NOVPUBFor Adam, this was his first full interaction with irregular energy, but he was actively taking advantage of its benefits, even as its effectsnstantly changed.
He knew that he would have to pay a serious price for using his artifact twice, and he was ready for it. Still, a bright pain filled his mind.
With a detached face, Adam stepped back, his arm swaying from side to side, blood pouring from the numerous lacerations, no longer inntrol of his limb.
Nevertheless, silently enduring the hellish pain, Adam glanced to his left. He expected to see the red ribbons that would begin to heal his wounds, but even after ten snds, nothing happened.
’What the hell...?’ Adam thought, eyes full of disbelief.
Heuld feel that crimson mist was here, irregular energy was healing other Phantoms and monsters as well as it should. However, for some reason, crimson mist was in no hurry to help him.
Then, Adam realized that he had made a serious mistake. He didn’t realize how this wound was different from many others. Soon, he saw that the energy was notming to him, as if someone was preventing it.
Eager to test his first hunch, Adam looked up to see the soaring Crimson Monarch. 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
As he expected, the Crimson Monarch’s arm moved slightly, after attacking he directed his energy towards the fortress, all to limit the will of the crimson mist.
’Bastard... So he won’t let me rver?’
A shiver ran through Adam’s body, the scenarios of his victory crashing down one by one.
’Perhaps his energy will stopvering me if I wound him or knock him to the ground, but... How am I supposed to do that with one arm?!’
Sure, it was his left arm, not his main arm, but Adam gave his needle to Lone Blaze, so he was going to fight with his Nexus, now that became impossible.
Adam looked around, his eyes trying to find something.
There were many Phantoms with healing abilities nearby, but this wasn’t a simple cut. There were numerous fractures, muscle and skin tears in his arm.
Even Dahla who was a K4-Phantom wouldn’t be able to heal him quickly without training. Obviously, the Crimson Monarch would not give him time to do so.
Besides Katrin, Viron, Gnash, and the other Phantoms, there was another person who not only saw Adam’s wound but also felt how hurt he was.
Silvana saw everything, she and Adam had a strong emotional bond, but there was nothing sheuld do.
’This is bad... too damn bad...’ she internally muttered, her gaze dark, ’It turns out that not only did my ability fail to protect the Phantoms, but it put Adam in a deadly position...?’
Casting her eyes downward, Silvana bit her lip almost to the point of bleeding.
’Is information and one ability really all I can do? Am I going to bme more and more useless with every step Adam takes?
These thoughts had haunted Silvana for some time now, the incident at the Iron Observatory had given her back her missingnfidence, but even with Gene Diffusion and the Operator’s Star, she felt it wasn’t enough.
With Adam’s arrival at the Fortress of the Lone Serpent, her helplessness became more apparent. Unknown monsters, energy effects, and locations, she had simply lost almost all of her usefulness as an Operator.
All sheuld do was emotionally support him and help him duringmbat, but her reaction speed was far worse than Adam’s.
No Operator would want to admit it, but Silvana realized that she was useless.
Suddenly, the sound of muffled footsteps echoed in her mind.
Step. Step. Step.
Not realizing what was wrong, Silvana turned around abruptly. She thought someone had broken into her house, yet she was alone, as she should have been.
After a few snds, Silvana realized that the footsteps wereming directly from her head as if someone was inside her mind.
Then, the Evolution Seed shuddered several times,nsumed by fear, forcibly plunging Silvana into inner space, for the first time.
Technically, the Evolution Seed was in a hidden part of Adam’s inner space, since it wasnnected to his Evolution Tree, but he had nontrol over that place.
That dominion as well as the Evolution Seed belonged to Silvana.
But... Whatuld she do with it? She wasn’t a Phantom, there was nothing but the young Evolution Seed, only vast darkness.
Silvana was right.
Darkness should surround her, but instead, there was a faint light burning in the distance.
"What’s going on...? Where am I?"
Silvana turned around. She made sure she was near the Evolution Seed, a white bright seed like a tiny star hovering among the darkness.
Then, her gaze returned to the fire, with every snd, every muffled step, it became more active.
’I’m in Adam’s inner space? Right... It looks like it, then there must be an Evolution Tree here!’
Searching for answers, Silvana tried to look anywhere but at the approaching flame. The Evolution Tree wasn’t here, Silvana would definitely see its bright, imparable light.
Soon, a calm, feminine voice came from far away:
"What are you looking at, miss Operator?"
With a shudder, Silvana took a few large steps back, staring fearfully at the flames.
"Who are you? What’s going on here?!"
Step. Step. Step.
Flame emerged from the darkness, revealing a silhouette.
A young girl with soft, pale skin looked up at Silvana with eyes full of wisdom beyond her years. Her red hair wasvered in red flames falling from her shoulders, reaching down to her hips.
An opulent dress of scarlet and amber fabricvered her body, leaving only her hands with thin fingers and red nails and her neck adorned with a flame necklace exposed.
Her eyes shone brightly like rching suns, fire in an endless stream swirling in the depths.
"Who am I?"
The girl strode forward, her arms crossed at the hem of her dress.
"Isn’t it obvious? I am Lone Blaze, currently Adam’s External Artifact and a more useful partner than you, Operator."
