Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1674 1674: Flower is not a problem

The Frenzied Shards selected their guards based on a single criterion: strength.

Sure, weaker servants were also faster than the rest, after all, their task was to scout distant territories, but ultimately, the servants had to be capable of protecting the Frenzied Shard from any threat.

That may be precisely why the second servant differed so greatly from the first one.

The massive predatory flower, with long, spiny vines quivering like tentacles, stood not far from the giant clock. Its head was a closed bud of five red petals, elongated with sharp tips. A faint amber light emanated from the very center, just like the one from the first servant's eyes.

But what alarmed Adam was not just the large flower, but more than a dozen animated roots standing near the second servant. Each root had an anthropomorphic build, long arms and legs, and a head: an open purple flower with spiny petals.

Adam narrowed his eyes, staring intently at one of the living roots. An amber flame burned in its chest, just like the second servant's, but dim and faint.

"Wait. Are they connected to the Frenzied Shard, too? Every single one?"

Sarka crossed her arms over her chest.

"It's all about that big predatory flower. If we take care of it, all its minions will fall. In any case, if we want to get to the Frenzied Shard, we have to destroy every servant."

Following her words, Adam pointed at the first servant.

"What about this one?"

Sarka narrowed her eyes, causing the first servant to flinch in fear. He took a step back, ignoring the pain from his broken leg.

"If we were in a different situation, I would have dealt with him long ago, but I'm here to help you, so I'll keep my word."

She stared at the first servant.

"Go away and don't come back. If I see you again, I'll rip off not your arm but your head!"

The first servant didn't need to be told twice. In the next moment, his body trembled, and he vanished in an unknown direction.

Adam crouched down, watching the second servant. The giant flower shook its head from side to side, ready for a threat to appear from any direction.

"I hope you're not planning to interrogate this servant too?"

Sarka smirked.

"You know? I could do that, but I don't think it'll be necessary."

"Why?"

"The Frenzied Shards rarely have more than three servants. The more servants there are, the more energy the Frenzied Shard has to spend on maintaining them. So, usually three is the maximum. Considering that the first one was pretty strong and this one doesn't look weak, I'm sure of it."

Surprise spread across Adam's face.

"Didn't you take down the first one in just a few hits?"

"Hah, I'm just too strong! But! I'll admit that others might have trouble with him!"

Adam smiled bitterly. "I see. Then we'll just tear this flower to pieces? How will we know where the Frenzied Shard is?"

In response, Sarka grinned.

"That's the whole point! If I'm right and this is the second of the three servants, and I'm always right, then the Frenzied Shard is somewhere nearby. When the shard's energy escapes from this flower, we'll sense the direction."

"Yeah, but we won't just find the Frenzied Shard there, right?"

Sarka nodded deeply.

"The third shard will be waiting for us there. I'd like to say we'll defeat it easily, but that's not the case. It's not just about this monster's strength, each of us is stronger than any servant, since they don't even have the Hollow Marks, let alone the Fang rank."

"Is it all about the Frenzied Shard's energy?"

"Of course it is. I can't explain it to you, but… It's a strange, indescribable feeling. It's like seeing a part of yourself from the future and gaining power that's currently beyond your reach."

Crunch.

Adam cracked his knuckles, warming up before the battle.

"Should we attack from here or charge at them?"

"The latter. I'm sure you have devastating attacks just like I do, but I don't really want to draw attention."

"Hmm?" Adam blinked. "Is it all about the Frenzied Shard?"

"Yes. They're dangerous, and the chances of getting the Hollow Mark are slim, but it's still an extremely valuable resource. What's more, many monsters hunt for the Frenzied Shards even after they've obtained the Hollow Mark. It's a good way to get stronger, since the shard's influence literally shifts your aura toward greater power."

No matter how dangerous the treasure was or how hard it was to get it, it was still a treasure, which meant there would always be someone who wanted to get their hands on it.

"Alright, enough talk. It's time to get down to business."

"Sure. Fighting is what I do best."

"Hah, we're alike in that respect."

The blue flame burst from Sarka's hands and shoulders as a dark aura surrounded Adam.

The moment his black needle appeared in his hand, their frames trembled.

At tremendous speed, they charged forward, black and blue flashes cutting across the gray earth, streaking past the ruined columns, heading straight for the golden clock.

In a heartbeat, the second servant sensed their auras.

Tremble. Tremble. Tremble.

The petals trembled as the second servant opened its bud in a terrifying roar:

SSSSSSSCCCCCCRRRRRRHHHOOOO!!!!

It was something between the roar of a wild beast and the piercing scream of a ghost capable of reaching the very soul.

Adam frowned, but didn't stop.

The living roots sprang into action as well. They were no longer standing by like statues, but surged forward, ready to charge into battle against the two fighters, despite the obvious difference in strength.

Adam glanced at them and shifted his gaze to the giant flower.

'These vines, I need to deal with them first. With my needle, I can do it faster than Sarka.'

He was ready to jump, but something stopped him and made him look up. Sarka and all the monsters around him had the same reaction.

"What the…?"

In Adam's wide-open eyes, a meteorite blazing in flames was reflected, and with every passing moment, it grew larger and larger as it approached the ground.