Adam had had plenty of opportunities to return to the past, to the ti when it all began.
The main event took place on Hollow Spire Island, where he obtained the Desire of Beyond and, as a result, the Silver Weaver beca his ally.
Now, having obtained the Dark Energy, he realized that things weren't as simple as he had thought back then, but the essence remained the sa—he had returned to the past, even if it was only an illusion.
Step.
Adam stepped forward, approaching the tar lake.
This place was located just a few kiloters from the Citadel. Rarely did anyone co here, since it was essentially just Aiden's personal dumping ground.
Everything he deed unnecessary or useless was sent straight here.
Adam ca here because he couldn't pass this place by.
Even if it was just a dump, this was where he had killed his first monster and beco a Phantom.
"Hah, others get their powers during the test. They're helped to kill their first monster, but… I ended up here, right?"
Silvana nodded. For her, it was just as serious as it was for Adam, but she understood that she couldn't experience that mont the way he did.
"It was tough, but it had certain advantages. The fact that you beca a Natural Phantom helped you in many battles."
Adam scratched the back of his head.
"Yeah, but what now? I haven't heard anyone use those terms in a long ti. It feels like after a certain level, it stopped mattering."
'Well, we have other priorities and problems now, that's true. Go ho, Adam, I'm waiting for you…' She murmured softly.
He was about to leave. He had no business being in the Dead Lands so close to the Citadel, but sothing caught his eye.
It wasn't a monster or so Phantom in need of help, no, it was the tar lake.
"Wait…" Adam blinked, staring intently at the tar lake. "Is it just , or has it gotten a lot cleaner since the last ti I was here?"
'Hmm? What do you an?'
Adam touched his chin thoughtfully.
"I an, it was quite a while ago, and I was panicking back then, but I'm sure almost everything here used to be covered in trash. Shouldn't there be a lot of tal scraps, debris, and containers here? Aiden… That's how he gets rid of unwanted things."
At first, Silvana wanted to say that it just seed that way to him, but when she looked closer, her eyes widened.
'Damn, Adam, you're right. It feels like soone ca here and cleaned up, or…'
"The trash just stopped coming here." Adam finished her thought.
He turned his head, staring intently at the Morton Observatory in the far part of the Citadel.
"But why? It's only been a year and a half since that day. Why did he decide to end his experints now? Has sothing important happened in the last few months? Did he find what he'd been looking for all this ti?"
Thanks to his conversation with Wilfred, Adam knew that Aiden wasn't conducting his experints because he was a mad scientist or a sadist, but because he had so goal. He wanted to find sothing, but even he hadn't managed to achieve it.
With Aiden's intellect, experience, and capabilities, over the course of several decades, he could have made all of humanity stronger — both ordinary people and Phantoms — by increasing the number of Natural Phantoms.
Still, none of that interested him.
"We don't have the answers, Adam, but I'm sure one day we'll find them."
Adam frowned as he clenched his fist tightly.
"Yeah, but how much longer do I have to wait? As soon as I learn to use the Ancient and Dark energy, I'll go to him. He has to accept —just one conversation… I want answers!"
Now, he understood that it was impossible. He had other priorities, but that mont was closer than ever.
Casting one last glance at the tar lake, Adam headed forward toward the gates.
Several Phantoms and soldiers recognized him along the way, but they didn't bother him. Adam's face was grim, lost deep in his thoughts.
Only when the noise of the city streets reached his ears did he return to the real world, looking around.
"Agh…"
Adam took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of coffee and freshly baked bread wafting from the nearby café.
He couldn't find anything like this anywhere in the Dead Lands, not even in a monster city like Izardo.
"Silvana," Adam muttered, gazing up at the sky. "Do you have any ideas who might help with my training?"
She nodded.
"Sure, I've already found a few candidates. You know one of them well. I'm sure he wouldn't mind helping."
"I see." He smiled. "In that case, let's go on a date."
Silvana blinked in shock.
'Agh?'
Sure, they were a couple — not just boyfriend and girlfriend, but a Phantom and an Operator. But, considering how much work they had and the obstacles in their path, there was clearly not enough romance in their relationship.
That suited them both. They understood that such was the life of those connected to the Dead Lands. They were prepared for it.
Still, Silvana couldn't help but blush when Adam suddenly suggested such a thing.
'You, fool. Do you even have a nice suit?'
Adam grinned.
"What about you? Do you have a dress?"
She twirled a strand of hair around her finger.
'Well… I can wear whatever you want, you know. And… Do you have any ideas about a place?"
Adam thought for a mont. He wanted to rember what he'd been missing lately, what wasn't available in the Dead Lands.
With Goen, he'd tried at, appetizers, and fish, with Zargos, he'd had access to exotic fruits and cocktails.
But there was one thing for which civilization was simply a must. Sothing that was always making headlines in various dia outlets about how harmful and bad it was for people, but deep down, everyone loved it.
Tap.
Adam slapped his palm with his fist when an idea struck him.
"Fast food!"
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