Chapter 1757: Irony and the Glass Wall (Part 1)

Adam was dressed in a black robe, though the tips of his hair were still damp.

Kaexa, despite her status, waited patiently off to the side. Her master had given her an order, and she would carry it out.

"Are they both here now?" Adam asked, adjusting the edges.

She nodded deeply. "Yes. We are currently at the top of the pillar, but Master Kaerno and Zin are waiting for you at the very summit. I will lead you there."

"Sure. I hope this will be my last conversation here."

Kaexa adjusted her round glasses.

"That will depend on you. After your victory at the Grim Court, you have now officially become one of the Fangs. No one will argue, since every monster in the Hollow Lands already knows of your victory."

In response, Adam smiled bitterly, giving her a relaxed look.

"You know, there are plenty of holes in your ranking system. Zin is one of the strongest Black Threat monsters, and after what he showed during the fight, he might even be the strongest among the Fangs."

Kaexa’s eyes widened for a moment, but she didn’t argue. Most monsters would agree with Adam’s opinion.

"Still, I, a Phantom, became a Fang, and he didn’t. It’s both funny and sad at the same time, isn’t it?" Adam waved his hand.

"Well, there’s some truth to what you say. However, Zin’s case is just the exception that proves the rule. Most monsters are exactly where they’re supposed to be. But, when anomalies like Zin or other powerful unranked monsters occur, everyone knows about their peculiarities either way."

Her gaze became piercing as she stared at Adam.

"I’m sure there are plenty of similar situations at the Citadel, aren’t there?"

"Hmm?" Adam tilted his head in confusion. "What are you talking about? A Phantom can’t gain the next level by winning a battle. It all depends on his stage of evolution."

"Is that so?" Kaexa lifted her chin, looking down at Adam. "Are you saying that at every level, you and the other Phantoms possessed roughly equal strength?"

"Agh?"

A glint flashed across her blue eyes.

"As far as I know, seeing you in the arena is a rare sight, whether it’s at the Dead Lands or the Citadel. However, you’re not so out of touch with reality that you don’t realize you’ve always been among the strongest at your level, are you?"

Adam felt strange. Kaexa was both praising and insulting him at the same time. Still, he couldn’t say she was wrong.

"Well, aside from rare cases like this one, arena battles are pointless. It’s just practice between two experienced fighters - nothing more."

Kaexa nodded. "In that case, you and Zin are much more alike than it might have seemed at first."

"What about you?"

"Hmm?"

Adam narrowed his eyes.

"How did you become one of the Thorns? Moreover, you must have earned the Fang status before that, right?"

"Sure. There’s no secret here. I fought at the Grim Court and won in a fair fight. However, I won’t hide it. None of my fights were as impressive as yours. I don’t remember the last time a judge couldn’t stop the fight in time. That’s a rare sight."

Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.

Adam scratched the back of his head before heading for the exit.

"We have to go. We shouldn’t keep Kaerno and Zin waiting any longer."

"Sure, but before that, I have one question for you - a personal one."

"Agh?" Adam gave her a questioning look.

Kaexa touched the doorknob but didn’t open the door.

"What are your plans from here on out, Adam Vinter? Is there a scenario in which we might one day become enemies?"

In an instant, the atmosphere shifted as Adam’s gaze darkened while Kaexa’s eyes lit up.

"It all depends on what you want from the First Star and Last Star," Adam replied confidently. "Nothing else matters. The next World Wipe is near. There are only six years left."

Kaexa’s expression didn’t change at all, but something deep within her gaze responded to his words.

"I see. Glad to hear it, young Phantom."

Crack.

She opened the door as they both headed toward the top of the blade pillar.

Very soon, this part of the journey would end. Kaexa, like the other monsters, would return to her usual duties, while Adam, as a Phantom and a human, would hurry back to the Citadel.

He wanted to see Silvana again. Never before had there been such a long separation between them.

In fact, very little time had passed since Adam woke up at the northern Hail Passage. He had to act quickly because of Queen Elisa’s blood in his inner space, so in reality, his entire journey took just under two days.

But the point wasn’t how much time had passed, but how many events had occurred.

At the very beginning, he didn’t even know he had ended up in new lands he’d never even heard of before. Now, he had become one of the Fangs, which was an achievement for any monster here.

However, in Adam’s case, his status was of secondary importance. He had defeated Zin himself, that was what truly mattered.

"Alright, all that’s left is to find out what Kaerno and Zin want to talk about, and I’ll be able to go home. Now that the Hollow Lands have accepted me, I shouldn’t have any trouble passing through the barrier."

That had been Adam’s goal from the very beginning, and now he had achieved it.

Step. Step. Step.

Kaexa and Adam climbed the spiral staircase carved inside the pillar before reaching the very top.

The peaks and the tall tower at the very center were, as always, the hallmark of every blade pillar.

But now, it wasn’t they that mattered, but the two shadows sitting on the edge.

"This is where I’ll leave you. Such are Master Kaerno’s orders." Kaexa bowed and, like a loyal soldier, left without asking any unnecessary questions.

Kaerno broke off his conversation with Zin and turned toward Adam, waving his hand with a slight smile on his face.

Determination flashed in Adam’s eyes as he stepped forward.

’Silvana, just a little further. Soon I’ll return home with new strength!’