From the very beginning of Adam's journey as a Phantom, the needle was the foundation of his power. It was not only his first ability and weapon but also a reminder of the origin of his Initial Gene - the first needle was bound from threads.
Now the threads beca part of his Initial Gene, but his needle continued to evolve, reaching its strongest form to this point as the Branch Order.
The first person to see Adam's new ability was Risha, who watched with wide-eyed eyes at the sa Phantom as she was.
Adam's body was covered in blood. His wounds hadn't disappeared, but he felt the damage much less. His energy had beco much denser, making his body stronger as well.
The wounds that could make him bleed out before now only made him breathe harder. Bleeding beca much weaker, and regeneration beca higher.
But Risha's eyes quickly traveled lower.
In Adam's left hand, a white needle was neatly clutched between his fingers, its edges blurred, trembling due to the powerful essence. Sothing about that needle made Risha take a step back, she didn't want Adam to use that weapon against her.
Then, she looked away as her face turned as pale as a sheet of paper.
Adam's right hand also held a needle, but this one was strikingly different. The needle with a broad blade sharp on both sides was as big as a great sword, one swing was enough to split a large monster into two equal parts.
The hilt, sheathed in black bandages, had enough room for a two-handed grip, but Adam held the weapon with only one hand.
As before, there was a small hollow in the center of the needle, perfectly sized for a small, ordinary needle.
Dark streams of smoke billowed from the sharp blade, broad closer to the hilt and tapering to a tip like a massive arrowhead.
Thump. Thump.
Heret and Vorx crashed into the walls, debris crumbling to the ground. Then, two shadows flew out of the clouds of dust, surrounding Adam.
A trickle of blood dripped from Vorx's corner of his mouth, and there was an obvious bruise on Heret's hand.
"Adam..." Vorx wheezed. "Did you actually do it?"
In response, Adam nodded deeply.
"Yeah, it was harder and more spectacular than I expected, but as you can see..." Adam pointed to the two needles. "I did it."
Heret glanced at Vorx, then returned his gaze to Adam.
"In that case, we have no more fighting to do. This ti, Vorx and I were wrong, and you proved to be right. However, it was risky. If you didn't shatter the fourth lesser gates, it would cost us days for your recovery."
Vorx laughed. "Hahaha, now we're going to need that ti! Adam, you got hurt more than we did, but... your blows proved to be painful."
"No."
Adam's harsh voice left them stumped.
"Agh...? What do you an?" Vorx was puzzled.
Heret, in turn, beca wary with a heavy frown.
In response, Adam gave them a kind grin, pointing the first, sword-like needle at Vorx.
"Our fight may have co to an end, but not the training. You defeated when I had all abilities active and three open gates.
"But... Now, things have changed. In a way, the situation has turned upside down."
Adam raised the first needle, and the darkness thickened around the blade, shivering with excitent.
"One of my abilities and four open gates against you two. Who do you think will win?"
Before Vorx could say anything, Adam's right hand turned into a blur. The first needle ca down.
The dark blade sliced the ground in two, rushing toward Vorx like an unstoppable force.
No matter what Vorx felt or wanted to say at that mont, then his entire mind shifted to his monster instincts.
Flas ignited at his feet as he turned into a fiery flash, quickly escaping to the right.
Amidst the shards and shattered crystals, he couldn't see his reflection in the blade, though it was black and dense.
It was pure destructive energy.
Tap.
With a shudder in the air, Adam appeared in front of him, white energy, copying Vorx's flas, covered his legs, making him significantly faster.
"Oh, looks like I lied," Adam smirked. "Besides my Branch Order I also use the Global Gene, I hope you won't take offense to that."
Vorx put up a block a second before Adam's foot slamd in.
The impact threw Vorx to the edge of the Magma Plateau, his fall ending in a plunge into the lava lake.
Step.
Heret stepped forward, his aura working at its limit as the ground cracked beneath his formidable footsteps.
"Adam... You have grown stronger, but Vorx and I are not weak enough to lose to the one ability of a wounded Phantom."
The intimidating green flas covered his figure again, but this ti, it only caused Adam to smile slightly.
It seed that only Risha realized that he was waiting for this mont.
'He stayed one-on-one with Heret on purpose?' she thought, her eyes running around. 'He used the first needle against Vorx, so... now it's ti for the second, small one?'
Adam nodded. "Heret, your ability is as strong as your unusual fla. You attack so quickly and sharply that it is almost impossible to react."
Heret was wary, he narrowed his eyes preparing to attack, a dangerous glint running down his sharp claws.
"However... I possess a similar ability, did you know that?"
"Hmm?" Heret grumbled. "Why didn't you use it before then? I thought you showed us your full arsenal."
A short chuckle erupted from Adam.
"Because this ability is too complicated. I can't control it, even now, after I destroyed the fourth lesser gates, I can't use it at will."
"It doesn't seem to be the most reliable ability."
Adam nodded. "Yeah, it is. But, now I have the opportunity to use so of that power. Your surge against mine, who will be faster?"
Without warning, Adam swung the second needle, leaving a white line in the air with a pulsating dot in the middle.
Heret's eyes went wide as his fla trembled. He was about to burst forward.
But... it was already too late.
Adam was behind him in the blink of an eye.
Beneath Heret's shocked face, a torrent of blood rushed from his chest, flooding the bright earth.
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