a moment as a flame of determination filled her eyes.

"Right, you’re right. What’s more... It’s not just Adam’s strength, but mine as well!"

At that very moment, Silvana’s entire aura burst forth as she prepared to channel all her power to wield the Imaginary Blades.

Aiden took a step back, assessing her auras.

’Actually, that’s not so bad. Like any warrior, Adam has good instincts both in battle and in choosing his partner or weapon.’

Then, Aiden checked the time.

Almost an hour had passed since they left the Void Transit.

’Given his speed, he should already be there. Good.’

...

Aiden was right. Adam had crossed the Tarnished Lands some time ago. His eyes shone brightly as he made his way toward a specific point, a tall, dark-crimson tower standing in the middle of a rocky plateau.

’Blind Eye Tower, that’s definitely it!’ Adam exclaimed inwardly, eager to get there as soon as possible.