Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1678 1678: Board Game

Tap.

The playing card fell face-up onto the table.

"Ha! Now you can't beat me! It's my turn next, too!" Gladius exclaimed before rolling the dice, his eyes ablaze.

The large table was covered by an equally large map of the fantasy world. It was a board game that combined figures, movement across squares via dice rolls, and cards that functioned as abilities or special permissions for long-range moves. Additionally, the cards with special symbols served as weapons, armor, or tools.

All Gladius needed was to roll at least a 4 on the two dice in his hand. His gaze was fixed on the chest where the rare loot was supposed to be.

"Now!" Gladius threw the dice. He knew his odds were good. He couldn't lose!

Tap. Tap.

The dice landed on the table, both showing a 1.

In an instant, Gladius's joyful expression vanished as he turned as pale as a ghost. He couldn't believe this had actually happened.

Xyrea, who was sitting on the left side of the table, smirked.

"Well, well, looks like luck isn't on your side today." Her gaze shifted to Silvana. "What about you, Miss Operator?"

Silvana bit her lip, studying the game board. She had to decide where her character would go and what was more important to her: the blacksmith who would upgrade her gear, or a meeting with the mysterious merchant?

"I'm having much better luck today than usual."

Strange as it may seem, while Adam was in the Hollow Lands, Silvana spent time with Gladius and Xyrea as if they were good friends.

Sure, Silvana would like to help Adam, but she still didn't know where he was. Gladius and Xyrea made it clear that they wouldn't tell her anything until Adam got in touch. She didn't know it, but that meant she'd have to wait until Adam left the Hollow Lands.

It all started with some simple online shopping that Gladius suggested. Then they ordered pizza, and Gladius even went shopping at the store.

When he suggested playing a board game, Silvana just sighed heavily and agreed.

What choice did she have?

She would wait for Adam's return as long as it took, and by staying with Gladius and Xyrea, she might find out everything quickly.

But, gradually, she stopped thinking about what was happening to Adam, since the board game had captured her attention. It was a good way to distract herself from all the negative thoughts filling her mind.

"Agh."

Silvana took a deep breath and prepared to roll the dice.

Thump!

At the last moment, her eyes widened as she froze. Gladius and Xyrea just exchanged glances. It seemed they had already guessed what had happened.

A few seconds later, Silvana smiled gently as warmth spread through her chest.

"Adam… He… He used one of our abilities!"

Silvana's eyes lit up as she clenched her fists tightly with joy. Given the situation, this meant Adam was alive, and for Silvana, that was the most important thing.

In a burst of emotion, she looked at Gladius.

"That's a good sign, right? Right?!"

Gladius smirked.

"Of course it is. It means he's fighting and full of strength. Also, it means he was found and helped. You can thank Xyrea for that, it was part of her job to get Adam there."

Silvana hesitated before turning to Xyrea and nodding in gratitude.

"Thank you… I still don't know what you're up to, but the most important thing to me is that Adam is safe!"

Xyrea leaned back in her chair, taking a sip of cold beer. Oddly enough, Gladius had bought it for her.

"It's understandable that you don't trust us, but Adam is in that place for one reason only, to become stronger."

Gladius nodded. "Yeah, absorbing Queen Elisa's blood is no easy task. Maybe we should have given him someone else's blood, but this way the effect will be maximized, and for that, he has to be in a dangerous place, a special one…"

"Huh?"

Confusion clouded Silvana's face as Gladius's words echoed in her head.

"Was Queen Elisa's blood the only thing that would work for Adam? Could other blood have caused his condition?"

Gladius rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Most likely, yes. However, obtaining such blood would take quite some time, and Queen Elisa's blood was the best solution."

For a moment, his gaze grew as sharp as a blade.

"You do realize that Queen Elisa's blood can't be replaced with something ordinary, right? Imagine what kind of monster's blood Adam would need to obtain for it to be a worthy substitute for Queen Elisa's blood."

Silvana gulped. Only now did she begin to realize that perhaps Gladius's intervention was their only way to fulfill this condition so quickly.

It was unknown how long it would take them to find a suitable monster. Even then, they would need the help of someone like Gladius or another Second Rank Phantom to obtain that blood.

Clap.

Gladius clapped his hands, dispelling the tension.

"Alright, Silvana. Your move! The best thing you can do for Adam is to be ready for his return, and for that, you need to keep yourself busy so you don't fall asleep!"

Silvana smiled bitterly, shuffling the dice in her hand.

"Fine, it seems I won't figure out your plan, but in this game, I'm going to win!"

…

Tremble! Tremble!

Two pillars of flame rose from the ground, burning the severed halves of the giant glower. Its veins tried to weave together to heal, but Vyora's fire wouldn't let that happen.

Sarka landed, looking around.

The entire surface was covered in handfuls of ash left over from the living roots, but her gaze fell on the wide cleave in the middle of the battlefield.

"Could you have done this from the very beginning?" Sarka turned to Adam.

"I wasn't sure about that. As you can see, my Operator and I are now separated. But it turned out much better than I thought."

Whooooosh.

In a flash, Loargh appeared next to Adam. He nodded several times with an appraising look.

"I barely managed to dodge it. That was good work. From what I've heard about you, that ability should be weaker."

Adam shrugged.

"We get stronger over time, don't we?"

Vyora dropped down beside them. "What now?"

Loargh waved his hand, watching as the amber energy slowly left the second servant's remains.

"Now, we'll find where the last servant is hiding and see the Frenzied Shard!"